The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Local Hour: Dan Le Batard Says "Jeter Stinks"

March 18, 2026

Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, the crew dives into a classic Local Hour, blending sports, pop culture, irreverent Miami banter, and insider-y observations. The focus this episode is on the Miami Dolphins' roster overhaul, the significance of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), and a truly polarizing take on Derek Jeter's post-playing career and his statements about international baseball. Along the way, the gang revels in cruise stories, tournament fun, and a typically chaotic “who’s the worst?” spitball session.

Key Discussions and Insights

Greg Cody’s Post-Vacation Exhaustion and Cruise Antics

• Greg Cody is notably “playing hurt” after a 10-day Caribbean cruise, which the crew mercilessly roasts. He describes marathon drinking sessions and vacation etiquette:
  • “The drinking starts with Bloody Mary in the morning… You pound two three Bloody Marys get a little kickstart.” — Greg Cody [02:20]
  • Cody acknowledges his health struggles but insists: “We did… have a wonderful time.” [08:28]
  • Cruise lore: The group discusses "pineapple on the cabin door" signaling "swinger" status—Greg claims ignorance, leading to ribbing and jokes about cruise hedonism. [09:01-10:00]

Dolphins Dramatics: Waddle Trade and Miami Overhaul

• The crew pivots to the surprise Jalen Waddle trade and the Dolphins’ decision to start over:
  • “That was the beginning… that started it. And yeah, they're in a complete reboot right now… And now the new regime is probably going to be given too much time to turn it around. I'd give them a few years.” — Greg Cody [10:29]
  • Is Miami getting value for Waddle?
    • “Let’s not retrofit Jalen Waddle. He’s a good wide receiver two... He had one great season… four or so injury margins.” — Greg Cody [11:00]
    • Mike Ryan and Zaslow push back: Waddle ranked 11th in receiving yards since entering the league, which sparks debate on player development and wasted window:
      • “If you draft him that high, that needs to star for you for eight years. That needs to get through second contract. The amount of money this team is spending in dead space… they’re just janitors in there cleaning up.” — Mike Ryan [13:13-13:47]
    • “If they didn't have the hundred million dollar albatross of the curse of Tua, they would not have traded Jalen Waddle.” — Greg Cody [14:49]
• Malik Willis as QB and the depleted roster draw bleak, sardonic commentary: “Right now it's easily the worst wide receiver room in the entire NFL.” — Mike Ryan [13:52]

Looks-Like’s and Tournament Antics

• This episode’s "Looks Like" segments rear up—comparisons of coaches, players, and others for comedic effect, including:
  • "Jim Harbaugh looks like a casket Salesman.” — Greg Cody [07:03]
  • “McDaniel look like a college student on the full ride scholarship for esports.” — Greg Cody [07:10]

World Baseball Classic: Is This Bigger Than the World Series?

• The group details the emotional stakes and highlights of the WBC, especially Venezuela’s win over the U.S.:
  • “Baseball’s great. Baseball’s funny… That’s why the fourth best team in the tournament is the world champion.” — Greg Cody [23:35]
• Venezuelan passion and the difference in Latin player dynamics are celebrated:
  • “The Latin players, they have fun, man”… “This is what caring looks like. This is what you want your basketball all Star game to look like. These athletes caring about what they're doing.” — Mike Ryan [38:02, 39:44]
• Notable player quotes on what the WBC win means:
  • Eugenio Suarez on Venezuela’s WBC championship:
    • “God is good. All the glory is Barlow Jesus. He was with us the whole time. We have to glorify… And nobody believe in Venezuela. But now we win the championship today… We are family here. That's why we play with passion, with love, because we feel the jersey, we feel our country in front of us.” [40:00-41:08]
  • Eduardo Rodriguez on WBC vs. the World Series:
    • “I win the World Series a couple years ago, and there's nothing that I can compare with this, you know, like, this is the greatest moment I ever got on the mound... I can't compare this moment to nothing.” [41:44-42:11]

MLB Control and Limits on WBC Play

• The crew unpacks how MLB clubs restrict their pitchers’ use in the WBC, impacting the authenticity of the “best on best” format:
  • “Are we playing for real or not?” — Mike Ryan [29:16]
  • “This is not a serious competition if you’re putting limits on some of the best players.” — Jon [33:17]

Derek Jeter, Passion, and Allegiance Debates

• The namesake moment: The team dissects Derek Jeter’s dismissive commentary about the WBC compared to the World Series. Jeter says only people who haven’t played in a World Series call the WBC “bigger.”
  • “Derek Jean, I think the people that said it's bigger than the World Series never played in the World Series.” — Jeter (as quoted on air) [41:30]
• The crew is openly critical, calling Jeter dismissive, joyless, and boring as a TV persona:
  • Memorable barbs:
    • “He stinks.” — Mike Ryan [43:38]
    • “You like him. Then you sit there and you like him. You’re like, oh, yeah, he's got some great stuff to say. He says nothing.” — Kenny [44:22]
    • “What was he worse at: Broadcasting or being a president of the Marlins?” — Greg Cody [44:27]
    • “He's equally bad at everything. Not being shortstop.” — Mike Ryan [44:40]
    • “Lebatard says Jeter stinks.” — Show Producer, joking about potential headlines [43:47]
  • Jeter’s lack of empathy toward the emotional resonance for foreign-born players is criticized. The show suggests he’s speaking only from “regional” Yankees pride and disconnected from international patriotism:
    • “Jeter doesn't have anything like that on his resume.” — Jonathan Zaslow [47:10]

Closing on Patriotism and Sports

• The panel argues that nothing beats national pride layered onto sports competition:
  • “There’s nothing better in sports than patriotism, country pride around your flag. Like, everybody understands it. It crosses all the languages.” — Jonathan Zaslow [46:19]
  • “Let me feel not under threat, and let me feel like I'm better than America. For a day, I'm better than America.” — Mike Ryan [46:53]

Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• Greg Cody on cruise binge:
  “The drinking starts with Bloody Mary in the morning… You pound two three Bloody Marys get a little kickstart.” [02:20]

• Mike Ryan on Dolphins’ trade logic:
  “If you draft him that high, that needs to star for you for eight years. That needs to get through second contract. The amount of money this team is spending in dead space… they’re janitors in there cleaning up.” [13:13-13:47]

• On Club vs. Country in WBC:
  “Are we playing for real or not?” — Mike Ryan [29:16]
  “This is not a serious competition if you’re putting limits on some of the best players.” — Jon [33:17]

• Eugenio Suarez (Venezuela WBC hero):
  “We are together, the whole time. We not just teammates, we are family… we feel our country in front of us.” [40:41]

• Eduardo Rodriguez (on WBC vs. World Series):
  “This is the greatest moment I ever got on the mound… I can't compare this moment to nothing.” [41:44-42:11]

• Derek Jeter and “stinks” debate:
  “Derek Jean, I think the people that said it's bigger than the World Series never played in the World Series.” [41:30]
  “He stinks.” — Mike Ryan [43:38]

• Patriotism in Sports:
  “There’s nothing better in sports than patriotism, country pride around your flag. Like, everybody understands it. It crosses all the languages.” — Jonathan Zaslow [46:19]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:20] Greg Cody’s cruise routine and jokes about cruise “swinger” culture
• [10:29] Dolphins management overhaul & Waddle trade debate
• [13:13] Mike Ryan on draft picks and Dolphins’ mismanagement
• [23:33] Start of World Baseball Classic talk: Venezuela vs. US
• [29:16] MLB constraints on pitchers in the WBC
• [40:00] Suarez emotional interview post-championship
• [41:30] Jeter’s dismissive World Series/WBC take
• [43:38] “Jeter stinks” segment
• [46:19] Sports patriotism and why WBC atmospheres beat regular baseball
• [47:10] Comparing Jeter’s legacy and resume to WBC moments

Flow and Tone

True to form, the show skips seamlessly between hilarious personal stories, sharp sports commentary, inside jokes, and moments that spin out of friendly chaos. The tone is loose, mercilessly playful, often irreverent, but turns sincere when discussing the power of international sports and the euphoria of national pride.

For New Listeners

This is a classic Local Hour: a blend of Miami flavor, inside jokes, and national debates. In between Dolphins hand-wringing, personal roasts, and wildly off-the-cuff tournament analysis, you’ll catch the heart of the show—a loving, disorderly celebration of sports as a vessel for both joy and argument, patriotism and parody. And, on this day at least, absolutely no love for Derek Jeter’s pundit skills.