The Fan Early Morning Show
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Plenty of seating options from cozy day beds to private, temperature-controlled cabanas, stadium swim, book your spot today at circleosvegas.com. 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 term supply. Sports Radio 93-7 the fan. Good morning. Happy Monday. I think it's a pleasant Monday at that. If not for the storm that just erupted. It's all clear. It's pretty peaceful outside. And then around 440 this morning. Shots of lightning. Boom. And then rain. I think it's lightened up a little bit out there. But a brief storm this morning to kick off the Monday to kick off Home Run Derby Day. The all-star break in Major League Baseball begins today. I'm excited for that. I think I'll get an opportunity to watch tonight. So that'll be exciting. But welcome in. My name is Nicholas Harry Callis. This is the fan early morning show. It's for the average Joe and when the average Joe wants to shop like a pro, the average Joe, he can go to CGR wholesale, our fan early morning show sponsor. So a lot of news surrounding the pirates drafted three high schoolers in this first round of drafting. They took a high school shortstop in the first round, which has been met with some criticism. I saw a pony tweet out yesterday that in a in a heavy solid college draft, what a college guys that are available. Pirates went with a shortstop on a high school. Connor Griffin, number nine overall pick. So let's see how that works out. We'll see down the road. I mean, there's some excitement with these guys as well. So they took two short stops and a pitcher, a right handed pitcher with the first three selections they had that were featured. I think this is one of the first drafts too that are the opportunity to sit down and watch one of them will be networks. That means pretty exciting. I'd love to see the studio out there just all baseball themed. Players running out of the tunnel. And I'm getting up there with Rob Manfred taking pictures, being congratulated, then doing their interviews. So it's kind of cool to see that. And then we got the all-star break right after here. So the home run derby is tonight. All-star games tomorrow. Paul Skeens is going to pitch for the first time. He's going to be the first pirate to pitch for the first time in 49 years. So that's also exciting to see pirates. They're on the map and they're especially on the map now because they swept the white socks. They swept a series. Holy Luya. They swept the series and now they've won four in a row as well, which is the beginning of perhaps a streak. They're on an official streak here. They're on a long streak. They're on a long stretch here. If they can rest up easy and get the Phillies in this next series, they'll be well on their way to undoing that seven-game losing streak I've been talking about for months now. One step at a time we'll see here, but that's good. They swept the series. That's what we like to see. You expected them to do well against the Chicago white socks. And they did just that. They got three wins in a row. And that's exciting. And they've also met up at 500 for the first time since the end of April or early May. That little stretch down there, too. So they are 500 again. They're 48 and 48 at the all-star break. And they're one and a half games back in the New York Mets who now have the third wad card spot. And they're also right behind the Diamondbacks and the Padres. The Padres have not had a good stretch of games. And the Pirates taking advantage. The Pirates have created some separation with the other teams who have now fallen in the Reds, Giants, you know, cops, all those teams are now sinking further below. And the Pirates are hanging around. So I'll give them credit. I mean, I've been frustrated a lot this season with their performances. And I've wanted to just see them go on a stretch here and stop doing the same thing over and over and over. And they did what they had to do. They did what they were supposed to do. They swept the white socks. And I am indeed happy about that. So man, I, you know what? And I'm in the middle of this and I'm having trouble just, I'm having trouble having an opinion on this team this year. Because now it feels like they could be good enough. They're there. They've got a chance to slip in now. If they keep doing what they've been doing all year, which is just staying in it. And they have a lot of good pieces. This offense just seemed to get it figured out in multiple ways. Joey Bart being back, I think, has been great. Brian Reynolds hitting like we expect him to hit. That's helpful. Rowdy Tilesz, emerging out of nowhere. That's helpful to see. O'Neill Cruz, when he's on, helps this team tremendously. Petchers have been on, so that's all good. I don't want to recycle this debate too much. I still maintain the opinion that the Paul Skeen should have gone for that no-hitter. But, I mean, maybe in hindsight now, I mean, I was frustrated in the moment. I did want to see history. I still believe that it wasn't the best decision for the Pirates organization or for, you know, or, you know, or to protect him necessarily. But, I mean, now they've won four in a row. The big test is going to be when they go to play Philadelphia at P&C Park after the All-Star break. That's going to be a big test. Pirates split a series with the Phillies earlier in the year in Philadelphia. So, we'll see how they do hosting that series. It'll be best of three this time. But, really, we'll see. I mean, that'll be a big test for them just to see, okay, you know, how are they doing now that the entire team has settled in and has gotten in a rhythm. Here. With everything working out. Bednar's back in the bullpen as well, so now Chapman doesn't have to close games, though. In his last two appearances that I saw, he was doing pretty well. That was after he blew the save to the Mets about a week ago. So, yeah, I mean, they're, I just, I look and I'm still just, I'm, I'm not there that I'm there and I'm not there and then I'm there. I still think an addition would help them on this team. I still think an addition in the lineup would help this team. That's not going to happen this next week now, too, because the All-Star break is going to take over and everybody's going to celebrate that. Everybody's going to enjoy their time off. Pirates don't play again until Friday, so this could be four days. Standard four days for the All-Star break. And then they're going to move forward. Yeah, really right now it's just focusing on the draft and, and just kind of analyzing these three players that they got, Connor Griffin, shortstop. Levi Sterling, right-handed pitcher and Wyatt Sanford. Another shortstop. Yeah, maybe I think they anticipate that O'Neill Crew is after, you know, he's done with his six years of, it's not like a rookie contract, but you know what I mean? That initial six years that players get, you know, they go through the, the minimum-ish money that arbitration and, and then free agency right before his free agency. Maybe they're taking some middle infielders now assuming that O'Neill Crews will be gone at some point. Should they not sign them to an extension? Some short stops to have time to develop in the minor leagues. That logic would make sense to me. Yeah, there's just different things to think about. I know Connor Griffin has talked about other teams believe that his bat was not a strong, but he's quick. And so that's something that his speed really is, is what was featured with him. I think that they took him because they thought he, you know, he was fast and maybe they can, they can bring the hitting around developing him in the minor leagues. But a fast shortstop, a well, defensively sound shortstop. Yeah. Seems to be the appeal for him. Give me a call by the way if you want to. 4129-2893-70. That's the phone number. I've got to open up the phone lines. So I'll do that now. If you want to call in, you want to talk about anything pirates related, you're welcome to 4129-2893-70. And you can talk to me on X at call us underscore 3-3. That's C-A-L-L-A-S underscore 3-3 on X. Yeah, we got a caller who wants to talk right now. So I'll take this call. Here we go. Good morning. What's your name? Anthony. Okay. What do you want to talk about? This organization doesn't know what the heck it's doing. So they get an owner. Doesn't look at it as a business aspect. There's a novelty because he's so rich. He just wants to have a toy. It's not going to go anywhere. Tim is bereft of outbuilders, homegrown. And those they got through a trade. They haven't had any since Marte and Polanco. You grab all these short stops? What? High school? They don't know what they're doing. Really? Baseball needs to investigate this owner. Say, listen, if you don't start being more competitive, we're going to take the team like we did Marte's shot to all these family back in the 70s. This is just getting ridiculous. Okay. It's really become a joke. Yeah. Thanks for the call. I appreciate it. I can. I mean, I can try to make sense of it, which is, you know, which is what I'm doing there. But no, I understand the criticism as well, where you look at it right now and you think, okay, why do they take short stops? I can understand why they think they can develop these short stops. I know Cruz is going to be the shortstop for the next few years. And then you're going to have to figure out, okay, are you going to sign him back? Are you going to develop these other short stops? So I can understand it from that perspective, but also I understand the criticism too, where you have, you have some pretty good college players that are available in this draft. Why not take some outfielders who may be able to help you sooner than later? You're not getting a Paul Skeen's type development path. I don't think for many of these players, though, you know, that was, that was a special thing. And the pirates are fortunate to be reaping those rewards right now, but it doesn't look like there's a player of that caliber. They were going to get, you know, little and first overall, but they had the ninth overall pick. So, yeah, I mean, I'm not going to, I'm not going to take this right now and say, you know, oh, you know, the ownership is, doesn't know what they're doing by making these picks. There's, there's an explanation for it. And usually I get frustrated when I can't understand the, the logic behind some things. And even before, I mean, even when I didn't feel like there was any logic like, right, until I was, I had that opinion last year, like, you know, hey, he's the worst hitter I've ever seen, and it's really odd to see somebody struggle this badly and look this lost. And their patience right now seems to be paying off because he is, he's doing the thing. He's sitting now. And so even, even sometimes where I feel like there's, there was no logic. Things have turned around and I've been proven wrong. And so, yeah, I don't know if I'm going to, I'm going to look that deep into these draft picks and say, ooh, you know, they're, you know, the ownership doesn't care. I think there's a way to explain it. I understand. I understand the frustration though I do. I think there's, there's, there's multiple sides to look at in this situation where you think, okay, well, maybe they could have picked a guy who's further developed as a college player and maybe, you know, bolster the outfield and relive your, your, your favorite McCutcheon, Polanco, uh, Starling Marte days, uh, hopefully the, the, the kind where Starling Marte didn't take steroids, but, you know, hey, you know, relive those fun days, um, uh, of the team and getting out field that, you know, you feel like it can be, uh, structured, soundly, you know, and I think that, I think the people, uh, plead for outfield help too, because they've seen how much Swinsky I struggled at times this season. So I, I get it. I get the frustration. I get where, I get where those, uh, those opinions are coming from. I'm not going to, I'm not going to go as far as the state's conspiracy, the team is having here that they don't know what they're doing and ownership is, is bad and needs to be taken away. I'm not going to go there. That's not, that's not what this is about. Um, I don't think this, this draft, uh, should be, you know, taken to the, to the, that length of conspiracy, but I understand where the frustration can come from. If you're, you know, thinking logically as a fan, hey, outfield help, get a college guy this time around Ben Cherington made it clear, I think on his show before the draft on Sunday before the White Sox game, he's been Cherington show every Sunday on the Pirates radio network right here on the fan, um, that he was just going to get the best player available. So if they think that these high school players are the best available and that they can develop them over time and then, you know, have that right timing, it's all about timing, which is really what these drafts are about. It's all about timing. So, um, they think that the timing will be right, that maybe they will have some openings in the middle infield in the next three to six years. So we'll see, but you know, the young guys have more opportunities to develop in minor league baseball. They also have more, um, chances of having hiccups because they didn't play college baseball. They, they skipped a level. They might have been so, you know, good. So we'll see. I mean, um, and I know I'm going to be network. I was listening yesterday. Some guys are saying that he might be the best high school player, Connor Griffin might be the best high school player to come out of the draft. So I mean, think about that too. Think about it from that perspective. I mean, there's, there is potential in these guys, I'm taking two short stops too. I, I can understand maybe, uh, that's frustrating as well because you might want to get like an outfielder and infielder, they got a starting, or not a starting pitcher. I don't think a right handed pitcher is what I saw, I'm him listed as, um, that's blue eye sterling, but you know, maybe get an outfielder in that crew as well, not too short stops. I got to understand that as well, but Jerrington made that clear. They're just going for best player available, um, you know, at each of the draft spots that they have. And so that's what he feels they did. Yeah, I'm not going to, I'm not going to go as far as to say incompetence, but I understand, um, I understand where the frustration may be that they've needed so much outfit help. Why wouldn't they draft a guy early on that they can have helped their outfield? I can, I can understand that, that perspective at this moment, but I'm particularly sorry, Callis is the fan early morning show coming up next, uh, we'll look at the home run derby guys. Uh, and at this year, I know Doran Dickerson asked me last week of, I thought, oh, no crews should play or should participate in the home run derby. So we'll talk about the guys that are in it and see if any pirates should have been in there as well. They have it out of home run derby participants since Josh Bell in 2019. So, um, oh, see, my name is Larry Callis. This is the fan early morning show on sports radio 937 the fan step up to the plate with Xfinity internet get the fastest speeds and low lag streaming for an incredible viewing experience that knocks it out of the park and you'll have the consistent connection with reduced buffering and freezing. So you can stay in all the action ending after inning when it's game time. Make sure to catch it all with internet that's powerful and reliable, stream sports from the best seat in the house with Xfinity because it's only live once. Actual speeds vary and not guarantee many factors affect speed for factors affecting speed visit Xfinity dot com slash network management. America's favorite place to watch football is stadium swim located at the circuit resort of casino in Las Vegas catch all the biggest games at a viewing experience built for sports fans. One of our six pools on three different levels for a perfect view of our massive screen. Plenty of seating options from cozy daybeds to private temperature controlled cabanas stadium swim book your spot today at circa Las Vegas dot com. Worried about letting someone else pick out the perfect avocado for your perfect impress them on the third day guacamole? Well, good thing Instacart shoppers are as picky as you are. They find ripe avocados like it's their guacamole line. They are milk expiration date detectives. They bag eggs like the 12 precious pieces of cargo they are. So let Instacart shoppers overthink your groceries so that you can overthink what you'll wear on that third date. Download the Instacart app to get free delivery on your first three orders while supplies last, minimum $10 per order additional term supply fan weather brought to you by son Chevrolet, it's the Chevy summer drive. It's on Chevrolet up to 7500 in rebates, terms and conditions at sonchevy.com today I have 94 low of 71 says mostly clear skies, but we just had a bit of rain between 440 and 520. So just a guy will be a little moist this morning. Not sure if it's still raining. Can't quite tell out my window, but in the general Pittsburgh area, it says it's clear right now. I have 92 low of 74 45% chance of thunderstorm. So it looks like it's going to be a stormy early part of the week, but then clear up later on. Those early forecasts. It's man weather brought to you by son Chevrolet. My name is Nicholas Harry Callis talking about the all-star break, who the pirates selected in the 2024 draft in the first few rounds. So if you want to call if you have an opinion, give me a 4129-289-370 or you can also talk to me on X and follow me as well if you so choose at Callis_33. That's my handle. That's C-A-L-A-S_33 can express your opinions. And yeah, we could talk about it. I mean, I think that I've heard some people are frustrated with the fact that the pirates took two infielders. They got a right-handed pitcher, which nobody seems to be complaining about, but two short stops I think was the big criticism here, which I can understand, you know, but I think that they, I want to believe that they know what they're doing. And that's what I'll say. And I believe that they do. And I think that you can make sense of it. I know some people are frustrated and you can call and you can express yourself to, you know, 4129-289-370 and on X set, Callis_33 right now, C-A-L-A-S_33, you can express your opinions. And I mean, we're going to talk about it all day, I'm sure every show will touch on at least a little bit of, you know, draft talk. You can have your opinions on that, but I think that there's a way you can make it make sense. And for that, I'm going to be, I'm going to just err on the side of optimism. In terms of the major league crews doing right now, four ones in a row, that's great. No complaints there. I love to see it. And they got to sweep for the first time in a little while. So making little bouts of progress here. And that's what I like to see. Homer and Derby tonight, as well. Pirates haven't had a guy in the Homer and Derby since 2019 when Josh Bell hit in Cleveland and was eliminated in the first round. I don't know when the last time a Pirates player has made it past the first round because I know Pedro Alvarez back in 2013, he was hyped up, wasn't selected initially then an injury put him in the Derby. And then he was, you know, he was, he was, he did not make the cut into the second round. So kind of bummer there. Peter Lanzo from the Mets, Alec Boem from the Phillies at a least Garcia from the Rangers, Gunnar Henderson from the Orioles, Tiosco Hernandez from the Dodgers, Marcello Zuna from the Braves, Jose Ramirez from the Guardians and Bobby Whit Jr. from the Royals. Those are the guys they're going to be competing this season love the fact that the Homer and Derby to as a clock in it now, I know that's kind of old news but I've never really expressed my opinion on that. Now the baseball as a clock in general, I think it's great but I love that the Homer and Derby did that first. Much more exciting to see the guys just free swing than to have to try to pick and choose what pitches the best and take infinitely and, you know, outs and yeah, you know, now a clock makes it a little more digestible, I think, for the common fan. Oh, no, Cruz, I think, well, I think a lot, first of all, I'll say this. I think the Homer and Derby usually is guys selected that have a lot of, you know, just hype from the regular season in general. I think O'Neill Cruz would be who make good for a good Homer and Derby participants just for how far he hits the ball. But I think some of his struggles at times this season, you know, just have not kept him up with pace from the best of the best homerun hitters in the league this season. So I think it makes sense. I think he would be great in something like this, but you know, you got to be the best of the best. And right now he's not among the major league leaders in homeruns. I mean, Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles, 27 right now. Maybe you're wondering why Aaron judges are participating because he's in the 30s already. I know when he after he won in 2017, he won in a slump and he has decided not to return to that at all, just to preserve his regular season swing because I know, so I know some players too. Some guys thrive like Peter Lanza is great and the Homer and Derby won it twice. So now he'll be going for a third Homer and Derby championship here this season, but he won two times in a row. And you know, some guys are built for it and it seems like he's one of those players that's built for it. Other guys, they don't, I don't think they fare as well. I think it's difficult on the swing. And so, yeah, we'll see it, but an exciting group there. I think you just got to be among the best of the best in terms of the homerun numbers, not just a great homerun swing or a great batting practice swing. So, I do anticipate that if crews can get on it in future seasons, they'll be in it, but so we've got an exciting collection of guys here. And so, we'll see. Step up to the plate with Xfinity Internet. Get the fastest speeds and low lag screaming for an incredible viewing experience that knocks it out of the park and you'll have the consistent connection with reduced buffering and freezing. So, you can stay in all the action ending after ending. It's game time. Make sure to catch it all with Internet that's powerful and reliable. Stream sports from the best seat in the house with Xfinity because it's only live once. Actual speeds vary and not guarantee many factors affect speed. For factors affecting speed, visit xfinity.com/networkmanagement. America's favorite place to watch football is stadium swim, located at the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Catch all the biggest games in a viewing experience built for sports fans. Chill in one of our six pools on three different levels for a perfect view of our massive screen. Plenty of seating options from cozy day beds to private temperature controlled cabanas. Stadium swim. Book your spot today at Circa Las Vegas dot com. Plug in a Hyundai EV and the extraordinary happens. It's not just the ultra-fast charging capability in long range in the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, or the Adventure Seeking Spirit of the Kona Electric or the Groundbreaking 601 Horsepower IONIQ 5N. And it's not just the comfort in knowing that every Hyundai EV is backed by a 10-year, 100,000 mile limited electric battery warranty. Hyundai's EVs transform a low hum into a loud adventure. They bring color to your journey and turn energy into main character energy. So forget everything you thought you knew about EVs and turn the extraordinary into something true. electrifying, there's joy in every journey. 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