The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Postgame Show: SpliffNotes and The Pitch Clock

Episode Date: September 11, 2025

"I think Jane should be commissioner of the United States of America." JuJu Gotti gives us his picks for Thursday Thunder, sets up the final weekend of the WNBA regular season, and gives Jane Leavy one of the most incredible comparisons our show can give. On this week’s Pitch Clock, Adnan Virk is back to talk about a couple teams entering Wild Card races and highlight a superstar we haven’t mentioned once this entire season. Plus, Taylor tortures Jeremy with another edition of 501 trivia as Chris & Jeremy go head-to-head once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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and two and sip and three and sip. Oh, hey, I'm just sipping Tim's all-new protein ice latte. Starting at 17 grams per medium latte, Tim's new protein lattes. Protein without all the work at participating restaurants in Canada.

That's right. It's Thursday Thunder and it's presented by Draft Kings. Draf Kings, the crown is yours. Juju, what up? What up, y'all? Another two for three last week, man. Two for three.

Put that on my tombstone, man. Two out of three ain't bad. But this week, we riding this ship, maybe. Tonight, I'm going with Thursday night football, and I'm starring with my dog Joshua Jacobs. Anytime touchdown scorer, my boy, lock him in. He's got a streak, right? this be? How many games straight? Nine? Yeah, nine or either umpteen. I forgot what the

stat said. I think it's umpteen. Umtine. But next leg, I'm going with Noah Brown over 22.5 yards tonight. That Packers defense looking good. And Jaden Daniels, he going to have to come up with some things tonight. And we all know what he usually comes up whenever he has little to no options. Oops. There's Noah Brown downfield. touchdown. I'm going with Noah Brown and I got to clear my throat. Two dollars. Last leg, still there. Last leg, I'm going with my dog Jacori, Kroski, Merritt for over 10 rushes tonight. Man, they're going to need them. They're going to be in the trenches all night. I'm not sure how many yards he's going to get, but he's going to be toting that rock tonight.

Lock it in Thursday Thunder. I see y'all. Juju, tonight's the last night of the WMBA regular season, yeah? Yes, sir, man. What a crazy last couple of weeks, man. It's been for that last couple playoff spots, man. The Seattle Storm, they locked in the last spot in an epic, dramatic fashion the other night against the Valkyrie, who already locked into the playoffs. They find out their seating tonight, you feel me, on the last game.

It's going to be interesting because the Atlanta dream could face them or the fever. I'm rooting for fever because the Valkyry will punch you in the eyeball. But yeah, man, great seasons this year. Juju, how do we sum up Paige Becker's rookie season? The Dallas wings are probably going to finish last in the entire league. Right? It's rare. All time great, man.

I think she broke a lot of barriers. She always speaking up for the right people. She carries herself in the right way. She didn't get fined by the team. none of the shenanigans that people get into when their rookie season. All the other players from other teams seem to love her. There was no necessarily, quote-unquote, Caitlin Clark treatment for her this year. I think she did a great job in a rookie campaign,

and she's going to continue it to the Unrival League, who just added two new teams getting money over there and our arrival, the Hive and the Breeze. Welcome to the Unrival League. Is Angel Reese in Chicago next season? you know what she is in chicago next season i i predict she she ain't going nowhere they're going they're going to do us right over there it's a lot of stuff that gets reported i don't think the whole the whole truth ever really comes out but i know that chicago really really loves her and i think

they're going to get her back juju what do you make of jane what do you make of her suggestions for baseball do you want her to be commissioner bruh i think jane should be the commissioner of the United States of America I don't go with me here whenever she was talking she wasn't giving y'all a little bit of Greg Cody and some of the the influences and the infractions on her words

I think she's a she's a superstar we got to put Jane on the on the podcast every week salute to Jeremy I love you but you need to have Miss Jane on there sometime because man I can lock in and listen to her talk all day how does Jeremy handle that right there you think well I think that was like it that was Juju just pitching her as a guest for pitch clock that was not Juju being like you're gone Jeremy

like we said yeah I actually hope Jeremy sees that interview and it's like this is a perfect guess for me to have on pitch clock because I think he'd be as big about Jane as anyone all right except for me she's already in my close friends and liking stuff at least the uh the grad Cody show featuring Greg Cody y'all shit you know me and give miss jane the call one of these weeks I'm with it neither here nor there juju we got some uh polls to update I think from yesterday also right yesterday we had one poll and it wasn't the greatest opposed it was like is a cultural appropriation delicious i went against that one over under when dolphins fans will start booing this sunday this is big over 1.5 drives or under 1.5 drives 77% of the audience says under 1.5s

I'm going over I think it's over. First drive of the game. Wow. I think I think I think it's going to come in. I think it's right. More for real. The Raiders or the Chargers? Eighty-eight percent of the audience says the Chargers. Ooh, that was a fake out, Judeo. Good team. They were the playoff team last year.

What if there's four division? In that division is four playoff teams. It would be impossible. That's got to be possible. It's not impossible. It could have been possible. It's possible. It feels impossible. It feels that way, but it's not But AFC North has some players. It is possible.

Like the AFC North was in this. But he's saying it feels impossible. It feels impossible because they play each other twice here. But it's not actually impossible. No, mathematically possible. Yeah. I like to use this as a reminder for everybody to check out DLS hoops, man. We got a great episode drop yesterday.

Also check out my boy, Billy Gill this weekend, FIU in the booth. Also check out my dog. First class, Zaz, man. On the road again where you at this week's ass. Oh, yeah, baby. glad you brought that up. I'm flying out to Knoxville tomorrow. Tennessee, Georgia. I've never been there

before. It's awesome. I've been there. It's awesome. It's awesome. We're broadcasting on Saturday morning Calhouns on the river. Apparently that's an amazing spot. All the river there. Oh my God. I was there years ago. I love that. So I don't know. You got listeners or viewers. Have you ever been there? No, I have. Okay. If anyone wants to come by and see how good I look, you can come check me out. People like tailgate on the boats right on the river.

Yeah, apparently they all. Doc right where we're doing the show in the airstream. So come and see me and Amber Wilson. That'll be fun. Yes, sir. Did the senator know J.J. McCarthy's name? 93% of the audience says, no, he did not. Damn.

Yeah. He knows Bauda. Last poll. Did you like it better when the pitch clock was the sun? 52% of the audience says, yes, they did. And those are your polls. That's a shocking result. Unfortunately, unfortunately, we now get to Jeremy in the pitch clock.

Dan Lebatard. Can I tell you something? I don't know, it was maybe like a month ago. And I decided to watch pitch clock. And I told Jeremy, Stugats. This is a good show you're doing. This is the Dan Lebatar show with the Stugats. Do you think that the audience is going to notice that I wasn't on show today because I don't have makeup on?

Yeah, you look terrible. I have the bags under my eyes. Aren't great. I'm counting the bags Speaking of bags Like stealing bags Because baseball I thought you were going to go Jeff Bagwell

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 It's another episode of the pitch clock

Here on the Dan Lebitard show with Stugatz. That's Chris. Yeah. I'm Jeremy. Taylor is with us. We'll have Adnan Verk, our monthly 2025 MLB expert, joining us in just a few moments. But first, it's time for Taylor's trivia, and I need at least a little bit of redemption.

I got asked, whoop. Yeah, last week was truly and utterly, uh, I don't know if I've ever been dominated in a competition. Go on. The way that I was last week. It was truly and utterly embarrassing. And we had people DMing us and tweeting at us saying, like, hey, was Chris cheating? That's how good he was. Yeah, that was a belt-to-ass situation last week.

So we're going right back to it. It's 5-0-1 darts. You're trying to get as close to zero as possible. Just a reminder, it'll be best of three. Each round, you guys will get five guesses and you can't go past zero. So if you do go past zero with the guest, you'll just stay at that number. All right. So what's our subject this time, Taylor?

So the first round will be home runs as a MET. What? All right. I'll just go ahead with, uh, hmm, do I want a strong one or not? Actually, I'll say David Wright. So David Wright had 242 home runs as a MET, bringing you down to two. 259, Jeremy. Daryl Strawberry.

I don't even know if he was a homeowner, hitter. So Chris, Darryl Strawberry went deep 252 times in his career, bringing you down to 249 after one round. You're within 10 of each other.

So this is now where strategy comes into place. Because it's like there are certain people that I'm thinking of that I feel like have to have more than that. And so do you want to just start chipping away? I will. I will start chipping away. Francisco Lindor.

Francisco Lindor has gone deep 136 times in his career as a Met, bringing you down to 123, Jeremy. That's what I was looking for. Carlos Delgado. Ooh. Carlos Delgado hit 104 home runs as a Met, bringing you down to 145, Chris Cody. Man, this is kind of close. Our 2025 MLB expert.

is back with us for the, what, fifth or sixth time this season, it feels like at this point. Adnan Verk is here. Adnan, first of all, thank you for joining. Of course, Jeremy, good to see. I'm glad I'm still leading in the clubhouse as far as overall appearances. It's like games played. I've got to be that guy for you. You're blowing everybody out. Regular season record is officially yours. You've clinched. Congratulations. I do have to make a clarification off the top of this before we get into our baseball because last week, if you go back and listen to the end of the pitch clock, I accidentally with Jason Benetti, said that this would be my last season with the Miami Marlins broadcast.

I meant series. This is my first season of hopefully 30. I don't know. I'd like to be on this broadcast for the rest of my life until the day that I die. So let's make it abundantly clear. Marlins broadcast, not the last season. My last series is coming up against the Tigers this weekend, which is perfect synchronicity. But anyway, let's get into some baseball here.

I want to talk to you about a couple wild card races, and I want to start in the National League because, hello, San Francisco Giants, apparently you're alive, 12 and 3 in their last 15 games going from seven under to two over at the time of this recording. Logan Webb has been remarkable on the mound. I mean, Adnan, what has changed? And do the Giants have a legitimate chance of catching the New York Mets for that final NL wildcard spot? I do think they have a chance.

I don't think it will happen, but you're right, Jeremy, to bring it up that it's been an unbelievable story. The guy I wanted to mention is Elliot Ramos, because Jake Petey was telling me, because this guy is going to be a superstar for the Giants. It's, wow, you know, people are not paying enough attention how good Elliot Ramos is. He's got 17 home runs this year, but really the queen for them has been the fact that they can bang. And in the past, it's always been the pitching, no offense.

Willie Adom has been closer to being. I believe he's at 27, the first Giants hitter to have a 30 home run season since Barry Bonds back in 2004. And Raphael Devers as well, Jeremy, has been much better since August 1st, We know it's been a tumultuous season, but ultimately he's going to be 30 and 100. He'll figure things out there in San Francisco, but you mentioned Webb want to close with him. Career high, 201 strikeouts, 184 and two-thirds innings pitch, 28 years of age, seventh season. First giant, Lillis, 200 strikeouts since Rodon three years ago.

Webb is that guy, perennally underrated as one of the best pitchers in baseball. It honestly reminds me a little bit of Jake Peavy, and that he was always one of the best pitchers in the game, but never considered the actual best. So it makes sense that you would bring his name up overall. And any time you could tell me there's a team that bangs, I'm very excited about it. You look up and down that roster and, hey, I mean, look, at this point, they really are stringing together some really good couple of months amongst a lot of these bats in the order. But let's talk about the American League now, because there's another situation unfolding over there with another team that I believe at the time of this recording has won 12 of their last 16 games going from 3 under to 5. over and a relationship between the two, Bruce Bochie's the manager over here with the Texas Rangers, the former Giants manager, and he's always sprinkling some magic all over his teams.

It's really spectacular to see what's happening there, particularly as they deal with a slew of injuries. No Nathan Avaldi, who we spoke about a couple of months ago, Adnan. I mean, I'm going to ask you the same question. What's changed for the Texas Rangers? And do they have a legitimate chance of catching the Mariners for the final wildcard spot in the American League. So this one's completely baffling, Jeremy. Yes, they have a chance. Yes, they could catch them, but I can't imagine it'll happen. I mean, come hell or high water with these injuries.

Now, you mentioned the fact that Evaldi's out, it's been their best story. He was in the Zion conversation the last time we had spoken. But Seeger being out, Appendectomy, probably done for the season. Simeon being out, like, this is insane when you have your best position players and your best pitcher being done. So collectively, they've stepped a big time. Their offense has been great. 12 of 16, they've won, as you mentioned.

They've scored at least four runs in each win, held the fewer than that and those losses, but the offense has been helpful, and that's really been the issue for them much of the season. Now, their pitching has been really good. Jack Lighters really come on strong now, sub-4 ERA. You know, I think ultimately Texas is a team, I don't want to call it Smoke of Mirrors, because they are winning, and Seattle has been so shaky that that window and that door is still open. But I just can't imagine Texas without having their big-time weapons being able to get into the playoffs. But you're right about crediting Bruce Bochy, that better managerial magic.

he's got these guys believing right now and somehow or some way this Texas team I can't believe they're still in the race not even for the Walker but even the division it's crazy I mean it's really crazy and you talk about guys like Jacob de Grom

and of course Merrill Kelly who's one of my favorites because he looks so much like Roland Schitt from Schitt's Creek but if I were really a person who was being more attentive to the show I would have talked about Bruce Bochy having a magical

sprinkle juice as Dan referred to with someone earlier in the week I'm going to go with legendary New York MET. Paul Leduca. So Paul Leduca hit 14 home runs. Perfect. As a Met bringing you down to 109, Jeremy.

I worry that he's going to say a name. Mike Piazza. Oh, no. He played for the Dodgers too. So Chris, you were at 145. You're going to stay at 145 because Mike Piazza hit 220 home runs. as a Met. Yeah.

Daniel Murphy. Daniel Murphy hit 62 home runs as a Met, bringing you down to 47, Jeremy. All right. Mike Jacobs. Mike Jacobs hit 12 home runs as a Met, bringing Chris Cody down to 133. Didn't they have like a 30 home run season before he was with the Marlins? Did he go there after us? So Mike Jacobs hit 11 home runs in 30 games with the Mets in 2005.

And then he went back to the Mets. in 2010 and in seven games hit one home run. I'm trying to think of someone who has not hit a ton of home runs. I almost don't even remember if he played for the Mets, but I'm pretty sure he did toward the end of his career. And if not, I'll just take the zero. Did Edgar Renteria play for the Mets at the end of his career? I'm just trying to get a few.

I feel like it was near the end, but I might be totally, I might be totally off base and there may be a different shortstop that I was thinking of. that I was thinking of. So Edgar and Torrea never played for the Mets. So Jeremy, you're going to be at 47. I have a guy here. I just don't know how long he played for the Mets. In my mind, he played a good, like, four or five seasons there,

so that would be enough if he was like an 18 to 20 home run guy. Jeremy Burnitz. So Jeremy Burnitz hit 53 home runs, bringing you down to 80. It's going to give Jeremy a one-nothing lead after one. Jeremy Burnitts helps Jeremy Tashay. I almost had Michael Conforto was the only one that I was like, I almost had Michael Conforto. He would have probably won you. Chris, you were at 133.

Michael Conforto hit 132. That's crazy. God damn it. Why didn't I think of it? Are you kidding? It was like on the tip of my tongue and then it hit me like just. God bless. There are other guys who always contribute as we get toward the home stretch of the season and even into the postseason.

So there are a lot of guys who come up after that trade deadline and become a part of some of these teams that are still contending to be a part of the postseason. Adnan, who's one of the younger guys that you've seen come up in the last four or five weeks that you think come the postseason, people don't know them right now, but by the time we're getting to the playoffs, everybody's going to be talking about them. I'll give you two for the price of one. So everyone better talk about Nolan McLean. This guy's been unbelievable so far as in New York met. a great pitch game against the Phillies last night. He has everything you want, the tools, the poise, the command. He's going to start meaningful playoff games for the New York Mets in the playoffs.

Jonah Tong, fellow Canadian from Markham, Ontario is going to start, I believe, a critical spot for the New York Mets. So these guys just got called up. These guys could be really starring on Broadway for New York. I think that's actually, first of all, starring on Broadway, you know I love that line right there. But second of all, to have these young arms going in who don't know any better and are just, going to say, all right, here's my best. It's sometimes better than having those guys who have been a little bit disappointing but are the higher paid players.

It could be a lot of fun. It makes the Mets an even more likable team than they were before. But all right, time to get to our golden era of baseball, star of the week. There are several guys that we can highlight here, Adnan. I'm going to give you three names, and you're going to choose one of them. So we've got two of the best nicknames in sports are the first two. The Big Dumper, Cal Raleigh, and I know we, We've talked about him before, but he's getting that much closer to tying and breaking Ken Griffey Jr.'s single-season home run record for the Mariners.

He's at 53 at the time of this recording. Then there's the Pasquatch, Finney Pascontino, who we haven't spoken about, I think, since you predicted the Royals would be going to the World Series at the very beginning of the year, because he had an awful first half, really, started to heat up toward the end. But 14 of his 29 homers here in the second half of this season, he's been great for the Royals, got them back into the wild card mix a little bit. And then, of course, there's Bo Bichette, who I think this is the first time I'm mentioning his name this season. And that is a travesty by me, because he has bounced back in a big way from a disappointing season last year, dealing with injuries, dealing with a lack of success. Take your pick. Vinny, Cal, Boba Chet. All about Boba Chet, man. This guy's unbelievable. As you said, he's potentially in a batting title. I believe he's going to lead the major leagues in hits, at least by defensive metrics. He's fine.

but really what he's done offensive, he's amazing. The guy's been awesome, and especially Bo late in the season, August, September, he takes off. He's always done that. He's the Robin to Vlad Jr.'s Batman, who's flirting with 300, 400 on base, 500 slug. This Jay's team right now, it's going to be precarious down the stretch. The Yankees are right there, so are the Red Sox. But Bo Bichette's an outstanding player. He's a pending free agent.

He's going to get taken care of either by the Blue Jays, or my prediction is maybe he goes to the Dodgers, maybe goes to the Braves. Great relationship with Alex Anthopoulos there with Toronto. So I'm with you, man. Bo doesn't get enough love, but that guy's an absolute stud. He has been absolutely spectacular, like you mentioned. And I don't think that there's been a single hitter this season, of which I've been on a broadcast, that Tommy Hutton,

the great Tommy Hutton, has been more impressed with than Bo Bichette. He was really blown away with his approach and his success when he was down here in Miami. Hey, my last series of Marlins baseball is coming up this weekend against the Tigers. I hope all of you watch that. And, of course, always watch Adnan Verk on MLB Network. Adnan, thank you so much for joining us. And I'm sure we'll see you as we get a little bit closer to the playoffs or maybe even that first week of playoff baseball.

I'm about to say playoffs. I'm going to move with you daily, whether or not you like or not. Absolutely. Go buy my books to the file. Available over books are small. Thank you, buddy. I own that book. You should too.

Now let's get back to this game between myself and Chris. All right. Let's get to round two. What are we doing? I want to get a win. This category is going to be. Home runs as a Red Sock. Ooh.

This is better. I'm saying ooh a lot. And that's because I'm really excited about this. Chris, go for it. Trot Nixon. Trot Nixon hit 133 home runs as a red sock, bringing you to 368, Chris Cody. That's a fun one.

I'll just knock out a chunk. Manny Ramirez. I'm going to put you yourself in a spot where you need like 82 home runs. Mani Ramirez hit. 274 home runs as a Red Sock, bringing you down to 227, Jeremy. I might screw myself here, but I don't think he hit that many. Movon. Move on. So Movon hit 230 home runs as a Red Sock, bringing you down to 138, Chris Cody.

I'm just going to try to get a little chunk out, just a tiny little bit here. Let's go Dustin Padroia. So Dustin Padroia hit 140 home runs as a redstone. Red Sock, bringing you down to 87, Jeremy. Oh. Okay. I'm going to get crazy here. This guy could be over, but he also could be right on the money,

and I could have it another walk off here. Nomar. So, Chris, you're at 138, and you're going to stay at 138 because Nomar Garcia Parra hit 178 as a Red Sox. Damn. Good for Nomar. Sneaky power. Wow.

Married to me a ham. All right, 87 homers. This is a complicated one Johnny Damon Johnny Damon hit 56 home runs as a Red Sock bringing you down to

31 Jeremy Raphael Devers Raphael Devers hit 215 home as a Red Sox Lord Raphael Devers Damn dude that guy's a home run hitter You're going to stay at 138

I think I just need I think I just need to get closer to zero I don't want to try to get exact I'm going to go I'm going to go Roman Anthony Jeremy you're going to chip away Roman Anthony has hit eight home runs as a Red Sock

bringing you down to 23 I'll take it I thought it was more I did but I'll take 23 given the circumstances you got a window here man if you get it's what 115 between 115 and 138 you win

I'm gonna say a name that I'm not going with it's like a Red Sox I would probably call him a Red Sox legend but I don't think of him as a huge home run hitter but he played so long there that I feel like he had to have had that so I'm not going to say Jason Veritech even though I think that I don't see him as a huge homerun guy I feel like he could be around there but he's probably got more so I'm gonna go with

instead of Jason Veritech Mike Loll that's pretty good Mike Loll hit 80 home runs as a Red Sock Jeremy 2O damn it

yes so Chris when you were at 138 the name that I thought you were thinking of was Mookie Betts so when you were at 138 I looked up Muky Betts, 139. Oh, boy. The story of this episode of the pitch clock is that I'm finally a winner.

Chris, no longer a cheater. DM me about this, guys. I'm excited. I won, and I hate you. Love you, too.