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The Will Retherford Show: MLB, NFL & the Fever (Podcast 347.1) · The Central Indiana Sports Report

0:06
[SPEAKER_01]: What you are listening to now is the Central Indiana Sports Report podcast number two hundred and forty seven point one the will rutherford show.
0:16
[SPEAKER_01]: A look at the national sports landscape from a central Indian sports perspective this week looking at the major league baseball races.
0:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Sucing out the top teams and the worst teams heading into the NFL preseason and are the fever the favorites in the WNBA.
0:42
[SPEAKER_00]: You're listening to the central Indiana Sports Report with your host, Greg Midgales.
0:57
[SPEAKER_01]: here to talk.
0:58
[SPEAKER_01]: The national sports scene from a central Indiana, of course, effective with Will Rutherford on a weekly basis.
1:05
[SPEAKER_01]: Trying to talk him into doing it more often.
1:07
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see how that goes.
1:08
[SPEAKER_01]: Although he's starting to, certain classes pretty soon.
1:11
[SPEAKER_01]: So we'll see where it goes from here.
1:13
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll have a couple of weeks to make the decision before season two begins.
1:17
[SPEAKER_01]: And then we will figure out your role.
1:19
[SPEAKER_01]: exactly what we're going to do but for between now and then we're talking sports and will in the world of sports right now what's number one on top of your mind.
1:28
[SPEAKER_02]: Well I mean Greg it's just what a beautiful evening with golfing side would like to give a shout out like I mean this is a beautiful guy's chamber commerce evening right here no humidity bugs aren't getting out yet
1:42
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just, it's starting to get a whole lot better than this.
1:44
[SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't.
1:45
[SPEAKER_02]: As far as we do, we do appreciate it.
1:46
[SPEAKER_02]: We do it well when we do because I mean, I hate to say it to our listeners when it's coming.
1:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, like, we talk about fall that, no, when it's coming at some point and it's, it's ugly.
1:59
[SPEAKER_02]: It's nasty.
2:00
[SPEAKER_02]: It's terrible.
2:02
[SPEAKER_02]: And it's just never any fun with that being said, I feel like number one of the docket for me, of course, is
2:09
[SPEAKER_02]: gotta be just, you know, the national league central is turning into quite a little conundrum as far as the brewers basically flipping the cubs on their head and saying it's time for us.
2:23
[SPEAKER_02]: It's kind of like the regular season Pittsburgh Steelers.
2:26
[SPEAKER_02]: You just count on him being there and then they'll just shit the bed whenever it gets important.
2:31
[SPEAKER_02]: It'll be something dumb and it happens.
2:33
[SPEAKER_02]: It's just quite clockwork.
2:35
[SPEAKER_02]: It feels almost at peace that this is how it is because this is how it always has been and how it always will be.
2:41
[SPEAKER_02]: But I do think it's a little concerning with the Cubs though as far as the lack of direction.
2:48
[SPEAKER_01]: that they kind of showed at the deadline more or less just sitting on their hands what do you think I think they're one of the best four teams in the national league if they had a plan coming into the year that was go with this roster for the rest of the season I get it they're not really
3:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I feel like you have to maximize the one year you're getting with Tucker.
3:19
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I don't know where they're going to be in that bidding war next year for Kyle Tucker.
3:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I'm sure that they will be.
3:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, he's going to obviously be the last team they.
3:29
[SPEAKER_02]: the clubs will be the last team that he played for and so that'll leave a good taste in the mouth but as far as I mean he's going to be warranting a three hundred to four hundred million dollar contract probably and he's going to be at the right at the peak of his career I just feel like it's one of those situations where you didn't really get any better at the deadline and
3:49
[SPEAKER_01]: They definitely did not tell their fans were going for it.
3:53
[SPEAKER_02]: I agree.
3:53
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it was poor messaging, especially for their organization.
3:57
[SPEAKER_02]: But I mean, the Rickets family for the latter part of the last eight years really have done nothing to prove that the clubs want to be contenders outside of we want to be just good enough for getting in the postseason.
4:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, twenty sixteen looks great.
4:13
[SPEAKER_02]: but what if the cubs have to show for it?
4:16
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, they basically traded away every core stone piece of that team that won the world series.
4:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not even sure is there a player on the team anymore that even won the world series in twenty fifteen.
4:28
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not twenty sixteen excuse me.
4:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think so.
4:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Now, so just the brewers have been kind of sitting in the weed stalking them the whole time and cubs
4:39
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, faltered a little bit and here they are.
4:41
[SPEAKER_02]: I know that you're still really high on the reds and I am.
4:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they have a higher, I think they have a higher ceiling than both the Brewers and the Cubs.
4:54
[SPEAKER_02]: maybe in the future.
4:56
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they have a better postseason roster.
4:59
[SPEAKER_01]: The brewers pitching staff softly good.
5:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I understand.
5:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I love the red line up for the postseason.
5:05
[SPEAKER_01]: It's for the last month and a half been doing things I hadn't done before.
5:10
[SPEAKER_01]: For example, hitting situationally.
5:15
[SPEAKER_01]: In particular, LED La Cruz who's hitting all fields and when he gets on basis scores.
5:21
[SPEAKER_01]: I like this team for the postseason.
5:22
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not even sure they're going to get there and the oladolo goes back on the IL today.
5:26
[SPEAKER_01]: There's been a lot of that.
5:27
[SPEAKER_01]: They have had a hundred green for months.
5:29
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
5:30
[SPEAKER_01]: But if they get there, I like their chances.
5:34
[SPEAKER_01]: competing with the top team.
5:35
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, if we're thinking about an outlook here, I mean, you've obviously got the Dodgers pod race, so those are two teams that are going to be in.
5:40
[SPEAKER_02]: You've got the fillies and meds.
5:42
[SPEAKER_02]: There's four.
5:42
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
5:43
[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not convinced by the meds yet, but they will be in the playoff.
5:45
[SPEAKER_02]: They will be in the playoff.
5:46
[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm simply just talking playoff conversation.
5:49
[SPEAKER_02]: We have, we have the Cubs and the Brewer.
5:51
[SPEAKER_02]: So there we have six.
5:53
[SPEAKER_02]: And now we're hunting for that third team.
5:54
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I, I've said that I had no faith the reds could make the postseason.
6:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I still think they have an outside shot looking in probably realistically, but it's not like anybody else has really it's come up and said this ours to get.
6:10
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you know, well, there are four games behind the meds and the meds have been playing really well.
6:14
[SPEAKER_01]: So it's not going to be easy for sure.
6:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I would say less than fifty, fifty they get to the postseason, but
6:20
[SPEAKER_01]: So what's the wild card looks like right now obviously we've had three games behind the pondries four games behind the met the cubs are seven and a half okay with the red yeah so I mean by the way this is as of Tuesday night of course we're adding this Thursday morning yeah I mean I definitely think that
6:37
[SPEAKER_02]: All of those teams I would say are feel like postseason team.
6:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Something could happen.
6:42
[SPEAKER_02]: They could, you know, kind of sputter a little bit.
6:45
[SPEAKER_02]: But I, for the most part, the reds, what would you put their percentage out right now?
6:51
[SPEAKER_02]: Like if you're just forty five forty five.
6:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay.
6:53
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, that's probably a little higher than I'd say, but I don't, it's not impossible.
6:56
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility.
6:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I just think that the podries are a better roster.
7:01
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the meds are, I don't know if they're a better roster, but they have a better start as far as, you know, the reds have been kind of climbing out of the five hundred hole.
7:09
[SPEAKER_02]: They've been in essentially the whole year.
7:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Right.
7:12
[SPEAKER_02]: The meds were really hot.
7:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Speaking of five hundred, the cardinals are suddenly five hundred, starting to play a little better as their reason for hope.
7:19
[SPEAKER_02]: No, this pitching staff's not good enough for them to give any help, but they basically traded all of their, their three best relievers really outside of one at the deadline.
7:29
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
7:30
[SPEAKER_01]: The pitching's been really good most of the time lately.
7:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, that's because fetties gone, so you lost an automatic loss basically every time.
7:39
[SPEAKER_02]: If Michael is half way decent, I don't know.
7:42
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't really have a ton of faith that the cult, the cardinals can be there.
7:49
[SPEAKER_02]: But I guess I could be they went on a eight seventeen game win streak in late August and early September.
7:56
[SPEAKER_01]: Wild card there was all the team right behind the run two or three years ago.
7:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I can't remember exactly which year was but but I mean they've proven that they can get hot.
8:06
[SPEAKER_02]: I just think that the
8:08
[SPEAKER_02]: the roster, the lineup is just not good enough.
8:12
[SPEAKER_02]: No, it's been atrocious.
8:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you've got a new regime coming in as far as high in bloom who built the reds or cut the race organization and the red socks.
8:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, for I know the red socks have been down, but he kind of rebuilt that farm system that went all in mode a couple too many times.
8:32
[SPEAKER_02]: So I
8:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Sure, I mean, I think that they have a shot, but it's not good.
8:38
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they're better than the reds.
8:39
[SPEAKER_02]: They're heard of the Giants now.
8:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, the Giants is a team that just falling apart, that makes no sense.
8:46
[SPEAKER_02]: They should be much better than they are.
8:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, they also were way over achieve the first half.
8:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, and then, you know, we could transition over the American League, which
8:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Can we just admit the American League is not as good as the National League?
9:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it'll be a report this week.
9:02
[SPEAKER_01]: We talked about it.
9:02
[SPEAKER_01]: The both, the American League, and nationally, you look like they're going to both be pretty interesting the rest of the year, but it's in the National League because there are a bunch of good teams in the American League.
9:12
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the American League is a bunch of bad teams.
9:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Very good teams.
9:14
[SPEAKER_02]: There's like two teams.
9:16
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't even think that any team right now in the American League warrants being a world-series team.
9:23
[SPEAKER_02]: Like if the road series could be competed against two national league teams, that feels right.
9:28
[SPEAKER_02]: It feels like the best sixteenths are in the national.
9:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I agree.
9:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I really do.
9:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe the new jays may be having argument of being that fifteen, but it's kind of feels similar to how the NFL season was though last year with just having all of the good teams and one conference.
9:44
[SPEAKER_01]: The team's right.
9:45
[SPEAKER_02]: And then you had, you know, the Eagles obviously want a super bowl and they were not really common.
9:50
[SPEAKER_01]: I could not see an American League team winning at this year unless the Yankees got held the mayor's.
9:55
[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to be there.
9:57
[SPEAKER_01]: They got the pitching to do it for sure.
9:59
[SPEAKER_01]: I was going to say probably my picture when the American League right now might be Seattle if they even get in.
10:04
[SPEAKER_02]: The Blue Jays are playing so well and John Schneider is a really good manager.
10:07
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't believe in the pitching.
10:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't either, but they did bolster a little bit.
10:11
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Shane Bieber is going to be a big addition to that rotation.
10:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think that it's, I don't, it's not a needle mover where I look and say, okay, the blue jays are like up there with the Dodgers and stuff.
10:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, they're playing really good ball and Vlad Guerrero Jr and Boba Shed are playing like super stars.
10:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think the blue jays can be in the national league too.
10:29
[SPEAKER_02]: you know and what we actually had I remember right before the MLBCs and you know players to watch out for at Boba Shet was on that list as far as a guy that you know he's up around three hundred he's been batting his ass off at playing shortstop it's just
10:45
[SPEAKER_02]: that BlueJace team, they give you reason to believe.
10:48
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think what the BlueJace are good baseball's better with having all of Canada basically on their side, which it's kind of fun.
10:56
[SPEAKER_02]: It's a cool environment.
10:58
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it does.
10:59
[SPEAKER_02]: But like having a whole country united behind one team of school.
11:04
[SPEAKER_01]: The Astros and Tigers are clearly going to be postseason teams in either one of those teams do it for you.
11:09
[SPEAKER_02]: No, I mean the Tigers maybe.
11:11
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
11:11
[SPEAKER_02]: They're just like, are they just fallen on flat tires because they've got an eight and a half game leader?
11:16
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe.
11:17
[SPEAKER_02]: What is it?
11:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
11:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
11:18
[SPEAKER_02]: Something a lot like that.
11:19
[SPEAKER_02]: Something like that.
11:21
[SPEAKER_02]: It makes really no sense to me why they are playing this poorly, really.
11:28
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, why would you want to sputter into
11:31
[SPEAKER_02]: October there is there's two months left to get in it but it hasn't looked good for them for a while now so actually us a great segue so we're talking about teams way ahead of their divisional opponents we could transition the NFL now and talk about our the Buffalo bills just gonna run away with the AFCE like is that just gonna happen yes is there anybody even
11:54
[SPEAKER_02]: remotely of the other three teams that you think.
11:58
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean if Drake may as Peyton Manning, maybe.
12:01
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that I do think the Patriots will be five hundred.
12:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, probably.
12:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that a label automatically gives them give them credibility as far as where they're
12:14
[SPEAKER_02]: ceiling as I don't know.
12:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Would you be surprised that they were in the playoffs?
12:17
[SPEAKER_01]: Wouldn't stun me.
12:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I would be surprised because I think that there are other good teams.
12:22
[SPEAKER_01]: That's true.
12:23
[SPEAKER_01]: The AC is loaded.
12:25
[SPEAKER_02]: But with that being said at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if we looked in November and they were kind of in the hump looking
12:34
[SPEAKER_02]: in maybe I don't think there'll be that probably one of the top seven seeds but I mean there's a chance or their eight or nine I mean I we go down the list I think I think it quite frankly I think Patriots could probably be in contention of that if they're
12:54
[SPEAKER_02]: If Drake may bad, which he's not going to be.
12:56
[SPEAKER_01]: There offensive line isn't improved at all.
12:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, which has been awful.
13:00
[SPEAKER_02]: Definitely a chance.
13:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Roomer come out of the camp is that the line's been pretty good.
13:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Of course, Ray Bull's always been good with the interior of his teams.
13:09
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll see.
13:09
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, the bills.
13:12
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Ray van's bills is what we're looking at.
13:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I just really do.
13:17
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the chargers really have a chance to potentially be
13:22
[SPEAKER_02]: In that conversation, the chargers in Broncos to me are definitely the risers.
13:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I forget what the list is, but it's like every year, it's a statistic actually.
13:33
[SPEAKER_02]: Like four teams don't make the playoffs.
13:39
[SPEAKER_02]: right after they made it and then four teams that didn't make the playoffs make the playoffs and I really I don't know if that's going to happen this year in the AFC.
13:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't see four in every year and happen.
13:50
[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, but like where's it happened?
13:53
[SPEAKER_02]: The Broncos charges both midfield and injury.
13:55
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure there's a you know
13:57
[SPEAKER_01]: It just happens.
13:59
[SPEAKER_01]: You're right.
13:59
[SPEAKER_01]: It doesn't seem like it'll happen.
14:01
[SPEAKER_01]: Are you?
14:01
[SPEAKER_01]: This is the NFL and it will happen.
14:03
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you convinced that the Steelers are that much better with Rogers as their quarterback?
14:08
[SPEAKER_02]: Like are they actually Super Bowl contenders?
14:11
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they're on the Ravens level, but I think they could be number four or five in the AFC.
14:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they could be that good.
14:17
[SPEAKER_01]: We out on the Bengals.
14:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
14:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Only because they're in the AFC.
14:21
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
14:22
[SPEAKER_01]: Um, again, let's, let's do this real fast.
14:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
14:25
[SPEAKER_01]: You brought up the bills.
14:26
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're the favorites going in.
14:27
[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely.
14:28
[SPEAKER_01]: They're, I think the Ravens and Chiefs are right there with them.
14:31
[SPEAKER_01]: You have to put the Chiefs up there.
14:32
[SPEAKER_01]: They're rosters better.
14:33
[SPEAKER_02]: We have to put them up there, but are they, are they better than didn't we?
14:37
[SPEAKER_01]: Either one of you are I believe in the Chiefs, but you still have to put them on that list.
14:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Then you get Denver then you get the charger someone's went in the south when you and I both agree Jacksonville is I don't I'm not going to put my my word on any well we're not we're not making official predictions I think that they're they have the most proven like Lawrence first good is okay to good strides been the first year I still think that I believe
15:07
[SPEAKER_01]: that in the track record of more it's being statistically probably more consistent than strow that this point at this point but someone's went in the south yep so that leaves the bingles one spot to get in the playoff and I just see too many other teams out there that cults uh... i think two teams can come out of the south for sure it would
15:32
[SPEAKER_01]: would take things going right for two of the three teams.
15:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.
15:35
[SPEAKER_01]: We could also have the division winner be eight nine in the air.
15:38
[SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely could happen.
15:39
[SPEAKER_01]: But I don't believe in the Raiders.
15:41
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care.
15:42
[SPEAKER_01]: It's good and all that and genus.
15:44
[SPEAKER_02]: We're at the point where I think it's easier.
15:46
[SPEAKER_02]: It's hard.
15:47
[SPEAKER_02]: It's easier to eliminate teams at that point than it is.
15:50
[SPEAKER_01]: And the fingers are kind of on this tier of their own aren't they?
15:53
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're, they are.
15:54
[SPEAKER_01]: The bunch of teams that we know are getting in, a bunch of teams we know aren't, and then there's the being.
15:58
[SPEAKER_02]: To me, I can count three teams out, four teams out with certainty.
16:02
[SPEAKER_02]: The Browns are not making the postseason.
16:05
[SPEAKER_02]: The dolphins are not making the postseason.
16:07
[SPEAKER_01]: It would take just a whole lot going right for the dolphins, including two of BMA Leads.
16:13
[SPEAKER_01]: Which we don't see.
16:14
[SPEAKER_02]: The jets are not making.
16:15
[SPEAKER_02]: The raiders aren't.
16:19
[SPEAKER_02]: And really outside of that, I think those are the only four teams of the sixteen in that conference that I can wholeheartedly say have no chance of making the most.
16:28
[SPEAKER_01]: The Patriots would have to, it would be tough for them.
16:30
[SPEAKER_02]: But we, but we have, I'm saying zero, zero percent certainty.
16:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the Patriots have a shot.
16:36
[SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't even put the Raiders at zero.
16:38
[SPEAKER_01]: That is zero.
16:39
[SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't.
16:40
[SPEAKER_01]: And that division.
16:41
[SPEAKER_01]: But Gina, Gina's good man, and he circles good, and they had a decent roster.
16:47
[SPEAKER_01]: It's not a good roster, it's a teaser.
16:48
[SPEAKER_02]: Respectfully.
16:49
[SPEAKER_01]: If they're seven and ten, I wouldn't be surprised at all.
16:52
[SPEAKER_02]: Pete Carroll is the third or fourth best coach in that division.
16:57
[SPEAKER_02]: Fair enough.
16:58
[SPEAKER_02]: And I think they're making the playoffs.
17:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I just, I think that.
17:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I just wouldn't put it to zero as all I'm saying.
17:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I, and then I mean, we could go over to the NFC and I feel like it's
17:10
[SPEAKER_02]: a whole, I think it's wide open over there.
17:14
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, really, the only team I'm penciling in, making the playoffs probably the Eagles.
17:19
[SPEAKER_02]: But even that, we've talked about it before.
17:22
[SPEAKER_01]: They are a candidate for an implosion.
17:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that they are, but I think that they're still going to be good enough, that they get, just the talent alone will be enough to get them in as far as what happens after.
17:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Carvers is good as he was last year.
17:35
[SPEAKER_01]: There, there definitely is good as the AFC teams.
17:38
[SPEAKER_02]: I do think that
17:40
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the East, you know, I said wide open, boy, it's, and that season's actually really good when you sit back.
17:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, all four of it's not.
17:49
[SPEAKER_01]: You're a bunch of B level teams.
17:51
[SPEAKER_02]: The Vikings, the Lion.
17:52
[SPEAKER_02]: The level teams.
17:54
[SPEAKER_02]: The Packers.
17:55
[SPEAKER_02]: B level.
17:57
[SPEAKER_02]: The Washington.
17:58
[SPEAKER_01]: B level.
18:01
[SPEAKER_01]: I think they might be a level, but the only one that's A level is the Eagles.
18:06
[SPEAKER_01]: And again, I, I,
18:08
[SPEAKER_01]: AJ Brown is a ticking time bomb.
18:10
[SPEAKER_01]: They've got about ten of those guys on their team.
18:13
[SPEAKER_01]: And those things can work for a year or two.
18:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
18:15
[SPEAKER_01]: They don't work for very long.
18:16
[SPEAKER_01]: And I just maybe I'm wrong.
18:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe that coaching staff has figured it out.
18:22
[SPEAKER_01]: And especially with not having an elite quarterback, he's a very good quarterback.
18:26
[SPEAKER_01]: Don't get me wrong, Jaylin hurts as a very good quarterback.
18:29
[SPEAKER_01]: And he's a very effective quarterback.
18:31
[SPEAKER_01]: But not having an elite quarterback makes me not put him on the level with Lamar Jackson and the AFC teams that all have elite quarterbacks.
18:38
[SPEAKER_01]: All four of the top there.
18:40
[SPEAKER_01]: So where's Tyler?
18:42
[SPEAKER_02]: because that the west is a division that could be won by the cardinals like where's Kyle?
18:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think it will be, but would you be surprised they have so much talent on this?
18:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't, I would be, I think I would be at this point more surprised if they did win the division.
18:55
[SPEAKER_02]: I think that they are the best team on paper probably right now.
19:00
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe the forty-nineers like they still have a lot of old age.
19:03
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, they have good players, but they're older injury prone.
19:06
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it's McAfrey and or Kittle going to make it through a whole season healthy.
19:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Probably not.
19:12
[SPEAKER_02]: No.
19:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It looks like to me the forty-nineers are on their last legs, but.
19:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree with that.
19:18
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think the other thing about the NFC though is that like they have see, there are my large teams you can count on to the playoffs because it's a pretty average conference.
19:29
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I mean, I agree with that.
19:32
[SPEAKER_01]: New Orleans.
19:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Carolina New Orleans.
19:34
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, that's a bad division.
19:36
[SPEAKER_01]: If something.
19:37
[SPEAKER_02]: No, the Tampa Bay and Atlanta are both pretty far superior to that.
19:42
[SPEAKER_02]: They're both.
19:43
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I would say the bucks are a B-level team.
19:46
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
19:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I think there'll be level team.
19:48
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I agree with that.
19:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I think the NFC has about eight of them.
19:52
[SPEAKER_01]: In fact, I think that's why it's going to be interesting.
19:54
[SPEAKER_01]: I think Philadelphia is an A-level team.
19:58
[SPEAKER_01]: but we've explained that.
20:00
[SPEAKER_01]: Washington.
20:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Green Bay, Minnesota Detroit, Atlanta, or New York, Atlanta.
20:06
[SPEAKER_02]: Atlanta is not in that same same tier that be left.
20:09
[SPEAKER_01]: It definitely could be.
20:11
[SPEAKER_01]: And I think the Cardinals and Rams, of course, the Rams look very good.
20:15
[SPEAKER_01]: It looks like the Rams things are not going well in camp there, but.
20:19
[SPEAKER_01]: and the cowboys I think are going to pretty good and the falcons I think are going to be pretty good so a lot of interesting storylines in the NFC even though I would be stunned if they repeat a Super Bowl champions.
20:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree.
20:35
[SPEAKER_01]: If it's not Buffalo or Baltimore this year I will be completely stunned.
20:39
[SPEAKER_02]: I will too.
20:41
[SPEAKER_02]: Where I won't be stunned though is if
20:45
[SPEAKER_02]: The WMBA also does not have a repeat champion because I don't think it's going to be the liberty.
20:53
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's going to be the fever.
20:56
[SPEAKER_02]: I know Spill.
20:57
[SPEAKER_02]: I know John and Michelle would say I'm crazy.
21:00
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think they'd say that, especially right now.
21:02
[SPEAKER_02]: They're playing five game winning streak.
21:04
[SPEAKER_02]: They play the night ten o'clock for six.
21:08
[SPEAKER_02]: Caitlyn Clark's not been playing.
21:10
[SPEAKER_01]: It's weak schedule.
21:12
[SPEAKER_01]: They're taking advantage of it, which is good, but
21:15
[SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't put it.
21:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I wouldn't put them up above Minnesota in New York yet, but I like the optimism and I'll tell you what the last five games has shown is that it's possible.
21:23
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, it's fun.
21:25
[SPEAKER_02]: I feel like anybody at right now on this team can go get twenty.
21:30
[SPEAKER_02]: And the starting rotation even, you know, are six, seventh.
21:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Is it probably going to happen?
21:36
[SPEAKER_02]: No.
21:36
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, the scoring in the NBA is always down versus the NBA by the mere fact that they just don't play as long, which helps.
21:44
[SPEAKER_02]: It's also slower pace, more half court driven, and stuff like that.
21:47
[SPEAKER_02]: But I just think that if Clark can come back and be good like
21:52
[SPEAKER_02]: the ceiling of this team right now is exactly where you thought it wasn't the beginning of the year there was a point of season where I thought it was a wash I thought and that's your but I wouldn't know I don't think so I really think that they are They're really going to be a force to be recommend I think they're going to be a tough out mean you're best five series like you're going to beat Caitlin Clark three times and if two of which are for sure going to be in Indiana
22:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe three.
22:22
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, well, let's talk about the standings.
22:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Because right now, they would not have home.
22:27
[SPEAKER_02]: No, but they're right.
22:28
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, there are in fifth place.
22:30
[SPEAKER_01]: They have gone past Seattle and Vegas in the last during this five game.
22:35
[SPEAKER_01]: Ty break around Seattle, too.
22:37
[SPEAKER_01]: And they got Phoenix is a half game ahead of them.
22:39
[SPEAKER_01]: Uh-huh.
22:40
[SPEAKER_01]: Atlanta is a game ahead of them.
22:43
[SPEAKER_01]: And the struggling liberty who've been without Brianna Stewart are just two games ahead of them.
22:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Now, they could be the second seed plus.
22:50
[SPEAKER_01]: There's seven games behind Minnesota.
22:52
[SPEAKER_01]: They play them three times.
22:53
[SPEAKER_01]: They just lost their best player for a month.
22:55
[SPEAKER_02]: Yep.
22:56
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, is she going to come back and be a hundred percent.
22:59
[SPEAKER_02]: It's a good question.
23:00
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, who's the LVP of the least?
23:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Kind of like a tough ankle injury.
23:04
[SPEAKER_02]: In my opinion, I don't know.
23:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I'm not a doctor or orthopedic surgeon or anything, but it surely did not look clean.
23:11
[SPEAKER_01]: ankle injuries are injuries that don't seem to linger as long.
23:15
[SPEAKER_01]: Aren't you sure about that?
23:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure about that.
23:18
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't like a groin, not like a muscle tear or a muscle.
23:21
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I think you can you can spackle up an ankle to make it playable.
23:25
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.
23:26
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, the way you can't agree with one, you can't have soft tissue as far as a hamstring, but like you can mask an ankle, but I mean, it's still, you're slower.
23:36
[SPEAKER_02]: You're not as efficient cutting.
23:39
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, call yours obviously such an efficient score.
23:42
[SPEAKER_02]: It definitely plays a role there as far as getting new her spot to get a shot off.
23:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
23:50
[SPEAKER_02]: I just I have this feeling this intuition the fever are right now just reaching their potential and can go so much more so much higher and I mean I don't think it's a future for sure.
24:06
[SPEAKER_02]: The question is this start there.
24:07
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's this year.
24:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Why not why not this year?
24:11
[SPEAKER_02]: Like, you know, Caitlyn comes back and she plays well.
24:14
[SPEAKER_02]: You're adding Tony a night, Tony, and then you're average adding the twenty points.
24:19
[SPEAKER_02]: She assists on so you're adding, you know, let's just say.
24:23
[SPEAKER_02]: thirty points to your, your line up in your rotation.
24:28
[SPEAKER_02]: That surely helps a lot.
24:29
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I'm not a mathematician, but you're adding thirty points.
24:32
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and it's like a big deal.
24:34
[SPEAKER_01]: They've been sharing the ball the other night.
24:35
[SPEAKER_01]: They had twenty five assists on thirty one back.
24:38
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, now like that.
24:38
[SPEAKER_01]: They're sharing the ball.
24:40
[SPEAKER_01]: We know how much Caitlin that's her first.
24:42
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, but we got it.
24:44
[SPEAKER_02]: She's got to take better shots.
24:45
[SPEAKER_02]: Shot selection has to be better.
24:47
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, to get better.
24:49
[SPEAKER_01]: She's not on an Iowa team that needs her to shoot from thirty feet.
24:52
[SPEAKER_01]: No.
24:53
[SPEAKER_01]: She's got Kelsey Mitchell.
24:54
[SPEAKER_01]: She's gotten a Tasha Howard.
24:55
[SPEAKER_01]: She's got Alia Boston.
24:57
[SPEAKER_01]: She's got Ari McDonnell.
24:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Yep.
24:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Sophie Cunningham, Lexi Hall.
25:01
[SPEAKER_01]: There are no reason not to be sharing the ball.
25:04
[SPEAKER_02]: No, I agree completely.
25:05
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, especially with just how good.
25:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, I mean, really, they've all been good.
25:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Kelsey Mitch has been outstanding in in in Caitlin's absence.
25:16
[SPEAKER_02]: She's been I don't know team MVP this year team MVP without question really should be in consideration for overall MVP with just the fact that she's
25:26
[SPEAKER_02]: uh, been so good as far as just her scoring output and just being kind of the heartbeat of the team, exactly what they needed when they needed it.
25:34
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, exciting.
25:36
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you obviously what I think a leaven games left and the the regular season before this kind of all takes out ten now after this evening.
25:43
[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know.
25:44
[SPEAKER_02]: There's a lot to like.
25:45
[SPEAKER_02]: I just have this gut feeling.
25:47
[SPEAKER_02]: I had the same way with the Pacers too that this Pacers team is.
25:51
[SPEAKER_02]: I was the first person of the Central India Sports Report to say, hey, the Pacers can win the finals.
25:58
[SPEAKER_02]: And I just, I really think that would be also pretty good.
26:00
[SPEAKER_01]: The fever.
26:01
[SPEAKER_01]: We're going to win the championship this year.
26:02
[SPEAKER_01]: I did.
26:03
[SPEAKER_01]: Hopefully I won.
26:04
[SPEAKER_01]: Michelle both picked the fever to win the championship.
26:05
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, although Michelle, let's, we need to check her receipts, though, because she's, she's been a fever hate her at times, too, especially.
26:13
[SPEAKER_02]: She definitely watches with a critical eye.
26:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, she definitely watches with a critical eye.
26:16
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to go out about that.
26:18
[SPEAKER_01]: Well, that is the beginning of the year.
26:19
[SPEAKER_01]: She did pick him to win it all.
26:20
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.
26:21
[SPEAKER_02]: John's obviously, I mean, he loves the fever, so.
26:25
[SPEAKER_02]: But I don't even think he picked him.
26:26
[SPEAKER_02]: No, he did.
26:27
[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I mean, I mean, I wouldn't have either.
26:29
[SPEAKER_02]: And there was reason not to.
26:31
[SPEAKER_02]: I would say, I mean, a little bias as well.
26:35
[SPEAKER_02]: I just think that they are really exciting.
26:37
[SPEAKER_02]: I think it'd be really fun if they got on a run, especially if the Pacers went on a run with what happened with Tyre's and stuff.
26:44
[SPEAKER_02]: I would just be huge for the city to have two finals runs.
26:49
[SPEAKER_02]: Absolutely, let's get them in the top four get home courted man.
26:52
[SPEAKER_01]: I agree.
26:53
[SPEAKER_02]: It's got to have those games and maybe I think that they're they're I think the three seeds realistic, but I mean if if stew's not coming back Boy that two seed looks awfully enticing.
27:02
[SPEAKER_02]: I just I think it's one of those were what's in between the two seed and the three seed?
27:07
[SPEAKER_02]: Is there a court in the second round?
27:09
[SPEAKER_02]: That's it.
27:09
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean yeah, but It's not like it's critical correct
27:14
[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they're not about that.
27:15
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not going to be the ones.
27:16
[SPEAKER_01]: They're not going to be the ones.
27:17
[SPEAKER_02]: They're not going to be the ones.
27:18
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the Minnesota is all but kind of lock that up.
27:22
[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe if they really spun or I don't know.
27:24
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I know that they've got three mashup to put the fever as far as in with a seven game lead.
27:29
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, anything could happen.
27:30
[SPEAKER_02]: I just, I think it would be awfully difficult.
27:34
[SPEAKER_01]: I just looked it up on Google AI and Brianna Stewart no time table for her return, but they completely expect her to be backed by the postseason.
27:44
[SPEAKER_02]: I guess you hope she's back to hundred percent.
27:47
[SPEAKER_01]: I hate that I like that New York team.
27:49
[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, I don't like the liking New York teams.
27:53
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you know, it's not a
27:56
[SPEAKER_02]: It's not like you're rooting for the aches.
27:59
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you're I'm not rooting for me the way, but I do.
28:02
[SPEAKER_02]: It's not like you like the meds like you you like the liberty come.
28:05
[SPEAKER_01]: They're very it's they're very fever like the drama.
28:11
[SPEAKER_01]: They're well together.
28:12
[SPEAKER_01]: It seems like to me that the league has
28:17
[SPEAKER_01]: form sides or two sides now for some reason and either you love Caitlin or your hater and it seems like the liberty understand Caitlin's value and most teams don't so I've kind of ended up liking them plus a lot of really likable players mostly I and Escu who's just fantastic she is she's out I mean she's outstanding I'd you might be the MVP
28:43
[SPEAKER_02]: The factions of the WMBA are hilarious, but they were there, you know, you were team Larry, you were team magic, you know, what side of the fence for you?
28:53
[SPEAKER_01]: It's very similar to that.
28:55
[SPEAKER_02]: You know, are you glad or are you, you know, Michael, are you?
28:59
[SPEAKER_01]: And they need to take advantage of that.
29:02
[SPEAKER_01]: Capitalize on those rivalries without shooting yourself in the future, which is what they keep doing over and over.
29:08
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you Isaiah?
29:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Are you Larry?
29:10
[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it's just there's just a butt.
29:12
[SPEAKER_02]: It happens all the time.
29:13
[SPEAKER_02]: I think the problem is that it the the WMB's that's a critical time in their leagues like growth and expansion That it makes it really difficult to see the the factions developing and it's like you're not there yet like you're not to the point where like you can survive like
29:33
[SPEAKER_02]: really a like critical miss read as far as the situation like this is a league that still when it's been around for a while i think thirty years it's not anywhere near it's not anywhere near the the big four really at all i mean but it has a chance it has a chance if they do it the right way and don't let the the factions the division separate
29:58
[SPEAKER_02]: What's right and roll?
29:59
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks so much.
30:00
[SPEAKER_01]: We'll always appreciate it.
30:01
[SPEAKER_01]: It's been a lot of fun.
30:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Thank you.
30:02
[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, um, it's just, uh, once again, I'd just like to say a beautiful night that would golf links.
30:09
[SPEAKER_02]: Perfect night for this.
30:10
[SPEAKER_02]: Um, Michelle, if you're listening to this, the grass is actually pretty green out here.
30:19
[SPEAKER_01]: Thanks so much to Will and to you for listening, always appreciate it.
30:23
[SPEAKER_01]: Please help spread the word that the Central Indiana Sports Report is here every single day talking about Central Indiana Sports.
30:31
[SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much.
30:33
[SPEAKER_01]: Central Indiana Sports Report is a product of ITG media and I love Susie.