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THE BRUINS FAIL TO MAKE THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS & IS MATT TOO HARSH ON THE ROCKIES?

• Matt Hunt

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We discuss the teams that failed to make the Stanley cup playoffs. Are the Bruins able to recover for next season?

Over in the MLB we are now a couple of weeks into the season, who is going well and who is massively under-performing? Matt does not hold back in his assessment of the current under performers.

Matt:

Welcome to Triple Play uk, the UK's home of the N-F-L-N-H-L and MLB. Welcome to Triple Play uk. I'm your host Matt. Alongside my co-host Tom. week we've got NHL and MLB chat in the NHL. We're gonna be looking at Ovechkin. He's now managed to get to 895 goals and he's done it in 1,486 games. So we're gonna have a look at that. We're also gonna look at the NHL teams that haven't made playoffs this year. Next week we'll look at the confirmed teams'cause there's one week left to go. And over in the MLB, we're gonna be looking at Tom's three stars of the week and looking at Matt's Pel. So the three teams that haven't performed so well. There's also a couple of contract updates that Tom's gonna take us through. One place to start though this week, Alexander Kin. 895 goals in 1,486. Appearances. Tom, I know we were texting about it. What did you make of it? Did you see the goal live?

Tom:

Yeah, I made sure that I was watching that game. I don't usually watch live games of other teams. I try and keep my focus on the abs and watch the highlights of everything else, but I think when history was on the line. I think it was one of those games that you kind of just had to watch and, it was a good spectacle. And I think it was great that he got the leveler and I guess to an extent the goal, that broke the record kind of from a vetch, kin's office, obviously Gretzky, the great one, had his own office and Avech Kin's office has just been at the top of the faceoff circle., Usually on the power play, smashing those one timers in. So the fact that he scores from there for both the the record tying the record breaking goal was very fitting, to class, just classic ovechkin. So yeah, I made sure I watched that. It was, like I said, it was great. Watch, the afterwards as well. Like it was a good ceremony. It was really well done by the Islanders, I think during the, the great chase as it's been called. I think all the teams have played really good respects to Avech game, especially towards the end of the season, staying on the ice to do handshakes, whether they've lost or won the game.

Matt:

Again,

Tom:

the kind of ceremony and presentation that was done after the goal was fantastic. I thought. It was great to see Gretzky there as well. He kind of mentioned that

Matt:

that

Tom:

when he was hunting down Gordy Howell's record that Gordy Howell was in the stadiums following him round to see if he'd do it, and he wanted to do the same for Ovechkin. So. Yeah, it was. It was a great watch, great to see. And like we said we hope he'd do it this season. It was getting to a point, would it happen, but he just did in classic akin style, picked up form when it mattered most, and got the job done.

Matt:

Yeah, I think he was really classy of, Gretzky to follow him round, you know, shake his hand straight afterwards. He said, records are there to be broken and. It was great to see. I watched quite a lot of the highlights after it had happened. I think you messaged me. I was a little bit tied up, but once I free myself up, went on, had a look, and the NHL sort of Instagram page was just post, after post after post. was, I was a little bit disappointed that they went down for one in the game, but I think once he'd scored that goal, I think it was like, not so much down tools, but like, he's done the record. Let's just chill, take it all in. I know they broke up the game a little bit first, sort of like the handshakes and stuff as well., And I think the Islander's goalkeeper actually gave him a stick, didn't he, after the game as well like a, a memento. So the amount of Memento he must have collected over the years, racking up some 895 goals. The big question now though is mate, is how many, how many is he gonna get to.

Tom:

I saw this quite a lot, to be fair. Afterwards, I think people were talking about, right. What's the next one that he goes for? I think 900. It's definitely gonna happen. I think he's tied in well he's definitely, he's under contract for another year after this season. So providing that he doesn't stick to his word we never see him play hockey again.'cause I think back in 2019 he had an interview where I think it might have been ESPN, don't quote me on that. Might be wrong. Get an interview with ESPN where they asked him, if you break Gretzky's record, what will you do? And he said, I'll quit there. And then he's like, I'll walk off the ice. You'll never see me, Never see me back on the ice. I think. He's probably got a little bit more playing to do week left of the season, and a big playoff push for a capitals team that are gonna be strong favorites in the eastern conference to go far. 900 plus is definitely doable. A thousand. That's another, that's a what's he score? 42 goals this year. He's gotta do that again for another 2, 3, 4 seasons potentially to get to a thousand. I dunno if that's quite gonna happen. And I don't, not necessarily because he can't, because I think if he plays on into his forties,

Matt:

his,

Tom:

I think by

Matt:

by

Tom:

hook or by crook, he'll he'd get there. But I just think for ov,

Matt:

for

Tom:

think to get 900 plus finish on what he finishes on after next season and then call it a day there. But look, we're talking about the great eight. I can't put anything past him.

Matt:

Yeah, I think he's definitely said he's gonna play out his contract. I think then he wants to go to Russia, doesn't he? So a potential that probably got. Or a couple of years in Russia. I don't think he'll stick out after next year. I think if he does another 40 plus next year, he's gonna, you're gonna be looking at what, nine 40? 9 45. don't think that'll ever be beaten, if I'm honest. I, we certainly won't see it in our lifetime, I don't think. I don't think there's anybody be playing other than potentially. think Austin Matthews is on par with him, isn't he? At the moment. So. If anyone's gonna get close, it's Austin Matthews. But I just don't, I just don't see it because Austin Matthews is 27 now, so Plays till what, for another 13 years. You are looking at 40 plus goals a season for the next 10 years at least. It's a tough ask. I mean, when Gret skidded it, people said, oh, I would never be beaten. But done it so never say never. Hey mate.

Tom:

Yeah, like you said, mate, never say never. I think seeing Gretzky's record get broken shows that these things can be done in terms of players in the league. I was actually having a look at this the other day. I think I saw quite an interesting stack come out where they were saying roughly. How long it would take for some of these players to do it. Like they had McDavid into the late 30 thirties. McKinnon, Was another like 15 years away from doing it sort of thing. So,

Matt:

So

Tom:

of these players would have to like, play into their forties and score at the rate that they're scoring now, which I think just goes to show how impressive Ovechkin break in this record is playing to the age that he's playing at scoring, at the rate that he's doing it. I mean, the guys. Third or second now in the league in goals with 42. I think the only person that May do it is Austin Matthews, just'cause he is that pure goal scorer. I think he's on 398 goals, which is ahead of where Ovechkin was at in terms of games played in his career. But like you said,

Matt:

said

Tom:

would have to play

Matt:

play

Tom:

for another 10 years and score

Matt:

and

Tom:

45 to 50 goals a season to then potentially break what Avech kin's on now. And that's. Without a etching playing next season and most likely putting up between 20 to 30 goals, maybe more. If you are looking at what he's done this season, there's no reason why he doesn't go and do it again. I know he is had, the record chase, which has probably been a bit more of, a motivator for this year, but there's no reason why he doesn't go up and put 30 to 40 goals up knowing what Alex Ovechkin is like. So again, then, like you mentioned, you're looking at nine forty, nine hundred and fifty odd goals and.

Matt:

goals and

Tom:

then becomes a little bit more of a challenge. So

Matt:

challenge.

Tom:

like we've mentioned, records are there to be broken. So we'll see.

Matt:

we'll

Tom:

Austin Matthews could do it. He's very much played it down when they've asked him about it, which is the right thing to do. Ovy did it for years, played everything down. So yeah, we'll see. But no, look, this is all about Alex Kin, wishing him massive. Congratulations'cause it's some, some achievement.

Matt:

achievement.

Tom:

given the record that Kresky put up,, no one ever thought it would be broken. Ovechkin done it, so

Matt:

done.

Tom:

massive. Congratulations to Alex Ovechkin there.

Matt:

Let's, move our focus over to who missed out then. So we've had a confirmed this week that quite a few teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. The biggest, that have missed out this year, the Bruins, the penguins, and the predators. Any surprises with those three for you?

Tom:

I think when you look at the teams you mentioned there, surprises, penguins wasn't really a surprise for me because I think they're a 50 50 team. A lot of years they have been for the last few years, where if Sydney Crosby plays well enough, they might sneak in the rest of the team just isn't quite up to par, especially after losing gul. Malcolm's Aging, LA Tang's aging, their goal tendon isn't great, so they're not really a surprise for me. Obviously Sydney Cross, we can only do so much congratulations to him as well. By the way, I think he broke an NHL record for most point per game seasons in his NHL career. So big achievement for sd, still doing it in his mid to late thirties, and he's still one of the best performers in the league. So him and Avech game very much., Keeping the old heads afloat and showing that it can still be done. I think the biggest surprise is the Bruins 10 straight years of making the playoffs. And I think after the trade deadline, it's been not been so much of a surprise. I think what they've lost nine or 10 games in a row now, which is just unheard of. I think it's a franchise record that I, I was surprised to see them sell out the way they did, but obviously things behind the scenes obviously weren't great. They wanted to retool. And go again and rebuild and make the team younger because they weren't,

Matt:

they

Tom:

they were making the playoffs, but they obviously weren't making it deep as a run as they would've liked. So I, I kind of get it to an extent like retool and see if you can make a team kind of, sort of what

Matt:

So

Tom:

say what the abs did on the west. The didn't really retool. They were just very, very bad and built up with their draft picks and trades and. Came good that McKinnon, Ranon and Kale McCab became three of the best players in the whole league. But

Matt:

League,

Tom:

I think the Bruins are probably trying to do something quite similar. They've still got past an act there who's still one of the premier players in the league as well. So they've got a stable building ground to go off of, but it was a surprise just'cause of how long they'd been in and yeah, the pres.

Matt:

but the press,

Tom:

I had, I think most people would've had the press down to make the playoffs. You signed Rhino Riley,

Matt:

Riley,

Tom:

Steven Stamkos. In the off season, you've got Yuri Soros, who's one of the best. You've got Romani, who's one of the premier D men in the league. And to make the playoffs by such a margin that they didn't make it 62 points this year in 77 played. It's just no one could have called that. From the pres after the off season. But yeah, so I think based off of just their work in the off season, that is a bit of a surprise to me.

Matt:

I think the biggest one for me was the Bruins. It's the first time, like you say, they've missed it in 10 years. They've had a simply awful season, haven't It's kind of gone more and more downhill since they fired Jim Montgomery, who, you know, you look over at the blues, he is taken them to within touching distance. that wild card birth. You know, I think then on trade deadline day, we were really surprised that they pretty much waved the white flag and traded Brad Marsh on Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle and just in Brazil. And they've just come off the back of that 10 game losing streak. But I think now that they're officially out, I think there's a couple of positives for next season. think losing the players that they've lost, they've got potentially 29 million in cap space available for next season., And they're potentially gonna get a high draft pick if they win the draft lottery. So there is a couple of positives. So I think I. may be like an off year for them and then next year I think they do some decent business in the off season. think we'll see them back up there next season. I think this is just one of those one-off crazy seasons for them.

Tom:

Do you know what, weirdly enough,

Matt:

really

Tom:

I'm not sure if I agree. I actually think the Bruins, they've got past there, but yeah, they have to do a lot of work in the off season and you don't

Matt:

in the,

Tom:

always see it happen. The Blackhawks have got some of the best cap space in the league because of the players they've got rid of and the fact that they're trying to rebuild, but. You kinda see how they've taken that and it just hasn't quite happened for them yet. They're a team I wanted to touch on in the West, obviously, again, another year of not making the playoffs, and I think they're in a little bit of trouble because there's rumors that Conna Bedard is gonna ask for a trade after this season because he's just not happy with the direction the club's going in. I get that to an extent because he's a fantastic young player who wants to win. I do think on the flip side of that, you have to be patient and wait to earn your due because. A lot of players in the league who come in like that, you are gonna come in at a team that isn't as good. That's why you've gone first or second in the draft. In beard's case, he went first and he's obviously a fantastic player, but you need to b your time and be patient and look if after another season or a season after that, you're still gonna be in your early twenties, still gonna be producing points, then I think you look at maybe look going for a trade, but. Ju,

Matt:

but

Tom:

just think it's maybe a bit too early now, but like for the Blackhawks, if he does get that trade or does request that trade, it's just more and more negativity kind of going into a season for them.

Matt:

c

Tom:

And, I use that as a comparison for the Bruins because tap space is great if you use it right and you sign the right players. But

Matt:

players,

Tom:

we've seen from the Bruin this season,

Matt:

es,

Tom:

they waved the white flag. They got rid of a lot of core players, team leaders like Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle, which is really strange.

Matt:

strange

Tom:

especially Marsh and who was their captain.

Matt:

CAP

Tom:

Obviously Bergeron no longer around as well after retiring. So if they get it right in free agency, maybe, but I think it's difficult to get free agency right now and finding, that right player. And look, draft picks don't always work out. They might need a season or two to bet into the league, so I'm not sure, I don't know if we are gonna see the Bruins back up there straight away for next season.

Matt:

I'll move on to the, the pres then. So the last five years, they've only missed out in the 20 22, 23 season. This now their second time in six years, but they haven't gone deep for a while. I think the last time they went deep was, I think they beat your boys on the way to the Stanley Cup final, didn't they? And then they lost to the Penguins in 2017. I think the Preds are kind of one of those teams now. I think they're potentially on a bit of a downturn. They've failed to make any significant trades over the deadline. I. not really a team that I see on the up at the moment. they made some questionable decisions throughout the whole season. They used 14 different defensemen throughout the whole season, which is up on nine last season. Like something's clearly not right there for them to be sort of burning through that many defensemen. If it's not working, you know, you've gotta find something. You can't just keep rotating. That just seems crazy to me using that many players And then you've got key players that haven't performed. Steve Stamkos going on a 13 game drought without scoring, which. You know, you can't afford to have, can you?

Tom:

Yeah, I think you're right. I think when you bring in a player like Steven Stamkos, who is Meant to be that premier signing in the off season obviously had such great success as the captain of the Lightning one back to back Stanley Cup. He's one of the all time top scorers there. You expect him to come in and do well and he just hasn't hit the hypes like he did at the Lightning. Now, whether that's he never really wanted the move and it just didn't work out with Tampa Bay and or maybe it's just that Nashville isn't quite the right fit for him over there. We are not sure, but that he might turn around and have a great season next year, but something just hasn't quite gone Right for the predators this year. Like you mentioned, they've burnt through 14 defensemen played already, which like you said are up on up by five from last year, from nine. You need a solid decor, and that comes from consistency. And people can't improve if they're not playing regularly.

Matt:

regularly.

Tom:

need to find one that works and stick to it,

Matt:

to

Tom:

only make changes when you have to. Now, I'm not saying injuries don't happen, but I think if you can avoid chopping and changing the lineup

Matt:

mind constantly

Tom:

then you're gonna find yourself a bit more success. But look, I had the pres down as

Matt:

down

Tom:

if can get it right next year.

Matt:

next

Tom:

And find the right balance in the lines and keep that consistency up. I still have them down as a potential to make the playoffs again next year. I think this was a bit of a freak season. It didn't quite go right, but I think if they can get it right next season, like you said, this is only the second time in six years they've missed out. So I can see them getting it right next year and potentially being back up there to make the playoffs.'cause I think on paper they've got just as good of a side, if not a better side than the likes of

Matt:

the

Tom:

the wild and the blues who are obviously at the moment. In pole position to make those wild card places.

Matt:

Then finally we've got the Penguins. So since being purchased by the Fenway Sports Group, this is now their third consecutive season missing out on playoffs. This is their longest drought since the 2002, 2006 era where they never made the playoffs. I think this season they've had a large number of injuries, I think Novak, Massino. And Pierre Oliver Joseph have all been injured. For prolonged periods this season. the issues with the penguins are, I think they've got the second oldest team in the league. The last two GMs have made some really questionable decisions. I think they've tried to build the team around Sydney Crosby, milking and La Tang. But the problem that you've got there is that of your cap space on those three players. You've got three really good players and then you're pad in not so great players around them. And I think with the calls that they've made, they've traded away some draft picks, they've traded away some really decent prospects., But I think the issue that they've got this year and going into the future is that since 2017. They've had 42 draft picks and only five of those have actually played for the pens. So there's some real questions around whether or not the penguins can turn this around, and make, headway the next couple of years and get back into playoff contention at the moment with this, with the decisions that have been made the gm, I, I don't see it, mate.

Tom:

That is. Yeah, I did not know that. That is a really damaged statistic. Five of 42. I mean, I know that can happen when you're a successful side. Obviously you make your picks and you trade them away.

Matt:

them away,

Tom:

I. To kind of bolster the squad up to go on deep runs in the playoffs. And I look, the penguins have been successful for the last 20 years. There's no getting away from that, but we are coming to the end of that era now. And like I said, it's really, it's only Crosby that's still kind of producing a, a high end level. And there was talks around the fact that he might even potentially be getting moved on. There was a lot of teams interested in sniffing around him this season that he's come out and said he wants to be a penguin for life. Whether it finishes like that, you just don't know. I think that burning desire in him to win. Might push through and maybe not even, it might not even come down to Sydney Crosby. I think the Penguins, like you mentioned there, have had such poor luck with the draft and not having them play for them. I think it might come to a point where Sydney Crosby's shipped around by the penguins or shopped around, should I say? Sorry, to a point where, look, if a club comes back and offers them a couple of first round picks and.

Matt:

hits

Tom:

A decent death player or a couple of decent death players to add to the squad, then I, I'm not sure if the penguins say no, I think they'd be uproar in Pittsburgh if that, if that happens. But yeah, he's, um, I think there's, I think there's a, there's a big chance that that potentially happens, so, yeah. We'll, um. Yeah, we'll have to wait and see. But like I said, I think the penguins are, are a weird side and I, you just don't know what you're getting geared to you from them. But yeah, I, I don't have them, I don't have them making the playoffs again next year if I was to predict it now.

Matt:

Yeah, and I agree mate. I think Sby, we've got two years left. I think his contract expires at the end of 26, 27, so, and I don't see him signing an extension then either. So potentially they're not gonna wanna lose him, are they? In free agency, they're gonna wanna try and do something. So there's a potential move there. There's a potential. And if I was him, you know, looking at the stats, looking at the way that the team's been managed, I'd be looking to move on. If I was still wanting to play at that high level and, and keep pushing myself, the other teams that didn't make it, then. So you've got the ducks, which is their seventh straight year of not making it. You've got the Kraken who obviously only joined the league in 2021. only made it once, so this is their third out four seasons. Failing to make it the Black Hawks who you mentioned earlier, this is their fifth straight year of not making it. The Sharks, their sixth straight year of not making it. And then the Philadelphia Flyers their fifth straight year of not making it. So I think. the minute you can really see there's starting to be a little bit of a divide where you've got that core sort of teams that don't make it Europe. On Europe on year, you've got those teams that kind of are in and out, you know, the, the penguins, the predators, hopefully not the Bruins.'cause you wouldn't wanna see them kind of yoyo. You wanna see them at the top. You know, I wanna see the penguins back there, but I just don't see it for a while. The pres, I think, they'll be on a little bit of a downturn now. And I think they'll miss out next year. But don't see any of the teams who've just mentioned the flyers, the sharks, the black horse, the crack, and all the ducks. I don't see them making it either. I think that Gulf between the top teams and those kind of is, is increasing, if anything. So do you see any of those making other, you know, I think the Blackhawks, I think you said potentially, but do you see any of those having a push next year?

Tom:

No, it definitely, I think a lot of those, I think like you said, there is just a gulf at the moment between the teams that are in there every year, or at least competing to be in there every year. And like you mentioned, ducks, Blackhawk sharks, 7, 6, 5 straight years, the flyers, five years without playoffs for a team that were always kind of in and around it and competing for a lot of the two thousands, 2000 and tens. So there's, I think it's gonna be hard for those teams to get back in there. I think teams like the Sharks and the Blackhawks have got a very good

Matt:

good

Tom:

core of young players,

Matt:

players.

Tom:

which I think if they can keep hold of, give them a chance in the next few years to maybe climb back up. But like we said, I think it's gonna be hard for them to, uh, definitely for next year to kind of close the gap. The ducks have closed it a little bit more this year. They've been a little bit more competitive this year, but

Matt:

year

Tom:

look, in the end, kind of fallen short

Matt:

Sure

Tom:

of where they needed to be.

Matt:

be.

Tom:

Oh, it's a difficult one because I think the teams, you kind of gotta look at it when it gets to that trade deadline point and go, are we in with the shout of playoffs? Do we go for this?

Matt:

for

Tom:

Or do we sell out a little bit like what the Bruins have done and go for that draft pick to make sure that we're

Matt:

that

Tom:

kind of retooling for next year. So

Matt:

year. So

Tom:

I think I agree with you, Matt. I, I just don't see a lot of those teams, if any of them

Matt:

of

Tom:

even really being within playoff contention. I think the only one that I think.

Matt:

think the only one that I think

Tom:

From the west. Anyway. That

Matt:

anyway.

Tom:

hazard chances. I think if the pres get it right,

Matt:

right.

Tom:

they have a chance. But I think other than that, I'm not really sure I see any of the others being able to, being able to compete up there.

Matt:

Next week we'll have a look at the teams that have it. Then everything should be confirmed by the time that we, record next week. Season ends in, I think eight days, nine days. So everything should be confirmed by then. So we'll look at all of those teams and we'll preview the, Stanley Cup finals mate, which you're definitely gonna have an eye on as the AVEs are well in there. We'll move over to the baseball, then the MLB. Sort of entering week two. There's been some great games. You've got a couple of contract updates, haven't you, for us, before we move into your Stars of the week.

Tom:

Yeah, so there's been a couple

Matt:

there's been

Tom:

of free agency sign-ins, um, that have kind of gone on, um, which have been a little bit surprising as well, just kind of seeing how, sort of seeing how early they've kind of come around. I mean, one of them, anyway, I.

Matt:

them

Tom:

Christian Campbell has signed an extension with a Red Sox, so he signed an eight year rumor to be around 60,$65 million extension with a sox. So kind of taking that money early. The Sox. Gambling on him to be an absolute superstar, which I think from the looks of it already,

Matt:

bit

Tom:

he definitely could be. I think in his early season he's hit 360 4 with two home runs, five runs bat in, and he stole a base. He's got an OPS of 1.143, which is right up there with the best in the league at the moment. So

Matt:

moment?

Tom:

he looks like an absolute stud coming out the gate.

Matt:

out the gate

Tom:

Very early doors.

Matt:

early

Tom:

And at risk from the Red Sox because when they're that young and it could just be very much that he's having a fantastic rookie season riding his confidence. Could have a bit of a sophomores, slunk could go down. But look, I think the Red Sox have been quite shrewd with their prospects this year. I think they know they've got a good bunch on their hands and

Matt:

they,

Tom:

I think Christian Campbell does look a little bit different. And

Matt:

different.

Tom:

I, we kind of mentioned Jason Dominguez.

Matt:

Dominguez

Tom:

That's kind of like a, maybe a rival for Rookie of the Year. I think at the moment it doesn't really look like much competition. I think Christian Campbell looks like he's gonna run away with that, with that award if he carries on the way he's going. But yeah, he signed a, a big extension, Catel marta, as well. For the DACs, he signed a six year,$160 million extension. So the DBAs locking up their star man for the next six years. I mean, Cattel, Marta

Matt:

Mar

Tom:

has kind of gone from being.

Matt:

Point being,

Tom:

Not necessarily a bit part player, but from sort of being a player that

Matt:

player

Tom:

didn't really know what you were kind of getting in Seattle to 2019, hit 32 home runs, drove in 92, and then just didn't really happen for him again, those kind of power numbers until.

Matt:

until.

Tom:

of like last year where he would've sudden breaks out again, becomes one of the, the premier players in, in the league. The best second baseman, according to both of us as well

Matt:

us as

Tom:

in the league, I think he hit 36 bombs last year, drove in 95. He bat 2 92, I think he came third. He came second or third in the MVP race in the National League. So

Matt:

you

Tom:

they've signed up, they've signed their star to, to a long term deal and

Matt:

term

Tom:

fair play of Kateel. Marta, like I said, he's turned himself into an absolute stud, so very much deserving of so. And the last kind of, and probably the biggest update in baseball that we've had and kind of leads us onto our winners is that very surprisingly, in my opinion, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Has resigned with the Blue Jays, so

Matt:

So

Tom:

deal for Vlad there. So he signs on a 15 year,

Matt:

year,

Tom:

uh, sorry, 14 year,$500 million extension, basically makes him a blue jay for the rest of his life. Um, to a massive win for the Blue Jays there.

Matt:

dog.

Tom:

I think not a lot of people saw it coming because I think a lot of people thought he was gonna hit free agency. And every interview he did, he said, I'm gonna talk to every team. I'm going to

Matt:

to

Tom:

explore the market. And he was talking, if I have a good season, a Soto like season, then I'm gonna be pushing for 700 million. So. Bit surprising to see Vlad kind of, I wouldn't say sell out, but kind of agree to a deal this early on at 500 mil. But look, he got paid, he got the deal he obviously wanted, and he's staying with the Blue Jays.

Matt:

Yeah. Very good deal for the Blue Jays that I was very surprised when I started to see news sort of trickle in that something was happening. I genuinely believe that he was going for free agency next season, and I thought he was gonna try and get. Bigger money than that. So very surprising, very good deal for the Blue Jays. And they're going all right at the minute, you know, it's still early doors, but they're, they're sort of keep in touch with, uh, Yankees, aren't they? So. It's gonna be an interesting, interesting division.'cause the last couple of weeks, sorry, the last couple of days, the Yankees haven't performed so well and the Blue Jays are doing all right. So it's gonna be, a competitive division, that one. let's go into your, your three stars then, mate.

Tom:

Well, I'll kick started with a blue chase because

Matt:

Jays,

Tom:

I do think that,

Matt:

don't think that,

Tom:

for me, I just think that signing for them is a brilliant deal. Getting in for 500 million over sort of 14 years. I.

Matt:

14

Tom:

Works out nicely for them. If he performs to the level that he performed last year, where again, he was one of the best players in the game,

Matt:

of the

Tom:

then you've got yourself an absolute star for the next 14 years.

Matt:

is,

Tom:

makes him, like I said, makes him a blue jay for life. He could become their best ever player. So I think just based on that and the fact that

Matt:

that and the

Tom:

they're not playing too badly, they're keeping pace in the ales to start the season, I think that makes them a winner for me. I think the other,, teams that I wanted to look at, I mean, I couldn't just separate one and I know you dug me out for saying the Dodgers

Matt:

Andrs.

Tom:

saying the Dodgers last week.

Matt:

week,

Tom:

but look, the Dodgers, the Giants and the Padres have started the season absolutely on fire. I mean, all their offenses are playing very well. The defensive side of the game, especially for the Padres and the Giants, the pitching has been. Phenomena one. He 32 runs against Padre's, currently top the division nine and two, you've got the Giants eight and two and the Dodgers nine and three. They just lost a couple to the fields, but before that one, nine and one to start the season,

Matt:

This,

Tom:

that NL West

Matt:

West

Tom:

is gonna be an absolute bloodbath this year. And

Matt:

this

Tom:

that's on the basis as well that look, the Diamondbacks have kind of started

Matt:

start

Tom:

a bit hit and miss playing sort of 500 ball.

Matt:

million.

Tom:

gonna be well in and amongst it as well. So that NL West is gonna be a great watch this year. We did kind of mention when we talked about free agent sign-ins, we both touched on the fact that we think that it will be the,

Matt:

that it'll be

Tom:

the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers, the Padres, kind of the top three teams in that year. But we did say look out for the Giants because they've made some good moves Will ya? Dama Justin Verlander. They've made some sneaky good moves in the off season and they've started the season really well, so.

Matt:

well. But

Tom:

style for me, of the week goes to those three teams there

Matt:

there

Tom:

and it, and to kind of round it off,

Matt:

it

Tom:

can't talk about teams that have started well without mentioning the Cubs 84 runs, scored for, to start the season only. I think they better every single other team. I think the next best team is the Yankees. With 78. So the Cubs have started absolutely on fire. Kyle Tucker is mashing the baseball at the moment for them. Looks like that was a very shrewd move to pick him up in the off season. Five home runs to start the year

Matt:

the year.

Tom:

in 16 Again, think only judges has driven him more. So

Matt:

So

Tom:

I think it's one of those where you look at the Cubs offensively, they're firing. The pitching rotation is good for the Cubs this year. If they can get that locked down, I think show to a manger and Justin still is a great one-two punch. So if they can get those two

Matt:

two

Tom:

playing, how they did last year. The Cubs are gonna be a threat this year, and I think they are, I think I mentioned it last week. They're my favorites to win the central. And I think they've started exactly exactly how I expected'em to. And if it continues, they're gonna be, they're gonna be a threat.

Matt:

Yeah, a couple of those things have caught my eye this, this week as well, mate, NL West, what a division that's turning out to be like, it's so close. Hopefully, you know, we, we see this battle continue all the way through, but the, the Cubs mate. 28 plus 28, run differential heist in the whole league. They're playing so well. They played really well against the, the Dodgers in the opening series over in Japan. Just obviously unfortunately took on the Dodgers, but I think people were looking at them from the first two games. Well, they, they're gonna be a decent team and, you know, they're, they're sort of, their record at the moment shows that they're, they're doing really well, mate. They've only lost. Five of their opening. 12, the top in the division. But yeah, definitely catching my eye at the moment. We'll go into my pels then, mate. Your, your favorite bit. Get to hear me have a rant. Athletics. Wow. How poor have they started the season? Oh and three at home with a four and six record overall with a minus 21 run differential. Add to that, that there's rumors that they're potentially looking to move the team out to Las Vegas as well. not a great week to be an athletics fan. they're just, I dunno what's going on mate? They're just very, very poor over across the board. mean, if you're gonna start looking at moving the team, you don't really wanna be advertising that fact just as a new season's starting.'cause the fans are just gonna what's the point? And they're gonna stay away as well. And they can't win at home. So not a great start for the, the athletics. They got swept by the Cubs as well this week. but yeah, not a great week for them. Next sort of team I wanna look at is the, the Rockies. Possibly one of the most pointless MLB teams in the league mate. They have a two and seven record overall at the moment. They are destined to finish the season bottom of the division again. I think they're only highlighting the first two weeks is the fact that they beat athletics 12 five, but everyone beats the athletics, so nothing really sort of like outstanding from the Rockies either mate. Although I think they've recorded the first triple play of the season at some point this week, so there's a minor highlight for you if you want one. Um, and then moving on to the Chicago White Sox. Currently have a two and seven record. Overall, they're in the middle of a five game losing streak. It's 2024 all over again for them, I think. They recorded 121 losses last season, and won the season before. the way they're going, it'll be over a hundred again. What an embarrassment. Um, you really afford to have three straight 100 loss seasons? Probably not. I mean, all three of those teams might need to give their heads a wobble. Absolutely appalling, you know, nearly two weeks in. Yeah. And, and not one of them has got to five wins. So yeah, an embarrassment to baseball. They need to sort themselves out, mate.

Tom:

Well, you took Matt's pels to a whole new level this week. I love it. Trying very hard not to, not to laugh at some of those. You, you kicking a few of them while they're down. I, I think, I think, I think the, the White Sox and the, and the Rockies fans, I think they know that they're bad. I. Yeah. I, I think to kick those guys while they're down could have been a bit more creative. But I can't disagree with anything you've said. They are really poor and they're both facing very, very high loss seasons. The White Sox, like you said, are maybe on course for three straight hundred loss seasons, which is Yeah. Pretty unheard of. Um, I think one thing that I think I wanted to, uh, touch on, and I, I didn't know if you were gonna mention, um. A couple of things. I first one was, and again, I don't like to go back to it because of my love for like one of their players, but I think one of my things that I touched on and looked at was the pirates. I mean their, I mean we, the Yankees played them in their home opening series. The team got booed as it entered the field. Their coach was excessively booed as he entered the field for their like home opener. And the chance of sell, the team will ring him round the stadium, come the second or third inning. Um. I think look, that just goes through, I think there was a stat that come up on Yes Network where they haven't signed a player to a multiple year deal from free agency since 2016, which is just mental.

Matt:

mental.

Tom:

sure the player was I Van Nova, who they signed from the Yankees who, who was our picture back in the day. So,

Matt:

day.

Tom:

uh, that just goes to show like, if you remember that name. From years ago. Like that's how long it's been since the Tigers, sorry, since the Pirates signed a player on a multi-year extension from free agency. So not happy with the way they're handling it when you've got a player like Paul Skees to build your team around. And I think the pirates are, are letting the, letting the GM know that. And to be honest with you, the other thing as well that I did look at and I've not been happy with and, but like I said, we mentioned before, like we're kind of doing this live while games are going on, the Yankees are currently.

Matt:

are

Tom:

Down five. Nothing to the Tigers. So offense hit a little bit of a wobble the last couple games, but I just did want to touch the Yankees. Pitching is just something that I wanted to touch on and starting pitching, max Fried has started. Okay, but everyone else at the moment, I mean, Carlos rode on, he had good stuff yesterday in the loss to the Tigers, but still gives up six home runs. Carlos Carrasco today allowed three home runs, including back to back Jacks.

Matt:

to

Tom:

In, in the inning to the tigers. He goes off the mound with four round runs against his name Will. Warren, again started really well in

Matt:

going.

Tom:

the pirates and ends up going to have just a bad inning. And the Yankees pitching rotation at the moment is a real concern for me, and I think that deserves a, a slight

Matt:

a

Tom:

ter because

Matt:

because

Tom:

maybe not necessarily the Yankees rotation itself because they can't help the quality of player that they are. But if Brian Cashman isn't looking at that

Matt:

looking

Tom:

and saying. Gar, no. Garrett Cole Lewis Hill Injured. Clark Schmidt injured. I know Clark Schmidt's due to come back, but if they're looking at this and saying this is not a concern to start the season,

Matt:

suit.

Tom:

the Yankees are gonna swiftly find themselves

Matt:

themselves

Tom:

a hole that might be hard to recover from Slightly like the 2023 season where the offense,

Matt:

where the offense,

Tom:

if it was on, it was on.

Matt:

was

Tom:

But when it wasn't on, it was very bad. And.

Matt:

very pattern and

Tom:

The pitching just wasn't there and

Matt:

there.

Tom:

win the this division in the ales with it being this competitive without good pitching, which is what the Yankees got last year. So

Matt:

so

Tom:

need to do something on it. Whether Clark Schmidt coming back will help bolster that, whether there's anyone in the miners, they can bring up, some of the young players they can use. I think they obviously like Will Warren,

Matt:

like Will Warren,

Tom:

it'd be interesting to see how he gets on in his start with Clark Schmidt coming back. I think neither him or Carrasco.

Matt:

from

Tom:

Did themselves any favors to holding down a rotational spot for, for that when, when, uh, Clark Schmitz, sorry, comes back. So, yeah, a couple things there. Like I said, I think I completely agree with you on the others. Like I said, I think you're kicking the teams when they're down a little bit.

Matt:

a little bit of

Tom:

The athletics as well,

Matt:

as

Tom:

not playing at a home ballpark, like the Rays playing in the minor league stadium till

Matt:

until

Tom:

is sorted. Whether that is a move to Vegas, which is looking more and more likely so. Maybe a little bit of justification behind them, not playing too well at home. But yeah, I think those things as well, the pirates and the Yankees rotation is just something to watch out for, I think. I think those things are, are definitely not looking great for, for the teams. I.

Matt:

Yeah, I think we always knew that the, there was gonna be an issue with pitching once it was announced that Carlos Hill was injured, and Gary Cole was out for the whole season. I think were, we, we flip flopped a little bit. We were like, yeah, they're, they're gonna be all right. Oh, actually, no, they're not. And I think the last two games against the Tigers have really shown that. We are gonna struggle if we don't do something sooner rather than later, because this isn't a division that you can afford to be chasing in. you know, the Red Sox have turned a corner. They're, they're performing. they've got the work out, the Yankees, they've gotta do something. I, I hope Cashman, I think by the end of, I say I think the end of May if we're, if we are behind. I think it's gonna be season over. If I'm, if I'm being honest you that early, by the end of May, if we are behind both the socks and potentially the, the Blue Jays and the Orioles, you can never count them out. You know, if we're behind those two, three teams we're done this season, know it could be that early. The pirates. I think I, I didn't hear the booing. But I know that they've, they've not been playing well the last sort of two, three seasons. They've been sort of down there. Obviously Skiing's had a great year last year, and you, you absolutely love. Any reason to talk about him. So I expected you to bring up the, the pirates, you know, for sort of not protecting him and not winning games for him. So, you know, I expected that, but as I say, you know, they're a, they're a big city, aren't they? They expect, so. Giving the GM stick for for not performing. Absolutely. I, I agree with it. You know, you, you pay your money as a fan. You want to see your team do well and you can't build a team around one picture, one play. It's just not possible. So yeah, we'll add that to my pels as well, mate. I might go in harder next week. We'll, we'll see. We'll look quickly ahead to next week then. So. We'll have my pels next week and your top three stars. And we're gonna preview, the run to the Stanley Cup next week. And then if there's any chatter around the NFL involving the draft, which we'll be soon, we'll be looking at that as well, won't we, mate?

Tom:

Definitely. I think guys, as you've kind of noticed with the, a bit of the theme here, we will do a Stanley Cup playoff special within the next couple of weeks. Once it's all kind of confirmed who's in, who's playing, who, I think me and Matty will do our, our Stanley Cup playoff preview. We'll look at. Who the likely favorites are who could make, who could be a bit of a dark horse, potential top scorers and have a little bit of fun with by doing our own playoff bracket. And of course, kind of bringing all the news around the baseball and the NFL as well. Guys, not much to bring you on the NFL this week. It's the lead up to the draft at the end of the month. So a lot of the news coming through at the moment, it's just like PLTs and. Media people doing their mock drafts, which again, me and Matt will bring maybe our own mock drafts to you guys in the next couple of weeks before draft days. So yeah, Matty, that wraps up a another week.

Matt:

I suppose it's gone really quick. Hope you have a lovely week. Keep in touch, keep firing across all of the bits and pieces that you get on the MLB mate and the, the hockey. And I look forward to, following the AAVs. That'll be my, sort of adopted team for the playoffs as the Rangers are probably mathematically out of it now. So, yeah, I look forward to that. Have a great week, mate, and I'll speak to you soon.

Tom:

You too, mate. All the best.

Matt:

That does it for another episode of Triple Play uk. I've been your host, Matt, along with 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.