Blue Jays Offence Erupts for 11 Runs + NBA Lays Down the Law on Kawhi, Clippers

0:001-0 pitch is hit well out to left centerfield. On the run on Hell Martinez, that ball is up the wall. Coming around second, Bateman, he's to third and he'll get the way. Bateman racing home and Hill's score. Hormie I doubled Vladimir Carrero Jr. 1-0 pitch is in high in the air. Teeth to left field. If it's fair, it's gone. And it is way fan and way gone. Three run homer, Vladimir Carrero Jr. And the Blue Jays doubled their lead. 1-1 pitch is hit on the line. Down and right field of Bayes in. One run scores, Bateman. Springer will hold on at third. Nine-nothing Blue Jays lead. A five, RBI Day for Vladimir Carrero Jr. That was nice. It's nice for him to have that swing. You know, a couple of swings. You know, the double on the curveball and the single on the fastball even in the 1200 hits. But it's nice for everyone to kind of exhale.

1:00You know, after you think you're out of the inning and all of a sudden you put a five to five left. So I think everyone has been behind him. You guys know I've been behind him the entire year. And we'll continue to be. But I think that was a little bit of a deep breath for him and kind of a deep breath for everyone. So hopefully he can still remember. Well, that was something different. Fan morning show SportsNet 590 to Pan-Banana and it's Danielle E. Fred-Jesky. And what felt like a bit of a most win? Blue Jays did win. And they did so infatically. They smashed the Guardians 11-nothing. Even the series of the Game of Peace. Thanks to another gem by Dylan Seas. But mostly a huge tape from Vladimir Carrero Jr. It's something we haven't been used to saying the season. And Danielle E. We're done doing like the individual at bat. Individual game thing. Being the reason Vlad is going to turn it around and look like his normal self, I guess. But boy, if we were using one game, that would be the game.

2:01That's the Vlad game, Ben. Simple as that. It's the Vlad game. We've been waiting all year to see something like that. I mean, five RBI and just hitting the ball hard and then the justicomer. Oh boy, I mean, it looked great. And we've been asking ourselves all season where has any of that been? At all. Here's the key for me. Like it's awesome. You can exhale. I think John Schneider's right. Two things. Why you can exhale? Because the guy who is supposed to do that finally did it. But in addition, you can also exhale when you're able to put up some early offense. I think that was a fun theme and an important theme yesterday for the Toronto Blue Jays to really just disarm everybody and kind of make you, well, as the word, John Schneider used, exhale and feel good about where things are going. And then I think, you know, earlier in the week, you and I, we talked about small victories with Vlad. That's a decisive, really emphatic victory for Vlad and Mayor Grosjoonger. But in the grand scheme of things, it's a small victory. Now the question becomes, will it be something that is the start

3:03of a hot stretch here in the month of September? Or is it going to be one of those isolated performances that we look at and say, well, you know, that is why you can never give up on Vlad. That's why the talent is just, he's oozing with talent. It's just so natural that ultimately you are pocket committed, not just because of a contract, but you don't want to quit on the ability that he has. And for him to do what he did yesterday, I mean, it was, it was a nice moment. I'm sure nice for him, nice for fans, nice for the guys in that dugout. And probably really, really great for John Schneider, who has been in his corner all season long and has had to deal with the court. And I think that's what I think is the most important thing to deal with the criticism of where he's hitting in the lineup and remaining confident, or at least the messaging, being we're confident it's going to turn around. It's only a matter of time. It all it takes is one swing. That gets tiresome. So yesterday to be able to just stand there in front of microphones

4:03after the game for John Schneider to be able to talk about a productive, a prodigious performance from Vladimir Garo Jr. That's what I'm sure that was quite the relief for everybody involved. And it is just a game. Let's see what you got for an encore today. There you go. Quick enough, one o'clock today on Sportsnet, Blue Jays and Guardians, the rubber match of this three game set. But it starts right away, right? You got the top of the first inning. Now you're sandwiched the way the lineup was laid out yesterday. George Bringer hitting second and Alejandro Kirk hitting fourth. Those are a couple of the hottest Blue Jays bats right now. And and they're overall numbers and not dissimilar to what you would have expected from them this season. And it's up to Vlad to drive in Brett maintenance who leads off the game with the first pitch single. And I mean, that home run, I think it was, I was looking at the data today. That might have been a home run in 15 of 30 ball parks. It wasn't in Cleveland. It goes off the wall, RBI base hit. And then he gets the opportunity went on how he now that was a very bizarre.

5:07Played because that's as easy as the, the casual commoto catching or not catching of the pop up in the first inning was the, you know, like little shovel to second base was easier. Oh yeah. My kid could have made it. It was, it would have been the third out instead. Vlad, you know, hits the longest and most impressive home run of his season. And yeah, it's again, it's, I'm not saying that he's definitively back. But you kept hearing these stories back to last season. So he finished last regular season on a bit of a cold streak and, and the overall numbers last year during the regular season, you got to remember we're not spectacular 23 home runs and a 23 OPS. And then he gets the five day break before the start of the DS against what eventually ended up being the New York Yankees. And there was a moment in there that we heard about that he was like one swing. And like he unlocked something. So I don't know if it is too far a field to talk about one swing getting him back to his happy place.

6:12But boy, and you can hear it in Ben Schoenman's voice on the TV broadcast. You can hear it in Dan Schoenman's voice. Like there are home runs and then there are home runs. And that was the second one. What would Vlad, he hit yesterday was an absolute nuke. And he was surprised to see it only be what just over 400 feet, but, but 106 miles an hour off the bat. Yeah, it was, it was, it was one of those moments that almost didn't happen because by rights, the, the play should have been made and the Guardian should have been out of the inning instead they weren't and then. And then he was like, Vlad, he hit the most important home run of his season. It's like some of the numbers are crazy. Obviously the, the five RBI's in a game season high for Vlad, he's only had more than two RBI's in a game. Two times now, like two times the season is that only more than two RBI's. And you know what, Daniela, that home run, you know, it did. It put his slugging percentage now higher than Andre Semenes. Big win, big win for Vlad to be above Andre Semenes now in slugging percentage.

7:14Also been just to add to this who were talking about context and some of these kind of jarring statistics, extra based hits. I mean, even when Vlad was never, you know, he had the outlier 48 home or season. And we talked about that earlier this week as well. And how it was aided by, you know, playing in those minor league parks and the numbers were just outrageous. But he was always good for somewhere between 25 to 30 homeers on average. Even if you excluded that 2021 season, an extra base hits in general were a staple, right? Like he was an extra base machine. He did put up some really, really strong numbers in that slug in that power department, hitting to all fields, doubles, a hallmark of his, of his skill set in his game. And this year last night was just the second multi extra base hit performance of the season. And that is it's unbelievable. And you know, and Dan alluded to not just that aspect of it, but the fact that it was the first time all year he's

8:15homer than double than the same game for context. He did that five times last year in the regular season. And what was sort of conceivably a bit of a down year in the raw numbers. He did it though once in the playoffs in the span of 18 games as well for it to take this long to have that happen in 2026 speaks volumes to how much he has struggled. It makes you question obviously why, why it's been so sporadic. That's been what we've talked about, but not even just sporadic. It's looked, it's looked bad. We've seen these stretches where it has been sporadic throughout the course of his career. Still within that, he's always managed to do a lot of the other things where he's racked up the hits. And the on base percentage has been good and the discernible eye has been there. I mean, yesterday was the first time I was, I mean, I don't, I don't even think it's far fetched to say all season long where you kind of felt like all right, you got, you got a glimpse of the Vlad that was untouchable in October of the Vlad that was just playing with such joy and with a real swagger.

9:18And I love the fact that he sort of pimped that homer and he just admired it for a second and then took 34 seconds or thereabouts to round the bases. I mean, when you're, when you're supposed to be that caliber of player, I'm all for it. Like do that and enjoy it and soak in that moment and the key is, as you said, what is the encore today? Because if he goes out there and is old for four today, while then yesterday just kind of is going to stick out like a sore thumb and say, all right, it was maybe nothing. It was a nothing burger, right? It stands in isolation as its own thing. It's on and that performance is on an island. He goes out there today and follows it up. Then I think we're going to talk about all right, maybe it was that that swing in the first inning or the homer, right? The swing in the first inning, the double it, the ball, maybe stack cast malfunction or something, but it factually traveled farther. Apparently then the home run, even though the home was, it doesn't make sense. The home was a moonshot. I mean, it just beautiful, beautiful majestic blast. Yeah, 407 versus 406 in terms of the distance.

10:22That's 30 ballpark. So that double would have been correct. So I mean, and then obviously 30 out of 30 home, what the homeer itself was a home run in every single ballpark, according to stack cast and baseball, Savon, five RBI last 90, it's six in his previous 25 games in order for us to really understand or to believe that yesterday, he changed something materially changed something because he looked different, right? But in order to make that to validate that, he's got to be able to come out and do it again today. I'm not saying he has to necessarily a homer, but you got to see again, that same sort of threatening approach and feel when he's in the box. And then for it to continue a little bit here. And ultimately at that point, if there's a bit of a sample of a handful of games and he can stack some of these quality performances, then you'll start to maybe point to what happened last night. As the real tipping point has what helped launch him and elevate his game in the month of September.

11:23Yeah, and Caleb Joseph talked about getting greedy there with that, that the third hit of the game, the base hit off the fastball outside for yet another RBI. And yeah, this is a situation where, you know, a couple of home runs in, you know, five games or whatever isn't going to make up the ground that you need Vladimir Guerrero Jr. To make up, you need him to be a really fearsome bat like multiple times in the same game, which he was yesterday. So he's he's if he's figured it out. And I'm not going to get fooled by by one game. I got it, got to stack them together. My bars always been three home runs in a week really feels like that'll be the point where we can say, OK, because now now also he has reached with his eighth home run and this being the hundred and whatever 30 something game of the season. He has now matched with eight home runs his entire home run output for the month of October in the postseason last year, which is crazy. Yeah, it's crazy. How good just how good he was in October also this nugget from Blue Jays producer Chris Black against breaking balls this season from March to September 1st, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

12:33Only six doubles, zero home runs. And then yesterday, one double, one home run on breaking balls. So yeah, there are there are signs like that is literally something we have not seen even one time this season. What we saw out of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. But if he's like some reasonable facsimile of himself, Danielle, you know, Brett Bateman just continues to do it, even against lefties gets the start against the left yesterday in Kentio and then gets aggressive first pitch fastball hits into the into the outfield for the base hit ends up scoring the first run of the game. George Springer talked about how hot he's been since the all star break and the overall numbers are pretty George Springer like maybe not quite what you would hope for this year, but I think any reasonable expectation would have taken the previous seasons that George Springer put up and then applied last year's season and said, OK, maybe somewhere in the middle of that maybe a little lower because of the age thing. Anyways, George Springer is looking very George Springer like and obviously Alejandro Kirk despite the old for five yesterday has been the best hitter on this team for two weeks. That's a pretty fearsome top four if Vladie is back to being Vladie again not saying definitively.

13:46I mean, if you have that piece, he just he feels like he's the keystone to all of this. Oh, absolutely, he's he's the guy that's in the middle of it all the linchpin they've constructed their team with that in mind. I think the way the season has unfolded the we've arrived at a point where the question becomes is Vladie one of those guys you build around or is he somebody you build with Sam and I talked about that yesterday. And how the how would maybe the next three weeks could drastically change the narrative altogether because if Vlad has a strong month of September ends the season with a really, really good sample size here of 20 plus games where the numbers are are robust and you feel you feel good. You feel confident about where he's at by seasons and then maybe maybe that changes the calculus, but let's be honest, the sample sizes is pretty significant this year and you know the question I think for me is well, how does how does what you've seen the body of work in 2026 for Vladimir,

14:48junior one, how does it alter ultimately expectations for that guy going going into 27 what does it do to recalibrate sort of whatever the standard or the bar is for him, but then on a macro level for the roster and the team as a whole, what does it mean for the decision makers and how you're thinking about constructing your offense and and what you're going to value when you're thinking about surrounding Vlad with certain pieces because you know there are only a handful of guys in baseball. And that are the true aircraft carriers for their respective teams and I don't know that Vlad's he's we've seen a year where he's been that guy statistically speaking, but I don't know that you've ever seen it consistently enough to where he's genuinely worthy of that type of label he's a great player he's an above average player when he's at his best he's obviously really, really good and we're talking about a guy that at his peak can't be a good guy. And be a superstar level performer, but we haven't seen that consistently enough to warrant the idea of that is your that is your cornerstone build around guy he's a build with guy and that's kind of how I tried to position it you know sort of moving for it's clear that J's are still going to have a need for more offense to add another bat another two bats to put other complimentary pieces around him that are threatening and you and you feel like are going to be.

16:17And I think that's going to be run producers because I'm not sure that's necessarily an eight within Vlad is DNA like the idea that he's just he's just pro a prolific run producer he's a good all around hitter but there's a difference between that and being just a great run producer and you mentioned you know Ben Chris Black's stat about breaking balls. And I think that's the last night in this performance. The first two hits he has are both off of the curve ball that Joey Cantillo's go to pitch his best pitch he's got 66 strike was most in baseball on the curve ball this year opponent sitting just a touch over 200 against them and then Vlad season long numbers 207 against curve balls first home run he's given up Joey Cantillo all year on that pitch and it comes via Vladimir Gerrero Jr. So that to me speaks of a guy who also had a good game plan and approach going into that outing yesterday. Yeah, there's just so many positives you can say about a guy with a five RBI performance including a three run home run and again do it again do it again, but you take that as opposed to the alternative so it did feel kind of must winny yesterday.

17:29The first game there's no schedule losses I suppose here you would hope for the blue jays going for because they still have a game and have to make up as they are tied record wise with both the Rangers and the Orioles a game and a half back of the guardians of win today would secure the series but also the season series and the tiebreaker over the guardians but said yesterday felt like a must win because the blue jays stack their best starters in this series right you got Jose oriano going this afternoon but. The second best starter in the American League and boy the more he stacks is up maybe the best starter in the American League in Dylan sees going yesterday and and mentioned the Okamoto dropping of the routine pop up which sees was right underneath but did what you're supposed to do when you get called off by your third baseman you move out of the way and Okamoto trying to basket catch it for reasons that are unknown and and Dylan sees probably upset that he didn't just say now I'll catch this one.

18:29I'm capable of catching a pop up anyways that could have been a disaster right like you got to on believe it was one out at the time gets the double play gets out of the in and gets Okamoto off the hook and then just cruising from there and it just felt like such a professional appearance from Dylan sees right like he did have the fastball up to to 99 but no walks and and forced right out and just trying to fill the zone so efficient 83 pitches to get through six scoreless and. Obviously with the game out of reach the way it was when he was through six he could have gone deeper we've seen him throw was 120 pitches this season the blue jays wisely considering there are no off days on this road trip remove him after the 83 pitches he there's been more like wowing starts I guess from from Dylan sees as far as the strike out totals but. Definitely gave the blue jays exactly what they needed against an offense in Cleveland that is is not super threat name right there one of the lowest scoring teams in baseball and when the blue jays take the lead the way they do.

19:35And talking about the the bloody three run home run you just have to fill the zone you just have to make him hit it over the over the wall if they can and the guardians couldn't and as a result Dylan sees. Continues to lower the ERA to 25 but also get himself in good shape for his next start on this road trip I like the where you you used to describe it professional. To me it felt really workman like and and you could see how and it was sensible ultimately to you know do what they did which was hey let's let's pull you early it's keep you relatively fresh here and give you an opportunity to get the appropriate rest in and and obviously they're going to have they have no. Off days over the course of this road trip so you're going to get him in there again it's one of the rare occasions where they the margin of for error with Dylan sees in his starts because he's been so dominant it's been it's been still razor thin because the offense hasn't necessarily done their part all season long and so it's nice to have an outing where the offense is able to do the heavy lifting and now Dylan sees it just it just kind of takes a weight off right you just go out there and like you said been put.

20:46For some to put the ball in play and just focus on being a fish and I think also you know one thing I do feel. In addition to the pitch usage the arsenal the sequencing there's been an evolution with all of that for Dylan sees this year and we've talked about how he's gone from you being this just traditional power picture and the strike numbers are still there right there prolific but he's now really try to prioritize being a picture in less of a thrower and you know you see that with how he's sort of. Seemingly strategically going through the process of ratcheting his up his velocity throughout the course of it outing he's ramping it up as he gets deeper and deeper into games versus max effort right away he's averaging more than a hundred pitches per outing so he's a workhorse. I feel like doesn't don't you get the vibe that he's just a lot more comfortable than previous years as a as a just more poised and composed and a guy that you would feel really confident in a big game situation. I've been on him historically yeah has always been that the stuff is unreal right command is a bit erratic but he is one of the marquee strike out artists in the sport the big knock is in the post season in big games and in fact is recently as last year.

22:01There was never any confidence no matter what team he was on and obviously we saw it with the Padres in the post season he was ever going to work deep in the games and you ever felt really confident about what you're going to get to him on a start to start basis in the post season. Now I feel like that that narrative has changed like he looks like a different dude there's there's a that I don't know if his heartbeat is is metronomic but he certainly puts on the perception and the face of a guy that's got the supreme level of confidence in whatever he's doing. Yeah every star for him here on out this regular season is going to be the biggest one of his blue J's career but yesterday was the biggest start of his blue J's career definitely in a in what felt like a must win in a series in which they are. They are in a series in which they orchestrated their ace to be on the mound in the second game of this three game series and he shoved he just straight up shoved just like he shoved in his previously biggest game as a blue J against the Mariners going six striking out eight and giving up one run just like he did in his previously biggest start as a blue J at Yankee Stadium in a series after cam she let her pitched in the opener giving up one and run he walked five in that outing but also struck out eight and six and two thirds in a blue J's victory as well and.

23:12To your point though yeah the postseason numbers are not just bad they're a warrant they're they're horrifying right is really really bad five games and eight seven four ERA 15 hits and 11 and a third and yeah all the peripheral numbers have just been awful walking over five and a half per nine striking people out but he's been brutal in the postseason so I think you'd be right to be a little curious dubious that he'd be able to do this when the lights are there. He does though feel like he has the personality to get it done in those moments it's surprising that it hasn't happened for him. He just he just feels like a very chill guy obviously but yeah we're getting a bigger sample these are big games this it's not quite the postseason that's a different animal and we'll see if the guardians of the hair they're in a playoff spot right now but yeah that's that that is as big as as a September game gets you're playing the team that you need to jump over to get into a playoff. Spot and we're in September and he was one of the he was maybe not the best version of himself because the best version of himself maybe has like double digit strikeouts over six but exactly what the blue jazen eat it yesterday.

24:24Yeah I think I actually I feel like you know the four strikeouts is it's you know sort of also indicative of how he's how he's grown and mature does a picture like that that the temperament and the and the personality. I do wonder if there's been some level of maturity and progression even on that front where he's just really really comfortable with with everything the game plan the routine he's he's kind of dialed at this point the numbers would obviously suggest that but it's it's I and I do feel like because he's been leaned on so heavily all season long maybe that's actually given him a little bit more comfort when you get the ball in all these big spots and I you'll be in the American league east and seen teams like the red socks and the Yankees and understanding it's it's the toughest division in baseball. I do I do wonder how much of that is also helped him with this idea of you know being a being productive in those big spots those marquee matchups and last night was absolutely one of those next time he takes the hill again it's going to be all right you're going to be tasked with with trying to deliver once again because that is the expectation that's now the bar but I do feel like with every start here especially down the stretch with the jays fighting further post season.

25:44There's no guy you'd rather have with the ball and even across baseball that perception it would mean a lot more if he did it in a post season start no no doubt about it but ultimately I think he's starting to hopefully rid himself of that label of that reputation a guy that when when you need a big time performance in one of those critical starts he is more than capable of delivering that and I feel like that's part and parcel because of the confidence and I think that's not going to be a good example of that. Instead he's built this year and also just the evolution of his of his overall skill set as a pitcher it's not a guy that's just trying to go out there and throw 99 100 every single time and strike dudes out left right and center he's now trying to plot his way through outings he's proven to be one of the most durable pitchers in baseball this season I mean the total package has been so impressive with Dylan C's this year. Yeah, he's an artist. Okay, so both on the mound and off of it. That's right. Okay, last one. Yeah, Blue just getting a lot of fellas off their feet late in the game because there's that a reach George Springer he left for Jesus Sanchez Sean keys got into his first game since his most recent recall for for Vladie and got the single off a position player.

27:02That's good. I suppose. Caso Camotto too. I took note that Alejandro Kirk did not he stayed into the game to the end day game after night game usually your catchers not going to play that game but we talked about it going into the series. Blue J stack and their starters at the back end of it. Would they play their hottest bat all three games and maybe that comes in a D H rule today for Kirk but man Springer swing in the bat real well as well also like is Sean keys going to get into the lineup. Maybe in left field get his first opportunity as a left fielder at the major league level but what do you do with Josh Smith. He hit a home run too. He's back. Yeah, I don't know like I would be of the believe you hit a home run you play the next day. So yeah, it would be really interesting to see what kind of lineup we get today. Yeah, I agree. It is it is an interesting sort of dilemma or at least conversation between John Schneider the staff as they put together the lineup today. I think I think you know we've made it pretty clear want definitely want to see Kirk in there. He's just been such an important bat ridiculously hot throughout the course of August and obviously now as we begin September.

28:11It's it's you know you're you're staring at 22 games remaining in the regular season. Every one of these is of the utmost importance and after what transpired. Yes, last night was great but what transpired on Tuesday night. You know you you put yourself in a spot where today just like yesterday felt like I must have I would argue today also kind of feels like I must win. So if we're every game every series is is extremely important. I definitely expect and hope we're going to see Alejandro Kirk in the lineup. I think it's a great opportunity to be a player in the springer even yesterday. I know you only have the one hit but yeah George springer is looking like George springer and he's doing a lot of damage and it's it's nice to see that version of him. Re surface again in the second half of this season. I I would like to see him if there's ever a day though Ben where you are going to take a look and give Sean. He's an opportunity. I think this would kind of be it. I think that's probably do get a look at him and he does get the start in in left field and take it from there. I would be lying to you though if I said I wouldn't be a little bit worried a tad bit worried about the defense.

29:15I mean Maustra has started in left field the last couple of days and although in last night being the exception his bat was valuable. He had an RBI double two yesterday. But the defense in left field noticeable like the amount of ground that he covers having Brett payment and center field noticeable for sure in a positive way. So I do wonder about Sean keys and what that looks like for him defensively in left field. But I think you got to take your chance. You got to take your chance call your shot and today feels like the appropriate time to do it. Yeah. Yeah, there's a lot of positive questions around the blue J's offense right now. How do you get so many good potentially good bats in there after you put up 11 runs. But we'll see Tanner Bible on the mound against Jose Soriano in the rubber match after one o'clock today. We'll get back to the blue J's after seven o'clock. But when we come back, holy cow. Did the hammer come down on the clippers will get into the quiet situation next as the fan morning show continues Ben Ns Danieli Franceschi sports net 590 the fan.

30:17The best blue J show out there. Period. Blair and Barker be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You're receiving a lot of attention for receiving and proper benefits. Up front, I want to say one thing very fair. Me the clip is provided by the salary cap certain mentioned rules because that's the right thing to do. And we have done that. I happen for what it's worth. I think it's a very important rule in terms of promoting competitiveness equal playing field across the lead. Whether I agree to it or not, it's the whoo and we're absolutely abided by that. I will say that you know there's a lot of people that made a lot of assumptions about Adam Silver along the way.

31:23This is is big of a punishment has ever been dulled out in history in the NBA. You know he has been you know presumed to be soft on crime to a certain extent at times over the years. That's not that's something you can say today. Yeah, for sure he has been Brian Winhorse there for Steve Palmer in that mix as well fan morning show sports at five nine in the fan bed and a standy Ali Franceschi. How about that the investigation investigation had been completed as opposed for for a while. But now the punishment dulled out to the Los Angeles Clippers by the NBA. And I guess that ESPN report about them not finding credible evidence and not correct. Because five first round picks docked from the Clippers from 2029 through 2033 find 30 million dollars Steve Palmer president of business operations Jillian Zucker suspended for a year president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank suspended for six months. Why he also has to pay his seven hundred thousand dollar fine to the NBA uncle Dennis he's banned from conducting business with NBA teams and their affiliates for five years.

32:28So wow like there when this hit I couldn't believe it and thank you ESPN for that incorrect report because that really did impact my thinking on this thing I thought the NBA would just. Hey, I wish we could punish these guys there's just no smoking gun. No smoking guns aplenty. You know there are actual evidential claims here in this report the report is readily available for for people to read turns out you know you give a law firm 50 million dollars they have to provide something and they did over the span of the year long process that took for them to do this investigation. I was blown away by by the strength of this punishment Danielle. I was shocked I was I was quite stunned I won't lie. I think I like you Ben that report two and a half three weeks ago suggesting that there wasn't necessarily the smoking gun and that if things were going to have to be ultimately mediated and there be some sort of kind of common ground maybe reached and punishment might be levied but maybe it's not as severe as as what many folks would like to see or certainly after that.

33:37A year long investigation you felt you would feel like the outcome was a bit underwhelming. I to me that was a sign of a potential soft launch to prepare people that this was going to be a little bit of an underwhelming outcome and that you know 12 months it took 12 months but in reality there just there wasn't enough and they didn't want to they didn't want to punish Steve Balmer to the end degree that was ultimately all false in the end and yes 36 pages you can go read the I guess the summary technically of the locked out Lipton report but man it's I was I was very very surprised by this we're talking about Steve Balmer who is the richest the wealthiest owner in the NBA by a wide vast margin he's worth $140 billion thereabouts and the next closest owner in terms of net worth is I think it's Patrick Dumont it's 40 billion I mean no slouch at 40 billion you know but yeah but there's a big golf there and so for the NBA and for Adam silver specifically

34:48to essentially and he works for the owners to now to punish his wealthiest backer in this fashion one either the evidence was just so overwhelming that there was no way around it or or two and maybe it's a combination of these things the NBA felt like an Adam silver specifically felt like it was really really important to set a precedent and and also issue a bit of a warning shot to other franchises and other teams around the sport I mean it was also it was I thought it was fascinating you know within the actual breakdown we learned based on the evidence they have currently reviewed right this is there's still more to come apparently they're they're not done with all of it yet but there were four companies that were alleged to have some sort of business dealing with co-I Leonard that was essentially broken through the L.A. Clippers as a as a vehicle for the alleged salary cap circumvention we were aware of two of them to have four that are at least named and known as of right now I think it speaks to the overall severity of things and co-I let's be honest here

35:59co-I gets off kind of Scott free and all of it every time I hear the word restitution I always think about was a sterling sharp imitating Tony Sarah goose and I want my restitution and it's from the hard knocks have you seen that been it's one of my favorite things but yes that I do feel like co-I got off easy and the Clippers are obviously going to be crippled by this moving forward yeah we'll focus on the co-I thing and the rappers relationship in a second I am I can't get my mind off of Steve Balmer and the NBA and Adam silver because the Clippers are not taking this long down obviously like co-I it's over like the PA and Adam silver in the league they've come to this agreement and co-I has a statement about hey I'm a bad boy aren't I so bad and I'm sorry here's 700 K like it's over like the co-I punishment has been doled out no read this no read that there's not going to be some some sort of appeal as far as Steve Balmer's part in this there is no mechanism through the CBA for him to appeal so the league aspect of of asking for this to be rescinded or removed or appealed there is none

37:08but he's that he's going to take every legal avenue possible to make sure that this doesn't take place and as you mentioned it he's got the he's got the deep pockets that he can you know you thought 50 million dollars to walk that lift in for the last year was something watch what the next group of lawyers get paid to go after Adam silver and the NBA and and also remember where Steve Balmer fits into the landscape of this league he arrives after one of the most despised owners in North American pro sports history is banned for life and this breath of fresh air this guy with the deepest pockets and and adding tremendous franchise value to this league by paying what we thought was an exorbitant price for the clippers and then building them a brand new sparkly brand new shiny arena space and yeah it's a spaceship and like fan friendly and and and now his man it's hard not to also think about this in like in in dark terms like he's 70 right now and and maybe it's possible that the clippers somehow despite not having a first round pick like the player that they'll be drafting with their own pick is like 10 years old now right that the guy that when they finally have their first round pick Steve Balmer's going to be close to 80 like his his his prime years of being

38:36an NBA owner are now gone like they're wasted and it's hard not to think about how angry he is and and what avenues he will use at his at his disposal with all the the myriad of tools that he can use to go after the league what the relationship is going to be like and and Adam silver and Steve Balmer and how much dragging through the mud we're going to see here in the next few months I know from a like a basketball perspective that'll be in the background because goi will be a raptor and we can talk about that in a second and basketball will go on and yes that will be the focus of this conversation as well but I'm like my brain is on the richest owner in pro sports going after his entire league and being furious that it's it I'm sure from his perspective it's being forgotten how he erased the memory of of Donald sterling and increased franchise values and now he's he's getting the death penalty definitely I think what also complicates things take it a step further I do want to actually reference with Brian Winhorse said in the clip that we played off the top to start the segment is we're bumping in the per what has been the perception of Adam silver as as the commissioner of this league it started with he's the perfect successor right to to David Stern perfect perfect great natural natural sort of successor he had been by his side and would have picked up all the tricks of the trade and how to

40:05really good feel good relationship with the board of governors that's great and over time I think that overall perception has eroded and it's become this idea that he's a bit of a push over that there isn't the NBA what we've seen it with instances of just tampering allegations you know and that's a obviously on a much lesser scale compared to this but they're just haven't been these moments where things have been terribly punitive for teams or players who have tried to essentially strong armed franchises or you know position themselves manipulate things to work in their favor it hasn't happened under his watch this is I think what also complicates things because it was necessary for them as a league to act in this manner to essentially say face right and say we're not just going to allow you know any explicit very overt violations of things to be simply swept under the rug or lightly punished we're going to have a chance to do that. I have to take this type of conduct seriously if in fact as we now know the evidence was pretty damning overall but then if you're on the flip side of it which is from the ballmer camp and from the clippers you're saying wait a minute wait a minute you're really what about all the other things that have happened over the last 15 years that you never you never you kind of turned a blind eye or you didn't decide to intervene or to punish to the absolute extreme.

41:35It's actually Dublin agreement detalls to speak into май calls and theм not much so. Then I'm just going to do that a little bit because as you know today's of the sport functions. As a result, you'd need to be punished. And it was proven based on evidence that they did indeed do this and that they had a hand and there were so many different mechanisms and vehicles involved to make it happen. It was so egregious that it needed to happen this way. But you're right, it is going to be extremely awkward and very, very tense and to say frosty even would be an understatement because this is now completely cratered the relationship. And it's going to linger for years and years and years.

42:38And you're probably right in saying also he's going to drag it out as long as humanly possible because he's going to want to feel like or at least have it perceived as though there's some level of indication for him and the clippers. Yeah, and reading the email that was sent to Adam Sullivan talked about reputation and Steve bombers repugation. Like it's been irreparably harmed by this. No question. He goes from the guy who had the crazy spas out introducing the Microsoft Windows or whatever that happy go lucky guy to, yeah, the fraudster, the guy that stole a Kawai Liner away from the Raptors again. I don't know if that's necessarily the case, but seems pretty clear that they paid him outside of the salary cap. You'd have to be pretty convinced that you got smoking gun on that if you're Adam Sullivan or doling out what is the same almost exactly the same punishment that he will receive for their, their Joe Smith situation where they were docked five first round picks, fine three and a half million, but they talk about inflation and you talk about how rich Steve bomber

43:42is. You got to you got to up that that that number on the fine, but also it was eventually moved down to three first right like that also seems like a possibility here that this is a headline grabbing item. No question about it. And anybody like me that was dubious that the league would come down this hard on its richest owner and a guy that has been a net massive positive for the league. Okay, so we're wrong and the NBA gets to say see we're tough the NBA, the CBA that we fight for and that we miss games because we have labor disruptions for like that means something and look other owners don't do this because this is what can happen to you. But I do think, you know, the further along we get maybe there is a, and that that'll be a Friday afternoon news story. If and when that happens that that the Clippers get a couple of these picks back is my guess. Yeah, and you know what, of all the aspects of this penalty of the punishment that can actually be amended in some fashion that's clearly it.

44:43And it's also the one that if the NBA was going to acquiesce and demonstrate some good will in any fashion towards the Clippers or bend their ruling, it would have to be the picks. And it's also in the best interest of the league. Ben, the one thing the NBA doesn't want is to essentially sentence the Clippers to half a decade plus of mediocrity. That that's not healthy for the league. It's not healthy for a franchise to endure that. And as a result, that's probably the one area where they would actually feel comfortable saying, all right, we'll compromise on this because it's not the Clippers are staring at now. Like you said, I mean, Steve Balmer 70, they're staring at at least the better part of the next decade, probably being completely relevant on account of this because they just don't have the means to recoup any capital and they invested so much for what is unequivocally a failed experiment with Kauai and him demanding that Paul George be a part of the equation. They sacrifice 10 first round draft picks, she'll just Alexander and Jalen Williams ultimately

45:49to have what seven years of Kauai Leonard seven seasons of Kauai Leonard and for one Western conference final appearance. It's an it's an abject failure. Yeah, it's horrifying. But who wouldn't have done what they did in 2019, right? Like let's set aside the circumventing the salary cap. The Raptor's absolutely would have done what it all you want Paul George coming off. Was it top five MVP performance with the thunder when they acquired him for the five first round picks and SGA, the Raptor's absolutely would have done that if it meant landing Kauai Leonard. But yeah, it could not have gone worse, obviously, for the Clippers. And now it does feel like Kauai is on the verge of becoming a Raptor once again. I mean, in his statement, he talked about his return to Toronto. So obviously he feels like the trade is back on. I guess so because the Raptors were just waiting for this to happen and obviously no punishment as far as games missed for Kauai Leonard.

46:50Why wouldn't it be back on? But it's just it's just weird to think about the Clippers operating like a normal franchise after they get the death penalty that Steve Bombers not going to do whatever he can to disrupt the NBA in some way. And I don't know how that necessarily benefits him by nixing this trade because you actually do get two unprotected first round picks from the Raptors, which you're going to need because you don't have your own here. It is a pick swap, this upcoming draft and unprotected picks in 2031 and 2033 was part of the reported return for Kauai Leonard. But I guess and every report seems to indicate this that the trade is just back on in some matter of days before it's actually finalized. No, definitely. I mean, it's happening. It is absolutely happening. And there's you laid out the actual incentive for the Clippers to do it. It's pretty simple. This is that they can close the book on what is a really, really regrettable error, not forgettable regrettable error for the LA Clippers as a franchise. And then also because of this penalty, now those draft picks mean so much more to them

47:53to be able to get two first rounders is massive unprotected first round picks because they're going to have to probably make some really difficult decisions. Not just what's going to their team's going to look like in the interim this year, but as they're now going to have to take a full on 300 foot view as a franchise and say, all right, when do we realistically think we can be half decent and competitive again? And what does that mean for all the players that we are currently rostering? Does it mean that even though we trade to Frudaria Scarlin less than a year ago, that now we want to turn around and trade to Daria Scarlin because we just don't think he's necessarily going to be in his prime or a part of the solution when we are actually good again. So that the fact that the picks were such an important piece of the trade for Kauai Leonard to begin with, I think that will still ultimately really incentivize the Clippers to pull the trigger to ensure that this deal gets processed and they can kind of wash their hands of Kauai and move on from all of this. And the Raptors have clearly been waiting patiently and anxiously to get it.

48:55That's their marquee move of the offseason of the summer. There I think extremely excited to finally get this across the finish line and now officially have Kauai in the fold and also without a suspension, which honestly, I think they're probably going to also be somewhat, they were probably surprised to learn that there was going to be no level, no punishment that would directly affect them. And that by that, I mean a suspension of any kind when it comes to Kauai and his level of culpability and all of this. Last thing, everybody needs to give, if you, if you weren't on board, give publicory and apology, right? Like Mark Cuban, you, you need to line up, you need to go on that podcast again and apologize for. He apologized on Twitter, I saw him. Yeah. Well, he just said congrats, Pablo. Oh, sorry. Yes, that's right. Non-apology. No, he didn't apologize. Yeah. Yeah, he won a Pulitzer Prize. So I think he was already vindicated. None of this happens without Pablo Tori because I mean, even in the report, he says that the whole thought process here is initiated by the uncovering of the aspiration situation

50:01by Pablo Tori. And yeah, if he doesn't put it on Main Street, the NBA probably never feels the impetus to look into it because no other owner is going to accuse the clippers of this. I don't think. And we can go back to that first podcast as being the reason why Steve Balmer is docked five first round picks, find $30 million and suspended for years. Crazy. Definitely watershed moment. Watershed moment for the league for this story. You're right, it doesn't happen unless that becomes, that reaches the public consciousness in that fashion. Because let's be honest here, Ben, even if I think the NBA ever was privy to that, unless there was something that broke and it became a massive deal in the fashion that the Pablo Tori expose they did with the NBA even tell anybody. No, of course, no, there you go. So, so we, you're right, we like absolutely that yesterday was vindicating on so many levels for Pablo Tori, especially because he's encountered a lot of resistance along the way. Well, he and his team have encountered a lot of resistance and for them to completely

51:01nail this story and also then as we now have learned, two of the four companies that were named were the ones that he had referenced and dug into extensively. So Kudos to him and his team, it's an unbelievable job. And it shows the value of investigative journalism in this, in this world, like it's still, there is still value. It is extremely important, it's good work and I think I'm glad you brought that up at the end here. Yeah, yeah, Billionaires can get away with a lot, but apparently not everything, although he'll still have his billions of dollars, just $30 million less. Anyways, how do, how do rich guys feel when they're made to feel embarrassed? We'll talk to a guy who interacts with many rich guys, probably rich on a lesser degree himself. But we'll talk to Joe House of the Ringer. Next, as the fan morning show continues, Ben Anastani Ali Franchesky sports night 5 9 in the fan. I'm not trying to be, I don't know.