Patreon Preview #372: A League of Their One (eye) w/ Tyler Davis

Summary

Hey Riddle Riddle – Patreon Preview #372: A League of Their One (eye) w/ Tyler Davis

Release Date: April 24, 2026
Episode Main Theme:
An improv-heavy episode featuring a heartwarming and hilarious story about a misfit cyclops longing to fit in on a not-so-great penguin baseball team. Adal Rifai, Erin Keif, John Patrick Coan, and guest Tyler Davis bring signature character work and banter, blending themes of perseverance, acceptance, and underdog comedy.

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Main Storyline: Penguin Baseball & the Outsider Cyclops

The core of the episode is an extended improv scene about a struggling youth penguin baseball team, featuring an earnest but awkward cyclops player, his beleaguered teammates, a sarcastic coach, and an unexpected visit from a penguin baseball scout.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Penguin Baseball Team’s Struggles

• The episode opens mid-game with the team lamenting yet another strikeout and their perennial losing streak ([00:02]):
  • Marco (A): “Another strikeout. Ugh. This sucks. We suck. We're losers.”
  • Coach (B): Tries to console the players, albeit halfheartedly.
• Cyclops player Sigh (C) laments his lack of depth perception due to his single eye—making it comically difficult to track the “egg” (the ball) ([00:25]):
  • Sigh (C): “I got this one eye and it makes it so I see really good. But the depth of the ball is... I’m petering off… I don’t really know what this one eye does.”
• The game itself is played with eggs instead of balls, poking fun at penguin behavior and further heightening the absurdity ([00:38]):

2. Team Dynamics and Banter

• Teammates tease Sigh (C) for his struggles, but he persists despite continual setbacks ([00:25]–[02:37]).
• Coach is both a source of tough love and comic antagonism, often singling Sigh out for his failures, and lamenting the frequency of their blowout losses:
  • Coach (B) ([03:57]): “You cannot enact the mercy rule more than seven times in a season… every time Cy has been in the roster, we have hit that 30 odd point deficit.”
• The group humorously references orange slices, Capri Suns, and the dynamics of kids’ sports ([01:16]):
  • Sigh (C): “My mom brought orange slices and Capri Suns. If anyone wants to partake...”

3. Why Play? – The Cyclops’ Motivation

• In a poignant moment, Sigh tries to explain his motivation:
  • Sigh (C) ([03:09]): “When I was a baby cyclops, my dad took me to a New Orleans Night Owls game, and it was the best night of my life… all these penguins come alive, sliding on their stomachs… It’s the greatest game in the world.”
• He expresses that passion doesn’t require talent:
  • Sigh (C) ([03:47]): “You don’t have to be good at something to be passionate about something.”
• This is met with resigned confusion from teammates who focus solely on wins and losses.

4. The Arrival of Moxie Calhoun, Penguin Baseball Scout

• Enter Moxie Calhoun (Tyler Davis, D), a comically world-weary scout whose car broke down and attends the game merely for lack of options ([05:35]):
  • Moxie (D): “I’m just out of gasoline… I’ll just sit down here, grab a hot dog, grab a snow cone, and wait for AAA…”
• Sigh (C) excitedly asks if a cyclops might ever get to play in the league ([06:49]):
  • C: “Do you think maybe one day they could let in a Cyclops such as myself?”
• Moxie’s response is characteristically bemused, vomiting with laughter while eating a hot dog ([07:16]), underlining the absurdity but not dashing hope outright.

5. Final Game Moments: Hope, Humiliation, & Acceptance

• Sigh misses his at-bat due to distraction:
  • Umpire (A) ([07:21]): “Strike three. The batter never came to the batter’s box. So Cyclops has struck out.”
  • Sigh (C): “Sorry, guys. Sorry I let you down again.”
• Moxie notes Sigh’s passion, considering him not as a player but as a “gopher” (assistant)—a backhanded offer of inclusion ([08:02]):
  • Moxie (D): “Like a gopher. Like, go get coffee or, like, grab folding chairs for meetings.”
• Coach’s vulnerability is revealed after a devastating insult from Sigh, showing he himself is an outsider in his own way ([08:29]):
  • Coach (B): “I didn’t want to be the penguin baseball coach… it was kind of forced on me. And I’m not good at it… But I deserve a chance. And you… I guess you deserve a chance too.”
• The team ultimately loses spectacularly, but not without camaraderie ([10:05]):
  • A: “That’s the game, folks. They lost big time.”
  • C: “We probably should have kept the eye on the egg.”
  • D: “Wow, the other team isn’t even celebrating. That’s how easy a win it was.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker (Character) | | -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | 00:47 | “How you gonna play penguin baseball with no egg?” | Coach (B) | | 01:37 | “This little Cyclops lookin’ ass.” | Coach (B) | | 03:47 | “You don’t have to be good at something to be passionate about something.” | Sigh (C) | | 05:53 | “I am a penguin baseball scout.” | Moxie Calhoun (D) | | 07:16 | [laughing while eating a hot dog] | Moxie Calhoun (D) | | 08:29 | “Yeah, well, you’re a history teacher, sir. Coach. You weren’t even hired to be a Penguin baseball coach. You were just a history teacher and they needed someone.” | Sigh (C) | | 08:43 | “Oh, I’M being read to filth.” | Coach (B) | | 09:35 | “That sick burn really got me thinking.” | Coach (B) | | 10:12 | “Wow, the other team isn’t even celebrating. That’s how easy a win it was.” | Moxie Calhoun (D) | | 10:23 | “Hey, Riddle. Riddle's Clue crew.” | Sigh (C) (breaking the 4th wall) |

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Key Timestamps for Segments

• 00:02–02:10: Team’s struggles, Sigh’s self-doubt, baseball game setup
• 02:10–05:20: In-game banter, mercy rule, Dougie’s broken legs, scouting rumors
• 05:20–06:49: Penguin baseball scout Moxie Calhoun appears
• 06:50–08:12: Sigh’s aspirations, comic hot dog disaster, missed at-bat
• 08:13–10:00: Moxie offers Sigh a “gopher” spot, Coach opens up, Sigh delivers an epic burn
• 10:00–10:23: The crushing defeat, postmortem, meta joke to “Clue Crew” listeners

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Tone & Style

• Improvised, irreverent, and heartfelt—true to Hey Riddle Riddle’s signature comedic style.
• Balances zany character work with moments of sincerity and sharp wit.
• Language stays playful and tongue-in-cheek, with the cast often riffing off each other’s absurd premises.

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For First-Time Listeners

This episode exemplifies Hey Riddle Riddle’s blend of surreal humor, character-driven improv, and surprisingly poignant moments. Set against the quirky backdrop of “penguin baseball,” it explores what it means to pursue passions even when you’re on the losing team—literally and figuratively.

Not to be missed:

• Sigh’s heartfelt (and hilarious) monologue about his love for the game ([03:09–03:47])
• The comic escalation of the coach’s apathy and Moxie’s unexpected sincerity
• The “meta” sign-off pitching the Patreon, remaining true to the show’s running jokes

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If you enjoyed this episode, check out the Clue Crew bonus content for more improv-heavy, off-the-wall riddle and character adventures!

Transcript

[A]

Duh. Another strikeout. Ugh. This sucks. We suck. We're losers.

[B]

No, no, no. Take a seat. Take your seat, buddy. You did your best. Did your best, Marco.

[C]

Yeah, Marco, you're the best.

[A]

Shut up. Sigh I'm the best of a group of losers. And I think I'd be a little better if you were a little better.

[C]

I'm trying, man. I got this one eye and it makes it so I see really good. But the depth of the ball is. I'm petering off. Cause I don't really know what this one eye does.

[A]

And it's not a ball. It's an egg. Sigh Ugh. Get a load of Sighs. Sigh still thinks the ball isn't an egg.

[B]

Look at Sigh over here. How you gonna play penguin baseball with no egg?

[C]

Hey, my hat. Come on, guys, give it back.

[B]

And I'm flipping your hat and I'm gonna toss it to you. But you're not gonna be able to catch it. Cause you got no depth perception.

[A]

Phew. Ah.

[C]

I jumped way too early. I jumped before you threw it.

[B]

Take a seat in the back of the dugout. Sigh all right, keep eating those them peanuts.

[C]

My mom brought orange slices and Capri Suns. If anyone wants to partake, take a

[B]

partake in orange slices and Capri sun while we're still in the middle of a game. This guy trying to call it quits already? Come on.

[A]

Damn, Coach is meaner to psy than we are.

[D]

I love it.

[B]

This little Cyclops look in the ass.

[C]

Coach, come on. It's bad enough that I get it from Marco and the boys.

[B]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Hey, here's the thing. I told you that I would. That I would not tease you if you could make your way to third base. You ain't even gotten to second yet. All right. It's bottom of the of the ninth.

[C]

Well, Coach, you barely put me in the game. You only put me in if someone's broken their legs.

[B]

Look, I got a lot of kids out here, a lot of kid penguins out here that really want to do their best. And I'm not going to go ahead and put a full sized 6 foot cyclops out there. You're gonna be too tall. You're gonna be swinging over the egg. You're gonna be you. You run so fast, you miss first base all the time. You're a liability.

[C]

Sigh I'm a liability?

[A]

Sigh why do you even want to play penguin baseball? You're not good at it. Nobody wants you here. Why don't you just quit?

[C]

Why do I Want to play Penguin baseball?

[B]

That's. That's what he asked.

[C]

Why do I want to play Penguin baseball?

[B]

Well, that's what Marco asked.

[A]

Who are you looking at? You look at.

[C]

What are you looking at me wanting to play Penguin baseball. Why?

[B]

That's. That is what Marco's asking you.

[C]

It's the greatest game in the world. When I was a baby Cyclops, my dad took me to a New Orleans Night Owls game, and it was the best night of my life. All the lights that can't cause too much heat so the ice won't melt, they'll turn on, and all of a sudden, all these paintings come alive, sliding on their stomachs. The second, third, four. It's the greatest game in the world.

[A]

Why do. Why do you want to do it? You're not good at it.

[C]

Me? Why do I. Why do I want to do it?

[A]

Never mind.

[B]

That's what Marco asked.

[C]

You don't have to be good at something to be passionate about something.

[A]

Coach, can we just forfeit? We're down, like, 30 points. I think it's like a. Is. Shouldn't the. A mercy rule kick in or something?

[B]

Marco. Marco. All right, for the last time and act. You cannot enact the mercy rule more than seven times in a season. What? Right. Yes. All right. And every time that we have had. I'll be honest, every time that Cy has been in the roster, we have hit that 30 odd point deficit. All right?

[A]

I wish Dougie had never broken both of his legs. Dougie, are your legs any better?

[D]

I can try.

[B]

Oh, they're both at right angles in the opposite direction you want.

[C]

How are Penguin baseball coaches supposed to come and sort of scout us if we keep forfeiting these games?

[B]

Scout? Well, the games, like the Penguin baseball coaches, they will get an opportunity to come see us because our games are very long. All right? We play slow and we play ineffectively. And so people have a chance to show up, get a dog, get a beer, kind of get bored, leave. Then they kind of remember that it's going on and the game's still going on. So I think they got chances if they won.

[C]

That's good. I hope that they show up when I'm playing.

[B]

I mean, we've got some. We have some scouts on the. That are supposed to be coming through, but. And I guess you are up to. You are up to bat, right? Oh, my God. Right now.

[D]

Excuse me. I'm passing through town and my car ran out of gas. I'm trying to make it to the big game. Any of you Kids got gasoline?

[C]

No, but you look like you're dressed like a penguin baseball scout.

[D]

I am a penguin baseball scout.

[C]

Oh, guys, a miracle. A miracle. A miracle.

[B]

Hey, just so you know, we're having a little bit of a rough one on the field today, so if you got other places to go, you might as well head on out already.

[D]

I do. I'm just out of gasoline.

[B]

Well, I left my spare canister at home. I actually can't help you, and it would take too long for me to go back and get it and.

[A]

We're kids. We don't have gasoline. We wish.

[D]

Yeah, I know kids. Back in my day, we were huffing gasoline behind the bleachers. Well, I guess I'll just sit down here, grab a hot dog, grab a snow cone and wait for AAA to help me out.

[C]

Sir.

[B]

And. What. What did you say your name was?

[D]

My name Moxie Calhoun.

[C]

Well, Moxie takes off hat, holds it in hand.

[D]

Don't take off my hat.

[C]

Sorry. Here's your hat back. I know that typically penguin baseball is just penguins, and then last year you let birds in. But I don't know which team you're scouting for. Could be the shrimp shredders or the pigeon forage foragers. I don't know. But do you think maybe one day they could let in a Cyclops such as myself?

[D]

Sorry, I was laughing while eating a hot dog.

[C]

You threw up down your shirt, Mr. Moxy, sir.

[A]

Strike three. The batter never came to the batter's box. So Cyclops has struck out.

[B]

No. Throw my head on the ground.

[A]

Didn't even take a swing. Never even came. We called, like, three times.

[C]

Sorry. Sorry, guys. Sorry I let you down again.

[A]

Oh, God.

[D]

Wait a minute. Wait a minute, wait a minute. You want to play penguin baseball so badly that you are willing to miss your at bat?

[C]

Yeah, I guess so, sir.

[D]

I could use someone like you.

[A]

How? In what way? What context?

[D]

Like a gopher. Like, go get coffee or, like, grab folding chairs for meetings.

[B]

Oh, I don't mean to. It's. I don't mean to talk badly about another player, but I don't know if Psy could really, you know, make a run of things. Psy is very slow. Psy is optimistic as I'll get out. He's got a great spirit, but also just can't really follow through, you know?

[C]

Yeah, well, you're a history teacher, sir. Coach. You weren't even hired to be a Penguin baseball coach. You were just a history teacher and they needed someone.

[B]

Oh, no.

[D]

Well, goddamn. What a bird.

[B]

Oh, I'M being read to filth.

[D]

Oh, this kid's throwing the heat.

[C]

He's a fantastic history teacher, though. Really good at that.

[B]

I try, but I just need to. I just am always trying to stay one step ahead of the classes. Cause it's just so much the workload that's so much.

[A]

That's another strike. If they're ever going to send someone to. I mean, this. It's two outs already.

[B]

Lenny. Lenny, get up there. Lenny, get up there. You're up. You're up, you're up. Me? Coach, I'm the smallest penguin on the team. Just you. You don't have to do much. Just take a long time. Stall, stretch. Yes, sir. Coach.

[C]

Gonna take him so long to get up to home plate.

[D]

Oh, that kid raised the bat and started to fall backwards.

[B]

Sigh that.

[C]

Yeah, Coach.

[B]

That sick burn really got me thinking. I. I didn't want to be the ba. The penguin baseball coach. I did something that I was. It was kind of forced on me. And. And I'm not good at it, and I know that. But I deserve a chance. And. And you. I guess you deserve a chance too. So maybe you should talk to Mr. Moxie Calhoun about running some coffees.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Strike three.

[B]

That's the game, folks.

[A]

They lost big time.

[C]

We probably should have kept the eye on the egg.

[D]

Wow, the other team isn't even celebrating. That's how easy a win it was.

[C]

They don't even feel good about it.

[A]

They all just got into their cars and left. They didn't even shake hands or have orange slices. 1, 2, 3, 4.

[C]

Hey, Riddle. Riddle's Clue crew.

[A]

Listen to the rest of the episode now by starting your free seven day trial at patreon.com heyriddle riddle.

[C]

Hi, I am Mandy Moore.

[B]

Sterling K. Brown. And I'm Chris Sullivan. And we host the podcast that Was Us now on Headgum.

[C]

Each episode we're gonna go into a deep dive from our show. This is us.

[B]

That's right.

[C]

We're gonna go episode by episode. We're also gonna pepper with different guest stars and writers and casting directors.

[B]

Are we going to cry? Yes. A little bit. Are we going to laugh a lot. A whole lot. That's what I'm hoping.

[D]

Man.

[B]

Listen to that Was Us on your favorite podcast app or watch full video episodes on YouTube or Spotify. New episodes every Tuesday.