The Fan Early Morning Show
Can the Pirates make the playoffs without a huge winning streak?
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 3 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. Sports Radio 93-7, the fan. And a happy Tuesday morning to you. My name's Nicholas Harry Callus. The fan only morning show. For the average Joe and the average Joe wants to shop like a pro, the average Joe can go to C.J.R. wholesale. What a sports night it was yesterday. The Florida Panthers avoiding embarrassment. They went two to one in game seven of the Stanley Cup finals. They went after falling short last year. Good story there. It's also good. I always feel bad for a team that may get embarrassed. Although it is funny and memes and you get to talk to them. And you know, it's not you. There's nothing to worry about either because we're neutral fans, right? Sometimes you cheer for that. But now they came back to win. I guess they didn't come back. They had the lead for most of the series. So they forged through, I guess you could call it, the Panthers. Again, win game seven of the Stanley Cup finals two to one. And they win the Stanley Cup. Congrats to them on all their success. Pirates did not have such fortune, although they weren't in a championship series. But this one was rough. 11 to 5 final score yesterday in the first game of three in the series. Can ever stress enough how important these division games are, especially when teams in your division are directly in line with where you are in the lot card standing. You know, some of those other games where you're playing other teams and other national league divisions or maybe teams from the American League, there's not as much pressure I would say because those games aren't directly affecting you in relation to teams in your division. Now I guess you can make an argument that the wild card teams were playing a team that's in the national league that all those national league teams are also in correlation with you because you're all fighting for the same spots down below. So I mean, that's fair, but you know what I mean? The vision games are important as well just because you're in a division race. You've got four other teams that could guarantee to spot. They finished in the first place. The Brewers are looking like the favorite right now. And they've had a lead for a while, but you get my points still those division games. They're important. I don't think you need me to tell you that, but pirates and the Reds now have the same record. They're both 37 and 41, both eight and a half back of the first place Brewers Cardinals have cut into the deficit now there. They're getting away from 500 in the correct direction now. They're 40 and 37 and they're again five games out. The Brewers are 46 and 33 and they're getting closer to the Dodgers. Now to I remember talking about a couple of weeks ago that the nationally central look like the weaker of the three divisions from the top, but the bottoms were stronger still kind of holds true, but the Dodgers 49 and 31 the Brewers are catching up on the Dodgers now about three wins back from being as good as them in terms of records. So yeah, I mean, I don't know how much that will affect the pirates right now because they can't get out of their way. Bailey falter who was reliable now again, it's it's it's great American ballpark. It's one of the best hitters parks one of the most notorious hitters parks in the league falter only goes four innings gives up four and runs on five hits. They were putting the ball in play against him, which is what you expect. You know, he walked one guy that's not terrible, but still you're playing a great American ballpark balls and play. We're not favoring Bailey falter in this one. But now as the law card standings have it, both the pirates and the reds are two and a half games out of the third walled card spot right now occupied by the San Diego Padres, the Cardinals getting more and more comfortable by the day of the 40 and 37 record there. They have a one game up on the second wide card spot of three in the national league. Now three teams are ahead of the pirates one team's tied and the cops are right on their tail. So the national central teams have fallen a bit. I mean, they're still in the race though, but there's the reds, the pirates and the cops back to back to back. The Reds and pirates are tied. The cops are 37 and 42. They're a half game back of the Reds and the pirates that's three games back of that third walled card spot. That makes these games so important. I'm kind of questioning too. And this is a topic that I want to have or discuss with you out there. 4129289370. That's the phone number you can reach me at 4129289370. You can also talk to me on X2 at Kalos underscore 33. That's C-A-L-L-A-S underscore 33. Talk to me in written form on X or call me. Let me hear your voice. Let me hear what you have to say. I'm debating between, at least in this season in particular, or maybe in the entire history of baseball, or winning streaks overrated or is, I don't want to put this because that's not exactly how I mean it. I want to see all I want to frame this discussion because this year, this year anybody can make it at any point in time. I mean, even the Giants I said yesterday, oh, the Giants are starting to fall off. They had a five game losing streak, but then they won one game and all of a sudden they're tied with the Cubs three games back of the division. Excuse me, of the wild card, the third wild card spot in the National League. Isn't abundance of wins. Here's what I want to frame this then. In a season like this is having a big winning streak necessary to do welcome playoff time. And I just mean that because I've seen teams before in baseball. I mean, in other sports too, where they've got a, they have a great start to the season. They win a lot of games. They put a lot of winning together. They have seven eight game winning streaks. They have a lead. And then toward the end of the year, they start to fall off or they start to reach the median and come playoff time. They can't win. Or they struggle to win or they get beat by a team that got hot late. Part of me wants to believe with my eternal optimism that the Pirates are actually best set up for success because they're hanging around the median now. And if they could acquire talent as we've heard from Bob Nutting and Ben Charington that seems like the goal is to win now, if they do acquire help and they get better and they go on a run down the stretch, they sneak into a playoff spot and then their hot come playoff time. I mean, is that the better approach? Is that the better goal? I mean, would you rather see sheer dominance? Now I was almost going to ask the question, well, you know, do you wish they just, you know, you wish they just, you know, fell from the get go and it was just a foregone conclusion at this point instead of worrying. And then I thought about it. I'm like, no, I like worrying. I like the fact that the Pirates are in the race. That's a good thing. That makes me excited. I want to see them in the race. So that's, that seemed like a silly question once I asked it just thinking about it. No. It was kind of like with the Steelers. We asked that too. Like, you know, would we rather the Steelers missed the playoffs or they're just going to go in and and win in the first round or see me or losing the first round, get beaten the first round and the ultimate refrain has been, I think, year to year that no, we, we enjoy the Steelers being in the playoffs because hindsight is 20, 20. We don't know in the moment where we're excited and we're building up to that playoff game. We don't know if they're going to lose. So it's exciting to cheer for them and it's exciting for them to be in the big game and at least have a chance. We always have a chance if you're in, if you missed the playoffs, it's really depressing. So from that regard, no, I mean, I'm glad that the Pirates are in it and it's exciting that the Pirates are in it. It's going to feel like a real missed opportunity if they can't make the playoffs, especially if they don't do anything to bolster their roster right now. But I mean, is it important? I mean, is it important for the Pirates to go on a winning streak? Are we good with them? Just winning one of three here, you know, winning two of three there, that haven't been swept in a little while, which, you know, is good. So I mean, you tell me, I mean, do you like seeing this right now eventually, if they're going to make the playoffs, they have to go on a slight run. They might have to win three in a row. Oh, they might have to win four in a row to be able to qualify for the playoffs. That's what it's looking like here. They might have to go on a winning stretch. They have to forge through at some point this season. But for a season like this, for example, or I mean, in general, can you get by as a team? Do you think you can get by as a team without having an extensive winning streak? Do you think you can get by? And specifically in this season, you know, I'll ask, do you think you can get by? Do you think the Pirates can get by without going on a massive winning streak? I mean, it's been a pattern for a little while now they again, they win two in a series they lose to in a series. They win two in a series. They're just kind of going back and forth. They're bobbing and it's keeping them in the race. Again, it's a little extra frustrating this series to lose a game. You want them to take an advantage at some point, especially against teams. I mean, it's so these national and central games are so important, not only again because of the division weight that it carries that all the wins that they accumulate carry, but also because the national and central teams are all in the wad cards race. They're all right next to each other right now too. Again, the Reds and the Pirates, they both have 37 and 41 records. They're both right there. The Cubs are right behind with a 37 and 42 record. The Cardinals already have a wild card spot at this moment with a 40 and 37 record. So they're all there. They're all in the hunt. You're going to be around the Cardinals if you make it to the top there, but the other, you know, the two other teams that are in your division are also right next to you. Are you good with them at this point? I mean, if you become comfortable with them, just winning enough to stay in it, or do you think that they need a winning streak? Do you think that they need a long winning streak? Like do you think they need, you know, one or two seven game winning streaks down the stretch to be able to qualify? I mean, if they make it, I mean, do you think it's going to be worthwhile? Do you think that them making it is, you know, do they have a legitimate chance as their roster is constructed right now to make it? Do you think that if they add a certain piece or two that they'll be more likely to make it through the playoffs more likely to, to win the games they need to down the stretch to qualify? Give me a call. Answer that for me. Four, one, two, nine, two, eight, nine, three, seven, zero. Talk to me this morning, kind of reacting a little bit to the Pirates 11 five loss. I mean, we'll get there. The big story it looked like is that Bailey falter just had a, at a rough time at Great American ballpark. They were putting the ball and play against them. And then toward the middle of the game, the game fell off the rails, Cruz, homered. If that's anything, he homered when it was already quite out of reach, but, you know, that was exciting. The Pirates, I mean, they scored five. They just gave up 11, but they scored five, so whatever that, you know, that's worth, but kind of reacting here to that 11 to a five loss yesterday, pirates lose to the Cincinnati Reds, just to highlight this too, because we were talking about who should bet lead off. We were talking about that a little bit yesterday during the morning show, Maine, who should lead off. And McCutchen, once again, producing out of the lead off spot for the Pirates got one hit, walked one, so he's on base twice. Brian Reynolds continues to be June, Brian Reynolds, two for four. Edward Olive Harris got three hits and he walked, so he was on base all four times. He was at the plate, O'Neill Cruz, two for five of the home runs. So right till heads over four, yeah, that's a tough one. Okay. Yeah, but the offense looked like it was doing some good stuff in the game. And I mean, it was close for a little while, well, I guess that's done entirely to I forgot about that. It was one and nothing. The Pirates had a lead for a short time and then the Reds went up five to one. The teams traded twos in the fifth. Yeah. Nevermind. It was not quite close at all. I forgot about that big fourth inning at the Reds had, but yeah, I mean, what are the Pirates need to do? Is a winning streak necessary? Or do you think that they can get away with what they're doing? Go on some tiny winning streaks down the stretch, maybe sweep one series. They're going to have to go on some surge at some point. They're going to have to distinguish themselves and break away, but I mean, do they need extensive winning streaks or can they get by with a bare minimum and still do well on the playoffs? Give me a call for one, two, nine, two, eight, nine, three, seven, zero. My name is Nick Lissari-Calis. I got a quick break coming up here, but I'll be back with your phone calls and your reactions and with your conversation right here on the fan early morning show on sports radio 93. 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. 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, having the fan sports radio 93 seven, the fan I'm Nicholas Harry Callis and we're reacting pirates lost 11 to five to the Cincinnati Reds in the first of three games in the series and I've just got a, I've got a curiosity, I've got a question. I want to know what you think out there. Just what your opinion is, are the pirates going to need to go on a big winning streak to have a shot at the playoffs or a shot to win in the playoffs or can they do the bare minimum get by snatch a third wildcard spot and still have success in the post season four, one, two, nine, two, eight, nine, three, seven, zero, and I got some colors on the line already. You can get a note but phone line as well, but we'll start with this color on the line. Good morning. What's your name? Brandon. What's up? I was going to hide these parts. You need to get on this winning streak and maybe to make some moves and get some offense into this game because you look at the schedule after the all-star break, they got one tough schedule coming up. We got Philly, Sierra Diego and Lara. They need to get these wins while they can to paint in this playoff race. Jordan. Thanks for the call. I appreciate it. See the, the, now they've been, they've been kind of backwards. They've been competing well with teams that are good and they've been given away the games that you think that they should win. Aaron Savali was one of those games. I think even yesterday, you can kind of explain it away with Bailey falters pitching tendencies, but I mean, that's a game that they weren't in position to win, but I feel like that's one of those tone setters that they definitely could have won and they'd not given up 11 runs. So they compete with the teams that are, that are good. I mean, they did well against the Dodgers. They split a series with the Phillies, I believe earlier in the year. So that's not like the, the really good teams are out to get them. I mean, I think they even beat the Braves in two of three, a P and C park, but playing in Atlanta is different. Playing on the roads, different, but I'm not necessarily going to just, just dismiss those games after the all-star break, because the teams that they're playing have good records. I think that the pirates can match up with the biggest teams in the national league and they already have. And now they have Paul Skeens. They didn't have Paul Skeens starting in some of those games either. The Phillies I'm thinking in particular, but I'm not, I'm not scared personally of those big teams of those big name teams that the pirates are going to face. They've already proven that they can beat some of those big name teams already. So that, that one's not too much of a concern for me. Now are they going to go on a streak? Are they going to sweep any of these teams? No, I don't think so, because all of this year they've been playing down to some of the competition this year as well, and they've been unable to complete sweeps or unable to go on extended streaks. The only thing stopping them right now too, which is extra frustrating when you think about it too, is that, remember when they lost seven in a row earlier in the year to start? I mean, that's the difference between them being in a playoff spot right now and not. That's seven game losing streak. They've got to counter that in some way, but also, I'm just curious, like maybe they, maybe they don't. Maybe they can just keep doing the bare minimum, go on a tiny winning streak down the stretch, sneak into a playoff spot and mow through the playoffs with their talented pitching staff. So that is what it is. I think, I don't, I think they need to go on a run. I want to see them, you know, confidently getting to the playoffs, I want to see them go on a winning streak. And I think they're going to need to, to make it to the playoffs at all. I don't think that they can do the bare minimum and they, they cannot survive continuing to go back and forth, you know, two wins in a series, one win in a series. Yeah, they're not getting swept and we've gotten swept in a little bit, but just, you know, this alternating win a series, lose a series, win a series, lose a series. It's not going to be enough for them to make the playoffs. They keep doing that. They've, they've got to distinguish themselves in some way and we can't go back to the past, but if they hadn't lost seven in a row, earlier in the year, they'd be in better shape now. They've got to make up for that losing to be able to qualify for the playoffs and the general manager and the owner are both saying that the goal is to win now. It's time to win now. They've got a roster structured with the capability of qualifying for the post season, but they've got to do a little more, got to bolster it a little more. My name is Nicholas Harry Callis. This has been the fan early morning show. I'm going to give you a fan weather real quick. Fan weather brought to you by Sun Chevrolet, 24th Silverado LT crew cab up to 7500 in rebates, full terms and qualifications at sunshevy.com today, high of 88 low of 60. It's going to be partly cloudy throughout the day. And I, you know, being outside this morning, it was quite pleasant. So if you haven't been out there yet, it's a pleasant experience that is much more comfortable than the hot streak we had. The weather was on a hot streak, you know, last week. So that's, that's kind of died down a little bit. It's, it's been a comfortable temperature. And of course, if you're outside at all yesterday, you know that the weather was spectacular. It's going to be a similar day to yesterday. Trying to figure out what to eat for dinner yet again with North sides and bullion as you're not so secret ingredient, you can skip the drive through and do dinner at home. More taste combos provide a menu of delicious, affordable and well-balanced meals that you can prepare in 30 minutes or less. Visit nore.com to get quick and easy recipe ideas for your home cooked weeknight dinners. It's not fast food, but it's so good.