Beyond the Scrum: The Baseball Stories We Didn't Write - podcast cover

Beyond the Scrum: The Baseball Stories We Didn't Write

The Athletic's Andy McCullough and Marc Carig cut through the nonsense and tell you exactly what's going on around Major League Baseball

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Episodes

To vote or not to vote for the Hall of Fame with C. Trent Rosecrans

Marc and Andy are joined by the new president of the Baseball Writers Association of America, The Athletic's Reds reporter C. Trent Rosecrans. They debate some of the big topics facing the Hall of Fame and its voters including whether or not writers should be voting at all. Marc and Andy also react to the Mets firing new general manager Jared Porter after he acknowledged sending explicit text messages to a female reporter in 2016. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jan 20, 202151 min

The Virtual Winter Meetings special with Mike Ferrin

Mike Ferrin joins Andy and Marc for a celebration of the virtual Winter Meetings. They cover everything they would have in the lobby at the real Winter Meetings right here on the podcast. -Surprisingly active free agency -Updating the arbitration system -The state of tanking -The Phillies are a mess -Checking in on Mike's D-backs -When would today's worst GM have been baseball's best GM? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Dec 10, 20201 hr 5 min

Bill Plaschke talks Dodgers and 25 years of columns, Carig is loving the Cohen era of Mets baseball

Marc and Andy weigh in on the early days of Steve Cohen's ownership of the Mets and how unrecognizable it is from the Wilpon era. Then L.A. Times columnist and Around the Horn regular Bill Plaschke joins the show to tell tales of 25 years as a sports columnist in Los Angeles. How does he continue to succeed in a sports journalism landscape dominated by Twitter. How 18 years on ESPN's Around the Horn has helped him in clubhouses and locker rooms. Bill and Andy share their story ledes if the Dodge...

Nov 11, 20201 hr 1 min

The Dodgers are champions, Cash's blunder and the return of Cora and Hinch

Major League Baseball has a new champion and almost made it through the postseason without a major COVID-19 story. Andy and Marc discuss the Dodgers win over the Rays in what became a potential super-spreader event in Texas. The guys dig into Kevin Cash's decision to pull Blake Snell, attempting and failing to see both sides of the argument. Finally it's a look ahead to the offseason and the possible returns of Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch to the managing ranks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...

Oct 28, 202052 min

Clayton Kershaw is good, Mookie Betts is great, and the Rays can be tough to watch

The World Series is underway and Marc and Andy dive into the key storylines between the Dodgers and Rays. A fresh look at the Clayton Kershaw narrative. The misery of Red Sox fans watching Mookie Betts shine this October. Every club has analytics, so what makes the Rays different? Marc also vows not to rant anymore... we'll see. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 21, 20201 hr 2 min

Is the Astros championship window slamming shut?

The Athletic's Astros reporter Jake Kaplan joins Marc and Andy to delve into the state of the Astros. Will they try to bring back George Springer? Should they shake up the roster to better separate themselves from the cheating scandal? Did Dusty Baker do a good job managing the team in 2020? The guys answer those questions and also debate the right time to ask Walker Buehler about his pants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Oct 14, 202046 min

David Wright opens up about his back injury the GQ shoot, and the time Carig burned him

David Wright had to deal with Andy and Marc in the Mets clubhouse during his playing days and yet somehow they convinced him to join the podcast. He looks back on the highs and lows of his All-Star career in New York. Confronting Chase Utley after the controversial slide that injured Reuben Tejada. Battling back from the injury that eventually ended his career. What happened to the clothing from that GQ shoot with Jose Reyes and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Sep 29, 202057 min

Jorge Arangure on sports versus news and the most exciting team in baseball

Jorge Arangure has covered sports for ESPN, the Washington Post and Vice. Now he's doing the news thing at the New York Times. He talks to Andy and Marc about his journey and his lasting love of the Padres. The guys also talk about what we can take from the 60-game season that is winding down and what they're looking forward to in the postseason. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 202057 minEp. 29

Grisham and Roberts Were Both Right and the End of an Era in Queens

Steve Cohen has agreed on a deal to purchase the Mets and Andy and Marc weigh in on what it all means. Yes he's rich, but will he spend the right way to build a successful franchise. Also, how will the Wilpons be remembered. Then the guys dive into the debate surrounding Trent Grisham's home run pose and the Dodgers' reaction. Hint- Everyone can be right in this situation! The episode ends with some press box meltdown memories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Sep 16, 202057 minEp. 28

The Yankees Stink, Plus James Fegan on the White Sox Who Are Good

After some reflection on the best football books of all time (Friday Night Lights), Marc and Andy try to figure out why the Yankees are not a good baseball team. From injuries, to bad defense and fundamentals, the guys explain what drove Brian Cashman to visit Buffalo and how big a deal it is. Then The Athletic's White Sox reporter James Fegan joins the show to talk discuss the magic that's happening on Chicago's south side. James also opens up about his struggles going to high school on the nor...

Sep 09, 202058 minEp. 27

Evan Drellich on Rob Manfred's five years as MLB commissioner

Evan Drellich becomes the first two time guest on Beyond the Scrum. He takes Andy and Marc behind the scenes of his latest story on MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. They discuss what kind of leader Manfred is, whether or not he loves the game, how baseball has failed with diversity and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 02, 202053 minEp. 26

The Small Sample Size Midseason Awards!

Sure the season's only 60-games long. That's not stopping The Athletic's Marc Carig and Andy McCullough from handing out MLB Midseason Awards! (Yes, they included Trout) The guys also discuss if the season can be considered a success so far and what team should the Dodgers fear the most in the first round. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 202046 minEp. 25

Fernando Tatis Jr. & Unwritten Rules with Dennis Lin

Marc and Andy welcome The Athletic's Padres reporter Dennis Lin to the show to make sense of the Twitter-storm around Fernando Tatis Jr.'s breaking of baseball's unwritten rules. The guys also dive into the origins of the unwritten rules and try to explain why they won't go away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 202039 minEp. 24

Checking in on the Cardinals' Mess with Mark Saxon

Cardinals beat writer Mark Saxon joins the show to talk with Marc and Andy about all the issues the Cardinals have faced the last two weeks. The team hasn't played since July 29 after a COVID-19 outbreak, and is now facing an uphill battle to play a true competitive season. Saxon fills us in with what's been happening on the ground, and where the team goes from here, on this episode of Beyond the Scrum. Rundown 1:42 What's the State of Play in St. Louis? 3:13 Is There Any Clarity on Why This Hap...

Aug 12, 202041 minEp. 23

The Mets did it again, plus Matt Gelb talks Phillies

Marc and Andy have both experienced the wonders of covering the Mets beat. That qualifies them to weigh in on the latest mess in Flushing as the club and Yoenis Cespedes part ways. Then The Athletic's Phillies reporter Matt Gelb joins the show to discuss everything going on with the team that went eight days without playing a game despite having no positive COVID-19 tests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 05, 202057 minEp. 22

Dusty Baker's Brilliance, Bad Baseball and the Marlins Outbreak

Marc Carig and Andy McCullough "celebrate" the return of baseball. The guys explain why Dusty Baker's dugout and postgame comments about Joe Kelly and the Dodgers were brilliant (20:00). They consider the implications of the COVID outbreak with the Marlins (2:00) and bemoan the expanded playoffs and sloppy play on the field (30:00). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 29, 202040 minEp. 21

In a big week for baseball David Roth joins the show!

Talented writer, former Deadspin editor and optimistic Mets fan David Roth joins the show. The guys discuss at what moment they realized they were excited for the 2020 baseball season, why baseball owners don't join Twitch, who's high school has the most famous alumni and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 22, 202053 minEp. 20

Ranking Ballparks, Naming the Aces and Looking Ahead to Opening Day

Andy has major problems with Marc's ballpark rankings and takes him to task (3:00). Then the guys name the aces of MLB and coming up with a shortlist of four current players (12:00). Finally the show dives into the dilemma fans face this season trying to cheer on their favorite team while also understanding the risks involved in playing (39:30). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 15, 202058 minEp. 19

Howard Bryant on Bruce Maxwell, Baseball's Evolving Black Player Movement and more

ESPN National baseball writer Howard Bryant joins the show to explain how his recent Bruce Maxwell story came together. Andy, Marc and Howard go on to discuss why African Americans have less and less of a presence in the sport, why the players are ready to dig in for the next labor negotiation and whether or not the 60-game season will be completed.Howard's story: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29414410/the-exile-oakland-bruce-maxwell-birth-mlb-black-player-movement Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Jul 09, 20201 hr 11 minEp. 18

Play Ball! (and prepare your grievance)

MLB is ready to go but will we ever hear the words "Play Ball?" Andy and Marc have their doubts and dive into the problems the sport is still facing.1:45 - Players are ready to report as COVID-19 cases climb9:14 - Marc does NOT hate baseball!18:10 - Should baseball have gone with bubble plan?23:45 - The greatest World Series champs of all-time24:35 - Interview with union labor lawyer Eugene Freedman about potential union grievance, what went wrong, what went right and how could media better cove...

Jun 25, 202047 minEp. 17

Former MLBPA Director of Communications Greg Bouris Joins the Show

Rundown 1:28 How Did The Parties Get Here? 5:01 How Did the System Break Down? 11:06 Any Way the Relationship Could Become a Partnership? 15:43 Can the MLBPA Ever Stay Even with the Owners? 19:29 Was the Post-Strike Generation Unprepared for Something Like This? 24:11 Worried about What This Will Do to the Sport's Health? 27:08 Coverage of Owners vs. Players 31:35 The Fans' Stance 36:03 How MLBPA Educates a Diverse Membership 39:09 Do You Miss It? 43:52 We're Charlie Brown, They're Lucy Follow G...

Jun 11, 202052 minEp. 16

What Systemic Racism Looks Like in the Press Box

Rundown 1:45 Facing Uneasy Truths 5:46 Marc's Experience as a Filipino-American Baseball Writer 10:37 A Personal Story from Marc 18:08 The Pernicious Influence of "Individualism" 21:52 How Systemic Racism Manifests Itself in Baseball Coverage 30:30 The Resource and Opportunity Gap 40:00 The Potential Gains Being Made in the Moment 44:47 Time to Re-Learn American History 48:03 Trent Rosecrans' Offer on Twitter Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathle...

Jun 04, 202051 minEp. 15

Former Dodgers GM Ned Colletti on 2020 MLB Season Negotiations, Bizarre Trade Requests, Lee Elia, and More

Rundown 0:58 Ned Colletti Joins the Show 4:30 The State of MLB's and MLBPA's Negotiations 10:17 Is This Really Going to Break Down over Money? 17:20 Bizarre Trade Discussions 21:05 What Hasn't Changed in the GM Game? 26:46 Irritations with the Media 32:23 Ned's Personal Story about Lee Elia's Famous Rant 40:35 At Peace with Not Being an MLB GM Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-...

May 28, 202048 minEp. 14

Ron Washington Stories, Life as a Musician on Tour, and more with Levi Weaver

Rundown 1:02 Ron Washington Stories 3:02 MLB's Health and Safety Protocols for the 2020 Season 12:03 Levi's Stay-at-Home Experience 14:14 Levi's Unlikely Route to Covering Baseball for a Living 19:27 Songwriting Troubles and a Life in Music 27:46 Baseball Travel vs. Musician Travel 32:41 Empathizing with Players as Performers 37:33 Levi Explains, and Plays, 'Rank Five' Follow Levi on Twitter: @ThreeTwoEephus Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathlet...

May 21, 202052 minEp. 13

Rangers GM Jon Daniels on Good and Bad Trades, Changes in the Business, and More

Rundown 0:49 Rangers GM Jon Daniels Joins the Show 3:14 Staying on Top of COVID-19 Developments 7:08 The Cliff Lee Trade 12:19 Lessons Learned from the Adrian Gonzalez/Chris Young Trade 17:05 How Different Was the Job a Decade Ago? 19:05 What Would You Tell The First-Year GM Version of Yourself 20:57 What Did That Version Have Right? Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subsc...

May 14, 202027 minEp. 12

The Mookie Betts Trade, the New-Look Red Sox, and Boston Sports Media with Jen McCaffrey

Rundown 1:19 Marc's Bizarre Jeter-Era Yankees Draft 5:36 The Temperature of the Red Sox Fanbase 9:40 The Mookie Betts Trade 16:02 The Red Sox' Timeline for Contention 19:13 Why Letting Jon Lester Go Still Stings 24:07 Where is the Fanbase on Alex Cora? 27:10 Covering Sports in Boston 34:28 The Craziness of the '04 Summer Follow Jen on Twitter: @jcmccaffrey Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 4...

May 07, 202038 minEp. 11

Previous Lives, Baseball's 2020 Fate, and More with Evan Drellich

Rundown 1:58 Evan Drellich Joins the Show 3:33 Memories from the Radio Days 8:03 Being on an Island in Major Sports Cities 11:00 Dealing with Teams as Beat Reporters 18:01 The Business of Baseball During the Pandemic 25:45 Can There Possibly be Minor League Baseball in 2020? 30:22 Covering the Player/Owner Economics Fairly 35:26 Missing the Regular Flow of Covering Baseball 41:45 One Last Trip Down Radio Memory Lane Follow Evan on Twitter: @EvanDrellich Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Foll...

Apr 30, 202044 minEp. 10

Richard Wang, the English-Language Voice of Taiwanese Baseball, Joins Beyond the Scrum

Rundown 1:15 The Red Sox Get a Slap on the Wrist 4:18 The Culture of Cheating (or Gamesmanship) in Baseball 7:00 Power Dynamics and Playoff Shares 12:02 Baseball in Taiwan 14:08 Our Interview with Richard Wang 15:08 Richard's Experience with Sudden Worldwide Attention 20:02 Broadcasting in Your Second Language 24:30 Richard's Time in Boston 28:29 Introducing Taiwanese Baseball to the World 31:24 Games for the English-Speaking Audience 33:59 Talking Fubon Guardians 39:16 How to Find This Weekend'...

Apr 23, 202056 minEp. 9

The Players We Hope to See in 2020

Rundown 2:44 Marc Checked Out Taiwanese Baseball 6:35 The Arizona Plan is Probably MLB's Most Realistic 11:03 The Players We Want to See This Year 11:41 Andy on Yu Darvish 14:17 Marc on Nelson Cruz 17:39 Andy on Mookie Betts 19:57 Marc on Keston Hiura 21:25 The White Sox and Brewers 23:47 The Battle Between Good (A's) and Evil (Astros) in the AL West 25:04 Marc's Story on the Passing of New York Post Photographer Anthony Causi 32:22 Looking Back at the Last Month 35:30 Embracing Creativity Follo...

Apr 15, 202039 minEp. 8
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