RIP Toucher and Rich Show ... It was fun while it lasted

8slim

has trust issues
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Nov 6, 2001
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Yeah, I only listened to a half hour or so this morning, but Fred mentioned that he had wrapped himself in an afghan. I assumed that meant he's sick. I listen almost every day and can't recall him ever slurring his words. Certainly not since rehab.
 

Sir Lancelotti

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Jul 31, 2006
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Ryan Johnson has done a good job when he has been in the 3rd chair the past few months when he has filled in for Wallach. The dry wit clicks well with the vibe of the show and he seems to have a good sense on when to kick back and let Fred cook when he gets rolling on a rant. I'm not sure how strong his expertise is outside of hockey but he seems to be able to hold his own with Pats and Celtics talk.

I enjoy weekend Joe Murray when he is allowed to riff and drive the agenda, but i think he has been awful in the 3rd chair recently. Shoehorning in gambling talk where its not needed, ranting about perceived slights, going overboard on the hot takes. I enjoy the food talk in small doses as a diversion, but Joe tends to try and dominate the show at times at the expense of Fred and Rich. I get a vibe of "too many cooks in the kitchen" when Joe is in and i find the show has found a better balance with Johnson recently. I hope RJ gets consideration if Wallach ends up getting the full time Celtics gig. I think its safe to say Lockhart is not the answer.
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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Ryan Johnson has done a good job when he has been in the 3rd chair the past few months when he has filled in for Wallach. The dry wit clicks well with the vibe of the show and he seems to have a good sense on when to kick back and let Fred cook when he gets rolling on a rant. I'm not sure how strong his expertise is outside of hockey but he seems to be able to hold his own with Pats and Celtics talk.

I enjoy weekend Joe Murray when he is allowed to riff and drive the agenda, but i think he has been awful in the 3rd chair recently. Shoehorning in gambling talk where its not needed, ranting about perceived slights, going overboard on the hot takes. I enjoy the food talk in small doses as a diversion, but Joe tends to try and dominate the show at times at the expense of Fred and Rich. I get a vibe of "too many cooks in the kitchen" when Joe is in and i find the show has found a better balance with Johnson recently. I hope RJ gets consideration if Wallach ends up getting the full time Celtics gig. I think its safe to say Lockhart is not the answer.
Agreed. RJ has been solid. He's far more polished than Murray and has been doing this for far longer. He has a tendency to be a bit vanilla at times (well, so is Wallach!), but he comes across as fairly knowledgeable in all areas of Boston sports and sports in general. And given that T&R do both love to talk B's when possible, he would be a big upgrade over Wallach in this regard. They might have fallen into something actually fortunate here with Jones bolting.
 

Myt1

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Yeah, I only listened to a half hour or so this morning, but Fred mentioned that he had wrapped himself in an afghan. I assumed that meant he's sick. I listen almost every day and can't recall him ever slurring his words. Certainly not since rehab.
It’s possible that it was almost a bit as he was reading ads, but I actually stayed in my car when I got to my driveway to listen more, and it seemed to continue. He seemed unwell, which could have any number of possible causes (e.g., stress/anxiety-related insomnia, illness, etc.) other than booze.

Also possible that it was more jarring to me specifically because I no longer listen almost every day.
 

8slim

has trust issues
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Nov 6, 2001
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It’s possible that it was almost a bit as he was reading ads, but I actually stayed in my car when I got to my driveway to listen more, and it seemed to continue. He seemed unwell, which could have any number of possible causes (e.g., stress/anxiety-related insomnia, illness, etc.) other than booze.

Also possible that it was more jarring to me specifically because I no longer listen almost every day.
I have no idea. I do think that if Fred was drunk on-air, to the point of noticeably slurring his words, he would have been given a lengthy vacation from the show to check back into rehab.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
20,554
It’s possible that it was almost a bit as he was reading ads, but I actually stayed in my car when I got to my driveway to listen more, and it seemed to continue. He seemed unwell, which could have any number of possible causes (e.g., stress/anxiety-related insomnia, illness, etc.) other than booze.

Also possible that it was more jarring to me specifically because I no longer listen almost every day.
If he was reading an ad like the Pajamas one, it was definitely an act / bit.
 

dirtynine

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Dec 17, 2002
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Fred was clearly under the weather with some kind of congestion/lung thing. It was actually kinda gross, you could hear him wheezing and breathing when other people were talking. I was giving him credit for hanging in there for the show.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
2,565
RJ is boring AF. Which is perfectly fine for a 3rd chair. Yesterday and today I almost forgot he was on, which...is perfect for a 3rd chair. He's pretty bad leading a show that isn't the hockey hour. Him and Flynn were TERRIBLE, but I think that was more because Flynn was constant word vomit.

As someone who usually has the stream on starting before the show opens, it is refreshing not hearing Joe Murray. The 6-7AM hour (especially 6-630) is like quiet talk about nothing because they know no one listens and....well, it's 6AM. A lot of time when Joe is on I hear screaming about THE RANGLE!!!!!! at 6:15. Like, I need to turn my computer down so my kids don't wake up. Having 3 quiet guys talk about nothing is much better.

I honestly forgot about RJ as a possibility to fill in for Wallach because he's on so infrequently. After these last few days, I think he's my preference.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
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As someone who's been a Joe Murray defender and I've really liked Joe, over the last 3-4 months he's gotten so much worse. I'm not sure if he's decided that he has to be more controversial with hot takes and starting to yell to get a spot at 98.5, but he's getting more hot takez and louder by the day. He's on now saying we shouldn't' give any credit to the Red Sox for signing Devers, but it's ok to rip them if they didn't.
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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All I could tell you about Rockland is it's more or less next to Braintree and has, by New England amateur standards; a hell of a nice baseball field.
 

GeorgeCostanza

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May 16, 2009
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All I could tell you about Rockland is it's more or less next to Braintree and has, by New England amateur standards; a hell of a nice baseball field.
You sure you’re thinking of Rockland? That stadium is a shithole. They rebuilt the high school and middle school a few years after I graduated but didn’t put a dime into the stadium built in the 50s right next door other than a new roof for the bleachers and moving the fence in and infield out from the stands. The dimensions used to be preposterous for high school baseball. 400 down the left field line. 55something to the center field fence if I remember correctly.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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No Fred again.

Tough listen with Rich and Wallach leading the way in the aftermath of the Pats season....
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
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And no announcement as to why he’s not there. Yikes.
Yep, I was hoping there was a "Fred will be on in a few min with technical challenges" instead Rich just said something along the lines of "Well another day and I have no idea who my co-hosts are..."
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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Yep, I was hoping there was a "Fred will be on in a few min with technical challenges" instead Rich just said something along the lines of "Well another day and I have no idea who my co-hosts are..."
Not good. This can’t go on like this for much longer. I feel bad for Rich.
 

shawnrbu

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Jul 14, 2005
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How long has Mazz been out for?
Mazz was working at home on December 15th. Was sick and ended his day a couple hours early. Think he would have been on vacation from December 20th through the end of the year since Felger was off those days. Mazz was at the Winter Classic and did one segment in the 3rd hour that day as Felger and Murray were on from Fenway from 10 to 1. Wasn’t on Tuesday through Friday last week.
 

onthereg527

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Nov 16, 2021
172
Oh and just hearing Wallach again made me realize how little I missed him. This morning in the opening segment discussing NFL coaches and who could get axed and he actually suggested Mike Vrabel could get fired.
 

Dr. Gonzo

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Jan 8, 2010
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Fred sounded terrible most of last week. He could still be sick and wanted the extra day.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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Fred sounded terrible most of last week. He could still be sick and wanted the extra day.
Yes but usually Rich would say that's the case.

"I'm sure a lot of people are concerned about Fred. He was sick last week and needed the day. He's fine and will be back hopefully by X"
 

8slim

has trust issues
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Nov 6, 2001
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Yes but usually Rich would say that's the case.

"I'm sure a lot of people are concerned about Fred. He was sick last week and needed the day. He's fine and will be back hopefully by X"
Yep, Rich made a comment near the end of the show along the lines of 'we'll see who my co-hosts are' when Wallach said he'd be gone for another couple of weeks. You'd think the current environment would be wearing on him, given the Lockhart situation, the revolving 3rd chair, and now Fred's personal problems/constant maladies.
 

Rusty13

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Nov 3, 2007
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Yes but usually Rich would say that's the case.

"I'm sure a lot of people are concerned about Fred. He was sick last week and needed the day. He's fine and will be back hopefully by X"
That is why I'm officially concerned. Mazz is back on F&G by the way. So 2 entirely different situations it would seem.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Nov 16, 2004
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That is why I'm officially concerned. Mazz is back on F&G by the way. So 2 entirely different situations it would seem.
I randomly just turned it on and Mazz said that he threw up that day in the 3pm hour. He had some medical issues that sound rather serious that he had to take care of. He's going to be in and out over the next few weeks. He seems OK, feels pretty good, but sounds scary.
 

DisgruntledSoxFan77

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VamonosPests54

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Sep 21, 2016
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I get calling out sick here and there, but c'mon. I don't remember the last time he worked an entire 5 day work week. I'm sure he has recently and i'm just blanking on them, but they are few and far between. Where's management? It seems like he can just do whatever whenever.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
2,565
Rich opens up the second segment talking about the game last night

"Future Texans QB Stetson Bennett led the Bulldogs...." implying that Bennett would be the 2nd overall pick. Fred and Wallach had to step in and tell him he probably won't be drafted, or maybe a team grabs him very late in the draft. Rich had no idea. "But he won the Heisman"
 

hube

New Member
Apr 4, 2010
284
I love when Rich refuses to back down. Seriously. I enjoy Fred and Wallach just beating him up on his insistence that "some team will draft Stetson Bennett as a backup." It's funny to listen to him scramble for points in his favor and get knocked down over and over.
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
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The best was, 15 minutes later:
Fred: I will bet you $20,000 no team will draft him
*other 2 hosts hemming and hawing*
Fred: ok the $20,000 MAY have been a pre divorce number....
*laughs*
Rick: ok so, $10,000?
 

Milktoast

New Member
Jun 21, 2021
32
What are the odds Fred is back to being a pack-a-day+ cigarette smoker since his divorce? Management thinks he has a smoker's cough, not a sickness cough. That's why they are harassing him. Can he be legally drug tested for nicotine only?
 

NDame616

will bailey
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Jul 31, 2006
2,565
What are the odds Fred is back to being a pack-a-day+ cigarette smoker since his divorce? Management thinks he has a smoker's cough, not a sickness cough. That's why they are harassing him. Can he be legally drug tested for nicotine only?
I missed this, how do you know this?