Minor League Baseball

Episode 172: Shep: LIVIN’ THE DREAM!

Matt Shepard

It’s a blast…every single day.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • So how do you get to be an MLB play-by-play announcer? Guest MATT SHEPARD had a VERY unusual path to the Tigers!
  • The sports world mourns the death of one of the greatest pitchers ever. The boys reminisce on Tom Terrific.
  • The Tigers’ win streak ended at six. With five games against the Twins now on tap, is this the season’s telling point?
  • Looks like Eli’s suddenly started to watch the NBA playoffs. He did NOT like what he saw from one game in particular.
  • Bob on the NHL Playoffs: Is the great Zdeno Chara finally finished at 43 — or just finished in Boston?
  • Get ready, gamblers! Denny has his pick on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby for you — NOT! 
  • Legal sports gambling rages on. Denny updates us on what the Cubs are doing — and WHAT’S that about MJ?!
  • Big Ten(14!) football after all? President Trump will want to take credit IF that occurs — but would he deserve to?
  • MSU’s Kirk Cousins raked over the coals by the media for his ideas about COVID-19! Denny and Eli to the rescue.
  • How much would YOU pay for a presence at FL’s games? “ZERO?” Producer Brandon McAfee sez $100 but he does have limits.
  • Eli with “This Day in Sports History,” Bob’s got YOUR mailbag segment and much more right here!

Episode 163: MISTER MICHIGAN: Brandy himself!

Jim Brandstatter broadcasting for U of M

A very timely guest!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • What did Bo know and when did he know it? Just one of MANY topics for us with U-M football voice JIM BRANDSTATTER!
  • So why would Bo allegedly allow sexual abuse by his own team doctor to go on? Eli’s sources have an explosive theory!
  • How could Michigan lose a five-star tackle from right under their noses? The kid’s own father wants to know that too.
  • Seven-inning games?! Eli’s so upset with MLB’s silliness he cries, “START THE DAMN GAME IN THE THIRD INNING THEN!”
  • And now MLB is one-sixth through its season. Not weird enough? As of Monday the Tigers would be in the playoffs!
  • Long-time sportscaster Jamie Samuelsen has died at just 48, joining a host of Detroit media members already gone too soon.
  • Denny’s got figures on the NFL players who’ve opted out of the season. Bob asks again, “didn’t anybody PLAN for this?”
  • The NBA is back! NHL too! Both leagues started off with showy Black Lives Matter displays. Has BLM gone too far now?
  • Bob with a bold prediction for Michigan State basketball, which just went through a VERY eventful week.
  • Those stories, “This Day in Sports,” YOUR mailbag segment and much more coming up right here!

Episode 154: GREAT boxer. Greater GENTLEMAN!

Boxer Hilmer Kenty

Detroit’s first champion since Joe Louis.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • Ex-world champ HILMER KENTY joins us to discuss his career, Emanuel Steward, the Kronk, the current state of boxing and more!
  • A big 50th anniversary this week for Denny AND for Bob who reminisce about the night he came back from his MLB suspension.
  • And just to set the record straight, Mr. Giacalone, what did you DO to poor Denny to help end his career? Oh? REALLY?!
  • The Tigers have done WHAT? PARTNERED with a gambling sports book?! Denny: “I was SUSPENDED for doing the same thing!”  
  • Baseball, uh, “spring training” has resumed, but Eli says we STILL don’t know what the season sked looks like.
  • P.C. Madness: we now learn from The Lunatics that “Honest Abe” apparently WASN’T so “honest.” HIS statue must go too!
  • Tag! YER it — or maybe yer NOT! Conflicting COVID tests all over now allow one PGA tour player into this week’s Detroit stop.
  • Ya say it doesn’t matter? Ya say prep superstar Emoni Bates won’t ever actually PLAY for MSU? Bob explains why it DOES matter.
  • Our Detroit radio affiliate WDFN is gone, suddenly changed to another format. Denny and Bob: sorry to hear it. Eli: SCREW radio!
  • Mr. Z also has This Day in Sports and a SHOCKING statement about YOUR weekly mailbag segment. It’s all right here!

Episode 142: BROOKIE’S Got a LOT to Say!

Tom Brookens

One of the great guys in baseball.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain, and Bob Page!

  • Small-town boy goes to Chicago — and steps right into Disco Demolition Night! Welcome to MLB, guest TOM BROOKENS! 
  • Eli jumps all over ESPN for televising Korean baseball and — huh? A CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT?!
  • “Now tell me to what room I go to get my reputation back!” The lawsuit against MSU’s Mark Dantonio & others DISMISSED!
  • There’s news out this week on college football recruiting. Michigan fans won’t like it either.  
  • Mike Trout’s rookie card just sold for $900,000! Denny says baseball cards are BACK — they MUST be!   
  • Eli and Denny tell stories of Mantle and Pepitone and why it’s JOE’S pic hanging in The Denny Den, NOT Mickey’s.
  • IF the NFL plays this season, one equipment manufacturer thinks it has a great idea for player safety.
  • Meanwhile, an NFL player is suing over sexual assault. What could a WOMAN have DONE to the macho man?
  • Sad news for we of the Baby Boom Generation? Eli: YES! Bob: NO! EDDIE HASKELL was a two-faced jerk!
  • •Those stories, Eli and Denny KILL the weekend Tiger/Phil foursome, YOUR mailbag and much more right here!

Episode 128: Most loved? Most hated? Most FEARED? Our GUEST!

Former NBA Columnist Peter Vecsey

He took no prisoners. 

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

  • NBC-TV and New York Post star Peter Vecsey sets down his famous Poison Pen to join the boys on - what else?! - the NBA.
  • We gotta do it, folks - first thing EVERY show now. The latest horrors from COVID-19 AND the panic destroying our economy.
  • A “sport” still going on: video game basketball! Two young producers take three geezers by the hand and explain what THAT is!
  • Among MORE sports cancellations? Wimbledon! The British Open may be next.
  • And what if horse racing’s Triple Crown is called off? Four famous Tigers/ex-Tigers are dreading that! We’ll tell you why.
  • MORE trouble for Michigan State! THIS time it involves Tom Izzo himself and it COULD be serious.
  • Still working? Have any money coming in? How would you like to make five grand a DAY - and not HAVE to work for it?
  • That’s what’s happening for many MLB stars while the league ponders six-man starting rotations IF baseball returns soon.
  • What’s the ONE topic ALWAYS off the table among big-time athletes? Bob explains how a guy just violated it!
  • Those stories, YOUR weekly mailbag and much more right here.

Episode 115: Denny Deals — to KALINE and FREEHAN!

Denny McLain

I had a lot a fun pitching against those guys.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

  • More on MSU’s Mel Mess! DENVER POST COLUMNIST SEAN KEELER joins the boys to discuss some hard feelings out west.
  • Two other top stories rage on as well: the Astros’ sign-stealing and Kobe’s tragic death.
  • MSU basketball’s problems continue and now Eli wonders how a certain Spartan star makes money for his young family.
  • He’s RICH, one HELLUVA college basketball coach and a really good guy. So why are many feeling sorry for John Beilein?
  • Michigan roundball’s going well again — but how ’bout them Wolverines on the DIAMOND!
  • Baseball’s Tony Fernandez is dead at 57. What a career he had, as older Tigers fans certainly remember.
  • Denny’s memory is indeed clear! Bob confirms his tales of trouble with Boog Powell. Whom did Denny OWN?
  • Minor League baseball players got a raise. Eli and Denny debate whether the bump is enough.
  • Bob calls out Jeff Blashill and the Wings — AGAIN. Simply put: no guts, no glory.
  • In YOUR Mailbag, producer Brandon McAfee is a HERO. He MUST be for putting up with US! Those stories and more right here

 

Episode 64: The Legend of Ron LeFlore? You Ain’t Heard THESE Stories!

Ron LeFlore on cover of The Sporting News

He learned baseball just to get out of prison.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

  • Afraid of injury, superstars are now sitting out the entire pre-season — yet the shameless NFL is charging fans full price anyway?
  • The Raiders have issued Bonehead Brown an ultimatum: “all-in or all-out!”
  • There was only one Joe Namath, but Bob has his OWN “guarantees” about Michigan football this year.
  • Tiger and Phil looking more and more like they’re done. Next stop Senior’s Tour? Would Tiger play on it?
  • So how’s Nick Castellanos doing in Chicago? You don’t want to know.
  • And, speaking of the Cubs, Eli & Denny nearly come to BLOWS over an outrageous incident in a recent game!
  • “Two hot dogs and two — WHAT?!” Before a former Tigers star ventured out on the field?!
  • “Haters gonna hate,” as they say. Boy, do a couple of you hate Bob!
  • And Mike Tyson puts Eli to shame — or so he CLAIMS. Eli calls “bull-bleep!”
  • Those stories and much more right here!

Episode 53: If a Catcher Drops ANY Pitch — WHAT’S Gonna Happen?!

MLB Catcher catching wild pitch.

The rule is going to drastically alter the game if it’s adopted.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

  • Our Dickie V interview: Your comments — while Bob comments on the college basketball corruption that Dick and others protect.
  • MLB commish Bowie Kuhn: “You claim that players KISSED on the Seattle team bus?! Incredible!” 
  • The legendary Jim Bouton of Ball Four has died.
  • MLB All Star Game and Fox’ TV coverage? Some loved it (Eli), some hated it (Bob). Either way, the ratings are way down.
  • C’mon, Denny! You REALLY don’t think baseballs are juiced this year? Many big-name MLB guys disagree with you.
  • With all the HUGE changes in baseball now, Denny brings up a proposed rule change that may have YOU apoplectic!
  • Oh. You’re already apoplectic over the possibility of another MLB strike or lockout? Denny and Bob are too, but Eli defends it.
  • Kawhi moves on, a disgrace for U-D basketball AND MSU football, plus much more right here!

Episode 8: Does the Super Bowl Have To Be A Super Bore?

Everybody thought it was going to explode in the fourth quarter.