Hey everybody, it’s time for Fred and the Fantastics. We will discuss anything and everything in sports, heard on PodClips and heard on BLEAV with Laura Snoke. Attorney, good friend, Mark Mancini, non-attorney, good friend and world’s worst sports handicapper, Art Sorce, Hall of Fame kicker for the Rams, former kicker for USC at 127 years of age. And we’ll talk again about this, that, and anything in sports.

Hey, what Hall of Fame is that?

Hall of Shame, Hall of Shame!

We got to talk about Major League baseball because it’s Spring Training and comments. The all-time record for victories is 116 wins. Now again, that’s on the 162 game season.

Was that the Cleveland Indians?

Seattle Mariners,

And the Mariners. They each won. No. Cleveland won it when it was. It has the record up for 152

54. Yeah, okay.

But Seattle’s got the record for the 162. But anyway, the bottom line is I’m going to set the total wins for the Braves and the Dodgers. Braves – 105, Dodgers – 109. Art, over or under?

I’ll agree with you on the Dodgers, but I think the NL East is just too balanced for the Braves to get that total. I think they’ll be more like, maybe 98, so I’m going to go over with the Dodgers, under with the Braves.

Laura 109. For the Dodgers, over or under?

Well, if they stay healthy, their pitchers stay healthy, they’ll be over.

Ah, but you don’t know that.

Well, that’s a big if.

You’ve got to wager now.

They’ve got a lot of pitchers on their roster and if Ohtani can start pitching. I mean, it’s kind of like, the sky’s the limit with this team. I mean, they’re just loaded with talent.

You know how? We’ll find out the answer. We’ll go to mark, mark over or under 109, whoever he says, folks, the other way, go ahead.

First of all, I don’t have no money because it’s Valentine’s, I’m looking for my wallet. I think my wife took it, so I don’t have no money to put on this. But I will tell you, either team is going to win 100 games. Either of these teams will not win 100 games.

Oh, I would wager heavy money that you’re wrong on that.

I think the Phillies could win 100 -and -something games, I think the Phillies can. But I think you’re off on the Braves and the Dodgers. There’s going to be a lot of pressure on them.

I think you’re betting with your heart, Mark, like, I am.

Well, Artie’s coming here with flowers for us.

Mark. I hate to tell you this, but the Dodgers are trying to trade for Paul Skenes of your Pirates.

No, they’re not. They’re not, hey, we’ve got three guys that can compete with the Dodgers, 18 pitchers there, and I don’t know how many you’re going to pitch.

I’d rather see them get Livvy Dunne.

Livvy Dunne.

Folks, you also can listen to us, of course, every Friday and Saturday night on Sports Overnight America. And we were discussing how many owners with Dan Schlossberg, a famous baseball writer, how many owners are really losing money. And I agree with Mark. I think a whole lot more are making money than are saying they’re making money. And what they do is they raise prices because they say they’re losing money and things like that. So Art, do you really think that only Dan Schlossberg says 40 are making money? I think, more than that Art. Your comment?

I think there’s probably six or seven franchises that could be in financial difficulty. So based on the fact that we’re looking at 30 teams, you know that would, that would indicate that 23 out of the 30 are making money. And again, you also have to remember, the value of the franchises is not going down, so you know, if the value of the franchises were going down, I could see a problem there. I do see smaller markets having trouble, though. I mean, I look at, you know, like the Marlins. I look around baseball, I see the Cleveland Indians, although they do seem to draw, the Tigers have a good team. A lot of the teams that I think would be in financial problems or have financial problems have actually done it the right way and built their farm system. Like Kansas, City played real well last year. The Detroit Tigers had a good team last year, good young teams, so that may be helping them. But you know, we’ll see, we’ll see what’s happening. It seems like there’s a lot of good teams, Mark, and not so many, you know, not so many bad teams.

Laura, how many, how many teams are losing money in baseball, in your opinion?

Well, you know, losing money is a very complicated formula in this economy. So I don’t, I personally don’t think any of them are losing money.

I love this lady.

I don’t think any of them are losing money. I think it’s all just smoke and mirrors.

Are they cooking the books?

Well, I think cooking the books is built into the system, you know, and you know, there’s so many. I mean, I don’t. Even there was one class I took in law school that was I audited, which is where you don’t really care about the great. It was accounting for lawyers. So I am not a numbers person. You know, it’s like the worst, worse than trivia. I’m worse with numbers. But I have to say there’s so many ways to, to manipulate statistics. And I just don’t think any of them are losing money.

Yeah.

We’re going to take a quick break and come back with more of Fred and the Fantastics.

Hey everybody, back on Fred and the Fantastics with Attorney Laura, with Mark, and with Art I am Fred. You can email us at sportsfred@aol.com. You know, we’re talking numbers, talking dollars, who’s losing money, who’s making money. Again. Monday night, a miracle happened. I actually watched the entire Laker game, the first NBA game I watched for 48 minutes in a couple of years, because I wanted to see Dončić playing. He makes about $50 million a year, you divide that by 80 games, which means he makes, like, $600,000 every game. For in the NBA. $600,000 per game!

Would you play hard for $600,000 per game? Fred, would you play hard for $600,000 a game? Man, I’d be, I’d be a holy terror!

You know, he gave, he gave, he gave $500,000 to

I saw that, that was cool.

That was a great thing, but that’s why I started thinking about this. $600,000 per game, if you’re making like $50 million.

What do you think Elgin Baylor made in his, in his prime?

Obviously, it was so different.

Not that much.

Like $150,000 per year?

I got to tell you that it pales, it pales in comparison to what Elon Musk is making off taxpayers. It pales, it pales. And at least they’re, at least they’re in the market, they’re providing a product, and they’re getting their money off of, you know, legitimate market, people buying, people going to the games.

Maybe we can talk him, maybe we can talk him,

He’s making money off government contracts,

Maybe we could take it, talk him into being on that first flight to Mars.

Like, tomorrow would be great!

But here’s the thing,

Is there room up there, Fred?

Let me, let me. It’s funny how, if these owners claim to be losing money in all these four major sports, how come? When they’re getting ready to sell, there’s about 15 guys ready to buy the team. So there’s a real question you got to ask yourself. And then the stadium names, naming rights change every day or every year. It used to be Comiskey Park, now it’s US Bank 1 or 2 or whatever. So it’s, you know, and here’s the third thing of the whole thing, is the same people that complain about the players making all the money. How come they don’t try to, you know, look at the actors and actresses that have been making money over years and years? They don’t look at, you know, Julie Roberts making $20 million a film. But the kids are the ballplayers,

And Laura said it. It’s entertainment and it’s a free capitalist society. So, you know, you got to get what you can get. I mean, their careers are limited.

Yeah,

You know. And if you don’t want to pay the guy that much money, don’t pay him. Somebody will meet the price.

Laura,

I don’t begrudge the players any amount of money they can get.

I’ve always said to Fred, and Fred’s got lawyers in his family. I don’t want to disrespect lawyers. And my nephew is going to become a doctor soon. But, you know, I think the hardest thing in life is to be a major league baseball player and to make it to the big show. And last, God bless them if they can get all the money they want,

I agree.

Yeah,

I agree. I don’t begrudge the players any amount of money they can get.

You know? It’s interesting. Alec Bregman signing with the Red Sox three years and $120 million. That’s $40 million per season. The Tigers had offered him six years at $171 million. He said No, I want seven years. So my point is the whole thing’s nutso. Because obviously guaranteed six years at $171 is better than three years at $120. Although he’s got knocked out after every year.

How about the Angels and Anthony Rendon?

Oh my God,

Don’t forget this issue, guys. The actors and professional athletes are paid salary. Which means they pay taxes, unlike our friend Elon Musk, who pays no taxes. Because all of his money is gone. He doesn’t make a salary, he makes money in all these weird, you know, accounting. So I don’t begrudge the players any amount of money.

Foundations, foundations, trusts, those are all.

I want to know who’s going to get the biggest boo at Dodger Stadium – when the Yankees come to town this year, or Justin Verlander and the Giants?

Ooh. Good one, I like that!

Dodger Stadium is still Dodger Stadium, thank God!

Poor Verlander.

What is it now? The third oldest stadium in Major League Baseball now?

Yeah, Red Sox, Cubs, Red Sox, Cubs.

I still think we boo all the old Astro players,

Yeah, Justin Verlander.

I mean, nobody’s going to supplant the cheating Astros.

Hey, where’s Max Scherzer playing this year, you guys?

He’s in Toronto.

Oh, he’s in Toronto? Okay. There goes your Blue Jays call, Why don’t you tell everybody, Go ahead, Fred?

I have a question for you people because we’re talking baseball. From Amazon, I bought 2023 baseball cards, Topps 2023 of all the players. What I’m basically saying is I’m trying to get a rookie in 2023 who ends up a Hall of Fame, now if I’m still alive. Because my wife Sandy will throw them out, not knowing or caring what the hell they are. So the bottom line is of the 2023 or 2022 rookies. Art. Name me. Somebody who, you think at this point, has a chance to be a Hall of Famer 20 years from now.

Well, Paul Skenes is for sure. I’m going to go with the kid from Baltimore, Jackson Holiday, whose dad was a hell of a baseball player.

I like Alec Bohm.

Who?

Alec Bohm.

The Phillies?

Yeah.

Laura. Who do you think might be a Hall of Famer from the class of 2022 or 2023?

And the Dodgers pitcher, too, from Japan, that’s another possible.

Yeah, Sasaki, that’s what I was going to say. Yeah, he’s something else.

Yeah, but he wouldn’t have been 2023. I’m talking two years ago.

Oh, two years ago, OK, gotcha. Wow.

You want to hear who I think might be?

Love to.

The White Sox have destroyed their club, sending away Crochet to the Red Sox. This kid, the times I saw, again, baseball, I will not miss a game. So, unlike the NBA, I’m exactly the opposite. So I saw him start maybe 10 or 15 times. With the horrible White Sox, this kid can be dynamite, and with the Red Sox.

I agree with that.

You know, he can win a lot of games.

And there’s another guy too. How old is Dylan Cease?

Who?

San Diego, yeah.

The pitcher, Dylan Cease.

Yeah, Dylan Cease. Oh yeah, he’s about 28 or 29.

OK, so he’s too old for that, I’m trying to think of,

But he’s awfully talented. And they were talking folks in San Diego, there’s a major problem. Here’s the problem. Peter Seidler dies. His brothers want to control the team, but Peter Seidler’s widow wants to control the team. And so what happens is they don’t do anything,

Yeah. It lost everybody.

And they’re probably going to sell Fernando Tatis, too, from what I’ve been reading, so.

Yeah, so it’s a horrible situation. All right, before we go.

Do you think Aaron Rodgers can help in San Diego?

OK, that’s the question. One final question on Friend of the Fantastics.

Different sport.

Aaron Rodgers is out of the gym.

Is Aaron Rodgers going to play baseball?

He’s on the mound for the Padres.

Laura, USA Today lists the teams that Aaron Rodgers may end up with, one of which would be your favorite team, the Las Vegas Raiders.

No.

Would you want to see him play for Pete Carroll and the Raiders?

I don’t think that’s a possibility. I think if they’re going to go with a veteran, I think they might go with Russell Wilson because he obviously has a relationship with Pete Carroll. I don’t see Aaron Rodgers going, I just don’t see that happening. But I mean, you know, the Raiders couldn’t. I mean, the Raiders, it’s pretty hard to say they could do any worse than they did where they are with quarterbacks.

Let me ask you something. I mean, you see a lot of arrogant guys, maybe in baseball. But is Aaron Rodgers the most pompous guy you’ve seen in football Artie? I mean, you’ve played,

Well, there’s no doubt about it. And by the way, the NFL odds came out for the 2026 season and Pittsburgh is 50-1, Las Vegas is 100-1. And Denver is 40-1. Now those three teams, if you’re going to put a couple shekels on a couple, three teams, those three teams, not a bad call right there. I mean, I just, I don’t think Aaron Rodgers wants to play in the NFL anymore. I think a network is going to come to him. And you know, he’s got to be worth $100 million as a broadcaster. And I mean, I watched him play in New York the last year, a year and three plays. He’s throwing off his back foot. He’s not the same guy that I saw play for 17 years in Green Bay.

Let me add one final question before we go on Fred and the Fantastics. I think the Rams are making a horrendous mistake. I’m not questioning the coaching with the Rams. He’s proven that the young guy is a good coach, and I really think it’s gone to his head. You don’t get rid of Matt Stafford and you don’t get rid of Cooper Kupp.

Cooper Kupp. Yeah, those two are the key guys. I mean, first of all, they had a very legitimate chance to beat the quote-unquote World Champions.

One play, one play.

That’s what I’m saying, Do you tear that whole thing down?

They’re talking about sending Cooper Kupp and Stafford to Pittsburgh.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Or Minnesota because O ‘Connell really likes both of them. And I think he took them to a Super Bowl as an offensive coordinator and won the Super Bowl under McVay as well. So I would keep Stafford, and Stafford’s for real.

You guys, I’m not going to bet against Sean McVay because these guys you saw a few years ago, Artie. You played for that organization. They look like they were in a rebuild.

Okay, hang on, you get rid of Stafford, who’s the quarterback?

That’s what I was saying. It’s not like they have somebody behind him.

I feel comfortable with McVay running everything as far as grooming somebody in there because everything that guy’s touched, he’s only had one bad,

Yeah, but in Los Angeles, you can’t groom somebody. You’ve got to win every year.

Are you going to go get Jimmy Garoppolo?

Well, wait a minute, let’s back this cart up. If you’ve got to win every year, the Dodgers, it took them like 36 years to win a World Series, playing a full season. So the Rams to me, really, I mean, they give them complete control to McVay.

And I tell you, what they should do is try to get Herbert from the Chargers if they do something like that.

They’ll get somebody in there.

I think that would be consistent with the San Diego curse to give Herbert to the Rams.

Let me ask you, for the LA things Would you rather have McVay as a Rams coach? Or Dave Roberts as a Dodgers manager?

All I’m saying is, I think McVay thinks that he’s super smart and he thinks he can just find a quarterback by snapping his fingers. I listen, again, to WFAN. The Jets and the Giants. It’s not that easy to find a quarterback. Or Pittsburgh, if it’s Wilson or Fields, or neither of them, it’s not that easy to find a quarterback. So I don’t think McVay should be pushing Stafford out the door. I think Kelly’s a beautiful lady.

And Fred, really, how many great quarterbacks are there in the NFL?

Not that many.

That’s my point.

Not many. Final thoughts Laura, for this, we’re taping this on Friday. Final thoughts. Are you going to watch SNL on Sunday night?

Absolutely, absolutely going to watch it. I don’t think I’ve ever missed Saturday Night Live because I tape it religiously, and I think I’ve watched every episode since it started. It’s up and down, you know some are better than others, but this special should be great and I’m looking forward to it.

Are you going to watch the NBA All-Star game, is the real question?

No. I don’t know.

Not so much.

You know, what I did watch, though, that I thought was a really fun game was the ‘SC-UCLA women’s basketball game.

Oh, Juju.

Thursday night.

Right, Juju was unbelievable.

That was impressive.

It was a good game, I mean both teams played really well. It was a fun game to watch, even though my Bruins lost, but still, it was a great game to watch. Women’s basketball is really on the ascent, I think.

But the new administration is going to destroy it, right?

Oh, please. I think a lot of people, like you say, you’re not really into watching the NBA because it’s sort of formulaic. And I think the women’s game is a lot more interesting, it’s a lot more like old-school basketball used to be, where they run the plays and there’s a lot of assists and they’re not shooting threes every minute. And, of course, the three-point line is shorter. But yeah. I thought it was a lot of fun and I’m sort of sad about football being over, but looking forward to baseball starting.

Mark, are you going to watch the All-Star Game NBA on Sunday?

I don’t know if I am. Because I’m kind of hooked on the Face-off Four in hockey with the USA and all that,

Which would be cool for them to see go to the NBA.

Yeah, USA and Canada. And you know, I’m going to look at a picture of Kelly Stafford, but my money is on Laura Snoke better looking than Kelly Stafford.

There you go, I love it!

You’re my friend forever, Mark!

Yeah!

Art, are you going to watch the NBA All-Star game?

No, Fred. I think I’m going to have to pass on that one.

I think I’m going to have to pass too.

That would be akin to me watching the Pro Bowl.

But I will watch, what I will watch if I can Saturday night is the three-point shooting contest, I will watch that because, I don’t know, I just enjoy that.

I would love to see that.

It was a lot more fun last year when they had the two women,

That’s what I mean,

And they just cut that out this year, because,

I wish we could get Caitlyn Clark in that, it would be great against Steph.

She said she wanted to do her debut at the three-point contest with the WNBA All-Star game, which I appreciate that. It’s going to be in Indiana. That’s her team.

But that would be fun, huh? Steph Curry and her.

A lot of fun.

But there’s a lot of other women players that could have competed with that and that was a great event. So they just decided to scrap that this year, which was, in my view, sort of stupid.

For Laura, for Mark, for Art, Mario, thank you guys and gals for listening all the time, for Fred and the Fantastics. Bye everybody.