The Dan Patrick Show

Hour 3 – Jeff Passan, The Perfect Wide Receiver

Date: September 25, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this lively hour, Dan Patrick dives into MLB’s late-season drama with ESPN’s Jeff Passan, debating controversial MVP races, postseason legacies, and the evolving standards for baseball greatness. The conversation then shifts to NFL wide receiver legacies and Hall of Fame debates, with sharp insight and plenty of signature Dan Patrick show banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Poll Question – The “Worst Word in Sports” (04:33)

• Poll options: collapse, quit, cheat, loyalty.
• Results: “Quit” leads with 48%, followed closely by “cheat.”
• Light-hearted moment: Fritzi, an Astros fan, picks “cheat”—Dan ribs him about Houston’s past scandal (04:53).

2. MLB: Astros & Tigers September Collapse

Segment start: 05:13

The Astros’ Downward Spiral

• Jeff Passan: “They suck right now. They’ve lost five in a row. They have blown it… Detroit is still in a playoff spot. And Detroit has had arguably the greatest collapse in September history in baseball.” (05:49)
• Astros’ recent failures and the irony considering their playoff experience.

Tigers' Embarrassing Finish

• Dan asks how Detroit imploded after looking like one of MLB’s best teams earlier.
• Passan: "The pitching has just been abominable... No, nobody there, frankly, has any answers for it. AJ Hinch is saying, you know, we're trying, we're doing our best, but they just look lifeless." (06:23)
• Wonders at Guardians’ resilience: Despite key losses (e.g., star closer Clase out due to gambling), they’ve stayed in the race.

3. AL MVP Debate: Cal Raleigh vs. Aaron Judge

Segment start: 08:02

Dan’s View

• Dan argues that if Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, a catcher, hits 60 HRs and the team wins the division, he should be MVP.

Passan’s Counterpoint

• Judge’s offensive stats (OPS 175 points higher) dwarf Raleigh’s.
• "Are you telling me all that makes up along with the defensive elements for that 175 point gap, which is real, which is significant and which is enormous?” (08:28, Passan)
• Both agree: Raleigh’s feat as a catcher is historic, but Judge’s overall production is undeniable.

Notable Quote

• Dan: “You know this as a writer, we love a new story. What else are you going to say about Aaron Judge?” (12:04)

Discussion of MVP Criteria

• Narrative vs. stats: Dan admits sometimes he’s drawn to "the new story."
• Passan: "If you’re voting for Michael Jordan every year... have you softened and gone more for the narrative vote?” (10:45)
• Dan references voting for Jordan for MVP regardless of stats, recognizing the narrative bias at play.

The Role of Postseason Performance

• Dan: “But we look at all of the greats of all time and what do we focus on? Postseason. That’s how you become greats of all time.” (13:24)
• Passan stresses regular season value; postseason isn’t part of MVP voting, though the narrative inevitably seeps in.

4. Shohei Ohtani’s Unmatched Value

Segment start: 14:52

• Dan: “Ohtani is always going to have like a 20 yard head start in a 40 yard dash, right?... He didn't really pitch that much [this year]... but he’s going to run away with another MVP.” (14:52)
• Passan: “It’s tough for me to look at Ohtani and not vote for him every year he stays healthy just because he’s two players in one dude.” (15:28)
• Appreciative awe at Ohtani’s uniqueness.

5. “Robo Umpires” and Baseball’s Tech Evolution

Segment start: 16:11

• Dan: “Can we get rid of this stupid term robo ump? Because it’s not a robo ump. Okay?” (16:11)
• Passan describes the automated ball-strike system: "It's 12 cameras... with a margin of error of 1/6 of an inch." (16:24)
• Light-hearted envisioning of a robot umpire backflipping as it calls strike three.

6. Postseason Format, Rule Changes, and Fan Preferences

Segment start: 17:39

• Both love the pitch clock but dislike the “automatic runner on second” in extra innings.
• Passan: “Give me 17-inning games all day. I'll take them, especially in the playoffs.” (17:50)

7. Post-call Banter & Show Traditions

Segments: 18:28 – 27:35

• Discussion on the weight of postseason in Hall of Fame judgments for baseball vs. NFL/NBA.
• Marvin: “Numbers are more important than World Series wins when you’re talking about who gets into the Hall of Fame or not… Baseball, more so than any other sport, the numbers are the most important thing.” (18:28–19:18)
• Baseball’s uniqueness in its stat-centric Hall of Fame debates.

8. Fan Call-ins: MVP, Quitting, and More

Segments: 27:40 – 31:14 and on

• Houston fan laments the Astros’ collapse, champions Cal Raleigh for MVP. (28:29)
• Callers weigh in on the evolving “left lane” driving debate—a show inside joke.

9. NFL Wide Receivers: Antonio Brown, Hall of Fame, and Entitlement

Segment start: 31:14

• Caller asks about NFL quitting; Dan cites Antonio Brown’s infamous meltdown, connects it to WR “entitlement.”
• Dan: “I don’t know if [Brown] is going to stack up statistically to everybody else... He had a six year run... he came out of nowhere and you’re like, he’s unstoppable.” (32:38–33:17)
• Comparison to Calvin Johnson, quirks of Hall of Fame selection, and off-field behavior’s impact.

10. Final Sports Topics and Ryder Cup Predictions

Segments: 36:54–39:02

• Lane Kiffin’s history and the 2007 NFL Draft (Al Davis picking JaMarcus Russell over Calvin Johnson).
• Ryder Cup predictions: spirited (and doubted) caller takes Europe as a “lock” to win.

11. Postseason Performance vs. Regular Season Value

Segment start: 39:02

• Differentiates impact of individual performance in MLB, NFL, NBA postseason.
• Dan: “It’s more of a pitching element for me, that pitchers will stand out because they used to be in control of a game, whereas a hitter, I can pitch around you, I can take you out of a game.” (41:16)

12. Favorite Ballpark Foods

Segment start: 48:35 (fun banter)

• Hot dogs, peanuts, Cracker Jacks, nachos, and the nostalgia of the ballpark experience.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Astros’ downward spiral:
  Passan: “They suck right now... It takes some cojones to go and wear [Astros gear] the way that they’re playing right now.” (05:49)

• On the Cal Raleigh MVP case:
  Dan: “He’s hitting 60 home runs and he’s doing it at the catcher position. That never happens.” (09:42)

• On MVP voting and narratives:
  Passan (to Dan): “If you’re voting for Michael Jordan every year... have you softened... and gone more for the narrative vote? Because the objective vote is for Aaron Judge. The narrative vote is unquestionably for Cal Raleigh.” (10:45)

• On Ohtani:
  Passan: “He is the freak of all freaks. And honoring him with the MVP award, I’m not sure that even does him the service that he’s owed.” (15:47)

• On “robo umps”:
  Dan: “Can we get rid of this stupid term robo ump? Because it’s not a robo ump. Okay?” (16:11)

• On postseason legacies:
  Dan: “But we look at all of the greats of all time and what do we focus on? Postseason. That’s how you become greats of all time. Aaron Judge is a wonderful regular season player...” (13:24)

• On NFL wide receivers & Hall of Fame:
  Dan: “I just felt like you could put [Antonio Brown] anywhere on the field and he was going to separate. You know, he could take a two yarder and take it 50... Antonio Brown was just one of those guys that came out of nowhere and you’re like, he’s unstoppable.” (33:13–33:38)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Poll Question – Worst Word in Sports: 04:33
• Astros/Tigers Collapse, Guardians resilience: 05:13–08:02
• AL MVP Debate (Raleigh vs Judge): 08:02–16:05
• Shohei Ohtani MVP discussion: 14:52–16:05
• Automated Strike Zone/Robo Umpires: 16:11–17:39
• Extra Innings Rules & Postseason Format: 17:39–18:17
• Postseason and Hall of Fame Value: 18:28–20:15, 39:02–43:54
• NFL: Antonio Brown and WR Legacy: 31:14–36:54

Episode Tone & Style

• Lively, good-natured sports-debate with plenty of humor and friendly jabs.
• Dan and Jeff Passan playfully spar over MVP criteria with mutual respect.
• Regulars and callers add flavor and listener perspective to the discourse.
• Informative but informal, making baseball’s complexities approachable and compelling.

Summary

This episode features Dan Patrick and Jeff Passan at their best: thoughtful, argumentative, and funny. Whether explaining the science behind “robo umpires,” dissecting AL MVP narratives, or weighing the Hall of Fame prospects for controversial NFL receivers, they bring clarity and enthusiasm to every sports topic. The hour is a must-listen for fans interested in the shifting standards of greatness, the power of narrative versus numbers, and the joy of a well-timed hot dog at the ballpark.

For the full discussion, including colorful show banter and fan call-ins, check out Hour 3 of The Dan Patrick Show.