101 Reasons to Watch: Ken Davidoff Talks October Baseball and Football | Mac Daddy

Mac Daddy gives you at least 101 reasons to watch today’s episode.

And no, we are not talking about Dalmatians.

Baseball writer Ken Davidoff, author of 101 Lessons From the Dugout, joins Patrick McEnroe and Big Daddy to bring his wit, insight, and deep knowledge of the boys of summer.

The timing could not be better with the baseball playoffs underway.

PMac also leads a wide ranging football conversation, starting with last night’s game in Cleveland, where the surprising 3 and 1 Browns came away with the win.

Enjoy the conversation. We think it is a great way to kick off the weekend.

Presented by Volition America.
Sponsored by Dos Hombres and Fire Dept. Coffee.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_04 0:02

All right, everyone, welcome to another edition of MacDaddy, presented by our friends at Volition. I am Patrick McEnroe. He is rich Big Daddy Selgado joining us from his home in Long Island. Lauren Emery, our producer of this wonderful program, is here still pumping his ducks. He's got his fire department coffee, he's got his dose home braids. Our other sponsors, we appreciate their support as well. And our guest today, the one and only Ken Davidoff, and his book is absolutely phenomenal, everyone. You got to check it out. 101 lessons from the dugout. Uh, a good friend of mine, a baseball expert, and just a hell of a good guy. Not to mention the fact that he came and supported our tennis event out in Long Island this summer, the Johnny Mac Tennis Project, to help our kids and uh give them an opportunity to play tennis. So, Kenny, we appreciate you being here. And uh I can't wait to hear about your thoughts on baseball. We might even put you on the spot on a little football as well, but particularly about your book. So welcome to the program.

SPEAKER_03 1:00

Uh Patrick and all you guys, uh, thanks for having me. I'm a rookie here, excited and uh fire away. Anything you got, uh, I'm ready.

SPEAKER_04 1:08

Well, let me let's start with this before we get into the book because baseball uh playoffs underway. You're gonna come on my show tomorrow, too, on Holding Court on Sirius XM, which I appreciate you doing that as well. Yankees absolutely dominate the Sox. Uh, a lot of Yankee fans, including yours, truly truly was a little concerned coming into this series with how the Sox played sort of midway through the season when they had that great run, came in a little sluggish into the playoffs, and that showed up 18-2 for the Yankees. Were you surprised at how easily they dismissed the Red Sox in those two games?

SPEAKER_03 1:40

I was, Patrick. I I would have predicted the Yankees to win, but I just I thought the Red Sox would would put up more of a fight. And to be frank, I thought the Yankees, there's so much pressure on the Yankees every year to win it all. I thought that cloud would, you know, uh compromise their abilities, but it certainly did not.

SPEAKER_04 1:57

Well, talking about pressure, and uh we're gonna get to the football, by the way, because that was a hell of a game last night with the Browns and the Steelers. Uh Big Daddy, I know you're interested in that, but let me ask you about when you talk about pressure in baseball, how much pressure are the Dodgers under, you know, to try to three-peed, and we know about the payroll, etc., etc. How much pressure do you think is on them to try to do something that has rarely been done?

SPEAKER_03 2:20

Yeah, I would say that's more internal pressure, Patrick, you know, on them, on that group to achieve that, you know, I'm not as opposed to the their fan base, you know, uh external pressure. But look, I I cover the the Jeter Dynatori Dynasty Yankees, and that's why I give the edge to the Dodgers until they prove otherwise. Because when you have that shared history of success, it's such an X factor for you when you hit moments of adversity, your ability to overcome that because you know you've done that before.

SPEAKER_04 2:49

Yeah, and they've certainly done that the last two years. Hasn't been easy for them to get through the playoffs at times, especially the Padres gave them trouble a couple years ago, and the Padres red hot coming into uh the playoffs. We're gonna get to your book momentarily uh and get a little dig in a little more into the playoffs, but I want to ask you, Big Daddy, about what you thought of my I I don't know if I'm gonna call him my guy yet, because I've been pumping him a little bit the last couple weeks, Deshaun Watson. Hello? I never thought I'd say he's my guy, but he got it done again after Aaron Rodgers pulled the Steelers back to tie the game. But Watson leads them down the field to kick the 56-yard field goal to win the game. What'd you make of that performance by the Browns? And are they for real, Big Daddy?

SPEAKER_06 3:32

You know, uh it was funny. Uh Lauren and I and our upcoming guest on Monday, Merrill Hodge, I guess I'm letting it out of the bag, but uh he said if the Steelers' offensive line would block like they did against the Bengals, they would win the game. Well, we saw how many times Aaron Rodgers got knocked down on his ass. But uh Deshaun Watson, I thought he played okay. I didn't think he was over the top. I mean, obviously you saw that one uh towards the end there where he missed the guy wide open. I mean, the guy was so open that had he caught it, he probably would have gone all the way. But uh I don't know if they're for real. I mean, they're three and one, I get it, but uh there's still more tests ahead.

SPEAKER_04 4:22

Sounds like Big Daddy is not buying it, Lauren. He's not buying the Browns. I'm not so sure because they got a heck of a defense. A lot of young guys that are that are flying around this in the field. I don't know. I'm not so sure I agree. Big Daddy's our football expert, but something tells me, I mean, the Steelers ain't for real. I mean, that's for sure. The Bengals, you know, we know about their offense, but the defense still suspect. The Ravens, okay, a lot of most people have them as a favorite in the division. I'm kind of leaning Browns right this. Am I off base?

SPEAKER_05 4:54

You aren't off base in the fact that if you're gonna have a run, a real run in the NFL, you need a great defense. And they have a great defense. I think their flaw to Big Daddy's point is probably Deshaun Watson. He does lack accuracy. Um, you know, I'm deliberately wearing a pink shirt because it's breast cancer awareness month, and we know about his struggles with women, and and and it's so it makes it hard to root for the guy. But but in terms of actual football play, I think he he he can keep it, he can extend a play, he looked good, he has good young receivers, as opposed to Rogers, who who's kind of a general manager, but he always gets these slow receivers that don't run good patterns, and he has Pittman and Metcalf running around and he's mad at them, and he's the one that handpicked them. So I think you're right that Pittsburgh's going the wrong direction, and Cleveland has every ability to take this division, but I don't know if they're legitimate.

SPEAKER_04 5:47

Well, let me ask you this, Big Daddy, because um Rogers was not only annoyed at his wide receivers, but he appeared to be pretty annoyed at head coach Mike McCarthy last night. Could you do any lip reading there? Could you tell us what was going on there?

SPEAKER_06 6:01

I think he was probably like, get the fucking play in. Excuse my friends. Hurry the hell up. Why are we going, you know, delay a game? I mean, the if I'm reading lips, that's what that looked like. I mean, it's just you know, he's uh, hey, listen, he's he he can yell back all he wants, he has full right and he deserves to, but you know, there's still the respect thing of, you know, hey, I'm the player, he's the head coach.

SPEAKER_05 6:30

And he's he reminds me Aaron Rodgers reminds me of Max Scherzer. He's sort of like the the football version of Max Scherzer. So so I guess my question is when you're covering guys like Scherzer and you know they're so unique and you got to stay out of their space, especially when on the day they're pitching. Yeah, how do those things translate? Like, how do you see a guy like that?

SPEAKER_03 6:49

That's that's a fascinating question, Lauren. I I think there has to be a there is with Max, there's a walking on eggshells component, but I also to Max's credit, I he's in on the joke, right? Like uh like he knows how how strong he can get on the days he's pitching. I think that that helps uh soften those eggshells. Uh, you know, I I I defer to Big Daddy on uh on on whether that's the case with Mr. Rogers.

SPEAKER_04 7:14

Let me ask you this about your just to shift to your book real quick, because I think there's some lessons we can learn from Aaron Rogers's, you know, issue issues going on there. And I liken chapter two when you talk about, now I come from an individual sport, right? Tennis, but did you know, um, Kenny, that I was a huge baseball player. I'm not huge player, I love baseball. I played all through grade school, and I love I played shortstop, like I had good hands, and I played a little third, and I pitched a bit. I didn't, I wasn't a good power pitcher, but I could, you know, I could pitch, you know, maneuver the ball pretty well. But you talk about in chapter two, you know, and this is lessons mostly for kids, and I think particularly you're trying to talk, you know, talk some sense into parents who in all of sports are out of control. I see it at our tennis again. In fact, someone on this column might have been a little out of control as a tennis player, but we'll talk about that another day. Um, this is a this is about you, uh Kenny, and some of your tips that you give. So, what did it what's the tip for the kid that doesn't get in the lineup? You know, when they come to the ballpark, they take they travel, you know, three hours to go to the game and they're not in the lineup. I know that's one of your big tips in chapter two.

SPEAKER_03 8:22

For sure, for sure. And and just for your audience. So it's 101 lessons from the die. Each chapter is one or two pages, just hitting on some element of these games, baseball and softball, and how you can carry that to the rest of your life. So if you get to the field, as Patrick said, and you're not in the lineup, how do you deal with that? Obviously, you don't want it to ruin your day. You want to kind of steal up and say, all right, it's my job today to be the best substitute I can be. Pinch runner, pinch uh pinch hitter, defensive replacement, uh, and and win more playing time the next time. And then for these young people in particular, but I think for all of us, you can translate that to the rest of your life. You know, for a young person who wants to uh join the school play and they try out, but they don't get the lead role, they get the role with two lines. All right, well, crush those two lines and you'll win more stage time for the next time.

SPEAKER_04 9:07

Yeah, no, it's a good point. Lauren, are you listening?

SPEAKER_05 9:10

It's great advice, and I actually thank you. I appreciate it. You you've done I think Ken on every version of this show, he's told me how much of a shithead I was as a patent parent. So it's it's it's really, really good for my ego. Every time I start to think better of myself, he reminds me of it.

SPEAKER_03 9:26

It's like a cowropkin like streak every time. Exactly.

SPEAKER_05 9:29

I was gonna say something, and I was gonna say something nice. PMAC, you have you have my one of my favorite backhands of all time. So now I gotta ask you, were you a switch hitter? Did you hit left-handed? Because you had that beautiful backhand.

SPEAKER_04 9:42

Yeah, I hit left-handed, and I think that was because, yeah, because I throw right-handed. Uh, I play golf left-handed, but I think it was just because I when I started tennis, I was so little, I was three years old. And I used to go hit against the wall for hours and hours because you know, I did whatever my brothers did, and they were both older. John didn't start playing tennis till he was like eight and a half, which is very old to become a professional, never mind become number one in the world. So I would always, you know, hit my back, and that's uh obviously why it became my best shot. My forehand sucked, my serve basically blew. Uh, but I I was a good contact hitter, Kenny. I could, I I I never struck out. So I was, you know, I'm not gonna say Wade Bobs like, because he's one of the ultimate, by the way, he's gonna come on our show at some point. Um, who was the greatest hit? Who's the greatest hitter you ever saw?

SPEAKER_03 10:29

Wow. Well, if you're talking all around, I'm just an amazing hitter. Manny Ramirez comes to mind, New York guy, uh, and putting aside the the drug test issues. Just just sanity in Manny. So yeah, yeah, such a brilliant hitter, you know, and just so intuitive, but also studied and and just you know, power and average, just such a such a beast at the plate.

SPEAKER_04 10:53

All right, let's switch uh quick because we're just gonna go back and forth here. This is what we do on Mac Daddy. We just fly all over the place. And Big Daddy, I want to ask you this, looking ahead to Sunday, because you got, you know, I mean, the Rams playing the Eagles in Philly, right? And the Rams, by the way, one and two, are still favorite in this game. Uh, then you got you know those 0-3 teams like the Chargers, like um the Tampa Bay Bucks, you know, the New England's in trouble. They got to play Buck. What team, what team that was supposed to be pretty good, that's now in trouble, is in the most trouble right now as you look at week four.

SPEAKER_06 11:31

Well, I'd have to say the Chargers. I mean, I I think everyone's shocked at their record and the way things are going. Uh, I don't even know where to begin, uh, where to break it down. Uh, it seems like they're just missing something, you know. But uh and then you have the opposite where you have Brad Gilbert's Raiders, 3-0. Right. You know, give BG a shout out. He's gotta be tiptoeing through the tulips uh right now. But you know, they got a big one, you know, they got the Chiefs coming in there, so uh the real test comes this weekend for them.

SPEAKER_04 12:07

Uh what's your game of the week, Lauren? What's your game of the weekend NFL-wise?

SPEAKER_05 12:11

Uh uh the Kansas City Raiders game, believe it or not. I mean, I it's kind of it's uh shocking to think that the Raiders could be four-on in top of the uh the AFC West. We you know Big Daddy brought up the Chargers, you know, they gotta go to Seattle, and that's not gonna be I I think they're probably 0-4. Uh so yeah, I think that's the game of the week. I mean, there's some really good ones. I mean, I think as a 49er fan, seeing Denver come in is a is a fabulous game. Uh, there's some very, very good games on paper this weekend.

SPEAKER_06 12:41

Uh you know the game that hey, you know, uh you know, the game that really kind of intrigues me too is Jags at Bengals. Uh because the Jags seem to be making that step towards, you know, legitimacy. And Cincinnati, they're still good. I mean, they they they lost last week, but they had their opportunity. So uh I I I would circle that one as one that you want to keep a close eye on because you want to see what the Jags are all about, especially going into Cincinnati.

SPEAKER_05 13:14

Let me ask you, Patrick, your your Jets are at the Bears, by the way.

SPEAKER_04 13:18

Well, hold but before we get to that, I want to ask him this because I've I've always been kind of a fan of Trevor Lawrence, right? So is he going to going in to play Cincy and Burrow and company, is he on the cusp of getting to that level, you know, of a Burrow of a Mahoan? I don't think he's quite there, but to me, he's on the cusp. Do you think he's how close is he to that level?

SPEAKER_06 13:39

He's there. I mean, he's getting there, and uh, you know, they've got a real uh Cohen's a good coach, and he's got them turned around. So let's like I said, going into Cincinnati, Cincinnati has a defense. So we'll see how they fare with them. But again, like you said, is he there? Yeah, he's on his way. He's not just there yet, but he is on his way.

SPEAKER_04 14:04

Cincinnati does have a defense, that's true, but I I'm not sure I'd call it a great defense. I mean, it's a little better than it was last year, but uh I don't know. What did what's your what's your vibe, Ken, on the football scene? Who's your football team? Who do you like?

SPEAKER_03 14:19

Well, I'm a little nudge, Patrick. So I'm a University of Michigan graduate. So the way I just a big blue guy, so I follow the alums, you know. So right now, I mean you mentioned the Chargers, 0-3, very disappointing, and obviously Harbaugh is our our guy, so I'm I'm rooting hard for them. I was Jets as a kid, but thankfully through hours of therapy, I moved past that. Um and uh so now I just uh I I follow the Michigan guys.

SPEAKER_04 14:47

Well, I need I need a little I need a little more therapy because as Lauren just rightly pointed out, I'm I'm still a Jets fan, and I'm uh, you know, we sort of revel in the misery. Although this season, I mean, we at least we have some some some little sprinkles, little teasers that maybe we could be somewhat decent, Big Daddy. So Lauren just mentioned their game this weekend. What do you make of their chances to try to get to two, you know, because the the things could get away from us in a hurry. I know we've played pretty well, you know, even in the couple games we've lost, uh, but what do you make of the importance of this one to try to get back to to 500?

SPEAKER_06 15:25

You know what? I think the the uh the goose is there to cook. And what I mean by that is obviously the Bears coming off that big win on uh last week on Monday night. Um I think the Jets could surprise them. I really, really do. I know I know people will be out there saying, Big daddy, what are you smoking? What are you drinking? No, I haven't had any those sombras from behind there. But uh I think the Jets they could get them. I think this is one of those games that they can go in there and get them. And uh believe it or not, our friend celebrity chef Dino Gatto from Rey's, we have a date there, by the way. I forgot to tell you, uh, he's all he's going out there for the game.

SPEAKER_04 16:13

Oh, really? Heading to Shite Town, okay.

SPEAKER_05 16:15

Um Big Daddy, who c who comes in the following week? Because I know I know Patrick would be very interested to know who comes in next week.

SPEAKER_06 16:23

Well, yeah, the what do you call it? The uh the Browns come in to play the Jets, and uh I'll be at that one. I will definitely be uh sending some snippets from there uh next Sunday.

SPEAKER_05 16:36

I don't feel a Pack sideline.

SPEAKER_04 16:38

Yeah, I might have to check that out, you know, get a little what they call it, the green room or whatever. The green, you know, I got my buddy who runs from Michael's restaurant, you know, who runs the green, uh the green room there. So he might be able to, you know, maybe slide me in there.

SPEAKER_06 16:53

That's where I always watch the games from on Jack.

SPEAKER_04 16:56

Of course you do, of course you do. You're a big dad. You do it, you do, you do whatever the blank you want, okay, when it comes to NFL. We know that. Uh he's got all the connections, Kenny. He's all over the place. Do you know that I what I got up this morning, I got up early because I just got back from Europe. I was at the labor cup, which is awesome. Uh, then I went and visited my daughter in Madrid for a few days. She's studying over there, studying abroad. So I had a great time, had dinner with her and her friends, just with her. Uh, went to some museums. I tried to get a little culture in my life, you know, so I went to see some of the great paintings over there. Um, and what I wanted to say was as I was going, you know, watching the highlights of the games, looking at the baseball, who's coming up, you know, prepping for this show, doing my homework. Lauren sends me all the notes, you know, he's all over it. And then I realized, holy mackerel, you know, they're playing tennis right now. So I turned on the tube. You know who's playing right now in in Beijing? The the one and only Novak joke of it. So most people, right, that are following, you know, this show and other shows and the NFL and all, they think the tennis season is over. Meanwhile, you got uh uh Feast and Tiafo. I watched the highlights of that because that was in the middle of the night. Phenomenal match, and Arthur Feast beat Tiafo just as he beat him in the final at Cincinnati. But you realize that the tennis season, Kenny, it's a little bit like the baseball season, right? It never ends. And these guys and gals are over there playing in Asia now for the next couple weeks. Djokovic trying to like see if he can still be competitive. I know you're a big tennis fan. Um, what what what intrigues you right now about the tennis tour in general?

SPEAKER_03 18:37

Wow, wow, that's uh I have to admit, Patrick, I I I'm not so hardcore that like I've I didn't know that Joke. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_04 18:45

Well, that no, that's why I bring it up because most people are not. Most people have no idea. They're like, really? Djokovic is playing in China, the place is sold out, there's 15,000 people there.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

Right, right. But uh I was at the men's final at the open, and I I could see in the booth, and uh, you know, I mean, that was uh, you know, we were hoping for a a a more competitive match, to be honest. But um, yeah, I just feel like the the game is in a in a great place right now. Uh I just I love I I follow the majors, admittedly, more than I follow the you know, the uh the the lower ones.

SPEAKER_04 19:17

You're like a regular sports fan. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_05 19:20

Well let Patrick, let's ask you that question because you are the tennis expert. You are as much tennis as there is, you embody the sport, right? So why would Novak be playing these tournaments? He doesn't need the money. He he's all about recovery. He probably is hoping he has one more Australian in him or something. Maybe he has. I assume he's not done. So why? Yeah, let's answer your own question. Why is he playing these tournaments?

SPEAKER_04 19:45

Well, the we the well, the reason is because he I think he's got a very bad taste in his mouth about what happened this summer, where both in Cincinnati and in the open, his body let him down with heat, uh, exhaustion, and I don't think he wants to go out that way. And so by playing a couple events this part of the season, he can sort of see where he's at and maybe feel better about physically where he is. Because actually, I thought he was moving pretty well. I mean, he's lost maybe a half a step, but he's very passionate just about competing. He still wants to compete. Uh, and until he had these health issues, you could argue in the last couple of years that he was, you know, the third or fourth best player on the planet, right? I mean, obviously Sinner and Alcaraz were above him. He did beat um Sinner in in Australia, which was, you know, kind of kept him going for another six, nine months. And I agree with you. I think he wants to go back to Australia where he's had his most success. But it's a little bit like, you know, Big Daddy, I mean, Aaron Rodgers, right? You know, you know, Brady played until his in his 40s. Yeah, that these guys are able to do it because, like, there's something different about their mindset, right? There's, I mean, obviously, they got the physical talent, but there's still something different. And even whether you're like Rogers or not, okay, I mean, you see the fire in this guy, this is the intensity. And let's be honest, the Steelers have no freaking shot to win an NFL championship, right? To win the Super Bowl. They have no shot, but he still likes to compete. Um, I'm sure he likes the money too, even though he, like you said, well, you think you know they they don't need the money, like you say about Djokovic. Yeah, well, he doesn't need the money, but you know, Rogers doesn't need the money, but what's he making this year, Big Daddy? Like 40, 50 million? I mean, I I I mean I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna turn that down.

SPEAKER_06 21:26

No, listen, if they're willing to pay, you'll play. You know, that's uh really it's not too difficult to say no to, I mean, or say yes to, I mean, because the money's there, and and I think this will be Aaron's last year, and the Steelers need a little bit of help. So, uh, but yeah, the fire is in them. Obviously, you saw last night on Nashville, the whole world saw on TV. So uh, you know, guys like him and like Tom Brady, they just go, go, go, and and uh that's why maybe Djokovic uh being

SPEAKER_03 22:00

close friend of Brady's too probably saw saw that whole thing evolve and says hey you know what let me let me let me keep doing this I think I can still do it you know let me just make some changes I'm sure his whole diet and everything his whole his whole routine's changed after his body kind of let him down those last two matches what what baseball player can is similar to those two those those couple of legends in other sports that you've seen in your years covering the sport sure well lauren mentioned max scherzer I think that's a great comp and another one is Justin Verlander you know I mean Verlander was really hoping to become what would have been the last 300 game winner probably uh didn't quite make it unfortunately this year he only pitched twice and and the second one was uh you know uh uh you know kind of just a ceremonial thing uh and then I mean going back a few decades Nolan Ryan right I mean just he would be the ultimate competitor uh pitched until he's 46 years old and essentially pitched until his arm fell off. CC Sabathia, another guy just loved to compete so much. He made it to about 39 I think. But uh yeah pit pitchers I think are just better comps uh because of just the the toil it takes on their body.

SPEAKER_05 23:17

Yeah Ichiro's like the rare outlier there right the rare exception.

SPEAKER_03 23:21

Yeah. Yeah Ichiro's a good one.

SPEAKER_04 23:24

What do you think as you look at the rest of the playoffs?

SPEAKER_03 23:26

Now the series are set um Yankees underdogs against the Rays who've had a tremendous season um what do you think their chances are and are and how big of a favorite are the Dodgers out in the West I think the Dodgers are a huge favorite over the Braves and the National League overall uh I think the I I feel good about the Yankees and ironically I think what the the X factor is Aaron Judge and not necessarily in the way we would have thought you know is is he going to play? I I'm betting he's not on the active roster uh for this uh this round and the fear I think is yeah he uh understandably is pushing himself to play he's an all-time great uh and but they're in such a groove right now and if you get in Aaron Judge and he's only half baked you know does that shake things up in the wrong way so that's that's uh to me the most fascinating factor to monitor.

SPEAKER_04 24:21

Explain to me how that rule works because I want to understand this. So they if the Yankees like they have to put him on the roster just to be eligible even to be like a pinch hitter. So whether you know they got a certain number they can put on the roster.

SPEAKER_03 24:33

So explain that to me please sure 26 players on your roster and uh yeah you have to activate him at the start of the series uh for him to play at all. That's what the Yankees did last round with John Carlos Stanton who hadn't played since April. Stanton didn't even get in those two Red Sox games but he was available off the bench so they have to decide uh is it worth activating Judge you want Judge and Stanton as both you know these part-time and then and then that then then then that affects how many pitchers you could have which is obviously the key because when you get into these long series is it different with because that it includes pitchers who you need from the bullpen right during the series sure sure yeah so Patrick so they went with 10 pitchers against the Red Sox they're definitely going to increase that for a five game series uh at least 11 quite possibly 12 12 out of 26 uh so then you cut a cut you need to couple cut a couple position players I think Ahmed Rosario the infielder is is very likely to be cut from that roster and then it could be judge for Stanton because Stanton is just so physically compromised. But the one like the last thing you want to do is activate Judge too soon and he gets hurt again and then you'd have to deactivate him for this round and the next round the championship series.

SPEAKER_04 25:43

It's kind of interesting too because like you said Aaron Judge is an all-time player right and if you're Aaron Boone and let's say they win this series they they upset you know Tampa and they get to the championship series and you got like you know baseball is so much about the vibe right it's so much about like how the team's feeling how they're gelling the chemistry right I would say more so than any other sport do you then you know kind of risk you know changing things up by putting a judge in there and then the rest of the team's like wait wait a second we we got a good thing going right here. That's a tough decision.

SPEAKER_03 26:19

It's a tough tough call and it's funny I mean we were talking hockey earlier and I think hockey's the same way in the playoffs like that that hot team vibe and I I know with hockey it's a hot goalie specifically goaltender uh not as much the same with with baseball but I I those two scores are are comparable to me and that's that's the concern about Aaron Judge he was back for about a week you know he had the the major injury that sidelined him for most of the season back for a week did not play well but it was okay because you know it was it it was in the the low stakes situation of the regular season but now in the postseason if you're gonna play him in right field and hit him at the top of the lineup and he's not anywhere close to top strength Aaron Judge that's a problem.

SPEAKER_04 26:59

Yeah that's a big problem.

SPEAKER_05 27:01

Lauren who are you liking in the um in the playoffs right now who are you feeling has got got the momentum right now well I think what's best for baseball would be a Yankees uh dodging World Series but to be honest that would be awesome as a fan of sports like that disgusts me I would hate that uh I would like to see to be honest I'd like to see the Chicago White Sox do something because that's a fun story and uh and I enjoy that and and again to Ken Ken we were talking about in off the call and I'd be curious is I always root for the team that's never won one. So tell us about those two teams and like why those fan bases have you know some reason for hope this year.

SPEAKER_03 27:42

Yeah I mean you have this in this round the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres great series just in a vacuum in terms of the the two teams and their strengths and Mizorowski on the Brewers and the Padres revival and then neither team has ever won a World Series. Throw in the Cleveland Guardians who haven't won one since 1948 a while ago so those are three teams with fan bases who are just starving and I agree like the the most fun World Series I covered were 2004 Red Sox 86 year gap 2005 White Sox 88 year gap I believe 2017 Astros first time ever winning one.

SPEAKER_04 28:20

So series like that there's just so much juice when that happens all right big daddy we we got to give you your props big daddy because I think you missed our follow-up show we did have Brad Gilbert on discussing the the Raiders last week uh we also uh mentioned when you weren't with us the fact that you called Iowa take you know beating Michigan because Kenny reminded me being a big blue guy which I know he's disappointed I was at the game daddy oh you were okay well big daddy called it and now Iowa's got another big one coming up what do you make of the Hawkeyes right now Big Daddy Well listen they're all there Iowa's always been a defensive sound well well sounded team and what and it was funny I was having this conversation with my kid brother who's a defensive coordinator in college and when he was uh coaching against Iowa he always said they don't have the big names there but they've got studs there I mean they've got guys that just on the defensive side just are hard to move they play sound football and they're very very well coached again but now you have Ohio State coming in which is like an NFL team especially with the wide receivers they have especially Smith he's that guy's already I think he's got 5,000 yards already in what they played three games or four games whatever it is so it's uh it that game is going to be very very interesting because I was at home that's uh I've been there that's a tough place to play because you know the the the stadium is on campus and when I say that you're on the sideline from the sideline to the seats there's not much room so the fans are on top of you which makes it for a very loud loud place to play and then you know unfortunately you have that hospital that's there and that's very much a part of every game at Iowa where they have all the uh kids that are in there and uh looking down at the game they they take you know which is really cool because they take time to show the hospital and they what do they do they light it up and then they turn the lights off then they put them back on so uh you know that's uh that's gonna be a hell of a game and uh I think with Iowa now also having some sort of offense uh if they can get their offense going they can make it interesting well you know what was interesting usually Ken it's Big Daddy that drops all the names because he knows everybody but I'm gonna drop a name right now on it it's gonna be connected to you because last night I was in an event in the city for uh Brown University Athletics okay my good buddy who played college basketball at Stanford with me one of my best buddies is now the head coach there um and I ran into Susie Schuster who's married to Rich Eisen who of course is another big Michigan guy and I watched your interview that you did with see you know people think I just like let it fly here no no I do my homework I watched my inner your interview with Rich was just before the season started or just when it got underway and um you gave the same the tip in this one in your book on about chapter two but I want you to give me another one that's related to what you feel about Michigan foot Michigan sports in general. So give me a tip from this book and then tie it in as only someone like you the wordsmith that you are the author that you are that's connected with Michigan and how they're gonna do this weekend.

SPEAKER_03 32:03

Well I will uh thank you for that layup and uh uh chapter 57 errors grow from your mistakes stay in the moment because uh you know I was at that I was at that game last week and Big Daddy great call uh and so I think we were out penaltied you know in the in the bad way we we committed four more penalties than they did and out turnover we we fought uh threw an interception underwood threw an interception at Iowa zero turnovers so the idea of like when you when you make those errors uh you need you can't put your head down you know uh do you from the book do you hang your head kick the dirt throw your helmet and lose your focus or do you pound your glove with your fist and move on to the next play so we need to move on to the next play that game really stung I mean we if just if you look at the basic stats you know yardage and possession time we should have won that game easily and and we did not so we really need to grow from that okay see that you see how we we weave it all together Lauren we tie it in all the pieces you know what I'm saying it's like a I'm not feeling too sorry for the Michigan fan you've had quite a decade so I'm not asking for any pity at all yeah you know it's funny they have a tough game this weekend they got to go into Minnesota yeah and that uh PJ Flack is an amazing coach and you know I love what he's doing with that program.

SPEAKER_05 33:29

It's you know who we're it who would have thought we were talking about Iowa and Minnesota but I I think those two programs have done well and speaking of coaches P Mac another interesting game Notre Dame has one of its decently hard games they got to go into North Carolina and play Bill Belichick yeah it's so funny you say that because I had that on my list of games to watch for college you know that's gonna be you know they got to go across the country obviously not too far but they're going into North Carolina Bill Belichick who's the best defensive guru out there I mean you you know he's up there so it'll be interesting to see how uh Notre Dame shows up uh uh in uh Chapel Hill I don't know about across the country there but I mean it's a little north to you know yeah I mean halfway halfway it's not that all right all right it's not Michigan or Illinois I get that all right well I mean where where does Bill Belichick stand?

SPEAKER_04 34:31

Because I know you you got you you you kind of dialed in there Big Daddy you know some of those insiders that were there they've got they've got you know suffice to say they've had some issues there okay uh on the football program where where where do you think Belichick because you know you coming into the season majorly on the hot seat would he would he say it's still warm or has he cooled it off there?

SPEAKER_06 34:51

I think he's cooled it off a little bit I mean obviously if they could pull this one off then you know all right everyone shut up and you know take it day by take it game by game but uh if uh he's uh there's still a watchful eye it'll be interesting to see how they make the rest of the season work there. You know he's uh he's obviously a Hall of Fame coach and like anybody else you have to get acclimated to the college game when you were in the NFL game so long and you can tell he's already done that and he's making all the right moves. So it'll be interesting to see.

SPEAKER_04 35:29

Again Notre Dame will be a huge huge challenge for them but at least they're at home and uh you know it's it's in his uh in his science uh web there it'll be in his laboratory he has to come up now with the right potion to get them over the hump well uh speaking of uh potions and laboratories his ex-team in the NFL is needs to come up with some potions too Lauren because the Patz and Drake may I mean the the the bloom has fallen off the road there at the time being they look horrendous in the first couple weeks of the season after you know doing what they did last year. So uh how much trouble the Patriots in I think they're done.

SPEAKER_05 36:13

I think they go because well they're going to Buffalo right so they're gonna be one and four i i don't think I don't think you can recover from that I think uh one and three excuse me but I I don't I think the Patriots are done I mean I especially if the Jets win I I think because Buffalo's running away with that and if if Buffalo wins this week with the Patriots and their struggles and Drake May's struggles and Brown hasn't looked good and the defense hasn't stopped anybody so I I personally I think the Patriots are they they were blessed by a great schedule last year and Drake may look great but he is not the same player this year at all.

SPEAKER_04 36:48

Could we actually be saying this Kenny that the Jets and and Big Daddy chime in too that the Jets could actually be the second best team in the division right now?

SPEAKER_06 36:57

Is that possible they look like yeah I think so I mean look just like you mentioned earlier we've gotten a little bit of a taste of what it is to be um the Jets have organization obviously they look like a better team so they're right there. So right now it's just like they're on the goal line they just have to be pushed in you know so I I I think you could be looking at the best second best team in that division whether people want to admit it or whether people want to say we're all crazy whatever the case may be you know what they made the changes on the coaching staff. I think the calming influence there and a guy that will probably be if they have a playoff run there will be a head coaching candidate is my fellow alumnus Frank Reich because he is a good coach he you could see already how things have changes were made where it looks like the Jets have an offense and you know they're doing it with Gino. I mean think about it if you had somebody else there maybe younger or more talented they'd probably get a little bit further so uh I wouldn't count them out. I would and I again I would not be shocked if they went into Chicago and won. Everybody thought I was crazy when I picked them going into Detroit.

SPEAKER_04 38:22

Well no one thought I was crazy at halftime or the third quarter when the Jets were hanging tough with the Lions all right let me ask you this Kenny before I let you go and wrap this up since I I have not had enough therapy I'm still a jet fan give me the give me give me the give me the lesson that I should I should learn from I'll give you a second to think about it the lesson from your book that will help me going forward as a jet fan I think it'd be much cheaper than therapy.

SPEAKER_03 38:52

So what's what what chapter what chapter should I go to religiously to help me out as a jet fan over the course of the next the next few weeks well I'm gonna need you to think very globally on this one Patrick because you are you know you are uh like like all of us here maybe maybe not as much Lauren we're all seasoned right we've all seen a lot yes in our time so chapter 88 averages excellent doesn't mean perfect and this is built in the idea that in baseball softball specifically you know uh you go you you succeed three out of ten times that makes you pretty good right so you have to digest those seven times you don't and and realize the average so you know look uh I know it's been a rough what was the last year the Jets made the playoffs 2012 uh you know if but you know if you look in the global you know really think back Patrick to to the to nameth and the and uh and the the the New York sack exchange years and yeah like you're you're due but you know just think of the joys that the Jets did bring you at individual junctures I know it's yeah there hasn't been much joy uh in the last decade and a half or so but I'm I'll just you know and also think of the sorry go ahead no go ahead finish up no I just think the the joys they bring you even when they do have the big and the fact that they might be the second best team in the FCE so average it out in that way.

SPEAKER_04 40:11

All right I'm gonna I'm gonna you're already making me go back to my Shea Stadium days with you know hot toddy Richard Todd and perfect PAT you know extra point you know Clecko Gastino oh man those are the days big daddy's uh check out the book everyone 101 lessons from the dugout great for parents great for kids in any sport you can learn a lot with all the issues going on in youth sports I call it the overprofessionalization of youth sports we all got to take a hard look at it we appreciate you Ken Davidoff for joining us here on Mac Daddy Big Daddy I'm counting on you baby for the Jets going into Chicago getting it done we'll follow Notre Dame UNC Big Blue Lauren's ducks of course still on the road get on their way to they're gonna make the tournament I think they're gonna make the tournament Lauren I'm with you there appreciate everyone being here we appreciate our sponsor let me say one thing though we that there's there's two college games that we didn't discuss and I'll be very quick to keep an eye on too to keep an eye on the Gators at Missouri and the other game is Miami at Clemson. Keep an eye on those two because I'm looking at Bama Mississippi State that's a great game Bama's a big one too listen if you'll laugh I have my list right here and there it is those are the games those are the games that are must watch people should be paying attention to because they're gonna say a lot come uh Sunday after those games are over never let it be said that Big Daddy doesn't do his homework too okay you saw it right there Ken Davidoff Lauren Emery our producer rich big daddy selgado we're signing off here enjoy week four of the NFL season we'll see you Monday with as Big Daddy said Merrill Hodge Fire Department Coffee Dos Hombres and Volition our sponsors and we are tracking down a few more stay tuned everyone volition america is an authentic disruptive brand of clothing that ultimately gives back so every time the consumer makes a choice to buy volition america they're changing their lives but they're also changing the life of a military or first responder family benefiting folds of honor.

SPEAKER_01 42:38

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