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Chapter 1: What makes Bruce Beck's positivity stand out on Opening Day?
It's the Boomer and Geo podcast from WFAN. Hi, Boomer and Geo. Coming to you live from the Bill Ford Tough Studio on the fan and CBS Sports Network. When we take your calls on the Red Pocket Mobile fan line, as brought to you by your new ultimate cell carrier, Red Pocket Mobile. That number is 888-808-1019. We've been... Teasing it with opening day today, and this is not an SNY game.
You can get the SNY guys starting on Saturday at 4, 10 p.m. with Gary, Keith, and Ron, as always. But this is a Peacock game that is also going to be shown on local NBC. So, you know, when we were talking about the... Local NBC, the sunny day that is today and opening day. You think about someone like Bruce Beck, who is a sunshine, rainbow, just amazing type of uplifting spirit.
So we are getting Bruce Beck on the phone momentarily as Al is just making sure he's on a good, solid line so we don't have to have him drop. Bruce is pulling over.
Chapter 2: What is the significance of the Mets' starting lineup for Opening Day?
Bruce is pulling over just to talk to us. That's how... He'll be on the side of the road with that other guy. On the side of the road. But I wanted to talk to Bruce today because he is... I think he just personifies the type of day that it is. Do you think he's on Roosevelt Avenue underneath the train line? Maybe.
That's not a great place to pull over because of these old parking spots and everything else. It's a lot of busy things. He's on the median underneath the viaduct across the street from Citi Field. Yeah, I mean, that's a possibility as well. Right. That would be on the north side of Citi Field. Anything is a possibility. But here he is ready to go. The one and only from NBC, Bruce Beck.
Chapter 3: How does David Stearns reflect on the Mets' past and present?
Good morning, Bruce. How are you?
Gio Boomer, good morning. It's baseball opening day. Are you ready?
Yes, we are.
more so now that we're talking to you uh this is just the perfect day for you and you know my parents were loyal nbc local news people growing up so you i've been watching you forever growing up i even i was telling boomer a story in the break where last year after an event in the city went to breakfast with my wife and janice huff is coming out of the place i go oh my god janice huff
So, like, you guys have meant a lot to me, and I appreciate your work, and it's an honor to talk to you today. So, yeah, I mean, this has got to be, I mean, you still, after all these years of covering baseball and covering New York sports, still love today like you always have, huh?
Yes, I mean, Carlos Mendoza said yesterday it's like the first day of school. I was a lot more nervous the first day of school, going in there with those yellow bell bottoms. What was I doing back then? This is baseball. This is every team is... is perfect, right?
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Chapter 4: What is the Moment of the Day regarding Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne?
Every team is undefeated. Every city believes they have a chance. This is the Yankees and Mets embarking on a new season, trying to win a World Series for the first time, the Yankees since 2009, the Mets since 1986. I mean, these are where dreams are made, and fans believe every opening day they can win. And isn't that perfect?
You know, it's amazing, Bruce. Boomer here. You know, when we have most callers call in, the call screener has them in a red line. For some reason, yours right now is in a bright yellow line. And I don't know why. It's like you're highlighted. And you're bringing the best out in everybody. So it's going to be on NBC Local today. I mean, are you involved in any pregame stuff?
Yes, we have a one-hour pregame show that starts at 12 noon.
Chapter 5: How do Mets fans feel about the team's changes this season?
John Chandler's joining me. We have a lot of the other members of our WNBC team. We're covering every aspect. I just went down to Florida this past weekend, so I have one-on-ones with Soto, with Lindor, with Bichette, and with Carlos Mendoza. So we're also giving the 7 train some love. We're giving the fans some love. One-hour special, 12 to 1, NBC4 New York, and then
The game is on NBC of Peacock starting at 1. And Gio, isn't it perfect? Baseball back on NBC. We had it from 1957 to 2000. If you think about the history of baseball, 1939, the first ever broadcast Reds-Dodgers doubleheader. That was NBC. First ever World Series. 47, that was NBC, and the first ever All-Star game, 1952, that was on the Peacock.
Chapter 6: What are the expectations for the Mets' pitching staff this year?
So you know what I'm saying? It's a tradition that goes back a long way. We've televised 39 World Series, and baseball is back!
That's right, Bruce. We're talking to Bruce Beck, eight-time New York Emmy Award winner of WNBC here in New York. So you mentioned you had a one-on-one with Soto and others. Were you able to crack Juan Soto a little bit? He's a tough one to crack in these interviews. Did you get anything out of him? You're right.
He is a little bit close to the vest. I do believe he thinks this team's got the components that can get them to the postseason and perhaps a World Series. I tried to talk about the relationship with Lindor because there was a lot of discussion about that during the offseason, but I think that cooler heads have prevailed. I think these guys will certainly get along.
Chapter 7: Who are some of Bruce Beck's favorite players he's covered?
I think they did get along. I just think that there's changes abound, and when you look at a team that changed its core dramatically, there's a lot of questions with the Mets. There's a lot of excitement, but it's a different group. Everybody rooted for Alonzo and Nimmo and Diaz and McNeil, but now they've got Marcus Simeon and Beau Bichette and Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert and Devin Williams.
I mean, there's a lot of questions, but there's also excitement because the Mets fans believe it was time, I think, to try something new, although they said goodbye to some of their favorites.
Yeah, I don't know if the Mets fans felt as passionate about changing as much as David Stearns did. And, you know, I think he did the right thing. I thought he brought in professional baseball players, including Luke Weaver. There's going to be a lot of change in the coaching staff as well, six new coaches. I mean, there's, you know, hope springs eternal, as you said, Bruce.
And this is the time where, like, when I look at this Mets team, I see a lot of professional baseball players on this team. There's not a lot of minor leaguers. Like some people think. I would say that I'm excited about Carson Bench.
Chapter 8: What are the highlights of the 40th anniversary of the Mets' last World Series championship?
I'm excited about Nolan McClain. And there is a lot to be hopeful for.
I think if you look at the Mets and what happened after June 13th last year, they were 38-55. And they had a $340 million payroll. It was a collapse. And so David Stearns talked about defense, solidifying defense first. I'm not sure that all those questions were answered because he's got Bo Bichette at third base playing a different position.
He's got Polanco over at first base, hasn't really played there. But this team, I think, is just trying to reinvent things. And I believe with Soto and Lindor, two MVP candidates every year. that they will have a very good offense. Bo Bichette, the most clutch hitter in baseball last year, I think he will really add something to the middle of that lineup.
I think the pitching staff is the question. What is going to happen with that staff? Peralta will be good. I think McClain, who had eight starts last year, will be an outstanding pro for many years to come. He's only 24. You saw what he did in the World Baseball Classics. But what about the rest of that staff? Clay Holmes, Sean Minaya, what will Sanger do?
David Peterson is solid given, but is that staff good enough to propel them to 90 wins? That's the question.
Bruce, you've seen it all throughout New York sports in your career. There's been so many people who have come and gone, and you have stayed here. Who are some of your favorite players throughout the years and coaches to have covered?
I mean, I'd start with Lou Carneseca. Nothing happens in the performance that doesn't happen in the rehearsal. I would go to Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, Michael Strahan, Derek Cheater, Pete Alonso, Aaron Judge, Mariano Rivera, the salt of the earth. I mean, there's David Wright. There's no one who embodied what the Mets were better than David Wright.
There's so many, Gio, it's hard to point to just one, but I think this whole industry and the way you do survive is you build relationships. I tell kids all the time, attention to detail, preparation, but relationships is more important than anything else. You have to be in the locker room. The only way to get the pulse of the team is to be in the locker room, to be at practice, to be at games.
You can't do it just on the phone. You can't do it in the studio. So if you grind out there, it's an old shoe leather mentality. You can build relationships and find out also what a team is really thinking.
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