HR 3: A Zack Wheeler Hypothetical

0:00First, we're also looking to get Zach Wheeler back with the Phil sometime soon, should happen soon. A couple more starts probably in the minor lake. So if you miss it a few days ago, Zach Wheeler went three innings and gave up five runs. He actually cruised through the first two and then ran into all sorts of trouble in the third inning. Let's listen to Rob Thompson speaking this weekend, Scott Franske here on WIP on the plans for Wheeler coming out of the now his second start in the minors, here's what top percent. What's the next step for him? He will go again Wednesday and will up his pitch count. He'll probably get to 65, 70 pitches. Needless to say, he's got probably more to go than just that one after that next start. Yeah, I would think so. I mean, we got to try and get his pitch count up close to full. Make sure that he's recovering properly and once we get to that point, we'll be ready to go. Just in the emotional side of you with stand two or three more Taiwan starts.

1:02Yeah. I think so. I honestly, it is Philly's fans in general are getting tired of it. You could tell, you know, and this is after he was, he was okay last year. Yeah, totally. Yeah. I mean, I feel like I get more, why is this guy still on the team tax about him than almost anyone? It does look like he's reverted back to so far this year to the 2024 2023 Taiwan. Let me throw a hypothetical at you guys because Thompson laid it out pretty specifically. What happens if in his next start at AAA Wheeler goes seven shut out innings in those 65 pitches. Yeah. And he gives up two hits and he strikes out like six play ball. He's got to get the call, right? Probably. They can't hold the line. And oh, by the way, Taiwan gets smacked around again in its next start. If it's not perfect now at this hypothetical and I'm looking at the sun shining through in all facets, if he has this dominant game, he's got to be back in rotation his next

2:06start. Probably would be, but I will say this knowing that the playoffs don't start for six months and you got 150 something games to go. I would say as a Philly's fan, I'm not exactly looking to rush it. Like just get it right. I mean, this is the guy that might be the best player in the team. Just get it right. And listen, maybe that game would prove that he is right, but I'm just saying, after the last game, that game is probably unlikely in the next game. My guess is the next game might be dominant, but five innings, not seven. Seven, you might be pushing it. I mean, you're saying seven, seven innings and 65 pitch. Yeah. I mean, that's hard to do. That's why it's, I'm going to the high end of the bar here that he puts pressure on them by being so dominant that they go, all right, maybe we need to rethink this. Good. All right. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's got about a 2% chance happening. I'm admitting that ahead of time. But if it does, it'll be very interesting. And you know who I'd want to hear from Wheeler, because he thinks he's ready to go. Yeah. Yeah. He fight the fight.

3:07If he goes out and does what I said he could do, there'll be a conversation of, I need to get to fill out the ASAP. Well, your chance to weigh on everything from the weekend, 215, 592, 94, 94, obviously the flyers were the headliner with not one, but two wins. And an absolutely thrilling one. Yes, they crowd just went wild with that winning goal. So Ashton is out out of his mind with excitement right now. I wouldn't say that. He's. Is Al ever out of his mind? That's what I was saying. He's doing it alone. Yeah. Does he have a mind then? If you're not. Does he have a heartbeat? Yeah. Post game show was electric. Can you get out of the show, please? I need Al. Like I need to hear his heartbeat on the show today, because I mean, he better be out of his mind. I mean, this is. No, Al is a cool, cool cover. He's very consistent. Come on. Al's not enough for Dan. I'm the guy. Hearts, he was fired up. Hearts, he goes up and down. He does. Al doesn't. Actually, Al is straight shooter, straight narrow. All right, let's go to the phones. Ashton or James, someone try to get out on the show, 830 today.

4:08Let's see. He's probably making his Starbucks run. Let's see when you get out on the show. We got to get him on. I mean, it's a big moment in flyers right now. They got to get a real shot for the playoffs. Let's get to Jordan and Princeton. Jordan. Good morning. Yesterday, yesterday, watching the flyers with my 12-year-old. It was a last-minute decision. Go o'clock, we're at the shore. We decided to go catch the game. And to watch a recently drafted player, 19. He's only seven years older than my kid. It's for a game winning goal in OT in a successful credit game. The most critical game the flyers have played in a half a decade or more. It was just a hell of a day. And then hearing the call this morning on WIP, which I obviously didn't get to hear live, it just the memories are going to flood back a long time. Like, that was my playoff from this year. And I want to go further, but that was my playoff from this year. And it was a heck of a day to be inside the year. Yeah, but I will say this, Jordan, because I've seen enough sports to know this. I promise you, I am certain that I'm right about this.

5:11How you remember yesterday? Well, in large part, be dictated by what happens in the next five games. Because if if they go two and three or one and four, yes, that'll still represent a very cool moment in his career and what that can mean for the future. But the team, they won't be viewed as total losers because they weren't viewed as total winners coming in. But the team will be viewed differently based on if they do or don't make the playoffs. There's still a big thing to accomplish, which hangs in the balance right now. As a Philadelphia sports fan, you do have to separate your experiences as a fan from the experiences and the success that the team has because the following I was doing was going to Philadelphia sporting events in the last 40 years, looking for championships. I'd be. No, I know, but you're, but you're using championships as an example. Just, just think for one moment, just for one moment, think about how different many Phillies players, Rob Thompson and Dumbrowski would be viewed if they had won just two more

6:14games in the 2022 season, two more games instead of getting to games six of the World Series and you lose the series for two. Just imagine they win a series that thing called the World Series two more wins all required. And they'd all be champions. And I guarantee you Jordan Harper, Dumbrowski and Bryce, no, excuse me, I mean, Harper Jordan of Browsegan, Rob Thompson, more than anybody would be viewed differently in this town than they are true, like there is a big frickin difference between winning and losing or in this case, making the playoffs, we're not making the playoffs still to be determined. I can't disagree with anything that you said there, but I should you ever look well, I mean, we can always disagree with Joe. I'm a half Philadelphia, if not more does, but, but I am going to choose to look through the lens of a positive father and this comes on the heels, by the way, I've seen the Andrew Panner start last week with my other kids. So, you know, I just, I think sports is such a generational experience and we take our

7:14kids to participate in youth sports so that they can learn about lessons and success. And you have, Andrew coming up and throwing a gem, you have Marton coming, you know, at a college and scoring a game winning goal and OT, the arena, I'm that it was electric. Well, the crowd went wild. I mean, that was a, I said it earlier, it reminded me of the Hoskins batsland. The crowd went frickin wild when that goal got scored yesterday. All right, Jordan, I need a big answer from you. Who are what? Like the flyers this year took a while to get going. I went back and forth between, uh, uh, so media and something in the popular culture. I'm going to go with culture. Ireland Sanders didn't achieve success with KFC until he was in his 60s. That's a pretty good answer right there. That's a very, very good answer. All right, we got the answer at the end of the flyers game yesterday. Who's going to win the game? Who's going to score the winning goal? Well, if there is one because sometimes it's just, you know, a shootout goal turned out to be Marton.

8:14We've got not only the goal, but we've got what he said after the game. Let's listen to the goal. Best flyers moment in many years, frankly, Marton's first goal ever. It's a game winner, and it just blew the roof off the, uh, the Wells Fargo. Zingris. Across the forest. For 73. Oh, it's Zingris. Side of the nettrend. Don't say. Remember, don't. He started. It's first. Any goal is a game winner. Fire. But it's too much. Porter. Marton. How do you do? That's how you down. What's your call is in the flyers and everything else? One, two, one, five, five, nine, two, ninety, four, ninety, four. All right. So, Ashley, and if, if, if Al's heartbeat was steady because it is, please tell us that hearts. He was going wild. Well, I mean, in J.J. What a call by J.J. Now, we were, we were jumping up and down. It was pretty cool. Just, and just, even, I've been here four seasons now, three and a half, and, and I keep hearing about playoff hockey and what a hockey town this is, and it's been a bummer

9:17because I, truthfully, haven't seen or felt that since working for the flyers, you hear about it. You hear about it. And that's why even as someone who's in their 30s, the generational thing, I think really matters because how many years can you hear about this and not experience it to believe it? And I didn't believe it. And then I saw that game yesterday. I was like, all right. If this was a playoff game, it's like, I can only imagine. James, the bat slam analogy, is that hold? I think it's a great analogy. Yeah. Because the crowd went crazy. It was like a release. It was like, we've been waiting for something like this to react to. Yeah. For such a long time. I think it's a great come. So, Ashton, did you know prior to today, when I referenced it a couple hours ago, that Jody McRide here is the man that invented Turn Flyered Up? I had no idea. I, truthfully, I figured it would just be a fan thing. I, I didn't even think about where it came from. I've heard it so many times. It's what if it's still mad at him that he didn't trade, Mark? Yes, I did not trade, Mark, and she said you were going to need you. And it made some money out there. That, that, that, that. It didn't matter. I was out to dinner. I was out to dinner with great flyer fans for one of the charity. Already things we do here on the station, you bid, where I did dinner with Mac and Mac.

10:21And we're just two die hard flyer fans who wanted to go out and have a good dinner with their favorite show and WIP. And I just, the guy was so effusive about how he believed in the flyers at the time. I said, wow, you are really flyered up. That's so cool. That's so cool. He just looked at me and said, wow, I never heard of put that way. I said, I never put it that way before. Why didn't you trade, Mark? Deal free to use it if you want. And yeah, we had a lot of fun with it. That's really cool. Yeah, really cool. It was a great win yesterday. All right, James, one more for you because you want to feel good, James, you went a little, you know, I do, buddy. A little feel good moment. Let's listen to Porter Martone after the game. He's being interviewed by the TNT crew. And he already knows the right things to say, although I think he genuinely believes it. But this will give you the feel goods, fill it off. You listen to Porter Martone. So you score that goal. You barely get to celebrate because you get mugged by all your teammates by the glass. But you saw that crowd today alive into every single play.

11:23What do you think of Philadelphia as a sports down? It's amazing. I can easily say these are the best fans in the league. And, you know, it's been loud my two first games here. And, you know, hopefully just continue to get this place, keep on rocking. I think Ziggy, Ziggy, Scott, I'm in a bit of a headlock in the airpot. You know, is it a pretty good crowd pop? How about that? Crowd pop courtesy of Porter Martone. And of course, the flyers win in that game. Some more good news. Al Morgani will join the show at 830. Oh, sweet. Love it. He just text me that he's running his dogs. He sounded very busy. So I didn't think he called. Well, hall notes. Two of Philadelphia's best. And who, who added on their bingo card? And two of Philadelphia's best would square off this weekend. And the women's final four. Don and Geno, by the way, Seltzer, who wins if they actually fought Don, Don who is younger? It's obviously Don Staley. Geno's a man. Don is younger.

12:24I mean, who wins? It's Don Staley. Is that the current dancer, Ashlyn? When she was saying that on the court, I was like, I wouldn't put her pastor to try. And I would really love to see it. I mean, Jody, who wins the fight? The actual fight, Don or Geno? I know it's not the magnitude of Jack versus Joe, but I'd rather see him play one on one. I think Don would make him look real bad before with him. Real bad. That is classic. Two, one, five, five, nine, two, nine, four, nine, four. By the way, speaking of Jack versus Joe, I'm just going to tell you my favorite text message I received this weekend. And it made me quite happy. So I made a heck of a surge in fantasy basketball. I've known for about a week or two that I was probably going to win my fantasy basketball league. No, it's not over. I think my friends didn't realize that I was well positioned better than them, even though they have really good teams, and were in front of me for a while. So when I zipped past my one buddy over the weekend, he texted me. He says, now I know what it feels like to feel like Jack Fritz, and I just want you to

13:25know. Yikes. Thank you very much. So Fritz, that's the kind of shame. You know, Fritz have to live. But it's really mommy and daddy. James, I just want everyone to know for me, this is less about Fritz, who actually had the guts to stand up and play, not well, but play. The other two, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp, I'll have more to say about them in the coming weeks. I have a lot more to say about the mommy and the daddy. Spike and I in the coming weeks, two on five, five, nine, two, nine, four, nine, four, Jodie, what are we looking at? I got a question for you. Yes, sir. When Porta Marton scored the game winning goal on a rebound, and Joe from A-Fair, which was something about. It's only about no life. Fires. It stays on top of it. Perfectly plays gets it by on the gold tender day when the game. I thought of a specific flyer player. Tim Kerr. Exactly right now. Tim Kerr, for my money, is the best in front of the net player the flyers have ever asked. Leclerc's second best I've seen. I don't know the 70s group, I was too young. Kerr, Leclerc, in front of the net. One of the best fires goal score is ever.

14:26Tim Kerr. Both of them work. Of course, we're just talking about Tim Kerr. Maybe because Leclerc had a bigger overall game than Tim, he did, that I don't think of him as a, he had it all around game. His in front of the net. Stop was great. You're right. But Tim Kerr was the best in the league, the best in the game when he was positioned in front of the net. And that's exactly what that girl was. I hadn't thought of Tim Kerr in a long time. But when he scored that goal yesterday, it reminded me. The flyers used to be able to win the games just from from three feet away. Oh, I remember it. I remember it well. I had two one five five nine two, 94, 94, a lot from the weekend to react to James. Some of you thought if this holds with the Phillies, if you knew going in, they were going to win two or three that the village idiot would have told you it's probably the Nolan Lazardo starts and you probably lose the time. Yeah. Sometimes it just plays out the way you're expecting. Yeah. It was key though to see Nolan because he's the one like, yeah, I could go either way.

15:28And he pitched very well. Really well. Yeah. Seven was seven innings one run or something like that. Six and a third. Yeah. I mean, it was outside. I mean, we did the poll. You know, would you bet on Nolan? Yeah. And it was, you know, it's 60 or 70 percent. No. And we all agreed. He was awesome. Yeah. Two one five five nine two, 94, 94, go ahead. And add this to it. And this is an old Jody Mackline and people are tired of hearing it. And I'm never going to stop saying it. Rob Thompson did a hell of a job, both of the first two games handling in his pitching step perfectly. You know, exactly how far to take the starter, who to go to end the pen, exactly when to get him out. We never talk about that. When the pitcher comes in and gives up what the hell is Rob Thompson thinking about? How can he take him out again? How can he put him in again? He gets crushed every single time a makes a decision and the bullpen doesn't hold up and send it to bargain. But when he pushes all the right buttons, nobody says anything. It's just standard operating procedure.

16:29You're supposed to bet a thousand as a manager. Every time you make a move, you're supposed to get it right. If he gets one wrong and you want to get on his case, and I do from time to time, I go, what the hell was Rob thinking on that one? But at least give him credit when he gets it right. And he got it right both of the first two games in that year. I agree with that. And the one that really stood out to me in particular is pulling all out after that first guy gets on. I believe it was the seventh. You got a big lead. He's only giving up a run. But by getting him out at that point, he can only if that run scores give up two runs. He can feel good about himself, feel good, which I think was key. One more thing. Talking about knowing what to do. I don't know how many people caught this, but this was awesome. I got to hear the goal. I got to hear the game winning goal one more time is now we got to talk about what happened after the goal other than the explosion as the fans and the players celebrate it. Let's listen to the goal. Zingers. The clock. The clock. And for him, the clock. Zingers decided that every Tramberg child who stayed in Riverbagar is not. It's worse any two goal is a game.

17:30The winner fires. Let it. Two more. Tram. Tram. Tram. Tram. Tram. Tram. Tram. Tram. Tram. It's my turn. How do you do? the crowd's going wild. One player did one thing. Did you catch it, Ashley? Christian DeVorak. What a veteran move. He's going to want that pop. All right. James, did you know that? I didn't, but of course, what a clever move. Right. Of course. DeVorak goes over into the net, grabs the pox, so we can keep it for the kid. Martin. It's really, that's, that's good stuff. Two, one, five, five, nine, two, ninety-four, ninety-four. We'll talk to Al coming up in about five minutes on the flyers. Let's get to, uh, Ren right now. Ren, good morning. Good move. It's better not be Kylo, Ren, because you killed Han Solo, and I'm not happy with you. I know. I'm not Kylo, right? Okay, good. Just Ren, Ren from Ren in 50. I got fair enough. Can you hear me? Okay. Yeah, we got you, Ren. Go ahead, bud. Okay, great. Yeah, someone's talking off to things really. I guess one eagle.

18:33All right. Let me, let me put you on hold for a second. Your phone's got a little crazy. We'll get back to you. Let's get to Gary right now on Whitehall. Gary, good morning. Good morning. How are you doing, Joe? Good, buddy. Doing fine. Sorry, I was thinking of a speaker. No problem. No, it's all good. It's good to hear Jody Mack in there. It's good to hear Ashwin. No, it's a good, it's a good morning. You know, it's, uh, Except for the weather. It's a little cold out there to that. I mean, it's typical, uh, you know, fillies are doing what they do. And, uh, I hope you're ready to eat crow because I don't think you're going to have a better season than the Eagles did and I'm not going to let you forget about that, Joe. Well, it was last year. I said they were better. And I think they'll be better this year, too. I don't think so, Joe. I don't think so. But you know, actually, because, uh, being there's all the talk is about, uh, our tone and the fires. We got to keep it up with the orange and black. I mean, this, this is one heck of a role they're going on. And Jody Mack, you brought up some great memories when you mentioned Tim Kerr. I mean, there's nothing like watching the 80s hockey going on.

19:38It was the orange and black. The fires, they were there. Awesome. I mean, I just wish he had a longer career with the fires, but, uh, you know, How many, how many hockey players have a long career? You know, so, uh, that's a brutal sport. And, uh, by the way, speaking of long careers, I got to say, because he's been one of the better fliers. Contour A is getting up there and I don't mean that in a negative sense. Like he's been around a long time now. Yeah. He is the longest tenured rickus. He's before Lane Johnson. Athlete. Yeah. Now, what did a big Brandon Graham? But then he was out. So Brandon Graham, you're right. Cause that was when Brandon Graham retired. It became Gatoria, but Brandon Graham coming back. It becomes Brandon Graham. I guess. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't think it counts. I don't even think around 16, right? You're 16. Yeah. Wasn't Catery a 20? 14. No, no, before that. Before that. No, I'm saying 14 years. I didn't expect to say the 2012 maybe or something. Yeah. He's been here for 14 or 15 years. I think he might be 2011. Maybe it was his first year, 11 or 12. Yeah. He's been getting a little long

20:40in the tooth, but yeah, you know, it's just, uh, it's just great with, I mean, uh, I was hoping and praying is hanging on to that last red that they can actually get something done here. And that pushes on. And I mean, they got a lot of what do we have five games going to be tough, but hey, this is what this is what hockey is about. And you know what? I know they can't get that far. You never know what can happen to playoffs, but if they can just get that little bit of that taste of that cake, you know, it'd be, it'd be detrimental, you know, so. It'd be fantastic. It really would be. All right, Gary, give me an answer, my man. And honor the flowers this year, taking some time to get going. At least the second time is they were going early. Then they stalked them. They're good again. Who are what took a while to get going? You can win the AC DC tickets. Joel and B. Well, two years in and play. True. I guess that's what the floor. Guess that's right. All right, let's go from from from one of the most accomplished Philly athletes, even though he's not accomplished as much as we'd like. That's your well to Jalen,

21:41who has accomplished a tremendous amount, but is always in the eye of the storm about how good really easy. So I want to play some audio of Jeff McLean over the weekend. Jeff was on with Mike saleskin Rob Ellis Saturday on WIP and he laid out, you know, one of the aspects of of Jalen's game and that's, you know, him versus defense, so to speak. And John has pointed this out many times that defensive coordinators are now confusing all sorts of quarterbacks and pro football with defensive schemes that look like one thing, but but turn into another thing. So it's causing problems around the league for a lot. It's part of the reason why passing is down and scoring was down this past year. Listen to what McLean said as he laid out this aspect of Jalen's game. I'm just telling you how it's viewed. I'm not saying is right or wrong. You know, it's like James, let's switch to the side. Is that Jalen fault that he's this way? One second. Let's say that was wrong cut. Here's here's McLean on Jalen Hertz versus defense. The issue is when you have this pressure type of defense that he has increasingly faced. And I'm not just talking about the blitz because I think he's gotten better at the blitz because he's gotten better at the blitz. Now what teams have done over the last couple of years and you see a

22:44lot with Todd Bolz is he simulated pressures. He saw, he saw blitzes and he really struggled this past. These are not just him. It's not on him. You know, the offensive line obviously wasn't great. And I think, you know, sick one Barclay at times picking up the blitz wasn't wasn't good as well. But those pressure types of defenses are going to have been giving him trouble. And if he's not going to be able to solve that and get better, they're just it's just going to keep coming. It was a good listen here in, you know, Jeff obviously on with the guys after his story last week, Tim McManus's story last week and presenting both the pros and the cons of Jalen's game. All right. Let's talk more. Flyers hockey and catch off with to say the least friend of the show. He along with Alan Rhea were the show for many years at WIPE. Angela. Oh, Angela. He is out. He is out. He would have to be Angela to be an addition now. He is out and we're again. He is, of course, on NBC Sports filled off you with Ashland and Hearts the all the time. Flyers pre and post and in between with the intermissions. And one of the WIP legends, Mr. Al Morgani. We welcome him to the show. Good morning now.

23:45Good morning, guys. It's a great morning, isn't it? Now it's wonderful. So Ashland said, I got to start with the negative. Not to do as much. This is a positive. Well, Ashland said that even in the midst of such an incredible moment, like that goal being scored yesterday, that you remain a little, she didn't use the term flat line, but like you don't go as nuts as she does and hearts, she does. Yeah. Is that true? What the hell? I could try to, try to maintain before I come on, before I come on. I don't want to come off like a glass banger, you know? I mean, like, I just, I want to maintain and I've seen so many crazy things, but that was that was one of the most exciting wins. I don't know him forever. I can't explain. I just went out for a couple of hours here before I went to breakfast or whatever and have people come up and start really being excited about the flyers. Not pretend excited. Yeah. Really being excited. And I said with Ashland yesterday, I said, the biggest part of this game is the flyers dragged the city back into the fight.

24:47And that's what happened. It's like, there was this switch that went off on Easter Sunday in Philadelphia and it dragged the sports fans of Philadelphia back into the fight. And it is just a beautiful thing. Well, it's phenomenal. I'll tell you this now. I think for my money, from a regular season standpoint. Yep. It was the flyer's biggest regular season win in 16 years since game 82. When Boosh stopped that ranger and the flyers went to the playoffs in game 82 of 2010. I'm serious. Biggest regular season win for the flyers in 16 years. Well, you don't, because so little has happened in that time. And that's ironic. You'd say that because we're on the set and Boosh was doing the game for a national telecast. And he came by and said to me, that was beautiful. Basically, I'm really, you know, whatever words he used to go, that was beautiful. That was old time hockey. It's back. And, you know, he was there. He's the guy you're talking about. And that's what it felt like. It really, really felt special. You just can't let it wobble now. That's like, this league

25:48is so bonkers. You can't let it wobble at all. But I'll tell you what they did. And you know, the really nice part is for the players that you talk to coming in like Marton and the kids that come in every year, one after another. And you tell them, wait till you see what it's like in Philadelphia when it really matters. There was kind of these false starts for a while when you were in kind of contention. But it was like, and you tell them and you'd see them like, yeah, yeah, I hear about that. I've heard about that. And now they actually felt it. And it's so nice to feel into like this. We weren't lying. This is what Philadelphia and hockey can be like. All I agreed with the Al's and even keel kind of guy. And oh, by the way, you know, who else is like that? Rick talk it. And it's working tremendously for him. So you keep doing what you're doing. But speaking of pocket. Yeah. How does he play these last five? I'm not talking about line changes and whatever. Just his message to the players because we had a call at first.

26:49I would say, Oh, there's no pressure whatsoever. It's all great with this. No, it's not now that they're this close now that they jumped in and have third place. They went out. They can't be topped, control their own destiny. If they don't finish the deal, it's going to be a let down. And if there's a potential let down. And for me, that equates the pressure. How does pocket handle that with his players for the pressure that is there? Well, one thing you can't do is bring you in to just say something like that. It's not my job. My job is keeping these people informed. The fans are told, I'll help you. I'm not running the team is it's his job. How does he handle it? I think because I think what he will do is try to take that not to hide from it because it's there. But he has enough young guys, Jody, that the fun aspect is still there. He's got to it's a really hard team to coach to be really honest when you look at it, all the moving parts that he has who comes in, who's come out and the personalities of that are involved. But I think

27:53because he's got such high spirited guys like Zegris to come in and and then kids, I think the message and not the cliche have fun, but don't let the moment swallow you up. And I think that's what he has. Plus look, it's hockey. And hockey comes down a lot to goal tending. And when he has a Valdar, who I don't even know if Valdar will get that start against Jersey, but he's got him and that's so crucial to everything that goes on. And I think as much as a coach, a goal tender being what you need, what you expect is as much coaching as anything in situations like this. You go into a first period and make a couple of saves and everybody's feeling calm about everything. So I don't think talk that does anything out of the ordinary here. Played a long time, coached a long time, coach players like Crosby, Malcolm, all of them. And I just think that it's a it's a constant message that goes on. And you're right. He hasn't let the outside stuff get to him. I mean,

28:56there were a lot of guys that that could have led all the Meech Cod stuff, all the talk that went on is like affect everything, but he didn't. And none of it got out of hand. So so the answer to that is I think he just tells him just just keep doing what you're doing. And don't try not to let the moment get to you. And I think he's got enough guys that that are cool with that. I'm a stakeable voice. Al Morgani with this right now. Of course, we're hoping for the playoffs. Don't know yet if it will happen, but flyers in a much better spot. Al is Marton. And I know it's ridiculously early. Okay. He's played four games. Okay. So that's it's just not enough of a sample size for a comprehensive answer. But is he the best flyers rookies since Lindros? Since Lindros. He he's got the most potential since to come up because of the size and the way games played right now. And I I don't know that it's too early to to I mean, I know that is legit. Is that the reason because it's legit and a lot of a lot of times when people look at players at certain age, you compare it to other sports. But what these kids have been through

30:00from literally age 10 to play. I don't quite look at the world championships. The the pressure on Canadian kids, especially now even the national development team here. The games that you've gone through from ages 13 to 18 are remarkable. And Marton has been a teammate of several flyers at world championship types of things. So I don't think that that's too early. I I think that Marton is going to become like the blueprint for the way that guys do things now with the new rules with NCAA hockey. And and I think he's also a blueprint for get to the gym again and and get stronger to play in the league. The NCAA and then the league. So I I don't think it's too early to say that that's this kid is the real deal. I mean, that play he made against the wall yesterday. I mean, to sense a defenseman coming at you to have your feet staggered in such a way. So just in case it doesn't end up a dead puck and go in the other way. And then to see the open ice for

31:02the lane, it was crazy. And and the other part about what's going on with Marton and and you already mentioned his name, the guy that got the puck when Marton scored. Yep. I believe, you know, he sent you know, he he set that thing got the goal went flying in. He was the guy that even when Meechkov did the dumb thing and took that shot at the goalie at well after a whistle. Yeah, even if he does something dumb, I think it was Devorak standing right there like he's he might be he might have been bad, but he's my guy. I got his back. Really? And and then he's become he's become so important to because they had such a hole in the middle. So I mean, I I look at things like that and say that's why this team's kind of come together. So I I like what they've done. I mean, I I know the front office got a lot of heat. I think that contract was a good contract for a centerman in this league. And he added Vladimir in the off season. See for something off season. This guy means pretty it's pretty darn good job. And then there's tab no panic and to now have it come and and and and not go over the top now. Like when you reach this level, you play tennis.

32:06Obviously, I watch you win a tennis match, right? Yeah. You know, when you come back in tennis, you're down like five one or five in games five. Oh, you come back at five five in basketball. When you come back, you can't then let it slip. You have to take that next step. Well, let's do what you're right. So let's get to this Twitter poll question of the day because this is kind of the heart of the matter. Twitter poll brought to us by Armin Chevrolet minor fender banner to major accident. Armin Chevy's collision center will get your vehicle looking like new again together. Let's drive visit Armin Chevy.com. So here's the question now. We're getting you on the record. Will the flyers make the playoffs this season? All right. I'm looking out in the horizon right now outside on a deck. And you know what I'm seeing? What do you say? Sydney Crosby and the penguins in Philadelphia for a playoff. How about that? How about that? How about that? Get hearts out there to go after that meal guy for going after Drew again. That's right. We'll have them dressed up like Al Hogan. That's right. All right, Al final thing. I made this one earlier.

33:08I'm always happy for the announcers when a team gets good. I mean, I always think of Harry the most because Harry and Richie would do those Phillies games and they stonked. They were so bad for so long and a couple of pockets of the Phillies being good. But for the most part, not during Harry's tender. Who deserves a good flyers season more and all the respect that Jim Jackson certainly deserves it. Is it, is it Ashlyn Sullivan with her four years? Or is it Al Moragani with his close to 40 years in Philadelphia? No, I've had too good a ride already. It's like it's Ashlyn because you know, you guys don't understand Scott and I. We sit there watching the game for the most, but he did the color yesterday. Ashlyn runs down. Does the interviews change his shoes? Because she's wearing some, you know, fancy shoes. What do you think I can afford those? And then, and then race is down. Doesn't interview. Race is back up. It's no time to put anything. And then does, and then comes back and listens to us and then races down again. So Ashlyn deserves

34:09a more. She's, she's a, she's a star of the show. And I'm glad she's doing so well. She's a real, she's a huge, huge addition to the sports scene in Philadelphia. I've worked with a lot of terrific people, real obviously, Sharon and Ashlyn. And they're just, it's just the best working with them. And she delivers everything. Ashlyn, you haven't abolished this. So much fun. This year especially, just to see the person to see it all come. I mean, when I got the job, I remember meeting without and sitting with him at lunch and, and out telling me, just wait till you see Playoff hockey. And to see it come together has been the coolest thing in the world. And James, that's what you and I were telling Richie about Playoff baseball. Totally. And listen, James, John saw Playoff hockey in 2020, but it really wasn't because there's no home games. It wasn't. It wasn't. Look, this is real. I hope they get across to finish on either way. They've obviously got a better future than the last 10 years. But man, now if they can pull this off in the next couple of games, it'd be awesome. It's going to be a blast, guys. Have fun with it. Thank you. Well, stay well, bud. Thanks for jumping on the program. All right. There he is, Mr. Al Morgani, 215, 59294, 94. So a lot to

35:12react here from the weekend. We're also doing five questions with the Mac mail gets another one of them coming up in a moment. Let's talk to Ren right now. Good morning, Ren. Good morning. Can you hear me? Yes. All good. All right. Great. Calling about McLean and the I get to other 12 source story from earlier. There's a lot. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. In a nutshell, I mean, I think Hertz is a great, great big game player, but he's just an average regular season player. And I think he's gotten so cocky to the point where he doesn't feel like he needs to do anything different. So you know, I agree with a lot of actually what the sources had said if they're all true and when McLean said and I honestly think from an age of brown perspective, I was actually totally one board with getting rid of them. But now that they're talking about, you know, putting in this new offense and doing all these different things, I think we actually need him as much as it pains me to say that. He's a great player. If we have a chance to just be successful, we need AJ Brown. Well, look, we know the deal. I mean, the team with AJ is probably a more talented team. We also

36:12know that it did not work in 25 between AJ and Jalen. And it feels like diminishing returns year over year with the two of them. So it's not like anyone is saying, let's trade AJ because he stinks. But the conversation is it's let's trade AJ if he's going to be so unhappy. Is that fair, Jody? If he's going to be so unhappy that it undermines team morale and team success, that's why you consider trading. And with the unveiling of the issues with Jalen Hertz, that makes it much more desirous to move on from a guy who might be rocking a boat during the season. If it's an ongoing procedure that they're still deciding, the pendulum swung a little bit. Yeah, but I will say there's there's also a flip side of that, which is if Jalen has maybe only one year left. And I think it's a higher probability than you think you said earlier. You think there's a 90% chance he's here in 2027. I think it's about 50 50. If if it is 50 50 or or even more

37:15leaning toward maybe Jalen would be gone, then that can kind of help the argument to keep AJ. Now, I will say at some point you start getting him to be an aging player. He's not quite aging yet. But I mean, actually, he's not as young as or I would say in my opinion, as good as three or four years ago. I mean, I think the the knee, I mean, people are saying the knee is like a little clunky. Yeah. I mean, when he got here in 20, let me put this way. When he got here in 23, no, 22, 22. I thought we were seeing a player just about on the same level as prime Mike Wreck and prime Terrell Owens. And what I saw with my eyes this year was not that was was not that and I don't close and I don't think it was all just he's unhappy. He's not running as hard because he's unhappy. He has put on an extra three or four years now of wear and tear. And the knee apparently is not optimal. I don't know, Ren, it's a fascinating situation of Philly sports history because I think I think AJ is better than Jalen. As a matter of fact,

38:18I'm certain of it. But Jalen is a quarterback. And then there's the contractual realities and dead cap implications, you know, make it just make it very complicated. All right, Ren, give me an answer, my man. Who are what took a while to get going? Jason Kelsey. So I disagree with that. I'll tell you why. He was pretty freaking good early. Then he struggled and then he reestablished. I mean, he was he was very good out of it. Remember, he was a starter as a rookie six round pick. He was a starter. And then it was that year he got injured. But he was again, he was very good 2013, 2014. And then he had the down year. What happened is he had the down year in 2016. They almost got rid of them. They chose to keep them in, you know, obviously from a Hall of Fame standpoint. Yes, it took, it took about half of his career for Hall of Fame. Jason Kelsey to emerge. But, but he was actually pretty pretty damn good early. Two one five five nine two ninety four ninety four. About Jalen, whether they do or don't trade AJ. Brandon Graham, for instance, would have been a better answer than Jason Kelsey. True. Very true. Yeah. The question you're asking today, a much better answer than Jason

39:21for who took a wall to get. And by the way, Brandon Graham, the longest 10 year sports athlete in Philadelphia. If you play on either, if you play in the season, you quote unquote, retired. You didn't retire. You got to be out for an entire tire to be retired. No, no, the man retired. Did you not see him on the field? He didn't. He didn't. He didn't. No, I'm not continuous. Seltzer. I need a rolling. Who is the longest 10 year athlete in Philly sports? Is it Brandon Graham or Shakitor? Yeah. Honestly, I'm like, my head's wrapped in circles, trying to think about it. I like, if you look at Profitball references, page like, there would not be a gap. That's what I mean. It's like, I lean Brandon Graham. But I, if you want to be technical about it, I could go either way. If he misses a year, then he's out. Then you got to restart the clock. He didn't miss the year. Just remember this when all else fails. And you and I disagree. I'm just going to remind you two things. Number one, I got a hair in your ball. Number two, number two, I got, yeah, I got the WIP cup for being friends. Believe me,

40:27I've got better accoutrement in your WIP. I just wait. So we're drinking out of this cup when the flyers win the cup. Before we get our hands on the, before we get our hands on the Stanley cup, we will be drinking beer out of the WIP cup. Ashlyn may not know this. I just went down visit my father, my 96 year old father, who has not one, not two, not three, not four, not five, one for the next hand, six world series rings of which he's bestowed for them on me at this stage in his life. So that's a little better than that. The world series rings are better than the 29, the cup that the cameras held and up on the YouTube beer. So that doesn't faze me a little bit. Thank you. But yeah, no, I do believe that. But he's been doing that forever. I've done well because he's been born forever. It's pretty close. At least as long as we've known each other. Exactly. That's a long time. Two on five, five, nine, two, nine, four, nine, four. All right. We do five questions with the Macman anytime he fills in for John. Ashlyn filling in for read it today. Great to be with you on this Monday morning.

41:30Judy, question four for you on the five questions. Last week, I debuted four different nicknames and Philadelphia sports. Four. Oh, you want to deem these people by this nickname? Yes. All right. Let's see how you did. And I want you to rank them. Okay. From best to worse of these four nicknames, when Adolus Garcia plays well because he is a massive human being when he gets a homerun, not that yesterday's matter because it's still lost. But when he plays well in his homers, he is Adonis Garcia. Not bad. I like it. Adonis Garcia when he plays well. All right. Vlodar. He is Darth Vlodar. It's okay. We know what Darth Vader was. It sounds good. Number three, he can also be Darth Vlater. Oh, you can go either way with that. Darth Vlodar or Darth Vlater. Yeah. I like the first one better than the second one,

42:32but they're both both equal. All right. Number four, when Paul George plays well as he has lately, played well again yesterday, but they lost. Was that yesterday or two days ago to bring it? They played two days ago. Yeah. Yeah. But he keeps, he keeps scoring 20 something again, sometimes 30. No, Judy, you might smack me with this one because you're from that generation. He is now Pistol P. Yeah, that's not good. Thank you, Judy. That was my reaction when he gave it to us on Thursday. I was like, Hey, absolutely nice. A pee marriage is rolling over in his bed. It's too bad. Not podcast, pee, not pistol, pee, not taking pistol, peace name, pistol, peace, still, pistol, but he is now pistol, pee, Paul George. No, you gave them to me in the exact order they belong. So you like it, Donna Scarsis? In this sending order. I've done it's being the best. Yes. All right. Two one five five nine two ninety four ninety four. Let's get to Ed and Phoenixville. Let's go on, Ed. Hey, guys, that would take pistol

43:32pee over performance and answering pee any day. P D P. Pretty good. Better than pee in the car. That's for sure. Oh, man. Yeah. So real quick on the flyers. And then I have the the eagles kind of pure speculation. How early is too early to buy a Portermark's own jersey? Because my wife tells me that whenever I get excited about a player, I spend hundreds of dollars at Rallyhouse. So I'm getting ready to spend 100 dollars at Walker. Is it? Is he going to change his number from 94? Should I wait a year? What do you think? 94 is quite the strange number. But I think if you're going to, if you're going to spend the money on a jersey, I would recommend higher Trevor Zegress. I think that's more consistent approach. But Portermark's own four games in to buy the jersey. It's not a lot of sample size. But everything we hear is that he's going to stick around. Well, Ed, what about this? I'll just throw it out to you. It would take some custom making. But what about you get the jersey without a number?

44:32And it has his name. And then you just figure it out when they go to camp next year when they announce what his numbers. I mean, that's a two-step process. It's kind of paying the bod. But I mean, let me put it this way. There's a, there's a decent to good chance that he is the athlete right now in Philly sports that will be here the longest. 19. Yeah. I mean, him, Maxi, edge comb, you know, Quinion and Cooper, you think about it, but football beats you up more Crawford Crawford Painter potentially. Yeah. Yeah. Those guys, but we go the t-shirts that looks like a jersey for now. You can for that. Just buy us a couple of months and then we go jersey next year. Yep. I'd like we're going to Ashland head that. So real quickly on the Eagles and I know Jody your wrestling fan were 12 days from WrestleMania. We usually get a holy bleep moment at WrestleMania, like a heel turn or a return or something like that. I'm really feeling a holy bleep moment in this upcoming NFL draft. And the more kind of, you know, with the articles coming out last week,

45:33I'm not saying they're going to do it in the first round, but it wouldn't totally shock me that if they, if they take a quarterback in the second round, like a Garrett Nuss Meyer or Drew Aller, like the kind of, that would kind of certainly spell the end of Jalen Hurrants. But I honestly think more interesting would be the return that we get on an AJ Brown trade is going to inform what we do with her kind of indirectly because if it's a bunch of. Yeah, but an AJ Brown's not getting traded in the next two weeks. Mark my words. Write this down. AJ Brown will not be traded till after June 1st. They're not going to take up 40 million dollar deadcapit. Not happening. Yeah, so it's I just, there's there's almost too much smoke for there not be fire. I just think the Eagles almost have to do something, but I wouldn't be as surprised. Oddly enough, it's like was in 2020 when they drafted her whole year after the extended cars. So I think there's a lot

46:34more to come to this. Well, in many ways, I'll be less surprised at for one specific reason, because they did it six years ago. You know, I mean, I think the fact that there is history, look, to me, there's three has three clear examples that they stock up. Maybe even more, but drafting Jalen when they had Carson drafting Cobb when they had McNabb and signing Vic when they had McNabb and cop. Like there's a real track record here. Yeah, I mean, they even drafted Carson when they had Bradford and whoever the other guy was. It might have been Chase Daniel. I don't know who it was. I mean, you know, until eight days before the season, Carson Wentz was a third string quarterback who was going to be deactivated on game days and eight days before the season. It became the starting quarterback. I mean, they do some pretty unconventional things. So it would not it would not shock me if they draft a quarterback in the first three rounds. Ed, who were what took some time to get going? You can win the AC DC tickets.

47:35He won from grocery, grocery stock boy to Super Bowl MVP. I'm a mormorner. Kurt Warner could win. That is a pretty good answer. That really is good.