Tony Pike's Cincy 360 Hour 1 -- 12/3/25

Tony and Austin talk Reds / Kyle Schwarber, Bengals/Bills, and more on ESPN 1530!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is Tony Pike sincey three sixty about Cincinnati from Cincinnati,
sponsored in part by Skyline Chili. Stop by Skyline Chili
for a three way or cheese cony today. Feeling good,
It's Skyline time. This is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good afternoon, Happy Wednesday. Welcome in. It is Cincy three sixty.
Thanks to our friends at Skyline Chili. Thank you for
listening on this the home of the Bengals. ESPN fifteen
thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. Our phone lines will be open
five one, three, seven, four nine, fifteen thirty. Sorry, they're

(00:45):
actually open right now, so you can give us a
call and we'll talk to you today. Outside of talking
to you today, we'll hear from Zach Taylor. He speaks
to the media today in his normal Wednesday press conference timeslot,
and we have two other press conferences that are happening
today that we'll get to an hour. Number three. The
Crossdown Shootout happens Friday night, and then Championship Weekend in

(01:07):
college football on Saturday, and then Bengals Bills on Sunday.
It's a huge sports weekend. But the Cintas Center will
be rocking on Friday night. We'll hear Richard Patino's comments
from today. You'll hear Wes Miller's comments from today. We'll
get those in the third hour. Can I interrupt of
today's show? Sure?

Speaker 3 (01:25):
Because it feels like there's a lot of smoke and
I don't know if there's fire or not all. But
have you seen this about Kyle Schwarber?

Speaker 2 (01:34):
I have from Ken Rosenthal.

Speaker 3 (01:37):
In Rosenthal, John Hayman, there is the word serious being
thrown around about the Reds and their interest in Kyle Schwarber.
And there is a potential interest or there is interest

(01:58):
in a return to Cincinnati from Kyle Schwarber. Now, these
are big time baseball people. We talked about Jeff Passing
that these aren't rumors. We're talking about Ken Rosenthal, We're
talking about John Hayman, people that know stuff in Major
League Baseball that keep linking the Reds to Kyle Schwarber. Now,

(02:23):
there are plenty of other teams still interested, as they
should be the guy hitting nine thousand home runs. But
doesn't it feel like this is a more serious This
is more than kicking the tires type of thing.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
That's what I was gonna say. I read the Ken
Rosenthal tweet, and I've seen other comments around it, and this,
this to me is more than just like local Cincinnati
media saying it can happen. This to me feels like
national again. This it's one of the most sought after

(02:59):
free agents from this class without a doubt, so hearing
not it just it makes it feel like there's actually
a chance. And again, as you mentioned Austin, there are
other teams interested.

Speaker 3 (03:14):
The Red Sox, the Orioles and how about John Hayman
reporting the Pittsburgh Pirates right among other teams. Could you
imagine what the vitriol would be from the Reds fan base, right,
if Kyle Schwarber was a Pittsburgh pirate, that would be
that might be the unforgivable sin for Mastelini's and for

(03:38):
Nick Crawl if that were to be the case.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Yeah, perr Ken Rosenthal, the Reds have serious interest. Schwarber
is interested in the potential homecoming. Its just imagine what
that does to the city and the fan base.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
I'm not gonna allow myself to get over I'm not
gonna be like convincing myself that, oh my gosh, Kyle's
going to be a Red They're really gonna do it.
But but I have to acknowledge that this is more than, oh,
the Reds are interested, There is mutual interest. It's more
than the Reds are serious. Like, what was it two

(04:15):
weeks ago? The Reds were interested in Devin Williams. That's
all we heard. Then he signs a three year, fifty
one million dollar deal with the New York Mets yesterday
or two days ago. Reds probably never really were in
the conversation for Devin Williams, but of course they were interested,
and that's what they're interested. Serious interest from both sides
makes it feel like it's a lot more possible.

Speaker 2 (04:37):
Right, likely is not the word I used, but possible possible.
I think it's a good way to go. I like
that from the Reds. Yeah. Now, I don't expect much,
but damn it's nice to at least think of what
could be.

Speaker 3 (04:50):
This is what I want to hear from my ball
club in the winter, exactly that they're serious about trying
to improve this team. Kyle Shwerber hit fifty six OH
runs last year, Three of them were against left hand
He's from Middletown. How much last year did we complain
about the fact that the Reds could not hit left
handed pitching.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
They couldn't hit anything.

Speaker 3 (05:09):
Kyle Schwarber could hit everything, including left hander.

Speaker 2 (05:11):
And like in this day and age where you talk
about the DH and the expanded role, it's not like
he's at the end of his career. No, he's got
plenty of time left and he's got plenty of power.
And oh, by the way, Austin, I think this gets
lost at times. This is a hitter friendly ballpark, regardless
of how the Reds play it. This is a ballpark

(05:32):
you can come to and hit home runs. Yeah. On
top of being from Middletown, that's probably also why there's
mutual interest because he probably thinks he can hit a
lot of home runs in Cincinnati.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
He probably thinks he could hit one to Kentucky and
I bet he could.

Speaker 4 (05:44):
Yep.

Speaker 3 (05:45):
Could you imagine Elie de la Cruz protected in the
lineup by Kyle Schwarber.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
I'd like to. That'd be pretty cool, would I'd like to? Man?
We would?

Speaker 3 (05:57):
Okay, so let's let's talk lineups here now. Now I'm excited.
Would you lead off Ellie and go Schwarber in the
two hole probably? Or would you lead off Schwarber, which
is what the Phillies have been, and let Elli be
right behind Ellie in the probably lead off Schwarber. Okay,
that's I think that's how I would play it. I
feel like it would be better for Elizardo de la

(06:18):
Cruzo if Kyle Schwarber was hitting behind him.

Speaker 2 (06:22):
Man, this, see this, This is the problem. This is
a problem we are talking about. We're talking about lineups
based on interest, Yes, but my goodness, that's what happens
when separate hits.

Speaker 3 (06:34):
And right as we say that, right as we come up,
as the show starts, left hander Anthony k Oh is
in agreement on a two year, twelve million dollar contract
with the Chicago White Sox. So if Jerry Reinsdorf is
spending money, yep, And Jerry reins Dwarf hates to spend money,
it's time. If he's spending money, let's do it. It's

(06:57):
time to go get Kyle Schwarber.

Speaker 5 (06:58):
Bring.

Speaker 3 (06:59):
If the Pirates are trying to build around Paul Skins,
why can't we try to build around Hunter Green and
Elie de la Cruz and others.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
I'm just excited thinking about what the lineup could look like.
And you go back to this Austin. I know we
use the term a lot in sport. There's not there's
not this much smoke with actually something being talked about.
Some's got to be on fire, right, There's there's a
fire somewhere. It's got to be some warmth now at
some point now this is I would be more than
happy to break in at any point today with breaking

(07:27):
news with Kyle Schwarper, there is news in college football.
Pete Thamil is reporting that Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian
Hartline he'd expected to become the next coach at South Florida.
Good for him. OSU's offensive court, off off offensive play caller.
He's the play caller for the Buck Houst. He's also

(07:49):
he's also built a I think a reputation around college football.
Is one of the best wide receiver developers in all
of the game. It's not one of the best, he
is the best. NFL he has been trying to poach
him for years to be a wide receiver. This is
a dude who played in the NFL with the Dolphins
and Browns for a good chunk of time. He was
a fourth round pick out of Ohio State in that

(08:12):
two thousand and five draft. He's an Ohio guy through
and through, born and raised up there, and Canton went
to Glen Oak High School. This is an awesome dude
who is like, I don't even think Ohio State fans
are upset. I think people were worried because it's National
Signing Day and they lost a wide receiver earlier this
morning who flipped a four star from Ohio State to

(08:34):
USC and Chris Henry Junior. We were all waiting his decision.
Thankfully he decided to stick with the Buckeyes. So Chris
Henry Jr. Is still coming to Ohio State. But Brian Hartline,
We've talked about it before, the unique job that is
South Florida. You are in a rich.

Speaker 3 (08:58):
Rich, talent rich environment down there, and you've got dudes
that have to go to USF that think they should
be at Florida, that think they should be at Florida State,
that think they should be at one of the SEC schools,
and they come down there trying to prove a point.
And with the guy who develops and has the acumen
of one Brian Hartline and obviously his familiarity down there

(09:19):
with that part of the country in Florida, I mean
come on with it now, Brian Heartline, Good luck, man,
I'll be getting some USF gear. I love that guy.

Speaker 2 (09:26):
And it's not like that as like a program now
void of talent, right, I mean they had a very
good year this year. Yeah, good enough that their coach
is now the coach at Auburn. Yeah, right, like that.
There's something there playing an NFL stadium. Yeah, there's something
there with what they're building. I mean South Florida this
year they pulled off a nice run. They beat Boise State,

(09:46):
who was ranked open the year they beat Florida when
they were ranked. They did fall to Miami at Florida,
but I was a good South Florida team this year.
It makes me wonder. Austin and I know this is
a what if if you go back a couple of
years when the Bearcats made their move to Scott's Sodderfield,
do you think Heartline would have been interested then if
the Bearcats came knocking or do you think it was

(10:08):
just kind of the point in his tenure at Ohio
State where he's like, Okay, now I'm ready to move on.

Speaker 4 (10:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (10:13):
I don't know that I would assume he would have
been interested. I mean It's not like if Scott Saderfield
gets fired today. The interest in the Bearcat program is
not nearly what it was when he was hired right
in the aftermath of Luke Fickle. It was as good
as it has ever been in terms of people wanting
to be there in the Big twelve looming and all

(10:34):
of that now little different. It's not the same at all,
and obviously with the financial concerns as well. So yeah,
I would think I would have thought Brian Hartline would
have been pretty interested. We at that time.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
We'll spend some time today on the college football playoff rankings.
We'll get to that an hour number two with our
second football in the NATI. There is austin some NFL
news as it pertains to the Hall of Fame and
friend of the Show and one of the all time
Bengal greats, Ken Anderson. Yes, Ken Anderson, I believe has
made it to the final three with the Senior Committee finalist.

(11:08):
He's made it to the final five. Yes, three of
Belichick Robert Kraft are two of those, and then Roger
Craig and Elsie Greenwood alongside of Ken Anderson.

Speaker 3 (11:19):
So five of those finalists, only a maximum of three,
and you would think Belichick and Craft would be in.
I would think Belichick would be in without a doubt.
I don't know if any of those others would be
guaranteed to get in. I do think it would be
hilarious if Belichick and Craft got in on the same
year and they would be forced to stand up there
next to each other. That I think would be hilarious.

(11:42):
But yeah, good for Ken Anderson to be a senior finalist.
What we've said it a thousand times. He deserves it.

Speaker 2 (11:48):
Yeah, and.

Speaker 3 (11:50):
Each finalist has to get an eighty percent approval vote
by the full selection committee ahead of Super Bowl sixty,
and that will be announced I think the Saturday before
for the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, where Super Bowl
sixty is being held.

Speaker 2 (12:06):
College football Signing Day today doesn't feel like it carries
the same way as it used to. Has the Bearcats
signed anybody they did? I just don't know much about
him yet. Okay, Scott Sudderfield, we'll talk later today, SCOO.
That's kind of when we're off air, though, So maybe
Mole have something on college football signing Day. College basketball.
It's a good night last night of action the college

(12:27):
basketball world. Duke led by twelve at half. They needed
a three with about twenty seconds left to beat Florida
sixty seven to sixty six. Yukon went on the road
and beat Kansas sixty one to fifty six. Michigan State
looks really good. They beat Iowa Michigan State. Already this
year Austin with Tom Izzo has beaten number fourteen, Arkansas,
number twelve, Kentucky number sixteen at North Carolina. Tom Mizzo

(12:51):
just picking up right where he always leaves off. Also,
last night, Syracuse upsets previously undefeated Tennessee. And you want
to talk about some pan and I can sense it
in Big Blue Nation. Now Austin, Kentucky's five and three Ernie,
They're wins Nichols, val Parreiso, Eastern Illinois, Loyola, Tennessee Tech

(13:12):
their losses Louisville, Michigan State, and North Carolina. Last night,
North Carolina goes into rupp Arena and beats the Kentucky
Wildcats sixty seven to sixty four. It now gets no
easier Austin for Kentucky, as they will now turn their
site to Friday when they take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs

(13:35):
Number eleven in the country at Ropperina.

Speaker 3 (13:37):
A lot of ranked games still on that Kentucky schedule, YEP, Indiana,
Saint John's obviously, Alabama, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Arkansas. It's a lot
Auburn is ranked. This a tough loss. Who would you
rather have lead in your program? Oh, Mark Poper, west Miller, Well,

(13:58):
west Miller. I'd probably pick Richard.

Speaker 2 (14:00):
But you know, the Pope thing's interesting because last year
they had like an ungodly amount of wins vers ranked teams. Yeah,
they just haven't been able to do it this year.
But I know from friends of mine that root for Kentucky,
they spend a lot of money on that roster this
year and they are expecting wins sooner rather than later.
Speaking of Wes Miller, the shootout happens on Friday, Austin.

(14:23):
Is there a lack of buzz around the shootout to you?
It feels like it to me, Yeah, I would say so.

Speaker 3 (14:29):
I mean from my perspective, like I don't have a
dog in the fight, And there's been years in the
past where I've been really excited for the shootout just
because of what it meant, and I think just because
of where Cincinnati Athletics as a whole is at right now. Yes,
and Xavier with the understandable tumultuous turnover of of Benedict

(14:50):
Sean Miller. I don't know that there's that much juice
around it. To me, the biggest story is what happens
if the Bearcats lose.

Speaker 2 (14:58):
Yeah with Wes Miller, and I do think the timing
of the game makes it hard. This is college football
Championship weekend, and it's not just on Saturday. There's big
games on Friday night as well. Those go into Saturday.
You've also got the the background of Bengals Bills on Sunday.
It is timing wise hard and both teams have just

(15:20):
struggled early in the season. It takes away now again,
I expect Friday night comes and the Centas Center sold
out and it's rocking, and you tune in to watch
the game, and I think there will be an uptick
in passion and energy. I do think that, but it's
just different. The lead up to the game feels different
than what it does in recent years. On this side
of things. Have you seen the Ken palm prediction? No,

(15:44):
Ken Palm predicts a final score of seventy two to
seventy in the Crosstown shootout with Xavier winning. I mean
that wouldn't surprise me. The which is crazy to think
about where this was three weeks ago. I know unbelieved.

Speaker 3 (16:00):
I was telling Moe the other day like the I
think we talked about this on the air too, the
two weeks leading up to the shootout. Every year of
the exact scene doesn't matter when it's played.

Speaker 2 (16:09):
Yep, don't matter who's coaching either, matter who's coaching, who's
coaching or play, it always goes the same way. But
that happens on Friday night, and we'll talk about it.
We'll hear again from Richard Patino and West Miller today
in the third hour of the show. Zach Taylor will
hear him at one o'clock this afternoon. We've already got
phone calls to get to. We've got Bengals to talk about,

(16:30):
and again a wide open AFC conference will dive into
the Bengals. The Bengals when we come back on this
the Home of the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati sports station.

Speaker 6 (16:44):
This week, though, Hey, it's miss anything for my show,
Get what You missed on the iHeartRadio app or on
the podcast page of ESPN fifteen thirty dot com.

Speaker 1 (16:55):
This is Football in the NATI, brought to you by
Hey Duran Wind Company on ESPN fifteen thirty in the
official Bengals.

Speaker 2 (17:11):
It's just the sound of football. It's crazy, Austin, how
just one win and Joe Burrow coming back completely changes
a feel about a team and a season. This SINCY
three sixty thanks to Skyline Chile. Thank you for listening
in five one, three, seven, four, nine, fifteen thirty. We'll
get to your phone calls in the next segment, but
for now, Austin with the Cincinnati Bengals and with the

(17:35):
openness of the AFC as a whole, the parody that
is surrounding this league. You know, Moe hit on it
earlier in the week on Monday. There was a chance
this year, the first time they played, where you could
make the argument the Pittsburgh Steelers had a chance to
put the Bengals away. They didn't. You could make the

(17:56):
argument that the Baltimore Ravens had a chance on Thursday
to put the Banks away and eliminate them from contention.
Can you make the same argument for the Buffalo Bills,
Because let's make no mistake about this, and this has
been talked about across all platforms right now. I believe
it was. Bruce Arians was on Pat McAfee show earlier

(18:19):
in the week and he said, looking at the bengals
remaining schedule, if the Bengals can beat the Bills, I
like their schedule the rest of the way, I can
see them running the table and getting in the playoffs.
When asked if the Borrow if the Bengals could win
in the playoffs, Bruce Arian said, with Joe b Hell, yeah,
if you're the Buffalo Bills. Austin. Is there conversation around

(18:40):
Orchard Park this week about not only winning to win
the game, but winning to try to eliminate having to
potentially see Joe Burrow again.

Speaker 3 (18:48):
I don't think they think like that right now. I
think it's like, hey, let's beat the Bengals. Like I
really don't think NFL teams at this point in the
season are are like, yeah, we gotta we gotta absolutely
end Joe Burrow right now. We've got to end the
Bengals hopes right now.

Speaker 5 (19:06):
Now.

Speaker 2 (19:07):
Want to get going.

Speaker 3 (19:08):
Maybe the AFC North thinks that way, but I don't
know that the Buffalo Bills necessarily necessarily think that way.
I think they're trying to catch the New England Patriots.
Do you believe they still have another game against New England? Sure,
games against the Jets and the Browns and Philadelphia, who
doesn't look like they did at the beginning of the

(19:28):
year at all last year. So Buffalo is probably thinking,
we have a chance to win the AFC East if
we run the table.

Speaker 2 (19:35):
Do you think that if the Bengals get by the
Bills on Sunday that they will be favorites in each
of the remaining four games? They'll be favorites at home
against Baltimore, right, I don't know that. I would say that.

Speaker 3 (19:50):
It maybe depends what Baltimore looks like from an injury standpoint.

Speaker 2 (19:55):
They'll be favorite against Arizona and Cleveland at home, they
will What about the Dolphins game, which.

Speaker 3 (19:59):
By the way, that clear Eveland game could feature Deshaun
Watson at quarterback.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
I saw that they opened up his twenty one day
window today. He sure did. Wow.

Speaker 3 (20:09):
Miami is interesting. They're playing a lot better football right now.
They're not great. I mean, they struggled with New Orleans
last week.

Speaker 2 (20:15):
They did, but they have they've got some good wins.
I mean, they beat Buffalo in this three game stretch,
they beat the Commanders in this three game stretch, they
get to play the Jets and the Steelers before the Bengals.
I mean, you could be looking at a better I
mean you could be looking at a seven and seven
Dolphins team in that week.

Speaker 3 (20:30):
Yeah, which makes the idea of that game potentially being
flexed really interesting. I think it's six days from now
when they have to decide, so they will at least
know the result of that Jets game.

Speaker 2 (20:43):
And obviously what the Bengals have done. Yeah, what the
Bengals have done.

Speaker 3 (20:47):
But yeah, no, I think at home road as of now,
night game, I'm gonna guess the Bengals would be a
slight favorite if they beat Buffalo.

Speaker 2 (21:01):
Do you believe in Cleveland that Deshaun Watson plays this year?

Speaker 3 (21:06):
Yes, I do. I think he will play. I don't
storyline that I don't believe in the I do think
he will play.

Speaker 2 (21:15):
Unbelievable, just from some of the rumblings I've heard around
there are there is other news in the NFL right now.
The Steelers moved on from Darius Slay yesterday. They added
Adam Feelin yesterday. So the Steelers are just gonna keep
getting older.

Speaker 3 (21:27):
Did you see the tweet that went viral Sunday with
Aaron Rodgers. It was about Mike Tomlin. Oh, and it
said Mike Tomlin's gonna say something dumb like we can't
eat soup with spoon or we can't eat soup with forks.
We got to use spoons. And then the Steelers will
sign a twenty eighteen pro bowler. That's exactly what they

(21:48):
did yep with Adam Thieler.

Speaker 2 (21:50):
My favorite part going around right now for the Pittsburgh
Steelers is the screen like the screenshot of Aaron Rodgers
with the band aid on his nose and said, Aaron
Rodgers looked like he just tried to rob Kevin McAllister's house,
and as a whole, as a home alone fan, I
cannot get it out of my head. And now there's
like all the screen shots or they people have like

(22:11):
photoshopped him on Marv's body. I love it, but it
looks like, yes, Aaron Rodgers, outside of playing on Sundays,
just tried to rob Kevin McAllister's house.

Speaker 3 (22:20):
Rogers would say, that's what it's felt like playing for
the Steelers this year. Probably all the stuff that Marv
went through in Uh either either movie?

Speaker 2 (22:27):
Pick one? Do you watch the ones after the second one? Nope?
Hell no, Yeah no, you can't watch today. Like we're
nearing the point where we talk on this show about
Christmas movies, uh huh. Because there are things like that
I appreciate on this platform, Like I appreciate having an
opinion every day, and I appreciate the fact that others

(22:47):
can call in and have different opinions than mine and
we could talk back and forth through those. That's not
the case when it comes to Christmas movies. It's Christmas
vacation and it's nothing else. And if you oppose that,
then I will fight you on that. Whereas other things
you could tell me about the Bengals or the bear
Cats or anything else, and I would listen and take
your opinion and move on from it. You're gonna tell

(23:08):
me Christmas vacations not at the top, then we're gonna
have issues. You're wearing your shirt today. Yeah, we got
a Christmas party here at the office today. Big Christmas
party happening here today the Kenwick Studios. Other things going on.
Evan McPherson.

Speaker 3 (23:24):
Mack has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of
the Week. McPherson, of course six for six in field
goals in Baltimore, two extra points scored twenty points for Cincinnati.
Bengals also opened up the practice window for linebacker Shaka Hayward.
Come on, Shaka to return, so he gets a roster exemption.
The Bengals can activate him at any point over the
next twenty one days. He suffered I believe a fibula

(23:46):
injury earlier this year, but looks like he's on the
come up. Bengals are practicing right now if I'm not mistaken,
so waiting to see some more from that. We'll hear
from Zach Taylor or maybe they'll do it later this afternoon.
The schedule has screwed me up over the last two
weeks with the Thursday game, but Zach coming up at
one o'clock.

Speaker 2 (24:06):
What'll we expecting from Zach today? Obviously, I think it's
safe to say Trey Hendrickson's not going to play this week. Yeah,
which is interesting because Joey Bosa left Buffalo's last game
against the Steelers with the hamstring injury. Bosa leads the
Bills in sacks. It's already a banged up Bills team
on the offensive side of the ball. No, Joey Bosa
would be significant for the Bengals. On Sunday, what do

(24:27):
you feel about T Higgins and his availability this week?
I thought it was interesting.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
I believe I read from Jay Morrison the other day
that the way he wrote it was that T Higgins
is expected to come back. Yeah, so the fact that
he was out there for that walk through Monday, and
I guess the mini by probably helped a little bit.

Speaker 2 (24:46):
I'm surprised by that.

Speaker 3 (24:48):
I thought, just based off the way that it looks
like a bad one, it might be a couple of weeks.

Speaker 2 (24:54):
So hopefully there's some more indication on that, and if
there's would be obviously massive to get him back.

Speaker 3 (25:00):
Sean McDermott did say about Joey Bosa today is that
he's weak to weak. Okay, so potentially don't know what
that means. I mean McDermott and Zach Taylor are having
a great job, doing a great job with the coach speak. Yeah,
no new news on Kyle Schwarber, not that yet. How

(25:21):
about this This quote from Sean McDermott all right, you
asked what was going through the minds of Buffalo.

Speaker 2 (25:26):
Yep. Quote.

Speaker 3 (25:27):
I don't think we can afford to be inconsistent.

Speaker 2 (25:30):
Not now.

Speaker 3 (25:31):
Our backs are against the wall. That's the way it is.
That's where we're all aware of it. That's where we're going.
Eight and four backs against the wall.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
That thing. Okay, okay, I'll buy Oh, hold on, we
got to tweet here from the Reds. Let's see what it's.

Speaker 3 (25:46):
Oh ah, Spencer Steer and Rhet Louder are going to
be on the Red's Hot Stove League.

Speaker 2 (25:51):
That's all I wanted. One Reds thing real quick. We'll
break and get to these phone calls. Last night I
had a chance to do sports talk down the hall. Yeah,
and I sounded good. I have our guy, Michael Anderson
reached out to me yesterday. He said, hey, you know,
today's Giving Tuesday and the Reds Community Fund is matching
donations as they're trying to raise funds for the community Fund.
I got a follow up message from Michael Anderson, thanks

(26:13):
again for the opportunity. The Red's Community Fund raised over
sixteen thousand dollars yesterday. That's awesome. So obviously with more
donations coming in, but awesome stuff with the Red Community
Fund and so many good things that they do. We'll
take ourselves a break. We'll come back. We'll get to
your phone calls next. On the Home of the Bengals,
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 1 (26:33):
You've been listening to football in the NATI on ESPN
fifteen thirty, the official home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 7 (26:45):
This is Dan Horde joined Dave Lapoman me for Bengals
game plan tonight starting at six on the official home
of the Bengals, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (27:02):
Welcome back ESBN fifteen thirty. It's sincey three sixty thanks
to our friends at Skyline Chili. Anytime you're feeling good
and hungry, it's Skyline time. It is a tradition Austen
on Friday night, I will find Skyline Chili before the game.
It is the Skyline Chili Crossdown Shootout. I need you
to have a double portion for me. I have vowed

(27:24):
I'm trying to lock in before the New year, trying
to get like on it instead of a hard time
to do it. I know normally that's why people do
it in January. While I'm testing myself. Yeah, I'm trying to.

Speaker 3 (27:35):
I'm going to like trying to be in a full
sprint by January first.

Speaker 2 (27:38):
Okay, wait till I bring you a couple treats from
the holiday party today around three five. I'm stay. Yeah,
I have vowed the last two times you see as
went to the Cintas Center to not go back for
the shootout, and like here I am kind of getting
pulled back in. Like I asked Mayor last night, I'm like,
do we want to go to the shootout on Friday?

(28:00):
I don't know. I don't know what to do. It's
a it's a it's kind of I think it's the
feeling you had as the game approached with Ohio State
and Michigan where you kind of get that You're you're
thinking like during the week where it's like whatever we'll see,
and then it gets closer You're like, man, I've got
this feeling again, and I know what that feeling leads to. Pain.

(28:20):
By the way, a fun stat I saw from Paul Fritchner.
Is it fun? Actually? Nope? Uh Kerkkrisa was asked by
Kelsey Conway after the game on Monday night about the
game coming up on Friday, and he made a reference
of playing the team from Norwood.

Speaker 3 (28:36):
Oh that's a fun that's one of my fun little
favorite things about this right And.

Speaker 2 (28:40):
Yeah, we know we got to go play that team
from Norwood and head there, and we know they like
to bring intensity, so we'll be ready and we'll bring
it as well. It led to a funny stat from
Paul Kerk. Crisa is currently the only player that will
be on the court on Friday night that was alive
born the last time you see went and won at
the Centa Center.

Speaker 3 (29:00):
So you said that's not a fun stat. Nonna say
I would be. I'd be putting that on a billboard.
And we do have, you know, plenty of Xavier fans
who listen. I'll be the Xavier representative. That's awesome. There
you go, there you go. Uh, what's Shane got to
say today?

Speaker 2 (29:18):
Shame?

Speaker 8 (29:19):
How's doing?

Speaker 2 (29:19):
What's up?

Speaker 8 (29:20):
I just I've been meeting the call for a long time.
I met you after the Iowa State game. I was
with Angelo Dawkins. I was a driver.

Speaker 2 (29:28):
Nice nice, We had we had.

Speaker 8 (29:29):
A blast up there and then you got fired, so
I didn't.

Speaker 5 (29:33):
Probably got a hold of it.

Speaker 2 (29:35):
That's true. That was a good time. Yes, yes, And then.

Speaker 8 (29:40):
I didn't get to watch the b YU U See game,
and I'm sitting there listening to it on the radio,
and the whole time I'm listening to him like, why
is Tony not coaching the Bearcat He should be a
defensive coordinator. I hate their defense, the way they run,
and I'd give anything.

Speaker 2 (29:56):
For you to be the I don't know. I like
to think I know a lot about defense. I as
long as I've been around the game. I'm just not
a huge fan of the three three five.

Speaker 5 (30:08):
Oh, it's terrible.

Speaker 2 (30:09):
It's uh it to me. It's it's in today's football
and playing in a conference like the Big twelve, I
think it's hard to have continued success against it. And
one of the things that it's supposed to help against
is the passing game. And you know they they played
a Baylor team this year and Baylor was one of
the best passing attacks in the country and they limited them.

(30:29):
TCU was one of the best passing attacks in the
country as well, but they've been gashed on the ground.
The three three five just it doesn't bode well against
teams that can run the ball, and you see too
many of those in the Big twelve.

Speaker 8 (30:41):
And my other thing is I'm a Steelers guy. Oh
and I can't believe you and Mo Haven said it
when the Hurricanes played you see, do you remember the
little airplane flying around saying fire Al Golden?

Speaker 2 (30:55):
Oh my gosh, I do.

Speaker 8 (30:58):
I do out when the bingo tired him.

Speaker 5 (31:01):
I'm like, what a joke. But I think the Steelers
will get it together.

Speaker 8 (31:06):
And when they have North does it?

Speaker 2 (31:08):
Does Adam feel make a difference for you?

Speaker 5 (31:11):
Yeah? I think so.

Speaker 2 (31:12):
Okay, Okay, I cracked up.

Speaker 8 (31:15):
Every time I hear Zach Tailor's press conference. It sounds
just like Marvin Lewis and Dick Wibo's just.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
Going through the motions.

Speaker 8 (31:22):
And for Austins, I thank you man.

Speaker 3 (31:29):
All right, let's go. When do the Bearcats play in
the college football Playoff? Okay, easy, he's gonna come at me.
You expect you to just sit here and take it
it easy?

Speaker 2 (31:39):
There was I do remember that.

Speaker 5 (31:41):
Now.

Speaker 2 (31:41):
Al Golden was the coach of Miami when they came
to Nippert Stadium and lost, and there was a banner
that said fire out Golden flying around the stadium. It's
crazy to too many years to visit that twenty fifteen. Wow,
that's insane.

Speaker 3 (31:58):
Huh good, where's that banner at today?

Speaker 2 (32:03):
Good question? I would We couldn't use it. We got
to extend our now most of money. He needs to
see one more week before the d is put back in.

Speaker 3 (32:15):
I was wondering about that, so let's give it one
more week. We had a caller ask about that.

Speaker 2 (32:18):
We'll give it one more week, Mike, what's happening?

Speaker 5 (32:21):
Man? Hey, guys, appreciate it.

Speaker 4 (32:25):
You got a.

Speaker 5 (32:28):
You got a an excitement level going. Here's for sure.
I'll get to that last. But I'd like to start
off with some college basketball and then go to Kenny
Anderson and these senior selections. Okay, college basketball. From what
I can ascertain, the three toughest schedules that have been

(32:48):
played so far, Alabama's played the toughest. They'd played everybody,
and that Michigan State with ISO, they played a lot
of good teams, and that that's the that's looking Michigan
State team I've seen in ten years.

Speaker 2 (33:02):
It's at least it's scary to me because normally Izzo
struggles early on and then come February March they're rolling.
He's got this team playing well now, I can't imagine
what they're going to look like come March.

Speaker 5 (33:13):
He's got that guard kid named Guard.

Speaker 2 (33:15):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (33:16):
I always always think of Ralph got his baseball player
way back in the day. But no, he's got some
serious athletes and they're long too. They're very long. Yep.
And the third team has done Zaga, but that's not
unusual for mister Mark Hugh, who's the most underrated coach
in all of America.

Speaker 2 (33:32):
Yeah, I think I think there's a sneaky I think
Duke as well. Duke has played Kansas, Arkansas, and Florida
so far, and they do play Michigan State on Saturday.
So Duke's played a tough schedule as well and have
been unblemish through that as well.

Speaker 5 (33:46):
Yeah, they are, but boy, I'll tell you what that game.
I'm not going to miss Michigan State in Duke. That's
just be a dandy. Regarding Kenny Anderson and uh the
three selections, so they're five. Let me make sure I
have this straight. There's five possibilities and three selections.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
There can't be any more than three selections. To be
one of the three, you have to get eighty percent
of those votes.

Speaker 5 (34:14):
Okay, I don't see how Elsie Greenway doesn't get in.
And the only reason he hasn't been in before was
he played in the Shadow of They had about seven
or eight Hall of Famers on.

Speaker 2 (34:24):
That deepot and the Steel Curtain. Yes, oh my god, the.

Speaker 5 (34:27):
Line Jack Hamm and Jack Lambert and then Mel Blunt
and this one and that one on it was just unbelievable.
So I see Elsie getting in. He was six time
Pro bowler, two time All Pro, got a couple of
rings to show for it. I just don't see how
he doesn't get in. But boy, I'm telling you, I'm
saying my prayers for Kenny Yeap because it's just it's

(34:50):
just a shame, right Tony, because he was a great
quarterback that played for either a bad or average team.

Speaker 2 (34:57):
It's always hard, I think, to do if you just
go stats, because if you put his statistics up to
many guys that are in the Hall of Fame, Ken
Anderson should already be in, you know, but so much
comes down to who you played for and what the
teams did through the full time you were there. I mean,
Ken Anderson was an MVP in the National Football League,

(35:18):
a four time Pro boy, he was the most valuable
player in nineteen eighty one over thirty two thousand passing
yards just under two hundred passing touchdowns. There are Hall
of Fame quarterbacks that are in that don't have those
types of numbers. But again, I think it's just so
much more as taken in. I'm with you, I hope
more than anything that Ken Anderson gets in.

Speaker 8 (35:38):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (35:38):
Plus he's just such a wonderful human being. But one
more thing about Kenny, Now, I think if I recollect,
he was very accurate passer, if I'm not mistaken, didn't
throw a lot of picks.

Speaker 2 (35:51):
Right, I don't have the full stats ahead of me,
but I would imagine his accuracy was his strong point.

Speaker 4 (35:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (36:00):
I mean, he wasn't flashy or anything, but boy was
he was he what's the word efficient? Efficient? Okay, now
we get to Schwarber. Now, come on, guys, everybody doesn't
Everybody does not necessarily want to go back to their hometown.
Now some guys do. Some guys could care less about that.
It's not like Middletown's the Honolulu. Okay. So, and now

(36:27):
I know the Giants are in the hunt because they
need a left handed power hit a really really bad
So I heard that from the John Morosi on the
MLB Network last night. So I, I, you know, Kyle Is.
He hits home runs, but you know he's a career
about a two forty he played for the two forty hitter.
He played for the Red Sox back in twenty twenty one.

(36:48):
I believe he might have been a rental player at
the end of the year because he had only had
like one hundred and thirty at bats. I'm not sure,
but I like to be awesome Tony, but god, you
know how much money. Oh, this guy's gonna get.

Speaker 2 (37:04):
It all career wise two thirty one. He hit just
two forty last year, but again, fifty six home runs.
I think that's the thing. Like, if I'm not reading
from Jeff Passing and Ken Rosenthal, I'm not even putting
into thought Kyle Schwarber being here, and he was back
in Middletown for an event a couple of weeks ago,
and he said all the right things about Cincinnati, which

(37:25):
I kind of assumed he would. But man, if it
wasn't coming from just baseball guys that cover the whole league,
I probably wouldn't think any more of it. But again,
you hear it enough and you wonder, Okay, is there
fire where there's that much smoke? I don't know, but man,
it would be fun in Cincinnati for baseball if they

(37:46):
found a way. But I'm with you, the amount of
money is gonna cost. I don't see it happening, but
it would be a heck of a story.

Speaker 5 (37:53):
I think we should all contribute, like fifteen bucks a piece.
Let's go get this team.

Speaker 2 (38:00):
We're all in. I throw fifteen on it. I'm in
for fifteen. That's Austin does that weekly to the foundation
at Ohio State.

Speaker 5 (38:12):
Yeah, okay, Austin. Now the dirty laundry really comes out.
Yeh see, I knew, I knew there was something dirty
about that whole deal with you? All right, you guys, thank.

Speaker 2 (38:23):
One more thing on the Swarberg this, John Hayman said
earlier Austin, The Reds are indeed interested in hometown here.
Kyle Schwarber would be quite a coop if they could
pull it off. Red Sox Orioles pirates, including of course,
the incumbent Phillies, all in on Kyle Schwarber. Ken Rosenthal
first linked Schwarber to Cincinnati. So there you have it

(38:43):
uh one more call and then we'll break to finish
up the hour mark. What's up?

Speaker 4 (38:49):
Okay? One one Can Anderson comment and one cow swarber. Okay,
let me let me go with the Can Anderson first.
I could be wrong. You may be able to give
me some a inside on this. That was a stretch
from seventy eight, seventy nine in eighty. He didn't have

(39:11):
particularly good seasons those three years, and the Bengals drafted
Jack Thompson and tried to replace him. So sometimes sometimes
I wonder if that bad stretch, you know, that was
some injuries in there too.

Speaker 8 (39:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:27):
Seventy eight he only seventy eight, He played twelve games,
but he threw ten interceptions, or he threw ten touchdowns
to twenty two interceptions, So seventy eight was a nightmare. Season.
Seventy nine he played in fifteen, sixteen touchdowns, ten interceptions,
and then another injured year in nineteen eighty he started
twelve games, six touchdowns to thirteen interceptions, So there was

(39:49):
a you're one hundred percent right, there was a stretch
in there over three years with what thirty two touchdown
passes and fifty five in or se So yeah, I
completely understand that.

Speaker 4 (40:02):
Yes, yeah, I wonder if that's what's hurting him, that
that three year bad stretch he had. If he if
he could have had better seasons during that time, with
that he would have he may have been a shoe in.
I could be wrong, but this my opinion. Sure, okay,
my cow swore, of course. And I'm confused. I heard

(40:24):
y'all earlier say if they were able to land in
he bashed first a second. Now, I thought, I thought, see,
you can talk about my lineup, then you be going yep.
I thought I thought we needed somebody in the middle
of the lineup, not somebody at the top. So I'm
confused that putting him one or two, I thought he

(40:45):
would solve the either third or fourth or wherever you're
going to bat Ali, I mean, we got a lead
off hit or so.

Speaker 2 (40:52):
I just look at how he hit fifty six last year,
and he did it out of the one hole for
the Philadelphia Phillies. And whether that's him being comfortable or
whether that's Philly just saying, hey, from pitch number one,
you better have your stuff. And if not, Kyle Schwarber's
gonna jump all over it. I think there is a
little bit of value to that, But I certainly understand
the point.

Speaker 4 (41:12):
Yeah, if it were me, if it was my choice,
I will probably be batting third. Yeah, in that way,
at least I'm getting him in that bat Sure in
the first hit, Sure, you know, and go from me.
So yeah, let me get all the show.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
Appreciate it. See what happens here Austin. We've got to
shootout Friday. We've got Bengals bill Sunday Championship weekend. And
we mentioned a little bit on Swarburn. Now we're talking
about Swarburn, the lineup.

Speaker 3 (41:43):
We love people from Cincinnati, We love hometown heroes, home
run hitters.

Speaker 2 (41:51):
Do you know, off the top of your head, out
of the fifty six home runs he hit, how many
were out of the leadoff spot or how many were
leadoff home runs?

Speaker 3 (42:00):
Oh, I feel like he set a record for this,
didn't he fifteen?

Speaker 2 (42:03):
Fifteen? Yeah, And like that's that to me? Is the
thing like when you have a Kyle Schwarber leading off,
you don't get to just like groove the first pitch
over to get comfortable in the game. You know, like
so many times pitchers are like, all right, first pitch
of the game, let's get as striking here. You're uncomfortable
right away, like you have to make sure and warm
Up's like, all right, I gotta be ready because I

(42:24):
got Kyle Schwarber coming up here.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
And again the notion of your best hitter coming to
the plate more frequently, yea, I think is and.

Speaker 2 (42:33):
Are you going to pitch around him? With Ellie de
la Cruz on deck? Right again? What are we doing?
And he is just a rumor? Here's the other thing
I can't I'm losing.

Speaker 3 (42:42):
The other thing we'd have to consider right for heartbreak
is the Reds have made it very obvious that they
don't value hitting home runs in the way that they
approach games and some of the decisions made by Terry Francona.
And maybe part of that is that they haven't had
guys in the lineup that are viable, guys that they
feel like can hit those home runs. How does that

(43:03):
change your day to day strategy on construction of the lineup?
And if you're struggling to score runs, why wouldn't you
put your most prolific home run here in the leadoff spot?

Speaker 4 (43:15):
Right?

Speaker 2 (43:16):
And I don't, I just.

Speaker 3 (43:20):
I know Mark's talking about badam third or fourth. No,
I want him up more frequently. I would almost say
put Ellie at lead off and put Schwarber behind him
or flip him. I don't care, but you got to
get those guys up to the lineup more frequently, or
up to the plate more.

Speaker 2 (43:35):
Frick at us December third lineup potential with Dyle Schwarber. Kyle,
if you're listening, come home.

Speaker 3 (43:41):
In the words of the great Jeff Brantley, why don't
you come home, back to the house.

Speaker 2 (43:44):
Come home.

Speaker 3 (43:45):
We've been waiting on. We'll take a break. When we
come back, Kyle call in.

Speaker 2 (43:52):
We'll put an end to hour number one, and then
we'll start our two with Zach Taylor's weekly press conference
on ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station WC Welcome back
since the three sixty ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

(44:15):
I have one question, Austin. I've been reading a lot
about Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. You know, the
big Ben I saw came out and said that, you know,
it might be time to move on from Tomlin. I
know James Harrison had some things to say about Mike Tomlin.
Ben Roethlisberger floated out there that Tomlin should go and
be a great fit for Penn State. Who still has

(44:37):
a job opening. My question is this, I know they
have championships in the past, How could have of a
job as Pittsburgh right now? With their roster it's not
the best. I mean, they are essentially a fossil. They're
old in most every position. TJ Wats just getting older.
Cam Heyward's is just getting older. Jalen ram he is

(45:00):
just getting older. Who is your foundational piece on the
offensive side of the ball. Like, how good of a
job would Pittsburgh be right now in the coaching carousel
that could be?

Speaker 3 (45:13):
Yeah, I think you just see more of that of
ownership in the way that that franchise is built. It's
probably still in a desirable position. I mean, obviously they've
had three head coaches in the last fifty I think
they would want Zach Taylor. Yeah, I bet they would.
Zach Taylor's kind of kicked their ass.

Speaker 2 (45:35):
Speaking to Zach Taylor, he speaks, we'll carry that. Next
On ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 1 (45:42):
Joe Burrow is back and he plays here on ESPN
fifteen thirty. The Official Hall of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaker 6 (45:51):
Skylines, Mac and Cheese. Three Ways Back. It's your favorite