1 00:00:01,240 --> 00:00:05,439 Speaker 1: This is the Boomberg Moneymentute on seven hundred WLW. 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 2: Alrighty, we say good morning to our friend Dan Schwartzman 3 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:15,040 Speaker 2: from the Bloomberg Newsroom in New York City, And Danny, 4 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 2: since the last time we talked, the futures markets have 5 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 2: completely done an about face. 6 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 3: Literal about face, ever since President Trump tweeted that he 7 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 3: was going to not attack the energy infrastructure of Iran 8 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 3: for at least five days while the two countries are meeting, 9 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 3: although Iran claims they have not had real talks, futures 10 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 3: have turned around. The now is up six hundred and 11 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 3: seven points, an increase of one in a third percent. 12 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 3: S and P up seven or now eighty points. That's 13 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 3: an increase of one point two percent. The Naszak is 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 3: up two hundred and eighty five points, also an increase 15 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 3: of one point two percent. 16 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 2: So at least that's good news, absolutely good news. Meanwhile, 17 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:53,560 Speaker 2: the NBA is thinking about expansion. 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 3: They've had preliminary talks and investment banks about the league 19 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 3: adding two expansion teams tom the firms would run the 20 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,040 Speaker 3: sale process that would likely fetch an estimated seven to 21 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 3: ten billion dollars per franchise. The League is focusing on 22 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 3: Seattle and Las Vegas as expansion cities. NBA Board of 23 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 3: Governors set to vote this week to decide whether to 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:15,199 Speaker 3: move ahead with the plan. 25 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 4: And I'm gonna just mention a guest, sagnna. 26 00:01:18,120 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 3: Give it the old ok there for seven to ten 27 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 3: billion per franchise. 28 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 2: And meanwhile, for those of us that are animal lovers, 29 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 2: we know that from time to time it can be 30 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 2: a little pricey. 31 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 3: And now it's getting even more expensive to own to 32 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 3: pet tom, leading owners to delay visits to the vet, 33 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 3: with some even reconsidering adopting a pet in the first place. 34 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 3: Pet care costs have been rising faster than overall inflation. 35 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 3: Pet services, including veterinary care, have swored more than five 36 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 3: percent in the past year alone. However, total vet visits 37 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 3: declined three percent in the fourth quarter of last year. 38 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 3: That marks the sixteenth straight quarter of declines. From Bloomberg. 39 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 3: Dan Schwortzman on news radio seven hundred WILW. 40 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,040 Speaker 2: Already already we promised it is a Hall of Fame 41 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 2: kind of week here on the morning show on seven 42 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: hundred WLW. And you've heard me say this many times, 43 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: not just in introducing him, but for my money, he 44 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: is the greatest Cincinnati read of all time. And that 45 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: would be our friend Johnny Lee bench, fourteen time All Star, 46 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: two time National League Most Valuable Player, closet, full storage room, 47 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: full of gold gloves. Good lord, young man, what'd you 48 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 2: do with all that stuff? You sold some of it? 49 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 5: Right? Yeah? 50 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:50,680 Speaker 6: And the boys are going to college, and the boys 51 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:56,359 Speaker 6: are gotting their lives. You know, I didn't sign that 52 00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 6: seventy million dollar contract, so the old boys, and you know, 53 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 6: it was interesting Bob Gibson did years ago when the 54 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 6: when the kids started arguing over which ring and what 55 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 6: trophy and what side young and I want that, I 56 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 6: want that, I want that, And he said, well, okay, 57 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 6: I'll just sell it and give him all the money. So, yeah, 58 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 6: we have some grade five twenty nine. The grandson Louis, 59 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 6: he's got a five twenty nine, and the boys are 60 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 6: all set for a while and we'll make it from there. 61 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: So how you doing, I mean, you're down there and 62 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 2: you're raising your sons, and how old are they now? 63 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 6: Well, Bobby, of course in Cincinnati, I know Robbie with 64 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 6: a grandson. And Justine is a sophomore at Florida Atlantic 65 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 6: University in computer science, and engineering. And Josh is a 66 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 6: junior in high school, and quite proudly I have to 67 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 6: brag on him. He was he said, I want to 68 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 6: go to college. I said, the only thing you got 69 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 6: going is welding school with your grades, so you need 70 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 6: to do something different. And and he brought it up 71 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 6: to a three eight six this quarter. And so we 72 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 6: are making plans for him to go to college. Playing 73 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 6: a little tennis and pickleball, and life is absolutely wonderful. 74 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,400 Speaker 6: I went to my roomatologist the other day and when 75 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 6: I left, the only thing I don't have is act mean. 76 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 2: I don't mean to laugh at that, because you know, 77 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: I mean the position you played. 78 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 4: Man, you got beat up, well. 79 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 5: A little bit. 80 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 6: Yeah, he said your knee and you need a new knee. 81 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 6: You need a new knee. And I said, he doesn't hurt, and. 82 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 5: He said, well you got bone on bones. 83 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 6: I went to see the room the doctor and he 84 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 6: said your. 85 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 5: Bone on bone. 86 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,560 Speaker 6: He said, you know it doesn't hurt, We'll just leave 87 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 6: it like that. So, yeah, I got beat up, and 88 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 6: I paid for it. And you know it's every doctor 89 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 6: you see said, well you earned it. You got what 90 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 6: you deserve for doing all that bending and four hundred 91 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 6: and fifty thousand squads and eight hundred and fifty thousand 92 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 6: throws and you earned it, and that's why you're a 93 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 6: miss So I am not a miss mentally. I am wonderful. 94 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 6: My wife is wonderful, the family is wonderful, and I 95 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 6: couldn't be happy here with my life. 96 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,000 Speaker 2: Well, thank God for that, and we're so happy to 97 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: hear it. I know you look great and you're still 98 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: going strong. When I say to you, Johnny Bench opening day, 99 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: what's the first thing you think out? 100 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 5: Oh chaos. 101 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 6: Well that sounds weird, but you have to think about 102 00:05:17,360 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 6: here you are as a player. 103 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 5: You leave spring training. Where are you going? 104 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 6: Okay, the family has bend to spring training. Now they 105 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 6: got to go back to you get the house ready, 106 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,479 Speaker 6: you're flying in, you're practicing at the ballpark. You go 107 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 6: to the stadium, you go home for just a little bit. 108 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 6: You try to hang some clothes up, you try to 109 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 6: keep things together. 110 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 5: Oh, by the way, the kids and. 111 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 6: The family and everybody and the friends are all coming 112 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 6: in for opening Day. Now, I got to get tickets. Now, 113 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 6: where are they going to stay? Well, they're not staying 114 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 6: with us quite yet. But I want to be ready 115 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 6: for the game. And then all of a sudden, now 116 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 6: everybody talks about the parade and everything else. You know, 117 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 6: the only thing we really saw was a couple of 118 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 6: elephants and a couple of big Butdweiser wagons coming through 119 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 6: to our day. And you're sitting there and you've taken 120 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 6: batting practice, you've taken in field. Now all the ceremonies. 121 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 6: Then you got a mayor throwing out the first pitch 122 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 6: in the dugout, and you know it's it's like, you know, 123 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 6: it's you'd want to get it done and you want 124 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 6: to hope that you're prepared. You're going to face their ace. 125 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 6: You know, the best picture they got. You got to 126 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 6: face up with that. You got forty four thousand screaming 127 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 6: fans that are all with the hopes of a world championship, 128 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 6: a great season, a fun season, and so there's a 129 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 6: lot of chaos that goes on when you're trying to 130 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 6: accommodate so many people, and the focus, well, I think 131 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 6: you focus as soon as the first pitch is made. 132 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 6: I've always been an advocate of the fact that when 133 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 6: you leave that clubhouse to go to the dugout. 134 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 5: You're ready. 135 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 6: Nothing else exists, and but I know that people in 136 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 6: Cincinnati in Finley Square, and it's just amazing because I've 137 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 6: been in the parade. I'm actually going to be in 138 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 6: be in the parade again and and it's a great 139 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 6: to be back. And you know, it's a great honor 140 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 6: for Jeff Brantley to be the you know, the Mucky Yeah, 141 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 6: because he deserves it. Twenty years. Wow, that's amazing. He's 142 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 6: been really fun to listen to, and it's it's kind 143 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 6: of it's a lot of fun. I mean, it's just fun. 144 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 6: It's it's still as a player, you know. And now 145 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 6: you got to figure out am I going to be 146 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 6: in the lineup? Am I where am I going to 147 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 6: batle the lineup? Do I play this position? What I'm 148 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 6: going to do it? Because there's a lot of decisions 149 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 6: still to be made for this team and I and 150 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 6: I like a lot of our young players. 151 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 5: I've always liked them. 152 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 6: And I'm just hoping that they can all have like 153 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 6: career years. 154 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 2: You know, you came with a ton of hype and 155 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 2: you get brought up in August of sixty seven. Sixty 156 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: eight is your first official opening day. You were all 157 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 2: of twenty years old, you end up winning the Rookie 158 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 2: of the Year. You that's the first time, by the way, 159 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: it had ever been war won by a catcher. You 160 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 2: win the Gold Glove your first full year in the 161 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 2: big leagues. 162 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 5: And you know. 163 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: What I'm getting at here, Johnny is hype. And there's 164 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 2: been so much hype around say Elie de la Cruz, 165 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 2: more so than any other player on the team. And 166 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 2: you've been around some of these guys. You come to 167 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 2: Cincinnati on a semi regular basis and you check in 168 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 2: with a franchise and what's happening. 169 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 4: You know, for him, I know he played. 170 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: Hurt at times last year, But if you were to 171 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 2: offer advice to a young player based on what you 172 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 2: went through, what would that advice be in terms of 173 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: dealing with the hype? 174 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 6: Don't do any more than you can. I mean, he's 175 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 6: a kid that the total focuses on him, not just 176 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 6: you know here he is hitting, you want him to 177 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 6: at a home run. You get on base, now you're 178 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 6: waiting for him the steel. Now you've got to be 179 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 6: better than one. You've sold three bases in one game 180 00:08:47,720 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 6: and and you know, second, third, and home. 181 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:51,959 Speaker 5: You've done all of this and. 182 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 6: The total focus and he's a great kid and he 183 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:55,400 Speaker 6: did it. 184 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 5: May be a c intervealer. I mean, you know. 185 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,480 Speaker 6: What what what you know, the pressure is defensively he 186 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:03,920 Speaker 6: makes he makes a lot of errors, and I'm sure 187 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 6: there's this, you know, pressure on him. I'm sure he 188 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:08,680 Speaker 6: worked all spring to make sure that he's a better 189 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 6: short stuff. 190 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,559 Speaker 5: And it's just, you know, you get. 191 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 6: Into your mind sometimes that everybody wants to see you. 192 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 6: And the only only thing I can remember is, you know, 193 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 6: and I wasn't the Opening day cat starting catcher on 194 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:23,680 Speaker 6: nineteen sixty eight either, So. 195 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 4: Are you kidding me? 196 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 2: I just I mean, I assumed you win all those 197 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,319 Speaker 2: awards that you had. You did not start Opening Day 198 00:09:30,400 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 2: until sixty nine, is that right? 199 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 6: Dave Bristol said you got to earn the right to 200 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 6: be the starting catcher, and Don Tabletik had one of 201 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:41,640 Speaker 6: the best springs you could ever have and he opened 202 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:43,439 Speaker 6: I mean, and day was trying to prove a point. 203 00:09:43,520 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 6: You know, I'm just not throwing you in there because 204 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 6: you were closedly business and that's the way Dave was. 205 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 6: But it was like I wasn't and I did they 206 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 6: Pathletic pulled a hamstring in the fifth game, and he 207 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,719 Speaker 6: never caught another game. So I caught one hundred and 208 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 6: fifty four out of one hundred and fifty eight games, 209 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 6: fifty two days in a row through one stretch. So 210 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 6: you know where they're playing, hurt or what are you playing. 211 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 6: But every day it's a whole different thing. And I 212 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 6: was a guy that the night before meant nothing. And 213 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,840 Speaker 6: that's what being a success is that if what you 214 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:18,200 Speaker 6: did yesterday is big to you now, then you haven't 215 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 6: done much today. So every day you had to go 216 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 6: out there and be prepared, not be better than the world, 217 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 6: be prepared, use yours talents. Have inner conceit, which I've 218 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 6: always talked about the ability to be better than the picture. 219 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,160 Speaker 6: Innerconceit within yourself. Runner can't steal on you. They do, 220 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 6: Pitcher will get you out. But you have to have 221 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 6: that inner conceit in you every day that you go 222 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,679 Speaker 6: out there. And it's not about I'm conceited. It's just 223 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 6: that you believe in yourself and you focus on what 224 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 6: you can do every day and you become the same 225 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 6: player or a better player. You can't get really a 226 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,199 Speaker 6: lot better. I mean, there's no way to improve you are. 227 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 6: You just have to match up, and if you match 228 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 6: up every day and you believe in yourself and you've 229 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 6: got skill and talent, then you went out. 230 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 2: You know, first ballot, Hall of Famer. I talked about 231 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 2: the two time MVP, you're in the Baseball Hall of Fame, 232 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:16,079 Speaker 2: on and on and on and on. 233 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 4: But I'll tell you, you know, and you and I did. 234 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 2: The Reds games together for a couple of years, and 235 00:11:20,559 --> 00:11:22,319 Speaker 2: I've been blessed to know you since the day my 236 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 2: dad got the job back in nineteen seventy four. We 237 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 2: spent a lot of time together when we were working together, 238 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 2: but it never dawned on me until I started going 239 00:11:32,160 --> 00:11:34,960 Speaker 2: to Reds fest or started going to the Reds Hall 240 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 2: of Fame induction, and I would hear and just sit 241 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: there and listen and shut up, listen to you go 242 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 2: back and forth with the pitchers that you work with 243 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 2: through the years. And I got to tell you, Johnny, 244 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 2: maybe more than anything else, I was amazed. You can 245 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 2: talk about how great you were on defense, how great 246 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 2: you were on offense, but man, the added responsibility, which 247 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 2: I think so frequently it's overlooked, your relationship with those 248 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 2: pictures and to make them better was just an amazing 249 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 2: thing for me to learn about. 250 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:10,680 Speaker 5: Thank you. Yeah. 251 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,199 Speaker 6: You know, a catcher has the responsibility, has four responsibilities. 252 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 6: His number one responsibility is to call a good game 253 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,720 Speaker 6: and that's to get that picture to win. And so 254 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 6: he was the main focus. And in spring training you 255 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 6: had to go in and I tell every young catcher 256 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:28,599 Speaker 6: go catch everybody, catch every picture. Make sure you understand 257 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 6: and learn their patterns. There are three types of pictures psychology. 258 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 6: First one, you have to introduce yourself to and tell 259 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 6: them what city they're in. They don't know where they are. 260 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:39,680 Speaker 6: The second one is you have to know their mechanic. 261 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 6: You have to know their mechanics and you have to 262 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 6: be able to paste their pitching back off a little bit, 263 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 6: go out clean off the batter's box, like you're smoothing 264 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 6: out the thing. And that's just to get him to 265 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 6: take a breath. And then the third one you have 266 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 6: to put your spipes into and you have to just 267 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 6: bust their back and say, you know, tell get you 268 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 6: can better than that. Let's go now we got to 269 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,559 Speaker 6: make this pitch. You build confidence. I mean Clay Carroll 270 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 6: was a guy that came over from Atlanta. We call 271 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 6: him Sonny Sonoko because every time he came into a situation, 272 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:16,760 Speaker 6: he just poured gasoline on the fire. And we build confidence. 273 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 6: You build confidence in a guy and you and you 274 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,959 Speaker 6: brag on him and you and you support him and 275 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 6: and you get the best out of everybody. And you know, 276 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 6: you have to know what ticks. You know, you know 277 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 6: within your production staff and who all that everybody has 278 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 6: to do their job, and you know that one guy 279 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 6: does it, and you tell him he does a good job, 280 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,920 Speaker 6: and you support him. And so you learn about him, 281 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 6: you understand him, you appreciate him, and you get you 282 00:13:42,960 --> 00:13:44,880 Speaker 6: support him. If you have to kick him in the butt, 283 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 6: that's fine as well. It's a soft kick, but at 284 00:13:47,679 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 6: least he gets his mind back in the place. You 285 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 6: have to understand and get a relationship where you know 286 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 6: that your whole support is for his and your focus 287 00:13:57,559 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 6: is on him. So I love the fact that I 288 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 6: have just a great relationship. We talk all the time 289 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,160 Speaker 6: with a lot of the guys, and you know, you 290 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:07,559 Speaker 6: me and Eastwig and I think Raleigh and them are 291 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 6: coming up, and Doug Flynn and you know, we just 292 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 6: it's just Jack. You know, I talked to Billy Hammon. 293 00:14:14,400 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 6: You they they know that you were for them. Yeah, 294 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 6: And when when they do that, they have an appreciation. 295 00:14:21,760 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 6: They appreciate the fact that, you know, George Foster was 296 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 6: you know, one of the kind unbelieve MVP hitter and 297 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 6: everything else. But he was just a sagittarian like me. 298 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 6: So he you know, he made bombastic stuff and everything else. 299 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 6: And he went to the Mets and I was up 300 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 6: doing the radio and he said, can I talk to 301 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 6: you a second? I said sure, George. He said, you 302 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 6: tried to help me, and I didn't appreciate it. And 303 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 6: that was one of the nicest things that I can remember, 304 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 6: is the fact that George, you know, whatever it was, 305 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 6: it didn't matter. You didn't ask to be Hey, thank you, 306 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 6: thank you, thank you. No, it's just the matter that 307 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,520 Speaker 6: you can believe in somebody and that he will be 308 00:15:00,600 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 6: there for you. 309 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: Well, you were there every step of the way. Man 310 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:07,600 Speaker 2: from August of sixty seven through September of nineteen eighty three. 311 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 4: The greatest read of them all. 312 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 5: JB. 313 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 2: I can't thank you enough for your time. Look forward 314 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 2: to seeing you when you get up here in a 315 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 2: couple of days. 316 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 6: Anytime, my friend. I have really enjoyed your career. I've 317 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 6: enjoyed our relationship together. I love the baseball broadcasting with 318 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 6: you because you made it to where it wasn't about 319 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:26,920 Speaker 6: and you've learned it. You understood it, and it's not 320 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 6: about yourself. It's about the guy out there listening and 321 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 6: wants to hear it and everything else. And know that 322 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:35,920 Speaker 6: you know, and you ask questions, and you didn't know 323 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 6: everything and you wouldn't do it, but you learned everything. 324 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 6: So it's been a great relationship. Look forward to seeing you. 325 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,239 Speaker 6: And I can't believe your kids are in college. 326 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 4: I're getting Yeah, I can't either, you too. For that matter. 327 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 2: All right, God speed ahead, my friends, say try all right. 328 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 2: The great Johnny Bench, the greatest red of them all. 329 00:15:53,760 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 2: I'm telling you, the greatest read of them all, and 330 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 2: played every single inning of his major league career with 331 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: the Cincinnati Reds eight twenty four. Let's check what's happening 332 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 2: out on the roadways, Chuck Ingram, what is the. 333 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 7: Very very latest, young man? Thank you for the young part. 334 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,880 Speaker 7: It's not all that bad. Southbound seventy five. It's either 335 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 7: a big spring breakweek or people overslept because the powers 336 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 7: out from the storms last night. 337 00:16:28,160 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 4: This from the UCE Health Traffic Center. 338 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 7: The UC Health Women's Sports Medicine Program provides specialized care 339 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 7: for female athletes at all levels. Schedule and appointment online 340 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 7: at ucehealth dot com. The last of the slow traffic 341 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,760 Speaker 7: couple of extra minutes through Lachland northbound seventy five. 342 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 4: That's doing fine. 343 00:16:46,760 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 7: Through the Cut northbound fourth seventy one and in Bend seventy. 344 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,240 Speaker 4: Four have both cleared. 345 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,080 Speaker 7: Chuck Ingram News Radio seven hundred WLW p FUF A 346 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 7: little bit much like my waistline, I. 347 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 2: Might add Monday with Marty the Hall of Famer Marty Brennman, 348 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:05,399 Speaker 2: he has made his way back to Cincinnati in preparation 349 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 2: of Opening Day. 350 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:08,920 Speaker 4: Are you ready for it? 351 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm ready for it. 352 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:12,400 Speaker 1: All I do is show up. 353 00:17:12,840 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 5: You know, I have no duties to speak of other than. 354 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 1: To have the honor of being in the parade. And 355 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: then I go down after that and hang out with 356 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:24,800 Speaker 1: my buddy Jimmy Moore and down at the Holy Grail 357 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:27,720 Speaker 1: for an hour or so, and then go in the 358 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,400 Speaker 1: ballpark and watch them baseball. 359 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:31,439 Speaker 2: And you probably come on the radio right here on 360 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,919 Speaker 2: the Big One while you're down there at the Holy Grail. 361 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: That's all a part of the Opening Day deal for 362 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 1: me is to be on the air with a big one. 363 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 4: Do you like coming on with Willie? Yeah, I'm taking 364 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 4: to leave it. 365 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, fucky I make a difference one 366 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: whoever happens to wanting to have me on, and I 367 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: like all those guys down there and get along well 368 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: with them, and so yeah, you know, I mean, I 369 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: don't think this is good because you're a man, but 370 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: don't Yeah, if he wants me on, fine, If he doesn't, 371 00:18:10,240 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 1: that's okay. 372 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:12,359 Speaker 4: Okay, fair enough. 373 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 2: You know, I wonder if I think most of us 374 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 2: I certainly would think it, and I've never asked you 375 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:22,639 Speaker 2: about it. I think most people would think if you 376 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 2: ask Marty Brennan in the first thing that comes to 377 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 2: mind when you say the two words opening day, most 378 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 2: would assume, I would that that means your first game 379 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 2: in the booth, the very first inning in the booth 380 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 2: in nineteen seventy four. 381 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 4: Would that be right or wrong? 382 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 5: Yeah, that would be right. 383 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I was blessed in so many 384 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: different areas in my career, not just in football, I 385 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:50,439 Speaker 1: mean baseball, but at this time of year, you know, 386 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: I did a lot of work in the NCAA Tournament, 387 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: both in regional finals and also final fours. But I 388 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: don't know of anybody who broke in as a Big 389 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 1: league baseball broadcaster who three batters into his career or four, 390 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 1: whatever the case might be, had such an historic call 391 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 1: as I did when Aaron tied. 392 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:15,679 Speaker 5: Bay Bruce record in the. 393 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: First inning of my first game in nineteen seventy four 394 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: when he hit that three run home runoff Jack Billingham. 395 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: That's a heck of a way. 396 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:25,919 Speaker 4: To bring a man. I mean, there's no doubt about it. 397 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 2: I mean, it has to be the greatest top half 398 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 2: of the first inning of the first game that any 399 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 2: broadcaster ever could ever experience. When you put in to 400 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 2: you know, the big picture that hear this guy going 401 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 2: all the way back to the nineteen twenties, had held 402 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,119 Speaker 2: this record in thirties, and now in nineteen seventy four 403 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 2: there's another man who is tying that record. 404 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 4: Doesn't get any bigger than that. 405 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 5: No, I don't think so. 406 00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: I mean, I you know the famous quote after the 407 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,919 Speaker 1: top of the first inning ended when we went to 408 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 1: a commercial break in my brand's banking do partner who 409 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: turned out to be sitting by my side for thirty 410 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: one years. Joan Muxhall said, what the hell do you 411 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:06,320 Speaker 1: do for an encore? 412 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 4: Yeah? 413 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: Right, said huh, I have no idea. I don't know, 414 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: I don't know. 415 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 2: All right, Well, look, you were just out there in 416 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 2: Arizona for the better part of two weeks, and we're 417 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 2: going to get to the basketball to end things in 418 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 2: a minute, but I want to ask you, you know, 419 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,880 Speaker 2: all things considered, you and I have talked about this. 420 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:25,119 Speaker 2: Neither one of us is as like to put a 421 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: lot of stock on what guys do in spring training 422 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 2: or what they do in September when they're called up 423 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,159 Speaker 2: from the minor leagues. But let's start though, with this 424 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 2: spring training. There are some spring trainings for some players 425 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 2: that are more important than others, especially those trying to 426 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 2: make the team. Now Matt McLean wasn't trying to make 427 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 2: the team, but he certainly had to be looking over 428 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 2: his shoulder if he does not perform well this season. 429 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 2: I mean, I'm not sure there was a better spring 430 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:57,440 Speaker 2: training player in either Arizona or Florida than Matt McClean. 431 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: I don't know that I've seen it better spring training 432 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: from anybody in all the years i've been associated with 433 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:06,919 Speaker 1: a big league baseball I mean he've batted five forty 434 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: five or something like that, hit seven home runs, played 435 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 1: impeccably in the field, And I think you're right. Some 436 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: spring trainings mean a lot for a certain individuals. Sometimes 437 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: it's just a matter of getting in baseball shape and 438 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 1: you know, working on things that you felt you needed 439 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: to improve upon, with no pressure as to whether or 440 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: not you're going to make the club. And then, as 441 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: you said, there was no pressure on him other than 442 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 1: to reinstill confidence. And I think there were times last 443 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,160 Speaker 1: year when I watched him at the plate where he 444 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: lacked a lot of confidence and probably did not enjoy 445 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 1: going to hit because of the season long slump that 446 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,160 Speaker 1: he's outed himself in. I never gave up on that guy. 447 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: I told people last summer. I said, just wait, I said, he's. 448 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 4: Going to be fine. 449 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 1: And you know, I find interesting about spring training. Tom 450 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 1: and I talked to someone about this yesterday. In some cases, 451 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: Tracy Jones and I talked about it. 452 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 5: Take you take. 453 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 1: Matt McClain all of a sudden, that means something as 454 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: far as the regular season. Sure, then you have Andrew Abbott, 455 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 1: who did not get anybody out to speak of, to exaggerate, 456 00:22:18,080 --> 00:22:20,400 Speaker 1: to make a point. He did not have a good 457 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: outing in any of the starts that he made in 458 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: spring training, and now here he is going to be 459 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:27,760 Speaker 1: pitching on opening day. I think there's some people that 460 00:22:27,840 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: have some concern I am included among that group, and 461 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 1: so we'll see. I think you actually you find yourself 462 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: talking about from both sides of your mouth when you 463 00:22:38,880 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: talk about individuals and those who did well in the 464 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 1: spring out bean something. Those who didn't, don't worry about it. 465 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:45,400 Speaker 5: They'll be fine. 466 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 2: Well, you know, I would say Elie de la Cruz 467 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 2: has had an ok spring, but he's one of those 468 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 2: guys where you know, look, he knows he's in the 469 00:22:54,320 --> 00:22:57,160 Speaker 2: lineup every single day. He's the face of the franchise, 470 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,000 Speaker 2: et cetera, et cetera. Here we are now four days 471 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: away from opening day. As you look at this team, 472 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,840 Speaker 2: and we know about the Hunter Green situation. Brady Singer 473 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 2: the other day leaves of a blister. He has come 474 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 2: out and said no big deal yesterday, and now here 475 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:17,119 Speaker 2: we go again, Nick Lidolo with a blister. As you 476 00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 2: look at let's start with the pitching staff. You look 477 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,439 Speaker 2: at the pitching staff. Do you feel good about the 478 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:25,640 Speaker 2: staff starters and relievers beginning the year. 479 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 1: I think the relief pitching could be improved a bit, 480 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 1: and I think Nick and Brad Metter are certainly working 481 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: on that to the point where in the next couple 482 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:39,640 Speaker 1: of days you're going to have a lot of players, 483 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: let go by big league ball clubs when they try 484 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: to get down to twenty six by opening day. I 485 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:47,120 Speaker 1: think they're looking for a relief pitcher that could help 486 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: them even more. So that would indicate to me that 487 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:52,280 Speaker 1: maybe they feel like that needs some improvement. But I 488 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 1: think once they get Caleb Ferguson back, I left hander 489 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,560 Speaker 1: who they picked up in the offseason, he's got an 490 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,920 Speaker 1: obleek problem right now that's going to automatic make them better. 491 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: I think the starting pitching, all of a sudden, there 492 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:06,000 Speaker 1: is a definite shink in the armor. 493 00:24:06,359 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 5: I mean a. 494 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:11,719 Speaker 1: Big publicist, public public statement last year, last week about 495 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: opening the year with six six man rotation, which included 496 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 1: the three at the end of the rotation, and now 497 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you know, you mentioned Green, you 498 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: mentioned a singer who said, I know he said yesterday 499 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: I'm ready to go. 500 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 5: I'm fine. 501 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: Lidolo is in a history of blisters that is obviously 502 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,640 Speaker 1: a problem. So there are some shinks in the pitching armor. 503 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:38,000 Speaker 1: I think right now as we start the season. 504 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 2: And then offensively speaking, you feel pretty good. You know, 505 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 2: they bring in Suarez, are very excited, rightfully so about him, 506 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 2: but overall offensively better than last year. 507 00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think so. 508 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: I think the mere fact that he's going to be 509 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: batting forth and he'll have day La Cruz hitting in 510 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: front of him, and you've got McLean batting second, and Friedel, 511 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 1: who I'm a big fan of in the leadoff spot. 512 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: I think this club will score runs, will score more 513 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: runs than they did last year, which it was woefully 514 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 1: that for most of the year. From an offensive standpoint. 515 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:13,560 Speaker 1: The numbers would support that statement, and that was a 516 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:18,480 Speaker 1: priority one. I think in the offseason for improving they 517 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: missed out on Kyle Schwarber, but I think they were 518 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: major plus in bringing Suarez back, not only for his 519 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:28,200 Speaker 1: ability to drive the ball, and you know, I think 520 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,119 Speaker 1: he could have an off year and still hit forty 521 00:25:30,160 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 1: home runs a great American ballpark, but he's an incredibly 522 00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: great person and I one of the finest people I've 523 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,800 Speaker 1: ever known in a uniform and and everywhere he's ever 524 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: been they rave about him. I know ourp that people 525 00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: with a REGI raved about him when he was here before. 526 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 1: They're thrilled to have him back, and so I think 527 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: that's a big plus. I think this is a better 528 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: team than the one that we saw last year for 529 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:58,480 Speaker 1: the most part. But you know, the old, the old 530 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: elephant in the room for not only the Reds but 531 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:05,160 Speaker 1: every club is the injury fact which you cannot ever predict, 532 00:26:05,720 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: and so they've got to stay healthy. They have some depth. 533 00:26:10,040 --> 00:26:14,399 Speaker 1: They sent kids down Reese Hines and JJ Bladet who 534 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: were very impressive in spring training at the plate, outfielders 535 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 1: who can help this club if the need arises during 536 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: the season. So I think it's a better team. But 537 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 1: you know, that's why you play one hundred and sixty 538 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 1: two games. 539 00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 2: All right, before we let you get out of here, 540 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 2: and we've got about a minute NCAA tournament. Is your 541 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:36,400 Speaker 2: final four still alive? 542 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 5: Absolutely it is. I got all four. 543 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: I've got Duke in the east, Houston in the south, 544 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:45,600 Speaker 1: Michigan in the midwest, and Arizona in the west. All 545 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:46,320 Speaker 1: still alive. 546 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 4: All right. 547 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:49,000 Speaker 2: Let me ask you this, though, real quick, because I 548 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 2: was having a conversation with Mike Jaminski, you know, former great, 549 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 2: one of the all time great college players do sir, 550 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:57,600 Speaker 2: And we were talking about, you know, in this era 551 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 2: of NIL, if you had to pick two coaches, and 552 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,000 Speaker 2: I'm not saying they're the best too, they're certainly among 553 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 2: the best too. But if there are two guys, based 554 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:08,199 Speaker 2: on their pro experience, knowing how to spend money, how 555 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,879 Speaker 2: to assemble a roster, if there are two guys, you 556 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:13,720 Speaker 2: might pick one and two. They beat Patino and Caliperi, 557 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,919 Speaker 2: both of them are still in this tournament. How in 558 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:21,120 Speaker 2: the world does Big Blue Nation get all excited about 559 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:23,600 Speaker 2: running John Caliperi out of town. 560 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:27,800 Speaker 5: Well, I don't know. 561 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: I think there are a lot of reasons for them 562 00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: making that decision. I can't answer that question. I still 563 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,400 Speaker 1: think Mark Pope's a good coach, but instantaneous pressure. 564 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:41,200 Speaker 5: Now has been brought to bear. 565 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,919 Speaker 1: They had the most expensive team in college basketball this season, 566 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 1: over twenty million dollars in NIL money, and donors are 567 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,480 Speaker 1: the same everywhere. They'll keep spending it if you show something. 568 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 5: That they like on the court. 569 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:58,360 Speaker 1: But when you fail again like Kentucky has done, then 570 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: sooner or later they're going to say, wait a minute, 571 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:01,400 Speaker 1: we need to do something here. 572 00:28:01,800 --> 00:28:01,919 Speaker 5: Uh. 573 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:04,879 Speaker 1: He's got some pressure on him now, but that's the 574 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 1: nature of being head basketball coach in Lexington, Kentucky, no. 575 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:10,080 Speaker 4: Doubt about it. 576 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 2: And we'll get into the North Carolina situation next week. 577 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 2: Thanks for the time. Great to have you back. What's 578 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 2: that all right? 579 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:17,880 Speaker 5: Pal? 580 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: I said you might have a new Carolina coach by then, 581 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 1: and who will that be? 582 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:25,080 Speaker 5: I have no idea talk about it. 583 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:27,200 Speaker 2: Well, you're one of the big tenitors down there. I mean, 584 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 2: for crying out loud, you got some impact on that thing. 585 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:32,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, Boboe's been bringing off with no. 586 00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:33,080 Speaker 4: Doubt about it, no doubt. 587 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,080 Speaker 2: Right, Bubba Cunningham on the horn. All right, Thanks, I'll 588 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:37,880 Speaker 2: talk to you later. Have a good opening day. 589 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 5: All right? 590 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,720 Speaker 4: All right, Look is your bracket busted? 591 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:41,200 Speaker 5: Maye? 592 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 2: I told you mine is with Virginia. I thought they 593 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 2: were making a run to the final four. But your 594 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 2: non winning Keno tickets are still in play with the 595 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:53,240 Speaker 2: Ohio Lottery Keno Bracket Challenge. It has all the win 596 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 2: and advanced excitement of the tournament. Take your shot at 597 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 2: winning one of sixty weekly prizes plus a chance to 598 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 2: move on to compete for a twenty five thousand dollars 599 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 2: grand prize that's buckets of cash. 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