May 5, 2026 • 34 mins
New York sports media personality Keith McPherson is in for Kelvin, and he and Rob explain why Shohei Ohtani may have to stop being a two-way star and focus only on being a full-time hitter. Plus, NBC Sports Boston host Michael Holley swings by to discuss what went wrong for the Celtics after going up 3-1 in their first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, why the Red Sox decided to dump Alex Cora, the fallout from the Mike Vrabel-Dianna Russini scandal, and much more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Our number three on a trash talking Tuesday.
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Man Keith, where is the time gone? Number three?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Unbelievable, Rob Parker, Keith McPherson, and for Kelvin Washington. Kelvin
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Coming up in about twenty eight minutes. Michael Holly, one
(01:36):
of my favorite people from NBC Sports in Boston and
an author of course. Plus last call in case you
couldn't get into the show earlier. It is a trash
talking Tuesday. We appreciate everybody who chimed in in our
number two.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
All right, Rob g let's start here. The Dodgers are playing.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Otani's pitching against the Astros. It's too nothing Houston in
the fourth uh, and the Dodgers so far uh, not
getting much done offensively. Now, Otani this year is not
hitting when he's pitching, but when he's just hitting as well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
He's struggling this year, Rob, you give us the detail.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Yeah, Well, first off in tonight's game and they're down
two nothing. As you mentioned, he's gone three innings, four strikeouts,
no walks, two home runs given up, both solo shots.
Speaker 6 (02:24):
So that's what the.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Which is a lot more runs than he's been given up.
Speaker 7 (02:27):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
He hasn't been given up, as you mentioned Rob.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
He just was named the NL Pitcher of the Month
for the March April span there in Major League Baseball.
He's been really good, looking, every bit like the cy
young candidate that they said he would coming into this season.
The only problem is that while his pitching is better
than ever, his hitting is on the flip side worse
than has been in his career. He is oer for
(02:51):
his last seventeen hasn't recorded a hit in a week,
his longest hitless streak in four years. He's only got
one homer since April twelfth, and his OPS is the
first time it's been below eight point fifty this deep
into a season in three years. So Dave Roberts has
said he's made the decision starting tonight, and I guess
(03:13):
moving forward, on the days that old Tawny pitches, he
will not nt be a DH anymore. He will only
be pitching on those days, and then he'll DH on
the off days.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Keith, I'm sorry, Uh, I'm sorry. I get the pitching thing.
I understand he's a unicorn. Nobody's done it since Babe
Ruth in the nineteen twenties. All that, but even Babe
Ruth came around and they decided that, you know what,
that bat, that stick is too big. Not pause, Okay,
(03:46):
not to have that gay, yeah, not to have that
guy hit him every day. Dude, two years ago, right
when he was injured, when he wasn't pitching and he
had the fifty to fifty was that last year?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
What am I thinking? Two years ago? Two years ago?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
And that's what I thought when he had the fifty
to fifty, right, fifty home runs, fifty stolen bases, all
that unbelievable year and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And now the.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
More we get to see him when he hits and pitches,
he's not the same guy.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I don't care what anybody says.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
If I have to give up one, I'm giving up
the pitching, as much as pitching is big in order
to win the World Series. Keith, we both know baseball,
We understand the importance of pitching. But I can't lose
a bat where this guy now is not gonna hit
on daisy pitches, take him out of the lineup. He's
(04:48):
pitching really well, but scuffling offensively. Rob Jesus mentioned ops
down big time in big worse than three years. He's
on an zero for seventeen clip not hitting home runs.
This ain't no blip. I got too much data that
tells me when he's playing every day and he's an
(05:09):
offensive guy, that he is one of the best players.
Now when you water him down with the pitching, he
ain't the same guy. If I have to pick one,
I want a guy who plays every day, who's gonna
play one hundred and fifty eight games, who's gonna have
a chance to hit fifty home runs, Who's gonna be
(05:32):
that guy at the top of my lineup and a
threat every time he comes to the plate. Over a
guy who's gonna play one at once every fifth day,
or not gonna hit, or his pitching is going to
derail his hitting.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
I'm not with it anymore. It was cute, it's now fugly.
How's that well said. I'm not gonna disagree. I think
the loneliness is hitting him. He's been without epay for
some time now. It's skin lonely over there. But I'm
ann o tani haters, so I'll just lay out. Listen,
he's a left handed bat, he's a leadoff hitter. You're
(06:05):
gonna want that bad in the game four times a game.
That's more important. These are the deferred Dodgers.
Speaker 9 (06:10):
Right, all the money that they have, they can always
go and buy pitching.
Speaker 7 (06:14):
I'm sure they'll try to have it now.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Want to be honest, go look at the pitch.
Speaker 9 (06:18):
They don't need it, and they don't they don't need
They won a World Series without him pitching. They honestly
won that World Series with him hurt. So like the
allure and the effect of the Otani unicorn, Like, they've
already made their money.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
They've made his contract back.
Speaker 9 (06:31):
They've already won back to back championships, they might win three,
who knows. I would try to keep him healthy for
the duration of the contract. He's thirty one, he's only
getting older. And I would just say, hey, listen, we
have this universal DH and we've had it for years.
You're just gonna be a DH. Maybe they start to
scale it back, and we have seen them scale it back.
Maybe you scale it back and make them come out
(06:52):
of the bullpen. But I just think, you know, the throwing,
and I know he fashioned himself as a pitcher, I
think coming into the league, But I just don't think
it's it's worth it. I think you want that bat,
leadoff bat, left handed bat, power bat, in your lineup
to drive in runs, and if he's struggling there, it's
not worth it to make him take the ball every
(07:12):
five days. I think he's easier to replace in the
rotation than he is in the lineup. And they've got
the money to do it and the wherewithal to do it.
They always make trades, they always go forward at the deadline.
I think this is a simple fix. And they've gone
out and spent a ton of money on pitching. I agree.
I agree, like they have pitching enough. They did win
(07:34):
without him really contributing the last two years on the
pitching side, right, they did, Rob g Can you.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Look it up?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
He didn't want to play, He didn't want a World
Series game last year. I don't, I don't. And and
two years ago when they won, he he didn't hit
or pitch, right was he was injured two years ago
when they beat the Yankees. So the Dodgers need him
to be Otani and for him to be the MVP
and put up the numbers. And it's just too much
(08:03):
data that that that makes me not feel good about
It's not a blip in the screen. Now, you're not
He's not gonna hit when he pitches I want. I
don't want that bad in the lineup.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Really, all right, rob G, rob G, you got the numbers.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
So last season twenty twenty five in the World Series
two starts zero and one, a chubby seven point five
six er. What were doing across the third INBH took
him deep eleven hit seven earned runs, two homers, three.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Seven runs, That's what I'm trying to say, like like,
and then two years ago they won and he didn't
pitch at all because that's when he had the you know,
the the shoulder thing.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So so what are we doing here? What are we doing? Babe?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Ruth gave up pitching two didn't he? They were like, dude,
you're too valuable. We need you to light up every day.
And the best one about Old Tony is that he
does play every day.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
The thing about baseball, Keith judging Old Tony when they play,
they play every day. They know they played one p
fifty eight out of one sixty two or something like that,
a great number.
Speaker 9 (09:16):
We can't even say it's like a return on investment
type of thing, because, like I said, they already made
his contract back. They've won their two World Series. It
isn't like, oh, we you know, we paid this guy
seventy million a year because he's a DH and an ace,
don't I don't think it's that either. I think it
might be a little bit of the showcase of the unicorn.
(09:36):
We have the one player that pitches and hits. We
want to keep that going a little bit longer because
we've really only seen it for one year here in
Dodger Stadium or a unique glow field at Dodger Stadium.
So maybe that's the thing they want to They want
to get another couple seasons of him out of them
out on the mound, and I think they could, but
not if it compromises the hitting.
Speaker 7 (09:57):
The hitting is paramount. The hitting is the priority.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Wouldn't you be concerned, like like, this is a this
is a bad slump for him. I just like like
the way the way he mashed two years ago, and
I know last year's numbers weren't nearly as good rights
as that year, and that's a once in a lifetime
kind of year that he had. I mean, that was
the fifty to fifty in the bags and the home
runs and all that. But this year has been very
(10:25):
disappointing and if I'm the Dodgers, I gotta get that
guy right. I gotta get him right. He's that big
of a part of the team and that's why they're
he's not hitting. And guess what they're doing scuffling, right,
they lost a series to the Rockies. This this scuff's
(10:46):
gonna happen. No, I know, it's gonna be the phase
of the franchise, and they go as he goes for
the most part. I know they got some other guys,
but he is the face of the twenty three men.
Mookie Betts, you know, has been hurt the last couple
of years too. Tucker, Yeah, Kyle Tucker, who they signed,
They got him. But they have enough pitching. I do
believe that, and I'm with you maybe if a push
(11:07):
comes to shove, but they have they got and when
Diaz right as they're closer, they went out and got
him from the Mets, so they don't really need a closer.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
He'll be back at some point this year. So I
don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
I just think I want to see old tany hit
every day, seven days a week. I don't want as much.
And he's a very good pitcher. Was he gonna win
this side I know, against all odds, he would want
to be able to win a cy Young in an MVP.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Am I right? Would that be?
Speaker 7 (11:39):
Yeah? But he's not gonna But I'm with.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
You, that's not gonna happen, is it? Because you already
see it's one or the other. Which one would you
rather have? The cy Young or the MVP.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
He's got a bunch of MVPs already.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, But the Dodgers aren't pitching, aren't paying for that
for him.
Speaker 9 (11:56):
Though they're paying for championships, and they don't even need
to pitch him. They need to get him through the
regular season, and then he doesn't need to make starts
in October. They can make a move at the deadline
for a starter, and they don't need to have him
start games in the you know, in the postseason, all right?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven
nine nine six sixty three sixty nine. If push comes
to shove, should old Tani focus solely on pitching or hitting?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Where are you on this?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
I'm interested to hear this, And this is if push
comes to shove and he has to pick one or
the other, we'll continue that conversation next with you.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It is The Odd Couple.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Rob Parker Keith McPherson in for kelvin Washington, where we
deliver insight, not noise right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 9 (12:43):
Stick and stay, especially if you still believe in Otani
Son in the us of A.
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Speaker 2 (13:31):
It is the Odd Couple.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Fox Sports Radio, Rob Parker, Keith McPherson filling in for
kelvin Washington and at the University of Maryland Global Campus,
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(13:58):
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I'll telephone number eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
talking about show Hail Tani, who is scuffling big time
offensively this year, not hitting when he's pitching. The Dodgers
are currently losing to nothing to the astros. Otani's giving
(14:19):
up a couple of solo home runs to nothing Houston
in the bottom of the fifth, and Keith and I
are talking what should you do if you're the Dodgers.
Forget about the pitching part. I don't mean totally, but
the idea that he's not gonna hit when he pitches
bothers me. And now he's scuffling. He's not hitting tonight,
but he's over his last seventeen and all of his
(14:42):
numbers are down this year. Eight seven seven ninety nine
on Fox. Let's talk to Keith Andre in Massachusetts. You're
on the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
What's up, dray.
Speaker 11 (14:53):
Uh, how you doing? Thanks? Thanks for taking a call listen.
In terms of show, Hey, Otani, he certainly has to
focus on keeping the main thing the main thing and
That is what he's able to do with his VET.
That's why he's a four time MVP, five time All Star,
and that's how he really changes games. Yes, every five
days he can come in and pitch, and particularly you
(15:14):
know it's been like two or three years. Well, he
just started off the season on fire, both pitching and hitting,
and he was doing some Bo Jackson level stuff. But
let's learn from that example, right, how long do we
get to see bo Jackson at his invincible level of
the course of his career. It was a flash in
the pan and he's doing the unbelievable things, and then
his body broke down, all right, and he didn't have
(15:35):
the overall long Jetty, he didn't have the overall longevity.
So he's got to focus on the hitting. Okay, make
that the prime competitive advantage. And then when he can
come in and pitch and help the Dodgers, all right,
that's an extra added advantage. Thanks taking the call.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
YEP appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
And Keith Andre makes the case and he's that's right.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Like the bread and butter as much and as.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
And we're not. We're baseball guys. We know how important
pitching is. Right, you don't have pitching, you ain't winning
a World Series. But the Dodgers have pitching. Even without Otani,
They've won two World Series and he has a chubby
el ray. Last year in the World Series didn't win
a World Series game, and the year before that when
(16:21):
they won and beat the Yankees, he didn't pitch at all.
So it's not like he pitched them to two World
Series and then you wouldn't even think about it.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Am I right?
Speaker 9 (16:31):
You're one hundred percent right. That's why it's like an act,
it's a show. It's a thing that's like come out
and see the great o' tanni. He can pitch, he
can hit, but what is adding more value the hitting?
It has to be the hitting. And do I think
that this is gonna end?
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Now? Here's the other part is that was one of
the reasons he came and a part of coming to
the United States, coming to Major League baseball was that
they had to let him do both. You remember that
that was the big thing was because they never let
anybody do it. They won't let you do You could
be good a good hitter hitting pitcher in the minor leagues,
(17:05):
they won't let you do it. You know what they won't,
but that was it. So do you think that the
Dodgers have no chance because Otani would be like, no, no, no,
that's not what I signed up for.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
This is what I want to do.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
And how important it is for him to try to
win a cy Young and MVP in the same season.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Do you think that's even possible.
Speaker 7 (17:26):
I don't think it's possible.
Speaker 9 (17:27):
I just think there's better pitchers out there that are
just pitchers, and they focus on that, like Paul Skeins.
But you made a good point about Otani. What Otani
says goes, and if Otani is pushing back to say
I'm a pitcher, like I alluded to, he came in saying,
you know he's a pitcher. He hits two if he's
a pitcher first in his mind, and he's telling them
I want to pitch as long as I could possibly pitch.
(17:49):
When does the organization step in and shut it down
and say, no, you know, we're gonna make the best
decision for you. I think it goes a little longer.
I think it goes for the next three to four
maybe five years, till he's thirty five, and also until
he's on the back half of that that contract.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
So see, I think it could happen faster if he
has a bad offensive year, like I.
Speaker 9 (18:11):
Say, if he if he stops performing at the plate,
something has to get done. But I think it's just may.
I think he's it's gonna warm up and he'll come
out of it.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
But it's just it's just weird to see him as
such a funk, you know, and and and just the
idea like before he used to pitch and hit right
in with the d H or whatever, and now to say,
you know, until further notice, he's not going to hit
on those days. Is already a change by the Dodgers
where you can see that that they've already made a
(18:40):
change and said we need to do something here.
Speaker 9 (18:43):
Yeah, but I mean that's also partly because they have
guys that can DH. They have the depth in their
their roster where they can make that move.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Would fans be fans, I don't know. If you're a
Dodger fan, I think you're right with you talk about
the show like you've seen it, like you've seen it,
so it's not like, oh my god, he doesn't do
it anymore, like you've seen it. He's done it, pitched
and hit at a high level one MVP s all
that kind of stuff. So it's not like people didn't
(19:16):
see it like we saw it. And maybe that was
the Babe Ruth comparison. I think that's a legitimate comparison.
Babe Ruth was a pretty good pitcher as well, and
they at some point just said, no, you know what
I mean, we need this guy's bad, We need we
need you.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
To just hit every day and turn into that.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Shouldn't somebody sit him down and talk to him and said,
you already did what no one was able to do
and already did check that box. Now you have a
chance to be Babe Ruth are one of the great hitters.
And I'm gonna put it out here like this, Dude,
if you don't continue the hitting style and what you're doing,
(19:56):
people are gonna be thinking about Aaron Judge during this
era as the greatest hit her, not Old Tani.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Well, yeah, we already are, am I right, But.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
I'm just saying is but the gap will be widen,
is what I'm saying. Like it's like Aaron Judge and
Old Tani. Like Aaron Judge has a chance. He's on
pace to sixty home runs this year. Right, he's on.
He has a chance to have fifty or more home
runs in five seasons, never been done by anybody.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
He'll be the one.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
He's think about that. That's what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
All the great home run hitters, Tank, Aaron, Willie Mays, Babe, Ruth,
Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
I was waiting for Barry Bonds.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I was coming to I was coming. But I'm just saying.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
And nobody is hit five fifty on more home runs
five in five seasons, no one. And Aaron Judge is
already on pace to do that this year at thirty
one years old. How many fifty home run seasons will
he have? Is he thirty one to thirty two? But
you know, like he's still got years to go.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
Judge Judge is not that young.
Speaker 9 (21:10):
Judge just turned thirty six, No, thirty three, Judge, I
think just turned twenty thirty six on the on the twenty.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Six thirty four? Yeah, I who thirty four?
Speaker 7 (21:21):
He's thirty four. Yeah, that's a big put my age
out there.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Yeah, come on, all right, I know I know you
ain't hitting no fifty home runs, but Aaron Judge, that's different.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
All right? Coming up, next, Michael Holly.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Want to know how much crying they're doing in Boston
because a lot of bad stuff has happened to Red Sox.
Think the Patriots have a Philanderan coach. Uh, the Celtics choke.
It's bad in Boston and we want to reign on
their parade. So we'll talk with Michael Holly from NBC
Sports Boston. Coming up, but first let's get you caught
up with Steve.
Speaker 7 (21:54):
De sag Hey.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Steve, be sure to catch live editions of The Odd
Couple with Rob Parker and Kelvin Wall Washington weekdays at
seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Thanks Steve, appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
It is The Odd Couple, Rob Parker, Keith McPherson in
for Kelvin Washington on a trash Talking Tuesday. One of
my favorite people now stepping up to the mic. He
is mister Michael Holly, of course, of NBC Sports Boston.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Mike's what's up? Say hi to Keith? How are you?
Speaker 6 (22:27):
Rob? Keith? I'm doing well? How about you guys? Tonight
Trash Talking Tuesday, so I just know how to set
up is coming here I'm just a you being nice
right now, just waiting for just go ahead, just go ahead.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
You know, I'm gonna unload on Boston.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
I'm like, it's in shambles up there, and let's start
with the latest cann move work out way back, cause
it got three bad stories in Boston. First to choke
job by the Celtics. Are people mad? People disappointed or
accepting of this?
Speaker 6 (23:00):
Wait? Okay, now you've been to Boston many times. How
many people in Boston stay mad? That's default mode. Yeah,
people are pissed, and rightfully so, I mean, you realize
it has never happened before in Celtic's history. They've never
blown a three to one series lead ever, and Philadelphia
(23:20):
had never come back from a one to three deficit
in franchise history. So I think it was that collapse.
As you said, it was a choke job, there's no
question about it. But the fact that it happened against
the Sixers, who most people in Boston just don't take
seriously because it has been a long time. If you're
(23:41):
a Celtics fan under forty, you don't know what all this,
You don't know what beat La is about, and all
the Sixers Celtic's history doctor j Andrew, Tony, Larry Bird,
Cedric Maxwell. You don't know about that, so all you
know is that you always beat the Sixers and in
this time it didn't happen. Yet people are very upset
about it.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
Yo, this is Key checking in with you up there
in Boston. Are they feeling like they made the right
move firing Alex Cora? Like, do they feel like that
was the thing to do with the Red Sox are
going to turn it around? The Mets haven't fired their
guy yet. I mean, it's worked for the Phillies. What's
the vibe in Boston around the rest of the Red
Sox season?
Speaker 6 (24:20):
Now, Yeah, that's a great question, Keith. You know Alex Cora,
you know, he signed that new contract, signed a new
contract with the team last year and a lot of
people thought a lot of people were surprised by it
because it was clear that Cora wasn't on the same
page with the last two Red Sox general managers. They're
(24:42):
so messed up. They don't even call them general managers anymore.
And you know they have some crazy titles, but basically,
Craig Breslow is the general manager of the Red Sox
now before him, Heim Bloom who's in Saint Louis and Cora.
When he first came in, they were spending money. First
year franchise, record World Series. They have Mookie Betts, they
got Xander Bogarts, they got Ropedi Oldevers, they got all
(25:03):
these guys, and right after they won, they fired Dave
Dombrowski and they start to go on the cheap as
if they're not the Boston Red Sox. So I think
a lot of people were surprised that Korra re up
with them, knowing the direction the franchise was going in,
And I looked at it this way, Keith. Look, if
you're Alex Korra, and if you're going to sign a
(25:24):
new contract with these guys, that is your way of
saying you are willing to embrace the crazy. So if
you're going to embrace the crazy and the team gets
off to a rough start, you got to pay the price.
That's what happens. Parker's been coming baseball for a long time.
What happens when the team gets up to a flow start,
generally they fired a manager first, and so that's what happened.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
And you know what, it kills me because in New York,
I've been criticizing the New York media has gotten soft.
They like Carlos Mendoza. He seemed like a great guy
from all I've heard. But I'm with you, like, this
is just the nature of the beast. If they did
it in philadel Rob Thompson won three NL's Division right,
took him to the World Series when he replaced Joe Girardi. Right,
(26:06):
and he got the ZIGGI Uh, Alice Corr won a
World Series. He got the ziggy when you get off.
And in New York, for some reason, I don't understand it,
they want to just.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Blame the general manager. And I get it.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Even in Boston, yes, you could criticize the general manager
and the team the way it's put together.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
But but you know this, Mike, they just they weren't
playing good baseball either. Loved the right exactly? Am I right?
Speaker 6 (26:29):
Yeah? No, nothing, absolutely not, Adam. I don't think they're
a great team. I mean they won again tonight, two
games in a row for them, but they're well under
five hundred. I look at the Red Sox and uh,
you look at him. The best their best pitchers on
the d L Garrett Crochet the guy they thought would
(26:50):
be the face of the franchise, Roman Anthony Uh. He
hasn't lived up the expectations. He's just twenty one, but
he hasn't lived up to expectations, and he's probably headed
to the injury list too. They don't have a lot
of guys who you would look at and say, ooh,
if you're another team, what that guy? And why? What
part of it is? We let Ralph field Devers go
(27:10):
for nothing pretty much, and you let Alex Bredman walk
out the door going way back. Mookie, bet you got
nothing for him. I mean, this is the result of
a lot of bad decisions over the last five or.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Six years, no doubt, I'll guess.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
Is Michael Holly, of course, from NBC Sports Boston here
on the odd couple of Fox Sports Radar. All right,
your football coach is a naughty guy. We kind of
figured that out mich Oble and Diana.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Russini, and I saw he's naughty. And I saw you.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
On Pro Football Talk with Florio and you pretty straight, Mike.
I've known you for a million years, and I was
there's two things. At first, I was like, I get it.
I think a lot of people don't understand the dynamics
of you know, having an affairs one thing and I
get it, and having an affair with somebody who covers
(28:02):
something else. I was shocked at how the Athletic shielded
her from the beginning, you know, from the pictures and stuff, Mike.
I was surprised that they went to that extent. And
then when you find out that she couldn't produce pictures
or any names of any other people she claimed she
(28:22):
was with, then all of a sudden that fell apart.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Wouldn't that have.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Been, Mike, the first thing you do before you go
out there and back or make a statement.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
Yep, I don't yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, no question, Rob,
I mean it was. And the irony, I mean, Parker,
what were we told coming up in the business, Hey,
not one source, it's two sources. How many times did
you have a story?
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yep?
Speaker 6 (28:49):
And you go and you go to adder, I'm like,
I got this, Okay, I got this. Let me go.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
No, no, you need another one.
Speaker 6 (28:56):
We gotta make sure we confirm it dot that I
cross that tee so we I mean, that is just
that's journalism, one on one, that's inside journalism. Every reporter
has had to deal with it, and all of us
have been frustrated by an editor who we think is
a little too conservative. Hey, let's go with this. In
this case, they really didn't. This was an editor basically saying, well,
(29:18):
I like Diana Rassini. Yes I'm just gonna go with it.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
You can't do that, but but you know what like
and our business.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
I was stunned at how many And I don't know
her personally.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
I don't know if you do same.
Speaker 7 (29:34):
I don't know her.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
But for the people who turn their heads on this,
who were just like because they know her or they
like her or whatever, I was stunned by that. I
don't know how you can look at any of that
and think it was okay. But I guess another question
is in Boston, how is this being viewed as far as.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Your head coach.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
I just look at it as this point, it's not
going to get them fired having an affair, being a
bad huz been or whatever.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
It's for sure, okay, I'm please enlighten me because.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
But because this is what this is. Uh, and you
mentioned Florio. This is what I said to Mike Florio
and Pro Football Talk. Look, right now, the Patriots want
there to be a floor. Okay, where's the floor? Okay,
have we hit the floor? Yes? So they thought they
hit the floor the first time. When when Rabel came
out and said, hey, uh, you know, I had some
tough conversations with people in my family. I'm going to counseling.
(30:26):
After that. Oh okay, this must.
Speaker 7 (30:28):
Be the bottom.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
No.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
Right after he said that, that's when we got those
six year old pictures from Tribeca, the bar and Tribeca.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
That's what they were in public. He's got a wedding
ring on.
Speaker 6 (30:39):
So here's the question. All right, Robin Keith, here's the
question for you vote. What happens when Diana Rassini does speak.
What happens when she comes out and there are lots
of hints that, you know, maybe she's going to tell
her story and you know they're virus out there, maybe
she sells or so, okay, what happens if she said
(31:00):
something else?
Speaker 12 (31:01):
Now and she's going to say something, She's going to
say something, and I'm guessing whatever she says is not
gonna be good for Mike Rabel because they you notice
they were on the same page on day one.
Speaker 6 (31:15):
These pictures are this is laughable. I'm not gonna talk
about this anymore. Other people there, Hey, yeah yeah, other people. Yeah,
these see photos of that context. Then her second statement,
her resignation statement, still defiant, but then Rabel moved away.
He moved away more conciliatory tone. So they're not on
(31:36):
the same page anymore, clearly. And because of that, if
I'm Mike Rabel, I am nervous. Parker, I'm nervous.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
And and Mike, here's the other part too, You're just
you're right. If she comes out and says something, what
if she says, well, he threw me under the bus,
I'm gonna tell him how he leaked all this stuff
to me from the franchise, you know, NFL memos, you.
Speaker 7 (31:58):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Like she know right right, she could paint a picture
that he was the one, you know, leaking all this
stuff because because there was a pillow talking. I mean,
so you're right, there could be a chance that this
thing blows up in his face totally.
Speaker 6 (32:12):
It could good, it could get really ugly. And I'm
just saying, Okay, this is just me talking. If I
owned an NFL team, Let's say I own the Patriots, right,
and it is a it is a top ten franchise
with value. Robert Kraft bought the Patriots for about one
hundred and seventy five million crazy in nineteen ninety four,
(32:35):
and now it is well as well into the billions
value of the franchise valuation eight nine billions.
Speaker 12 (32:40):
Right.
Speaker 6 (32:41):
So I'll tell you what I would do. I would
take some of my millions, not billions. I take some
of my millions, and I'd be trying to make a deal.
We're dak at a recidi, Hey can we pay you off?
And I'm joking, but yeah, but I'm kind of not joking. No,
you I appreciate cause there's anything. There's there's something. Because
(33:04):
they want him, they want him to stay. They liked
Rabel play for the Patriots. Patriots Hall of Fame, right,
oh yeah, got him to the super Bowl last year.
They didn't expected. But they just don't know. They just
don't know what's gonna happen next.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
I'll tell you this, And we appreciate you, Michael Holly
and your candor, of course, but looking at him, you
can't look at him the same way. I mean, it's
just like, I get it, people make mistakes. But man,
when you see those pictures This wasn't a one time
deal or one time hookup or something. This is a
six year Keith relationship where you're in public, You're in
(33:37):
a public place, hugged up and kissed up and whatever
is shocking like it tells you about him and his character.
So all right, Mike, Well we'll see I appreciate you
being so honest as always.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Appreciate you, my man. We'll see you soon.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
He appreciate you both any time. Keith doing a great
job with shlping. Better watch out.
Speaker 7 (34:02):
I'm just coming off the bench six man. You need
a good reliever. I'm just happy to be be pinch hitting.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Hey, Michael Holly, we got the volpie on line one.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
You know what I'm saying. I'm just saying, sh
Thanks for listening to The Odd Couple podcasts. Be sure
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
Let's give this parties.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
Our number three on a trash talking Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Man Keith, where is the time gone? Number three?
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Unbelievable, Rob Parker, Keith McPherson, and for Kelvin Washington. Kelvin
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That's right.
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Coming up in about twenty eight minutes. Michael Holly, one
(01:36):
of my favorite people from NBC Sports in Boston and
an author of course. Plus last call in case you
couldn't get into the show earlier. It is a trash
talking Tuesday. We appreciate everybody who chimed in in our
number two.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
All right, Rob g let's start here. The Dodgers are playing.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Otani's pitching against the Astros. It's too nothing Houston in
the fourth uh, and the Dodgers so far uh, not
getting much done offensively. Now, Otani this year is not
hitting when he's pitching, but when he's just hitting as well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
He's struggling this year, Rob, you give us the detail.
Speaker 5 (02:17):
Yeah, Well, first off in tonight's game and they're down
two nothing. As you mentioned, he's gone three innings, four strikeouts,
no walks, two home runs given up, both solo shots.
Speaker 6 (02:24):
So that's what the.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Which is a lot more runs than he's been given up.
Speaker 7 (02:27):
Exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
He hasn't been given up, as you mentioned Rob.
Speaker 5 (02:30):
He just was named the NL Pitcher of the Month
for the March April span there in Major League Baseball.
He's been really good, looking, every bit like the cy
young candidate that they said he would coming into this season.
The only problem is that while his pitching is better
than ever, his hitting is on the flip side worse
than has been in his career. He is oer for
(02:51):
his last seventeen hasn't recorded a hit in a week,
his longest hitless streak in four years. He's only got
one homer since April twelfth, and his OPS is the
first time it's been below eight point fifty this deep
into a season in three years. So Dave Roberts has
said he's made the decision starting tonight, and I guess
(03:13):
moving forward, on the days that old Tawny pitches, he
will not nt be a DH anymore. He will only
be pitching on those days, and then he'll DH on
the off days.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Keith, I'm sorry, Uh, I'm sorry. I get the pitching thing.
I understand he's a unicorn. Nobody's done it since Babe
Ruth in the nineteen twenties. All that, but even Babe
Ruth came around and they decided that, you know what,
that bat, that stick is too big. Not pause, Okay,
(03:46):
not to have that gay, yeah, not to have that
guy hit him every day. Dude, two years ago, right
when he was injured, when he wasn't pitching and he
had the fifty to fifty was that last year?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
What am I thinking? Two years ago? Two years ago?
Speaker 4 (04:08):
And that's what I thought when he had the fifty
to fifty, right, fifty home runs, fifty stolen bases, all
that unbelievable year and whatnot.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And now the.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
More we get to see him when he hits and pitches,
he's not the same guy.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
I don't care what anybody says.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
If I have to give up one, I'm giving up
the pitching, as much as pitching is big in order
to win the World Series. Keith, we both know baseball,
We understand the importance of pitching. But I can't lose
a bat where this guy now is not gonna hit
on daisy pitches, take him out of the lineup. He's
(04:48):
pitching really well, but scuffling offensively. Rob Jesus mentioned ops
down big time in big worse than three years. He's
on an zero for seventeen clip not hitting home runs.
This ain't no blip. I got too much data that
tells me when he's playing every day and he's an
(05:09):
offensive guy, that he is one of the best players.
Now when you water him down with the pitching, he
ain't the same guy. If I have to pick one,
I want a guy who plays every day, who's gonna
play one hundred and fifty eight games, who's gonna have
a chance to hit fifty home runs, Who's gonna be
(05:32):
that guy at the top of my lineup and a
threat every time he comes to the plate. Over a
guy who's gonna play one at once every fifth day,
or not gonna hit, or his pitching is going to
derail his hitting.
Speaker 8 (05:44):
I'm not with it anymore. It was cute, it's now fugly.
How's that well said. I'm not gonna disagree. I think
the loneliness is hitting him. He's been without epay for
some time now. It's skin lonely over there. But I'm
ann o tani haters, so I'll just lay out. Listen,
he's a left handed bat, he's a leadoff hitter. You're
(06:05):
gonna want that bad in the game four times a game.
That's more important. These are the deferred Dodgers.
Speaker 9 (06:10):
Right, all the money that they have, they can always
go and buy pitching.
Speaker 7 (06:14):
I'm sure they'll try to have it now.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Want to be honest, go look at the pitch.
Speaker 9 (06:18):
They don't need it, and they don't they don't need
They won a World Series without him pitching. They honestly
won that World Series with him hurt. So like the
allure and the effect of the Otani unicorn, Like, they've
already made their money.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
They've made his contract back.
Speaker 9 (06:31):
They've already won back to back championships, they might win three,
who knows. I would try to keep him healthy for
the duration of the contract. He's thirty one, he's only
getting older. And I would just say, hey, listen, we
have this universal DH and we've had it for years.
You're just gonna be a DH. Maybe they start to
scale it back, and we have seen them scale it back.
Maybe you scale it back and make them come out
(06:52):
of the bullpen. But I just think, you know, the throwing,
and I know he fashioned himself as a pitcher, I
think coming into the league, But I just don't think
it's it's worth it. I think you want that bat,
leadoff bat, left handed bat, power bat, in your lineup
to drive in runs, and if he's struggling there, it's
not worth it to make him take the ball every
(07:12):
five days. I think he's easier to replace in the
rotation than he is in the lineup. And they've got
the money to do it and the wherewithal to do it.
They always make trades, they always go forward at the deadline.
I think this is a simple fix. And they've gone
out and spent a ton of money on pitching. I agree.
I agree, like they have pitching enough. They did win
(07:34):
without him really contributing the last two years on the
pitching side, right, they did, Rob g Can you.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Look it up?
Speaker 4 (07:41):
He didn't want to play, He didn't want a World
Series game last year. I don't, I don't. And and
two years ago when they won, he he didn't hit
or pitch, right was he was injured two years ago
when they beat the Yankees. So the Dodgers need him
to be Otani and for him to be the MVP
and put up the numbers. And it's just too much
(08:03):
data that that that makes me not feel good about
It's not a blip in the screen. Now, you're not
He's not gonna hit when he pitches I want. I
don't want that bad in the lineup.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Really, all right, rob G, rob G, you got the numbers.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
So last season twenty twenty five in the World Series
two starts zero and one, a chubby seven point five
six er. What were doing across the third INBH took
him deep eleven hit seven earned runs, two homers, three.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Seven runs, That's what I'm trying to say, like like,
and then two years ago they won and he didn't
pitch at all because that's when he had the you know,
the the shoulder thing.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
So so what are we doing here? What are we doing? Babe?
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Ruth gave up pitching two didn't he? They were like, dude,
you're too valuable. We need you to light up every day.
And the best one about Old Tony is that he
does play every day.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
The thing about baseball, Keith judging Old Tony when they play,
they play every day. They know they played one p
fifty eight out of one sixty two or something like that,
a great number.
Speaker 9 (09:16):
We can't even say it's like a return on investment
type of thing, because, like I said, they already made
his contract back. They've won their two World Series. It
isn't like, oh, we you know, we paid this guy
seventy million a year because he's a DH and an ace,
don't I don't think it's that either. I think it
might be a little bit of the showcase of the unicorn.
(09:36):
We have the one player that pitches and hits. We
want to keep that going a little bit longer because
we've really only seen it for one year here in
Dodger Stadium or a unique glow field at Dodger Stadium.
So maybe that's the thing they want to They want
to get another couple seasons of him out of them
out on the mound, and I think they could, but
not if it compromises the hitting.
Speaker 7 (09:57):
The hitting is paramount. The hitting is the priority.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
Wouldn't you be concerned, like like, this is a this
is a bad slump for him. I just like like
the way the way he mashed two years ago, and
I know last year's numbers weren't nearly as good rights
as that year, and that's a once in a lifetime
kind of year that he had. I mean, that was
the fifty to fifty in the bags and the home
runs and all that. But this year has been very
(10:25):
disappointing and if I'm the Dodgers, I gotta get that
guy right. I gotta get him right. He's that big
of a part of the team and that's why they're
he's not hitting. And guess what they're doing scuffling, right,
they lost a series to the Rockies. This this scuff's
(10:46):
gonna happen. No, I know, it's gonna be the phase
of the franchise, and they go as he goes for
the most part. I know they got some other guys,
but he is the face of the twenty three men.
Mookie Betts, you know, has been hurt the last couple
of years too. Tucker, Yeah, Kyle Tucker, who they signed,
They got him. But they have enough pitching. I do
believe that, and I'm with you maybe if a push
(11:07):
comes to shove, but they have they got and when
Diaz right as they're closer, they went out and got
him from the Mets, so they don't really need a closer.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
He'll be back at some point this year. So I
don't know.
Speaker 4 (11:19):
I just think I want to see old tany hit
every day, seven days a week. I don't want as much.
And he's a very good pitcher. Was he gonna win
this side I know, against all odds, he would want
to be able to win a cy Young in an MVP.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Am I right? Would that be?
Speaker 7 (11:39):
Yeah? But he's not gonna But I'm with.
Speaker 4 (11:41):
You, that's not gonna happen, is it? Because you already
see it's one or the other. Which one would you
rather have? The cy Young or the MVP.
Speaker 7 (11:49):
He's got a bunch of MVPs already.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, But the Dodgers aren't pitching, aren't paying for that
for him.
Speaker 9 (11:56):
Though they're paying for championships, and they don't even need
to pitch him. They need to get him through the
regular season, and then he doesn't need to make starts
in October. They can make a move at the deadline
for a starter, and they don't need to have him
start games in the you know, in the postseason, all right?
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox eight seven seven
nine nine six sixty three sixty nine. If push comes
to shove, should old Tani focus solely on pitching or hitting?
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Where are you on this?
Speaker 4 (12:23):
I'm interested to hear this, And this is if push
comes to shove and he has to pick one or
the other, we'll continue that conversation next with you.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
It is The Odd Couple.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
Rob Parker Keith McPherson in for kelvin Washington, where we
deliver insight, not noise right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 9 (12:43):
Stick and stay, especially if you still believe in Otani
Son in the us of A.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
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It is the Odd Couple.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
Fox Sports Radio, Rob Parker, Keith McPherson filling in for
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(13:58):
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I'll telephone number eight seven seven ninety nine on Fox
talking about show Hail Tani, who is scuffling big time
offensively this year, not hitting when he's pitching. The Dodgers
are currently losing to nothing to the astros. Otani's giving
(14:19):
up a couple of solo home runs to nothing Houston
in the bottom of the fifth, and Keith and I
are talking what should you do if you're the Dodgers.
Forget about the pitching part. I don't mean totally, but
the idea that he's not gonna hit when he pitches
bothers me. And now he's scuffling. He's not hitting tonight,
but he's over his last seventeen and all of his
(14:42):
numbers are down this year. Eight seven seven ninety nine
on Fox. Let's talk to Keith Andre in Massachusetts. You're
on the odd couple of Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (14:51):
What's up, dray.
Speaker 11 (14:53):
Uh, how you doing? Thanks? Thanks for taking a call listen.
In terms of show, Hey, Otani, he certainly has to
focus on keeping the main thing the main thing and
That is what he's able to do with his VET.
That's why he's a four time MVP, five time All Star,
and that's how he really changes games. Yes, every five
days he can come in and pitch, and particularly you
(15:14):
know it's been like two or three years. Well, he
just started off the season on fire, both pitching and hitting,
and he was doing some Bo Jackson level stuff. But
let's learn from that example, right, how long do we
get to see bo Jackson at his invincible level of
the course of his career. It was a flash in
the pan and he's doing the unbelievable things, and then
his body broke down, all right, and he didn't have
(15:35):
the overall long Jetty, he didn't have the overall longevity.
So he's got to focus on the hitting. Okay, make
that the prime competitive advantage. And then when he can
come in and pitch and help the Dodgers, all right,
that's an extra added advantage. Thanks taking the call.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
YEP appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
And Keith Andre makes the case and he's that's right.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Like the bread and butter as much and as.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
And we're not. We're baseball guys. We know how important
pitching is. Right, you don't have pitching, you ain't winning
a World Series. But the Dodgers have pitching. Even without Otani,
They've won two World Series and he has a chubby
el ray. Last year in the World Series didn't win
a World Series game, and the year before that when
(16:21):
they won and beat the Yankees, he didn't pitch at all.
So it's not like he pitched them to two World
Series and then you wouldn't even think about it.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Am I right?
Speaker 9 (16:31):
You're one hundred percent right. That's why it's like an act,
it's a show. It's a thing that's like come out
and see the great o' tanni. He can pitch, he
can hit, but what is adding more value the hitting?
It has to be the hitting. And do I think
that this is gonna end?
Speaker 4 (16:44):
Now? Here's the other part is that was one of
the reasons he came and a part of coming to
the United States, coming to Major League baseball was that
they had to let him do both. You remember that
that was the big thing was because they never let
anybody do it. They won't let you do You could
be good a good hitter hitting pitcher in the minor leagues,
(17:05):
they won't let you do it. You know what they won't,
but that was it. So do you think that the
Dodgers have no chance because Otani would be like, no, no, no,
that's not what I signed up for.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
This is what I want to do.
Speaker 4 (17:18):
And how important it is for him to try to
win a cy Young and MVP in the same season.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Do you think that's even possible.
Speaker 7 (17:26):
I don't think it's possible.
Speaker 9 (17:27):
I just think there's better pitchers out there that are
just pitchers, and they focus on that, like Paul Skeins.
But you made a good point about Otani. What Otani
says goes, and if Otani is pushing back to say
I'm a pitcher, like I alluded to, he came in saying,
you know he's a pitcher. He hits two if he's
a pitcher first in his mind, and he's telling them
I want to pitch as long as I could possibly pitch.
(17:49):
When does the organization step in and shut it down
and say, no, you know, we're gonna make the best
decision for you. I think it goes a little longer.
I think it goes for the next three to four
maybe five years, till he's thirty five, and also until
he's on the back half of that that contract.
Speaker 4 (18:04):
So see, I think it could happen faster if he
has a bad offensive year, like I.
Speaker 9 (18:11):
Say, if he if he stops performing at the plate,
something has to get done. But I think it's just may.
I think he's it's gonna warm up and he'll come
out of it.
Speaker 4 (18:19):
But it's just it's just weird to see him as
such a funk, you know, and and and just the
idea like before he used to pitch and hit right
in with the d H or whatever, and now to say,
you know, until further notice, he's not going to hit
on those days. Is already a change by the Dodgers
where you can see that that they've already made a
(18:40):
change and said we need to do something here.
Speaker 9 (18:43):
Yeah, but I mean that's also partly because they have
guys that can DH. They have the depth in their
their roster where they can make that move.
Speaker 2 (18:54):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
Would fans be fans, I don't know. If you're a
Dodger fan, I think you're right with you talk about
the show like you've seen it, like you've seen it,
so it's not like, oh my god, he doesn't do
it anymore, like you've seen it. He's done it, pitched
and hit at a high level one MVP s all
that kind of stuff. So it's not like people didn't
(19:16):
see it like we saw it. And maybe that was
the Babe Ruth comparison. I think that's a legitimate comparison.
Babe Ruth was a pretty good pitcher as well, and
they at some point just said, no, you know what
I mean, we need this guy's bad, We need we
need you.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
To just hit every day and turn into that.
Speaker 4 (19:35):
Shouldn't somebody sit him down and talk to him and said,
you already did what no one was able to do
and already did check that box. Now you have a
chance to be Babe Ruth are one of the great hitters.
And I'm gonna put it out here like this, Dude,
if you don't continue the hitting style and what you're doing,
(19:56):
people are gonna be thinking about Aaron Judge during this
era as the greatest hit her, not Old Tani.
Speaker 7 (20:02):
Well, yeah, we already are, am I right, But.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
I'm just saying is but the gap will be widen,
is what I'm saying. Like it's like Aaron Judge and
Old Tani. Like Aaron Judge has a chance. He's on
pace to sixty home runs this year. Right, he's on.
He has a chance to have fifty or more home
runs in five seasons, never been done by anybody.
Speaker 7 (20:27):
He'll be the one.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
He's think about that. That's what you're talking about.
Speaker 4 (20:33):
All the great home run hitters, Tank, Aaron, Willie Mays, Babe, Ruth,
Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
I was waiting for Barry Bonds.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
I was coming to I was coming. But I'm just saying.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
And nobody is hit five fifty on more home runs
five in five seasons, no one. And Aaron Judge is
already on pace to do that this year at thirty
one years old. How many fifty home run seasons will
he have? Is he thirty one to thirty two? But
you know, like he's still got years to go.
Speaker 7 (21:08):
Judge Judge is not that young.
Speaker 9 (21:10):
Judge just turned thirty six, No, thirty three, Judge, I
think just turned twenty thirty six on the on the twenty.
Speaker 2 (21:18):
Six thirty four? Yeah, I who thirty four?
Speaker 7 (21:21):
He's thirty four. Yeah, that's a big put my age
out there.
Speaker 4 (21:24):
Yeah, come on, all right, I know I know you
ain't hitting no fifty home runs, but Aaron Judge, that's different.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
All right? Coming up, next, Michael Holly.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
Want to know how much crying they're doing in Boston
because a lot of bad stuff has happened to Red Sox.
Think the Patriots have a Philanderan coach. Uh, the Celtics choke.
It's bad in Boston and we want to reign on
their parade. So we'll talk with Michael Holly from NBC
Sports Boston. Coming up, but first let's get you caught
up with Steve.
Speaker 7 (21:54):
De sag Hey.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Steve, be sure to catch live editions of The Odd
Couple with Rob Parker and Kelvin Wall Washington weekdays at
seven pm Eastern, four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Thanks Steve, appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (22:09):
It is The Odd Couple, Rob Parker, Keith McPherson in
for Kelvin Washington on a trash Talking Tuesday. One of
my favorite people now stepping up to the mic. He
is mister Michael Holly, of course, of NBC Sports Boston.
Speaker 2 (22:23):
Mike's what's up? Say hi to Keith? How are you?
Speaker 6 (22:27):
Rob? Keith? I'm doing well? How about you guys? Tonight
Trash Talking Tuesday, so I just know how to set
up is coming here I'm just a you being nice
right now, just waiting for just go ahead, just go ahead.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
You know, I'm gonna unload on Boston.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
I'm like, it's in shambles up there, and let's start
with the latest cann move work out way back, cause
it got three bad stories in Boston. First to choke
job by the Celtics. Are people mad? People disappointed or
accepting of this?
Speaker 6 (23:00):
Wait? Okay, now you've been to Boston many times. How
many people in Boston stay mad? That's default mode. Yeah,
people are pissed, and rightfully so, I mean, you realize
it has never happened before in Celtic's history. They've never
blown a three to one series lead ever, and Philadelphia
(23:20):
had never come back from a one to three deficit
in franchise history. So I think it was that collapse.
As you said, it was a choke job, there's no
question about it. But the fact that it happened against
the Sixers, who most people in Boston just don't take
seriously because it has been a long time. If you're
(23:41):
a Celtics fan under forty, you don't know what all this,
You don't know what beat La is about, and all
the Sixers Celtic's history doctor j Andrew, Tony, Larry Bird,
Cedric Maxwell. You don't know about that, so all you
know is that you always beat the Sixers and in
this time it didn't happen. Yet people are very upset
about it.
Speaker 9 (24:03):
Yo, this is Key checking in with you up there
in Boston. Are they feeling like they made the right
move firing Alex Cora? Like, do they feel like that
was the thing to do with the Red Sox are
going to turn it around? The Mets haven't fired their
guy yet. I mean, it's worked for the Phillies. What's
the vibe in Boston around the rest of the Red
Sox season?
Speaker 6 (24:20):
Now, Yeah, that's a great question, Keith. You know Alex Cora,
you know, he signed that new contract, signed a new
contract with the team last year and a lot of
people thought a lot of people were surprised by it
because it was clear that Cora wasn't on the same
page with the last two Red Sox general managers. They're
(24:42):
so messed up. They don't even call them general managers anymore.
And you know they have some crazy titles, but basically,
Craig Breslow is the general manager of the Red Sox
now before him, Heim Bloom who's in Saint Louis and Cora.
When he first came in, they were spending money. First
year franchise, record World Series. They have Mookie Betts, they
got Xander Bogarts, they got Ropedi Oldevers, they got all
(25:03):
these guys, and right after they won, they fired Dave
Dombrowski and they start to go on the cheap as
if they're not the Boston Red Sox. So I think
a lot of people were surprised that Korra re up
with them, knowing the direction the franchise was going in,
And I looked at it this way, Keith. Look, if
you're Alex Korra, and if you're going to sign a
(25:24):
new contract with these guys, that is your way of
saying you are willing to embrace the crazy. So if
you're going to embrace the crazy and the team gets
off to a rough start, you got to pay the price.
That's what happens. Parker's been coming baseball for a long time.
What happens when the team gets up to a flow start,
generally they fired a manager first, and so that's what happened.
Speaker 4 (25:44):
And you know what, it kills me because in New York,
I've been criticizing the New York media has gotten soft.
They like Carlos Mendoza. He seemed like a great guy
from all I've heard. But I'm with you, like, this
is just the nature of the beast. If they did
it in philadel Rob Thompson won three NL's Division right,
took him to the World Series when he replaced Joe Girardi. Right,
(26:06):
and he got the ZIGGI Uh, Alice Corr won a
World Series. He got the ziggy when you get off.
And in New York, for some reason, I don't understand it,
they want to just.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
Blame the general manager. And I get it.
Speaker 4 (26:17):
Even in Boston, yes, you could criticize the general manager
and the team the way it's put together.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
But but you know this, Mike, they just they weren't
playing good baseball either. Loved the right exactly? Am I right?
Speaker 6 (26:29):
Yeah? No, nothing, absolutely not, Adam. I don't think they're
a great team. I mean they won again tonight, two
games in a row for them, but they're well under
five hundred. I look at the Red Sox and uh,
you look at him. The best their best pitchers on
the d L Garrett Crochet the guy they thought would
(26:50):
be the face of the franchise, Roman Anthony Uh. He
hasn't lived up the expectations. He's just twenty one, but
he hasn't lived up to expectations, and he's probably headed
to the injury list too. They don't have a lot
of guys who you would look at and say, ooh,
if you're another team, what that guy? And why? What
part of it is? We let Ralph field Devers go
(27:10):
for nothing pretty much, and you let Alex Bredman walk
out the door going way back. Mookie, bet you got
nothing for him. I mean, this is the result of
a lot of bad decisions over the last five or.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
Six years, no doubt, I'll guess.
Speaker 4 (27:26):
Is Michael Holly, of course, from NBC Sports Boston here
on the odd couple of Fox Sports Radar. All right,
your football coach is a naughty guy. We kind of
figured that out mich Oble and Diana.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Russini, and I saw he's naughty. And I saw you.
Speaker 4 (27:41):
On Pro Football Talk with Florio and you pretty straight, Mike.
I've known you for a million years, and I was
there's two things. At first, I was like, I get it.
I think a lot of people don't understand the dynamics
of you know, having an affairs one thing and I
get it, and having an affair with somebody who covers
(28:02):
something else. I was shocked at how the Athletic shielded
her from the beginning, you know, from the pictures and stuff, Mike.
I was surprised that they went to that extent. And
then when you find out that she couldn't produce pictures
or any names of any other people she claimed she
(28:22):
was with, then all of a sudden that fell apart.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Wouldn't that have.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Been, Mike, the first thing you do before you go
out there and back or make a statement.
Speaker 6 (28:31):
Yep, I don't yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no, no question, Rob,
I mean it was. And the irony, I mean, Parker,
what were we told coming up in the business, Hey,
not one source, it's two sources. How many times did
you have a story?
Speaker 2 (28:48):
Yep?
Speaker 6 (28:49):
And you go and you go to adder, I'm like,
I got this, Okay, I got this. Let me go.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
No, no, you need another one.
Speaker 6 (28:56):
We gotta make sure we confirm it dot that I
cross that tee so we I mean, that is just
that's journalism, one on one, that's inside journalism. Every reporter
has had to deal with it, and all of us
have been frustrated by an editor who we think is
a little too conservative. Hey, let's go with this. In
this case, they really didn't. This was an editor basically saying, well,
(29:18):
I like Diana Rassini. Yes I'm just gonna go with it.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
You can't do that, but but you know what like
and our business.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
I was stunned at how many And I don't know
her personally.
Speaker 6 (29:32):
I don't know if you do same.
Speaker 7 (29:34):
I don't know her.
Speaker 4 (29:35):
But for the people who turn their heads on this,
who were just like because they know her or they
like her or whatever, I was stunned by that. I
don't know how you can look at any of that
and think it was okay. But I guess another question
is in Boston, how is this being viewed as far as.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Your head coach.
Speaker 4 (29:54):
I just look at it as this point, it's not
going to get them fired having an affair, being a
bad huz been or whatever.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
It's for sure, okay, I'm please enlighten me because.
Speaker 6 (30:04):
But because this is what this is. Uh, and you
mentioned Florio. This is what I said to Mike Florio
and Pro Football Talk. Look, right now, the Patriots want
there to be a floor. Okay, where's the floor? Okay,
have we hit the floor? Yes? So they thought they
hit the floor the first time. When when Rabel came
out and said, hey, uh, you know, I had some
tough conversations with people in my family. I'm going to counseling.
(30:26):
After that. Oh okay, this must.
Speaker 7 (30:28):
Be the bottom.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
No.
Speaker 6 (30:30):
Right after he said that, that's when we got those
six year old pictures from Tribeca, the bar and Tribeca.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
That's what they were in public. He's got a wedding
ring on.
Speaker 6 (30:39):
So here's the question. All right, Robin Keith, here's the
question for you vote. What happens when Diana Rassini does speak.
What happens when she comes out and there are lots
of hints that, you know, maybe she's going to tell
her story and you know they're virus out there, maybe
she sells or so, okay, what happens if she said
(31:00):
something else?
Speaker 12 (31:01):
Now and she's going to say something, She's going to
say something, and I'm guessing whatever she says is not
gonna be good for Mike Rabel because they you notice
they were on the same page on day one.
Speaker 6 (31:15):
These pictures are this is laughable. I'm not gonna talk
about this anymore. Other people there, Hey, yeah yeah, other people. Yeah,
these see photos of that context. Then her second statement,
her resignation statement, still defiant, but then Rabel moved away.
He moved away more conciliatory tone. So they're not on
(31:36):
the same page anymore, clearly. And because of that, if
I'm Mike Rabel, I am nervous. Parker, I'm nervous.
Speaker 4 (31:44):
And and Mike, here's the other part too, You're just
you're right. If she comes out and says something, what
if she says, well, he threw me under the bus,
I'm gonna tell him how he leaked all this stuff
to me from the franchise, you know, NFL memos, you.
Speaker 7 (31:58):
Know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (31:59):
Like she know right right, she could paint a picture
that he was the one, you know, leaking all this
stuff because because there was a pillow talking. I mean,
so you're right, there could be a chance that this
thing blows up in his face totally.
Speaker 6 (32:12):
It could good, it could get really ugly. And I'm
just saying, Okay, this is just me talking. If I
owned an NFL team, Let's say I own the Patriots, right,
and it is a it is a top ten franchise
with value. Robert Kraft bought the Patriots for about one
hundred and seventy five million crazy in nineteen ninety four,
(32:35):
and now it is well as well into the billions
value of the franchise valuation eight nine billions.
Speaker 12 (32:40):
Right.
Speaker 6 (32:41):
So I'll tell you what I would do. I would
take some of my millions, not billions. I take some
of my millions, and I'd be trying to make a deal.
We're dak at a recidi, Hey can we pay you off?
And I'm joking, but yeah, but I'm kind of not joking. No,
you I appreciate cause there's anything. There's there's something. Because
(33:04):
they want him, they want him to stay. They liked
Rabel play for the Patriots. Patriots Hall of Fame, right,
oh yeah, got him to the super Bowl last year.
They didn't expected. But they just don't know. They just
don't know what's gonna happen next.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
I'll tell you this, And we appreciate you, Michael Holly
and your candor, of course, but looking at him, you
can't look at him the same way. I mean, it's
just like, I get it, people make mistakes. But man,
when you see those pictures This wasn't a one time
deal or one time hookup or something. This is a
six year Keith relationship where you're in public, You're in
(33:37):
a public place, hugged up and kissed up and whatever
is shocking like it tells you about him and his character.
So all right, Mike, Well we'll see I appreciate you
being so honest as always.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Appreciate you, my man. We'll see you soon.
Speaker 6 (33:54):
He appreciate you both any time. Keith doing a great
job with shlping. Better watch out.
Speaker 7 (34:02):
I'm just coming off the bench six man. You need
a good reliever. I'm just happy to be be pinch hitting.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
Hey, Michael Holly, we got the volpie on line one.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
You know what I'm saying. I'm just saying, sh
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