Triple Play UK

The big question, what is happening with the teams in New York? - Jan 13, 2025

• Matt Hunt

Share episode

Send us a text

Matt & Tom Talk NFL play off picture, MLB winter meetings & how they got into ice hockey.
Join us for this weeks big question and Tom's take.

Matt:

welcome to triple play. UK guys. We're here to talk about everything. NFL, NHL MLB, with the newest podcast on the block. I'm your host Matt. I'll introduce my co host Tom shortly. There is loads to kick off with this week. We're going to be talking the NFL playoff picture. What went on with the teams in the MLB? Winter meeting, some key stuff in baseball NHL. We're going to hit you with the big question. What is going on with teams in New York? And we're going to wrap that up with Tom's take. And while we're talking about Tom, this is my cohost, Tom.

Tom:

guys? You all right? I mean, bloody hell mate, we're gonna have to get a trigger warning on the next episode with that, with that Brummie app seller. these people listening in, guys, if you're listening in from America and you've never heard anyone from the Midlands in England speak, you're warning is horrible. So just, just be, just be warned whenever Matt's speaking.

Matt:

Thanks for sharing that.

Tom:

Just a trigger warning for the next episode guys, the next hour or so that you have to listen to us, you've got to hear a Brummie accent. So just, just giving you a little warning on that, but yeah, we'll try and we'll try and keep you entertained with our with our thoughts, our ideas, our opinions on sports that we should have no clue about, really. So, Enjoy, guys.

Matt:

Yeah. So in case you hadn't ever, if you hadn't guessed, we're two British guys trying to break it down for everybody and talk about US sports, NFL, NHL, and MLB,

Tom:

It is what is one of them. I think, sort of, we have no right to be speaking about these sports. Because, God forbid, if an American ever comes on, comes on a podcast and starts talking about English football in the Premier League, I'm turning it off straight away. So, yeah, if

Matt:

let's try and defend everybody on episode one,

Tom:

All jokes aside, guys, if you're an American and you do like English football, then All power to you, but just don't go on a podcast and talk about it. Like we're doing about your sports.

Matt:

So right, let's break it down. We're going to go straight into the NFL. Cause that is the hot topic of the week.

Tom:

Only

Matt:

We've just had, yeah, we've just had the wild card games. We've got, cause of the timing we're doing this. We've got one more game to go, which is tonight. You've got the Vikings against the LA Rams. Who you seen taking this one, Tom?

Tom:

Do you know what? I mean, look, I mean, I mean, the guys can't see me. I've got me Eagles jersey on. I'm thinking, who do I want to play in the next round? It's a tough one because they're both, they're both good. I think the problem is when you get, like, obviously we played the Packers who are the seventh seed so you're thinking, right, you should be winning that, but I don't know. It's a tough one that who I'd like to maybe face. I feel like we probably have a better chance against the Rams. I just feel like we, we match up a little bit better against them, but who do I see taking it? I actually think Minnesota take this take this one tonight. What'd you reckon?

Matt:

Yeah. Yeah I think, that the better team, the Rams pretty much scraped it into the the wild card game.

Tom:

Yeah, I think, I think that's the thing. And, but like I said, I'm, I'm saying it from my bias perspective, because like I said, I'm an Eagles fan. Who would I rather play? Probably the Rams, but I just think that the Vikings. know. I just, I think they've just got a little bit more about them. I think they've just got that little bit announced when it comes to playoff time. So I don't know. I'll put, to be fair in, in, in this game, who knows, who knows? So you get shocks all the time and I don't think either of them two going through is particularly a shock. I think they're quite well. quite well matched. So it'll be a good one for sure.

Matt:

Oh, so we'll just touch upon the games that have gone by. So the charges lost to the Texans, which to me, I didn't think the Texans would win that one. Again, I thought the charges would have had enough, but then you look at what's going on in LA at the moment. You could probably forgive them for having one eye somewhere else.

Tom:

Yeah. And obviously it's a quick little message out. All the people that are suffering over there at the moment, obviously our thoughts are with you guys. it's awful what's going on. So, like you said, it's it's one of the things that,

Matt:

Yeah. Great.

Tom:

having your mind elsewhere, I think that's, I think that can be forgiven for that.

Matt:

And then the Ravens absolutely destroyed the Steelers, the running game. They had no answer for it, did they?

Tom:

mate. one of the, you were, you were just watching it and it was just play after play after play and you're sort of sitting there and you're going, you almost feel sorry for him a little bit. Obviously, not if you're a Ravens fan, but you almost start to feel sorry for him a little bit. You're sort of sitting there like, Christ, is this gonna, is this going to end? It was just, oh, we'll just run the ball. Oh, we'll just run the ball again. We'll just run the ball again.

Matt:

I think 11, yeah, I think 11 straight plays. They run the ball successfully, which is just crazy.

Tom:

it was mental, mate. Like, it's just like 11 straight plays. I think you'd think they'd have an answer for it. But the thing is as well, the Steelers were top 10 in rushing yards allowed in the league. They only allowed for that. I mean, they allow for in rush touchdowns, but they were sixth in the league last year or the season just season as it's just finished 98. 7 or Yeah, if you want to round it up or down 98 rush yards per game, that was good enough for sixth in the league. I mean, the only, the only teams that were better than them were the Ravens, the Vikings, the Broncos, the Bucks and the Lions. So we're talking about a team that defends the rush really well and had no answer for it. So yeah, it's a scary prospect when you've got Lamar Jackson who can, who can do that. Yeah. And obviously the guy, the offensive that they've got over there in the Ravens, it is, it is scary.

Matt:

Yeah. They were very impressive. Talking of impressive, we got the bills absolutely hammered the Broncos.

Tom:

Yeah. I think

Matt:

Again, just a mismatch.

Tom:

it was a bit of a mismatch. I mean, the Broncos is one of them. I mean, I, I, again, we'll touch on these kinds of things a little bit later on guys kind of go into a little bit why we, we like the teams we do not that you're interested, but it's always fun to find out why we support the teams. We do mine are scattered all over the country. So an abs fan. So So I'm in a couple of discords with like Colorado Avalanche fans. They're all massive Broncos fans. I think a lot of the guys this year were kind of sort of just saying, look, we're just happy to be here. They've suffered a lot. Years post Peyton Manning and they've, they've had a lot to, they've had a lot to deal with. So I think just getting to the playoffs this year, being able to enjoy a playoff game, whether it be the wild card or not, I think they were just kind of riding a run and seeing if where it would take them. So I think, look, that was always kind of happened. I think you've got the bills as your pick, haven't you? For potentially winning the Superbowl.

Matt:

they're almost like my backup because I think it's hard to see past the Chiefs and the three people will go into that sort of later on when we have a look at next week's games. But yeah, I think the bills for me have kind of stood out. They've been one of these teams the last couple of years. They've been consistent when it comes to the sort of standard season, but then post season, not so much. I don't know. I think something this year is telling me. I think they've got a chance, but you know, you might tell me different as a Philadelphia fan. My as an Eagles fan, you're gonna be telling me something different.

Tom:

maybe I think, I think the only thing I'd say about the bills is, and again, like you said, we'll touch on all of this a little bit later when we're kind of going through it and making predictions and so on and so forth. I just think the only thing that I think the bills are great offensively There's not a lot of teams that are better than them, if any, if any, but it's the defense that I think, you know what they always say, and we say it about teams in the Premier League, we say it about teams in NHL, MLB NFL, basketball, your offense wins you games, but your defense wins you championships. The bills are good, but they have 17th best defense, defensive team in the league in terms of just total yards allowed and like yards per game. So it's when you're giving up yardage and you're playing offensive teams, for example, like they're going to be playing against if they do get through playing against teams like the Ravens in the next game, who are obviously an offensive juggernaut with Lamar Jackson. So are they good enough to get through? I don't know. They've got the offense to do it. Have they got the defense to do it? I don't know. I don't know. That's, that's my honest opinion. I, I think, don't shoot me bills fans. I don't think you're quite tight enough at the back to, to get through that game and to potentially get through to the Super Bowl. But hold my hands up if, if we're here in two, three weeks time and you guys are playing in the Super Bowl, then I'll hold my hands up. I was wrong. just my thoughts.

Matt:

So come on, then talk about the Eagles, make the Eagles and the Green Bay Packers.

Tom:

know what? was watching the game and truth be told, obviously I'm sitting there and I'm thinking, right, we, we, we do this quite a lot. We chose to kick first and defend and defend the ball first. I I sat there and the minute the first play happened and we've got the recovery from the kickoff and we've gone and scored a touchdown on the first drive, and you've got Swan Barkley doing what he does, like jinxy and weaving in and out of tackles on the drive. Jalen Hurtz was finding every pass and the amount of time he had in the pocket just to, just to throw and find, find the man for the touchdown. For the first play, I was like, this could actually be a silly scoreline. We kind of did what we've done all season where. First half of games, we've not actually scored that many points. I mean, I think the guys said it in on the commentary last night. They were like the Eagles have actually, I think there's been 10 games this year where the Eagles haven't scored in the first quarter of the game. So, I mean, obviously I know put up a touchdown out of the field goal in the second quarter, so we were up 10, nothing at halftime, but It, it didn't really, it kind of, the offense stagnated a lot up until the last sort of bit plus sort of third of the game. So when I say third, you know what I mean, like last third, last quarter of the game. And then it kind of like took off again. So I think it was one of those, like it was always a game they had in control because I think defensively, obviously, we're as good as we are. I don't think Green Bay had enough. I don't think it helped that the court there, QB was coming in injured which I don't think helped at all. But I just think it's one of those where

Matt:

Okay. You

Tom:

for a bit of revenge after 2022.

Matt:

I don't think you're gonna get it, mate. Yeah, I mean, to be fair, the writing was on the wall in this one for me. Like you say from the very first couple of minutes, it was obvious which way I was going to go. I think the missed field goal attempt in the second quarter I think, I called it a night about 11. I went to bed. I was expecting a text message off you like midway through the night going I told you, but it didn't come. I think it came about five o'clock this evening. I was like a bit late to the party. I already know.

Tom:

No, to be fair, it was his first, I think it was the first guy, it was the first one he's ever missed in the playoffs as well. So yeah, like you said, sometimes the writing is just on the wall. for results like that. You just, you can just see it. Like you said, first, like the play from the kickoff, the missed field goal when you, when it's not your night, it's not your night. And I mean, look, as an Eagles fan, I'm happy about that, but I think to be fair, like the Packers, like you can't, you can't complain. What's that two of the last three seasons now you've made the playoffs. So you're moving in the right direction post Aaron Rogers. I just think it's just finding that right balance of the team, which will, as you, as we know, in American sports does eventually come around for teams. It just depends on what it takes, but I think you guys will be all right. You'll be a good team going forward. It's just. Come up against a team that was better, if I do say so myself. Not biased, not biased at

Matt:

And then finally to round it off, we had the commanders and the books

Tom:

yeah.

Matt:

close one, this one

Tom:

close one, very

Matt:

close one. And to be fair, I think that only in the commanders were really fancied. Well, I mean, to be fair I think I thought the books would do it, but you never know the commanders have been, I wouldn't say consistent, but they've got something about them.

Tom:

got, they've got, they've just got, they've got Jaden, haven't they? And he's just, Jaden Daniels is just, he's a bit of a phenom, isn't he? He's, he's probably going to be the next big thing. In the sport, I mean, that's, I mean, the way he's going this year, I mean, he's got a, a pretty bang average side, you would say he got them to 12 and five. I mean, it was only the Eagles that, that picked them and the Eagles obviously have been probably the best team in that division now for a little while, but it was only the Eagles that picked them. They were top of the division for a little while. Obviously, yeah, I mean, look, the Bucks were fancied, but you can't see every to every year. There's a team that. Kind of goes on a little run, isn't there? There's always that team that kind of everyone's like, no one's really expecting to do well. sort of come in and they put, and everyone's like, Oh, that was, wasn't expecting that. And like, they're up against the lines, which don't going to be wrong is that's a big test. That's a big test.

Matt:

I don't see anybody other than Detroit winning that one, mate. The Lions all the way.

Tom:

me, I not going to disagree with you, but like I said, everyone loves an underdog story though. Like, I dunno, like I just, Jaden Daniels, his first proper season. I just think like, it would just be brilliant to see them kind of go at least get to the, at least get to the, to the conference final,

Matt:

As an Eagles fan, you're looking at this, like, who don't I want to play? You're looking at this going, oh, we could beat the Commandos. Cuz the Lions you never ever in a million years. I don't think you'll beat the Lions.

Tom:

Very, very strong words for a team that finished one win, one win ahead of us in the season. I mean, guys, I hope you, you'll have to, like I said, excuse Matt. He's very, anything that I want to, everything that I go with, he's very anti. The only thing I think we agree on is when it comes to baseball, because we're both Yankees fans. But if I say that, Eagles are

Matt:

Yeah, 100%.

Tom:

year, or a team's going to do well. Matt goes, no, definitely not.

Matt:

Cool. So let's look ahead then have a quick look ahead at the games that are coming up. Just a quick prediction from you Texans against the Chiefs.

Tom:

You guys, as much as I want a different team to make the Super Bowl this year, they're, they're, they're going through in that round. That's Chiefs, Chiefs all day.

Matt:

Commander's Lions.

Tom:

My head says lions, but like I said, who doesn't love an underdog story? I might be looking a bit silly after this, but I reckon Jaden, Jaden Daniels is taking it through. I'm going, I'm going the commanders.

Matt:

The Ravens and the Bills.

Tom:

I'm going to go Ravens. I just think they've got too much, too much offensively and they're a better defensive team than the Bills are. I think they'll be, they'll have too much of it. It'd be a Ravens Chiefs conference final again. I think,

Matt:

Okay. And then obviously Philadelphia and whoever they play. You're always going Philly, aren't you, mate?

Tom:

listen, I just, I think, I think we've, we've got enough to beat both the teams that we're potentially up against. But like I said, I think if it's the Vikings, I think it'll be very close. So that's the stuff on school. I'm going Vikings tonight and then I'm going Philly. To beat the Vikings in the, in the divisional round and a Philly, Philly, Washington in a, in the conference final.

Matt:

I disagree. Anyway, moving on. We'll move on now then. So, we're gonna have a Do you want to have a quick look at what's going on? The ML winter meetings touch upon that

Tom:

Yeah.

Matt:

I know you and I had quite a few conversations about one particular subject that came out of those winter meetings, didn't we mate? And we spent some time messaging, talking we, were going to be spending. Yeah. Well, all I'm going to say is greed won,

Tom:

Greed, greed

Matt:

I think. Yeah. Yeah.

Tom:

Greed won out. I mean, look, there's only one place to start, isn't there? I mean, if you don't follow baseball and you're interested to know, you might've probably heard about it. It's that the biggest contract in not just baseball history, but sporting history was signed over the winter Juan Soto signs for the New York Mets. It's a ludicrous amount of money. I mean, look, These guys, there's the money that's in the sport. I'm not, I'm personally not one to sit there and go, they get paid too much and this, that, and the other, because I don't, I don't care. I love the sports. I just want to see the best players play. But, yeah, as a, as a Yankees fan, that one, that one, that one hurt. That was a that was a hard pill to swallow. I think seeing when that popped up that he was going to be going to the Mets was a tough one.

Matt:

Yeah, I think we were both in the anywhere but the Mets camp. Well well, the other one, the socks. Yeah, absolutely. I think the Mets hurt a little bit less than it would have if you went to the Red Sox.

Tom:

Yeah, yeah, I

Matt:

I mean, what, how far out? We're about a month, we're about a month out since you got announced. And I'm still not happy. I'm not gonna lie I'm still not happy. However, in terms of our plan B. We'll call it plan B whether it was planned or not. I'd say I'm relatively happy with how the Yankees did their business over the winter.

Tom:

To be, to be honest, I think a lot of teams have made a few shrewd moves. The off season, I think, I think a lot of the guys, a lot of the teams have made acquisitions in the right area. I think, I think Soto was the big piece this year. Obviously everyone wanted him. But the team's going in. Obviously, you have the Yankees, you have the match with the Red Sox and the Blue Jays were inquiring about him. San Francisco is always there. Obviously, when they realized they weren't getting him, they had a great play. I mean, William Thomas is a brilliant player. If you again, if you watch the sport defense is a little bit questionable at times, but with a bat in his hand, he's, he's one of the premier shortstops in the game. Yeah, I just think like after the Juan Soto, deal kind of happened. It all, it kind of kickstarted everything else. And everyone was like, right, we've missed out. Everyone went for their plan B. So obviously you had the Red Sox going trading for Garrett crochet. The Yankees making the moves that they did getting Cody Bellinger, Max free, just the name too. So I think everyone was kind of like, right, that's landed where it's landed. Now we need to go out and get plan B. And I think like you say, yeah, I mean, as Yankees fans, I was, I'm happy with the people we've brought in. I think Freed gives us one of the best rotations now in, in the, in, especially in the AL. Yeah, I think Bellinger's a good acquisition. I think Goldschmidt's an interesting acquisition. He had a bit of a down year last year, but I think, look, the short porch in, in Yankee Stadium, right field. He's got a good opposite field swing. So it'd be interesting to see. I think it's going to be competitive this year. Corbyn Burns going to the Diamondbacks, by the way, where did that come from? That's one where you like, I was sort of sitting there.

Matt:

didn't have that on the radar at all. No, I

Tom:

Yeah, I was sort of sitting there and I was like popped up and, and I mean, I think just because, just because of the fact that the Yankees signed Freed and the Red Sox went out and got Crochet. I was sort of like, Baltimore are going to re sign Burns. I was like, you've seen your two of your division rivals. I mean, the Yankees who were their, obviously their closest rivals last year for the division and the Red Sox, who as much as it pains me to say it, were the prospects that they've got coming up and some of the off season acquisitions they've made, like Garrett. They're going to be good next year. They're going to think that they were all right this year. They went on a little run kind of mid season, but they've got some great players. I mean, if you look at some of the guys in their lineup, Jared Duran is, is a, is a brilliant player. So they all improved. I just, I saw Baltimore going and just going, well, we need to make some sort of statement. We need to resign. We at least need to resign Corbyn Burns. Because, now I'm looking at it and I'm going, your rotation is not as good as the Yankees. So, are you just going to be fighting out for a wild card spot again? I think with some of the players that they've got in their team, I think Orioles fans would be looking at it going, well, that's not where we want to be. We want to be fighting to win the division. But I don't know if it happens now.

Matt:

still see the AL East being won by the Yankees, to be honest, mate. I think with the additions that we've added, Max Freed, Devin Williams, Fernando Cruz, the bullpen for the Yankees

Tom:

That

Matt:

looks.

Tom:

back end is, is very good. I think you shot, I mean, last year it was good where you had your cane Lee Holmes, who obviously got moved to a set up guy after he blew. God knows how many saves last year. I think I saw a stat where it was like, I think there was about 10 games on this, on the, on the sheet. And it had the score of the Yankees leading by two or three runs going into like the bot with the, in the bottom of the night with either zero one or two outs. And it was like, just, just for your information, the Yankees lost all of these games. And I think they were all blown saves by clay homes, which was, yeah, which was nuts. And then the Mets have gone and signed him to be the, to be a starting pitcher.

Matt:

and this is why even with one Soto they will not win the award series

Tom:

yeah, I mean, it's premature. And look, but this is why we do these podcasts. We're here to talk and make premature, premature predictions and be biased and be outrageous. And we're going to have guys in the comments giving us the amount of hate I don't think the Mets are going to be good enough to win the World Series. I think you guys went on an amazing run last year and maybe a Juan Soto in the lineup. what maybe gets you over the edge, but I don't think it was the offense. That was your problem in the playoffs last year. You guys didn't get pitching when you needed it. Storm Mania is your number one pitcher. Is that, is that a world series winning number one pitcher? say so. Clay Holmes is going to be part of your rotation. Come on. Let's just, let's, let's walk, let's walk before you can run. And I don't think that you're quite ready for the world series yet. And you're the noisy neighbors. And with the money that you guys have got invested, Steve Cohen's going to go out and he's going to keep splashing cash. We're going to be competing for players now for the next probably 10, 15 years. But until you guys start winning stuff, you're always just going to be the noisy neighbors. If you guys, the non English fans, if you guys watch Premier League football, a little bit like the Man City situation. You will always just be the noisy neighbours until you do what they've done, where they start actually winning things. That's when it gets a bit more. You start taking it seriously a little bit more. But we'll see. We'll see. Couple other big moves though, weren't there, mate?

Matt:

you've come out swinging. You've come out absolutely swinging today, mate. I think you've upset a few people already.

Tom:

a, mate, it was a painful off season for me. This is, this is my chance to vent and have a go and I can't have any Mets fans like commenting straight back at me when I'm saying it's not a good signing, it's too much money, you're not going to do well, all through gritted teeth, it's all bitter jealousy that you guys

Matt:

Shortest,

Tom:

yeah,

Matt:

shortest lived podcast in history, mate, right here. Well done.

Tom:

that's what we're doing.

Matt:

Yeah, so there's some big current free agents that are still yet to be snapped up. So Alex Bregman news kind of semi hot off the press last sort of 12, 24 hours. Rumor is he's heading to the Red Sox.

Tom:

Really?

Matt:

Good. Good signing. If they can pull it off.

Tom:

see it. Don't think it's necessarily a good sign in. Again, I know everyone's going to come at me. Oh, you guys, anything Red Sox are saying is not good or Mets is not good. Just don't see why they Alex Bregman. Devers is excellent. I don't think you need. They don't need someone in that position. I think, yeah, I just don't see the Red Sox needing to strengthen that area of the team. So I'd be surprised if that happens unless they're looking to move in, but into a different position or move Devers. But I'm not sure, I don't know if that's, if that's the move necessarily I'd be excited about as a Red Sox fan, if I'm completely honest with you. Good player, great player by the way, but just, sure if Red Sox is, is the route I would have gone down maybe, but who knows, we'll see. Might be, might be a stroke of genius if it does happen.

Matt:

Pete Alonso, is he going to return to the Mets?

Tom:

I just started the season. I was sort of the off season. Sorry. There was quite a few teams being thrown around a couple of wild takes. I was hearing Mariners. I was hearing teams like that. I a reunion makes sense. I still think the Mets need to. think if the Mets want that real juggernaut lineup and I know Big Pete, Big Polar Bear, he doesn't hit for average. But I think when you've got Lindor and Soto who are going to be your one, two guys getting on base, and I mean, both of them slug. I think you need, you need something behind them. And I think where, I think certain teams fell down. I mean, I, I use us for, for an example, because I think this ended up being our, our downfall really in a lot of, in a lot of instances. Obviously, besides the errors in the World Series and stuff like that. I think I look at that Mets lineup and I think you've got Lindor leading off. Soto at two. Vientos at three. Now, is he number three? Well, you've got him at three, but then you've got, not really got anyone else in that, that fourth hole, that four hole, the cleanup here is such a big, big spot. I just think, I just think it's one of those where I look at it and I go, you want a, Big P, or you want to V Antos there, because you need that first four batters, you are like, if you want to build a team that strikes fear into people, I'd look at it and I'd go, if I'm a pitcher, and I'm playing against, I've got to face Lindor, and then I've got to get Soto out. And then I've got to get Alonzo out. I've got to get Bientos out. I'm looking at that and going, I'm in for a tough day today. So I think, I think it makes sense to re sign them. It's just whether they're going to have the, much the cap, whether they're going to want to spend the money. Because it's going to be a big signing, he's going to want money. So, yeah, it's just whether they're going to want to do that there.

Matt:

So the rumor is at the moment, they're looking at three years and 93 million,

Tom:

that's a, what is that over three years? What's that about 30, just over 30 mil a year? I don't,

Matt:

just over 30 million.

Tom:

I don't think that's, that's not terrible. I

Matt:

Is he worth it?

Tom:

don't know. What'd you reckon? I, do you reckon he's worth it? I think he, I mean, he's worth it. I think only, I think only Aaron Judge has hit, has hit, has hit more home runs since he come into the league. I think he may even have more. I may, I may even have read that wrong. He may even have the most. I think maybe, I think it is Judge, but I think it may be, I think it's him next. And I think, again, since he come into the league, I think he might have, again, maybe Judge have the most runs batted in. So he's an offensive machine. It's just, I don't know. It's just whether that's, whether it's million. Offensive, offense gets you the big bucks in baseball. So. Is he worth it? not because of the average but I don't know. What do you

Matt:

I like him. Would I have him at the Yankees though? Probably not. I think age wise obviously, yeah, we've just signed Goldschmidt, but I think, You gotta be careful signing aging players to long contracts. The Yankees did it before we're 15 years without a world series. It hasn't worked. So I know you gotta be careful signing aging players to like that kind of length of a contract. If they were to offer him a one year might be worth a punt, but I don't think he'd go for it because the rumor was he was holding out for 200 mil. I don't know how many years he was hoping for that for, but maybe, he's maybe he isn't as high a commodity as he thinks. Who knows? I think the Mets will strike a deal with him, but I don't think he'll be anywhere near the money he was hoping for.

Tom:

Yeah, I think that's and I think that's the problem where you kind of get the swings and roundabouts of a deal like Juan Soto's where a player gets that much money because I think teams look at it from two different perspectives. I think helps players in some way. So I think Pete Alonso's agents licking his lips going well, Juan Soto went for this much money. If he is considered the next premier bat that's left on the market, because obviously Teosca Hernandez resigned with the Dodgers. I know you've still got Santander and Bregman on the market, but you say, let's say Pete Alonso is the next, he's the big bat that's still left on the market. Obviously, his agent's licking his lips, but I think if I was another team, I think I'd be coming across and going, Well, yes, it's obviously a lot more money, but Juan Soto is Arguably top three players in the game. Maybe, maybe top three players in the game is a generational talent. So I think that's where the Mets are probably looking at it and going, are you only worth X amount less than what we're paying? So over a year, maybe not. Is that what other teams have looked at and gone, well, if so, I've got this, or we were going to offer. So this, or can get this, or even if you look at it from the other way around, you sort of go like, like we said, like, just to go back to the Yankees, Paul Goldschmidt, what would we get him on a one year, 12 million deal? I mean, He's a stopgap for the free agents that are coming on next year. Get him for 12 million a year, 11 million a year, he's probably going to do a job for a season. Sign Pete Alonso, like you said, he's not going to want that. One year deal and going to want silly money for that one year deal. So I think that's maybe where a lot of teams are looking at it, especially when you think that Vlade Jr is on the market next year as a first baseman. I think that's where a lot of teams are probably looking. Where can we fill the gap? If we haven't already got a long term option at first, where do we fill the gap? Vladdy comes on the market and again, the bidding war begins.

Matt:

There's a couple others that are still left out there. Jack Flaherty pitcher for the Dodgers. The rumor is he's headed back to the Tigers.

Tom:

Yeah, yeah, I see

Matt:

Good move for him.

Tom:

see that. I think it's a good move. I think it's a good move for both. Shows up the rotation for the Tigers. He knows it. He's comfortable there. He did well there as well. I think it's a good move for all. I think, I think that, if that, if that happens. I like Jack as well. I think he's good. He's had, he's been a bit up and down for him at LA. But I just think, yeah, I think the Tigers, it makes sense. I think it's a good move.

Matt:

Roku Sasaki where do you see him heading? I know he's met with pretty much every single player in the league. Every single team

Tom:

Do you know what? It's a bit of a weird one that I think it's, I think he ends up on the West coast. I, I've got weird feeling. He actually signs with San Diego. I think West coast, he ends up on I just think the Dodgers made a bit of a splash with Kim already from the international signing pool. I think they've obviously re signed Blake Tryon and re signed Teosco Hernandez. They've got Otani. I just, I'm wondering if they're kind of backing on, obviously they're pitching that they've got kind of coming good again next year. And maybe thinking we don't need to spend the money on it, but then I'm saying this, this is also the Dodgers. They're probably this behind the Yankees, the most notorious team for. Just going out and we want someone, we go and get him ironic as that is because neither of them got Soto, but like, it's, they're sort of, they're like, they're like that other juggernaut, aren't they? They're going to go out, they're going to spend whatever money they need to, but I don't know, I just have a feeling he might end up in San Diego. I think they need to do something to, you know. Trying to get, again, get them to that point where they're not just reaching the postseason and the season kind of ends as a dance squid, I think, yeah, I think they need that thing to get them over the edge. I think he could be it.

Matt:

We should know by this time next week. We should know who he signs for He has apparently already told the giants. He will not go there. He's already told the giants that's broke today again There's the news coming out that he could go to the blue jays.

Tom:

Yeah. But that, I see that earlier. I feel bad sometimes because I don't want to seem like I'm just knocking them right in teams off, but I just really don't see the Blue Jays as like a, As a rule, as an option, like for these kind of premier players that are free agents at the moment, unless they're going to offer them more money. Cause like we've seen in, in any sport and this off season, especially money talks, but I think I just look at it and I think the Blue Jays had signed Soto, then I think they'd have had a good chance to then re sign Vlade Jr. And I think that's where your pitch comes in. Well, we've got Juan Soto, we're re signing Vlade, we've got a really good lineup. We've, we've improved our lineup a lot as a minimum and bring in a couple other pieces and you add him to the rotation and all of a sudden they're looking like a decent team again. I just don't, I think you didn't sign. So you're probably not going to re sign Fladimir Guerrero jr. So yes, it frees up a lot of cap for him, but as a player, why would you want, why would you come in to a, I just don't see the Blue Jays as an appealing, as an appealing proposition at the moment, the markets not. Not really there for me for those kinds of, those kinds of players.

Matt:

Let's move along now to the nhl. We're about halfway through the season now.

Tom:

we are. Yes, we are. Well what, what drew you to it, my friend? I've always been a fan.

Matt:

Yeah, I think we were so we've been talking sport what 12 months we're talking sort of normal football and then we ventured off into like Yankees and then we realized we had a hell of a lot of it in common interest and the hockey thing I revisited after we had a bit of a chat. But I used to follow it a long, time ago. So I'm talking 1996.

Tom:

Oh, wow.

Matt:

Yeah. Good old, I think it was the Super n Super Nintendo. So I had Super Nintendo and it was NHL 96.

Tom:

Matt. You're giving

Matt:

And then I'd did my own little bit of research. Yeah, just a little bit. Yeah, so I think I was about 12. And I think Wayne Gretzky had just signed for the Rangers if I'm, I think it was around that sort of time and he was kind of. Pop culture figure. He was like he was everywhere, record breaker and won everything. So I paid a little bit of attention, but then I drifted off as you do when you get to about 15, 16 focused on soccer and well, football as we know it,

Tom:

on.

Matt:

soccer,

Tom:

we've got to be, it's football

Matt:

Yeah, it's football to us. Yeah. So I I, then I think I picked it up again, 2003 again, because I was playing PlayStation. And I think New Jersey devils were on the cover. So, but more recently I've Veered more towards following the Rangers. I don't know why I don't know why you can't, you certainly can't call me a glory hunter because they've been absolutely atrocious this season. I last year, I think I saw on new year's day, the 12 month comparison. New year's day, 2024, the Rangers were top of the division. New year's day, 2025 bottom. You can't make it up. I think I'm just destined to be punished by all of my sports teams, to be honest. So apart from the Yankees, hopefully we could see the Yankees, but yeah, my yeah, my history and following sports teams in the NFL. And now the NHL are not great. So don't expect any betting tips from me because it's not going to work.

Tom:

yeah, no, that's fair. I think it is true though. I think like, like Matt, he was sort of touching on we kind of sort of like start speaking about this stuff sort of free work. Like Matty says, I kind of found out we had a bit more in common and it was a weird one, wasn't it? Because we kind of started talking about football like we would do. And then all of a sudden just kind of got into American sports. Don't even know how we got there, realized we both like baseball. So talking about our love for the Yankees, how much we like baseball, watching that kind of got into NFL. And then I was sort of like, Oh, do you ever follow hockey? Because that for me is probably, I think probably besides English football and probably on a par with baseball, to be fair, maybe even a little bit more over the last few years. It's probably the sport that I follow the most. I weird, I used to stay up probably. I don't do it. I haven't done it this season just because it started, it takes its toll. Watch the, to watch the games. Playoffs are on. I'll never forget being in school, taking my exams. As like a 15 16 year old that they tell you are the most important exams of your life. And it was, I, I, I didn't go to sleep till five o'clock in the morning I was watching my team play. I mean, I mean, I'm an abs fan. So I was watching us play the Minnesota wild game seven. It was Nathan McKinnon's rookie year. And just to watch us. at home lose in overtime. I think it was overtime to the Minnesota wild in game seven. So we, not only did we not win, went to school with no sleep, had not done any revision, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Yeah, it was just one of those things. I've, I've been into it from a, from a young lad. And yeah, it just, it's just a

Matt:

You never get over those sorts of losses, do you, mate? You never get over that.

Tom:

I will never.

Matt:

In how long ago was that? I can hear the pain in your voice now and it was like what 20 years ago 15 years ago

Tom:

I'm not that old. It was, it was, it was, I think it was 2014.

Matt:

You guys can't see him you guys can't see him I can he's lying

Tom:

No, I think it was 2014. I said it was McKinnon's rookie year. So yeah, 13, 14. And yeah, weird one really. Cause I kind of got into it because I loved baseball. I was watching baseball and those of you that remember a little bit of a streets won't forget kind of baseball player was cargo or Carlos Gonzalez just had the smoothest swing of a left handed batter you've ever seen. Just so cool and collected. And I think he was one of the best players in the league for the Rockies at the time. And I. Bit of a stickler. I was like, once I've chosen a team, I can't change. Obviously, I think like a 10 or 11 year old Tom was like, I can't change for being the Yankees, but the next team that I pick in a sport is going to be from Colorado and it was a terrible choice for long, long time. We were, I think we've been bottom of the league a couple of times. Like I said, playoff heartbreaks, but. that last probably four, five, six years, we've, all fairness to them, they've been up in and around it and they've been one of the best teams. And yeah, luckily I've had a little bit more luck than Matt because I've seen them win the Stanley cup. One of the best in sport for my life as well. Staying up watching that last bit, the the lightning in that. After so many years, I think, especially for someone who stays up in English time. I think sometimes I don't think guys realize the time difference. Like we're up in the chat and the discord and they're all like, it's like seven, eight, nine o'clock over there. And it's like four, five o'clock in the morning over here. You're just like, Oh, am I doing? But yeah,

Matt:

Yeah, watching us sports. Watching US sports as a UK based fan is, exhausting. Like some days you just have to kind of, you, you just have to accept that you're not, you are not gonna get to watch it. You're gonna have to jump on early in the morning and jump on mlb.com and nhl.com nfl.com and just watch, a few of the the highlights is the best you're gonna get.

Tom:

I like the, I like

Matt:

We do it for the love of the sport.

Tom:

Oh, a hundred percent. They've got a good little feature on a few of the apps now where you can hide the scores as well. So you can actually jump on it and you won't see the score. You can kind of like, look away, click that, click the highlight, click option on there and, and watch it sort of about knowing. So it's sort of like it's live, but yeah, no it's, yeah, hockey, man. I

Matt:

I don't know if I could do that, to be honest, mate. I'd rather just kind of know and Yeah, I don't know if I could do that

Tom:

don't know,

Matt:

because if you lost you just prolonged in the pain,

Tom:

I just think if you look, you're saying it, but you're saying that as if. not acting as if it's live. You kind of got to get into the, get into the, like, I don't know. You get like always get into the imagination of it. Like, right. I don't know the school. I'm just going to, I'm not going to look, I'm just going to click and I'm going to watch, I'm just going to see what happens. Like, cause then it was feels like you're watching it live. It's more exciting watching it. I feel like if I know the school, whether we've won or lost, I'm going to watch those highlights and the goal is not going to get me off my seat as much as it would do. If I'm like, right, I'm not going to know the score. I'm just going to click and see what happens.

Matt:

I'll try that when it comes to baseball season. I'll try that. I'm not going to do it with the Rangers because they'll just end up pissing me off first thing in the morning mate. I'm not going to do it to myself. Do you know what I mean? So I'm almost guaranteed to just sit there for 56 minutes, watch them lose. I'm going to be like, well this, was great. Just, I'm just going to go to work now. Annoyed. Thanks Tom.

Tom:

I that kind of leads it onto it because I mean, look, we're onto the, we're onto the NHL section, like you said, midway through. What's your thoughts then? What's your, what's your predictions for the rest of the season? Your boy, you, when is your half of the season coming back? Or are you, you reckon you're done and dusted going for the draft picks now?

Matt:

I want to be optimistic. I mean, to be fair, they're not bottom anymore.

Tom:

No.

Matt:

They've gone up two places to six, so they're not bottom anymore. So the trouble is there is a big distance between getting a wild card place. I just don't, I don't see it happening, mate. There are only four points off the wild card place and there's still a fair bit of hockey to play.

Tom:

Yeah.

Matt:

can't see it.

Tom:

I think,

Matt:

I just can't see it. There's some really good teams.

Tom:

pessimism is driving your response there. I think, I think pessimism is driving it because I just think looking at it and I'm like, you guys put a run together and Seeing who's there, you're better than the Penguins, you're better than the Canadians. I know the Red Wings have won seven in a row, but you're better than the Red Wings. Like, I think I even would argue that you're better than the Senators and the Blue Jackets. I think as a team, I think you're better than all of those teams. You've got a game in hand on pretty much, I think you've got a game in hand on the Blue Jackets. You've got three games in hand on Pittsburgh. So like, you win those games and all of a sudden what, that's, that's six points and you guys, I mean, obviously this is providing that. the brewing. So again, you've also got three games in hand over. You win the three games in hand over them. You got above them. You're first in the wild card. So I think, I think it's too early to write you guys off. I think, I think, yeah, I think you got, you're still in with a shout. I think it's pessimism talking there, my friend,

Matt:

Well, I will prove you wrong at the end of the season.

Tom:

I think Matt is doing the classic. I'm going to undersell it so that I'm happily surprised when they actually do as expected and make the playoffs at the of the year.

Matt:

Well, they might make it, but I've said to you from what week one. I still think the Winnipeg Jets, they came out of the the traps absolutely firing. They've had a couple of mishaps. They've had a couple of strange results, but I don't know for me, they seem to be the team. I just haven't been able to say they haven't changed my mind yet. Yeah. Nobody else has changed my mind. I've been saying the jets Winnipeg jets. So yeah, I think that, I think they'll that'd be the ones to do it, mate.

Tom:

Yeah.

Matt:

Anyone standing out for you this year?

Tom:

Yeah, the Jets look good. I mean, I mean, they've always been a solid team. I mean, I've seen quite a lot of them, like I said, because I watched a lot of the games, so I see them quite a lot. The one thing I would say is it's just every year when you got kind of had a bucking goal, you always got chance. I mean, he's just lights out, isn't he? I mean, people are talking. I mean, he's gonna, he's, I mean, he's just shooting for the best nail which is the gold goalkeeper of the year. Guys, if you don't know the awards in the sports, so in hockey yeah, you've got, but the goalkeeper of the year. I just think with, them. I think they're good because of the defense. And offensively they're doing well. So yeah, they're a good shout. I think the Kings look good this year. The Kings do look good. and yeah, I just think it's always hard to look past the likes of shopping like the Maple Leafs the lightning the Maple Leafs obviously got the curse, but it's they're always going to be a good regular season team. And again, the Panthers as well. I think that's it.

Matt:

Well, this season again.

Tom:

Yeah, they're all, they're all do it. They're all doing well, I probably would be wrong not to touch on it. goals away. Alex Ovechkin. Is he, is he going to do it?

Matt:

Yeah I, mean,

Tom:

year?

Matt:

I think he will, I don't want him to, because obviously Wayne Gretzky's such an iconic player, no, nobody remembers number two. Do you know what I mean? So

Tom:

Do you

Matt:

talking what, 20, 30 years time?

Tom:

that's an exception though? Do you think, do you think it's such a gap in the court, like, because he's not just, like, Wayne Gretzky is, is like, that's not like a, oh, you can actually even really debate who the greatest hockey player is of all time. If he's not the greatest goal scorer of all time, and he's second, Wayne Gretzky could not play, sorry, could not score a goal for the, in his whole career today. He would still be the number one point scorer in the history of ice hockey. Like it is. It is mental statistics. I I think he's even come out and said it. He's like, he hopes he does it. He's like, records are there to be broken. I mean, I, I'd love to see it just cause it, I just think it's, it's cool seeing a bit of history get broken while you're watching it.

Matt:

Yeah. From that point of view. I, get it. I just think. I think again, it's just me being selfish as a Rangers fan having that kind of that link to one of the world's best ever. So I think he will do it. I don't want him to, but I think he will.

Tom:

do you think he does it this season or do you think this is, or do you think a 40 plus goal season at his age is, is a bit of a stretch?

Matt:

No, he's, he seems to be quite consistent this year. So I think, it's doable. I think it's doable. There's still what just under half the season to go. If he stays, fit and yeah, I think, yeah, absolutely. He's going to do it.

Tom:

Yeah, I mean, I actually agree to be honest with you. I think I think it's one of those. I think he's he's going at a good pace for it. And I think it's one of those where you can imagine him kind of ramping it up towards the end of the season because they're top of the division right now. So I think if they're still going as well as they are, as they have done for the first part of the season and they're going strong and he's kind of at the forefront of it and it's not just the case of him breaking his record. But I mean, because I mean, he is a team that he's the captain. He's a team man for him for he's such a great leader as well as a great player. I think if you kind of have both hand in hand, I think both runs kind of compliment each other. If you know what I'm saying, I think the capitals are still going for that division. I think that will compliment him going for the goals and vice versa. Him going for the goals record only going to help them win games because he's going to be scoring more goals. He's going to be winning games for them. and I mean, is there a player? Yeah. Maybe bar Sidney Crosby that you'd want the puck on the stick off go and win you the game. I don't, I don't think there is. Or maybe, maybe McDavid has something to say about that at the moment, but maybe over the last 20 years or so, I think those two of the premier, I think goal scorer wise, obviously Alex Ovechkin is going to be the best goal scorer of all time. So yeah, we could see how that plays out.

Matt:

Right, moving on. So we have Tom's take, we're going to do Tom's take and then we'll go in with the big question. So Tom, what is your take this week?

Tom:

I mean, I wanted to keep it NFL focused this week. Now guys with Tom's take, I'll give you a little bit of a, of a breakdown. This is my completely, maybe ridiculous, maybe spot on take as to what I think is going to happen or something that an opinion on something, which like I said, it's going to be completely biased, opinionated. You guys are welcome to come straight back at me. Call me the, call me an idiot. Call me deluded. I don't care. This is what Tom's take is all about. It's here. We're here for the controversy. Now, I personally being a biased NFL fan that I am, I'm a sports fan. I am. I'm going to keep it NFL related and my take this week is that a tape that I said to Matt last week and it's that the Eagles are going to win the

Matt:

Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.

Tom:

this is because of all, Saquon Barclay just had one of the best years as a running back that has ever been seen. maybe, bar the Ravens, we're not going to be coming up against teams that defend the rush well. look at the way the playoffs have already started. The Pittsburgh Steelers defended the rush really well this year. They got destroyed in the rushing game. So, when you have, when it comes to playoff time, and you have players like Saquon Barclay, Jalen Hurts, who can run the football really well, think teams are going to struggle to deal with that. Staying on the offensive side of it, we have the best O line in the NFL. The guys were saying it last, last night. The reason Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts have so much success, either in the past or the rush or obviously in Barkley's case, the rush is because the O line is so dominant. The space that they create for these guys, to either play from the pocket or for Barclay to have the gaps to run into. It's because they're so dominant. And I, again, I just don't know if there's a team that we're going to come up against. It's going to be able to stop that offensive line from creating the space for the playmakers to make the plays. And I think most importantly, and my final point on it is you look at the stats. We, we're the best team defensively in the league. They have the number one defense in the league. And I keep going back to it, guys. Offense wins you games and defense wins you championships. It wins you titles. the Eagles played the Chiefs a couple of years ago. The one thing that we lacked in the year and the last year that we really lacked going into the playoffs. And one of the reasons we didn't get very far was because we were one of the worst teams defensively. We just didn't have that, that real solid core. We're the best defensive team in the league this year. Average yards per game. There's no one better. We're the best team against the pass. We're in the top 10 against the rush. I just think you combine all of that together. Throw the offensive power against the defense juggernaut that they are this year. And I just think it's such a well rounded team. I just can't see. And again, I'm completely biased and I'm probably going to sit there looking very silly. If the Vikings or L. A. beat them in the divisional round next year, but Tom's take this week is the Philadelphia Eagles are your Super Bowl champions and they are not just going to be your Super Bowl champions, but they're going to be your Super Bowl champions with relative ease.

Matt:

So during the whole segment, I had to mute my mic because you could probably hear my teeth grinding. I could not disagree more.

Tom:

But why?

Matt:

And I get it. I know why you're saying it. Four years they've got into the playoffs in the last four years. They got to the Super Bowl. But they were they got beat by the Chiefs. And I know we were talking earlier on about I think the bills are looking quite good this year. And I think the Chiefs are looking really good this year. The Chiefs are going after something that's never been done before. The three peat.

Tom:

Yeah.

Matt:

And I said it last year and I I should have put money on it because although I think other teams look good, the Lions look really good. I think the Bills look half decent. The Chiefs look good. I just, I don't see, I don't see the Eagles getting, get, well, they may get to the Super Bowl, but they don't win it. And they certainly don't win it with ease.

Tom:

The reason I kind of like my argument, though, is that like you, like you say, we got to the Super Bowl, but it just is what the point I was trying to make is the offense is still as good as it was the year we got to the Super Bowl. It's arguably better because we've got Saquon Barkley now. The reason we lost the Superbowl to the Chiefs that year, and the reason they're, the only reason they're going for a 3p or a 4p, is it 3 or is it 4? They've won in a row now. Is it 3? think, is it 3 in a

Matt:

Now this will be the, if they win this one, this will be the three P yeah. They've been in the Superbowl sort of, I think

Tom:

You lose

Matt:

every year bar one and they lost one as well.

Tom:

Yeah, they've been in it so often you lose

Matt:

If they get to this one, this will be the sixth, potentially the fifth or sixth in as many years. Crazy. It's crazy numbers, mate. Crazy.

Tom:

mental numbers that they are absolutely unreal team and I'm not taking anything away and Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs is turning himself into the modern age Tom Brady, but I just go back to that Super Bowl that we played against them and Jalen Hurts was the best player on the football pitch. have won the MVP of the game if we'd won the game. The reason we didn't win the game was because the defense was terrible. Now I'll give you another point in that is that the chiefs didn't score more. I don't think, I think they won nearly in every game they won this year. Now again, someone in the comments, correct me if I'm wrong, because it might be slightly out. I'm pretty sure every game they won this year. They did it and they didn't score 30, more than 30 points in a game. Now that's all well and good when you're playing teams that you can brush aside defensively and you don't need to score 30 points, but. beat a team like the Eagles. And I think, again, this is where they may even have problems coming up against the Ravens is that I think to beat a team like the Ravens or the Eagles, you're going to need to score more than 30 points and the Eagles don't give up points. Like I said, with the best offensive team, put that, put that offense that we've now got with the defense, all the chiefs good enough to beat that. I don't think they are. So that's why I think that they, we are, we're going to win it. And I think, like I said, they will do it with consummate ease. I may slightly change the ease. If it's the Ravens in the final, which I think it will be, I think it will be, I think it may be changed these because I think,

Matt:

You're already backtracking. We're not even 10 you're already backtracking.

Tom:

listen, I think just the reason I remove of ease is just because I think to say, to say to win something with ease against the way Lamar Jackson, but I know he's not done it in the playoffs and he hasn't got to that super bowl, but I just think they're so good going forward. The Ravens, I just think to say with ease, maybe is a stretch. But look, I'm going to stick to my guns. I think they win it, and I think if they get to the Super Bowl and their tails are up, they can win it with ease. They can win any game with ease if they want to win it with ease. Obviously a lot of it is also going to come down to fitness. If the Eagles lose Jalen Hurts or they lose Saquon Barkley or any of those defensive players, then I think, yeah, that's when there could be a bit of trouble. But everyone fully fit? I think it's theirs to lose. It's ours to lose.

Matt:

I will. So very, quickly. As we said before, we are the newest podcast on the block. If any of you guys out there want to get in touch if you want to follow us on X the pod at triple play UK over on X. And if you want to email us, it's the pod at triple play UK dot com. Get in touch guys. We'd love to hear from you'd love to hear how any of you got into the sport, whether you're from the UK was from further afield or whether from the U. S. We'd love to hear from you get in touch and who knows, we may be able to get somebody on to talk about how they first got into any of the sports. It'd be nice to have a chat.

Tom:

Yeah, guys, we want to hear from you at the end of the day. This is a, is Johnny. This is two, just two powers on a podcast. We just, we're just here talking our, our thoughts on sport. If any of you guys, like you said, your thoughts, your feelings, we want to hear, like you said, maybe even get you guys on, have a chat about it. Yeah. Go from there. It'd be great to hear from you.

Matt:

So this week we're gonna wrap up with the big question, and this week for me, it's what is happening with pretty much every single sports team in New York Bar, the Yankees, and I'd say the meta stretch'cause they managed to get to postseason. But when you look at. The Rangers, the Islanders, the Jets, the Giants, and the Sabres, every single one of us, like, they're just underperforming, there's issues in locker rooms, there's issues with ownership, there's just no consistency for me, I've been to New York. I love New York, huge fan of New York sports scene. Some of the teams are just not performing as that big city, that big state team. And I just over to you, mate. Like what do you think is going on at the, Sabres and the Rangers and the Islanders? What, are the issues? Do you think it's just salary cap? Do you think it's play performance? Do you think coaching, ownership?

Tom:

It's, it's a hard one to, it's a hard one to call because I think the Islanders, I mean, let's get it straight. And I, I mean, I don't mean this in any disrespect, but the Sabres have always been crap, but they've never been that good. So the, for the Sabres, you kind of expect it, you feel for them a little bit. I mean, they, they have get like, I think I saw something the other day, they played the abs and they were leading five, four with, you know, 20 seconds to go or something stupid like that, end up losing the game, 6 5, you know, like, it's, they've never been good, like, to support that, like, they have such a good fan base, but like, as most New York teams do, like, they have such a good fan base, but they just, deserve a better team than what they've got. I think the Rangers is the weird one for me. I think like you kind of touched on Sabres have been bad for a while. Jets have been bad for a while. The Giants have been bad for a while. Like those, those teams have been bad for a little while. And maybe you could kind of say it's a, it's a rebuilding process. I mean, you, you're, I mean, you support the Jets. You know a little bit more about them than I do with where they're kind of going and where they're at. But. I think for the Rangers, it's a weird one. The Islanders are kind of like the Mets of ice hockey. You kind of have the Rangers are a bit more like the Yankees, a bit more of that kind of like, that's the premier team in hockey for New York. And then the Islanders are kind of like, Yeah, we're here, don't forget about us, but I haven't quite done enough to kind of go, we're New York's team. they're kind of always there and thereabouts. So, the Islanders making the playoffs isn't a surprise, and the Islanders not making the playoffs is also No one ever sits there and goes, oh, the Islanders didn't make the playoffs this year. No one It's sort of a It's a If you make it, Oh yeah, they made it. If they don't, Oh yeah, they didn't make it. The Rangers is the weird one. That's, I'm not sure what's going on there. I think, is it coaching? Is it, is it just not a good, a good gel this year? Is it just, is it just, they've just got off to a really sluggish start.

Matt:

What do you think? I love it! It's amazing. What do you think? Oh my gosh! I thought it was wonderful! Yes you can see! It's really beautiful. Love it.

Tom:

But I think, I think out of all of them, like we said, if we're kind of discounting the Yankees and the Mets, because both teams, I mean, World Series. And obviously got to the, I think the Mets got to the finals last year against the Dodgers. Obviously lost in, lost to the Dodgers to get to the World Series. So the Mets again and signing Juan Soto, that's a big thing. But I think the other teams, I think the Rangers will be fine. I think it's just a case

Matt:

Okay. And it's one of these cultural movements where you find it hard to tell whether you're working in a tribe or in an other tribe.

Tom:

season over there.

Matt:

Yeah.

Tom:

in a quarterback for you making decisions.

Matt:

Yeah. So it's a crazy season for the Jets. They fired the head coach. I think week six week five. They fired the GM very shortly after that. I just It was a painful season. Aaron Rodgers has been there two seasons, played I think one quarter in his first year after he tore his Achilles. This season everybody was really upbeat and I thought, you know what? I'd have a punt at the playoffs and by week six I was like, oh my god, what is going on? Yeah, just real discord real discord in the dressing room, fan discord, and we'll get on fan discord. And we just talk about the giants cause oh my God. But I dunno, we just hit some, we just heard some weird stuff coming out of the Jets camp. So the owner, and I'm going to say allegedly because we don't have proof, but the owner allegedly turned down trades based on his son's

Tom:

Yeah.

Matt:

So apparently that's how they're operating over there at the jets. Yeah. So apparently a trade was turned down because the guys ratings were not great on Madden, according to the owners, 17 and 15 year old son, that's allegedly that's what came out in the media. I don't know for sure if that's how you operate in a multi million pound. Then yeah I don't, think there's a rebuild needed. I think it's a full overhaul

Tom:

Yeah.

Matt:

to be honest at the jets and Aaron Rogers. So when you compare the bills and the jets, Aaron Rogers has similar stats to the bills, QB,

Tom:

Yeah. Yeah.

Matt:

but obviously teams aren't built on one player. So something's got to give that. I don't know whether or not

Tom:

Very

Matt:

Rogers is the problem

Tom:

Well, all

Matt:

or the owners, the problem. Certainly not the coach or the GM because they're both gone. And things didn't really improve. So who knows, but next season, if Aaron Rodgers is still there, I think it's going to be another tough season, if I'm honest. But I don't think it'll be tougher than what the giants have got going on.

Tom:

I mean,

Matt:

So there's a lot of fan discord there.

Tom:

protests, isn't there?

Matt:

Yeah. So far I think, it was something crazy. Like 40 years ago was the last Giants fans protest and they had one successful to process this year and then the second protest was called off due to bad weather because they're flying planes with a banners on the back of the planes. The owner the owners come out obviously at the end of the season and said, yeah, we're He's back in his team. He's back in the GM and he's back in the, coach again, fans are not happy. So I

Tom:

think it's

Matt:

There's just weird vibes, weird stuff going on. Just fans in New York in general just are not happy.

Tom:

mean, I mean, I think even if we said we kind of took them out of it, but I think if you, even if you, I mean, I hate to say it, but I think you even, you even throw us into it with the Yankees. I think you throw them into that mix about what's going on. The Yankees. Don't miss players. They don't miss it. If, if the Yankees want to go, it's like we were saying about the Dodgers earlier. If those two teams want a player, times out of 10 they're getting that player. And if they don't get that player, it's because they've either gone, actually, we are not as interested as we thought we were. Or Okay. Maybe in this case a little bit. Like we said, the money that they offered was so ridiculously Hide the myths. Maybe the Yankees just thought it's not worth going to that. I think, I just think, when you kind of get that, the Yankees, but not getting Juan Soto, do they kind of lose that, like, I don't know what the word I'm looking for is, but it's almost like that, like, indestructible suit that they had on, where it's like, Superman. No matter if they haven't won the World Series for 15 years, The Yankees are the Yankees. You want to get something, get someone, they go and get them. They're always going to be there or thereabouts for the playoffs, the division, the World Series. They're always going to be in the mix for it. Is that, again, like you said, kind of sign of the times in New York. It's a bit like, on a minute, these, this superpower that could get everyone out on The player that they had their whole plan kind of built around and had to then retool and kind of go off to different options. They lost out on him. The Giants, people are protesting. They've, I mean, they've had a terrible year. The Jets, a terrible year. And it's even kind of now, like, translating through to the ice hockey teams. It's like, like I said, the Rangers, you, you touched on it earlier, though, the stat, they were top of the league. This time, at the New Year's Day last year, they were, they were the bottom of their, of their division, near the bottom, near the bottom of the league, come New Year's Day this year, it's just very, something, something's going on, and it's, I don't know whether it's the weather, I don't, I don't know, it's just, it's very cold in New York

Matt:

Is it the expectation?

Tom:

Yeah, I just,

Matt:

Do fans expect too much because they've got history apart from the Islanders?

Tom:

yeah,

Matt:

Maybe.

Tom:

I don't know. I just think it's mean, what do you think? I mean, like you said, you're you're a Yankees fan. You're you're a Jets fan. do you think? I mean, maybe is it maybe is over expectation. I think you kind of said in there. I think that we're all optimistic as fans. I mean, I've just sat down and gave Tom's taken said the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl with ease. But I think every fan kind of has an unrealistic or a bit of an over the top expectation. But I think every fan kind of has an unrealistic or a bit of an over the top expectation. But kind of went in and said, well, was kind of slyly hoping the Jets might make the playoffs. I mean, maybe that says it all. Like that, that kind of says what we, what we think. And I think even the way we talk about the Soto deal. With the Yankees and it's like, it's almost like, well, how dare he didn't sign for us. It's, it's almost a little bit of like an, maybe a blind arrogance that some of us have kind of got when it comes to the teams in New York, because there is that superpower that they all seem to kind of have. And if they, oh, you didn't sign for New York or you didn't, New York didn't win. It's like, what's going on?

Matt:

Yeah. No it's just, a very, weird situation, but I'm hoping it changes because I I love my us sports. I love my teams. It's painful to watch sometimes. So here's hoping that whatever's going on can be addressed. And in the next couple of years, we start to see some sort of silverware back in New York city.

Tom:

Yeah, well, as long as it's as long as it's pinstripes and it's white and and it's the white and blue or black New York, I don't mind saying any silver there. To New York, to be fair, I,

Matt:

Yeah. Just not the Mets. Just not the Mets.

Tom:

dunno, just, just as a disclaimer guys, by the way, I dunno if you guys didn't realize, but we don't like the bits me and Matt are not a fan.

Matt:

Yeah. Reinforce that.

Tom:

Just in case you guys hadn't picked up on the tone. We're not huge fans, but we're not biased by the way. We're just, we're just not huge fans of the Mets

Matt:

so that's a wrap then guys. So Tom, happy. We good. We done week one down.

Tom:

Everyone down. Thanks for joining us guys. We'll be back to burn your ears many, many, many more weeks. We hope you guys enjoyed. And yeah, like Matt said, hit us up on x on the email. We want to hear from you guys. Anything that you guys can kind of add, anything you want us to cover, anything you just wanna hear us debate. Look, this is what this show's gonna be about. We're gonna be going through. predictions. We're going to make it fun, guys. Like we're going to talk about, we're going to go through top tens in certain positions. Teams give our predictions for the season. Obviously the baseball season, spring training is only a month or so away now. So,, there's plenty that we'll be able to go through. But yeah, no, thanks for joining guys,

Matt:

See you next week, mate.

Tom:

See you next week. Cheers guys. To enhance the intro with audio, let's consider including a dynamic and engaging piece of music or sound effects that will grab the listener's attention. Here's a refined version of the intro with notes on where to insert the audio elements: 1.**Music Opening**: Start with an energetic and upbeat music track that sets an exciting tone. The music should play under the first few lines of spoken content and then fade out as the conversation begins. 2.**Voiceover with Music**:[**Music Starts**] Matt:(With energy)"Welcome to Triple Play. UK guys. We're here to talk about everything NFL, NHL, MLB... the newest podcast on the block. I'm your host Matt, and I'll introduce my co-host Tom shortly."[**Music continues**] 3.**Music Transition to Conversation**: Matt:"There's loads to kick off with this week. We're going to be talking about the NFL playoff picture, what went on with the MLB winter meeting, some key stuff in baseball.[**Music starts to fade out**] Matt:"NHL, we're going to hit you with the big question: What is going on with teams in New York?"[**Music fades out completely**] Matt:"And we're going to wrap that up with Tom's take. And while we're talking about Tom, this is my cohost, Tom." 4.**Sound Effect for Introducing Tom**:[**Drumroll or a short, catchy sound effect**] Tom:"Guys, you all right?..." Adding music to the intro will make it more captivating and set the stage for an exciting podcast. Here are some pointers for selecting the audio: Choose a royalty-free or licensed music track if it will be distributed publicly. Ensure the music and sound effects do not overpower the speakers, maintaining a balanced audio mix. Keep the music relevant to the tone and theme of your podcast upbeat and modern for a sports podcast. If you need more detailed assistance on adding the specific audio files using Descript, you can check out their help center at https://help.descript.com.