PMT DB
PMT DB
Dan Haren on Playoff Baseball, Max Verstappen, and Week 7 Picks
Week 7 is officially here, and while the board might look like a total stinker with some of the league's best teams on a bye, Big Cat and PFT are ready to grind through the muck. The show kicks off with a look at the NBA's opening week, which naturally leads to a breakdown of the dumpster fire that is the Los Angeles Lakers. Big Cat empathizes with Russell Westbrook, noting that the environment surrounding the team is purely toxic.
Big CatBeing LeBron James' teammate is the most difficult job in the world
Being LeBron's teammate has to be like the most difficult job in the world. Not on the court because LeBron is obviously one of the best all time on the court... But it's, every time you lose, it's someone else's fault. Every time you win, it's, LeBron did it.
Hank points out that the betting markets are already sniffing out a disaster for the Lake Show, which PFT finds particularly enticing given the early-season drama.
PFT CommenterThe Lakers are only plus-160 to miss the playoffs, which is a juicy bet
They're only plus one 60 to miss the playoffs. [Big Cat: That's it? That's it?] That's juicy. [Hank: It's kind of low. I was hoping it was gonna be a little bit higher.]
NFL Week 7 Picks and Preview
The guys transition to the NFL slate, where the board is filled with trap lines and confusing spreads. Hank is leading the standings and leaning heavily into his "Hungry Dog" persona, while Big Cat is desperately trying to claw his way out of an "over" slump. The most baffling line of the week features the 5-1 Giants as underdogs to a struggling Jaguars team, a situation Hank is convinced he has figured out.
HankThe Jaguars being 3-point favorites over the Giants is a trap line
Take the Jaguars minus three, the line makes no sense. Yep. Yep. Zero sense whatsoever. That's Vegas being like, take the Giants, they want you to take the giants, which means the jaguar's gonna win win handily. Don't fall for the trap. Take the jaguars.
PFT is finding motivation in the off-field drama surrounding Commanders owner Dan Snyder. He’s so committed to seeing Snyder ousted that he’s ready to change his entire rooting interest if the right owner steps up to lead the charge.
PFT CommenterI will buy Colts season tickets if Jim Irsay forces Dan Snyder to sell the Commanders
I've decided, you know, we talked about like, I would become a Colts fan if Jim Irsay was the straw that broke the camel's back. Yep. I'm gonna buy season tickets to the Colts next year. Wow. If, if, if Jim Irsay can get down out the fuck out, I'm gonna be a Colts season ticket holder.
Billy is high on the Packers bouncing back after a embarrassing loss to the Jets. He expects Aaron Rodgers to stop the bleeding by absolutely dismantling Taylor Heinicke and the Commanders.
Billy FootballThe Packers will have a statement win and run up the score against the Commanders
I do think the Packers are gonna use statement when they're gonna run up the score. It's gonna be one of those things. If it's like close, they're not gonna let up. They're just gonna keep running it up.
As they scan the rest of the AFC, Big Cat notices a shift in Cincinnati. After a slow start, the Bengals seem to be leaning back into what made them successful during their Super Bowl run, specifically their aggressiveness on early downs and a defense that has been a brick wall after halftime.
Big CatThe Bengals have turned a corner because they are using more shotgun and throwing on first down
I feel like the Bengals might have turned a little bit of a corner... it feels like they're starting to throw on first down more, which they should be doing a lot more. The Bengals also their second half defense, they haven't given up a touchdown in the second half this year.
Dan Haren on the MLB Playoffs
Friend of the program Dan Haren joins the show to talk about the chaos of the MLB postseason. As someone who spent years on the mound, Haren provides a great perspective on why some of the 100-win juggernauts like the Dodgers and Mets fell early. He isn't a fan of the current format, arguing that the marathon of a 162-game season deserves a longer payoff than a short series.
Dan HarenThe MLB Division Series is too short and should be seven games
I think the division series is too short though. Ooh, I don't understand. I don't understand why you play 162 and then it's gotta be five games. I think the, the better team would win out more often in a seven game series.
The conversation turns to the absolute dominance of the Houston Astros. Haren reveals that when he’s doing advance scouting for the Diamondbacks, one name stands out above everyone else in the league as a pure nightmare to prepare for.
Dan HarenYordan Alvarez is the best hitter I have ever had to scout
We've faced Yordan [Alvarez] this year. He was, he's the best hitter I've ever had to advance scout. Whoa. I'm talking about covering all the pitches, hitting lefties, everything. He's the best hitter I've ever had to had to scout.
F1 Champions and Fyre Fest
Fresh off clinching another title, Max Verstappen and Sergio "Checo" Perez stop by ahead of the Austin Grand Prix. While Max is enjoying a much less stressful end to the season than last year, Checo is focused on securing a Red Bull 1-2 finish in the standings. Before they head out to the track, the guys get them to weigh in on the NFL, where Checo reveals he’s a student of the game—or at least a student of the pronunciation.
Sergio PerezThe Titans will beat the Colts and the game will go under the total
Titans. It's easier to pronounce... I think it's gonna be quite a low score [because of the defense].
To wrap things up, Billy Football delivers a classic Fyre Fest involving a near-death experience in his truck. Billy has a bone to pick with modern automotive engineering and environmental regulations that nearly left him stranded in the middle of a busy intersection.
Billy FootballModern truck auto-stop engine technology is dangerous and poorly designed
Every time you stop, it'll go to a full stop, the engine turns off... The thing is the car has to turn off and start back up again. And if people know, like the more miles you get on a truck, the more times you start a truck, the engine's gotta turn over... It happened to me in a busy ass intersection and I couldn't get the truck back started... putting people like myself in danger.
The show ends with Billy miraculously hitting the lottery ball for the sixth time, further cementing his status as a statistical anomaly while Hank continues his historic drought.
If you see a truck stalled in a New Jersey intersection, just know Billy is doing his part for the environment.
