Barth & Balekji // Red Sox Have Become a Punchline // Do Red Sox Lack a "Bully" in the Front Office? - 7/5 (Hour 2)

(0:00) Alex Barth & George Balekji begin the final hour of the program transitioning to the Patriots season outlook. Barth refers back to comments made by Patriots Head Coach, Mike Vrabel insisting that the team needs to overcome "bad football". The duo agree that in order for the Patriots to win more games will be by taking advantage of their opponent's mistakes. (16:30) Will the Patriots consider adding a major player to their roster? Barth & Balekji weigh the situations of disgruntled superstars: WSH WR Terry McLaurin, CIN DE Trey Hendrickson & PIT LB TJ Watt - and ask, "Which disgruntled superstar is most likely to become available?" "Which superstar do you prefer the Patriots to target?" (25:54) Alex & George get back into the potential availability of the aforementioned superstar players: McLaurin, Hendrickson & Watt. The two agree to disagree. (35:19) Barth & Balekji close out the show discussing Bill Belichick. The duo offer their expectations for Belichick in his first season as UNC Head Coach - with Week 0 a few weeks away. Barth highlights the spotlight being placed on Bill Belichick. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @RealAlexBarth | @GeorgeBalekji | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Alex Barth & George Balekji begin Hour #3 recapping Joey Chestnut's epic return to glory - winning the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest for a record 17th time. Barth highlights Chestnut's dominance. Former hot dog eating Champion, Kobayashi gets mentioned. The duo get consumed by food talk. (10:34) MLE Records with Alex Barth - Incredible/Outlandish Major League Eating records for the panel of George's to guess the mark. Cannoli's, glazed doughnuts, hard-boiled eggs, soft tacos, chicken nuggets, bacon strips and more. (23:49) Food talk continued. Barth deems Joey Chestnut to be the "Tom Brady" of Major League Eating. Where does Joey Chestnut rank on list of All-Time Champions? (30:29) Reports indicate Masataka Yoshida is set to be called up to the big league club for the start of the Red Sox next home stand. What's the approach for inserting Yoshida into the lineup? Is it at 1B? DH? Who's the odd man out at the expense of Yoshida? Does this trigger a trade? - Alex & George break down the dynamics of the Yoshida call-up. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @RealAlexBarth | @GeorgeBalekji | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Alex Barth & George Balekji kick-off Hour #2 with the Red Sox catching a stray during the introduction of a Massachusetts participant in the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Competition. Have the Red Sox become a punchline? (7:56) Barth & Balekji react to a mashup of comments made by Sam Kennedy and Craig Breslow on consecutive days earlier in the week. Is the organization feeling more pressure than it usually does? The duo question what Breslow will do as the trade deadline approaches. They both express the mediocre Red Sox' need to add in order to improve the team's chances of making a run this season. (20:48) Steve Buckley recalls a Larry Lucchino story from "Boston Has Entered The Chat" on NESN. Do the Red Sox need a "bully" like Lucchino in the front office? Barth & Balekji heap praise for the late Larry Lucchino. (30:46) Red Sox open series with (11-2) win over the Nationals in a Fourth of July matinee. Sox bats provide fireworks with a 7-run 5th Inning. Balekji highlights Giolito's recent success on the mound. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @RealAlexBarth | @GeorgeBalekji | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Alex Barth & George Balekji are in-studio for a 4th of July Weekend Special this Saturday. They exchange pleasantries by sharing their 4th of July adventures. George reveals he's not too fond of The Cape despite him never having been there due to traffic concerns. Barth expresses his love for The Cape Cod League and shares a Cavan Biggio story. (13:08) Barth & Balekji react to comments made by Gary Washburn on the prospects of the Celtics acquiring free agent PG Damian Lillard. Barth & Balekji have differing opinions on whether the Celtics should sign Lillard. Barth is critical of Lillard's age and fit on the team as an aging, ball-dominant PG. Balekji describes the moving parts needed to carve out for the Celtics to sign Lillard and expresses his desire for Lillard to sit out next season. (23:43) Callers defend and promote Cape Cod as a travel destination to sway George's negative impression of The Cape.  (35:36) Alex & George discuss Celtics free agent F/C Al Horford. Is it the end of his chapter in Boston? If you could only have 1 of the 2, who are you choosing to sign - Lillard or Horford? Barth & Balekji disagree and debate their respective responses. The duo continue their commentary on Cape Cod. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @RealAlexBarth | @GeorgeBalekji | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Leroy Irvin and Cerrone Battle kick off the final hour of the show with the Entertainment Report - featuring F1 The Movie weekend premiere, the Diddy Trial's toll on his daughters and Athletics rookie phenom SS Jacob Wilson and his unique training regimen. More callers share their favorite cinema in a sports game/event. (12:28) Best Cinema to come out of a single game/sporting event - callers continued. Local caller shouts out Leominster native, Mark Daigneault - Head Coach of the 2024-25 NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder.  (24:45) The People's Show continues as the discussion about the most cinematic sports games people have witnessed. The callers dominate with their testimonials. Boston sports tragedies are introduced. (39:58) The Playa's Call - Time where the panel takes time to acknowledge someone in sports/life.  ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @BostonLIrvin | @Cerrone_Battle | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Leroy Irvin and Cerrone Battle begin Hour #2 by going to the callers and their thoughts and questions on the Celtics. More breakdown of the Celtics' draft selections. Cerrone expresses his optimism for the #46 pick, Amari Williams and analyzes his game. The duo collectively advocate for a change in the Celtics philosophy/approach to the game. (13:23) Irvin and Battle go down memory lane, nostalgia triggered by The Whispers - Musical Selection of the Day. Cerrone follows up on his NBA Draft vs NFL Draft tease. He discusses the differences in the importance bestowed upon NFL Draft picks as opposed to the NBA Draft prospects. Leroy poses the question to the audience, "What's the greatest story ever told in a single sports game you had witnessed?" (22:56) Leroy names some of the most memorable sports stories told from a single game. Cerrone adds his examples to the mix. The callers provide more examples of storybook games. (34:20) What's the greatest sports story to come out of a single game? - Callers share their thoughts. Leroy and Cerrone are reminded of games they've attended together in the early 2000's. Old timers go back in time for some added perspective. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @BostonLIrvin | @Cerrone_Battle | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Leroy Irvin and Cerrone Battle start the show by exchanging pleasantries following some well deserved vacation time. The Music of the Day is dedicated to "The Whispers" following the recent passing of one of the lead singers of the group, Walter Scott. Irvin and Battle pivot to the Celtics and the start to their offseason. Cerrone breaks down the Celtics' trades that sent Porzingis to Atlanta and Holiday to Portland, while shedding the light on some optimism to next season.  (12:37) Leroy and Cerrone react to comments made by Shams Charania on his expectations for the Celtics to continue making trades. Leroy expresses his disappointment over the Celtics early playoff exit, in spite of Tatum's injury. Cerrone suggests the Celtics' Championship core is still in tact. What should the Celtics expectations be for next season, in a down Eastern Conference? Leroy provides a Jayson Tatum injury update. (22:29) Brad Stevens comments on the Celtics new ownership regime's commitment to spending following the 1st Round of the NBA Draft. Irvin and Battle get into the 2nd Apron restrictions that NBA teams are actively avoiding, including the Celtics. The duo highlight how tough it is to maintain camaraderie with the new CBA salary cap penalties in the NBA. More on the Celtics' roster construction. (34:21) Leroy and Cerrone analyze the Celtics' 1st Round Draft selection - Hugo Gonzalez. Cerrone highlights the caliber of International talent in the NBA over the last quarter century. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @BostonLIrvin | @Cerrone_Battle | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Matt McCarthy begins the final hour of the show by giving the Red Sox Public Relations team some praise over their media availability the night of the Rafael Devers trade. (8:18) Top Sports Venue Destinations - McCarthy asks the people, "Which sports venues are on the bucket list to visit?" McTakey has the epiphany that baseball stadiums and golf courses make up the majority of his answer by highlighting the disparity between the different sports and their respective venues. (22:41) David Ortiz posts to social media text messages sent to Raffy Devers that went without a response that were time-stamped during the beginning portion of the season. Ortiz was offering advice to Devers - who had been struggling to start the season. Devers hits 2-run HR against former teammate, Brayan Bello live during Game 2 of series. McCarthy comments on Devers' arrogance in ignoring Big Papi's attempts to counsel him. (32:12) Matt McCarthy closes out the show clamoring for the PGA Tour to have more tournaments in the Northeast. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @MattMcCarthy985 | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Matt McCarthy begins Hour #2 reacting to comments made by former Red Sox Pitcher, Pedro Martinez highlighting the downfall and dysfunctional perception the Red Sox are earning by trading away homegrown Hall of Fame talent. McCarthy continues to highlight the latest Jeff Passan reporting on the Red Sox' internal dysfunction. (10:48) McCarthy breaks down comments made by Craig Breslow regarding the team post-Devers trade. McCarthy holds Breslow in a higher regard than Bloom. More excerpts from the latest Passan piece on Boston. McCarthy discerns that a purge in the front office was warranted and defends Breslow becoming a more empowered General Manager. McTakey manages to take down Theo Epstein's disciples and recommendations. (24:53) McCarthy reports on the Red Sox lineup posted for today's game that features Jarren Duran leading off at DH and Roman Anthony playing LF. Monitoring the Red Sox lineup going forward. McTakey puts Jarren Duran on the trading block if/when the Red Sox become sellers. Talk about the Red Sox youth movement. (33:43) McCarthy follows up on the extensive Jeff Passan report on the Red Sox, this time - Kristian Campbell and his start at 2B on the big league ballclub to begin the season. McTakey rips the team for their premature gloating over Campbell's hot start to the year.  ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @MattMcCarthy985 | @jorgiesepulveda

(0:00) Matt McCarthy begins the show with instant reaction to the Red Sox (7-5) win over the Giants Friday night. Former Red Sox 3B/DH Rafael Devers went (0-5) including a 9th Inning strike out to Sox Closer, Aroldis Chapman. McCarthy highlights the positive momentum the Red Sox have built post-Devers trade, attributing the Sox' recent successes to quality starting pitching and ridding Devers from the ballclub. (14:46) McCarthy analyzes comments made by Raffy Devers pregame yesterday regarding his willingness to play 1B for the Boston Red Sox. McTakey believes Devers is disingenuous when he states he would've been open to playing 1B, if the team would've approached him in Spring Training, highlighting his slow start was because of his lack of presence at Spring Training. Would Devers still be in Boston if he would've transitioned to 1B when the team asked him to? Jeff Passan reports on the Devers saga. (26:40) McCarthy re-hashes the "alignment" moniker made by Sam Kennedy & Craig Breslow during the media call last week following the trade of Devers to SF. Matt references "defensive alignment" and interprets those remarks as tacit shots at Devers' poor defensive reputation. McCarthy continues with the Devers trade fallout by describing how Devers was notified on the team's plane to the smear campaign levied against him.  (39:02) McCarthy continues to break down the Rafael Devers trade to SF. He proclaims the situation became personal between Devers and management. More testimonial from the latest Jeff Passan reporting. Callers weigh in on the Devers trade. ------------------------------------------- FOLLOW ON TWITTER/X: @MattMcCarthy985 | @jorgiesepulveda