Here’s what went down Tuesday on Gambo & Ash…

Sports 620 KTAR’s Dave Burns filled in for the vacationing John Gambadoro.

Tweeting His Way to LA?…As made famous by now former Sun Shaquille O’Neal, Twitter communication is at it, again.  Well, sort of.  Amare Stoudemire tweeted Tuesday morning that he wants to play for the Lakers in hopes of winning a championship.  Ash & Burnsy concur there is little truth to this because both know Amare doesn’t know what he wants.  Does he want to stay in Phoenix?  Maybe.  How about Golden State?  Possibly.  Just please don’t ask Amare, because the guys are certain STAT doesn’t know either.

Saving Face…Suns’ brass was caught celebrating prematurely during Thursday’s draft thinking Steph Curry would be here in Phoenix next season after the Timberwolves passed on the former Davidson star.  After Don Nelson’s change of heart, the Suns are still talking trade with Golden State, and Burnsy’s furious.  How can Steve Kerr, Robert Sarver and the gang trust anyone with the Warriors after they were certain a deal would be completed?  Dave is wondering if the Suns are playing nice simply because Golden State may be the only suitor hot on Stoudemire’s trail.  Ash feels it’s time for Suns management to step up and save face because he thinks Don Nelson can’t be trusted - especially after last week’s antics.

Kid Work…Suspended Michael Vick is back in the news.  Ron Mexico is dropping the hammer and nails at his $10-an-hour construction gig, opting for work at a Virginia Boys & Girls Club - with kids no less.  Burnsy and Ash are seeing right thru this.  Dave thinks a well-paid PR firm is celebrating today knowing seeing Vick smiling with kids on the evening news and posing for photo shoots for the local newspaper can only help his tarnished image, possibly even with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.  Ash knows Vick is running out of options if he’s never re-instated to the league, and why is this a story in the first place?  Mark’s feelings haven’t changed, the now former Falcon quarterback is still not off the hook for brutally killing dozens of dogs.

Worst or Disappointing?…The Diamondbacks, losers of five-straight heading into Tuesday’s game against the Reds, are heading for a long summer.  Burnsy knows this is a disappointing season, but not the most disappointing.  He points to the 2002 D-backs’ fully loaded team coming off a World Series championship and even last year when Bob Melvin’s crew raced out to a 20-8 start.  Ash is most disappointed in the fact that this team, at the end of June, is no longer relevant on the MLB scene (11.5 games back in the NL Wildcard).

Rocket Man?…STAT may be traded in the near future, but possibly not to the Warriors.  The Houston Rockets, who received the news yesterday that All-Star center Yao Ming could miss the entire season recovering from a broken foot, may be back in the running for Amare even if the Suns shot down the idea last week to Ash.  Without Yao, the Rockets will certainly look to add a scoring big man to complement Ron Artest, if they can re-sign him.

Homecoming?…Former UofA star, now free-agent big man, Channing Frye could be on the Suns’ radar when free-agency opens later Tuesday night.  Burnsy sees this as a low-risk, high-reward situation - acquiring a scoring front-court player on the cheap in NBA terms.  Ash certainly likes the 26-year-old Frye over 34-year old Antonio McDyess.  Mark wonders if Suns’ super trainer Aaron Nelson could work his magic with McDyess like he did with Grant Hill and, most recently, Shaq.  The guys concur none of the big-name free agents will be wearing a Suns’ uniform this fall.  Ash says keep your eye on restricted free-agent David Lee, Suns fans.

All-Star Watch…The Diamondbacks may be suffering thru a miserable season, but Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci thinks the Snakes could field two, possibly three, All-Stars.  The guys wonder how a team currently 16 games under .500 can justify placing up to three players in the mid-July spectacular.  Burnsy was certain Justin Upton would make it, but wonders how Sunday’s antics (fake-tossing a ball into the stands at Chase Field) will affect his All-Star status.

We also caught up with Diamondbacks’ skipper A.J. HINCH who discussed the team’s frustration following five-straight losses, the recent string of team meetings, and what he expects from the Reds the next three nights.

Burnsy is back Wednesday.  We’ll be joined by Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman, ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian, and NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.

 

 A.J. Hinch [11:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17)

Ash chokes on a pepper - out take

Ash the kid model

Ash - De La Hoya voice

Gambo cries - Notebook

Gambo - Man crush on Tommy John

Gambo on spring break

Gambo - Cheating is good

Gambo - Let’s get on the boat

Gambo: Old horse, new tricks

John John

Lunch lady gets a raise

Dave Burns filled in for Gambo. No calls, no texts, and no word from Gambo today. Not yet anyway…

No deals for the Phoenix Suns either, although the rumors are aplenty. A popular one making the rounds Wednesday was Amare to Houston for the remnants of Tracy McGrady and package of role players. Ash quickly shot that one down, but was not able to rule out the other one, per Chad Ford:

One rumor that won’t go away has the Suns and Thunder talking about a draft-day swap that would give Oklahoma City the 14th pick and land the Suns the Thunder’s 25th pick and, more importantly for the Suns, the return of their first-round pick in 2010. The Suns traded that pick to the Thunder several years ago as part of the Kurt Thomas trade. The pick is unprotected next year, and with the Suns flirting with rebuilding, they don’t want to lose it.
Sources say the Thunder have an eye for Ohio State center B.J. Mullens and likely will take him if he’s available at No. 14.

Wouldn’t that be the irony of ironies for the Suns: Their present roster is messed up because they got rid of so many draft picks, and now their future may hinge on selling another draft pick. If the Chad Ford report is to be believed, Oklahoma City is very interested in the 14th pick and will give back their selection in 2010, one that Ash and Burnsy agree is hindering the rebuilding process now. So, can Suns fans stomach giving up another high draft pick in order to get back next year’s? Burnsy would. Ash is onboard as long as the Suns are onboard for a complete roster overhaul (including sending Nash to Portland). Just get busy dying in other words…

Speaking of rebuilding, the D-Backs may be one step closer to doing so. This after their ace, Brandon Webb, is one step closer to major elbow surgery. So the unthinkable is really thinkable now: Could the D-Backs really pick up the 8.5 million option on a pitcher with a bum shoulder?? Burnsy says best case is that Webb returns to by March and then spends the next three months performing like the pitcher he used to be. Even still, would another team even part with prospects for a pitcher with major injury issues, as well as free-agency less than a year away? Ash doesn’t think so, but he does think the D-Backs need to take the chance and pick up Webb’s option at year’s end.

ESPN baseball analyst TIM KURKJIAN joined the guys, and joined with the guys’ opinion that no option with Webb seems to be a good one for AZ. He also thinks no trade involving Doug Davis, Jon Garland, or Felipe Lopez will net much in the way of prospects.

Rising NBA prospect JEFF PENDERGRAPH called in a day ahead of one of the biggest days of his life. Pendergraph projects as a 2nd or late 1st Round selection in tomorrow‘s draft. Ash thinks he has a good chance of being a good role player at the next level.

Hall of Fame pitcher FERGIE JENKINS had more than a good career with the Cubs. He joined the guys on-site to discuss the state of baseball, including Sammy Sosa and steroids, as well as Donald Fehr.

 

 Tim Kurkjian [13:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (303)

 

 Jeff Pendergraph [8:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (18)

 

 Fergie Jenkins [14:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11)

Jon Bloom filled in for a “vacationing” Gambo.

Gambo did have to call in (pre-show), excited about the latest NBA trade news. The news, for those who may be unaware, is that Spurs are now that much better than the Suns, and maybe that much closer to the Lakers, after pulling off their own version of the Pau Gasol theft. Richard Jefferson now makes up the “Big Four” in SA, but Ash and Bloomer think that there is a strong possibility that Manu Ginobili is on his way out, in the wake of this big deal. As for the Suns, they seem unable to make any big deals this summer, and are sort of stuck in basketball purgatory, all while sporting the league’s highest payroll. Ash wouldn’t be adverse to the Suns dumping significant portions of that payroll (i.e. Nash, Amare, and Shaq). His motto (vide The Shawshank Redemption) is “get busy living or get busy dying.” Suns fans will undoubtedly have problems living with another year of LA/SA domination, but (vide The Godfather Part II) “this is the business (they) have chosen for themselves.”

Business has been good for the Dodgers, even after Manny Ramirez’s 50 game hiatus. Now, Manny is back…Well, sort of. ManRam is making a few rehab starts in Albuquerque, and ESPN is covering it every step of the way. But is a minor league rehab assignment really a suitable next step for a steroid abuser? Minor league players, after all, do get suspended for the same thing, but are not able to conduct rehab assignments in…Little League?? Ash and Bloom agree that the league is wrong to allow Ramirez to play while under suspension. After all, shouldn’t a 50 game suspension really be a 50 game suspension?

50 games might be the over/under for Phil Jackson on the Lakers bench next season. Jackson in considering a Roger Clemens style return to the Lakers, where he would coach home games, and have Kurt Rambis take over for road trips. Ash and Bloom are skeptical of this Joe Paterno type arrangement. But at least Joe Pa makes all the trips. He just doesn’t call the plays, or coach, or do anything really.

The Wizards received quite a few calls about their #5 overall pick, and eventually accepted Minnesota’s offer. So much for Ash’s preferred offer for Amare, which featured the #5 pick coming back to Phoenix in exchange for STAT. On Sat. Bloomer was sure that the Suns would make this kind of a deal before draft day. Not anymore. Ash also concurs that the Suns will have little movement before or after the draft.

The Diamondbacks manager AJ Hinch joined the show and discussed the recent road trip, the upcoming homestand and where the Diamondbacks roster sits.

Here’s what went down Friday on Gambo & Ash…

Stayin’ Alive!…The ASU baseball team got a big come-from-behind win in their elimination game Thursday night against North Carolina as Kole Calhoun hit a grand slam and drove in six in the win.  Pat Murphy got another solid outing from Josh Spence and is now faced with a decision when they play Texas later Friday afternoon.  Does he pitch ace Mike Leake on just two days rest or go with Seth Blair or another well-rested starter?  Gambo feels in a back-against-the-wall situation like they’re in, Leake has to go, even on short rest.  Ash leaned towards Blair simply because Leake struggled against the exact same team just two days earlier and Blair gives you the fresh arm and different look to the Longhorn hitters.

In Kole We Trust…ASU outfielder Kole Calhoun doesn’t appear to be your typical college baseball player.  He’s short, pudgy, and has red hair and freckles.  The former Yavapai College outfielder has been the Devils’ most consistent hitter in the post-season.  The junior, who struggled at the plate at the beginning of the season, was nearly kicked off the team by Murphy.  Now, he has a decision to make-come back for his senior year or sign a free-agent deal with a major league team?

Refund…The U.S. Open resumed Friday afternoon after play was suspended for most of Thursday due to poor weather.  42,500 fans who attended the event were initially told they would not be refunded their money.  The USGA has since rescinded their decision, saying paid ticket holders would be able to attend if play was extended to Monday or would receive half of their money back if play ends Sunday.

New York Meeting…Steve Kerr flew to New York to meet with Steve Nash and discuss his future with the Suns.  Gambo reported Nash wants to stay with the Suns - as long as they’re not in a re-building mode.  This puts the Suns in an interesting position.  Make one more run with the current roster or trade away major pieces (Nash, Shaq) and build from scratch?  Ash has been calling for the Suns to deal the 2-time MVP point guard for quite some time.  Gambo feels the team’s main goal is to remain competitive and, in essence, relevant in the Arizona sports scene.

Suns Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations DAVE GRIFFIN joined the guys IN-STUDIO to discuss the draft next week and what they might do with their three picks (14th, 48th, and 57th) and what he expects to see during Saturday’s pre-draft workouts at U.S. Airways Center featuring Louisville’s Earl Clark and Gonzaga’s Austin Daye among others.

We caught up with Diamondbacks third baseman MARK REYNOLDS in Seattle as the D-backs prepare for the first of their three-game set against the Mariners later at Safeco Field.  Reynolds discussed his approach at the plate (he’s on pace to break his own all-time MLB strikeout record he set last season) and how his average and power numbers have steadily increased over the season.  He’s hitting .275 with 18 homers this season.

To K or not to K…Mark Reynolds is on pace to hit 44 homers and drive in 116 runs this season.  The bad news is the D-backs’ third baseman is set to strikeout an estimated 234 times.  G&A aren’t quite sure how to describe Reynolds as a player.  Is he on the verge of stardom or just a solid everyday Major League Baseball player?  Ash says Reynolds compares favorably to Adam Dunn as the numbers are similar, even if the styles aren’t.  Dunn looks the part as a strapping power-hitter in the middle of the lineup.  You wouldn’t see the same in Reynolds who A.J. Hinch calls the best all-around athlete on the team.

Change of Scenery…The Diamondbacks announced they will relocate their spring training operations following the 2010 exhibition season.  Next year will be the final year of spring training baseball in Tucson.  G&A could see this coming for quite some time.  Ash sees the only real drawback being a lack of “team unity” when the players will likely return home to their Phoenix houses after their work day ends.

Tangled Webb…D-backs’ ace Brandon Webb returned to Phoenix to see a specialist regarding his injured shoulder.  Gambo is thinking Webby is likely gone for the year and why rush him back with the season all but lost at this point, anyway?  He had thought the D-backs had hoped Webb would be healthy with the trade deadline just around the corner.  Ash had this pinpointed after Webb’s disappointing season-opening start against Colorado saying something wasn’t right with the former Cy Young Award winner.

 

 Dave Griffin [18:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (25)

 

 Mark Reynolds [9:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (15)