Roki Sasaki Week is Here & Wild Card Weekend Recap

technically the fifteenth. That one's always thrown me off. How do you say that?

that in a second. But if the Yankee signed Roky Saki, they probably they're definitely training Marcus Stroman, which we've dreamt of as part of their offseason anyways.

so I kind of get it. We were at the airport.

both sides. With the Dodgers, you know, would you want to be with two other stars of Japan with shohe who's the star of the world, and Yamamoto, you know, and there's other teams that also have Japanese stars. The Cubs they have Saya and Nimnaga. The Padres have you

Darvish that supposedly is idol. So there's you can start stripping it either way, and it just depends who the person is, Like, does he, you know, does he want to travel and eat dinners with people he could easily communicate with and kind of grow grew up with and knows a little bit. Yeah, I could absolutely see that. Does he want to be his own star? The New York Yankees haven't signed a Japanese player, uh since Masahiro Tanaka.

So if he thinks he's the guy and he wants to come to New York and do the whole thing, whoa, I mean, he will have eyeballs on him and an exciting, riveted fan base coming off the World Series. And you know, quote unquote losing Soto, I guess I didn't need a quote unquo quote that felt Yankee Fanish. We did lose Soto, and that's fine. We went to different directions. But Roki would really cover up that wound. And so the other

teams in play. I mentioned the Cubs, Blue Jays supposedly are in play on everyone, the Texas Rangers, there's one or two others. We'll see what it'll come down to. And it's just interesting. What does he want? Is the being on the West coast matter like it has for a lot of Japanese baseball players because the need like to think it's San Diego and the Dodgers for San Diego, I mean for the nightmare of the offseason slash what their team is turning into as they're fighting for ownership.

They haven't made really any transactions this offseason. Getting six years of a cost controlled potential ACE would be massive for them. This was the team that was up two to one against those Dodgers with a chance to beat them in the division series. That their offseason would almost

be complete, like incredible. So let's see what happens. Uh. The potential signing could start, like I said, midnight on Wednesday, which is the end of Tuesday for a lot of people, and then that opens up an eight day window for him to sign. So we will be getting that news coming up. The thing that is fun and It's part of the reason I've talked myself into the Yankees a little bit. And I have to preface this, and I think this was already like clipped out and stuff. So

if Socials is in here, chill out, yo. That Like, if it's not the Dodgers, which it could be the Dogs, it could be a layup. The Dodgers are crushing, they just won the World Series. Show has there seems like he's having a blastyam mootos there seem like he's having a good time. It's a squad, You're gonna be really good.

They've been a pitching factory. That, Yeah, this could all be for not if you will, if it's not the Dodgers, because the other side of that, say, he wants to be his own star, and let's say he doesn't want to be like the sixth guy in a rotation. Maybe he wants to be the dude that if these other teams are in play San Diego, sure you, Darvish is there. Apparently that's his idol. West Coast cool all about it. Only problem is what are the Padres going to be?

That's a really tough division. What's going on with the ownership group? Are they gonna spend more money. Is their money spent like what as a pitching As far as a pitching factory go, I mean San Diego has been fine. I don't think when you think of the teams that jump to mind, I don't think San Diego jumps to the forefront. I mean they've had strong pitching in general. They are like good at player development. I'm not sure if that reputation. I'm not sure if that.

money's at in two years. Instead, he's going through the grind five to six years MLB ball, and then he will hit free agency proper or get a contract that he's looking for one of these teams at age twenty nine or something like that, and who knows where money's at then, So if he plays his cards right, look at Showhy slightly different, but he played his card right, cards right and got seven hundred mil, which never really made sense, but it did. And now Sodo's getting more money.

So maybe that's the play. And I think you'd want to be an environment that you know we're going to be playing good baseball, and that's where I think the Yankees do have a legitimate chance.

done a great job. I mean Clay Holmes was a throw in for a quadruple a player of sorts and they turned him into a closer for a couple of years. Should he have been the closer. That's a discussion for another time. But it's the point of they definitely can hit the pitching. They have done well tapping into pitchers. They're going to be a good baseball team. And some of the other teams on the list, I don't know what I can guarantee you. So it's probably the Dodgers.

I think the Padres are even second in the clubhouse, but I think the Yankees are there, and then like Cubs. Hey, maybe this is their ace in the hole. Maybe his boys with Imanaga and Suzuki. He's heard great things about Chicago in the summertime.

with the Orioles, no connections to Baltimore. I don't know how he felt about the city going in. Maybe he's a Ravens guy, maybe like Sterrick Henry. He didn't say that. He said he hit it off with their pitching crew, like their pitching department. So we could see one of those come out of the woodwork that maybe he wants to be at a stadium that fits his pitching style the best, the right coaches, the right teammates. It's gonna be exciting and it is one of the more impactful

moves of this free agency. So that'll drop this week. The other one, like I mentioned, Jeff Hoffman signed with the Blue Jays.

in baseball that he definitely hit that. Okay, former starter, more success as a reliever, has a pitch mix. Can we make him a starter? So we'll see what Toronto does with that. They do have somewhat full rotation. You're gonna use Jeff Hoffman. Fangrafts currently has him listed in the bullpen, and I would wonder what came back with his shoulder injury review, because the URLs supposedly offered him forty million dollars and he turned that down, and they

have a little bit of a history of that. Dalton was running hot in the streets this morning talking about how they've turned down over the years. Let's see, I just had the listen Gai Air Jurgens. Of course in twenty thirteen, Grant Ball four, Tyler, Colvin Bronson, Arroyo, Giovanni Gallardo. I mean, a lot of those are close to a decade old, so I wouldn't say it's a trend. But yeah, he gets three years for thirty three. He was hoping

to get around three for thirty eight. That's what Clay Holmes got, as the Mets are going to try to convert him while also using him in the bullpen, similar to Jordan Hicks the previous year. A couple funny connections, Jeff Hoffman got the same exact contract as Robert Stevenson got a couple of years ago. They were traded for each other at one point, and Jeff Hoffman and Jordan Romano changed teams and similar deals. So the former closer of the Blue Jays goes over to Philly, the reliever

for the Phillies goes over to Toronto. Uh, they get a move in and for Baltimore, it's interesting to know they think they need more pitching, And again, how are they gonna use Jeff Hoffman in a swing roll maybe start to start the year and end up in the bullpen instead? They audible to Andrew Kittridge, former Raise reliever pitch really well for Saint Louis last year. He got a real contract to pitch for them ten mil, nine mil something like that. So yeah, so the Orioles a

couple alies pitching moves. The Baltimore Orioles, who I continue to talk myself in and out of every day because I do value having a lockdown closer and Felix Bautista coming back. He was that in a very special way when he pitched for them. Now with Kittridge, they add the Philly guys, Sir Anthony Dominguez, Gregory Soto, Yenny your Cano is in there. Keegan Aiken had a good year. The Oriols have a nice bullpen. They have enough starting options that something should be figured out there that I

all this excitement over the Boston Red Sox. I think Oriole's excitement is going to pick up. Let's see what happens with Santan Dare and free agency, but I think Baltimore is gonna be back this year in Toronto. Speaking of Santander, what else are they gonna do to try to help out Bow and Vladdie for one more year again? You can partially talk yourself into their rotation. You could partially talk yourself into their bullpen. The lineup you kind

of can't right now. But if Laddie can be MVP of Laddie, if Bashett can bounce back one or two other pieces in that lineup could make it impactful. Good for Jeff Offman, currently listed as the closer for your Toronto Blue Jay, so let's see how they roll him out for next season. That's kind of your baseball what's up in the streets for now, still waiting on Pete Braggy Santander, has Soong, Kim, Jack Flaherty sures are. There's a couple other pitchers out there full pension Piveta of course,

and some more bullpen arms. So as we a month to go or so till pitchers and catchers, jerks and profar will not be left out unless he is. Let's see what comes with that. But it's time to talk football people. It was a massive football weekend for some the best football weekend of the year. I would argue this upcoming weekend, wild card weekend usually has a few blowouts, and we saw that and you'll get the college notional title National title game. Is that how you talk, Jake

uh kind of? That kind is how I talk. Let's do NFL first, because I think people probably care about that a little more. Although it's not in chronological order, you know that stings.

zero six in a touchdown. The Texans day was awesome. They were all over Herbert and and they just took control of this game and a proud kind of Texans franchise at home dogs and Rex Ryan was talking trash and they kept the receipts on that crazy what this game turned into six nothing, Chargers ten six at the half and then Houston just steamrolled them thirty two to twelve seven one two for Nico Collins, he's he's really awesome. That has people questioning like, wait, are the Texans did

they save something for this postseason? Stroud finding it?

The Steelers were just completely outclassed. I think there was something like the Ravens had more first downs and the Steelers had plays in the first half, something along those lines. I don't think that was right, but it's one of those stats that you hear and you're like, whoa, that is right.

The Baltimore ravens Lamar has a very strong playoff game. He was running it so much. Fifteen carries total eighty one yards, King henry Man twenty six carries for a buck eighty six. He had one hundred in the first half. I mean, that's just just bizarre. We've gotten too comfortable with what he is continuing to do. No crazy receiving. I mean, Zay Flowers didn't play in this game for Baltimore, and Lamar just spread the ball out that no one had really a crazy game, but no one had a

bad game. Leaves Pittsburgh kind of wondering what are their next steps at quarterbacks? Some people questioning the head coach. I mean, I think Tomlin is sure of a thing as you can have. It just feels like they haven't had good quarterback playing so long. So will they continue to go stopgap options? Will someone come available that can be more of a solution, whether in the draft or Donald or.

They won games that I didn't think they'd win this year, but the majority of their games are against ugly teams. Broncos wins. I'll go down the line Buccaneers Week three, so we're going back then it's Jets, Raiders, Saints, Panthers, Falcons, Raiders, Browns, Colts, and then they beat the Chiefs, who didn't play their players, So the Broncos. It's a weird thing with the NFL and finding that that middle area. The only playoff team the Broncos beat were the Buccaneers in Week three. Yes,

they beat the Chiefs, they didn't play their starters. So from where the Broncos were from benching Russ to make sure he doesn't hit part of his contract goals to where they are now, it's a massive turnaround. Excited for some Bronco football next year. Bonix seems like, seems like the responsive military man that Sean Payton needs and it's gonna be interesting to see where they take this team.

So that was the start. Obviously, was looking for a little more fight out of the horses, but not shocked at the results. What was I think people were hoping was the game of the weekend was Packers Eagles. Eagles, and Eagles come out and they play some Eagle football. They go up ten to nothing in the first Johan Dotson with the first TD, A couple tough first TD scores this weekend if that's your lane on the DraftKings sportsbook.

And then they get the shorty field goal, look like they were gonna punch it in again, but it's ten to nothing. And then the game just felt so ugly. No scoring in the second quarter, but the Eagles were dominating the game. They're talking about on the broadcast. They were saying it felt like it the Eagles should be up like seventy three. Nothing, little harsh, but they were in control. Packers missed a field goal in the first half.

Mc mann just makes want to start midway through the second half that you're like, Okay, it's a ten to three game. Wait, is this Eagles thing just gonna implode on itself? Like we've kind of seen before, like is this gonna take a turn on? Sirianni and the Eagles offense just looks so clunky for a couple possessions. No, Dallas god Her with a man touchdown just did a short on it that might be out before or after

you're watching this. Truck stick, double stiff arm, Josh Jacobs with a couple man runs of his own, My God, carrying bodies, guy hanging onto a shirt and it didn't rip, so he's just dragging guy in a shirt. That was kind of that. It was still a one score game. It was sixteen to ten Eagles field goal, Eagles field goal run out.

lumped up that I don't know. It'll be an interesting pivot peer pivot year even for the pack next year.

or thirty five. He also had the most carries and rushing yards on the team, first rookie to lead in passing and rushing in a game. You know, the rushing numbers aren't impressive, but he did get the big fourth down to ice the game when they needed it.

Washington jumps on it. If you are a baseball person listening to this, you're not sure what to do with football. If you're a football person, Jayden daniels Man, I don't. It was awesome to watch him play at LSU, and that's what rope him in. There's a couple interviews that wrote me into also just his general running style, you know, finding out a little bit about the guy. You're like, yeah, it seems like a cool dude whatever, he's the man

he uh. Before the big third down to ice the game, they brought in Marcus Mariota to do a trick play hard count and Jaden Daniels is at running back, so this star quarterback he goes in motion from the running back position and Mariota.

his blood pressure never rises. It always seems like he does the right thing. In his postgame interview, Bobby Wagner, who's a Hall of Famer Seattle, you know those Seattle defenses, like Bobby Wagner, he's he's going into the Hall. He's now playing for Washington and he's been huge for them on defense. Well arguably a legend of the game. He's the one that recovered the fumble and he's Jane Daniels is doing the interview with after the game and he's like,

they asked him about Bobby Wagner. He's like, yeah, he he fell on the ball, like he was. He was kind of joshing. It's just like not poking in prodden. But you know, he he obviously knew that he's talking about an inner circle Hall of Famer that has made their defense a serviceable playoff defense. He's within earshot and you know he could have gone rookie quarterback in front of a microhne. Yeah, you know that's Bobby Wagner, and what a play by him to get it done. And

he goes, uh, yeah, Bobby fell on the ball. If you're looking for a guy to like. I think Jay Daniels is that guy. The way he plays, who he is off the field, personality, he's all of it. So that's why the DMV Washington area is so excited about him. They get the win, and that sets up, well, there's a game tonight Minnesota LA essentially a pick them. The game is in Arizona because of the LA wildfires, which that's just crazy. Minnesota it's where football can just win.

Is Minnesota is coming off their worst game. It's to the Lions, Donald look bad and it's like, okay, so is this how the Donald fairytale ends? Like could you not see tomorrow morning? It's like, damn Donald and the Vikings ran out of steam. They're playing an LA team that's playing with a little more of an edge. Their young d line has picked it up, they've got both their receivers. They've played better when those guys have been

out there and gets it done. Maybe they're playing with for for La a little bit, which is crazy and you don't, you know, you don't want to tie stuff like that with sports, but it does. Or could you see the Vikings where motivation kicks in and it's like, hey, you know they got beat up by the Lions going into their playoff game. That gave tall, handsome coach Kevin O'Connell a week to coach them up, coach them hard, and make the right game plan. You'd absolutely see both

of those happening. So another one that I think if you laid out the slate for this playoff weekend, you would have said that probably has a top two or three chance Minnesota and the Rams of having one of the best games of the weekend. So hopefully we get that tonight and we'll be able to tee it up more. But the winner of that game will go on to face Philadelphia, which either of those fan bases will have

a little bit of hope. More so the Vikings, I think if they win, but not if the Rams win and Stafford looks good and McVeigh in LA like, you'll be able to talk yourself into either of those teams. Otherwise, on Saturday, a tradition unlike any other, Houston will play Kansas City. Yeah, Kansas City twenty four days off. Going into that game, Yeah, pretty wild, Andy Reid and I it'll be it's just gonna be interesting on that one, Like, are they gonna be fully prepped and in playoff mode.

This is a team that waited for the postseason. They did it last year to us. That's the Saturday game on Sunday, Baltimore and Buffalo. Those are two. It's everything you want. Those are two super Bowl teams with MVP candidates like that has a chance to be the game of the year before even teeing up the next weekend's game or the Super Bowl. And Washington goes to Detroit,

which I hope that's fun. Detroit should roll them. They're dominant, their defense looks like they're getting healthy, and they just did that to Minnesota. Jayden's got a little bit of the magic magic sauce, and don't be surprised if that game turns out being very fun, a playoff shootout of sorts that puts Jayden fully kind of on the national stage.

So that was your NFL weekend. I'm trying to get you guys college football because the last time we spoke, those games were still yet to happen, and it led us into the weekend, which if you were a football head, you had yourself a good weekend.

Notre Dame gets the field goal before the half. Jeter, we like that. Notre Dame comes out of the half and they look like a different squad.

NFL Sundays. No catches from Penn state wide receivers was the going away kind of hot take from this one. Notre Dame, they scored a touchdown after two Nick Singleton rushing touchdowns. In the fourth great House defender slipped and fell fifty four yard touchdown beats twenty four to twenty four. This was a fun college football game.

Valley for a long time. They have the ball there in an area of the field you just can't make the mistake, and he goes through his progressions and he's laid on it and it just felt like it was happening in slow motion. Interception gives Notre Dame. The ball back gives Jeter another kick at it, and they win that game. Awesome for college football. I've gone on a couple rants to people like I don't believe sports are

fake because it's my whole existence. But there's ten percent of me that's like, maybe stuff gets rigged and maybe this is all AI or something. Notre Dame Penn State to have that kind of game in this new college playoff format, which reminder is a whole tie into the playoff format. I know college football had some duds, but this game was great and these two teams would not have linked up previously. So that's a win. And I mean, just getting the Notre Dame fan base for college football huge.

be remembered in Columbus for a long time. Traveon Henderson seventy five yards. Texas. That felt like they survived. They survived. They were going to go into halftime tied with this team that they didn't really have ground to stand on early on, but then they were finding it like their defense was playing better. I know the Ohio State penalties were happening, but penalties happened when the other team is also making place like that's how you get holding penalties.

That screen pass, it felt like it was over and it still wasn't. Texas in the third quarter another touchdown pass to Jaden Blue. It's Fourteen's up Ohio State. They answer thirteen plays eighty eight yards, finishes with a Judkins touchdown twenty one to fourteen.

pick outside linebacker defensive end for Ohio State. He's from Columbus. He grew up idolizing Ohio State and everything it's supposed to represent. He was the guy that Michigan planted their flag on the field and he went and took it out and got into a fisticuffs which I don't know, led to a lot of good sports commentary. My guy Riscilla was on it that he was like, you know what, what's Ohio State supposed to do in that situation? He lost a football game, Just let him plant a flag

and celebrate, like, no, go get them quinn Ewers. They were freshman roommate. It's together, like what how can you? You don't write this stuff and other sports don't really have this stuff the college football does. Uh. He takes it to the house. The whole place is going bonkers. Quinn Ewres is an interesting cat man. He's one of those you know I mentioned Jayden Daniels is kind of a low polse guy.

more than a week to prepare for each other. And yeah, this is just a jake end thought. That could be nothing. Definitely is nothing. I still think in twenty years and fifty years, we're gonna see a whole other creative side to football, because sometimes I see trick plays and I'm just like, wait, that's legal. Texas had one in this game. What's becoming a popular play is on fourth and short, having the tight end take the snap and do a QB sneak. You see it in the NFL, you see

it at the college level. Texas did one where they had Arch manning in the game. The tight end comes in motion, he goes behind the center to take the fourth and one snap. They snapped it through his legs to Arch behind him. Arch took it ran for the first down. And for me, that's just a moment of like, we can get so much more creativity in offensive football. Sometimes there's trick plays when you see like Okay, the interior lineman can go out for the pass, but the

outside linemen couldn't because of how they're aligned. And it's like, I think there's gonna be a kooky high school coach that starts pressing more of those buttons, and you're gonna start seeing more of that. At the same time, my buddies in the group chat, we're pretty pissed off that there are some coordinators calm plays this weekend. You know, the Buccaneers kind of end around play that one kind of ended their season. They were kind of in control

of that game. That you gotta be careful when you push that button in how you execute, and it's why a lot of football guys say, no, we're not doing that crap. Put the heavy boys in front, let's run it behind him and yehaw, And there's probably a reason they do that, and there's probably a reason I'm not a football coach. But there will be more creativity coming.