The Dan Patrick Show: Covino & Rich – Judge, Raleigh, Reds, Dodgers, Wings

Date: September 26, 2025
Episode Theme: Heated MVP Debates, Wild MLB Races, and the Joy of Sports Rivalries

Episode Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich, part of The Dan Patrick Show, dives head-first into the fervent debate fueling baseball fans across the country: Who deserves the AL MVP—Aaron Judge or Cal Raleigh? Covino and Rich bring their usual humor, passion, and banter to the table, debating the merits and historical impact of both players, while engaging with co-host Dan Byer and listeners. The trio also hits on thrilling MLB wild card finishes, the Dodgers’ playoff dominance, and favorite sports moments. The episode’s atmosphere is energetic, light-hearted, and charged with fan enthusiasm.

Key Discussions & Segments

1. MVP Debate: Aaron Judge vs. Cal Raleigh (03:15–22:46)

• Setting the Stage:
  As the regular MLB season winds down, the MVP debate is in full swing. Covino champions Aaron Judge, citing his league-leading stats and undeniable impact. Rich and Dan Byer recognize Cal Raleigh’s historic season, especially as a catcher, but acknowledge how narrative and voter fatigue affect outcomes.
• Core Arguments:
  • Aaron Judge’s Case:
    • Dominates or leads the MLB in nearly every offensive category, despite significant time at DH due to injury.
    • “Judge is your MVP. I don’t care how many home runs Cal Raleigh hits… Judge leads the MLB in almost every other category!” – Covino (05:20)
    • Yankees’ struggles without Judge underline his value to the team.
    • Accuses voters of “Judge fatigue” and letting Yankees hatred cloud objectivity.
  • Cal Raleigh’s Campaign:
    • Cal Raleigh, referred to with affectionate nicknames like “Big Dumper,” leads the league in home runs (60 as of this episode), has redefined standards for catchers, and sparked a magical season for the Mariners.
    • His rare feat as a switch-hitter and record-breaking home runs as a catcher provide powerful historical context.
    • “The wear and tear of playing catcher takes on you… maybe if Aaron was hitting 60 with two 2-pound weights on each leg, that would maybe be the effect of how worn down you get.” – Stu in Vegas (25:37)
    • Argument that MVPs should favor those whose extraordinary years may never come again, not just the established stars.
    • “If it’s close, I’m going with Cal Raleigh. I think Judge will always be in the conversation. Cal Raleigh may, but we don’t know.” – Dan Byer (08:42)
• Voting Politics and the ‘Yankee Tax’:
  • Debated whether being a Yankee helps or hurts MVP candidacy: “Isn’t this a ‘should the rich pay more taxes’ sort of argument? … More of a tax that Aaron Judge has to pay.” – Dan Byer (12:14)
  • The trend of giving MVPs to newer faces for narrative sake—even drawing analogies to charity Oscars and NBA MVP voting habits.

2. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “You should be embracing [Judge’s] greatness, not trying to tear him down just to lift up Cal Raleigh. It’s the conversation that just keeps going on and on… people just want to ignore the stats and hate the Yankees.” — Covino (07:17)
• “Home runs for a catcher—since when do we vote on some sort of curve, giving bonus charity sympathy because he’s a catcher?” — Covino (11:11)
• “Aaron Judge and his Frankenstein ass is sitting on the bench waiting for his next at bat while Cal Raleigh is squatting down managing a pitching staff…” — Rich (14:28)
• On historic single-season home run chases: “In 22, when Judge was chasing Maris…it was the most talked about thing…this guy in Seattle is getting ready to beat his record, you know, in the non-steroid era.” — David in Kentucky (34:33)

3. Listener Calls & Historical Perspective (24:04–26:27, 34:30–41:29)

• Fans from Seattle, Las Vegas, Kentucky, New York, and beyond call in to weigh the historical significance of Raleigh’s and Judge's feats, debate position value, and consider intangibles like intentional walks, team playoff standing, and defensive responsibilities.
• Example: “If Cal Raleigh hits 62 and surpasses or ties Aaron Judge’s AL home run record…does he not get the MVP? In four games?” — Rich (16:19)
• Debate whether MVP votes should reward narrative, historic milestones, or sustained greatness across multiple seasons.

4. Wild Card Races, Big Clutch Moments, and MLB Parity (18:20–21:13, 31:05–33:17)

• Highlights from a thrilling Reds win: Noelvi Marte robs a potential game-tying home run—clinching a crucial victory, with passionate on-air play-by-play reenactment.
  • “He takes away a game-tying home run. Unreal.” – Covino (19:04)
• Dodgers’ dominance in the division and impact on the playoff picture for the Mets and Diamondbacks.
• Emphasis on how every play, error, and at-bat matters in this playoff race, with hosts noting how it elevates September baseball into must-see TV.

5. Sports as Escapism & Community (33:37–34:24)

• Hosts celebrate the communal and escapist joys of sport, lauding the rarity and unpredictability of the season’s final days.
• Reminder that sports banter is more fun than the usual news (“Isn’t it much more fun to debate Raleigh and Judge than some of the other things you’re hearing in the news?” – Covino, 34:07).

6. Old School When 50 Hits: Striking Gold More Than Once (44:21–47:14)

• The crew reminisces about multi-talented public figures (“triple threats”) in honor of Will Smith’s birthday. This serves as a cultural throwback, marking those who found major success across multiple industries, much as some athletes transition to broadcasting, business, or Hollywood after their playing days.
• “Who are those people that…struck gold more than two times? That’s a tough category…” – Covino (46:33)

Notable Quotes by Segment & Timestamp

• On MVP criteria and fairness:
  • “We can't not give it to Judge because we're tired of him. Like the Joker in the NBA, you can't say, ‘Well, he's already won a bunch.’” — Rich (09:13)
• On positional value:
  • “For a catcher, great ass…home runs for a catcher. Since when do we vote on some sort of curve?” — Covino (11:11)
• On taking greatness for granted:
  • “It's not like you should get less recognition because he consistently does it…you guys are just bored by it. That's on you.” — Covino (17:18)
• Listener perspective:
  • “Raleigh with the passing Mickey Mantle for the switch hitter and well over it, also the catching record, just destroying that. The historical reference for Raleigh is pretty amazing.” — Ryan in Seattle (24:04)
  • “Ray Allen when you’re in Seattle, you’re like in witness protection. Nobody knows they’re even going to the playoffs…” — Trip in Vegas (25:27)
• On not wanting shared awards:
  • “No one wants a tie in boxing. Sharing awards, none of that stuff. We don’t want draws, we don’t want ties, we don’t want to share MVP awards.” — Covino (20:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:15 | Intro to MVP debate: Dodgers heading to playoffs, Judge vs. Raleigh | | 05:20 | Covino’s impassioned case for Aaron Judge as MVP | | 08:42 | Dan Byer's MVP voting philosophy (“I tend to go with the guy who won't win again…”) | | 09:13 | Judge fatigue, using NBA MVP for analogy | | 11:11 | Debating whether positional value—like catcher—should matter for MVP | | 12:14 | The "Yankee Tax"; is being a Yankee now a disadvantage? | | 13:55 | Charity Oscars/movies and MVPs: historical perspective | | 14:28 | Rich’s animated defense of catchers and their value | | 16:19 | Hypothetical: What if Raleigh breaks the AL home run record? | | 17:18 | Taking consistent greatness for granted, relationship analogies | | 24:04 | Ryan in Seattle: The historical significance of Raleigh’s season | | 25:27 | Trip in Vegas: Market size, exposure, and narrative in MVP voting | | 26:15 | Listener considers the physical toll of catching in the MVP debate | | 31:05 | Dodgers close to clinching; September baseball excitement | | 34:07 | Sports debates as positive escapism | | 44:21 | Old School When 50 Hits: Who’s struck gold multiple times? |

Conclusion & Flow

This episode captures the infectious energy that MLB’s late-September drama brings. Listeners are treated to a passionate, debate-filled discussion that remains welcoming—even as the hosts disagree. Covino & Rich, with Dan, use humor, history, and plenty of memorable calls and analogies to highlight the nuances of MVP voting and what makes this baseball season (and debate) special. The MVP argument serves as a lens for examining everything from sports fandom to cultural recognition, all with a good-natured, sports-bar feel.

If You Missed the Episode…

• The MVP debate between Judge and Raleigh is about more than stats; it’s about narrative, history, and what fans and voters value.
• Every wild card moment and September play is under the microscope, with dramatic, memorable fan and host responses.
• Listeners shape the flow, offering firsthand perspectives on the physical and historical sides of the game.
• The episode closes with a look at “triple threat” celebrities, echoing the show’s spirit of appreciation for rare, multidimensional greatness—whether in the batter’s box, behind the plate, or beyond the diamond.