WEBVTT 1 00:00:40.399 --> 00:00:51.359 All right, second hour of the program, Welcome back Exues and Bros. 2 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:55.039 Monday through Friday, six till nine. Don't forget eight o'clock hour. We're 3 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:00.200 gonna visit with Michael Harrah boy. He had such an incredible writing career or 4 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:04.239 uh learned an awful lot from him. Proud to call him his friend. 5 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:10.519 Always enjoyed our debates from a football standpoint, writes Fred Detroit Lions dot Com 6 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:12.799 told me the last night, it's it's just time ready to move on. 7 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:21.239 Okay, we want things to stay the same when they're good. I don't 8 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:25.959 know different than anybody else, but I also respect, you know, the 9 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:30.760 need to and the deserved right to, uh kind of relax a little bit 10 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.400 and enjoy your later years. So I'm glad that he's gonna give us some 11 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:38.480 time and looking forward to that as well. Just before we replayed our interview 12 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:47.879 with Jim Leland, I was asking you if this Tigers team has the pitching 13 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:57.079 sustainability and if the hitting has an opportunity to turn around. Now I don't. 14 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:00.400 I think they're They're starting pitching is fine. I'm not a I think 15 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:06.319 you know this if you've been listening to the show, not a big believer 16 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:16.319 slash confidence building at act with the Kent Tomata. I think that's he's been. 17 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:25.719 He has been less than advertised. How's that you cannot You cannot debate 18 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.159 the effectiveness of three of their starters. This is nothing earth shattering, But 19 00:02:31.240 --> 00:02:36.919 I will tell you this, they're getting if you're getting, you know, 20 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:42.360 I don't want to use a postseason example because they're not even in that discussion 21 00:02:42.439 --> 00:02:46.319 right now. Number one, but number two, we've got such a long 22 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:53.360 way to go. The fact that the starters are giving you innings and they 23 00:02:53.439 --> 00:03:00.000 rank eighth, they're starting pitching ranks eighth in innings pitched. That's a great 24 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:08.599 sign. You'll take that absolutely. Scooball is a is a strikeout throwing, 25 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:15.479 top of the order type of guy. There are seventh in strikeouts from their 26 00:03:15.479 --> 00:03:19.599 starting rotation. A lot of that has to do with him. You would 27 00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:24.840 shudder if he's the guy you happen to lose down the stretch or at any 28 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:30.919 point. You're not making up for that. I told you earlier about the 29 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:37.319 fielding. If you want to go by DRS defensive runs saved, there's nothing 30 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:42.599 special there. And I don't know how many categories you look at to make 31 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:49.199 a really good baseball team. Pitching, defense, hitting, base running, 32 00:03:50.319 --> 00:03:53.240 coaching, slash managing. Is that fair? I mean, there's there's five. 33 00:03:53.639 --> 00:03:55.960 You want to throw a bullpen in there to make six. That's part 34 00:03:55.960 --> 00:04:00.240 of pitching. But I get why it could be a separate issue. All 35 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:03.240 right, do you want to go seven with power and all that other stuff? 36 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:10.080 However you want to break it down, however many categories you want to 37 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:19.439 use? Answer yourself objectively, be honest with yourself. Where is their strength? 38 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:27.920 Where is their weakness? How far does their weakness go? Or need 39 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:33.319 to get to where it's respectable? Those are the things that are really important, 40 00:04:33.480 --> 00:04:39.639 I believe. So I gave you the starting pitching. You like that, 41 00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:44.839 right, I gave you the defense. You don't like that. I 42 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.480 don't either. Slugging wise, they ranked twentieth. There's a ways to go. 43 00:04:49.560 --> 00:04:54.160 You want to get to the middle of the pack. The San Francisco 44 00:04:54.319 --> 00:05:01.680 Giants Detroit right now is not that far away. That's doable. That's you 45 00:05:01.720 --> 00:05:08.720 can make that up. The base running, you're not making that up. 46 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:12.879 This team is just not built for that. They just don't have it. 47 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:17.120 They don't I don't have their statistics of going first to third. It's not 48 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:21.040 always about base stealing, Okay, so let's get let's get that out of 49 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:25.720 our minds. It's not always about base stealing, but there is a threat 50 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:30.639 there that I think is important. Another big concern that I think we have 51 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:35.879 to look at and that it doesn't get enough play is the walk rate. 52 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:41.560 So the walk rate right now ranks twenty fourth in baseball. They're at seven 53 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:46.600 point seven percent. That ain't good if you're not hitting with power, and 54 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:51.279 we know they're not. Although I gave you the number yesterday when they homer 55 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:57.720 because Justin Henry Molloy homered yesterday. They are now twenty four and thirteen when 56 00:05:57.720 --> 00:06:00.879 they hit a home run. But for the most part, there's not as 57 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:04.800 much power as you need. Because of that, you better find a way 58 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:10.600 to get on base. Well, the walk rate's not there, and the 59 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:15.079 ice on base percentage isn't there. Only Oakland, Miami and Chicago are worse 60 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:25.399 than on base percentage. That's concerning. That is a deep concern. And 61 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:30.480 then you wonder what about the strikeout rate. Well, the strikeout rate is 62 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:39.879 too high as well. Houston strikes out the least at eighteen percent. Detroit 63 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:45.240 ranks eighth in all of baseball in strikeout rate at almost twenty four percent. 64 00:06:46.639 --> 00:06:54.000 So maybe things will change a little bit with Torkelsen because he was sent down. 65 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:58.399 I think he went to for four the other day, so maybe that 66 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:03.240 changes. Those are the numbers. Now, you and I have both talked 67 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:10.279 about this. Numbers in baseball can be overwhelming, they can be paralyzing, 68 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:18.959 paralysis by analysis. But some numbers are important, folks. But I do 69 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:21.720 want to get to what we were talking about just before the break, and 70 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:27.439 that is the eye test. Because I hear this a lot from not just 71 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:30.279 fans, but from members of the media. He doesn't pass the eye test. 72 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:34.959 Whose eyes, well, my eyes? But what are you looking for? 73 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:42.639 Folks? That's why I asked Jim Leland the question. I said, 74 00:07:43.160 --> 00:07:46.639 you've seen so much baseball, what is it you look for in young players? 75 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:56.040 He's convinced about certain players, Torkulsen, keith Olsen, other players like 76 00:07:56.079 --> 00:07:59.600 that. What does he see in them? It's not just what he sees, 77 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:05.639 but what he feels when he's talking to them and what he senses with 78 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:11.879 them. If that's and I'm not telling you to believe everything he says, 79 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:20.879 it's not the gospel. Okay, However, it should give you an understanding 80 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:24.040 and appreciation of you know, maybe they're right when they say patients. Now 81 00:08:24.040 --> 00:08:28.720 I hate that word. I'm tired of it, I really am. I 82 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:35.559 am tired of athletes, coaches, front office members, writers, fans, 83 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:41.440 talk show hosts. I'm tired of hearing it. Tiger's fans have been very 84 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:48.279 patient. They didn't expect anything in twenty nineteen and they saw a crap product. 85 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:52.679 They didn't expect anything in twenty twenty and it wasn't great. They didn't 86 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:56.600 expect anything in twenty one. They didn't expect anything in twenty two. They 87 00:08:56.600 --> 00:09:01.399 didn't expect anything last year. Guess what they they didn't get anything either. 88 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:11.440 They got nothing. How long is long enough? How patient do you expect 89 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:18.120 us to be? Because it's to the point now where you're seeing other players 90 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:24.960 on other teams rising get better, young players rising get better, and seeing 91 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:33.240 a commitment from ownership that you're not recognizing now. So don't tell me to 92 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:37.159 be patient because I'm asking you for something and you're not giving me that in 93 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.080 return. The Meyer Hotline eight sixty six eight three eight forty eight forty three 94 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:45.399 A quick time out back with more of your calls and your texts when we 95 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.200 return on Exes and Bros. After this, we're teaming off our tenth year 96 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:54.720 at the Meyer LPGA Classic for simply Gives. Get ready for the best who 97 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:58.919 are yet to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf, food and family fun. 98 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:05.320 Join us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country Club for fabulous food, 99 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:09.320 discoveryland for kids, and of course, elite women golfers from around the 100 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:13.480 world competing to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets now. Admire LPGA 101 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:20.919 Classics dot com. Looks best plays at Soaring Eagle Casino in Resorts Sunday June 102 00:10:20.960 --> 00:10:33.240 twenty third, Motley Clue and Friday August ninety Loved Live, Don't miss Leonard 103 00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:39.879 skinnerd and Cztalk all part of the Soaring Eagles Summer Outdoor Concert Series. Tickets 104 00:10:39.879 --> 00:10:43.120 for all shows on ZELM now at the Foxoffice in Ethics dot com. Check 105 00:10:43.200 --> 00:11:16.600 the entire lineup at Soaring Eaglecasino dot com eighteen after the hour, Welcome back, 106 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:20.039 Xes and Bros. With you throughout the great state of Michigan. We 107 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:26.559 are on in Flint WTRX Sports Extra eleven thirteen thirty AM. We're on in 108 00:11:26.600 --> 00:11:31.120 Grand Rapids Wmix ninety six point one FM, The Game. In Cadillac WKD 109 00:11:31.360 --> 00:11:35.360 The Ticket ninety three point seven FM. We are on Grayling and Gaylord, 110 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:41.120 WGRY one oh one point one FM. That's up North Sports Radio, and 111 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:45.600 on the Mitt WLUN one hundred point nine serving Midland, Sagana, on Bay 112 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:50.279 City, Patasky and Charlie Boy. You can catch us on WMBN one oh 113 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:56.679 four point seven FM, The Ticket Northern Michigan and on in Traverse City WKD 114 00:11:56.759 --> 00:11:58.679 ninety three point seven FM, The Ticket there as well. Ben is our 115 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:03.039 producers. I'm Matt Sheppard, and the Meyer hotline is open for you eight 116 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:07.159 three or at eight sixty six, eight three, eight forty eight forty three 117 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:11.840 text the program sports Radio to twenty one thousand. Good interview with Jim Leland. 118 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:16.559 Hope you enjoyed that we will have Michael O'Hara on in the eight o'clock 119 00:12:16.600 --> 00:12:18.720 hour as well. I know we got some texts, Ben, Let's get 120 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:22.799 to some of those texts. It has really loved what Leland said to look 121 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.039 for the toughness in a player, to see what they can or can't handle. 122 00:12:26.679 --> 00:12:31.440 Also, he said every player on his team had to be treated differently, 123 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:35.039 from stars to the twenty six guy. He couldn't be more right. 124 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:39.360 I've done that in my business for thirty five years, and that's why I 125 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:45.519 always believed guys like Leland are successful. Dan Campbell is Jim Leland. I 126 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:52.600 wish the Tigers could find their Dan Campbell. That's from Freddy the treating players 127 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:58.360 differently. He didn't say that in our interview, but he has said in 128 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:01.240 the past. I don't know if he's said it in those exact words, 129 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:09.559 but I think what he means by that. Look, there are every team, 130 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:13.240 every manager, every coach has a certain standard. Players have to live 131 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:18.519 up to those standards. Those don't change. How you handle those players does 132 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:24.679 change. Now remember this, and there are famous moments in a lot of 133 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:31.039 managers and coaches careers. Right for Jim Leland. He and Barry Bonds. 134 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:35.919 You remember it, and he told Barry Bonds, you know I'm in charge 135 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.440 here, this is my team. We're going to do it this way. 136 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:43.159 So he didn't treat Barry Bonds differently. He treated Barry Bonds the same. 137 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:48.279 The same could be said about Ivon Rodriguez. When Ivan Rodriguez showed up a 138 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:54.559 coach, Leland slammed the door and told him in front of everybody, that's 139 00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:01.080 not how you handle things. The way you handle it on my team is 140 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:07.360 this way. That is not treating him differently, that is treating him the 141 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:16.200 same. So I think there are when he said or alluded to that, 142 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:22.919 I think it was more about great players. Star players are going to get 143 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:28.320 the opportunity to overcome and do certain things. You're going through a stretch, 144 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:31.360 tough stretch. I might pull a young guy. I might send a young 145 00:14:31.399 --> 00:14:35.080 guy down. I might bench a young guy for a while. With certain 146 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:39.120 other guys, you're letting him play through it. So I do believe there 147 00:14:39.159 --> 00:14:45.919 are certain things that are different. I say this all the time. I'll 148 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:48.279 continue to say it for as long as I host shows. And that is 149 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:54.960 I like in managing and coaching to being a parent. You have kids at 150 00:14:54.960 --> 00:15:01.600 home, don't you, Okay, if you do your principles, you and 151 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:07.159 your wife or you and your husband, your principles you believe in, and 152 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:13.159 you're going to reinforce that with your kids. There are certain rules that they 153 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:20.919 all have to follow. Right. How you go about telling them, or 154 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:28.320 implementing those rules to them might be different because of their personalities. What they 155 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.399 can do, what they can take, what they cannot is going to be 156 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:37.080 different. That's that's the beauty of life as individuals a little different in that 157 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:45.559 regard. So I think Jim Leland, I think his rules or his principles 158 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:50.159 were the same for everybody. How he went about it and implementing them with 159 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:54.080 certain players is different. What else we got, Yeah, it says. 160 00:15:54.279 --> 00:15:58.679 One of the best things. Leland always said, you're as good as your 161 00:15:58.679 --> 00:16:03.679 next day's starter. And he was damn right. Starters are so important in 162 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:10.639 baseball. Amen, that's well said. And the other thing that he I'll 163 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:15.639 summarize here. What else he said was your stars have got to be your 164 00:16:15.720 --> 00:16:25.080 best players. Those are your leaders. Okay, leaders, give me results. 165 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:33.759 We want to tab and label everybody with something like that. Oh he's 166 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:37.320 a great leader. Okay. You know what Leland wanted. He wanted guys 167 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:42.559 who produced. That's what he needed and that's what every coach needs. And 168 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:48.159 that's what you want too. There's nothing wrong with that. You want someone 169 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:53.000 who's going to come up in the clutch and get a hit. If that 170 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:59.519 guy's the leader. You don't care. You just want him to produce. 171 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:04.119 Now, in a perfect world, your best player is your leader. It's 172 00:17:04.200 --> 00:17:11.119 not always the case, but you rely on certain guys like that. Let's 173 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:18.240 look at the NBA Western Conference Finals. You're in Minnesota, Dallas had just 174 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:22.559 lost Game five. They don't want it to get to a game six, 175 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:27.599 or a game they just lost game four. They're in game five. They 176 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:30.440 don't want it to get to a game six where it's a possible tie, 177 00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:36.559 because anything then can happen. Right. Who came out and led the way 178 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:42.400 Doncic and Irving. I'm not going to claim to know the type of impact 179 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:49.440 of leader that Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving are, but on the field of 180 00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:55.279 play, in this case, on the court of play, they proved their 181 00:17:55.359 --> 00:18:03.200 leadership in the sense of production. That's great stuff. Steve Eiserman is a 182 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:07.599 guy who you talk about leadership, right. He was a leader in the 183 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:11.119 room, but he led differently, and he was a leader on the ice. 184 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:15.400 Not everybody appreciated his leadership style, especially when it kams came to younger 185 00:18:15.400 --> 00:18:22.359 players. It was not always embraced. But he had other lieutenants, if 186 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:30.039 you will, who could also help massage certain things and help him lead. 187 00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:34.720 Chris Draper was one of those guys. Brendan Shanahan was one of those guys. 188 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:41.200 Chris Chelios is one of those guys. It's all helpful. Those are 189 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:47.200 good text though, appreciate that very much. The Meyer Hotline eight six six 190 00:18:47.319 --> 00:18:51.720 eight three eight forty eight forty three. I do want to get into a 191 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:55.680 little NBA preview. We will talk with Michael Harra in the eight o'clock hour. 192 00:18:56.240 --> 00:18:59.240 I don't know if you saw this from baseball, being that we are 193 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:03.440 on the baseball top real quick. We had mentioned when Paul Skeens pitched against 194 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:08.599 the Tigers. Paul Skeen's the outstanding rookie out of LSU, who was number 195 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:12.960 one overall a year ago. After leading the Tigers to a national championship. 196 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:18.519 Pittsburgh picks him up. He's five six starts deep. He pitched against the 197 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:23.039 Dodgers. Did you see this? He pitched against the Dodgers Wednesday night? 198 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:30.839 And it was and you know what that means. That means Skeens against shoey 199 00:19:30.839 --> 00:19:38.079 O Tommy. First at bat, Skeens throws not one, not two, 200 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:47.039 but three straight fastballs in the zone. All at one hundred plus. You 201 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:52.240 want a power arm. You get enamored with the triple digits on the radar 202 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:56.119 gun. Paul Skeins is your guy. One oh one point three strike one, 203 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.319 one hundred point one foul tip into the glove, and one hundred point 204 00:20:00.359 --> 00:20:06.519 eight down. Gos Otani swung at all three pitches. Had to turn around 205 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:10.000 and head to the dugout. Next time up, third inning, three to 206 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:15.640 two pitch one hundred point one miles an hour from skiens Otani delivers it four 207 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:18.160 hundred and fifteen feet away and into the bullpen in center field for a two 208 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:26.319 run blast. That makes great baseball theater. Quick time out here on Exus 209 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:30.920 and Bros. Back on the other side, we'll tuckle little NBA and NBA 210 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:36.319 finals with you. After this. There's a new player in town. 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Join us June 220 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:22.200 thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country Club for fabulous food, discoveryland for kids, 221 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:26.359 and of course, elite women golfers from around the world competing to help 222 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:45.200 feed our neighbors. Get your tickets now at Meyer LPGA Classic dot com. 223 00:21:45.200 --> 00:22:02.119 Breaking news for you not from US, but from Adrian Narski espn Janowski saying 224 00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:10.559 sources are telling him that the Lakers are preparing to offer a massive head coaching 225 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:21.200 deal to Danny Hurley, the Yukon coach who has won back to back national 226 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:33.680 championships. What do you think about that? Hmm? Immediately the thought is 227 00:22:33.720 --> 00:22:38.640 why why would you want to leave a good gig where you're making a lot 228 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:45.200 of money. Have this campus and the college basketball world at your feet, 229 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:52.759 have a blue blood program like you get it? If Jay Wright wants to 230 00:22:52.920 --> 00:23:00.880 retire at Villanova and get into television. You get it. If Mike Krzyzewski, 231 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:04.880 who's done everything you possibly can, when national championships, win gold medals, 232 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:10.480 coach the greatest athletes in his sport, you understand that, right. 233 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:17.160 Okay, Roy Williams was up in age, Danny Hurley's only fifty one. 234 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:25.720 Why do you want to leave a program that is perhaps established better than any 235 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:30.319 other, and in a situation that breeds success as well as any other. 236 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:37.839 Why would you want to leave that for what is often considered the headaches of 237 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:48.119 the NBA. On top of that, going to Los Angeles where you might 238 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:55.640 get a chance to coach Lebron James, who by many accounts as a coach 239 00:23:55.720 --> 00:24:10.839 killer. He said ten coaches in his career. Remember, Darvin Ham was 240 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:15.880 just sent packing after two years. Team had to run to the Western Conference 241 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:19.880 finals in his first season a year ago. Then this past year he starts 242 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:26.200 talking about minutes and the amount of which players should play and was overruled by 243 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:42.160 Lebron James. James has thrown temper tantrums and gets guys fired. There has 244 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:52.960 to be a fall guy when it comes to Lebron James's team. Mike Brown 245 00:24:53.039 --> 00:25:00.160 was a two time Coach of the Year. Tyron lew Eric Spolstrog might be 246 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:08.559 a Hall of Famer. Pat Riley himself was suggesting as much. It just 247 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:17.559 seems like no one is ever good enough and that coach wears out his welcome 248 00:25:17.680 --> 00:25:26.000 with Lebron James rather quickly. The ego stuff, I get it happens. 249 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:29.720 He's one of the greatest, if not the greatest player of all time, 250 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:38.119 no question, but it sure seems like it's a pain in the ass to 251 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:45.519 coach him, doesn't it. It seems like he wants to be the guy 252 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:51.839 to make all the decisions. He wants to be consulted on everything. He 253 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:55.920 wants to be able to dictate the terms. Why would you want to go 254 00:25:56.000 --> 00:26:02.599 there? Not just that, but on top of that the pressure, and 255 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:06.559 don't tell me there isn't. There's plenty of pressure for whatever coach takes over 256 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:11.359 there to go along with Rob Polinka, the general manager, and have them 257 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:15.680 pursue I'm not sure when I'm not saying it's a first round pick, but 258 00:26:15.799 --> 00:26:22.960 pursue Bronni James so Lebron James can play with his son. Is there has 259 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:30.680 there ever been an athlete who is more in charge of his respective franchise no 260 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:40.079 matter where he goes than Lebron James, the guy who dictates just about everything. 261 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:45.440 I get that some superstars have kind of been off limits in certain things. 262 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:48.960 They want to rule when they're going to talk to the media. They 263 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.720 believe they should be hitting in a certain spot, they should be consulted at 264 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:59.519 certain things. I get that it's been that way for a while. This 265 00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:08.079 guy's got personnel decisions type power. It's not just coaching stuff now. Granted, 266 00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:12.240 some people say that that's a label that has dogged him his entire career, 267 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:17.920 and the reason is the attitude to the various challenges of head coaches he 268 00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:22.319 faces. There's nothing wrong with challenging head coaches. No one has to say, 269 00:27:22.680 --> 00:27:25.440 sorry, you do it this way, and if you're not, you're 270 00:27:25.480 --> 00:27:32.359 out. That's not the way it works, especially in the NBA. But 271 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:37.039 it is interesting how often he has, how many coaches he has gone through, 272 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:44.799 and it is interesting how now he feels like I would just be very 273 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:48.920 careful Danny Hurley, and how good he is, and how enamored he is 274 00:27:48.920 --> 00:27:53.119 with his offensive sets and things of that nature. Two years ago. Just 275 00:27:53.160 --> 00:28:06.759 a reminder. Two years ago he was singing the praises of Darwinham. He 276 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:11.119 was telling everybody, this is my guy. See, when things are going 277 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:19.519 great, it's really easy to stay on course and be happy and tell everybody 278 00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:26.079 how great this guy. The hard thing is when somebody is struggling, when 279 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:33.359 a team is going through some adversity. How how do you stay on the 280 00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:41.519 path. Are you going to ride the wave of emotion like fans or are 281 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:45.559 you going to stay as level headed. We've said this about aj Hinch quite 282 00:28:45.559 --> 00:28:48.519 a bit, whether you like him or not, that's you know, that's 283 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:51.960 fine, not gonna upset me about if you're gonna sit there and say I 284 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.279 don't think he's that good of a manager. I think he is. But 285 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:57.559 whatever the one thing he does do he doesn't get too high when they win, 286 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:03.960 and he doesn't get too low when they lose. There are certain buttons 287 00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:14.559 he is pushing that are the right buttons emotionally. I think that's really important. 288 00:29:14.839 --> 00:29:18.640 But I found that fascinating. They're looking at a long term deal and 289 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:25.200 Danny Hurley has expressed interest in doing that. Here's a big reason I believe 290 00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:30.079 a big reason why Danny Hurley is considering making the move. I think the 291 00:29:30.119 --> 00:29:42.440 whole NIL thing is an absolute deal breaker with many coaches today. None of 292 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:48.599 them are afraid of working hard, none of them. You have to put 293 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:55.079 the time in, no matter the sport, but the NIL has made it 294 00:29:55.240 --> 00:30:03.359 exceptionally challenging. You are working is hard to try and get players, and 295 00:30:03.440 --> 00:30:06.599 not just to try and get them, but to try and keep them. 296 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:11.039 And I think it's a turnoff for a lot of college players now, or 297 00:30:11.160 --> 00:30:15.960 college coaches. I should say, and please, I'm not saying they're right. 298 00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:25.000 They've got no problem cashing that multimillion dollar cut contract check, do they 299 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:27.240 They got a chance to do that, They're gonna sign You know what you're 300 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:34.480 signing up for. Gon't be complaining about the NIL demands and the fundraising that's 301 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:40.759 going to require and all that other stuff. Stop. You know exactly what 302 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:45.559 you're getting into, and you know how much money you're making. Now. 303 00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:48.160 You're bringing the school in a lot of money, and the pressure is real. 304 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:55.799 But the pressure is real everywhere. Man. I said this when John 305 00:30:55.839 --> 00:31:03.319 Bline left Michigan for Cleveland. I think there are certain coaches, certain coaches 306 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:08.039 that are college coaches. I think Tom Izlo is a great coach. I 307 00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:14.640 think he's a college coach. I think John Beenline's a great coach. He's 308 00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:23.240 a college coach. Certain things work at the NBA level, certain things work 309 00:31:23.279 --> 00:31:30.519 at the collegiate level. Those things are not always intertwined. How you go 310 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:34.720 about it, the amount of film you work or watch, the amount of 311 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:40.440 work you put in, the basic things that you do at the collegiate level 312 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:45.079 that they don't feel they need to do at the professional level. Doesn't matter 313 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:52.799 how successful you are at the college level. The pros is different. College 314 00:31:52.799 --> 00:31:59.000 coaches for players. Players are they're forced to listen to college coaches because the 315 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:07.559 college coach is the go between for a dream. In order for me to 316 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:12.559 get to the next level, this college coach, say, stands in it 317 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:15.480 stands in your way, But he's the guy I got to get around or 318 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:22.359 through or get along with to get me to the next level. Oftentimes, 319 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:24.319 I mean, if you're playing college ball, there's guys now you can just 320 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:28.319 go to the G League and go from there and they don't have to deal 321 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:32.079 with that. But if you're in college, that's the guy right there who 322 00:32:32.119 --> 00:32:36.000 either stands in your way or is going to help support you get to the 323 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:42.119 next level, so it means to an end pro that's not the case. 324 00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:47.200 You've already arrived. Now they can handle your minutes, they can deal with 325 00:32:47.240 --> 00:32:52.319 that, and that may affect the next contract you get. So that's important 326 00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:55.920 unless you're a star. And once you're the star, the coach doesn't matter. 327 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:01.759 It doesn't matter to your playing time, It doesn't matter to you in 328 00:33:01.839 --> 00:33:06.640 general in your contract and so on and so forth. All he is is 329 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:10.839 a guy that you're going to use to try and help recruit other free agents, 330 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:17.400 and a guy who you're going to help dictate with the amount of playing 331 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:22.319 time you get, the amount of practice time your team puts in, and 332 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:25.960 so on and so forth. But there are certain coaches. They are just 333 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:32.920 they're built for the college game. I don't know Danny Hurling. I see 334 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:37.279 him, I watch him just like you do. I hear people talk about 335 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:44.240 him. You know, obviously a brilliant basketball mind. I don't think that's 336 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:49.880 ever the question really good college coaches, most of them, they have that 337 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:57.599 brilliant offensive scheme or defensive scheme. The question is how do you handle people? 338 00:34:00.839 --> 00:34:05.680 In the NBA. It's as much as how you handle the players as 339 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:10.960 it is base your basketball acumen, where in college it's probably the other way 340 00:34:10.960 --> 00:34:19.320 around. But with the NIL it's probably different these days. But I truly 341 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:22.800 believe that's what has forced a lot of really good coaches who could have stayed 342 00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:34.000 longer out of the game at the collegiate level. It's an interesting possible marriage 343 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:39.360 Danny Hurley and the LA Lakers. Remember it wasn't long ago where JJ Reddick 344 00:34:39.480 --> 00:34:46.320 was the talk of the town, right there was a podcast interview with JJ 345 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:52.679 Reddick Lebron James then posted on X about Hurley. He's so damn good along 346 00:34:52.679 --> 00:35:00.800 with his stuff, super creative with their offense. Love it. Now suddenly 347 00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:05.960 there are reports that he's in Negotia serious negotiations with a contract. Is that 348 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:20.239 coincidence perhaps? But it's interesting that there are so many other candidates assistants throughout 349 00:35:20.239 --> 00:35:29.039 the league James Perego Reddick, as I mentioned, Sam Cassell, David Edelman, 350 00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:35.360 Nuggets assistant head coach or assistant coach. All of those were candidates, 351 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:40.239 and yet it's Polenka and Jenny Buss, the owner, who are gravitating toward 352 00:35:42.360 --> 00:35:50.639 the two time defending NCAA National championship coach In Danny Hurley. We'll have to 353 00:35:50.679 --> 00:35:54.159 follow that and see how it works out. Hey, we're going to get 354 00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:59.760 to Michael Harra coming up. I wanted to give you this. I thought 355 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:06.719 this was really interesting. I was reading a column on CBS the other day 356 00:36:07.559 --> 00:36:13.760 and Matt Snyder, who has written for baseball, written about baseball for a 357 00:36:13.800 --> 00:36:19.480 long time, had an under the radar picks at each position for the Major 358 00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:25.760 League Baseball All Star Game, and I thought, Hm, I immediately started 359 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:30.280 thinking to myself who some of these players would be, not just Tigers, 360 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:36.400 but who would be who would be some of these choices, like Josh Naylor 361 00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:42.320 is a good one. He's never been to an All Star Game. He's 362 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:45.360 at first base for a first place team, and he's had a nice season. 363 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:51.239 I don't think Bobby Whitt Junior is an under the radar guy. I 364 00:36:51.280 --> 00:36:54.400 think he's in the conversation as MVP. He's not Aaron Judge, for example, 365 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:58.960 he's not Gunnar Henderson so far, but he's in that conversation, right. 366 00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:05.880 So you're reading through some of the positions and he writes, when you 367 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:12.199 get to American League outfielders, Matt Snyder writes this, Stephen Kwan of the 368 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:15.880 Guardians. Now he's won a Gold Glove. Is that under the radar? 369 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:22.960 Could be he's been hurt this year. He's a table setting machine. Dalton 370 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:32.639 var Show of the Blue Jays and Riley Green of the Tigers. Here's what 371 00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:37.679 he writes. All three of our top selections are out now. Judge and 372 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:42.519 Sodo are such big names. I mentioned them here in the intro. Kyle 373 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:45.480 Tucker is a two time All Star. Everyone has seen plenty of him in 374 00:37:45.519 --> 00:37:49.239 the Astros deep postseason runs as well. Has Kwan played enough? He's only 375 00:37:49.239 --> 00:37:52.079 appeared in thirty five games, but he's back on the field and hopefully that 376 00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:54.360 remains the case heading to the break. If it does, he'll have plenty 377 00:37:54.360 --> 00:37:57.880 of work. He's packed a lot of value in a short period of time. 378 00:37:58.719 --> 00:38:05.280 After that, the oddtions thin pretty quickly. Green is a great talent 379 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:10.760 and deserves a look, while Varshow overcomes his low batting average with great defense 380 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:15.679 and versatility in the field, in addition to power and the ability to steal 381 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:19.760 bases. Jared Durant of the Red Sox has an argument here as well. 382 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:29.519 He absolutely does. The word I focused on is great because I think it's 383 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:32.159 overused. I'm not saying it's overused here, but I do think the word 384 00:38:32.199 --> 00:38:38.639 in general used by sports fans, sports hosts, coaches, even and even 385 00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:44.480 other players when they say something is great. That's a great team over there, 386 00:38:44.840 --> 00:38:49.800 they're barely above hive hundred. I don't think they're great. That's a 387 00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:52.280 great player over there. He had a really good game. That doesn't mean 388 00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:59.199 he's great. Great is reserved for the best of the best, as far 389 00:38:59.239 --> 00:39:02.599 as I'm concerned. Matt Snyder writes, Riley Green is a great talent. 390 00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:10.159 If you had to guess one All Star for the Tigers this year, it'd 391 00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:15.280 be Trek Scoogle. That's another thing that has made you and I cringe when 392 00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:19.440 you get around the All Star Game and I get it's a popularity contest. 393 00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:22.000 You get around the All Star Game. How many times have you and I 394 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:24.320 said, yeah, but they're only going to get one Tiger's only going to 395 00:39:24.320 --> 00:39:28.760 have one guy, and who's it going to be? What do you start 396 00:39:28.760 --> 00:39:30.760 doing? You start looking at pitching because they haven't had the position players. 397 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:36.239 I'd love to see Riley Green go. I'd love to see him do stuff 398 00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:39.360 in the All Star Game that we see on a regular basis because he's a 399 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:44.320 hell of a player. 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