The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Postgame Show: The Pitch Clock (feat. Jason Benetti) — September 4, 2025
Live from the Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

This episode of the "Postgame Show" brings together the signature Dan Le Batard Show crew for a lively reprise of their baseball segment: "The Pitch Clock." Combining a creative trivia game with an expert interview, the episode features Jason Benetti (voice of the Detroit Tigers), tackles MLB playoff storylines, and delivers fast-paced banter and baseball nostalgia. Sprinkled throughout are humorous asides and sharp sports takes, as only this crew can deliver.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Pitch Clock” Baseball Trivia Game

• Setup: The hosts (mainly Chris Cody, Jeremy, and Taylor) compete in a trivia game styled after 501 darts, where they have to guess player stats without going over, aiming to get as close to zero as possible across several rounds.
• First Round: “Games Played as a Marlin”
  • Strategy & Banter:
    • Chris Cody leans toward picking pitchers, suspecting they log fewer games (01:44).
    • Notable picks include Sandy Alcantara, Ricky Nolasco, Paul Lo Duca, Mike Piazza (who famously only played five games as a Marlin), and unique names like Braxton Garrett and Troy Johnston.
    • The game gets surprisingly competitive, with the strategy for “using up” guesses and some defensive plays:
      • Jeremy: “I'm gonna take the guy who's made the, I think the most starts or at least has the most innings pitched. Ricky Nolasco.” (02:32)
      • Chris: “I want to have my last number be, like, 160, and then I just gotta find that one guy that, like, played a season for the Marlins as a starter just one season.” (07:15)
  • Climax:
    • Chris Cody pulls off a dramatic win by landing a zero exactly, eliciting excitement and disbelief:
      • Jeremy: “Wow, that's crazy.” (09:10)
      • Chris Cody (teasing): “How do I always deliver like this?” (08:55)
• Second Round: “Games Played as a Yankee”
  • Guessing legends and bit players:
    • Big names (Andy Pettitte, CC Sabathia, Giancarlo Stanton), obscure picks (Cam Schlitler, “Schlitler. But I'll accept it.” 14:54).
  • Neck-and-neck finish: Randy Johnson’s 67 games almost perfectly meets Chris’s need for his “one-off.”
    • Taylor: “It’s not 68, it’s 67.” (15:51)
    • Chris, on his improbable skill in guessing: “How do I do this?” (15:55)
    • Jeremy, exasperated: “This is truly and utterly feels good for you. To end up at zero and one is absolutely bonkers. Perfect game, Taylor. We're never playing this game again.” (16:55)

2. Jason Benetti Interview: Insights on the Tigers & MLB Playoffs

• Benetti’s Three Keys to Detroit’s Success (2025 AL leaders at episode air date)
  1. Front Office & Manager Alignment: “...lockstep of the front office and the manager in how to use the roster... combination of those prongs working together...” (04:56)
  2. Ace Performance & Clubhouse Leadership: “Derek [Tarik] Skubal, of course, is just like, I'm not gonna lose unless somebody really knocks me over with abundant force type of guy. And I think that does permeate the clubhouse.” (05:29)
  3. Pressure Baseball: “Pressure on the base paths, pressure on batters from Skubal...they make you think about what's happening to you in the moment. And I think that is a sneaky, really good trait.” (05:45)
• Playoff Fears/Strategy:
  • Benetti stresses that avoiding the wild card round is key in the deep AL playoff field.
    • Jason: “I think the one thing that you want is to not be in the wild card round. I think the American League is deep enough that being the two seeds should really matter for the Tigers.” (06:35)
• Benetti's Double-Duty in Detroit:
  • The crew highlights Benetti’s unique ability to call both Lions (NFL) and Tigers (MLB) games in one day—caught on a viral video.
    • Benetti: “It was the world’s shortest golf cart ride... It’s important to me to be in a place where people care about what I’ve dedicated my life to.” (09:50)

3. Rapid-Fire Baseball Association Game

• Format: Benetti is prompted to share the first name he thinks of for various teams—exposing both his quick wit and deep memory.
• Memorable Associations (10:53–11:19):
  • Tigers: “Miguel Cabrera.”
  • Yankees: “Mickey Mantle.”
  • Arizona Cardinals: “David Boston.”
  • St. Louis Cardinals: “Ozzie Smith.”
  • Royals: “George Brett.”
  • Chiefs: “Travis Kelce.”
  • Dolphins: “Dan Marino.”
  • Marlins: “Jack McKeon.”
    • Jeremy: “Oh, I like the Jack McKeon answer. That's. That's the guy who's the face. And he was recently inducted into the first inaugural Marlins hall of Fame...” (11:19)

4. A “Golden Era” of Baseball & NL Standouts

• Focusing on NL Players:
  • Jeremy highlights NL slugger Gavin Sheets and Braves' pitcher Hurston Waldrep.
  • Benetti’s take: “That power plays, that power is legit when you put him in good situations…putting him in the outfield was not great and it affected his hitting.” (12:24)
• Reflection on Career Arcs: Benetti is clearly happy for Sheets’ success after changes of scenery.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Tigers’ Chemistry:
  “Rafael Montero shows up. He had walked a bunch of guys before he got here. He's doing that much less.” — Jason Benetti (05:05)
• On Detroit Sports Fandom:
  “Detroit fans in general are exceptionally smart. I think been. They've been trained and they've been brought up with great announcers. Like, you just have to be really good at the job to fit in in Detroit...” — Jason Benetti (09:50)
• On the Wildness of the Game:
  Jeremy: “This is way crazier. This is insane. All right, whatever. Tell us what the game is. I can't.” (13:56)
• Chris’s Triumphant Brag:
  “How do I always deliver like this?” — Chris Cody (08:55)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Quote | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:10 | Introduction to “The Pitch Clock” special format | | 01:32 | Explanation of baseball trivia game format | | 04:10 | Jason Benetti interview begins | | 04:56 | Benetti’s three keys to Tigers’ success | | 06:35 | On playoff seeding and the wild card conundrum | | 09:50 | Benetti reflects on fandom and Detroit | | 10:53 | Team “first name” association game | | 12:24 | Spotlights on National League standouts: Gavin Sheets, Waldrep | | 14:03 | Game two begins — “Games Played as a Yankee” | | 15:51 | Near-perfect guess with Randy Johnson for Yankees | | 16:55 | Jeremy concedes: “Perfect game, Taylor. We’re never playing again.”|

Overall Tone & Style

• Playful, irreverent, and sometimes sarcastic; the camaraderie among the hosts and guests is clear.
• The show combines in-depth baseball analysis with zany, inventive game-play and nods to nostalgia.
• Jason Benetti blends comedic timing (well-known for impressions) with seasoned broadcaster insights.

For New Listeners

This episode delivers both the heart of the Dan Le Batard Show—fun, chemistry, and sharp wit—and engaging insider baseball knowledge courtesy of Jason Benetti. You’ll get a snapshot of the volatile MLB playoff race, a creative trivia battle that keeps everyone on the edge, and classic show hilarity. Whether you’re a stats nerd, a Tigers fan, or someone who just loves unpredictable podcast games, this episode is a highlight of both sports insight and sports radio entertainment.