A Note From MutStack Owner Dave Portnoy
Despite the Nor’easter of intergalactic dimensions I will be running in the Tunnel to Towers 5K on Sunday. If you’d like to support, I am matching donations for Tunnel to Towers hats and shirts in our store. Every dollar goes to the cause and then I double it
On a sore leg, no less. And it’s a terrific cause.
Tunnel to Towers honors military veterans and first responders. The name comes from Stephen Siller, an off-duty New York City firefighter (FDNY) who died on September 11, 2001. When the attacks began, he strapped on 60 pounds of gear and ran through the blocked Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (now the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel) to reach the Twin Towers and help save others.
You can (and should) buy a shirt or hat to support them here. Every dollar from the purchase goes to Tunnel to Towers. And then Dave is going to double the donation. Awesome gesture for an awesome organization. Hope Dave has rain gear for Sunday…
If you’re a horse racing fan, it’s important to get off Twitter and get to the racetrack every now and then. At least twice a year, I suggest. It’s good for the racing soul. And it’s a good reminder that not everything is as terrible as it feels online.
The game has some MAJOR issues. CAWs (and tracks that roll out the red carpet for them), insane yearling prices, racetrack executives who don’t give a shit about the bettors; those are just a few. I have spent the last three-plus years writing and talking about those issues here and for Barstool. They are real and need to be addressed, and I’ll keep harping on them.
But being at Churchill in May for Lovely Grey’s Oaks attempt, it was energizing to see all the young people at the track yelling support for Dave and Go Go Greys as he walked his horse down to the paddock. You see that same energy when you stroll through the backyard at Saratoga.
And I saw it again in Bensalem, PA on Saturday. I was just a few feet away from trainer Gustavo Delgado as he rooted home The Puma in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. What a reaction. Now, I was too focused on my bets to get the great video Alexa from ABR got, but I saw it all live.
The Puma had always shown talent, but he hadn't run like that since his effort in the Tampa Bay Derby. He made a HUGE move around the turn and got the jump on Further Ado. The race came back fast, and his 128 Timeform number is the best of any three-year-old this season. Dismiss him (and Further Ado) at your own risk in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The fans at Parx were awesome. They came over to talk KMS, Surviving, Barstool, racing…all day. Chris brought me his hand-written picks for the day. Jake talked about what a big day this was for PA racing.
This was the first time Parx tried their hand at an in-house simulcast show for its big day. After watching hundreds of hours of racing coverage over the years, I got the chance to host some of it myself. It was far from perfect (I called Rick Dutrow by his dad’s name multiple times), but I was glad we got to focus on betting and handicapping with my co-hosts Ryan Anderson and Dick Jerardi. Parx gave us the green light to run our own show and supported us with sound and video.
The people watching a track feed are betting on the races- without those players, well, there are no races. I wish more tracks realized that. My friend Jess crushed her two Grade I calls, again. And the Parx team was committed to giving fans a good product. I loved being a small part of it.
New England racing is basically dead. I wish I had gone to Suffolk Downs more. Same for Rockingham Park. Right when I started playing, you could bet online. That seemed easier to me, and I assumed those tracks would always be there. I was dumb, shocker. Now the closest track is three hours away and only runs in the summer. Shit.
Look, later today I’ll be back doom-scrolling horse-racing Twitter about all the issues with the new Belmont and the idiot owner who tried to name their horse after Hitler. I can’t quit. But (and I think I’m using this phrase right) it was good to ‘touch grass’ and get to a big live racing day this past weekend. If you’re a racing fan, this is your friendly reminder to get to the track next time you can.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox’ playoff chances took a big hit Thursday. Drake Maye has been bad. Week 3 NFL Picks and your weekly MutStack notes.
All ahead in Friday Four-Pack #190
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On the Boston Red Sox in the MLB playoffs…
Just the rantings of an angry bald guy in his basement studio.
On the struggles of Drake Maye…
Let’s start with the facts.
Of all the NFL quarterbacks who have 300+ passing yards through the first two weeks of the season, Drake Maye has the worst QB Rating. His 63.1 number is worse than Justin Herbert's. Worse than Daniel Jones’s. Worse even than Malik Willis.
He’s been bad. It's okay to say that.
It doesn’t mean he won’t get better, maybe even as soon as this week against Jacksonville. It also doesn’t mean there are some legit reasons why. AJ Brown went down. Romeo Doubs has been up and down. No TreVeyon Henderson in Week 1. I get it.
But he’s been…bad.
During his playoff run, I was willing to write those struggles off to injury. Is he still hurt? Is that why he has a hard time with some of his deep balls?
When he gets out on the run and plays backyard football, he seems okay. He rolled out to his right and hit Doubs for a big play against the Steelers. But when he’s asked to stand back there in the pocket, read the defense and make a big throw, it’s just not happening.
Woof. Like this game-losing INT vs. Seattle. Or the tipped passes last week against the Steelers. He’s either tucking and running before the play can develop, or he’s forcing the ball out quickly and sometimes into two defenders. The fans (Hogdale) who are quick to blame Josh McDaniels are wrong - I get that it’s easier to blame the OC than the star QB, but it’s the low-hanging fruit. Maye was awesome last year - was that all the OC? Come on.
Seattle and Pittsburgh tried to force Maye to beat them in the pocket. Without AJ Brown, it’s going to be tough.
I said this week on Dirty Water that when you compare him to 2025 MVP candidate Drake Maye, this version hasn't been good. But the reality is, when compared to the rest of the QBs in the league through two weeks, you can say the same thing.
Some silver linings: it’s early. His best WR is hurt. They played two good defenses. He appears to be healthy. He has a good team and coaching staff around him. Like, I still have faith in Drake Maye.
But as someone who heard from his ‘sources’ that he was ready to make the leap and be one of the three best QBs in the league, boy, I’d like to see some flashes of that here against the Jags. Becasue through the first two weeks, for whatever reason, it just hasn’t been there.
On your Four-Pack of NFL Picks…
Week 2 Record: 1-2
Season Record: 2-4
ATDs: 0 for 2
Five TDs for the 49ers, and Deebo can’t get just one. Pain.
We’re onto Week 3. Odds from DraftKings as of Friday morning - make sure you check for updated odds.
The Side
BUCS (+1.5) VS VIKINGS (-112)
Yesterday we were talking on the very popular Barstool Sports SPORTS show, Sports Central, about the 0-2 NFL teams we trust. I was surprised that I was the only one who still has faith in the Bucs. And I’m happy to bet them here. Bad luck turnover game in Week 1. Then in Week 2, that long lightning delay. Now they’re home against Kyler, and I love to bet against Kyler. The Vikings are going to blitz Baker - his 5.5-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio against the blitz ranks fourth among quarterbacks with at least 30 pass attempts against the blitz during that span, per the Tampa Bay media notes. Do not be afraid to bet the 0-2 teams this week.
The Total
DOLPHINS VS. CHIEFS UNDER 45.5 (-105)
The Dolphins are an embarrassment. And they’re playing slow - one of just eight teams in the league taking 30+ seconds per offensive play, per Stats IQ. The Chiefs have played faster, but if you expect them to big up big on the road, then it’s fair to expect them to run the ball and try and ice the game late without expending too much energy. Ugly games have a lot of ways they go under, and this one feels ugly - especially after the Chiefs played that OT game on Sunday night.
The Prop
PAT FREIERMUTH 40+ REC YARDS (+117)
I played a lot of Dalton Schultz in DFS, and it paid off. Turns out the Bengals still suck vs TEs. 17 / 200 through two games. After that pathetic offensive performance vs. the Pats, Rodgers goes back to his binky Sunday. Laddering this up to 80+, too.
The ATD
AJ DILLION +550
Shoutout Boston College. With Jonathan Brooks out, Dillon will get the bulk of the backup carries. He’s built like a fullback and built for goal-line carries.
On your weekly MutStack Notes…
⚾ A weird Episode 71 of Dirty Water - A Boston Sports Podcast. We (me, Hogdale, and Ed Hand) got the Contreras news right as the show started. But we powered through. Watch and subscribe on YouTube - then go listen and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts.
⚾ The American League Playoff bracket is a joke. But I fixed it. You’re welcome, MLB.
🏈 Thanks to KMS/The Case producer and basketball coach David Cullinane for alerting me to the ultra-cringy Drake Maye interview with Rich and Ken (No Ted) Monday on WEEI. First, they asked him if Aaron Rodgers was a douchbag, forcing him to listen to sound from his podcast. Then they played a fan question, asking Drake if he was a “weed guy.” From here, Rich seemed to try to get him to endorse THC live on the radio.
Of course, marijuana is still illegal in Maye’s home state of North Carolina. And he just recently said on a podcast he drinks “once or twice” a year and lives a pretty boring life.
Just terrible stuff, bouncing between Rich’s bad questions and Ken’s “let’s get back to football questions.”
🏈 No Ted Johnson in the interview, but Ted now calls in each Monday at 2:30 as a guest on his own show. He can’t join his show on Mondays because he’s taping a TV show. Very cool.
🎙️ I have not listened to today’s Big O Podcast with John Dennis, but I will. I will definitely listen when he has my friend Kirk on next week. I listened to last Friday’s show with Lou and Christian. Glenn promised the truth on his pod, so I don’t know why they didn’t use Mike Thomas’s name when they were critical of WEEI management. They used some “Wreck-It Ralph” nickname instead? That’s how I heard it.
📺 I am rewatching Friday Night Lights, and I must say it doesn’t make a lot of sense that when Coach Taylor left, they passed over Buddy Garrity’s best friend and OC Mac McGill for the job. They hired the Tennessee Tyrant? And Mac just stayed on the staff? Come on now.
🏀 No, I don’t want UConn to go back to the AAC, thanks for asking.
⚾ Finally, congrats to me for winning the Minifan Fantasy Baseball League. Waking up at 3 AM to pick up starting pitchers was no fun to explain to my wife, but it was worth it. I said on KMS I was retiring, but no shot. Battling Ziggy, GPZ, Chris, and everyone else is too much fun.
And with that, that sure feels like enough Stack for this week.
✈️ Headed to NY next week to spend my days and nights in the Barstool office for Red Sox / Yankees. Or Red Sox / Astros. Or Red Sox / Rangers. Live streams Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. You should watch. Hopefully a visit to the new Belmont Park. Fingers crossed.
Back tomorrow with a big horse racing blog at Barstool.
Good luck with all the bets this weekend. And thanks for reading. And watching.
I want to believe in the Red Sox, that is all I have to say. Ok, not really, Sonny Gray had a fantastic season and if we perform well, I think that increases his chance of not retiring. Payton Tolle had an incredible rookie year, he's a fun guy to watch, great sense of humor, immaculate inning as a rookie, the mustache, really hope he stays with us a while and continue to improve. Contreras doesn't have the best attitude sometimes but I think he's 2nd or 3rd when it comes to first base. Great offensive season IMO. So nice to have a competent defensive 3rd basemen. Raffy literally led the league in errors like every year, terrible defense at the hot corner, his bat may be missed but, Durbin is solid and I expect him to get better. Honestly, it looks like we got a lot of positive stuff for next season but I would be thrilled if the Red Sox can make it past one round in the playoffs.
Good looks, love the Mutstack, one of the few things I can look forward too each week.
Very Cool is my new favorite way to sarcastically discredit something