The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 2: Live Dogs (feat. Adnan Virk)
Date: November 6, 2025

Episode Overview

Broadcast live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this episode features Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the “Shipping Container” crew, with a special segment featuring baseball analyst Adnan Virk. The cast tackles their fantasy football punishment bucket, discusses NFL “live dogs” against the spread, and dives deep into baseball with the final Pitch Clock segment of the season—including an animated review of the 2025 World Series, Canadian heartbreak, historic TV ratings, MLB’s golden era, and some rapid-fire baseball trivia. The tone is energetic, irreverent, and full of the show’s hallmark banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. “The Bucket” and NFL “Live Dogs” (Starts ~07:50)

• The team returns to their “Dentek Punishment Bucket” to preview NFL matchups and pick underdog teams—or as they call them, “live dogs.”
• Thin Cast Alert: Several regulars were missing due to PTO and post-dental procedures, leading to jokes about staff attendance and holiday schedules.

Key Segment: “Live Dog” Picks

• The group debates the meaning and value of “live dogs”—underdogs with a real chance to win outright.
• Picks discussed include:
  • Colts (-6.5) vs. Falcons (in London, which Dan quips he dislikes due to early starts)
  • Vikings (+4.5) vs. Ravens (“That’s a live dog!”—multiple times, jokingly repeated)
  • Rams (+4.5) vs. 49ers
  • Jaguars at Texans (+1.5)
  • College: Navy (+26.5) vs. Notre Dame; Army (-7) vs. Temple; Air Force (+5.5) vs. San Jose State
  • Eagles as a “live dog” as well

Memorable Moment:

• “You got the red-hot Baltimore Ravens coming to town. Four and a half point dogs at home. ... I'm gonna put it back, but I like the Vikings as a home dog. That's a live dog.” — Stugotz (10:30)

• Running gag as the group repeatedly shouts, “That’s a live dog!” imitating Paul Rudd.

Tone: Playful, chaotic, marked by inside jokes about who’s actually contributing and the status of their “fine bucket.”

2. NBA Reckless Speculation: LeBron, Lakers, and Mavs (Starts ~21:10)

• The conversation shifts to the NBA—specifically “LeBron’s plan” supposedly backfiring for the Lakers.
• Zazlow (guest) claims “I just want props… Zazlow had it first!” on LeBron’s silent protest, sitting out games, expecting team struggles.

Main Points:

• Lakers are 7-2 even though LeBron hasn’t played yet; this is unusual, as his teams typically collapse in his absence.
• Lakers thriving is “the opposite of what LeBron was going for”—he wanted them to need him, but instead, “they’re a really good basketball team… even Austin Reaves didn’t play last night.”
• “Is LeBron happy? That little meter is going to be flying all over the place.”—Dan (22:15)
• “His plan has backfired.”—Zazlow (22:20)
• Mavericks—sold as win-now with Luka, are instead 2-6.
• Cooper Flagg’s rookie woes: “This is the most I’ve lost since, oh, I think, ever. Like, it took him a second to realize—oh, wait, I've never lost this many games in my life.” — Zazlow recounts (28:15)
• Warriors bench Klay Thompson for D’Angelo Russell, with discussion of the decline of Klay due to injury.

Notable Banter:

• Confusion between Cardi B/Megan Thee Stallion (“You’ve got your black female rappers mixed up!”), leading to playful accusations of “sucker” moves and ribbing.

3. The Pitch Clock: Final Episode & 2025 World Series Recap (Starts ~41:00)

Hosts/Participants: Pitch Clock segment, led by Jeremy and Chris Cody, with guest Adnan Virk.

a) Baseball’s Greatest Modern World Series

• Adnan Virk’s reaction to Dodgers-Blue Jays Game 7:
  • “It was maybe the greatest World Series of any of our lifetimes. ... Thrilling cascades of emotion for the Dodgers, they are the heart of a champion.”—Adnan (45:44)
  • Yamamoto’s heroics like “MadBum on zero days' rest,” making it “nothing short of heroic.”
  • The drama of unlikely hero Miguel Rojas hitting the big home run and making key defensive plays.
  • “It’s the sport where Andy Pahes, who’d done nothing offensively, makes one of the greatest catches of all time. That’s what makes the sport so special.”—Adnan (47:30)

b) Canadian Heartbreak & Record Ratings

• Canadian Viewership: 7 million watched Game 1 in Canada (for a country of only 41 million!), which “extrapolated” is as if 65-70 million Americans tuned in.
• Game 7 in the U.S.: 31 million (avg. 27 million per game), “53% higher than NBA Game 7.”
• “Don’t tell me basketball is great. Thunder-Pacers couldn’t even touch Dodgers-Blue Jays.”—Adnan (49:00)
• Despite stronger stats from Toronto pitching, the Dodgers still triumphed.
• Optimism for the Blue Jays ("Shane Bieber opted in... that’s great"), but tempered by likely roster losses.

c) Rapid-Fire Baseball Trivia

• Hosts and Virk revisit classic MLB teams and postseason trivia, including 2005 Dodgers/Blue Jays, 2001 Mariners/Indians, World Series MVPs, and iconic moments (“Sporkle-style” timed challenge).
• Many names and memorable moments rapidly referenced for nostalgic effect.

d) Year-in-Review and MLB’s Future

• 2025: “A golden era for stars”

  • Attendance, ratings, and league parity all trending up.
  • Milwaukee Brewers’ unlikely 97-win season, Detroit’s re-emergence, Cleveland’s late surge, Seattle winning division, and Toronto’s return to the World Series.
  • National League’s stories, like Mets’ expensive failures.
  • “The Phillies, as Alex Avila said to me, everyone says the Phillies’ window is closing. But the last seven seasons, their win total has increased every single year.”

• 2026 Look-Ahead:

  • Rookie of the Year race (Kate Horton vs. Drake Baldwin), MVP race (Judge vs. Raleigh).
  • Paul Skenes as “must-see TV” (sub-2 ERA, likely to win Cy Young).
  • Free agency drama: Bellinger, Bregman, Tucker, Alonso “lots of major names to look forward to.”
  • Adnan teases live Pitch Clock shows from MLB Winter Meetings.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“That’s a live dog!”
— Stugotz & crew, repeatedly, in Paul Rudd’s voice (multiple times, ~10:30–16:00)

“LeBron’s plan has completely backfired.”
— Zazlow (22:20)

“If you hooked LeBron up to a lie detector right now and asked him if he’s happy with the Lakers’ 7-2 start, that little meter is gonna be flying all over the place.”
— Dan (22:15)

“This is the most I’ve lost… oh, I think, ever. Like, it took him a second to realize—wait, I’ve never lost this many games in my life.”
— Zazlow, quoting Cooper Flagg (28:15)

“It was maybe the greatest World Series of any of our lifetimes… [the Dodgers] are the heart of a champion.”
— Adnan Virk (45:44)

“Don’t tell me basketball is great. Thunder-Pacers couldn’t even touch Dodgers-Blue Jays.”
— Adnan Virk (49:00)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Punishment Bucket/NFL “Live Dogs”: 07:50–20:00
• NBA LeBron/Lakers/Mavs Segment with Zazlow: 21:10–35:00
• Baseball: Pitch Clock, 2025 World Series Recap & Trivia: 41:00–1:13:00
• Adnan Virk on World Series, Ratings, and Canadian sports TV: 45:30–52:00
• Future of MLB/2026 Look Ahead: 1:10:00–1:13:00

Flow & Tone

• The show moves seamlessly from NFL pick-em hijinks and self-deprecating jokes, into high-level NBA drama and then a detailed, passionate MLB segment.
• The “Pitch Clock” segment with Adnan Virk is notably sincere and detailed, balancing nostalgia and analysis.
• The group is quick with humor, pop-culture references, and playful jabs, maintaining the irreverent yet loving spirit of the Le Batard Show.

For Listeners

These segments deliver:

• Classic Shipping Container energy (inside jokes, chaos, underdog picks)
• Sharp, speculative NBA debate (LeBron/Lakers/Mavs)
• One of the most informed, heartfelt, and nerdily joyful baseball discussions you’ll hear—perfect capstone to a wild sports year.
  Even if you missed the episode, this summary will catch you up on all the best stories, quotes, and laughs.