Well fuck you too then! just kidding. I replied to the wrong post. Let's all be friends and gang up on Walldick.
Toucher and Hardy: The new 98.5 morning show
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
- Start date
He confirmed a speculative story as accurate by making up a fake story that is vaguely similar to the speculated story. Got it.
I remember listening to Minihane's Barstool podcast years ago where someone brought up Trenni no longer doing T&R appearances because Rich was a creeper. Minihane said that he talked to lots of people in the 98.5 building and "Trust me! TRUST ME!" that Rich was absolutely despised by everyone there. At the time I chalked it up to Kirk just trying to start some shit after losing the 'eei/ 98.5 battle but it looks like he had it right.
I think they will surprise a lot of people and make a run at the WC spot. If they do make a playoff spot I don’t see that going anywhere because the rotation is just so weak. I’m hoping Gioliti bounces back and gives us 15 wins.
what’s the main board? I just found this a place to shoot the shit about 98.5
I’d argue the Main Board is anything but the Red Sox forum for about 5 years.
C'mon man, don't bully someone because they want to talk about some media gossip.
very progressive of you to leave the possibility open that SHARTS is a chick
First-time commenter, long-time reader.
I just wanted to share my thoughts on this comment. I really liked Rich; he was always good to me. He was the one who texted me about coming back to T&R, and I’ll be forever grateful for that.
Rich and the show provided me with many opportunities. However, I’m just realizing now, in a post-T&R era, that he may have also held back my growth in other areas. Since November, I’ve taken over the social media accounts, which have had a big uptick in show-related stuff. I started creating more video content. I know I’m forgetting some other stuff but I’m really happy with my role on the show.
Additionally, communication has improved regarding show planning and in general. It’s much more organized. Everybody has a voice. It’s definitely a better place compared to the majority of 2023.
One more thing about Rich: I’ve worked with him for almost 9 years and I feel like I barely knew him. Fred is 100% right on that. Regardless, I hope he lands on his feet.
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Now I’m confused. I thought the account that Fred blasted on here months ago and accused of being you was you. So you weren’t that account or are you really not you and this is someone pretending to be you? Have you seen that show You on Netflix?
That wasn’t me. This is really Nick, and I haven’t seen it but I’ve heard good things. The only reason why I jumped on was to weigh in on Rich. In a nutshell, we’re really happy with the direction of the new show.
I'd rather have the show never talk about the Sox ever again than have to listen to the past 10 minutes of Sox talk.
Excruciating "they wish they never won a title" nonsense. I had to turn it off.
Excruciating "they wish they never won a title" nonsense. I had to turn it off.
With Hardy out on vacation, the show this week has been back to the November-December set up. Absolutely brutal. Fred re-cycling rants that weren't funny the first day he did them... inane banter, and too much Wallach.
Keep up the good work Nick, especially those of us who listen on the podcast appreciate you a lot.
I'm enjoying the new chemistry quite a bit.
I'm enjoying the new chemistry quite a bit.
Pre-planned vacations happen of course, but I do find it *slightly* odd that Hardy is already on vacation less than two months into the new show.
He's new to the show but not the company. He has time accrued and likely had this planned for a while since MA is on school vacation and listenership is probably down this week.
I'm sure you're right and I am overthinking it, just wasn't expecting him to be out so soon into the new program is all.
I hear that. When I tuned in on Monday and heard RJ doing the updates, I immediately thought Fred was out again.
it's the school vacation week. Everyone is off this week. I'm currently listening to Zo and Holly , and I haven't been listening long enough to know if they have a flash guy in today
I'm going to guess they try to stagger them as best they can (host 1 gets February vacation, host 2 gets April)
Back to T&H, I get the schtick of making Roche uncomfortable but holy hell there's only so many times I can listen to Fred talking about Roche and his wife having sex.....
There was a bit today with Roche where they were talking baseball and the state of the Red Sox. Freds' point was that since 2004, people have become tuned out and don't genuinely like baseball anymore.
I would say look no further than the afternoon program on the Sports Hub. They are hostile towards any baseball or Red Sox-focused matters. They flat out do not like baseball and complain about the new rules, "stats nerds" ruining the game, etc. If you listened during 2018 and didn't watch any baseball games, you would have thought the team lost 100 games. There are people at that station who proudly say that they do not like baseball anymore and they don't bother watching. It's insane coming from a SPORTS talk radio network.
To be clear - the Red Sox bring a lot of heat on themselves. Chicken and beer, Bobby V, low balling home grown stars, just to name a few. There is just something about baseball, in my opinion, where the local and national media seem to actively wring their hands and complain about the state of the game and how it's a dying game.
It is the only big 4 sport where I find that media folks, both local and league wide, do not actually promote the game but rather tell you how bad it is and how it is not entertaining. I do not watch much football outside the Patriots, but the NFL "state run media" is constantly hyping up players and teams, and talking about how amazing the game is.
When the Red Sox are actually good - people around here are invested. I would talk to co-workers in 2021 who didn't follow the Sox, but they knew they were in the playoffs and they were watching games. That '21 Wild Card game was an insane atmosphere. When the team is good, people show up and show out.
I would say look no further than the afternoon program on the Sports Hub. They are hostile towards any baseball or Red Sox-focused matters. They flat out do not like baseball and complain about the new rules, "stats nerds" ruining the game, etc. If you listened during 2018 and didn't watch any baseball games, you would have thought the team lost 100 games. There are people at that station who proudly say that they do not like baseball anymore and they don't bother watching. It's insane coming from a SPORTS talk radio network.
To be clear - the Red Sox bring a lot of heat on themselves. Chicken and beer, Bobby V, low balling home grown stars, just to name a few. There is just something about baseball, in my opinion, where the local and national media seem to actively wring their hands and complain about the state of the game and how it's a dying game.
It is the only big 4 sport where I find that media folks, both local and league wide, do not actually promote the game but rather tell you how bad it is and how it is not entertaining. I do not watch much football outside the Patriots, but the NFL "state run media" is constantly hyping up players and teams, and talking about how amazing the game is.
When the Red Sox are actually good - people around here are invested. I would talk to co-workers in 2021 who didn't follow the Sox, but they knew they were in the playoffs and they were watching games. That '21 Wild Card game was an insane atmosphere. When the team is good, people show up and show out.
I think that a lot of what you're saying is true, but I also think that MLB does a terrible job of marketing today's game. If you watch MLB Network or listen to any of the national guys, they'll talk about today's players and how good they are, but it eventually devolves into, "Well Player X wasn't nearly as good as Willie Mays." Baseball players don't get their accolades from the people that cover them until they retire. Which is insane to me because what they're telling today's kids is that your heroes are good, but my heroes were better. You hear that enough and eventually you start wondering why you're wasting time on a sport that was better 20, 40, 60 years ago?
On the MLB Network studio show there are huge pictures of players that barely anyone alive has seen play: Babe Ruth (who retired in 1935) and Jackie Robinson (who left the game in 1957, I think?). Obviously these aren't just titans of baseball, but legitimate historical figures. But their faces have no business being anywhere near a studio discussing today's players. The NBA doesn't do this. The NFL doesn't do this. Even the NHL which loves its history almost as much as MLB doesn't do this.
Incidentally 98.5 doesn't have the Red Sox radio rights so it doesn't make sense to promote them anyway. But you're 100% right about the 2018 team, I remember it was August and the Sox were cooking and Mazz kept saying, "This is a fluke, they're gonna choke, I don't even want to pay attention." He missed an all-time great season because of reasons, I'm still not exactly sure why. I used to get angry, but then I thought about it and I'm just like, Tony Mazz missed an awesome season because of his negativity and his decision to "protect" himself from a choke that never happened. That's really fucking sad. I felt sorry for the guy.
With Hardy out this week, the one guy that’s dominating the airtime is insufferable. One more penis reference to Kendra…..
It’s been a largely unfunny bit for a while now. The 15 minutes I listened today was that and the inane bit about people wishing the Sox never won a title.
Then I turned it off.
I think I’m coming to grips with the fact that a show I eagerly anticipated tuning into for years is now something I don’t enjoy all that much. It’s weird because I do like Hardy, and Fred can still be hilarious at times. But I’m just not feeling it.
I’m glad people working on the show are enjoying the experience more though. Maybe some time off for me will help. The Roche stuff today might have been my breaking point.
I....very much doubt the 2nd part of that is true haha
I think the show is moving in a great direction with Hardy. But it has certainly fell backwards this week (which is to be expected since it's a vacation week)
That’s where I am…checked back into the show but literally couldn’t do the Sox fans never wanted to win thing. Seemed almost a Felgerian bit.
The hardy contribution is still playing out but I was hoping this show would capture some of the magic of the last. Maybe Hardy and Fred are just acerbic bastards that need a little levity provided by someone not them.
Fred takes himself oddly seriously sometimes, but Wallach is nails on chalkboard so I don’t see him helping.
I’ll try again in a couple weeks.
I'm not sure if they were doing "shooting the breeze" or just a filler segment, but someone called in and asked Fred if he's heard from Rich at all. Alluded to thinking all this was weird, people are covering stuff up etc.
Fred said he heard from him via text the day after they decided not to bring him back
Wallach said he heard from him via a text when someone announced they were going on tour
I believe Nick said he hadn't heard from him
I think Lockhart or whomever the producer was said he got a thanksgiving day text
Fred reiterated it wasn't weird and kept reminding everyone how he isn't friends with Rich. "If he did reach out I would think that would be weird"
Fred said he heard from him via text the day after they decided not to bring him back
Wallach said he heard from him via a text when someone announced they were going on tour
I believe Nick said he hadn't heard from him
I think Lockhart or whomever the producer was said he got a thanksgiving day text
Fred reiterated it wasn't weird and kept reminding everyone how he isn't friends with Rich. "If he did reach out I would think that would be weird"
I missed this take? What were they saying?
Also, Fred constantly going on rants about the Pats possibly drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. during every Pats draft talk segment is getting tiresome. We get it, dude. The Lions past draft picks scarred you for life.
I'm still listening out of sheer loyalty at this point and likely will continue to do so for now. But the new show is still not clicking for me as of late.
the fact rich has a private number is so douche rich right on brand. Funny that Fred said if rich was listening to not reach out to him because he weirds him out.
No one on the show has heard from or about rich in 3 months. Rich’s instagram says currently in hiding. Seems like he’s having a Fred like meltdown just not as public. Dude just straight up quit his job and didn’t tell anyone he wasn’t coming back. Posted a couple things on social media then just disappeared. Sounds exactly like someone in rehab….
You’re right… it’s totally normal for people who had a career in a very public facing capacity, that isn’t retired, to just disappear.
Just as it's normal to speculate he's a douche for having a private number (??) and having a meltdown simply because he's not posting on social media?
I really don't think it does the show any good to keep bringing him up, but whatever.