August 24, 2024 • 35 mins
Rob debates whether or not Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes football program were out of bounds for banning a reporter from asking questions, explains why New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is already a top-5 slugger in MLB history and argues whether Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani or Atlanta Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna is more deserving of the NL MVP award.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
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Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushad and Ron Harker.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
This is something that's near and dear to my heart,
and this is good for both of us because you know,
you are a player at the highest level, professional athlete,
and you've also been in this business for a long time,
so you've had both sides.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
You know. Me, I'm ana die and died and in
the wall reporter. You know, despite the.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Television, despite the radio show, all that other stuff.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
You know, I am a sports writer. That's what I am.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I've never wavered from that. You've never seen me put
on the team uniform or call some team my team
or any of that, because I'm just not That's not
what I do.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Okay, But this story, and Rob g can you jump
in with us?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
This story from Colorado and Dion and the University and
a columnist there.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
It just bothers the hell out of me. It really does.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And as mad as I am of Dion and the university,
I'm more upset from of the reporters who work there
in Colorado who covered the Buffalo's But Rob g spell
it out first, and I'll tell you why.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Colorado, that athletic department, specifically their football program, has informed
the Denver Post that Dion Sanders and anyone else within
their football program will no longer take questions from columnist
Sean Keeler. In a statement sent to the Post, Colorado
(02:06):
said that they have received a quote series of sustained
personal attacks in Keeler's coverage of the program. When asked
for specific examples on how they personally were attacked by Keeler,
they referenced a handful of stories which used phrases such
as quote false prophet, deposition, Dion planet prime, the Bruce
(02:33):
Lee of BS, the Dion kool Aid, and overall describing
the program as a quote circus.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Aphraim. Here's here's why I'm mad. Okay, here's why I'm mad.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Forget about Dion and Colorado.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Shame on them.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Okay, big babies, do you remember when Colorado won.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Its first game? Yeah, last year? I remember? And what
did Dion do in the very first game? What do
you do? He called out ed Ward? Do you remember that, right,
Rob g Was it ed Ward? Yep? He said? Now
what do you.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Think you remember that called him out of the first game. Okay,
here's my problem. Forget Colorado, forget the football team. If
you're members of the media, not only from the Denver Post,
but from all the newspapers, TV and radio stations that
(03:32):
covered that football team, they should refuse to cover Colorado's football.
If they're going to exclude a columnist from doing his job, Ephraim,
they have every.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Right not to answer a question from that guy.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Do you hear me, You're not. I'm not You're not obligated, Ephraim.
If I'm go up to you and I say, he
from what happened on that play, whatever you know or
whatever you wif then the quarterback lost the whatever it is, okay.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
You could say to me no comment, and I have
to respect that.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Do you understand there's a difference between letting a guy
do his job and you not participating. But when you
tell a guy that he can't do his job, or
he can't be around. If you're a member of the
media not working for the Denver Post and you're with
(04:33):
another outlet, if you allow Dion and Colorado to do
this to this columnist, the stuff that he said he
from is nothing. Those are what that's what columnists do.
There was once a general manager in Detroit named Jerry Walker.
I think he's passed away now, and he from. His
big thing was he couldn't get pitching for the Tigers.
(04:53):
You know what nickname I gave he could never make
a trade to get pitching.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I gave him the nickname doctor Doolittle.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Okay, that's not bad, right, because he couldn't get any
trades done. Randy Smith was another Tiger general manager. I
gave him the nickname rancid Randy. Anything he touched just
turned to Google.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
All right. And my point is as.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
A columnist, that's the license you get right your opinion
to be witty whatever. And people have a right to
want to talk to me or not answer my question.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
That's fine.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
But the single lot of guy and tell him that
he can't participate on ask any.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Questions is unheard of.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And the rest of the media cannot allow this to happen.
Speaker 6 (05:42):
Well, okay, now it's our job to be objective, right right,
Like you said, the first thing you said on this is,
I don't claim a team. I'm a reporter, yes you know,
I'm just my opinion, the facts, the whole nine yards.
But what happens when your objective opinion starts to become subjective?
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Right?
Speaker 6 (06:06):
When you start to, you know, really lash out at
somebody personally?
Speaker 4 (06:13):
But but but what.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
What's personal? Personally?
Speaker 6 (06:18):
When you start saying personal is.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Your fad or or you're you're no, no, no, no, I'm.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Just hear me out, hear me out. There's a degree
of that.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I think there's a poetic license that comes with being
a columnist more so than a beat writer. If you're
covering the team, you're not really supposed to put your
opinion in it. But opinions from columnists, I don't believe
in this program.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
You have to as a columnist. That's what people.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
What do you think is Colorado real or fake? Is
Deonna good coach or bad coach? That that's what a
columnist does. Deon's a bad coach? Is that personal?
Speaker 6 (06:59):
But that's not what he was saying. Rob, Can you
give us some of those things that he had he
had said again that you listed off.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Sure, the phrases were used as follows, quote false prophet, deposition,
Dion planet prime, the Bruce Lee of BS okay, the
Dion kool Aid, and describing the program as quote a circus.
Speaker 6 (07:21):
Right now, that's not saying I don't think Dion Sanders
is a good coach. And this is why that's not
saying Colorado is not a good program. They don't have
enough talent. That's you're you're going to step beyond. And
I know, look and I get it. We live in
an age now where we're inundated with podcasts and reporters
(07:46):
and and and shows, and so in a sense, you
do want to stick out.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
You don't want to be like everybody else.
Speaker 6 (07:54):
Right if everybody's like, well this is this is not
this is happening, and that's not happening, so you you
go a little bit further right, false profit, the Bruce
Lee of BS. Like, all of these things are now
feeling like they're personal attacks. They're very subjective instead of objective.
You do see that, right, like it. But if they
(08:17):
consistently come at that type of clip, then it's like, oh, Okay, well,
what are we doing.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
No, he doesn't believe in the program and what dionn
is selling. And as a columnist that gives his opinion,
he should have that right. And sometimes you know what, Ephraim,
you're right and sometimes you're wrong. Okay, Okay, so that
does happen. I've done it. I've done it. I didn't
think Matt Millan. I thought if the Matt Millan hire
(08:45):
in Detroit was the worst hire in the history of sports, Okay, And.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
I said it. And guess what, I think I.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Was right on that as far as him being an executive,
not that he couldn't play one for Super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
So what did you say did you say? He like?
How did you did you say?
Speaker 6 (09:04):
He's not a good hire as a GM This is
why I don't believe he's a good hire, I said.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
I said that fans should form the milling Man March
and march his butt out of town.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Okay, good, Okay, that's great. So I wanted his job.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I wanted him to be fired, and I thought that
he should be because he didn't do a good job.
Now everything's attached to you, so I know people say, well,
that's personal. Well I'm talking about you as a football
coach or GM or whatever, not about Dion Sander's the father,
the husband, whatever in your personal life and all I'm saying,
(09:42):
but help me with this, help me with Okay, do
you understand what I'm saying. I do understand about the
rest of the media, though what I'm.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
I do understand you saying, hey, we need to take
a stand because this is bull.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
You can't pick and.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Choose who you who you want to talk to, and
and and who you want you know, what you want
them to write and all that you don't. I understand
that aspect, okay, But I also understand accountability for the
things that you say. I understand that as well. And
when it stops becoming about you know, what you're writing
(10:19):
or what you're trying to message, you're trying to get
across the things that you're trying to expose or say,
and more about the one line equips that you can
you know, clickbait out there like that when you start
talking doing the whole false prophit thing the kool aid
and now you're taking it a little bit deeper. And
(10:39):
these aren't all in one article. This is over a
course of a year, so you would be like, oh okay, man,
but day okay, well what right? Like that's the part
I'm not understanding, right, Like, look, they started off with
a bang. They didn't end with a bang. So now
I'm going to really attack. I'm going to attack show
(11:01):
people that Dion is full of it, this and that
all of those things. Like to me, it's like I'm
going to prove to you and show you that Dion
Sanders is a fraud. But is Deon Sanders a fraud
as a coach because of one year in the PAC
(11:22):
twelve coming from HBCU changing that program.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
But that's and that's but that's somebody's opinion.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
The same way that if they signed uh, when they
signed Daniel Jones, I'm sure they were colamists in New
York said, what a bigs, What a big mistake?
Speaker 4 (11:39):
This guy can't play? Why would you pay him?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Or or players drafted you see it all the time,
what a mistake, Why would you draft this guy? This
guy's going to be a bus or or when a
player winds up being a bust? Is that wrong for
a columnists? You know who am I thinking? Of the
basketball playoff?
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Kwame?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
He doesn't want to be oh I'm not a buzzed
or whatever. Dude, you were the first overall pick and
you didn't live up to what people thought would be
the expectations. Equal thought that okay, but that's what a
columnist does.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
I understand. So that's my.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Opinion that I think you're a bust. You don't have
to agree with it, and and and and that's what
I'm trying to say. Dion doesn't have to agree with it.
And if Dion personally says to that columnist when he
asked him a question, no comment, I'm cool with that.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Do you understand what?
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Dion doesn't have to talk to him, but to single
him out and try to intimidate all the other reporters
that if you don't get in line and if you
say anything off center, you'll be next.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
I don't know what that message is.
Speaker 6 (12:51):
So, because you know, there's been some harsh criticisms of
Dion and the program starting the way they did and
then finishing in the way they did, like no one
really had glowing things to say in terms of how
the program ended up. So that's not something that's like, oh, Okay,
(13:13):
he's doing this.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
No, we get that. Everybody.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
I had something to say about it, you had something
to say about We all talked about it was all
you know, we thought the season was gonna go a
little bit different. They came out, they beat a ranked team,
and then they faltered. Right then we started realizing why,
all right, offensive line, no offensive line there, defensive line, Like,
they just didn't have the talent to compete at that.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Level with the overhaul of.
Speaker 6 (13:44):
Scholarship players leaving and the new ones coming in, they
just didn't have the talent. We saw that. Now we
weren't saying, oh Dieon is a false prophet, Oh Dieon
is all high. Oh they really drinking the kool aid
out there, like we didn't. We were very critical, hyper
critical of what was happening in Colorado. But did you
ever think that Dion couldn't resonate with young players, He
(14:08):
couldn't tap in to young players.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
But that's it's it's it's that columnist's opinion. You're right,
and he can be wrong, Ephraim, And you could be right,
But that doesn't mean that deal doesn't change his opinion.
Dictator that Dion can dictate contract can't and that and
that's the first.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
Contract he can, that's the contract he's signed and he
has the right to talk to who they put it.
They let him put it in the contract.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
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Speaker 3 (15:16):
Hail Tani's one of the biggest stars in sports that.
Speaker 8 (15:20):
I would agree with that assessment, Yes, bull take not
just baseball.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
He's one of the biggest stars in sports. He's got
a seven hundred million dollar contract. Fans all over the world,
including japan Asian people, they love him. I mean, if
you've been out to Dodger Stadium like I have, they
come in full forth.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
They want to see this guy's tremendous. We gotta get
to a game.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
By the way, you and I you can't. You can't see.
The problem is you do all Monday through Friday. That
makes it tough.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
So yeah, I can still make it. I mean we
can make that all.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
We could do a day game, one of the day games, okay,
you know, like an afternoon twelve thirty.
Speaker 8 (15:57):
Sure, yeah, I mean, I guess with the pitch clock now,
things move faster. I don't know if Rob g would
be thrilled, you know, you eating Dodger dogs.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I'll make it. I'll couldn't get at least seven innings
in okay, should have a hot dog whatever.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Hey, Rob, you, I know we can't do the conference
call because it's the seventh inning and schoo ball is
firing right now.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Me and toys. We'll get to it later, Rob, do
you know how it is? Some time at bees like
that does get it.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But Aaron so so we we know, and he's having
a tremendous year. You know, no DH has ever won
the MVP in the history of baseball.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
No DH has ever won the MVP.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
But this year because he is not pitching, he's just
dhing for the Dodgers. When Mookie Betts got hurt, he
was moved to the lead off spot. I can go
on and on, and he has a chance to be
in a forty forty club right, forty stolen bases and
(16:56):
forty home runs. That hasn't happened. It's been, it's been.
It's been a minute for somebody who have been able
to do that. But I say all of this about
show Hay and how great he's been to say this that,
don't look now him winning the National League MVP ain't
(17:19):
in the bag. It is not in the bag because
of Marcel Azuna. Here's the problem the Atlanta Braves DH.
He's having a monster year and is in the running
for a triple crown. He came into Tonight's Get Action
(17:41):
right three h nine batting average, which leads the National League.
He leads the National League in RBI with ninety four,
and he's second in home runs behind show Hey. Show
Hay has thirty nine. Right, uh, yeah, yeah, thirty nine
(18:02):
home runs, right, But he's second to a Zuna, second
to him, but he's in the hunt for the triple crown.
And here's the history about it. If a Zuna can
win the triple Crown. I don't see how anybody in
(18:22):
their right mind would not vote him to be the
MVP despite what show he has done. And he's had
a tremendous season, but he's not leading in every category,
you know, like, how can you ignore this and just
look at show Hay and say, well, he was forty
forty or would you have to look at it? There
(18:44):
hasn't been a triple Crown winner, are you ready? Since
twenty twelve Miguel Cabrera with the Tigers did it. So
it doesn't happen very often that somebody's a triple Crown winner.
And we talked about the DH thing, but I don't know.
He would be the first National League player to pull
(19:06):
off the triple crown.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
You're ready? Since nineteen thirty seven, Wow, nineteen thirty seven,
no one's done in the National League.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
So let me ask you two follow up questions. One,
if he doesn't get the triple Crown, but obviously he
has an incredible season. Does that he should be in
the race, but he isn't the definitive winner. Is that
fair to say or do we do you disagree with
that statement?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
It just depends because if he leads the league in
hitting an RBI, say, and Oltani beats him in home
runs by one or two, right, so he doesn't get that,
he still would have two things. Now, Oltani has his
stolen bases.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
That's what he does.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
He has thirty seven stolen bases, and if he does it,
he would be the sixth player to be in a
forty forty club. That doesn't happen forty home runs in
forty stolen bases. I just think that most of the
season everybody thought it was a four going shirt, that
Aaron Judge would win it in the America League and
Shoe Hail Tony.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Would win an a National League. Would you agree with that? Yeah?
Speaker 8 (20:08):
No, that has been the sentiment and my follow up
to not just that question. My second question was, obviously,
Dodgers right now are in control or at least in
the lead in the NL West. Best record in baseball
or best record in the National League excuse me, best
record in baseball as well? You know, Braves very much
in the mix for a wildcard spot. Do you think
(20:31):
if the Braves were not to win, not to get
a wildcard obviously in this scenario, they you know, in
the scenario that I'm framing, not don't get a wildcard,
don't win the NL East with the Phillies running away
with that division. If they don't make the playoffs, but
Ozuna wins the Triple Crown, do you believe he would
still deserve the MVP.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I don't think there's ever been someone to win the
Triple Crown and didn't win the MVP, and they tried
in twenty twelve. I remember this very vividly because I
was working in Detroit and there are a lot.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Of steam heads and all of these.
Speaker 9 (21:07):
Pocket protector analytic geeks who were trying to make a
case that Mike Trout should be the MVP and not
Miguel Cabrera who won a triple And I'm like, dude,
stop it, Like, can we not ignore the numbers he leaves.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
That leads the league in home runs.
Speaker 8 (21:25):
RBIs batting average and batting average, and.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
You're going to say that that guy doesn't deserve to
win the MVP. The ludacrous, and the same thing here
with Ozuna. As much as it's going to be epic
for Otani to be in a forty forty club, sure, sure,
but would you take forty forty club?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
He'll be the sixth guy to ever do it.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
But if Ozuna wins a triple crown in the National League,
the first since nineteen thirty seven, which one has more weight.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
First triple crown in the NL since six thirty seven,
is pretty impressive. I'm not gonna lie. I guess my
only pushback would be is the one thing I will say,
I think in other sports, and I think mostly the NBA,
I do think the MVP has been a little bastardized,
if you will. I hope I can say that on radio.
I'm sure I can. You know, it's common, you know, lingo, whatever,
(22:20):
But it does feel like too much of the MVP
conversation in other sports is just about did you put
up cool numbers or not? And it doesn't have to
do with actual impact on the court. You know, you
go back to a couple of years ago, and I
love the joke, Itch the joker, but you know, the
first year he won his MVP, Chris Paul. Of course,
(22:40):
that was his first year in Phoenix and they went
from a complete laughing stock to the NBA Finals. And
I sat there and said, how can you be more
valuable than Chris Paul going from you know, completely out
of the playoffs to whatever they were the one two
seed that year. And so I bring it up because
I guess my only argument against Ozuna is is the
(23:01):
stats are really cool, but you know, I got to
see how the team finishes before I get too excited.
If they flail down the stretch, I would feel differently.
But even that, and I know I'm contradicting myself, but
I mean, you know you're doing this without Ronald Dacunia.
Obviously Riley's banged up as well.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
He just went out. He's out for the rest of
the season, right exactly. And also Michael Harris the second
missed two months.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
I could go down the line.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
There's actually a lot of holes in that lineup because
there's so many injuries. So what he's doing is actually
pretty impressive without the support in the batting order, and
you know that he was hitting behind you and.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
All that matters in baseball.
Speaker 8 (23:40):
Well, and that's where I think, you know, the casual
would sit there and talk about Otani's value, is that
not only is he putt up unbelievable stats, but he's
doing in a year where Mookie Bets miss forty games,
the staff is all banged up. But you can make
the same argument for Marcelo Zuna. So, Rob, I hate
to say this because I know you bring me on.
I know you bring me on here to have big, strong,
(24:01):
bold opinions. Agree with you, disagree with you whatever. I'm
not ready to like, I'm not ready to call it
for one guy or the other. And I do think
that you know, if you just look at it on paper,
how could you give the award to anyone other than
show Hey. But I do think if Ozuna does something
that hasn't been done in close to one hundred years
while leading his team to the playoffs in a year
where so many guys on that roster are banged up
(24:24):
out for the year, been out for Acuti has been
out since what like the middle of May something like that. Yeah,
so yeah, I hate to be a fence sitter here.
That's the worst thing you could be in sports talk radio.
But it's like, I can absolutely see the argument that
he should not only be in the conversation, but then
he should win the award. I guess all I would
say right now is I have to see how how
(24:45):
the season ends for both of those guys, because obviously
show Hayes doing it on a team that's loaded too,
but also a team that has dealt with their own
injury issues and things of that nature.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
And just let's put it on the record.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
According to fan Duel, so yeah, Czecho City, that's right.
Otani holds a commanding lead in the race for NL MVP.
He's the heavy favorite at minus thirty five hundred right
to take home his second consecutive MVP award, and Azuna
is actually a distant third at plus thirty one hundred.
(25:19):
And here's the part where it's bad because Otani's the
bigger star. We know that, right, He's a household name.
I just talked about it, and it shouldn't be based
on that. Sure, it really should not. That he has
star power. He has the bigger name. Everybody knows him,
and he's having a great year. So I'm not trying
(25:40):
to pooh pooh his year or acting like he's not
in the mix. He's definitely in the mix, and if
Azuna Azuna doesn't get the triple crown, then he won't win,
like I believe that. But with the triple crown, to me,
there's no doubt who should be the Nation League MVP.
Speaker 8 (26:00):
Well, listen, I know that makes sense, No, one hundred percent.
I was gonna say, I know how Shekel City works.
It's not what you're what somebody should bet, it's what
you're betting. I think Ozuna with the third best odds,
and uh, it might might be the might be the
play here.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
And I'm also thirty one hundred.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
Yeah, I'm I'm not telling you what you should do.
I'm just telling you what I might do when I
get home, because, uh, because I like the odds there.
But yeah, I I I have to see how the
season plays out, frankly for both guys, and I know
it's it's obviously there's six weeks left in the regular season,
so there's time one way or the other. But yeah,
I think when I first looked at this, I sat
there and said, well, it's hard to argue against Otani,
(26:36):
but I'll be honest, like the more that you made
the argument, and I think more significantly, not just that
you made the argument the fact that he's not only
putting up historic numbers, but he's doing it in a
year where his team needs that.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
And I think that's the important thing. Right.
Speaker 8 (26:49):
I talked about the word value in most valuable player.
I think he's every bit as valuable as shohe Otani
through one hundred and twenty five, one hundred and thirty games,
whatever it's been to this point. The question is, for
the final month of the season, can he help keep
his team in playoff contention.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
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listen live.
Speaker 4 (27:17):
Let's start Andy with baseball.
Speaker 10 (27:21):
Can't believe it.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
It's refreshing.
Speaker 10 (27:23):
It's refreshing.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
It is refreshing. But you know you're talking to me
and I'm talking to you. We're baseball guys. Okay, Yeah,
And you know what we could do a phony NFL
story to satisfy people, or we could talk about what's
happening today and guess what's happening today, Aaron Judge is
what's happening today? Have you ever seen a tear like this?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Andy? For real?
Speaker 10 (27:44):
He is not getting the exposure he deserves.
Speaker 11 (27:48):
What he has done right now over the last ninety
one hundred ball games is unheard of. I mean, and
they don't even hype him enough for MVP. I really, look,
he's been overshadowed at the kind of know that he's
gotta be the MVP. That's not close.
Speaker 10 (28:05):
It'd be an investigation if if he doesn't.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Crazy is Bobby Wood Junior is having an unbelievable year
with the Royals, but it doesn't compare.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
I mean, Judge is hitting. Is it three thirty five.
Speaker 10 (28:16):
Or thirty four with forty eight homers?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
RBIs we still got six weeks five weeks ago to go.
Speaker 10 (28:25):
It's amazing. Really, it's tremendous.
Speaker 11 (28:27):
And you know, I don't think people appreciate a player
like this is a generational type player.
Speaker 10 (28:32):
Really, he really is.
Speaker 11 (28:34):
I mean, ticket pairing hit to the numbers that man
will put up Mickey Mantle back when he was an
MVP back in nineteen fifty seven.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
Right now, Rob g was it?
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Uh Bob Nightingale, what is the stat that we just
saw and that that didn't even include the home run
from today? But he's averaging Andy over You got a
rob g.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
Yeah, in the last ninety games heading into Thursdy and
not counting today.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Yeah, but it would go up because it's less than
seven at bats, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Judge has been unstoppable, hitting three eighty two Did you
hear that?
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Three eighty two for power hitter?
Speaker 5 (29:13):
Forty homers, ninety seven RBI across his last ninety games. Yikes,
his home runs per at bat seven point seven?
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Did you hear that?
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Okay, So, just to put into context, all right, better.
Speaker 10 (29:27):
Than an RBI a game. He averaged better than an game.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Right.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Barry Bonds, who many call the greatest player in baseball history,
had a home run rate of about thirteen.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
So one home run every thirteen at bats. Yep.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
Aaron Judge, who was one of the most prolific home
run hitters we have ever seen, fast three hundred in
MLB history. His career rate is eleven and a half
at battles, which is a great number, right, which is
all time great and right now, in this current stretch
that he's on coming into today again, what you're gonna
improve seven point seven?
Speaker 4 (30:00):
Hey? Andy?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
It really to hit a home run that often? And
my god, if this guy wasn't banged up and hurt
all those things, you know what I mean at batsy's
missed and games he's missed over the last few years.
If he played, where he would be. And here's the thing,
Andy and Rob g is my proof in twenty seventeen,
(30:23):
remember he broke in in what twenty sixteen? I put
him down as one of my top five sluggers.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Of all time. And people freaked out.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
They thought it was way premature that you know, he
didn't have enough sample size.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
How can you do that? And I looked at this guy.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
And at the rate he was hitting home runs and whatnot.
And I'm going to tell you this right now, Greed, disagreed.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
Tell me what you think.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
But if Judge would have retired today, I think he
would rank as a top five slugger home run.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Hitter of all times.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Like that is where he cemented himself. On this current stretch, Andy,
that we've never seen, We've never seen anybody this prolific.
It is incredible, Like every day, aren't you surprised when
he doesn't hit a home run?
Speaker 4 (31:18):
I mean, that's what it was like.
Speaker 10 (31:19):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 11 (31:20):
I don't think he's getting the exposure deserving for what
he's accomplished. I just don't believe he has. And you're
right about he'd be a top five slop are.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
You with me on that?
Speaker 3 (31:31):
With you already right already?
Speaker 11 (31:34):
And the fact that he plays in New York, you
think he get even more exposure, but he's not. He's
being overshadowed by Aaron Rodgers, NFL and things like that,
which really don't mean anything right now. NFL is nothing.
It doesn't mean anything for two three weeks from now. Yeah,
but everybody not in New York.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I mean he gets you know, New York's a baseball town,
and you know this what Aaron Judge is doing, people
are eating up.
Speaker 6 (31:59):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
You know, we could talk about the rest of the
world and the country and all this, but I don't
know anybody.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
We talked about him the other day.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
And people were really happy that we were talking about
about this and where he fits in. But this is
something that Andy when I said this in twenty seventeen,
I just I don't remember a guy six foot seven
he has everything you want.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
I mean, forget about the Little league.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Coach on Long Island who tried to drag Aaron Judge's name,
you know, through the mud, and you saw how the
Yankees respond that they were not happy, and they pushed back.
Speaker 11 (32:40):
Let's do that story again, because I think maybe people
may have missed that the Little League World Series, the
manager of the team was upset because Aaron Judge was
like ignoring his team, didn't wink, didn't wave to his team.
Speaker 10 (32:49):
And that's right, that's what.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
He claimed that he didn't give that team from Staten Island,
New York enough love.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
But all the pictures I saw was Aaron Judge around kids.
Didn't you say, right?
Speaker 11 (33:01):
And after I read the start, I saying, you know what,
Now I know why athletes hate the public, hate the
media because they can't win.
Speaker 10 (33:08):
They can't win, they really can't. I mean, I get
it now.
Speaker 11 (33:11):
I have no problem with an athlete waving himself away
if a guy shoves a paper in his face for
an autographic walk, So I get it now. I understand
why I see it when this sob from the Little
League has the hanky downs to say that about Aaron Judge,
oh my goodness.
Speaker 10 (33:26):
Really he should be reprimanded by the Little League.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
And the Yankees made the point, and I'm with you
that if there was an issue, why wouldn't he address
it with the Yankees rather than just going and putting
that out there to make Aaron Judge the bad guy,
and the Yankees push back on it. They're not going
to have their star player where people make it like
(33:53):
he doesn't like kids or he ignored the kids and
the Little League. I'm just going by I don't know,
and you know what, there are a lot of kids Andy.
Could there have been a situation, you know what I
mean where somebody didn't get the attention or whatever. But
but all the pictures I saw was Aaron Judge around.
Speaker 10 (34:12):
Kids, right, right.
Speaker 11 (34:14):
But you know what the best thing about Aaron Judge
was when he kind of rolled the dice on his contract.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Remember that was big. It was huge.
Speaker 11 (34:22):
People say, hey, you know, he's foolish. He should you know,
he could get hurt. And again it's the injury history
he won. I love that, I really do. But but
this is something to behold. It really is.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
And if you you know how hard it is Andy
to hit home runs. Everybody can't hit home runs, and
for this guy to hit it with the regularity, it
doesn't matter. He's not just I'm not he hits the
ball out of the ballpark in Yankee stadium. We know
right field is short, but that's not the only place
he hits home runs.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
It's not like he's just taking advantage of a small ballpark.
He hits him everywhere.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
And and you know the the old chicks loved the
long ball, are you kid? Not only the long ball
you just talked about?
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Andy?
Speaker 3 (35:05):
The RBIs like one RBI averaging more than an RBI game.
The batting average three point eighty something in a stretcher
of ninety something games. Do you know how many guys
now in the big leagues of batting two twenty.
Speaker 10 (35:21):
But not even now?
Speaker 11 (35:21):
You look at the National League leaders. Was a Zuna
for the Braves. He's in the league with a three
on nine average. This guy's like eighty points higher.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
It's crazy, it is.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Let me let me say this judge is currently posting
a two twenty six ops plus, not counting the bigger
and late career version of Barry Bonds. That's the best
mark since Mickey Mantle posted a two twenty one figure
in his MVP year of nineteen fifty seven.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
That this is what we're talking about. Nineteen fifty seven
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple with
Chris Brushad and Ron Harker.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
This is something that's near and dear to my heart,
and this is good for both of us because you know,
you are a player at the highest level, professional athlete,
and you've also been in this business for a long time,
so you've had both sides.
Speaker 4 (00:47):
You know. Me, I'm ana die and died and in
the wall reporter. You know, despite the.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Television, despite the radio show, all that other stuff.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
You know, I am a sports writer. That's what I am.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
I've never wavered from that. You've never seen me put
on the team uniform or call some team my team
or any of that, because I'm just not That's not
what I do.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Okay, But this story, and Rob g can you jump
in with us?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
This story from Colorado and Dion and the University and
a columnist there.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
It just bothers the hell out of me. It really does.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
And as mad as I am of Dion and the university,
I'm more upset from of the reporters who work there
in Colorado who covered the Buffalo's But Rob g spell
it out first, and I'll tell you why.
Speaker 5 (01:43):
Colorado, that athletic department, specifically their football program, has informed
the Denver Post that Dion Sanders and anyone else within
their football program will no longer take questions from columnist
Sean Keeler. In a statement sent to the Post, Colorado
(02:06):
said that they have received a quote series of sustained
personal attacks in Keeler's coverage of the program. When asked
for specific examples on how they personally were attacked by Keeler,
they referenced a handful of stories which used phrases such
as quote false prophet, deposition, Dion planet prime, the Bruce
(02:33):
Lee of BS, the Dion kool Aid, and overall describing
the program as a quote circus.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
Aphraim. Here's here's why I'm mad. Okay, here's why I'm mad.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Forget about Dion and Colorado.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
Shame on them.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Okay, big babies, do you remember when Colorado won.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
Its first game? Yeah, last year? I remember? And what
did Dion do in the very first game? What do
you do? He called out ed Ward? Do you remember that, right,
Rob g Was it ed Ward? Yep? He said? Now
what do you.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Think you remember that called him out of the first game. Okay,
here's my problem. Forget Colorado, forget the football team. If
you're members of the media, not only from the Denver Post,
but from all the newspapers, TV and radio stations that
(03:32):
covered that football team, they should refuse to cover Colorado's football.
If they're going to exclude a columnist from doing his job, Ephraim,
they have every.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Right not to answer a question from that guy.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Do you hear me, You're not. I'm not You're not obligated, Ephraim.
If I'm go up to you and I say, he
from what happened on that play, whatever you know or
whatever you wif then the quarterback lost the whatever it is, okay.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
You could say to me no comment, and I have
to respect that.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Do you understand there's a difference between letting a guy
do his job and you not participating. But when you
tell a guy that he can't do his job, or
he can't be around. If you're a member of the
media not working for the Denver Post and you're with
(04:33):
another outlet, if you allow Dion and Colorado to do
this to this columnist, the stuff that he said he
from is nothing. Those are what that's what columnists do.
There was once a general manager in Detroit named Jerry Walker.
I think he's passed away now, and he from. His
big thing was he couldn't get pitching for the Tigers.
(04:53):
You know what nickname I gave he could never make
a trade to get pitching.
Speaker 4 (04:57):
I gave him the nickname doctor Doolittle.
Speaker 3 (05:03):
Okay, that's not bad, right, because he couldn't get any
trades done. Randy Smith was another Tiger general manager. I
gave him the nickname rancid Randy. Anything he touched just
turned to Google.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
All right. And my point is as.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
A columnist, that's the license you get right your opinion
to be witty whatever. And people have a right to
want to talk to me or not answer my question.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
That's fine.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
But the single lot of guy and tell him that
he can't participate on ask any.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
Questions is unheard of.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
And the rest of the media cannot allow this to happen.
Speaker 6 (05:42):
Well, okay, now it's our job to be objective, right right,
Like you said, the first thing you said on this is,
I don't claim a team. I'm a reporter, yes you know,
I'm just my opinion, the facts, the whole nine yards.
But what happens when your objective opinion starts to become subjective?
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Right?
Speaker 6 (06:06):
When you start to, you know, really lash out at
somebody personally?
Speaker 4 (06:13):
But but but what.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
What's personal? Personally?
Speaker 6 (06:18):
When you start saying personal is.
Speaker 3 (06:22):
Your fad or or you're you're no, no, no, no, I'm.
Speaker 4 (06:26):
Just hear me out, hear me out. There's a degree
of that.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
I think there's a poetic license that comes with being
a columnist more so than a beat writer. If you're
covering the team, you're not really supposed to put your
opinion in it. But opinions from columnists, I don't believe
in this program.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
You have to as a columnist. That's what people.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
What do you think is Colorado real or fake? Is
Deonna good coach or bad coach? That that's what a
columnist does. Deon's a bad coach? Is that personal?
Speaker 6 (06:59):
But that's not what he was saying. Rob, Can you
give us some of those things that he had he
had said again that you listed off.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
Sure, the phrases were used as follows, quote false prophet, deposition,
Dion planet prime, the Bruce Lee of BS okay, the
Dion kool Aid, and describing the program as quote a circus.
Speaker 6 (07:21):
Right now, that's not saying I don't think Dion Sanders
is a good coach. And this is why that's not
saying Colorado is not a good program. They don't have
enough talent. That's you're you're going to step beyond. And
I know, look and I get it. We live in
an age now where we're inundated with podcasts and reporters
(07:46):
and and and shows, and so in a sense, you
do want to stick out.
Speaker 4 (07:52):
You don't want to be like everybody else.
Speaker 6 (07:54):
Right if everybody's like, well this is this is not
this is happening, and that's not happening, so you you
go a little bit further right, false profit, the Bruce
Lee of BS. Like, all of these things are now
feeling like they're personal attacks. They're very subjective instead of objective.
You do see that, right, like it. But if they
(08:17):
consistently come at that type of clip, then it's like, oh, Okay, well,
what are we doing.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
No, he doesn't believe in the program and what dionn
is selling. And as a columnist that gives his opinion,
he should have that right. And sometimes you know what, Ephraim,
you're right and sometimes you're wrong. Okay, Okay, so that
does happen. I've done it. I've done it. I didn't
think Matt Millan. I thought if the Matt Millan hire
(08:45):
in Detroit was the worst hire in the history of sports, Okay, And.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
I said it. And guess what, I think I.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Was right on that as far as him being an executive,
not that he couldn't play one for Super Bowl.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
So what did you say did you say? He like?
How did you did you say?
Speaker 6 (09:04):
He's not a good hire as a GM This is
why I don't believe he's a good hire, I said.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
I said that fans should form the milling Man March
and march his butt out of town.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Okay, good, Okay, that's great. So I wanted his job.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
I wanted him to be fired, and I thought that
he should be because he didn't do a good job.
Now everything's attached to you, so I know people say, well,
that's personal. Well I'm talking about you as a football
coach or GM or whatever, not about Dion Sander's the father,
the husband, whatever in your personal life and all I'm saying,
(09:42):
but help me with this, help me with Okay, do
you understand what I'm saying. I do understand about the
rest of the media, though what I'm.
Speaker 6 (09:49):
I do understand you saying, hey, we need to take
a stand because this is bull.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
You can't pick and.
Speaker 6 (09:54):
Choose who you who you want to talk to, and
and and who you want you know, what you want
them to write and all that you don't. I understand
that aspect, okay, But I also understand accountability for the
things that you say. I understand that as well. And
when it stops becoming about you know, what you're writing
(10:19):
or what you're trying to message, you're trying to get
across the things that you're trying to expose or say,
and more about the one line equips that you can
you know, clickbait out there like that when you start
talking doing the whole false prophit thing the kool aid
and now you're taking it a little bit deeper. And
(10:39):
these aren't all in one article. This is over a
course of a year, so you would be like, oh okay, man,
but day okay, well what right? Like that's the part
I'm not understanding, right, Like, look, they started off with
a bang. They didn't end with a bang. So now
I'm going to really attack. I'm going to attack show
(11:01):
people that Dion is full of it, this and that
all of those things. Like to me, it's like I'm
going to prove to you and show you that Dion
Sanders is a fraud. But is Deon Sanders a fraud
as a coach because of one year in the PAC
(11:22):
twelve coming from HBCU changing that program.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
But that's and that's but that's somebody's opinion.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
The same way that if they signed uh, when they
signed Daniel Jones, I'm sure they were colamists in New
York said, what a bigs, What a big mistake?
Speaker 4 (11:39):
This guy can't play? Why would you pay him?
Speaker 3 (11:42):
Or or players drafted you see it all the time,
what a mistake, Why would you draft this guy? This
guy's going to be a bus or or when a
player winds up being a bust? Is that wrong for
a columnists? You know who am I thinking? Of the
basketball playoff?
Speaker 4 (11:58):
Kwame?
Speaker 3 (12:00):
He doesn't want to be oh I'm not a buzzed
or whatever. Dude, you were the first overall pick and
you didn't live up to what people thought would be
the expectations. Equal thought that okay, but that's what a
columnist does.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
I understand. So that's my.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Opinion that I think you're a bust. You don't have
to agree with it, and and and and that's what
I'm trying to say. Dion doesn't have to agree with it.
And if Dion personally says to that columnist when he
asked him a question, no comment, I'm cool with that.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Do you understand what?
Speaker 3 (12:34):
Dion doesn't have to talk to him, but to single
him out and try to intimidate all the other reporters
that if you don't get in line and if you
say anything off center, you'll be next.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
I don't know what that message is.
Speaker 6 (12:51):
So, because you know, there's been some harsh criticisms of
Dion and the program starting the way they did and
then finishing in the way they did, like no one
really had glowing things to say in terms of how
the program ended up. So that's not something that's like, oh, Okay,
(13:13):
he's doing this.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
No, we get that. Everybody.
Speaker 6 (13:16):
I had something to say about it, you had something
to say about We all talked about it was all
you know, we thought the season was gonna go a
little bit different. They came out, they beat a ranked team,
and then they faltered. Right then we started realizing why,
all right, offensive line, no offensive line there, defensive line, Like,
they just didn't have the talent to compete at that.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
Level with the overhaul of.
Speaker 6 (13:44):
Scholarship players leaving and the new ones coming in, they
just didn't have the talent. We saw that. Now we
weren't saying, oh Dieon is a false prophet, Oh Dieon
is all high. Oh they really drinking the kool aid
out there, like we didn't. We were very critical, hyper
critical of what was happening in Colorado. But did you
ever think that Dion couldn't resonate with young players, He
(14:08):
couldn't tap in to young players.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
But that's it's it's it's that columnist's opinion. You're right,
and he can be wrong, Ephraim, And you could be right,
But that doesn't mean that deal doesn't change his opinion.
Dictator that Dion can dictate contract can't and that and
that's the first.
Speaker 6 (14:26):
Contract he can, that's the contract he's signed and he
has the right to talk to who they put it.
They let him put it in the contract.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Odd Couple
with Chris Brussard and Rob Parker weekdays at seven pm
Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the
iHeartRadio App.
Speaker 7 (14:44):
Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller,
along with my trustee sidekick David Gascon With mean a
lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey.
You ask, what in God's name is the Fifth Hour,
I'll tell you it's a spin.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Off of it.
Speaker 7 (14:57):
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Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world
will We chat with captains of industry in media, sports
and more every week explore some amazing.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
Facts about human nature and more.
Speaker 7 (15:10):
Listen to The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller or the
iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast show.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Hail Tani's one of the biggest stars in sports that.
Speaker 8 (15:20):
I would agree with that assessment, Yes, bull take not
just baseball.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
He's one of the biggest stars in sports. He's got
a seven hundred million dollar contract. Fans all over the world,
including japan Asian people, they love him. I mean, if
you've been out to Dodger Stadium like I have, they
come in full forth.
Speaker 4 (15:40):
They want to see this guy's tremendous. We gotta get
to a game.
Speaker 8 (15:44):
By the way, you and I you can't. You can't see.
The problem is you do all Monday through Friday. That
makes it tough.
Speaker 4 (15:49):
So yeah, I can still make it. I mean we
can make that all.
Speaker 3 (15:52):
We could do a day game, one of the day games, okay,
you know, like an afternoon twelve thirty.
Speaker 8 (15:57):
Sure, yeah, I mean, I guess with the pitch clock now,
things move faster. I don't know if Rob g would
be thrilled, you know, you eating Dodger dogs.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I'll make it. I'll couldn't get at least seven innings
in okay, should have a hot dog whatever.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Hey, Rob, you, I know we can't do the conference
call because it's the seventh inning and schoo ball is
firing right now.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Me and toys. We'll get to it later, Rob, do
you know how it is? Some time at bees like
that does get it.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
But Aaron so so we we know, and he's having
a tremendous year. You know, no DH has ever won
the MVP in the history of baseball.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
No DH has ever won the MVP.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
But this year because he is not pitching, he's just
dhing for the Dodgers. When Mookie Betts got hurt, he
was moved to the lead off spot. I can go
on and on, and he has a chance to be
in a forty forty club right, forty stolen bases and
(16:56):
forty home runs. That hasn't happened. It's been, it's been.
It's been a minute for somebody who have been able
to do that. But I say all of this about
show Hay and how great he's been to say this that,
don't look now him winning the National League MVP ain't
(17:19):
in the bag. It is not in the bag because
of Marcel Azuna. Here's the problem the Atlanta Braves DH.
He's having a monster year and is in the running
for a triple crown. He came into Tonight's Get Action
(17:41):
right three h nine batting average, which leads the National League.
He leads the National League in RBI with ninety four,
and he's second in home runs behind show Hey. Show
Hay has thirty nine. Right, uh, yeah, yeah, thirty nine
(18:02):
home runs, right, But he's second to a Zuna, second
to him, but he's in the hunt for the triple crown.
And here's the history about it. If a Zuna can
win the triple Crown. I don't see how anybody in
(18:22):
their right mind would not vote him to be the
MVP despite what show he has done. And he's had
a tremendous season, but he's not leading in every category,
you know, like, how can you ignore this and just
look at show Hay and say, well, he was forty
forty or would you have to look at it? There
(18:44):
hasn't been a triple Crown winner, are you ready? Since
twenty twelve Miguel Cabrera with the Tigers did it. So
it doesn't happen very often that somebody's a triple Crown winner.
And we talked about the DH thing, but I don't know.
He would be the first National League player to pull
(19:06):
off the triple crown.
Speaker 4 (19:07):
You're ready? Since nineteen thirty seven, Wow, nineteen thirty seven,
no one's done in the National League.
Speaker 8 (19:14):
So let me ask you two follow up questions. One,
if he doesn't get the triple Crown, but obviously he
has an incredible season. Does that he should be in
the race, but he isn't the definitive winner. Is that
fair to say or do we do you disagree with
that statement?
Speaker 3 (19:30):
It just depends because if he leads the league in
hitting an RBI, say, and Oltani beats him in home
runs by one or two, right, so he doesn't get that,
he still would have two things. Now, Oltani has his
stolen bases.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
That's what he does.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
He has thirty seven stolen bases, and if he does it,
he would be the sixth player to be in a
forty forty club. That doesn't happen forty home runs in
forty stolen bases. I just think that most of the
season everybody thought it was a four going shirt, that
Aaron Judge would win it in the America League and
Shoe Hail Tony.
Speaker 4 (20:06):
Would win an a National League. Would you agree with that? Yeah?
Speaker 8 (20:08):
No, that has been the sentiment and my follow up
to not just that question. My second question was, obviously,
Dodgers right now are in control or at least in
the lead in the NL West. Best record in baseball
or best record in the National League excuse me, best
record in baseball as well? You know, Braves very much
in the mix for a wildcard spot. Do you think
(20:31):
if the Braves were not to win, not to get
a wildcard obviously in this scenario, they you know, in
the scenario that I'm framing, not don't get a wildcard,
don't win the NL East with the Phillies running away
with that division. If they don't make the playoffs, but
Ozuna wins the Triple Crown, do you believe he would
still deserve the MVP.
Speaker 3 (20:51):
I don't think there's ever been someone to win the
Triple Crown and didn't win the MVP, and they tried
in twenty twelve. I remember this very vividly because I
was working in Detroit and there are a lot.
Speaker 4 (21:02):
Of steam heads and all of these.
Speaker 9 (21:07):
Pocket protector analytic geeks who were trying to make a
case that Mike Trout should be the MVP and not
Miguel Cabrera who won a triple And I'm like, dude,
stop it, Like, can we not ignore the numbers he leaves.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
That leads the league in home runs.
Speaker 8 (21:25):
RBIs batting average and batting average, and.
Speaker 3 (21:30):
You're going to say that that guy doesn't deserve to
win the MVP. The ludacrous, and the same thing here
with Ozuna. As much as it's going to be epic
for Otani to be in a forty forty club, sure, sure,
but would you take forty forty club?
Speaker 4 (21:47):
He'll be the sixth guy to ever do it.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
But if Ozuna wins a triple crown in the National League,
the first since nineteen thirty seven, which one has more weight.
Speaker 8 (22:00):
First triple crown in the NL since six thirty seven,
is pretty impressive. I'm not gonna lie. I guess my
only pushback would be is the one thing I will say,
I think in other sports, and I think mostly the NBA,
I do think the MVP has been a little bastardized,
if you will. I hope I can say that on radio.
I'm sure I can. You know, it's common, you know, lingo, whatever,
(22:20):
But it does feel like too much of the MVP
conversation in other sports is just about did you put
up cool numbers or not? And it doesn't have to
do with actual impact on the court. You know, you
go back to a couple of years ago, and I
love the joke, Itch the joker, but you know, the
first year he won his MVP, Chris Paul. Of course,
(22:40):
that was his first year in Phoenix and they went
from a complete laughing stock to the NBA Finals. And
I sat there and said, how can you be more
valuable than Chris Paul going from you know, completely out
of the playoffs to whatever they were the one two
seed that year. And so I bring it up because
I guess my only argument against Ozuna is is the
(23:01):
stats are really cool, but you know, I got to
see how the team finishes before I get too excited.
If they flail down the stretch, I would feel differently.
But even that, and I know I'm contradicting myself, but
I mean, you know you're doing this without Ronald Dacunia.
Obviously Riley's banged up as well.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
He just went out. He's out for the rest of
the season, right exactly. And also Michael Harris the second
missed two months.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
I could go down the line.
Speaker 3 (23:26):
There's actually a lot of holes in that lineup because
there's so many injuries. So what he's doing is actually
pretty impressive without the support in the batting order, and
you know that he was hitting behind you and.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
All that matters in baseball.
Speaker 8 (23:40):
Well, and that's where I think, you know, the casual
would sit there and talk about Otani's value, is that
not only is he putt up unbelievable stats, but he's
doing in a year where Mookie Bets miss forty games,
the staff is all banged up. But you can make
the same argument for Marcelo Zuna. So, Rob, I hate
to say this because I know you bring me on.
I know you bring me on here to have big, strong,
(24:01):
bold opinions. Agree with you, disagree with you whatever. I'm
not ready to like, I'm not ready to call it
for one guy or the other. And I do think
that you know, if you just look at it on paper,
how could you give the award to anyone other than
show Hey. But I do think if Ozuna does something
that hasn't been done in close to one hundred years
while leading his team to the playoffs in a year
where so many guys on that roster are banged up
(24:24):
out for the year, been out for Acuti has been
out since what like the middle of May something like that. Yeah,
so yeah, I hate to be a fence sitter here.
That's the worst thing you could be in sports talk radio.
But it's like, I can absolutely see the argument that
he should not only be in the conversation, but then
he should win the award. I guess all I would
say right now is I have to see how how
(24:45):
the season ends for both of those guys, because obviously
show Hayes doing it on a team that's loaded too,
but also a team that has dealt with their own
injury issues and things of that nature.
Speaker 4 (24:55):
And just let's put it on the record.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
According to fan Duel, so yeah, Czecho City, that's right.
Otani holds a commanding lead in the race for NL MVP.
He's the heavy favorite at minus thirty five hundred right
to take home his second consecutive MVP award, and Azuna
is actually a distant third at plus thirty one hundred.
(25:19):
And here's the part where it's bad because Otani's the
bigger star. We know that, right, He's a household name.
I just talked about it, and it shouldn't be based
on that. Sure, it really should not. That he has
star power. He has the bigger name. Everybody knows him,
and he's having a great year. So I'm not trying
(25:40):
to pooh pooh his year or acting like he's not
in the mix. He's definitely in the mix, and if
Azuna Azuna doesn't get the triple crown, then he won't win,
like I believe that. But with the triple crown, to me,
there's no doubt who should be the Nation League MVP.
Speaker 8 (26:00):
Well, listen, I know that makes sense, No, one hundred percent.
I was gonna say, I know how Shekel City works.
It's not what you're what somebody should bet, it's what
you're betting. I think Ozuna with the third best odds,
and uh, it might might be the might be the
play here.
Speaker 4 (26:13):
And I'm also thirty one hundred.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
Yeah, I'm I'm not telling you what you should do.
I'm just telling you what I might do when I
get home, because, uh, because I like the odds there.
But yeah, I I I have to see how the
season plays out, frankly for both guys, and I know
it's it's obviously there's six weeks left in the regular season,
so there's time one way or the other. But yeah,
I think when I first looked at this, I sat
there and said, well, it's hard to argue against Otani,
(26:36):
but I'll be honest, like the more that you made
the argument, and I think more significantly, not just that
you made the argument the fact that he's not only
putting up historic numbers, but he's doing it in a
year where his team needs that.
Speaker 4 (26:48):
And I think that's the important thing. Right.
Speaker 8 (26:49):
I talked about the word value in most valuable player.
I think he's every bit as valuable as shohe Otani
through one hundred and twenty five, one hundred and thirty games,
whatever it's been to this point. The question is, for
the final month of the season, can he help keep
his team in playoff contention.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
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Speaker 4 (27:17):
Let's start Andy with baseball.
Speaker 10 (27:21):
Can't believe it.
Speaker 4 (27:22):
It's refreshing.
Speaker 10 (27:23):
It's refreshing.
Speaker 3 (27:24):
It is refreshing. But you know you're talking to me
and I'm talking to you. We're baseball guys. Okay, Yeah,
And you know what we could do a phony NFL
story to satisfy people, or we could talk about what's
happening today and guess what's happening today, Aaron Judge is
what's happening today? Have you ever seen a tear like this?
Speaker 4 (27:42):
Andy? For real?
Speaker 10 (27:44):
He is not getting the exposure he deserves.
Speaker 11 (27:48):
What he has done right now over the last ninety
one hundred ball games is unheard of. I mean, and
they don't even hype him enough for MVP. I really, look,
he's been overshadowed at the kind of know that he's
gotta be the MVP. That's not close.
Speaker 10 (28:05):
It'd be an investigation if if he doesn't.
Speaker 3 (28:07):
Crazy is Bobby Wood Junior is having an unbelievable year
with the Royals, but it doesn't compare.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
I mean, Judge is hitting. Is it three thirty five.
Speaker 10 (28:16):
Or thirty four with forty eight homers?
Speaker 3 (28:19):
RBIs we still got six weeks five weeks ago to go.
Speaker 10 (28:25):
It's amazing. Really, it's tremendous.
Speaker 11 (28:27):
And you know, I don't think people appreciate a player
like this is a generational type player.
Speaker 10 (28:32):
Really, he really is.
Speaker 11 (28:34):
I mean, ticket pairing hit to the numbers that man
will put up Mickey Mantle back when he was an
MVP back in nineteen fifty seven.
Speaker 4 (28:40):
Right now, Rob g was it?
Speaker 3 (28:43):
Uh Bob Nightingale, what is the stat that we just
saw and that that didn't even include the home run
from today? But he's averaging Andy over You got a
rob g.
Speaker 5 (28:55):
Yeah, in the last ninety games heading into Thursdy and
not counting today.
Speaker 3 (28:59):
Yeah, but it would go up because it's less than
seven at bats, right, Yeah.
Speaker 5 (29:03):
Judge has been unstoppable, hitting three eighty two Did you
hear that?
Speaker 4 (29:10):
Three eighty two for power hitter?
Speaker 5 (29:13):
Forty homers, ninety seven RBI across his last ninety games. Yikes,
his home runs per at bat seven point seven?
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Did you hear that?
Speaker 5 (29:24):
Okay, So, just to put into context, all right, better.
Speaker 10 (29:27):
Than an RBI a game. He averaged better than an game.
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Right.
Speaker 5 (29:30):
Barry Bonds, who many call the greatest player in baseball history,
had a home run rate of about thirteen.
Speaker 4 (29:37):
So one home run every thirteen at bats. Yep.
Speaker 5 (29:40):
Aaron Judge, who was one of the most prolific home
run hitters we have ever seen, fast three hundred in
MLB history. His career rate is eleven and a half
at battles, which is a great number, right, which is
all time great and right now, in this current stretch
that he's on coming into today again, what you're gonna
improve seven point seven?
Speaker 4 (30:00):
Hey? Andy?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
It really to hit a home run that often? And
my god, if this guy wasn't banged up and hurt
all those things, you know what I mean at batsy's
missed and games he's missed over the last few years.
If he played, where he would be. And here's the thing,
Andy and Rob g is my proof in twenty seventeen,
(30:23):
remember he broke in in what twenty sixteen? I put
him down as one of my top five sluggers.
Speaker 4 (30:30):
Of all time. And people freaked out.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
They thought it was way premature that you know, he
didn't have enough sample size.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
How can you do that? And I looked at this guy.
Speaker 3 (30:42):
And at the rate he was hitting home runs and whatnot.
And I'm going to tell you this right now, Greed, disagreed.
Speaker 4 (30:50):
Tell me what you think.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
But if Judge would have retired today, I think he
would rank as a top five slugger home run.
Speaker 4 (31:00):
Hitter of all times.
Speaker 3 (31:01):
Like that is where he cemented himself. On this current stretch, Andy,
that we've never seen, We've never seen anybody this prolific.
It is incredible, Like every day, aren't you surprised when
he doesn't hit a home run?
Speaker 4 (31:18):
I mean, that's what it was like.
Speaker 10 (31:19):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 11 (31:20):
I don't think he's getting the exposure deserving for what
he's accomplished. I just don't believe he has. And you're
right about he'd be a top five slop are.
Speaker 4 (31:30):
You with me on that?
Speaker 3 (31:31):
With you already right already?
Speaker 11 (31:34):
And the fact that he plays in New York, you
think he get even more exposure, but he's not. He's
being overshadowed by Aaron Rodgers, NFL and things like that,
which really don't mean anything right now. NFL is nothing.
It doesn't mean anything for two three weeks from now. Yeah,
but everybody not in New York.
Speaker 3 (31:51):
I mean he gets you know, New York's a baseball town,
and you know this what Aaron Judge is doing, people
are eating up.
Speaker 6 (31:59):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
You know, we could talk about the rest of the
world and the country and all this, but I don't
know anybody.
Speaker 4 (32:05):
We talked about him the other day.
Speaker 3 (32:07):
And people were really happy that we were talking about
about this and where he fits in. But this is
something that Andy when I said this in twenty seventeen,
I just I don't remember a guy six foot seven
he has everything you want.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
I mean, forget about the Little league.
Speaker 3 (32:27):
Coach on Long Island who tried to drag Aaron Judge's name,
you know, through the mud, and you saw how the
Yankees respond that they were not happy, and they pushed back.
Speaker 11 (32:40):
Let's do that story again, because I think maybe people
may have missed that the Little League World Series, the
manager of the team was upset because Aaron Judge was
like ignoring his team, didn't wink, didn't wave to his team.
Speaker 10 (32:49):
And that's right, that's what.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
He claimed that he didn't give that team from Staten Island,
New York enough love.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
But all the pictures I saw was Aaron Judge around kids.
Didn't you say, right?
Speaker 11 (33:01):
And after I read the start, I saying, you know what,
Now I know why athletes hate the public, hate the
media because they can't win.
Speaker 10 (33:08):
They can't win, they really can't. I mean, I get
it now.
Speaker 11 (33:11):
I have no problem with an athlete waving himself away
if a guy shoves a paper in his face for
an autographic walk, So I get it now. I understand
why I see it when this sob from the Little
League has the hanky downs to say that about Aaron Judge,
oh my goodness.
Speaker 10 (33:26):
Really he should be reprimanded by the Little League.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
And the Yankees made the point, and I'm with you
that if there was an issue, why wouldn't he address
it with the Yankees rather than just going and putting
that out there to make Aaron Judge the bad guy,
and the Yankees push back on it. They're not going
to have their star player where people make it like
(33:53):
he doesn't like kids or he ignored the kids and
the Little League. I'm just going by I don't know,
and you know what, there are a lot of kids Andy.
Could there have been a situation, you know what I
mean where somebody didn't get the attention or whatever. But
but all the pictures I saw was Aaron Judge around.
Speaker 10 (34:12):
Kids, right, right.
Speaker 11 (34:14):
But you know what the best thing about Aaron Judge
was when he kind of rolled the dice on his contract.
Speaker 4 (34:19):
Remember that was big. It was huge.
Speaker 11 (34:22):
People say, hey, you know, he's foolish. He should you know,
he could get hurt. And again it's the injury history
he won. I love that, I really do. But but
this is something to behold. It really is.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
And if you you know how hard it is Andy
to hit home runs. Everybody can't hit home runs, and
for this guy to hit it with the regularity, it
doesn't matter. He's not just I'm not he hits the
ball out of the ballpark in Yankee stadium. We know
right field is short, but that's not the only place
he hits home runs.
Speaker 4 (34:52):
It's not like he's just taking advantage of a small ballpark.
He hits him everywhere.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
And and you know the the old chicks loved the
long ball, are you kid? Not only the long ball
you just talked about?
Speaker 4 (35:05):
Andy?
Speaker 3 (35:05):
The RBIs like one RBI averaging more than an RBI game.
The batting average three point eighty something in a stretcher
of ninety something games. Do you know how many guys
now in the big leagues of batting two twenty.
Speaker 10 (35:21):
But not even now?
Speaker 11 (35:21):
You look at the National League leaders. Was a Zuna
for the Braves. He's in the league with a three
on nine average. This guy's like eighty points higher.
Speaker 4 (35:29):
It's crazy, it is.
Speaker 3 (35:30):
Let me let me say this judge is currently posting
a two twenty six ops plus, not counting the bigger
and late career version of Barry Bonds. That's the best
mark since Mickey Mantle posted a two twenty one figure
in his MVP year of nineteen fifty seven.
Speaker 4 (35:50):
That this is what we're talking about. Nineteen fifty seven
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