Episode 353 - M's Split & Macdonald's D No-Shows

RUNDOWN

 

Are Seattle sports are even fun anymore? Six hours “chewing my fingernails and losing hair.” Mitch and Scott argue about what “fun” in fandom really means, roast Matt Brash for his walk-filled chaos, and marvel at the weirdness of Seattle beating Tarik Skubal yet again.

Mitch welcomes Brady Farkas (Refuse to Lose Podcast) and Joe Doyle (Over-Slot / Future Stars Series) for a fiery Mariners No-Table as Seattle heads to Detroit tied 1–1. They rave over Jorge Polanco’s two-homer night off Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal and the team’s resilience, then dissect Dan Wilson’s bullpen management in Game 1, Bryce Miller’s usage, and the decision to start George Kirby. The group debates Matt Brash’s shaky late-inning trust, Julio Rodriguez’s base-running and clutch turnaround, and whether the Tigers or Mariners now hold the upper hand as the ALDS resumes.

Mitch welcomes Brady Henderson (ESPN Seahawks Insider) and Jacson Bevens (Cigar Thoughts) for a heated Seahawks No-Table after Seattle’s gut-wrenching 38–35 loss to Tampa Bay. The trio debates how Mike Macdonald’s defense—ranked among the NFL’s best through two weeks—got completely schemed apart by Baker Mayfield. Mitch rips the lack of pressure from Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams, the blown coverage across the secondary, and the failure to get a stop with the game on the line. All agree: Sam Darnold looked spectacular, throwing four touchdowns and confirming his franchise-QB credentials even in defeat.

CBS analyst Rick Neuheisel joins Mitch after an emotional weekend that saw his son Jerry Neuheisel call plays for UCLA in the upset win over Penn State. Rick describes watching from the CBS studio as his phone exploded with messages, reliving the moment as both a broadcaster and a dad. He shares the behind-the-scenes timeline of Jerry being handed play-calling duties, his pride in how the Bruins responded, and the joy of seeing his family’s work pay off. From there, the conversation turns to the broader college-football landscape — Penn State and Texas now facing uphill climbs to the playoff, Notre Dame’s renewed path, the Huskies’ comeback win in Maryland, Florida’s bounce-back under Billy Napier, and previewing the week ahead with Oregon–Indiana on CBS.

 

GUESTS

 

• Brady Farkas | Host, Refuse to Lose Podcast (Mariners on SI)
• Joe Doyle | MLB Draft & Mariners Analyst, Over-Slot Substack
• Brady Henderson | Seahawks Insider, ESPN
• Jacson Bevens | Writer, Cigar Thoughts
• Rick Neuheisel | CBS College Football Analyst, Former Head Coach & Rose Bowl Champion

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

0:00 | From Fingernails to Fun Forest: Mitch and Hotshot Debate Whether Sports Are Still Fun After Six Brutal Hours of Seahawks and Mariners Angst

12:15 | BEAT THE BOYS - Register at MitchUnfiltered.com

15:46 | Mariners Split, Seahawks Stumble: Mitch Calls It “Inexcusable,” Hotshot Still Finds Hope in Detroit

32:01 | GUEST: Mariners No-Table; Polanco Powers Mariners Even, Wilson’s Moves Debated as Series Shifts to Detroit

55:21 | GUEST: Seahawks No-Table; Seahawks Defense Collapses in 38–35 Shootout: MacDonald Takes the Blame, Darnold Shines in Defeat

1:20:50 | GUEST: Rick Neuheisel; A Proud Papa Moment — Rick Neuheisel on His Son’s Play-Calling Debut and a Wild Weekend in College Football

1:51:20 | Other Stuff Segment: Michael Bennett defends Russell Wilson and says Richard Sherman’s criticism is personal animosity, debate over whether Russ deserves the Hall of Fame, Mark Sanchez stabbed in Indianapolis parking dispute involving pepper spray, 49ers backup QB Mac Jones discovers a dead body outside his hotel before Thursday Night Football, Texas Rangers part ways with Bruce Bochy and promote Skip Schumaker, Jay Cutler released early from DUI jail after trying to pay off a fender-bender with $2,000, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s reported split includes a “no-cocaine bonus clause,” Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson gets early Oscar buzz for The Smashing Machine as MMA fighter Mark Kerr, Lionel Richie claims Michael Jackson was literally nicknamed “Smelly,” Mitch realizes the real-life fighter from The Smashing Machine went to Syracuse the same time he did. RIPs: Lawrence Moten, Syracuse basketball’s all-time leading scorer (53), Arthur Jones, former Ravens defensive tackle and Syracuse standout (39), Jane Goodall, world-renowned primatologist and conservationist (91). Headlines: Holiday Inn Express testing scent-based alarm clocks (mildew, fast food, and beer farts), AI vandal confesses to crimes via chatbot “Rat GPT,” Seattle’s sex-trivia nights draw crowds and educate, UK Health Service sparks debate over cousin marriages and their “benefits,” Hotshot’s favorite — “Uncle Dad Christmas shopping simplified.”