Cincy 360 w/ Tony Pike & Austin Elmore -- 9/25/25

Tony and Austin talk Reds and that awful loss, check in with Mo, hear from Zac Taylor, talk to Gavin Gerhardt and Keegan Nickoson, and more on ESPN 1530!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Skyline Chile. Since He three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Skyline Chile. Stop by Skyline Chili
for a three way or cheese coney today. Feeling good,
It's Skyline time. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Hey, good afternoon, Happy Thursday. Welcome in. It's since He
three sixty right here on the home of the Bengals
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station via the iHeartRadio app.
If you are listening via the iHeart Radio app, ahead
and hit that microphone button. Leave us a talkback. We'll
get to your talkbacks in our number two this afternoon.
Appreciate you listening along, Appreciate you being here. My goodness,

(00:47):
we're lucky we're on the air. What a lot we
have to talk about. After the prank that you just
pulled on me. This is one of the best you've
ever done. This is hilarious. H got you out of
the room, yep, snuck in, yep, came up with a

(01:09):
ruse and the execution.

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah, I mean he did my mouse here that I
used to I don't know run. The radio station has
been compromised, or at least it had been Thankfully I
was able to fix it.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Wow. Uh, look, we gotta try something because if we
just had to start this show and dive right into
the Reds, that would be a bummer. Here's what we
got going on today.

Speaker 4 (01:40):
Uh.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Gavin Gerhardt, the anchor of the Cincinnati Bearcats offensive line,
is going to join us at two o'clock this afternoon.
We'll talk about what the Bearcats have done up to
this point, in a little bit about Kansas. We'll keep
the Bearcat Conversation rolling with Keegan nickoson covering the Bearcats
for barcat Journal dot com. Because after one o'clock tomorrow,
I take off for the airport for you see, Kansas

(02:01):
on Saturday. So we wanted to spend a little bit
of time this afternoon on the UC Bearcats.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah, we owe the Bearcats from love absolutely as they
get set for Kansas.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
I didn't do anything to us.

Speaker 3 (02:13):
Supposed to have Reds baseball coming up this afternoon, so
what a great time to talk a little bat.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
We got the Bearcats on deck. Zach Taylor normally on Wednesdays,
but because they play on Monday, is set to meet
with the media today at one o'clock, so we will
obviously carry what Zach Taylor has to say, and you
know what it's going to be, Austin. I don't think
it's gonna take a genius to figure out what's going
to be talked about at one o'clock. But I think
the team is a lot closer than maybe what they
showed and all things like that. We'll spend some time

(02:43):
on the Reds here early in the show. A couple
segments from now, we have a Reds lineup, and we
are going to discuss the Reds lineup for today, which
hopefully maybe gets changed while they're in a rain to Labe.
We'll see, but we're gonna talk Reds. We're gonna talk
about the failures of the first two games against the
Pittsburgh Pirates. We have to have the Matt McClain conversation.

(03:05):
I'm sure you're done hearing about Matt McClain, but we're
going to have the Matt McClain conversation today along with
the Hunter Green conversation. And you know now how you've
put yourself behind the eight ball because he's not available
at least not to start maybe out of the bullpen,
which we'll talk about in just a little bit but
a rough two games all around for the Cincinnati Reds,

(03:25):
which we'll get into in just a few moments. Do
we try today, Austin to navigate the path of how
the Bengals can win on Monday? Sure, it starts.

Speaker 3 (03:38):
I think it starts by if you score more points
than Denver, you should be fine.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
It is Thursday. Normally we start turning the page by then.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
Do I think Denver kind of looking at the film
and those defensive linemen are licking their chops? Is it
like that video of Shannon Sharp talking about oxtail ribs, chicken, barbecue, chicken.

Speaker 2 (04:01):
All I'd imagine they are. I would imagine the defensive
front is licking their chops for the Denver Broncos. Denver,
in a lot of sense, Austin is a team that
was projected to do big things this year that has
not shown it through three weeks. Maybe a chance for them,
in their eyes, to get right. Maybe a chance for
the first place Bengals to get back on track. How

(04:22):
about that? Yeah, we'll dive into that today. Last night
the whirlwind of the NL Wild Card. While the Reds
lost in extras, the Mets also lost. It would have
been nice if the Cubs could have held onto that
five to one lead the night before, and despite a
comeback effort, the Diamondbacks lost in extra innings to the

(04:44):
Los Angeles Dodgers. Also last night, the big dumper Cal Riley.
He hit number fifty nine and number sixty. Dumpy go
poo pooh is what they say. The Mariners clinched the
American League West last night, and again the big Dumper
hit number fifty nine and sixty, And as he was
being interviewed after the game, they asked what next, what's next?

(05:06):
And he said over the broadcast at the stadium, Austin
might as well go and win the whole bleeping thing.
Mood all about that.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
For cal atmosphere last night in Seattle was awesomes. I think,
what is it like there? It's gonna be their second
playoff appearance in twenty two years, so obviously we can
relate to them a little bit. I'll be living vicariously
through the Mariners should the Reds not make the playoffs.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
I think so as well. Other things that happened last
night in baseball Dumpy go poo poo. Philadelphia Phillies, they
sealed a first round by last night by hitting eight
balls out of the ballpark. Yeah, eight home runs last night,
and Kyle Schwarber hit fifty five and fifty six last night. Also,
Aaron Judge hit fifty and fifty one last night. I

(05:51):
thought Schwarber was up to fifty eight. It says Schwarber
hit home runs fifty six and fifty or fifty five
and fifty six last night. Also doubled an singh information. Yeah,
so the Phillies are in Aaron Judge Clappert home run
fifty and fifty one, and it continues Austin the spiral
by the Detroit Tigers. I hate this. This is sad.

(06:15):
I hate this. Eight losses in a row for the Tigers.
It's not good. There is only one playoff spot up
for grabs now in the American League. Well, technically they
can catch Boston, who's too ahead of Detroit. Detroit now
just a one game lead on the Houston Astros. By
the way, Austin Astros haven't helped themselves either, They've lost
five in a row. I know no one wants that

(06:37):
last American League wild card spot. Nobody wants the Nation,
no one wants the National League spot either. Detroit still
has to play Cleveland and then Austin. They do have
three in Boston, so technically, technically they could find a
way to catch Boston. Yeah. I wouldn't put a lot

(06:58):
of trust in a team right now that is playing
the way that they are, losers of nine in a row.
And for the Houston Astros as they try to get right,
they have lost two games in a row to the
Sacramento A's and they will finish the season at Los
Angeles against the Angels. So that is what's left. If

(07:18):
you're Detroit right now, you probably feel like there is
a decent chance you're not going to make the playoffs.
Oh yeah, I mean I don't know how, because you
feel otherwise your path going forward is much harder than
the Astros going forward.

Speaker 3 (07:31):
I remember looking at the standings almost every day over
the course of the summer, and it would just be
Detroit is twenty games over five hundred. Yep, it would
never be less, it would never be more. Just twenty
games over five hundred all summer long, and here they
are dominating. I can't imagine what that would feel like.
It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. Can we get all that other

(07:52):
crap out of the way. Can we start talking about it?
Let me see you want to talk about it?

Speaker 2 (07:55):
Oh yeah, if I haven't mentioned it at all this week,
I'm excited for the Ryder Cup tomorrow morning, I can
tell you anyway. Yes, let's start getting into what happened
last night and what we witnessed at the ballpark, because
I would like to get some phone calls in. We'll
open up the phone lines after a segment number one
and get some of that in last night, Austin, I
don't know how to I don't think correctly summarize the

(08:19):
disappointment and just what felt like life as a Reds
fan bottled up into one game. To me, that's what
it was. Your knew runs were gonna be hard to
come by with Paul Skins on the mound. You knew
the numbers for Hunter Green against the Pittsburgh Pirates as
well as the numbers for Paul Skins. Last night, to

(08:39):
me solidified the fact that looking back on it, Hunter Green,
it's easy to look back in hindsight and say, okay,
but in my opinion, Hunter Green should have started game
one of the series. I think it starts there because
you didn't have the opportunity maybe to get him in
Game one sixty two.

Speaker 5 (08:55):
Now.

Speaker 2 (08:55):
Terry Francona was asked about it and said that that's
something Hunter and him have our discussed and it's something
that he is open to doing if he feels okay
to maybe be used out of the bullpen. The fact
of the matter is you held him, held him back
on Tuesday to give him a chance yesterday and was
not able to conquer the Pittsburgh Pirates. Paul Skeins, by

(09:18):
the way, Austin, he's every bit as advertised. Oh yeah,
he is one of, if not the best pitchers I've
ever watched, and finishes the season incredibly with over two
hundred strikeouts and an ERA under two. Yeah, unbelievable. Gonna
win another Cy Young, He's unbelievable. Spencer Horwitz last night

(09:39):
was unbelievable. Kyle Lee killed the reds RBI double in
the fourth RBI double, in the sixth RBI double in
the eleventh, unbelievable. Three of the four RBIs came from Horwitz,
and the other RBI Austin, I had to look this up,
came from a player named Jack Sewinsky, who on the
season is hitting one forty.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
One, Jacksonwinsky. He was really good like four years ago,
and he hasn't been good since.

Speaker 2 (10:03):
He was good last night. He was good enough last night.
You know who wasn't good enough last night? The Cincinnati
Ball Club. Yeah, Matt McClain. Man, I feel bad because
at times it feels like maybe we pile on. But
at this point, how can we not pileon? How can
we not pile on right now? With a guy in
Matt McClain, who was last in Major League Baseball when

(10:26):
win probability added per Baseball Reference. You know who's second
from last, Santiago Espanol. Matt McClain has the lowest WPA
by a red hitter since you probably remember him, Austin
Virgil stall Cup of course in nineteen fifty. Oh Verge

(10:46):
nineteen fifty. He has been everywhere. I don't I don't
understand it. He's been awful, but he keeps getting opportunities.
Mo tweeted it out last night. He is the most
indispensable nine hole hitter in baseball history. You would think

(11:07):
by the way he's managed that you cannot play a
game and survive without him. Yeah, the nine hole hitter
who the night before Austin was hitting behind Elie de
la Cruz in the sixth hole. That's how crazy this is.
Matt McClain last night, zero for five, two strikeouts. There

(11:31):
was a point in the game where Tyler Stevenson Austin
led an inning off with a double. Do you remember
this inning? What inning it was? What inning was? It
was it fifth, sixth inning, somewhere around there. It was
the bottom of the fifth, bottom of the fifth. Tyler
Stevenson let off with a double. Will Benson actually did

(11:54):
what you need to do. He hit a ball on
the right side and got Stevenson the third. Yes, at
that point I was watching with my dad and my brother,
and the Reds are trailing nothing. I say, pinch hit
for McLean right now, whoever you have on the bench
that can swing about and make contact. Yep.

Speaker 3 (12:10):
Eerily similar to the night before in the sixth inning,
when he should have been pinch hit for it correct
with a runner on base.

Speaker 2 (12:17):
One nothing you might be you don't know, might be
your last chance. Instead, Mount McClean is run out there
and he strikes out, doesn't put the ball in play,
freedom ends up striking out. You get nothing. Then that
the Pirates add another one in the sixth and it
feels like the walls are caving in. It felt that

(12:38):
way into the bottom of the eighth when nove Marte
hit himself an inside the park home run, and then
Austin in a two to one game, Gavin Lux walked,
Spencer Steer was hit by a pitch, so a great
opportunity first and second, two outs. Elie de la Cruz
unfortunately grounded out to end the game, and then the
hero moment Austin Tyler Stevenson Man.

Speaker 3 (13:01):
By the way that Ellie ground out the second base
one of the we've forgotten about it because of everything
that happened afterwards. But Ellie one hundred and twelve miles
per hour off the bat. Yes, a diving stab at
it by Nick York, the young Pirate second baseman who
throws to first, and as the ball is about to

(13:21):
be thrown to first, the first baseman slips and falls
basically on his side stomach and catches the ball as
he's falling and still taps the base to get day
la Cruz.

Speaker 2 (13:33):
They made a couple good plays.

Speaker 3 (13:34):
There were times, and I think I saw somebody post
about this where you were just waiting for the Pirates
to prove to you that they were a last place team.
In this entire series. They have played incredible defense, they
have been very smart at the plate. They have not
at any point played like a last place team. They

(13:55):
have played like a team. If you didn't know any better,
you would think that the Pirates are right there in
it for a playoff spot like the Reds are.

Speaker 2 (14:03):
Yeah, the Tyler Stevenson ninth and in home run one
of the best environments I can remember seeing a great
American ballpark. Yeah, place went nuts. It was Jay Bruce
sep and by the way, and by the way for
the Reds who came out and asked the fans to
show up. Give credit because the fans did show up.

(14:23):
Absolutely not great weather, not great forecast. The Reds did
their part by making tickets accessible and three to one specials,
But weeknight baseball fans were asked to show up. They
showed up. The team did not show up enough.

Speaker 3 (14:38):
Listening to it on the broadcast, it felt like a
huge game and you could just feel the energy of
the ballpark. And the fans do deserve a ton of
credit for doing that, because there are plenty, plenty of
reasons for you not to trust the Reds and not
to give in and not to give them your money,
and not to go down that path again. But the

(15:02):
Reds did, but the fans did, and they deserve credit
for that.

Speaker 6 (15:07):
Ye.

Speaker 3 (15:08):
And at times it felt like willing this team, especially
prior to the Stevenson home run, where it's like, come on,
let's go.

Speaker 2 (15:17):
We know we have more than this. It was a
really really good environment. It was cool tweeted out last night,
and he didn't get a decision last night. Hunter Green
and nine career starts against the Pirates, forty nine innings,
two point five to seven, ERA sixty six strikeouts, and
the Reds are one to eight. Yeah, I mean, just explicable.
It's it's hard to even fathom. It's staggering. Yeah, staggering.

Speaker 3 (15:42):
And in that same vein talking about the fans, talking
about Hunter Green, Hunter Green talked last week about how
he wished there were more fans in the stands, yep,
and kind of urging this whole movement to pack Great
American Ballpark. And then Hunter comes out and pitches very well,
pitched well enough to win, and he didn't speak to
the media after the game, And I thought that was

(16:05):
soft by Hunter Green, who I have repeatedly said on
this show is my favorite red and I really like
Hunter Green. You said soft as the Bengals O Line's
as soft as Ted Carris against a stunt. It's as
soft as Lucas Patrick, as Dalton Reisner against a deed tackle.
It is as soft as soft can be, Hunter Green,
be better than that. If you're gonna call out the

(16:26):
fans and then you should get up there after a
performance in which you played well and you are supposed
to be. You are one of two faces of this franchise.
You are an all star for this team. You should
be talking to the media after the game. And shame
on him for not doing it. Yep, unbelievable. So at

(16:48):
some point you got to just grow up. You got
to be a man. You gotta talk about it.

Speaker 2 (16:54):
A few more thoughts on last night's game when we
come back. We'll grab a phone callar too as well.
It's since he three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports
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Speaker 5 (17:04):
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(17:25):
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Speaker 2 (17:38):
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home b Welcome back sincey three sixty, roll along here
our number one. Thanks again to our friends at Skyline Chili.
Thank you for listening on the Home of the Bengals
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports station. You're gonna hear from
Zach Taylor coming up to the top of our number two.
Obviously your talkbacks. We're gonna talk to Kegan Nicholson in

(18:40):
the third hour and Gavin Gerharty Center for the Cincinnati Bearcats.
So we've got a lot of football coming up. So
we're gonna finish the baseball conversation as the Reds are
getting ready hopefully for first pitch at Great American Ballpark.

Speaker 3 (18:53):
But Austin, when today we forget about everything we just
talked about, I don't know what.

Speaker 2 (18:59):
I don't know if we do it?

Speaker 3 (19:00):
What if win today, when Shulers Dodgers win this afternoon? Okay,
Cubs go to it a road tonight, Well then you
control your own destiny. Reds are back in the playoffs.
Let's go just gotta win three in a row in Milwaukee.
It's so, what have you done? Formulate?

Speaker 2 (19:14):
So we tease this, So let's get into this. Matt
McClain pinch hit home run later tonight. Well, let's get
into this afternoon, because here here's my concern. We sat
around this morning. The first thing we did when we
got here this morning is we we collaborated on well,
I wonder what the lineup's gonna look like today after

(19:34):
that debacle that was last night that we have discussed,
what does the lineup look like? How will Terry Francona
send out his troops in a must win scenario today
at Great American Ballpark? And we have that answer.

Speaker 3 (19:49):
Four games to go, the finale with the Pittsburgh Pirates,
the home finale at least, of course, don't until the
nlds right right which, by the way, l yes, tickets
go on sale today, Yes, yes, smart, great timing for that.
Here's how the Red Legs will line them up. Leading

(20:09):
off in center field TJ Friedel, TJ.

Speaker 2 (20:13):
Friedel.

Speaker 3 (20:14):
The second batter is right fielder Noel V Martine Okay,
batting third, playing second base, Gavin Lucks. Okay, I thought
you were gonna say, Matt McLean ats Gavin looks. The
cleanup hitter is first baseman Spencer Steer. The fifth batter
is shortstop Elie Da la Cruz batting six. The DH

(20:35):
Miguel and Dohr. Seventh batter is left fielder Will Benson
batting eighth and catching Jose Travino. The ninth batter is
third baseman Key Brian Hayes with Nick Lodolo on the mound. Okay,
time out, time out, hold on once more for Cincinnati
that is Freedol Marte, Luks, Steer, De la Cruz and Dohr, Benson, Travino,

(21:01):
Hayes with Lodolo on the mound.

Speaker 2 (21:04):
Is this all right? So they do like Christmas in July? Sometimes? Sure?
Is this like your version of April Fools in September?
This isn't the real lineup?

Speaker 3 (21:12):
No no, it is posted by the Cincinnati Ball Club
at nine o'clock this morning.

Speaker 2 (21:18):
I'll bet you that was a fake account. No, no, no, no,
it's it's it's true. So this is real. One million followers,
so you're telling me, yeah, that the man that hoisted
the team on his back last night? Yes, Tyler Stevenson,
Uh huh. After going four for five at the dish
right and keeping the hopes alive for the Cincinnati Reds
is not in today's lineup.

Speaker 3 (21:39):
Correct, because apparently Tyler Stevenson can't play. The day after catching.

Speaker 2 (21:45):
Didn't Tyler Stevenson just talk about him being a little fresher,
he did. I went back to double check it.

Speaker 3 (21:51):
Like earlier, I went back and looked at the press
conference from last night, and I think it was Charlie
Goldsmith that asked him or somebody asked him, are are
you just running on adrenaline? He goes, yeah, you know,
I'm sure a lot of guys are. I'm a little
fresher than mostly everyone else because of the time that
I was hurt.

Speaker 2 (22:12):
Like there's a realization that this isn't one of those
like afternoon mid season games that you just kind of
throw away, right.

Speaker 3 (22:18):
I don't know if there is a realization of that.
I feel like to me, it is Terry Francona going
through his process and what he believes is the best
process to win. You can see over the course of
a game how he might manage it differently knowing that
he has to win. And by the way, the Pittsburgh

(22:38):
manager last night timply win. He managed that game like
it was a playoff game. And I felt like there
was times where he outmanaged Terry Francona, which is hard
to believe. And as we sit here right now, honest
to god, I don't know the name of the Pirates manager.
I know that they fired Derek Shelton and some other
guy took over. So I feel like Terry Francona has

(23:02):
a process. I feel like he is stubborn about his
process and he will not change because he believes that's
how you get to where you want to go. But
I have a hard time believing that putting Jose h
Rvigno in the lineup when your best hitter over the
last four or five days has been Tyler Stevenson, and
that you're going to go into a must win series
with the Pittsburgh Pirates in which Stevenson is not going

(23:23):
to start two out of the three games. I don't
understand it.

Speaker 2 (23:29):
This is why the DH is available, right This is
why a DH is in baseball now it is There's
other things about this to me that are are mind boggling.
South Stewart was brought up because he can do what hit. Yes,
south Stewart was given what one opportunity in the last

(23:50):
five or six games to start and it was against
the nl CY Young Award winner, who's ERA for the
season is under two. Correct. So South Stewart's not in
the lineup today. Correct. A guy we talked about a
little bit in the in the last segment, Austin Hayes.
He's not in the lineup either. Apparently he's hurts. So
the biggest series of the year, when you've got to
win games, Austin Hayes, is he too hurt to taking

(24:13):
it back to take a swing and if so, why
is he taking up a roster spot?

Speaker 3 (24:16):
He was too hurt to even take a swing yesterday? Yeah,
Jim Day reported on the TV broadcast, did not see
Austin Hayes swing a bat yesterday. I mean, so when
you think of the Austin Hayes injury, the key Brian
Hayes injury, I mean, they've basically been playing shorthanded for

(24:37):
the last two days. I don't get it, which we've
We've seen them do this over and over again in
the past. I'm not surprised by it. And I know
that if you were to put one of those guys
on the injured list, you lose them for the entire
season and back injuries are fixing. You're right, And I
think the other part of that would be, well, who
do you call up?

Speaker 2 (24:57):
Who do you bring in?

Speaker 3 (24:59):
I'm I mean, there's not a very good answer to
that either, and you would be relying on that person.
So I get it. But also it's I understand how
maddening it is. And by the way, people forget Braxton Ashcraft,
who's pitching today for Pittsburgh.

Speaker 2 (25:15):
He's nasty.

Speaker 3 (25:16):
Yes, he started seven games this year. He's got a
two point six to two ERA, sixty six strikeouts in
sixty five innings. Yeah, and you know, Francona, in meeting
with I believe Tommy Thrall prior to the first game
of this series said he was very aware of Brax
and Ashcraft. At the end of the series, Well, now
you got to beat him to salvage a game.

Speaker 2 (25:40):
I think it's a miss, that's my opinion. I don't
know how Tyler Stevenson is not in this lineup. I
don't know how you go into a game like this
and don't play arguably your hottest hitter in a game
you have to score runs and you have to win.

Speaker 3 (25:57):
Well, just a lot of questions, you know, since the
game is starting in a delay, Maybe Terry Francona has
some time to sit back and think about it, and
maybe last second, just go scratch out Jose Travino's name. Maybe,
you know, let's say this this delay last two hours.
Maybe then you know, Jose or Tyler Stevenson gets enough rest,

(26:20):
maybe gets a power nap, and he's fully rested and
ready to go.

Speaker 2 (26:24):
Thought that could be it. I don't know.

Speaker 3 (26:27):
I guess maybe mother nature does this a favor here,
gotta be a favor for him. Does this game start
before three forty when the Dodgers and d Backs. You
know that's Yoshi Nobu Yamamoto pitching for the Dodgers today tonight.
Another good one as well. Shoto Imanaga, Yes, is on

(26:50):
the mound, but he is going against one Nolan McLain.
Who Nolan McClain. Who's that for the Mets four and
one Now he's only started seven games, all Austin one
seventy r. So if you're the Mets, that's a big
one to night as well. Obviously it is uh and
this is tense. We talked about the tenseness that was

(27:12):
there last night. This is tense. This is what this
is what playoff Baseball is huh yeah, And it's amazing
because after all of that, there is still a chance
like they haven't been eliminated. Even though it feels like
they've been eliminated, they haven't been eliminated.

Speaker 2 (27:30):
It's just crazy.

Speaker 3 (27:31):
It is one of the beauties of this game and
especially and I'm sure Baseball is just eating this up
that they have all these teams still in it at
the very and all these different scenarios that can happen.

Speaker 2 (27:42):
So it's fun. It's it's it is fun.

Speaker 3 (27:48):
I texted a friend last night before the game and
I said, I'm actually nervous about this game, and I
forgot that I can feel that way about the Reds. Yeah,
that game up to it and then you know, it's
just always kind of weird that they kind of go
into a nondescript day game to finish out the entire homes.

Speaker 2 (28:10):
Yeah, and it's going to be this day game in
between rain showers and cloudy skies. It's just it's fitting
for what we've seen him in the last couple Yeah.
And I think again, as we said before, it is
perfectly fair to be frustrated about what's going on. It's
perfectly fair to as a fan be asked, come on,

(28:33):
come down to the ballpark. We need your support and
to go through the last two nights. That's fair. And
we'll see what happens today, not just with the Reds,
but with the Diamondbacks, with the Mets. And it's not
like Milwaukee hasn't been a house of horse for this
team as well. So it feels like that it's got

(28:55):
a chance still to come down to the the finish line.
We'll see what that looks like. But the Reds have
clearly done themselves. No favors against Let me can I
check my notes one more time on this. The Pittsburgh Pirates, Yeah,
the sixty nine and eighty nine Pittsburgh Pirates. Yeah, the
team that has won their twenty fourth and twenty fifth

(29:17):
game on the rope the last two games, that Pittsburgh Pirates.
That's the team that's been making the plays in crunch time.
That's the team who, as you said, has seemingly out
coached the Cincinnati Reds down the stretch. I just it's
just not acceptable and it's frustrating on so many different levels.

(29:41):
We'll take a break. As Austin mentioned, the Reds are
in a rain delay to start today's game, So we'll
keep you updated with that as it goes on.

Speaker 3 (29:49):
Should we bring back out the banana phone? Banana phone?
See what happened banana phone? Well, you know what's going
to happen, Austin. We'll finish up the hour and we
come back and then so many people now that the
Reds are in a delay, we'll be able to tune
in to hear what Zach Taylor has to say.

Speaker 2 (30:04):
Oh boy, you know we were close. After watching the tape,
we were close. It wasn't as bad as it looked.
Should I put a poll question up? Who do you
trust more, Zach Taylor or Terry Francona. Yes, okay, I'm
gonna work on that. We'll be back. I'm gonna finish
number one. Now would you answer that question? Oh?

Speaker 6 (30:23):
Man?

Speaker 2 (30:24):
Should add Zadderfield in there? Just for fun? I'm going
sat these their team's got a chance still to win
a championship. All their teams have a chance to championship. Yeah.
See if the dream is not dead, okay, very much alive.
Well here we go, we're living the dream. Yeah. Well
mostly our number one since he three sixty thanks to

(30:45):
Skyline Jillian thanks for listening. On ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati
Sports Station.

Speaker 7 (30:50):
You see Football in the Natti brought to you by
Postman Law on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Cincinnatis.

Speaker 2 (31:01):
Welcome back. It is football in the n out of here
a couple more minutes. We'll grab a phone call in
just a moment as well. This is the time of
the week, Austin. You start to turn the page, and
I know it's different because the Bengals play on Monday
Night football this week, but I'm watching everywhere locks of
the week. Who's your most confident pick? Denver? Denver? Denver.
They already put on the board the clean sheet where

(31:22):
folks are picking games in media and on TV, and
everyone's picking Denver. How do the Bengals win the game?
Is there a path against a team in Denver who
has aspirations much like the Bengals great defense, bo Nicks
has not played up to the level that he's been
expected to play. One in three start for them is
going to be tough to overcome. How do you match

(31:44):
that and beat the Denver Broncos.

Speaker 3 (31:45):
I've got a couple of numbers for you, okay, right now?
Number one team in the NFL total defense. Cleveland Browns okay,
number six team in the NFL total defense, Minnesota Vikings,
number ten team in the NFL total defense, Jacksonville Jaguar
Dox Ruther's playing good teams. So the Bengals have faced

(32:08):
three top ten teams in total defense in the first
three weeks. Now, I expected Denver to be in the
top ten, maybe even the top five. You gotta scroll
all the way down to number nineteen to see the
Denver Broncos. Now, they've only allowed four touchdowns this season,
but they're averaging three hundred and twenty seven yards per game.

(32:31):
You might be wondering, well, where are the Bengals. The
Bengals are twenty fifth in the NFL in total defense
at three hundred and fifty nine yards per game. Now,
this is unrelated to Monday Nights game, but it jumped
off the screen at me. Number twenty eight Pittsburgh Steelers. Yeah,

(32:52):
number thirty two Baltimore Ravens.

Speaker 2 (32:56):
Crazy.

Speaker 3 (32:57):
Now, Baltimore obviously is gone to again some Juggernauts on offense,
but four hundred and fifteen yards allowed twelve touchdowns for Baltimore.

Speaker 2 (33:07):
I was looking at some of the defensive numbers when
you were talking about that Buffalo Bill Bill's worst team
in the NFL rushing yards given up per game, but
they only give up two eighty seven because they give
up one thirty one in the air. Yeah, Baltimore gives
up one forty nine on the on the ground, Denver
one fourteen point seven, just a few yards ahead of
the Bengals who give up one nineteen. So maybe a
team that the Bengals can find a way to get

(33:29):
that running attack going. Zach Taylor will join us in
just a few moments, which means we uh, we have
a minute or two for a phone called Mike. What's up, Mike?
What's up?

Speaker 8 (33:41):
Mike?

Speaker 2 (33:42):
Hello, Hello Mike. We don't have Mike, all right. We
tried JT. What's up?

Speaker 6 (33:52):
Hey?

Speaker 9 (33:52):
I had an idea for last night.

Speaker 10 (33:54):
I was at the game and the energy at that
stadium was palpable. It was just awesome. And having to
do the Walk of Shame after the game through the banks,
it gave me an idea. You know how the Reds
have the Ring of Honor, I'm sorry, the Bengals had
the Ring of Honor. Yes, and everyone loves it and

(34:15):
it's a great thing. I was thinking the Reds, after
ripping the fans heart out like that, they should bestow
a ring of shame after every game that they blow it.
And it can be a ceremony. Jim Day can host it.
You'd give the shameful player his ring of shame, and
then he had the walk from the Great American Ballpark

(34:38):
to Paul Brown Stadium, our pay Course Stadium and let
the fans air their grievances with that particular person. But
we put them in a cage. We'd have security all
that that we'd arden the fans with like rotten tomatoes, pizza, beer,
And I think it would be very cathartic for the city.
And I think I may write my senator and mayor
and see what they think.

Speaker 2 (34:59):
But fuss on that guy, thank you, let's do it.
I don't know about that. That's like Festivus. I don't
know about that one. At this point, I'm listening to
any idea. Uh, we'll try one more time. We should
do like the Vikings do, skull skull, skull. We should
do shame, shame, shame as they walk off the field

(35:20):
after another loss. Uh, we got about just a minute.
Let's see if we get Mike this time. What's up, Mike?

Speaker 10 (35:26):
Hey, guys, you got me?

Speaker 2 (35:27):
Gotcha?

Speaker 9 (35:29):
I don't know what the hell happened.

Speaker 8 (35:31):
Yeah, I don't let that Denver stats for right now
fool you. They're gonna they're gonna give the Bengals fit.

Speaker 4 (35:37):
But uh, anyway, the Red's.

Speaker 11 (35:39):
Gotta be careful to I just Braxton Anscraft ain't.

Speaker 4 (35:42):
No just a two point six two e r a
the big dude, and he don't run out of gas easy.

Speaker 8 (35:47):
So that's a tough mats up right there.

Speaker 2 (35:50):
Today, without a doubt, without a doubt it.

Speaker 9 (35:53):
What's the biggest surprise of the second half?

Speaker 10 (35:56):
The complete and total meltdown to Detroit.

Speaker 2 (36:00):
Unbelievable. Nine straight losses, and Mike, they're only being saved
right now because the Astros have lost five in a row.
No one wants the last wild card spot.

Speaker 10 (36:11):
You're getting some junk teams anyway, I know you go.

Speaker 4 (36:16):
Thanks guys, thank you.

Speaker 2 (36:17):
Mike, appreciate that. Yeah, I'm just I'm thrown off Austin
by Denver because they gave up the twenty nine against
the Colts and I know the Cults are a lot
better than expected, but that game against the Titans was
way closer than it should have been, and then they
had the game won against the Chargers, and credit the
Chargers for making the plays, but they have they've squandered
a few opportunities away here already on the season, has Denver.

(36:39):
I mean, if they don't mess with the center, they
beat the Colts as well. So it's a game of
one or two plays that it can come down to
to mean a winner loss and uh, Denver has certainly
been the victim of that, as the Bengals have been
on the right side of that for their two wins.
Speaking of the Bengals, the head coach of the Bengals,
Zach Taylor, is scheduled to meet with the media when
we come back one on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

(37:02):
Thanks to Skyline Chili.

Speaker 7 (37:04):
You've been listening to Football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 12 (37:16):
Looking for a financial partner who puts you first at share.

Speaker 1 (37:19):
Faxcincy three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati, sponsored in part
by Cinci Shirts. Cinci Shirts, All Cinci all Day. This
is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (37:37):
Welcome back, our number two since e three sixty. Thanks
to our friends at Cincy Shirts. Whether it is FC
Cincinnati Reds, whether it's football, anything you need, Cinci Shirts
can make it happen. Visit them atating their retail locations
or Cinci Shirts dot Com. As normally happens on Wednesday,
but since they play Monday, it's happening today, kicking off

(38:00):
four number two. This is happening right now at pay
Corse Stadium. Zach Taylor speaking to members of the media,
Zactly Drew Wise.

Speaker 13 (38:13):
Yeah, Chamar again, what we'll see through the end of
the week. He would he would be a tough time
for him this week, but we will roll him out.
I think Cam's doing pretty good, so we'll we'll work
him through a little bit stuff with the trainers to start,
but working through the week, and I think the extra
day is helpful there.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
Dalton's good.

Speaker 13 (38:32):
Dalton climb out of the game probably better than expect.
We'll see, you know, I think it's we got some
options there and so we'll go through the week and
see where it ends up at.

Speaker 2 (38:43):
You think the collective mindset is your guys is good.

Speaker 8 (38:46):
I really do.

Speaker 13 (38:47):
I mean, I think we've had extra day meetings, so
we got a chance to watch some extra stuff, get
an extra walk through in.

Speaker 2 (38:54):
Really just starting the week.

Speaker 13 (38:55):
We haven't done anything physical yet, but I do like
our teams that I think they're very realistic with that
game of sideways and what we got to do to improve.

Speaker 14 (39:03):
Are there any specific messages you know, you give to
the guys, you know, a couple of days after a
game like that, or is it more or less sort
of an expectation that the guys have to So it's.

Speaker 13 (39:12):
An expectation for guys when it comes to taking the
ball off people and protecting football, and it's as simple
as that.

Speaker 2 (39:18):
What'd you like for Cable Rivers in that game?

Speaker 13 (39:21):
I thought it came in as his first real action
and held up well vers a good defensive front that
offers a lot of looks. Didn't see anything that alarmed
me or get costome concern. And that's what we've seen
from him really the whole way. He's only continued to improve.
He's got a lot of great traits, So I got
a lot of confidence in him.

Speaker 15 (39:41):
What are you hoping to see from the offensive line
in sort of a rebound game against a really good
Denver defensive front.

Speaker 13 (39:47):
Yeah, it's really the entirety of the offense. It's all
got to come together. We got to do a great
job on all the phases of offense to help the
run game.

Speaker 2 (39:55):
Hope.

Speaker 13 (39:55):
We've got to be great in the past game. We've
got to be great with all the things to try
to mirror that to give us our best chance.

Speaker 16 (40:00):
How would you help Jake deal with the inevitable pressure
contender is going to be.

Speaker 13 (40:06):
Well, that's that's just part of our game plan. And
again that's that's not one person helping him. That's everybody's
got to be able to do their job to make
his job as easy as possible. Got dor a great
job protecting the football. You know, that's his his number
one priority. He's done a great job already with the plan.
He's got a couple of days head start, so I
think he's in a really good place. There, really good

(40:26):
communication with him. So I feel like we're in a
great spot right now.

Speaker 16 (40:29):
Which the balance for him right now, the balance between
making plays and knowing when to move on to the
next play and get up and not let it turn interceptions.

Speaker 2 (40:37):
I mean, you know, that's kind of been the thing.

Speaker 13 (40:38):
That's it's to define that is difficult. That's part of
playing quarterback in the NFL. And you've seen him make
a lot of great plays in the games he's been in,
and a lot of them are really aggressive, some of
them been extended. We make a great play, its celebrated,
it gets tipped and goes the other way, you're the worst.
And that's that's the life of a quarterback.

Speaker 2 (40:59):
And he knows that.

Speaker 13 (41:01):
We all know that for supporting him, and and again
he doesn't. He's still in his first couple of games
as a starter in his career and he's done a
great job managing it. In my opinion, we got to
take care of the football. We've got to be great
around him, and I expect, you know, we'll have a
good week at that.

Speaker 15 (41:18):
What do you think about the matchup you saw with
Pats or Tan and Jamar last year and what are
you expecting this week from him?

Speaker 13 (41:25):
Two great players expect from which one. Yeah, I'm not
going to make predictions on on what they're going to
do to us, but great corner. It's always good to
watch Jamar matched up against great corners. And if he
gets matched up as well, you know, we always expect
our guys to to hold their own and win and
find at a winning matchup for us, A lot of

(41:47):
respect for him. He's a he's a very willing tackle,
he's a physical corner. He can run, he can cover,
he can make plays on the balls. So again, I
think he's a really really lead corn in this league,
and I think our guys always are up for that challenge.

Speaker 16 (42:04):
Obviously to get a huge game. Do you look back
of the list three games and say, man, I can't
believe he hasn't gotten that.

Speaker 2 (42:10):
Mans, it's just I mean, it happens.

Speaker 13 (42:13):
But like, yeah, it's it's a long season. I think
you can say that for a lot of our guys.
It's been a it's been orthodox is not the right word.
But the first three games this season have just been
a strange thing, and you just continue to evolve as
the season goes. And so again we don't look at
that as that defines us. That's that's what we're going
to be Statistically, it's going to continue on this trend.

(42:36):
None of that, you know, It's it's you're finding your
identity as a team, as an offense, as a defense
early in the season, trying to find wins while you're
doing that and then again your your team will continue
to evolve and things tape shape. Everything evens out we
got great players over seventeen game regular season, it's all
going to take its shape.

Speaker 16 (42:51):
And even do you have to say, do you say
anything to t like, don't worry.

Speaker 13 (42:55):
It's good we taught I mean we we not specifically
that way, but he and I talk. He's That's the
thing about our guys is there's not an ego that's
involved in any of this. So when it hasn't gone
that way for guys, they really trust where we'll head.

Speaker 2 (43:10):
They know this.

Speaker 13 (43:11):
There's been games before where some of our main guys
have cotton the ball, are been targeted once and they
know the next game might be twelve targets and ten catches.
Who We've seen that with almost every single guy roster.
So there's there's a body of work there that holds
up and they don't have to guess.

Speaker 14 (43:27):
We have all about load specifically. But how do you
feel but the linebackers played as a whole through three games?

Speaker 13 (43:32):
Well again, linebackers reflection of everybody. It's not you can't
just isolate and say they've not made a great player
or a bad play it's it's oftentimes a product of
the people around him as well. So I think that's
a group that's really trending in a great direction. We've
got a lot of talent there, they're well coached, and
collectively as a team, I just want to see improved
play from our whole team.

Speaker 14 (43:53):
Do you feel like on offense we're playing as fast
as it's fast and decisive in terms of what processing
or what you feel like an.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
All right, that's hard to define.

Speaker 10 (44:03):
I know it's a next game, but how special is
it to be the focal point on Monday night?

Speaker 2 (44:09):
It's always fun.

Speaker 13 (44:11):
It's you get an extra day, so it feels like
a really long week. But the environment, whether it's here
or somewhere else, is always pretty special to be able
to go and it's my time, and it's always a
great crowd, and there's always to build up, and we
don't get caught up as so much in the media.

Speaker 2 (44:27):
Part of that.

Speaker 13 (44:28):
You're just not exposed to it as much, you know,
as when you're watching watching it, you're in your office
and Monday night foot balls on, you see all that
build up. You kind of miss a little bit of
that on game day.

Speaker 2 (44:37):
But it's it is fun.

Speaker 13 (44:38):
You know, you grew up as a kid watching it
and so it's it's a special thing to be a
part of it, and I guess wud be excited for it.

Speaker 14 (44:44):
Do you prepare differently this week to get ready for
Mile High Stadium?

Speaker 13 (44:48):
Playing at elevation from the altitude, you're mindful of our
guys understand what it's going to feel like a little bit.
You know, you can get winded. I've countless times, I
think I've I've been there. I know bowlders lower than Denver,
but been in Denver a lot. So as the game goes,
you just have to be mindful of which guys are
getting a lot of reps and trying to give them breaks.

Speaker 14 (45:06):
Weekend, I'll talk about the run game coming on a Sunday.
What's this week look like trying to you know, you
have an extra day, but as you get ready for
trying to get that fixed on the fall, I house
that kind of been this week.

Speaker 13 (45:16):
Yeah, same as the same as every week, trying to
get that at the way.

Speaker 14 (45:20):
How encouraging was Miles and Miles Murphy's performance on Sunday.

Speaker 13 (45:24):
I thought the fourth quarter really physical, really really did
a good job in posing his will, you know, and
so again more of that is going to be great
and great attitude. I think he's got a lot of
confidence right now, and that's really good to see.

Speaker 15 (45:36):
Orlando and Ted we're kind of two of the most
vocal players following the game and saying they wanted to
take accountability for their performance before they really spoke on
everybody else. How have you seen them respond this week?
And knowing that those are two of your captains, like
how much easier does that make your job? And knowing
that they're going to leave the charge in getting.

Speaker 2 (45:54):
It it's critical.

Speaker 13 (45:55):
Everybody else is so much more coachable when you can
coach your top guy as your veterans hard, you can
be critical, they can take the criticism, they don't fight back.
That that makes everybody else what excuses anybody else have
to take the coaching when you've got guys who have
played in Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, all that kind of stuff.
So I think that our our leadership isnt an excellent

(46:18):
job this week of taking ownership on the things that
they can control to get better.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
Overall view of the defensive line, which.

Speaker 13 (46:25):
How well, yeah, this is something I've said a lot before.
There's a lot of positives when you look the first
half of that game, there's a lot of positives, you know,
outside of that first drive, holding them on sudden changes,
getting them to punt, and offensively, we've got to do
a better job of applying pressure to our opponent. I
kind of game like that to where the defensive line
can really settle in and play well and get some

(46:47):
pass us situations when you got to lead. So hard
for me at times to assess four quarters worth of
work when when I know the situation we've we've been
put in. There's a lot of good there. There's obviously
things we got to clean up, and again early part
of the season's that's a little bit to be expected.
But we're just looking for consistency across the board from
all of our position groups.

Speaker 14 (47:09):
You went back up to the tape the last couple
of days, what's the biggest thing?

Speaker 2 (47:13):
They could be confidence that y'all can't be better on
the ground. We know we can.

Speaker 13 (47:16):
I mean, we've done it historically, We've been better. There's
been a lot of meat on the bone in some
of these games we played so far. We can see
the opportunity and it's just It's not always the same person.
It can be a different combination. It can be a
different single block. It can be a back, it can
be a receiver digging out of safety. It can be
more strained from a tight end on a pool. There's
just different things that show up that we can all

(47:37):
be better at.

Speaker 2 (47:41):
Okay, thank you. Okay. So that is a little bit
shorter version of Zach Taylor's press conference dialed in Dude focused, Yeah, yep,
dialed in, ready to go. There was something assed earlier
that you and I picked out watching I think film
On Monday, he was asked about Jalen Rivers. Jalen Rivers

(48:01):
played well when he got a chance.

Speaker 3 (48:03):
I you know, I was somebody asked me about him
this week and going through and watching I think it
was twenty five or twenty six snaps or something along
those lines. His first couple I thought he was pretty good.
He did make some mistakes, he did struggle. I know everybody, yeah,
I know, PFF did not really grade him highly. But

(48:23):
I thought there was, like, Okay, this guy didn't make
a complete fool out of himself, and I couldn't say
that about some of the other guys he was playing.
With so yeah, and the way that he was noncommittal
about Dalton Reisner. I think that's something to keep an eye.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
On, something to keep an eye on, obviously Shamar Stewart
and whether he'll be available to play or not. There
were a couple of things didn't sound positive. No, there
were a couple of things. You know, he was asked
about t Higgins and you know, do you look at

(48:57):
the numbers and you look at the targets, are you
surprised by that? I wish, and I know a lot
of it's coach speak. I wish once we'd get a
little more detail into maybe why he's not getting the
looks and how they can go about getting them, you know, like,
for instance, you know how you get t Higgins going.
And Zach's response was essentially, well, it's a long season.

(49:18):
That doesn't answer the question what were we what were
we told in the offseason, and what are we talking
about during training camp Boston? T Higgins is kind of
lining up everywhere, slot, boundary field, They're using him in motion.
You remember how much t Higgins was talking about how
he wants to be able to be used in multiple ways.
I haven't really seen a lot of that. So when

(49:39):
I asked a question like that, Zach Ever pushed back,
and you know what, we need to find ways to
get him more involved. Maybe we move him around a
little bit, play him out of the slot. I want
to know something. I want to know that there's a
plan in place to change other than that's just a
long season. He was asked about getting running game going,
and his answer was, well, it's the same as every week.

(50:03):
We're trying to get better.

Speaker 3 (50:05):
He's not given anything away. Yeah, to the Denver broncos
is I think that the main purpose.

Speaker 2 (50:11):
I don't need a game plan, but I need like, hey,
we're gonna we're gonna work to schemar ass off there
like and we're just trying to get better.

Speaker 3 (50:17):
I think there was a point where you maybe could
have leaned into that a little bit when I think
it was Kelsey that asked him about pats er Tan. Yes,
if you rewinded that game in December or January of
last year, Patzertan was all over Jamar Chase and really
did a good job against Jamar and that led to
an explosion from T Higgins. And so I'm sure Denver

(50:39):
looks back on that game and say Okay, well we
took Jamar Chase away, but we can't let t Higgins
beat us this time.

Speaker 2 (50:45):
In that game, Higgins had one hundred and thirty one
yards receiving in three touchdowns. Yeah, targeted twelve times, caught eleven.
Jamar Chase was targeted fifteen times, caught nine. Kiseki was
targeted twelve times and caught ten of them. How many
yards did jama are having that game? Really? Yep?

Speaker 3 (51:03):
Gosh, it seemed like he didn't have that many. I
know he had a big one in overtime. Yeah, I
want to say it was like twenty thirty. Longest was
thirty eight.

Speaker 2 (51:10):
Yeah, but yeah, T eleven catches, three touchdowns, one hundred
and thirty one yards.

Speaker 3 (51:17):
It was one of the most fun games I've ever
been to. Yep, Yeah, I mean how much it was
one of the most fun. It turned into one of
because I was there. I rememberbout halftime it was like
seven to three, It's like, oh, this is kind of
a dud, and then it just it exploded after that. Yeah,
So I would I would love to know, like how
much something you take from that game plan and apply

(51:38):
it to this Even though Joe Burrow is not there
a lot of the other players are the same. How
do you and specifically, if I'm Denver, how do I balance? Okay,
Jamar Chase is really good, but so to is t
Higgins And how much does it matter? How much does
that change if you have Jake Browning instead of Joe

(52:02):
Burrow in terms of the way you try to attack
them defensively or confuse them, or whether Shirtan travels with
Jamar Chase or any of those number of different things. Yeah,
in that game as well, they did do it. Denver
did do a good job.

Speaker 2 (52:17):
They held Chase brown to sixty seven yards on twenty carries,
so just three point four carry And what I do
think is something to watch against Joe Burrow, Austin, they
sacked him seven times in that game. I mean they
were all over Joe Burrow for much of the night.
Not only did they sack him seven times, they hit
him fifteen other times. I mean that was a lot

(52:39):
in that game. So you wonder how they factor that
in now going into it with Jake Browning, I think
will be very very interesting. What do you have before
we get to talk back Austin. After we talked about
the Red lineup today, and our number one. You put
a poll question up. I sure did one of the
early results on that early.

Speaker 3 (52:58):
Results on that poll question, which can be found at
Audie Moore A U T Y E L M O R.
Who do you trust most? Terry Francona, Zach Taylor, Scott Saderfield?
Sixty three percent say Terry Francona. What twenty three percent

(53:19):
say Zach Taylor? Twelve percent say Scott Saderfield.

Speaker 2 (53:24):
I got some smart folks in here. I would have
never guessed that many people, based on just recency bias
of last night and today's lineup, would have said Terry Francona.

Speaker 3 (53:33):
I think the big thing is that Terry Francona has
more pelts on the wall than those guys.

Speaker 2 (53:37):
Okay, and you know I was in the belt buckle. Yeah.
I don't blame them for feeling that way, all right.
I don't blame our talkbackers for probably being frustrated and
leaving talkbacks with what they felt last night. We'll get
to those next. On the Whole of the Bangles ESPN
fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, Thanks to our friends at
Cincy Shirts.

Speaker 17 (54:00):
Hey, Alexa, what's going on in baseball?

Speaker 7 (54:02):
Getting ESPN is fifteen thirty from iHeartRadio.

Speaker 2 (54:07):
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Speaker 1 (54:44):
Contractors Plumbers episode of Sincy three sixty. Here every show
at ESPN fifteen thirty dot com.

Speaker 2 (54:57):
Coscos get some energy, Bump Bump, Tony Mike and talk talks.

(55:24):
I'm worried about this bunch. It's gonna be a big one.
By the way.

Speaker 3 (55:29):
Red Legs back underway two pm today, Oh Boy, and
will restart at two pm as the rain moves out
of the area.

Speaker 18 (55:39):
Audie Tone was good talk back, Mike. Here a lot
of time those talk listen. I need to resume the
playoffs and win some games because I can't leave my
sanity in the hands of the Bengals and beer Cats.

Speaker 19 (55:49):
See.

Speaker 18 (55:50):
I blame Cincinnati Sports for the reason our relationships on
work in Hamson County has a hot divorce free because
you stick around and you give a chance and chance
and they just still break your heart. Me, my favorite
has got a lot to talk about. But unless she
can back with runners and scores a position and play
second base, I'm cooked.

Speaker 2 (56:07):
Yeah, good, good point.

Speaker 20 (56:10):
Real men of genius missus.

Speaker 21 (56:14):
Cincinnati's Cincinnati Sports has been plagued recently with season ending
Joe Burrow injuries and the Rad's losing to the Pirates
in September baseball, But Cincinnati sports fans keep coming back
because we.

Speaker 1 (56:35):
Are real men of genius.

Speaker 2 (56:40):
I love those commercials. That is fantastic.

Speaker 22 (56:45):
Went to the game last night with my nineteen year
old daughter. We had a great time. Hey, it actually
was a great game, even though the outcome was kind
of crappy. But uh, she said something that kind of
stuck with me. She's like, we just need like one

(57:05):
more player that can really hit the ball, and I
have to agree with her.

Speaker 2 (57:12):
True sounds like a smart daughter.

Speaker 3 (57:15):
Yeah, got much National Daughter's Day today, by the way,
mart Daughter shout out, Wesley, shout out to west Man.

Speaker 23 (57:22):
Got my Chase Brown bibblehead today. Much liked take much
to get.

Speaker 8 (57:27):
Through the line.

Speaker 19 (57:27):
It was pretty easy.

Speaker 23 (57:28):
Just secured the running back something you're saying it, Russell Wilson.
Maybe I'm wrong. I think the dude is washed. I
think he hitched his team as well as that dress
shirt was pitting around your neck and that throwback. I
do appreciate you guys, appreciate all my fellow talkbackers and people.
Take care of yourself, take care of each other.

Speaker 2 (57:49):
That Wow, that's a good, good all around talk back
from Kevin. I didn't even I didn't even get the
Chase Brown bibble yet. I didn't even try mock turtle
neck suit.

Speaker 10 (58:00):
Did you know that turtle meat was very expensive in
the eighteenth century?

Speaker 2 (58:03):
Yes, that's why mock turtle neck suit correct around. Yes,
I said turtleneck.

Speaker 24 (58:10):
What century are we in?

Speaker 2 (58:12):
Would you call me turtle? Huh?

Speaker 6 (58:14):
Ron DC, Well, I wonder if Lance McAllister is starting
to understand why so many of us Reds fans refuse
to allow ourselves to get too excited about this team. Oh,
and I guess Eli Manning will remain with Jim Plunkett
as the only quarterbacks to win two Super Bowls and
yet not get elected into the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 2 (58:36):
Oh, I think Eli's going to get in. Oh I do,
I think Eli's getting in? So uh yeah, okay, yeah.

Speaker 3 (58:45):
You know what's great about Lance and what I love
about Lance, I really don't know what side of the
fence he's on when it comes to the Reds. It
is a good point, which tells me he does a
great job of really looking at things from every side.
I normally pick a stance and stick with it. I'm
open to changing my mind. Lance does a great job anyway.

Speaker 25 (59:07):
Hey guys, Marcus from the Groove Marcus.

Speaker 26 (59:14):
Went to the game last night.

Speaker 25 (59:18):
Yeah, still a game out. I guess that's anything we
can hold our hat on. Technically only a half a
game back because we own the tiebreakers.

Speaker 2 (59:29):
But I mean, I don't know, man that now that
that right there hurts me to the core. Same to
hear our guy like that, man, because he is if
you want an eternal optimist when it comes to the Reds.
It's Marcus and and that, by golly, that sounded like

(59:49):
a broken man.

Speaker 3 (59:50):
Yeah, and you know, thirty five minutes from right now,
Marcus is going to discard us, throw us to the side,
and go watch the Reds again. And I hope if
for no other reason, Marcus deserves it.

Speaker 27 (01:00:01):
Yep, thank god McLean's not alive today. Peter will still
probably use them the pinch shit in a crucial situation
with running his corn position. That dude's completely lost him.
He's went from Batman to Bateman. His one highlight this
year for the Reds is turning down a contact extension. Yep,
and we all appreciate him for that. Now to topping
a Batman bill and head down to sing away where

(01:00:22):
you belong.

Speaker 2 (01:00:23):
Man. Thatman to Bateman is a good one. That's a
good line. Well that's from a commercial. Yeah, it's a
good line though.

Speaker 26 (01:00:30):
Well from the U been a minute fellas, Grazy Me
and the Boys heading to Denver this weekend Monday night football.
I like the Bengals covering the spread. IM sure if
we're gonna win or not, but looking for some must
hit spots. I haven't been out there in about twenty
years or so, and I was I keep hearing us
go by the baseball park, bunch of bars and restaurants

(01:00:50):
over there, but didn't know what If anyone had any insight,
whodah go big Blue, let's go Red Legs win a
game today?

Speaker 2 (01:00:58):
Good board. I unfortunately don't won't have any insight, but uh,
I would imagine be a good time out there. I
have never been to Denver.

Speaker 28 (01:01:06):
Hello, guys, we we're gonna talk about the day. We're
gonna talk about the the Luke Patrick Kurs, You guys
thalty my all summer. But guess what when he came
down to the Cleveland Brown and he was in the
running game, looked polished, and then as soon as he
got hurt, what do you know that goes to the
offers of land? The offers of land was in shambles.
Do you guys want a dome Rissler? You get what

(01:01:27):
you wanted? Offers of line? Well, guess what who is.

Speaker 2 (01:01:32):
Are we saying that the key to the running game
is Lucas Patrick repping the city out here in sunny
hot Dona. What up, Tonny? What up?

Speaker 4 (01:01:41):
Man?

Speaker 2 (01:01:41):
Oh for five?

Speaker 29 (01:01:41):
Matt mccleanin real talk, I can't do this watching those
bases load and we couldn't get a run across. I
can't do this watching the Reds playing extra innings. I
definitely can't do this. Pittsburgh stinks man from football to baseball.
What an ugly team color. I'm just venty because I
hate that team. Real talk. We always make Pittsburgh look good.

(01:02:02):
Reds don't get swept. We still got a shot, but
don't get swept. Your coach sat that seems still hot.

Speaker 2 (01:02:09):
Letting them forget.

Speaker 30 (01:02:11):
Mechanical for Horwitz. I'll tell you last night was the
m I c R O c S M of the
red season was.

Speaker 2 (01:02:20):
One micro very good.

Speaker 30 (01:02:21):
I loved Framberg, dummy Valdez ever since he threw the
ball in his own catcher. It's like he put a
curse on his own team.

Speaker 2 (01:02:31):
I'll tell you.

Speaker 30 (01:02:32):
Kansas has been very impressive. I think so far it'd
be interesting how you see matches.

Speaker 2 (01:02:37):
Up well done. I love I love the microcosm.

Speaker 3 (01:02:40):
I don't feel bad for anything that happens to the Astros.
They're dead to me.

Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
I'm good afternoon.

Speaker 24 (01:02:51):
I'll just wondered, is there any reason why you can't
line up personnel in a pullback and a running back
and still running spread type offense. They wouldn't that cause
some matchup problems if maybe Zach Taylor might explore this,
just the thought that seemed to be very inventive. You

(01:03:12):
know exactly what's gonna happen with this guy?

Speaker 2 (01:03:16):
I think. I think folks are looking for anything right now,
including I saw Charlie Goldsmith tweet out a day or
so ago that maybe the Bengals should look for God
with a fullback. You know what, I didn't hate that idea. Yeah,
it's an idea.

Speaker 31 (01:03:28):
Hey, guys, I think Chase Brown is going to be
really good, but has he done enough to be labeled
a human highlight reel?

Speaker 2 (01:03:39):
Yes he is. Go to Skyline get your bibblehood, Hey,
Tony and Alson.

Speaker 4 (01:03:44):
I'm going to make it a suggestion for the Reds
next scheduler, only schedule teams that are above five hundred,
but not the Brewers because they can't be filmed and
they can't beat teams that are sub five hundred. So
only above five hundred team like this. I also, Austin.

(01:04:05):
I didn't mean to say go blue yesterday, but when
you only had thirty seconds and you find out you
have to rush to get to the end of it.

Speaker 3 (01:04:12):
It reminds me of Kevin from the office. Why say
lot word when few word do?

Speaker 2 (01:04:15):
Trick?

Speaker 4 (01:04:18):
Tony Audie?

Speaker 6 (01:04:19):
What up?

Speaker 5 (01:04:19):
Boys?

Speaker 6 (01:04:21):
Now?

Speaker 4 (01:04:21):
At the game last night?

Speaker 10 (01:04:22):
Tyler Stevenson home run, they got people to my left
the place when absolutely bonkers?

Speaker 12 (01:04:28):
Listen?

Speaker 10 (01:04:29):
Is nicky York?

Speaker 24 (01:04:30):
Was that Joe Morgan on second base last night?

Speaker 11 (01:04:34):
Goli?

Speaker 32 (01:04:36):
Hopefully they can figure it out today. Boys skid after it?

Speaker 12 (01:04:39):
Hoode?

Speaker 2 (01:04:40):
Was he in full gear last night?

Speaker 3 (01:04:41):
It looked like Brandon Phillips was ballinge Indy.

Speaker 20 (01:04:45):
I went to the game last night, took my son
out of school early, dropped down. You want to talk
about an exciting atmosphere and that was supposed to be
our clinchmus last night and driving back up seventy four
in a pit of misery. But that's the life of
a Red fan. I'll be honest. The Reds have me
actually looking forward to Zach Taylor's comments today. Wow, that's

(01:05:07):
how bad it? Scott here, we are got to get
a win today.

Speaker 2 (01:05:11):
Oh, very well done, Very well.

Speaker 31 (01:05:13):
Done, fella Miles here. Hey, I need your guys expert
of beginion, so I have Chase Brown starting fantasy King.
I have Kim Katabooskie on my bitch. Yeah, I think
I should spend the Katabooskie over this weekend urging three

(01:05:35):
and oh so no pressure, we can get to take
my record alive.

Speaker 2 (01:05:42):
I think Scott might be the play because he's gonna
get more snaps as well because the other guy got
hurt too.

Speaker 3 (01:05:48):
Yeah, I would, I think's the play. I would start
camps kattaboy.

Speaker 9 (01:05:52):
Who do I trust between Zach Taylor and Tito Pony?

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
Yeah, pats on an option.

Speaker 33 (01:06:01):
Well, add another gym to the Cincinnati scrap book of
embarrassment with everything to play for, come in and lose
a series to the Pittsburgh Pirates. I mean, they don't
even deserve to be and the Mets don't deserve to
be in. This is crazy and I'm so tired of
having to depend on other teams failing so that we
can succeed because we can't do it on our own.
And the Diamondbacks, you sold half our team of the deadline,

(01:06:23):
are now thinking, wow, we got to get in playoff
mode that you know, the MLB just needs to step
in and eliminate that last wild card spot.

Speaker 32 (01:06:32):
Hello, Hello, this is this is Evan and even cut
start bench, Brian Callahan, Scott Saderfield, Zach Taylor, David Sula,

(01:06:52):
Bruce Coslet, Homer Rice, Tommy Tabervelle, Judge back.

Speaker 2 (01:07:00):
Act, Thanks seven.

Speaker 19 (01:07:04):
Every time I hear Zach Taylor talking, I just get
more frustrated. He always has an excuse other team just
showed up better. It wasn't in our script. It's a
long season. You were in the AFC Championship, played in
the Super Bowl. I'm a good coach. Maybe tacked a

(01:07:25):
wrong away game to go to Monday night.

Speaker 3 (01:07:30):
I think the wrong away game to go to was
this past Sunday. Yeah, I think Monday guy.

Speaker 17 (01:07:38):
As we're talking about the run game, what happened when
if you remember the first series of the Cleveland game
and how good we were running the ball there, and
even even with Joe, even with Burrow Hurt whoever was
in their quarterback like, it seemed like we never got
a series like that afterwards. What are your what are
your thoughts on that second point?

Speaker 19 (01:07:59):
Is?

Speaker 17 (01:07:59):
Yeah, those three head coaches you guys mentioned in the poll, Yeah,
I'm picking the smokestack Steamer overall three.

Speaker 2 (01:08:04):
Oh oh my gosh, a steamer. Forgot about the steamer. Yeah,
I don't know. I teams adjusted. I guess they probably
made one small adjustment and Bengals haven't figured it out yet.
That was a fun first drive.

Speaker 34 (01:08:19):
Though, Hey, Zach, I'd like to revisit the play where
Jamar Chase stood motionless, refused the block mailing it in
Sam bagging it. Looking at that play, would you say

(01:08:39):
that we left a little bit of meat on the bone.

Speaker 2 (01:08:46):
Thanks, Well, the first half wasn't even that bad. Hey, boys,
love you love your show?

Speaker 9 (01:08:52):
Quick question?

Speaker 11 (01:08:53):
Why did we fall from the eight dollar tickets? The
eight dollar tickets are the concerts of set, no real
reason to go to the games, But let's pack the
house for a playoff push that's not gonna happen because
they don't actually want.

Speaker 2 (01:09:10):
It to happen. That hurts. I don't believe that that hurts.

Speaker 35 (01:09:17):
Tony, Addie, Benny Hannah Here in Naples, Florida, market down
the Reds win their first series and god knows how
long in Milwaukee to clinch a playoff berth.

Speaker 2 (01:09:31):
Market. My goodness, man, I wish I had confidence. If
about this, I wish I had Would you have taken
this trade?

Speaker 35 (01:09:38):
We let the Steelers beat the Bengals twice if they
let the Reds beat the Pirates three Wow.

Speaker 3 (01:09:45):
Wow, that is very very tough. A good question. What
if it meant that the Reds get to the playoffs?
I would say, yes, yeah, I'll sign up. Yeah, I
would I'll sign up. That was our last one.

Speaker 19 (01:09:56):
Man.

Speaker 2 (01:09:57):
That would be tough. That would be that's that's a
difficult That is a that hurts my head even thinking
about that.

Speaker 3 (01:10:04):
My dad, if he were here, he would say, if
I had a head that looked like that, that's a
lot of why I wouldn't hurt.

Speaker 2 (01:10:09):
That's why. Thank you, Phil. Shout out to film man.
We'll take a break, we'll come back. We got another
football in the Natti phone calls as well. And then
at two o'clock, Gavin Gerhart, the center for the Cincinnati Bearcats,
the center on the offensive line who's yet to give
up a sack. That means they pass protect and they
run block. Talk to Gavin about that.

Speaker 3 (01:10:31):
At two o'clock, I need to ask Gavin about the
Bengals offensive line since he three P sixty ESBN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to our friends at Cincy Shirts.

Speaker 2 (01:10:44):
Your favorite neighborhood.

Speaker 7 (01:10:47):
This is Football in the NATI, brought to you by
butt Light on ESPN fifteen thirty, the official home of
the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 2 (01:10:57):
Oh okay, I like that last tackle there at the end.
Welcome back since he three to sixty. Thanks to our
friends here at Sincy Shirts Austin the AFC North. We've
talked about the Bengals, We've talked about a path to victory.
I still think it's unique in the first three weeks
of the season as we get ready to head into
Week four and that starts tonight with the Seahawks and

(01:11:19):
the Arizona Cardinals. AFC East has one team currently over
five hundred, AFC North has two, the AFC South has two,
and the AFC West has one. There are sixteen teams
in the AFC, only six have records above five hundred
at this point of the season. Bengals are one of them.

(01:11:41):
You have a chance to go into Denver as a
seven and a half point dog and push the Broncos
to one and three and to give yourself a tie
breaker over them. Another one of the teams with an
above five hundred record, of the Jacksonville Jaguars, you own
the tie breaker over them. Because of your head to
head matchup, still sell that you're very much in it

(01:12:04):
because three weeks in you're two to one. Your record
is your record. I know you could talk about unlucky
or lucky for other teams, but they're one of six
teams with an above five hundred record in the AFC.
When it comes to the AFC North Austin, have you
seen anything that has happened up to this point to
change your thought on any of the other three AFC

(01:12:27):
North teams and what you thought going into the season.
Cleveland is one of, if not the best defenses in football.
Their offense has not been up to par yet. There's
some rumblings in Cleveland do you stick with Joe Flacco?
But if that offense figures it out at all, Cleveland
can win some football games. The Baltimore Ravens are one
and two, and you look at their losses and how

(01:12:49):
they've gone about it. Tough Monday night game against Detroit,
they fumble the game away against the Buffalo Bills and
collapse late. They do have a win against the Cleveland Browns,
but they now have a row trip against another one
and two team in the Kansas City Chiefs, and then
you have the Pittsburgh Steelers, who, despite getting out gained
in their games, have found a way to win two
games of their three. With what you thought going into

(01:13:13):
the year, first, what you've seen through three weeks, anything
about the other AFC North team surprise you in a
good or bad way.

Speaker 3 (01:13:22):
I don't know that I'd say I'm shocked or super
surprised by anything. Cleveland's defense may be a little bit
better quicker than I anticipated if they suffer an injury
in that front, though, I think it's a really different team.
I also wonder if Cleveland's the type of team where
a mid season quarterback change could spark them and maybe

(01:13:44):
not to a run in the playoffs, but to be
a little bit more productive on offense and not really
be the easy out that a lot of teams expected
them to be, which would be really interesting. Pittsburgh real
quack on Cleveland early returns they had steal of the
draft because Travis Hunter has not played well to this point.
The Cleveland draft picks that they obtained if played really well,

(01:14:06):
and Quinnchawn Judkins being one of those as well. Pittsburgh
Aaron Rodgers hasn't played very good. I wouldn't say that
I'm really surprised by that Baltimore. I would say I'm
most surprised by how atrocious that secondary still looks. It
just does not look like a good group. And it
was full of holes last year, and they spent a
lot of money to try to replace it and supplement

(01:14:28):
some of those players in there, and over the course
of the offseason with draft picks, with free agent signings,
all that that secondary does not look good at all. Yeah,
do you worry about the Baltimore Ravens from a I mean,
I know, going into the year, they were the odds
on favored or tied with the Buffalo Bills betting wise
in the AFC. Do you go back on that seeing

(01:14:51):
what you've seen from Buffalo and seeing what you've seen
from Baltimore. Let's say what it is seeing what you've
seen from the Chargers right now? Yeah, I mean, I
would say if you ask me right now, it would
be it would be it would still be Buffalo as
the top team in the AFC, Chargers would be second.

Speaker 4 (01:15:10):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (01:15:11):
And then I guess you have to put Baltimore there
just because you know Lamar is still there, Derrick Henry
is still there. Those two haven't been up to their
expectations or to their standard, but that's still a really
good roster.

Speaker 2 (01:15:24):
If the if the Chiefs fall at home to Baltimore,
too early to say that they're done this year, No,
they would be done. Okay, they'd be finished. Now what
other way around? If Kansas City beats Baltimore, pushes Baltimore
to one and three, yeah, might get might be time
to pack it up for an elimination game. I think
you could see the end of John Harball, that's the case.

(01:15:47):
I don't know that they would fire him, uh mid season.
I don't think that they would, but you know, if
if they if they don't at least I would think,
if they don't at least get to the AFC Championship
game this year, that John Harball could could be fired.

Speaker 3 (01:16:02):
Okay, NFC wise, we might see four new head coaches
in the AFC North next year.

Speaker 2 (01:16:09):
About that? Could you imagine be insane only conference in
football where every team is above five hundred NFC West,
Which of those teams are for real and which of
those are not?

Speaker 3 (01:16:22):
San Francisco. It's hard to tell because of how easy
their schedule is. Injuries have been crazy and their injuries.
Every year we talk about injuries with them. I think
Arizona is a better team than we thought. That's a
team on the Bengals schedule. They played on the laynight,
So I don't know. We'll see how it goes. A
standalone game where get a full look at and Arizona

(01:16:42):
could change my mind a little bit. How different I
would still say San Francisco and the Rams or the
cream of the crop there.

Speaker 2 (01:16:50):
How different is the conversation around the Rams nationally? If
they beat it at Eagles, which they very well should have,
I mean they were in line to do that. Eagles
had won nineteen of their last twenty. Rams had him
on the rope, had a field goal to win it. It
gets blocked, obviously. I think the Rams are still playing
some solid ball and I think they're gonna keep getting
better than more. Stafford gets back into the swing of things. Yeah,

(01:17:10):
I agree with that. It's Tampa Bay a landslide in
the NFC South. Yes, Saints the worst team in football? Yeah?
Did anything about Green Bay losing to Cleveland change your
view of them in the NFC North.

Speaker 3 (01:17:25):
I think their protection is a little bit suspect. Yeah,
but you know, Cleveland has made a lot of teams
look like that, So I was a little bit disappointed,
Like with the game plan we saw from Matt Lafleur.
Keep in mind Matt Lafloor Zach Taylor bestie boys. Yes,
so it seems to be both of them unprepared for
how to go over a defense like that, go against

(01:17:46):
the defense like that. But I don't I still feel
like with that defense, which I think will continue to ascend.
Green Bay is still very much in the conversation the NFC,
especially if you know a game against the Eagles. I
think that they could give Philly some problems.

Speaker 2 (01:18:05):
I think we saw in the game on Sunday. How
I know Michaeh. Parsons is good? How much better Miles
Garrett is? I mean, Michael Parsons isn't even playing on
first and second downs right now. He's not great against
the run. Miles Garrett's unbelievable. Just he's the best athlete
in the NFL.

Speaker 3 (01:18:25):
Incredible, He's probably the best overall player in the National
Football League. Lastly, NFC outside of quarterbacks, Eagles still your
team to beat in the NFC.

Speaker 2 (01:18:34):
Yeah, Commanders a little worrisome with Jayden Daniels.

Speaker 3 (01:18:37):
Yeah, yeah, I agree. That is football in the NATI.
I can I provide some Monday Night football notes for you.
I posted this on my Twitter as well. This coming
from the National Football League ahead of Bengals Broncos. How
about Jamar Chase. He has recorded at least one hundred
and fifteen receiving yards in each of his four career

(01:18:58):
games on Monday Night five football, with two touchdowns in
each of the last two Monday Night games. With at
least one hundred receiving yards at Denver on Monday Night,
Chase Beak can become the first NFL player in history
with at least one hundred receiving yards in each of
their first five games on Monday Night Football. Additionally, Trey

(01:19:19):
Henderson has recorded at least half a sack in each
of his nine appearances on Monday Night Football. With at
least half a sack Monday Night, he'll be the first
player at NFL history with at least half a sack
in each of his first ten games on Monday Night Football.

Speaker 2 (01:19:33):
Okay, there you go. Okay, shout out to the NFL. Now,
big news happening just a little bit south from us.
Tarp's coming off. Tarm's coming off the field. Great American Ballpark.
They're gonna play baseball a two o'clock nice. We're gonna
talk to Gavin Gerhart at two o'clock and then Keegan nickoson.
Before any of that, we're gonna put a bow on
our number two. Next. ESPN fifteen to thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

(01:19:55):
Thanks to sincey shirts.

Speaker 7 (01:19:57):
You've been listening to football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 1 (01:20:08):
So kise Cincinnati on ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati's sports station.

Speaker 5 (01:20:20):
They get a strong one.

Speaker 2 (01:20:22):
We're gonna have some fun tonight, all right, could have
some fun. The Reds can find a way to win.
Mets lose, Diamondbacks lose. At least we can go into
that last series controlling the destiny. Destiny. A lot of
conversation about destiny here lately. Austin game is getting ready

(01:20:44):
to ge underway here in about five minutes. Yeah. Did
the added time allotted with the rain delay allow Tyler
Stevenson to get any more rest and get in the lineup?
Did it help with Austin Hayes' injury? Is he able
to be in the lineup. Maybe Sal Stewart have has
the rain delay changed any of that? Have any of
those three made it into the lineup?

Speaker 3 (01:21:05):
Doesn't seem to be. But I do have a quote
here from Terry Francona via Charlie Goldsmith. I'm sure I'm
gonna love this. He just caught eleven innings. I don't
know that you're going to get the same player back
if you're pigeonholed into not being able to do anything
with Travino. If Stevenson's already the DH I get your point.

(01:21:26):
He swung the bat really well. I don't know if
you're gonna get that same player. There's a reason catchers
don't do that. Good gracious, that is the skipper. Good
Tito Francona on not playing his hottest bat in the
most important game of the year, Tyler Stevenson.

Speaker 2 (01:21:45):
I know Tyler Stevenson has has obviously had some injuries
this year. On the year, he's got two hundred and
ninety two at bats. Is that same mindset delivered in Seattle,
where has five hundred and eighty at betts? Doesn't seem
like it. Cal Raley, I saw this from the Red's

(01:22:07):
Daily Twitter account. So imagine the Mariners telling telling cal
Raley he's only going to play two out of every
three days. If that that's what the reg are essentially Dorman,
Tyler Stevenson, He's played once in the last three days.
Why can't he DH? Is my question. It's a good question.
Why is it so taxing last night after an off

(01:22:31):
day of the day before where he didn't bat either
Game one of this series he didn't catch or DH.
I get that the game went into eleven, but the
guy carried you to the eleventh inn and now he
can't even bat today. But yet the guy that leads
major League Baseball in home runs is a catcher. Make

(01:22:56):
that make sense. Cal Raley nearly six one hundred at
bats this year, almost three hundred more than Tyler Stevenson,
and yet can't go back to back days. Make that

(01:23:17):
make sense? Somebody please? I don't understand it. What I
do understand and what I do know to be fact
Austin is that the Bearcats offensive line is yet to
give up a sack this year. That in large part
due to the man at the helm the center, Gavin Gerhart.
You can find him on tons of preseason watch list

(01:23:39):
for centers and the best centers in all of college football.
He has led a potent Bearcats offense thus far. They
have experience an unfortunate loss on the road to Nebraska,
but they open up Big twelve play Saturday. We've not
discussed much of it this week. That'll change when we
get back. We'll talk to Gavin Gerhart and then we'll
talk to Keegan Nickison a little bit as well. Since

(01:24:00):
he three to sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
thanks to our friends at CINCI Shirts, the trusted leader
in quality home services. Since me.

Speaker 1 (01:24:08):
This is Pennstation eastco Subs since e three to sixty
of About Cincinnati from Cincinnatis, sponsored in part by Penn
Station East Coast Subs. Handcrafted hot grilled subs, fresh cut
fries and lemonade. It's all about good taste. Penn Station
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thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (01:24:33):
Welcome back. Since he three to sixty hour number three
ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks to our friends
at Penn Station. We've talked Reds, We've talked Bengals. It's
time to talk some Bearcats back in action after a
bye week last week. They are on the road in Lawrence,
Kansas on Saturday. Let's talk to a man for the
Bearcats who is a vital part of what this team

(01:24:54):
is doing and looking to do now going into Big
twelve play. The center for the Cincinnati Bearcats, Gavin Gerhart,
joining us right now. Gavin, what's up?

Speaker 8 (01:25:01):
How are we doing? Man?

Speaker 2 (01:25:03):
Gavin?

Speaker 8 (01:25:03):
How?

Speaker 2 (01:25:03):
How did the bye week go? It's an interesting bye
week because you play a team in Northwestern state and
you guys play very well, you put the game away,
you get some time in the second half to kind
of sit back and watch and let young guys get
some work. Then you go into a bye week. How
beneficial could that rest be going in down to the
heart of the Big twelve play.

Speaker 8 (01:25:24):
I think it'd be very beneficial. I think we had,
you know, kind of an extended by week because you're
at the point in time when I came out of
the game, it was a little bit before midway through
the second quarter, so didn't really get too many plays
in that game, and then have a whole week arrest,
you know of you know, limited plays in practice, kind
of more young guys trying to see what they can do.

(01:25:44):
I think you'll be very beneficial for.

Speaker 2 (01:25:46):
Us going into now Big twelve play. You kind of
reset and everything is still ahead of you. Guys from
a team goal standpoint, go win a Big twelve championship.
I've watched a lot of Big twelve. I know you're
following along. It seems like this league is wide open.
Uh what is the confidence level like inside the locker
room right now, knowing that you got everything ahead of you.

Speaker 8 (01:26:08):
It's it's tremendous right now. I mean we we got
we got to take a one week at a time
and that's been the mindset for for a long time anyway.
But you know, the conference always changes every year to
where the projected, you know, person the favorites to win
the conference. It's it's usually always somebody different, which is
which is great about this conference. You know it could
be anybody any given Saturday to go out there and win.

(01:26:31):
So it gives us great confidence. You know that we
just played to our standard and then we go out
there and execute at a high level. We can we
can win a lot of football games.

Speaker 2 (01:26:39):
You guys go on the road to kick off Big
twelve Play. You've won on the road to kick off
the season and that game against Nebraska being there, it
might be the loudest environment I've ever been in for
an away team. If not, it's one of the loudest.
I know, you guys came up just a little bit short.
But how much can you take from a road environment
like that, knowing you're probably not going to go into

(01:27:00):
another environment that's that crazy and that loud. How much
can you lean on on the Nebraska game?

Speaker 8 (01:27:07):
Lean on it a lot. I think, you know, we
went silent count for a majority of the game and
then finally got into the rhythm a little bit towards
the end and kind of settled into that system that
which we had to do. So I think, you know,
that was a great experience for us to be able
to implement that and to have to use that. And
I think if we have to use that at any
point down the road, you know it'll work out just

(01:27:29):
fine for us. So I think that game will help
us in more than one way this coming season.

Speaker 2 (01:27:34):
Throughout the bye week, your group up front has received
a lot of notoriety the only group to not give
up a sack this year. When you talk about that,
I think people just read the stat and think man
the offensive line obviously playing at a very high level.
How much else goes into that? How much does what
source be is able to do go into that? How
much does the system go into that of spreading the

(01:27:56):
ball around and getting it out your guys running attack.
How much is it about all eleven that go into
the success that you guys have had with that group
of five up front.

Speaker 8 (01:28:04):
I mean it takes every single one of us, I think,
you know in a lot of ways when we protect
the running back is is there for us in a
lot of ways to pick up an extra blitzer that
you know can save storts Bey from getting you know,
hit or a sack or whatnot. And then the whiteouts
we have you know, being able to get open and
allow swords me to get rid of the ball quickly.
He does that anyway, if there's nobody open, he'll get

(01:28:25):
rid of the ball. He doesn't want to get hit.
So you know, he he's helped us out in a
lot of ways. He is a quick release in our whiteouts,
Like I said, they just get open for him and
he can honestly get rid of the boy. I mean,
you know, his first second reading but then there's been
points in time where he's been able to get to
his third read and we protected well enough, and you know,
hope wing to continue to do that.

Speaker 2 (01:28:46):
Take me behind the scenes here from an offensive line
point of view, because obviously you're protecting in past pro,
but you guys are also a very aggressive run blocking team.
And last year it was Corey Kiner and Evan Pryor
and this year it's Evan Pryor and Tyee Walker and
Soresby is more than a capable runner. What is it
about the guys behind you that allow you guys to

(01:29:08):
open up kind of the balance of the offense in
the run and pass game with the talent you guys
have at running.

Speaker 8 (01:29:13):
Back, Yeah, I think it gives us a great a
great deal of confidence up front that whoever is going
to have the ball, whatever situation that's in, if we
do our job up there, and we've continued to grow
throughout the season, especially with a whole lot of new
guys up there with myself, just make sure we're you know,
making the right calls and the right ideas. I'm putting

(01:29:34):
everybody in the right position to hof way help us
execute at a high level. And if we do that.
If I continue to do that, I think anybody in
that backfield with the ball will you know, will do
great things for us.

Speaker 2 (01:29:44):
We've we've had the conversation about in talking about the
Bengals and their offensive line and their inability to get
the running game going. Right now from an offensive line group,
with you guys, what is the mindset in the running game?
How physical? How how are you firing off the ball?
What what type of mindset has been drilled into you
guys up front? And it has led to success in

(01:30:05):
the ground as well.

Speaker 8 (01:30:07):
I think it starts with coach Carlwell. I mean he
instills and implements a great game plan each and every week.
You know, there's there's different runs that are are good
for you know, against a certain team, but then there's
you know, runs that we run a lot of time
that we we just can't run versus different schemes. He
does great job implementing that and just you know, if

(01:30:28):
he harps on it enough that you know, we got
to have the best double teams in the country. If
we're gonna have two guys to try and move one,
we have to move him and we have to display
them off the line and we've done that so far
and we're hoping to continue to do that. But it
starts with coach Carlwell for sure, and then just trickles
down the tree each and every player.

Speaker 2 (01:30:46):
I would imagine not as much during the regular season,
but in the offseason and camp and and different things
like that, you've had a chance to go up against
your guys number one defense as well, and it is
a different defense with coach Viight with the three down lineman.
How much has that helped you guys as a group
and identifying what you need to identify and how much
growth have you seen on that side of the ball

(01:31:07):
as well that has led to some early season success.

Speaker 8 (01:31:10):
Yeah. I think they do a great job giving us
different looks throughout practice. You know, we we we go
against them all off season, all plps, all fall camp
and whatnot, and all spring ball. And you know, they
instead of just throwing out the same base defense out
there against us, and that's getting a hang of blocking in.
You know, they throw different looks at us. You know
that that challenge us in a lot of ways, and

(01:31:32):
they're always changing schemes up. You know, we don't try
to the game plan each other obviously, because we're not
playing against each other on Saturdays, but if we can,
if we can help each other out in any other way,
we try to do that. And the defense has done
a tremendous job, you know, given me and the guys
up front of different looks and and trying to you know,
move at the last second to make us you know,

(01:31:53):
a little hard for us to make calls at some
points in time. But they've done a tremendous job and
I'm really looking forward to what they'll, you know, continue
to this year.

Speaker 2 (01:32:00):
From a personal growth for you over the years, being
able to spend time, as you mentioned in the offseason
in camps going up against a guy like Dante Corleone,
the term iron sharpens, iron is thrown around a lot.
How much have you been able to refine your game
going up against the guy of the caliber of Dante corleon.

Speaker 8 (01:32:18):
I think it's it's helped me tremendously. I think I
wouldn't be the player I him today if I if
I didn't have that guy to block every day. He
challenges me, and I try to challenge him to you know,
kind of confuse him too at some points, because you know,
he is he is a freakously strong and a great player.
And then I try to use some some mind tactics
as well as you know, try and get him out

(01:32:39):
of his comfort zone to also challenge him to where
you know, if there's anything that's thrown out him on
game days from the opposing team, you know he'll do
just fine.

Speaker 2 (01:32:48):
Lastly, before we let you go, Gavin, the Kansas game
on on Saturday, it's a little bit unique. It's an
eleven am local start time, so a little bit early
to get up and going. What have been some of
the talking points leading into this game on Saturday that
you guys need to make sure you take care of
to get a W in Kansas and bring it back.

Speaker 8 (01:33:06):
I think just you know, overall communication. I think if
we communicate well, we've been in you know, implementing a
lot of new things that that will help us in
a lot of ways, but communicating you know, well across
the board. That means offense, defense, special teams. And also
you know, we're not going to have I'm all very
young guys with us to share us on, so you know,
when the defense is out there, we've got to make

(01:33:27):
sure the offense is is cheering them on and pushing
them through. But you know, take care of one another,
play for one another, and I think we'll do just fine.

Speaker 2 (01:33:37):
That is Gavin Gerhart, the center for the Cincinnati Bearcats,
getting ready to head to Kansas to take on the
Jayhawks to open up Big twelve play. Gavin, best of
luck on Saturday. And we appreciate the time today, man,
thank you, thank you.

Speaker 8 (01:33:48):
Tony.

Speaker 2 (01:33:49):
There he is. That is Gavin Gerhart. Awesome, awesome stuff,
very appreciative obviously of his time. As we move forward
and look to talking more about the Sinsinet Bearcats in
the Kansas Jayhawk tone. Do you know where Gavin Gerhart
went to high school?

Speaker 25 (01:34:04):
No?

Speaker 2 (01:34:05):
I don't. He went to Xenia. Wow, So thank you
for not asking him.

Speaker 3 (01:34:09):
Wow that Xenia just put on Sydney last weekend. He
is looking it up while you were talking. He was
also a part of a twenty to nothering beat down
of Sydney his senior year at Zena.

Speaker 2 (01:34:21):
At Xenia. He's awesome, man. He's such a good player,
so smart, grown man too. You can hear his voice,
grown man and anchoring an offensive line again that has
yet to give up a sack at the college football level.
It's interesting as well. Often and Moe talked about this
a little bit last week, and I'll ask him today

(01:34:42):
as well. This feels like the swing game for UCE,
like there are a lot of unknowns right now. If
you look across the Big Twelve, only ten Big Twelve
teams have played conference games up to this point. Kansas State,
West Virginia, Colorad, Baylor, Utah have all lost. Kansas, Arizona State, Houston,

(01:35:03):
Texas Tech, and Iowa State have all won byu tcu
ucf UC, Oklahoma State, Arizona yet to play a Big
Twelve match. I don't know what to make right now.
Kansas State was a preseason top twenty five team in
the Big Twelve. They have been awful. They're one and
three to start the year, including zero to one in
league play. West Virginia lost not only in league play

(01:35:25):
to Houston, but also went on the road and lost
at OU. Colorado does not look the part. Baylor couldn't
tell you much. I wasn't overly impressed with Utah, who
was ranked when they lost to Texas Tech and then
at the top. I've watched Iowa State twice, good not great.
I think Texas Tech is clearly the team right now
to beat in the Big Twelve. But if you're uc

(01:35:47):
you don't play Texas Tech in the regular season. The
teams you play two, they're three top twenty five teams.
Next week, Iowa State comes into town at Nippert BYU.
At the end of the year, twenty fifth ranked right
now comes to Nippert And then your last game November
twenty ninth, is on the road at TCU. Outside of that, Austin, Arizona, Utah, Baylor,

(01:36:11):
Oklahoma State, UCF. There are a lot of games that
I feel like, if you look right now, are kind
of toss ups, and I don't know what to make
about UC yet. The Nebraska game, What do you make
in Nebraska? Is Nebraska a good football team? After what
you saw against Michigan, they had Nebraska on the ropes
a bad decision by Brendan swersby who threw for sixty

(01:36:32):
nine yards in the game, or else they can go
down and win that game. They beat Bowling Green, it
wasn't in convincing fashion. I don't know what you can
take from Northwestern State and then a bye. Much like
most at Austin, I think this is the game that
kind of hinges everything. If you win this, you get
momentum against Iowa State, you start talking about making noise

(01:36:53):
in the Big twelve. If not, and you don't put
a good performance together, then you think about, Okay, are
they gonna start zer and two the conference again. I
think there's just a lot that's going to go into this,
a lot to watch out for. They're gonna go to
Oklahoma State, who just fired Mike Gundy, UCFS here, Baylor's here,
There's just I think there are winnable games on this schedule.

(01:37:14):
I think the I think the game that this teeter's
on is is Saturday against Kansas and where they go
from there, I think we'll be fascinating. Let's take that
topic and let's parlay that into the next conversation we're
gonna have with our guy, Keegan nickoson Jiggs Bearcat Journal
dot Com. We haven't talked to Keegan in a while.
Let's catch up with him when we come back. And

(01:37:35):
our number three thanks to Penn Station on ESPN fifteen thirty,
Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 7 (01:37:40):
And Afternoon Nothing but Sports.

Speaker 10 (01:37:42):
This must be what Heaven is like.

Speaker 7 (01:37:44):
Loeger Today at three oh five on ESPN fifteen thirty
Cincinnati Sports station.

Speaker 2 (01:37:50):
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(01:38:58):
time offer only. Hey, it's my lagger.

Speaker 1 (01:39:00):
E sixty is back on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati's Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (01:39:09):
Welcome back, Hey, thanks to our friends at Penn Station.
Thank you for listening on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station,
Hour number three. Some Bearcat conversation. Let's continue the conversation
with the man covering the Bearcats for Bearcat Journal dot Com.
My second favorite Nickoson up to this point until I
learn about more Nickoson's and then he may drop down

(01:39:30):
the list a little bit further. It's Keegan Nickoson. What's up, Keegan?

Speaker 9 (01:39:34):
There's way too much animosity between us right now. We
have to come together.

Speaker 2 (01:39:38):
Tony, are you going to Kansas?

Speaker 9 (01:39:43):
I am not. I wish I could. Well, there goes
down to it for later in the season.

Speaker 2 (01:39:52):
What does it does, Chad Brendall just give you guys,
like a certain amount of games you can go to
on the road.

Speaker 9 (01:39:58):
No, It's thing I do is I basically ask him
if I can go somewhere, and then he tells me
about two days before and then I figure it out
from there. So we're really running a high class organization
here at Barricat Journal.

Speaker 2 (01:40:13):
All right, all right, well he needs to stop doing
photo shoots that I've seen on social media. Just get
back to the x's and o's here. I mentioned that
this game Saturday Kegan to me feels like a hinge
game for the Bearcats because I could see them. If
they win, you get a lot of momentum. Here comes
Iowa State, but they come into Knippert Stadium and you
get the ball rolling, as opposed to if you just

(01:40:35):
don't get the win and things don't go well, can
that snowball? How much do you put on just this
game itself when you look at what the rest of
the season looks like.

Speaker 9 (01:40:46):
Yeah, I think I agree wholeheartedly. It's kind of a
weird game and that I feel like a win at
Kansas is a big resume builder. I feel like it
would convince a lot of fans up their optimism for
the rest of the year. But then a loss, and
even then they're a loss. It's kind of just the
same old Oh well, this is the usual team that
we've seen and nothing's changed just because of what we've

(01:41:10):
seen in big games since Scott Saderfield and one score games.
And I think, you know, it's going to be a
sold out crowd, it's going to be a Rocket's atmosphere,
it's family weekend, it's going to be a really, really
tough game, but it's a game that they can ultimately win.
And I fully agree that. You know, if they go
into Kansas and win, you start looking down the rest

(01:41:32):
of the schedule, and you know, I don't think there's
a team on there that Cincinnati isn't is going up
against that they say, oh, we just we can't beat
this team, especially after seeing what Texas Tech did the.

Speaker 2 (01:41:44):
Utah Yeah, I think Texas Tech right now is the
best team in the Big Twelve, but I still think
it's wide open. They don't play Texas Tech in the
regular season. What do you make of just this team, Keegan,
because I still don't know the loss against Nebraska where
it feels like they battled their tail off, but the
offense just didn't show up. Swersby makes a mistake at
the end, and then it's a win against Bowling Green,

(01:42:05):
but there were moments in that game where it just
didn't feel clean. And then you dominate a terrible Northwestern
State team and your guys only play a half and
then you have a bye. I think there's a lot
of people watching this game Saturday that don't really know
who this team is yet.

Speaker 9 (01:42:20):
Yeah, and I would completely agree with that. And I
knew going into the season if they were to lose
to Nebraska, the kind of opinion or the excitement around
the team, it wouldn't be there at all unless they
beat Kansas, and I knew it would be basically three
weeks of you know, we'll see what happens. This is

(01:42:40):
probably the same team that's going to be around six
to seven wins and they're not going to live up
to their potential, but they're just going to do just
enough for Scott Stadterfield to keep his job. And now
it's go time. Now it's a big twelve season. You
have a bye, you've got some injured players hopefully coming
back without say program being quest but I can't really

(01:43:01):
pendpoint it. I think they have a good quarterback. I
think they have really good wide receivers. I would like
to see the receivers kind of carry on what they
did against Boiling Green in Northwestern State against Kansas. I
think they can. But I can't really go into this
game thinking that they're going to light them up for
three hundred and fifty yards because I haven't seen them
do it against quality competition. Don't know what the running

(01:43:22):
game is outside of Brenain Soersby, And then defensively, you
know Jake Golda and Zte Cordon are going to show up,
but outside of that, what are the DB's doing. What's
the rest of the defensive line doing. So this is
going to be a big test, and it's going to
show where this team is because you're not going into
the loudest stadium against eighty thousand opposing fans in a

(01:43:45):
really hard environment. This is going to be a loud
stadium and it's going to be a hard environment. But
I don't think they're going to have to go to
the silent count by any means you should be able
to go in there, go mano a mano with Kansas
and you should have a chance to beat them. And
it's really going to see what team we have by
the end of the game on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (01:44:05):
I look at this team and the offensive line up
front not giving up a sock. They've been fantastic. We've
started in the last couple weeks, and again you don't
know because of the opponents, but the receivers have done more,
which isn't hard to do after what they did against Nebraska.
They've found Joe Royer Moore. How important is it now
going to the Big twelve Kegan for them to figure
out a way to get this running game going more

(01:44:26):
consistently outside of you said other than Brendan Sowersby.

Speaker 9 (01:44:31):
Yeah, I think it's huge because all that does is
make the passing game better. And I think one of
the things that I overlooked after last season after moving
off from Corey Kiner was actually how ridiculously good he
was at running back. I kind of just looked at
it as Okay, he could break a lot of tackles.
They need a power guy to kind of kind of

(01:44:53):
compliment Evan Pryor and they got that in Tylie Walker.
But Corey Conner was a really, really, really good right back,
so I think Cincinnati won't have someone like his caliber
for a pretty long time. And you're starting to see
that difference, and you know, it was good against Nebraska.
It wasn't great, but it definitely showed that they should

(01:45:14):
have ran the ball based on the earlier returns of
the game. And then they just wanted to throw the
crap out of the ball against bulling greens. So this
is again everything is on the table to see where
it's actually at. Where's the passing game, where's the running game?
Obviously the best case scenario is a really balanced attack.
Maybe get two hundred rushing yards, maybe get two hundred

(01:45:35):
and fifty passing yards, and then see what happens. But
you know, I think it's very important just based off
the Scott's different type of offense. It's based on the
zone run and then you take shots down the field
and they have the quarterback and the receivers to do that.

Speaker 2 (01:45:50):
Kansas does have a big twelve win at home against
West Virginia. They were able to score on special teams
in that game as well. What is the difference you've
seen it. It's it's felt night and day to me
on how much better this team has been, at least
on Special teams compared to what they were last year.

Speaker 9 (01:46:07):
Yeah, I think it's it's discipline and it's the commitment
to it. You know, I can't really talk about the
specific drills that they're doing at practice, but the amount
of time spent on it, the amount of attention to
detail that's put into it by Special Teams coach lut
Pascal and kind of the whole staff. If for being honest,

(01:46:28):
everyone's involved with these special team drills and it's starting
to pay dividends. And that's that's the other thing. Like
Special Teams has been good, But if you're also going
to say that Special Teams has been average, I would
agree with you. What we saw the last two years
was a really, really bad Special Teams and you're starting
to see what just an average Special teams can do

(01:46:51):
in terms of it not killing you in the hidden
yardage battle and giving your opponent the ball at the
forty or on their forties. So I think it's it's
playing a big part and I look forward to it continuing.

Speaker 8 (01:47:06):
And you know, Max Fletcher is second in the Big.

Speaker 9 (01:47:08):
Twelve and net yardage and punting, and the Kansas is
punters first. So it's going to be a special team shootout,
which are you know? Those are all my favorite games.
Love good pitchers duel. But I think it's really good
that past has done a great job. And as we
get down in this big post, guys, so you're going
to see the dividends that a good or average special teams.

Speaker 2 (01:47:31):
Unit can pay. The early returns on Kansas this year
three and zero at home. They did go on the
road and they played a Missouri team who's fourth twentieth
in the country right now. For no they Missouri has
a win over South Carolina, who's a good football team.
They beat Kansas forty two to thirty one. What does
this game come down to in your opinion? Again, I

(01:47:53):
haven't studied enough Kansas yet. I know that UC has
the talent to win a game like this. What does
this eventually come down to on Saturday? If you see
wants to get a win.

Speaker 9 (01:48:04):
I think it's limiting Jayden Daniels or Jalen Daniels arm
he is twelve passing touchdown from the year. He's done
a really really good job they're kind of moving on
from a really good running back, just like Cincinnati did
and Devin Neil. They have Lashawn Williams, and I believe
it's Daniel Heishaw who Highshaw is actually I think doubtful,
so he might not even play after missing the second

(01:48:26):
half last week. He's their starter, But Daniels is kind
of back to his true form. He was a Heisman
candidate and I think it was twenty twenty three, then
battled some injuries and those injuries lingered. In the twenty
twenty four he threw a lot of interceptions.

Speaker 8 (01:48:41):
But finished the year pretty strong.

Speaker 9 (01:48:43):
So I think it's it's going to be a quarterback battle,
kind of like the Nebraska game.

Speaker 2 (01:48:48):
And if you can kind.

Speaker 9 (01:48:50):
Of keep the explosive plays under wraps and be really
really good in the red zone, I think that's where
you see will get an advantage. Also, I believe Kansas
is in the hundreds in the country in third down
conversion percentage, which I mean the Scott Statusfield has said
nothing more than this defense needs to get off the

(01:49:12):
field and talks about time of possession. So if you
can get them into some third and medium, third and
long situations and get the ball back.

Speaker 2 (01:49:21):
In u See's hands.

Speaker 9 (01:49:22):
Kansas has showed the inability to convert on those downs.
So limit Jalen Daniels for some third and longs, and then,
as I say every time you ask me this question,
get some freaking turnovers. And I think this Kansas team
is going to throwable enough, maybe even press and take
a couple of shots down field to get some interceptions.

Speaker 2 (01:49:42):
Keegan, before I let you go, I'd be remissed here
not to just ask you. We earlier in the week,
learned about the UC basketball schedule opening the Big twelve
slate with Houston coming into fifth Sooth Arena. No easy
way to dip your toes into the Big twelve water
with what we know about the non conference schedule and
even the news that they're going to travel to Arkansas

(01:50:03):
and face Arkansas in October twenty fourth. Knowing these and
knowing what the non conference looks like, do you think
they have enough work to be done that's going to
get them ready for the start of Big twelve play.

Speaker 9 (01:50:18):
I think kind of in comparison the last two years,
I would say yes. I think they're going to Clemson,
They're playing Georgia on the neutral site, I still don't
think that the last two years, the struggles and Big
twelve play were because of a bad non conference slate.
And I completely understand fans wanting to play those big

(01:50:40):
non conference games. One because it's cool, like it's awesome
to play really good teams, but it also it does
prepare you really well. But you know, I don't know.
I don't know if this slate is good enough for
you to go in and get a bunch of wins
and go into the non conference slate. But I also

(01:51:02):
think that it's fine, and I love the exhibition games
that they're playing too. Arkansas is going to be really
really fun, a care source game, just like they played
against Ohio State last year. So I don't know if
it's going to be the non con that's going to
decide what this team does in Big Twelfth Play.

Speaker 8 (01:51:21):
I think you're going to.

Speaker 9 (01:51:22):
See that in January. And what does this team look
like in January? Have they jailed with so many new
players who can you rely on offensively to go to
go and get you a bucket? How are the two
true freshmen reacting to Big Twelfth Play? And Keishon Tiller
and Shawnabio because both of their roles are going to

(01:51:43):
be even more increased than what they initially thought before
the season, the Chessel James not being with the team,
so there's a lot of things that you're going to learn.
And I just remember beating Georgia Tech last year, but
I think it was like thirty five points, and you go,
this is I mean, this is a top five team
in the Big Twelve. And then they get in the

(01:52:04):
Big Twelve, play lose at Kansas State and everything just
goes down. So don't buy in too much to whatever
happens in the non conference and just be ready for
January because that's when the real marathon starts.

Speaker 2 (01:52:17):
It does feel like the roster is better constructed to
play together and to work off of each other. We'll
obviously talk more about that as basketball season approaches. That
is Keegan nickoson Bearcat Journal dot com. Always appreciate your time, Keegan.
I'll miss you in Kansas. But for those that want
to follow along even though you're not going to be
in Kansas to your coverage of the Bearcats, what's the

(01:52:38):
easiest way to do so? Yeah?

Speaker 9 (01:52:42):
Follow me at k nickoson forty two, Follow bearcut Journal
on Twitter, make sure you subscribed to the website. And
if you need somewhere to watch the game, hosting a
watch party at Holy Grail on the Banks noon on Saturday.
Go drink some Sinsey Light. I don't know if I'm
allowed to say that.

Speaker 2 (01:52:57):
On the radio, but go drink.

Speaker 9 (01:53:01):
Drinkson since Light and uh and support Bearcuy journal.

Speaker 8 (01:53:04):
We love it.

Speaker 2 (01:53:05):
Kicking to the man. Thank you so much. We appreciate you.
Thanks tennye Kegan nickoson Barcygeneral dot Com. Well, we'll touch
and go here when we come back. And then I
believe we get Mowagrant Studio today. Maybe for quick kits.
We'll see since he three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati
Sports Station.

Speaker 7 (01:53:24):
More than a few PESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:53:35):
We got action at the Old ball Orchard.

Speaker 3 (01:53:37):
Oh we do, gabp red Legs right now, bottom three
scoreless tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Okay, but two on
nobody out? Uh oh TJ Friedel worked to walk just now.
That was after a key Brian Hayes single. Uh oh

(01:53:58):
so key Brian Hayes can single. Uh oh so Reds
have two on nobody out, bottom three still scoreless at
the Big Ballpark down there by.

Speaker 2 (01:54:08):
The river could keep Brian Hayes, who does not swing
and miss nearly as much as Matt McClain. Could he
have pinch hit at some point for Matt McLain last.

Speaker 3 (01:54:16):
Night, probably, okay, probably something that he could have done.

Speaker 2 (01:54:21):
Okay, we have to do I guess we have to
do something really quick here, Austin, because I am I've
worked so diligently, diligently because I have to leave after
hour number one to get to the airport tomorrow to
fly out with UC. And so I put together our
pick sheet today. Now we'll make the picks tomorrow. But
in my haste of putting together this sheet, I didn't

(01:54:42):
realize that your Sydney Yellowjackets have the Thursday night game
this week, right, So if you're looking, you know what
to do in Ohio tonight. You can hopefully celebrate a
Reds win. You can watch Thursday night football, or you
can head to Tip City and watch Tip a Canoe

(01:55:04):
host Sydney over there at City Park. So I thought
it best, Austin, just to make this a chance we
can get on the record here. Let's make our pick
for that game. Okay, I'll take Tip City.

Speaker 3 (01:55:15):
Yeah, I got tip and a route Tip five and
zero the Yellow Jacks Sydney, oh and five. Things might
not turn around for the Jackets this year. Yeah, maybe
maybe next weekend against Greenville. Okay, who stinks at everything usually?

Speaker 2 (01:55:28):
But by the way, first and second you mentioned no out, noelve,
Marte did not put the ball in the field of play. Oh,
he's struck out. Okay, So that's Gavin lux is coming up.
The runners have not advanced at all. That's okay, I
believe in Gavin. Looks all right. Moeger's next ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports station.

Speaker 1 (01:55:49):
The ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati's sports station. It's time for
Cincy three sixty quick hits on ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:55:58):
Is looking for Mo. Mo's in the building. Hey, Mo,
and I just had the awesome experience over the course
of the break there to watch the Cincinnati Reds put
runners on first and second with nobody out, only to
see your two three and four hitters strikeout, strikeout, weak, groundout,
ty game heading to the top of the fourth. Good news, though, Mo,
Tyler Stevenson when they get to Milwaukee should be well rested.

Speaker 12 (01:56:20):
You know, I'm glad they've rested him for the stretch
drive for those last three months. Oh no, wait a minute,
it's the last three games. Yeah, how do you not
have him in the lineup?

Speaker 2 (01:56:28):
Dhum d. Kerry Francone used the excuse today that he
just caught eleven innings last night. Dude, what he didn't do?
He didn't DH tuesday? Correct, wasn't in the lineup? Yeah?
The DH is there for a reason. I mentioned to
you over the break. Is Tyler Stevenson like my age,
Kyle Rowley has sixty home runs and he's a catcher.
He's got over three hundred more bats than Tyler Stevenson.

(01:56:51):
They don't catch him every game. Would you categorize today's
game as they must win? Yes? Every game?

Speaker 12 (01:56:56):
Like it to me, four arm it started last night,
every game the rest of the way, Like, we don't
need to use that topic anymore. Every game is a
must win. In a must win game, you play your best, guys.
Does the best version of the Reds have Tyler Stevenson
in the lineup, whether it's as a DH or a catcher,
it should after last night, as the answer, no, it's

(01:57:17):
scoreless in the fourth last night was excruciating. Last night
was excruciating in real time, and I said to my wife, like,
here's the thing. I want more of this. I want
to do this next week. My nitpick last night is
Matt McClain. You put him in the ninth spot, which
is acknowledgment he's our worst hitter, but that's where the

(01:57:40):
pitcher used to bat.

Speaker 2 (01:57:40):
Chok him out from protecting Ellie the night before.

Speaker 12 (01:57:42):
And it comes off as piling on because he's had
a rough year. And I am certainly willing to I'm
certainly willing to acknowledge the role that not playing last
year has had in this year's failures. But in the
ninth inning and in the eleventh inning, there were multiple
opportunities to not use Matt McClain. I don't know how

(01:58:03):
you don't take advantage of those opportunities. Austin Hayes back
is so sore that he can't help in a game
that you must win, find a person who is available.

Speaker 2 (01:58:12):
He can't go swing the bat. It's that bad. Yeah,
that and again the must win. You get to the tenth,
you get to the eleventh. Last night must win. I mean,
can't let that slip away. Austin can you give me
one swing. If the answer is no, then what are
you doing on the roster? Then somebody else, correct, anybody else.
I would have argued, Austin Elmore, I'll whatever. I would

(01:58:32):
have argued if they pulled McClain after Stevenson let off
the fifth with a double and Benson got him to third,
I would have argued, I'm good with pulling him there, Yes,
for somebody to make contact in a one nothing game
and the ninth inning, I'm the guy who hates bunting.

Speaker 12 (01:58:47):
I wanted with one out, I wanted Matt McClain to
lay down a sacrifice. But he's batting ninth. Let's just
treat him like a picture, right, Let's just and like
I like Matt McClain. It's not because of lack of effort.
Like it sucks because you know that's that's a dude
who's supposed to be a cornerstone and maybe he still is.
But last night I do not know with other options,

(01:59:09):
why he's the guy I don't And look, man, iomm
McClain has a role in the Reds getting to the postseason,
but boy, last night, how do you and then you.

Speaker 2 (01:59:18):
Know it's not once either, how do you multiple times.
Let him take that back.

Speaker 12 (01:59:21):
Twice, and then you know the decision to pitch Hunter
last night. Paul Skins was awesome, and I think tip
your hat to the pirates, Austin said earlier. They managed
to win the game.

Speaker 2 (01:59:33):
They played and managed to win the game. And it's funny.

Speaker 12 (01:59:36):
I went to the ballpark each of the last two
nights and with different people and both said the same thing, like,
look at the pirates, all of them top step at
the dugout right like into it. Give them credit. Paul
Skins is awesome. Hunter Green was good but not good enough.
But I can't help but do this because we talked
about it beforehand. I would have pitched Hunter on Tuesday,
and I would have had a pitching advantage. If I

(01:59:57):
win that one. I got Hunter f one s two.
If I lose it, okay, I still have Hunter for
one sixty two.

Speaker 2 (02:00:04):
And it's also unique in the sense. Frank Conan was
asked about it and said, well, we've already had those
discussions about using him in the bullpen. Yeah, so you
you've talked about having to have him for Game one
sixty two, but you could have had him, yeah, and
given your team a better chance to win on Tuesday.

Speaker 12 (02:00:16):
I'd rather know that I've got him in my back
pocket for the last game of the season, which now
it's hard for me to imagine the Reds get to
the postseason and don't need to win Game one sixty two.

Speaker 2 (02:00:26):
What else you got coming up on the show today?

Speaker 12 (02:00:27):
So obviously what real time reaction to this or Reds
and Pirates. Either way, the Diamondbacks play this afternoon at
three forty, so we'll keep an eye on that game
for you.

Speaker 2 (02:00:37):
JB. Long is going to be on the show a JB. JB.

Speaker 12 (02:00:39):
Long is the voice of the La Rams, but that's
not why we're having him on. He's also calling the
UC game with TNT JB. Long and Mike Golick Junior. Okay,
so JB is going to be on the show, and
then let's see. I'll run through it here. Lee Sterling's
gonna help us make some money. Chad Brendle on the Bearcats.

Speaker 2 (02:00:55):
Come to top staking selfies. He's like apparel model now
since the magazine on his Bengals column.

Speaker 12 (02:01:03):
Jake zivin MLS Season Pass, Orlando in Town, big game
for both teams on Sunday night. Dan Klaskin's Jay Morrison
can hear Jake Browning? It is a loaded action patch show.

Speaker 3 (02:01:14):
Chick Ludwig show. You got a guest in every segment,
maybe a loaded host. Do you think Jake Browning is
on time today? Well, we're not going to carry it
live today. Okay, bust, Wow.

Speaker 12 (02:01:26):
We're gonna carry we'll play parts of it, toy spreadsheet.
I am not revolving my entire show around Jake Browning.
I gave him a shot last week. He was what's
the chart say? How late was he?

Speaker 2 (02:01:39):
He started at three twenty seven.

Speaker 12 (02:01:41):
Yeah, he was twelve later than I was twelve minutes late.
Then he threw a pick six rule on this show.

Speaker 2 (02:01:45):
Was also late to the field on something.

Speaker 12 (02:01:47):
You can either you could either be late or be
really bad. You can't be both, So Jake Browning has
lost the privilege to be aired live.

Speaker 2 (02:01:55):
Do better this week.

Speaker 12 (02:01:57):
You want to be late, that's cool, be Joe Burrow then,
or you know the other way is we'll give you leeway.
You could stink up the joint, but be on time
for your press conference. If you fail to do both,
sorry tape delay the game we're traveling to tomorrow. Yeah,
you mentioned this is kind of the swing game. This
is a huge game for UC football. I talked to
Keg and Nixon just before this today. It does feel

(02:02:19):
like that because I think Texas Tech's the best team
right now in the Big Twelve. You miss them, Iowa
States in your building, b Yu's in your building. You
don't get TCU to the last game of the year.
And I still don't know how good they are. And
I was not impressed with Utah at all. It's a
it's a winnable schedule.

Speaker 2 (02:02:35):
Yeah, if you take care of business against Kansas. If not,
then you start going in the opposite direction. If they're
going to have a good season. These are the sort
of games you have to win.

Speaker 12 (02:02:43):
You don't have to win all of them, but if
you want to give people the idea that this program
is about to take off, you go there and you win.
And like I've been asked, probably not as many times
as you have, but are they good?

Speaker 2 (02:02:56):
How good? On Earth?

Speaker 12 (02:02:57):
I have no idea. I think we will know. Yeah,
because here's what I'm looking for more than anything. Game
one against Nebraska. Okay, new guys all together, first time,
a lot of guys playing at this level for the
first time on the outside nobody could get open. Is
that an anomaly? If that's not the case on Saturday,
I think they got a good chance of winning.

Speaker 2 (02:03:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 12 (02:03:17):
If it is the case, then that's who they are,
and it's an offense that can't move the ball downfield,
throw downfield, have explosive plays against high major competition at
some point this they've got to make plays when the
game is hanging into balance. They did not against Nebraska.
That has been a hallmark of the last two plus years.

(02:03:37):
If that's ever gonna change, it changes now. If it's
ever gonna change, for it to really matter, it changes
on Saturday. I think this is the biggest game of
Scott Satderfield's regime.

Speaker 2 (02:03:47):
I really do.

Speaker 12 (02:03:48):
Like the idea is to win seven or eight games
and make everybody feel like this is going to work.
If they win this game, come home for the next two.
You're open to that happening. If you lose it, it's
just gonna feel like more of the same. More of
the SAME's not good enough.

Speaker 2 (02:04:04):
You and I stay, We're staying at the same hotel
we stayed for that Nebraska game, same room, Right. Do
you think that you and I need to maybe look
at what we did right or wrong the night before
the games Nebraska. We're going to change it up. I
think we should change it up. We're gonna we're definitely
going to make food. Do we change up the food?

Speaker 12 (02:04:20):
Food's going to be the same, Okay, the post meal
now it is an early kickoff. Sure, the food is
going to be the same.

Speaker 2 (02:04:27):
Yeah.

Speaker 12 (02:04:28):
What we do before the food, certainly what we do
after the food good, it's going to be dramatically different.

Speaker 2 (02:04:33):
It's a good point. We'll probably still talk about Joe
Ryder spending a lot of time talking about getting Joe
Royer of the Ballah, at what point in this game
does Mout McClain make his appearance if next time there's
a runner in scoring position.

Speaker 12 (02:04:49):
Hopefully after the twenty seventh out, when he pops out
of the dugout to shake hands with his teammates, it.

Speaker 2 (02:04:53):
Will be talked about one day soon, the fall of
Matt McClain this year. Well, you know, remember I turned
down a deal.

Speaker 12 (02:05:00):
Yeah, and look, I'm okay with Matt McClain being on
the team next year. I'm okay with him going to
spring training and showing what he can do. But he
was written in black magic marker before.

Speaker 2 (02:05:12):
Spring training season.

Speaker 12 (02:05:13):
No question, he's the number two hole hitter, he's the
starting second baseman.

Speaker 2 (02:05:18):
Him to win the MVP. Wow, it's insane. That might
be one of the worst bets in the history of
all that. I mean that very well could.

Speaker 12 (02:05:24):
Be the worst ever Audie Next year, just take your
money and give it to me. But they said twenty
twenty three best player in the team, and understandably so.
Opening day batting second at second base. Ear Marked. He
can't beat ear Marked for anything Next year. I hope
a year from now we're talking about you know what,
twenty twenty five was an anomaly. It was a year

(02:05:46):
coming off a series of injuries that just didn't work out.
You know, I'll tell you right, let's pick a day
February what where the article comes out. Matt McLain has
rededicated himself, and you know he's February thirteen. He's gotten
in the right mindset of his life, that shape of
his life. Spent the off season meditating and eating vegetables,
and he went on a wellness retreat and he's eating.

Speaker 2 (02:06:10):
A lot of just starting aming his pitches. He's doing yoga.
Oh my gosh.

Speaker 12 (02:06:19):
Yeah, we gotta do the la The lasic thing is
always a big you know, he didn't know until this offseason.

Speaker 2 (02:06:24):
That makes sense. Jamis Winston did.

Speaker 12 (02:06:26):
And took an eye chest and so he's being fitted
seeing three balls. Yeah, and Matt McLean's the articles coming
from Goodyear.

Speaker 2 (02:06:33):
Why I can't wait. I will read it verbatim on
the radio. Well, it's next with more of that on
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station. Thanks for listening along.

Speaker 36 (02:06:59):
Wise and 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 12 (02:07:09):
Whether you're tailgating in the parking lot or parked on
the couch, sitting on your lucky barstool or stand