Hour 1: Yanks - Rays Matchup and Dan Orlovsky

0:00No! No! 20th century studios presents the most incredible survival story of the year. How did we help out there? We'll fall on October 16th to survive the unthinkable, do the impossible. You're gonna become so dangerous that the predators can't help but let you go. We're gonna get out of here. We got it, folks! We got it, folks! We'll fall. We're gonna be the 13th in theaters October 16th. Get tickets now. This is the Michael K-Show podcast. I gotta get more K. Listen live, we dais at one on the ESPN New York app and your smart speaker. And a good afternoon everybody. This is indeed the Michael K-Show. We thank you for joining us on this Friday. It is October 2nd, 2026. Me and you for two, those are the rules of engagement. The fastest moving, two hours in sports talk radio. And of course it's fast moving because I have a great guest host.

1:00Not a guest host, great co-host. And that is you, the listener when you call and you become a co-host. And the membership number is 1-800-919-3776. We have a lot to talk about today, but you know what day it is, right? You're aware of that, right? Yeah, it's a free-for-all Friday. You don't just, you don't just slough that off. That's a big deal. That means that whatever you would like to talk about today, it's on the board. You can do it. You can do it. We love Fridays for that reason. I know a lot of you are gonna want to talk about the Yankees in the Rays, which starts tomorrow night. So that'll be our jumping off point. It's an interesting series. The Yankees in the Rays played 13 times this year. And the Yankees won six and the Rays won seven. And the die was cast in April when the Rays really handled the Yankees down in St. Petersburg. When the Rays beat the Yankees, the Rays pushed the envelope.

2:02They pushed the action. They make the Yankees make mistakes. And I'm sure that that's going to be the game plan in this one. The Rays don't strike out and off a lot. They don't hit a lot of home runs. You know what they do? They put the ball in play. And the more you put the ball in play, the better chance you have of the defense making a mistake. And that's any defense, not just the Yankees. Now they, the Yankees defense has improved as the year has gone on in some places. The shortstop George Lombard Jr. has the skill set of a great shortstop. But he's also sloppy at shortstop. So while he can make a great play that the Yankees couldn't have imagined making. For the last couple of years, he can also boot a ball that he should not be booting. So there's the possibility of greatness. And there's a possibility of, hmm, shouldn't have made that play.

3:03Now I look at this shortstop on the other team. And that is Taylor Walls. Taylor Walls not a great hitter, although he hits well against the Yankees for some reason. I don't know why, but he's not good, he's not a good hitter. But he does put the ball in play. He bumps, he moves runners, he's got speed. But I'm going to tell you this about Taylor Walls. And you might laugh at me because there are a lot of great short stops in the game right now. And there have been a lot of great short stops that I have seen over my 40 years covering baseball. Five is a rider 35 in the booth. Taylor Walls, if he's not the best defensive shortstop that I've ever seen, he's in the top five. And I was so moved to telling that, I've been meaning to telling that all year. I walked into the visitors' clubhouse at Yankees Stadium when the race had that four game set against the Yankees. And they lost the final game, the race, and I just walked in and I'd never met the guy.

4:04And I introduced myself and said, you're the greatest defensive shortstop I've ever seen. And he seemed stunned. And I started to doubt myself. He said, thank you very much. That's really, really kind to you. He was very nice the way he handled it. And I didn't want anything for him. And I said, well, thanks. Good luck with us the way. And I walked away and then I started to ask out. And they all agree he's phenomenal. So that's something to look for in this series. Now, Caminaro at third base has gotten better as a third baseman, not a great third baseman. Not a great third baseman. So they've got some good defenders. They've got some bad ones. Chandler Simpson out in Lafield is a terrible defender. He has no arm, right? And he just doesn't track the ball well. You'll see he might make a big error in this series. He might make a big misplay in this series. You can run on their catchers.

5:04Liam Hicks is a really good hitter. That's the guy they got from Miami. But he's not a good catcher. The Yankees are going to push the running game when they get on base. They will watch, mark my words. Because that is not a good catching tandem that they throw out there to throw out base runners. Now, on the Yankees side of the defense, all according to who's playing. So we keep hearing that Aaron Judges is a possibility. But not, you know, maybe in a part-time role because Aaron Boone, the Yankee manager, was on Brandon Tierney's podcast today. And he said that there's a possibility that they could activate Aaron Judges in a limited role. I don't really like that thought. I want Aaron Judges when he comes back to be the everyday right-fielder. Because if he comes back in a limited role, then you're limiting other roles.

6:10So let's say they say limited role, maybe, is a D-H. Okay, boom. Ben Rice goes to first base. That's not good. Ben Rice is not the defender that Goldsmith is. And he's certainly not the defender, even that Louis Garcia Jr. is. So if Ben Rice has to play first base because you have to have Ben Rice batting the line up, everything else kind of unfolds from there, not in a good way. The second base situation for the Yankees, I think, is very good. I mean, Volpe is proven that he could play second base. And Jess Chisholm showed in that second game against the Red Sox that when he's locked in, he's an outstanding defender. And I know a lot of people that watch Yankee games don't think he's locked in all the time. But you look at his defensive metrics. And he says, good a second baseman that they have an all of Major League Baseball when it comes to defense. So I think second baseman, they're set. Shortstop, he can make eye opening plays, as I said. And he can also make a little nervous.

7:11Third base, Rhymek Mann came here, advertised as a great defensive third baseman. And I think he's really good. He's not great. And his arm is always questionable. But I'll take him at third base for the most part, he's going to make the plays. If you see a med Rosario over third, get nervous, get nervous in a hurry. They had two balls hit to him in the Red Sox series. He bubbled one, regained and got the out at first. Then a pop up foul territory. And the ball almost popped out of his glove. I much prefer Caboero there if I'm not going to get McMahon. Caboero gets rid of the ball quickly and makes most of the plays. Let's move to the outfield. In centerfield, you've got Cody Belinger. As good as any bot, not in centerfield, in left field, you've got Belinger. As good as anybody in the game, plus 20 defensive runs saved. This is when it gets a little hairy. If you put Spencer Jones in centerfield, you got speed, you got a decent arm.

8:16But he doesn't track balls well and sometimes he misplays them. He's still a kid. If you put Grisham in centerfield, he is proven. He has no range whatsoever. None. And he's very smooth out there. So smooth that it doesn't like he's hustling. I still refuse to believe that you wouldn't hustle in a playoff game. I refuse to believe it. I just think he's lost skills defensively. He's had leg injuries and it's come back to Hauntom. He's not an overly old player. But the former goal glove winner with the Pacha, he doesn't exist anymore. And then right field. I would bet it's not going to be judged because they bring it back in the limited way. They're not playing him in right field on artificial turf. So then you're right fielder, Azelea Ramos, and he's not a good right fielder. He's not a good out fielder. He's just not. There's no other way to put it. So both teams have some holes in the defense. Now the funny narrative that's come out of the Red Sox series, you know how the Yankees won?

9:19They bonted and they played small ball and this and that. And that's what you have to do. Well, half their run scored on home runs. Home runs are still a huge part of what they do. Huge part of what they do. Ben Rice had five runs batted in the first game on home runs. Garcia Jr had a home run. A three run home run by Cody Belinger. Again, half their run scored via home runs. And I know people don't want to hear it, especially old timers like me. You win in the post season when you hit home runs. Look it up. I'm not making that up. You look it up. The team that wins post season series, usually out homeers the other team. I love the fact that the Yankees got sack flies in the series against the Red Sox. Love it. Love the fact that they stole bases. I don't know if you've been watching all year. They steal a lot of bases.

10:20A lot during the regular season. Just as I'm at 41. I think how by error had 32. They steal bases. And I think they're going to do a lot of that or try to do a lot of that against Tampa Bay. But don't don't say that the bottom line is. Oh yeah, it's going to be over. It's going to be over if they start hitting home runs. No, you want to hit home runs. I saw a little, a little table setting right there, a little table setting. But we want to shift the football really, really quickly. And it's time now for Dan Oloski brought you by Super Bowl 61. Dan, how you doing, my friend? I'm doing great brother. I already, but I'm doing wonderfully as well. It looks like the news out of Chicago, Dan, is that they're going to start Beijing instead of Case Kingdom. We'll play it so well in the National Televised Game. Does this surprise you a little bit? Or do you expect it?

11:20I kind of expected it. You know, Ben Johnson came out and said don't forget Tyson Beijing turned the number two job. Obviously the health is the reason why that he was unable to start Monday night. It felt Monday night with storybook in many ways. Are you going to replicate that again out of Case Kingdom? The other part of that is now there's a new type of game plan, a new type of preparation for a defense. Kind of could have had an understanding of what Chicago could be under Case Kingdom. Now, single cable, what are you going to operate offensively under Tyson Beijing? I'm not all that surprised when you look at the whole picture of it. But it's still, I guess the play of Case warrants a little bit of life. He didn't get another opportunity. Are you a guy who believes I'm riding the hot hand or just say listen, I've got to go with the guy I think is best. There's a reality to a hot hand, a guy that's doing it and seeing it and no matter the sport.

12:24You see it in baseball, you see it in basketball. Obviously Case played at such a high level on Monday night and it was really pulled to sea. That doesn't mean that Tyson won't come in and play at the same level or even greater and bring different parts to that offense. Case can't because of his age, but I do think that there is something to be said for a guy that is seeing it well and growing good. To see Case Kingdom play the way he did. It wasn't like I said this the other day, it wasn't like the put training wheels on him. They let him throw the ball. Does that accentuate how unbelievable a play caller and an offensive mind Ben Johnson is? 100%. I remember going into the game. I was with the crew and they're like, oh, running. I said, he ain't going to do that. These great play callers know the rhythm of the quarterback is probably the most important part of an offense. If you can like have a good offensive line, right? The rhythm of the quarterback and so the best thing that you can do is get the quarterback into that rhythm early on.

13:26And the best way to do that is to get them all those different completions, motion to the easy, the play action, the screen game. So they did a really good job with that and Ben's great man. I really believe that Ben Johnson has now gone and into that and the body of work isn't that big. Nobody's gotten himself into the Shen and Vade conversation. When you just watch their tape and you appreciate all the different things he does for everybody on their offense, they kind of being places where they get to place to their optimal leverage and space and speed. And so yeah, he's one of the wizards in the NFL right now. Talking with Dan Roloski as weekly segment here on the show. Dan, obviously the giants go out and they get JJ McCarthy. Does that mean that they're going to get him in as soon as he learns the playbook or does James Winston have to stumble in order to lose that job? Yeah, it's probably a combination of both. You know, you're hoping that you doesn't have to play. I would imagine because then that means James is trying to consistent level.

14:26I don't think James has put his best foot forward and I think two differently difficult situations, thrust in Monday night and then pouring rain against Tennessee. So now, James knows that the play is going to have to improve to keep the job. And so that would be the number one way. JJ is not going to learn the playbook that quickly. All the playbook that quickly. And so the goal is to get JJ to a point where he can go function and give the chance of everybody on the offensive chance to play well if that comes to it. But I would imagine that it's going to have to be a little bit more, you know, James just not getting it done. So Dan, no disrespect to the Giants offensive staff. But what makes them think that they could make JJ McCarthy work when an offensive, you know, a superior offensive line like him, O'Connor could not. What's going to be different in New York? Yeah, I think the big reasons why some stuff stumbled in Minnesota, Michael was one just going to get healthy. Like, she was going to get on the field and then two mechanically starting to break down because of those injuries.

15:31And so really, the starting point for JJ is mechanically improved from the deterioration that we saw. Like his lower half and the way he would overthrow because I think there's the pressure and I'm heard. And now I've got on the field. I've got to go play. So like, is he sound more sound mechanically? I think that's question number one. We just haven't seen him. I think number two is, and I think the world of Kevin O'Connor that offense has not harmed this year. But offense has not been good this year. And so, you know, there is a little bit of a reality of like, okay, well, maybe it wasn't all of JJ McCarthy because it hasn't been good, really since Sam Donald offensively. And there's a multitude of reasons for that. So I think that probably gives them a little bit of self confidence and belief of like, maybe it wasn't all the kid can't play. Do you, did you like JJ McCarthy coming out of Michigan, Dan? I did. I thought he would be like the ideal fit because what he ran in Michigan was, you know, under the sneak percent or play action, the rhythm of the play action drop and kind of the crossing three level layers concepts.

16:43And that's kind of one of the basis of Minnesota. And it did not work out. So I did and I was surprised. You know, I think JJ did get caught up in trying to be the personality and, you know, you're the Michigan man. You're the national champion. You're the quarterback. You've got the medication. You're wearing nine and you're trying to be all these different personas and you're fitting. I got to be this way. I got to be that one. I think that got he got caught up in that a little bit just from my own set perspective. I don't know anything inside. And so I think the big thing for him, new star, new number, obviously new place. This cold plate football. You don't have the expectation to be the guy that replaced it Sam Donald. And so I'm hoping that just the thought process kind of allows him to play a little freer. And the final thing on the Giants, Dan, you played in this league. How long does it take to learn enough of the playbook that you can play and be effective in a game? How many weeks? Yeah, I think for a guy that's still somewhat young, he's not totally experienced and exposed to a bunch of different offenses.

17:48But for a player that is that young, I'd say a good four weeks. I think to have a chance to operate some of those protections in your runs and your past concepts. A guy that's more experienced and has been around the block and probably take you a week or two. But without knowing his learning capacity, I'd probably tell you like, you know, good months to really get a decent feel for it. Now the Giants don't want the season to get away. So I understand why they made the deal. But let's say that JJ gets in and plays very well for the rest of the year. Have you created a quarterback controversy with Jackson Dart? Yeah, I think that that's probably a fair assessment, you know, if it gets to that. Is that a problem? Yes. Is that a, I guess, hopeful problem? If you're the Giants, you know, is that a best case scenario problem? Yeah, I think so. I've heard that I understand that angle of it. You know, I always look at it, Michael, from the vantage point of the Jalen hurts acquisition and Philly, they've paid parts and went all that money.

18:50And then they drive Jalen hurts in the second round. And I was like, don't do that. And everyone's like, well, you know, this is how it is. This is the big boy league. And I kind of look at it a little bit that way is like a Jackson's a really confident young man. He doesn't seem insecure. If he's threatened by J.J. McCarthy coming in there and playing well, then it's probably not the future anyway. And so at least from a mentality stamp when everyone knows I'm a Jackson guy. So I think it's that one of those things that you cross that bridge if and when you get there when the middle of the big blue report brought you by King. So why and let me ask you, what's a bigger loss Jackson Dart or Brian Burns to this team? I mean, definitely Jackson, dark, you know, partly because the position partly because the trajectory that at least early on, you felt like he was trending towards and potentially becoming and just the vibes. I mean, Michael, I'm just being as always straight candy with you after that week one. And you probably experienced this after the week one game. I must have gotten I'm not even trying to be exaggerative at least 10 probably close to 15 text messages from people that I don't talk to that often going in game.

20:00You can get me John stick it's getting getting John stick it's getting. You know, I'm sitting there going. That's all that stuff. And then since the injury. I've had probably six to seven. I'm trying to think my brain like right now be like, hey, we're not going to go anymore. Thank you though. So, you know, I just, I think just that reality, you know, in the excitement. But then, you know, the you're trying to get your young stars on the field together and Brian's a loss. Don't get me wrong. That defensive line. I thought I've been playing well, but definitely Jackson am I. Do you think that hardball could have a winning season without dart and without Brian Burns? I think that's a lot to ask. I really do. I really, I think, you know, I want to I want to try to paint Rosie pictures, but you're, you're, you lose your starting quarterback. You lose your one of your best defensive linemen. Certainly your best pass rusher.

21:00I think that just this leads about talent and to lose those two talents. I think it's hard. So you're trying to pass work it together. But I just think that's a lot to ask. That's a big blue report brought to by King. So why and King. So why and best slider and football when you know talking about JJ in Michigan, his coach in Michigan is now with the chargers, their own three. Can they turn this around? Are you concerned about what you're seeing? I've been concerned since week one and that raiders lost and it continues to show it to go plus five and turn over and loses almost not possible to do the game against Buffalo. Their offense is so disjointed. So disconnected. Everyone takes their turn quarterback guys at bat play the offensive line stings. They fumble the football, they'll drop a ball. No, it'll get open. They're trying to get too creative defensively. They're still miss Q. So this is a team far too talented to be in position that they are, but they are. Yeah, I do not see you turning it around. Tom, with Dan or Laska before we finish out, you think the jets have a chance to beat the Bears this weekend?

22:06Yeah, I like the jets. I think they're good football team. I would have thought yes, I seem injury port doesn't look that promising for the jets with some of their young talented players. I don't know if I read it correctly, but I saw like the Garrett not practice and something else. So I would have said, maybe, but I think because of some of the injury that seems that they're dealing with. No. Dan Good stuff is always have a great weekend. Thanks for coming on. You got to thank you. That was Dan or Laski brought you by Super Bowl 61 coming to the networks of ESPN and ABC. This February. Not only a free for off Friday. It's a football Friday football Fridays on the ESPN New York brought you by draft Kings. The draft Kings, the crown is yours. We have so much to do. Obviously I know free for off Friday. You could ask anything and a lot of people want to talk about the Yankees and the race. We're here to do that and the the ALDS and the NLDS both of those series. They're set will break them down for a little bit later on, but Yankees raise. Obviously that's a big part of the buffet that we've set up for you.

23:13And you're watching the Michael Casey right here on ESPN New York and the ESPN New York YouTube channel, which is brought to you by the great people at the Paris confirmed will be back in a moment right here on the ESPN New York. There's nothing worse than waking up sick and this time of the year with the kids back in school surrounded by hundreds of others. Yours may bring home a whole new world of viruses and bacteria. Your family may not have immunity to no kids viruses are everywhere and one ugly stranger showed up. Now it's 2 a.m. Your throat feels like strip and your fever spiking urgent care. Get dressed and wait in the room full of sick people. Your doctor. Good luck folks or open your medicine cabinet and smile because you have a fully stock medical emergency kit from the wellness company. It's an urgent care and drugstore at home. It contains essential prescription medications and your name for over 30 common conditions. Strip throat, sinus infections, pneumonia, UTI, stomach bugs and more. Plus telehealth doctors standing by for questions. I trust my medical emergency kit and I can save $45 right now. Visit urgent care kit.com slash sports promo code sports. That's urgent care kit.com slash sports promo code sports.

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25:33You can go on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. It's a football Friday on ESPN New York. Proxy you by draft case. Back here on the Michael K. Show we have so much to do sports. Why 6 30 tonight the Rangers are in Detroit to play the Red Wings coverage begins at 6 PM right here on 880 ESPN Rangers with a big victory last night over Tampa Bay and Igor scored a goal. First Ranger goalie ever to score a goal Saturday at 6 30 PM. The Yankees begin their ALDS series with the raise down in Tampa Bay covers begins at 6 PM right here on 880 ESPN. So first picture will be right around 6 30 Sunday at 1 PM the Giants hosted Cardinals at MetLife Stadium the Jetsuring Chicago to play the Bears and the bills host of Patriots up in high Mark Stadium coverage for that game begins at 11 AM on 10 50 ESPN and tomorrow at 2 15 PM.

26:37Eli Manning joins Gary Myers on the Saturday Saturday Huttle that's right here on 880 ESPN. You should listen to that show Gary gets great guests breaks down the football the week and he does an unbelievable job and gets great guests. Tomorrow at 2 15 check out Eli Manning joining Gary Myers on the Saturday Huttle. All right. Free for all Friday Yankees begin their set with the raise tomorrow at Tropical field and let's talk to you about it and let's start it with Dan and New Jersey. Dan. Hey Michael how are you? I'm good. How you doing Dan? I'm great and I just want to say it was great to once again get to actually you on the radio. I'm 23 so I didn't get to grow up listening to you and John on the radio so to hear you and make those calls whenever when I was in stadium for both games so when I heard when I saw the home runs I went right to Twitter to find what you said about the home runs that they hit. Thank you man. I appreciate it was a lot of fun.

27:38And I think that the Yankees will get by the raise just because I think I think I think that's a good team but I do think they've definitely over chief over achieved this year and I think that the Yankees will ultimately be able to get by them because the raise don't score a lot of runs via the home run and the Yankees are able to and I think the Yankees starting pitching better and I think the X factor in this series is going to be Ryan weather is because of how bad the raise are. The raise are against left handed pitching their 25th in OPS this year against left handed pitching they're also really good or they're not that great against fastballs over 97 miles an hour to the fifth lowest OPS and baseball on it. I think the Yankees get by and the one thing I wouldn't do because I don't think he sets up well out of the bullpen as I would leave Tim Hill off the roster. I know that he gets a lot of ground balls and I feel like the raise would be able to take advantage of them. Well I mean a lot of what you say makes sense and the fact that they're the week against left these Dan is is one of the reasons that that boon set today on the brand into your any podcast that.

28:38Rodon's getting a start it's either games three or four so the way it sets up is you've got a cold starting game one you've got slitler starting game two so those are the two righties then it's max freed and Rodon either three four or four three I don't know which one they would have first and then if there's a fifth game would go back to slitler. So slitler price of the fact that they don't really slug that well against 97 or more and if if Cole who's well rested is feeling good he's going to throw anywhere from 95 to 97 to 98 so the velocity will be there but when you say the one thing I take exception to that you said they've over achieved. You know the red socks over achieved in those 37 games when they want 32 and five you don't over chief for 162 games you just don't you can't fool the baseball gods for six months if you're good for six months news alert you're good and they're starting pitching is good the Yankees of long had problems with Drew Rasmussen so he's going to start game one tomorrow against Cole.

29:46Nick Martinez has had a revelatory season really a great free agent signing by the by the raise he pitched well against the Yankees in that series that they had at the stadium in the last week of the regular season and then Freddie Peralta somehow Tampa Bay made the fixes that the Metz couldn't and he was the September American League pitcher the month undefeated 4 and 0 and I believe his the R.A. was under one. So that's three really good start is ever really good closing Brian Baker as well they mix and match Kevin cash is a really good manager so I cannot cosine that they they over achieved you can't over achieve for six months that's the beauty of the baseball season and it's one of the things that bothers me about wild cards I understand you know it's about money and in a perfect world it would be like it was a great deal. And it was in you know 1956 the Dodgers won the National League the Yankees won the American League and they played each other a wild cards the divisions the two best teams in each league got to decide who the best team in baseball was because I think that the truest mark of a champion of all the sports.

31:06It's over 160 to game season because it it reveals all the warts it makes you deal with injuries how you to how do you respond to injuries that's a 162 game gauntlet and both of these teams finished with the first and second best record in the American League 162 games for Tampa Bay 161 for the Yankees but they did not over achieve they're a good team they just do it a little bit different. None other people and you know what so did Milwaukee Brewers they don't have a lot of home runs and they had the best record in the National League so there's only there's not only one way I hate this phrase and I don't want pita to come after me there's only there's not only one way to skin a cat. You can win games in a lot of different ways now usually the small ballway and people don't want to hear this it doesn't really play. In the in the post season home runs plan the post season you might think I'm wrong but look it up it's hard to scratch out runs and string together four or five hits in a row against the best in the game and that's what you'd be facing the best in the game.

32:22It's going to Anthony Rockaway Anthony. Michael just thinking out loud so don't think I'm crazy about this idea just thinking so to see if you agree with me here or you see where I'm going so we have to say we have almond and sorry he's starting at third base and it looks like he has ten apples in his glove we're trying to pick out the right one before he throws the first base we can agree with a terrible third base right yes. Okay and then in right field you know our buddy David Cohen said he'll let Rennemos looks like he's on ice gays right in the outfield. Okay so with that logic where you know runs keep you giving up because of defense and just say Aaron judge can't make it's not the key to be on the roster if he's can only hit or something like that. Why not just stick John close standing right field that he can actually play and you have his bat and line up just an idea what do you think that is there's no way I mean to me he's a one at that guy he's on the roster for one at back he can't play me outfield on artificial turf.

33:25Even if he was quote unquote healthy you wouldn't do that you played since April 25th you're going to put him in the outfield in a playoff game on artificial turf let me talk about a recipe for disaster absolutely not Elliott Rennemos is Roberto Clemente compared to John Carl sent him. You can't you can't do stuff like that you can't experiment like we had a caller earlier this week why don't they put Ben Rice in the outfield because he's not an outfielder. You can experiment the postseason and I'll tell you this if judge makes a roster stands off. And I get the feeling just in some of the clues I got at the stadium and what I'm hearing today. They're locked in on 11 pictures so the 11 picture would be weather's. If they go to 12 because of Tampa Bay's weakness against lefties it would be Tim Hill but if they go to 12 I want to see exactly who they take off the bench.

34:31Is it going to be Rosario is it going to be Stanton and if they go with 12 pictures and judge is activated who's coming off well it would be it would be Stanton but somebody else. And then two other people have to come off so if judge replaces Stanton so it's Rosario and somebody else. Or maybe they just go with 11 pictures maybe. We'll find out sometime tomorrow 1 800 911 3 7 7 6 Julian in middle village Julian what's up. Hey Michael Dave first time long time how are you buddy welcome aboard man how you doing. I'm well thank you so I've been listening to you guys for years and I respect the fact that you are fair and I understand you're a Yankee fan but you're fair when you make comments about the mess.

35:32But the other day you mentioned that parolta that the rage fixed parolta the mess got parolta from the walk and he was a pretty good picture with Milwaukee. He came to the match and it's like there was no room for error and it seems to me and I've seen a lot of the games especially the one that he could it's worth. He couldn't make a mistake now you go to a team where you have that kind of pressure on you you're not going to perform well so now he goes to the race who's a much better team than the match. Of course he's going to do well like he did in Milwaukee so I don't understand how you said the rage fixed parolta with a method. In September though Julian he had a year in to one and there was no pressure on the match after after Carlos Mendoza got fired that they weren't going anywhere so he's pitching in a pressure free environment and he could not pitch the way he did in Milwaukee. I don't know why I don't think it was New York and then afterward the met coaches said well you know we gave him some of the things that Tampa Bay gave him but he wasn't able to employ it well you know what he employed and deployed it with Tampa Bay.

36:45Cowsneider I'm sorry is a better pitching coach than the pitching people that the meds have cast not has been there forever he consistently turns out really really good pitchers. And they overachieved Nick Martinez has has been a decent pitcher in the big leagues never had the success that he said this year. And for any parolta did get fixed by Milwaukee I'm not believe me everybody I'm not anti meds. But everything they did this year was an epic fail everything. Now a lot of people are talking about well the trade they made with Chicago you know they got back the guy was now their number one prospect well time will tell if it turns out to be a great trade time will tell. So the two guys at Chicago got homes didn't pitch in the in the series at the the cops lost and the other guy got a hit in a pinch hitting appearance so didn't pay off for the cops maybe it'll be the reverse of bias for Pete Crow Armstrong.

37:49But you can't you can't maneuver around the fact that the match could not fix what was wrong with Freddy parolta. And and in two months Tampa Bay did in a big way in a big way. It's good to rob and Dallas Rob. Hey Rob. Hey Michael how are you good how you doing? Good I took a quick question for you about the possible to the Yankees postseason roster coming forward. Okay so they're going to go for 11 pictures. What is the point of your bro being on the roster right he's kind of like the if something goes wrong find a guy with could be well worn and you could have 11 pictures by adding the weather and then maybe replacing your bro with 10 Hill. Want to get your thought on that one first. Okay I think they really like your bro. I mean your bro is pitch very very well for them. It doesn't it doesn't necessarily mean in a blowout. He could come and give them an inning and again he's left handed and and I'm a big Tim Hill fan Rob.

38:50I don't know if you are but he gave up 12 home runs this year. That's not his game. So of all the years you've been with the Yankees. This is probably the worst performance so if he's not on the roster that tells you that they just don't trust him at this point and they trust your bro more. Yes that makes sense and the other one I have is kind of outside the box which could be crazy but one suits you thought of it. So let's say judge plays and put them on the roster and they have to take someone off. I know it's a little bit of a risk but what would you think about maybe taking off Ramos because if you look at the outfield Belendr is not going to get pinched for. He's going to play the whole game. Same with Spencer Jones. You have Grisham in center. Let's say judge at home right not on the third could play right field. And then it need the KaBaiara can play the outfield and take off take off Ramos over Rizario because McNamads spot a third is a much more likely spot to get pinched for. That way you have options at third base whether it be KaBaiara or Rizario. Little bit crazy to take Ramos up. I wanted to see we thought of that as well. It's not crazy. It's not crazy.

39:50I think they believe in Ramos probably more than you or most Yankee fans do. He has historically hit lefties very well. So he's a pinch hitting option. And I think with the right handed starters that they will send out you're going to get you know the outfield that you said. Grisham Jones and Belendr. But if if judge makes the postseason roster it's at the expense of stand and I think I don't think they're going to carry both of them. And stand in a one trick pony. He's a one at bat guy as a pinch hitter. That's it. So if judge is there then Ramos would be that one at bat guy. So and also he could play the outfield and he doesn't have to be pinch run for. So with one or two fewer guys on the bench the perils of carrying stand or if he does pinch it and then walks or hits a double you got a you got a pinch run for him immediately.

40:50So you're using three players on one move. So I think that if judge makes the roster stands off and I still wouldn't bet my life savings that judge is making the roster at 17 days since he went on the aisle 17 days. And this injury if it's a grade two which everybody is guessing that's what Boone said moderate usually takes three to six weeks to get better. So I think if I was a betting man and I could be wrong I could be wrong. I'd say he has a chance to be on the ALCS roster if the if the Yankees get that far. And the turf also plays a big role in this. Do you want him roaming the outfield in Tampa Bay on a bad calf. Do you? Aaron's got to be smart with himself and the Yankees out to be smart. Yeah you want to win but you also cannot imperil his future and the 2027 season. You can't you got to make sure he's all good. And remember one thing before the cap became an issue and he was coming back from the broken rib.

41:54At 23 about to struck out 13 times. He had three soft singles and one monstrous home run on a breaking ball. He wasn't getting around on velocity back then. And now he's been shut down again. I know he's taking some BP but you know live pitching and playoff intensity baseball. It's a completely different thing. I'm all for activating if he's ready to go all for it. But if he's not then you can't push the issue. I know he's desperate that he wants to play desperate. But only if he's right. I don't need to compromise there and judge. It's not right to him. It's not right to the team. Again if he's 85% of his great self I'll take it. If he's 60 I don't want it. I don't want to take the risk. Hey we talk about game plans all the time around here and if pain is interfering with your everyday life, maybe it's time to come up with one of your own. I want you to know about Dr. J Shaw at San Wapane. Neck pain, back pain, sciatica, migraines, nerve pain, joint pain,

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45:01Harry Douglas here. Game day brings the excitement. Your stage should feel just as memorable. What Mary-Up Bomboy, official hotel partner of the NCAA in US Soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfast, others give you room to spread out, space the state productive, or extended state comforts. So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Mary-Up Bomboy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Mary-Up Bomboy, where Game Day checks in. Thanks for listening to the Michael K. Schill podcast. He's been here a long time and is going to be here even longer. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. It's a football Friday on ESPN, New York. Brought to you by DraftKids. Welcome back to the show everybody. Big free throw Friday, big football Friday, big Yankees in the race Friday. Can't wait.

46:01I'm going to be a great, great series. I'll give you my picks in the second hour of the show. Also, little surprise today. We got a little hit and run going. That'll be in the two o'clock hour. Little hit and run on a free for all Friday, a football Friday, and a Yankee raise up Friday. And a hit and run Friday. You want to get excited? Don't you feel the goosebumps coming up on your arms? Look at it. It looks like chicken skin. It's beautiful. Let's go back to the phones. 1-800-919-3776. I'm going to sponsor an East Windsor. What's up, Spencer? Hey, Michael, in case you're interested, have to be Yankees defeated the Red Sox. Something that I found out that was very curious to me. It was the first time since 2019 that they defeated an opponent in two consecutive games by five runs or more in the wild card, Hera. They hadn't done that since they played against the other twins when they defeated them 10 to 4 in game 1 and 8 to 2 in game 2. What that tells me now is that the Yankees have gotten hot at the right time.

47:03And that, I think, is part of the secret sauce that you need in order to succeed in the playoffs. You had a call before, say that the Tampa Bay Arrays they over-achieved. I'm going to agree with you. I listen to the Tampa Bay Arrays. I even call their post-game show. I talk to Chris Adams-Wall. This team is what it is. They are what we think they are. They are a very good team. And in my opinion, two secret weapons on their team. Candler Simpson, he is a disruptor on the base path. He heard me say that before. But I also think that in their bullpen, Tyler Wells, he gives them some links to Brian Baker. There is one other thing also. Earlier, Carl and he was talking about the Yankees playing with the idea or banding the idea of maybe going with just 10 pitchers. Of course, you and I would think 10 pitchers, that sounds ridiculous. But then I thought, look at the playoffs format. It's a game. They lost. Game 2. They lost. Game, game. They lost. Then a game. Maybe it's not so ridiculous. I think if there's any ways that they can somehow get John Carlos Stanton onto the roster and just be ready for a pinch of situation,

48:08I think that would serve the Yankees well. That's all I got, my thank you. Well, I would tell you this, though, Spencer, I believe that if they get to the ALCS, there will be 12 pitchers. So everybody thought they'd go to 12 pitchers in this five game set. And because of all the off days, I think they'll go to 11. So I think they're itching to get Ryan Weathers on the roster. He almost made the wildcard roster. So you're not taking anybody that's on the... Well, I guess you could take Shriver, but I think they're going to go with 11. And I know the off days play a big role, but I think they'll go with 11. The 11th will be Weathers. Now one thing, I don't want to pour cold water on the feel good. You said, well, the Yankees getting hot at the right time. And you said they had one by five more runs in a wildcard series since Minnesota in 2019. And what do Minnesota and Boston have in common? They're both not very good.

49:10They're both subpar playoff teams that are in the playoffs because of expanded playoffs. That's it. And I have respect for what Minnesota does. And I have respect for a Boston does, I think, but even the people in Boston and the ownership in Boston got hoodwinked by 32 and 5. They're not a great team. So the Yankees should pummel them. This is a step up in class. It is. It's a step up in class. The race are way better than the Red Sox. And you know what? They were four and a half games better than the Yankees. That's not by accident. And I agree about Simpson. He's a disruptor. He's also a bad outfielder. And you can pitch to him. You can pitch to him. He's not going to hit home run so you go right after him. Make sure he doesn't but. And make the plays when you have the place to make. Don't bobble a ball with him. You don't bobble a ball because he's, if he's not the fastest guy in the world. He's not the fastest guy in baseball. In sprint speed to first base. He's he's certainly in the conversation.

50:11Let's go to Eddie and Florida. Eddie. Edward. Hey Michael. How are you today? All good. The first time on. Thank you. Native New Yorker. So you know I'm on the Giants Yankees fans for life. So when you go to Florida. Why? When you go to Florida. I need to know. You know what, man? I just moved here. You know I had a couple of jobs. You know I went to a couple of different places and I ended up here in Florida. So you like it. But. Yeah, yeah, love it. Love it. Okay. Been down here for about 25 years. So no complaints here. No complaints at all. What do you got? So my question to you about Grishan and his like the client. You know, I'm not a Trent Grishan fan, but I think he's a better player than he's showing right now. And I think he's hurt. And something's going on because the lack of hustle is just weird to see a guy of his caliber. I'm not saying he's the grish, you know, player out there, but he's athletic.

51:12And it's sad to see a guy, you know, on this, you know, proven deal that he has that one year deal to this decline the way that he is. Well, I mean, I would tell you this. If he's heard any, he shouldn't be on the roster. That's number one. And it's not just this year he was bad in centerfield last year. And the Yankees explained it away by saying, well, his legs were not right. Well, his legs were fine until he had the hamstring pull. So I would assume that a month, you know, a month on the IL got the legs right. I would assume, otherwise, shouldn't be on the roster. And he is a good hitter. He doesn't hit for average, but he hits for power. He drives and runs. He's one of the best in baseball, by the way, in late game high leverage situation, seven thinning on. You can look it up. The stats are right there, but he cannot be the Albatross for the Yankees by misplaying balls in the outfield. If he's hurt, don't play him and don't put him on the roster.

52:12If he's healthy, he's got to be better than that. He has to be. And I want to be harsh just on that guy. But those two plays in game two, you can't do that against the race. The race is going to make you pay. I said this yesterday, the race must be given 27 outs. Every time you have a chance to record an out on the race, you must record that out. You can't give them 29 outs. You can't bobble a ball. Even if it scored, you know, a hit. You can't bobble a ball. That should have been an out and turns into a run-on base. They're two opportunistic to give them 29 outs. So that's what worries me, especially on turf with with Trent Grisham. I like him in the lineup. I like him in the lineup. You saw what he did in the last three innings against the Red Sox. He can hit and he can hit with slug. But he's got to play center better than that. You know, we talk about run prevention.

53:12At least David Sterns does over on the other side of town. With him in center field and, you know, Elliott Ramos or Spencer out there, it's not the best run prevention that you could ever have. But you're kind of trading the defense and you're trying to get some offense. I don't know if they have any other options. Their options in the outfield now are not very good defenders. And the funny part is that the one outfield that they could bring up, Jason Dominguez, might be the worst of them all. He might be the worst of them all defense. I will never understand somebody with the physical skills of Jason Dominguez being as bad as he is in the outfield. It's hopeless. It's absolutely hopeless. And it's a big, big letdown for the Yankees, who's, you know, they've developed their players very, very well in the last five years. He seems like he can't become a good outfielder. Maybe in due time, he will.

54:12But that's story for another day. Big final hour coming up, big hit and run. Obviously, two pack for sure. I'll give you my two picks for the NFL weekend. It's going to be unbelievable. So stick around the K-Show rolling until three. Run you on ESPN New York. Thanks for listening to the Michael K-Show podcast. You know what? Check yourself. You're more from Michael K. Wheat Days and One on the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. Go! Go! 20th century studios presents the most incredible survival story of the year. How did you get away? Help me! Well, fall on October 16th to survive the unthinkable, do the impossible. You're going to become so dangerous that the predators can't help but let you go. We're going to get it out of here. We got it, fall! We got it, fall! Well, fall. We did PD-13. In theaters on October 16th, get tickets now.