The Dan Patrick Show

Episode: Covino & Rich – Boone's Lineup, Covino Back in Ours
Date: October 2, 2025
Host Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

This episode, featuring Covino & Rich (Steve Covino and Rich Davis), dives into the chaos and controversy of October baseball, with a heavy focus on the Yankees' postseason woes, manager Aaron Boone's decision-making, and the impact of analytics on the game. Returning from vacation, Covino unleashes his frustrations about the Yankees’ performance, Boone’s lineup choices, and the broader trend of data-driven management in sports. The conversation is fast, passionate, and takes detours into pop culture, other MLB playoff scenarios, NFL news, and the intersection of gut instinct and analytics in sports.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Covino Returns & Yankees Meltdown

• Covino kicks off by thanking Rich for covering while he was away and quickly turns to his frustration with the Yankees’ latest postseason failure.
  • “I’m back and I’m angry … That’s why. The Yankees stay. That’s why. And they got to redeem themselves today. I hate Aaron Boone, I hate Weaver, I hate Bregman’s face …” (03:18, Covino)
• Setting the Scene: Covino is broadcasting in his Yankees–Mexico Diablos hat, fresh from a trip to Mexico in time for Hispanic Heritage Month.

2. Bad Bunny & The Super Bowl Halftime Show

• Debates pop culture backlash: They address social media outrage about Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl performer.
  • “If you’re not happy about Bad Bunny, that’s okay. It doesn’t make you racist. It could make you just a rock fan.” (06:50, Covino)
  • “It is extreme, though, you’re right, that if you insinuate that you don’t like the Bad Bunny choice, there is almost like a weird … ‘That’s racist.’ I just don’t like – it’s not my thing.” (07:26, Rich)
• Covino adds: “I’m not happy about the choice, but I’m not mad about it either. Is he worthy of it? Absolutely.” (07:41, Covino)

3. MLB Postseason: The Analytics Debate Heats Up

Main Episode Focus (Starts ~09:00)

• Rich quizzes Covino about Yankee manager Aaron Boone’s controversial choices in game one of the wild card series, including taking out a cruising Max Fried and sitting two power hitters (Chisholm and Ben Rice).
  • “Aaron Boone doesn’t wear the nuts, that’s why … But he’s not in charge: analytics. That’s why.” (09:45, Covino)
• On analytics in the postseason:
  • “You’re letting nerds ruin baseball.” (15:10, Covino)
  • “Analytics don’t work in a three-game playoff because that’s the average of a 162-game season. Right. It’s not going to work in that little series.” (16:46, Covino)
• Player/Gut vs. Data: Multiple times, the crew laments managers making decisions based solely on data, not gut or “intangibles,” especially in high-stakes playoff games.

4. Yankees Lineup and the Fallout

• The mystery of the missing bats:
  • “The Yankees benched 57 home runs and 145 RBI by leaving Chisholm and Rice out of the lineup. How do you do that in a three game series?” (15:10, Covino)
• Rich’s satire:
  • “You’re lucky the Dodgers are facing a righty tonight. Because if you’re facing a lefty, you might want to sit Ohtani, right?” (15:58, Rich)
  • Covino: “Never. Absolutely never.”

5. Bullpen Mishaps and Missed Opportunities

• On Boone’s pitching moves:
  • “Boone made the moves and they didn’t come through … Giancarlo Stanton was in a big moment and the biggest heartbreak of the night is you have the bases loaded with no outs and you can’t push one run across. That’s disgusting.” (17:16–18:45, Covino)
• Historic futility:
  • “Yankees are the first team in MLB postseason history to have bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth and not score a run and lose the game.” (51:06, Covino)

6. Broader MLB Playoff Landscape

• Quick roundups of other MLB series: Guardians, Padres, Dodgers, and Reds all get mentions; the state of various Game 3’s and standout performances like Shohei Ohtani's home runs are covered.
  • “Looks like baseball’s giving us exactly what we want … Padres, Cubbies, likely game three tomorrow. Tigers, Guardians, game three tomorrow. … The only one that won’t be, the Dodgers just going to embarrass the Reds tonight.” (26:59, Rich)

7. NFL Headlines & Injuries

• Rich raises the classic question of whether repeated injuries on a single team are "just bad luck" or the fault of poor training staff, citing the banged-up 49ers before Thursday Night Football.
  • “Does it fall on them at some point?” (36:32, Rich)
• Other teams’ woes and QB news: brief updates on the Browns (benching Flacco), Commanders, Chargers, Cardinals, and more come up via Nicole Garcia’s news segment.

8. Robert Saleh–Liam Cohen Sideline Skirmish

• A quick, lighthearted recap of a sideline spat erupts into movie quotes and laughter.
  • “Robert Saleh is the type of guy that could break you in half … I think he said, I will find you, and I will kill you. Something like that. Some sort of Liam Neeson.” (38:00, Covino & Rich)

9. Dodgers & ‘Contagious Hitting’

• Covino admires the Dodgers’ relentless offense but notes concern about bullpen struggles:
  • “Their hitting so contagious, it makes me want to vomit … problem is the bullpen comes in.” (42:06, Covino)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Covino’s Analytics Rant
  “You’re letting nerds ruin baseball.” (15:10, Covino)

• On postseason management:
  “Analytics don’t cover intangibles. Do they have it in the moment? Are they in a good zone? That’s why you put Weaver in there and he blows it.” (16:27, Covino)

• On missing big bats:
  “The Yankees benched 57 home runs and 145 RBI by leaving Chisholm and Rice out of the lineup. How do you do that in a three game series?” (15:10, Covino)

• On Bad Bunny Super Bowl controversy:
  “If you’re not happy about Bad Bunny, that’s okay. It doesn’t make you racist. … We’ve also seen some racist people on social media.” (06:50–07:06, Covino)

• On Yankee fans’ heartbreak:
  “Yankees are the first team in MLB postseason history to have bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth and not score a run and lose the game.” (51:06, Covino)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------|-------------| | Covino returns, unloads on Yankees | 03:14–04:16 | | Bad Bunny/Super Bowl halftime debate | 06:40–08:57 | | MLB playoff chaos: Analytics vs. Gut | 09:05–18:54 | | Yankees benching Chisholm & Rice | 14:01–16:09 | | Analytics in playoffs, “ruining the game” | 15:10–16:53 | | Dodgers bullpen discussion | 22:26–24:14 | | NFL injuries & training staff | 35:03–36:41 | | Robert Saleh sideline fight | 37:09–38:41 | | Historic Yankees ninth inning stat | 51:06–51:35 | | Shohei Ohtani two-HR highlight | 52:11–53:01 |

Additional Running Jokes & References

• Rich’s repeated “flippy dip” sports terminology for pitching changes (11:25, 11:30).
• Mocking the prevalence of memes for low-seeded playoff teams.
• Classic ribbing between Yankees and Mets fans; Mets’ woes always finding airtime.

Tone & Language

The show is characterized by:

• Playful sports fan banter: Sarcasm, quick-witted put-downs, and running jokes.
• Frustration with data-driven baseball: Particularly from Covino, blending humor (“letting nerds ruin baseball”) with real exasperation.
• Broad, inclusive sports fandom: References to both MLB and NFL news; personal anecdotes and pop-culture quips lighten the mood and make it accessible for casual listeners.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode delivers a passionate, comedic, and surprisingly nuanced look at how analytics are reshaping baseball’s postseason drama—through the lens of a Yankees fan’s heartbreak and a dynamic sports radio crew. The discussion also touches on NFL injuries, training staff, pop-culture events, and the universal agony of watching your team fall short for reasons that feel as much about spreadsheets as skill—making it a relatable, insightful listen for sports fans of all stripes.