Podcast Summary: PTI Episode - "Jacob DeGrom Dominates Again"

Release Date: June 26, 2025
Hosts: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon
Description: Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon face off in the nation's capital on the day's hottest topics.

1. NBA Draft First Round Highlights

Tony Kornheiser opens the discussion by recapping the excitement from the recent NBA Draft:

• Top Picks and Chicago’s Success: Tony highlights the impressive performance of the Brooklyn Nets, who retained all five of their first-round picks, allowing them to draft promising players. He specifically praises the recruiting prowess of Duke's coach Jon Scheyer, remarking, “…the greatest recruiter in the history of basketball because he just had three freshmen go in the top 10” (03:12).

• Notable Draftees: The conversation delves into specific players, including Cooper Flagg, Mason Newell, Derrick Queen, and Liam McNeely from Montverde High School, referred to as "the Harvard Westlake of basketball" (04:31). Tony quips about fashion aspects during the draft, noting, “The pants on his suit did not reach his shoes… they looked like long shorts” when discussing Tre Johnson’s attire (03:51).

Michael Wilbon shares his emotional takeaway, emphasizing the inspiring story of Malawatch from Duke:

• Emotional Impact: Mike expresses admiration for Malawatch, describing his background and emotional reaction upon being drafted. He states, “…he talked about coming from nothing and where he came from. And I was just overwhelmed by his emotion and being drafted and fulfilling this dream” (01:44).

2. Baseball Spotlight: Jacob Mizaroski vs. Jacob DeGrom

The hosts transition to baseball, comparing performances of two pitchers named Jacob.

• Jacob Mizaroski’s Performance: Tony breaks down Mizaroski's impressive debut with the Brewers, highlighting his eight strikeouts over five shutout innings and a high number of pitches reaching 100 mph:

  “Mizarowski went five innings, he gave up no runs… he hit 100 miles an hour much more often than Skeens did” (05:13).

• Jacob DeGrom’s No-Hitter: Mike counters by analyzing DeGrom’s dominant outing for the Rangers, where he maintained a no-hitter into the eighth inning with seven strikeouts over seven innings:

  “…he has two Tommy Johns, and in his comeback year, he's 8 and 2 with a 208 ERA” (06:11).

• Comparative Analysis: The debate centers on who had the more notable performance, with Mike favoring DeGrom’s experience and longer outing, while Tony emphasizes Mizaroski’s raw speed and potential (06:48; 07:25).

3. Tennis Innovation: Mixed Doubles at the U.S. Open

Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discuss significant changes to the mixed doubles event at the U.S. Open:

• New Format and Prize Money: Tony outlines the modifications:

  “They will bump up the prize money to a million dollars and they will shorten the sets” (07:04).

• Star Participation: The revamped format attracts top stars like Carlos Alcaraz partnering with Emma Raducano and Naomi Osaka teaming up with Nick Kyrgios:

  “Carlos Alcaraz will play with Emma Raducano… Naomi Osaka… will play with Nick Kyrgios” (07:04).

• Benefits and Criticisms: Mike empathizes with traditional doubles players' concerns but supports the new direction for its entertainment value and broader appeal:

  “I love what they've done… it's star-driven, which means I know you'll pay attention” (08:12).

• Tony’s Perspective: Emphasizing entertainment, Tony argues that integrating mixed doubles into high-profile venues with increased visibility will benefit the sport:

  “Sports is a television show. Sports is entertainment… I think everyone benefits from this” (09:09).

4. MLB Insights: Mets, Braves, and Astros

Jeff Passan joins the discussion to provide expert analysis on Major League Baseball teams.

• New York Mets: Jeff remains optimistic about the Mets' potential despite recent losses, crediting Juan Soto's improved performance:

  “...his OPS is up almost .900 at this point, and all those frustrations of the first six, seven weeks of the season seem to have melted away” (12:49).

• Atlanta Braves: Jeff praises Ronald Acuna Jr.'s stellar play but notes concerns about pitching depth with Chris Sale injured:

  “Acuna has looked like one of the best players on earth… but Chris Sale being out with broken ribs” (14:37).

• Kyle Tucker and the Cubs: The conversation shifts to Kyle Tucker's future with the Cubs, emphasizing his critical role and the necessity for the team’s management to act:

  “...Tom Ricketts is going to have to step up, put his money where his mouth is” (15:04).

• Houston Astros Dominance: Jeff attributes the Astros’ continued success to their robust player development and strong pitching lineup:

  “Because they're inevitable… Hunter Brown has emerged as a Cy Young candidate” (16:48).

5. Unique Stories and Player Anecdotes

Jacob Wilson’s Fortnite Strategy:

Jeff shares an intriguing story about rookie Jacob Wilson, who attributes his baseball success to playing Fortnite:

“Jacob Wilson believes that he is as good of a baseball player as he is because he plays Fortnite… when you are playing Fortnite, it is a game with fast decision making” (17:37).

Personal Reflections on Michael Vick and Nikola Jokic:

• Michael Vick’s Coaching Career: Tony commemorates Michael Vick's 45th birthday, highlighting his journey from a stellar quarterback to a coaching role at Norfolk State University:

  “Vick was always publicly apologetic for what he had done, but his career arc had changed” (20:12).

• Nikola Jokic’s Rise: The discussion acknowledges Jokic’s remarkable transformation from a relatively unknown Serbian center to the NBA’s best player:

  “Jokic routinely gets triple doubles in the NBA… he's the best player” (21:21).

6. Miscellaneous Sports Updates

• Colorado Rockies’ Struggles: Tony and Mike lament the Rockies' recent performance, citing a crucial dropped pop-up and a subsequent heavy loss (21:38; 21:38).

• Knicks and Pelicans Coaching Talks: The hosts briefly touch upon the Knicks' interest in Pelicans assistant James Borrego and debate his suitability (22:26).

• NFL Updates: The suspension of Ravens' kicker Justin Tucker sparks brief commentary, with Mike expressing disapproval and Tony noting the team's strategic moves (22:26; 22:45).

• NHLM Season Expansion: The potential expansion of the NHL season from 82 to 84 games is debated, with Mike expressing reservations unless it involves additional rivalry games (23:05; 23:16).

Notable Quotes:

• Mike Wilbon on Malawatch’s Emotional Draft Experience:

  “He talked about coming from nothing and where he came from. And I was just overwhelmed by his emotion and being drafted and fulfilling this dream.” (01:44)

• Tony Kornheiser on Mixed Doubles Transformation:

  “Sports is a television show. Sports is entertainment… I think everyone benefits from this.” (09:09)

• Jeff Passan on Kyle Tucker’s Importance:

  “Kyle Tucker sets a specific type of standard for the at bat that a Chicago Cub should take.” (15:04)

• Jacob Wilson’s Fortnite Strategy:

  “When you are playing Fortnite, it is a game with fast decision making… it sounds a lot like trying to hit a baseball.” (17:37)

Conclusion

In this episode of PTI, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon, joined by Jeff Passan, traverse a broad spectrum of sports topics. From the emotional highs of the NBA Draft and evolving baseball performances to innovative changes in tennis and insightful MLB analyses, the discussion offers a comprehensive overview of current sports narratives. Notably, the episode underscores the intersection of traditional sports with modern influences, such as gaming, and highlights the continuous evolution within professional leagues.