Hour 2: Cashman Speaks

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
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**SPEAKER_2** (0:31)
This is The Michael Kay Show podcast.

**Rich Semini** (0:34)
I gotta get more Kay.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:35)
Listen live weekdays at one on the Espn New York app and your smart speaker.

**Jake Asman** (0:43)
Jake Asbin, in for Michael.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:46)
Break up the Yankees.

**Jake Asman** (0:48)
My goodness. During the break, watching the game here in the studio, offensive explosion for the Bronx Bombers. They've chased Rasmussen out of the game. In the third inning, 5-1 Yankees. Small ball. They're putting the ball in play. Cody Bellinger at an infield single. Ben Rice at the big blast. He had the homer. But Caballero on a hit and run, single to right, that scored Dominguez. Yankees using their legs, putting the ball in play. Moving runners over. Austin Wells on a foul out, advanced a runner. Things happening. A guy who has owned them in his career. This is really surprising. Rasmussen is 4-1 with a.89 ERA in nine appearances against the Yankees. Eight of those were starts. And you can't predict baseball, Susan. The Yankees have chased him out of the game in the third inning. They better win this game. I know it's a bullpen game for the Yankees, but you better win this game if you're going to chase the guy who's owned you out of the game for Tampa and it's the third inning. So 5-1 Yankees trying to get the split. It's a huge swing game for them because I mentioned it before. If they lose today, there's six out and seven in the loss column for the division. And yes, there's still a lot of time and a trade deadline. That's a lot to make up.
This is a huge swing game. You win today, you're four back and five in the loss column. It just sounds way more doable. And I truly believe that does matter. So, we'll keep you posted on what the Yankees do this afternoon. Some Knicks I want to hit on and we'll talk some more football as well. I think if you're a Knick fan, I don't think you have much to complain about with any of the off-season moves. Obviously, you want a championship, so you shouldn't be complaining at all, basking the glory of a Knicks title. But going into the off-season, many felt that the New York Knicks were not going to be able to keep most of their key depth players if they wanted to stay out of the second apron. And the fact is, yes, they lost Mitchell Robinson, but I think Andre Drummond is a totally reasonable veteran replacement for Mitch. He's still a very good offensive rebounder.
He's still someone, I think, that could help you space the floor. And look, Mitchell Robinson's awesome. He's a career Knick, but the reality is he can't play back to backs. He's at best going to give you 55 to 60 games in the regular season. And he played 14, 15 minutes, a game in the playoffs. So I could live with the Knicks not wanting to pay him. I understood it. I actually defended the Knicks on this station. I think the Knicks did well with Drummond. Now maybe there's still a chance they could get veteran center, your Jonas Vallachunas who got waved. I don't know financially if they could do all that. But they today were able to bring back Jordan Clarkson for a veteran's minimum deal. They were able to go out there and get Landry Shammet to turn down less money from other teams reportedly to stay with the Knicks. That's what winning does. That's what having a coach he believes in does and vice versa. Guys want to stay here and be a part of it. You were able to bring back Mohamed Darieh, which I think is an underrated move because he'll have a bigger role this year as a second year player.
Bringing back the pride of Brooklyn, Alvarado was an outstanding move. Again, they won the championship. I think the East around them, I don't know if the East has necessarily gotten better. I thought Boston might have been their biggest threat, but they traded Jalen Brown for Paul George. I don't believe in the Celtics. I don't trust Philly. I don't believe in B will be healthy. I think it will take time for that team to gel. I still think if you look at how the East has played out, and we'll see if LeBron goes to Cleveland, but even then I don't think that drastically changes things. I still think if the Knicks stay healthy, that's a big if with any team. They deserve to still be the favorites to get out of the East again. They made the necessary moves to keep their team together, and that's the right move. You have chemistry and you want the continuity with a team like this. So I'm happy they brought Clarkson back. Is he a great player? No, but can he give you some scoring off the bench when you need it? To get through the regular season? Maybe give you a playoff moment or two like he did this past year? I don't think it's unreasonable. Everyone raved about how much he meant to the room, his leadership. He apparently ripped into the team when they were down two games to one to the Hawks. He spoke in the locker room before game four of that series and said, things got to change, this or that. I heard multiple Nick players reference Jordan Clarkson being a big vocal leader for the team. That's what you want from a guy who's been in the league for over a decade, who's going to be your veteran leader or one of the guys who's been around.