Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / MLB Talk with Matt Snyder, Alec Busse on the Cyclones & Trent's Picks presented by Circa Sports

Transcript

MLB Talk with Matt Snyder, Alec Busse on the Cyclones & Trent's Picks presented by Circa Sports · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

0:01
Our number 2, Miller and Condon, welcome back.
0:03
Iowa Sports Radio Network. Trenton, Ken with you until just
0:07
before the top of the hour. At that time, the drive will
0:09
take over. Heather and Lucas take you until
0:11
5:00. Still to come this hour, Alec
0:14
Bussey covers Iowa State for cyclonealert.com.
0:18
Trent's plays of the day. Circus sports sponsor those.
0:20
But let's talk some baseball, shall we?
0:22
Our friend Matt Snyder joins us this time every Monday to talk a
0:26
little MLB. Matt Trenton.
0:28
Ken, good to talk to you. How was your week?
0:31
Oh, it was a little amazing. I my voice might crack a few
0:35
times because I'm still recovering from the Pacers game
0:38
Saturday night. Tonight.
0:39
Nice. Well, are you going back to any
0:43
of the finals, the two games that will be in Indianapolis for
0:46
the finals? As of now, not yet, but you
0:50
never know. I'm not counting anything out.
0:51
Yeah, got it. That was a great game.
0:54
They really took it to the Knicks in the 2nd 24 minutes
0:57
that is for certain. Well, what did we learn if
1:00
anything about this Dodgers Yankees series, the three-game
1:04
set from over the weekend? Obviously Judge and Ohtani
1:07
wasted little time putting on a show on Friday night.
1:11
Unbelievable. What did we learn if anything?
1:13
Or is it just, you know, two of the best teams going at it and
1:16
it was the three-game series and one team was come out on top?
1:20
It was probably more of the latter, just two teams going at
1:22
it. But I do think that there was
1:24
something to a little bit of the unpredictability of baseball,
1:28
especially when they're two good teams.
1:29
Because Max Freed was 10 or the Yankees were 10 and one.
1:32
And Max Freed starts going in that game.
1:34
The Yankees get a lead early. Do you think, oh, is there
1:37
Freed's going to cruise now and said he gives up six runs.
1:40
He hadn't given up more than two.
1:41
And then he started the season. And then after the Dodgers just
1:45
absolutely bludging the Yankees on Saturday, then you look at
1:47
the pitching match on Sunday with the Yamamoto going and you
1:50
think, oh, hey, the Dodgers are going to sweep them.
1:52
Instead, the Yankees take it to Yamamoto.
1:54
So I think it's just a good reminder, not that we needed it,
1:58
but a good reminder of how unpredictable baseball can be,
2:01
especially in small samples. And where this could definitely
2:05
be a preview of the World Series.
2:06
And it would be the first repeat World Series in 77 and 78 when
2:10
it was the Dodgers and Yankees. We also know how funky things
2:14
can happen in a small series and that either one of these teams,
2:18
or both, could get knocked off before the World Series.
2:21
So Speaking of the Yankees out east, they they are well ahead
2:24
of everybody. It looks like they are going to
2:25
coast. Who is the team though that
2:27
could push them? Is there anybody you like I
2:29
watch in their? Division.
2:30
In their division, because I watched Tiappa last week,
2:32
there's some pieces, but they're a long ways away.
2:34
Ken's Blue Jays has talent, but it doesn't feel like they're.
2:37
Five straight Trent is. It just cruise control though
2:41
for the Yankees. Is there anybody that can even
2:43
get in that 90 plus win plateau? I just don't think so, No.
2:48
I mean, I think it's going to be ebbs and flows and cold for all
2:51
the teams. I still think the Red Sox can be
2:53
the closest thing to put it together, but they have done
2:55
nothing to inspire confidence at all all season.
2:59
And then, yeah, the Blue Jays, they're hot right now, but I
3:02
just don't know how sustainable that is.
3:03
It's probably not Sorry, Ken, the Rays, now, I'm not seen on
3:09
the Rays. I think, you know, obviously the
3:11
Orioles are buried by now. So no, I think the Yankees are
3:14
probably going to cruise, as you said, and they can probably
3:17
position themselves for October by the time we get to September.
3:20
I think so. Let's drop down a division of
3:22
the Central. Watch the Tigers and the Royals
3:25
this weekend. Fun series.
3:26
Watch Trent's crossover with the with the West.
3:29
But Seattle and Minnesota, I think we're in for a heck of a
3:32
fight. I'm not I'm not saying that the
3:35
anybody's going to run down Detroit, but it seems like for
3:38
the second straight year, which is kind of hard head scratcher
3:41
to me, the American League Central is going to be well
3:44
represented in the postseason. Doesn't it look like that to
3:47
you? It does.
3:48
It does look like that. It looks like we had a situation
3:51
last year where when you were going to September, once the
3:54
Tigers got hot enough to get in that race, it looks like, oh,
3:57
hey man, the AL Central could get four playoff teams and you
4:00
at least have 4 contenders. One of them fell off, so they
4:03
got three playoff teams. It's probably going to be
4:05
similar this year with instead. I do think the Tigers are,
4:09
they've shown it long enough. Look, now we're in June, the
4:12
Tigers have shown long enough they have the best record in
4:14
baseball that they're going to be there to stay.
4:16
They're probably going to win the division, but you're
4:18
probably only going to get 2-3. I mean, look, Twins, Guardians,
4:23
Royals, they should all be there contending for a playoff spot.
4:26
So they're going to have games that down the stretch will
4:29
almost be de facto playoff games.
4:31
Then trying to knock one of those is one of those three
4:34
teams out. So I do think all three are
4:36
going to be contenders the whole year.
4:38
They'll have flaws. I mean, for example, the Royals,
4:41
Colin Caglione up, that looks like, hey, we're desperate for
4:44
more often. We need something around Bobby
4:46
Witt Junior, and it's not just around him.
4:48
Like Bobby Witt Junior has not been near as good this year as
4:51
last year. So it looks like they're looking
4:54
for a jump start there. There is, you know, the twins,
4:56
obviously, they need things like they need Rose Lewis to learn
4:59
how to hit again. The Guardians could always use a
5:03
little more often. So yeah, it's going to be fun.
5:06
So we've talked so much about Baltimore, the most
5:08
disappointing team in baseball. Arizona Diamondbacks might not
5:12
be far behind. You see what happened to Corbin
5:13
Burns. And that's exactly where I was
5:15
going. MRI on the elbow.
5:18
Yuck. This team.
5:20
And you look at some of those individual pieces, you know,
5:22
Corbin's bounced back. They've had those pieces, but
5:24
just, it hasn't fit together here.
5:27
If Burns goes down, could we see a team that did invest in this
5:30
squad? Could they become sellers here
5:32
at the end of July? Maybe I I, I think that's
5:35
definitely on the table. It's just so competitive in the
5:38
National League side. They're already five games out
5:41
of a wild card right now. And I know that's still
5:44
technically contending. If you're 5 out down the
5:46
stretch, you're still kind of in it.
5:47
But that seems rather daunting when you look at some of the
5:50
National League teams that are in front of them only in their
5:52
own division. You've got the Giants, Padres
5:55
and Dodgers, and then you go to the National League Central and
5:57
you already the Cubs and Cardinals.
5:58
But look, the Brewers are as hot as anybody right now.
6:01
And then you go to the East and you've got the Phillies and the
6:03
Mets, and everybody's expecting the Braves to get hot at some
6:06
point. Diamondbacks you're talking
6:07
about, you might be the 10th best team in the National
6:10
League. That's selling territory.
6:12
They've lost 911. They lost series to the to the
6:14
Pirates and Nationals. That's a bad, bad stretch.
6:18
And then you look, Corbin Burns and his last eight starts as an
6:21
ERA under 2. That's somebody that they could
6:23
not afford to lose. He's up there with Cattell Marte
6:25
and Corbin Carroll as to the most important players on their
6:29
team that can't go down. So no shot of jump starting or
6:32
trying to light a fire. Lovallo safe you think?
6:37
He seems like it. They went through a radical,
6:39
radical, not, I shouldn't say radical, but they went through a
6:42
tear down to rebuild before they built things back up.
6:46
And they kept him around as the manager through that.
6:48
And then he went to the World Series and they've been a
6:49
contender the last two years. They showed, hey, we'll stick
6:53
with you while we're rebuilding things.
6:55
I think he might be one of those guys.
6:58
You know, you don't see it in baseball a ton anymore, but it
7:00
makes me think of like the way the Steelers do business in
7:02
football where they just keep their coaches forever.
7:05
It seems like the Diamondbacks have matched Donde Lavello and
7:08
really think that he could be that guy that's a long term
7:10
manager for them. You mentioned the Brewers red
7:13
hot seven in a row for them. How about this over the last 10
7:16
days, Christian Yelich, what I thought was cooked, I thought it
7:19
was over. He can still be in a starting
7:22
outfielder, but he's not going to give you much.
7:24
Five home runs, 13RBI A slash line of 472, five, 13917 OPS
7:31
over A10 week stretch. So Christian Yelich healthy
7:35
figured it out. What's going on there?
7:37
Player of the Year odds, Trent. Not too bad of a thought.
7:39
What do you see with the Brew Crew in Yelich?
7:42
I, I think that he's going to be this guy.
7:45
I think that it's just going to be, he's just going to be
7:48
inconsistent. I mean, you know, he's had those
7:50
back issues and he had back surgery.
7:52
Sometimes it takes time to feel like you're yourself again.
7:56
So maybe he did finally feel like himself again after that
7:59
back surgery. Maybe he is back to that old
8:01
Kristen Yelich, but he's injured now.
8:03
He got his with that pitch yesterday so we'll see, but I
8:10
suspect he's probably just going to be inconsistent and have hot
8:14
presses but then look cold. But again, maybe it was just a
8:17
matter of he needed to feel like his old self after that back
8:20
surgery and everything just clicked.
8:22
We haven't talked about the Chicago Cubs as of yet, the team
8:25
with the best record in the National League along with the
8:27
Mets. But this Cubs team so much fun
8:30
to watch, whether it's PCA doing what he does, whether in the
8:33
field on the base pads or with the bat in his hand, they're
8:36
getting mean. Matt Shaw looks like a different
8:38
player. Swanson's figured it out again.
8:40
He looks like the the the Swanson they thought they were
8:43
getting Ian Hap, the catching position.
8:46
I mean, what's there not to like?
8:48
I know that it keeps coming back to starting pitching.
8:50
It seems like Palencia. What more do I have to prove to
8:53
you Cubs Nation that I can do this at the back of the bullpen?
8:56
What's what are your thoughts? That's on the Cubs in the last
8:59
six days since we've spoken. They're going to need another
9:03
starter still, but we'll see. You know, there might be a lot
9:06
of good ones available at trade deadline or a decent number of
9:09
them and they have the the prospect currency to be able to
9:11
pull off such a deal. Yeah, it's it's interesting.
9:14
If you look around, they have had one of the best offenses in
9:17
baseball pretty much all year. And if you say, well, who's
9:20
definitely over performing? OK, if you isolate catchers
9:23
numbers, yes, the catchers have over performed.
9:26
Over performed for sure. But that's about it.
9:28
I mean, they had to basically 0 at third baseball year until
9:31
Shaw just came back up and he looks like he's figured it out
9:33
now. Maybe PCA with too much power.
9:37
But honestly, it kind of looks like this is real and this is
9:40
who he's going to be. So I don't think you look
9:42
anywhere they oh, they're way too good there.
9:45
That's going to get worse. On the flip side, Dansby Swanson
9:48
got off to an awful start this season.
9:49
He in half still hasn't hit for as much power as he has in past
9:52
years. Kyle Tucker went through a
9:54
downturn after a really, really hot start.
9:56
I actually think that there's a possibility they can sustain
9:59
being one of the best offensive teams in baseball for the whole
10:02
year. So it's going to be a matter of
10:04
one starting pitcher. Always, always, always can use
10:06
Bolton help. And other than that, I think
10:10
they're good to go and look like they're going to be a really
10:13
tough out in the post season and look like they're going to win
10:15
the Central. Kyle Tucker, you mentioned Kyle
10:17
Tucker. He jammed his finger sliding
10:19
into second base. First time you've been called
10:22
out, caught stealing in in like over a year, almost two years.
10:26
How serious is what's the chances he plays tomorrow?
10:30
What we've seen today is that the Cubs are optimistic that
10:33
he's not going to have to miss any time.
10:35
So I don't know if that means they think that he'll not start
10:38
and he'll only pinch hit or something for two games and then
10:41
he'll start starting again. But it sounds like it's also a
10:44
possibility that he'll just start tomorrow and he'll be good
10:46
to go. So it seems like the Cubs dodged
10:50
a bullet there. Colin Ray never wants to see the
10:53
Reds again. Boy, he's been brutal against
10:54
them, hasn't he? Yeah, then it's interesting
10:58
because we were talking about last week, talking about how bad
11:01
Ben Brown was and, and they gave him an opener and he was amazing
11:05
Saturday. So we'll see.
11:08
I think Ray and Brown are going to be, they're going to be the
11:10
question marks until the Cubs get Imanaga back and then maybe
11:14
hopefully trade for somebody in front of the deadline.
11:17
That's just going to be the where the question marks are.
11:19
And then at some point, Kate Horton will probably get shut
11:22
down and then they'll use either Brown or Ray in that spot going
11:26
toward the end of the year. But you know, you're probably at
11:30
the end of the day talking about your number 4 #5 spot or only
11:33
maybe #5 once Imanaga comes back, so.
11:37
You. Expect some inconsistency from
11:39
that spot in the rotation are. You one of the people that
11:41
thinks that Brown could be a good bullpen arm for this year,
11:44
like could help you out in a big leverage role in the playoffs.
11:47
Do you see that he's a two pitch guy right now?
11:50
Do you think you can make that transition for 2025?
11:53
If that's if that is the way that they decide to go, let's
11:57
say even outer comes back, they trade for somebody, they decide
12:00
to stick with Ray and Horton kind of as the number 5 spot and
12:04
then they transitioned him. Yes, I do think so.
12:07
Maybe not to this extent, but it makes me think of how, for
12:11
example, David Price, his rookie year with a raise when they went
12:14
to the World Series, he was a reliever that year.
12:16
When the White Sox first brought Chris Dale up, he was a reliever
12:19
and then he went to starting the next year.
12:20
So if you want to do it for a run, there's always a way that
12:24
you can do it. And it kind of makes that guy an
12:26
X Factor because the stuff plays up when you only have to throw
12:30
15 pitches or so. You can throw a little harder
12:34
because you can empty the tank there.
12:35
You don't have to save it and hold back until for and if
12:39
you're expecting to have 5 or 6 innings.
12:40
So yes, I do think that that's a realistic possibility.
12:45
I do, however, think it's not as much of A need as we would have
12:49
thought six weeks ago or something because as bad as the
12:53
Cubs Bolton was at the start of the year, it's been pretty.
12:55
Great. Since the start of May, the one
12:59
weakness is no longer on the team.
13:00
Merryweather's been shipped out, thank God.
13:04
Like they, they, they've really figured something out there with
13:07
Palencia at the back end, but not just him, but with Pomerans
13:10
and Keller as well. Bullpen pieces can be volatile.
13:14
So it seems like if you're going to go cheap, you're going to
13:17
have to sort through guys until you find out the right
13:19
combination. And it seems like Craig Counsel
13:21
has done that. And Pomerance I got for nothing
13:23
from the Mariners. So somebody just sent me a
13:24
tweet. You know, why would would the
13:26
Cubs be interested in trying to pick off somebody from the
13:28
Diamondbacks rotation? Well, if they're out of it and
13:31
Corbin Burns, I mean, lip readers said they saw what he
13:35
said. I mean, he said it's my elbow.
13:37
My elbow was dead or something along those lines.
13:39
What about Gal, Zach, Gallon, Mara, Kelly, or or even?
13:43
Fought man, gallon gallons awful.
13:45
Right now. Concerning fought.
13:49
I doubt the Diamondbacks are going to part with font.
13:52
I guess you'd be looking at a Merrill Kelly something there.
13:56
I I suppose that's possible. My hunch is they're going to
13:59
stick with the left-handed thing because they found something in
14:02
the split with the sabermetrics there and that's why they had
14:06
Boyd. Steele's the one who went down.
14:07
So with the Imanaga Boyd there, the plan was we want 3 lefties
14:11
for the playoffs so they can pitch the home games and
14:13
Wrigley, they have the lefties there with Steele having gone
14:16
down. My hunch is all Zero went on a
14:17
lefty, and I've mentioned Tyler Anderson here before.
14:20
If the Marlins make Ryan Weathers available, he's a
14:23
lefty. That could be interesting and he
14:24
could be good for a couple of years before he hits free
14:27
agency. So something along those lines.
14:29
But no, I don't think that I would count out something like
14:33
Merrill Kelly because he's a seasoned veteran.
14:35
He went through the postseason battles just two years ago.
14:39
One more from the division seeing Ellie de la Cruz hit the
14:42
home run after finding out about his sister.
14:45
Boy, that's just one that just. Thought it was followed when he
14:47
hit it. Yeah, tugs at the heartstrings
14:49
though, and what a player he is. So yeah, I have AI have a post
14:55
coming out, an article tomorrow coming out with my all fun team
14:58
for the year, the most fun players to watch.
15:00
And as you can tell where I'm going with that Ellie was, as I
15:05
mentioned at shortstop, Ellie De La Cruz was the first name I
15:07
listed. I had all the positions listed
15:09
in order and after I wouldn't listed the positions, I went
15:12
straight to shortstop and typed in Ellie De La Cruz.
15:14
He's the most fun player in baseball to watch.
15:17
He's a type of guy that could hit, like you just said, a
15:21
prodigious home run that looked like it might have been fouled
15:24
but it was so high you could barely even tell.
15:26
Or he could hit an inside the park home run.
15:27
He could steal home. He could do almost anything in a
15:30
in a given day. Now you Absolutely.
15:31
Love watching him play. You got me thinking PCA is going
15:34
to be on the list. I'm almost going to guarantee it
15:36
that we're going to see Pete Crow Armstrong on there.
15:38
Cal Raleigh, you have too many spoilers, but you are correct.
15:41
OK, now about Cal Raleigh is unbelievable.
15:45
He he was actually the second player I listed after LA De La
15:48
Cruz. Then I scrolled straight down to
15:49
center field and wrote Pete Armstrong in.
15:51
It's like we talk baseball every Monday with you, Matt Snyder.
15:53
You never, yeah, you wouldn't think that there's any of this
15:56
stuff stays with us. A last thing for me, and it's
15:59
just awkward position if the Mariners are in.
16:01
I mean, two of their franchise players, both were #51 and
16:05
they're going to retire for both of them, but they're going to do
16:08
each a row first. And then they're going to circle
16:10
back and retire it again, but this time for the big unit.
16:13
And I get he was a Vagabond pitching a lot of places, won a
16:16
World Series in Arizona, etcetera.
16:19
But to me, and, and I was an Expose fan, but he'll always be
16:22
a mariner to me because that's where he became.
16:25
He was the wild thing before the wild thing.
16:27
When he was in Montreal, he was he.
16:30
Led the league. He even led the league in walks
16:32
his first three years with the mayor.
16:34
It did Seattle that he transformed from not being able
16:37
to do anything to harnessing his stuff and becoming the machine
16:40
that we got you seeing. He actually spent more years
16:42
with the mayors than anybody else. 10 years with the
16:44
Mariners, 8 was the Diamondbacks.
16:48
He His Hall of Fame plaque has a Diamondbacks hat.
16:52
Does it? And I just wondered if part of
16:56
that was the Mariners feeling a little slighted that he chose
16:59
the Diamondback pack in conjunction with the Hall of
17:02
Fame and that's why they did each row first.
17:05
But also what a hilarious coincidence that like 2 of the
17:09
greatest players. Of all numbers.
17:11
We're both #51 for the Mariners. Yeah, no, it's wild.
17:14
That's not a great segment. And as always, brother, thanks
17:17
for doing this. We'll talk to you in seven days.
17:19
Enjoy your week. Your power rankings are up.
17:21
I see that. Saw the Blue Jays for the first
17:23
time in a long time. Actually, look at the advance
17:25
schedule for my squad, kind of getting excited, but here come
17:29
the field. I mean, it's the Phillies, then
17:32
the Twins, then the Cards, then more Phillies, then the Snakes.
17:36
Next 15 will tell me a lot about my team.
17:39
Good to talk to you, Matt Snyder.
17:40
We'll talk to you in seven days. Thanks pal all.
17:42
Right. Take care.
17:43
Yeah, good to talk to you. Matt Snyder talking a little
17:45
baseball with our guy. That's an interesting.
17:48
Point, I wonder, I'm looking through Randy Johnson's number 2
17:52
and yeah, I see those three straight years in Seattle
17:54
leading the league in walks, but and then right after that, four
17:58
straight years of leading the league.
17:59
In Randy Johnson. Yes.
18:01
So that was in the 9293 range that he really made that big
18:05
leap forward. One thing that I'd forgot.
18:07
Break in with the with the. Suppose 80 What?
18:09
8888 was his first season as a 24 year old pitched 4 games that
18:15
year and then 89 was his first full season.
18:18
He got traded to Seattle during that.
18:21
Year for for a good pitcher, too, Martin.
18:24
Was that Langston? I think it was Mark Langston.
18:26
OK, let's look it up, Trey. Yeah, yeah, let's test the old
18:29
man's. Brain OK, expose trade Randy
18:33
Johnson. Here it comes.
18:36
Click on the article. Oh boy, this is lie.
18:39
Here we go. Help was on the way.
18:42
Conclusion The blot lost. The Mariners agreed to deal with
18:44
the Expo, setting left-hander Mark Langston, a player to be
18:48
named later, in exchange for three pitchers, Gene Harris,
18:52
Brian Holman and left-hander Randy Johnson.
18:56
Well, one of them that worked out.
18:58
Well, the year that he was traded from Seattle, he went to
19:01
Houston, right? I remember he was really good
19:04
that year. Was it a trade deadline?
19:06
It was He made that season when he went to Houston, 11 starts.
19:12
He went 10 and one. Jesus.
19:14
With an ERA of 1.284 shutouts, 4 complete games in those eleven
19:22
starts he had a WAR and 11 starts of 4.3.
19:27
That's nearly impossible to do. But then come the playoffs, I
19:32
don't think Houston advanced, if memory serves, is.
19:36
That right? Lost in the division.
19:37
They won 102 games. That Astros team did 102 games.
19:41
Lost to the Padres. And then where did the big unit
19:44
move after that? Was that the Arizona?
19:46
And then he went to Arizona. Yes.
19:48
And won a World Series in 2001. And then he got a got a cup of
19:53
coffee for the Yankees, didn't he?
19:54
He did pitch for the Yankees, yeah.
19:56
Two years with the Yankees, he was good there.
19:58
Got an argument with somebody on the street though.
20:00
Was it like? AI, remember that Yes, it was
20:02
you're. Right, get the camera out of my.
20:04
Face. Yeah, now he's got a camera
20:05
around his neck wherever you see him.
20:07
That's weird. Him and Ken Griffey, Junior,
20:08
both photos of all things. Good stuff.
20:12
We'll take a time out. We'll come back.
20:13
We'll talk Iowa State sports with our buddy Alec Bussey,
20:17
cyclonealert.com, part of 24/7 Sports.
20:20
Thank you again to Matt Saiga. It's a great segment.
20:22
If you love baseball, that's such a great segment.
20:25
I'm Miller and Condon, Iowa Sports Radio Network.
20:33
I'm Mary Condon, welcome back 1:30 on a Monday, Iowa Sports
20:37
Radio Network. Millerine Condon with you until
20:39
the top of the hour. Transplays of the day still to
20:41
come. Circa Sports will sponsor those.
20:45
Alec Bussey covers Iowa State cyclonealert.com, part of 24/7
20:50
sports. He's with us, ton of content on
20:52
his site today, all of it up there for free.
20:54
Although he does have a terrific offer going on right now.
20:58
And you know what, out before we run out of time and I forget to
21:01
bring that up again at the end of our conversation.
21:04
Let's start there. You're 60% off special going on
21:07
right now. Yeah, if you're not a subscriber
21:10
to Cyclone Alert, you're an Iowa State fan, now is a great time
21:13
to sign up. You can do it for 60% off or if
21:16
you're an Iowa fan, you not subscribe to our Iowa website,
21:21
which is run by David Ickel. You can also get 60% off at
21:24
their website. It ends up being less than I
21:27
think $4.00 a day for the next year.
21:29
So it's a great time to sign up to the website and become one of
21:32
the most informed fans on your favorite team speed.
21:35
Good stuff. Well, let's get into all of your
21:38
stuff that you put up there again, I, I, I look forward to
21:41
Monday AI know I'm going to speak with you and BI know that
21:43
I'll have plenty of homework to do before that time.
21:45
And you've certainly gone above and beyond when it comes to
21:49
that. Let's, I guess, start basketball
21:51
and all the work that you've put in regarding this upcoming year
21:54
with with TJS roster, the moves that were made, etcetera, what
21:58
the roster is going to look like.
22:00
Let's start there, knowing that the Big 12 is going to be every
22:03
bit as difficult of a conference to get through as it's been over
22:07
the last few years, and Iowa State looks as though they're
22:09
going to be right in the middle of things again.
22:12
Yeah, I was actually talking with one of our national
22:15
reporters, Isaac Carter, this morning.
22:17
He's starting to work on putting every Big 12 basketball team
22:21
into a tier. Kind of just one of my input on
22:23
where I thought Iowa State was that I kind of feel like they're
22:26
hopefully in the the 2nd or the 3rd tier right now of the Big
22:29
12, depending on how you kind of want to sort through it.
22:32
I think you obviously have to put, you know, BYU and Houston
22:35
in the top tier. Can Texas Tech get up to the top
22:38
tier? Where's Arizona at?
22:39
I think I would say it's kind of in a group that includes, at
22:42
least in my opinion, themselves. Kansas, to me, is in that
22:45
conversation. And then no, Arizona has a
22:47
unique roster, Bill. They're going to rely on to two
22:50
really young players and Koi Pete and Braden Berry's.
22:54
But they do also return some experienced veterans like Junior
22:56
Bradley, if you can tell or so. And then Crevis should be
22:59
healthy on the interior. So it's kind of an interesting
23:02
roster, Bill, that Arizona. But I think Iowa State is right
23:04
there in the top two or three of the Big 12.
23:07
They look like a top 20 team ish right now entering the preseason
23:11
relative to what the rest of the country has put together on
23:14
their own teams. Kansas wasn't in that top tier,
23:16
which kind of struck me because we're just used to them being.
23:19
There a completely different environment.
23:21
What would it take or what will it take for this team to to move
23:25
up there to get in that upper tier?
23:27
I think we all agree that Iowa State's going to be a good solid
23:29
team this year. Chance to win a couple of games
23:32
of the tournament. But to go up a level, to get in
23:34
that top tier, the Big 12, to be a team we're talking, thinking
23:37
about, this is an Elite 18, this is a Final 14.
23:39
We had those conversations for a while last year.
23:42
What's it going to take out of this roster for you to get to
23:44
that point? Yeah, I think just general rule
23:48
of thumb to become like a team that people anticipate being an
23:52
elite 8A, Final Four type group, you tend to need at least a pro
23:56
or two on your roster. You know, Houston last year and
24:02
even the year before, you know, they didn't really have that guy
24:04
like Jamal said, was an awesome player.
24:06
Milo Suzanne obviously was a really good player, was in all
24:09
Big 12 selection. And we'll come back to school
24:11
next year looking like, you know, a potential All American
24:15
again and a box to the award contender.
24:17
But they haven't had as many like first round, no doubt guys
24:23
like Marcus Sasso was really good player.
24:25
They've had a few others. I think that's where if you
24:28
want, I would say to elevate to the next tier in college
24:31
basketball, it probably is going to take them playing or having
24:36
the star kind of develop into an NBA type of role, like an NBA
24:41
type of profile, I guess, or player that NBA teams really are
24:45
trying to evaluate. And Joshua Jefferson might have
24:48
that potential, but he's old, so right, Like he's going to be a
24:50
senior. So he's not someone that, you
24:53
know, NBA teams are going to be lined up to go see because they
24:55
value younger players typically. Can Milam Sylvitz expand his
25:00
game at all and does he turn in to that type of player for Iowa
25:03
State next year? That would certainly be valuable
25:05
as well. Yeah, no doubt about it.
25:07
We'll see where that goes. Well, let's, let's move over to
25:10
football. I know that the camps, summer
25:12
starting summer are about to really ratchet up.
25:15
What what are you looking forward to covering most of all
25:18
in this? Next is, is there a name or two?
25:20
Is there a weekend that's maybe more important than some of the
25:23
other weekends coming up here as we move into June?
25:27
Yeah, I would say this upcoming weekend, June 6th, is pretty
25:29
important for Iowa State. They're going to have, I think,
25:32
12 of their thirteen committed prospects.
25:34
Well, I guess it's now 12 committed prospects.
25:35
Brittany Thomas, let's just commitment to Michigan State
25:38
here this morning. So I have 11 of their twelve
25:40
committed prospects on campus this weekend, the one exclusion
25:43
being linebacker Barry Fries. I think we start from Omaha.
25:48
I think in terms of a specific player that I'm interested in
25:51
following, it's probably where four-star quarterback Jeff
25:54
Tamala's recruitment time to leave.
25:56
He's been committed to Iowa State since the middle of April,
25:58
but he just finished an unofficial visit to Alabama.
26:02
And just doing some reading this morning and and talking with a
26:04
few people around that recruitment, it seems like his
26:07
visit to Alabama went well. I do think I would say that
26:10
still remaining cautiously optimistic on where things stand
26:14
with Tamala. But I do think obviously, you
26:16
know, the Bama factor is real, right is Alabama and no program
26:20
has been better in tomorrow's life than Alabama.
26:22
So I think he's aware of that. I think the visit exceeded his
26:25
expectations in Tuscaloosa this past weekend.
26:28
But now I would say it was an opportunity to potentially lock
26:31
that down with his official visit this weekend and see if
26:34
they can prevent him from, you know, fielding other callers
26:38
throughout the rest of his recruitment.
26:40
You mentioned that there has been a flip as Brayden Thomas
26:43
has flipped to Michigan State. Any hope of a visit down the
26:46
line or is this one of those separate ties?
26:48
He took the visit to Michigan State.
26:50
This recruitment's over and they'll be looking for a
26:52
different spot for new safety. Yeah, I would anticipate Iowa
26:56
State moves on into a different direction.
26:58
I don't think that this is a decision that may be surprised,
27:02
I would say because she's have too much.
27:04
It seemed like they were prepared for it.
27:06
Thomas got in the scholarship offer in mid-May from the
27:09
Michigan State staff and he continued to kind of pursue that
27:12
and show interest in it. So I would say staff was
27:15
prepared for him to kind of flip away.
27:17
And I do think they've developed a good pivot point.
27:19
And Bryson Williams, defensive back also from the Omaha area,
27:22
he just like an official visit to Washington state and will
27:25
also consider Vanderbilt along with a couple of group of five
27:28
programs. I believe Fresno State is 1,
27:30
those Group of Five programs that he's considering, but I
27:33
think I would say he's well positioned for Bryson Williams
27:35
and I think they really like that type of talent that he
27:37
gives us. He's really fast, excels in the
27:39
100m this spring in Nebraska high school state track
27:44
competitions. I know that you you listened in
27:47
to A at least I believe you did. I was following you.
27:50
I'd follow you on Twitter and you were kind of play by playing
27:53
that conversation that Kleiman was a part of it last week.
27:56
Couple of coaches and I think your mark as well.
27:59
How do you think the Big 12 is navigating these?
28:02
I don't know if you want to call them turbulent waters of of
28:05
college sports of the College Football Playoff.
28:07
How do you think your mark is handling things to this point?
28:12
Yeah, I think it's hard to say he's not doing a very good job.
28:17
I think it's important to remember that the 44221 DFP
28:22
model that a lot of people are discussing over the last couple
28:25
of weeks that was originally proposed by the Big 10
28:28
Commissioner, Tony Petiti, and, you know, Big 10 suits a lot of
28:32
people, you know, make Greg Sankey the whipping boy of
28:36
college football. That wasn't really his idea.
28:39
At least that format wasn't really his idea.
28:42
And I think, you know, he and SEC decision makers probably
28:45
deserve a lot of credit. And I haven't seen a lot of
28:47
people give it to him for, you know, them kind of looking at
28:51
that, particularly SEC coaches kind of looking at that form and
28:54
being like, this thing sucks. Like this is not like this is
28:58
not good. In the 511 format, the five
29:01
automatic bids, one would go to each of the five high string
29:06
conference champions. So what we saw this past year
29:07
and then there would be 11 at large bids, but something that
29:10
the Big 12 and Brett your mark, you know, they kind of created
29:15
along with I think help from the ACCI love that format.
29:19
I think it'd be a lot of fun. I think it's easy to understand,
29:23
and I also want to give credit to the Big 12 too, because I
29:26
think, you know, there aren't giving themselves as many
29:29
guaranteed bids in this 511 format if that's what the future
29:33
of the CFP holds as the other one.
29:35
But I do think it takes a lot of foresight to understand that,
29:38
you know, maybe aren't going to get as many teams into the CFP
29:41
every year If we are admitting publicly that we're half as good
29:45
as the Big 10 in the SEC, that's a really hard perception to
29:47
overcome. So I do think that Big 12 suits
29:50
Big 12 decision makers and executives creatively coming up
29:54
with a different format that that seemingly caught the
29:56
attention of the SEC and I have to kind of put the Big 10 stance
30:00
on it. It's a really good thing for the
30:02
conference. Yeah, Petit, He's not talking.
30:04
I mean, Doc's been trying to run him down.
30:07
He just ran for cover. He put that out there and
30:09
seemingly you handle it, Sankey. Well, and that's just the way
30:12
they operate, you know, Doc told us that last week.
30:14
They're just different personalities and.
30:17
Was Delaney like that though? No.
30:18
No, he would have. He would have just stood there
30:20
and. Well, he's the smartest guy in
30:22
the room and he'll tell you he's the smartest guy in the room.
30:24
Both of those things were usually.
30:25
True, but his bank account kind of backs up that you know what,
30:28
Trent? He might have been the smartest
30:29
guy in the room. He had things figured out,
30:31
didn't he? Hey, one more recruiting thing
30:33
for you, Isaac Jensen. He was the only kid that took
30:35
the official visit last week to Iowa State.
30:37
Is that right? And this is another tight end.
30:39
We talked obviously a lot about Evan Jacobson and his
30:42
recruitment at tight end Isaac Jensen.
30:44
That dude's got some offers too from over in Omaha.
30:46
Is he the only official that they had last weekend?
30:49
Yeah, he was the only kid on campus this past weekend for an
30:52
official visit, so he's obviously a priority for them,
30:54
among with a few other 10 ends. You mentioned Evan Jacobson, the
30:57
Waukee product top 2474 star kid.
31:00
They're also recruiting Ian Primer, a top 50 national
31:03
recruit from Great Bend, KS. I would say 12 position there
31:06
within his top two or three along with KU and Kevin
31:09
Sullivan, who's from the Kansas City area.
31:11
But specifically with Jensen, I would say seems to be battling
31:14
pretty strongly with Missouri and Florida State, Texas A&M
31:18
also in the mix there. I think I would say it has been
31:21
growing confidence and where their position with Jensen after
31:23
his official visit. But I do think it's important to
31:25
remember that he hasn't taken his other official visits just
31:28
yet and he'll go to Missouri I believe this weekend before
31:31
taking future visits to Florida State and Texas A&M.
31:34
Believe A&M is his last visit. I think that's on June 20th.
31:38
So I think, you know, they they probably want at least two tight
31:41
ends in this class. And I think certainly, you know,
31:44
Ian Primer is probably the top priority.
31:45
He's a really good pass catcher, really fluid moving athlete.
31:48
If they can get him, they'll be thrilled.
31:50
And he'd be the highest ranked recruit in Iowa State history if
31:53
they're able to to land him. But Jensen is a really good
31:55
prospect from Omaha, plays in Millard South.
31:58
And I would say it already has commitments from numerous
32:00
players from Omaha, including two players from Millard South
32:03
and Jess Tomala, the quarterback he spoke about a little bit
32:05
earlier, and then a Marian Jackson, who could play either
32:07
receiver or defensive back, particularly the safety spot for
32:10
Iowa State and secondary. So do you think there's an
32:12
outside chance of when we reconvene here next Monday that
32:16
after Tamal has been in town that you have a better or Iowa
32:20
State fans and and me to the cover and have a better
32:22
understanding where he sits with Iowa State?
32:25
Will he publicly or go public with with anything?
32:28
Do you expect that? Yeah, I'm hoping to learn more
32:31
about it today and actually scheduled to talk with him here
32:33
this afternoon. So hopefully I can get some more
32:35
Intel and just kind of learn where he's at.
32:37
Like I said, it seems like, you know, he's certainly considering
32:40
Alabama, but he says you know all the right things about being
32:42
committed to Iowa State and he has a really good understanding
32:45
of where Iowa State's at. He doesn't really want to put
32:47
them in a bad spot. And I think, you know, Iowa
32:49
State they are. I don't want to say they're
32:52
they're preparing for jet tomorrow to to decommit or flip
32:55
to Alabama, but it's something you have to kind of stand and
32:58
look at a board and be prepared for in case it happens, in case
33:02
you don't want to be left out in the cold, associate that
33:04
position. So I think it's really important
33:07
for, I would say, to understand what the future could hold for
33:08
Jet tomorrow and, you know, they're very aware of what's
33:11
going on in that recruitment and trying to, you know, stay on top
33:13
of the ball with it. Proact rather than react, we'll
33:16
watch for that news at cyclealert.com.
33:19
Terrific special going on as we seek as we speak, 60% off to new
33:24
subscribers. Cyclealert.com Are you doing
33:27
anything this afternoon with the drive?
33:30
Yeah, I'm going to be on, I think at 4:25, which with Lucas
33:34
and when and Heather, I don't think Dave's going to be able to
33:36
make it. He's got a sore voice.
33:37
I think it's what we said. In the group chat.
33:39
Oh, and I think you're working with Sean one day, by the way,
33:42
this week, right? I think Wednesday, yeah.
33:45
Yeah, I. Think so too.
33:46
The program director was just in here.
33:49
I hope I'm not breaking news, but Sean Roberts, the new PD
33:53
here at KX&O and I think we can speak for most of the on air
33:57
talents here. Trent, we're all in favour, no
33:59
doubt of that hire. Alec Bussey.
34:01
Thanks for doing this, brother. Appreciate it.
34:03
And we'll watch for the Tamala news and we'll talk to you next
34:06
Monday. Thanks pal.
34:08
Thanks guys, looking forward to it.
34:09
Have a great day. Yep.
34:10
Good to talk to you, Alec Bussey, cyclonealert.com, 24/7
34:14
Sports. Yeah, how about our guy?
34:15
Sean, that's. Great.
34:16
Isn't that great? Deserves it.
34:18
Absolutely does. Word upward.
34:21
And he's our boss now. And the numbers.
34:23
They show it, Yeah. No, he's doing great.
34:26
So is everybody. So is everybody very proud of
34:30
that fact? We'll take a time out, come back
34:33
and finish up the program. What's still to come?
34:35
Glad you asked. Trent's plays of the day.
34:37
Circus sports sponsor those Miller and Condon on the Iowa
34:41
Sports Radio Network. Miller and Condon, welcome back
34:44
Iowa Sports Radio Network. Our final segment, Dr. coming up
34:48
top of the hour. Well, Trent Condon plays of the
34:53
day to come. Circus sports sponsor those.
34:56
Have you bought your plane tickets yet?
34:57
Yes, you did. Yeah, Lucas too.
35:00
I'm getting Lucas's this week. Good be on the same flight as
35:04
you. Yes.
35:06
You coming Monday? Yes, back on Thursday.
35:09
Back on Thursday. Yeah.
35:11
Awesome. What are you?
35:12
What airline are you on? Allegiant.
35:14
Okay, what time do you get in? Late afternoon that's not bad at
35:19
all No think leave 115 get out there like 4 I don't know I.
35:23
Have to look, was there a lot of seats still available on the
35:26
flight? Just take what they give me.
35:27
You take what? You don't try to shop for seats
35:30
or anything. Come on.
35:31
Yeah, I've got extra buddy be throwing around on that.
35:34
I don't. Either, but I do.
35:35
I know you do. I just can't help.
35:37
Myself, you waste buddy on some of the goofiest.
35:39
Crazies, I know. Pre-check in 2550.
35:42
Click, click, click. You just go to TSA Pre-check.
35:45
You can do it. Yeah, you know what though?
35:46
I'm starting to find out, at least in Des Moines, and this
35:49
isn't the this isn't the case with every flight.
35:51
So I I'm painting with a very broad brush, but I think the
35:54
last three times I've flown the TSE pre-check has been longer.
35:58
Longer you still get through them quick.
36:01
Now do. Yeah, I'm sure you do.
36:02
Yeah, you. Can get through them very, very
36:04
quick. So as we flip the calendar, it's
36:07
our first show of June. Yes, we are inching.
36:10
Closer to this is the slowest. This is yes, the month of June
36:15
is the slowest and and not well, there's always something to talk
36:18
about yes, but as far as the day seem like true good God, we're
36:22
only on the you know, it seems like June drags.
36:25
Will have football recruiting, which will be a big time, but
36:28
there's not a ton of talking that we knew about that.
36:31
It's a mention, but it's not a deep right.
36:33
We're not breaking down high school, Phil.
36:34
No, it's not what we do, no. The goal is to keep an audience.
36:38
Yes. And I don't think, yes, the
36:39
majority of our audience wants that, right.
36:41
But Phil Steele is one of those checkmarks.
36:44
Yeah, it's been pushed later. No.
36:47
And. Because of all the.
36:48
Yeah, transfer portal, I saw he was still talking to some
36:51
coaches last week. I saw a couple of his tweets
36:54
thanking a couple of coaches that he was talking to.
36:56
But the updated report is it will be shipping in mid to late
37:01
June. OK, so we're still it's.
37:03
Kind of about the same, right? Yeah.
37:04
In the past we would get it Memorial Day weekend and maybe
37:08
ship you'd have it that first week in.
37:09
That's not the case anymore. However, this is the first time
37:13
that I've seen the updated covers because when I looked a
37:15
week or two ago, those were not a different.
37:18
Covers are there. Usually 5 to 6 different ones.
37:21
This year, let's see 1-2. There's six different ones.
37:23
So what's the Midwest one? So the Midwest one has five
37:28
players on the cover. You got linebacker to Indiana,
37:34
linebacker from Michigan #1 bar Barum Barum, Illinois, defensive
37:40
lineman, big guy there and two quarterbacks.
37:44
This is for the Midwest, upper Midwest.
37:48
Who do you think they are? Well, I hope it's Gronowski and
37:51
Beckt. Well, you got one of them right?
37:55
Mark Gronowski is not on the cover.
37:57
But yes, Rocco Beck made the cover along with cover boy
38:02
cosplay Patrick Mahomes. That's right.
38:06
Oh my, Dilla Rayola. He is also on the cover of Phil
38:10
Steele, 25. Yeah, I guess Nebraska fans sell
38:16
some magazines over. There I had the exact same
38:19
thought. I got 3 plays tonight.
38:21
What are you betting? There's there's just baseball,
38:23
right? There's no.
38:23
There's and that's all I'm betting the A's plus 140 against
38:27
my Twinkies. The Angels plus 1/25 with Tyler
38:31
Anderson. That's a 9:00 start.
38:32
Who we were talking about a little bit earlier with Matt
38:35
Snyder. Yeah, and for the first time in
38:37
a long time, I'm going to lay the 1 1/2 with the Marlins
38:40
tonight against those God forsaken Rockies.
38:43
Plus 1/18 on the Fish. Awful series.
38:49
Rockies. Marlins.
38:51
I don't think I'll flip that one on.
38:52
No, nor will I. I'm going to keep the drive tune
38:56
turned on there. Next, Miller and Con to noon to
38:58
two drive. Coming up next, Iowa sports
39:01
radio net.