AI Summary
5 min readHour 3 - Kicked Out of Heaven
Ben Maller opens the third hour of his overnight show with three distinct sports stories that share a common thread: organizations and players stuck in cycles of stubbornness, denial, and mismanagement. From the Angels refusing to trade Mike Trout, to the Red Sox demoting a $55 million pitcher, to the Vikings coach spinning a quarterback controversy, each case illustrates how teams talk themselves into staying the course when the evidence says otherwise.
The Angels and Mike Trout: A Dusty Family Heirloom
The Los Angeles Angels are once again one of the worst teams in baseball, buried in the standings despite having Mike Trout on the roster. Trout has been healthy and productive this season — Maller notes he's "on pace to hit 36 dingers" — but the Angels remain non-competitive. The question is why owner Arte Moreno refuses to trade him.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:05) **Hour 3 Intro & Topic Tease** - Ben Maller sets up the hour's topics: Mike Trout's future with the Angels, Red Sox demoting Brian Bello, and Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell's comments on J.J. McCarthy.
- 2 (05:53) **Why Arte Moreno Keeps Mike Trout in Anaheim** - Ben argues the Angels' owner treats Trout like a "dusty family heirloom," refusing to trade him despite the team's perpetual losing.
- 3 (13:00) **Red Sox Demote Brian Bello to Minors** - Boston sends the struggling starter to Triple-A Worcester after a disastrous outing, signaling a new, no-nonsense approach.
- 4 (18:51) **Vikings Coach Kevin O'Connell's "Fluff" on J.J. McCarthy** - Ben analyzes O'Connell's claim that McCarthy is handling the Kyler Murray addition well, calling it a lie.
- 5 (22:46) **Maller Riddle of the Day** - Ben presents the riddle: Chargers QB Justin Herbert helped his girlfriend, singer Madison Beer, deal with her blank.
- 6 (30:16) **Listener Calls: Ferg Dog, Jail Tech, and a Meet & Greet Idea** - Ben takes calls from "2% Chance" and "Rob in the 321."
- 7 (42:10) **Big Ben's Lame Jokes of the Week** - Ben and Weedman Hippie read listener-submitted jokes, mostly targeting Weedman's marijuana use and lack of employment.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ben Maller talks about why Angels owner Arte Moreno would keep Mike Trout hog-tied to Anaheim, what the Red Sox are saying by booting starter Brayan Bello to the minors, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell claiming J.J. McCarthy is handling the Kyler Murray addition "really well", Lame Jokes of the Week, and more!
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