Major League Baseball's lockout has created a different kind of March Madness. The Atlanta Braves have been front and center and GM Alex Anthopoulos returns to Starkville to sum it all up. From Freddie Freeman's departure to Matt Olson's arrival, his emotional news conference and so much more. It's an interview you don't want to miss. Plus, in Strange But True, Jayson and Doug discuss last week's Baker family reunion and Wander Franco's parking mishap. All that and of course... trivia! Follow Ja...
Mar 22, 2022•1 hr 26 min
DVR and Keith discuss the return the Athletics have received as they've traded away Matt Olson, Matt Chapman and Chris Bassitt since the end of the lockout, the Reds' decision to trade away Jesse Winker & Eugenio Suárez, and whether the Cubs have done enough to make a playoff run out of the NL Central. Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw Get a subscription to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first six months by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on...
Mar 18, 2022•45 min
Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the flurry of activity since the start of the new CBA, the most improved teams as the offseason player movement draws close to the end, a curious decision by the Rockies to add Kris Bryant in free agency, and the strange timing of the teardown in Oakland, and changes in Cincinnati. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 17, 2022•57 min
As expected the frenzy of transactions is here as MLB teams look to fill their rosters before Opening Day in less than a month. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Josh Donaldson to the Yankees as well as what may happen with Carlos Correa. Then they open up the mailbag... -Is there a way to enjoy baseball without being the sucker that MLB is relying on to be there after a lockout? -Would getting rid of MLB's antitrust exemption be good for the game? -Ideas on ...
Mar 14, 2022•32 min
The podcast we've all been waiting for! The lockout is over and players are on their way to Spring Training to get ready for an April 7th Opening Day across Major League Baseball. Jayson and Doug dive into the new CBA on an emergency episode of Starkville. Now that the lockout is over, will frustrated fans return to the sport? How does Rob Manfred avoid a repeat next time around? What is new with this CBA? Will it help eliminate tanking? What will the expanded playoffs look like? and where will ...
Mar 11, 2022•29 min
Eno, Britt and DVR discuss recent progress in the CBA negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA, Britt's trip to the MLBPA training facility in Arizona, how we might see 'spring training games' if the lockout lingers further into March, and Apple's first step into streaming live games. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Related Links Maria Torres & Ken Rosenthal: ‘A failed system’: A corrupt process exploits Dominican ...
Mar 09, 2022•54 min
Spring Training has opened in Arizona and Florida but only for minor leaguers who aren't on 40-man rosters. Jayson is in Florida and he and Doug tell tales of happier Spring Trainings of yesteryear and explain why you never want to be on the back fields. Then, Ken Rosenthal adds to his record setting number of visits to Starkville. This time around he brings news from the negotiating table where MLB and the players continue to make little progress getting baseball back on the field. There's also...
Mar 08, 2022•1 hr 17 min
DVR and Keith discuss college baseball as an alternative for fans missing spring training, a trio of Top 100 prospects likely to contribute in 2022, and ways to make inevitably expanding playoff fields less terrible. Plus, would the league be any less competitive than it is today if the competitive balance tax were removed completely? Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw Get a subscription to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first six months by visiting theathlet...
Mar 04, 2022•46 min
Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the current state of the MLB owner-imposed lockout, the origins of their love of baseball, and other sources of baseball to consider -- including a relatively new twist on the game with invention of 'Banana Ball'. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Related Links SportsCenter Feature 'How the Savannah Bananas have become the greatest show in baseball': https://youtu.be/T5RkB7_qNh8 The Savannah ...
Mar 02, 2022•57 min
Monday is the final day for MLB and the players to reach a new CBA to avoid missed regular season games according to Rob Manfred. But how strict is that deadline really. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss that before answering your questions in the mailbag... -Why is Tony Clark still in charge of Union after failures with last CBA? -How would an owner convince a fan that their side is fair? -How much power does Scott Boras have in these negotiations? -Could players start their own league as ...
Feb 28, 2022•30 min
Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the many ways that baseball will change over the next 30 years, from automated strike zones to expansion, to finding ways to increase the number of balls in play, how different will the game look in 2052? Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Related Links Grant Brisbee 'What Major League Baseball will be like in 2052': https://theathletic.com/3136290 James Fegan 'The death of pitch framing? A po...
Feb 24, 2022•56 min
Who cares about the lockout when Brett Phillips is visiting Starkville to remind us all how much fun baseball is! He talks about how he's staying in shape (working out with local high school teams!) and reflects on his World Series walk-off hit, facing the Blue Jays as a pitcher and much more. Plus Jayson and Doug do talk about the lockout and the progress that has been made. They brainstorm events for an MLB skills competition and try to stay hot in listener trivia. Follow Jayson on Twitter: @j...
Feb 22, 2022•1 hr 13 min
DVR and Keith discuss a few of Keith's top-ranked farm systems -- including the Dodgers, D-backs and Pirates -- and their prospects most likely to make an impact at some point in 2022. Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw Get a subscription to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first six months by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 18, 2022•45 min
Eno, Britt and DVR discuss what players are doing on their own in the absence of spring training, the increasingly difficult path to necessary offseason training facilities for minor-league players, and the seemingly limited paths to a better professional baseball landscape. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Related Links Britt, on the financial toll minor-league baseball takes on its players: https://theathletic.com/3...
Feb 17, 2022•55 min
Ken and Tim start the show by discussing why it's looking more and more like regular season games will be lost to the MLB lockout. Then they open up the mailbag... -Is baseball considering how to promote the game to kids in these negotiations? -Will the minor league seasons go on despite the lockout? -Can players play in independent leagues or overseas if lockout continues? -How can we best evaluate General Managers? -Will a bigger competitive balance tax lead to a decrease in parity? -Is MLB um...
Feb 15, 2022•34 min
Eno, Britt and DVR discuss The Athletic's recent MLB Mega-Mock Draft, in which 30 participants had to build a franchise through a seven-round draft, before wondering what the role of modern owners should realistically be, and answering mailbag questions about realignment and schedule changes, which baseballs will be used in 2022, and the impact of humidors in the nine parks where they're currently in use. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarris Follow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_Ghiroli Follow DVR on Twi...
Feb 10, 2022•54 min
The start of Spring Training is about a week away but the owners and players remain far apart in their negotiations. Royals' All-Star Whit Merrifield visits Starkville with the players perspective on what has gone wrong and what needs to be figured out. He also tells the story of his journey to the Major Leagues, what makes him a great base stealer and much more. Jayson and Doug also discuss Groundhog Day, fix the tanking problem and discuss what baseball needs to do to match the NFL's playoff d...
Feb 08, 2022•1 hr 28 min
DVR and Keith discuss Keith's recently-released Top 100 Prospects List, focusing on the state of the rebuild in Baltimore, the Royals' path to a playoff berth with the impending arrival of Bobby Witt Jr., MJ Melendez and Nick Pratto, Seattle's continued ascent in the AL West with four current top-50 prospects, and several MLB-ready players from the list including the Cards' Nolan Gorman, the Angels' Reid Detmers, and the Rays' Vidal Bruján. Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Follow Keith on T...
Feb 04, 2022•49 min
Britt, Eno & DVR take a team-by-team look at the five clubs in the NL East in an attempt to sort out what the rest of the offseason will look like once the lockout is over. Is Freddie Freeman destined to return to Atlanta? What else should the defending World Series Champions prioritize as they prepare for 2022? The Mets have already made a ton of moves to improve this winter, what other changes are in store? Can the Phillies find outfield and bullpen help and keep pace with the frontrunners...
Feb 03, 2022•48 min
Yes, the owners and players made some progress in their negotiations a week ago, but the movement was minor and the sides are still far apart on almost every major talking point. Ken Rosenthal digs into that problem before opening up this week's mailbag to answer these questions from our listeners... -When will a decision be made regarding cancelling games? -Are teams currently talking trades that will be finished after lockout? -Where will Seiya Suzuki sign? -Would extra arbitration year lead t...
Feb 01, 2022•27 min
David Ortiz is headed to Cooperstown and who better to share great Big Papi stories than the great Peter Gammons. From a HR derby in Appleton, WI to his ejection at Fenway Park as a Twin, to all of his postseason heroics. Jayson and Doug also cover the controversy of this year's Hall of Fame vote, Doug shares his own Ortiz stories and of course we have trivia! Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville Follow Peter Gammons on Twitter: @pgammo Follow Mayor Tim on T...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr 30 min
DVR, Britt & Eno take a team-by-team look at the five clubs in the AL East in an attempt to sort out what the rest of the offseason will look like once the lockout is over. Do the Rays have another move -- possibly a trade -- on the horizon to open up more playing time for their next wave of young talent? Will the Red Sox pursue a more impactful free agent if the Competitive Balance Tax threshold is significantly increased? Are the Yankees a lock to find an upgrade a shortstop? Can the Jays ...
Jan 27, 2022•53 min
In part 3 of Ken Rosenthal's Hall of Fame special, the results are in and Ken reacts to the election of David Ortiz to the Hall of Fame with help from FanGraphs' Jay Jaffe, and The Athletics' Jayson Stark, Britt Ghiroli and Dan Connolly. Check out all three parts of Ken's Hall of Fame special right here on The Athletic Baseball Show. You can watch the full stream here: https://youtu.be/KF8ZIo4Ia-U Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 26, 2022•45 min
In part 2 of Ken Rosenthal's Hall of Fame special, Ken is joined by Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Junior, Jim Kaat and Jim Palmer, along with Eduardo Perez, the son of a Hall of Famer and current ESPN baseball analyst. Kaat discusses his election being well worth the wait. Palmer talks about Hall of Famers then and now. Perez has great insight into the steroid era and remembers his father getting the call. Griffey talks about David Ortiz all the way back to his Mariners days and much more. Check ou...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr 2 min
In part 1 of Ken Rosenthal's Hall of Fame special, Ken is joined by legendary baseball writer Claire Smith, former Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, former Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia and the son of Hall of Famer Roy Halladay, Braden Halladay. Smith explains her ballot and why she voted for 8 players including Andy Pettitte and Sammy Sosa. Rollins gets into his feelings being on the ballot for the first time. Pedroia weighs in on former teammates David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez and Curt Sch...
Jan 26, 2022•55 min
DVR is joined by Will Sammon, Katie Woo, Rob Biertempfel, Sahadev Sharma and C. Trent Rosecrans to fast forward through the lockout and attempt to finish the offseason adjustments for each team in the NL Central. The Brewers quickly found a replacement for Avísail García by trading for Hunter Renfroe. Are more trades on the horizon for David Stearns once transactions can resume? The Cardinals added much needed rotation depth with Steven Matz, but is another arm a priority before the offseason is...
Jan 21, 2022•1 hr 15 min
What do you do when news about your career breaks while you're in the middle of recording a podcast? Ken explains what he did before opening up a mailbag filled with lockout and non-lockout questions: -How do GM's and front offices deal with the lockout? -Why hasn't expansion been included in lockout discussions? -Playoff expansion -What should we expect when the lockout ends? -Are baseball TV ratings up or down? -Could MLB move on from Manfred? -Baseball book suggestions Those questions and mor...
Jan 18, 2022•34 min
The great Charlie Manuel joins Jayson and Doug on Starkville! Charlie reminisces about his tenure as manager in Philadelphia and breaks down the Hall of Fame case for Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, and Chase Utley. What makes each Phillies great a HOF candidate? Of the three, who will actually get in? Plus, a HOF pitching listener trivia question and an injury-riddled Strange But True to start 2022! Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville Follow Charlie on Twitter...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 40 min
DVR is joined by Keith Law to fast forward through the lockout and attempt to finish the offseason adjustments for each team in the AL Central. The White Sox are positioned as favorite to repeat as AL Central Champions -- will they make any additional upgrades before Opening Day? Can the Guardians return to the postseason if their rotation stays healthy? Are the Twins primed for a big rebound despite questions about their pitching? What else could the Royals add to supplement a wave of young tal...
Jan 07, 2022•43 min
As the MLB lockout enters month number two, Tim McMaster and Ken Rosenthal answer your questions about the work stoppage and much more: -Would Carlos Correa accept less than ten years to join Cubs? -After finalization of his divorce, has Omar Vizquel's HOF chances improved? -What would the loss of the antitrust exemption mean for MLB? -In cases like Marcel Ozuna, why does MLB do their own investigation and not leave it to the authorities? -Will Trevor Bauer count towards the Dodgers luxury tax t...
Jan 03, 2022•29 min
