The Ken Carman Show with Anthony Lima

Latest Episodes:

Lima Comes Clean: He Won't Be a Playoff Grinch for the Guardians Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Lima admits he mixed up Western Michigan and Central Michigan in an earlier segment before revisiting an old clip where he threatened to sabotage Browns and Guardians playoff hype if fans dismissed the Cavs' postseason chances. He formally reverses course, vowing to embrace the Guardians' likely playoff run as an underdog rather than write it off, and he and Ken push back on the idea that repeated postseason trips have made Cleveland fans jaded. A caller helps drive home the "never take it for granted" theme by noting how rare a Guardians AL East title would have been, and the crew wraps with light banter about stadium seating and a producer's odd left-field habits before teasing Harold Reynolds at nine.

About Last Night: The Guards are in First Place & Travis Kelce Swindled Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

The crew recaps the Guardians' 6-3 win over the White Sox, where Petey Halpin homered for Cleveland and Tommy Pham stunned everyone with a homer of his own for the White Sox, with John praising Steven Vogt's bullpen management of Cade Smith as a "masterclass" and predicting a favorable ALCS draw against the White Sox or Astros. They pivot to Travis Kelce being named in a federal fraud case tied to a fake investment fund, debating whether even smart, wealthy people are uniquely vulnerable to being swindled. They close by revisiting the Western Michigan-Michigan replay controversy, joking about which team deserves the win on paper and previewing Harold Reynolds and Mary Kay Cabot joining the show later in the hour.

Ken Doesn't Want to See Enter Sandman at the Metallica Concert Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Ken, Anthony and Owen react to Metallica's two-night stop at Huntington Bank Field next summer, debating the band's practice of publishing separate set lists for each show and Ken's surprising confession that he doesn't need to hear "Enter Sandman" live despite ranking Metallica among his all-time favorites. The crew riffs on concert etiquette, jersey-wearing performers, and a caller's story about a Billy Idol guitarist coming out in a Deshaun Watson jersey at Blossom, drawing an uncomfortable parallel to a DJ who once did the same at a game. They close by teasing more on the Guardians' first-place run and Lima's promise about not overreacting like certain hosts did with the Cavs.

Ken and Anthony Give Steven Vogt His Due as Guardians Sit in First Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Ken and Anthony credit Steven Vogt's steady, unflappable demeanor for keeping the clubhouse together through a rocky stretch, arguing his consistent tone in losses and wins alike has been key to the team's late-season surge into first place. They dig into Jose Ramirez's two clutch doubles as a potential turning point and debate whether the Guardians' patience with young players like Travis Bazzana, contrasted with big-market impatience, is part of what makes the organization work. They also push back on criticism from fans and Jason Lloyd over calling the recent run "magical," reframing it as simply the standard, gritty brand of baseball this front office consistently delivers.

Ken Rips Todd Monken for Calling Head Coaching Job a "Dream" Amid Losing Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Ken and Anthony criticize Todd Monken for repeatedly calling the Browns job his "dream" during a rough start, arguing it makes him sound emotionally detached from a frustrated fan base rather than in the trenches with them. They wonder whether starting Deshaun Watson in Week 1 was the right call, with Ken insisting he knows Monken made that decision himself and bracing for backlash if Shedeur Sanders eventually plays well. They wrap by contrasting Monken's messaging with Steven Vogt, crediting the Guardians manager for sounding steady in both wins and losses.

Deshaun Watson's Sunday Start Is His Last Chance Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Ken and Anthony break down Deshaun Watson's shaky Week 1 postgame comments about media expectations, arguing his current mindset and body language suggest he already senses Sunday against Jacksonville could be his final start. They contrast fan reaction to Watson with the grace shown to Baker Mayfield despite his own turnover-filled performance, and debate whether Watson's poor play stems from the pressure getting in his head rather than a lack of talent. Both agree Watson would need a dramatic turnaround to keep his job, while conceding they can't quite bring themselves to root against him even as they expect another rough outing.

The Guardians Are in First Place Again! Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

Jo Adell and Petey Halpin power the offense as the Guardians beat the White Sox, whose Tommy Pham gets his first hit back in the majors, and Cleveland jumps back atop the AL Central. Ken and Anthony break down the tightening schedule down the stretch, noting Chicago's softer slate against Detroit, Kansas City, and Colorado versus Cleveland's own matchups with the Red Sox and Royals. They also dig into Jose Ramirez's recent surge out of his September slump, his lingering hand injury, and whether the AL Central's lack of big spenders gives Cleveland a lasting edge.

Full Show: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze the Cleveland Guardians' recent success and potential postseason pitching strategies. They lead a heated discussion on the proposed split between public and private high schools in the OHSAA. Conversations then shift to the struggling Cleveland Browns and the future of the quarterback position following Deshaun Watson's poor performance.

(00:02:56) Guardians Magical Walk-off

(00:07:10) Postseason Pitching Rotation

(00:13:00) Roster Consistency Discussion

(00:20:00) OHSAA Split Debate

(00:32:43) Fair Play In Sports

(00:36:53) Watson Performance Evaluation

(00:52:45) Browns Fan Frustration

(00:58:25) Mike Florio Analysis

(01:11:51) Anticipating Home Opener

(01:20:41) Ravens AFC Update

(01:24:44) Bengals AFC Update

(01:28:01) Steelers AFC Update

(01:40:40) Ravens Coordinator Transition

(01:46:00) Brian Rocchio Future

(01:51:41) Two-Second Trivia Segment

(01:57:11) Dan Lanning Moore Controversy

(02:03:12) Jason Lloyd Interview

(02:19:51) Shedeur Sanders Speculation

(02:31:50) Arch Manning Apology

Hour 1: Debating if the "Magical" Guardians Can Shock the World Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima analyze the Cleveland Guardians' recent walk-off success and whether the team possesses a "magical" quality heading into the postseason. They also dive into a heated debate regarding a potential split between public and private schools in the OHSAA. Finally, the discussion shifts to the intense scrutiny surrounding Deshaun Watson's performance and whether the criticism has become excessive.

(00:03:00) Guardians Magic Debate

(00:06:40) Postseason Pitching Rotation

(00:13:00) Guards Ball Model

(00:19:43) OHSAA Split Debate

(00:25:30) Rings Culture Impact

(00:34:43) Public Private Fairness

(00:39:38) Deshaun Watson Scrutiny

Hour 2: Deshaun Watson Has Lost the City of Cleveland Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Ken and Anthony Lima analyze the growing vitriol among Cleveland Browns fans following Deshaun Watson's recent struggles. They weigh the financial constraints of his contract against the calls for Shedeur Sanders to take over under center. The discussion also touches on Todd Monken's decisions and the potential for a volatile atmosphere during the upcoming home opener.

(00:01:52) Watson Fan Criticism

(00:05:32) Business Decisions and Sympathy

(00:08:53) Browns Generational Frustration

(00:13:28) Todd Monken Narrative

(00:19:56) Sanders Hype and Backups

(00:23:52) Andrew Berry Accountability

(00:31:24) Predicting Home Backlash

(00:36:36) Baker Mayfield Revenge Game