Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Jason Benetti, Andrew Triggs, Addison Reed and Odubel Herrera, C.B. Bucknor’s bad day, and Starling Marte’s suspension, then answer listener emails about the nature of fandom, dominance against a division rival, a billion-dollar payroll, Eric Thames’s hot start, transplanting an NPB team, catching up to favorite players from childhood, Mookie Betts’s strikeout-less streak, an RBI record, an unusual replay-review scenario, an extreme shift suggestion, ...
Apr 20, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about the significance of some teams’ slow starts to the season, the slowest batter in baseball, and a curious coincidence on another show. Then they have a mini baseball econ class with FanGraphs managing editor Dave Cameron, who discusses the non-news about Carlos Correa’s contract, the surprisingly static price of mid-tier contract extensions, the death of the early-career superstar contract extension, and the culprit behind the players’ declining share ...
Apr 18, 2017•46 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Mike Trout topping the WAR leaderboard, Stephen Wright’s vulnerability to the elements, and baseball-player social media behavior, then talk about the increase in game times in 2017, the factors slowing pace of play, and the coming of the pitch clock. Audio intro : The New Pornographers, " Clockwise " Audio outro : Jefferson Airplane, " Won’t You Try/Saturday Afternoon " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get Our Merch! Fac...
Apr 15, 2017•44 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan drop the no-Reds rule to banter about Michael Lorenzen and Joey Votto, then answer listener emails about a player who’s always in the rain, stats on baseball broadcasts, a curious scoreboard fun fact, the wave, early closer meltdowns, two framing hypotheticals, how many Kemps equals a Kiermaier, an extended draft drought, a Seinfeld trade proposal, and more. Audio intro : Bob Dylan, " Joey " Audio outro : The New Pornographers, " We’ve Been Here Before " iTunes Fe...
Apr 13, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about the Mets’ starting rotation, a Keon Broxton sighting, and the five WAR leaders vs. the five WAR trailers, then talk to Rob Neyer about his oral history of Michael Jordan’s baseball career, how good Jordan was and could have been, the ways in which the Jordan experiment is misremembered, and how it differs from Tim Tebow’s current attempt, concluding with a discussion of the use and abuse of the 10-day DL rule. Audio intro : Golden Dogs, " Balloons " A...
Apr 11, 2017•52 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Keon Broxton and batting helmets, statistical soothsaying, and the two-way-player attempts of Michael Lorenzen and Christian Bethancourt, then discuss the early results of several preseason players and teams of interest. Audio intro : Son Volt, " Too Early " Audio outro : Parliament, " I Misjudged You " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get Our Merch! Facebook Group Twitter Account Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Source...
Apr 08, 2017•49 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Jake Arrieta’s velocity loss, the league’s artificial velocity gain, and whether the Astros won the winter, then answer listener emails about topspin and the turf, the Mariners’ and Blue Jays’ 40th anniversaries/seasons, disagreeing with projections, intentional-walk predictions, Madison Bumgarner’s batting, the negative value of player mistakes, single-game double-play leaders, a pitcher who always throws strikes, forecasting final stat lines, and mo...
Apr 06, 2017•57 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about the difficulty of keeping perspective on Opening Day events, the lone disagreement between their preseason predictions, and a common reader misconception about prediction “groupthink.” Then they talk to Astros Double-A catching prospect and trampoline survivor Garrett Stubbs about his childhood trampoline injury and still-crooked finger, his dramatically different rankings on stats-based and scouting-based prospect lists, how size affects his future a...
Apr 04, 2017•39 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about the end of the offseason, a Canada-only Clayton Kershaw, and Drew Smyly’s health status, then discuss whether the advancement of technology and the latest sabermetric insights still favor defense over offense, or whether hitters have started to even the score. Audio intro : The Mountain Goats, " Balance " Audio outro : Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane, " April Fool " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get Our Merch! Faceboo...
Apr 01, 2017•41 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about a Carter Capps mimic, several recently released Effectively Wild favorites, a baseball use for trampolines, and Derek Jeter’s prolific publishing career, then answer listener emails about a different kind of fantasy league, a player who can see slightly into the future, speed vs. velocity, a home-run/strikeout pitcher, spring training intentional walks, breaking Old Hoss Radbourn’s record, magically missing bats, part-time Trout and Kershaw, and more....
Mar 30, 2017•50 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about a Robbie Ray ejection, Tom Hamilton’s Brody Chernoff interview, a quote about Mike Trout, a Takuya Nakashima shift, and a Terry Francona comment about Ryan Raburn, then preview the Pirates’ 2017 season with Travis Sawchik of FanGraphs and the Yankees’ 2017 season with Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal . Audio intro : They Might Be Giants, " The End of the Tour " Audio interstitial : Jackie Lomax, " A Hundred Mountains " Audio interstitial 2 : N...
Mar 27, 2017•1 hr 12 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Jered Weaver, David DeJesus, and Dan Duquette’s comments about Jose Bautista, then preview the Tigers’ 2017 season with Jason Beck of MLB.com and the Rays’ 2017 season with David Roth of Vice Sports . Audio intro : Lou Reed, " Average Guy " Audio interstitial : ABBA, " Tiger " Audio interstitial 2 : Dillard & Clark, " In the Plan " Audio outro : Unknown Prophets, " Almost There " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get O...
Mar 24, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan share responses submitted to a smattering of recent topics and banter about whether old scouting reports have value to teams, then answer listener emails about MVP-vote streaks, Brady Anderson and ex-player executives, predicting pitches perfectly, middle-infield offense, Aroldis Chapman copying Carter Capps, non-traditional starting rotations, and more. Audio intro : Ike & Tina Turner, " Finger Poppin’ " Audio outro : Mike McGear, " What Do We Really Know? " ...
Mar 23, 2017
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about anticipatory player celebrations, then preview the Rangers’ 2017 season with Levi Weaver of WFAA and the Marlins’ 2017 season with Tim Healey of the Sun Sentinel . Audio intro : Kanye West, " Celebration " Audio interstitial : Neil Young, " Texas Rangers " Audio interstitial 2 : Laura Marling, " Always This Way " Audio outro : Wilco, " Glad it’s Over " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get Our Merch! Facebook Group Twitter...
Mar 20, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about a beautiful Javier Baez tag, then preview the Mets’ 2017 season with Ted Berg of For The Win and the Orioles’ 2017 season with Jake Mintz of Cespedes Family BBQ . Audio intro : Jay Z, " Poppin’ Tags " Audio interstitial : Laura Stevenson and The Cans, " The Healthy One " Audio interstitial 2 : Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, " Baltimore " Audio outro : Humble Pie, " The Sad Bag of Shaky Jake " Link to Javier Baez tag video iTunes Feed (Please rate an...
Mar 17, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about WBC tiebreakers and the efficacy of the infield shift, then answer listener emails about a Mike Trout body snatcher, dropped third strikes, bricks behind home plate, premature rebuilds, your WAR compared to Tim Tebow’s, new Statcast stats, and more. Audio intro : Lenny Randle & Ballplayers, " I’m a Ballplayer " Audio outro : Dave Rawlings Machine, " Bodysnatchers " Link to Banished to the Pen’s team previews Link to Banished to the Pen’s EW tourna...
Mar 15, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about an Ian Desmond quote and a curious Dick Williams managerial motivational tactic, then preview the Mariners’ 2017 season with Meg Rowley of Baseball Prospectus and the Rockies’ 2017 season with Jen Mac Ramos of the Sonoma Stompers. Audio intro : Eliza Doolittle, " Team Player " Audio interstitial : Wings, " Soily " Audio interstitial 2 : Teenage Fanclub, " Thin Air " Audio outro : Supergrass, " Time to Go " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Spon...
Mar 13, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan preview the Blue Jays’ 2017 season with Joshua Howsam of BP Toronto and the Athletics’ 2017 season with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle . Audio intro : Rod Stewart, " Sonny " Audio interstitial : First Aid Kit, " Blue " Audio interstitial 2 : Destroyer, " From Oakland to Warsaw " Audio outro : Billy Joel, " Weekend Song " Link to Bill Hands episode iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get Our Merch! Facebook Group Twitter Acc...
Mar 11, 2017•47 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan answer listener emails about one-pitch innings, trampoline stats, winning in spring training, David Price and pitcher pace, a baseball scene in Chicago Justice , automatic homer hitting, putting hitters away with two strikes, underrated first basemen, banning player mannerisms, signing with an anonymous team, intentionally walking Mike Trout, and a Clayton Kershaw knuckleball. Audio intro : Red Hot Chili Peppers, " Throw Away Your Television " Audio outro : Courtn...
Mar 09, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Carter Capps, Noah Syndergaard, and salary distributions, then preview the Angels’ 2017 season with Pedro Moura of The LA Times and the Diamondbacks’ 2017 season with Nick Piecoro of AZCentral Sports . Audio intro : The Super Friendz, " Give the Sign " Audio interstitial : Teenage Fanclub, " It’s a Sign " Audio interstitial 2 : The Milk Carton Kids, " Snake Eyes " Audio outro : CSNY, " Pushed it Over the End " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) ...
Mar 07, 2017•1 hr 2 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about a bad highlight, then preview the Cardinals’ 2017 season with Will Leitch of Sports on Earth and the Royals’ 2017 season with Rany Jazayerli of The Ringer . Audio intro : Genesis, " Get ‘Em Out by Friday " Audio interstitial : The Jackson 5, " Never Can Say Goodbye " Audio interstitial 2 : Great Lake Swimmers, " Everything is Moving So Fast " Audio outro : The Jam, " Here Comes the Weekend " iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patre...
Mar 03, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about nets, nicknames, and scouting directors’ comments about international prospect Luis Robert, then answer listener emails about robbing from the Cubs, a division composed of only the worst teams, pitch counts and automatic intentional walks, pitchers pitching to pitchers, trying to win in spring training, Mike Trout batting eighth, pants and the strike zone, and baseball players and beer pong. Audio intro : Randy Newman, " Pants " Audio outro : JR JR, "...
Mar 02, 2017•1 hr
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan follow up on an Andrew Miller discussion and banter about Cubs backlash, then preview the Giants’ 2017 season with Grant Brisbee of SB Nation and the Braves’ 2017 season with Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Audio intro : Richard Thompson, " Backlash Love Affair " Audio interstitial : Banks & Steelz, " Giant " Audio interstitial 2 : Laura Marling, " Love Be Brave " Audio outro : Elliott Smith, " A Fond Farewell " Link to Ned Garver episode iT...
Feb 27, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about an Andrew Miller image and the top-heavy projected standings, then preview the Nationals’ 2017 season with Chelsea Janes of the The Washington Post and the Twins’ 2017 season with Aaron Gleeman of Baseball Prospectus . Audio intro : Blondie, " Picture This " Audio interstitial : The Apples in Stereo, " Stephen, Stephen " Audio interstitial 2 : Bon Iver, " Minnesota, WI " Audio outro : The Easybeats, " Friday on My Mind " Link to Andrew Miller photo iT...
Feb 24, 2017•58 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about a Steven Matz tweet, the Reds and Ryan Raburn, and the automatic intentional walk, then answer listener emails about misleading headshots, pitchers who rely on one pitch, the decline of player nicknames, the Yankees’ refusal to lose, Josh Reddick’s lack of clutchness, making Mike Trout run backward, and more. Audio intro : A Tribe Called Quest, " Movin Backwards " Audio outro : Wings, " Backwards Traveller " Link to Steven Matz tweet iTunes Feed (Plea...
Feb 23, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Yoan Moncada’s kid and Randy Levine’s comments about Dellin Betances, then preview the Houston Astros’ 2017 season with writer Zachary Levine and the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2017 season with Michael Baumann of The Ringer . Audio intro : Built to Spill, " Randy Described Eternity " Audio interstitial : The White Stripes, " Astro " Audio interstitial 2 : Yoneda, " Nowhere for a Good Time " Audio outro : Destroyer, " The Crossover " iTunes Feed (Please ra...
Feb 20, 2017•1 hr 3 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Adam Lind, Matt Albers, bunting to beat the shift, Mike Fiers, and Brandon Guyer, then preview the Cleveland Indians’ 2017 season with writer/editor Pete Beatty and the Chicago White Sox’ 2017 season with Cat Garcia of Baseball Prospectus . Audio intro : Lily & Madeleine, " Midwest Kid " Audio interstitial : Destroyer, " Goddess of Drought " Audio interstitial 2 : A Tribe Called Quest, " Youthful Expression " Audio outro : Chance The Rapper (Feat....
Feb 17, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Carter Capps’s comeback, Brian Flynn’s barn accident, the Reds’ weights and nicknames, and C.J. Wilson’s retirement town, then answer listener emails about preventing Tommy John surgeries, a Randy Johnson alternate history, Statcast in non-MLB ballparks, a baserunner’s secret skill, whether defense slumps, a Kyle Hendricks hipster, and an Adam Lind emission. Audio intro : The Drifters, " Up on the Roof " Audio outro : T. Rex, " Life’s a Gas " Link to ...
Feb 15, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan preview the Red Sox’ 2017 season with Alex Speier of the The Boston Globe and the Reds’ 2017 season with Zach Buchanan of the The Cincinnati Enquirer . Audio intro : The Jayhawks, " Red’s Song " Audio interstitial : Neko Case, " Red Tide " Audio outro : Neil Young, " Red Sun " Link to Alex’s article about Boston’s pitching-optimization plan Link to Zach’s article about Michael Lorenzen iTunes Feed (Please rate and review us!) Sponsor Us on Patreon Get Our Merch! F...
Feb 13, 2017•1 hr 4 min
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan banter about Matt Wieters and debunk Scott Boras, then preview the Cubs’ 2017 season with Sahadev Sharma of the The Athletic Chicago and the Brewers’ 2017 season with Jack Moore of the The Hardball Times . Audio intro : Courtney Barnett, " Scotty Says " Audio interstitial : Grateful Dead, " Built to Last " Audio interstitial 2 : Maritime, " Milwaukee " Audio outro : Modern Baseball, " The Weekend " Link to Ken Rosenthal’s article about Matt Wieters and framing iTu...
Feb 10, 2017
