[MUSIC] >> About Francis says 73402 earned run average. >> And a week after being named American League Player of the Week, he took it to another level last time out carrying a no hitter into the ninth inning in the Angels. >> And now he strikes out Casas, a splitter right on the outside corner. Strike three call, did he go? Yes, he did. Swinging a miss there by Bowden Francis to get him. Swinging a miss. >> Bowden bleep in Francis, man. He was just in total control, I mean, he's got such a good way about him. Mentally, physically, execution wise, his pitch mix is awesome. >> Not much more to say other than he's really good right now. [MUSIC] >> So we swearing, we're not swearing. What was going on? Fan Morning Show Sports at Five Night of the Fan, Ben and Sam McKee. That was John Schneider talking about yet another unbelievable start from Bowden Francis. When he said Bowden bleeping Francis, I was like, why are you bleeping? You swear all the time in your post game availabilities, and then he did swear. So why did you say bleeping? Am I crazy? But does he sound like, I thought that was Chris LaRue? >> I kind of got, yeah. >> Can he sound a little bit of a Chris LaRue tone? >> A little bit of a Chris LaRue tone. >> That was like Chris LaRue with blue on the radio. [LAUGH] >> I don't believe in Francis. >> Is that not that like Chris LaRue? >> A little bit. >> It does, it does. >> Anyways. >> Dalsid tones. >> All right, buddy, happy Friday, long weekend. >> Yeah, yeah, you got plans for the long weekend? >> I do. >> Yeah. >> Oh, you don't want to share them though, that was like, yeah, I got plans. >> No, I mean, you better not ask me a follow-up question. >> They're really not spectacular. They're just going to a sound. You know, I'm going to play some golf. >> Yeah, that sounds like you. >> Yeah, I'm going to play golf at Lexi Ridge on Saturday, and then I'm going to Laura Bay on Sunday in Thornberry. >> I was not going to go anywhere though. >> Played Lakeview yesterday, shot 75 then. >> Oh, buddy. >> Good for you, okay. >> The last golf text I got from you a couple of weeks ago was like, I've never played the game before, as you said. And yesterday, not to get into the details of my golf round. I shot 75, but I actually will look back on it as the chance to do something very special. >> I mean, 75 is pretty special. >> No, like, that's my personal best. Tied it, tied my personal best. I've probably done 75 four, five times. >> Did you, is that amazing that you waited until this moment to tell me that? >> I know, but then I had, so I had the, it could have very easily been an even part. Like, I don't say that as like, I miss this, and it's like, I had on from back to back holes, I miss a combined 12 feet of birdie pots. Like, it was very, very, like, everything was working. >> Oh, yeah. >> And I just, my potter let me down a little bit on the back, not, it could have been an even par 72, could have been, it was very, very close to something that will never happen again. >> No, no, no, no, no, like, yesterday was as good as I've ever played. >> Yeah, good for you. >> I was on fire. And it's just, it's still, it's just, I just tied my personal best. So that's what's perfect about the game of golf then, is that I left the course, Lakeview. >> Yeah. >> A little bit upset. >> Yeah. >> Shooting a 75. >> Yeah. >> And it's like, why are you upset? You played as good as you can play, and it's like, I could have it better. >> Yeah. >> It could have been better. >> No, no, no, I'm with you. You know, I'm a guy, I'm a very jealous person, right? >> Mm-hm, are you? >> A lot. >> I don't have that. >> I try, I know you don't. >> I used to. >> Yeah, I try to feel good for people, but like, I just can't, like, I'm just being honest. >> Yeah, I get it. >> Except for the golf thing, like, I root people on for, and it's part of it is that I'm not like playing against you in a match, I suppose. >> Yes. >> But yeah, I play, there's other fellow that I, I golf with routinely, he's a barber in Burlington. >> He's a barber in Burlington. >> He's a barber in Burlington. >> Yeah, I'm playing with him today, but I saw him the other day at the golf course, shot a career high, 72, and he's like, him and I are very similar skill level. >> 72 is special. >> Yeah. I mean, so it's a little, the golf course we play, I think. >> It's hard. >> I mean, I don't think I've ever broken 85 plenty of golf course, maybe to be honest. >> There's a lot of water, but yeah, the first two holes, I'm like, yeah, the first two holes, I get out of here like three over, I'm happy. >> I'll agreed. I mean, the first hole especially, it's like 550 yard par five, you know, you want the approach over for you to third shot, not exactly the way you want to start it around. Anyways, yeah, no, if I survive, like two over is, you're ecstatic to get through the first two holes, two over. >> So I decided to quickly tell you about this guy that we were playing with yesterday. I forget their names, I won't even say their names on the radio, but I'll say Johnny and Jim. >> Johnny and Jim. >> I think those are made up names and one of their uncle and nephew. And the nephew who like was a strapping young man, he went back to the blues and like, I quit playing the blues. I have more fun from the whites, I play better from the whites, it's 6,000 yards, it's enough. And then so he goes back to the blues and we're all playing the whites. So every hole we're waiting on it. And he's just like, it's not that great. >> No. >> And then on the 15th hole, when like he's been chopping it around the whole day, breaks out the aim point. >> No. >> So he's putting his legs on both sides of the line, he's like, you want professional golf. He's what all these guys do when I put the feet on each side of the line. And then he like holds up the two fingers and I honestly, I'm like chasing up something special and I'm waiting for a six foot birdie putt. And he's aim pointing this and I almost was like, runner, pick the pot and then he hit it like 60 short and I was like, my God, dude, I'm going to kill you. >> That's the tough thing about playing with people you don't know is that they think that that's your normal round. They have no, did you, and you can't say it's your like in the middle of the no hitter, right? >> I did not mention that. >> You're not bringing it up. >> No, I did not say a thing. >> At the end of the round. Did you mention it? >> Honestly, I didn't like them by the end of it. >> Got the hat off, shook their hands and got the hell in a dodge. I wasn't thrilled hanging out with them for four and a half hours, but. >> That's the greatest thing about golf is that, okay, I'll never play pro sports, right? >> I swear to you, I understand the pressure of a pro athlete because in the midst of something like that, like your heart rate starts going. I can't imagine it's much different, honestly, it can't be much different being on the verge of doing something special in professional sports, in professional golf, right? Like being on the verge, knowing what you've gotten, like trying to separate the mentality of like, okay, if I just do this, but no, just keep doing what you're doing. >> Yes. >> You're counting. >> I was looking ahead. >> You're gonna keep in your brain out of your golf game? >> No, but even I was like, and I made a brutal boat. I made a bad bogey on six- >> No, you're looking at your scorecard right now. >> No, I just opened my head. >> [LAUGH] >> And it was like, I hit a perfect drive, anyways, it was not good. I made a bad bogey. But anyways, I made a shot at 75 and I was really happy leaving the course except I should have shot at 72. >> Well, Bowdoin Francis should have had back to back, yeah, no hitters. He almost had a no, he brought a no hitter into the ninth inning against the Angels. He brought a no hitter into the late innings against the Boston Red Sox yesterday. I mean, the difference between the two starts was that Bowdoin Francis not only was on the verge of a potential another no hitter, but he had 70 pitches through seven innings. There was no pitch count problem. I thought, you know, people for the uninitiated amatics is when you throw a complete game in under 100 pitches. That was very much on the table. >> He was tracking. >> For Bowdoin Francis, and before the game, John Schneider said that there would be no pitch limit on him despite the extended pitch count that he had in his last game against the Angels where he carried that no hitter into the ninth inning. It's unbelievable what's happened. This is a guy that's already two weeks ago was the American League player of the week. It's hard. You know, last week it was Aaron judge. It's gonna be hard to deny Aaron judge like on a weekly basis. >> It's like it should be just Aaron judge should just be the player of the week every week. >> He and he's he's done it quite a few times I think this year. But the numbers are just like, it's not just an incredible run for this player and this franchise. Like all time great numbers now granted it's not the largest sample, it's not the tiniest sample either now, a 0.38 whip. So that's walks and hits per innings pitched. This whip is 0.38 this August. It's the lowest by any major league starter in a calendar month since at least 1906. So that's a minimum start. Nobody's had a month like this since at least 1906, which is the modern game of baseball before 1900s, not modern baseball, the home runs were like outlawed. What we just saw, because it's over for him, his month is over. What we saw from Bowden Francis isn't just like, well, that was a pretty good, that was like the greatest pitching month in the history of the sport, Bowden Francis, the guy who was like, okay, he'll be the fifth starter to start the year and then pitch so poorly had me sent back down to Buffalo or it was the long man out of the bullpen. And you're like, well, I guess that didn't work, he's out of the plans, kind of giving up on him, throws away the curve ball, brings in the splitter. And now you have to ask the question, and I'm not saying that this is what the reality is. The greatest pitcher of all time, no, the question you have to ask is like, this guy, it almost doesn't matter what he does the final month of the season, you need to see him in the rotation to start next year. He's earned his stripes. That's not even a question anymore. The question is like, have you just found something unreal? And this franchise knows what that feeling is because Jose Bautista, they acquired for nothing. Like Robinson Diaz at one point was a prize prospect, they said to the Pirates, he was nothing. And Jose Bautista was just like a throw in and he bounced around a hundred different organizations and he turned into the one of the all time franchise greats on the level of excellence. Edwin N. Cornasion, yeah, he was part of the Scott Roland trade, but he was also DFA and just factually part of the Oakland A's organization one off season before he returned to the Blue Jays and then became one of the all time franchise greats. The only pitching comps I can find and it's not, it's not apples to apples, but Jordan Romano was factually a member of the Texas Rangers briefly. He was drafted by the Blue Jays, but he was a rule five draft pick and then didn't make the opening day roster, sent back to the Blue Jays. So anybody could have had him and it's in Jordan Romano's not a Hall of Famer, but this is a guy that's been one of the best closers in baseball over the last couple of years. Tom Hanky, I don't know if you can make it comparable. He was drafted and he was in the Rangers organization. The Blue Jays picked him up as part of a free agency compensation pick. So yeah, he was available and he turned into the franchise's greatest closer. Again, I'm not putting any of this on Bowdoin, Francis, but you have a month like that. And again, this wasn't out of nowhere either because there are many people who saw the movement and Enosaris of the athletic has this metric stuff plus. He evaluated that pitch and identified Bowdoin Francis as a guy that could potentially blow up. You now have to at least examine the possibility that Bowdoin Francis is found money more than just a guy that can fill in at the back end of your rotation next season. >> Yeah, no 100%. So I saw last on Twitter the game score thing and I was confused about what game score is. You know what game score is? >> Yes, I'm very well versed in the game score. >> Do I need to go through what a game score is? >> Yeah, go. I think a lot of people are. >> So you start with 50 points and you add one point for each out recorded, so three points for every complete inning pitched. Add two points for each inning completed after the fourth. Add one point for each strikeout. Subtract two points for each hit allowed. Subtract four points for each earned run allowed. Subtract two points for each unearned run allowed. Subtract one point for each walk. Okay, so we're all there. The only five MLB pitchers in the last 35 years to have four consecutive starts with a game score of at least 78 are, that's honestly hilarious. Randy Johnson. >> Yeah, obviously. >> Pedro Martinez. >> Sure. >> Johansson, Tana. >> Uh-huh. >> Cleaner, John. >> That's amazing. >> Man. >> That is unbelievable. Like game score, sure, whatever, like you could parse how much that actually means. >> No, it means something. >> Those four names with Bowdoin Francis is one of the most absurd sentences I've ever read. Like, I looked at those, I was like, what the hell is going on? >> And there's some Angels games in there, and again, at the Red Sox didn't have rap at all. Divers. They suck. >> Man, there's still a possibility they're a playoff this year, okay? And also two of the starts that have been part of this run for Bowdoin Francis came against the Baltimore Orioles. Does anyone think those guys are chumps? >> No. >> Or pushovers? >> No. >> He's a delight to watch work right now. It truly is. >> Look at these. >> He's so confident. You can see it oozing out of him. He's just working so fast, just locating his heater. That splitter is nasty. It's got guys tied up. Like it really, really has changed his whole outlook. >> Look, the lack of walks do, he's just been so precise. >> He's in the zone, in the zone, he's just nailing everything. So it's really, really exciting. I mean, imagine how great you're feeling if you're in the Blue Jays for an office looking towards next year, where you're worried about, you're worried about Manoa, because he got the off season, or he got the surgery in season. You're looking at Yari El Rodriguez, who we were talking about running out of gas. You just, it really is just a diamond in the rough here to have him pop up and have the same game scoring in the last four games as for all time Hall of Famers. >> It's still- >> Tell your hands, Anthony. It's not Hall of Famers, maybe. >> Is he? >> He's not, but he should be. >> Maybe he should be. >> I forget, is he off the ballot now? I don't know. But yeah, but I mean- >> He's an awesome career. >> I mean, he passes the eye test for me. >> I agree. >> So, the other comparable- >> Mm. >> So, Bowdoin Francis is 28 years old, right? And your sports brain for the other sports, you're like, well, that's not a prospect anymore. That's a fully formed person in the sport. >> Mm-hm. >> It's also a sport we saw, 44 year old Rich Hill, like dominate yesterday. We'll get into that. >> God, I love that. >> But this also happens to guys in their late 20s or honestly, in their 30s, you have to look no further than Kevin Gossman, right? And it's funny that it's the same pitch. Kevin Gossman started off as a prize prospect for the Orioles, right? Like this is a first round pick. >> Boy, he stonked with the Orioles. >> Not very good. I mean, how many of those guys did they have? Like Brian Mattis, they had so many guys, Zach Britton, who have actually figured it out as a reliever with the Yankees, but yeah, no, that guy was horrible, right? He was awful, awful, awful. He bounced around, I mean, he's, if you want to go by age, exact same age when he started to figure it out, 28 years old, second half of his 2019 season in Cincinnati had the array lower to the mid fours. But then of course in San Francisco in two years, he was 29 and 30 years old. He became Kevin Gossman, then all of a sudden three straight years, he's taught 10 in American league Cy Young Award voting, right? It can happen. I don't want to say, listen, a month of sample does not a superstar make. >> Of course. >> But you cannot say, well, this is just a flash in the pan thing and look at the opponents because again, there's the Orioles in there, there's a Cubs team that's also in the playoff mix in there that put up like 20 runs against the Pirates recently. You cannot look at this as just a, he's passing tired horses as the expression at the end of the season where you have these results that seem meaningful, but are actually meaningless. >> Yeah. >> No, there is something to what has happened there, especially because the menu of pitches that he's using are so different to when he was a starter at the beginning of the season. Kerbal's gone. >> Gone. About like 30% of the time back in April when he was the Blue Jays fifth starter. It's basically get me over strike for the first pitch of a hit bat or like surprise somebody, you know, a left handed hitter. >> Yeah. >> And he's not expecting it and it's been the splitter. And guys are just swinging and missing. And for a team and an organization that has been so low to produce pitchers out of their own system, right, like there's Ricky Tiedemann who knows and Alec Manoa was the one bright shining star in his future completely in doubt and there's just, there's nobody even below the surface in the AAA rotation that you're thinking about being a factor outside of Jake Bloss who was acquired at the deadline for this guy to emerge. And again, for people who forget how he was acquired, this is a guy that came over with Trevor Richards from the Milwaukee Brewers for Rowdy Tilesz and at the time Rowdy Tilesz was hitting some home runs with the Brewers and people looked a little side-eyed. >> First year of that trade I was like, boy. >> But Trevor Richards was a pretty good Blue Jays for his career until he looked past what happened in the last little while, but he was very good for a couple years. >> That's fine. >> For a couple years. >> That's the change. >> Yeah. >> Twins fans can't, like he's the twins Brad Hand. Remember like how bad Brad Hand was. >> Yeah. >> In 2021. >> Did you fade him already, didn't they? >> Yes. >> Oh yeah. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Not dissimilar to what the Blue Jays did with Brad Hand who went on to have like a pretty good career after his Blue Jays tenure and shout out to Trevor Richards, hopefully that happens for him, but to acquire him for Rowdy Tilesz and to even just have the possibility of this happen. It's unbelievable. >> No. >> It's ridiculous. >> I like the cut of his jib too, big fan of him. >> He was burning the incense or you big incense guy. >> There's something about him. He's got like, you know. >> It's not very verbose. >> No, but weird pictures just trapped for me. >> Yeah. Definitely weird. >> I just, I like the cut of his jib. >> Oh, you like him? He's so tall. >> He's tall. >> I was part of the tall guy for Trinity. >> I went to the Jersey release party a few months ago and he was there. I was like, that's a strapping young man. He's a tall strapping young man. >> Five. >> Big man. You know, I'm six with five, but different type of six foot five. >> [LAUGH] >> Because I feel like a little noodle this time, I'm like, oh, you're a big guy. You're a big guy. But no, I'm a huge fan of what's happened and it's like, it's another one of those things that gives you something to look forward to for the Jase where, you know, we are so, we are dreading this stretch clearly because, you know, we're trying to talk about it and find things to talk about. You can't wait for Francis's next start because you're like, what is going to happen here? Like, it's really, really great. And he's allowed to have a bad start to go. >> Yeah, okay. >> No, no, no. Only good. He's allowed two hits in his last game score told me he is Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez. >> So I'm just looking at this guy to win, who will his next start be against here then? I'm looking at it. He will probably start against the Braves on the weekend. >> Yeah, that's what they have when they return home after the series against the twins. >> No, no, no, I lied to you. The fails. It'd be the Phillies. That's my job. Nobody will be talking about the opponent in that instance if he carves up the Philadelphia Phillies, okay? >> Yeah. Who have such an awesome lineup. >> Mm-hmm. >> But I came against the Braves yesterday. >> Yeah. I would bomb those. Look, he'd hurt his hand. Very weird swing. >> That was like, I was watching it. I think a lot of people were watching it before the judges started because it was on sports side. >> I was also watching Colorado Buffalo last night, too. >> Yeah, big win. >> I don't know. I went to sleep. >> Yeah, I checked this far. >> Okay, good. >> Shoulder Sanders was very good. No, it looked like one of those swings where you break your ham eight bone, which is- >> That sucks, and he's having an awesome year. >> How come we haven't? >> I'm a pitter. >> How come like humans, like we were, the appendix is shrinking, right, because we don't need it anymore. Like eventually, someone will be born without an appendix and then humans won't have appendices anymore. >> There you go. >> How about the ham eight bone? >> The ham eight seems so needless. >> You just remove it when it breaks. >> Get rid of that thing. >> So why are we born with it? >> I don't know. >> Come on. >> I don't know. >> Mother nature has to take care of that. John Francis, one more thing on him before I do want to talk about Rich Hill. So he's part of the Blue Jays in 2025, unless somebody's going to give you everything for him in trade. Obviously, that's not going to happen. You just got this guy locked up for the next five more years. So Bowden Francis on the 2025 Blue Jays, so is Spencer Horowitz. So is Ernie Clement at this point, especially Clement, because he has no options. And obviously, he's produced enough to be part of this 26-man roster. >> God, he loves to swing the bat. He sure does. >> Holy crap. >> Not as much as Raphaela, who is- >> No, my God. And Bach just like, he's going to smash. >> So then, Raphaela's swing percentage being like almost 50% is like insane. >> He's like, he's going to swing at this one. >> Yes, he is, Bach. Who's more real? Who do you believe in what we've seen more, Bowden Francis, Spencer Horowitz, or Ernie Clement? No question, but at what level do I believe they're real? >> Well, that's it. I think what Ernie Clement's doing right now is real. >> Correct. >> And I think this is his level, and I think this is the kind of Major League Baseball player he will be for the rest of his career. Spencer Horowitz, I think, is very, I think what is he hitting now? He's two-fifties, kind of seven-something-up he has, I think that he could be that. I don't think Bowden Francis is going to be, clearly, he's not going to be as good as he's been in the last month, so let's all pump the brakes here. >> That he literally would be in the whole thing. >> I think he would be last place of those three in terms of what we're seeing. Ernie Clement, to me, is number one in terms of things that we're seeing here. But I am convinced that Bowden Francis can be a back-end to your rotation guy that you're going to be really happy about next season. That's convincing. I think if things I've been convinced of the most watching this stretch, I think that's it, that he's in the rotation next year. So I guess it would be him, but just in a different light. >> Yeah, those guys had already built up equity before Bowden Francis re-entered the rotation too, right? >> Just frankly, the bar is lower for Ernie Clement. We're talking about him being rosterable and being a bench piece that plays a couple of times a week maybe, and then somebody gets injured and you can play all over the diamond being like the super utility guy, yeah, I think that's perfect for that. I think Ernie Clement can do that. Spencer Horowitz, I do think he'll be able to get on base, and of course there's power questions, especially if he's playing for space. >> Hey, will Wagner are so similar to me? >> Yes. >> They are so, so similar. It's like are they both going to be on the roster? >> Yes, yes. >> It's, they just, they- >> You know what's better than one will Wagner? Two will Wagner? >> So much alike at the dish where it's like, yeah, they're lefty with the kind of closed off stance. Anyways, it's funny. >> Okay, Rich Hill got into his first game since coming back to the major leagues. It's now been 20 consecutive seasons that Rich Hill has pitched to baseball in the major leagues. >> What an accomplishment, honestly. >> It's an incredible, incredible accomplishment, and I just, I was dying at all the old, old guy stats. >> Yes. >> Like every stat that showman was throwing out there was just like, Rich Hill is old. Like he retired. >> That's right. [LAUGH] >> No, the first strike of being Harlow Stogato at the Marlin is- >> It's incredible. >> That's a good one. >> Well, I mean, he struck out both flatty, senior and junior, which is incredible. Like, I love that stuff, and like, you said he was coaching, what was he doing before? >> So he was coaching his kids travel ball team a couple of weeks ago, 44 years old. He held a showcase for teams and- >> Stuck still plays. >> Well, that's the thing. Rich Hill was never going to overpower you. What he's going to do is he's going to get you to swing over the top of that crazy looping curve ball. >> It's an insane curve ball. >> Yep. >> It starts so far on the left-hand side, and it's like in the dirt right hand. It's unbelievable. >> Yeah. >> It is also embarrassing though, like, I got to be honest, I can't imagine being somebody who's worked my entire life just for an opportunity to be a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. And I'm throwing up for 90 and I can't hit the zone and you know, guys, they figured me out, they have my- this guy was coaching his kids little league team a second ago. >> I know. >> And here he is, striking out Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. What's going on? >> It is, that is truly what makes baseball great, right? Like, it's like, there's just no other sport where you're like, I'm going to go grab somebody from the ASHL to hop on the fourth line for the Leafs, like it's just football. You know, football happens a little bit more, is running backs with guys having played for like a year and a half, but it's not the same, clearly. >> Yeah. >> And baseball, it's just, yeah, Rich Hill can come in from his son's travel ball team and come in there and flip up poo and strike up Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. It's incredible, like he had Dalton Varsho in knots. >> Yes. >> Like Dalton Varsho had no idea what the hell to do, like, it's incredible. It really, like, I think it is embarrassing for sure, and if you're like an old guy who's been grinding away, trying to work on like the spin rate on your fastball, and they're like, you know what, you could get a chance if you, you know, you start getting that up in the upper 90s, and you're like, this old bag of bones is up there, flipping up with horrible hormones, you're like, well, what the hell? >> Yeah. >> What the hell? >> It's frustrating. >> It does. You're right. >> It's got to be frustrating. It's also got to be confusing for the hitters, but, you know, there's a reason he's been pitching for 20 years. It's like, yeah, throw at the curve ball. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's going to be the number. What is it? Is it the three? What is it for the-- >> Curveball is two. >> Two. >> Yeah. >> Depends usually, like, a change up. >> Yeah. Throw the two. >> Yeah, the old deuce. >> Oh, quickly. >> Yeah. >> You put it in the lineup, and I wanted to bring it up. >> Why-- I don't know if we find things there. >> Yeah. >> Hey, I'm not as anti-bunch as you are. >> Yeah. >> I think a bunch has its time and place. I really do. But it's a season where you're how many game under 500, and, you know, you got young hitters at the dish. Like, Leo Man is like, Buck was talking about how little he's ever bunted. >> Yeah. >> Let the guy thump one. Like, what are we doing here? >> Yeah. >> Like, he's supposed to be an upside kind of like a power-y type of guy. >> Yeah. >> Let him swing the bat. Like, just trying to develop these guys, it's like, give me a break. And narrowly to that. So, yeah, Leo Man is almost bunted into a triple play. >> That was amazing. >> That was for sure. It was gonna be a triple play. Anyways, he's hitting ahead of Brian Servin. So now you've advanced the runner to second and third with one out for a guy who had two doubles at a time, but feels like you're playing with house money when Brian served. Yeah, Brian, the first one was a little questionable. Second one was a little more. >> Yeah. >> Although he didn't know he had done it. >> No, no. >> It seems like a beauty, a big cut of your gym guys morning. They're selling what they do when they bring up the shirt or whatever it is. He had a good smile on his face. Seems like he's a well-liked guy. >> It's hard to break up that battery now, too, as he was behind the plate for both of these. >> Yeah, I don't. He's 100%. We got a catch again. >> I don't, Francis, start. >> For sure. >> Yeah, he's gonna be there for his next shot. Yeah, bonding. I understand it. Honestly, if you were gonna tell me that that's the circumstance you're bonding in, I don't hate it as much as some others. I mean, at least it was late in the game, it was the bottom of your order, but not the absolute bottom. It's been Brian Servin asked to do the same thing and then it's George Springer, second and third and one out, I guess. >> I guess. >> I think they're gonna pinch it for him, but are you trying to give Kirk a full day off? You're just a weird, stupid time to do it. >> Yeah, and I think what people lose sight of, and it shouldn't be this way, bonding is very difficult, right? Like the velocity that's in the game, the spin rate that's in the game, the idea that a bunt is 100% effective every time you try it, is not true at the best at times, but especially now. And it is true, and I'm sorry that it's the case, but it's not an art that is practiced routinely by these players at all. So asking them to do it in any situation, but especially as you mentioned, in a season in which you're just trying to see what you got into these guys. No more intentional walks, which we haven't seen since the Aaron Judge second inning one, but Ron Washington intentionally walking Vladimir Greer Jr twice during that last long series and say, no intentional walks and no bonding, rest of the season. >> Well, intentional, roll for the jeez. >> No, yes. >> Okay, I was gonna say the intentional walks when you're a good team are okay. >> Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's okay. But no, when you're a bad team, no, no, no, no, just agree it out. >> Agree, let's see what happens. >> There should be a ban on anybody intentionally walking anybody if you're below 500 and it's August in September. >> Yes. >> Also last last last last last last last thing. >> It's a good game to talk about last time. >> I need a follow up on Addison Barger wrestling alligators like Buck just like drops that in like Dan's like, I got a good anecdote on it. Addison Barger like interesting about a box like a wrestled alligators. Let's go to break. >> What? >> Well, I think the great thing is that like we've all been one up to our stories. >> Yeah. >> And just got one up so Buck was a classic one up Smitty just got him and he was like, wow, that's not even really as good. My story sucks. All right, God. It was great. Well, it was very like, what was the story that, oh my God, I'm blanking on the Dodgers legendary. >> Vince Gully. >> Vince Gully. >> Mm-hm. >> This legendary story. >> Madison Bomb Garner cutting something in half. So Madison Bomb Garner, the story went that he, I think he was hunting and he passed a snake that had an inflamed belly and he killed the snake and he cut it off and it was a live rabbit inside a story that I think he told that multiple times. >> It's an incredible story. >> During Giants Dodgers games, but yeah, no, I need a follow up on the alligator wrestling, maybe some pictures, yeah, and Arden's Welling or Hazel May's got to be on the case. >> Dig that up. >> For this guy, he's got the sickest arms ever, I would hope in wrestling wild animals. He put those pythons to get used. >> All right. When we come back, apparently the trauma beliefs and the mix fruit yet another veteran, former Montreal Canadiens captain, Max Patrick ready. Does that make sense? >> That and more next is the fan morning show continues, man, Anna Samakey, SportsF590, the fan. >> Everything you need to know about the Blue Jays, Blair and Barker, be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. >> Morning show SportsF590, the fan band, Anna Samakey, rival sons and clutch coming to OLG stage at Fallsview Casino on September 12th for their two headed beast tour, or giving away tickets along with $100 in dining credit to the overtime sports lounge for each winner all week to enter. All you have to do is tune in to the fan morning show, you listen for the code word, then you text the code word to 59590, standard message and data rates may apply. Today's code word is band, text band to 59590 right now to enter for your chance to win. >> Today is the last day for the giveaway. >> Quickly on the J's. >> What? >> Last, last, last thing. >> No, we're going to talk about J's more today. >> I know, but before we get into the Leafs sign and watch it up, guys, glad you just will not stop hitting. >> Yes. >> I keep waiting for like the images to cool off here, and he's just getting hot. Like he's got, you know, he's got 1,200 OPS in his last seven game, but he's out of this world right now. He's hammering every mistake, that pitch, that he, it was such a bad pitch that, I don't know who was it? Cutter that threw it to him. >> Yeah, it's funny to me when Cutter Crawford throws a cutter, I like that a lot. >> And he just, it was a crappy pitch, and he just beat it off the wall at the outfield. Like he is out of control, how good he is. >> Yeah. >> It's not falling off. >> Like he is really, really unbelievable at this very moment. >> Career high in doubles were not yet in September. He's got 38 doubles. His previous career high was in 22 when he had 35. Of course, had 48 home runs in the 21 season, but he's gonna have 30 home runs as well. >> Yep. >> I mean, the outside chance of 35, I mean, could he go absolutely ham and end up with 40? Probably not. But yeah, 35 home runs, 35 doubles with the guy that is not ever going to strike out. Only 82 strikeouts, 61 walks. Yeah, that'll play. >> Yeah. >> So what do you think a bucks take about the doubles are better than home runs? >> Yeah, I mean, Buck is the originator of rally killer, right? Like he coined the term. >> I like to take. I do like to take. >> I understand the logic. >> I agree that I love to take. >> You put the pitcher in a bind, right? >> Yeah. >> He's sweating out there. >> Yeah, sure. >> Yeah. >> You know what? Also, put some in a bind? One to the moon. >> Breaking his neck. >> Yeah. >> Ah. >> You're putting a big crooked number on the scoreboard. >> Yeah. >> Guaranteeing that the run will score because you scored it yourself by hitting a ball to the moon. >> Double's are good when you can hit with harder scoring position with the last couple of years. >> Sure. >> It hasn't been as great. >> I would say with the Blue Jays lineup as currently constituted, I would probably take the for sure runs that I agree than relying on somebody else to drive you in with yet another double. >> I'll say it again last time before we go to least. >> Love to take. >> Yeah. >> The take. >> Yeah. I'm in favor of taste. >> Yes. >> All right. According to a report from old friend, Nick Elberga. >> Whoa. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> That was where it first came from. >> Oh, yes. >> Did you notice this? >> Yeah, yeah. >> I just saw. >> He's well sourced. >> I saw-- >> He's talking about it, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I mean, nothing's been officially officialized. >> No, goized. >> Certainly in the mix for former Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pachiretti. Most recently of the Washington Capitals been an issue, staying healthy for Maxi recently, but clearly the Leafs have a need on the left side. Elliot Friedman alerted to this possibility that they were sniffing around a couple of weeks ago when he mentioned that in thought number, I think, 28 in his 32 thoughts column. >> Wasn't near the top. >> No. >> And it was a sentence and a half. >> Okay. Wasn't thought too. >> No. It's thought 28. >> It was the say it was a sharks of thoughts. >> Also a report that this would not be a PTO, right? There's a guaranteed NHL contract and maybe a two-year deal for Max Pachiretti. What are your thoughts on Max Pachiretti at this advanced age being the Maple Leaf solution on the left side? >> I don't love it at all for being totally honest. I think this is a classic love the idea of it. You love the idea of a somewhat healthy Max Pachiretti that really was skilled. A skilled forward who could really shoot the puck in the net, but at this age of his career, I mean, I saw him last year a little bit, you saw him, when was he last good with Vegas, I guess? I mean, I feel like he was okay with that. >> He's 35, he's going to be 36 in November. >> I just kind of thought that the Leafs tried this already? >> I mean, they tried it multiple times, right? >> Wow, I mean, it's over the Dubas era. This was kind of like, I mean, a bit of an issue where they tried to sign these guys. They went from the young bottom six with Cappin'n and Jonson and all these other guys that they tried to put in the bottom six that were younger guys, and then that didn't work. And they're like, wow, we got to get some gritty veteran guys that know how to win. So they signed Spencer, which worked out? >> Yeah, that's the one that's worked out. >> Spencer was the only one. >> Yeah, and then it's like Joe Thornton, I'm like, oh, Don, Don, I never want to watch you again. We're still in first place, I'll never forget that Amazon series, anyways, that one, Wayne Simmons. >> Yeah, didn't work. >> Who else do I miss? >> No, those are the two guys. >> Is there anyone else? I feel like there's somebody else that they sign that I'm kind of on defense. Well, I guess your Dano was this year, it was not great, but he got good value in the match, right? He got two solid years at him, but he was not great this year. >> No, I think the comparable were the three forwards, and it worked out once because Jason Spencer said, I'll be your mucker grinder guy, I'll be your leader guy, and it worked out because the bar was low. But all three of those guys at various points in their careers were superstars. >> And that's to me, what you just hit on right there, and this is something we've talked about in "Real Kipper" a more than a million times when those guys were in the bottom half of the lineup, that right there, what you said is the issue. Is that Max Patrick, no matter what his role is, no matter what, I mean, if they play him as a third line winger or a fourth line winger, he's always going to think that he should be getting more. He's always going to think that he should be playing up the lineup. He's not going to be like, I'm going to go run a guy into the wall, I'm not going to go win this puck battle, I'm not going to kill a penalty. I like the bottom half of your lineup. To have some skill, no question you need it, especially at the least in the playoffs and they're scoring record, but like, Max Patrick ready playing on your fourth line or third line to me is an absolute, that gives you no value. I guess you can shoot the puck in that a little bit down there, but how much ice is he going to be playing? Is there no org guy that they can call up that gets going to give them better legs, more capable? He's slow, he's old, like two years, I mean, my bunny ears, my radar, I'm not the, you know, I was obviously on a Dubis guy and I was ready to kind of buy into somebody else and like, I gave Triliving a little bit of a break at the start, my radar is up with some of this stuff. Like, well, yeah, I mean, I didn't love all of her at Manlarsen deal. I thought, you know, the tan, I feel like, because I like him a lot, like Stollars. Stollars is 38. Stollars is like, I mean, he's had half a good season combined in his career. Like he's banking on Joe Wall, which don't love, you know, I, no, he's banking on Matt Murray too. The forward core, like outside of the four guys is incredibly thin, you need to, like Bob, maybe Bobby McMan will have a career here. It's like Bobby McMan was in the ECHL two years ago, like I don't necessarily love that and if he gives Patrick ready a two year contract, which has been rumored, my alarm bells were start ringing. Like, I just, I don't necessarily think he's bad, but you know, I just don't want the continued signing of just veteran guys who used to be good. That's just not how you win, really. Like if you, if he plays somewhere else and he's having a great year and you trade a third round pick for him at the deadline, that's a completely different story. But like see, having him come in sight unseen with a two year contract to me is crazy. >> Yeah, I imagine it would be a two year contract and in around a million bucks or you could vary basically the whole thing if he, if he doesn't work out for you and it's not like you're stapling our first round pick to him to download a photo or something. But yeah. And I guess the part of this is also Easton Cowan insurance, right? Like in a perfect world, Easton Cowan, Easton Cowan's not going to at least next year. You don't think? >> No way. >> Like why? >> [LAUGH] >> Delish, are you trying to win? >> I stand, you standly cop. >> You can't just get the positive in there. >> Well, but make it in there, it's like, I watch Minton play. >> No. >> I watch Cowan play at the junior level, great at junior level, at a wonderful memorial cop at a wonderful playoff run that was unbelievable. >> He's got the London Knights on him, so you hate his guts. >> Well, well, I mean, that is 100% true, it will never, but like I have to separate that clearly. I hate it. I cannot stand anything to do with that organization. But like if you are going into this season, banking on anything. >> No, you're not. You're not banking, but you're opening up the possibilities. >> Sure. You'll light it up in training camp, you'll have his ten. >> You already did that. >> No, he'll do that. >> Because he just did it last year. >> And we'll do the stupid song and dance, we'll have his ten game hot streak, or he'll come up and he'll, is it nine or ten games that you do now? >> Well, you can't play ten. Once you play your ten. >> It's nine, it can play. >> Yes. >> He'll play his nine, he'll go back to London, he'll have another year where he's unbelievable down there, he'll play for the world juniors, he'll make another run, and then the following season is when it'll happen. It's way too early. This team has way too big aspirations to be expecting anything from East and Cowan. Like, he's good, but like if has Nick Robertson not taught you anything, Nick Robertson was unbelievable as a junior player and everybody got all horned up and like, he's gonna, and then he played in the bubble for some reason, remember that? >> Yeah. Yeah, it eliminated him from, yeah, returning to the United States. >> Yes. >> World junior team. >> Stupid. >> In retrospect, it probably was not the right move. So I just tempered the expectations of Cowan, and I guess that's why they're going out the sign and old Max Patrick Reddy, but like, man, just have somebody from the organization play in your fourth, like I just, I have a hard time feeling this is gonna work out well. >> Yeah, 'cause it hasn't. >> No. >> And the only time it has, it was because Jason Spencer's like, I'll do all the mucker grind or stuff. >> And Spencer wasn't at the same point of his career, like he looked better than Max Patrick Reddy has. And he wasn't like coming off these massive injuries, was he? Like, I feel like- >> No. >> Like, Spencer was still- >> Plus, he was a good Ontario boy who had a lifelong affinity for that Toronto Maple Leafs team even while he was superstar for the Ottawa Senators. >> Yeah, so in 2018, 2019, Spencer had 27 points with the stars in the 76 game season. So he's coming off at least playing a full season, ish, and then he played for the Leafs where he had 25 points, 58 games. Like, he was really good for the Leafs now that I look at his numbers crazy that at his advanced age, he was good. >> Yeah. >> But limited sample. >> Yeah, I just, and was like one of the only guys who had score for him in the playoffs. Anyways, I, as if you can't tell already, not a huge fan of Max Patrick Reddy. And I, the only part of it that I really do kind of like, is that, you know- >> Montreal Canadiens of it all? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I, I think I would really like- >> The affinity for him even when he was wearing the C in Montreal was limited. >> Yeah. >> I just love saying Leafs legend Thomas Plicada. >> Yes. >> And I love saying Leafs legend Max Patrick Reddy. >> Sure. >> I love saying Leafs legends but Jason Spencer, which I don't believe. >> Yeah. >> Actually, the way I played out with Dubis, I wish I could have the men in black stick for all the things I said about, the things I said about Jason Spencer. But I do like having that over one of your rivals, and your rival fan base, you're like, oh, he loves being a leaf, he loves being a leaf, that's always fun as a fan, but that's literally the only thing I like about it, unfortunately. >> Yeah. I mean, he put up 23 points in 47 games for what was, I guess, a playoff team in the- >> A lot of the capitals, but a bad scene they made the playoffs. >> Yeah. It was awful. It was the worst. Hey, the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is awesome, except for that series. >> Yeah. >> That was atrocious. >> Yeah, was it the only sweep? >> Yeah, it was the only sweep. >> Yeah. >> And they were in no games against the New York Rangers because they're awful, and yeah, I may believe, I feel like they played in the final month of the season, and it was jarring to me that they were in the playoff mix. >> So I'm looking down, so I pulled up the Leafs daily face off, daily face off does a great job, they put all the line combinations. The left side of the Leafs for your quick reminder. >> Yeah. >> Nice. >> Mm-hm. >> Who, I'm expecting big things from this year. Right? >> Mm-hm. >> Everybody is. Bobby McMahon. Second line. Pontus Holmberg. >> Yeah. >> He's one of those players, I guess Matt Saturati's better than Connor Doer at this point. >> Yeah. >> I guess. But if you're just gonna make, try to put a guy over there, just make a trade, do something like you can't just hope that a guy who's entering his age 36 season coming off to Achilles tears is just gonna be like in the mix. I don't think he's better or giving you more on either of those lines, and I guess you can make the Connor Doer sure he is what he is. But like, I just don't see the fit to me anyways. >> Yeah. I don't disagree at all. I don't know, do you want Pontus Holmberg and Connor Doer, like do you want one of those guys on a third line role? >> I want better players. >> I don't want Matt Saturati. >> How? >> Yeah. >> How convinced are you that Max Domis, this team's third line center, I guess that's maybe a trade deadline thing where eventually, yeah, he moves back to the wing. >> You can get by him. >> Good enough where you can get by with him playing that third line center, or you can move him up and you can shift over Pontus Holmberg or shift over Connor Doer into a center role. Just the bottom half of this lineup is not looking great, and I think they probably know that, so. >> Yeah, but that's the way you got to do it in this cap world, right? >> Well, when you have the money allocated to the guys that you do, it's just the same conversation we had a million times. >> All the good teams essentially have, it's not to the degree of paying your top four forwards like $50 million, but all the best teams in the NHL are top loaded to a degree and the bottom six of their forward unit or the third pairing on defense, those are guys that you hope are either prospects or they're guys on cheap deals and you're hoping to extract value out of or, and even if it's true, the things that I just said, you're looking to improve the deadline. That's the way it goes in the NHL in 24, 25, that that is not a finished product. The bottom of your lineup is something that you address at the trade deadline, because you can't afford just from a cap perspective to have the ideal players you want in those situations. >> And the least made a trade of the draft to get another second round picked, didn't they? >> That sounds right. >> Yeah, I feel, I can't remember what it was, but I think they have a second round pick that they got at the draft this year, but cap friendly no longer exists, so I can't look it up. >> Yeah. >> As Puckpedia do that stuff. Do they do the trades and they show all the draft picks? >> It's not, so I'm getting used to the interface. It's not as. >> Smooth. >> I was going to say user friendly, maybe it is user friendly, it's just not as familiar to me. We all lived in this world where cap friendly, you knew exactly where everything was, right? >> God was so good. >> The draft picks were right at the top and there was like the logos were there, or they were great out. Paul, you say, it was so, oh my God, what a dream. >> What a bet. >> What a time. >> There is a section where you can click on draft picks and it'll tell you how many draft picks in each upcoming season, maybe they have a second round pick in 2025. >> Perfect. So that's, they got that pick and then that's a pick that you can trade for a real third line center. >> Yeah, there you go. >> Perfect. Done. >> Okay. >> There you go. >> Do you buy into any part of what I said about Jason Spetsa being a guy with an affinity and obviously like he, what was the, the, the statement either directly or indirectly where, hey, if somebody claims me on waiver, I'm not going to go play for you. >> What didn't, yeah, Simmons did the same thing. >> Yeah. >> And Wayne Simmons did the same thing. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, that's not going to happen with Max Patrick. >> Yeah, he's going to go. >> Yeah, who's going to go? >> He's going to go. >> In American dude, despite the fact that he was the captain of the Montreal Canadiens and I'm surprised that there's enough bidding for his services at this, at this state in his career, at that age, with that injury history, that it's more than just a PTO. There obviously must be like competition for Max Patrick ready that the Maple Leafs feel like one, they, if they want Max Patrick ready, they have to give him a guaranteed NHL deal and maybe even a two year deal. I'm surprised that this is, we're at this point in Max Patrick ready's career where there's enough suitors for him. >> I think that that's the, the, the, the going price for a Max Patrick ready in 2024. >> Man, it's hard to shoot the puck in the net at the NHL level. And he's done it a lot. When he's probably scored, you know, over 300 goals in his career, if I were to guess, and, you know, it just, it's hard. >> 330. >> Okay. There you go. Good, good career. It's hard to find guys that shoot in the net 330 times over their career. And the fact that he's still out there, you get tantalized by the idea that he could refind it or whatever you're playing with the right person and he finds it, but I just haven't seen it. So we'll see. >> Four goals and 47 games for the Capitals last season. All right, when we come back, we're headed into our final weekend without NFL football. >> Oh my God. >> Starts up next week. >> Oh my God. Charles Davis. >> So excited. >> Of the NFL on CBS Next. The fan morning show continues. Ben Anasamikki, SportsF590, the fan.
