The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 1: Greg Cote Takes an Acting Class

Episode Date: April 10, 2025

Ron Magill is madder at us than he has ever been and we do our best to make him even more mad. Is somebody in great danger or grave danger? Plus, on this week’s episode of The Pitch Clock, Chris tri...es to land his first win over Jeremy in Taylor’s Trivia, and David Samson shows some heart. No, seriously. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:59 Cuervo. Cuervo. The tequila that invented tequila. Proximo. Cuervo.com. Please drink responsibly. Cuervo. This is the Don Leventor Show with the Stookats Podcast. This is as angry as I have ever seen Ron McGill. His body language is infuriated.
Starting point is 00:01:20 This is an everlastingly polite and charming man in public. He's very careful about how he represents the zoo when he's not embezzling money through his endowment that you guys contribute to in overwhelming fashion. What are you so mad about? Because you're over there with your arms crossed and you look a little like David Sampson. You look like, oh, they're not on time again.
Starting point is 00:01:43 Just about five feet taller though To shake why are you so angry? What's the matter? I'm just tired I was in Tallahassee all day yesterday up and back in the same day and get home till you know 1130 or so Here at work at 6 a.m. So I'm just a little tired, you know And then you know, I got a call to be on the show at 1020 and what time is it now? Oh, it's 1040 is 20 minutes. I've been sitting here called it to be on the show at ten twenty and what time is it now post ten forty's twenty minutes of incident uh... so what's the only what are you fighting for in talahassee you're not a politician that telepropel has he is a uh... but i think that was terrible
Starting point is 00:02:14 corrupt armpit uh... that is being swallowed in florida and swallows good people like you are trying out the animals in the environment what were you doing in talahassee were you politically grandstanding uh... i was talking about animals we had a couple of other there were also trying the animals in the environment, what were you doing in Tallahassee? Were you politically grandstanding? Well, I was talking about animals. We had a couple of animals up there. We're also trying, I'm trying to drive this movement
Starting point is 00:02:30 to get the flamingo named the state bird of Florida. You know, listen, I've got nothing against the mockingbird, but the mockingbird is the state bird of Mississippi, of Texas, of six other states. We have a potential here of having a bird that's iconic, that's always been associated with Florida, and it seems to be a no-brainer to me to make that the national bird of Florida.
Starting point is 00:02:48 Especially now since it's come back and it's staying here, which is a great reflection of great Everglades restoration, that the birds are coming back and they're staying. It's a win-win. So I'm just trying to convince the, help convince the legislators to pass a law to make that the national bird, the state bird. Are you going to win? Is it an uphill fight?
Starting point is 00:03:07 It's an uphill fight I think for this session But I think we got a really good chance next year for the next session But I wanted to at least plant the seed help plant the seed. I was working with the Zoo Miami Foundation I took the day off. I was not up there as Ron McGill from Zoo Miami I was up there as Ron McGill from the Zoo Miami Foundation Foundation and kind of a wildlife expert and just kind of talking. You know, we collaborated with the Tallahassee Museum. They brought some animals over. They brought an owl.
Starting point is 00:03:29 They brought an alligator. They brought a snake. And, you know, I talked about that as the legislatures went through. They were in a session yesterday and it was day days. You know, I was on a plane with all the commissioners, the supervisor of elections, the supervisor of tax collector, you know, the chairman of the commission. They were all in the same plane. God, if that plane had gone down, that would have been a disaster. Well, maybe not, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:03:48 Ron, is there a big market? Whoa! What kind of incendiary? Yeah, Ron, you were on the plane. Wait a minute, what kind of incendiary? I was on the plane. I would be no great loss. Wow.
Starting point is 00:03:59 What? What a motive then. Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. How angry is this person? I believe he just made a loud, was it a political statement? Like, wait, did he just say it wouldn't be such a bad thing if a plane crashed?
Starting point is 00:04:10 No, I just said if it went down, you know, I didn't say, probably all would have survived because you know, we're resilient that way. I trapped him and he was trying to do political commentary and then he does that thing where he's like, I wasn't there for Zoom Miami, I was just there for the Zoom Miami Foundation as if those two things aren't just I was there
Starting point is 00:04:26 I'm McGill. I that's true. That's a county employee as a county employee. I'm not really permitted to lobby for anything Oh, that's bullshit But I mean like you like no honestly Ron McGill cares more about the animals than I mean you're just That you would have to take two trips to Tallahassee to get the bird change from mockingbird to flamingo, because you can't get it through this session. I trust you. Like if you want it to be the flamingo,
Starting point is 00:04:52 Ron McGill should decide. Well, I should decide, but I will say, you know, there's some representatives, there's representative Mooney who represents us, lives in the Keys, he's a big proponent. He's the guy who's helping to drive this bill. We just got to get all the other people. But everybody's got an agenda, man. One of the things I realized when I go up there is that, you know, what are you going to do for me? There's a lot of that going on. So listen, they're not bad people, but it's just part
Starting point is 00:05:16 of the political agenda. That's why I could never run for political office. I would never survive. Are you disgusted by it? I'm not disgusted by it. I guess I shouldn't even say I'm disappointed by it because it's not shocking information. It's just I wish there was a better way. I wish there was a different culture when it comes to politics. Ron, to change the subject because I don't want to keep pissing you off like Dan is trying to do, although maybe this will piss you off, I'm not sure. There was a big story that... The Dire Wolf, is that what you're gonna talk about? Yes, it is exactly what I was going to ask you about.
Starting point is 00:05:46 So please clarify what these scientists actually did, because I read the story and it sounds like they used dire wolf genes to breed gray wolves, so they're not technically un-extincting the animals, but that was sort of what the headline said. So please explain this. Yeah, you know, listen, let me tell you what this is all about.
Starting point is 00:06:03 This is all about kind of getting people's attention to drive money, I'm this. Yeah, you know, listen, let me tell you what this is all about. This is all about kind of, you know, getting people's attention to drive money. I'm going to be honest with you. Now the company is going to say, oh no, we're de-extincting this animal. First of all, they're not de-extincting because as you mentioned, Jessica, they have just basically modified, this is a modified gray wolf. They've taken gene therapy, they've modified some of the genes, you know, maybe I think 15 of the gene sequences they've modified out of 2000 genes, you know, maybe I think 15 of the gene sequences they've modified out of 2000, you know, thousands of gene sequences they've modified, and they've
Starting point is 00:06:30 modified it to get the color of the animal, the white that was known to be for the dire wolf and increase in size. But really what it is, it's nothing more than a genetically modified gray wolf. It is not a dire wolf through and through. Now having said that, people say, well, you know, even if it, if it is a dire, let's assume that it is a dire wolf. It is not a dire wolf through and through. Now having said that, people say, well, you know, even if it is a dire wolf, let's assume that it is a dire wolf. Isn't this really cool? Isn't this really good? In my opinion, no, no. And let me tell you why. The dire wolf went extinct naturally because of Mother Nature, because of changes in the environment that evolved naturally as the
Starting point is 00:07:00 planet started developing and changing. That's very different than an animal going extinct because man is shooting it or man is exterminating it for some manmade reason, whether it be habitat destruction, whether it be pollution, whether it be hunting, whatever that is. You don't correct what mother nature does. There's a reason.
Starting point is 00:07:19 Extinction occurred for millions and millions of years before mankind ever set foot on this earth. And there was a good reason for it. It's animals adapting and environments adapting. An animal went extinct to make room for another animal that helped create the balance that is necessary and delicate. So there's an old commercial, you're too young to remember, it used to be a lady comes up, don't fool with Mother Nature. This is a classic example of don't fool with Mother Nature. So I'm going to give you my personal opinion of what what this company is doing and this is not to say they're not getting some very important Information that could be applied to science in the future, but this whole theory about oh, no, we're gonna do dire wolves
Starting point is 00:07:53 We've got them in a secret location and we're taking care of the protected and they're trying to build up all this Fascination right with dire wolves. Why because Game of Thrones that was the animal Game of Thrones. And what show had a bigger following than Game of Thrones? So now you got, oh, do you want to be part of Game of Thrones? Do you want to see real dire wolves? Well, we've got them at the secret location. And they're going to keep on doing this. The next thing they want to do is the wooly mammoth, right?
Starting point is 00:08:16 So let's see what happens. You want to build it up. I'm telling you what they're going to do. They want to build a little Jurassic park, so to speak, and have a ton of money. They've already had a ton of people invest millions and millions of dollars in this company because people see the return, the return kind of like come see these animals like you used to see freaky animals in a circus, right, in a freak show or just like the movie Jurassic Park. How did that movie begin, right? Oh, the dinosaurs. Oh,
Starting point is 00:08:40 this is beautiful. Going back in time. How did it end? Ugh! Okay, this is what you're looking at. This is what you're looking at. Do not fool with Mother Nature. There's a reason why animals go extinct. As long as it's not some accelerated thing due to man's abuse and man's neglect, leave it be. Do not try to change something that Mother,
Starting point is 00:09:01 because Mother Nature doesn't make mistakes. We make mistakes, but Mother nature doesn't make mistakes. And if we start thinking we're gonna start bringing back these extinct animals, just to pander to people's fascination for something that, you know, oh my God, I wanna see it, I wanna be the first, because we have these fascination with these things that, you know, have so been glorified over the years
Starting point is 00:09:19 through mythology and stuff, all of a sudden, you're gonna open Pandora's box. Well, I was right, I knew this was gonna piss you off. I did see that they were, like you said, in a secret location. So is the point to breed them, to say they're unextincted, unextinct or whatever it is.
Starting point is 00:09:34 Inextinct. Inextinct, I guess. But then they're just keeping them in captivity because obviously you can't introduce these wolves to the wild, right? So ethically that's very dubious, I would assume. That's right. You can't introduce these wolves to the wild, right? So ethically that's very dubious, I would assume. That's right. You can't introduce these wolves to the wild. But hey, what's going to happen if one escapes? Oh, like the fencing in Jurassic Park goes down, a dinosaur gets out, no longer control.
Starting point is 00:09:58 Oh my God, what are we going to do now? What if, what if, what if? Guys, do not fool with mother nature. I'm sorry, I'm banging the table making things shake Ron What is an example of an animal that is? Gravely endangered near extinction or threatened with extinction largely because of man's abuse where you would be in favor of bringing that animal back Some of the species of tiger the Sumatran tiger, you know be in favor of bringing that animal back? Some of the species of tiger, the Sumatran tiger,
Starting point is 00:10:32 the Adax, I mean, there's approximately 300 of them left in the wild and we're killing them off or we're moving that habitat. I would bring those animals back if we could have the habitat that they need to survive because that habitat is all part of this balance that we have as a planet. You know, people talk about countries and, you know, political boundaries and stuff. Animals don't have political boundaries. When they migrate, they don't, you know, bring their passports and check in through immigration. All this stuff is a very important balance for the entire health of the
Starting point is 00:10:57 planet. It's our own health by protecting these animals. So when we have some of these animals that are in grave danger of extinction because of things that we've done Yeah, I would I would I would support trying to protect them with this type of Knowledge this type of you know science Ron going back to the colossal bioscience Situation with the woolly mammoth I think is a little bit more interesting to Than the direwolf because they they were basically extracting those genes from like particles of teeth that they found in caves from 30,000 years ago. Obviously we have more DNA, we have more stuff from woolly mammoths,
Starting point is 00:11:30 because they're much closer to the time that we live in now than those dire wolf fragments or whatever that they found in some cave. Is that closer to being an actual woolly mammoth that they would recreate? Because obviously the dire wolf is a little bit further back. Would they actually be able to recreate a woolly mammoth? Well, you know, I don't know, Tony, you know, what, what specimens they have. I do know that they have found entire woolly mammoth halves frozen in ice as if they died yesterday. So obviously there's been some good tissue, some good DNA preserving going on there would provide that would, which would provide them with more material,
Starting point is 00:12:06 I guess, to extract from. I'm not a geneticist, I can't tell you how that's done. But assuming they could, I still don't think it's a good idea, even though 99% of the people say, oh my God, I just wanna see one alive moving. Again, this is dangerous, guys, this is dangerous. Go to a museum, look at the bones,
Starting point is 00:12:25 look at things as they were, and realize there was a reason why they became extinct. Chris Cody was whispering to me the entire time, distracting me from all of this historic knowledge and righteous indignation that you have because he kept saying. I always thought it was great danger. Grave danger?
Starting point is 00:12:44 What the hell's that? It's uh look it up Cody. Okay. It's the way it said but I think great danger works, too This is some they both work Words that could be substituted to mean the same thing So it's what we call synonyms some of you guys saw teenage mutant ninja turtles to the secret of the use and it shows Great and grave are not the same thing I would imagine that Greg Cody is mortified by how little his son knows about words I mean, there's there's similar in in context. They're often used interchangeably. Thank you dad, but a grave situation is a
Starting point is 00:13:20 Situation where peril where I might end up in a grave. Is that what we're doing there? No, no, it's really great. We got great. It's a grave danger No, see you're looking at the word literally a grave situation is a situation with danger with peril involved The author has spoken Ron. Can you forgive me for my ignorance here? I only have pieces of information but Valerie exclaimed yesterday that within the last couple of years, I think was an old news story, an underwater T-Rex had been discovered, and I did not know that that was a thing. Like, did you know that that was a thing? I don't know of an underwater T-Rex in such that a T-Rex that lived underwater, I know they have found fossil records of T-Rexes
Starting point is 00:14:06 that are now submerged, but that's because when the T-Rex died, it was not necessarily land that was underwater. You know, as the ice age diminished, sea levels rise, it rose, and therefore you had bones that might've been on the coastline or something and all of a sudden now are underwater.
Starting point is 00:14:22 It's like the state of Florida, you know. If you walk in the state of Florida, you dig down six inches down here, you'll be in a coral rock because this was originally all underwater. There's no underwater T-Rex, man. Now they could swim. That's a misnomer because, you know, the small arms, but it would be hard to swim. Yeah, but I can't believe the T-Rex could swim. And there's no such thing as an underwater T-Rex only because there's no Reptile that lives underwater. Wait a minute if a T-rex can swim then there is such a thing as an underwater No, no, no, no makes a reptile
Starting point is 00:14:54 I don't I don't think I don't think it no presently submerged damn No, listen. Listen Dan. I'm gonna I'm gonna tell you just from the fossil record. Let's look at the fossil record. Let's look at the bones of a T. rex, which we know exists. That's not something we have to make up. That animal could not swim. That animal could walk in deep water. You've probably seen the illustrations of dinosaurs in the water grabbing things out
Starting point is 00:15:19 of the water. I don't know why the T. rex would go in the water because it was a carnivorous reptile unless it started beating on you know Marine mammals of some sort that may have existed at the time, which I don't think they did. I don't know I didn't live back then but he did certainly a T-Rex could have waded into the water It was a tall animal could have gone into deep water. Why is Cody laughing like that? Is it just this whole conversation is going south very quickly Cody Cody lived back then? Yeah He made the usual reference about me
Starting point is 00:15:47 Dan if I'm swimming in the ocean, I'm not an underwater human you are underwater when you're swimming There's no disputing that none of you are not You're not making a ruling on an entire species based on him, you know I got a lot on my mind. A million years from now, there could be a race of a new species of intelligent beings after humans become extinct, and they could find human bones down under the water in the middle of the Atlantic and think, oh, look at this, there were underwater humans.
Starting point is 00:16:22 It might have been the wreck of the Titanic, who knows? Forgive me. The segment got away from me. I've got a bunch of video here. I didn't get to but we do have a video that I wanted to show you to continue this uncomfortable thing of where we show you your son's work. Now your son, your son, Sean, has been hired as a mercenary, a hired gun to make a couple of things for us and I have not seen them before they air. I don't trust anybody with that. We trust your son here. He's making things, and he went out with the Cody's,
Starting point is 00:16:50 because Cody said the other day that he would be a great professional actor. All he would need was a couple of classes. So we said, all right, let's try this. And then Greg Cody went with Sean McGill and his son, and they took an acting class, and later that day, Greg Cody got lost in the Elser Hotel because it doesn't have buttons on the elevators
Starting point is 00:17:06 On the way to work after sleeping in the hotel He wasn't able to get to work So your son didn't have much to work with here in terms of both intellect or self-awareness Are you ready for this video of Greg Cody and his son taking an acting class and to tell me what you think of your son's work? Probably not but I'm gonna do someone all right all anyway. Alright, put Ron in picture in picture so we can see whether he is proud or dismayed as we watch the Cody's together take an acting class. Where are we? Hey, I'm Greg.
Starting point is 00:17:34 Are you ready for a class? Why not? This man said he could be an actor and we put him to the test. We are at an acting class. He's got a hair comb, that's nice. How are you feeling going into it? Obviously, people know about my acting background. The idea that I'm here for an acting class is a bit demeaning in the sense that you go
Starting point is 00:17:54 back to 1980. Okay, I'm a Miami Herald writer for my whole career. A very, very popular film called Absence of Malice is being recorded at the Miami Herald Building. You were an extra, we don't need a whole lot of you here. Sally Field, Paul Newman. Not you. The late great Sidney Pollock. I have a big scene in a near background shot
Starting point is 00:18:16 and the rest is history. And so 40, 50, whatever, 50, 45 years later, I'm here to take an acting class just for fun. Today's gonna be fantastic. We're gonna do a little bit of breathing. Let's breathe. Warm up. A little bit of energy, guys.
Starting point is 00:18:32 Breathe for the last day. And then a little bit of an intro. Oh, doctor, do you think my breast implants are good? Great. We're gonna start with a little bit of breathing, as you know. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in.
Starting point is 00:18:53 Breathe out. Breathe in. So, we're going to go to improv, okay? So we're going to do a couple of exercises, okay? Rule number one, guys, let's say yes to everything, Okay, Greg is trying for the first time. I need two words Rest implements, that's the word, but that's okay Here comes the one, guys. Tough spot. Three, two, one, in bro!
Starting point is 00:19:23 So doctor, do you think my breast implants are good or they need to be big? They look fantastic as is. How do you enjoy them? It's awesome, my clients say it's awesome. I feel like you wanted bigger. I feel like you wanted pineapple size. Pineapple size?
Starting point is 00:19:40 Yes, is that possible? Is that true? Cause I heard that rumor. You're the doctor, I don't know, you tell me. No, I think they look fine, is that they're Is that true? Because I heard that rumor. You're the doctor. I don't know. You told me. No, I think they look fine. They're like small pineapples. This is a classic one, but it's really fun. We are in an elevator right now. The elevator is just going to get stuck. Action. You guys okay?
Starting point is 00:19:58 Yeah. Feels like non-movement. Try to come. Try to... What's going on? It was like non-movement You need to get the baby okay, okay Okay, I can't do it because I'm the father. No! Walter? Yes.
Starting point is 00:20:28 Walter? Wait, you know him? Stuart? I am Walter Stuart. You're my biological father? Son. Good job, everybody. Great job.
Starting point is 00:20:39 Follow the music and follow each other. ["Railroad Song"] music and follow each other. Okay guys, give yourself a round of applause. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. In part of the class we're going to do a little drama. Oh, I'm the bad guy now. Cute.
Starting point is 00:21:00 You bring me in here, stare me down like I'm going to break. Spoiler alert. I don't crack Jack. I was home, cold pizza, listening to the Greg Cody Show podcast. Hey, I'm being honest with you here. But yeah, sure, let's pretend this is all on me. You have to give that life to the character.
Starting point is 00:21:21 Sure. So let's imagine, how did you wake up this morning? I would think I'm either feeling guilty because I know I've done something to attract the police, or I'm feeling apprehensive because I know someone who knows something that may involve me in this. OK, so let's say that you let's choose the second one.
Starting point is 00:21:42 You are worried. Let's do it. Let's do it., let's choose the second one. You are worried. Let's do it, let's do it. Now I'm making sandwiches. You're coming at me like I'm guilty of something. I'm not accused of anything. I mean, you come into my house. I could have come down to the station later today.
Starting point is 00:21:57 You come into my house, you treat me like I'm gonna break and start sobbing, I don't break. Okay, I'm telling you the truth when I say it was around 8 p.m. I mean, I was home last night eating cold pizza, watching Law and Order by myself, alone with my thoughts, doing nothing wrong, but you're pretending all this is on me. Okay.
Starting point is 00:22:25 What did you think? I loved it. I thought it was great. I loved some of the information you provided as far as bringing something into the scene, something more than just as what's written on the page. I thought that was wonderful. I have to say, you impressed me.
Starting point is 00:22:42 You were funny. Okay. You had some serious moments. Some sexual topics that made me a little uncomfortable. But how'd you feel about it? It was amazing. It's more than I expected. Like, you know, I'm not a dancer,
Starting point is 00:22:56 so the dancing beforehand was a little weird. I want you to throw a few more curve balls. I feel like you were just playing ball. I want you to take it and... Okay, I threw in a Greg Cody show reference, podcast reference, so that's about all I could do. You're tired. This guy's been acting for like two hours.
Starting point is 00:23:11 I'm telling you what, I need to uncork, you know. Okay, all right, that's good. Okay. Jessica, your head was in your hands the entire time because of why? Because he was just playing Greg Cody the whole time. Well that's why he loved it so much. He just got to be himself in front of people.
Starting point is 00:23:30 It's a total narcissist affair with a mirror. And you did something vulnerable. You did something that's hard to do. You forgot your line. I think you were supposed to make something rhyme with Jack. I forget what that line was. I don't crack Jack. There it is.
Starting point is 00:23:49 Was the line. Ron, how did you feel about your son's work? Well, whatever you're paying him, it's not enough, number one. But as far as Cody's work goes, there it is. Oh, look at this. What is that? My first Emmy.
Starting point is 00:24:01 What a work, is that what that is? An Emmy. That's an Emmy, I've never won one of those. I proclaim that that's for Greg because it was absolutely Greg. You made me lose it. I was trying to get to the joke. I literally hopped up. Dan doesn't know what that is because he's never won one. Ron, thank you. Good seeing you.
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Starting point is 00:27:54 and bought a pack of cigarettes. But my question to Ron is this. Stugatz. That joke didn't really land the way you wanted it to, did it? And we all just stared at you. This is the Don LeBattar Show with the StuGards. Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the Pitch, a two-part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the Pitch Clock. The Pitch Clock. Wow. Wow, we're back. I love this second man. Harry Carey, Chris Cody is back. You'll find out who our guest is coming up shortly. But first,
Starting point is 00:28:36 what a tease. We have to start with some trivia. Today you guys are going to get a player's career path. You'll have to write down who you think the player is and then we'll reveal if you get the player right you get a point Ten rounds and a hint for you guys every player here has made an all-star team So I'm not just throwing you know bottom of the roster guys. That's great. First player up a Yankee in 1998 a Marlin from 99 to 2005 and then a Red Sox from 2006 to 2010 Wow on the 03 World Series team Yeah, that started with a Marlin to try to help you guys. Thank you. Yeah, which was helpful except I I don't know
Starting point is 00:29:18 Um, I like have a couple guesses that were Marlins and then Red Sox but the Yankee. All right I I've got a player written down, but I'm not. Jeremy, who was your guess? I put Lenny Harris. Go ahead, is that right? Was not Lenny Harris. I'm wrong, I put Beckett. It's a reliever, right?
Starting point is 00:29:33 It's Mike Low. Oh, it was a Yankee. I didn't know he was a Yankee in 98. Yeah, that's, ugh. All right, all right, this is fun. Second player coming your guys way. Started with the Pirates from 96 to 2004 was an a in 2005 2007 Cubs 2007 Brewers 2008 2009 and then a royal in 2010
Starting point is 00:29:58 All right, you know what? I have a guess. I just thought I was something like I have no idea but whatever All right, I'm gonna guess Brian Giles My guess is a Ramis Ramirez Is it Jason Kendall? Oh it is Jason Kendall Player three coming your way was an Astro from 95 to 2003 was a Philly in 0405 was a Met from 2006 2009 Red Sock in was a Philly in 04, 05, was a Met from 2006, 2009, Red Sock in 2009, and then Brave in 2010.
Starting point is 00:30:31 I don't even have a guess. I'll guess. I'll guess Ty Wiggington. I'm gonna guess. He was never an All-Star with four teams. I know he's not. I was gonna guess Carlos Beltran because I have nobody else,
Starting point is 00:30:43 and I know he went from the Astros to the Mets. I know that, I know he didn't play for the Phillies. Now I'm starting to get a little worried because this was one of the easier ones. Yeah, of course it was. This is Billy Wagner. God damn it. And now David Sampson with us as our guest this week, our MLB expert here on the pitch clock, David, thank you very much for joining us here in the midst of what's going to be a very competitive game with me and Chris. But I want to talk to you about competition happening on the field in major league
Starting point is 00:31:10 baseball. And, uh, we have to start with a guy who's going to be competing for another decade plus in the same city in which he's been competing, which is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In Toronto, he signs a 14 year $500 million extension. David, were you surprised to see this contract extension happen? And how do you react seeing someone actually stay
Starting point is 00:31:32 with the franchise they were with and not just signing with the Dodgers or the Yankees? So this has happened. The way that the Guerrero deal got done is it was a straight over pay by Toronto and they knew it. They had nowhere to go, they had to hit the ask. Because Guerrero asked for 500, he was very clear. And Toronto was no, no, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:31:49 And then all of a sudden fans, their owner, people are losing their mind like, oh no, we're gonna lose Guerrero. We can't lose him, we lost Otani and Judge and no one loves me. And how do you get love in baseball? You try to buy it. And that's what the Blue Jays did.
Starting point is 00:32:05 Let's talk about Aaron Judge. Aaron Judge, somehow after two of like the greatest offensive seasons that we've ever seen, as you're watching what the peak of this is, for however long it continues, there's- He's on the wrong side of 30 already. Right, there's almost no way that it continues much longer than a couple of years here.
Starting point is 00:32:24 Maybe. So when you see this type of peak in terms of this hitter, how great is that hitter? For me, two things Aaron Judge has to do. He's gotta do it for longer and he needs a ring. And I know, believe me, it's ridiculous. I'm a Patrick Ewing, Nick Sky, no ring. And I fight that he's the greatest ever
Starting point is 00:32:42 because that's my heart. My reality is that Patrick Ewing cannot be known as one of the greatest because he didn't win it all. For better or for worse, Aaron Judge has to get a ring or two with the Yankees. Especially as a Yankee, right? That's such a part of the narrative when you're one of the great Yankees
Starting point is 00:32:56 when you're the captain. It's about ultimately winning championships, whether in baseball more than in other sports, an individual player can only influence that so much. Are we gonna go over 10? Player four was a Minnesota twin from 97 to 2007, was an angel from 2008 to 2012, was a tiger in 2013 and 2014,
Starting point is 00:33:20 and then closed out his career going back to Minnesota in 2015 I think I have a guess but I'm now worried What she's cute in our ears? Oh, this was easy GQ in my ear. This one's easy jerk very helpful and overthinking I'm going with Tory Hunter. It was Tory Hunter. I had the same thing. That's not true. There was nothing on the paper I definitely wasn't gonna guess Joan Figgins. Woohoo! I got one. All right, Taylor. All right, I'm gonna get one here. We're gonna tie this up. Whatever, go to question number five. Player five was a blue jay from
Starting point is 00:33:56 1993 to 2004. Got it. I know it. Was a Marlin in 2005. I know this one. Yeah, baby! And then was a Met in 2006-2009. This one's easy, Jeremy. You should get this one. Oh, no, I should oh, I know I know this one, too Yeah, all right, but let me finish writing it down. Okay, go ahead Carlos Delgado Carlos Delgado Let me see did you write that Carlos Delgado Carlos Delgado? Damn it why'd you have to get that Jeremy make the game interesting to one you got a yeah, dude We don't know how this is gonna go for the content there. All right Sure, Jeremy leads to one player six was I know oil from 95 to 2000 was an a in? 2001 was a Red Sox in 02 to 05 was a Yankee in 06 to 09. I know it tiger in 2010
Starting point is 00:34:40 Ray in 2011 and with the Cleveland franchise. 2012. Hold on. I got it. Relax. I'm gonna put all the pressure on. I'm Matt Delusional and you're gonna lose to me? You went with Keith Folk. I'll go Johnny Damon.
Starting point is 00:34:55 Oh yeah. It was Johnny Damon. Ha ha! Keith Folk though, I think he played for the Royals, A's. He definitely played for the A's and the Red Sox. I don't know that he was ever a member of the Yankees Yeah, but I could be wrong player 7 Jeremy with the lead was a blue jay from
Starting point is 00:35:11 1999 to 2010 was an angel from 2011 to 2012 was a Yankee from I know this in 2013. I know this player. I know this player I've said this player's name on this show. I have something in my eye I'm definitely not thinking this is just me getting something out of my eye Vernon Wells Burn well done Vernon well Hold a name out of my ass you mother bleep. I was just like who play can't believe it No, I should have said what I said. It's a four to two lead
Starting point is 00:35:46 We're on player number eight player eight was a Tampa Bay, Ray from 2002 2009 was a Red Sox Oh, I got to thousand. Oh wait. Do I know this player and was a Dodger? 2013 to 26 started as a Dodger hold on a moment. Hold on a minute. We've got it Started as a Dodger hold on a moment. Hold on a minute. We got it Thinking of I know the guy I'm thinking of first baseman. I feel like no that's not who I'm thinking of wait Do you have one written? I have one written James Loney? James Loney, but I like that guy All-star came like that forgot about that mine that I'm not happy about I went with BJ Upton No, right
Starting point is 00:36:23 It's the speedster in the outfield, Karl Crawford. Oh no, of course it's Karl Crawford. That was so easy. A moment I want to highlight with you, David, and there's some heart to this, which is a cool place to go with you on this first episode that you're on the pitch clock for this season.
Starting point is 00:36:40 It's the Connaughts. On opening weekend, Jeff Connaught is the first inductee into the Marlins Hall of Fame. And that same weekend, his son Griffin not only starts on opening day, but then on the day of his induction, robs a homer, hits a homer, he was spectacular. He's had a really fun start to the season, which is exciting for a player who's, I believe,
Starting point is 00:37:01 29 coming into this season. How special was this and can you describe why moments like this one are so special for the game of baseball individually? Griffin was like a skateboard guy. He was not like, when his dad was in the height of winning world championships and being with us with the Marlins, he didn't care.
Starting point is 00:37:19 And then something switched and he became all about baseball. And he became an Adonis, he works his tuchas off. And what I really loved most about Griffin's start to the season was actually how Jeff experienced it. I can only imagine, right? And watching and talking. So I spoke to Niner the morning
Starting point is 00:37:39 and then the night of the Hall of Fame game. And knowing what he's accomplished as a professional athlete and him understanding that he doesn't care about any of that. What he focuses on is what Griffin's doing and it's way more meaningful than anything he's ever done. And I've never felt that with my kids. And I want Griffin to have a long career.
Starting point is 00:38:03 He started, he's getting a late start, but man, he's got a chance. But I want Griffin to feel the accomplishment of today, but not be satisfied. Because in baseball, if he's satisfied with the home run on the day that his dad got into the Hall of Fame, he's gonna quickly get out of the big leagues. I want him to want to keep achieving
Starting point is 00:38:21 and he's got that mindset. Look, we all have been talking a lot. We always talk about the AL East, the NL East as sort of the powerhouse divisions. I'm looking across the country and I'm seeing a great division in the NL West. You have to. It's partially because the Giants have been one
Starting point is 00:38:36 of the great surprises this season. So David, I guess what I wanna get to here is, A, is the NL West the best division in baseball? And B, are the Giants the biggest surprise of the season thus far? Well, let's start. Anywhere the Dodgers are, they're gonna be in a division that's good
Starting point is 00:38:56 because they're gonna be that good. The Padres are trying to keep up with the Dodgers, same division, that's gonna make the division even deeper. The Diamondbacks are not taking this lane down. They signed Burns, they have Carroll, who they're trying to get out of the sophomore slump, and all of a sudden you've got a team that is expected to make the playoffs with a deep run.
Starting point is 00:39:15 They were in the World Series only two years ago. Add that to Buster Posey, who's trying to do his magic in San Francisco, and right now you've got four great teams in the Rockies. That would make it a great division. Another surprising team here is the Braves on the opposite side of the coin. They've been awful to start the season.
Starting point is 00:39:34 They're not hitting, but they're getting two amazing mid-season acquisitions in a Cunha and Strider. And so it's a bad time for a seven game losing streak, bottom line. It just stinks when you see the donut under the W column. You always worry about that in spring training. When you're putting your team together, you just gotta get the first win.
Starting point is 00:39:54 It's like a player will say, I'll do anything to get my first hit because when I see zero, zero, zero on the board, I can't stand it. We saw with the Marlins last year, where getting off to just a horrendous start can completely derail everything And so you got some teams here that need to either turn it around or try to keep it up
Starting point is 00:40:10 but baseball these first couple of weeks have been about as good as it gets and If you're a fan I hope that that we've provided you guys in these first few weeks of the show With enough analysis to get you in get it if you have any questions If you if you live in a specific area and you wanna know who should I root for, what team should I follow, who are some players to follow, reach out, Jeremy Tashay on Twitter and Blue Sky,
Starting point is 00:40:35 David P. Sampson across platform. I'm sure you'd love to hear from them. Reach out to me, reach out to me. Hey, let's get back to our game with Chris. This is a tough one. I'm looking at it now Was a Yankee in 87 to 89 was a blue j in 89 to 95 was a Marlin in 96 and 97 was a Met in 98 to 2004 Was a Marlin in 05 and then was a Yankee to close out his career also in 2005
Starting point is 00:41:07 That doesn't make me feel good. Oh, that doesn't help. Oh Shoot I Got it. I know who this is. I got it. Hold on. Hold on. I got it. Go for the theater. I got it I got it. I got it. I got to get it out later Chris Cody. It's out lighter. It is Jeremy Nope, Benito Santiago The last player was a Dodger in 9798 was a red in 1998 and then was a white sock from
Starting point is 00:41:38 1999 to 2014 move this is a jerk move because land on this this is so Obviously a player that we're just gonna know is a white sock. But we have to just... A multi-time R star who played for the white socks. I mean, I'm not gonna say the big hurt. Like that's literally the only name that's like coming to my mind. Like, cause I'm an idiot right now.
Starting point is 00:42:01 I'm gonna go with, oh, I'll go with Paul Conerco. You mother effer. Jeremy, is that what you had? I had Paul Conerco. It was Paul Conerco. Oh man! All right, it wouldn't have mattered, thank God. I guess either way, once you said the answer I had,
Starting point is 00:42:18 it took away all the drama for me. I'm just thinking of long term white socks. Thank goodness. Hey, that's a second victory. Somebody has two wins. Somebody has none. Good game, Chris. Folks, listen up.
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