The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3 Summary

Episode Theme:
This episode delves into two major themes: the importance of postseason performance in sports legacies (especially in the NFL and MLB), and a wide-ranging, insightful interview with MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds about the MLB playoffs, key players, and the evolving game. Throughout the hour, Dan and the crew engage with callers on sports culture, team comparisons, and fan expectations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Football & Quarterback Discourse (03:22–13:45)

• NFL Recap:

  • Dan and the team discuss a “bad night for football,” starting with Tyreek Hill’s season-ending injury and the Bengals’ struggling offense (04:00–04:30).
  • The Bengals’ historically low offensive output raises concerns about their future.

• Quarterback Value and Trades:

  • Callers spark debate on the trade value of Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins. Dan and Paulie note Cousins’ contract makes him harder to trade, and Wilson has near-zero value (06:00–07:00, 06:57–07:17).
  • “Probably almost nothing for Russell Wilson. The Kirk D. Cousins, he still gets paid a lot of money. Somebody’s going to have to pick up part of that check.” — Dan Patrick (06:15)

• Poll Questions (07:34–08:22):

  • Topics range from controlling weight vs. height or hair to which NFL teams are “already done.”
  • The Titans and Jets are flagged as disappointments, with only 17% of listeners thinking the Jets are “better than their record.”

• Team and Player Legacies:

  • Dan draws strong lines on sports legacies: “All we care about is the bottom line with certain franchises and, and certain quarterbacks.” (10:31)
  • He emphasizes postseason success over MVPs or stats, using Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers as examples.

• Callers’ Comparisons:

  • Sports teams and figure skaters are compared and contrasted, e.g., the Chargers as underachievers in both the NFL and college basketball analogies.

2. Baseball as Legacy: The Crucial Role of the Postseason (13:45–24:54)

• Penn State, Arizona, and Sports Disappointments:

  • Several callers debate whether Penn State (college football) and the Arizona Wildcats (college basketball) deserve their reputations as perennial underachievers (09:52–16:55).
  • Dan: “How do you do against a big-time opponent?...You have to prove you can be successful and win a game on the road.” (10:18)

• The Postseason Standard:

  • Dan and Paulie stress that a lack of signature postseason moments or wins keeps stars or teams out of “best-ever” conversations, regardless of their regular season stats.

• Baseball Stat Trivia:

  • A caller notes Patrick Surtain’s dominance in coverage, sparking banter and the show’s signature “Stat of the Day” song (14:17–15:18).

3. Show Banter & Podcast/Content Ideas (17:51–19:43)

• Staff Podcasts:
  • Listeners suggest podcast spin-offs featuring staffers Todd Fritz and Shay, including mental health discussions.
  • Dan humorously distances himself from more podcast responsibilities: “I’m open to Todd doing a podcast. I don’t want to be involved in it.” (18:46)
• Behind-the-scenes laughs:
  • Multiple running jokes about staff performance and self-deprecation pepper the segment, keeping the mood light.

Interview: Harold Reynolds (MLB Network Analyst)

(25:12–37:32)

MLB Playoffs—Favorites and Insights

Dodgers as Favorites:

• Reynolds: “For me, the overall favorite is the Dodgers…they got healthy…and they're the team to beat.” (25:24)

Injuries and Pitching Depth:

• Discusses Dodgers’ overcoming pitcher injuries; outlines their playoff rotation (25:43–26:36).

Shohei Ohtani’s Unique Value:

• On the Ohtani MVP debate: “Just the fact that he pitches is a trump card…Every player knows they’re going up against it.” (27:41)
• Describes the challenge and possibility of Ohtani pitching in relief due to upgraded facilities (27:03–27:30).

AL MVP Race:

• Reynolds paints Cal Raleigh (“a platinum glove defender” with “big time bonus” at the plate) as a deserving MVP, contends it’s not discussed because the pitching/hitting combo of Ohtani is too rare (28:10).

Analytics Banter:

• Reynolds laments the shifting metrics used in player evaluation:
  “I have the same argument with Brian Kenny all the time … Every time you throw a different one at me, it’s just not the way it’s supposed to be.” (29:00)

Team Disappointments and Contenders:

• Labels the Mets as “biggest disappointment in the sport” for failing to capitalize on talent despite payroll (29:15).
• Picks the Phillies (if not Dodgers) as NL contenders and the Mariners (non-homer pick) in the AL, touting their pitching and hot streak (30:09–31:07).

Mike Trout’s Future:

• On trading Trout: “That window might have passed … I thought they should have made that move maybe three or four years ago.” (31:12)

Automated Balls & Strikes:

• Predicts automated strike zones are coming “right away,” as new generations of players are acclimated to tech-driven baseball (32:11–33:15).

Best Swings Discussion:

• Highlights the legacy of sweet left-handed swings, puts Ken Griffey Jr. at the top:
  “If you don’t say so, he’ll come. He’s the greatest swing.” — Reynolds (33:56)
• Cites the decline of “pretty swings” in favor of power and exit velocity, laments it’s a lost art in the analytics age (33:23–34:40).

On Trading Top Prospects:

• Advocates Pirates consider a “Herschel Walker trade” with top prospect Paul Skenes, if they’re not going to build around him (36:47).

Memorable Quotes:

• “Just the fact that [Ohtani] pitches is a trump card.” — Harold Reynolds (27:41)
• “You just can’t have that payroll, go out and get a player for $765 million and not make the playoffs.” — Harold Reynolds on the Mets (29:41)
• “It helps to be able to do that…he had the hat backwards, he had an earring, and he just kind of stood there and watched it too.” — Harold Reynolds on Ken Griffey Jr. (34:22)

Other Notable Segments & Banter

Fans and Sportsmanship: Ryder Cup (37:53–40:49)

• A caller laments rowdiness at the Ryder Cup; Dan discusses how non-golf crowds changed the sport’s atmosphere, making comparisons to Phoenix Open and US events.

Championships vs. Stats—What Really Matters (47:52–50:35)

• Dan and callers analyze “greatest ever” debates in football, basketball, and baseball.
• “Baseball is about the numbers. You don’t know how many World Series Stan Musial has. … No one ever says [Derek Jeter’s] the greatest shortstop because he has five World Series.”
  — Todd Fritz (49:21)
• Dan points out that post-season context matters more in some sports than others, and we “pick and choose” which titles matter.

Todd Fritz’s Performance (41:48–52:26)

• Several running jokes about Todd’s show performance, with him grading himself a “C minus” (51:59).
• The show closes with the crew reflecting on what they learned, a tradition that usually mixes sports insight and humor.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:22 — Dan sets the hour's theme; NFL recap
• 06:00 — Discussion: QB trading value
• 07:34 — Poll results and questions
• 09:52 — Callers debate Penn State and Chargers legacy
• 13:49 — Ongoing talk about the limits of "potential" and need for postseason success
• 25:12 — Interview with Harold Reynolds begins
• 27:41 — Ohtani's MVP case
• 29:15 — Mets as biggest disappointment
• 30:09 — NL & AL playoff contenders, predictions
• 31:12 — Discussion: Mike Trout trade viability
• 32:11 — Automated balls and strikes in MLB
• 33:23 — The art of the left-handed swing; Ken Griffey Jr.
• 36:47 — Pirates and Paul Skenes: trade strategy
• 41:48 — Show banter, Todd rates his own performance
• 47:52 — Titles and stats: "greatest ever" in sports

Tone and Notable Moments

• Dan Patrick keeps the discussion witty, direct, and opinionated—challenging sports narratives focused on stats over postseason heroics.
• Harold Reynolds blends analysis with player-level insight; he’s baseball-savvy and occasionally playful, especially in discussing "pretty swings" and MVP debates.
• Staff Banter features humor and self-deprecation, involving Todd Fritz’s “C-minus” show performance and hypothetical podcast ideas.
• Listener Engagement is strong; phone calls provide both levity (show merch jokes, driving instructor podcast suggestions) and thoughtful commentary (team legacy debates, sportsmanship in golf).

Summary for Non-Listeners

This hour is a sharp, entertaining exploration of sports legacies, especially how playoff success trumps regular season stats in defining greatness. Dan and his colleagues dissect NFL and MLB disappointments, compare sports teams’ characteristic “almost”-ness (with a special focus on Penn State, the Chargers, and Arizona basketball), and challenge the measures we use to define the greats.

Harold Reynolds delivers a comprehensive playoff preview, naming the Dodgers, Phillies, and Mariners as teams to watch, while explaining the subtle chess of MLB postseason management (especially around Shohei Ohtani). Throughout, the banter stays lighthearted but pointed, with staff and callers alike joining in on discussions about podcasting, performance, and the quirks of sports fandom.

Best for those interested in: baseball playoffs, NFL quarterback debates, how championships affect legacies, and the intersection of sports culture and analytics.

Notable Quotes

• “All we care about is the bottom line with certain franchises and, and certain quarterbacks.” — Dan Patrick (10:31)
• “You just can’t have that payroll, go out and get a player for $765 million and not make the playoffs.” — Harold Reynolds (29:41)
• “Just the fact that [Ohtani] pitches is a trump card. That’s like you, Dan. You can shoot free throws. You’re going to win, right?” — Harold Reynolds (27:41)
• “[Jamar] Chase is not putting up any big numbers against Pat [Surtain].” — Todd Fritz (15:12, after "Stat of the Day")
• “Baseball is about the numbers. … No one ever says [Derek Jeter’s] the greatest shortstop because he has five World Series titles.” — Todd Fritz (49:21)

For a tight, lively hour of sports talk sure to please MLB fans or anyone interested in what really makes a player or team great, this episode delivers both strong opinion and expert analysis.