00:00You know I'm from Ignatius, you know I'm from NBC Sports, you know I'm from Cleveland, you know I'm from
00:05Fanta in 60, which is every Monday on NBC Sports Platform's The Great.
00:11John Fanta joins us right now. John, welcome to the show.
00:15Good afternoon, guys. It's great to be with you. I'll be at MetLife on Sunday, so any Browns fans that
00:20are around MetLife, I'm going to get there early and be outside the stadium. Can't wait.
00:24Well, this is the best news, and we're always happy. I think you will be the reason they win on
00:29Sunday, but we got into a little debate.
00:32Didn't they lose last year to the Jets?
00:34Well, but John, this is now it's going to equal out.
00:38I also needed copious amounts of alcohol to make it through watching that game live, because it rained and it
00:46was horrendous football.
00:47Now you'll be having copious amounts of alcohol celebrating a Browns win, but what's more impressive, John?
00:53John, or what would be more impressive, the Guardians coming back from down 0-2 to advance to the ALCS,
01:00or the Browns starting 4-1?
01:05Well, the Guardians coming back would be more impressive, because you don't go down 2-0 with the way this
01:11thing was going.
01:12They couldn't hit. I mean, they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn through the first two games of
01:17the series, and they looked lost, and they looked mentally tight.
01:20You know, and when they're playing yesterday, guys, it gets about the fourth or fifth inning, and I still didn't
01:26believe they were going to win that baseball game.
01:28I didn't believe it until Joe Adele came up to the plate, and even when he did, I thought Chicago
01:33was going to be able to knock back on the door.
01:35I didn't really fully believe it was well in hand until Ramirez found a way to flap that ball down
01:41the left field line, and it just landed.
01:44There's something about fly balls hit to left on the White Sox this year, because guards had that walk-off
01:50in the regular season, which proved to be crucial, and then obviously last night.
01:54But, you know, it would be more impressive. I mean, you look at the percentages, it's over 80% of
02:01teams that go up 2-0.
02:04They put it away, you know, and we haven't seen a team come back from 2-0 down, I think
02:10I read, since the Yankees did it against the Guardians, and that was back in 2017.
02:15That was close to a decade ago. So it would be a hell of a comeback. I mean, the White
02:20Sox have all the vibes.
02:22They're a team that just, they know how to hit, man. I mean, that's just what this Chicago team has
02:30done.
02:30It feels like every inning, they've got somebody on with, they've got a leadoff man aboard, or somebody on with
02:37one out.
02:37And when they get their leadoff man aboard, you look at the numbers, I mean, that guy is scoring.
02:42And he's been scoring all throughout this series. So it would be more impressive.
02:47If they came back from 2-0 down to advance the ALCS, I think Tampa Bay will be the American
02:53League champion.
02:54But you want to at least have a dog in the fight, and maybe the Guardians can keep this magic
02:59going.
02:59I mean, here's the thing, guys. Parker Messick's on the rubber in a playoff game.
03:04Yeah, you probably feel good about your chances. Go and get it.
03:07Has your opinion of the series changed at all, or let me put it this way, Nick was making the
03:11case earlier in the show,
03:13and he got a caller to immediately agree with him, that fans are just wanting, they think that the series
03:17is basically over now.
03:18That the series is, because you won game three, the series is just effectively over, and we can sim to
03:23the LCS now.
03:25I maintain that's ridiculous. Where do you stand?
03:29Wait a minute. People are saying that the Guardians are going to now win this series?
03:33Or they're saying, oh, that's crazy talk. I mean, I couldn't disagree with you more.
03:41That's disrespectful to Chicago. This is a White Sox team.
03:46It's fine. We want to disrespect them. It's fine.
03:49But they're too good a ball club to say that they're going to lay down now.
03:52I mean, I still think the White Sox are winning this series.
03:55I'm just kidding. I'll eat my words if I'm wrong.
03:58But I think that they could very well put it away tonight.
04:00I think that they do put it away tonight because I just don't, I don't love, I don't love the
04:07fact that they've got those two relievers.
04:10They've got two guys.
04:11I mean, the way that Burke has pitched against them, you know, the way that those guys have come in
04:18and pitched,
04:18the Guardians have not proven, the way Taylor's pitched against them, they have not proven that they can hit those
04:23guys.
04:23And until they do, you know, if they get after them tonight, then, yeah, everything changes.
04:29I mean, they're going to see the two guys who have given them the most problems.
04:32Now, for the third time, and we're in game four of the series, this is in a seven-game series.
04:37It's very rare for the first, you know, in the first four games, you see this pair that's given you
04:42nightmares at the plate three times in these first four games.
04:46That's what you're going to see tonight.
04:47No, I don't think, you know, we're just advancing to the LCS.
04:51I think that would be, that would be short-sighted.
04:54I still think Chicago is going to win this series.
04:57I hope I'm wrong, but I just, I like, I like the way that they've played too much to sit
05:03here and say the Guardians are just going to coast to the league championship series.
05:07They got a lot of work in front of them.
05:09Chicago White Sox fan John Fanta on the wise heart, right?
05:12We make it right.
05:13Call Kyle Wright.
05:16Was that too far, John?
05:17Well, basically what you're saying, wait a minute, that's way too far, okay?
05:20I'm not Jim Tomey Fanta here.
05:23Oh!
05:24Oh, hey, hey, you're going to get tweeted by Mrs. Tomey.
05:27Yeah, John Tomey was the better way to do that, but you got it done.
05:32It's, I just, you honestly think that they just got this in the bag now?
05:38No, I didn't say I did.
05:40I said my perception of what Guardians fans are feeling right now, and some of that is buoyed by, it
05:48felt like that's what the morning show was saying today, so I'm also kind of throwing them in with Guardians
05:53fans just assuming the sale.
05:56Have they watched, have they watched the at-bats against Sean Burke and Grant Taylor?
06:00Are you saying they don't know ball?
06:02Many of those at-bats have been non, I'm saying many of those at-bats have been non-competitive.
06:06I mean, they haven't even been remotely competitive.
06:09Like, I don't know how you could watch them face those two pitchers and just say, yeah, tonight they're going
06:14to, here's the deal, guys.
06:16First team to four runs is going to win tonight.
06:19It's, it's, you got to score.
06:22Like, everybody's talking about, well, you know, Messick now on the rubber.
06:27That's great.
06:28The White Sox know him.
06:29One of those guys is going to hit a home runoff, Messick.
06:31Messick's the same guy.
06:32He's going to give you six innings, maybe five, five, six innings, and he's going to give you six innings
06:39of two-run ball.
06:40Well, you can't win scoring one or two runs.
06:43So, this lineup's got to prove it, you know, and then they're going to have to, you know, as I
06:48thought to myself, I'm like, the best gift the White Sox could get if they lose tonight is a day
06:52off tomorrow because, you know, Cleveland goes back home for whatever reason.
06:56It's why this Guardian season's been so strange, fellas.
06:58They have been not good at home, and that's putting it kindly.
07:03They just have not been a good home club.
07:05They've been great on the road.
07:07I guess they loosen up and whatnot.
07:08But, yeah, I just don't know how the morning show could watch some of the at-bats against Taylor and
07:15Burke and just say that they've got this.
07:17I mean, I hope they do.
07:18I want them to, but I don't think so.
07:20I think what I would say back to you guys is what's the discourse if they lose tonight?
07:24Because, to me, that's the bigger thing.
07:26Like, this discourse of vote and stuff, I don't think votes managed a good series.
07:30I totally disagreed with him pitching Cade Smith for two innings last night, and I worry about that.
07:37But, like, these people who log on and haven't watched baseball all season, I log on in October, and just
07:43they get negative on the team and negative on the manager.
07:46I mean, people saying, you know, if he leaves, he leaves or whatever.
07:49Like, that's a bunch of crap.
07:50Like, he's a really good manager.
07:53He's not perfect.
07:54And would you rather just be sitting at home?
07:56It's almost like the Guardians sometimes are a victim of their own success.
08:00Everybody wants a world championship.
08:01I do, too.
08:02But it feels like we wouldn't be talking about them at all.
08:06Like, not feels like.
08:07We would not be talking about them at all right now if they had the season that the Cincinnati Reds
08:11had or the season that the Washington Nationals had.
08:15We would criticize them the day after their season, and then we wouldn't talk about them until February.
08:19Like, I don't know.
08:21It's a divide for me in Cleveland sports of, like, this team makes the playoffs, but, man, do they just
08:26get ripped on.
08:27It's hard to win playoff games.
08:29The first two games were embarrassingly bad.
08:31But, like, they didn't lay down and die, and let's see if they can win tonight.
08:35Would you keep on how Martinez is in the lineup tonight?
08:39Not with the way he's swinging it.
08:40No.
08:41It's clear he's pretty lost at the plate.
08:46I probably would not have him in there because, you know, I'm watching him last night.
08:50I thought there was a moment or two in the game where, had he been able to have a solid
08:56at-bat, it could have moved the line and whatnot.
08:58You know, I know Steven Vogt is very faithful to his guys, and we all know how important Martinez has
09:06been to this equation, but I would not have him in my lineup tonight.
09:10John, how are you looking at this Jets game?
09:13Because it's not just Ken, but Ken and Keith have made the point that they think the Jets game is
09:21more important than the Ravens game.
09:31Division games are the most important games on your schedule.
09:35They just are.
09:37Now, not to give coach speak, but isn't it, I mean, it's seven, this is not an 82-game season.
09:42Coach speak is the most important game you have is the next game.
09:45That's exactly right, which is what kind of makes me chuckle here.
09:48So you're telling me that if they, here's the thing about the Browns, okay?
09:52If they lose to the Jets and then beat the Ravens, what will produce more reaction?
09:59I think beating the Ravens, correct?
10:01That sounds about correct there, John.
10:03Yeah, yeah, yeah.
10:04Because they would move to, is that a record of 2-0 against the division?
10:08Don't people that start 2-0 in their division normally make the playoffs?
10:12Your math is correct, and that second part is correct, too.
10:15You're on fire.
10:16So the divisional games, the divisional games are the most important games on your schedule always.
10:20That's why the Thursday night win against the Steelers was huge.
10:23Which, this is a, this, every game is, but like, this game, I mean, it could be a very strange
10:32football game.
10:33I'm just going to be real here.
10:34The weather is not good.
10:37Passing game, I don't think it's going to be a theme.
10:40The Browns, have they proven they could steadily run the football yet this season?
10:44The answer to that question is not really.
10:47No, I'm not saying the Jets have, I don't know what the Jets are doing on offense right now.
10:53I mean, you want to be able to beat the teams on your schedule that you look at and you
10:58say, yeah, you know, we should beat them.
10:59But look, if Lamar Jackson's not playing for Baltimore, then that certainly opens things up for the Browns to have
11:08an opportunity there against Huntley and the Ravens if that were to happen.
11:12Like, they've got to win this, you look at your schedule before the season and you say, all right, we're
11:17playing the Jets, that's a game we should win.
11:20But the Jets are saying the same thing about the Browns.
11:22And I'll tell you this much, if the Jets lose this game on Sunday, Aaron Glenn, I don't think he's
11:29making it through the season.
11:30Because he's already lost them a couple games by his malpractice of coaching.
11:34So, it's an important game, but it's not more important than a divisional game, in my humble opinion.
11:40John, the 3-1 start.
11:42Have the Browns playoff odds jumping, leaping?
11:47I'll ask, is it too early to think about the playoffs for the Browns team?
11:52No.
11:52No, it's not.
11:53You know, when you're playing the NFC South and the AFC South and the AFC North looks to be flawed,
12:00I don't think it's too early.
12:02No, you've got to think.
12:03I'm sure they're thinking about it.
12:05I'm sure the Browns are thinking about it.
12:07You don't think.
12:07Tom Mungin could say he's not thinking about it.
12:09He's absolutely thinking about it.
12:10And, by the way, he's the coach of the year.
12:12If they make the playoffs, he is undoubtedly the National Football League coach of the year.
12:17We're familiar with those in Cleveland.
12:18The last guy won those, and we all saw how that tenure eventually ended.
12:21But this one felt different.
12:23You know, his energy is amazing.
12:25They should be thinking about it.
12:26Guys, it's there for the taking.
12:28This is a football team that is still going to play the Tennessee Titans.
12:32You know, he's going to play a Giants team that we don't know what they're going to look like in
12:36December.
12:37They still have two games against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Bengals are banged up.
12:41And the Browns normally always get at least one of those in the Battle of Ohio.
12:45You know, and the Ravens are banged up themselves and may not have their quarterback in your home.
12:51So there's a lot of things.
12:52I mean, we don't know what the Falcons are going to look like in December.
12:55And, hell, we don't know if the Raiders are going to be the same monster that they've looked like to
12:58the first four weeks.
12:59They've looked good.
13:00They've looked like a playoff team.
13:01I think Vegas, you know, Vegas has been as big a surprise as the Browns have been, just shy of
13:06it, probably.
13:07Because I didn't have Kirk Cousins doing this.
13:09I didn't have the Raiders doing it.
13:10And thinking of the Sunday after Thanksgiving having huge ramifications in Cleveland when the Raiders and the Browns meet up
13:17that week.
13:17But, like, yeah, it's all on the table because of games like the Jets, of games like the Giants.
13:24And of games like the Browns are going to have on their slate.
13:28We all talked about their schedule.
13:31I didn't have them in the playoff mix.
13:33You all know my feelings.
13:34Am I still a little bit skeptical?
13:36A little bit.
13:38But, you know, on Sunday, you go to 4-1.
13:41And history says when you start the season 4-1, here's the thing.
13:45It's very hard to not be in the playoff mix.
13:47You know, you've got to lose six in a row.
13:50You've got to lose seven in a row.
13:51Oh, you've got to go on a tailspin like the Colts went on last year.
13:55Could the Browns do that?
13:56Well, anything's possible in the NFL.
13:58But, you know, they've done all the right things.
14:00And I think now, for me, it's like, all right, Denzel Boston, Casey Concepcion, they've showed us a lot here.
14:08Can that grow even more?
14:10And if that continues to grow and then they get the running game off of it, it's interesting, guys.
14:14In the past, we've talked about the Browns running game setting up the passing game.
14:17What's different about this Browns team is I actually think the passing game is going to set up the running
14:21game if things continue to go well.
14:25All right, John.
14:26We appreciate you, buddy.
14:27Great stuff.
14:28You know, enjoy your White Sox game tonight.
14:30We'll enjoy the Guardians game tonight.
14:32Oh, my God.
14:34And by the way, the H word on a family show, do we need to call the Pope, the Chicago
14:39Pope call you?
14:42What did I say?
14:43You said the H word.
14:44H?
14:45Did I say hell?
14:46Oh, by the way, he's saying it again, John.
14:48Twice in one second.
14:49John.
14:50You're a pillar of the Catholic community.
14:52You're the face of NBC Sports.
14:55Tariqo would never.
14:57Oh, boy.
14:58You guys are special.
15:00Darn right we are.
15:01I appreciate it.
15:02See, I said darn, John.
15:04John, fans are there.
15:05I think it's another pin there.
15:05You guys are.
15:05Where dudes are sick.
