The Section 1904 Podcast

Darren Smith

In pursuit of smart conversations since 2004. The Section 1904 Podcast is a 20-year radio career, distilled for small batch consumption. Quality over quantity. Made in San Diego. dsmithshow.substack.com

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    The Padres New Owner

    It was early and I was connecting for my weekly Ben and Woods hit when I got a text from Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal. A very good morning indeed, as news quickly spread to Padres fans in San Diego and all across Major League Baseball. The Padres are reportedly being sold to Jose E. Feliciano Jr and his wife, Kwanza Jones, for a staggering $3.9 billion. You can read the story here. Jared was kind enough to join us on MartyTimeTV and the Section 1904 Podcast and provided detail on his report and explained how Jose Feliciano Jr is personally buying the Padres. Him, not his Private Equity firm - Clearlake Capital - and why that’s important. Things are not so great for the owners of the London club at the moment. Should Feliciano Jr be judged by the current climate at Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg and the fan backlash expected this weekend or will ownership here be different? We also learned important background information about Feliciano Jr and his wife and their plans to move much of their family philanthropy to San Diego after the acquisition becomes official. Lots to like and easy to hear similarities to Peter and Sheel Seidler. Is this all a Trojan Horse for Clearlake or some other Private Equity company to come through the door at some point and break the Padres into parts for profit? Maybe. Maybe not. As Jared Diamond said, “it’s too early to be pessimistic”. We’ve been through some things in San Diego. Here’s hoping the next chapter in Padres history picks up where the previous one left off. Maybe Peter’s legacy will, ironically, move forward once the Seidler Bros sell the team. Time will tell. Enjoy today’s show and if you’d like to watch this conversation, click here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    30 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    Rory McIroy Wins Again

    Darren and Marty are back and talking about Fernando Tatis’s exhaustion over Eddie Vedder questions and how Luis Campusano has decided to not give a fuck. Padres have won six straight and will try to make it seven on Wednesday night. (For more on the Pivetta injury situation and Padres reported interest Lucas Giolito, check out the latest Friar Territory episode) We also talked to golf reporter and author Alan Shipnuck, whose new book - Rory, The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar - is now available wherever you find books these days. Shipnuck talked about his motivation to write a book about Rory and how the Northern Irishman expressed his unwillingness to contribute to the book, including a tense and very public confrontation at the 2025 U.S. Open. We also discussed Rory’s success at Augusta National and how he’s become a very polarizing figure for golf fans during the PGA Tour / LIV Golf war - and what role Rory played in the PGA Tour closing in on victory over LIV. The show ended with a few minutes about the Diana Russini story, her resignation from The Athletic and if we should expect any consequences for Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel. (Spoiler: we don’t) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    55 min
  3. Bring on the Vedder Cup

    4 DAYS AGO

    Bring on the Vedder Cup

    (This is the audio-only version of Tuesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 podcast. If you’re interested in watching this conversation, click here) MLB.Com’s AJ Cassavell stopped by the show to talk about the options for Nick Pivetta (this was recorded before the IL announcement), and whether it makes sense for Fernando Tatis Jr to play second base. AJ also gave us some insight into covering a rookie manager and how Craig Stammen has grown into the role. There was also some discussing about the “elite” Padres bullpen looking a bit wobbly and which lower-leverage arms could be called upon to replace Jeremiah Estrada. Towards the end, it was a hopeful Liverpool fan (AJ) talking to a confident Barcelona fan (Darren) about Champions League comebacks that didn’t actually happen as they’d hoped. I should probably have just edited this part out but we’ll take our medicine like adults. Feel free to point and laugh. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    33 min
  4. Weekend Recap

    5 DAYS AGO

    Weekend Recap

    (This is the audio-only version of this show. While we had our share of technical issues on YouTube today, as always you can watch the unedited version of this show on MartyTimeTV by clicking here. You can also find this show and all shows on ApplePodcasts and Spotify) Many things happened in local sports this past weekend. Not only did the Padres sweep the Rockies, but they supplied plenty of subplots as well. From their new City Connects to the daily lineup changes and - maybe most shockingly - two-time Platinum Glove winner Fernando Tatis Jr playing a couple of games at second base. Who saw that coming and what does it mean? And then there was the dark cloud that floated in at the end of their five game winning streak, which was Nick Pivetta exiting his start with “elbow stiffness”. What’s next for Pivetta and where might the Padres turn for a replacement, if needed? Then there’s San Diego Football Club being naughty again. Pretty sure there’s a post on this page titled “SDFC Seeing Red”. Listen to that, if you missed it and hear what Mikey Varas has to say before this past weekend’s loss to Minnesota United. Pulling out of this red card tailspin is proving more difficult that than anticipated, with another suspension looming for this week’s match against Real Salt Lake. We also get into some Masters talk - really a preview of Tuesday’s show, when longtime golf reporter and Rory: The Heartache & Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar author Alan Shipnuck joins us on the next episode of the MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 Podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    40 min

  5. 10 APR

    Scanalysis

    I love talking to Bob Scanlan and could do so for hours. In this episode - the latest from the MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 Podcast joint venture - we talked to Scan for 30-40 minutes about the Padres daily lineup construction, BABIP, how teams are using Artificial Intelligence to detect pitcher’s “tells”, plus a few other Padres-specific topics. We also learned a few things about Bob’s game day prep and how he keeps himself in such great shape. And yes, I was truly shocked when he revealed his age in this conversation. Long live the Scan Man. Marty and I also kicked around a few other things, including SDFC’s winless drought and how different losing feels in MLB when compared to other sports, including soccer. It’s been 31 days since SDFC last won a match, which sounds more dramatic than it really is (0-1-2, W-L-D in that span). But you could feel the desire to get back in the win column tomorrow at Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff at 7:30 (pregame at 7PM) with Adrian Garcia Marquez and me on San Diego Sports 760 and the IheartRadio App. This is the “audio only” version of this podcast. If you want to see what we all look like before showering, you can find the MartyTimeTV tab on the homepage of this Substack. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    57 min

  6. 9 APR

    City Connect

    This podcast hasn’t had much of a cadence to it and that’s been bugging me. I’m not sure that the Section 1904 Podcast will ever return to five shows per week - and maybe that’s a good thing! - but I do aim to be a bit more consistent here and in the podcast space. With that, there have been a few questions I’d like to answer about this podcast and some of the things that have changed from the original version of the show. If you’re wondering about subscriptions and advertising and why I’m pushing out content on Substack, I addressed few of those topics in this episode. I was also at SDFC training a bit earlier today and have a few notes from what I saw whilst there plus you can hear what Mikey Varas said when I asked about the cascading impact of so many red cards / sendings off in such a short amount of time. Jeppe Tverskov had a decent looking shiner which, he says, came from an errant elbow in training this week. The Captain jokingly denied to identify the culprit. And then there’s the big news of the day. The Padres launched their City Connect jerseys, hats and clothing line. Nothing too surprising as the jerseys leaked weeks ago but we did get to see the other elements of the reveal. The Padres are really good at this type of thing and production wise, it was well done. However, is it at all odd to anyone else that the Padres chose a Dia De Los Muertos theme in April, when the actual celebration isn’t until November? And did anyone else feel conflicted about Peter Seidler’s picture on the ofrenda while his family is weeks away from selling the team, following a nasty family split that has pitted Peter’s widow against his brothers? There’s a fine line between paying respect and pandering for profit. Do the Padres deserve the benefit of the doubt that they’re doing the former and not latter? I’m not sure. Either way, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a whole bunch of this new gear around town. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    28 min
  7. SDFC Seeing Red

    7 APR

    SDFC Seeing Red

    Welcome Section 1904 / MartyTimeTV Joint Venture! The first half of this Podcast is Darren briefly talking about the Padres weekend in Boston, Heath Bell’s comments on Craig Stammen and the most recent Friar Territory episode, before talking about SDFC’s disappointing trip to San Jose over the weekend. The Chrome y Azul have seen FIVE red cards in 10 matches (all competitions) and have been without suspended players for a combined 450 minutes - not counting Manu Duah’s upcoming suspension against Minnesota United this weekend. Obviously, this needs to stop but is there a through line for the sendings off? Some thoughts. Credit is also due to the improved level of competition, as Real Salt Lake and San Jose showed noticeably elite pace against SDFC and appear to be real threats in the Western Conference. San Jose would probably be THE story in the West if it wasn’t for LAFC. Mikey’s men are back in action this Saturday night at 7:30pm. The second half of this Pod is the audio-only version of a conversation between Marty Caswell and MLB.Com’s AJ Cassavell. (YouTube version here). The two discussed Nick Castellanos’ role with the Padres, how close Yuki Matsui and Jason Adam are to joining the club and Craig Stammen’s process when choosing his leadoff hitters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    53 min

  8. 3 APR

    A Soccer Specific Show

    If you’re looking for a full hour of soccer talk, you’re in the right place. Lots of things are happening in the global game and this episode covers a bunch of different topics. First, we caught up with our friend, ESPN’s Eric Gomez, who joined us from Miami where he was covering the opening of Lionel Messi’s new MLS home. Eric and Darren relived the experience of watching a match in Toluca before turning their attention to the recent international window with takeaways for both the Mexican and the United States Men’s National Teams. Javier Aguirre figured out ways to compete in the new-look Azteca while Mauricio Pochettino left us scratching our heads. Does he even want to be the coach? (We didn’t talk about the uniform SNAFU between the USMNT and Belgium but just ugh) After we wrap with Eric, we jumped into a preview of this weekend’s game between San Diego Football Club and the San Jose Earthquakes. Voice of the Quakes, Ted Ramey, taught us about Bay Area soccer culture & history, including a story about being at the first ever MLS game in 1996. Ted then talked about Hall of Famer Bruce Arena and his overhaul of the San Jose roster this past offseason. The Quakes are off to a flying start and it starts with defending, as you’ll hear in this episode. The match is at Pay Pal Park on Saturday at 7:30. You can listen to Adrian Garcia Marquez and me on San Diego Sports 760, starting at 7PM. Here’s a link for the IHeartRadio App if you’re not into AM radio. Things are pretty tight at the top, so it’s an early season Western Conference matchup that has some sizzle to it. This was all soccer. You want baseball? There are TWO new Friar Territory Podcasts available for you on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Heath Bell went in on Craig Stammen in the most recent episode, which was…interesting? Unexpected? Both? Enjoy the shows and thank you for your support. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com

    1hr 10min
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About

In pursuit of smart conversations since 2004. The Section 1904 Podcast is a 20-year radio career, distilled for small batch consumption. Quality over quantity. Made in San Diego. dsmithshow.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Darren Smith
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Darren Smith
  • Show Website
    The Section 1904 Podcast

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