TDS Time Machine | Baseball

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Daily Show: Ears Edition Episode: TDS Time Machine | Baseball
Release Date: March 29, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and Paramount Podcasts

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Overview

In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, Jon Stewart and the News Team delve deep into the tumultuous world of baseball, focusing primarily on the New York Mets' recent managerial changes and exploring historical perspectives from baseball legend Mookie Wilson. The episode interweaves sharp political commentary with heartfelt reflections on sportsmanship, team dynamics, and the pervasive issue of racism within sports management.

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Section 1: The New York Mets' Management Crisis

Key Discussions:

• Willie Randolph's Firing: The episode opens with an in-depth analysis of the controversial firing of Willie Randolph, the New York Mets' manager. The discussion highlights the abruptness and perceived lack of respect shown by the Mets' management in terminating Randolph's contract at 3:00 AM after a trip to Los Angeles.

• Media's Role: Critique of the New York Post's sensationalist coverage, suggesting that the media exacerbates the situation by portraying management's decisions as classless and impersonal.

• Fan and Player Reactions: Exploration of how fans and players perceive the management's actions, emphasizing a growing disconnect between the team's leadership and its core supporters.

Notable Quotes:

• Jon Stewart: "You don't get when you get a call at 3:00 in the morning. That's for sex. That's not for being fired. He did not deserve that. It is classless." ([02:15])

• Jon Stewart: "Barack Obama says he's sworn allegiance to Tampa Bay. Then why does he pal around with this fanatic from Philadelphia? Barack Obama? Wrong on baseball. Wrong for America." ([07:23])

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Section 2: Structural Issues in Baseball Management

Key Discussions:

• Owner-Player Relationships: An examination of the inherently paternalistic relationship between team owners and players, questioning whether recent events signal a turning point in this dynamic.

• Racial Dynamics: Comparison of the Mets' situation with Donald Sterling's infamous racism scandal, highlighting the ongoing struggles that minority players face within predominantly white management structures.

• Economic Pressures: Analysis of the financial strains on Major League Baseball, touching upon salary disparities and the economic impact of managerial decisions on the broader baseball ecosystem.

Notable Quotes:

• Jon Stewart: "Until you change the attitudes of people, you're going to have this kind of idiocy." ([18:12])

• Jon Stewart: "I'm ready to fly off the handle, just walk away from the game. And you brought me back." ([19:08])

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Section 3: Interview with Mookie Wilson – Reflections on the 1986 Mets

Guest: Mookie Wilson, New York Mets Legend and Author of Life Baseball and the 86 Mets

Key Discussions:

• Championship Chemistry: Wilson reminisces about the 1986 Mets' World Series win, attributing their success to the unique chemistry and maturity he brought to a team filled with larger-than-life personalities like Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry.

• Team Dynamics: Contrasts his role as the "beacon of maturity" with other team members, emphasizing the importance of balance between individuality and unity in achieving team success.

• Racism in Sports: Wilson addresses the broader issue of racism in sports management, drawing parallels between historical figures like Donald Sterling and the systemic challenges faced by minority players today.

• Maintaining Professionalism Amidst Distractions: Insights into how athletes can remain focused and perform under intense media scrutiny and internal team pressures.

Notable Quotes:

• Mookie Wilson: "I think it's a group of individuals that weren't afraid to be themselves. And I think you need more of that in sports." ([16:12])

• Mookie Wilson: "Athletes deal with pressure every day. Every day to go out on the field. It's all about what you do that day." ([19:35])

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Section 4: The Future of Baseball and Player Empowerment

Key Discussions:

• Labor Disputes and Cancellations: An update on the unprecedented cancellation of MLB games due to labor disputes, marking the first such occurrence in over 25 years. The discussion underscores the financial and emotional toll on all stakeholders within the sport.

• Player Salaries and Economic Equity: Debate over the MLB's salary structures, highlighting the disparity between the league's revenues and the players' earnings, and questioning the sustainability of current economic models in baseball.

• Cultural Shifts in Sports Fandom: Exploration of how changing societal values and increasing awareness of social justice issues are influencing fan expectations and the overall culture within baseball.

Notable Quotes:

• Jon Stewart: "You can't afford it. Just beating the balls out there, you know. You know who we should be celebrating? We should be celebrating the batters who missed the ball completely." ([31:00])

• Jon Stewart: "Hall of Fame, bro." ([32:38])

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Concluding Thoughts

The episode serves as a comprehensive exploration of the complexities within modern baseball, blending current events with historical insights. By featuring Mookie Wilson's firsthand experiences and seamlessly integrating sharp political satire, The Daily Show: Ears Edition offers listeners a nuanced perspective on the intersection of sports, management, and societal issues. The discussions prompt listeners to reflect on the evolving dynamics of professional sports and the imperative for cultural and structural reforms.

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Notes:

• Advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content sections were excluded from this summary to focus solely on the episode's substantive discussions and interviews.

• All timestamps correspond to the moments within the provided transcript where the quotes were made.

Transcript

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[Parent]

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[Parent]

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Yep.

[Parent]

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[Teen]

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[Parent]

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[Reshawn McDonald]

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[Comedy Central Host]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Parent]

I don't know what you did this weekend. I hope you had a nice time. What did I do this weekend? I went out, took the kids out to the park for a little bit and had a nice dinner with my wife. We had a lovely time. And then on Sunday, I had my. Oh, is it my heart taken out of my chest and. And then, and then. And then eaten in front of me. My. My beloved New York met after I went through the trouble all day Saturday of teaching a three year old the meet the Mets song. Meet, Meet the Mets. Is that good, daddy? Is it good? Love me. I want the third stanza done. With heart, boy.

[LifeLock Representative]

With heart.

[Parent]

The Mets lost in a historic collapse. I don't know if you saw this picture on the COVID of the Post. It turns out. Yeah, it turns out the New York Post cameras can take a picture of my soul. But it's not over yet. Apparently everybody thinks it's over, but if we can just get the earth to reverse rotation, this thing can be played again. So there you go, New York Mets. Mother. First, before we get into anything, I have a question for you. You ever been fired? I've been fired. I've been fired a lot I've been fired. I've been fired from bakeries that I worked at. I've been fired from women's clothing stores. I was once fired by my brother. My brother fired me from a war. But one thing that's never. I was fired by strippogram once. One thing that's never happened to me is that I've been fired at 3:00 in the morning, 3,000 miles away from where I live. Willy Randolph, the New York Mets manager. My beloved Mets. This guy. Okay, the Mets suck. Fine. But they could have fired Willie Randolph at any point over the last year. So what they do is they wait before he takes a trip to Los Angeles. They fly him all the way out to Los Angeles, he wins the game, and then they fire him that night at 3:00 in the morning. You don't get when you get a call at 3:00 in the morning. That's for sex. That's not for being fired. He did not deserve that. It is classless. Here's how bad it is. This is the New York Post. Tiger Woods. They didn't even have time to put Willie Randolph being fired classless. I mean, maybe they flew him out to Los Angeles because they thought, well, we're going to fire him. He should at least get his frequent flyer miles. I don't know. Bastardos. And this is the worst part. We have a tape of the call of him being fired. You cannot believe who they got to fire him. Hey, Willie, it's Mr. Met. Good morning.

[Comedy Central Host]

Oh, and guess what?

[Parent]

You're fired. So pack up your crap, get the.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Out of the clubhouse.

[Parent]

Give you a what?

[Reshawn McDonald]

You want to meet the Mets?

[Parent]

Why don't you meet Mr. Met? I'll meet you in the parking lot, you bum. Or another thing, keep your dirty mitts off of Mrs. Met.

[Reshawn McDonald]

If you.

[Parent]

You son of a bitch. No disrespect, all due respect. Forget about it.

[Comedy Central Host]

How you doing?

[Parent]

Not right. Willie didn't deserve this. World Series is Wednesday night. Tampa Bay Rays facing the Phillies in the World Series. Starting Wednesday night, both these teams. And this is the key part, from crucial swing states. This is going to put the candidates in a bit of a pickle. Tampa Bay, of course, from Florida, and the Philadelphia Phillies are from the festering sore on the end of my taint. I don't think that's right. Who wrote this? Mr. Matt. Damn you. Obviously very upset that the Mets did not get into the World Series. Now, obviously the candidates don't want to anger people by taking sides in this World Series. What would be the best way to navigate these treacherous waters?

[Comedy Central Host]

I am a White Sox fan, but let me say that since the White Sox lost, I'll go ahead and root.

[Parent]

For the Phillies now.

[Comedy Central Host]

So when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays and the Rays showing some love back, you know we're onto something right here.

[Parent]

Et tu, Messiah? The local sports franchise pander. Come on, man, you've got to do better than that. You know something? I smell a Mac attack.

[Daily Show Host]

I think I may have detected a little pattern with Senator Obama. It's pretty simple really.

[Parent]

When he's campaigning in Philadelphia, he roots for the Phillies. Then when he's campaigning in Tampa Bay, he shows love to the Rays. That guy's an ass. No offense there, Senator McCain, but once you said a guy's a terrorist, you call him a fair weather fan. It doesn't really hurt unless you've got an attack ad to go with it.

[LifeLock Representative]

Barack Obama says he's sworn allegiance to Tampa Bay. Then why does he pal around with this fanatic from Philadelphia? Barack Obama? Wrong on baseball. Wrong for America.

[Daily Show Host]

Nailed it.

[Comedy Central Host]

Nailed it.

[Parent]

You gotta get up pretty early in the morning to sneak a sports flip flop past the McCain Palin team. A good night last night for Florida. How about those Tampa Bay Rays?

[Comedy Central Host]

That was good.

[Al Madrigal]

It tells me that the people in.

[Parent]

This area know a little something about turning an underdog into a victor. Philly fans, you do know all about turning an underdog into a victor. Red Sox fans know how to turn.

[Al Madrigal]

An underdog into a victor.

[Parent]

Three team pander. She's done it. The Triple. The Triple Crown. Been over one year since Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1070, a controversial anti immigration bill that some call tantamount to racial profiling into law with some unintended consequences.

[LifeLock Representative]

Baseball, nearly 30% Hispanic, is a flashpoint for protest. Baseball's All Star Game scheduled for Phoenix next summer, may hang in the balance.

[Parent]

That's the only way in this country that we decide who gets home field advantage in the World Series. Unless someone you know flips a quarter. Anyway, for more on the impact of SB 1070 on the all Star Game, we go to Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona with senior Latino correspondent Al Madrigal. Al.

[Al Madrigal]

What a night for baseball, John. History in the making. Little hot that it's 127 degrees in Arizona or I got a case of baseball fever.

[Parent]

Hal, you're supposed to be covering the protests about the law in Arizona, not enjoying the game. I thought the Latino community was furious about this.

[Al Madrigal]

Oh, yes, right. Very Furious. Muy furioso.

[Parent]

Al. So, are there protests? Are you covering the protests?

[Al Madrigal]

Sure.

[Parent]

Yes.

[Al Madrigal]

It's. Aw, come on, John. It's baseball, man. I mean, I'd protest if it was any other sport, but we love baseball. It's the only sport a Latino can dream of playing in America. We're too short for basketball, we're too small for football, too smart to strap on a pair of ice skates and let a Canadian beat the out of us. Besides, dog whispering, baseball is. Baseball is all Latinos have left.

[Parent]

So Latinos love baseball and dog whispering so much, they'll look past any injustice done to them.

[Al Madrigal]

Are you familiar with the Battle of Chavez ravine? During the 1950s, 3,800 Mexican immigrants were literally whipped from their homes in Los Angeles so the newly relocated Dodgers could have a stadium. And guess what they call those people today. Season ticket holders.

[Parent]

That is incredible.

[Al Madrigal]

Hold on a second.

[Parent]

Hey, beer. So Adrian Gonzalez is doing well and he doesn't want to miss the game, is that it? What's your excuse?

[Al Madrigal]

I don't even know what you're talking about, man.

[Parent]

I'm talking about how you called a vendor for a beer and then. And then just apparently took it from some guy that was standing over there anyway.

[Al Madrigal]

I didn't realize. I'm sorry, John. I didn't realize this guy was right here.

[Parent]

Last year, Al. You were last year. Last year. Wait, this is really important. Last year, you were really angry about this issue. Roll the tape.

[Al Madrigal]

And that's why my madrigal mystery bore of 2010 is Sex of the City 2. If I may, John, just a quick personal message for Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Arizona's law is racist, and having the All Star Game there is total bull.

[Parent]

Thanks, John. All right, thank you, Al. How do you explain that, Al? I don't know.

[Al Madrigal]

I like the first Sex and the City. I just thought the sequel is unnecessary. Why mess with perfection?

[Parent]

So, Al, there's gonna be zero acknowledgement of SB 1070 at tonight's all Star Game?

[Al Madrigal]

I wouldn't say players are showing solidarity in their own subtle ways. Beneath each eye, many have decided to wear thick black marks, symbolizing the dark turn in Arizona's politics.

[Parent]

Al, baseball players always do that.

[Al Madrigal]

Ah, but they're also going to grab their balls and spit.

[Parent]

I believe they do that as well.

[Al Madrigal]

No, but this time they're gonna mean it. Look, you can't keep Latinos from playing baseball. Just like the ghost from the cornfield in that movie with Kevin Costner said, if you build it they will come. And by they, I mean hordes of Latinos.

[Parent]

Thank you, Al. Al Madriville, everybody. We'll be right back.

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[Parent]

Welcome back to my guest tonight, a New York Mets legend. His new book is called Life baseball and the 86 Mets. Please welcome to the program Mookie Wilson. An honor to see you here.

[Reshawn McDonald]

All right, great.

[Parent]

Thank you for being here.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Thanks for having me.

[Parent]

This is really the. The last time in many years that I can actually say that to a New York man.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Been rough times, huh?

[Parent]

It's been some rough times. This really was. You know, you write about 86. Yeah. There is something truly indelible about a championship season that makes it worthy of remembrance. What was it about the 86 team when you guys won the World Series, besides the dramatic fashion you wanted it?

[Reshawn McDonald]

I think it's the characters. I think that we're a group of individuals that weren't afraid to be themselves. And I think you need more of that in sports, actually. More of that, yes.

[Parent]

But you were. You know, the 86 team had Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Keith Hernandez.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Yes.

[Parent]

Gary Carter. But you were a beacon of maturity in that.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Ooh, that's good.

[Parent]

Don't you think? You were the one guy everybody loved and nobody ever worried about. You always thought Keith Hernandez, at some point, six in the morning, somebody's gonna be like, where's Keith? Mookie Wilson never had that issue.

[Reshawn McDonald]

No, I think the team. We had this group over here that was really outgoing. A lot of people called them the scumbunch, you know. Then we had this other group over here that was really, you know, Gary Carter's, you know, Ron Darlings. Guys like that didn't have those guys in the middle, you know, like myself and Raphael Santana, that kind of, you.

[Parent]

Know, kept it all together and that chemistry.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Yes.

[Parent]

And it brings up an interest. So everybody is talking about this Donald Sterling, this relationship between a racist owner. Sports really is an unusually, almost paternal situation with the owner. They can ship you out to another city. Do the players feel that relationship?

[Reshawn McDonald]

I think it's always. It's going to be that weird relationship between players, you know, and management, knowing that management does have the last word. Sometimes it doesn't matter how well you play. It's all about relationship between the player and ownership. Now, this basketball situation is really, really different. We got a lot of racist remarks. And here he owns a team that's over 80% black.

[Parent]

Right.

[Reshawn McDonald]

That's kind of weird.

[Parent]

That is. That is kind of weird. That's weird. But it's always. You find in these leagues, the owner is typically white.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Yes.

[Parent]

The athletes, typically African American. The athletes who are African American had to fight to be allowed to play.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Yeah.

[Parent]

And even now, still have to fight for rights. This idea that, okay, you know, you're allowed to leave after seven years, but you have to put in this amount of time. Do you think this is could be a turning point in that relationship?

[Reshawn McDonald]

I don't think so. I think that sports has survived. I mean, over the years, as much as we've tried to mess baseball up, we haven't with strikes and all that, the game will survive. I think you can make all the rules you want to, but until you change the attitudes of people, you're going to have this kind of idiocy.

[Parent]

Right, right.

[Reshawn McDonald]

No matter what you do, it's just going to happen.

[Parent]

As a player, how do you handle that? You know, these guys are in the midst of a playoff run.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Yeah.

[Parent]

Now, you played in New York. There was a tremendous amount of distraction, a tremendous amount of media. They're the same in Los Angeles. Is it even possible for an athlete at that high level to still compete with this type of emotion under the surface?

[Reshawn McDonald]

Well, first and foremost is that, you know, athletes deal with pressure every day. Every day to go out on the field. It's all about what you do that day. And this is no different. They're not playing for the owner, they're playing for their own self respect. And you know, I've heard things about, well, should the ball, the team boycott, you know, and not play. That serves no real purpose. I mean, it would defeat the purpose of you being there playing basketball at the NBA level, that's a great, great honor. And to let some idiot, you know, not let you fulfill the potential that your team has, I think you'd be doing yourself a disservice in the league itself.

[Parent]

Do you see what I mean about you having the maturity? Look at me. I'm ready to fly off the handle, just walk away from the game. And you brought me back.

[Reshawn McDonald]

You know, it's all.

[Parent]

Here's what I think should happen.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Yes. Okay.

[Parent]

The Clippers rally around this. They play unbelievable basketball. For the next month. They win the NBA championship. And in the locker room, in the jubilation, the trophy is handed to them. Donald Sterling is right there. And they get the tallest guy. Let's go with Blake Griffith. He's about 611 and he just holds the trophy up like this. And Donald Sterling just has the. Can't get it. And done. They don't let him have it. Do you still. Are you still able to get together with some of the fellas and reminisce about it? You know, tragically, Gary Carter of college passed away. Great character, guy. Are you able to get together and still sort of Revert back to form from the 80s and have a great time together.

[Reshawn McDonald]

No, we don't want to go back.

[Parent]

No, I know.

[Reshawn McDonald]

Okay, we don't want that. But we do get together, and when we do his one big reunion, and we talk a lot and we lie a little bit, too, you know, that's.

[Parent]

What reminiscing is all about. And who would have thought that that would be the last championship the Mets ever won? Well, it's an absolute pleasure to see you and to have you here on the show. Get yourself Mookie, one of the. One of the greats. Mookie Wilson, ladies and gentlemen.

[Daily Show Host]

But first, let's start with something we don't get to say often enough. Some good news out of Chicago.

[Comedy Central Host]

The longest drought in the history of American sports is over. The curse is dead.

[Parent]

Chicago erupting overnight. Thousands celebrating in the streets. The Cubs win the World Series.

[Daily Show Host]

Oh, yes. Yes. You know, before last night, I had almost forgotten what joy looks like. Everybody in America has been so tense and grim. Even Halloween this year, people were walking around like, well, zombies. I do feel bad for the Indians, though. Defeated on their own land again. Although. Although, most Native Americans are probably okay that this guy lost. This needs to change, people. This needs to change. One thing I really loved last night was seeing all the news and the pictures of Cubs fans celebrating. They were so happy. He was so relieved. You know, they were. They were so.

[Parent]

Look.

[Daily Show Host]

I mean, like, look at this guy. Wait, can you zoom? Is that. Is that Roy Wood Jr. You're damn right.

[Parent]

Oh, it's Roy Wood.

[Daily Show Host]

Oh, It's Roy Wood, Jr. Everybody.

[Comedy Central Host]

The damn right it is. Our number one Cubs fan, fresh from Cleveland.

[Daily Show Host]

Man, I can't believe it. Roy was actually at the Gay. I can't believe you came to work. I can't believe you're still wearing the same robe. This is amazing. Roy, you are back in New York. Roy, you can. You can put the sign down, man.

[Comedy Central Host]

Mm, mm, mm, mm. You sound just like United Airlines Captain Gon. Tell me I need to sit down and put the sign away. Not tonight. Fly the plane, Sully.

[Daily Show Host]

Okay, Roy, can we just talk about the game real quick? Mate, you must, like, for real. You must have had an emotional night.

[Comedy Central Host]

I mean, you know, dude, it was grown ass men brought to tears. You gotta remember, dude, Cubs fans, like, this wasn't just for them. This was for the generations, three generations of ancestors who never lived to see the Cubs win the series.

[Daily Show Host]

So then, if it was for generations, who were you there for?

[Comedy Central Host]

I was there for myself. I'M the only Cubs fan in my family.

[Daily Show Host]

Yeah, actually, no. But actually, now that you bring that up, you're from Alabama. So how did you become a Cubs fan?

[Comedy Central Host]

Cause it came on TV. Look, in Alabama, look, in the 80s, only two baseball teams came on TV. The Cubs and the Braves. And I couldn't watch the Braves. Cause they came on at night and my daddy wanted to watch Airwolf. What you know about Airwolf?

[Daily Show Host]

I actually loved Airwolf. By the way, I hate to bring this up, but what is that smell?

[Comedy Central Host]

Oh, man, it's the lucky robe. I ain't washed it in a year. I was riding all over the game, man. I had it on last night. Fellowshipping with complete plus when that storm hit. This the best part, man. That rainstorm started coming around the ninth inning. This robe sucked up all the water and I brought it back as a souvenir. Look at this right here, man. That is authentic game seven precipitation. Oh, yeah, man, I'm ringing this out. I'm gonna sell this for a grand an ounce on ebay. Man, this is concert concentrated. Victory, boy. Go and hit you some of that. Hit that.

[Daily Show Host]

No, I'm good, Roy. I'm good.

[Comedy Central Host]

All right. Your loss, man.

[Daily Show Host]

All right. Congratulations, Roy Roywood Jr. Everybody. Roy with Jr. These fans.

[Narrator]

Introducing Instagram teen accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt on.

[Parent]

All right, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job.

[Narrator]

Or ring the bell on their bike.

[Parent]

Okay, kid, give it a try. Nice.

[Narrator]

Or remember their elbow pads.

[Parent]

Knees too. Okay.

[Teen]

Yep.

[Parent]

There you go.

[Narrator]

New Instagram teen accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the content they can see.

[Teen]

Big shout out to you for making it through the hectic holiday season this new year. Get clean quality pregnancy nutrient support off your to do list, including Ritual's best selling essential prenatal multivitamin. Designed with 12 traceable key ingredients to support a healthy pregnancy. With big change changes coming up, take the small steps now and start today with 30% off a three month [e-mail] podcast. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. GEICO makes it easy to get affordable renters insurance in as little as 90 seconds. That way you have more energy for harder things like the laundry. Why is it so difficult to fold clothes? They just end up wrinkly anyway. Or on the floor in a pile that just sits there taunting you. But with renters insurance through Geico at Least you know that those clothes and the other things you love are covered. Get more with Geico.

[Daily Show Host]

The sun is out, and summer sports are in full swing, which means it's time for another edition of I apologize for talking while you were talking.

[Parent]

Yeah.

[Comedy Central Host]

Welcome back, sports fans. I'm Roy Wood Jr. My usual partner, Michael Costa, is out this week, but it's all good because I got my man Ronny Chang with me, and he is psyched to talk baseball, aren't you?

[Ronny Chang]

I hate baseball.

[Comedy Central Host]

That's the spirit. You know, Ronnie, baseball is America's national pastime.

[Ronny Chang]

Oh, really? I thought it was racism.

[Comedy Central Host]

Well, lucky for you, this week's big story has both.

[Teen]

Early pitcher Josh Hader made his first appearance on the mound for the Milwaukee brewers since Saturday. Since controversial tweets from when he was 17 resurfaced during the All Star Game last week. After giving an emotional apology for those racially charged and homophobic social media posts on Friday, Hayter was warmly greeted by the fans at Miller park on Saturday, given a standing ovation when he came in to pitch the top of the seventh inning in a game against the Dodgers.

[Comedy Central Host]

Now, that was a great thing to see, Ronnie. Josh Hader, busted for racist tweets, apologizes, and now the Milwaukee fans are showing forgiveness.

[Ronny Chang]

I don't know, man. It kind of looks like some people are clapping for the racism.

[Comedy Central Host]

Okay, well, we don't know. Let's just be honest. We don't know why they were clapping. Sometimes you just join in on something because everyone else is doing it. Like the Wave or cocaine.

[Parent]

What? No. Ew.

[Ronny Chang]

Who's doing the Wave? I think they're laying him off easy because he can throw a ball really fast.

[Comedy Central Host]

Yeah, that's how sports work. The better you are, the more shit you can get away with. Josh Hader is an All Star, which means he's so good he can bounce back from bad tweets. Ron Artest was so good, they let him punch fans in the face. And Shaq was so good, he got away with Kazaam. Hall of Fame, bro.

[Ronny Chang]

Okay, hall of Fame. Okay, hang on, hang on. So you'd Be okay if LeBron James went around punching babies?

[Comedy Central Host]

Up to three babies, I'd be fine with that. But, hey, let's move on to a lighter story.

[Ronny Chang]

Well, Millennial Night was the talk of.

[Parent]

The town in Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery. You might remember us telling you about some of the backlash this promotion got on social media.

[Teen]

The first 100 fans through the gate received a participation ribbon just for showing up with Superfood. Options such as avocados and selfie stations.

[Parent]

And as it if that wasn't enough.

[Teen]

The biscuits also provided nap pods for sleepy fans.

[Comedy Central Host]

Oh, man. Selfie stations. You gotta admit, Ronnie, this baseball team really stuck it to those millennials.

[Ronny Chang]

No, they didn't. They just accidentally made baseball a thousand times better. Yeah, I get to eat avocados and take a nap. Just take away the game, and it's a perfect afternoon. And also, so that wasn't a real millennial experience. Okay, if it was, the fans would have left the game with $100,000 in student debt.

[Comedy Central Host]

But rest well, millennials. You aren't the only young people having.

[Teen]

Problems at baseball games when it comes to baseball etiquette. One Chicago Cubs fan strikes out. Watch the first base coach throw the ball to a kid in the front row. The little boy drops the ball. It rolls back a row.

[Parent]

Uh oh, that man.

[Teen]

He scoops it up and hands it to the woman next to him. Since there's no crying in baseball, the kid watched as the adult continued to gloat.

[Comedy Central Host]

No, no, pro tip. If you want a ball, you don't steal it from a kid. You go to Walmart and you steal it like a goddamn adult. This story makes me so mad, Ronnie.

[Parent]

Really?

[Ronny Chang]

Because it just proves how boring baseball is. The most interesting thing that happened was a ball that went out of bounds.

[Comedy Central Host]

Ronnie, Ronnie, look, no matter what you think of baseball, we can both agree this guy is an asshole.

[Ronny Chang]

No, that video's totally out of context. Deadspin reported that that guy everyone hates actually gave that same kid a ball earlier.

[Comedy Central Host]

Well, but still, the kid could have had a second ball. Now he's only got one ball. He's walking around like Lance Armstrong. I don't like that guy. Oh, I don't like him, definitely.

[Ronny Chang]

But that guy only took the second ball so he could give it to another kid. So not only is he not an asshole, he's like baseball Jesus. Yeah, he gave gifts to children, and we crucified him for it. All we had to do was wait for the whole story. Isn't sports more fun when you wait five minutes for all the facts to make an informed decision instead of reacting to everything with blind passion?

[Comedy Central Host]

Thank you so much for coming in. My real partner, Michael Kosta, will be back next week.

[Parent]

Thank God. Ronny Chang, Roywood Jr. Everybody. We'll be right back.

[Daily Show Host]

Starting with a major milestone in the world of baseball, the only sport that's somehow better on radio baseball is a game that treats its records with reverence. You know, all of them, From Cal Ripken Jr's more than 2,600 consecutive games played to, from Joe DiMaggio's 56 game hitting streak to Derek Jeter's record of being the only successful guy ever to be named Derek. But no stat is more revered than the home run. And last night, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge smashed his name into the record books.

[Parent]

With the swing of his mighty bat, Yankee superstar Aaron Judge slumped his way into history.

[Comedy Central Host]

Me.

[Teen]

It took until the 161st game of the season, but number 99 has finally etched his name in the record books. Aaron Judge passes the great Roger Maris to break the record for most home runs in a single season by an American League player.

[LifeLock Representative]

Ball was caught by Corey Humans of Dallas, a vice president at Fischer Investments. He said he hasn't decided what, what he's gonna do with the souvenir, which could be worth a couple of million dollars.

[Daily Show Host]

Well, there's a feel good story for you. I'm glad things are finally working out for that executive at an investment firm. That's what the game is all about.

[Ronny Chang]

Good for you, buddy.

[Parent]

Good for you.

[Daily Show Host]

But yeah, huge congratulations to Aaron Judge.

[Parent]

Right.

[Daily Show Host]

With just one game left to go in the season, he broke the American League home run record set by Roger Marist all the way back in 1961. Think about that, 1961, that is a long ass time for a record to stand. I mean, back in 1961, you understand how long ago that was. America didn't have a voting Rights act and abortion was illegal. Very different times. Now to be clear, this is just the American League home run record, right? Not the all time record, but some people think it should be because everyone who's above Aaron Judge on the list was busted for taking performance enhancing drugs. And, and whether you like it or not, this is a complicated issue because every player, whether they took steroids or not, has some advantage over players from other eras. You know, like Babe Ruth. He didn't have access to modern medicine. Yeah, if he pulled a muscle, the team doctor would be like, here, smoke this entire pack of cigarettes. If that doesn't work, I'll prescribe you some asbestos. Go on out there, buddy. You know, if I, if I'm being honest though, I don't know why we celebrate home runs in the first place. Yeah, cause to me all that happened is that you just lost the ball. Yeah, and now we gotta get a new ball. That's like what, $10 with 62 homers? That shit adds up, Aaron. And I don't know if you heard about America's 31 trillion in debt.

[Parent]

We should.

[Daily Show Host]

We shouldn't be handling this shit. We can't afford it. Just beating the balls out there, you know. You know who we should be celebrating? We should be celebrating the batters who missed the ball completely. So we can keep using it. Those people are the real heroes. I'm really fun at parties. Spring is on its way in America and you know what that means. Sunny days, flowers blooming, eating your weight in Claritin. But there's one spring tradition that is unfortunately getting cancelled.

[LifeLock Representative]

For the first time in more than a quarter century, Major League Baseball is canceling games over a labor dispute.

[Parent]

The calendar dictates that we're not going to be able to play the first.

[Comedy Central Host]

Two series of the regular season. And those games are officially canceled.

[LifeLock Representative]

That's 91 games so far. Economics are at the heart of it. Major League Baseball saw revenues go from around 8 billion to nearly 11 billion right before the pandemic. Yet player salaries went down slightly for four straight years. And of the four major American sports, baseball has the lowest minimum salary at around 570,000.

[Daily Show Host]

No, no, don't cancel the baseball games. How else will I get to spend $45 on a hot dog?

[Reshawn McDonald]

That's a little too dry.

[Daily Show Host]

The MLB's canceling games because the players and the league cannot agree on who gets to share the money. Yes. And I'll be honest with you, I was shocked that baseball players minimum pay is less than all the other leagues. Especially considering that this Sport brings in $11 billion. And yes, I know $570,000 is a lot of money. It is a lot of money. But when you think about it from the player's point of view, think about how long a baseball game is. What does that 500,000 break down to? It's like what, $4 an hour? And by the way, please remember this. I know a lot of people go like, I hate the sport. But don't remember that when this happens, a lockout doesn't just affect the players, it affects everyone who works in and around the game. Like the people who work at the stadium, the people who work just outside the stadium. Right. It affects the umpires, the guy selling beer, the security guard who tackles the naked guys who run out onto the field.

[Comedy Central Host]

Yeah.

[Daily Show Host]

In fact, just to pay the bills, Mr. Met has already had to start an OnlyFans account. It's sad.

[Ronny Chang]

Trevor.

[Daily Show Host]

So sexy.

[Comedy Central Host]

Trevor.

[Ronny Chang]

Everyone's being very alarmist about this. All right, dude, this is America. As though they're gonna stop baseball. It's gonna come back. Of course they're gonna find an agreement. Oh, what's the alternative? They're just gonna never play baseball again? Of course it's gonna happen. This is like a. It's like an encore at a Billy Joel concert. You know he's gonna play Piano Man. Just calm the down. Just wait. There's no patience here in America. We love baseball, but we don't like patience. Which is ironic. Cause it's the game you need the most patience for. Cause it's long Explore more shows from.

[Parent]

The Daily Show Podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the.

[Daily Show Host]

Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on.

[Parent]

Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount.

[Teen]

Big shout out to you for making it through the hectic holiday season this new year. Get clean quality pregnancy nutrient support off your to do list, including Ritual's best selling Essential Prenatal multivitamin designed with 12 traceable key ingredients to support a healthy pregnancy. With big changes coming up, take the small steps now and start today with 30% off a three month [e-mail] podcast. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any Geico's motorcycle.

[Parent]

Expertise gives me the coverage I need like 24. Seven claims, I'm on cloud nine.

[LifeLock Representative]

Clouds are wholly unable to support the weight of an adult human.

[Comedy Central Host]

What's happening?

[LifeLock Representative]

Furthermore, clouds are not numbered. Even if you procured a jetpack and searched, you'd find no cloud numbered nine. However, at that altitude, you'd likely befriend a flock of migrating snow geese. Geese who'd encourage you to leave your 24.7geico motorcycle claims insurance behind, as they would take you in and even share their dinner of crickets and clovers with you. Geico assumes no liability for any indigestion that may occur from a clover cricket dinner. Geico expertise for your motorcycle.