David, Justin and James are back after Coney experienced baseball’s best current rivalry on Sunday Night Baseball: Dodgers-Padres! The crew dives into the Cardinals mess with catcher Willson Contreras, and David believes St. Louis pitchers need to take a harder look at themselves. The hosts wonder whether the Cubs pitching staff will continue to perform at such a high level. What’s wrong with Dylan Cease? What does Max Fried’s forearm strain mean for the Braves? How vulnerable is the Astros rota...
May 09, 2023•53 min•Ep. 77
David, Justin and James open the show touching on Bryce Harper’s return for the Phillies and discuss what April told us about where the game is going when it comes to pitching. The Rays are pitching and hitting at a superior level, so how would Coney game plan for the Rays lineup? Where will the Pirates be in two weeks? What to watch for with Justin Verlander’s debut for the Mets this week? Do the Astros have rotation depth issues? Out of all the “rivalry matchups” this week, each host is excite...
May 02, 2023•49 min•Ep. 76
David, Justin and James are all over the rosin saga that has caught the attention of every team. How does MLB establish a firm level of an allowable substance for pitchers? David touches on his Sunday Night Baseball experiment with the rosin and alcohol. The group also dives into the Rays historical start, the toughest pitch-types for young MLB hitters, Shohei Ohtani’s pitching schedule and which pitching staffs are currently overachieving? In the Yankees chat, is Giancarlo Stanton’s return goin...
Apr 26, 2023•58 min•Ep. 75
David, Justin and James look toward Shohei vs Judge over the next few days in New York. Coney highlights the trend of so much young talent being given a chance by their respective teams. The trio talks about the best parts of Astros catcher Martín Maldonado being mic’d up on Sunday Night Baseball. Which pitcher’s “minor injury” has you worried more: Jacob deGrom or Corbin Burnes? What is right with Gerrit Cole, and what is wrong with Sandy Alcantara? Plus, contract extensions, rosin rules, and t...
Apr 18, 2023•49 min•Ep. 74
David, Justin and James are joined by HOF pitcher & FOX Sports analyst John Smoltz, who touches on the evolution of the strike zone, the starter/closer dynamic, Shohei Ohtani and whether he actually hates the current game of baseball. The crew dives into the latest and best pitch by Ohtani, who is must-watch two weeks into the season and why the Rays and Dbacks are playing well. Later, how long is the leash on Clarke Schmidt in the Yankees rotation, and what are the Yankees saying by whom th...
Apr 12, 2023•57 min•Ep. 73
David, Justin and James explain what jumps out to them from MLB’s opening week, what matters after a small sample size and what big trends may subside as the season progresses. The crew wonders if the Rays could be an elite pitching force even without Tyler Glasnow. They touch on certain pitching injuries to start the season, Kodai Senga’s debut, the Phillies rough start and David gives a refresher on the sweeper. The hosts and Dan Rourke discuss some Yankees topics, including Aaron Hicks’ comme...
Apr 04, 2023•52 min•Ep. 72
David, Justin and James get you set for the very start of the season by giving their juiciest opening day pitching matchups. Once the games actually begin, David believes the balanced schedule is going to be just as big a topic as the new rules. The crew looks at three makeshift starting rotations for the Braves, Dodgers and Yankees to begin the season. Plus, surprise pitching staffs, Cy Young picks and a look at who will throw the fastest pitch in 2023. Producer Dan Rourke hops on to talk Yanke...
Mar 29, 2023•56 min•Ep. 71
David, Justin and James look back at everything that made this year’s WBC the coming-out-party for the tournament, and what MLB can do to build on that momentum. Is there added pressure on the Angels to make the playoffs based on what we just saw from Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout? What does the Dodgers rotation depth look like in the wake of the latest Tony Gonsolin injury? Who are the trio’s picks for most important starting pitcher in the AL/NL East divisions? In their Yankees talk to close th...
Mar 22, 2023•58 min•Ep. 70
David, James and Justin react to Team USA’s victory over Canada and wonder if anything can be done for American baseball fans to show the kind of energy we’ve seen from other countries in the World Baseball Classic. Was Mike Trout’s 3-run home run in the 1st inning the most meaningful homer he’s going to hit in 2023? The hosts touch on the WBC style of play and the best stories from the tournament thus far. The trio wonders whether Trevor Bauer could find himself back in a MLB uniform this time ...
Mar 14, 2023•53 min•Ep. 69
David, Justin and James go over the gamesmanship they’ve observed with the pitch clock and whether it should lead to rules being tweaked. They feel not everything Max Scherzer is doing with the pitch clock is correct. The trio discusses how a six-man rotation would affect a starter’s routine. Each host gives their most important starting pitcher in the AL West and NL West. David believes Anthony Volpe is ready to be the Yankees shortstop on opening day while James makes a case for more time in A...
Mar 08, 2023•57 min•Ep. 68
David, Justin and James are joined by the people who put the new rules in motion for 2023, Raúl Ibanez (MLB Sr. VP of On-Field Operations) and Joe Martinez (MLB VP of On-Field Strategy). The guests discuss what has stood out over the first week of games with new rules in place, whether tweaks will be made in-season, whether we can expect more rules in the near future and plenty more. The crew discusses PitchCom and how several pitchers are now controlling the game from their belt loops. Lastly, ...
Mar 01, 2023•42 min•Ep. 67
David, Justin and James are scratching their heads wondering why we are hearing from so many MLB owners at the start of spring training, which should only produce happy thoughts. David pays tribute to the late Tim McCarver, who was on the call for David’s perfect game in 1999. The crew each gives one starter and one reliever who they believe has the most to prove in 2023. The hosts respond to why MLB has decided to create its “economic reform committee.” They discuss how Mets owner Steve Cohen i...
Feb 22, 2023•48 min•Ep. 66
Fresh off his Chiefs Super Bowl win, David is back with Justin and James and they react to the PECOTA projections that were released just before recording. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, each host gives the one pitch he has a crush on. The gang then reacts to the extensions given to Yu Darvish and Christian Javier, and whether new Astros GM Dana Brown will copy the model he worked with in Atlanta by signing Houston’s young, core-players to team friendly extensions. The hosts touch on the crac...
Feb 15, 2023•45 min•Ep. 65
David, Justin and James take a look at several promising pitchers who have the potential to elevate themselves and pitch like an ace in 2023. The trio discusses the current list of aces that MLB Network recently ranked on its “Top 10 Right Now” list and feel several names are misplaced, including Sandy Alcantara, Jacob deGrom, and possibly, Gerrit Cole. David believes negative comments had to be made by the Braves in their recent arbitration hearing with Max Fried. Coney then answers what Carlos...
Feb 08, 2023•56 min•Ep. 64
With Spring Training around the corner, David, Justin and James each give their three most improved bullpens and/or starting rotations. The hosts discuss where the Rays starting rotation ranks among American League contenders and how that affects the state of The Opener. The crew discusses the inactivity of the Orioles this off-season and where they go from here. With Jazz Chisholm gracing the cover of MLB The Show, the hosts pick their young pitcher that they would put on the cover of the video...
Feb 01, 2023•43 min•Ep. 63
David, Justin and James react to the 2023 Hall of Fame voting results that led to Scott Rolen being elected into Cooperstown. The trio discusses how much the Twins rotation has improved after the addition of Pablo Lopez. The hosts close out the episode by wondering whether the Yankees have too many question marks attached to their roster heading into spring training. Longtime WFAN reporter Sweeny Murti stops by to discuss his departure from the station, being on the Yankee beat for over 20 years...
Jan 25, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 62
David, Justin and James discuss the concern over the news that Yankees pitcher Frankie Montas will miss time with shoulder inflammation and how nothing has gone right for Montas since he perhaps returned from the IL prematurely in July of last year. The hosts dive into some of the recent comments made by the ownerships families from the Reds and Orioles, and how the three model franchises (Dodgers, Astros and Braves) have largely been idle when it comes to big free agent spending. The hosts disc...
Jan 18, 2023•44 min•Ep. 61
David, Justin and James break down the state of the Dodgers pitching staff after they designated Trevor Bauer for assignment and wonder if 2023 is the first time in nearly a decade that LA is not the preseason favorites to win the NL West. Justin asks which NL starting pitcher will receive an extension first: Max Fried, Julio Urías or Logan Webb? The crew praises the Phillies acquisition of Gregory Soto and pick their top National League bullpens with a month to go before spring training. The ho...
Jan 10, 2023•47 min•Ep. 60
David, Justin and James usher in 2023 by taking a look at what may happen with Trevor Bauer’s immediate future as a MLB pitcher. David and James believe the poison of the entire situation will be too much for other teams to deal with if the Dodgers release Bauer. Justin believes Bauer will receive another chance somewhere because history has shown that you will get another opportunity if you have elite talent. The crew also discusses whether the Yankees should be monitoring the holdup between th...
Jan 03, 2023•48 min•Ep. 59
David, Justin and James fully cover the six year agreement between Carlos Rodón and the Yankees. David breaks down what makes Rodón an ideal fit for the Yankees at this moment in time. The crew goes over his increased K-rate the last couple of seasons, the range of fastball velocity he possesses, and David believes Rodón shouldn’t tweak anything that has brought him to this point until he has to. Coney believes the versatility of the Yankees rotation is what could make it great. The crew also dr...
Dec 20, 2022•44 min•Ep. 58
David, Justin and James welcome in Shea Station’s Jerry Blevins to discuss the Mets big additions to their pitching staff. Jerry touches on Jacob deGrom’s exit and Justin Verlander’s arrival. David and Jerry dissect the ghost forkball (!) thrown by Kodai Senga and the pros and cons of a six man rotation. David, Justin and James go over how Sean Murphy improves the Braves pitching staff and think Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea’ new contracts could end up looking like the steals of the off-season. ...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 68
David, Justin and James react to the news that Aaron Judge agreed to re-sign with the Yankees for nine years and $360 million. The crew feels this wraps up a masterful year of negotiating tactics by Judge and his advisors. They also give credit to the Yankees for bringing Judge back, but feel this is a moment where the organization has a chance to go even further and add another blue-chip talent like Carlos Rodon. The hosts also praise the Padres for, despite not coming away with Judge or Trea T...
Dec 07, 2022•25 min•Ep. 56
David, James and Justin react to the news of the Mets pivoting from Jacob deGrom to Justin Verlander. The hosts discuss why deGrom was the right move to make for Texas, what it will now take for Aaron Judge to make a decision, and how the Phillies fully made sense for Trea Turner. MLB Network analyst and former Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd joined the crew from the Winter Meetings to discuss the big signings that have already transpired and what could happen next as it pertains to Judge and Carlos Rodon...
Dec 05, 2022•52 min•Ep. 55
David, James and Justin discuss whether any big business could take place this week as teams prepare for the Winter Meetings. David thinks we should focus more on potential trades over the next several days rather than free agent signings. The crew discusses the White Sox signing of Mike Clevinger, and how that could end up being a steal for Chicago. As far as the starting pitchers at the top of the free agent class go, the hosts wonder whether Carlos Rodon signs before Justin Verlander and Jaco...
Nov 29, 2022•45 min•Ep. 54
David Cone answers your questions in a special mailbag edition of Toeing the Slab! The guys also go into the Cy Young awards, the Yankees Justin Verlander, Cody Bellinger, and more! Get 20% off + free shipping sitewide at https://vincerocollective.com/slab 00:00 INTRO 03:23 The Opener 06:08 Cy Youngs 09:00 Justin Verlander 17:00 Cody Bellinger 22:59 Mailbag 47:01 This week in pitching history 49:06 Three up/three down 57:56 OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic...
Nov 22, 2022•59 min•Ep. 53
David provides insight from a discussion he had with Houston Astros owner Jim Crane in regards to the team’s decision to move away from GM James Click. Both Coney and Justin wonder how much will it take for Justin Verlander to come pitch for your team in 2023. David believes the Yankees could be in play again. Justin believes the Mets would be better served with Verlander on a short-term deal over re-signing Jacob deGrom. Producer (and noted Aaron Judge stan) Dan Rourke joins the discussion as A...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 52
David, Justin and James wrap up the postseason by dissecting the big pitching decision by the Phillies in Game 6. James and Justin don’t think the Astros should be referred to as a dynasty just yet. Ok, onto the off-season! How will the upcoming rule changes affect free agency? The crew also touches on the Yankee press conference with Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman from last week. They think Edwin Diaz’s new contract must signify the start of a big off-season for the Mets. Also, an important look...
Nov 08, 2022•51 min•Ep. 51
David, Justin and James begin by commenting on the SNY report that stated the Yankees clubhouse and organization felt crushed by the negativity from the fan base during the ALCS. Their message: don’t give them something to boo over. On to the World Series! Is there any additional strategy to having the Phillies start Aaron Nola in Game 1? How much do Nola and Justin Verlander have to prove in the opening game? We’ll see an all-time matchup in Verlander vs. Bryce Harper; who needs to set the tone...
Oct 28, 2022•43 min•Ep. 50
David, Justin and James recap where the Yankees fell short in the ALCS, and how natural it feels to second-guess every single move in the wake of the team losing. The crew believes that while pitching decisions could have been questioned, the offense was the culprit. Justin wonders how the Astros make the postseason not look like a crapshoot. They all agree something was off with how the Yankees operated the shortstop position this year, which didn’t do Isiah Kiner-Falefa any favors. The off-sea...
Oct 24, 2022•46 min•Ep. 49
Head to https://rapsodo.com/JOMBOY to receive a special discount up to $1,000 off Rapsodo’s PITCHING 2.0 unit David, Justin and James look back to the first two ALCS games in Houston and look ahead to Game 3 in New York on Saturday. The crew thinks too little credit was being given to the top two Astros pitchers as to why the Yankees offense struggled, but now, the Yankees have their top two pitchers going in Games 3 and 4. David didn’t have a big issue with the way the Yankees handled their pit...
Oct 21, 2022•36 min•Ep. 48
