The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Hour 1: Happy Thanksgiling Day 2 Pt. 3!
Date: November 28, 2025

Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the regular crew serve up a quintessentially zany hour that blends sports analysis with pop culture riffs, personal anecdotes, and inside jokes. The central themes this hour were Major League Baseball playoffs (with a focus on Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays), evolving sports lingo, Canadian sports pride, and the emotional (and comedic) farewell to long-time producer Billy Gill. The show weaves in fantasy football tips from Matthew Berry and closes with laughter, nostalgia, and some truly heartfelt (and offbeat) tributes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Sports Fashion: Who Takes Longest to Get Dressed on TV?

• Dan launches a lighthearted debate: Who in sports TV spends the longest getting dressed? Cam Newton's flamboyant, multi-layered outfits (vest, bow tie, jacket) are cited, with Barry Melrose as a distant second ("It's nothing near Cam Newton." – Chris Cody, 02:57).
• The crew jokes about Barry Melrose's signature slicked-back hair ("He sticks his hand in any body of water, toilet, sink, whatever..." – Jeremy, 02:58), but quickly pull back out of sensitivity due to Melrose's health.

2. Max Scherzer's Vintage Playoff Domination

• Segment Start: [03:38]

• Dan and Adnan Virk (host of MLB Tonight and Cinephile author) break down Max Scherzer’s improbable, gutsy playoff performance for Toronto, highlighting his age (41), recent struggles, and the psychological moment between Scherzer and manager John Schneider.

  • "He was throwing his fastest fastball in a year and a half...and four of his five strikeouts came on that curveball." – Adnan Virk, 05:05
  • "I was scared. I shouldn't have been out there. I was only there for a couple seconds." – Schneider described postgame, retold by Dan, 04:19

• Key Stats: Scherzer's curveball mastery, 500th start, first win since 2019 World Series, only two runs allowed over 5 2/3, "thrown over 50,000 pitches in baseball," (05:05 – 07:19).

3. The Significance of the Blue Jays in Canadian Sports

• Segment Start: [10:34]
• Adnan discusses the deep resonance of the Blue Jays for Canadian fans. The show dives into:
  • The ongoing centrality of baseball in Canada during playoff time ("They moved the Leafs game at 2pm...so everyone can watch the Blue Jays" – Adnan Virk, 10:57).
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s ascendance and unique talents ("...he punishes this baseball...no one aside from Aaron Judge hits the ball harder than Vladimir Guerrero Jr." – Adnan Virk, 12:31).
  • The discussion on generational fandom, comparing Blue Jays to Raptors' 2019 NBA title and Toronto’s perennial hockey heartbreak ("Canada loses... the Raptors, okay. But the Blue Jays have made Canada feel like a winner." – Dan, 12:57).

4. Billy Gill’s Top Five Farewell List ("Things I Will Not Miss")

• Segment Start: [15:06]
• In classic show fashion, Billy Gill gives a "Top Five (plus 34 OLI)* Things I Won't Miss," with the show riffing through a litany of playful beefs and inside jokes.
  • Examples:
    • "Lamb for lunch three times a week" – OLI #34 (15:45)
    • "Wondering where Stugotz is…" in various formats (#33–31)
    • "Finding out things happening at the company from Awful Announcing" – Top 5, #3, 44:02
    • "Being asked where people is" – Top 5, #1, 44:22
    • "The grid of Dentek punishments" – Top 5, #2
  • *OLI = "Outside Looking In" (classic show bit for runners-up)

5. Changing Baseball and Sports Lingo

• Segment Start: [08:48]
• The crew and Adnan digress on the evolution of sports vernacular—"shoved" (for a dominating pitching outing), "the game got banged" (for a rainout), or "It only takes one (asshole)" (in NBA/wider sports context).

6. The Dodgers’ Playoff Juggernaut and Baseball's Integrity

• Segment Start: [21:02]

• Dan and Adnan dissect whether the Dodgers’ approach—huge TV contract, relentless free agent signings, starting pitching depth—"breaks" baseball or is simply excellence.

  • "I've never seen before. A team built in baseball for the playoffs." – Dan, 22:49
  • "Are not the Dodgers following the same script [as Yankees/Steinbrenner]?" – Adnan, 24:25
  • "What I'm watching that Shohei Ohtani doesn't have to get a hit. It doesn't matter." – Dan, 24:37

• Adnan marvels at Dodgers’ pitching depth, notes the erosion of regular season importance, and the "just get into the playoffs" mentality for contending teams.

7. Fantasy Football with Matthew Berry

• Segment Start: [34:09]

• Berry unloads a fast-paced flurry of fantasy football notes, featuring:

  • "Start Baker [Mayfield]. I don't care who his wide receivers are." – Matthew Berry, 34:30
  • "If I had an MVP vote and you took it today, Baker Mayfield's the MVP of the NFL." – Matthew Berry, 38:07

• Dan reacts incredulously to Berry's claims that Baker doesn’t need receivers while Mahomes (somehow) supposedly does: "But Mahomes has been good...But look, Mahomes is great. He's the goat...But...Baker's been playing better." (38:22–38:36)

8. Joe Mazzulla, Media, and Quirky Coaching

• Segment Start: [31:01]
• Chris Cody and the crew riff on Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s oddball competitive intensity—specifically, having Celtics coaches throttle the media 57–4 in a softball game ("You're not playing the media this year. You're playing the coaches. We're gonna boat race you 57-4." – Chris Cody, 31:55).

9. Farewell Tributes and Show Nostalgia for Billy Gill

• Segment Start: [42:55]
• The hour closes with a blend of sarcasm and sentiment—crew members making light of Billy’s impending absence, frequent references to inside show jokes, Greg Cody’s repeated requests for podcast guest appearances, and heartfelt musical sendoff by Jeremy.
  • "What a triumphant return for Billy Gill. Would anyone like to say anything heartfelt here...or do you just want to talk more about Joe Flacco and Max Scherzer?" – Dan, 44:22
  • "It really is like he died." – Chris Cody, 47:30
  • Touching custom farewell song by Jeremy (46:20–47:30).

Notable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp

• 03:38 (Dan): "He's been terrible for a while. He's 41 years old...he scared his manager and yelled at him...he looked deep into both of Max Scherzer’s different colored eyes and he was haunted."
• 05:05 (Adnan Virk): "He threw 10 curveballs, all for strikes, and four of his five strikeouts came on that very same curveball."
• 10:57 (Adnan Virk): "We did the Leafs Red Wings game, which they moved the game up...so everyone can watch the Blue Jays game..."
• 12:31 (Adnan Virk): "Virtually no one aside from Aaron Judge hits the ball harder than Vladimir Guerrero Jr."
• 15:45 (Billy’s OLI – Jeremy): "34 OLIs. Oli number 34, lamb for lunch three times a week."
• 21:44 (Adnan Virk): "If I don't have a dog in the race, I want as much baseball as possible."
• 22:56 (Dan): "I've never seen before. A team built in baseball for the playoffs is not something I have seen before."
• 34:30 (Matthew Berry): "Start Baker [Mayfield]. I don't care who his wide receivers are..."
• 38:07 (Matthew Berry): "If I had an MVP vote and you took it today, Baker Mayfield's the MVP of the NFL."
• 44:22 (Billy’s Top Five, #1 – Jeremy): "The number one thing I will not miss from the show, being asked where people is."
• 46:20–47:30 (Jeremy – Farewell Song): "You became the dude as you vaulted higher...it's hard to say goodbye. An onion won't be the thing to make us cry."

Additional Noteworthy Segments

• The Baseball Lexicon Digression (08:48–10:06): The crew mulls over words like "shoved" and "banged", and compares the shorthand and inside language in other sports.

• Show’s Meta Commentary: Wry asides about the show’s dynamics—frequently asking "where is Stugotz?", frustration with company communications appearing first on media blogs, and the absurd length management of farewell bits.

• Mazzulla the Quirky Coach (31:01): Chris Cody’s offbeat praise for the Celtics coach’s style; the panel underscores how quirky coaching is only celebrated as long as a team is winning.

Overall Tone & Style

• The tone is a quintessential blend of dry, self-aware snark; insider references; genuine sports insight (with stats, analytics, and industry context); and heartfelt camaraderie—particularly in moments celebrating Billy Gill.
• The show moves rapidly between serious sports commentary (especially with Adnan Virk and Matthew Berry) and off-the-rails humor.
• The Billy Gill farewell acts as both a running gag and a heartfelt goodbye, giving longtime listeners a payoff rich in nostalgia and show lore.

Summary for New Listeners

If you missed the episode, expect:

• A sharp, stat-filled baseball discussion with Adnan Virk, zeroing in on Max Scherzer’s "willful" playoff heroics and the Blue Jays as Canada’s flagship team.
• Lively debate about whether the Dodgers are “breaking baseball” or just the new "Evil Empire" to rally against.
• An unfiltered, insider-joke-laced, yet endearing sendoff for beloved producer Billy Gill.
• Fantasy football rapid-fire takes that challenge NFL orthodoxy (Baker Mayfield for MVP?!).
• The show’s signature off-field asides: from the quirks of sports fashion, to the evolution of the phrase "shoved", to how much the crew will (or mostly won’t) miss about each other as the show's roster evolves.

For fans, longtime or new, this hour is a snapshot of “The Dan Le Batard Show” ethos: hilarious, thoughtful, oddball, sentimental, and never short on hot takes.

Timestamps Index

| Topic | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Cam Newton vs. Barry Melrose: TV Fashion | 02:17 | | Max Scherzer’s Playoff Performance | 03:38 | | Blue Jays & Canada Sports Discussion | 10:34 | | Billy Gill’s Top Five + 34 OLIs | 15:06 | | Baseball/Sports Lingo Segment | 08:48 | | Dodgers’ Playoff Dominance | 21:02 | | Fantasy Football Advice (Matthew Berry) | 34:09 | | Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla Segment | 31:01 | | Billy Gill Farewell, Final Tributes | 42:55 | | Jeremy's Farewell Song | 46:20 |

Best Quote
"An onion won't be the thing to make us cry when it's hard to say goodbye."
– Jeremy, singing for Billy Gill’s farewell (47:06)

End of summary for "Hour 1: Happy Thanksgiling Day 2 Pt. 3!"