The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 – Robot Umpires Have Arrived, Booger McFarland

Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Booger McFarland (ESPN, NFL & College Football Analyst)

Episode Overview

Hour 1 of The Dan Patrick Show dives deep into two major sports topics:

• The arrival of "robot umpires" (Automated Balls and Strikes, or ABS) in Major League Baseball, with a spirited, humorous discussion among the crew about its implications and quirks.
• A thoughtful, wide-ranging interview with Booger McFarland on college football’s biggest matchups, coaching challenges, the NFL, and even a playful fantasy about ESPN personalities in the Octagon.

Tone: Witty, conversational, insightful, occasionally irreverent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Robot Umpires Arrive in MLB (ABS System)

• News: MLB will begin using Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) in the 2026 season for limited balls-and-strikes challenges—modeled after systems in tennis.
• How it works:
  • Only hitters, pitchers, and catchers can challenge a call—by tapping their head.
  • Challenges must be immediate, can be retained if correct (like in tennis).
  • Ball/strike results shown on stadium scoreboards.
  • Tech details: 12 cameras track pitches, with a reported margin of error of 1/6 inch.
  • The strike zone becomes a two-dimensional plane; still requires human umpires for other duties.

Dan’s Take: Baseball, after centuries of tradition, is now at the tech forefront.

"Baseball didn't change for centuries. And then all of a sudden, here they are at the forefront, they're trying everything, anything." (09:15)

• Crew Jokes:
  • The term "robot umpires" is misleading—conjures up images of literal robots on the field (06:37; 15:37).
  • Tap-the-helmet challenge gesture could cause confusion: “What if someone’s just adjusting their helmet?” (10:52)

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Patrick:

  "If the goal is to get it right and you have the technology to get it right, then use it." (07:20) "I think by 2030, this is how baseball is going to be called." (09:10)

• Poll Question Proposed:
  "Should we start with robo umps?" (15:32)

• Crew Concerns:

  • Loss of the human element and gamesmanship (Marvin, 11:03)
  • Death of the art of pitch framing for catchers (Paulie, 11:53)
  • Will fans watch more baseball because of this? Dan says no; it’s about game integrity, not viewership. (17:15)

Memorable Moment:

• Marvin likens the unappealing name "robot umps" to calling meatloaf, well, meatloaf:

  "It's a distasteful term. Remember we talked about how meatloaf… if it had a better term, people would enjoy it more. Robot umps gives you the feeling like the old guys are going away and being fired." (15:41)

2. Debate & Speculation: Effects of ABS

• Player resistance: Only four players on MLB’s ABS committee, and some voted against it (Marvin, 11:03)
• Strategy/talent questions:
  • If every ball and strike is “right,” do you lose the skill of reading and working the zone?
  • Umpire ejections may plummet, since 62% of ejections relate to balls/strikes (06:43).
• Challenge System Flaws:
  • If you use your two challenges, you may not be able to dispute a key late call—teams get extra in extras, though (Marvin, 14:33).
  • Paulie pokes fun at the partial use:

    "You put in the system where you can get the call right twice. Well, if you're going to put in the system to get the calls right, just do the whole thing." (13:06)

3. The Fun: Name Games, Polls, and Banter

• Banter over “robo umps” term, humorous riffs on what signals should be used to challenge calls.
• Jokes about how the crew (and the fans) would celebrate a Yankees wild card clinch (48:03), and if it’s excessive for a franchise of their stature.

Interview with Booger McFarland (25:37–41:48)

Segment Summary:

Dan welcomes Booger for a wide-ranging, energetic chat covering the weekend’s most important college football games, coach hot seats, the NFL’s biggest question marks, rookie quarterback development, and a fantasy fight scenario among ESPN personalities.

Key Questions & Answers

Most Important College Football Game? (25:37)

• Booger: "Probably The Georgia, Alabama game… Kirby Smart, for everything he’s done, is like one in six against Alabama.” (25:37)
  • Also notes #2: LSU at Ole Miss — a test of national title credentials.

Brian Kelly’s Security at LSU (27:06)

• Dan: Senses Kelly isn’t secure—Booger disagrees:

  “He’s very secure… unless you’re Texas A&M who wants to spend $75 million buying out a coach…”

  • Still, fan “heat” is real until Kelly matches his predecessors’ national championships.

What Happened to Gundy/Swinney? (28:34)

• Booger: "Mike Gundy didn’t evolve with the times. Dabo’s message isn’t landing—there’s a disconnect between Clemson coaches & players."
• Cites unsuccessful coordinator hires and loss of connection despite having talent. (29:08)

More Concerns: Ravens or Chiefs? (30:13)

• Booger: The Chiefs. “It’s no longer a team, it’s turned into a one man show... one man shows don’t survive in the NFL.” (31:22)

On Starting Giants Rookie QB Jackson Dart (31:47)

• Dan asks if the Giants should start Dart at home vs. a tough team or on the road against a weaker one.
• Booger snarks:

  “Take the bandaid off… we're not playing for the Peach Bowl, we're playing for the Super Bowl. Let him go play.” (31:58)

  • Explains the value of learning through early failure.

How Long Should Coaches Stay with Dart? (Giants Ownership Question) (33:55)

• Booger: If Dart shows progress, stick with current coaching/GM for another two years; stop the cycle of ever-rebooting. (34:28)

ESPN Analyst Octagon Fantasy (35:28)

• Dan: “If I put everybody at ESPN in the Octagon, who comes out?”
• Booger: Himself, Chris Canty, and Marcus Spears stand a chance. “A lot of dudes at ESPN are soft,” with a playful dig at Greenberg and others. (35:38)

Ryder Cup Preview (Golf) (38:04)

• Booger asks Dan’s view on U.S. vs. Europe mentally:
  • Dan: “They [Europeans] have a team. And a team is always going to beat individuals.”
• They discuss pairings, mental toughness, and national pride.

Memorable Quotes

• "At a certain point, the message [from the coach] starts falling on deaf ears." – Booger (29:08)
• "One man shows don’t survive in the NFL." – Booger (31:22)
• "Let him go play, and if he fails, great, turn the tape on, coach him up, and send it back out there." – Booger, on rookie quarterbacks (32:10)
• "A lot of dudes at ESPN, like… are soft." – Booger, on the Octagon scenario (35:38)
• "Mentally tough is really rare… I’m sort of like Brady. You underestimate me and then I become the GOAT." – Dan Patrick, tongue-in-cheek (37:49)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |------------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 09:15 | Dan Patrick | "Baseball didn't change for centuries… now at the forefront, they're trying everything." | | 13:06 | Paulie | "You put in the system where you can get the call right twice. Why not get it right always?"| | 15:41 | Marvin | "Robot umps gives you the feeling like the old guys are going away and being fired." | | 25:37 | Booger | "Probably The Georgia, Alabama game… Kirby Smart is one in six against Alabama." | | 29:08 | Booger | "At a certain point, the message starts falling on deaf ears." | | 31:22 | Booger | "It's no longer a team, it's turned into a one man show… one man shows don't survive." | | 32:10 | Booger | "Let him go play, and if he fails, great, turn the tape on, coach him up and send it back."| | 35:38 | Booger | "A lot of dudes at ESPN, like… are soft." | | 37:49 | Dan Patrick | "Mentally tough is really rare… I’m sort of like Brady." | | 39:16 | Booger | "[Europeans]… may get up for this more than the Americans. Would that be fair to say?" |

Important Segment Timestamps

• Robot Umpires & MLB Tech Changes: 03:08–19:11
• Robo Umps Debate & Polls: 15:32–19:11
• Booger McFarland Interview (CFB/NFL): 25:37–41:48
• ESPN Octagon Battle & Ryder Cup Banter: 35:28–41:48

Closing Notes

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show covers technological disruption in MLB with lively, informed banter and a balance of skepticism and optimism. The conversation with Booger McFarland is rich with firsthand insight into college football coaching culture, NFL trends, and player development. The episode is peppered with humor, relatable analogies, and signature Dan Patrick wit.

If you missed the episode:

• You'll understand what ABS/robo-umps are, why they're coming, how they might feel as a fan, and hear sharp, funny skepticism about sports tech and tradition.
• The Booger McFarland segment alone is worth a listen for his candid takes on coaches, teams, and media personalities.
• The crew’s chemistry and quick-fire jokes keep it accessible whether you’re a stat geek or a casual sports fan.