Felger and Mazz - Creating False Naratives one day at a time

[Marbleheader]

The show took a HUGE step back when Mazz returned.

Felger : Farrell is overrated and Mlb managers have an easy job. Just don't be a jerk and make the occasional pitching change.

Mazz: Absolutely, Mike. I agree 100%

Click

 

[PeaceSignMoose]

I especially love the recurring theme today that "intelligent" and "smart" were just another word for "a-hole".
 
Edit:  But only when they talk about Rondo.  Intelligence is a good attribute in everyone else.

 

[joe dokes]

I especially love the recurring theme today that "intelligent" and "smart" were just another word for "a-hole".

 
That's how they get around the fact that neither of them have ever been described with either of those words.

 

[Corsi]

Felger is out of his skull if he thinks Belichick is going to answer questions re: Hernandez when training camp opens.
 
He'll give the standard "I'm only commenting on players on the team" and that'll be that.

 

[Buffalo Head]

You know what grinds my gears? Mazz admitting, with a tinge of pride in his voice, that he doesn't watch the sporting events he's talking about. It's so insulting.

 

[Rocco Graziosa]

Felger is out of his skull if he thinks Belichick is going to answer questions re: Hernandez when training camp opens.
 
He'll give the standard "I'm only commenting on players on the team" and that'll be that.

 
This is going to be VERY interesting.  I think a lot of fans assume, and probably hope, that things will be 'same old same old' with the Patriots when they open training camp.  I'm not 100% convinced thats the case.  Robert Kraft, against the advice of his lawyers, answered questions about Hernandez and admitted he was "duped".  Will the Patriots change how they do things with regards to personell decisions and dealing with the media?  Probably not, but I don't think thats absolute.  I could easily see the team directing Belichick to give a little more than the "I only answer questions about players on the roster".  A player he signed to a 40 million dollar extension just got charged with first degree murder.  Its possible things won't be business as usual at Patriots training camp.
 
Stay tuned. 

 

[Granite Sox]

Additionally, I can also envision BB making some oblique reference to an active investigation and reaching new heights of inciting media exasperation.  At the moment, Felger, Curran et al are banging the drum of "They owe the public answers!".  BB's predicted response may have the effect of further making the media a caricature of itself. (Wishful thinking?)
 
Berman: "Our thanks to Ed Werder for that report.  So Coach Belichick declines to provide any additional perspective from the Patriots on the Hernandez murder charges.  Let's bring in the newest member of ESPN's NFL Countdown team, Ray Lewis, for his thoughts on the situation.  Ray?..."

 

[( . ) ( . ) and (_!_)]

This is going to be VERY interesting.  I think a lot of fans assume, and probably hope, that things will be 'same old same old' with the Patriots when they open training camp.  I'm not 100% convinced thats the case.  Robert Kraft, against the advice of his lawyers, answered questions about Hernandez and admitted he was "duped".  Will the Patriots change how they do things with regards to personell decisions and dealing with the media?  Probably not, but I don't think thats absolute.  I could easily see the team directing Belichick to give a little more than the "I only answer questions about players on the roster".  A player he signed to a 40 million dollar extension just got charged with first degree murder.  Its possible things won't be business as usual at Patriots training camp.
 
Stay tuned. 

 
I think "VERY interesting" is a stretch here. 
 
Assuming that he does say anything at all about Hernandez, what can he possibly say that would be interesting or add something new to the story.?  If he talks about Hernandez, you will learn nothing new and the story will not be advanced at all.  I don't get what you could possibly be hoping for.
 
And if he chooses to say nothing, then the media will huff and puff and beat their chest and then the season will start, the Patriots will win football games and people will move on.

 

[lostjumper]

Berman: "Our thanks to Ed Werder for that report.  So Coach Belichick declines to provide any additional perspective from the Patriots on the Hernandez murder charges.  Let's bring in the newest member of ESPN's NFL Countdown team, Ray Lewis, for his thoughts on the situation.  Ray?..."

 
I wish that someone would have the balls to ask Ray where Hernandez went wrong covering up the murder. Now that would finally get me to tune into ESPN again!

 

[smastroyin]

Tony Mazz's prediction for the Red Sox is that they will end up with 87 wins.  Which means he thinks they will go 29-36 for the rest of the season.  His reasoning?  "They aren't seasoned enough and are going to crumble under pressure"
 
OK, maybe on WMB and Iglesias and Carp, I guess?  But Tony, you do realize that the FA's they signed were, you know, on other teams before that had some success?  Mike Napoli has 32 games of post-season experience and has been in 5 pennant races in the AL West.  Shane Victorino has 46 playoff games worth of experience.  Jonny Gomes was in two pennant races with two different teams.  And he seems to have forgotten that Stephen Drew was a big part of Arizona's last team that made a deep playoff run, and that he was on the A's last year, who had a pennant race of their own. 

 

[Buffalo Head]

It's shtick. He decided awhile ago to dig in his heels and not give this team credit once it became obvious his preseason wins prediction was woefully low. He makes that squinty "don't take anything I say seriously" face every time he talks about it.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

If tony mazz said Stephen drew would be a reason why this team would make a deep playoff run you'd be in here posting he's retarded.

 

[ifmanis5]

Tony Mazz's prediction for the Red Sox is that they will end up with 87 wins.  Which means he thinks they will go 29-36 for the rest of the season.  His reasoning?  "They aren't seasoned enough and are going to crumble under pressure"

This is obviously trolling. How many World Series rings do their chief competitors (Tigers, Rangers, A's, Rays and Orioles) have again?

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

That's probably true re: Drew, but if he said, "You know Mike, even though these guys are new to us they aren't new to the league. Aside from our guys (Papi and Pedroia and Ellsbury) Victorino won a World Series with the Phillies, Napoli was in a few series with the Rangers, Lackey started and won a Game 7 for the Angels as a rookie. Gomes and Dempster have gone through the playoff wars. Heck, even Stephen Drew was a key player last year when the D'Backs were in the playoff race."
 
I think that's a little less disingenuous than saying, "Yeah, these guys are too young, they're going to totally fall on their faces in the second half."
 
You can't predict a bad fall based on age or experience. To illustrate, think back to the 2011 team, that team wasn't what Mazz may call young or inexperienced. A bunch of players from the 2007 team, the manager of the 2004 and 07 team, lots of "veteran leadership" dudes and they completely shit the bed. The point is, it really doesn't matter.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

So you want Mazz to put more effort and thought into his comments? Do you think he even knows Drew was on those teams?

You just put more effort into your post than Mazz does in a week of show prep.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

So you want Mazz to put more effort and thought into his comments? Do you think he even knows Drew was on those teams?

You just put more effort into your post than Mazz does in a week of show prep.

 
Essentially and touche.

 

[soxfan121]

If tony mazz said Stephen drew would be a reason why this team would make a deep playoff run you'd be in here posting he's retarded.

 
Bingo. This guy has bingo!
 
Mazz has been mailing it in so often and so hard, he might as well replace Frank the Tank's work bag. Mazz & Beetle = poor radio. Felger & Beetle = good radio.
 
I hate the Tony Mazz who doesn't watch games, doesn't give a shit and writes all his hot sports takes during his daily ten minute dump before the show.

 

[Buffalo Head]

Complaining about the length of games again. HOT SPORTS TAKE!

 

[Marbleheader]

Last night was dreadful in that regard, but agree they've spent too much time on this.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

this is so painful. Pedroia for $20M is overpaid! his stats are worth $13M a year! Felger: they should overpay him and that should be $16-17M a year. Cano is different kind of player! he hits 2x the HRs as Pedroia, so he deserves $20M a year
 
Mazz: the sox are good becasue they have balls!
 
OMG, do poeple really listen to this nonsense?

 

[NortheasternPJ]

this is so painful. Pedroia for $20M is overpaid! his stats are worth $13M a year! Felger: they should overpay him and that should be $16-17M a year. Cano is different kind of player! he hits 2x the HRs as Pedroia, so he deserves $20M a year
 
Mazz: the sox are good becasue they have balls!
 
OMG, do poeple really listen to this nonsense?

So with the Sox with having control for 2 years for about $22 million for Pedroia, what would you pay him? Rip up his contract and give him 5/$100, 6/$120?

They said multiple times that Cano wasn't worth $20m in the 40 minutes i listened today. He'd get $16-$18 but the Yankees would probably overpay (for the same reason the Sox would to a degree) and give him $20m.

I'm all for calling them out, which is simple, but it seems like people are coming more and more with dumb comments. Couple days ago it was "didn't they know Stephen Drew is a playoff vet and can help them in the playoffs?' which is what i'd expect Mazz to say, not SoSH.

 

[YouDownWithOBP?]

they are now comparing Ellsbury not being in the lineup tonight to Nomar sitting out in 2004 vrs the Yankees. Holy shit.

 

[Corsi]

Mazz: "Pedroia is not a guy you have to plan for as an opposing pitching staff and because of that, he's not worth the money."

 

[Haunted]

That's as nonsensically subjective as "but he has no heart!"

 

[TFP]

Mazz: "Pedroia is not a guy you have to plan for as an opposing pitching staff and because of that, he's not worth the money."

That is ridiculous. Yesterday when discussing the rumor that he would get $20M+ per year, Felger asked Mazz how much he thought Pedroia was worth and he said "He's a $13-14M player".

 

[axx]

How you know Felger is crazy: It sounded like he thought BB might actually answer questions about Hernandez when this press conference happens.

 

[timlinin8th]

That is ridiculous. Yesterday when discussing the rumor that he would get $20M+ per year, Felger asked Mazz how much he thought Pedroia was worth and he said "He's a $13-14M player".

So what's going to be the big conflict now that Pedroia's contract actually IS just a touch over 14M/per? That's why I really can't listen to them anymore, its a show that creates a ton of strawman arguments and then rallies against them.

 

[ForKeeps]

The worst part of them having zero understanding of how the teams in the sports they cover actually operate is that they have to come up with reasons to explain the discrepancies. Like, they didn't realize that the Red Sox were paying for Crawford's defense, so they explained his contract by saying it was because of "bad TV ratings." I'm sure they'll explain away Pedroia's deal as "paying him because he's a fan favorite and the face of the team!", not realizing that he's actually still underpaid.

 

[dcmissle]

That is ridiculous. Yesterday when discussing the rumor that he would get $20M+ per year, Felger asked Mazz how much he thought Pedroia was worth and he said "He's a $13-14M player".

 
 
This is the problem with attributing to them a seriousness of purpose that does not exist.  If the RS balked at the deal reached yesterday, both of them would play the "cheap" card.  "That's the problem with them, Tony ... they won't pay the high character guys.  Instead, they get star struck and then they get burned."
 
This is hilarious and very revealing.

 

[seantoo]

I think "VERY interesting" is a stretch here. 
 
Assuming that he does say anything at all about Hernandez, what can he possibly say that would be interesting or add something new to the story.?  If he talks about Hernandez, you will learn nothing new and the story will not be advanced at all.  I don't get what you could possibly be hoping for.
 
And if he chooses to say nothing, then the media will huff and puff and beat their chest and then the season will start, the Patriots will win football games and people will move on.

Nail on Head for T & A. This is the media insisting they are important or they will damn you. When you & everyone else already knows the answer why do you insist on asking the question? Is it to placate to the lowest common denominator aka idiot/mediots?

 

[seantoo]

Tony Mazz's prediction for the Red Sox is that they will end up with 87 wins.  Which means he thinks they will go 29-36 for the rest of the season.  His reasoning?  "They aren't seasoned enough and are going to crumble under pressure"
 
OK, maybe on WMB and Iglesias and Carp, I guess?  But Tony, you do realize that the FA's they signed were, you know, on other teams before that had some success?  Mike Napoli has 32 games of post-season experience and has been in 5 pennant races in the AL West.  Shane Victorino has 46 playoff games worth of experience.  Jonny Gomes was in two pennant races with two different teams.  And he seems to have forgotten that Stephen Drew was a big part of Arizona's last team that made a deep playoff run, and that he was on the A's last year, who had a pennant race of their own. 

Not to mention that many teams with little to no playoff experience have gone on to win WS.

 

[lostjumper]

Wiggy Wednesday, but wanted to get their take on the Bill press conference.
 
Wiggy: "Bill looked down the barrel of the gun and did a great job"...

 

[Buffalo Head]

Interesting day for Mike not to be there.

 

[YouDownWithOBP?]

Interesting day for Mike not to be there.


He asked himself out of the lineup /ellsbury

 

[Youkilis vs Wild]

He asked himself out of the lineup /ellsbury

Oh man, I hope somebody calls and says this tomorrow.

 

[YTF]

Was interested to see the reaction of Felger and Mazz. Felger's off and honestly I don't get Mazz's ball washing of BB here. Belichick did exactly what we expected didn't he? The only difference was the tone of voice and lack of arrogance that he sometimes exhibits in his pressers, but this was classic Bill Belichick AS IT SHOULD BE. From what I saw he never referred to Hernandez by name and any question involving Hernandez in ANY way (whether it concerned this case, any further charges or not) was basically met with the standard "I can't comment on anything involving the criminal investigation". I believe he was sincere in his tone and words and he offered no more than any of us thought he would. So after ALL of the hub bub about Bill not speaking, he speaks and says what all of us including Felger and Mazz expected he would and now Mazz is licking Bills ass. I don't get it.  

 

[lostjumper]

Because Mazz and Felger have been talking about the press conference the last 2 days and said BIll would say nothing at all. They were wrong, so now Mazz is ball washing Bill.

 

[Youkilis vs Wild]

Was interested to see the reaction of Felger and Mazz. Felger's off and honestly I don't get Mazz's ball washing of BB here. Belichick did exactly what we expected didn't he? The only difference was the tone of voice and lack of arrogance that he sometimes exhibits in his pressers, but this was classic Bill Belichick AS IT SHOULD BE. From what I saw he never referred to Hernandez by name and any question involving Hernandez in ANY way (whether it concerned this case, any further charges or not) was basically met with the standard "I can't comment on anything involving the criminal investigation". I believe he was sincere in his tone and words and he offered no more than any of us thought he would. So after ALL of the hub bub about Bill not speaking, he speaks and says what all of us including Felger and Mazz expected he would and now Mazz is licking Bills ass. I don't get it.  

I am very critical of these guys, but this is way, way off. Felger's been saying Bill would talk for a week and callers have been telling him he's crazy. And Bill most certainly did say the name Aaron Hernandez, and certainly did speak specifically about this incident in his opening statement.

 

[Dan Murfman]

Was interested to see the reaction of Felger and Mazz. Felger's off and honestly I don't get Mazz's ball washing of BB here. Belichick did exactly what we expected didn't he? The only difference was the tone of voice and lack of arrogance that he sometimes exhibits in his pressers, but this was classic Bill Belichick AS IT SHOULD BE. From what I saw he never referred to Hernandez by name.. 

FTR he did refer to Hernandez by name

 

[YTF]

I am very critical of these guys, but this is way, way off. Felger's been saying Bill would talk for a week and callers have been telling him he's crazy. And Bill most certainly did say the name Aaron Hernandez, and certainly did speak specifically about this incident in his opening statement.

It's not actually way, way off. I said from what I saw. I missed the opening statement. Just watched it on line and seems I caught it JUST after the opening statement where he speaks of this happening when he was out of the country. That said it's still what I believe most of us thought he would say. Not critical of Bill, just don't get the ball washing by Mazz. Bill spoke, he was very Belichick like and offered nothing more than he should..

 

[Quiddity]

Have heard very little of the show since I'm away in NY this week but kudos for YARM in not being his usual "Belichick sucks at everything" self. Good to have some decency from him for at least one day. Of course when he predicts the Pats to go 4-12 in a month this day will be easy to forget.

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Because Mazz and Felger have been talking about the press conference the last 2 days and said BIll would say nothing at all. They were wrong, so now Mazz is ball washing Bill.

What show are you listening to!?? Felger has been on the Bill will and should have a real statement and press conference and people have been calling for a week saying he's wrong. He was right about Kraft and BB.

 

[soxfan121]

Interesting day for Mike not to be there.

He asked himself out of the lineup /ellsbury

 
Well played, sir. 
 

What show are you listening to!?? Felger has been on the Bill will and should have a real statement and press conference and people have been calling for a week saying he's wrong. He was right about Kraft and BB.

 
While I think Felger's days off (back Friday?) were planned, I also think he was happiest about the PC happening today. He's not good on the fly. For a talk-show host, he's startlingly awful when he has to 'think on his feet'. But give him time to watch/listen several times and he'll have notes and have thought it through. 
 
He will thump his chest for being "right" and he will give BB credit for giving them so much. The answer to Shaughnessey (co-hosting with Mazz tomorrow, IIRC) asking about the team investigating current team members who visited the Franklin flop house was WAY, WAY more than anyone could have asked for from Belichick. The opening statement was contrite and appropriately abashed and the questions he did answer were illuminating. 
 
I do think Felger will then complain about the way BB answered the "will you change how you do business?" question because he's already staked out contrarian position on that one and BB wasn't emphatic. So, he'll endlessly beat that drum into the future. But he will give BB credit and then will remind us all about how he was right about how BB needed to handle the press conference and how he did come clean........sorta. I mean, he didn't ACTUALLY say they were going to change how they identify problem players, right Tony...wash, rinse repeat. 
 
Frankly, I was stunned by how BB handled the press conference. What a fucking PROFESSIONAL. Masterful.

 

[YTF]

Kraft got hammered for not speaking, he spoke. Belichick got hammered for not speaking, he spoke. Now they're discussing the need for Brady to speak. For fuck sake!!!

 

[ForKeeps]

Tony Mazz, Iglesias' number one detractor: "I LOVE this deal for the Tigers! For the Red Sox? Meh."
 
Click.

 

[YouDownWithOBP?]

Mazz says this doesn't help the bullpen, not even mentioning Workman shifting to a possible set up role as a result of this.

 

[PeaceSignMoose]

Red Sox trade talk with Wiggins?
 
So bad.

 

[ForKeeps]

"What's the guy's name? Bogit?"
"Bogaerts"
"yeah, him"

 

[HomeBrew1901]

"What's the guy's name? Bogit?"
"Bogaerts"
"yeah, him"

i thought you turned it off

 

[HomeBrew1901]

Red Sox trade talk with Wiggins?
 
So bad.

I'm sure he's a nice guy and all but as soon as I hear Wiggy's voice I turn the show off.  I don't get the appeal or understand why they have him on every week, obvioiusly people like him, I just don't get it.