Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to another edition of the Game Sports podcast. David McCaig, the host of the game powered by 91 Network. On this episode of the game. In the first segment, I will be joined by Connor Henderson, getting into the world of baseball in our strike zone segment as the playoff season is in full swing. And we'll also get into some hot news around the diamond. In segment two of the show, I'll be joined by Justin Heikel, getting into the hot news around hockey as the season nears. And we'll also be getting into our in the pocket segment with week five approaching in the NFL. Let's go.
Tonight's episode is dedicated to Scott Nason. On September 2922, Scott Nason unexpectedly passed away. Scott was the co founder and co president of the game sports podcast and 91 Network. And we miss you every day, Scott. And to you, the listeners and viewers from wherever you are listening or tuning in, if you're going through any struggles or challenges, please make sure you reach out to those who can support you, to the support services, or don't hesitate to reach out to anyone here on the game or 91 network. We think of you every day, Scott. Oh, yeah. And it's time for the game sports podcast is your host, David McCaig, junior. Right off the hop I am joined by the one, the only, the rookie of the year, if you know, you know, Connor Henderson. Connor, my friend. How goes it, my friend?
[00:01:23] Speaker B: I'm doing well, Dave, how are you doing today?
[00:01:25] Speaker A: I'm good, man. You know what, honestly, baseball, obviously with you being here, we're going to be talking some diamond, talking some baseball. But baseball playoffs started today, today being October 1. Can't believe I'm saying that already. October 1, how time is flying by. Some games have already happened. Obviously, you and I couldn't connect prior, so we're going to talk about it now. The wild card, those in full swing, if you will, obviously, as the playoffs is here for major League baseball, my friend, and we're here to talk about it. And we also have some fun news to get into. So I want to go into that fun news first. I call it fun news. That's what I'm going to call it today before we get into the playoffs and of course, the Tigers. One piece of fun news, as I say it again, that I want to get into is Shohei. Oh, tawny, for a minute. Okay. Beginning of the year, here I am ripping on the guy as a Blue Jays fan because of anger and honestly, really a little bit of delusional thoughts thinking that absolutely something like that would happen. And Shohei Ohtani sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers and everything's going to script this year, right? And Shohei is as advertised. The guy is an absolute, he's the best player in baseball. Okay? That's just said. He is the best player in baseball. He, he can hit, he can pitch. He does it all. He had over 50 50 season, which it hasn't been done. And even when a position player was pitching, he showed no remorse. And the guy hit it probably to the stratosphere. I don't even know if that number was calculated or counted. But Shohei had quite the season. You got to say, Conor, very impressive.
[00:03:01] Speaker B: I saw a really interesting Shohei quote the other day where he said that the pressure's off when he's in Los Angeles with the Dodgers, very contrary to where he was with the, with the Angels prior. Because in with the Dodgers, every time he's up at the plate with runners in scoring position, he doesn't feel as stressed because he knows that, that his team will support him and that there's other opportunities for them to score runs. Whereas when he was with the Angels, everything rode on, making sure that he had to capitalize on those opportunities or they weren't going to win. And taking that pressure off of his shoulders has really freed him up to just absolutely dominate at the plate this year.
[00:03:41] Speaker A: Honestly, two points before we go to our next point. Then Mike Trout was his teammate, obviously is still part of the Angels. They thought that would be the, the big mountain, the monsters, right? Those two guys. And then Trout couldn't stay healthy. But I think Shohei had that support there. He would have had the intention of Rendon. They tried, but didn't work there with the Angels. And that's a very good point. Very good quote. Con, I'm very happy you brought that up because the Dodgers are a well put together team. Wookie bets to Oscar. The list goes on.
[00:04:12] Speaker C: Okay?
[00:04:12] Speaker A: There's obviously more to it there than that. Or pitching is very well. It's a very well established organization, to say the least. But you know what? This can segue into our second point very smoothly. Okay? If there's somebody that's in Toronto right now that I probably feels alone on that mountain in Toronto, and that is this man right here, and I gotta say it, pay the man. I say that every so. But this guy right here, Vladimir Guerrero, Junior. Okay, he must be feeling a little bit of that pressure, Conor, that maybe Shohave was feeling and Toronto shouldn't be that team. They have pieces there that should be complimentary to him. But this year it was basically, it's. Besides beginning of the year, it was Vladimir Guerrero show for the entirety of the season and it was disappointing to get 200 hits. But you got to feel that, you know, that's that type of guy that can have those other pieces fall into place. Shoe a had pieces. He joined a team that was nice. And Vladimir Guerrero junior is that type of guy that can bring those type of players to Toronto to make, to complement that. Do you think if Vladimir Guerrero had more of that support this year that maybe had last year, year before, just overall support in general, we'd be talking a different Blue Jay season?
[00:05:18] Speaker B: Absolutely. Yeah. No, you need to give a supporting cast. Baseball is not basketball. It's not even hockey in terms of the impact that one player can have on a team. While it's really great to have a superstar and a face of the franchise like Vlad Guerrero junior and the G should hold onto him for dear life, I seriously think that they need to start supporting him and time has long passed for, for that. So.
Yeah, I completely agree.
[00:05:48] Speaker A: Last thing before we get into the playoffs, I think it goes without saying Pete Rose passed away, obviously, and I want to.
I want to discuss something about Pete Rose. I've been very passionate about that man should be in the hall of Fame. I've said that it's not just because of the news that came yesterday. I've said that on this podcast for years. And obviously we talked to. We've talked scandals on the show to no end in this segment, I should say. And obviously Pete Rose has been in the forefront of that before, in the past. But there is a guy that has the hit record and obviously will have the hit record probably forever. I don't think anyone that's one of those untouchable records, just like DiMaggio's history. Yeah, there's ones that you won't touch. But obviously baseball lost one of its greats and I'm going to say this, it might not be, and this is the whole point of this topic. In this point, I want him in the hall of Fame and I think he should be in the hall of Fame still.
But if he gets in because of now what has happened, yeah, that would be so disappointing to see. But is it going to happen that way? That remains to be seen. Despite that, he should be there and I hope that he does get in there soon. But I think this year, year after might be a little too soon. Connor. I. I hope it isn't because of this. That he gets in. He should have been able to enjoy getting into the hall of fame as when he was alive.
[00:07:17] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. To touch on a couple of things there first. Yeah, there's, there's no shot in hell anybody's going to ever touch that hit record, especially nowadays where modern baseball has swung so much more towards going for extra base hits. And singles aren't really like, you don't see 300 hitters anymore. Like they're, they're rare as can be.
Two if they put him into the hall of fame just because he died, which, I see your point. Yeah. There's certainly the higher probability now that he gets in because he's dead, which is weird and silly.
It would be a hollow sort of, you know, sort of pure pyrrhic victory there.
Third, with the proliferation, excuse me, of sports gambling in our society, good God, you cannot turn on a sports game nowadays without bet whatever.com shoving itself down your throat.
With the amount of gambling addicts that modern day sports and same day sports betting has created over the last five years, it's honestly shocking that something like the Pete Rose scandal still hangs over its head. But baseball has taken a very hard stance on cheaters, which is silly because everybody who's ever played baseball knows that cheating and cheating has always been a part of baseball since the beginning of time. But for some reason, whether it's steroids or whether it's gambling, geez, with Barry Bonds, they didn't even technically catch him and he's still banned. So it, like, you know, it is what it is.
Yeah, but poor Pete Rose, nobody's touching that record. Should he be in the hall of Fame? Like, yeah, like, I mean, probably, I don't know. Everybody was cheating and for him it was gambling. But still it is what it is.
[00:09:09] Speaker A: It is. Now I'll say one popular take for the listeners and viewers what will get touched first if it does DiMaggio's hit streak or Pete Rose is hits. Oh wait, I think DiMaggio.
[00:09:22] Speaker B: Oh, for the viewers, sorry, I was ready to.
[00:09:24] Speaker A: What? I'll say that. Answer it. Yeah, go ahead.
[00:09:27] Speaker B: I'll say the hit streak because it's fluky, whereas the hits over time for Pete Rose is just mathematically improbable where you can kind of luck your way into one. You're not going to luck your way into 3000 plus hits.
And obviously, yeah, there's only a handful of players who even have the talent to do it. But anybody in the MLB can, can like ride a couple hot months if they had to on the hit streak.
[00:09:56] Speaker A: Is it going to be shohei? Just kidding. Now, speaking of playoff baseball, Conor, no times limited. So we're going to transition to playoff baseball. Two topics in playoff baseball. One, we'll talk about a team. Of course, we're saved that for last because you deserve it, okay? You deserve, especially if you're a fan. But I appreciate that. Obviously, you got the Tigers, Astros. I got the Royals. You got the Orioles got the Mets, brewers got the Braves, Padres. Those are teams that are in the wild card rounds, battling and out. Today, before we recorded Connor, the Tigers beat the Astros three to one. And the case KC Royals beat the Orioles. To make sure I say that slow, because a lot in that. One nothing.
[00:10:35] Speaker B: One nothing, one nothing.
[00:10:37] Speaker A: And right now, the Mets are leading over the brewers to likely win that ballgame right now. But the brains to be seen, it's baseball. They also have the Braves and Padres tonight. So all four, all teams are in action. And you got also everybody playing tomorrow at which is when this episode is going to be uploaded. So people are going to hear game two. So we're not going to dive into news of each game. But obviously teams are waiting. The wins, the Yankees, the Guardians, the Dodgers and the Phillies. Okay, those are the teams of that are waiting in the winds as the wild card goes on here. Con, I'm very excited and I'm kind of gonna steal a show a little bit with the wild card round. I'm excited about all the games that can go either way. Honestly, I really thought the Orioles were gonna have make a clean sweep of the Kansas City Royals. Okay, that's where I thought, I know the Tigers. They're gonna, that series, I think is going to three and I think we're gonna see the Michigan, you see that Michigan boys come out on top on that. Okay. But obviously the Mets and Brewers, I'm hoping the brewers could put up a bigger fight there. This is a team that's such a strong season, looks strong this year. The Mets were like this then they were like this, okay. Like, this is a team that I feel the brewers can truly beat. The Braves are in a position that they truly shouldn't be in. This is a team that has a big payroll, a stacked team, and they are in a wild card position. Okay? This should have been, in my opinion, a divisional favorite to make it all up, to make it into, to not be in a wild card spot. And everyone knows that I have a soft spot for those Padres. Okay? So I'm pulling for Tatis and those boys. Okay. In San Diego, or San Diego, if you will. Okay, pull away against the Atlanta Braves. I think we got a very exciting wild card round. I think we got teams that are going to make it exciting. But the series is that I'm really highlighted for Astros, Tigers, and I'm also thinking of the Padres and Braves. Those are the two series I'm really keeping an eye on. So I know tonight after we record where my eyes are going to be going on that Padres and Braves game, lots of talent and the games will be figured out by tomorrow, likely when this is uploaded, as we, well, probably won't finish all the series in the wild card, but we're going to have maybe a couple done, especially after today with some teams getting a win, but the teams that are waiting in the wins. Okay, we're going to get back to talking about one team that I want Conor to talk about. Then Conor and I are going to give you the prediction for our World Series champion, Connor. Talk about the Detroit Tigers, though. Okay. They are, a lot of our viewers and listeners are Tigers fans, given where we're at. So we are going to give them a little bit of love. You're only going to get a little bit of me when it comes to playoff preview. When we get into the divisional series, that's where Connor and I will dive into a little bit more, but Connor, take it away. About the Tigers. How'd they get here? 0.2% chance. And they did it halfway through August.
[00:13:15] Speaker B: 0.2% chance. Dave. Oh my goodness. Okay, so this is one of the most historic runs that baseball scene I've heard people quote since the 1960s, 15 and three down the stretch. But then also they needed some historical losing ahead of them in the standings to help them along the way. It wasn't just they're doing, it was some catastrophic failures that we don't need to discuss. But, yeah, no, it's been fantastic. They're doing a modern approach to pitching, which is, um, using the opener, um, going with long relief, specifically not letting their weaker pitchers face either the top of the order of the other team's batting order more than once, uh, but trying to maximize, um, the innings usage along the way by having, you know, an elite relief pitcher start the game for an inning or two and then having a long reliever face the bottom of the order, then the top, but they're coming in as a different look and then the bottom of the order again before going back to a top five bullpen in the league. Basically. Tarek, Scubal and Montero is their other starter were there only two pitchers who could go long down the stretch? They had some other guys, Ty Madden, Kentamaeda.
But for the most part, they were running a two starting pitcher system because they traded Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson got hurt, and their starting rotation was in complete shambles. Now they find themselves 10 against the Houston Astros, AJ Hinch's former team. AJ Hinch being the head coach of the Tigers, who was in the cheating scandal with the Astros a few years back. And to top things off, having a guy like Tarek Scubal, who is the triple crown winning, left handed starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, one of the best in the game, being able to go out there and win you one of three in a best of three, what better situation could you ask for if you're them?
[00:15:14] Speaker A: What were we talking about a month and a half ago? Why the Tigers didn't trade scuba and why they didn't trade this man. And now we're sitting here talking about, oh, my, they're in the playoffs. Oh, my goodness. What was the payout? I don't have the math. If I would have put a $1,000 down, I'm not going to do it. I'm going to embarrass myself or pull it out. But you know what I wish. I wish we would have put some money down, Connor. Okay. Maybe we'd be recording right now in Houston talking about these games with, with Tigers jersey. I'd wear a Tigers jersey for you. Okay.
[00:15:49] Speaker B: I'll tell you what. It's been ten years since I've seen them in the playoffs, which, when I heard that the other day, it didn't seem right. It didn't seem right, but apparently it is. I was in high school, back when they were last in there, when they had their 2012 World Series team that lost in the World Series. They had the Miguel Cabrera's, the Justin Verlanders, these perennial future hall of Famer guys, and now with this scrappy bunch, they've got, I mean, they've got one all star pitcher in scuba, one all star player in Riley Green, who's like a decent outfielder. And it's just a bunch of guys, you know, and it's just a bunch of scrappy wins, guys you've never heard of. And they're just piecing it together one game at a time.
[00:16:33] Speaker A: And you gotta love it, and you gotta love, and I gotta share. Obviously, the late Scott Nason was a big Tigers fan. Obviously, our original co founder with yours truly with the game, huge Tiger fan. So obviously, you know, there's a lot of Tiger fans that I know, and that includes you, Connor. And there's a lot of people cheering right now for those Tigers. And I know who I'm going for this playoffs, but that doesn't mean that's who I'm picking, if I may say that. Now, speaking of that, as we transition and next, next week, Connor, we have a more clear picture of the playoffs. We'll dive into a bit more of this series and the teams in general. But before we let you go, cause I know you have to go, the World Series prediction between yourself and me, I'll go first, and then I'll leave it to you. The best for last World Series prediction. I will say I hope the Tigers make it. I am pulling for the Tigers. My dream World Series this year is Tigers Padres. Okay, that is my dream World Series is Tigers Padres, but with the Padres getting the win. Okay, I just got to say it. That's my dream World Series. Going the distance. Just kidding. I just psyched everybody out. Tigers getting the win over the Padres in seven. Of course, that'd be my dream to see close to home. If it's not the jades getting there, I'd love to see the Tigers get there and when it's close to home with that. But my favorite and what the one that I would like to see is Tigers, Padres going seven, Tigers getting the win. But that's not my true prediction. My true prediction this year, and I was really torn, but I was going to be very boring here at first, but I changed my mind. Dodgers Guardians, that is my finals, not the Yankees. I will not say the Yankees are going to make it. And I got Shohei. Oh, Tony getting his World Series championship this year. Connor, your prediction.
[00:18:16] Speaker B: Good picks. Dave, I got to say, you've had a lot of success making picks on this show. In the baseball world, I can't speak to other sports, but in the baseball world, you've had strong playoff picks in the past. So it's, it's never a bad idea to, to follow those predictions. I'm going to follow one of them. I am going to put the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series as I always do. I'm a big Dodgers simp.
And what better, in my view, what better than not a Dave McKegg, but a David, biblical David versus Goliath matchup from midwestern Michigan's.
[00:18:52] Speaker A: Oh, God.
Let's go. Tell me.
[00:18:56] Speaker B: Detroit Tigers.
[00:18:57] Speaker A: Yeah, you did. Yeah, you did.
[00:18:59] Speaker B: And those west coast elites, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Let's go. There's the wild card team versus the perennial west coast super superstars. We have to put an end to their regime once and for all. AJ Hinch is going to bring the boys there. Let's go. Oh, with their hands tied behind their backs, Dave, I will die on that hill. Let's go.
[00:19:22] Speaker A: They are hot. They are hot. Listen, it's not a bad take. They are hot. They've been the hottest team in baseball since who knows when. Now. That's how long it has been. Love it, love it, love it. Connor, this has been obviously the strike zone segment here on the game. Connor, I know you got some hoops to play. It's not really. I do, obviously. So I'm going to let you go, but. And of course, we got Justin Heiko waiting in the winds, waiting in the wings. Sorry. Easy for me to say. To come on to chat a little hockey and football. So, Connor, I want to thank you for taking the time, my friend. We'll be back on the next show to talk the next series, which we hope the Tigers are a part of.
[00:20:00] Speaker B: See you then, Dave. I can't wait.
[00:20:02] Speaker A: We'll be right back here on the welcome back to the Game sports podcast. David McKay, continuing to host you this evening, I am now joined by Justin Heikel. Justin, with the best background every week for multiple reasons. I say it every week. Joker, x wing, you name it. Okay. Not just the leaf. How do you got on? How's it going, my friend? Another week here, another episodes. How you doing?
[00:20:24] Speaker C: Well, lead in with the little jab here on the Steelers, I guess. Well, we'll start there. Just a little poke.
But I can't, like, honestly, I can't be too abusive because I picked the Steelers to win last week, so.
But, you know, good game, awesome game. Good to see the, the Colts and old man Flacco out there.
[00:20:44] Speaker A: I didn't text. Just everyone knows I didn't text him.
[00:20:47] Speaker C: But, you know, we got a lot of sports stuff to talk about here. There's a little bit of heat on the Leafs from the weekend. We got some football to talk about. Some good stuff here.
[00:20:55] Speaker A: Lots of stuff. And it's funny that you brought the Steelers and colts. We did have a bet last week that the loser would have to eat hot wings. And I did make that bet last year with EJ, and I was unsuccessful in that, too. So I had to eat hot wings last year. That video was not made public because it wasn't really professionally recorded at the right time. So now my wife knows of this bet and wants to make sure. This is actually professionally recorded and uploaded. So now I gotta eat the hot wings and that will be uploaded on our social media accounts once that is completed plan this week or next that we will be doing that. Usually I'd like to do it in the presence of Justin Hyko, but given our lives, it's sometimes hard to arrange. So either if he's there or not there, I will order the hot wings. They will be hot. That I can assure you. I'll even record that point if I have to. And I will eat them and I will eat them with pride because they're gonna be delicious because they're from good friend of ours, SportsCenter bar and grills who save me, Ontario's best sports bar and I've been a part of the game sports podcast since 2016. Love it. That is, that is a family right there. That is SportsCenter and that's where I'll be eating those wings. But I still going to hold up my Palamalu and Steelers jersey there and obviously pay the man up top, as I said, last segments. But that jersey is going to be.
[00:22:10] Speaker C: Coming down to put that away.
[00:22:11] Speaker A: Yeah, it's about time to put that down. It will be. By next week we'll have a New Jersey back or New Jersey up there or back up there. We'll see. But yes, lots of sports. Justin, before we get into in the pocket to tap off the show, we're going to get into some hockey here. So what we've been doing the last couple weeks is we've had just one segment, we've talked hockey, we've included baseball and football into one. And of course we do still commercial free at this current time for the best experience for our listeners and viewers. But we had Connor in the first part, obviously. And we went into baseball for about 20 minutes there and it was great to have Conor come on as the baseball season, it comes to a close in playoffs is here. And him being a Tigers fan, very happy for him. It's a exciting time. But Justin, we are going to get into hockey here at some points. And first point that I want to get into before we go get into in the pocket to end the show is Jeremy Swamon. Okay. And now I don't want to dive into too much of this, but I do at the same time because now he could resign before this is uploaded tomorrow. And we're always cautious about that. So we're not going to predict where he's going or maybe we will, depends. But Jeremy Suymande is an RFA Boston Bruins goaltender. If you know, you know hockey, you already know. But just to explain to those who may not know. And the Boston Bruins traded Almark to the Ottawa Senators this season. And. And part of that asset they got copper sallow coming back was a part of the, the trade, of course. And the Boston Bruins were expecting to go into this season with corpore Salo and with Suyman re signed. That was kind of their hopeful direction. And obviously all Mark Swayman, good buddies. And throughout the summer Sueman didn't get signed and now we're hitting the end of the preseason. NHL season is literally a couple days away as it starts in Prague this upcoming weekend. Can't make sure I remind everybody of that despite doing our season preview next week. Remind everyone we're not doing a season preview on this episode. It's going to be next week.
Still. Puck drops this weekend then the Boston Bruins do not have their starting goaltender. They have one. They have a starting goaltender, but it's not the one that they planned on going into the season. And the way things are cooking, it isn't really good looking, if you will. That's all that I'll say. Apparently 64 million reasons is not a reason to be stating in a press conference because we've had some feedback that that's not true. And now we got. Now we got this going on. So here we go.
[00:24:32] Speaker C: That's messy stuff. I mean, especially from an organization like the Bruins, right?
[00:24:38] Speaker A: You don't hear of that. And I love it. I love it.
[00:24:40] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. 100%. I, I like seeing the Bruins, like, have a Jerry Jones kind of moment where they're just out there talking shit right out of their ass in the public. And I mean, maybe they did offer him $64 million, but that's hysterical, too, because he's played like, what, 130 games total.
[00:25:00] Speaker A: Yeah. Just under that. Yeah.
[00:25:03] Speaker C: Why are you gonna give him like, top of the line goal? I'm not saying he's not worth it. Like, we're not, we're not. That's not in the conversation right now. It just, it seems like an awful lot of.
And the other end of, like, if they offered him that, I'm pretty sure you want to sign. I don't think so, too. I think that's.
[00:25:23] Speaker A: There's no way you wouldn't have taken that deal. There's no chance.
[00:25:26] Speaker C: His agent is notoriously a bit of a tough to deal with kind of guy, but, I mean, the agent's job is to get what's best for his client. So it's. Yeah. He's tough to deal with if you're the team, but if you're the guy who's, you know, paying him to rep you, you're probably pretty happy with the outcome that, uh, you know, he's pulling in. And I think, honestly, in my gut, if they said, we would like to pay you $64 million, everyone would have said, cool, let's do it. But let me give. The Bruins are notoriously cheap. I mean, everyone's always. You've heard stories coming out of the. Was it. I think, like Marty Turco said, he had to bring his own Gatorade. They didn't have a Gatorade fridge in the locker room. That's kind of. I mean, whether it's true or not, and whether he even said that, I don't know. This is just stuff you hear in the ranks.
[00:26:11] Speaker A: But let me, let me ask you, let me, let me ask and tell you this. So I'm going to tell you this, Justin, more. Ask the viewers and listeners for this. The highest paid goalie in the national hockey League. I'm going to put you on the spot for this, Justin. It's between two people. Do you know who they are? Just take a guess. I am putting you right on the spot. So I have it up. So I'm cheating.
[00:26:29] Speaker C: I kind of wanted to say, like, in my gut, it's either, um, Sorokin or buddy from the Rangers, or yoast, not yosi sorrows.
[00:26:40] Speaker A: So, good guesses. But the top two are Vasilevsky and Holabak making ten. Okay, number three is Sorokin. Sorokin's making 8.2. Number four, Gary Price is actually still making a good chunk of change. But besides that, that is Jordan Bennington making 7.5. So if Sorok. If Soroka. Nope. We're talking Sue Minh. If Wayman was making $8 million, he'd be the fourth highest paid goaltender in the National Hockey League. So let's talk about pedigree. Vasilevsky has won multiple cups, okay? Halle Buck has not, okay? But he is worth is. That's a pretty steep. But he's a, he's, he's a goal. You can win you games. Except last year's playoffs, he didn't really play that extremely well. So Sterkin, after this year, when his free agency comes up and they have to resign him, he's definitely going to get a massive payday. And there's no way that that guy is not the highest paid goaltender in the NHL. Or at least by the end of this year, he might be a $12 million guy for a goaltender, which is.
But Jeremy Swamon would be a top five paid goaltender in the league for a guy who has only played, like Justin said, 132 games approximately in the National Hockey League. And as I sit here, I'm going to pull up his exact stats so everyone can see. So he's played 132? Yeah. Justin's got that exact on the dot.
That's pretty bang on for the playoffs. He has played a total of. That'd be 17 plus one's 1820 games. Me doing math here while we're talking 20 playoff games with a guy who has not won a Stanley cup. Okay. He's had a. He's had a good playoff performance.
He's done. Done well. He's had good seasons. He had a two, five, three last year. But this is a guy who ultimately, is he really worth this right now? If I'm a guy who is playing swayman on the market, the market, he is likely around that $7 million range. Okay? But if I'm a team pain Swaymande, and on the old market, he's seven to seven and a half, as I think is what they would get on the old market. But if I'm a guy who I. Who would want to offer money, I think he's about six and a half. That's kind of the flesh hole that I would go with Swayman. But if you are going eight years, that is that what you're paying for, right. You're paying for somebody who's going to get older and get better, and you're expecting that. So Swayman to get offered eight, as Justin said, there's no way that Swayman wouldn't take that for Suyman to think that he is worth more than a Vasilevsky or the same as a sorokin. Vasilevsky. Sorokin hasn't won anything. Okay, so he's. He's not. Sir, I would take Sorokin over Swayman any day.
[00:29:05] Speaker B: I'm sorry.
[00:29:06] Speaker A: I take Hallebach and Vasilev ski over Swayman.
[00:29:08] Speaker C: Oh, those 200% sorokin, I'm not sold on. Okay, so the playoff appearances, that's the. And I mean, that's. That's where you should make your money. I mean, especially us being fans of, you know, playoff appearances is what should get you paid. That doesn't necessarily. Certain markets will pay you whatever, whenever. But honestly, like, he's not.
I don't. I don't.
[00:29:34] Speaker A: He's not worth ten. Is he worth eight? I would give him eight. So I know I said, he's seven on the market and he's six and a half. But if I'm eight by eight, I think that's fair. And I think Swayman would take that. That's the point. He would take it. That's why I think that's a. Yeah, I don't.
[00:29:48] Speaker C: I think Cam Neely is just kind of being a dink, honestly, in that whole situation, throwing that comment out there. And I don't even, that might have just been like, you know, sometimes I say stuff and then a week later.
[00:29:58] Speaker A: It'S like, ah, but that's on the other side of that for a minute. Do you actually think that maybe that just slipped and he didn't think, and that actually was a number, right. It's kind of like the way that he said it was so quick was so it didn't seem like he meant to place it or start it. He's kind of said, yeah, I gave him 64. You know, it's one of those things where you say it and go, huh. Yeah, I wasn't thinking that. That came out. So, you know, obviously, the agent that's going to be mad because now you're criticizing his client. Right.
[00:30:28] Speaker C: You're negotiating through the public, too, and that's not.
[00:30:32] Speaker A: But you got to think. You have to think that tarnishes a little bit of a relationship there between definitely the organization. There's no way that he. People saying there's no way that he plays this year for Boston. I think he does. I think he still does. I still think he does. But I. Sure, sure.
[00:30:51] Speaker C: I think a check that has multiple zeroes on the end of it will solve a lot of problems.
[00:30:56] Speaker A: Yeah, we gave you 64. How 70. Okay, we'll give you $70 million. We'll make a joke out of it.
[00:31:01] Speaker C: Okay. Like, let's meet in the middle here and, you know, like, I don't know. I think if he continues on the trajectory that he's at, and the Bruins haven't been, like, spectacular the last few years. They've been good, but they haven't been the Boston Bruins of five years ago with that defense and that forward crop. So, I mean, Sue Min has had to work quite a bit. He's been. They've been sharing the load. And so, I mean, if one of them starts to dip a little bit, the other one could take a beating for a while. But I think in four years, three or four years, Swayman, at $8 million a season, is probably a super reasonable contract.
[00:31:33] Speaker A: I think so. And I think that's what Boston's kind of looking at it as, or maybe Boston wants to front, or maybe Swayman is company, want to want to front load it more. And I'm sitting here thinking, well, Boston hasn't been one to pay a lot of money, right? But now look at this offseason, Sidoroff Lindholm past make it 11.25. Base of Boston has been a bit more open with spending money, but Marshant is hitting his, his, his older years now. And this is a team that has, is aging Charlie coils, 32. Lindholm is 29, and they just gave him a little bit of dough. Pasternak is, he's not old, he's not young. He's in the prime of his career, hitting the 28 years old mark. You know, you have some younger guys coming up, but are they going to be the Marsh ants, the Bergerons? Are they going to be those guys? So, so maybe Suyman's thinking, in eight years, do I want to be on this team? Am I going to be, when I met the prime of my career, when I'm hitting my 30th year, am I going to be on a team that's still trying to get back into the playoffs? How's this going to look?
[00:32:31] Speaker C: So I think we could go at this for longer than we'd like to. But I mean, again, like, on that perspective, too, like Dennis contract is super tradable because if you're going to have guys that are making, you know, obviously there's going to be the next VAsilEVSKy we're going to see in the next few years. There's going to be the next, hopefully a carry price or a north american goalie that comes out of the shadows because it's been real rough on that front for a while.
And you, and then that stepping stone is going to be, well, Vassey's making this much money.
[00:32:59] Speaker A: Why aren't I?
[00:33:00] Speaker C: Then I should be making, I'm at least two or $3 million better than him.
[00:33:04] Speaker A: Right.
[00:33:04] Speaker C: And if the NHL continues on the trajectory they'd like to continue on, then the salary cap is only going to continue to go up. So.
[00:33:11] Speaker A: Yeah, and that's where, when, the funny thing is when spitting chicklets, and I'm going to give them credit for this. When they uploaded that trade rumor about, oh, lucky, now Swayman going to Boston or going to Ottawa for all Mark cutting edge. It's actually kind of funny. And then it was taken down. It's actually kind of funny because I actually don't think that's unrealistic. That they would do that. But obviously all. Mark's been a little bit comfortable in Ottawa.
[00:33:34] Speaker C: Boston's not dealing from a position of power now. Honestly, I'd love to see. I don't. I'm not sure on the specifics and how it works right now, but if someone could still offer sheet him, the Bruins over Toronto.
[00:33:47] Speaker A: Won't happen. But.
[00:33:50] Speaker C: And honestly, we've got that. I don't even know his name, but. Yeah, him. The hildebeest.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: The hildebeest. I like. You got to think, like, if you're San Jose. No. Right. But let's really think about it for a second. Vancouver knucks.
[00:34:06] Speaker C: Well, that's. That's what I was thinking.
[00:34:07] Speaker A: Like, they got. They just took Zador off and Lindholm, Thatcher Demko is. Has got an injury that they can. Can't even treat. Okay. Like, the guy is. Is not going to be 100% probably ever. You need a goalie, and you have a team last year that had such a good season. Okay? You have nothing to lose. You've made the playoffs. Your first round pick. If you make the playoffs, it's. No, no, no. It's okay. If you have elite first to give up that pick for a goaltender of that stature. Okay? And I'm sure if Boston ain't gonna do a trade with you, which I. Maybe they would. Unless you're giving up some assets. Nope. Here's an offer sheet. And then now you got Boston going. Oh. Oh, no. Like, now they. Maybe they match it. Maybe. Maybe they match it. But you put nine and a half million dollars on the table for five or for four years. Something small that Suman's gonna accept, just in case. Boss. That does accept it, now, you're in a different ballgame. If you're Boston, things change. That million dollars means something. And that's where people say, oh, Detroit should get into there. Yeah, they would make sense. They would. But I truly think the best fit is the Vancouver Canucks for Jeremy sue. Man, I really think that would just be the best fit.
[00:35:17] Speaker C: Solely on just the topic of disturbing shit. The Montreal Canadiens.
[00:35:24] Speaker A: Why not? The teams need goaltending. Montreal, like Detroit. Vancouver could use the assistance. Who else am I thinking of?
[00:35:32] Speaker C: Montreal's got a tv show right now that makes for good tv.
[00:35:36] Speaker A: Let me give you another one that I was even thinking of. St. Louis, Boston, Bennington, Swayman.
[00:35:42] Speaker C: You imagine Bennington in Boston?
[00:35:43] Speaker A: Well, there'd be more. Cause women, in my opinion, is worth more than Bennington.
[00:35:47] Speaker C: He's just a luna. He's fucking loose cannon.
[00:35:50] Speaker A: You got corpus Sal and Bennington there with marchant. Like, that's. That's cinema. That. That is cinema. Then he got Zador off now back there. So you got just a guy who runs wild on that defensive core. I think that's something to watch out for, too. I think if Boston's going to lose Swayman as I fix my headset, I think they're going to look at something to maybe it was itchy and then it went up. So thank you for making sure. That's good, though. I know we want a little extra there, but it's a hot topic today. We got to make sure we talk about it.
[00:36:19] Speaker C: It was a good one, honestly, I've never. You don't often see that kind of, I don't know, blooper, whoops type moment from general manager presidents of teams.
[00:36:29] Speaker A: Like, that's why it's so believable. It slipped. If someone not had something slip, well.
[00:36:34] Speaker C: It'S the heat of a moment. Like, he's obviously annoyed.
[00:36:37] Speaker A: Right.
[00:36:37] Speaker C: Not happy getting asked that question.
[00:36:39] Speaker A: Right. So he's like, in sing. That's like, it's such. It's such a quick response. It's like he knew and they said no yesterday.
[00:36:47] Speaker C: It's just his brain mouth filter wasn't there. Like, I'm bad for it. I do it all the time. Like, so that, like, to me, that's a hundred percent what that looks like.
[00:36:55] Speaker A: And why is the agent getting defensive? Like, I feel like they shouldn't. I feel that that. Don't answer. Don't answer. That is the best direction. Don't respond. Let people talk about it. Let people think what's going on. And then you negotiate on the side, or you say, hey, look, you messed up. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to get traded. Now you've really messed it up. Yeah, maybe I did deny it. So I do actually think they might have offered him that. I know the agent said no and all that stuff, but that's quite the slip for someone to have. But I'd like to know what people think below and what do you. What are the options? It can get real tight, real, real exciting lead up to the season. Is he gonna sign? He's gonna get traded. Offer sheeted. Let's do it. Let's go. Give me some. Give me some juice. Give me some. Give me something.
Justin, speaking of food and num num, Utah and their concession prices. Okay, you can go to Utah and get a water, get a nacho, get a pop, get a dog, get for $15.
[00:37:52] Speaker C: Ice cream. Ice cream was like, $3.
[00:37:54] Speaker A: You go to the Scotiabank arena. I'll get a. I'll get a beer. Beer XYZ, please. I'm not gonna give anyone free promotion. I'll get a beer XYZ, please. Okay, sir, they'll be 1950, plus it's 15% interest every second you make me wait while you buy it.
[00:38:09] Speaker C: So you know what? One crazy thing to me, too. And maybe, like, maybe I'm just old school now, but, like, you go to the ACC or the Scotia bank or whatever the fuck it's called this week. Arena.
Whatever I got. Yeah, I'll get a beer and you pull out a 20. They're like, oh, no, we don't.
We don't accept money here, sir. We only credit.
[00:38:34] Speaker A: This is only credit.
[00:38:37] Speaker C: No cash. We don't do cash here. Well, how the fuck am I supposed to tip the guy? Like you guys like, you understand you're getting hosed a little bit here, right? When all the tips are just going through the old Internet machine.
[00:38:48] Speaker A: Like, yeah, getting. Because I'm hitting no tip in hand. I'm hitting no tip on that. When I'm getting that through tapping that note. Tip.
[00:38:57] Speaker C: Go to the greyhound game. I get a soda there, a little bit of change in the cup, away you go. Prices are accordingly. You get a nice little tip on the other end of that. It's, like, rounded up so you can give them a tuning kind of thing.
[00:39:10] Speaker A: It's unbelievable. I gotta give credit to you. Tough for that. That is affordable prices. Take the family out, spend the money. They're gonna make their money.
[00:39:16] Speaker C: And I understand well, they're trying to get asses in the seats, but I mean, on the. Just to jump sports a little bit. The Atlanta Falcons are another one that does that, where you can go for, like, $20 to Atlanta. Was it like a hot dog and nachos was like $6. Like, together a beer is $3. Like nuts.
[00:39:34] Speaker A: What. What planet?
[00:39:35] Speaker C: Like, Atlanta's an okay team. Like, I would like to go. You know, it's not like you're in a city and it's like 80. You want to go to a Giants game? Absolutely not.
[00:39:44] Speaker A: Carolina game?
[00:39:45] Speaker C: No, I don't hit the Carolina game. They were selling tickets for, like, buy one, get one free, and they were like, $3 a ticket.
[00:39:51] Speaker A: Imagine that in any other in a hotbed of sports. Yankees, if you want to look at.
[00:39:56] Speaker C: Me like, you know, like the giant dealership fucking you. Just like the leaf, sir.
[00:40:01] Speaker A: The cowboys.
[00:40:02] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:40:04] Speaker A: Final thing about hockey before we go to in the pocket, even though that kind of paused that transition. The Leafs and habs this past weekend, a little bit of spice. Jack, I turned into a jackhammer, if you will, and did his old impression of a Bertuzzi move, which is very dangerous. Mad. Very dangerous. And he hits.
[00:40:24] Speaker C: And he got fined the maximum of $22 into whatever the fuck NHL fines are these days. Yeah, that's absolutely ridiculous.
[00:40:32] Speaker A: But that. That is a suspension. That is a ten game suspension. That is something that you, Riley last year for giving someone. Riley for Riley Craig after his debacle, hitting an open net on a slap shot, which. No, no, I loved that emotion with Morgan. Riley. I'm sorry. I love that. But he gave him a cross check right here, okay? I've played hockey. I can tell you right now, I've been cross checked here. I've been cross checked here, here, here. Places. I can't say I've been cross checked in every which place, okay? And nothing feels worse than getting it in the old back of the head. Okay? It does it. You go right down. It's like a kink in the neck waiting to happen. You can land on your shoulder. Your shoulder.
There's nothing there. It's dangerous. Okay? But Riley gets just under a handful of games. Or he might have gotten five, if I remember correctly. Now is it throws three or five. I don't remember.
[00:41:25] Speaker C: Top of my head, Washington, five, to be honest.
[00:41:27] Speaker A: And this happens and get that and gives them everything he's got except the kitchen sink. And the guy gets $3.50 charged for his first fine. And I'm sure the Habs paid for it. And he's not paying any fine of that. I really think the consistency in this league is a joke. And I don't know. I'm not saying it's because they're Toronto favorites. Non, it doesn't matter. This isn't any consistency that warranted a ten game suspension. Five maybe. Maybe? Is that too high? Maybe five to ten game suspension is where you guys start talking. You appeal at ten, it gets down to five or seven. I don't know, something like that.
[00:42:05] Speaker C: I think you just leave that as is. I honestly.
[00:42:08] Speaker A: Okay, then keep it consistent all year then.
[00:42:10] Speaker C: That's what I want all year, given the city. Because that was just situational based. Something had to happen.
[00:42:16] Speaker A: There wasn't Riley's, though. Wasn't Riley's?
[00:42:19] Speaker C: Yeah, 100%. But Jack, I isn't a leader of the team. He's a scrub. Honestly, like, I. I don't. I don't have the authority to be saying who's a scrub and who's not a scrub. But on the food chain of the NHL roster list, how many kids are wearing jackeye jerseys versus how many kids are wearing Morgan Riley jerseys and hold certain people to a level of accountability? Yeah, well, I mean, like, Nick Felino didn't get anything for coming out and molesting Corey Perry awkwardly after that whole incident. And then he just never did anything again in the playoffs. But maybe that was he suspended himself, I don't know.
[00:42:59] Speaker A: But that's when Toronto played Montreal. This everybody.
[00:43:01] Speaker C: But I mean, like, circle back. I want to circle back to the hit that caused all this for a second. Yeah, it's like, I don't. I think it was just an unfortunate series of events. And that's gonna sound like the typical Toronto fan. I honestly think, like, the kid was just standing his ground and he was coming out a little wide because I'm trying to at least make the AHL team here, you know, I want to be on the Marley's this year, and I'm gonna look like a real asshole if this guy comes in at a hundred miles an hour and dks me out, gets around me, pots one on.
[00:43:32] Speaker A: The net line, they can't get a break.
[00:43:34] Speaker C: And like, I just. I just think it's just like between a guy that literally, like you say literally can't get a break and the kid just trying to not look bad. Like, I don't think it was malicious.
[00:43:44] Speaker A: I don't think so.
[00:43:45] Speaker C: Should he have been coming out there like he was snowplowing down search Mount Hill with his fucking legs apart that wide? Probably not.
[00:43:52] Speaker A: Search I hill near Sue Sam Radis.
[00:43:54] Speaker C: Everyone else knows, but like, I just. I don't think there was intent there. I honestly don't. And, like, the guy had tears in his eyes after the game, during the interview. So.
[00:44:03] Speaker A: Yeah, it's not the way that you want to get loan as. Right. You're trying to make a name for yourself. You don't want to be known as that guy Gerald. You're the guy that stuck out his leg on Patrick lining.
[00:44:11] Speaker C: Well, that's.
[00:44:12] Speaker A: That's it.
[00:44:12] Speaker C: Like, and he's got to go through that all season now.
[00:44:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
And the way Jack, I though approach, I get a team guy. Get it. I would do the same in terms of. For sure, but it wouldn't be a punch from behind. You turn the guy around and saying, hey, you have no choice but to fight me right now. I'm not letting you back away. It's one of those moments where you're fighting me, that they're done if you don't fight me, at least I'm grabbing you, telling you, and I'm dropping the Mets and we're going.
[00:44:38] Speaker C: Maybe. But maybe, Jack, I saved him from looking like, you know, a little rough on the old fighting end of it, too, right? Maybe if I just jump them, I don't, like, make them look worse today, I'll beat him up a little bit. I'll look like the asshole. No one's surprised. Obviously, this thought didn't go into it. He was mad and he punched. Like, that's.
[00:44:56] Speaker A: That's the meat and potatoes of it.
[00:44:58] Speaker C: But I. Unfortunate incident. That's all.
[00:45:00] Speaker A: I'm hockey talk. Of course. And the right name for it here on the game is Top shelf. And the inventor of that segment name is the guy on the other end of the camera over there. Not this guy, the other guy. Justin Heiko was calling it top shelf. You probably remember that. That was in 20.
[00:45:15] Speaker C: That was a good one.
[00:45:16] Speaker A: When we renamed it Top Shelf and it was its own little podcast. And now we've obviously integrated our shows into the segments. So usually with segments we have commercials. But like I told you, it's commercial free. Even the space between Connor and here, we did the commercial free, quick free flow. Exactly. So that has been top shelf. Good little teaser because we will have our season preview next week. Okay, I know it's a little bit behind by. Lots can happen between Prague and then lots of news between now, next Tuesday, especially talking Swayman. And we'll have a newcomer to the game sports podcast family who will be joining us on a as can a part time basis. No, I'm just kidding. He's gonna definitely be a part of the hockey crew. And his name will be named on Tuesday. I'm gonna give him a little reveal to allow him to talk about himself, to talk about his official joining. And he'll be coming on the show throughout the hockey season. He will be a part of the hockey segment with myself, with Alex, with Justin, and also when Dane is able to return as well. So we're going to be getting into in the pocket, and it's going to be myself and Justin. And we're going to segue into it right away, right off, right off the hop. It's getting right out of top shelf, into in the pocket. It will be just myself and Justin. EJ wanted me to tell the listeners and reach out to listeners that he's sorry that he hasn't been here the past few weeks. And he did mention that it is okay to ask for help. You wanted me to make sure that I mentioned that on the show in that exact form. And that does tie into which I didn't get the chance to talk about too much at the opener. But obviously September 29, Scott Mason's two year anniversary since unexpected passing has occurred. So I kind of wanted to make sure that when I talk about Scott, I wanted to bring it up in the regard of mental health in general to make sure that you are talking to those around you or reaching out to the resources that are available here, or you can reach out to myself and Justin at any time as well, or anyone here on the game. So we're going to get into in the pocket. In the pocket is presented by SportsCenter bar and Grill, Susie Ontario's best sports bar. Justin, let's get into in the pocket. We're not going to dive into too much from last week because of obviously time and we're going to save our stuff for this week. But there was some stuff last week, okay. And we already talked about our wings. We talked about the Steelers and Colts game window 17, nothing else upset. But the Steelers did make a game out of it. It was a great, it was a good football game coming to the end. I thought maybe there was a hole there at the end, but maybe I'm a particular Steelers fan to say that I didn't want to, but I.
[00:47:41] Speaker C: The officiating was bad all, all week. I feel like all that, every game sucked, honestly. Like it was loose, like there was, there were some bad calls both ways in the Steeler. Like if you're gonna make, I don't know, it shouldn't, you gotta call penalties like the, just because you missed one earlier, so you're ahead. You called. I don't, just call it, just call it penalty.
[00:48:06] Speaker A: Call the penalty. And last week was, I feel, I don't want to say an underwhelming week or I thought I would see a lot more excitement last week, but there was excitement.
[00:48:17] Speaker C: You just were depressed.
[00:48:19] Speaker A: I was probably not watching all, all the right games, but there was some good football to watch. And I really think the game between the Vikings and Packers had a lot of action packed that was going on. Jerry. And the Steelers and Colts are flaking. Flicking back and forth is what I was. The Eagles are just not the Eagles right now. The Buccaneers just running hot shot there. The commanders 40 214 over the Cardinals.
[00:48:41] Speaker C: Saying Jaden Daniels, I think might be the real deal there.
[00:48:45] Speaker A: The real deal. And the Raven said, uh, uh, no.
[00:48:50] Speaker C: Derek Henry said, kent fucked is what he said.
[00:48:55] Speaker A: Get fucked 100%. If everyone wants to know. 199 yards. Yards for.
[00:49:00] Speaker C: They were trying to get him 200.
[00:49:02] Speaker A: They weren't like, the Jays are trying to get Guerrero 200 hits, but, you know, some people can't hit that 200, seems like. But Derek Henry deserved 200 yards that game. He was all over that field. He was great.
[00:49:13] Speaker C: I forget who said it in the garage where we were watching the game, but the comment came up. It's like, why is he wearing a crop top? And then someone else turned around, said, you gonna tell him not to?
[00:49:22] Speaker A: Yeah, him and Matt, two guys. You're not talent.
[00:49:25] Speaker C: He knocked the guy out cold with his thigh.
[00:49:27] Speaker A: Like he had an 87 yard run.
[00:49:31] Speaker C: Yeah. And at 50 yards down the field, there was guys in the other teams. Fuck it. I'm not.
[00:49:36] Speaker A: No, I'm not.
[00:49:39] Speaker C: I'm not jumping in front of that. Fuck you guys. You do it.
[00:49:42] Speaker A: No.
With Henry, with Lamar Jackson. The Ravens said that game that, nah, we're not going to be one and three. We got to be two and two on the season. This is too big of an offense. And the Bills that, after having a 30 start this season, had a little awakening against those Ravens last week.
[00:49:59] Speaker C: I felt bad for Josh Allen. He was running for his life the entire game.
[00:50:03] Speaker A: The entire game.
[00:50:04] Speaker C: Like, he just. Every time I'm going to roll out right and just sprint and scream, because I don't know what's going to happen here.
[00:50:11] Speaker A: And the Bengals and Panthers closer than I anticipated. You got to give credit to Annie Dalton.
[00:50:15] Speaker C: I guess I wanted the Panthers to win. I picked them. I was hoping the red rifle was going to pull it off. Chubba Hubbard, though. Hell of a game.
[00:50:23] Speaker A: Canadian boy.
[00:50:24] Speaker C: Yep.
[00:50:24] Speaker A: Gotta give it to him. The canadian boys looking real good. And truthfully, man, the Bengals are not as strong as I thought. They're gonna bounce back this year. I think this team is very vulnerable. They're beatable each week. I.
Cody Rhodes has to get it. Has to get a new haircut there.
[00:50:41] Speaker C: Yeah. He's got to do something there. Maybe join the bloodline. I don't know. Is that Chase Brown on the Bengals? Is he canadian as well?
[00:50:48] Speaker A: Chase Brown. Let me double check that. Bengals.
[00:50:51] Speaker C: Is he the one? I think him and his brother were both in the NCAA.
[00:50:55] Speaker A: Born in London. That doesn't make. Okay. Western Michigan. Western.
[00:50:59] Speaker C: Okay.
[00:51:00] Speaker A: He's from London, Ontario, Canada.
[00:51:01] Speaker C: So he is canadian.
[00:51:02] Speaker A: And at London, Ontario High School, he's born March 21 in London, Ontario. Chase Brown.
[00:51:08] Speaker C: Yeah. So I think his brother got drafted as well. But that's a, well, that's a deep dig for another day. But yeah, he had, he had a good game. I think he had like 100 yards touchdown. He turned into the guy who's poaching touchdowns at the line. So pick them up in fantasy this week. If anyone else is looking for a running back for the waiver wire, we care.
[00:51:26] Speaker A: There's your guys. Brown go after Canadian. Chase after the Canadian. But Justin, this, I got puns this week. Lots of puns this week. Week five of 18. We're getting, we're already in week five. We're already a month into talking to show getting back into it which is unbelievable. It's great. The 8th season in the pockets flying by. But week five, Justin and the standing sort of changed sort of to kind of, kind of sorta for our pick'em. For those who don't know, our pick'em is we pick through yahoo. Sports. It's a, it's a pick'em every week between myself, Justin and EJ for our picks for that week. And that's likely how you maybe got here to listen to the show is through clips on our picks. But if you listen to me the first week 15 and one, you know, I haven't been as hot as that the whole season yet, but I've been able to hold a nice lead in first and Justin is going to tell you about the standings and talk about our pickups from this past week.
[00:52:20] Speaker C: All right, so not much movement at the top. Keggers, gridiron picks still in 1st 40 points but a big shake up here between two and three picks. Now in second with 35. And the Browns is the Browns in third also with 35. So I believe I won the tiebreaker last week which I think was picking Miami to score the least points.
[00:52:41] Speaker A: Miami Dolphins in trouble. In trouble.
[00:52:45] Speaker C: They were in trouble a long time ago. Now there's something else and I don't know what it is.
[00:52:49] Speaker A: Lots of trouble. Justin, you can lead the way with the picks to start this week.
[00:52:53] Speaker C: So Thursday nighter and like Thursday night has been pretty good this year. We got Atlanta, Tampa Bay pretty torn on this one even. Yahoo. It's showing the like basically 50 50. I'm taking Tampa Bay. I buying in on the Baker train. Atlanta's fun but Bijon's been hosing me in fantasy and for that he has to lose this week. Minnesota over the jets. And the jets look rough. Although there's some Devontae Adams rumors swirling now that he has asked for a trade out of Oakland. I'm taking Chicago over Carolina, the Ravens over the Bengals, because Derek Henry and New England over Miami because someone has to win that one. Washington over Cleveland because, I mean, Deshaun Watson sucks. I'll say that for EJ. I'm sure EJ has way better words for it, but Sean Watson sucks.
[00:53:42] Speaker A: He hasn't been able to defend himself. PJ. Poor guy. Last couple.
[00:53:46] Speaker C: Whatever he's gonna say about Cleveland when he gets back, I'm sure it's been building and it's gonna be glorious. Very good. Indy over Jacksonville, Buffalo over Houston, Denver over the Raiders. Big, big on the Denver train this week or, well, lately.
Bonix with his, like, what, negative passer or passing yards in this first half of the game, but still ended up Oregon alum.
[00:54:11] Speaker A: Oregon alum.
[00:54:12] Speaker C: San Fran over Arizona, Green Bay over the Rams, Seattle over the Giants, Pittsburgh over Dallas on the Sunday night era because the Cowboys need another primetime game. And Casey New over New Orleans. I was kind of torn on that one. Casey has not been spectacular. Patrick Mahomes looking pretty rough and then taking out one of his wide receivers this week. Tiebreakers. Casey, 27. New Orleans, 24. From Pittsburgh, 31. Dallas, 28. Most points this week, the Ravens fewest points this week, Miami. So let's hear what you got, Dave.
[00:54:46] Speaker A: Honestly, we almost had the same picks, but I'm glad before the show I changed it because I changed, two of the picks are different. Okay, so it's really going to make or break going first. Falcons, Buccaneers got the Falcons in that one. That was one of my changes. Vikings over the jets, bears over the Panthers. Ravens over the Bengals, patriots over the dolphins. Commanders over the Browns, colts over the jags. Bills over the Texans. Broncos over the Raiders. Niners over the Cardinals. I got the Rams over the Packers. I originally had the packers over the Rams, but reselected it before recording. Seahawks over the Giants, just cuz and the Steelers over the Cowboys. That was another one of my changes. I did originally have the Cowboys this week, but I gotta go back to my Steelers. I am not a biased picker when it comes to sports, I swear, but I gotta pick the Steelers when it comes at home. I just feel like it's one of those games where Dallas gonna be a trap. Defense is gonna be really lively for the Steelers. Got, got the black and yellow there for that one for the Sunday night. Are very excited. That's a Sunday night game too. Great. Justin isn't. And then I got the Chiefs over the Saints. And I think that was very close for me. Okay. Very close. Guy was. I know that the odds are really in the Chiefs favor, especially being at Arrowhead. But I got the Chiefs getting away with that win. 28 21 is what I have. The Chiefs over the Saints in a close game 24 21, Steelers over the Cowboys. And yes, I had to score the other way before I changed it. Who will score the most points this week? The San Francisco 49 ers. I'm just feeling like Brock Purdy's going to go off this week. I was him and on about the Ravens because of Derek Henry, but not and then the least points. Sorry to Cleveland fans, but the Browns having the least points this week. I'm going to go that low. I don't think the Browns get double digits this week in points. That's how bold I'm going to go. Those are my predictions, very similar to Justin's. Let us know your picks below. We're liking the traction with our picks on tick tock and on Instagram. We'd like to hear that, see the likes, but we want to see more of those comments. So let us know. We did have somebody comment recently and say nice picks. Well, thank you. That was really nice. Yeah. But if you wouldn't mind, if you want to disagree or go against us, feel free because we do go against each other. But Justin and I are fairly close this week in picking our picks. But EJ might not be. But EJ is not here to defend himself on what his picks would be. So that is our week five picks as we go into week five, the National Football League season.
[00:57:06] Speaker C: Just an FYI this week too for everyone. We got a bunch of weird time sporting events this weekend. I NHL is going on in Prague so I believe those are morning games or around ish morning. And then we got a Sunday morning game. Minnesota and the jets on Sunday playing in England I believe.
[00:57:25] Speaker A: So the games this week, you gotta, you gotta check it out. It's always cool to watch the games that are overseas. It is. But the meat and potatoes of the season, especially if you're in Canada, are definitely watching it next Wednesday when puck drops between Elise and Habs and all the canadian teams are in action. But you got joy when they are playing the games over in Europe and they're. It's cool. It is very cool. You know, we've seen the swedish series that we were able to see recently, obviously with the Leafs, the Wings, and I believe Minnesota was the other team in there, if I remember correctly. So it's good to have these international games. It helps grow the game. I'm a fan of that. When it comes to hockey and when it comes to football. Well, this year you got a treat over there later on this year between the, the believe is the Giants.
[00:58:09] Speaker C: You're talking the Giants and Panthers in Germany.
[00:58:12] Speaker A: In Germany, yeah. That's unfortunate. Then obviously earlier this year they had Brazil leagues are trying to get the game to grow and it's good to see. So lots going on, though, this weekend. Like Justin said, when it comes to sports, there's obviously got college football going on as well. I'm not going to sit here and talk about college football to its full degree because that is EJ specialty in the most part. But I got to give love to my Oregon Ducks. They are looking real good. Offense is on fire. They got Michigan State's this Friday and they're actually at the big house November 2. And I've been really, him and Han about going to see them at the big house because I've never been able to see Oregon in a game, but college football is going on. You got the National Football League starting Thursday. Puck drop starts officially this year in the NHL on the weekend. There's a lot to put an asterisk on as we hit the beginning of October. And we can't forget to the sport that we talked at the beginning. Baseball playoffs. IG can't forget that. Lots to really take in and do, which is a good recipe for you to get up in the morning, have your morning coffee, decaf, not tea, whatever your flavor is. Do your workout if you want, go walk your dog, do your little activity in the morning, and you come back in the afternoon and you put your feet up and you enjoy the love of the world, which is sports.
[00:59:28] Speaker C: That's what I mean. You just gotta, you gotta go. You get the coffee, it'll walk in. You get the juices flowing in there.
[00:59:34] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:59:34] Speaker C: Because you're gonna abuse yourself on the couch later in the afternoon.
[00:59:37] Speaker A: You sure are. You sure are. As I sit there with my nachos and homemade salsa, getting in there.
[00:59:42] Speaker C: Tiana making queso on Sunday and I was doing quality control. Afternoon. Then supper time came around. She's like, what do you want for supper? But I've been eating cheese all day. I don't want anything.
[00:59:53] Speaker A: Water and. And water and grapes.
[00:59:56] Speaker C: No, just give me some more kinky. What else can I dip in this cheese? Stop dipping things in the cheese.
A piece of garlic bread. I'm dipping it in the kinks, so it's pretty good.
[01:00:06] Speaker A: I know once. I know on Saturday. There's one thing I gotta give congratulations to a good friend of mine, Anthony Greco, he doesn't know I'm saying his name. I hope he doesn't mind. I feel like he won't. But he's obviously getting married this weekend. It's obviously looking forward to that. It'll be great time. So sports wedding. I know I'm gonna enjoy it. I want to hear what you're gonna be doing. Comment below and let us know your winners for the pickup and tell us if you think Justin and I are crazy because you know what? So a little bit, Justin, I think I've touched on everything. I know if there's one thing that I messed up on in terms I kind of wish I would have touched on the Scott portion at the beginning of the show, but in a little bit more detail. But ultimately, I want to make sure that I remind listeners that next week when we come back, that's when it's going to be our NHL preview show show. So that will be on Tuesday. It'll be uploaded for your enjoyment on Wednesday right before puck drop. As we get to that, we're just.
[01:01:00] Speaker C: Waiting for all the preseason injuries to work their way through so we actually know what players to talk about.
[01:01:05] Speaker A: Exactly. And like I said there wish there was some more detail could have shared at the end, but we want to make sure we give love to Scott Nason. Obviously that's been big whole void for myself and a lot of members here on the game, but obviously we definitely altered the show a lot since then. We have grown and we have a lot of big things coming, especially with our spaces announcements just last week as well. So lots of good things to look forward to here on the show. But I want to make sure I stress everyone that do not be afraid to ask for help at any time, okay? Especially if it comes from us. So I want to say thank you to Connor, who's not here to say you're welcome once more. But you're here. Justin, I want to say thank you to you for taking the time, as always, everyone week to come on. And until next week, my friend, well, I'll be here.
[01:01:49] Speaker C: I'm load up on some good sports giving this weekend with baseball playoffs, college football, NHL, NFL. I mean, I think the WNBA playoffs are going on too. If that's your jam, there's not enough.
[01:02:03] Speaker A: Tv space to watch.
[01:02:04] Speaker C: Caitlin Clark got knocked out, so I kind of checked out after that. I was.
[01:02:07] Speaker A: She's good. She's good at basketball. She's good at basketball.
[01:02:10] Speaker C: That's kind of what was holding me into it. So. So not there anymore. And I believe there's a WWE pay per view this weekend.
[01:02:17] Speaker A: Honestly, that's something that we do talk about. And I can't wait to have you, in part talking about wrestling with me down the road once our schedule gets all lined up and everything. So that's Justin Heikel. He is our, obviously one of our main goals here on the game, but he talks all sports here on this, on this podcast.
[01:02:32] Speaker C: I don't discriminate unless it's basketball management, then I don't really know anything about the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yeah, no, absolutely nothing about NBA management strategies.
[01:02:42] Speaker A: I wish I had a video of that. That is one of the most priceless moments.
[01:02:47] Speaker C: There was audio of it somewhere. Still that would have been.
[01:02:50] Speaker A: There is.
We got to find the date. It's on pod Bean. It's on automatic time. Or if that was pod bean time, because people forget that the game was on automatic before. Wow. I haven't said that.
[01:03:01] Speaker C: You want to hear some ums? That's a, that's a good one.
[01:03:05] Speaker A: There's a lot of there. A lot. That was weird, but there's a lot.
[01:03:10] Speaker C: The video on that was weird.
[01:03:12] Speaker A: Yes, it was. The video was that, but nonetheless, thank you again, Justin. And I want to thank you to everyone to join. Make sure you hit like follow and subscribe and all the platforms of the game. That's tick tock, that's Instagram, that's the 91 network YouTube channel. Okay. And that's also checking us out on Facebook. If you're on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Google, wherever you are, we know that a lot of people don't listen to us on the Amazon. Our Google side. Seems like Spotify and Apple are really popular for that. Spotify has now edged the Apple. Seems like it's went like this and over time it's went like this. So people definitely checking us out on Spotify leave a five star rating to. It really means a lot to us as we are continuing to, to grow on the show, even eight years in, still growing very excited about the next things to come. So until next week, we'll be back on Tuesday for the recording, official upload on the Wednesday. You're hearing this the day before recording as well. So if we've missed anything, well, we apologize, but we hope you've enjoyed the past hour and ten minutes of content because there's a lot to digest there. On behalf of Justin, Connor and everyone here at the game and the 91 network family and myself, I'm here to remind you, keep your stick on the ice, swing your bats, catch touchdowns, drain your threes and shoot your shots. Booyah.
