The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Is Your World Series MVP, Ravens/Dolphins Preview, John Smoltz (October 30, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this lively hour, Dan Patrick and the Danettes break down the World Series action with the Toronto Blue Jays one win away from the championship. Dan is joined by John Smoltz for a deep dive into pitching matchups, post-season narratives, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s historic MVP run. The hour also previews the crucial Thursday Night Football tilt between the Ravens and Dolphins, includes some fun Halloween banter, and fields listener calls on sports and beyond.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. World Series Recap: Blue Jays Move Within One Win, Vlad Jr. Dominates

• Opening Breakdown (05:39–09:10)

  • Dan recaps Toronto’s 6–1 Game 5 win over the Dodgers.
  • Pitcher Trey You Savage starred, with 3 hits allowed and 12 strikeouts.
    • “He has gone from single A all the way to the World Series...it’s like he has more postseason starts than he had regular season starts for the Blue Jays.” – Dan Patrick [05:56]
  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continues his red-hot postseason, making history with on-base stats nearly rivaling Barry Bonds’ 2002 record.
    • “He’s got 26, 27 hits, second most in a single postseason...the only other player in baseball history to reach base more times in a single postseason: Barry Bonds in 2002.” – Dan Patrick [10:20]

• Live Sound Moment (06:38)

  • Clip: John Smoltz and Dan react live to Vlad Jr.’s latest home run. "Back to back blasts in the first...the Blue Jays lead 2 nothing..." – John Smoltz/Blue Jays radio [06:45]

• World Series MVP Race and Vlad’s Contract Value

  • Dan speculates that Guerrero’s stellar play positions him for "Ohtani money" in his next deal. [10:00–11:00]

2. Game 6 and Series Outlook

• Pitching Matchups and Dodgers’ Hopes [06:51–09:10]

  • The Dodgers turn to Yamamoto for Game 6, hoping for consecutive heroics to force a decisive Game 7.
  • Smoltz teases all hands (even Shohei Ohtani) may be “available” for a win-or-go-home contest.

• Fan Discussion (Poll Question)

  • "Jays in 6, 7, or Dodgers in 7? What percentage do you give the Dodgers to come back?" – Paul Pabst [08:58]
  • Dan: “I would probably put some money on the Dodgers, even though the Blue Jays are favored...” [09:28]

3. Previewing Thursday Night Football: Ravens at Dolphins

• Baltimore’s Playoff Chase and Division Picture [07:34–13:48]

  • Dan shares insights from a Las Vegas handicapper: “He’s all in on the Ravens...thinks there’s still a better team [than Pittsburgh]...that division is winnable.” [08:15]
  • Lamar Jackson’s presence is crucial—his absence moves betting lines as much as any player except maybe Tom Brady in his prime.
    • “Last week it looked like Lamar Jackson being out was at least five or five and a half points on the line.” – Paulie [13:48]

• Dolphins Uncertainty and Potential Fire Sale

  • Discussion pivots to Miami potentially selling off assets, depending on the outcome.
    • “I wonder after this game, is Miami a seller if they lose?...Would Jalen Waddle be available?” – Dan Patrick [11:47]
  • The guys highlight AFC East trade deadline strategies and what a loss might mean for Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel’s tenure.

4. Fun & Banter: Halloween, Inside Baseball, and Show Traditions

• Halloween Poll & Costumes [15:09–16:49]

  • The group debates if anyone will dress up while giving out candy (nobody on-air is dressing up this year).
  • Dan on why he avoids costumes: “I always think something is going to happen. And then here I am, you know, and I’m dressed like a Marvel character.” [16:19]

• Dan’s Broadcasting Philosophy [35:44–37:47]

  • In response to a caller's compliment, Dan explains why the show avoids analytics-driven, “hot take” content: “I want this to be things I’m interested in...not driven by analytics...Most of your shows are governed by that, they’re dictated by that. I can’t.” [36:09]

• Classic Danettes Bits: Halloween Sports Names [37:47–39:34]

  • Callers and Danettes share Halloween-themed athlete puns (e.g., “Tomb Brady,” “Patrick Scare Holmes,” “Lamar Jack O’ Lantern,” “Candy Maldonado”).
  • “Halloween sports names is Fritz’s oldest show bit, going back to ’07...” – Paulie [38:26]

Featured Guest: John Smoltz (23:59–33:46)

Deep Dive: World Series Analysis with Smoltz

• Dodgers’ Hitting Woes

  • “You can’t get in a funk 7 out of 9 guys collectively and keep asking your starting pitching to cover your lack of offense...it’s definitely the worst time of the year for that to happen.” – John Smoltz [24:03]
  • Smoltz points to potential rust from playoff layoffs and emphasizes how difficult in-series adjustments are for hitters versus pitchers.

• Trey You Savage’s Dominance

  • “He got back to the mechanics in the field of that split...I thought he was so mechanically sound and his fastball command was much better.” – John Smoltz [25:37]

• Trusting Gut Over Analytics

  • Smoltz praises Jays’ manager John Schneider for trusting his instinct, giving You Savage the big moment: “If you don’t give a player a moment in the postseason, you’ll never know...you’ve got to, when a guy’s having a moment.” [26:37]

• The Guerrero Factor

  • “Vlad Guerrero Jr. has single-handedly showed the world what it’s like to be a complete player and how the World Series has absolutely been his time here to show that for everybody.” – John Smoltz [28:34]
  • Smoltz opines this World Series is transforming Vlad’s legacy and, potentially, his market value.

• Atmosphere in Toronto

  • “It’s the loudest place. It’s the most insane atmosphere...It’s not a city, it’s a whole country rooting for the team.” – John Smoltz [31:26]
  • On Dodgers’ resilience: “They have a quiet, calm confidence...the narratives that are following this club won’t bother them now.” [32:42]

• Pitching Comparisons

  • Smoltz draws a Yamamoto–Pedro Martinez parallel: “I do, in the sense of the nastiness and his ability to pitch in strike zone and then to get guys to chase.” [29:37]

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• “It feels like if we had clear facts, maybe we could calm down a little.” – Paul Pabst [01:32]
• “Would you rather pitch to Ohtani or Vlad Guerrero?” – Dan
  • Smoltz: “It’s going to sound crazy, but Ohtani...with Guerrero, you may not be able to pitch around him because of the circumstances.” [30:17]
• On small crowds in old ballparks: “When you can hear the lights buzzing and the vendors yelling, you’re in trouble, man.” – John Smoltz [32:51]
• Halloween fun: “I got Tomb Brady, I got Patrick Scare Holmes. I got Lamar Jack O lantern...and Dan, this one’s for you: Not Jenny Batchy, but Jenny Booty.” – Listener [37:54]
• Dan’s radio philosophy: “I want this to be about my personality...not going to be driven by analytics that say these are the most popular stories in America.” [36:24]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening World Series recap: [05:39–09:10]
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. historic run: [10:00–11:00]
• Ravens/Dolphins gambling, preview: [07:34–13:48]
• John Smoltz interview (deep-dive analysis): [23:59–33:46]
• Fun & Halloween names segment: [37:47–39:34]
• Dan addresses show format philosophy/caller segment: [35:44–37:47]

Notable Poll Questions

• Jays in 6, 7, or Dodgers in 7? [08:58]
• More must-win: Ravens or Mike McDaniel? [11:35]
• Do you dress up while giving out Halloween candy? [15:21]

Tone & Style

True to form, the Dan Patrick Show’s tone is witty, conversational, and casually insightful about sports, with a healthy dose of banter. Dan and the Danettes balance humor, analysis, and audience engagement for an hour that’s as much about the personalities as it is the games themselves.

Summary

Hour 1 covers the sprawling excitement of the World Series, spotlights Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s MVP-caliber dominance, and previews a pivotal NFL match-up, all energized by John Smoltz’s expert takes and the Danettes’ trademark humor. For newcomers, it’s a quintessential slice of what makes Dan Patrick’s sports radio a fan favorite: big stories, honest opinions, good laughs, and a sense that you’re hanging out with friends who love sports as much as you do.