Ballpark Dimensions - podcast cover

Ballpark Dimensions

MLB.comwww.mlb.com
Baseball’s biggest news, trends, trades and highlights, all broken down from an analytical angle. Subscribe now to stay up-to-date on Majors' most important storylines using the same data as cutting-edge front offices. Enjoy two episodes per week, one with Matt Meyers and Mike Petriello, and another with Mandy Bell and Sarah Langs.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Trading Season Is Upon Us - Season 4, Ep. 28

With the 2018 mid-summer classic in the rearview mirror, teams aren't holding back on making deals to bolster their clubs before the trade deadline. Just in the past few days, the Dodgers landed Manny Machado from the Orioles and the Indians picked up Brad Hand and Adam Cimber from the Padres. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discuss the latest moves and how it will affect the pennant race down the stretch. Later in the podcast they talk about a few relievers you prob...

Jul 19, 201843 minEp. 138

Inside A Baseball Front Office - Season 4, Ep. 27

On this episode of the Statcast podcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers are joined by former Mets Sr. Director of Baseball Operations and former Braves assistant GM Adam Fisher to the podcast to discuss working in a baseball front office and what the trade deadline season, from a front office perspective, is like. They also talks about what it was like for Adam to work in the sport when the statistical revolution got started, the deadline moves that he was a part of that help...

Jul 12, 201847 minEp. 137

The Case For Trading Bryce Harper - Season 4, Ep. 26

The Washington Nationals were supposed to be the lead dog in the NL East for the 2018 season. Instead, they currently find themselves seven games behind the divisional leaders Atlanta Braves in third place. Because of that, the Nationals could very well become sellers at the trading deadline. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discuss why Washington may consider trading upcoming free agent Bryce Harper and what kind of return it could net the Nats. They also talk about ...

Jul 05, 201831 minEp. 136

How Does Freddy Do It? - Season 4, Ep. 25

Freddy Peralta might be someone you’ve never heard of, but what he’s accomplishing for the Milwaukee Brewers this season is remarkable. Even though Freddy has only been in the bigs for a short time, he’s become the only pitcher since 1908 to strikeout five or more batters and give up three or fewer hits in his first four starts. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers take a look at how Peralta has managed to be so successful with the Brew Crew despite throwing his 91 mph fa...

Jun 28, 201846 minEp. 135

Minute Maid Park: A Pitcher's Paradise? - Season 4, Ep. 24

The defending champion Houston Astros play in a ballpark that has had the stigma of being hitters park. With the "Crawford Boxes" being only 315 feet down the left field line, one would think it's safe to make that assumption. However, after much research, Statcast host Mike Petriello takes a look at why Minute Maid Park has in fact become the opposite and how the numbers can back that up. Mike also discusses some of the notable Statcast moments from this past week, if Giancarlo Stanton is start...

Jun 20, 201834 minEp. 134

The Under-the-Radar 105-mph Pitcher - Season 4, Ep. 23

When Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks exploded onto the scene this season by throwing the fastest pitches in 2018, topping out at 105 MPH, many people asked themselves “who is this guy?” As a prospect that was in the Single-A ball in 2017 and was the first player cut from the Cardinals 2018 spring training camp, Hicks has become a bright spot for St. Louis’ pitching staff this season. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers talk about what Jordan is doing to be so successful i...

Jun 13, 201833 minEp. 133

How Did Betts and Bogaerts Get Better? - Season 4, Ep. 22

Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts are a big reason for the Boston Red Sox success in 2018. After both played through injuries during the 2017 season, they've statistically become the more improved hitters this season. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers examine how they've gotten better, as well as a surprising addition to the list. Later in the podcast, Mike and Matt discuss if the Brewers have the best defense in baseball, the Rays pitcher who has had the best start thi...

Jun 07, 201824 minEp. 132

Surviving and Thriving - Season 4, Ep. 21

When the Dodgers placed Clayton Kershaw went on the DL earlier this month for left biceps tendinitis, there was a sense of panic. However, despite losing their ace for the majority of May, the blue crew has managed to not just survive but also thrive. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers talk about how the Dodgers have been able to stay afloat despite the rash of early season injuries that they've experienced. They also talk about who the most underrated slugger in baseba...

May 30, 201837 minEp. 131

The Rise of Home Runs - Season 4, Ep. 20

The increased number of home runs hit in baseball has become a hot button subject with many searching for answers, including Commissioner Manfred. That’s why he put together a committee of scientists to try and find out what has caused the baseball to fly out at such alarming rates. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers are joined on the podcast by the Chairman of the committee, Dr. Alan Nathan, a professor of physics emeritus at the University of Illinois. They discuss th...

May 24, 201839 minEp. 130

A Braves New World - Season 4, Ep. 19

The surprising Atlanta Braves currently own the best record in the National League and have some of the most exciting players in baseball on their squad. With the call-ups of Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuna, along with the already established stars like Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis, the Braves are trying to prove the naysayers wrong. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers take a look at why the Braves have been so successful and if they can sustain it through the rest of...

May 16, 201834 minEp. 129

Glorious Gregorius - Season 4, Ep. 18

Didi Gregorius had a fantastic month of April and currently leads the Bronx Bombers in batting average, runs scored, home runs and RBI, all the while being named the American League Player of the Month. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers, using Statcast data, explores why Didi has been crushing it at the plate this season and isn’t only a product of Yankee Stadium. They also take a look at James Paxton’s no-hitter against the Blues Jays, who the best reliever in basebal...

May 09, 201843 minEp. 128

Improved Defense in the Outfield - Season 4, Ep. 17

As the calendar turns to May, the majority of MLB teams have already played out roughly 20 percent of their schedule so now is a good time to examine which outfield defenses have improved the most in 2018. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers, with the use of Statcast metrics, take a look at why certain teams outfield defense has gotten better and what factors might be playing a part in that. They also discuss the early impact of the D-Backs using a humidor in Arizona, wh...

May 01, 201841 minEp. 127

The Stanton Struggles - Season 4, Ep. 16

Giancarlo Stanton was arguably the biggest acquisition by the New York Yankees this past offseason. While it was unrealistic for Stanton to pick-up where he left off following his 2017 MVP seasoe, he has struggled since joining the Bronx Bombers. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers examine the early season struggles from Giancarlo, as well as other players like Yu Darvish and Lucas Giolito, and what we can conclude from the Statcast data. Later in the podcast, the guys t...

Apr 23, 201837 minEp. 126

Fun With Small Sample Sizes - Season 4, Ep. 15

With the first month of the baseball season past the halfway point, the Statcast crew examines some of the best small sample sizes they’ve seen so far. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discusses small sample sizes from Brandon Nimmo, Adam Ottavino, Rick Porcello, Craig Stammen, among others, and how much stock one should take in these early samples. Later in the podcast they discuss the DJ LeMahieu’s impressive start to the season, buying or selling the Atlanta Braves...

Apr 17, 201833 minEp. 125

The Early Hard Luck Hitter - Season 4, Ep. 14

When the Phillies signed Carlos Santana to a three-year, $60 million deal this past offseason, many thought there would be some pressure to make a good, first impression with his new club. However, Carlos has gotten off to a rough start at the dish but how much of that has been bad luck? Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers talk about why Santana is leading the way as a hard luck hitter this season and why Phillies fans should still be encouraged in his production, despit...

Apr 11, 201827 minEp. 124

It's Shohei Time - Season 4, Ep. 13

Shohei Ohtani was one of the biggest storylines going into the 2018 season, and he hasn’t disappointed only a week in. After an impressive first start on the mound, Ohtani followed up by slugging his first MLB career home run on Tuesday night. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discuss the “Japanese Babe Ruth’s” first week in the bigs and if he was more impressive at the plate or on the mound. Also in this weeks’ podcast, they talk about elite exit velocity following Gi...

Apr 04, 201840 minEp. 123

The 2018 Statcast Season Preview - Season 4, Ep. 12

With the 2018 season just around the corner, it’s only appropriate to get a preview for what’s to be expected when things kick-off on Thursday. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers each provide 30 stats on 30 teams in this jam-packed episode. Later in the podcast, they discuss their predictions for who will win the World Series, the end of the year awards and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-po...

Mar 27, 201849 minEp. 122

A New Home In Baltimore - Season 4, Ep. 11

It may have taken almost the entire offseason and spring training but starting pitcher Alex Cobb finally has a new home. After inking a four-year, $57 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles, Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discuss how Cobb fits into the Orioles 2018 plans and if playing his home games at Camden Yards could affect his numbers. Later, they talk about what kind of season Yasiel Puig might have based off of Statcast data from his 2017 campaign, some not...

Mar 22, 201834 minEp. 121

A Record Extension - Season 4, Ep. 10

This past Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals and Paul DeJong agreed to a $26 million 6-year contract extension. The shortstop made history accepting the largest contract for a player with less than one year of playing time. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers examine the risks that may come with the extension and take a look at DeJong’s Statcast numbers to see if it was the right move by the club. Later, the Statcast guys continue to ponder why Neil Walker is still a free a...

Mar 06, 201830 minEp. 120

Obvious Launch Angle Guy - Season 4, Ep. 9

The Minnesota Twins have reportedly signed Logan Morrison to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with a club option for 2019. Coming off of 2017 with a career high 38 home runs, Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discuss why Morrison’s success in 2017 was in big part to an enormous jump in his launch angle. They also talk about the Angels dropping the home run line on their right field wall and how that may factor into their offense this season, as well as examining why the B...

Feb 27, 201828 minEp. 119

The Stove is Hot - Season 4, Ep. 8

Eric Hosmer is a member of the San Diego Padres. J.D. Martinez is moving from the desert to Fenway Park. Jake Odorizzi was traded to Minnesota. Jarrod Dyson signs on to swipe bases in Arizona. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers take a closer look at these recent transactions and discuss how these moves will affect their teams from a Statcast perspective. They also explore why it doesn’t matter who your closer is on Opening Day. To learn more about listener data and our ...

Feb 20, 201829 minEp. 118

Why Certain Pitchers May Still Be Free Agents - Season 4, Ep. 7

Lance Lynn, Alex Cobb and Greg Holland currently have a lot in common. All three pitchers had Tommy John Surgery in their careers, rejected qualifying offers this offseason and they’re still currently without a team as pitchers and catchers officially reported this week. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers do some digging to figure out where the market currently stands for these pitchers and why they might still be unsigned. Later in the podcast, the Statcast crew talks ...

Feb 15, 201830 minEp. 117

Comerica Park, A Hitters Stadium Theory - Season 4, Ep.6

Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers, has a reputation of being a nightmare for hitters due to the fields’ dimensions. However, that perception isn’t to be believed by all. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discusses how despite Comerica’s pitchers park reputation, the batters eye might be the reason for offensive success. They also discuss why Todd Frazier to the Mets makes all the world of sense, using Statcast data to hack your way to a 56 game hitting stre...

Feb 06, 201830 minEp. 116

New To The Brew Crew - Season 4, Ep. 5

The Milwaukee Brewers struck quickly last week by re-tooling their outfield after trading for the Marlins' Christian Yelich and signing Lorenzo Cain to a five-year contract. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers discuss how Miller Park will affect the numbers for the newest members of the Brew Crew. Later, they examine if the Houston Astros' lineup will be better than last season and why the Oakland Athletics are interesting from a Statcast perspective. To learn more about...

Jan 30, 201833 minEp. 115

Not So Obvious Places For New Faces - Season 4, Ep. 4

The MLB free agent market is still looking for someone to throw gasoline onto the fire but it's safe to assume that a few players will wind up with new teams. Even though there might be some obvious destinations, Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers take a look at some landing spots for big free agents that aren't so obvious. They also discuss how J.D. Martinez has aged and what that could mean for his future contract, Jose Martinez being the true breakout Cardinals star ...

Jan 24, 201836 minEp. 114

The Best Bullpen of All-Time? - Season 4, Ep. 3

The Yankees surprised most of baseball last season by coming within one game of reaching the World Series. One of the reasons was the bolstering of the bullpen by Brian Cashman before the trade deadline with the acquisitions of Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers examine if the 2018 Yankees have the best bullpen we've ever seen in baseball. They also discuss the recent trades made by the Pirates, baseball players getting younger and what...

Jan 18, 201827 minEp. 113

Taking Stock in Age - Season 4, Ep. 2

With Lorenzo Cain still on the market, the Statcast crew examines if teams really should be worried about signing arguably the best all-around free-agent outfielder due to his age. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers compare Cain to other outfielders who signed deals around their age-32 season and how those contracts played out for their teams. Later in the podcast, they talk about if a change of scenery could improve Gerrit Cole's numbers and Ozzie Albies' debut and ans...

Jan 09, 201839 minEp. 112

What to Look Forward to in 2018 - Season 4, Ep. 1

The calendar has finally flipped to 2018, which means a new season of Major League Baseball isn't too far away. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers talk about the year to come, like what hitters and pitchers may break out during the 2018 season. They also discuss the Colorado Rockies' signing of reliever Wade Davis and which starting pitchers shouldn't go deep into games. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy...

Jan 03, 201836 minEp. 111

Statcast New Year's Resolutions - Season 3, Ep. 44

On the final episode of the Statcast podcast for 2017, host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers are joined in studio by the proprietor of the website Baseball Savant, Daren Willman. They discuss how important the site has been to advanced analytics, as well as the new live game feed for the 2017 season. Later in the show, Mike and Matt discuss the big free agents that are still on the market, including Eric Hosmer and Lorenzo Cain, as well as who should play right field for the Yankee...

Dec 19, 20171 hr 18 minEp. 110

The Hot Stove is starting to percolate - Season 3, Ep. 43

There's less than a week away until the MLB Winter Meetings kick off and it finally appears the Hot Stove is starting to get going. Statcast host Mike Petriello and national editor Matt Meyers talk about the reported multi-year deal that will send Mike Minor to the Rangers and why he's an interesting signing when you look at his Statcast numbers. They'll also discuss the latest on the Shohei Otani sweepstakes with never before seen Statcast data and some of the pros and cons of managing a two-wa...

Dec 05, 201738 minEp. 109
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast