JR SportBrief Hour 4

You're listening to the JR Sportbrief on CBS Sports Radio. You're listening to the JR Sportbrief on CBS Sports Radio. This is CBS Sports Radio. I am JR and I am coming to you live from the Rocket Mortgage Studios.

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Shout outs to everybody all across North America. We've talked about Devante Adams and his comments saying that Aaron Rodgers is a little bit of the Jordan effect. Not that he is Michael Jordan or he's one of the best of the best like Michael Jordan or work like. But just when you play with Aaron Rodgers or you practice with Aaron Rodgers you gotta up your game. He demands it because of his level of talent.

I don't think it's a big deal. At the same time we talked about Chet Holmgrom. Number two overall pick in the NBA this year to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Looks like he might have some ligament damage in his foot before he even plays an NBA game. And where did he damage his foot? Unfortunately Jamal Crawford's pro-am game in Seattle.

LeBron was playing, Jason Tatum was playing and then they had to stop the game anyway in the second quarter because of too much condensation on the court. And then as I do every Wednesday night into Thursday morning I gave you a new top six list. We have some big names in baseball right now but we don't have one definitive face. We have major accomplishments in baseball but we don't have just a super guy at the top. There's no definitive top guy. And so I wanted to give you a top six list that properly evaluates who the biggest stars in baseball are right now. Not the most talented, not the up and coming but individuals who are at the top of the totem pole when it comes down to popularity and visibility and skill level, individual success, team success.

And let me give you a quick recap and you can hit rewind if you want the entire reasons but let me give you a quick one. At number six Clayton Kershaw. At number five I gave you Bryce Harper. At number four Mike Trout should be number one but he doesn't care to be so I have him at number four.

He doesn't want to talk, doesn't want to do media, just wants to collect his 426 million dollars and doesn't give a damn about anything else so why should he? At number three I gave you Albert Pujols. He's not going to be on this list for too much longer. 42 years old getting ready to retire but also has a chance to hit 700 home runs.

Rarified air. At number two I gave you Shohei Otani. In a different era, a different generation he would be not just a superstar in Japan or in Major League Baseball. Otani would be known in every household here in the United States of America. And so at number one I gave you Aaron Judge.

Yeah, Otani might have you know picked up some endorsements. He might have been the cover guy for a video game but Aaron Judge coming from California. Aaron Judge playing for the New York Yankees. Aaron Judge being a Paul Bunyan-esque figure. Aaron Judge being relatable, being a nice guy, not being a jackass.

He's being on the the talk shows already, being in New York, being in page six. I got Aaron Judge. To me he is the biggest, most recognizable star in the game right now.

He fits and checks all the boxes and categories that I mentioned to you. Popularity, visibility, skill level. He's the best hitter in the game right now.

Individual success. He's about to be the MVP. He could have been the MVP a few years ago. The Yankees are going to win the World Series?

Probably not. But I got Aaron Judge at number one. And there's some other individuals that I mentioned.

Could have put them on the list. Justin Verlander. Yeah, he's been around quite a long time.

Has found the fountain of youth after his injury. I don't know if I'd peg him as likable. You know, I could think about someone like Max Scherzer.

He's just a grinder. Certainly one of the most well-known players in the game. But I don't know how many people know him outside of just baseball fans. And that's a major issue in and of itself. That baseball does not have that LeBron James.

It could have been, I think, Trout. But he doesn't want it. Doesn't want to do marketing.

Doesn't want to do media. Let's get back to your phone calls. That's 855-212-4CBS.

That's 855-212-4CBS. Larry is calling from Cleveland, Ohio. You're on the JR Sport Brief Show. What's up, Larry? Hey, how's it going, JR? I tell you what, man.

Some great names, man. You can't sit there. One thing about Aaron, though, with him turning on that contract this year and betting on himself, God, man, he's in here to pay big time. What I hear in Cleveland, JR, is I know you don't get a lot of respect, but Jose Ramirez here in Cleveland. And what we're doing here is a team, JR. It's unbelievable. I mean, we're not like, you know, Yankees, Astros, all these other great teams.

But what we're doing here is phenomenal. And Jose is a big part of it here. And he's getting your take on that. Well, you are one million percent correct.

But unfortunately, it's... I know who he is. I think baseball fans know who he is. Jose Ramirez knows what he contributes. You know what he contributes. I know what he contributes. But is he the biggest brand name star in the game?

The answer's no. Yeah, yeah, you're right. I know. Just, uh, we got some nice young players here, JR. What's going on here?

It's unbelievable. And, uh, like you said, a couple of names, too. I like up-and-comers.

You're talking Yonder Alferez, Ladder Wheel Grill Jr., also. Some other names I'm missing. But I have some up-and-comers, too.

Yep, they have time. And thank you, Larry, for calling from Cleveland. I appreciate you.

Let me tell you something. He mentioned Vladimir Guerrero Jr. His dad was one of my favorite players. I will always look at Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

I don't care what he does in his career. I'm always going to look at him and say, you ain't your daddy. That's just what it is. Especially when it comes down to defense. Like, man, you ain't your daddy.

So, for me personally, looking at Vladimir Guerrero Jr., I'm always going to say, man, your, your daddy was, he was the guy. One of my favorite players to sit down and watch. 855-212-4CBS. That's 855-212-4CBS. Marcus calling from Cali. You're on CBS Sports Radio. What's going on, JR? What's up?

Just hanging in there. Um, so you were talking about Puholz and his resurgence. What about Adam Wainwright, age 40, having a resurgent year. 311 ERA. What about Yu Darvish?

These are pitchers that, I know you were talking about Verlander and Scherzer, but you know, in terms of Japanese bred pitchers, Darvish is up there with probably some of the best the game has ever seen in terms of Japanese talent outside of Otan. Um, right? Nobody, nobody, they don't, they don't transcend the game. Who knows who's no, no, it's very simple.

When I say transcend the game, I'm saying it's, it's very simple. I can go find an old lady crossing the street. And if I say, Hey, you know, Tom Brady, she's going to go, yeah, football player. She may not know anything about him. She's going to know football player. If I go up to, you know, somebody who just moved to the country three years ago and I say, LeBron James, they're going to go basketball, right?

Yeah. If I say Yu Darvish, they're going to go, what? I mean, not too many people know Clayton Kershaw outside of LA fans, right? But well, the point, well, the point, the point is, and that's the, that's an overall problem.

That's why I'm delivering you to the, that's why I'm delivering you the list. I still think there is a wide chasm, and I think you would understand this between Clayton Kershaw and the United States of America and Yu Darvish. What did you say so? I mean, yeah, I mean, obviously you have to attract success in terms of marketability. The answer is no, no, the answer is yes. That's my point. Well, I think number one is probably going to be Lucy Betts. I mean, in terms of marketability, even right now, judge right now is probably, we can both agree that he's the ALMBP. Justin Verlander, we can agree he's the AL Shiyo, right? Well, Mark, that's, that's not what I'm asking.

That's not what I'm talking about. Well, transition of the game is Mookie Betts. I mean, she had the greatest season probably in MLB history. Well, Mark, you're missing, you're missing the point. I'm not talking about stats.

I'm not talking about numbers and Mookie Betts, I certainly considered to having on the list. Oh my God. Nobody knows these people. I'm sorry. I know them and you know them. You not understand that what I'm saying.

Transcend the sport. I gave you a simple example. I said, Hey, Tom Brady, I think most people know who he is in the country. If I walk around and say LeBron James, most people know who he is.

I can sit down. I know who these people are. I talk about them professionally.

I follow them out of, out of joy of sport. And I do it professionally. I can tell you everything about Francisco Lindor. I don't need you to do it. I can sit down here and tell you myself.

And even though I can tell you, are the people down the road for me at the station on Peachtree, are they going to know? I can sit down with a lot of people all over the country and Hey, how you feel about Tom Brady? I feel about LeBron James.

Hey, how you feel about Francisco Lindor? What? I got a quick question for you, JR.

Yes. I think of three guys they have not played in at least five years. David Ortiz, A-Rod, Jeter. They are bigger names. Three individuals I just mentioned. Are they all significant?

And I even include pool holes in this conversation. Are those three to this day, bigger household names in greater America than your top six guys? I would say so.

Yes, absolutely. I mean, damn it. Those guys, for one of our callers, I love Mookie Betts. And I know what Mookie Betts has done. If you have to tell me Mookie Betts about his season and what he did and winning an MVP and then winning a World Series and then winning another one on a West, if you need to tell me about all of that, where does that lead me to him being famous? I'm talking about fame, lights, camera, action, Major League Baseball don't have it.

There are a couple of guys who can have it. Mookie is certainly one of them. And the reason why I didn't put Mookie on the list and put Clayton Kershaw on it is because Clayton Kershaw has been a Dodger forever. He's been a Dodger his whole career. If I got to think about popping up on the late night shows, et cetera, it's Kershaw. Mookie Betts is not, he's not all there. He's not like that. And that's a problem that we got to go, oh, well, you know, who's getting more shine or who isn't getting shine? That's the ultimate problem. It's not about the stats and the numbers.

Oh my God. To bring Francisco Lindor into the conversation, man, oh, it should be Tatis, but he don't know how to stay healthy for a variety of reasons. He can't even stay on the field for other reasons.

But for what Shep just said, that's my point. Who is that Derek Jeter? People know who the hell he is. And granted, yes, these are legends and hall of fame caliber talents and yeah, sure. But even when they were playing in their prime, people knew who they were, whether you watch the game or not. People have more options.

People have more variety in what they can and can't do or how they allocate or spend their time. And Aaron Judge might be the best player in baseball. He's going to be the American league MVP and Otani is right there with him. Here in their careers, their popularity, it pales in comparison to an Alex Rodriguez at the same stage of his career, a Derek Jeter winning championships, the same stage in his career, a David Ortiz in his prime. The start of his career was bumpy in Minnesota.

Come on, pales in comparison. Mike is calling from Michigan. You're on CBS Sports Radio. Hey, J.R., I love your show.

Thank you. Hey, although this team's not going anywhere, would you put Miguel Cabrera on your top six list? No, for what you just said. Yeah, he's one of the greatest hitters of all time. Look at where the hell he's been playing, man. The majority of his career up in Detroit and then when he wasn't in Detroit, he started off in Florida and we know what the Marlins have done, you know?

Right. Yeah, but the reason I say this because, of course, he's set some people think he's an under, I mean, despite that he hits a 3,000 bar, I think he's in the zone now. I mean, he's one of the few players with more than 3,000 hits, more than 500 overruns, has not been at a Triple Crown.

Yes, no, absolutely, but I think what has held Miguel Cabrera back, it's brack, it's a lot of B's and R's there. What's been holding him back from being at the forefront, he's been on the Tigers. And thank you, Mike, for calling from Michigan.

Always appreciate you. And then before that, he played in Florida. And yes, even though he won a World Series, we know what the Marlins have done when they've won, they've torn the teams down. And even when winning, who's showing up? Nobody. Who's showing up to see the Tigers play? No, I was just out in Detroit a few weeks ago and I went by the stadium, by the way. There are people there, but a smattering of them. I mean, outside of him getting to the 3,000th hit, man, what else is there to sell?

Nothing. Chris, let's call it from Maryland. You're on CBS Sports Radio.

Hi, J.R., thank you very much. Yes, Soto, maybe DeGrom instead of Curry at that last spot, but I think you pretty much have it nailed. And in fact, Judge should be more popular, actually, as we speak, but if not for the steroids era people. All of us, like I said, I always say, like I said, I always say, we're all liable, even the players who didn't use, we're outside around idiots.

Anyway, and one last thing about them, I think that when and if, I don't want any of those who still shouldn't go in until after the, let's say, the players of the 70s, maybe halfway through the 80s, clear the stage, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I also want to compliment you very much on just last night when you were saying, man, Aaron Judge would be, I said this to you myself calling much before, Aaron Judge would be a big story and Roger Maris would be very popular and will be very soon. I hope he breaks it. I hope Albert hits 700 and passes A-Rod. And I think you got it covered though, man, but really, I really want to call you and compliment you on last night. I tried last night, but you missed me, but yeah, Aaron Judge, gosh, I hope he breaks the record and Maris and all of it. I do, Chris.

And thank you for calling from Maryland. I do too. As I'm going to repeat it again, if you didn't hear me say it last night, if Aaron Judge hits more than 61 home runs, I will look at Aaron Judge as the single season home run king. I will. Until I have reason to believe otherwise, he's going to be the guy for me. It ain't going to be no, no swinging Sammy.

Nope. It won't be Mac. It won't be Mark Maguire. And it won't be no Barry Bonds. I'm sorry.

As far as I know until I know otherwise, and there's no reason to think so. Aaron Judge is going out there and busting ass with his pure God given ability. All six foot seven, 280 pounds of them. Michael is calling from South Carolina. You're on the JR sport reshow.

What's up Mike? Hey JR, I just wanted to say I like the list, but Otani is number one for me. Number six, I would put Verlander there instead of Kershaw. I would argue that Kershaw is somewhat injury prone. And if you compare his career to Verlander's to me, it's not even close.

Sure, well, it's it's not so well. I mean, there's there's a little bit of give and take from both. They've accomplished things that the other hasn't and vice versa, but it's not so much driven in the statistics. It's more so driven in the market that he plays in. It also has to do with the likeability of Justin Verlander. If I have to think about that throughout the course of his career, where Clayton Kershaw comes across as the ultimate good guy, the ultimate underdog who you want to root for, someone who wins the Roberto Clemente award, the Branch Rickey award. You know, you look at Justin Verlander. Oh, he is a killer on that mound. His personality a little bit more more grating.

So that's why I have Clayton Kershaw on the list as opposed to Justin Verlander. I got a question. How about Otani in New York? Oh, I think it I think it I think we be having a totally different conversation. And I don't think I don't think you'll have to wait too much longer for that one, because I think if there's one thing we know for certain is that Otani, his ass is going to be the hell up on out of Los Angeles. And if you think Max Scherzer making $43 million a year is as big as it gets, wait until Otani gets his new contract. He's going to go over $50 million a year.

He's going to be on whatever team he's on. And he's going to say, I pitch, I hit, you may not trust me that I can do it for the next, I don't know, seven or eight years. But you're gonna pay me a lot of big money up front.

Look for that to happen. It's the JR sport re-show here on CBS Sports Radio. We are all about the big money. I'm going to take more of your calls on the other side as we talk about the biggest names in Major League Baseball. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief on CBS Sports Radio. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief on CBS Sports Radio. Hi JR, pleasure to speak to you. You know, just recently discovered your show a few weeks ago and just got to tell you that you've got a very easy listening style.

Call in now at 855-212-4CBS. Oh yeah, we keep it smooth. Yeah, like Snoop Dogg in the background.

We keep it smooth. It ain't nothing but, oh, I can't say, I'm not going to say all the lyrics. But it is the JR Sport Brief Show on CBS Sports Radio. I can say that. And we've been talking about baseball and the stars and there's only two things I want to see.

In one of our callers, he agreed with me on it. I want to see Albert Pujols get to 700, 700 home runs that is, and I want to see Aaron Judge hit more than 61. So at that point, I personally can acknowledge Aaron Judge as the home run king because the guy's above Roger Maris a bunch of cheaters. As we talk about the faces of baseball and who's leading the way, who's most popular, who's most visible, who has the skill, who has the success, I have Judge at number one. And I'd have no problem if you wanted to put Shohei Ohtani at number two, but the fact that Aaron Judge is from here in the States and English is his first language and just like a Paul Bunyan-esque figure, there's so much to do. We saw what Ohtani did last year and it seems that like, what did he get in regards to visibility? A video game cover? The cover of the show?

Commercials? Great. On the other hand, what can happen with Aaron Judge over the next several months? I think, well, let's see, I believe he's going to go over 61. We don't know what's going to happen with the Yankees in the playoffs. He's going to get paid major money.

Is that going to help boost things? Aaron Judge is going to get even more endorsements, et cetera. That's why I got him at number one. Tommy is calling from New Orleans. You're on CBS Sports Radio. JR, where you at, my man?

Listen, I agree with you. Judge has got to be number one, but what I would like to see was, would be for baseball to kind of, you know, kind of meld Judge and Pujols together. I mean, Pujols hit 700, man. That's historic.

And Judge doing what he's doing, that's also historic. And man, you're right. Every time he gets up to that plate, he is Paul Bunyan. And it's like he's got a toothpick in his hand or something. It's crazy, man.

Absolutely crazy. But what I was really hoping for was a Tatis Jr. kind of, you know, maybe not pick up the flame or pick up a torch or whatever, but man, I was so disappointed because I really liked the way he played the game. And I know he energized that club down there in San Diego that's been down for so long.

That was really disappointing to me. But as far as football goes, I got Brady fatigue, man. He's the de facto face of football, right?

I'm hoping somebody else steps up, you know, my homes. I would really like to see the face of football be Mike Tomlin. That dude is crazy good, man. He is crazy good. I love him. I could listen to him talk all day.

No, I do. Mike Tomlin, and thank you, Tommy, for calling from New Orleans. I, well, let's see how much longer we have to deal with Tom Brady.

It's like he's never going away. And then I agree with you with Mike Tomlin. Mike Tomlin is easy to root for. Easy to root for. When you learn more, and he's opened up over the past several years.

When you hear how he relates to players, when you learn more about his methods as to why, he is easy to root for. And Mike Tomlin ain't going anywhere. And whenever he decides to stop coaching, probably never, it's going to be when he steps away. I mean, Steelers are an excellent organization.

I don't see them letting go of him any time soon, ever. 855-212-4CBS. David is calling from Atlanta. You're on the JR Sport Brief Show. JR, how you doing, bud? I just wanted to call in in regards to the Atlanta Braves, which I have not heard a single caller say anything about.

When you look at our rookies with Michael Harris and Von Grissom, not to mention, you know, Dansby and Riley and Acuna, why are they not getting more national attention as to what they're doing right now, being the defending champions? I'll hang up and listen to what you got to say. Well, thank you, David. Well, who the hell, who the hell is, and who the hell is that face? Dansby Swanson has certainly stepped his game up. He's going to get paid big time. Is it going to be the Braves?

I don't know. They should have a lot of money left over the way they're kind of shortchanging some of these superstars like Acuna. You're talking about Michael Harris. He's probably going to be rookie of the year. Talking about Von Grissom, he just got called up. Somebody else mentioned him. He's only been playing for what now? Two weeks. They're not there. They're young. Dansby Swanson is having his real, real coming out party. Acuna is just coming back and he's healthy.

Just because they're the champs? I'm sorry. What should that mean? I'm here in Atlanta. What are people talking about most?

Let's be real. People are talking about the Falcons, man. Listen, shout outs to all my folks listening on 92.9 the game in Georgia. Man, I know everybody on the airwaves here in Atlanta on 92.9. These are my friends. I know them all. People talk about the Falcons and then you talk about the Braves. Yeah, the defending champions. So if you want to talk about national attention, man, maybe can we get some local attention first?

And none of the guys that you mentioned from the young guys to the rookies and Dansby Swanson, they're not, they're not in the same realm of a Mike Trout or Bryce Harper. You know, Austin Riley is someone who deserves more attention. Let's start locally first. Tim is calling for Maryland. You're on the JR sport reef show. JR. What's up, man? You know, this is like the fourth time I've called you. And, uh, I always love your show, man, dude. I, I work for the midnight, man.

I get off at midnight. I punch out, I get in my car and I turn your show on, you know, it's, it's like, uh, I got to hear your show. You know, you just do a great job, man. Um, but, but here's the thing. I mean, Aaron judge, I mean, there, there is no, there's, there's a thing called a freaking nature.

Okay. Aaron judge is a freaking nature, man. That dude is just, I mean, he is just, I'm almost 62 years old, man.

And I've watched baseball and football, you know, my whole entire life and seeing so many wonderful, just unbelievable players, but this guy is, is like above and beyond, man. I mean, it's just unbelievable, but the stuff that he does and, and, you know, the one thing I can't believe is that, uh, and maybe they have been saying it, but I don't know, um, that, Oh, he's doing, you know, you know, he's doing, you know, drugs or whatever, you know, you know what I mean? It's like, never have, have never, have never heard such a thing. I haven't either.

I haven't either. There's, there hasn't been an insinuation and you know what, there's a, there's, I think there's another reason for that. It's, it's how he carries himself and how he interacts with everyone. And you're absolutely right about that. You are absolutely right. Am I going to sit here and say that Aaron judges is perfect? No, nobody is.

Oh, hell no. I don't know what he does in his personal life, but as a professional, I, I've seen it. I've seen it up close in person.

You talk to other people about it. You see the interactions in the stadium. He is, he, it's, it's tough to say this. No, he carries himself the way of, uh, a professional sports guy is supposed to, you know, I mean, I mean, I mean, I have no doubt. Look, I would never think that he would ever do that in no way in the world, but I'm just kind of surprised that, you know, you know, when somebody starts getting on a roll on a roll like this, you know, that's the first thing people want to say. They want to start downing him. You know, they want to start putting him down.

I think the other element too, that people see, and thank you so much, Tim, for calling from Maryland. If people who watch him on a consistent basis, you see that he's not just some dude out there smacking home runs. He's an actual baseball player. He can play defense. He's an excellent fielder, right field center field. Do you want to wear him out?

No, he also happens to be six, seven, 280. If I'm that damn big and I can hit a baseball, I think it'd make you go far too. It's the JR sport re-show on CBS Sports Radio. I'm going to get more of your calls before we have to roll out. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief on CBS Sports Radio. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief on CBS Sports Radio.

First of all, I just want to say I've been listening to your show for the last few months, and I really enjoyed listening to you speak, so thanks for taking my call. Call in now at 855-212-4CBS. It's time to say good night to that check engine light with the free auto fix finder service.

It will help troubleshoot the likely cause of your light for free. Restrictions apply. Get in the zone. AutoZone.

Yeah, that AutoZone fix finder service. It's amazing. I'm going to take more of your calls before I have to roll out. We've been talking about some of the biggest and not the biggest. There's only a few of them, but the biggest stars in baseball, individuals who transcend the game, individuals who are known outside of the game. I ain't just talking about somebody's damn stats. I'm talking about popularity.

I'm talking about visibility. I'm talking about, well, just who the hell is the biggest celebrity? Who can be that guy? Who is it? Who's closest to being it? It's Aaron Judge. I hit him at number one, had Otani at number two. If you missed the entire top six list, you can listen and get the four reasons behind it all on the free Odyssey app.

It's free. And also, we didn't get a chance to really hop into it, but also, as I'm sure you know, Lynn Dawson passed away. Hall of Fame quarterback, Kansas City Chiefs. Besides Patrick Mahomes, he was the other quarterback to go out there and win a Super Bowl, that being Super Bowl 4.

Passing away at 87 years old, 33 years as a broadcaster for the Chiefs and an amazing career that got him not only an MVP and a championship, got him a lot of love as well, especially in Kansas City. Let's take more of your calls before I have to roll out. 855-2124 CBS. Zach is here from San Diego. You're on the JR Sport Reef Show. How you doing, JR?

Privileged to be talking to you. Always love when you get to talk baseball. So, I want to talk about, you know, my boy Fernando Tatis down here in San Diego. You know, I think this is a great question and I think a lot, you know, all night a lot of people have been kind of misunderstanding the question. But, JR, frankly, I think by omitting Tatis, I think, you know, you're kind of ignoring the popularity aspect of this game.

And, you know, he certainly has put a black mark on that, but he is hands down. I mean, as far as like walking down the street goes, I think he is number one or number two in baseball. I think, you know, you see Mike Trout on the street. Oh, big white guy who goes to the gym, you know, most people wouldn't know that that's Mike Trout. And I just got a quick anecdote for you. I was in New York the day that Tatis got his, you know, his PD suspension announced.

And I got harassed on the street three times, dude, yelling me about Tatis sucks, Tatis blah, blah, blah. So, I think that's, you know, that's a little bit of evidence of the recognition that he has. And I think his redemption tour is going to be extremely marketable.

I think it's going to have a lot of attention on it. And I think he's got what it takes, you know, to turn the tide for him. Well, I don't dispute that latter part of what you said, but he ain't on the list because his ass is on punishment.

I made it clear two years ago, I've sat right here in this chair and I said he should be the man that Major League Baseball decides to push. I said that on my own mouth. Well, slow down, Zach. Zach, did I interrupt you?

No, you did. I'm sorry. Thank you.

I let you say a whole lot and didn't say a word. Thank you. His ass. This is the ultimate point. Remember this for everything that you may want to kind of respond back to me, I'm going to say this to you.

His ass is on punishment right now. Okay. And the other thing, New York City is a baseball town. Okay. People in New York City love baseball.

Take it from me. I broadcast Saturdays on WFAN in New York City and I grew up in New York City. I'm very well aware. And so, no, I'm not surprised that you can walk in New York City and Tatis be suspended and people tell you, but that also doesn't mean that that speaks to his ultimate popularity across the country. Why? Because there's a lot of people in New York. There's a lot of visitors.

There's also a lot of people who don't give a damn outside of the core baseball fans. So, I agree with you. Tatis is amazing.

His talent speaks for itself. But for right now, he's in detention. And let him get out and then we can have that conversation. Okay. All right, JR. Well, thank you for taking my call.

Absolutely. You as well. Lou is calling from Rochester. You're on CBS Sports Radio. Hi, JR. You clearly have the best sports show going right now. That's why so many hours applaud you.

Your cerebral aptitude is excellent. I can't really comment on the baseball part, but I will acknowledge that Tomlin is a great coach and also on the NFL part. I think that maybe Josh Allen might be the number one player right now. It'd be interesting on Sunday if the NFL players agree.

Well, thank you, Lou, for calling from Rochester. I want to see if Josh Allen, almost every year, he's continued to become better and better. The accuracy, just everything, every element and aspect of his game. Now we just need to see if he's gotten enough guys around him where he doesn't have to be Superman.

There's no doubt. He's fun. He's amazing to watch. He's great. Jackson is calling from Galveston down in Texas. You're on CBS Sports Radio. Yes. You were talking about the biggest star in baseball at the moment.

Okay. I say Albert Pujols because he has a chance to become in an elite group that very few people have, and that's in the 700 Club. As far as the future, now I'm a Royals fan and you know, Kansas City and New York have a big rivalry.

For years, we have. But the one thing is, I'm not afraid to admit Aaron Judge is going to become a big-time star as far as like the face of the major league baseball for years to come. Well, thank you, Jackson. And the thing is, is that here's one thing.

Quickly. When you said something about the cheaters from back then, we've got to look in hindsight, okay? Back then, when baseball was in the dirt and in the ground, basically on its grave, Maguire and Sosa brought the game back from the grave.

Well, Jackson, in the interest of time, I kind of want to respond. I think that's something that everybody knows, but that doesn't change the fact, it doesn't matter if baseball was a game, doesn't matter if baseball was complicit, doesn't matter if baseball handed them a syringe and said, here, put this in your ass. They still cheated, okay? I agree they did. I'm not disputing at all anything that you just said. It also doesn't have anything to do with my point.

You know, they cheated. And so when I look at Aaron Judge, if he hit 61 or 62 or 63, I'm going to say, that's the guy. But also when it comes down to Pujols, is he the biggest star in baseball right now? No, I don't think Pujols, he's known. I don't think he transcends the game more than someone at this point of his career like Aaron Judge. A lot of that has to do with his longevity. He's been around for a long, long time. Talking on 20 years of Albert Pujols.

Debuted in 2001, add another year on top of that. And now we're seeing the end. I hope he gets a big bang on the way out the door.

I'd love to see it. Hey, Shep, thank you again for an amazing night, bro. Likewise, JR. Thank you, sir.

No doubt. Listen, you can always catch the show anytime. Hit rewind on the free Odyssey app. If you're in the car, Odyssey app. At work, Odyssey app.

Very simple, okay? We'll be back with you tomorrow. 10 p.m. Eastern time, 7 p.m. Pacific. Thank you to everybody that called in, everybody who texted, everybody who tweeted, all of that good stuff. Tomorrow, we'll talk some more NFL.

Damn it, if Aaron Judge hits another home run, we'll talk about that. We got you all covered. If you want to holler at me in the meantime, it's simple. You can follow me on every social media platform that is at JR Sport Brief.

If you're driving in a vehicle right now, just wait until later, okay? I ain't going anywhere. It's the JR Sport Brief show, and it's a wrap. We'll be back with you tomorrow. But right now, here on CBS Sports Radio, you shouldn't go anywhere. You want to know why? Because I told you not to.

And more importantly, it's because Amy Lawrence, she's coming up next. Have a good one and be safe. Thank you, shop.