The Pat McAfee Show Live | Monday March 2nd 2026

After Japan's victory in the previous World Baseball Classic, top American baseball players, including Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper, felt a strong motivation to reclaim the title. Judge recounted texting teammates about 'rewriting the ship' for the next tournament, leading to a roster composed of highly committed stars.

Aaron Judge stating, 'We kind of all were texting like, man, we got to three more years we're going to rewrite the ship here. And boys are fired up.' (30:53)

The 2026 NFL Combine saw unprecedented speed across almost all position groups (running back, wide receiver, tight end, O-line, D-line, linebacker, safety), with many players achieving personal bests. This led to scrutiny for players who opted not to run, with scouts questioning their reluctance to compete on such a 'fast track' and noting players consulting agents on whether to re-run immediately.

Tone stating, 'If you participated in the combine this year, you won the combine this year. So if you look at it, if you go by position group, running back, fastest ever, wide receiver, fastest ever, tight end, fastest ever, O line, fastest ever, D line, fastest ever, linebacker, fastest ever, safety, fastest ever, quarterback, second fastest ever.' (15:58) and Pat McAfee noting players calling agents after runs. (18:16)

The NFL experienced significant player movement and contract discussions leading up to the franchise tag deadline. The Houston Texans acquired David Montgomery to improve their red zone and overall run game for CJ Stroud. Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts faced uncertainty with Daniel Jones' contract, with Adam Schefter reporting a 50/50 chance of a deal before the tag deadline, potentially leading to a transition tag and interest from other teams like the Minnesota Vikings.

Adam Schefter detailing David Montgomery's trade to Houston (22:22) and the 50/50 chance of a Daniel Jones deal with the Colts (24:25).

Aaron Judge adopted the 'own the moment' philosophy from Bryce Harper, applying it to high-pressure situations like playoff games. This mindset encourages players to embrace the challenge and perform without letting the magnitude of the situation overwhelm them, fostering a proactive and confident approach.

Aaron Judge stating, 'I was talking to Harper before the postseason this last year, and he texted me probably the coolest thing. And he was like, 'Hey, one thing I tell myself every every postseason, every big game, it's like own the moment. Don't let the moment own you.'' (33:00)

Paul Skenes and Cal Raleigh discussed 'pitch tunneling,' a crucial technique for elite pitchers where different pitches (fastball, slider, curveball) are thrown from the same arm slot and appear identical for the first 30-40 feet before breaking in different directions. This deception makes it extremely difficult for hitters to commit to a pitch, highlighting the precision required at the highest level.

Paul Skenes explaining, 'That's what we're trying to do. I mean, that's called, you know, tunneling.' (1:20:22) and Cal Raleigh elaborating on its difficulty for hitters. (1:21:06)

Super-agent Scott Boras passionately defended MLB's lack of a salary cap, arguing that it rewards 'genius owners' who invest in talent and innovation, leading to greater parity and revenue growth. He contrasted this with capped leagues, which he believes allow 'bad owners' to remain competitive due to artificially fixed costs, hindering market-driven player value and overall league growth.

Scott Boras stating, 'What salary caps do in my mind is it makes bad owners a reason to stay in the league.' (2:36:23) and 'I want a system that attracts greatness in I want owner geniuses to come to our game.' (2:38:47)

Scott Boras detailed the arbitration process, highlighting the significant financial gaps that can arise between a player's and a team's valuation. He cited the case of Tarik Skubal, where a $13 million difference in proposed salaries (team at $19M, player at $32M) led to a contentious hearing with numerous lawyers. This process, where players must listen to their own team argue against their value, underscores the high stakes and potential for friction in contract negotiations.

Scott Boras describing the Skubal arbitration case with a $13 million gap and '50 lawyers in the room on each side.' (2:42:31)