Dan Beyer & Monse Bolanos on Barry Bonds & the HR Derby

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Patrick Show - Episode featuring Dan Beyer & Monse Bolanos on Barry Bonds & the HR Derby

Release Date: July 15, 2025

Hosts and Guests:

• Dan Beyer
• Monse Bolanos
• Jason Stewart (Executive Producer)
• Isaac Loewencron (News Desk)
• Ryan Smith (Technical Producer)

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1. Introduction and Light Banter ([00:00] - [01:39])

The episode begins with casual conversation among the hosts, including humorous remarks about jury duty. Monse Bolanos mentions the possibility of being called for jury duty the next day, setting a lighthearted tone for the show.

Notable Quote:

• Dan Beyer ([01:02]): "I've been throwing it away for years, and this time I chose not to. Okay. I chose to be a good person."

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2. Barry Bonds Honored by the San Francisco Giants ([01:39] - [06:12])

The primary discussion revolves around Barry Bonds throwing out the first pitch in a game between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The guests express mixed feelings about the Giants honoring Bonds, a prominent figure from the steroid era in baseball.

Key Points:

• Promotion vs. Healing: Dan Beyer suggests that the Giants honoring Bonds is more about promoting a notable player rather than a gesture of healing within the sport.

• Steroid Era Controversy: Isaac Loewencron voices concerns about Major League Baseball seemingly forgiving the steroid era by celebrating its key figures, which he believes tarnishes the sport's integrity.

Notable Quotes:

• Isaac Loewencron ([02:23]): "These guys did it for their own financial benefit, like, for whatever reason... It was the poster children for that era."

• Dan Beyer ([05:00]): "I think that's part of it. They cheated. So you still have to hit the ball."

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3. Comparison with Other Steroid-Associated Players ([06:12] - [12:40])

The conversation shifts to compare Barry Bonds with other players like Ryan Braun, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Pete Rose regarding their involvement in doping scandals and their legacy in baseball.

Key Points:

• Legacy Impact: Discussion on how these players' achievements are viewed differently based on team loyalty and their personal accolades.

• Hall of Fame Considerations: Pete Rose's controversial Hall of Fame status is contrasted with Barry Bonds' uncertain future regarding his records.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Stewart ([04:14]): "But why shouldn't he have the opportunity to go and at least throw out a first pitch in front of the home fans?"

• Dan Beyer ([07:32]): "I understand, like, they cheated."

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4. The Impact of Steroid Era on Baseball's Credibility ([09:37] - [20:56])

Deep dive into how the steroid era has affected baseball’s reputation and record books, with references to home run records and players' performances both during and after the era.

Key Points:

• Record Book Integrity: Debates whether records set during the steroid era should stand and how they influence current perceptions of player achievements.

• Fan Perception: Exploration of how fans from different eras view players like Bonds and Rose, and the lingering mistrust towards steroid-related performances.

Notable Quotes:

• Isaac Loewencron ([10:40]): "The revisionist history is that these guys did it to levitate the interest of the game. They were each in it for themselves."

• Jason Stewart ([20:52]): "There are more people who are passionately against [Barry Bonds] than are passionately for Barry Bonds."

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5. Debate on Home Run Derby's Effect on the All Star Game ([24:21] - [38:42])

A structured debate segment where the hosts act as a jury to deliberate whether the Home Run Derby is beneficial or detrimental to the MLB All Star Game.

Arguments Against the Home Run Derby:

• Dilution of the All Star Game's Uniqueness: Dan Beyer compares the Derby to opening presents early, arguing it diminishes the anticipation and specialness of the All Star Game.

• Overshadowing Memorable Moments: Concerns that the Derby overshadows iconic All Star Game moments by highlighting home run feats instead.

Arguments In Favor of the Home Run Derby:

• Enhancement of Fan Experience: Jason Stewart contends that the Derby adds excitement and sets the stage for the All Star Game by showcasing top hitters.

• Complementary Events: Emphasizes that the Derby and the All Star Game cater to different aspects of baseball, thereby enhancing the overall All Star festivities.

Verdict:

• The jury concludes that the Home Run Derby is beneficial to the All Star Game, believing it enhances rather than detracts from the event.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Stewart ([24:52]): "If you're seeing all of the players together in their uniform, it's basically the All Star Game, except in a different version."

• Dan Beyer ([26:22]): "I can’t believe that is. You're not wrong that maybe the experience is different at home, but I really find them so different. I don’t find them the same."

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6. Closing Remarks and Future Discussions ([38:03] - [38:42])

The hosts wrap up the debate, acknowledge differing opinions, and express enthusiasm for future discussions. Monse Bolanos mentions her jury duty, hinting at possible future absences from the show.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Beyer ([37:15]): "You had a good point that sometimes the mozzarella sticks ruin the main entree."

• Jason Stewart ([38:03]): "But I will take in the Home Run Derby and obviously I'll take in the All Star game tomorrow because there will be great moments."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show delves into the contentious issue of Barry Bonds being honored by the Giants amidst the lingering shadows of the steroid era. Through insightful discussions and a structured debate on the Home Run Derby's impact, the hosts explore the complexities of sports legacy, fan perception, and the integrity of baseball's record books. The episode offers a balanced perspective, acknowledging differing viewpoints while fostering an engaging dialogue on the evolving landscape of Major League Baseball.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and analyses presented during the episode.

Transcript

[Dan Beyer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Monsie Belanos]

Hey, thanks for listening to the Covino Enrich Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 5 to 7 Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for COVINO [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.

[Jason Stewart]

Okay, it may have been a day off. Sorry. Everything blends into one during the summertime, Monty.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

But somebody threw a pitch this weekend and somebody here at Fox Sports Radio is not very happy about it. Welcome in. We are in for Kavina Rich. We're not the only ones here. Isaac Loincron is at the news desk giving us the latest. Jason Stewart's our executive producer, and our technical producer is Ryan Smith. It's a big day for you, Monty, because in a couple of hours we'll find out. Or you will find out. We won't find out until tomorrow that you may have jury duty tomorrow.

[Dan Beyer]

Oh, I know. I've never had to report. Everybody's like, why don't you just throw it away, y'?

[Jason Stewart]

All?

[Dan Beyer]

I've been throwing it away for years, and this time I chose not to. Okay. I chose to be a good person. And now I'm waiting. But the times that I have called in, I've never been asked to report. So I've never actually gone in like you have. The times that I've, that I've, you know, called in like, oh, you don't need to report. So I'm hoping I don't need to report.

[Jason Stewart]

Okay, I'm just going to tell you next time, don't say you threw it away. Don't give me the air quotes that you called in when, when you did.

[Isaac Loewencron]

This is all.

[Jason Stewart]

This is all responsibility. Monsieur could be on jury duty tomorrow.

[Dan Beyer]

Yes. Yes, I could be. We'll find out in a few hours.

[Jason Stewart]

Find out if you're back with us tomorrow or not. You'll find out in a couple of hours. We'll find out tomorrow. It was on Saturday that the Giants and Dodgers played baseball in San Francisco. And what a day it was to honor Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds throwing out the first pitch to the in the game between the NL West Division rivals. I don't think that it is a sign of healing. I think that it is a sign of the San Francisco Giants promoting one of their own. But Jason Stewart, our executive producer, had a big, big problem with the Giants and Barry Bonds putting on a showcase on Saturday.

[Isaac Loewencron]

And there's context for this, right? Cause they, the owner of the Giants, I think just recently said that there's likely going to be a statue in front of AT&T Park. And then also Sammy Soso. Remember he was brought back to Wrigley to a standing ovation recently. And I think it's a disturbing trend, as I pointed out in my in my ex post, disturbing trend of like Major League Baseball forgiving the steroid era. Like the the faces of the steroid era, Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa bastardized the sport more than anybody. They are the ones that ruin the record books. They're the ones that were the poster children for that era. So it's like you always hear this. Everybody was doing it. They were just doing it better than everybody. There are so many justifications for that era that I saw this weekend in my post and I thought, well, this probably makes for a good sports talk fodder because I can't believe how forgiving people are and I can't believe that the current leadership in baseball acknowledges that that was an era that they're embarrassed of and they shouldn't have looked the other way and now they're celebrating the key figures of that era. It doesn't rub me the right way, but I'm an old curmudgeon baseball fan.

[Jason Stewart]

I I will say this, that I think that there is a unique audience and it doesn't mean that it's a small audience that is up in arms over this. I think that it I am not surprised that Barry Bonds got cheered for the San Francisco Giants. I think baseball fans are mad at steroid users when they're not when they're not on their team.

[Dan Beyer]

Okay.

[Jason Stewart]

So and I'm only saying this because Ryan Braun of the brewers was one who was caught up in a later scandal with Bosch in Florida. Part of what a rod was was brought into and each, each team may have their own player in in terms of supporting it. For the Giants, it just happens to be one of the best that they've ever had for the Brewers. I ride abroad like truly was was a great Milwaukee Brewer not up there with with you Molitor and how they're revered. So Bonds is at a different level but it's I expect Jason to be mad as a baseball fan, but I don't expect Giants fans to be mad. I actually don't expect Major League Baseball to be mad about it because it sure seemed like they were fine with how everything went as it was going on. I think the farce was feeling that they were mad about it. So it's such A unique sort of deal. But I, I get why it turns you off, but I don't know what we need to do to Barry Bonds, especially if it's a home baseball game, to penalize him. Does he have to stay away? I mean, he's been a coach in Major League Baseball since then. Right. So why shouldn't he have the opportunity to go and at least throw out a first pitch in front of the home fans who really, I feel, have absolutely no problem with what he did throughout his career in San Francisco?

[Dan Beyer]

So I hear where you may not like it, Jason, I understand, but I am not bothered by it for a couple of reasons here. I think the fact that Barry Bonds never won a World. I'm Right, right. He never won a World Series. Right. That adds to it. Like, if he would have won, and let's say he won a lot. I think that's part of it. Sammy Sosa. Mark McGuire won one. But did Mark McGuire, when he won one, was he on the steroids? Wasn't that before or, like, at the start?

[Jason Stewart]

Mark McGuire won an 1989, and he.

[Dan Beyer]

Wasn'T the Aeroids and the Sarahs in, like, the 90s, whatever. So he has won. Sammy Sosa.

[Jason Stewart]

I, I put it this way. I would be shocked if Mark McGuire wasn't on something in the, in the, in that year.

[Dan Beyer]

A year he's got one.

[Jason Stewart]

Jose Canseco was so ripped. Yes.

[Dan Beyer]

Like, and they, but they, they didn't win a bunch. Like, they were. Yes, the Bash Brothers. Right. But, like, I think them not winning is one of the reasons it doesn't bother me. Also, I understand, like, they cheated. So you still have to hit the ball. To me, knowing the pitch is worse than you juicing up. Like, if I'm a pitcher and you know what I'm about to pitch, that I would not stand for. Knowing that you're juiced up. I'll be like, try and hit it anyway. I'm still gonna try and strike you out. Like, yeah, they're stronger, but they still have to hit the ball. So that's another part of it. And Barry Bonds specifically going out for, for the Giants game, like, I don't care. I. I don't know if it's that I'm moving on and forgiving. I don't know if I genuinely was ever really mad, if I'm being honest.

[Jason Stewart]

I. And I think that that's part of where it is in baseball. There was. I don't think there was ever a point where Barry Bonds is hitting 73 home runs in a season. And Giants fans are like, I'm not watching this crap.

[Dan Beyer]

Exactly.

[Jason Stewart]

You know, like.

[Dan Beyer]

Or baseball fans. Not even just Giants fans. Right. Like you were tuning in to see.

[Jason Stewart]

Barry Bonds at the time. Yes. I think in later years you can feel scorn like Jason. I do. And I, and I looked at Jason's tweet. I didn't realize he tweeted it until today. Jason. But the responses to it, if you don't mind me. Shut up. That was from, from Marshall Eric in the south side. Right. So signed Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose. That's what I'll get to. Somebody wrote hey Alberry knew it was the cream in the clear. Someone bad. Take Jim Rome voice. You gotta be okay like those sort of. So you're getting a lot of hate with all of this. But the Pete Rose thing pops up. And the thing with, with Pete Rose was there was, there was the opportunity where he was betting against his team just for the whole sake. And it's argument is oldest time of the day you don't bet on him is the day that you're not betting on your team to win. So if you're betting on the Reds one day and then you don't bet on them the next, that means you're not as confident that they're going to win the next. So in essence you think that the day before the first day is the day that they're going to win. So then you also may use your bullpen in a different way, may play different players in a different way. There's a slippery slope when it comes to Pete Rose. I don't know. And you can maybe tell me on what people may think that the slippery slope is on the flip side of Barry Bonds just trying to be the best and trying to, trying to win in set records, it may be ruining the baseball record book. But again, I don't think San Francisco Giants fans care. I don't know if Milwaukee Brewer fans care that Ryan Braun did what he did. I don't know if Cubs fans, obviously not anymore hate what Sammy Sosa did. But on the Rose thing, I think that there are two sides to it. On the steroid thing, I'm not sure that there are two sides to it.

[Isaac Loewencron]

I always say this, that like the, the Pete Rose thing, I think like tears at the fabric of the game. You know, you always hear this, this the second that your audience thinks that they're showing up for wwe, you've lost the credibility of your sport. And if they think that players on the field are compromised or throwing the game, then that works at the fabric of the sport. The steroid guys were doing something that was against the law of the land. People say that it was against the rule. It wasn't against the rules in baseball. And I always say this. There's a difference between that not being against the rules and. And the players union literally collectively bargained the inability to test them for that. It's not. It doesn't mean it wasn't against the rules. Now, these guys did it for their own financial benefit, like, for whatever reason. The revisionist history is that these guys did it to levitate the interest of the game. They were each in it for themselves.

[Jason Stewart]

I agree with that.

[Isaac Loewencron]

It was borderline. Minor leaguers can make tens of millions of dollars. You know, people making tens of millions of dollars could be hall of Famers. So they weren't there. There was. There were no good guys in this whole thing. But I just think that to celebrate the people that jeopardized the credibility of the record books, Aaron Judge had a home run number, 350 this weekend. Okay? We should be celebrating the fact that he's the fastest player to ever do it. The problem is, how do we even consider home runs nowadays what's good, what's not. And it's. And it's Barry Bonds fault. It's Sammy Sosa's fault. So for me, it's just like Monty just said. What do we do to penalize these guys? You don't need to penalize them any more than they already have. They're not in the hall of Fame. They've already kind of reached, Received their penalty. But just don't celebrate them. Don't take a day out of the, you know, the year and celebrate them with a statue and a first pitch. I think that's my problem.

[Jason Stewart]

I understand it. I just don't think that the San Francisco Giants, and that's who we're talking about here, are the ones that had a problem with it or have a problem with it afterwards. Now, they may have been the ones to turn the blind eye, just like the 29 other teams in Major League Baseball. But there's, there's. I understand the numbers portion of it. Like when we talk about the home run number, I still, I think bonds is 762. Is that what, Is that what the number is? Or is it763?

[Isaac Loewencron]

I'll take your word for it. I honestly don't know.

[Jason Stewart]

You know, it's 755 for Hank Aaron and Isaac. Do you know what it is.

[Monsie Belanos]

Well, I think you just made a great point by saying that for the record, it's 762. But a whole generation of people were raised. Raised on having 714 of Babe Ruth and 755 of Hank Aaron memorized.

[Jason Stewart]

And those. Those are the people like Jason. In essence, a little bit of myself where I don't look at Barry Bonds record as being the real record. 61 is a lot easier to remember than 73. Even when McGuire hit 70, it was a round number, and that was before Bonds ended up breaking it a couple of years ago. But when McGuire stood at 70, that did say something to me, and then it kind of went away. Where 61 ends up being the magic number. And it. It goes away because bonds broke 70. And then we obviously know what happened after that. But I think that the continuous penalty is how Monty thinks it, how Isaac thinks of it, how I just explained it to myself. That's the constant penalty. I can't fault the San Francisco Giants for honoring one of their own. Now, if Major League Baseball were tonight in Atlanta to bring out Barry Bonds to throw the first pitch, then I have a pro, then. Then there's a problem with it. But in terms of. Of the local team and how they're doing it, I just. I think of the audience right now that 22 years ago, 23 years ago, those people who are maybe early teenagers, 13 now, they're in there buying prime in their late 30s, they're going to want to go to the ballpark and see the guy that made the summer of 2002 so magnificent. And so that's why they want to go and see Barry Bonds.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah, I think you just hit it. If this was just the All Star Game in Atlanta and you're sending Barry Bonds out, I think it would actually raise a lot of questions. And a lot of people be like, why him? The Giants, that's their dude. He's always going to be their dude. But I will also say the fact that Aaron Judge is hitting faster than anybody, the.350, surpassing Mark McGuire by almost 200 games, it's goes to show that who. Look at y'. All. Y' all cheated. And there are players that are still doing this better than you right now. So maybe that's why it.

[Jason Stewart]

Like, I'll tell you what, when we were on Judge Watch 461 may not be the penalty that Jason Stewart wants for Barry Bonds, but I think it says a lot more. Just like the point of not remembering what the actual number was, that Bonds ended up finishing with. I just remember that the single season in the home run, one of them ends in a 3 and one of them ends in a 2 with bond. So I wasn't sure if it was 7. 62, but 73 is the home run number. But it's moments like Aaron judge hitting number 62, us having to couch it or characterize it by saying it's the American League home run record stinks like that. That part stinks about it. But we were watching everything that Aaron Judge was doing up until that point. There is been years prior to that when Giancarlo Stanton was getting close, when he had what, 57 or 50, 59. Didn't have nearly as much of the hype, which I think Judge being a member of the Yankees helps with. But like those, those are the things. Like, again, it wasn't like, oh, he's 15 away from 73. We were still talking about, about 61. That's why I bring up Stanton. Just because he was in the National League at that point and he was getting close to Roger Maris.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Mark, you talk about 98 and you talk about 2002 and all these memories that these Reuters were providing their fans. Don't you feel duped? In other words? I look back on that. I too was excited for all that. As a baseball fan, I was ignorant to what was going on. But then after it was revealed that all these guys were cheating, then I felt bad and I felt worse because I fell for it. It's kind of like the Milli Vanilli thing. It's like we're not putting Milli Vanilli in the Rock and Roll hall of Fame because they were shams. They were cheated. Like, people who went to their concerts feel probably really stupid right now.

[Jason Stewart]

I don't know if this is. This just popped into my head. I did not feel stupid like you did.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah, no, I didn't.

[Jason Stewart]

I don't feel like they pulled one over on me. I.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Then that's the difference, I think in this argument, right?

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, I think so. I also think that there's something happening right now where, like I joke. So James Wood's a first time all Star for the Nationals. And I remember I talked to you guys of. There was a stat that came out that like James Wood at the second highest exit velocity of any player in the big leagues outside of like Shohei Ohtani or something like that.

[Dan Beyer]

And we were like, what the hell does that mean?

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, but, but, but new baseball is like, that's freaking amazing.

[Dan Beyer]

Right?

[Jason Stewart]

And so so now, and maybe Jason doesn't want to hear this, but if you were to tell somebody what Barry Bonds exit velocity was at that time compared to, you know, what it is now, they may be blown away by those numbers. They're maybe not caring about the numbers that Isaac cared about, that you cared about Jason, that Ryan cared about, that Monty cared about, that I cared about of 61, of 7,55 and of those numbers. And us being fans of those numbers and trying to be protector of the record books may start to diminish even more as time goes by. So then at what point do you say to Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds, people don't even care about the records anymore, but we're still going to hold you out like that? I maybe to your point, that's the principle of it. I just don't think that at some point I do think that there has to be some leniency. And I just look at the Giants and being like, they never felt that it was bad. Maybe, maybe they felt dirty as Bonds was and Balco were being dragged through the mud. But at no point did I do I feel that the Giants had any sort of backlash for what Barry Bonds was.

[Isaac Loewencron]

They never did. The Giants fans from day one have always been behind the guy. They really haven't even wavered. I know that for a fact.

[Jason Stewart]

And Sammy Sosa was up and down. Sammy Sosa was also busted with an illegal bat.

[Dan Beyer]

Right, Right.

[Jason Stewart]

So, like there's what, he was doing.

[Isaac Loewencron]

It just for the fans. Is that what he said? I cork my bats for the fans. So you're on roids and you cork your bats.

[Jason Stewart]

So that's, you know, there's, there's something with that. Do you think steroids and corking your bats are the same thing? Honestly, Honest question.

[Dan Beyer]

I mean, they're both cheating, right?

[Jason Stewart]

That's, that's the point.

[Dan Beyer]

That's the point. They're both cheating.

[Jason Stewart]

Like I look at, I look at steroids, I'm more, I'm more appalled by corking of the bat.

[Dan Beyer]

I am too.

[Jason Stewart]

Than, than the steroids.

[Dan Beyer]

I am too, because you still have to hit the ball.

[Jason Stewart]

Yes.

[Dan Beyer]

Like you, you still have, you're strong enough, but you still have to hit the ball. But I am more offended by the corking of the bat.

[Isaac Loewencron]

I remember that being an argument at the time on sports talk radio that, you know, Arnold schwarzenegger couldn't hit 50 home runs in a year. And I'll always say this, it takes an intense, high level skill level of hand eye coordination to hit A baseball on a major league level. So I've never argued that point. But I will say this like the Jason Giambis of the world that were able to make $300 million in their career as opposed to just kind of have a career. It takes those high level handball coordination people and it just made everyone this, this like fake. I don't even know what you say this. There's just a certain quality to it that's just artificial and I'll never get over that part. So I think that's my problem.

[Jason Stewart]

Also the players, some of the players had much longer careers. Crazy to think that Bonds would be a better hitter in his later years than he was early on in his career. But it's Roger Clemens and we grew up in a time, Monty, you weren't born yet. Where Roger Clemens was the deal in the 80s and then to do the things that he then ended up doing in the 90s with the blue Jays and the Yankees and it kind of being the same Roger Clemens. And I do feel, I do feel dumb to that point of looking back and saying, I look at Roger Clemens, you go, you go, old man. And then just being naive to it. So there's, I, I think that if you're a fan of those teams and that's what this is, you're not going to be bothered. But if it was a league wide thing again with the All Star Game, then it's a bigger issue. Remember when Pete Rose. It was in Atlanta, right. Was it at the World Series where they did the all century team and then Jim Gray asked him the question.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Was that Fenway or. I thought it was Atlanta. Okay.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah. Or I thought it was a World Series.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Am I mixing the Ted Williams thing with.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah. Isaac Loincron has got some information. Yeah.

[Monsie Belanos]

It was before Game 2 of the 1999 World Series in Atlanta, Braves, Yankees.

[Jason Stewart]

Yes. So there's Pete Rose at that point of a major league baseball team thing being welcomed back. And, and I'll say this, there were more people on Rose's side than I think, I don't think there are people who are passionate for Barry Bonds. I think there are people who are indifferent to Barry Bonds right now. You're passionately against it. There are more people, I think are passionately against it than are passionately for Barry Bonds. But with Pete Rose, different story. There were passionate people for it and passionate people, passionate people against Pete Rose. And I think that's what also made his situation so unique. By the way, Pete Rose is getting in the hall of Fame because he's dead. Like that is. It's, it's true. Because you will hear people say, oh, of course, now that he's gone, you put him in. No, that's the reason that he's in. The rule that Rob Manfred in Major League Baseball wrote is your lifetime ban is done when you're dead. So if Pete Rose were still alive today, he would not be in the hall of Fame and Monty and I would be having this conversation with Jason at another time whenever Pete Rose. But that is, that is why Pete Rose is now in the hall of Fame. Barry Bonds may have to wait till that point to be honestly blunt to it, to truly get past it. She's Monty Belanos. I'm Dan Beyer. It is Fox Sports Radio. We are in for Cavino and Rich here on fsr.

[Monsie Belanos]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app.

[Dan Beyer]

What's up everybody? Happy Monday. Thanks for tuning in to the Kavino and Rich show on Fox Sports Radio. The guys are in Atlanta taking in all the MLB all star festivities. Also filling in for the Dan Patrick show. So you get us instead. Lucky you. I'm Monsieur Balanos. He's Dan Beyer. Thanks for tuning in.

[Jason Stewart]

For over 40 years, Tire Rack has been helping customers find the right tires for how, what and where they drive ship fast and free. Backed by free road hazard protection with convenient installation options like mobile tire installation. Tire.com the way tire buying should be. It is Monday.

[Dan Beyer]

Monday.

[Jason Stewart]

Thank goodness there's no last man standing. I'm not sure if the guys did it today or not in Atlanta. I know it's a little different on remote, but we are not going to do that. Instead, Monsie has got her jury summons. So all week long she's got to call in today. She's good. She's here with us. We have no idea if she's going to be with us tomorrow because of her jury situation.

[Dan Beyer]

No Shohei for now. Watch. Maybe in a couple years. Now they put that idea in his head.

[Jason Stewart]

Looks pretty sharp in those New Balance commercials, right? Yeah, I could see how it could happen. Mozzi again on call for jury duty. And it allows us to unveil a new game that we. I don't even know if it's a game. It's the real stuff. Jury duty. Jury duty. We're playing jury duty here on Fox Sports Radio. Jury is made up of three. Three members. The foreman, Jason Stewart. There's Isaac Loewencron and Ryan Smith. They are the three person jury. As Monsieur and myself debate a topic, we will debate it for the next five minutes or so.

[Dan Beyer]

Okay.

[Jason Stewart]

The jury will then deliberate and come back with their verdict. Here is the topic of discussion. Home Run Derby, good or bad for the All Star Game? Monsi, call it in the air. Heads, you go first. Tails, I go first.

[Dan Beyer]

Tails.

[Jason Stewart]

Okay. No.

[Dan Beyer]

What?

[Jason Stewart]

It's.

[Monsie Belanos]

Great job, guys.

[Jason Stewart]

It's heads, you go first. Tails, I go first. All right.

[Dan Beyer]

I wanted to call it.

[Jason Stewart]

There it is.

[Dan Beyer]

I wanted to call it.

[Jason Stewart]

Okay. What does it say?

[Dan Beyer]

It says tails.

[Jason Stewart]

Okay, so I go first on this. I actually think think the Home Run Derby is not good for the All Star Game. Tripping the ratings for the All Star Game, like any other major sport outside of the super bowl, surely have diminished throughout time. But what happens with the All Star Game is it's like when you open presents on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, you get presents, but you've already opened presents the night before, so it isn't as special. There isn't that anticipation. What the Home Run Derby does is it shows you everything. It shows you the ballpark. It shows you the stars. When I watch a Home Run Derby, I'm seeing bombs hit 450ft, 470. And we're seeing all of the players together in their uniform. It's basically the All Star Game, except in a different version. It completely takes away the newness and the uniqueness of the All Star Game because you have an event that is just as big the night prior. And that's what I don't like about it. If you're a Christmas morning presence person, Christmas morning is magnificent. But if you're a Christmas Eve presents person, it's much better than it is on Christmas Day because it's the first time that you're getting to open presents. So even if you're seeing a list of Home Run Derby participants that you don't think is great, it still takes the sparkle off the newness that is the All Star Game.

[Dan Beyer]

Wow, Dan. First of all, nobody ever said they didn't want to open Christmas presents two days in a row or three days in a row. So, no, that is not it at all. You're comparing the Home Run Derby to like the slam dunk contest or like the NFL Pro bowl games that nobody wants to watch. The Home Run Derby in the MLB All Star Game are not the same. In fact, am I gonna see Tarik Skubal tonight?

[Jason Stewart]

No, you'll see him on the Am.

[Dan Beyer]

I gonna see Paul Skeenst tonight? No, I'm not going to see Jacob Misarowski either. I'm going to see some of the hitters that are hitting balls out of the ballpark all season, like Cal Raleigh, who's tied in incredible here to see what he can go do in a short amount of time. People love home runs. That is why, you know, there's stories that maybe baseball themselves that change the ball a little bit because fans love the home. Love the home runs in the real game. This is not diminishing the All Star Game in any way, shape or form. It is setting you up for a fun All Star Game. Both of them are competitive. There's still pride in both of these events. In the Home Run Derby, you're seeing the hitters. That's all you're seeing. And it's more relaxed and fun. Then you get to the All Star Game, and that is still competitive because nobody wants to go out there and strike out and look like an idiot. Nobody wants to go out there and lob a ball and give up a big home run to someone. There's still pride in the All Star Game, and that's the big difference. So it doesn't ruin the All Star Game. MLB is fun, and you actually get to see the best hitters right now or more exciting hitters. James wood apparently has 10 of the furthest home runs this season out of all of them. Like, they're. It's not the same. It is a nice appetizer for what you're going to get on Tuesday.

[Jason Stewart]

Well, one of my. Let me. Let me just put it this way. I'm going to run down my favorite RBI double that we've had in All Star Game history. I can't even remember any. The point is, is you know what I love about All Star Games? When a guy hits a home run like Bo Jackson did to dead center field in Anaheim. You know what would have made that less exciting is if you would have hit 28 of them the night before that went 100ft further. That's the point of it. We don't even have All Star memories from the past because. Or from recent history because we're remembering great performances in home run derbies. We're remembering celebrations, we're remembering the timeout. And so. And so walking up to Prince Fielder and giving him some Gatorade, it is completely overshadowed memories that we have. Because when I'm watching an All Star Game, yeah, I want to see a guy take a pitcher deep. But guess What? I shot 128 times the night before by eight different players in the big league. It's supposed to be an appetizer, but sometimes, Monty, let's be real, the mozzarella sticks take away from the meal that you're about to eat. And I think that's what happens with the Home Run Derby.

[Dan Beyer]

I don't see that at all. In fact, if Cal Raleigh wins the Home Run Derby tonight and I don't know, has 35 home runs and he hits a home run for the All Star Game, that's him. Yes. Look it, he's not losing his stride. There he is. He did it yesterday. It adds to it, it adds to the story. And because it is the big players, it's names you recognize going out there to hit. And again, it's not. You have your dad throwing to you, you have your buddy throwing to you. It's not the exact same leverage that we're gonna get on Tuesday. So to me it's almost apples and oranges. Like one doesn't take away from the other. In fact, it enhances it for me. And I just, just want to see how many home runs they can hit in a two minute span. Because I'm not going to get that on Tuesday. On Tuesday I'm going to get individual matchups. That's what I'm looking for Monday. That's I'm in for all the fun. Hit all these home runs.

[Jason Stewart]

Fellas, I think the band was about to quit on you. And then you just kept going. Yeah, there it is. Cal Raleigh.

[Dan Beyer]

Objection.

[Jason Stewart]

By the way, if CAL Raleigh hits 1, 512ft tonight.

[Dan Beyer]

Yep.

[Jason Stewart]

That's all people are going to talk about. It's not going to matter what he does in tomorrow's game. I just think.

[Dan Beyer]

But tomorrow's game has more.

[Jason Stewart]

I think it was a great idea. It's like the Final Four. The Final Four. Saturday is ended up overshadowing the Monday night championship game. Because you're like, wow, it's the Final Four. It's the newness of it. And now you're seeing, you're seeing all the sights that you'll see, except you'll just see them tomorrow night. I, I rest my case. Jury duty.

[Dan Beyer]

You're talking about Cal Raleigh. If he wins the Home Run Derby and he hits a home run in the All Star Game, nobody's going to care about the All Star Game. It's going to go back to what he did in the Home Run Derby. But the All Star Game has other players that you didn't get to See, tonight, like the big pitchers, you're going for the matchups. You're not going to watch for the same reasons. Oh, this is just for fun. Tonight is fun for everybody involved. Hitters, fans, you get to see this biggest hit, the biggest hitters all in one night. And then tomorrow night, you get to see the best pitchers taking on some of the best hitters.

[Jason Stewart]

All right, Foreman, you got enough. You got enough.

[Isaac Loewencron]

I've heard enough. So we're going to convene and then come back with the verdict.

[Jason Stewart]

The verdict will be yes after the break.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Okay.

[Jason Stewart]

All right. There it is. She's Monty Belanos. I'm Dan Byer. She is for I am against. And I fully know Monty is much more well liked around these hallways than I am. So I'm already at a disadvantage. We'll see who wins. Not so fast, my friend. Oh, we'll find out next. She's Monty Belano. So I'm dead by her in Fort Covino and Rich here on Fox Sports.

[Dan Beyer]

Radio because I don't call him Papa Bear.

[Monsie Belanos]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app.

[Jason Stewart]

There's no white smoke, but I think the jury has reached a verdict here on Cavino and Rich. On Fox Sports Radio, she's Monty Bellanio. So I'm Dan Beyer in for Covino and Rich. Shortly after the show, the podcast will be going up. If you missed any of today's show, be sure to check out the podcast. Just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and be sure to also follow, rate and review the podcast. Again, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts. And I wanted to tell you that because Kavino and Rich were in for Dan Patrick earlier this morning. Here's the good thing that I think Danny G. Does is that the podcast that the guys of the show that they did this morning, you'll find [e-mail] Danny also puts it even though they were in for Dan Patrick also puts it in the Covino Enrich podcast. So if you missed the guys and you wanted to hear them earlier today, we appreciate you listening to us. But if you were hoping to hear Cavino and Rich, you can hear them live from the all star festivities in Atlanta. Although it's just recorded in podcast form.

[Dan Beyer]

I wonder if they're going to enjoy the home run derby.

[Jason Stewart]

I have you been. Did you go to the one?

[Dan Beyer]

I did. It was A lot of fun. It's. It's just for the fans, the experience of being there and then just seeing so many big hitters and stars, because it's not like the slam dunk contest where you're like, who's in it? You typically know these names, so you get to see them, you know, do what they do best.

[Jason Stewart]

Not to be a negative Nancy is. I know our. Our verdict is coming down a second, but the one thing that does not translate on TV is the breaks in between the hitters. So there's a lot of downtime. It's not just an inning changeover where it's. There is a lot. And honestly, after you've seen 50 home runs, the 51st and 52nd are just kind of like, okay, like, at first, it's electric.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

And then as the night goes on, I was there when Josh Hamilton went on fire in New York in 2008. And so each one that he hit was just further and further and further. Now, Josh Hamilton was so tired, he lost to Justin Morneau in the finals, but it was so electric because of all the home runs that he hit. Now with the different rules, there's even more home runs hit. It's a different animal. I think it's a longer night for the fan watching the game because of how it's all set up.

[Dan Beyer]

It is, and you're right, it doesn't translate at home. It's not the same than being in person, but, you know, you can get up, grab a drink, grab a snack, come back, watch the next hitter.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah. All right, let's. Let's go to the foreman, Jason Stewart. I believe the verdict is in. Mozzie, saying that the Home Run Derby not only doesn't hurt the All Star Game, but actually helps it.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

Sets it up. I say that it's kind of diminished. The Midsummer Classic.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Now, as the jury foreman and the executive producer of the show, I made an executive decision because there were questions being asked by jurors, and instead of answering them off the air or getting answers off the air, I wanted the listeners to experience the entire process. So there's a couple questions from the jurors before we give you the verdict. I have all the information, so. And like a murder trial, does the verdict have to be unanimous?

[Jason Stewart]

No, it does not have to be unanimous. Just unanimous.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Anonymous or unanimous. Yeah, I got it. Because that was the. I would have been the swing vote in this, and I could be convinced either way. So two out of three, the winner here. The verdict was two out of three. And I won't name any names because I want to make it awkward, but both of the people. I'll just give the verdict right now.

[Dan Beyer]

Okay.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Monsie, you made the better point. Monsieur wins.

[Jason Stewart]

Surprise.

[Monsie Belanos]

By the way, thank you for the $100Amazon gift card. Oh, sorry.

[Dan Beyer]

You weren't supposed to say that on air.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Dan, you are guilty. Guilty of not making a better point. That's what you're guilty of. One of the people who voted for Monty said if his point was just. It's just too much, that isn't good enough for me. Even though I agree with his point. Monsieur made better points. Another person pointed out the fact that Monsieur's points about pitchers and fielders, the next day, you see the entire game.

[Jason Stewart]

I thought those were good points.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Those were great points. And again, that won him over in this debate. But they actually agree with you, Dan, so. And then there was just a point where I, you know, somebody named me felt that Dan made great points, and I very much agree with his point.

[Monsie Belanos]

Overall, that cat wasn't let out of the bag. It was yanked out.

[Isaac Loewencron]

But the verdict is in. Moncy wins.

[Dan Beyer]

Wow.

[Jason Stewart]

I knew it was an uphill climb, but I have to respect the jury's decision, because you know what they didn't do? They didn't take their summons and throw it away. They didn't postpone their jury duty. They didn't push it off until weeks and months ahead. They took the responsibility. So I have to accept the decision of my peers, even though I disagree with it. I think tonight is. And. And I say this. I say this as a Christmas Eve opener.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

Of presents. That's what we always did. Christmas Eve was amazing, which made Christmas little. Little different, but it was so. I understand what the. The Home Run Derby is, but I appreciate the decision, and thank you at least for hearing me out.

[Dan Beyer]

You know, it was a good debate. You had a good point that sometimes the mozzarella sticks ruin the main entree. You're not wrong about that. I just really don't think that is the case here. You're not wrong that maybe the experience is different at home, but I. I really find them so different. I don't find them the same.

[Jason Stewart]

I know you don't eat meat, but would you eat mozzarella sticks and then have a veggie cheeseburger after that?

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

Oh, you would? Okay. I think it's a lot of cheese.

[Dan Beyer]

It is a lot.

[Jason Stewart]

But I'm saying, like, I thought you would, like, very. Maybe, like.

[Dan Beyer]

No, I would.

[Jason Stewart]

Onion rings or. Let's just do. I'll do. I don't know what another substitute of veggie is, so you're not the right person.

[Dan Beyer]

I had mozzarella sticks last night and then I had a margherita cheese pizza.

[Jason Stewart]

That doesn't. Yeah, that's. It's. It's too much for me. That's. I. I like the. The separation of it.

[Dan Beyer]

Yeah.

[Jason Stewart]

But I will take in the home run Derby and obviously I'll take in the All Star game tomorrow because there will be great moments, but it will be a different watch jury. Appreciate your. Your time and consideration. We aren't going to name names on who voted for who, but.

[Dan Beyer]

I know.

[Jason Stewart]

Well, I know it was split that. I mean, obviously, if Jason says he's the deciding vote, he voted for you.

[Dan Beyer]

Right.

[Jason Stewart]

We don't.

[Isaac Loewencron]

No, no, no, no. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, go ahead.

[Jason Stewart]

Yeah, that's exactly.

[Isaac Loewencron]

Go with that story. Go with that story.

[Jason Stewart]

Yes. As much as you would like to keep it anonymous, at least it wasn't unanimous. Monty, I hope to do it again with you tomorrow.

[Dan Beyer]

Me too.

[Jason Stewart]

If not, good luck on jury duty. She's Monty on dance could be known. Rich.

[Dan Beyer]

This is an iHeart podcast.