Getting back at it posting content for the pod. For this episode (solo show) I give my take on the who I think the top five teams in the league are and the top five NBA candidates raking them both 5-1. Feel free to debate or provide feedback. 

Basic Thoughtonomics

Episode 37: NBA Top Five Teams/Top Five MVP Candidates Episode

For this episode I (Chris Grosso) am joined by longtime Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims. I got his take on the overwhelming reaction his game-winning call got on Mitch Haniger's go-ahead single Saturday night which garnered nearly three million views on the Mariners Twitter account. We also talked Mariners fan base and their playoff drought. For any Mets fans, we also talked Jarred Kelenic, Robinson Cano as well. 

Episode 36: Interview with Seattle Mariners broadcaster Dave Sims

For this episode I’m joined by former Super Bowl winning running back with the New England Patriots Antowain Smith. I start out asking what he’s been up to and what life is like when you transition into retirement from the game (:56) I then ask how he only played high school football his senior year and how he played only  because of a “dare” from his friends. He then talks about how he left a scholarship from Auburn on the table to take care of his ailing grandmother I ask about his experience playing under Bill Belichick and what Bill was like and the environment of the organization. (5:05) I then ask what Tom Brady was like in the early stages of his career and he talks about how some veterans like Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy molded him early on (7:56). I then get his take on the success Brady is having nearly 20 years later (11:15) We then talk about the 2001 season and how the team had little expectations going into the season and especially after Drew Bledsoe went down (13:20). I then ask the team’s mindset, game plan going into Super Bowl 36 as 14 point underdogs to the Rams(15:15). I ask about his iconic celebration as he was the first Patriot to rush the field after Vinatieri’s field goal (16:45). We then talk Super Bowl 38 and the flipped script with the Pats being heavy favorites in that game (19:00) I then ask his thoughts on Brady getting the ball with less than two minutes in Super Bowl 36 and 38 and whether he had confidence in him (21:05). He then talks about what is was like scoring a touchdown in front of his hometown friends and family in Houston in Super Bowl 38 (23:10). I get his thoughts on the current game and the differences in regards to safety from the time he played (23:50). I ask about an epic run he had on 10/17/1999 (YouTube if you want) with the Bills when he trucked Raiders safety Eric Turner on the way to a 50 plus yard TD run (25:15). I ask about some of the intangibles and ingredients that goes into championship teams and he sheds light on a lot of the team bonding things those Patriots teams did (26:40) and he concludes talking about some of the guys he still is close with on those Patriots teams.

Episode 35: Interview with former NFL running back Antowain Smith

For this episode I (Chris Grosso) have on Jon Heyman as we talk all things baseball. First we start with the Mets and the thumbs up thumbs down fiasco and we transition to the on-field performance of the team and the struggles of Lindor and the rest of the offense this season. Then we talk Yankees turnaround and Gerrit Cole's CY Young candidacy especially rebounding after the spider tack scandal. We talk Yankees chances as well in the wild-card game.  We also talk Rays unlikely success year in and year out. The NL West race between the Dodgers and Giants. The unlikely success of the Giants. We talk awards and the candidates for NL, AL CY Young and MVP. We debate whether the MVP award should go to a player on a winning team. We also debate whether Shohei Ohtani should remain a two-way player and how good he'd be if he dedicated himself to hitting or pitching. We conclude by talking rule changes (7th inning DH's, runner on second to start extra innings) and whether he likes them or not.  

Episode 34: MLB talk with MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman

It seems the world is aligned again as the Mets and Yankees are playing the way we're used to seeing them play. Mets are out of first place after three months hitting rock bottom getting swept in embarrassing fashion. Yankees lose yesterday but overall are playing better since the trade deadline as they look to secure a spot in the Wild Card game. 

Episode 33: Mets, Yankees Weekend Recap 8/9/21

I start out recapping a little bit of my trip to Chicago from this past week and then get into the trading deadline for the Mets and the Yankees. While the Mets got Baez i don't think they addressed the more glaring needs with their team which was the rotation and bullpen while the Braves and Phillies upgraded their needs. Yankees get some left-handed power but they're essentially playing to get into the one game wild card. Even if they get into the playoffs how deep of a run can they make? 

Episode 32: Yankees, Mets trade deadline recap 7/31/21

Recap of the Mets and Yankees performances from this weekend. Mets underperform but get big comeback win yesterday. Yanks finally show some life vs. Red Sox 

Episode 31: Mets, Yankees weekend recap 7/19/21

New episode of the podcast is up as I recap the first half for the Mets and Yankees and chronicle the good, bad and ugly (although with the Mets I couldn’t really come up with any ugly as it’s been mostly good). 

Episode 30: Mets, Yankees first half recap

My first ever guest on the podcast comes back for a triumphant return as I have on Bob Wankel, Phillies writer for CrossingBroad.com to talk some Phillies baseball. We talk about their disastrous bullpen despite their better play as of late, whether they will be buyers or sellers at the deadline and if they can make a run at the Mets, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Joe Girardi among many more things. 

Episode 29: Phillies talk with Bob Wankel of Crossing Broad

Nightly recap of some of the games last night. Yankees vs. Angels, Mets vs. Braves, Nats vs. Rays, Phillies vs. Marlins, Padres vs. Reds and more 

Episode 28: MLB Nightly Recap 6/30/21

Nightly recap of all 13 games from June 14th. Good series starting between the top two teams in the AL in the Rays and White Sox. Blue Jays, Red Sox conclude a 4 game series in which Vladdy Jr. just went OFF. Reds and Beermakers start a big series in the AL Central. Mets, Cubbies get a series going. More good pitching, more good ERA'S. We'll see if that changes with the monitoring of the foreign substances going into effect today

Episode 27: MLB Nightly Recap 6/14/21

Know there were a few games last night but recapped all the series from this past weekend starting with Yankees/Red Sox(1:30) Mets/Padres (6:00) Giants/Cubs among many more.  Touched on the ridiculous amount of good pitching performances, Jesse Winker's monster 3 homer game Sunday, Cedric the Entertainer going 9 for 9 over a stretch (26:11), Beermakers go 9-1 in their last 10 games, Whit Merrifield does something that hasn't been done since 1980 (29:46)  

Episode 26: MLB Weekend Recap 6/8/21

For this episode this is a solo show as I breakdown and provide a little recap of each series from this weekend. I touch on the key moments, plays, performers, storylines and just talk some baseball. Might try and make this a weekly episode. 

Episode 25: MLB Weekend Recap 5/31/21

For this episode I'm joined by Marc Berman who covers the Knicks for the NY post. I start out asking him his on how he would summarize/characterize the Knicks surpising season so far (0:42) and whether he thought they'd ever be this good (2:09). I then ask if he thinks Thibs is going to be here long term (3:30). I ask his thoughts on Obi Toppin and his struggles his first season (4:30) We then talk some Immanuel Quickley and his unexpected rise (7:20). We then talk about the urgency the Knicks need to have to finish in the top 6 in the Eastern Conference to avoid the play-in tournament (9:44). I ask his expectations of what he thinks the team can do if they get into the playoffs and if they could maybe make some noise or win a first round depending on the matchup (12:56). I ask his thoughts on Julius Randle unexpected All-Star season (15:22) and what he sees in terms of his role long term (17:20). Lastly we conclude talking about R.J. Barrett's strides in his second season (19:56). 

Episode 24: Knicks talk with New York Post's Marc Berman

For this episode, I'm joined by the great Mets reporter Ed Coleman of WFAN to talk some Mets going into the season. I start out asking him what it was like to cover the bizarre 2020 season (2:20). I then ask what his early impressions are of the Steve Cohen era (4:10). I then ask what his thoughts were on the Mets offseason and how I expected them to do more in free agency. (5:27). He provides some good insight into why Steve Cohen maybe didn't want to spend wildly this offseason (10:50) I ask how much stock he put in performance good or bad in the extremely truncated 2020 season (12:47). He brings up some good analysis on why Pete Alonso may have struggled (14:20). I asked what he thought of Conforto's 2020 season and if he's a believer in him long term (18:40). I ask his early impressions of Lindor and what he expects from him (20:37). I ask what he thinks a Lindor extension could look like in terms of years/dollars (24:13). I ask what he expects from Edwin Diaz in 2021 after a strong 2020 (27:50). I ask who he thinks from under the radar guys in the bullpen could be (30:16) and if he thinks Familia and Betances can get back to the way they were in their prime (32:20). I then ask his thoughts on the rotation outside of deGrom (34:00) and his thoughts on Syndergaard's return (39:00). We conclude with talk on JD Davis at 3rd (42:48) and the Mets defense and what his expectations for the team going into this season (45:28).   

Episode 23: Mets talk with WFAN'S Ed Coleman

On Basic Thoughtonomics I give my thoughts and opinions on whatever I’m passionate about whether it’d be sports, entertainment, wrestling, pop culture. I hold nothing back as I give an honest assessment on the topic at hand while incorporating some personality and humor in the process.

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Basic Thoughtonomics

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