Hour 2: Emmy Winners (feat. Rachel Nichols and Adnan Virk)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 2 – Emmy Winners (feat. Rachel Nichols and Adnan Virk)

Date: October 23, 2025
Main Guests: Rachel Nichols (Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated), Adnan Virk (MLB Network)

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Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew blend their signature blend of sports analysis, pop culture banter, and game show silliness. In this packed hour, they welcome Emmy-winning journalist Rachel Nichols and MLB Network’s Adnan Virk to discuss bombshell basketball scandals, the complex psychology of LeBron James, the meteoric rise of Victor Wembanyama, parenting sports etiquette, and break down a World Series matchup—the latter via the trademarked chaos of their "Pitch Clock" segment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Scandal: FBI Probe and Implicated Figures

[03:03]

• Kickoff with Adnan Virk lampooning the show's tradition of far-fetched “conspiracy” mapping on a whiteboard about several NBA names being implicated.
• Key figures: Terry Rozier, Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones (arrested), with speculative ties to figures like Rick Pitino, Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, and LeBron James.
• Quote:
• “We know that Paul Pierce has a mutual hatred with one LeBron James... former Cavs teammates with Damon Jones. That ties everything together there.” – Adnan Virk [03:03]

2. Rachel Nichols on Chauncey Billups' Alleged Involvement

[05:15]

• Rachel reacts to the news, expressing surprise about Billups’ implication but not about Rozier or Jones.
• She explains the mechanics of the apparent “rigged games” poker scandal and how athletes’ reputations play into these setups.
• Quote:
• “I’m pretty surprised. Chauncey is a pretty standup guy… that’s why he got his job. Not surprised at Terry Rozier or Damon Jones, as I’m sure neither are you.” – Rachel Nichols [06:14]

3. LeBron & NBA Authenticity Discourse

[07:16]

• Conversation pivots to a new report that Russell Westbrook thinks LeBron’s “a total phony.”
• Rachel is not surprised, noting it’s a longstanding NBA gripe, and breaks down why so many stars are happy to fuel narratives even if they later claim to be misquoted.
• Quote:
• "Russell Westbrook, when given this opportunity—hey, will you maybe talk some about LeBron—said, 'Sure, why not? Absolutely. Let’s go.'" – Rachel Nichols [07:51]
• Anecdote on LeBron supposedly hogging time with Will Smith; panel debates which of LeBron’s “fraudulent” behaviors was the most egregious.

4. LeBron James, Sciatica, and Lakers Dynamics

[13:22]

• Rachel shares a personal anecdote about severe sciatica during her pregnancy with twins to contextualize LeBron’s injury claim.
• Discussion centers around whether LeBron is using “old man” injuries to subtly protest Lakers’ valuation of his role.
• Quote:
• “If your entire life, when you're 10...it's been about you. And for the first time, literally, the Lakers are not interested in doing what he wants.” – Rachel Nichols [16:55]
• Explores the deeper existential challenge for LeBron as the team signals they're planning around others, not him.

5. Youth Sports Parenting & Snack Debates

[18:46 – 20:49]

• Rachel describes the etiquette minefield of being a sports journalist parent at youth matches—dealing with coaches angling for inside info, and touchy issues like whether to cheer unforced errors by opposing children.
• Doritos snack flavor debate erupts:
  • Cool Ranch vs. Nacho Cheese vs. Sweet Thai Chili.
  • “Cool Ranch is the only possible acceptable flavor.” – Rachel Nichols [20:46]

6. Victor Wembanyama: Basketball’s “Alien”

[21:22]

• Chris Cody and Rachel draw a line between Shaquille O'Neal’s dominance and the sheer unfairness of facing Wemby.
• Rachel, with a longtime evaluative eye, doubles down on her “all-time top 10” projection for Wembanyama (and suggests that might be an undersell).
• “He’s got a Ray Lewis mindset and a 7-foot-4 body. It’s not beatable.” – Rachel Nichols [23:21]

7. CHALLENGE: World Series MVPs Game

[27:13 – 46:30]

• Adnan, Jeremy, and Chris play a brutal, hilarious trivia game trying to recall all the World Series MVPs from 1992-2008.
• Frequent stumbles, incorrect Yankees guesses (Bernie Williams!) and lots of public self-flagellation.
• “This is maybe the worst we’ve ever done.” – Adnan Virk [43:58]
• Game ends with Chris clinching on David Eckstein as MVP in 2006, but they mercifully call it a draw.

8. MLB Analysis: Blue Jays vs. Dodgers Preview with Adnan Virk

[29:46] to [42:39]

• In-depth preview of the 2025 World Series showdown:
  • Blue Jays: Glorious ALCS comeback, Springer’s key homer, Vlad Jr.’s historic postseason run.
  • Dodgers: Unmatched starting pitching depth with four aces (Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Ohtani), offensive firepower.
• Key matchups: Blue Jays’ relentless contact offense vs. Dodgers' dominant arms.
• Home field, key players, bullpen matchups, and the invisible hand of Don Mattingly.
• Rapid-fire predictions:
  • Role player to shine: Tommy Edman (Dodgers), Ernie Clement (Blue Jays)
  • Most under-the-radar story: Addison Barger (Blue Jays)
  • Series pick: “We're gonna get one [a Toronto title] this year. … It’s going to be Vlad.” – Adnan Virk [42:22/42:38]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On sports-parent etiquette:
  • “So you’re cheering a 12-year-old making a mistake.” – Rachel Nichols [20:13]
• On LeBron’s existential crossroads:
  • “If your entire life … it is not all about him. And the team was like, 'meh, ok, you know, sure.'” – Rachel Nichols [16:55]
• On Wembanyama:
  • “He’s the next kind of basketball player. Not the next good one, the next kind of.” – Rachel Nichols [21:48]
• On failure at trivia:
  • “This is maybe the worst we’ve ever done … but it humanizes us.” – Jeremy Stugotz & Adnan Virk [43:58 / 44:03]
• Adnan’s Canadian pride:
  • “That swing of Eddie bastard Edward Bizardo will be forever remembered by Blue Jays fans… the most important one since Carter.” – Adnan Virk [31:30]

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Key Timestamps

• NBA/FBI Scandal Whiteboard Breakdown: [03:03]
• Rachel Nichols on Billups Arrest: [05:15]
• Westbrook/LeBron Discussion: [07:16]
• LeBron, Sciatica & Lakers Psychology: [13:49, 15:27, 16:55]
• Youth Sports Etiquette & Doritos Debate: [18:46–20:49]
• Wembanyama as Basketball “Alien”: [21:22–23:21]
• MLB ‘Pitch Clock’ Game Show: [27:13–46:30]
• ALCS Recap & World Series Preview with Adnan Virk: [29:46–42:39]
• Rapid Fire World Series Picks: [40:27–42:39]

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Overall Tone

Lively, irreverent, and chaotic—mixing in running gags, playful expert analysis, and personal storytelling. Rachel Nichols brings direct NBA insight and dry wit; Adnan Virk adds deep baseball knowledge and Canadian color.

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Perfect for:

• NBA fans following league drama
• MLB fans seeking a World Series primer with personality
• Listeners who love sports media personalities and their offbeat chemistry
• Parents of youth athletes (for the etiquette wisdom and snack debates)

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For more, listen to this episode for a full dose of Dan, Stugotz, Rachel, Adnan, and friends cutting through sports, scandal, and snack food one chaotic minute at a time!

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Rachel Nichols]

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[Rachel Nichols]

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[Rachel Nichols]

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[Mike Ryan]

This is the Dan Levator show with the Stugats podcast.

[Chris Cody]

After all these years, it's still incredibly soothing to see Roy shovel giant Doritos into his mouth.

[Mike Ryan]

It's 11:15. I'm hungry, man. I'm sorry.

[Chris Cody]

He has been eating Doritos from vending machines for 20 years. His main nourishment is just Doritos. You eat nothing more than Doritos. It's nice to see is all I'm saying.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Now it's just a drawer though. It used to be a vending machine. We've moved up.

[Chris Cody]

I know he's got endless access to Doritos. I've heard it's hard to keep the Doritos in stock. Before we get to Rachel Nichols, one of our favorites, the Emmy award winning journalist. She's now with Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated. Before we do that though, we've had some complicated subject matter in the morning. Jeremy is here to simplify it at the whiteboard. Let's go to Jeremy real quick. Jeremy, catch Rachel up to date. Catch everyone up to date on everything that happened with the unusual FBI probe into basketball this morning.

[Adnan Virk]

Thank you for also introducing me as a rightful Emmy award winning journalist. Dan we have Terry Rosier, Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones implicated by the FBI, arrested by the FBI. And we've got some interesting ties here of different people to these folks that we think may or may not potentially allegedly be implicated. So we look at Rick Pino first. Rick Patino of course coached both Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups. He also looks like a mafia member. His son Richard coached at fiu. Now who else is a prominent FIU face? That's right, one. Billy Gill who recently left our show. Then of course we could look at who Billy has a jersey of. We're talking about the ever eloquent Tuataga Vailoa. Could he potentially be involved? But when we look at Terry and Chauncey, those are both former Boston Celtics. How is Paul Pierce potentially involved? Mike Ryan's best friend? That's the question that we have to ask. Of course, maybe even Kendrick Perkins. We know that Paul Pierce has a mutual hatred with one LeBron James. And we all remember what was going on in the 2010-11 finals. What happened there with LeBron? Could questions potentially be answered? You know, of course he's former Cavs teammates with Damon Jones. That ties everything together there. Of course Damon Jones was not in a system with the Los Angeles Lakers as I insinuated last hour.

[Chris Cody]

Then these are all tenuous connections.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Oh, he was just about to get.

[Adnan Virk]

To Ippe Ipe la ipe. There's a tie there. And of course the ever loved by this show.

[Chris Cody]

Sidney, I don't remember man. Chauncey Billis Boston Celtics career was that.

[Mike Ryan]

Before everything that was drafted there? Drafted about to be a bust.

[Chris Cody]

Rachel Nichols is with us now. I should tell people if you want more Jeremy, generally not a sentence we say around here. Pitch clock is coming up at the end of the hour but there's plenty to talk with Rachel about and I want to start with the news of the day. Hello, Rachel, can you tell us what your reaction was? I know that you've got something of a relationship with Chauncey. I don't know the depth of it. So what can you tell us about the news this morning?

[Rachel Nichols]

Well, I don't gamble with him, apparently. So there's that. He's been leaving me out of that is the allegation that Chauncey knew the games were rigged because that's the thing about the gambling, like the poker stuff, that they're rigged and that the crime families brought like, you know, rubes in saying you're going to gamble with a professional athlete.

[Sponsor Voice]

Fish.

[Rachel Nichols]

Fish. Thank you, Jeremy. Is that on your board, Fish? Because I think that will art.

[Adnan Virk]

Well, the Miami Dolphins, of course. Now Dolphins, we all know are mammals, not fish. But it's an interesting tie.

[Chris Cody]

Not helpful.

[Rachel Nichols]

Just saying that the allegation is that people were brought in being like, you too can get with a NBA hall of Famer. So is the idea that he knew that the games were rigged.

[Chris Cody]

Yes.

[Rachel Nichols]

Okay.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah. That you're basically just stealing money from suckers.

[Rachel Nichols]

I mean, professional athletes do that all the time.

[Chris Cody]

That's right. What did you, what did you think of it as. As far as crimes go? Because everyone's saying he's going to lose his job. He's going to immediately lose his job.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah, I mean, look, he's not coaching tonight. I know that. I'm pretty surprised. Chauncey is a pretty standup guy. I mean, that's really why he's in the hall of Fame is as a, you know, not necessarily as the greatest basketball player on earth. He led those Detroit Pistons to a title no one expected them to get and had a long career where he was in a lot of stops as sort of one of the better leaders in all of sports, which is why he got his job. So I'm pretty surprised at him, I gotta tell you guys. Not surprised at Terry Rosier or Damon Jones being involved in either one of these things, as I'm sure neither are you.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, not terribly. No, that's correct him.

[Rachel Nichols]

No, it is not. I mean, I don't know if this is also connected to the Gilbert Arenas arrest that happened just a couple months ago here in Los Angeles that Gilbert has taken so seriously that he filmed a video of himself dancing down the steps coming out of federal jail to beat the charge. So I don't know. I mean, he hasn't beaten it yet. I just mean that he says he's going to cuz wasn't me that kind of situation.

[Chris Cody]

He. He was not named or implicated today. Were you surprised at all by the story this week that was making the. I think most people think of Russell Westbrook as authentic as always real, always raw.

[Jeremy Stugats]

His.

[Chris Cody]

The reporting around him suggesting that Westbrook thought that LeBron was a pretty total phony. Were you surprised by that?

[Rachel Nichols]

Who could be surprised by that? If you paid attention to the NBA in the last, what, 10, 15, 20 years at this point? I mean, that's definitely one of LeBron's raps, right?

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, but I just don't hear a lot of journalists saying it, right?

[Rachel Nichols]

Well, yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm not saying it. Dan. Am I surprised that Russell Westbrook is saying it? No, I am not. First of all, no love lost between those guys, right? And so Russ, given an opportunity to twist the knife. I mean, it's funny with these books, right? So when you make your calls, which I know, when you make calls, it's a big deal. Dan, when you make your calls, you know that when you're calling someone to talk about someone else, you're basically saying, hey, will you talk about this guy? And I'm kind of always shocked at how many people say yes, right? Because then afterward, the quote comes out, the story comes out, and we get that hallelujah round of. I was misquoted, and I was taken out of context. You know, what the hell they were calling for. Let's be real here. And Russell Westbrook, when given this opportunity, hey, will you maybe talk some about LeBron said, sure, why not? Absolutely. Let's go. So the only thing that I misunderstood a little bit, or I can't quite quite understand why. It's the red hair, you know, the smoking gun anecdote. I don't get why the Will Smith stuff is so crazy. Why is that sort of Russell Westbrook? It's just holding that up because it's.

[Chris Cody]

So fraudulent, because you didn't. You hog the time with Will Smith when you didn't want to be around Will Smith. It's just sort of a quintessential, symbolically Hollywood fraud.

[Mike Ryan]

He got up, said, y' all got this. Anthony Davis followed him. Russell Westbrook's like, well, I'm a future hall of Famer, and I'll be right on my way. And then he found where he was in the pecking order. And then this sparked a fight, a fight that Darvin Ham, the head coach, stayed out of, only to get up, go retrieve the star that started this whole argument. And then he hogged the entire time with Will Smith shouting out movie quotes and turning a 30 minute meeting into 60, which Russ was just picking angrily at a bowl of fruit. Can't believe that this guy did this to me.

[Rachel Nichols]

I mean, that's a good amount of color in the story. I'd like to know what kind of fruit, but whatever. I don't. In the list of fake things LeBron supposedly did to me, going around telling people that the Godfather is your favorite movie, but you can't repeat a line or carrying a fake book around to make you look smart when you haven't read it. That's more fake to me than, yeah, I mean, my kids do that. I don't want to sit at dinner with this person and then we make them and then, you know, they're nice at dinner. Like that's not crazy to me. It's the other stuff to me that I was like, oh yeah, okay.

[Jeremy Stugats]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Adnan Virk]

My group chat. Chaos.

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[Chris Cody]

There's sunglasses in boxes today.

[Mike Ryan]

Put in my bed in the hospital.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Ending our lives all the same.

[Mike Ryan]

Stugats.

[Jeremy Stugats]

It's the final night gown. This is the Dan Lebatar show with the Stugats. Rachel. Sciatica. That's the best LeBron could come up with for his passive aggressive holdout.

[Rachel Nichols]

Okay, so which one of you guys just had a baby or is about to have a baby or there's a baby coming?

[Mike Ryan]

I had a baby recently.

[Rachel Nichols]

Okay, was your wife, did she have, like, sciatica or any back issues?

[Adnan Virk]

She had a little bit of back issues, but we got a firmer bed.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Oh.

[Adnan Virk]

Oh.

[Rachel Nichols]

Aren't you special? Oh, I don't need to hear about your bed with your wife.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm saying I got the bed that fixed your sciatica is what I'm saying.

[Rachel Nichols]

The question was not about how you and your wife sleep together. The question was, did she have back problems? She did. I had twins. My two children are twins. And when you have twins, they really. I mean, there's a lot in there, right? There's two people in a space for one person, and they practice on your back and your spine. I had really bad sciatica for part of my pregnancy. It sucks. It is literally one of the most painful things I have ever been through. So I don't know if he actually has sciatica. I assume he does because it's such an old man injury that it makes him. You know, it's just like the jokes write themselves. But it does suck. It is really, really unpleasant. So. And it is. There's not much of a cure. There's not much they can do for you that you have to basically stretch a lot. They give you a lot of PT kind of stuff and, you know, massages and whatever, but you just kind of have to wait for it to go away. So I'm with him on the sciatica. If he really has sciatica, which I assume he does. Guys, like, why. Why would he want to fake missing the beginning of the season? He's in a little bit of a pissing contest with the Lakers about how valuable he is. Him saying he's more valuable than they think he is, which, by the way, is the first time in his career that's happened. And so I don't think he's faking not being available.

[Jeremy Stugats]

No, But Rachel, like, you questioned why he would not want to be available and then totally explained why he would.

[Rachel Nichols]

Not want to be available, but not for an injury. So they're basically saying, you old, and he's going to come up with the most old man injury ever to prove their point and why they shouldn't pay him for the, you know, future next year or two. I mean, come on, man. You'd fake, like, something else.

[Jeremy Stugats]

He would have faked.

[Rachel Nichols]

I don't think he'd taken up.

[Jeremy Stugats]

It would have been a cooler injury.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah. You're like, oh, my God, I can't play. I've got whooping cough. Like, whatever. But.

[Mike Ryan]

But this. This one seems awfully manufactured in terms of a resentment. No, no, in terms of a resentment for a franchise, because this is how it always. It feels like having viewed a couple of these LeBron breakups with the teams that he's on, he always holds on to something. Some bit of resentment with Miami was, you know, you aim to see Mike Miller and these things end up like coming back. But with the LUCA one. This one is hard to follow because the New York Post had an article about this where LeBron pretended to react to WTF to the trade news as Anthony Davis leaves the group chat. All the reporting on this was LeBron knew that Richard knew.

[Chris Cody]

But it's what Chris Bosh says about you don't know the sacrifices you're making until you make them. He. He thought Luka was coming over to be Kyrie not to be LeBron. He was coming. He was coming over to be his.

[Mike Ryan]

Running mate, that he's a smart basketball guy. Is this. Is this just LeBron being married to have some resentment, doesn't want to be the bad guy on the way out, and it's just particularly lazy in terms of resentments that he holds on the.

[Rachel Nichols]

Way he doesn't want to leave. So I don't know if it's the same situation. I think this is totally new in LeBron land. I really do. I think this is him coming to terms, or probably not at the moment yet coming to terms with the fact that it is not all about him. And by the way, it's been all about him since he was like, 10. So if your entire life, when you're 10, by the way, you've been sort of conscious of the world for maybe three years. So except for three or four years of his conscious existence, he's been about him, and everybody has wanted him, and everybody has wanted to do whatever he wants them to do. And for the first time, literally for the first time, certainly in his adult life. But even before that, the Lakers are not interested in doing what he wants to do. And whether he knew about the ad trade for Luca or not, I promise you, he had no say in it because they are definitely not planning around him. And the thing he's most upset about and the reason we saw all these ridiculous, I'm wearing a Cleveland hat that says home, and I'm practicing on the Cavaliers practice court because, you know, I may leave. And also when I come back to la, I'm practicing on the Clippers old practice court. And, you know, I'm taking a picture with so and so. All of that ridiculousness is about him trying to do what he has done to teams over and over again, which is cause a fuss, being like, I might leave, I might leave. And the difference this time was that the team was like, meh, okay, you know, sure, if you want to, we've got the other guy. And I think that that is something he even right now can't quite sort of come to terms with, because it's never happened to him before in his entire life with anything. Imagine, I mean, if you're Dan Libertard, it's probably the same way, right? Like, imagine that everywhere you went all the time, people just wanted to give you everything you want. And then all of a sudden that stopped. That's your life, the most important public thing.

[Chris Cody]

It's wonderful.

[Rachel Nichols]

Isn't it amazing?

[Chris Cody]

Dan, you've mentioned Your twins here, you talked about the idea of since 10. I've been curious and I've not asked you this question before. What it's like for you to go to your kids games. I would imagine that. I would imagine the parents are always asking you for information.

[Rachel Nichols]

Well, yeah, the coaches by the way, weirdly so. My kids coaches are the ones who ask a lot and I never know kind of what to say. I'm like, hey, aren't you supposed to be coaching the team here? But it's weird because the etiquette is strange at kids sporting events. I don't know if any of you guys have been to a kid relative sporting event, but do you cheer? So my kid plays tennis. Let me put this to the group. Do you cheer when the other kid hits the ball out?

[Jeremy Stugats]

It's a good question.

[Adnan Virk]

No.

[Rachel Nichols]

And my kid wins the point.

[Mike Ryan]

You gotta give a fist pump.

[Rachel Nichols]

I think it's like a big point.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, yeah, do a fist pump. Was it a tricky shot that forced the air? No, no, it was an unforced error.

[Chris Cody]

Unforced error by a young person?

[Rachel Nichols]

No, it's just another child who has hopes and dreams messing up.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, but it's not your kid though leading the way.

[Mike Ryan]

Unforced Sarah.

[Rachel Nichols]

No, my kid.

[Mike Ryan]

We sit on the hands Forestera. We clap that up.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I'm a mic.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah, it's a big thing. And then the other parents, if they're cheering your kid hitting out, suddenly it becomes very loud in our section.

[Mike Ryan]

That's fair game. That's fair game.

[Rachel Nichols]

If they draw first blood, then they start doing it.

[Mike Ryan]

If they draw first blood, then it's fair.

[Rachel Nichols]

I know, but then someone new will come over and be like. So you're cheering a 12 year old making a mistake.

[Mike Ryan]

Well, allow me to catch you up. They drew first.

[Rachel Nichols]

Exactly.

[Mike Ryan]

That's how this works.

[Rachel Nichols]

I'm a cat stomag. It's a lot of tricky etiquette going on here. There's also a lot of politics over snacks because each parent is supposed to bring certain snacks. I know that Doritos apparently are what I should be bringing, but what flavor are the Doritos by the way?

[Mike Ryan]

Nacho cheese.

[Rachel Nichols]

Nacho cheese. Not your Doritos.

[Adnan Virk]

Gotta go Cool Ranch.

[Rachel Nichols]

Cool Ranch is the only possible acceptable flavor. Right.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Thank you.

[Chris Cody]

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Better Dorito, Cool Ranch or Nacho cheese. I have read.

[Rachel Nichols]

How could this even be? I'm sorry, that is going to be like a 90% to 1.

[Adnan Virk]

It's actually neither.

[Jeremy Stugats]

That might be the Most common poll we've ever had in show history.

[Chris Cody]

Neither.

[Adnan Virk]

Neither. Dan, have you seen the Purple Bag?

[Mike Ryan]

Sweet Thai chili. Sweet Thai Chilies. As low.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I don't know why you're saying it like that.

[Chris Cody]

Rachel, I wanted to ask you something that I felt last night that I can say that in my life, I have not felt very often when it comes to sports.

[Rachel Nichols]

But this is not going to be about your bed with your wife, is it?

[Chris Cody]

No, it is not about basketball. The. When Shaquille o' Neal played, I was like, that's not fair. It's just not. It's not. I haven't felt that since. But Wemby makes me feel that. Yeah, Wemby makes me feel like that's not fair. That should be like another division. The humans play in this division, and then this thing shouldn't be legal.

[Rachel Nichols]

Well, that's why they call him the Alien. That's why his nickname is the Alien. Same that exact reason. There's the human Division and then there's the Alien. I don't know, man. I saw this kid when he was still in France playing before he was drafted, and I was like, okay, that's it. Like, that's it. He's the next thing. And not just the next thing, the way Cooper Flagg or LeBron or any of this, but he's the next sort of kind of basketball player. Not the next good one, the next kind of. And I said, before he was drafted, this kid's gonna be a top 10 ever player. And I was laughed at on national television. And then I said it his rookie year. And I was laughed at on national television. Top 10 all time. Come on, look at the list who you're knocking out, all that stuff. I think I maybe undershot it, right? I mean.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, he's. It's just not fair. Like, I've in twice. It's only happened with two basketball players. Two athletes. I'd say two athletes where I'm like, what's happening there? Isn't fair.

[Rachel Nichols]

I mean, it's not just that he's so tall and the fact that he grew between last season and this season, which is insane. He's now 7 foot 4 after being 7 foot 2. But that his mentality, it's like sticking. You know, who's your example of sort of the best mentality athlete? Who's the guy who. You'd be like, man, that guy's. It's his mentality that's got him where he is.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Dan. I got him as mvp, front runner now. I changed Him. No, no, stop. No, he's mvp.

[Mike Ryan]

Stop that.

[Jeremy Stugats]

If you're.

[Mike Ryan]

It's Luka and you know it.

[Jeremy Stugats]

If we're talking mvp, you gotta have Wembanyama at the top right now.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I got Luka.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Ray Lewis.

[Chris Cody]

Ray Lewis.

[Rachel Nichols]

Ray Lewis.

[Adnan Virk]

I don't have him on top of my MVP ballot.

[Rachel Nichols]

So he's very. He's got a Ray Lewis mindset and a 7 foot 4 body. And grow. Growing up playing a version of guard, I mean, it's just, it's. It's not beatable. And if he doesn't win MVP this year, which I don't think he probably will, it will be because the spurs won't be high enough.

[Jeremy Stugats]

He's front runner, Dan.

[Chris Cody]

Front runner after two games or two days of games. Rachel, good seeing you. Always nice seeing you. We will talk soon.

[Rachel Nichols]

See ya. Don't get arrested until I see you. Next.

[Chris Cody]

Okay, I'll try not to pitch. Clock is next. No more bet information. Breaking news, your BET information.

[Adnan Virk]

Billy's implicated Dan might be.

[Mike Ryan]

Howdy, listeners. It's Mike Ryan and Chris Cody. Hey, everyone. Hey, Chris. We love hanging out so much. You were at my birthday the other day.

[Jeremy Stugats]

You're old.

[Mike Ryan]

You know what I saw in your hand?

[Jeremy Stugats]

What?

[Mike Ryan]

A can of Miller. Whether it's a can, whether it's a bottle, a draft pour of Miller light. The draft pour. You see that beautiful iconic color.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Ah, the coldness right away. The ice coldness to it. Oh, so good.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, Chris, the ice coldness to it.

[Rachel Nichols]

Oh.

[Mike Ryan]

Whether you're hanging out with me on my birthday because I'm old or you're at a game, you know that Miller Lite just makes every special time a Miller time. That's how you make the special times, by making a Miller times. Game day just hits different. With Miller Lite in your hand hitting different. From jaw dropping touchdowns to fantasy heartbreaks, it's a beer that has been there for every moment. 50 years of great taste, simple ingredients and that iconic golden color. That coldness, Chris, that.

[Jeremy Stugats]

That icy coldness.

[Mike Ryan]

That icy coldness. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. Miller Lite Great Taste, 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some 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.

[Adnan Virk]

I see coldness.

[Mike Ryan]

All your favorite NBA players are back and DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA, is the place to bet on NBA stars this season. Season New customers download the DraftKings sportsbook app now. Use Code Dan, that's code D A n to bet five bucks and get three months of NBA League Pass. Plus get $300 in bonus bets. If your bet wins in partnership with DraftKings, the Crown is yours.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Gambling problem call 1-800-Gambler in New York, call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in of per wager Tax May apply in Illinois 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario, restrictions apply. Bet must win to receive bonus bets which expire in seven days. Minimum odds required. NBA League Pass Auto renews until canceled. Additional terms at DKNG Co Audio Limited time offer Introducing Oakley Meta Vanguard the new performance AI Glasses designed for athletes with hands free capture on an action ready ultra wide camera, Powerful open ear speakers and built in Meta AI that syncs with your Garmin devices for real time insights while you train. Take your performance to the next level with Oakley Meta Vanguard. Athletic intelligence is here. Learn more on Meta.com 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.

[Adnan Virk]

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. The World Series is tomorrow and the Pitch Clock is back.

[Jeremy Stugats]

However, buddy, it's World Series time.

[Adnan Virk]

That was actually that's the first time that you've done a Harry Carry Beyond.

[Jeremy Stugats]

High everybody, when you bust it out.

[Adnan Virk]

When the WS is here, I like.

[Jeremy Stugats]

To call the World Series the ws.

[Dan LeBatard]

No one else is doing that.

[Chris Cody]

Make it a thing.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, all right, right. So the WS is here. PC is back. It makes sense that I host something called PC.

[Jeremy Stugats]

It's honestly quicker to say World Series.

[Adnan Virk]

Ethan Badowski what is our game for this week?

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Last week we played a game involving World Series MVPs from 2024 to 2009 and Chris Cody said, this is out of my wheelhouse so let's get into my Wheelhouse. And I thought that is a dangerous game for Chris Cody. So go open your folder. Behind the blank piece of paper, there is a sheet with logos on it.

[Adnan Virk]

It's.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

It's simple. It's three strikes and you're out. And it's just the same as last week. These are the World Series MVPs from 2008 when the Philadelphia Phillies won, to 1992 when the Toronto Blue Jays won their first of back to back World Series. And just so everybody is reminded at home, there was no 90. 1994 World Series. So it's 92, 93, then it jumps to 95, and then the rest of the way to 2000.

[Adnan Virk]

Of course, we definitely remembered that. So thank you for letting the audience know.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

So Chris Cody struck out on the World Series MVPs. So, Jeremy, actually it is your honor. You are going to go first on these World Series MVPs.

[Adnan Virk]

Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and start with the 2004 World Series MVP, David Ortiz.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That is incorrect.

[Dan LeBatard]

How would you do that?

[Adnan Virk]

Why would I do that? When you take the ones that you know.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I know.

[Adnan Virk]

Because I'm bad at this.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Simple explanation, I guess.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

[Jeremy Stugats]

All right, I'm gonna go.

[Chris Cody]

03.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Josh Beckett.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That is correct.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, I know. 1992, Joe Carter.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That is incarnate. Even though he hit the home run, I believe. No, he hit the home run at 93.

[Mike Ryan]

That's two strike.

[Chris Cody]

Oh, good.

[Adnan Virk]

Thank goodness. Why would you say that?

[Jeremy Stugats]

I swear I was doing. I was about to do it. Regardless, I'm doing it.

[Adnan Virk]

Okay, do it.

[Jeremy Stugats]

93, Joe Carter.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Incorrect.

[Adnan Virk]

Oh, thank God.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I have one strike.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

You have two already.

[Adnan Virk]

Everybody needs to relax. All right, it's time for World Series coverage. And of course, it has to be Adnan Virk of MLB Network joining us as our 2025 MLB expert. Adnan, I'm going to ask you to, despite your maple leaf on your hat, put your biases aside after the first question because the first question goes back to the alcs. I want to talk to you about everything going on here in what was an unbelievable American League Championship series, because we did only like four minutes of it on the main show. So what did you think of the Toronto Blue Jays coming through in that epic series in the ALCS in game seven with what George Springer was able to do with the biggest homer since Joe Carter for Toronto, and of course, what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Was able to do offensively as well.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah, you might as well start calling the cardiac kids. Jeremy, what these guys are able to do with these comebacks is remarkable. I mean, when the Jays went down 02 and I was at that game to the ALCS, I mean, it was just a lead balloon. Like you lose two games at home, you're pretty much cooked. You know, the stats suggest 11 chance of coming back down from an O2 hole and particularly lose it at home the way they did. You thought it was over, but this series was so unpredictable. Game one, the Blue Jays are supposed to win because the Mariners are coming off a 15 inning marathon. The Jays were at home well rested at Kevin Gosman, but they lost game through, the Mariners were up two nothing. You know, this is. It might be a sweep. Jays come roaring back to win two games and their offense is alive. Game five, they have all the momentum, but Gino Suarez goes deep. And then in game six, Trey Savage is fantastic. And in game seven, you mentioned the Springer Dinger, which will be forever memorialized from Vancouver to Halifax as they're going wild throughout Canada. It's amazing because this Blue Jays team really has captured the attention of my entire home and native land. At the Flames game, they're literally announcing the goal and like the home run and people start cheering. I was in Montreal for that game and it was amazing. The Sabres, Canadiens, people watching the Blue Jays game being wrapped with attention. And I just think this team has shown incredible resolve, incredible character coming back from these deficits. Down two zero, down three two. And Springer specifically. I mean, that was a brutal injury. I mean, that knee contusion after getting drilled by that ball, it looked like when Tiger woods would swing and like just crumple, like he just had no strength in his legs in Game 6. But Springer was willing to do it, like just will himself to it. Game 7 looked a little bit better. And that swing of Eddie bastard Edward Bizardo will be forever remembered by Blue Jays fans. As he said, the most important one since Carter. Vlad has a series to remember. 442. He hit a nine. 30, slugging 1440 OPS is the seventh highest ever in a single postseason. He's been monstrous and the Jays were able to come through.

[Adnan Virk]

True.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Just one last thought as far as how much it's captured. Canadians. 6.8 million viewers watch Game 7 on sports. At least 11.8. At least watch part of it. That's a country of 41 million. So do the extrapolation. In a country of 330 million like America, that's like 85 million people watching a baseball game.

[Adnan Virk]

That's unbelievable. That's. That's amazing. And it's in part because Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Put on that Superman cape. It makes all the sense in the world that in Game 1 against the Yankees, I believe that was where he. He dove and literally looked like Superman. All right, it's time to. To put the Canadian biases aside. Okay. I know that's going to be difficult for you. We gotta actually break down this series. And you know, it feels like the Dodgers bats can come alive at any given moment. Right. We saw it with Shohei Otani in game four as they clinched against the Brewers. But the storyline's really going into this World Series. It's the Dodgers pitching against those Blue Jays bats, led by Vladdy. And really the question I have for you here, with that starting pitching being as dominant as it is, how do the Blue Jays bats compete with that Dodgers pitching and make this a series?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah, LA has the advantage, no doubt about it, Jeremy, because that's starting pitching. They literally have four aces on that team. They've starting pitching as a one and a half ERA and they pitch deep into games, right. Snell got 24 outs against the Brewers. Yamamoto got 27 outs. Glasnost 17, Ohtani 18. So they're pitching, pitching at least into the sixth inning, which is a huge recipe for success for this Los Angeles team. And they just have dominant wipeout stuff. So for the Blue Jays, the good news for them is, and you're right, that is the matchup. It's Jay's offense against Dodgers pitching. The Jays have great contact skills. These guys don't strike out. And they put the ball in play. They put pressure on the defense. That's what's really important for this Blue Jays team. And they have length. You know, the Mariners, they really only had three guys that get hit. It was Josh Daler, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez. You know, Rose Rand didn't hit. And the bottom of their order with, you know, Leo Rivas and Dominic Canzonio. This is awful. So for the Blue Jays, that's what they have. Andre Cement is going to hit ninth and go deep. You know, Ernie Clement is slugging over.600 in this playoffs. He's been like a modern day Mark Lemke. Pick whichever baseball star of years past you like. As far as a good name, that's.

[Adnan Virk]

What the pitch clock is for, is to hear names like Mark Lemke.

[Jeremy Stugats]

But I think ultimately, Jeremy, these guys throw strikes like they're not going to nibble. So you. They're going to attack the zone. You attack the zone as well. You know, and, and Blake Snell is a guy who's unafraid to have a few walks because he's like, I trust my stuff. So, three, two, I may waste a pitch. So the Blue Jays have to have that discipline and not chase those pitches. Yamamoto throws an incredible splitter. Watch out for that, as does Ohtani. And Glassdale is like the ugly ducking of the four. But like I said, he could be an ace on most teams. So I think the biggest thing is this Dodgers rotation throw strikes. The Jays just have to hope they can catch up to 97, 98, and wipe out stuff. The good news for Toronto is that they have hit good pitching, Right? Freed was the only 19 game winner in baseball, and they crushed him seven runs of the three innings. They beat up Carlos Rodon, they beat up George Kirby, gave, you know, eight runs in that one start. So they've proven they can be good pitching.

[Adnan Virk]

They were one of the best contact hitting teams in baseball all season long. They don't strike out a lot. And they're going to add Bo Bashette. Don't know if he'll start, but a guy that they can bring off the bench, who they know will give them a competitive at bat or, you know, maybe he ends up starting, we'll see. But Andres Jimenez, that's my guy. He's been great at shortstop for them thus far.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Should we, because we're so terrible, terrible at this. Take away the rule that you have to pick the year for the rest of this game.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

I'm willing to do that for the, for the Yankees. I'll give you guys some leeway there. If you get the name, I'll give you the year. It is four different Yankees. So if you get the name right, I'll give you the year.

[Adnan Virk]

I am gonna throw up.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

This is really, really difficult.

[Adnan Virk]

Okay.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

And another thing, there are two names for the Arizona Diamondbacks. If you get one of them, I'll.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Give it to you.

[Adnan Virk]

All right, just for everyone listening at home and for me to stall, I'm gonna read you the name of every single year of this. So 92 and 93 are the Blue Jays. Skip 94, 95, you have the Atlanta Braves, 96, the Yankees, 97, of course, the Marlins, 98, 99, 2000, that's the Yankees, 2000, 2001, the Diamondbacks. 2002, the Angels. Then we've got the Marlins again in 03, the Red Sox, where it was not David Ortiz in 04, the White Sox in 05, the Cardinals in 06, the Red Sox again in 07 and the Phillies in 2008. Guys, I am not feeling confident about a single one of these. Now I'm two of these. I can't believe I didn't just take Beckett and get on the board. Yeah, it was wild, okay? You had.

[Jeremy Stugats]

You were ahead. So if you just get one right, then I can start the trend of getting strikes.

[Adnan Virk]

We all decided together that the rule is just if you name a Yankee for the. Correct. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what year.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

There are four Yankees, and they're all different.

[Adnan Virk]

One of them has to be Derek Jeter.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Correct. Derek Jeter was the World Series MVP in 2000.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Okay, thank God that I made that rule. I'm going to get crazy.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm going to get crazy here.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Darren Urstadt, Angels.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

It is not Darren.

[Mike Ryan]

Aristotle.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm. I'm gonna. I'm gonna try it. I'm gonna say that the 2007 World Series MVP was David Ortiz.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That is incorrect.

[Adnan Virk]

You gotta be.

[Jeremy Stugats]

So he loses. So I gotta get one here, Cody.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Here'S what we'll do.

[Adnan Virk]

Here's what we'll do.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

If you get this right, you clinch. If not, we'll go to first to three. In that case, because you're both on the board, right? So it'll be first to three, right?

[Adnan Virk]

Okay.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

So if you get this right, Cody, the game is over. You win.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Win.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

But if you get it wrong, then we're gonna go first to three.

[Adnan Virk]

That's a great idea. Such a boring thing to guess.

[Jeremy Stugats]

The Cardinal. So I'm gonna go for the. I'm gonna go for this one here. I'm gonna go for the One another. It's kind of like Darren Urstadt. I think I just can picture the White Sox and the mvp, Paul Canerco.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

It was not Paul.

[Adnan Virk]

So we are still alive. Go ahead. No, I didn't know it. I didn't know it wasn't.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

This is.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm Guys, folks at home. I'm so sorry.

[Jeremy Stugats]

It proves that we're not cheating.

[Adnan Virk]

All right, Adnan, I want to get to some of the key factors here. So we'll just start both the Dodgers and the Blue Jays. Who's going to be the most important pitcher and the most important hitter on each of these teams in the World Series?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Well, I think obviously for the Blue Jays, it's Vlad. I mean, he's been carrying this offense so far has been remarkable. There's no reason that shouldn't continue. If the Dodgers slow him down, that's a problem. But he's the one Guy that can flip this entire script, this entire series, he's been that unstoppable. He's been judged like Ruthie and Barry Bonds, like, etc. Pitching wise, I think, you know, your Savage is critical for them. I mean, he might start game one. Think about that. Because Kevin Goss would be starting a three days rest and we only threw 19 pitches in that game seven. I personally would start Gosman, but I think a Savage, a 22 year old who started at single aid Dunedin, could be starting game one of the World Series and again game five. 22 years of age. He's absolutely critical for this Blue Jays team. If you Savage pitch as well, that will really set the tone for this Blue Jays.

[Adnan Virk]

He's a guy by the way, like for everyone to understand who, who hasn't been following this. He had three starts in the regular season in the major leagues. He's made three starts in the postseason. Game one of the World Series could be his fourth. That's nuts.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah, the fact he's pitched 14 innings is absolutely, you know, bananas prior to the postseason. And now he's going to eclipse that in the postseason is crazy. I'm with you. You, you know, for the Dodgers there's a myriad of choices you can take. I'll take Blake Snell only because I think he's me pitching game one. So he's the guy that will get two starts. He's been critical of this Dodgers team and said wipeout stuff so far. You could pick any one of those starters if you like. Maybe Roki Sasaki is actually a better option because as a reliever he could be critical. That's right. Short up their bullpen is with Sasaki just making him the closer. So I think Sasaki could be really important as far an important pitcher for the Dodgers. And offensively, we'd like to see Freddie Freeman get rolling. He's been great at Rogers center historically. He's at 357 there. His mom was from Peterborough, dad from Windsor. He's really proud of his Canadian heritage. You know, his parents moved when they were young for work. They moved to Los Angeles, but every time the Jays were playing the Dodgers or the Angels, his parents would take him to those games. You know, he lost his mom, Rosemary when he was 10, but he has vivid memories of her telling him, hey, stand up for the Canadian anthem when they're at those games in Los Angeles. So he's very proud of his Canadian roots. I'd love to see Freddie Freeman go off. Hasn't really had a great Playoff so far was an MVP a year ago. All remember that there's never been a player to go back to back World Series mvp. So I'll take Sasaki and Freeman for the Dodgers. I'll take you, Savage and Vladi for the Jays.

[Adnan Virk]

I love that. This is why we have a Canadian expert with us so that we can get Peterborough Winsboro. Right. We're getting all of those here on, on the pitch clock. All right, Anion, we're gonna do a little rapid fire to, to finish this off. In honor of, of the show being called the pitch clock. We're actually going to have some pace for the very first time in our lives. We're gonna pick it up, we're gonna go rapid fire. I'm just looking for your quick answers here. So the first four of these are take your pitch pick, Dodgers defense, Blue Jays defense.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I'll take the Dodgers defense. They're a third in defensive.

[Adnan Virk]

Run save, Dodgers lineup or Blue Jays lineup.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I mean, I'll take Dodgers lineup. The Blue Jays lineup has been really impressive. They're fourth of the majors in run score. But if this Dodgers offense is rolling, watch out.

[Adnan Virk]

Dodgers starting pitching. Blue Jays starting pitching.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Easiest one you give me. Dodgers starting pitching. They've got four aces.

[Adnan Virk]

Dodgers relievers, Blue Jays relievers.

[Jeremy Stugats]

This is a funny one because the Blue Jays relievers haven't been great this season. Been much maligned. But Hoffman's been outstanding. He was great.

[Sponsor Voice]

Great.

[Adnan Virk]

All right. A role player who will have the biggest impact in this series.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I think Tommy Edmond for the Dodgers has been great all playoffs long. I think he'll continue to be that guy for Los Angeles and why not? I'll take Ernie Clement. He's been a great story for the.

[Adnan Virk]

Blue Jays player with the coolest story that's maybe going under the radar for the common fan.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Addison Barger is a great story for the Blue Jays for this Toronto team. And as far as Los Angeles is concerned, you know, there's, there's, there's not one specifically, I would say I think Kiki Hernandez is always a great story. I mean this guy, every time Jeremy in the playoffs is awesome. He's a playoff monster. I should say. The best overall story, though this goes for both is Don Mattingly. All this time in baseball as a player for the Yankees, manager for the Dodgers. Now benchmarks for the Jays first World Series ever for Donnie Baseball.

[Adnan Virk]

Awesome. What is a storyline to watch out for that people might not be focused on?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Well, I think the other part of is that the Blue Jays having home field like, how important is that? And this whole rust versus rest conundrum.

[Adnan Virk]

Who's the reliever? Who will have the biggest role in this series? Series?

[Jeremy Stugats]

Well, it's Hoffman for the Blue Jays. No doubt about it.

[Adnan Virk]

Who will win this World Series and in how many games?

[Jeremy Stugats]

We haven't seen a World Series champion in Toronto since 1993. We're gonna get one this year. And no less an authority than David Sampson. I don't know if he's actually picking the Jays, but he thinks it's going to be a lot more competitive series than people may think.

[Adnan Virk]

Your bias isn't showing at all. Who wins the MVP for the Blue Jays?

[Jeremy Stugats]

It's going to be Vlad.

[Adnan Virk]

You know, the Canadian wins it for Canada. We love it. Adnan. You can watch him on MLB Network. You should buy his book cinephile. And we'll see him back here after game five. He says it's going to be a long series, so we're looking forward to previewing that Halloween night showdown in game six. Thank you, Adnan. Now let's get back to this garbage of a game between me and Chris.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

So let me just set this up here. We're gonna go first to three. You can obviously re guess.

[Adnan Virk]

Okay.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

And again, the rule is with the Yankees, if you get the player right, I'll give it to you because there's so many Yankees on here.

[Adnan Virk]

I'm going to go.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm going to.

[Adnan Virk]

You know what? I'm going to go for one of those Diamondbacks and I'm going to go ahead and guess Randy Johnson.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That is correct. Randy Johnson and Kurt Shilling were co World Series MVPs in the 2001 World Series.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah, we're doing the thing where I can just say Yankee, right?

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, just say correct.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Bernie Williams.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Bernie Williams was not a World Series MVP in any of these years, which is so crazy.

[Rachel Nichols]

This is.

[Adnan Virk]

This is ex. This is an exhausting exercise. I'm going to guess it and it's going to be Wrong. Is the 2006 World Series MVP Albert Puos.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

It was not Albert Pujos.

[Adnan Virk]

It wasn't. Of course it wasn't. Cuz why would it be the best player on the team? You have a chance to.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Kevin Brown, Marlins 97.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That is incorrect.

[Adnan Virk]

This is like. This is maybe the worst we've ever done just for.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Because it human humanizes us.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah.

[Adnan Virk]

Because we clearly weren't humanized enough from how poorly we've done in episodes before.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Awesome.

[Adnan Virk]

In almost every episode. Okay, I'm gonna. Just. Because we're having Fun. Now I'm gonna say the name that I want to is the 2006 Cardinals World Series MVP David Eckstein. It is.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Jeremy.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

You are the winner. You are the winner, David.

[Adnan Virk]

Surprising non Jew David.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Well, he's at three already. And it was first to three.

[Adnan Virk]

Cody, you can get two in a row.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Adnan Virk]

I'll. I'll just. You know what? We'll call it a draw. We'll call it a draw.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

We'll call it a draw.

[Sponsor Voice]

Marlins.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Edgar Renteria.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Not Edgar Rent.

[Adnan Virk]

Classic.

[Jeremy Stugats]

All right, who the was the Marlins mvp?

[Adnan Virk]

All right, let's.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Levon Hernandez. I love you, Miami. Come on, man.

[Adnan Virk]

That was obvious.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Come on guys.

[Adnan Virk]

Thinking the NLCS. All right, please tell us from 92 up through 2008.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

All right, so the 92 Blue Jays won their first of two titles. The World Series MVP was a man by the name of Pat Borders. The next year it was hall of Famer Paul Mol.

[Adnan Virk]

I was, you know. Okay, I did. Obviously I didn't guess it. Yeah. But after. After the name Joe Carter. The only other name I had here was Mol.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

I figured it would be Joe Carter, cuz I think that was the year he hit the back to back or the walk off.

[Adnan Virk]

95. Is it Larry?

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

95.

[Adnan Virk]

Chipper.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

It was Tom Glavin in 95. 96 was a man by the name of John Weddelland we mentioned 97 was Lavon Hernandez. Scott Brocius was in 98. Mariano Rivera was in 99. We got Jeter Shilling and Randy Johnson in 01. Troy Gloss was the World Series MVP in 2002. Beckett, Manny Ramirez. Jermaine Dye was 05. David Eckstein, Florida Gator was 06. A name you guys are going to be so happy about in Mike. In 07, Mike Lowell was the wal. He won a truck that year. I can see it as clear as day. Chris Cody just ripped his paper and pulled it up and threw it. Cole Hamills was Ham.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Cole Ham.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

That pitching staff carried them in.

[Jeremy Stugats]

Scott Brocious are the two that got away. And.

[Adnan Virk]

And the one the obviously not going to like Manny was the obvious next thought after Poppy. But then I was just in a state of panic from there. Wow. So we were terrible.

[Mike Ryan]

Woof.

[Adnan Virk]

But I won and that feels good. Back to back wins. Back to back wins for back to.

[Chris Cody (Game Host)]

Back wins for Jer Bear. Let's see how you do next week.

[Adnan Virk]

All right. I'm going to make it a three peat.

[Jeremy Stugats]

I'm going to wear the same clothes.

[Adnan Virk]

Me too.

[Mike Ryan]

Howdy listeners. It's Mike Ryan and Chris Cody. Hey everyone. Hey, Chris. We love hanging out so much. You were at my birthday the other day.

[Chris Cody]

You're old.

[Mike Ryan]

You know what I saw all in your hand?

[Jeremy Stugats]

What?

[Mike Ryan]

A can of Miller. Whether it's a can, whether it's a bottle, a draft pour of Miller light, the draft board. You see that beautiful iconic color.

[Jeremy Stugats]

The cold right away, the ice coldness to it? Oh, so good.

[Mike Ryan]

Yes, Chris, the ice coldness to it. Oh, whether you're hanging out with me on my birthday because I'm old or you're at a game, you know that Miller Lite just makes every special time a Miller time. That's how you make the special times by making a Miller at times. Game day just hits different with Miller Lite in your hand hittin different from jaw dropping touchdowns to fantasy heartbreaks. It's a beer that has been there for every moment. 50 years of great taste, simple ingredients and that iconic golden color. That coldness, Chris, that.

[Jeremy Stugats]

That icy coldness.

[Mike Ryan]

That icy coldness. The original light beer since 1975 and still hitting different five decades later. Miller Lite Great Taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some 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.

[Adnan Virk]

I see coldness.