Strider’s Upcoming Debut, AJ Smith-Shawver, and March Madness

00:00:21
Speaker 1: Hello, everyone, Welcome back to the HAMR Territory Podcast this episode one six'. Four my name Is Brad. Roland i'm joined AS i always am by my co, host his name Is Scott. Coleman, scott it's Selection sunday in college, basketball and it's also ten days from The braves opening the. Season how are you feeling on This sunday? Evening, Hey, Brad i'm.

00:00:40
Speaker 2: Great this is a really good time of year in the sports. Calendar March madness is days. Away we actually have real baseball games in a couple of days from now In tokyo with The dodgers and The. CUBS i, believe as you, said The braves are ten days away From San. Diego a week from now they will be flying to Air zona to play a couple Of Cactus league, games which is pretty, cool and before we know, it we'll have real life baseball and then the game one sixty two grind. Begins but a good time of year and always nice to do one of these shows with you and to.

00:01:14
Speaker 1: You my. Friend also as a special little treat that was requested by many. PEOPLE i don't know why Quite, frankly we love you all and you're all sickos in our. Hearts people asked us for Some march madness and, Look scott AND i used to do this on our old. Show but for the first time, ever all four of the co hosts of this podcast will be gathering at the end of the show and we'll remind you then as. Well once we get, there it will be no more baseball talk on the. Show it will only be a bonus college basketball. Segment but until, then there actually is a lot to talk. About, yeah with regard to The, braves we should say to the top of the, show we are part of Foul. Territory we cover The. Braves you're round here At Hammer. Territory please subscribe to the podcast anywhere you find your podcasts audio, stuff as well as on. YouTube and it's been busy in recent. Days we had a show from our co Host sean And stephen a couple of days. Ago we had the Great Brandon gordon on the. Show last week if you missed, It Television voice of The. BRAVES i was a fun discussion that was hosted By scott AND i just gleefully listened to it like everybody else. Did really enjoyed that. One, yeah a lot going, On, scott we're, busy a lot going.

00:02:16
Speaker 2: On AND i got to, Say Brandon, gordon he is a genuine and really really good. Dude just just having the opportunity now to Have brandon on the show, twice very appreciative of that and even just talking with him before we came.

00:02:30
Speaker 1: On the guy just loves The Atlanta.

00:02:32
Speaker 2: Braves he is living the dream being in that broadcast booth for one sixty two With, atlanta and.

00:02:37
Speaker 1: The braves are in really good. HANDS i love the.

00:02:39
Speaker 2: BROADCAST i think if you surveyed one Hundred braves, fans ninety nine of them maybe one hundred would say that The braves have a really good broadcast booth right now and really Like, BRANDON cj is great whenever they Get frank Coor.

00:02:52
Speaker 1: Glavin The braves have a really GOOD tv.

00:02:54
Speaker 2: Situation and if you did not listen to that episode With, BRANDON i would recommend that IT'S i believe, too St it's back from this.

00:03:01
Speaker 1: One strongly. Agree and of course we'll have some more podcast business later on the. Podcast but let's dig in, Here scott to some baseball, action AND i think kind of we're not there. Yet it's, interesting like it's a look, ahead but it was announced over the weekend That Specier strider is going to pitch in a spring game On, Monday so recording this Podcast sunday, evening that game is gonna Happen monday, Afternoon so if you've missed it until, then he would have already. Happened but it's still the lead story even though it's ahead of. Time he has not pitched in a professional setting in eleven and a half, months basically since he had the elbow issue a year. Ago he seems to be on schedule by all. Accounts this is a good kind of stepping stone beyond, that and obviously he's done some pretty visible pitching bullpen sessions in front of the, media like there's been video circulating From northport from The beat, guys From Justin, grant et. Cetera but this is something. Different this is pitching in a game to real hitters and a not so friendly, Environment AND i, mean what do you make of? This it seems like a good sign that he's getting closer to coming.

00:03:59
Speaker 2: Back really good sign because at the start of spring training there was a little bit of question over whether or Not strider was going to get into a spring, game AND i think The braves have eight or nine spring games, left so there's a.

00:04:12
Speaker 1: Real chance That schrider could pitch in two, games not just, one but. Two we'll.

00:04:17
Speaker 2: See it would probably have to come next week out In, arizona.

00:04:20
Speaker 1: WHICH i would assume they'd be fine. With maybe.

00:04:23
Speaker 2: Not they might Keep spencer down In. Florida we will see what the plan. Is but in terms Of, monday you just hope that he looks, good that the velocity is, strong he has, command and just like all of his peers made starts a couple of weeks, Ago strider is very likely just gonna throw an inning or. Two i'm guessing The braves have a very hard limit on how many pitches he's gonna. THROW i, mean it might genuinely Be, Spencer you're throwing twenty, pitches and if you have AN o two count against a, Hitter Brian snicker is gonna walk out there and he's gonna take the ball and say get him in five.

00:04:57
Speaker 1: Days.

00:04:57
Speaker 2: Kid obviously The braves need to be caut and careful With, spencer but it's going to be so good to have him out, there and by everyone's, account down In, florida he is look good and his, bullpens AND i think we're just going to be thrilled to see that guy back on the. Mound, Absolutely and it seems like by all accounts people that are plugged in around the, Team, Bowman, tuscano et, cetera like it seems like mid april's on the table. Now perhaps if this goes, well you, know that's no setbacks all the way through from.

00:05:25
Speaker 1: Now until he's on the team. Again but it's not like he's gonna be just FOR i guess somebody thought it was just. Different he's not gonna be on the opening day. Roster they said that very very. Clearly he won't be. Ready there's no illusions of. That but Mid april would be a heck of a return time for a special. Strider that's you, know you're only missing a couple of weeks of action if that's the. Case BUT i agree with, you they're going to be. Cautious they've said. That they said that on the, record fading back to the to the winter, like they're not going to rush, him nor should. They they do have some. Depth it's not the best depth in the, world, probably but they have some. Depth talked about a lot recent we're not Gonna by the, way this will not be Another In anderson discussion on today's. Podcast that'll be more later. On it's already happen a few. Times But Grant, holmes et. Cetera the big thing Is strider is on, track and whether it's Mid april or Late, april we'll. See but you, know just hold on. Tight i'll Be certainly there's more intrigue On monday than there would be normally On, Monday march. Seventeenth it's believe it's a one oh Five eastern time, game so some baseball in the morning For Scott well ten am baseball out there In. Arizona, yeah with, That, yeah that's the reason to watch tomorrow for. Sure for, sure especially.

00:06:38
Speaker 2: All eyes Zone, strider all eyes on the radar. Gun not that we're necessarily Expecting strider to go out there and pump one oh one on the first, fastball but see what the velocity looks, like see what the break on his slider looks. Like he of, course was working in some new pitches the last time we Saw strider on the, mound which was so. EXCITING a, curveball maybe more of a change. Up so we'll see what kind of shape and movement he has on those pitches And brad it's probably worth saying that as we think about a timeline For, strider one thing The braves are probably thinking about is obviously they want to get their ace or one of their aces on the mound as soon as they. Can, however they're going to one be extremely careful with his, recovery and two they probably want to Limit spencer's innings at least a little bit in this first year. Back you also have to think big picture about the playoffs and, if and this is a big, if because The National league is incredibly top heavy and probably one good team is going to get squeezed out of the. Postseason but if and when The braves make the, playoffs they obviously improve their chances significantly if they have a healthy and Firing Spencer. Strider AND i don't know if The braves necessarily Want strider to throw two hundred plus innings this year between regular season and, postseason so they might slow play him just still a little bit In, april even if it's, frustrating even if it means they got to go To Bryce elder for a. Spot start to push everybody back and hit an off day on the right day or whatever it needs to. Be BUT i do think The braves are gonna be, really really cognizant Of strider's, timeline not only for the short term with its, health but also the long term picture of hopefully having him firing In, August.

00:08:22
Speaker 1: September in deep Into. OCTOBER i tend to. Agree AND i also think, that you, know just for people don't really realizing, this it takes longer than people realize to get a guy ready to pitch in the major. Leagues like he's gonna probably throw five times in a real setting before he's ready to. Go like even now we're finally seeing guys stretch out to where like we're almost, there Like Grand holmes through what five innings this weekend in and, Outing but until, then like that's you, know you're you're going to an, inning you're going two. Ending it's like it takes a little bit of, time especially when you have a guy has a pitch in a, year and especially so. Competitive i'm sure he wants to go right, now and The braves are having to hold him back with both. Arms you. Know it's one of those things where that's part of the fun of, this or maybe they're not so fun of this if You're, spencer but, NO i totally. Agree there might be some there might be some pain early, on like it's, Possible BUT i think what AND i think what people don't always love about The, braves including this, winter like we haven't always loved. It they Are alex is pretty, methodical and he and his imprints on the. Organization so for, ME i like that. Approach you want to be measured and think About, september In october and, beyond especially signed for a long. Time he's still very. Young he's had some repeated elbow issues, now like having a little bit of extra care with him even if you don't have a good, start makes total. Sense and hopefully this clip will not have to be played again in Early april when The braves are. Struggling we don't want that to. Happen BUT i think The braves will probably not. Panic in, Fact i'm confident they won't panic and throw out their Two that would be which gives me not if a reisation would be that, WAY i would feel worse about some organizations THAN i would about The. Braves but they're they're not gonna do. It so it's, like all, right when he's, ready he's, ready but it might be a little bit longer than we all want to.

00:10:12
Speaker 2: Be and until that time, COMES i, MEAN i think you have to feel pretty good about this rotation even Without Spencer. Strider Chris sale has continued to look. Awesome Spencer schwalenbach has been awesome this. Spring Ronaldo lopez has been a little slow coming out of the, gate But i'm confident that when all those gonna be good to go whenever the season. Begins Grant holmes has had a nice.

00:10:34
Speaker 1: SPRING A.

00:10:35
Speaker 2: J Smith, shaver who we're gonna talk about in a little bit on the. Podcast Smith shaver was nasty over the, weekend eight strikeouts over four, innings was, electric hitting the ninety nine and one hundred on the radar. Gun and Then Ian, anderson who we promised we won't talk. About if that's a five or six man, rotation that's totally, good, Right like maybe it's you can't wait to Get strider, Back but The braves are going to be fine in the early going as long as their big three in particular stay. Healthy and then you talk about Adding strider to that, mix and it could be a really fun summer out of the rotation for The braves And god willing the offense is going to be good.

00:11:12
Speaker 1: Too we were on the same page. THERE i think that's probably fair to say that's still the lead story until he pitches On. Monday there is plenty more to get to, THOUGH i promise you on the show, today From roster cuts to a bit of An Austin riway scare that was thankfully averted over the. Weekend before we get to that stuff, though one plug And i'm not sure going to throw it to you, Here, scott to pluck this. Thing because we're trying to get people interested perhaps in sponsoring the. Podcast how can they do?

00:11:42
Speaker 2: That they're interesting That, yeah, so as folks, know almost a year ago now we swapped. Over we were At Battery power now where of Course Hammer territory and part Of Foul. Territory and with that we have a little more freedom to run the podcast the way we want to run, it and we wanted to say as the season, begins if you have a business or something that you would like to advertise on the podcast here On Tammer. Territory we're looking for sponsors for the upcoming, season whether that's a special segment or a series preview or series recap or something like. That it would be the first time we've done something like this on the, show but we wanted to at least extend the offer if anyone out there is interested in supporting the podcast with sponsorship. Opportunities if you are, interested you can email us At Hammer territory at gmail dot com and we'd be happy to talk options with you Again Hammer territory at gmail dot. Com if you want to reach, out you can talk To Brad rowland pick his brain for all of the limitless options to sponsor the show and it'd be a lot of. Fun so, again we wanted to at least throw that quick plug out there as opening day gets.

00:12:55
Speaker 1: Closer, absolutely and we'll hook you up if we need to do. That with our overlords at Foul, territory they help us course manage the podcast and we work for them at the end of the. Day and speaking of, that here's a word from our network. Partners will come back with more of the news on the Braves.

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00:14:10
Speaker 1: Details all, Right, Scott there were some roster cuts On. SUNDAY i would say the most significant roster cuts to date pretty clearly for the braves now it's been we've HAD i know we made fun of. IT i Know Sean stephen had to the kind of slow. Drip seems like there's like no rhyme or reasons sometimes for when they when they announced cuts and who they cut and. Whatever but now it's starting to get to be crunch, time of, course with baseball ten days, away and, uh it was in two different waves On, sunday but the following players were set to minor league. Camp Buck, farmer j Dmon Kirkus, Alley Jake, Morisnik Garrett, cooper And Connor caple all to minor league. Camp and that leaves the breas with thirty seven players in. Camp obviously you can't take thirty, seven so they got more to. Do but, uh probably THE i don't know any of them were terribly. Surprising the biggest, surprise at least to me Was Buck, farmer not that he wouldn't make the, team but that he didn't make the team ten days. EARLY i thought he might be like the last cut if he didn't make the, team and it doesn't seem like he's that was the. Case you, Know deepmen And farmer are both. Veterans was a lefty And deepman was a righting farmer that were, contenders but they're also at minor league, contracts and when you're in a minor leage, contract the risk is that you're going to be in minor league kick at some. Point did you have a reaction to that and what it might say about the, bullpen BECAUSE i think that was probably the headliner of these.

00:15:35
Speaker 2: Cuts, YEAH i, mean based On Brian snitker's, Comments and of course snit is just one of the voices in the. Room he's not running the team from a ten thousand foot, level but he is on the ground with these, guys AND i tend to think the manager has a pretty good insight into who's going to make the, roster and not that something a manager tells the media is law binding by any. Means but based on comments from snit and others around the, TEAM i Thought Buck farmer was a better chance than not of making the opening day. Roster if you would have asked me twenty four hours, AGO i would have said sixty five seventy seventy five percent chance That farmer is on the opening day. ROSTER i, MEAN i guess we should say that technically you can still be on the opening day roster if you are sent to minor league.

00:16:22
Speaker 1: Camp thank you for saying that out, loud BECAUSE i saw people, like, look it's it's not, good but this is not. Binding you can come. Back it's not. OFFICIAL i saw the word official being used a. Lot it is not official at. All it would be.

00:16:36
Speaker 2: Weird to send a guy who's going to be on your big league roster in ten days down to, camp BUT i guess stranger things have happened to put.

00:16:44
Speaker 1: Well your one injury away still or what was somebody blows up in two appearances in a row this week or. WHATEVER i tend to agree with. You that's WHY i. Was that's WHY i said, That like it was so surprising that it was so. Early you, know it's not that, early but ten days. EARLY i was, like, oh so he wasn't even like really, There LIKE i Thought farmer was going to be in the. Bullpen we agree on, that and if, not maybe he was the last. Cut but they have guys there. Now and by the, way it doesn't bother, Me LIKE i like that. Signing he's, okay it's not in doct. Dominant he's, Fine but you Know i'm not again a rage about, this but it was more of a mild. Surprise and, also look they it seems to, ME i, mean you made this note in our doc AND i think you're, Right like it seems kind of clear what the bullpen probably is going to be based on this because based on who's, Left because if you Take deemon And farmer off out of the, mix you only have so many candidates to be in the bullpen if you firmly take those guys off the, war which we kind of have to do for project.

00:17:41
Speaker 2: Purposes so as we sit here today and again these things are fluid and they can. Change but now the probable bullpen based on who is still In big league camp Is rice El, Iglesias Pierce, Johnson Dylan, Lee Aaron. Bummer those four percent, locks no, question look it.

00:18:00
Speaker 1: In.

00:18:01
Speaker 2: Yeah then based on the decisions On Sunday, Days Bell, Hernandez anyel de Los, Santos Hector, neris who just got into a spring, game and on Hell, perdomo who had a nice appearance a couple of days ago and probably his best appearance of the, spring it seems like that eight is going to be your bullpen for Opening. DAY i will Say brad and they'll throw it back to. You there is a chance The braves opt to go with a six man rotation to begin the, year which would very likely include Aj Smith. Shavor The braves are going to open the season with seven games and seven. Days they do not have that dreaded opening day and then day off the next day because they're In San diego where rarely you have bad, weather and then they go To Los angeles where similarly you're probably not running into bad. Weather so seven games and seven. Days The braves effectively ran a six man rotation for a good chunk of last. Year SO i guess it's not impossible That Smith's shavor could be that six starter for the. Team it is also possible they could just bail on one of the bullpen non roster. Invities they could also sign somebody off the scrap, heap which is kind of crazy at this point in the.

00:19:11
Speaker 1: Spring and Did robertson still out? THERE i can't believe he's still out, there but he. Is it's, crazy. MAN i don't Know.

00:19:17
Speaker 2: Robertson he's forty years. Old he must have a super hard line in the sand Of. Brad you're gonna pay me ten million dollars OR i am not signing with you AND i DON'T i don't want.

00:19:26
Speaker 1: Otherwise this is this is the non sequittor in some. Ways BUT i said in our YouTube, comminent somebody was, like why, this AND i was, like, guys we don't know. That they don't Want. Robertson we don't know. Anything all we know because if he'd signed some if he signed somewhere else for two million, DOLLARS i would Be that's when he started plunching the. Air it's, like what is going on? Here but, today you, know he's a like you, said he's a four year old. Guy he might just be waiting for the perfect, opportunity or he might not want to go to spring, training like it's something like. That we just we just don't. Know but until he signed somewhere, ELSE i can't be mad about it because we just don't know what the interaction is has. Been he's he's of, course by, far the most prominent available bullpen, guy which is why we're talking about him right now in this. Segment but, YEAH i think those names that you laid out there are the ones THAT i would guess right, now and there are. CHANGES i, mean our Guy Justin, kana who's been on this podcast even fairly, recently did a PROJECTION i, think well On, friday and it was, different AND i think if he if you asked him now to change, it he would change it to probably what exactly what you. WROTE i don't want to put wars in his, mouth but given who is still there in spring training not on the minor league camp, roster it's kind of got to be those eight, guys and less to your, point they go with an extra start or something like, that we'll. See so it's we'll kind of do like a more finalized roster projection next week or when they actually, talk you, know when they release, it we'll talk about, it of. Course but, yeah for the, moment that's the spot on the roster we've all been talking about all winter and a long but it's getting a little bit more, clarity it seems.

00:20:50
Speaker 2: Like and for housekeeping, PURPOSES i would guess that The braves who Leave florida a week From, sunday so they have one more we down In florida and then again they go out west to play two games In, arizona probably to acclimate to the time change and get your travel out of the. WAY i would be surprised if The braves carry anyone who is not going to be on the opening day roster all the way out To. Arizona you, know like like If Luke williams is not going to be on the opening day, ROSTER i don't think they would Fly williams all the way with the team to play an exhibition and then go.

00:21:25
Speaker 1: BACK i could be. Wrong that would just be my my Educated, again maybe maybe it would be a Depth s guy that like you knew was gonna be a gonna like it WASN'T I Luke libs maybe a good example of something like that where it's like there's not really any downside to bring in them with, You like WHAT i would do is not you're not bringing a young guy with, You like you're not bringing a prospect with you The arizona that's not gonna be on a. Team it's more, like you, know they already Optioned gary not, option but they Set Gary cooper to minor league. Camp he would be a guy that's like all right for death purposes if you want just a bench bat one, day you have you, know an old hand on tap in case you just need a. Body But i'm generally with, you like the roster they take To arizona is probably going to be close to what they end up. Carrying we'll get a pretty good, INDICATOR i would. IMAGINE i will just think of, that, like maybe you want to carry more than twenty six guys just for you, know navigation reasons of going through those last couple of. Days BUT i generally agree with. You we'll probably know pretty well by.

00:22:22
Speaker 2: Then sure you could always fly thirty players out instead of twenty. SIX i, MEAN i think they have room on the charter. Flight so, Yeah SO i think this week we will really get some clarity on the roster of the twenty six man The bullpen in, PARTICULAR i think the bench is pretty much Set brad With Nick, Allen Eli, White Chadwick. Trump that feels to me like your three main bench.

00:22:45
Speaker 1: Guys, YEAH i think so. TOO i, Mean Luke williams is still, there BUT i feel like he's just Gotten Wally pipps is probably too aggressive of a way to put, it BUT i think, That, YEAH i think we agree on. That the verse utility that's been showing For Eli white this spring has probably Bumped Louke williams out of the mix IF i had to.

00:23:05
Speaker 2: Guess and also that's the last And Eli white is the is the fast ninth, inning the catcher leads off of the walk and you pull him Because Eli white's gonna go in there and try to steal.

00:23:15
Speaker 1: A base in a tie. Game once you showed the ability to play a competent like middle, infield WHICH i think has happened a couple of, Times like that's probably an outfield, Too like get him a glove that could play, anywhere have him run a little. Bit it makes total sense to. Me so we're on the same page, there non roster cut. News this is A this would have led the show a couple of days, ago but it. Didn't it didn't need, to thankfully for. Us Austin riley left the game On, friday and we have Not we have not done a podcast since. Then so before we're talking about this, Now, uh he got hit in the right hand with the, fastball and everyone including, us both of us tweeted about this at the, time had a slight. PANIC i would, say, uh Because Astor, riley if you SOMEHOW i have forgotten this or memory hold. It he broke that same hand In august of last year and did not play again after. That rat with and, said, actually the pitch basically was very, close like two inches away from where he got hit last. Time what we know now which makes me we can kind of smile about, it is that he had an extra an extra right away it was. Negative he had scans and pretty quickly they figured out he was, okay uh to the point where he literally was in the lineup of the next, day which is. Uh that surprised me, honestly the fact that he pitched the play next. DAY i was, like, whoa it must have been like really a good spot that he got. Hit he got hit in the hitd with. Uh so anything else you want to add other than just like a one giant. EXHALE i, mean there's not really a takeaway here of. Them, great he's, yeah he's. Fine thank. God The braids have now had two very very scary injury situations this spring With riley and With jerks And profar and both of them turned out about as good as you can humanly ask, for especially when we learned it was the right, hand the one That riley had the surgery, on and it was it was.

00:24:54
Speaker 2: DOOMSDAY i was, like oh my, gosh did they just Lose riley for another two months after last year and.

00:25:00
Speaker 1: At least too it was as they've been, again like he was not ready to go even in the playoffs seven weeks, later like it would have been another three months probably.

00:25:08
Speaker 2: Like just, yeah, yes so a giant sigh of. Relief The braves have dodged now two bullets this. Spring they, did of course Lose Sean murphy for a couple of, weeks but that seemed like a relatively minor thing that's not going to. Linger but, yes a very very good place That Austin riley is not going to be hurt for a long, time because that would have been just a crushing blow for this.

00:25:28
Speaker 1: Lineup elsewhere on the news and notes front jerks and profar is going to TAKE vp as soon As, monday and seems like he's on track. Again we kind of knew that he was on track For Open. Day all the comments have been really, positive which is another day to point in the good direction. There, yeah just to play us. There nothing's, changed no part of messaging has been. Anything but we think he plays with me today and that's where we still.

00:25:49
Speaker 2: ARE i would imagine a day or two of batting practice For, jerkson and as long as that risk checks, out maybe he gets into games later this week and this upcoming weekend and then he plays out In arizona for at least one of those two exhibition, games just to make sure he has all that grip. Strength and you, Know braves are gonna run into some really really good pitching the first week of the season With San diego IN La so Hopefully jerkson's ready to rock and presumably we'll be in that leadoff spot on opening.

00:26:18
Speaker 1: Day, yeah there's the wrinkle of him going back to where he was last Year San, diego like he's familiar with those with those surroundings In San diego and hopefully he's he's in the lineup by. Then other than, that like the weekend was not the busiest that's there's ever been for The. Braves saturday there was there were two. Games, uh the one game of note was the backups against The Red. Sox but it Was Chris. SALE i guess his old, team which was, interesting looked great. Again Chris sale is good At Baseball news at. ELEVEN i don't know WHAT i, mean what else do you? Add but he struck out nine also through six, innings which is, Like, okay that's that's a full tune up For, grisale like he's ready to rock as of like right now As Chris sale just looks so.

00:26:57
Speaker 2: Good you mentioned six, innings nine, strikeout only gave up two. Runs both of them were solo home, runs ALTHOUGH i think one was To duran and one was To Alex, bregman so two Verys. Yeah other than, THAT i Mean boston had. NOTHING i think they had two other singles that were nothing besides, uh just harmless. Singles So Chris sale looks ready to. Go one more spring training tune up and then he will be the opening day starter for this.

00:27:24
Speaker 1: Team the Ratings young winner is still good at, baseball it seems. Elsewhere on that day in the other game was probably the headline of the, weekend, honestly barring The strider news that came the next. Day, uh you already tweezed a little bit earlier on this, podcast but a just beashav by all, accounts looked absolutely amazing On. Saturday and we're not in the business on this podcast of overly gassing up. Prospects generally, speaking we did Have gorevadaka on the show a couple of weeks, ago And gore was very high On smashov on the. SHOW i think he's feeling even better about that now than he was then because he's looked good in recent. Days BUT i, mean you saw, it just LIKE i. Did the reaction for people that were, there people that were watching ON, tv everyone was, LIKE, Whoa, like this guy looks incredible and it's not just, philosophy but he's obviously he's always thrown, hard but he was thrown, hard hitting, spots missing. Bats what do you make of? That because you, know every projection that's been out there has not had him in the rotation on opening. Week he still may not, be but, uh he's been a lot more impressive than In anderson's still more in spring. Training that's probably safe to. Say were you out on The smithshabre meter right? Now it was.

00:28:34
Speaker 2: Probably the best we have ever seen A. J Smith schavor pitch with The braves and even down in the minors over the last couple of.

00:28:41
Speaker 1: Years the stuff was.

00:28:42
Speaker 2: Electric he faced a handful of regulars for The, TWINS i, believe AND i mean eight strikeouts in four. INNINGS i think he even hit one oh one on one of his. Fastballs he's got gas. Man that guy can throw a. Word he throws, hard and the breaking stuff looked pretty sharp, Too AND i think that's probably the biggest obstacle now For Smith shauv against big league. Hitters the fastball is gonna, play but just knowing how to attack them and utilize his cutter and his slider which is kind of one in the same pitch from WHAT i, understand and really just keeping hitters off balance and keeping lefties off him and all of the things that you need to. Do, frankly a lot of the things That Spencer schwellenbach learned on the fly last season when he really took, off was he was just getting better start after start and learning how to attack big league. Hitters so let me ask you, This, brad we know The braves are, well maybe we don't. Know we are very much guessing and thinking that just like they did last, year The braves are going to effectively run a six man rotation to Keep Chris sale fresh ups at least right there might be a stretch where The braves have an off day On monday and then an off Down. Thursday then they'll probably go five man or if they who, Knows but then there's also going to be a stretch where they have to play twenty one year aims in twenty days because there were two rainouts which turned into double.

00:30:04
Speaker 1: Headers so my question to, YOU A.

00:30:07
Speaker 2: J Smith shaver fifteen and a half starts this season over or, under that's roughly three months in the rotation regularly for fifteen and a half, now.

00:30:19
Speaker 1: So two dead points. Here he had five starts two years ago as a twenty year. Old it didn't go super, well but he was he was, up and they gave. Him they gave him a real run two years, ago five. Starts schwellenbach had what was, it twenty, one twenty, two twenty one, starts, yeah twenty, one and obviously came up pretty late last. Year now he never. Left he was awesome from day. One WHO i will? TAKE i Think i'm gonna lean, over which might just seem, insane but NOW i Think i'm gonna go. Over you can really sweeing the lines a little bit here on how much of that has to do with my, Skepticism, uh BUT i think also they've proven that they Like Smith. Shover he's been an aggressive promotion multiple times he's still really. Young but because you, what you what your, friend which was, right and, look somebody canna get. Hurt, man like the the odds of the odds of the guys that you that we know are going to be, There, Sale, strider, Eventually, Lopez, schwellenback someone's probably gonna get hurt out of. Them not gonna whether that they, don't but like the reality is that doesn't really happen very. Often so between the chances that he just becomes the fifth starter pretty, quickly which is, possible and the fact that somebody might get hurt and he's almost certainly the first call if they. Do, YEAH i Think i'm gonna go, over which if you ask me two weeks ago would have said under, Probably But i'm gonna go over now after seeing what he's, been like What air since. BEEN i know they Like holmes AND i Like holmes. Too for the, record he looks good to. Me BUT i think That Smith chavor will be in there for all while this, Year.

00:32:01
Speaker 2: And, similarly The braves are probably going to be cognizant Of AJ's workload this, year and they.

00:32:09
Speaker 1: And SPENCER'S i, mean obviously people don't want to hear that and maybe that's not the best for a cy young. Odds but would it shock you if they were keeping an eye on Swallow maock's endings this? Year wouldn't shock?

00:32:19
Speaker 2: Me, No, no The braves look Man sale getting hurt with a week to go with back, spasms of all.

00:32:26
Speaker 1: Things it. Was it was just an awful, luck awful luck of the draw that they perfectly manage their. Rotation they perfectly managed it to get into the. Playoffs and who knows if there.

00:32:39
Speaker 2: Wasn't the hurricane raining out three, games and if If Chris sale doesn't get the back, spasms maybe The braves go Into San diego with a trio Of, Sale schwellenbach And lopez and they win that. SERIES i mean that that could have happened instead of throwing POOR. A. J Smith schaufer to The wolves in game one.

00:32:56
Speaker 1: And then and he wasn't, Ready but it wasn't as. FAR i Think i've already seen this on. You i'm in charge of monitoring our YouTube. COMMENTS i care'sually an, ADVENTURE i will, say But i've already seen people, like, well did you not see him In? October he looked. Terrible i'm, like, well he wasn't. Ready they knew he wasn't ready for the, record and they threw out there anyway because they had there was nobody. Else and he's twenty two years. Old, like if you think that he's the guy he was in that start In, OCTOBER i would encourage you to forget about that start In. October doesn't mean it's gonna be. Awesome nothing is. Guaranteed i'm skeptical of prospects in, general BUT i would wipe that start from your. Mind that has nothing to do with anything in my. Opinion so just just a small tangent. There BUT i like WHAT i. See you, Know i'm never going to be as aggressive in projections of like how good he's going to be as some, Mit but, man he did look awesome this. Weekend AND i believe in the. Talent the talent's. Real so AND i think there's too much potential of there being ending is. Available and we do the bell all the, time but there's a reason why we do the bell all the time about how you need, ted you need test starters because you. Do, yeah and hopefully he's healthy enough to make sixteen stars skip to give me the over on. This hopefully we'll be right about the.

00:34:07
Speaker 2: Pick, yeah we'll keep track of. That in six, months you can remind us whether or Not i'll. Forget But aj threw fifteen and a half. STARTS i would also lean on the. Over just to put a bow on. THIS i think Smith shov's stuff is big league ready right. Now he's going to have some learning curves and learning pain as he navigates a every five or six days in the major, leagues whether that's at the start of the year or a couple of weeks or a couple of months. In BUT i do feel like as long as his health, Cooperates Smith shover is gonna throw quite a few winnings for The braves.

00:34:39
Speaker 1: And they're gonna really lean on. Him and we know how good this rotation could.

00:34:43
Speaker 2: Be and if they're gonna have yet another breakout from a young pitcher in this rotation this summer With Smith, shaver oh, BABY i, mean it could be the best rotation in baseball if they get mostly healthy years from these. Guys and that's really exciting to think.

00:34:56
Speaker 5: About, yeah that.

00:34:58
Speaker 1: Actually is quite a bit of. Fun hopefully that will happen in the near. Future before we sign off to do college basketball talk for a minute on this very long episode of the, podcast with some bonus talk at the. End sunday it was a weird day and THAT i even made fun of. It the lineup was about as spring training as you'll ever see a lineup b for The. Braves they basically did not play anyone On sunday short Of Grant, holmes who, started who we already referenced, before pitched pretty well today through five and a third looked Like Grand holmes to, me which is a good thing in my. Opinion BUT i mean it was it was a spring training. LINEUP i had nothing to add about. That there was the prospect kind of game against The, tigers in WHICH i Know Jered richie too turned some heads. TODAY i didn't get to watch, that SO i will raise my hand and say didn't taken to stand any of. That but anything you wanted to add From sunday that wasn't. Art it was kind of a weird. Day it was very much a hangover lineup for the big league.

00:35:51
Speaker 5: Braid.

00:35:52
Speaker 2: Yeah WE i mean those guys have been in spring training for a full month. Now i'm sure everybody in. Camp if you walked around and asked ten, players, hey are you ready for the real. Thing are you ready to get on that airplane and go out To San diego AND la and then play at home Against miami And?

00:36:08
Speaker 1: Philadelphia are you?

00:36:09
Speaker 2: READY i think ninety nine percent of the players would say, yes, Absolutely Dear, god get me out of spring. Training but, YEAH i mean in, TERMS i caught a little bit Of Grant holmes five and the third innings against basically the everyday lineup for The Blue, jays and he was pretty. Good he had some swing and miss three, strikeouts only gave up a run or, two and was not giving up a ton of hard, contact which was encouraging against a pretty Good toronto. Lineup SO i really do think that, Similarly Grant holmes gonna throw a lot of important innings for this. Team they might have to cut back on his innings at some point over the summer to keep him, fresh because again the, THEME i don't know If holmes has thirty starts and one hundred and ninety innings in, him but if he can give him twenty or twenty five starts in one hundred and fifty, innings as long as what we've seen this and last season hold, TRUE i think he's going to be a really valuable arm for The braves and is going to make a lot of important starts and maybe even bullpen appearances at some.

00:37:08
Speaker 1: Time we concur On Grant. Holmes every time his picture is, shared someone makes a laughing comment about his, picture which happened to me. TODAY i shared that kind of joking screenshot of The braves, lineup and someone who is not A braves fan that follows me was, like is that A Kenny powers? Joke AND i was, Like, nope that's how he. Looks that's just him being. Him we Love Grant holmes on this. Podcast.

00:37:31
Speaker 2: Awesome he's got that awesome story too of hanging in the minors for a decade and now he's getting a chance to pitch every fifth day for one of the best teams in. BASEBALL i, mean just such a cool. Story AND i really Hope grant sticks around long enough to make some real money in the majors, too because he deserves, it and then he can get the the best hair products on the on the market with that million dollar pay check he gets one.

00:37:54
Speaker 1: Day, yeah cool, story good, picture and opportunity there for him this year to do some real damage for The. Braves, Okay scott before we hand it off to a bonus once a year discussion of college basketball on this. Podcast we do have a show promotion that you've organized THAT i have dubbed To Beat Scott Colman invitation or whatever we want to call. That but all folks more they can find us and maybe spent some time trying to beat you at a. Competition this will not be hard to do if if you want to fill out A ncaa tournament, Bracket i've set up A Hammer Territory March Madness challenge.

00:38:34
Speaker 2: ON, Espn so go ON. Espn you can also find the link in the YouTube. Notes you can find it in the podcast. NOTES i think we will tweet it out from our own accounts and The Hammer territory account as, well so if you want to, join it's free to.

00:38:48
Speaker 1: Enter the password to join ON espn Is hammer in.

00:38:53
Speaker 2: All capital, letters and we're going to try to get some swag from The Foul territory guys to give the. Winner should be, fun good bad dragging. RIGHTS i know for sure That brad And steven AND i are all in. THERE i think our co Host sean is getting in as, well and hopefully it really is just a fun opportunity for our community to have a little fun competition and see who can put together the best.

00:39:14
Speaker 1: Bracket, yes hopefully one of us on the co host side will do well enough to where we don't all get. Embarrassed but that you, know it's it's a bracket. Challenge there's a lot of there's a lot of. Variants let's just SAY.

00:39:26
Speaker 2: I should give my bracket to my, wife WHO i think has beat me three years in a row in our home. Pool she would do a far better job THAN i and she watches maybe five games a year and it's BECAUSE i drag her to.

00:39:36
Speaker 1: Them so that's, uh you, know that's very on par for the. Course that is how it. Works, okay before we get to the basketball, talk we'll just give THE psa right. Now they'll be an ad break and from that point forward there's nothing about. Baseball so if you like us and want to hear us talk about more, stuff thank you for being. Here there's college basketball fans among us, also thank. You but if you don't want to hang, around no harm To we appreciate you listening and watching the. Show please subscribe To Hammer territory anywhere you find your Podcast we're On, Apple we're On, Spotify Amazon, music all those. Places plus we're on, YouTube so like the video. There if you are a YouTube, watcher primarily thank. You also please subscribe for us on audio platform and vice versa if you are a audio. Listener we have more of those because it's been an audio show for a long. Time it would do us a solid to just go ahead and smash it's one, click just just to follow Slash subscribe on YouTube would be awesome. Too we appreciate all the. Support follow us on socials as. Well Follow, scott follow, me, etcetera. Etcetera you know the, Deal Scott nimber baseball talk before we set off this. Thing nothing to, Add.

00:40:39
Speaker 2: Brad hopefully a good final week of spring training down In florida and then a couple of games In arizona and then real baseball.

00:40:45
Speaker 1: Counts we're almost, there all, Right everybody a break, now and then we'll come back with our Guys shan And steve and on a four way once a year basketball. Extravaganza stay tuned for.

00:40:57
Speaker 5: That all.

00:40:59
Speaker 1: Right we are back with a first ever attempt at a four man. Discussion and we should also SAY i KNOW i said it once. Already if you are not interested in college basketball or you just don't like us individually that, much no more bripstalk on this. Podcast this is the one and only time all year long we just sign. Off we stopped Doing braves. Coverage but so if you miss that disclaimer already one more, TIME i promise you at the end of the, Podcast we're not coming back with more. Bripstalk it's just gonna be college basketball from this point. Forward So scott AND i have already been. Talking Sean coleman is, Here Steven tolder is, here all four of us on the same, podcast which WOULD i guess appropriately is about college, basketball not about. Baseball, hi, guys, Welcome, Hello, Hello hello.

00:41:41
Speaker 6: Boys first time ever for a four man, show and we're not even talking About.

00:41:44
Speaker 1: Braves you have a long.

00:41:45
Speaker 7: Time you have to bring all four of us together when we all have preferences for four different teams instead of having the preference for the same. Team that's what brings us.

00:41:54
Speaker 1: Together, yeah this is actually. Weird if you're watching on, YouTube and you may not, be but if you, are we're one up to screen like entirely like it's just for the quad box As Scott hansen would, say, yeah we all have our own allegiances in college, basketball and this year in an interesting twist for pretty good basketball teams not a, given especially with regards to the team That i've. Follow it's been a roller, coaster including last. Season but if people don't know, This i'll speak myself. First i'm A michigan fan because of family. Reasons, SCOTT i will let you talk about your team briefly because you work there and.

00:42:31
Speaker 2: EVERYTHING i am A university Of arizona alum. Proudly it's been a tough couple of, years a couple of decades since the Last Final four, Run but damn, it maybe this is our. Year probably, not it could Be.

00:42:46
Speaker 6: Steven, YEAH i grew up about thirty minutes away From, tuscaloosa and So i've been An alabama fan since. Birth huge college basketball. Fan those two things normally don't, coincide but ever Since NATO's showed up a few years, ago they've had a pretty good squad and you, know same this year as a two. Seeds so, YEAH i love the sport as, well after, baseball it's probably my favorite. Sports so having a Good alabama team is unbelievable and it's hilarious that all four of us have top four or five seeds in the.

00:43:20
Speaker 1: TOURNAMENT i WAS i was gonna say if, you if anyone listening has listened to particularly The coln And tolbert version of this, podcast you would certainly have heard some reference at some point to the rivalry between the two of, them Because sean is a fan of a team that is not the fan of the same team Of. Stevens, sean go, ahead, there it is watching. YouTube just look at you flip this hat around rock to reveal his.

00:43:44
Speaker 7: Allegiance Rocky top will always be, homeless sweet home to. Me and as the fan here of the team that's won the most recent national championship in the three big sports when it comes to collegiate, sports and also right now can claim can claim that their athletics program is at the top of the. Mountain of the four teams who we cheer four here.

00:44:08
Speaker 5: Of, Balls go.

00:44:09
Speaker 1: BALLS i love how you swung in the three better college. SPORTS i Think scotts. GLUE i Watched scott's, like what's the third? One scott's, like what's the third? Sports talking about about?

00:44:20
Speaker 7: Baseball and the balls are the rading national.

00:44:22
Speaker 2: Championships arizona won The College World series about twelve years, ago and they were runners up like seven years.

00:44:29
Speaker 1: Ago so we have a great. Program what is?

00:44:31
Speaker 7: THIS i never said anything about the about the how great we have the best program right? Now best PROGRAMS i could tell.

00:44:41
Speaker 1: YOU i can tell you one. Thing michigan has the worst program of the four team representative. HERE i don't, know but, well no one cares about college baseball In. MICHIGAN i can assure you of.

00:44:51
Speaker 7: That bama does have. Lebron so that's the thing you got going.

00:44:55
Speaker 6: FOR i don't know what that.

00:44:57
Speaker 1: Means, okay we're we're already off the. Rails it's appropriate in an attempt to not do an hour on college, basketball because then we'll get fired by our. Bosses how do you want TO i guess we can go around and give Some, okay let's let's do. This let's make our final four picks individually and also for more fun than just, that maybe a sleeper in every, region or maybe your favorite like upset pick in the first, rounte, like give you one other thing other than your final four, picks and we just our leader, says you can pick your own. Team i'm not thinking my own team Because i'm a. Realist it's like the most on brand thing in the. World my team will not be among the four picks for final four. Teams does anyone want to volunteer to go? First nobody else wants? To, yeah the Beat Scott Coleman. Invitational and speaking of we, do we do have ON espn a free to join bracket.

00:45:51
Speaker 2: Challenge so if you're a listener and you want to submit your, bracket and you want to make all of us look like big, dummies please submit your. Picks we're gonna work on and some swag to give away for whoever, Wins so please. Do it's in the show notes on YouTube and for your podcast, feed and we'll tweet it out and all that good. Stuff but, again it's ON. Espn Hammer territory For braves fans is the name of the. Challenge my final four It's. CHALKY i, MEAN i think the top of college basketball is just so so good this, year maybe like a historic group of one. SEEDS i Have Michigan state actually coming out of The. SOUTH i HAVE i Have florida coming out of The. WEST i Have houston coming out of The, midwest AND i Have duke coming out of The, east.

00:46:42
Speaker 1: So three ones and a. TWO i know it is, boring BUT i really do feel like this is a Chalky chalker center. There, wow there's chalk out. Fail there's always.

00:46:52
Speaker 2: Upsets it's what Makes March madness in THE Ncaa tournament the best sporting event in the world as far As i'm.

00:46:57
Speaker 1: Concerned always going to be.

00:46:59
Speaker 2: Upsets but at the end of the, day no matter what teams get knocked off, EARLY i feel like the ones in the two seeds are gonna go pretty far across the. Board but of course when half of them are eliminated by this time in a, week everybody can laugh at.

00:47:12
Speaker 1: Me, YEAH i, MEAN i guess it's the safe thing to do is to pick the top seeds because they're the best. Teams breaking news. Everybody top seats usually the best. Teams BUT i hope you're wrong just for fun, purposes you, KNOW i just, enjoyed you, know oh before we see up somebody. ELSE i actually have to ask this question to the field, here where do you stand on do you Want cinderella's or? Not because there's the whole debate about how like they're really fun for the first couple of, days and then when you get to the second, weekend if they're still, there it's, like oh, crap now we're watching the twelve seeds play in the second. Weekend are you guys Still? Cinderella are you guys Per? Cinderella?

00:47:50
Speaker 6: NO i have a hot, tet LIKE i can't STAND i, honestly you know what's better Than david Versus, Goliath like ninety nine percent of the time Is goliath Versus. Goliath that's almost always a better, game you. Know every time there's A cinderella and they finally go up against like a one seed and they lose by like, Thirty, LIKE i don't want that to be the final. FOUR i want to see two awesome team LIKE i know everybody loves like when the twelve seed makes a run or the eleven. SEED i don't as. MUCH i get the fun of, it BUT i want to get to the end AND i want to See duke Versus florida or. Something you, KNOW i want to.

00:48:26
Speaker 1: See two just. Wow Bamafen's bama fens hits benefit says he wants to See duke Versus, florida AND.

00:48:31
Speaker 6: I would rather see that Than duke versus McNeese state or.

00:48:35
Speaker 1: WHATEVER i strongly. Disagree i'd love to see. It that's where we get And i'll be The i'll be there. Too be The rays would be bad if they're in the. Game go, Ahead. Sean.

00:48:46
Speaker 7: Yeah we talked about it during baseball, season right you, Know, cleveland you, know was having a surprise run there and they were going against The, yankees and everybody was talking, about you know what If cleveland could make, it you, know over The yankees because The dodgers looked like they were pretty much going to make. It and the answer is. Not you, KNOW i love seeing a team like A cleveland have the, success but we get it so, Rarely like when you see these. Matchups we usually get it To march here in recent. Years but the idea of in baseball where you had One soto And Aaron judge Versus Freddie, Freeman Muky betts as well As Shoe hey O, tani that's the stars of the. Stars you want to see those guys matching. Up BUT i know that we've seen it all year. Long when it comes to THE, sec let's get the opportunity to see THESE sec schools Against big ten schools against you, know you, know other other, CONFERENCES acc, schools what have. You, yes THE sec has been the best conference in basketball this. Year but let's see how other teams match up against. Them that's WHAT i want to.

00:49:40
Speaker 1: See so all, Right, scott let's you have a, disagreement we can keep it rolling. Here BUT i GENERALLY i like the early round.

00:49:49
Speaker 2: CINDERELLAS i love THE i mean of thirteen losing two or beating a four or a even like the. Fifteen beating the two is every now and then is, okay but especially once we get to the sweet sixteen and. BEYOND i want the best teams to play each, other you, know LIKE Nc state last year had an awesome, Run but was that one of the four best teams in the.

00:50:10
Speaker 1: Country, No and that's that's the way the ball.

00:50:12
Speaker 2: Bounces sometimes it's a funny, game a bunch of eighteen to twenty three year olds playing a forty minute basketball team. Game the best team does not always. Win but give me a couple of twelve and thirteen upsets. Early but for the most, PART i like the ones and the twos and the, threes you, know as we get deeper into the. Tournament all, right my curve ball is going to BE i would like One cinderella and not more than. One i've, covered LIKE i Think i've covered six point fours in a row in, person maybe seven actually in a row in. Person and the worst the worst ones are when there are when neither game is, good like when neither game is like a heavyweight, fight you could take, One LIKE i don't really want to see Wherever cinderella this. Year if they have to face Like, duke that's going to be bad Because duke's for the talented for, Instance but LIKE i, COULD i can do It david Versus goliath matchup once what you don't want a couple of like last year for, instance it wasn't anybody's.

00:51:07
Speaker 1: Fault but you can't. Look i've actually Seen yukon play a million times in the last two years BECAUSE i actually was just at their region and then at the final, four they just have blurred at everyone in their. Path it wasn't a lot of. Fun, honestly they were really. Good didn't really enjoy.

00:51:21
Speaker 6: It so uh Hey, Bama bama kept that game within five to like the last it. Was it was it was.

00:51:27
Speaker 1: COMPETITIVE i will say that was the best game that was the most competitive game that that they that they.

00:51:30
Speaker 6: PLAYED i pride myself to sleep that.

00:51:33
Speaker 7: NIGHT i will say this, year, Though i'm really really hoping that The cinderella that we talk about Is Robert, morris that that just for some reason that is my Favorite, cinderella uh, period Is Robert morris for this.

00:51:47
Speaker 1: Year Bobby, Bobby bobby mo, Uh Robert morris some more some are somewhere every Every kentucky fan is is recoiling right now at the thought Of Robert. Morris and they played them. Once it didn't go. Well, okay let's. Resume, Uh scottlardy Gave scottardy gift. Picks let's uh you know What Sean sean wants to go? Next go, ahead give, me give me your final four and Whatever sleepers and things you.

00:52:09
Speaker 7: Like all, Right i'm gonna Go Chalky chockerson as. Well I'M i, think, YEAH i, KNOW i, KNOW i. Know i'm going To, Auburn, florida And i'm going to, balls AND i think.

00:52:22
Speaker 1: Teams homer homerrific for this. PODCAST i, LIKE i like to see. That that's. Good somebody should do.

00:52:26
Speaker 5: That, Yeah i'm picking the. Balls i'm gonna Go homer.

00:52:29
Speaker 7: There BUT i think at the end.

00:52:31
Speaker 6: Of you have to score points to. Win at some point we.

00:52:34
Speaker 7: Do we scored seventy nine when we played, y'all and y'all only scored seventy, Six so we know how to score.

00:52:40
Speaker 5: Points by the, way would you play for a title that he? Didn't? Okay any Of the thing That i'll.

00:52:45
Speaker 1: Say is you lost by like fifteen. POINTS i, KNOW i got, YOU i got you.

00:52:49
Speaker 7: Know it's, fine it's. Fine but the people who actually play for championships are talking right. Now AnyWho do Versus see and then Obviously auburn Versus, FLORIDA i Think florida.

00:52:58
Speaker 5: Is gonna win it.

00:52:59
Speaker 7: ALL i think That florida to To stevens point all joking, aside this is The valls kryptonite every. Year to, me it's the ability to consistently. Score it's not just about being able to score, eighty score. Ninety it's the ability to avoid going those three four five minutes stretches where you can't. Score AND i Think florida is about the best that we've seen in recent history at being able to do. THAT i think their ceiling probably talks about just about. Anyone So i'm gonna Go florida Versus auburn in their final four, Matchup duke Versus, Tennessee florida Versus.

00:53:28
Speaker 5: DUKE i Think florida wins it, all and.

00:53:30
Speaker 7: That's very hard for me to.

00:53:31
Speaker 5: Say they're just a damn impressive.

00:53:33
Speaker 1: Team, Yeah florida wins it off on the Tennis, evan that's gonna be. Painful it, is, Okay, Stephen i'll go last BECAUSE i haven't actually made that picked yet BECAUSE i was covering a basketball, game So i'm still looking at things while we're. Talking but go, Ahead. Steven, yeah it's a little too.

00:53:48
Speaker 6: CHALK i, MEAN i get, it but it's like last. YEAR i didn't want to Pick, yukon SO i try to find anybody other Than. YUKON i Think florida is the best team in the, country But i'm not gonna pick them to win just BECAUSE i think that's. Boring So i'm gonna Take Iowa state takes Down. AUBURN i don't actually believe that's gonna. Happen, Actually Iowa state just had a pretty big injury. Today are are reported pretty big injury. Today But i'm gonna Pick Iowa state to take Down. Auburn i'm gonna Take gonzaga to take Down tennessee for that next.

00:54:24
Speaker 1: Spot.

00:54:24
Speaker 6: Uh gonzaga is an eight, seed, which, listen the seeding of this tournament is a disaster at. Times gonzaga is a top Ten Ken pomp.

00:54:33
Speaker 1: Team yeah there night the kem eight seed is always a fun.

00:54:37
Speaker 6: Combination So houston their their reward for being a one seed Is they're probably gonna Get gonzaga in the second, round which is just A. TRAVIS i, mean that should be like a final four, game And houston's gotta play in the second. Round So i'm actually gonna Take gonzaga in that region just to be. DIFFERENT i HAVE i do Have duke BECAUSE i Think duke's offensive, defensive their efficiency on both sides of the is actually absurd for how young they. Are and SO i am gonna Take i'm gonna Take, duke and Then i'm gonna Take florida as my other for my final, four and THEN i do Have. Duke, UNFORTUNATELY i Have duke winning it. ALL i would love to have somebody more interesting than, that BUT i you don't often see teams be so unbelievably efficient on offense and defense the way That duke, is and If Cooper flag's, okay THEN i think they're the best team in the, country AND i Think florida's got a. Chance But i'm gonna go with The. Duchies, unfortunately it hurts my heart to do.

00:55:38
Speaker 1: It, yeah Provided, yeah there are lots of injuries. Here The cooper flag was the biggest, one BUT i said it's got, One houston's got. One there's a couple of other teams that Are Grant. Nelson Grant nelson's banged, up Making steven very sad right. Now fun, fact last year after The Final, FOUR i was on a plane AND i was sitting right Behind Grant.

00:55:59
Speaker 6: Nelson you can always tell by the.

00:56:01
Speaker 1: Mustache, yes also he's quite. Tall that's just that's my. One my one and Only Grant nelson interaction was that he sat run for a minute Playing, Okay i'll give my picks very very well researched in the last seven minutes while, Talking so that's going to be. GOOD i do watch a lot of college. Basketball, Uh steven stole My south PICK i was gonna. TAKE i, WAS i Was. STATE i THINK i still have no you know, What i'm not gonna do. It i'm Taking texas a AND. M how about. That oh that's spicy off the RADAR sec. PICK i liked. IT i LIKE i Like Waye taylor the Fourth i'm a. Fan Hopefully i'm wrong about that because that because they have to Be michigan in the second. Round BUT i would like to be, wrong BUT i will Take TEXAS a AND. M that was that was my that was my weird. Region no matter. What auburn's not playing very well right. Now By auburn was incredible for the first four months and now they have not played very. Well now obviously that doesn't mean they won't play well starting this. Week And Shawn's shawn's at the plays straight now If i'll watch us on, YouTube you lose To tennessee in the.

00:57:04
Speaker 5: Tournament, oh you're not playing? Well oh that's that's.

00:57:07
Speaker 1: That's it wasn't it was it wasn't wasn't just that wasn't it? That, uh they've lost three of the last four, Games, steven.

00:57:14
Speaker 6: And they almost Lost they almost Lost All miss in the first round of THE sec.

00:57:18
Speaker 5: Tournament we don't talk about. Losses Stole Miss.

00:57:22
Speaker 1: Okay, uh that's so that's the weird. Region because did you all Take? FLORIDA i think you all Took, florida, RIGHT i. Did, YES i am not going to Take. FLORIDA i am going to Take Texas. Tech in The. WEST i like them a. Lot Texas tech's are really, really really.

00:57:41
Speaker 2: Good if you're IF i had to pick a non one or two seed to go all the, WAY i might Pick Texas.

00:57:46
Speaker 1: Tech they are. Awesome they're very. Good and Also Saint John's ricketino was like the best quach of all, time SO i would not be surprised, if, Say john's made the thought of.

00:57:55
Speaker 6: Four And, Florida florida is probably gonna Get yukon in the second.

00:57:58
Speaker 1: Round just, YEAH i mean four is really good. Too, Obviously i'm just trying to Get i'm trying to be a little weird because you guys were so. Chalky all. Right in The, Midwest I'm Jackie, houston even THOUGH i was so prepared to take A zagia to go to the final. Four but they're Playing houston in the second, round which is like makes me very sad Because i'm like a big At zaga guy and NOW i can't do it because they're Playing, houston WHO i. Love and then in The, EAST i am going to Take. Duke with apologies to my two co hosts who have teams in that. Region, yeah and my national champion is The Houston. Cougars shout To Kelvin. Sampson they're gonna miss the Team.

00:58:41
Speaker 2: Houston when you Watch, houston if folks haven't seen a ton of, them they're never like super flashy or super. Impressive and then they, win and they win every single. Game they've lost one game in three months and it was by two. POINTS i, mean they are a, machine and they can really shoot the. Ball to the last couple of, Years houston and was dreadful, offensively but they're one of the best three point shooting teams in the. Country and then they make life just miserable for you when you're trying to.

00:59:08
Speaker 1: Score and you, KNOW i.

00:59:09
Speaker 2: Think Almost houston is somehow kind of underrated With florida being ungodly hot And auburn being so good for most of the year And duke being. LOADED i, mean it's weird to say a team that's been number one or number two in the computers basically the entire season In houston.

00:59:26
Speaker 1: Is underrated or under the radar a little. Bit but they could totally cut down the Nets my Favorite houston stat is go go go. Ahead.

00:59:34
Speaker 7: NOW i was about to say they don't do it with big, names, right like they do it with really good college players like and they do it every.

00:59:42
Speaker 5: Year that's what makes them so. Good they're fun to.

00:59:44
Speaker 1: Watch my Favorite houston stat is, this they have four losses this. Season scott just said they have won thirteen in a. ROW i think it is they have four. Losses three of them are in. Overtime one was to, say, yes what was to? Be they've lost one game regulation all year and it was On november, ninth and it was To auburn by five. Points so they have zero bad. Losses you're not even not even, bad nothing approaching a bad loss on their on their. SCHEDULE i think that's why they're all really, good and they were all.

01:00:15
Speaker 6: CLOSE i think that's why they've gone on to The raiders because they lost To alabama And auburn at the beginning of the year and so everybody kind of put them behind like the SEC's best. TEAMS i actually, agree Like houston is one of those teams that's burned me enough times in the tournament THAT i.

01:00:28
Speaker 1: They've they've burned. Everyone that's. FUNNY i feel Like I'm i'm Because i'm so you guys know, Me i'm so. RATIONAL i always end up Picking houston And gonzaga because people are so. IRRATIONAL a While Houston gonzaga And i'm, like they're actually still good, guys they just haven't done the thing to that. Point, Houston houston.

01:00:45
Speaker 6: And Rick barnes. Teams no offense, shown But houston And Rick barnes teams have burned that burnt me more times THAN i can't and honestly before last, Year. Purdue purdue is in that group.

01:00:57
Speaker 1: Too if you're not watching on, YouTube you should be on occasion just to See sean's. Face AM i wrong About Rich? Bartin AM i wrong about? You you're not?

01:01:03
Speaker 7: Wrong but LIKE i, SAY i. Died i'm hoping for for for a different story this. Year But Brad, ROWLAND i do have to ask you a. Question i've been waiting to ask you a question BECAUSE i just answer on this. Question Take, Cooper flagg and AND I broom all those guys out of the. Equation two or three names who you think people will get to know during this? Tournament not from AN nba draft, perspective but just a couple of names who you think will be Those march heroes that we always.

01:01:29
Speaker 5: See come out of the blue this? Year who got any names to watch out?

01:01:33
Speaker 1: For? WELL i Picked also this is of, course it depends on how much of A sico you are with college, Basketball, like for, INSTANCE i Picked Texas. TECH J. T toppin is like an as An All american level. Player he's not like off the, radar but he's not a huge name for like a casual. Observer BUT. J. T toppin is really, really really. Good h is their best. Player that's ONE i would, Say who else DO i? Pick just SO i can stay true to my OH i get? Text sam M Waye taylor of the fourth is like one hundred years. OLD i think it's a fifth year senior guard For texas gard For TEXAS a AND. M you, Know duke's got guys that Are Dot cooper flag like Kan kanepple is gonna be a lottery. Pick he's like their third best. Player LIKE i really Like conkappel probably gonna, be LIKE i, said, uh lottery pick kind of. Guy there's draft people, Too like there's draft players and then there's college players Like tennessee, Example Zi kai Is eagler really like, him not a draft, guy really really good college basketball, Player Mark sears to use an Elebam Mark siars probably gonna be gonna be a GREAT nba, player really awesome college. Player so like there's name and seriously not, new neither the. Guys those guys have been on for a long. Time but, Yeah i'm trying to think of another. SLEEPER i Could, oh, okay, hm, hmmm we'll do uh because who WoT Michions, states Pitt Michigan stay and and maybe. CRINGE i don't Want Michigan. State but my final, Four Jace richardson is not an all. Three our name for draft people Is Jason richardson's. Son he's he's a freshman On Michigan state and What but basically from the time he became their best, Player Michigan state has been awesome because they basically announced like he's he's our, guy like he's gonna be our guy, now and he's is a literally said, that and THEY i think they're like seventeen to two cents then or something like. That they're they're really, really really good and it makes me, sad but that's the.

01:03:22
Speaker 6: One, YEAH i would throw no a lot of people Know I'm, marty But Cam, jones, yes, Yes oh is just one of the most fun players in college bus.

01:03:31
Speaker 1: Monster college basketball, player monster. College he's A marquette by the, way if you don't know, better But.

01:03:35
Speaker 7: Marquette he Helps marquette get Past Michigan. State like we're talking To, march performance could start to put him into the teams in THE Nba, Draft.

01:03:43
Speaker 1: Like oh, yeah there's a bunch of those guys like you, Know Derreck queen On. Maryland if they make a, Run queen's gonna be a top twenty pick. Anyway but as an awesome college player already as a, FRESHMAN i could just name. Names but you, Know wisconsin who just Lost michigan? Today just say, That, wow just Lost michigan today on national. Television John tanji is one of the craziest stories you've ever. Seen he was like the one hundredth rated transfer last year on twenty four Seven, sports and he's literally An All american this. Year Adam nowhere like this guy that no one had ever heard, of basically is the best player In. Wisconsin so there's just stories all over the. Place but the good thing That march baddest is that it gives you everything that you would, want no matter what you. Want, basically if you're a college basketball sickle like, us it's just awesome wall to. Wall if you're a draft, person there are. Prospects if you just want something to talk about or bet, on or do A brocket pool, on, obviously this is like an epic event to do. That if you want to just skip out on Work thursday And, friday it just has something on you can do.

01:04:43
Speaker 6: That So, brad let me ask you, this how do you feel About michigan being like the most popular five twelve.

01:04:49
Speaker 1: UPSET i feel good about that BECAUSE i tend to think that the obvious one usually. Loses BUT i say that all the way till, NOW i Think michigan got pretty, well what's the nicer word than screwed THAT i could, Use i'll just say that's. Right They. Michigan we all talked about this before we started. Recording the committee very just like pretty much announces now that they don't care about anything that happens On sunday or Even, saturday sometimes on the on the weekend of the of the. Selection But michigan won The Big Ten tournament beat three good teams in a row to do, it and and their prize was a five seed and they have to go play On thursday on The West coast against the best twelve. Seed congratulations To michigan on, that but, hey maybe maybe we'll. Win but, Uh i'd be more mad IF i Thought michigan was gonna win the championship or something like. THAT i never thought they, did, so, like they're just a good. Story So i'm not as bad AS i would be IF i was one of you guys AND i had like expectations this, YEAR i would be more upset THAN i. Am but it was not the greatest, thing.

01:05:47
Speaker 6: Well scott Saying Scott Scott putter out On. Twitter but Like memphis got a five seed despite the fact That memphis was LIKE i think in THE i don't think Miss memphis was in the top fifty Of Ken. Palm they got a five seed and they're.

01:06:01
Speaker 1: Playing, yeah they're fifty or fifty.

01:06:03
Speaker 6: One it comes, Home, yeah members Playing Colorado state's favored as the twelve.

01:06:07
Speaker 1: Seed and they point and a. Half, Yeah and that does happen sometimes in five. FOOLS i think miss on a two a half but, favorite that makes. Sense but, yeah, no and one of the things about the, bracket AND i promise we'll stop talking, now but uh is like if when you miss, SEED i think see talk about earlier with the it's it's the teams that you have to play that get really the short end of the stick. There like so when you See San diego gets, underseated or When memphis gets overseeded or, whatever when, uh we'll choose one of your teams for, Instance i'm trying to give it one of your team, example is there one this? Year? Yeah maybe If tennessee has to play Like illinois And indianapolis or something like, that it's one of those like Goot zaga being gozag cound be an eight. Seed That's Scruce houston more than like, Anything like they'll play a top ten team in second round is number.

01:06:51
Speaker 2: One If, Luil though can win its first round, game they're basically playing a home game against the top overall seed In.

01:06:57
Speaker 1: Lexington, yeah, crazy good. LUCK i mean that that's a rough for being the number one overall.

01:07:03
Speaker 2: Seed that THAT'S i, mean that's not an easy draw any, mean sometimes the number one overall, seed you look at it and it's like these guys could could blindfold their way to a final. Four but that's that's a really tough draw right out of the.

01:07:14
Speaker 1: Gun as soon As louisville got announced is an eight, seed everybody's, like, whoa acc might be into trouble, here but you would see still got it. Somehow apologies TO uc. FANS i don't know why they're in the, tournament but that's just one man's. Opinion anybody else have anything to add before we sign off.

01:07:30
Speaker 2: On the, record because we've talked a. Lot your championship game and your, Winner, brad who did you?

01:07:38
Speaker 1: Pick? UH i Picked. HOUSTON i didn't say WHAT i picked them. OVER i will Say houston Over.

01:07:46
Speaker 7: Texas Teck, Sean, YEAH i Said florida Over, duke but At tendessee winds up making.

01:07:53
Speaker 5: It i'm claiming.

01:07:54
Speaker 1: Them, steven Why? Steven?

01:07:59
Speaker 6: So, YEAH i Have florida And duke in the title, game BUT i have Good zaga In Ohio state in my final. Four But Florida duke title. Game duke went in the National.

01:08:10
Speaker 1: Church should you Say Ohio state in your final? Four THEN i SAW i Meant. Iowa IF i Sat Iowa, state, okay got?

01:08:17
Speaker 5: You got.

01:08:17
Speaker 1: You we don't need any more o'hi to state. Anything just get, them get them all the way out of. Here i'm all set with. Them, okay one, more one more Plug before before The scott was gonna do, anyway but. URNAM a challenge is. Available lake is in the show, notes whether it be on audio or on. YouTube it's also on social. Media if you follow any of, us we will have all shared it by that Or Hammer, Territory so jump in. There obviously it's not there's no cost to. It there are more high profile bracket challenges if you want to enter. Them but if you want to Beat Scott, COLEMAN i tried to have that be Called Beat Scott. COLEMAN i THINK i THINK i think people would try to get in more.

01:08:53
Speaker 5: If that was the.

01:08:53
Speaker 1: Case but it's gott. ALL i could change the. Name maybe we'll set it to like A twitter. TICKET i think it's too.

01:08:59
Speaker 2: Late if everybody promises to subscribe to our YouTube channel and subscribe on the podcast if they don't, ALREADY i will change the name.

01:09:07
Speaker 1: To The Beat Scott Coleman. Invitational if we get a thousand more YouTube subscribers in the next three, days we'll change. It so that's that's a challenge everyone listening to the. Podcast, gentlemen thank you for doing. This it's. Funny we could literally do two hours on this very easily if we wanted. To, YEAH i said that with one hundred percent. Confidence and we just turned the mic on and we're, like not worried about. Time we already thirty, minutes which is absurd on this So apollo just everybody listening to the, podcast but it would have been two hours if we kept. Going Sean Steven, scott thank. You if you're still, here everybody you're alread, Subscribe i'm. Sure but if you're not, subscribe we'll tell your. Friends we'll have more baseball talk later on this. Week we'll see everybody next.

01:09:48
Speaker 5: Time