Shadowbanned (w/ Marc Hochman)

In this episode of Stugotz and Company, hosts Stugots and CJ Toledano welcome guest Marc Hochman for a deep dive into baseball fandom, prank calls, and the absurdity of sports culture. The conversation kicks off with a hilarious replay of a classic Mike Francesa prank call where a caller seriously asks if a team could ever go 162-0 in baseball, only to be met with deadpan disbelief. Hochman shares his personal baseball obsessions, including his emotional attachment to players like Matt Mervis and Davison De Los Santos, both of whom he followed closely—only to see them get 'shadow banned' by the Marlins organization after brief MLB stints. The episode is filled with nostalgic stories from Hochman’s radio days, including a legendary softball game against Michael Bolton, where the pop star arrived in full MLB-style uniform, and a vivid memory of playing intramural sports with intense competitive fervor. The hosts also explore the quirks of college sports fandom, debating whether it’s valid to root for different teams in basketball and football, and reflect on the emotional weight of sports loyalty. Amid the humor, there’s a poignant undercurrent about the fleeting nature of fandom and the joy found in the absurd.