Craig Defends Jets Fans Who Leave Games Early

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

Oh yeah, give it to me, baby.

Craig Carton (0:04)

New York Football Talk. Haven't had this in a long, long time.

Jets relevant, Giants more than relevant, chance to win a division, and it is in the back of my brain to bring up the Yankees later on for Big Mac. And maybe even also get your take on what the heck happened to Ohtani.

Chris McMonigle (0:22)

He's hurt.

Craig Carton (0:22)

Hurt my ass.

Chris McMonigle (0:24)

He hurt your ass?

Craig Carton (0:25)

No, my ass is just fine. I said hurt, comma, pause, my ass.

Chris McMonigle (0:30)

Okay.

Craig Carton (0:30)

Yeah. He didn't play like this when he was allegedly gambling.

Chris McMonigle (0:35)

You think? Not enough juice?

Craig Carton (0:38)

By the way, I said allegedly.

SPEAKER_4 (0:39)

Okay.

Craig Carton (0:40)

I put that out there.

SPEAKER_4 (0:41)

No, I mean-

Craig Carton (0:41)

Or when his interpreter had money on the Dodgers, allegedly.

Chris McMonigle (0:44)

They're thinking about benching him.

Craig Carton (0:46)

Yeah? You can't bench him though, can you?

Chris McMonigle (0:48)

He's a shell of himself out there.

Craig Carton (0:50)

But can you bench Ohtani for some guy I never heard of? I mean, you can.

Chris McMonigle (0:54)

You can.

Craig Carton (0:55)

I mean, quite famously, I bring this up all the time, A-Rod batted 8th.

Chris McMonigle (1:00)

A-Rod batted 8th and got pinch hit for.

Craig Carton (1:02)

Right.

SPEAKER_4 (1:02)

So can you?

SPEAKER_1 (1:03)

Yes.

Craig Carton (1:04)

Is it a good idea? Maybe also yes.

SPEAKER_1 (1:08)

He's an automatic out right now.

SPEAKER_4 (1:10)

He can't swing.

Chris McMonigle (1:10)

And he's flailing like he's never played baseball before. Yeah, he looks terrible. Dodgers could be in a little bit of trouble, we'll see.

I'm not gonna...

Craig Carton (1:16)

Can I ask you a quick question?

Chris McMonigle (1:17)

Yeah.

Craig Carton (1:18)

If everyone agreed that Ohtani is the best player in the sport when healthy, check that box. And then most people, yourself included, will tell you that Aaron Judge, after Ohtani, is the next best player in baseball, check that box, okay?

And I don't know the answer, but I think it's an interesting, very quick question. Judge is out hurt, Ohtani's... Something's up with him, whatever it is, right? Who would lay claim, if not those two guys, because Judge was hurt, didn't play most of the season, or the postseason, and they're actually contemplating benching Ohtani, who would then grab Excalibur's sword and be the unquestioned best player in baseball? Is that a fair question?

Chris McMonigle (1:57)

It's a fair question, yeah.

Craig Carton (1:59)

Is there an obvious answer or no?

Chris McMonigle (2:00)

I mean, yeah, yes and no.

Craig Carton (2:03)

Go ahead.

Chris McMonigle (2:03)

I mean, the best player in baseball this year was Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Craig Carton (2:07)

So right now, today, you would say he inherits the title until Ohtani's healthier, figures out how to hit a baseball again.

Chris McMonigle (2:15)

He's a whole world defensive center fielder, and he's had a monster year.

SPEAKER_4 (2:18)

And he's MVP, right? He's going to win the MVP.

Chris McMonigle (2:21)

And Alvarez is going to win the MVP for the American League. Great hitter. Doesn't really, you know, he's DH slash left fielder, but he's terrible out there. I mean, Pete Crow-Armstrong is the best all-around baseball player in the league.

Craig Carton (2:32)

So right now, PCA, also not playing in the postseason.

Chris McMonigle (2:36)

He did. They lost.

SPEAKER_4 (2:37)

Got eliminated first round. Yes, they got eliminated.

Craig Carton (2:39)

What I see right now would be, would lay claim, almost like if we're going back to like the medieval times.

SPEAKER_1 (2:45)

I lay claim the, the best player he, in the sport of hardball. I anoint you, PCA, as Numen Ono.

Chris McMonigle (2:55)

The kings are dead, long live the king.

Craig Carton (2:57)

Exactly right. All right, I didn't have an answer to that question.

Chris McMonigle (3:00)

I mean, look, that could, he is not so entrenched in that, where it could be someone totally different next year. Like, it's not like he's clear cut, but if we're going on what we've just seen over this baseball season, he's the best player in the league.

Craig Carton (3:13)

You have something there, Petey?

SPEAKER_4 (3:14)

I have a question for you. Yeah, go ahead.

Craig Carton (3:16)

He too forth wants to ask the Royalness a question about baseball.

SPEAKER_1 (3:21)

Yes.

SPEAKER_4 (3:21)

We talk about-

Craig Carton (3:22)

You are being recognized, sir, as the serf from Eastchester.

Chris McMonigle (3:25)