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I think that feels like a nice package there.
Yeah.
Wow.
Look at those foams lined up.
It's Hilgerton, man.
Somebody climb the sports hub.
Look at this camera.
Can't believe it.
What's the message to him?
You got to go back to the beginning.
You know, and just got to play better.
There's a few things that he did in camp,
but he didn't do in camp.
You know, and obviously in camp,
he didn't walk at all.
That's often.
He's talking a lot, right?
So that's not him.
We just have to keep working together,
but at the end, you know,
as he said it, you know,
he's up to me.
He's up to me to get back here.
And we will help him.
Yeah.
He's going to get his own bats.
He played them.
He'll play the majority of these games in the outfield.
Like I said, we got to get the offense going.
There were some things that we felt comfortable with during camp,
but you know, I'm not concerned.
Like the strike I was going up and the walk's going down.
That's not him.
It's got to hold the strike zone.
He didn't swing a miss.
You know, and that didn't happen during camp.
Open up on the Red Sox is their breaking camp
and get ready to start their season in Cincinnati on Thursday.
Mike, out today, Mazz here with yours.
Truly big Jim and Matt McCarthy knew it.
617779085.
Matt just mentioned in the headlines
in this final spring training game for the Sox.
Ranger Suarez got the start for the Red Sox today
and got lit up.
Drew in the car with a thought on Ranger Suarez
to start things off.
Hydro.
Thank you.
You hear me?
Yes.
Hey guys.
Long time list.
I'm first time caller.
And you know, Matt, you said that you wasn't ready
coming off of the World Baseball Classic.
The truth is, he wasn't ready before and during the World Baseball Classic.
He had a shaky spring training in the Great Blue League before.
Before you got beat up in the World Baseball Classic.
And obviously he got a tech ticked in right now.
So like, you guys are mentioned.
But like, for some reason, I'm seeing all these big Twitter spaces.
No one's messing this.
And like, this is our big free agent acquisition.
It's supposed to be our number two behind Crochet.
I'm just wondering why this isn't a bigger story.
Hey, Drew, you were.
Oh, he's gone.
Oh, that I'm cold.
Sorry.
I was going to ask Drew whether he's worried about Crochet
because he's had his face ripped off this spring too.
And so, and I would tell you that if you say yes,
I don't blame you.
I mean, you know, now look, veteran players generally
go through the motions and spring training.
They're just interested in getting.
I'm sorry, Matt.
I didn't mean to jump.
No, no.
The generally speaking, they're interested in getting their,
you know, pitch count up and et cetera, et cetera.
But Crochet got smashed this spring and so did Suarez.
So you should be worried.
Yeah.
So I didn't see any of this today.
I'm going to go get it on in the background.
But I did see that game before the World Championship came in the WBC.
That Venezuela played and he started.
And he was awful in that game.
That was what I was like.
This is real competition too.
Yeah.
So I think, you know, as, you know,
it was getting to an important point about veteran pitchers.
Oftentimes they'll come to camp.
You know, they're working on some secondary stuff.
They're trying to figure something out.
Just get stretched out.
Like, I'm not going to panic about Suarez.
But I'm more concerned about him than Crochet because of the tournament.
I mean, I get worried about any single pitcher who goes to the World Baseball Classic
and tries to ramp it up sooner than they really otherwise would in a normal year.
So that factor does exist with Suarez.
I'm definitely not going to worry about Crochet though.
I mean, he's dynamite.
He's one of the top three pitchers, five pitchers in baseball where everyone will rank him.
But Suarez, sure.
Yeah.
I mean, that's going to be a real second guess.
You know, if he does not have a great year,
you're willing to spend $130 million on Ranger Suarez.
But you won't give $130 million to Kyle Schwarber when you need it to hit her.
So that, to me, it's not about the fact.
It's not about whether or not they spent the money.
It's how they spent the money this off season.
James and Worcester, you're next here on Felga and Matt.
Hey, James.
How you doing?
Good. Go ahead.
I got you.
Got my take on the Aaron Judge relationship with Roman Anthony in the WBC, apparently rubbing elbows.
Futuristic wise, I see that I eventually, maybe five years from now, that Anthony will eventually be in pinstripes.
Unfortunately, if he comes to the progression that we hope that he does, the Yankees are going to be salivating over him.
As they do with any, you know, a young player that breaks out for any club, you know, they'll usually end up pointing up for them.
What I would be concerned about between that relationship with between the two of the WBC is Aaron Judge getting the stink of loser on Roman Anthony
because I don't care what he has done in the regular season.
He is baseball Justin Herbert.
Put up all your gaudy stats.
Be the online darling. Great.
When you get to the postseason, you suck or big games.
He sucks. Okay, you had the one great throw to third base from right field.
Other than that, how many times do you puke on himself of the plate?
He's a loser.
He is. Listen, baseball is not a sport where you look at a guy and say, how many world series is he won?
Because many of the greatest players in the history of the game never won a world series.
Barry bonds, Ted Williams, each he wrote, Tony Gwynn.
I mean, there are just, there are a million guys who never won a world series.
The only place where it actually matters is New York where you, he will be literally, and sorry, Maz to criticize your guy darling.
No, no, all good.
He will be the only great Yankee to never win if he never wins a world series because he is to your point, Jim, an absolute loser.
Well, at times it looks like deer in the headlights, too.
Like up at the plate in big moments.
You saw it in the WBC.
There's too much throws on that cold third strike.
Yeah, throws.
You can't take that pitch swing the F and BAT.
And just quickly, the caller said in five years, he'll be rubbing shoulders.
The Red Sox did sign him into an eight year contract.
So it's one of the few things they've done right.
It'd be, you know, in the last couple of years, especially, I don't think he's going anywhere.
Pete and Pembroke, you're next with a thought on the Red Sox.
Hey guys, quick, two quick thoughts.
One is what's going on with Christian Campbell, not here in too much.
Is he just trash?
And then that's secondly,
second, quick little hypothetical.
Would you rather have the Christian Campbell trash contract that being said and Roman Anthony on this relatively good contract
with less money available, or would you rather have neither signed more money available,
but have to pay a huge payout, you know, in two or three years when Roman's contract would have expired.
I'll hang up and listen.
Thanks guys.
Oh, they're way better off the way they are.
Yeah, right.
Roman Anthony locked up right now.
It was way better for them.
Yeah. And again, in the Campbell thing, I'm not telling you it was good, but it's a 60 million.
It's not 260 million.
But why the rush?
So to go back to this, and we all remember this time last year,
because they wanted to stroke themselves in front of the country, Murray.
Craig Breslow going off about, well, it's the use on all his nerd terms.
Like, well, it's the symmetry between coaching and everything else.
And this is how we love that clip was just nauseating.
Like, let's all have a big stroke session for ourselves, for this prospect that we found.
And again, he's starting at this year in AAA for a guy who's never played baseball before.
Really, I mean, didn't start playing till high school is, I mean, as barely played.
I mean, how many games in the minor leagues?
It's just that was reckless is what it was.
Reckless is the right word.
And look, this is, you know, he might be done.
I don't know any other way to say it.
He might be cashed. It might be over already.
He didn't look good this spring.
And Jimmy, that cut that we played from Kora coming back.
Can we get to the part where he says, I'm not concerned.
Because I think what he's telling you is he is concerned.
It is, it's in the final 20 seconds or so, Jimmy.
Maybe something like that where he starts talking about the command of the strike zone
and the strike else versus the walks.
He didn't look good in spring training.
Here's my point.
I've heard people say, well, you know, he's still fixing his swing.
Well, they sent him down the beginning of May.
So he had the whole season last year, the off season, now he comes into spring training
and it hasn't changed.
He is sucked now for about a year.
So what was that?
Because it does look like he can't play.
But what was that April to start last year?
Remember when it's blonde, you left the room.
How you like him now, Matt?
Because it looked like he could hit and then poof.
Was it just a mirage?
Well, because Murray, what happened?
Facing bad pitching.
Well, I mean, yeah, exactly right.
Matt's got it right.
What happens?
His team say, OK, he's going to swing it this.
So now we're going to start throwing this.
And what they did is they really kind of pounded him with fastballs
even off the inside of the plate.
He couldn't handle them.
And he kept swinging at them.
And he walks to me now like he's completely mental
about catching up to fastballs.
So he's out in front of everything
and has no plate discipline whatsoever.
So this is again, when chorus says, well, I'm not concerned.
But I'm not concerned.
Like the strikeout's going up and the watch's going down.
That's not him.
It's going to throw the strike zone.
He didn't swing a miss.
You know, and that didn't happen through a count.
It's not concerned, but he strikes out a ton.
Right.
So he had 11 strikeouts in two walks during spring training.
He hit 220.
He basically hit 220 over the final, you know,
X number of months of last season.
He finished it 220 in the big leagues.
So he hasn't hit for about a year now.
It might be over.
And we're not even addressing his biggest challenge,
which is his defense.
He still does not have a position.
I mean, his, his offensive ceiling is very, very high.
And that's what they were enamored with.
He was a guy who rose quickly through the minor leagues.
Pretty much didn't fail, just exploded onto the scene.
He gets the big leagues against real pitching.
And they find the holes in his swing.
And because he's a young player who's barely played baseball,
he struggled to make an adjustment.
But not to mention, too, because he wasn't ready defensively.
Now they were moving him to first base and moving him to the outfield.
And he was down in Worcester trying to figure out what position he was going to play.
So now he's trying to figure out where he's going to play in the field.
Now, for the first time ever, he's failed at the plate and he's young.
And he's never failed before.
And he didn't know how to handle it.
So because they rushed him, they put him in such a bad spot.
Like, he might not have ever been anything in the, in the first place.
He might never be anything.
But because of the way they rushed him, they totally screwed with him.
And that's on them.
Like, organizationally, they have failed this kid left and right.
He might have just been a helium guy who has a, you know,
big season in the minor leagues and has never anything more than that.
But because of the way they rushed him, they put him in such a terrible spot.
He's a butcher in the infield.
He's all at best.
He might be what?
A fourth outfielder?
Yeah, or DH really.
I mean, if he can hit, if he can hit, they'll find a spot for him.
But with him, it was always about the bat.
And look, I don't think anybody's rooting against the kid.
He seems like a good kid.
I mean, really good kid.
And, but he also seems kind of timid.
And, Murray, I think his head right now is potato soup.
Okay.
It is one big bowl of slop.
He's a mess.
McCarthy's right.
If this thing doesn't turn around, this is going to go down as one of the more embarrassing decisions
and displays by the red socks in their modern history.
They got all excited about a kid one year in the big leagues.
And they didn't wait to tell everybody how smart they were.
And the kid ended up falling on his face and they put all the pressure on him.
They effed us up royally.
And he might not recover from it.
If you ask me today to bet on it, I would tell you he's done.
They ignored it last year, too, in spring training.
He batted a buck 90.
He didn't look ready for it.
But they had already decided he was their opening day second baseman.
And they ignored every single sign and put him in a terrible spot.
And they wanted to sell it again as the big three.
And you've been right to say Roman Anthony shouldn't be part of that.
Okay.
So Anthony's panned out.
But Marcelo Meyer, who could at some point lose his job at second baseman,
Isaiah, kind of a lefa.
And then this kid was starting to triple A again.
Like it's, oh, the big three, the big three comes to the big three.
How's it worked out for you?
But that's the math before.
How's Kyle Tildewen?
Well, they traded the wrong guy to be totally honest, Jimmy.
Cause don't they need a catcher?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Is he playing well?
He didn't have a great year last year.
I know that he might suck too.
Ken in the car.
You're next on the red sucks.
This year.
Good.
Hey guys.
Thanks for taking my call of the show as always.
I just want to talk about.
I know it's hard to talk about expectations.
But as you guys alluded to crochet didn't have really good spring.
Swars is getting lit up today.
And then you guys have just been talking about Campbell.
And that's kind of, you know.
Basically blurred my vision of what probably I wanted to talk about.
But what's what's your guys is realistic expectations?
Two days before opening day?
Can this team be another wild card team?
Or can it actually win around and go to the divisional round?
I just wanted you guys to start the opinions on it.
I think they should definitely be a playoff team and at least win around.
Matt says FM World Series or bust Matt.
Yeah.
They have as good a chance as any team in the American league to win the pennant.
So that's absolutely my expectation is they are writing the mix to do it.
Jason, where are you on your beloved Boston Red Sox?
92 wins win the AL East and then the ALCS.
All right.
They're like there's it's how I feel.
I think they're pitching is the best in the American league.
I think they will hit well enough to win games during the regular season.
So I expect them in the American League championship series.
If you've asked what I have bet.
I have bet them to win over 100 games and be in the World Series.
All right.
Jason to putting his money behind us.
Plus 632.
I think I got odds on that.
We will continue to take your calls on the Red Sox.
Your thoughts as they're breaking camp getting ready to start the season.
Join us.
6177790985.
If you haven't heard yet, a decision has been made by the Boston Bruins.
On top prospect, B.C.'s James Hagins.
He's agreed to start with Providence.
We'll get to why that is with our own tie-understand of 985.
The sports upcoming next here on Philgrin Mass.
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Oh, yeah.
Thoughts, calls, emails.
Oh, yeah.
I get my childish on it.
I do.
I'm not a good person.
Go ahead.
Philgrin Mass.
Yeah.
985.
The sports hub.
I don't think the Bruins have any doubt about his ability long term.
And I don't think that anybody doubts that James Hagins is anything but a great fit for them.
And a great player to have as part of their prospect pool and the future of the Bruins.
I just know that some teams get really nervous about this in the middle of a playoff race.
You know, they're two points into the playoffs.
One up on the calendars for the second wild card for the first wild card.
Two up on the red wings for the playoffs.
They're tied with the Canadians.
I just know some NHL teams.
They do get goofy about that.
Like bring somebody in at this point in time if you're not 100% sure that they can help you.
I think we'll get.
I have no doubt that long term, the Bruins believe that this is the right player for them and they're ecstatic to have them.
I just know how teams sometimes feel about doing this right now when you're in the middle of a race.
Join us in studio.
You hear him Saturday mornings 9 to 11 on the sports of Sockie hot sports of hockey show.
And of course you should be a shocky show.
Yeah, it's a shock.
Yeah.
Wake up everyone. Let's talk.
And you should always be reading about 98 five sports of dot com.
It is Ty Anderson.
Hello and good afternoon.
Ty.
What's going on guys?
I mean, why started him and Providence?
Providence when it sounds like Hagins wants to be on the big club.
Well, the Bruins run by dinosaurs and dinosaurs have their way.
No, I just feel like they are, I think to Elliott's point and I like Elliott.
I'm not going to diminish what he's saying here.
I think I think it's a little overprotective.
I think of the Bruins to a certain degree, but they don't want to throw him in right now.
They feel like he needs to be in the minors.
They feel like that's the best path and the Bruins of all have often defaulted to what they view as best path for a player.
Sorry about that.
And you look at sort of what they did it with McAvoy.
McAvoy had injuries that forced him up.
If there's no injuries in that playoff round, they lose Tory crew.
They lose, I think Colin Miller.
They lose Brandon Carlo.
If those injuries don't happen, we probably don't see Charlie McAvoy in 2017.
So this is sort of their default mode when it comes to developing players.
But I think that Hagins ultimately just wants to turn pro.
And he made a concession.
One party had to make a concession here.
And it was James Hagins and his agent.
Ultimately that did that.
Are you convinced that he is down there for the rest of this season or could we still see him?
I mean, putting him down there this late in the year.
I feel like he's going to be down there for the for the whole way.
I don't love that.
I just feel like that's what they're probably going to do.
You know, because once he gets called up, he has to sign his contract.
And he plays one game and that year is burned.
Right?
Like, wouldn't you want to get him in now?
I feel like this week is a better week to get him in.
You have Toronto tonight.
You have Buffalo tomorrow.
Probably wouldn't play that game.
You have Minnesota on Saturday.
And you're like, well, those are all those three teams are good teams.
Sure.
But then look at next week.
Next week you have Columbus who's right on your heels or you're chasing them.
You know, Columbus is now in the Metro bracket.
They've been playing so well.
But then you have Dallas.
You have Florida.
You have Tampa.
And Florida would love nothing more than to beat the bad guy to you one final time
before the playoffs and ruin your season.
So it's like, you look at this week and you say it's hard.
But next week is even harder.
Right?
And so I feel like if they wanted to get him in, they would have got him in right off the jump here.
And again, considering that one game burns the contract.
You know what I mean?
Today overvalue how much players get developed at the AHL level.
Yes.
Yes, completely.
They completely overvalue it.
And I think Sweeney has used this term before of players being overbaked.
I don't know about you.
I don't want overbaked food.
I want it to be like ready to go.
And where I am with this is like, I don't, I'm not anti AHL.
Like I think it can be a valuable tool for certain guys.
But I look at where the Bruins are right now.
You can't ask for a better landing spot for James Hagen's than where he would be right now.
They're no fun.
They're not fun.
They're no fun.
Bring them up.
Let's go.
What the hell is there to lose?
Think about, think about this season as a whole.
Right?
They've already surpassed pretty much all of our expectations.
Why not ride the hot hand?
Give your fan base a glimpse of the future.
Definitely.
Imagine the jolt you would get.
Right?
Like, oh, we got this kid here.
And again, third line.
You're not saying, hey, come save us.
Save the top line, please.
We need you.
You have a solid first line right now with poster documents in Who's the Dean off.
You have a great second line that has smashed what we all thought they would be.
And then you have Geeky and Lindholm on your third line.
You're saying, yeah, come in.
Play power play too.
You know, give us six points in 10 games.
We're happy.
Like, this is the perfect spot for a player of this magnitude.
And you're going to say, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
You need to ride the buses.
We rode the buses 20 years ago.
You get to ride the buses now.
I just think it's, I think it's very, it's just very old school.
And it's like old school just for the sake of being old school.
I don't think it adds anything.
It sounds to me, Tyler.
Like it's antiquated thinking by guys that played in the 80s, early 90s.
Yep.
Cam and Sweden.
Like, this is how we did it.
So this is how you got to do it.
It's just you got to treat athletes now, whether you like it or not, a little bit differently.
It's not that way anymore.
Right.
No, it's true.
It's like it's the younger athlete will, will do what you want them to do, but they want
to know the why.
Right.
They sold Hagen's on the Y.
He agreed to go down there.
And that's good.
I like that.
He's willing to do that.
But it's also like, again, so you're saying, and I don't want to accuse Elliott of like
talking to like the Bruins organization, but they say like, oh, teams get a little nervous
about this.
So why is Lucas Rikle here?
He's been here for three weeks in the organization.
Why is he here?
But James Hagen's are top prospects.
If you can't, and Sweden uses term a lot, upset the apple cart.
He always says that.
I don't want to upset the apple cart.
If you can't upset a Lucas Rikle or a Mikey Aseman or an Alex Deves, just don't draft
ever.
Just trade all the picks forever, bring in Winnow talent.
This is what the Vegas School of the Knights have done.
The Vegas School of the Knights have basically said, we don't develop.
We just want to win now.
So don't bring in drafts.
He's like, well, he can't upset the chemistry here.
What are you talking about chemistry?
What are you talking about chemistry?
I don't agree with that at all.
You can bring in people, foster them, foster that relationship of a younger player being
like, this is what we want out of you.
Come in, help us out.
If not, we'll reassess.
But like, I just, this whole idea of like paying dues and almost being like punishment
centric versus like fostering what they do well and teaching them things along the
way.
I don't agree with that.
And I feel like this is something that is very old school and the new athlete is not
going to always be on board with it.
So let me ask you two questions and one, this kid's not big, right?
He's not very big.
No, he's like five nine and I'm sorry, I was like five 10 and like a hundred and ninety
pounds.
Okay.
It was 175 a year ago.
And I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but is there any chance they looked at
a kid like Pacha and said, you know what?
It didn't work for him.
It was too early.
He's not physically strong enough.
And that that is, you know, they're sort of now reacting to that.
Is that at all effect?
They could, but this would be them going against what they said back in July.
When they bring in Tanner Ginoe and Asimon and you go back year before they bring in
Zedorov, they have Castleic, they have Sean Caralli.
They basically said to you on July one, they said, we're bringing in these veteran types,
that play a heavier game, that log the hard minutes.
So that when we bring in our younger players, they have a softer landing spot and they're
not going to get pushed around.
They're not going to be overmatched physically.
So they say that.
And then when it comes time to do it, they're like, well, no, hold on, pump the brakes here
now.
And so it's kind of like, then why did you all that been, right?
And this is where they get caught in that sticky middle of being, you know, a team that wants
to be relevant and wants to be a playoff team now, but also having an eye towards the
future.
And so this is where those messages can get kind of crossed up a little bit and they
got to work through it.
Again, I just feel like I'm not anti-AHL, I'm not, I'm not anti him going down there.
I just feel like there's a great opening here and they're not taking advantage of it.
So not to dumb this down, you know, for the audience and you covers the team.
And so, but I feel like there is some confusion with the amateur triote that he assigned with
provenance.
Can James Hagen's after signing this decide how the hell with this, I want to go back
to BC?
He could, but it is an incredibly convoluted process where he would have to basically
prove that my understanding is that like he would have to prove like he wasn't making
any money at all and that everything was going towards like the bare minimum of expenses.
And so it can be done, it probably won't be done.
I imagine he's going to be a full on pro now.
Is that pretty rare throughout the league that you've seen that happen?
Yeah.
So it's really weird, right?
So they've changed the NCAA eligibility rules and what have you like?
There's a guy who was in hockey East this year who was playing in the ECHL a year ago,
but he can still play and call chalky and you're like, wait, wait, wait, wait, how's
that happening?
Like they've kind of changed a little bit, but like the process for Hagen's to go go
to an AT, go on an ATO and then go back to BC is so convoluted that basically everyone
I've asked about is like, yeah, I wouldn't bank on that happening.
It's just very difficult to make happen.
Okay.
Last question.
Does this at all affect in your mind his ability to be on the roster for the start of next
year?
No.
No.
So if he's not on the roster at the start of next season, that's bull crap.
Well, so here's what I, okay, so you're you're you're you're skipping out on the easy
landing spot this year, right?
We agree that like they don't view it as easy as as I do or other people do.
Okay.
Well, the next year when he you give him a top six role, any struggles or a third line
role and any any struggles, you got to see it through you can't do the yo yo thing
with it, right?
Like so you're basically saying, okay, you're not ready for this right now, but next year
you get to be willing to live through it, live through the bumps and the bruises and whatnot
because again, if you bring hit this player in right now and you miss the playoffs, it's
not because James Hagen's on your third line.
It's going to be because everything else kind of went out the window, right?
And so I just want to avoid the yo yo part of this that the Bruins tend to do with some
of their players where guys go down to the miners and next thing, you know, they're down
there for for 50, 100 games and you're kind of like, all right, what's the plan here?
Are they still in your your plans or what's going on here?
And so this a player that I think is too important to go through that yo yo process with.
So keep in province for the rest of the year, fine, whatever, I'll accept it, but next
year, if he comes up and he only has five points or 15 games or whatever, you got to see
it through.
You can't be like, all right, back to province with you because that'd be the worst case
scenario I think for this player.
Can you hang one more segment or you have to go back in that big meeting you were all
in?
No, we were just like talking garbage and yeah, you mean there was no actual work being done
there.
Productivity left the room a long time ago, I would tell you know what I'd like to introduce
you to our sales staff.
All right.
So if you have any questions on the Bruins, James Hagen's Ty Anderson in here at the
Sports Hub is going to hang with us for one more segment.
So join us at 6177790985, we'll talk more pucks with Ty after the headlines with Matt
McCarty here on Felger and Mass.
Now, I still don't like them down the middle.
I don't think any of us really like them down the middle to do anything.
Should they make the playoffs?
But you're right.
Like Jeremy Jeremy Swayman is full stop one of the best goal tenders in the NHL end of
story.
Last call turn the lights on everybody go home, he's he's been fantastic for this team.
I I still do wonder why and I don't think it's from lack of effort.
I still don't know why Don Sweeney didn't at least give them the shot in the arm like
something to help this team like we're not talking about a massive deal.
But you know, just waiting for James Hagen's I don't think is going to is going to cut
it nor should it.
Now, I'm a big believer in your team earns a trade you give it to him to show a faith
doesn't have to be something massive, but to clean up a certain area.
I'm just kind of surprised at given what the expectations were for the Boston Bruins
and what they were able to do and what the where they were able to get this team.
I think I still think that they deserve something.
I think you kind of nailed it, Matt.
Welcome back Felger and Matt's Mike out today.
Ty Anderson joining us in studio for another segment talking about the Bruins and this
Hagen's decision to start in the province of Bruins aren't fun.
You've expedited expectations, everyone's expectations.
You're in the playoff mix.
Wouldn't you want to add to your team for the playoff mix here and maybe make yourself
a little bit better and go on a bit of a deeper run instead.
No, we're going to do it the old fashioned way because we started on the buses and we
started the age, you know, we can't have the fun player come up and join us.
It's kind of annoying.
I mean, that fan base to Murray is loyal.
That's a loyal fan.
Yes.
So, and this year was going in a lot of those season ticket holders.
You're asking my opinion now, stand by in a case like that and say, you know what?
We'll stick it out, we'll hang in there and I would say overall the product's been better
than people thought.
The timing extra sucks too, sorry to cut you off because they just had arguably their
biggest win of the season.
Yeah.
Detroit on Saturday night.
Right.
Right.
Like that was one.
And you know, it's me, my pessimistic nature and you know, being on the show and this
also helps me feel this way too.
We're going to don't blame me, Murray.
No, you guys are a bad influence.
Yeah, you are.
Yes.
I was with you.
You know, it's Swaman's third start a row tie.
You've posted the numbers at 98 five sports of dot com and tweeted them.
The third start a row for Swaman, usually not good on the road.
They can't win in regulation.
I was like, this is my money on Detroit and ends up being their best game of the year and
Swaman really saved their asses.
No pun intended in the in the third period.
Build off that.
Have him come up to the team, have have Hagen's play on the big team.
If you can bring in Mark McLaughlin in 2022, when you're not about that.
When you're in the middle of a wild card race.
And if you can bring in Ryan Zanato in 2018, when you are in win now mode for Chara and
Bergeron, why can't you bring in James Hagen's eyes don't I don't follow that logic.
The idea that.
Oh, it's a lot to ask.
Well, yeah, that's a top seven pick.
It's a it's the seventh overall pick.
You should ask a lot of that player.
But guess what?
You're not asking a ton of him.
You're saying come in.
You know, give us some pop, give us some juice.
So things they suck at are the power play and offensive zone entries.
Two things that James Hagen's can't excel at.
Why wouldn't you bring that in?
Why wouldn't you want help there?
You don't you don't want to upset Lucas Rikle because you're getting something out of
him.
Okay.
Well, I would argue that Conor Helibock gave him a gift in his debut.
He's probably not scoring without that gift, right?
And he's not a bad player.
But like, this is why you draft high end talent so that you can put them in on your roster
and in utilize your skill set and areas where you need them.
The Bruins need more skill.
James Hagen's bring skill.
I don't understand why you wouldn't want to bring that in right now.
And I think especially when you draft him and you sort of laud him for his confidence,
right?
And how he's a big game player.
Well, these games are pretty damn big.
I would like to see if the if he's that big game player at this level.
And again, I don't think that if you missed the playoffs, it's not because of James Hagen's
and what he couldn't do as a as a 19 year old in the NHL.
It would be you're not scoring enough and swaying in his following a part.
I just think this is a great time to bring in an insurance policy for skill and speed
and whatnot.
It's just not often that the Bruins get a pick like that's right.
So this is the highest pick they've had since Sagan, which again, he was number two.
This guy was number seven.
I think Kessel was in the top five, right?
Yeah.
Okay.
Yeah.
But the Bruins don't often get to pick this high.
And to your point, like the game the other night was that was a good win.
Swam and played great.
They kind of stole the game in the third period to get a little energy.
I think of what the environment would be like tonight over there with a Saktorano team
coming in.
You own their pick.
And here's the guy you just got after a big win like that would be fun, Murray.
That would be fun.
The Bruins don't know fun.
And John Sweeney and Cam Nilly decided to fight on the parade.
Well, the good news is you can go to Springfield on Wednesday night and watch the province
Bruins and the Springfield Falcons play if you want to see James Higgins.
12 games left.
How much of the workload is Swam and going to get everything except to back to back?
I would give Corpusalo tomorrow.
I would even argue that you go Swam and Swam and this weekend when you have Minnesota
and then Columbus.
I would go Swam and both games probably.
Did they make a mistake going Swam and tonight against Toronto?
You kind of want Toronto to win, don't you?
Like you don't want that pick to go too low.
And now all of a sudden now it's in the top five.
Now you're not getting it.
So there's arguments we made that yeah, going to Corpusalo would be the better move.
No, I mean, it depends what they do tomorrow.
Is Corpusalo going tomorrow?
Is Swam and going tomorrow?
Like that's what I would want to know because Sturm kind of said like it's hard to sit
him right now, you know, and they might lean on him.
I don't have his back to back numbers.
I know he's done it before.
I don't have my head right now, but this is a guy that I'm giving pretty much every
game to down the stretch here.
He's earned it.
He's earned enough.
But this is sort of where you run in a trouble here where it's like, if you're going
to lean on him, well, then your defense has to tighten up.
Your power play has to get back online and you got to find another scoring option here
besides the second line.
You know, if that doesn't happen, then the strain on Swam and is going to be even harder
without getting into the game's plate, right?
Because like he was under fire in that third period, 23 shots, I think it was the third
period.
Like, you know, if it's more chancey, I mean, some of those saves the one on Debrank
at the very split and the glove save was ridiculous.
Oh, it's been insane and but there's a level to that, right?
Like the high danger saves like they, they crew and then you're like, man, he's getting
shelved every night and how sustainable is that, right?
Because you want him to be upright for the playoffs too.
You know, like we talk about the games played by a goal tender, you know, when a goalie plays
over 55 games, the recent data shows you that when they get to the playoffs, they're cooked,
they're done.
They're out of gas.
They're stuck, sorrows, who was it, do it, do it, do it, Skinner who, you know, you know,
yeah.
Like there's examples here.
They're examples of guys that like, if you push him and you, they get you there, that's
great.
But then what do they give you in the five or six games in the playoffs?
If it's an 850, well, that's no good.
You don't want that either.
And so there is like a management part of this that I think is important for them.
So yesterday we were talking about a Swaman and you, you, you tell me, I mean, I'm curious
as to your opinion, the, is there legit discussion about him for the Vesana?
Yes.
Yes.
Like is that real?
Oh, yeah.
If you look at his numbers, Gasper brought this up yesterday, Chris Gasper the globe that
if you look at his numbers in the conventional stats, he's average and past this year relative
to the field.
So but you think there's a legit, a legit chance he could win it.
And I would also, I would, I would note this that the Vesana is voted on by the GM.
Not the writers.
So the GMs are going to look at the roster construct of Boston and say this guy is getting
killed every night, you know, or there will be a GM that's like that guy sank my team.
That's how good he was down the stretch.
He sank my team out of the playoff race, you know, or they'll remember that game that
he had against Detroit, right?
And, and that'll factor in their voting.
And GMs tend to vote more, I think, you know, more personally, right?
And there's been a lot of teams that have seen Swaman play really well again.
So that will help him more than, you know, the fancy stats and the writers like me who vote
for the other rewards.
And Ty, before the award is announced, there are three finalists announced, right?
So do you think it's like, I mean, is there going to be a lot that he's one of those three
finalists?
No, he's like the third option, like he's like the third guy.
Like I think it's Vesalowski.
I would give it to Gustafson from Minnesota as well.
And then I would probably have Swaman three, four maybe like it all depends how he finishes
the year.
But he's in that category.
He's not top two, but he's in that three, four, five range where depending on how it finishes
here, he might get up in there, you know, and, and, but again, this comes back to, I
think, our expectations of gold tenders and how they've changed over the years, right?
Where you go from Timmy, who was incredible to Tuka, who always had good numbers, even
in down years, Tuka had good numbers.
It was like a 915, I think, was like his worst season or thereabouts.
And then you have now it's like gold-tening averages have come down.
Games played have come down, you know, and now it's kind of about like, okay, what's
a team like in front of you, timely saves, expected saves, things of that nature, Swaman's
at the top of the category and pretty much all those.
And that's been important for him.
All right.
Calls on the Bruins with Ty Anderson here, Mike in, I think this is puttucket or pen-tucket.
Either way, Mike on the James Hagen's decision.
Go ahead, Mike.
Puttucket, Jim, how you doing?
Very good, are you?
They wrote pen-tucket.
I was like, this isn't a real place, but go ahead.
Sorry.
So Ty, you mentioned Mark McLaughlin and Ryan DeNotto, a little nuance there.
McLaughlin was a four-year college player, I think he was 22, DeNotto was a three-year college
player.
I'm going to say he was 21, and also there, especially McLaughlin, a bigger guy, Hagen's
is tiny.
I know what he's listed at, but he's, you know, 58, 160, I think we've got to find out
if he can play with the big boys.
Yeah, I mean, don't draft him then.
I don't know.
Like, do we have a taffy puller?
We can put him into, like, I don't understand.
Like, we all knew his height when he was drafted.
I mean...
But Ireland's not going to make him bigger all of a sudden.
Right.
I mean, I just, I get, like, this is where I feel like we're stuck in the past.
I feel like we're, we're, the player, the league is full of tiny guys now.
They're all, they're all tiny.
Like I don't look at Cole Coffield and go, oh, you can't play him.
You know, he's five foot six, can't play him.
Like, if you can play, you can play.
If you get talent, you get talent.
First 40 goals score from Montreal in 30 years.
Yeah.
I think he can play.
Curtis and Warwick, another thought on James Hagen.
Go ahead, Curtis.
Is there any concern that you're going to pull a cutter, Goche, and leave the Bruins?
No.
No.
I, I, I kind of asked about that, like, because I was curious.
I was generally curious, like, is he, is he going to be pissed enough to want out?
And I was told every stop.
No, no, it's not like that.
And so he's just, he's eager.
They're not as eager and they had to find a middle ground.
So, but this is, this is the risk, right?
Like, these players now, you, you set it off the jump.
Like, they're much more, they're not afraid of that nuclear option, right?
Like, when, when we were all growing up, like, it was Eric Lindross, like, was the guy
that you're like, oh, bad guy.
I didn't want to play for Quebec, you know, and, and he forces way.
Now guys aren't afraid to do it.
You had three guys from the class of 2022.
Isaac Howard, picked by Tampa, first round, Rutger, Magrordi, from Winnipeg, 14th overall,
and then you had Cutter Goche, fifth overall pick, all said, I don't like your plan for
me.
Trade me.
I don't want to be here.
And the teams are like, wait a minute.
No, no, no, no, no, no, we're working on it.
Nope, trade me.
I don't want to be here.
We're working right away.
I don't want to be here.
And so players are not afraid of pressing that button, right?
And so it worked for the Bruins this time, right?
They got Hagen's to buy in the way they got McWay to buy in.
They got posh knocked to buy in.
But what happens when they, when they, let's say they picked this player with a Toronto
pick, they get, they get a great right job defense when they say, we want you to go to
Providence.
He goes, nope, not doing that.
They go, we want you to go to Providence.
Nope, not doing that.
Trade me.
What happens then?
It might happen, right?
Like, not everyone's going to buy you, buy in and drink your cool aid.
And it's not like a, it's not a knock on them, but like, you have to adapt, I think, over
time, right?
You can't, this is how the Bruins got into this, this problem in the first place is that they
apply this one size fits all development model, right?
And not everyone files under that.
You can send a Trent Frederick to Providence.
You can send a Johnny Beecher to Providence.
James Hagen's might be like, I don't think there's value, this is not, this is not for
me.
I don't think I'm going to learn anything from this right now.
And so that might happen down the road.
So it's, it's, it's, it's a button.
I'm a little afraid of pushing if I'm the Boston Bruins.
I, I think you got to be a little bit more relenting, you know, than, than you have
been in years past.
Well, if anyone could screw it up, it's them.
Tommy and Lynn, with a thought on James Hagen's in the Bruins.
What's up, Tommy?
What do you got to say today?
All right.
This is what I got to say today.
Hey, tie.
All right.
James Hagen's, I watched Colin Tockey and wow.
He had an unbelievable year in this year for B.C.
And all right, if he's going with the Providence Bruins and he's getting it right, you
bring him up here immediately for a big playoff push.
Let's go.
The Bruins cannot be slack and sweetie needs to stop slacking and bring up young talent
like he did with Mark McLaughlin and all the other guys.
Well, Tommy, if you, Tommy, if he doesn't, you make sure you go to a game and you boo
sweetie.
What was the saying?
Five.
Five years, sweetie.
Five years, sweetie.
Great stuff, Tommy.
As always.
Well, I think this is where the development model comes in a question, right?
Like you can say, like, well, they haven't picked a lot of high picks and they trade a lot
of picks, whatever.
They've produced one top six forward in the last 10 years, jig to brusque.
That's it.
That's the only top six forward they've produced.
If you want to go even further, they've produced one skater in the last eight years, Mason
Lowry.
Like that's it.
Like they are, they don't have a ton of success stories down in Providence that you can
be like, yep, this is why I believe in them.
I agree.
Go to Providence, baby.
Like, no, there's a lot of people down in Providence that are like, what's going on down
there?
Is everything all right down there?
What's happening down there?
It is, it is a, it's a different kind of animal.
One skater in the last eight years.
I mean, do you like think about it?
He's right.
Yeah.
No, I know that's unbelievable.
It was.
So it's been.
Wow.
That blows.
Carlow and, and Carlow was down there for like five games and Mac boys down there for
four games.
The bros had one season down there and then was up here.
I don't think Frederick counts personally.
I just don't.
Like, I think he had one year where he shot 25% and then he's been garbage basically all
around there.
And Lowry.
Like, you want to include Swayman?
Sure.
It's a goalie though.
Like, I think it's different.
I think it's different kind of development.
So.
All right.
Great stuff.
As always, Ty.
Xat underscore Ty Anderson.
Be sure to tune into the sports of hockey show Saturday morning, 9 to 11 leading into
Gaspar Maria on these fine airwaves.
And of course, read them at 985 sportsup.com for the continued story on James Hagen's
hopefully ends up on the big club, but starting in Providence.
Ty, thanks for joining us.
Anytime.
What I wanted to know is how many points this Hagen's need is first five games in Providence
before you go.
All right.
Got to bring them up now.
One.
Yeah.
But if he's like eight points in five games, the fans are going to be like, why isn't he
here?
Why isn't he here?
And rightfully so.
All right.
We haven't talked football in like a show and a half.
So we are going to alleviate that issue when we return, give you the latest on AJ Brown,
where the Patriots are at and they're pursuit of the wide receiver of the Philadelphia Eagles.
We'll get to that at the top of the four o'clock hour after the headlines of Matt McCarthy.
That's coming up here on Fulgarine Mass.
Five years, we need five years, we need five years, we need I like it, Tommy.
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