Hour 1: The Self-Inflicted Wound

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Hour 1: The Self-Inflicted Wound

Release Date: April 7, 2025

In the inaugural hour of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz," hosts Dan Le Batard and Stugotz engage in a deep dive into a significant misstep by the Pittsburgh Pirates, explore the complexities of MLB contract strategies, and conclude with a lively discussion on some of the most unbreakable records in sports history. The episode is marked by candid insights, humorous banter, and critical analysis of sports management decisions.

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1. Pittsburgh Pirates' Monument Controversy

The primary focus of the episode centers on the Pittsburgh Pirates' controversial decision to replace Roberto Clemente's honored outfield wall plaque with a corporate sponsor's advertisement. Dan Le Batard expresses strong disapproval of the team's handling of the situation, emphasizing the lack of communication with Clemente's family.

• Dan Le Batard: "Self-inflicted wounds are the worst. The Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend had a self-inflicted wound the likes of which you don't see happen in sports very often." ([01:13])

Le Batard criticizes the Pirates' president for not informing Clemente's family about the change, leading to public backlash and dissatisfaction.

• Dan Le Batard: "You got to know your customer. If you're the Pirates, you can't do something regarding Roberto Clemente without telling Roberto Clemente his family." ([02:14])

Stugotz adds that while the Pirates continue to honor Clemente in various ways, the removal of the plaque without proper communication undermines these efforts.

• Stugotz: "They still have a statue. They have other ways that they've honored him." ([02:21])

2. Impact on the Pirates' Fanbase and Team Management

The conversation shifts to the broader implications of the Pirates' decision on their relationship with the fanbase and the overall management of the team.

• Dan Le Batard: "But what you have to avoid is those self-inflicted injuries. If you're in a position the way the Marlins are and were the way the Pirates are, you've got to avoid self-inflicted injuries." ([12:20])

David joins the discussion, highlighting the frustration among Pirates' fans, exacerbated by the team's ongoing issues with payroll and performance.

• David: "We're already a franchise in a fan base that's frustrated, right? ... we're going to eliminate this thing that is a very public display of our love for our franchise's most beloved person." ([05:28])

Jessica emphasizes the deep-seated dissatisfaction among the Pirates' supporters, noting visible signs like shirts advocating for team ownership change.

• Jessica: "If you walk around in Pittsburgh, you will see shirts that say sell the team, Bob Nutting." ([11:57])

3. MLB Contract Strategies and Their Implications

Transitioning from team management issues, the hosts delve into the realm of MLB contract extensions, analyzing recent high-value deals and their impact on team dynamics and financial health.

Dan Le Batard critiques the trend of MLB teams offering long-term, high-guarantee contracts to players, arguing that this strategy can be detrimental, especially for smaller market teams.

• Dan Le Batard: "It's all about budgeting. ... what baseball teams do is they want these expenses fixed so they know exactly what they will pay Campbell because they view that as smarter than keeping it variable." ([16:56])

He explains that such contracts remove flexibility, forcing teams to shoulder guaranteed payments regardless of player performance, which can strain financial resources.

• Dan Le Batard: "Their view is, screw it, we're going to make it a fixed expense. My view always was, I disagree with that. I'm okay with variable because then I'm paying for performance." ([17:24])

David and Jeremy discuss specific examples, including contracts signed by players like Evan Longoria and Jackson Merrill, questioning the sustainability and logic behind these financial commitments.

4. Unbreakable Records in Sports

Adding a lighter yet insightful segment, the hosts compile a list of what they consider the "Top Five Unbreakable Records in Sports." This discussion showcases their knowledge and appreciation for sports history while engaging listeners with entertaining content.

• Dan Le Batard: "The most unbreakable record in the history of sports. Cal Ripken. Consecutive games played 2,632." ([32:47])

They humorously debate the plausibility of future generations breaking these records, citing examples like Wayne Gretzky's assists and Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game.

• Dan Le Batard: "Wilt Chamberlain, 100 points in a game. Who's gonna do that?" ([31:44])

The segment not only highlights legendary achievements but also underscores the evolving nature of sports performance and record-setting.

5. Anecdotes and Host Banter

Throughout the episode, Dan and Stugotz intersperse their in-depth discussions with personal anecdotes and playful interactions, adding a relatable and entertaining layer to the podcast.

• Stugotz: "Hold on a second." ([19:24])
• Dan Le Batard: "I would have been very happy to keep my narrative going. But you were. You made me crazy." ([19:31])

Their camaraderie and humor provide a balanced dynamic, keeping the conversation engaging for listeners.

6. Reflections and Conclusions

Concluding the hour, the hosts reflect on the importance of effective communication and strategic financial planning in maintaining both team integrity and fan loyalty. They emphasize that organizations must prioritize meaningful relationships with important stakeholders, such as legendary players' families, to avoid damaging their legacy and reputation.

• Dan Le Batard: "You have to know your customer, and that's what the Pirates to me did the most wrong is they forgot. It's a simple phone call." ([05:07])

Stugotz and David echo these sentiments, reinforcing the episode's central themes of accountability and thoughtful management in sports franchises.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard: "Self-inflicted wounds are the worst." ([01:13])
• Stugotz: "They still have a statue. They have other ways that they've honored him." ([02:21])
• Jessica: "If you walk around in Pittsburgh, you will see shirts that say sell the team, Bob Nutting." ([11:57])
• Dan Le Batard: "It's all about budgeting." ([16:56])
• Dan Le Batard: "The most unbreakable record in the history of sports. Cal Ripken. Consecutive games played 2,632." ([32:47])

This episode serves as a compelling exploration of the intersection between sports legacy, team management, and financial strategy, all delivered with the trademark wit and expertise of Dan Le Batard and Stugotz.

Transcript

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo. Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, I do know that to be true. But even during ad reads like Cuervo, I think you could lay out, especially for one of our great partners, sweet, delicious Cuervo. Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo.

[Mike Ryan]

So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo.

[Mike Ryan]

The tequila that invented tequila. Proximo. Cuervo.com Please drink responsibly.

[Dan LeBatard]

Cuervo.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Dan LeBatard]

I've done a lot of things wrong and I know it. Self inflicted wounds are the worst. The Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend had a self inflicted wound the likes of which you don't see happen in sports very often. We're talking about Roberto Clemente. We're talking about the nightmare of having to do two statements, not one, two statements to explain the idiocy of honoring Roberto Clemente with an outfield wall plaque, removing it, putting a sponsor instead, and not telling the Clemente family. So many layers to this. Let me start with the most interesting one. To me, the Clemente family is high maintenance. You know that going in. They need communication. They need understanding. They want to be front and center. They deserve to be because of Roberto Clemente. But you got to know your customer. If you're the Pirates, you can't do something regarding Roberto Clemente without telling Roberto Clemente his family. And they violate it right off the top.

[Jeremy]

So it was moved. It was moved, right? It wasn't completely replaced. It was moved.

[Dan LeBatard]

Taken down as the dumbest thing ever.

[Jeremy]

That's terrible.

[Stugotz]

They still have a statue. They have other ways that they've honored him.

[Dan LeBatard]

They have a ton of ways. Yeah, but that doesn't change. And what the president of the team tried to say Was, hey, listen, totally sorry, but we have a 21 foot wall. We've got so many things that we've done for Roberto.

[Stugotz]

A bridge.

[Dan LeBatard]

A bridge. It's a really cool bridge, but the numbers retired.

[Jeremy]

The number needs to be there straight up.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, there's a. There's different places. The 21 is. This was an extra thing that was put because there was an available space, but they forgot to just be honest with the family and say, hey, we're giving you a little extra. We're just putting it right there, but we're trying to sell it. And once we do, we're removing it. They didn't communicate and then they sent out their PR head to do a statement Saturday, doubling down. And then they sent out their president Sunday saying, sorry, our bad, my mistake. He wore it. I had to wear so much as team president so much that I had nothing to do with that I would just wear.

[David]

What was the worst one? That was like akin to something like this. Because this is about as bad as it gets, right? Like you're disrespecting not only a legend of the Pirates, but a legend of baseball that is celebrated across the league. And you're coming off the heels of what just happened with the government website and Jackie Robinson. And so everyone is. Is feeling the effects of, like, history of our great players of color being a race. There's all of that. Is there anything that you ever dealt with that was even close to what this type of ire that you're sort of going out in front and. And taking the heat on.

[Dan LeBatard]

They got ire, Jeremy. I would say that what we did with Carl Barger and unretiring his number, we didn't do that probably the way we should have. And I had to take that even though I had nothing to do with it, but I had to wear that one.

[David]

Even though it wasn't your decision to make?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, it was not. Listen, that's. That's your job. When you run a company for an owner or for a founder, you're the meat shield. You have to take stuff that you don't deserve to take, but you do it. You smile and you say it's your fault. Trevor Williams, the president of the Pirates, he had to take this. But to me, what bothers me about what happened is that he was in that position to start with. When you're a president of a team, you know exactly what your inventory is, your sales inventory. You know exactly what you're doing. When you're doing a deal with Surfside, that deal doesn't get done without the president signing the deal.

[David]

And so what upsets you is that he made that decision and didn't communicate it to the Clemente's. Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm perfectly fine with the decision to sell because everyone wants to, so long.

[David]

As you communicate with the family that you worked with.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's one call. And by the way, the Clemente family, easy to reach. It's not like reaching someone who's disappeared into the Netherlands without cell service.

[David]

And that was part of the Clemente's statement, by the way, was that basically their frustration wasn't even the decision, which I think we should be frustrated by the decision. You know, you make a decision to honor a player, even if there are other ways that you've honored the player around a ballpark, you've honored him in this public way that everyone can see when a ball is hit down that right field line.

[Dan LeBatard]

And.

[David]

And now you're removing it to. To sell and make more money when you're, you know, a franchise in the Pirates that we know their fans are frustrated with them to begin with. But the. The statement from the Clemente is included. The specific nature of the Pirates continue to do these things not only without consulting us, but without sort of consulting their fan base at large.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, a couple of things. The statement is on the screen if you're watching this live on YouTube. If you're listening, we have a statement from the Clemente family. So I don't agree. The fan base at large is not a factor for me. I don't need to go to the fan base when I'm doing things like this. I need to go to the family, and I don't need to do it publicly. I can do it privately because then I've got the ability to say publicly, hey, I did that. It's a very much check the box thing. The Clemente family is a very big check the box family.

[David]

If you were wanting to make this decision, though, Right. And the Clemente family had an issue with it, then what. How does that conversation go for you in that. That spot as the president of the team? Right. Like, are you actually going for a conversation where you're actually caring what they have to say, or is it just checking the box?

[Dan LeBatard]

It's just checking the box.

[Stugotz]

Why don't you give the Clemente is like, the opportunity to match what Surfside was going to pay to continue to honor their father in that one spot?

[Dan LeBatard]

They wouldn't. They couldn't. Totally. That's very nice. That's nice. We'd like to Give you the right to match. We've sold the behind the plate. We would do this if you have open inventory and you don't want to make it look like there's open inventory. So let's today behind plate signage. There are approximately 18 units to be sold. Each baseball game half an inning. You buy a half inning behind the plate. You have a rate card, you sell it. But what if you have three half innings that aren't sold? You go to your existing partners and you say, hey, we're going to, we're going to throw you an extra half inning. We love you. We're not going to charge you more. But once we sell it, we're taking back that half inning.

[Jeremy]

Thank you for your business type deal.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's it. Thanks for being here. We appreciate you. So this Clemente thing, this one area on the wall was just a hey, we got nothing else there. We're trying to have something there. But the problem is they chose to do it with a family that is very, very much a keep score family.

[David]

But even if they weren't a keep score family like this would be a problem, I would think for any franchise given the value of the wouldn't notice specifics of the player. If someone's pointing it out on social media and there's a conversation that happens. You think that essentially this goes totally unnoticed. If you don't have a family that's actively participating in that legacy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's face it, what, what brought this to a bubble was the Clemente statement. But then the Pirates dealt with it so badly, so badly. They the Clemente is do this. It's known around baseball like there's certain families, there's certain people from the history of the game who are higher maintenance than others. Roberto Clemente is one of the second, arguably the second greatest story of any baseball player ever behind Jackie Robinson. I would say that's 1, 2.

[David]

Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

And I think that's a fair assessment of it. And the Clemente is there are celebrated. The family is brought to events. Baseball pays for them to go to events. They, I mean there's a whole level of support that is deserving. But the family of other superstars do not necessarily get that support. But you gotta know your customer. And that's what the Pirates to me did the most wrong is they forgot. It's a simple phone call. It's Williams calling the family. And you never with the Clementes, you don't have an account executive do it. You go, it's the top. You have to know there's certain People who can be contacted by lower level people and certain people where they have to hear from the owner and you just have to know it. And so it just bothered me what the Pirates did because the Pirates are getting a bunch of crap over their payroll, over their lack of revenue and the fact that they don't win. And now this just makes it worse.

[Stugotz]

Who's the. The highest maintenance family that you've had to deal with?

[Dan LeBatard]

The highest maintenance family that I personally had to deal with. The Ali's were actually great. There was a lot to do. When you say high maintenance, I think.

[Stugotz]

Pejorative, like you've said, they're kind of annoying to deal with, basically. So who I guess is the most annoying? Because like, this sounds terrible. But the more I'm looking at this, the more I'm kind of like, there's still a lot of ways Roberto Clementa is honored in this stadium. In fact, There's a number 21 about five feet away from the ad that replaced the other 21. Like there's 20 ones everywhere.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's everywhere. If you've been to PNC park, you can't turn around without having Roberto Clemente as part of the.

[Stugotz]

It's not like they erased his legacy. They sold an ad on one of the many places that they put his name and number.

[David]

You're very right. And I think that is important to sort of distinguish from the. The conversation we were having a couple of weeks ago and this one when I just brought up the Jackie Robinson thing, because those are two very, very, very different conversations that we're having. This is not completely erasing Roberto Clemente's legacy at behest of some governmental intervention. This is a totally different thing. At the same time, I do right to be frustrated by, hey, here's this thing. We're already a franchise in a fan base that's frustrated, right? In a general sense, then we've got this history, this pillar of not just a player, but a person that we all admire that celebrated in this specific way. And now so that the owner, who we're already frustrated with for not spending money, can make an extra quick buck. We're going to eliminate this thing that is a very public display of our love for our franchise's most beloved person. I think people have a right to be frustrated by that. I understand your. Your perspective, David, which is your frustration stems most from how could the president have handled this differently and in a way that wouldn't have caused such a stink for baseball for his team. It's embarrassing, but for A fan perspective. For someone who is a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, their frustration is a different one, which is really like that's how we're going to go ahead and erase something that matters to all of us, even if it's one of several different public displays. One of the public displays of our love of our hero is now going away so that we could sell it for some.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sure about that, Jeremy. Because if the Pirates right now were 9 and 2 and the Dodgers with a high payroll, would this have happened? Or is it. No, it's the Pirates are the fans.

[David]

It's a matter of.

[Jessica]

All of the fans hate this ownership group.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right.

[Jessica]

Separate from this thing. So they are never going to give them the benefit 100%. If you walk around in Pittsburgh, you will see shirts that say sell the team, Bob Nutting.

[Dan LeBatard]

So that's the whole thing that you can't give a fan base a reason. They're going to find their own reasons if the team doesn't perform. If you're not signing players who fans want you to sign. But that's why I called it a self inflicted injury.

[David]

That's right.

[Dan LeBatard]

And this. And you have to avoid those. If you're in a position the way the Marlins are and were the way the Pirates are, you've got to avoid self inflicted injuries.

[David]

Well, I wonder if for the Pirates and sort of sticking within that theme, we saw some contract extensions in Major League Baseball like over the last week that I found really interesting. Not just Vlad Guerrero who signs this mammoth deal that we could get into, but it's some of the other guys. Right. It's, it's, and I forget the name of the player who just signed with the Red Sox. Yes. Campbell, who signed an eight year, $60 million deal.

[Dan LeBatard]

You see Jackson Merrill experience that you have.

[David]

Right. I mean he's barely played at the major league level. There's Jackson Merrill who just signed a massive deal in San Diego. A different conversation than you're having because he at least had a full year of, of Major League Baseball. But I'm really intrigued by those types of deals for markets like Pittsburgh, like theoretically Miami in the future. We saw Tampa do a little bit of this at different points in their run.

[Dan LeBatard]

Start with Evan Longoria. Right.

[David]

He's the first one I can ever remember as one.

[Dan LeBatard]

John Singleton was first. Wow.

[David]

Okay. That, that's a throwback of a name.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, by the way, stunk. Yeah, it was a complete waste of money.

[David]

But. So that's the question I guess I have. Which is we've seen a Few franchises here recently in the Padres and the Red Sox, two teams that think they're good and should be for the foreseeable future, but teams locking up young stars and buying them out of arbitration. Do you think that that's like a trend that you're going to see more of or is this just sort of a, a conglomeration of circumstances that led to all of these individual guys being signed at this time?

[Dan LeBatard]

I want to educate everyone on this because it is one of the biggest mistakes that people in media make. And Jeremy, you are now never going to make it again. Those players are all signed players. Correct? So when you read that, sorry, extended, so, so interesting. What it's, it's, it's guaranteed cost certainty. When you sign a player through arbitration, that's all you're doing is you are taking arbitration out of the zeitgeist of that player's career and that player is getting money, but he's signed when every time you have a player who's a rookie, you have him on a six year contract, right? You just don't know what, what it's worth. But you have them on six years. When you give money upfront and guarantee it, you ask for free agent years. And it used to be that you would get free agent years at a discount when you sign these contracts to young players. That's now gone away. Players don't give the discount anymore. They want the guarantee of arbitration years and they want free agency at a number where they have to perform at a high level all the way through pre free agency and then be in the open market healthy. It's insane.

[David]

So I, I guess my question would be, for example with Campbell, right? He's come up, he's performed, he signs his eight year 62 but eight year, $60 million deal. What you're saying is the eight years he was already supposed to be under contract for six, you're now guaranteeing exactly what the money is going to be in that stretch for a player who otherwise, if they didn't perform, might not reach the salary level that they're going to reach in those six years. And so it's six plus an extra two seasons on top of that, then he could be a free agent.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's exactly right.

[David]

Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

So what the player is trading is the, those two years of free agency to lock up what they have now. And I can go down the list of players who have signed these deals and it's been a disaster for the team. We can go all the way to kingery of, of, of Philadelphia, we can go to Jimenez and Robert of the White Sox. We can go to starting way back with Singleton, going to some of the players who are in them now who just end up disappearing. But you don't realize it. But they're being paid the major league rate in the minor leagues because they got guaranteed money. And why are teams doing this? Why do they feel the need? Because they want cost certainty. In an era when revenue certainty is so uncertain, it doesn't make smart business sense. When you're in a market where you're worried about what is going to happen with expenses, with your money, the key is to have no fixed expenses. And this in your life is what you should do. Only have variable expenses that you can get out of. A fixed expense is something that no matter what happens in your life, you have to pay that money each month or each year. A mortgage is a fixed expense, not variable. A variable expense is your entertainment money or money if you take your vacation fund or if you. Or. Or even if you put away money for different types of food. All of that can be variable.

[Jeremy]

So this is all about budgeting.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's all about budgeting. And what baseball teams do is they want these expenses fixed so they know exactly what they will pay Campbell because they view that as smarter than keeping it variable. Where if he has a great year, you could have to pay him more. If he has a bad year, you'd be able to pay him less. Their view is, screw it, we're going to make it a fixed expense. My view always was, I disagree with that. I'm okay with variable because then I'm paying for performance.

[David]

Well, and then you're just getting rid of them by the time you need to pay them. Right. Because that, that often seems to be the thing. Right. When I'm talking about teams like the Pirates or the Marlins or whoever in the future, theoretically, this would be the way that a smaller market team could hold on to their stars in the long run.

[Dan LeBatard]

We just saw no discount.

[David]

Well, no, that. That's my question. Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, there's no discount, but.

[David]

So, for example, signing Sandy Alcantara, when the Marlins did. To the contract they did, which I believe was like five years, around $55 million. Are you saying that doesn't. That didn't save them any sort of money.

[Dan LeBatard]

So it's a great question. How much time did he miss?

[David]

Well, he, he missed a year. And a pitcher is a different conversation.

[Dan LeBatard]

So he obviously he was paid as though he didn't miss a year. People are talking about this contract of how great it is. He's only at 17. Go look at what he would be in the system, sure.

[David]

But the. The pitcher part of it, I guess, is a different conversation because we end up having guys who miss full seasons in that respect at a far higher rate than what you see for position players. But there's Kyle Raleigh, there's Jackson. Cheerio. Sound. Signed one of these a couple of years ago. The famous example is Ozzy Albies, who signed for way cheaper than anyone would have anticipated. And to me, I guess what I've always viewed this as is something that is team friendly, that allows a player to guarantee themselves some money before they would hit the giant contract in their prime. Is that not the reality of how teams look at it?

[Dan LeBatard]

When we get lucky, we got lucky with Yelich, had a team friendly deal, and then teams feel badly when it's team friendly, and then they give raises and increases and extensions to players because they feel like they took advantage. When players don't give you money back, when they stink, when they're hurt, they keep the guaranteed money.

[Jeremy]

So how would you say you handled Giancarlo Stanton?

[Dan LeBatard]

That's actually a different story. The Giancarlo Stanton story is that we were trying to change the narrative of you, the fans in Miami.

[Jeremy]

Oh, it was awful.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was your fault.

[Jeremy]

Totally great.

[Dan LeBatard]

Totally your fault. As a matter of fact, it was more Billy and Mike. But, Roy, you were right. You were right in there.

[Stugotz]

Hold on a second.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, Billy, it was your fault.

[Stugotz]

I'm blamed for you trying to change the narrative you created.

[Dan LeBatard]

Exactly. I would have been very happy to keep my narrative going.

[Stugotz]

You could have.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. But you were. You made me crazy.

[Stugotz]

I did.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, you were making me crazy year after year, saying, hey, are you congratulating him, Jessica? I did just say congrats when the microphone was on.

[Jessica]

That's. Every fan's dream, is to actually get under the skin of the ownership that they maybe don't support in their city. So congrats.

[Dan LeBatard]

Billy did it. Congrats. I don't know if we have a noise that I could hit. That's a congratulations noise. I don't know where it is. Let me just see. Isn't that more of a top five noise?

[Jeremy]

It's a congratulations noise as well. Dual purpose.

[Stugotz]

You didn't let me go unscathed, though. You went and you told Donnie Tebow, hey, you're starting Ichiro that day. He's getting 3,000 in Colorado. Come hell or high water.

[Dan LeBatard]

We knew he would get that hit.

[Stugotz]

I was so. I'VE never been so upset about a hit in my life. I was so upset because it was almost a fly ball. It was almost an out at the wall. It just got over almost a home run. It was almost a home run, but it got just over the glove of the outfielder. Jumping ends being a triple off the wall. But God, I've never been so upset by something good happening to my team, I think. Except that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Why? Why that visceral?

[Stugotz]

Because I was going the next day because I bought one of those stupid plans that you guys were selling. It's like, oh, buy a flexible plan that you can do this and you can see it. And here we're just going to sell you 40 vouchers for, you know, $400 or whatever flexibility. Choose whatever games you want. Yeah, it was good flexibility, except I was going every day to see him get a hit and then he wasn't getting a hit. And then I had to eat the stadium food and God knows what it did to my health on top of the stress. That 3,000th hit stretch, David, you took probably seven years off of my life that you're not going to get that one.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're the worst seven. They're the diapers seven.

[Stugotz]

I mean, when those are the seven you have left, you cherish those seven. I'm not going to have those seven anymore.

[David]

Hey, friends, it's Jerbear here and I'm here to tell you all about Boost Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network. So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice because I would never, ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously? Visit boostmobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.

[Unknown Sponsor Voice]

The Dan LeBatard show with Stugotz is sponsored by BetterHelp. Life gets busy and your mind carries it all. But just like your body needs care, so does your mental health. This is an investment in clarity, in peace, in you. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast. With BetterHelp online therapy, you can save an average of up to 50% per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you can get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it, and now it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, better help is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life, plus switch therapists at any time. Your well being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com dob today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com DLB folks, it's Mike Ryan.

[Mike Ryan]

And do you know that Miller Lite has basically been a partner of this show for almost 20 years? And as we celebrate 50 years of Miller Lite, that means for a large chunk of it. And look, I didn't go to school for math, but I'm pretty sure that's like 80% of the time that Miller Lite's been existing. They've been with our show. And I'm so grateful for it because we truly believe this. If you listen to us back in our radio days, throughout our times in national radio, to the pirate phase to now, you know that Miller Lite has been a huge supporter of ours. And I've always been a huge supporter of Miller Lite. Why? Because it's got tastes. You know, you can depend on a great beer. Trusted by beer lovers for 50 years. Miller Lite, great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan LeBatard]

Dan Levatard. Go pee pee.

[David]

Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

Go pee pee.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do you think Capitals fans are pissed off today? They were spending 1500 bucks a seat to go to the game.

[Stugotz]

That one's a little different. Just because he needed to score three goals in that game. The fact that he even got close was crazy. And he was in there at the end. I mean, he was holding himself out for him.

[Dan LeBatard]

Two and then one. So he scored two in the first game and then one to break it.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I'M saying, but for him to do it at home that day, he would have had to score three goals.

[Dan LeBatard]

About the home game that's coming up tomorrow.

[Stugotz]

Oh, yeah. No, he should have me.

[David]

It's like the Ohtani 5050. I could not believe that happened here. It was like, one of the greatest single individual feats of athleticism I've ever seen on a field. And it happened here instead of in L. A. When they were going the next day and he had already hit a home run to get within 50, they. And they were up by, like, 10 runs. Dave Roberts easily could have pulled him out. I mean, I imagine, David, that would have frustrated you in a way. Would you fire. If you were running the Dodgers, would you have fired Dave Roberts for not pulling Ohtani in that game? Would you have fired him?

[Dan LeBatard]

They talked about it first, so the answer is no. If he went against what our plan was, then I would.

[David]

If it would have been, hey, if he gets there, take him out.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, then he left.

[David]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right. We would have that plan before the game. Hey, listen, there's a chance just with Ovechkin, you know, he could get one goal away and they could stop putting them shifts. He's only playing, like, 18 minutes a game anyway. But you could just leave him and let him play at home this week and. But they made the decision. It's not like Ovechkin didn't know that he was going to play against the Islanders. Ohtani knew he was getting every at bat. Ichiro had asked to be in that game Sunday, and we start. By the way, he started that game.

[Stugotz]

Oh, I know. I'm well aware. David wasn't one at bat. A pinch hit, which is all he was doing at home. He got a full four at bats in that game. I'm well aware of what happened.

[Dan LeBatard]

I had a fly out to Denver. Oh, I had no intention of being in Denver. And we. We flew there to because, hey, he was one hit away. We're gonna start him. He's gonna get it in Denver.

[Stugotz]

I looked into it wasn't at that point in my life just pick up and fly to Denver on a day's notice.

[Dan LeBatard]

You could have called and said, what? Hey, do you want to fly me to Denver? You guys seem happy to ask for flights now.

[Stugotz]

Oh, no, I'm very unbiased down the middle, not taking handouts. If anyone wants to send me anything. No, I'm not gonna say no.

[David]

It's just rude.

[Stugotz]

Come on, get out of here.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't want you to be Rude.

[Stugotz]

I don't want to be rude either.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think it's important to say yes to things like that. Not because you're pressured because of work, because you want to go to Denver.

[Stugotz]

You know what I was thinking? We should invite the Clementas to your bowling tournament.

[Dan LeBatard]

They would do it if we played 21 games. Oh, and did it in Pittsburgh.

[Stugotz]

How about 21 hours? And instead of 24.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wouldn'T we want to do it with a player who has Parkinson's?

[Stugotz]

Well, no. Like, with the actual player.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, no. Like a don't make them bowl. No. But Kirk Gibson, like, doesn't he have a number that we would associate and do it instead of tying it to Clemente? Why would we tie it to someone with Parkinson's?

[Jeremy]

A number.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, we did 21 hours for Roberto Clemente. 21. Maybe Kirk Gibson. What? We could do what, 23 hours. Didn't he wear 23 with the Dodgers? Yeah, 23 hours.

[Stugotz]

And now we're going out to LA to do this.

[David]

He hit the homer in 88. You could do 88 hours.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's too long. We called the bowling alley trying to figure out what they would charge us, and we said, hey, what's charity? Just charge us for the cost of incremental electricity and to have two people staffed, because you need a tech guy.

[Stugotz]

Always.

[Dan LeBatard]

Because it always breaks down. And then you need someone behind the bar. That's all we needed.

[David]

Ohtani doubled to right in the first inning of that game off the top of the wall, then singled to right in the top of the second.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[David]

Then doubled to center, try. And then, oh, was thrown out, stretching it to third in the third inning. That was when we all went, oh, no. All right.

[Jeremy]

He was trying for a cycle.

[David]

He was. He was trying to go for the cycle. And we were all like, oh, man, He. He didn't get the triple. There's no way they're going to pull him after this. Then he came up again in the top of the sixth. Surely they're up. They're up seven to three at this point. And he homers to right center. Now it's nine to three. And, Shirley, I mean, obviously Ohtani is going to get pulled. Nope. He hits again in the top of the seventh, homers again. Now it's 14 to 3. That's home run number 50. But don't worry, he's going to come up again in the top of the ninth, and he homers again. And that's home run 51. So he hit three home runs in that game. I think it was what, three home runs, two doubles, throwing out a third. It could have been the cycle. I think there were ten Ribby's in there. God, what a moment.

[Dan LeBatard]

They're calling it actually the greatest offensive game in baseball history.

[David]

What's crazy is that that's the greatest offensive game we've ever seen. And he has another game with a higher WAR accumulated in that game because he started in through, I think, five shutout innings with 12 strikeouts or something like that.

[Dan LeBatard]

What was to tease his WAR for hitting two grand slams in one inning. Do you get a WAR for that? That's another record. Don't we have a top five list of records that can't be broken? Do I have that anywhere? Can we do it right now? I want to do it right now. Top five records that will never be broken. Are you ready?

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Do I have it written anywhere? No. Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Ready? Yeah. I have two OLIs. Ready? Yeah. UConn women's basketball 111 game winning streak.

[David]

That's an Oli.

[Dan LeBatard]

That'll never get broken. That's an Oli. 2. Another Oli. Wayne Gretzky, 1963. Assists.

[Jeremy]

He has more assists than any other player has points in their career.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's incredible. Absolutely incredible.

[Jeremy]

Why is that outside looking in?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because. Wait till you see number five. Okay. Boston Celtics. Eight straight titles. Tell me, in any sport other than wrestling and track and field, where there's a chance for eight straight, I have to amend the whole thing. It's totally breakable. There's a guy currently doing it. Billy. Is it an active streak for that track and field dude?

[Stugotz]

The one with 40. The pictures were in both black and white. Choice. I'll get back to you on the other one.

[Dan LeBatard]

I need to Change the top five. I. Okay. Number four, Cy Young, with 316 losses as a starting pitcher. There is no one who will ever break that record. You just won't get the chance. Good luck. Number three, Cy Young, with 511 wins. Nobody.

[Jeremy]

Wilkins are pitchers.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's. He did it all. Who's the active leader in wins right now? Kershaw. Verlander. Verlander with 270, 280, 310.

[David]

Verlander, 262.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's the active leader. Verlander's not going to win 38 more games. He's hanging on by a thread. He's old. There's no more 300 game winners. Forget five, 11. But that's not even number one. We're not even up to that. Number two. Ready? Yeah. Wilt Chamberlain, 100 points in a game. Who's gonna do that?

[David]

I think that's the most possible of any of the ones you've named thus far. Just given where scoring is right now, that there could be one night where it ends up being a guy, whether it's like a Devin Booker or someone late in the season playing, playing in an uncompetitive game that hits like 15 or 16 threes. Right. But along with getting to the foul line and things, I think gives you 68. I think that's more possible than anything you've named. That's all I'm saying. I don't think it's. I don't think it's going to happen, but I think it's the most possible of anything you've named thus far.

[Dan LeBatard]

I could have gone with the Wilt Chamberlain average points per game for a season over 50.

[David]

Like I think there's a chance is never going to. I think there's a chance that you never see another pitcher get to half of Cy Young's wins.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right. 511 career landers there. Right.

[David]

But another like after Verlander, there's a chance you never see another pitcher get to half of the all time leaders wins. That's how much the game has changed there. So maybe just. I'm just saying maybe, maybe someone can get to 100.

[Dan LeBatard]

Number one. This is it. The most unbreakable record in the history of sports. Cal ripken. Consecutive games played 2,632. The dude didn't. The dude did not miss a game from May 30, 1982 to September 20, 1998. I'd like you all to just marinate with that for one second. 1982 to 1998.

[Jeremy]

You showed up to work.

[Jessica]

I looked up who the active MLB player was with the most consecutive games played.

[Dan LeBatard]

Current, current, current streak. Can I guess? Yeah, it used to be Paul Goldschmidt, but I think he sat and the number was like 300. I'm gonna say the number's under 320.

[Jessica]

Not according to Wikipedia. There's an active player with 627 consecutive games played. Played.

[Dan LeBatard]

Who?

[Jessica]

Matt Olsen.

[David]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

Matt Olson of the Braves. He did play 162 last year, but that means he's been doing it for five years or so.

[Jessica]

It says May 2, 2021 was the start.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's pretty good. But guess how much. Now do the math for what he has to do. So he's about 2,000 games short.

[Jessica]

Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

So he's got to A little ways to go. He's got to do it for about 15 more years.

[Jessica]

Yeah, I was going to say like a couple decades, I guess. Yeah, yeah.

[David]

Because what it was a 16 year streak for California. And this, this is. He played 156 games in 2021. So that was when it started, was a few games into 2021 and now just three straight seasons after that of 162. So he's still got basically a decade of that to go, which is insane.

[Dan LeBatard]

How old is Matt Olsen?

[David]

He's got no shot.

[Dan LeBatard]

So that's it. Yeah. No shot. That's a great stat of the day, though. I wouldn't have had Matt Olson. Is that. Because I know that he and a bunch of Braves played 162. Freddie Freeman used to play 162 when he was with the Braves, but then he fell in the shower. Freddie Freeman goes to the. Not the top, but he's sort of near the top of crazy injuries. Did you see what happened to him that he slipped in the shower?

[Jessica]

Who was it that stepped in like a pothole in their backyard?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, Cesspidus, that's what I was thinking. Tatis hurt himself doing a weird thing we had players who pretended they hurt themselves doing. I'm not buying the whole that. There's a current player right now. He says he was opening gifts with his child and the cardboard got between his nail and the skin.

[Stugotz]

Hate when that happens.

[Jeremy]

Cardboard cut. Oh, man.

[Dan LeBatard]

And now he's injured.

[Stugotz]

Poor guy.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm not buying it.

[David]

But what would that injury have been otherwise? It just feels so specific.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's what. But that's what we always say. We have to be super specific. Like. Like I tripped carrying my suitcase upstairs. That sounds specific, but it's horse hockey.

[David]

Freeman played 162 twice, but has played 159, 159, 161. The three previous years before last year where he played 147.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's still a very good streak, but.

[David]

Also 158 and 157 somewhere in there. It's crazy.

[Dan LeBatard]

He's not young either. He's got a three.

[David]

Oh, he's 35.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. So people don't realize the Cal Ripken streak, the reason why it's so impressive a people generally don't go to work every day, which they should. And he didn't get hurt. So just think about what he does for a living. He played through injuries, played through paper cuts, played through shower mishaps for 16 years.

[David]

In 16 years he had like eight more batting stances than missed games.

[Jessica]

It's also the subject of a conspiracy theory because of how absurd it is.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, you're talking about when there was a rain out.

[Jeremy]

Kevin Costner.

[Jessica]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Is that. Is that the Kevin Costner story?

[David]

Correct.

[Jessica]

Yes. It was a blackout, Right. At the Orioles Stadium. Electrical failure.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was a very specific area for the blackout.

[Jessica]

Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

And of course, the theory that you're proffering is that had nothing to do with injury, though, other than to the psyche.

[Jessica]

Yeah, that's the conspiracy theory that I think has been debunked several times.

[David]

The psyche.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't know how you debunk an affair like that.

[Jessica]

I mean, it seems like if it's that outlandish, there should be evidence that it actually happened. Like, you don't need evidence that it didn't happen. There needs to be, like some sort of proof that it did happen, and there isn't any.

[Dan LeBatard]

So you don't mean the affair. You mean the physical altercation that would have led him to miss the game?

[Jessica]

The whole entire thing. And then that led to, like, someone pulling the plug on, like, the power at the stadium. Like, that's an absurd sequence of events.

[Dan LeBatard]

I happen to love this one because within the world of baseball, there is a feeling that that one is true.

[Stugotz]

So for those who are not familiar with this theory.

[Jessica]

I thought everyone knew about this. Is this like, not. Is this like this transcends gener.

[David]

No, I've heard it.

[Stugotz]

There could be. No, I've heard it, but I'm listening. That don't know this conspiracy theory.

[Jessica]

Oh, okay.

[Stugotz]

Tell them.

[Jessica]

I mean, if I know it, I thought other people would know it. It's just a conspiracy theory that Cal Ripken caught his wife, I guess, allegedly cheating on him with Kevin Costner, and they got in a fight, he couldn't play, so they delayed the game that they were supposed to play that night by, I guess, someone pulling the plug. And again, this is complete. Like, I'm not trying to Defame Cal Ripken Jr. I've already said several times, it seems like it's ridiculous, but.

[Stugotz]

Or Mrs. Ripken Jr. Yeah, anyone?

[Jessica]

Or Kevin Costner. Or Kevin Costner, who is probably the most litigious of the three.

[Dan LeBatard]

But you don't mean litigious. You mean the most strain. A y I n g, not a I n. What is the. There's no litigation involved. It was just a good old fashioned brawl.

[Jessica]

No, I mean he probably would be the most likely to sue someone.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh. For telling the story. Yeah, I think we're Covered because he's a public figure. I think you're good. Don't you worry.

[Jeremy]

You're a lawyer, so I guess you would know, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

I like your chances on this one, Jessica. Do not panic. You can tell the story. You can tell it loudly.

[Jessica]

I already said it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, and you don't even have to do all the qualifying you did.

[Jessica]

Okay, but I like to cover my bases. I don't know if we have any, like, metal art, you know, baseball indemnification clauses that we have to sign. What happens if one of us gets sued? David is metal. Are going to cover it, so we.

[Dan LeBatard]

Have insurance for that if it's done in the ordinary course of your job. Now, if you do something off air, off hours, off campus, you're sort of.

[Stugotz]

On your own, so we never have to hit the reckless speculation sound. Or we can just say, I never.

[Dan LeBatard]

Understood why you do that. Is that because you.

[Jeremy]

Well, we did that. Yes, we did. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just because you want people to think that you're journalists.

[Jeremy]

Sure.

[Jessica]

I think Dan wants the next hour.

[Stugotz]

Everyone come up with the wildest thing you want to say on air, and we'll all share it together.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think that it should be not only wild, but one that under all circumstances would lead to litigation. Like, I just want to go right to the edge because Dan's not here. We can do anything we want. Let's go right to the edge and just see what happens.

[Jeremy]

Dan's always here.

[Stugotz]

You're talking about the player that. That hurt his. Hurt himself. Allegedly. Sorry. With the cardboard under the thumb. And we lost that sponsor, so it's fine. So what is the best lie that you have ever gotten away with that you're proudest of?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, I was not in Vegas. Oh, it's a good one. It's happened a few times when the team is on the West Coast. Go to Vegas in between games and say, no, I wasn't there. Don't be ridiculous. And you just don't call in front of the slot machines.

[Mike Ryan]

Hey, audience, you know, it's that time of year where everyone is debating who the number one pick is going to be. Well, let me tell you something that is undebatable. Who the world's number one vodka is? That is Smirnoff. And as fun as it is to debate whether or not the team with the number one pick goes pass rusher, wide receiver, quarterback. One thing that we all know is we're going with Smirnoff as our number one vodka pick. Isn't that right, Dano?

[Dan LeBatard]

Smirnoff Rules.

[David]

Smirnoff rules.

[Mike Ryan]

So while you're over there hosting your draft parties, you know one thing in particular you need. Well, there's two things that you absolutely need. The draft on tv, that's a must. But number two, what is it? Dano Smirnoff. Do you like Dano?

[Dan LeBatard]

Support the people who support us. Smirnoff supports us. I like Smirnoff. I don't like Dano.

[Mike Ryan]

And thanks to Smirnoff, God Bless Football is doing their first ever watch along live stream in front of a live audience in Nashville, Tennessee. Join God Bless Football during round one of the draft on the Levitard Show YouTube channel on April 24th. More details to come. Please drink responsibly. Smirnoff number 21, vodka distilled from grain, 40% alcohol by volume. The Smirnoff Company, New York, New York. Please do not share with anyone under legal drinking age. Folks, it's Mike Ryan. And do you know that Miller Lite has basically been a partner of this show for almost 20 years? And as we celebrate 50 years of Miller Lite, that means for a large chunk of it. And look, I didn't go to school for math, but I'm pretty sure that's like 80% of the time that Miller Lite's been existing. They've been with our show and I'm so grateful for it because we truly believe this. If you listen to us back in our radio days, throughout our times in national radio, to the pirate face to now, you know that Miller Lite has been a huge supporter of ours. And I've always been a huge supporter of Miller Lite. Why? Because it's got tastes. You know, you can depend on a great beer. Trusted by beer lovers for 50 years, Miller Lite Great Taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you or you can pick up Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.