Friday Four-Pack 7.18.25

A deep dive into the spring ratings for Boston sports radio. Mike Felger says he's afraid. Barstool gets a TV megadeal. MutStack Notes!

⚾ The right now story in Boston sports is the Red Sox.

Just three games back in the AL East and in possession of a Wild Card spot, they head into the second half of the season riding a 10-game winning streak. The hottest team in baseball resides in Boston and has legit buzz.

While their ownership, CEO, and Chief Baseball Officer all come across as unlikeable in their own separate ways, the team on the field has been a fun watch the last few weeks.

While they collapsed a year ago in this exact spot, going 28-38 after the break to crash out, this year’s team is better. A fun subplot will be the team's commitment to improving at the trade deadline. Especially after how they closed out the first half, I 100% stand by this take from last week, even if certain Hollywood elites took offense to my somewhat tangled analogy.

The Red Sox, amazingly, are the Boston team closest to their next potential championship in their respective sport.

🏈 The most impactful story in Boston sports will be the Year 2 development of Drake Maye.

When the Patriots report to training camp next week, all eyes will be on Maye. We’ll get daily, detailed practice reports from a million different reporters and self-annointed ‘football experts’, including seven-on-seven completion percentage stats. The analysis will be over the top, and it should be; Maye’s development impacts the region’s football team more than anything else.

Josh McDaniels is back, and the weapons have improved - there are massive expectations for the UNC product.

Matthew Stafford and Nick Foles are the only two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks of the last 11 that I’d put outside the Top 5 at their position the years they won. If the Patriots are going to win their next Super Bowl with this group, Maye will have to take a big step forward. It’s unlikely he takes a giant leap this year, but a lack of improvement from him and the offense would be a big concern.

🏀 The most interesting story in Boston sports is tied to a quote from Jaylen Brown this week.

“I disagree with a lot of things,” Brown told Noa Dalzell. “I’ve had to change roles, styles. I’ve had to do things that other players of my talent just haven’t had to do, and I’ve been okay with them, because I’ve always been a team guy. I feel like sometimes that gets taken for granted.”

At the same time, he recognizes that all of it — the good and the bad — ultimately culminated in what’s long been his primary goal: Banner 18.

“I’m extremely grateful that we won a championship,” Brown said. “I’m extremely grateful that we’ve been able to have success, and that’s what it’s about. It’s not all about you, it’s not all about me, you know what I mean? I want the next generation to know that as well — it’s okay to play your role on the team. It’s okay to do whatever, but don’t let that define you.”

Yes, he goes on to highlight the benefits of being a role player and winning. And there’s no suggestion here that he’s looking for a trade to a team that would allow him to showcase his talents better.

BUT…he’s going to get his chance to showcase all his skills this season. With Jayson Tatum out and the team unlikely to tank for a lottery pick, this will truly be Brown’s team. I don’t think it’s crazy to think he’ll flourish in that role and get All-NBA First Team consideration.

Let’s say he does. His role is going to change again with the return of a healthy Tatum in 2026-2027. Is there a chance he enjoys being the alpha and, having already won a title in Boston, wants an opportunity to be the guy somewhere else?

It’s possible, right? And we’ve seen time and time again, NBA players have the power to force a trade whenever they want.

One NBA Insider said this week that some teams don’t view him as an ‘Incredible Addition, thanks to his $304M contract. Maybe that changes if he has a monster year as the team’s focal point. We know the Celtics have salary issues; would they consider trading Brown with Tatum’s return?

I don’t think the team wants to break up the Tatum/Brown combo. But if Brown thrives this season, gets comfortable as the lead guy, continues to feel underappreciated, and other teams start to view him as a true superstar player, their hand might be forced. It’s a story the Boston media will be locked in on over the next year.

Meanwhile, speaking of media, we have so much media coverage in this week’s newsletter, starting with a detailed review of the current state of Boston sports radio following the release of the Spring 2025 ratings. Mike Felger admits he’s afraid to discuss certain topics on his show. And Barstool Sports gets a big-time TV deal.

All ahead in this week’s Four-Pack.

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On WEEI vs. The Sports Hub - Spring 2025…

Please note that the math on MutStack.com is not guaranteed to be correct.

So, let’s start with ratings for sports radio’s ‘money demo,’ Men 25-54, then talk about a more generic rating for Boston’s two sports radio stations. As usual, the first public breakdown of the ratings came from the X.com account Boston Radio Watch, which follows and reports on this as closely as anyone.

In their most important demo, the 2025 Spring Book (covers April 3 - June 25), was another decisive win for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Ranked No. 1 overall and No. 1 from 6 am to 6 pm, there is no denying a clear ‘W’ for the Hub. WEEI’s 4.9 was good for 7th in the market. How about a quick spin through the show vs. show?

Morning Drive - This has to be disappointing for WEEI, as they find themselves further behind than they were 12 months ago. Now over a year removed from the departure of Rich Shertenlieb, Fred Toucher continues to host the demo’s No. 1 morning show in Boston. This is the only show in The Sports Hub lineup that is up ⬆️ from this time last year.

Mid Days - The biggest success story year-to-year for WEEI, cutting the gap in half from 14.5 points to under 7. A big June number aided Jones and Keefe. Up almost 200% from 2024, it remains a mystery why Audacy Market Manager Mike Thomas was so slow in pairing Adam Jones and Rich Keefe, while letting Andy Gresh and Christian Fauria flounder in the 2s for months. The return of football will be a plus for Zolak and Bertrand.

Afternoon Drive - The headline here is that Felger and Mazz are down almost 35% from last spring. My friend Kirk Minihane has suggested that their forced negativity has worn on the audience. That might be true, but the numbers show listeners are not leaving for WEEI Afternoons, as that show has had just marginal growth, even with the decline of F & M.

And that’s because WEEI Afternoons is not good. At all. From the hosting to the co-hosts being on remote half the time, to Ted Johnson’s sporadic schedule, to the forced games/quizzes/segments…It’s a very difficult listen, bordering on impossible. One person told me this week they think it’s worse than the ill-fated Rich Shertenlieb Show on WZLX - and I agree 100%. The weird tension of the hosts does not help, as it’s clear that Nick ‘Fitzy’ Stevens is not happy with his role. And his co-hosts seem content to box him out of conversations, especially when he’s on remotely, which is two to three times a week.

It’s no surprise that listeners who may have left Felger and Mazz have not become superfans of WEEI Afternoons.

Nights - The early playoff exit from the Celtics was a big blow to the Hub, both overall and specifically with this slot. You can see WEEI getting a Red Sox bump, which will only continue to grow as the team rides their winning streak out of the All-Star break and into playoff contention.

6-7 PM - The ratings that I saw have Tony Massarotti’s Baseball Hour beating Red Sox Pregame 7.7 to 1.8. Yikes. Yes, some of that is thanks to the comically outdated format of Sox pregame, which is about half commercials. But it’s also thanks to the much better lead-in that Mazz gets from 2-6 PM.

In a more general rating, Persons 6+, WEEI beat The Sports Hub in June, 4.9 to 4.0. The Hub still had a larger total audience for the month, per publicly available numbers. I’m told that WEEI got a bump in ‘time spent listening,’ thanks in part to Red Sox games. It’s the first time since 2022 that WEEI has had the edge here.

I’ve written about this trend here in the Four-Pack, going back to May. I still don’t know how important or impactful it is, but it seems like a small win for WEEI.

“The 6+ numbers don’t mean anything,” one radio insider told me. “It’s a bigger deal that 98.5 got knocked out of #1 among adults (by Mix 104.1).”

Again, the 6+ trend for The Sports Hub from January to June (above) is pretty brutal. But even while WEEI management privately touts these numbers to their employees via email, they have to be disappointed that they have not made up more ground with Men 25-54.

A more significant discussion will be the overall downward trend in the total number of people listening to sports radio in Boston, as other content options become increasingly available and accessible.

A good Red Sox second half will help WEEI. The return of the Patriots will benefit both stations. The fall book numbers have always been more important than what we see in the summer, and it will be that way again this year. I don’t think the next six months will bring about significant changes at The Sports Hub.

But at WEEI? Remember, WEEI made big lineup changes in late August 2024. We’ll see if these latest ratings serve as an impetus to make further changes in August 2025.

Perhaps one of the reasons the audience and buzz for sports radio in Boston are eroding is that one of their biggest stars is hesitant to discuss certain topics on his show.

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On Mike Felger being afraid to say the wrong thing…

His words (from the video above, courtesy of BostonMediaCritic617), not mine.

“I’m afraid to fully…I’m afraid to say the wrong thing,” Felger told his co-hosts on Wednesday. This was in response to a caller commenting on a segment regarding Jaylen Brown the day before on Felger and Mazz.

“You know, talking about sex, politics, and race, and you just, you say something wrong. And that’s it. So, I don’t want to lose my job, cause you people have turned into a bunch of a-holes. They try and fire people for saying something wrong. So, I’m bringing it up, I’m leading the horses to water, but you’re going to have to drink. I’m afraid to say anything. And it’s your (the listener’s) fault. It’s your fault.”

Again, watch the clip above for the full context and tone.

On one hand, this seems like a massive cop-out from Felger. He’s been number one in the afternoon drive for years, helping his employer generate millions of dollars in advertising revenue along the way. Those same employers have had his co-hosts’ backs when he’s said really dumb things. I was undoubtedly nervous discussing specific topics over the years at WEEI, but I was never as successful as Felger, and I was easily replaceable.

His show has always focused on sports, and my guess is Felger likes it that way. He’s likely heard from radio executives that talking about politics is polarizing and could drive away listeners. But come on, no one is going to try to get Felger fired for having a take on Jaylen Brown’s political leanings, give me a break. Blaming the audience for that is a joke. Just say you don't want to talk politics on your show because you think it might hurt your ratings.

The Barstool Sports merger with Fox Sports is a sign that in 2025, we’re finally moving away from whatever the ‘cancel culture’ era of media was, and that’s a good thing. If Felger said this in 2022, I might be tempted to agree fully. But times are changing, and Felger blaming his audience for side-stepping topics is just silly.

On the other hand, management in terrestrial radio has been known to bow to activists and mob mentality. We saw it in Boston when WEEI didn’t fully defend Kirk and Callahan against one rogue activist and his friends at the Boston Globe. But that’s more about Felger not trusting his bosses to have his back, rather than his audience trying to get him fired.

The reality is, when his main competition is WEEI Afternoons, Felger could do four hours on animal crackers and still win the day. But maybe one of the reasons his audience (and the Boston sports radio audience as a whole) is shrinking is that they can get honest, fearless opinions elsewhere - Felger is telling you that you’re not getting that on his show.

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On the Barstool Sports partnership with Fox Sports…

This is a big one.

In a story first sniffed out by the X.com account FunHouse, which has documented soooooo many of Mike Francesa’s greatest moments over the last decade, Fox Sports is teaming up with Barstool Sports in a sports media megadeal.

A big part of the deal will see Dave Portnoy and Big Cat featured on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff starting this fall. While college football lags behind other sports in the Northeast, it’s #1 or #1A to the NFL across much of the country.

In addition, Barstool is set to produce and deliver a live, two-hour program on FS1, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM ET, featuring Barstool personalities and guest appearances by FOX Sports talent.

“They want our audience, but they know what audience we have,” Portnoy said Thursday on The Unnamed Show. “They don’t just like me, they like Barstool…when two parties both see the value in each other and getting a deal done, it’s easier to do it.”

From the way Dave explained it on The Unnamed Show, Fox Sports is essentially leaving them alone for two hours a day on FS1. Fox is building a studio for the new show in Chicago, so they’re making a long-term commitment. Barstool is partnered with DraftKings, so we’ll see if DK comes along for the ride.

I’m hopeful that Fox Sports utilizes Dave and his friend/handicapping partner, Elio, on the Fox and FS1/FS2 horse racing broadcasts. Seeing the coverage of Saratoga in high definition is a treat, but these shows and racing broadcasts have become formulaic and dull. Praddle, commercial, praddle, commercial, picks, praddle, race, quick recap…and do it again for another three hours.

Dave has invested a significant amount of money in the game by purchasing horses, and he and Elio have created some of the best content in racing over the last few years. It would be beneficial for racing, Fox, and fans if they get involved.

Most importantly, but also selfishly, I need to see Elio and his briefcase on national television.

This partnership seems like a strong move for both parties. I’ve noted the decline in Boston sports radio ratings; the same trend is also happening with talking-head sports TV. Fox just cancelled three of those types of shows this week. Barstool brings something completely different.

If Fox stays out of their way, the shows and the personalities involved will bring more viewership to their TV properties. And the exposure on national TV will bring Barstool even further into the mainstream than it is now.

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On your MutStack Notes…

📫 Next week. Let’s open it up to some MutStack Mailbag questions for the Four-Pack. It just feels right.

Subscribers will be able to direct message MutStack with the blue button above. Not a subscriber?

Pretty simple.

🏇🏻 We’re just over a week into the Saratoga meet, and I’ve had to adjust my approach. NYRA should be applauded for keeping the Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) groups out of certain pools. With two minutes to post, they don’t allow those CAW groups to bet in the win pool. The result is they bet less in that pool overall, and you get fewer last-second odds drops, like when you bet on a horse at 4-1 going into the gate and they go off at 5/2. It happens all over the country, but not nearly as frequently or dramatically at Saratoga.

BUT…the CAW groups are hammering the excata pool. And trifecta pool. And superfecta pool. You’re seeing some seriously depressed exacta payouts, and people are noticing.

I grew up playing exactas and exacta key boxes, but I’m bailing on them at Saratoga for now. I’ll focus on win bets, daily doubles, and the Late Pick 5, where supposedly the CAWs are still barred from playing. On the win end, especially, I think you can still find some value. I’ll probably end up playing in more contests, too.

But if you’ve hit an exacta at Saratoga this week and thought it might have come back light, it probably did. CAW play, unrestricted, continues to drain money from the pockets of everyday players.

🏇🏻 If you’re a horseplayer, the Haskell card at Monmouth is a must-play Saturday. All eyes are on Journalism as he returns after running in all three Triple Crown races. My heart will be with the Preakness winner, a horse I find myself rooting for as a racing fan. But at 5-1 or so, my money will be with Burnham Square, who had a brutal trip in the Derby. He ran well against East Avenue last time (that one had a massive pace advantage) and will relish this distance. Looks like a great day at the Jersey Shore.

🏈 Scott Zolak said last week that Drake Maye and his new wife had donated all their wedding presents to the homeless. Classy. That story went viral, as places like People Magazine quoted Zo as the source. His co-host, Marc Bertrand, said on Wednesday that Zo might have obtained that story from a fake, AI-generated TikTok. I hate that shit. The fake voices that sound real. The AI videos that look real. I hate it all. I’m old, I get it, but it all stinks.

A good reminder that in this new age of fake AI stories, keep your head on a swivel.

Also, I will 100% fall for one of these fake stories at some point, if I haven’t already

💰 A few months ago, 98.5 The Sports Hub decided to remove host Dan Lifshatz from their weekly sports betting show and podcast. This week, he announced a new venture called the Boston Handicappers Network. Looking forward to his gambling content for the football season.

💰 In response to the per-wager fee that the state of Illinois is now charging the sportsbooks in their state, BetMGM announced it will enforce a $2.50 minimum bet in Illinois, as of Wednesday (July 16). No more $1 Hail Mary, 20-leg, home run parlays for Illinois bettors. DraftKings and FanDuel have announced that they’ll pass the fee along to customers by charging them $ 0.50 per bet, starting September 1st. No word if they’ll also enforce a minimum bet, in addition.

⛳ It has been hard to focus on the Four-Pack the last two days while the Open Championship plays in the background. Our family remains a cable family, having been loyal to Comcast (now Xfinity) for decades. There is a 4K channel showing just the Par 3 coverage at The Open.

Produced by The R&A, the coverage is so superior to golf coverage in America that it’s not even funny. They did this thing where they went to a hole that they had not shown any of the three tee shots from. First, they showed a cool graphic of where all three shots ended up on the green, with the golfer’s name next to their ball and the distance from the hole.

Then, they went back and rapidly showed the three tee shots in succession. It was awesome. The whole production is better, as is the commentary. The 4K looks spectacular. It is a wildly enjoyable viewing experience, especially compared to what we get in the States. Not an ad, just an opinion.

But if Xfinity does want to sponsor MutStack and the Four-Pack, I am open for business.

And with that, I believe we have said it all.

Back next week with your MutStack Mailbag questions. And we’ll preview the anticipated return of Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, in the Jim Dandy Stakes, presented by Mohegan Sun.

Good luck with your Open Championship, Saratoga, and Haskell bets this weekend.

And thanks for reading.