You are listening to the JR Sport Brief. It's great to be with you, however and wherever you may be listening from. You could be in your car, you could be in your truck, you could be at work. like extraordinaire producer. Ryan Botcher and I.
I wanted to make sure I used and implemented correct grammar there. You could. Be getting us for free on the Odyssey app. You could be getting us on SiriusXM channel 375. It's great to be with you, and it's a good time to be joining us because we're at halftime right now.
We just started the second half. We got two more hours to go. We're gonna talk about Justin Fields and his New York Jets debut in the preseason. We are going to discuss what is taking place in the sport of baseball. Ryan Botcher You feel like Milwaukee's brewing?
Are you kidding me? Nine straight? 42 and 9. In their last 51 games, five games above everyone else in Major League Baseball, with a bottom one-third payroll, Ryan Botcher. the year that Bob Euke passes away, the great Bob Euchre.
This ain't an accident. This is not a coincidence. Milwaukee has not been to a World Series in my lifetime. 1982. And they lost in seven to the Cardinals.
Botcher, they've never won more than 96 games. They're on pace to win 101. Are you feeling Milwaukee, Ryan Botcher? If they didn't just sweep. My favorite team in the Mets, I would say, yeah, I'm feeling it.
But you got me on a bad day. If you called me on like Wednesday, I would have been all aboard the brew crew. By the way, The Mets had it. They were up 5-0 on Sunday. How do you lose that?
What are they lost? 7-straight now? Seven straight, and then it's, I think it's 13 of the last 14. That's embarrassing. What are they?
5.5 out of Philly? Yeah, 5.5. As of now, I don't know if Philly's playing tonight.
Well, you know, listen, the Milwaukee's got Freddy Peralta on the mound, and we know no one has won more games in Major League Baseball than Freddy Peralta this season so far. What a time. To be a Milwaukee Brewer fan. What a time to be a Toronto Blue Jay fan. Despite Shohei Otani's brilliance, hitting another home run, 41 at that.
The Blue Jays able to come back and be victorious when they're outscored 14-2 in the previous two games of this series. You saw the Toronto Blue Jays, you know, load the bases. Shohei Otani's up with one out. Mookie Betts is up with two out. They're one run behind.
They're able to close the door and cement themselves as the best team in the American League record-wise heading into this week. Kyle Raleigh joining Johnny Bench with 45 home runs, second most home runs in a single season by a catcher in MLB history. By the way, Johnny Bench, when he did have that 45-home run season, he was 23 years old in 1970. He was MVP that year. Just saying, Kyle Raleigh, if he batted more than 250, he might have a shot.
It's still going to be Aaron Judge as long as he stays healthy. But what a time in baseball. We will certainly talk more MLB as the show progresses. We'll get into a groundbreaking monumental Saturday in the sport of baseball that had nothing to do with what took place on the mound or at the plate. It had to do with what took place Behind the scenes in a complete transformative move that has been far too sought out and far too overdue, in my humble opinion.
We'll give you the details on Jen Powell making MLB history. Again, so much more to do on the busy program. We're going to get into, obviously, Justin Fields and the immediate impact he has had with the New York Jets, showing you why he is Lamar Jackson Michael Vick-esque. When the guy gets an opportunity and patience is actually thematic around Justin Fields, great things can happen to this young man. Still just 26 years old, got a raw deal in Chicago.
I thought got an even more raw deal in Pittsburgh. Finally, with a head coach that wants him there in first-year Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
So we're going to certainly talk the details about Justin Fields' preseason debut and there was some golf history made. It wasn't Scotty Scheffler, it wasn't JJ Spawn, it wasn't Tommy Fleetwood, even though I was rooting for the guy to be the greatest ever to never win a PGA Tour event. It was forty five year old Justin Rose, Coming to the rescue and and being outstanding. Down the final stretch with two birdies to close it out. We'll talk to 45-year-old Justin Rose winning on the PGA for the first time in two and a half years.
We'll discuss baseball. We'll get into JF, aka number seven, aka the Jets future. But before we do anything else, we've had people waiting patiently on the busy phone lines at 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476. Let's start with Alex in Miami.
What's up, brother? Always good to hear from my guy, Alex in Miami. How are you doing, sir? And what you got for us?
Okay.
Okay, Chef, like always, I have so much to talk about in so little time.
So let me get to it. What's here, brother? When it comes to the statue that you were talking about as far as Infinity Sports Networks, you can plead the fifth, and I understand that. But I think Jodie Mac is the guy you were talking about. That's a really great example.
I was that, you know what? He's on a very short list. Of guys who would be given a statue if Infinity. That's a good, that's a good topic, botcher. Like, I think that, like, because there's so many to choose from.
But j Joey. to make it fair. You could maybe do a Mount Rushmore like that. Nobody gets their feelings hurt. You know, I don't know if.
Because you can get away with having one, but then when there's four, then there's people that have gripes if they're not one of the four.
So I don't know if I can get away with that. But I do think an interesting topic would be: if you were to have a statue of someone at the Infinity Sports Network, who would the first person be? And I will tell you this, Alex: Jodi Mac. is on a very short list of guys that would be top of mind.
Well, th then you can do a Mount Rushmore with Siamese twins, include everybody and then nobody will be hurt. Yeah, but this can't be a participation trophy kind of thing. Like, this has to be selective. If I, I know, I know. If I, if, this is my Mount Rushmore, okay, this is just me.
Jody Mac. David Marinick Damon and Mandalora. Jim Rum. That would be my Mount Rushmore. Gelp is making a strong case.
Maggie and Perloff making a strong case. Bart, JR. Yeah. Yeah. You know, those, you know, there's, and there's, and there's plenty others.
Um I'm not going there. I'm pleading the fit on that one because I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings. Fair enough. Fair enough. By the way, Carl Dukes, Bill Ryder, like there's so many Scott Pharrell, shake it up.
There's so many guys that would be so many women. Amy Lawrence, obviously I mentioned Maggie Gray, who's been sensational for us in mornings, afternoons. I started with Maggie back in 2013 when her and Mark Malusis hosted shows on weekends.
So there are so many people. That's a great problem to have when there's too many people to put on a Mount Rushmore. Definitely, definitely. When it comes to mister Boscher, Uh J.R. used to call uh Mr.
Hickey. His um Is a super producer, and I think that Boscher is underrated, and he's there. I think he's a super producer as well. Alex, I have never worked a show, and this is true, and I've worked with extraordinary producers. You know all the people that I've worked with here.
I've never worked a show. We're in the middle of the show on top of taking calls, playing sound. making sure that we're in and out of breaks properly. The dude is also putting together audiograms. of commentary that I'm giving.
Who does that? I'm not even the namesake of this show and he's doing that. He even came back to me and told me to please hold patiently because you were talking to Marco. And I told him not to worry about it, that it's okay. And that's something that's very nice.
And a lot of producers do that. They get back to you and tell you, hold on, we're coming to you.
So, yes, he does a good job and he does many things at one time.
So you can definitely multiply.
So so so when when when when When we start when we started out as a network, Stu Kovacs the first year here was an intern. And I and uh do you know who Stu Kovacs is? Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. So he does a great job on the Zach Gelp show. I'm sorry? Yep. Yeah, they do a really good afternoon show together.
And Stu, I could tell, was on the fast track. And you can tell with certain people. Yeah. how high they're going to go. And how big of an impact they're going to have right away.
Ryan Botcher is in that track. Like when he got here, He was able to pick up on the DA show, which had a lot of moving parts. And he was able to pick up on the DA show within like a day and a half. Like he didn't even need the full three days of training. You could just tell the way he thinks and consumes sports radio.
is at an unbelievably high level. And the coolest thing about Ryan Botcher And I, you know, I don't. It's funny because he wears things so close to the vest. The coolest thing about him, Alex? is he has not developed one semblance of an ego.
The entire time he's been here. He is still. is low-key and down to earth. As the same day I met him. And Pacha, how long have you been here?
Three years now? It is three years in, well. Careers in December. It's the anniversary when Baker Mayfield Played for the Rams on his first game on three days round. By the way, I hope I've always been cool to you.
Yeah. Okay, good. Like, like, yeah, so to your point. This is someone that you knew would be on the fast track, and there's a reason why he's a full-time executive producer at I want to say 25 years old. 24.
Cheese. Alex To V24 again. To be twenty-four again? Yeah. That's a long time ago, Chef.
I don't even remember.
So so now that we've put together the Hall of Fame resume of Ryan Botcher, what else what else do you have for us?
Well, you're fitting some big shoes. You're fitting the shoes of a legend called JR. Yes. But those shoes fit you quite well. Thank you, brother.
Yes, sir. I want to get to my two topics of the day, and then I have a question for you. My two topics of the day are the fact that Shador Sanders Um is doing very well. And that there's, I did the math here. I have it in front of me, and I have reasons why, but I can't get into it because I have so little time.
Sure. But I think there's 25 teams that are going to regret not drafting it.
So that's okay.
So that's 25 of 31 teams, because obviously you don't include the 32nd with Cleveland.
So that is more than 80% of NFL teams. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. that's crazy. It is crazy, but it's it's reality.
When it comes to the Milwaukee Brewers, The Milwaukee Brewers Um Have a recipe for success. They run their bases well. They don't commit errors for the most part and don't beat themselves. They they um they have quality at vets. All their abets, if you come to think of them, are pretty productive for the most part.
And they develop their own pitching. Being in a small market, that's a recipe for success. Their manager is very underrated, Pat Murphy. People don't remember that Pat Murphy was one of the best. college head coaches.
of all time when it comes to college baseball. People also don't remember that he was there on the bench Behind Craig Console for those years that really, really helped them out a lot. I'm really, I'm really, Alex, I'm really glad you're bringing up this point of Pat Murphy. To your point. two plus decades spent.
as a manager in the NCAA. both with Notre Dame, and Arizona State. and didn't get. His first Full-time managing opportunity until he was 65 years old. This is a Disney-esque story.
You just don't see this happen. Like, I remember Jack McKeon with your Miami Marlins. You remember what happened in 2003? I think he was in his early 70s. I think he was 73 at the time.
That's what this reminds me of. Yes, sir. Um also um Look, the Milwaukee Brewers, to me, had the best logo in baseball. I love that M or that B. They also had the best mascot in baseball, which is Bernie Brewer.
So, therefore, my pick. Who I'm rooting for? Yes. The Milwaukee Bluers. Listen, the famous saying, Alex, it's tough not to be romantic about baseball.
Shout out to Brad Pitt and Moneyball. It's tough to not be romantic about the Brewers in 2025. And I have said this so many times, I will continue to say it. There is something really special. about them doing it the year that Bob Euchre passed away.
Definitely. They have to dedicate this season definitely to Bob Euchre. And I know that Bob Euchre is looking from a cloud up From heaven, looking down, looking at his I'm with you. Listen, I'm with you. I am with you.
There is, I cannot prove it. I cannot substantiate it in human terms, in human language. I truly believe in my heart of hearts that Euchre is having an imprint on this season, some way, shape, or form. I can't quantify how. But I know he's having an impact on this season.
I know his spirit. Is within this organization. I know it permeates throughout all of the brewers right now. And I just think he has his hand in this.
Now, is he. Who's I should know this. Who's the guy? Who pulls the strings in Pinocchio? What's the what's the what's the older gentleman's name with the white hair?
I should know this. The puppet master. I know the puppet. What's his name? Why am I not getting this?
He's not cool enough. Why am I not getting this? Because he's not that guy, but I do know he has a hand in what's going on. Why am I blanking on this? God, who is the guy that folds the strings of Pinocchio?
Why am I forgetting this? I can picture his face, but I I can't picture his name. God. I was going to say Gargamel, but Gargamel was with a Smurfs, I think. Yeah, yeah.
I'll come up with that. No, not Jiminy Cricket. Jiminy Cricket has a more vital role than the old man in that. Why am I forgetting this guy's name? Anyways, Alex, always good to hear from you, brother.
Great call. We will talk soon, my friend. Question for me. Go ahead. Bye-bye.
I'm your I'm one of your to go guy when it comes to South Florida sports. Yes. So I was wondering if you had a question for me regarding any of the teams or anything. I wanted to answer a question for you.
Well, I don't have a question for you. It would be manufactured because you I basically would be forcing a question, and I don't have any questions for you. What I will say is. is I'm excited about the marlins hovering around five hundred. I'm excited about the Miami Heat finally getting rid of Jimmy Butler once and for all and having a new era.
I'm excited about Tuatunga Iloa. and what's going to take place with Miami because we know he's a top ten talent whenever he's healthy. But I don't really have any questions. I probably should have questions. I probably should be more inquisitive.
If I had to think of one question The one question I would be is In what game is Mike McDaniel getting fired? That would be my question for you. Oh, Mike McDaniel will go. as far as tour takes them. If by any chance Tua has a healthy season, he might make it through the season.
If Tua goes down, Like my danny was going down with him. I agree. And while you're doing this, I'm trying to stall and come up with the name. Of the Yeah. Who is it?
Gapetto Geppetto? Geppetto! Geppetto? Yeah! Good call, botcher!
Now we know.
Now we know.
And they confused me. They confuse me for Goberto and San Diego. Yeah. So I hope that they don't confuse me for Geppetto either. No, no.
You're too young to be Geppetto, Alex. Great call as always, brother. We'll talk soon. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Alex.
Great to hear from you, Miami. Number to get aboard, 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. How did I blank on Geppetto? I won't blank on this name. Shoomy in Maryland.
Shoomy, hope you're having a good evening so far. What'd you want to say in terms of Eli Manning versus Philip Rivers? Who do you believe is going to be in the Hall of Fame first? Two things. Can you hear me?
Yeah, I can hear you. Shoomy, do me a favor. Just make sure you're off speaker and just make sure the windows are up as much as possible so we don't hear those heavy winds. Is that better? It's a little better.
Thank you, Shumi. Almost as good as Eli Manning's Hall of Fame case. Go ahead. Yeah. Number one, I disagree in that Eli Manning.
Did not be All those quarterbacks You mentioned. The giants Deep bits. Think those quarterbacks. You are manning really did have anything to do Without wealth those Other quarterbacks performed in the games. They're trying as defense to defense.
Did Wait a second, Shumi. We got to be fair to Eli Manning here. How was Eli Manning when he threw six touchdowns and just one interception in that 27? Super Bowl run. How was he when he had just one interception and nine touchdowns in that second Super Bowl run?
He outplayed all of those quarterbacks each time. He did.
Well this stuff. The other quarterbacks.
Well, he didn't stop them, but he outplayed them. I agree. He's not playing both sides of the football. But he was the guy. They was able to put up over three hundred yards and In back-to-back games against Aaron Rodgers and then Alex Smith, and then throw for 296 yards in that Super Bowl against New England for the second time.
And in both instances, he outplayed Eli Manning, Shumi. Excuse me, he outplayed Tom Brady. I would put out there that Their defense. Stopped. The other quarterbacks were performing as well.
He did not. I yeah, well, he didn't stop the other quarterback. We both agree on that, Shumi, but he outplayed. The opposing quarterback. That's my point.
But I hear you. Here's my next comment. Bradshaw. Pancrea. Brady.
Unite us.
Sonny Jurgenson.
Okay.
Eli Manning. The Zelite Manning belongs to the Z. in the same main group As those Quarterbacks Bail. I believe he is our manning. belongs in a hall a very, very, very, very good and he had two good years in a run.
But when I think of the Hall of fame. I don't think of Eli Manning in the same breath As Brad Shaw My trainer. And even think about these guys. The dominated era.
So you make a good point. Is he in the same vein, same breath, same vicinity, same league? As the all-time greatest quarterbacks to ever live. No, he's not going to be confused for Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady or Joe Montana or John Elway or Dan Marino. But shoot me.
But what my point is. Is that there's levels to this, there's tiers to this. Just because he's not an all-time great. Doesn't mean He shouldn't have his rightful place in Canton, Ohio. For example, when I look at an individual like Sonny Jugenson, you brought him up.
Sonny Jurgenson.
has a losing record. For his career, he was You know another guy? that has a losing record for his career that's in a Hall of Fame? I'll give you a hint. He liked to wear fur coats.
In his twenties and thirties.
Well, he got in because of one game.
Okay, so if that guy got in. Eli Manning should be in. That's my point. Is you have quarterbacks that are in the Hall of Fame. that couldn't hold Eli Manning's jackstrap.
And I know that's an analogy used all the time, but I had to use it there. Eli Manning, what he was able to do with his career in the most competitive quarterback era we've ever seen. He did it in the height of Ben Roethisberger and Philip Rivers and Peyton and Tom and Drew and Aaron. And breadth to some extent. I throw out Sonny.
Turkey said, I contend. That's Hall of Fame. should be reserved to the all-time greats. Not The really, really, really, really good On the bubble. If you consider it on the bubble, It should not be.
Yeah, and and sh and shoe me. I I'll tell you someone else I I'll tell you someone else I would have Eli Manning over. You want to talk about a guy that really benefited from the talent around him? And I'm not saying he was a bad quarterback, and I certainly would highlight him being very good. But you want to talk about the Hall of Very Good?
Why was Troy Aikman a first ballot Hall of Famer? Look look who he has to play with. Eli Manning had a better career than Troy Aikman did. I won't disagree with that. All right, good.
So I'm glad we're on the same page there. Shumi, we got to hit a break, man, but it was good to talk to you. It was, it was. Maybe Aikman shouldn't be in either. Maybe.
By your logic, he shouldn't be. And thanks for putting up the windows. And it was good talking to you, Shuma. You have a good rest of your evening, okay? Thanks, Chef.
Thank you, man. Good to talk to Shumi in Maryland. Number to get aboard: 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. Two things I've learned on the show: Johnny Unidas did, in fact, win a Super Bowl. That was Super Bowl V.
And There are people named Shumi. When we get back, we're gonna continue to take your calls. And speaking of New York Jets quarterback, no. We're not going to bemoan Joe Namath for having an under 500 record and still getting in the Hall of Fame. We're going to talk about another Jets quarterback.
who Gangrene is very much hoping. has a similar trajectory and arc of Of Joan Amath. That is Justin Fields, and so far, so good. We explain that next. We get to your calls.
We're coming right back. Shep, in for JR. Number to get aboard again: 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. Coming back in five minutes. You're listening to the JR Sport Brief.
Here's David Shepard.
Soul meets body. Death cow. Love the soundtrack on the JR Sport Free. This is David Shefford in for the great JR. Nobody get aboard, 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476.
Got a shout out. To Justin Fields, man. Unbelievable. Preseason game number one on Saturday with Gangrene. Aaron Glenn, very vocal about the starters getting the reps for preseason game number one.
And Justin Field only needed one possession to show you he is already in mid-season form. What a rhythm that he was playing with. Obviously, he has to dispel a lot of naysayers, a lot of critics out there that think this is going to be a failed experiment. But you saw very early on. how gifted he is as an athlete, not just the best quarterback.
on the field on Saturday, but the best athlete. He only needed one possession to score. He did it on a very impressive 13-yard run. It was not an RPO. It was not a specific design play.
It was out of a broken play. And this is what Justin Fields does when the pocket collapses and takes it easily to the house. 10th play of the drive. Garrett Wilson in motion. Fields looking in that direction.
Steps forward. Fields breaks a tackle. He's going to run. Fields, he's got the angle. Touchdown, Jets.
Justin Fields Does it himself Is that the bird band? The Birdman. W-L-N-Y. Wow. Man, Ian Ian is is he's in midseason for him, speaking of which.
Always is. Always great to hear I and Eagle on the call. Folks Get excited about Justin Fields. You saw him slice up the Packers going 3-4 from the field, 42 passing yards.
Meanwhile, Jordan Love, he was lucky just to complete a freaking pass. And I know it's preseason game number one, and I know we shouldn't get too, too hyped. But if you want to make a case that Justin Fields is going to have a career year, I would not tell you to slow down that roll. You saw what he did in Pittsburgh when he got an opportunity. You saw him go four and two.
The only losses came by three points each. And you saw what happened when they replaced him with Russell Wilson. Yeah, that backfired when the Steelers lost five straight to close out the season. We all know Chicago thought Caleb Williams was the prettier person. We all know they thought he was the more valuable quarterback in what happened.
They gave him more talent to work with. They ended up losing two more games than they did with Justin Fields in his last year in the Windy City. I'm excited to see. Justin Fields finally get an opportunity. with the jets because they're going to be patient.
They understand he's their quarterback, not just for a few games, but for the foreseeable future. And Justin Fields. When you are one of just three quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season, the other two being Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson, you know you're in really elite company. And when you can make plays like Justin Fields can make with his legs, You always have a chance to be in a game. Because sometimes the throws aren't necessarily going to be there, which she has struggled with at times.
We all recognize that. Not great at downfield passing ability. Not great at being able to get rid of the football in a timely manner. But those skill sets will come with time.
something he has not been afforded with Pittsburgh, was not necessarily afforded with Chicago. And Justin Fields understands, at twenty six years old, the way he is going to turn his career around. is to not pay attention to to the naysayers and the critics and the outside noise. The only people's opinion that matters to me is the guys in the building.
So my teammates, my coaches. But like I said, everybody's always going to have an opinion on you no matter if you're Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or you're someone else.
So like I said, I just focus on my teammates, focus on my coaches and just try to get better each and every day.
So, Justin Fields plays for an organization that it's well documented has the longest playoff drought of any North American professional sports franchise, 15 years and counting of not making it to be one of the final 14 teams. We all know in year two of Aaron Rodgers, even though he was too busy in Egypt during the preseason, They Heavily anticipated, That he would break the drought, a four-time regular season MVP, bringing in guys that he was comfortable with, and they end up getting worse. They somehow get worse. from Zach Wilson, which is saying something, they lose 12 games. They will not lose twelve games with Justin Fields.
That I promise you. And I do believe that in the right situation, in the right environment, with the right culture, you can have a quote-unquote quarterback. that is average or that has struggled. Have a breakout season. the two that I will always reference in recent memory.
Sam Darnold, and it's not lost on me. That these two quarterbacks happened to play for an incompetent Jets organization at the time. Sam Darnold was twenty one and thirty five in the first six seasons of his career. What does he do in season number seven? With a competent franchise, with talent around him, including the world's best wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, and a very competent, effective head coach and offensive play caller in Kevin O'Connell.
He wins 14 regular season games. What does Geno Smith do the first eight years of his career? We all know he was a career backup. We all know he won just 13 games in his first eight seasons. He goes to Pete Carroll, he goes to Seattle, he leads the NFL in completion percentage, he also leads Seattle to a winning record and a playoff appearance, something they could not do the season before with Russell Wilson.
You saw Justin Fields. Five passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, just one turnover in his time as a starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. And they handed the baton to Russell Wilson way too prematurely when they should have stuck it out with Fields. And to be honest with you, he should still be the quarterback at Heinz Field at 26 years old. Instead, they think Tomlin and Company and the Rooney organization believe that Aaron Rodgers, soon to be 42 years old, is the solution to having their first playoff win in eight years.
It's not. But Justin Fields, going to New York? they're going to get better. You saw what was able to transpire in the preseason when he was three of four and without question, better than Jordan Love. Of all the quarterbacks to changed teams in the offseason, And I've talked about this with Marco Belletti, We've mentioned Gino Smith.
We've mentioned even someone that doesn't get a lot of attention right now in J.J. McCarthy. A guy who's not obviously a rookie, but rookie in terms of being a first-year starter. He's going to make a significant difference because I believe he's an upgrade from Sam Darnold. There's a lot of quarterbacks that are new faces.
to an organization. I do not believe. anyone will have a bigger impact on their organization as a new quarterback than Justin Fields with Gang Green. Number to get aboard is 888-710-4ISN. That is 888-710-4476.
Assess the And do you believe It is a sign of things to come. that he will take that next step in his career. and be that effective quarterback. That can win and win big. And there is no franchise that is more deserving of that than the New York Jets, which again is not just the NFL longest playoff drought, but North American professional sports.
Longest playoff drought. Marco, before we hand it over. to your update. Um Do you like Aaron Boone's fifth ejection? Is that I don't know.
I kind of like the one with Las Diaz when he made fun of him from last year. That one's still his tops. Or how about the fan? How about the fan in the stands? You know, when the umpire goes to Boone, I don't want to hear another word.
And Boone says, okay. That's not bad. And the fan gets him ejected. There were still the savages in the box from a few years ago. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
He's had a few. That was a good day. He's had a few. It was a good day. Is there Are you sick and tired of the best is ahead of us?
We have a great opportunity. See, I don't get wrapped up into that. I'm more concerned with what's on the field and the way they actually go about their business. And the Yankees haven't done a good job of over the years. Cleaning up a lot of the messes that they leave out there.
The manager and what he's going to say to you, and the speak and the nonsense. Does it make you feel better if he comes out there? I mean, he's pounded the table. We got to be better than that. Does that make you feel better?
When they lose and they stake, none of it makes you feel good.
So I don't get too worried about the whatever the message is that's preordained that they come up with, you know, six weeks ago, three weeks ago, five hours ago. I don't care. I don't care. I'm tired of the same mistakes and I'm tired of the same bodies. bodies in the same places that you know can't play and you keep putting them out there.
That I'm tired of. You could always lose seven straight games like the Mets. It's the same kind of thing though. Like it makes you feel better because Carlos Mendoza sometimes says the right thing and then now when you're really losing, now he sounds like Aaron Balloon and he's saying we're just going to get better.
So like none of it makes you feel good.
So to me, like I don't get caught up in the, it sucks at the time, but it's really the idea of the bottom line to me and the preordained message because that's what it is. It's a message that they came up with the whole organization. That's why your manager is important because he's a good mouthpiece. If he's not good with the media, I don't care what market you're in, you're in trouble because he's what's delivering the message of your franchise. And the Yankee message is: stay the course, the ship is okay.
The Met message has been: stay the course, the ship is okay. If you're looking for old school fire, grimstone. Those days are gone because they know that that doesn't come out anything good either. You know, the days of ranting and raving, no one wants to hear that either because then all of a sudden you start looking at their organization and go, well, there's got to be changes. If I were to tell you that two of the three highest Payrolls in all of baseball are the two New York teams.
The Dodgers are number one. The Brewers have one-third of the payroll of both the Yankees and the Mets, and they are the best team in baseball with less than two months to go. What would you have told me two months ago? No, I mean, obviously. It'd be nuts and be absolutely insane.
Look, the Brewers you knew were solid. You wouldn't expect them. Nobody expected them to be this good. They were a 93-win team last year. People forget that.
Well, that's what I mean. And they did make some changes. They did get rid of some players.
So there was the idea, though. And last year was, oh, well, they can't keep this up. They've shown you over the years, the last, I don't know, 10 years, they've done a nice job of being consistently inside this race. They don't do much in the playoffs, and that obviously has to be something that has to be corrected, but they're in it every year and they do a lot of new faces. They run their organization well, and that's important.
Those are the things, like the raise of over the years, last few years, notwithstanding. The Brewers are a well-run organization, and that you'll see on the field. Then it has to lead to postseason success. Then we'll see it. It's unbelievable what the Brewers have been able to pull off.
And to your point, we obviously know they were close in an NL Central appearance when they made the NLCS not too long ago, but they cannot have a season like they did last year when they're about to play, at least in the divisional round, and they give up a three-run homer up to nothing to the polar bear in the ninth inning. Number to get a board, 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. We will get to all your calls on the other side. We're certainly going to talk about a transformational and monumental weekend this baseball passed. And what we're going to get to is something that didn't happen on the diamond.
It happened in terms of an umpire. We get to that next. We get to your calls. But before we do anything else, let's get to the aforementioned Sports Flash. Here's Marco Valletti.
Ah That's the sound of James adding long-lasting gain scent boosters to his laundry this morning. Several hours later, James sniffs the irresistible scent of gain on his shirt. Ah, game. Several hours later, James has even caught the attention of his mother-in-law, and she never gives him attention. Ooh, you smell amazing, James.
Oh, thanks, Mom. I love you too. Hm, I never said that. Add Gain Scent Boosters to your laundry. Add joy to your day.
You're listening to the JR Sport Brief. Here's David Shepard.
Welcome back, everybody. This indeed is David Shepard on the Infinity Sports Network. Number to get aboard 888-710-4ISN-888-710-4476. If you cannot reach us on our busy phone lines, you can always get us at SHEP on Air. Ryan Botra, how can people follow you on social media?
Ryan Botcher 4. Very good. Very good. Ryan Botcher, why four? Because everything in life should be four quarters?
No, because I was the fourth person to sign up on X or Twitter.
Okay, name Ryan Botcher. Got it.
Well, Ryan Botcher, the fourth, and David Shepard, want to remind everyone this portion of the show is brought to you by Wesley Financial. Stuck in a timeshare and one out. Contact Wesley Financial Group now and get a free timeshare extra information kit at wesleyfinancialgroup.com. When we get to the top of the hour, we're going to continue to take your calls. And there was a transformational, monumental shift in baseball.
And it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the play on the field. It has to do with leadership changes within the game. We'll get to that at the top and also discuss the biggest themes that have taken place in baseball over the last 24 hours. Before we do anything else, let's get back to our busy phone lines. Let's get to Richard in Atlanta.
Richard, I appreciate the patience, man. How are you doing and what you got for us? My brother from another mother. Hey, Richard, it's been great. It's been a minute, man.
I didn't realize this was you from Atlanta. I just figured it was another Richard from Atlanta. How you been, man? I'm good. I'm working hard at the VA Hospital.
Thank you, my brothers and sisters.
So, Bacher, I don't know if you guys play it a lot. I'm sure you do.
So, one of the rejoins you have Is Richard from Atlanta. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I play it.
Okay, you play it all the time. Yeah, Richard, man, it's good to hear your voice, brother. Good to be heard too, my brother. Also too, I love it when you're on the air because When you want, just say J.R., I'm all ears. Appreciate it, man.
JR's yeah, JRs does a great show. Always a pleasure to be in for him. And I know that's right, the good to hear your voice too. But I remember we go way back. Yes, we do.
That's right, man. JR and I go way back. We've been working together for the last five years.
So, yeah, man.
So, Richard. Being in Atlanta, you saw Eli Manning. Completely outplay Matt Ryan in the playoffs. You know How good Eli is when push comes to shove, when his back is against the wall, when the stakes are the highest.
Okay.
I not know, and that and that's true. I mean, 'cause think about it. He had two Super Bowls that we won.
Okay? How the first one, he how he escaped. Guess what? He did it. You gotta get that ball too, Tyrese down there in the head on the top of his head.
So hey. I mean, give it all, give it what you think, say what you want to say about Philip Rivers. But I still think Eli has it. He got my vote. He should be in the Hall of Fame.
In fact, he should have been in it last year. I'm with you, not just because he had a career that's Hall of Fame worthy. But because of who got voted in, like the only guy that is worthy of being in the Hall of Fame over Eli was Antonio Gates. The thing I feel bad for when it comes to Eli Manning is this upcoming 2026 class. I mean, it's murderer's row.
You got four locks. Absolute locks.
So Eli is probably going to have to wait at least another year. Yeah, and unfortunately that's the way the ball That's the way the the the hall of fame crumbles. And they shouldn't talk about irregular. I agree. I agree.
And I'm as big a Mariana Rivera fan as you will find, but there's no way the only unanimous Hall of Famer. in the history of Major League Baseball. should be a guy who's a reliever. Over an everyday positional player. That doesn't seem right.
And I'm as big a Mariano fan as you will find. And shout out to Mariano, man. Hope he recovers from unfortunately suffering an Achilles injury during Yankees Old Timers' Day as he was going after a fly ball.
So we wish him the very best. But with all that being said, Ichiro, Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr., eventually Alvar Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, they are without question. First Ballot Hall of Famers and the Hall of Fame If they don't have Alper Pujols as unanimous, Richard, I promise you, I will spend an entire show. On completely revamping the Hall of Fame, if that's the case. That is my promise to you.
Richard, continue to do God's work at that hospital, my friend. Always great to hear from you. You have a great rest of your Monday, okay? You too, my brothers. Thanks, thanks.
Stay blessed. Yay! Stay blessed as well. You know, speaking of blessed. How about the Yankees and Jean Carlos Stanton?
the way that this guy has performed. You know, he's about to be thirty six years old? And you look at what he has been able to pull off, I mean, he's got four home runs in his last nine games. It's about time someone other than Aaron Judge carries the load for the New York Yankees.
So it's good to see the Yankees actually up in a game, but then again, they're playing the Minnesota Twins. Usually that's the case against any Minnesota Twins opposition. Nobody get aboard 888-710-4ISN, 888-710-4476. When we get back, we will take your calls and we will talk about an incredible and monumental weekend in Major League Baseball. And off the field.
We explain next. The Good Shepherd in for the JR Sport Frief on the Infinity Sports Network. We got another hour to go, folks. We're coming right back. Mm-hmm.
