Hour 2: $125 Million?!?!?! (feat. Daniel Alvarez)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 2: $125 Million?!?!?! (feat. Daniel Alvarez)
Date: March 5, 2026

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Main Theme

This episode intertwines the crew’s signature blend of sports, absurdist office drama, and a deep dive into baseball’s World Baseball Classic. Centerpieces include the astronomical $125 million valuation on a 1% Miami Dolphins stake, the definition of ownership success, and a special "Pitch Clock" baseball trivia and World Baseball Classic preview featuring Daniel Alvarez from El Extrabase. As always, it’s layered with banter, inside jokes, and affectionate arguments about Miami—and each other.

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Segment Breakdown

1. Miami Office Shenanigans & Food Talk

Timestamps: 00:38–03:02

• The episode opens with playful discomfort about behind-the-scenes activity, particularly Domino’s tight pants and efforts to make pan con biste and colada for the team (“How many pan con biste is he making?” – Jeremy, 01:28).
• Arguments over the authenticity of aioli vs. mayo on Miami sandwiches—a miniature food culture war erupts.
• The “chunkleta toss” on 305 Day is declared embarrassing, with Trista and Frankie losing a food challenge and rumors of a conspiracy (02:00–02:29).

“How could you on 305 day fail at the chunkleta toss? That was embarrassing.”
— Jeremy Stugotz (02:00)

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2. The $125 Million Miami Dolphins Sale & Ownership Debate

Timestamps: 03:03–08:36; 14:10–20:17

• News breaks: Stephen Ross sold a 1% Dolphins share for $125 million, setting a record valuation ($12.5B) for an NFL franchise (03:03).
• Stugotz and Dan debate ROI and Ross’s owner legacy: he bought in 2009 for $550M (for half), and now a 1% piece is worth $125M, despite the team not winning a single playoff game in his tenure.
• The panel explores Ross’s improvements: stadium renovation, attracting events like Formula 1 and the Miami Open, and why his “lack of on-field success” hasn’t hurt valuation (05:23–05:57).

“To buy in at essentially 1.1 billion and to turn that investment into now 12.5 billion and the most valuable valuation you’ve ever seen…that’s crazy.”
— Jeremy Stugotz (04:08)

• The conversation pivots to what makes an owner “good”: ROI/business growth vs. on-field results.
• Comparisons to Michael Jordan (basketball vs. NASCAR success), and other owners (James Dolan, Jerry Jones), spark a pointed debate about what the measurement should be: investment returns or on-field wins and championships.

“An owner—isn’t that the sole prism though? Isn’t that the sole measurement?”
— Jeremy Stugotz (16:46)

“That’s not the measurement. Did you make the franchise go up in value?”
— Dan Le Batard (17:36)

“For me, as a sports fan, I would love the team to be good, no doubt. But…I hated going to that stadium before and it’s a pleasure now.”
— Mike Ryan (16:50–17:34)

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3. Show Introspection & Office Psychodrama

Timestamps: 06:12–13:58

• The panel reviews the previous day’s show, with Danny Alvarez reflecting on why Trista’s corrections are received differently than his.
• Award envy: Dan chides Stugotz for fishing for praise by disparaging Pablo’s awards (“You can win awards too without paying for them, right?” – Dan, 07:22).
• Mike Ryan tries to pivot from the bickering to an Intuit TurboTax ad by likening taxes to championship teams, showing how rapidly the conversation can shift (08:36).
• Extended riff about Greg Cody’s stomach noises, coffee overload, and oversharing on digestive issues (“All I have put in my body today is three cups of coffee and an entire cup of honey.” – Dan, 11:19).

“I love diarrhea. There will be times where I’ll purposefully order a meal knowing that it’s gonna flush me out…Love it when it sounds like I’m peeing chia seeds.”
— Dan Le Batard (13:14)

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4. Michael Jordan’s Owner Reputation: NBA vs. NASCAR

Timestamps: 14:10–20:17

• Stugotz questions Jordan’s reputation as an NBA owner vs. his budding legacy as a NASCAR team owner: “In NASCAR he’s killing it. But at Charlotte, he was among the worst owners.”
• Mike argues Jordan is “irrefutably” a good NASCAR owner, citing litigation transforming the sport, history made by his racer Tyler Reddick (winning first three races to start a season), and rising ratings (15:18–15:58).
• Debate ensues if off-court ventures should count toward Jordan’s or Ross’s owner legacy.

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5. The Pitch Clock: Baseball Trivia & World Baseball Classic Preview

Timestamps: 22:32–39:36

a. Baseball Lineup Trivia Game

• The hosts face off, guessing the starting lineups for the 2017 US and 2013 Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic championship teams.
• Notable answers include Adam Jones, Giancarlo Stanton, Nolan Arenado, Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano, and others.
• Banter about strategy, rules confusion, guesswork, and frustration about the challenge.
• Running commentary about missed names; insight into how hard it is to recall even recent baseball history.

“This is embarrassing that I just realized—I think I know who that Texas catcher is, and it’s wild that that’s who it is.”
— Dan Le Batard (24:29)

b. WBC History & Favorites with Daniel Alvarez

• Alvarez explains the origins of the World Baseball Classic: “It’s a tournament that started because baseball was not in the Olympics…” (25:55)
• He highlights the current growth: from the small stadium at Disney World in 2006 to sold-out crowds at Miami’s LoanDepot park.
• Alvarez’s favorites: USA (with Paul Skenes spotlighted), Dominican Republic (Fernando Tatis Jr. finally participating post-PED ban), and Japan (Yamamoto and Ohtani as stars).
• Underdog advice: Venezuela (despite pitching injuries), Mexico (emerging force), and Italy (best roster to date).
• Bracket picks:
  • Pool A: Puerto Rico, Canada
  • Pool B: USA, Mexico (but watch Italy!)
  • Pool C: Japan, Korea
  • Pool D: Dominican Republic, Venezuela
  • Forecasted finals: USA vs Venezuela, with USA to win (36:29–36:47)

“I have the Dominican Republic and Venezuela…The finals with the US facing Venezuela. And this is what I think: the US pulls it.”
— Daniel Alvarez (36:45–36:47)

• Panel and Alvarez joke about “Venezuelan bias,” but Dan affirms his expertise.
• Reflections on how much more talent current rosters have compared to previous WBCs, especially USA and DR.

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Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ross’s sale:
  “To buy in at essentially $1.1 billion and…turn that investment into now $12.5 billion…”
  — Jeremy Stugotz (04:08)

• On owners’ success metrics:
  “But that doesn’t—that’s not the measurement. Did you make the franchise go up in value is not…”
  — Dan Le Batard (17:36)

• On digestive oversharing:
  “There will be times where I will purposefully go out of my way to get a meal that I know will give me diarrhea. Love it when it sounds like I’m peeing chia seeds.”
  — Dan Le Batard (13:14)

• Danny Alvarez on WBC:
  “It’s a tournament that started because baseball was not in the Olympics…It’s crazy to think that it’s been 20 years.”
  — Daniel Alvarez (25:55–26:21)

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Notable Timestamps

• $125 Million Dolphins Stake News: 03:03–05:57
• Ross Ownership Legacy and Owner Criteria Debates: 14:10–20:17
• Pitch Clock Trivia Segment & WBC Preview: 22:32–36:47
• Running WBC Bracket Picks: 34:22–36:47

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Tone & Takeaways

Typical for the show, the tone swings between bantering, competitive, mocking, and nerdily authoritative. Sports business, local Miami flavor, absurdist physical comedy (chunkleta toss, food), healthy skepticism toward sports success narratives, and a genuine love for baseball give the hour its meat. The Daniel Alvarez segment offers real insight for listeners curious about the World Baseball Classic, making this episode a great primer heading into the tournament.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

Close your eyes. Exhale. Feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh. They're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts.

[Mike Ryan]

This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I remain uncomfortable. Remain is the word I was trying to say.

[Dan Le Batard]

There.

[Jeremy Stugats]

With everything that's happening with Domino in the other room, the camera angles, the tightness of the pants, the navel. I am told that Domino makes an excellent bancombe. I am told that it is going to be something that's featured at Las Rosas earlier or later today. What's happening with that? Domino? What are you doing with Mike Ryan and Mike Ryan's bar later in the day,

[Dan Le Batard]

all night at La Rosa?

[Mike Ryan]

Just so you know, Dan, just in case, once again.

[Dan Le Batard]

Mira, mommy. Sigue ben pagay.

[Jeremy Stugats]

No, Domino, stop, Please. Domino, please. This is a workplace. We can't have you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not his work.

[Mike Ryan]

He was talking about the pan con biste. You know about those V lines.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Dan, what are you guys doing? Please. Again with the pan con biste. How many is he making? How many pan con biste is he making?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm making enough for la cudada Miami

[Jeremy Stugats]

in terra dali pangobit panolos.

[Dan Le Batard]

I do put mayo on it. I make my own aioli. See? I make my own aioli.

[Mike Ryan]

It's not authentic. It's different.

[Dan Le Batard]

Aioli is different. Aioli is different.

[Jeremy Stugats]

The green sauce. Tony, you're not allowed to talk.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm allowed to do it whatever I want, Dan. I'm allowed to do whatever. Two minutes for adding one of the things you want. Adding nothing.

[Mike Ryan]

Tossing a chunkleta. That was embarrassing.

[Jeremy Stugats]

The chunkleta toss. How could you on 305 day fail at the chunkleta toss? That was embarrassing. You guys let Jeremy take you out. Trista, Frankie, who's wildly polite, spit out your colada. What happened?

[Dan Le Batard]

I got sandbagged. He. I've had multiple people taste my colada, and they said it was better than Jeremy. That's not true. But because I'm not a Cubana, they

[Mike Ryan]

would not give it to the gringa.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Frankie, spit it out.

[Dan Le Batard]

He told me he was told to do it. There's been A conspiracy.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Wait a minute.

[Mike Ryan]

What?

[Jeremy Stugats]

What are you told to do it?

[Dan Le Batard]

Hold.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Hold on a second. Jesus.

[Dan Le Batard]

See you, Trista. Out of here. Minor penalty. Two minutes for explaining the show.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I was told to do it. That is that. I didn't realize that was fraudulent.

[Mike Ryan]

It was stolen.

[Dan Le Batard]

Saw that coming. I just can't believe I won White Boy of the day on 305 Day.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm proud of you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Thank you.

[Mike Ryan]

That's the last time I'll do something like that. But I'll admit, you impressed me.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow.

[Jeremy Stugats]

You guys saw that Stephen Ross sold 1% of the Miami Dolphins for $125 million. That puts the valuation of the Dolphins and their stadium at a higher number than any NFL franchise has gone. What are you making faces about, Pitbull?

[Dan Le Batard]

Why do you do that?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Because it's an easy $125 million cash, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

But like he just needed a hunt. Just. He was short 125 million. So let's sell a percentage.

[Jeremy Stugats]

No, it's just you're selling the smallest possible amount percentage wise, while keeping a whole number and getting $125 million cash for your family. Do you know what Steven Ross bought in for in 2009? So do you know this number? Because this is why NFL franchises are a great investment. Do you know what Steven Ross bought in for in 2009?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'll guess 300.

[Jeremy Stugats]

$550 million is where he is.

[Mike Ryan]

What he did in 2009, that's an insane ROI. Like, what do you do they still have the celebrity investors? Do the Williams sisters and Marc Anthony. Like, are they. What about Fergie? Can you imagine the ROI they're getting?

[Jeremy Stugats]

I should point out that in 2009 he bought half of the team, 50% of the team for 550 million. So it'd be the equivalent of 1.1 billion. But still, in 16 years, the return on that investment goes from $1.1 billion to a valuation of 12.5 billion. And he's been a disaster as an owner. They have not won a single playoff time playoff game in that time. And it has not mattered. Although he does pour a good amount of his money back into the franchise. And you know that in those players association, you know, taking the temperature of our franchise, you saw recently, the Steelers came in last in terms of facilities and how good the employees feel about what it is that's being spent on the franchise. And the Dolphins were first. Because Steven Ross does put money back into the franchise. But why wouldn't you when it's worth that Much. That's crazy. To buy in at essentially 1.1 billion and to turn that investment into now 12.5 billion and the most valuable valuation you've ever seen. Walmart came in at like 6 billion, didn't they?

[Mike Ryan]

That's why I always maintain he's an incredible owner because he doesn't just own the Miami Dolphins. And yes, lack of on field success, I mean, he's literally gotten in trouble with the league for tampering because of how hard he's trying to fix that. It hasn't worked out. But I assume the entirety of that evaluation, Dan, is the Miami Open, Formula one, the real estate, all the money that he pumped into that stadium, which was a spectacular sporting venue.

[Dan Le Batard]

Great, great stadium.

[Jeremy Stugats]

And.

[Dan Le Batard]

And my goodness, before the renovations, not a good.

[Mike Ryan]

No, he literally made it a good stadium, a great stadium, unlike any other venue in the world.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Jeremy, would you do me the favor please of going over and I want to get in the habit of doing this a little bit more often. Can we go over yesterday's show and get to some of the things that we did poorly and some of the lesser things that we did well?

[Danny Alvarez]

Y.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, absolutely. I just was a little confused by why there was an encouragement for Trista to correct you on things. And when I do it, I'm just like a snot nosed punk. Is it because she sounds like Julie Bowen in Modern Family if it was a cartoon or Tommy Pickles?

[Jeremy Stugats]

I just like her more.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right, right. It's cause of the voice, right? Definitely not mine. You insinuated that the Heat wouldn't have made the playoffs the last several years because of the play in tournament when every single one of those years they finished as the seven or the eight seed. Do you feel stupid?

[Mike Ryan]

But I think the contest, that's where they settled. But if the regular season ended, they would be. Oli. No, no.

[Dan Le Batard]

They would have been the seven or the eight seed, every one of those.

[Mike Ryan]

What?

[Jeremy Stugats]

What did I insinuate?

[Dan Le Batard]

You insinuated that they wouldn't have had a chance at any of those runs because they got in via the play in. But they would have been a team that would have made the playoffs in any of those runs. Because they would have made the playoffs.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, you should be embarrassed. They wouldn't have been a nine. See, they would have been an eight.

[Dan Le Batard]

You more on what Are you bringing up Pablo's awards because you're jealous and you want us to praise you?

[Jeremy Stugats]

What?

[Dan Le Batard]

You're constantly bringing up Pablo's awards and it seems like you want us to cut him down on your behalf so that you can feel better about yourself. Is that true? He sees the result. You know you can win awards too, without paying for them, right?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Oh my.

[Dan Le Batard]

Only two minutes for leaking confidence. Yes.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Just terrible. Oh, I want to understand. I want to understand the accusation. So I celebrate Pablo's awards. You guys tear them down. You guys keep mentioning. Yeah, that he is buying these awards and that no one else is spending money stating facts. You guys are saying that he is only winning the awards because he's the only one paying to win the awards. That's what you guys are doing. And I'm jealous.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, because you keep bringing it up specifically so that this group can undercut it.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I don't want it undercut. I like to celebrate Pablo's victories because I think they're hard to come by. Why are you still so hard to

[Dan Le Batard]

come by that you don't have them?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Why are you still here?

[Mike Ryan]

I didn't get sent out of the penalty box. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Dan Le Batard]

That was the inner monologue. I don't know what you're talking about either. You know you can win awards without paying for them. I won Best Sideline Reporter via the Miami New Times without paying for that.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Okay, I've had enough of this.

[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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[Mike Ryan]

hug is always the right size stuff.

[Dan Le Batard]

All I have put in my body today is three cups of coffee and an entire cup of honey. Don't let him fool you. He said in the break that he's jittery. This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats. Greg was right to be skeptical about you guys playing that sound yesterday. It's a little boy who cried wolf. And also, Chris, I also love diarrhea.

[Jeremy Stugats]

He was skeptical of the sound that his stomach made that was not altered by anyone. And what Trista just did made it feel like now you can't trust our show to tell the truth about things. And some things are fake and some are not real. This is real. This is a sound that came out of Greg Cody's body. It also is what the inner monologue just sounded like.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'll pay the fine. I just don't understand, like, how, how did the microphone pick up Greg's stomach so well? I mean, it's as if he took the microphone and put it down his shirt. It really was amazing to listen to in real time.

[Jeremy Stugats]

It was that loud. And it's what I've been saying. It's been that loud for a few weeks. It's just not that the mic is catching it every time because if you consistently go s 16 hours without eating and then have two thermoses full of coffee, anyone's stomach is going to sound like that. Two thermoses full of coffee is not in any way healthy. And it's the only liquid that he drinks other than beer. Nothing that's happening with Greg Cody is healthy. That's. That is his stomach yelling at his

[Dan Le Batard]

brain, sounding like a mongoose.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Please stop the police. Stop what you're doing up there. What you're sending down here doesn't belong down here. And Jeremy agrees with diarrhea will clear you out.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, I love diarrhea. There will be times where all purposefully when I'm feeling, like, bloated for the span of several days, I will order a meal knowing that it's gonna flush me out because I just want to feel better about myself. As someone who is very insecure about my body, it feels really good when I don't feel bloated. And so there are times where I will purposefully go out of my way to get a meal that I know will give me diarrhea. Love it when it sounds like I'm peeing Chia seeds. Chia seeds, Miralax, Metamucil. All better than Cane's again.

[Mike Ryan]

If they're a sponsor, we love them.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's the grossest thing that's ever been said.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Please get out. Please get out. Jeremy, you caused all of this and

[Dan Le Batard]

get out of here. Honestly. Wrong. What you did two minutes for adding nothing. Wow.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Where are we on Martin? Michael Jones, Michael Jordan as an owner because and Trista had opinions about this earlier in the week, but in nascar, he's killing it. But at Charlotte, he was among the worst owners that there have ever been.

[Dan Le Batard]

Do you think he cares Like I was. I was. I was thinking about it earlier today, actually. A does he care that the Hornets now are obviously headed in the right direction and it only took him getting rid of the team. And I also wonder, does he even know? Like, does he have any idea that the Hornets are potentially good?

[Mike Ryan]

I think he follows the league.

[Dan Le Batard]

But do we know?

[Mike Ryan]

I I think it's funny that a big deal was made out of and we got super excited for this NBC broadcasting deal that he signed we get the insights into excellence of Michael Jordan. And he's doing more interviews with Fox on their NASCAR coverage because he's always winning over there. I understand he was not a success, to put it very politely, as an NBA owner, but it's irrefutable that he's a good NASCAR owner. He changed his sport through litigation, through having the money to actually stand up and fight. The settlement has been beneficial to him and the sport. He just made NASCAR history. In the entire history of that sport, no one has won the first three races to start a season. His racer, Tyler Reddick did that. He is saving the sport. The ratings are up. I am watching in this studio as the show goes on. And first take for the last three weeks, solely because Michael Jordan is involved, is talking about Tyler Redick winning a race and showing Michael Jordan on screen. The ratings bear this out. It's pretty impressive. So to say flatly he's a bad owner. Ignores the motorsports part of his portfolio.

[Dan Le Batard]

423 and 600

[Jeremy Stugats]

in basketball. Yes. But I want to get into how it is that Mike is defining owner success because he's doing it differently than I'm used to sports fans doing it. Never mind Michael Jordan for a second. We were just talking about Steven Ross and he's like, outside of the on field, lack of success. And I thought that was the measurement. He's saying he's giving him credit for trying to cheat.

[Mike Ryan]

It's fair. It's fair. I get what you're saying. And sports fans, or don't tell me about the labor pain. Show me the baby. Show me the success. And Miami Dolphin fans at this point are long suffering. In my lifetime, they haven't mattered longer than they did matter. And they mattered my entire childhood and teenage years. It's kind of crazy. So I get that if you're viewing this through that sole prism.

[Jeremy Stugats]

But an owner, Isn't that the sole prism, though? Isn't that the sole measurement?

[Mike Ryan]

Now, when you take on an investment, when. When. I'm sure if you ask Steven Ross, he would love to win a Super Bowl. That's one of the benchmarks. But also let me get one hell of a return on this investment. And it's irrefutable. He's turned the Miami Open into what is called in tennis circles the fifth major. He has invented a Formula One race at the height of its popularity. He built a Formula One track around that venue. For me, as a sports fan, I would love the team to be good, no doubt. But I also hated going to that stadium before and it's a pleasure now to go to that stadium. My skin is not searing off my bones. Sure, you want the success. And yes, he has tried and failed and sometimes tried too hard. But I don't think it's because he's a bad owner, Dan. I think he's done a lot of good things, man.

[Dan Le Batard]

Roi.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah, but that doesn't. That's not the measurement. Did you make the franchise go up in value? Is not.

[Mike Ryan]

But then it's a business, Dan.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's what happens on the court, on

[Mike Ryan]

the floor, and whatever doesn't matter.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. Like David will say, as much like you can win, you can lose, it doesn't matter as long as you're putting

[Mike Ryan]

asses in seats and selling stuff on. On tv.

[Dan Le Batard]

That sounds like Jerry Jones.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm not going that far. I'm not at all. I get it. I want my team to be good. If the team isn't good, I hold the owner accountable because it starts at the top. But it's just one of the variables that we're talking about.

[Jeremy Stugats]

No, but the part that I'm objecting to, when it comes to what I believe to be empirically based on lack of success, one of the worst owners in the history of South Florida sports may be the worst. Geoffrey Lauria was terrible in meddlesome ways that were incompetent but did win a championship. Geoffrey Lauria was all also cheap. But I thought that the measurement of an owner, the way that it's measured is, is there any success? Is the way that he's leading resulting in any success and no playoff wins, to me, is where James Dolan gets criticized for everything that he's done for the Knicks and gets no credit for what he's done for the Rangers because the Knicks haven't had any success. And he's meddlesome and a bad owner. You're saying Steven Ross does business well, but he doesn't lead in a way that produces success. And I thought success was the measurement.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, I think he leads in ways that lead to plenty of success. It's just not in the portfolio that you are focusing on. It certainly is in motorsports and it certainly is in tennis. Like, I don't even think he's the worst Dolphin owner of my lifetime. I don't. I think he's an upgrade over Wayne Huizenga. I get where you're coming from. I want my team to be good, too. When I was a Browns fan, I hated Jimmy Haslam. I didn't care about the Columbus Crew being successful. I wanted the Browns to be good. I get you. I'm. I don't think I'm being devil's advocate, though. I think there are very clear things that Steven Ross has made life better for the sports fan down here in this market. I really do.

[Dan Le Batard]

I would guess Michael Jordan believes his ownership of the Charlotte Hornets was a success because of what he paid and where he cashed out.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Okay, but that's, that's good. He can do that measurement. I'm not going to measure him that way. The standings measure Michael Jordan and an owner and he was lousy in basketball fighting nascar.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, he'd be fine if he started a tennis tournament in Formula one on around the arena is what I'm saying.

[Dan Le Batard]

And now Those Hornets are 32 and 31, the best team in the history of the goddamn sport. Pitch Clock is next. Unfortunately, DraftKings sportsbook puts you in the middle of basketball's biggest star driven moments. Bet player props. Bet live. And when a game turns fast, DraftKings has your back with early exit. If your player gets injured anytime in the first half, your bet stays alive. And once it settles, you still get paid in cash. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use Code Dan. New customers bet just $5 and if your bet wins, you'll get $200 in bonus bets instantly. That's with Code Dan in partnership with DraftKings. The Crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler. New York call 877-8-HOPE and why or text hope and why. Connecticut, call 888-789 or visit ccpg.org on behalf of Boot Hill Casino in Kansas. Wager tax pass through. May apply in Illinois, 21 and over in most states. Void in Ontario, restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive bonus bets which expire in seven days. Minimum odds required. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG Co audio limited time offer. Don LeBatard Can I tell you something? I don't know? Maybe like a month ago and I decided to watch Pitch Clock and I told Jeremy Stugats, this is a good show you're doing. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats. Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the Pitch, a two part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the Pitch Clock World Baseball Classic edition. However, Pitch Clock is here and to represent the fact that it's the World Baseball Classic. Not only do we have a reporter joining us later who will be boots on the ground at games. Ethan what is our game today? All right, boys, so we're going back to an old classic. So in the folders in front of you, you can open them. There is a baseball diamond. One of them has a Dominican Republic flag. The other has a United States of America flag. This is current. I am.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Screw.

[Dan Le Batard]

These are the rosters for the starting. These are the starting lineups for the winning teams. In 2017, that would be the United States. And 2013, that would be the Dominican Republic. Okay. It's going to be really simple. We're just going to do three strikes and you're out. Okay. Jeremy won Jeopardy. So he will kick us off.

[Danny Alvarez]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm trying to figure out how. What the proper strategy is on this. I'm just gonna go ahead and get one on the board. Center fielder on Team USA in 2017 for the Baltimore Orioles. I mentioned his outstanding play as one of the great moments in American sports history. That would be one Adam Jones. That is correct. Jeremy Cody, over to you we'll go. Stanton, DH for Team usa.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Correct.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm gonna go with the third baseman for Team usa, Colorado Rockies. That was Nolan Aaron. I. Correct. That was now correct. Yes. Yeah, he's now playing for team Puerto Rico.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Why?

[Dan Le Batard]

This. This. Just because he couldn't make it for usa. So he switched. Yeah, essentially. All right. All right, Chris, who you got? I'm just gonna take Yelich off.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Yellich was playing left field for that team. I'm gonna go ahead and name. I believe they're right fielder for the Texas Rangers. This is for the 2013 Dominican team. That would have been Nelson Cruz. Correct?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yes.

[Mike Ryan]

All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm going to keep it in America.

[Mike Ryan]

Actually.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, no, I'll do my one. I'll do Robinson Cano. That would be Robbie Cano. Don't you know, man? I. This is where the strategy comes into play. Right. Because we're doing strikes here. Three strikes in your. Yeah, I knew that was the one that you knew, and that's terrible strategy by you. I'm going to. Actually, I'm. Again, I'm just going to kind of keep.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Keep.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm gonna keep trying to just get correct answers here. So. First baseman for Team usa, Kansas City Royals. That's Eric Cosmo, correct?

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is embarrassing that I just realized. I just figured out. I think I know who that Texas catcher is, and it's wild that that's who it is.

[Danny Alvarez]

Yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

I think

[Dan Le Batard]

I have one on my head now. I feel like I should say it because I don't want you to get It. I'm gonna go right through. I know. America. Andrew McCutcheon.

[Mike Ryan]

That is correct.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes. Ooh. Okay, I'm gonna say the third baseman for team doctor as a Dodger was Adrian Beldre. That is incorrect. That's incorrect. That is the first strike of the game. And I had a feeling I was gonna be wrong. I just, I couldn't think. He definitely wasn't still with the Dodgers. That was so early in his career. I'll go DH for the Dr. Pujols. That is incorrect. Not our Pujols. It is our World Baseball Classic edition of the Pitch Clock, as we mentioned earlier, and we have Danny Alvarez of El Extrabase with me here. Danny, welcome back to the Pitch Clock, first and foremost, but second of all, I want to dive right into this with you when it comes to the World Baseball Classic because I think some folks who are not accustomed to Major League Baseball might not quite understand just how important this tournament is to the players in Major League Baseball and, and some of the fireworks that we've seen over the years. So I'm coming to you for a bit of like, a history lesson here. Can you give me a little bit of the background of the WBC and what the stakes are headed into this year's tournament?

[Danny Alvarez]

Yeah, I know it's amazing, Jeremy, because it's a tournament that started because the, because baseball was not in the Olympics. And obviously they tried to find a tournament that was going to be globally popular and have the best players in the world of the best nations possible playing in it. And I think they, they, they found a way to. To do. Started in 2006. It's crazy to think that it's been 20 years since.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, it's amazing.

[Danny Alvarez]

And for example, we had, I remember the first game being the Dominican Republic against Venezuela at the Disney World Complex in Orlando, that it was a minor league stadium by, by the time because the Braves were playing there for spring training. And now to see that we're going to have Lone depot park with 37,000 plus people in it, it's something, you know, crazy to see how much it's drove over over the years. Now it's not only the Hispanic countries or Japan or Korea, now it's baseball in America or with the national team being something huge.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, everyone's taking it very seriously in terms of the roster. And while there are some individual players that are treating it differently headed into their season, we know Tarek Skubal just going to make one start throwing pitches. Been. Been a bit of a controversy. These guys are Taking it very, very seriously and especially after the upset or, you know, if you want to call it an upset. But last year, when you have that epic showdown at the end of a series with Otani and Trout going head to head, that's what baseball is all about. And it's really exciting headed into this year. And so I, I want to talk to you about some of the favorites and then maybe some underdogs. So, so let's talk favorites first. Can you give me maybe three teams here to watch at sort of the top of the standings in those power rankings for you and maybe a player worth highlighting to sort of watch. Looking into this tournament.

[Danny Alvarez]

Yeah, I think it's. This is the easy part, giving the favorites because obviously the US they have an outstanding team. I really want to see what both Skins can accomplish at this level because we know he's in the Pirates, he's probably the best pitcher in baseball and how much he loves this country. And he, he almost served near the military. He said that he hasn't done that yet. But this is a really close second which is, you know, speaks highly about how he feels about the tournament and wearing USA across his chest. I really want to see what, what he can do. But also the Dominican Republic, man, I was at Lone Depot park this week watching their first official workout and I was like, oh my God. First of all, you see Albert Pujols coming out of the dugout and he's like, like, you need to be playing, sir. And right that start loaded roster with Fernando Tatis that it's going to represent the Dominican Republic for the first time. He missed it in 2023. Obviously he had the, the PED suspension but now I know he, he took it personal and how much it means to him. Also his dad being on the coaching staff and he's. It's going to be very special for, for both of them and for the entire country. And then Japan, the current champions. I mean, you always have to respect the champs. Now they have more big leaguers than, than ever on their roster. And obviously it's easy Shohei Ohtani saying we, we want to see Shohei in the tournament. But man, after what he did in the World Series and the post season in general, I want to see again Joshinobu Yamamoto in March. That feels like October or November 1, which was the date of the, of Game 7 at the World Series.

[Dan Le Batard]

The shortstop for the 2017American team was Brandon Crawford.

[Jeremy Stugats]

That is correct. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, I'll go. American catcher Salta Macchia. No, not Salta La Macchia. That was bad guys. It's not a.

[Mike Ryan]

Not a terrible.

[Dan Le Batard]

There was a time where he was thought of as like, yeah, no, he was a good American catcher. Is that. Is that two strikes for Chris Cody? Two strikes for Chris Cody, one strike for Jeremy. I. I'll just. I'm just gonna give you my full thought process. Process. There's two different guys I'm thinking are possible at the second base position for Team usa.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Oh.

[Dan Le Batard]

One of them. One of them I feel like did not play long enough for this to be correct. And the other I'm identifying with potentially. I think he just. Him talking. I have it now. I know who exactly. The players I'm identifying with.

[Danny Alvarez]

I'm.

[Dan Le Batard]

I only have one, so I'm hoping he says no. I know exactly what's going on. I'm gonna. Both of your heads, I'm gonna say the guy. The second guy, I'm gonna say. That's Ian Kinsler. That is correct. Okay. It was not the guy. It's not. You had the other guy. You had Michael Young.

[Danny Alvarez]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. This starting pitcher, it can't be him. Can you just give me one hint? Is it a doctor? Is it like a number one? No, no. Us. The us pitcher. Is it just like a random. At this time, he was of. He was a very, like. He's still in the league, I'll give you that. And at this time, he was a very solid, like, up and coming number one. Oh, I'm thinking of. It was an up and coming number one. Keep talking that out. I. I would do some thinking about in 2013, I would do some thinking about what was going on with the Toronto Blue Jays and our show at this time. 2013, Marshall. 2013. I just started with the show. Exactly what was going on in baseball around that time.

[Mike Ryan]

Right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, I got you. You now know what that. I now know exactly what that means. Shut up. Don't. Why are you allowed to know the hint? Well, he's already gave the hint. Yeah, but you should just comment you here. You should only just tell me the thing. He's trying to help you. No information other than just what he's talking about. He's talking about. I'm not gonna win this game.

[Mike Ryan]

The.

[Dan Le Batard]

The. The Blue Jays. There was a big, big trade made with the Blue Jays.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh.

[Dan Le Batard]

Aha. There you go. All right. So, Jose Reyes.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Is that true? What if I come back and win now? Let's go. I'm gonna be really mad if you do.

[Mike Ryan]

You know what?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm gonna go. Is the designated hitter for the Angels there, Vlad senior. No, it's not. No, it is not. Big strike there for you. So next Chris guess wrong. The other team the other guy can steal. Well, no, I mean, if Chris gets wrong, I win because I went first. If Chris gets. Oh, yes, yes, yes.

[Mike Ryan]

No, not.

[Dan Le Batard]

We figure it out. Yeah. No, that's how the game works. That's the end of the round. Yep, yep, yep, yep. So, Cody, you gotta. You gotta get this to stay alive here. You mentioned sort of the big three, right. Everybody's looking at the U. S. Doctor and Japan. But let's talk about three other teams who are some dark horses in this tournament and who will be carrying those teams.

[Danny Alvarez]

It's hard for me to call Venezuela a dark horse.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, right.

[Danny Alvarez]

By the way, and obviously I might

[Dan Le Batard]

sound putting your bias aside.

[Danny Alvarez]

Exactly. But the thing is that Venezuela lost Pablo Lopez due to an injury. We all the best Jose Alvarado because of insurance, which is something that. That kind of confused people a lot. And Jose was very upset about it because it happened once the roster was an end and he was already on the roster like 10 days before the tournament starts and, and he was really, really upset with the situation. But since they don't have those big names under in the rotation or the pitching stuff in general because Robert Suarez is not participating, Jesus Lucardo might get in after full play. They don't have the, you know, the sexy names on. On the pitching staff.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's right.

[Danny Alvarez]

They have young arms that I know are hungry and I know that they can get some people out and that's going to be so important for them. Mexico, we were so close to us against Mexico finals last year. Yes, it. You know what? It gave us one of the most epic finishes in. In WBC with that Japan Mexico game. But they were pretty, pretty damn close to making it to the finals. And I think that they've grown a lot since. Since that tournament. They're Mexico. They're going to have a really, really, really good team. And this last one that I will give you Team Italy. I think they can do something special in this WBC because I think they have the best roster they've carried for the tournament. And Francisco Cerveli being the manager with the passion that he brings to the game, think it's gonna be. Man, I just can't wait to see what team middle is gonna do in this wbc.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, so let's, let's roll through this. I'm gonna lay out each bracket for you there. There's Four pools here. Okay. And you're just gonna go ahead and give me your prediction of the two teams that will get out of each of these pools, and then we'll talk about who makes it to the championship. So pool A, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama, Canada, and Colombia. Who are the two teams that advance?

[Danny Alvarez]

I would say Puerto Rico and Team Canada. Or Canada as bad.

[Dan Le Batard]

Bonnie said Pool B, United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain and Brazil.

[Danny Alvarez]

So the US and it's gonna be a really close here. I think Mexico, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Italy. Yeah, that's.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's. You've got two of those dark horses in the same pool, so they're sort of for that second spot that could be really fun to see. And just so we know that side of the bracket those two teams will square off against the two teams from pool A. Over on the other side of the bracket, pool C is Japan, Australia, Korea, Chechia, and Chinese Taipei. Who you got?

[Danny Alvarez]

Yeah, Japan and Korea, I think, are the two big favorites here.

[Dan Le Batard]

And then finally, in pool D, it'll be Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and Nicaragua. Who are your two who advance here?

[Danny Alvarez]

I have the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, who are the teams to emerge from each side to play each other in the championship, and who ultimately wins the World Baseball Classic?

[Danny Alvarez]

So I have the doctor Winning there, and I have Venezuela winning there to advance. Okay. Then the semis. That's where things are.

[Dan Le Batard]

Are really reshuffled.

[Danny Alvarez]

We shuffled exactly so we can have, let's say that game, Mexico against the. The second one. So.

[Dan Le Batard]

So it would be. It could be Mexico against Dr. No,

[Danny Alvarez]

Mexico against, I think, Puerto Rico and the US playing against Canada in the. In the quarterfinals.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's right, in the quarterfinals. Exactly.

[Danny Alvarez]

So then we can have semi finals between Mexico and Venezuela and the US against the art. And that's where I have my. My. The finals with the US Facing Venezuela. And this is what I think. The US Pulls it.

[Dan Le Batard]

You are. You are so biased, sending Venezuela all the way to the final. But you know what? You're also. You're also a baseball expert, and I'm going to trust your opinion here.

[Danny Alvarez]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

You know these teams and these players as well as anybody, and. And your expertise is valued here. This United States team is loaded in a way that I have never quite seen in the World Baseball Classic. I think particularly after last time around, they're frustrated at the way that it ended, but, boy, would it be interesting to see if Japan can find a way to. To make a run here, because they are going to have one hell of a time trying to get through that bracket, going up against teams like Venezuela or the doctor on the other side. Once they escape group play, this is going to be an electric World Baseball Classic. I know Danny will have you covered with his coverage on El Rexro Basse. And, guys, we're gonna have some coverage here with the pitch clock, so be sure to tune into the Levitard social channels and to YouTube. But let's go ahead and get back to our trivia game. I am a little. I'm a little. I'm a little frustrated with myself, if I'm being most honest, for not being able to name who a Who the starting. I got it. Angels. Dharma. Bobby Abreu. No, that's strike three for Cody. He is Venezuelan. Is it Kendra's Morales? No, that's strike three for Jeremy. No, but I. All right, so that's a victory. It was Hanley. Wait, Hanley here? Hanley is at third base. He's at third. Dodgers. Yes. Yeah, so you would have had that. So I'll give it to you, Jeremy. All right, so let's go. Let's go around the horn here. So in left field was Moises Sierra of the Toronto Blue Jays. This is for the 2013 Dominican team.

[Mike Ryan]

Team.

[Dan Le Batard]

The center fielder was Alejandro De Aza, Nelson Cruz. In right field, Jose Reyes and Robinson Canoe. Who we got up the middle? Yeah, Hanley. At third base. If you say it clearly couldn't have been Carlos Delgado at first, it was not Carlos Delgado. It was five. It was Edwin Encarnacion. Oh, that is obvious. The catcher was Carlos Santana. Carlos Santana. Of course, Carlos Santana. So obviously, yes. And Samuel Deuno was the starting pitcher, and Eric Ibar was the dh. Tell me who the starting pitcher and catcher were for the 2020. Yeah. So let me just go around the horn again. Ever give everybody answer. So, Christian Yellichin left. Adam Jones in Center. Andrew McCutchen in right. Yet Nolan Arenado, Brandon Crawford, Ian Kinsler, Eric Hosmer. Around the infield. The DH was Giancarlo Stanton. The catcher was Jonathan Lucroy. And the starting pitcher was Marcus Straight

[Danny Alvarez]

Roman,

[Dan Le Batard]

who pitched for Puerto Rico in the last World Baseball Club. Of course, both these teams, not as good as they are today. These teams now, just shows you, by the way, just how much. I mean, outfield and doctor.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, this tournament is getting better and better and better by the year. And if you look at both the US and the Dr. Rosters now, these teams are absolutely loaded. Guys, I'm very excited for the wbc. I cannot win a game. Good news for you. We're not counting the the games in the off season against the standings. So we'll pick up with our our first episode. We're in spring training right now. It's spring training. That said, I'm dominating. Well, I don't try in spring training.