The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: The Pitch Clock: Baseball Is a Winter Sport
Date: December 12, 2025

Overview

Live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this episode of "The Pitch Clock" brings the show’s signature blend of sports analysis, pop-culture banter, and irreverent trivia competition. Hosts Jeremy, Chris, Ethan, and returning baseball expert Adnan Virk break down the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings—highlighting blockbuster contracts, under-the-radar signings, and the fallout for teams like the Mets and Phillies. The show is split into two key components: a creative, stats-based baseball trivia draft, followed by a wide-ranging conversation about MLB’s biggest winter moves and what to expect heading into 2026.

Key Segments & Timestamps

1. Pitch Clock Trivia Draft

Starts at 00:30

• Game Mechanics: Inspired by a listener submission, the draft involves selecting seven MLB players; for each, subtract their career RBI from their career stolen base total. The goal: end up with the highest positive number.
• Notable tension/banter: Frequent teasing about strategy (“Chris’s strategy seems to just be fast Marlins…” – Jeremy, 10:47), and humorous meanderings about baseball’s less-celebrated speedsters.

Memorable Quotes

• “I have a guy that was in the league, I think, only to steal bases.” – Jeremy (03:08)
• “Just drawing blanks, man. I’m trying to picture guys like, just sliding into second” – Chris (11:07)
• “Finding the name, better than sex.” – Jeremy (21:47)

Standout Moments & Results

• Legendary Gaffe: Confusion over which Billy Hamilton is 3rd in all-time steals—19th-century HOFer or modern speedster—leads to a deeply Le Batard Show moment (18:24-19:10).
• Buzzer Beater Outcome: Chris ultimately wins the draft, after a wild scoring fluctuation—celebrated for simply retrieving the right player name (21:41-21:47).

2. Winter Meetings Recap: Big Splash Signings

Adnan Virk Interview begins at 05:54

Major Topics

• Kyle Schwarber to Phillies: 5 years, $150M

• Pete Alonso to Orioles: 5 years, $155M

  • “I think it’s Pete Alonso…because if you look at their first base position, they were dead last in home runs and RBIs a season ago.” – Adnan Virk (05:51)
  • Alonso’s reliability and durability get an amusing aside: “He had his wife schedule the C-section at midnight just so he could play the game that night because this guy does not want to miss any baseball games.” – Adnan Virk (06:03)

• Implications for Orioles: Instant injection of middle-of-order power, further legitimizing their youthful roster.

• Mets Fallout:

  • Lost Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz (now a Dodger, 3 years, $69M)
  • Clubhouse confusion and fan frustration (“My neighbor’s muttering right now as he gets rid of the leaves…what’s going on with these Mets?” – Adnan Virk, 07:45)
  • Questionable reliever investments and unintended symbolism (“…the back page of the Post: ‘The day the music died,’ of course, in reference to Timmy Trumpet, Edwin Diaz”—Adnan Virk, 09:13)

Further Insights

• Mets expected to chase Kyle Tucker (09:30); conversation pivots to broader free agency trends and the changing economics of reliever contracts.

3. Moves That Didn’t Happen & Underrated Deals

Starts at 14:18

• Kyle Tucker:
  • Still unsigned; Jays and Mets heavily interested.
  • “I thought Kyle Tucker would get done…teams are skittish about these long-term deals. There’s a better chance of a higher AAV in short years.” – Adnan Virk (14:26)
• Stephen Matz: Modest $15M deal, but seen as a quietly important move.
• Kyle Finnegan to Tigers: Praised as a depth addition to your Tigers’ rotation—Finnegan “can be a decent number three, number four for that team.” – Adnan Virk (15:33)

4. Blockbuster Trade Rumors & What’s Next

Starts at 16:21

• Nationals:
  • Shopping young pitchers Mackenzie Gore and C.J. Abrams; sign they may retool after Juan Soto trade did not pan out as hoped.
• Ketel Marte:
  • Red Sox and Blue Jays rumored to be very “in” on acquiring him.
• San Diego Padres:
  • “Never count out AJ Preller…could still have a whopper on his hands.” – Adnan Virk (17:58)
  • Despite rumors, Fernando Tatis Jr. is not on the block.

5. Meta-Trivia & Show Humor

Throughout, but especially 18:24–22:00

• Extended confusion over “Billy Hamilton” stats offers a perfect summation of the show’s balance of deep baseball nerdery and comedic self-sabotage.
• “Who would have thought there’s another Billy Hamilton.” – Chris (22:00)

Notable Quotes:

• “He’s number one in scoops in the National League. He can slug, and he’s going to do that at Camden Yards.” – Adnan Virk on Pete Alonso (06:29)
• “I still should have picked Augustine Ramirez.” – Jeremy, after an ill-fated final trivia pick (21:13)
• “Finding the name, better than sex.” – Jeremy, on the joy of digging deep for trivia (21:47)

Tone & Style

As always, The Dan Le Batard Show is equal parts earnest baseball discussion and spontaneous, absurdist sports trivia—never afraid to show its homework or make a joke at its own expense. The warmth between panelists, the live hotel setting, and the playful nicknaming/teasing of Adnan Virk cement this special as both informed and off-the-cuff.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This is a must-stream if you love the numbers behind baseball, the absurdities of sports, and the particular magic of Le Batard’s blend of banter and insight. While the episode leans heavy into baseball off-season moves, there’s plenty here for trivia junkies and fans of the show’s rapid-fire, pop-culture-charged repartee.