Our longtime Orioles reporter Luke Jones has watched a lot of bad baseball at Camden Yards, waiting for this kind of run. As he said to Dennis Koulatsos: “How can you not love this team?”
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SPEAKERS
Luke Jones, Dennis Koulatsos
Dennis Koulatsos 00:01
All right welcome back. Our first guest as always leading off that the best leadoff hitter in all of sports. Luke Jones, our very own Luke, welcome in.
8
Luke Jones 00:10
Dennis, you’re too kind in saying that how are you? It’s great to talk to you again.
Dennis Koulatsos 00:14
You too, Luke and Luke, thanks to guys like you. I’m all in with the Orioles. I’m drinking the orange flavored Kool Aid. I watched the Wednesday night game, the thriller to one victory over the the Tampa Bay Rays. I watched the entire game. So now I love the new changes. The game is faster. I became, I believe started 635 It was done by nine o’clock, which is wonderful. So very senior friendly, which I’m a senior fan friendly, which I’m quickly approaching what a fun team this is. And I love the sprinkler celebration from the other night when Gibson had a hold of water to the mouth for two minutes while they view the instant replay. This is such a fun bunch of Luke, I’m all in I’m invested. I’m going to a game this weekend against the pirates. I want to get tickets to watch maybe Shohei Otani coming town with the angels. So I’m all in with the 2023 Baltimore Orioles.
Luke Jones 01:11
It’s been a lot of fun, Dennis and we talked about this a lot through the month of April when the Orioles got off to this start. And we acknowledged look at the schedule they played. It wasn’t anything to write home about lots of teams that right now are in fourth and fifth place in their respective divisions. And we talked about this a whole lot in the context of you beat all the teams, you’re supposed to beat up on the teams that you should be beating up on teams that you’re better than and then once you get to the tougher competition, well drum don’t mean you’re gonna beat up on them now. But when some series you know, you know you’re going to drop some series but hold your own, you know, a formula for being a playoff team, especially in this day and age with three wildcards is beat the teams that are inferior to you. And then can you go 500 around that against the tougher teams. And in all honesty, it’s kind of what applies to all sports, really, I mean, even the NFL beat up on the sub 500 teams and then hold your own. You know, just don’t get embarrassed by the teams with winning records. And that’s typically going to land you in the postseason. Well, we see what the Orioles did over the last six games where they go to Atlanta. They win a fun ballgame on Friday night, lose on Saturday and Sunday. Off games top off. I mean, they lost in a pinch hit home run on Saturday night, a Sunday afternoon they lose an extra innings. They come home they played a raise who as we’ve talked about and I know you and I’ve even talked about over the last month have been the best team in baseball. They came into the series having only lost two series all year long. They take game one, the Orioles first three game losing streak of the season. And I was already getting the comments on Twitter that the Orioles are being exposed now. And this is what happens when you go up against better competition. And look I’m not saying people should be happy with losses are completely brushed it off. But it’s one of those deals where this is why I constantly say let us see some breed. And I’ll still say that after the Orioles take these last two games to take the series and beat the Tampa Bay Rays to one on Wednesday night. But they went up against the top team in the NFL record wise and the top team in baseball in the race over the last six games. And they went three three. That’s exactly what we were saying they should do you know if they’re a team that fancies itself as a legitimate playoff contender and, and all of that. That’s what you want to do. So as much as at the same time when the Orioles were 22 by 22 and 10. I was cautioning to say I you know I don’t think that this means they’re gonna win 111 games when you lose three in a row for the first time all year. And it’s oh yeah, the second week of May. That’s pretty good right there. Because everyone loses three in a row multiple times over the course of a season. That’s just how it works. Over 162 The idea was take a deep breath. They lost to a really good team in Atlanta, two out of three, close games. And then they come home and they lost the first one to Tampa first time they lost the series opener all season. Again, another one of those factoids impressive for the second week of May. But they rebound and they get two ends and get the series and you know, they’re back up to what 11 games over 500 and they still have the second best record in the American League. So how can you not be excited because I mean, you look at this team with everything they’re doing, you know, pitching they still need to you know, that’s something that still needs to be better especially the rotation although Dean Kramer certainly pitched well. And Gibson pitched well a couple of nights ago and all that so it’s not as though they’re getting poor performances. You know, Grayson Rodriguez, fared well. But that’s always you’re gonna have questions about any club, ravens, even some of their best chairs. We have questions about certain physician groups and whatnot. But yeah, this team’s just finding a way to win close games. And it’s been tough because so many of the games have didn’t close so they’ve had to rely on their bullpen so much. And, you know, we’ve seen Felix Batista be a little shaky, but what can we say? And, you know, before I turn it back to you, I mean yen year can know what he has done. Since being recalled in mid April. It has just been remarkable. I mean, there were lots of even talking to reporters a few weeks ago, a lot of people thought he was going to be moved off the 40 man roster. I mean, that’s, you know, because he just was not impressive when he came over from the twins last August. So for him to do what he’s done to pick up Batista to pick up the bullpen that has been so good, but has been frankly overworked, working more than you’d like them to, especially in so many close games. This team just has they’ve got a mojo going right now. And I mean, they’re just they continue to play good baseball. And for anyone who’s watched the race play over the first close to now, quarter of a season, we’re almost at that point. I mean, they’ve just been terrific. So the rays last nine games all year. And they just handed them back to back losses. And I think that’s only the third time that the rays have endured that so really impressive, really fun series for the Orioles. And they continue to answer the bell and this team. We start talking about it last year, but they continue to grow up quickly. I think that’s becoming more and more apparent.
Dennis Koulatsos 06:16
8I saw a quote by Austin Hays Luke where he said, It’s been a remarkable and a quick turnaround. Now, it hasn’t been quick for the fan base. But for those guys, he said, for instance, a couple years ago, they were done. By the third, the fourth inning there was so far behind. They felt like they were climbing uphill, whereas now they just don’t feel like they’re ever out of it. They have a very strong lineup one through nine. They have the starting pitching has held up the bullpen has been solid, but they feel that they can compete with anybody. And then they don’t feel like they’re ever out of it, regardless of what the score says on the scoreboard.
Luke Jones 06:53
Yeah, no question about it. And I think what he says when he says that it’s happened quickly, I think it means he means more. So in terms of even go back to 2021. I mean, you’re talking about a team 110 110 losses, even going back to last year, over the first six weeks of the season, really, until Adley rutschman arrived. Record wasn’t good. They weren’t getting blown out necessarily in the same way they had in 2190. And especially 2019 and 2018. Year 20 was a little bit differently in the pandemic abbreviated season, they were a little more competitive than you thought. But I think it’s just more so in terms of it was so bad for so long. And so many of those games and Dennis, look, I, I’m I’m blessed to be able to cover baseball for part of my livelihood. I’ve always recognized that but when you are covering games that are 12, the three in the third inning, and you’re thinking oh my gosh, what position player is gonna have to pitch in the ninth inning for the Orioles tonight. So they don’t just crush their pitching staff. That’s a great you really, you really do get into a territory where you’re looking at the clock and just feeling like these are minutes of my life. We’re gonna get back your
Dennis Koulatsos 08:04
handicapping, though and you you handicap on the hotdog race.
Luke Jones 08:08
Right? Right. I don’t even I don’t even do that anymore, right? I mean,
8Dennis Koulatsos 08:12
next week to go out and you’re already prepping that tweet instead of paying attention to the game. Right? Right. It’s so far out of it.
Luke Jones 08:20
Right. So so that’s where I think with Hayes, I mean, that’s where it is that it was like that for so long. And then suddenly, it’s not like that anymore. And now, you know, we saw it a really over the second half of last year really from the moment Adley rutschman arrived. I mean, we talked about if this team played basically like a 90 wind team from the moment Adley rutschman Iraqi right,
Dennis Koulatsos 08:39
it’s important even even bleeding into this year, what is the record with with rutschman versa with that regiment pre regiment and there’s a like a pre regiment era and a post regiment era with the Orioles.
Luke Jones 08:49
8Yeah, and it’s not all him. But it’s it’s almost impossible to dismiss it. I mean, I don’t let’s be clear anyone listening here, I’m not comparing Adley rutschman to this individual. But it kind of does have a little bit of a Ray Lewis effect, where he talks about it with Ray elevating teammates around him. And you know, I mean, it’s it’s baseball, it’s still such an individualized for support
Dennis Koulatsos 09:16
catcher. I’m not a hardcore baseball fan, but I remember Carlton Fisk, you know, for the Red Sox, his impact Thurman Munson, the Yankee that guy’s a captain, I mean, he’s behind the plate he’s having pictured and I saw rutschman A couple weeks ago, I forget who the pitcher was, what he wanted to stay in and, and you can tell he was upset and so rutschman just went up to him, you know, smack them on the chest with his glove and said, you know, give me the ball. You know, like, at his age, I thought it was man, you know, here you’re handling an older veteran and you’re telling him you know, you gotta give up the ball. You know, you’re happy but this isn’t a spot to to express it. Cap said You know, you know you’re coming out so he just smacked him in the chest smiled and just talked bought from him. And I thought that was just a big telling moment and spoke volumes in terms of leadership and maturity, and how he handled that situation.
Luke Jones 10:08
Yeah. And I mean, these were the stories you heard about him at Oregon State. These are the stories you heard about him in in high school. I mean, this is just who he’s been. And I mean, he, he has that unique. That unique trait of he always goes and greets the pitcher off when that when the inning Oh is over, back to the dugout, you know, that that’s, that’s almost like a little league thing. It’s, that’s one of the things that if you didn’t know, but if you didn’t know who Adley rutschman was, if you didn’t know, the respect and affinity his teammates have for him, that would be one of those things that almost feels like it’s a little bit of false hustle. You know what I mean? Like one of those things where you’d say, is that genuine? Or is this a little phony, but it’s not. And you never, even after a rough fitting, you never see a picture like, you know, get out of my face or anything like that. I mean, it just shows the rapport he has with those guys. And that wears off. And that, you know, that that I think bleeds into the rest of the team, just having that kind of a mindset, that kind of a presence to him that, again, it’s not everything because the Orioles have other good players. And if it were only Adley rutschman, you know, they, they still wouldn’t be very good. So you know, other guys have been coming and other guys had arrived before him and they’ve gotten better. And we’ve seen that, but he really, he really is the glue guy in that way. And I mean, that’s, that’s what you want. I mean, especially out of a one one right guy that was drafted first overall in 2019. And, you know, he’s, let’s, let’s also acknowledge, not just that there was traits, a heck of a ballplayer too, I mean, even going through that what he had to know for 18 or earlier in the week, he’d still or over the last week or so he’d still drawn five, I think five or six walks over that. And that just shows you the kind of player he is that even when he’s really slumping, he’s still very playable as a hitter because he does draw walks and gets on base. And you know, we’ve talked about that with Gunnar Henderson off to a slow start batting average wise, but go look at his on base percentage, he’s still finding a way to contribute. So when you have player young players like that, it just makes you know what deficiencies you do have it kind of you know, it kind of eases those a little bit, it makes those a little less significant. So there is an X factor that he brings. That’s undeniable. And, again, what that means for the Orioles this year, you know, do I think they’re ready to be a World Series team? Do I think they’re that great. I have a tough time thinking they’re at that level. But they’re, they’re very legitimate here. You know, this is a very, this is a good team. They might be very good. Yeah, that to this point, they played very good, although, again, lots of close games. So that does have an impact on your bullpen. So at some point, you’d like to see the bats heat up simultaneously with the starting pitching and maybe, maybe you get some Lappers that you don’t have to go through your bowl, you know, your best bullpen guys all the time. But they’ll take it, they will gladly take where they are right now. And again, you know, it’s one of those situations where they were in any other division in baseball, I guess other than the NLS or NL East, but the at least if they were in the center, or the West, they’d be leading and they’d be leading by Sure. Yeah, so by a significant, legitimate margin. So it just does speak to how fun it’s been. And they’re playing good baseball. And to get back to what you said at the beginning of our conversation. It’s, it’s fun to watch. And you can tell how much these guys enjoy it with, you know, the Homer hose and the sprinkler and all that different stuff. I mean, guys don’t like each other in that clubhouse. You’re not doing that kind of stuff. Now, you can still win games, but you’re not doing that kind of stuff. So it just speaks to, you know, the chicken or the egg concept, right? Winning breeds chemistry or chemistry breeds winning? I think in this case, I think it I think it really, really is a give take thing with those two. Those two components.
Dennis Koulatsos 14:04
Yeah, I would agree with you. So Lamar Jackson, more established heading to a six year with the Baltimore Ravens. Is it fair to say that as Lamar Jackson is the face of the Baltimore Ravens that at this point, at this stage, that athlete regiment is the face of the Baltimore Orioles?
8Luke Jones 14:21
Yeah, I think so. I mean, look, I mean, the NFL is King everywhere, not just in Baltimore, but anywhere where the NFL is its king, so it’s tough to put rutschman on that same level and Lamar of course has won a regular season MVP has been to Pro Bowls, although I certainly fully expect to see Adley rutschman in the All Star game this year barring something weird so but yeah, how can you not be and again that’s not to say that they don’t have other young players and guys that have been around I mean, Cedric Mullins is certainly become more of a household name the last few years and you know, he’s been doing all star game played in the WBC back in March, but Richmond Yeah, he’s that guy. And, you know, I think when you’re talking about someone who was drafted first overall in 2019, when you consider where the Orioles were the year before that, you know, they enter the year. So last year, the contracts for Dan do cat and Buck show Walter and Adam Jones and Manny Machado and all these different guys. And, you know, they held on too long, it was very easy to say that that’s the captain obvious statement that they held on too long. But they entered that year hoping to still be in the mix and maybe being a playoff team and all that. And they not only did they not do that they were just awful. So I mean, this thing, it was just burned down to the foundation, right? I mean, it was ash, this organization, save for a handful of handful of players in the system. So it was quite an endeavor. So when you’re talking about a new regime coming in, and a new general manager and front office and manager, and you’d have the first overall pick, because you would last what was 117 games 115, whatever it was, you know, it’s nice to put that in the rearview mirror at this point. But you know, you’re really in a position where whoever that player is going to be at one one, they’re going to be viewed as the Savior whether whether they’re truly a special first overall pick, or maybe just kind of a more run of the mill first overall pick because not everyone is special. X some of those guys end up being total busts. I mean, that’s, that’s baseball, it’s it. You know, we talk about the NFL draft to have it uncertainty. I mean, baseball, especially when you start talking about potentially drafted high school kids, I mean, walk out are so good. You could draft a Hall of Famer a guy or a guy who never really probably makes it to the majors, because he was first overall, but maybe never really deserves to make it to the majors. But when they anointed rutschman as that guy, you know, there’s a lot of pressure that came with that. But he handled it and he handled it really well. So that’s where, you know, to kind of go back to the Austin Hays comment that you mentioned. I mean, it’s where you look at this thing and 115 losses in 2018. And awful again in 2019. Awful again in 2021. And then suddenly, last May, they weren’t awful anymore. And, again, hard to not see the strong correlation there with the arrival of Adley rutschman. But he’d be the first to tell you he’s not doing it alone. Yeah,
Dennis Koulatsos 17:19
no, no question by the look there. Again. They’re a lot of fun to watch. And today for my segments. It’s odd, but I had the Orioles are the number one topic.
Luke Jones 17:29
Imagine that right.
Dennis Koulatsos 17:31
8Ravens a lot of things that you mentioned going on with the NFL, they’re the 800 pound gorilla, obviously, in regards to all of sports, but you get the schedule announcements coming out. They’ve leaked out some of the some of the matchups, the ravens, of course, going to London, and you attended the Todd Monken cop press pressure on Wednesday as well. Yeah, let me one comment
Luke Jones 17:53
on the schedule. It’s getting ridiculous now. Do we need leaks for multiple days about? Yes, like, look, the international games, international games Cool. Yep. The Christmas Day games. You know, even though I feel a certain way about playing on Christmas Day, but you know, that’s neither here nor there. But some of these games are just like kind of random that they’re announcing. And it’s just like, anyway, I know a little disappointed because I’d rather go to Nashville than London. But
Dennis Koulatsos 18:25
Nashville. Yeah, I’ve never been a natural London, never to Nashville.
Luke Jones 18:30
And I very much. And to be clear, I very much enjoyed my trip to London in 17 until the Ravens kicked off. And then while that was a disaster, we will talk about, but no ravens opened up, had some media access on Wednesday for what they call football school, which is basically it’s on field workouts. But at this stage of the offseason program cannot do offense against defense, you can only have offense on the field. They in fact, they practice at different times. And it’s like a 45 minute session session, right? They’re doing a little bit of drill work, a lot of alignment and technique work, things of that nature. These guys aren’t even in helmets, you know, so not even in their jersey, so tough to identify them unless you know what they look like by face.
8Dennis Koulatsos 19:13
They’re doing installs, right.
Luke Jones 19:15
Yeah, I mean, I don’t even know if it’s, I mean, it’s, it might be even more basic than then install work. I mean, they’re kind of at the step before install. So we did get a chance. Yeah, but we did get a chance to hear from Todd Monken nothing earth shattering while he was asked about Lamar Jackson and Odell Beckham and other to be clear, other veteran players who weren’t in attendance that day, at the very least. And look, we’re not even at OTAs yet. I’m, I’m not of the thought of being moved by attendance for this. You know, we can start talking about that at OTAs. And, you know, obviously Lamar was a big point of discussion there last year, but you know, Monken was asked about all the weapons he was asked about, you know, his excitement level of getting to work with Lamar after there being some uncertainty all those things Things are nothing earth shattering. But I did have to laugh and I said this to you before we began our conversation this morning. But you know, Lamar made his comment at the press conference, you know, his his signing press conference about throne for 6000 yards, which I really do feel that it even for Lamar it was tongue in cheek like I don’t think he actually believes he’s going to throw for 6000 yards, he might want to, you know, because I think any player wants to put up record numbers and all that. But I think in his heart of hearts, he kind of knows that, okay, we’re probably not going to go from being a guy that, you know, has never been a 4000 yard passer to suddenly thrown for 6000 yards and set an NFL record. But Monken was asked about all the weapons, you know, and obviously, you know, he went through the guys at wide receiver, but he also acknowledged Hey, got Mark Andrews and we’ve got, you know, we’ve we’ve got good tight ends and don’t forget about our running backs. You know, we got Isaiah likely we got JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards running back, so and he made the point, there is only one football. And I just thought that was I found that interesting, because, you know, as we said, If Lamar wants to throw for 6000 yards, I’m not sure how JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are gonna feel that that I don’t know how the offensive line is going to feel about that. No line will tell you any day, they’d much rather run blocked and pass protect. So I’ve said it all along. I’ll continue to say it. I don’t think this offense is going from run heavy. Even though it hadn’t been as run heavy the last couple of years anyway. But I don’t think it’s going from run heavy to peeing pass heavy. I just don’t I don’t think I don’t think they have designs of Lamar leading the league and pass attempts. I don’t. But that said, I do think they feel they’re going to be way more balanced. And I think Lamar is going to be much higher in pass attempts than he’s been in the past. I think Monken was asked about Lamar, if he thinks Lamar is gonna run as much. And, you know, he basically said what I feel like you and I have said, probably going back three, four years now where he said, Yeah, I mean, especially as he gets older, and as we’ve added more talent, we want to take a little more off his plate. And I’ve said this all long. The idea of not wanting Lamar Jackson, Iran. I mean, that’s what his his running ability, his athleticism is still, what makes him special. It doesn’t mean he’s not a good passer. Let’s be clear about that. But what makes him special is his athleticism. So why would you not want to use that? Now that said, as he gets older, and as he has dealt with a couple of injuries last year, even though those were both in passing situations, I’ve said all along, I would view it as a dial, right? It’s not a switch. It’s not as though you’re saying okay, Lamar, you’re just not going to run anymore, and you’re gonna play from the pocket and you’re gonna become Tom Brady, as you get older and older, but it’s for me, it’s always been a dial that okay, yeah, I don’t want them to run quite as much as he ran in 2018 and 2019, when he was a 1200, yard rusher, and 20 and 21 and all that. So, like to scale it back, I don’t have if it were me and Monken. What reiterated this, you know, this point, if it were me, I’m not going to hold myself to a certain number of rushes per game or, or anything like that, because you don’t know what you’re gonna need it in a certain game for one thing can be windy, windy, and rain and all that and Lamar running might be your only chance of winning that game. So you know that he’s not not to say that he won’t ever have another 20 Rushing attempt game. But clearly, I think in a big picture sense. You do want to scale that back. And you always want to maintain that threat. But you don’t want to have to rely on that thread as much. And I think that’s what mungkin conveyed. When asked that question on Wednesday. And I think it makes sense. And now, Greg Roman offered similar sentiments at time. So ultimately, actions and how it plays out on the field is always going to matter more than hype and what it looks like on paper and what you talk about in May and June and July. So we’ll see how it plays out. But I think that was a very sound reasonable answer to the question, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this offense take shape here over the next few months.
Dennis Koulatsos 24:09
Yeah, I thought I thought the 11 and 11 minute clip of Todd Monken press conference, I thought he acquitted himself. Well, I thought it was thoughtful, insightful, measured, struggling to no nonsense type of a guy and you know, in our pre segment production meeting that we spoke about that.
Luke Jones 24:28
8Yeah, exactly. And I think my favorite quote of the day, which was he was asked about the talent and how much easier that makes his job and he said, look, I mean, we’re paid to move the football we’re paid to score points and that’s easier when you have talented players. And then he went on to say as I always say, cookies taste better with sugar than they do with vinegar love. So you want to you want to surround yourself with sugar. And while the Ravens feel that they’ve done a long way they surrounded themselves with sugar and what flowers I guess a flowers terrible, terrible.
Dennis Koulatsos 24:57
Oh, I love it. Love it. You might call it He’s a comedian. Yes, yeah,
Luke Jones 25:01
something like that. But yeah, it’s, you know, I think he was fairly straightforward. You know, he really wanted to keep the focus on the players that were there. I mean, he was asked about Lamar and some of the other veterans not being there. And he said, Look, we’re, we’re working hard with the guys that are here. We know they’re working hard. We certainly anticipate Lamar and those other guys being here soon, you know, I I still would be surprised. And you know, it’s a different conversation if Lamar, no shows OTAs again, because of the fact that he is under contract and you just paid them highest paid for the NFL, but for this step where they are right now, I I’d be completely phony to say that I’m worked up about Lamar not being there right now. And, you know, as long as he’s there for OTAs, and a couple of weeks, which, yes, sir voluntary, but it’s always been a different expectation for quarterbacks. And I see no problem with that. And keep in mind, we’re still four months out from the start of the season. So I think it’ll be plenty of time for Lamar and everyone to learn this offense and get get acclimated to what Todd Monken is going to expect.
Dennis Koulatsos 26:09
And how many numbers zeros. Are you expecting to see it the m&t Bank Stadium, this fall with? Smith switch and jersey? I for one, I want to get one for sure. I mean, I love the guy.
8Luke Jones 26:20
Yeah. I will say I can’t lie, though. I was a little disappointed because I asked him at the end of last season, if he was keeping number 18 Because I had gotten that fan question a lot of fans love to buy jerseys. And he actually, he flat out told me that he was going to keep it because he knew that people had bought number 18. So I think my overall prevailing message here and the Ravens and players would probably not like me saying this. I’m really at a point now with the number changing though. I would almost say You know what? Get yourself a throwback jersey. Get an ED read. Get Ray Lewis get a J to go wrong. Whatever, whatever. retires us Justin Tucker. Yeah, yeah, Tucker, I don’t think he’s gonna change his number at this point. Um, you know, because I do I do empathize with fans who spend a lot of money especially, you know, I mean, they’re not cheap. And I remember growing up, like, getting my first couple ravens jerseys and all of that, like, that’s not, that’s a little bit of an investment for depending on, you know, wherever you are in your life financially. So, it is a little bit of a bummer for fans. But, you know, other than that, you know, Ro Quan wearing number 05 It makes for an interesting fashion tweet for me, which, you know, I always like so, it has been fascinating to see this Genesis of where the NFL was with jersey numbers just a few years ago, and now seeing what it’s continuing to become. And I guess what’s next, we’re gonna see double zero at some point, right? Feels like the next thing.
Dennis Koulatsos 27:49
Wouldn’t that be someone speaking a double zeros? Of course, there have been some double zeros and then the NBA. I’m watching the warriors against the Lakers. That series has my full attention. Yeah, yeah.
Luke Jones 28:00
And I’ll be honest, Dennis, I haven’t had a chance to watch that much. But you know me. I have become a Philadelphia 70 Sixers fan over the last six, seven years, something like that. I mean, you know, during the process, I started watching them before they were good. And, you know, wondering if Joellen bead was ever going to stay on the floor. And but no, that’s uh, as you mentioned, the Lakers Warriors series has been you know, it’s been fun and big win for Golden State on on Wednesday night. And for the 70 Sixers a chance to close it out. It’s been a really odd series of James Harden. epic game one performance, one of the great performances in Philadelphia 70 Sixers playoff history. And then he was awful in game two and three. And then he hits the Big Shot in game four, where they, you know, they needed to win. And, you know, they get the win in Boston in game five, and, you know, a chance to close it out, you know, if they can, you know, at least win one of the last two. So, you know, the the Celtics have been, you know, I, I don’t I don’t want to speak out of turn here too much, because I’m not incredibly well informed with 76 years history, but the Celtics have been, you know, their version of what the Yankees were to the Red Sox for so many years. And I don’t know, I’m starting to wonder if maybe Phillies gonna break through and take Boston coaching, you know, the coaching situations probably left something to be desired. I know, there’s a lot of angst there. But it’s been fun. And I’m someone who really fell out of my interest in in the NBA for a long, long time, but got back into it really over the last six, seven years. And, you know, the regular season is long, I’d be lying to you if I said, I’m paying real close attention and sure, in November and December, but I really, I thoroughly enjoy it. And it’s been fun. I mean, I’ve got it had that heat Nick series that’s been you know, just kind of we’re just not expecting those teams to be there. If nothing else, you know, and Jimmy Butler some of his heroics over the course of this postseason. So What’s been fun? So buckle up, see what happens the rest of the way. But certainly, I’m taking a little extra interest in seeing if Philadelphia can break through because you know that it’s been a long time coming for them. I mean, haven’t been haven’t been in the final since Iverson led them against the Lakers with 20 plus years ago. So it’s been a minute.
Dennis Koulatsos 30:20
8But it’s been a long minute. I used to be a Sixers fan back in the day when they had Dr. J. and Darryl Dawkins and you guys seen Jordan McGinnis? The Big Macs, to watch way, way back now I’m dating myself. But speaking of ramping up by the for Memorial Day, WWE has a Night of Champions and then Aw. Also has a big, big scrum coming up.
Luke Jones 30:45
Yeah, I mean, it’s been an interesting time full disclosure, Dennis. I’ve actually I haven’t been watching as much the last few weeks just with the draft with baseball and what’s going on? Yeah, it’s just a busier time for me, but certainly reading up on it. And I mean, aw was was at the arena. Last week, I did not get a chance to go to that, unfortunately. But, you know, it’s an interesting time. I mean, WWE, this time of year is always interesting post Wrestlemania. They just did a new draft, as you know, they kind of draft wrestlers to Raw and SmackDown. So you kind of shake that up, and they’re introducing a new world heavyweight, WWE World Heavyweight title, which I found interesting considering Roman Reigns had the other two titles, so I don’t understand why we’re counting another one.
Dennis Koulatsos 31:26
WBC WBA. You know, it’s starting to Yeah, exactly.
Luke Jones 31:29
They they end up being props after a while, that’s where it’s, uh, you know, bothers me a little bit as a little more of a old school wrestling fan and wanting titles to mean something. But on the AW side, it’s an interesting time. Lots and lots of rumors of CM Punk coming back. I mean, I don’t know, you and I ever talked about it. But there was a lot of locker room drama that occurred last September to the point where there were suspensions. And punk was stripped of the eight Aw, title. And this was real life, this was a real thing. Like they guys that were suspended, there was a fight and everything. So long been rumored whether he was going to be done with the company or not, but lots and lots of smoke that he’s going to be coming back and they’re going to be having a new show, and they’re going to kind of separate their own roster. So lots of I feel like I’m talking more about the pot, the nuts and bolts in the backstage politics of the business, but that’s part of it. I mean, it really is, I mean, I could think back to back in the 90s. And, you know, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart had such a great enriching rivalry but those two guys literally real life hated each other to the point where you know, I mean we all remember the Montreal Screwjob and all that but if they did wreck you know, they did patch things up and they they’re much more friendly today so that’s good to see but wrestling that’s part of it you know, we always joke about you know, the predetermined element of added up the fact that it’s fake but you know, there are there are ways that wrestling is very real that can be unsettling for a company and certainly aw has been dealing with that but does sound like we’re going to hear a CM Punk back back back in the picture sometime over the next month or so based on the rumors that are out there, but of course you never know we’ll wait and see.
8Dennis Koulatsos 33:15
Great stuff Luke, please tell our listeners what you got going on over here at wn St. Baltimore positive all the great stuff that you do your blog that we follow closely. Now the other great things you’re involved with.
Luke Jones 33:25
Absolutely. I encourage everyone to follow us on Twitter at wn S T can follow me personally at Baltimore Lucas I’ll be back at the ballpark Oreos continuing this homestand as the Pittsburgh Pirates come into town this weekend Shohei Ohtani Mike Trout the angels come to town and does look like we’re going to see Otani take the hill against the Orioles which is very fun for anyone in attendance but maybe not so fun for the Orioles trying to win that night. But plenty of great stuff there. Check out my blog at Baltimore positive.com sponsored by coons for the Baltimore latest on the Ravens latest on the Orioles 12 thoughts, all of that schedule release. I’ll have my thoughts on the Ravens schedule and try not to read too much into that but always nice to get that context of knowing when games are and where they’re going to be. You know where exactly they’re going to be played. If you’re having a London game like the Ravens will in October. But you can check that out at Baltimore positive.com You won’t be on the wn St. Baltimore positive tech service sponsored by coons for to Baltimore. You will get the Ravens schedule sent to you any significant Orioles or ravens roster moves any significant local sports news sent directly to your mobile device via the wn St. Baltimore positive tech service sponsored by Coons, Florida Baltimore, and of course anything throughout the week on AM 15 Seven eight with Nestor ravens sound from Owings Mills OTAs right around the corner. So we’ll have interviews and coaches and player interview podium sessions their sound from the ballpark Brandon Hyde starting pitcher, postgame reaction, all of that at Baltimore positive.com.
Dennis Koulatsos 34:56
All right, my friend busy weekend coming up. I enjoy it a lot. Some sports content to tune into and we’ll have plenty of content to talk about a week from now.
Luke Jones 35:05
8Sounds great. I want to wish a happy Mother’s Day to all of our female listeners out there. Whether you’re a mom, you know by choice you know by birth, whatever it is, you’re greatly appreciated. Thank you and wish that you have a very special day on Sunday.
Dennis Koulatsos 35:21
Always a classy look Jones here are joining us a 1570 Am WASD look I appreciate you.
Luke Jones 35:27
Thanks Dennis. Be well we’ll talk next week you as well. Thank
Dennis Koulatsos 35:29
you my friend. There we go. Is Luke Jones. Make sure you tune into WNYC he’s worth a listen alone. Worth worth of well worth the price of admission. We’ll take a quick break. Come back right after this.
