Jeff Pearlman, New York Times best-selling author of nine books including "The Bad Guys Won", "Boys Will Be Boys", and "Showtime" (adapted for the HBO Series 'Winning Time'), joins the podcast to talk about his new book "The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson." Jeff shares his process that took almost three years, 700 original interviews and scores of research to craft this seminal biography about the elusive Bo Jackson. Bo was the first two-sport superstar in the modern era, shinin...
Oct 28, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Author Clayton Trutor joins Tucker and Coach to talk about his new book “Loserville: How Professional Sports Remade Atlanta - and How Atlanta Remade Professional Sports.” In the time period between the early 1960s through the late 1970s in Atlanta, city government and local business leadership created the mold for bringing sports franchises to a new city (4:51). A cautionary tale of “Too Much, Too Soon”, Clayton examines the circumstances and actions that led to Atlanta having zero major profess...
Dec 20, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Coach and Tucker preview the 2021 MLB Season: Predictions for every team in every division, starting in the AL West (2:38) where the villain Astros are favored once again. Is this make or break time for the Angels and Trout? Can the A’s pull out another moneyball trip to October? The AL Central (9:58) features a stacked White Sox team, and a Twins team ready to go toe-to-toe with the South-Siders. In the AL East (17:57), it is once again the Yankees to lose, but you can’t count out the Rays. In ...
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Running the Bases is back for the 2021 season! Coach and Tucker look forward to (hopefully) a full summer of Baseball (1:30), and what changes to expect moving forward. Coach gives proper tribute to the colossal Henry Aaron, as seen in person from Day One in Atlanta, through Home Run no. 715, all the way to his final game at Fulton County Stadium (20:26). Coming into home, reflecting on the surreal 2020 season- The 60-game sprint, ever-changing Covid protocols, and where baseball fit amid the st...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Tucker is joined by Coach via phone for the first Coronavirus podcast for RTB. Out of the Box, Coach and Tucker discuss MLB's different strategies to try and have a 2020 baseball season (3:12). The CPBL in Taiwan offers a baseball fix to the masses with a bizarre new approach (20:26), what permanent changes to MLB will result from COVID-19 (42:12), and what gets lost in a lost season (51:23). Coming into Home, remembering the great Al Kaline, "Mr Tiger" and one of the great elder statesmen of ba...
Apr 28, 2020•1 hr 16 min
Originally recorded in 2018, Tucker and Coach are joined by author Clayton Trutor to discuss Bernard Malamud's seminal baseball work, "The Natural" (2:45). Written in 1949, Malamud had no prior knowledge of baseball history. He crafts the character of Roy Hobbs to be the "Great American Monomyth" (5:05). Filled with lush poetic imagery (Wonderboy and the Wasteland), Malamud weaves the Vegetative myth, Arthurian Legend and the mode of Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces", to pen the sta...
Mar 30, 2020•1 hr 10 min
First RTB Podcast of 2020, Coach and Tucker discuss the 2019-2020 Offseason (2:00), the best players still available and the team that won the Hot Stove. 1st to 3rd, they give their Hall of Fame predictions for the Class of 2020 (24:30) and respect for Marvin Miller (41:54). Coming into Home, Coach breaks down Chad Harbach's beautiful baseball novel "The Art of Fielding" (46:22). *Podcast recorded before MLB ruled on the cheating Astros, Cora, et. al.
Jan 15, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Coach and Tucker talk MLB Postseason predictions for 2019. Out of the Box (2:00): A recap of key storylines as the regular seasons' end, including Maddon and the Cubs parting ways, and send offs for Bochy, MadBum and King Felix. First to Third (17:35): All the predictions for October baseball, with the Astros as a juggernaut that would give the '27 Yankees the shakes. Cardinals strike fear in the hearts of the Braves, Yankees and Twins slugfest, and can the Dodgers avoid becoming the Buffalo Bil...
Oct 02, 2019•1 hr 11 min
Coach and Tucker give thoughts on the 2019 MLB regular season heading into the stretch run. The Terrifying Cardinals have returned, the Twins are a delightful surprise, while the Rockies make us sad. Who will be playing in October, and a fond farewell to the worst uniforms ever. Going 1st to 3rd, Coach recalls the experience of the Braves first ever division title 50 years ago (37:32), a bow to Aaron and Niekro, and surprisingly disappointing. Coming into home, our first Prep-Squad Shout Out to ...
Aug 28, 2019•1 hr
Premiere episode of the Running the Bases "State of the Franchise", breaking down a team in rebuilding. Coach and Tucker take a deep dive into the Cincinnati Reds, the oldest team in MLB, but far removed from the days of the Big Red Machine. Going back to the "Nasty Boys" championship team of 1990, the Reds have stepped out from under the cloud of Marge Schott (3:30), while current ownership has failed to build a contender outside of 2010-2013. We rate farm system health (12:00), "Worst Move of ...
Jul 22, 2019•55 min
Coach invites "WhatifSports" superstar Ozomatli on the podcast for a second installment on Simulation Baseball Leagues. Ozomatli shares his strategies on drafting a team (19:30), setting Player Hierarchies (41:00), the difference in managing a sim league versus daily fantasy baseball (54:30), and a memo to all the rookie managers (59:00).
May 26, 2019•1 hr 2 min
RTB returns for it's season preview podcast, making all the predictions for the 2019 MLB Season. Love for Ichiro out of the box, predictions for the American League, where the Yankees are a machine, Astros are pitching dominant, Tucker believes in Oakland, and Coach keeps the faith in Cleveland (02:15). A.L. awards and postseason picks (38:00), then on to the far more competitive National League, where the Dodgers reign is over, St. Louis reloads big, and why this could be the swan song for Joe ...
Mar 27, 2019•1 hr 31 min
Coach invites vaunted "WhatifSports" legend Skunk206 on the podcast to discuss the odds and ends of Simulation Baseball Leagues, where baseball is always in season. What strategies are most successful in building a juggernaut, the difference in managing a sim league versus regular fantasy baseball, and the finest vintages of hall of fame players.
Dec 04, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Jonathan Mayo, accomplished writer for MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com, joins the RTB Podcast to talk about His career in journalism, the early days of covering the MLB Draft, and what it takes to produce the MLB Pipeline 100 for every franchise in MLB. He shares insight on favorite Minor League venues, the fun of the Arizona Fall League, and the surreal experience of being involved with the film "Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel".
Oct 10, 2018•33 min
Tucker is joined by good friend, filmmaker and Chicago homer Scott Brown to talk about his beloved White Sox. Scott shares what makes a person go White Sox over Cubs in Chi-Town (3:05), the recognition of Big Hurt (14:22), the forgotten glory of the 2005 Championship team (26:48), and ranking sports titles in the Windy City (47:22). We discuss the stark differences between Wrigleyville and the South Side (59:30), the current state of the Sox franchise (1:10:00), and what a Sox/Cubs World Series ...
Sep 15, 2018•1 hr 50 min
Coach and Tucker discuss teams going into the stretch run of the MLB Season. The Nationals are a franchise in need of group therapy (1:50), and for all the hitting additions, the Dodgers are falling off thanks to a banged up bullpen. Who are these Tampa Bay Rays (9:30), here come the terrifying Cardinals, and a real team of ballplayers in Oakland (25:20). Coming into Home: The Problems with Acuna getting hit (28:20), Drysdale vs. Mathews in the 60s, love for the Little League WS (36:41), and not...
Aug 27, 2018•43 min
Tucker and Coach share the experience of Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Cooperstown. Out of the Box, post-trade deadline baseball chatter. Going 1st to 3rd (26:04), all that is Cooperstown, with speech grades (37:36), the beauty and efficiency of the town on HOF Weekend (41:00), and the great reverence for Hank Aaron (45:00). Coming into Home, thoughts on the tweet controversies surrounding baseball players (48:00).
Aug 09, 2018•53 min
With the season nearing the Midsummer Classic, Coach and Tucker empty the notebook on MLB before the 4th of July. Out of the Box- Surprises (Braves!) and disappointments (Orioles, Twins) in each division, the mess in the host town of the All Star Game, and another wasted season of Trout. First to Third- All-Star Game talk (33:19) and Trade Deadline chatter (39:14). Coming into Home- How to fix Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN... If possible. (57:08)
Jun 27, 2018•1 hr 9 min
Coach and Tucker return to debate the Greatest Players of the Decades. Out of the Box: A quick recap of the MLB season through 2 months. 1st to 3rd: Best of the Decades from 1900 to today (17:30). Dizzy, Dazzy, and Lefty with the best names (32:22), the great "What if" of Ted Williams and the "Myth of Mantle" (36:46). Tom Terrific of the 70’s could be more Big Red than Mr. Met (53:16), the forgotten dominance of Dave Stieb in the 80s (1:03:34), and why the GOAT will never actually be known (1:14...
Jun 06, 2018•1 hr 27 min
Part 2 of the 2018 MLB Season Preview: Coach and Tucker give their sure-fire, can't miss predictions for the National League in 2018! The Mets should be a lot better, but then, so should everyone but the Reds, Marlins and Pirates. Coach sees a watered down league, where 83 wins is enough to make a Wild Card. The Cubs, Nats and Dodgers remain the class of the divisions, and why the Braves' Acuna will be Bonds, the Hammer, and the Babe combined.
Mar 30, 2018•49 min
Part 1 of the 2018 Season Preview: Coach and Tucker give their sure-fire, can't miss predictions for the American League in 2018! The Yankees are monsters (but don't hand them the world), the Indians are right there (again), and the Astros own the least compelling division in MLB. The Twins are most exciting, Detroit and Oakland are punching bags, and the Blue Jays could surprise for one more ride.
Mar 28, 2018•53 min
Coach and Tucker debate the 20 "Most Significant" baseball persons to put on a uniform and step between the lines, based on criteria of performance, innovation, character, and importance to the game of baseball.
Feb 28, 2018•1 hr 4 min
Tucker and Coach recap the premiere of the baseball documentary "Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel" at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and reactions to the film. Going First to Third: Making sense of the "Race to the Bottom" for tanking MLB teams (2:55) and if there is actual collusion amongst owners, the future of free agency (23:30), and the need for a Salary Floor (30:45). Coming into Home: The Tampa Bay Rays announce a stadium site (36:35), and if this will make baseball in Florida ful...
Feb 13, 2018•42 min
Coach and Tucker cast their annual fictitious ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, make predictions on who will be in the Class of 2018, the greatest omissions to the Hall, and what changes they would make to the HOF election process. Chipper and Thome are 1st ballot, with Hoffman and Vladdy as virtual locks. Love for Alan Trammel and Jack Morris, the case for Dale Murphy and Tim Simmons, and why Cooperstown should create the "Wing of Infamy."
Jan 22, 2018•41 min
Coach and Tucker debate the 20 most significant moments through the history of Major League Baseball. From Jackie in '47 (2:05), the invention of the curveball (6:15), the 1994 strike (17:55), through the significance of baseball in war-time (33:53), Coach and Tucker present the moments that forever changed the course of "Our Great Game", for better or worse.
Jan 10, 2018•1 hr 5 min
Game 5 of the 2017 World Series was EPIC! However... Was it actually a good baseball game? Tucker and Coach sort through the madness of Game 5, the league-doctored ball, the "tremendously awful" managing, and discuss the entire picture of the WS, leading into Game 6. Plus, the era of successful failures in managing, and if the AZ Fall League All-Star Game is the last chance to see Ronald Acuna in a Braves uniform.
Oct 31, 2017•33 min
Tucker and Coach preview the World Series match-up between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, including: Best match-up, most intriguing sub-plot, potential heroes and goats, and who America wants to win. We recap the 2017 Postseason that was, why the Indians fell flat (all credit to the Yankees), where the Cubs go from here, and is there no end to the dysfunction in D.C.?
Oct 24, 2017•50 min
We review all that was in the 2017 MLB regular season: The teams that surprisingly over-performed (Brewers, Twins), underperformed (GIANTS), and the sad state of the Atlanta Braves. The players that shined the brightest (Lindor, Judge, Altuve), and those that would just as soon forget this season happened (MATT HARVEY). Then, all things Postseason, with predictions through to the World Series. Coming into home: We hand out the awards for the regular season, and give our love to Puerto Rico, Hous...
Oct 05, 2017•1 hr 11 min
Cleveland Indians are making history, and it's a true joy to watch (6:53). The Dodgers are floundering and can't beat the Snakes (12:35). Going 1st to 3rd- The Nature of Momentum, if there's truth to peaking too soon in the regular season, whether October clears the slate for all teams (17:29), and how bullpen and health are the best indicators of postseason success (26:20). The Cardinals are the "Ultimate Villain" (33:18), the Yanks are scary-good and still two years away (38:20), and pennant p...
Sep 13, 2017•51 min
Orwin Smith, former All-ACC running back at Georgia Tech, joins the podcast to talk about his boys playing youth football, club teams vs. multi-sport at the youth level, CTE and the "gladiator" culture of football. We also discuss the continuing rise of MLS with Atlanta United, NCAA revenue sharing with its' players, Orwin's near-sit out while playing at Georgia Tech, and baseball's problem with reaching inner-city youth.
Aug 31, 2017•43 min
