The Dan Patrick Show: Covino & Rich – "Home Field Disadvantage?" (October 17, 2025)

Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show
Episode Title: Covino & Rich – Home Field Disadvantage?
Hosts: Covino & Rich (Steve Covino and Rich Davis), with Dan Beyer
Date: October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the surprising trend of home teams struggling during the MLB postseason, questioning whether the once-vaunted "home field advantage" has become a disadvantage under the pressure of modern expectations, social media, and fan scrutiny. Covino and Rich expand on psychological aspects, compare baseball to other sports, and tie the concept to broader human experiences—relationships, nerves, and performance under pressure. The episode also features lively banter, takes on notable recent sports events and personalities, some NFL power ranking debate, and nostalgic moments with the crew.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Home Field Disadvantage in MLB Postseason

• Observation: In this year’s MLB playoffs, road teams have gone 5-0 in the ALCS and NLCS thus far—a startling stat.
• Covino’s Theory: Pressure from home crowds turns home field advantage into a disadvantage for young professional athletes expected to win ("It's a home field disadvantage. That's the only thing I can come up with..." – Covino, 05:07).
• Rich’s Research: Teams with better road records during the regular season (A’s, Marlins, Nationals) tend to have weak or non-existent home crowds, suggesting low pressure helps them perform ("All the teams that perform better on the road have no fans..." – Rich, 07:39).

2. Psychology of Pressure & Performance

• Covino’s Analogy: Comparing athletes pressing at home to personal relationships—when you try too hard, you often do worse ("It seems like the more you try and the more you push, the more you fall on your face." – Covino, 08:48).
• "Play Loose": Jazz Chisholm's "70% effort" philosophy was cited—playing loose yields better performance.
  • "If you're playing loose and you're playing at 70% and you're not feeling that pressure and you got no worries, that's when you really are at your best." – Covino (09:32)
• Rich’s “Loosey Goosey” Principle: Reiterates need for relaxed focus (10:06).

3. Stats, History, and the Micro/Macro Debate

• Short vs. Long Series: In short playoff series, traditional advantages and sabermetrics can go out the window due to heightened stakes.
  • "You could rely on [analytics] over 162 game schedule to work. But in a small sample, you got to go with your gut." – Rich (10:48)
• Recent Trends: Dan Beyer notes in 2023, 11 road team postseason wins set a record; in the 2019 World Series, road teams won every game.

4. Fan & Media Pressure in Modern Sports

• Social Media Impact: Covino emphasizes that today’s young athletes face not just in-stadium pressure, but relentless social media scrutiny, which previous generations didn’t encounter ("Social media adds to this... It didn't really apply the same way years ago..." – Covino, 17:24).
• Parental Analogy: The classic "Hey Mom, watch me!" phenomenon, where people choke when observed—the “Luccma Theory.”

5. Home Field Advantage Across Sports

• Historical Home Fortresses: The Seahawks at Lumen Field (Kingdome era "12th Man") were one of the last true home field advantages in the NFL, per host consensus (13:17).
• Rarity Now: Such fortresses are rare today ("It feels like there's not one now..." – Rich, 14:26).
• Spectacular Exceptions: LeBron’s Cavaliers winning against the record-holding 39–2-at-home Warriors in the NBA Finals: a dramatic undercutting of home dominance (18:47).

6. Listener Call-Ins & Notable Baseball History

• Callers reference old examples, like the 1978 NLCS, to reminisce on fan-induced pressure ("Charlie Huff literally was booed off the mound..." – Tony, 28:50). Covino points out this was pre-social media and involved "human" moments, even for professionals.

7. NFL Power Rankings & Perceptions

• Recent media (and Tom Brady) rank the Bucs and Colts as NFL’s top two teams; the group debates whether these are genuinely the best based on the moment or just "hot" picks (32:06).
• The meaning and impact of "power rankings" is unpacked—are they a symbolic status marker, or do they truly reflect a team's strength?

8. Broadcast Praise & Sports Media

• Covino spotlights Curtis Granderson and Pedro Martinez for excellent postseason TV analysis (47:08).
• Discussion of former athletes as surprisingly good commentators, comparing baseball’s current crop to legends from the NFL and NBA (47:37).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pressure:
  “I think these teams so desperately want to win for their cities... You know, they're gripping that bat tight and it's definitely subconsciously affecting them to a disadvantage. It's not home field advantage. It's home field disadvantage." – Covino (07:10)

• On Relationships & Sports:
  "It seems like the more you try and the more you push, the more you fall on your face. And that's what happens in the batter's box." – Covino (08:48)

• On Relaxing Under Pressure:
  “If you're playing loose and you're playing at 70% ... that's when you really are at your best.” – Covino (09:32)

• On Social Media:
  "They didn't have to deal with that years ago. The social media pressure and the backlash." – Covino (17:24)

• Baseball Parenting Analogy:
  “Ma, watch! ... And you try to make that same shot again. Brick, brick, brick.” – Covino (16:21)

• Memorable Stat:
  “2019, the World Series ... the road team won every game.” – Dan Beyer (10:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:42] Show Start of Main Content / Episode Topics
• [04:36] MLB Playoffs – Road Teams Dominating
• [05:07] “Home Field Disadvantage” Theory
• [07:39] Example of Teams with Better Road Records
• [08:48] Analogy to Relationships & Over-Pressing
• [09:32] Playing Loose – Jazz Chisholm's Theory
• [10:48] Micro vs. Macro; Analytics and Pressure
• [10:30] 2019 World Series - Road Teams Win All
• [13:17] Last Great Home Field in NFL: Seahawks
• [14:26] Modern Lack of Home Advantage
• [17:24] Social Media Adds Extra Pressure
• [18:47] Warriors’ Unbeatable Home Record vs. LeBron
• [28:50] Listener Call: Charlie Huff Booed in 1978
• [32:06] NFL Power Rankings Debate
• [47:08] Praise for Baseball TV Analysts

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational & Bantering: Rich and Covino use humor, personal analogies, and playful teasing (“loosey goosey,” “on the road performer”), creating an approachable and friendly vibe.
• Accessible Analysis: The hosts break down complex sports psychology into everyday experiences and relatable metaphors.
• Interactive: Listeners and crew jump in for stories and trivia, keeping the pace lively and fun.

For New Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

If you want to understand how pressure, expectation, and environment can upend sports norms, this episode is a crash course delivered with wit and plenty of real-life analogies. Covino and Rich challenge long-held sports beliefs and invite you to see today’s athletes as both human and products of their era. You’ll leave with new insights (and probably a few laughs) about why playing at home isn’t always as easy—or advantageous—as it sounds.