The Dan Patrick Show

Covino & Rich - Blake Snell a Dawg & Dolphins Drowning

Date: September 19, 2025
Hosts: Covino & Rich, with Danny G, Iowa Sam, and guest callers
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this energetic episode, Covino & Rich navigate the hottest stories in sports, fusing humor, social banter, and passionate debate. The main thread focuses on Blake Snell's gutsy decision to defy Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on the mound, leading to a conversation about athlete leadership, analytics vs. gut, and iconic ballsy moments in recent sports history. The crew also dives into the pressure facing Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, the looming NFL week, and reminisces about nostalgic pop-culture hangouts. Plus, a healthy dose of the usual jokes, locker-room analogies, and classic Thursday throwbacks.

Key Discussion Points

1. MLB: Blake Snell’s Defiance and the Analytics Debate

Main Segment: [08:52 – 17:44]

• The Incident: Blake Snell, in a key game for the Dodgers, resists manager Dave Roberts’ attempt to pull him in the 7th inning, waving Roberts off and insisting he finish the job as the bullpen waits.
• Play-by-Play Audio: A recap features stadium and broadcast reactions to Snell’s on-mound stand and Roberts ultimately letting him stay, to crowd approval.
• Debate: The guys split their takes:
  • Rich: “I looked at that as leader. Ballsy, but also defiant.” [12:39]
  • Covino: “That's heart, and that's what you want from your ace.” [12:50]
  • Danny G (Dodgers fan): “It's more like, we've been watching what you've been doing the past couple of weeks, Roberts. Not this time. ...I'm gonna finish this damn game. I'm pitching a gym.” [14:07]
• When “gut” wins over analytics: They share stories of when trusting a player’s heart or momentum pays off, and when it backfires (e.g., Matt Harvey’s 2015 World Series loss after demanding to pitch another inning).
• Quote - Rich: “Over 162 games, analytics will probably win out. But once you get to a playoff run and a three or five or seven game series, analytics goes out the door.” [16:27]

2. Iconic Athlete vs. Coach Moments

Expanded Discussion: [17:44 – 23:36]

• Garrett Cole’s Standoff (2021): Covino recalls Cole refusing to be pulled by Yankees manager Aaron Boone:
  • Covino: “He turns to him and yells, ‘I'm finishing this game right now.’ …He throws three straight heaters to close out the ninth. And Garrett Cole was right.” [18:42-18:45]
• Classic Jack Morris Performance: Caller Mike from Minnesota reminds the show of Morris’ 10-inning shutout win in the 1991 World Series, a “dog” moment under pressure.
• Balancing Leadership and Reality:
  • Rich: “No great pitcher with heart is ever going to want to come out of the game. So you have to be honest with yourself…” [19:21]

3. COVID Habits & Germaphobia in Sports

Light-hearted Segment: [05:51 – 08:51]

• The crew swaps jokes and gripes about radio studio cleanliness, lingering “covid habits,” and the etiquette of wiping gym equipment.
• Rich: “You accused me of not always wiping down my equipment. I'm like, do you really need to wipe down everything you touch?” [07:07]
• Danny G: “I bring the hand sanitizer to our events because you guys are doing meet and greets... then Rich picks up fries with his dirty hands. I'm like, no, man, you're gonna get sick.” [08:36]

4. MLB Stretch Run: Postseason Race & Bullpen Games

Continued MLB Talk: [21:52 – 23:21]

• Teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Yankees are juggling bullpen strategies as games get tighter and stakes higher.
• The crew muses about frequent “bullpen games” in postseason play, as teams seek creative ways to maximize matchups and hide weaknesses.

5. NFL: Pressure on Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel

Football Segment: [33:27 – 40:13]

• “Mike McDaniel survives if...” Fill-in-the-blank:
  • The guys ponder what it’ll take for embattled Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to keep his job through Week 3 at Buffalo, with the team winless and a huge underdog.
  • Rich: “Keep it within a one-score game and you buy yourself another week.” [33:59]
  • Covino & Danny G: Agree that a competitive loss earns McDaniel a stay; an embarrassing blowout could mean his job.
  • Danny G: “We'll see how much the team loves their coach because they'll really fight for him tonight if they want him to stay in that spot.” [40:13]
• McDaniel's Press Conferences:
  • Mocking McDaniel’s press presence with a “sleepy college student” analogy.
    • Covino: “Just imagine a very sleepy college student in their dorm... that's sort of the tone he set.” [38:47]

6. Old School When 50 Hits: Pop Culture Hangouts

Throwback Segment: [48:08 – 52:00]

• Central Perk (Friends) Opens in NYC: The show debates which fictional movie or TV hangouts they'd want to visit, triggered by the opening of a real-life Central Perk café.
• Jokes & Reactions:
  • Covino claims, “I watched the Mexican version on Univision. It was called Amigos… I never watched Friends.” [49:00]
  • Danny G explains Central Perk to Covino, comparing it to Monk's Café from Seinfeld.
• Other picks: The Max (Saved By The Bell), Peach Pit (Beverly Hills, 90210), Cheers (Boston) – with the crew riffing on each location's pop-cultural weight.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Rich on Blake Snell:

  “I looked at that as leader. Ballsy, but also defiant. That's Dave Roberts. That's your manager.” [12:39]

• Covino on trusting players:

  “That's heart, and that's what you want from your ace… You want that fighting attitude, that killer instinct.” [12:50, 13:06]

• Danny G on Dodgers’ frustration:

  “Not this time. …Not on my watch. I'm going to finish this damn game. I'm pitching a gym.” [14:07]

• Rich, on analytics:

  “Analytics will probably win out [over a season], but once you get to a playoff run... analytics goes out the door.” [16:27]

• Caller Mike (Minnesota):

  “Jack Morris. St. Paul native, where I'm from, '91 World Series, 10 innings, shutout...That's one of the all-time great performances that no one talks enough about.” [32:26-32:53]

• Covino mocking “Friends”:

  “If you think I was watching that in the '90s, you're out of your mind.” [51:00]

• Rich on McDaniel’s job security:

  “I think if Buffalo covers, you might be done with Mike McDaniel in Miami… If you see visibly upset Dolphins, then it's over.” [34:20-34:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:26] – Show proper begins, banter with crew
• [04:09] – MLB playoff races and Dodgers/Mets updates
• [08:52] – [17:44] – Main topic: Blake Snell's defiance vs. Dave Roberts; athlete “dog” moments; analytics vs. gut debate
• [17:44] – [23:36] – Iconic pitcher defiance moments (Garrett Cole, Jack Morris); more MLB strategy talk
• [33:27] – [40:13] – NFL: Mike McDaniel “survival” debate, Dolphins misery, and coach motivational analogies
• [48:08] – [52:00] – Old School: Iconic TV and movie hangouts as pop-up/cafés; Friends, Seinfeld, Cheers, more
• [32:26] – Caller Mike’s Jack Morris story

Tone and Style Recap

Covino and Rich balance sharp sports debate, pop culture throwbacks, and humor, with Danny G’s die-hard fan perspective and regular ribbing among the crew. Listeners get a mix of irreverent sports talk, nostalgia, and locker-room camaraderie.
Memorable running gags: “You got that dog in you?”, “Give me the keys!” analogy for pitchers and coaches, playful attacks on Friends fandom, clean/dirty habits, “ballsy moments,” and “Thursday’s the new Friday.”

Perfect for listeners who:

• Want to relive or catch up on the defining sports stories of the day
• Enjoy seeing big plays dissected with both emotional and analytical lens
• Love the blend of nostalgia, banter, and sports authenticity