Ben & Woods On Demand Podcast
8am Hour - In-Season Sammy
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With all trails, you can discover trails nearby and explore confidently with offline maps and on-trail navigation. Download the free app today and make the most of your summer with all trails. Nothing is more important than getting a good night's sleep and when you don't get the rest you need, your whole day is thrown off. That's why it's so important to choose the right mattress. Sleeping on a purple mattress is truly a unique experience because purple mattresses are made with a gel flex grid. The gel flex grid is an innovative material that moves with your body to relieve pressure in areas like knees and hips and support in others like you're back. It feels soft where you want it and supports where you need it. Purple mattresses instantly adapt when you move. You don't sink in and get stuck like with memory foam. And thanks to over 1,400 air chambers in the gel flex grid, you will sleep cooler on a purple mattress. Purple has a wide variety of mattresses from the original purple mattress to the Restore Hybrid Collection that combines gel flex grid with coils and the Rejuvenate Lux Collection, the height of luxury, with over 112,000 to five star reviews to prove it. Visit purple.com to find the perfect purple for you and enter code podcast10 to get 10% off. [Music] Yeah, we're halfway home on a Monday. Ben & Woods 97.3, the fan. Great to be here with all of you. I'm Woodsie. That's Italian, Paul, aka Frank Marchese. Morning IP. Benjamin Higgins, your friendly neighborhood sports anchor joins us as well. Benjamin, your children are not in school. Well, they're in school, but they're not in elementary school, in middle school and high school. No, the level they're at is called a college. College, yeah. Which is a different, different feeling for a parent. I love it. Scott Lewis, voice of San Diego. Love Scott so much. I would love to catch up with him. Scott, if you're listening, call in 833-288-0973 because I'm about to light you up here on the ring. They're calling fast bro. Tweeted this morning. First day of school for SD schools, August 12th, is too early. I thought about it to myself and I said, well, I then am a terrible, terrible father because I couldn't be more ready to get these dudes in their school clothes and get them back to school. A S. AP. And that comes for us tomorrow. Bostard's first grade tomorrow, which is crazy. And normally I was talking to my wife about it last night. I said, I kind of made a promise that I'd never miss his first day of school, but I have to go back on that promise, Benny. I can't leave tomorrow at seven o'clock in the morning to drive back to Encinitas to walk him into first grade. So I'm not going to. I'll just make him a little video or something. But yeah, he starts in. Taylor still has another week off, which is great. The staggered scene. So he's off this week. But Bo actually starts back tomorrow. Why would that be? Why is August 12th too early? It is earlier than when I was a kid. When I was a kid, it was like Labor Day. So we had a whole the whole month August was still but you probably went to school later into June before your summer started. I don't think they're going to school more than they used to. I don't think we've added school days to the calendar. It's just where they end up getting their break and when it starts and when it ends, I believe Bo got out in June. So maybe they've added more holidays during the during the year. There's all during the year somewhere. There's a lot of those. Okay. So at some point, I know in the state of California, I know what the number of days is, but they have to go to school however many days during the year. And then different school districts can split those up however they like. You can do a longer summer, you can do a shorter summer with a longer winter break and spring breaks throughout the year. But eventually they're going to get the right number in that everybody else gets in in the state of California. So whatever your school district is, if you want to take it up with them and you'd like them to, you know, start later in the, you know, come back later in the summer or earlier in the summer, you're fine with it though. You're glad they're going back right now. Yes, I love them. And it's been great to be around. Is that Scott Lewis? Yes, it is. Son of a look at that. All right. I got to hear this. This is amazing. I have to say something here. We have one Mr. Scott Lewis on the line. Good. Yeah. Here. So let's let I'll pot him up right now. My first question is, did you hear the call or did someone text you immediately? I wouldn't have something called me, but I was listening when I dropped my kid off at school. And, and then I just got back from that. I got my coffee and I got the call. Congrats on your freedom. Congrats on your newfound freedom that you got. All right. So tell me your reasoning behind it's too early. Do you, is there just too much time for yourself now on this fine one day? He just, he likes his kids. He loves to spend more time with them. Yeah. Summer time. Actually, when they're older, it is a lot more fun to be around them. But also, it's August 12th. Look, if it was some like a year round school thing or whatever, I understand they have a different schedule. Right. But August 12th is like, it's still the hottest part of summer. It still beats summer time. It's not going to school time. And it's just too early. It's too early. I'm sorry. Scotty, I was pushing for July 4th to get them back in school. They, nobody, nobody listens. But in San Diego, we got May Gray and June Glenn. Yeah, good point. Go to school until the 4th of July. Yes. Start summer there and then not come back until mid September or something. That's a good point. You guys make a good point. As long as it's like a couple months. That the San Diego optimized model of schooling would be to start school September 30th. I mean, sorry. Yeah, start school September 30th and end it in like late June, early July, because of the May Gray. Like you optimize all of the air conditioning and stuff like that. And then the great summer when the tourists are all gone are still something you can participate in. That's the optimized San Diego calendar that they'll never listen to. They never will listen to it. It's just like doing this job, right? And after I'm done with the show, I like to go home and have a little me time. And there has been no me time this summer. I'd get home and it's like, yeah, all right. Off to the street we go and I'm hitting the fun goes and running down to Jersey mics to get a sandwich every single day. And it's from 10 30 until eight o'clock at bedtime. So I get up at four and it's four to eight p.m. of like a full time job. Scotty where I and I love them. They've both grown so much this summer. It's been incredible to be able to spend time with them. I'm done. I'm officially done. I'm done. I get it. But it does switch to where instead of like just running around and exhausted all the time with them, like like they they'll hang out with you. Yeah, they will with you or something. And it's super fun. And it's just like it's not just like you sort of keeping up with them. It's different. And I guess that's what I'm nostalgic for. It's just like it's a good time now. How old are yours? 11 and 13. Yeah, that's six and eight now. That's different. The six-year-old is pretty easy. The three-year-old that I have now for the next week is going to be that's a real himself. Yeah, there's always yeah, there's like a limited time with that. I mean, I get it. They're great. But yeah, it's a little different. So the other benefit here and Scott, I think you'd agree with me if you if you if you pushed it all back and kids had September off, you could also take advantage of vacations when other kids are in school and then, you know, hotels aren't as expensive or as crowded. You go in mid-September when everyone's back at school and all of a sudden, you've got your pick of wherever you want to go and it's not like that busy. You can go on more family vacations at that point. Dude, they would they would save millions on air conditioning bill. They could use that to make things better. Yeah. And then everybody could have great vacations that Yosemite and whatever. And then they go to school when it's like the coolest time. It's like the June gloom. You don't have to worry about going to beach and stuff because nobody wants to it when it's that dark. Like, come on, I'm into it. So I'm glad that you guys agree. Let's go. I like your I like where your head's at and I'm down for let's keep the summer though, like two months. We don't need to three to four months some I will lose. I will see what's great. Look at my beard. Look at my beard right now. I look like you not discovered camp. You got it. Well, he's got the camps, but we've done the fountain. They're $500 each and it's like, Oh my God, dude, 40 grand this summer should do next summer. Bed and woods radio camp. Bed and woods camp. People drop their kids off here. Oh, that sounds great. Summer that they're right around. We we charge $500 each for the week and we just have a bunch of kids out like lunatics. Look at my beard right now. I look like Dr. Richard Kimball right now. Like seriously, it's it's they're they're absolutely killing me. They're killing me, Scotty, but I love them. I love them so much. I know you love your kids too. Thank you for calling in. Keep up the great work on voice of San Diego. I know you do such a great job, man. So thank you for calling in. We always appreciate you. All right, go Padres. Thank you, Scott. Tyler says camp 97. Three. Adam will be our chief camp counselor. He'll be in charge of making sure that the kids don't damage. Hey, can you not do that? Hey, you can't color the sale. We get the sale staff in with some entertaining, you know, you know, make it your own. You don't have kids. Yeah. Here's a spot to record for, you know, lone Pronto make it your own bullet points. Make it your own. Hey, I need you guys to quiet them. Adam, we're gonna have sits through some staff meetings on our sound space with Michael. That'll be great. Adam has three kids at home and he just put in the chat. My kids need to go back to school staff. I've had conversations with Adam from home and it sounds like I'm like, bro, is everything okay over there? What is happening? So I love Scott Lewis. I get where? What do you say? Yeah, 13 year old and 11 year old. Honestly, you're probably not ready for those dudes go back to school. You're probably not. You probably like having them around. You know, they're safe. You know, you got your eye on them. Six year old and a three year old is a little bit different. It's a little bit different. And I am so proud of mine. You are in the most exhausting phase. I'm exhausted, man. Maybe not the most stressful, but definitely the most exhausting phase of parenting. It's exhausting. Straight up. Hey, I got you some watermelon. I don't like watermelon yesterday. But I want pineapple. Well, here's pineapple. I don't like pineapple. And it's you go. You just go nuts all the time. When they're babies, you obviously have to wake up in the night. So easy though, but they can't move. You know, if you don't move them, they don't move. They're there. You've got them in a car seat. You got them in a crib. But once they start moving around, there's really no chance to rest. You can child proof as much as you want. You have to watch them every second between like three and seven or eight. But once they get, you know, nine, 10, 11, all right, they can play on their own a little bit more. They're a little bit more cool to interact with because they're starting to become people. And you know, Scott Lewis is in that age. He is. That's a fun one. That'll be fun for me when my kids are like 11 and nine. That'll be a good age. And then they get older and then they're very easy, but you worry more. Yeah, you worry all the time. You get their driver's license. And you're just constantly worried about what they're doing when you can't see them. Well, shout out to all the parents that'll be sending their kids off to school. I want to do this. We did this last year. And one one gal tweeted me yesterday. But if you're a teacher, I know it can be a little bit difficult. You know, you have to buy your own supplies and things like that. So if you're a teacher and you have a list and Amazon list, tweet us at Ben and Woods or at the Stephen Woods or at Ben Higgins. And we'll retweet it. Maybe help out a little bit when we can. It's not like an official fundraiser, but it's something we did last year. I finally at the age of 49. And I think I got it last year at the age of 48 finally have the utmost respect for teachers. Why? Because I had kids and I realized what you guys do is absurd. And whatever you make is not enough to deal with all of the things that you have to deal with, not only the kids and their weird behavior and their weird habits. And but it's the parents who are awful. It is the administration. It is the red tape. It's all of it. So I have such a respect for teachers that I never had before had kids. And if you guys have wish lists and things you need for your classroom, please send them to us. We will do our very best to get the word out there and, you know, retweet them and all that. So we love you guys. Thank you for taking care of our kids. And I just really respect you a lot now. Finally. All right, we've got in season Sammy coming up at the bottom of the hour. He's got his thoughts. Talk to Mike winners about the Hassan Kim home run ruling. If you missed it earlier, we'll talk more about that. Give us our thoughts, which were essentially, yeah, they got they got to call right, unfortunately. But it doesn't the rule doesn't feel like it's written the right way that that it should be a home run, even though it it isn't. Now somebody tweeted us. Let's see. Roma 13 said they did not get it right. This morning, even the MLB central cast hashed it out and all agreed it was a homer. So I don't know. I don't know. I think by the letter of the law, it's a rule book double. I think so as well. But again, there's enough confusion and gray area that Major League Baseball needs to do something at the very least, to clarify the rule and make it less ambiguous as to what it really means to hit the wall or the top of the wall and what what does coming back toward the field mean. You know, I thought to me anything that hits upward should be like fair play. And that ball, even though it came backwards, it was also going up. And if a ball is still in the air and going up, to me, it should be in play. Now, if it hits the wall and it's just coming straight down and somehow they batted upwards and over the wall, that may be different. But Major League Baseball needs to do a rule clarification here. Does the ability to rob a home run do anything for you based on the letter of the law and the flight? So you can actually use the wall to climb up, time it over the wall, which is the imaginary line. And that's not a home run. You made a spectacular catch. They're going to award you an hour. It feels like if you're able to take that reward of pulling it back, you're also taking a risk when you go up and somehow you knock it over. Now, if you do knock it over without it touching the wall, that is a home run. That's true. Jose Conseco style. That is true. But I think Major League Baseball has some clarifications to issue at least before next season on that because there's no reason a game should be decided by a confusing situation in the ninth inning on a is it a home run? Is it not a home run situation? All right, I'll take your time out. We'll come back. More Padres talk in season, Sammy on the way as well. First quick, check a traffic with Kelly on 97 3 the fan. This season Instacart has your back to school. As in, they've got your back to school lunch favorites like snack packs and fresh fruit. And they've got your back to school supplies like backpacks, binders and pencils. And they've got your back when your kid casually tells you they have a huge school project due tomorrow. Let's face it, we were all that kid. So first, call your parents to say, I'm sorry. And then download the Instacart app to get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes all school year long. Get a $0 delivery fee for your first three orders while supplies last. Minimum $10 per order additional terms apply. We all belong outside. We're drawn to nature, whether it's the recorded sounds of the ocean we doze off to or the succulents that adorn our homes. Nature makes all of our lives well better. Despite all this, we often go about our busy lives removed from it. But the outdoors is closer than we realize. With all trails, you can discover trails nearby and explore confidently with offline maps and on trail navigation. Download the free app today and make the most of your summer with all trails. Nothing is more important than getting a good night's sleep. And when you don't get the rest you need, your whole day is thrown off. That's why it's so important to choose the right mattress. Sleeping on a purple mattress is truly a unique experience because purple mattresses are made with a gel flex grid. The gel flex grid is an innovative material that moves with your body to relieve pressure in areas like knees and hips and support in others like your back. It feels soft where you want it and supports where you need it. Purple mattresses instantly adapt when you move. You don't sink in and get stuck like with memory foam. And thanks to over 1400 air chambers in the gel flex grid, you will sleep cooler on a purple mattress. Purple has a wide variety of mattresses from the original purple mattress to the restore hybrid collection that combines gel flex grid with coils and the rejuvenate lux collection, the height of luxury. With over 112,000 to five star reviews to prove it, visit purple.com to find the perfect purple for you and enter code podcast 10 to get 10% off. Today's episode is sponsored by nerd wallet smart money podcast ready to expand your financial game nerd wallet can coach you on smart strategies like choosing investments, finding your next credit card, and setting a budget that works for you. Score major points towards your summer vacation by learning expert tips for choosing a high yield savings account and how to build wealth by investing in index funds. Slide into summer with smarter decisions in 2024. Follow nerd wallet smart money podcast on your favorite podcast app. Future you will thank you. Hey fantasy football fans, this is Zach from upper hand fantasy. You don't want an embarrassing tattoo just because you lost a bet in your fantasy football league, right? If you do, I suggest I'm remade holding a football, but let's avoid that altogether. Bros and I are here to get you ready for your fantasy football drafts with insights and advice from sleepers to busts we've got you covered to give you the upper hand on your friends. Start your fantasy football prep now. Join us and stay ahead of the competition. Follow and listen to upper hand fantasy on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Go catch in our weekend, uh, maggie and purloff on the way in this morning. And I was surprised because they both give positive reviews to the debut of Olympic breaking breakdancing. And I didn't see it. I mean, I saw it, but I saw it. I didn't see it. And I will. Yes, they are athletic and I can't do it. And most of you can't do what they were doing. They banged it already, didn't they? It's not going to be in the games next in, in Los Angeles. Should tell you they didn't, they already decided before it even started though. These games they weren't going to put it in. I might be back in Brisbane in the 2032. They just don't have it on the docket for Los Angeles. I thought it was more meme-worthy than actual competition. I don't know. I didn't, I didn't feel right for me, but that didn't feel like an Olympic event. Now some people said, why is synchronized swimming any different? I mean, they're just very difficult. They're not breaking. Breaking is difficult. And it is more of a, you know, a dance routine. I mean, you could have cheerleading in the Olympics. You know, they have competitive cheerleading. What, what is and what is an Olympic sport can be a difficult line to draw. I understand. But for me, I just, maybe it's the age thing. I saw a couple of minutes and I go, this is not for me. I'm not going to watch it. We did get a bronze b-boy victor, took bronze for the United States in the initial breaking competition at Paris. The Australia woman was incredible, incredible, made for a lot of funny Twitter jokes. She wasn't really supposed to be there. But that was an interesting part of it. But yeah, I, I, congratulations, really well done. U.S. bringing home a lot of medals, a ton of medals. Great. Until next time. It was some people made fun of me, but for say, I'm tired of the Olympics, I'm ready. Two weeks seems like a long time. But I did say I was looking forward to the team finals. We've been soccer, got it done. We won nothing win on Saturday. Men's basketball. That was a fantastic finish. I watched the last. Did you see that curry go off at the end? Right. I missed. I missed that part. I saw like 30 seconds left. I flipped over. He had made four consecutive three pillars. And I saw the highlights. It was incredible. You made one that was amazing, then crazy, then insane, and then unbelievable like in order. I did hear the French broadcasters were like literally like he's just calling him the devil. He's the devil. So great. And then the women's game, the basketball final yesterday was, was entertaining, came down to a, you know, the team that has not lost in 60 straight games is one. I had won seven straight Olympic golds going for their eighth, but they're only up three. Final seconds. France throws up, you know, at the buzzer, it banks in, but her foot was on the line. Two pointer instead of a three, France loses by one heart breaking for the host country, but the US did very well at these Olympic games. And it was between the venues, the Eiffel Tower, the, you know, all the different things that they set up in France on the Senn River. One of the best Olympics of my lifetime, I will say. Now, see bass. See bass in the chances is homey is what's the name? Victor B. Boy B. Boy Victor says his homie is B. Boy victory won USA bronze. It should be in the LA Olympics. It doesn't make sense to have it in the LA Olympics, right? Because that kind of Southern California break dancing. You feel like that they could do. I've seen people on the street like on Hollywood Boulevard break dancing. They're absolutely incredible, incredible. I wonder if some of those were the end ended up being the athletes at the Olympics. You never know, man. Never know. But it was, uh, my wife cried, uh, pretty a lot when the, uh, closing ceremonies ended. She loves the Olympics so much. She is making plans to go next time that it's when it's in LA. And I thought about it in the anxiety of, of what LA traffic's going to be. It breaks my brain, but you actually said, the plan is, is zero car Olympics is what LA is saying. Okay. They want no personal automobiles going to any events. It's all going to be trains and buses and not any parking in any of the venues. I know last time in 1984, they did such a good job of getting everyone ready. Like the Olympics are going to be here, traffic planned for it. No one was on the roads at all in 1984. You could drive like the 405 was empty. So if you're in the Olympics, if you live in LA, if you live there, and you know the Olympics is coming to town, you split. Yeah, take off. You go work from home, going vacation, leave town, Airbnb out your house, get out of there, you know, take advantage of all the tourists coming and whatever it is, but you got four years to plan for it. Yeah. Well, you had more years than that, but now you've got four years to plan for it. And hopefully it'll go off as well as the Paris. Did they get a high bar to clear? No, no question. And the difference with the LA games is they're not building any venues. They're just going to use what they've got. They have plenty of stadiums. I think I think so far is like opening closing ceremonies and some events, but track and field is going to be at the Coliseum historic, you know, around the at the track. Obviously, they've got the plenty of arenas. They'll have the new Clippers arena to go with, you know, Lakers, the crypto crypto and then they've got plenty of venues all over the place. The beef says the golf is going to be at the Riviera Riviera country car. All right. I could be convinced. I could be convinced to go up to watch Olympic golf at the rib. Surfing will be huge. Skateboarding will be huge massive with a lot of local athletes, obviously, some of those events as well. Somebody said maybe thumbwars should be Olympics. What's the strategy? One, two, three, four, I declare doesn't really work. If the thumbwars not on camera, guys should go over trying to get leverage on me with his meaty hands. Snake attack here. Can I sneak attack you? One, two, three, sneak attack foul. Or the one I want to replay. I'm throwing the challenge flag. Go to New York. He used the index. You don't trap me. I actually took a big snort of vix right before I did that performance and answers. That is. Yeah. That was an odd legendary radio, by the way. Thank you. I would go to the video, but there's not a new word nowhere near the camera. I try to move it over the camera at the end. What radio thumbwars is kind of like radio charades that we tried a few years ago. They'll not. We can do crazy. We did it wrong. There's a way to do it. I've done it. It's really, really good. Now, the Olympics are over. U.S. cleaned up. Congratulations. Go, America. Bill says the Clippers join will be for basketball. I mean, they'll need multiple venues, I would think, for some of the main team events. So we'll see. And then, of course, baseball is going to be back in the Olympics, but no decisions yet on whether Major League Baseball players will be in it or not, but they're certainly talking about it. And if they can work it out logistically, we'll see what that looks like. But it would certainly be exciting. It'd be great. It'd be great. So, yeah, looking forward to it. Four years from now, luck can happen between now and then, and, but now Paris did a great job, like you said, a very, very high bar to clear for LA. All right. When we come back in season, Sammy joins us. Sam Levitt, host of our eco water pregame show and post game shows for Padres baseball. Here on 97 three, the fan, he talked to Mike winners, the umpire on the post game show yesterday. I get all the updates, the reaction after the Padres finish a five and one road trip yesterday. It's been a once back with Sam Levitt next year on 97 three, the fan. This should be Sammy's theme song actually. Why do you say that working man? Oh, okay. Guys always grind. Always grind. I mean, at least no, uh, rain delays in this series, but two extra inning affairs. That was a long road trip for Sam Levitt. It really was. And no off day today at the end of it, just right into a three game home stand against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sammy Levitt is standing by. We will chat with in season Sammy right after this check of traffic on 97 three, the fan baseball coverage in 97 three, the fan is presented by T mobile, switch to T mobile. You can get tons of benefits still save on every plan versus AT&T and Verizon use their savings calculator to find out how at T mobile dot com slash switch. Well, I said it earlier, but I want to say it to his, his face or at least his voice as he joins us to his ears. Great job on, especially yesterday's post game show, Sammy, in taking the calls, getting Mike winners on to explain the, the ruling on, on the Haas on Kim non home run. It was a confusing situation for everybody involved. And I thought you handled it really, really well. So good job. Well, thank you very much. And obviously it was a confusing play and a confusing situation. And I thought Mike came on and, and did a really nice job in explaining it. And I'm lucky to have Mike as a contact because he's at the ballpark a lot. And obviously he's done a bit of stuff on, on Padres TV this year, but he did a great job coming on. And really, I think making the point and making it clear to me and the audience that the key part of that ball coming off the wall yesterday was the redirection or at least what the replay room saw in New York, the redirection of the ball back towards the field of play, which quote unquote meant it wasn't in flight anymore. And that was sort of the, you know, I think the thing to understand redirection. And again, I still think there's a lot of gray area on this because you heard me ask and I know you guys played earlier if that ball just pops straight up in the air and towers ends up knocking it over. What is the call? And, you know, look, I, I think they got the call right in Miami. I'm still a little confused on certain situations and certain ways that ball comes off the fence on what the call would be. And then I saw all the different plays circulating on Twitter yesterday and it confused me because there's clearly been plays in this game in the past that have looked not identical to that one, but have been even worse as far as the ball heading back over the fence once it hits the fence and touches a fielder. And those were a world home run. So I'm still a little confused about it this morning. I suppose the gripe from a Padres perspective that I would have would be number one. Could the replay room in New York say with 100% certainty that that ball was coming back towards the field of play. I guess you could look at it this way and look, I know you had somebody in your chat earlier that talked about MLB Central and MLB Network. And I actually went and watched with Mark DeRosa and I think was Sean Casey had to say and I thought they made a fair point too. I think it's not a great rule like that feels like a home run and it probably should be a home run. So I think it's fair for Padres fans this morning to be upset because it feels like something that should have been a home run that wasn't. And unfortunately a bad break that didn't go the Padres way. Yeah, no question about it. You've had some interesting calls lately, Sammy. I was brought to my attention. You're getting some calls about, hey, Fernando Tetis Jr. If he comes back, is he going to ruin the vibe of the San Diego Padres moving forward? And you know, I will always submit that. And I don't think this makes me a genius. But getting good players back is always better than not getting good players back. And you let the chips fall where they may. And you if you've watched Fernando with his teammates in the clubhouse or like in the dugout cheering for, you know, when he's been around the team, the dude is bought in as anybody. I just submit that that narrative kind of needs to go away. And again, I said it earlier, I know what the numbers are. I know what the numbers say, the records and all that. But again, getting a player of his caliber back healthy and ready for a stretch run. I think is only going to help us. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the ass. But I will stand by the fact that getting a really good, good player with MVP potential is inherently a good thing. Yeah. And I think the part that really stunned me on Friday and look, we take a lot of calls post game. And honestly, when the teams playing as well as they're playing right now, the phone line light up, they do. And I will sit there for an hour and a half. And I will take phone calls for a good half hour, 40 minutes of it. And we'll roll through it. Because that's my job. I was stunned to get a couple of those calls on Friday night. And I even said at the time, like, this is, this is what some of you are focusing on right now with how well things are going. So look, I find, I find, you know, the argument sort of ridiculous. I mean, in a big spot, season on the line, who do you want up there? I think Fernando is very, very high on that list. So I think in every way, shape and form, getting him back is going to be a huge boost for this team and look, you know, with their situation in right field right now, you have a guy that is not playing that is, you know, when he's healthy and when he's going right, no doubt hands down an MVP caliber talent. And on top of that, just to go back to any kind of narrative of that, again, I wasn't here for it. But I don't know, they did pretty great in 2020. And he was a big part of it a lot of 2021. I mean, he was playing like an MVP and they were winning a lot of games. So for all those reasons, I find any kind of narrative like that pretty silly and you cannot convince me, and I know you guys feel the same, that there is any, any bad part about getting a guy back that is capable of doing what he's doing both offensively and defensively. They need him. They really do this is dumb. This is dumb. I mean, you have to look at who he's replacing as well. If if you're saying, yeah, I have to take Jackson Merrill, a Jerkson profile, I wonder if that's okay, we can have a discussion. He's taking Bryce Johnson out of the lineup. I mean, even David Peralta who's hitting well, I don't mind easing Tetis back in and against occasional righties, give Peralta a day and you know, Tetis can DH or take a day off. I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine with that. But when you're saying, is it Tetis or Bryce Johnson? We're not having this discussion. And I will admit, yes, Tetis, when things have gone poorly in the past, the body language can be bad. Kind of can look a little mopey after he strikes out. But when the Padres are playing, well, he doesn't care as long as the team is playing well, well, if they're all losing and he's striking out, yeah, he can get a little mopey sometimes. So what? They're all unhappy when they're losing as long as they're winning. He only adds positivity to the vibes of the San Diego Padres. This isn't a discussion. This isn't something we should be talking about or taking seriously. It's only good news when Fernando Tetis Jr. returns to the lineup. End of rant. Yeah, I totally agree. Yeah, totally agree. Totally agree. As Chris makes the point though, then Bryce Johnson is a switch hitter. As we just discovered last week, I think he is. Maybe I don't want to say concerning, but certainly the exhaustion of the Padres bullpen over this road trip and how much they had to be used some, not totally their fault. Obviously, the rain delay, the extra innings all play a part in it, but we've seen a more aggressive GMing from AJ Preller. And are you expecting more of that going forward with guys pretty much getting called up and sent down on a daily basis to reinforce that bullpen? Yeah, look, it's definitely possible. I mean, right? I mean, we've seen it now for a few days. Johnny burrito comes up and by the way, what a big role he had to win on Saturday. I mean, I don't know if they win that game, if he doesn't give you two innings and a third score list, but you're right. 24 hours later, he was back down to Triple A and Sean Reynolds was up and Sean Reynolds pitched yesterday and pitched the inning. Could he go down today? I would assume it's possible. I don't know that for sure, but there's also the factor today specifically in your right. There's been a very aggressive GMing and Roth removes, but today in particular with Joe going probably a max of 60 pitches, you can almost guarantee that you're going to need a big day out of your bullpen. So I don't know it for sure. It would not shock me at all though to see another move, another guy option that they keep on replenishing the arms in that bullpen if they don't have an off day until Thursday. So it's a great point, Ben, and it's something I'd keep an eye on later in the day because I certainly don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities, especially today, because you know today with your starting pitcher and Joe, even if he can give you a four innings, really good innings, I mean, it's going to be a max of 60 pitches. So could we see somebody like an Alec Jacob now back up or somebody else back up? We'll see if wouldn't shock me at all. Yeah, I mean, I'm right there with you. I just, you know, there's a couple of guys that you're that you just don't know, like Carl Edwards Jr. I mean, is he going to be backing up Joe Musgrove? They hasn't pitched in a few days. It didn't go well when he did. So is it Brian Hoeing? I mean, there's a lot of options, but you know, the options need to be effective. Again, offense needs to continue to do what they're doing and and put balls and play score runs, but really, Sammy, the defense has got to be shirt up, short up, as I learned earlier, short up. Yeah, you know, they got to figure it out. And with Kimmy, it's like, I really don't care what you do with the stick, man. You got to be the gold glove defense that we, you know, have come to rely on. Yeah, and it's a good point. Look, yesterday, unfortunately, not only did that home run or not home run the ground road double rather, not only did it that prevent the Padres from tying the game, but it also prevented Hassan Kim from having a bit of redemption for himself. No, no, nine didn't yesterday. I mean, that it was a rough day for Kim yesterday. He struck out three times before that. He had committed the error back in the second inning that opened the door on a routine ground ball, arrives with given the error on the second play of that inning, but it wasn't a throw that was really super on target from Hassan Kim. And I think, as we all know, it's been a rougher off into season. And, you know, the defense has been shakier certainly than it was the last couple of years. But, you know, look, I know there's been a lot of talk about Solano and Kim and getting getting Solano in there more. Look, they've shown to this point, and we've now got a little bit more than 40 games to go. I mean, they've shown, you know, no signs of there being a major shake up there, right, as far as Kim's playing time. And I really don't believe that's coming. And if you guys mentioned it earlier, and again, I'm kind of taking your Kim question and taking it in a different direction. But, you know, I think one thing, whether you want to talk about Solano's role and how good he's been in this particular role, or even like a Jackson Merrill, you know, the idea of, hey, maybe it's time to move them up in the lineup. You know, I think when things are going as well as they've gone for this team, there is a degree of, hey, just keep guys doing what they're doing. Merrill's really succeeded where he is. Solano has been so good off the bench. And again, I know it's been a conversation point with Kim and Solano's playing time of what you would do with Kim's playing time go down. To this point, we've got 40 plus games to go. There have been really, beyond just the talk about it, no signs of that actually happening, right? So, but you're right, on a on a beef level, Kim playing really good defense. It's something they really need. I agree. Sam Levitt is with us. Padres pre and post game show host here on 97 three, the fan. And I saw this is like an hour ago or more. So I've forgotten who it was. But the comment was made. Are you prepared for this team to fall back to 500 again? Oh, and honestly, I think my answer is is no, well, not Sammy. I feel like we've gotten some separation definition in the playoff race and the Padres and Diamondbacks have put some ground between them and the next set of contenders, which are basically the Braves, Mets, and Cardinals and Giants who are kind of battling for that last spot right now. Now, it can change. There's still 43 games left. And if you went on a collapse, like 20, 21, you certainly not guaranteed anything at this point. However, I've kind of got my eyes set above and not below at the moment. You kind of share that that you're kind of looking more at the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, even Brewers and Phillies now as opposed to necessarily what the Braves and Mets and Cardinals and Giants are doing every day. Yeah, I do. I mean, look, four games is not 10 games. It's not impossible, but you're right. They've created some cushion for sure. I mean, I don't think at this particular moment, you're looking at the wild card cut off line after the third spot as the thing you're really worried about. They played so well and the Diamondbacks, my goodness, have played almost equally as well. Both those teams have created created a lot of cushion. Right now, I'd be focused on keep playing well, keep maintaining that cushion. And yes, you are battling for potentially hosting a wild card series. The division is in play. If you can keep it at two, three games by the time you get to that series during the final week of the year in LA, you're going to have a real shot to go do it. So I'm with you, Ben. I think my sites are a little bit higher than that. And that's a credit for this team because a week and a half ago, two weeks ago, they were in and out of that final wild card spot and now a four game cushion feels pretty nice and you've got five teams or so battling for that final spot. So I'm with you. My sites are above that, but with that said, they don't have to win 16 out of 19 the rest of the way. That kind of pace, but they've got to keep playing well and at least maintain that cushion. But yes, if you're a pottery spin, I think at this moment, you should feel good about where they are. And this team's ability and at this point likeliness to make the postseason. I think that's a very fair way to feel. They got to keep playing well. If you go into the game tonight or anytime this series against the pirates, be sure to stop by say hi to Sam and the loft at the Western Metal Supply Company hour before the game hour plus sometimes after the game on the post game show, he'll be there tonight starting at 5.40 p.m. for the 6.40 start. Sammy, thank you very much. We'll chat with you again soon. All right, guys, you got it. Thank you, buddy. Sam, with us in, you know, again, I the Padres have put themselves in a good enough position where if they played 500 ball 43 games, I can't play 500, but 22 and 21, they would finish with 88 wins at that point. That's 500 ball. They're playing much better than that though. And I'd like to think that they could continue to play better than that. Maybe not quite 16 and two, but you know, continue to win series as they've done what? Seven series in a row. Yeah, man. Diamondbacks have won eight series in a row, but seven series in a row. You keep winning series. You don't have to go on a long winning streak. You can get into the nineties, even maybe even mid nineties of wins with a strong finish. And that should give you that would definitely get you into the playoffs that should give you an opportunity to maybe challenge for a division title and a home series in the playoffs as well. That, to me, is the goal at this point for the Padres, you know, 20, 26 and 17 the rest of the way. That would be amazing. That would get you 92. I mean, you know, that's 11 more wins than anybody thought you were going to get. That's not, that's not an insane. That's less than the pace you've been playing by far since the all-star break. That's just generally winning series and playing decent baseball the rest of the way. You can definitely get into the nineties and give yourself a shot at a division title. Boy, that off day on Thursday is going to hit so good for those guys. They need it desperately. The bullpen needs it. You know, you got three against the pirates who you swept. They're going to be, they just got swept by the Dodgers again. They're going to be hungry to get a win, man. It doesn't matter. Their season's probably over, but they're going to want to beat you. And especially with all the fireworks that went down last time, but Ben, I need you on Friday morning at 10 a.m. I need you hit me over the head with a hammer and wake me up on Monday because you don't want to even pay attention to the rocks. I swear to God, I don't even want to watch it after what I saw happened yesterday to the Atlanta Braves in Coorsfield. I don't even want to watch this already happened to the popular Braves game up seven in the eight to lose at nine to eight. I mean, we saw that game back in what? April, May hit me over the saw that game already. We don't, we don't need it again. Hammer me. And then they don't have to play the Rockies ever again. At least not until 25. Can they contract with that team? Bud Black, if you're listening, we love you. We love you, buddy. Thank you for being a tier one. Don't do it to us again. Thank you. All right, bye. Talion Paul. Oh, it is a report coming up next here on The Fail. Nice. 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