Gambo & Ash

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Abandon ship?

Published on September 15, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Monday on G&A…

Bandwagon Jumpers…the Cards season started out with a thud, falling to the 49ers 20-16 Sunday in Glendale and it didn’t take long for the whispers to start. Ash, who attended the game, heard the three dirty words over and over, “Same old Cardinals.” Gambo was certain last week the Cards could beat 49ers, even if they didn’t play well. Those thoughts changed after what transpired Sunday at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Good Until the End…the Cards defense did everything they could to bail out Kurt Warner and the ineffective offense against San Fran, but couldn’t make the big play when they needed to as the 49ers scored the eventual game-winning 16-play touchdown drive in the closing minutes of the game. 14 of those were pass plays. The guys agree the defense, as whole, looked extremely impressive, especially the d-line with Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell holding the Niners to 21 yards on 25 carries. The secondary was the one area that could use work. New cornerback Bryant McFadden was burned several times and even Pro-Bowler Adrian Wilson missed assignments in the loss. The guys feel the personal foul called against A-Dub on Vernon Davis was a terrible call.

Dislocated Season…the Cards aren’t the only ones with issues after Week 1. The Bears not only lost a division game Sunday in Green Bay, but also lost their best defensive player Brian Urlacher for the season with a dislocated wrist. The guys agree this is an extremely tough loss for a team in a pretty tough division with the Packers and the new-look Vikings. Both feel free-agent Derrick Brooks would be a good fit as Urlacher’s replacement.

More Beanie…starter Tim Hightower was extremely effective Sunday in the passing game, snagging a dozen balls for over 100 yards, but struggled on the ground averaging less than two yards per attempt. Rookie Beanie Wells ran hard and bounced back after going the wrong way on a play which resulted in a Kurt Warner sack. G&A agree it’s time for Whiz to get Wells more carries because he offers more in the run-game than the incumbent starter Hightower.

Men of Troy…and just like that, another star is born in Hollywood - maybe. Led by true freshman Matt Barkley, USC came back to beat Ohio State in Columbus. Gambo believes Barkley made some big plays late, but Joe McKnight saved Pete Carroll’s team when they needed it most. John knows this win should propel USC into the National Championship Game. Ash couldn’t disagree more. He knows Southern Cal is good for a let-down Pac-10 loss at some point this year.

“He’s Our Quarterback”…USC head coach Pete Carroll isn’t a great college coach by accident. G&A liked the way Carroll stuck with Barkley when the game was on the line in Columbus and after the game called the 19-year old “our quarterback.” The “hip” Carroll relates well to his players by putting himself in their environment. From faking pre-practice stunts, to inviting Snoop Dogg to watch the Trojans work out, he gets thru to his players which is important in this day and age of college sports.

A Force(ier) to be Reckon’ With…Michigan took a big step back towards national prominence with a dramatic comeback win over Notre Dame led by another true freshman, just not named Matt Barkley. Tait Forcier had a big 4th down touchdown run, then threw to Greg Matthews in the end zone with 11 seconds left. The guys agree a quality win over Notre Dame will help take the heat off Rich Rod, at least for now. Ash compares Forcier to a young Jake Plummer - who used his legs as well as his arm to find success as a young college quarterback.

Freshmen Initiation…Barkley and Forcier made headlines around the country leading their schools to big wins. The two true freshmen proved wise beyond their years engineering late-game touchdowns and wins over nationally ranked schools. G&A like both young signal-callers, but for different reasons. Barkley has the potential to one day play in the NFL, Forcier could be remembered as simply a great college quarterback.

Tuesday we’ll be joined by Dbacks skipper A.J. Hinch at 3:00 and ESPN college football analyst Mark May at 4:25

Sold Out!

Published on September 12, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Friday on G&A…

Sold Out!…The Cards beat the deadline and sold out the allotted 1,700 seats for Sunday’s home opener against the 49ers. The local blackout has been lifted and Valley fans not attending the game will be able to enjoy it from the friendly confines of their homes. G&A are happy the UOP Stadium sellout streak will continue and sports bars around Phoenix will be able to hopefully enjoy a profitable weekend in our slumping economy. The guys loved the fact the 49ers wore ear plugs in practice to help get adapted to the noise at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

Closest Competition?…Many experts feel the 49ers could be the team that could unseat the Cards in the NFC West. Under the direction of Mike Singletary, San Francisco is now more physical and more confident when they take the field. G&A are still perplexed why rookie Michael Crabtree continues to hold out. They like how the 49ers are not giving into Crabtree’s contract demands. Both see the Niners as one of the up-and-coming teams in the NFC West - just not this year.

Hot Under the (Sweater Vest) Collar…USC heads to the Midwest to take on Ohio State at The Horseshoe Saturday night in one of the most significant non-conference games of the season. G&A are stoked for what should be a good game, if Jim Tressel’s team decides to show up which has been a problem against non-Big 10 powers. Gambo knows the pressure is on Tressel to come up big against the Trojans. Ash is predicting a close USC win but wouldn’t be shocked if the Buckeyes pull it off.

Identity Search…Two teams looking to re-establish their face off tomorrow when Notre Dame travels to Ann Arbor to take Rich Rodriguez’s Michigan Wolverines. Ash is still certain the Golden Domers are overrated, but was impressed with their shutout win over Nevada last week. Gambo feels both teams are much improved this season, but likes Michigan at home. The guys concur having two established powers not playing well is never good for college football.

San Francisco 49er wide receiver and former Notre Dame All-American ARNAZ BATTLE previewed the Niners-Cards game Sunday in Glendale, discussed playing for fiery Mike Singletary, how he’s recovered from his December 2008 season-ending foot injury, and how the Fighting Irish will fare Saturday in Ann Arbor against Michigan.

Suns General Manager STEVE KERR joined us LIVE from Springfield, Mass where former teammates Michael Jordan and David Robinson will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Friday night. Kerr said Jordan expected to win, and usually did, every time the Bulls took the floor.

Never Another Jordan…Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest player ever to pick up a basketball and for years people have tried to find “the next Jordan.” Remember Harold Miner? As great as Kobe and LeBron are, there will only be one Micheal Jordan - something Jordan conveyed when he addressed the media in Springfield on Friday morning.

Cursed?…The ever-popular Madden video game curse reared its’ ugly head Thursday night in Pittsburgh where co-cover boy Troy Polamalu suffered sprained knee ligaments and will be lost for 3-6 weeks. So what does this mean for Cards’ Pro-Bowler Larry Fitzgerald Sunday? Ash says don’t take any chances and just sleep thru the game. In all seriousness, Mark is certain there is something to this long-rumored “Madden Curse.” John isn’t buying any of it. Ash says look no further than Peyton Manning who will endorse pretty much everything, but has declined being on a Madden cover.

Sports handicapper and good friend of the program BRANDON LANG checked in for his weekly segment to share his insight on all the big college and pro games this weekend. He liked the Cowboys and Vikings to cover the number this weekend. For more, go to www.brandonlang.com.

We were joined by our NFL analyst MARK SCHLERETH from ESPN. He shared his thoughts on the Steelers overtime win Thursday night over the Titans, his high expectations for the NFC Champion Cardinals, and looked ahead to all the marquee Week 1 matchups including the Packers hosting Chicago and Carolina entertaining the Eagles. “Stink” likes an all-Keystone State Super Bowl featuring the Eagles and Steelers.

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Extension Granted

Published on September 11, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Extension Granted…the NFL granted the Cards an extension in hopes of selling out the season opener Sunday for the NFC Champs. As of Thursday afternoon, 1,700 tickets remained for their NFC West showdown this weekend against the 49ers. Ash points to this as a clear sign of a struggling economy. Gambo is certain, with less than 2000 seats remaining, the team will move the tickets and thus, lift the blackout. The guys debated if this is a poor reflection on the Cards or simply a sign of our poor economy. The NFL announced Thursday you can watch a locally blacked out game, but you have to wait until the next day and you can only watch those games online at NFL.com.

Back for More…the NFL season starts Thursday with the Super Champion Steelers hosting the Titans. Gambo is certain Pittsburgh has a great chance to repeat because they return nearly all their key players and the Steelers field the best group of linebackers in the NFL. Mark knows the AFC is wide open, but likes Pittsburgh because no franchise in the league rebuilds their roster from the inside better than Mike Tomlin’s team.

We caught up with former Yankee first baseman and four-time World Series Champion TINO MARTINEZ- who discussed his former teammate Derek Jeter - who is about to pass Lou Gehrig for first-place on the Yankees all-time hits list. Martinez said he never saw a player work harder or come to the park with more focus than the Yankee captain. He also believes Jeter will play well into his 40s like Cal Ripken, Robin Yount, and Paul Molitor because he keeps himself in such good shape.

Milestone Moment…the great Derek Jeter is the modern day face of the Yankees, but where does he stack up on the all-time Yankees list? Gambo thinks he cracks the top five, but barely. Mark isn’t certain Jeter is the best player on the roster (Mariano Rivera). Ash knows this story wouldn’t be a big deal if Jeter played for the Royals. Regardless, both concur Jeter will go down as one of the best clutch players/shortstops in baseball history.

We were joined by Diamondbacks All-Star right fielder JUSTIN UPTON who discussed his breakout season and what he hopes to improve upon in 2010. “J-Up” is hitting .304 with 23 homers and 74 RBI. He is tied for second on the team with 27 doubles. He knows he still has plenty of work to do to improve defensively, but is excited to be a full-time outfielder after playing the infield growing up. Upton feels the D-backs will be back in the post-season chase next year.

Making the Rounds…Suns star Amare Stoudemire is in Bristol, Connecticut making the rounds for ESPN and their numerous programs. The guys think this could be a good thing for Amare and the Suns as STAT is scheduled to tape an interview with “E:60” and a SportsCenter commercial. Gambo knows this is a big year for Amare. If he plays well he will make the big dollars. If he struggles, the max-deal won’t be there. Ash believes Amare needs to put his effort where his mouth is and become the dominant defender and rebounder he promises to be each off-season.

Cardinals starting quarterback KURT WARNER checked in to preview the season and discuss the good/bad of the pre-season. He expects the Cards to be ready to play their best football Sunday against San Francisco. Warner says his hip feels better than it has in 6-7 months.

Hamstrung

Published on September 10, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Wednesday on G&A…

Dave Burns in for the vacationing Mark Asher.

Hamstrung…the Cards are on the verge of defending their NFC title when they open the regular season Sunday against the 49ers. One problem…they may not have Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin, who didn’t practice Wednesday nursing his sore hamstring. The bigger issue may be deciding if the injury-prone - but extremely productive - Boldin is worth the high-dollar extension he is hoping to get from the Birds at the end of the season. Gambo & Burnsy debated the risk-reward factor in bringing back “Q” and denting the salary cap. Both agree Boldin’s age will be a big factor in the club’s decision to re-ink one of the more popular players ever to wear a Cardinal uniform.

One in the Same?…Justin Upton has proven to be one of the better young hitters in baseball, but his defense still has plenty to be desired. Burnsy broke down the numbers and it’s not pretty. J-Up has more errors than any other right fielder in baseball and is the only one with double-digit miscues. The guys compared Upton to Suns star Amare Stoudemire. Both seem far more concerned with their offensive numbers as opposed to working towards improving defensively. Dave thinks one possible solution is moving J-Up to left field. Gambo feels Upton is best suited to play right field because of his ability to throw out baserunners.

Take the Money and Run?…Jim Balsillie is at it again in his attempt to re-locate the Phoenix Coyotes. The Blackberry guru is willing to pay the City of Glendale $50 million to help their struggling city finances. Gambo & Burnsy see this as a no-win proposition. If Glendale accepts the offer, the team will certainly be gone within two years. If they don’t take the cash, there’s certainly no guarantee, with only a handful of hockey fans in Phoenix, that a successful team will bring back proceeds to make that money back. Dave is certain the Desert Dogs will exit stage left, regardless. John is certain the fans will support the ‘Yotes if they prove to be a consistent winner.

We were joined by Arizona State Director of Athletics LISA LOVE who discussed the Devils season-opening blowout win over Idaho State, Mike Nixon being named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week, and everything else making news in Tempe.

Net Profit…the New Jersey Nets are the latest pro franchise to dive into the revenue stream, selling their practice jersey sponsorship to locally-based PNY Technologies in a low six-figure team deal. Burnsy and Gambo have differing views on this. Dave knows, in this struggling economy, nothing should come as a surprise and teams should find creative ways to make money. Gambo believes advertising should be spotted everywhere at sporting events - except on the jerseys-including practice jerseys.

We caught up with our baseball insider TIM KURKJIAN from ESPN who broke down the wildcard and division races around baseball, Derek Jeter’s quest to pass Lou Gehrig on the Yankees’ all-time hit list, and the still-surging Colorado Rockies - who are just 3.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Kurkjian is certain Ichiro is bound for Cooperstown.

Hall of Fame coach and 3-time National Champion, now University of Nebraska Director of Athletics TOM OSBORNE discussed his amazing career in Lincoln, coaching Tommie Frazier, the LaGarrett Blount situation at Oregon, and his new book, Beyond the Final Score.

Blacked Out…NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced he will not lift the near four-decade long blackout policy allowing local markets to broadcast their home team’s games, even if the game is not ruled a sellout. Gambo feels Goodell is making a big mistake not giving the fans a break with so many people unemployed and struggling financially. Americans use football as an escape and many can’t afford to pay steep ticket prices. Burnsy could not disagree more, saying Goodell can’t make an exception for one year and, as a Cardinal fan, teams around the league can sit and suffer like the Red Bird fans had to for years before moving to Glendale and finding success on the field.

Ash returns on Thursday.

We’ll be joined by D-backs All-Star outfielder Justin Upton at 2:10

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Picture Burfict

Published on September 9, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

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

Mark was off, Gambo flew solo.

Picture Burfict…ASU freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict made his college debut Saturday against Idaho State. Burfict had a sack and an array of big hits that wowed the undersized crowd at Sun Devil Stadium. Gambo thinks this guy is the next “big deal,” especially after Dennis Erickson compared him to Ray Lewis. John believes Burfict is set to become one of the best linebackers in the country - by the end of the month.

Beat Down on the Blue Turf…The trickle-down effect from Thursday’s Oregon-Boise State game continued to make headlines over the holiday weekend and Gambo is disappointed, but not necessarily at LaGarrett Blount or Oregon. Lost in the midst of Boise State’s big win over Oregon came a year-long suspension to Blount and a terrible start to the Chip Kelly era in Eugene. John knows the punch shouldn’t have been thrown, but was happy to see defensive end Bryon Hout dropped like a tomato can after verbally taunting Blount after the emotionally charged game which had been talked about since the Broncos upset the Ducks last year at Autzen Stadium. He had even more of a problem with BSU head coach Chris Peterson who didn’t suspend Hout, saying only he was “disciplined.” Gambo feels Blount will be drafted next season, even though ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay disagrees.

Oh-fer the Preseason…The Cards are less than five days from defending their NFC Championship title for real against the 49ers and Ken Whisenhunt isn’t too concerned, even though the Red Birds didn’t win a game this pre-season. He knows there’s still work to be done, but all of the preseason mistakes are correctable according to Whiz. Gambo still thinks the Red Birds are the cream of the crop in NFC West and the team will be ready to play this weekend when the games count.

Not Playing Smart…Talented, but at times, undisciplined Justin Upton was up to his old tricks over the weekend at Coors Field. With the D-backs trailed the Rockies, J-Up hit a deep fly ball he thought was gone. He stood at the plate and stared until realizing the ball was not out of the park. Upton ended up with a single and was pulled by A.J. Hinch the next half-inning. Gambo applauds Hinch for yanking the All-Star and setting an example for the rest of the young D-backs. John knows a lack of veteran leadership has plagued this team all season.

We were joined by ASU senior linebacker Mike Nixon who picked off three passes and blocked a punt in the Devils season-opening 50-3 win over Idaho State Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium. The former Phoenix Sunnyslope High star returned his second-quarter interception for a touchdown, as well as blocked a punt. He was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week Tuesday afternoon.

QB1?…The Sun Devils are still searching for some answers on offense and one is at quarterback where Danny Sullivan played well against Idaho State, but was plagued by several drops. Gambo was impressed at how the senior ran the offense and made plays when he had to. He feels true freshman Brock Oswieler has a promising career ahead in Tempe and will only get better with more playing time.

Our ESPN college football insider Mark May checked in to break down a wild first weekend of college football which included BYU’s upset of Oklahoma, Alabama’s thumping of Virginia Tech, and Miami’s dramatic win over Florida State last night in Tallahassee. Plus, “Mayday” shared his thoughts on LaGarrett Blount’s season-long suspension and ASU’s blowout win over Idaho State in Danny Sullivan’s starting debut at quarterback.

Wednesday Dave Burns fills in for Ash. We’ll be joined by ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian at 3:25 and Hall of Fame Nebraska coach Tom Osborne

Last Look

Published on September 4, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Another NFC West crown not in the Cards?…NFL predictions are out and there aren’t many that feature the Cardinals repeating as NFC West champs - let alone in the NFC. G&A aren’t alone in their dismay for the lack of respect being given nationally, with many, like SI’s Peter King, picking Seattle to win the division. Gambo thinks these predictions are dubious, and in the specific case of the Seahawks - inexplicable. Who can explain how a Seattle team that finished last against the pass last year and will be without their best cornerback can compete with the best passing team in the NFC? Certainly not Ash; he has some concerns on D’, and doesn’t think Arizona will finish 6-0 against the division again this year, but he does think the Cards will prevail in the West again. Gambo agrees and thinks Arizona will finish 11-5, and believes anything less than 10 wins would be a disappointment.

Last Look…Anything less than a national championship for the Florida Gators would be a disappointment, as G&A took their last look at college football before the beginning of the season. The Gators may play in the best conference in Division I football, but may the Pac-10 be a bit underrated? Gambo points to their flawless bowl record last December and January, but can pinpoint only one team that should be a national championship contender: USC. The SEC, by contrast, could have two vying for the title, with both Florida and Alabama seen as contenders. Ash could see Ohio State and Penn State being there, but Gambo does not believe the depleted Nittany Lions will be back in contention this year.

Last Chance…The contenders for the last roster spots for the Arizona Cardinals will be on display tonight, and G&A will be watching the WR and TE spots intently. LaRod Stephens-Howling’s pre-season is over, but Gambo believes his Cardinals career has just begun. And while Howling may be safe, Leonard Pope may be looking for work at this time next week. Ash cannot remember the last time the Cards had a great TE, but in this offense, who really needs one?

He’s gone, at last!…One of the most hated players in Arizona sports history called it a career, but not without tripping a reporter at his retirement press conference…. Ok, to be fair, Bruce Bowen did no such thing, but being fair was certainly not in Bowen’s repertoire. Ash doesn’t understand why someone who was such a good defender had to resort to so many dirty tricks. Then again, those tricks may have earned San Antonio a championship and earned Bowen the reputation as the defender that you least wanted to face. Gambo says that Steve Nash certainly felt that way, and many callers agreed with G&A that Bowen may have been the most hated player in Phoenix. At the very least (per Gambo) no city is celebrating his retirement more than we are.

Same old stories

Published on September 3, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Same old story with Chris Young…OK, Chris Young is bad, and he isn’t getting any better. Gambo isn’t surprised, since Young didn’t exactly light it up in the batting average department in 2007, his supposed banner year in the majors. So what are the D-Backs supposed to do with Young now that he isn’t doing any better in the batter’s box since coming back? G&A aren’t sure, but they are sure that there are some guys who just aren’t good enough to play at the next level. Young may be one of those.

Lucky 7…One of the hotly contested training camp battles for the Cards was at WR, but Gambo says, at the end of the day, they all may end up on this roster. That means seven WRs in total, including both Lance Long and Sean Morey. Ash always believed they would keep six, with Morey possibly being on the way out. That’s still a possibility, as is the one thrown out by Ash at show’s end: Keep just two quarterbacks, and not Brian St. Pierre.

Tight competition…One competition that is hotly contested is at TE, where Gambo believes Leonard Pope, Dominque Byrd and Anthony Becht are very much on the bubble. Pope hasn’t got by on much more than potential, and that can only save you for so long. Gambo believes Becht may have saved his roster spot with one great running play - the one that sprung Wells for his first TD.

The beginning of college football…The first day of college football is almost here, and there figures to be BCS implications immediately as Boise State hosts Oregon and Oklahoma State takes on Georgia. The Fiesta Bowl will likely take another quality BCS team, and chairman JOHN JUNKER is already excited about the Texas-OU battle later this fall. Junker joined the guys to talk about that great battle, as well as the one settled off-the-field, where three great college football players will be vying for college football’s greatest individual award - the Heisman Trophy. Junker is proud that the top three candidates (Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow) are all Fiesta Bowl alums.

The beginning of the end…Danny Sullivan isn’t on anyone’s Heisman list, and he isn’t even expected to last five games into the season as ASU’s starter according to Ash. Gambo isn’t sure about that, but is sure that DENNIS ERICKSON made a mistake by not playing Sullivan late last year so that ASU could see what they have. We had Coach Erickson on to discuss all of this, as well as his expectations for the coming year. G&A are expecting another average to disappointing season. Ash says 6 wins, Gambo says the Sun Devils will win just 5.

The never-ending story… And just when you thought the Anquan Boldin trade rumors would stop, Brandon Marshall pulls us all back in thanks to his contract squabble and the ensuing “Playstation” trade speculation that has followed. One crazy rumor had Boldin in Kansas City, Matt Leinart in Denver, and the Cardinals getting a troubled WR for their troubles. (Real fair..) G&A really don’t understand why these rumors persist, although they would understand if Boldin wants to become a #1 receiver elsewhere at some later date.

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Weird happening in sports

Published on September 2, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

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

Switching dugouts - Another busy day for the D-backs, after a bizarre night in LA. Jon Garland is now in LA with the Dodgers, and Gambo says the D-backs would’ve liked Blake DeWitt to come to Arizona, but he still likes the trade that will likely send Tony Abreu to AZ instead. In addition to Abreu, the D-backs will also get minor league pitcher Kevin Mulvey from Minnesota in exchange for Jon Rauch. Mulvey was one of the prime prospects in the Johan Santana deal, and will be a prime candidate for one of the many rotation spots that the D-backs will have open next year. Gambo does not believe Doug Davis will be filling one of those spots, but he does feel that the Garland trade increases the chances that Brandon Webb could be. If Ash could have his choice between Davis and Garland coming back, he would go with the latter, and G&A still believes in their choice for 2nd base next season, Ryan Roberts, although Abreu may give him some needed competition.

The A.J. Hinch Show

Not Wells deserved - Beanie Wells needed to give Tim Hightower some competition, but 3 days of practice and one impressive preseason game wasn’t enough to wrestle the job away from Hightower- at least that’s the implication left by Ken Whisenhunt today. The impression left upon on Ash is that this may be message sent by Whiz to the rest of the team: No player can just walk in and win the job. Gambo thinks it may be just a message to Beanie.

Speaking of Beanie Wells, he joined G&A to discuss his preseason debut and how much time he expects to play this Thursday against the Broncos. Wells wasn’t sure how much he’d play, but he was sure that his ankle is still bothering him, an injury that may linger this season.

With the college football season coming up, G&A were joined by their resident expert, Mark May for 2 segments, Part II- he’s going with a Florida-Texas national championship game, with the Gators coming out on top. Ash also sees the Gators taking the title over Texas. And Gambo…yeah, the Gators over the Longhorns in the BCS Championship. (A very imaginative group…)

Wednesday: Dennis Erickson talks about ASU’s opener, and ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian talks about the closing month of the baseball season.

Only the preseason and has to get better

Published on September 1, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Monday on Gambo & Ash

It’s only the preseason, and can only get better - As the NFL preseason winds down, the concern over the Arizona Cardinals ramps up, especially in light of recent humiliations. Friday’s debacle against the Packers was humbling at the very least, and G&A expect more from the Cardinals when the regular season begins. Kurt Warner, in particular, has looked out of sync and Ash is a bit concerned with Warner’s lack of timing with his receivers. Gambo is also concerned about Warner’s recent fumbling problem, something that has been a criticism of him in the past. G&A still believe the Cards (as well as Warner’s ) future is bright, but the sooner the first team offense starts to click, the better (or more relieved) we will all feel.

Beanie plays - Most feel Beanie Wells’ debut was pretty impressive and G&A certainly fall into that majority. The majority of carries in the preseason have gone to Tim Hightower, but G&A feel that this will change very soon, and that the Cards will be very good with an explosive RB like Wells added to their already dynamic offense. Ash doesn’t believe the Cards have had a runner like Wells, and both believe it’s not a question of if, just when Wells will take over as the featured runner in this offense.

The D-backs new duo - With the returns of Justin Upton and Mark Reynolds, the D-backs offense features a pretty potent 1-2 punch. Upton-Reynolds may be best, young hitting, 1-2 punch in the National League and the D-backs future now rests upon this duo and not the one many expected at years start. Conversely at years end, Chris Young may be the worst hitter with the most at bats in baseball and Gambo can’t figure why Young hasn’t figured it out nor why the D-backs haven’t figured out that he’s not figuring it out. Translation: Any talk of a Parra-Young-Upton OF combo in 2010 is way too premature.

The back-up, initial plan - Back to the Cards, where the maturation process of Matt Leinart continues to show on the field and G&A feel much more comfortable with the Cards back-up quarterback should Warner leave the field due to injury. Gambo thinks Leinart never would have left it nor lost his starting QB job had he played like this last preseason and Ash feels this is just the beginning for Leinart, whom he has always seen as a “winner.”

Tuesday: College Football starts this weekend and G&A will talk to their resident expert and ESPN analyst Mark May. Former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne also joins the guys, and the A.J. Hinch show is at 3.

Jon Gone!

Published on August 29, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Friday on G&A…

Jon Gone!…the D-backs sent Jon Rauch to the Twins Friday for the always popular player-to-be-named later. Gambo reported the Diamondbacks will save around $3 million by dealing the inconsistent reliever. The guys know Rauch was fine when the game wasn’t on the line, but often folded when called upon in clutch situations. Mark knows the D-backs will likely spend the money they’re saving by trading Rauch to use on starting pitching.

Whiz and the Bean(ie) Stalk…Beanie Wells is expected to make his NFL debut in the Red Birds third exhibition game against the Packers. Gambo is anxious to see what the first-round pick brings to the table in his first live game action. He still believes Wells, if healthy, will be the week 1 starter when the NFC Champs host the 49ers. Mark is looking to see how Beanie, as well as the Cards defense, performs against a talented Packer team.

Suspended…talented, but troubled, Brandon Marshall was suspended by first-year coach Josh McDaniels for the remainder of the preseason after Marshall refused to seriously participate in Thursday’s workout. G&A wonder how much control the 32-year-old McDaniels has over his team. Gambo thinks Marshall is making a mistake as he enters the final year of his contract. Shut up, go play, put up big numbers, make bank. Ash compared Marshall’s antics to those of Anquan Boldin, who also expressed a desire to be traded last year. G&A agree “Q” took a more professional approach to his frustrations with Cards’ management last year.

Short-handed…the Suns will not have starting guard Jason Richardson for the first two games of the regular season after the NBA suspended him following his DUI arrest this past season. Gambo knows J-Rich has two strikes and the Suns need to sit down and tell him enough is enough because you represent the organization 24/7. Ash knows, judging from the Suns’ history, they won’t tolerate much more from Richardson.

Arizona Diamondbacks President DERRICK HALL discussed the season and what lies ahead this winter with plenty of question marks heading into 2010. He also previewed the Luis Gonzalez tribute scheduled for Saturday night at Chase Field and why the team decided to part ways with reliever Jon Rauch. D-Hall said Rauch’s trade value had peaked after a string of successful appearances so the time was right to strike a deal with Minnesota.

Going Gonzo…the Diamondbacks will honor Luis Gonzalez Saturday night and Gonzo will accept a position within the organization as an assistant to Derrick Hall. The guys concur he will be remembered as one of, if not, the most popular Arizona athletes.

We caught up with cnnsi.com college football insider STEWART MANDEL who looked ahead to the college football season which kicks off in less than a week. He shared his thoughts on Dennis Erickson’s ASU Sun Devils, the Heisman Trophy race, and what non-BCS team could make a BCS bowl in January. Mandel feels Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is pacing to be the greatest player in college football history if he takes home his second Heisman Trophy in December.

Etching His Legacy…Tim Tebow has the world in the palm of his hand. The senior Florida quarterback is looking for back-to-back National Championships as the Gators are loaded heading into the season. With college football season less than a week away, G&A debated if Tebow, when his career concludes, will go down as the greatest player in college football history. Ash feels Matt Leinart ranks as one of the best, Gambo disagrees. John believes Nebraska’s Tommie Frazier is the greatest college player in the history of the game. The guys agree Tebow, if he wins his second Heisman Trophy this year.

Empty Wallets Means Empty Seats…the NFL is still king among sports fans, but not necessarily at the box office. Coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the Cards are positioning well for home sellouts throughout the season, including Friday’s pre-season game against the Packers in Glendale. The same can’t be said for fellow postseason contenders Minnesota and San Diego. It’s so bad in Jacksonville, the Jags are sectioning off parts of their stadium in hopes of selling out games and lifting local blackouts. The guys know NFL games aren’t cheap (but not overpriced) and by blacking out home games in certain markets, they are lowering their advertising revenue stream in this poor economy. John thinks the NFL should lift the blackout policy, especially in Detroit where jobs are scarce.

Derrick Hall [9:52m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (18)

Stewart Mandel [9:13m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17)