1 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: Billy Cunningham, the Great America. Welcome this Monday afternoon in 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 1: the tri State. The weather looks to be a little 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: bit better, could be ranier later in the week. Terrible weather, 4 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,080 Speaker 1: great weather, etc. Of course, the big news is Red's 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: opening day went so poorly and so great both and 6 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: then of course on Friday, off, Saturday, Sunday back at it. 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,120 Speaker 1: And one thing I noticed as like a brand new 8 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: team out there. According to Moeger there's like thirteen new players. 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: The team has flipped over completely, but the key ingredients 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: for Myers and of course better call Sal, Better call 11 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: Sal Stewart, which is unbelievable. What's happening with him without 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: the Reds best starting pitching and Moe Welcome again to 13 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: the Bill Cunningham Show. And first of all, let's deal 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: with the final four, not the Frozen four, but the 15 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: final four. Should they recede Obviously, the best two teams 16 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: left are Michigan and Arizona and Yukon and Illinois. I 17 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: loved it, by the way, when Duke lost. Should they 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: receive the final four? The two best teams are Michigan 19 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: and Arizona. What do you say? 20 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 2: What's the most popular thing about the NCAA. 21 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: Tournament, Unexpected things happen not anticipated. The little guy beats 22 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,320 Speaker 1: the big guy, Yukon pulls off a miracle down nineteen 23 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: wins by one mistake mistake, And what's happening in the 24 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: tournament despite nil I think is wonderful. 25 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 3: The most popular thing about the tournament is the bracket itself. 26 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 3: So don't do anything that screws with the bracket. I 27 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 3: get a competitively speaking, sure, they should reseed. On one 28 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: half of the bracket you have a two seed and 29 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 3: a three seed. On the other half, you have a 30 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 3: one seed versus a one seed. Competitively speaking, yes, realistically, 31 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 3: don't do anything. Don't do anything that takes that piece 32 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 3: of perfection, one of the only things we have in 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 3: sports that remains perfect, which is that bracket once it's 34 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 3: filled out to sixty four. Even when it's sixty eight, 35 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 3: if you recede, then that bracket goes away and we 36 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 3: have something that's going to be more difficult to track. 37 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 3: So no, do not mess with what everybody loves most 38 00:01:57,360 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 3: about this tournament, which is the bracket itself. 39 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,240 Speaker 1: Did you have joy when Duke lost and the way 40 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: they lost? Bad plays at the end, nineteen points up. 41 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: They have a twenty point whip. I think the record 42 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: is one hundred and thirty four in zero, one thirty 43 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: four in zero when a number one seed is up 44 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: by fifteen or more at a half. Now it's one 45 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 1: thirty four and one. Give me an update on a 46 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:22,520 Speaker 1: Yukon what happened? I love that because I'm kind of 47 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,959 Speaker 1: a big East guy because of Xavier, and at one 48 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: point Savior was competitive with Yukon. No more. I love 49 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: what Dan Hurley does. The guy's incredible. But nonetheless, do 50 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: you take joy when Duke goes down like that? 51 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 3: Maybe not as much as I did when Coach k 52 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 3: was there, But yes, of course, what's a college basketball fan? 53 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 3: They are still and this is no knock or reflection 54 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 3: on any other program. I still feel like most college 55 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: basketball fans, if you Duke as the villain and they 56 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,080 Speaker 3: had that game in hand yesterday, they had that game 57 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 3: won yesterday, and it was an epic collapse. But I 58 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 3: also think you have to give a lot of credit 59 00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 3: to Yukon's team for figuring out ways to just sort 60 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,119 Speaker 3: of stay in the game when it felt like Duke 61 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 3: was about to take it and and win the game 62 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 3: by twenty twenty five points. I'm happy for Dan Hurley. 63 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 3: Dan Hurley's a polarizing figure selfishly, he's a Bengals fan, 64 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 3: so he has been on my show to talk about 65 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 3: the Bengals. 66 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. 67 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 3: I think there's all of us that get some sort 68 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: of perverse joy. 69 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 2: Out of the Duke. 70 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 3: Not just Duke losing, but if you remember how they 71 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 3: lost in the Final four last year, giving up a 72 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:32,000 Speaker 3: nine to nothing run to Houston in a game that 73 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 3: felt like Duke was in control of And then yesterday, 74 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 3: I mean there were folks on social media who were 75 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:40,320 Speaker 3: saying God didn't know that Duke Yukon was going to 76 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 3: be the second worst game of the day after the 77 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 3: blowout of Michigan over Tennessee, and then Yukon storms back. 78 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 3: It still feels like if Duke can simply take care 79 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 3: of the basketball after the first made free throw, I 80 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 3: guess the second free throw by Yukon that made it 81 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 3: a two point game, if they could just take care 82 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 3: of the basketball, chances are they're going to make a 83 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 3: couple of free throws and win game. Obviously, Yukon was 84 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 3: complicit in Duke's demise, but Duke's demise regardless of who 85 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 3: the coach is makes most college basketball fans, myself included, smile. 86 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: Did you feel sorry for the Boozer boys? With tears 87 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 1: in their eyes? They look like Tiger Woods? Any sorrow 88 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: for the Boozer boys? 89 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 2: I mean it. 90 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 3: As a human being, you feel bad for anybody. I 91 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 3: have no reason to dislike the Boozer Boys. You know, 92 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 3: you feel bad for kids in that moment. But that's 93 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 3: part of what makes the tournament so special, right, yep. 94 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 3: They're sixty eight teams, only one can win. You get 95 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 3: great teams and great players that fall short. I wouldn't 96 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 3: say I felt sorry for them, but I could empathize 97 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 3: with them. 98 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 2: Right. 99 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 3: We've all seen our team lose games like that, and 100 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 3: we feel bad for the players involved. And so I 101 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 3: guess on some human level it was easy to at 102 00:04:52,080 --> 00:04:53,479 Speaker 3: least relate to the Boozer Boys. 103 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: Well it was, and at one point Yukon had missed 104 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: seventeen of the first eighteen to three pointers. There were 105 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: one and seventeen from threes, and they won the game. Now, 106 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: let's talk about the important stuff, which is a Cincinnati 107 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 1: reds tonight. Back at it again. Pirates in town. Not 108 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: sure if Paul Skins is going to pitch on Wednesday. 109 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: We'll see what happens down the road. What do you 110 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: take away from that three game series. 111 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 3: That they won a game yesterday in fashion that they 112 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 3: had a hard time winning last year, which is, we 113 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 3: need a three run homer. Here's the guy we got 114 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 3: to go hit three run homers for us, and he 115 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 3: hit one. I mean that was I think that was 116 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 3: the big takeaway. I think Rhet Lauder did a nice 117 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 3: job of keeping them in the game. I think where 118 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 3: the Reds bullpen is is kind of interesting right now, 119 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 3: because you know, Amelio Pegan blew a save on Saturday, 120 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: had a shaky ish ninth inning yesterday. Tony Santien's velocity 121 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 3: is down. Thank god for Connor Phillips on Saturday. But 122 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 3: I guess if there were a couple of Macro takeaways, 123 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: one would be they got a Eugenio Suarez for one 124 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 3: specific reason to hit the ball out of the ballpark. 125 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 3: And I think specifically to hit the ball out of 126 00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 3: the ballpark in moments like yesterday's, moments like the one 127 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,239 Speaker 3: that he came up in on Thursday on Opening Day, 128 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,480 Speaker 3: and unfortunately he didn't get the job done in the 129 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 3: sixth inning. 130 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 2: But that's why they got him. 131 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 3: Last year, this team struggled to get the long ball, 132 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 3: struggled to get the three run homer, and frankly struggled 133 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 3: to score runs without the homer. 134 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: They were kind of a league average offense. 135 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 3: If you can get if you can get a full 136 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 3: season of Ellie de la Cruz, a healthy Ellie dela Cruz, 137 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 3: I think that's good for twenty five to thirty homers. 138 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 3: Sal Stewart I believe is going to be good for 139 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 3: somewhere between. I'll say twenty five and thirty homers. Uhaneo 140 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: Suarez hit forty nine last season. I'd be willing to 141 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 3: bet he's not going to hit forty nine, but okay, 142 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 3: he hits thirty five, and that's a fourteen. 143 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 2: Home run reduction from last year. 144 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 3: If you can go three four five with that sort 145 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:53,040 Speaker 3: of power boost, and then you're getting more production from 146 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 3: the two hole with Matt McClain, which they're getting so 147 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,120 Speaker 3: far this year, then I really feel like this offense 148 00:06:58,200 --> 00:07:00,160 Speaker 3: can can take off. We didn't see it at its 149 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 3: best this weekend, but they still found a way to 150 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:03,599 Speaker 3: win two out of three. 151 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: Got off to a good start. 152 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 3: The headline was a Euhanio yesterday, and I think the 153 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 3: larger headline for the three games has been the hitting 154 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 3: of Sal Stewart. And I think you and I talked 155 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,120 Speaker 3: about this a couple of weeks ago. I'm so excited 156 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 3: for Sal Stewart. By the way, I bet on him 157 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 3: plus eleven hundred to be National League Rookie of the Year. 158 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 3: Those odds are down to plus four hundred and ninety. 159 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 3: But everything they've asked him to do. They called him 160 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 3: up last year later than they probably should have, and 161 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 3: they threw him into a playoff push, and the dude 162 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,640 Speaker 3: hit five homers. Certainly didn't look like in the playoffs 163 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 3: last year, like the stage was too big. They tell 164 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 3: him this offseason, you gotta drop some weight, gotta slender up, 165 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 3: and need you to work on your defense at first base. 166 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 3: He does that. He shows up at spring training, and 167 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 3: I think we all believe that Sal was gonna make 168 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 3: the team, but the message is, hey, his roster spot 169 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 3: is not guaranteed. 170 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 2: He's got to make the team. 171 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 3: Made it with flying colors, did nothing but hit, and 172 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:59,720 Speaker 3: so far here early he's done nothing but hit. I 173 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 3: love them, and I love the fact that they hit 174 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 3: him fourth. I love the fact that they've given him 175 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 3: a level of protection hitting in front of a Euhanio 176 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 3: Soarez but behind Elie Dela Cruz. He played third base yesterday, 177 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 3: so they're obviously not closed minded to the idea of 178 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 3: moving him around the field when they have to. I 179 00:08:17,720 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 3: think the key, the two keys to this team are 180 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 3: Matt McLain and Sal Stewart, and the early returns have 181 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 3: been excellent. 182 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: What's his natural position? Does he have one? He almost 183 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: has that Chris Sable look about him a little bit, 184 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:33,280 Speaker 1: don't give a crap attitude. But what's South Stuart's natural position? 185 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:35,679 Speaker 1: If he has one, Well, it's interesting. 186 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 3: I think you find a lot of people who will say, 187 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 3: we're not sure what that is. He played a lot 188 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 3: of time at third base, He's played some time at second, 189 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 3: He's he's played some time at first. I think if 190 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 3: I think, what's interesting to me about the construction of 191 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 3: the Reds, Willie is they have a great defensive third 192 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 3: baseman in key Brian Hayes, who has no peer at 193 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 3: the position, but he doesn't hit at all. 194 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:56,559 Speaker 2: They bat him ninth for a reason. 195 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 3: He is a below league average hitter, and so I 196 00:08:58,760 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 3: think one of the questions for this team is can 197 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 3: you get by with below league average hitting from a 198 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:08,959 Speaker 3: position that you typically associate with offense. Now, Key Brian 199 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 3: Hayes is here for the long haul. He signed for 200 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:12,840 Speaker 3: the rest of the decade. But what I think is 201 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 3: interesting is does the lack of offense at third base 202 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 3: end up being a hindrance to the team being what 203 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 3: it should be offensively? What level of offense will they 204 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 3: put up with knowing they're going to get a great club, 205 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:26,440 Speaker 3: And is there a world where they go, look, we 206 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: get it, Key Brian Hayes could play third base, but 207 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 3: we need a little bit more punched third. That's where 208 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 3: Sal Stewart goes. And then, okay, who's gonna play first base? 209 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 3: Do they move Spencer steerback? There is there a world 210 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 3: where Christian and Carnassian Strand gets another chance. Nathaniel Lowe 211 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,719 Speaker 3: made the team, but I think the answer is where 212 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 3: he's probably most comfortable is going to be third. But 213 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 3: they like Key Brian Hayes there and so they tried 214 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 3: to use him at first. I think so far the 215 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 3: returns have been okay. I don't think anybody would be 216 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 3: surprised to see stal get a lot of different reps 217 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 3: at a lot of different positions. But at the end 218 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 3: of the day, as long as that dude's bad as 219 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 3: in the order, I'll put up with whatever he does 220 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 3: defensively because I think the guy can do nothing but hit. 221 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,760 Speaker 1: Look at this way, the first five FREEDO pretty good. McClean, 222 00:10:12,200 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: McLain might be, I don't know, he is, MVP numbersus. 223 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 1: Elie Dela Cruz is the most talented player maybe in 224 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,679 Speaker 1: all of baseball. How about calling Sal? Just call Sal 225 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: and he's uh, he's remarkable. Then gino that that five 226 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: is not bad, that's pretty good. 227 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:30,600 Speaker 2: And then that's good. That's good. 228 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 1: And I'm thinking, Okay, who is a better starting five 229 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: in the National League than not maybe the Dodgers, But 230 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: they paid for other than that. I mean, I like 231 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 1: those first five players, mix and match and Frankcona. I 232 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: think Frankcona paid for his weight in gold when he 233 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,560 Speaker 1: on the on the game on Saturday, I think he 234 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: won that game managing and I think yesterday he managed 235 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: that game in such a way to put you, you know, 236 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,559 Speaker 1: in that position to win and then you rely upon 237 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:58,560 Speaker 1: maybe if he relief, but nonetheless those to start those five, 238 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: I'm not sure there's a better five hit or in 239 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: the National League lined up one, two, three, four, five. 240 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 3: I don't know that i'd go quite there, because as 241 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: much as a juhanios Farez is welcome because of his 242 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 3: power bat, that's kind of all that he does. 243 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 2: Sal Stewart is a rookie. Matt McClain. 244 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,480 Speaker 3: The early returns are excellent, but he is still coming 245 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,320 Speaker 3: off a really down season. But I think the larger 246 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: point is Number one, they should hit more home runs. 247 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,200 Speaker 3: And I don't know about you, but I think home 248 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 3: runs are good. I think number two. You know, the 249 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 3: Rats last season had the second worst production in all 250 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 3: of baseball from the two hole, and that's mainly a 251 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,280 Speaker 3: reflection of the fact that Matt McLain wasn't very good. 252 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 2: I think we all like TJ. Frieda leading off. 253 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 3: If suddenly I can get the one two punch of 254 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 3: Friedol and McClain, where Ellie is batting more frequently with 255 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 3: guys on base, where Sal Stewart is batting with guys 256 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 3: on base, well, now you know I have a larger 257 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 3: likelihood of the beginning because I have more guys on 258 00:11:56,679 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 3: base and more guys who can hit home runs. That's 259 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 3: that's a good equation where I think the Reds can 260 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 3: get really interesting. Though, is I think understandably so, Tito 261 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 3: put the brakes on the running game last season. They 262 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 3: were a little bit more station in the station, and 263 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:13,439 Speaker 3: so you take lack of home runs and lack of running. 264 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 3: It's hard to score a lot of runs when you're 265 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 3: having to string together three consecutive hits just to score one. 266 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 3: What I think would be interesting, and this sort of 267 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:24,920 Speaker 3: revolves around a healthy Elie Dela Cruz. Do they run 268 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 3: a little bit more, do they put a little bit 269 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 3: more pressure on the opposing team's defense. We saw them 270 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 3: run the contact play with Matt McLean at third base 271 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:36,599 Speaker 3: in the first inning on Saturday. If they can successfully 272 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 3: sort of straddle that line between aggressiveness on the base 273 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 3: pass and stupidity and they're getting more long balls, then 274 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 3: I think this offense can really take off, and I 275 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 3: think it's worth mentioning. You know, we talked all offseason 276 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,559 Speaker 3: about how the Reds have to be better offensively. They 277 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 3: need a power bat, they need more home runs, they 278 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 3: gonna find more ways to score. All those things were true. 279 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,840 Speaker 3: It's not like they had a league worse offense last 280 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: year they were fourteenth and run scored. 281 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 2: They just had times. 282 00:13:04,320 --> 00:13:07,199 Speaker 3: Last season felt stagnant, So I think there were a 283 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,719 Speaker 3: few good signs this weekend. Number one, the Reds were 284 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:14,280 Speaker 3: atrocious in extra inning games last season three and twelve, 285 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 3: so they've already won one third of the number of 286 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 3: extra inning games they won last season. That spoke to 287 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 3: how bad they were late in games. Offensively, they were 288 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 3: middle of the pack in one run games twenty two 289 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 3: and twenty two. I think this season they're either going 290 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 3: to be dramatically better in one run games or dramatically 291 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 3: worse one run game. So far two to zero. That's 292 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: a really good sign. And I'll tell you I thought 293 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 3: the story of the game on Saturday was the relief 294 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 3: work of Connor Phillips. 295 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 2: Yep. 296 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 3: If you remember last season in September, Connor Phillips was 297 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 3: awesome and he made a lot of us wonder is 298 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 3: that guy going to be the closer one day? He 299 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:53,000 Speaker 3: had kind of an uneven spring. He was terrific on Saturday. 300 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 3: I think it is completely reasonable to wonder if, by 301 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 3: the middle of the season, is that the ninth inning 302 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 3: guy instead of Emilio Pagan. 303 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: Do you join me in saying Bob Huggins should have 304 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 1: his own statue outside of fifth third Arena. Hug's statue, 305 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: I think, what do you say? 306 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 3: I think the first thing that has to start is 307 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 3: the school needs to put them in their Athletic Hall 308 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 3: of Fame. 309 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,719 Speaker 1: And I'm willing to donate one thousand dollars for the 310 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: Huggins statue. Tonya Benner puts up a thousand. 311 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 2: What do you say, Well, I'll start with this. 312 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 3: It's it's it's astounding to me that Bob Huggins is 313 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 3: not in UC's Athletics Hall of Fame, and u see's 314 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 3: Athletics Hall of Fame obviously covers a variety of sports. 315 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 3: Our friend and colleague Tony Pike went into it last year, 316 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 3: clearly deserving. Bob Huggins is in the Naysmith Hall of Fame. 317 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 3: He is in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Can you imagine? 318 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 3: Can you imagine? Let's just say, for instance, Joey Vado 319 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 3: gets to Cooperstown, which he will. Joey Vado gets to Cooperstown. 320 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 3: He's in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but he's 321 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 3: not in the Reds Hall of Fame, right, I mean 322 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 3: say that outlet it's it wouldn't make any sense. No, 323 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 3: So I think Bob Huggins is the second most significant 324 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 3: figure in U SEE basketball history. That is saying something. 325 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 3: I think enough time has passed. I think the beauty 326 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,320 Speaker 3: of hiring Jared Calhoun is you know, I think Bob 327 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 3: Huggins and the school itself, the relationship has been mended, 328 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 3: but it hasn't been completely repaired. I think hiring Jared 329 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 3: Calhoun and Bob Huggins being there was significant. I think 330 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,760 Speaker 3: a lot of time has passed since his coach. He 331 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,320 Speaker 3: coaches last game in two thousand and five. So I 332 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 3: would start with as soon as possible, you put a 333 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 3: guy who I still believe when you say the name 334 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:35,720 Speaker 3: Bob Huggins, you think of Cincinnati first, and when you 335 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 3: say Cincinnati basketball, he is one of the first two, 336 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,960 Speaker 3: three four names you think of. Number one, he should 337 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,080 Speaker 3: be in the Hall of Fame. He's in the National 338 00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 3: Basketball Hall of Fame, He's in the Akron Hall of Fame. 339 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 3: There's no reason for Bob Huggins not to be in 340 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 3: the UC Athletics Hall of Fame. And I hope that 341 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: his presence at the Jared Calhoun press conference last Wednesday 342 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 3: would suggest that maybe something like that can have once 343 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 3: it does you want to put a Bob Huggins statue 344 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 3: outside Fifth third Arena. Look, there are a lot of 345 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 3: us and you Bob Huggins legacy at U. See, you 346 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,720 Speaker 3: could argue is complicated, but there are a lot of 347 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 3: us who became UC basketball fans because of Bob Huggins. 348 00:16:17,320 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 3: I am one of them. I will acknowledge the man's faults. 349 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,320 Speaker 3: I will acknowledge some of the things that a lot 350 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 3: of people didn't like, either about his tenure at UC 351 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 3: or about the way he ran his programs. But for 352 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: a lot of us, we came to the party and 353 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,640 Speaker 3: became Bearcat basketball fans and remain so to this day 354 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:39,120 Speaker 3: because of Coach Huggins. And so that's the sort of 355 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 3: figure that I think does deserve being honored in ways 356 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 3: that others aren't. And if that's a statue, if you're 357 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 3: throwing in a thousand dollars, you're only throwing in a 358 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 3: thousand bucks. 359 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: Well, I figured Tony's putting in a thousand. I thought 360 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: you put in a thousand. Tony Pike put in a thousand, 361 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: Austin put in a thousand. There's five thousand, right, there. 362 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 3: So wait a minute, I'm gonna put in this same 363 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 3: number as you. 364 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:05,640 Speaker 1: Correct because you're a And by the way, I think 365 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,679 Speaker 1: Bob Huggins is the Tiger Woods of UC basketball. 366 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,199 Speaker 3: Okay, you know fine, but I mean you know that 367 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:15,919 Speaker 3: that doesn't erase the accomplishments and doesn't erase what he 368 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:20,639 Speaker 3: was able to do. Look, when when Bob Huggins lost 369 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:24,000 Speaker 3: his job, my takeaway was, I think it's fair to 370 00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 3: wonder if Bob needs help, and I hope he gets 371 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,639 Speaker 3: it because that that guy's teams corney as this may sound, 372 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,200 Speaker 3: watching his team's play gave me some of the happiest 373 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,239 Speaker 3: moments of my life. And so Tiger Woods, a lot 374 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 3: of golfers will say the same thing. It feels like 375 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 3: it feels like Tiger needs some help if he gets it. 376 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 3: By the way, from everybody, from everybody that I have 377 00:17:45,119 --> 00:17:48,280 Speaker 3: talked to about Hugs is he's done a lot of 378 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:50,399 Speaker 3: things over the last few years to kind of reconfigure 379 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 3: his life and make the right decisions. 380 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 2: And he seems happy and he looks good. 381 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 3: And so I fully believe that the school has welcomed 382 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 3: him back in the good graces of the U SEE community. 383 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:04,159 Speaker 3: It's overdue, put them in the Hall of Fame. And 384 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,600 Speaker 3: then if you're going to commission a statue, I'm all in. 385 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 3: You know. 386 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: I'm the kind of guy that believes we should recall 387 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,159 Speaker 1: someone for the best things they've done, not for the worst. 388 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: May the worst being turred with their bones. May the 389 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: best live forever. Tiger Woods, Bob Huggins, they both belong 390 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,960 Speaker 1: to the Halls of Fame. And once again, Moiger, thanks 391 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: for coming on the Bill Cunningham Show. We'll check in 392 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: every now and then with you as the Reds march 393 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,399 Speaker 1: for glory and for some the judgment seat of God. 394 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 2: Moeig, when do you come into a game? When you 395 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 2: come into a game. 396 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: I'm thinking about going tomorrow night, to be honest with you, 397 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: but I want to keep. 398 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:35,159 Speaker 2: I will be there tomorrow night. 399 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:38,640 Speaker 3: In fact, all right, it's three two one night, three 400 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,920 Speaker 3: dollar beers, two dollars hot dogs, one dollar ice cream. 401 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 2: Okay. I will be there with. 402 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 3: My friends Barry and Anthony, and we will be happy 403 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:47,280 Speaker 3: to see you in right field. 404 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: If I'm there, I'm there. I'm gonna see what I 405 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 1: can do. My schedules opening up for tomorrow night. I 406 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 1: want to see the pirates the weather's going to be great, 407 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: and so I want to get out there and watch 408 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,200 Speaker 1: my Reds and share them on for victory with the Reds, 409 00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: it's always. 410 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 2: Victory after victory after victory. 411 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:01,680 Speaker 1: Moegar, thank you very much. 412 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 2: I won't hold my breath, but thank you God. Bless America. 413 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:10,120 Speaker 1: Is Bob Huggins, the Tiger Woods of UC basketball. Bill Cunningham, 414 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,280 Speaker 1: News Radio seven hundred WLW