Levi Weaver: Aaron Judge Is Breaking The Sport Of Baseball

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For the ones who get it done. This is the Rich Eisen Show. You think it don't stop. With guest host, Andrew Siciliano. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

Andrew Siciliano. How the hell are you? Hi, Pazan.

How you doing, man? The Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show, host of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast, Ross Tucker. Coming up, baseball writer for The Athletic, Levi Weaver.

Six-time NFL Pro Bowler, Gerald McCoy. And now, sitting in for Rich, it's Andrew Siciliano. I need a new show to watch.

I'm not saying that you need a new show, like you shouldn't stay and watch this show. Hi, my name is Andrew. I'm in for Rich today and tomorrow.

I'm saying last night, while eventually settling on Shohei hitting home runs and watching the last three innings of the Dodger game, it hit me. Actually, Sunday. I don't, now that The Last of Us is over, I don't have a show to watch right now. So, I am open to suggestions as we open this hour. That's not going to be the whole hour. Levi Weaver will join us shortly. We'll talk baseball. Like, is Aaron Judge the greatest human to ever swing a bat? I don't think he is.

I think it's maybe Shohei, but like, we'll have that conversation. Right-handed hitter, I think, is up for debate. How did Jack Caglione fall to the sixth overall pick? Like, really? Seems irresponsible, like Jaywin Carter dropping to ninth.

Yeah. Like, I am not in any way a bitter Travis Bazana dater. I'm not. I think he's going to be great. He's got an oblique injury. We'll see him in six weeks. That's not the point. But anyway, we'll talk baseball coming up and- Why is Roman Anthony still in AAA?

Yeah, exactly. You should follow the show, email the show, because I don't have this printed. Brockman, Chris Brockman, everybody. Can you get the particulars out on how to get to this television, radio, hybrid- We are available everywhere on all your social media, and also give us a call, 844-204-RICH, if you want to play the win-loss or you got some questions about Andrew's travel habits or what he's been hiking recently, or if you want to talk to TJ about the Mets. Like, just give us a call. Meet the Mets. Greet the Mets.

Come right out and beat the Mets. Except they didn't last night. You're not calling tonight, TJ. When are you going? Last night. When can people expect you at- Maybe Wednesday or Thursday, trying to figure it out. Hi, TJ.

You should go to both games, honestly. Good day to you. Helmet nachos. Helmet nachos? Are you the helmet nacho or the ice cream sundae and the mini helmet? Mike Del Tufo, whose fantasy football team is named helmet nachos.

Good day to you, sir. I'm putting out all these fun polls today. Helmet nachos or mini helmet ice cream.

Maybe I got to do some- I got to record something else. And then I think I am going to go to the Dodger game tonight. Dodger's Mets.

Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Towing the rubber, as they say. Sportscaster phrase. No one ever uses that in real life.

No one ever- no one ever- no one ever says that. If you played baseball, you're not like, I'm towing the rubber tonight. No one ever says, hey, um, you want to go to the game tonight? I think I got tickets. You want to go to the game tonight?

Let me write back. Who's towing the rubber? No one says that.

That would be great. Sportscaster phrase. It's like, who's manning the hot corner tonight? Max Muncie's been on fire. Exactly.

Brett Beatty, TJ. Yeah. It's like, no one ever says, did you see that Web gem? It's- it's- ESPN tried hard to make Web gem a thing. Did you see that play Lindor just made? Oh, my God, what a catch.

Or, yeah, no one ever says, so Lindor just flashed the leather. I'm only going to text you those from now on. I used to lose my mind when I was at FSN 15 years ago, 18 years ago, whatever it was, doing the final score. You're doing like six shows a night, right? All the highlights coming in, you know, partials, three plays, whatever. And not losing my mind, like in an angry, like sports center. This is sports center commercial way, like sending shot sheets back, right?

Although maybe, maybe I had some sarcasm every now and then. But like the people cutting highlights who have probably now moved on to Emmy winning executive careers that I'm now begging, begging for jobs from, right? Exactly.

I'm talking to Hoskins right now. Like they'd write top of the third, same score, watch Carlos Bierga flash the leather. No one has ever said that out loud. Like that's what the sports center anchor said this morning.

And like, nobody speaks like this. Is that the greatest team of your favorite teams to never have won? Say that again. The 95 Indians. Is that your favorite team or the best team of the teams you root for that never won? The 95 team was great. The 97 team, 97 team was, was 97. Probably 97 team got to a game seven, right? 95 team lost in five, 97 had a lead in the ninth inning in Miami in game seven. And then Joe Table blew it, partly because Tony Fernandez booted a ground ball to open up the ninth inning. Jose Mesa.

Joe, yeah, Jose Mesa, Joe Table. And so, I mean, you could argue that team was better. They had a lead in the ninth inning. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You could also argue the team that got screwed by a Fox rain delay in 16 was, was better and had Fox rain delay. Are you calling the fix? I'm not calling the fix. I'm calling the Fox. No, I'm kidding. I, I joke.

We're all friends. MLB calls rain delays, not networks in all seriousness, but they would have, and I, I, I will go to the grave. They would have won that game if not for that eight minute rain delay. Eight minutes? It was a little odd. Twelve minutes, whatever it was. It was odd.

It was odd when it happened. Okay. We are doing right now what I said during a break last hour, we would not do.

And that is immediately go off the rails to open it up. I know. We've had this conversation. We've done it two hours in a row, so why stop now? So let's reset. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hi, seven past the hour.

My name is Andrew Siciliato. Let's get to the NFL. Okay. And let's run down some headlines. Every team, pretty much every team is in the building this week. It's OTAs. It's mandatory minicamp next week. You're also hearing from most of, if not all of the coaches this week, including among others, D'Amico Ryans and Brian Schottenheimer and Matt Lafleur and Kevin Stefanski speaks tomorrow. He also spoke yesterday at the Browns Charity Golf Tournament, Westwood Country Club in Cleveland. Speaking today, Brian Callahan, whose team has number one, the number one overall pick in Cam Ward. Also number two, no primetime games nor standalone window games this coming season.

However, by the end of the year, if they're good, maybe they do work their way into a standalone window because they have a quarterback in Cam Ward who I think is going to be pretty, pretty special. Here's Brian Callahan this morning. It's just the recognition part, understanding what's being thrown at him from a defensive perspective. The protection game is always really important, so you're getting reps at that. Today's a big third down day, so he'll see lots of different pressures.

Understanding where your answers are. Those things have progressed. Happy with that process so far. And then you're just seeing different types of space and field defense throws that maybe he might have made in college that don't show up in the NFL the same way, and he's learning from those. I think it's been great. He's had a lot of learning that has occurred from just the act of doing and things that he's maybe used to doing that are different at this level, and that's always, for young quarterbacks, the case.

It's always going to feel different. So pleased with where he's at. He's picking it up pretty quickly as far as the mental part goes, and we're learning every day he's out here. Brian Callahan, head coach, Tennessee. Schedule not easy. They're open in Denver, then they're home to the Rams week two. That is an odd week two game.

Rams at the Tennessee Titans, week two, 1 o'clock Eastern, CBS. But I believe in Cam Ward. Now, I don't necessarily believe in the entire roster around Cam Ward, but I think we're going to see pretty early. Like that week one game, Bo Nix, year two, let's see what the Broncos can do. That is a sneaky, fun start to the year for both teams.

That's not even sneaky. That is a fun week one game. And if we're at the point, I think we are, at least for your favorite team, like, hey, Cowboy fans know they open, right?

In Philadelphia in the opener, right, in the big one. And Browns fans know they get the Bengals, as they did in 2023 when they went to the playoffs in week one at home in Cleveland, right? You know your team's week one, probably know your team's week two. You probably haven't paid attention to the Titans and the Broncos unless you're in Tennessee and Denver for week one.

But yeah, no one's good. I'm super high in Denver this year. And so I'm really excited for your two Bo Nix, Sean Payton, their additions on defense and free agency. I think they're a sneaky team to kind of make some noise. I mean, they made the playoffs a year ago and they actually had a fun first quarter in Buffalo before the wheels came off.

Sure did. So, yeah, that's a good one. Keeping an eye on the AFC South, because the AFC South, let's face it, it's not the NFC South, but you look at the division, you go like, eh, what's Indy? I don't know yet. Jacksonville, Travis Hunter, yay, fun, but really, are they any good? It's Houston, right? It's got to be Houston.

There's a little concern. I don't hear it from Houston. Honestly, I hear it more from, sorry, I'm not being dismissive of fantasy football. I'd love to meet some fantasy football. I hear it more from like fantasy people. Is CJ Stroud OK?

And you hear it from Texans fans as well. But it is very early. CJ Stroud's really not doing anything. It's not throwing.

They're calling it a peck issue. Not throwing. Do we have D'Amico here, Hoskins?

Let's play D'Amico. First off, I know everybody's going to ask. First, CJ not throwing again. There's no concerns with CJ. It's just general soreness. We're taking extra precaution with him, but he'll be good to go.

No concerns on my end there. General soreness. Me too.

Yes. My body every day. Every time I wake up in the morning, general soreness. General soreness. I believe that was one of the GI Joes I collected as a kid. General soreness.

He had the kung fu grip. That's being 44 with a toddler. There really is no such thing. That's not true. I would not be overly concerned about a quarterback not throwing in June. But it's something to note. You know, in years past, it's been the, hey, Matthew Stafford's really not throwing in June. And we're going to ease him in in July.

And then during the season, you're like, yeah, maybe his arm's not right. So I think it's something to monitor. Let's put it that way. And if there's any issue there, that is a wide open division.

I think it's a wide open division regardless, because I do think Jacksonville is a fascinating team. What does Liam Cohen do with Travis Hunter? And how do they unlock, if they can unlock, Trevor Lawrence? Massive year for Trevor Lawrence. Massive, massive, massive year for Trevor Lawrence. Year two of that big money on the contract. Do you think, like, last chance saloon for Trevor Lawrence?

I don't think it's last chance saloon. But if it doesn't go well here, look, you went out and you got the offensive-minded head coach, right? You got him, Travis Hunter. You're trying to- Brian Thomas Jr. was one of the best wide receivers in the draft last year. Brian Thomas Jr., yeah. All the focus on Malik Nabors, look at Brian Thomas last year. Look at what Brian Thomas did. Just put on the tape.

Forget about the numbers. Just put on the tape. Like, there is a dude. I saw him in person week two. Browns won that game, but like, oof.

Okay, that guy's different. Imagine, again, I know you guys have done this. Jayden Daniels, Brian Thomas, Malik Nabors, how that team lost?

I have no idea. They lost four games, right? Right. Like, how did that team lose? Those guys? Anyway, the AFC North is clearly the Texans division, but I would keep an eye.

I'm sorry, the South. Keep an eye on that injury down there in Houston. Other headlines around the NFL today. The Aaron Rodgers thing is still very much a waiting game. We had Ross Tucker on earlier. Ross Tucker's like, maybe it's not going to happen. Like, if not now, then when?

And I've said the same thing. And I do think there is something there to unpack. Understanding that he may have already told the Steelers he's coming, he's dealing with some personal stuff off the field. Everyone is, but what we hear, it is kind of significant with people close to him. He'll be there when he is there and there's no concern.

Okay, that's fine. Or maybe he feels that like the Steeler fans don't love him and that is important. And do you want to be someplace where it doesn't feel right? And if it doesn't feel right at this point, he's a man, he's 40, he's 41, really, isn't he? Or about to be 41. Like at this point, if it doesn't feel right, then don't do it. Don't do it.

41, he'll be 42 in December. Okay, there you go. Then don't do it. Just wait, just wait.

Wait for the phone to ring. And that is okay. It truly is okay. Down in Miami today, Mike McDaniel said that he does expect John O'Smith to be on the team this year. Okay, that's fine.

I expect the sun to set in the west this evening as well. I mean, it is the right thing to say. The flip side of that is they have been pretty clear that Jalen Ramsey is not necessarily going to be here.

So when you do say that you expect a player to be here, then you probably should take him at his word. In Minnesota yesterday, Sam Darnell threw two interceptions in the red zone. Oh, look out. I mean. Do you like the OTA stat tracking of quarterbacks in the, you know, like as much as I do?

Not in Minnesota, Seattle, in Seattle. Do you like all this when the writers do this? So two things can be true. I do think it's interesting to note, like I would like to know that he threw two picks in the red zone. Sure, sure.

But no, I don't think it matters that much. And the breathless reporting of quarterback completion numbers from OTAs is silly. I'll put it that way. I'll clean it up. Is silly. However, there is an insatiable desire to know.

Like I want to know and you want to know and the fans want to know. So I get it. Like we're feeding the beast and without fans that want to know, none of us have jobs. So I get it. Like we're doing the right thing. Totally get it. I just caution against the over analysis of these numbers. That's fair.

Like, I'll give you a perfect example. Let's transition to the Browns. For those who don't know, I do the games for the Browns on the radio here. I am not there this week for OTAs. They have an OTA today. And the Browns will be back on the practice field tomorrow.

And Kevin Stefanski and Jim Schwartz and Bubba Ventrone and a bunch of players will be talking tomorrow as they did last Wednesday when Joe Flacco's comments were totally blown out of proportion. I was there for rookie mini camp. I saw both days of practice.

I stood on the field and watched Dylan Gabriel and Chidor Sanders throw the football. They both had really good moments. We were like, all right, I see it.

There it is. And they both had moments. We're like, yeah, they're rookies.

Perfect example. Chidor's very first snap, his very first day at rookie mini camp, he bobbled it coming away from center because hey, you're under center. That's different from most college quarterbacks making the transition. And then with the rush getting to him because he was late getting away from the line, he backpedaled, backpedaled, and then kind of like lofted it like 15 yards down, like to the sideline. And if that were a game, you were like, oh my God, it would have been like a disaster pick.

And you're like, oh my God. But that was the very first play. From that point on, he looked great. And then he was throwing touchdowns. He was throwing back shoulders to local kids who ended up getting signed on the spot because they were tryout players.

So all of the above is true. Both he and Dylan Gabriel had good moments and they had rookie moments. Also true, both of them had been exemplary in the building and on the podium, both in the classroom, in the community with their teammates, with all the staffers in the building.

No one's saying a bad word. I've done sit downs with both Dylan Gabriel and Shadore, blown away by them both. Thought they were great. I knew Dylan a little bit. I did an Oregon game last year, had a production meeting with him last year, had interviewed him previously as well on the radio. I'd pay the guy to be my therapist. I think he's that mature.

Shadore had never met him. Obviously worked with dad back in the day, broke the ice with that. Was very impressed by him. He's got a million dollar smile, but there's some deep thoughts behind that smile. He's got a lot to say. He's introspective.

I think he's got a great broader perspective on life. At one point during the interview, you could see it on all the Cleveland Browns social channels on their YouTube. I tweeted the whole thing as well. I put it on threads as well.

I put it on blue sky as well. I thought at one point it was really telling he looked at the camera and kind of spoke to young athletes, kind of took a left turn and cautioned young athletes about the perils of social media. I was beyond impressed with my first interaction with the guy. Spent about 15 minutes with him.

Very, very impressed. But back to your initial question, the reporting of what happens in OTAs breathlessly and somehow using that to determine on a show, which is what we're doing right now, understandably, somehow determining right now who's going to start week one is beyond foolish. It is so foolish. It is June 3rd, okay?

It is June 3rd. Well, take the Browns, for example, they have a joint practice with the Eagles. They have a joint practice with the Panthers. They have three preseason games that this year truly do mean something. Truly do.

Let it play out. They will each, those rookie quarterbacks and Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco. They will each have a moment, moments to shine.

Okay? And like look at Sam Darnold's red zone picks yesterday. Are they bad for Sam or is it, hey, good for Julian Love? Let's praise the defender who made one of those picks.

Sure. Dylan Gabriel's pick day two at rookie mini camp. Do you knock Dylan Gabriel? Yeah, he could have made a better throw. Or do you praise the 33rd overall pick, Carson Swessinger, the linebacker at UCLA who made a nice play? Like there's another side to that bad play for that quarterback.

How about the first pick night two getting a pick in his second practice in the NFL? It goes both ways. Yeah, but I ain't about that.

But let's scream on TV about how the quarterbacks should be seated on the depth chart. Yeah. For who, for what? It don't matter.

Okay, coming up. You know what? Lucky for us, we'll ask Gerald McCoy what he thinks of all this. He will be here. The buck legend, the star, the wingman on game day morning.

Game day morning, Gerald McCoy coming at everybody on the Rich Eisen Show. Oh, I beg your pardon, Levi Weaver. I can't hear you, man. I'm sorry. We're gonna talk baseball. We're gonna talk baseball. My apologies.

Sorry, I can't hear you. Let's talk about Brunt work boots, people. When I got my set of Brunt work boots sent to my house, opened the box, my first thought was, wow, these look amazing.

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Thank you. This episode brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever find yourself playing the budgeting game, shifting a little money here, a little there, and hoping it all works out? Well, with the name your price tool from Progressive, you can get a better budgeter and potentially lower your insurance bill too. You tell Progressive what you want to pay for car insurance and they'll help find you options within your budget. Try it today at progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Price and coverage match limited by state law.

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Navy Federal is insured by NCUA. Tell everybody, Jack, who your godfather is. Who's your godfather? Ron Shelton, who is the writer of Bull Durham, a movie that made me exist. So, I'm here because of that film. So why not have him as the godfather of your child?

Absolutely, cosmic all-stars. What is it like to have Ron Shelton as a godfather? I mean, as I got older and realized all the movies he had written and directed, I mean, as I did what he does, it really became more of a resort. We get lunch a lot now and I really like the guy, he's amazing. Okay, how are you introduced to him to Bull Durham?

How was that introduced to you? Well, I went to audition for Ron, I did really well, and then the agent says, you did really well, but you gotta go through it. And so, then I went out and met Kevin and pitched through the ball around with him. So, the catch that you had to conduct in order to get the gig was with Kevin Costner? Yes. Where, do you remember? Out at Warner Brothers Studios out in the valley. Just on the lot? Outside, yeah, outside the bungalow. Yeah, outside a bungalow there, yeah. So, people are driving their golf carts around you while you're trying to have a catch with Kevin Costner?

Yeah, and I was like, okay, no, don't break any windows. That's right, because you are a new Glelush, you're supposed to throw it in any direction right there. You know, he was written as a lefty. Right. And Ron decided that, you know, he wanted me, so it turned into a right thing. That kind of ruined the movie, though.

If only he was a lefty, that would have really taken us to the next level. Be careful what you wish for, because you might not exist. That's right. Yeah. You know, if you think about it, you boil it all down. Yeah, I mean, I'm glad you got the part.

I'm glad you memorized your lines that day. Yeah. Ouch. Wow. That was a fast ball.

That was a new Glelush fast ball high and tight right there. Yeah. It is the Rich Einsohn Show, everybody. My apologies, Gerald McCoy's next hour.

Levi Weaver's coming up this hour. You can make all the jokes you want. Sometimes I have trouble hearing. That's right. I'm giving you permission in this one instance. What is the joke there?

I don't get it. In this one instance, I am giving you permission. That's cause you're short. This one instance... This one instance, if you want to hear me, I'm gonna give you permission.

Yeah. I am giving you permission. That's cause you're short. This one time. It's cause you're short. I got it.

This one time I will give you permission. Fell asleep watching the Dodger Met game last night. Mets eventually wanted extra innings. Frankie Lindor, also known as Francisco Lindor, lead off home run. Great stop, diving stop, saving a run in the ninth inning as well.

Yeah. Also a home run that has not yet come down from Shohei Ohtani. Joining us now from the athletic writes the windup every day.

Just Google it with Ken Rosenthal. Levi Weaver, not Gerald McCoy. I apologize, Levi. Joining us to talk baseball. How are you, man? Good to see you. I'm good.

I'm good. I can't believe it's June already. We're doing it at this point.

We're going to have the all-star game soon and then, you know, track the deadline and we're just rolling right through it. Yeah. That actually hit me last night when I couldn't sleep as well. I had one of those like fall asleep for an hour. Then you like wake up like startled, like thinking you're falling in a bad dream and they can't get back to sleep for four hours. And I started actually, this is when I can't sleep. I look at like the guardian schedule and think, hey, should I fight a Sacramento for that game in two weeks?

I've never been to that ballpark. And it hit me as well, in all seriousness, man, it's June, right? So it actually matters. Like you can look at the standings now and say, all right, this is significant. This actually matters. You could look at Aaron Judge's numbers and say, he's hitting 391 and he's on pace for like 250 hits or something, Levi.

This actually matters. If an alien landed tomorrow, how would you describe Aaron Judge to him? Man, does this alien have a lot of time? Because I think it requires context.

I don't know where that question came from, but you get my point. Well, yeah, because if an alien lands, you're like, this dude is gonna maybe hit 65 home runs. And they're like, all right, two things. What's a home run?

What does the word dude mean? Like, my brain is like, we're gonna have to really get granular with this and explain the context of just, here's 150 years of baseball history. And now let me tell you that this guy is breaking the sport. I remember being a little kid and when I really first got into baseball, you start to realize the history of the game and I was like, man, what must it have been like to be alive when Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays were both playing this game at the same time? That had to have just been the apex of baseball fandom, like nothing against Cal Ripken Jr. and Daryl Strawberry. But if I could have just seen Mantle and Mays at the same time, I don't worry. I don't wonder about that anymore because now I'm watching Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani and I'm like, these are two of the greatest stars in the history of the sport and they're playing at the same time.

And we get to watch them play against each other on Friday nights. They did something that nobody has ever done before, which was the two reigning MVPs, both hit a home run in the first inning of the same game. Baseball's been around since 18 forever.

Never happened before. And we didn't have, you know, interleague play for a lot of years. So, you know, it's the first time since 1997, which isn't quite as impressive, but it's still like watching these two guys play at the same time.

It breaks my brain. I feel very fortunate to not just write about baseball, but to be able to watch baseball at this point in history. I think it's a great time to be a baseball fan.

Yeah. And you and I are kind of close to the same age. I'm older, but I feel the same way. When I was a kid, I used to go through the Baseball Encyclopedia every night, listening to a game on the radio every night before extra innings. And I would go through and look at some of these ridiculous numbers from days gone by. And this was the era where nobody was hitting 50, like Cecil Fielder hit 50. And that was like the, oh my God, like you would gather your friends after school to talk about Cecil Fielder's home run at Tiger Stadium. And now- Nobody's done this since George Foster. Exactly. And dad, tell me about George Foster.

Well, he really wasn't that good, but he hit 50. Okay, right. And now you have these two guys and they're not the only two guys in baseball, clearly. But if it just hit me watching the series over the weekend, like if we could get Yankees, Dodgers, and I know the average baseball fan, like you have your favorite team and there are other teams, not the Yankees and the Dodgers. And to be quite frank, as a Guardians fan, having gone to all three games of the ALCS last year in Cleveland, by the time it got to Yankees and Dodgers, I was so done with it, I didn't want to watch anymore.

Right? I'm over the Yankees. I was sitting there in the first row when Juan Soto hit the home run. I'm still bitter and like, I didn't want to watch. But then watching this on Friday, you're like, baseball ratings would be through the roof if you could get like this mid season product into people's veins more frequently. Yeah.

I mean, yes. And from the standpoint of somebody whose job relies on people caring about baseball, right? Like I write a national baseball newsletter. We're going to get more opens when it's Yankees Dodgers. The flip side of that is that I grew up as a Rangers fan. And I remember when the Sunday night baseball game of the week, every week was Yankees Red Sox. So I'm like, yeah, I get it. Like I know Pedro Martinez hates Don Zimmer.

Got it. I've seen that clip 5,000 times. I wanted to see, I would love to see a world series that's like Mariners Brewers. Like that would light up my little baseball heart. You're right though. If the point is to get in more casual fans, you're not going to get your best friend's sister into baseball by being like, so this is Bryce Terang.

He's not that great, but he's really fast and he's super good at defense. And she's sitting there with the alien and they're like, what's a gold glove? What's a silver slugger? This man is not making any sense to either of us. The alien's dating your friend's sister now. That was quite a tangent. To your point, I want to see the weird teams play each other. But yeah, you're right. I mean, it's remarkable to see these two teams. And of course it's the Yankees and Dodgers, right? Like you couldn't get Aaron Judge on the Rays and Shohei Ohtani, well, he was on the Angels for a while.

They didn't really pan out for them. Yeah, I mean, it's entertaining to sit back and watch. The whole sport is watching people who aren't even huge baseball fans are watching.

Yeah, exactly. It's why I'm going tonight. I couldn't go over the weekend, but going tonight to see Kershaw against the Mets. Levi Weaver from The Athletic joining us. And if you want those small market teams, turn on the NBA finals. They are about to tip off Indianapolis and Oklahoma City.

But Walt, you mentioned it. Let's talk about those other teams. Like as a guards fan, I don't know that the Tigers have lost a game this year. Every time I look at the scoreboard, the Tigers have won.

Like last night, the game was over I believe in the second inning. They won again. They got to 40.

They're the first to 40, 40 and 21. Your average fan, those fans we just described, Levi, most of them can't name a Tiger. Well, if you can't name Tarek Skubal.

Okay, fair. You have him in two Tigers. Okay, two Tigers.

Name two Tigers. I mean, I don't be honest with you. Your average fan will look at his name on paper and sound it out and be like, am I saying it the right way? Oh yeah. No, I remember that year of my life when he was fairly new and I was like, is it Tariq?

How are we saying this? Here's another name people would recognize on the Tigers, Javi Baez, because he was on that Cubs team in 2016 and he's had kind of a big comeback year. Like who would have expected Javi Baez like star center fielder for the Detroit Tigers. Last year they were like, what are we going to do with this contract? What are we going to do with this guy?

Like we can't, it doesn't look good to just cut him, but like he's not doing great. And now he's producing for them. And he's been one of a few surprises. I think we knew after they made the playoffs last year that the Tigers were going to be good. I didn't know Javi Baez was going to be good. I wasn't sure if Spencer Torkelson was going to be a bust. It kind of looked like it last year. He's back. He's been very good this year. Casey Mize is back and he's really good this year.

So, I mean, here's a fun little set that I looked at yesterday. According to fan graphs, the AL war leaderboards. Now Cal Raleigh is far ahead. He's having a historic season in Seattle. The second most valuable catcher in the American league is a guy named Dylan Dingler. That's a fun name to say to a casual fan. If we think Tarek Skubal is fun, hey, check out who he's pitching to. This guy's name is Dylan Dingler. I think, I think the immature child or like, or the three that are in this room with me right now would love to hear that name.

Boogie Nights 2. I mean, you saw the smile on my face when I was saying it. There's a reason I said that name. Yeah, exactly. I just don't know how people have figured out that all you have to do to get Javier Baez out is throw breaking balls in the left-handed batter's box. And he'll swing it. Yeah, I mean, it's been a little bit less of a problem this year for him. He's, I don't know what it is that he's done to change it or to get better at it. I'm looking right now at his, let's see what his chase rate is.

Chase rate. It's still not great. No, 40. He's still in the third percentile.

So I guess he's still. Yeah, not good. It's funny.

Levi, look, that's what I was looking up as well. So yeah. Okay, there you go. Funny how that works, but look, they're winning and they're going to find a way to win. They're one of the best stories in baseball. You mentioned Cal Raleigh. He too is one of the best stories in baseball for a mariner team that has 36 wins right now at a last check. I believe it's Cal Raleigh still leading major league baseball. He has 23 home runs. Oh, Tommy had number 23 last night. No, Tommy tied them last night with number 23. So Cal Raleigh leading the American league at a minimum with 23 home runs.

So I guess the question is here, I didn't think we're going to go down this path, but Levi Weaver, let's do it, is how does baseball get those guys to break through to a national audience? Not in October, in June. In June. Okay. Well, I have a suggestion and I think I'm probably revealing maybe too much about my personality after the Dylan Dangler comment, but Cal Raleigh's nickname is Big Dumper. Yeah, it is. You've got to be able to market that.

I'm sorry, you have to. And that's not even like, and you're not inferring something. They named him Big Dumper because he has a huge butt. Like this is, you've got to be able to market this. We live in an era now where you can just make commercials about Cal Raleigh, calling him Big Dumper. The other thing is that the mariners have never won a world series. So we haven't had a really good underdog movie in a while, have we?

We used to be all the time with the Bad News Bears. We had like movie after movie where like the underdog finally comes back and wins. Surely we can market the mariners as this year's underdog, right?

Like this has to be doable. There are some good storylines. You've also got Julio Rodriguez. Yes.

Maybe not as great as we expected him to be a couple of years ago, but also split very, very good player. They've got a great pitching rotation. Can you sell 1-0 games to casual fans? Maybe not. I think what you're asking is maybe a microcosm of a much bigger existential question for baseball, which is like, how do they market this game over the next 15 to 20 years? Like, are we on a bubble now with teams worth $1.4 billion?

Is this still going to continue to be sustainable with the contracts that they're writing right now? I don't know. But in the short term, Big Dumper, that's my answer. Big Dumper.

Yeah, I love it when you call me Big Dumper. And finally, Levi, as we get ready to say goodbye and we appreciate your time, we have Chris from Boston on line one. Chris. Levi, look, man, this season we had such high hopes. Like, what is going on?

Why is Roman Anthony still in Worcester? Like, what is happening with my team? Yeah, I wish I had a better answer for you.

I don't know. Gosh, bless your heart. Now, you know, you're missing your first baseman. He's out. But he's been in trade talks the last two off seasons. So it's like they weren't really married to Tristan Casas. Well, you know, trade talks are one thing, but if he's been in trade talks the last two off seasons, then that gives you some off seasons to like sign another first baseman or assume that maybe Rafael Devers is not categorically opposed to playing first base.

And they didn't, they went with this plan. And then he got injured and they're like, well, our backup plan is, you know, where are we going to have Christian Campbell play first base now? Well, he forgot how to hit after April, apparently.

It's not good. And, you know, Trevor Story has not been good. He's finally healthy. If you told me, hey, Trevor Story is healthy. It's June 3rd.

He has not spent time on the injured list. I'd be like, cool. So the Red Sox, I thought the Red Sox were going to win the AL East, to be honest. I thought with Garrett Cole out, with Juan Soto gone, I thought the Yankees were vulnerable. And I really thought that the Red Sox did a good job of putting together a roster that could contend for the AL East.

So this is the biggest surprise to me as anybody. As it stands now, your Boston Red Sox are 29 and 33. Third place, nine games out. It's pretty bad. Six in the first inning to an Angels team, just coasting.

And then Trout hit one to like the 95, the set, the pike. It was unbelievable yesterday. Like, God, we just stink. We just stink. Is it over? Should I just be ready for a Patriot season? I don't think it's necessarily over yet. Yet. But that's the old axiom.

That's the old axiom, right? It's like by June 1st, you should know what your team is. And I look at these rosters and I go, well, is that really true for the Boston Red Sox? Is that true for the Atlanta Braves?

Who are, what, 27 and 31 or something like that? 27 and 31, 10 games back. And Boston just went into Atlanta and took two out of three last weekend.

Right. I mean, is June 1st, here's the team that I actually believe in the least of those three. Is that true for the Arizona Diamondbacks? We have the same record as the Washington Nationals right now. Courtney Burns is hurt now too. So yeah, I mean, those are three of the teams that I look at.

And I go, man, that is, I was really wrong in early March. Out of those three, who has the best chance to maybe turn it around and get a wildcard spot? I think the Braves because Spencer Strider is back now. Ronald Acuna Jr. is back now. And they just reassigned their third base coach to become a minor league infield coordinator.

So that's probably gonna fix everything. And they rehired their old manager to be the third base coach. That's always weird to me when like the Clint Hurdles and Freddie Gonzalez has come back and like, this is the old boss. And now he's, I just wonder if there's some sense, like, man, I feel a little managers are not necessarily the insecure types, but can you imagine being a baseball manager? And they're like, oh, by the way, we're going to hire you a new third base coach because things are not going well for you. Don't worry too much about it.

It's just the old manager. He's not watching over your shoulder. Don't worry about it. Exactly. So all right. Hold on, TJ, we got 30 seconds running out of time.

Go real quickly. Levi by the team that doesn't stink the Mets. Let all the Mets fans know why we should be excited about Ronnie Mauricio. Oh, Ronnie Mauricio.

Wow. That's a deep cut because he's a good baseball player. I mean, the Mets have so many good baseball players and it's they, a lot of them, they have paid a lot of money for Ronnie Mauricio is going to be one of these. Listen, listen, I could BS you. I don't know that much about Ronnie Mauricio. I'm still, I'm still, I'm still kind of learning. I'm still in that.

Is it pronounced Tarik or Tarik era of my Ronnie Mauricio appreciation? I'm trying to learn myself. So that's why I figure I'd ask someone who knows more than me. I have very little knowledge of him. I started to try and BS you. And then I was like, that's a bad idea.

They're going to know. This is, I just, I don't know that much about him, but I keep, I'm hearing the name enough that he's, he's on my radar is like, I need to keep an eye out for this guy. I need to know what's going on with him because it seems like he's going to be pretty good. He tore his knee up last year.

He had a cup of coffee back in 23. He's coming back up. I respect the heck out of that, Levi, by the way. There you go. I truly do. And I respect the heck out of the baseball cards on the board behind you next time on. We'll do what we did last time. And that is a grand tour of your baseball cards.

Anything new on the wall? We're out of time. But you can tell us 30 seconds. Oh, I do. I do. I got assigned a friend of Ellen's wheel card. I got this.

Well done. Love the Mark McGuire 85 tops Olympic card back there as well. Levi Weaver from The Athletic. We appreciate you. Legend. See you, Levi.

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Call 562-314-4603 for details. What memories does that bring up for you when you see that 99 All-Star start in Fenway Park? Well, before the game, I remember shaking a lot. I've never seen planes in an All-Star game, lights all low. I was standing on the mound and I'm warming up and when the planes went by after the anthem, I'm almost done warming up.

Right, the flyover. I did not expect the planes to light so low and they kind of shook me and shook the entire stadium. It was like the most amazing sound I've ever heard. And then just watching the old Sentry team to me was great.

It was unbelievable. I remember Hank Caron coming over and wanting to shake my hand. And to me, that was like, oh my God, this is it. But it got even better because after the game, the game I knew what I could do. I was facing those guys during that era. But what I was able to do and have Ted Williams bring me over to his tweet where he was, actually there's a little video, I don't know what it is, the Red Sox have it, where he says, you won hell of a pitcher. And he shook my hand and he signed the program. And that was pretty much my trophy.

That capped it off. I think that just being part of the most unique All-Star game that I can think of, have the old Sentry player something we might not see in this lifetime, is probably the most amazing gift I could ever get in an All-Star game. Forget about the strikeouts, forget about the performance.

An All-Star game like that deserves that and probably even better. Because I just remember that after the All-Century team had been announced and then the players had been announced, I'm assuming you're warming up in the bullpen? Is that where you were? It was just about, it was always delayed. Remember how everybody mopped over Ted Williams?

Well, that was it. Yeah, they announced the public address and then the public address announcer asked you, essentially, you guys to break it up. Yeah, I was already walking to the bullpen but it was so delayed because everybody wanted to hug Ted Williams that I had to actually hold myself from pitching, something I did not like. But because it was an All-Star game, you're flexible to doing anything. And if it was in a regular game, I'd be pissed.

I'd be really angry at everybody, TV and everybody. But it was the All-Century team. It was dedicated to Ted Williams.

To me, it was an honor to just be part of anything that happened that day. Can I just pull back the curtain? No, if I could please. No, not particularly. You don't want me to mention this? What, what are you gonna say? I can't believe that you three in the year 20, what year is this, 2025?

I can't believe you all know the year. You're not involved in the conversations. The three of you still follow or have feelings about or comment on the Kardashians. No, but we don't follow any of them. No, I'm fine. Other people that we follow are making comment videos.

Are aware of anything about them. She's court-sided Knicks games. What do you mean? It kind of got thrown in our face. Okay. It's not our fault. We came for the Chalamet. You're taking notes.

We came for the Chalamet. Okay. I'm with you. Okay. Thank you. I guess. Gosh. I guess. Don't act like you're above this, you know what I mean? Did you hear about her and Timothée Chalamet at the Knicks game? No, that was not the conversation. Get out of here. No, you get out of here. Sandra Siciliano sitting in for Rich.

844-204-RICH is the phone number. We also have almost every NFL head coach on the podium this week or next. Because it's that time of year we get OTAs and then you get mandatory minicamps. All but five teams have mandatory minicamps next week, including the Dallas Cowboys. Micah Parsons right now, not at OTAs.

Here's new head coach Brian Schottenheimer earlier today. I would assume. Micah and I talked a couple of days ago. Again, he's doing a little bit of traveling, but again, everything that he and I have talked about, I expect that he will be here.

And like I said, I say it each and every week, Micah and I have had great communication, everything I've asked him to do and vice versa. He's followed through on, so I would expect to see him. Yeah, he's going to be there next week because it is mandatory. You're going to get fined.

See the difference? Massive fines. Aaron Rodgers last year went to Egypt.

He got fined. That's what happens. I do expect, and Brian Schottenheimer does expect, Micah Parsons to be there. Now, when training camp begins, is he going to be on the field? If I were him, I wouldn't. I would hold in. I would show up and say, I'll do what TJ Watt did. I'll do what Trent Williams did.

Absolutely. Pay me. Just pay me.

CTC, baby. I'm here. I'm just here so I don't get fined.

You know, that's my life motto. And then pay me. The only teams that are not doing mandatory mini camp and ending for all intents and purposes, their off season next week are the Ravens, the Chiefs, the Giants, the Seahawks, and the Rams. The Rams are on the field next week, actually two weeks from now. They will be in Maui. When do we get those tickets for that? Maui for their mandatory mini camp. We should be just invited. In two weeks. We are seeking tickets for that.

Come on now. The Rams are doing mandatory mini camp, not next week, but in two weeks. I won't sell those. Yeah, those aren't getting sold.

In Maui. We're showing up to that. We're showing up to that one. You know what I mean?

Me and Brock wouldn't. What are we doing? You think I can go to two mandatory? Do you think? You want to go? My niece is graduating high school. Do you think my niece would be upset if I didn't go to her high school graduation just to go to Rams mini camp in Maui? I think she'd understand. She'd understand? Has she been to Maui?

Does she know? Hmm. You're good. Yeah. I think the Maui could. I can't imagine. It's funny. Just first world problems here.

As long as you see TC to her, I think she'd understand the Maui. First world problems. Just hear me out real quick.

Not really a problem. I work for the Browns now. I'm thrilled to work for the Browns. I love my job.

Love my job. For those who don't know, I worked for many years for the Rams for 14 years. Right? Couple of months ago, somebody at the Rams was like, you know, we're going to do mini camp in Maui. I'm like, really?

Like now I'm gone. Anytime in the previous decade would have been cool. You're going to do mini camp in Maui now. Now, to be fair, we, I say we, I was with the Rams. The Rams were the first NFL team to take, well not the first, in a long time, to take a preseason game to Maui in, what year was that?

That was 19, I think. So we did Rams Cowboys preseason in Honolulu at that old decrepit, whatever that stadium was, Aloha Stadium. Oh, it's now rebuilt.

It's completely redone. Yeah. But back then, bad. No, that was, yeah. Game probably should not have been played that day. Where they played the Pro Bowl all those months, right? Yeah, but it had seen better days. Yeah, that stadium was. And able to do that trip. So very grateful for that. Yours truly, Mina Kimes, Maurice Jones Drew. We did our pregame on the field, like 110 degrees and like these Rams Hawaiian shirts with the logo and everything.

I think I might've just given that one to Goodwill. That was, that was a great trip. Went out a couple of days early, went to, where was I, Kauai by myself, and then joined a team. That was a good trip. Fun fact, by the way, for those who live in LA and for those who don't like LA, anyway, we want to live in LA.

Well, here's one reason why. It's only four and five hours to Hawaii. And if you fly like on a Tuesday, you could do it for like 150 bucks one way. Because they got to move the planes over there to get people back.

It's very cheap. Wednesday, I've flown to Hawaii a couple of times for like $135 one way on a Wednesday morning. But you do that so you can make sure your status is good. No, I've never done a mileage run to Hawaii. No, I've gone to Hawaii. You've done a mileage run to Hawaii? I've done mileage runs before. I've done mileage runs in December to get my status.

Absolutely. Who hasn't? Are you kidding me? You've never done a mileage run in December to get your status? And I guess I'm talking to the wrong people in the room, but single, no kids, you can do mileage runs.

I've done it when I've been in long-term relationships. Honey, I'll be home by noon. I'm going to Vegas. I'm gonna be gone for a couple of months. No, no, I'm gonna get off the plane. I'm gonna get Starbucks in the D terminal. I'm gonna get back on the plane and come home. That's the truth. Who hasn't done that?

Well, I'm having fun. The United States Soccer Federation presents the US Soccer Podcast. Inside the opening 45 seconds. What a goal. With that cannon of allowed punch.

All even at once. Never miss a game. What a start for the United States. Shot from distance. What a goal. Never miss a moment. Exquisite from the San Diegan. Can he finish?

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