Hour 3: Volpe’s Return, LeBron’s Betting Deal & Harbaugh’s Giants Media Feud

Craig Carton (0:00)

Carton Show, Big Mac, referendum on Volpe. He's... the starting lineups are out.

So if you want to take a guess here, did Anthony Volpe come up today and get inserted into the starting lineup at second base? Or is it going to be, get back up here, get acclimated, you'll get your stuff together, and you'll play tomorrow night? I'm guessing, like you guessed, if you're bringing him up, he's playing, playing. So is that the case?

Chris McMonigle (0:26)

That is the case. He is the star. Was he batting eighth? He is batting ninth.

Craig Carton (0:32)

Okay, fine.

Chris McMonigle (0:32)

He is batting ninth, playing second base. The other element of the line up is, as Aaron Boone told us when Judge first came up, that he wasn't going to play every game of the series against the Rockies, Aaron Judge, out of the line up tonight.

Craig Carton (0:44)

Right, and they've already won the series, now you go for the sweep?

Chris McMonigle (0:46)

Well, you have to, I'll say this.

Craig Carton (0:47)

And you have to sweep it out.

Chris McMonigle (0:48)

I'll say this. And this is as bold a statement as I'll make, because I don't really like to make definitive statements, but I'll make one right now.

The Yankees will not win the division if they lose tonight.

Craig Carton (1:02)

Over one game?

Chris McMonigle (1:03)

Yes.

Craig Carton (1:03)

Now Tampa already lost today.

Chris McMonigle (1:05)

Tampa already lost. Okay. This has got to be an opportunity, with Max Fried on the mound against the worst team in baseball, you have to win this game and cut that lead to three. You cannot let this opportunity go. They just beat the Braves two out of three. They're showing they're not losing a lot of games. They're playing strong, they've still got good pitching despite McClann and being out. They just took two out of three in Atlanta. They're not showing any indication of a losing streak. You have to take advantage of every time they stub their toe. And it's tonight against the Colorado Rockies. If the Yankees lose tonight, I will declare the division over.

You have to win this game.

You have to win this game.

Craig Carton (1:46)

Okay, all right.

Chris McMonigle (1:47)

And even if they win, I'm not saying they'll win.

Craig Carton (1:49)

You got Max Fried on the mound.

Chris McMonigle (1:50)

I'm not saying they'll win the division if they win, but it gives them an opportunity to cut it to three. Again, you have to cut it to two if you're before that series.

Craig Carton (1:59)

It's gonna be hard.

Chris McMonigle (2:00)

Because they have the tie break. And now, look, they play the Red Sox, so maybe the Red Sox get them.

Look, could it still happen? But I think you have to take every opportunity. This is one tonight. Max Fried against the Rockies. Put your foot on their throat. Win this game. Otherwise, it's gonna be real hard to win this division.

Craig Carton (2:18)

And you do have the four games set coming up September 22nd.

They have a double header on the 22nd. The day and night double header. And then, of course, the 23rd and 24th. But look, Max Fried's on the mound against a bad team. And the dude that's pitching against the Yanks tonight has an ERA near 6

Chris McMonigle (2:34)

Jump on them early.

Craig Carton (2:35)

Cruise to victory. End this game. Subway series with, obviously, the heavy hearts of 9-11 tomorrow. And let's get cracking.

Chris McMonigle (2:43)

But just bottom line, you can't chase down a team that you're down these games with a month to play. You can't chase them down if you're going to come out of a weekend or a midweek series where they're in Atlanta and you're at home against the Rockies and you come out men's and men's, not good enough.

Craig Carton (2:59)

Men's and men's.

Chris McMonigle (3:00)

You have to gain ground over these three games. You have to. And they gave you the opportunity to tonight. You have to take advantage. This is a must win for the American League East.

Craig Carton (3:09)

It's all so selfish. It looks like we got a couple days off coming up here too.

Chris McMonigle (3:13)

Do we?

Craig Carton (3:14)

As a matter of fact, we do.

Chris McMonigle (3:16)

Days off?

Craig Carton (3:17)

Well, they've got September 16th. They've got a 1.4 start at Minnesota. That's an off day.

Chris McMonigle (3:24)

Is that an off day?

Craig Carton (3:25)

Yeah. Then you have September 22nd.

Chris McMonigle (3:27)