Hour 3: MLB Network’s Kevin Millar, NBA Anti-Tanking, Maxx Crosby future

0:00Protein is now at Starbucks, and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks.

0:15Rich Eisen:So good, so good, so good. Spring styles are at Nordstrom Rack stores now, and they're up to 60 % off. Stock up and save on Rag & Bone, Madewell, Vince, All Saints, and more of your favorites. How did I not know Rack has Adidas? Why do we rack? For the hottest deals. There's so many good brands. Join the Nordy Club to unlock exclusive discounts, shop new arrivals first, and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of the Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck.

0:52You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney +, from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. Nebraska only had four defenders on the floor. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Smith puts it up. No! It's good! From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. And Will Smith has gone deep. Earlier on the show, basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webber. Coming up, MLB Network Analyst Kevin Millar. Plus, your phone calls, latest news, and more.

1:40And now, it's Rich Eisen.

1:46Rich Eisen:I can confirm it is me. Hey, it's the Rich Eisen Show, hour number three on this Friday of Sweet 16 action. We've got a double dip tonight in Washington, D.C. that is just all kinds of awesome. It's Duke and St. John's, and then it's Michigan State and UConn and Washington, D.C., while in Chicago, Illinois, in the home of the Chicago Bulls, where apparently North Carolina might be trolling around trying to poach the Bulls head coach for their opening gig. Michigan and Alabama, Tennessee and Iowa State, for the right to join Arizona, Purdue, Iowa, and Illinois in the Elite Eight. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial.

2:28Rich Eisen:There's some new anti-tanking concepts that the NBA is putting in front of their membership and the governors and everybody else, and we'll talk about that. And again, we'll talk about all of this stuff with you. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. I haven't seen this man since Lake Tahoe when I was hanging with him at the awesome American Century Championship. Ladies and gentlemen from MLB Network, and intentional talk weekdays at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Kevin Millar back on the program. Good to see you, Kevin. How are you? Rich, what's going on, brother? How you doing? Is that a golf crystal championship trophy behind your right shoulder?

3:02Rich Eisen:What is that thing back there? No, one thing I will never have right now is a golf crystal championship trophy until I learn how to putt. So let's just – you and I need to figure out, like, the putting stroke, bottom line, and then the crystal can come. Well, I need to figure out more than putting, Kevin, but you knew that already. You saw what I finished last year. I need to get a little bit better. I actually swung a club for the first time this calendar year yesterday. So I got to get going. Yeah, I work for a living, Kevin. No, we got to work. You have 15, 20 minutes to go to the driving range.

3:33You have to find out when you can go practice in your living room, something to swing the club. Okay. Got to do that. Good to see you, man. How are you? Good seeing you, brother. Really, really good. I'm so excited the boys of summer have started. There's always this little lull, right? Like you have like Super Bowl, and then it's kind of like you get into some golf a little bit, and then you're waiting for the March Madness, and then, ah, the baseball season's here.

3:56Rich Eisen:The baseball season, no doubt, is here. Do you like the ABS? Do you like it, Kevin? I do. I do. It's funny. I was talking to the boys yesterday. Listen, the umpires are really good. I do want to get that. The umpires are really good. When you and I sit at home and we're talking about this much and this much, and oh my goodness, like come on I know it's 17 inches but like I'm a hitter and I still was like all right you can handle that what we had a problem with back in the day and and glabbing Maddox Smoltz and you know I always bring it up mess around with the boys but like they they got sometimes that white line in their batter's box and I couldn't stand when they would take the bat out of your hand like that three two count base is loaded and it's a ball and then you're struck out and so that's why I love this I you know listen first inning first pitch of the game you feel it's a ball I think that's okay.

4:45You're going to be able to, but there's going to be times when, when to use it, how to use it. And I think it's going to be awesome.

4:50Rich Eisen:Yeah. How would you have been? Would you, would you, would you have been able to hold up the first, second inning? You know, cause I saw that too. I, as a fan, I'm, I'm going nuts on opening night, watching judge take strike one, which was really ball too. And he just shrugged it off. He didn't tap his hand. I thought he would just go like this. Like, okay. I've been waiting for this moment, my entire career where my strike zone is basically ungovernable compared to most other ones because I'm nine feet tall you know yeah uh the way I've equated it Kevin is it's it's kind of like because again football analogies for me come a little bit easier um or where Cam Newton how many times did he get hit right and there would be no flag because he's so big and refs think that he could take it or it would be a different officiating how would you have been if you had a yes you know i i felt i knew the strike zone pretty decent you know and and i and i know that listen their pitchers make good pitches and a lot of us would be like that's a good pitch isn't a strike so you look back and there's a way to talk to an umpire but i'll tell you if you know the strike zone and it's pretty interesting because you get a lot of players to kind of you know argue it and say it was a ball or down, well, then tap your hat.

6:02Tap your hat. If you feel that's a ball, nobody wants to hear about it in the dugout, tap your hat. So, really, there's no crying anymore in baseball. And I think we stopped that once the movie came out.

6:15Rich Eisen:Tom Hanks said it. Yeah, I know. And look, that's Roman Anthony tapping his helmet in the ninth inning last night. Would have been an inning-ending strikeout where the Red Sox would take a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning. Instead, you could see the umpire hasn't even finished his punch-out move. What do you think? Is that a punch-out or a pulling of the string? Which one is that one? It's a punch-out type slash pulling string, but I love it because it's got to be immediate. So immediately, boom, you don't have time to look in the dugout and let the player see something. No, it's got to be immediate, boom, that ball's down.

6:45And think about it. From a one-run game to then they were able to score two more runs after that and make it a 3-0 game. Those are the situations. but to be honest with you if you're up there Rich and you're in a 1-1 count and you feel that ball is off the plate and they make it 1-2 2-1 and 1-2 is a big difference too I don't care if there's nobody on base or not and you get to keep your little flag in your back pocket your little thing you get two of them

7:10Rich Eisen:Kevin Millar here on the Rich Eisen Show listen, I'm a Yankee fan Chris is a Red Sox fan TJ is a Met fan all of us had a great opening day but Jason Feller is a Dodger fan. And I'm sitting there thinking, all right, Andy Pah has hit in three run jacks to give Yamamoto a lead after he's given one up to Perdomo on opening night. How the hell are you going to beat the Dodgers? If Pah is hitting three run jacks, Kevin, you know, it's time for a Dodger baseball. Vince Scully. I tell you, I haven't been in my ear since I was two. So I'm a Dodger fan. Dad's a Dodger fan. Now, listen, it's crazy what Andrew Freeman has done.

7:55And when I say crazy, awesome. Now you got Pias, like you said, a little breaking ball, boom. And he struggled in the postseason last year, right? You felt that? So such a big deal for him to get off to a good start. Felt like a good start. Bingo. Bernomo gets a two-run homer, and you're sitting there going, okay. Because the Diamondbacks, with Torrey Lavello, he finds a way to get the most out of his players. And all of a sudden, it's just like these gates open. Because the one thing DeRosa said it best today, on the Central show. He said, you signed a dude for$60 million a year for four years at$240 ,000 to hide in this lineup.

8:31Think about that. You got the best player we've ever seen with Shohei leading off. You kind of hide Tucker and all of a sudden here comes all these MVPs. It is fascinating. Will Smith. Will Smith. Unbelievable player that just kind of hides in that lineup. Almost won a batting title last year. So they are going to be tough. I think they're like the old Yankees, to be honest with you, Rich. You remember when Steinbrenner, he didn't care. I'm going to go spend money because I want to win World Series and I want to win championships, and that's the way it is. And there's a way here, and I think that's what the Dodgers have created.

9:02There's an area where their stars are awesome, right? They work hard. You see Freddie Freeman, the last day of the World Series, taking his ground balls and Mookie Betts. Boom, boom. There's no more games tomorrow. You've got four or five months off, and they're still working at their craft. So I think they're just pros. They remind me of the Yankees back in the day. When I say that, I mean, that's the way it was. They were the highest paid dudes. They were the team to beat. And now the Dodgers, I think, are flipping that script, going for three-peat.

9:30Rich Eisen:Again, not to treat this like, again, like it's the NFL, where one result is the roadmap to whether a team's going to win or lose, right? But it's tough not to think that about the Dodgers. even though again i know we were an ikf toenail away from the blue jays upsetting them last year right but um and anything can happen that's why it's baseball that's why we love it kevin but man they're just that good they really are that good and that professional as you pointed out and then you know to use the analogy that you mentioned about the yankees of the 90s and and the aughts i mean roberts looks like the tory of this situation where he sits back and he pushes the buttons and he's got the guys to push the buttons with that few other teams have, Kevin.

10:16Rich Eisen:It really feels that way. Yeah, there's a humbleness, right? There's a humbleness to D.R. Listen, I showered with him for a couple years. We won a World Series together. And that's the only thing I could bring him because you guys know what a great guy is. He's kind of a sneaky wine guy now. He's got his own little thing stitched. But there's a humbleness and he is just a good human being. And Andrew Freeman, I use that, you know, he started off with the Rays and ended up taking over the Dodgers. but there's such a humbleness. Theo Epstein had that when we were there in Boston. This 29-year-old GM for the first time, he went in and got all these dudes that no one really knew, right?

10:49Bill Millers and Mark Bellhorns and just the whole basically infield, Orlando Cabrera, the No More scene. But you look at what Dave Roberts has brought. There's a quietness, there's a calmness, and there's awesomeness. Now, players are awesome, don't get me wrong, but it's still the game of baseball. And I mean that honestly. we're talking about you have to be playing well at the right time you have to be injury free their depth is amazing they're third in the minor leagues that's the thing they're they draft well they're not drafting one and two every year they draft well so their scouts are awesome so this whole thing that goes into it but by the way scouts are underrated we we never talk about the scouts of the grounds crew and we just talk about how much money all the players make it the scouts and scouting department is attention to detail so think about that they're just so deep in the big leagues but yet they just kind of keep rolling and rolling they can kind of do

11:41Rich Eisen:whatever they want kevin millar here on the rich eisen show so who's equipped to stand in the way make your call your shot now man it's not even april call it well you got it right we'll remember it if not we'll forget it what do you think you kind of feel the yankees are going to be there period rich i mean it's hard to say but i'm going to tell you right now wouldn't shock you right I can see Dodgers and Yankees World Series and the Dodgers and Yankees. I mean, Dodgers are trying to go three-peat, which is hard. You guys did it, 98-99-2000, I believe. And then 0-1, I think the Dimebacks. 0-2 was the Angels.

12:130-3 was the – man, we don't want to talk about that one. That was the Aaron Boone one that knocked us out. And then it was the Yankees. By the way, real quick, sorry I'm getting off track. One of the greatest games pitched by a Florida Marlin, Josh Beckett, I believe. Was that game seven, game six?

12:28Rich Eisen:Beckett was untouchable. He was on the 3 and then 04 was us. I'll tell you, it wouldn't surprise me because the Yankees show up there and they would be the team to maybe beat the Dodgers. Can the Phillies, you know, knock them off somewhere in the thing? Can the Mets? They've got like 10 new dudes. Does that just come together and their new dudes are awesome, right? So the Mets might be a team, but I got to be able to see them a little bit. I mean, it's hard. Chemistry is a big deal to me. It really is. No, I know. We'll see how the Mets go. Because at this point last year, you wouldn't have said the Blue Jays, right?

12:59Rich Eisen:They kind of caught fire around Memorial Day last year, and everyone's like, well, they'll flame out, and all they did was get stronger and younger. And Vladimir, better than we thought, right? The Rale's better than we thought. And even with Bichette banged up, they made it and then got him back just in time for the World Series for him to rake and limp around, you know? So you never know, I guess. But call your shot on an under the radar. Who do you think? oh man i mean you kind of know the guys right now i mean detroit looks unbelievable this new rookie they got kevin mcglonego let me tell you right i got four hits yesterday he's just an absolute ball player reminds me straight up of dustin pedroia or you can go chase utley so they're going to be a factor they pitch framber valdez makes his first start tonight so don't sleep on them with scoobal framber period you don't have to talk about justin berlander right now just that one two punch is just nasty right so you got jack flurry they can be the team they They lost the division at the end of the year.

13:56You remember they wore it the whole time, and here comes these little guardians. I would say Detroit. You could say Seattle. You could say the Yankees, the Red Sox. How are they going to be? That's the beast of the East. The Orioles, are they sneaky? Are they sneaky? Do they have enough pitching to kind of do their thing with Pete Alonzo now? You can sit there. It's going to be one of those fascinating years. But the Mets probably is the most intriguing, in my opinion. The Cubs' defense is remarkable. and they do they have enough pitching to kind of shock people and we never talk about pat murphy and the brewers they're probably the sleeper team even though they're not sleepers anymore yeah i

14:30Rich Eisen:know they scored 14 yesterday what about the royals what about our guy vinnie and wit and you know and garcia they had a great the royals along with the red socks you could put up there had a great uh world baseball classic players yeah and performances you know that's work you don't know marcelo meyer like he could hit he went and back out we don't know that because we see him play it Roman Anthony could win MVP right their outfield's amazing they'll give days off Jaron Duran last night had a day off you got well you know Wilmer Abreu that's could hit 30 and drive in 100 I've been talking about this young man right and then Rafaelo so they got four dudes they're gonna be rotating it's interesting but if you were to kind of just say what's a sleeper you got 10 teams really there's no one sleeping it's just who's gonna step up in the Royal Bobby wick could be the best player in the league period he was the best player in wbc he just moves different you know terrain and him were just awesome to watch so yeah uh before i let you go do you hear the story barry bonds told during uh opening night uh about hanging up on steinbrenner did you hear that one yes what do you believe that one do you think he hung up on george steinbrenner i think i believe barry bonds did that yes i do that if there's anybody on planet earth it would be it would be barry maybe maybe he thought george didn't treat his dad right and he's just like to hell with you i'm hanging up to a coolie well who the hell do you think you are i'm barry bonds i don't get a deadline click that sounds like it that's believable yeah that's i could imagine hanging up on the big georgie right there though say i need to sign by noon click okay i'm family that's right that's when you're a gangster that's when you're the best player on earth when you can do that i love it all right man it's been great chatting with you uh let's do this often throughout the season let's do it let's talk to you man it's good to see you too kevin all right i gotta hit i gotta hit the ball all right let's go that thing i'll see you soon we'll chat soon all right pal that's coming along everybody there you go uh again uh mlb network's intentional talk weekdays at 4 p.m eastern there he goes going on with the rest of his day.

16:35Rich Eisen:Just talking ball. Love it. Love baseball being back. You do, do you? Yeah, of course. You do, do you? Yankees have a first pitch. 4.35 p.m. Eastern. 1.35 at Oracle Park, just up the road in San Francisco. This afternoon or tonight? It's this afternoon. It's not tonight. It's this afternoon. It's today. It's in the sunshine. It's in the daylight. No light. Not in the Uniqlo. Robbie Ray taking on Cam Schlittler on New York Yankees. That's later on today. All right, we shall take a break. When we come back, some NBA news in regards to the way the NBA is trying to get rid of tanking. Best of luck on all of that.

17:20Rich Eisen:It's coming up next.

17:35Rich Eisen:If you're like me and my family, you're all about creating amazing memories while on vacation. And for me, many of those have involved a home we found on Airbnb. We had such great experiences that whenever we travel somewhere new, we always check Airbnb first to find a place that fits our needs. The homes we've stayed in, comfortable, safe, private. You feel like you're part of the community. After a long day of exploring or sitting on a beach, it really is nice to come back to a place you can call your own. Airbnb is also a great way if you want to earn some extra money while you're traveling or out of your house for an extended period of time.

18:11Rich Eisen:You can make your home work for you while you're away. Not as a full-time thing, not as some big production, just something that fits into trips you're already taking. You can use the money for that dream vacation or put that money towards that outdoor kitchen you always wanted. Hosting on Airbnb just feels smart. Your home may be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.com slash host. Save money and get a better view of the road when you replace your worn out wiper blades at O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Right now, save$10 on a pair of Rain-X Latitude wiper blades. They feature beam blade technology to improve windshield contact for maximum visibility.

18:50Rich Eisen:The professional parts people will even install your new wiper blades for free. Choose Rain-X Latitude wiper blades at your local O 'Reilly Auto Parts store or online at OReillyAuto.com

19:13Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Here on The Rich Eisen Show. 844-204-RICH. Number to dial. Let's go to Quinton in Stillwater, Oklahoma. What's up, Quinton? Stillwater. Hey, how you doing, sir? What's going on, bud? Not much. I was just going to ask you what your thought was on maybe why nobody's talking about the Jets possibly trading Brees Hall to maybe Tennessee Titans go ahead and acquire a third-round pick that they don't have this year, and then let's just go ahead and nail our pick at two and grab Jeremiah Love.

19:48Rich Eisen:Jeremiah Love second overall? Quentin, here's the reason why, okay? At some point, you've got to win with the guys that you have. Okay? At some point, you've got to do that. And I know Jeremiah Love is that plus the biscuit. But they need a hell of a lot more than a dynamic running back, which they already have. So why would they trade Brees Hall for a third-round pick when they can actually utilize him in a dynamic way and choose second overall somebody for their defense that they also need. And then 16th overall, choose somebody for their offense that they also need. I mean, you can get the best pass rusher in the draft according to your scouts and your beliefs.

20:44Rich Eisen:And then 16th overall, you get desperate need. The best wide receiver on the board in a deep wide receiver draft that can turn out to be, heaven forbid, the, you know, pickings to Garrett Wilson's CD Lamb. You know what I mean? Or, you know, they don't need a tight end. They got Mason Taylor already. and here's the thing is that the Jets aren't, Jeremiah Love is not the answer to the Jets turning things around. They already have somebody who can dominate from that position. So why would you make the moves that you're going for, Quentin? Yeah, no, I just thought it was more of a locker room thing with Breeze, how open he was, wanting to get out of there, kind of just with guys getting out of there.

21:36Can you blame him? with Coach Sala and Coach Dable just acquiring all the old players that they used to play with. I guess. I just figured.

21:44Rich Eisen:No, I appreciate it. How are you a Jet fan in the middle of Oklahoma, Quentin? Oh, I actually – I'm from Iowa. I'm just out in Stillwater. I'm going to college here. I'm a Jets fan because my daddy's a Bucs fan, so when I was growing up I didn't really want to be that. Big Hawkeye football fan, so I saw Sean Green, and then he got drafted by the Jets. Hey, he was terrific. And so I've been a Jets fan ever since they drafted Sean Green, and I've been kind of just stuck with it. Hang in there, bud. That's Quentin in Stillwater, Oklahoma. What the Jets should do is sit down, grind the tape as much as they possibly can on the Bailey-Reese-Styles decision.

22:27Rich Eisen:Did you hear all the conversation coming out of Ohio State's, pardon me, the pro day? that Arvel Reese running around the bags. Yeah, that Reese didn't look as good as scouts had hoped or thought. I saw that. Man, that one was an odd plot twist. And if that's the case, it's going to be David Bailey second overall. And then what do the Cardinals do? And then what do the Titans do? But I don't think taking Jeremiah Love second overall because you freed up that spot to get more draft capital by trading away Brees Hall is the way to go about it. It just isn't. You've got to amass as many dudes as you possibly can at the positions that build the line and go get the quarterback, which is the same, one and the same with Bailey.

23:32Rich Eisen:I mean, by the line, I mean just the trenches. Because they've really watered the offensive line garden over the last few drafts. So, I just don't think using 16th overall on Ty Simpson, that would be the ultimate head scratch. After you tell Jets fans, we are mortgaging the present. to reset for the future again. Please buy into another reset. Please do that. And please know that we didn't take a Quinnen Williams first-round draft choice in this year's draft. We took it in 2027, so you really got to be patient with us. And they did that for the quarterback. That's why you do that. That's why you do it.

24:23Rich Eisen:The flexibility and the ability to trade up for the quarterback spot if somehow, someway, the first overall selection is held by a team that does not need a quarterback. It would make no sense to do it. That's where you choose the best wide receiver on the board. So Charles Davis posted his 3.0 mock draft yesterday. Bailey second overall. Arvel Reese second overall. Okay. Ty Simpson third to Arizona. Yeah, I don't think that's happening. Sonny Stiles seventh. Jeremiah Love goes fifth. If Ty Simpson goes third overall to Arizona, that would break the draft night. That would break it. Because then that would push everyone else down one more slot.