00:00All right.
00:03Let's get into the shepherd thing.
00:05Can we talk Verlander for a minute?
00:08So we were sitting here, guys, and I'm not yelling about it.
00:13It's just this is one of the moments, Rico.
00:16I feel like I see the world in like a very different way.
00:20But like this Verlander fiesta this weekend, I find it tasteless.
00:26I find it embarrassing.
00:27It's pathetic is the word I would use.
00:30Unlike Miguel Cabrera, who actively played here and stayed here and finished the entire season.
00:37The only thing Verlander should be given this year is the annual Alex Cobb Award for a guy who got
00:43paid to not show up to work.
00:44He did nothing to help this team this year.
00:47And now this just strikes me as let's move some daiquiris.
00:52This guy has worked five months, still has medical hurdles to clear to pitch this weekend.
01:02You're already eliminated.
01:04Nobody likes this team.
01:06And now this is just a way to what?
01:09Move a few tickets to people that I don't understand why you would bother.
01:14This is Justin Verlander getting an ego stroke.
01:17Because Rico put this best.
01:19If this team was going into this weekend and the playoffs are on the line, guess who's not pitching Saturday?
01:26Anyway, there's no world they would put out Grandpa Simpson.
01:31There's no world.
01:34But here we are.
01:35So this is now performative.
01:37This is old-timers day.
01:38Yeah.
01:39And I just, I don't get it.
01:41I listen to people talk about it and it's like, the guy's been gone for 10 years.
01:45He came back.
01:46We were all excited.
01:47He didn't do anything for us this year.
01:50Why on earth are we going to turn this into some two-day fiesta?
01:55I don't get it.
01:57But see, I carry an animus towards the team.
01:59That's the difference.
02:00No, but I think you put it best.
02:02Not quite to the level of Gordie Howe coming back and playing.
02:04With the Wailers.
02:05Right.
02:06But.
02:06I took a shift in my 50s.
02:08Right.
02:09But this is, okay, you're going to sell merch.
02:12You're going to sell tickets.
02:13Everybody's going to come down there.
02:15The season's over.
02:16But we can still make this final weekend worth something.
02:19And yeah, they sold out the games.
02:22That's where I have a disconnect with people.
02:24I don't get the people who lined up to buy those tickets.
02:27And what are you expecting?
02:28That's the other thing.
02:29I can't wait until he throws three pitches and leaves.
02:30Right.
02:31This isn't that Kevin Costner movie where he goes out and throws the perfect game and then retires.
02:36What one is that?
02:38Kevin Costner did a baseball movie?
02:40Yeah, he was a tiger.
02:43There have been so many old guy plays baseball movies.
02:46See, that's a stony blind rank at some point, by the way.
02:49Old guy baseball movie.
02:51For the love of the game.
02:52For the love of the game.
02:54He was told, you're going to have to retire or we're going to trade you.
02:58So he goes out on his final time at the mound and throws a perfect game.
03:04That's what people are hoping to see Saturday.
03:07That's insanity.
03:09I understand.
03:10That's also why it's called a movie.
03:12No, okay.
03:13That's fair.
03:13I mean, what about Mr. 3000?
03:15Oh, you mean Mr. 299.
03:17Whatever.
03:18Bernie Mac's finest.
03:20No, I just.
03:21I mean, David, Paul.
03:22I mean, you guys tell me.
03:24I'm fine if you're like, well, Mike, you're just you're jaded.
03:26You're cynical.
03:28Okay.
03:29I'm also an adult.
03:31Why on earth would I want to go watch this guy when he did nothing to help me all year?
03:35This is nothing more than daiquiri and parking money.
03:39That's exactly.
03:40All this is.
03:40That's exactly what it is.
03:41They have sold out every ticket.
03:43There's a few standing room only tickets.
03:46That's unbelievable to me.
03:48I'm going to let you finish it.
03:49Think about what you just said.
03:51A team eliminated from the playoffs.
03:54They can't not play.
03:56Talking.
03:57Sold out.
03:59Standing room only seats.
04:00It's insane.
04:01And on a Saturday where Michigan's playing a ranked opponent.
04:05Michigan State's got an interesting game.
04:07Hell, you want me to throw a YOLO ball?
04:09I'd rather go out to Waldo Field, Waldo Stadium.
04:12I'll watch Western host Boise.
04:14See, there's no world I'd be down at that ballpark.
04:17I just, I'm blown away by some of the things people fall for.
04:21Baseball is the one sport, Mike.
04:23It's about the storyline.
04:24It's about the romanticism of the game.
04:27What romance do we have with this team this year?
04:30This team put us through hell.
04:31It's not.
04:32It's Verlander because now you're thinking about Verlander who threw the perfect games.
04:36You're thinking about.
04:37Oh, the guy left.
04:39Yeah, he didn't win us a World Series here.
04:41But he won you one as an Astro.
04:44I just see it all as a circus.
04:47It's what I see it as.
04:49And he is the clown that's going to show up and is going to dance.
04:53He's going to do all the tricks for you.
04:55But if this team weren't eliminated, he doesn't pitch.
04:58No, he doesn't.
04:59He doesn't put on a jersey.
05:00Doesn't that take away any of the authenticity of this?
05:04That's the problem I have.
05:07Look, my life isn't going to be any different.
05:09People can go, spend their money, do whatever the hell you want.
05:12But I just look at it all.
05:14And I heard Rieger and Wojo talking about it.
05:16I think they did a very nice job with it.
05:17It's people literally fall for anything.
05:21It's the damnedest thing.
05:23I guess they think it's going to be like when Jeter left that final game or the Kobe final game.
05:29Or they're treating it like that, Mike, because we do live in a society where I was there.
05:36I was at his final game.
05:37I saw him pitch to the final at-bat at Comerica Fifth Third Park.
05:44I hate to break it to you.
05:45No one's going to remember his last game.
05:47I'll be shocked if he pitches more than any.
05:49And that's just it.
05:50This guy isn't physically healthy.
05:52You may not want to see Grandpa because things may not go.
05:55Because a lot of people are buying into this great storyline.
05:59But the actuality is this thing could be.
06:02He could be done before the first inning is over.
06:06I just wanted to know from the people.
06:09I mean, Paul, you have an outside opinion.
06:12Look, you can do whatever the hell you want.
06:14But you do recognize what this is, right?
06:17And I know we've got to get to Kelvin Shepard.
06:20We've got to get to Jared Goff.
06:21We've got to get to Lions football.
06:22Respect.
06:23We will.
06:23But there was no way we could shoehorn this topic into tomorrow's Football Friday.
06:28There's just no world that could take place.
06:33We have a caller on the line.
06:36Alex, if you can hear my voice, don't go anywhere.
06:39You're batting lead off.
06:40Alex makes the best point that will be made today on any topic.
06:46I mean this.
06:48This is a mic drop from heaven.
06:52Alex should walk onto the air dressed as the million-dollar man Ted DiBiase
06:57and drop the microphone on the audience.
07:00I encourage you to sit tight because Alex on a cell is going to delight the masses.
07:06This call is so good, he may need walk-up music.
07:09He does.
07:10There should be pyrotechnics as he takes the air.
07:12He's Vince McMahon.
07:14Trust me, you want to hear this call.
07:16I think it really puts a beautiful frame around this picture as to why I look at this
07:22and just go, you guys are really falling for this?
07:252-4-8-5-3-9-97-97.
07:28And then, yeah, later today, we're going to get the football going.
07:31We've got a lot to talk about.
07:3397-1.
07:3597-1.
