Episode 227

Analyzing the Yankees: Can They Bounce Back Against the Dodgers?

Published on: 29th October, 2024

The latest episode of Sports Talk New York dives deep into the ongoing World Series, focusing on the New York Yankees' challenging start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hosts, Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo, discuss pivotal moments from the first two games, including the controversial decision to pull ace Garrett Cole after just 88 pitches and the strategic choice to walk Mookie Betts, which ultimately backfired. They reflect on the performance of key players such as Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, emphasizing the need for adjustments in the lineup to spark offensive production. Additionally, the conversation shifts to the struggles of the New York Jets, with sentiments of disappointment surrounding their current season. Throughout the episode, listeners are treated to insights on the dynamics of the Yankees' pitching staff and the challenges they face as they return home for critical games in the series.

Takeaways:

  • The hosts discuss the New York sports scene, particularly focusing on the World Series and local teams.
  • They express concerns about the attendance issues at Islanders games this season.
  • Yankees fans are feeling the pressure after two losses in the World Series.
  • The conversation highlights Aaron Boone's controversial decisions during critical playoff games.
  • Discussion about the Mets' underperformance against the Dodgers, reflecting on their playoff journey.
  • Lenny Fishman, a long-time Yankees fan, shares his frustrations with the team's management.

Chapters:

  • 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
  • 00:37 - World Series Talk: Mets and Yankees
  • 01:30 - Islanders and Rangers Update
  • 01:49 - Concerns Over Islanders Attendance
  • 04:30 - Yankees vs. Dodgers: Game 1 Breakdown
  • 06:18 - Guest: Lenny Fishman Joins the Discussion
  • 06:55 - Aaron Boone's Decisions Under Fire
  • 42:05 - Yankees Game 2: Analysis and Reactions
  • 46:10 - Looking Ahead: Yankees vs. Dodgers Game 3
  • 56:31 - New York Jets: A Tough Season Ahead
  • 57:21 - Outro and Closing Thoughts
Transcript
Mike:

The views expressed in the following program do not necessarily represent those of the.

Chris:

Staff, management or owners of wgbb.

Brian:

Live from the WGB studios in Merritt.

Chris:

New York, this is Sports Talk New.

Brian:

York.

Mike:

,:

Mike:

I'm your host Mike Widone, joined as always by my co host Chris Cappy.

Mike:

Caputo.

Mike:

Got a lot to talk about tonight as we always do, but this time of year especially we got World Series action.

Mike:

We're going to be taking a little bit of a post mortem on the Mets.

Mike:

Jets in action today, A little bit of Giants, Knicks have started.

Mike:

Also, we'll talk some Brooklyn Nets.

Mike:

We're going to hit it all.

Mike:

But before we get to that, as I mentioned, my co host, my pal Cappy Caputo.

Mike:

How you doing, Cap?

Brian:

I'm doing well, Mike.

Brian:

Good to have you back.

Brian:

Last time I was solo, did a.

Mike:

Heck of a job.

Brian:

It was fun.

Brian:

Heading into the Mets series and you know, as we, as we know the Mets that night didn't do too well.

Brian:

And then as the series went on, kind of kept themselves close.

Brian:

But it kind of hurt to finish a week later on a Sunday night with a Game 6 loss.

Brian:

But it's fun.

Brian:

Glad to be back in the studio with you.

Brian:

Plenty going on as far as sports is concerned in the New York area.

Mike:

Yeah, absolutely.

Mike:

And I didn't even mention, you know, we got, we have to start in hockey.

Mike:

You got to start Rangers off to a very fast start, Islanders off to their normal, you know, milquetoast kind of bland start.

Mike:

One thing with them and we're not going to spend a lot of time on that.

Mike:

Tonight is though, some, some pretty major concerns with crowds at ubs.

Mike:

I haven't been to a game yet.

Mike:

I'm going to go my next game in my package isn't until November, but had the lowest crowd the other night, 12,000.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

Since the Star Open.

Mike:

You know, traditionally the Islanders do draw more as the season goes on and it's early and they haven't played well and there's so much going on in the New York sports scene.

Mike:

But really, I mean there are some legit concerns there with that arena.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

And I think a lot of it has to do with pricing of food and drinks.

Brian:

I mean one guy was saying he paid $84 for two drinks that, you know, they have a little light up button on the bottom and getting there for people who drive, it's really bad.

Mike:

It's tough.

Mike:

Even the train, I mean, when I take the train, same.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

And you know, you get off if you want to, if you want to wait for the bus, you can take the bus and you know, it's like the two minute ride or whatever it is, or you can walk and.

Mike:

But it's, you know, before the game is one thing.

Mike:

After the game, that's the thing.

Brian:

They don't run the buses back to the, to the train on the way back.

Brian:

So you got to take that walk.

Brian:

If you're elderly, it's tough.

Mike:

Oh, yeah.

Brian:

But I think the main thing is the product on the ice.

Brian:

And I think it's just been kind of level, Mike.

Brian:

And I think people want to see the Islanders step up in order to go in November, October, you know, for an early game.

Brian:

So I think that becomes the hard part is how do you bring people when it's not a month before the playoffs.

Mike:

Right.

Brian:

And I think if you're not showing anything major, hey, we resigned Matt Martin, the enforcer.

Brian:

Well, I just don't think that does it for me.

Mike:

No, no, it doesn't.

Mike:

But you know what I mean, I'd be interested to see and I'd have to check this out.

Mike:

You know, they're drawing, drawing small crowds.

Mike:

But are they like, what's the, what's the seat bought number?

Mike:

Yeah, you know, are they selling 14,000 and only 12,000 are showing up?

Mike:

You know, but yeah, they did.

Mike:

I mean, Hector, I think he announced.

Brian:

Is how many people are selling tickets.

Brian:

They probably only have like 10,000 there, which is said, you know, you get to a point where you want people in the stands and they've been there for couple years now.

Brian:

I can't remember exactly how many years, but they've been there a couple years.

Brian:

So they're settled.

Brian:

They should know.

Brian:

I think it's a nice arena, but I just think that right now the Islanders need to put a better product on the ice.

Brian:

And hopefully, you know, they start winning games because you're in a division with the Rangers and the Devils aren't great, but they're going to be okay.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Brian:

And then Florida came in and you know, you're up 3:1 in Florida.

Brian:

Next thing you know, they put five more on you and you're like, okay, what just happened?

Brian:

So it could get early, it could get ugly early if they don't start winning games.

Mike:

Well, on the flip side, you know, baseball, we obviously, we talked a little bit about the Mets in the opening Yankees World Series.

Mike:

Here we are, you know, and it's, it's very interesting with them.

Mike:

You're talking we're two games in, obviously crushing defeat in game one last night.

Mike:

Really nothing happened for eight innings.

Mike:

They put up a good fight in the last part, but got a lot of concerns at the plate.

Mike:

Pitching we're not sure of.

Mike:

And we're going to have one of my favorite Yankee fans on here in just a second to give me his take and us to, you know, from the inside, longtime Yankee fan.

Mike:

I promised him, he's a Jet fan, too.

Mike:

I promise him we wouldn't bring up the Jets.

Mike:

We'll get to that in a minute.

Mike:

But Yankee, in your opinion, two games in major overreaction.

Mike:

Yankees are dead.

Brian:

I don't think they're dead.

Brian:

I believe the last two times the Yankees and the Dodgers played, which goes back to 81 and 70 something, right?

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

The team who was up two nothing lost the series, but we're talking, you know, 40 years ago.

Brian:

But I don't think they're dead.

Brian:

I just think that you had to win one of the cold starts.

Brian:

You have to win both of the Cole starts.

Brian:

And I think if you don't win both cold starts, it puts you in a really bad hole.

Brian:

Now, could they come back and, you know, put some pressure on?

Brian:

They'd have to win all three.

Brian:

I don't think you can go down three two.

Brian:

It's kind of like the Mets.

Brian:

You can't go in down 32 to LA.

Brian:

But yeah, I think that first loss was really bad.

Brian:

I'm sure when we have Brian Paloma on later, too, he'll be giving us what he thinks are the negatives.

Brian:

But I think Yankee fans right now are down.

Brian:

But I think once you get to the stadium, if you can win that first game, you can get everybody back going again at 2:1.

Brian:

But if you're down 3:0, I mean, you can get a seed for $250 on Tuesday night.

Mike:

That'd be interesting.

Mike:

So we're going to bring on my longtime friend.

Mike:

I've been friends with this, this gentleman for over 40 years and talked a lot of baseball, a lot of, a lot of sports in general.

Mike:

It's my man, Lenny Fishman.

Mike:

Lenny, welcome to the program and great to have you on.

Mike:

My man, Michael Darwin.

Lenny:

How are you, buddy?

Mike:

I'm doing great.

Mike:

You know, it's, it.

Mike:

We come full circle.

Mike:

This is, we've, we've talked sports.

Mike:

Literally, you've known me since I was in my teens and 40 years, and Jets, Yankees, Knicks, the whole nine yards.

Mike:

We played on some teams together.

Mike:

You taught me a lot of things when I was a young kid.

Mike:

And I'm happy for you.

Mike:

Number one as a Yankee fan.

Mike:

But I think.

Mike:

I'm guessing there's a couple of things that you're probably unhappy with, or maybe I'm kind of being pie in the sky here.

Mike:

What do you think?

Lenny:

No, I'm very unhappy.

Lenny:

Actually.

Lenny:

Friday night I posted on Facebook that there's your fire, Aaron Boone.

Mike:

That was one that actually got my attention big time.

Mike:

What is it about, you know, Len, what is it about Aaron Boone that, you know, he obviously is a baseball man.

Mike:

He played.

Mike:

He's a family, unbelievable player, you know, big history for the Yankees.

Mike:

What is it about his moves?

Mike:

Or specifically, what do you.

Mike:

What.

Mike:

What are you upset about when it comes to him?

Lenny:

I'll tell you exactly.

Lenny:

Friday night, I'm sure.

Lenny:

Were you watching the game?

Lenny:

Yes, sir, I'm sure you were.

Lenny:

You have Nesta Cortez, who's been out for what, over a month?

Brian:

Month.

Brian:

Yeah.

Mike:

Yeah.

Lenny:

Okay.

Lenny:

Over a month.

Lenny:

You have what's his name in the bullpen warming up also the lefty Hill.

Lenny:

Oh, and he goes to Nesta Cortez and the other.

Lenny:

What?

Lenny:

Oh, Tim, I can't.

Lenny:

Forgot.

Lenny:

I can't believe.

Lenny:

I mean.

Mike:

Yeah, Tim.

Brian:

Tim Hill.

Mike:

Yep.

Brian:

Right.

Lenny:

Exactly.

Lenny:

He's warming up and he's had a great posties season.

Lenny:

So how do you bring Nesta Cortez in to face this guy when.

Lenny:

And then in.

Lenny:

In the post game, Boone says, well, he pitched good in the simulated game.

Lenny:

It's not the World Series.

Mike:

Yes, exactly.

Mike:

No, that to me, I think that's a very, very hard one to even the greatest Yankee apologist to try to defend.

Mike:

Because you're absolutely right.

Mike:

Cortez comes in, he gets Ohtani on a fly out.

Mike:

Then this is something.

Mike:

I wanted to get your opinion on this, Len.

Mike:

They walk bets.

Mike:

Okay?

Mike:

Now, I mean, the guy's a monster, but I'm never a fan, no matter what it is, of walking the bases loaded.

Mike:

What do you think?

Lenny:

I agree with you 100%, Mikey.

Lenny:

100%.

Mike:

Yeah, I think it's just, you know.

Lenny:

As you can see, last night they brought in, though I can't believe I'm blank.

Lenny:

They brought in him last night, Tim.

Lenny:

The pitch to Freddie Freeman again, and he popped him out to shortstop.

Mike:

Exactly.

Lenny:

Why couldn't he bring him in on Friday night?

Lenny:

I don't understand.

Lenny:

I was going nuts.

Brian:

Yeah, that's a tough time.

Brian:

Sorry, Lenny, this is Chris here.

Brian:

You know, I think it's a Tough situation because you're sitting there looking at guys trying to get an extra out, and you get the first out with Ohtani or the second out with Ohtani getting him to pop up.

Brian:

But, you know, you gave him no margin of error at that point.

Brian:

Now he's got to throw strikes.

Brian:

And in addition to that, I didn't think it was a terrible pitch, but I think Freeman was waiting for that pitch.

Brian:

And it just.

Brian:

It makes Boone look bad because he's made other decisions like this in the past.

Lenny:

100%, right?

Mike:

You know, I had.

Mike:

This is God's honest truth.

Mike:

And I hate to say this, Lenny, but I fell asleep in the bottom of the eighth, right?

Mike:

I fell asleep and.

Mike:

Because, you know, I'm old now.

Mike:

So I fall asleep and I wake up and I literally.

Mike:

I get my phone and it's Ohtani's up, and I'm like, oh, my gosh.

Mike:

And I look at the score and.

Mike:

And he pops up and they walk bets and there's one more pitch and I see this pitch and it was.

Mike:

I believe it was a 93 mile an hour fastball right down the pike.

Mike:

And I couldn't believe my eyes.

Mike:

I thought it was like I was still in a dream state watching this pitch.

Mike:

I mean, am I crazy or was that the lamest fastball that you could ever throw anybody?

Lenny:

It was the lamest fast rule.

Lenny:

But you know something?

Lenny:

You cannot only blame the Yankee pitching.

Lenny:

They haven't been hitting, as you know.

Mike:

Right.

Lenny:

Austin Wells is dead.

Lenny:

He's batting like under 100.

Lenny:

ously, Judge, you know, since:

Lenny:

Judge is batting on the.200 in the playoffs.

Mike:

Yeah, yeah.

Mike:

Chris, you actually, we were talking about this.

Mike:

Lenny, before you came on, Chris, you had an interesting stat about his.

Mike:

One of his swing rates, right?

Brian:

Yeah, he's about an 18% chase guy as far as pitches outside the strike zone in the regular season, but he's close to 40% in the playoffs, which is, you know, he's not even swinging at pitches that are there and missing.

Brian:

He's swinging at pitches that are not there and not even looking good, in addition to the ones that are, you know, down the plate.

Brian:

Let me go back to.

Brian:

Let me go back to Aaron Boone.

Brian:

if you remember, but back in:

Brian:

And if you ever watch the 30 for 30 or the E60, basically, at that time, I believe it was.

Brian:

Who was the young GM that.

Brian:

Theo Epstein.

Mike:

Theo Epstein, Yep.

Brian:

He looked at the owner and said, can we fire him now.

Brian:

Like he was in the middle.

Brian:

He was in the middle of the game and then everybody knows what happened.

Brian:

You leave him in and he winds up.

Brian:

He threw like 130 pitches.

Mike:

Yeah, it's unbelievable.

Brian:

And it's just like these decisions people make.

Brian:

You got to be thinking, that's what people, the GMs and the owners aren't thinking.

Brian:

Like, can we fire him in the middle of the game?

Brian:

Because it just gets to a point where it's almost idiocracy.

Brian:

But I think he tried to manage.

Brian:

Let's talk about game two a little bit.

Brian:

He tried to manage it.

Brian:

Fourth inning, they decided to take out the ineffective starter in Rodon, and that's when they brought in the guy who had pitched in the ninth inning the night before.

Brian:

And he did pretty well.

Brian:

So what do you think about the decisions they made in game two to go to the bullpen early?

Lenny:

Well, Rodan, I.

Lenny:

You know something, I'm objective.

Lenny:

I definitely should have taken Rodan out of you.

Lenny:

He gave up three home runs and he just wasn't pitching well.

Lenny:

I think he brought in Kirk Cousins.

Mike:

If I'm not mistaken.

Brian:

Yeah, Kirk Cousins.

Lenny:

Kirk Cousins.

Lenny:

I mean, whatever.

Mike:

No, exactly, but.

Lenny:

And a lot of people on Boone for the ninth inning when they pinch hit for Austin Wells.

Lenny:

Again, I'm objective.

Lenny:

I thought that was a good move.

Lenny:

You can't bring up Austin Wells, who's a lefty and batting against a lefty pitcher.

Mike:

Right.

Mike:

And at this point, I mean, we can all agree in the playoffs, you have so many arms at your disposal, you can match up one batter, one pitch, all that kind of stuff.

Mike:

Which makes.

Mike:

I mean, I don't want to belabor the point, but it just makes it all the more baffling about Nesta Cortez in game one.

Mike:

So, Lenny, we got game three coming up.

Mike:

Now we're back to New York.

Mike:

You know, you mentioned about their struggles with hitting.

Mike:

Do you see or.

Mike:

We're going to give you the lineup card.

Mike:

You're the manager right now.

Mike:

Any changes that you would make.

Mike:

Let's take the pitching out of it.

Mike:

Any changes you'd make within the lineup?

Mike:

You've watched this team all year long.

Lenny:

I wouldn't make any changes, to tell you the truth.

Lenny:

I mean, you have.

Lenny:

Are the Dodgers having a bullpen game?

Brian:

Not yet.

Mike:

Not officially, no.

Brian:

Game three, I think they're going with Walker Bueller and then they'll go game for a bullpen game.

Lenny:

Listen, the bottom line is we have to start hitting.

Lenny:

It worries me to wear a Yankee Standing with a short right field porch.

Lenny:

I don't know how Ohtani's situation is now with his shoulder.

Lenny:

I haven't heard an update.

Lenny:

They said he's gonna play Freeman and Hernandez.

Lenny:

You got to be careful with that right field porch for them.

Mike:

Well, it's funny.

Mike:

Yeah, that's.

Mike:

It's always such a blessing to the Yankees, but I mean, really, Yankee Stadium is kind of unfortunately tailor made for the.

Mike:

For the Dodgers lineup.

Lenny:

Exactly, exactly.

Lenny:

Especially Voltani's playing.

Mike:

Right.

Brian:

So what do you think if it doesn't work out for the Yankees and what they lose in 4, 5, 6, 7, whatever it is, do you think there has to be wholesale changes?

Lenny:

I think there has to be wholesale changes with the manager.

Brian:

Okay.

Lenny:

I think.

Lenny:

I also think we have to sign Soto, which I don't know.

Brian:

I think.

Lenny:

Mike, you're a Met fan, right?

Mike:

Yeah, Chris and I are both Met fans.

Mike:

I mean, listen, we've.

Mike:

We've talked about this as our, you know, our Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, wishlit, you know, anything, any holiday you want to ask for a gift, this would be it for us.

Mike:

Because he is, I mean, outside of Ohtani, I mean, he's.

Mike:

The guy's literally fantastic.

Mike:

And you know what, you can see, too.

Mike:

He has a confidence to him, but it's not cockiness.

Mike:

And, you know, and there's a thousand athletes, we could talk about that.

Mike:

But the guy, he's just, He's a gamer, number one, and he has the skill and the temperament to back it up.

Mike:

So literally, you talk budgets with the Yankees, they got to do anything they can to bring him back, but the Mets are going to be right there with it.

Lenny:

Oh, 100%.

Lenny:

I gotta tell you one thing, I watch every Met game.

Lenny:

I think they're so exciting this year.

Lenny:

More exciting than my Yankees.

Mike:

Well, definitely more unexpected, that's for sure.

Chris:

Yes.

Lenny:

Yeah, I had a good run and I can't wait to actually watch them next year.

Lenny:

They're very exciting team.

Mike:

Yeah.

Lenny:

What do you think about.

Lenny:

What do you think about.

Lenny:

What's his name?

Lenny:

Pete Alonzo.

Mike:

We have.

Mike:

You know what?

Mike:

We talk, Pete, quite a bit because Chris, my partner, he's a member of that Mets 7 line army.

Mike:

That's at all the games and he makes me look like a casual fan, so.

Mike:

Chris, why don't you give Lenny your opinion on what you're thinking about?

Brian:

Pete, I just think that they can't overpay for him.

Brian:

I think if it's going to fall in his lap, fine.

Brian:

But Lenny, I think the Mets have to Put their priority into pitching and Soto.

Brian:

And I think if Soto lands in their lap, then Pete's not going to come back.

Brian:

And if Pete's going to give him a little bit of a discount and three years or less, fine.

Brian:

But if he wants five, six years, $200 million, it's just not going to work out because he may get that somewhere else.

Brian:

But you can't sit there and say, oh, he hit that home run in Milwaukee and he hit one against the Phillies.

Brian:

So now we're going to pay him $40 million for five years.

Brian:

It's just, you can't sit there and play with your heart and put your money on that.

Brian:

I think that the Mets could go out there and get themselves a corner infielder for less, for shorter time.

Brian:

And I just think the guy who's the GM has done, or.

Brian:

Sorry, he's the president of baseball operations, David Stearns has done a great job in Milwaukee of making sure he doesn't overpay people or give them extra money at a time when they're not worth it.

Brian:

Right.

Mike:

So, Lenny, I'm going to ask you a question here because, you know, again, we just to give a little back story.

Mike:

You.

Mike:

Lenny worked at the Boys and Girls Club when I was a kid, and I can't.

Mike:

You're too young.

Mike:

I can't say father figure.

Mike:

And I also had a great dad, but you're like a big brother figure to me.

Mike:

You know, just.

Mike:

It's just an amazing part of my young life.

Mike:

And I can't say enough how much sports we talked and how you kind of helped shape my attitudes on things.

Mike:

So I know you go way back as a Yankee fan.

Mike:

From back.

Mike:

Go as far as you want.

Mike:

All right.

Mike:

We'll let you pick out anything.

Mike:

Your favorite, one Yankee memory from your life.

Lenny:

My favorite memory.

Mike:

I know it's hard to probably pick just one, right?

Lenny:

Actually, it was this 70.

Lenny:

Was it 78 when Reggie hit the three home runs?

Brian:

Yes.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

Okay.

Lenny:

Yeah.

Brian:

That was pretty impressive for Mr.

Brian:

October.

Lenny:

Yes.

Mike:

Yes.

Lenny:

You know something?

Lenny:

I gotta tell you something.

Lenny:

I'm sorry to interrupt you.

Mike:

No, not at all.

Mike:

Go ahead.

Brian:

Sure.

Mike:

It's your show right now.

Lenny:

Even that home loan that Soto hit the other night that won the game for.

Mike:

Yep.

Lenny:

I was.

Lenny:

I was screaming.

Lenny:

I'm surprised you didn't hear me.

Mike:

Well, hey, I mean, when.

Mike:

When you're.

Mike:

When you're a fan, you're a fan.

Mike:

And it.

Mike:

He is an exciting guy.

Mike:

And, you know, if you guys in Yankee land get to keep him, that's a Huge Keep.

Mike:

But again, it's always about pitching and who you can.

Mike:

It's such a shame because you mentioned about that they had to pull Carlos Rodon the other night.

Mike:

I mean, they signed him for huge money.

Mike:

It's kind of like Gary Cole is what he is and when he's healthy, he's just completely dominant.

Mike:

But unfortunately they just don't have much behind him.

Mike:

And the bullpen.

Mike:

Not a closer to be had.

Mike:

They.

Lenny:

Right.

Mike:

You know the Holmes.

Mike:

Holmes initially was their closer, but Luke.

Lenny:

Weaver has done a great job.

Mike:

Yes.

Brian:

Yep.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

So before we let you go, Lenny and I promised you I wasn't going to do this and you can say no comment if you want.

Lenny:

I'm going to kill you.

Brian:

I don't think you should answer.

Mike:

All right, I'm going to move on to this.

Mike:

Give me your Knicks prediction this year.

Mike:

What do you got for my Knicks?

Lenny:

I love it.

Lenny:

I think they go to the championship.

Brian:

Really?

Mike:

Okay.

Mike:

Did you see one?

Lenny:

They have to learn how to play together first.

Lenny:

But in my opinion, I think they have the best starting fives.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

Great point.

Mike:

And you know what?

Mike:

That's exactly what Chris and I talked about before we came on and we said it's going to take a little bit of time, but you know, with a Tom Thibodeau team, say that three times.

Mike:

Fast defense is such a calling card.

Mike:

And once they get their defensive sets and their rotations down and the scoring, they're going to be a very, very dangerous team.

Lenny:

Definitely.

Lenny:

And Mikey, I got a.

Lenny:

You know, we moved to Holbrook, Michelle and I.

Mike:

Yes.

Lenny:

And I got a nice 85 inch screen in my.

Lenny:

Come over one night and watch the Nick game.

Brian:

There we go.

Mike:

Listen, I can't wait.

Lenny:

And I will bring Chris if you want to.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

I will definitely take you up on that.

Mike:

I can't thank you enough for calling.

Mike:

It's been great chatting with you.

Mike:

Lenny.

Mike:

Please say hi to Michelle for me and love to have you on again.

Mike:

And I will definitely take you up on that offer and I'll see you soon, pal.

Lenny:

Thank you guys very much.

Lenny:

Take care, Chris.

Brian:

Thanks.

Brian:

All right, bye.

Lenny:

Bye.

Mike:

The great Lenny Fishman, my friend for over 40 years and just a great, great sports guy.

Mike:

And to have him on is such a thrill for me.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

And it's a thrill for, I think Yankee fans to just be able to talk about stuff.

Brian:

And even if they want event, this is the spot.

Brian:

,:

Brian:

If you want to call in and talk about something New York sports or outside of that.

Brian:

We'll take your call.

Brian:

We're going to have Brian Palermo on later to break down the World Series a little bit.

Brian:

I think we should talk with Brian a little bit, Mike, about the series with the Guardians, because I thought that was going to be a little bit more competitive.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Brian:

And I felt like the Yankees really did well there.

Brian:

And I don't want to dismiss kind of what happened.

Brian:

What did you think about the Mets Series with the Dodgers?

Brian:

Because now you're watching the Dodgers again.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

Just before we hit that, just one last thing I wanted to bring up.

Mike:

And I think it's, you know, it's overstating the obvious, but here we are.

Mike:

It's New York and the Yankees are in the World Series, and that's the expectation that at least they're going to get to the World Series.

Mike:

You think about if we're in.

Mike:

If we're talking right now in Kansas City and people are calling for the manager's head and the Royals are in the World Series, they just don't get it.

Mike:

And that's the difference.

Mike:

That's the pressure cooker that is New York.

Brian:

Could you imagine if they do win the World Series and he's still fired?

Brian:

I'm just saying.

Mike:

Well, you know, I don't.

Mike:

This is.

Mike:

This is kind of the.

Mike:

And I'm not answering your question.

Mike:

I'll definitely get to the Mets here in a second.

Mike:

This is kind of what I see.

Mike:

I almost think that if they don't win, I think that he.

Mike:

I think he's had enough.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

I know that.

Brian:

I just feeling where it's just like, you need a new voice.

Chris:

Yeah.

Mike:

And that look on his face is.

Mike:

I think he's just like, you know.

Brian:

What else is he going to do?

Mike:

Well, he'll go somewhere.

Brian:

I think he'll do announcing.

Brian:

I don't think.

Chris:

Yeah.

Brian:

Yeah.

Mike:

Okay.

Mike:

I mean, it's hard to.

Mike:

It's definitely hard to give up, quote, unquote, the manager seat of the New York Yankees.

Mike:

But I think they might come to just some kind of mutual parting of the ways.

Mike:

Because if.

Mike:

Here you are.

Mike:

I mean, and he's taken this team and he's just constantly criticized and for good reason.

Brian:

And first time in 15 years they've made the World Series.

Brian:

So it's not like this is every year.

Mike:

Exactly.

Mike:

And it's not like it used to be.

Mike:

So, you know, it's going to be interesting.

Mike:

That'll be something.

Mike:

I think that will be taken care of very, very quickly after the Series, whatever happens.

Mike:

But for him, you know, if they were to come back and win it, would he get fired?

Mike:

I don't.

Mike:

I don't think they'd let him go, but he.

Mike:

Maybe he goes somewhere else.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

So again, what do you think of the Mets?

Mike:

Okay.

Brian:

And how things worked out?

Mike:

Well, listen, you know, we sat here back right before Memorial Day and talked about just how awful it was, and it was.

Mike:

It was brutal.

Mike:

And, you know, you were giving us the updates right from Citi Field, just how terrible it was and the feeling.

Mike:

And then all of a sudden, Memorial Day comes, and I think they retired Darrell's number first.

Chris:

Right.

Mike:

Or was it Doc Whoever.

Brian:

Right.

Brian:

It was.

Mike:

I think it was Daryl.

Mike:

Right.

Brian:

It was Darrell in the colder weather.

Mike:

Okay.

Brian:

Doc was.

Brian:

Was a little bit warmer.

Mike:

And I think it was Daryl that was saying, hang in here with this team.

Mike:

And.

Brian:

Yeah.

Mike:

And then literally, like almost the next day.

Brian:

Sure.

Mike:

Everything kind turn around, so.

Mike:

And ironically, Lenny brought it up.

Mike:

Just energy, just a fun energy.

Mike:

And that's going to be really hard to replicate next year, no matter, you know, no matter who they bring in, because it's.

Mike:

It was kind of a model.

Brian:

They were able to find something every few weeks to keep it going, you know, and it starts with the grimace.

Brian:

Everybody thinks him throwing out the pitch, and then.

Brian:

Then OMG became big.

Brian:

And, you know, the guy goes out in the field and sings it and everybody's behind him.

Brian:

I think that was huge for the Mets to see your own guy actually have his song.

Brian:

You watch it during.

Brian:

Listen to it during the home runs, but even more so when he was at parties and on this field, the guys were behind him.

Brian:

They were literally holding him, saying, keep going.

Brian:

This is good.

Brian:

And I think that was the crying call throughout the summer, you know, and then there was obviously more things that just came up throughout the summer, but I think the Mets overachieved for so long that when it got to the playoffs, people were going to doubt them to win each series.

Mike:

Right.

Brian:

Then they still keep winning.

Brian:

But then you get to the Dodgers, and then those questions came up of, okay, who's going to pitch?

Brian:

And you'd start throwing Kodai Senga in game one of one series, then you throw him in game one of the next series, and Jeff McNeil's back, and we throw him in the lineup.

Brian:

And there's a lot that I could to go after Mendoza.

Mike:

That was a curious decision.

Brian:

I don't know where that came from.

Brian:

Was it Mendoza or was it up higher?

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

To back in the lineup?

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

I don't know, but I think a.

Brian:

Lot of the moves Mendoza made worked out, but he didn't make the right move.

Brian:

But, you know, everything he played was working the right way.

Brian:

And I think eventually when it doesn't, then you're kind of like, ah, okay, we just ran out of energy.

Brian:

But I thought he was a good manager.

Brian:

I think he kept the team going.

Brian:

And they then bailed him out when he maybe made a weird decision.

Brian:

And I'm going to be specific.

Brian:

I'll be very specific.

Brian:

Game six, bringing in.

Brian:

The first reliever they brought in was the guy that they picked up, Phil Maton.

Brian:

Yes.

Brian:

I thought that was a terrible decision.

Brian:

I'm like, he's going to give up a home run.

Brian:

He did.

Brian:

And then they had a situation in the third inning, down 2 1, bases loaded, and Jeff McNeil was up and they had a lefty pitching.

Brian:

And right away I said, he's got to be pinch hit for.

Brian:

You got to put Iglesias in, in that spot.

Brian:

This is the game now, I know it's the third inning, but you got to play for now.

Brian:

And he got out.

Brian:

And the next thing you know, they start giving up runs.

Brian:

And, you know, I mean, I know they went to Kodai Senga, but at that point the game was, was already lost.

Brian:

But I just liked how they fought even in the ninth inning to, to kind of keep things going.

Brian:

But I think things are going to need to change.

Brian:

We'll have John Hansen on in the future and we'll talk a little bit about what they need to do.

Brian:

But I thought some things went really well for them.

Brian:

But they have like 10, 12 free agents.

Brian:

It's going to be hard.

Mike:

Yeah, it's, it's, it's going to be very hard.

Mike:

And they did a great job, Stearns, of bringing in guys like Jesse Winker, who brought that energy.

Mike:

They were psyched to be, you know, I think that's the kind of guy you got to keep around.

Mike:

You know, Will it be the same thing next year?

Mike:

Probably not, but that's the energy and the enthusiasm.

Mike:

Guys who want to be Mets, I think we also, we knew that Francisco Lindor was a top player, but you really saw the genius and we'll see.

Brian:

What he can do next year.

Brian:

But I think there's going to be some changes and I think the Mets could go in a different direction as far as who they put at first base or third base.

Brian:

Vientos is going to be in there.

Brian:

I don't know about changing his position because that might change some of the progress that he's made.

Brian:

But if you have to, you do.

Brian:

And I thought David Stearns, if you watched his press conference, did a very nice job basically saying that, you know, we don't want to go over all these luxury taxes and stuff like that, but the money is there and if the chance is there to go out and go after somebody, they will.

Brian:

You got to remember, Mike, last, last offseason, they did go after Yamamoto.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Brian:

They flew to Japan.

Mike:

Yeah.

Brian:

They brought him in for dinner in Steve's home.

Brian:

It just didn't work out right.

Brian:

I mean, especially with the West Coast.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

I don't think they just didn't have a legit shot with him, unfortunately, because.

Mike:

Yeah.

Brian:

I mean, you tell me, could be in 75 degree weather all year as opposed to maybe 40s for.

Brian:

He's not going to come.

Mike:

And you know, three and a half less hours on a plane home to Japan.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

And when you're playing with Ohtani, I mean, you.

Mike:

It pains me to say, but you watched last night.

Mike:

And I mean, Dodger Stadium, I've never been there.

Mike:

I've.

Brian:

I've been there.

Mike:

You have.

Mike:

I mean, it.

Mike:

It's just unbelievably gorgeous when.

Brian:

Yeah, it is.

Brian:

You know, when I'm getting there.

Brian:

Sucks.

Brian:

There's no transportation in and out, which.

Mike:

Is amazing place to be.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

But nice ballpark, once you're inside and you listen to that music or you feel like you're at a movie and.

Brian:

Yeah, I think it's interesting, especially if it goes back there for game six or game seven.

Mike:

Well, you know what?

Mike:

Going back for game six, so just with the Mets, I was so impressed and so happy that they didn't just lie down, they made that series.

Lenny:

Oh, sure.

Mike:

I say this all the time as a coach.

Mike:

If you lose, make the other guy, make the other girl, make the other team beat you.

Brian:

And we'll talk about it after the break.

Brian:

But the Dodgers are good and they're so deep and they just, they have a lot of weapons and they just.

Brian:

If you make a mistake, they're going to come at you.

Mike:

I mean, Walker Bueller, the guy was.

Brian:

We made him look good.

Mike:

We did.

Mike:

But however, I mean, previously, before he kind of had some injury.

Mike:

Guy was throwing lightning.

Mike:

Yeah, he was.

Mike:

And if he, if he gets a little bit his spark back for the next game, it's tough times.

Brian:

And I was happy the Mets, that Friday night, Game 5, didn't quit and they put up a lot of runs and it was nice to not.

Brian:

I was telling everybody that I was with because I was at all three games of that series.

Brian:

If the Mets are losing in the bottom of the eighth inning, I'm out.

Brian:

I'm not watching.

Brian:

No way.

Mike:

Yeah, they can't do it because this.

Brian:

Is the first time we got to watch the Mets clinch at City Field when they had played the Phillies.

Brian:

Otherwise, it always been on the road and we're watching teams.

Brian:

You know, here we are,:

Brian:

Hey, here we go.

Brian:

Nope, I'm out.

Brian:

But thank God they won that game.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

So nice first half hour here.

Mike:

We talked a lot of baseball.

Mike:

We'll continue with that theme.

Mike:

Going to take a quick break and then we'll be back.

Mike:

Sports Talk New York, wgb.

Brian:

You are listening to Sports Talk New York.

Brian:

Tune in every Sunday night at 8pm.

Chris:

On Long Island's WGB broadcasting on 95.9.

Brian:

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Chris:

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Brian:

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Brian:

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Brian:

You're listening to Sports Talk New York on Long Island's wgb.

Brian:

And now back to the show.

Mike:

,:

Mike:

:

Mike:

-:

Mike:

If you'd like to call in chat with us.

Mike:

We had Lenny Fishman on the first half hour to talk a little Yankees and I promised him we wouldn't talk Jets.

Mike:

We're going to bring that up in just a second.

Mike:

But we're joined now in the second half hour by Brian Palermo, our beat reporter who always comes on and gives us great stuff with a just plethora of teams within the New York area.

Mike:

Brian, welcome back.

Mike:

Good to have you on, pal.

Chris:

Thanks for having me, guys.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Brian:

So here we are, World Series.

Brian:

We're two games in.

Brian:

But before we get to that, can we just go back a little bit because, you know, I know two weeks ago the Yankees were in, but we didn't really talk get a chance to talk about their series against the Guardians.

Brian:

And I really thought that the Yankees played very well in many facets.

Brian:

So can you kind of give us a recap of what you thought the series against Cleveland did and what were some takes from that series?

Chris:

Yeah, I mean, all my focus has been on the Dodgers here, but yeah, I think the Yankees played great against Cleveland.

Chris:

I mean, going into that series, it was you know, Cleveland has one of, if not the best bullpen in MLB.

Chris:

You know, they had those four big horses they run out there.

Chris:

They all had ERAs under two, and Yankees were able to get some matchups and get to those guys.

Chris:

So I think they did a really, really good job in that series.

Chris:

And then I know they had the one heartbreaking loss in the way that they bounced back the next day.

Chris:

You know, that was really encouraging to see.

Chris:

I mean, how do you not mention Stanton?

Chris:

I mean, this guy just big hit after big hit in the postseason.

Chris:

He carried them in that series and a lot of big hits and a lot of big moments.

Chris:

And, you know, here we are.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

And I think, you know, Soto stepped up and did and did a lot of things.

Brian:

The one home run that Judge hit was in the loss.

Brian:

But here we are in the World Series, and, you know, we had seen as Met fans, we saw the Dodgers for six games and the impressiveness of all facets for them and their bullpen and some of their starters and definitely their hitting.

Brian:

And the Yankees go in.

Brian:

In game one.

Brian:

I think you really couldn't ask for a better script.

Brian:

You know, as the game went on and eventually the game makes it.

Brian:

I'm not going to put any blame on anybody because that run to send it to extra innings because the Yankees were leading was just a sacrifice fly.

Brian:

And, you know, guys get hits all the time.

Brian:

But then obviously the ending of the game kind of took on some drama.

Brian:

So talk a little bit about game one.

Chris:

All right, I'm going to rewind a little bit and just a couple of points that you brought up about the Cleveland series.

Chris:

And, and like you said, Judge had a really big home run.

Chris:

And even though that was.

Chris:

That was off, and even though that was in the game that they lost, I think it kind of showed the team that, you know, they can get to this guy and they proved that they could in the series.

Chris:

One of the first times I was on with you guys this year, I remember talking about Sotos at bat against Josh Hader and how this guy just must watch every time.

Chris:

And that at bat he had in the, you know, top of the 10th or whenever it was against Cleveland, one of the.

Chris:

One of the best at bats I have ever seen in my entire life of watching playing baseball.

Chris:

That was just truly unbelievable, the confidence that he has and, you know, just the hell is a battle and to win it like that, that was really cool.

Chris:

All right, so Game 1 against the Dodgers on this series, I pulled my panic button out of the drawer.

Chris:

I Have not pressed it yet, but I'm ready to press it.

Chris:

If the Yankees don't get a lead in Game 3, Bueller's got to be the guy that you get to.

Chris:

I know you mentioned the run that they got, and, you know, that was such a big play where the ball hit off Torres glove and Ohtani ended up going to third.

Chris:

And then, you know, they get the sac fly.

Chris:

But Garrett Cole, I mean, this is.

Chris:

That's your guy.

Chris:

To take him out after 88 pitches, that was one move I was really questioning in that game.

Chris:

I would have, you know, rode with him for another.

Chris:

At least, you know, 12, you know, 20 pitches and let him go a little longer.

Chris:

That was the one move.

Chris:

And then think about how that affects everything.

Chris:

You know, then you got your higher leverage guys.

Chris:

Like, maybe Weaver's pitching in that situation.

Chris:

So there are a lot of things.

Chris:

I think they played pretty well in that game, and they've been couple of close games.

Chris:

I know yesterday didn't feel that close, but, you know, it's tough right now.

Mike:

You know, Brian, you bring up a great point there about pulling Garrett Cole after 88 pitches.

Mike:

It's so different now because when you think about baseball, even 10 years ago, just got.

Mike:

You were still riding guys doing well.

Mike:

It's like there's this magic number now or magic number of innings.

Mike:

And because the postseason rosters and analytics tells you this, I think pulling him after 88 pitches was just a horrible thing.

Mike:

But you know what?

Mike:

That's what happens these days.

Mike:

I mean, these guys, they just.

Mike:

They hit a certain number and, well, God forbid he gets hurt or something happens, and then nobody will ever be able to explain their way out of that.

Mike:

But it's just changed so much.

Mike:

And then what do you.

Mike:

Now, Nestor Cortez, okay, he throws, you know, he throws a beach ball to Freeman, who hits it out of the.

Mike:

Out of the park.

Mike:

So it's easy to sit here and go, oh, that was a terrible move.

Mike:

Was it a terrible move, though?

Chris:

So in the moment, I.

Chris:

And let's just go back to Eric Cole quick.

Chris:

Like, you know, I'm sitting at home watching on the couch.

Chris:

Like, I don't have access to, you know, the spin rate on a fastball pitch by pitch with all the stuff that they're kidding.

Chris:

Looking at, like the analytical stuff you said.

Chris:

But still, that's.

Chris:

That's your guy.

Chris:

Like, you pay him to hold this money to pitch in situations like that.

Chris:

And, you know, he.

Chris:

He missed half of the year.

Chris:

Like, it's not like he's logging his 250th inning of the year, where, you know, his arm is completely shot.

Brian:

He's.

Chris:

He's fairly fresh right now, in my opinion, so I would have let him go.

Mike:

Yeah.

Chris:

In the moment.

Chris:

I didn't love bringing in Nestor with guys on base just because that's something that he hasn't done right.

Chris:

He's used to being a starter.

Chris:

He's not used to coming in at situations like that.

Chris:

I didn't hate the fact that, you know, it's Nestor Cortez.

Chris:

He hasn't pitched in 37 days.

Chris:

That was the one thing that I questioned.

Chris:

But then when you think about just how that developed, he got Ohtani, which was his job.

Chris:

He has good numbers against Ohtani.

Chris:

That's kind of why he's on the roster right now.

Chris:

And, you know, that pop up that was able to with Verdugo.

Chris:

He made a great play, but then the runners advanced, so the easy move is to walk best.

Mike:

Yeah.

Chris:

You said he threw a beach ball.

Chris:

I mean, if you look at that, that was right on the inside corner.

Chris:

I mean, Freeman jumped him.

Chris:

I think, you know, maybe you can say, you know, Freeman, he's probably on a Hall of Fame track.

Chris:

Maybe you don't want to try to sneak one by him there.

Chris:

But I didn't think it was a terrible pitch, believe it or not.

Chris:

But that was a really, really tough game to lose, because game two, you didn't love the matchup going into it.

Chris:

Yeah, Momoto has been throwing the ball great, and against Radon, I think the Dodgers definitely had the edge in game too.

Chris:

So to lose game one like that was a little demoralizing.

Mike:

No, listen, I'm no pitching coach when it comes to Major League Baseball.

Mike:

The only thing I would say is that you got.

Mike:

Freeman's got a gimpy ankle.

Mike:

You throw him inside.

Mike:

It was a hittable pitch, and it was as if he just knew it was coming.

Mike:

It seems to me like the Yankees were with Nestor.

Mike:

It's like he did have good numbers against Ohtani, so it wasn't a terrible thing to bring him in there.

Mike:

But it's almost like we have this guy and what can we establish him doing?

Mike:

I mean, there's no higher leverage situation.

Mike:

He's a pretty.

Mike:

He's a pretty ballsy kind of pitcher when he's out there with a lot of emotion.

Mike:

So I think it was like, I almost think the Yankees outsmarted themselves, saying, like, we don't know how we're going to use him.

Mike:

And here's Here's a.

Mike:

Here's the biggest situation we can.

Mike:

And we're going to throw him out there right now.

Mike:

I mean, it's kind of.

Mike:

Kind of an interesting time to take the training wheels off.

Brian:

Yeah.

Chris:

I mean, and who knows like this, obviously, that's a move that's going to be under the magnifying glass.

Chris:

Like, who knows if Tim Hill came in and, you know, he gave up, and then all of a sudden we're talking about, well, why didn't we bring in Nestor in that case?

Chris:

So to me, it goes back to, you know, letting Cole go a little longer, and then you got, you know, how about Clay Holmes in the eighth or ninth?

Chris:

Then you got Luke Weaver maybe coming in to finish the ninth, and then he's in that situation.

Chris:

So it's.

Chris:

It's easy to sit here now and pick that move apart.

Chris:

But again, I think it, like I've mentioned a couple times, it goes back to taking Garrett Cole out.

Brian:

I do, too.

Brian:

But what about the decision to walk Mookie Betts?

Brian:

Because if you pitch the bets and he gets a base hit, you can possibly get out of it and go to extra innings.

Brian:

And maybe if you get him out, so be it.

Brian:

But what did you feel about that?

Brian:

The walk to load the bases?

Chris:

I like that move because you had.

Chris:

There was second and third in that situation with two outs.

Chris:

Right.

Chris:

And you got a.

Chris:

Mookie Betts is a phenomenal player.

Chris:

He's an MVP guy.

Chris:

He's multiple all stars.

Chris:

Not that Freeman isn't, but that's what makes the Dodgers so tough.

Chris:

You got to.

Chris:

You got to pick your battles.

Chris:

Yeah.

Chris:

I mean, just as a.

Chris:

Like a former infielder, I like having a force out of that case.

Chris:

Who knows.

Brian:

Yeah.

Chris:

Where you're.

Chris:

So I do like the bases being loaded there because the winning run was on second anyway.

Chris:

So, you know, you got open base.

Chris:

Let's go lefty, lefty.

Chris:

Matchup.

Chris:

Take our chances.

Chris:

Didn't work out, but I don't mind putting bets on there.

Mike:

Yeah.

Brian:

Interesting situation.

Brian:

How it ends.

Brian:

The first grand slam walk off in World Series history on, you know, the same situation, same time of day that Kirk Gibson had hit his home run in game one of a World Series.

Brian:

alenzuela, who pitched in the:

Brian:

I believe that year he threw Mike and Brian, like, 11 complete games or something like that.

Chris:

He started out 8, 0 that year.

Chris:

Just unbelievable.

Mike:

Later on in his career, he had, I believe, his most wins.

Mike:

I think he.

Mike:

I think he had either 21 or 23 wins in his season.

Mike:

20 complete games.

Brian:

It's unbelievable.

Mike:

People have.

Chris:

He was a good hitter too.

Chris:

That's what.

Brian:

Yeah, right.

Brian:

He had 10 homers.

Chris:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Brian:

Interesting.

Brian:

And he actually give him a little love there.

Brian:

One of the guys we almost had on tonight was Jerry Royce.

Brian:

I was talking with him a little bit off the air and he was discussing that.

Brian:

Basically Fernando was the one who replaced him.

Brian:

He had gotten hurt.

Brian:

And Fernando Valenzuela came in in his first start and replaced him.

Brian:

And then Jerry Royce wound up pitching a complete game, Game five against the Yankees that year and beat Ron Guidry, which sent the game out, sent it to obviously six games, and the Dodgers won that.

Brian:

So let's go a little bit ahead and let's look at game two.

Brian:

So obviously Rodon does not start the game off well.

Brian:

And my boy, Tommy Edmond, the NLCS mvp, comes up and gets a home run to start the game off, and then a couple more runs and you got to take them out in the fourth inning.

Brian:

And now you're going to Jake Cousins, the cousin of Kirk Cousins, to come in the game in the fourth inning when the night before he was in the game, I believe in the ninth inning.

Brian:

So talk a little bit about how that game started.

Chris:

I mean, let's.

Chris:

Like this is Tommy Edmond.

Chris:

I mean, this guy, he's playing shortstop, he's playing center field, he's batting ninth in game one.

Chris:

Then they slide him up to fifth.

Chris:

This guy is just an unbelievable ball player.

Chris:

So, you know, you got to give him a lot of credit.

Chris:

Yeah, I mean, Rodin, he didn't have it.

Chris:

Left some balls up, you know, over the middle of the plate, and he got hit around a little bit.

Chris:

The biggest issue in that game was the best.

Chris:

You know, Yamamoto gave up one hit and I don't know, six, six plus innings or whatever it was.

Chris:

The bullpen for the Yankees did its job yesterday.

Brian:

Yeah, four and two thirds late.

Chris:

But, you know, again, it would have been nice to get game one and go back, you know, split with the split, but unfortunately that didn't happen.

Chris:

But, you know, guys like Jake Cousins have done well and we'll see.

Brian:

Yeah, and I think the Yankees in that spot had to pull back Wells and put up Trevino.

Brian:

You know, Trevino hasn't been hitting too much as well, but I think in that spot you had to give him a shot.

Brian:

And you know, unfortunately you fall 4 to 2.

Brian:

Can we talk A little bit more.

Brian:

I just love hearing it.

Brian:

Can we talk a little bit about Soto and his impact on the game and this World Series?

Chris:

I mean, he's just an unbelievable at bat.

Chris:

Like, it is his confidence, like back to the.

Chris:

Who was it?

Chris:

Was it up Gaddis against.

Chris:

In the clinching game against Cleveland there?

Chris:

And he just.

Chris:

He was talking to.

Chris:

I forget the reporter after the game, but he was talking about how he was saying to himself, and he just.

Chris:

I kept telling myself, like, you got nothing on me.

Chris:

Like I got you right now.

Chris:

And just that self confidence that he has is really, you know, like no.

Brian:

1.

Chris:

He's like the biggest, like showman the Yankees have had since, like someone like Reggie Jackson.

Chris:

You know, the way that he.

Chris:

He plays in his confidence and he's just so much fun to watch.

Chris:

And like yesterday, Yamamoto missed his spot and what does he do?

Chris:

He hits it in the right field seat.

Chris:

You know, he's just.

Chris:

He's an unbelievable, unbelievable player.

Brian:

It's unreal.

Brian:

Just turned 26 this week, too.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

So you're going to have a lot coming from him.

Brian:

And we can always talk in the off season about where he goes, but I think we'd be remiss to not talk about Aaron Judge saying that he needs to step up.

Brian:

His strikeout rates are through the roof.

Brian:

He's, I believe, only one of two players to have as many at bats as they have and not be hitting.200 in the postseason.

Brian:

He's got like 90 something at bats in the postseason and he's hitting.199.

Chris:

Yeah, I mean, he's.

Chris:

He's definitely struggled a little bit.

Chris:

And like I said last time I was on to you, he has had some big moments in the postseason, so it's not like he can't do it.

Chris:

You know, it's just.

Chris:

Smoltz did a great job of breaking it down yesterday.

Chris:

They showed two different pitches and Judge hammered curveballs all year, and right now he's missing them.

Chris:

And then it's forced him to be a little behind the fastball.

Chris:

And as a hitter, timing is everything.

Chris:

And his timing is just in between right now, which is really unfortunate.

Chris:

So I don't know what they're going to do.

Chris:

It's not the easiest thing to just jumpstart that his chase rate.

Chris:

He's obviously feeling that pressure or getting a little antsy and wanting to do too much because he is expanding the zone a little bit, which he didn't do all year.

Chris:

And that's really the biggest difference right now.

Chris:

It's those breaking balls down that all year he was just laying off.

Chris:

And you know what?

Chris:

If he takes his walk, that's fine.

Chris:

But now he's swinging at those, and it's really impacting the length of the lineup right now.

Brian:

-:

Brian:

We're talking with Brian Palermo, Chris Caputo and Mike Cordone.

Brian:

If you want to talk some Yankees, you can call in.

Brian:

This is the World Series here, and we're coming back to New York tomorrow, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Brian:

Do you have any feel for what the stadium is going to be like and what needs to happen for the Yankees coming back to New York?

Chris:

Well, I think.

Chris:

I think the Bronx is going to be rocking for sure.

Chris:

You know, it always is.

Chris:

It's the World Series, first time there since 09.

Chris:

Right.

Chris:

So I think the energy is going to be good.

Chris:

But like I said, I got my panic button pulled out of the drawer.

Chris:

I'm ready to smash it.

Chris:

If they fall behind, Walker Bueller is the guy you have to get.

Chris:

And if you look at what the Dodgers did against the Mets, I don't know if that was game two.

Chris:

I think Vientos is a big grand slam, right?

Chris:

And they got up, right?

Chris:

And then it was almost like Dave Roberts is like, all right, you got this game.

Chris:

Not that he gave it away, but he wasn't using his high leverage relievers, knowing that Game 4 is a bullpen game.

Chris:

You got to get ahead.

Chris:

You got to get ahead and play with the lead in this game, and then it's two to one and then, you know, you're back in the series and it's a bullpen game.

Chris:

I would like to see them go back to what they're doing against the Royals and the Guardians where they were lefty, righty, lefty, righty, you know, alternating, because right now they're leaving some lanes for those guys like Banda and Vecia at the bottom of the lineup.

Chris:

It's like four out of five lefties.

Chris:

So to give that them, give that lane to them in a bullpen game is something that, you know, I'm hoping not to see.

Chris:

So, you know, you got to get to Bueller tomorrow, get a lead, and anything can happen.

Chris:

So it's far from over.

Brian:

All right, so quickly then, if you are going to make changes, you want to do that.

Brian:

What would your quick one to nine be if you're going to change things up for the Yankees?

Chris:

Well, see, this is.

Chris:

That's a tricky question, right?

Chris:

The judges or guys or captains, do you want to put Stanton 3 right now, just to protect Soto a little bit.

Chris:

Maybe put Rizzo fourth, drop Judge to fifth.

Chris:

Maybe maybe like Verdugo has been playing an unbelievable left field.

Chris:

He doesn't have a lot of slug right now.

Chris:

So maybe let Dominguez or someone like Trent Christian play in the beginning of the game.

Chris:

Maybe they can get an extra base hit, then put Verdugo in for defense if you do have the lead, something like that.

Chris:

Just to lengthen the lineup a little bit because right now it definitely has some holes in it.

Chris:

So we got to figure out a way to lengthen it.

Mike:

I think those are very interesting points.

Mike:

I think if you tweak the lineup a little bit, it's like everything we always talk about.

Mike:

High risk, high reward.

Mike:

Because if it doesn't work out, you criticize forever.

Mike:

And if it does, you're the smartest thing ever.

Chris:

Aaron Boone, he's in a tough spot, right?

Chris:

Because you lost.

Chris:

You lost.

Chris:

Game one is very close.

Chris:

Really.

Chris:

Game one could have went either way.

Chris:

And then it's like, all right, you know, then it's one one I might do.

Chris:

I feel the need to make a big change right now.

Chris:

But then if you don't, you're, you know, you're really under the magnifying glass.

Chris:

So it's tough.

Chris:

But they got to, they got to do something.

Chris:

You need a little bit of a spark.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

And Cap, you said so the next three, it's three nights in a row, correct.

Brian:

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mike:

So I think that's, that's another interesting point too, how you manage the game.

Mike:

Because in your pitching, because if you're, you know, game two let you throw everybody out there.

Mike:

You got a day off, get two days off.

Mike:

You know, when you're going back to back to back, I mean, you really got to throw the kitchen sink out there anyway.

Mike:

It's all hands on deck, but it's a little bit different.

Brian:

And I think also for the Dodgers, they have to think about two games now because they're looking at Walker Bueller and if he has a tough day, who are you putting in?

Brian:

Are you going, you know, your weaker pitchers or some of your bigger ones?

Brian:

So, you know, the Dodgers for this series changed up a little bit from what they had against the Mets.

Brian:

You know, their pitchers right now are banda.

Brian:

Brassier.

Brian:

You know, brassier is not a big time guy.

Brian:

Bueller is a starter.

Brian:

Kaspari is.

Brian:

They're going to put in just to get him through an out or two.

Brian:

Flaherty has already pitched well.

Brian:

But the One guy who I thought that they showed some confidence in as opposed to, you know, it didn't work for Cortez was Brewstar Graderol.

Brian:

He didn't pitch for over a month.

Brian:

They threw him in and he did okay.

Brian:

Then you got Honeywell.

Brian:

He's a mop up guy.

Brian:

Hudson has become a mop up guy.

Brian:

Landon Knack, who hasn't pitched, Kopek has pitched in big spots.

Brian:

Think about this.

Brian:

He was on the White Sox earlier in the year.

Brian:

Now he's going for a World Series.

Brian:

Blake Trinen, Alex Veccia and Yamamoto.

Brian:

So it's not like they have all these big guys.

Brian:

It's just that he likes to save them all.

Brian:

He's not going to chase runs.

Brian:

If he's down three runs, Doc Roberts is done.

Brian:

He's just going to throw one guy and let him throw 40, 50 pitches and throw his arm out.

Brian:

Yeah.

Chris:

A couple other things that are worth mentioning too.

Chris:

Flaherty had said he, after he gave up the home run to Stanton that he had some hamstring tightness.

Chris:

So, you know, who knows what he'll look like and hopefully you get to see him again.

Chris:

You got to win the game.

Chris:

But.

Chris:

And then Ohtani, with that stolen base yesterday, you had the subluxation.

Chris:

Seems like he's going to be okay, but still, that's going to impact the series a little bit too.

Brian:

Separated shoulder.

Brian:

I think that's tough.

Brian:

But I think even with Ohtani out, I think that Dodgers lineup is good because you can think about any one of those guys who doesn't normally play could become the dh.

Brian:

You can make Freddie Freeman your dh, Put Max Muncie at first base, move Kike over to third.

Brian:

And you know, you still have Rojas in the infield as well too.

Brian:

And then obviously we know with Tommy Edmond, he could play anywhere.

Brian:

Chris Taylor hasn't even played for them.

Brian:

Andy Pages hasn't even seen much time.

Brian:

I just think they're so deep, Ryan, that, you know, one guy going out, they're going to find a way to get through.

Brian:

Because think about this, has Ohtani had a great series at all?

Chris:

No.

Chris:

No, he hasn't.

Chris:

And you know, he's going to get his eventually.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

So I think it brings up an interesting situation.

Brian:

Will Smith has not had a great series though.

Brian:

I don't expect him to.

Brian:

But I honestly, you know, people were saying like, Freddie Freeman was so bad against the Mets that he sat himself down pretty much.

Brian:

They had a conversation with him.

Brian:

You know, you're just hurting us.

Brian:

And he wasn't hitting the ball well.

Brian:

But once he went to Roberts and said, I'm okay, he was into play.

Brian:

Brian, People were saying that Freddie Freeman should have been sad for this series and that somebody else should have been playing.

Brian:

Think about the impact he's had on this series when basically his ankle was non existent.

Chris:

Yeah, I mean, he is just an unbelievable player.

Chris:

He's just a professional hitter.

Chris:

He's phenomenal to watch.

Chris:

And then someone else we should mention is Teoscar Hernandez, who did nothing in the postseason.

Chris:

And then he got a spark there in Game 6 against the Mets, and now he's back to himself, one of the best hitters in the league.

Chris:

But Freddie Freeman, I mean, we'll see.

Chris:

What he's doing on one leg right now is pretty impressive.

Brian:

Yeah.

Brian:

Do you think the Yankees could win 2 of 3 and still win the series going back down 3, 2?

Chris:

That's tough.

Chris:

I mean, they say that, you know, the Series doesn't start till the home team loses the game.

Chris:

Right.

Chris:

So if you take care of business and defend the Bronx, you know, anything can happen.

Chris:

Like I said, it's one game at a time.

Chris:

I can't even.

Chris:

You can't even start thinking about that as Aaron Boone or the Yankees.

Chris:

You know, you gotta take care of game three and then reevaluate.

Chris:

You know, you gotta.

Chris:

It's gonna be hard to think ahead because you can't go down, you know, three nothing, three, one.

Chris:

It's.

Chris:

That's really hard to come back.

Chris:

So you got to go one game at a time.

Chris:

And, you know, I think the Yankees can do it.

Chris:

Obviously it's not the spot you want to be in, but, you know, the series is not over.

Mike:

All right, so let's, let's say that the Yankees put.

Mike:

Go back to LA down 3, 2.

Mike:

Do they have a better chance of winning the World Series or do the jets have a better chance of making the playoffs?

Chris:

Well, I think the jets chances are probably 0% right now.

Chris:

So we'll go with the Yankees in that scenario.

Mike:

Is there anybody else on Aaron Rodgers wishlist that the jets can bring in right now?

Chris:

I don't know.

Chris:

The jets have just.

Chris:

They've disappointed me.

Chris:

You know, I got.

Chris:

This was supposed to be the year, right?

Chris:

We're sitting here at 2 and 6.

Brian:

Is Jordy Nelson coming over now?

Chris:

You might as well.

Brian:

Richard Rogers.

Brian:

I mean, who else does.

Brian:

Does he want?

Brian:

I mean, let's just talk 10 seconds.

Chris:

Donald Driver.

Brian:

Exactly.

Brian:

Let's talk 10 seconds about this jets team.

Brian:

Like, what else could go wrong for this team?

Brian:

To make this embarrassing.

Chris:

I mean, isn't it already embarrassing?

Brian:

I don't know.

Brian:

Because you fire your coach and you're like, oh, we almost beat this team.

Brian:

And then we almost beat this team.

Brian:

And now you're two and six sitting there going, you know, what's next?

Chris:

I mean, it was very early, easy to do that early on where it's like, all right, if Zurline made this kick, you know, then they're sitting at, you know, you know, whatever it was two and three and then if they win this game, if they want to beat the Bills, then they're in first place.

Lenny:

Right.

Chris:

They should have been three and three in first place.

Chris:

So it's like it got away from us really, really quickly.

Brian:

People were talking two weeks ago, if they beat the Bills, they're in first place.

Brian:

Now they're in last place.

Chris:

Yeah, yeah.

Chris:

And they just say they lost to, you know, a one in five, completely rebuilding Patriots team, which.

Chris:

And you know, Drake may, I think he's going to be a good player, but he was out after the first quarter today, so it's, it's tough.

Chris:

I know.

Chris:

It's great defense.

Chris:

I don't know what's happened to it.

Mike:

Well, they.

Mike:

Did you see Rogers after they said to him, you know how in his word was darkness?

Chris:

There's.

Mike:

He's.

Mike:

You have to embrace the darkness.

Chris:

Now.

Mike:

Is he talking about like the ayahuasca filled hut that he lived in for a week?

Chris:

That's an ironic quote after considering where this all started.

Mike:

I'm telling you, I think the biggest story, jet story is going to be how much longer does he stay on the field before he's like, you know what?

Mike:

I think I'll pack in him for this year.

Mike:

Maybe I'll come back next year.

Mike:

Because he's not the.

Mike:

He's not the answer and he's certainly not the leader.

Chris:

No.

Chris:

And then like he's like you said, I mean, what if he was on the injury report with an ankle, a knee and a hamstring or something?

Chris:

So if that keeps up, he's not going to keep putting himself out there, like you said.

Chris:

So who knows?

Mike:

It'll be interesting.

Brian:

Enjoy the games this week, Brian.

Mike:

Yeah, absolutely.

Chris:

Thank you.

Chris:

I'll try.

Mike:

All right.

Mike:

Brian Palermo, always great to have you on.

Mike:

Thanks so much and we'll talk to you guys.

Mike:

All right, buddy.

Brian:

We got the Giants and Steelers tomorrow night, Giants at 2 and 5.

Brian:

We were hoping to have A.J.

Brian:

roe around tonight, but he wasn't able to be with us at some point.

Brian:

We'll have him on to talk wherever the Giants are at that point.

Brian:

But New York football, Mike.

Brian:

I mean, if you're a Bills fan.

Mike:

You'Re happy, and they look fantastic today.

Mike:

And the highlights.

Brian:

Yes.

Mike:

Yeah.

Mike:

Giants tomorrow, playing.

Mike:

Playing a Steelers team that has a dominant front line.

Mike:

You know, Daniel Jones, I hope he went to church today because, boy, he's.

Chris:

He's gonna.

Mike:

He's gonna need some divine intervention tomorrow night to stay A, healthy and B, get a win.

Mike:

But that's gonna do it for us tonight.

Mike:

Cap, great job as always.

Brian:

All right.

Brian:

Enjoy the World Series.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

And the next time we talk to you, we'll have a World Series winner and.

Mike:

And who knows who will be managing the Yankees?

Mike:

We'll see.

Brian:

But talk some college hoops at that point.

Mike:

Absolutely.

Mike:

I've been a great night.

Mike:

And this has been, as always, Sports Talk, New York, wgb.

Mike:

Have a great week.

Mike:

The view expressed in the previous program.

Chris:

Did not necessarily represent those of the staff, management, or owners of wgbb.

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About the Podcast

WGBB Sports Talk New York
Talking New York sports on Long Island's WGBB Radio.
Broadcasting LIVE Sunday nights at 8:00 PM on Long Island's WGBB Radio 95.5FM | 1240AM. We're talking NEW YORK SPORTS! The Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets, Knicks, Nets, Rangers, Islanders, Devils and the New York metro-area college scene are all up for discussion.

Listen for our interviews with past and present professional New York athletes- as well as local sports writers, authors, broadcasters and others with something new, interesting and different to say about New York sports. Join our hosts live on the air by calling in on the WGBB studio hotline at (516) 623-1240.

The podcast includes a WGBB SPORTS TALK FLASHBACK bonus episode each week! Available ONLY to podcast subscribers, bonus episodes will consist of old sports talk shows and interviews with former pro New York athletes, all originally aired on WGBB. Don't miss out- Subscribe Today!

WGBB Sports Talk New York replaced the long running SPORTSTALK1240 on WGBB (2007-2020) in January 2021.

UPCOMING SHOWS
December 15th... Bill Donohue hosts, followed by Andy Suekoff at 9:00pm.
December 22nd... Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo host, followed by TBD at 9:00pm.
December 29th... Bill Donohue hosts, followed by TBD at 9:00pm.
January 5th... Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo host, followed by TBD at 9:00pm.
January 12th... Bill Donohue hosts, followed by TBD at 9:00pm.
January 19th... Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo host, followed by TBD at 9:00pm.
January 26th... Bill Donohue hosts, followed by TBD at 9:00pm.