November 13, 2025 • 34 mins
ALEX AVILA (MLB Network) The AL MVP will be announced in about 7 hours and yes, we may be a little biased, so we bring in an expert to give us his thoughts on who deserves the award. Do catcher’s have to vote for catchers? What is it about Cal that sets him apart? What do catcher’s go through on a daily basis that other positions can’t understand? :30- MIKE SANDO (the Athletic) Mike makes his weekly visit and he may not follow a lot of baseball, but he knows Cal Raleigh is amazing. How big is this Seahawks/Rams matchup on Sunday? How surprising is it that Sam Darnold is in the MVP convo this season? AJ Brown vs the Eagles coaching staff: is he going about this all wrong? :45- We close out the show with one last thing!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
All right, nine o'clock hour here on this Thursday, man.
Have we discussed the MVP of the Major League Baseball
season a lot this calendar year, and for good reason.
You can't spell calendar without cal cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge.
One of those two is going to be named Most
Valuable Player tonight of of the American League. And you
(00:27):
can catch the coverage at MLB Network. They have exclusive
coverage of the MVP award results. It's going to start
at four pm our time, and you can watch our
next guest, you know, break it down for you. We're
gonna have to break it down for us right now.
Thirteen year major League Baseball catcher, mostly with the Tigers.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Sorry about having to beat you.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Alex Avila now joins us right here on Chuck and Buck.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning, sir, Good morning guys. Appreciate you having me,
And that's all right. It was one of a series,
wasn't it, That Tiger's Mariners series, So, like you know,
it's one of those where, yeah, I might have had
a little bit of you know, rooting for the Tigers,
but at the same time, I wasn't upset to see
(01:13):
the Mariners move on at that point.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Well, thank you for joining us. We appreciated it.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I'm really curious to get your thoughts on this MVP
decision tonight. And I don't know if there's bias because
you're a catcher. I mean, does every catcher have to
vote for Cal for m V p Alex?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
You know, I think most catchers would tell you yes, okay,
you know, and just and just because of you know,
you don't you don't really understand what a catcher goes
through unless you're a catcher, right, and you know, to
see what Cal did over the course of the whole year,
(01:55):
I mean, it was was truly remarkable having been through that,
so I think most catchers would say, yeah, like, if
you have a guy like Cal that has a year
like he had a historic season, you know, that's definitely
merits to the MVP. But like you said, we were
we were debating this all year because it's it's the
(02:16):
best probably MVP race that we've had in a long
time and probably probably And it kind of reminds me
and I go back to twenty twelve MVP race between
Cabrera and Mike Trout. That's what it kind of reminds
me of that a little bit because you know, Trout
was by far the most valuable player you know from
(02:38):
from the way he can impact the game at that
point in time. But Cabrera won a triple crown, so
it was like, you know, what do you what do
you do there? In a similar situation, you have Aaron
Judge right that has you know, incredible numbers, historic season
and his own right, but you know the season that
caw had breaking the you know, homer record first a
(03:00):
switch hitter, you know, for a catcher and a Mariners
franchise record, Like, how do you not fall in love
with that story?
Speaker 4 (03:08):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
And yet to me and correct me if I'm wrong,
give me the catcher's perspective. I mean, although I played,
I didn't catch outside of a week where my college
coach thought, hey, let's try this out. I did one
session of blocking balls and said, yeah, no thanks, I'll
get back out in right field. So I understand the
difference just having played as long as I did. To me,
(03:29):
it's not even the I mean the historic numbers he
put up as a switch hitter and a catcher home
run wise, sure, but I mean when it comes to
just comparing offenses, I think the reason it's a debate
at all is because is because you know, cal did
great offensively, but it's not he didn't even compare offensively
to what the numbers I think that that Judge put up.
(03:49):
To me, it's the it's the other stuff. It's the
pitch selection and calling a game. It's the framing balls,
it's blocking wild pitches, it's whearing if foul balls are
throwing out base runners, and you know, managing your pitching
staff mentally and and going out there and mound visits
and helping them through tough times. I mean, to me,
that's where you can't put a number on that stuff.
(04:10):
Necessarily they try to, but you can't put a number
on all that stuff. And to me, that's where it
doesn't even feel like it's a it's a legitimate competition
in my opinion, even though I'm giving Judge all the
credit he deserves for the outstanding performance he did offensively.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
No, I mean, I agree with you. I think that's
where it separates, at least in my eyes. I mean,
because when you look at judges numbers, he led major
league baseball, not just the American League, major league baseball
in every single offensive category. And then when you look
at you know, America obviously an American league. Cal has
got him in Homer's and RBIs. But like judges judges season,
(04:50):
like you're you're talking about guys like Mickey Mann Old
Jimmy Fox, like you know his he's going to go
down as a legendary player. But you know, I also
look at it when when when it comes to MVP,
it's obviously you know, value to your team. You know
(05:11):
what Cal was able to do for the Mariners over
the course of the year, really put them on his
shoulders over the course of the year, propel them into
the playoffs, get deep into the playoffs. I mean, you
can see it the way Cal is playing through the playoffs,
Like you could tell he was tired, like his like
he was giving absolutely everything he had physically and still
(05:32):
producing at an incredibly high level. But like you know,
from a player's perspective, watching the games through the course
of the playoffs, you could tell like man like like
he was giving everything he had. So I think that
and you know when you put that together with the
type of season he had from historical historical perspective as
(05:56):
a catcher and a switch hitter, I just I fell
in love with the story, and I think the narrative,
you know, the story when you have you know, that
kind of season should play into, you know, the decision
on on on the most valuable player, because Cal was
(06:17):
to his team, to the Mariners, you know, the most
valuable guide. And I'm not I'm not a big fan
of the whole debate. Well, if you take him off
the team, does the team still do that? Like a
lot of people are trying to talk about that with
Judge all the Yankees still be a good team? Would
the Mariners be as good without Cal? All that kind
of stuff. To me, I put I put that that
(06:37):
out the window. For me, It's more about, like you know,
with them actually on the team, let's debase them on
the team and what their value is to that team.
The type of narrative that is throughout that that that
developed throughout the season because of their incredible performance. I
think that all should play into into the decision. But
(07:00):
there is, like you said, so much more that goes
into what a catcher does on a daily basis that
is impossible to quantify in terms of value for your team.
That you know, Cal obviously brought that to the Mariners
and and I'd even think, like Judge would tell you, Yeah, obviously,
you know, a catcher's got a lot more on his
(07:21):
plate than than an outfielder does on a daily basis,
and you know, to be able to do that and
put up the type of numbers from an offensive perspective
he did, Uh, and also have another very good season
behind the plate. I mean it for me, it's hard
to it's hard to argue, but to your point, yeah,
(07:44):
I mean the season that Judge has, Like, that's why
this is at debate.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Plus, i mean, cal Rally is a human being and
Aaron Judge is a centaur, and I think that.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Should factor that to the conversation.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And it's not factoring in enough, and the conversations I'm here,
it's not even coming up. Alex Savila is with his
former major league catcher member of the Major League Baseball Network.
He'll be a part of the network that does the
next outstanding job their coverage of the MVP announcement tonight
at four o'clock.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
What is it?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I mean if somebody, just average Yankee fan sat by
you and said, why.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Is it so much more important that he played catcher?
Why is that even a factor? Give us some insight
into what even the average baseball fan doesn't understand. What
a catcher goes through on a year by year basis
and a day by day basis.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Well, I mean, the one thing is that a catcher,
their first priority is the picture. So most of your
day revolves around trying to help that picture be the
best he can on that particular day, and not just
your starting pitcher, but all your levers as well. So
(09:01):
that's your number one priority. And every catcher would tell
you that, even even the really good offensive catchers you
know that we've had throughout history, their number one priority
is the success of their pitcher. So your day revolves
around him, you know, from you know game prep, you know,
(09:21):
knowing the ins and outs of all of your guys
as far as what makes them tick, how to motivate them,
how to get them through tough situations, how to keep
them grounded at times like all those things going to play.
That's part of your responsibility as a catcher, and that
is your number one responsibility. Then after that comes like
what you can do for yourself and for your team offensively.
(09:47):
So that's that's the biggest difference where every other position
on the field you know, is the priority is that
position and what you can bring from an offense some
defensive perspective, but the catcher, your your responsibility is the pitcher.
And then on top of that, just the physicality of
(10:09):
the position, you know, just having you know, blocking balls,
you know, the the wear and tear on the body
over the course of a of an entire season, especially
when you catch as many innings as col does. You know,
there's there's no other position that comes close to the
type of physical demand under body.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
The year you hit nineteen and we're an All Star
in twenty eleven, you probably thought you did something pretty
special that year, didn't you.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Well, I actually got some down m VP boats from
that in that season exactly. And I'm looking at those
numbers and you know, obviously Cow Cow's numbers dwarf those
in comparison.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
You had a fantastic career. You were you were a
lot of fun to watch. So enjoy the show tonight.
Do you think Cal's gonna win? I can tell you
want Cal to win. Do you think he's gonna win?
Do you think that we'll have something to celebrate tonight
here in Seattle?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
You know, I hope so I'm rooting for Caw to win.
I've said it a few times over the course of
the year that I, for some reason, I think it's judge,
you know. But at the same time, like I'm I'm
rooting for Cal to do it because I think he
he absolutely deserves it. So I hope, I hope I'm wrong.
(11:32):
But nonetheless, it was a it was a fascinating season
to have two tremendous players like that have the years
that they had. But I'm definitely rooting for Cal.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, great to hear. Well, we'll be watching tonight.
Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
That was great. Thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
All Right, Alex Avila, thirteen year catcher in the major leagues.
Catchers are going to be a little bit biased, But
you also need to know I thought that it was
such a fascinating response. I mean, think about that, Bucky.
I know you know this, but I had sixty home
runs this year, and my focus wasn't the offense my
offense at any time during the season. My focus was
(12:13):
making sure the pitcher was ready to give us a
great performance. That's incredible.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Yeah, well, I mean that's again that you can't really
you can't really qualify all of the ways in which
you want to measure. It just boils down to where
do you put more of the lion's share?
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Right? Is it?
Speaker 5 (12:32):
The fact that will you just watch Judge do again
was something that we have rarely seen. We haven't seen
anybody co come by and just turn into this much
of a dominant hit.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Or power average, on base percentage.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
He just basically when he steps in the batter's box,
You're like, this guy doesn't even look human. But to me,
I just can't understand how how you can think about
what all the things that a catcher does and then
records even when I if I was to sit here
and go down the list, I kind of just did
a little bit with him of all the things that
a catcher is involved in that are impact parts of
(13:08):
the game that a right fielder has nothing to do with.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You know.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
And then you can get somewhere it's like, okay, well,
you know, plays at home plate, Okay, that's a catch thing,
but a lot of times the right fielder's throw is
what makes it a play at home plate, so they
can have some impact on the game. Still defensively, there's
a lot of things, but then there's a ton of
things that you can't even think about, like when do
you got now that there's a certain amount of mound visits,
(13:32):
when do you go out to write the ship with
the guy between the years or mechanically something he's doing,
or game plan wise, here's what our game plan was
against this guy, you know, leading into the game and
our pregame meeting and leading up to this performance. And
yet he looks like he's on that game plan, like
he was expecting it. So we're gonna shift gears, when
do you do that? That's you can't put a number
on that. And he does that about as well as
(13:53):
anybody out there, throwing runners out. He's great at This
year was his best year behind the plate, blocking balls,
but it still wasn't horror And so I just I
just don't see it as I mean, the.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Major league baseball player. I don't.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
I don't always agree with players voting for things because
I think it becomes a popularity contest and it's not
something they dive into necessarily. But he was voted the
most outstanding player by his peers. The people that are
playing right now in the game right now, to me,
that is those guys that are playing right now that
they're in the game, they play against him, they watch
him play, They're saying, that's the dude that is the
(14:28):
most outstanding. And to me, it's if you say outstanding player,
that's where Judge has an argument, you say the most
valuable player. I don't even think it's a I don't
even think it should be a debate, to be honest,
it is because of how great Aaron Judge's season was.
But it's the value that Cal Rawly brings to the Mariners.
There's nobody that brings more value to their team.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Well, I would definitely have voted for Cal Raleigh, and
I say that without bias. I honestly mean that. I
say that completely without bias. But I do think I'm
six one percent sure he's not going to win, So
I gives him a thirty nine percent chance of winning tonight.
So that's where I'm at. I don't think we're going
(15:09):
to get the news we're wanting tonight, but I think
that there is a chance, Ashley, that we're going to
get that news.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Yeah, and I'm holding on to hope. I will say this,
I do think that Cal should win it, and I
know that I have bias when I say that originally,
but also hearing all of the arguments and listening to
things and as we've talked about it over the last
few weeks and months, and thinking about all of the
things that cat pitchers do and just hearing what Alex
had to say.
Speaker 7 (15:33):
I mean, I have zero doubt that cal should win.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I mean, just to be fair, just to show the
other side, there are plenty of former major leaguers at
MLB Network that you're gonna hear.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Tonight break this down that think Aaron Judge should win.
I mean, Sean Casey has gone off. We tried to
get Sean Casey on as well today and he's he's
been one hundred percent on Aaron Judge.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
It's not even close. I mean, so it's it's you know,
there are plenty of MLB Network former players that have
the airon Judge. There might even be more for all
I know. But yeah, I don't think there's one catcher
out there that's not that if they had a vote,
wouldn't vote for col No.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
And I think that that's it isn't just because of
they go some catcher brotherhood. It's because of an understanding
of how crazy it was if you caught in the
big leagues for ten years, you understand, Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
How is he?
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Yes, the numbers, sixty home runs is crazy. I don't
care if you're a DH it's crazy. But to do
it while you're catching and managing the staff and wearing
the foul balls and blocking, it's just absolutely berserk.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Yeah, Chris Young, he's on the judge side, Cliff Flowyer
air a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
So, but you want to convince me. I think you
should win the MVP.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
But we shall see if it goes down tonight, and
certainly we'll react on tomorrow's show. Coming up next though,
Mike Sando will be with us, we'll ask him about
Seahawks rams. Also Thursday Night Football and more. Sports Radio
ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 8 (16:59):
It's time for our Thursday visit with Mike Sando of
the Athletic and brought to you by Hunt Services.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Get on the horn and call Hunts Now with Mike.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Here's Chuck and bud Hi.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Yes, Mike Sando joins this each and every week.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Let's ask Mike real quick. He's a smart fella. Cal
Rally or Aaron judge.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Mike cal Raleio. Let's go with the hometown guy. I mean,
and I'm an expert, believe me. I've I've watched some
of the playoffs and uh, I'm actually excited. Are we
gonna get the Mariners on local TV? Here? If you have, like,
you know, a YouTube TV, I wanted to have that.
What does it matter with you? You know? I get like
it doesn't sound like you're tuned in.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Well, I mean, I'm not gonna work that hard to
watch the games, but I mean, you know, in a
sport I'm not covering, but I'm interested. So I'm a
terrible expert in that. But cal rally, that guy's amazing.
I know enough of that. Okay, every time you, even
if you don't follow baseball, you realize he's doing something
heroic every week. All Right, all right, we'll take it.
We'll accept it. Your vote has been cast. All Right, Well,
let's talk about what you do cover for a living
(17:59):
and what you do have incredible passion for.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
That's the National Football League. You watched a lot of games,
you got ready for a lot of games.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
I mean, how.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Big is this one between the Seahawks and the Rams
for a mid season affair?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I think it's the most fun anticipated regular season matchup
for the Seahawks since when. I mean it would have
to go back to prime Russell Wilson, right. I mean,
it's been a while that you really felt like it's
a great matchup and you're excited and you feel like
(18:34):
these guys could you know, not only if they could
win the game, but like they could really go somewhere.
So I love it. I think these are two of
the best teams in the league. When's the last times
been one of the best teams in the league. It's
been top five team nine years. Probably, Yeah, in a minute,
it feels really different. So I love it. Yet, I
feel like if the Seahawks lose, I think they just
(18:55):
dust themselves off and get them next time. I don't
think it's a must win, but I do think it's
a help full win for validity, you know, is having
Sam Donald had the bad playoff game last time, so
there's some things that can be changed perception wise, I
think with this game. But I still think Seattle's on
the same track no matter what happens.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
Agreed, I don't think either team has some signature win.
This is kind of the measuring stick for both of them.
I mean, the easiest or the most common like thread
to poll on when you're thinking about this is McVeigh
and his offense versus McDonald and his defense. And yet
both sides of the ball play well on both of
(19:34):
these teams. And so what's an underlying thing that you're
going to think that you think might be one of
the determining factors in this thing.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Well, Seattle's defense. Both these teams defensive lines really are
surly and get after it. I think that's where it starts.
I think the Seahawks have a better overall rotation of people,
but those you know Jared versus probably you know the
people with the guy people have heard about around the country.
So I think both. I think they play with attitude
and tenacity upfront on defense and whoever kind of I
(20:04):
think someone's going to set the tone with that in
this game, and I think it's I think it may
be Seattle. I kind of feel like the Seahawks are
going to win this one and then maybe have their
hands more full of the second time. That's just kind
of my feel I feel like they're starting of kind
of surging now, the team with a little bit more
to prove and they may get them, but they haven't
seen the last of them either.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
What's what's more surprising to you that Matthew Stafford closing
in on forty might be better now than he's ever been,
or that Sam Darnald, considering where he was two years ago,
is in the MVP conversation this season.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Donald.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
To me, Donald's more surprising because because Stafford has played
at a high level, he's always been someone who everyone
thought had the talent. And I think we can see
in retrospect that he had the talent, but you know,
they had a bad situation a lot of the time
with the organization. And I think he's got a great
set up now with McVeigh and and he's at a
he's at peace and he and he's he's in a
(20:59):
different place. I think for Donald, Uh, you know, to
go from to go from a major market where you're
kind of seen. When you fail in a place like
New York as a quarterback or a head coach, you
kind of get branded in a different way, right, You
kind of get laughed at and mocked. Think of Adam Gase,
he was a good coach in the league. Have you
seen him a lot lately, right, you know what I mean,
(21:23):
Like when it happens though in that place, these are
these are good. These aren't a lot of cases. Good
people are good coaches, and you know Sam Donald was
not the complete buffoon he was made out to be
seeing ghosts and all that. Things take on a uh
you know, things take on a greater meaning there, and
so I think we're used to a lot of times
those guys just kind of it's hard to recover from.
(21:44):
You know, you don't necessarily get the other chance. You
get branded and you have a hard time changing that identity.
So I think that's just a great story. Maybe we're
seeing it a little more now. I mean, Daniel Jones
is having it too, So that's I think that's just
a great thing. It reflects really well on those guys,
and they're current teams, but it's still a surprise when
you see it. You're used to most of those guys
(22:05):
just kind of going.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Away, Sando.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
One of the reasons for the surprise that is Sam
Darnold's I mean mvp ish first half of the season
is Jackson Smith and Jigmin. He's got like twenty percent
more receiving yards than Jamar Chase, who's in second place,
And yet I kind of feel like at some point
during the season you're going to have someone that's going
to have some game plan. Even if the game plan
is we're gonna put six guys on him, he's not
(22:29):
going to beat us. I don't know what how you
try to slow this guy down, but it seems impossible
at this point. Nobody's figured out how to do it
through nine games in the season, and so can it
be done? Do you expect that to be the priority
for the Rams defense, at least in.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
The back end of that secondary.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, I would think that that's the case. But if
you notice with most wide receivers that are good, they
don't get solved like that, you know, And I think
it's harder to defend wide receivers now if you go back,
you know, you know, when I was covering this per
Bowl team in two thousand and five, if you just
look at the game, it's so different. There's there's two
running backs on the field and neither one of them
(23:06):
is going to really stretch you vertically as a receiver.
Your tight end's gonna hopefully be a decent blocker, you know,
and then you've got two wide receivers out there. So
if you want to stop one of those wide receivers,
I think it was easier then to do that, right
because there's only a couple of them, and your tight
end's kind of a half receiver, that sort of a thing,
and you might go to three wides. They did that,
but it might be third down, you know. So I
(23:27):
think now there's three wide receivers out there every play,
the tight end looks like a big wide receiver. Now
he's not as great as a blocker, but man, he
could be a threat. And even your half back grew
up in a seven on seven worlds, So saying you're
going to stop a wide receiver just it's harder to do.
There's more space out there, there's lighter you know. It's
(23:47):
just you can do it. And I think there's scheming
in the NFL now. Is is a even bigger thing
than it was before. I think the teams used to
run their system and you might try to stop it.
Now they're scheming these guys in a different way. I say,
good luck trying to stop these guys. The Eagles fans
might disagree with you about, Well, that's really interesting. Yeah,
(24:08):
that's a whole nother conversation. Actually, yeah, I wanted to
talk about it a little bit.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
If I'm going to talk about one national story other
than Seahawks rams here, I wanted to get your thoughts because,
on one hand, I do think AJ Brown is going
about this all the wrong way, and he's coming off
as a bad teammate for sure, and he shouldn't be
doing it.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
But I think he's got a point.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
It's like, how can we have this much talent and
we're having this much difficulty getting the ball from quarterback
to wide receipt.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
It's not just him.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
DeVante Smith can't catch a pass either, So does I
mean at what point.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Smiths on pace for good year?
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Though? Solid?
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yes, solid? But you know what point?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Is it justified that a player goes to the media
because he can't get through to.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
The coaching staff on how he's being used. I say
this is the most diplomatic, well reasoned, smartest protests like this.
Usually guys are emotional at their locker overtime, you know
what I mean, and they just finally snap and then
and then it comes off as super selfish, and it is.
I don't I feel like the selfish part of this
is only in that you know it is drawing attention
(25:20):
now to it, and if they don't reach their goals
this season, which is unlikely, you're not gonna win the
super Bowl anyway. Most years, you know, it'll kind of
look like it's because they didn't get him the ball more.
But I think I think there's something to it, and
he is does have a good point in that, Hey,
just because we're winning the games doesn't mean that we're
playing our best ball. And he's trying to say that
(25:43):
it doesn't mean I have to get the ball every week.
I think he believes that, but it's not clicking. And
so I'll give you an example like Denver's won seven
games in a row and their quarterback is struggling, and
that's all gonna when they lose losing some games, it's
gonna come to the it's gonna be a convert. I
think what A. J. Barn is saying is like, we're
(26:05):
not the way we're playing right now. We may win
a lot of these games, but we're not. We're not
our best right now, and he's just kind of a
cry for help. But I agree he's kind of putting
it on that coordinator more than anything because he he
he hasn't just said it's Jay. He hasn't said it's
Jalen Hurts as much, wouldn't you agree? Yeah? I mean
(26:25):
I think he was kind of hinting at it last year.
Remember when they had the little tiff last year. So
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
I mean, I'm sure it started behind the scenes and
he couldn't get where.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
He was going with it. I do believe he has
a point. There's no reason why that offense would I
think he wants to struggle that much. I think he
wants to win. Yeah, yeah, I hear you, all.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Right, Thursday night football, Patriots versus Jets. I mean, it's
not exactly a hum dinger here, Mike.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
But yeah, oh that is interesting. What's interesting about this game? Hey,
anytime we can watch New England with with Drake May
I'm I'm all for it. I think this is somebody
who in his second year has outperformed the expectations everybody
thought in the league. Probably a good reason that this
was a team to be a ref of talent even
coming into this year, even after spending in free agency,
and they've won seven in a row. They're really great
(27:16):
on defense. That's stopping the run, so they make you
a little bit one dimensional. And this quarterback without a
bunch of targets you've heard of, I think he had.
I think they had four plays on offense last week
that were fifty yards or more and I was looking
that up, like that just doesn't happen. I couldn't find
it in the last twenty five years anyone had more
than that. So I think that's a really cool story.
And it's the interesting twist of it is, you know,
(27:40):
I think the Jets really wanted to hire Mike Vrabel,
so guess what, Mike Rabel's the edter coach. And it
feels to me as much as I, you know, have
defended Aaron Glenn a little bit early on, I feel
like he's starting to get some of these press conferences
are starting to feel like he's losing it.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
A little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
So I want to watch just how that all goes
six a half, New England having turned it with a
roster that was perceived to be worse than the Jets
a year ago. Interesting in the division, I mean, I
think this is one of those games where if the
Patriots gotten win by thirty points, I think it's very
much more damaging to the new people and the Jets.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
I knew you would find something that you couldn't wait
to watch about Thursday night football. You can count on Sando.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Well, really enjoy the football this weekend, and we're all
going to enjoy that Seahawks Rams game. That's gonna be special. Oh,
it's going to be great. I can't wait. Thanks, Thanks Mike.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
All Right, Mike Sando, or NFL insider from the Athletic
You can follow him at Sando NFL must follow for
you football fans out there, and we love having them
on every Thursday on the program. All right, coming up next,
we'll close it out with one last thing on Sports
Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. The Seattle International Auto Show,
(28:59):
presented by Beast See You is back November fourteenth through sixteenth.
The newest models from the world's best brands. You can
see them, you can touch them, you can drive them.
You can write a love letter to them and stick
it underneath the hood.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
Don't lick them, though they frown on that.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Oh no, they don't like to be licked, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Loomingfield Events Center the Seattle International Auto Show. Discover your
drive for tickets Seattle autoshow dot Com. Final segment of
the day. Here on this Thursday, we go round the
horn for one last thing. What do you got? Bucky?
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Just want to say, Dave col better win or better
win or what?
Speaker 7 (29:36):
Bucky?
Speaker 5 (29:36):
Well, I'm not gonna like protest or anything, be dumb.
I'll just be mad. I'll be mad, and I don't
I mean.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
You're gonna take it out on better not be Ashley
and I better not be your family.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
No, it won't be you guys, won't be my family.
You guys are in the same boat. Probably anybody that
has been propagating the Aaron Judge should be it.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Who is in town? Is anybody doing that in town? Oh?
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
I'm I'll travel.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
I'll travel to New York real quick. I'll go to
New York. Jump.
Speaker 7 (30:06):
I'm not printing out those Uber receipts though. That's on you.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
I'm not taking an Uber there.
Speaker 7 (30:12):
No, I'm saying. But also your expenses are on you.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Uh yeah, I expect that's fine.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
I just know.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
I mean, I'll just be irritated. I know that most
people recognize how great Judge is, and therefore they're like
it's a legitimate debate. You and I are different, are
somewhat further apart on it then, but we're on the
same page. We both think cow is deserving of it.
And yet there's a difference between how far I think
it's not. I don't even I just think he's so
(30:37):
much more valuable just just because of the positioning place.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I actually think that hurts your argument more than it
helps it, because it is close, and so for you
to say it's not even close, it does feel like
your bias is interfering.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
Yeah, but it's not my bias that's interfering. It's the
fact that I know how difficult a catcher.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Well, everybody's recogniz but I don't think everybody does recognize it. Well,
maybe not to agree that you recognize it. But there's
also a considerable offensive gap as well. So there's a
considerable defensive gap, but there's also a considerable offensive gap
as well. So I just with all respect, I think
that you saying it's not close actually hurts your argument for.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Col Yeah, well that's fine, you can think that.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I'm just telling you it's the considerable defensive gap, and
then the mental gap, the mental side of it. There
isn't a nerd that can come up with a stat
for that ever, never will be heart grit, determination, playing
through pain. There's just a thing that he has that
you that just as automatically, just automatically puts me ahead
(31:44):
or puts him ahead of Aaron Judge. And again that's
not me sane in any way shape or for him
to diminish what Aaron Judge did.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
It's spectacular.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
I mean it is, without a doubt, the offensive player
of the year over a guy that hit sixty home
runs and hit the most home runs by a catch
or switch hitters, the most impressive offensive season Aaron Judge
without a doubt by a substantial margin. But the difference
between what they bring as in totality, it's not even
close what they bring in totality.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Well, I think it's very close, but we'll have to
just disagree on that. We all like col and we
want him to win MVP, and we think he should. Ashley,
what's your one last thing?
Speaker 6 (32:23):
Well, we're not the only ones pumped up for this
Seahawks Rams matchup. Yesterday after the show, we kind of
chatted briefly about Pat McAfee was given some props to
Mike McDonald, him and some of the guys on a
show calling him Mike Madman McDonald. They're saying that he's
an absolute mastermind. The offense never knows where the pressure.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
Is coming from. And it just kind of pumps me
up even more to see what happens on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (32:47):
Oh yeah, this is like his first This is like
the best obviously the best test he's faced, and I'm
really excited for it.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Well, and I think it's a year and a half
of doing this being a head coach and for him
to have like caught up to others like McVeigh and
Shanahan and people are now recognizing him as a genius.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Yeah that this is.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
This is like, this is this is him. I can't
use a rookie coach as an excuse. I can't use
a roster that I don't like as an excuse.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
So this is it. This is like I think this
is the first, the true, first, true McDonald versus McVay matchup,
and I'm all about it. I think are the quarterback
matchups phenomenal, but the head coaching matchup, that meeting of
the minds might be the most fascinating aspect of this game. Uh,
and I'll just close with this the same thing I
(33:37):
did yesterday. Anders and I are recording our first episode
of the off season. We usually wait a little while longer,
but I think there's just too much of an appetite
for what's going on this offseason for the Seahawks. So
Stove will be recorded today. We'll get it out to
you as soon as possible. Uh, and maybe we'll tweak
it a little bit this offseason so it's available in
(33:58):
more ways.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
But for those wondering, we will be recording today and
we'll have it pumped out to you tomorrow, So that'll
do it for or not tomorrow. We'll have it pumped
out to you tonight, so it'll be it'll be available
here in about an hour and.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
A half as a matter of fact. All right, we'll
talk to you tomorrow at six o'clock.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Coming up next, it's Mark James and Christopher Kidd on
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM.
Speaker 8 (34:20):
You can't miss a thing from today's show because we're
on demand. Their podcast will be up right after the show.
Just click on demand on our website at ninety three
three KJR dot com and click on checking Bug podcast
to replay anytime, anywhere from Sports Radio ninety three point
three kjr FL.
Speaker 7 (34:41):
This report is sponsored by Audible. Still seeing backups in
the Lakewood area. Both directions by five as you're approaching
ninety six ers
All right, nine o'clock hour here on this Thursday, man.
Have we discussed the MVP of the Major League Baseball
season a lot this calendar year, and for good reason.
You can't spell calendar without cal cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge.
One of those two is going to be named Most
Valuable Player tonight of of the American League. And you
(00:27):
can catch the coverage at MLB Network. They have exclusive
coverage of the MVP award results. It's going to start
at four pm our time, and you can watch our
next guest, you know, break it down for you. We're
gonna have to break it down for us right now.
Thirteen year major League Baseball catcher, mostly with the Tigers.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Sorry about having to beat you.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Alex Avila now joins us right here on Chuck and Buck.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Good morning, sir, Good morning guys. Appreciate you having me,
And that's all right. It was one of a series,
wasn't it, That Tiger's Mariners series, So, like you know,
it's one of those where, yeah, I might have had
a little bit of you know, rooting for the Tigers,
but at the same time, I wasn't upset to see
(01:13):
the Mariners move on at that point.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Well, thank you for joining us. We appreciated it.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
I'm really curious to get your thoughts on this MVP
decision tonight. And I don't know if there's bias because
you're a catcher. I mean, does every catcher have to
vote for Cal for m V p Alex?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
You know, I think most catchers would tell you yes, okay,
you know, and just and just because of you know,
you don't you don't really understand what a catcher goes
through unless you're a catcher, right, and you know, to
see what Cal did over the course of the whole year,
(01:55):
I mean, it was was truly remarkable having been through that,
so I think most catchers would say, yeah, like, if
you have a guy like Cal that has a year
like he had a historic season, you know, that's definitely
merits to the MVP. But like you said, we were
we were debating this all year because it's it's the
(02:16):
best probably MVP race that we've had in a long
time and probably probably And it kind of reminds me
and I go back to twenty twelve MVP race between
Cabrera and Mike Trout. That's what it kind of reminds
me of that a little bit because you know, Trout
was by far the most valuable player you know from
(02:38):
from the way he can impact the game at that
point in time. But Cabrera won a triple crown, so
it was like, you know, what do you what do
you do there? In a similar situation, you have Aaron
Judge right that has you know, incredible numbers, historic season
and his own right, but you know the season that
caw had breaking the you know, homer record first a
(03:00):
switch hitter, you know, for a catcher and a Mariners
franchise record, Like, how do you not fall in love
with that story?
Speaker 4 (03:08):
One hundred percent?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
And yet to me and correct me if I'm wrong,
give me the catcher's perspective. I mean, although I played,
I didn't catch outside of a week where my college
coach thought, hey, let's try this out. I did one
session of blocking balls and said, yeah, no thanks, I'll
get back out in right field. So I understand the
difference just having played as long as I did. To me,
(03:29):
it's not even the I mean the historic numbers he
put up as a switch hitter and a catcher home
run wise, sure, but I mean when it comes to
just comparing offenses, I think the reason it's a debate
at all is because is because you know, cal did
great offensively, but it's not he didn't even compare offensively
to what the numbers I think that that Judge put up.
(03:49):
To me, it's the it's the other stuff. It's the
pitch selection and calling a game. It's the framing balls,
it's blocking wild pitches, it's whearing if foul balls are
throwing out base runners, and you know, managing your pitching
staff mentally and and going out there and mound visits
and helping them through tough times. I mean, to me,
that's where you can't put a number on that stuff.
(04:10):
Necessarily they try to, but you can't put a number
on all that stuff. And to me, that's where it
doesn't even feel like it's a it's a legitimate competition
in my opinion, even though I'm giving Judge all the
credit he deserves for the outstanding performance he did offensively.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
No, I mean, I agree with you. I think that's
where it separates, at least in my eyes. I mean,
because when you look at judges numbers, he led major
league baseball, not just the American League, major league baseball
in every single offensive category. And then when you look
at you know, America obviously an American league. Cal has
got him in Homer's and RBIs. But like judges judges season,
(04:50):
like you're you're talking about guys like Mickey Mann Old
Jimmy Fox, like you know his he's going to go
down as a legendary player. But you know, I also
look at it when when when it comes to MVP,
it's obviously you know, value to your team. You know
(05:11):
what Cal was able to do for the Mariners over
the course of the year, really put them on his
shoulders over the course of the year, propel them into
the playoffs, get deep into the playoffs. I mean, you
can see it the way Cal is playing through the playoffs,
Like you could tell he was tired, like his like
he was giving absolutely everything he had physically and still
(05:32):
producing at an incredibly high level. But like you know,
from a player's perspective, watching the games through the course
of the playoffs, you could tell like man like like
he was giving everything he had. So I think that
and you know when you put that together with the
type of season he had from historical historical perspective as
(05:56):
a catcher and a switch hitter, I just I fell
in love with the story, and I think the narrative,
you know, the story when you have you know, that
kind of season should play into, you know, the decision
on on on the most valuable player, because Cal was
(06:17):
to his team, to the Mariners, you know, the most
valuable guide. And I'm not I'm not a big fan
of the whole debate. Well, if you take him off
the team, does the team still do that? Like a
lot of people are trying to talk about that with
Judge all the Yankees still be a good team? Would
the Mariners be as good without Cal? All that kind
of stuff. To me, I put I put that that
(06:37):
out the window. For me, It's more about, like you know,
with them actually on the team, let's debase them on
the team and what their value is to that team.
The type of narrative that is throughout that that that
developed throughout the season because of their incredible performance. I
think that all should play into into the decision. But
(07:00):
there is, like you said, so much more that goes
into what a catcher does on a daily basis that
is impossible to quantify in terms of value for your team.
That you know, Cal obviously brought that to the Mariners
and and I'd even think, like Judge would tell you, Yeah, obviously,
you know, a catcher's got a lot more on his
(07:21):
plate than than an outfielder does on a daily basis,
and you know, to be able to do that and
put up the type of numbers from an offensive perspective
he did, Uh, and also have another very good season
behind the plate. I mean it for me, it's hard
to it's hard to argue, but to your point, yeah,
(07:44):
I mean the season that Judge has, Like, that's why
this is at debate.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Plus, i mean, cal Rally is a human being and
Aaron Judge is a centaur, and I think that.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Should factor that to the conversation.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And it's not factoring in enough, and the conversations I'm here,
it's not even coming up. Alex Savila is with his
former major league catcher member of the Major League Baseball Network.
He'll be a part of the network that does the
next outstanding job their coverage of the MVP announcement tonight
at four o'clock.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
What is it?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I mean if somebody, just average Yankee fan sat by
you and said, why.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Is it so much more important that he played catcher?
Why is that even a factor? Give us some insight
into what even the average baseball fan doesn't understand. What
a catcher goes through on a year by year basis
and a day by day basis.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Well, I mean, the one thing is that a catcher,
their first priority is the picture. So most of your
day revolves around trying to help that picture be the
best he can on that particular day, and not just
your starting pitcher, but all your levers as well. So
(09:01):
that's your number one priority. And every catcher would tell
you that, even even the really good offensive catchers you
know that we've had throughout history, their number one priority
is the success of their pitcher. So your day revolves
around him, you know, from you know game prep, you know,
(09:21):
knowing the ins and outs of all of your guys
as far as what makes them tick, how to motivate them,
how to get them through tough situations, how to keep
them grounded at times like all those things going to play.
That's part of your responsibility as a catcher, and that
is your number one responsibility. Then after that comes like
what you can do for yourself and for your team offensively.
(09:47):
So that's that's the biggest difference where every other position
on the field you know, is the priority is that
position and what you can bring from an offense some
defensive perspective, but the catcher, your your responsibility is the pitcher.
And then on top of that, just the physicality of
(10:09):
the position, you know, just having you know, blocking balls,
you know, the the wear and tear on the body
over the course of a of an entire season, especially
when you catch as many innings as col does. You know,
there's there's no other position that comes close to the
type of physical demand under body.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
The year you hit nineteen and we're an All Star
in twenty eleven, you probably thought you did something pretty
special that year, didn't you.
Speaker 3 (10:38):
Well, I actually got some down m VP boats from
that in that season exactly. And I'm looking at those
numbers and you know, obviously Cow Cow's numbers dwarf those
in comparison.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
You had a fantastic career. You were you were a
lot of fun to watch. So enjoy the show tonight.
Do you think Cal's gonna win? I can tell you
want Cal to win. Do you think he's gonna win?
Do you think that we'll have something to celebrate tonight
here in Seattle?
Speaker 3 (11:08):
You know, I hope so I'm rooting for Caw to win.
I've said it a few times over the course of
the year that I, for some reason, I think it's judge,
you know. But at the same time, like I'm I'm
rooting for Cal to do it because I think he
he absolutely deserves it. So I hope, I hope I'm wrong.
(11:32):
But nonetheless, it was a it was a fascinating season
to have two tremendous players like that have the years
that they had. But I'm definitely rooting for Cal.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
All right, great to hear. Well, we'll be watching tonight.
Thank you very much for your time.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
That was great. Thanks guys.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
All Right, Alex Avila, thirteen year catcher in the major leagues.
Catchers are going to be a little bit biased, But
you also need to know I thought that it was
such a fascinating response. I mean, think about that, Bucky.
I know you know this, but I had sixty home
runs this year, and my focus wasn't the offense my
offense at any time during the season. My focus was
(12:13):
making sure the pitcher was ready to give us a
great performance. That's incredible.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
Yeah, well, I mean that's again that you can't really
you can't really qualify all of the ways in which
you want to measure. It just boils down to where
do you put more of the lion's share?
Speaker 4 (12:31):
Right? Is it?
Speaker 5 (12:32):
The fact that will you just watch Judge do again
was something that we have rarely seen. We haven't seen
anybody co come by and just turn into this much
of a dominant hit.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Or power average, on base percentage.
Speaker 5 (12:46):
He just basically when he steps in the batter's box,
You're like, this guy doesn't even look human. But to me,
I just can't understand how how you can think about
what all the things that a catcher does and then
records even when I if I was to sit here
and go down the list, I kind of just did
a little bit with him of all the things that
a catcher is involved in that are impact parts of
(13:08):
the game that a right fielder has nothing to do with.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
You know.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
And then you can get somewhere it's like, okay, well,
you know, plays at home plate, Okay, that's a catch thing,
but a lot of times the right fielder's throw is
what makes it a play at home plate, so they
can have some impact on the game. Still defensively, there's
a lot of things, but then there's a ton of
things that you can't even think about, like when do
you got now that there's a certain amount of mound visits,
(13:32):
when do you go out to write the ship with
the guy between the years or mechanically something he's doing,
or game plan wise, here's what our game plan was
against this guy, you know, leading into the game and
our pregame meeting and leading up to this performance. And
yet he looks like he's on that game plan, like
he was expecting it. So we're gonna shift gears, when
do you do that? That's you can't put a number
on that. And he does that about as well as
(13:53):
anybody out there, throwing runners out. He's great at This
year was his best year behind the plate, blocking balls,
but it still wasn't horror And so I just I
just don't see it as I mean, the.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
Major league baseball player. I don't.
Speaker 5 (14:06):
I don't always agree with players voting for things because
I think it becomes a popularity contest and it's not
something they dive into necessarily. But he was voted the
most outstanding player by his peers. The people that are
playing right now in the game right now, to me,
that is those guys that are playing right now that
they're in the game, they play against him, they watch
him play, They're saying, that's the dude that is the
(14:28):
most outstanding. And to me, it's if you say outstanding player,
that's where Judge has an argument, you say the most
valuable player. I don't even think it's a I don't
even think it should be a debate, to be honest,
it is because of how great Aaron Judge's season was.
But it's the value that Cal Rawly brings to the Mariners.
There's nobody that brings more value to their team.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Well, I would definitely have voted for Cal Raleigh, and
I say that without bias. I honestly mean that. I
say that completely without bias. But I do think I'm
six one percent sure he's not going to win, So
I gives him a thirty nine percent chance of winning tonight.
So that's where I'm at. I don't think we're going
(15:09):
to get the news we're wanting tonight, but I think
that there is a chance, Ashley, that we're going to
get that news.
Speaker 6 (15:15):
Yeah, and I'm holding on to hope. I will say this,
I do think that Cal should win it, and I
know that I have bias when I say that originally,
but also hearing all of the arguments and listening to
things and as we've talked about it over the last
few weeks and months, and thinking about all of the
things that cat pitchers do and just hearing what Alex
had to say.
Speaker 7 (15:33):
I mean, I have zero doubt that cal should win.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
I mean, just to be fair, just to show the
other side, there are plenty of former major leaguers at
MLB Network that you're gonna hear.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Tonight break this down that think Aaron Judge should win.
I mean, Sean Casey has gone off. We tried to
get Sean Casey on as well today and he's he's
been one hundred percent on Aaron Judge.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
It's not even close. I mean, so it's it's you know,
there are plenty of MLB Network former players that have
the airon Judge. There might even be more for all
I know. But yeah, I don't think there's one catcher
out there that's not that if they had a vote,
wouldn't vote for col No.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
And I think that that's it isn't just because of
they go some catcher brotherhood. It's because of an understanding
of how crazy it was if you caught in the
big leagues for ten years, you understand, Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
How is he?
Speaker 5 (16:24):
Yes, the numbers, sixty home runs is crazy. I don't
care if you're a DH it's crazy. But to do
it while you're catching and managing the staff and wearing
the foul balls and blocking, it's just absolutely berserk.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Yeah, Chris Young, he's on the judge side, Cliff Flowyer
air a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
So, but you want to convince me. I think you
should win the MVP.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
But we shall see if it goes down tonight, and
certainly we'll react on tomorrow's show. Coming up next though,
Mike Sando will be with us, we'll ask him about
Seahawks rams. Also Thursday Night Football and more. Sports Radio
ninety three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 8 (16:59):
It's time for our Thursday visit with Mike Sando of
the Athletic and brought to you by Hunt Services.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
Get on the horn and call Hunts Now with Mike.
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Here's Chuck and bud Hi.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Yes, Mike Sando joins this each and every week.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Let's ask Mike real quick. He's a smart fella. Cal
Rally or Aaron judge.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
Mike cal Raleio. Let's go with the hometown guy. I mean,
and I'm an expert, believe me. I've I've watched some
of the playoffs and uh, I'm actually excited. Are we
gonna get the Mariners on local TV? Here? If you have, like,
you know, a YouTube TV, I wanted to have that.
What does it matter with you? You know? I get like
it doesn't sound like you're tuned in.
Speaker 7 (17:36):
No.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Well, I mean, I'm not gonna work that hard to
watch the games, but I mean, you know, in a
sport I'm not covering, but I'm interested. So I'm a
terrible expert in that. But cal rally, that guy's amazing.
I know enough of that. Okay, every time you, even
if you don't follow baseball, you realize he's doing something
heroic every week. All Right, all right, we'll take it.
We'll accept it. Your vote has been cast. All Right, Well,
let's talk about what you do cover for a living
(17:59):
and what you do have incredible passion for.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
That's the National Football League. You watched a lot of games,
you got ready for a lot of games.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
I mean, how.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Big is this one between the Seahawks and the Rams
for a mid season affair?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
I think it's the most fun anticipated regular season matchup
for the Seahawks since when. I mean it would have
to go back to prime Russell Wilson, right. I mean,
it's been a while that you really felt like it's
a great matchup and you're excited and you feel like
(18:34):
these guys could you know, not only if they could
win the game, but like they could really go somewhere.
So I love it. I think these are two of
the best teams in the league. When's the last times
been one of the best teams in the league. It's
been top five team nine years. Probably, Yeah, in a minute,
it feels really different. So I love it. Yet, I
feel like if the Seahawks lose, I think they just
(18:55):
dust themselves off and get them next time. I don't
think it's a must win, but I do think it's
a help full win for validity, you know, is having
Sam Donald had the bad playoff game last time, so
there's some things that can be changed perception wise, I
think with this game. But I still think Seattle's on
the same track no matter what happens.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
Agreed, I don't think either team has some signature win.
This is kind of the measuring stick for both of them.
I mean, the easiest or the most common like thread
to poll on when you're thinking about this is McVeigh
and his offense versus McDonald and his defense. And yet
both sides of the ball play well on both of
(19:34):
these teams. And so what's an underlying thing that you're
going to think that you think might be one of
the determining factors in this thing.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
Well, Seattle's defense. Both these teams defensive lines really are
surly and get after it. I think that's where it starts.
I think the Seahawks have a better overall rotation of people,
but those you know Jared versus probably you know the
people with the guy people have heard about around the country.
So I think both. I think they play with attitude
and tenacity upfront on defense and whoever kind of I
(20:04):
think someone's going to set the tone with that in
this game, and I think it's I think it may
be Seattle. I kind of feel like the Seahawks are
going to win this one and then maybe have their
hands more full of the second time. That's just kind
of my feel I feel like they're starting of kind
of surging now, the team with a little bit more
to prove and they may get them, but they haven't
seen the last of them either.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
What's what's more surprising to you that Matthew Stafford closing
in on forty might be better now than he's ever been,
or that Sam Darnald, considering where he was two years ago,
is in the MVP conversation this season.
Speaker 4 (20:37):
Donald.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
To me, Donald's more surprising because because Stafford has played
at a high level, he's always been someone who everyone
thought had the talent. And I think we can see
in retrospect that he had the talent, but you know,
they had a bad situation a lot of the time
with the organization. And I think he's got a great
set up now with McVeigh and and he's at a
he's at peace and he and he's he's in a
(20:59):
different place. I think for Donald, Uh, you know, to
go from to go from a major market where you're
kind of seen. When you fail in a place like
New York as a quarterback or a head coach, you
kind of get branded in a different way, right, You
kind of get laughed at and mocked. Think of Adam Gase,
he was a good coach in the league. Have you
seen him a lot lately, right, you know what I mean,
(21:23):
Like when it happens though in that place, these are
these are good. These aren't a lot of cases. Good
people are good coaches, and you know Sam Donald was
not the complete buffoon he was made out to be
seeing ghosts and all that. Things take on a uh
you know, things take on a greater meaning there, and
so I think we're used to a lot of times
those guys just kind of it's hard to recover from.
(21:44):
You know, you don't necessarily get the other chance. You
get branded and you have a hard time changing that identity.
So I think that's just a great story. Maybe we're
seeing it a little more now. I mean, Daniel Jones
is having it too, So that's I think that's just
a great thing. It reflects really well on those guys,
and they're current teams, but it's still a surprise when
you see it. You're used to most of those guys
(22:05):
just kind of going.
Speaker 4 (22:05):
Away, Sando.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
One of the reasons for the surprise that is Sam
Darnold's I mean mvp ish first half of the season
is Jackson Smith and Jigmin. He's got like twenty percent
more receiving yards than Jamar Chase, who's in second place,
And yet I kind of feel like at some point
during the season you're going to have someone that's going
to have some game plan. Even if the game plan
is we're gonna put six guys on him, he's not
(22:29):
going to beat us. I don't know what how you
try to slow this guy down, but it seems impossible
at this point. Nobody's figured out how to do it
through nine games in the season, and so can it
be done? Do you expect that to be the priority
for the Rams defense, at least in.
Speaker 4 (22:43):
The back end of that secondary.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
Yeah, I would think that that's the case. But if
you notice with most wide receivers that are good, they
don't get solved like that, you know, And I think
it's harder to defend wide receivers now if you go back,
you know, you know, when I was covering this per
Bowl team in two thousand and five, if you just
look at the game, it's so different. There's there's two
running backs on the field and neither one of them
(23:06):
is going to really stretch you vertically as a receiver.
Your tight end's gonna hopefully be a decent blocker, you know,
and then you've got two wide receivers out there. So
if you want to stop one of those wide receivers,
I think it was easier then to do that, right
because there's only a couple of them, and your tight
end's kind of a half receiver, that sort of a thing,
and you might go to three wides. They did that,
but it might be third down, you know. So I
(23:27):
think now there's three wide receivers out there every play,
the tight end looks like a big wide receiver. Now
he's not as great as a blocker, but man, he
could be a threat. And even your half back grew
up in a seven on seven worlds, So saying you're
going to stop a wide receiver just it's harder to do.
There's more space out there, there's lighter you know. It's
(23:47):
just you can do it. And I think there's scheming
in the NFL now. Is is a even bigger thing
than it was before. I think the teams used to
run their system and you might try to stop it.
Now they're scheming these guys in a different way. I say,
good luck trying to stop these guys. The Eagles fans
might disagree with you about, Well, that's really interesting. Yeah,
(24:08):
that's a whole nother conversation. Actually, yeah, I wanted to
talk about it a little bit.
Speaker 1 (24:12):
If I'm going to talk about one national story other
than Seahawks rams here, I wanted to get your thoughts because,
on one hand, I do think AJ Brown is going
about this all the wrong way, and he's coming off
as a bad teammate for sure, and he shouldn't be
doing it.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
But I think he's got a point.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
It's like, how can we have this much talent and
we're having this much difficulty getting the ball from quarterback
to wide receipt.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
It's not just him.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
DeVante Smith can't catch a pass either, So does I
mean at what point.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Smiths on pace for good year?
Speaker 4 (24:45):
Though? Solid?
Speaker 2 (24:46):
Yes, solid? But you know what point?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Is it justified that a player goes to the media
because he can't get through to.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
The coaching staff on how he's being used. I say
this is the most diplomatic, well reasoned, smartest protests like this.
Usually guys are emotional at their locker overtime, you know
what I mean, and they just finally snap and then
and then it comes off as super selfish, and it is.
I don't I feel like the selfish part of this
is only in that you know it is drawing attention
(25:20):
now to it, and if they don't reach their goals
this season, which is unlikely, you're not gonna win the
super Bowl anyway. Most years, you know, it'll kind of
look like it's because they didn't get him the ball more.
But I think I think there's something to it, and
he is does have a good point in that, Hey,
just because we're winning the games doesn't mean that we're
playing our best ball. And he's trying to say that
(25:43):
it doesn't mean I have to get the ball every week.
I think he believes that, but it's not clicking. And
so I'll give you an example like Denver's won seven
games in a row and their quarterback is struggling, and
that's all gonna when they lose losing some games, it's
gonna come to the it's gonna be a convert. I
think what A. J. Barn is saying is like, we're
(26:05):
not the way we're playing right now. We may win
a lot of these games, but we're not. We're not
our best right now, and he's just kind of a
cry for help. But I agree he's kind of putting
it on that coordinator more than anything because he he
he hasn't just said it's Jay. He hasn't said it's
Jalen Hurts as much, wouldn't you agree? Yeah? I mean
(26:25):
I think he was kind of hinting at it last year.
Remember when they had the little tiff last year. So
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (26:31):
I mean, I'm sure it started behind the scenes and
he couldn't get where.
Speaker 2 (26:35):
He was going with it. I do believe he has
a point. There's no reason why that offense would I
think he wants to struggle that much. I think he
wants to win. Yeah, yeah, I hear you, all.
Speaker 1 (26:46):
Right, Thursday night football, Patriots versus Jets. I mean, it's
not exactly a hum dinger here, Mike.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
But yeah, oh that is interesting. What's interesting about this game? Hey,
anytime we can watch New England with with Drake May
I'm I'm all for it. I think this is somebody
who in his second year has outperformed the expectations everybody
thought in the league. Probably a good reason that this
was a team to be a ref of talent even
coming into this year, even after spending in free agency,
and they've won seven in a row. They're really great
(27:16):
on defense. That's stopping the run, so they make you
a little bit one dimensional. And this quarterback without a
bunch of targets you've heard of, I think he had.
I think they had four plays on offense last week
that were fifty yards or more and I was looking
that up, like that just doesn't happen. I couldn't find
it in the last twenty five years anyone had more
than that. So I think that's a really cool story.
And it's the interesting twist of it is, you know,
(27:40):
I think the Jets really wanted to hire Mike Vrabel,
so guess what, Mike Rabel's the edter coach. And it
feels to me as much as I, you know, have
defended Aaron Glenn a little bit early on, I feel
like he's starting to get some of these press conferences
are starting to feel like he's losing it.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
A little bit.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
So I want to watch just how that all goes
six a half, New England having turned it with a
roster that was perceived to be worse than the Jets
a year ago. Interesting in the division, I mean, I
think this is one of those games where if the
Patriots gotten win by thirty points, I think it's very
much more damaging to the new people and the Jets.
Speaker 1 (28:17):
I knew you would find something that you couldn't wait
to watch about Thursday night football. You can count on Sando.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
Well, really enjoy the football this weekend, and we're all
going to enjoy that Seahawks Rams game. That's gonna be special. Oh,
it's going to be great. I can't wait. Thanks, Thanks Mike.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
All Right, Mike Sando, or NFL insider from the Athletic
You can follow him at Sando NFL must follow for
you football fans out there, and we love having them
on every Thursday on the program. All right, coming up next,
we'll close it out with one last thing on Sports
Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. The Seattle International Auto Show,
(28:59):
presented by Beast See You is back November fourteenth through sixteenth.
The newest models from the world's best brands. You can
see them, you can touch them, you can drive them.
You can write a love letter to them and stick
it underneath the hood.
Speaker 7 (29:11):
Don't lick them, though they frown on that.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
Oh no, they don't like to be licked, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
Loomingfield Events Center the Seattle International Auto Show. Discover your
drive for tickets Seattle autoshow dot Com. Final segment of
the day. Here on this Thursday, we go round the
horn for one last thing. What do you got? Bucky?
Speaker 4 (29:30):
Just want to say, Dave col better win or better
win or what?
Speaker 7 (29:36):
Bucky?
Speaker 5 (29:36):
Well, I'm not gonna like protest or anything, be dumb.
I'll just be mad. I'll be mad, and I don't
I mean.
Speaker 2 (29:44):
You're gonna take it out on better not be Ashley
and I better not be your family.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
No, it won't be you guys, won't be my family.
You guys are in the same boat. Probably anybody that
has been propagating the Aaron Judge should be it.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Who is in town? Is anybody doing that in town? Oh?
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (29:59):
I'm I'll travel.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
I'll travel to New York real quick. I'll go to
New York. Jump.
Speaker 7 (30:06):
I'm not printing out those Uber receipts though. That's on you.
Speaker 4 (30:10):
I'm not taking an Uber there.
Speaker 7 (30:12):
No, I'm saying. But also your expenses are on you.
Speaker 4 (30:15):
Uh yeah, I expect that's fine.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
I just know.
Speaker 5 (30:17):
I mean, I'll just be irritated. I know that most
people recognize how great Judge is, and therefore they're like
it's a legitimate debate. You and I are different, are
somewhat further apart on it then, but we're on the
same page. We both think cow is deserving of it.
And yet there's a difference between how far I think
it's not. I don't even I just think he's so
(30:37):
much more valuable just just because of the positioning place.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
I actually think that hurts your argument more than it
helps it, because it is close, and so for you
to say it's not even close, it does feel like
your bias is interfering.
Speaker 5 (30:54):
Yeah, but it's not my bias that's interfering. It's the
fact that I know how difficult a catcher.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
Well, everybody's recogniz but I don't think everybody does recognize it. Well,
maybe not to agree that you recognize it. But there's
also a considerable offensive gap as well. So there's a
considerable defensive gap, but there's also a considerable offensive gap
as well. So I just with all respect, I think
that you saying it's not close actually hurts your argument for.
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Col Yeah, well that's fine, you can think that.
Speaker 5 (31:24):
I'm just telling you it's the considerable defensive gap, and
then the mental gap, the mental side of it. There
isn't a nerd that can come up with a stat
for that ever, never will be heart grit, determination, playing
through pain. There's just a thing that he has that
you that just as automatically, just automatically puts me ahead
(31:44):
or puts him ahead of Aaron Judge. And again that's
not me sane in any way shape or for him
to diminish what Aaron Judge did.
Speaker 4 (31:51):
It's spectacular.
Speaker 5 (31:53):
I mean it is, without a doubt, the offensive player
of the year over a guy that hit sixty home
runs and hit the most home runs by a catch
or switch hitters, the most impressive offensive season Aaron Judge
without a doubt by a substantial margin. But the difference
between what they bring as in totality, it's not even
close what they bring in totality.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
Well, I think it's very close, but we'll have to
just disagree on that. We all like col and we
want him to win MVP, and we think he should. Ashley,
what's your one last thing?
Speaker 6 (32:23):
Well, we're not the only ones pumped up for this
Seahawks Rams matchup. Yesterday after the show, we kind of
chatted briefly about Pat McAfee was given some props to
Mike McDonald, him and some of the guys on a
show calling him Mike Madman McDonald. They're saying that he's
an absolute mastermind. The offense never knows where the pressure.
Speaker 7 (32:42):
Is coming from. And it just kind of pumps me
up even more to see what happens on Sunday.
Speaker 6 (32:47):
Oh yeah, this is like his first This is like
the best obviously the best test he's faced, and I'm
really excited for it.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Well, and I think it's a year and a half
of doing this being a head coach and for him
to have like caught up to others like McVeigh and
Shanahan and people are now recognizing him as a genius.
Speaker 2 (33:04):
Yeah that this is.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
This is like, this is this is him. I can't
use a rookie coach as an excuse. I can't use
a roster that I don't like as an excuse.
Speaker 2 (33:16):
So this is it. This is like I think this
is the first, the true, first, true McDonald versus McVay matchup,
and I'm all about it. I think are the quarterback
matchups phenomenal, but the head coaching matchup, that meeting of
the minds might be the most fascinating aspect of this game. Uh,
and I'll just close with this the same thing I
(33:37):
did yesterday. Anders and I are recording our first episode
of the off season. We usually wait a little while longer,
but I think there's just too much of an appetite
for what's going on this offseason for the Seahawks. So
Stove will be recorded today. We'll get it out to
you as soon as possible. Uh, and maybe we'll tweak
it a little bit this offseason so it's available in
(33:58):
more ways.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
But for those wondering, we will be recording today and
we'll have it pumped out to you tomorrow, So that'll
do it for or not tomorrow. We'll have it pumped
out to you tonight, so it'll be it'll be available
here in about an hour and.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
A half as a matter of fact. All right, we'll
talk to you tomorrow at six o'clock.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Coming up next, it's Mark James and Christopher Kidd on
Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM.
Speaker 8 (34:20):
You can't miss a thing from today's show because we're
on demand. Their podcast will be up right after the show.
Just click on demand on our website at ninety three
three KJR dot com and click on checking Bug podcast
to replay anytime, anywhere from Sports Radio ninety three point
three kjr FL.
Speaker 7 (34:41):
This report is sponsored by Audible. Still seeing backups in
the Lakewood area. Both directions by five as you're approaching
ninety six ers
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