A Dodgers Dynasty? Jan 22 2025

Matt and Tom discuss the NFL divisional round matches. Can the Commanders go all the way or can the Chiefs complete the 3peat?
Where has Roku Sasaki gone in the MLB? Listen to Toms take to find out.
There's a review of NHL games for teams in the wildcard race. Rangers watch just for Matt and we ask the big question this week, Should US sports teams separate opposition fans?

Transcript

Matt: 0:01

Welcome to TriplePlay UK, the UK's home of the NFL, NHL and MLB. Hello and welcome back to Triple Play UK. I'm your host Matt and I've got Tom here with me this week again. what a week we've got for you. We've had a great weekend of NFL. We've had some great games in the NHL and there's still stuff going on the MLB. So we're going to have a review of quite a bit of stuff for you this week, guys. how's your week been mate?

Tom: 0:43

Yeah, not too bad, mate. Plenty going on, plenty to discuss. So, yeah, without further ado, let's get into it.

Matt: 0:49

I think you've got quite a few of your predictions spot on last week, mate. So we'll get straight into the, NFL then. Chiefs beat the Texans 23 14 Mahomes and Kelsey getting it done again.

Tom: 1:03

It's almost like those two step on the field. They get slated all year. It feels like it was the same story as last year. Everyone's, everyone's playing it down. The Chiefs are nothing this year. The points per game, and I was a little bit guilty of that last week as well. Maybe they, they will struggle in certain games because of the points, but Those two get on the field and it's, it's just inevitable, isn't it? It's, it's the Thanos of football. It's, it's the, it's the modern age Brady and Gronk. Those two get on the field and it's just, it's inevitable. I mean, are they the best duo of the modern era?

Matt: 1:40

It'd be tough to argue against it, wouldn't it? I mean, they, Andy Reid came out and said, I believe Kelsey is probably the best tight end that the league's ever seen. And at this point in time, it's Hard to argue it, to be honest.

Tom: 1:55

Yeah, I think I tend to agree. I think was having a little look. I was having a debate with a couple of people on this the other day, and I think we all kind of agreed. I think at the peak of their powers, I'm having Gronk in terms of a one off season, who was the best, but longevity wise, it's, it's hard to argue against, hard to argue against Kelsey. And it feels like the free Pete's almost, almost inevitable. Even if you don't want it to happen, it's like, well, it's happening. They're coming. They're going to be there again.

Matt: 2:27

Well, not if your Eagles have got anything to do with it. We'll get, we'll get into their game in a minute. So the commanders beat the lions, right? And you called it last week. You said, you know, the upset could be on 45 to 31. I think at points in that game, though, golf was definitely trying to force the pass. I think the lions found themselves in a situation that they haven't really faced this season where they were behind. And by by a bit, so got forced to pass a few times, got picked off. I think about four times in the game. Yeah, I'll let you run with this for Mike cause you you called it. So. your, what's

Tom: 3:05

Mate, I just think it's just one of those, I said it last week, I think sometimes, the most dangerous teams you can sometimes play against are those teams that I'm going to just go, well, we shouldn't really even be here. So we're going to just give it everything because we have nothing to lose. And there's sometimes there's nothing more dangerous than playing against the team that has nothing to lose. There's no pressure on the commanders right now. It's the same thing going into the conference championship game. There is no pressure on them because everyone expected the lines to win. Everyone's expect the Eagles to win. Dare to dream. You've got Jayden Daniels. I mean, You heard a couple of the guys come out and say it after the, after the, after the divisional round. Is it the best season by a rookie quarterback ever? I mean, I don't know. Maybe it is, but dare to dream, Comandors fans. Dare to dream. You just never know.

Matt: 3:57

Yeah, I think we undersold Jaden Daniels last week. I mean, we, we briefly touched upon him, but was something else. This game, it almost like everything he touched just turned to gold and he, have a real good chance, but you know, again, the Eagles stop them getting to the Superbowl? It's, it's, it's an interesting, it's going to be an interesting couple of weeks, mate.

Tom: 4:23

Yeah, I'm, I'm excited for it. It's,, I mean, look, as an NFL fan. It's great to see. I mean, I mean, as well, it wasn't just that the commanders won. I mean, it was a great game. I don't know. I don't know how much of it you managed to catch, but it was just a great game. When you get high scoring playoff games like that, and you've just got two teams just going gung ho and just going for, I mean, the way they were going for it on fourth down, it was like a fourth down was as good as a, was as good as a first down for them because it was like they were, they were pretty much getting it every time. And it was just great to watch. It's great. It's a great show., and yeah, if they weren't playing the Eagles, I'd be rooting for them to go all the way and hopefully win it. But yeah, hopefully, that dream comes to an end on Sunday. Look, good luck to them because no one expected them to be where they are and it's a great watch.

Matt: 5:07

So. beat the Rams 28 22. And I think this one was a lot closer than I think you thought, mate, because I think last week, during Tom's take, you were giving it the biggun about to be an easy game or something, but I think after we spoke, you were sweating fourth quarter on the last play of the game, if I'm, if I'm not mistaken?

Tom: 5:34

Yeah, it was, I think I was sat there with head in, head in hands. I think the words, they're going to win. They're gonna win probably came out five or six times in like a desperate attempt to be like no, no, it's fine They're gonna win. Anyway, I'm not gonna be annoyed about it. Jake Elliott Who's been sound this year, but he's just I know he always is but two extra points missed I got a text from one of my friends during the game who was watching it saying These extra points are going to cost you and it actually came down to that last drive where luckily the league's best defense showed why they're the league's best defense, Jalen Carter, by the way, what a player and what a player at the end, because when you see Matthew Stafford driving down the field and you're getting into our,, to our zone and you're just like, Oh God, it's going to happen, isn't it? It's just going to be written on the wall. And look, in all fairness, like you said, they came out, they played hard, they defended well. I mean, they stopped the pass game. I mean, they got to, I mean, they, I mean, they have nine odd sacks in the game against Minnesota. I think they had seven or eight against us today, which, on Sunday, sorry, which is a little bit of a concern. I think the fact we picked up a couple of injuries, and on the defensive side,, they, they were really easily able to get to hurts, which is a concern, especially cause he looked like he picked up a knee injury. He was coming off a concussion from missing the last two games of the season. Hasn't quite looked himself. Not that he looks bad, not that he looks bad, but didn't quite look himself, but. When you've got Saquon Barkley as your running back, why, there's, there's no reason why we can't do it. I mean, the, the two touchdowns he scored, that was just, that's just highlight reel in the snow as well. Just great to watch.

Matt: 7:15

Do you think Barclay's gonna, get the rushing record this season?

Tom: 7:19

It's tough. I think he needs, I was looking at it the other day, I think for, I think cause it's not the regular season. Obviously he can't, he hasn't, he didn't do, but a couple hundred yards shy of Adrian Peterson. But I think the combined regular season and post season record is very much doable. I think he's a couple hundred yards off of it. So I think it's one of them where it's he could do it. I think whether it will be in the next game or I mean, touch wood, if especially if we get to the Super Bowl, then definitely has the chance. But I think he at the moment, I mean, he's the He's the most electric player we've got. He's, he will be the reason we wins games as well as the defense. He like, so yeah, we just need to keep him keep fighting. Yeah. If he can break the record on the way to winning the super bowl, I'll take it all day long

Matt: 8:09

And then finally we had my shout. The bills beating the Ravens, in the snow 25 to 27, the bills win. this one was unbelievably close. It was. Back and forth, and then a game tying two point conversion being dropped in the end zone by Mark Andrews, extending the bills to the championship game. You just, you couldn't, you couldn't ask for better drama. Could you at the end of a game?

Tom: 8:37

now. And I think it's, that's why we love the sport. It's just, it's drama to the very end. You've got, it was battle of the MVPs with Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. It was just, yeah, it was great to watch. Back and forth game. I don't think either quarterback was particularly at their best. but I think you can kind of see like where the cream kind of rises to the top with they're just, even when they're not at their best, they both made plays in that game, which gave their team a chance to win. And look, like you said, you called it, Lamar Jackson's quote, catch the ball. I won't use the, the full quote. I'm sure you guys have probably seen it. Catch the ball. they make a couple of more catches and Lamar Jackson maybe gets his way to a. So we're champ to a AFC championship game, but I don't know, man. It's great to see Josh Allen. He's just, he's pure cinema and he's such a likeable guy as well. I mean, I don't know if you saw it after the game, first thing he does go straight up to Lamar Jackson. They're hugging, embracing, wishing each other the best. It was, it's great to see two brilliant players. Probably. I mean, you'd probably argue at the moment, the two best in the, in the, in the league, especially this season going head to head. Okay, Kevin such a great game.

Matt: 9:48

Yeah, I do like Josh Allen. I saw an interview with him in the week he was talking about the difference between the last couple of seasons and this season, and it was, it was really interesting. I won't go into too much detail, but basically he's, biometrics. He started having a look at how he throws the ball, how releases the ball and he's A coach that looks at the biometrics of how he's throwing the ball. So it may make a difference this year.

Tom: 10:19

Yeah, I mean whatever he's done. It's it appears to be working Like I said, I didn't actually think either of them had their best game on sunday, but I think when you have two such good teams going up against each other Sometimes that happens. I mean when you've got such good teams, they sometimes cancel each other out and Like you said, it came down to one team was able to make the catches, one team dropped the catch at the end. So it's just, it's a matter of margins. And yeah, I think like you said, Josh Allen, he's had a brilliant year, whether those biometrics have made that slight bit of difference. But. Yeah, it was a, you know, like you said, it's a great watch. It's great to see two great players going up like that. And yeah, like I said, I mean, all the best. I mean, Josh Allen, is he going to win the Super Bowl this year? I mean, I guess that takes us on to the predictions for the, for the championship Sunday. What, what do you reckon, Matty?

Matt: 11:07

Yeah, so we've got the AFC championship game, the bills versus the chief in Kansas. I mean, I've, I've been saying it from sort of like the back end of last season to sort of like this point now, very, very tough to see past the chiefs,, the Mahomes Kelsey double act, you know, you throw in their defense. I mean, for me, they're a likable team as well. So, you know, I think a lot of people will be rooting for them anyway. however, in terms of when you compare stats, they're not high ranking when it comes to sort of like points per game, passing yards per game, rushing yards per game, they, they're not sort of like over performing. But then when you look at the bills for them, they're in some areas overperforming. They're second in the, in the league for points scored per game. So they're a high scoring team. Josh Allen seems to have something about in this season. Maybe they're getting that consistency that they've not had for the last few years in post season. And I, you know, I said last week, I think there is a very good chance. Chance that they could do it, you know a three peats never been done before You know, you're gonna want to be the team that stops it You know, you want to be the headline makers and i've got a sneaky feeling the bills might do it Just you never know you never know in this game. Like you said the commanders showed up last week think the bills might show up, you know come Sunday, so we'll see mate. We'll see but yeah, I'm gonna go I'm gonna go bills.

Tom: 13:03

Do you know what? Again, every part of me wants to say, yeah, I agree. I thought the Ravens would beat the Bills. They proved me wrong. I think the Chiefs will beat the Bills. Are they going to prove me wrong? I think it's, it's really hard to look past. Patrick Mahomes because I was having a conversation with someone about this the other day and we were kind of saying is he the best athlete in the world at what he does and there's certainly an argument for it and I think the minute it kind of gets to postseason like you said there look second in the league in points per game the Bills and the Chiefs were 15th but it almost doesn't matter when it gets to postseason because Mahomes and Kelsey are just Like we said earlier, they're just a different gear. And they perform when it matters. And I think like you said, the bills will want to stop the three P I think there's probably just as much, if not more kind of on the chief side of things that they'll want to, they'll want to do the three P.

Matt: 14:13

So we will now look at the The Eagles commanders game obviously Philadelphia Eagles are getting advantage so I, I do like the idea of the commanders getting there and we said it last week, you know, they've, they've got something about them this season. They haven't had that consistency through the whole season, but they showed up when it mattered against the lions. You, you obviously think that the Eagles are going to do it. But there's something about this commander's team, Jaden Daniels he's just, the guy's unbelievable. He's his rookie year and he's, he's got his team to championship game. You know, it's, it's unbelievable. Not many rookies. I think rookie quarterbacks have got that far. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Tom: 15:15

I think there's, I think he's one of a handful. I think I saw it the other day. I think there's, there's, I think three or four that have done it before. It's not been done for a long time though. Yeah. So yeah, I mean, look, like I said earlier, I think it's one of those where I think if I wasn't a Philly fan, I would be rooting for them as well because it's like you said, everyone loves the underdog story and like I said, Jaden Daniels, he's just, he's just a phenom, isn't he? He's brilliant to watch. But yeah, I think it's, it's a difficult one because I'm not, I'm not just saying this for like my Eagles hat on and, But kind of looking at it from a bias perspective, because when you actually look at them in the regular season, they actually match up pretty well. Eagles are better on the ground. The commanders are better in the air. Defensively, again, they're pretty well matched up in some aspects. I think the Eagles probably are better defensively. I think where it's going to come down to is again, is the Eagles have been there and done it. Like I said, got to the Superbowl a couple of years ago. They've got players that have been there that have got the experience in doing it. And like I said, I just think the difference maker this, in this game is again going to be Saquon Barkley. And I think if he's on his game and the Eagles defense is on it and that offensive line is playing how they can play. to allow the run game to happen then I think it's going to be extremely hard for the commanders to stop the Eagles from scoring a lot of points but I can see it being a high scoring game I think I think Tom's take of the Eagles are going to win it fairly comfortably might be Might already be going down the toilet because like I said, the Rams game was not comfortable and I don't think this one will be either. I don't think they'll allow it to be comfortable, so I'm excited for it. I'm gonna have to say with my boys and Tom State with the Eagles, but I think, yeah, I think it's a great game and I'd be interested to see what happens.

Matt: 17:08

Yeah, I'm going Washington on this one, mate, because they beat you in regular season. It was a high scoring game. They beat you by three, 36 to 33. So they've already got your number, mate. So I'm going to go Washington.

Tom: 17:24

He says they've already got our number, but listen, that was without Jalen Hurts. Jalen Hurts was not playing in that game. So this is a, this is a fully fit Eagles offense, at least for this one. So, let's see how they get on against us when, when there's, when we've actually got something to play for. But so what are we going for? So I think I, from my, from my take, I've got a rematch of the other year. So I've got Eagles chiefs. And it looks like you've got bills commanders in the Super Bowl. So let's see what happens.

Matt: 17:57

We're both going to be wrong on where you can just see it happening. Right then guys. So we're going to get into this week's big question. Talking about Philadelphia Eagles. It kind of links to the big question a little bit. My big question this week is. Should all U. S. sports leagues or teams consider separating opposition fans? The reason I ask this, fan altercations in the U. S. are on the rise, unfortunately. So one incident went viral last week following the Eagles Packers game, in Philadelphia on the Monday night. And then a second incident at Ford Field on Saturday when the Lions took on the Commanders, went viral also. So I'll talk to you about the incident in Philadelphia, Tom. So I'll paint the picture. So wildcard game between the Packers and the Eagles at Lincoln field. The Packers fall short of the goal line. A Packers fan in the crowd starts filming because his fiance starts getting verbal abuse from an Eagles fan. Now, his fiancee was dressed in Packers gear, hat, scarf. She was cheering the fact that her team got to the goal line. So, she was easily identifiable in the predominantly made up of Eagles fans, as a Packers fan. And according to the guy filming, this was the second time that this, this guy, this Eagles fan had started hurling abuse. went on for around two minutes, and the Eagles fan said some horrific things, which I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna repeat. Since the clip went out on X this Eagles fan has added life, literally turned upside down, blown up. He was identified, named, all of his socials were attached to the thread, including his employer. His employer then released a statement saying they were going to investigate. And then they released a statement less than 24 hours later to say that they had dismissed that particular individual. Based on his behavior. The second incident over at Ford field was a physical altercation between two groups of fans. Details on this one are a little bit sketchy. Words were had between the two groups of supporters. One guy ended up on the floor with a group of others stomping on him. Known whether it was opposition fans. but a witness has said that a 49ers fan. was involved. Now, how and why a 49ers fan was in there, no idea. So. This is why my question is should or certainly teams start to consider separating opposition fans to protect not only the visiting fan but their own from their own actions, behavior. Obviously in football in the UK we're used to being kept separate no matter what team, what league, just as a fan you're just used to being kept separate. when I was in Yankee years ago, I, I found it like a strange concept. I didn't mind it. It was opening week, and it was all sort of like good humor, banter, it was, Yankees. Red Sox was the game I attended. I expected there to be. You know, a little bit of lighthearted banter, which there wasn't. It was great. You got, you got the odd fan that, you know, threw out a little bit more than more than banter. but I think it would be very, very different if you attended a game where there was something to play for like the world series or, you know, something of that ilk. I my take personally on that is. It probably needs to be looked at because it's becoming more and more prevalent in, in multiple sports. You see, you see videos go viral all the time. So yeah, I, I think it needs to be considered personally. you reckon?

Tom: 22:06

Yeah, I, I didn't see the lines video. That's yeah, that I didn't, I didn't know that happened. That's terrible. I saw the clip of the Eagles fan. And yeah, I guess in this day and age, you can't say or do anything without, without it getting kind of blown up on socials. Yeah, more more for him. Like I said, it's, it's like you kind of touched on it. It's a bit weird. It's a bit weird for us because obviously being from the UK both being football fans, when we go to sort of English Premier League games or cup games or European games, there's always segregation between the fans and it's not done in a negative way, but I just think you, because you just can't risk, you know, an environment where you have sports fans where they're drinking and so on and so forth kind of mixing because there is kind of that rivalry. Now, like you said, when I've been over to the States, to Yankees games, to ABS games, it was weird kind of sitting, sitting with the other fans. It was a weird, it was a weird concept. But again, I didn't mind it. I didn't mind it because it was, I was like, you know what, this isn't England. This isn't, this isn't, So I'm going to kind of enjoy it and experience it. And there was that kind of lighthearted banter. Now do I think that they should start integrating it and kind of enforcing it at American sports games? I don't know. I think it's very hard to kind of take something that people know and love and, kind of change it because of the actions of a few, letting a few of this kind of like ruin it in that sense. But then there's also the aspect of if it is on the rise and I mean, especially from the sounds of like the lions game of people, genuine safety is at risk that I think you have to, you have to consider it. I mean, personally, I mean, I don't think it's a bad thing anyway. I actually think. what makes the atmosphere kind of like we said, English football games. So great is the fact that there's what we call an away end, where you have the home fans pretty much with three quarters of the full and altogether, and you have the away fans sat together in a section and it actually creates a brilliant atmosphere because you get the banter between the two fans. You get a lot, a louder section of kind of like atmosphere and cheering when a team scores, because if it's the home team, then they're all up together. And in the section where the away fans are, because they're all together again, the atmosphere is better because you can, you can really hear where the away fans are. And like I said, I think it just makes, sometimes it can make a better sporting experience, but I think like we said, it's difficult to change something that's been in place for so long. So I don't know. I think it's a hard one. I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm kind of leaning on, no, they shouldn't change it. Because you don't want to let the actions of a few ruin it. But like I said, I don't necessarily think it would be a bad thing if they did, but it's just whether people would want to adapt to that and change.

Matt: 25:09

Call some food for thought there, mate. So let's have a look at what's going on in the NHL at the moment. Alexander Evian, he is only 21 away now, mate. So.

Tom: 25:28

Yeah. 21 goals away. I think, like we said, I think we're going to do a Levechkin tracker kind of week by week on here because it seems like it is starting to count down and get ever closer to a bit of history being being rewritten, but yeah, 21 goals away. Whether we can do it this season, like we said, it will be will be interesting. But yeah, 21 goals. I think it's, I think it's well, it's well within reach, especially the way the capitals are going. I think he can keep it up. It would be it'd be good to see. But yeah, I think we'll be keeping you guys posted with that because we are on the cusp of, of sporting history there. So yeah, week by week we'll be doing a little countdown and tracker, but 21 goals to go. And he is the all time leading scorer in the NHL.

Matt: 26:15

We each up a couple of games this week. Didn't mean we had a real good sort of through what's happening in the leagues, in Rangers watch, they're not doing too bad at the minute. They seem to have picked up a little bit since my last week, They've got themselves within touching distance of a wild card. There are only four points behind, the other teams up there. So we'll, we'll keep an eye on that one as well. Rangers watch is just for me to be fair. I mean, like if they sneak the wild card, I'll be happy. So it gives me something to look forward to each week.

Tom: 26:54

Yeah. To be fair, I think you guys have, have kind of like picked up a little bit. I think there's a bit more of a, kind of a positive vibe around the group at the moment. I mean, to be fair, it's not one of the games we'll be looking at for our games of the week, but, it was, it was ABS Rangers the other day. I know we got your number on there, so that was, that was good fun. Good to see I was literally, I think it was a couple of days after we finished recording the first episode we played. So yeah, it was good to see that and obviously the Alphs picked up the win expect nothing less from the boys. But yeah, no, I think you guys, like, like we said last week, I think you're, you're starting to find that form again. And I didn't think it would be too long before you did. Just because you're almost too good a side to be down where you are, or where you were. So like I said, I would, I'll be, I'm fully expecting a bit of an end of the season push now. It's kind of for you guys and I think you'll make the playoffs.

Matt: 27:53

This week we each checked out a couple of games. I took the Maple Leafs and the Devils firstly and this one finished Four, three and overtime Austin Matthews, William Nylander for the Maple Leaves played really, really well. the Devils went up one nil inside sort of three minutes and that was really it for the first period. In the second period, it got going a little bit more. Nylander got a power play goal. Sort of nine minutes into the second. And then the third was where it really sort of took off where the action really started, I think both teams were a little bit relaxed. So first, second period, but then in the third period, it of went from two, two, and then three, three, which took it into overtime only four minutes before the end of the game. The devil switched off in the, last couple of minutes, like four minutes from the end. Nylander just got left wide open in center ice, gave him a one on one and he just put it to the bottom left of the keeper. so. I mean, the Leafs look really, really good. The Devils are still in contention. Like I say, it was a really close game. Both looking good for post season. And then the second game that I looked

Tom: 29:23

And then reconnect mining. And then I did that. But then if I would have known that what was going on, but then what happened

Matt: 29:53

The second A loose pass got picked up in center ice about five minutes in a hurdle for the Golden Knights scored at close range. Kashetkov saved a penalty for the Hurricanes well. And then Jarvis made it one, one with eight minutes to go with a scrappy goal after, after a deflected shot. But yeah, the third, like I said, the third period is where the game really sort of took off. Hurricanes made it two, one with a counter, a three on two. Shvetnikov drove through the center, laid it off to Blake on the left hand side. He slapped it towards goal, but it took a wicked deflection off Hanifin and went to the keeper's right. The keeper kind of came out to, to collect the, the shot, cross, whatever you want to, whatever you want to call it, but it ended up in the, in the goal. A little more great defense from the Hurricanes. They were really sort of dug in and the puck got scooped out. The Hurricanes. Ran out with his style and then a 2 1 counter and Jarvis made it 3 1. And then the Golden Knights on a power play. Theodore scored from distance. He got some space. Absolutely drilled. It was a great slap shot. The keeper was unsighted. Couldn't do nothing about it. Made it 3 2 with 10 minutes to go and then it was a little bit of back and forth and the the Hurricanes held on for the win. So, I checked out two really good games. Well, I was quite lucky. We sort of, we agreed on the preview games before we watched them Yeah, I scored quite lucky, mate. Two really, really good games and Jarvis was star of the game in that one with two goals.

Tom: 31:41

Yeah,

Matt: 31:41

game did you check out, mate?

Tom: 31:43

I was I mean, I mean, I think we were kind of deciding on what one to go for. I think it was kind of hard. And, I mean, first of all, Matt, I will just say as well. I think, hopefully, not none of the, none of the NHL broadcasters pick that up because they'll be asking you to go on the commentary the way that you did. Describing, describing those games. No detail missed out there, my friend. Though, I think we, we decided on Absoilers just purely because, obviously it's the McKinnon, McDavid matchup. It's always a great one to watch. Obviously dry cycle. He's having an unbelievable year again this year as well. Ransom and Macar. So you've kind of Bashard. So you've kind of got like the sort of the premier players in a lot of the positions in the league going up against each other. My boys fell short. I mean, we were three nil up stormed into a three nil lead. As well, one of the goals of the season from Nathan McKinnon as well, completely undressed. Evan Bouchard, then again, gets his revenge. Fins finishes with the first star. He scores two goals. McDavid with a couple of points as well. Mac finishes with two goals. And it was just, everything is advertised three nil up, or three nil down. Oilers come, come back and win 4 3. So, I mean, a great game, end to end, potentially a matchup, at some point in the postseason as well. We've seen it before obviously the Avs swept the Oilers on their way to the Stanley Cup in 2022. So, yeah, it's, it was a good matchup. It's always good to see those two go against each other and I think you've got You probably have four players that I've got their eyes set on maybe winning. Well, I'm finishing top of the points, towards scorers this year. Obviously dry site or ransom and maybe going for the rocket. And obviously the heart Memorial, I think McKinnon and McDavid are pretty much there, there or thereabouts every year. And dry and, and ranting and also doing their best. I think just touching on your games as well. Like you said, I think, so like you said, Matthews with a couple of goals, Mana has been unreal for them as well. This year. He's on, he's, he's playing very well, got a lot of stick, I think over the last couple of years, just because I think, I think Leafs fans are obviously one quite harsh, but also at the same time, I think, like, because he's one of their star players, and when obviously your star players are not performing and your team's not kind of doing what you want them to do, you're always going to look at those, but I mean, he's been unreal for them, another couple of assists in that game against the Devils, and, And yeah, the games, they just find ways to win. I think they're, they're in reach of second place in the division now again sorry, behind the devils, in their division. So, yeah, I think there's a lot to play for for the rest of the season. And, kind of like we said, guys, we'll sort of bring you a, a little preview or a review, sorry, of the games of the week that we kind of pick out in the NHL. And if there's any that you guys in particular want us to kind of review talk through any kind of key talking points. By all means, like we always say, let us know in the emails that's where it handles. Just keep us posted about guys and we'll, yeah, we'll review.

Matt: 34:51

So we've, we've had some sort of breaking sort of news in the last sort of hour. Conor McDavid has said he's not going to appeal the suspension that was handed out a couple of days ago for cross checking. Have you seen the video yet?

Tom: 35:04

Yeah, I think it's one of those is sort of not really a surprise. I think the only surprise comes in a lot of the time the league, is sort of. I think sometimes has the question mark around it about whether it's premier players or it's advertisable players get the same treatment and punishment. I think we always say like McDavid or McKinnon, or McCar, or Quinn Hughes, Jack Hughes like those kind of players. Like if they do something like what David did, they're usually either getting away with a fine or nothing at all. And the kind of players that are more known for it or just aren't, just don't have that marketable reputation usually are the ones that get punished. So, I think look in, in any other scenario, it's a three game suspension. And yeah, I think it's fair play, David, he's not gonna, he's not gonna appeal it because I don't think there was much to, much to appeal.

Matt: 35:55

Yeah, I think from sort of like. My point of view, I think he's let himself down a little bit. I mean, I get it in the heat of the game and things like that, but it's just, it's just a poor decision to make. I mean, he's flying this season. Some of the goals that he has scored. He's probably one of the most skillful players seen, like the way he just sort of controls that puck and the way he takes on players game in game out. He's like, there's no fear from him. But the reaction from it. If, I mean, if, if anybody's sort of like he was describing, hasn't seen it, a little bit of nothing he's on the floor, he holds the other player holds as he's getting up, he slams the stick across the kind of throat face area of the, of the opposition player. So yeah, probably three games suspension warranted surprised. It wasn't more because it was kind of, to me, it was nothing that led up to it. So I think he's let himself down a little bit though. Yeah, he's probably right. Not to, not to appeal it, mate.

Tom: 37:04

Yeah, agreed, agreed. I think, I think you find a lot though, and you speak to guys that play, play the game. And obviously I think as you kind of watch the season, especially as he gets closer and closer and towards the playoffs, I mean, you get a lot of that kind of stuff, I mean, especially in the playoffs, that, that kind of thing I mean, maybe not to that extent, kind of becomes a regular kind of game by game, you get in some sort of cross check or, or sort of a hit that's a little bit heavier, a little bit harder into the boards. I mean, the four check becomes a lot more aggressive because it does just kind of ramp up. Like I said, yeah, he's let himself down a little bit. I think the. We're not out on the ice. We can't hear what's being said. Obviously the guys are chirping at each other all game long. And maybe something just got him riled up. And to be honest with you, I think it's. Well, if you want to see it done in the right way, I mean, the guys, the best player, in the world. It's not close either. As much as I love McKinnon. So, but I think Oilers fans, I think if you were to ever ask what you want to see more from, from David and what might get you over the edges, does he have that aggressive side? So in that streak that you need in the playoffs, you need that aggressive, kind of strict, you need that nasty strict to you. to be successful in the playoffs. I mean, points per game wise, yeah, he's always going to put up points because it's kind of a David, but maybe that little nasty edge, which someone like a Matthew Kachuk, or the Panthers had, which gets them over the edge last year. Does he has it in him this year? If he's a bit meaner, is David going to take them that one step further in that game seven for them, like they couldn't do last year or, or maybe even take it to a point where it isn't game seven.

Matt: 38:43

Okay, so let's move on to MLB then a little bit of a quiet sort of week. Obviously, we're still in, sort of winter mode for the round for the MLB. teams gearing up sort of to meet up probably about four weeks from now. Some teams for spring training, the biggest news that came out. This week, we kind of predicted it last week. Roku Sasaki, 23 year old pitcher from Japan announced the team that he was going to of the teams that you called my, I think. Not quite the right one. I think he went one way, but he went the other. so tell us a little bit about Sasaki then, mate.

Tom: 39:30

Yeah. So, yeah, like you said, I kind of, I think, I think, I mean, to be fair, I say I called it, I think that was the general consensus that the two teams that were going in heaviest for him, or that he was likely to land on was going to be on the West coast with either the Dodgers or the Padres. I think a lot of people thought he was going to go to the Padres, but yeah, I mean, I, I mean the Dodgers, they just, they just, they just find a way. I mean, the roster they're building up is incredible and we'll touch on that a bit later on. But yeah, Roki Sasaki is a, is a dodger. I think, I think when you look at the kind of player that they're signing, I mean, Roki Sasaki, he's, I mean, you look at his numbers in Japan, and by the way, Japan, for the people that don't watch Japanese baseball, or follow it or keep up with it, these are, these are no slouches. This is not like a, oh, he's coming into the MLB, so he's really going to struggle and his numbers are going to drop. If anything, his numbers are going to go up. So, I mean, he had a two, he has a career in four seasons, 2. 02 ERA. 11. 4 K over nine innings. He's got a 3. 7 career war and I'm a big war fan. I love the stat. I think it really kind of separates the best players, from the rest. 7 career war for, for a pitcher is very good. And like I said there, I kind of touched on it. He's got 11. 4 K's over nine innings. And strikeout rate in, in the MLB is a lot higher than it is in Japan. They kind of play the old school way. I think that's why you see people like Ichiro came over and be so successful because they play for contact over there. It's a lot of ground ball stuff. Whereas he's a strikeout guy and in American baseball, obviously the MLB. Strikeouts are higher because people want the power. They want the big swingers. They want the strikeout, but hit it out the park, guys. He's got a 96 mile an hour fastball, which tops at 102. I think he's got one of the best splitters, or the national pitch, they call it over there. Cause I think most of their top guys throw the split finger fastball. I was kind of looking at the numbers for it as well. Again, it averages out about 90 miles an hour, which again, Not really heard of nowadays. Most guys split as a kind of the same kind of speed as a change up. I know you get the power arm guys, but like a 90 mile an hour split coming off of a 102 mile an hour fastball. It's going to be dangerous to hit. I mean, I looked at his stats. He throws it more than he throws anything else. I think there was only one guy. Which was Fernando Cruz, who obviously was at the Reds. Now the Yankees picked up in a trade, that through the split finger fast through the split fingered fastball, sorry, more than Sasaki did last year he's got a great slider. He's got a 40 percent miss rate on it. And like I said, that's how in Japan, where they play for contact. So how, if that, if we're for those numbers, which they probably will go up, this season for the Dodgers. And it begs the question, I mean, you're looking at his numbers there and how good he is, for the fact that they only had to pay international pool money. So this in effect, they've got a guy who's going to be either a number one or number two starter, would be the number one starter on maybe 80 percent of teams in the league. Six, seven million it's costing with full control over him now. For the next few years, Matty begs the question and I want to know your thoughts. Is this the best free agent signing of the season?

Matt: 43:03

Yeah, straight up. Yeah, there's no debate. I mean, you get in a starting picture. He's 23, he's young, he's extremely athletic, you know, those numbers that he's racked up, the fact that he can throw, you know, and this is an average by the way, across the whole season, 96. 8 mile an hour fastball. I think seasons ago, he was topping over a hundred, so it slowed down a little bit, but it's phenomenal that he can do that. he's only got 2. 02 ERA, which is, is great for a pitcher. 11. 4 strikeouts, as you say, per nine innings. The guys are phenom, you know, when you compare the other free agency signings that have been had around the league in terms of pound notes or dollars, if you like and a half million, you've got, you know, like you said before, defense or win your championships in any sport, you know, so you might have a big hit up in Juan Soto, you've paid. 800 million. Where is it's only cost you six and a half or a Roku Sasaki. He's going to fit nicely into their six man rotation of a Tani, Snell, Yamamoto, Glasgow, and then a combination of may not gone Celine. I mean, I think I said last week, the Yankees bullpen was looking stacked, but then you look at the the Dodgers as a Yankees fan, I'm jealous right now. they're building is unreal. You know, the Yankees did it for a long time. We picked out the best players. even get a sniff now. I'm jealous. Absolutely jealous. I think that they're building a great team over there. So hands down in answer to your question. Yes. Yes. He's the best free agency sign in this winter.

Tom: 45:10

Yeah, I think I, I tend to agree as well. I think obviously Soto was the man everyone wanted. And I think, yeah, I think in terms of getting one of the best players we've ever seen, especially in the modern era, yes, obviously Kwon Soto is, is the marquee signing, but like you said, I think it's just that value for money. So I only have to pay six, 7 million. 1, 000, 000 for a guy that like you said, he's going to come in and potentially be one of the best pitchers in the game. Yeah, I think it's, I think, I think it might be the, the best signing. And I think it's also as well, the fact they've just got that full control. They can go and just play him, play him on that, on that on that contract for the next few years, then they'll go to arbitration and they still don't have to give him a payout. Look, the Dodgers might turn around at one point and go, We want to lock you up for 15 years. You're going to come and pay you. Here's a, I mean, here's, is, is 50, 60 million a season. If he's, if he's as good as mark marketing, I mean, the money's there at the moment, teams are paying that for players, but It's yeah, I think, I mean, value for money, it's, yeah, it's, it's pretty, it's pretty good, pretty excited to say the least,

Matt: 46:21

So before we get into Tom's take this week, we're going to, I'm just going to sort of pitch the our X page. So over on sort of old Twitter, if you want to find us, it's the pod at Triple play uk. So if you want to get involved, drop us a little message on there or drop us a follow. For any sort of pod updates follow there. And then if you want to get in touch, you want to email him to the pod. It's the pod triple play, uk. com. you'll get through to me or Tom. This week then Tom, your take, take it away, mate.

Tom: 46:59

Yeah, Tom's take this week, guys, I think we were alluding to it, in the last section that we had there with the baseball and the signing of, Sasaki, and I just think Tom's take this, this week is that Tom's take is the Dodgers are building, and I mean, may have already built, One of, if not the best rosters that's ever been in the game and they are going to be the dominant force in the sport I would argue maybe for the next 10 years. When you look at what they've built, the players they've got, I mean, we're talking. The poster boy for the sport in Shoghi Ohtani. A lot of people turn around and say he's the best player in the world. Maybe even the best player that's ever played the game in terms of how good he does both sides of the ball. Pichinan obviously is hitting. You've got Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Tyler Glasnell. Let's not forget, they just added Blake Snell. They've just got Sasaki. And then, that wasn't the only free agent sign in that the Dodgers pulled off this week, because we didn't mention that they also signed probably the best reliever that was left on the market in Tanner Scott. So you've now got one of the best ball pens in the game, that back end with Tanner Scott, and Blake Triton. You've got one of the Most dangerous rotations in the league, like you kind of alluded to there, you've got a potential six man rotation, which I do think they'll roll out a lot this year because they want to try and limit Otani's innings coming off of TJ or Tommy, Tommy John unconfirmed, Tommy John surgery, and obviously Sasaki kind of coming into the league and, And I'm being a new kind of force in the league that obviously want to see how he gets on with extended amount of Indians pitch. But Matt, is there a better team in baseball right now? I mean, the Mets obviously trying to make their push with the Soto signing. I mean, there was a couple of other signings in even in the division, like Justin Verlander has gone to the Giants. But when you kind of compare it, you get that. I mean, I think that's a great fit, a great one last send off, but. When you think about it, the Giants are maybe just trying to get up and be able to compete with the Diamondbacks, or maybe the Padres if they can get themselves sorted. When you're talking about those teams, you're talking about them, who can maybe get a wildcard spot, or who can get second because, I mean, the West is done. The West is done. And I think if if if other teams are not careful, I mean, maybe, maybe it won't make a difference. I don't think it will. I think the Dodgers are going to be the force to be reckoned with for the next 10 years.

Matt: 49:26

It's very hard to disagree with you this week, mate. I think your take this week is spot on. like I said, when we were talking about Sasaki as a Yankees fan. extremely jealous. They're, you know, the, the Dodgers are doing everything the Yankees used to do, but they're doing it better. So it's hard to disagree. I think they, they will win the world series this year. hard to say as that is the Dodgers will win the world series, in 2025. The Yankees a patch on them at the moment, and that was proved in the in the World Series, and they've got they've got a lot better already with the signings that they've made 10 I think is a stretch. I think the Mets may push them. In a couple of years. I don't think the Mets will be ready just yet. one signing does not make a dynasty. However, I think the Dodgers the potential to, to build a dynasty. so yeah, you'll take spot on mate. Do not disagree.

Tom: 50:43

Yeah, it's like you said that. I think the only thing that I mean, I would even come back on that and kind of push that when you kind of mentioned about the 10 years, I think you actually look at the organization as a whole. This is not just a team that Has got stars sort of glittered throughout the lineup. These are, this is a, I mean, they've got a deep prospect pool. They got players that they're really kind of confident in and back. And it's like, almost like a next man up. Next man up, but the next man up is another star. I think you kind of alluded to it there as well, that the Yankees tried to do it. They did it well, but they, the Dodgers are doing it better. And, like, they're, people, they're more likable. Like, I hate to say it, but like, we were the enemy, for a long time. Maybe people are going to start to sort of like, not wish against the Dodgers, but like when you kind of have that success and you have that kind of big team, people want you to fail, but I really just don't see how they do when you have that many good players in the team. They're they're a team that people want to play for. People want to sign for them because of the coaching, the way that their organizations run. I think you talk to people in the organizations and you hear the stories from around the sport, the way they treat their coaching staff from the big leagues all the way down to able like it's it. But everyone wants to be there, and I think this is why they are pulling off the signers that they're doing at the moment. I don't think it's just a money thing, because I think there are two or three other teams we've seen. The Mets flex their muscle, the Yankees will always flex their muscle. This is not just a, we're the Dodgers and we can spend more than you, because there are other teams in the league that can spend. They're not just a great team. They're a, they're a good team to want to play for. See, I think, I think 10 years would be, I think is, is not looking too unrealistic from where I'm sitting. I think, I think it could even be longer. And yeah, I think they are, they are the force. And I agree. I think there'll be, there'll be winning the world series this year. And yeah, I mean, we haven't had a back to back since a certain team did it in the two thousands. We won't mention who, I think we, I think me and you enjoyed them. But yeah, it's, I think this could be the first back to back for a long time. Yeah,

Matt: 52:46

Yeah. A hundred percent agree with you there, mate. Right. Then that does it for another week. Really enjoyed this one, mate. It's been a, it's been a good one.

Tom: 52:56

likewise, my friend. Likewise. Look forward to it again next week. Like Matt, you said, said guys. If there's anything you want us to touch on, talk about, get the emails, the Twitter handles. Let us know, but as always, my friend, it's been a pleasure.

Matt: 53:10

I'll see you next week. That does it for another episode of Triple Player UK. I've been your host, Matt, along with my co host Tom. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to follow us on X and subscribe on whatever listening platform you're on and we will catch you again next week. Cheers guys.