Out of the Box: The Braves are back! Coach and Tucker debate the All Star Game, which (thankfully) doesn't count, but does it matter at all? Going First to Third: The moves to make at the trade deadline, how the surprise 1st-half struggles of the Giants, Cubs and Indians, overshadows the success of the feel-good Rockies and Brewers, and the end of the Tigers window. Coming into Home: Sleeper picks for the postseason, and any excitement for the 2017 Hall of Fame weekend?
Jul 20, 2017•47 min
Die-hard Oakland A's fan Kate Fratar joins Tucker on the Podcast to talk about the state of Athletics Baseball: The quest for a new stadium, opening up the third deck, "Rooted in Oakland", and the showdown between the A's and Braves. The next jersey to be retired in Oakland? And has interleague play overstayed it's welcome, 20 years later?
Jul 07, 2017•1 hr 5 min
Coach Bounds offers THE Solution to MLB's Pace of Play problem! And with SunTrust Park officially open for baseball in Atlanta (28:00), Coach and Tucker discuss the Cash Cow of the Battery, why every visiting team to SunTrust will want a new stadium when they leave, and who is to blame in the case of Braves vs. City of Atlanta?
May 03, 2017•52 min
Part 2 of our 2017 MLB Season Preview runs through the American League: The Indians and Red Sox are the cream, while the Tigers, Yankees and Astros are the crop. The middle class Blue Jays and Orioles remain formidable, and what to make of the Wild Wild AL West? Coming into Home: A return to Riverwood High School baseball in Atlanta for Coach Jordan Bounds.
Apr 07, 2017•42 min
Coach and Tucker's two-part 2017 MLB Season Preview! Out of the Box: Recap of the excitement that was the World Baseball Classic, and why we'll never see another Classic that compares. First-to-Third: The National League predictions for 2017 - Can the Nationals and Mets stay healthy? Will the Cardinals take back the division from the World Champion Cubs? And is the West the Dodgers to lose?
Apr 07, 2017•47 min
Author and Sports Clairvoyant Clayton Trutor joins the RTB podcast to discuss his new book, "Overcoming Adversity: Baseball's Tony Conigliaro Award." Clayton talks about writing for SB Nation's Cincinnati Bearcats blog (0:34), the "What if?" of Tony Conigliaro and his significance to Red Sox fans (11:00), the collaborative efforts of SABR in editing the book (17:04), fan inspiration from personal struggle (24:50), hanging your hat on singular sports success (37:00), love for the WBC (42:20) and ...
Mar 30, 2017•52 min
Episode 100 of the Running the Bases Podcast! Coach and Tucker discuss how baseball exists in the digital era: How social media can enhance the game experience, but can also distract fans from the real beauty of the ballpark. The changes in writing (and baseball writers) with the exponential growth of the "Baseball Blogger", and where baseball media goes from here? (Congratulations! We played ourselves!) Thank you to everyone who has ever listened to an RTB Podcast over 100 episodes.
Feb 09, 2017•37 min
Coach and Tucker debate the "Faces of Baseball" in the National League. Out of the Box: Love to the Super Bowl bound Falcons (District 5 Pride), and the baseball community mourns the loss of Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte(2:48). First to Third: The Faces of the National League(5:47), and if Bryce Harper's face is too young(20:52). The NL Central(22:38) with "Mr. Cardinal" Willie McGee(23:48), and waving the black flag in Pittsburgh(33:35). The NL West(41:34), where Buster Posey could be the Face...
Jan 26, 2017•1 hr 9 min
Revising the "Faces of MLB" debate from the 2015 ASG, Coach and Tucker pick one all-time and one for the present day of the franchises in the American League. Out of the Box: Excitement building for the 2017 WBC(1:34). First to Third: The "Face of the Franchise" in the American League East (5:35), the Central (22:42), and the West (40:45). Coming into Home: Final predictions for the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 (1:02:02).
Jan 18, 2017•1 hr 8 min
We kick off the New Year with our annual Hall of Fame Special! Coach makes a case for Larry Walker (1:50), the softening stance on PEDs and character flaws (4:00), and the case against Trevor Hoffman (9:02). Coach casts his ballot (12:05), professional hitter Matt Stairs gets a vote (19:12), Tucker's ballot (23:28) with love for the Crime Dog (28:17) and the need for Edgar Martinez (35:50). Going First to Third, the better ballot is for "Snubbed Players" (35:49), and Coming into Home, changes to...
Jan 05, 2017•58 min
Part 3 of our extensive breakdown of the Hot Stove Season looks at the entire National League! In the East, the Braves (0:38), Phillies (4:20), Marlins (7:22), Mets (9:42), and Nats (14:02). In the Central, Reds (19:38), Brewers (22:12), Pirates (25:00), Cards (31:15) and Cubs (36:00). Then in the West, Padres (41:25), D-Backs (44:06), Rockies (49:15), Giants (53:53) and Dodgers (58:42). Finally, a farewell to 2016, a turbulent year that produced incredible Baseball (1:06:14). See you in 2017!...
Dec 20, 2016•1 hr 10 min
Part 2 of our extensive tour of the Hot Stove league looks at the AL Central and the AL West. In the Central, is Joe Mauer the "Greatest Albatross Contract" of all time (3:00)? After Sale, are the rest of the White Sox up for grabs (5:15)? Starting pitchers may be a thing of the past (17:45), and if it's All for One Cleveland (24:50). In the West, when is there more than Trout (30:05)? The Astros as the team to watch (35:26), doing it for the King in Seattle (40:56), and every move is bigger in ...
Dec 12, 2016•56 min
We dive into our breakdown of every MLB Team in the Hot Stove Season, starting with the AL East. Out of the Box, what's missing from the new CBA (0:46), the issue of domestic violence and hazing (5:25), and debate over Bud Selig in the HOF (12:46). With the Hot Stove in full swing, we look at the chaos of the Winter Meetings (22:22), and a team-by-team breakdown of the AL East (31:14), the "Most Competitive Division in Baseball".
Dec 08, 2016•1 hr 6 min
Tyler Boronski, young sports vlogger and reporter for the Bridgeport Bluefish, joins the podcast to talk about the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, Big Pappi's last game in the Bronx, interviewing the "D-Train", and the joys of watching batting practice. Find his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/Tbautos512.
Nov 22, 2016•31 min
Coach and Tucker reflect on the pure joy of the 2016 World Series. Awards talk and predictions on "Who Deserves to Win" vs. "Who Will Win" (5:30), the under appreciated year of Dave Roberts (16:20), and throwing the Yankees a bone (18:47). The Braves make a "BIG" free agent signing (24:17), how trades will eclipse FA signings this offseason (27:28), and if the Tigers can really move their albatross contracts (28:36). Coming into home, Coach and Tucker share their thoughts on the Presidential Ele...
Nov 16, 2016•38 min
Coach and Tucker discuss the sights and sounds of the 2016 World Series through 5 games, and whether "Game 6" is greater in World Series history than "Game 7."
Nov 01, 2016•24 min
Cubs vs. Indians... Someone has to win. Of all the World Series preview shows for this historic match-up!... This is one of them.
Oct 25, 2016•18 min
Coach and Tucker recap the first two weeks of the Postseason, and debate the Micro-Managing trend in October. Out of the box, farewell to the even-year reign of the Giants (4:35), the Indians slamming the cover on the Red Sox fairy tale (13:00), and the broke-down Nats (16:32). First to Third on the 6 million pitching changes (20:45), Roberts playing too close to the spreadsheet (27:00) versus Francona's expert feel for his team and the moment (31:00). Coming into Home, the strike-zone is under ...
Oct 19, 2016•47 min
Coach and I are back, and ready for the best time of year! Out of the Box, reflections from the WBC Qualifier in Brooklyn (1:00) and special praise for Team Israel! We preview the MLB Postseason, starting with the NL (10:12), with sadness about the Pirates' season (17:55). AL Preview (18:12), Papi's storybook ending, and the missing out on Trout (25:52). Coming into Home, the Cubs and the Apocalypse (38:00), proper farewells to Vin, Turner Field, and the soul of Jose Fernandez (42:23).
Oct 06, 2016•51 min
The Mighty Yankees have fallen on hard times. With ARod's retirement, comes the end of one of the most bizarre careers in the history of baseball. Out of the Box, love for Ichiro's 3000th hit (1:12), then the "State of the Empire" (8:42) and if the Yankees are still the "Brand of Baseball" (15:38). Who is Alex Rodriguez? Or... What was Alex Rodriguez (25:35)? When will the Empire Be Great Again (39:25)?
Aug 12, 2016•47 min
Our 2016 MLB Trade Deadline special! Out of the box, we give love to the new class of the Hall of Fame (4:00) and what future speech would demand seeing the induction live (10:45). We welcome the Yankees to the seller's market (12:30), the White Sox "slashing" inventory with Sale (17:30), and the Royals unloading (25:00). The Buyer's feature the Rangers (43:00), the curious Tigers situation (51:00), and if the Rockies can Roll like it's 2007 (56:00).
Jul 29, 2016•1 hr 7 min
Cuba has long had a passion for baseball that rivals, even surpasses that of the United States. Coach and I walk through the beautiful, often volatile history of baseball in Cuba, how the game has evolved in the country, the dangers of players escaping to the Majors, and how today's game embraces the Latin style of play.
Jul 19, 2016•50 min
Orwin Smith, good friend and star Georgia Tech alumni, joins RTB for a new "Off the Bag" podcast. We discuss life after ball, the reality of putting your kids in tackle football, and helping fellow collegiate athletes transition into the working world.
Jun 24, 2016•31 min
All-Star fan voting ends on June 30th, and we weigh in on who our starters would be, versus who leads in the polls. Out of the box, we give love to Cleveland, the Braves' recent success (4:22), and the surging Rangers (8:47). Issues with the ASG selection process (11:38), the AL starters (17:56), the NL starters (25:32), and round into home with Kershaw's season for the ages (42:08).
Jun 23, 2016•47 min
From when Bob Feller threw against a motorcycle, to the VR hitting machines of today, we look at the evolution of training and equipment in baseball history. The different measures of performance (7:30), the torque bat craze (17:00), the advancement of protection (26:00), and who has the technology advantage, the hitters or pitchers (37:00)? Coming into home, we pay our respects to "The Greatest", Muhammad Ali (43:00).
Jun 10, 2016•50 min
With Odor landing a "Rocky-esque" right cross on Joey Bats, we take a look at the sad and dangerous history of Brawls in Baseball. Out of the box, the Phillies are surprisingly good, the Yankees are really bad (3:45), and jump to the 10:12 mark for the Brawling Conversation.
May 21, 2016•43 min
From the horrors of Atlanta Fulton-County and the "Concrete Doughnuts", to the infamous "Park Jerrie" in Montreal, we recall some of the worst stadiums in baseball history. A "Good, Bad and Ugly" on the surprising(?) White Sox, Astros, and the rash of PED suspensions. Jump to the 20:00 mark for the stadium conversations.
May 09, 2016•48 min
We breakdown the first 2 weeks of the 2016 MLB season, the Dangers of Tanking, and yet another player involved in a domestic violence incident.
Apr 20, 2016•40 min
Part 2 of our 2016 MLB predictions, looking at the National League: The "Haves" and the "Have Nots", in a year where there are 2 entirely different classes of teams within the NL... American League in Part 1!
Apr 06, 2016•47 min
Our 2016 MLB predictions, beginning with the American League. This may be the most wide open field in the AL in over 40 years... National League in Part 2!
Apr 06, 2016•26 min
