Hour 1: Roc and Manuch React to Brandon Pfaadt’s Spring Debut, Analyze Mick Cronin’s NIL Comments, and Discuss Rob Walton’s Minority Stake in the Diamondbacks.

Thursday, March 05, 2026 | 49:12

The opening hour of the program broadcast live from Twin Peaks in Tempe, where Roc and Manuch began by reacting to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ spring exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics. In the "Replay: Rewind" segment, the hosts featured postgame audio from pitcher Brandon Pfaadt, who tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings in his spring debut and discussed his focus on maintaining consistency following a volatile 2025 campaign. The conversation then shifted to the business of sports, beginning with UCLA head coach Mick Cronin’s viral remarks regarding the transfer portal and the necessity for schools to exceed revenue-sharing caps to retain student-athletes. The duo also broke down the reporting that billionaire Rob Walton quietly acquired a 10% ownership stake in the Diamondbacks at a $2 billion valuation, using the investment to fund infrastructure upgrades at Chase Field. Furthermore, they addressed the complicating landscape of local sports media rights, specifically the new agreement between MLB and ESPN that impacts in-market streaming for fans in the Valley. The hour concluded with a look back at sports history in "On this Day" and a comprehensive edition of Football at 50, focusing on the latest NFL roster shuffles as the new league year looms.