Hour 2: Fume Sucking From The Train of Chaos (feat. David Samson and Adnan Virk)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – Hour 2: Fume Sucking From The Train of Chaos (feat. David Samson and Adnan Virk)
Release Date: May 29, 2025

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1. Introduction and Sponsorships (00:00 - 00:23)

The episode kicks off with promotional segments for Zyn nicotine pouches and Abercrombie & Fitch, setting a lively tone for the show. While these segments are integral to the podcast’s sponsorship model, they are bypassed in our summary to focus on the core content.

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2. Celebrating David Samson's New Deal with DraftKings (01:13 - 14:49)

Key Discussion Points:

• Announcement of David Samson's Partnership: David Samson announces his new deal with DraftKings, highlighting the significance of this partnership in the crowded media landscape.

• Host Reactions and Congratulations:

  • Dan Le Batard (01:13): "Do not let me forget to ask Juju about your Blizzard incident. And how disgusting."
  • Stugotz (02:13): "David Sampson has signed a new deal. He bet on himself. DraftKings cashes big bets."

• Impact on the Show and Industry:

  • Stugotz (04:28): "We give a lane and an understanding to people of what's actually happening."
  • David Sampson (03:34): "It's a crowded space. Everyone is fighting for those dollars."

• Acknowledging the Team's Efforts:

  • Stugotz (05:01): "When Nothing Personal first started, over 90% of the audience was Florida based, and now it's below 7%."
  • Mike Ryan (05:24): "David Sampson has a functioning business. It's part of the reason that I... we decided to do what we decided to do."

Notable Quotes:

• Stugotz (03:31): "You provide such quality and that I basically suck on your fumes."
• David Sampson (04:11): "He should. Guys, seriously on this. David has run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Is that a bigger achievement than this?"

Insights:

• Expansion and Growth: The transition from a Florida-centric audience to a national presence underscores the show's growth and adaptability.
• DraftKings Partnership: This collaboration not only provides financial backing but also affirms the show's credibility and influence in the sports media space.
• Mutual Support: The hosts emphasize a symbiotic relationship, where the success of one contributes to the collective growth of the network.

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3. Maintaining Show Integrity and Audience Engagement (14:49 - 23:34)

Key Discussion Points:

• Commitment to Audience: The hosts discuss the importance of respecting and delivering what the audience wants, balancing serious and light-hearted content.

• Future Plans:

  • Stugotz (05:04): "We're going to have people calling in and involved in the show once a week."
  • Dan Le Batard (14:49): "Nothing Personal is the name of the podcast."

Notable Quotes:

• Stugotz (05:25): "Quality. That's what we give."
• Dan Le Batard (05:04): "...we provide an understanding to people of what's actually happening."

Insights:

• Content Evolution: Transitioning from a one-hour to a two-hour format allows for more in-depth discussions, guest appearances, and interactive segments.
• Audience Loyalty: Emphasis on a loyal and engaged audience as a cornerstone for sustainable growth and attractive sponsorship deals.

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4. Humorous Segment: "Would You Attend Their Funeral?" (07:41 - 20:19)

Key Discussion Points:

• Fun and Banter: Hosts engage in a light-hearted game segment where they humorously debate attending the funerals of various sports personalities.

• Mock Controversies:

  • Chris Cody's Blizzard Incident (08:05 - 08:18): A comedic take on hygiene mishaps in the studio.
  • Mike Jacobs' Jewish Heritage Night Faux Pas (16:00 - 19:23): A humorous debate over honoring a non-Jewish player on Jewish Heritage Night.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard (08:33): "Quality. That's what we give."
• Stugotz (17:50): "Because when you announce Jewish Heritage Day and like, a bobblehead of Mike Jacobs, everyone's like, oh, my God, you have a great Jewish player."

Insights:

• Host Chemistry: The playful interactions showcase the camaraderie and dynamic rapport between the hosts.
• Audience Engagement: Such segments are designed to entertain listeners, fostering a relatable and engaging atmosphere.

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5. Sports Analysis with Adnan Virk: MLB Standings and Player Performances (27:03 - 36:42)

Key Discussion Points:

• Current MLB Standings:

  • American League: Yankees leading the division with a strong performance, Yankees’ dominance, and Orioles struggling.
  • National League: Cubs showing significant improvement with standout players like PCA and Suzuki.

• Player Highlights:

  • PCA (28:10): Leading in WAR and RBIs, strong offensive and defensive performances.
  • Cal Raleigh (35:14): Exceptional season with 58 home runs, breaking catcher records, and outstanding defensive stats.

• Pitching Spotlight:

  • Tarek Skubal (34:22): Dominant pitching performance, potential Cy Young candidate, and a key asset for the Detroit Tigers.

Notable Quotes:

• Adnan Virk (28:10): "The Yankees are going to run away with it. They lead the AL in win percentage, run score..."
• Dan Le Batard (29:02): "Yankees look like a juggernaut right now in the American League."
• Adnan Virk (35:30): "He's on pace for [Raleigh] to obliterate it. Eight home runs in 26 games at T-Mobile Park."

Insights:

• Team Dynamics: Detailed analysis emphasizes the strengths and weaknesses of leading MLB teams, providing listeners with comprehensive insights.
• Player Performance: Highlighting individual achievements and their impact on team success offers depth to the sports discussion.
• Strategic Analysis: The conversation delves into pitching efficiency and its importance in building a formidable team roster.

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6. "Pitch Clock" Trivia Segment: Testing Sports Knowledge (23:34 - 37:35)

Key Discussion Points:

• Baseball Trivia Game: Hosts engage in a competitive trivia game, testing their knowledge on MLB players and historical data.

• Interactive Engagement: Encourages listener participation and showcases the hosts' expertise and quick thinking under pressure.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard (30:38): "The Pitch Clock is back. Can't wait to get started."
• Mike Ryan (35:30): "He was not a Cub in 2005."

Insights:

• Interactive Entertainment: The trivia segment adds a fun and competitive element, enhancing listener engagement.
• Knowledge Showcase: Highlights the depth of knowledge possessed by the hosts, reinforcing their authority in sports media.

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7. Closing Remarks and Final Ads (37:35 - 41:30)

The episode concludes with final promotional segments for Miller Lite and Zyn, reiterating sponsorship messages. These are essential for supporting the show but are summarized here to maintain focus on the main content.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard (40:02): "Here’s the Pitch Clock. Baseball time. Pitch Clock is back."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz seamlessly blends in-depth sports analysis with light-hearted humor and engaging interactive segments. Celebrating significant milestones like David Samson's partnership with DraftKings, the hosts provide listeners with valuable insights into MLB standings and player performances while maintaining an entertaining and relatable atmosphere. The chemistry between the hosts and their ability to balance serious discussion with playful banter makes for a compelling listening experience, even for those unfamiliar with the show.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Stugotz (03:31): "You provide such quality and that I basically suck on your fumes."
• David Sampson (04:11): "He should. Guys, seriously on this. David has run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Is that a bigger achievement than this?"
• Stugotz (05:25): "Quality. That's what we give."
• Dan Le Batard (08:33): "Quality. That's what we give."
• Adnan Virk (28:10): "The Yankees are going to run away with it. They lead the AL in win percentage, run score..."
• Adnan Virk (35:30): "He's on pace for [Raleigh] to obliterate it. Eight home runs in 26 games at T-Mobile Park."

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

What does Zyn really give you? Not just smoke free nicotine satisfaction, but also real freedom to do more of what you love, when and where you want to do it. Why bring Zyn along for the ride? Because America's number one nicotine pouch opens up all the possibilities of right now. With Zyn, you don't just find freedom, you keep finding it.

[Stugotz]

Find your Zen.

[Dan Le Batard]

Learn [e-mail] WARNING this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. This message is brought to you by Abercrombie and Fitch. I've been ready for summer for a while and now it's finally time for summer outfits. With a trip coming up, the A and F Vacation Shop has me covered. Abercrombie really knows how to do a lightweight outfit. Their tees, sweater, polos and linen blend shorts never miss. I wear Abercrombie denim year round. Their shorts are no different and have the comfort I need for summer. Prep for your next trip with the A and F Vacation Shop. Get their newest arrivals in store, online and in the app. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats Podcast.

[Mike Ryan]

This episode is presented by Smirnoff. We do game days. Please drink responsibly to Smirnoff Co. New.

[David Sampson]

York, NY do not let me forget to ask Juju about your Blizzard incident. And how disgusting.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's not gonna like that.

[Stugotz]

Neither is David.

[David Sampson]

Neither is Samson either. Buzz the Tower Coming up in in 20 minutes, a hot news show that's totally different from the outdated and defunct and fossilized pitch clock.

[Dan Le Batard]

Buzz the Tower pitch clock was fun while it lasted. Now Buzz the Tower, which will not be referenced during the episode, but will be next month when we get it contractually figured out.

[David Sampson]

Buzz the Tower. Right? It's coming up in 20 minutes. David, what is your favorite baseball phrase? David Sampson with us here for a reason. By the way, I owe him a bit of an apology and more of a celebration than I gave him. Y double the David we're about to get. David Sampson has signed a new deal. He bet on himself. He cashes that bet. DraftKings cashes big bets. They've cashed the David Sampson bet. You are now going to get twice as much David Sampson in your life. Everybody was asking for that, right?

[Dan Le Batard]

10 times a week.

[David Sampson]

That's 10. It's not 10 times a week, but it's 10 hours a week. And for those of you who haven't noticed, incidentally, a giant media success story. This is a crowded space. Everyone is fighting for those dollars. David Sampson has A functioning business. It's part of the reason that I. And we decided to do what we decided to do. Pablo Torre has a functioning business. Stugaz is going to create a functioning business out of. God bless football. So, Sampson, congratulations. Double the. David. Nobody was really asking for it, but congratulations anyway.

[Stugotz]

Well, actually, the people who were asking for it are the people who write the checks. So when DraftKings approached and. And really, Dan, it starts with you and what you do every day with your loyal audience. And the deal that Metal art did with DraftKings, which you announced yesterday, I think you, in all of the bungling and anxiety that you may have over it, it is quite a nod to what you do. And what you do is you talk about your loyal audience, but that loyal audience really helps monetize an entire company. Okay, but then what happens is, Dan, you provide such quality and that I basically suck on your fumes. And I was doing, oh, yes, I do.

[David Sampson]

Whoa.

[Stugotz]

Fume sucker.

[Dan Le Batard]

Quality. That's what we give.

[David Sampson]

Come on. Look, the reason I wanted to bring this up is because I failed yesterday in saying that in order. Look, this has been a process. David has made a media career after his other career. It's really hard to do. This is an achievement, what he has done, to be in this economy, someone. This media economy, someone that people want and will pay more for. So salute to you on something that has been a really special achievement. You should. Guys, seriously on this. David has run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. Is that a bigger achievement than this?

[Mike Ryan]

No, no, no. It's really hard in the media space, it's saturated. He's carved out the sports business lane, but also he is battling something that is even tougher than a mar. His own public Persona. He is very unliked.

[David Sampson]

Yeah, well, we've laundered him. Yeah, we've laundered him. We have sports watching over here. We have. We.

[Stugotz]

You say you've laundered me, Dan, but I would actually argue that in spite of some of the roadblocks you've put up, which has actually made our show better and me better at what I do, because it's given me the skin to persevere. Because while, Mike, I agree that there could be a fraction of people who. Who you're related to who are upset with the things I did all those years ago, there's a whole big audience. When Nothing Personal first started, over 90% of the audience was Florida based, and now it's below 7%.

[David Sampson]

All right.

[Stugotz]

And while the show has grown, I can understand why.

[Mike Ryan]

I can understand why you would push back on the notion unliked. And I know that it probably gets exhausting how we frame you on the show. I just mean to the masses. Because you do a national show, your name is usually associated with the ballpark. And if you run a Google search on David Sampson, you're going to find some negative posts out there. So you've overcome that. It's. I'm actually complimenting you.

[David Sampson]

We've laundered you.

[Stugotz]

Well, I appreciate the Tide Pod usage, but I would say that the most important thing when you're doing a daily show is just respecting the audience and giving the people what they want and make fun as you wish. But what people are interested in are the stories we cover. And, and it's not that we cover the serious story stupidly or the stupid story seriously. That's for our friend Pablo. What we do is we give a lane and an understanding to people of what's actually happening. Because I did it for so many years in the industry, in the world of sports business. So I love uncovering the mysteries that surround the business of sports. And we do it every day. We did it for an hour, now we're going to do it for two hours. We're going to have people calling in and, and involved in the show once a week. There's a new phone number, 631-377-4869. That's 631 DPS 4869. Leave a voicemail you'll get on the show. We're going to review movies, you're going to get more coca, you're going to get guests on the show each week. So it's really exciting what you've enabled me to do, and DraftKings is obviously behind this. They see something in me and in what you provide that obviously, obviously provides value to them. And my view is we might as well keep going.

[David Sampson]

Congratulations on all of the success. Nothing Personal is the name of the podcast. And he is right now the leading sports business authority nationally in America. And this particular podcast isn't just sports business, but also, and this is not a small thing either, the sporting class with him, John Skipper and Pablo Torre, it is the most awarded and acclaimed sports business podcast listened to by other executives as well. So David Sampson is clearly climbing in the business. But are we a roadblocker or we're the source of your fume sucking? Because it can't be both of those things.

[Stugotz]

Well, no, you have turned from roadblocker to fume sucker. So here's how it works.

[David Sampson]

You're the fume sucker.

[Stugotz]

Well, it's interesting because now I view it the number of hours that that will be provide, providing that you may be sucking on some of our fumes as well. So we're mutual fume suckers.

[David Sampson]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Suck your own fumes. How disgusted, David, would you be by the things that have happened here today? Chris Cody was eating a Blizzard and he dropped the plastic spoon at his feet in that studio back there where people have been standing for two years with their sneakers and immediately picked it up without looking and put it back in his cup. Tell me what your thoughts on this are as a germaphobe.

[Stugotz]

You throw the spoon away and start over. There's no way, Chris, you actually did that.

[David Sampson]

Yeah, he did do that. Here's the video proof. Yes, here's the video proof right here. Yes. He just put it right back in there after dropping it. And the question to you is, on a scale of one to ten, how disgusting is this for you?

[Stugotz]

That's a solid six. And what I'm worried about is, given the staffing of the show requirements, I'm worried that Chris is going to get sick because basically he just ate Jeremy's shoes.

[Dan Le Batard]

My throat does hurt a little bit.

[David Sampson]

Yes. A lot of people are pointing out that your shirt stinks as well. I don't think that. That's not me. I'm not saying that. I'm just a great shirt. I'm simply.

[Dan Le Batard]

I love how much David loves all his shirts. Anytime we do this, he's like, what are you guys talking about?

[David Sampson]

Shirt is loud. The shirt is indisputably loud. But I'm just. I'm the vessel here. I'm not. This is not my opinion. I'm used to how you dress.

[Dan Le Batard]

The end of his sleeves.

[Mike Ryan]

That's just ridiculous looking, man.

[Stugotz]

Well, I appreciate what you're saying. That said, if you're comparing my dress to Lebatard's, it's not even. We're not even in the same universe. The guy's a schlepper.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wow. Going at you, Dan, you think you're.

[David Sampson]

High fashion society compared to me right.

[Stugotz]

Now, Dan, I think it's so. It's more self evident than the sunrise.

[Mike Ryan]

Is it? All right, well, you famously have bid on celebrity pieces of wardrobe, glasses, shirts. Which episode of Modern Family did you get? This one from, Cam.

[Stugotz]

This is actually bought off the rack online. 40% off. Robert Graham. And you yourself can get this shirt and look the way I look. If you so choose.

[David Sampson]

Do you guys realize that if we gave him one of Cam's actual shirts, it would be like you were termite fumigating a tented home.

[Mike Ryan]

Be a tarp from profile.

[Dan Le Batard]

What are you doing to Cam?

[David Sampson]

It's not Cam. I'm doing it to David. It's David doing it too. It's David. It's not Cam. Cam's Cam.

[Mike Ryan]

What's your best tarp story from pro player? Any fun ones? Anybody get caught in it? Any. Any dangerous things?

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, can we look at the groundskeeper that. That flicked off the camera yesterday?

[David Sampson]

Nothing Personal is the name of the podcast. Congratulations. We're not doing show around David Sampson. We were just simply here to salute and celebrate something I failed to do yesterday because it really is an achievement. David, before you get out of here, just explain it to people. Cuz our fans guys felt a little rem not maybe understanding what yesterday's announcement and announcements as it should have been with his show actually mean. It means that after leaving ESPN and betting on ourselves, we are a unit that sets industry standards for what it is that you can be paid for doing this daily. And Bill's better than anyone in the sports podcast stream because our audience is so loyal that we have proven no matter how you do the metrics today, that audience comes with us and every single day. And I don't believe because sports media is covered so poorly that people actually understand what was just done here and what the achievement is in it in this media climate to set industry standard on what deals can be when you grab your own independence and you have the power of your own things. And one of those things is the audience. And that audience is the most loyal in the game.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I don't know if you want to tout your own horn the way I'm about to because what you just said, people overlook. Anyone can have a microphone, Anyone. But to actually have an opportunity to have a partner like DraftKings and have them give the support that they give to you and your show and then basically the shows in your orbit, like my show and like Pablo show, that's significant. And what you need are people who grind the way you do every day doing a show, delivering to the audience. And. And I learned from you to do the same thing. And, and the background in baseball where you play every day, you show up no matter what, kids, graduations, forget it. There's a show to do, you do it. And that's what you do every day. And you get rewarded for that with a loyal audience. And when you have that you get rewarded with a deal, really an all encompassing deal like DraftKings offered that, that you accepted and then that I accepted as well with you. It really is a credit to, to the whole staff of Metal Arc and, and to you as the conductor of what you call a train of chaos and I call a train of beauty.

[David Sampson]

So this is a bit too much and I like Train of Chaos much better than Train of Beauty. I don't need Train of Beauty here. Also, it's toot your own horn. Not tout your own horn, but Mike, to the degree that you've been helping, wherever it is and everywhere you have been on business development, the business of this deal that our audience may know, but the broader sports audience doesn't know, is that DraftKings has allowed us to do something very few people can do because they're partnering us with us in a much bigger, more substantive and genuinely soulful way. Genuinely soulful. Imagine that around the gambling dollars. Because it's important to them to make sure our independence stays what it is. And it's important to them to see how easy it is for our sponsors to be taken care of when we send our audience to our spons.

[Mike Ryan]

We have a very special, loyal audience that, you know, we were talking about Conan o' Brien earlier in the week and someone texted me thanking me for that segment. They were a big Conan o' Brien fan and they drew parallels to Conan's career and our career. Now that's very high praise, but much like Conan, we've been at a lot of places over the course of our 20 year run and we've had partners like Miller Lite that have been with us for most of these 20 years. We've also had audience that remember listening to us on an AM radio dial and wherever we were available, popping up on a twitch stream every 17 days or so. They've stuck with us and for DraftKings to recognize that continue to put their faith in us in an evolving media landscape as we continue to learn on the fly. We're long in the tooth and we're constantly learning new things and tweaking and putting our audience through a lot of tests. And it's not meant to be made as hoop jumping. But some of them may feel that they have jumped through hoops to continue following us because they've been passionate. You can't replicate this. You can't just put this together. They've tried in previous time slots. We've seen it. You just put two people together and think that you can make Magic like this for 20 years and it's not necessarily the case. And we're very committed to the work. And I'm really proud of what you said in the statement that I read about touting this partnership in particular because we are a very opinionated show. We are not easy and we've had a lot of stops and I've heard the feedback on the way out. DraftKings likes that about us. They allow us to be free. There is non invasive of a partner as we've ever had. And I can't thank them enough for that.

[David Sampson]

It is funny. It really is funny to say, David, and I'm just going to keep saying this because it's hard to get the support of people these days. That just stays with you. Just look even around the fu money where it's bezos and tariffs like it's hard to get people who back you with their money and then say nah. We see what just happened. We see that you guys with this freedom actually deliver on what it is that you said you were going to bring us. And now they back us again and again. David, how do I say this? Because I really don't know. You've been involved with some of the business of this.

[Mike Ryan]

This is navel gazing.

[David Sampson]

It is, it is.

[Stugotz]

But I want to keep the audience.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah, we want to keep them.

[David Sampson]

Okay, I'll stop.

[Mike Ryan]

Throw them. Throw them like a would you attend their funeral type thing.

[David Sampson]

All right, let's do that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Let's get James Larden.

[David Sampson]

Yeah, we're all right. Sorry, my bad. I didn't realize. Why didn't you play the magic created content or something? I thought you had devices for this shit.

[Dan Le Batard]

Ah, happy music.

[Mike Ryan]

It's time to play. I don't think we actually have a voice behind this.

[Dan Le Batard]

Would you dare? Funeral. Woohoo.

[Mike Ryan]

David, you've been the best ever to play this game. You are quite simply the Tom Brady of this game because you answer honestly. To your own personal detriment, I may add. Dan's second best. He's forever changed his relationship with Michael K. So your first question for Would you attend their funeral? Would you attend former Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs funeral?

[Stugotz]

No.

[Mike Ryan]

He hit 30. He hit 30 home runs for you.

[Stugotz]

And he was almost Jewish. That counts.

[Mike Ryan]

How is one almost?

[Dan Le Batard]

Would you have gone to his funeral if he was Jewish?

[David Sampson]

Wait, what?

[Mike Ryan]

It might have helped.

[Stugotz]

We. We honored him on Jewish Heritage Day because the last name's Jacob, so you can get away with it. But of course he's not Jewish. But no one needs to know that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Wait A second.

[Adnan Vir]

So.

[Dan Le Batard]

So he's Jewish?

[Stugotz]

Very much ish.

[Mike Ryan]

You honored a player on Jewish Heritage Night that was not Jewish. And we talked about this. So. Wait, wait.

[David Sampson]

He had a Jewish name? He whimpers out of the side of his face. Face.

[Mike Ryan]

So you talked about this beforehand? Did. Was the assumption made that he was Jewish?

[David Sampson]

You knew.

[Mike Ryan]

You knew that he wasn't.

[Stugotz]

I knew he put the G in Goyam. Of course I knew he wasn't Jewish.

[David Sampson]

So that's a fraud. On the.

[Mike Ryan]

Why'd you go through fraud?

[Stugotz]

What? Because. Wait a minute. Why didn't. Wait, what? Because when you announce Jewish Heritage Day and like, a bobblehead of Mike Jacobs, everyone's like, oh, my God, you have a great Jewish player. And we're like, yeah, he's hitting 30 bombs. He's part of our young core. It's a great idea to honor him and to celebrate Jewish Heritage Night.

[David Sampson]

But he's not.

[Stugotz]

Oh, I forgot. He goes to church on Sunday.

[Dan Le Batard]

So you were just trying to trick all of the Jewish people in South Florida into having a new favorite player named Mike Jacobs just because his name is Michael Jacobs?

[Stugotz]

Listen. Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

So.

[Adnan Vir]

Yes, yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Amazing.

[David Sampson]

But, David, that is fraud. You understand that?

[Stugotz]

Wait a minute. Hold on. Stop using legal words that you may not understand. I did not commit fraud upon anybody. No one bought a ticket saying, but for Mike Jacobs being Jewish, I wouldn't buy this ticket. That is not the case.

[David Sampson]

False advertising.

[Mike Ryan]

How was he. How was he presented?

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, he never put him in A.

[Stugotz]

Star and a Keeper.

[Mike Ryan]

How was he presented on the. On the Jewish. Jewish Heritage Night as our starting first base.

[David Sampson]

But why? Why was he on there?

[Stugotz]

Because that's who we were honoring. I wasn't gonna honor, you know, Marty Gomez.

[Mike Ryan]

You know what? In talking this out, I'm pretty sure you should attend Mike Jacobs funeral.

[David Sampson]

That's a real player, by the way. That's Marty Gomez is playing second for these Marlins.

[Mike Ryan]

Next up, Tommy Hutton, former occasional Marlins, current Marlins color analyst.

[Stugotz]

I wouldn't. But I will send a note to his family that's. He's noteworthy. Not attendance.

[David Sampson]

Noteworthy. Literally. Literally.

[Stugotz]

But no, not flowers.

[Adnan Vir]

No flowers.

[Dan Le Batard]

What about.

[Stugotz]

That's a different level.

[Mike Ryan]

What about his longtime partner, former Marlins TV play by playman, Rich Waltz?

[Stugotz]

Noteworthy Len Casper. Flowers. It's Boog Flowers.

[David Sampson]

Oh, you don't attend boogs.

[Stugotz]

Probably not. I love Boog. But I mean, listen, it would have to be the most convenient thing. They weren't fit between shows.

[David Sampson]

But no, no.

[Mike Ryan]

Javi Vasquez.

[Stugotz]

No, I would. I would tweet about it. Saying hey, tweet about it because he.

[Mike Ryan]

Did not have that dog in him.

[Dan Le Batard]

Treat water.

[Stugotz]

It's because he ended up working for the players union. And so we had some, we had some great times going at each other after we were on the same team.

[David Sampson]

Is there a spot between, Is there a spot between flowers and note, is there some tier between those donations?

[Stugotz]

I love your heads at. Yes. There's a. There's a phone call to the living.

[David Sampson]

Oh, wow.

[Stugotz]

Note, phone call, flowers, then attendance. Former. Oh, there's another level. Thank God. Covid. The virtual attendance.

[David Sampson]

Thank God. Covert.

[Stugotz]

That's when you can zoom into the funeral from the. From your own home.

[David Sampson]

Thank God.

[Stugotz]

So that's another level before you attend the action.

[Dan Le Batard]

We all attended Stugats's mom's funeral that way.

[David Sampson]

Thank God.

[Mike Ryan]

I cannot believe how, how good game turned out with this list I was feeling.

[Dan Le Batard]

Should we go back to navel gazing or stay here?

[Mike Ryan]

Former Marlins Twitter account Logan Morrison.

[Stugotz]

I will go to his funeral.

[David Sampson]

I've got an addendum to this Boogie's funeral. David, that you're not going to. I'm going.

[Stugotz]

Yes, you have to go.

[Mike Ryan]

Yeah. Are you revealing that you're friends with.

[David Sampson]

Boog Buzz the Tower? No. I thought that would lure David to a funeral to get out of the house. Buzz the Tower is next.

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Stugotz]

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[Mike Ryan]

Howdy, listeners, it's Mike Ryan. That temperature, it's starting to turn up a little bit. Maybe you're going out on the boat. Maybe you're having a pool day. Maybe you're just hanging out in your backyard, your patio and you're grilling. Oh, you're prepping the meats. You're looking at the family. You're enjoying your time with the friends. And guess what's in your hand? A Miller Light. That's right. Miller time is the best time. Especially when the temperature starts ticking up a little bit because you have a beer that's brewed for people like you and me. People who love their beer and it cools your body down. I've been stocking the cooler with it for years and for good reason. It's brewed for taste only, 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs. This year, Miller Lite turns 50. That's five decades of cookouts, laughs and ice cold moments that never miss the original light beer. And it's still my Go to 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. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Stugotz]

Don Levotard Taytas Stugats Taytas this is.

[Dan Le Batard]

The Don Levatar show with the Stugats. Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the Pitch, a two part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the Pitch Clock. Baseball time. Pitch Clock is back. Can't wait to get started. We'll have our 2025 MLB expert with us in just a moment. But I'm coming off a victory in trivia, so I'm feeling good. But also, I know that means more likely than not, I'm about to experience a loss. It's myself, it's Chris Cody. And that means Taylor Vipulous is here. Taylor, our trivia game for today. Let's get it rolling.

[Mike Ryan]

We're going to do the baseball card.

[Dan Le Batard]

Game where I'm going to give you a player from 2005. You have to say whose opening day lineup they were in. Taylor, who do you want to go first here? Chris Cody. First name? Rafael Palmeiro. I mean, there's clearly just two choices here. I'm gonna go with my gut and go with the Texas Rangers. He was not a Texas Ranger. Was Rafael Palmero a Baltimore Orioles in 2005? Obviously, if it wasn't a Ranger, he was a Baltimore Oriole. Yeah, baby. All right, time. Time to potentially take a two nothing lead in round one. Let's see. Taylor, what's my question? Sean Green. Jeremy. Oh, no. Because I feel like you want. There's.

[Adnan Vir]

There's.

[Dan Le Batard]

There's an obvious answer where he played most of his career. And I feel like that's the place where I want to say, but I feel like you're throwing me off on purpose. But maybe he got traded midseason. I'm just gonna stick with it because I don't know if Chris will know the other one. So I'll say the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[Adnan Vir]

Damn it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Even though I know I'm wrong. Where did he go? He was not a Dodger. He wasn't a Dodger. I have another one in my. I'm gonna write it down because I have it in my head. Every team I'm picturing is a blue team, but it's just because I'm picturing. And the doctor's uniform. The New York Mets. That's the team I wrote down. Is it right? He was not a met in 2005. He was in the Diamondbacks opening day lineup. Wow. You are such a dick for putting that. That is such a dick move right there. So it's a one nothing lead after one round of this game. Round two, Chris. Europe. Not cool. Sammy Sosa. Sammy Sosa. Where the hell did he get traded to? Whatever. Cubs.

[Mike Ryan]

He was not a cub in 2005.

[Dan Le Batard]

Jeremy.

[Mike Ryan]

Chance to steal.

[Dan Le Batard]

Okay, so at the end of his career, I. I know where he played, but I. I don't know if there was a spot in between. I'm actually gonna go with the same guess as I had before. Was he an Oriole? Chris, you got double oriole twice. You got double Oriole. Double stuffed oriole. Two nothing. All the easy ones. My guess. Now, Richie Sexton. Now I know what game he's playing here. I know the team he wants you to say, and I know where he went. Oh, that's funny. Oh, you do? Okay. All right. I know a team that he was on and it's the only one that I can think of at the moment. So I'm just going to say it. And I think I'm handing you a point here. I'm going to say Milwaukee Brewers.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

I mean, that's the team he was known for, but then he got traded. If you say yes and gave him. When he was on the brewers, this is just you. Was he on the Brewers? Was he on the Brewers? Was he on the Brewers? He was not on the Brewers. Seattle Mariners. Seattle Mariners is correct.

[Adnan Vir]

All right.

[Dan Le Batard]

Two, one game. That's honestly Chris good. That was well done. Back for a second week in a row, I believe. Our first ever repeat guest back to back weeks, it's Adnan Vir, our go to 2025 MLB analyst. Adnan, thank you for being here. We're going to get right into this here because we're approaching the very end of the month of May. We're past Memorial Day, and that's normally a time where you can take account of the standings and have some real takeaways about where this season is headed. So in the American League, it's the Yankees, Tigers and Mariners leading their divisions. In the National League, it's the Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers first. The American League standings. You take a look. What is it that you see that stands out?

[Adnan Vir]

Well, first of all, I'm a freelancer right now with Metal Arc Media, so never apologize for having me on back to back. You're like, I'm not going to call you for five weeks. I go, no, please call me every week. I'm looking to get every dol. So always a pleasure to catch up with you, buddy. When I look at the standings, the first thought to me is that the New York Yankees have the largest division lead of any team right now in Major League Baseball. There's seven games up right now in the AL east, and I feel like they're going to run away with it. Right? The Red Sox, they're not a good team. They've lost five straight games.

[Dan Le Batard]

They're.

[Adnan Vir]

400, 500. The Jays are too inconsistent. The Rays aren't that good. The Orioles are the worst team right now in the perhaps the American League, aside from the Chicago White Sox. So I think the Yankees are going to run away with it. They won 16 of 20 since May 6th. They lead the AL in win percentage, run score, the second in era over that span and they particularly mash against left handed pitchers. Last night facing you say Kikuchi, they only win the game one nothing but.866 OPS against lefties. Paul Goldschmidt's.533 against lefties. Judge has an 1111 slug against them. Volpe's fifth right now in doubles, Ben Rice quietly has the fifth hard hit rate of any player in baseball by only the bigger names like Ohtani and Judge you'd expect. And of course they're pitching Schmidt last night, six strong innings freed up for me is going to win the Cy Young without Garrett Cole. Those guys haven't missed a beat. Even the struggles of Devin Williams have been able to hide because of Weaver and Mark Leonard Jr. So Yankees look like a juggernaut right now in the American League with the.

[Dan Le Batard]

Orioles being maybe one of the greatest surprises in the opposite direction. Struggling so much. That division does look like something the Yankees will run away with. And the pitching has really been the thing that galvanizes you if you're a Yankee fan, that excites you because without Garrett Cole, we all anticipated that would be a disaster. But let's look at the National League League now. What are your biggest takeaways when you examine what those standings look like?

[Adnan Vir]

So the positive when I look at the Chicago Cubs and I called PCA as my breakout star of the year because I met him in spring training, I love the guy. He's got stars in his head. I go, how many out room for this guy? And he's been awesome. We knew his defense was good. Plus 23 outs above average since the start of last season. That's the best in all of baseball. But also his offense, of course. I mean he's slugging over.600 and he's got 51 RBI, which is amazing. 49. Excuse me. Say Suzuki is 51, his teammate. That's like the quietest 51 RBI in baseball. Suzuki's single season career high is 74. Only Aaron Judge and Ohtani have more extra base hits than him this season. So suzuki leads in RBIs. Avenue mentioned. Kyle Tucker, of course is one of the great hitters in our game and has done so much for that lineup. And Dansby Swanson, over the last month his ops went from.560 to.760. He's now back to being the above average player that he should be. And Chicago looks really good right now, man. Like only the brewers and the Rays have more steals in the cups. So just slugging it, they're actually a fast team. That has power and has all those different dimensions. Like I said, PCA right now is making a push for MVPs, leading in war. I worry about their pitching a little bit. I do think the Cardinals will hang around. Cardinals have more balance than the Cubs. That should be a great rivalry in the Central. But yeah, Cubs looking legit. That's good for baseball to have them back potentially as division champion.

[Dan Le Batard]

First guest goes to Chris here. So, Chris, who are you going to have to guess? I guess Taylor. Tell us. That was a bad toss, Taylor. Tell us who Chris is gonna talk about. The fifth name up, Chris.

[Mike Ryan]

Carlos05.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm gonna say that he left the team he was with first and got paid by the Detroit Tigers. Chris levels it up. It's team two. Jeremy, your name is Jeff Kent. Well, we are. I am in my bag right now. Okay? Just in my bag. Where did he go now? So clear where he went. Where did he go? Similar color to the Dodgers. Don't do it. No, similar colors. No, no, no. Wait a minute. I think the same color scheme. Well, now you just. Okay, hold on. You said Dodger. You really are throwing me out. You said. You said similar color to the Dodgers. But then you're talking orange brown. Yeah, I. So did I say the word Dodgers? Yeah, you did. Did I? No, I. We rolled the tape. Similar color of the Dodgers. Similar color to the Dodgers. I'm gonna save the Dodgers. What a miss. Did I actually say Dodgers? You did.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Similar color of the Dodger. What a win. I don't have any other excuse. God. Three, two. After three rounds. Holy. Blaming Dan for that one. Round four. Taylor. Who is the player that Chris is going to speak about? Nomar Garcia, Parramatta? Dodger. He was not a Dodger. He was a Chicago Cub. Dammit.

[Mike Ryan]

He was a Cub.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. It's a 42 lead. And now the player comes to me.

[Mike Ryan]

Nick Swisher.

[Dan Le Batard]

Whoa. Oh, man. There's three teams that are in my head. He wasn't there until later. I'm gonna say Nick Swisher was a Chicago White Sox. That's wrong.

[Mike Ryan]

Was not a White Sox.

[Dan Le Batard]

Chris Cody, chance of steal. Is it the Guardians or is it the Reds? I feel like he was a Yankee late, late in his career. So this might be too early, but I'm gonna go Yankees. He was not a Yankee. Was he a Brave? He was not a Brave. Oakland. Oakland. Damn. It just clicked. It just clicked. All right. That's okay. It's still a 42 lead after four rounds. Is up about next to speak now.

[Mike Ryan]

Larry Walker.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cardinal.

[Mike Ryan]

He walks a Cardinal.

[Dan Le Batard]

Taylor. Who do I speak of now? Adrien Beltray. Oh, no, this is enough. 3. Three teams. Three teams immediately say the team name. Mistakenly this time. Three teams immediately came to my head. I know all three. You don't know all three teams. The Texas Rangers. He was not a Ranger. No, that was too early. He was just not going to do Dodgers. He's not gonna do Dodgers. He's playing the other team this guy played for. Let's move on to a team that we haven't highlighted yet. And I've been trying to avoid talking about every single week on the pitch clock, but they refused to let me because Tarek Skubal had one of the greatest singular pitching performances we've ever seen in the regular season. It's a complete game, it's a shutout, it's 13 strikeouts, it's under a hundred pitches. It's the greatest Maddux in the history of Major League Baseball. The most strikeouts ever in one of those games. Oh, and the final pitch was 102.6 miles an hour. So I ask you, Adnan Tarek Skubal, with what he's doing coming off the Cy Young season last year, being as dominant as he's been thus far this year, where does he rank to you amongst the left handed pitchers this century? So in the 21st century, where are we putting Tarek Skubal at this point? Because to me he's really climbing up that list.

[Adnan Vir]

If he wins the sign again this year and goes back to back, and I can't imagine him slowing down, barring an injury, I mean a triple crown a season ago, that's awfully tough to top. And he's able to do it, it feels like right now. I'm glad you mentioned the match, particularly the, the efficiency. To me, when you're under 100 pitches like that, there's so much for your rotation. And honestly, Detroit rotation in general has been so buoyed by having other guys now complimenting Scubal. Before it was Scuba and bullpen games all over the place. Now Flaherty's legit Jackson Jobe, they've won nine of the 10 games that Jackson job has started this year. Obviously Casey Mize has been better this year and their offense now is much, much better. Riley Green looks like he's legit. Torkelson's had a huge comeback. Javi Baez is the comeback player of the year. So the Tigers, I mean, they feel like a legit team. And again, that's the other story right now in The American League is that they are the team to beat in the Central. You know, the Twins, even with that incredible run that they've had, they still haven't been able to catch Detroit because they had such a bad start. And you're right, man. Scuba, when he's pitching, it's wind day. He's must see tv.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, time for our golden era star of the week. I've got two guys for you. I have a feeling I know which direction you're going to. Got Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners or Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both guys out west having really, really good seasons.

[Adnan Vir]

Yeah, I'm going to go with Cal Raleigh, man. I mean, it doesn't matter what's the big kahuna, the big short, or the big Lebowski. I'm going to go with the big dumper, because this guy. Unbelievable, buddy. 58 home runs he's on pace for which would shatter the record by Salvio pres, which was 47 by a catcher, which was set just a few years ago. Johnny Bench is the greatest catcher of all time. The most home runs he had was 45, so it looks like Raleigh's going to obliterate it. Eight home runs in 26 games at T Mobile Park. He had 11 in 77 games last year, so so much for not being able to hit in Seattle. He's proven that you can do so. And if he gets one more home run, he's going to have his fourth 20 home run season in his first five seasons. You're talking about a list with only Mike Piazza and Roy Campanella as catchers who have done that. And you and I can appreciate the nerdy aspects of it. His pitch framing is outstanding. He's among the top four catchers. The other guys are guys known for their defensive prowess, like Hedges and Alejandro Kirk, but he's right there with them in terms of pitch framing. He's top five in caught stealing percentage. He's a gun for an arm. His catcher era is one of the best in baseball. Again, he's catching that great staff in Seattle. But you see the numbers. They improve when Raleigh's behind the plate. He knows how to settle down. Guys like George Kirby can be a little bit mercurial. Logan Gilbert's one of the best pitchers in baseball. And you see the emergence of Woo and obviously once they get back Miller. So when you add it all up, he's the best catcher in baseball.

[Dan Le Batard]

Something about guys in baseball with the name California, with the last name starting with an R, something About that works. Cal Raleigh may be destined for some real greatness like Cal Ripkin Jr. We'll see. But it's been an incredible start to his season. And Adnan, as always, it's great having you here on the pitch clock. Let's head back to our game between me and Chris. All right, Last round. Taylor, tell Chris who to speak of now. Name me. Give me a.

[Stugotz]

Three.

[Dan Le Batard]

He was in left field apartment. See, I'm doing this color thing again. So I'm like, I'm doing the same Giants. But then I for some reason picture him as an Astro late in his career. So I'm going to go Astros. Astros. What's. He was not an Astro. Giants. He was. Yes. Did you know that? I knew. I knew he wasn't an Astro. But like before I said no. I had. I had Giants written down. Who is the name of which I will be bespoken. The name? Edgar Renteria, St. Louis Cardinals. Incorrect. I'm getting this right here. Where Was he in 05? Oh, maybe write it down. And then in the team that I'm going to say for Edgar Anderia because he played outside of the Marlins and then the Cardinals, we are going to say that Edgar Interia also played for the Boston Red Sox. It is the Boston Red Sox. Is it? I swear to God. Just kind of. Is it? Oh, my God. I can't believe I just hit a roulette. Campbell. That is a one out of 28. I just guess. I just guess it's a tie game. I just guessed. I thought I had. For what it's worth, I had Texas. I did not think I was picturing red, but I was like. I was like, obviously I'm doing the Cardinals. This is insane. And by the way, another two, right? Or is this going to be sort of a sudden death scenario? Not another round. This will just be sudden death. Someone gets the advantage. If we only do this is going to be a sudden death scenario. So is. I'm going to give first one to get it.

[Mike Ryan]

I'm.

[Dan Le Batard]

No. I'm going to give you guys a category. You're going to write down your answers. Closest number takes it home. Terrific. Let's do this. John Franco, career saves. John Franco, career saves. It's definitely going to start with like a five or six. Right?

[Stugotz]

Right.

[Dan Le Batard]

You think I'm good? Okay, me too. Jereby, reveal your number first. My number is 317. Oh, we're going to have a good one.

[Stugotz]

This is going to be interesting.

[Dan Le Batard]

369. We're both right. Near each other again. Just like Jeter. I swear to God, if you get this again.

[Mike Ryan]

Chris cody.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, baby.

[Mike Ryan]

424.

[Dan Le Batard]

424 what?

[Mike Ryan]

Comeback.

[Dan Le Batard]

Edgar. Edgar Renteria. Red sop. What a moment. That was heartbreaking. Just guessed. John Franco. Dead to me.

[Mike Ryan]

Howdy, listeners, it's Mike Ryan. That temperature, it's starting to turn up a little bit. Maybe you're going out on the boat. Maybe you're having a pool day. Maybe you're just hanging out in your backyard, your patio, and you're grilling. Oh, you're prepping the meats. You're looking at the family. You're enjoying your time with the friends. And guess what's in your hand? A Miller Lite. That's right. Miller Time is the best time, especially when the temperature starts ticking up a little bit. Because you have a beer that's brewed for people like you and me, people who love their beer, and it cools your body down. I've been stocking the cooler with it for years, and for good reason. It's brewed for taste only. 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs. This year, Miller Lite turns 50. That's five decades of cookouts, laughs, and ice cold moments that never miss the original light beer. And it's still my. Go to 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. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Dan Le Batard]

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[Stugotz]

Find your Zyn.

[Dan Le Batard]

Learn [e-mail] this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.