We're BACK! | The 2:00am Crew | Ep. 42

The crew is BACK and coming in hot. After a little break, The 2:00am Crew returns to break down everything happening in New York sports—and trust, there’s a lot to talk about.

We’re diving into the current state of the New York Yankees—what’s clicking, what’s not, and whether this team is built for October. Then we shift over to Queens to talk New York Mets—are they finally finding their rhythm or still searching for identity?

And you KNOW we had to tap into playoff energy. The New York Knicks are making noise—can they make a real run, or is this where things get shaky?

Plus, we hit on the biggest headlines across the sports world, give our unfiltered takes, and bring that late-night energy you’ve been missing.

Real talk. Real fans. No filters.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:45

That was a short-lived line. So we are back. We are back. Welcome to the pod. Welcome to the 2 a.m. crew. Well, we're testing out some new streaming service. As you could tell by the design and the logo and everything. We were not happy with that other company. No. I'm your host, Rick H. My co-host is meet right here to the left. I'll let him beautifully introduce himself. And his Yankees just won, so.

SPEAKER_04 1:19

Yes. Ladies and gentlemen, yes indeed. Welcome to the 2AM crew. We are here with Rick H and yours truly, Jason Enrique. Yes indeed.

SPEAKER_03 1:31

So where do you want to where do you want to start this thing off first?

SPEAKER_04 1:37

Um well it all really depends on how you feel. Do we want to start off with negativity and then end on a positive note? Or do you want to eat the dessert first and then have the vegetables?

SPEAKER_03 1:48

I mean, um did you, by the way, really quickly, did you see the WMBA story? They negotiated a uh CBA agreement, and now um the WMBA players will make more money, not necessarily uh, you know, like a ton of money. I think Aja Wilson will be the highest paid player, guaranteed three years, five million. She signed today with the ACES. Yes. Um, I did say give me your thoughts quickly on that.

SPEAKER_04 2:26

I mean, I think I don't think it's such a bad idea after all. I mean, the MB the WNBA is probably the most popular that it's ever been now, you know, thanks to you want to say Caitlin Clark or Osha Wilson or Kelsey Plumber, whatever the case may be, but um it's now making its real mark, it's been here for a while, and it hasn't never really got the respect that it has, but it started to get really gain momentum now, but it still feels like it's being uh it's still being dampered a little bit, you know. Like so I at one point, like these girls were making basically what baseball players were making in the 1920s and 30s, essentially. And uh it's you know the the the league is obviously reaping the benefits. And then you even have the book the big market teams, like the New York Liberty, they won the championship a couple years ago, and it seemed like the uh parade was just a um a welcome home for like a uh a teacher or something like that, you know. There wasn't much fanfare for it. So I think it's actually a good look. I think it's also a good look for the kids, you know, especially any uh aspiring female football, um uh basketball players, excuse me, uh for audience there, basketball players that are looking at these women and seeing what they're able to accomplish and being able to make their mark into this uh into the into this uh sports sphere. I think it's actually a great thing. And the more money that the league continues to make, why not share the wealth?

SPEAKER_03 3:49

Um I couldn't agree with you more. I I think this sport is gonna continue to grow. I think there is a market there for women's sports, uh, and now you have like legit stars in the league that are bringing eyeballs to the league. Um there's there's been some criticism about the style of play. Uh, but I've watched a couple games and it's pretty competitive, it's fun to watch.

SPEAKER_04 4:23

Um even the even women's college has been making its mark as well. Like how March Madness recently.

SPEAKER_03 4:31

I I just uh I'm happy for them. I think it's just the beginning and it's a stepping stone. I it would be interesting to get them to where a because I feel like they're making minor league money right now. Like if this was baseball, they're making minor league money or international signing type of money right now. Um, so it's a good start. Uh I would like to see more of this. Uh, I'm a little surprised at the amount of money that they gave Wilson. Uh, I don't know how many championships she has. Uh, if you could look that up real quick. So I know I know she's won a couple, and I know she's won a couple MVPs. She even has her own uh shoe deal. Um so she's definitely one of these players that they're gonna build on on. Uh there's Caitlin Clark, there's uh what's the girl that came out of Yukon? Um Kelsey Plum. Um Kelsey Plum is one in LA, and um Brink is another. So uh as much as people like to criticize her, Angel Reese is another, she brings eyeballs to the game. Angel Reese, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 5:46

Yeah so Azure Wilson is reportedly signing a three-year $5 million deal supermax contract to remain with the Las Vegas Aces. Five million dollars supermax.

SPEAKER_03 5:56

How many titles has uh does she have? I'm pulling that up right now. By the way, holy connection. I think it's I think it's two, two or three.

SPEAKER_04 6:08

She is a uh two-time gold Olympia uh gold medalist for sure. I'm just pulling it up right now.

SPEAKER_03 6:21

If you're tuning in, uh you can drop a question. Whatever platform you're in, Facebook, uh Instagram, uh, Twitch, kick, you can leave a comment, drop a question.

SPEAKER_04 6:33

Yeah, so in 2025, she led the Aces to a third championship title, becoming the first WNBA or NBA player to win a scoring title, be a champion, a finals MVP, an MVP, and defensive player of the year in the same season.

SPEAKER_03 6:47

Yeah, very well deserved. Um again, there is space for it. I some of the statements that were made about like, oh, we we do the same thing LeBron does, or I understand the sentiment and I understand the statement. Um LeBron generates a lot of money for the NBA and whatever team he's on.

SPEAKER_04 7:12

Correct.

SPEAKER_03 7:13

You guys aren't there yet, but to keep pushing the ceiling is what you want to do. So you want to make those statements, you want to get paid correctly. And I I was very happy when this news came out, and I thought that it's only up from here for them.

SPEAKER_04 7:29

So and you know, one of the things that I feel, like the WNBA, the players specifically have to really tell the line is that when the WNBA first came out, it was a lot of these women that they were looking like very manish and like really tall, and and like it was it was almost like it was it wasn't very feminine, you know.

SPEAKER_03 7:47

There's a marketable appeal to it now that right here.

SPEAKER_04 7:50

Now you have like these really athletic athletic women, but they're also like extremely attractive. Like Angel Reese is an attractive woman, Kelsey Plum is an attractive woman, you know. So not only are they you know doing great, uh, you know, are they great athletes with the sport and everything, but they're also beautiful enough to be on Victoria's Secret.

SPEAKER_03 8:09

Uh yeah, and they they they could be brand ambassadors for um, I mean, there is money for them to make outside the sport, but I think for all the women and their close-neck group, which is how you need to be um when you're in one of these leagues and you're trying to grow out the league, uh, you gotta push for uh better pay. Um, and and but you gotta start setting out seats, man, and you gotta start uh making it entertaining. But I think it's a step in the right direction. So uh shout out to them. That's how I wanted to start this one off. But go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 8:45

Yeah, and also it would also benefit if more stars from the NBA would come out and show their support. Uh I think that maybe there has been some of them, but it's not enough. Uh, you know, if we if we get some of these other stars, even the ones that are not as marketable as LeBron James, like a Tyrese Maxi or Jalen Brunson or uh Wembayama, even uh Shea, you know, if they actually voice their their their vocal support for these these women in the league, I think that would actually help them out a ton as well. I mean um you know, like Kobe Bryant, God rest his soul when like you know he was definitely a big proponent for it.

SPEAKER_03 9:20

So two thoughts I was gonna put in. That was one. I I feel like Kobe's death kind of uh slowed down that momentum a bit, just a bit, because he was a big ambassador for the league. And there's a lot of players that are like Steph Curry, um, but guys like Durant, right? Where Angel Reese made a statement where she's like, uh the Jordan brand is old, people are gonna be wearing my shoes. And he retweeted and responded to her, like, hey, I had a pair of those in my car. Someone broke into my car and left the second pair in the backseat. Like things like that, it's not gonna help grow the sport, grow the brand. But uh, like guys like uh Kyrie Irving, uh uh Steph Curry going to these games. Um if some of our Knicks, which they do, they go to these Liberty games, it'll really help the sport. So if the NBA does the NBA players get more involved, um, they can help uh expedite the growth of that league.

SPEAKER_04 10:20

So right. And you know what's interesting to me, and this is where I hate when things become a double standard, whereas if you have these fights in the in a in an MBC NBA regular season game, then it gets all the highlights and everybody's excited, and it's you know it's getting clipped on YouTube and this, that, and the third, and then you have incidents like uh Caitlin Clark had a while back where it got a little bit confrontational, a little bit violent, and then all of a sudden the league is looked down upon because it's not the classy thing for women to do. It's like it's like becoming a double standard that really nobody wants to talk about.

SPEAKER_03 10:53

Yeah, I um so the Caitlin Clark Angel Reese thing, um, it brought eyeballs to the game. Um, but the negative energy that was swayed towards Clark's way was I think it was and of course the racial stuff as well. The racial stuff, yeah. I I don't think it was necessary. I don't think uh Reese should have fed into those waters which he did. Um, I think she felt like she needed to be the villain because she was being portrayed as that through the media.

SPEAKER_04 11:28

Yeah, she was leaning all the way into it.

SPEAKER_03 11:31

Yeah, um, but great for the WNBA, man. This is gonna be great. I'm excited. Uh Vegas Aces did right by uh Aja. I think they would have if that's a supermax, like I I I that's the thing, five mil. Like, who makes five million in the NBA? Can you look that up really quickly?

SPEAKER_04 11:53

Yeah, by the way, Angel Reese, I didn't know this. Angel Reese is my Taurus twin because my birthday is May 3rd, hers is May 6th, so she's just as stubborn as I am. Yeah, um this is just in NBA is finding Lamello Ball 35k for trip of bam out of bio and upgrading action to flagrant two. Wow, yeah, but no suspension according to Shams Sharnia.

SPEAKER_03 12:22

Well, that's good because isn't Charlotte heading into the playoffs?

SPEAKER_04 12:27

Yeah, yeah, they just beat Miami. Uh I think in I think Miami's eliminated, but a lot of people, especially I know in Florida, are not very happy about the way it turned out. Like uh down in down in Miami, down in South Beach, Lamelo Paul is public enemy number one.

SPEAKER_03 12:42

Really? It's kind of like uh what Trey Young was here in New York a couple of years ago.

SPEAKER_04 12:46

Yeah, because I've listened I'm no He fan, and you know, thank God, but I know a good number of them down there, and I know they really support their team and love it, even after LeBron left South Beach for Cleveland and everything. And I can tell you right now that uh they are prickly and they are not happy, and Lamello Ball is going to be looked at as the the the Trey Young of South Beach, essentially.

SPEAKER_03 13:10

So Charlotte would be playing Detroit, correct?

SPEAKER_04 13:15

Correct.

SPEAKER_03 13:17

And then whoever wins between Orlando and Philly would play Boston.

SPEAKER_04 13:23

Right.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

New York if they pull through against Atlanta. I'm not I have the bracket pulled up. Um New York plays Atlanta. Whoever wins that series would go against the winner of the Celtics, Sixers might magic, um, in theory. Um you have this pulled up. You wanna you wanna you wanna do picks for the playoffs? And just yeah, yeah, I'll pull it up.

SPEAKER_04 13:52

But uh just before we get there, uh some of the highest play paid players in 2026 in the WNBA, you got Isa uh Mac McBeager. Uh she plays for Seattle, she's paying, she's being paid one million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Uh-huh. And then you have Kayla Cooper from Phoenix, she's making a million two hundred, and then Marina Marbury of Toronto, same, and Alyssa Thomas from Phoenix, same. So it seems like the highest paid player in the NBA, Isa McBegger. I I'm hoping I'm pronouncing that right. She's getting paid one million two thousand fifty and fifty thousand dollars.

SPEAKER_03 14:26

So what would five years five years three um three years, five million? Is it per year? Is is that Wilson's deal, or it's three million. Five million for all three years.

SPEAKER_04 14:43

I don't have the specifics, but it seems like it's it's going in that direction, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:48

Because that that's the other thing that got me, like it's three years, five million, super max.

SPEAKER_04 14:56

Yeah, it says here maximum salary per player, $1.4 million, projected to be $2.4 million by 2032.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

Oh, that's Bobby Bonilla still got a leg up on the WAPA at this point, ladies and gentlemen.

SPEAKER_04 15:12

That's when you need a positivity in the Mets uh sphere right now. Wow, is Bobby Bonilla?

SPEAKER_03 15:18

Um, uh really quick, this is our 42nd episode. It happens to coincide with Jackie Robinson Day. All the players in MLB today are wearing number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson. He broke the color better, color barrier. Tremendous, tremendous athlete, tremendous player, even better humanitarian. Uh, I always look forward to this and Roberto Clemente Day. I hope one day Major League Baseball does the exact same thing for Roberto Clemente. Um, Hall of Famer, uh, his story is truly remarkable. Died while on a humanitarian mission to Nicaragua, died on a plane crash. Um, life cut short. Uh, just a guy trying to make the world better. So uh I would love to see this for Roberto Clemente as well. Um, I know some of the Latin players during Roberto Clemente Day can elect to wear his number. Um I I don't know if MLB can make it happen where it's retired through all of baseball, or each team could do it like as a uh uh to honor him, but uh perfect example of a human being, and it just I'm grateful that it coincides with Jackie Robinson Day, our 42nd episode. Uh I think that deserves an uh intense round of applause.

SPEAKER_04 16:49

So I have here, it looks like the full NBA playoff bracket. You got Detroit that looks like it's gonna be playing Okay.

SPEAKER_03 16:57

Uh wait, let me uh playoff picks. All right, so I I want to um I don't have a pen with me. I want to write these down. I want to see how correct we are after the playoffs. So uh you you want to go first with yours?

SPEAKER_04 17:21

Uh yeah, sure. All right. Okay. So uh and how are we doing this? Well like uh by how many games?

SPEAKER_03 17:29

Uh uh let's just do winners.

SPEAKER_04 17:32

I I okay, yeah. It makes it a lot more easier. Uh-huh. All right, ultimately, so uh let's start off in the Eastern Conference because that's what matters the most to me. Uh so right now, it's look, it looks like Detroit will is gonna be playing Charlotte. Charlotte. Tough series. Oh no, no, no, it's Charlotte, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:53

It's Charlotte's.

SPEAKER_04 17:54

Yeah, so uh I I gotta give that to Detroit. I mean, I know that Kay Cunningham, I don't know if he's back yet, but they said that he would be coming back for the playoffs. And I think that Charlotte is become a surprise to me that nobody thought it was gonna make a run that they are, but they're still very young, they're still very new at this. I think that Detroit has a little bit of a uh an upper advantage and they're coached better, so I'm gonna give that to Detroit. Boston, I think, is going up against Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_03 18:21

Uh depends on the winner of that game. And I was against uh Philadelphia and Orlando. All right, so Philly Magic, and it's still going on right now. Yeah, it's 97-93, uh Philly up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 18:38

And uh I don't know if Joel Umbi is still out. Is he done for the season?

SPEAKER_03 18:42

Uh I don't I I I don't I don't I don't pay attention to uh that team.

SPEAKER_04 18:49

I apparently it's not always sunny in Philadelphia for Rick H.

SPEAKER_03 18:52

No, and that's my favorite show, but I have a really hate-hate relationship with uh Embiid. Gotcha. All right.

SPEAKER_04 19:03

But anyway, um I I know that he was dealing with the uh an issue not long ago yet again, so I don't know if he's gonna be available, but uh I I think uh Orlando's gonna be very feisty. I think uh in the end they'll pull it off, even just by the skin of the teeth. I I just don't think that with a uh even with a healthy Paul George, I think that Orlando has something uh in the chamber ready for Philly.

SPEAKER_03 19:27

Even with so you think Orlando beats uh Philly tonight to get to this because currently right now they're losing.

SPEAKER_04 19:38

I'm sorry, I apologize. Uh Phil Philly, I'm sorry, because you got a healthy Paul George and you got Tyrese Maxie. Uh yeah, I I think I think this one's gonna go to Philadelphia, and then Orlando is just gonna continue to build their momentum and go for it uh for the next couple of seasons.

SPEAKER_03 19:53

Okay, so let's give me that series, Boston's Philadelphia. Who comes out of that?

SPEAKER_04 20:00

Uh Boston. I think that Boston is red hot. I think they have a real chance to get to the NBA finals this season, and I don't think they are even they're they're not even quivering at the fact that they gotta face Philadelphia.

SPEAKER_03 20:14

I got Boston as well. Uh New York and Atlanta.

SPEAKER_04 20:19

Now, this is uh I'm gonna try to not let my my bias get in the way, but at the same time, I also want to be a realist. Uh I I'm gonna choose the Knicks in this one because I think that this is when I think this is what New York has been waiting for. I think the Knicks have been waiting for the playoffs to start, and I think they're gonna start off hot. They have to win game one because I think history shows that whenever they lose game one in a playoff series, the first playoff series, then they end up losing this uh the series. So it's a must-win for New York, and I think they will pull it off, and ultimately I think they will. Uh, you know, there's no Trey Young all anymore in Atlanta. I think that the uh the rivalry between the Knicks and the and the Hawks have kind of died down ever since Trey Young is gone. And I there's not really anybody that scares me in the uh on the Atlanta side. And I think that Jonathan Kamenga. Yeah, but I think that the Knicks overall, they've been waiting. They've been dying, they're chopping at the bit to get to the playoffs, and I think this is when they're gonna come out full throttle, and hopefully they can keep that momentum up. But to answer your question, I'm gonna roll with the New York Knicks against the Atlanta Hawks.

SPEAKER_03 21:22

All right, so now we move on to Cleveland, and uh I agree with you there. Uh Cleveland and Toronto series. Toronto.

SPEAKER_04 21:29

I think that Toronto is such a fraudulent team. I don't even know how they were able to get into the playoffs over Miami. Uh, they they really don't scare me. I think that Cleveland is still pretty special. I love their coach, I love Spider. Uh, we'll see what happens with James Harney because we know we know what happens to him in the playoffs. So uh, but yeah, I think I'm gonna go with Cleveland on this one. I feel comfortable with that one.

SPEAKER_03 21:52

I agree with you. Uh uh Detroit and the up and coming uh Charlotte team.

SPEAKER_04 21:58

Uh I'm gonna go with Detroit here. I think that Detroit they are gonna be playing angry. Whoever they're playing in the playoffs is gonna be feisty, it's gonna be tough. Uh, you know, Isaiah Stewart is gonna be Isaiah Stewart. We'll see if they get back Kate Cunningham. I think JB Bickerston has uh it gives them a better advantage at coach than the Charlotte Hornets.

SPEAKER_03 22:17

I think Kate here. I think Kate's back. He's played a couple games. Um, I don't think he's uh like full goal yet. Yeah, yeah. Um I I'm gonna make a prediction to this series, though. I think it goes uh five because I think the first one is best of five. The Pistons Charlotte series is gonna be back and forth. Um it's gonna be a good test for the Charlotte team. Uh they're they're on they're on the up and up, so uh, but I agree with you. It would be Detroit, Cleveland, Boston, and New York. Now, yeah. Detroit Cleveland, who you got there?

SPEAKER_04 22:59

Uh, I am actually gonna give it to Detroit.

SPEAKER_03 23:02

Okay. Going to the Eastern Conference Finals.

SPEAKER_04 23:08

Oh, to the finals.

SPEAKER_03 23:09

Uh no, the if they beat, if Detroit beats Charlotte. Oh, no, no, no. Okay, so moving on to yeah, the Eastern Conference Finals. Wow.

SPEAKER_04 23:20

I mean That's where you got them so far already. Yeah, yeah. I mean, and I'm not mad at that. I'm mad like like I said, I think Detroit is really playing with fire right now. They I think they they they have a huge chip on their shoulder the way that their season ended last year, and they're gonna try to go as far as they can ultimately this year.

SPEAKER_03 23:38

Um, I'm gonna disagree with you on this one. Uh, I know Detroit is ranked one. Um, this will be a different Cavs team. Um I think you're gonna see a different Donovan Mitchell. I don't expect much from Harden. Um, but whatever Mitchell can get out of him, it it would be enough, and I think it's gonna be a hard-fought series. I think Cleveland gets over the Detroit hump, and they get to the next round.

SPEAKER_04 24:17

And the what's interesting about this series also is uh I want to see who is gonna outcoach who. Is JB Bickerstaff gonna have the upper hand or is it gonna be Kenny Atkinson?

SPEAKER_03 24:26

That that's gonna be a great series to watch, coaching wise. Uh Boston, New York.

SPEAKER_04 24:36

I think that with Jason Tatum coming back and acting like he hasn't missed a step, even though we didn't.

SPEAKER_03 24:43

I like how you use the word acting there.

SPEAKER_04 24:48

Um, you know, I I really hate to say this, man, but you know, I don't have the confidence, and we spoke about this before in previous episodes. I don't have the confidence in the Knicks this year that I had in previous years, especially last year. And I think that uh the way that Boston let that series slip away. I think that I think they're gonna like cross every uh they're gonna dot every eye and cross every T to make sure that they don't have a repeat of what happened last year. Uh the the uh everybody's gonna be gunning for the Knicks. I I can tell you that right now. It doesn't matter if they're not the best team, they're not the one seed or anything. There's just something about that that New York thing that other teams are just chomping at the bit to go at. And I think Boston really has the advantage, especially with Jason Tatum now back and fully healthy. He has fresh legs, fresh energy, and he's bringing. And then you also have Jalen Brown, who's just playing out of his mind this year. MVP might be a little bit too much for the Knicks.

SPEAKER_03 25:47

Um again, I'm gonna disagree here. I think the Knicks uh they don't sweep, but it goes six games, and I think it would be Eastern Conference matchup. It would be four and three, Knicks caps.

SPEAKER_04 26:04

Okay. Now, are we gonna see are we gonna see Mikhail Bridges awakened in the playoffs as opposed to him being in the regular season?

SPEAKER_03 26:15

So I gotta see the first series, right, against Atlanta.

SPEAKER_04 26:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 26:20

I have a theory that the Knicks have gotten to a zone where um they haven't looked like they looked in previous years as far as the intensity. Uh they won more games this year, and they did that in a fashion where kind of was lack of days ago. Historically, Brunson has set the tone when it comes to the playoffs, and everyone has followed suit. So I think that they've been chomping at the bits just to get back to the playoffs to play that style of basketball. I think they're gonna feed off the MSG crowd heavy. I think Brunson thrives when he's a villain in the away games. Um the wild cards will be if A, we get max effort from Bridges, B, if uh Cat starts to ask and look for the ball on the offensive side and becomes that second option where there's no question on who the second option is. Um but why I feel so confident is because I think Alvarado is gonna play a big card during the playoffs for New York. And I think him being a Brooklyn, New York kid in the playoffs, playing for his favorite team, is gonna mean so much more. And I think he's gonna he's gonna do his thing and push his teammates, and I think uh some of the guys are gonna feed off of that. So um I think you're gonna see an intense Knicks team, and hopefully we'll see fourth quarter X and X's and O's and proper usage of the bench. Those are the two things that were uh Thibodeau was criticized for, but um Mike Brown is the question mark for me out of everything. Is he going to be the coach that holds them accountable? Is he going to be tough on them during the playoffs? Is he going to demand more? Um, and I think he needs to be more intense uh with this squad because they respond to that. Um so we'll see. Uh uh maybe they turn into that Tibbs Knicks team for the playoffs, but Brown's got to be a little bit more Tibbs-like uh as far as intensity uh in these games. So he's the wild card. So I for me, I got New York, Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals, and I believe my Knicks topple Cleveland and they finally make it back to the NBA Finals. So that's yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:20

I I I'm obviously I'm picking Boston here, but if the if the Knicks were to be Boston, then I have all the confidence in the world that they could 100% go against Cleveland.

SPEAKER_03 29:31

Yeah, um, because I I don't know, for some funny feeling, Detroit, Detroit, Detroit, Detroit. This is gonna be their second time doing this thing, you know? Um, and now there's expectations. That's a whole different level of pressure. And I think this this Cleveland team is tried and tested, and they've been to the playoffs, and they're gonna give them a tough fight. That's why I really feel uh Cleveland, you guys could disagree with me. Um, but on the West side of things, yes, uh, who do you see? I I know there's still one matchup to be determined, which is the team that's gonna get fed to OKC for a slaughtering match between uh Golden State and uh the Clippers. The Clippers, yep. So who do you got there?

SPEAKER_04 30:32

As far as LA and Golden State?

SPEAKER_03 30:35

Uh yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:36

Yeah. Um I don't know if the Golden State Warriors have that lore that they once had. And I think that LA's is a little bit more underrated than people think. Uh I still do like how uh Kawhi, even though he's not the same old, but still a pretty solid player, still a pretty good leader on the floor. And uh even though for a quiet individual, when he when he's in gold mode and when he's healthy, he's uh he's a beast. Um Yeah, I don't know why, but my gut is saying the LA Clippers. Really? I don't think that I don't think Golden State has that lore that they once had. I think it's it's over with the the the pixie dust is already shaken off.

SPEAKER_03 31:22

Okay. Um so that series, obviously, whoever wins that is gonna lose to OKC, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_04 31:29

Correct. I agree with that.

SPEAKER_03 31:31

The most boring series series in the West, Lakers, Rockets. Who you got? I got the Houston Rockets on this one. I agree with you there. Uh Denver, Minnesota.

SPEAKER_04 31:44

That's gonna be a really interesting one with Anthony Edwards and Joe Kitch. And yeah, that's gonna be really, really interesting. Uh I really I really like Minnesota. I love their toughness, I love their grittiness, but there's just something that I feel like they're not able to get over Denver. I think that Denver really has their number, and I think I'm gonna go with Denver on this one.

SPEAKER_03 32:07

Uh I I wouldn't disagree. I don't I think Minnesota's still a piece away, a player away. Uh San Antonio and Portland. I for me Spurs. It's a sweep.

SPEAKER_04 32:21

I think it's a sweep.

SPEAKER_03 32:24

So that lines up Denver and San Antonio.

SPEAKER_04 32:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:30

What do you what do you think about that?

SPEAKER_04 32:32

That should be a very interesting Western Conference finals because Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending champs, still a very electric team.

SPEAKER_03 32:40

Oh, you already skipped all the way. So rock thunder over Rockets, obviously. I agree with you there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, I think the Spurs uh beat Denver, shocked Denver.

SPEAKER_04 32:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 32:59

Um, and it's a Spurs Thunder series.

SPEAKER_04 33:03

Yeah, yeah, that's what I was getting at.

SPEAKER_03 33:04

I think it's OMB gets his first taste of uh the f the Western Conference Finals.

SPEAKER_04 33:12

And I think uh yeah, I think I think uh San Antonio really has a chance to dethrone the Oklahoma City Thunder.

SPEAKER_03 33:21

Interesting. San Antonio New York. I got New York, I got New York Thunder. That's a crazy scenario, actually. I didn't I didn't even think about that. Or it's 99 all over again. It's also the rematch of the NBA Cup.

SPEAKER_04 33:44

True. Very very true.

SPEAKER_03 33:48

Wow, so lots to digest there. Um, I'm looking forward to it. It starts Saturday at 6, game one against Atlanta. Um what team do you want to talk about first? Uh let's let's go with the New York Yankees.

SPEAKER_04 34:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 34:08

Let's go with the Yankees. Um how are you feeling about your squad so far?

SPEAKER_04 34:17

Uh I mean, it's not like we're smooth sailing in New York at all, but um at the end of the day, it really comes down to fundamentals and it comes down to health. Uh and I what's interesting about this Yankees team is that they I don't think they're necessarily as bad as people are projecting them to be, especially Yankee fans like Nit Totoro, who think that every time the Knicks uh the Yankees lose, it's already Armageddon. Uh but there's just something like whenever whenever they're on top of the game, when they hit on all races, then they could beat anybody in the in the league. But when they have mental errors and little uh uh weird decisions by management, this then the third, then it looks really, really bad. So it's it's there's no middle ground with the Yankees right now. Either they look like they're a solid team or they look like a complete dumpster fire and they can't meet somewhere in the middle, and maybe that's just them shaking off the jitters and everything else that comes with the beginning of the season, and maybe there's a little bit of acclamation, especially after the uh WBC. Um judges, you know, he's doing all right. Uh Trent Grisham, he had that um had that amazing play uh the other night as well, which was uh a little bit of a shocker. Uh but I still don't trust Cashman. I still don't trust Boone. I think that uh health is gonna become an issue at one point with the Yankees, and we could expect Brian Cashman to make some kind of trades that is gonna try to elevate this team. But ultimately, uh, you know, I I I've been saying it over and over. I feel like the Yankees are gonna be a good a pretty good team, but they're still gonna they they still don't have what it takes to get over that hump. I don't I just don't feel I just don't see them winning a championship anytime soon, especially when they consider uh doing everything over and over again. I mean they double down. I mean Brian Cashman is a GM that double, triples, and quadruples down whatever he believes and says and does, and it hasn't necessarily translated to it hasn't translated to uh championships yet. And I think that's more than you guys.

SPEAKER_03 36:22

He knows more, he knows more than you guys. He's uh he's the best GM in the league. He he he knows what he's doing, okay.

SPEAKER_04 36:34

We'll see what happens at the trade deadline.

SPEAKER_03 36:37

I mean they're 10 and 8, right? Yeah. Five and four home and away.

SPEAKER_04 36:43

But that losing streak was was pretty concerning because if people if if other teams are able to see the weaknesses that the Yankees play, they could use that and expose them and take advantage of it going into the season if they don't make the proper adjustments. Now, I am also excited that Carlos Rodan and Garrett Cole will be coming back, so it'll help out the pitching, it'll help out the rotation. And uh, you know, I don't know what they're gonna do about the bullpen, but you know, I I feel when those guys are coming back, especially Cole, uh, it's a it's a better security blanket for me.

SPEAKER_03 37:13

And I think that's uh one of the guys in the road could get that boost. One of the guys in the rotation right now is gonna have to be a long man. It might be Warren or or heel that goes into the bullpen as a long relief. So that can only help the bullpen, right? Um currently sitting in second place behind Tappa. Baltimore, we don't know what they are yet. No, Toronto doesn't look like Toronto right now.

unknown 37:42

No.

SPEAKER_03 37:44

Um, but I can tell you this that division is gonna be scary.

SPEAKER_04 37:49

It is. As the as the season progresses and when summer comes, it's gonna be box office.

SPEAKER_03 37:56

Yeah, because uh last place is Boston at 7 and 11 right now.

SPEAKER_04 38:01

Yeah, and I don't think Boston is nearly as bad as their record says they are right now.

SPEAKER_03 38:05

No, they're not. I think they were like one and something or two and something to start out, right? And they're they're starting to creep back up.

SPEAKER_04 38:15

Yeah, no, don't get me wrong, I love seeing the blast place, but it's not something that's gonna be so that that was my point of going through those teams and going through the records.

SPEAKER_03 38:25

Um Tampa looks fantastic. Um, what's the name of the kid that they have that plays small ball, uh kills with speed, bunt, uh plays very similar to Ellie uh De La Cruz. Bird? Uh no. Uh Tampa's got a kid you guys gotta watch out for, besides Junior Camonero, who is a star and a stud. Um and I'm gonna put you guys Chandler Sampson is his name.

SPEAKER_04 38:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 39:00

Chandler Sampson, give you some numbers here, is batting 407. OPS of 910, four RBIs, not any home runs yet. But he had fifty-nine at bats already, twenty-four hits, two doubles, three walks, only struck out three times. That's impressive. Um he looks like he's projected to have around 243 hits, 20 doubles, 40, 50 RBIs, 30 walks, 30 uh strikeouts. Um, I'm trying to get to his stolen basis because the kid can run. He's exciting to watch. Um, once he's on base, it it causes a real distraction and problem for the pitchers. So Chandler Simpson, a name to watch. The other one I already told you, Junior Camanero will be an all-star and will be creeping up in uh some of those MVP conversations around this the season. Uh Tampa's pretty solid, right? They play the game the right way. Um, the other teams in that division, heavily analytical. Yeah, the the other teams in that division, so Ronald's gonna be awesome. They're finally gonna figure things out. I think them being sweeped by the White Sox was like uh wake up, forget about what you did, where you didn't accomplish that. Um so those are all these teams in there are gonna be a problem for the Yanks. Right. So that's gonna be a fun division to watch. What's something you think and feel the Yankees should do to get on a more consistent winning path right now?

SPEAKER_04 41:17

You mean besides firing Aaron Boone?

SPEAKER_03 41:21

Um give me something that's gonna happen. That could happen.

SPEAKER_04 41:28

Joe's can get hurt again.

SPEAKER_03 41:32

You know, this is something I've I've said this a couple times. I think there's too much weight on his shoulders. I think he needs a he definitely needs uh a robin to his Batman.

SPEAKER_04 41:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:52

And although Stan has been great, there's a health problem with it.

SPEAKER_04 41:58

Yeah, and he really doesn't really come alive until the playoffs, anyway.

SPEAKER_03 42:03

So uh if I could tell you, hey, Cashman has uh an opportunity to trade for a guy around the league, who's someone you would like to see? That intrigues you.

SPEAKER_04 42:19

That's a good question. Uh I mean the obvious answer would be Otani. I mean Up and Comer.

SPEAKER_03 42:33

No, I'm talking about So there's three of those. There's a Soto, there's a Judge, there's an Otani. Yeah, you have Judgy, right? Who do you feel will get the offense going consistently and will be a Soto-esque type player that goes compliment to Judge? That's what Judge's really missing right now. Yeah, uh his his second guy, you know. Yeah. So if I I'm gonna throw out a couple names.

unknown 43:10

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 43:11

Do you think Luisa Rayas would change the way that lineup looks?

SPEAKER_04 43:17

I don't know about changing, but he's certainly elevated.

SPEAKER_03 43:22

And this is something that was actually talked about. Yankee fans don't get too excited though. I know where you're going with this too. Their front office did discuss this. Fernando Tatis Jr.

SPEAKER_05 43:39

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 43:40

Where do you think that puts you? Like if he came to the Yankees? Mm-hmm. I w I think that would what would you you're cashman, what would you give up for?

SPEAKER_04 43:55

That's a good question, because I don't want to give up the farm for just one guy.

SPEAKER_03 44:00

It won't, but he's already locked up long term. Star. Can be on your team for a while.

unknown 44:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 44:12

What about um what about homie from Seattle? Julio?

SPEAKER_03 44:18

No. Center fielder?

SPEAKER_04 44:20

Cal. Cal.

SPEAKER_03 44:21

Raleigh? The way Austin's playing right now? You'd want that? Cal's struggling.

SPEAKER_04 44:31

Yeah, I'm actually looking up those numbers right now.

SPEAKER_03 44:41

I think it'll be a combination of two players. You're gonna need an A Luisa Rayas type of player and a veteran that's not over the hill, that has pop, and has been to the dance. I I I couldn't really finger point a player for you. I think if you just got Tatis, you'll be in a beautiful, tremendous shape. Because that Tatis would give that team energy. Five to a player. Right. Can do it all.

SPEAKER_04 45:23

So we don't have to worry about egos getting the way. So if he has to pull an A-rod and you know play a position that is not a good one.

SPEAKER_03 45:31

And he can play, and he's playing second base this year. Can play outfield. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 45:35

But my point is that even Tatis will understand that the Yankees, this is that Aaron Judge is still the captain. So he is alright.

SPEAKER_03 45:51

Yeah, so he's uh I think they need two players. They realistically need two bats. I think they need to upgrade their base tremendously. Um, I think not going for Arenado or a Suarez type of guy was a mistake. Um if you got Arias and Suarez with Judge and Belly, now you're talking. Now you beefed it up. Um, so you wanna bash me for the last five minutes and talk about the dumpster fire that's going on in Queens?

SPEAKER_04 46:34

Well, see, here's the thing. You know, even though I'm a Yankee fan, I never really had any vitriol towards the Mets, their front office, the players, whatever. For me, it was always about the uh the fans. The fans were the ones that would have uh maybe want to punch a wall. But as far as the team and and and what's going on in the front office, I don't know what's going on. It is a circus. I wish you had any uh some circus music to play there because between the situation between Juan Soto and being on the I. You got Francisco Lindor, who's becoming a villain. He's here for so long that he's still up to see how we wanted to see the villain. I think that Carlos Mendoza is probably gonna be out of a job, and it's not his fault. I think that David Stearns is trying to really put a stamp on this, and he's acting like he's the smartest one in the room, and he's got David Cohen, uh Stevie Cohen's checkbook. Uh I I yeah, I I'm I want to see wins, and I want to see how far the Yankees could go, but there's also people in the front office, a la Brian De Palma, that make me feel like that's not sustainable.

SPEAKER_03 47:42

So the Mets are cooked. Yeah. Completely. Uh there's no culture in the locker room.

SPEAKER_04 47:52

You got an owner that can't stop meeting.

SPEAKER_03 47:57

I don't think that's an issue though.

SPEAKER_04 47:59

The issue is this it's not really an issue, but it's gonna be made an issue.

SPEAKER_03 48:03

And I wrote an article, and I wrote an article on this, right?

SPEAKER_04 48:07

Okay, perfect plug.

SPEAKER_03 48:08

We have uh this and this article was a week after Soto sign with the Mets. We have a this is a sequel to a movie I've seen before.

SPEAKER_04 48:22

Yeah, this is gonna be Deep Impact or Armageddon.

SPEAKER_03 48:26

This is uh this is Armageddon, was the Yankee version. The Mets have the deep impact version, right? Okay, and I'm sorry, I'm sorry to throw some strays to uh it's part of your emotion. Right, there's an ego thing, right? Alex came to New York eagoless, just wanting to win. Arod is probably the smartest baseball player that could translate to one of the greatest managers of all time.

SPEAKER_04 49:02

Yeah, his cerebral is pretty fantastic.

SPEAKER_03 49:05

He comes to New York, moves from a gold glove position, which by the way, he was on his way to be known as the greatest shortstop of all time, decides to move over to third, accepts that challenge. Okay, um, has said something about his buddy. Derek is the type of guy, if you slide him once, he's not gonna let you slide him again.

unknown 49:30

Right.

SPEAKER_03 49:31

So Derek's ego and the fact that he had rings already, uh he felt like when Alex came, he had to watch his back. I feel we have the exact same scenario in City Field. Lindor's been here, tested, been through the fires, got us to that 2004 NLCS, right?

unknown 49:59

Right.

SPEAKER_03 50:00

Soto comes in here, high-priced free agent they signed. Yankees made a trade for A-Rod and then re-signed him. But uh A-Rod obviously made more money than Jeter. Soto just wants to win, he wants to compete, and he wants to make this team a contender, consistent contender. I felt their first year together, want to get back seat. He lets he wanted to see if this was really Lindor's team. Um it seems like a lot of the players in the clubhouse of the Mets have issues with their high price shortstop. By the way, my favorite player, right? If there's a common denominator here, it might be Francisco. And and I'm not saying it's not salvageable yet, right? But I'm saying I'm Steve Cohen, I'm David Cern. I have possibly the best Dominican player, possibly the best Puerto Rican player, two short future Hall of Famers. Yeah. I saw this movie on the other side of New York. I make an effort to change this narrative as soon as possible. Um, when you see all the new additions that have been made to the team, and you see how they are with Soto, you see more engagement, you see Juan's trying to coach him through it. He's trying to be a leader. I think Juan came into this season like, this is my squad, my team. I'm gonna put it on my back, I'm gonna chase down Oltani for an MVP, and we're gonna go and compete in the playoffs. I've seen things for Francisco Lindor this season I've never seen before, forgetting out, um, Lacadais ago, getting thrown out at first, trying to put on a glove. I've never seen Francisco like that.

SPEAKER_04 52:08

Yeah, there's something going on with him.

SPEAKER_03 52:11

He's always been uber competitive. Now, I do not know the inner workings of what's going on on either camp. Right, all I know is there is some kind of ego, whether it's from Soto's side, Lindor's side. I didn't want to believe it because I felt like the media was hyping this thing up too much. Now, the fact that Soto has been out for so long, I think it's kind of methodical on his end.

SPEAKER_04 52:41

Um now, when it's all said and done, when uh, and we're we're getting way ahead of ourselves here. Do you blame the onus on Cohen or Mendy or even Cerns? I think Cohen's gonna be there's gonna be one person that's gonna be a donkey at the end of the season.

SPEAKER_03 53:02

So I mean, I don't know the inner workings of the locker room, right? I think Cohen's saying he would never name a captain, send a big message to everybody, and I think everybody in their eyes was like, you know, Lindor's gotta be the clear-cut captain, but there's obviously something else going on behind closed doors, right? There's a reason why Nemo accepted a trade to leave, there's a reason Alonzo wasn't dying to come back. Obviously, you just saw with the Oakland series, McNeil was very like tight with the other guys. Lindor comes over, it looks very business-like. I don't know what is going on. I know when Javi Baez was here and things were going south, Lindor was also playing into what Javi was doing. I'm Cohen, I'm Stern, I'm pulling both of my star players into my office, and I'm finding that middle ground now. These guys are locked into you for multiple years, so no longer than the other. Ego's got to be put aside.

SPEAKER_04 54:19

Yes, 100%.

SPEAKER_03 54:22

So the future of this franchise is literally hanging right now, and I think Mendy might not be the guy to lead this ball club. I think it might be time for a Carlos Beltron or a Joe Girardi to come in.

SPEAKER_04 54:44

That's not a shade, and that's not a shade to it's not.

SPEAKER_03 54:47

Mendy's a player's manager. I think we need something different. Beltron would command the respect of all these players automatically.

unknown 54:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 54:58

Girardi is a whatever they say, militant, whatever, you gotta respect him. Champion player, champion manager. I think it is time for a change there. So the two things that need to happen is you need to evaluate your manager situation, and you need to evaluate your two-star players. Correct. Because I'm gonna be honest with you, I've watched this team, and there's very there's some spots I'm excited about. I am excited about Luis Roberts Jr. I think he can be phenomenal. I think he has an admiration for Soto. I I really love the Polanco thing, but the defense is a question. Run prevention, that's your thing. It's a question in the infield, especially if Lindor is playing the way he's playing. Um Vientos answer one of your questions. I think Vientos should see the bulk of the time right now. It looks like he's turning a corner. Beatty should not. Beatty should be the one in the back. We don't know what a Carson is yet. So there might be we might have to bring in another player. What about the other guys that are down in the minors? Mostly we most of our guys are infielders and pitching prospects and stuff like that. We need a veteran guy, we need another veteran voice hiring JD Martinez. Good move by Stern. Because it's already had an effect on Vientos.

unknown 56:38

Right.

SPEAKER_03 56:39

But we need a veteran guy that has that will command the respect of Soto and Lindor. Right.

SPEAKER_04 56:49

And Mendy's just not built that way.

SPEAKER_03 56:51

I don't think Mendy's gonna. He's just trying to make his sure his guys are feeling good and they're ready to compete. I think you're gonna need a guy to say, this is my team, my rules, and this is how we're rocking. So correct. I'm not watching any Met games so they start figuring their shit out. And that's that's just me. So, yes, Yankee fans, you're correct. Yes, we suck. Yes, some of these experiments have failed. I love the rotation, but we're gonna be losing these. It's gonna be the Johann Santana years. We're gonna be losing these 2-1 games, these 3-2 games, these really tight post games. Some games we won't be able to score any runs. I want to see McLean. I want to see Freddie Peralta, which eventually is gonna be, he's gonna get going.

unknown 57:46

Right.

SPEAKER_03 57:47

But the offense and the defense is a question. And you were preaching run prevention, David. So you need to fix your team, your roster, and your manager.

SPEAKER_04 58:02

Yeah, stop thinking that you're the smartest guy in the room.

SPEAKER_03 58:05

So too much.

SPEAKER_04 58:11

No, I don't think so.

SPEAKER_03 58:15

Well, I really love this interactive feature that we have with this new layout, this new stream.

SPEAKER_04 58:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 58:21

Um I will be booking a guest next week. I'm very excited about that. I'm already in the works. I'm gonna set that up and I'll announce it. We I will chop some of this stuff up. Um Jason's working on something. I got a secret little project I'm working on. I'll announce it next episode. Um can't wait to hear it. And this was very therapeutic. I very much needed this tonight. And just another night to spend time with my my guy Jason here.

SPEAKER_04 58:59

Yeah, and you know something, Rick, you're right. Because, you know, now to get the specifics, but um just us covering everything that we covered today basically made me. It was let's just say it was a tremendous distraction. That's all I'm gonna say.

SPEAKER_03 59:13

Yeah, and you know, I I I really was looking, I I left work, look, really looking forward to doing an episode with you. Uh excitement around the Knicks. So we'll see you guys next week, same time, same channel.

SPEAKER_04 59:31

Till then, and let's make sure to follow each other on social media.

SPEAKER_03 59:36

Yes, follow me at it's Rick H. And I am follow. Go ahead. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_04 59:45

And you can find me, I am Jason Enrique on all social media platforms.

SPEAKER_03 59:50

And you can follow the show at the 2 a.m. crew.

SPEAKER_04 59:52

Yes, yeah. Um peace to the 2 a.m. Jason Page.

SPEAKER_03 59:58

Rest in peace to the 2 a.m. Rick Page. Um so for now, uh, we'll see you next week. Enjoy the rest of your week. Enjoy that Saturday game on the Knicks.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:12

I was just gonna say, ladies and gentlemen, go Knicks.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:15

Let's go Knicks on a Saturday.