The Kevin Karius Show - Mar. 13th, 2026 - Levi Weaver

0:00Hi, this is Pablo Torei from Pablo Torei finds out and today I want to talk to you about Boost Mobile because we spent a lot of time analyzing inefficiencies in sports, over value contracts, money tied up in the wrong places and so on, but those inefficiencies aren't just on a roster. Sometimes they're in your own monthly expenses. Boost Mobile says switching to their $25 unlimited forever plan can unlock up to $600 in savings a year. That's $25 a month for unlimited data, talk, and text when you bring your own phone. If that money is trapped in a pricey phone bill, it might be worth a second look. Visit BoostMobile.com to learn more. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds, customers pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the Boost Mobile and Limited Plan, savings claim based on January 2026, Boost Mobile Survey of 1,000 Americans with single line on limited plans, comparing average annual payments of major carriers to 12 months on the Boost Mobile and Limited Plan. Full offer details visit BoostMobile.com. The hustle doesn't have to hurt. If performance pressure is making it hard to breathe, growth therapy helps you navigate

1:03stress, set boundaries, and actually feel like yourself again. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th, grow makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity, or availability, and get started in as little as two days. There are no subscriptions, no long-term commitments, you just pay per session. Grow helps you find therapy on your time. Whatever challenges you're facing, growth therapy is here to help. Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans, including Medicaid in some states. Sessions average about $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Visit growththerapy.com slash start now to get started. That's growtherapy.com slash start now. Growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. Time to talk a little baseball with Levi Weaver from the athletic covers the majors, plus

2:05the WBC. Good morning, Levi, you're with Kevin Caris. As always, thanks for jumping on sports 1440, really appreciate it. Yeah, anytime. So, Levi, we got a good one tonight. We're really looking forward to this quarter final match in the World Baseball Classic between Canada and the USA. Maybe just to get your thoughts on Team USA, what everything happened, and what they went through, and all the stuff that was said before, then even after the game against Italy, and how we're set for a match up against the Canadians tonight. Yes, sir, my phone cut out for the first half of your question, but I think I got most of it. Yeah. Yeah, so Team USA, a quick assessment. I think they've been the least fun team to watch this entire World Baseball Classic. And maybe I can say that on Canadian radio. I just feel like every team has been having just the time of their lives, right? Like the joy, the heartbreak, the emotion has been pure sport, and then the Americans

3:07have kind of come in with their sort of stand straight and salute, and we're doing this for the troops, and we are not going to shake Randy and Rosa Reyna's hands. And this is serious business, and it's just kind of, the vibes are just wretched. So, why don't they want to embrace it, Levi? Why not? I've got some theories, and listen, it's not like they're all bad people, as you know, it's just, gosh, if we want to just really get philosophical about it, like this is the culture, right? Like this is American culture, and it's been really eye-opening to me to, you know, not just this WBC, but when you watch the Olympics and people go, man, I'm doing this for my people back home, or, you know, Vlad Guerrero hits a home run, and he's doing high-mom into the camera, and it's, you know, I'm doing this for my people in my country, I really appreciate this, and the US is like, we're doing this for the troops, and it just feels,

4:08you know, we're in the middle of a war, and it's very serious, and it's, we're just sort of taught to, that that's the only form of patriotism, and I feel like every other country has kind of figured out that there's, there are a lot of ways to be patriotic, you can be patriotic because you love your people, you can be patriotic because you have family, you can be patriotic because you are proud of where you're from, those are perfectly acceptable ways to be patriotic, and I don't mean this as any sort of a slight to the soldiers that are in danger, you know, that's not what this is, but it just feels, like that's the only way we're really taught to be patriotic in this country, and on a stage like the World Baseball class, it just doesn't translate to a good time, every other country has been more fun to watch as a result. Yeah, and none more so than Italy for sure, but when I, when I see Bryce Harper take the podium and the microphone and go, you know, if this were the Olympics, we would be a lot more serious about it. To me, that doesn't make sense. If you don't want to be there, then don't play, Tarek Scoubel, if you don't want to

5:12be there and play and pitch, then don't come. You know, that's the problem that I have more with the American angle here, Levi. Yeah, I think the Harper's comments are probably representing above him, not necessarily the whole team, and I don't get the sense that they don't care. And even with Scoubel, like he said in an interview, he kind of expected it to be sort of this exhibition game, all-star game vibe, and he got there and realized that it wasn't. And it really wanted to stay. And so it just became a situation where if he stayed, he wasn't going to get the pitch on opening day for the Tigers, and he had to prioritize that, I understand that. It is the timing of the tournament is never going to be perfect. And so for Scoubel, it became a difficult decision once he got there and realized. And I think we've heard that from a lot of players before. You know, Mike Trout was the same way. He was like, listen, now that I've done it, you guys have to come do this.

6:12It's not what you think. This is the most fun I've ever had playing baseball. So I think they do take it seriously. I think maybe Bryce Harper. I talked to him at the all-star game when it was in Texas, when it was at 22 or 23. And he was talking about the Olympics then. Like he's been on the Olympics kick for a while. So I just think that's something that's in particular important to him. But I think the other players are at least, you know, they do want to win, they're taking it seriously. Would they ever shut this down like the NHL shuts down for the Olympics and shut down Major League Baseball in the middle around the all-star game? So get rid of the all-star game, take another week off and they might have to start the season earlier or whatever like that. Would that ever happen? Do you think? I wouldn't have said so, but in recent comments, the commissioner seems to be somewhat confident that it might happen. The trick is that it's just going to be a logistical nightmare, because there are a lot

7:14of players that aren't going to play in either the Olympics or the all-star game or whatever. There are already studies showing that, you know, with this epidemic of arm injuries, when do we see the most of them, it's sort of when you guys return to action. And a lot of that will happen right after the all-star break because guys took time off. If that break is even longer, teams and players are just going to have to be very diligent to like keep getting their work and don't just take a rest, don't just go on vacation because otherwise we're going to see even more injuries than we'd already do. Levi Weaver from the Athletic Covers Major League Baseball. So what do you make of this Canadian USA game? Tonight, Levi, we got Mike Soroka starting for Canada, Logan Webb. It looks like for the USA, what's your take on what would be a historic win for Canadian baseball if it were to happen tonight? Yeah, I mean, Canada has already gone further this year than they've ever gone before, right? So I said, coming into the tournament, I think they were kind of my dark horse.

8:16I really like their lineup. They've got a lot of big leaders on the team, more than they've really ever had before. The thing, if I'm rooting for Canada, I look at is, first up, they got the United States, which does have a sort of dream team element to it. If they beat the United States, they're going to have to more than likely face the Dominican Republic, who I think is the other favorite. And if they beat them, by the way, in the final, they're probably going to face Japan. Those are the three teams coming in that everybody was like, those are the three. Those are the three that have a chance to win it. Right. If Canada can slay all three of those dragons, it will be, I mean, absurd. But I kind of want to see it happen just because of how crazy it would be. But if they don't, I don't think that is any knock on what a good team they are. They have shown big improvements in the last WBC. And I think the future is really bright for Team Canada. Do you think, like, I think everyone at the start of this tournament figured that it would

9:17be USA and Japan in a rematch in the finals? That would everyone that you've talked to and basically what you thought from the athletic point of view. And I think the Dominican Republic is probably right up there. And honestly, US has been and looked a little bit beatable, like even against Great Britain. And Brazil, like, it took them a while before they really started scoring. So that lineup hasn't really done what we expected it to. Meanwhile, the Dominican have just been like, when they hit their next home run, they will tie a record for most home runs in a World Baseball. Right. Uh, top to bottom. That lineup is just crazy. So, I don't know. Uh, I think right now I've got to, I've got to probably say the Dominicans are my favorite to win right now, which is not something that I probably think I would have said. In fact, I know that I didn't say it coming in, but just watching these teams play, they look great and they look like they're just having the best time. They look the looser of all of the teams.

10:18Hi, this is Pablo Torre from Pablo Torre finds out. And today I want to talk to you about boost mobile because we spent a lot of time analyzing inefficiencies in sports, overvalued contracts, money tied up in the wrong places, and so on. But those inefficiencies aren't just on a roster. Sometimes they're in your own monthly expenses. Boost mobile says switching to their $25 unlimited forever plan can unlock up to $600 in savings a year. That's $25 a month for unlimited data, talk and text when you bring your own phone. If that money is trapped in a pricey phone bill, it might be worth a second look. Visit boostmobile.com to learn more. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds, customers pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the boost mobile unlimited plan. Savings claimed based on January 2026, boost mobile survey of 1,000 Americans with single line unlimited plans, comparing average annual payments of major carriers to 12 months on the boost mobile unlimited plan. For full offered details, visit boostmobile.com. The hustle doesn't have to hurt. If performance pressure is making it hard to breathe, growth therapy helps you navigate

11:21stress, set boundaries and actually feel like yourself again. Whether it's your first time in therapy or your 50th, growth makes it easier to find a therapist who fits you, not the other way around. You can search by what matters, like insurance, specialty, identity or availability and get started in as little as two days. There are no subscriptions, no long-term commitments, you just pay per session. Grow helps you find therapy on your time. Whatever challenges you're facing, growth therapy is here to help. Grow accepts over 100 insurance plans, including Medicaid in some states. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Visit growththerapy.com-startnow to get started. That's growtherapy.com-startnow-growtherapy.com-startnow-availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. Levi Weaver with us on the Kevin Carishow here on Sports 1441, a slip over to Major League

12:21Baseball. Talk a little blue jays with you for a moment, Levi. What you thought they did in the offseason, and you think they can get close to what they did last year, so close to winning a World Series. Is this a team that is good enough to get back to the big finale, the big stage, and another World Series appearance? I think so. They did as much as anybody over the offseason to improve their team. They did not rest on their laurels. They were aggressive in the free agency, and I think something that I've been looking forward to, as I've watched the offseason develop, is the Yankees were already a very good team. They timed a stood pat that they're getting Garrett Colback at some point this year. The blue jays improved the laurels improved a lot. The Red Sox improved their rotation. The Red Sox rotation might be the best in baseball. That American League East is going to be so much fun to watch. Maybe fun as an objective third party.

13:23Maybe not as fun if you're a big fan of one of the teams, and it matters a whole lot if you would have lose. But that should be it, in my opinion, the tightest division in the sport this year. Frankly, it would not surprise me if all three AL wild card teams come from the AL East. Well, that Boston pitching staff that you mentioned, them picking up a not ranger Ron Herr Suarez, and to go along with Sonny Gray, and if you got Ryan Bale as your fourth starter and Garrett Crochet as your ace, I'm sort of kind of agreeing with you here, Levi. That rotation is unbelievable. Yeah, I think that if they, I don't know if they're going to improve the lineup any further at this late stage, but they might not have to. The rotation is so, so good. And, you know, Garrett Roman Anthony is going to be in his second year as a big leader. So he takes a step forward and that's, you know, maybe that's the improvement that they need

14:24in their lineup, but it's, yeah, that's just such a tough division. Yeah. You mentioned Baltimore. Do they have enough pitching? Never. Nobody ever has enough pitching yet. You know, I think they could stand to have picked up another, you know, top of the rotation guy. I like Shane Bogg a lot, but I, yeah, I, no, I don't think that they have quite enough pitching, but if they can hang in there until the deadline, you know, there's always, there are always arms available. Hey, that's what Lucas G. Lido is still a free agent. I think that he would be a great fit in Baltimore. So we'll see. I'm a little surprised that he's still out there right now, but, yeah, it's not too late for them to make an addition with you. We still got a couple weeks to opening day. Yeah. When you look at the Yankees and you say about pitching, I mean, I mean, Schlippler had a really good end to the season after he was called up. What do you think is going to happen with Ryan Weathers in this starting rotation?

15:26This is a guy that, when he's on, he's on, but when he's off, I mean, he is really off. Yeah. I mean, it's hard to say, but they have enough, enough picking depths that if it all goes haywire for him, it's not the end of the world for the organization. And that's the nice position to be in because if it doesn't go haywire for him, hey, that's looking like a really tough pitching staff for them. Yeah. And Spencer Jones down a couple of days ago, also Jason Demingas, are they ever going to let this guy play in New York? Right. Well, yeah, that's, that's a good question and honestly, I've been paying such close attention to the World Baseball Classic. I've kind of let slip my, my usual hawk eye towards spring training action. So I haven't seen what he's been up to in great, friendly games, but yeah, I mean, it's, I, I used to cover the Rangers and we watched, you know, Joey Gallo and no more Mizara and,

16:30you know, Ronald Guzman make their way up through the system and kind of all of those guys are like, when is it, when is it going to be their time? And they finally came up and to varying degrees of success, some of them, you know, Joey Gallo with an all star. He was a goal guver. That was, he was very good until he was traded to the Yankees. Mizara had three seasons where he just never quite became a superstar. He hit like exactly 20 home runs, couldn't, couldn't quite put it together to the level that they expected him to and then he was gone. So, you know, is that the, the fate of Jason Dominguez? I don't know, but it is kind of starting to get to that point where your eyebrows go up and you know, is this, is this really the prospect that we thought we were doing there? Levi Weaver with us one last one free. Besides the USA, Canada, World Baseball Classic quarter final, which game, besides that one, are you most looking forward to watching today and tomorrow? Good question. I mean, the Dominican has been so much fun to watch, but I tell you a lot.

17:33The one that I'm the most interested in is probably Puerto Rico versus Italy. Italy has been on such a tear. It's, you know, there are big leaders on that team, but it's not really a team of big leaders. And they've just been so much fun to watch. Puerto Rico is missing a lot of their better players because insurance companies are insurance companies and, you know, they're missing, I guess, Francisco Lindor was injured at his hammock. So, he wouldn't have been able to play with Carlos Correa. Jose Barrios was meant to join the team during this round. Can't, can't get there. So there's a chance that Italy could beat Puerto Rico and then, you know, didn't they face off against, and again, it's probably Japan, but if anybody can knock off Japan, maybe it's in Venezuela. So that'll be a good one too. Did you know that Italy GM, Ned Coletti, Levi's also a scout for the San Jose sharks? Is he really? Yeah. No, I didn't know that. I did not know that. So, hey, thanks for coming on as always, Levi. I really appreciate it.

18:38Enjoy Canada and the USA tonight. It should be a good one. Hopefully the Canadians can give them, can give them a run. Hi, this is Pablo Tore from Pablo Tore finds out. And today, I want to talk to you about boost mobile because we spent a lot of time analyzing inefficiencies in sports, overvalued contracts, money tied up in the wrong places, and so on. But those inefficiencies aren't just on a roster. Sometimes, they're in your own monthly expenses. Boost mobile says switching to their $25 unlimited forever plan can unlock up to $600 in savings a year. That's $25 a month for unlimited data, talk, and text when you bring your own phone. If that money is trapped in a pricey phone bill, it might be worth a second look. Visit boostmobile.com to learn more. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds, customers pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the boost mobile unlimited plan. Savings claim based on a January 2026 boost mobile survey of 1,000 Americans with single line unlimited plans, comparing average annual payments of major carriers to 12 months on the boost mobile unlimited plan. For full offered details,

19:42visit boostmobile.com.