The Dan Patrick Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Nobody Wants to Watch the Jets, John Smoltz
Date: October 13, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Host: Dan Patrick

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show explores the overwhelming amount of football on TV—with a humorous focus on the struggles of watching the Jets. Dan and the crew debrief the latest college and NFL news, riff on “the greatest band you don’t like,” and discuss strategic changes in Major League Baseball. Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins to break down playoff pitching, evolving baseball analytics, and the Hall of Fame merits of several MLB standouts. The segment closes with listener calls and some signature irreverence from the team.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Week in Sports: NFL, College Football & Baseball

[02:00 - 23:00]

• NFL Over-Saturation and Viewer Fatigue

  • Discussion on the ever-increasing NFL schedule: Thursday, Sunday morning, Sunday night, Monday doubleheaders.
  • Dan: “I always thought Thursday night games should have been standalone, holiday games. Not every Thursday… but there’s so much money out there. These owners aren’t going to turn down this kind of money.” (07:45)
  • Concerns that international Sunday morning games have lost their novelty (“They’re getting a little less special and more frustrating.” – Paulie, 12:30).
  • The panel agrees that NFL scheduling makes early games feel like a slog, especially when featuring struggling teams like the Jets.

• NFL Oddities: Disastrous Jets Game in London

  • Marvin’s wife’s reaction to watching the Jets play early: “You gotta watch the Jets live?” (14:00)
  • Discussion of the rare 13-11 NFL final score: only three instances in NFL history.

• College Football Upsets & Coaching Carousel

  • Recap of Indiana’s statement win at Oregon. Debates on whether anyone in CFB has a better win.
  • Penn State fires James Franklin despite a recent contract—Dan: “But $49 million… felt like it was too much money to fire him.” (05:50)
  • Listeners call in to discuss the fallout and comparisons to coaches at Wisconsin and the changing nature of college football programs.

• Baseball Preview

  • Tonight’s MLB matchups set: Mariners vs. Blue Jays, Dodgers vs. Brewers.
  • Building anticipation for the latest college football rankings and playoff implications.

2. Music Debate: Great Bands We Don’t Like

[23:20 - 34:30]

• Each member of the crew names a “respected band they just didn’t get,” sparking classic generational and taste arguments:
  • Todd: “I’m going to have to give it to the Beatles. There’s a couple songs I like but for the most part, horrifically overrated.” (30:15)
  • Paulie: Pink Floyd.
  • Seaton: The Who and Grateful Dead.
  • Marvin: Jimi Hendrix.
  • Dan: “Nobody says the Rolling Stones are overrated. Stop Me Up, you know, [Mick Jagger’s] dating a 28-year-old ballerina. Good for him.” (33:55)
• Segment ends in a light-hearted, playful roast-session about musical tastes and the age gap in classic rock fandom.

3. Interview: John Smoltz on Postseason Baseball & Hall of Fame Debates

[34:30 - 57:00]

Baseball Postseason Analysis

• On Mariners Defeating Blue Jays After Grueling Travel

  • Smoltz praises Bryce Miller’s poise: “Bryce Miller had one of the greatest games I think you’ll ever see a young man pitch given the circumstances.” (38:00)
  • Surprised that the Mariners pulled out a win after a draining 15-inning contest and cross-country travel.

• Pitcher Usage: Analytics vs. Gut Feeling

  • Smoltz: “I think the biggest thing that gets overlooked is the swings the hitters are putting on that pitcher… Managers who let their pitcher have a moment are winning games.” (41:45)
  • Criticism of “third time through the order” analytics as postseason strategy: “I’ll give you 162 [games] of analytics. It doesn’t apply in a best of five or best of seven.” (46:50)
  • Smoltz notes that postseason success is often about trusting the starter’s moment.

• Starter Longevity in the Postseason

  • Dodgers’ strategy reversal: more reliant on starters now because of bullpen injuries last year.
  • “At one point it was 12 and 1—the pitcher that went longer than the other pitcher, they won the game.” (48:15)

• Strategic Batting Order Changes

  • Trend of putting power hitters like Ohtani or Schwarber in the leadoff spot: Smoltz is skeptical for the playoffs:
    • “Imagine Barry Bonds today. He would be leading off… Thank you. Thank you. For a guy who gave up nine home runs.” (52:10)
  • Prefers best hitters in traditional RBI spots for playoff series; regular season analytics don’t always fit the postseason.

• Contact Hitters vs. Sluggers in Modern Baseball

  • Emphasis on contact and putting the ball in play as a winning ingredient (cites Brewers and Blue Jays).
  • “You’re not going to find more than three World Series winners in the last 25 years who were top-10 in strikeouts. It’s hard to do.” (54:20)

Hall of Fame Musings

• Brief sidebar: Smoltz doesn’t follow bands much, grew up playing accordion; shouts out Weird Al Yankovic (“He was brilliant, actually.” – 36:30)

• Discusses potential Hall of Famers Dale Murphy, Steve Garvey, Don Mattingly, and Andrew Jones.

  • “Don Mattingly—everybody from New York talks about how good he was. If he could have stayed healthier… he’d have thrived in today’s era.” (56:10)
  • Argues Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, Rod Carew, and other non-power hitters could succeed even more in the modern game if raised differently.

• Smoltz on family and emotion:

  • On his daughter’s wedding: “I would have cried if I’d played the accordion, probably.” (57:00)
  • Dan jokes: “Maybe you didn’t care about your daughters as much as I care about mine—so you’re kind of emotional.” Laughter ensues.

4. Listener Calls & Best/Worst of the Weekend

[60:00 - End]

• Fan Feedback on Best & Worst of Weekend
  • Dan in Minnesota: Shares joy about Iowa Hawkeyes’ football win and a heartwarming story of keeping a 10-year promise to his daughter (Paul McCartney concert).
  • Jeff in Whidbey Island: Mariners’ big victory and belated dog-assisted birthday song for Todd (“He usually does much, much better than that…”).
  • Don in Virginia: The popular band he can’t stand is Metallica (“The lyrics are way too nihilistic for me.”).
• **Ongoing musical taste banter with listeners calling in to add to the “overrated” band debate.
• Inside show humor: The “passhole” T-shirt saga, and Todd’s always-questionable headlines for NFL games.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick on NFL Schedule:

  • “These owners aren’t going to turn down this kind of money. They’re like, ‘No, we’ll keep giving them what they want.’” (07:45)

• Marvin’s Wife on Jets Game:

  • “You gotta watch the Jets live?” (14:05)

• Todd on the Beatles:

  • “I think they’re horrifically overrated.” (30:15)

• John Smoltz on Playoff Analytics:

  • “I’ll give you 162 analytical reasoning and philosophy… It doesn’t apply in a best of five and a best of seven. It doesn’t work that way.” (46:50)

• Dan on Band Debates:

  • “Nobody says the Rolling Stones are overrated… and you know, he’s dating a 28-year-old ballerina. Good for him.” (33:55)

• Smoltz on Contact Hitters:

  • “When you swing and miss, you know what’s going to happen and it’s nothing.” (54:20)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• NFL Over-Saturation / Ratings / Schedule: ~[07:00-14:00]
• Jets Game in London / NFL Score Oddities: ~[14:00-16:00]
• College Football (Franklin firing, Indiana win, Wisconsin woes): ~[05:30-22:00]
• Bands You Don’t Like (Crew Roundtable): ~[23:20-34:30]
• John Smoltz Interview (Accordion, Music, MLB Analysis): [34:30-57:00]
  • Smoltz on Mariners/Blue Jays: ~[38:00-41:30]
  • Pitcher Usage/Analytics in Playoffs: ~[41:30-49:00]
  • Batting Order/Lineup Strategy: ~[49:10-54:00]
  • Contact Hitters in Today’s Game: ~[54:20-56:00]
• Callers’ Best/Worst of Weekend + Show Wrap: [60:00-end]

Episode Tone & Vibe

• Conversational, irreverent, and deeply insider to sports and pop-culture nerdery.
• Frequent playful ribbing and “dad-joke” banter.
• Mix of sharp sports analysis, nostalgia, and music talk.

For listeners who missed it:
You’ll get a thorough sense of the current sportscape, MLB playoff intrigue (from Smoltz, a Hall of Fame perspective), and plenty of classic DP Show culture—music rabbit holes, oddball stats, and audience-driven antics. The show thrives on its ability to be deep, wide-ranging, and not take itself too seriously.