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Mike Wilbon
Are you.
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Mike Wilbon
Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's apparently National Cooking Day. Tony, do you like to cook?
Tony Kornheiser
I'm Tony Kornheiser. No, but I've been told that I sizzle.
Mike Wilbon
Okay, then. All righty.
Booger McFarland
Aren't you like one of those people.
Mike Wilbon
Who thinks you're a grill master? Aren't you a grill guy?
Tony Kornheiser
I do, yes. I actually grill a lot. I enjoy grilling a lot. My son makes fun of me because I do it by timing. You know, I asked for a five minute timer at some point. He says, that's not the way you do it. But I do it. That, and I do like the grill. Welcome to pti, boys and girls. In today's episode, the Guardians take over the AL Central. The Ryder cup tees off tomorrow, and Booger McFarlane joins us to break down a big weekend in college football. But we begin today with Cal Rawley hitting two more home runs last night, numbers 59 and 60, as Seattle beat Colorado to clinch the American League west, their first division title since 2001 at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge also hit two home runs, numbers 50 and 51, and went 3 for 4 to raise his batting average to a major league leading.328. The Yankees beat the White Sox to claim a tie with Toronto for first place in the American League East. Wilburn, let us start with Raleigh. What sort of achievement is it? Him hitting 60 home runs, truly historic.
Mike Wilbon
And I'm using that word with some sense, as an old person with a sense of history, real history, not combining eight things to say he's the first person to do this since, you know, 2016. No, he's the seventh person to do it. And that's if you include Sosa, McGuire and Bonds. The seventh guy to hit 60. The others being Ruth, Maris and Judge. That's the list in 150 years of major League Baseball. And he's the only guy on that list to be a catcher who has the hardest duty on the field, day in, day out. The only catcher. So he surpassed in a lot of ways, Bear and Campanella and Bench and those the names that come to my mind as somebody who's followed baseball all my life. So, Tony, when you consider those two things, catcher, switch hitter and 60, it truly, truly historic.
Tony Kornheiser
So let me. Let me get to this because I want to emphasize what you're talking about. The fact that he plays catcher. I cannot explain enough. The physical wear and tear, the grueling day after day of being a catcher in the major leagues. And so you think that when it comes to September, there's not enough left for any offense. Raleigh now has 10 home runs in September. This is the 11th time this season that he hit two multiple home runs in one game. In the last nine games he's played, he has seven home runs. Let me back up a little bit. We've been in the lively ball era for over 100 years. The record for home runs in 100 years for a catcher was 48. This guy's got 60. He didn't break the record. He jumped like Bob Beeman on this record. And let me get to judge, because 51 home runs for Judge seems me.
Mike Wilbon
Again next to roll time.
Tony Kornheiser
Fourth time I'm on go for a while. But Judge is the Judge is now four times. There's only three people in major league history who went four times 50. And that's Ruth and McGwire and Sosa. And, you know, I'm getting rid of McGuire and Sosa for obvious reasons. Since September 11th, Aaron Judge is batting like.439. He's got seven home runs. His OPS is 1.572. That's ungodly. And the Yankees. The Yankees have been 10 and three there and like Seattle, have bounced up to the top of their division, I believe have three more wins than Seattle has. So it's still. I would vote for Rawley for mvp, but it's still going to be really tight. I think it should be tight.
Mike Wilbon
I love Judge, Tony. I love Judge. No, Judge. Not catching Judge because of injury. That's right. Not Judge couldn't even play his position in the outfield a lot. He had a DH son.
Tony Kornheiser
I understand that.
Mike Wilbon
Raleigh. It's Raleigh. Raleigh.
Tony Kornheiser
And 60 in our lives, at our age, 60 is magic. Means let's stay with baseball and let's move over to your Midwestern teams. Last night, Cleveland again beat Detroit, this time five to one. Cleveland is now one game clear of the Tigers in the American League Central. It's the first time in 175 days the Tigers are not in first place. Wilbon, what is the more compelling aspect of this? The Guardians rise or the Tigers fall?
Mike Wilbon
Tony, they both are. In their own way. Both. Either answer can be true. But for me, first, it's Cleveland. I mean, this is a team where management was essentially selling off stuff at the trade deadline and it looked like it was okay, we're punting on this season. We'll add some pieces, we'll be better. We still have, you know, some, some, some nice pieces around. But no, they didn't, they didn't just give up. They didn't punt. The players on the field did not do that. And to have that pitching, to have that starting pitching, this many games in a row, that too, less historic, but still. Tony, it's just not done. I mean, starting pitching we know is very vulnerable. Vulnerable around Major League Baseball all the time, essentially. So to get that consistency of starting pitching night after night after night, to get back in this race and win 17 and 19. For me, it's Cleveland.
Tony Kornheiser
What Cleveland is doing right now after the All Star break and selling some things off. That's what Detroit did last year, and Detroit made the playoffs. Mike, if I was still writing a sports column, my column would be the Tigers. Because you know that I believe that a losing locker room is always more interesting than a winning locker room. Tigers have now. They have lost eight in a row. They have lost 11 of 12. And in the last two games, they lost with first place directly on the line to the team that was chasing them. Yeah, they have now gone.05 against Cleveland in the last eight days. Mike, this is a biblical collapse. This is the 1964 Phillies. And here is a quote from A.J. hinch. It's painful. I'm having a hard time coming up with words. But what I'm seeing out of our team is not normal, but it's our reality. The Tigers right now, in the last 12 games, they've only scored 28 runs. That's 2.3 runs again. That's not enough. In their last seven games, only once have they gone over two runs scored. This is like a contagion in the clubhouse. This is like some sort of virus. I don't want to give short shrift to Cleveland. Detroit's not just losing these games. Somebody has to beat them. But Cleveland's only beaten them five out of the 17 out of 19. Cleveland has won. Cleveland's been great, Mike. I'm just saying, I think the more heart wrenching thing is Wrenching.
Mike Wilbon
I feel bad for the Tigers, Tony. The other night when Scubal got knocked around by three batted balls which went a total of about 40ft, you just. It was sort of, you know, symbolic of what's going on with Detroit. Since when they started giving up that 15 and a half game league. They're both compelling stories. I celebrate Cleveland a little bit. Not often we do that. The Ryder cup competition, Tony, starts tomorrow at Bethpage Black on Long island, where Team USA has home course advantage in its bid to regain the cup that belongs to Team Europe. Tone Betters are giving the United States the edge. Are you.
Tony Kornheiser
By the way, I got the Beth Page black sign right behind me on the set here. That is from the Black course there. I understand why the United States is favored because it is the home course. And in the Ryder cup, the home course often is the most important thing. They have the number one player in the world in Scottie Scheffler. They have seven of the top 10. But I don't think they have a particular advantage at Beth Page. I mean, I really don't. Beth Page has been used for a major here or there. The European players play it as well. Other than Jon Rahm, almost everybody in the European team is on the PGA Tour. So they play the same course as the Americans. They play against and with the Americans. The Americans have four rookies. Ryder cup rookies. Europeans only have one. The Europeans have won a bunch of majors just like the Americans. You got McElroy, Lowry, Rose, Rahm, your boy, Fitzpatrick, Matty Fitz. They've come close in a lot of majors. Fleetwood, Hatton, McIntyre, Oberg, you know, Straka. Straka. I don't want to mispronounce his name. So to me, you know, to me right now, if you just look at this on paper, I think the Europeans have a small edge.
Mike Wilbon
I think the European team is better on paper, period. Tony, you mentioned how they play these courses and they play with the Americans and against them. They live in America. I bet you like. I bet you all there might be two guys who don't make some place in the United States home part or most or all of the year. So I mean, let's get rid of that. I look at this. Look, even when on paper we think the US team is stronger, we often lose. Because there's something about team competition that just sits well with the European side time after time after time. The European team has won twice on the road in the United States.
Tony Kornheiser
2012, 2012 in Chicago, in Medina. I was there 2004 at Oakland Hills in Michigan. Yes, twice.
Mike Wilbon
It doesn't scare them. They love team competition. They seem to bond. They know they have an advantage there, even if it doesn't exist. Maybe in Sunday on singles. I know if I was betting and I don't, I think I would say, oh, no. I think Europe has to be considered the team with the edge going into tomorrow morning.
Tony Kornheiser
I want to tell you one thing. I've been watching this on Golf Channel for three days. I watched the opening ceremony yesterday. I watched it. Your Northwestern boy, Luke Donald was terrific. He is so polished behind a microphone. Keegan Bradley was fine, but he was great and that was a great start.
Mike Wilbon
Luke has done it.
Tony Kornheiser
Let's take a break.
Mike Wilbon
Luke's done this before. Coming up too. He has.
Tony Kornheiser
How badly does the loss of quarterback John Mateer hurt Oklahoma? We are going to ask Booker McKinley.
Mike Wilbon
Far when we're also asking whether he gives Bama a good chance of upsetting Georgia. You know where Luke Donald, captain of the European team, lives? Right here.
Tony Kornheiser
Right here.
Mike Wilbon
Chicago.
Tony Kornheiser
Really? In Chicago? Yeah. Yeah.
Mike Wilbon
Let's chill at the Northwestern.
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Tony Kornheiser
When.
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Tony Kornheiser
We got a big upcoming weekend in college football, which makes it a perfect time to bring in our great friend, ESPN NFL and college football analyst Mr. Booger McFarlane, wearing a shirt for Old Sandwich in Boston. Let's get to it. Unbeaten Oklahoma has just lost quarterback John Mateer, likely for a month after surgery on his throwing hand. How much of the Sooner's early success do you credit to Mattier?
Booger McFarland
Probably 90% of it, Tony. Let's not forget like when he came over, he also brought his offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle with him. So that dynamic duo has led to the Sooner's offensive surge and they are playing with a ton of confidence. He is my favorite, early favorite for the Heisman Trophy. I that's how explosive this young man has been. He's going to put up a ton of stats. I think he's over 1300 yards total combined, 12 or 13 touchdowns. And the stats were only going to get bigger and bigger. I hope he comes back soon because when he's on the field they can compete not only for an SEC championship but for a national championship because he's been playing the position that good. There's no quarterback, and I mean no quarterback, not Arch Manning, not anybody that's playing the position better than John Mateer had been playing it. Wow.
Mike Wilbon
Too bad he's going to be out for a bit. Booger. Number six, Oregon at number three, Penn State. I don't care about the rankings. I don't care about where the game is. To me, Penn State is going to get just wasted by Oregon. I have seen Oregon once in person this year, but tell me if I'm crazy. What do you see happening in in that game?
Booger McFarland
You know what, it's a very astute opinion by you and I think it's going to be shared by most. Oregon is the fastest team, the most athletic team I've seen on tape all year. Dante Moore to transfer from ucla. Now he is doing his thing up there, the dual threat quarterback. They got this tight end, Kenyon Sidiq. He's the best tight end in America. He's a matchup nightmare. And so I'm looking forward to seeing this team on the road in a white out in Happy Valley against Penn State. And let's be honest, Mike, we really don't know what Penn State is like. They're supposed to be this giant this year. They got everybody coming back. Drew, Aller, Singleton, Allen, everybody came back this year. I've heard about them, but I haven't seen them. Kind of like Bigfoot. I want to see if the real Penn State is going to show up in a whiteout, in a big game, and if they do, then we can announce Penn State as a national championship contender. If they don't, then a lot of people are going to say, same old Penn State led by James Franklin.
Mike Wilbon
Yep, I got to see some proof. Booger on that one. I was waiting for Illinois to provide some proof last week against Indiana. That fell flat as it could possibly fall. Indiana, they're 15 and two under Kurt Signetti. Booger, is he that good a coach? What do you see from him?
Booger McFarland
You know, it's all about attitude, Mike. If you think about this like usually a team takes the identity of the head coach, the identity and personality. Think about those Alabama teams led by Nick Saban. They were always, they played on in the edge. They were always very detailed, very fundamentally sound. Now look at Kirk Signetti. He's got a little bit of an ego. Remember, he's the same guy that said, if you want to know who I am, guess what, Just Google me, baby. You can find out who I am if you want to know. And that team plays that way. They play with an edge, they play with a confidence, they play with a little bit of brashness. And they got this quarterback, I don't know if you heard of him. His name is Fernando Mendoza and he's playing the position at a high level. They could have hung 70 on poor old Illinois and Brett Bielema had no idea where they were coming from. They're well coached, they're on the fundamentals. But I think the most important thing, because they have talent, the most important thing is they got swagger. And they get that from their head coach because when they walk on the field, they think they're the best team on the field. And you can only get there from the head coach. And Kirk Senetti has got that swag. And if you don't know it, just Google it.
Tony Kornheiser
Yeah, book. I'll tell you this. Wilbourne and I had this discussion after that game and I said to him, did this guy run it up? Because 63 points in a conference game and attitude. Yeah, big attitude. Let's get you out of here on this. Let's go to the SEC, which is your conference. Do you expect 17th ranked Alabama to present real problems for number five, Georgia?
Booger McFarland
I do. I completely do. And I know people are going to say, well, what about what happened against Florida State for Alabama? Alabama has bounced back, they've beaten Wisconsin. And I think it was a little bit of early season let down by Maybe they didn't take FSU seriously. Maybe FSU is better than we thought. But I think the reason they're going to pose problems for Georgia is this. It's not that they are more talented. I think both teams are going to be equally, equally as talented. But think about this, guys. Kirby Smart is 1 in 6, if I'm not mistaken, against Alabama, and that's 1 and O against Caleb DeBoer. Kaylin DeBoer has beaten him one time last year. And I think it has to do with, you know, we always talk about styles, make fights. When Kirby went to Georgia, he tried to make Georgia like Alabama. And so I think every time these two teams face each other, Alabama simply says this. They want to be like us.
Mike Wilbon
We are us.
Booger McFarland
And so I think this game comes down to the six inches between their ears. Alabama realizes they are trying to mimic what we do. And in an old phrase like, we started this gangster stuff, if you want to be like us, you got to come take this. And I just think Georgia has struggled, especially in these games where they've been tight, where they've been favored. I think Alabama has the edge mentally. So to answer your question, Tony, I think this is going to be a close game. It's at Georgia. It's between the hedges. And don't be surprised. That same Alabama team that we saw get blown out in Tallahassee. Don't be surprised if they go into Athens and get a victory.
Tony Kornheiser
Ooh, ooh. I got to say, I would be surprised. That's just me. A booger, as always.
Mike Wilbon
Good booger.
Tony Kornheiser
Thank you so much. Thank you, man.
Mike Wilbon
Appreciate you.
Booger McFarland
Appreciate it, guys. Go usa.
Tony Kornheiser
Let's take one last break. But still to come, the Dodgers may have found a solution to their bullpen issues.
Mike Wilbon
And who has the edge in tonight's game between the two in one Seahawks and the two in one Cardinals? I think that's the Seahawks I want the edge to.
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Tony Kornheiser
Happy 92nd birthday Eubie Brown. We love you. Everybody loves UB. UB retired from broadcasting basketball games this last February. His last game was the 76ers at Milwaukee. Milwaukee is special to UB because it was the Bucs who gave him his first professional coaching position as an assistant in 1970. Before that, UB coached in high school and in college as an assistant at William and Mary and Duke. In the late 60s, Eubie was head coach at the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA where he won a title. He coached the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies and he went on television to tell us about the Young man with a drop step and enthrall us with his love for and knowledge of the game.
Mike Wilbon
Tony, is there a better person to sit at a hotel lobby with with after a basketball game ever than Hubie Brown?
Tony Kornheiser
No.
Mike Wilbon
Best ever.
Tony Kornheiser
Best. Happy anniversary. Al Kaline. This is posthumous but on this day 70 years ago, the Tigers 20 year old phenom outfielder became the youngest batting champ ever when he ended the season with a.340 batting average to win the American League batting title. He was the first 20 year old major league player to win the batting title. So since Ty Cobb did it in 1907. Kaline was an 18 time All Star, a 10 time Gold Glove winner, a World Series champ in 1968 and a first ballot hall of Famer after 22 seasons, all with Detroit. The youngest player ever to win the National League batting title is Juan Soto who did it at 21 with the Nationals. The line of truly great Tigers hitters starts with Cobb and goes through Hank Greenberg to kaline to Miguel Co Cabrera.
Mike Wilbon
With apologies to LOL and McLean, tramel and Whitaker. I think the Mount Rushmore of tigers Tony is Cobb, Kaline, Greenberg and Cabrera. You mentioned them. I think that's the list that's a long. That covers a lot of years. Doesn't does those four guys.
Tony Kornheiser
Happy trails to the rotation for Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers got a bullpen boost from two starters left last night. Sasaki came off the injured list to pitch a scoreless seventh against the Diamondback, striking out two and Kershaw worked a clean ninth as the Dodgers won 11. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was particularly impressed with Sasaki who struggled before going out in May saying quote, he looks like a different person. There's just a lot more confidence and conviction. Entering last night, the Dodgers bullpen at a September era of.569.
Mike Wilbon
You didn't need some help, Tony. I was watching that game live and to see Kershaw come in that way, it was weird. It was straight, whoa, what's going on here?
Tony Kornheiser
That's the right if you want to be in the World Series, that's the change you have to make.
Mike Wilbon
The Dodgers, it looks like one error.
Tony Kornheiser
The Yankees only have one more win than the Mariners, not three. That's my bad. Let's go to the big finish.
Mike Wilbon
Let's go.
Tony Kornheiser
Phillies hit eight home runs last night. Are you impressed?
Mike Wilbon
Yes. Particularly with my man schwarber who hit two of them. 56. Unbelievable. Tony. Six scoreless innings in his final start of the season for Mr. Skeens, you giving him the side? I am.
Tony Kornheiser
It's a 197 ERA. He pitches for a terrible team. That gives him no support. Yes, I am giving him the side. Jets quarterback Justin Fields practiced today but is still in concussion protocol. Your thoughts?
Mike Wilbon
I hope he's cleared and able to play. Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox beat your boy Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays last night. Was that significant?
Tony Kornheiser
Crochet's really good. Okay, I love Max Scherzer, but Crochet's really good. All right, last one. Seahawks at your Cardinals tonight. Who you got?
Mike Wilbon
If I was betting, I would go with Seattle, but I'm not. And I'm rooting for the Cardinals to go three one. That division. Division. That division's pretty darn good, Tony. AFC west, indeed.
Tony Kornheiser
We're out of time. We will try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Kornheiser.
Mike Wilbon
And I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.
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Date: September 25, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Guest: Booger McFarland (ESPN NFL & college football analyst)
This episode centers on Cal Raleigh’s stunning achievement of hitting 60 home runs as a catcher—a historic milestone in Major League Baseball. Tony and Mike examine the unprecedented nature of Raleigh's season, discuss Aaron Judge’s race for the MVP, analyze dramatic shifts in the AL Central, preview the Ryder Cup, and bring on Booger McFarland to break down the most compelling stories in college football.
[13:12–19:17]
On Raleigh’s uniqueness:
“He surpassed… Bear and Campanella and Bench and those the names that come to my mind as somebody who’s followed baseball all my life.” (Mike Wilbon, 02:08)
On the toll of catching:
“The physical wear and tear, the grueling day after day… so you think when it comes to September, there’s not enough left for any offense. Raleigh now has 10 home runs in September.” (Tony Kornheiser, 03:00)
On historic home run record-breaking:
“He didn’t break the record. He jumped like Bob Beeman on this record.” (Tony Kornheiser, 03:25)
On the Tigers’ collapse:
“This is a biblical collapse. This is the 1964 Phillies.” (Tony Kornheiser, 06:34)
On college football upsets:
On Bama-Georgia rivalry:
PTI sticks to its classic rapid-fire, witty, yet thoughtful tone, with Tony and Mike offering sharp, knowledgeable takes underscored by a deep understanding of history and trends in sports. The camaraderie and banter keep the pace lively, while the inclusion of Booger McFarland injects expert football analysis in an accessible, conversational manner.
This episode is essential for anyone interested in the gravity of Cal Raleigh’s historic season, the nuances shaping the baseball playoff races, key college football storylines, and Ryder Cup dynamics. Through sharp analysis and pointed humor, Tony and Mike—with an assist from Booger—make the case for why these sports moments matter and set the stage for a thrilling weekend ahead.