1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: This is Tony Pike Cincy three sixty about Cincinnati. From Cincinnati, 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:11,959 Speaker 1: this is ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station. 3 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: All right, here we go start of our number two 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,160 Speaker 2: since he three sixty on the home of the Bengals, 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station, our guy on Tuesdays. 6 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 2: Right here to kick off our number two from Fox 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 2: nineteen is one Joe Daniman joining us right now. Joey 8 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 2: d what's going on? 9 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 3: What's up? Tony? Hi, Austin, How are you guys? 10 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 4: Wonderful Joe better now that you're here. 11 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, what a what a fantastic way to kick off 12 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: our number two. I do have to ask, Joe, are 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 2: you a big Olympic guy? If so, do you have 14 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:47,600 Speaker 2: a favorite Winter Olympic sport. 15 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 3: I'm a huge summer Olympics guy. I'm a casual Winter 16 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 3: Olympics guy. So when I get home from work, and 17 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 3: I'll usually get home from work little after midnight after 18 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 3: doing the late news, the last thing I usually want 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 3: to do when I get home is like watch Sports 20 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 3: Center or watch anything else sports after the day. You know, 21 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 3: it just depends if the NBA is on late. I 22 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 3: watched the NBA. But I'm typically a movie guy, and 23 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 3: last night when I got home, I felt this burn 24 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: to watch a miracle. I watched Miracle last night to 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 3: get myself fired up for Team USA hockey. That's my 26 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: one big event for the Winter Olympics. I like watching 27 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 3: speed skating. I really appreciate what a lot of these 28 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 3: folks do going downhill and skiing at the speeds they 29 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: go at. But when it comes to what's going to 30 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 3: grab my attention, it's absolutely Team USA hockey. I challenge 31 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 3: people to go at some point today to look at 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 3: what the Russians did in every other game they played 33 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 3: in the nineteen eighty Olympics outside of the t US 34 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: eight games. I mean, their gold differential was near sixty 35 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:02,040 Speaker 3: and we somehow beat them in nineteen So yeah, Olympic 36 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 3: hockey is my jam. 37 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 4: Okay. 38 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: On this date in the year two thousand, Ken Griffy 39 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 2: Junior was announced to the Cincinnati Reds Austin. I think 40 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,239 Speaker 2: put it yeah, put it great. In the previous segment, 41 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: that would be like today, sho Heo Tani signing with 42 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: the Cincinnati Reds. Do you remember anything specifically about that 43 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: day in Cincinnati? 44 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 3: Of course, so I was in college. This is a 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 3: great memory of mine. I was in college up at 46 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 3: Syracuse and I'm in the middle of New York Mets 47 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 3: and New York Yankees country, and so when the trade 48 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 3: was announced, I remember seeing it come across the ESPN 49 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: bottom line. That was like where you got your news then, 50 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,960 Speaker 3: because the Internet was just starting to happen on college campuses. 51 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 3: So I saw it come across the bottom line, and 52 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 3: ESPN actually dipped into the press conference. So there I 53 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 3: am in my friend's dorm room. I think it was 54 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 3: six o'clock Sports Center at that time. They dipped into 55 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 3: Kendricky Junior's press conference. And what always stood out to 56 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 3: me and how different it is now is if you 57 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 3: go back and you can watch it, I believe it's 58 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 3: on YouTube, there are like politicians standing behind Ken Griffy Junior. 59 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 3: You know, you've got the Red Brass, You've got ownership, 60 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 3: You've got Jim Bowden, You've got Junior family, You've got 61 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 3: some of the Reds legends. And then you have Charlie Lukens, 62 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 3: the mayor of Cincinnati's there. I think Cincinnati City Council 63 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 3: people are there. So you go back and you think 64 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: about that twenty five, twenty six years ago. How big 65 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 3: of a deal it was for Cincinnati to get Keen 66 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: Griffy Junior. You had politicians there at the press conference. 67 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 3: The other thing I miss that's now gone from how 68 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 3: local media does things. If you go back and look 69 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: at the podium, there are like thirty microphones up there. 70 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,760 Speaker 3: I love that aura. That that is aura of a 71 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 3: big moment. Now if we all plug into one microphone 72 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 3: and we have this thing called a malt box and 73 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 3: it leads to our cameras and all the mic flags 74 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 3: are now gone. But that moment right there, the fact 75 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 3: that there are politicians behind Ken Griffy Junior, made you 76 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 3: know how big of a deal it was. And if 77 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 3: you're around back then, and listen, guys, I was alive 78 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: during the nineteen ninety World Series. I was ten years old, 79 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 3: and that was a great team. I loved that team 80 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,239 Speaker 3: and watched every minute of the playoffs. But the nineteen 81 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: ninety nine team hit just a little bit different for 82 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,599 Speaker 3: guys around my age. If you find anybody between forty 83 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 3: and fifty years old, they're going to tell you how 84 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 3: much they loved that ninety nine team. And the fact 85 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 3: that the ninety nine team was then adding Keen Griffy Junior. 86 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 3: It was almost like, just go ahead and print the 87 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 3: World Series ticket. Now they're going It didn't work out 88 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 3: that way, but when you had the excitement of what 89 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,799 Speaker 3: that team did, and then you add that player coming 90 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:50,039 Speaker 3: back to his hometown, it was unbelievable excitement, even for 91 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 3: me all the way up in New York. 92 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: It just there's the image of kind of his dad 93 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:55,960 Speaker 2: in the background, and you see the joy on his 94 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: dad's face, and it just to me what I remember 95 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 2: because at that time you obviously don't know the future. 96 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: It was just the It was the excitement, and then 97 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 2: it was the thought of, man, they could go win 98 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 2: the whole thing, the optimism around what had happened in 99 00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: Cincinnati to get a player of that caliber, and again, 100 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 2: that's kind of what now this time of the year is. 101 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 2: It's it's a time for optimism. It's a time to think, Okay, 102 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: everyone is in play, everyone has an opportunity, and that 103 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: obviously bodes well for this team as well as spring training, 104 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 2: pitchers and catchers have reported, where where do you sense 105 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: the optimism? I know you're gonna have a chance to 106 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:36,159 Speaker 2: be around this team, but just from an overall feel 107 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: around the Reds. Does it feel like there's an optimism 108 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 2: growing about the possibility of what they can do coming 109 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 2: off a year where they made the playoffs? 110 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 3: Yeah? How could it not be? And I think I 111 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 3: think the important thing is if you look at this 112 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 3: and I go back to the conversations we had after 113 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: the Red Series against the Dodgers, and I remember a 114 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 3: word I used on Twitter after I got out of 115 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 3: the Reds clubhouse, and I'm not sure the word landed 116 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:04,159 Speaker 3: well immediately with the fan base, but I think the 117 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 3: more people thought about it, the more they watched the 118 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 3: Dodgers play, I think there was that feeling of accomplishment 119 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,479 Speaker 3: of what this team did, that they had to get 120 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:15,719 Speaker 3: a foot in the door last year, and if there 121 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 3: are steps that are made for a young core to 122 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 3: go ahead and start taking those steps, that was step 123 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 3: one last year getting to the playoffs. Now I know 124 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 3: that that the eighty three win number it is not 125 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: good enough. I don't think anybody can go into twenty 126 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 3: twenty six and say, Okay, maybe winning eighty three, eighty four, 127 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: eighty five games might be enough. I think you have 128 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 3: to think bigger. I think you have to have a 129 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 3: bigger number. But then when you have that team who 130 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 3: took a step and then you have ownership who then 131 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 3: takes a step to go above payroll and add au 132 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 3: Heniosuarez and excite the fan base. And now you're thinking, oh, 133 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 3: that guy might add three or four more wins to 134 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 3: a team that we thought to win about eighty five games. 135 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 3: So now you're thinking closer to ninety games. And if 136 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 3: you're thinking of out winning ninety games, do the Milwaukee 137 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 3: Brewers take a step back to the Chicago Cubs not 138 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 3: win ninety five to one hundred games? Can the Reds 139 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 3: be there in September with a chance to make a 140 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,880 Speaker 3: run at the NL Central title? To me, that's what 141 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 3: this has become now. It's not just getting into the playoffs. 142 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 3: It can this team win an NL Central title against 143 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 3: the Cubs, against the Brewers teams that have You know, 144 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 3: we look at the Milwaukee Brewers. They've dominated this division 145 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 3: here in recent years. So that's the kind of excitement 146 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 3: I think should be around this team that they should 147 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 3: be thinking win NL Central and get in the playoffs 148 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 3: that way. But either way, I feel it's last year 149 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 3: with step one. This year should be step two of 150 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 3: now getting in the playoffs and being a factor in 151 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 3: the playoffs and maybe even as a division winner. 152 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 2: Is this roster going to spring training as is? Or 153 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 2: would you like to get crazy with me, Joe and 154 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: bring Nick Castianos back to this team? 155 00:07:56,800 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 3: Oh no, no, no, no, no no no. Cantiano does 156 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 3: not does not fit this team, not from production and 157 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 3: playing in the outfield wise, but also the kind of 158 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 3: attitude he has. And I think when he came to 159 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 3: Cincinnati the first time, uh, this team needed that attitude. 160 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 3: They needed somebody with an edge, and he backed it 161 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 3: up with his play and I think Cincinnati fell in 162 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 3: love with that. But I don't think this is a 163 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 3: guy that, even if he were to come to Cincinnati, uh, 164 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 3: what would have an everyday role that would not sit 165 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,680 Speaker 3: well with him. And if things don't sit well with him, 166 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:38,960 Speaker 3: it can rock the boat. And I don't think this 167 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 3: room needs that. It's a different personality team that than 168 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,640 Speaker 3: what it was when he was here. I don't think 169 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 3: they play with that kind of edge. I think this 170 00:08:47,840 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: team likes to play with a little bit more of 171 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:55,439 Speaker 3: a loose, enjoy kind of feel to them, as opposed 172 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 3: to what Nick Cantiano's did in his year in Cincinnati. No, 173 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 3: I don't think that fits. I also think he's rapidly 174 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 3: going downhill as far as production goes. He might have 175 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 3: a renaissance year somewhere and maybe Great American Ballpark would 176 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 3: unlock a little bit more of his numbers closer than 177 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 3: what they were when he was here. But he absolutely 178 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 3: I don't think fits from a culture standpoint with this 179 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 3: current Red roster, and I don't think he fits as 180 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 3: a bad defensive player for a team that really wants 181 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 3: to lean into pitching a defense. 182 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: We heard our guy Charlie Goldsmith asked Hunter Green the 183 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 2: question about kind of the white board and the goal 184 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 2: setting that he has for each year, and that goal 185 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 2: for twenty twenty five was one hundred and eighty or 186 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 2: more innings sub three ERA, two hundred plus strikeouts, an 187 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:46,199 Speaker 2: All Star, and a Cy Young Award win. He made 188 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:49,560 Speaker 2: one of those goals happen? How many of those goals 189 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 2: in today's Major League baseball when you think of the 190 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: injuries he's gone through, you think of who's around in 191 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 2: the Sayh Youung race in the National League with Paul 192 00:09:57,080 --> 00:10:00,960 Speaker 2: Skeins and Yamamoto and Otani. Out of those goals, which 193 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 2: ones do you feel like are most attainable that Hunter 194 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: Green can pull off, Because I feel like it starts 195 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 2: with one hundred and eighty your more innings, because if 196 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 2: he does that, that means he's healthy, right, and it 197 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:10,600 Speaker 2: gives him an opportunity. 198 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think. I think it takes the one eighty number. 199 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 3: I think four of those five are going to fall 200 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:21,000 Speaker 3: into place, just naturally. I haven't looked at some of 201 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 3: his numbers recently, but I think his career high is 202 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: around one hundred and fifty. And when he threw one 203 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 3: hundred and fifty innings, he finished with somewhere near one 204 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:32,000 Speaker 3: hundred and seventy strikeouts and was an All Star. So 205 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,440 Speaker 3: if he gets up to the one eighty mark, and 206 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 3: that would be about thirty starts, which you would expect 207 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 3: him to do if he's healthy. Yeah, certainly four of 208 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 3: those five fall into place. And if four of those 209 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 3: five fall into place, he's going to be in consideration 210 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 3: for the fifth one, which would be the cy Young Now, 211 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 3: you made a great point of the competition he's up 212 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 3: against in the National League, and if I'm the Dodgers, 213 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 3: I'm limiting Yamamoto somewhat this year. You know, I'm limiting 214 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:00,679 Speaker 3: him to twenty to twenty five already to keep him 215 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 3: fresh for the playoffs. Certainly they'll do that with Sho 216 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 3: hee Otani just naturally, to make sure he's okay for 217 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 3: the playoffs. Paul's kins the horse. He'll throw his one 218 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 3: hundred and eighty one hundred and ninety innings, and he'll 219 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: be in conversations for the cy Young if not win 220 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 3: it again every time he throws those numbers. But the 221 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 3: baseball is a weird game. Guys have injury miss time, 222 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 3: and therefore other guys might step up and win awards. 223 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 3: So uh yeah, I think if Hunter Green hits the 224 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 3: one eighty number, all of that stuff falls into place. 225 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 3: I find Hunter Green to still be the most fascinating 226 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 3: player on the Reds roster. I know Ellie dave A 227 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 3: Cruze gets all the national attention, but you know, really 228 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 3: he doesn't. He doesn't share a lot with us about, 229 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:51,079 Speaker 3: you know, his personal life. Ellie is just kind of 230 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,960 Speaker 3: there and play baseball and does his thing. And but 231 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 3: Hunter Green the idea that he's willing to share with us, 232 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 3: how much he cares about his standing in the organization, 233 00:12:02,320 --> 00:12:06,199 Speaker 3: how much he cares about earning that standing with the organization, 234 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 3: that he's been groomed ever since he was drafted to 235 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,520 Speaker 3: be this team's ace. And he's been very transparent that 236 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,079 Speaker 3: he had to earn that title to be the ace. 237 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 3: And we're in year five for Hunter Green. I think 238 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: he's earned that titles as the team's a. Some people 239 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 3: would say, Andrew Abbott, why not him be the eighth 240 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,280 Speaker 3: I don't think Andrew's wired that way to care about 241 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 3: that title or be an opening day starter. I do 242 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,880 Speaker 3: think Hunter is, and I think that's interesting about him 243 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,160 Speaker 3: in year five is is this the year that he 244 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 3: really capitalizes on his standing in the organization, A fresh year, 245 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 3: a fresh start, and him kind of taking those numbers 246 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 3: and those goals and running with it and stamping himself 247 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,920 Speaker 3: as one of the faces of pitching in the National League, 248 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 3: in Major League Baseball. 249 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 2: Let me ask you your forecasting hat here, Andrew Abbot, 250 00:12:59,559 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 2: Hunter who finishes higher and Cy Young voting at the 251 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 2: end of the. 252 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 3: Year Hunter Green. Okay, Yes, I will go Hunter Green, 253 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 3: just because I think Hunter's steeling is higher, Andrew's floor 254 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 3: might be higher. And I think we all understand what 255 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 3: I mean by that. It just feels like Andrew Abbott. 256 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 3: You're gonna get steady, steady production from Andrew Abbott at 257 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 3: all times. But at the end of the year, if 258 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 3: it comes down to numbers, production moments, you know, Hunter 259 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 3: Green's gonna have some moments. Some twelve strikeout games, thirteen 260 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 3: strikeout game. He might take a no hitter in at 261 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 3: the seventh or eighth inning. He might get a no 262 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,679 Speaker 3: hitter this year for the first time in his career. Shutouts, 263 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 3: the high pitch velocity, numbers, those kinds of things you 264 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 3: start talking about awards, we kind of refer to it 265 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 3: in sports as someone's Heisman moment. He's gonna have moments 266 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 3: like that throughout the year, So I think his net 267 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 3: is a little bit wider for him to get that 268 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: kind of attention for cy Young Awards. So if I 269 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 3: had money to put down as someone that I would 270 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 3: say would finish higher in the Cy Young voting, I'm 271 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 3: going to go with Hunter Green just because I think 272 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 3: his ceiling is a little bit higher than Andrew Abbots. 273 00:14:15,720 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 3: And if you're going to try to chase down Yamamoto 274 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 3: and Paul Skiings and whatever National League pitcher it jumps 275 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 3: out of nowhere this year, it has a monster year, 276 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 3: you're gonna have to have a pretty high ceiling, and 277 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,400 Speaker 3: I like Hunters a little bit higher than Andrews. 278 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,280 Speaker 4: Switching over to football for a minute here, Joe, what 279 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 4: did you think of the Super Bowl? And are there 280 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 4: any lessons that the Bengals can take from those two 281 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 4: teams in the way that that game played out with 282 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:42,840 Speaker 4: them to next year? 283 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 3: Man, I love watching good defense. I know it's kind 284 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 3: of lost in twenty twenty six in the era of 285 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 3: fantasy football and player prop parlays that people want offense 286 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 3: and they want players to score touchdowns and make big 287 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,760 Speaker 3: plays and get yards. I love that stuff too, But 288 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 3: watching high functioning, aggressive, shut down defense, to me, it's 289 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,920 Speaker 3: still it's still awesome. I don't know if that's like 290 00:15:11,960 --> 00:15:14,960 Speaker 3: a Midwest thing. I don't know that's because I grew 291 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:18,920 Speaker 3: up watching Big ten football, but that stuff still really 292 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 3: excites me. And I said before the game about the 293 00:15:21,640 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 3: pass that I thought that each team could take to win. 294 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 3: And when you line up with a defense that's good 295 00:15:27,520 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 3: and a running game is good at Seattle's is with 296 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 3: Kenneth Walker that you show up almost bulletproof outside of 297 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 3: your quarterback just throwing the game away and Sam Darnold 298 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 3: did not do that, and that's why Seattle won the 299 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 3: way they did. And I think the lesson that anybody 300 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 3: Bengals included now have to look at is and we've 301 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 3: talked about this too, the idea of, oh, the Bengals 302 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 3: defense just needs to get the league average enough of 303 00:15:53,520 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 3: that that that has to go away, that that doesn't 304 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 3: win championships in the NFL. And certainly you could say, okay, 305 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 3: if you pair the Bengals elite the offense, which with 306 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 3: a good defense, then you're cooking a little bit. Then 307 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 3: you're getting into the playoffs and you're winning playoff games. 308 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 3: But if you go look at the stats and the numbers, 309 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 3: the last three years, the last three Super Bowl winners, Seattle, Philadelphia, 310 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,480 Speaker 3: Kansas City all had top five defenses. So you better 311 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 3: show up the Super Bowl Sunday if you're going to 312 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 3: win that game with an elite defense. And that's the 313 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,720 Speaker 3: urgency now for the Bengals to get this thing figured 314 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 3: out in the offseason of going out and finding guys 315 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,800 Speaker 3: in free agency who can take this defense from bad 316 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,400 Speaker 3: to they better be good next year otherwise they're not 317 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:38,840 Speaker 3: going to be playing for titles, because what is it 318 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 3: you want in the Joe Burrow window is if you 319 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 3: go to just an average defense, Okay, you're in the playoffs, 320 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 3: but that's not the Joe Burrow window. The Joe Burrow 321 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 3: Jamar J. C. Higgins window is winning super Bowls. And 322 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 3: if you want to win a super Bowl, you better 323 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,800 Speaker 3: get good to really good on defense, otherwise you're not 324 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:57,960 Speaker 3: going to have a chance to win the Super Bowl 325 00:16:57,960 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 3: the way Seattle did. 326 00:16:59,480 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 4: You know. 327 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 2: I think it's interesting and I've seen this point a 328 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 2: couple different times. We were in an era, in a 329 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,720 Speaker 2: moment where everyone talks about quarterback play and skill players 330 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 2: and wide receivers, And I feel like, to your point, 331 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 2: after every super Bowl here recently, what are we talking 332 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 2: about the trenches? Go back to last year Philly dominated 333 00:17:19,920 --> 00:17:22,919 Speaker 2: the Kansas City Chiefs, and the trenches made Patrick Mahomes 334 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 2: so uncomfortable. What did the Seattle Seahawks do? They dominated 335 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 2: in the trenches, they brought pressure from the secondary, They 336 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,919 Speaker 2: created confusion every offseason. I feel like it's the same script. 337 00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 2: We get so caught up in the sexiness of the 338 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 2: skill players. Right, you got to have the wide receivers, 339 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 2: you got to have the dbs, the quarterbacks the running backs, 340 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:43,240 Speaker 2: and then after the Super Bowl, all we're left talking 341 00:17:43,280 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 2: about is the trenches. The trenches, the trenches. Does that 342 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 2: change at all how you approach the offseason, not just 343 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,680 Speaker 2: at edge rusher, but at that defensive tackle position as well. 344 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 3: It's not just the trenches. That's coaching too, And I 345 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:00,480 Speaker 3: think that's important because when you start talking about quarterback 346 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:02,919 Speaker 3: play and wide receiver play, yeah, that's the stuff that 347 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,680 Speaker 3: gets attention about, but it's trenches and it's the coaches 348 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 3: and what Mike McDonald did and Mike Brabel's to an 349 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 3: extent of getting his team there. The coaches matter in 350 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:15,719 Speaker 3: the NFL, and it's not just the NFL. You go 351 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 3: back and look at what happened in the college football 352 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 3: playoffs and you can to your example, we look at 353 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 3: what Ohio State has. They have a Hypend Trophy finalist quarterback. 354 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 3: They have two of the best wide receivers in the country. 355 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:30,400 Speaker 3: In Miami won that game in the trenches with their 356 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,920 Speaker 3: offensive line and the defensive line. It's still the ultimate 357 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 3: equalizer in football. If you win up front, you win 358 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 3: football games. If you win upfront in a dominant fashion, 359 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 3: you can win championships. That's trenches that's coaching and to 360 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 3: the point about the Bengals and needing someone on the 361 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,639 Speaker 3: edge or interior. They need guys who get to the quarterback. 362 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 3: Whether it's from the edge, whether it's from the interior, 363 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,960 Speaker 3: or whether it's both. They have to find guys who 364 00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 3: affect the quarterback. That is how you win games in 365 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 3: the NFL, especially once you get to the playoffs. It's 366 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 3: how you beat other elite teams. That's the ultimate equalizer 367 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 3: if you can't show up and have a team that 368 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 3: can win in the trenches. And at this point, the 369 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 3: Bengals offensive line is as healthy as it's been in 370 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 3: the Joe Burrow era. Zach Taylor and Joe Burrow have 371 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 3: said it multiple times this year. This is the best 372 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 3: offensive line they've had since they've had Joe Burrow. So 373 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,960 Speaker 3: while it's not perfect, it's there, it's built, it's ready 374 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 3: to win. Now the defensive line has to come along 375 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 3: with it, and whether that pressure is coming from the edge, 376 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,200 Speaker 3: the middle, or both, the Bengals have to find people 377 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 3: that affect the quarterback if they want to play at 378 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 3: the level we saw see out of play at Super 379 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 3: Bowl Sunday. 380 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 2: We do a lot of mock drafting during the offseason, 381 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:50,640 Speaker 2: and I've seen a couple of different ones, including one 382 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 2: from Lanzerloin yesterday, where the Bengals take offensive line at 383 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 2: number ten. Is there a path where you're open to 384 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:02,040 Speaker 2: that of sharing up the online, whether that's a tackle, 385 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 2: whether that's having someone move to guard, or are you 386 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 2: convinced that based on the conversations we've had that it's 387 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: got to be the defensive side of the ball. 388 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, it has to be defense. And now, I'll always 389 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 3: lean on your draft players, not positions. But there's a 390 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:17,680 Speaker 3: reason Duke Covin came down and talked to media for 391 00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 3: more than an hour. It's there. There's an urgency about 392 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,920 Speaker 3: this thing from top to bottom, and picking a tackle 393 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 3: would be a luxury at this point, a move looking 394 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,359 Speaker 3: forward for the future for the Bengals, and you can't 395 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 3: and if you can't ignore the future. But I just 396 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 3: watched the Golden State Warriors completely butcher a two timeline plan, 397 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 3: and drafting an offensive tackle, to me, kind of feels 398 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 3: like an idea of a team that would be in 399 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 3: a two timeline plan that, Okay, Orlando Brown's getting near 400 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 3: the end of his time in Cincinnati, that this guy 401 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 3: would be the guy to pair with the Marius Mims 402 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 3: when you have so many holes in a five alarm 403 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 3: fire on defense, when you need to find difference makers 404 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:08,159 Speaker 3: anywhere you can, free agency, trade, draft, you've got to 405 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 3: find them. You've got to take swings. So there needs 406 00:21:10,760 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 3: to be one timeline. The timeline is fix this thing 407 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 3: as fast as possible so our quarterback doesn't get in 408 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 3: front of a microphone at week six, week seven next 409 00:21:20,040 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 3: year as this team has a losing record and he 410 00:21:22,960 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 3: starts to say what you don't want him to say 411 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:29,760 Speaker 3: about leaving Cincinnati Andrew lucking this thing. We don't think 412 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,879 Speaker 3: that's going to happen. None of us do. But if 413 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 3: there's another bad year, or aren't we at least a 414 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,080 Speaker 3: little bit worried about Joe Burrow and his thoughts of 415 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 3: staying in Cincinnati, the one timeline is important, and the 416 00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 3: one timeline lines up with this team finding defensive difference 417 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 3: makers any way possible. And you can't take an asset 418 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 3: like the number ten overall pick and not use it 419 00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:56,399 Speaker 3: on defense. You just can't, and you can't convince the 420 00:21:56,440 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 3: fan base that's the right move. So to me, the 421 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,879 Speaker 3: idea of offense, while I always say draft players, not positions. 422 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:04,720 Speaker 3: In this case, it has to be defense. 423 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:09,359 Speaker 2: Joe Daniman, Fox nineteen, you guys were in a got 424 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 2: a treat with Lakota West Princeton at the Sintas Center. 425 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,640 Speaker 2: That was an instant classic. I know you guys got 426 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 2: everything going on with the final quarter heading out the 427 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 2: goodyear as well for spring training? What's coming up on 428 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 2: Fox nineteen? 429 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 3: Lead for Spring Training on Sunday, Jeremy Rowland myself for 430 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:31,080 Speaker 3: Live Monday Tuesday coverage Wednesday and new this year eight 431 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:36,120 Speaker 3: o'clock Monday and Tuesday live streaming Red Special on all 432 00:22:36,119 --> 00:22:39,640 Speaker 3: of Fox nineteen nowing platforms. You'll see some of our 433 00:22:39,640 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 3: best interviews, some of the great video of spring training 434 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:48,040 Speaker 3: are observations. We might even sprinkle in some Charlie Goldsmith. 435 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:53,640 Speaker 3: Oh well, streaming shows Monday Tuesday, eight o'clock Live from 436 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 3: Red Spring Training. 437 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 4: Just a sprinkle of gold. Wow. 438 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 2: Drive, that's it yet, Joe Daniman, You're the man. Talk 439 00:23:03,280 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 2: to you soon, Joe Danaman, Fox nineteen. 440 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 4: We didn't even plan that. 441 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:13,880 Speaker 2: Nope. Talkbacks next. ESPN fifteen thirty Cincinnati Sports Station