You're listening to Miller and Moulton coming at you from the Floor Meisters Studios Floor Meisters keeping it real. And now here's Mark Miller and David Moulton. It is the Diamond District bonus hour fourth and final hour of Miller and Moulton on this final day of March. Thanks so much for being with us. Miller and Moulton, Miller and Moulton.com Miller underscore Moulton on X. It's National Tater Day. What's your favorite form of taters? Potatoes? We've got four choices for you. You know, baked potato, mashed, you know, scalloped there, old grotton. And French fries. And French fries, which I thought would be doing a little bit better to be honest with you. Who doesn't love French fries? Yeah, I'm just saying it's it's it's very Gen Z now. It's very lazy. People don't make great French fries anymore. Make French fries great again. That would be my motto. Huh. Okay. All right. I have a question for you. Since we started the show talking about this team kind of sort of, I brought them up. Because I started with Vegas firing their hockey coach with eight games left and hiring John Tortorelli. And I just said, what would have happened last year if the Bucks would have done that with bowls? Well, obviously bowls has a lot of question marks heading into this year. I mean, it's a make or break year for the guy. There's no doubt. But are you paying Baker before the year starts? Because he's coming up on the last year of his contract. You know, he's due, I think, you know, whatever, 40 million this year, I believe, but I think that's the number this year. But this is the end of the three-year deal for Baker Mayfield. Mm-hmm. And up until the nosedive last year, it looked really well for the Tampa quarterback. I mean, it did. Looked like it was and I still think it's money well spent. I still think they got a lot out of a guy that was put to the trash heap before he came to Tampa Bay. I mean, hell, when he got the contract from Tampa, the talk was it was he and Trask fighting for the job. Which was a joke, but there were a lot of Trask fans out there. There were. We love our backup quarterbacks. We used to. We're now learning how bad most backups are. I think if you listen to this show, you know, we are we are very big on hiring a quality backup. And I think many, many teams neglect that and it costs them dearly. But back to Baker Mayfield, David, are you trying to get a deal done between now and training camp to extend Baker Mayfield? Absolutely. Absolutely. In fact, I'm getting it done. I'm absolutely positively getting it done. There's two factors that work here for me. First, they don't have an alternative. Okay, and there's no guarantee they can get their hands on one and so and I like what they have. I think he's a winning quarterback. Secondly, they have a leadership vacuum. They've lost the two big leaders on the team in Levante, David and Mike Evans. They can't afford any more of a leadership vacuum. Baker is the now the clear leader, not just in the huddle, not just on the sidelines, but also in the room. Okay, it's his team. It's certainly his offense. Okay, there's no one he has to play cake. It's Baker Mayfield's team. If I'm Jason Light, I can't run that risk. I can't. He turns 31 in two weeks. Okay, so you're signing him for when he's 32, 33, 34, 35. Okay, he won't be as athletic at the end of this decade. Yeah, okay. But I don't have an alternative. I'm sorry. I give him the Cousins Deal from Atlanta. Four for 180 and I'll guarantee the first three years of it. I mean, he's at the point. This is probably his last big contract. So he's there's no hometown discount. Okay, I get it. But that's what I'm willing to do that with Baker Mayfield. Four for a buck 80, 135 of a guaranteed. I got no and if he wants more of a guaranteed, if he wants 150, 155 so that it's three and a half years guaranteed. Yeah, fine. Fine. I don't care. But this way, Mark, I know this year and at least three more 31, 32, 33, 34. Baker Mayfield's my guy. Yeah, I'm fine with that. I got a lot of other things to worry about. I think I don't need to be worrying about this. Mark, the other thing is the cap's already 300. It's gonna be 330 something, 360 something, 400 and who knows by the end of this decade, they may have this sucker opened up. We may be on 18 games at which point 400 will be 500. Do you know how paltry this contract is gonna look? Do you know how paltry 45 million a year is gonna look during the contract? I'll say I'm doing that deal right now. I wouldn't argue. I just let you go. There's nothing I disagree with with that. What if Baker wants quite a bit more? I mean, you're offering 45. That's not anywhere near. There are guys that he doesn't think are as good as him making more money than that. And to your point, this is his last big deal. Probably, yep. I mean, realistically it is. So, okay, David, I couldn't do that deal fast enough if I'm Tampa. I'm with you 130%. I'm not joking. Okay. But what if it's for, what if he wants for, I don't know, 210? No. No. I'll go shorter. I'll go shorter with you. But no, no, no, no, no. If you're gonna insist on that, then we're gonna go a shorter term. At least what I'm willing to guarantee. Okay. I find we can go for for 210, 52 and a half a year. I ain't guaranteeing the fourth year at all. Not a penny. Not a dime. Not a dime. So you're essentially signing the same contract. I mean, that's the other thing. Mark, if I'm gonna guarantee 150 to 160 million of the $180 million deal and you want 52 and a half for four and I'm only guaranteeing three, I'm guaranteeing 157 and a half. I'm guaranteeing the exact same amount of money. Okay. So, but if it's more than that, you're, I mean, and I'm just, you know, you're kind of negotiating on Tampa's behalf right now. I'm kind of playing Bakers agent. Okay. And that's fine. And all I will say to you, what's your backup? Oh, my backup is, well, my backup is I can tag your ass. Okay. That's, that's what I can do. And I can buy another year or two to go look for your replacement. But I'm trying to avoid that. Okay. I'm also trying to, you know, get you paid. I mean, come on now. I'm paying you 45 and I know, I know, I know what other quarterbacks are making and you're going to come in and say, well, I'm better than Trevor Lawrence. There you go. 55 a year. Yeah. And he's six years younger. Okay. So I'm just saying, I'm willing. Also, it's more money you've ever made in your life. Okay. It's your home. You'll probably be in the ring of honor. It's no state tax. Okay. Or, you know, I can throw your ass out on the street at 32 or 33. And I'll just go have to play real good to get in that ring of honor. That's a stretch. No, I'm on your side. I actually, I'm doing this a little bit just to be, I know you're just because I agree with you. I really do. Right. But that is, that is to me, if, if you're Baker and his side, that's bare minimum. I really think it is. Okay. And I don't think he's being that out of outlandish asking for more than that. No, I don't think you are either. I'm just saying this is where we're drawn the line. Okay. I look right at him and say, by the way, you win multiple playoff games this year. I'll give you exactly what you want. Okay. Exactly what you want. Baker, I like you a lot. We like you. We more than like you. You know that. I ain't trying to, I ain't talking about draft on a quarterback. I ain't talking about bringing anybody else in here. Okay. I'm going to give you a lot of money. Yeah. You could probably make more if you really, really, really want to. You could probably bend me over the table for a little bit more money. Okay. All right. I'm just telling you, we're going to push back. We're going to push back four for 180. I'll guarantee 160 of it. Okay. 45 a year extension onto what you have now. I would love to see Tampa get it done for that. I would. I think that's fair. Quarterbacks mostly don't take contracts that are fair. And now I understand. I mean, Daniel Jones just played real hardball and I could see Baker looking at me going, dude, you're offering me slightly more than what Daniel Jones is getting from the Colts. And I would look at him and go, well, they're kind of idiots. Okay. They didn't have to give him that. Where else was he going to go? Okay. But you know, there was a guy, you tag him. What, what are you going to pay him in 27? Probably more than what I'm offering. Yeah. I'm just, you're going to force my hand, but you're also going to limit how long you're here. Okay. You signed my deal. You're going to be here through 2030. The only way you wouldn't is if you are physically broken down and I move on from you after 2029. And I'm still putting $20 million in your bank account. So I just think I'm with you that it's got to get done before camp and it doesn't even like I want to get it done sooner than later. I'd like all of a sudden in early June, if you know what I mean to say, oh, by the way, we did the Baker deal before camp open before talk radio goes nuts about a Baker deal. You know what I mean. Totally. Just get this done. He's our guy. He wants to be here. We want him. Here's the deal. I love the four for 180. I do. I just wonder if Baker would love the four for 180. Yeah, I'm looking right at him saying, by the way, you're throwing out the opening day pitch in the new baseball stadium. Okay, but if you're going to play this hardball game, okay, by 2028, we're going to have a new quarterback. I'm just letting you know. Do you want to spend the rest of your career here? Okay, or do you want to be playing somewhere else in one to two years because that's the road you're talking. The road I'm talking about is this the last uniform you put on. Wow. I just sang revival was that Brian now I get to throw out the first pitch. Hell, I'm staying that that you know what I wanted more money but up until the first pitch I was done. You sold me there. Welcome back to Miller and Molten text the guys what's in your mind at 21,000. That's 21000. And now here's David Molten. 21 minutes past the hour. Good, bad, and ugly. What's on tap today was the day when some final thoughts all coming up. Well, I know what I'm watching tonight. And it's not going to be easy for me to get it, but I know what I'm watching tonight. Is there one of those Chicago fire PD out in the wood shows tonight that you're watching? That's tomorrow. Chicago med Chicago fire Chicago PD. Not Chicago out in the woods. Not Chicago out in the woods. No. No. Cute though. Saturday in the park maybe. No, those these are all these are all songs that you're referencing here. So, Shane McClellan, remember him? Yeah. Pride of Cape Coral went to South Florida, ends up getting drafted by the rays. Okay. And his career is going along swimmingly. First two, three years of it makes a couple all star teams. So in 40 games and like two and a half seasons. And yeah, he's got an elbow injury and a nerve injury on top of it. Mark, he last appeared in a major league game, August 2nd of 2023. Almost 1000 days ago. 972 to be exact. He went from, you know, a 26 year old lefty to what in a couple weeks he's going to be a 29 year old lefty. But he's starting tonight in Milwaukee for the raise against the Brewers. And I'm all in. He lost his dad during the off season. Okay, talked about how emotional that is. Okay. And that how his dad had seen him pitch literally every single time he had ever pitched in his whole life, his dad had seen him. Okay. And so now he's going to have to not only come back from the injury, but obviously we all, when we lose our parents, we have to go on in life. And I'm going to be right tonight in Milwaukee, which, you know, sometimes is not the best ballpark to be pitching in because the ball can carry. You got to keep it down. Shane McClanahan tonight. And many think he's the key to the race season. That if he comes back and he's Shane McClanahan, Mark, that. Because he's what is their number five starter? Yeah, for, I mean, if he's Shane McClanahan, he quickly moves up that list. Right. I mean, he's penciled in is that now because they don't know what to expect. But David, if he's 80% of Shane McClanahan, he moves up to at least the number three and probably the number two, if you know what I mean. Oh, exactly. But think about that. If all of a sudden right now, the guy that you're like, well, you know, we hope he's back. Hope he can stay healthy. You know, we'll give him extra rest, blah, blah, blah. We'll throw him out there as the number five starter. See how it goes. And what if it goes? And yeah, a team that already is thought of to have good pitching look out. So I'm all in. I'm all in. He's got local ties up along our network, no matter where you are. And I'm in. Let's hope he can pitch well and let's hope that Diaz keeps doing what he's doing because he's also just unreal start. Damn, hitting over 500 for three or four games so far. I mean, like 11 to 20 or something crazy. He's just killing the ball right now. See is up raised with him win in Milwaukee last night. They've won two in a row after losing their first two of the year. So they've had a fun start to the year. Had a seven one lead lost scored four in the night. The force extra innings scored in the 10th still lost. Then they've come back and won two games since Diaz had what five hits Sunday. I mean, they've actually played some fun baseball. They really have. And you know, yesterday coming back, they were down to one in that game and coming from behind to win that. So a good win. Big Tampa sports night tonight. You got that. And you got the lightning who have an opportunity to have first place all to themselves. Yes, this is the game in hand. They're hosted. They're playing the Canadians. You know, this is a team David that you think they're much better when we talked about this. You're like, I love this match up in the bell. They'll smoke the Canadians if they play in the playoffs. I do. I love this match up for Tampa. I think Montreal would be hard pressed to take more than two games in a best of seven. If Tampa doesn't win the division and they end up in a two, three division match up with Montreal, because it's going to be difficult for Montreal to finish anywhere other than third. Right. And I apologize. It's not their game in hand. Buffalo is hosting the Islanders tonight. But I know what you're saying. They're tied with Buffalo. They do have a game in hand. Okay. No sense giving it up. If you know what I mean, even though Buffalo plays tonight, if you're Tampa, you win. You know, you control your own, you know, fate, destiny, whatever it is. So yeah, there's no doubt. You know, raise on the road, lightning at home. Could be a playoff preview. You know, I heard a stat. Quick tangent. You know, I heard stat yesterday. Do you know since the 2019 hockey draft, what player has the most goals scored and it's Cole Caulfield? Okay. Yeah, the little guy, ironically, playing for Martin Saint-Louis. But and I guess we're looking at the stats, you know, Boston fan right now is going, ah, Montreal doesn't have third locked up just yet. You know, the Bruins have been playing much better lately. Yeah, I'll start with their comeback. I mean, they've been playing well, but they come back when against Detroit was big because they hadn't won a game in regulation on the road in months. Right. And did that against Detroit. They won a couple of cents. So they're only two back of Montreal. Montreal's got the game in hand. But man, every night, I will say, if you're a hockey fan right now and your team's in the East, there's something outside of the Carolina Hurricanes, who I guess are still, and even including Carolina because they're playing for first over on the conference. You've got Tampa, Buffalo and Carolina all with 98 points. So one's going to have home ice throughout the playoffs. You've got a bunch of teams, including now Philadelphia, fighting for a wild card spot. So it's funny, Mark, two teams who we had all written off and with good reason. Okay, the Flyers and what have we, they've won eight in a row on the road and their record is something like, you know, nine, one and two in their last 12. Meanwhile, we had totally written off the St. Louis Blues and up until last night, they were 13, one and two in their last 16 games and it moved to within four points of a playoff spot. And out of game in hand. But I mean, you've got Columbus, Ottawa, Detroit, Philadelphia, all separated by two points. The Islanders are only a point ahead of that, right? You know, Buffalo's or Boston's giving themselves a little cushioned as the top wild card team. You know, Pittsburgh with that win last night against Montreal, they moved into second place in the division. So I mean, every night in the East, every damn game matters. Even tonight, the Panthers are hosting Ottawa. It doesn't mean Squadoosh for the Panthers, but it's a big game for Ottawa. And if you're the Panthers, the only thing you've got left to play for is to try to ruin someone else's season. And yet you don't want to win too often because you're trying to make sure you finish in the bottom 10. So you get to keep your first round pick. That's management. Right. They're not hockey players. Tanks are not something that goes on in that sport. I mean, they've tanked as best they can by setting out players for the rest of the year. Right. That's that's Paul Maurice's job. You know, when they really don't want to know, right, they'll make sure Bob's not in net. Right. When they really don't want to win. When they do want to win, they'll make sure certain guys play. And even then they're going to get to play Detroit. It doesn't matter who they play in gold. They'll beat the Red Wings. Here we go. Just a fact, David. Just a fact. But a big sports night in Tampa tonight. Yep. The light rays on the road and shiny that. McClann a hand pitching for the rays and Tampa trying to get to first overall in the division in the East. You're listening to Miller and Moulton. And now here's Mark Miller and David Moulton. 22 minutes to the top of the hour. Final segment of Miller and Moulton on this final day of March. Thanks for being with us. Mark, the big kid. And I mean, big kid from the Gators is transferred. The Coltero 7 9 Olivier Ryu. Two years with the Gators. I don't know if both years cost him full years of eligibility or not. Who the hell knows anymore? Okay. He played so little last year. In fact, did he officially red shirt last year? I don't know. Anyway, he's transferred. Wants to play. Well, maybe FIU will be a good spot for him. Maybe you would certainly think one of the schools in the A sun. For sure. Be all over them, whether it be Jacksonville, North Florida or FGCU. Figure he's got to be able to play even if he's still a project. Before you said transferred big kid, I thought you were talking about the rugby player that South Carolina signed. Right. The Irish rugby player, the monster kid runs really fast. Going to be an offensive lineman. All the colleges started coveting him after they saw some tape on how, on just his raw skills. And he's going to be a game cop. Those are stories I think are worth you. Who knows what happens? Right. But anytime you get an international athlete who's very good, who says, screw this sport, I'm going to the United States. I'm going to try football. Right. I'm like, all right. You piqued my interest. Yeah. It's more exciting to me than the 26 year old hip hop guy that's going to LSU to try to play receiver. Although that's perfect. I mean, everything about that's perfect. You know, right? Sure. And who he's going to play for exactly. Exactly. They're coaching staff is just ideal for them. Basketball, women's basketball, football. I know they pay the baseball guy the most, but I can't say anything because I don't really know anything about him. If he fits the rest of the coaching mold at LSU, if you know what I mean. Well, I don't think he does. Okay. But you know, give him time and give their social media people a chance to work with him. It's that time again, nearing the end, but not quite there yet. Here's Mark Miller with today was the day when we start today in 1889 when the Eiffel Tower officially opens. I've seen it refused to go up in it. Didn't even think about it. One, the lines were long and two, I'm petrified of heights. And I didn't even have to admit that because the lines were so long that two guys I was with were like, yeah, I'm good. Today in 1906, the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States is founded to set rules and amateur sports. It would become the NCAA in 1910. And now it's a great, I know it's not. Now it's an event planning company and not even a great one. No, not even a good one. Correct. This is because I like minor league hockey, David. Today in 1925, wo wo begin transmissions in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The legendary Bob Chase for many a year called Fort Waite Kamahaki on wo wo a.m. You could hear it from Tampa to Canada, one of those clear channel 50,000 watt a.m. It was today in 1931. That new rock me was killed along with seven others when his plane crashed his record and 881 winning percentage remains the best ever in collegiate football 105 12 and five. 1949. Our CA Victor introduces the 45 RPM single more durable than the 78. And we had record players that you could play 45s at 78 and listen to them really fast. Today in 1958, Chuck Berry releases Johnny be good. The song was named after his piano player, Johnny Johnson and the street where he grew up on Good Avenue. Hendrix lit his guitar on fire for the first time today in 1967. Bobby or after a hat trick becomes the first player to score 100 points for four straight seasons today in 73. You know, he was pretty good. And he was a defense correct. Bobby or his highlights of killing penalties of just basically skating the puck around the rink are amazing. No one could catch up. No one could stop him. Nope. Also today in 73. Norton beats Ali in a split decision. Ali broke his jaw in the 12 round fight in San Diego. He would win the rematch in another split decision. Controversal at that. The Norton broke his jaw on the second round. Second round. Ali never went down and finished the 12 round fight and lost a split decision. Today in 75 UCLA beats Kentucky for Wooden's 10th title. He announced his retirement two days earlier. 1982 the doobie brothers split up. And all I can think of when I saw that headline was the movie romancing the stone when they find the plane crash full of weed. And he's sitting there and he's reading a Rolling Stone magazine. He goes, Oh, boy, the doobie brothers broke up. Mike bossy becomes the first NHL player to record seven straight 50 goal season scoring 50 and 51 today in 84. The first level WrestleMania was held today in 1985 at Madison Square Garden. The highlight. Rodney Rodney Piper and Mr. Wonderful in a tag team match against Hulk Hogan and Mr. T. Muhammad Ali was the referee. Liberace was the timekeeper. There you go. At 20 Joe Sackin becomes the youngest to score 100 points in a season today in 1990. Michael Jordan assigned to the Birmingham Barons in double A today in 94. The pop star Selena was murdered today in 1995. And today in 98. The devil rays and the diamondbacks had their major league debuts. They both lose Tampa lost to Detroit. The diamondbacks lost to Colorado. Today in 1999, the matrix premiered and in 2000 because I'm a music guy, the movie High Fidelity appeared. Bach boxer Jack Johnson. Henry Morgan, you know, Colonel Potter and Gordie Howe would have all celebrated birthdays today. The player Herb Albert is 81. Mr. Cater gave Kaplan is 80 Al Gore. You know, he invented the internet just asking he's 78. So is real Perlman from Cheers Angus Young from AC DC 71. Goal tender Tom Barrasso 61. Motor City, Smitty Steve Smith is 57 and Pavel Burry is 55. What did I miss David? Well, I was just thinking about a few things during that whole list. The Arizona Diamondbacks manager was Buck show Walter, who left the Yankees left the Yankees. They hired some guy named Joe Tory and got destroyed for hiring him in the media. And Buck show Walter built the diamondbacks. The only thing I had the Dalai Lama had to flee to India today in 59 had to leave. They were coming after him. Thank you. Time to see life a little bit differently. Here's Mark Miller with the good, the bad and the ugly. What do you got, Mark? We go to Wisconsin where the kangaroo is safe. A kangaroo that escaped a petting zoo by vaulting an eight foot fence. By the way, do you think an eight foot fence? Wouldn't you want to go higher for a kangaroo? Yeah. I mean, you know, I mean, seems like they made a mistake there. But last week, the kangaroo escaped. It was gone for a few days. It was found. The kangaroo was fine. I like kangaroos. I know how close I'd want to get to one, but I do like kangaroos. For the bad, we go to Sanford, Florida, where, you know, they had all those protests over the weekend and you know something was going to happen. It was 52 year old James Caldwell who was there for the protest. A 46 year old woman was an anti-protester. He used his protest sign to hit her over the head. Doesn't seem to be the right move. Finally, the ugly. We go to Daytona Beach, where three people were arrested in connection with the drug deal. When a Florida man threw bags of cocaine at his drug dealer, the whole thing was witnessed by Volusa County Sheriff's Office and all were taken into custody. That is the good, the bad and the ugly. On today, March the 31st, and it's brought to you by the Cape Coral Police Department. Firing new officers, unbelievable signing bonuses, even better pay, benefits and all, plus other jobs available for information. CapeCops.com, CapeCops.com. Well, yesterday, everybody in the major leagues played. All 30 teams, 15 games. The Royals and the Twins are getting a Tuesday off. Not quite sure why, but they're getting today and tonight off. Otherwise, the other 14 games and their series will go on as regularly scheduled, including the Rays in Milwaukee and the Marlins home for the White Sox. So there. Oh, Tony, throwing tonight for the Dodgers for what it's worth. It's not on until after 10 o'clock, but there you go. Seven games in the NBA. Magic or home for Phoenix. NBC with the double header. Nixon Rockets early. And then I don't know if it's Peacock NBC Sports Network, whatever West Coast NBC, Portland and the Clippers. What's interesting, Mark, is that there are two basketball games going on in Los Angeles tonight. And NBC is airing Portland and the Clippers. And the other game is Cleveland and the Lakers. Right. David, look at all the times that they put the Lakers on when the Lakers don't need to be on. Right. They're playing Cleveland. I don't know this guy from the Lakers, I think used to play for Cleveland and two, they're both good. Right. Right. Now, I understand both Portland and the Clippers are going to make the playoffs, but one's the nine seed and one's the 10 seed or the eight seed and the 10 seed out west. And there's no chance of either missing because I mean, the playoffs have been determined for a month in the NBA. Yeah. So it's just interesting that that's their choice of games. Yeah, I'm with you. A whole bunch of hockey games tonight. And let me tell you a whole bunch of games with playoff implications. How could you not when you have so many teams, especially in the East that are separated by a total of two points? Never mind. You got some West playoff implications as well. But lightning hosting the Canadians could be a first round playoff preview. Panthers hosting Ottawa Islanders who got crushed last night at home or in Buffalo. Pittsburgh after crushing the Islanders is back home to face the wings. Philly and Washington two teams who are convinced they're both still in the playoff chase. Philly is though. I don't know if Washington, I mean, Washington thinks they are Philly's definitely in the playoff. Without question, two points out and has a game in hand. Columbus is home for Carolina and Columbus very much in the chase. So huge hockey night. Seemingly every night will be for the next two weeks. I just need a lot of games not to go to overtime. And that doesn't happen. If I were to make predictions, I would say overtime shootout in every game, not involving the Red Wings and Pittsburgh beat them with an empty net or, you know, four, two, three, one, something like that. Montreal, I believe, has played 20 games this year that have gone to either overtime or a shootout. 20. Tough to advance that way in the playoffs. I mean, the last time the Canadians won the cup, they did win 10 overtime games in the 93 playoffs, 10. But then again, they had Patrick Gua as their goalie. That helped. You know, we always say having a Vazalesque helps. Having a Wa really helped. It did. It did. 80s, 90s, having a Wa. Okay, it was kind of like having a Brodure. Okay, really came in handy. I can't hear him. My two Stanley Cup rings are in my ear. Right. Yep. Sorry, what can I say? I cannot hear you. My ear is stuck with the rings. Fantastic. Seth Everett on the show tomorrow. If you missed any of Miller and Moulton, download it in all your usual spots. Have a great Tuesday.
