Aug 25, 2026 · 2h 14m
Big Cat and Ernie Clement connect media longevity with baseball’s turnaround
Spittin' Chiclets Episode 666: Featuring Big Cat & Ernie Clement
The episode pairs a candid look at sustaining a major sports podcast with a player’s account of Toronto’s push toward meaningful September baseball.
- 1Dan Katz traces Pardon My Take’s unlikely origin, ensemble chemistry, and challenge of balancing longevity with family life.
- 2Ernie Clement explains how defensive versatility, clubhouse culture, and routine changes shaped the Blue Jays’ late-season surge.
- 3The hockey discussion weighs youth-development pathways, NCAA eligibility, and whether generational stars are identifiable early.
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Ernie Clement gives a firsthand account of Toronto’s late-season surge, including the defensive flexibility and clubhouse secret that helped change the team’s momentum.
The brief
The hosts move from Metro Division setup and hockey development to the broader question of when elite players become recognizable, contrasting early brilliance with late bloomers.
Dan Katz explains how an accidental meeting with PFT Commenter helped produce Pardon My Take, then considers its decade-long run, ensemble cast, business uncertainty, and family tradeoffs.
The hockey debate examines Canadian major-junior recruitment, NCAA eligibility, pay-to-play youth systems, and the limited pathways facing American players.
Ernie Clement describes Toronto’s turnaround from inside the roster, including his movement across the infield and outfield, slump adjustments, clubhouse culture, and the pressure of September baseball.
The standout tension is whether sustained sports success comes from obvious generational talent or adaptable systems, a question echoed by both Pardon My Take and the Blue Jays.