Hour 2: Jason Benetti's Absurd Observations & Limited Fakes

Summary

Summary of "Hour 2: Jason Benetti's Absurd Observations & Limited Fakes" – The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode Information:

• Title: Hour 2: Jason Benetti's Absurd Observations & Limited Fakes
• Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Billy Gill, Greg Cody, Mike Ryan, Tony, Chris Cote
• Guest: Jason Benetti
• Release Date: March 11, 2025

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Introduction

In this lively episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, host Dan Le Batard and his co-hosts delve into a range of topics from the simplicity of selling cars to humorous debates about corn dog eating contests. The highlight of the episode is an engaging conversation with guest Jason Benetti, a renowned play-by-play announcer, who shares his insights and experiences in sports broadcasting.

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1. Selling Cars Effortlessly with Carvana

The episode kicks off with a casual discussion about selling cars. Stugotz shares his seamless experience with Carvana, highlighting the platform's efficiency and convenience.

• Stugotz (00:17): “Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.”
• Dan LeBatard (00:31): “Just like that?”
• Stugotz (00:33): “Yep.”

This segment underscores the hosts' appreciation for hassle-free services, contrasting traditional methods with modern solutions like Carvana.

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2. The Great Corn Dog Eating Contest Debate

The conversation shifts to an upcoming corn dog eating contest, part of the show's partnership with Peacock. The hosts engage in a humorous debate about the authenticity of the corn dogs being used.

• Billy Gill (01:19): “What's going on with our corn dog eating contest? Weren't we supposed to do that today?”
• Greg Cody (02:52): “I have to eat a corn dog on a midway. On a carnival midway. Calliope music playing in the background.”

Greg expresses his preference for handmade, carnival-style corn dogs over the frozen versions they currently have, sparking a light-hearted argument about quality and authenticity.

• Stugotz (02:28): “Is it actually that funny? Are we going to be good at it? I just kind of lost enthusiasm for the whole thing this morning.”

The discussion not only highlights the hosts' differing tastes but also sets the stage for future segments centered around local events and their quirky plans.

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3. Top Five Lists: Mike Ryan's Hated Acquisitions

Billy Gill introduces a segment featuring top five lists, starting with Mike Ryan's unfavorable acquisitions for his team. This segment offers a critical perspective on player trades and team management.

• Billy Gill (09:03): “Do you remember what it is?”
• Greg Cody (09:47): “Jimmy Butler. Not a Jimmy Butler guy. Thought he was inefficient.”

Greg shares his disdain for Jimmy Butler, believing his locker room demeanor to be counterproductive. He further criticizes Romelu Lukaku for his perceived lack of commitment and public antics.

• Greg Cody (10:40): “Romelu, I hated it from the moment you came back and you proved me right immediately.”

This introspective segment provides listeners with candid opinions on sports decisions, fostering engaging discussions among the hosts.

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4. Special Guest Insight: Jason Benetti on Sports Broadcasting

The episode's centerpiece is an in-depth conversation with Jason Benetti, who brings a wealth of experience from the world of play-by-play announcing.

a. Challenges of Announcing Across Different Sports

Jason discusses the unique challenges of broadcasting various sports, particularly hockey, a sport he's less familiar with.

• Dan LeBatard (30:07): “I was in Syracuse... I have no idea how to do this.”
• Jason Benetti (31:15): “Do you think that there's a situation where you forget you're not doing a podcast and you're calling a game?”

This exchange highlights the adaptability required in sports broadcasting and the constant learning curve announcers face.

b. Personal Style and Influences

Jason shares how his interactions with fellow announcers shape his broadcasting style, emphasizing the importance of tone and empathy.

• Jason Benetti (14:19): “Do you think that there's a situation where you forget you're not doing a podcast and you're calling a game?”

Dan reflects on the influence of legends like Bill Walton and Sean McDonough, expressing admiration for their ability to blend humor with professionalism.

• Dan LeBatard (13:20): “Part of my sensibility comes from working a lot with Bill Walton...”

c. Favorite Announcers and Their Impact

The conversation delves into the hosts' favorite broadcasters, celebrating the storytelling prowess of Vin Scully, Joe Buck, and Gary Thorne.

• Dan LeBatard (29:02): “Vin, as a storyteller is just number one...”

They discuss the nuances that make these announcers exceptional, from quick minds to unique catchphrases that enhance the viewing experience.

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5. The Art and Humor in Announcer Impressions

Dan and Jason demonstrate their ability to mimic various announcers, adding a layer of humor to the episode. This segment showcases their versatility and deep appreciation for the craft of sports broadcasting.

• Dan LeBatard (25:25): “I have a couple of those [obscure announcers], but I do a lot of Robbie's impressions.”

Their playful antics not only entertain but also pay homage to the voices that have shaped sports commentary.

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6. Technical Aspects and Adaptability in Sports Broadcasting

The discussion touches on the technical challenges announcers face, such as adapting to unexpected situations during live broadcasts.

• Dan LeBatard (30:07): “I was in Syracuse... I have no idea how to do this.”

Jason elaborates on the importance of preparation and adaptability, especially when covering sports outside one's expertise.

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7. Audience Interaction and Light-hearted Banter

Throughout the episode, the hosts engage in witty exchanges and playful teasing, enhancing the show's dynamic and relatable atmosphere.

• Billy Gill (32:17): “Can you please get for me a couple of top five lists before we get to Jason Benetti...”
• Dan LeBatard (37:03): “Can Boog and I do it [robot baseball] together?”

These interactions keep the conversation lively and showcase the hosts' chemistry.

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8. Notable Quotes

• Stugotz (00:26): “Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.”
• Greg Cody (02:52): “I have to eat a corn dog on a midway. On a carnival midway. Calliope music playing in the background.”
• Greg Cody (09:47): “Jimmy Butler. Not a Jimmy Butler guy. Thought he was inefficient.”
• Dan LeBatard (29:02): “Vin, as a storyteller is just number one...”
• Jason Benetti (14:19): “Do you think that there's a situation where you forget you're not doing a podcast and you're calling a game?”

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9. Conclusion and Future Teasers

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts reflect on the insights shared and tease future topics, maintaining an engaging and anticipatory tone.

• Dan LeBatard (37:13): “This is the Dan Le Batard show with the Stugats podcast.”
• Billy Gill (40:03): “Jason, nice seeing you. Always good talking to you. Thank you, sir.”

Their closing remarks leave listeners eager for the next episode, building anticipation through their dynamic interactions.

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Final Thoughts

"Hour 2: Jason Benetti's Absurd Observations & Limited Fakes" offers a rich blend of humorous banter, critical sports analysis, and insightful discussions on the intricacies of sports broadcasting. With Jason Benetti's expert insights and the hosts' engaging chemistry, the episode provides both entertainment and depth, making it a must-listen for fans of sports, pop culture, and spirited conversations.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network. Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you sold that car yet?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Mike Ryan]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Stugotz]

The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency. No interest over 36 months.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, no.

[Stugotz]

Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just like that?

[Stugotz]

Yep.

[Dan LeBatard]

No hassle?

[Billy Gill]

None.

[Dan LeBatard]

That is super convenient.

[Mike Ryan]

Sell your car to Carvana and swap. Hassle for convenience. Pickup fees may apply.

[Dan LeBatard]

Your data is like gold to hackers.

[Mike Ryan]

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[Stugotz]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Billy Gill]

What's going on with our corn dog eating contest? Weren't we supposed to do that today? Where are you? Greg Cody, on this corn dog eating contest, saw that there were corn dogs out there. Is that a piece of confetti that has fallen from the Peacock announcement that.

[Stugotz]

We made how many months ago?

[Billy Gill]

There is still. There's still falling from the roof.

[Chris Cote]

Still worth celebrating.

[Billy Gill]

Confetti here from our Peacock partnership, a partnership that will include a corn dog eating contest. How did we get to a corn dog eating contest? I don't even remember.

[Stugotz]

I think Billy watched one.

[Billy Gill]

He watched one? Oh, he went to one.

[Chris Cote]

That's how Domino got invited to your domino tournament.

[Billy Gill]

Okay.

[Chris Cote]

That's binding, by the way.

[Billy Gill]

Speaking of which, that domino tournament, if you don't play dominoes, there are going to be 100, 120 people playing dominoes, but there will be hundreds of other people there. Tickets available if you want to be interacting with any of the people that are there. We're trying to make this, as I mentioned, very intimate so that you actually get interactions with us.

[Tony]

So what do I get when I win the domino tournament? Has that been dishonest?

[Billy Gill]

There will be prizes and there will be swag. But what's going on with our corn dog eating contest?

[Stugotz]

We're trying around here to, you know, connect the shows throughout the week. We have a show and we're like, hey, let's do. So we talked about a corn dog contest. So after that show. We're like, hey, let's do a corn dog contest the next week. And then I woke up today and I was just like, is this. I feel like this is kind of. I don't want my dad to choke on a hot dog. Like I, I'm worried about people throwing up. It's just like, is it actually that funny? Are we going to be good at it? I just kind of like lost enthusiasm for the whole thing this morning.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. My problem with it was and, and no offense to whoever procured the, the corn dogs, but I don't like a store bought corn corn dog. I have to eat a corn dog on a, on a midway. On a carnival midway. Calliope music playing in the background.

[Stugotz]

So you have carnival corn dogs not being frozen at one point?

[Greg Cody]

No, they're home. They're handmade hand. Yeah.

[Tony]

They dip them into the cornmeal.

[Dan LeBatard]

Right.

[Tony]

Put them into the fryer. That's how exactly likes.

[Greg Cody]

That's exactly right. I want to see it made.

[Stugotz]

I think we bought like 20 frozen.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, see that's, that's not going to work for me. I need it to come out of.

[Tony]

And dipped.

[Greg Cody]

Yes, Hand dipped. Tony knows.

[Tony]

So you're not intended.

[Billy Gill]

You're not going to participate. You're not going to holding out for.

[Greg Cody]

Handmade homemade corn dogs that I see dipped and extracted from the Earl. That's what I want.

[Billy Gill]

So carnivals fairs.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah, a midway. A carnival midway with calliope music.

[Billy Gill]

Put it on the pole, please. At Levitard show is a corn dog. Does a corn dog taste better at a carnival than anywhere else?

[Stugotz]

You know what I had at the Renaissance Festival this past weekend? A fried, deep fried peanut butter and jelly. It was basically like funnel cake with the powder on the outside and you bite into the center of it some peanut butter and jelly.

[Tony]

It was delightful the day County Youth.

[Chris Cote]

Fair comes back on Thursday.

[Stugotz]

So we went last year, didn't we?

[Chris Cote]

Yes, yes, we did. But this year it's a retro youth fair.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Where they're back.

[Stugotz]

That was my first. I went with Roy and our kids last year and that was the most impressive fair I've ever been to. I had never been. I've been affairs. I had never been to the one down in my county youth fair. Dude, it is the. Like any fair people in their minds right now, they've been to fairs. It's like four times the size of your fair.

[Chris Cote]

I find that shocking to believe.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't.

[Stugotz]

I'm a Broward guy. Broward fairs. Like I was at the Renaissance. Like, I was just at the Renaissance festival. I'm pretty sure it's like three times the size of the Renaissance festival. That is a big fair in Miami.

[Billy Gill]

When you walk around a ren Faire, I picture you walking into just mirrors where everyone there looks like you. Everyone at a Ren Fair?

[Stugotz]

No, I was actually way out of character. I, I, I wore like a white button down, like I was on a cruise. Everyone there is like, in full. Like, you know, medieval times. Like, I felt I was like the, I stuck out like a sore thumb there.

[Chris Cote]

No, you're thinking of a chili cook off.

[Stugotz]

That's where I peek. Right there.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Billy Gill]

People, we know people. No, well, you. Wait a minute.

[Chris Cote]

Least surprising thing.

[Billy Gill]

Yes. A chili cook off festival.

[Stugotz]

I think you're misinter. Like, I don't dress up, like, in that garb. Like, everyone at those things is, like, way in character.

[Billy Gill]

I'm just like, I' talking about costumes. I'm talking about pinkish flesh chili cook off.

[Stugotz]

So you always do this. You turn everything into Key West. Like, a Renaissance festival is not Key west, people.

[Tony]

It's particularly white.

[Stugotz]

It's like younger.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah, Dominicans love a ren faire, but.

[Stugotz]

It'S also really dressed. It's like super into, like, whatever the theme of the weekend was. Like, I think this one was. Was it steampunk or something? Steam Goth.

[Chris Cote]

Steampunk is a thing.

[Stugotz]

Steampunk. That was like. I didn't know what it was. Everyone in my group was like, how do you not know what steampunk is? I was like, I don't know. But it's apparently like top hat and like the got like the old fashioned.

[Chris Cote]

Like, kind of looks like Burning Man.

[Stugotz]

Pull up steampunk.

[Greg Cody]

There you go.

[Billy Gill]

Okay, but you're, you're doing costumes at a Ren faire and I'm just doing pinkish people with.

[Stugotz]

You've never been then. Because everyone does costumes.

[Jason Benetti]

Why isn't a ren fair's theme just ren fair?

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, no, it's like, why do you need a sub theme?

[Stugotz]

One weekend is Harry Potter, then it's pirates, and then the next one is Steamp. I'm telling you, this is what it's every weekend because it's like eight weekends and every weekend has a specific theme. And I happen to go on steampunk where everyone's got the monocles and the top hat.

[Greg Cody]

Why are you dressed like that?

[Stugotz]

Because I just, because I'm just there for the, you know, deep fried peanut butter and jelly.

[Billy Gill]

You're, you're saying, though, that you don't feel like the ren fair is per square foot. A place that has your facial hair?

[Stugotz]

No. So you're doing. You're doing Key west again.

[Chris Cote]

There's Dominicans, man. I'm telling you.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I mean, like, I went with a bunch of Hispanic people.

[Jason Benetti]

Chris does have Dominican beard, though.

[Tony]

He does.

[Billy Gill]

You do have a Dominican beard. You do. You absolutely do. At Lebaton.

[Jason Benetti]

You're in.

[Billy Gill]

Go ahead and put it at Lebatar show. Do Dominicans love a good ren fair?

[Greg Cody]

Quit calling it a ren fair. Use its full name, please. Ridiculous Festival.

[Stugotz]

Not a fair.

[Greg Cody]

Also yeah, it's a festival.

[Dan LeBatard]

Renfest.

[Greg Cody]

Yeah. I dress like a minstrel when I go to a ren faire.

[Stugotz]

I don't know what that means.

[Chris Cote]

The time of the month.

[Greg Cody]

A minstrel.

[Chris Cote]

Like a minstrel show.

[Stugotz]

If you say it again, I don't know, is that royal?

[Tony]

Like, what does that say?

[Billy Gill]

I don't think we want an elaboration. I think let's be careful we don't.

[Chris Cote]

Get any on the chair.

[Greg Cody]

What's wrong with a minstrel?

[Stugotz]

That. When he said, let's. Let's move on.

[Greg Cody]

Okay. All right. Innocent mistake by me. If indeed it was a mistake.

[Billy Gill]

That is not much of an apology.

[Greg Cody]

You'll be the judge.

[Tony]

It's a medieval singer or musician.

[Chris Cote]

I thought it was a period.

[Greg Cody]

A medieval. Hence Renaissance. A medieval singer or dancer.

[Chris Cote]

Yeah.

[Tony]

Two Americas on that one. I just. I just clicked images and I don't like what I see. Sorry.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Billy Gill]

I can't believe Greg just did this.

[Chris Cote]

Oh, dude, this is real bad.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, I go, I'm gonna Google.

[Greg Cody]

I'm gonna Google it.

[Billy Gill]

I think you should Google it.

[Chris Cote]

No, because this is a genuine heel. He'll know.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay.

[Chris Cote]

A genuine mistake.

[Greg Cody]

All right.

[Tony]

He's right on one definition.

[Chris Cote]

The other definition, however.

[Billy Gill]

Well, he said he dressed. Dressed like a minstrel. Now you do a Google image search. How's that working for you?

[Greg Cody]

Not. Not real good.

[Dan LeBatard]

Education. Again.

[Tony]

Medieval musician. Let's stick to medieval.

[Chris Cote]

You are allowed to make mistakes.

[Stugotz]

I don't like any of this.

[Greg Cody]

Learn. Gotta want to learn. I do want to learn. I do want to earn. I was referring to a medieval.

[Billy Gill]

Okay, all right.

[Greg Cody]

Akin to a court jester.

[Billy Gill]

Okay.

[Greg Cody]

Is what I think about.

[Chris Cote]

It was an unfortunate Google result.

[Billy Gill]

All right, Greg, I want you to just simply take some inventory of Billy Gill's face and what Billy Gill likes when stuff happens on this show.

[Jason Benetti]

I backed him off of that. Don't think I don't know where you're going with this.

[Billy Gill]

I'm Watching you delighting in this dissenting.

[Dan LeBatard]

I like the God, want to learn now.

[Chris Cote]

You should be watching me.

[Tony]

You should be watching me.

[Billy Gill]

That is correct.

[Chris Cote]

That is like you were judicious on the. Greg's right.

[Billy Gill]

Can you please get for me a couple of top five lists before we get to Jason Benetti, one of the great play by play men of our generation. And he's going to be a guest here in a moment. But we have here a couple of different top five lists. We've got Mike Ryan's top five lists of acquisitions for his team that he hated and we have Tony's top five free agent winners so far in football. Which would you like to go to first? Greg Cody, since this is your day.

[Greg Cody]

I'll take the first one.

[Billy Gill]

Okay. Do you remember what it is?

[Greg Cody]

No.

[Billy Gill]

Top five acquisitions for Mike Ryan's teams that he hated. Do you have any Oli Mike Ryan?

[Chris Cote]

I do. These are top five acquisitions that I hated upon learning that I was never behind it. Didn't like it when they signed him. I was bummed.

[Billy Gill]

I think I know who number one is, but go ahead, Oli.

[Chris Cote]

Jimmy Butler. Not a Jimmy Butler guy. Thought he was inefficient. Didn't like what he would just do in the locker rooms. Didn't think it would work out. And Larchmay proved me wrong. He went to the NBA Finals, you know, twice as the best player on a Miami Heat team. So I got that one wrong. Number five, Romelu Lukaku. This guy, he missed a pen in the super cup and then he went gallivanting around the Premier League and then he just held Chelsea hostage for like a huge payday. You knew his heart was never in it. Came in and immediately went on a Sky Italia interview, trashing the club, your Academy club. Romelu, I hated it from the moment you came back and you proved me right immediately.

[Billy Gill]

Mike Ryan, I'm sorry, I'm going to put you on hold and do something I've never done before. I'm going to interrupt the top five list as it happens. Jason Benetti is there and I am ceding the floor to Benetti. I want to be kind, a kind host to our guests. So just hold on to it there. Benetti, thank you for joining us. Can you tell us of a time that you hated that one of the acquisitions that your team made?

[Dan LeBatard]

So I grew up in New Orleans, Saints fan. And they traded their entire draft for Ricky Williams once, like literally everybody. And he had no rookies to hang out with. And he was, you know, a little bit of an eccentric guy in the first place and but they, you know, they traded their entire draft for Ricky Williams and now knowing what we know about running backs in the NFL, you know, I maybe not worth the entire draft and I will say I jumped in in the middle of the list. Nobody ever says the word gallivant positively. Nobody's ever been gallivanting in like a really positive light.

[Greg Cody]

That's a good point.

[Billy Gill]

Put it on the poll, please. Juju does anyone ever use the term gallivanting positively?

[Stugotz]

This segment is presented by LinkedIn Jobs. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com dls Terms and Conditions apply.

[Billy Gill]

One of the many reasons that I love listening to you and one of the many reasons that I love listening to you in baseball, even though you do other sports, is because you have the space to do those kinds of absurd observations and you seem to enjoy it a great deal more than your musty broadcasting brethren.

[Dan LeBatard]

So musty is a very, very funny word for baseball announcers because I do think sometimes we all can get a little musty after a 7 o'clock game goes 12 innings into a 1 o'clock start. Look, I watched a lot of SNL growing up and I listened to a lot of like George Carlin CDs and things like that. And that sort of observational fun time is interesting to me. And also like let's be honest, over the course of before the pitch clock, how much of like the three hour baseball telecast was really like gripping like edge of the seat, top of the first time you ever wrote it, amusement park ride, roller coaster thing like it. It's not really that. So thank you for noticing. I think and apologies to anybody that's overly musty next to oh, but the.

[Billy Gill]

Casual way you do this, I'm going to say it's groundbreaking. I'm going to, I'm going to say that there is a conservative way that this is normally done and you have brought it into the new age the way that you do it. I feel like you take pride in that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, I appreciate it. I mean I think part of it is just my own, my own mind that gets kind of scattered. But I will say like part of where my, my sensibility comes from is from working a lot with, with Bill Walton and I know we've about him before but I loved that man. I loved him every time we sat next to each other. I loved every time he would look at me and give me a little wink knowingly about something that he just said to me even though he was still Doing the bit. I mean, I. I love the man, and a lot of what I do is informed by. By him and the. The grave loss from not having him on the planet anymore.

[Jason Benetti]

You're calling games this year with Dan Dickerson, who you also do a podcast with. Is there an adjustment there? And like, at what point do you. Do you think that there's a situation where you forget you're not doing a podcast and you're calling a game? You just kind of go into other things, let's say.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, so we. We did a spring training game on radio, and I was needling him about the. The challenge system, right, where you tap your head in spring training and you can challenge a ball or a strike. And he then, like, he got on a soapbox and we realized that, like, four pitches were gone. It's not the ideal thing on radio, certainly. And we don't do a ton of games together where I think it's actually just going to be the one in spring training. And then Andy Dirks, Dan Petrie, among others, are going to be my partner. But, like, the reason I love baseball is because of those asides. And Dan, you're talking about, like, like me and whatever I do, but it's a we in a lot of ways. Like, Andy Dierks, who played for the Tigers when they went to the World Series a decade ago, is a really sharp guy. He's doing more games this year. We were doing a game last year, and he couldn't think of the term lookalike. And all that came to his mind was the phrase resemblance person. So we were talking about somebody looking like somebody else, and he's like, oh, that's his resemblance person. And I cannot get the phrase resemblance person out of my head. It's way better than doppelganger. It's way better than look alike. But you're just hanging out with people and talking and, you know, like, I know you know, this bits just kind of happen. Like inside jokes just happen. And baseball is a great, I guess, trampoline for it.

[Billy Gill]

I disagree with you vehemently that resemblance person is better than doppelganger. I feel like doppelganger is just a phrase that you've gotten too familiar with. But the first time a person hears doppelganger, that is a better phrase than resemblance person.

[Greg Cody]

Funny word.

[Billy Gill]

You do college football, you do NFL, you do basketball. Baseball is your favorite though, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

So team baseball is just different than all the rest of them because you get to know guys, like, you really, really get to know guys. You get to know their tendencies. You get to know what makes them tick. You can walk up to them and just say kind of asides and just see where it goes because you have a sense of their sensibility. Like today I don't have the game in Lakeland. They're on the road, but I was in the clubhouse and the Tigers have. Tigers have this prospect named Jackson Jobe who very possibly could make their rotation this year as the 4 or 5 starter. And I just went up to him and I like, this was the only piece of the conversation, but it lays the foundation for the future. I go, have you ever seen Arrested Development? He goes, no, what's that? I was like, it's a sitcom but there's a character named Job on the show who's a magician. And like you should probably just know that it exists. And then he started telling me about a nickname that he got from some other movie and all that stuff. And that's the only sport where I could, I could veritably say to you, like, at some point this might get into a show. Like this might actually be a portion of an inning at some point.

[Billy Gill]

I am fascinated by the evolution of baseball and how much better these people have gotten. I could, I feel like I can make a decent argument that your a scubal is the best left hander in the history of the world. Not named Kershaw. That the person throwing pitches from the left side, that that's not a hittable human being. And I've never seen a left hander throw that way.

[Dan LeBatard]

He is. You take that Dan and all that he does on the left hand side with the change up that's so menacing and his willingness to add and subtract then add pitches and be really into pitch design and that sort of thing. And you combine it with this level of just like angry dominance of the other person. There is this moment in Cincinnati in July right before the All Star break and I've not asked Tarek this directly, but I get the feeling that part of it was okay. We hear a lot about the other guy. Here's what I'm going to do. Ellie De La Cruz was up, who obviously is a rocket ship and star in the game, but Scubal struck him out and there was just this massive scream that came out of him. And I cannot help but think there's a little like Michael Jordan last dance in there of like, oh yeah, like I've heard a lot about you playing defense, Gary Payton. Like, here's the fastball. There you go. There's a Changeup. See you later. It's been fun and I really, the more I've done play by play, the more I really crave watching people who are just edge of the bell curve competitive because they tend to just be the most amazing theater and they do things just psychologically that are, you know, psychotic in the best way.

[Billy Gill]

Angry. Does he pitch angry?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, he pitches furious. Like, I don't know what the world did to him on days that he pitches, but it did something to him. And like his catcher Jake Rogers, who caught literally every inning he threw last year, will go out to the mound and he's basically like a comedian slash therapist because he was like trying to get Scubal to smile, trying to get him stopped from like stomping around and like yelling at the umpire. But then you talk to Tarek on days off and he's just like, he's a regular like normal human being who has like gone from 15 to 1. And I just, I'm always endlessly fascinated at where that switches.

[Unknown]

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[Dan LeBatard]

What.

[Unknown]

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[Dan LeBatard]

What's up? I just bought and financed a car through Carvana in minutes.

[Mike Ryan]

You, the person who agonized four weeks.

[Stugotz]

Over whether to paint your walls eggshell.

[Dan LeBatard]

Or off white, bought and financed a car in minutes.

[Mike Ryan]

They made it easy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Transparent terms, customizable, down and monthly. Didn't even have to do any paperwork. Wow.

[Mike Ryan]

Mm.

[Billy Gill]

Hey, have you checked out that spreadsheet.

[Dan LeBatard]

I sent you for our dinner?

[Mike Ryan]

Options finance your car with Carvana and experience total control financing subject to credit approval.

[Billy Gill]

Don LeBatard. You don't remember the idea?

[Stugotz]

I was probably like, that kind of thing. Something.

[Greg Cody]

Okay, no, the home run call was that kind of swing. That kind of thing.

[Billy Gill]

Stugats.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, it's a good call.

[Greg Cody]

Thank you. And plus, it doesn't matter who's hitting it. Like, you're not tailoring it to a particular name. You know, all that jazz. You know, you don't got to do that.

[Dan LeBatard]

You just. Oh, that would be a great call. Swing.

[Greg Cody]

That kind of thing.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan lebatar Show with the Stugach.

[Billy Gill]

Greg, I don't think you were here when Benetti delighted us by breaking out his SportsCenter voiceover guy.

[Greg Cody]

No, I was not.

[Billy Gill]

I'm going to introduce you now to him, if he' be willing to do it. You will recognize the pukey broadcaster from SportsCenter who does some of these ads. Forgive me for doing this to you again, but my friend has not met your ESPN voiceover guy. So, Jason, if you'd be kind enough to unveil him, I would appreciate it.

[Dan LeBatard]

The Dan LeBatard show, brought to you by Steak N Shake, New Banana Chocolate Snickers, Crispity Crunchity, Kit Kat Milkshake.

[Billy Gill]

That sounded delicious. You made my mouth water. Have you been working on any of the others since we saw you? You did Sean McDonough. You did Droopy Dog. Do you have any others in the arsenal that we didn't get to.

[Dan LeBatard]

I do, like, really obscure announcers that, like, only, like, five people know. So I'm not going to play those hits. It's like the Bill Hader. The Bill Hader impression of the guy from Dateline, right? Keith Morrison. Yeah, like Bill Hader. Like, I know how to do this, but nobody knows who I'm talking about. So I have a couple of those. But I do a. You know, Robbie Hummel, who's become omnipresent on college basketball, like, very well could be the next, like, huge analyst in college basketball if you watch him do a game. He learned from Matt Painter as coach at Purdue, that, like, when you have a scouting report on a guy but you don't, like, exactly follow the scouting report, Coach Painter would come up and say this phrase, and Robbie. Robbie's kind of got like. He's a little bit like, he's not bro at all, but he kind of sounds a little bit like it. And he'll be like, that's his deal. He goes over his left shoulder. How could you not know that? So if you watch Robbie do a game, he's gonna. As he talks about the scouting report, he'll be like, that's a deal. Namari Barnett goes, right? Like, that's his deal. That's his thing, right? So just watch for a Robbie game and you will hear. That's his deal.

[Billy Gill]

How did you perfect the McDonough? Explain to me why the love of McDonough. Because obviously he's someone who's viewed as a craftsman in the industry.

[Dan LeBatard]

He is. First of all, I sent him a CD when I was a senior in college, and I got this phone call, and it was from a number that I didn't have in my phone. And I pick it up and he goes, Jason, Sean McDonough, how are you? And I was like, hey, Sean, you're just calling me, huh? And he's like, I listen to your cd. It's very good. Here are some thoughts. And so I revered Sean for the way he sounds and the way he brings humor into it and the way that he used to just, like, snipe at rap and bill us Big Monday was really important to me as a college student, but as somebody growing up in this industry, so, you know, like, McDonough just being like, Raftery has Irish arthritis. He wakes up stiff in a new joint every morning. Like, that sort of thing is my kind of humor, right. And so that every Monday was really, really important to me in my career. And there have been times in games where I'll just be like, jones, baseline. And I'm like, oh, no. Like, you cannot. You cannot actually do that. You know, it's why, like, if you do eye and eagle too much and you're like, oh, a foreign facial, right? Then suddenly it comes out in games where you're just like, oh, what a drive. Oh, no, that's not even me. Like, that's totally somebody else. That's not good at all. Or you become boob, where you're just like, three is good. And there's like a slight dismissiveness to it, even though, like, you know, he's really into it. So. But that's the. That's the scary part of all of it, is you just become them. So I did the Robbie impression during a game with Bill Raftery. I was like, that's his deal. And Robbie texted me, you're dead to me. To which then one of his assistant coaches at Purdue texted, love the Robbie impression. So I know it's mixed signals, really, that I'm getting. You don't.

[Billy Gill]

You don't do a big shombie, do you?

[Dan LeBatard]

You know, it's. It's just a little, like, low key. There's like a. There's like a. I don't do a full out version of it, but when I talk to him, he's like, hey, you know, you want to do dinner tonight? Or what are you. What are you like, there's just like. It's like a low hum sort of. It's not.

[Billy Gill]

It's a refrigerator hum.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's a. He's a low hum, but he's the most empathetic kind low hum that you've ever gotten. Do you have any idea. Do you know Len Casper, the former Cubs TV announcer, now White Sox radio?

[Billy Gill]

Yep.

[Dan LeBatard]

The way there was a. I was out for a game with the White Sox and then Len was in on TV and there was a game winner that went over the Orioles right fielder, and he was just like, over the head of Santander. And the White Sox win. And anytime I see Anthony Santander, there are members of the crew who will like, hit me and talk back and be like, over the head. And the problem with all of this is I just revere announcers. I love sounds and I love announcers. And I think people have thought I'm making Fun of people. But I'm like, I love sounds. And so I just. I hear these moments and I get excited about them.

[Billy Gill]

Is Vin Scully the best? Or if you have someone close to him, who is your second place?

[Dan LeBatard]

So Vin, as a storyteller is just a number one. But then you get to like specific people with specific sports. You know, I find Joe Buck to be truly phenomenal. His mind moves very quickly and sharply. I think Sean on college football is just unbelievably good. I thought Gary Thorne doing hockey was just unreal. Like, there's. There's a call of his that Paul Correa, when he was playing for the Ducks, he got knocked on the ground, and then he gets back up and it's off the floor on the board. Paul Correa. But right before he takes the shot, he's like, the crowd wants it. Slap shot, score. Right? It's like, it's bone chilling how good it is. So there are just, like, for specific events. Like, I totally underrated Andrew Catalan for the NCAA tournament. He has nailed some huge moments the past bunch of years. There are just so many good people. But. But, yeah, I just enjoy the sounds we get to make while we do games.

[Billy Gill]

Hockey's the hardest, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, oh, yes, I did. So the NHL had a lockout, like, many years ago. I was in Syracuse at the time. I was doing games for, like, Time Warner Cable, and I did a game on a Saturday at Cornell, Hockey. And I'm not a big hockey guy, so I kind of muddled my way through it, figured it out the next day. Doc Emmerich did the game, the same series. It was like, colgate, Cornell, Doc did it. And I was like, yeah, I'm an idiot. I have no idea how to do this. Like, you all think I'm horrible at this because Doc's the greatest. And I had to do the game the day beforehand.

[Jason Benetti]

Jason, I want to ask you some advice. So I've been doing some college baseball games this season, and it was pointed out to me about four games in that the players and the coaches listen back to these games because they go back to watch the film or whatever, and they're watching it with the sound on. And I'm slightly concerned at the trouble that I'm going to get myself in in the future because I'm not changing my behavior in the types of things that I'm saying about certain players. So I'm wondering if you've ever found yourself in that spot where you've said something about a player and then been Confronted after the fact.

[Dan LeBatard]

And you know, not like confronted. I mean, I, like I said last year about a Tiger pitcher, just jokingly like that he wasn't all that skilled in fielding a ball. And he came up to me in the clubhouse, he was like, he was like, look at this. And he showed me video of like him in high school. Right. So, you know, if you say it with the proper tone, I feel like that's another problem. That's what's important. Well, that, that I don't know that I can help you with. But if you say it in a way that is like welcoming and understanding. And you can be self deprecating too, I think, you know, people know, like, as somebody who walks kind of funny, I'm not about to go and run the steeple chase, right? So like, that's not going to be a thing for me. So I just kind of do it in a self deprecating way. But if you're not willing to work on your tone, then I don't know that I could be much help.

[Jason Benetti]

Well, my strategy thus far has been just do it to the opponents because I'll probably never see them again. Like, when am I going to see Delaware baseball again, you know?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, that's great. No, that's, that's definitely upstanding behavior is what I would call that.

[Greg Cody]

What do you think the reaction would be if you broadcast an entire game as the ESPN voiceover guy?

[Billy Gill]

He's frozen. It's not that he's thinking.

[Dan LeBatard]

Deep question. What a question by Greg Cody.

[Billy Gill]

Number four, Mike Ryan.

[Chris Cote]

Terry Rozier.

[Billy Gill]

Yeah.

[Chris Cote]

Hated him as a basketball player. Always did. The only reason why he's not number three on this list is because by getting Terry Rozier, we got rid of Kyle Lowry, who I hated. That's fanfare for the wheel.

[Tony]

Number three. Number three.

[Chris Cote]

Number two. This is real talk. This is me being honest. Brad Marchanthropping. I did not like that one bit. I hated it.

[Billy Gill]

I can't believe that's ahead of Terry Rozier. I can't believe there are three ahead of Terry Rozier.

[Chris Cote]

And number one is Ox obvious. Deshaun Watson. Lady, stop being a fan momentarily. Let's get camping.

[Billy Gill]

It was for several years it stopped making you a fan of the Cleveland Browns.

[Chris Cote]

Well, I'm still not a fan of the Cleveland Browns, but. But they get Cam Ward. Daddy's back.

[Billy Gill]

Tony, are you ready to do your Dan?

[Tony]

I was born ready.

[Billy Gill]

Top five free agent winners. Any Oli?

[Tony]

We've got two OLIs. Number one, the Indianapolis Colts.

[Billy Gill]

Oh, you're just doing teams.

[Tony]

Yeah, just doing teams. Winners of free agency. The Colts won.

[Chris Cote]

Oli rating, by the way, one of the better nicknames already in the sport for their quarterback. Indiana Jones.

[Billy Gill]

Daniel Jones playing where?

[Tony]

Indiana. Indiana was a dog's name, by the way. Chris. Second Oli. The Broncos like what they're doing defensively, Getting a really good defense, setting up for. For the boy Onix, who's turned the corner, by the way.

[Billy Gill]

He's made a leap or turned the corner.

[Tony]

He turned the corner during the season, but now he's getting ready to.

[Billy Gill]

I thought he made a leap.

[Tony]

No, he turned this.

[Dan LeBatard]

Turn the corner.

[Chris Cote]

Can you make a leap in year one? I don't even know where I'm leaping to exactly.

[Tony]

Number five, the jets addition by subtraction. I'm very intrigued at what they could do with Justin Fields.

[Billy Gill]

Really? Number four.

[Tony]

Number four, Minnesota. Shoring up the offensive line. Shoring up the defensive line. Re signed Byron Murphy. Like there's a lot of things that they're doing there.

[Billy Gill]

That's not great analysis. There's a lot of things that they're doing there. Just that sentence I'm saying.

[Tony]

Defensively, they're getting a lot of guys. Offensively, they're getting a lot of guys because they got it offensive line wise. They got to figure out what they're going to do. A quarterback.

[Billy Gill]

Now Greg Cody thinks the Dolphins need everything.

[Greg Cody]

They need help, especially now that they've lost Javon Holland.

[Jason Benetti]

But they got Zach Wilson, so that is true.

[Stugotz]

And a guard.

[Tony]

Number three, Chicago. Completely shoring up the offensive line. Got three good players. Got a couple good defensive linemen, too. So again, Dan, what's it about? It's about the trenches, right? Can you protect the quarterback? Can you get after the sexy.

[Billy Gill]

Not sexy, a lot of moving. Number two.

[Tony]

Number two, the New England Patriots talking about short up a defense. Braves came in, said, let me get a D tackle. Let me get a linebacker. Let me get a safety. Let me get another corner. Very good. Hopefully they draft Travis Hunter, give Drake May a little, you know, a little bit of weapon there, there. But New England Patriots, number two, number one, the Commies. I love what they did with Larry. Larry Tunsil. I love the Debo Samuel. Think he's going to play inspired ball. I think they got a nice little linebacker, too. Javon Kinlaw, I think was over with the commies too. The Commanders making it happen.

[Billy Gill]

Number one, Benetti has returned from his frozen exile. I want to play for him. Some sound of Bug Shambi doing robot baseball for us. I Don't know. This was many years ago if any of it holds up. But I want to see if I can recruit him to do a new version of robot baseball for us.

[Dan LeBatard]

We welcome you back to the Death Star here at Microsoft's Wrigley Field. Boog shall be back for another great season of baseball. Obviously, the big question as we enter this year is can anyone break Frankenberry's record of 326 home runs last season? As always, welcome back. My partner in the booth. R2. D2. Darth Vader doesn't like the call and he's coming out of the dugout. He's going to go over there and argue with Cowboy Joe West. R2. I'll tell you what. It's a scary sight anytime you see Darth Vader with the lightsaber out. And here he goes approaching Joe West. Oh, and Darth Vader has sliced first base umpire Joe west in half.

[Billy Gill]

Oh, Jesus. That's unfortunate. That escalated quick. Would you be willing in any way to do an advancement to that particular idea? That seemed like a good one many years ago.

[Dan LeBatard]

Five trillion percent.

[Billy Gill]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes. Absolutely. Please. Can Boog and I do it together? Would be my question. When we did KBO Korean baseball together, we had the time of our lives. Can we do it together?

[Billy Gill]

That was not something that Boog described as the time of his life in a closet somewhere doing Korean baseball.

[Dan LeBatard]

When with us together. Together as announcers.

[Billy Gill]

2.

[Dan LeBatard]

Play by play announcers. It's our dream. We cut out the analyst.

[Billy Gill]

He's a. But he's a preparation freak. And they would tell him before the game, hey, we're switch games to another team that you don't know anything about. And. And here you go. Try and talk about their shortstop as if you know what you're talking about.

[Dan LeBatard]

Correct? Absolutely. It was like, yeah, you know, you got the LG Twins and you got the Hanwha Eagles. Not. They got rained out. You're doing deuce on an nc. Congratulations. Hope you enjoy it.

[Billy Gill]

You did not experience that the way that Boog did. Boog. Boog did not like not having proper preparation for Those games at 5 o'clock in the morning. Learning.

[Dan LeBatard]

But what am I supposed to do? I'm way closer to my microwave than I am the game. So how am I supposed to do it? With perfection. Like the. The whole idea is to just like roll it out, see what happens. I don't. I don't. I don't suggest that you should do that for the final four or something like that. But I mean it was. It was basically just improv. Right. I've never actually done improv, but KBO games were as close to doing improv as you could possibly get. I mean, when. When you have on a Competitive eater on as an interview guest live from Lowe's, where he's buying paint because he's redoing his house, that's pretty much where, you know, you've broken one of the walls down and he can fix it for you.

[Billy Gill]

Actually, Boog Shambi was very popular in Korea. They made songs about him there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow. Together.

[Greg Cody]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes.

[Greg Cody]

P. Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

Pu.

[Billy Gill]

They didn't sing about you, Benetti.

[Dan LeBatard]

No. It's not as catchy.

[Billy Gill]

It's got too many syllables.

[Dan LeBatard]

Wow.

[Billy Gill]

Are you in agreement that the Dodgers have kind of ruined everything for everybody?

[Dan LeBatard]

Nah, I think everybody else needs to follow the lead of the Dodgers and go after free agents and things like that. I mean, that's where I am on this is I. Everybody has the opportunity to do that. Everybody has the opportunity to do what the Dodgers want to do. And frankly, I don't think having the, you know, to take robot baseball's terminology, a Death Star is bad for anybody. I think if every other fan base says, as long as it's not the Dodgers, which I feel like some people are saying, I have nothing against the Dodgers, but some people are saying that I do tend to feel like that's good for the sport because you can just say like, hey, yeah, we have a. We have a villain now.

[Billy Gill]

I've never heard a Death Star described that benignly. It's usually something that is viewed as something to be feared. Benetti is here to sell.

[Dan LeBatard]

I was gallivant. I was gallivanting. I was gallivanting positively through the thought.

[Billy Gill]

Jason, nice seeing you. Always good talking to you. Thank you, sir.

[Dan LeBatard]

Sorry about the Internet in Lakeland, Florida. My sincere ap.

[Billy Gill]

It's all right. We managed it.

[Chris Cote]

Howdy, folks. It's Mike Ryan. I talk to you about Miller time all the time, but we're in the wintertime right now, and one of my favorite pastimes is to crack open a Miller Light and enjoy myself some Miller time during the wintertime. Because when there's a brisk chill in the air, it just makes everything right. My friends and I who live down here in South Florida can actually sit outside because it's not super muggy. We can thoroughly enjoy our Miller Time together. And for you listening, I know there's a lot of things going on right now. Sports cheap among them. Nothing more important than sports, from basketball and hockey to game night Winter means more moments with the coolest people in your life. Make these moments even better with Miller Lite the great tasting Light beer for people who love beer, Now's the perfect time for friends, family and a great tasting light beer tastes like Miller Time. And you know Miller Light is brewed for taste. It hits different than other light beers and at just 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs per 12 ounces, miller time is always a good time. Miller Lite Great Taste 96 calories. Go to millerlite.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell. Beer tastes like Miller Time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Mike Ryan]

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