Cincy 360 w/ Tony Pike & Austin Elmore -- 6/26/25

Tony and Austin talk about the Reds loss, rank the Bengals position groups, and check in with Rick Ucchino and Mike Petraglia, on ESPN 1530!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
About Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part by Skyline Chile.
Stop by Skyline Chili for a three way or cheeze
Coney Today. Feeling good, It's Skyline Time. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Good afternoon, Happy Thursday.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome into the latest edition of Cincy three sixty coming
your way on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, or
via the iHeartRadio app. Thank you for listening. If you're
listening via the app, go ahead and leave us a talkback.
We'll get to those talkbacks in our number two this afternoon.
We are a service of our good friends at Skyline Chilly.
Anytime you're feeling good and hungry, it's always Skyline Time.

(00:48):
We have a lot to sift through today. We're gonna
talk some Cincinnati Bengals value, Yes, value in the Bengals
when it comes to a betting standpoint. Pro Football Focused
names the defensive line for the Bengals the twenty fifth
best unit in the National Football League when it comes
to defensive line. So what Austin and I will do

(01:09):
today is we're going to take eleven positions on the
Bengals and we'll rate them one through eleven.

Speaker 2 (01:16):
We'll see what you think about that. There's a TJ.

Speaker 3 (01:19):
Watt update that could pertain to Trey Hendrickson that will
dive into I want to talk some Joe Burrow progression.
We'll talk about the running back position and.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
Austin.

Speaker 3 (01:31):
I am having trouble, I guess understanding the back and
forth right now with what's happened today with the stadium
lease with Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
So there's a lot going on.

Speaker 3 (01:44):
So I came in today and you're on the phone
with Willie Cunningham, and you're trying to just figure out
if Willy knows anything. Willy's a pretty connected guy. We've
been listening to audio over the last few minutes. We've
seen reports that a deal is in place, and yet
as I peruse social media right now, I see back

(02:08):
and forth on social media. Have you been able to
understand at this point what is currently going on with
the stadium lease.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Here's my understanding. The Bengals and Hamilton County have come
to an agreement on what the lease would look like. Okay, okay,
now they have not yet proposed or voted on a lease,
but the terms of everything that they would want together

(02:39):
have essentially been agreed upon. So there is apparently not
enough time to hammer out an entire lease between now
and June thirtieth, which is the deadline. Okay, So what
they did today was present or what they are doing
and have done or are talking about right now is
present a letter of intent. We intend to make these

(03:02):
the terms of a new lease, and then it goes
to the Hamilton County Commissioners to vote. Okay, do they
approve that. If they do, we'll begin the process of
creating a lease, and that will then move the extension
or move the deadline to whenever the paperwork is completed. Okay,
So we're just yes because they waited basically the full

(03:25):
thirty years. So you're telling me and we need an extension, correct. So, uh,
my understanding is I think it's good news, but there
are obviously a lot of different ways you can look
at this, and nothing and certainly no agreement is perfect.

(03:47):
Uh So I think it makes everybody a little bit
nervous because they aren't voting on a lease today and
there is still no official lease. But I do think
it's a good news. It's a good sign that the
two sides have at least come together to present a
letter of intent on new terms of a new lease.

Speaker 3 (04:04):
Ben Baby, just a few minutes ago mentioned Hamilton County
Commissioner at Lisha Reese pointed out that several media outlets
incorrectly stated that the least term sheet had been approved.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Correct.

Speaker 3 (04:16):
Reese went on to say, quote, we do not have
a lease. I want to make that perfectly clear at
this point.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah, that's who we were listening to just a few
seconds ago before we came on the air. She's understandably upset. Right,
So many media outlets had kind of taken this and
run with it that there was a new lease agreement
and it's not. It's like, hey, these are the things
we want to put into a new lease agreement. Yeah,
and once that actually gets built, then we can vote

(04:43):
on it.

Speaker 3 (04:44):
Red's fall to the Yankees last night, but yet the
Reds have still won five of their last six series.
It's not good for the Reds facing left handed pitching.
And I know that that we have a poll question
up and running, and we've had that question up and
running for quite some time now, Austin, as it pertains
to what last night was for the Cincinnati Reds. This,

(05:08):
of course, presented by Revivefitnessystems dot com and coach PJ. Street,
was last night's Red Red's loss quote just one of
those games or cause for concern. You can go to
at audilm or at Tony Underscore Pike fifteen or at
ESPN fifteen thirty and vote for that. I saw someone
commented on the poll question Austin and said they were

(05:31):
just dominated by a cy Young candidate. Move on, sure,
now that part I understand, But they've also been dominated
by other left handed pitchers that aren't cy Young candidates.

Speaker 2 (05:41):
Every left hander that they have faced looks like a
cy Young candidate.

Speaker 3 (05:44):
In the last two starts, the Yankees threw back to
back left handers, and over thirteen innings, the Reds didn't
score an earned run. This has been a problem and
a significant problem for much of the season. We'll try
to sift through maybe what can the Reds do to
find some success against left handers. But a point of

(06:05):
that last night, Yes, Max Freed is the first major
League baseball pitcher to get to ten wins this year.
His era is now sub too. He is a fantastic pitcher,
but last night was the latest in a long line
of struggles against left handed starters that the Cincinnati Reds
are facing. We'll talk about a sloppy night at Great
American Ballpark, We'll recap the game, we'll hear some audio

(06:28):
and look ahead to what's next after an off day
today and the San Diego Padres come in to town.
Updated All Star voting is currently happening, and I guess
at this point, Austin, it doesn't feel like it doesn't
feel like Ellie Da la Cruz is going to be

(06:48):
able to catch Mookie Bets or Francisco Lindor. Correct the
side by side statistics for Francisco Lindor and Ellie Day
La Cruz are not even close. No yet, Lindor Z.
This is almost a million more fan votes. We discussed
a problem with fan voting. We've talked about this in
length that it's just the latest in a long line

(07:09):
of issues that seem to be the problem when it
comes to the All Star Game. Also, somehow, some way, Austin,
despite still not getting back with the club, Austin Hayes
ranks ahead of TJ.

Speaker 2 (07:24):
Friedel in All Star voting for the outfield. Make that
make sense? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (07:29):
I have no clue what that even, how that's even possible.
Ronald Acuna is fourth in All Star voting when it
comes to outfielders for the National League. But Ronald Kunya
did just announce that he is going to participate in
the home run Derby in Atlanta this year at the
All Star Game. Do we want to see Elie de

(07:50):
la Cruz in the home run Derby?

Speaker 4 (07:52):
Sure?

Speaker 2 (07:53):
Why not?

Speaker 3 (07:53):
Because I remember growing up hitters like how we don't
want to want to do the home run Derby because
it's gonna mess with the swing. Guys swing for the
fences every time they're at the plate now like it
was different if you're a high average hitter and and
you go into a home run derby and now you've
got to change your swing path and all that strikeouts
are up. Guys are trying to hit home runs, They're

(08:16):
not just trying to move runners and put balls in play.
I don't think there's as big of a drawback to
participate in the home run derby and quote mess up
your swing as maybe it used to be. So if
it were a vote, as we're talking about votes today,
I would vote Ellie de la.

Speaker 2 (08:33):
Cruz to be in the home run derby. Yeah, I'm
all for that. I think he could do something special.
I have no problem with that. I think it'd be fun.
I think it's good for the Reds. I think it's
good for Ellie de la Cruz. And you know, going
back to like my whole mindset at the beginning of
this year, which is like, whether the Reds are good
or bad, I want to enjoy watching Ellie de la Cruz.
You know, in if Todd Frazier had won that home

(08:55):
run derby anywhere else, yeah, it wouldn't be as special,
but we'd always remains Hey, our guy won the home
run derby. You just talk about the fan voting for
the All Star Game and how screwed up that is.
That's another thing that baseball takes away from the small markets.
You take away from the small teams and the smaller

(09:16):
fan bases their ability to see their best players get
in because fan voting means too much. So this is
something that you know kind of players can be invited to,
where players can choose to participate in, and that at
least can give you something to cling to a fun moment.
One of my most looked forward to events every year,

(09:37):
the home run derby. If Ellie would be able to
do that, I think that would be really cool. The
other aspect of it, and Moe alluded to this in
quick Hits yesterday. Ellie's never played on Sunday Night baseball,
Ellie's never appeared in the postseason. Yep.

Speaker 3 (09:53):
If that means Ellie gets to be on a bigger stage,
I'm all for it for sure, and that would be
the home run derby.

Speaker 2 (09:58):
Now, those things ultimately our results of the team not
being good enough. But I correct, you know, in twenty
twenty three they could have put the Reds on Sunday
Night baseball when they were in the midst of that
really good months. I think you could do it this
year as well. But it's just it's only for the

(10:18):
big market teams. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:21):
The NBA Draft happened last night and I'm watching along
and I think one it's fascinating. Austin Cooper Flag's only
eighteen years old. He went number one overall last night.
There was a quote of him discussing why he reclassified
to graduate high school in three years and position himself
to be the youngest number one NBA draft pick since Lebron.

(10:42):
He said a quote that His mom likes to say,
if you're the best player in the gym, you need
to find a new gym. M Cooper Cooper Flag is
situated now because of how young he is and how
the max contract works in the NBA that he will
have a chance to make a billion dollars in contracts by.

Speaker 2 (10:58):
The time he's thirty two. That's good for him. So
good for Cooper Flag. You know, Cooper's from Maine. Cooper,
he's a MANA. Did you see what Pat Forty tweeted
about Cooper Flag last night? No, Cooper Flag is the
first white American number one NBA draft pick since Kent Benson. Wow,

(11:23):
nineteen seventy seven. Isn't that amazing? It is kind of
hard to believe it is. I still don't know why
the NBA Draft is two nights. They could get that
done in a night. And uh, there were two things
that stood out to me last night. One though, Colin
Murray Boyles from South Carolina got drafted by the Toronto

(11:44):
Raptors and while on TV, shakes his head and drops
an F bomb, clearly was not thrilled.

Speaker 3 (11:54):
To go to the Toronto Raptors. Ace Bailey, Yes, Ace
Bailey from Ruck said that he only wanted to be
drafted by the Pelicans, Nets or Wizards. Guess what the
Utah Jazz drafted as Bailey and he almost looked like
he was breaking down in tears in the back room.

Speaker 2 (12:13):
He also refused to draft visit with them right didn't
work out with them? Correct?

Speaker 3 (12:19):
Is this in response? Because I don't know what it is,
but you're you're a top ten pick in the NBA.
You're making now generational type of money for you and
your family for decades to come. Is this the product
of like nil, when these guys are making so much
in college that they think they can come in and say, well,
I'm not playing for this team or I don't want
to play for this team because in years years past,

(12:43):
you draft, you get drafted in the top ten. That
money is something you've never even thought about seeing before.
You're just excited to go play the game. Now, these
top ten picks are mad pouting because they didn't go
where they wanted to go. I just I thought that
was a bad look last night in the NBA draft
sure from some of the players. I mean, I get
where the guy is coming from.

Speaker 2 (13:05):
Where like you gotta go the income tax and leaving
the country and all that other stuff in Toronto. It's
probably a bit of a headache. So like I get
where he's coming from. You know, probably don't. It's cold
up there.

Speaker 5 (13:23):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (13:24):
You know, I can at least understand, but you got
to keep that dialogue internal. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:30):
I also thought there was an interesting stat here Austin,
Dylan Harper went number two overall. Dylan Harper's rookie contract
is fifty four million dollars guaranteed his father.

Speaker 2 (13:42):
Do you know who his father is? What's that?

Speaker 3 (13:43):
His father won five NBA World Championships. Ron Harper, Yeah,
Miami of Ohio. Ron Harper's career earnings was thirty five
million as a five time champion. His son, before even
playing an NBA game, is going to make twenty million
more than Ron Harper made a believable career. Wild That
is just absolute wild wild stuff. Finally, here in U

(14:08):
in segment number one, Uh, do you follow along with
any of James Palmer's work?

Speaker 2 (14:15):
James Palmer, James Palmer's a Buckeye.

Speaker 3 (14:17):
He gave a little bit of a contract update, as
it pertains to TJ watt uh Oh. Yesterday, Palmer provided
an update on Wat's contract with negotiations with the Steelers
and said, quote, I'm hearing there's a chance Watt's going
to get past forty million dollars, which is something you're
obviously keeping an eye on. If he gets forty million
a year at the age he's at, and he has

(14:39):
every right to ask it, but you talk about the
comparison between him and Miles Garrett, the numbers are almost
identical in every aspect.

Speaker 2 (14:47):
TJ.

Speaker 3 (14:48):
Watt has every right to try to get that, and
the two sides look like they're moving to that number.
It's been speculated that Watt is seeking to surpass Miles
Garrett's guaranteed money of one hundred and twenty three and
a half million dollars. He's looking to get over forty
million dollars per year. If you're Trey hendrickson Austin and

(15:09):
you see these rumblings and here's James Palmer's report, are
you now just saying I'm gonna sit back and wait.
I'm sure I don't. I don't want to wait. In regard,
I don't want to talk about this anymore. Because if TJ.
Watt goes and gets over forty million a year, then
as you mentioned earlier. Today's price is not always tomorrow's price.

(15:30):
What do you make of what do you make of
the fallout? If TJ. Watt were to make that type
of money, Does that change what happens between the Bengals
and Trey Hendrickson.

Speaker 2 (15:41):
I would say it. I don't know if it changes anything,
but I'm sure it's certainly talked about in the negotiation.
Skame price is probably would probably be a little different.
You know what they say, yesterday's price, that's today's price.
That's it. I would imagine that would be brought up.
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (16:00):
Can you imagine the Bangals is getting blasted dull like, well,
they should have got the deal done at thirty million.
That would have been a bargain.

Speaker 2 (16:06):
Now. I don't know that that's gonna help Uh, Trey,
I don't know if that's gonna help his negotiations at all,
but man, I'm sure it will at least be brought up.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
Man, what crazy times we're living in, the types of
millions of dollars that we're discussing. Here's what we're gonna do.
We'll break for the first time today, we'll come back.
Let's knock out a couple of phone calls five one, three, seven,
four nine, fifteen thirty, and let's dive in to what
was a what's the word you would use for last
night's Reds game?

Speaker 2 (16:36):
Just sloppy, a dud, A dud. Yeah, we'll talk about
a dud of a night at the ballpark as well.
We're just getting started since he three to sixty here
till three o'clock on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
a service of Skyline Chili.

Speaker 4 (16:53):
Now your chance to win.

Speaker 6 (16:54):
One thousand.

Speaker 2 (16:56):
Two bitch from Kettley and swings. It's a drive deep
right field, way back. It is gone. Max Monthy with
a Grand Slam.

Speaker 7 (17:09):
His second one this week, and the Dodgers had opened
it up. It is seven to one, Oh Maxwell swinging
a silver hammer in the Mile High City. He got
a slider that hung over the middle and he didn't miss.
He put it right into the Colorado bullpen. Max Monsey

(17:32):
with his eighth career Grand Slam.

Speaker 2 (17:35):
And he's knocked in six runs tonight.

Speaker 3 (17:39):
Swinging the silver hammer. I like that in the Mile
High City? Isn't that what they said that operation heron
the other day? Something hammer night hammer.

Speaker 2 (17:50):
No, Now it's that's a great name for like a mission. Yeah,
Operation Midnight Hammer. It's good.

Speaker 3 (17:57):
The Dodgers one at eight one because you see, how
did you see how they got the lead?

Speaker 2 (18:01):
Like pouring down rain.

Speaker 3 (18:02):
I don't know why they're playing the game, and a
pop up is hit with runners on second third for
the Dodgers and two outs and neither the second basement
of the first basement. They tried to look up at
the pop up and the rain was coming down so
hard they couldn't see a thing.

Speaker 2 (18:15):
They say, that's one of the hardest things to do
in sports is catch a fly ball while it's raining.

Speaker 3 (18:19):
It nearly landed on the head of the first basement.
So good thing that he was able to at least
avoid that. And it doesn't come back to beat and
hurt the Rockies because quite frankly, they were gonna lose anyone.

Speaker 2 (18:36):
They didn't have a chance. That was the call, by
the way, on the Dodgers radio network, you heard Max Muncie.
Two grand slams in a week. That's pretty good week
of baseball for old Max the silver Hammer. Did you
know there's two players and to be the wooden hammer
named Max Muncie. Really one plays for the A's, his
solid player, and another one named plays obviously for the Dodgers,

(18:57):
so I was very confused. Earlier this year, I was
like driving somewhere. It was re late at night, and
I was listening to a West Coast game. I was
listening to the A's actually, and I heard them say
Max Munsey, and I thought, oh my god, that I
miss Max Munsey got traded to the A's. And then
I realized that they were talking about someone else entirely. Okay,

(19:18):
so that's something from four months ago for everybody. Sure,
So that's what we bring up on the twenty sixth
of June. Yeah, on sinty three sixty. I want to
know how do they make those who comes up with
the operation names for military mission? That's a good question.
I want that job, That's a good question. You know,
if this all goes south and they end up drafting people,

(19:40):
can I be the guy who names the missions? Can
I do that? I'm not trying to make fun of anything,
but don't get panties at a bunch of everybody, but
just you know what I mean, Operation Midnight Hammer. Yeah,
that's tough as a two dollars steak. What's Max Munsey's
middle name. Uh, I don't know Emel Maximal Maximore. That's bad.

(20:06):
Thank you, that's bad. I will I'll be here today
and tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (20:11):
Maximum before we get into a game. Last night at
Great American Ballpark. Uh, let's hear from a couple of
phone callers. What's up Mark.

Speaker 8 (20:25):
Having doing? Thanks taking my call?

Speaker 2 (20:27):
Yes, sir, I was okay.

Speaker 8 (20:30):
I mean, I want three to win every game, but
you know, you know logically that ain't gonna happen. But
it didn't bother me last night that they lost because
they got that the game the other night extra innings,
so they won the tory. So I'm more I was
more happy about that. I mean, I mean, sometimes you
run into a picture that got your number.

Speaker 3 (20:51):
Sure, but I don't think it's the I don't think
it's the loss that was the question. I think for me,
it's the way in which they they seem to be
nonchalant on the base pass or with their fielding. It's
the inability for this team, now over the halfway point
of the Major League Baseball season, to consistently out all
put together abouts against left handed starters. I think that

(21:12):
was more of a I mean, Max Breed has a
chance to win the cy Young. It's not about getting
beat by Max Freed. I think it's the bigger picture
of another game of struggling against a left hander and
just some of the carelessness in the way they handled
the bases and in the field.

Speaker 8 (21:31):
Well, I think I didn't see the game last night,
but I think the problem when they faced good pitches
like him, they got they try to get too deep
into the count. You know, good pitches are good for
a reason. When they get you deep into the count,
they gonna fool you at some point and get you
out on their pitch. So my thing is swing at

(21:52):
that first pitch, because nine times out of ten, that
first pitch gonna be right down the middle of the
play because good pitchers want to get ahead of you
in the count. So byt a second, by the second
time through the lineup, the adjustment should be made. Okay,
let's swing at that first pitch and and go from there.
So I just think they the aggression part to the

(22:16):
hitting part. You know, like the Cubs line up, you know,
they don't try to get too deep into the county.
They swing, They hanging at that first pitch. So I
think they should kind of kind of take more of
that approach, especially when they're facing left handers or you know,
or just facing good pictures period. Try to swing at

(22:39):
that swing at that first pitch. But to piggyback on
Chamber yesterday, I wanted to make another comment about him.
I was surprised that they went ahead and turned him
a loose at this point. I thought they would bring
him up and try to see what they could get
out of him, you know, and then maybe try to

(23:00):
trade him.

Speaker 9 (23:01):
You know.

Speaker 8 (23:02):
I thought they would hold on to him at least
to the end of the season to see if they
could get anything out of it.

Speaker 2 (23:08):
I think the relationship between Jamber and the Reds kind
of deterior.

Speaker 3 (23:13):
Yeah, that was, like wasn the're a quote from Terry Francona,
like he tried to reach out to Jamer but couldn't
couldn't get a hold of him, and.

Speaker 2 (23:20):
He didn't handle him. Him getting benched very well. Uh
when right before they put him on the injured list,
and then in Arizona for a while, and then yep,
Louisville for a while. I don't think there was any
reconciliation there.

Speaker 8 (23:33):
Yeah, yeah, well, you know, bringing in Francona I think
that was a good thing that you see in this season,
where you know, if you're not if you're not getting
the job done. You know, managers like him that's established
and got the credentials, they're not going to tolerate that
too long.

Speaker 2 (23:53):
Right, So let me ask you this, Mark, what's more
important bringing Jamer up and trying to get trade value
out of him or just moving on from him and
putting the best players on the field to give you
the best chance to win.

Speaker 8 (24:08):
I agree with the second point. You know how I
felt about Jamber. How did I feel about Jamber from
day one? I never was sold on them bringing him in,
So regardless of when they decided to move on from him,
I thought it was a good thing. When you make
a mistake, you don't have to live in it to

(24:30):
the end. I mean, but it's not my twenty million
dollars wherever the money they got to eat to pay
him to go away. It's not my money, it's theirs.
But in this market, the Reds can't afford to pay
those real big contracts. So when you pay a contract

(24:50):
to somebody like him and you miss, that's.

Speaker 2 (24:53):
A problem, right.

Speaker 8 (24:54):
You know, you can't you can't miss on those contracts,
like they swear, as I keep, I keep going back
to him, because they didn't miss on him. I mean,
he was that was a team friendly deal and you
was getting some production out of him. So I never
was on board for them trading him. They could have
traded everybody else and just built the team around him

(25:17):
because they had him on a they had him on
that same deal.

Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 8 (25:22):
Uh that that was my whole point on that. But
go ahead, go ahead, I ain't want to interrupt.

Speaker 2 (25:28):
No, that works.

Speaker 3 (25:30):
I thought, when when you have the deal with Jamer,
that also comes on the heels of what the failed
deal with Mike Mustakis was, and showgo Akiyama what the
failed deal that was. And I think even to a
point you look at man, they have a lot of
money tied up in Nick Martinez and you're really not
getting you know, middle level starter production out of him.

(25:52):
Right now, I think that becomes more The issue is, Man,
they've we criticized them at times for not spending the money,
but at the same time time the times they have
chosen to spend money has has seemingly been the wrong
direction in which they decided to go.

Speaker 8 (26:07):
Yeah, when this organization spends money, they got to spend
it in the right area. They can't and I heard
you say this before, they can't spend their way out
of a mistake. Like Nick Martinez. He's good in that
role when you bring him out the bullpen, when spots
starting that that's the role he should be in. But

(26:28):
you know, the money that he makes determines that he
needs to start. And I'm glad. I'm happy that I
got a chance to see sports baseball, football, and basketball
before the real big salaries came in because you got
to see the best player that deserved to be on
the field. Now, a lot of times you see guys

(26:51):
on the field because of what they're making. So I'll
get off and listen to the rest of the show.

Speaker 3 (26:56):
Mark, appreciate you, man, Thank you, thanks for listening. One
more here and then we'll get to a break Sea Wake.

Speaker 2 (27:01):
What's up?

Speaker 10 (27:04):
What's up, Tony, Tony?

Speaker 2 (27:07):
Yeah, what's going on? Buddy?

Speaker 10 (27:09):
Hey, I just I heard you talk about it yesterday.
MO brought it up. They talked about it on FANDOL
last night. Everyone keeps saying Ellie did not he didn't
know that he was the winning run, But no one
is blamed Colin cow girl breaking. All he does is
head butt people. Why does the heat sit there and
tell them how many outs there are? Like, hey, you

(27:32):
you are the runner, like McLean's gonna tie the game?
You are like no one. No one says anything about
the coaches. They should be telling the players too. I
understand the players should know also, but what are they
out there for if they're not going to tell them
the situations that's coming up?

Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yeah, now that that there is a fair point to that.
I mean I've played baseball and normally when you get
the first base that the first base coach is usually saying, hey,
one out, two outs, running on contact, things like that.
So I mean there is a there is a portion
of that that you could you could argue should have
been done as well.

Speaker 10 (28:10):
That's a thing like it just seems like, oh, he
does his head butt people. He don't tell him anything
when they get the first base, he.

Speaker 11 (28:16):
Makes a couple.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
He makes a couple of nice plays down there on.

Speaker 10 (28:20):
The finals, Like I would love for if you ever
have a question for Charlie, Like you guys ever writers
ever asked the coaches like what do you say to
the players, Like, Oh, it's nice to see you. You know,
what are you gonna have for dinner?

Speaker 12 (28:34):
Now?

Speaker 8 (28:34):
After the game?

Speaker 10 (28:36):
Did they even talk about the game?

Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah? I believe most of the conversation with the first
base coach is about the time to the plate, right
if I'm not mistaken for the pictures delivery, especially not
for I mean, Ellie's got the green light whenever. But yeah,
it's you're good. It's a good point. See what.

Speaker 8 (28:55):
All right?

Speaker 10 (28:56):
That's all I got.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Think you appreciate you? You know.

Speaker 3 (28:58):
There there was a Charlie Goldsmith haluded this yesterday just
to kind of close that Austin Charlie tweeted out regarding
Ellie's mistake on the bases. Terry Francona's message to him
was he's better than that. Ellie went in again to
talk with Francona about it and told the manager the
mistake would never happen again. So for those that thought
maybe he didn't want to make that first out at third,

(29:18):
clearly there was an error in judgment there.

Speaker 2 (29:21):
Ellie apologized. He said it won't happen again. Cool, all right?
Also we should believe him.

Speaker 3 (29:28):
Yes, Also there was a recent he did quote on
Ellie da la Cruz defense did Terry Francona with Charlie
Goldsmith saying he plays with a good motor, his clock
at short stop, his clock at shortstops. Sometimes he has
plenty of arm strength, didn't have legs under him. That's
what they're trying to get to the most people get
flustered with airs. He's long levered. He's also long levered

(29:50):
throwing the ball some of the in between throws. That's
work to do with the touch and feel. That's harder
for him than most guys.

Speaker 2 (29:57):
So my problem is we shouldn't be doing this on
June twenty sixth of your second or your third season
in the big leagues. Correct. That's my issue with it.
It feels like as a whole he's just regressed defensively. Yes,
there has to be something you can do, some way,

(30:17):
shape or form to clean that up. It's an issue.
At this point in his career. That shouldn't be an issue.
You should be playing at the top of shortstops. I
mean Bobby Witt Junr for example, He's fantastic, same career
arc essentially as Ellie, a defensive monster for the Kansas
City Royals. You gotta be able to get that to

(30:38):
that point. From Ellie and obviously two different body tops
like types of get what he's saying with being long levered,
long leg but you gotta be able to fix that. Yep.
Also long level levered players. Barry larkins in the building
every day. Yeah, Barry also worked with him coming up.
I mean, have Barry get to the ballpark early and

(30:59):
work with it. Not kidding about that. Correct, you pay
Barry Larkin to be for a while. He was a
roving instructor. The dude could play. Yeah. At one o'clock,
Rick yu Chino is going to join us, correct, Yeah,
Ricky is going to join us. He just sent me
a text and verified that everything has been been made official.

(31:21):
They voted Hamilton County. The commissioners voted on the letter
of intent between the Bengals and the county, and that
passed by two to one, two votes in favor of
one abstention that was Alisha Reese. And so now the
framework of a deal appears to be in place. Rick

(31:41):
is going to stop by at one o'clock just to
clear things up. Make sure everybody's on the same page.

Speaker 3 (31:45):
Okay, good deal, we'll get that from Rick when we
come back. Let's break down what happened at the ballpark
last night? For the Cincinnati Reads here on CINCY three
to sixty and ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (31:54):
Thanks to Skyline Chile.

Speaker 1 (31:56):
Cincy three sixty carries on on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (32:13):
Welcome back.

Speaker 3 (32:15):
It's our one since he three to sixty thanks to
Skyline Chile. The Reds last night fall to the New
York Yankees, seven to one. The Reds have one five
of six series, so you're not freaking out at that standpoint.
They took a series from the Yankees, one of the
best teams, a World Series front runner contender, and they

(32:36):
lost to a pitcher last night who is firmly entrenched
in the Cy Young race. Max Freed has now an
ERA of one nine to two on the season. He
is a first pitcher in baseball to reach ten wins.
But over the last two nights at Great American Ballpark,
against the left handed starters for the Yankees, those pitchers

(32:58):
went thirteen combined, any the red scored zero earn run
off those left handed pitching. Now, not only did the
Reds only muster four hits, two of them came from
Ellie de la Cruz. The RBI was a Spencer Steeer
infield single where Ellie de la Cruz scored on a

(33:18):
throwing air by Jazz Chisholm. But outside of that, last
night it was all Yankees. Yankees pump out thirteen hits,
seven runs. Brady Singer's final line five inning, six hits,
four un runs. He did strike out nine Yankees, he
did walk three. Ian Jabo also gave up two runs
and two thirds of an inning, and Brent Szeuter gave

(33:39):
up two hits in one run as well, as he
pitched the ninth inning for the Cincinnati Reds. More so
than that, it just felt like a mess last night
in the field on the basis sloppy man type of
mentality at the ballpark, it felt at times Austin. It

(34:02):
just felt like a team that knew they already won
the series, and they weren't applying much resistance to the
Yankees last night.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
You're saying they checked out it. It didn't feel like
they were checked in last night. Mentally. I don't know
if I'd agree with that. They had an air They
very easily could have had three last night. I mean,
they played poorly, had a runner picked off base. Yeah,

(34:32):
maybe they're just tired, Maybe they're tired of day. It's
been hot.

Speaker 3 (34:36):
But it's like the communication, having a guy picked off,
airs miscute. It's just there's a lot that adds up.
And again it's hard to critique because they did take
two out of three from the Yankees, and they've won
five of their last six series. But that didn't seem
like a team as locked in as maybe we've seen
in recent weeks.

Speaker 2 (34:56):
Yeah, i'd agree with that. I think sometimes you just
it's just not day. And I felt like that's what
it was like. Those those games happen over the course
of a major league season. Sometimes you fight tooth and
nail and you're in it and you're putting forth good
effort and you're making good plays and you lose by
a run. And then other times it's just from jump.
You don't have it, a call doesn't go your way,

(35:17):
you get picked off, you know, a foul tip, whatever
it might be. You're not gonna win every game. That's
how I felt like last night was the problem for
me still remains more than anything, and how I would
vote on the poll question. The revived Fitness system dot
Com pole question is the inability to hit left handed pitching.
You know, we're going to see more teams do that,

(35:38):
and they're in the midst of a stretch where they're
going to see lefties a lot of them. And so,
you know, ninety percent of people say it's just one
of those games. Nine percent say, cause ninety have said
that today, it's just one of those games. I think,
you know, maybe it is. You just come out and
you struggle, and you know, it's like you spill your

(35:59):
car on your shirt on the way to work and
then you get a stop and get gas and they
do it right as they're raising the prices, or you know,
you kid throws a ball and it breaks a window
and just everything kind of adds up.

Speaker 3 (36:12):
Yeah, I mean, the best team, it was, one of
those best teams in baseball, have both lost thirty one games.
They're not perfect. It's true, you lose at the ballpark too.

Speaker 2 (36:20):
The Reds are hitting as a team this year two
fifteen against left handers, an on base percentage of two
ninety six, a slugging percentage of just three forty one.
That's a combined OPS of six thirty seven. They have
grounded into sixteen double plays against left handers. That's not good.

(36:45):
Does it give the overall record against left handed starters?
I don't see if I can maybe find that, but
I don't know if I have that right away. It
just feels like they win much more than they lose.
But that being said, they want to gain two nights
ago and against the left hand started starter. Yeah, they
didn't score against it, I know, but they won the game. Sure,
so you see, you know how it could be you know, misleading. Yes,

(37:07):
stats can be deceiving a little bit. Let's do this.

Speaker 3 (37:11):
Uh, the manager of the Cincinnati Reds, who is playing
the part really well because he's got that boat seat
now and then yesterday he was wearing the boat hat.
Yeah for for Jim Days. He took a picture. I mean,
Terry's leaning into it right now. Actually, so this team's
they're three above five hundred. They're winning some baseball games.
They got an off day today. Ellie's not off. He's

(37:32):
out of the camp right now. He's working the camp
with the kids. He's doing everything you want your star
player to do.

Speaker 10 (37:37):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (37:37):
Here is Terry Francona after last night's lost to the Yankees.

Speaker 11 (37:41):
Oh boy, that was Uh, that's pretty good. Stuff.

Speaker 13 (37:46):
You know, he's got all four pitches, commands all of them.

Speaker 11 (37:51):
It's just as a.

Speaker 13 (37:52):
Really good picture me can cut it with velocity, kind
of four steam where he's got a slow bringing balls
a and you got a lead pitcher that is feeling
really good about himself.

Speaker 11 (38:07):
On your side. Singer. At one point you went out
to the mound. It looked like to check on an injury.

Speaker 13 (38:11):
Yeah, he thought he had a blister on his toe,
but it's when they came out he had a his
tonnail was kind of digging into at the end of
his shoe. I think they feel like they can alleviate
that first X start.

Speaker 11 (38:26):
I think it was just g I think Hosey noticed
the sweets one to go out.

Speaker 14 (38:30):
And checking your pressures a him over all tonight.

Speaker 13 (38:33):
You know, they between the strikeouts and walks, it was
a really high pitch count and they're they're a.

Speaker 11 (38:39):
Lineup that's gonna do that anyway.

Speaker 13 (38:43):
You know, he struck Chise him out on a couple
of breaking balls his first at bat, and it looked
like he sat on the second bat and had it
a long way.

Speaker 15 (38:53):
Feel any tonight, do you know, did you think maybe
some of the miss Hugh's going to be extending on
a little bit.

Speaker 13 (38:59):
Oh yeah, I mean even like if they don't add
on that in he has a lot more.

Speaker 11 (39:04):
Work to do. You know that always feel that way.

Speaker 13 (39:07):
I mean in SS had a ball where he didn't
have a throwing lane, so he probably just got to
eat it and gets out at first. Yeah, we when
we do that that, it's never going to always show
up in the score book, but it doesn't help the pitcher.

Speaker 11 (39:22):
Ever, what happened on the relay play?

Speaker 16 (39:26):
Was there a miscommunication or it just didn't see that
Rice was going back to tag up for a second.

Speaker 11 (39:31):
No, I mean that's a hard one to I mean,
I didn't see that. I didn't see. I was shocked
as anybody.

Speaker 13 (39:37):
And I'm looking to watch the other runs because that's
a run and I wanting to see who's going to
tag and where.

Speaker 11 (39:43):
I don't think anybody saw it.

Speaker 2 (39:45):
That is Terry Francone after the loss last night. Do
you remember Austin, Remember how the Yankees were in on
Juan Soto. Yeah, they wanted to you know, that match
the Mets offer of six hundred million, and then he
went to the Mets and then the Yankees signed Max freed,
it was like, oh, well, I guess that's a that's
their plan. B. I mean there were people at times
that called it a nightmare contract. They gave him two

(40:08):
hundred and eighteen million dollars over the course of eight years.
And now Austin he is doing things that not many
Yankees have done. He has uh the seventh lowest era
by a Yankee pitcher in their first seventeen starts to
start their career in a live ball era, one point

(40:29):
nine to two. And it felt at the time when
the Yankees missed out on Soto, it was just like,
all right, well, I guess we'll just get freed then.
And he's in all likelihood going to start for the
American League in the All Star Game. And he's been
ridiculous throughout his starts this season for the Yankees. Let's
take a break, let's come back. Well wrap hour one.

(40:50):
We'll see if we can get one more phone call
in and from there. Rick Uchinow, Rick Uchino, Austin, He's
usually are our ringside guy, he's usually our wrestling extraordinary.
But Rick is not going to help us with wrestling today.
Rick's gonna help us with the contract situation with the

(41:12):
Bengals in Hamilton County. Is that correct? Yeah? Rick, you know,
in his normal day job as a well rounded reporter
and news anchored down the hall on seven hundred WLW
in the newsroom and has been covering this story all
morning and said, hey, you want a little little help
talking about it.

Speaker 3 (41:27):
I just want I want Rick to come and explain
this to me like I'm a ten year old. That's
what I need for you not understand.

Speaker 2 (41:35):
I don't. There's just a lot of there's a lot
of things going on with it. Okay, I'm sure that's why.

Speaker 3 (41:41):
My biggest question is there's been thirty years to iron
this out.

Speaker 2 (41:45):
Well, how do we need an extension? That's politics. We'll
be back. We'll try to grab a phone callar to
next Since he three to sixty thanks to Skyline Chile
on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 17 (41:56):
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Speaker 1 (43:12):
Today from this ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, here.

Speaker 3 (43:27):
We go, Welcome back Cinty three to sixty. ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, a service of Skyline Chill. We
got about a minute and then we're gonna get to
Rick Uchino. Let's finish up the hour with Jim's phone call.

Speaker 9 (43:39):
What's up, Jim, Yeah, I just want to talk about
left handed pitchy of the Red.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (43:44):
They they started last night a utility player that bat's
right handed in espinal and a trip away player at
Hines right it's right handed, and this weekend they're going
to have hopefully Hayes back and Marquy back soon. It
makes a much better team with those two batting right
handed against left handers.

Speaker 3 (44:06):
Sure, that is certainly, certainly a valid point. And I'm
again that the Espinall thing. We talked a little bit
about that yesterday. I'm good moving on from the Espinol experiment.
If Reese Seins cannot consistently hit left handed pitching, then
it becomes very unlikely that he has a spot on
the roster.

Speaker 2 (44:25):
I mean, that's his thing. I don't understand why they
think he can. In his major league career against lefties,
he's two for twenty eight with fourteen strikeouts right, so
why they think he can hit left handed pitching. I
don't understand.

Speaker 9 (44:37):
Well, who's your alternative.

Speaker 2 (44:39):
Well, that's the.

Speaker 3 (44:39):
Problem you have Jake Frayley, you have Well Connor Joe's
got hand, foot in mouth, he can't play right now,
Will Benson, who's a left Jake Frayley. Jake Freiley and
Will Benson give you about the same thing from the
played against left handed here. So you essentially have two
players for one spot in Benson and Frayley. You don't
have many other options. So I do understand that ass

(45:00):
of it.

Speaker 9 (45:00):
But again I can have a better team one times
and the mark it back much better hitting team.

Speaker 2 (45:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (45:07):
The only the only issue with that is you know,
can can both of those players stay healthy? You're putting
a lot into that stock where where they have had
injury concerns in the past. I think that's where you
have the conversation of you know, if you're around at
the deadline, do you make a move to add a
a right handed power back that can alleviate some of
these issues. I'm the biggest Reese Hines guy that you'll find.

(45:28):
I want him to succeed. I want him to get opportunities,
but his opportunities have to come against lefties, and he
is continuously showing that he can't hit left handed hitting
or pitching, which is going to make it hard to
keep him in the lineup.

Speaker 9 (45:40):
One one other thing like that and I'll hang up.
What do you think of this rotation for next year?
Green Abbott, Lodolo, Burns and Louder.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
That's a great, great and hopefully you have Chase Petty,
Hopefully Connor Phillips can be a guy. You should have
guys that can alleviate some of those starts as well.
And maybe in that sense, you wouldn't have to pay
Brady Singer, you wouldn't have to pay Nick Martinez the
contract that he has, and you can you could save
some money on the back end there.

Speaker 9 (46:13):
If you do pay Marties, you put him in the.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
Bullk correct correct, Jim, Thank you, my man. Yeah, appreciate that.

Speaker 3 (46:20):
Let's grab more phone calls in hour two and hour
number three. But before we get to any of that,
Rick Uchino is going to break down everything that's going
on with the Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals with
the stadium lease next on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
a service of Skyline.

Speaker 4 (46:35):
Chile WCKY, Cincinnati.

Speaker 17 (46:38):
Make us the number one pre set on your car
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Never sounded so good.

Speaker 17 (46:44):
ESPN fifteen thirty, Hey you run us since three sixty
about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part by Cinci Shirts,
Cinci Shirts, All Cincy, all Day. This is ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnatis Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (47:02):
Welcome back our number two Sincy three sixty on ESBN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (47:09):
Thanks to our friends at Cincy Shirts.

Speaker 3 (47:11):
More phone calls and your talkback's coming up here in
our number two and in our number three. But before that, Austin,
there's a lot going on right now with the stadium
leaves between Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Bengals, and we've
been trying to kind of decipher everything that's happened from
different reports that are out there. And Austin told me

(47:32):
during one of the breaks that hey, we got uchino
that's going to come in at one o'clock. And I
thought to myself. Is there a wrestling pay per view
that is happening that because I normally I'm up to
speed on everything going on with WWE. There is one
on Saturday, w and you know Goldberg's coming back, So
maybe Rix's announcing a return to the ring for himself.

(47:53):
But that's not the case because our guy Rick Uchino,
Ricky Ringside, is also here to break down everything that's
going on from a standpoint between the County and the
Cincinnati Bengals. So Rick, I guess my biggest thing. I
want this explained to me, Like I'm a toddler, Okay,
can you explain to me what today signifies for these

(48:15):
two sides?

Speaker 2 (48:16):
Okay? So this coming Monday, and I granted I just
sat through the entire hour long proceeding of what this
was today down at the Hamilton County Commissioner's meeting. So,
as you are well aware, Monday, June thirtieth, that was
the deadline to come to an agreement on a new
long term lease extension. So that by June thirtieth of

(48:38):
this year, the Bengals had that deadline of saying, hey,
we're either you know, opting out whatever we're gonna do,
or we're gonna extend the current lease for two more years,
so they had to figure something out, come to some
kind of an agreement. Now, what they did today is
not a lease, okay, it is a letter of intent.
It is a sheet of the terms, the major financial terms,

(49:03):
the length of the deal, of everything that they are
going to finalize in the lease. And what this was
also voted upon was basically an extension of that June
thirty at deadline to coincide to when the final paperwork
is done. So they have a framework of a deal.
They have agreed to terms. Both the county and the

(49:23):
Bengals have agreed to terms, and now it's getting down
to the nitty gritty, the final little clauses all the
major details of the least which is going to take
more time than they have from today. What is a
June twenty sixth to June thirty. They can't get all
that done in four days, so they're going to get
this done over the next several weeks and months.

Speaker 3 (49:43):
Do we have an understanding of what the major factors
that we're holding this or are holding this up are?

Speaker 2 (49:50):
Again, it's just all the details of getting the contract together. Yeah,
how much money the Bengals are kicking in how much,
Well we know that. We do know that now. So
this is what this is overall. It's an eleven year
lease because what this is doing is this is rolling
in the final year of the current lease, which is
this upcoming twenty twenty five season, and it is adding
a ten year extension. So actually this last year of

(50:12):
this current lease is getting upgraded terms. So it's going
to be an eleven year lease that'll run through twenty
thirty six, which, by the way, for those keeping track,
the Reds leases up in twenty thirty seven. So kicking
this can down the road a little bit here to
where both teams are going to be negotiating their next
lease is at roughly the same time, have a couple

(50:33):
World Series in Super Bowls to celebrate before then woo,
So that that could be a little bit. Hey, that's
that's next decades problem, all right, you know, So we'll
figure some things out, maybe they get some deals done
ahead of time. But it is an eleven year extension
four hundred and seventy million dollars. The Bengals will be
kicking in one hundred and twenty of that, plus they

(50:54):
will be paying rent for the first time ever. Wow,
one million dollars a year for the first three years,
and then two million per year through the extent. So
they are probably going to be somewhere in the ballpark.
All told, one hundred and forty million roughly in on
this deal. Hamilton County is kicking in three hundred and
fifty million dollars cap That is it. So that provision

(51:16):
of oh, hey, look at what the Browns did with
their stadium, Look what the Ravens did with their stadium.
Can we go ahead and get that upgraded for us
at the county's expense. That clause is now gone the Bengal.
The Hamilton County is putting in three hundred and fifty
million dollars, not all at once, It's going to be
over the course of the next couple of years or so.
But that is it. That is everything that they are
putting in. The biggest caveat is the state funding, which

(51:37):
as we know right now is up in the air.
The state budget that has recently been passed by the
House in the Senate is the unclaimed funds that they've
set aside six hundred million dollars, specifically for the Cleveland Browns.
There's roughly four hundred million dollars that the Bengals could
apply for. The governor still hasn't signed that part of
the budget. And also there's already legal challenge facing that

(52:01):
because technically that is the taxpayer's money. Is that that
pool of unclaimed funds, So that is going to be
a long time before any of that gets really figured out.
So again, what this lease does, or what this letter
of intent does, is give more time for the state
to figure things out, and then Hamilton County can go
and the Bengals jointly can request state funding once they

(52:21):
get their end figured out. So their bottom line eleven years,
four hundred and seventy million dollars deal. Is there any
indication of like what or where the state funding would
go once they get that, Like do we know, like
is there provision anywhere? Obviously I know they're still building
building the actual physical lease is what's taking up the

(52:43):
time now moving forward to you're asking a lot now, Alston,
they've had they've only had thirty years to figure this out.
So like that you're asking a lot, do we know
is there anything in there that says okay, state funding
when it is secured or if it is secured, would
go to this, this or this not at this particular time.
So listening to Jason Williams of The Inquirer who broke
the story first this morning when he was on with

(53:05):
Sloan on seven hundred double WELW. His understanding was the
majority of this funding, the four hundred and seventy, and
of course we're talking about the stadium renovations at this point,
would go towards more infrastructure type things than maybe the
upgraded suite renovation. So fixing the elevators, fixing the escalators,
you know, making a more serviceable building, and some other

(53:27):
extras thrown in on top. But as far as like
line item, here's where every dollar is going to that
that's going to be part of the least figure out process.
My next question is this seems like a pretty good
deal for Hamilton County. They have a cap on the
amount of money that they spend. It's less than what
they spent before. They have more power. The Bengals can't
just come and say, hey, these stadiums did this, so

(53:49):
we should get this. They took away the restrictions with
the banks and correct the stuff that the Bengals have
kind of shut down over the years. What's the biggest
thing for the Bengals that they got in this? Do
you think the biggest benefit to the Bengals would be?

Speaker 6 (54:06):
What?

Speaker 2 (54:08):
You know? Honestly, I don't really know. You know, I'm
looking at this. They really did the Bengals that made
a lot of concessions, right yeah, yeah, because if you
look at the old least was a ninety four to
six split. So I think the biggest thing for the
Bengals is this is still a seventy five to twenty

(54:28):
five split, and the one hundred and twenty million dollars
that they're putting in the league is going to be
helping them out with that. So I think even at
the end of the day, the Bengals still got a
good deal, just in comparison to what the old deal was.
This is so much better from my from my point
of view, which is what people care about, right, yes, yes,

(54:50):
more than exactly exactly. And the question all comes down
to the fine print is this is a an letter
of intent that did pass the County commissioners to zero Technically,
Stephanie Dumas and Denise Triehouse voted for it. And Alicia
Reese abstained her vote today. She did not take a vote,

(55:11):
and her biggest thing was, you know, this is not
a lease, it's a concept. This is very similar to
ninety seven when the voters approved the concept and then
they got screwed in the fine print of the deal.
She wants to see the fine print on anything, literally anything,
whether it's the convention Center renovations, whether it's a convention
center hotel. She's always been very very consistent, show me

(55:32):
a done deal, not a concept, and she has voted
no or abstained on a lot of different deals, not
just the Bengal Stadium lease, but a lot of different
deals because they weren't one hundred percent done and she
could read the fine print. So that was her big
concern today is the hammering out the fine print of
the details of the deal, which is going to come
over the next several weeks a month. So when do

(55:52):
we expect there to be a lease completed, ready to
be read over and voted upon. So we don't know
that yet, but we'll know that soon. Because right now,
what the county commissioners voted on today, the way it
was described in the meeting was that that deadline that
was June thirtieth would be extended out to coincide with
the final date. But there is no actual final date

(56:14):
and this is something that Elisha brought up. So the
final date will be determined. The county voted on approved it.
They're going to sign the paperwork and do everything. Then
it will go to the Bengals now to give them something.
Actually physically they've already agreed to the term, so that
the Bengals will put pen to paper and then at
that point they'll determine the date of when the new

(56:34):
deadline to get everything done will be. So fans, local
businesses can breathe a sigh of relief today. Yeah, Oh, huge,
huge sigh of relief today. Yes, I would say.

Speaker 6 (56:44):
So.

Speaker 2 (56:44):
Do you think with the Bengals making concessions on this
side of the deal, that maybe they're ready to make
some concessions on the Trey Hendrickson and Shamar Stewart side
of thing. You know what, the two separate negotiators there
to completely different than of negotiation negotiators and lawyers and
things like that. I don't think the boys that at
Densmore and Shoal are representing Trey Hendrickson or Shamar Stewart.

(57:06):
But hey, this is a good thing for those people
who are biting their nails over the fact that you know,
they were running short on time. They today at the
end of the day, they bought themselves some more time.
And again, just the major issues have been hammered out.
Austin brought up the urban development design, the fact that
there are four major plots of land down at the

(57:27):
banks that are still ready for development near the Bengal Stadium.
The Bengals used to have like control over that can
complete control over that, whether something was high, what could
go there, a lot of different things. Now they're a
part of the discussion, but they can't just put the
kaibosh on certain things anymore. The other big thing that
I think from this is the county now controls the

(57:51):
booking of the stadium. Yes, yeah, okay, they are going
to book more concerts. They are going to book more shows.
Tone not on Wood, come on Summer Slam. Some point
now in the end of that lease, big major stadium
acts are going to be coming to pay Course stadium.
Don't know what the revenue split is going to be
on that. That could be part of the farm print

(58:12):
that still needs to be worked out, but the county
is going to bring more events. The way that Denise
Dreehouse put it, the taxpayers are now going to have
more access to their stadium. So I think that's a
big thing on this. Can I put you on the
spot here, Rick? Yes? Is there anything you said? The
Reds lease expires in twenty thirty six, twenty thirty seven,

(58:33):
twenty thirty six.

Speaker 12 (58:34):
Yes.

Speaker 2 (58:35):
Do the Reds have anything in their lease where they
can go to and ask Hamilton County for funding for
improvements or anything kind of similar to what the Bengals
had in that previous deal. Because I've been to nearly
twenty Reds games this year and that ballpark is really
starting to show its age? Is it? Yeah? And I'm

(58:55):
just wondering about is that because hey, the Reds are
waiting on you know, I don't know. This is an
impossible question to ask you right right on top, but
I just for the first time in years of going
to that ballpark, it started to become noticeable to me.
To be honest, I don't know what the terms of
the Reds lease are. I know they did they re

(59:18):
upped recently. I think within the last ten years or so,
there's always going to be a point for renegotiation. I'm
sure the Reds could go to Hamilton County and ask
for funding. If the other thing is they might go
to do the state route. They might be waiting for
the state funding to figure out, because it's not if
the unclaimed funds plan goes into effect the four hundred

(59:38):
million that's sitting there that you could say, oh, well,
that's earmarked for the Bengals, right, Not necessarily because the
club is Blue Jackets want to renovate nationwide. FC Cincinnati
has said they want to a slice of that pie
as well, so the Bengals could request that, the Reds
could request that. So again, state funding may have a
lot to do with that, but I'm sure there is
something in the Reds lease with Hamilton County that would

(01:00:00):
allow them to seek additional funding if they wanted to
make stadium upgrades. When it comes to this deal specifically
between the Bengals in Hamilton County, should other teams like
the Reds or FC Cincinnati be upset by it or
does it in any way have a negative effect on them.
It's another one. I honestly, I don't know without knowing

(01:00:22):
what the details of their current details of their currently
So it's the only thing I can compare this to
is the old Bengals Stadium leader, which, again, for as
far as the taxpayers are concerned, I think this is
a vastly significant better deal, assuming that the define print
is worked out and there's not any whereas is. As

(01:00:44):
Alicia Reese said numerous times today during I have another
question that you probably don't know the answer to. Okay, ye,
keeping and I'll keep making stuff. The development that FC
Cincinnati is working on around TQL Stadium. Yes, is that
funded primarily primarily publicly or is that primarily f C

(01:01:06):
Cincinnati funds, Because that's not like a stadium specific, right,
that's like a development of stores and hotels and restaurants, right, Yeah,
a vast like the stadium itself. Fort C Cincinnati was
privately funded, right, which is why that got built so quickly.
As far as I am aware now, they have they've

(01:01:27):
been granted certain tax deductions and grants along the way,
so they've gotten some state funding and some other, you know,
additional help elsewhere. But from my understanding, a majority of
SC Cincinnati's ventures in the West End have been privately funded.
Do you have any other questions to preface with I

(01:01:48):
think of anymore really trying to test my because I
was just like a toddler to learn something here. This
is like an example, and Rick can attest to this.
Every day I go into the news room and I
start asking questions. Yeah, I'll ask Brian or I'll ask Rick,
and sometimes they know the answers and sometimes they don't.
This is basically just an on air version for me

(01:02:10):
going and bothering the news people every day. Yeah, it's
it's a live version of that, yeah for sure. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:02:16):
Well, thank you, Rick. Yeah, you're welcome, appreciate this. Yeah,
I feel smarter now than I did when you.

Speaker 2 (01:02:21):
Joys nobody explained everything correctly. I feel smarter because this
is me trying to remember an hour's worth of content
and try to regurgitate it in a succinct way. So
hopefully I did that. You did you like, I know
what I'm talking about now? All right?

Speaker 3 (01:02:35):
That is Rick Uccino. Rick, thank you, buddy, You're welcome.
We appreciate the time. Uh, talkbacks are are coming up
in just a few minutes. Before we grab those talkbacks,
let's grab a phone call here while we got a
second what's up Mike.

Speaker 2 (01:02:54):
Started?

Speaker 3 (01:02:56):
Okay, Mike, we'll talk to you in the third hour.
Thank you man. That is uh, that's Mike. We'll get
to Mike an hour three. We'll get to your talkbacks next.
Sincy three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station thanks
to Cincy.

Speaker 1 (01:03:09):
Shirts here every show at ESPN fifteen thirty dot com.

Speaker 11 (01:03:13):
It's the temple to best.

Speaker 18 (01:03:16):
Pressed the microphone record your message for us then, and
don't keep it clean.

Speaker 8 (01:03:23):
And don't mean at a Sprinkles recod drip owlish that
temple to best.

Speaker 5 (01:03:31):
It's our favorite parts. Sorry three sex day U stay well,
you play at topics on your screen and try not
to sanitize it.

Speaker 2 (01:03:45):
Of course we couldn't go with Harry Carey's rendition there
because the winning streak is as has ended uh for
the Cincinnati Reds. But I do know, thanks to our
friends at Cincy Shirts, that we have two Sincey shirts
gift cards to give away tomorrow momorrow, and you could
check Sincy Shirts on either retail locations or Cincy shirts
dot com. They've got the Chase Burns summer heat shirt

(01:04:09):
that's out right now. Fantastic fantastic design. Check out sincey
shirts dot com to see that as well. Here are
today's talkbox What's good fellas.

Speaker 6 (01:04:19):
I wish then Red Lakes could have swept the Yangs.

Speaker 2 (01:04:21):
But like Melo said, who had a three am bad
out here?

Speaker 19 (01:04:25):
Working this graveyard shift has me thinking I wish my
local skyline was open twenty four to seven, because.

Speaker 10 (01:04:33):
Pretty good?

Speaker 16 (01:04:33):
Right now?

Speaker 5 (01:04:34):
You got?

Speaker 2 (01:04:35):
And has it his heat been brutal during today?

Speaker 20 (01:04:38):
I mean it's been almost as brutal as it was
being a fan of the Bengals during the nineties.

Speaker 2 (01:04:43):
Wow, all right, man Begle's taking a shot today.

Speaker 21 (01:04:46):
All right, welcome back to Sincy three sixty. We now
go live to pay Course Stadium for today's press conference
with head Roach, Cecida Taylor.

Speaker 2 (01:04:56):
What all right?

Speaker 21 (01:04:58):
We're gonna start with Ben. We'll be from BSPN. Go ahead, Ben.

Speaker 2 (01:05:05):
Zickeata.

Speaker 22 (01:05:05):
How will training camp be different this year to help
avoid another slow start to the season?

Speaker 2 (01:05:16):
What is happening?

Speaker 21 (01:05:18):
I'm so confused, Charlie goldsmoth Oxpeedle nineteen.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
Go ahead, Charlie Roach. Is Trey Anderson a distraction for
this team?

Speaker 6 (01:05:28):
And do you.

Speaker 22 (01:05:28):
Anticipate a deal getting done.

Speaker 9 (01:05:30):
By week one.

Speaker 2 (01:05:36):
Okay, that was short but sweet.

Speaker 21 (01:05:37):
Last one, Mosquito Agger, Load Management Media.

Speaker 6 (01:05:41):
Go ahead, mo, are you guys in.

Speaker 10 (01:05:44):
The market for a director of common sense?

Speaker 11 (01:05:45):
I'll leave my resume on the michone.

Speaker 2 (01:05:47):
Wow. All right.

Speaker 21 (01:05:52):
That was headroach Cicada Taylor addressing the media at pay
Corpse Stadium. Any thoughts, Austin Tony? That right, there was
a prime example of typical Cicada Taylor roach speak. He
always keeps sayings close to the pest and quite frankly,
it bugs me. Wow, Okay, we're done. Mosquito is next

(01:06:13):
on bspn's fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station.

Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
Man from Load Management Media, Mosquito Agar. That's incredible. Yeah.
The audio with how he got the AI to nail
their voices, Yeah, that's a lot of work. Uh yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:06:30):
The Mulager question director of common sense and he left
his resume on the mic cart.

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
Fantastic style forress. Great answer.

Speaker 20 (01:06:37):
Subject to an hour to cut the grass, and you're
out in this heat and now you're standing in front
of your refrigerator, start bench cut. Oh you grab some
ice water, grab some ice tea, you grab a cold.

Speaker 3 (01:07:01):
Well, I don't drink iced tea, so I'll cut that.
I will bench a beer. And I am not a
huge water guy, but man an ice cold water after
mowing the lawn when this temperature, I'll start that all day.

Speaker 2 (01:07:14):
I would start water, I would bench tea, I would
cut beer. I don't really drink much anymore. Part of
my life might be over.

Speaker 6 (01:07:23):
Donny and I may man Audie, what up? It's ice here?

Speaker 2 (01:07:26):
Man?

Speaker 6 (01:07:27):
Long time they talk? I miss you guys.

Speaker 23 (01:07:28):
Sorry, they'll leave a talk back here lately then just
a little busy, but hey, the Bengals and the.

Speaker 6 (01:07:35):
County have come to an agreement. Never a doubt in
my mind that the Bengals were gonna stay here in Cincinnati.
Who there for life? Joe Burrow, Jamar Chase, They're gonna
be here for a while. Next stop, Lombardi. Gotta get
this defense going.

Speaker 2 (01:07:53):
I mean, if you're the Bengals, where else you gonna go? Oh? Boy, yike?

Speaker 6 (01:07:59):
Donny and I may man Audie, what up? It's ice here?
Long time? No talk guys.

Speaker 2 (01:08:04):
Sorry that it's my fault.

Speaker 19 (01:08:06):
Okay, So apparently there has not been Hayley's agreement.

Speaker 23 (01:08:11):
I just found that out. So I still think it's
gonna happen. Yes, they're down the can, ticking, kicking the
can down the road. Get my words right. But let's
talk some Reds. Chase Burns looked electric. Ellie Daily Cruz
is playing like the elite player we thought he would be.

Speaker 6 (01:08:29):
Is this the Terry Francona effect. Let's go Reds.

Speaker 2 (01:08:34):
Tito the Magnificent, Thank you Ice, Tito the Magnificent.

Speaker 5 (01:08:38):
It's God, Happy Thursday.

Speaker 2 (01:08:40):
Help us.

Speaker 11 (01:08:41):
God.

Speaker 8 (01:08:41):
Did you know after.

Speaker 24 (01:08:42):
Cicadas died, they decompose and provide nutrients to the forest community.

Speaker 2 (01:08:48):
Yeah? I did know that. Don't they They do something
really important while they're underground too, Don't they like suck
on the tree roots. I think everything Cicada's doing is important. Yeah,
I mean it's hard to say otherwise. God help us
with this heat man.

Speaker 5 (01:09:01):
What's wrong with the Reds?

Speaker 2 (01:09:03):
But they let resign play last night?

Speaker 11 (01:09:06):
Get him out of here?

Speaker 2 (01:09:07):
Yeah he stinks.

Speaker 19 (01:09:09):
Hey, guys, Happy Thursday. Spoomer Drew from South Bend. This
guy from the Dodgers has like eight career grand slams.
I wonder who holds the record for the most grand slams.
See if you guys can confine that? And the silver
Hammer reference tone is a Beatles song Maxwell's silver hammer.

Speaker 2 (01:09:30):
Come on, man, see you guys. I had a couple
people tell me that this is that song sign Late
Nights all alone with it? Test you? Okay, have you
ever heard of that? I have not. I do know
who's hit the most career grand slams? A Rod? Really?
A Rod has twenty five career grand slams. Wow. I

(01:09:54):
would not have guessed that Lou Garrig is number two
at twenty three. They were both pretty good. Manny Ramirez
number three, so two out of three steroid guys. Derek
Jita number two, number two. He's not number two on
the list, He's just number two. Oh, I'll have to
turn this back up.

Speaker 14 (01:10:12):
Hello, this is former President Ronald Reagan and Whale. Last
night's Reds game was brought to you by Sloppy Joe's
enjoy a loose Meat Sando on us. Boy, oh boy,
we sure could have used Maxwell's silver hammer here in
Cincinnati this year.

Speaker 3 (01:10:29):
Do you know who has the most career Grand slams
with the Reds? Who's that the big donkey? That's not
surprise twelve of them?

Speaker 2 (01:10:37):
Wow?

Speaker 16 (01:10:37):
In his tenure, gentlemen, David, Hey, you were talking about
Max Muncy. Yes, they comment by the Dodgers announcers today
for context what they were referring to the military event.

Speaker 12 (01:10:51):
It was, I know Maxwell's silver hammer. He has a
silver bat or gray bat that he swings. Yeah, and
there's a song by the Beatles from Sargant Peppers. Bang
dang Maxwell.

Speaker 2 (01:11:01):
There, listen. I've gotten that five messages about this and
already three talkbacks.

Speaker 3 (01:11:06):
There is nothing like folks that are willing to call
us out on something that we may miss from a
reference standpoint.

Speaker 2 (01:11:14):
Yeah, but they don't give us our flowers homemark anyways.
I know it wasn't related to the military operation. They
do share something, sure the word hammer. Good day for flowers,
bad day for flower shops. Yea, yep, yep.

Speaker 25 (01:11:31):
Wg Hey fellas the fact that the Cincinnati Bengals in
the count thirty years to figure out a contract and
they signed basically a limited extension that doesn't include the you.

Speaker 2 (01:11:43):
Know, the full remodel, that eight hundred million whatever it was.

Speaker 6 (01:11:47):
It's the most Cincinnati sports thing ever. I'm glad they
got it done, but good grief.

Speaker 10 (01:11:52):
I just this city.

Speaker 3 (01:11:54):
What I imagine was like, hey, you know, we just
need more time. We're going to need more time to
figure this out out. So you've had thirty.

Speaker 26 (01:12:03):
Years, Tony Austin, George in the Valley. Hey, Tony, when
you talk about this checking out by the Reds, I mean,
that's that's that's quite a statement right there. How many
times did you check out during football games?

Speaker 18 (01:12:14):
Tony?

Speaker 26 (01:12:14):
How many times did you go to a day saying,
you know, I really don't even care about this game.
I doubt you ever did. Well, maybe except for that
one game against Florida. Carlo's done that. But other than that,
how many times did you ever just check out? I
don't think you'd say you ever did, so it's hard
to say they would.

Speaker 2 (01:12:30):
Oh man, is that a fair point? Yeah, George got me. Okay,
he's got me. You probably should checked yourself out of
the Orange Bowl.

Speaker 3 (01:12:37):
Football was only twelve games, though it's a longer season.
It's a little hard to be chunned in mentally the
length of the length of a season.

Speaker 2 (01:12:48):
So we'll go with that.

Speaker 27 (01:12:49):
Hey, guys, talk back, batters, GUYU Happy Thursday. Well, I
just hope that, like these interviews with the people from
esp In and all that stuff, the Reds management doesn't
hear that and think they can just set on that
because I feel like that's what they're gonna do again.
We've talked about and talked about it, So not trying

(01:13:10):
to beat it up, beat it up, But do you
honestly believe they're going to make a move because they
just Nick Crawfish just keeps on losing money on stupid.

Speaker 3 (01:13:19):
The moves in which they've made over the last week
would lead me to believe there's a better chance now
that they make a move than there was before.

Speaker 2 (01:13:28):
Yeah, I expect them to make a move.

Speaker 14 (01:13:30):
Yes, Double Dipper Gipper here and Will. The reds at
the plate are afraid of left handers. They look like
chickens facing Colonel Sanders. The experiment with Elliott Short has
to be severed. I don't care if he is long lever.
I don't think now is the time to panic. But
Tito is the captain of the Sincy Titanic.

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
Ooh wow, oh bubbles, Is he saying that they are
a sinking shit?

Speaker 22 (01:13:59):
Wow?

Speaker 2 (01:14:00):
Is the Double Dipper Gipper officially out the Magnificent in Company?

Speaker 18 (01:14:06):
Hey Tony, Hey Austin, it's Cameron. Happy Friday today, start
cut for you guys. The twenty nineteen Cincinnati Bengals, twenty
twenty two Cincinnati Reds or the twenty twenty four Cincinnati
Bearcats basketball.

Speaker 2 (01:14:25):
Thank you guys again. I hope you guys have a
wonderful day. Thanks. Oh my goodness. Three bad offenses right there.
None of those offenses were very good. I'm going to
cut the nineteen Bengals. Actually, I'm going to start the
nineteen Bengals because they were so bad they got Burrow.
Yeah that led us to borrow. Yeah, I'm gonna bench
the Bearcats. I'll bench the Reds and I'll cut the Cats.

(01:14:46):
And anytime you lose one hundred games, you don't deserve anything.
Someone to cut last time, and.

Speaker 5 (01:14:51):
I say, I drink, Well, it's taking so long, all Al.

Speaker 24 (01:15:21):
Dan, Oh boy, Ali's got the yips, played and simple.
I was at the game last night and there was
a hard hit ground ball to short and you could
tell it was going to be a short hot and
I saw the hesitation and he made the catch, but
he bobbled the throw and you could tell he's afraid
of it.

Speaker 6 (01:15:39):
He's so afraid of screwing up. Now you need to
take a break from shortstop.

Speaker 24 (01:15:43):
But put him in right field, do something different. He
needs to get off short. He needs to take a break,
get rid of those yips.

Speaker 2 (01:15:51):
Yep, yips are a maybe give him a couple of
days of d h. Yips are a real thing in sports.
Is that what happened at the r No?

Speaker 28 (01:16:01):
No, don rickout first, u Hel Presidente hitting the talk
backs with loose meat, Sando.

Speaker 6 (01:16:12):
He's got to dial it back, man, I'm trying to
drive out of here.

Speaker 9 (01:16:15):
Wiz.

Speaker 2 (01:16:16):
That's funny stuff. He'll have a good day fellas, Yeah
you too. It was John Lester couldn't throw the first
What was Rick dyne keel? He just lost all control.
We started throwing everything in the backstop. He came an outfielder. Yeah, h.

Speaker 29 (01:16:31):
Often to Tony Ryan No for I haven't heard anybody
give a shout out to the FC. Cincinnati Soccer Club
would win last night three to one up North, keep
on getting them ws and then three points.

Speaker 2 (01:16:45):
Come on begging that suit go reds all right, Dan? So,
just to clarify the silver Hammer that is a reference.

Speaker 11 (01:17:00):
By the Beatles.

Speaker 2 (01:17:02):
Yes, Maxwell's Silver Hammers, the name of the Beatles song
it was released in nineteen sixty nine. Sounds like this
Maxwell medicon. Who knows what that's about but Maxwell's silver
Nick Anderson up the Orlando Magic had a case of

(01:17:24):
the yips. Yeah, couldn't make a free throw. Did you
just pull up chat GPT say what are the cases
of the yips? No? Did you do that for the
grand slams? No? I knew the Big Donkey. Okay, that
was our last one. That was it? Yeah? All right,
So just to clarify, that was a song by the Beatles,

(01:17:44):
which was Maxwell's Silver Hammer. Was the reference to the
Dodgers play of the game It's not a military op,
which was Max Munsey's Grand Slam. Here tell me it's
not a military now for years. So whoa, whoa, whoa.
Right here Max Monsey.

Speaker 7 (01:18:01):
With a grand slam, his second one this week, and
the Dodgers that opened it up. It is seven to one?
Who Maxwell swinging a silver hammer in the Mile High City.

Speaker 2 (01:18:17):
Great call by that guy. So that's that's a song reference. Yeah, okay,
I looked up the Beatles page to get the song
on YouTube, this particular song, Maxwell's Silver Hammer. That's max
Imoss Monsey. This video itself has almost fourteen million views,

(01:18:38):
probably twelve of them from today. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:18:41):
Yeah, people on this show, let us know, uh, let
us know your favorite song reference dropped in a home
run call?

Speaker 2 (01:18:49):
Would you max? Hold on? Hold on? What would you guess?
The most the most amount of views on a Beatles
video on the YouTube pages Yellow Submarine asking for the number,
Hey Jude, okay, uh seventy two million? So Yellow Submarine
is uh like tenth on this list and it's one

(01:19:15):
hundred and fourteen million. Don't Let Me Down by the
Beatles has five hundred and thirty one million views on YouTube. Man,
that's a lot of views. Do you know? Uh? Oh boy? Uh?
Villa Rayel, I don't Spain pitch for the Reds. You
know why?

Speaker 10 (01:19:34):
You know?

Speaker 2 (01:19:35):
He's called the uh that's they're called the Yellow Submarines, right,
But it's not because of their color. It's because of
the Beatles song. Who's Villa Rayel? They're a Spaniard soccer club,
Spanish soccer team. Yes, okay, they're known as the Yellow Submarines.
That's cool because of the Beatles song. I don't know,
I don't know. Injury report, Oh, we got a, we

(01:19:59):
got a you have a way today? Yeah? Oh boy?
Do you want to do it now? Or you wanna
do it? Hour three we can come back to an
injury report if you like. I think they're ready now, okay,
all right, so we once again have boy two tickets
for the Reds and the Marlins on July the tenth,

(01:20:22):
which features an Old Dominion postgame concert. Game starts at
five to ten on Thursday, July tenth, Old Dominion after
the game sticks around and plays a set on the field.
We'll give away two tickets for that. Do you remember
Robbie Henshaw, the rugby player. Yeah, his nickname was One

(01:20:43):
Man Band Old Dominion. It's an Old Dominion song. The
other option is tickets to see ae W when they
returned to Cincinnati at the Brady Music Center coming up
in August. You might see rick Yuchino there. Oh, what
we'll do is the third caller. The third caller today
at five one, three seven four nine, fifteen thirty, we'll

(01:21:04):
get the chance to choose what tickets they'd like, either
the Reds, an Old Dominion or a e W. In July.
You can call in five one three seven four nine
fifteenth or we're gonna take this call live before we
break if they call in. All right, right now, we've
we don't have any we've only had one caller fifteen thirty.

(01:21:26):
Russell Wilson was also described once as a one man band,
it says here due to his incredible performance with a
weak offensive line and limited offensive support. Is that what
they used to call you? Is that what they called
you at the Sugar Bowl? M that's what they call
the defense? I know the offense. Okay, there we go.
All right, we have our third caller. Let's go to
number three. All right, caller number three, you are on

(01:21:49):
the air. Oh man, if you can hear them voice,
you're here. What is your name?

Speaker 8 (01:21:55):
Ashley?

Speaker 2 (01:21:56):
Ashley? Congratulations? You get your choice Red's Old Dominion or
ae W in August. What do you choose?

Speaker 8 (01:22:06):
Let's do the Reds?

Speaker 6 (01:22:07):
All right?

Speaker 2 (01:22:08):
Congratulations, Congratulations Ashley. Ashley's gonna go see the Reds and
Old Dominion. Check out Reds dot com slash Concerts if
you want to go, Ashley, stay on hold. I'll get
your information.

Speaker 4 (01:22:22):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:22:22):
There you go, very good. Everybody else you're playing for
ae W tickets. Tony has a trivia question, A pull
a trivia question. He said, start day when we come back,
hotel key, all that happening. You're gonna play for aew
tickets next on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, and
a service of Cinci shirts.

Speaker 4 (01:22:42):
Since it.

Speaker 3 (01:22:50):
Oh, snap back, Welcome Back Cincy three to sixty ESPN
fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station, thanks to Cincy shirts.

Speaker 2 (01:22:59):
Now that's an Old Dominion song. Yeah it is, but
we're not playing for old Dominion tickets here. We're not
because Ashley took those. We're playing for ae W tickets
right here in the end of our number two since
e three to sixty on ESPN fifteen thirty, we have
a trivia question. If you answer that trivia question correctly,
you were going to go see ae W at the

(01:23:21):
Brady Center. Let's go. Where do we want to kick
things off? What's the topic? The top category? I should
say the.

Speaker 3 (01:23:30):
Topic thanks to the Silver Hammer, Max Munsey, will be
a Grand Slam question.

Speaker 2 (01:23:37):
Okay, all right, this is the sounds you're looking for.
If you hear that, that means you're a winner and
you're going to go see ae W. We start in Westchester. Hello, Tom, Hey,
how's it going. That's great?

Speaker 10 (01:23:51):
Tom?

Speaker 2 (01:23:51):
How are you going? Man?

Speaker 8 (01:23:53):
Pretty well?

Speaker 6 (01:23:54):
Well?

Speaker 22 (01:23:54):
Disappointed that you're not giving oil to many and my
wife and I got engaged in one of the concerts.
Little nugget there. We've also into a couple of WrestleMania,
so we're kind of weird.

Speaker 2 (01:24:03):
Whoa, my gosh, you guys have rains. This is right
up my alley.

Speaker 3 (01:24:07):
So if you don't win this, Tom, maybe you can
call in tomorrow and win the old Dominion tickets or
just maybe see if your wife can call in and
win them as well.

Speaker 2 (01:24:13):
But here we go. We talked earlier on the show.

Speaker 3 (01:24:17):
Adam Done has the most career grand slams by a
Cincinnati Red. Eric Davis hit three grand slams in the
month of May in nineteen eighty seven, but he doesn't
have the record for the most grand slams in a
season by a Cincinnati Red. Who holds that record?

Speaker 2 (01:24:36):
Oh man, Joey Vonto, Good guess, Tom, but that's incorrect,
Thank you Tom. We go to Scott in Dayton. Scott,
do you know?

Speaker 11 (01:24:46):
Would it be Adam Done?

Speaker 2 (01:24:47):
M good guess? Incorrect? Smart guests, Yeah, but incorrect? Mark,
what about you?

Speaker 10 (01:24:55):
Oh gosh, uh, let's go u.

Speaker 2 (01:25:00):
George Foster incorrect, great guests, great guess. Go to Dan
in cold Spring. What does he know anything? Scooter Gannette
bang Scooter Jeanette Scooter Gannett has the most in a
single season Dan for the local ball club. Dan, congratulations,

(01:25:24):
you're gonna go see aw Dan, Dan the ae W man.
Let's go. Thank you guys. All right, Dan, don't hang out,
all right, I'll be here all right.

Speaker 3 (01:25:36):
Hold on, fired up walls, not bubbles, juice, bumps and
everything in between from Dan there. Congratulations Dan, Tom you
didn't win today, which means maybe you get a chance
to win tomorrow. Yeah, we'll give him away again tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (01:25:51):
Uh, we do have a couple of minutes here before
we have to switch gears and get into our number three.
But uh, we'll get to Dan and get his in
in just a second. However, the Cincinnati Bengals has issued
a statement following the agreement between themselves and the county.

(01:26:12):
Would you like to hear it please? The statement reads
as follows. The Cincinnati Bengals in Hamilton County have agreed
to principal terms for a new lease that keeps the
team in Cincinnati playing home games at pay Court Stadium
through June of twenty thirty six, with ten additional option
years that could extend the lease through June of twenty
forty six. This is a significant day for the Bengals

(01:26:35):
in Hamilton County as we secure the team's future in Cincinnati,
said Bengals Executive vice president Katie Blackburn. Quote, We think
the Hamilton County Commissioners for supporting this agreement to ensure
pay Corpse Stadium remains an excellent venue and a focal
point for Cincinnati's riverfront. We are proud to call pay
Corp Stadium our home and to keep our future here

(01:26:58):
in Cincinnati where it belongs. The agreement supports a reasonable
approach to modernize the twenty five year old stadium at
a time where other communities are faced with multi billion
dollar new stadium projects. The four hundred and seventy million
dollar renovation project will maintain a best in class NFL
stadium that attracts major concerts and events to Cincinnati. The

(01:27:21):
Bengals will invest one hundred and twenty million dollars in
the renovation project, covering seventy five percent of new improvements
to the stadium. The team in Hamilton County will continue
to work collaboratively to secure meaningful funding from the state
of Ohio to further support the renovation efforts, and finally,
pay Course Stadium opened in two thousand when the Bengals

(01:27:44):
in Hamilton County came together with a goal of transforming
Cincinnati's riverfront into a world class sports and entertainment district.
The Banks generates over two and a half billion in
annual economic impact, with the Bengals driving over one billion
and annual economic impact. Under a new deal, the Bengals
in Hamilton County are poised to continue transforming the riverfront,

(01:28:06):
driving economic growth and delivering unforgivable moments for fans for
years to come in downtown Cincinnati. How about that? That
is from the Bengals earlier today. Very good from our
guy Jeff in Virginia. This is why I got to
start researching things, Austin. Did you know that Maxwell's Silver

(01:28:26):
Hammer is a song about a character, Maxwell Edison, who
commits murders Oh Boy with a silver hammer Oh Boy.
Despite the upbeat, whimsical musical style, Paul McCartney described it
as an analogy for things going wrong unexpectedly. Really can
be interpreted as symbolizing the downfalls and stepbacks that can
occur in life. Tells the story of Maxwell Edison, a

(01:28:48):
student who uses a silver hammer to kill his girlfriend,
his teacher, and then the judge during his trial. Okay,
that's scary. Take that, Max Bunzie, All right, what are
we doing anyway? How about a Postman Law injury report? Okay,
can I do that?

Speaker 3 (01:29:03):
Yeah, Postman Law injury report delivered by Postman Law. If
you're injured, Postman delivers. We got some Cincinnati Red's updates
from an injury standpoint. Here we go. Connor Joe is
not with the team right now. He has hand foot
in mouth disease. That sucks. That does suck, Hunter Green,
listen to this. According to Charlie Goldsmith is scheduled to

(01:29:24):
throw a bullpen session when the Reds are in Boston
early next week.

Speaker 2 (01:29:28):
It's a good step forward for Hunter Green step forward.

Speaker 3 (01:29:30):
Jake Fraley did not play yesterday against the Yankees due
to a banged up shoulder and a couple rehabs. Starts
to check in on Nolve Marte started at d H
last night. He went over fourth a run scored for
Double H Atanooga and Austin Hayes started in left field.
He went one for three in the game. He hit
a single in his first at bat and got thrown

(01:29:50):
out by about thirty feet trying to stretch it into
a double. So I don't think he's kicking it into
high gear yet. But good to see Austin Hayes back
in the lineup. Good to see Neove Marte back the lineup,
and very good to hear that Hunter Green is scheduled
to throw a bullpen session next week with the Reds
in Boston.

Speaker 2 (01:30:06):
It's awesome.

Speaker 3 (01:30:07):
That is our Postman Law Injury report for today. That
is of course delivered by Postman Law. If you're injured,
call eight four to four Postman. Our three is next.
We've got to talk about some Bengals position groups, some
extreme value when it comes to gambling as it relates
to the Cincinnati Bengals. We'll talk a little bit about
the running back position, Joe Burrow, and so much more

(01:30:30):
still to come in our number three, Cincy three to
sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (01:30:35):
Thanks to Cinci shirts, the days are longer, The Weather's.

Speaker 1 (01:30:37):
Per sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part by
Pennstation EASTCA. Subs, handcrafted hot grilled subs, fresh cut fries
and lemonade.

Speaker 4 (01:30:48):
It's all about good taste. Pennstation East Coast subs order
online today.

Speaker 1 (01:30:53):
This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (01:31:00):
All right, welcome back. It is sincey three to sixty.
You're listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, a
service of our good friends at Penn Station. We certainly
appreciate you spending part of your Thursday here with us
on ESPN fifteen thirty or via the iHeartRadio app. We
have a two Cinti search gift cards that we're gonna
give away tomorrow. Reds are off tonight. They will pick

(01:31:23):
up a weekend series against the San Diego Padres that
gets underway starting tomorrow. Where are the Padres currently out
in the standing?

Speaker 2 (01:31:35):
Have they cooled? The Padres are forty four and thirty six,
so they're not all that dissimilar to the Reds from
a record five and a half back of the Dodgers standpoint.
But yeah, my standings won't load.

Speaker 6 (01:31:49):
So yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:31:49):
Fernando Tatis Junior guy, I like Tatis? Why did he cheat?
I just like him? Manny Machado having a ridiculed this season. Yeah,
Xander Bogarts remember when his stock was at an all
time high. Xander Bogarts is having a terrible season.

Speaker 3 (01:32:07):
Wasn't Jackson Merrill the the young phenom that they got
it a unbelievably fair deal. Yeah, Jackson Merril is a beast,
and former Red Great jose Igleacias is hitting two twenty
four this year.

Speaker 2 (01:32:17):
Jake Croninworth is there, Jason Hayward are still around. No,
they just dfaate him. Yesterday When Jake Croninworth hits homers,
they say it's the Crone zone. Oh, just kind of fun. Oh,
I like that. Yeah, they're uh like three and a
half games here, three games clear the Reds okay in

(01:32:38):
the O wild Card right now. Oh so you're saying
they're tied a three game sweep. They're tied with the
Giants for the final wildcard spot. Okay, all right, something
to uh a three games sweep would be uh be fun. Yeah,
it'd be fun for that something to to certainly watch,
all right. We uh we were talking before the show

(01:32:59):
today about the Cincinnati Bengals and the value if you
are at all into the gambling side of things. There
is a substantial value right now if you truly believe
that the Bengals can make it to the Super Bowl,
and there are other values in between. If you think

(01:33:20):
that they can just make the playoffs, if you think
they could win the AFC North, if you think that
they can win the AFC as a whole. Heck, if
you think they can win the Super Bowl. The value
for the Bengals is there. Listen to some of these numbers.
If you simply think, Austin that the Bengals are just
going to make the playoffs, that's only a fifty eight

(01:33:41):
percent chance right now. You can get that at minus
one sixty. It is the same value that is tied
with the Rams and the Washington Commanders. It's the eighth
best value in all of football. Wow, it's pretty good just.

Speaker 3 (01:33:56):
To make the playoffs. Minus one sixty. So maybe you think,
I don't know if they can win the North, but
I do think they're a playoff team. Minus one sixty
is not a bad number to get in at. If
you think that they are a team that can contend
with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, I believe
they can listen to this value minus one forty five.

(01:34:18):
The Baltimore Ravens are heavy favorites to win the AFC North.
The Bengals are plus two point fifty right now. Dang
to win the North plus two fifty, and they took
them to the limit both games last year, both games
against the Baltimore Ravens. And I'm not saying the Baltimore

(01:34:39):
Ravens aren't a good team. They went out and got
JayR Alexander. I thought they had a great draft, Lamar Jackson,
Derrick Henry, more weapons on the offensive side of the ball.
But if you view the Bengals and the Ravens at
a similar level, that is a substantial, substantial by now

(01:35:01):
type of number. And I would assume if and when
the Hendrickson and Jamar Stewart deal were to get done,
I would assume that number would come down a little bit.
So if you're believing in the Bengals, it's a by
time right now in my opinion. Take it a step further, Austin,
if you think the Bengals can not only make the playoffs,

(01:35:23):
maybe they win the AFC North. You think the Bengals
can make a run and win the AFC. Buffalo and
Baltimore are the two betting favorites right now to represent
the AFC in the Super Bowl at plus three fifty.
The Kansas City Chiefs are at plus four hundred. The
Bengals are the next odds on betting favorite out of

(01:35:46):
the AFC. But the odds go from three to fifty
to four hundred to plus one thousand. Now, really dive
intoto this. I know Buffalo had a great year last year.
I know they've drafted well. I know they've built more
around Josh Allen. I know they're more they're they're more

(01:36:11):
given into the idea of running the football. They were
very successful running it, which set up a lot for
Josh Allen. He's the reigning MVP of the league. He
beat out Lamar Jackson. I don't think there's a problem
that those are the betting favorites. Kansas City is always
going to be Kansas City as long as, in my opinion,
Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes are there. But to go
from plus three point fifty to plus four hundred all

(01:36:33):
the way down to plus one thousand, I just don't
think there's that big of a gap between the Ravens,
the Bills, the Chiefs, and the Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:36:41):
Do you No, I don't think so.

Speaker 3 (01:36:43):
Plus one thousand. I mean for them to win the
Super Bowl is plus two thousand they have the seventh
best odds in the NFL to win the Super Bowl,
and they're tied with San Francisco and Green Bay. I
think right now the Bengals are better than San Francisco
and Green I agree with that you can get them
at the same value as those two teams to win

(01:37:04):
the Super Bowl plus two thousand. But to me, it's
looking to a step further into this. Austin, do the
Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs,
in your opinion, have chinks in the armor.

Speaker 2 (01:37:20):
As every team does. I mean, what was the Achilles
heal of Buffalo last year? Trying to think, wasn't it
wasn't prepared for that question. I mean, if if you
look back at their season last year, their season came
to a close. They couldn't run in a QB sneak.
It's the big, big thing that I remember. Yeah, they

(01:37:41):
ran it to the left and the chief stuffed it.
I just I think maybe maybe you could say pass catchers.
But even then, Josh Allen had a great season. They
ran the ball, they played a lot of play action.
I thought people thought their defense was going to take
a step back, but it didn't. They did a great
job developing some young guys.

Speaker 3 (01:38:04):
If you look at the Bills, though, they still haven't
answered the question of getting over the Chiefs. And up
to this point the Bengals have had their number right,
wrong or indifferent. Both of those things are true. I
know in the regular season they beat the Chiefs, but
when it mattered most they still have not been able

(01:38:25):
to clear the hurdle of the Kansas City Chiefs. And
it is one team maybe that I'm more confident in
any that the Bengals can go on the road and beat. Sure,
the Baltimore Ravens again tied with Buffalo, is the odds
on favorites to come out of the AFC. Derrek Henry's
another year older. I know they added Jay or Alexander.

(01:38:47):
I know they added Malachi Starks. I know they added
Mike Green. I know they added Cheetoh Woozie. Do you
still trust Joe Burrow against that defense?

Speaker 2 (01:38:57):
I do now that trust Showbrough against anything. Correct. Now,
you may ask the question if it's Baltimore, that offense
in Baltimore has had a lot of success against this
Bengals defense. Lamar Jackson has had a lot of success
against this current Bengals defense. Now you know there is
a new decordinator in town, in Al Golden, maybe there's

(01:39:21):
something he can install that gives them more of an
edge against the Baltimore Ravens. Almost like what we said
about Louis Arumo when it came to the Chiefs. There
was just something there when it came to the Chiefs.
But you know, we were talking the other day about
maybe Al Golden running a little bit more man defense.
Ye about that potentially being the base defense. I don't know.

(01:39:43):
I guess you could say, do you think it's harder
to rely on man against teams like Buffalo and Baltimore
because of what Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson can do
with their feet. You have to be completely confident in
your open field tackling because it's going to give those
guys one on one opportunities to make place. I mean,

(01:40:05):
as a quarterback, when I had weapons around me, I
would have rather seen man coverage. I think the defense
can hide more. I think they can. They can try
to create confusion. They can bring stuff from different angles
from a zone standpoint, from a man to man standpoint,
there's a lot of man zone indicators that a quarterback
can get before the snap and if you know man

(01:40:25):
is coming and you've got guys that can beat it.
The Bengals certainly do. I would love to see that
if I was Joe Burrow on the flip side of that.
How often do you think teams will man go man
to man with the Bengals? Rarely? I don't know why
you would. Yeah, I mean, you can't go one on
one against JAMR, Chase and t Can you run a
team out of zone.

Speaker 3 (01:40:45):
If you're committed to the run game. I mean it
comes down to a numbers game and you have to
just be committed to taking four or five yards at
a time. And for the Bengals, you know that to
me is another step in the evolution. Are you willing
to just give Chase? Are you willing to give Chase
Brown twenty six twenty seven touches? If a defense is

(01:41:09):
going to stay in too high and you're supposed to
be better on the offensive line, you're supposed to be
more physical on the offensive line. If so, then you
have to run a team out of it. Now, Joe
Burrow has made teams pay no matter what man zone
one high, too high, I Just think if you were
to try to go man against the Bengals, and Joe
Burrow's at a point in his progression now where he

(01:41:30):
can highlight coverages man zone beaters, I think it's awful
hard to go man against the Bengals. I think you've
got to say, Okay, can we beat them five verse
four up front and stop the run and make them
pass with seven guys dropping. I think that's the way
I would try to play the Bengals. Let them dink
and dunk down the field, hold them to three instead

(01:41:50):
of seven an offense the caliber of the Bengals, you
can't stop them for four quarters? Can you limit them
to field goals instead of touchdowns? Get into the red zone,
shrink defense. That's what I'm doing if I'm playing the Bengals.
But for Baltimore, as we talk about their offense, Derrick Henry, okay,
Jay Flowers were shab Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins not a nightmare.

(01:42:13):
A Flower is a good player. Mark Andrews and Isaiah
Likely and I like the pick of Charlie Kohler as well.
But I don't think the Ravens I think have gotten
better defensively. I don't think they've improved much offensively. And
the Kansas City Chiefs. You've seen those battles before.

Speaker 2 (01:42:30):
The Ravens also lost maybe their most reliable player in
Justin Tucker. Correct the off season.

Speaker 3 (01:42:35):
Correct now you know again, I see arguments for the
Chiefs and the Bills and the Ravens. I just don't
see the argument that there is that big of a
gap from plus four hundred to plus one thousand. I
don't think the Bengals are that far behind these teams.
I really don't. So I do think that there is

(01:42:58):
an immense value, immense value with the Cincinnati Bengals if
you're looking at him. Sheer from a money making opportunity
to place bets on the Bengals this season. Now, the
Bengals obviously have to be better on the defensive side
of the ball.

Speaker 2 (01:43:14):
Austin.

Speaker 3 (01:43:14):
We put together before the show eleven different position groups quarterback,
running back, wide receiver, tight end, O line, d line, linebacker, corner, safety, kicker, punter.
Pro Football Focus rated the Bengals defensive line currently the
twenty fifth best defensive line in the NFL. What I
want to know is where we view the Bengals position

(01:43:38):
groups one through eleven are we about to rank them?
Rank them? We're going to do that when we get
back them. After we rank them, we'll open up the
phone lines as well. Five one, three, seven, four, nine,
fifteen thirty. This all still ahead Cincy three to sixty
on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, Thanks to our
friends at Penn Station.

Speaker 1 (01:44:00):
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 3 (01:44:19):
Welcome back since e three to sixty ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to Penn Station, and thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:44:26):
For listening right here on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.
All right, we have we've gone through the value that
the Bengals possess, at least from an AFC betting standpoint.
Now let's throw our own version of rank them out
there here Austin Rancom. I have thrown together eleven position groups. Punter, kicker, safety, corner, linebacker,

(01:44:51):
D line, O line, tight end, wide receiver, running back,
and quarterback. Let's go through these position groups and let's
give are rankings. I don't think we are going to
disagree on one or two. I have quarterback one and
wide receiver two. Do you disagree?

Speaker 3 (01:45:07):
I do not disagree with Okay, now, I think this
could turn into the Wild West from here. But we
are in agreement that quarterback is the best position group
on the Bengals and wide receiver is the second best
position group on the Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:45:22):
What is your third best position group? I have running back. Oh,
we're in agreement for the top three. Now, we had
a conversation about running back before the show today. Where
do you stand and what do you make of the
current Bengals running back room, Chase Brown, Zach Moss. They
bring back samaj p Ryan, and then they go and

(01:45:42):
get Taj Brooks, who I was thoroughly impressed with seeing
him live when you see played against Texas Tech. Yeah,
I think it's a really strong room. You know, it's
part of the reasons why are the reason why I
have him ranked number three. I don't know if that's
more indicative of the rest of the roster or just
the running backs, but Skace Brown has the ability to
be a serious playmaker, a guy that can explode onto

(01:46:06):
the scene in the National Football League, I think, and
so because of that, and because there seemed to be
a commitment toward him and towards making him the guy
last year, his versatility being able to move him around durable.
I think because of that, he really catapults this room.

(01:46:27):
And then you've got a guy in Samaj p Ryan
that is really smart, great teammate depth. Brooks can be
a lot of what Samaj is as well, can be
a little bit of a change of pace back, and
then I think Zack Moss wind up being a depth
piece late in the year. I would assume he goes
into training camp, starts the season on pup, and then

(01:46:47):
if needed, break Glass in case of emergency. When he's healthy,
if there's injuries, they can go to Zack Moss and
feel comfortable with him. That's kind of how I feel
like his role will be. And I think TODs Brooks
will be involved as well as well. So yeah, I
think it's a strong room. Were you surprised that the
Bengals brought back Zach Moss. I was, and then I
saw the deal where they changed stuff around her. He

(01:47:09):
has more guarantees in this year and just kind of,
you know, I guess made more sense of the contract
for both sides, and then I was like, Okay, they're
going to keep him around just in case. I do
think there was an interesting nugget when when the draft
wrapped up that from a grading standpoint, TODZ Brooks was
graded as the top pass protecting back in the draft.

(01:47:31):
And when you think about what you need to do
if you want to compete and have an impact with
the Bengals, you know, how many years do we talk
about Joe Mixon in the sense of, man, he's so good,
but he just can't pass block. Sure, then you went
out and you drafted very late. I thought it a
value pick.

Speaker 3 (01:47:44):
One of the best pass blocking backs in the draft
in TODJ Brooks and also a guy who has no
problem making guys miss over the course of his career.

Speaker 2 (01:47:53):
At Texas Tech. Also makes me wonder is there a
possibility for a wrinkle where they're both on the field? Sure,
Chase Brown and TODs Brooks, You know, I don't know.
It's just a lot of different ways you can go,
and obviously a lot of different ways to cut up
the football. Who's going to get it? But if you
can at least have that threat in some way, I
feel like that could be a positive.

Speaker 3 (01:48:13):
Yeah, I'm bullish on the fact that I think I
think TODs Brooks can have an impact for this team
in the running game this year.

Speaker 2 (01:48:24):
I really do now.

Speaker 3 (01:48:26):
Again, how big of a role is that, I don't know,
but from a game by game standpoint, he was fantastic
for Texas Tech. And that's a team who historically wants
to throw the ball as much as possible. And yet
back to back seasons in twenty twenty three and twenty
twenty four over fifteen or yeah, over fifteen hundred yards,

(01:48:51):
so he can make plays in the passing game, he
can pass protect. He had back to back seasons in
the Big Twelve of over five yards per cail forty
five touchdowns over his Texas Tech career, and in back
to back seasons twenty three and twenty four average one
hundred and eighteen rushing yards per game and one hundred

(01:49:13):
and thirty six rushing yards per game. So I do
I think TOAs Brooks can make an impact. I'm with you.
That is why I have running back as number three.
I stayed with the offensive side of the ball for
number four as well, and I took tight ends. Okay,
year two of Mike Kasicki, they firmly have drew sample
and plant it into the role that he is with

(01:49:35):
the Cincinnati Bengals. But I think more than anything. The
year two jump in this system with Joe Burrow and
now with these weapons inked for a long term deal
with with Chase and Higgins. I think Kasiki's gonna thrive
in year two with the Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:49:52):
I have cornerback at number four, but right behind them,
I had tight end at number five. I don't disagree
with you at all about what you said about Kaseki
and about that room and I do them. I still am,
you know, kind of a believer in Tanner Hudson for
whatever reason. I don't have a good explanation for why,

(01:50:13):
but I'm a bit of a believer in Tanner Hudson
as far as cornerback. For as far as I'm concerned
for cornerback at the four spot, this is the biggest
boom or bust spot for this team. Like we know
that those dudes have talent, and they have a ton
of athleticism, and they could be something really, really good.
And I think that just in general. You look at

(01:50:36):
them on paper and you look at the idea of
them playing man coverage. That makes sense, but can they
actually execute it? Can they stay healthy? That is a
position that every single year there two positions that you
look at and say we need depth. It's the defensive
line and it's the secondary. Those dudes get hurt, those
dudes miss games. I'm not a fan of the Bengals

(01:50:59):
depth at either one of those positions, but at secondary,
I think he gets really thin, really quickly. Yeah. Now,
Marco Wilson they brought back, and I didn't think he
played terrible down the stretch last year, so I was
okay with that. But the thing that sticks out to
me the most is the Bengals were interested in jay
r Alexander and then once he became a free agent,

(01:51:19):
they said they were no longer interested. They said they're good.
They feel like they're good at cornerback. That's a bit
of a concern for me. But the potential of this
group I think is higher than any of the other positions.

Speaker 3 (01:51:32):
I think that also signifies maybe an issue with some
of the other positions. But DJ Turner, I think Josh
Newton is prime for a leap this upcoming year. What
to make of Dax Hill coming back from injury. I
think there's a lot of upside there. You want Cam
Taylor britt to take the next step. You think you

(01:51:52):
have some debt pieces around, but it's also a group
at one point or another. Last year, all these guys
got benched for the Bengals as well. But I do
think I think they are I think by maybe some
weakness of the other position groups as well. They're the
strongest position of the defense right now. They're my number five.
Who's your number?

Speaker 2 (01:52:12):
Six?

Speaker 3 (01:52:13):
I had kicker, I had I went punter six, kicker seven.
My next two, I had kicker at number six.

Speaker 2 (01:52:24):
Yeah you got McPherson over Rico. Yeah, wow, yeah, wow.
I need to see Ryan Rico do it for two
years in a row.

Speaker 3 (01:52:32):
I saw Rico do it for one year, and I
didn't see it from McPherson last year.

Speaker 2 (01:52:36):
I know, I know, I'm still an Evan McPherson believer.
I understand where some of the doubts come from. But
I think another year with Rico will help.

Speaker 3 (01:52:45):
Forty nine yards per punt last year for Ryan Rico,
he is number six on this team and Evan McPherson
is my number seven on this team. All right, if
that gives you any indication on where things are going
from here, give me the kicker, give me the punter
at six and seven. Who's your number seven.

Speaker 2 (01:53:02):
I went back and forth with seven and eight, and
I'm gonna make a last second change. I'm gonna change
my mind again at number seven. Rico, I've got the linebackers. Oh, okay.
Logan Wilson was playing pretty good before he got hurt
last year, especially against the run, and this team has
got to sure things up defensively against the run. So

(01:53:23):
I think Logan Wilson being able to kind of mentor
these linebackers. I think the addition of Barrett Carter and
Demetrius Knight is a net positive, even though you lose
your Maine Pratt and a Keem Davis Gather and Joe Batchie,
I think that's a net positive. I think it's an
upgrade for that position. I look for Muma jogh Meta.
I think he's one of the most interesting pieces of

(01:53:46):
training camp. Can he put together a season or a
camp like he did last year and he was a
valuable part of the team. He got some snaps on
defense later on. Can he put that together for a
second year in a row. I think part of the
reason why the Bengals okay with adg and Pratt Levin
was what they saw out of Muma all season. Long.

Speaker 3 (01:54:05):
I'd like to see what the next step for him
looks like. Linebacker's eight for me, for many of the
reasons that you just mentioned. You get Logan Wilson back healthy,
and some of the best production from Logan Wilson came
when Al Golden was linebacker's coach, and you bring in
a decordinator now in Al Golden, who had a specialty
when he coached for the Bengals at linebacker. So I
will give that position group the benefit of the doubt.

(01:54:27):
They are my number eight. Number eight for me is
the defensive line. Okay, Now, if you add Trey Hendrickson
into the mix and he performs at the level he's
been performing at, you feel really good. If you add
Shamar Stewart into the mix and he performs at the
level that the Bengals felt like was worthy of a
seventeenth pick in the draft, then maybe they move up
a little bit. But right now, unproven guys, guys coming

(01:54:50):
back from injury, one free agent signing in TJ. Slayton,
young guys in McKinley Jackson and Chris Jenkins, and BJ
Hill who I thought was pretty solid last year. Yeah,
they're not a strength of the team. They're not the
biggest weakness. They're just man, but they could be good
if everybody's there. I don't know if they're all going

(01:55:12):
to be there. I kind of put them at eight
with the idea of the understanding that Trey and Shamar
aren't there and may not be there until September. I
have number nine for me as the O line. I
put them there strictly because of what I know, and
I know from a pillar standpoint, I feel really good

(01:55:34):
about Orlando Brown Junior and Marius Mems, and from a
center standpoint, I feel really good about Ted Carriss, who
is your number eight. Eight was linebacker for me.

Speaker 2 (01:55:44):
I went trying to keep I went back wide receiver,
running back, tight end, punter, corner Okay corner was five, punter,
six kicker, seven, linebacker. Eight.

Speaker 3 (01:55:55):
Now I go O line because of the pillars, because
I got Kearras at center, Orlando Brown Junior, Anna, Marius Mens,
and I'm counting on the Bengals Faith and Cody Ford,
Cordell Volsner, Lucas Patrick or Dylan Fairchild to fill into
those roles to be some type of strength for this team.

(01:56:18):
I have offensive line as my number.

Speaker 2 (01:56:20):
Nine I have punter at number nineco I have disrespected
safety at number ten. Gino Stone took a pay cut
for reasons because for twelve of the games last year
he's stunk. Jordan Battle has been inconsistent. Tyson Anderson is
primarily a special teamer. Dejon Anthony didn't get on the
field enough to have a real evaluation of who he

(01:56:40):
is as a player, even though I think the Bengals
are high on him. That position group needs work. It's
the one we keep talking about as a potential signing
between now and the start of the season for some
sort of veteran leadership or somebody that can go in
and make a play. I just have no faith in
that group right now, so I'm trying not to go

(01:57:01):
process elimination. Let me go, my number ten is the
defensive line for everything you outlined and so many questions
around it. And then for number eleven, I put safety
as the weakest spot of the team because it is
the spot as you said that we come back to
the most questioning do they have enough? Which leads me,
by process of elimination here to decide that you are

(01:57:22):
saying the weakest position on the current Cincinnati Bengals does
not reside on the defensive side of the ball, but
upfront on offense. Yep, wow. Joe Burrow ran for his
life all of last year. They barely did anything to
fix it. Orlando Brown Junior has been dealing with injuries
for the last couple of years. Amarius Mims is going
to be in his second season. Sometimes second seasons are

(01:57:46):
difficult for young Some call him a sophomore slump. You know.
Ted Carriss last year took over eleven hundred offensive snaps.
He's not getting any younger. He's thirty two years old.
Last year, his run block grade on PFF was a
fifty four point nine. That was forty eighth among sixty

(01:58:08):
four qualified centers. Now, he was pretty solid in the
past game. Seventy eight was his grade there an overall
grade of sixty four point one. Ted Carris, I worry
about being a little bit older. Thirty two years old
difficult if he goes down. The two guard spots are
clearly still an issue. Sure nobody feels comfortable about that,

(01:58:32):
and those two positions with I still think a question
market center. I think Ted's good, I think Ted's fine,
but I worry about this season for whatever reason, that
to me is the weakest position greak, not only because
of everything I just said, but behind them, it doesn't

(01:58:52):
get much better. It really doesn't. Now, Jalen Rivers is
gonna be a guy who's gonna be fighting to make
this team. Matt Lee didn't make a huge impression a
year ago. Who's the other big tackle everybody seemed to
like he played for a little bit last year.

Speaker 3 (01:59:11):
Right now on their depths charge their tackles are Jalen Rivers,
Andrew Cocher, Caleb Etenny Uh, Andrew.

Speaker 2 (01:59:19):
Stuber, Devin Cochrane. That's who I'm thinking of, Devon Cochrane,
Big Devon Cochrane. It's six seven out of Georgia tw
Devin Cochrane, Jackson Kirklands now Seth McLaughlan. I think is interesting. Sure,
Ohio State guy. I think he could come in and
make the football team, hope. But overall that group, I

(01:59:41):
feel best about Amarius Mims, and then I think there's
a gap and then Orlando Brown, which is scary because
then I think there's another gap before I get to
the rest of them.

Speaker 3 (01:59:52):
That's scary because we highlighted last week there's an assumption
that Mems just improves, But there's also a full off
season for teams to figure out his strength and weakness
going into a sophomore year.

Speaker 2 (02:00:01):
Sure, and don't forget he gets a new offensive line
coach too. You know, if there is one positive for
Frank Pollack, I thought I did a pretty good job
with the Marius Mems yep, even though those two, you know,
yelled at each other a lot on the sidelines. You know,
that is also a change. We've talked a lot about this.
What are they to strike? I'm blanking on the word,

(02:00:22):
but that the way he teaches the position. How does
a Marius Mims react to that? Sure? Is that the
best system for him? These are things that need to
be figured out during training camp.

Speaker 3 (02:00:35):
Yep, all fair questions. That was our latest edition of
Rank Them right here on since he three sixty Thanks
to Penn Station. We'll be right back after this. ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Welcome back, since e three
to sixty. ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, a service

(02:00:58):
of our good friends at Penn Station. Have we left
have we left any stone unturned? Here today Austin, we've
talked value We've talked position rankings, We've talked Joe Burrow,
We've talked running backs, we've talked Reds, we've talked more baseball.
F C Cincinnati beat Montreal last night three to one.

(02:01:20):
That's almost Grand Canyon Mule category.

Speaker 2 (02:01:23):
It is territory. The problems to say words today, which
is not good for somebody who does this for a living.

Speaker 3 (02:01:30):
Problem for f C Cincinnati is the Philadelphia Union keep
winning as well. I don't care about FC Cincinnati right now.
FC Cincinnati right now second in the Eastern Conference standings
after going to Montreal and uh getting two last night
Austin from the man they simply call Evander. Evanderscored twice
last night. F C Cincinnati quick turnaround. Now they are

(02:01:53):
back in action on Saturday on the road in Orlando
against Orlando City S. See, I apologize if we did
not get to your phone calls today. We'll have plenty
of time for phone calls tomorrow because the Reds don't
play tonight, which gives us a lot of freedom in
our number one.

Speaker 2 (02:02:10):
These people have been waiting on hold all day and
you said you were getting get their phone call. Yeah,
what's going on? You didn't hi Jeff.

Speaker 8 (02:02:18):
I don't care about waiting on hold.

Speaker 22 (02:02:20):
You know, so, Tony, from from your perspective this, I
know this is a big business Day twelve and big
ten payan NI all money straight through PayPal is huge news.

Speaker 3 (02:02:31):
Well, you know, anytime we can start eliminating middlemen, Jeff,
that's a big deal.

Speaker 22 (02:02:36):
Well, it's going to make it even more imperative. These
guys have good tax advisors because now the IRS can
access that data with a click of a click of
a mouse clicked.

Speaker 2 (02:02:46):
So if they were smart, they wouldn't they wouldn't have
pushed for that.

Speaker 22 (02:02:50):
Well, what a deal for PayPal. I wonder if they're
going to force the kids to take some of the
money in debit cards and rake even more off the top.

Speaker 11 (02:02:56):
Who knows, you know?

Speaker 8 (02:02:58):
And I think on the stadium.

Speaker 22 (02:03:00):
Lease, I've said ten years ago, if the Bengals had
a lick of business, since they would have been done
a present value calculation on the future lease payment value.
They just bought out the lease. Now now they got
no saying what goes on at the banks, no saying
who plays concerts at the stadium. They may have been
able to buy the concrete company, who knows.

Speaker 8 (02:03:20):
But you know, they don't think that way.

Speaker 22 (02:03:22):
They're too busy worrying about Nichols and dimes and language
and contracts.

Speaker 6 (02:03:26):
I guess.

Speaker 22 (02:03:26):
So we'll see how that goes.

Speaker 10 (02:03:29):
And since you.

Speaker 22 (02:03:30):
Guys are NBA guys, Adam Silver is a smart guy, right.

Speaker 2 (02:03:35):
I would knowell most of the time.

Speaker 22 (02:03:37):
So why do they allow the draft to do all
these hidden trades where guys are putting on nine different.

Speaker 2 (02:03:42):
Yeah, they got to figure out the hats. I do
not understand that. I'm with you. I saw SVP talking
about this too. Figure it out. It just looks silly. Yep,
I'm with you.

Speaker 22 (02:03:52):
That kid who got drafted, that kid who got drafted
by Toronto, be careful man, that the Canadian dollar is
seventy three cents to the US dollar. He's gonna get
paid in US dollars. He's making a twenty seven percent
premium on every dollar.

Speaker 10 (02:04:10):
Now.

Speaker 22 (02:04:10):
Of course, when they travel to every city, you get
taxed in every city. And I'm certainly no Canadian tax expert,
but he may end up paying more taxes in New
York and California than he does in Ontario, for all
we know. And Toronto's the top five city in the world.
I'm going there next month.

Speaker 2 (02:04:27):
I can't wait.

Speaker 22 (02:04:28):
But be careful what you what you pas out there got.

Speaker 2 (02:04:31):
The Raptors did post a picture of him smiling and said,
that's good. That's good. I haven't seen that from ace
Bal yet with the Jazz. Maybe somebody told him what
you just said, Jeff.

Speaker 22 (02:04:42):
Every day he gets paid, he gets a twenty seven
percent premium right into his checking account. So all right,
if somebody else has been hanging on, get to them, guys.

Speaker 2 (02:04:50):
Yeah, we appreciate you, man. Thank you.

Speaker 3 (02:04:52):
One of the other things from last night, Duke had
three players drafted in the top ten, still couldn't hold
that lead against Houston.

Speaker 2 (02:04:58):
I hate to see it.

Speaker 3 (02:05:00):
Mike, Mike Petralia. Uh, Trags is in for Mulagar today.

Speaker 2 (02:05:04):
Don't make me bring up Nevada.

Speaker 14 (02:05:06):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (02:05:06):
I don't even like dude, That's what I mean, like
a shot. Trags is in for Mulagar. Is Trags pulling
double duty today.

Speaker 2 (02:05:13):
Trags is going to have a sore throat by the
end of the day. I'm told that Trags is filling
in for the Eggman from UH three to six and
then again.

Speaker 3 (02:05:22):
For Lance Wow six to eight. Yeah, I am ta.
I thought here, I thought, Trags. He looked confused when
you said that. He's like, yeah, I am No, Trags
has five straight hours of radio coming up, and we're
gonna make it harder on him because when we get back,
we're gonna ask him to help us with another six
minutes before he goes into his five hours track. Here
for quick Hits next ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 1 (02:05:45):
Until you see sixty continues on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's
Sports Station. It's time for Cincy three sixty Quick Hits
on ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 3 (02:05:57):
Welcome back, it is since he three to sixty, Mo's
not in today, Trags. Mike Bittrally is in from three
to six and then from six to eight down the
hall for Lance McAllister on WLW. And still, despite five
consecutive hours, coming up nice enough to join us for
a few minutes here, Trags, what's going on and what
do you got coming up today on the shows?

Speaker 15 (02:06:16):
Well, it's funny you mention that, Tony, because it is
quite the day, quite the weekend, So we will talk
about the news of the day, the new stadium lease. Yes,
we've got several guests on who actually covered the story,
and I'm looking forward to having them on, one of
which would be Jeremy Row from Fox nineteen, the flagship

(02:06:37):
Yes Station, Jeremy Row Cincinnati, Bengal, so he will be
on right off the bat, and then coming at three
thirty five, we have a guest from the Cincinnati Reds
Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame and Museum. Big Weekend,
Big Red Machine Weekend. I'm really excited to talk about

(02:06:58):
it because that's my era. It Okay, I think I
have a few years on you you got you got
the red shirt on today too, and too bad this
medium isn't suited for it. But it would be a
great shirt to show either on video on the interweb
or on TV. But yees, some when we're hot, we're
Reds hot cities. We're all over downtown Cincinnati in the

(02:07:20):
mid seventies. So I'm wearing it as an ode as
I love you if you will. So we didn't talk
about today. It's it's a big weekend for for the
Reds at the ballpark with Big Red Machine.

Speaker 2 (02:07:30):
It is all weekend long.

Speaker 15 (02:07:31):
So we'll talk with Recall of the museum and I'm
really looking forward to that interview, we'll talk more about
the Bengals and the stadium lease. In the four o'clock hour,
we will talk with Gordon Wittenmeyer at four oh five
about where are these Reds really? Where do you what
do you really feel about the Reds? And he has

(02:07:52):
some interesting takes that are sometimes popular, sometimes not so popular.

Speaker 2 (02:07:57):
Uh.

Speaker 15 (02:07:57):
And then we will talk FCC with my buddy Alex
Frank of Yeah, since he dot com. So we've got
a lot on the show and it will spill over,
if you will, right into WLW airtime as well.

Speaker 2 (02:08:10):
So I'm looking forward to it.

Speaker 15 (02:08:12):
And can I please encourage everyone out there to call
five one, three, seven, nine fifteen thirty get lined up
right now because anybody who didn't get a chance to
talk to the one and only.

Speaker 3 (02:08:23):
Tony Pike Trags is here for It's it. Trags is
ready to go Austin. What are the results from our
poll question today.

Speaker 2 (02:08:30):
A Revivefitnesssystems dot Com pole question brought to you by
your Vive Fitnessystems dot Com at coach PJ. Street. Was
the Reds lost last night? Just one of those games
or cause for concern? Ninety percent say just one of
those games? Smart people I agree with that.

Speaker 3 (02:08:48):
I think the Reds are World Series contenders if a
team throws a right handed starter, and if they throw
a left handed starter, I don't know if they could
beat the Pirates in the Central.

Speaker 2 (02:08:57):
To be honest, I think a lot of teams are
that way.

Speaker 15 (02:08:59):
And again, that picture Max Freed, he is a top
five picture in Major League.

Speaker 2 (02:09:04):
Breed's been fantastic. The fact that they went back to
back games against lefties over thirteen innings without an urn run,
I think it spells a larger issue. And again, I
don't think a lot of teams are suited to go
against lefties because you don't see as many as righty's.
But if you're the Reds outside of it, and I
know it's it's kind of going back to the well
of well, Marte's gonna get healthy, Austin Hayes is gonna

(02:09:26):
get healthy. That's certainly a better option than espen Reeves
Hines healthy period getting them back. I would still love
to see this team at a bona fide right handed
bat that can alleviate some of those issues against right
handed pitching, because if you get into meaningful baseball and
you're setting a it's not end of June Baseball. If
you're going in a playoff hunt against the Cincinnati Reds

(02:09:47):
and you see them, you're gonna go out of your
way to make sure your lefties are lined up to
play against this roster right now. Find a way to
alleviate some of that so teams don't have that luxury.
I don't want to.

Speaker 15 (02:09:59):
See Santiago Espinal hit in the first seven innings like
everybody else.

Speaker 2 (02:10:03):
Yeah, I get that.

Speaker 15 (02:10:04):
I understand that he does server role on the team,
though I still want him on my roster. I just
don't want him hitting in the first seven innings of
the game because you're killing that spot in the order,
and there's no getting around that. The stats obviously say that.
Nick Crawl, Terry Prancona, they all know that.

Speaker 3 (02:10:21):
We talked about Bengals value today trags of If you
look at from a gambling standpoint, to win the AFC,
Baltimore and Buffalo are the favorites at plus three fifty,
which I don't have a problem with because both of
those teams have done things necessary to give them that
nod Kansas City's plus four hundred, the Bengals are the
fourth best odds to win the AFC. But the number

(02:10:43):
stumbles all the way down to plus one thousand. Should
there be that big of a gap, Yes, I'll say so.

Speaker 2 (02:10:49):
Defense.

Speaker 15 (02:10:50):
Until this team shows me that they can play complimentary football,
I can't put him any higher than that, because you know,
Baltimore may have their playoff issues, a laundry list of
playoff issues, and that's well documented, but they'll get to
the playoffs because they're fundamentally sound special teams and their

(02:11:11):
defense is their defense and it complements what Lamar Jackson does.

Speaker 2 (02:11:15):
They got gashed by the Bengals twice last year, and
they went out and added Cheeto. Yep. They added JayR Alexander.
They drafted a guy and Malachi Starks had a lot
of people in Cincinnati were interested in. And then they
got an edge rusher in Mike Green that a lot
of people in Cincinnati were interested in. They they had
a glaring weakness against the pass last year, and they
addressed it in a big way. So I fully understand

(02:11:38):
giving the Ravens that nod I was just a little
surprised that that gap from plus four hundred to pounds
one thousand.

Speaker 15 (02:11:45):
I'm just not until this defense shows me that it
can be something.

Speaker 2 (02:11:49):
Can they do anything between now in July twenty third?
Justin Simmons, But I mean that's still your guy. Yes.
Is that the weakest position currently on.

Speaker 15 (02:11:58):
The terms of depth question. Yeah, in terms of depth,
they just they have Tyson Anderson and they have Dejon
Anthony behind Geno Stone and Jordan Battle. That's not enough
for me. I mean, PJ Jewles great. I know Dak
still loves him, but I mean he hasn't proven anything.
This defense needs dogs and you know what I mean

(02:12:19):
by that.

Speaker 2 (02:12:19):
Sure, they need.

Speaker 15 (02:12:20):
Bulldogs, and I just don't know if they have enough
of those types. They lost all three of their captains Tony.

Speaker 2 (02:12:26):
Yeah, on defense a big thing, all three, and they
have their leading sack get her and best defensive player
on the team currently not with That's why I can't
put him in better than plus one thousand.

Speaker 3 (02:12:35):
Mike Vitrali is next. He's got cold water here, he's
got hot water. He's got tea lemon looks like honey coco,
he's got cough drops, and he's got five hours of
radio three hours. Next on The Mowegger Show on ESPN
fifteen thirty, and then down the Hall on WLW trags
three to six years, six to eight.

Speaker 2 (02:12:52):
Down the hall. Thanks for stopping by.

Speaker 3 (02:12:54):
Thank you to our callers, listeners, talkbackers, and everyone else
for listening and being a part of the show.

Speaker 2 (02:12:59):
Will do it again tomorrow. Have a great rest of
your Thursday. Thanks for listening on to ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati sports.

Speaker 4 (02:13:05):
Station WCKY, Cincinnati.

Speaker 17 (02:13:15):
Make us the number one preset on your car radio
and on the free new and improved iHeartRadio app. Free
never sounded so good. ESPN fifteen thirty

Speaker 2 (02:13:23):
Maxed out on credit card