Triple Play UK
UK based podcast discussing NFL, NHL & MLB.
Matt & Tom talk about their love of sports and all the hot topics from around the leagues.
Triple Play UK
MLB UMPIRES NEED HELP, JUAN SOTO MISSING THE YANKEES & WILL THE CURSE STRIKE AGAIN?
We discuss our stars and under performers in the MLB - Is Aaron Judge the greatest player to ever play baseball?
The NHL play-off first round is underway, the west is extremely close & We review the NFL draft.
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. This week we're bringing you a roundup of the MLB and the current standings as we are almost 20% through the season already. We're gonna go over to the NHL and check in on the Stanley Cup playoffs and with the NFL draft taking place. Last weekend, we're gonna look at the top 10 picks and the big story that came out of the draft quite a bit to get through. Tommy, tired from watching all the hockey. How, how have you found this week?
Tom:Tired, depressed. The only thing that's keeping, keeping a smile on my face at the moment is the fact that it is over in the UK right now, in the mid twenties, very sunny. It's been, it's lovely out there. Other than that, not really a lot to be, to be smiling about, to be, truth be told mate. I'm tired from watching the games. I've got plenty to talk about. On the on the Astar series, which we will be going over. In the NHL review, but no, look, to be fair, the playoffs have started fast and furious. There's been some, there's some really good series going on, especially over in the West, like you said, to make 20% through the season already for baseball, it doesn't feel that long ago we were doing a, a preview to start the season and making our predictions and we're already 20% in and yeah, felt like it was, we were waiting for it for ages, but the draft has finally happened. Little bit of drama coming out of it. I think there was a few storylines that were just not expected, especially around the Cleveland Browns. So yeah, lots to go through. My friend kind of kicking off with the baseball 20% through how's, how are you feeling about the season so far?
Matt:It's been really good, mate. You know, there's been some really good matchups. There's been some really great plays. some players have overperformed, some teams have Overperformed. you know, of players have struggled, which we didn't see. So been good. There's been a lot going on this last couple of weeks. Some really good teams sort of really sort of standing out now. Yankees obviously leading their division, had their struggles, but they've had some, some not so known players from seasons gone by. Sort of really step up. So as the Yankees fan. I'm still a little bit nervous to see what the rest of the season can bring, but we're, we're moving along nicely. We've got a few issues, namely Williams his inability to close out a game. But after game one, we, we were sort of a little nervous, weren't we? Because he nearly threw away the whole and he's done it a few times now and I think he's formally been removed as the closer, so a bit of a worry there. Max Reed though, been on fire, he's doing really, really well. Ben Rice playing really well. Aaron Judge is Unbelievable. Moving along nicely. I wouldn't say we're world series bound, but it'd be nice. But yeah, we're playing, we're playing a Okay, mate. I'm, I'm enjoying, I'm enjoying baseball season so far from a Yankee's point of view.
Tom:Yeah, I think that's, I think that's pretty fair to say. I think there's been a few players, like you mentioned, that have kind of overperformed obviously just talking about the Yankees. Obviously we follow it a little bit closer as fans like Trent Grisham and Ben Rice have been unreal. No, I don't think anyone really saw that coming. I mean, both of them had really good. Spring trainings and wasn't really expecting it to carry through. But they have done, like I said, there's been a few players struggling. The Devon Williams issue is obviously there for everyone to see, but like you said, formally removed for the time being from the closer role to kind of get some outs under his belt, get the confidence back up and look kind of moving away from the Yankees as well. There's been some, some surprise packages in the sort of across the league. I mean, the Tiger's going really well, 18 and 11 best record in the American League. They, they've started really well. They mean the pitching was always gonna be there for them and it seems to have sort of carried through into this year. Seattle started the season well the Angels are doing their, doing their usual, they're very hit or miss sort of 12 and 15 which again, some games they look unbelievable. Some games they look terrible. The athletics doing a little bit better than I think people thought. So sort of only a game and a half of Seattle for sort of first place. And in, in the NL I think look. The teams that are doing well, everyone kind of expected to do well. I mean, the NL West is just an absolute bloodbath over there that that division, that division I think is kind of shaping up to be how every, I think people predicted the East in the National League to be.
Matt:In the NL West. Can I just say what an absolute division? but the rocky suck. Just wanna throw that out there. I.
Tom:Yeah, I was, I was gonna say, I think the Rockies, obviously, they're the only team in it that I think obviously are not very good. I mean, four wins and 24 losses to start the season. Look, I think we're gonna go into our kind of like three stars and three pelts for the month of May so far. Think it's the NL West has shaped up to be what I think people thought the NL East was gonna end up being, which at the moment the Mets are kind of running away with. But again, I'll go into that in a little bit more detail shortly. But yeah, the Phillies and the Braves not starting as well as I think people thought they would've done. But look, we're very early, very early doors and it's, there's a long way to go. So, Matt, do you wanna, do you want to kick us off? We'll start with some pelers this week. I think we started with the stars last time. So let's start with Matt's pelters to start the month. We'll start on the, on the negative note, and then I'll I'll bring, I'll bring some positivity to the season.'cause I know a few people are gonna be absolutely slated to start this off. So go on. Matty, who are your three pillars for the month of May?
Matt:I've had my little pop at the Rockies now, so I'm not gonna bring them into it again. I've already had a pop at the White Sox. They're safe for now. My, my Pel is one of them. I've already sort of like raised previously, but, and this is probably gonna surprise you mate, but my one, my one main one is Aaron Boone coach Yankees going well me. Aaron Boone, he had his 40th career ejection I think just over a week ago. So during the Yankees four N win over the rays, there were some questionable calls. You and I discussed, one in particular at length. so Aaron Judge hit a home run down the left field line. At Steinbrenner Field, the the poles are only, I think about 30 feet. They're not like the 90 foot ones at Yankee Stadium. So, you know, from a, from an umpire's point of view, they looked, it's called it out. TV replay showed it was in, and it was, it was in by some, some distance. so an appeal. the umpires said, no, it's still out. A couple of moments later, Aaron Judge struck out and it was a borderline third strike. He was just inside the zone, boom, lost his head. He left the dugout. He started pointing towards the one of the umpires, which completely lost his head. And then he went after the Third base umpire. So. I get this passion and I get as a coach, you want, you wanna win, you know, you win some, you lose some. And I've got some more details on rest of it, but just think the reactions and the overreactions and the general behavior sometimes doesn't give out a good It might be great, you know, for, for fans watching, oh, Aaron's gonna lose his head. But a professional stance and when you've got kids playing little league it's not a great advertisement for the game. And I think, you know, you should remain level-headed professional. I dunno if you have an opinion on, on his reactions or the behavior or my stance on it.
Tom:Yeah. Be, to be completely honest with you, I, I'm in a completely different ballpark to you. I, I'm completely on the other side of the fence. I love the fact that he's passionate. I mean, look, 40 objections is a lot, but I think the problem you find in baseball is. This is not like a NFL or an English football where the referees will be called out after the game or the umpires in this case called out after the game and they can be removed off of certain games and so on and so forth. And it's a case where they make a decision and then they have video technology that reviews it and the referees will then go, actually, I've made a mistake that get'em outta jail. I mean, they obviously have got video technology in baseball, which they don't use particularly often. I mean, the fact that they had replays of this, I can understand why Boone was so angry. Because it was a clear home run and the fact that they had reviews of it and then didn't give the home run call, as well as the fact that the umpiring in the game had been on the whole, pretty terrible, to be honest with you, which it has been for a lot of the season. And I think there's been a lot of talk. About getting getting the technology back in so that we can so obviously to help the umpires out with the balls and strikes. But no, look, I'm, I'm on the other side of the fence to you. I, I, I like the fact that he comes out, he has to come out because I think with baseball, like I was trying to get at, there is baseball's one of those sports where over nine innings, if the umpires are giving bad calls, you have to let them know you look. There's a way of doing it and there's ways of doing it without getting yourself thrown out of every game because you need your coach on the bench and you need your senior players on the bench. But when calls are consistently bad, you have to let the umpires know. So I have no problem with Aaron Boone getting themself thrown out in that scenario for up for nothing. It was a terrible call that umpiring had been poor game, and I think sometimes that he does maybe overstep the mark. But a lot of the times when you see how, I mean, you are the first one to comment on how bad umpiring is in the league at the moment, and I think umpiring and refereeing as a whole is gonna be a little bit of a subject. For obviously baseball. When we touch on the hockey later. I know there's been a lot of discourse around sort of refereeing in general in, in the playoffs so far, and I certainly have got a few things to say on that. But look, just kind of sticking with the, with the baseball look, to be honest, I completely get Aaron per coming out and making a big deal out of it because he has to, and he has to let the umpires know that they're making bad calls because it, it gets to a point where you're not letting'em know and the umpires continue to make the poor calls. It is gonna end up costing teams wins and that obviously affects their standings within the season and ability to make playoffs. So yeah, look, I, I get what you're saying about kids watching and people then kind of coming out and like setting a bad example, but I, I think unfortunately until we get better technology in the game and we give the umpires more help, then there's nothing that more that can be done besides kind of coming out and the managers letting the umpires know that, no, you are making poor decisions there.
Matt:So my second TER this week does go towards. The MLB umpires, so get, know, they have a job to do. I just think, obviously from an Aaron Boone point of view, you should tone it down a little bit. There's gotta be ways and means of doing things. Obviously the league needs to look at how they support the umpires. So over the last sort of couple of weeks, been looking into some of the stuff and I've found a, a great page on x. So it's umpire, auditor, and this particular page all of the, the bad sort of like calls. So some of the numbers, and some of the calls recently have been awful. At the moment, worst high for missed calls is 25 in one game, which is unreal. I think the average. We were talking about a couple of weeks ago, I think the average was 14 in a game. So to get 25, I mean, don't get me wrong, there's some great, they've had like one, maybe two sort of missed calls in a game. I think there's been a couple that have been close to a perfect game this, this last couple of weeks. to miss 25, I think the second nearest, that's 22 in a game. And then when you look at it, there's the such unreal, there was a game a couple of weeks ago, a pitch was missed, sorry, a strikeout pitch missed by 6.78 inches outside of the box and it was called as a strike. And it's just how do you miss, that's not a small amount. just some of the calls and to have those numbers. and it's week in, week out. there's one from the Cardinals game a few days ago the Braves were playing, the Cardinals 19 calls in the game were missed. 14 of them went against the Cardinals. The game was tied through seven innings, and then the Cardinals lost by three, but they had 14 calls against them, you know, and, and these games, they're not even when calls are being missed, the, the games are weighted towards one's team towards one team. So whether or not the umpires are doing it subconsciously, intentionally, the league from an MLB League stance, they need to do something quickly because, you know, the, the average is going up at the moment. The average was 14, I think that gave us, what, 35,000 missed calls. So potentially next season it's gonna be far higher. And they've got the a BS system, which they tested in spring training, and there was little to no negativity that came out of it. So from a, from a Lee point of view, they need to help the umpires out from my point of view, and that that's my, you know, I'm, I've gone soft on them, but something that needs looking at.
Tom:Yeah, I completely agree. I think, I don't understand why a BS isn't in place. It worked in spring training, it worked in the minor leagues last year. It actually increased its effectiveness during spring training when the major league teams were using it. So I don't understand why it's not been brought in. Like, like you said, to have 25 missed calls in a game is really poor. That website or that page you mentioned about, I've seen a couple of posts from them and it shows like how many runs that the other team actually ends up benefiting from as well. And there are some games where teams have benefited one over one run. Extra in a game, which in the close games, like how, how can the league sit there and see that and say, see a team benefiting by, like, by more than a run in a game because of missed or, or bad calls. It just can't happen. So I, I agree mate. I think the umpires have been terrible, but I do also think they need help. And I think this is where the league also needs to be looked at and go, you've got a really good system in a BS there, which is tried and tested and works. Bring it in. Don't sit there now, get off the fence. Don't sit there now and go, well, it's too late now. We've already started. You're only a month into the season. No team is gonna sit there and complain if right here, right now, MLB Commission has said the, the level of umpiring is, is suffering. At the moment we thought this wouldn't be a problem with Angel Fernandez out the league, but it clearly it's getting worse. So we need, they need to sit there and go, look, the level of umpiring is, is struggling instead of. Allowing these guys who work for Major League Baseball to be slated and slated, sorry, and slandered and managers calling them out, players calling them out, and fans giving them abuse on social media and in the ballparks, give them help put a b, s in play. Now no one will complain, and I guarantee the level of missed, missed calls will go down because they know that they can then call the game with no kind of, what's the word? There's no sort of like pressure on them to get it wrong because they know if they get it wrong, the player's can appeal and it get corrected anyway, so we saw it work in spring training. I, I, I can't, I just can't get my head around why they haven't put it in play, but I think there's still time to do it.
Matt:Yeah, they need to do something to be honest.'cause it's frustrating when you see all these missed calls and obviously teams getting benefit from it. My final pillar this week, and again, I'm not gonna go too hard, you know, and I know people are gonna go, oh, you hate the guy one Soto needs to do better. So just over a week ago he had his worst, probably his worst ever game. He went, oh and five, three strikeouts in the game, then had an interview sort of almost directly after the game and somebody asked him, you know, what, what's, what's going on? And he came out in an interview and said, I'm being pitched to differently this year and I don't have the best hitter in the league behind me. I'm sorry. But you are being paid almost$800 million and aiming the pitchers who are pitching to you differently, which they're going to, also complain that you don't have Aaron Judge behind you. You keep bringing up Aaron Judge. The guy left the Yankees. The guy has gone to the Mets and you know, I don't, I the Mets. Obviously they're a city rival. They're doing really well. They're one of the best performing teams in the league so far. They still have single digit losses. They're plus 50 for runs a differential. He's got Pete Alonzo behind him who's doing really, really well and he's got Francisco Lindo in the batting order as well, who's doing really well. The, the team's performing well. So he needs to focus on his own game. You know, he needs to adapt. He's gonna be pitched too differently. He needs to be careful what he says in interviews because there have been Mets fans that have come out and already are saying, look, you chose the Mets. Over the Yankees. Stop reminiscing. Stop talking about the Yankees. Focus on the Mets. From a professional baseball stance, he needs to do exactly that. Focus on the team that you're on. Play your game. Put up, shut up. Job done.
Tom:Yeah, I think that's pretty fair. I think, like you said, the Mets are doing well and I, well they'll, I'm, I am gonna cover them off in one of my three stars for the month.'cause I think it'd be impossible not to. I, I agree. I think, I think as a met, if I was a Mets fan, I think it'd be, it wouldn't be necessarily the underperforming that would be frustrating me because that can happen and Oneso was one of the best players in the game. There's any, every chance that he turns round and for the month of May goes and smashes it and he's is stacked, put him up there with the league leaders and he ends up having a brilliant season and an MVP world season, which he still can do. Aaron Judge had a terrible April last year, and I'm not putting them on the same cap level, but Aaron Judge had a terrible April last year and ended up still having the best season by a right-handed batsman of all time. So it's, it can happen, but I think it's more the comments, like you said, where I think Mets fans will get frustrated because like you said, you don't play for the Yankees anymore, you have Pete Alonzo hitting behind you who's having a really good start to the season. You are gonna be pitched to differently. You had a phenomenal MVP worthy season last year and if you were playing in any other season that Aaron Judge didn't exist, you might have won the MVP. With the numbers you put up last year. So you are gonna be pitched to differently. You've just signed an$800 million contract, you are going to be pitched to differently. So yes, one, so, oh, it is gonna be a little bit harder this year because teams are gonna be far more focused on making sure they get you out and stopping you from getting on base because of the fact that you are the seen as the big bat in the lineup. And unless you don't want to be the big bat in the lineup, then you need to accept that you took the 800 million deal making you that man. If you wanted to be play second fiddle, which you didn't want to do you, it was very clear you didn't want to be be second fiddle to Aaron Judge then. And that's why you signed with the Mets and that's fine, good for you, you got your money, but go you now, you've gotta start going and performing and you can't keep bringing up the fact that judge isn't behind you and talking about the Yankees and this, that, and the other. You play for the Mets. So go and play for the Mets.
Matt:Fair point mate. Fair point. Your stars then mate, for the, for the month of April. Who have you got for us? I.
Tom:Well, we will keep in Queens because I think whilst Juan Soto hasn't been performing, the Mets are still, still performing really, really well. Best team in baseball right now certainly the best record 20 and nine, which is, I mean, look, I, I mean some, I mean obviously the Mets fans will say that it's not a surprise because it's where they wanted to be. I'm slightly surprised. More just purely because of the fact that they did have a couple of question marks coming into the season around the pitching rotation, which has actually been really, really good. Or see that 29 record is just ahead of the Dodgers and the Giants who were 19 and 10. And they've had really good performances. You mentioned them Francisco Lindo. Over his last seven games, he's hitting 4 0 7 with a 1.130 OPS. Pete Alonzo's been one of the best hitters in the league this year. He is at six home runs. He's driven in 27. He's hitting 3 37 average as well. So they're firing the rotation's. Been really solid considering they don't have Frankie Montas, who is their kind of number one guy. The, the rotation's been great. I think they've only conceded 87 runs to start the year as well, which is only bettered by the Padres who have conceded 83. So whilst the offense isn't firing on all cylinders, the Pitching's doing really well. They've got the best record in baseball and I mean, look, they blew their nationals out last night, so they're showing they can still score runs even without Juan Soto firing. And, but if that man gets back to, gets back to his best, which I think is very much a possibility. Then they're a scary proposition, the Mets and it makes that National league, especially as we head towards the end of the season, that is gonna be a very interesting playoff picture of some of the teams that are doing well continue the form that they're on. I'm, I'm excited to see that Matt, I know you are, it pains you to, to give credit to the rivals from across the city, but I think we can all agree that they've made a very good start. What's your thoughts been on the Met so far, mate?
Matt:Yeah, frustratingly they look really good mate. Frustratingly, they're looking good and it's annoying'cause you don't wanna see your city Rivals doing so well, but you know the, there aren't. They're a good to watch at the moment. Like the Dodgers, like the Yankees, you know, like the Giants, they're a, they're a good team to watch. As annoying as it is to admit, but no, you could, yeah, not gonna give them too much credit, like, but yeah. Credit where credit's due, man.
Tom:That was more than I thought you were gonna give. So fair play. I know that must've been difficult for you, Matty. Kind of moving on to my second start of the month. Look, there can only be, I mean in terms of players, I think we seem to talk about this man week in, week out. And guys, this is not just because we are Yankees fans, but Aaron Judge might be one of the most phenomenal hitters the game has ever seen. Just to kinda give you guys an overview of how we're getting on at the moment. Aaron Judge is currently now considering we're over a month now into the season, he's the only player in the league batting over 400. He leads the league in average. He also leads the league in slug percentage and OBP and OPS. He's top five in rbis. He's top five in home runs the, the guy is, and I don't think I'm being over the top in saying this, I think Aaron Judge is a once in a generation player. He has numbers that are up there with Lou Gehrig, babe Ruth Barry Bonds, just to give you guys an idea. If, if you look at Aaron Judge's last 162 games. Now that goes across this season and last season, Aaron Judge, if you took his last 162 games, is hitting 3 47 with 199 hits. He's at 61 home runs, he's driven in 156 BA runs, battered in, he scored 137 runs tho. Those are, those are f those are not normal numbers. You, you are genuinely looking at a player right now who is one of the best players that we've ever seen, and I think we need to start appreciating it. They talk about it on the commentary sometimes that we are not appreciating what we are witnessing in front of us. And sometimes you don't when when it's happening in front of your very eyes. We talk about it in football. It's only as they kind of got towards the end of their careers that we really started going like Lionelle, Messi, Christiana, Ronaldo. We're talking about a player of that kind of echelon in the sport where. He's putting up numbers that are just not normal. The guy's only hit eight home runs this season. Now, whilst that's only two off the league lead, he's not even really got going with the power pat, but he's just still hitting, making hard contact and putting the ball in play and getting on base. The, the guy's an absolute freak and like, like one so said and he got it spot on. He's the best hitter in baseball and look, show he Tony fans. I'm not coming out and saying that Aaron Judge is necessarily a better all round player than show. Hi Tony. I'm not saying that, I'm not saying he is because sh, he's Pi. Well if he ever does again pitches and steals bases and does hit for power, but Aaron Judge, in my opinion is by a country mile, the best hitter in all of baseball and he had to be one of the three stars for the month.
Matt:Could not agree more mate. Love Love my captain. He. Is an unreal slugger man. Like the amount of runs he gets for the Yankees and they're just, he just absolutely bombs'em out the park as well. And I know, you know, people complain and say, oh, well Yankees outfield, you know, he is one of the short hits, but you know, he goes to other ballparks and smashes him there as well. But yeah, I love him man. Love, love Aaron Judge. Generational. guy, man.
Tom:Yeah, you gotta love him. Gotta love him. And as well, just a quick shout to him as well. We've been away named the World Baseball championship. He's also made Team USA's captain as well, which just goes to show his leadership skills as well as his own field ability are, are getting him the accolades that he deserves. And he's well on course to win another MVP. And I guess, guys, I'll wrap my, my kind of three stars up now. This was a tough one because like I said, the Dodgers have been really good. The giants have been really good. But I actually just wanted to give a little shout out to the Chicago Cubs. What a start to the season they've been in. I think we were talking about teams that are fun to watch. I actually think the Cubs are probably the most fun team to watch in all of baseball. Like they, every game they play seems to be close. It's exciting. It's, they, they give up a lot of runs, but they score an awful lot of runs. I think they lead the league in runs scored. So yeah, they're doing really well. I think they lead the league in team batting average runs, batted in. And like I said, they're just, they're just a fun team to watch. They made some really good additions in the off season. I mean, Carl Tucker's a brilliant player and I'm hoping that the Yankees can pick him up in free agency next year. Potentially then whether that means we move belly to first base or, or what that would mean. But look, he's been phenomenal for them. Pete Crow, Armstrong's. So all of a sudden he's not an easy out anymore. He's hitting the ball hard, he's making contacts, he's hitting home runs. Ian Hap has made a really good start to the season, so I did just wanna give the Cubs a shout out. Only thing I think, which would worry me for them is the fact that Justin Steel is out for the season. Obviously behind show a manga, he's their best picture. So slight issue for them there. But look, if they can keep the offensive prowess that they've got going, that they've had to start the season, then there's no reason why they can't be up there. And then around the playoff picture, and I think they're in a division where the reds are not amazing. I know they've won five in a row, but they're not an amazing team. The brewers are very inconsistent. The cardinals and the pirates are are poor sides. So yeah, I think they've got a really good chance of, of winning the division there and making a good push in the playoffs. And like I said, they're just an exciting team to watch. So that rounds out my, my three stars.
Matt:Very nice. Yeah, I can't really disagree with any of those choices, mate, to be honest. the Cubs, I think maybe an outside shout for the, world Series or do you reckon that's too early to call? They're they're playing well, they're, they're looking good. Over to the Stanley Cup then. How are you feeling after Sort of what, what four, well, four games through no, five games through in a couple, aren't we? And then four games in, others. Very tight games mostly. It's been really exciting to watch the highlights, mate. You know, I've been trying your trick of trying to avoid looking at the scores. Watching the highlights. So there has been some, some surprises for me. Some of the games really, really close. No one wept in the first round, which is good. You know, you never like to see a sweep. How are feeling then, mate? After last night's game?
Tom:Yeah, like, like you said, I think that, I think the playoffs so far have been really good. Obviously the west is really tight. Obviously three of the four series tied at two. Obviously the abs and the stars were tied at two. They were the only team in the west to play last night. But yeah everything's really tight, set up and poised for a really good finish. The series in the East have slightly been favored towards one team or the other. Obviously the Keynes up three one and the Devils, the capital was up three one and the Canadians Florida up three, one on the lightning and the Leafs up three one on the sends. So I think that's been a little bit more one-sided those series whether any of the teams could make a comeback. I, I still think maybe the, the Lightning, they were quite unlucky in the last game could make a comeback. And I still see the Devils and the, and the hurricane series going a little bit further. I think you called it with the Leafs, maybe got that one wrong. I'll hold hands up there. They, they look pretty solid, but they are very poor in series clinching games. I think they're only over the last nine series clinches, so there's still time for the sends to sends to come back. But no, look, you ask about the abs and the stars. It's been a really frustrating series, if I'm honest with you, to watch. Very tight checking. I mean, the, the games have been. Good. Maybe from a neutral point, maybe not as exciting as I think people would've liked. I think two of them have gone to overtime where Dallas has won two one. The abs obviously shut the, the stars out in game four, four, nothing obviously. Big congratulations to Gabriel Landers score as well, came back in this series and scored a goal as well, which is just regardless of who you support, it's just brilliant to see my captain. So it's great. That's, at least there's one positive to take. But yeah, I've just, I've been frustrated watching it because I think the, the stars have have known how to get the better of us in this series. Defensively, they've clogged up the neutral zone. They're playing a very gritty, somewhat dirty game in terms of some of the embellishment, which I will touch on in a little bit. But yeah, look, fair play. The stars are free to up after last night's win. It's all to play for a ball arena in a couple of days, and I'm excited to see kind of how the other series kind of take shape. In their game fives as well. And which teams kind of take the leads there, Matty, what's your, what's your thoughts been on it so far? Are you you surprised by any of this of the series results so far, or kind of all going as, as expected?
Matt:I think most, most have gone sort of, or are heading towards my, my sort of predictions, but I think the, the Panthers taking a three one lead against the lightning didn't really have that on my radar, on my scorecard. if the lightning win, the next one grows it wide open, potentially can, can come back and win it for three. I am a little bit nervous for the Leafs if the sends actually win tonight, it pulls you back to three, two. And the Leaf, obviously with the current and everything else in the back of their mind, you know, you gotta worry for them. But I'm hoping that they, they pull it off tonight and make it four one move on to the next round. The St. Louis Blues, I thought they were gonna, once it got to two nil against the Jets, I thought the jets were gonna sort of peel away. I pulled it back to two two, which I didn't see happening. same as the Kings. They went il up the Oilers have pulled it back to Tutu. And if anything, I think the Oilers look the better of the two teams heading into the next game. So, yeah, some still, you know, a lot of hockey to play in this first round, but. Yeah, I think, I think the Leaf should be okay. I'm surprised the Panthers have taken a few on lead, but you never know that the lightning could come back into it. I think the hurricanes are through, I think the, the capitals are through. I think the one I didn't have on my card was the, the Oilers. I think they're, they're probably gonna go through a, a head against the Kings. and I was, I was hoping the abs would get through mate, but on the games and overall that have been played so far out, the five, I think you know, do deserve the stars. Do deserve to be three, two ahead. I think personally I,
Tom:No, they don't.
Matt:and
Tom:No. No, they don't. And you've, and you've caught a bite. You've caught a bite. No, they don't deserve to be three, two up.
Matt:knew what I was doing. No, they don't, mate. I don't think they've led for very long. Overall though. No, they don't deserve. I was just waiting for you to bite and you bit so yeah.
Tom:There's a critic by Credit Stu. Pete DeBoer knows how to manage Jared Bednar. He has a pad record against Pete DeBoer in the playoffs. He knows how to, he knows how to get the better of his teams, but it's just, it's frustrating. They, I think last night was the only game where they've actually led for the entire game and they're three, two up in the series, which is just, yeah. Is frustrating. I think a couple of things before we, I kind of touch on one subject for me, which I've noticed in the playoffs and has really sort of frustrated me watching it, and obviously I'm mainly talking about the ABS games, but I know there has been stuff going on in other games as well, but obviously a couple of standup performers. I think the Kings and the Oilers series is obviously Conor McDavid and Leon Dry Site are starting to take that over now. Tied for the league lead in playoff points with Adrian Kempe the Kings, to be fair with nine. But they do look very good. But one thing that's really kind of surprised me and I, I thought, I don't think we can kind of get away without giving him some sort of stick. And I mean, look, conno Heller buck for as good as he was in the regular season, last two games being pulled, giving up five goals in back-to-back games, his playoff record, and he wasn't very good against the abs last year after having a really good regular season. He, his playoff performances are, are, are questionable. And whilst I had the Jets going through in that series, I think if he continues to perform badly, we did say that that series might be won or lost depending on the performances of Benson and Hella Buck. And look, I think it was the easy choice to say Hella Buck has got the advantage there. And if he performs to how he should do, then the, the Jets go through and that's still the case. But if he continues to perform how he's doing, then the blues could quite easily move on there.
Matt:Yeah, I was really surprised by the fact that he gave up two. Sorry, five goals in two games and got pulled. He's come out and said, look, I'll do better, but it's got into his head and he just, you know, sometimes you have those players that when it comes to the big occasions, the occasion takes over. And I unfortunately for him, he's one of those players. He just, in, in the big games, you just can't, for whatever reason, perform. So it'd be an interesting couple of games to come, mate.
Tom:Yeah, a hundred percent. I, I'm quite interested to see who goes through in that series, because that is who Dallas or the ABS would play in the next round. So it's interesting to see kinda how that finishes up. I think just before we kind of move on from the NHL. And I, I'm interested to kind of get your thoughts on this, Mattie, because look, I know the, the Rangers are not playing, so you kind of have a more, kind of a more sort of like evenly, evenly platformed look on the playoffs, and you're looking at it from a, from a more sort of a neutral perspective. Maybe it is just because we're, we're down in the series and I'm frustrated with the fact that we haven't won games and, but I, like I said, I know that this is happening in other games. I, the refereeing in the playoffs now, considering this is the most high leverage, most important games of the season, the refereeing performances in these games have been nothing short for me of absolutely atrocious. I, I, I cannot get my head round how the league allows the referees to have such poor performances and they're still allowed to go out there night in and night out and make the calls that they get now. I'm not gonna sit here and say that it's perfect. I even said in one of our earlier episodes that I like the fact that human error is there. That's fair enough. That and, and I think, look, the referees are not gonna get a hundred out of a hundred calls. Right. But kind of similar to what we were saying in the baseball, when it becomes such a regular occurrence, and I'm gonna mention the AAV Stars series because yes, there's been some questionable calls called, called for the AAVs. Of course there is. There's questionable calls called on both sides every night. But the stars have gotten so many bad calls go in their favor. No embellishment calls whatsoever. I mean, there was a play in the game last night. Josh Manson got called for a high stick when he wasn't even looking at the player. He was skating forward. Jamie Ben skates into Josh Manson's stick goes down as if it's caught his face. Josh Manson goes off for two minutes for high sticking all momentum for the abs that they had at that point was killed. I think it was three, two or four two at the time. In the game and it just completely kills the momentum. It doesn't even touch his face. I, I've been thinking about it over the last sort of few hours trying to calm myself down. But I do think for me, I think, I'm not saying regular season, but I want to see in the playoffs, I want to see video refereeing brought in for a hundred percent of the calls now. And I don't care what any of you guys who are listening say, whether I'm being Overboard or Oh, you're gonna come out and say, oh look, oh a's crying.'cause they're losing. But it's not just the AAV series because every series has been really bad and questionable calls and it's, it costs teams. I think when it's this much of a high leverage situation, I personally think that video referee should be used for every call. It does not take very long to look at the replay because before the power play even starts, the TV companies have already shown the replay and you can quite clearly see whether it's a. Whether it was a, a correct call or a slightly dodgy call, and I'm not saying every call will get overturned. There's still gonna be calls people are gonna be unhappy about, but I think when it comes to the playoffs, and this is such a high leverage scenario, every call the referee makes should at least be reviewed quickly by someone in a video room yet, correct Call. Go ahead. With the power play and the penalty called, or actually, guys, no, I've had a look at this. He doesn't make contact with a face. It's embellishment. It needs to be turned around. Or actually that tripping call or that interference call that you, that you have, that you've called isn't correct. I know. And I don't wanna keep going on, and I know you there. You can't do it for everything. You can't have a video assistant referee on the sideline pulling the playback every five minutes for a missed interference call or a crosscheck that they didn't see. But there are some scenarios if the play goes dead and there's blatant cross-checking in front of the net. And not just playoff crosschecking, I'm talking about two three hits to dangerous areas and the referees aren't calling it, but then we'll call a high stick when it doesn't even touch someone's face. I, I think something's gotta be done about it and I know I'm a salty AAVs fan at the moment'cause we're down three, two in this series. But I think there'll be a lot of other fans out there that aren't just fans of the abs that will, will agree with me on this. I mean, I dunno what your take on it, Matt is as a neutral from look watching it. What do you think?
Matt:I have a tendency obviously, to agree with because a fan of, various sports teams, when you come away from a game and your initial frustration through a loss is down to referee performance. It's you want something done about it, it kills that, that enjoyment for you. And I, I can completely understand where you are coming from'cause I've seen some of the decisions. I think there was an incident in the second or third game where one of the stars players elbowed Carl McCart and nothing got called. But then the, the abs are being called for stuff that is debatable. I definitely think video refereeing or or VA should definitely come into play for the playoffs because, you want, you don't wanna feel, you've been knocked out of playoffs because of a, an iffy decision. I think you'll be pleased to know though, is that prior to the Stanley Cup starting a a media outlet did a poll got fans to vote on the worst referees. the league and the two referees that came bottom of that poll that were vote voted the worst. the NHL actually listened and removed them the playoffs. So the two worst referees aren't officiating. Is a review system in place where the NHL actually reviews games and talks to referees and does actually issue fines and can remove them from future future games they deem they're officiating to be a substandard. So I think those are positives, obviously doesn't help with the here and now of how you feel. And I, and I'm sure a lot of hockey fans, you know, are throughout the playoffs are feeling because I. They do miss calls. There are some poor, poor officials in every sport, unfortunately, and until we bring in sort of VAR for all sports, I think you're still gonna get that element of it, mate. So, you know, fingers crossed that they don't dwell on it too long and can pull it out the bag and hopefully they'll they'll beat the stars mate, I'm hoping for you.
Tom:Yeah. Yeah. I, I, like I said, I, I really, I know I have come across as how it is and I accept that it, its frustrations from the losses and I, I give Dallas credit where credit's due that they've made it difficult for the abs. But I just, like I said, I think I just, it's more as a general as well, and it's kind of just. More something that obviously that is very much in the limelight at the moment with the playoffs going on. I just wanna see a little bit more done about it and a little bit more help given to the officials when it's such high leverage games. And I'm not gonna sit here and, and sort of cry about it for the whole podcast. I know you guys will have a laugh for the rant that I just ran on. But I do think something does need to be done about it because Stars fans will laugh now, but then when it's on the other foot in the next round and it goes against them, they'll be saying the same thing. So every team and every fan is gonna say the same thing. So I think in, in all fairness, it's something I think the league really do need to look at and how they can help the refs and the teams sort of get, get more from this. And so the calls aren't affecting games and killing momentum and killing a team's chances before the sort of the, the games even begun. But look enough on that, we've got a load more first round games to be played and I'm excited to kind of see how it plays out. And like I said, hopefully we can come back and. Tie the series up and winning game seven. Sort of see how the rest of them go. But Matty, to kind of wrap things up then, it's been a long time coming. Feels like it took ages, but it has finally been and gone. The NFL draft, I know you were looking forward to it as a Jets fan, so how how did it go? What you, what was your take on it? Kind of give us a little wrap up of, of the first round of the draft mate and how it all kind of went down.
Matt:Yeah, I mean, I feel. Bad for the first round guys. So the big story that came out of the draft was would Shado Sand Son, hall of Famer, Dion Sanders be picked. He was projected to be high on the list. So Shado Sanders Colorado quarterback projected to be one of the top five picks, and I think I had him fairly high up on my draft, mock draft earlier on in the year. however, he did not go in the first round. He didn't even go in the second. Shado Sanders got picked up as the 144th overall pick in the fifth round, and he was selected by the Browns. if outlets are out, if media outlets are to be believed, the Browns were one of the teams that Dion Sanders outright said, I don't want my son to play for. So whether or not the NFL as a whole have looked at all of that and gone, nah, this, this this family needs a reality check. But yeah, you got a feel for the guys that actually got picked up in the first round. Especially the number one pick. Cam Ward, the guy we should be talking about. Everybody unfortunately including us, are talking about Shado Sanders. So yeah, cam Ward number one pick out of Miami. He's gone to the Tennessee Titans. I think that was a nailed on from, as far back as I can remember, people talking about the draft. And then second one that we didn't see come in, to be fair, we saw Travis Hunter getting picked second, but he did not go to the Browns. The Browns traded picks with the Jaguars. So Travis Hunter has gone to the Jaguars. Now, Travis Hunter, for those of you who dunno, Heisman winner can play as a wide receiver or a cornerback. To be honest, I think he'll be better as a cornerback playing at the, at the Jags. And then Abdul Carter pick third. For the Giants, will Campbell, for the Patriots. And then defensive tackle. Mason Graham, who I fancied for the Jets, has actually gone to the Browns, running back John t a player. quick reminds me, reminds me so much of, of your guy at the Eagles man. Very, very quick. Then the Jets, we pick number seven, offensive tackle. Mabu, he'll line up well with Left Tackle fashion U to be honest, I think he's gonna give us give us something to protect the run. So obviously the Jets are in a rebuild. Aaron Glen wants us to run the ball more next year. So I think when you've got an offensive tackle, know. 332 pounds and can run 40 yards in 4.9 seconds. I'm excited to see this day. Then you've got Tetro McMillan wide receiver who went to the Panthers. VIN Banks Jr. Offensive Tackle has gone to the Saints. And then number number 10 Colton Loveland Tight End has gone to the Bears. So some really, really good players in that first, you know, in the first 10 yeah, obviously the, the main thing was Shado Sanders. Listen, I think, don't think the the guy did himself any favors. I think he didn't fully partake in the, in the, combine. There's rumors that he tanked. The interview stage with some some of the teams, whether or not that was intentional. I think the fact that his dad was interviewing, saying, my son needs to be, one of the topics topics, he's got a good arm, he's got this, he's got this, he's got this under pressure. If you play under pressure, he completes less than 45% of his throws. Ward better quarterback, fully deserved to be the number one pick. I think the four five quarterbacks that were picked ahead of Shado Sanders, statistically are better as well. So, and I think the Browns selected a quarterback in an earlier round in the draft as well, so. I think the numbers are gonna speak for themselves. I don't think he'll be starting any games this season, so I think it's gonna be a case of watch and see. But I'm excited to see Come Ward, because I definitely think he'll be playing some games this year for the Titans. I.
Tom:Yeah, the Shado Sanders thing, like you said, it kind of took a shine off of the off of some of the first round guys.'cause I think a lot of the talk just ended up being about he's still not gone and he's still not gone. And he's still not gone. And I was listening to a podcast before the draft kind of happens. Kind of happened, sorry. And it, on there, they were talking about it, it was the it was the Adam Shefter podcast and he actually predicted that that Shero Sanders probably wouldn't go in the first round. Might go in the second, potentially third round at a very much a push. But the fact that he dropped to the fifth, I mean credit where credit's due to the Browns to be able to pick him up as a fifth round, that is an absolute steal because he's clearly a talented, talented boy. I think, like you said, attitude here is where it kind of comes into play and there was a lot of talk around the league about the fact that teams were unimpressed with his preparation for draft interviews. There's obviously videos that go around. I mean, there's one in particular where kind of him and Cam Ward, now I know they're kind of joking around and they're sort of having a little pop at each other while they're doing practice drills together. Before the Before what The, before the combine and the draft and. And there was a level of arrogance that comes off of Shado Sanders where he talks about I didn't go and get water. I drink Gatorade, I get paid for it. Cam ward's quite witty response, whereas I don't need that. NFL pays will pay me sort of thing. Obviously that video aged quite well, so yeah, I mean look for Shado Sanders, not the draft that he wanted. I'm, I'm happy he obviously got drafted and I, I'm interested to kind of see maybe his sort of villain arc as a player that kind of now has a massive point to prove what will happen with that. Obviously the Browns have got some interesting options now at qb and look that that move could potentially be one of the biggest that they've ever made in terms of personnel to get a a player that that's that good. In the fifth round it doesn't usually happen, so I'm interested to kinda see what happens there. Look, I think the Brown's obviously had a bit of an interesting draft. I mean, they obviously great steel with Shado Sanders, but then to trade the number two pick and pass up on picking Travis Hunter, who was clearly one of the most talented players to come out the drafts in recent years. So obviously Steel for the Jags, but whether that will come back to bite them, that Mason Graham was always gonna be a top five pick anyway. So. I think it's still a good pickup. Maybe they felt that was a position they needed improving more. But a little bit of an odd one there. I think you have the chance to draft a Travis Hunter. I mean obviously there was talks around would, would the Titans trade up for number one but they were quite adamant that they wanted Cam Ward who obviously is a good a gonna be a good qb. So yeah, interesting moves from the Browns there. I think they kind of fall on the side of the winners and the losers of the draft. I mean, Shado Sanders certainly does because he's going to a team where he could compete for the number one spot, but also falls a little bit lower down. I think another player that I kind of just wanted to pick on as well and kind of give congratulations to was obviously Jackson Dart. Obviously a lot of people thought that it would be Shado that would be the next QB that went off the list, but the Giants picking Jackson Dart on a trade with Houston which I thought was a really good move from the Giants. He looks like a, he's a great young QB Jackson Dart. They obviously saw something in him. There was something that they liked in the interview, so it's to go and trade up and get him. Just kinda shows the talent that might be on display there. And again, he's got a really good chance of making that QB one spot this year for the Giants.'cause that quarterback room's very much open over in New York. So I'm excited to kind of see how that plays out for the Giants there and kind of how he gets on. And look, you kind of mentioned about the Jets. Just a quick touch for obviously the Eagles fans, obviously Jihad Campbell linebacker that we picked up. I mean, our, our defensive line is, is already as good as it is. I think it just got a little bit better with Jihad. I've watched some of his highlights. He looks phenomenal. Big, strong, quick guy on the defensive side of things, looks like a really humble young, young man as well. So obviously very emotional when he got drafted and was very grateful to be, to be drafted by the Eagles, which I think is what you want to see when you, do, you know what I mean? When, when your team makes a pick, they liken him to Zach Bourne, who's obviously one of the best defensive players in the game after last year. So. If he can be anything like Zach B was for us last year, then you know, I think the Eagles have got a player on their hands there.
Matt:Yeah, seeing how some of these guys do this season. Only four more months to go, I think, mate. That about wraps it up for this week. Next week we will most definitely be focusing on the next round in the Stanley. We'll have a look at how the teams are going along in the and then we'll probably touch on how some of these players have done from the draft, because there is some draft. There is some draft mini camps happening I believe next week. So we'll see if anything comes out of that to share with you, Tom, really hope the AAVs managed to do it this week, mate. I'm rooting for you. You know, let's hope that the, the really horrible, nasty, bad referees don't cost you another game.
Tom:I'm not gonna be able to lift this down now that. Forever, but I'll stick to it. Like, yeah, hopefully we can get through. But now that I'm excited to see how the rest of the games play out and yeah. At least and I will buy at least, at least the abs are actually there. Matty, I'm, I'm not sure how the Rangers are getting on in the first round, but I, I know the abs are definitely there. I'm not sure how the Rangers have got on in their first round match up. I'll have to, I'll have to go and have a look at that one. But yeah, listen, it's been, it's been a pleasure as always, my friend. And until next time,
Matt:Have a good week, mate.
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.