Throwback Staturday: Recent Episodes
Peter Howarth
Level up your sports talk with Throwback Staturday, where host Peter Howarth breaks down the latest in baseball, basketball, and football through the lens of statistics.
Folks, please stow away all electronic devices and tuck in your tray tables because the Throwback Staturday plane is ready for landing. In the final episode of the show, Peter, Carson and Nick discuss the messy world of sports gambling in light of the Jontay Porter news and the way we discuss coaching (0:00). They also try to comprehend the Atlanta Falcons' selection of Michael Penix Jr. (27:08), before rattling through some NBA playoff stats (39:05). They wrap up the final show with the second-ever "Nick's Knacks" (47:48), the final "X's, O's, Q's and A's" (55:12), and the final Stats Star of the Week (1:05:38).
Believe it or not – the NBA Playoffs are finally here! Peter, Carson, and Nick welcome on Knicks fan Josel Galendez to talk Jalen Brunson’s standout season and the state of New York fandom (9:28), before they rattle through their playoff brackets, including Play-In and Finals picks (36:38). Before Josel joins, the crew starts by “Riding the Waveforms” (0:00). Other segments include the brand new “Nick’s Knacks” (52:55), “X’s, O’s, Q’s and A’s” and the Stats Star of the Week (56:52).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Contrary to popular belief, baseball's biggest problem isn't viewership, betting scandals, or the top third of the Dodgers lineup: it's starting pitching. Friend of the show Andrew O'Keefe joins to discuss what's happening and what can be done to solve it (11:00), before answering listener questions in "X's, O's, Q's and A's" and awarding a first-time winner of the Stats Star of the Week (36:00).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The Final Four is this weekend (!!), can you believe it? To celebrate, we welcome friend of the show Kyla Joinville to break down the biggest storylines in the men's and women's tournaments, including Caitlin Clark's playmaking, how to combat Zach Edey, and the unstoppable NC State Wolfpack (21:00). Peter, Carson, Nick, and Kyla also discuss possible league expansion cities and game day superstitions (0:00), along with feisty NBA Play-In teams and the best conferences in college hockey (45:00).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Yes, we did have an episode last week. No, you didn't hear it, unless you tuned in live, due to technical difficulties. Oh well. One week later, Peter, Carson, and Nick are back with a new segment called "Something or Nothing" where they decide if a sports headline is something to follow, or apropos of nothing (30:15). As always, they "Ride the Waveforms" (0:00), answer listener questions in "X's, O's, Q's and A's" (51:30), and award the Stats Star of the Week.
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Last episode's chaos rolls over to our debut of a brand new stats-based game show: Stats-Pardy (12:00). Carson and Nick compete to determine the true Stat King, while Peter tries to stump them with unrealistically hard questions. The crew also rides the waveforms by reacting to clips from social media (0:00), answers audience questions in "X's, O's, Q's and A's" (45:00), and awards a pair of Stats Stars of the Week.
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
In the deadest time of the sports year, Peter, Nick, and Carson dedicate the bulk of the episode to answering mailbag questions! Other segments include "Riding the Waveforms" and the Stats Star of the Week.
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
THE FINAL SEASON IS HERE! Peter welcomes Carson and Nick back for the fourth and final season of Throwback Staturday by discussing their optimism for the Jerod Mayo-led Patriots (0:00), before breaking down the potential of Jaylen Brown's participation in the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest (11:08). Peter and Nick then argue about who can (realistically) win the Western Conference (16:20), speculate about the "death" of the 5,000-yard quarterback (30:33), give their favorite Super Bowl bets and talk through the Doc Rivers experience (40:25).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 4:00pm every Tuesday on 98.1 WQAQ and wqaq.com.
The season of guests rolls on as Throwback Staturday welcomes Thomas Gordon to the show! First, Peter, Carson, Nick, and Thomas react to Alex Smith's comments about Tom Brady (0:00) and Michigan's chances at a National Championship (10:00) in "Riding The Wavelengths". They then discuss the sportsmanship of point differentials in the NBA's In-Season Tourney (15:55) and the legitimacy of Dak Prescott and the Cowboys' success this season (24:06), before wrapping up with "X's, O's, Q's and A's" and the Stats Star of the Week (43:30).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and wqaq.com.
BREAKING NEWS: Carson and Nick will be joining Peter full-time for the rest of the semester! They kick off their Thanksgiving show by Riding the Waveforms on Joe Mazzulla, future players-turned-broadcasters, and CJ Stroud's MVP candidacy (0:00). They then draft the active Boston athletes they're most thankful for (30:30), including Chris Martin?! They end the show with a spooky "X's, O's, Q's and A's" and a record-breaking Stats Star of the Week (50:00).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
I hear you loud and clear – yes, this show has strayed away from being stats-based – but hey, it's still a good show! This week Peter welcomes back Carson Laundry and welcomes in Nick Gregg to celebrate Election Day by proposing new rules in major sport leagues and voting on if they should be implemented or not (30:20). All three also partake in "Riding the Waveforms" (0:00), "X's, O's, Q's and A's" and the Stats Star of the Week (49:54).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The Las Vegas Raiders performed an exorcism in its staffing room, firing their head coach, GM, and offensive coordinator on Halloween Night. Peter explains why, and how bleak the future is for the franchise (32:35). He also analyzes the best receivers in the league according to ESPN (22:03), in addition to editions of "Riding the Waveforms" (0:00), "X's, O's, Q's and A's" (43:08), and the Stats Star of the Week (53:09).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Everyone's favorite radio show-turned-podcast is back and better than ever! Peter addresses and explains the revamped show and what to expect moving forward (0:00), before breaking down Phillies-Snakes and his World Series pick (3:38). And with the NBA back, he goes through his three favorite over-under win totals, including the Lakers and Cavs (21:48). Finally, he debuts two new segments: "Riding the Waveforms" and "X's, O's, Q's and A's," before ending with the Stats Star of the Week (38:01).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
On the brink of an Astros-Rangers ALCS, Peter makes his case for the Astros being one of the most overlooked dynasties in recent history, and why Texas sports are on the rise (0:00). He then looks at advanced stats and betting odds to see what they tell us about the state of the NFL (18:52), and the importance of Joel Embiid's Olympic commitment to Team USA (33:09). He ends the show with an on-brand Stats Star of the Week, and tries to get back on track with his Thursday Night Football prediction (43:21).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Yes, you read that right. An NFL team scored 70 points last weekend and it didn't even make this episode's title! Peter tries to remedy that by offering his thoughts on a memorable Miami Dolphins performance (9:10) before he's interrupted in real time by Damian Lillard being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks (17:02). For all you Swifties, he discusses her Travis Kelce fling in Kansas City (0:00), and for all you sickos, he talks Trevor Siemian to the Jets (33:52) and the floundering Minnesota Vikings (39:00). Shoutout to the Stats Star of the Week and Peter's Lions-Packers Thursday Night Football pick (42:37), by the way.
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
With Boston sports in flux, Peter calls on Rhode Island's-own Carson Laundry to talk the trials and tribulations of the Chaim Bloom era and what's next for the Red Sox (7:46), before touching on the disappointing 0-2 New England Patriots (33:50). Other topics include a breakdown of the running back position in the NFL (0:00), along with the Stats Star of the Week and Thursday Night Football predictions (40:14).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Throwback Staturday is BACK for its third season! Peter shares his thoughts on the Aaron Rodgers injury and what it means for both the short and long-term outlooks of the New York Jets (0:00). He then breaks down the Chiefs' receiving corps and if it can lead them back to the Super Bowl (21:58), the merits of Mac Jones (33:07), and his Super Bowl pick (35:24), before checking in on his preseason MLB over-unders (37:27). He ends the show with the Stats Star of the Week (42:37) and his Thursday Night Football prediction for Vikings-Eagles (43:57).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Peter and Ben wrap up the semester in the only way they know how: complaining about their underperforming playoff teams. First, they rip Julius Randle's postgame comments apart and discuss the Heat's resurgence (0:00), before trying to figure out what happened to the once-title favorite Celtics (10:38). Ben then tests Peter in another "It's a Numbers Game" (36:26), they discuss the parity in this year's NBA Playoffs (45:15), and they close the final show of the semester with analyzing if the Rays really are the best team in baseball (52:44) and the Stats Star of the Week (59:12).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
In a hotly-contested battle for Stats Star of the Week between Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, Peter and Ben rank the Warriors in terms of NBA dynasties (0:00), before debating who had the more impressive performance: Steph or Jimmy (23:53). They then try to get a grasp on the Celtics after their Game 1 loss against the 76ers (34:42), before another "It's a Numbers Game" and the Stats Star of the Week (52:15).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
We're two games into the 2023 NBA Playoffs and things have heated up already! Peter and Ben start with the resurgent Lakers and how far this team can go with LeBron and AD leading the way (0:00), before discussing the "Battle of the Pacific" between the Suns and Clippers and who they'd rather have in a playoff series: Kawhi Leonard or Kevin Durant (14:41). They then debut a new segment called "It's a Numbers Game" (28:57), and wrap up the show with the Beam Team and Draymond Green's suspension (34:58), the Knicks-Cavs series (50:34), and the Stats Star of the Week (58:27).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The NBA's Play-In Tournament is upon us, that magical time where stats don't count for the regular season, nor are they considered playoff stats. Peter and Ben try to decipher what America witnessed on Tuesday night in Timberwolves-Lakers (13:37) and Hawks-Heat (24:20), before comparing their brackets for the entire NBA Playoffs (38:38). Other topics include the Bruins' historic regular season and how it could affect their Stanley Cup run (2:36), Ben's notes on the Masters (0:00), and the Stats Star of the Week (1:01:01).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The UConn Huskies are your 2023 Men's Basketball National Champions! Peter and Ben discuss the unlikely path of this Connecticut squad and their path back to the top next season, along with the future of the Big East, Big 12, and the transfer portal (0:00). They then examine the effectiveness of MLB's rule changes for the 2023 season and if they're good for the game (24:20), before breaking down the new NBA collective bargaining agreement and what it means for the future of contracts and free agency, trades, and end-of-season awards (36:16). Ben wraps the show with his favorite Masters picks (51:54) and a very worthy Stats Star of the Week (57:55).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
After a one-week technical error, Peter and Ben are back for the podcast listeners with a loaded slate in which they talk requirements for All-NBA centered around Damian Lillard (2:17), what to expect from Connecticut-Miami and what stands out about San Diego State (14:41), and rapid fire MLB over/under predictions as baseball is back (36:11)!
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and onwqaq.com.
March Madness is nearly here for college basketball, but the madness has worked its way to the NBA! Peter and Ben discuss the surging Knicks, sinking Celtics, confusing 76ers, and underwhelming Warriors (1:45), before talking Danny "1.6 Billion" Dimes (24:35) and their favorite underdogs in the upcoming Power Six Conference Tournaments (33:05).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
With Damian Lillard's 71 points last Sunday putting him in the history books, Peter and Ben take a look at some of the most notable records across basketball (11:20), football (27:42), and baseball (43:03) and grade them on their break-ability. This comes after they give an update on Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes (0:50), and the latest on Saquon Barkley's upcoming free agency (5:10).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
As conference play heats up in college basketball, Peter and Ben do a deep dive into the Big East and Big 12 (38:28), as well as if anyone can take down undefeated South Carolina on the women's side (29:41). Other topics include Jayson Tatum's All-Star MVP performance and the future of the All-Star Game (0:00), the future of streaming rights and what it means for regional sports networks (9:04), Saquon Barkley's upcoming free agency (21:39), and the Stats Star of the Week (55:38).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Following the Chiefs' 38-35 win over the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, Peter and Ben share their initial takeaways from the game (0:19) before dissecting Patrick Mahomes' performance and place among NFL royalty (3:59), and figuring out Aaron Rodgers' future. They then discuss Milwaukee's recent surge and win over the undermanned Boston Celtics (39:42), the slipping Chicago Bulls and their decision to stay pat at the trade deadline (46:59), and thoughts on the Three-Point Contest's participants (52:07) before highlighting the Stats Star of the Week (58:03). Peter and Ben also honor the late, great Barry Sacks, ESPN legend and incredible Quinnipiac professor (35:30).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Throwback Staturday is BACK, with the show adding a co-host, Benjamin Upson. Peter and Ben throw their notes away to talk Tom Brady's (second) retirement from the NFL and if he is the GOAT of GOATs (1:02), before recapping 49ers-Eagles (16:34) and Bengals-Chiefs (26:25). They then take their best shot at predicting Super Bowl LVII between the Eagles and Chiefs (38:37), and wrap up the show discussing the state of the Western Conference (51:17) and the Stats Star of the Week (55:46).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 11:00am every Wednesday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
We're just over the halfway point of the NFL season and it's a good a time as any to see where things are at for football's biggest awards. Peter takes a look at MVP (12:14), Offensive (19:37) and Defensive Players of the Year (30:17), and Coach of the Year (35:34) to see if he agrees with the betting odds. This comes after a look at Jeff Saturday's improbable 1-0 record as head coach of the Colts (1:51), and before quick hits on Immanuel Quickley (39:30), Titans-Packers on Thursday Night Football (47:47), and the Stats Star of the Week: Justin Fields (42:24)!
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The Indianapolis Colts have done the unthinkable and hired a head coach... without any college or NFL coaching experience. Peter tries to make sense of the Jeff Saturday experiment (19:16), before predicting where the biggest stars in MLB free agency will wind up (35:11). Other topics include a recap of last week's discussions about the Brooklyn Nets and the World Series (0:48), a check-in on the new NBA transition take foul (9:59), Peter's gripes with Netflix's The Redeem Team (11:11), a look at the best fantasy football performances of all-time (51:13), and the first ever Stats Star of the Week (55:44).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The Brooklyn Nets can't keep themselves out of the news cycle for both on and off-the-court reasons, and Peter shares his thoughts on both fronts (44:44). But first, he discusses his keys to playing fantasy sports (1:25), a World Series update (11:59), and the potential impact of key NFL trade deadline acquisitions (26:33).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Game 1 of the World Series between the Phillies and Astros begins on Friday night and Peter paves the path each team needs to take to victory before making his own pick (2:31). He then pivots to the NBA and takes stock of the teams at the very bottom and top of each conference, including the Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets (12:50), before wrapping up the show with a look around the NFL and Peter's pick for Thursday Night Football (42:32).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
After another underwhelming Thursday Night Football showing, Peter opens the show with a recap of last week's TNF talk (0:00), before comparing what sportsbooks think of Super Bowl contenders versus advanced stats through EPA/play (4:55). Then, he details what has gone wrong with the Rams this year (10:13), the flaws of Pro Football Focus (17:08), how NBA teams change their style in "clutch time" (23:53) and the future of the all-time three-point record (34:20). He wraps the show with a preview of Saints-Cardinals (44:34) and his favorite over-under picks for the NBA season (50:14).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
After a crazy couple of weeks in the NFL culminated with questionable roughing the passer penalties and stricter concussion protocols, Peter goes through the history of the penalty (11:31) and protocols (24:19). Other topics include Peter's thoughts on the Colts-Broncos disaster and Amazon's gamble on Thursday Night Football (3:05), and a new segment: Fun in Numbers (32:27).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
Even with salary caps continuing to rise across leagues, teams are continuing to find ways to add talent to their organization, especially through front offices and coaching staffs. Peter discusses what that means for the NHL as well as college football's NIL deals (3:14), before making some observations about the NFL and what sportsbooks are making of Super Bowl contenders heading into Week 5 (31:50).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
New day, new stats: ESPN has released new statistics to break down wide receivers, and Peter shares his takeaways from the Receiver Tracking Metrics, or RTMs (17:03). Baseball Savant has similarly debuted a new way to gauge players, in this case through an Arm Strength leaderboard (8:00). Other topics include the best quarterbacks through Week 3 in clean pockets vs. under pressure (26:36), a readjustment for the Bills' offense (41:39), and Peter's predictions for Dolphins-Bengals on Thursday Night Football (47:45).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
With the MLB regular season coming to a close, Peter takes a look at upcoming rule changes in the league and across the NBA and NFL to evaluate how that could affect the way we view historic seasons. He starts with the feasibility of breaking NFL single-season records with the transition to a 17-game regular season (3:44), before discussing the NBA's new penalties on transition take fouls (18:08) and MLB's banning of the defensive shift (26:49). He ends the show with a brief look at the NFL receiving leaders in EPA through Week 2 and what that might mean moving forward (49:07).
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.
The 2022 American League MVP race is one for the ages, with Shohei Ohtani in one corner having the best two-way season since... his MVP campaign last year, and Aaron Judge in the other corner having one of the greatest right-handed hitting seasons ever. Peter breaks down how the MVP is awarded in the NBA, NFL, and MLB as well as a look at each league's most recent winners (1:28), how narratives come into play (14:29), three categories to break down how the award is voted on (22:29), and how Ohtani and Judge stack up in each (26:01).
Editor's note: apologies for the blown out microphone - still getting used to new equipment, it should be remedied for next week!
Throwback Staturday airs live at 2:00pm every Thursday on 98.1 WQAQ and on wqaq.com.