PMT DB
PMT DB
Joe Buck on World Series Nerves, Sam Darnold’s Ghosts, and PLL Expansion
The Washington Nationals have officially entered the "team of destiny" conversation after stealing Game 1 in Houston against Gerrit Cole. Big Cat and PFT are all in on the Nats, mostly because the Astros have managed to become the ultimate villains of October. Between the assistant GM’s behavior and the pure dominance of Juan Soto, the vibes in DC are at an all-time high.
Big CatThe Washington Nationals are a team of destiny
I think the Washington Nationals are a team of destiny. I really do. Tonight was a big game, 5-4. To steal one in Houston with Gerrit Cole on the mound... that's got to feel good. They're a team of destiny and the Astros are like America's villain.
PFT is even looking at the schedule and wondering if the Astros are already dead in the water before the series really gets moving.
PFT CommenterGame 2 might be the last game in Houston for the 2019 World Series
Do you know what we can say now [PFT] now that the Nationals won game one? Tomorrow night might be the last game in Houston. Is it Gerrit Cole's last game, last night in Houston? A lot of people are saying Garrett Kershaw. I'm not saying it, but it was trending.
The conversation shifted to the Astros' front office drama, specifically Assistant GM Brandon Taubman. Big Cat laid out a simple rule for front office executives: if you aren't the one on the field, stay out of the headlines.
Big CatIf you are an assistant general manager, your name should never be making headlines for anything
I'm just gonna throw this out there. If you're an assistant general manager, your name should never be making headlines for anything—truth, good or bad. You don't do anything except scout and do your little fucking line graphs and work on spin rate. You should be on a spreadsheet in the back office in the worst lighting possible at all times.
Switching to the NFL, the guys had to address the Monday Night Football disaster where Sam Darnold was caught on a hot mic saying he was "seeing ghosts" against the Patriots. While the Jets are furious that NFL Films aired the clip, Big Cat actually thinks it provides a necessary excuse for why Darnold looked like he'd forgotten how to play football.
Big CatHallucinating and 'seeing ghosts' is a perfectly valid excuse for a quarterback's poor performance
I think it's actually good for Sam Darnold because the only explanation for being that bad is you were hallucinating. If the field was haunted, then that's a perfectly good reason to throw four interceptions in trouble.
Of course, Hank couldn't let a Patriots victory go by without reminding everyone that his team is basically inevitable.
HankThe Patriots are going to walk their way to the Super Bowl
I think the Patriots are going to walk their way to the Super Bowl. But they'd have to play some teams with a pulse coming up and it'll be interesting to see what that looks like.
Hollywood Joe Buck in Studio
Recurring guest and future Hall of Famer Joe Buck joined the guys in studio to talk about the grind of switching between baseball and football in October. Big Cat tried to pin him down on whether he actually cares about the haters on Twitter, or if he just cares about *telling* everyone he doesn't care. Buck admitted that while he tries to be measured, the desire to be perfect can actually make a broadcast boring.
They also got into the weeds on NFL access. Buck noted that while some coaches are guarded, there’s one newcomer in Green Bay who is still playing it fast and loose with information.
Joe BuckMatt LaFleur is currently the most open coach to talk to in the NFL because he hasn't been burned yet
The most open miraculously, at least from the guys we've talked to this year, is Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers. I believe that he doesn't know any better yet. He hasn't been burned yet... Matt LaFleur of the new people is easily the most open.
As the world of sports media changes, Buck also predicted a future where you won't have to leave your couch or even close the game to place a wager.
Joe BuckTV networks will eventually display live betting odds on the screen during sports broadcasts
I can see where they would have—I don't know, in golf—what are the odds of Rory McIlroy hitting the green at Sawgrass on 17? He's got, you know, whatever, it's 10 to 1 here and you can just on your phone, you hit down on that bet. I think TV networks eventually are going to pop that stuff up or it'll be a separate feed.
Breaking News and Hot Seats
Paul Rabil made a surprise appearance to drop some actual breaking news: the Premier Lacrosse League is expanding. Not only is there a seventh team coming in 2020, but Big Cat and PFT might actually have some skin in the game. The guys will be deciding the name of the new expansion club on Friday's show, effectively becoming lacrosse moguls.
On the Hot Seat, Matt Nagy is officially feeling the pressure in Chicago. Big Cat is concerned that the Bears' head coach is starting to spiral after a series of bizarre practice decisions and defensive press conferences.
Big CatMatt Nagy is cracking and losing his mind as the Bears head coach
My hot seat is Matt Nagy. He's cracking. He's losing his mind. He had the Bears throwing egg toss in practice. That screams like, 'Hey, I'm just trying to do one of those fun games that you do in training camp,' but it's the middle of the season. And yikes. He also told all the players to stay off Twitter.
Big CatIf you ever have to publicly state 'I am not an idiot,' there is a high probability that you are actually an idiot
[Matt Nagy] also said in his press conference, 'I know we need to run the ball. I'm not an idiot.' If you have to say 'I'm not an idiot,' you might be an idiot at any point in life. Really. If at any point you have to just beg and plead to inform people that you're not [an idiot], you probably are.
Finally, the guys tackled PR 101 for Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt after his sideline incident involving a player's facemask. PFT thought the move lacked the proper "teaching" element, while Big Cat dismissed the outrage entirely.
PFT CommenterJeremy Pruitt's facemask grab was a 'showboating' move
This is why you want Greg Schiano coaching your team and not Pruitt. My problem was he didn't use it as a teachable moment. He looked away. It was a showboating facemask grab. It was the Patrick Mahomes of grabbing your guy by the facemask. At least make eye contact and teach him something.
Big CatThe controversy over Jeremy Pruitt grabbing a player's facemask is a 'nothing' story
As somebody who got grabbed by his facemask by his high school coach, I feel like I am obligated to talk about this. I think since it happened to me it needs to happen to everybody else... this is the most nothing story of all time.
If the Nationals win this thing in four, PFT might actually have to start a parade in the middle of the set.
