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- [00:01]
Dan Le Batard
Folks, I'm getting hungry and you know my favorite part of any meal, snack or game day app? That's right, the goat. Or should I say the greatest of all time, Frank's Red Hot. It's got the perfect blend of flavor and heat that elevates all foods from wings to Buffalo chicken dip to even ice cream. That's right, I said ice cream. And with a roster of flavors from OG to sweet chili, you can put that on everything. So make every dish the greatest and eat the goat.
- [00:33]
Microsoft 365 Copilot Announcer
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- [01:03]
Home Depot Announcer
the Home Depot and we are bringing the heat to your backyard this season. Fire up the flavor with our wide variety of grills for under $300 like the next grill 4 burner gas grill that's perfect for hosting your spring cookout. Then set the scene and turn your outdoor space into the go to spot the patio sets for every budget. Bring it this season with grills that deliver flavor and patios that set the vibe from the Home Depot. Start your spring with low prices G guaranteed at the Home Depot. Exclusions applies to home depot.com pricematch for details.
- [01:32]
Dan Le Batard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.
- [01:40]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
We appreciate Senator Mark Kelly's work and his time. He's a former US Navy combat pilot. He's an astronaut. Former astronaut. He's the current Senator for Arizona, Mark Kelly. We appreciate the time, Senator, for you joining us between a war government shutdown and having to defend your First Amendment rights against Trump and Hegseth as they threaten to take away your military retirement rank and pay. I don't know how you're not walking around every day wildly insulted about the position our country and its leadership has put you in. Thank you for the time.
- [02:11]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, it's good to be on and thanks for having me on again. Appreciate it.
- [02:16]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
How did we get to war with Iran and what are you finding most offensive about how we got here?
- [02:23]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, I think we got here because we have a a president that has a hard time thinking more than one step ahead and these things have second and third order effects. I also think he's an individual that doesn't listen to people around him. And in his second term, he has put folks around him, Secretary of Defense being, I think, at the top of the list. You know, people who really shouldn't be in these jobs. So you're not getting great advice. You're also generally not listening to this advice. In the case of what happened in Iran, I really believe the President thought we'd drop a few bombs here and then the administration would fall in Tehran and we'd have a new government that would be supportive of the United States. Incredibly optimistic thinking. And I'm generally an optimist. Guys, I flew a spaceship built by the lowest bidder, but I'm not that optimistic. These things tend to go sideways on you. And he wasn't thinking ahead. And now we're in a situation with the Strait of Hormuz shut down, 20% of the world's oil going through there. And he's got no answers and never had a real strategic goal for what this should be. So I look at this thing and I fought over there. I mean, I spent 1991. I was in the first Gulf War. I know how complicated these things are. This thing is turning into a train wreck.
- [03:50]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
What are the best case and worst case scenarios here?
- [03:54]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, always the best case would be for the Iranians to say, okay, we'd like this to end. What do you want? That's not likely to turn out that way. And the worst case scenario is that we wind up with the Strait of Hormuz shut down for, who knows, months, years. I mean, I really don't see how this ends in a positive way right now. And what that means for the American people is rising costs. And it's not just gasoline and fuel. I mean, costs go up on everything when energy costs more. Any kind of manufacturing costs go up if the energy goes up. So that's the, you know, the worst case scenario. But even beyond that, I'd say the worst, worse than that is them rushing to get a nuclear weapon. We didn't obliterate it last summer. The President said it over and over again. Now, he sometimes says, that's why we're doing this operation. Sometimes he leaves it out. So there's. Yeah, there's a lot in the. In the way of worst case.
- [04:51]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
Have you ever in your life met a human being who lies this much?
- [04:56]
Senator Mark Kelly
No, and I've only met him once, so. And it was before he was elected the first time. But I mean, he is. He has said, I think there needs to be a new entry in the Guinness World Book of World records. That includes Donald Trump for the lies and the falsehoods.
- [05:18]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
Where are you on speaking freely on his cognitive decline and failing health? What's fair there?
- [05:25]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, I mean, I watch him closely, right? I mean, I don't watch everything he says, but sometimes I've seen him give statements where he contradicts himself multiple times within a matter of minutes. You know, he'll say this war is over. Then he'll say he needs our allies to support it, then it's over again, then we're winning, but we want help. I mean, he'll go back and forth. And that' sthat indicates to me. I mean, you see that a lot with people you know his age. That happens, and he just doesn't seem to be able to track. And I'd say at the beginning of this administration, I noticed it was. It was like from one week to the next. Now it seems to be more like from one minute to the next minute.
- [06:13]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
What do we do about the state of our airports? When is this going to get better? And why are ICE agents at our airports?
- [06:20]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, he sent ICE agents there. He didn't send them there to take over the duties of tsa. That's what he said, but that's not what they're doing. So you still have the long lines. They shouldn't be there. We want to see ICE overhauled in a way that protects the rights of Americans. We have two dead Americans and how many countless of others whose constitutional rights have been violated? We could open TSA right now. We have offered to fund TSA multiple times. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have politicized this and they refuse to do that. We've also offered to fund Coast Guard multiple times, and FEMA. Now, ICE has a $75 billion slush fund. You know, their, their annual budget is typically about $10 billion, and they have got $75 billion that the president can, you know, play around with. So we want to see some changes to ice, tsa, fema, Coast Guard. We. We could go down to the floor and offer another vote here, but somebody would block it. That's happened over and over again.
- [07:29]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
On just a human level, we can all play politics, but just on a human level, do you find yourself losing great amounts of respect for some of your peers here?
- [07:37]
Senator Mark Kelly
Yeah. Yes, that has happened. I try to work across the aisle. I have great friends who are Republicans. I work with them on a lot of things. There's others. I'm not going to name names, but over my time here, about five and a half years in the United States Senate. I kind of wonder, how'd they get this job? Why are they in this job? They don't seem to know much about a number of things. I'm not talking about the majority of my colleagues. You know, just say, you know, a couple individuals. I just don't get it.
- [08:09]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
The top official at the TSA said staffing shortages have led to the highest wait time in TSA history. And the agency has lost almost 500 officers since the shutdown began. What's the breaking point? How much worse can this get?
- [08:22]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, I think I thought we were beyond the breaking point already. And that's why we continue to offer, you know, funding for TSA to try to get us out of this. You know, I hope we, we get a resolution here. I mean, hope is not a strategy, but, you know, I want to see this resolved as soon as possible.
- [08:40]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Hey, Roy, buddy, you know that energy shift when the game gets good and everybody all together in unison knows to stand up on their feet? Oh, absolutely, Mike.
- [08:50]
Dan Le Batard
Yeah?
- [08:50]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
You've been at many big time sporting events. You know that moment quite well. That's what it's like when you take your first sip of Cuervo.
- [08:57]
TurboTax Announcer
Oh, delicious.
- [08:58]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
It's the signal that says, we're not checking the time anymore, pal. It's when small talk turns into stories. Cuervo man. It's that high five. A random stranger effect. That's right. The game is popping. You're hugging people you never met before. That's the kind of energy that Cuervo brings. It's so smooth, so delicious. That's the Cuervo effect. Keep it Cuervo.
- [09:23]
Dan Le Batard
Oh, folks, look at me. I'm in my 30s, which is old enough to know better and somehow still young enough to ignore that information pretty regularly. Like, you know me, I'll have a couple drinks, normal adult behavior, nothing crazy. And the next morning, my body reacts like I have made a series of terrible decisions. With no supervision, my sleep score tanks. I wake up confused. Suddenly, even replying to one text from feels like a full task. But that is why I have discovered and gotten into Cheers Restore. Alcohol hits differently now. It affects your brain, your sleep, your liver, all of it. And Cheers Restore is made for that. It's a dual action after alcohol aid designed to support your brain and your liver after drinking. And the origin story is wild. It started with a Princeton student researching dhm, which is this compound tied to alcohol related effects in the body. It's in Walgreens CVS 7 11, basically everywhere. It was on Shark Tank all I do is take three capsules after my last drink or before bed and the next morning is way less dramatic. Same night out, way better morning with Cheers. For a limited time, our listeners are getting 20% off your entire order by using code dan@cheershealth.com just head to cheershealth.com and use code dan for 20% off after your purchase they will ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them that Dan Levitard show sent you.
- [10:39]
DraftKings Announcer
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- [11:31]
DraftKings Responsible Gambling Announcer
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- [12:00]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
The thing that makes you go home at night cursing because you're like, I can't believe the state of this country like you. You are somebody who has served honorably and nobly because of the way you believe in the principles of this country. And you see them being urinated on. Like, are you going home optimist or not? Hope not a strategy. Not a strategy. As you said, are you going home every night saying, I don't recognize what's happening here.
- [12:25]
Senator Mark Kelly
Well, I mean, this has just been like the slow moving, you know, train wreck wreck over the last year. And I knew when Donald Trump was reelected, I thought we were going to go through some really challenging times. I didn't know it was going to be this bad. I didn't know we were going to go to, you know, war against Iran with no strategic goal and no plan and no, you know, he's not even playing at checkers at this point. You often think of, like, is this guy playing chess or checkers? And you would say, well, he's playing checkers. He's not even playing checkers. I think he's. I think he's playing with a, you know, couple of those solo cups. Right. Flip cup. And it's, it's, you know, those red cups. He's, like, just moving two of them around.
- [13:08]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
There's like a heart somewhere, and he's
- [13:10]
Senator Mark Kelly
just making his own game. Yeah, he's just. He's just, you know, moving those two things around. Not really thinking ahead on anything here. Hey, we're in some challenging times, but I think we're up for the challenge. I think we're going to get through this. I spent a career, 25 years in the United States Navy. I've seen the best of this country. I also flew on a rocket ship four times. I see what the United States can do when we put our minds to things. We have the best scientists, engineers, the best innovators. I really think if we can get our politics fixed, the future for this country is better than any other country on the planet. We've got hard problems to solve. We got the people that can solve them. We need to get rid of the, you know, the children out of the way. I don't literally mean that. I mean the people that politicize everything and make this stuff a lot more complicated than it needs to be. We need to focus on science and data and facts and get rid of a lot of the bullshit.
- [14:12]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
It's not working, though. Like, you, you said a form of that last time you were joining us during a different shutdown. Right. And I understand why you're saying it's gotten worse.
- [14:21]
Senator Mark Kelly
Yeah. O.
- [14:22]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
That's.
- [14:23]
Senator Mark Kelly
Yes, it's gotten worse.
- [14:24]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
The challenges have gotten worse. Put us next to you, though. Put us next to you as someone who believes in the principles of governance and the principles of this country. When the news gets to you for the first time, yeah, we're bombing Iran.
- [14:38]
Senator Mark Kelly
I mean, it's like, what the. You know, I'm not going to drop the F bomb on you here, but yeah, it's like, why? What is the strategic goal? I got a list of, like, 15 things I've been keeping track, and it changes. I was down in the skiff the other day and we were talking about, what's the goal now? You know what one of the goals is? To open up the Strait of Hormuz, obviously. Well, that wasn't a goal on 27 February, because it wasn't closed. So now we have a strategic goal that was of our own making, a problem that we made. And who's paying for this? The American people who are having a hard time affording rent. Half the country is having a hard time affording groceries. People are working two jobs. They're never going to get a chance to go on a vacation. And we're spending one to $2 billion a day on this thing every single day. You know what that money could have been used for? Could have been like, don't cut kids. Snap benefits so they can eat and they can have a lunch when they go to school. Give people, don't cut their health care. Instead, this money is being spent on the other side of the world. And by the way, we're depleting our munitions in a way that I have never seen before in my career. And it makes us less safe.
- [16:04]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Senator, we have less than a minute here. Thank you for your time. A lot of the issues that you're highlighting are a direct result of misinformation being spread. And now we're at a time with AI advancements where. Where you look at your phone and you simply cannot trust what you see. I'm wondering if misinformation is a huge issue for politicians like yourself and what can be done about this for the future? Because it's only gonna get worse.
- [16:26]
Senator Mark Kelly
It is gonna get worse before it gets better. We are. It's something we talk about a lot. It's gonna get. And it always gets worse. When we were getting up to an election, I would just caution people, you know, watching this, watching your show, is that when you get to election time, probably a third, maybe half of what you see online about political candidates and about issues around the election comes from the Russians, the Chinese, the North Koreans, and the Iranians. You know, they have misinformation operations at scale, and they just flood the zone with a bunch of, you know, stuff. So I would advise people go to a trusted source. You know, you might not like the New York Times, go to the Wall Street Journal or vice versa. Go to your local newspaper, go to espn, go to your show. Good information on your show, but, you know, getting stuff, you know, off of Twitter. If you don't know the source, you know, take it with a grain of salt.
- [17:30]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
Senator, thank you for the time and it's not good information on our show. Last time he was on it, he said Kyler Murray was going to remain a Cardinal and was great.
- [17:38]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah, that was bad.
- [17:40]
Senator Mark Kelly
That was a bad take.
- [17:41]
Jeremy Stugats
I told you back then he wasn't that good.
- [17:42]
Adnan Virk
You told me he was good and
- [17:43]
Jeremy Stugats
then all of a sudden he's a Viking.
- [17:45]
Unknown Caller/Guest
It's the most offensive. Happened to you recently.
- [17:48]
Dan Le Batard
Now be honest.
- [17:48]
Senator Mark Kelly
Hey, but we got the number. We got the number three pick. So we've got. We got. We got options. Murray went number one.
- [17:56]
Unknown Caller/Guest
This guy's so hopeful. Thank you, senator. We appreciate the time. Thank you.
- [18:00]
Senator Mark Kelly
Good to talk to you.
- [18:01]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
Likewise. Zaz, I thought you were great there.
- [18:04]
Dan Le Batard
Really?
- [18:04]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Was he better than Chris? Cause Chris.
- [18:07]
Senator Mark Kelly
Flip cup. Flip cup.
- [18:09]
Jeremy Stugats
He says.
- [18:09]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
I heard him.
- [18:10]
Jeremy Stugats
Red cup game.
- [18:11]
Unknown Caller/Guest
I heard him mutter during the middle of one of my questions, okay. He says, flip cup. That's why I don't talk politics. That's what he said it while I
- [18:22]
Senator Mark Kelly
was asking the question, oh, was that Senator Kelly?
- [18:25]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
And like this guy will get this drinking game reference.
- [18:28]
Jeremy Stugats
I wonder if it'll rattle Chris. Going into trivia on the pitch clock that's coming up.
- [18:32]
Adnan Virk
Dan, are you gonna clip where the senator said we have to get rid of the children?
- [18:37]
Senator Mark Kelly
Yes, he will.
- [18:38]
Jeremy Stugats
I looked away and then I heard that and I was like, wait, what?
- [18:40]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Dan, spearheading our digital team will make
- [18:42]
Senator Mark Kelly
sure that that is out. Make the cut, Dan, because our show
- [18:46]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
is a trusted news source.
- [18:47]
Senator Mark Kelly
That's right.
- [18:49]
Unknown Caller/Guest
Where do you get your information? I do so with pitch clock in a second. And then at 3 o' clock with pitch clock, it's a trusted news source. I cannot believe that we're giving you more Jeremy on a day when he's had this many bad jokes.
- [19:03]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Can I get window one more time?
- [19:07]
Jeremy Stugats
So good, so good, so good.
- [19:09]
Nordstrom Rack Announcer
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- [19:18]
Jeremy Stugats
How did I not know rack has Adidas? Why do we rack for the hottest deals?
- [19:22]
Nordstrom Rack Announcer
There's so many good brands. Join the NordicLub to unlock exclusive discounts. Shop new arrivals first and more. Plus, buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free. Great brands, great prices. That's why you rack.
- [19:38]
TurboTax Announcer
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- [20:06]
Disney Plus Announcer
Zootopia 2 has come home to Disney. Let's go get ready for a new case.
- [20:11]
Jeremy Stugats
We're the greatest partners of all time.
- [20:13]
Senator Mark Kelly
New friends, Gary the Snake and your last name, the snake Dream team. The new habitats.
- [20:18]
Jeremy Stugats
Zootopia has a secret reptile population.
- [20:20]
Disney Plus Announcer
You can watch the record breaking phenomenon at home. Zootopia 2. Now available on Disney Plus. Rated PG. And right now you can get Disney plus and Hulu for just 4.99amonth for three months with a special limited time offer. Ends March 24th. After three months, plan auto renews and $12.99 a month, terms apply.
- [20:36]
Dan Le Batard
Don Le Batard.
- [20:38]
Adnan Virk
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.
- [20:48]
Senator Mark Kelly
This is the Don Levatar show with the Stugats.
- [20:52]
Jeremy Stugats
Baseball is back, Jack. Time for your favorite springtime sport. We are saying names like Uneske Betancourt. That's it.
- [21:04]
Senator Mark Kelly
Hi, everybody.
- [21:09]
Jeremy 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. Happy opening day. We're gonna have an opening day live stream on the Lebitard YouTube channel later today.
- [21:33]
Dan Le Batard
I'll be there.
- [21:34]
Jeremy Stugats
You'll be there. I'll be there. Ethan will be there, unfortunately. Will Percy be there?
- [21:37]
Dan Le Batard
Percy will be there.
- [21:38]
Jeremy Stugats
Percy will be there too. And Percy's here right now. Get into our trivia for today. We will have some expertise previewing the Major League Baseball season a little bit later on in today's show. But Ethan, what is our trivia for this opening day?
- [21:52]
Dan Le Batard
Do you actually know what day your dog was born?
- [21:55]
Adnan Virk
Her.
- [21:55]
Jeremy Stugats
Her birthday's today. Happy birthday. Percy's seven years old.
- [21:59]
Dan Le Batard
That's the Percy's parents on the sex.
- [22:01]
Jeremy Stugats
Happy Mickey Mantle year.
- [22:02]
Dan Le Batard
All right, Percy, get down.
- [22:03]
Jeremy Stugats
Punch Rodriguez year.
- [22:04]
Dan Le Batard
All right, boys, it's opening day. So we're getting back into the wheelhouse here, boys. So in front of you, there are two opening day rosters.
- [22:11]
Oh, my God.
- [22:11]
I'm writing the one with the new Marlins logo. Hold on. Is 2020 the 2020 opening day roster? The COVID season. The one with the old Marlins logo is 2006. Okay, that was Percy trying to get in here. The old Marlins logo is the 2006, opening day roster. Now, I have given you the names in a line straight down. Not by position like I normally do to make this a little more difficult. Not in batting order, just in random order.
- [22:41]
What year do give me the years again?
- [22:43]
2006 for the old Marlins logo and 2020 for the new Marlins logo. So what you're going to do is you're going to give me a name, you're going to put that person in a position, and if you are correct, then we'll keep going. It's going to be three strikes and you're out like most of our lineup games. Jeremy, you dominated pitch clock Jeopardy last week. You are going to go first.
- [23:09]
Jeremy Stugats
Okay, So, I mean, I'll start with the easiest one on this list in the 2006.
- [23:16]
Dan Le Batard
Yes.
- [23:17]
Jeremy Stugats
We have D.W. that's your pitcher, Dontrell Willis. Correct.
- [23:21]
Dan Le Batard
All right, I'm. Instead of showing off some of the deeper cuts, I know I'm going to take some of the easy ones off.
- [23:27]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah, that's how you do it.
- [23:28]
Dan Le Batard
And I will take Hanley Ramirez.
- [23:30]
Yes.
- [23:31]
Jeremy Stugats
HR6 use said he has to get the position.
- [23:34]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Oh, well, yes.
- [23:35]
Dan Le Batard
All right.
- [23:35]
I knew he knew the position.
- [23:37]
Jeremy Stugats
Just beneath Hanley Ramirez on this list, you have D. U. That's your second baseman, Dan.
- [23:41]
Home Depot Announcer
Correct.
- [23:42]
Dan Le Batard
For sure. For sure.
- [23:43]
All right, we'll just keep it rolling here. Miguel Cabrera, right after Dan Uglo.
- [23:47]
What position?
- [23:48]
Obviously.
- [23:49]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
What position.
- [23:53]
Dan Le Batard
What position was he playing in 2006?
- [23:54]
Give me a chance to, like, think about it for a second. I'm trying to think because I know he. I know the positions he played throughout his career. I'm trying to think that year did he go. I don't think he had gone to first base yet. It's either third base or right field.
- [24:14]
Jeremy Stugats
Which one is it?
- [24:15]
Dan Le Batard
This is stupid. It should just be the name. Like, what are we really doing?
- [24:18]
Jeremy Stugats
Which one is it?
- [24:19]
Dan Le Batard
What are we really doing?
- [24:20]
Jeremy Stugats
Which one is right field?
- [24:22]
Dan Le Batard
Cody, that is incorrect.
- [24:25]
Jeremy Stugats
So I'm gonna go ahead and say Miguel Cabrera, third base.
- [24:28]
Dan Le Batard
Correct. Yeah. Screw you guys.
- [24:31]
Senator Mark Kelly
Love you.
- [24:33]
Jeremy Stugats
As is exemplified by my T shirt here. Baseball is for everyone. That everyone includes Adnan Virk, who you know from his book cinephile. You also know him as the man on MLB Tonight covering all things major league baseball. And you also know him as our most consistent guest. So why not start the MLB regular season with Adnan Virk to take us through basically the table setter for what this season is going to be. For every listener of the pitch clock, we are going to get you ready to watch Major League Baseball this season.
- [25:04]
Adnan Virk
And as I always say, Jeremy, listen, we love basketball, we love hockey, we love football. We're huge sports fans, of course. But there are two seasons. There is baseball season and waiting for baseball season.
- [25:12]
Jeremy Stugats
That's exactly right. Baseball season and waiting for Godot. So give me our three best teams in Major League Baseball going into the year.
- [25:20]
Adnan Virk
Number three is the Philadelphia Phillies. They were a 96 win team a season ago. Yes, they lose Ranger Suarez, but I'm hoping for big things from Andrew Painter and I do think Adoles Garcia replacing Nick Castellanos is an improvement. Definitely defensively and hopefully offensively as well. Zach Wheeler will be back at some point or other. Christopher Sanchez in a breakout season. They locked him up long term. They've locked up Jesus Lozardo as well. Schwarber got re signed. Phillies still have the horses. Number two is the Yankees. 94 wins and now Garrett Cole returns judges a three team MVP. I don't see any letdown there from the Yankees. And number one of course is the Dodgers. You go out and sign Kyle Tucker, you get Edwin Diaz, one of the best closers in baseball. It's ridiculous. They may not have the most wins. By the way we saw this last year. They're not like a juggernaut. They're not 112 wins. But it's all said and done. They're the best team in baseball, obviously.
- [26:03]
Jeremy Stugats
Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, that's not a surprise. But Adnan, who are three teams in baseball this year that you think could under the radar, sneaky compete, end up being teams that we're talking about as we chase the postseason, so the first
- [26:18]
Adnan Virk
one I'll give you is the Texas Rangers. They actually had the best starting pitcher ERA in baseball last year and they've now added Mackenzie Gore, who always had type stuff, but it felt like he wasn't quite an ace. Well, no problem. Now you can be the best number three in baseball because we're going to have Jacob deGrom and Nathan Evoli in front of you. Jack Letter really came into his own last year, just like his dad Al and my colleagues at MLB Network. Walks a little too much, but he's got great strikeout stuff. And Jack started to figure it out last year. Still waiting for Kumar Walker to come along. But their starting pitching is outstanding. Yeah, about their bullpen a little bit. And their offense needs to pick it up. Beyond Corey Seeger, they trade his Marcus Simeon. But I think if Wyatt Lankford is a big season, if Evan Carter has a Good season, maybe. Texas is a team that will be tougher than we expect in the American League West. The other one, as you've mentioned, I've mentioned you before, just for our boy Damascia, the Pittsburgh Pirates, because of the fact they did get some more offense, they knew they had to get some power. So Brandon Laos got 30 home run potential, especially from, you know, the left side. Clemente Walther. And right, you got Marcelo zuna. He's maybe 20, 25 home runs. Ryan O', Hearn, 20, 25 home runs. Jake Mangum in that lineup. So 80 home runs. Perhaps the team that hit the fewest home runs in baseball. It's a good sign. Jerry Jones is not back until mid season. But beyond Skeens, who's a supernova, you've got Mitch Keller, you got Braxton Ashcraft. I think they're a really good team. Pirates, even if they score four runs a game, Jeremy, that could be a.500 team. And as we know, the Reds made the playoffs with 83 wins. And lastly, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Now, this one's tricky because their starting pitching isn't great. Beyond Zach Allen, who I love, fellow Eagles fan, he gets the qualifying offer. He's the race. Eduardo Rodriguez, that was great at the
- [27:48]
Jeremy Stugats
World Baseball Classic, awesome at the wbc,
- [27:51]
Adnan Virk
but really, I just want to mention the fact they've got three of the best position players in baseball. It's crazy when you think of Corbin Carroll, Catal Martin, Geraldo Perdomo. Perdomo was fourth in MVP voting last season. He's one of the most anonymous, unassuming stars in the game. They're probably not good enough, but they're a really fun team to watch, especially with those three stars.
- [28:07]
Jeremy Stugats
Fourth in MVP voting. Probably the third biggest star on his own team in Arizona, which shows you just how under the radar he really is. And I like this pick from you as an underrated team because I remember last year they were your pick to go to the World Series. And I'm not going to let you forget it.
- [28:23]
Dan Le Batard
06 catcher Miguel Oliva.
- [28:28]
That's my boy.
- [28:28]
Jeremy Stugats
That's a great one.
- [28:29]
Dan Le Batard
My dog.
- [28:30]
Jeremy Stugats
I love that. That deeper cut there.
- [28:32]
Dan Le Batard
I mean, I'm just.
- [28:33]
Jeremy Stugats
So here's my. Here's my debate about how I'm going about this fastball swinger. My debate on how I'm going about this is do I want to continue to name names from 2006, hoping obviously to stump you? Yeah, because I don't think you'll know just about any of the ones from.
- [28:50]
Dan Le Batard
I have two written down.
- [28:51]
Jeremy Stugats
2020.
- [28:52]
Dan Le Batard
Thank you very much.
- [28:53]
Jeremy Stugats
For what it's worth, I'm struggling more with this than I thought I would. Ooh, I know. I know one of them and I can't wait to say his name. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to go ahead and go to JW in left field. That's Josh Willingham.
- [29:07]
Dan Le Batard
Correct.
- [29:09]
Jeremy Stugats
So thus far, just so we all are clear, there have been six names taken off the board. We have Hanley Ramirez, Dan Ugla, Miguel Cabrera, Josh Willingham, Dontrell Willis, and Miguel olivo from the 2006 Marlins. There have been zero Marlins from the 2020 roster named yet.
- [29:26]
Dan Le Batard
Can we make a rule that for 2020 you don't have to do positions?
- [29:31]
Jeremy Stugats
I mean, I. I fair, but there's a few guys here. I don't want to change the rules. There's a few guys here that you should know.
- [29:38]
Dan Le Batard
I do. Cody, it's on me. The board is yours.
- [29:45]
I don't know what position this guy played.
- [29:48]
Jeremy Stugats
Are you going 06 or.
- [29:50]
Dan Le Batard
Yeah, I mean, I'm kind of just already doing shitty here, if you must know. All right, 2020 catcher Harold Ramirez, did he not play?
- [30:05]
Harold Ramirez was on this roster, but he did not play.
- [30:10]
Jeremy Stugats
But see, here's what I'm gonna do. I'm not.
- [30:13]
Adnan Virk
I'm thinking of.
- [30:13]
Dan Le Batard
I'm.
- [30:14]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah, you're thinking of Augustine Ramirez or Augustine Ramirez. Gus Ramirez, if you will. He's not on this team. How about me getting
- [30:26]
Dan Le Batard
shout?
- [30:26]
Dan Le Batard (Interviewer)
No.
- [30:26]
Dan Le Batard
Great shout. I want to give it to you so bad.
- [30:28]
Jeremy Stugats
I'm not.
- [30:29]
Dan Le Batard
I really do.
- [30:30]
Jeremy Stugats
I'm not going to. I'm going to give you another opportunity to guess that one, because I'm going to tell you who the catcher was.
- [30:34]
Dan Le Batard
Eight guesses.
- [30:35]
Jeremy Stugats
I'm going to tell you who the catcher was.
- [30:36]
Dan Le Batard
Yeah.
- [30:36]
Jeremy Stugats
And you're going to love this. This is Italy manager Francisco Cervelli.
- [30:41]
Dan Le Batard
That's correct. Oh, yeah, that is correct.
- [30:43]
Didn't he play, like three games in that series?
- [30:46]
Jeremy Stugats
He was there and then get a concussion. And then again, his concussions were really a big issue for him. But he. I just was speaking. I was just speaking at spring training with Marlin's catcher, Brian Alvaretto, and he said Francisco Cervelli still mentors him to this day.
- [31:01]
Dan Le Batard
Oh, 2020 pitcher Sandy Alcantara.
- [31:04]
Senator Mark Kelly
There you go.
- [31:07]
Adnan Virk
There it is.
- [31:09]
Jeremy Stugats
All right, so Chris is down to two strikes.
- [31:11]
Dan Le Batard
Up to two strikes.
- [31:12]
Senator Mark Kelly
Sure.
- [31:13]
Dan Le Batard
Fallon pitches off.
- [31:14]
Disney Plus Announcer
Right.
- [31:14]
Jeremy Stugats
So I'm gonna go ahead and just.
- [31:15]
Dan Le Batard
Fallon pitches Off.
- [31:16]
Jeremy Stugats
I'm gonna go ahead and, and stick with 06 just to try to make Chris be put in the position to have to figure this out. I'm gonna say MJ on the 2006 Marlins, is Mike Jacobs the first baseman?
- [31:29]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Correct.
- [31:31]
Dan Le Batard
Not Jewish, Famously not Jewish, but held Jewish Heritage Night with him as the face of Jewish Heritage Night.
- [31:41]
Jeremy Stugats
All right, let's, let's get into this. Adnan. I, I want to start focusing on the individuals. So outside of Otani and Judge, who are the. The very obvious guys to watch? Two of the greatest players of this time period, of this generation, and really of all time, if we're honest. But we can get into that another time. What the top five players that you're looking forward to watching this Major League Baseball season?
- [32:02]
Adnan Virk
Well, there's nobody that me and my kids enjoy watching more than Fernando Tatis Jr. You know, Nando is the coolest guy to watch play baseball. He saw at the World Baseball Classic, he had huge home runs, the best backflips in the game, the eye black, the dreads, the, you know, stutter step into third base, and the dancing. I mean, every time Nando's out there, he's the best. He just, in terms of war, he's one of the best players in baseball because he's so incredible defensively. Like, this is a guy who's always going to win a Gold Glove in right field, and he could be a Platinum Glove award winner as he's been in the past. I hope he has some more power this year. We know the power hasn't been the same ever since he got popped for peds. He's more of a 25 home run guy rather than a 42 home run guy. But still, every time Nando's out there, I just think he's so much fun to watch. Paul Skeins, I think, is must see tv. Every time he's on the bump. You know, this guy could throw a no hitter. He could rack up, you know, immaculate innings. Skiings to me is always must see tv. Ellie De La Cruz, again, much in the mold of Anando. Electrifying, young, talented, brash. The bat flips, the excitement, the dreads. And I hope that Terry Frank Cohen can get him to cut down the strikeouts because I do think at his best, Ellie De La Cruz could be an MVP candidate. Pete Crow Armstrong apparently is about to be locked up by the Cubs. He had an unbelievable first half. He slowed in the second half, unfortunately, but just again, based on WAR alone. This guy's a six WAR player. Because he's spectacular defensive. He's the best defensive.
- [33:13]
Jeremy Stugats
So good, right.
- [33:15]
Adnan Virk
He's an elite base runner and I know his on base percentage isn't great. You know, sub 300 is not great to me. But he can slug and he's a 3030 player. The first the Cubs have had since Sammy Sosa. He's also a great dude. Not sure if you had a chance to interview him. I have. PC is an awesome guy. Very down to earth. Mom was in Summer Catch. I mean the son of an actor who.
- [33:32]
Jeremy Stugats
Little Big League. Come on. Don't get it. Don't get it twisted.
- [33:35]
Adnan Virk
I was thinking about Freddie Prince.
- [33:37]
Jeremy Stugats
The mother. The mother of one Bill Haywood.
- [33:39]
Adnan Virk
Okay, good catch, Tache. And the last one, this one might surprise you. So I'm going with the young players and stars. But the one to watch for me is Bryce Harper. He got called Dave Dombrowski last season. He's a two time mvp. Philadelphia has a lot of pressure on them. They've resigned Schwaber. But like this is kind of an aging core right. Castellanos has gone real Muto's back. Who knows how much more he has left. I'm very curious what Bryce Harper does. Did not have a great WBC with the exception of one massive home run in the final. I'm really, really curious to watch Bryce Harper this season. I hope he has a big time year, but I'm curious after what Dave did, calling him out.
- [34:14]
Jeremy Stugats
I love that call. Jake Mintz of Cesspit is Family Barbecue last week on our show mentioned Harper as one of the guys he's watching this year. He also made a comparison that you are going to love very quickly. He called him the Elvis Presley of baseball as a guy who is a white guy culture vulture. But it's actually a good thing in the long run for the sport. So ultimately Adnan, I want to get this is true rapid fire here.
- [34:34]
Senator Mark Kelly
All right.
- [34:35]
Jeremy Stugats
I'm going to list off several things. We're going to get your picks and we're going to call it a day. And then I'm going to fact check you later in the year. We're going to go back through this list. I'm taking notes. So Adnan, who are your MVPs in each league?
- [34:47]
Adnan Virk
Johan wins his fifth MVP and his first MVP after being a runner up to S.H. otani in 2021. Vladimir Carrera Jr. Wins the American League MVP.
- [34:55]
Jeremy Stugats
Cy Young's in each league.
- [34:57]
Adnan Virk
Mariner's pitching staff is so electric every year you feel like you can pick a different Guy. Is it going to be Logan Gilbert? It's going to be George Kirby. I'm calling Brian Woo to win a young Mariners. And how about the National League, Logan Webb, Perennially a bridesmaid, never a bride. Logan Webb finally wins a son. This guy every year. 200 plus innings, 200 plus strikeouts.
- [35:15]
Jeremy Stugats
Incredible. Logan Webb is, is like an old school pitcher if you love old school pitching. Fans of the pitch clock. He is a guy that's must see TV on MLB tv. Division winners in each division. Adnan, tell me who you got.
- [35:28]
Adnan Virk
Yankees, Tigers and Mariners. The American League and the nationally Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers. Feel like I'm going chalk. No real surprises here. But I'm not going to get burned again after betting on the Royals last season.
- [35:37]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah, you did bet on the Royals last season. Thank you for bringing it up yourself because I was going to. Who are your wild card winners?
- [35:43]
Adnan Virk
Best division in baseball is the American League East. You're going to see the Blue Jays and the Red Sox in the playoffs and the Astros will just squeak out the Orioles and the Guardians. So I've got Jays, Red Sox, Ashers, the National League, Mets, Padres. And back in the playoffs for Buster Posey, the San Francisco Giants. A full season of Rafael Des. Look forward to that.
- [36:01]
Jeremy Stugats
Who makes the World Series and who ultimately wins it?
- [36:04]
Adnan Virk
Yankees over the Dodgers. We get a rematch for a couple years. Wow. Aaron Judge finally silences the critics and has his big moment. Much like Barry Bonds finally had his big moment. 2002 Giants against the Angels.
- [36:14]
Jeremy Stugats
That would be spectacular for major league Baseball after what should be a great season. We've had mentioned in this pitch clock. Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Pirates, Padres, Reds, Cubs, Dodgers again, everybody in baseball except for the Marlins.
- [36:31]
Adnan Virk
Yeah. All right, let's talk to you. Your boy Peter Bendix. You got it covered.
- [36:35]
Jeremy Stugats
You will leave the Marlins talk to me. We're actually doing it in the trivia game that's happening right now amidst this pitch clock. But pitch clock fans, if you live here in Miami and you're planning on potentially going out to the ballpark, may I entice you with the fact that this weekend, opening weekend, I will actually be your in stadium host. You could see me on the on the big screen welcoming you to the ballpark. I'm looking forward to it and getting back on that broadcast on Marlins tv. It's going to be a lot of fun. You can also check out Adnan on MLB Network. He'll have you covered all throughout opening day. He's also going to join us on our Live stream later today. We will be live Thursday the 26th from 3 to 5. You can watch us on the Leitard YouTube channel. Adnan, as always, thank you for joining us.
- [37:16]
Dan Le Batard
Cody.
- [37:17]
There's no way that the Marlins right fielder in 06, Ethan, talk to me with your eyes.
- [37:28]
Jeremy Stugats
Don't talk to him with your eyes. Stop talking to him with your eyes.
- [37:32]
Dan Le Batard
Look at the. Look at it on the sheet.
- [37:33]
I'm not looking at him. I know who it is.
- [37:38]
I'm just. I mean, I don't know who else this could be. Jeremy Hermita.
- [37:42]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah, baby. Awesome.
- [37:43]
Dan Le Batard
Doesn't that name just get you juiced up?
- [37:45]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah, I love the name. Jeremy.
- [37:48]
Dan Le Batard
Jeremy.
- [37:49]
One more.
- [37:49]
Senator Mark Kelly
Yeah.
- [37:50]
Dan Le Batard
If you guys get this guy. I like that's. That's deep Marlin's knowledge, because I didn't know this name.
- [37:55]
Oh, so can you tell us position then?
- [37:56]
Senator Mark Kelly
Do we both agree?
- [37:57]
Dan Le Batard
Well, there's one position.
- [37:58]
Jeremy Stugats
There's only one position left on the field.
- [38:00]
Dan Le Batard
Okay, let me do that math.
- [38:01]
Jeremy Stugats
Okay, so I'm gonna go ahead and. And move back up to the 2020 Marlins. While Chris does math. I'm gonna name their third baseman. That's at the bottom of this list. BA. Brian Anderson.
- [38:12]
Adnan Virk
Correct.
- [38:13]
Dan Le Batard
Oh, yeah. See, this is so annoying. I'm still in this game. I'm in this game. If it's not for the positions, I don't remember what position. This guy.
- [38:21]
Jeremy Stugats
Yeah. It is fair. He has. To Chris's credit. He's gotten every name.
- [38:26]
Dan Le Batard
No, he's. He's spot on. Yeah, that's why I added the positional element.
- [38:30]
Jeremy Stugats
There's another level of knowledge, sir.
- [38:32]
Dan Le Batard
Yeah. If I just gave you guys the initials at positions, I don't think you guys would have struck out.
- [38:37]
Well, I think it's just been. They're not at their positions, but it could be the way you did it. You just don't have to say the position. That could have been an option as well.
- [38:43]
Jeremy Stugats
Go ahead.
- [38:47]
Dan Le Batard
Ah, it's like. I know this guy played all over the field, but I think he. Like, he wasn't our starting in 2020. Could he have been the starting.
- [38:56]
Senator Mark Kelly
Okay.
- [38:57]
Adnan Virk
Did he just.
- [38:58]
Dan Le Batard
All right, Jeremy's gonna. I'm gonna follow Jeremy here. Shortstop. Jim, I hate this. It's Ian Desmond.
- [39:09]
Jeremy Stugats
No, no, Ian Desmond was never a Marlin.
- [39:11]
Adnan Virk
He was a.
- [39:12]
Dan Le Batard
He was a Rock.
- [39:12]
He.
- [39:13]
I actually remember Ian Desmond.
- [39:15]
Jeremy Stugats
I'll tell you who it is.
- [39:17]
Dan Le Batard
ID.
- [39:17]
Jeremy Stugats
ID. You're starting second baseman for the 2020 Miami Marlins. He's got it. Esan Diaz. Correct.
- [39:24]
Dan Le Batard
Oh, God, that guy.
- [39:25]
All right. So let's go around the board here. So that is three strikes and Can I name.
- [39:29]
Jeremy Stugats
Can I try to name a couple more? But I can't remember what positions that would have played. Is there a world in which Jorge Alfaro played left field?
- [39:36]
Dan Le Batard
Jorge Alfaro did not play left field. That ja is Jesus Aguilar.
- [39:41]
Jeremy Stugats
Jesus Aguilar. First base.
- [39:43]
Dan Le Batard
A rap of power. Corey Dickerson as well. Corey Dickerson was in left.
- [39:46]
Left.
- [39:47]
Yep.
- [39:48]
Jeremy Stugats
So I couldn't remember.
- [39:49]
Dan Le Batard
Stunned. You guys haven't gotten the shortstop.
- [39:52]
Jeremy Stugats
Oh, Miguel Rojas and then jv. This is a deep cut. I'm trying.
- [39:58]
Dan Le Batard
This one's a deep cut. I have. Jonathan VR was in center field on opening day.
- [40:03]
Jeremy Stugats
Jonathan VR. And then who. Who was the center fielder in 2006?
- [40:07]
Dan Le Batard
Eric Reed.
- [40:09]
Jeremy Stugats
R E. Definitely not the third time
- [40:12]
Dan Le Batard
I've started in left field for the Marlins. That's.
- [40:15]
Jeremy Stugats
That's a victory in which Jeremy tashay has started 10 in trivia this year.
- [40:21]
Dan Le Batard
Mike, you know I have one rule to live by, right?
- [40:23]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Don't place parlays on multiple long shots. Don't say a game is won when it hasn't hit triple zero.
- [40:30]
Dan Le Batard
Always drink your Jagermeister ice cold. That's the rule. Everything else is merely a suggestion.
- [40:35]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Everything else?
- [40:36]
Dan Le Batard
Everything else.
- [40:37]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Wearing clean underwear every day, well, that's
- [40:40]
Dan Le Batard
just a personal decision. Brushing your teeth, obviously smart, but not a rule.
- [40:44]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Never pee pee on an electric fence.
- [40:46]
Dan Le Batard
Okay, maybe there are two rules. But the one that is 100% that I insist on completely, Jagermeister must be drank ice cold or don't drink it at all.
- [40:54]
Jeremy Stugats
Damn, that's cold.
- [40:56]
Dan Le Batard
Exactly. You're finally starting to get it.
- [40:58]
Mike (Ad/Promo Voice)
Drink responsibly. Jagermeister liqueur, 35% alcohol by volume, imported by mass Jagermeister, US White Plains, NY.