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. 6 HR AGO

    What Makes the Padres Good?

    (This is the audio-only version of Monday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple and Spotify and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here.) Darren and Marty are back and focussing on the Padres news both on and off the field. After a few minutes discussing television wardrobes and makeup, we talked about the weekend of information-gathering regarding the Padres reported sale to Jose Feliciano Jr. Marty made her way to Anaheim for clubhouse reaction to the sale from Manny Machado and we discussed the report that Sycuan is partnering with the purchasing group. We also talked about the weekend protests against Chelsea Football Club, a team that Jose Feliciano Jr and his partners own, and what that might mean to fans here. (Including the pic we discussed from the fan protest at Stamford Bridge) Attention was then turned to the product on the field and we read some listener responses to the question - “Why are the Padres good?” We appreciate the replies and talked about many of them, from Stammen vibes to Mason Miller and guys not named Machado or Tatis making things happen. Finishing out this show, Marty and Darren discussed San Diego FC’s most recent loss, with some reasons why this team has hit the skids and how close they might be to turning their fortunes around. It’s been a bit forgotten that in April of 2025, the team also lost three straight matches before turning their season around. Also, with one win in their next two matches, this team will be level on points (14) with last year’s record setting pace. Next match is Wednesday against the Houston Dynamo. Pregame coverage on San Diego Sports 760 and the IHeartRadio app starting at 5PM. 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

    45 min
  2. Mikey Varas Pregame

    2 DAYS AGO

    Mikey Varas Pregame

    Here's this week's “Coach’s Conversation with Mikey Varas”, recorded ahead of Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake. These previews are part of the SDFC Kickoff Show on San Diego Sports 760 and the IHeartRadio App. Pregame coverage starts 30 minutes before kickoff for most matches. Why is Mikey so confident things will turn around? How difficult has it been to analyze this team when it’s often playing a man down? We discussed that and more. After San Diego plays Saturday’s game in Salt Lake, SDFC will travel straight to Houston for a midweek match against the Dynamo. Kickoff Show at 5PM with actual kickoff just after 5:30 on Wednesday. Join Adrian Garcia Marquez and me on the radio for every MLS match and a reminder - you can listen to our radio broadcast on AppleTV for all home matches by locating the “Home Radio” option in the lower right corner of the broadcast. You can also listen to our postgame show, SDFC Extra Time, at the conclusion of each match. 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

    5 min

  3. 3 DAYS 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

  4. 5 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
  5. Bring on the Vedder Cup

    6 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
  6. Weekend Recap

    13 APR

    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

  7. 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

  8. 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
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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
    25
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Darren Smith
  • Show Website
    The Section 1904 Podcast

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