Latest / The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon / Miller and Condon Hour 2 7/30/2025

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Miller and Condon Hour 2 7/30/2025 · The Lunch Rush with Trent Condon

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All right, welcome back our number 2 Miller and Condon Iowa
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Sports Radio Network. As promised, let's get to David
0:05
Kaplan. He's on the bus making his way
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to Milwaukee with a whole bunch of listeners.
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It's the Brewers and the Cubs getaway day.
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Brewers have taken the 1st 2. Kathy, thanks for doing this.
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How are you? Is what's the enthusiasm level
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like knowing that the series is not going the Cubs way?
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There's some trepidation, no question about it after, you
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know, it felt like we lost 2:00 to 1:00.
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You got pounded, you got to swap the last two days.
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So this is a big game. I don't believe in must win
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games until a must win means you're out if you lose 2 months
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ago and long long sure, but this is a massive game because
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instead of being three out here, one out and the deadline's
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tomorrow. And it might, you know, I don't
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think it'll change what Jed's going to do, but it certainly
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changes the look of the two. Speaking of look, how many eyes
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will be closely looking at the Shota Imanaga velocity down cap?
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Not his best outing as best outings as of late.
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Is there concern amongst Imanaga right now?
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I don't think so. It was 1 bad start being prior
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to that he was really, really good.
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Now, if you tell me he goes out today and he's, you know, down
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significantly in fucking velocity and the Amanda's band
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gets, you know, gives up seven runs in three innings, yeah,
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there'll be a high level concern, no doubt about it.
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But if they thought he was injured, they wouldn't let him
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go out. Good.
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Meanwhile, Suzuki is just maybe the worst lump of his career cap
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and he's been phenomenal. He really has, should have made
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the All Star team, but boy, this last week or so he's really
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struggling at the plate. Days 3 for whatever 3635 and you
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know yesterday comes up in a huge situation with one out and
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then on and he gets the first pitch right to the third basin
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double play. He just looks lost right now at
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the plate. Kyle Tucker since the 29th of
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June is hitting two O 8 with a slug of 285 and put that in
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perspective, Andrew Vaughn since he joined the Brewers as a slug
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well north of 1000. So Kyle Tucker, you know, I I
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don't want to hear any more of it.
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Maybe you could just cheat. They won't pay for that.
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Just what right now he's killing his market value.
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They still get a huge contract, but he's not going to be at the
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level everyone thought he'd be honest.
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He turns this around. You mentioned Andrew Vaughn,
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Cap. The White Sox got the draft
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right. They had the 3rd pick, Rushman,
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the catcher went to the Orioles, Bobby went to the Royals.
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And then Andrew Vaughn was taken third overall in the White Sox.
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And when he broke in early, maybe 2 early, he looked as
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though, you know what, this is going to be a good pick.
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I, I, it looks like it's going to pan out.
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Obviously it didn't. What if the Brewers done?
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And how bad does this make the White Sox organization look?
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I don't think it makes them look bad, it just sometimes guys need
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to change the scenery. How bad do the Orioles look when
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Jake Arietta pitch another 6 ERA comes to Chicago and you know
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get to change the scenery? It sure to Iowa and then comes
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up and ends up becoming, you know, a Cy Young winner.
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I don't think this really makes the White Sox so bad.
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They've had a bad soon. That is what it is and that's
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where we're at. I mean, he's a he's always been
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a quality dinner. He just needed to change.
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The sooner he just had run its course there.
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He went to the minor leagues and I think that was a wake up call
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like, oh wow. And staying at a Super 8 or a
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comfort winner, you know, some kind of a lower level hotel.
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I'm not typing Ritz. Whoever handles my bags from the
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charter, that's a wake up call quicker.
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Yeah, no doubt Moisis by Esteros up with the big club.
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Ian Hap's going to miss some time with the Bruce Shin and
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Kappa. Yeah.
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So we have an update there. OK.
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Ian Hap is not going to the IL. Good.
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It looked like he was going to be IL, but this morning they
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DFAS, McDonald, Duhan. He's terrible, that guy.
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Sure, he's a nice man and a good husband.
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He's a terrible baseball player for the Chicago Cubs.
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So he's out by stereos up after obviously going to miss a little
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bit of time, but nothing like what they thought.
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And then they can always include by stereos in the trade.
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They can send them down, make them do pretty much whatever
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they need. And I fully expect Jed is
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hanging in there a lot of trades because the prices are just
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obscene. When you get near the deadline,
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it seems selling, they're not going to not sell.
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They've admitted these guys are especially rentals.
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They're going to go all right, I'll come down a little bit and
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get the deal down here. I think that's where we're at.
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Yeah, that makes some sense. So let me ask you about Owen
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Casey, who is seemingly the number one target or one of the
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top targets. The pitcher getting a lot of
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love as well, but but Casey's a right fielder by trade.
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Go back to what you just said about Kyle Tucker.
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If Tucker is not signed long term, Owen Casey looks as
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though, I'm not saying he's Kyle Tucker, but it looks as though
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he's ready for the major leagues and may be ready as soon as
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right now. Could he be the replacement?
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Could Owen Casey to fill those shoes?
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And might the Cubs be doing all they can to maybe keep him, as
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opposed to putting him in any trade that, admittedly, might
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bring a significant part? What Jeff has told me, he has
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said to the media not trading Owen Casey or Jackson Wiggins in
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rental deals. Now, if there's multiple rental
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players, he didn't really answer that question.
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If it was Eugenia Suarez and Meryl Kelly for Owen Casey, I
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think he'd do it. He'd have to do it.
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Yeah, I do believe that. But is he going to go give me
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two months of Suarez and I'll give you all he's basic?
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No, because that's basically the Mets.
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They just people Armstrong and they got bias, bias and Trevor
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Williams and it didn't work out there when you win the World
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Series. So unless you win the World
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Series, you don't want to be looking at people.
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Armstrong playing role blog, MVP caliber center field for the
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next 10 years in Chicago. That's where that's at now.
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If you said he got Mackenzie Gore or you said he went out and
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got another controllable starter, not villain sees
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because he's going to be a free agent.
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If they got a guy who has multiple years of control, he
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might be willing to put one of those guys in their deal.
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A couple more minutes with Kathy and then we'll head down to
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Principal Park, catch up with Tommy Birches at the ballpark
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today, get his census, what may or may not be happening down at
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the AAA level. Cap will want to finish up
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baseball and then one on football and I'll let you get
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back to the game. Just give us a name or two.
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Cap, is there any names that you've heard lately that perhaps
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I hadn't been to the Cubs, connected to the Cubs in the in
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the last couple of weeks or whenever leading up to this
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point? They they have absolutely
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checked in on Robert Suarez, the Padres closure.
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They have obviously checked in on Dylan Cease ripping jacks,
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Joanne Duran, Joe Ryan, McKenzie Moore.
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But again, to get Ryan and WAR, you're going to have to push the
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packets together because those guys come with themselves.
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Yeah, no doubt. All right, Last thing for you,
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football related, Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson.
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How are these two? How are the head coach and the
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quarterback getting a long cap? What can you tell us about the
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and what kind of training camp he has had so far?
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He's on an update yesterday and his best day, Ben Johnson said.
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He's absolutely making excellent progress today.
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He started the first drive very, very well.
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Yeah, but I think they're very happy with him.
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You know, it's fun of the national stuff with the national
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media. Is he a boss?
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Is he best? Is he that That's just out of
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town, stupid. They're not here.
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They're not looking at it, they're not watching.
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They're not talking about Johnson.
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They just air it in narrative. What's out there.
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I think this is going to be a really good professor.
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Cap, good stuff. I'm going to ask you on the
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radio so you can't say no to me. Maybe you can give me 10 minutes
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tomorrow as we will be like 3 hours away from the deadline.
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Something might have happened. You can recap today.
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I'll text you overnight, Cap, and see if your schedule allows
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you to join me tomorrow. About 1:30 to recap what you saw
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today and perhaps a Mover 2 that have been made.
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It's cool. Done deal.
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Good stuff, Cap. Enjoy the game.
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Thank you. David Kaplan.
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See you, buddy. Good to talk to you, David
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Kaplan. As we talked, Chicago Cubs as
8:45
they get set to take on the Brewers.
8:46
Cappy in Milwaukee for that very occurrence.
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All right, we'll take a, you know, you know what, not going
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to take a time out. Let's get right to Tommy Birch.
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Let's head down to Principal Park.
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And Tommy just apparently cannot make this time work for him.
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Javier Assad just come out of the game and Birchie's leaving
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the Randy Peterson press box and making his way down to the
9:10
clubhouse to get the latest on Assad.
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So Tommy, sadly, won't be able to join me.
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Perhaps we can get him towards the end of the show.
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I want to pick his brain, you know, what's what's what's kind
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of the feelings down there as the trade deadline approaches
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tomorrow. And are so many names, so many
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guys on this roster? Of course, by Esteros has been
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called up today. He's with the big club.
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But Alcantara is down here and Owen Casey is down here.
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So we will try and get Tommy perhaps toward the end of the
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show. Let's take a time out.
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We'll come back, get Bama Bob a few minutes early, maybe get
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Tommy toward the end of it. But Bama Bob will join me next.
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We'll get in to the Big 10, the focus today as we take a look at
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the power conferences. Yes, and the G5 yesterday with
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the Big 12 and the Group of Five teams today, the Big 10.
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And then tomorrow we'll take a look at both the ACC and the SEC
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Bama. Bob Coming up next, Miller and
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Condon on the Iowa Sports Radio Network.
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Hi, Miller and Condon, welcome back.
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Iowa Sports Radio Network. We will get back down to
10:14
Principal Park. Tommy Birch coming up here in
10:16
about 25 minutes. He had to skedaddle out of the
10:20
Randy Peterson press box to make his way down to the clubhouse.
10:24
But bam and Bob's going to join us a few minutes early so we'll
10:27
just flip flop it. But I'll tell you about
10:28
centurion stone of central Iowa meant forgot to mention that
10:31
they sponsor Cappy on a weekly basis.
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Centurion stone of of Iowa sponsors Cappy have a
10:38
manufacturer natural stone need whether it's updating anything
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outside inside the house. Centurion stone of Iowa Cappy
10:44
coming on again tomorrow. So a little bonus, Cappy
10:47
tomorrow at 1:30. So we'll say more about
10:49
Centurion Stone of Iowa at that time.
10:52
They sponsor Cappy on a weekly basis.
10:55
But Bama, Bob and I are going to talk about the Big 10 Group of
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Five yesterday, Big 12 yesterday.
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Now it's time to talk Big 10. How are you?
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Bama, I'm great. Kenny, how are you?
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Doing okay, before we get into the what we think we know at
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this point when it comes to the Big 10, is there a stadium?
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And I know, I'm pretty sure I know where you're going to go
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with this because you've you say it every year, you're the,
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you've got to get to Seattle. Is that the Big 10 stadium you
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want to get to more than any of the others?
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Or is there another one perhaps that has your caught your eye?
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I think there's two stadiums that I would like to get to for
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aesthetics, if you will. One is, is Husky Stadium, as you
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mentioned, now that they're in the Big 10.
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I've been to Seattle once and it's just gorgeous.
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And I kind of, I walked into the stadium and around it on Lake
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Washington and, you know, and in the fall it would just be
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gorgeous, you know, you know, 1:00 kick with the leaves
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turning on the lake and everything.
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I think it'd be great. Penn State is another one.
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I've always OK, it just looks like a giant erector set, you
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know, it's not one of these bold stadiums or whatnot.
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So those are the probably the two I would like to get to.
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I really want to for a game day experience.
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I've talked about this before. We've talked about a number of
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times. Lived in Iowa for four years,
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never went to Kennick and you know, when I was there.
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But I, I just want to, I want to go to Kenick and experience the
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way for the first quarter. I just, it's just something
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that, you know, with, with three kids and now 4 grandkids and you
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know all, you know, 6 and under that it just, it just hits home.
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And I'm like, I, I just want to do that.
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So maybe we'll figure out a way to get that done.
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But those are the, those are the 2 for me.
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You know, we talked yesterday for the Big 12 I had written
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down, you know, Boulder and BYU are the ones I'd like to go to.
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And then Group of Five, West Point, Sure Point, that's top
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five for me, but Big 10, Penn State, Washington, IA.
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Yeah, I've been to Folsom Field that this is a cool as
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advertiser. There's a, a tailgating area
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surrounded by pine trees, just spectacular.
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You know, the Big 10 stadium I I would like to get to and I don't
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know why it doesn't have. I mean, obviously of the two LA
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stadiums, I think the Coliseum is the second most.
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But I haven't been, I've been to the Rose Bowl, thought it was
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spectacular, lived up to everything that I expected it
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would be. The football game didn't, but
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the stadium itself did. I want to get to the Coliseum
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just by guess, I guess because of the history and everything
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that's taken place there. I almost put those there.
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I mean, the Rose Bowl for me would be fun, but UCLA just
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stinks. I think the environment and I
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mean the setting would still is still the setting, but you know,
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they're drawing 2530 thousand fans a game now because the the
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team is so bad. So, but yeah, I mean, those are
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those are two, but for me, I, I just, I don't know, Penn State
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and Washington haven't been out to Seattle and actually seen
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that setting. I'm like, man, it'd be great to
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go to a game here. Well, let's get into into some
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of the schools that will participate.
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Some of them will be in in the stadiums we both mentioned, but
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I want to start with Penn State Batman.
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Here's where I want to start with you.
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I left Vegas was it 2 weeks ago last whenever the hell was in
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Las Vegas and, and the one take away ahead and somebody said
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this and my gosh, that's a really, I wish I'd have thought
14:17
of that. And his take was if you put the
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Penn State players in Ohio State uniforms, everybody would be
14:24
picking Penn State. But because a Franklin and B,
14:27
it's just not, it's just they can't get past Ohio State Bama.
14:31
I think if there's ever going to be a year for the Nets, I think
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it's this one. They're loaded.
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They got a quarterback, They've got 2 incredible running backs.
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The defenses to terrific. I think they're they've got no
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excuses. Bama, you're right.
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None, absolutely none. And you're right.
14:49
Because if you just want to compare them to Ohio State,
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right? Ohio State's got, I believe, 2
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new coordinators. They've got a new quarterback
14:58
now. They've got and we'll talk about
15:00
Heisman a little bit. They've got a beast of a
15:03
receiver that, you know, I don't know, I don't know how you're
15:07
going to shut that guy down. You know, right, you're not.
15:11
But yeah, you look at it and and if if not now, you're exactly
15:15
right. When I mean, I got Penn State
15:17
has 2 running backs. They've got a quarterback,
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they've got continuity. If that's a good thing for them.
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I'm not 100% sure the defense is good.
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You're right. It's a great way to put it.
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If these players were wearing garnet and gold, you would
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think, wow, nobody, nobody's touching them.
15:35
But again, Franklin, you know, he's been there in his 12th
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year, I think, and he's one, but he's not one.
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And he went, he won two playoff games last year, Right.
15:46
But, you know, but who did he beat?
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The whole asterisk? Yeah.
15:49
Who did he beat? You beat SMU and he beat oh God
15:53
Boise. Boise, yeah, you're.
15:55
Right, Yeah. And so it's kind of like.
15:56
Well, yeah, but you know, you can't Yeah, you got to the
15:59
semifinals, but. And so it I don't know when,
16:04
when it's going to happen. You would think at some point
16:06
it's got to happen. And I know Penn State fans are
16:09
frustrated, but who are you going to get?
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This is the question. Who do you get that's better
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because the talent is there. And can a new guy bring in the
16:20
same talent? And can if he if he doesn't, can
16:24
he coach lesser talent better than Franklin can coach the
16:27
talent he's getting? It's just, it's such a conundrum
16:29
if you're a Penn State fan because there's in years that
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you look at it and go out, okay, they're they're clearly, they're
16:36
clearly the most talented team, but something always strips them
16:40
up and we'll see what happens again this year.
16:42
I think they're a playoff team. I think they've got no excuses
16:45
about being a playoff team or that's through winning the Big
16:48
10 or, or, you know, backdooring it or whatever.
16:51
But yeah, can they get past Ohio State?
16:53
Can they get past the the truly big boys like Texas or whoever
16:58
that they would Notre Dame, that they would run up into the
17:00
playoff? That's going to be the question.
17:01
When it comes to Ohio State, Bama, we talked about Julian
17:05
saying last year I thought he would see some playing time.
17:07
I wasn't sold on Will Howard, Alabama transfer saying and I
17:12
thought he would play, but he didn't.
17:14
Will Howard got them there and and more power to them and they
17:17
won a national championship. But saying is the guy this year,
17:21
by all accounts, think back to his recruiting time.
17:24
I mean, what, Why? How did he get away from
17:27
Alabama? And what kind of year do you
17:29
expect Is Sale? Is saying good enough to lead
17:31
the Buckeyes to a conference championship?
17:35
I think he's good enough with, again, the guy he's going to
17:39
have as a safety valve as well. And I mean just, you know, throw
17:43
it up and go get it, you know, Jeremiah.
17:47
So, yeah, the talent around him and the offensive line.
17:49
I don't really know what happened here, Ken, if there's
17:51
nobody's really talked much about it.
17:53
He he was a he was a highly recruited guy.
17:57
But you know, they were coming off, you know, that they just
17:59
thought they had something in mill row and and they did for a
18:04
little while until they didn't. And so I just, I don't know that
18:10
there was much angst when he left.
18:12
Now he, you know, did he did not want to work with De Boer.
18:16
What you know, what was it? You know, did you leave because
18:18
Saban left? I you know, there's there's so
18:20
much that that is unknown, but I think the kid is talented.
18:25
You know, we didn't really see much.
18:26
We didn't see him at all, you know, in a game here.
18:29
But, you know, just go on by what you, what you read and you
18:32
know what you watch on, on some, you know, high school stuff.
18:35
I mean, he's got all the tools. He was a top 10 recruit.
18:38
And I just, I don't know what, I don't know what happened here.
18:42
I don't know that that is a, that is really a bit of a
18:44
mystery because you know, the, the guys that, you know,
18:48
nobody's really talking. And, you know, was it an
18:50
attitude problem? Was it, you know, nil, was it
18:54
entourage or was it just, hey, you know, I think I'm, I'm
18:57
better off going somewhere else. There's just a lot of stuff you
19:00
can do, you know, a lot of reasons kids leave these days.
19:03
But I think I think he has a chance.
19:06
Their schedule is pretty rough. I mean, they opened.
19:09
How about that opener, huh? Yeah, hello.
19:12
For both quarterbacks. Right, exactly.
19:15
How about that match up? You know he's going against
19:17
Manning, obviously. Then they got a couple of toss
19:21
up to the bye week and they got to go to the West Coast.
19:23
But their schedule is not overly daunting again, And maybe that's
19:27
because you look at them and go, well, they're Ohio State, so
19:29
they're only going to be tested a couple times per year.
19:32
But I think he's good enough. And again, I just keep calling
19:35
back, man, Jeremiah Smith is good of a receiver as I ever
19:40
remember in college. And we got a there's a pretty
19:41
good one in Tuscan. Yes, there.
19:44
Is, you know, but you just look at that kid and it's just
19:47
different, man. I don't he he's got a he's got a
19:51
Terrell Owens body in college. It's just unbelievable.
19:55
And he's athletic and he can catch and he's tough.
19:57
And now, you know, he's going to kind of be the guy this year
20:01
because he had some he had some other guys around him last year
20:04
that are going to the NFL. I'm going to be catching a lot
20:06
of passes on Sundays. But yeah, I mean it.
20:10
Ohio State again, I mean, talk about a truly, this is.
20:14
This is peak Alabama, peak Nick Saban back before the transfer
20:18
portal and everything else. A truly reload program, right?
20:22
They can pretty much get anybody they want because they win.
20:26
They put guys in the pros and they got money and they're
20:30
willing to spend it. So I think this is just a true
20:32
reload. And, you know, they could drop
20:34
that first game. But I think by the time we get
20:36
to the end of the year, we're going to be looking at it going,
20:39
man, it's going to take something special to beat these
20:40
guys. How many teams can win the
20:42
conference? Obviously, we talked about two
20:44
of them, Penn State and Ohio State.
20:46
Oregon is it. I mean, there's a lot of marquee
20:50
name. I don't think Michigan can.
20:52
I don't think USC can. I think they're going to be
20:55
better. Indiana, I don't think they may
20:58
be a playoff team, but so is it. Three teams could win the
21:02
national championship in the conference.
21:04
I think 3 teams can. I'll put it this way.
21:07
I think three teams can win the conference.
21:09
I think it's Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon.
21:14
I think Michigan. If everything breaks right, I
21:18
think there's a few teams on the periphery that could challenge
21:23
for a playoff spot. I think the Big 10 is going to
21:25
Big 10. You get 4 right?
21:27
I if you really break it down, if we assume the Big 12 is going
21:30
to get one, Yep, group of five is going to get one.
21:32
Yep. If you give the ACC 2 like they
21:35
got last year, which is not 100% that that's the case, but let's
21:40
just say they get to and Notre Dame gets another one, then the
21:42
neither the Big 10 or the SEC is going to get 3 or 4, right?
21:46
One's going to get 3-1's going to get 4.
21:49
So I think there could be 4 from the Big 10, and I think the
21:52
contenders could be Michigan, Illinois, Illinois.
21:57
I think Nebraska's got a yeah, yeah.
22:01
You know, I can't, I just, I can't put Iowa in there.
22:05
I can't put. Wisconsin.
22:06
I think Wisconsin's going to be awful.
22:07
But I'm with you on Iowa. I can't.
22:09
Yeah, I will. I.
22:10
Can't I'm? With you.
22:12
Rutgers, I think it's going to be pesky.
22:14
Yep, but not a playoff. Team Nope, not a playoff team,
22:17
but there's a game, you know, you, you want to look at it for
22:20
Oregon. They've got they got a you know,
22:23
they start out basically they've got three trips E this year.
22:28
They, they, you know, Week 3, they're at Northwestern and
22:31
they're back home and they go to Penn State.
22:33
That's the white out. Game.
22:34
Yeah, exactly. And then they're then they're
22:36
home and then they go to Rutgers and then they're back home, man,
22:39
they got and then they're at Iowa.
22:40
You just look at Oregon's schedule and they are like I
22:43
mean they're crisscrossing the country every week now.
22:45
They got a couple bye weeks in. Yeah, but that's going to get, I
22:49
mean, I think they're going to have that I think is eventually
22:53
going to buy them. And I just, I just, I don't see
22:55
how teams can do that. You know, you play 2 weeks at
22:58
home and you go to Chicago. They then you come back, then
23:00
you go to Penn State and you got to buy a week and you're at
23:03
home. Then you go all the way across
23:04
the country to Piscataway and then you go back next week and
23:07
play at home and then you got an off week and you go back to
23:10
Iowa. I mean, good Lord, I mean,
23:12
somebody's going to get the short end and I think it's
23:14
Oregon this year, but. You could be right.
23:17
I like Nebraska, but I think that Rutgers, I'm looking at the
23:20
Rutgers game in, you know, in, in, in October that's kind of
23:24
sandwiched between two home games and, you know, to get on a
23:26
plane and go 6 hours to play that game and it gets a pretty
23:30
good team. I mean, Rutgers is better than
23:33
people think, but you know, if they stub their toe there, then
23:38
then they could be in trouble. Not only not only for the
23:42
conference championship, but obviously possibly for a
23:44
playoff. And that's when a team like
23:46
Michigan or Illinois or Nebraska, I'm not sold on
23:49
Indiana. I'm just, I just think they're a
23:51
one hit wonder. I do, I mean, they're going to
23:54
be better this year, but there's no way they they got so lucky
23:57
last year in terms of the schedule and the two teams that
24:02
they played that were ranked, they got beat.
24:04
Now they've got a tougher one this year because I think the
24:06
Iowa game is going to be tough for them.
24:08
They got Illinois, they go to Oregon, they go to Penn State.
24:12
I just don't think Indiana's a playoff team this year.
24:15
So I would say 3 can win the conference and you could
24:20
probably, you might be able to sneak another one out of
24:23
Nebraska, maybe Illinois or Michigan with the brand name.
24:27
And I think they're going to be a lot better this year.
24:28
I do think Michigan's going to be.
24:30
Better. All right, Michigan, that
24:31
Nebraska game Week 4 is going to be a big.
24:33
Huge. Absolutely huge.
24:35
I couldn't agree with you more. Let me throw USC into the mix at
24:39
you. Here's their Rd. games at
24:40
Purdue, at Illinois. That's the toughy at I meant
24:44
Nebraska's tough too and then at Oregon.
24:47
But they at home, their home schedule, Michigan State,
24:51
Michigan, Northwestern, Iowa and UCLA.
24:55
They play nobody in non con early.
24:56
They do get Notre Dame in the middle of the year, 9 and three
25:01
maybe for USC if and if they do pick off, you know, if they go
25:05
to South Bend and beat Notre Dame, that's got some cache to
25:09
it, maybe USC Bammer. Is that a reach?
25:15
Again, brand name, yes, but you know, you know, flip this, OK,
25:19
you know, put put that talent into Purdue's uniforms.
25:23
What would you think of? I just don't know that the
25:24
talent's there. Guy Kenny.
25:26
I just, I don't. I mean, again, Lincoln Riley, I
25:29
mean, I've got him as my coach on the hot seat.
25:30
Do you OK? Yeah, I.
25:32
Do I mean, when, when look at what the record he has gotten
25:35
from the talent he's had with Kayla Williams and all these
25:38
other guys and he's gotten worse every year now.
25:42
Is he going to flip it around to 12?
25:43
And oh, I think 9 and 3 is the bare minimum that you should be
25:48
able to expect from USC this year.
25:50
You're right. The Illinois game that's going
25:52
to be a tough that's going to be tougher than people think
25:55
because I think Bill was doing a really sneaky good job and has
26:00
for a while. You know, you know, Michigan at
26:04
home, you better win that one. That's a great game by the how
26:06
about how about that for our uniform game, USC in the in the
26:10
Coliseum for regular season. You know, Notre Dame at
26:15
Nebraska. I mean, they've got at Oregon.
26:18
I mean, they're going to have to beat somebody because you look
26:21
at Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, Nebraska, Illinois, I mean they
26:26
got to win probably three of those games.
26:28
Are they good enough to do that? It's in the non conference is a
26:31
joke. Other than Notre Dame, obviously
26:34
UCLA is not going to be any good.
26:35
They do get Iowa out there. And Iowa doesn't play well on
26:38
the West Coast. They don't, and I don't know,
26:41
let's see, who's Iowa? Where do they?
26:43
Where's that game fit into theirs?
26:45
Yeah, they're at home and then they got to go out West.
26:47
I just think that's so tough. But I can't, I can't take USC
26:52
seriously. Obviously, if they break, well,
26:54
if they go 10 and two or something, then they're going to
26:56
be in the conversation. That probably means they beat
26:59
other teams that we just talked about, like like Nebraska or
27:03
Illinois. So they would on that
27:04
tiebreaker. So you would think on paper,
27:06
yes, you know, history wise, yes, brand name, yes, but I just
27:12
haven't seen it out of them and until they do it, I'm I'm kind
27:15
of I'm I'm not buying in on them just.
27:17
Yet before we let you go, you you just mentioned that maybe a
27:22
real important game, Michigan and Nebraska, that that game's
27:26
that game is huge for both schools.
27:27
That's the first game for both of them in conference.
27:30
So it is the best game in conference.
27:33
As simple as Ohio State, Penn State.
27:35
I mean, the ramification, remember last year was Ohio
27:39
State going to Eugene to take on Oregon and how many eyeballs
27:42
were going to be on that? It's probably Penn State, Ohio
27:46
State, right? I think it, I think it is, I
27:48
think the Oregon at Penn State game is a, you know, really good
27:51
one. You know, again, country, yeah,
27:54
white out, you know, a lot of Heisman contenders in that game.
27:59
But yeah, I, you know, it kind of it's funny because nobody's
28:03
really talking about Michigan after, you know, they win the
28:05
national championship, then they tank last year.
28:07
Nobody's really talking about them, but I think they are going
28:10
to be a lot better. Are they good enough to to win
28:13
the conference? Maybe not this year, but you
28:15
know they did meet Ohio State and Alabama last year, right?
28:19
With nothing under center. So what are you going to do?
28:22
And this year they got a true freshman who they broke the bank
28:24
to pay in Underwood. Right, exactly.
28:27
So he if he lives up to the hype, which is a big if, right?
28:32
Yeah, they could, they could make some noise.
28:33
But I think that I love that Michigan, Nebraska game.
28:36
I just like it for old school, you know, you know, kind of 80s
28:40
throwback stuff. It won't be that type of game.
28:42
But I just, I love those two teams meeting, you know, on
28:46
campus in an on campus game. 20 seconds left.
28:51
Heisman contender from the Big 10 would be who?
28:53
Jeremiah Smith? I think so.
28:56
I mean, I think he's got a legitimate shot at breaking
28:58
this, you know, or. Or the quarterback run?
29:00
Quarterback, yeah, you know you mentioned saying if they have a
29:04
big year and he puts up numbers, I think our is a.
29:07
Yeah, you'll get some love. Maybe Riola, I think these I
29:11
think our and Riola maybe are, you know, invitees, if you will,
29:16
that you like get to get invited to New York.
29:18
Maybe can't win it. You know, it was.
29:22
Yeah, I I think those I think those guys are are, you know, I
29:26
think it starts with Smith. I mean, he's got to be the
29:28
favorite in that in that conference because again, he's
29:31
just so good and so big and so physical.
29:33
We'll talk to you tomorrow, brother. 12:15 We'll do ACC and
29:37
SEC Thanks, Paul. All right.
29:39
Take care guys. Good to talk to you, Bama, Bob,
29:41
as we take a look at the Big 10. All right, off to Principal Park
29:44
when I come back, the latest from Tommy Birch.
29:46
Kind of get the mood as trade deadline approaches.
29:49
Miller and Condon, Iowa Sports Radio Network.
29:51
I'm Millery Condon, Welcome back.
29:53
Iowa Sports Radio Network final segment, by the way, they're
29:56
through to in Milwaukee. Getaway day there It's one
29:59
apiece Michael Bush at the first pitch of the game out of the
30:02
ballpark. Contreras homers as well.
30:06
But Imanaga good start for him so far through too.
30:08
He has struck out for let's head the principal park.
30:11
Tommy Birch is on the scene there covering the I Cubs.
30:14
Tommy, thanks for doing this. Appreciate you coming on.
30:18
I guess what I where I want to go with you, Tommy, if you'll
30:21
allow me, is just kind of give us the mood down there.
30:23
Trade deadline tomorrow. A lot of these guys may be on
30:28
the move. How what, what's trade deadline
30:30
like for a AAA team? Would you know, you're around
30:33
the batting cage, those type of things.
30:35
Is it normal? Is it as normal as can be, or do
30:38
you sense some tension in the air?
30:41
I think there's a little little tension, maybe a little bit
30:44
little bit of excitement to when it comes to some of these guys.
30:47
Because there's so many guys when it comes to to the Iowa
30:51
Cubs in the position they're in right now.
30:53
Where there's so many guys on this roster that you could say
30:56
are probably big league ready right now.
30:59
Or at least very close to being in a position where they could
31:02
go to the big leagues but just don't have a spot.
31:04
Whether that's a guy like Owen Casey, Jordan Wicks, you know,
31:09
maybe James Triantos at some point, Kevin Alcantra, you know,
31:13
these are all guys who are at least knocking on the door of
31:15
the big leagues but just don't have a spot.
31:18
So I think the idea is like, OK, this could present a a pretty
31:22
valuable opportunity for for one or maybe multiple players to to
31:27
possibly get up there. So yeah, I think, I think
31:31
there's a little excitement, there's little tension and just
31:34
a little nervousness. You know, you start going to
31:37
know what's what's going to happen over the next 24 hours.
31:41
And you know, it's a it's a wild time.
31:44
You know, I can say, you know, since I've been covering the I
31:47
Cubs and I think I've done it a little over a decade, I've never
31:51
seen a trade deadline this wild where the the team has just so
31:57
many guys that could possibly get traded.
31:59
You know, we've known guys like, OK, damn, Vogel box, stuff like
32:03
that. And guys becomes roster that
32:05
you're like, OK, they're bound to get traded.
32:07
It could happen. But you look around the roster,
32:10
you're like, Oh my gosh, there's so many pieces that could get
32:13
moved. So it's going to be a while. 24
32:16
hours here in the morning. Will you fall off your chair
32:18
phone when Casey does not get traded?
32:20
And the reason I say that Tommy is I I think he's and correct me
32:25
if I'm wrong, he's probably his best position is right field.
32:28
And if if the Cubs can't sign Kyle Tucker, it would seemingly
32:31
make sense to me that Casey would be the heir apparent
32:35
there. I get if you're going to go and
32:37
get a any picture with some term, you're going to have to,
32:40
you know, give up some of your prime pieces.
32:42
And Casey certainly is that. Is it 5050 for Casey or would
32:47
you be shocked if he doesn't get traded?
32:50
Yeah, I think I kind of lean on the side that I think I'd be
32:52
shocked if he doesn't get traded just because his name has been
32:55
out there for so long. He's been floated for a long
32:58
time. You know, obviously the the run
33:01
of success that he's had over the last month has been wildly
33:04
impressive and probably boosts his trade stock a little bit
33:07
more. But I think like, look, it
33:09
becomes if the Cubs, you know, the Cubs have had plenty of
33:15
opportunities to call up Owen Casey.
33:17
I think the fact they didn't get the call last night and that
33:19
they ended up calling up Boise by Saros ends up telling you
33:23
like, OK, you know, they're at least still entertaining the
33:26
idea of possibly trading going Casey right now.
33:29
So at least they're they're considering it.
33:32
Will it actually happen? I don't know.
33:34
But he he is their most valuable chip.
33:38
And I would say when it comes to what the Cubs are going to do at
33:41
the trade deadline, there's nobody that is technically off
33:45
limits when it comes to decide what comes to roster.
33:50
I don't think anybody is totally safe.
33:52
Obviously, the Cubs would like to survive the trade downpipe
33:54
without giving up on KC being their number one prospects.
33:58
He boasts so much potential. And like you had mentioned,
34:03
could possibly be that her appearance a cattle Tucker if
34:05
she ends up walking away. But you don't know how long this
34:09
window is going to be open to possibly go for a World Series.
34:12
And if he can get you that possible player that can put you
34:17
over the edge and take you there, you know you're going to
34:20
make that deal probably. Last thing for you, Jackson
34:24
Wiggins is clearly currently at AA.
34:27
Their best pitching prospect. I would I have to believe he is
34:33
does he? If he doesn't get traded as he
34:35
in Des Moines shortly thereafter, he seems like he's
34:38
ready for AAA. Your thoughts on Wiggins and and
34:40
He's another name that could go. Sure.
34:43
Yeah. I mean, I think he's he's
34:45
definitely one of the top three guys that teams are asking about
34:49
or at least taking a long look at.
34:51
But if he doesn't get traded, I think we'll see him in the boy
34:54
at some point after the trade deadline, just because, you
34:57
know, he's kind of an older prospect.
34:59
He's dealt with injuries. You know, at some point you want
35:01
to give him the AAA. They don't want to rush him, but
35:05
time is definitely ticking on him where he might be a little
35:08
too old. He was definitely too old for
35:09
where he started, but you know, he's working his way back from
35:13
an injury. I think from a developmental
35:15
standpoint, from a talent standpoint, they just want to
35:17
see where he is and possibly get him to AAA as soon as possible
35:21
so he can make that next big jump and tend to continue his
35:25
development. We have 20 seconds left.
35:28
Who from the big club is down here?
35:29
I know Assads down here, Amaya yesterday.
35:32
What's going on as far as big Cubs working their way back onto
35:36
the roster? Jamison Tyone is scheduled to
35:40
pitch Saturday. I believe Maya is kind of up in
35:44
there. How long he'll be here?
35:46
But we'll definitely have at least one or two, maybe three
35:49
more starts from Javier Spot as well.
35:51
Good stuff Tommy, thanks for doing this.
35:53
Appreciate it. I know you're busy down there.
35:56
Great piece on Ryan Sandberg by the way.
35:58
Enjoyed that at desmoinesregister.com.
36:00
Well done Tommy. Thanks for jumping on and giving
36:02
me a few minutes. I appreciate it.
36:04
Any time for you, Ken. Seriously, you're the best.
36:07
Thanks for always having me all. Right, buddy, Good to talk to
36:09
you. Thank you, Tommy.
36:10
Tommy Birch, as we check in on AAA and kind of get the feelings
36:14
for some of the farm hands that may get that opportunity to make
36:18
it to the bigs. Yeah, excitement too.
36:20
That's another good emotion. Just that opportunity that
36:23
they've waited their whole lives for.
36:25
Maybe it won't. It won't come in the Cubs
36:27
uniform, but perhaps they get the opportunity to prove they
36:31
belong by being a part of a trade.
36:33
That's going to do it for me. Appreciate you guys being with
36:35
me here today. Off the bench is coming up next
36:38
with David Eichelton, Lucas Strain, Bill Finley's going to
36:41
join me tomorrow. Cappy's going to join me
36:44
tomorrow. Look forward to both of those
36:45
hits in the 1:00 hour. Miller and Condon with you to
36:48
talk sports every Monday through Friday from noon until 2.
36:51
Thanks for being with me on the Iowa Sports Radio.