Where are we at in society today? Come after me. I'm a man,
I'm forty. Go ahead, make my day every single week. I
put my freaking heart and soul into this. I don't go out there and
laugh. It's not funny. Nothing's funny to me. I don't wanna go
out there and get embarrassed on Monday night football for everybody, I think this
is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. So I ain't nothing changed from yesterday.
Still the same person I was yesterday, and I got the same thing
for you that I had yesterday. You know why I'm here. You play
to win the game. You don't play to just play it. That's a
great thing about sports. You play to win. I don't care if you
don't have any wins. Do you go play to win? When you start
telling me it doesn't matter if you retire, get out for the matters Thursday
morning on Exues and Bros. We're with you Monday through Friday from six until
nine throughout the great state of Michigan. Ben is our producer. I'm Matt
Sheppard. Glad you're with us. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your Wednesday.
The Meyer Hotline is always open for you anything that might be on your
mind in the world of sports. We want to talk about at eight six
six, eight three eight forty eight forty three. You can always text the
program too. The text is sports Radio to twenty one thousand. Tiger split
a double dip with Pittsburgh yesterday. You know that by now they shut out
the Pirates eight zip. Matt Verlin continues to rule man. He has been
really impressive. Three run homer and four RBIs in the first game. Turk
Schooble more impressive, probably the most impressive Tigers so far, No probably about
it. He is incredible, improving to seven and one, toss seven scoreless
innings, allowed just three hits, struck out eight. He is the odds
on favorite from what I saw yesterday to win the American League. Say young,
long, long, long way to go. But shows you what nationally
people think of Trek's scouble, and they should. He's got everything you could
possibly want in his arsenal. So he strikes out eight, scatters three hits,
lasted seven innings through ninety three pitches. Couldn't help. But wonder a
little bit how Tiger fans we're feeling when Trek Scougle was pulled. Now Detroit
had a comfortable lead, so it probably didn't matter to you when they pulled
him. It was ate nothing when the game ended, it was ate nothing.
But watching Baltimore a little bit last night and you flip back and forth.
Baltimore's really good. I really like their team. But Corbyn Burns is
pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, a guy who I mean, he's got a
solid track record. They're playing Boston Division game and Corbyn Burns is out there,
keeps himself in, talks himself into staying in the game, and in
the seventh inning and he through one hundred eight pitches on the night he got
the win. So he's five and two, Baltimore gets the win. They're
thirty five and nineteen. They're really good. Gunner Henderson went yard yet again,
so he ties the major league lead in home runs. Who's got more
home runs, Gunner Henderson or Aaron Judge. Right, it's Gunner Henderson,
the twenty two year old second round pick out of high school. Now,
before people start to go, see that's why you should bring up Max Clark,
Gunner Henderson, what he did in the miners a little different. Okay,
so you get some you get some seasoning there. But Corman Burns talked
himself into it, talked to his manager, talked to his coaches. He's
like, you know what, I want to stay in this game. I'm
in this game. People love that stuff backfires, but I love it too.
One hundred and eight pitches and we make it sound like that's a huge
deal when it never used to be. But it never used to be was
a long long time ago. So here's what I was thinking while I was
watching this last night. We always refer to the past with certain statistics that
fit our narrative, but yet we want to adapt to the new analytics and
the various things that allow what we think athletes or why we think athletes are
better today than before. We really want to have it both ways. And
I don't think I don't think you're alone in that, because I'll take myself
up. I feel the same way I do. But I hear this all
the time. You know, guys are bigger, stronger, faster. Yeah,
okay, then why aren't they doing Why aren't they doing what these guys
used to do. I'm a little confused at that. I'm a little confused
at why we think today's athletes are so much better, so much bigger,
so much stronger. And by the way, I do believe they I do
believe they are, but they can't do what some of those guys did in
the past. I'll give you an example. Mickey Lulich in nineteen seventy one
started forty five games, one twenty five of them and completed twenty nine.
In other words, he completed more games than most guys will start this year.
That's impressive, don't you think. Okay, well, Mickey Lolich's and
he was a horse. There's no doubt that he was one of the more
durable pitchers you could find. But when you look at his game log and
you see not just the innings pitched, but the number of pitches, you'll
be blown away at how often he threw a hundred pitches in a game.
It's amazing. And yet I'll rave about Corbyn Burns, not to take anything
away from Corbin Burns, because Corbyn Burns was really impressive. He really was.
You would want to see that out of your picture, wouldn't you.
Hell yeah, you would. Seth Lugo Kansas City Royals. Here's a guy
who I mean, not many people thought he would be in the situation that
he is in right now with Kansas City. Not many people thought Kansas City
would be for crying out loud. I mean, Kansas City is a team
that was dreadful, couldn't score a year ago. They just beat Minnesota six
to one. They banged out ten hits. Bobby with Junior continues to do
what he does. Salvador Perez finds the fountain of youth Seth Lugo yesterday one
hundred pitches in the victory over Minnesota. Now, it took him six innies
to do it, but he got to win. He's nine and one.
I bring this up only to make sure when you're having that conversation with your
buddies and they're like, oh, school is definitely going to get the cy
young as of right now, bring up Seth Lugo and how good he's been.
And when you have that conversation with your buddies and they say, well,
you got to get him out of there after ninety five pitches. I
don't know many guys who would say that, but you could have run into
that conversation. Bring up Seth Lugo one hundred pitches. Bring up Corbin Burns
one hundred and eight pitches. It's not that uncommon. Yes, unfortunately it
is our phone number on the Myer hotline eight six six eight three eight forty
eight forty three. Hello, hockey game last night. We'll get to that.
A lot more football to discuss, including are the lionsster Is the Lions
roster a top five roster? One website says no. We'll get into that
as we rolled on on a Thursday morning on Exus and Bros. After this
huge Here for the Michigan High School Athletic Association. You can stay up to
date on the latest from Lansing twenty four to seven at MHSAA dot com,
at MHSA on Twitter and MHSA on Facebook. The latest news, press releases
and stories connected to every high school in the state of Michigan available for you
twenty four to seven from the Michigan High School Athletic Association. Log onto MHSAA
dot com, at MHSAA on Twitter and MHSA on Facebook. And if you're
looking for archive Boys and Girls High School Sports m h s A A dot
TV, that's dot tv twenty four to seven. Everything you need to know
about high school sports in Michigan. Log on to MHSAA dot com. We're
teeing off our tenth year at the Meyer LPGA Classic for simply gives Get ready
for the best who are yet to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf,
food and family fun. Join us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country
Club for fabulous food, discoveryland for kids, and of course, elite women
golfers from around the world competing to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets
now at Meyer LPGA Classic dot com. Chris, your team comes out pretty
flat. You're down to nothing, you don't have a shaw eight minutes in.
What are you thinking on the bench and what changed for your group?
I was thinking it was going to be long night and it didn't look very
good. We you know, yeah, things weren't going our way. They
looked much sharper making plays and I'm not sure which line it was the kind
of got things going. Obviously, the big turning point was the McLeod goal,
but you know, you know, it wasn't the start. But you've
seen this right through the series where both teams have absolutely dominated and then the
other team is dominated like it's been back and forth, and you know,
we didn't have our start, and which is you know, hard to overcome
because you know you're down to nothing in a game like this, it's hard
to overcome. But you know, I think we just got back to where
we were supposed to be playing. You know, I think a lot of
it had to do with maybe the turnovers at the blue line where we weren't
getting pucks in deeper and they were just quick transition and then we're just,
yeah, we're always in a bad position for that next shift. That's Chris
not Block, the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. This is his first
playoffs because this is his first year. Actually one of the first changes among
the NHL Caroseol earlier this year. No Block, who was a junior's coach
of Conor McDavid, goes to Edmonton. McDavid takes off, the Oilers take
off and they're playing in the Western Conference finals. Team things up last night
for his team by making a few lineup changes and it paid off as they
win five to two. They scored five on answer to nothing Dallas early on
and you're thinking, oh, stars, better team, and here we go
and they're going to go back home up three games to one with a chance
to close it out until Edmonton responded. And that's part of being a really
good head coach, having a feel for what your team needs in that type
of situation, and it doesn't always work out. But he made the changes.
He felt it was really important. He did say this. He says,
there's not a decision I make without consulting five to twelve people. He's
got the final say, but he does have to talk to his staff.
He feels like that was important. He said, last night, I was
talking with Paul Coffee on the phone and we decided what we wanted to do.
Still hadn't made the decision that night. We made the decision this morning.
That was in regards to some of the changes. He reinserts Corey Perry
and Ryan McLeod for Warren Fogel and Sam Carrick. He brings in defenseman Philip
Broberg for Vincent de Charnay. Bro Berg had yet to play in the playoffs.
That's a risky, gutsy move, but it paid off. Connor McDavid,
by the way, had three assists now his twenty four in the playoffs.
This is exactly could the NHL really ask for anything more? Rangers Panthers
three straight games, overtime series tied to two, Dallas Edmonton a tug of
war back and forth series tied to two. Now, I know what a
lot of people probably think. Man, the NHL really wants the Rangers and
the Stars, two big markets, two American based teams. A Canadian based
team hasn't won the Cup since ninety three, right with the Canadians. Edmonton
might be the outlier there, Yeah, Toronto, that would be one thing
I'm not saying the NHL would be or the people who run their ratings would
be thrilled with a team like Calgary, for example, making the finals.
But you get Edmonton in there, and you use the best player in the
world as part of your marketing strategy, then you should be all right.
With Connor McDavid, I didn't get to the second game of the Tigers Pirates.
Paul Skeen's was a dominant force for Pittsburgh. They blow out Detroit ten
to two. Skiens celebrates his twenty second birthday by striking out nine and six
innings. Andrew McCutcheon, who I've always liked, I think he's a hell
of a player. He's been a hell of a pro over sixteen hundred career
hits. Now, not that that gets you in the Hall of Fame,
because it doesn't, but think about that for a moment. That's it's when
you hear about the three one thousand hit group, how long it would take
to get three thousand hits. It's it's simply amazing. Andrew McCutchen is now,
he's still productive. If he's thirty seven thirty seven, he's played sixteen
years. Her his first year he was a twenty two year old. That's
you're in the major leagues at age twenty two. That's pretty damn good,
don't you think. Yeah, And he hit two eighty six, so he's
he's twenty two when he enters. He's had a very productive career. For
the most part, he has been very healthy. Look at these games played,
one hundred and fifty four, one fifty eight, one fifty seven,
one fifty seven, one forty six, one fifty seven, on and on
and on. Right, I say, for the most part, dude's got
over sixteen hundred hits. It's a hell of an accomplishment. He's played sixteen
years he's barely halfway there to three thousand. He ain't getting three thousand.
But Andrew McCutchen has been again one of the better players I think of his
generation. Gold Glover, four time Silver Slugger, five time All Star.
It's been an MVP again. Not a Hall of Famer, but I've always
liked him. He's got over sixteen hundred career hits. He homered yesterday for
his six one thousand, six hundredth hit, and in each of Paul Skeene's
starts, Andrew McCutchen has homered. Kind of a unique figure there. So
they went at ten to two, and as I mentioned, Skeens was phenomenal.
You want power pitchers, we get all enamored with them, and rightfully
so. Triple digits on a regular basis, and a guy who he's going
to be a force to be reckoned with. He's a really good story.
If you don't know about it, check it out. Really good story.
Transferring to LSU becoming the most outstanding player in their national championship run. Seems
like a really good kid. I don't know him, haven't interviewed him,
but how can you deny the stuff took him a little longer. You know,
he was a little I mean, while the strike zone was there,
ninety six pitches to get through six trying to put guys away, seventy pitches
were strikes. Gave up a home run to Matt Vierling, who has homered
in what four or five games. It's incredible what Vierling's been doing lately,
which goes to show, you know, now's the time right here where people
are probably saying, look, this guy's everyday player. He's hitting like one
I said earlier. As much as I like Matt Fielding, and I do,
I like him a lot. He's a really good dude. He's a
really good player at Notre Dame. Tigers did a nice job in getting him
from Philadelphia. Soto clements to Philly for Vereling, Nick Mayton, Donnie Sands,
and Donnie Sands is in the miners somewhere. I think it's the Giants
organization. Mayton no idea. Cody Clemens has been pretty good for Philadelphia,
trade work for both teams right for the most part, as hot as vere
League's been, and he has been hot in two eighty nine selection five oh
three. Would you take that from Matt Fielding if it stayed this way for
the rest of the year. You're damn right. You would absolutely phone number
on the Meyer hotline eight sixty six eight three, eight forty eight forty three.
I don't know if you saw what happened in New York with the Mets
and the Dodgers, you think you got it bad, you think your team's
struggling. You get frustrated with him, just like I do. It could
be worse. It could be the Mets and they're multi hundred million dollar payroll.
We'll explain when we come back on Exus and Bros. Across the great
State of Michigan. Right after this, Bill Simonson here from my good friend
Josh Carvey. Now he's a managing shareholder at toorn May who's Grand Rapids office.
Their world headquarters are in Troy, Michigan, on the east side of
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and Josh Garvey is a managing shareholder for their Dorn Mayhew gr office. Right
there by the S Curve, you'll see the new Dorn Mayhew sign. You
can find out more just google Dorn Mayhew. That's d E RI E N
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world's top CPA accounting and business firms. They're Dorn Mayhew. Imagine this the
day filled with indulgence, bursting with excitement, impact with extraordinary moments that build
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thirty five. Welcome back on a Thursday morning. Ben is our producer.
I'm Matt Shephard. Glad you're with us and hope you have a great day
today. Wherever it is you may be listening great affiliates on x'es and bros.
And we appreciate everything they do for US in Flint WTRX, in Cadillac
WKD in Grand Rapids WAX ninety six point one FM, and Krayling Gaylord WGRY
one o one point one FM, w LUN one hundred point nine serving Midlands
sagonaw On Bay City, Pataski and Charlavoy owned by the Ticket Northern Michigan WNBN
one oh four point seven FM, and in Traverse City WKAD ninety three point
seven FM as well. Tigers split with Pittsburgh yesterday. Eilers win five to
two over Dallas even their series and the Western Conference Finals in the NBA will
be taking place later on Today. Minnesota will host Dallas, with the Mavericks
up three to one. Again. It's pretty cool to be a Dallas sports
fan right now. They love to talk about their cowboys and you get it,
but their basketball and their hockey teams are pretty damn good as well,
Unlike those who follow the New York Mets. The Mets lost to the Dodgers
yesterday and afterwards expected two if they didn't already. It has not been confirmed,
but the belief is they're going to cut or hit Lopez because he was
part of a contingent from the bullpen that surrendered the loss to the Dodgers ten
to three. Lopez came in and gave up a two run bomb to Shojey
Otane and then on the next batter it was Freddy Freeman. There's never really
an easy out in that Dodgers lineup. Lopez had an argument with Ramon Dejeusu's
who is a third base umpire and ruled that Freddy Freeman checked his swing on
a possible strike. Lopez thought he went around, they argued. Lopez was
ejected. Lopez then threw his glove into the stands. After being ejected.
He would later say what I mean, why you say this? Who knows?
I mean, just a complete idiot apparently. But he basically said,
this team, it's the worst efing team in the entire Major League Baseball exact
quote, worst team probably the whole fing MLB. That's a guy who does
not care, right who in their right mind? Now we all get emotional.
I got emotional yesterday and we had a caller call in and say,
Ship, do you need a hug? Right? I mean, yeah,
it takes place every once in a while. This is going to happen.
I don't know if it was Jake or Scott or Maurice. I forget who
it was, Freddie whatever, Dave. Anyway, we all get emotional.
You want a cooling off period. If you've ever umpired or refereed anything,
if you ever coached anything. I used to be a co I coached my
kids in football when they were in seventh and eighth grade, fifth, sixth,
seventh and eighth grade, and I used to meet with parents before the
season began the very first practice on purpose, and I said, I would
say to them, you may have an issue with me at some point during
the season, me and other members of the coaching staff. All I ask
you to do is give it a beat, give it twenty four hours,
think about it for a moment, and then come and let's talk. Because
I've been there, done that. I can't say that I've always followed my
own advice, but for the most part I did as a parent, So
I get it, you know. So we all get emotional. Jorge Lopez
having microphones in his face right away after being ejected, having a glove thrown
up in the stands, and coming off reportedly what was a player's only meeting
while their manager is talking to the media. The players behind closed doors,
reportedly called by Francisco Lindor media comes in interviews Lopez, he still says something
as stupid. That's what it is. It's flat out stupidity as that.
Do you really think that will endure you to that clubhouse, that organization,
that fan base, or any other team who may be in need of a
reliever. Honestly, idiocy, It's just flat out idiocy. I can't understand
why in the world any But again, I get the whole emotion part.
I really do. I can appreciate it. We have all been in something
similar regarding emotions. But this isn't a Seinfeld episode. It's not where George
is all ticked off because he can't use the boss's bathroom, goes in and
calls him a joke and gets fired and then tries to come back the next
day and say, you know what, you thought I was serious or after
the weekend you thought I was serious. I wasn't serious. No, that's
not the way it works, man. And here's the thing, Lopez.
For the most part, I mean, he's been an effective player. There
are certain attributes that you would probably like to have coming out of your bullpen
had some success. He's not as good as Pablo Lopez from Minnesota as a
starter, but Hore Lopez has had a spell twenty twenty two, for example,
where he's been pretty effective, used pretty regularly, and could give you
some decent innings. Not now, who the hell's going to take a chance
on a guy like this? Now he's not so electric. Okay, he's
not Josh Hater for crying out loud. He's not so electric. That makes
you go, hmmm, yeah, I'm gonna throw him a lifeline there,
and it just boils over. I suppose to do what that team is really
dealing with. You're talking about a three hundred and seven million dollar payroll and
they've got twenty two wins. You want some perspective for that. Oakland has
a sixty four million dollar payroll. They have more wins. Cincinnati has a
one hundred two million dollar payroll. They have twenty four They have more wins.
Pittsburgh, who just left town with a split against Detroit, has an
eighty three million dollar payroll. They have twenty six wins, four more than
the Mets. Tampa's got twenty seven wins. Their payroll is ninety eight million
dollars compared to the Mets is three hundred and seven. I'm not saying we
shouldn't be disappointed with where our team is right now, because I think that's
a I think that's fair. But sometimes it's okay to put it in perspective
and what the Mets are going through, and then what what the Mets have.
Francisco Lindor. Somebody asked me this. I don't know if it was
last week, but they asked me what I thought of Francisco Lindor, and
I said, I really like the guy, really like him. He's having
a terrible year that in two eleven on base percentage of two seventy nine,
slugging three seventy two h Those are hard numbers to digest. League average for
a team for a team, on base percentage is a three to eleven,
League average for a team slugging is a three to eighty seven. And yet
Lindor's giving you a two seventy nine OBP for a guy who is making the
amount of money that he makes thirty four million dollars. Starling Marte twenty one
million bucks, Peter Alonso injured twenty million bucks, Brandon Neimo twenty million bucks.
Brandon Neimo's betten a Chris two to fourteen man not a baby. Maybe
it's the wrong statistic to focus on. Maybe it's very convenient that I use
the low number because he has been that disappointing. I'm just giving you some
numbers to try and put it in perspective for when we have our next Tigers
disappointing discussion. And the Tigers are in Boston tonight. It's the first of
four against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and it is the first of
a seven game road trip for the Tigers. You'll hear this coming up a
little bit later on in the Den. But every time I think of Boston
and anytime I used to go there, and I would encourage anybody if you
want to go to a really good baseball park, if you are one of
those folks. I got a friend of mine at the gym. Every summer
he takes his grandkids to different ballparks. So he and I are talking constantly,
and he always says, you know, give me some ballparks. I
really should take my kids too. Depends on how far you want to go,
but if you can, I mean Fenway Park is worth it. It
reeks of baseball. That's what you want, right, for some reason,
more than any other sport. You go into a Bay baseball stadium and you
want it to feel like baseball. Football. We get that's all purpose.
Hockey and basketball arenas, they're all purpose. Even though concerts and other events
oftentimes are played at baseball parks, you still want the feel of a baseball
stadium. Am I right? That's how I at least that's what I want.
Fenway Park gives you that, Chavez Ravine Dodger Stadium gives you that,
Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City gives you that. Pittsburgh P and C Park gives
you that. There are certain places when you go you're like, this is
what it's all about. I know they've had an outdoor hockey game there.
I know they've had a bull game there. The point is, when you
go into that ballpark, you feel like you're in a baseball stadium. Yes,
Wrigley Field is like that, absolutely, But I'm just telling you,
if you get the chance, go to Fenway Park. But when I think
of Fenway, I immediately think of Tiger Stadium. Now there's a lot of
you listening to me who never went to Tiger Stadium, and I feel bad
for you. I do. It was all baseball, man, it was
for me. It was a bit of a haven. I loved going there
as a kid. Well. Tiger Stadium and Fenway Park opened April twentieth,
nineteen twelve. They opened on the same day, and they were the oldest
ballparks in baseball until nineteen ninety nine, when, of course, the last
game was played between the Tigers and the Royals in Detroit. One in dramatic
fashion and wore the throwback uniforms and Robert Fick hit a home run over the
roof, and it was it was magical, quite honestly, it was a
magical night when the Tigers beat the Royals that day, and when Tiger Stadium
closed, it was emotional for a lot of us. I always found it
a prideful thing for Detroit and the state of Michigan to have the oldest ballpark
in the country, as a charter member of the American Lake, an original
charter member of the American League, to have the oldest ballpark, to have
it have the different names, Bennett, Navin, Tiger, all that stuff.
It was. I just thought it was fantastic, and it was something
I used to brag about going around the country. Nothing against Komerica Park.
I do like co America Park. It just doesn't have the same feel to
me. Why that is, huh, you know probably age right. I
mean for a lot of you young people, Comerica Park is that you have
that feel. I don't know for me, if it's because of the Feriress
Wheel or the Merry Go Round or Big cac Cord or I don't know.
I can't explain it. I just know when you walked into Tiger Stadium,
you smelled the grass. You went in there, and just I can close
my eyes and picture it now. You walk up a ramp and when you
see that ballpark, your heart just opens and you get goosebumps. I never
had that feel for Comerica anyway. It was something that I thought was very
prideful for Detroiter's the Tiger Stadium and Femway Park with the oldest, and then
of course Wrigley Field, and then it's Dodger Stadium that's been around a long
time. You can't get that back. That doesn't mean that they should have
kept it. I mean, I remember I was kind of on the warpath,
saying I would like to see them renovate it. I get why they
moved where they moved, and it makes a ton of sense for downtown Detroit,
no question, totally get it. Very convenient for visitors, very cool
for fans, foot traffic and all that other stuff. So I understand it.
But Fenway Park is going to be mecca or is mecca for people in
Boston and people who watch baseball. The thing about Fenway Park that ownership group
committed to renovations. Again, different scenario, it's a different situation. I'm
not blaming the Tigers here for building a new ballpark or taxpayers building a new
ball park and having the team play where it does. It's just that Boston
chose to preserve what they felt was special to their baseball fans, and they
have renovated it so where it's still even though it has that old school feel,
it is still updated with the amenities that you would want in a new
ballpark, except for I mean, you're pretty crunched in there. But they
what did they do? They built seats above the Green Monster. Brilliant,
absolutely brilliant. They have made renovations that will keep Fenway Park usable through at
least two thy sixty one. And you can say what you want about certain
organizations, certain cities, a certain fan base, but that lineage that linked
the past to have it be the oldest ballpark and it's not going to lose
that status anytime soon. You have to tip your cap to them. Meyer
Hotline eight six six eight three eight forty eight forty three. You could text
the show sports Ready to twenty one thousand. Told you we were going to
talk a little football. We are going to do that. One website says
the Lions are not one of the more complete teams in football. We'll get
your thoughts on that throughout the rest of the morning on the our hotline eight
six six eight three eight forty eight forty three. This is Exus and Bros.
On the Michigan Sports Network. We're teaming off our tenth year at the
Meyer LPGA Classic for simply gives. Get ready for the best too, are
yet to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf, food and family fun.
Join us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country Club for fabulous food,
discovery land for kids, and of course, elite women golfers from around the
world competing to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets now admire LPGA Classics
dot com. We played for the three that Russian field. With the game
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Made in Michigan, Made for Michigan. Must be twenty or older in Michigan
to play such a good song. Welcome back, Xes and Bros. Matt
Shephard with you Monday through Friday six until nine, although I'll be off tomorrow.
My good friend Dennis Fithian sits in with Ben. Ben is our producer.
Call him on the Meyer hotline eight six six eight three eight forty eight
forty three. Football. Look, we're closing in on every day a little
bit closer to training camp. I believe it's under one hundred days now and
Pro Football Focus is a website up subscribe to a really really appreciate the in
depth numbers that they're able to provide that leads to their analysis. Doesn't mean
I always agree with it, but they have reasons to back things up.
They recently had an article about the NFL roster rankings. Look at the entire
roster. They label strengths, they label weaknesses, and they recognize X factors
just for the starting lineups. We're not talking about depth, heer, We're
talking about the eleven on offense, the eleven on defense. I don't know
if they bring in special teams. It didn't seem like they did. But
anyway, it can be a kind of a misleading article only because we don't
know what every team's starting lineup is going to look like. Most of this
is based off last season. So Ben I would ask you this, who
do you think are the top three teams Pro Football Focus ranks as the most
complete rosters starting rosters in the National Football League for twenty twenty four. Oh
wow, let's see, are the Ravens one of them? The Ravens are
not in the top three. Okay, I'll give you two more guesses.
I'll say San Francisco, correct, and wow, Kansas City? Right?
All right, So San Francisco is one. Shouldn't surprise this, they reached
the Super Bowl a year ago, but maybe a little surprising that they're one.
Overall, they love their offense because primarily they've got three guys who ranked
in the top two in their position, Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and George
Kittle. Their weakness, they say, is their past protection. They have
an X factor and it's a safety. Number two is Kansas City. You
get that right? I mean crying out loud. They've got but the Super
Bowl ring on their hand, on their fingers. They've got one of the
best quarterbacks the game has seen in Patrick Mahomes. They have the best tight
end in Travis Kelcey. Their X factor, though, is in a lot
of trouble Raschi Rice, who can't be that intelligent, not when you're getting
in the trouble that he's gotten into all kinds of legal troubles. Probably gonna
land him a suspension, sure as hell, should land him a suspension.
They have a weakness thrown. It's at the offensive tackle position, which to
me is that's a significant weakness. If you can't protect your guy, you're
going to have some serious problems. And I would guess that it should be
downgraded from there. But because of their championship belt that they'll carry into twenty
twenty four, they're going to be in the top three and their ranked number
two, number three is Philadelphia. Again, this is their offense and their
defense is starting units. They give them an X factor and they give them
a rookie to watch. So, for example, Philadelphia, the rookie is
Cooper Cooper de John. Kansas City, their rookie to watch is if you're
worthy. That's not that hard to figure out for Grand out Loud anyway.
So Philadelphia is number three. The Jets are at number four. Now we
told you this last week. It's crazy to me. Look, their defense
is awesome, but it's crazy to me that people can think this highly of
the New York Jets. Now, maybe Aaron Rodgers makes that big a difference.
They think the combination of what they had led by Zach Wilson a year
ago was that putrid and they still won seven games, and Rogers can make
that big a difference, and it's one of the best quarterbacks of his area.
I suppose he can, but he is forty. You want to believe
in him. That's great. To put him at four is a little surprising
to me. Again, biggest weakness offensive line? Have you noticed something so
far? The biggest weakness for three of the top four teams has to do
with offensive line. What was the weakness for San Francisco pass protection? What's
the weakness for Kansas City offensive tackle? What's the weakness? As I just
read for the New York Jets offensive line? They struggled to black people,
they had injuries, but their offensive line had the second worst overall grade in
the league. They're number four. Where do you think the Lions rank,
ben, let's say six. You are correct, okay, because just above
them as the Baltimore Ravens who you had mentioned, could be a top three
And I understand why you would say that. They had home field advantage in
the AFC last year. So the number one record in football with tie breakers,
but the number one record, and they took our business against Detroit pretty
handily, didn't they? Damn right? They did. Pro Football Focus loves
the Ravens ground game, don't like their receivers. Then they come to the
Lions. The Lions are at number six, and here's what they write about
their strength offense. You and I who follow this team out a day to
day and especially a Sunday to Sunday basis, would be a little bit more
specific than just offense, wouldn't we We would say offensive line either way,
offensive line included in it. And here's what they write. Offensive coordinator Ben
Johnson has worked magic these last two seasons running Detroit's offense. The results have
led to perhaps the best run the Lions have had in the Super Bowl era,
which is really sad to say. The newly paid Jared Goff has been
excellent, putting up an eighty four point three passer grade while throwing for over
forty five hundred yards thirty touchdowns during the regular season. His top Pats catchers
i'm on Ross Saint Brown and rookie sensation Sam Laporta. Saint Brown was one
of the best receivers in the NFL. His receiving grade last season trailed only
Tyreek Hill and Brandon Au. As for Laporta, his grade trailed only Kelsey
Kittle TJ. Hockinson among tight ends. I said this when they traded TJ.
Hockinson a couple of years ago. He's a really, really good offensive
player. He's not a complete offensive player he was. He's a substandard blocker,
but he can catch, and he can run routes, and he's a
threat. There's no doubt about that anyway. It writes that you arguably have
the most dynamic running back duo in David Montgomery and Jamior Gibbs, both who
had rushing grades of at least eighty while rushing for at least nine hundred yards
and ten tds a piece. The offensive line is also a major strength.
Oh thanks for finally getting to that, as all five projected starters heading into
this season had a Pro Football Focused grade of at least seven last year,
led by Penney Stool's league leading ninety two point eight mark. We get to
their weakness and their X factor, and perhaps just as important, if not
more important, their over underwin total. Would you go over or under?
What Pro Football Focus has to say about the Lions in twenty twenty four That
on the other side of Ex's and Bros. After this huge here for the
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LPGA Classics dot com. Matt Shepperd back with you on x'es and Bros.
We're with you Monday through Friday six until nine. Thanks for letting us be
part of your commute or your daily routine or we appreciate it. Always enjoyable
to talk with you on the Myer hotline eight six six eighty three, eight
forty three. You could text us Sports Radio to twenty one thousand. We
were talking just before the break about Pro Football Focus ranking the top teams or
all teams based on starting lineups, and where the Lions rank. They rank
sixth. We told you what their strengths were based on what Pro Football Focus
is put together, it was their offense. Their biggest weakness, according to
PFF, was that the Lions had one of the most productive offenses in the
NFL. It often came as a result of having to keep pace with your
opponents. In other words, the biggest weakness is outside cornerback. The lions
forty eight point three team coverage grade last season was third worst in the NFL.
Now De Troy recognize this made it a priority in the offseason, spent
two draft picks on corners, traded for Carlton Davis for the Buccaneers. They
write, while on paper, this team has certainly improved at the corner spot.
They will be relying a lot on young talent to step up try and
take the next step in reaching the franchise's first ever Super Bowl. That's a
fair critique. You're asking an awful lot of a couple of young players,
specifically Terry On Arnold and Innosrakestraw. What do you think there X factor is?
The X factor? They write this is a little surprising to me only
because their biggest strength, as we noted, was their offense. So the
X factor they right is Jamison Williams. Look, I think he's it's going
to be an important piece for Detroit. There's no question he'll stretch the field.
You do have a few other guys who'll be able to catch rocks for
you. Kevin Zeitler is a pretty big piece. Don't you think you lose
Jonah Jackson to the Rams Zeitler's really important. Does that make him the X
factor? I don't know. I mean, I think that's part of the
discussion. Who's the opposite defense event Marcus Davenport. You don't think that's a
big X factor. Detroit's ability to get to the quarterback opposite Aiden Hutchinson,
somebody other than Aid Hutchinson it is going to be really important. I think
we all, including Pro Football Focus, in a lot of situations go to
skill positions, which I just kind of broke one of my rules, but
because I hate it when they say skill positions and I just said it,
but because it takes a lot of skill to play on the line too.
Anyway, here's what they write about their X factor with Jamison Williams. Outside
of Saint Brown, the Lions are very thin at the wide receiver position,
especially after Josh Rend's departure. The first round pick from twenty twenty two,
Jamison Williams has shown flashes of being able to be a playmaker in the league,
but he hasn't been able to put it all together for extended periods of
time. He's entering year three, so time is running out on him to
become the impact player the Lions thought he would be when they traded up for
him. I do wonder if part of the reason he's an X factor is
because he's going into year three. They write, However, if he reaches
his potential, this already potent Lions offense could become unstoppable. Well, that'd
be fun the rookie to watch. Pretty obvious, right. I mean it's
Arnold and Rekestraw, both guys they right should get the opportunities to play from
day one. Rakestraw was a first round talent that fell to the second due
to core and groin injuries, while Arnold was the top corner on a lot
of teams boards that the Lions were able to pick at twenty four. Both
corners are coming off positional flexibil and can play each of the outside or the
nickel, which would allow Brian Branch to play safety full time. You're good
with that, absolutely, I'd be good with that too, as long as
Brian Branch is on the field. So I think he's a hell of a
player. Here's where it gets interesting and I would love to know and get
your thoughts the over under. I want to know what you think the over
under or are you taking the over or the under for the Lions in twenty
twenty four when Pro Football Focus gives you drum roll ten and a half?
Are you going over or are you going under? Is their schedule in case
you've forgotten, In case you haven't done what so many people do. I've
got a ton of friends as soon as the schedule comes out print it right
w or l next to it. They were way off last year, by
the way, But that's what a lot of Lions fans. I'm sure a
lot of football fans in every market do this. You have the Rams at
home, Tampa at home, Arizona on the road, Seattle at home,
Dallas on the road, Minnesota on the road, Tennessee at home, green
Bay on the road, Houston on the road, Jacksonville home, Indie Road,
home to Chicago, home to green Bay, home to Buffalo at Chicago
at Frisco. Sorry if I went a little fast there, but I just
wanted to remind you. I'm sure you already had it. The over under
at ten and a half. Here's what they write. The Lions came so
close to reaching the franchise's first Super Bowl last season before a late game collapse
doomed them against the Niners. They year they're making a real run for it.
On paper, this might be the best Lions team of the Super Bowl
era. I would agree with that. With the rise of Jordan Love Green
Bay, the Bears youth movement, and the Vikings potentially high flying offense,
the NFC North is going to be much tougher than it was in twenty twenty
three. However, the Lions appear to have a firepower to hold them off
as they search for back to back division titles for the first time in franchise
history. Again, that is very sobering, isn't it, my goodness?
And then they list the starters. I don't think there's much of a weakness
outside of maybe your third wide receiver in Khalif Raymond on offense. On defense,
You're gonna have to sell me a little bit more on Marcus Davenport.
Sorry, it's really important. I think they need another defensive lineman. That's
just me. Is it enough to sway you one way or the other for
ten and a half? Because that ten and a half is the over under
your thoughts on that? The Meyer hotline eight six six eight three eight forty
eight forty three. You could text the show Sports Radio to twenty one thousand.
We'll get to your phone calls, we'll get to your texts. I
think it's a really cool exercise. Here. Here's another thing that surprises me
a little bit. They also rank the top three players per team. Who
would you say the Lions top three players are? Because I disagree with their
version of the top three. So we'll get to that when we come back.
Looking forward to the phone calls, looking forward to the conversations we always
do here on Exus and Bros. Monday through Friday, six till nine,
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Hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend and I hope you had the opportunity to go
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bros. What's going on? Hope your Thursday's going all right and it goes
even better the rest of the day. Glad you could join us as you
do every Monday through Friday, six until nine. We left off talking about
Pro Football Focus the projected starting to line up. Are you in on the
over the under that they give the Lions ten and a half? Also their
top three players according to Pro Football Focus, which personally I disagree with.
We'll get to that coming up as well. Meyer Hotline is open for you.
Eight sixty six eight three eight forty eight forty three. Doesn't have to
be anything necessarily that we're talking about. If there's something else that's on your
mind and you want to discuss it, that's where we're here. Okay,
this shows your show as much as it is ours. Okay, let's get
to those full lines. Ben. Who do we got? Yeah, we
got Jake and Grand Rapids. Hi, Jake, how are you today?
Thanks for listening in Grand Rapids on ninety six point one FM. The game.
Yeah, doing well? How about stuff? All right? Yeah,
so just a couple of quick thoughts, especially in the over under and the
X factor. I mean, I think Jameis and Williams is post for a
breakout without Reynolds being there. But like you said, we haven't seen him
put it all together. You saw flashes like in the Saints game on the
road last year and the championship game, but for some of these guys,
it's I feel like it might be hard to see a full picture just because
there's so many mouths defeat. I mean, basically, anybody in the offense
did have really good games and other games. That's other players, you know,
with Gibbs, Monty Laporta, all those guys, and hopefully Donovan people
Jones can also be included in that. I guess the but the over under
I think I would take the over just because you know they're playing only three
outdoor games all year. I think that's gonna be huge for them. And
the two games or one of the games that's on the road outside is against
a rookie and Caleb Williams. I know everybody's super high on them, and
you know their new found offense, but he's still a rookie, so that
might be something where they can steal one on the road. And you had
said that the there's three top players. I might be a little bit off
from what other Lins fans would be, but I would go you know,
first off would be Sewel, just a monster. Obviously I'm in raw and
that I'd probably go Aiden Hutchinson over Golf as my third top lion. Obviously
quarterbacks important, but I don't think he's one of our you know, he's
probably top five, don't get me wrong, but I'm not gonna say he's
one of our top three players per se. Okay, it's interesting when you
said only three games against teams outdoors. Why do you think that? Why
do you think that matters. I mean, last year they opened up in
Kansas City outdoors and won in Kansas City, came home, lost indoors to
Seattle. Granted they lost to Chicago, they lost at Green Bay. They
lost to Dallas, and Dallas is for all intensive purposes, if you'll bear
with me, all intensive purposes. That's an indoor stadium. They've won outdoors.
They won at Carol right, so I guess I'm a little they wanted
Denver. I'm a little confused why that matters the outdoor indoor thing. Do
you think this team is strictly built for indoors? No, not necessarily,
but I think it plays to their strengths more so than you know, all
the outdoor games. I mean, obviously they won those games, don't get
me wrong, But I think when you're you know, throwing the ball and
perfect, you know, air conditioned dome, rather than you know, you
might have some inclement weather or you know, kicking is a big thing.
You know, don't want to get off on a tangent. But I think
the Baits kid over it with the Michigan Panthers. I think I would definitely
bring him into challenge badly. It's just it kind of almost puts your mind
at ease, like, oh, we have an indoor game. Like I
don't know if that's just like Lions of Old speaking, because like you said,
they did win a bunch of games last year out. But I think
just kind of the offense. You know, the offense is going to click
because of what I just said. There's no in clement whether it's always going
to be you know, perfect indoors. Yeah, I guess, yeah,
No, I get that. Do you view this team more as a passing
team than a running team? See? I think it's an excellent running team
because it's built up front. Look you and I I shouldn't say that me.
I don't know how you feel, Jake. I'm a big believer in
building from from from down in the trenches and then out. That's the way
this team has done it. And when you are able to do that,
that means you can run the football, which helps you in clement weather.
I think that's the reason they're just as good outside as they would be inside
it because their ability to have balance on their offense and be able to run
run the football when they need to. Oh, yeah, for sure,
I think like you just said, I mean you might have not trying to
be a homer, but you might have one of the top two or three
offensive backfields the league. I mean, Monty and Gibbs showed you last year
what they can do together, and Gibbs was hurt for three or two or
three games, and they both eclipsed ninety or nine hundred yards rushing. So
I think doing it that way, but you also still have am and Ra
Laporta, James and Williams gives out of the backfield. Even Monty out of
the backfield is not as much as a weapon as Gibbs is. But yeah,
you're gonna run behind your offensive line. That's what you built your offensive
line for, is to run through the trenches, get that one yard you
need on fourth and one, et cetera, et cetera. So yeah,
I do agree with that, But also you have, you know, if
not the best slot receiver in the game, one of the best slot receivers
in the game. And like we already talked, hopefully Jamison Williams can take
that next step and be that solid number two like I you did with Debo
a few years back, and then he overtook uh Debo in some people's eyes.
So sure, okay, I just I was just wondering about the and
thanks for the phone call. Really appreciated, Jake. Have a great day,
I were. I just wonder about the whole indoor outdoor thing. I
think that's a I think that's a fallback for a lot of people, not
just you, but I think a lot of people view indoors. Certain indoor
teams as strictly indoor their ability only to play or their strength is playing indoors,
whereas teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore and Cincinnati and Cleveland. I just mentioned
the whole afc North Chicago, Green Bay. Oh boy, the thing if
you could play outdoors, that means you could play indoors, right because look
at what look what's going on there, and look at how they can look
at how they can adjust. It's going to be an easier adjustment for them.
It might be. I'm not going to claim that it's not totally.
I just don't buy. I thinking, as a way to make yourself as
offensively potent as possible, you have to be able to do both, and
a lot of it has to do with adapting to certain conditions. And the
Lions can run the football. Chicago is a pretty good example. Chicago lost
plenty of games outdoors, and they're an outdoor team. They lost at home
to Green Bay, they lost to Tampa, they lost to Kansas City,
they lost at home to Denver, oh And, by the way, they
lost indoors too. They lost in New Orleans, they lost in Minnesota,
they lost in LA. Maybe it's a bad example. I'm just telling you.
Let's not get caught up in the fact that Detroit's home is a dome,
and that means that they can not function as well outside of a dome.
Because they can. That's why they're a good football team, really good
football team. Back to the Meyer hotline eighty six eight three eight forty eight
forty three Ben, who's up next? Yeah he had a go, But
I do have a text. It says, this is back to the over
under. If rag Noow gets hurt, there's no way they are going over
ten wins. That's interesting. That might lead one to believe that Texter believes
Frank Ragnow is one of their top three players. Who do you think are
their top three players? Give me the three guys you believe our top three.
This is hard to do for a team that has as much balance as
the Lions. Jared Goff signed a contract that's gonna pay him fifty million dollars
a year. You would hope he's one of their top three players. Jake
and I were just talking about the combo of Montgomery and Gibbs, one of
the best, if not the best, one two punch in the NFL.
Sam Brown, Laporta, Decker, Glasgow, Ragnow, Zeitler, Sewel.
There's your starters defensively, McNeil, Reeder, Hutchinson, Davenport, Campbell,
An Sloney, Davis, Arnold, Branch, Melafan, Wu Joseph Those are
your starters. Who are the top three guys for me? I would say,
in not necessarily in disorder, Penny Sewel, I'm on Ross Saint Brown.
Although he relies on a guy to get him the football to make him
the best, but I love what he can do catching the football, making
guys miss and so on and so forth. And I would say Frank Ragnow,
Aiden Hutchinson and Jared Goff are right there with him. But I would
say, Frank Ragnow, I think he's that important. I think he's that
good. Here's how I look at it. This could be flawed logic.
Feel free to call me out if you wish. Who is considered the best
at their position with the Detroit Lions. Penna suel Is, I'm on,
I'm on Ross Saint Brown is Frank ragnow when healthy is? If this is
with all due respect to Aiden Hutchinson, because I said he's right there.
But if you look at Aiden Hutchinson and I think he's a really good player,
Okay, don't let's not just always look at sacks, look at quarterback
pressures, things of that nature. Really important to take that into account,
Okay, But defensive ends are measured by sacks. T J. Watt,
Trey Hendrickson, Khalil Mack, Max Crosby, Miles Garrett, Micah Parson's different
position, probably Montes Sweat. Those are just some of the guys that probably
rank higher than Aiden Hutchinson. There's not many wide receivers. I'm not saying
he's the best. I'm just saying there's not many wide receivers who are better
then I'm on Ross Saint Brown. If I give you Tyreek Hill, if
I give you Ceedee Lamb, if I give you a J. Brown,
Okay, this doesn't go much further than that. I still think he's up
there and an offensive lineman standpoint, there's no tackle better than penn A Suol
a year ago, and when Frank Ragnow is healthy, the same can be
made. Same argument can be made for Detroit Center. There's my logic.
Meyer hotline eight six eight three eighty eight forty three. Back to those lines,
Ben, Who's next? Yeah, we got Mitchell and Kalama zoo Hey,
Mitchell, how are you man? Heany good? Are you good?
What's on your mind today? I just wanted to kind of bring up that
topic again about that into our outdoor. I think where a lot of people
get that from is just if you just look at Goss Splits specifically just Gos
you know, he just plays so much better indoors. I don't think it's
like an attestment to the team, because I think running the ball can be
done either way. I think if you look at something like the Baltimore game
where we couldn't run the ball anymore and we had to come back, you
know, I just a lot tougher on goth outdoor than it is indoors.
I think that's where that kind of philosophy comes from, that having only three
outdoor games. Really helps the Lions because that means Goth shouldn't have any issues
indoor as statistically and historically he's been way better indoor than outdoor. Yeah,
I think a lot of that has to do with the temperature too. It's
not just outdoor. I think it's more about specifically about a certain degree,
right, So outdoors for example, I don't know if this will surprise you
or not, probably not, but outdoors he completed sixty four to a half
percent of his passes compared to sixty nine percent indoors. Anything minus forty degrees
he struggled mightily. So I'm not sure it's as much outdoors as it is
the temperature in which you're playing. So if you're playing green Bay in December
and you're getting twenty degrees, yeah, I'm My belief is that a guy
like Jordan Love and Green Bay are probably going to have more success. I'm
not going to disagree with that. They're more used to it. So I
think it's a great point by you. I think any thanks for the phone
call. Appreciate it very much, Mitchell. I think any quarterback playing indoors
is going to be Any good quarterback is going to benefit don't you You've got
those perfect conditions like Mitchell was referring to. Would not disagree with that at
all. I just think we fall into a trap in sports where we think
that certain players or certain teams cannot play because they're so used to one way
or the other. Put it in perspective, Jordan Love a little more used
to it now, remember Jordan Love maybe a little bit more used to it
because he played at Utah State. I'm not sure how much that should matter,
because you would think Tom Brady would get used to it, you know,
playing at the University of Michigan. But he was from California. But
he thrivednia at Michigan. He thrived in New England and in bad weather situations
all the time. Jordan Love, conversely, of what Mitchell was referring to
with Jared Goff and I brought up specifically under forty degrees, where he struggled
mightily. Jordan Love completed sixty eight percent of his passes compared to fifty seven
percent when the temper temperature was forty degrees or below. That tells you something.
He's also more you know, used to it. But that's part of
the reason you believe that GoF struggles. The numbers are there and he's not
quite as used to it. That would be a factor for just about anybody
who isn't used to playing in those types of conditions. Good call Meyer Hotlines
open forty eight sixty six eight three eight four eight forty three. That's eight
sixty six eight three eight forty eight forty three. You could text the program
sports radio to twenty one thousand hour number three of Ex's and Bros. Right
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You can't handle the true I told our players you need a bit more
like a dog. We don't need a bunch of cats in here. Looking
in the mirror, I look good. I got my extra bands on,
I got my other shoes. Be a doll. We don't need no meals.
We don't need no cats. We need more dolls. Way out a
detain. At the time we weren't good. There's no sense asking me things
about the game. I'm telling you we laid an egg. So I'm not
going to break it down for you. He sucks, He sucked, but
he laid an egg. That's all I have to say. Guys, I'm
sorry. I'm not going to break it down for you. Nothing went well
for us. It's on us. We have to figure it out, and
we went jod It sure is and it's the final hour of Xus and Bros.
Across the Great State of Michigan. Wherever it is, you may be
listening Grand Rappids WMX ninety six point one FM, The Game in Cadillac,
WKAD The Ticket ninety three point seven FL in Flint, WTRX Sports Extra thirteen
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Honored to be with you on this Thursday. I'm Matt Sheppard the Meyer Hotline
eight sixty six eight three eight forty eight forty three. Ben is our producer.
You can text him Sports Radio to twenty one thousand as well if you
missed it. The Tigers split two with the Pirates yesterday. The opener went
to Tarrek School in Detroit and an eight to nothing blow out. Matt Vierling's
three run homer and four RBIs the difference. Schooble toss seven scoreless innings,
allowing just three hits, striking out eight. He improved to seven and one
on the year. Seth Lugo of Kansas City is better so far, has
put together a better season, I should say, because he's nine to one
with a one point seven to ninety RA after Kansas City one again yesterday they
beat Minnesota Bobby Witt Junior Salvador Perez. I saw something on social media where
people were kind of taking their shots at Salvador Perez. I thought to myself,
Look, social media is the thing now. I totally understand where you
know, it's where so many people get their news. It's where so many
people get their information. Whether it's reliable or not, I'm not so sure.
It's also just a way to just spew despise, discuss meanness, sad
commentary, personal purgatory if you will, and people take a chance at Salvador
Perez. Look, I don't care whether or not you believe the guy who's
thirty four, Oh he's probably older than I don't Who care? The dude
is good. Ask yourself this thirty four or older. Would you take a
guy who's betting three twenty five, having the three eighty six OBP and a
slug of five thirty seven, absolutely hits another homer yesterday, He's got ten,
he goes two for four, He's thirty four and Batton's second in the
lineup for a team there is thirty five and twenty two on the year,
for a team that is arguably the biggest surprise in baseball, and six just
two and a half out thirteen games over five hundred. A team that was
last year, this Kansas City team, even though it had Bobby Witt Junior,
Vinnie Pascatino, Salvador Perez, they were still minus one eighty three in
the run differential. I use that number a lot. It's important the run
differential. This year, Kansas City is a plus eighty one. Nobody in
the division is better. Nobody in the American League Central Division is better.
In fact, only one team in the American League is better in that category.
That's the New York Yankees. Baltimore is not better, Cleveland's not better,
Texas isn't better. Very strange, Texas is just a plus one in
run differential, the team that leads the division, the AL West is a
minus Seattle. That's a hell of an accomplishment. Anyway, I saw a
lot of that on social media, and I thought that's ridiculous. First of
all, Salvopro is a really good dude. Second of all, he's a
hell of a player. And third maybe you're just angry just for the sake
of being I ain't angry. I don't know, but I'd take him on
my team. He's gott a howitzer, handles the staff real well, and
produces offensively. Folks, there's not that many catchers in baseball who are the
total package. You know what I mean? You want a guy? Look,
we all gravitate back to the best of our childhood or the best in
our favorite team's history. Is that fair enough? Okay? So who's the
best the Tigers have ever had? If you're old enough, you remember Bill
Freehan. If you're old enough, you remember Lance Parrish. I suppose if
I'm Pudge, Rodriguez is in there too. I see him more as a
ranger. That's just me. Everybody looks for a Salvador Perez an Adlie Rushman,
Will Smith at JT Rilamuto. I think Jonah Him's a pretty good player
for Texas. He's not having a great offensive year so far. He was
originally committed to Michigan State, by the way, but he was drafted and
signed with the Rangers. I think those three guys, those four guys Perez,
who does say Perez, Rushman, Smith, Rila, Muto. For
sure, those four throw in throwing him for me if you don't mind five
guys who can do it offensively and defensively. It's the hardest position in the
in the game catcher. You don't have that many great players who can do
both. Those are it. So I'd take him every single day, and
I would guess you would too. Game two went to Pittsburgh Paul Skeins celebrating
his twenty second birthday. He struck out nine in six innings. Andrew McCutchen
leaves the yard a home run. He's homered in every Paul Scheme start.
Matt Homer it again for Detroit, so he's homered in three or four.
What was interesting, I thought, there is that kider munter when anytime in
baseball, if you've got a double header, you got a twenty six man
roster, we know that, right, Okay, they expanded that a few
years ago. They expanded twenty six mans rather than twenty five man roster.
You have twenty six men, you have thirteen bullpen or thirteen pitchers, thirteen
position players when you have a double header, so it's not to have quote
unquote wear and tear on people. You can add a twenty seventh player.
So you're going to add a pitcher, now, why would you so?
For example, Jack Flaherty was originally supposed to start one game of the doubleheader.
The way the series was set up, it was going to be Scoobal
and Flaherty against Jones and Schemes. Then the rain out a couple of days
ago, forcing a doubleheader yesterday. Why not start Flaherty like you originally thought,
instead of starting him today against Boston. My guess is, because you
get a twenty seventh man in a doubleheader, why not take advantage of it?
So use a pitcher there, save Flaherty, who's pitching Game one of
the four game series against Boston tonight. What was interesting to me is that
Kaider Montero is the one who was called up. He was called up from
Toledo. He made his major League debut. You may ask, why is
that surprises hip? What surprises me? Because they didn't call it Matt Manning.
I would have guessed it would have been Manning who would have come up
like he had been all season long. His issue is in his five starts.
The era is close to five. AJ Hinch explained that. And we'll
get into what Scott Harris said to say about hobby or bias when we come
back after this ten After the Hour on Exus and Bros. Across the Great
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to play. This is Matt Shepard. The Tigers begin a seven game road
trip at the first of a four game series in Boston's Fenway Park tonight.
Every time I think of Boston, I think of Fenway Park and Tiger Stadium.
The two iconic parks open the same day April twentieth, nineteen twelve.
Unfortunately, Detroit's Cathedral closed in September of nineteen ninety nine. While Boston's Baseball
Meccha remains intact and is the oldest in the country. It will keep that
distinction for a while since the ownership group has committed to renovations that will keep
it viable until at least twenty sixty one. As much as I like Comerica
Park, I missed the old stopping grounds and the prestige of being the oldest
in the country. We're teeing off our tenth year at the Meyer LPGA Classic
for simply give. Get ready for the best who are yet to help neighbors
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have a confession to make. I got way too caught up in golf videos,
like trying to improve golf videos, and I don't mean you know guys
tying a rubber snake to a string and put it on the back of somebody's
shirt and running around and making them scared while they're getting ready to tee off.
Those are funny videos, for sure, but I can do without those.
I'm talking about the ones that try to help your swing, help your
putting, help so many other things. Sometimes they get upset at myself because
it's not really helping my game. My game us where it is. Unfortunately,
it's one of those sports where you gotta play a lot. Welcome back
x'es and bros. By the way, this was making the rounds on social
Did anyone see what took place in Washington Awk County? I think it was
mid May. I think it was a couple of weeks ago. A dude
is supposed to be on a zoom for getting his license reinstated. His lawyer
is at the courtroom talking before the judge, and the judge says, has
he joined us yet? And she said, he's about to your honor,
and he jumps on zoom. The driver or the person who's in trouble with
the law and says, I'm on my way to the doctor. I'm just
pulling in right now, and he's driving, and the judge says, wait
a minute, you're driving. In other words, you're driving with a suspended
license. And he's trying to get his license back. And what does he
do. He shows up to the virtual court hearing while driving. You wish
you could be making this stuff up. You would think it's almost a gaff
right, it's just a joke. It's not. There's video and audio to
support it, not to mention the reaction of the judge and the reaction of
the man who now loses his license or the chance to regain his license for
a while. It's classic stuff. Man. You think to yourself, how
the hell can somebody think this is a good idea? Honey, don't you
have a zoom call to try and get your license back today? Yeah,
I'll do it while I'm driving to the doctor's office. But doesn't that kind
of defeat the purpose? Honey, aren't you little word? Well, I'll
keep the camera off. I don't know what he was thinking. He's not
thinking at all. We think there are certain people in life who feel like
they are are privileged because of what they do for a living or how much
money they make. That's not always the case. Sometimes there are people who
feel like they just can't touch, they can't be touched, and even though
they even though they have a hearing, a chance to get their license back,
in all likelihood, it sure seemed like he was going to get his
license back until the camera on the dashboard of the car while he's driving clicks
on. Oops. I think I messed up there. It's awesome. We
were talking just before the break about Matt Manney was the guy who was not
called up as the twenty seventh man. It was Kyder Montero, who is
viewed as a decent prospect in the Tiger system. Manning has struggled. I
can't help but wonder I remember it was a twenty nineteen seen Mies and Manning
and Schooble all in camp and hearing so many different people try to guess who
they think would be the best of the bunch. There was no consensus in
Lakeland with all these people baseball people around. If you would say schoobl if
you would say Mice, if you would say Manning, that's how close the
three were. This was going to be what this team was built on.
These three hard throwing two of them high draft picks, optional talents, young
talents, and don't take this the wrong way. I'm not saying you give
up on Matt Manning, but I would say this. He is twenty six
years old. Not that it's old, because it's not. But from a
major league standpoint, the clock is ticking. He's only made fifty starts in
his major league career and he's twenty six. He was a hell of an
athlete. He was gonna go play basketball at Loyola Marrimount. Tigers signed him
ninth overall pick, first round, and it just hasn't clicked. What's the
most wins you think he's had in his major league career? Four? That
is? I hate the w or bust not fair. Kid works hard,
which is no excuse. Everybody works hard, man, I mean, at
least they're supposed to. Most people are working hard to get to where they
want to get to at that level, is what I'm saying. It's one
of my favorite things when we interview players' families. You know, how do
you feel in this moment? I'm so proud of him because he's worked so
hard. Yes, guess what, there are other people work hard to It
doesn't mean that you can't be outworked. Just means you do work hard.
But Matt Manning, it's just not clicking for him. He's made five starts.
Who's that on. There's a combination of people him, coaches, people
have got to be fixing him. People got to got to be able to
help him along. He had options, So it's not a huge deal,
but there's going to be a point in time, and it's coming quicker than
he may think where they have to decide on what to do. That's not
the case for Javier Bias. We talked yesterday about Scott Harris's interview on MLB
Network with Brian Kenny about the spending of this team, and it lasted a
good hour and a half, almost two hours. What we didn't get to
was what he said about Hoavi or Bias. Because so many people have suggested
eat the contract and move on. I've repeatedly said it's seventy three million dollars.
That is a massive amount of money to just chew up and burp out.
Scott Harris said, that's not a question for right now. Right now
we are focused on trying to get the most out of him. Okay,
I get that, and that's what you should be doing. Here's the quote
that bothers me a little bit. On the offensive side of the ball.
Harris said, he's going through adjustments right now. Do you know how many
times we've heard about Hobby or Bias in Detroit making adjustments? And let's get
it straight, every player is making adjustments. It's constant. It's one of
the beauties. But also the very difficult parts about baseball is how many adjustments
you do have to make. But howvier Bias has been here for three years.
Every single year, every year they have said he's making some offensive adjustments
leg kick, stance, bat positioning, head, you name it. They
constantly talk about that. Just like Matt Manning. It's going to come a
point in time where you just go, what more can we do? Think
about where he hits in the order. He's not at the top of the
order. Guy, so much to dive into there with you on the Meyer
hotline eighty six six eight three eight forty eight forty three. When we come
back on Axis and Bros. After this, Bill Simonson, here for my
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a golf glove, We want to get a good looking golf hat. If
you go to the pro shops, you're spending a ton of money, not
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today at Meyer Purty six. After the hour Welcome Back. Talked a lot
about the Lions earlier today. If you missed any of it, we'll put
it on the podcast. Ben sends it out on a daily basis. Pro
Football Focus ranking Detroit's top three players and ranking their starting unit. They have
them down as number six in the NFL. We disagree with that, but
that's what their numbers would tell you. San Francisco, Kansas City, Philadelphia
ahead of them are the top three anyway, and their top three players according
to their Pro Football Focus Amon Ross, Saint Brown, Aiden Hutchinson, Penney
Seol not in any particular order, just those three players. Mine were Seul
Brown and Ragnow with Hutchinson and golf being right there. We were also talking
about the Tigers Matt Manning didn't get the start in Game two as Kyder Montero
yesterday, as Detroit begins a four game series in Boston and a seven game
road trip overall, and then we were able to get to a little bit
about the hobby or bios comments made by President Scott Harris the other day on
MLB Network, Harris continuing to say that, well, Bias is going through
some adjustments. Offensively. They have said that in each of his three years
here, not that Harris has said it in each of the three years because
he hasn't been, but he said he's on the other side of thirty right
now. Doesn't make him old. Still has that fast twitch, still has
that athleticism. We have to find a way to help him make some adjustments
to get back to barreling balls and punishing mistakes like he did in a Cubs
uniform. That's great. Here is part of the issue. Part of the
issue is in the Cubs uniform. And he was good in twenty eighteen.
In twenty nineteen, that's a ways back. Man. How come we haven't
been able to notice why he hasn't gotten back to that form. What's prevailed
him? That's the question, that's the real question. What's preventing him from
getting to that form? What is he doing now that he didn't do four
or five years ago, Because that's what his best season was, twenty eighteen.
Even if you had a Javier Bias of twenty nineteen, you'd absolutely take
it to eighty one twenty nine bombs, eighty five stakes, no question.
Remember they signed him after twenty twenty one, when he led the league in
strikeouts with one hundred and eighty four. Oh, he also had thirty one
homers. He also had eighty seven runs driven in. They would argue,
that's just three years gone by. He is, he can get back to
that. But they're also the people who just told you he's thirty years old,
which is an old but dot dot dot Meyer Hotline eight sixty six eight
three eight forty eight forty three. You could text us. You text Sports
Radio to twenty one thousand. I know we got a text. What's what's
with the text? Yeah, it says Manning is not a starter. He
can be and Andrew Miller. If the right transfigures that out. Manning stalls
after the second time through a lineup. Yeah, I don't know. I
would have to look up. That's that's insightful. I would have to look
up how many times he's actually had the chance to get through second time in
the lineup. I wouldn't guess it's very often. You're saying he's a bullpen
guy. Okay, I could see that. Guys have made that, plenty
of guys that made that transition. I don't think that is a bad thought
at all. Here's here's the only thing I would say to that is he
doesn't throw so hard. Okay. I mean he's ninety two ninety three.
I'm not saying I could stand in there against it. I'm just saying he's
ninety two ninety three. He doesn't throw so hard that it makes you go.
He's absolutely a closer. My guess is the Texter, it's well thought
out. The Texter is thinking he's more of an Alex Fayato type player.
Right. Remember, Fayato was a starter. Fayeto was the most outstanding player
in the World Series when he led Florida to the World Series Championship, College
World Series Championship. And now he's a middle reliever that can have a negative
connotation associated with a cannon. You're a middle reliever. In other words,
hey, you're not good enough to be a closer and you're not good enough
to be a starter. I don't think it shouldn't be negative. You are
important piece to the team. I think the Texter's right. I mean,
I think that's worth a shot. Now it does beg this question whose place
do you take? And I don't think me nor the text are suggesting that
you do anything right now, per se. But if we know he's not
a starter, or we don't think he is, so he's not going to
take Jack Flaherty's place. He's not taking Kent Tomata's place. He's not taking
Casey mies Rhee Solsen, Trek Scouobel. Right, he's not taking any other
places. You got to have some lefties, at least that's what some people
believe. I don't think that should be the way it is at all in
baseball. When the last time the Astros won the World Series, they didn't
have one lefty out of their bullpen, not one. They're alrighty's don't look
at righty lefty and then righty lefty matchup. People complain about me being old
school, That is old school thinking. Can you get the reverse splitz?
Can a righty get a lefty out? Can a lefty get a righty out?
See, that's what makes a guy like Andrew Chaffin rather attractive because of
the reverse splits. The same thing with Tyler Holton or a Jason Foley.
So then, but it does beg this question what would be who would be
your middle relief guys? So, if it's Fayato right now, if it's
Will Vest, it's Joey Wentz, it's Tyler Holton, it's Bowl Brisky.
Can Manning be the replacement to one of those guys Andrew Chaffin. I'm sure
it's about what you throw, where you throw it, and in what count
you can throw it. And that's part of the problem for Matt Manning right
now. I don't even think it's as much as him whether he's a starter
or not. I think the question now is is he a major leaguer?
Folks. That's why when you talk about draft picks and I get it where
you and I we don't watch enough college baseball or high school baseball to recognize
whether a guy like Gunner Henderson who came from high school is worth a second
round pick, or a Kevin McGonagall who's worth a second round pick, or
a Max Clark is worth a first round pick. Don't never watched Max Clark
in Indiana. Didn't watch him with Team USA or Kevin McGonagall with Team USA,
or Gunner Henderson. You may have watched Adlei Rushman. You may have
watched Spencer Torkelson. You may have watched Casey Mais or Paul Skeins or Alex
Bragman or guys who did go to college had high level of success. Maybe
you watch them one or two. I don't know, but it's hard to
judge that Manning coming out of high school takes a little more time, so
on and so forth than what do you have, not sure first round pick.
That's why you draft as many pitchers oftentimes as you can. Not saying
you take them over position players. I'm just saying that's why there's a lot
of pitchers chosen because more oftentimes than not guys, it's like quarterback guys are
not going to make it. You and I both know going into this coming
football season this will probably be This would be way too way too early,
right to judge the rookie quarterback class. But you and I would both agree
that you don't expect all of them to make it right. You don't think
that Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels, JJ McCarthy, Drake May, Michael Pennix,
and Bo Nicks are all going to be successful, do you? From
nineteen ninety three through twenty twenty two, the extension rate for the first quarterback
drafted was fifty seven percent. The second quarterback drafted, they got their extension
thirty five percent of the time, the third quarterback drafted thirty one percent,
the fourth drafted or teen percent, and so on. Now that doesn't sometimes
if you're the second quarterback draft of but you may not have been a first
round draft pick. So that's kind of unfair for this class. All I'm
suggesting is that you're not gonna You're not gonna connect on all of them.
Paxton Lynch was a first round draft pick. He was twenty sixth overall,
He's one in three. We could go over as many failures as we do
success stories at the quarterback position. JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, We could
go on and on and on, Jake Locker, Johnny Manzel, Josh Rosen,
Dwayne Haskins, Tim Tebow. I don't have to get too deep into
it, ej. Manuel Brandon Whedon, but we could do that Matt Liner.
Same thing with quarterbacks, or the same thing with pictures. I should
say, there's first round picks out there left and right who aren't making it.
Why aren't they making it? It's not a universal reason. It just
happens, and it's the reason so many teams eventually get in their draft room
and say, let's get ready not to use every pick, but to use
a lot of picks on pictures. If Casey Mice one to one doesn't make
it, if Matt Manning ninth overall doesn't make it, are you going to
have the guys who you've used for draft picks to try and take their place?
Well, Ty Madden be a guy you figure might might be a starting
pitcher in this league for a long time. I mean, it's it's kind
of crazy. Trek Scooble's ninth round pick. A lot of that had to
do with where he was pitching and the fact that he had Tommy John But
still, who would have guessed a guy like that would would be over a
guy like Casey Mize, who pitched in the SEC and was the first team
All American Trek Scooble wasn't that at Seattle University. But that's the way it
works sometimes. In baseball, Meyer hotline eighty six six eight three eight forty
eight forty three, and the text line is sports radio to twenty one thousand.
Do appreciate it? The text today they're always good ones always gets us
thing a little bit keeps us on our toes, if you will. We
mentioned a little bit about the Edmonton game last night, which was really entertaining,
and the fact that the NBA will pick back up tonight Minnesota hosting Dallas
Game five of the Western Conference Finals, maps lead at three to one in
the series. It wasn't long ago I read this story on the Pistons and
what they need to do and who they should draft. I saw a mock
draft yesterday that they had the shooter from Tennessee connect going third overall, which
kind of bummed me out because I was really hoping I would He would be
intriguing. He would be an intriguing pick for me if I were the Pistons.
Yes, I know it's in need. I don't know how they're going
to work these guys out. I don't know how they feel, like,
Okay, this is the best player we've had in here for the workout,
so things could definitely change. But connect was he's such a good shooter.
I can't help but think how much that would improve Detroit if they keep that
pick. But I read this that somebody was hoping that the Pistons would use
some of their salary cap freedom and use it on some free agents. Right,
Okay, of course have to be the right free agent. Who would
it be? Somebody suggested, and I like this guy when he was here
before I did. Tobias Harris, the really good dude. He's a really
good teammate at times. He's been a really good player this year for Philadelphia.
Some would argue he helped lead them to the playoffs, averaging seventeen points
per game. Okay, let's keep this in perspective. Though he's going to
be thirty two, he's going to make a boatload of money, and on
a really good team, he's averaging seventeen a game. Would he be able
to do that with Detroit? For me, the answer would be no.
Now you could say, well, he's probably taken a lot of his shots
were taken away because of some of the talent on his team, and the
Chuckers Seinfeld reference Keith Hernandez would be that case would take away on this team.
He doesn't fix the issue of outside shooting, but he also straps you
with the contract and with the AH. It's not the right time, in
my opinion, to back to a guy just because he was really good for
you in his mid twenties, specifically twenty seventeen. Just my thought. Maybe
we can talk more about that in the coming days and next week. Dennis
Fifthy and my buddy's going to be in this chair tomorrow. We hope you
can join him through the Meyer hotline via text. Our thanks to Ben our
producer our. Thanks to you for your phone calls and your texts. Have
a great rest of your Thursday. Join Dennis tomorrow and don't forget the huge
show later on today on these great station affiliates three to six. Have a
great Thursday, everybody. Thanks for listening. We're teaming off our tenthire at
the Meyer LPGA Classic for simply gives Get ready for the best, are yet
to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf, food and family fun. Join
us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at blake Field Country Club for fabulous food,
discoveryland for kids, and of course elite women golfers from around the world competing
to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets now at Meyer LPGA Classics dot
com. Huge here for my good friends from Flying Ace Whiskey. Now it's
an American made whiskey bottle right here in our great state of Michigan. And
Flying Ace Whiskey as partnered with the Folds of Honor Michigan Chapter to help Michigan
children of men and women injured or killed in combat and also the children of
our first responders who are injured or die and making the ultimate sacrifice while serving
and protecting. And there's a simple, easy way for you to donate with
that money going to the Folds of Honor Michigan Chapter. Look for the fly
at Ace Whiskey bottleneckers on bottles all across the state of Michigan here over the
next couple of weeks and you can donate and that money will go directly to
the Folds of Honor Michigan program. On behalf of Flying a Whiskey and also
Flying A Whiskey has put up four scholarships for their children. Flying Ace Whiskey,
an American made whiskey, taken a lot of pride in America. Look
short and stores and pubs all across Michigan. Hey Michigan, let's go baby.
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