PTI - How Impressed are you with Cal Raleigh?

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss Cal Raleigh, the Detroit Tigers, Ryder Cup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. It's apparently National Cooking Day, Tony. Do you like to cook?

Tony Cornheiser, no, but I've been told that I sizzle. Okay, then, all righty. Aren't you like one of those people who thinks you're a grill master? Aren't you a grill guy? I do, yes. I actually grill a lot. I enjoy grilling a lot. My son makes fun of me because I do it by timing.

You know, I ask for a five minute timer and something. point. He says that's not the way you do it, but I do it that way. And I do like to go. Welcome to PTI, boys and girls. In today's episode, The Guardians take over the AL Central. The Ryder Cup tees off tomorrow, and Boogam McFarlane joins us to break down a big weekend in college football. But we begin today with Cal Raleigh hitting two more home runs last night, numbers 59 and 60, as Seattle beat Colorado to clinch the American League West, their first division title since 2001. At Yankee Stadium, Aaron Judge also hit two home runs, numbers 50 and 51, and went three for four to raise his batting average to a major league leading 328. The Yankees beat the White Sox to claim a tie with Toronto for first place in the American League East.

Wilbon let us start with Rawley. What sort of achievement is it, him hitting 60 home runs? Truly historic. And I'm using that word with some sense as an old person with a sense of history, real history, not combining eight things to say. He's the first person to do this since, you know, 2016. No, he's the seventh person to do it, and that's if you include Sosa-Maguayan Bonds, the seventh guy to hit 60,

the others being Ruth, Maris, and Judge. That's the list in 150 years of Major League Baseball. And he's the only guy on that list to be a catcher, who has the hardest duty on the field day in, day out. the only catcher. So he surpassed in a lot of ways. Barra and Campanella and bench, and those, the names that come to my mind

is somebody who's followed baseball all my life. So, Tony, when you consider those two things, catcher, switch hitter, and 60. Truly, truly historic. So let me get to this because I want to emphasize what you're talking about, the fact that he plays catcher. I cannot explain a,

the physical wear and tear, the grueling day after day of being a catcher in the major leagues. And so you think that when it comes to September, there's not enough left for any offense. Raleigh now has 10 home runs in September. This is the 11th time this season that he hit two multiple home runs in one game. In the last nine games he's played, he has seven home runs. Let me back up a little bit. We've been in the lively ball era for over a hundred years. The record for home runs in a hundred years for a catcher was 48. This guy's got 60. He didn't break the record. He jumped like Bob Beeman on this record. And let me get to Judge because 51 home runs for Judge seems me again next to Roll. But I'm on go for a while,

but Judge is the judge is now four times. There's only a lot. There's only one. people in Major League history who went four times 50. And that's Ruth and McGuire and Sosa. And you know I'm getting rid of McGuire and Sosa for obvious reasons. Since September 11th, Aaron Judge is batting like 439. He's got seven home runs. His OPS is 1.572. That's ungodly. And the Yankees, the Yankees have been 10 and 3 there and like Seattle have bounced up to the top of their division. I believe have three more wins than Seattle has. So it's still, I would vote for Raleigh for MVP, but it's still going to be really tight.

It shouldn't be. I love Judge, Tony. I love Judge. No, Judge is not catching. Judge, because of injury, couldn't even play his normal position in the outfield a lot. He had a D.H. Sun this summer.

I understand that. Raleigh. It's Raleigh, Raleigh, and Rale. 60 in our lives at our age, 60 is magic. It means something. Let's stay with baseball, and let's move over to your. Midwestern teams. Last night, Cleveland again beat Detroit, this time five to one.

Cleveland is now one game clear of the Tigers in the American League Central. It's the first time in 175 days. The Tigers are not in first place. Wilbon, what is the more compelling aspect of this, the Guardians rise or the Tigers fall? Tony, they both are in their own way. Both either answer can be true. But for me, first, it's Cleveland. I mean, this is a team where management was essentially, you know,

off stuff at the trade deadline. And it looked like it was, okay, you know, we're punting on this season. We'll add some pieces. We'll be better. We still have, you know, some nice pieces around. But no, they didn't just give up. They didn't punt. The players on the field did not do that.

And to have that pitching, to have that starting pitching this many games in a row, that too, less historic. Still, Tony, it's just not done. I mean, starting pitching, we know is very vulnerable around Major League Baseball all the time, essentially. So to get that consistency of starting pitching night after night after night to get back in this race and win 17 and 19, for me, it's Cleveland. What Cleveland is doing right now after the All-Star break

and selling some things off, that's what Detroit did last year. And Detroit made the playoffs. Mike, if I were still writing a sports column, my column would be the Tigers, because you know that I believe that a losing locker room is always more interesting than a winning locker room. The Tigers have now, they have lost eight in a row, they have lost 11 of 12. And in the last two games, they lost with first place directly on the line to the team that was chasing them. They have now gone 0 and 5 against Cleveland in the last eight days. Mike, this is a biblical collapse. This is the 1964 Phillies, and here is a quote from 8.5.

Jay Hinch. It's painful. I'm having a hard time coming up with words, but what I'm seeing out of our team is not normal, but it's our reality, unquote. The Tigers right now, in the last 12 games, they've only scored 28 runs. That's 2.3 runs again. That's not enough. In their last seven games, only once have they gone over two runs scored. This is like a contagion in the clubhouse. This is like some sort of virus. I don't want to give short shrift a time. Cleveland. Detroit's not just losing these games. Somebody has to beat them. But Cleveland's only beating them five out of the

17 out of 19 Cleveland is one. Cleveland's been great, Mike. I'm just saying I think the more heart-wrenching thing is the time. It is wrenching. I feel bad for the Tigers, Tony. The other night when Scoobel got knocked around

by three batted balls, which went a total of about 40 feet, it was sort of, you know, know, symbolic of what's going on with Detroit since when they started giving up that 15 and a half game league. They're both compelling stories. Let's celebrate Cleveland a little bit.

Not often we do that. The Ryder Cup competition, Tony, starts tomorrow at Beth Page Black on Long Island, where Team USA has home course advantage in its bid to regain the cup that belongs to Team Europe. Tone betters are giving the United States the edge are you. By the way, I got the Beth Page black sign right behind me on the set here. That is from the black course there. I understand why the United States is favored because it is the home course and in the Ryder Cup, the home course often is the most important thing. They have the number one player in the world and Scotty Sheffler. They have seven of the top ten. But I don't think they have a particular advantage at Beth Page. I mean, I really don't. Beth Page has been used for a major here or there. The European players play. it as well. Other than John Rahm, almost everybody in the European team, is on the PGA tour. So they play the same courses of the Americans. They play against that and with the Americans. All right. The Americans have four rookies, Ryder Cup rookies. Europeans only have one.

The Europeans have won a bunch of majors, just like the Americans. You got McElroy, Lowry, Rose, Rom, your boy, Fitzpatrick. Medi Fitzpatrick. They've come close in a lot of majors. Fleetwood, Hatton, Macintyre, Oberg, you know, Strika. Straca, I don't want to mispronounce his name. So to me, you know, to me right now, if you just look at this on paper, I think the Europeans have a small edge. I think the European team is better on paper, period. Tony, you mentioned how they play these courses and they play with the Americans and against them.

They live in America. I bet you like, there might be two guys who don't. make some place in the United States home part or most or all of the year. So, I mean, let's let's get rid of that. I look at this. Look, even when on paper we think the U.S. team is stronger, we often lose because there's something about team competition that just sits well with the European side, time after time after time. The European team is won twice on the road in the United States. 2012,

in Chicago and Medina. 2004 at Oakland Hills in Michigan. Yes, twice. It doesn't scare them. They love team competition. They seem to bond. They know they have an advantage there,

even if it doesn't exist maybe in Sunday on singles. I know if I was betting and I don't, I think I would say, oh no, I think Europe has to be considered the team with the edge going into tomorrow morning. I want to tell you one thing. I've been watching this on Golf Channel for three days.

I watched the opening ceremony yesterday. I watched it. Your Northwestern boy, Luke Donald, was terrific. He is so polished behind a microphone. King of Bradley was fine, but that, he was great. And that was a great ceremony. Let's take a break. Luke's done this before, too, he has.

How badly does the loss of quarterback John Mateer hurt Oklahoma? We're going to ask Booger McFarland. We're also asking whether he gives Bama a good chance. chance of upsetting Georgia. You know where Luke Donald, captain of the European team lives? Right here. Right here. Chicago. Really? In Chicago. That's where. Yeah. Yeah. Let's change our clothing for the next segment. We got a big upcoming weekend in college football, which makes it a perfect time to bring in our great friend ESPN NFL and college football analyst, Mr. Booger McFarlane wearing a shirt for old sandwich in Boston. Let's get to it. Unbeaten Oklahoma has just lost quarterback John Matier.

likely for a month after surgery on his throwing hand. How much of the Sooner's early success do you credit to Mateer? Probably 90% of it, Tony. Let's not forget, like, when he came over, he also brought his offensive coordinator being R buckle with him. So that dynamic duo has led to the Sooners' Offensive Surge, and they are playing with a ton of confidence. He is my favorite, early favorite for the Heisman trophy.

That's how explosive this young man has been. He's going to put up a ton of stats. I think he's over 1,300 yards total combined, 12 or 13 touchdowns, and the stats were only going to get bigger and bigger. I hope he comes back soon because when he's on the field, they can compete not only for an SEC championship, but for a national championship, because he's been playing the position that good.

There's no quarterback, and I mean no quarterback, not Archmanning, not anybody that's playing the position better than John Matier had been playing it. Wow, too bad he's going to be out for a bit. Booger, number six, Oregon, at number three, Penn State. I don't care about the rankings. I don't care about where the game is. To me, Penn State is going to get just wasted by Oregon.

I have seen Oregon once in person this year, but tell me if I'm crazy, what do you see happening in that game? You know what? It's a very astute opinion by you, and I think it's going to be shared by most. Oregon is the fastest team, the most. athletic team I've seen on tape all year. Dante Moore, the transfer from UCLA, now he is doing his thing up there, the dual threat quarterback.

They got this tidying, Kenyon Sadiq. He's the best tight end in America. He's a matchup nightmare. And so I'm looking forward to seeing this team on the road in a whiteout and happy valley against Penn State. And let's be honest, Mike, we really don't know what Penn State is. Like, they're supposed to be this giant this year. They got everybody coming back.

Drew Aller, Singleton. Allen, everybody came back this year. I've heard about them, but I haven't seen them, kind of like Bigfoot. I want to see if the real Penn State is going to show up in a whiteout, in a big game. And if they do, then we can announce Penn State as a national championship contender. If they don't, then a lot of people are going to say same old Penn State led by James Franklin. Yep, I got to see some proof, Booker, on that one. I was waiting for Illinois to provide some proof last week against Indiana.

that fell flat as it could possibly fall. Indiana, they're 15 and 2 under Kurt Signetti, Booger. Is he that good a coach? What do you see from him? You know, it's all about attitude, Mike. If you think about this, like usually a team takes the identity of the head coach, the identity and personality. Think about those Alabama teams led by Nick Saving.

They were always, they played on in the airs. They were always very detailed, very fundamentally sound. Now, look at Kurt Signetti. He's got a little bit of an ego. Remember, he's the same guy that said, if you want to know who I am, guess what? Just Google me, baby. You can find out who I am if you want to know. And that team plays that way.

They play with an edge. They play with a confidence. They play with a little bit of brashness. And they got this quarterback. I don't know if you heard of him. His name is Fernando Mendoza. And he's playing the position at a high level. They could have hung 70 on poor old Illinois.

And Brett Biel at my head no idea where they were coming from. They're well coached. they are their own the fundamentals. But I think the most important thing, because they have talent, the most important thing is they got swagger. And they get there from their head coach because when they walk on the field, they think they're the best team on the field. And you can only get there from the head coach.

And Kirksonetti has got that swag. And if you don't know it, just Google him. Yeah, Boog, I'll tell you this. Wilbon and I had this discussion after that game. And I said to him, did this guy run it up? because 63 points in a conference game. And attitude, yeah, big attitude. Let's get you out of here on this.

Let's go to the SEC, which is your conference. Do you expect 17th ranked Alabama to present real problems for number five, Georgia? I do. I completely do. And I know people are going to say, well, what about what happened against Florida State for Alabama? Alabama has bounced back. They beat Wisconsin. and I think it was a little bit of early season let down.

Maybe they didn't take FSU seriously. Maybe FSU is better than we thought. But I think the reason they're going to pose problems for Georgia is this. It's not that they are more talented. I think both teams are going to be equally as talented. But think about this, guys. Kirby Smart is 1 and 6, if I'm not mistaken, against Alabama. And that's 1 and 0 against Kalin DeBoer.

Kailin DeBoer has beaten him one time last year. And I think it has to do with, you know, we always talk about styles make fights. When Kirby went to Georgia, he tried to make Georgia like Alabama. And so I think every time these two teams face each other, Alabama simply says this, they want to be like us. We are us. And so I think this game comes down to the six inches between their ears. Alabama realizes they are trying to mimic what we do.

And in an old phrase, like we started this gangster stuff. If you want to be like us, you got to come take this. And I just think Georgia has struggled, especially in these games. where they've been tight, where they've been favorite, I think Alabama has the edge mentally. So to answer your question, Tony, I think this is going to be a close game. It's at Georgia.

It's between the hedges. And don't be surprised. That same Alabama team that we saw get blown out in Tallahassee, don't be surprised if they go into Athens and get a victory. Ooh, who-hoo. I got to say I would be surprised. That's just me.

A booger as always. Good, Booger. Thank you so much. Thank you, man. Appreciate you. Appreciate it, guys. Go USA. Let's take one last break, but still to come,

the Dodgers may have found a solution to their bullpen issues. And who has the edge of tonight's game between the 2-1 Seahawks and the 2-1 Cardinals? I think it's the edge of the... Happy time, people. Happy 22nd birthday Uby Brown. We love Ubi. Everybody loves Ubi.

Ubi retired from broadcasting basketball games this last February. His last game was the 76ers of Milwaukee. Milwaukee is special. to Ubi because it was the Bucks who gave him his first professional coaching position as an assistant in 1972. Before that, Ubi coached in high school and in college as an assistant at William and Mary and Duke in the late 60s. Ubi was head coached at the Kentucky colonels in the ABA where he won a title. He coached the Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Memphis Grizzlies, and he went on television to tell us about the young man with a drop step and enthrall us with his love for and knowledge

of the game. Tony, is there a better person to sit in a hotel lobby with after a basketball game ever than Hubey Brown? No, best. Ever. Best. Best. No, best. At the anniversary out Kline, this is posthumous, but on this day, 70 years ago, the Tiger's 20-year-old phenom outfielder became the youngest batting champ ever when he ended the season with a 340 batting average to win the American League batting title. He was the first 20-year-old major league player to win the batting title since Ty Cobb did it in 1907. Kline was an 18-time All-Star, a 10-time gold glove winner, a World Series champ in 1968, and a first Ballot Hall of Famer after 22 seasons, all with Detroit. The youngest player ever to win the National League batting title is Juan Soto,

who did it at 21 with the nationals. The line of truly great Tigers hitters starts with Cobb, and goes through Hank Greenberg to Kline, to Miguel Cabrera. With apologies to the the Lowlach and McLean, Trammell and Whitaker. I think the Mount Rushmore of Tigers, Tony, is Cobb, Keline, Greenberg, and Cabrera. You mentioned them. I think that's the list. That's a long, that covers a lot of years, doesn't it?

It does indeed. Those four guys. Happy trails to the rotation for Roki Sasaki and Clayton Kirshaw? The Dodgers got a bullpen boost from two starters last night. Sasaki came off the injured list to pitch a scoreless seventh against the diamond back striking out two. and Kirshaw worked a clean ninth as the Dodgers 1 and 11. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was particularly impressed with Sasaki,

who struggled before going out in May saying, quote, he looks like a different person. There's just a lot more confidence and conviction, unquote. Entering last night, the Dodgers bullpen at September ERA of 5, 6, 9. They need some help, Tony. I was watching that game live, and to see Kershaw come in in that way, look great, didn't it? Look, it was weird.

It was strange. Whoa, what's going on here? That's the right. If you want to be in the World Series, that's the change you have to make. For the Dodgers, it looks like it looks like you. One error, the Yankees only have one more win than the Mariners, not three. That's my bad. Let's go to the big finish.

Let's do it. The Phillies hit eight home runs last night. Are you impressed? Yes, particularly with my man Schwabber who hit two of them. 56, unbelievable, Tony. Six scoreless innings in his final start of the season for Mr. Skeins. You giving them the sigh? I am.

It's a 1-970 RA. He pitches for a terrible team that gives him no support. Yes, I am giving him the side. Jets quarterback Justin Fields practice today but is still in concussion protocol. Your thoughts? I hope he's cleared and able to play

Garret Crochet of the Red Sox. Beat your boy Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays last night was that significant. Crochet's really good. I love Max Scherzer, but crochet's really good. All right? Last one, Seahawks. sit your Cardinals tonight. Who you got? If I was betting, I would go with Seattle, but I'm not,

and I'm rooting for the Cardinals to go three and one. That division, that division's pretty darn good, Tony. NFC. West. We're out of time. We'll try to do better the next time. I'm Tony Cornheiser. And I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.