Mets Roster Construction and Future

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Micolobe Ultra, from the pitch to the poor, superior is worth playing for Enter now at Mickeolob Ultra. com slash superior acccess slash FIFA World Cup twenty six Miclobe Ultra FF World Cup twenty six superior access, no purchase necessary open US residence twenty one plus begins on december first, twenty twenty five and ends on july thirty first, twenty twenty six Multiple entry periods visit wWW dot micloob ultra d. com slash superior acccess slash FIFA World Cup twenty six for free entry. Entry deadlines, prizes and details On the Zach Lowhow. We're back We're already back after analyzing a whole big pile NBA news just yesterday. Here we are again, the meo ball Traded from Charlotte to Minnesota, along with Josh Green for Nas Reid and a whole bunch of draft asstets going back to the Charlotte Hornets. Minnesota uses the last bullets in its NBA trade chamber for the mellow ball to pair him with Anthony Edwards after losing Julius Randall and now Nas Reid two of their three Cor Bigman, a complete sea change of identity A gamble on one of the most polarizing players in the NBA. Is it a smart gamble? Is it a dumb gamble What are the wolves doing? Does this give them any kind of shot to compete in the Western conference? Is it the wrong player to go all in on? We talk all about that with John Krinski, Emod Dquel And then we also discussed the Charlotte event. Wow, what an astonishing response to the most exciting hornet season in a long, long time. talkalk about ruthlessly taking the long view. Was this a little too ruthless? or what is Charlotte up to in getting off of Lame Mella Balls? it just health related? Is there something more? We talk about that and then most sticks around to talk about wararriors future, Lebron future, pistons sniffing around some interesting stuff, everything that's going on in the NBA and then time It's been a while, We're back on Met's Corner and it's not going great. Seun Fantasy is here. That's coming up Welcome to the Zachlo showh. I told you we'd be back if there were news and boom. there is news that is both surprising and not that surprising The Minnesota timimberwolves have acquired Lameello Ball everyvery tenant under his favorite player and top jersey seller fromom the Charlotte Hornets, the feel good story of the second half a legitimate semi dominant second half of the season and out goes their offensive engine on the pair with Anthony Edwards in his draft class back in the day in Minnesota in exchange Timberw's fan favorite, Nas Reed, whose very name is just code for being a fan and for being awesome. People just say the name Nas Reid as they walk around Minneapolis And an unprotected twenty thirty three first rounder. Three first round pick swaps in twenty twenty eight, twenty twenty nine, twenty thirty and three second round picks. Josh Green also goes U to Minnesota, which is not a trivial bit of salary U a blockbuster And just a fascinating deal, a fascinating vote of no confidence by the Hornets in Lameelo Ball after his healthiest season in a long time after their most successful season in ages a season that ended for the third time in Lumbll Bo's career in a play in lowout. which I think is not irrelevant here. And then on the flip side, a fascinating bet by the Minnesota Timberwolves who salary dumped Julius Randall in order to do something like this. I think they have another move coming in free agency likely to address the void att power forward, a complete sea change for the Timper Wolves. two of their three main rotation bigig men, Randall and Reed are gone and in their places a guard heavy, faster, smaller, more dynamic potentially offensive team with Gulbert still on the backline. John Krasinsky from the athletic is here Mote Kill from everywhere is here. guysuys. This is a fun one. How's everybody doing Doing great, Zach. Super fun. Yeahah, it's like I went to bed last night thinking it could happen. woke up this morning and it did happen and Credit the Wolves manan. they are never shy about making polarizing big deals and trying to go for it. and here they go again. You ain't kidding, John. they have now Tim Connolly is now traded for literally two of like the five most polarizing players in the NBA that Rudy go Bear and now Lameello ball Obviously the price for Lomeello lower than what they paid for Rudigo Beer, but I want to start first of all, Mo, how are you? I'm doing well and the kind of echo John sentim it. I woke up this morning, you know, started doing my routine making the coffee for my wife, all that stuff. And then, you know, it's like, oh, wait a minute, I should check and make sure Nothing's happened lately since I woke up and I'm on the West cooast so it's a little bit You know, later than everybody else, and I'm like, o, the trade did go through. and then that kind of started. I was like, just turn to my wife going like, I probably will be on the microphone a lot today. Yeah, Lameello three years at about forty three million a pop left on his contract. Nazerz had three three plus one at about twenty three twenty four a pop And in addition to this I should mention, right away, the Hornets resigned Kobe White or agreed to terms with Kobe White three years, seventy four million dollars. He will likely replace Lom Melo Ball is the starting point guard of the Hornets, although he is not really a point guard. suuper interesting. I'll get to the Charlotte end of it in a bit John Is this going to work in Minnesota? because the bullets are out of the chamber. The only bullets left in in the seven years where teams can trade picks and swaps and all of that are now trading out of your asset class of very good players. That's the only way you can sort of flip the table and recoup draft assets. So this is a hey, if Anthony Edwards is even wondering a little bit about this new ownership regime about whether there's going to be some penny pinching about Wait, we just traded Julius Randall who flamed out in the playoffs again. How are we going to compete? What's happening right now This is the answer to that question. Ive heard Lameelo is very excited about this despite some shell shock that Charlotte dumped him after what a wonderful feel good story. And he and Ant have known each other for a long time What's your initial take on this? Yeah, I think that I will say I've talked to so many people within the organization today about what how this came about and what they thought and I put it out on social media, but the overwhelming reaction has been elation. And when you think about all of the questions that are around Lomeello's game around maybe his maturity and all of those things you would think there would be a little bit more kind of yeah, we'll see, but They have been trying to get Lameello Ball for a couple of years now. They've checked in several times with the Charlotte Hornets to see if if they would be willing to part with him because they think that his passing, his playmaking, his shot creation. his handling is exactly what they need next to Anthony Edwards and they believe, Zach that bringing Mo ball into an organization that has been in the second round three straight years that has won at a pretty high level that has veteran guys who who know what it takes to be competitive in this league They think that will be good for Lameelo Ball that he will get into this culture and they will help cover up whatever weaknesses he has but They needed a point guard to take some of the pressure off of Anthony Edwards. They needed someone so that Spurs and Thunder could not just mercilessly double Ant as soon as he walked across half courourt. And they see Lameello Ball as that type of a player and I mean People are just doing backflips over there right now about being able to get him. M, I'm going to play you on the spot giveive the Minnesota Timberwolves a letter grade for this straade and I'm only doing this to set something up. but I just give me your just quick letter grade Minnesota Timberwolves acquire Lemelo ball for Nz Read and all these draft assets and they get Josh Green too Yeah, I'm Probably going to go with a C plus I think part of it is the price they paid it's I'm not as worried as everybody else about Pix swaps, but I still think it's a high price in terms of the twenty thirty three. unprotected future twenty eight to thirty ick swaps and things like that and that might not matter at all, but I think I think I think two of those pick swaps twenty nine and thirty, John, you've probably read the seventeen paragraphs onel GM more closely than I have today have already been prereviously swaped. So this is now swaps of swaps. and I got toa tell you There comes a point where even I am like, just fucking wake me up when these swaps convey. But in this in this new lottery regime, if if it persists in these years, those swaps could be valuable. But continue, Moe. you are giving them seventy eight percent C plus, do better, see me after class Well, it's more the cost of what I worry about is what could you have done down the road better in the future. You know, what what are you you get what What guy is going to come up available? and we're going to be like, damn. which we waited and made we could have made this offer and beat that. you know, I think the challenge also for me where I'm really most concerned for the wolves is the defenseive end like Lameelo has never really showed that much interest in it comes and goes. He has dec sides where you think he should be at least a a average defender, but a lot of times it seems like he's uninterested in that regard. So I worry in that area and then they're incredibly thin. likeike you said, Zach, they got to look and we think another move is going to come at some point with a power forward You know, but it's it's now Rudy goberar. It's Barringer coming into the second year where it's not like he played a ton of minutes last year where we could feel confident and I think he's going to be good, but I still think he's raw and needs a lot of work. I'm just kind of worried of, you know If this was your last bullet Did you really have to fire it right now at this moment And was this the right guy to target? So that's kind of where I'm concern offensively everything works for me Anth. and off the ball Lameello working, you know, all that stuff. I do worry a little bit about still shot selection stuff. hopefully they can Finch can beat that out of him a little bit, but we'll see what happens So so to be clear, the wolves, I think, John are right at the first apron as of as of now They're not capped at the first Apron and they haven't done anything to prohibit themselves from going over. I expect that they will go over the first Apron to address this whole at power forward Um, and like I don't really even know. I think they have to figure out what their starting lineup is. They w one iteration is Lameello Ant McDaniels power forward X and Gberar And another is let's just put McDaniels at the four, start all the guards together and go bar at the five Um I think Tarn Shannon Ji. is a critical backup now who can play the three and the four for them and Baringay Baronj is, you know, they love him And he's going to get a chance to play now Josh Green could help them and just D IO annt trio Being able to have at least one and probably two of those guys on the floor at all times sort of mitigates the pain of Mike Conlly maybe not being here next year. Bones Highland will see was a big part of their team Is he going to be around next year? That's a lot of ball handling to go around. I asked Moe for the letter grade because he gave it a C plus point out how polarizing this trade is, John. I'm sure you've se the wolves are getting D's Yeah in a lot of places a guy.. I only I only read a couple because I wanted to get a sense and I think this is a really interesting trade for both teams I think it could go really badly for either team. I think the most likely scenario in my opinion is it goes pretty well both teams and I'm including the wolves and that I get what Moe is talking about the opportunity cost. I talked about it with the heat And Yonis. when you put your chips in for this particular player, you got no more chips for the next particular pro. I went through the heat like, okay, who in the next three years kind of stars are going to become available that you could have thrown this gigantic trade package in that you threw forianis. Well, the Timberwools already did not have that kind of access to a gigantic trade package. This is about the best they could do one pick outright and some swaps in a second and a good player. So I don't even think they would have been competitive in that class of players that I talked about with Miami, Donovan Mitchell I just made up names like guys in tier one NBA guys unless they were going to throw in a McDaniels or or somebody that they did not to throw in So I don't think the opportunity cost is that that severe U it does lock them in really to this team unless they flip one of these main guys and go a different direction I would give it Probably a B B plus. and I as many people know, am one of the top ten percent Lameello fans in the national media I think he's been wildly underrated this entire time, very carnival esque someome shot selection issues and late game brain farts that made you wonder like, does this guy like know what the score is and that these NBA games count in the standings and that there's like a prize at the end for the team that wins Um But I thought he cleaned up a lot of that last year when he got a real team around him. He started to try more on defense And I just broadly think the fit with Ant is going to be really, really good and the fit with Io and Ant and him together. Their ability for Ant to run inverted pick and rolls and hunt small defenders and all that stuff is going to be really good And to the point about Lomeello's carnivalesque elements is carelessness his Lis fair to use a French term on a team that just loves French players I think there's it's going to be very interesting to see Lameello Ball as the clear cut Number two guy on at best on a team after being the number one guy on a bad team For most of his career. I think there's like a material difference between how he will have to play with Anthony Edwards over him in the org chart And between Ant who can dial it up on defense when he wants to, McDaniels, who's an all defensive level player and Gbert who's an all defensive level player who's used to putting out fires all around him Lameello is at least big And I think they have the ability to kind of protect him a little bit more on defense than they're being given credit for I think this is going to work in terms of giving the wolves a different look A more interesting diverse look on offense I don't think they're going to win a championship with it, but I also don't think any path is likely to make you championship favorites in a world where the spurs in the Thunder exist and that's an unfair grading curve And at the very least They're going to You can't beat San Antonio in Oklahoma City by trying to play like them They are now going to go at these teams with a completely different free flowing fast guard heavy dynamic is at least going to make them different and tap into a different set of strengths. So I like I get the risk and I'm going to talk about why Charlotte moved on from a Mo Ball and why he's even available to begin with and all the negatives that come with it I like this is a as I like this as a gamble for Minnesota. I would I think the D's and stuff are just wildly too low on the meo and I think this will work to a reasonable degree. Do you agree, John, or am I crazy? Yeah, no, I mean, I definitely see the optimism in it. I would say like my only reservation and I'm interested to hear both of you talk about this is Uob Why another organization gives up on an ultra popular player when he's twenty four years I'm going to have to go to pick up my daughter at swim practice and there's going to be crying like old boys.. I've spent the last month answering their questions about the Nicks, which is fun. and now they're going to be like, what do I do with this jersey that I have? I They're going to be inconsolable. Exactly. I mean, he's ultra popular. He had a very, very good season last year I mean, the votes he got all votes deservedly. The advanced metrics are off the chart plus eleven when he's on the floor offensively plus nine plus ten when from a net rating like really did have a great, great season. And so then you you just like, why are why are the hornets windy? What's going on in Charlotte? Like why are they whyy are they doing this? And so that's my one reservation. but I will say this in watching This timimberwolves team When when you they got dismissed by the Spurs in the second round needed to change in a material way if they were going to continue to show Anthony Edwards that They are committed to winning, that they are trying to make up ground on the spurs and the thunder and the thing Stuck in Anthony Edwards Craw the most coming out of that series was theseese guys and he didn't use guys used much more derogatory terms were doubling me immediately. what am I supposed to do against that? And Furers did not have to worry about Julius Randall hurting them from three. did not have to worry about kind of many of the things offten Rudy Gobert at all. Well, Devenenzo's injury was a big part of the big like huge huge part. But like and then guess what? they Anty's Cat win a championship. likeike that those are like important things in the in building to get to why the wolves did this And so If you're looking for ways to lighten Anthony Edwards load the most Lameello Ball is right at the top of the list. The guys who can do that in terms of Getting Ant off the Baltmore A is one of the best catch and shoot shooters in the league And he didn't get enough of those opportunities last year. Lomeello is going to get those to him all of the time. And so And there's just going to be Wile meell, there's going to be an electricity here, man. Like, you know, that we talked a lot about this team being kind of moody, a little downtrodden and suullen a lot last year Lomeello is going to come in and going to be throwing the ball all over the place. It might go into the third row, who knows, but He's going to bring some juice and and I do think that that is going to be welcomed on this team He's going to take some crazy shots. The one legged Threes that drive everyone bananas That went in more than I think people want to give them credit for because when they miss, particularly early in the shot loock, it just looks like likeike u like heresy basically, like basketball heresy. And I get it I've always said can't find the size, the passing and the shooting in one package very often. and it's why I was always going to bet on Lameelo. why I was always going to stick with him as as an NBA prospect and an all star level player And I thought last year he really did make real efforts to A, try to wriggle his way into the paint more and get to the line more sometimes successfully, sometimes not B modulate his late game decision making a little bit. Remember, this is a guy who James Orego would bench in clutch time a lot because of just how unreliable his like time score awareness was. and defensively He's always been a gambler. That's never going to change I thought he just sort of play with a little more alertness and physicality getting around screens and stuff last season than he ever did before. And I think this is going to work offensively pace, space Match up versatility all that stuff. Obviously they've got some holes to fill out Um And to your question, the why? why would Charlotte do this U I think there's a couple of I think there's There's there's a lot of reasons and really one reason The lot of reasons are his health issues in the past and selling high after his first healthy season in a long time. Um all the decision making stuff and defensive limitations that I just talked about and what that means for if he's the best or co best player on your team. How far are you really getting Um I think they've now insulated themselves looking forward from If you just project optimistically, Max for Brandon Miller, Max for Con Konnipple Three maxes or three max level contracts. It's just really hard to then build a team around that and they've given themselves more optionality. Obviously more draft as. This team has a ton a valuable draft pick starting with Dallas' top two Potect the pick next year. All of that is well and good. If you ask me, why did they do this I think it really comes down to a physical toughness question that they have about Lame Mellaall that you watch these playoff series Oklahoma City, San Antonio, San Antonio, New York. and you just envision like This is a dude The front runner is too strong of a term fast and loose like when the gameess fun, that's when he's at his best What are you going to do in game five of a playoff series when Steph Castle has been in your jersey for five straight games? When you're switching between Jalen Williams and Caysason Wallace and Alex Caruso you phhysically just manhandling you up and down the court. Are you actually game for that? Because if you're going to be a serious team, that's what you got to be game for. And I think this trade says Yes, there's these ancillary salary pick benefits and faith in Brandon Miller and Cconnile and all that. The hornets know the numbers. They know their offense wasn't good when Lameello was on the bench. They know all of that stuff and they decided they decided anyway We just don't think we can win the biggest games with this guy on our team. I think that's really what it boils down to. And just to wrap a bow on that before I shoot at to Mo I think these play in disasters have factored into it now There was like a four year gap between the last play in disaster and the current one But if you look at Lomeellooss and the Hornets numbers, twenty twenty one, twenty twenty two, twenty twenty six I mean, they just got railroaded every time they were in the playing. Some of that was his fault. someome of it was not. He did have thirty in the first playing game that thrller over Miami this year that they won. And I don't think he was really the problem when they lost by a million points to Orlando. He had twenty three points in that game. They were only minus nine when he was on the floor Todd Kipple crapped the bed in all those games too But I think in totality They were just like, we haven't really seen this guy in a serious NBA game and we can't picture him in those serious NBA games where it's just so ysical Like the rest of the playoff is let these seems to be so physical Is he going to be able to withstand that Mo, what do you think of all that Yeah. I mean, I think that's a big reason for it when they kind of looked at it. you touched on it when and this is what everybody's doing Right after the finals after the playoffs, we're all looking at it going like, well, what did we learn You know, Bill does it a lot when he looks at the draft when he was talking about it, right? Like can I see these guys playing in playoff games? Can I see Can they hold up? And I think, you know, Charlotte just kind of said They've just sort of said, we don't think he could do it. We don't think he could hold up in the playoffs That's why they're so willing to get off them. And then obviously all the other details contracts and all that stuff to come and how it kind of changes the team. They've found the right opportunity to sort of jump ahead and this is a sell high moment for them right. They finally get a season where he's healthy almost the entire way. I think played seventy two games through the course of the season. It's their opportunity right there. They can't go into next season And hope it, you know, for them, hope it works out again because if he gets hurt or whatnot and he's out for a long time, the team's going to tank and then on top of that, his values going to tank. So for them, it was a sell high opportunity to kind of answer the question, John as to why they would why a team would give up so on their guys so quickly after the year that they had. And I think you know, for me, it's really important to see for Minnesota. How and Zach you touched on it. How he handles being the number two guy because this is a new scenario for him now For the most part, especially after the last few years when Charlotte's been really bad, he's been able to just kind of do whatever he wants. Now will he be a little bit more disciplined? Can he come in and be a little bit more straight lined into these things likeike, you know, can he do even a little bit more defensively than what he should? Yes. He should be able to. I mean, he's already in a elite defensive rebounder. and so he has decides to do that U before I go back to Minnesota. I will say the other thing is They sold high the hornets did They better be competitive next year because if they take a huge step back and the fand dou odds our producer Mike S me the fandou ods, they did not take a big step back and fanouual in terms of their conference finals odds and all that. And I think that's appropriate. Like I think they should decent again next year. Kan gets better. Miller gets better and healthier Kobe White who I think that three year, seventy four million dollar deal is fine. Naz Re we haven't talked about yet is a huge addition who could I think walks in as their starting power forward after having the starting power forward job in Minnesota for like twenty four hours after the Julius Randall trade I don't know what that means for Mouse Bridges. It could be a bentroll, it could be a trade. I think not as Reed will place them backup five. their depth is still really solid. The Hornets have a lot of decent players coming off the bench, including the two guys that they just drafted. So I think they should be solid But if they're not This is going to be a tough pill for the fans to swallow. And look, I'm just saying, I'm just going to point this out Lameello on the floor pllus nine per one hundred possessions. Lameello off the floor plus one and a half per one hundred possessions And thats doesn't change much if you isolate from January on in three hundred and fifty ish minutes with Con and Miller on the floor and LameMello off the floor minus eleven and a half per one hundred possessions. Um And look, like Kobe White and Miller and Kinnppel only played forty five minutes together the whole season. So we have not seen a lot of all those guys together. and I think the hornets are right to have faith that Kobe White can be a bit of a stabilizer and that all that You know, everything will lift up. to a decent level, but it's there is risk in just that sense of Are they underestimating Lameelo's impact on their offense? I personally think that they are, but that they can survive it and at least hover around where they were last year. but I don't know that They're going to be, you know, I thought they're going to won fifty something games next year. I don't see that now and I don't see that kind of upside now. And that's okay given the long term stuff that they've probably opened up. And if they're right about Lameello, it it's very okay I think they're going to suffer a little bit more offensively than they think they are And John, I wanted to ask you, I said we haven't talked about Nas Read just What does this mean to Minnesota for this guy to be off the team? H anyone talked to him, his agents? I mean, he is I remember having Ryan Saunders on my podcast from Las Vegas just after he was he a second round picker or a two was a undrafted two way guy. And he said to me before we started recording, just keep an eye on this guy, Nas Reid, we just got. I really like this guy. And then you just see the towels that just say not I have one. It just is Nas Reid. That's all it is. It's like an inside joke among NBA die Heards What is what is going to be missed both on the court and just culturally with him out of Minnesota Yeah, I mean, briefly on the court and it's not to diminish it, but like He is incredibly versatile. He has improved his game from the time he came in to where he is now greater than any player that I've seen in the Timberwolves uniform. I mean He has turned himself into a really good three point shooter A guy who can handle it in the open floor. really tricky around the basket He is a handful for anyone to deal with offensively and defensively he puts in good effort and with the right matchups, he can be really good. So they're going to miss him with that. He was a sneaky big reason they dominated the nugget so much is because they didn't have anybody for Naz Reid. and U and so he was a big help in that rivalry I just want to focus more on Nas the person and Nas the cultural icon and I am not hperbly here Zack like he was an absolute hero. here and I think he was a symbol for what Timberwols fans always wanted and never had before, which was like for years and years and years when the Timberwoolves really struggled They always saw other teams find diamonds in the rough and develop them and turn them into something and like The wolves just never ever did that. And then here was this guy who came into Minnesota who stayed in Minnesota every summer, worked on his game turned into a really, really good player And devoted himself to it, took a back seat to Kat and Julius Randall was coming off the bench selfless And Um, you know, you have the Nazreid beach towels, but During their twenty twenty four run to the Western Conference finals A local tattooist gave Nzreid tattoos to people for like twenty five bucks as a promotion. I am not joking. There are thousands of people in Minnesota with Nzreid tattoos on them. That's just what he means to them. He kind of, his rise signified the rise of this organization and sort of the blosphomine of basketball in Minnesota again after a very long cold winter. And so There's broken hearts all over the market right now because they had to give up Nz Reed for Lameelo He was as popular as Anthony Edwards was here locally. That's just he just what he meant to this fan base and what he symbolizes kind of for everything basketball related in Minnesota I think again He leaves a void behind at the position that I think they will try to fill If they start that small lineup, I mentioned earlier, Lello, Io and Jaden Got You know, I think you'll see Ant guard power forwards somees in that alignment because Jayden is so good on the ball defending guards. you know, I also think So now as Reid walks into his starting spot. I think he can play with Culk Brenner when Cul Brennerers at the five. I think he'll play the five with Miles Bridges and Grant Williams who's ever if Miles Bridges even still around I think he's going to be a super important part of a pretty deep Hornetets team at another thing on Lameello He's never played with a lob threat like Gulbert for extended minutes. I think that's going to help him as a driver and dish guy to. I just hasn't had a lob guy to throw him a ball like that Minnesota for you. You never knew where an annt or Randall mob for Gulbert was. Let's take a quick break and so basically like I think Again These are there is no perfect move available when you have already traded as much as Minnesota has traded. There's no Oh yeah, this puts them right there with San Antonio, Oklahoma City I like this as a bet. If your if your benchmark is championship. All your bets are probably going to fail and this one probably will too But I think it's an interesting upside bet that changes their style of play, makes them unique and fast and interesting, and gives them something some hope for sustainability on off. I would give it a B plus. I think the D's are underestimated it. Let's take a quick break and I want to hit Mo on the hornets part of this. Are you looking for support in your weight management journey? 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Zepbound is approved as a two point five, five, seven point five, ten, twelve point five, or fifteen milligram injection Zepound contains turerzepotide and should not be used with other terzeepotide containing products or any GLP one receptor agonist medicines. It is not known if zeepound is safe and effective for use in children. Don't share needles or pens or reuse needles. Don't take up allergic to it, or if you or someone in your family had medularary thyroid cancer, or if you've had multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type two Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop zetbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. if your're nursing, pregnant, plan to be, or taking birth control pills Taking zep bound with a sulfonyl urea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems T to your doctor. callall one eight hundred five four five five nine seven nine or visit zeppbounds. liily. com Okay, the hornets Last year's Cinderella story They trade their offensive engine and homegrown Rokie of the yearar all that. Starting lineup, Kobe White, Brandon Miller, Con Kannipple, Naz Reed, Musa. Anlers Diabatee. the bench. they got like a lot of guys to we'll see if again, we'll see if Miles Bridges is still here. But he and Grant Williams at the four Bner is a solid second year guy now a back up five. Nas Read will help in that regard as well Um Son James McNeeely, the two rookies they drafted Steinbach and Anderson, I think will walk right in. Um, they just have like a decent amount like a tray manan I didn't even mention because he didn't play much last year. I'm probably even forgetting, let me bring up their death chart to make sure No, that's pretty much everybody. Josh Green is now in Minnesota. He played a little bit for them. I think their depth is pretty good. U I'm just interested to see, I mean, where they still have some cap flexibility to spend, you know, mid level. they have a huge trade exception. they could use the full mid level Just an absolutely ruthless move by the Jeff Peterson. Richchneall is the owner, Gay Plockkin This is a team that was like Mark Williams, like we're trading you once and twice if need be before we have to pay you And this is cold hearted as it gets. I mean, Lameelo legitimately not only was he really good last year and got all NBA boats. He liked being in Charlotte. He wanted to be in Charlotte. He spent the off seasons in Charlotte. He was a fan favorite And they arere coming off the first season of relevancy in what feels like ages And they pull the rug out like this for all the reasons I said. like what do you think of that roster that I just read off? it feels like taking a step back for the sake of staking taking two steps forward down the line, But how much of a step back do you think it actually is Well, first, has anybody checked on Eric Collins Like the the the the the the fun he had with the play by play at the Lomeello ball area. we I just I just see somebody to check on him and make sure he's okay., But and the the Charlotte PD traffic squad just they they can probably I'm going to be some resources. Well, I think the Minnesota one better get ready. I don't know like look, man snow and ice is a different kind of wildcard. Like you might want to just get a get an expert driver as part of this whole it's a different ballgame. If I can derail us for a second, being an LA guy living in San Antonio for a little bit. There was a day where James Brego was the head video guy. He sent me a text message Hey, man, be careful. There's black ice around the practice facility. And I just responded going like what time are you picking me up I've never had to deal with this like time you picking me up? I'm not I'm not driving in this. But to back to the roster though, like that is a deep squad. Right? Like I think it's going to be really interesting to see like multiple kind of like interchangeable parts, right? L you go from You can Nas Reid, you can bring Miles Bridges. you you know, again, assuming Bridges is there. But then it's Graham Williams, you have a different sort of vibe in in the front court. you have Musa Dabatte then you have Col Brenner coming in again a little bit of a different vibe in terms of the the the way they play, but you have a lot of different things there. I think a lot of stuff for them is going to depend though on How is C Knipppel going to handle the second season you know, and the way it ended those last two games was almost kind of traumatized for everybody. If part of your concern is the hornets over Lameello Balls playoff sustainability is his performance in your highest leverage games. You have to at least acknowledge that Con Konniple also did not perform very well in your highest leverage games and ended one of them on the bench. Yeah. And I think so that's something that you have to kind of pay attention to You have to see early on. we got to see sort of like him shake that off and get going and being conic. canan he do a little bit more with the ball in his hands off the dribble off the bounce. you know, and be more just coming off screens and attacking. And then the same thing with Brandon Miller where like I loveved actually the pairing of the three guards when it was Ball, Miller and and Kipple because they all kind of did different things. Ball was the the conductor But you know, Miller was able to attack and get downhill coming off screens and curling around. You had Knipple coming off screens for shots and there's so many different things you can do. Now you got to figure out how are we going to get to all of that? And as I like Kobe White, the deal He's not Lameelo in the way that he can create for others. And that's going to be a thing where you have to wonder that's my biggest question for them is where's the play creation going to come from? on a consistent and regular basis. I know you have Kobe White there You got to hope that the other guys can handle it, but it's not like I'm nervous handing that over. to C Knipple to Brandon Miller. Like I just haven't seen enough from them being able to do it. E McNeeeally who I liked, you know, but again, Not really much of a run, but we're going to have to see how he kind of goes. This wass a lot of pressure on your development. to make sure these guys are ready. Like that has to be your whole off season We got to work on you dribbling and making the passes and making and a con smart player and everything, but can you make the right reads? you how quickly can you process everything with what you're going to see now and how aggressive teams are going to be on you now. It's s going to be interesting to yeah, they kind of play. I like the way they're set up because as you said, they got a lot of depth I think they're going to still be able to play fast. Push the ball up the court get going play in transition, fly up and down there. I think they can be even a little bit more aggressive defensively But I think the question still remains at the end of the day Pay creation. Where are we getting that? And that's going to be the one thing for me that's the hole that I need to see kind of get filled before the season begins And they're not stupid. They know that. They know that the risk of this deal is a step back next season after winning forty four games and having like the best net rating in the league after january first or whatever it was for all the reasons that you're saying This is a bet on both Brandon Miller and Cony Niel becoming all stars. I think that's a pretty good bet. I don't know that they're going to be like eight time all stars, but they're going to be all stars. I think Miller frankly was wildly underrated as the as one of the if not the key reason that that run came together coincided exactly when he got healthy and was consistently on the court as a two way player. And I think it's a bet that If they do There is a star that they think is a better number one guy than Lomeello that becomes available They now have Dallas' pick, Miami's twenty seven pick, lottery protected or unprotected in twenty eight. all the pick swaps we just talked about An unprotected Minnesota pick. I think there's a King's pick swap in there somewhere even like Th those are pretty valuable that they can get in on that and like'll we'll see other side thing before I Talk Minnesota again. I don't know what the Grizzlies are going to do with John Morant. Like I'm looking around and like I don't know what the team is for John Morant now that Minnesota and Miami have made these moves for big salary players and lost a lot of their trade. J just not that John Morant is going to require a bounty of assets. There They might have to attach assets to the Grizzlies to get off of him, but just like mechanically, both of those teams have used a lot of their bullets And I don't come for J just so you know, exactly the wolves were not coming for them. They considered it a little bit, but it was not going to happen. And by the way, I think the rators were legitimately interested in Lameella Ball. I don't think that was a smokes screen. I think there was real substantive discussion. I don't know how far it got, but obviously they didn't get him I'm not sure that they're going to be a I don't know. to be sure to clear, I don't know. My assumption is For most teams, it's going to be a stayaway. So I don't know what this means Um I don't really know what this means for him, but John, before we let you go, the one thing I wanted to take your temperature on You know, I mentioned yesterday that when I was at the draft combine in Chicago last month, mayaybe the hottest topic just sort of burbling around was, hey, have you heard that annt is like kind of unhappy in Minnesota? and like they just got eliminated and this and that And I checked in on it and I was told, you can stand down on that. That's not like that real of a thing But it was going around and then Tim McMahon kind of resurfaced it earlier this week and then this Randle slash Reed slash Lameello stuff happens What did you heard about all of that and the level of concern internally? Yeah, I mean, internally and I talk I mean, I know people in Ats camp fairly well and I don't think it was ever a real concern for them right now. Yes, Anthony Edwards was disappointed and frustrated with how the season ended that they took a step back. I mean, he was injured, Dante was injured. IO was injured. There was plenty of reasons for it, but it was certainly not anything like Hey You know, I'm starting to think about my future here. It wasn't that. He likes being in Minnesota. He likes being in a place that he can go around and not be swarmed and really bothered. He likes living here. He loves his teammates. He has a great relationship with the coaches staff in front office. So They weren't immediately concerned, but there's certainly a recognition that when you have a star of Anthony Edwards Caliber, your organization is always on the clock There is no taking for granted. There is no waiting It is you have to constantly be doing things to build around him so that you give him all of the belief that this that where he is at can be competitive over the long haul And Tim Connelly's been super aggressive in doing that. But there was a sense from the entire organization after that spur series that some things had to change and that they had to get more kind of I guess suited or situated for Anthony Edwards than what they were. and I think a trade like this acknowledges that is that there's a recognition that We've got to make things easier on Ant. We've got to make you bring things that will help unlock even another level for him and show him that we're going to continue winning at a high level like we have and try to do even more. So It was certainly a motivation. watchatching Cat win the title was certainly a motivation. But it was not like Aunt was holding their feet to the fire And look, that triple big lineup was O and on, not always, but there were weeks, months where it was just a little unwieldy where like this combination would be a little clunky and this combination would work. And then I had always said on my podcast, I like when they would put Jayen at the flor And it was just not a look they could functionally get to when you're paying these three big guys, like one hundred million dollars combined per year, whatever it is And I'm excited to see them play like a faster, sleeker, more dynamic style. and we'll see what happens. But before we let you go Is there any Minnesota angle that we haven't covered? Is there an off season Is there like a free agent that from their team that you think is likely unlikely to be back? Is there something we haven' andt hit that you think we should hit in the new look Wolves. Well, just in terms of like the context of this deal and what they gave up I think that they view that they had to part with Naz read who they love and a first round unprotected picket twenty thirty three. The swaps two of the swaps are pretty protected and so They're not really that concerned about those. It's all in the context of they were also in on Jalen Brown Like they were having real conversations with the Celtics aboutbout Jayen Brown But it was really made clear to them understandably so that it was going to take a lot more than this package that they gave up for Jayen Brown. It was going to take Rudy, Naz young player like TSJ or Tran Channon Jror or Yuan Baring J and all of the pick stuff that they sent And that was going to be a lot and maybe a bridge too far for a player that probably doesn't fit quite as well as Lameello Ball did. And so They were beating the bushes for a lot of other options in addition to this Lameello ball one But this is the one that they preferred. They will look for any power forward. They will look for more shooting to kind of fill everything out here so they are not done Yeah. but u Yeah, they was they were heavy in on Jayalen Brown and really having real conversations about that and until the Lameello thing really became crystal clear that this was going to be able to happen a name we're going to be hearing a lot. Mo, go ahead Just real quick, I do appreciate Minnesota taking a swing and taking the risk and not, you know, like we've seen so many teams over the years kind of stand pat and say, hey, just a couple things didn't work out. It would have been easy to use the Dante Di Vincenzo injury and IO being herurt Aunt being injured. We were right there against San Antonio. Like I do appreciate that like Connlly did take a look and saying This has to change And I think just being willing to take the cut And this is whatever wherever you land on the trade risk or this is crazy or whatnot They took a chance and it's just saying because we knew the way they were set up going to work. L I think we just kind that understanding. I think willing to take the risk right here ' something that I at least appreciate in the sense from Minnesota saying like, hey, we're going to take a big swing and let's see if it works. And that on that mode like they're paying the luxury tax again. It was looking like a possibility and you were hearing whispers that they were not going to pay the tax this season. they dumped Julius Randall and was like, wow, are you really not going to pay the tax when Anthony Edwards is about to Eer his prrime, Mark Laurie and Alex Rodriguez got on board and just said Yeah, we are going to we like Lameelo. We think he can be a difference maker and so we're going to do everything we can financially to make this happen. and that's a big move that was not a given, I think when this offseason started Yeah. They're swing. they're swinging like Tom Brudanski and Ken Herbeck here eighty seven on my freaking on RBI baseball Nintendo regular Nintendo. and yes they were my team. They just had power up and downking about That the lineup Uh, if I will even though the swing stuff is like, I do think it's important for Morant and also for Lameello, like His contract is not a sixty five million dollars five year albatrust. It's three years. It's not that long. like this year is a gi and he's going to be on the wolves. After that it's two years, forty one, forty three. forty six like twenty five percent of the cap. It's not like a crazy. unmovable. I'm in jail now the next one if you maxed them out would be, but they're not there yet. Like I don't it's that It's not like crippling like that. John Krinski, where else can we find you at the athletic? You have the John Krinski show, which is your podcast, All things Minnesota. What else do we want to promote here? Yeah, the athletic. We'll have a big story coming early next week, Keep an eye out for it, did a little bit of traveling for it and really excited to see. it'll be at the athletic. Did you get interviewed by Walko Lifton Rosen and Katz for the aspiration that was is that why you travel? I wish that was it. I wish that it, but he avoided the interview that way. That was how he got out ofwn when they said they want to interview him I did do a big interview that I've been chasing for a long time. So I'm looking forward to that R Yeahah, the John Krzinskiy show on Tal North weekly. we recorded something today and that'll be out later this afternoon as well. all things Lameello Ball as well All right John Krinski, thank you, sir. We'll say goodbye to you and Moe and I are going to continue now with some of the flotsim and jetsum that have gone on around these two big trad. John, you're the man. We'll you soon. Thanks guys Okay, Mo Let's talk about a couple of other transactions that have happened in this in this lastast couple of days. Let's start with Golden State just for shits and giggles. Al Horford is coming back. on a two year fourteen million dollars contract. Al Hoford lastess seen burying the clippers under a hail of three pointers in the play tournament That's not so interesting on its own. What's interesting to me is the warriors now after selecting Jaxel Landerburg in the first round of the draft are up to like about one hundred ninety million dollars in payroll with Drammond Greens's player option as just like a placeholder for his salary And they have not brought back Gary Payton, the second and more notably Christoph Sworzengas That figure puts them more or less nineteen twenty million dollars underneath the first apron Uh and only like ten to twelve to thirteen under the tax. They're going to go over the tax The apron is interesting because If you use the full mid level exception, the big one, you cannot go over the first aprint And so you're just getting into a math problem of Porzingus Full mid level Draymond's player option is Draymond willing to opt out and take less to facilitate some combination of things. And then oh yeah, LeBron James is still floating in the ether as an option potentially for the wararriors among other teams. And I think the market for him is pretty wide from what I've heard I think there were some negotiations before the draft with Porzinggus' people. rom what I've heard, obviously, they didn't result in a deal I just sort of I think the warriors are They're the warriors. It's Steph Curry. It's always going to be interesting I just, you know, this season, Jry Butler is going to miss a lot of it. Moses Moody is going to miss a lot of it. if not all of it. I do think the Por Zinggas question is interesting. And if they bring him back what the cost is and then the Draymon player option thing Maybe they get LeBron. That would be fun. I don't know mechanically how all these things are going to happen, but It just feels like, you know, the warriors are going to do what we thought they would do, which is just sort of try to make the best of the end of Steph's career and not really be a contender, but maybe be kind of fun. I don't know anyy warriors thoughts Yeah, it's kind of interesting like I thought this would have been the summer to try to maybe get a little bit younger. I mean, obviously Y AXl helps with them in that regard with their draft pic, but I think, you know Pzingas not them come not being able to come to a deal with Pzinggis, I think not turning or. not yet, not yet But if they don't, I mean, I think just having Horford in the in the fold at least kind of gives them a little bit of just backup. att least we have that It is I mean as great as Horford was in that cllipper game. It's, you know, he only played like what thirty five games this season. like it's been a a tough year for him in terms of just staying on the court and you know and going into his twentieth season. like it's kind of surprising there. But the committing the next two years financially, I thought was kind of interesting. It's not a big dollar amount or anything, but sort of where they're at and the fact that they're probably going to go over the apron and have to figure out everything. all of that sort of matters and plays into it. And then just sort of adjusting minutes of where you're going to go and they have so many moving parts that it's kind of just I don't really know where they're going to be at yet. Like it's hard to have that opinion for me where it's like, might be in on LeBron might not get LeBron. We don't know the Draymond Geren sitation. It almost feels a little bit like they're in the we're in the movies and everybody's kind of killed the joke, but it's like one last job and let's get the, you know, let's let's get this guy's the ocean of the elevens and let's grab this guy and that guy and this guy. If you were a bank robber, likeike a part of a crew. What do you think your job would be? Like you could be the heavy You could be the safe cracker, you could be like the explosive guy, you could be the negotiator, you could be the getaway driver. There's probably other roles, like, you know, logistical planning, like I memorize the blueprint of the bank. likeike what's your skill set in a bank crew? Well, I think the the u There's an obvious answer out there that I don't want to give out, but I think I would be the getaway driver. What there's an obvious anwer are you a bankb?'d I'd be the explosives guy. ubin right there Well, I mean, that was that was sitting there. But I like to think of myself more as a getaway driver. I think I I'm not a good enough driver to be a getaway driver. I'm I'm a very good like normal driver. likeike I I I'm like Costanza okay. You don't know what's going on. You don't even see what's going on here. but like as a normal driver Fine, but as a getaway driver no. I'm in L.A. I can be a good getaway driver. I can I navigate the streets every day. You know what I watched on YouTube where I don't even care if it's fucking June. I don't care. I watched to for some reason. Oh, becauseince Sean Fennessy's newsletter prorojections about movies, he mentioned I'm blanking on his name the director I don't know how to pronounce it correctly anyway the director of Drive among other strange and interesting movies And I was like, you know what I want to go do? I want to go watch the first fifteen minutes of drive on YouTube. because it's like one of the best opening scenes of all time speaking of LA. getaway drivers and features Ralph Lawler calling a cllippers game which one of things that makes it I would be the safe cracker. I think, you know, with people staring at me, and a clock ticking and I've got to get get this done before the alarm goes off I can execute that. I have steady hands. I have calm hands. I'm good with numbers. I'm good with I can memorize things. like I think that's My job. But if you choke at that job I mean the whole thing falls. It's over. It's over. It's the most important job. It's over the hell are we talking about? Oh, one last job for the words. basically what I'm saying is As of now, if they pay poor Zingus what his market is, which is something, then They're not going to have access to the first the big mid level because they'll go over the first aprint and you can't do that. And so you just have a math problem. As for LeBron. I legit don't know what's going to happen with LeBron like legitimately don't know You have all of the like all of the known options are financially interesting or tricky. The warriors we just went through. the cavves are way over the luxury tax and have tons of offensive creators already and a power forward to Evan Mobiley, who plays his position to some degree The Lakers are the Lakers, right? They just signed Austin Reeves T a Max deal, I talked about that yesterday. they have to figure out How to use I mean, they don't really have capap space if they have LeBrones bird rights. And so how do you do that juggling act and someomeone, I don't know, I don't think this has necessarily been decided yet, but the someomeone who would know told me yesterday the cllippers hard tellelling our behaving, I guess, as if they're going to have cap space in the offseason. they can't open much. They can open like twenty million, but they have to like cut some options and reounce some guys And that got me thinking like LeBron cllippers, but I still I've always said, I don't think LeBron ever wants to play for the Clippers even though it's in Los Angeles. I just don't I still don't see that as an option. So I don't, I don't know The simplest answer is goes back to LA I don't know what that means for their cat space and his bird rights and how the order of events kind of works, but I don't know, man. I will say they had something with Luca Reeves and LeBron as the third banana. That was a real thing I don't know where he could go and really kind of find that again. in that It's I mean, listen, there's places you can go, they'll automatically be it's Lebron. We're going to say contender and whatnot. But like The situation he had set up in L.A where him being kind of the third banana when they sort of fell into that You know, it was kind of perfect for him Let him restk you to, work off ball, you can and then when he needs to turn it up He can turn it up and we see we've seen him be able to do it, but he doesn't have to do it all games He's got Luca and Reeves to do all that. and then he can kind of go off of that You know, I think they run into trouble when he has to be the first or second guy. you know, when they had injuries and things like that, then it becomes a bit challenging because I think he just hires out and at this point where he's at in his career. I kind of just feel like the best place for him is really LA. Obviously they have to figure out the money and how to make everything work in that regards and the Lakers still have also a lot of things they got to do. They got to add more shooting. They got to find a bonafide rim runner. I know that mostost likely A' going to pick up his option. Smart's most likely going to pick up his option. They got to decide on Nick Smith with the team option, what they're going to do. And I think they have to figure out where they're at, but I don't feel like there's a place I look at with LeBron going like, o, he goes to Golden State I don't feel like they're It's They're going to be fun. It's going to be great to watch. It's going to be exciting. We're all going to tun in I don't feel like they're at the level where I can say, okay, they're going to make a run at the title or anything like that. Like I just think it's it's a little bit hard for me to see it And I just think the Lakers kind of just present the best situation for I think there are other teams outside this this sort of select group that also would kick the tires or have kicked the tires and there's sign and trade possibilities and all that. U We'll see We'll see The other the only other thing of note that we haven't gotten to as of now is I just thought to snuck under the radar that the piston salary dumped Isaiah Stewart Um to Memphis. I really like what Memphis is doing in terms of just coward, Ey, Camboozer. That's a really nice place to start and then the other guys they drafted and the picks they have. It's a nice starting spot. I love Campbooz. I think he's going to be awesome right away. He might be he'll be the I think he'll be the best player on their team next year, even though Zach Ey was Godzilla for eleven games to play last year. U I just think it's interesting because Detroit, you know, when I went through a couple weeks ago, my just most interesting off season teams And it was teams that weren't involved in YanS and that for the most part were not in the top five or ten of the draft. justust teams that are interesting in different ways I had Detroit on my list because and I just said, I think they're just going to do something. I think they got to the playoffs What they lacked was laid bare for them The fact that the East is getable for them now that the Kicks obviously torched everybody, but whatever. they've played the Kicks pretty well in the playoffs and a regular season. I just think they're going to be aggressive. That's just a gut. that's just my gut feel. And so they dumped this Isaiah Stewart salary And they can now open up a decent amount of capap room depending on what they do with Duncan Robinson's partially guaranteed deal and Paul Reed's partially guaranteed deal Um and to buy his Harris who they have bird rights on. and so they'd have to renounce him to open up space. They have a lot of optionality now There's been these Kawai rumors that they're going to go big game hunting. I heard they att least checked on Kui last year, but then I was told that that was maybe not true. So I don't really know how true that was Um this is the due diligence you have to do U But obviously he'd be a plug and play fit. He's eligible for an extension. The aspiration thing is happening. I don't even know how movable portable he is in any possible way U I'm just sitting there. I don't know if it's Michael Porter Jr. I don't know if it's Tray Murphy I thirird I don't know if it's Jalen Brown. I doubt that it is financially I just think they're going to do something and I'm excited to see what it is Yeah, it's interesting. So like when they made this move with Beef Stew, it was more, okay, we're going to now be in the running to try to go get somebody I think, you know, they were before Reeves agreed to the deal with the Lakers. I think they were the biggest threat They take him away from the Lakers I think, you know, we'rearing a lot of the Norm Powell might be that's a good one. Yeah, that's I forgot to mention.'d be perfect there. Yeah, like that's that's a guy I think that they're kind of targeting and you know, Miami obviously wants to keep him, but I don't think they're going to be able to do it financially that's a double win if you' the pistons. you f feelill a need and you hurt one of your East rivals. Yeah,'s it's kind of perfect. It's was reading Jake Fisher and Mark Stein this morning and they had some stuff on Kauai. and it sounds like Kaai was willing to sign an extension if he gets traded to Detroit. I don't know All I if I'm Detroit, depending on what the price is, I might be cool with that. Now if the price is just overwhelming in terms of picks and stuff, then I'm not cool with it. But that's right you know, call the call the bluff and see what happens. But I think, you know, there's a level of Like they have to make a move. You know, it was I was a bit frustrated at the trade deadline looking at the team going you got to make a big move and herur her being there move wasn't Um obviously it and I think we all kind of knew that in the moment. But I think you know that this can't be a off season Kind of like the wolves I was talking about they took a swing. They have to make a run at somebody. They maybe they not get it. mayaybe it's the wrong guy, mayaybe things don't work. but they got to make a run at somebody. and I think they understand that. That's why they made the be stew trade Right. And now it's figuring out You know, it's opening up space for them to go after somebody whether it's Pal, whether it's in trade discussions or something. I think that's really what I'm looking for. They are the most one of the most interesting teams. in free agency because we just saw what they did and they need somebody to beare Kade Cunningham to go to work here and try to continue the run that they want on. They can't just be a one year Wonder at this point. I What is Egypt's prognosis in the World Cup right now? What's their next game? What do they need to do? How are you feeling about life I'm feeling pretty good. so you know, I'm living. Egypt's the closest country to I know you're rooting for Egypt. I'm dying hard forpt especially Mosala obbviously being a mo. So was going it was going nuts after they u they beat New Zealand and I enjoyed all the videos afterwards. Right now the way it looks is we're we're going to move on. We're going to play Cape Verde in the knockout round. And if we win in that one And team USA, which is the way it looks now is going to play Bosnia We could be facing a Egypt team USA one and that might be a problem for me in terms of torn household and who do I root for? And my wife already told me if that's a scenario, you have to root for the USA. but you know, might be you know, you know, you might be facing is Bosnia Herzegovinia. D't sleep those guys. No don't I I saw them The game the game my wife and I went to was Switzerland, Bosnia now Switzerland P it on them, but Bosnia had a pretty good show, but more importantly, I'm impressed with the The crowd from Bosnia because they outnumbered everybody in the the Sitz the Swiss crowd You goes you goes I know, I'm married to one. They're everywhere. The post war diaspora where where they have settled. they have settled in masse and they are Toronto was like Croatia for the game that I went to and they have a great great time at these games. I had a very good time. I just I can't take the tension and it's h it's agonizing. It's just agonizing. and u Well, when Egypt went down one nothing to New Zealand I was like, Dying I was I was watching that game and we were all cheering for Egypt because they were so clearly the better team and outplaying New Zealand. But yeah, Croatia has a game left against Ghana. that's in two days in Philadelphia U everything is on the board for them. They could win the group. It's very unlikely England would have to lose to Panama. I don't see that happening. Well England got given the biggest gift by getting away with a massive penalty. Like that should have been a penalty That was insane I didn't see it. that was against G in the tie the zero zero tide Um and Croia could come second Croatia could come third and move on. Croatia could come third and not move on. the only thing they can't come is fourth. and I just want just just I just want him to move on They do not have the kind of team that they had in the last two World Cups when they came second and third. That run is not in them. I'm aware of that. not expecting it. Just get me to the knockout rounds and you just just get me the penalty kicks in a knockout round game because they've had a preposterous record in penalty in PK games in the last two World Cups You know, just just get lucky. Who knows? I don't expect them to go far, but just that's all I want U by the way, my pet peeve talking about England and all the This is this is for all international sports tournaments. I get why they have to do it. I'm going to lead with that. I get why it happens. I understand I hate the host nations including the U.S are given tier one status when they divide these groups. Canada's group is like Put us in that group, we're rolling. like ye, it's different is that a group They were gifted I said it in the Olympics too. On twelve countries make the Olympics in basketball. It's incredibly hard to make And the host country automatically gets in. I get why. But when freaking London hosted the Olympics and it's like, Oh, great Britain is in and like Serbia is not or whatever. it's like, what are we doing? L just it's not fair And I I would be I would be more happy about it if Croatia ended up in Canada's group instead of England's group. But Alas, it is what it is. host nations Although it has I have to say the Mexico atmosphere has been awesome I wish I was in Mexico for all of this. Everything I've seen. I just wish that's where I've had the most FMo that and watching the celebrations with Egypt when they got their first win in the World Cup. All right, M to Kel, the second most relevant sports Mo I may be forgetting a Mo. There's a few others, I'm sure this week. Thank you for your time. You can always find them on Twitch on off sides on the double dribble podcast with Jared Dubin and Bleach Rpport too sometimes, right? Mo? And here and here Mokel, thank you, sir Thank you for having me. This episode is brought to you by eBay I've been hearing people talking about selling on ebate a lot lately. and honestly, I get it. We all have stuff that no longer fits our lives. And from what I hear Selling on eBay is actually really easy. J snap a few photos, write a description, set your price. Suddenly, the stuff that's just been sitting around is in front of millions of buyers already searching for what's next. Find what you love, se what you don't on eBay This podcast is brought to you by Carvana. Selling your car should feel like one lastess thing on your list, not one more. With Carvana, it is. Just go to carvana dot com enter your license plate or VIin, and get a real offer down to the penny. No back and forth, no surprises, just an experience you can trust. Like your offer? accept it, schchedule a pickup, and we'll come to you with a check in hand Your car, your timeline, your terms. Visit carvana. com to sell your car today. C Carvana. Pick up these Mfly All right, it's been a while. The NBA playoffs took precedence Seaan Fenasys New York Kicks w the twenty twenty six NBA title which is good for you, Sean, because the New York Mets are not going to win anything this year and it's time to reconvene for Met's Corner. Before I start How are you? It's been a while. How are you doing I'm wonderful I've rarely gotten such amazing feedback than the one I got after appearing on your show after the next one And u, I just want to say at the outset of this conversation The Mets cannot hurt me There is a force field. and impenetrability me because of this Nick title. And even I just spoke to our friend Brian Koplman yesterday and we were like, we're thirteen days in. I still feel great. like nothing is changing. So that I just need to foreground our conversation with that and say I'm doing very, very well Now I am going to make some space for what I think is the appropriate reaction to what is going on here. How are you doing, Zach I'm good. There's a difference between pain and embarrassment. And if you'll recall, the last time we had an angry Mets's corner I said, the only thing I want is to not be embarrassed living amongst Yankee fans for the most part And so here's how this week is gone I was supposed to throw out the first pitch at City field on the twenty second, which was Monday. of course it got rained out because why would anything work out with the M? So we're trying to reschedule And a lot of my friends were going to go, including Yankee fans friends and they were going to buy tickets last minute And one of them had not bought tickets until the day of. and he just gently poked me and said, Hey, you know, I don't mean to be in, but it's the Mets. There's going to be good seats available. This is what I'm talking about. I don't need it. I don't need that in my life. And that was three days ago. And last night, Sean june twenty fourth, twenty twenty six ' going to be a day that I remember forever And we'll go down in M's history. as an all time I get done with a big podcast on all the stuff happening in the NBA dinner at the house to myself for a few nights You know what Oh, that's right. They're playing the second game at double header. Let me flip it on. Oh they're head three one. You know what? I can send some text about Lomeella Ball, make some calls. They are winning. Alvi has another home run. you know, I look, this season iss not going great, but I'll be h in the background and I sit down Simeon makes an error Little do I know it will be one of six in field air errors, the newly revamped run prevention oriented MS Make U in a game, the most in a major leagueame, I think seven years. six. We we I can't. Um And then the exact moment that the season ended The exact Ralph Wigam heartbreaking moment. That's a season ended Crow Armstrong, former Mets prospect Buns a line drive single overver Bo Bette charging from third base. Bobishet leaps with all his might. Reaching up in the air like you would normally see somebody do an infielder do on the edge of the outfield grass except he's in the middle of the infield grass, just an absolute comical visual The ball rolls all the way to the outfield. The cubs now lead for to three That was the end. of the season. There were four more errors after that There were Pete Alono chants in the crowd A that, And the night ended with the Mets trading last year's all star starting pitcher. David Peterson through the cubs for a prospect because he joins a list of pitchers who have flatlined Mainstays supposed mainstays, David Peterson gone Kodei Singa, I would like to just pooy him out of my life. send him back to wherever he's from is now in the bullpen. Mania three in whatever innings last night, fine Mantas, rememember Frankie Mantas. he. And Freddy Peralta just gave up ten runs last time we saw him. The Mets are now seventy two and one hundred and one in their last one hundred and seventy three baseball games This team is bad It's embarrassing. And I don't sense the appropriate amount of embarrassment from the powers that be. and I will now stop talking Well, you've just done it All the work. I mean, that was it. You just you you summed up I think all of the appropriate detail and frustration for what's gone on. Let's like let's try to put some of our context since we've been doing this together. Um, When Things were coming apart last season and the dramatic downfall is happening I started talking to you about how We know David Searns wants his own team He wants a team in his vision. and So in the off season, he deconstructed parts of the team. There was one Mets's corner we did where it was a very emotional day. when Pet Alonzso and Edwin Diaz signed with different ball clubs And even if you felt like those were the right moves, that was painful as a fan, because we had a lot of strong emotional ties to those two players. I could see the case for it from a baseball perspective, why it was not appropriate to bring either of those guys back But I still felt bad about it. I think you felt bad about it too. We love peete especially The moves that they made in the off season. bright side of them I looked at them and I said, Man If this team stays healthy This is going to be a really interesting lineup. I did not spend enough time thinking about how The biggest problem that we had in twenty twenty five was the pitching staff. and the only thing that was materially changed about the pitching staff, the starting staff, was we added Freddy Peralta. in a move that I liked And like a lot of other moves, the addition of Jorge Pelanco, the trade for Louise Robert Jr. the development of Carson Bench and the insistence that he would be a part of the ball cllub All of those choices, the late offseason signing, panic signing seemingly of Boboette after missing out on Kyle Tucker I found a way to brightside all of those scenarios I wanted to believe. I predicted ninety two wins this season on a podcast. That's something that happened I'm not paid professionally to make these decisions peopleeople who are paid professionally to make them Did a very, very bad job, a very bad job And we are now watching the fruits of their labor, which is not only is this a very bad team, as you identified, it's neither a fun team nor a liable team It's a bunch of guys who are either prospects that we have no that we want to have a strong relationship to, but have not panned out Megastars who came here from other places. Yeah know. guns for hire most of whom are at the on the back half of their careers. I don't really like watching the team I'm still watching. I watched game one yesterday. You watched game two and you texted me after that that bun single flew over Bo. I said I texted you and I said, please tell me you saw that. And I wonder what I didn't elaborate. and I wonder what your brain thought had happened. It couldn't be anything. It could I don't know what you thought, but if you certainly Pete Crow transformed into an eagle and soared over city field like a majestic creature. I might have believed you. That's how bad things are going Now and I haven't watched baseball all that much for the last ten years as we know this the last two yes That bun happened And I'm like, boy I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like that that's just me. And then Ron Darling, a minute later said, I don't think I've ever seen that happen before. And I'm like, okay, this is where we are with the Mts. I don't think I've ever seen that happen before. And it's an unfortunate thing happening to us. I turn the game on after you made that note to me. and Boy, that was an interesting experience listening to Ron Darling and Gary Cohen talk about the team for the last three innings of that game because that was as direct and negative a communication by a broadcast team about what was happening to a team as I've heard in a long time. They more or less seem to be speaking to David Searns about the team's decision to retain Carlos Mendoza and the fact that the team is just undisciplined. Doubt and bad And they were frank, man. And you don't hear that from broadcast teams a lot because broadcast teams have a lot of interaction with the team. and the people who work with the team and you need to have a little bit of connectivity, but The phrase rock bottom and despair were uttered during the broadcast yesterday. and You know, there've been a lot of bad times in Met's history, right. Worst team money can buy. The early nineties teams were extremely unlikeable Yesterday or two days ago, I cited to you the zero seven zero eight zero nine period, you know, the collapse in zero seven and then the failure to make the playoffs in zero eight and then the misery of zero nine and ten, these kind of like forgettable washed away eras that we thought in zero six were going to be the beginning of something special and really were not Boy, this just, even though it's not the worst record that a M team has ever had It seems like the least valuable that the team has been to the fan base. We don't we really don't like this. We're really mad And I think our anger is justified. And if I did not have the next title I wonder if I'd be able to not be red faced and shouting at you during this conversation. And yet, like I say, there is a force field around me and I cannot be penetrated I would like to see anger actually. and it's one of the things that I've found annoying about David Stern's regular h stand media appearances is that he's like, yeah, of course, we want to play better You know, we're trying play better. think there's a good team in here that'll recover and make a season out of it and It's like, dude Can you just own some embarrassment and anger because it' it rings so hollow now. Be this is this is not a mid market team with modest expectations. This is the second highest payroll in baseball And you are thirty four and forty six with a run differential that finally screams like, oh no, there is no hope. It's now minus forty six. week ago, they were thirty four and forty one and like minus eight and sniiffing around the edges of the wildc race. This has put us back into our proper place And like I said seventy two and one hundred and one thirty games under five hundred basically in a little bit more than a season since they had the best record of baseball last year That's like, you just flat out suck. The team sucks And I don't want to hear anym more platitudes about how we're playing better and like this and run prevention and that. I want actual like anger and embarr. I'm not calling for anyone to be fired or anything like that. I just like, let's be upfront about what has happened here, which is that this is a complete disaster of a team And the thing that I want to talk about with you is I mentioned all the pictures that have like sort of regressed or fallen out Like Feralt is a free agent, we don't know what's gonna happen with him. They might trade him Who knows? I mentioned all these other guys Like McLan's been fine. All things considered fine. notot great, a little too inconsistent, but like fine. like I'm okay with what Mclean Yesterday was disappointing. I think he's still promising, but yesterday was the kind of thing where it actually feels like this is a team that is not well managed because he was put in a position to gack a three nothing lead but giving up two consecutive three run home runs Fine. He's been just you could give him like a B minus C plus if you want based on expectations. Yeah. he's a rookie How is this team cobbling a starting rotation next season Like that's the question that I'm now focused on because I mentioned all the veterans who are all trending the wrong way slash not in the starting rotation, slash not even on the team anymore Who are the reinforcements that are coming in? Tong is struggling in AAA, struggling to add another pitch to his repertoire. And then I'm looking down at the next group of like the M top twenty prospects Jack Wedinger is twenty four. And I look at his minor league stats. They're like fine. they're okay. They're not great. He's this here. Yeah. And then down the line, it's like relief pitchers, guys who are twenty six years old guys like Will Watson. I don't know who Will Watson is, but he has shit stats in AouA. like So let's just say this season is gone, right? And then there's maybe a labor dispute and whatever I think the two big questions that we need to figure out is How do you handle a law season if you're of the Mets? Because everyone's like, well are they going to sell or are they going to buy? The worst thing they could do is buy in a way that tries to save this season for some short term gain I don't know how you even sell When you are building around Francisco Lndora and Juan Soto for next season. And if you are building around them for next season It's like you're starting a pitching staff almost from scratch. like they have absolutely no reliable starting pitching and almost nothing coming out of the miners. Like, I don't know. What likeike what is the best case scenario for next year's team at this point? It's a really good question. I don't have a strong answer for you. I think that they have tried to simultaneously go down all three tracks, which is that they have acquired megast stars and had a three hundred fifty million dollars payroll. They have tried to build from within and play young prospects like Carson Benge and now AJ Ewing Um And they have also tried to find that middle ground of sort of like your discoveries or your underrated Hidden Gems approach that David Sterns did fairly well while in Milwaukee All three of them have kind of come up snake eyes with the exception of the acquisition of Juan Soto who is injured right now, but it seems like maybe is not serious and is having a wonderful season. This is his second season. I would love to see Juon Sot and Francisco andor play a baseball game together. It the only thing that I'm looking forward to now is like, can we have both of them in the lineup? That's the other thing I just want to say is I don't think this team is a ninety one team right now Clay Holes and Francisco Lndor did not forgot injred. I forgot about Cay Holmes I should have mentioned him. And that great story. great story and he was pitching like an ace. He was pitching like a Syng contender before he got hurt. and he got hurt on a flukey line drive comebacker and broke a bone That shit happens in baseball. And each time an injury happened, when Robert got hurt, when Palanco got hurt, when Lindor got hurt, when Colommes got hurt, all it did was reveal the stunning lack of depth in the construction of the team. because you're also thinking about other guys who have been injured this year. Remember Mike Taukman who was potentially going to be a right fielder with this team and who got injured right before the season started. were're consistently running out Wagaman, Zach Short we're Consistently starting backu catchers because we don't have enough depth in our DH positionions start So much There's been so much MJ Melendas in my life I can't believe how much this guy is in my life. I mean, look, Mark Vientos is going is on track for like four hundred bats. He's not aajorague baseball player Hes just not. I thought you' were going to say he's on track for four hundred errors That as well. I mean, we're having a heartbreaking thing. I loveved Bret Brady and I didn't want to give up onret Bady. He's been terrible this year terrible Zach. And so this feeling that we have as fans right now and this leads to what happens in twenty seven and twenty eight is like I kind of want them to cut bait with all of the tracks that are not Benj ewing Soto Lindor. L I kind of don't have any patience for any of those guys. And the starting rotation is this one hundred million dollar agglomeration of Manaya, Senga. Um Montas alta, a bunch of guys who are just not very effective. We've cast off one of them in David Peterson. and the fact that we got a top fifteen prospect from the clubs is kind of fascinating in that trade. but nevertheless, If you want to brightside it again, you can say, okay, well we have Nolan McLan. Christian Christian Scott coming off the injured list. They just called up Zach Thornton. He wasn't great in his first appearance as a major Lager, but maybe he'll show us something over the next few months. Maybe you say, ah, Jonathan Santucci looks good in AbleA. Maybe Jack Weninger turns it around in the second half of the trip of the AAA season. And then okay, well, there's like five guys under the age of twenty seven who could make up for rotation. And don't forget a lot of money coming off the books in the next two seasons. So if you want to go out and sign Tark Sooble or somebody like that and give them five hundred million dollars or eight hundred million dollars Steve Cohen is your owner and you could do it. The problem is David Stens is like one for thirty two in transactions. like his hit rates has just been terrible. And some of it is miscalculation and a misunderstanding of either the market or the fan base or player health Any number of things, some of it is bad luck, right Some guys just get injured and it's bad luck. It's bad luck that this is the year that after playing one hundred and fifty games for ten straight years, Franisco Lindndor gets hurt and misses thirty games in the middle of a downward spiral Stearns in the sights of fans because he's made a lot of bad choices and a lot of the bad choices he made At fans feelings When you didn't bring back Pet Al Lonzo, whose name is being chanted yesterday during the game, People were upset. They were real upset. And he was very stridident about that. He's showed a lack of contrition in those press conferences. You know, whether that whether or not it would actually matter if David Sterns got up in front of us all and said, this one's on me I made a lot of mistakes, but I'm committed to making this team a World Series champion. and I'm totally reevaluating how I did my job in the last three years and I'm going to change some things. Like that's what people want to hear. They want to hear, I fucked up And I know I hurt I know I I know I ruined the summer for you guys And here's how I'm going change it and I'm going fix it. I promise I'm going to try to get better He's not going to do that. And even if he did do it, What would it really accomplish? It would give us a mild gratification for five minutes before we started complaining again So I have some empathy. As far as rebuilding the team, you just got to hope that all of these things that we keep hearing about how he's rebuilding the farm system are real. And what we're seeing from Ewing and Benge, which is good Like yes. they are that is the bright side so far for real this season. Those they they look like major Lagers and and defensively I mean, Soto called them the psychopaths and all that. just super fun to watch defense flying around. And so if there's more of that to come, then we can be optimistic But yeah, man, this is this is low. This is the depths right now Christian Scott, I'm glad you brought him up. has been workorman like and effective and just a stopgap that has been more than a stop gap. The guy I want to shout out is Braaziban. likeike that guy I honestly might just give him MVP of the team. He just comes in and does his job pitches a ton of innings. He's been super reliable I love that dude and I'm happy to have them. But yeah, I mean, look I just don't I don't know. Enough about baseball to know how you just fill out a rotation that's like almost a blank slate other than McLan and maybe Holmes next year. Holes was awesome. You're right about that How often does it happen that like Literally a year ago O year ago David Peterson was an all star That's the thing that happened. You made the All Star team And Codea I Sena before Pet Alonso threw a wild ball to first while he was covering was pitching like an eightce like like an actual number one number one B starter. I did number one five BRA in the first half of the last year How Is this more common than I just know because I'm an amateur baseball fan that People go in a year from that to complepletely unplayable to the point that you just can't be on the team anymore. Like it just feels like such a stunning Drop off from an actual all star to you're going to the Cubs and you're throwing after openers and Sena I don't know what his role is going to be. He's going to the bullpen and that's going to be it. I don't think he'll start another game for the Mets ever again. He does have a very unusual contract where if he does suffer a dramatic elbow injury, he automatically has a twenty twenty eight option that gets picked up for fifteen million dollars. So he's on the books for next year Sweet. It's great. That's that's a tricky situation.. The case for both of those guys and what you're in terms of what you're describing is with Peterson His underlying peripherals are not as bad as the six point zero nine ERA. It doesn't mean he would have been good this year, but it's a little bit of an exaggerated number. Secondarily, he's a groundball lefty You know what sucks? The Mets infield defense and it's not good., you know, they've been playing a Second baseman at a position at third. they've been playing a backup short stop. They've been playing an aging second baseman at second base, who shouldn't be out there every day. This is what we talked about in the offseason. You talked all about run prevention and then you built a team where everybody was playing a new position And by the way, everyone's injury prone and Palanco and Robert they might as well, I don't know where they are. They could be I don't think you'll ever see Robert again I have no idea where they are. I't, I don't think you'll see Robert again Planco maybe'll come back in the second half of the season. but I saw video of him running in the outfilm like great Awesome. Like is he traing run? Is he training for the steeple chase? Like what like why am I seeing a video of this you know, so for Peterson, I feel like in addition to maybe regressing a bit and over you know, I think he overperformed against his peripherals last year and now he's underperforming This happens, there's a lot of variants in baseball when it comes to that sort of thing. withith Sena I think it's perfectly fine to say he's clearly psychologically fragile. I' I'm done. I'm done. I'm out. Ben Simmondons him, let him go become a professional fisherman or a dark player or whatever like probably can't be a. I think that's an apt comparison Zach. I think he is kind of Ben Simmondons asking that his skills are extraordinary, but he does not have the mental capacity push through challenging circumstances. and Don't forget, his first season was fucking awesome. He was really, really good. I wasas that right before you came in or right when you came in to the team Yeah And it's been sad to watch him unravel because I felt like I almost feel like they were like abusing him, letting him go out there and pitch two days ago. Like he's clearly he's just not His head is not on straight and the team is just desperate for starting pitching but they're going to just bury him in the bullpen. and I don't think he'll be on the team twelve months from now But yeah, how do you rebuild? I don't know, man They got to get lucky. they got to hope something. you just want one of those weird baseball things to happen to them in the good way or a guy who wasn't supposed to be good suddenly becomes good. I remember this happened with Daniel Murphy some years ago. Di look great on the broadcast, by the way. when out there as a backup. He is really, really good. But he was never a hotly touted prospect and he transformed into a vital piece in that twenty fourteen, fifteen, sixteen team And so you just got to hope they they You know, they they discover a few of those guys, but this is a low period. this is a really, really low period for the franchise. and it's bizarre that they have a three hundred eighty million dollars payroll Um I always liked Peterson. That one hurt me a little bit yesterday. I liked him for stupid reasons like he was the starter. the game I went to with my dad and my daughter and my wife, Lesher I was really starting to get back into like, I'm going in person. Nike he pitched eight innings that game, like which seems likeike like a Trannosaurus Rex just walked across the stadium. That's how rare it is. and they won five two over the Dodgers. He struck out Otani like four times. I should have known that there was some maybe some luck going on because I think he induced like five double plays in that game But that was his game. That was he was he was he was he was that kind of piter purposeully. He was the longest tenured met too. He was with the team for a really long time. And his Instagram account, this is how stupid I am about baseball. likeike his Instagram account, he's always pumping up his own teammates and like congratulating them on stuff. like I like this guy seems like A sweet guy. And now this is just, I mean There's eighty games left And There' no hope. likeike there was hope at thirty four and forty one. And no one running away with the second and third wild card spots in the NL The thing that got them to thirty four and forty one after the twelve game losing streak was At least they stopped having long losing streaks They could never put together a long winning streak, but they would go like two out of three, lose two out of three, win two out of three. just a gradual like pick up a game against five hundred every ten days and You knew like if they're actually going to get back into this They're going to need to win like seven out of eight at some point. and they never showed anything like the ability to do that. And then the other strew dropped, which is, oh actually you're still bad enough to have a five game losing streak and now it's just over And I'm excited to rediscover what it feels like to watch bad hopeless baseball team. for three months and u justust sort of find things. To be like this Alvarez home runun streak is fun. I You know that I like Alfarez and want him to play more. I do too And u And I'm happy to report that my daughter is still incredibly into it and doesn't seem to care that they're bad and still really loves them and roots for them and wants to watch them play. and that makes it worthwhile for. And Londora is back for her too. So she'll get to enjoy him. being bad. I think it's going take him a few weeks to really get on the side of right in terms of how he plays. but the five game losing streak that you pointed out. is important. There was a weird hinge in that there where there was a Thursday game where they won, they survived, they hung on six four against the Phillies heading into what was thought to be a fairly important series in the N Somebody lined out Schwarber, I think lined out super hard off to right field. Yes. and scared me. which wasn't really his fault right. There had been an error in the inning or something but he survived the inning Ntheless, they win six four. They're going into a long weekend, but there's no Friday game. Instead, what there is Saturday and Sunday national game. Saturday game, I think on Fx Sunday game on ESPN And both of those games calamitous and the broadcast just went out of their way to just dunk on the mats. And you know, rightfully so, but we I've endured forty three years of llemets and it's very painful. and it keeps happening in these national scenarios and those two losses began this streak of games where they gave up ten they gave up fifty runs in five games You know, like it was really a awful stretch there And it does feel unrecoverable And it doesn't feel like there's any twenty twenty four magic in this team And yet I do still, I'm with you. I think I'm going keep watching because I like watching Sooto hit. I'm loving Benjin Ewing I want Alvi to have a bounce back year and to be a I think it would be nice if he was just the permanent fixture DH Weirdly, his value is not as high if he's not catching every day, but he's not an elite defensive catcher. could be an elite powerbat just focused on that So there's stuff to look out for. I want McLlean to turn it around and to have a really solid rookie season like I and to your final question about the fire sale They have to do it and they have a ton of pieces that people are going to want You might not realize it, but the Mets have one of the best bullpens in baseball. Their bullpenss been great. Ray Rasan, Williams has been okay, but like the setup guys have been great. No, but weaver has been unbelievable. Minter has come back healthy and extremely effective. They have a lot of arms that teams are going to want at the trade deadline The question is, does it make sense to sell all those guys if you are trying to be competitive in twenty twenty seven? Wh should you sell Luke Weaver who has another year on his deal when he looks like one of the five best reievers in the st? would. I wouldn't. Like unless you're just giving up everything, unless you're just opening the door to the full on rebuild, which involves painful decisions that we don't want to talk about. I need somebody around next year to get some fucking outs. Yeah, I agree. You know, I have a couple other important takes. The construction hat sucks and the construction vest sucks. I hate it and it's a stupid home run thing. Last year was much more fun and the OMG sign was obviously way more fun I don't know what we gott to do to get the Mjo back, but part of it is just we just got to have a better a better thing. Maybe you like it I don't know. What did you think of the Spidey mask? Did you see the Spidey masks that? I saw that I saw that with Alvy the other day. It's fine. I it's cool What about this? I have an idea, just be good at baseball Don't worry about what you're putting on when you get back into the dgout after you hit a home run Did you see that they lost for the first time this year for a team of a plus four home runun differential. The teams prior to yesterday that had a plus four home run differential in a game where thirty five andz. I mean again last Again, they there was a line drive bnt single over the third baseman's head that went and actually trickled into the outfield. I would believe anything at this point. So so fucking painful watching Pete Crow Armstrong. So painful Be he is such a dude He is just a baller. I can't believe we traded him for Three months of Hobby Bias. so painful U It's not going great D did I tell you the story about my daughter going to the game with her school? No.. So her school's chorus sang the national anthem like a month and a half ago. I think I may have told the story. I can't remember if I did or not. Apologies to listeners if I did. She's not in the chorus, but the school bought a bunch of cheap seats and she wanted to go sit with her friends after they sang. It was horrible weather. I didn't go because the playffs were going on. It was horrible weather windy, cold, and all of her friends were like hanging out in whatever lounge they had access to up there. And she was like, I don't understand I think I want to watch the game from the seats. like what where are you guys going? And then thenen they all wanted to leave and like the sixth inning because it's getting late. There's some cranky young children. and she was like, we're not leaving. game's not over.'re like we're going to stay for the whole nine innings, right? Mom? Like my wife was there with her. And finally she relented because everyone was just misow and I was like, I don't know what I've done, man. This seems like this seems like I've maybe This has gone too far. And she sometimes runs into my office like when I'm watching games and she'll just be like, Daddy Soto hit a saack fly. This happened out like you're so cute and the team is so bad, but I'm just so happy that you're into this. It sounds like you need to introduce her to the New York Knicks That's what we need You know? She got into it a little bit Um 'causeuse my wife got super into it and they would watch the games And I don't know if it's because I work in it And she hears about it too much. She doesn't seem to find it as fun a diversion as base baseball She did like Brunson, but everybody likes Brunson. She was like, I like that Brunson. He's he's My dad's fine. He's but he's the new fangled staff where a little kids see themselves in him, you know, him being the littlest guy on the court. There's something very powerful about that But at least at least she's into it and u Hopefully we get my first pitch rescheduled so that she can come and we can stand on the field and do all that kind of stuff. And we'll go to we have a couple other games that we're trying to do this ferry. haveave you heard about this ferry? No. There's a ferry now from Stanford, Connecticut right to the stadium basically, but it only runs on select So like games and it's like it's like eighty bucks round trip and but it's like a, you know, it's like a floating bar that gets you to right to I want to try that out. So I'm finding I'm finding silver linings, but seventy two and one hundred one, when I sat down and did the very basic math, I was like, man, that's like I think it's like's really b team. I think the last twelve months are the wor team in the sport record wise. I think they're worse than the Rockies in the last twelve months The Rockies Wh that's one of the worst organizations in all of professional sports around the world. I don't have anything dad, except I'm actually I'm happy. that I'm I'm into it enough that I will still flip these games on at least for a few innings here there to stay in touch with the team. I still enjoy it. I still like bizarrely Like when they were ahead three one last night, I was like, maybe this will be the game where we start the six game winning streak, you know, med naive enough. Like I still feel the hope in the fandom. So it's still a lot of fun. and you got to get through some lumps and it's like the the baseball guysds are like, you sure You sure you want to come back for this? Here's a bnt line drive squeezed in between six infield errors in one game. And yeah, you know what? I'm coming back for more. I have one last question for you. I made a bold proclamation last week in the aftermath of the next win that I now officially believe the Jets will win the Super Bowl before the Mets win the World Series The jets, obviously. are even more tragic. in the last fifteen years I know you're not a football expert But what do you think about that proclamation I don't know anything about football. I just know that the jets are like have been a total laughing stock, right? And like Eron Glenn's the coach. and all I heard on sports talkal radio was like maybe he's a good coach, Maybe he's not. I don't know. But the team was like dysfunctional. Didn't they have like no turnovers for Fed year or something crazy like that. No one I think it was four, which was the fewest in league history I don't know if it interceptions Wh's their quarterback Gino Smith That something bad just happened with that. Ronle's son. Yeahah, there was a report about some very bad behavior potentially that has now been kind of debunked, but we're not sure. I mean, the Jets are such a laughing stock that if you're telling me you believe in them more than you believe in the Bets, I'm Very, very upset and very sad, but also football is weird. People teams go from worst to first, much more often But the one comparison that I've made between them that I think that I think they both made the mistake of not firing their manager when it was very clear that they're not the right person that Eron Glenn is the head coach, Carlos Mendoz is the manager seems like they don't got it. You know, you know when you're watching a team and you're like this team don't got it. It doesn't seem like they're listening tobody, they're not disciplined. And the Nicks of course made that change, a very dramatic change before last season Moving on from Tibbs, bringing in Mike Brown. contontroversial, a lot of fans didn't like it. A lot of pundits thought it was terrible turned out to be one of the best things that's ever happened to the franchise. So you gott to take risks And you got to make changes sometimes