Shows
The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 213: Take a Prospect Leave a ProspectProspectmeister Jeffrey Paternostro returns to discuss the Baseball Prospectus 2022 Top-101 Prospects rankings. Plus tales: The 66th-best hitter for average of all time has a cough; a Hall of Fame pitcher messes up his marriage, demonstrating that even people with plaques are as complicated as anybody else. TABLE OF CONTENTSDavid Ortiz to the Hall*The 66th-Best Hitter for Average of All Time is Not in the Hall of Fame*Lefty, June, and the Perfect Murder*Jeffrey Paternostro: Top 11s are Better than Top 10s*Who is the Top Prospect in Baseball? Adley Rutschman vs. Bobby Witt Jr...
2022-02-022h 03The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 201: Now We Can Solve All Our DifferencesMike Ferrin, Kevin Goldstein, and Steven Goldman, once the hosts of Baseball Prospectus Radio on SiriusXM, reunite to discuss that Chicago vibe, awkward interviews, and debate just how the San Francisco Giants are doing it. Plus tales: A fringe player gets on the wrong train and the longest winning streak of all time amounts to nothing. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Fats Dantonio Story*The Big Streak*Mike Ferrin and Kevin Goldstein: Bob in Crisis*Two Eddie Vedder Stories?*Why is Chicago?*Cubs Attendance vs. White Sox Fans (“Trixies and Chads”)*That Wrong Billy Interview*The Sad Gene Lamo...
2021-10-042h 03The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 158 The Satchel Paige Don't Look Back Award and Other PrizesCliff Corcoran returns to try to figure out who deserves which awards out of this crazy attenuated season in a disaster of a year, plus tales of players and people neglected in their post-career years and a requiem for the lost pennant races of the future. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Man in the Green Uniform*Ron Gardenhire*1980 in the AL East*Cliff Corcoran: Negro Leagues Caps*Inconclusion, the Negro Leagues, the All-American Girls*No Astros Caps*Gilmour Field at the Movies (“Bodyguard”) and “Bimbo” Cartoons*Arte Moreno Gets His Way in Anaheim/The Yankee Stadium*Awards Watch*Fluke Se...
2020-09-221h 46The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 157: Apologies to EddieJesse Spector returns to debate which players are overrated and remember Tom Seaver, plus Big Ed Walsh fails to parent and Ed Whitson is betrayed by Yankees fans.TABLE OF CONTENTSBig Ed’s Kids*Failing Ed Whitson*Jesse Spector: Tom Seaver: The Yankees Years*The Serious Seaver*Aroldis Chapman vs. the Rays*Twitter Homerism*“J. Guerra”*Mike Clevinger: Persona Non Grata*Most Overrated Players*“Jeter Wouldn’t Have Had That”*Is Yadier Molina a Hall of Famer?*Andy Pettitte Career vs. Peak*Still More Yadier (and Ted Simmons’ Worst Year)*“Specious is the Wrong Word”*Bo Knows Overrated*Go...
2020-09-151h 50The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 156: Left Behind On the BeachGinny Searle (Baseball Prospectus) discusses the aftermath of the Thom Brenneman slur and gives a scholar’s insight into Shakespeare. Plus racially-motivated violence in the Negro Leagues and the PCL, with a voyage into one of the great nicknames.TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Consequences of Being Boojum Wilson*A Fight in Oakland: “Here’s My Chance”*Ginny Searle: What Can Be Done to Make Baseball a More Welcoming Space for LGBT People?*“I Wouldn’t Say It’s a Lifestyle, I’d Say It’s My Life”*Empathy*Is Jackie Robinson an Inapt Comparison?*Why is Homophobia the Last Socially-Ac...
2020-09-041h 50The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 155A: Seaver Stories From the Infinite Inning VaultA look back at Tom Seaver stories we have told over the years on the occasion of the great man’s passing.TABLE OF CONTENTSRest in Peace Number 41*From Episode 23: Tom Seaver’s Prayer for Peace*Tom Seaver at Twilight*Goodbyes.The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fa...
2020-09-0440 minThe Infinite InningInfinite Inning 155: In Combat With Famous BigotsPaul Dickson returns to discuss The Rise of the GI Army, an increasingly hard-to-imagine moment when the country overcame resistance and demagoguery to pull together. Plus a tale of two terrible first basemen going to war and a reply to Thom Brennaman. TABLE OF CONTENTSMahan, Sturm, and the Lost Players of 2040*Thom Brennaman: “Bye Bye Blackbird”*Paul Dickson: A Timely Recollection (An Army in Yankee Stadium)*Charles Lindbergh and the Isolationist Gang (And Their Enemies)*The War After the War Before*“The Veterans of Future Wars”*Bipartisanship in a Time of Crisis*General George Marshall: Hall of Famer...
2020-08-261h 45
The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 154 North Atlantic Salmon-Fishing EroticaThis one has everything: David Roth, the Defector, a mysterious player with a name that suggests a large animal with a slack colon, a rumored Mickey Mantle trade of 1958, the Mets, and more.TABLE OF CONTENTSFrank Lane’s Hypothetical Mickey Mantle Trade and the Media*Three Announcements Invoking Craig Calcaterra*New Baseball Song: “The American Game”*Bevos and Hippos (Oh My)*David Roth: “Jeopardy” Category: Bad Royals Trades, All Thing Gabriel Byrne, and other Trivia*What is The Defector?*Freelancing is a Drag*The Vanishing Internet*The Defector Elevator Pitch/A Blogging Fresca*How Can a Website Ha...
2020-08-172h 08The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 153: Sour Cherry BaseballCliff Corcoran returns to discuss actual baseball, plus tales of pandemics past, vanished players, and cheering home runs through the valley of death, 1945.TABLE OF CONTENTSSeventy-Five Years of Home Runs and Questions*Shad Rhem*Cliff Corcoran: Branded Masks*First Baseman-Leadoff Hitters*Cubs 2020 Lineup*Slow Leadoff Men (Part 1000)*The Blue and the Gold of Milwaukee*Expansion is Contingent*The Brooklyn Super-Bus, Sour Cherry Jelly, and Aphasia*For the Love of Baseball Cutouts*One More Ride for the White Elephants/What’s an Athletic, Anyway?*A Dozen Relievers*The Season You Skip*Cubs Fever, Catch It*The Nationals St...
2020-08-072h 11The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 152 Rod Carew ReflectsHall of Famer Rod Carew discusses his career and his life both before and after baseball. Plus tales of a future Hall of Famer demoralized by the Dodgers and Carew encountering racist gamesmanship in civil rights-era Florida.TABLE OF CONTENTSA Dodger Says Uncle*Rod Carew and the Poisoned Handshake*Rod Carew: Hall of Famer in the Pandemic*A Private Player in the Public Eye/A Father’s Promise*It’s All for the Best*Are All the Greatest Hitters Obsessed?/The Number-One Tool*Free-Swinging but High-Contact*Is Being a Great Hitter About Intelligence or Memory?*“Super-Loner?”*Rod and...
2020-07-251h 44The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 151 Change Can Be JoyfulSociologist Dr. Jennifer Earl discusses how the Internet has changed the way we come together to change the world. Plus an old-time catcher celebrates the good old days that never were and Lefty Gomez is tortured into gaining weight.TABLE OF CONTENTSPiggybacking on Christy Mathewson’s Rep*Lefty Gomez Has a Weight Problem*Jennifer Earl: Life in Arizona*Remote versus In-Person Teaching*Optimized Teaching*Life Before vs During the Internet (One Approach to the Scientific Method)*Starting a Movement Online*“Bowling Alone” and Movements Without Money*Flash Activism/A Sports Example*Boaty McBoatface and Harry Potter Fandom...
2020-07-171h 41The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 150 Which American Dream?Eric Nusbaum, author of Stealing Home: Los Angeles, the Dodgers, and the Lives Caught In Between discusses the long tug-of-war over Chavez Ravine, who had it, who lost it, and who was to blame—featuring a cast of thousands. Plus Cap Anson situated in his times (meet the old times/same as the new times) and one more look at Addie Joss’s passing. TABLE OF CONTENTSTen Men Out of the Hall Revisited (Don’t Cry for Cap Anson)*Addie Joss and John Keats Revisited (On First Looking Into Joss’s Cerebellum)*Eric Nusbaum: A Widescreen Approach...
2020-07-081h 44The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 149 Hey, Barney, Play Ball!Craig Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus returns to discuss the MLB reopening, how the “legitimacy” question is misapplied to this season, and repudiates greeting cards. Plus: Tales of a Native American ace who overlooked the many slurs he heard and an owner who tried to retaliate against a manager and got burnt—but maybe he should have been heard. TABLE OF CONTENTSChief Bender Copes*Wear Your Mask*“Hey, Barney!”*Craig Goldstein: Hating Hallmark Holidays*Special Pleading for MLB Restart*Player Health and Safety in 2020*“Legitimacy” and the Ship of Theseus*Postseason Legitimacy*Reverting to the Pre-Draft System*The Grievance...
2020-06-301h 57The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 148: The Deficiencies of the Closer Mentality in Everyday LivingJesse Spector returns to discuss the non-return of baseball, an old baseball arcade game, and his decision to join the revived Deadspin. Plus: Tales of an early Cuban star who might have been a very young revolutionary and the poison dispensed by the most evil Red Sox player/manager/executive of all time.TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Brief, Laudatory Career of Armando Marsans*Earl Wilson’s Cryptic Reply*Jesse Spector: Back in the Saddle Again*The “Baseball Owes Us” Crowd (Vs. Jayson Stark)*MLB’s Mysterious Covid-19 Plans*The Closer Mentality in Everyday Life*Stark vs. Gammons*“You Need”...
2020-06-202h 04The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 147 The 600 WomenWriter/artist Anika Orrock discusses The Incredible Women of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, plus tales of a catcher who would not ask forgiveness and an interaction between a policeman and four African American soldiers in New York in the interregnum between Jackie Robinson’s signing and his debut. TABLE OF CONTENTSJohn Roseboro’s Pledge*Between Jackie Robinson and the Deep Blue Sea: Freeport, New York, 1946*Anika Orrock: In the Pandemic Book Club*A Book that Operates on Two Levels: Approaching the Art*When the Words Come Through to You*Some of the Best Cartoons in H...
2020-06-042h 15The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 146: My Travels with CoffeeBrad Balukjian, author of The Wax Pack: On the Open Road in Search of Baseball’s Afterlife discusses his cross-country journey to find players, great and obscure, of the 1980s and find out how they’re doing. Also bugs. Plus: Tales of ballplayers breaking curfew and a player really harmed by a Branch Rickey brainstorm.TABLE OF CONTENTSShufflin’ Phil and the Inevitability of the Broken Curfew*The Don Padgett Story*Brad Balukjian: Mutant insects and ballplayers*Lamarck is Vindicated? (Epigenetics)*The Now-Impossible Road Trip*The Cards You Didn’t Pull*“Life-WAR”*Even the Best Athletes Get Nervous*Ball...
2020-05-271h 57The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 145: Procrustes Mustardo and Wander Manchego for the WinDavid Roth returns for a very “There is No Sports, Rudolph” special episode, discussing KBO baseball, the non-sale of the New York Mets, bad Mariners draft picks, old “chase” baseball cards, and dissects the current political scene. Plus tales of a pitcher who correctly counted his number of groins and a deadly panic at Yankee Stadium. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Pitcher Who Only Had One*Death at the Stadium*David Roth: Quarantine Beards and Keith Hernandez Ads*Remembering Some Guys in a Pandemic*Selling the Mets/Keeping SNY*“Joe Biden Made Me Sign Eduardo Nunez”/Tanking*A Manny Ramire...
2020-05-192h 23The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 144 Pitching to Contact in a PandemicCliff Corcoran returns and makes a game attempt to stick to sports and hates on The Sandlot, plus tales of ballpark fighting words of 1910 and bigotry and bacteria in early baseball. TABLE OF CONTENTS Ballpark Fighting Words 1910-Style With the Giants*Blue Stockings, Bigotry, and Bacteria*Cliff Corcoran: The Puppy is Not Ill*I Want a Pony/A Toddler with Sharp Teeth*Are Cats In It For Themselves?*Pandemics Above Replacement Level*Sticking to Sports: The Best Major League Player Performances of 2020: Trout vs. Scherzer*Didi Gregorius Heckler at the Crowd-Mic*Baseball Fans Failing at Averages/Getting...
2020-05-081h 48The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 143: The Baseballness of EverythingScott Lemieux of Lawyers, Guns, and Money talks remote learning, finds many baseball examples to illustrate our current reality, and reminds us just how bad “neutral” umpiring used to be. Plus: Mookie Betts, true Red Sox affection, and a hypothetical trade involving an asteroid, and a Dodgers pitcher feels his oats. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Mookie Betts Trade Can Have No Winners*Johnny Allen Bravado*Scott Lemieux: How is Remote Learning Going?*Rushing the Professor*“No One Could Have Expected!*Mitch McConnell in History (and in a Fantasy League)*Steve’s “Too Mean” Story*The 1890s Orioles, PEDs, and “C...
2020-05-012h 09The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 142: Field the Tough HopsCraig Calcaterra (Hardball Talk) returns to talk about the shape of things in baseball now, in the hypothetical future when the game returns, and in a random 1984 Rangers-Tigers game. Plus: Tales of managers killing pitchers from the 1940s, 80s, and 90s and Joe McCarthy of the Yankees promulgates a rule that has applications to the present.TABLE OF CONTENTSYou had just ONE job (Pitcher-Killing Managers, Among Other Things)*The “Don Buddin Era” and Not Alibiing the Tough Hops*Craig Calcaterra: A Saturday Night Live thing*Larry David’s Baseball Bookshelf*Bad Baseball is Better Than No Baseba...
2020-04-212h 03The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 141: Bris Lord Uncut and the Robot HamDB Firstman discusses the secrets of their new book Hall of Name: Baseball’s Most Magnificent Monikers from The Only Nolan to Van Lingle Mungo and More, plus a look at Bobby Bonds’ strikeouts inspired by Mark Reynolds’ retirement and the nonsensical death-story of Christy Mathewson, AKA gas doesn’t give you bacteria, but bacteria might give you gas. TABLE OF CONTENTSBobby Bonds: Time Traveler*The Momentary Meanness of Christy Mathewson, the Myth of His Demise, and How It’s Like What Some of Us Are Doing Now*DB Firstman: Lemon Jell-O*“Gwodz” is a Bad Scrabble Draw...
2020-04-132h 01The Infinite InningInfinte Inning 140: That's Just What the Devil WantsBrendan Kuty (NJ.Com, the Star-Ledger) discusses his coronavirus-motivated drive home from spring training and tries to explain Aaron Judge’s injuries. Plus, a classic baseball story told accurately (for once) and the Giants make a narrow escape from some justifiably-enraged Phillies fans.TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Classic Bird Story*The Giants Attacked in Their Barouches*Brendan Kuty: Home/Unselfish*Painting Rainbows*Pay-What-You-Can Restaurant*Coronavirus Deniers on I-95 (State of Idiots)* The Carrier From Florida in Section 49*Sensing a Story*Aaron Judge’s Diagnosis-Free Winter*The Severino Example*Bee-Gees?*Goodbyes.The Infinite Inning is not only...
2020-04-051h 10The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 139: Where Have You Gone, Jo Adell?Jeff Paternostro (Baseball Prospectus lead prospect writer) returns to look forward to the day baseball returns by looking at the best power prospects in the minors, the Orioles’ no. 1 draft pick from last June, and more. Plus, tales of serious baseball played at unserious times in 1914 and 1941, Germany Schaefer stealing first base, and the obscure record held by a forgotten third baseman. TABLE OF CONTENTSThey Were All Just Ordinary Days in Baseball*Tony Boeckel’s Unbreakable Record*Jeff Paternostro: Reluctant Social Distancing (With Dogs) and Picky Eaters*Sleeper Prospects for 2020*Cavan Biggio: Player Out of Time*Who...
2020-03-292h 04The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 138 Bear Down, Bear Down, Bear DownEmily Nemens discusses the conflicts in and the process of writing her new baseball novel, The Cactus League. Plus Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt spins a harrowing tale during a rain delay and Joe DiMaggio tries to withstand a “hot condition,” as well all sometimes must. TABLE OF CONTENTSSurviving Waite Hoyt’s Rain Delay of the Soul*Joe DiMaggio’s Trying Year*Emily Nemens: Players in Spring Training: Dominoes Waiting to Fall*Coordinating a Fictional 40-Man Roster*Jason Goodyear vs. Derek Jeter: It’s Lonely at the Top*How Much Access to Athletes Owe the Public?*Wives and...
2020-03-201h 43The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 137 Cutting Off Balls (In a Nice Way)Mark Simon, co-author of The Fielding Bible V, discusses the latest in defensive evaluation, climbing the ladder at “Baseball Tonight,” and tries to explain Gio Urshela, Paul DeJong, and other mysteries of defense. Plus two New York teams brawl but that’s not the most dangerous thing happening, and why baseball ducked an otherwise deadly disease.TABLE OF CONTENTSQuarantine the World Series*Why Did Baseball Escape the 1918 Influenza Pandemic?*Mark Simon: Halcyon days at “Baseball Tonight”*Life Begins with Jayson Stark*The Fielding Bible V: What’s New in Evaluating Fielders?*The Joe DiMaggio Easy-Catch Hypothetical*Andrew McCut...
2020-03-141h 58The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 136 War Criminal in the BoothInfinite Inning 136: War Criminal in the BoothCliff Corcoran returns to discuss the burning issues of the day, including the everybody-gets-a-playoff-spot trial balloon. Plus, a player asks for help after a hurricane and how the 1922 World Series relates to a non-existent musical about the Founding Fathers called “Morris!”TABLE OF CONTENTSTony Fernandez and the Hurricane: What’s Good, Anyway?*Bullet Joe Bush and the Immortal Part of Oneself*Cliff Corcoran: Poofy Baseball Caps of the 1890s*The Baseball Exhibit at the Nixon Library (Ted Bleeping Williams)*The Mookie Betts-Kevin Pillar Blues*Generational Talents Are Unevenly Distri...
2020-03-042h 28The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 135 It's All Duck Sauce and SufferingDavid Roth returns to talk the non-sale of the New York Mets, the irrational trade of Mookie Betts, and asks why the president has an old-time Yankees second baseman on his mind. Plus, a tender encounter with a warm Yankee Stadium security guard and why childhood inadequacy can leave one feeling like Juan Samuel.TABLE OF CONTENTSFace Down in Joe Girardi’s Bouncy Castle*David Roth: The 1961 Yankees vs POTUS (Bobby Richardson Batting Leadoff)*Rudy Has a Ring/Mookie Betts Was Traded*Which of These Marge Schott Crimes Was Worse?*The Mets Non-Sale (Barbarians at the Ci...
2020-02-241h 53The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 134 Rent-to-Own Baseball TeamsJesse Spector returns for interlocking discussions of the return of Dusty Baker and revisions to the dinosaur room at the museum. Plus, tales of White Sox and Mets sales gone awry and Rickey Henderson and Mookie Betts trades compared. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Wilpons, the Comiskeys, and the Desire to Give Birth to Yourself*Rickey Henderson Gets Traded*Jesse Spector: Tacosaurus*Dusty Baker Rides Again*Billy Martin Should Not Be in the Hall of Fame*The Limits of Cheating*Garry Maddox vs. Juan Lagares*Jesse’s NIMBYs and a Personal Crisis*Youth Homes, Minor League Teams, The Of...
2020-02-091h 43The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 133 Always the Most Reasonable PersonAllen Barra (Mickey and Willie; The Last Coach; Yogi Berra: Eternal Yankee; Inventing Wyatt Earp) discusses his friendship with MLBPA head and new Hall of Famer Marvin Miller. Plus, the consequences of immorality in baseball and a couple of highly flawed Giants relationships. TABLE OF CONTENTSHal Chase, Roberto Clemente, and “The Good Place”*Managers Hired, Fired, and Hitting Each Other*Allen Barra: Marvin Miller’s Belated Enshrinement*What Was Marvin Miller Like?*Verbal Jujitsu*A Union Man His Whole Life*A Brief Visit to Birmingham*Marvin Miller vs. Bowie Kuhn*Czars Can’t Be Fired*Abraham Lincoln...
2020-02-021h 32The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 132 The Call of the TrashcanMarc Normandin returns to talk Astros and Red Sox sign-stealing fallout, plus tales of a player so serene he could sleep in the middle of a ballgame and a Dodgers fan objects to women in the ballpark.TABLE OF CONTENTSWhen Edd Roush Needs a Nap, Edd Roush Takes a Nap*Ladies’ Day (“Dames! Dames! Dames!”)*Marc Normandin: A Brief, Inadvertent “Rise of Skywalker” Chat*Astros and Red Sox Cheating Reactions*The Astros’ Taubmanism and the Price of Hubris*Jeff Luhnow and Management-Consultant Culture*Are the Astros Players Permanently Tainted?*Down with the Hall of Fame Gallery, Up With the...
2020-01-251h 41The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 131 The Ball is Painfully Obviously JuicedRob Arthur of Baseball Prospectus discusses the juiced ball, Astros sign-stealing, and the past and future of the human race. Plus John McGraw fights while Boston burns and a pitcher is mocked for his weight.TABLE OF CONTENTSWalter, not Jumbo*The Brief Story of “Jumbo Jim”*A Fire in Boston*Rob Arthur: Fruit Flies No Matter What*Malthus Was Right? (“Who’s Mathis?” Andy Asked)*WAR (What’s It Good For?)*The Hall of Fame and the Soft Factors*The Ball is Painfully, Obviously Juiced*Juiced Balls vs. Juiced Players*Manfred’s Reasons and Excuses*How Did We Miss th...
2020-01-181h 45The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 130: A Death in the FamilyLincoln Mitchell returns to discuss his new book, San Francisco Year Zero: Political Upheaval, Punk Rock, And A Third-Place Baseball Team, about the surprising 1978 Giants and the way the events of that year, including/especially the assassinations of Harvey Milk and George Moscone, changed the city’s future. Plus: An A’s fan lights a flame and a manager takes his owner with him.TABLE OF CONTENTSA’s Fans Burnin’ Down the House*Bucky Harris Speaks Frankly *Lincoln Mitchell: The third-place 1978 San Francisco Giants?*The almost-Toronto Giants*Memories of Candlestick Park and other Giants dysfunction*Giants vs. Seal...
2020-01-031h 53The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 129 From Gene Greene to Gerrit ColeCraig Goldstein (Baseball Prospectus) returns to discuss the Gerrit Cole signing and the experience of being at the Winter Meetings. Plus 1961 Yankees falsehoods and a Luber-ish Cleveland deal.TABLE OF CONTENTSThat Lyin’ Yankees Manager*Gene Green Got a Raw Deal*Craig Goldstein: The Red Sox Are In For an Offseason of Tough Looks*The Gerrit Cole Contract*The Nationals Are Irrational (When Do You Actually Spend the Money?)*The Bud Selig Fig-Leaf*George Steinbrenner and the Minority Partners*The Owners are Not Like Us*Fixing Free Agency*What is the Social Contract?*The Royals and Coke*At...
2019-12-161h 40The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 128 Bring on the Yankee Stadium Ghost-HorsesCliff Corcoran returns to ask, “Who is the Best Pitcher in Baseball?” Plus assorted tales of baseball in 1917 (real men eat raw ice cream?) and a Pirates manager loses his job. TABLE OF CONTENTSBaseball Unpasteurized*Callahan’s Way*Cliff Corcoran: Dr. Hat*Who Was Buried Beneath Third Base in Yankee Stadium?*Who is “The Best Pitcher in Baseball”*Cy Stood for Cyclone*Dave Stieb and Johan Santana: Greats Who Could Expire at Any Time (Ron Santo)*Santana vs. Koufax*Will the Best Pitcher of the 1950s Please Stand Up?*How About the 1980s?*Oatmeal and Lettuce Leaves* Ja...
2019-12-062h 01The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 127 Sgt Utley's Gonna Help MeAmanda Smith, cohost of the Disaster Girls podcast and the author of Le Renard Argenté: The Silver Fox at War explains what inspired her to transport a certain Dodgers second baseman to World War II, plus tales of sign-stealing gone awry and a scrap drive that almost ended Warren Spahn’s career before it started.TABLE OF CONTENTSChuck Dressen Has a Plan For That*Spahn vs. the Rusty Toasters*Amanda Smith: A Book of Tweets?*Cody Bellinger Wins the MVP*The Politics of Fandom/Bad First-Date Tactic*World War II Twitter*Chase Utley Liberates Europe*Sgt. Roc...
2019-11-231h 26The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 126 Private-Equity ScumbagsDavid Roth (ex-Deadspin) returns to discuss the demise of Deadspin and the rise of Carlos Beltran.WARNING: As is true of all Roth episodes, there is quite a bit of cussing. Hide the hamsters.TABLE OF CONTENTSHarvard Eddie and a Requiem for a Friend*Mookie and Pete*David Roth: Spanf’d Out of a Job*The Value is in Not Sticking to Sports*“It’s Unpleasant, But Maybe They Like It”*The Non-Reactionary Death of Splinter*You Have to Admit It’s a Vivid Insult*The Importance of Editorial Independence*The Pro-Union Argument*The Perversity...
2019-11-141h 38The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 124 If I Were Powerful I'd Have a Better CarSheryl Ring discusses the backlash to her Addison Russell story and all the ways discrimination affects us in and out of baseball. Plus Jungle Jim Rivera’s case suggests a way to protect the Astros from themselves and another career is lost to war. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Ends Justify the Fleas*One German Bomb Away from Stardom*Sheryl Ring: The Addison Russell Backlash*If I Were Powerful I’d Have a Better Car*Identity Politics in the Jim Crow Era and Jim Crow Laws Today*Red-Lining and Reverse Red-Lining*The Bank Gets Paid Three Times*Sticking to S...
2019-10-271h 50The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 123 Between Hank Greenberg and GodJesse Spector returns to talk manager firings, the proper way to build a lineup, and dissect Joe Maddon’s past and future, plus tales of ancient Cardinals grudges and a Detroit Tigers great sets his priorities. WARNING: Jesse’s dog Youppi arrives about 43 minutes into our discussion. However, Youppi does not swear, so it’s all good.TABLE OF CONTENTSDizzy Dean Holds a Lead*Hank Greenberg Plays, Daniel Hudson Does Not, and It’s None of Your Damned Business*Jesse Spector: When Your Child is Not Juan Soto*A Charlie Brown Way to Lose a Hit*Op...
2019-10-141h 44The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 122 Where Have You Gone [Player Name Here]?Craig Goldstein reveals his plans for Baseball Prospectus, mourns King Felix and (preemptively) Clayton Kershaw, and wonders if there’s a wrong way to love your cat. Plus tales of George Steinbrenner and Hal Chase that should sound strangely familiar. TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Roy Cohn Client*Hal Chase Asks for a Favor*Craig Goldstein: The Wrong Way to Love Your Cat*The Editor is Dead, Long Live the Editor*The BP Community*Fear of Solipsism*Where Have You Gone?*King Felix and Doc Gooden*Does there Need to Be a Baseball Prospectus?*Baseball is Everything and Ev...
2019-10-021h 36The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 121 It Is High, It Is Far, It Is EntropyEmma Baccellieri (Baseball Prospectus, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated) asks what we’re talking about when we talk about baseball dying, plus Mr. Rivera goes to Washington and ruminations on the Felipe Valazquez case. TABLE OF CONTENTSA Senators Game in 1925/Mr. Rivera Goes to Washington*The Valazquez Case*Emma Baccellieri: “A Brief History of the Many Times Baseball Has Died”*Doomsaying Never Goes Out of Style*What We Mean When We Talk About Baseball Dying*It is High, It is Far, It is Entropy*Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Sandwich Shops*So What Will Be Baseball’s Kryptonite...
2019-09-231h 40The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 120: Requiem for a KeppingerJames Yasko (Astros County, Lima Time Time podcast) discusses the Astros’ potential postseason rotation, neck beards, and AP history. Plus Mark Davis compared to Edwin Diaz and Ty Cobb gets a rule changed by NOT hurting an umpire. TABLE OF CONTENTSEdwin Diaz, Mark Davis, and the Tyranny of Expectations*Ty Cobb Gets a Rule Changed*James Yasko: Neck Beards*An Unabashed Homer*Wade Miley is Tertiary*Carry On, Charlie Morton*Jeff Luhnow, the Killjoy who Brings Joy*Now Pitching, the Pontiff*Three Great Pitchers/World Series Virgins*Gerrit Cole: Dollar Signs on the Mound*The Devil’s Gr...
2019-09-161h 35The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 119 Neat Things Within This Weird WorldYes, we went there: Craig Calcaterra joins Steve to discuss the commonalities between affirmative action and Hall of Fame debates, as well as explore the ongoing sense of dislocation provoked by a homer-happy season. Plus, Casey Stengel argues a call and Chuck Klein is star anonymous.WARNING: One excretory cussword late. If offended, write the management. TABLE OF CONTENTSCasey Argues a Call*Chuck Klein: Star Anonymous*Craig Calcaterra: Old Jock Strap in a Can and the Home Run Explosion*Peak HoJo*A Discontinuity*The Discontents of Gossage and Rose*Scoring Fatigue*Neat Things Within...
2019-09-071h 46The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 117 Baseball Is a Marker of TimeDavid Roth returns to discuss the Mets’ efforts to save their season, falling in love on a day of tragedy, and the proposed Saturday morning cartoon in which the current president saved the Yankees.WARNING: As is typical for a David Roth visit, there is somewhat more cussing than is typical for the show. Please caution all minors. TABLE OF CONTENTSCasey Stengel Escapes!*Sympathy for the Rajah*David Roth: Beards and Birthdays*Exploring “The Yiddish Curver” and other Baseball Card Antiquities*Fred Wilpon’s Sandy Koufax*“Skoonj”*The Mets’ Momentary Rally*Giving Yourself a Chance to Have...
2019-08-241h 49The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 116 Sticking It Out Through the ChallengesEmily Waldon (The Athletic) discusses covering the Tigers’ farm system, the team’s short-term future, and the awkwardness of teenaged ballplayers. Plus tales of a missing Phillies outfielder and how the Tigers fell, 1950s style, and why it’s still relevant to us today.WARNING: A couple of cusswords, one from Casey Stengel, one from Leo Durocher. Blame them.TABLE OF CONTENTSOne of the Missing*A Very Quick Casey Stengel Tale*Concepts of Racism Today and the Detroit Tigers Yesterday*Emily Waldon: The Joy of Tigers Prospect Coverage*Prospects are People*The Tigers (Not) South...
2019-08-142h 01The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 115: The One With Mariano Rivera ToyotaJesse Spector talks trade deadline action, inaction, and consequences as well as details a deer encounter on the Taconic Parkway. Plus, tales of the murderous Danny Shay and Carl Mays’ downfall.WARNING: There are two cusswords in this one. Cover the dog’s ears lest he be corrupted. TABLE OF CONTENTSDanny Shay and Clarence Euell*New Patreon Benefit*Carl Mays Falls From Grace*Jesse Spector: Father of the Year Magazine Premium*Down on Charlie Hayes*“Can’t Play in New York”*The Astros Get Zack Greinke*Wade Miley Paranoia*A Possibly Ill-Informed Note on Aaron Judg...
2019-08-051h 46The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 114 No World Series, No ThanksgivingEric Stephen (SB Nation, True Blue LA) returns to discuss the Dodgers’ drive for their first World Series title since 1988. Plus, tales of a pitcher’s dangerous farewell and the famous Richie Ashburn foul ball story.TABLE OF CONTENTSEd Morris’s Going Away Party*Foul Netting and Richie Ashburn*Eric Stephen: Weird Al Encounters*A Great Era in Dodgers History*The Most Valuable Dodger, 2013-2019*Dodgers Scrubs-to-Stars*The Transformation of Hyun-Jin Ryu*Ryumania?*The Failure to Honor Fernando*On Jim Gilliam*Cody Bellinger Evolution*Austin Barnes and Other Frustrating Regulars vs. Promising Prospects Rich Hill, Angry Dad*Ba...
2019-07-261h 33The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 112 The Championship Huggers of '81Jason Turbow (“The Baseball Codes” and “Dynastic, Bombastic, Fantastic”) discusses the 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers as portrayed in his new book “They Bleed Blue.” Plus, forgotten All-Stars remembered and wild pitching appreciated. TABLE OF CONTENTSEveryone Has a Special Anniversary (Len Barker Makes the All-Star Team)*Dolly Gray Goes Wild*Jason Turbow: Why the 1981 Dodgers?*What the Dodgers Did Right, Not What the Yankees Did Wrong*The Longest-Running Infield*Steve Garvey Against Davey Lopes in the ’81 Strike*Steve Garvey Against the World*Reggie Smith, Unknown Great*Young Dave Stewart*Tommy Lasorda in Retrospect*Wise Words from Dusty’s Dad*Lasorda’s Br...
2019-07-111h 42The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 111: No Visible BruisesRachel Louise Snyder discusses No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us and how abusers (even athletes) don’t just “snap.” Plus thoughts on the passing of Tyler Skaggs.TABLE OF CONTENTSTyler Skaggs*So Much More Than Marty Bergen*Rachel Louise Snyder: Curiosity*A Billion Women*Michelle and Rocky*Threats of Suicide*When Michelle Was Behind the Camera*It’s Not About Anger Management*Beware of Narcissists*Twenty Percent of the Housework*Impulse Love is a Hazard*Why Do Victims Recant? Why Do Victims Stay?*Prosecution Complications/The Rattlesnake*Strangulation and Odubel...
2019-07-021h 35The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 110 Make America Biscuits AgainCliff Corcoran (The Athletic) talks CC Sabathia in history, Mets mad decision-making, and short benches. Plus, tales of Gorman Thomas being archaically pelted and pre-Machado suspensions. TABLE OF CONTENTSGladiatorial Combat in Detroit*That Darn Calloway*The Infinite Punishments of Manny Machado*Cliff Corcoran: The Montgomery Biscuits baseball cap*Sabathia, Greinke, Kershaw, Verlander: Yesterday and Today*Dave Stieb and Other Devalued Aces*The Magic 235*Peak vs. Career: Dale Murphy vs. Harold Baines*The Rays Are Not Going to Montreal*The Expos Got a Raw Deal*The Mets Are Proudly Octogenarian*Geriatric Coaches in History*The Dave Eiland...
2019-06-251h 37The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 107: Washed Clean By the MVP MachineTABLE OF CONTENTSIf John Wehner Had Broadcast in 1880*Mike Ivie’s Dilemma*Ben Lindbergh: Self-Machined Through Dedicated Practice*A Deeper Understanding of the Game*Can You See Spin Rate with the Naked Eye?*What is THE Essential New Baseball Technology?*Hitting Lags Behind*Paul Waner Dissents*Fly Balls vs. Line Drives*Choking Up*Francisco Lindor, Bill Buckner, and Productive Contact*When Trevor Bauer is Your Pioneer*Excluding the Underprivileged Through Baseball Through Technology*When Not All Teams Care Equally About Progress*Rejecting High Steinbrennerism*Once More Through the Self-Machine*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All ep...
2019-06-041h 47The Infinite InningInifinte Inning 105: This Idea of Protecting WomenTABLE OF CONTENTSThe Weak Spot on the Ballclub*Ian Desmond and Other Tales of the Replacement Level*Diana Moskovitz: Caster Semenya: Struggling to Sum Up a Complex Matter*Testosterone and Michael Phelps’ Arms*Fear of Men (in Women’s Events)*“Penis Panic”*The Complexity of the Human Body*The East German Example*A Strange Apathy Towards Forced Medicating*“You Are Not a Woman”*Should There Be a Women’s Sports Category?*“Tradition!”*Covering Four Hurricanes in One Season*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with lik...
2019-05-221h 44The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 104:Craig Calcaterra is Mexico-BoundTABLE OF CONTENTSAll-Stars in the Naked City*Chicago, 1886: Cap Anson and the Haymarket Eight*Craig Calcaterra: The Social Cubs*Famous For Nothing*“Move to Mexico”*Bat Flip and Unwritten Rules*Dated Ringtones*The Complacent Team of the Year Award (The Cleveland Indians)*Expansion and the Non-Shortage of Pitchers*Nick Markakis 3000, Jack Morris, Bert Blyleven*Hall of Fame Debates, Prospects, and the End of a Long-Running Series*Arguments Make Friends*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNI...
2019-05-131h 49The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 103: They Saved Bill James’ Head!TABLE OF CONTENTSThe God of Dan Brouthers*We All Get Old, Miguel Cabrera*Sean Forman: Baseball-Reference Changed My Life*What if Roberto Clemente’s Hit Total Needed to Be Revised? (The “Mr. 3000” Scenario)*bWAR and fWAR and Some Other WARs*Old Fielders and Old Fielding Stats*Gratuitous Derek Jeter Time*Protein Folding as Career Prep*Stalking Baseball-Reference*Giant Bill James Head*Win Shares vs. WAR*Adding More Detail to Baseball-Reference*FBref (Soccer)!*Stats That Tell Stories*The Pele Page is Coming*Women’s Sports and Statistical Availability*Integrating FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus Stats*The Lack of Statcast Availabi...
2019-05-071h 37The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 102: A Blue Jays Journey of Personal DiscoveryTABLE OF CONTENTSBill Dahlen Brings You Flowers*The Infinite Inning Revenge Plot*Scott Sanderson II: A Rejoinder*Andrew Stoeten: It’s Been a Long Time Since 1993*Loyal to the Players, Not to the Team*Calling Up Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.*First- and Second-Guessing Josh Donaldson Decisions*Kevin Pillar Returns*Projecting Guerrero*The Curse of Cito Gaston*The Randal Grichuk Extension*In Praise of Smoak*Up From Drunken Blogging*Growing Up in Public II*Beatwriter Acceptance and Denial (Called Out in the Toronto Sun)*Podcast Behind the Paywall*How Bad is Teoscar Hernandez’s Defense Really?*Goodbyes.THE...
2019-04-291h 29The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 101: Growing Up in PublicWARNING: One cussword. Just one. It’s gonna be okay.TABLE OF CONTENTSOn Butterflies and Baseball Injuries*Scott Sanderson’s Hot Dog*Bill Baer: Curating Hardball Talk*The Hate-Readers*Shy On the Internet*We’re So Sorry, Ryan Howard*The Real Meaning of “Stick to Sports”*The Formerly Anti-Analytic Phillies*Hall of Fame Baseball Writer Contretemps*Beginner’s Mind in Baseball Writing*You Don’t Have to Explain WAR Anymore*Trying is the New Market Inefficiency*Are the 2019 Phillies for Real?*The 1980 Phillies vs. the 2019 Phillies*The Opener and Arbitration (Jeff Innis, Too)*Juan Soto Dreaming*Goodb...
2019-04-221h 41The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 100: The Million Dollar QuartetWARNING: When this many guys from New York and New Jersey get together, some swearing is inevitable. It’s just intermittent, so intermittently hide the children.TABLE OF CONTENTSEddie’s Opening Day*Opening Day (Featuring Dr. Rick Mohring and Casual Observer)*Big Round Numbers and Leo Durocher on the Radio*Cliff Corcoran, David Roth, Jesse Spector: Tinkers to Evers to I Hate You*Is Florida?*Are the Marlins really worth $1 Billion in the Age of Global Warming?*The Phillies’ Bryce Harper Attendance Bugle*Breaking Free Agency On a Whim*Cleveland Nihilism and Moneyball ambivalence*League Withou...
2019-04-162h 11The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 099: Why Don’t You Like Me, Butchie?TABLE OF CONTENTSDwight Gooden Without Tears*For Want of Steve Lake, Jody Davis Was Lost*Chris Donnelly: Teams Headed in Opposite Directions*The 1986 Mets Disassembled*Dwight Gooden ‘85*The Depths of High Steinbrennerism*We’re So Sorry, Eddie Lee Whitson*Billy Martin in Rapid Decline*“Why Don’t You Like Me, Butch?”*Mr. Carter Goes to New York*How to Doug Sisk and Influence People*Mr. Henderson Also Goes to New York*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!SUPPORT THE INFINI...
2019-04-081h 43The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 098: Intelligence, Will, and CreativityTABLE OF CONTENTSThe Last Days of Tony Lazzeri*Tommy John’s First Shoulder Injury*Tyler Kepner: Don’t Fool Yourself; You’d Do This With Your Book Royalties Too*Trout Contract Reax*K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches and the 300 Interviews*Zack Greinke Said No*The Sense of Possibility in Pitching*That Johnny Sain X-Ray Question*Archaic Pitches and Colorful Baseball*Sinkers!*Dan Quisenberry and Tug McGraw*Kent Tekulve’s Cap*Ted Williams Was Wrong About Pitchers*Talking With Mike Mussina*The La Lob*Being the National Baseball Writer for the Times*Goodbyes.THE INFI...
2019-03-221h 43The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 096: Tom Seaver at Twilight and Other StoriesTABLE OF CONTENTSNoted Emergency Catching Scenarios of the 20th Century*Tom Seaver at Twilight*Cliff Corcoran: Pirates-Skin Pillbox Hat*Twenty-Six-Man Rosters*What of Position Players Pitching?*Matt Carpenter/Shawn Green/Joe Adcock and Thwarted Desires*The Proposed Three-Batter Minimum*The LOOGY Myth*Choosing Relievers for Pitches, Not Handedness*The Joe Girardi Thing*The Proposed All-Star Voting Run-Off*An All-Star Emeritus Roster Spot*Bryce Harper Signs, the Phillies Make Money*Manipulating Service-Time Manipulation*Looking Forward to the National League*Denigrating Cleveland’s Offseason*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE IN...
2019-03-091h 40The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 095: I Was Somewhat Here, Johnny DamonWarning: As always when David comes around there is the odd cussword in the air. There is also some dimly frank talk about Robert Kraft’s arrest. Mind the children if you think they’d ask embarrassing questions.Table of ContentsHank Aaron and Bowie Kuhn*Bob Gibson and the Man-Mountain*David Roth: Let’s Remember Some Triple-A Journeymen*The Baseball Card Gold Rush*Topps: The Motion Picture*The Frank Bolick Moment*Macho Man Randy Savage and Brad “The Animal” Lesley*Why There Are Unwritten Rules*Why the Patriots are Hated/Why Robert Kraft Was Arrested and Why Sh...
2019-03-021h 58The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 094: A Reasonably Foreseeable EpisodeWARNING: There is a brief reference to abortion and rape, for those who might be triggered. There is also one four-letter word about half an hour in.TABLE OF CONTENTSDon Newcombe and the Ordeal of Reputation*The Ballad of Shanty Hogan*Sheryl Ring: Baseball and the Legal Mind*Koufax and Drysdale Hold Out*Do Stats Permit Each Team Have a Unique System and Breaches of Fiduciary Duty*Breaking Noah Syndergaard*Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth Go Into the Stands*Offerman and Nathans*Fowler’s Knee*Beanballs*The Death of Houdini*The Gene Tierney Case*Baseball as...
2019-02-252h 03The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 093: Trying, Failing, LearningTABLE OF CONTENTSDelay of Game, May 27, 1941 at the Polo Grounds*John McGraw II: Don’t Follow Leaders and Their Sandwiches*Mike Bates: What I Learned After the Wedding*The Obligatory Harper-Machado Minutes: They Symbolic Bid*Let Them Entertain Me*The Twins are Restive*Buxton, Sano, and Kepler*Kiriloff is Coming*Free Agent Courting Relationship Status*Brusdar/Sinistar*Goodbye, Robbie Grossman (Who Could Hang a Name on You?)*Spelunking Jake Cave*The LoMo Segue and the Danger of One-Year Veterans*The Joe Genewich Playing-Through-Injury Anecdote*“This Week in Baseball History” Negro Leagues and Players Series*Rube Foster: Literal Giant...
2019-02-171h 51The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 092: The MVP Machine Dreams of Second ChancesTABLE OF CONTENTSRusie, Brouthers, and Dahlen Dreaming*John McGraw at Bay*Ben Lindbergh: Too Much Audio Friendship/When You Throw Away Your Question-Shot*“Ballroom Dancing” vs. “The Pound is Sinking” vs. “Your Mother Should Know”*The MLB The Show Non-Cover*The Mystery Machine/The MVP Machine*Dexter Fowler Presses the Spacebar*The Votto Advantage*They Don’t Use VCRs Anymore*Virginia, There Is Such a Thing as Player Development*Archaic Wind-Ups*Fresh Eyes*Batting Follow-Through*The Post-Book Refractory Period*Jill Abramson’s Note-Taking*The Machado- and Harper-ness of Everything (Or Lack Thereof)*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE...
2019-02-081h 48The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 091: You Are Who You Root ForTABLE OF CONTENTSThe Quality of Mercy to Rabbits is Not Strained*Shanty Should Have Known Better*Patrick McLellan: I Don’t Need Glasses*The Lima Time Time/Casa Ole Ad/Self-Destructive Personas*Baseball is Unpopular?*Tracking the Last Reliever in the Bullpen*The Astros’ Non-Encore Encore*Is the Astros Lineup Getting Old?*Climbing Carlin’s Ladder*What Level of Engagement Should We Expect From an Entertainer or a Ballplayer?*Craig Biggio: The Declining Years*Jeff Kent: The Disliked Years*Be Careful Who You Root For; You Are Who You Root For*A Dallas Keuchel Prediction*Goodbyes.T...
2019-02-031h 15The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 090: Skippy Roberge and the Soup-EatersWARNING: Oh, my, are there cusswords this week. Mr. Normandin is just full of ‘em. Or something. Mind the children. Table of ContentsLenny Merullo’s Bad (But Not THAT Bad) Day*Steve’s nomination for the2019 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards*That Fatal Mets Game*Marc Normandin: You Can’t Edit a Newsletter*A Different Kind of Lefty*Too Young for a Mid-Life Crisis But Too Old to Care*Marc for the Proletariat*Toxic Ballpark Food and Cats Who Pick Pennant Winners*Possibly Dangerous Eating Advice*“I’m not gonna pretend I’m friends with that cow”*Caree...
2019-01-251h 29The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 089: The Cardinals Never Get Enough Credit and the Mets NeveWARNING: There is one cussword early in the interview segment and one late. We beg your forgiveness.TABLE OF CONTENTSHello, My Honey, Hello, My Jay*The Goslin Files*Mike Ferrin: Professional Radio Talk*Lean Questions*Mindfulness*Winning the Interview*Jim Duquette and the Stick Michael Approach*When You’re Just Not in the Mood to Broadcast/The Show Must Go On*Brodie Van Wagenen*The Paul Goldschmidt Trade and the Andrew McCutchen Conundrum*The Shelby Miller Trade and Other Prospect Disappointments*“This Guy’s a 40”*The Duck and the Llama*Eddie Stanky Tries to Get Fired To...
2019-01-191h 52The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 088: Baseball Willing vs. Baseball AbleTABLE OF CONTENTSTrevor Bauer Online/Jackie Robinson On a Plane*Tommy Henrich and Earned Good Luck*Craig Calcaterra: The NPR Voice*Steve’s Shameful Vin Scully Secret*The Coming Labor Crisis in Baseball*The Anti-Enthusiasm Cold Stove League*All the Team’s That Aren’t Adding Talent*Bryce Harper-to-the-Rockies Dreaming*Craig’s Car Dealership Metaphor*Bonds and Clemens (and Sosa): The Price*Craig’s Harold Baines Story/Steve’s Jose Guillen Story*Gaylord Perry in Arizona/Bob Costats’s Unsigned Mays Photograph*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNIN...
2019-01-121h 33The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 087: Towards a Philosophy of UnderbillsWARNING: There are a couple of cusswords in this episode, but one of them is about Ted Williams, and he would have appreciated that.TABLE OF CONTENTSTed Williams’ False Washington Dawn*Tommy Pham and Jack Fournier*Cliff Corcoran: A Philosophy of Underbills*Return of The Descalse!*Mariano Rivera and Craig Kimbrel*Big Hall-Small Hall and Joe Gantenbein Forever*The Nine Worlds of Harold Baines/In Praise of Argument*The Jurickson Profar Deal*Yasiel Puig to the Reds Etc*Cliff’s Stats Feature*Reds Callback: Jesse Winker*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes avai...
2019-01-052h 00The Infinite InningInfinite Inning #86: You Light Up My SplurgWARNING: There are a couple of cusswords abroad in the land.TABLE OF CONTENTSRogers Hornsby’s War With Baseball (Stop it! Cut it out!)*Go See “They Shall Not Grow Old”/The Paths of Glory Lead Only to the Latrine/Hank Gowdy Falls Down*Connie Mack and The Difficulty of Getting Good Takeout in the Suburbs*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.The Infinite Inning is not on...
2018-12-291h 21The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 085: A Man Can’t Worry and Hit Home RunsTable of ContentsThe Embedded Yankee: An Analogy*Babe Ruth’s Rough Year*Jane Leavy: A New View of the Babe*Felicitous Accidents of Research (Johnny Bassler and the Babe’s Childhood)*The Crimes of Babe Ruth’s Parents Against Babe Ruth*Ruth’s Right-Wing Connection*The Indispensable Christy Walsh*There is No Asterisk!*Fifty-Ounce Bats (What Would Ruth Do Today?)*In Search of the Inner Babe*The Unprecedented Revelation of Claire*Ruth’s Inner Hunger and the Babe at St. Mary’s*After the Cheering Stopped*The Tender Ruth?*Babe Ruth vs. Florence Nightingale for All the Nurses*Why W...
2018-12-221h 40The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 084: The Phillies Can't Hurt Me AnymoreTABLE OF CONTENTSHans Christian Andersen’s Negro Leagues*Why I Was Not at the Winter Meetings*Bill Lange Goes Home Forever*Liz Roscher: The Winter Meetings Social Ramble Ain’t Restful*Martyrs to Baseball*A Late-Blooming Phillies Fan*Can You Earn Your Angry Fandom?*Pessimistic Mets Fans*“Fair-Weather Fans” and Other Accusations of Inauthenticity*More Fannish Pessimism*The “We Really Suck” Chant*How Do You Explain the Phillies’ Free-fall?*“It Feels Like They Don’t Have a Plan”*Carlos Santana, Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and other Phillies*When Freddy Galvis Gets Up Your Butt*Our Owner Wants a New Boat*The Star...
2018-12-141h 44The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 083: We Have Suzyn Waldman and Our ValuesWARNING: The odd cussword is heard herein. Hide the kids.TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Ballad of Kewpie Dick*Stroopwafel Update*Patreon Update*Ty Cobb Chooses a Catcher*Alex Belth: O.G. Baseball Bloggers*The Golden Age of Magazine Writing*The Joy of Microfilm*A Writer’s Fame is Fleeting*Heinz and J. Lardner*Terry Southern, Bruce Jay Friedman, and Helen Lawrenson*The Yankees of Your 20s vs. Those of Your 40s*Emily Shapiro: What is Crohn’s Disease?*Fighting Your Limitations and Growth Experiences*Partnership and a Blurring of Roles (“I Can’t Take Care of Her, I C...
2018-12-081h 50The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 082: Who Mourns for the Nightlife in Babylon?TABLE OF CONTENTSYou Too Can Have a Duck for a General Manager*I Learned the Truth from Rickey Henderson*Lincoln Mitchell: Baseball and Politics/Your Wife and Your Mistress*Reframing the Dodgers-Giants Move as a Good Thing*Who Mourns for the Nightlife in Babylon?*Yankees Fans Kept Going to the Games*What If One NL Team Had Stayed?*“Sitsee”*The Least Significant Victim of Fascist Aggression*Decentralized Early Major League Baseball*Why Didn’t the Pacific Coast League Become a Third Major League?*If the Dodgers and Giants Had Stayed, When Would Baseball Have Caught Up to the Co...
2018-12-021h 32The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 081: When the Bass Comes Falling From the SkyTABLE OF CONTENTSWhen the Bass Comes Falling From the Sky*Remembering William Goldman and Stan Lee*Meg Rowley: An Argument About Coffee*Full Time at FanGraphs*Empathy for Recalcitrant Writers Who Are Also Plumbers*Loving Baseball During the Apocalyse*The Blown Save in Non-Baseball Environments*The Mixed Bag That Was MLB 2018*Knowing When to Go Off and When to Hang Fire*Lorena Martin vs. the Seattle Mariners*“Baseball is Believably Racist”*When Fandom Wears Away*Live, Laugh, Love, and Learn with the Mike Zunino Trade*When Roger Clemens Wet the Bed*An 89-73 Team Surrenders*Goodbyes.
2018-11-171h 47The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 080: The Germans Might Have a World For ItTABLE OF CONTENTSWillie McCovey and Sparky Schulz, The Brave & The Bold*A Program Note or Two*Jackie Robinson Goes to Cincinnati*Cliff Corcoran: Election Reflection*J.D. Martinez and the AL MVP Vote*Bookie Metts and Mucky Betts*Willie Stargell and Keith Hernandez*Jacob DeGrom NL MVP Disrespect*Blake Snell vs. Justin Verlander*The Aaron Nola Conundrum and The Chris Sale Deprivation*The Phillies’ Defense*Brett Gardner vs. Bryce Harper*Harper, Yankees First Baseman/Will the Yankees Spend?*Much Ado About Andujar*Getting Meta with Daniel Descalso and “The Sopranos”*The “Today’s Game” Hall of Fame Ballot*There...
2018-11-101h 45The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 079: The Punch in the Crotch RevisitedTABLE OF CONTENTSHack Wilson Gets Hacked Off*When Babe Ruth Homered for the Giants*Jesse Spector: Jesse Has a Cold/Sharing Hats*Racist Dodgers Fans Against the Special Prosecutor*The President as World Series/Rich Hill Commentator*Were the Red Sox a Historic Team?*When 1988 Failed to Validate the Regular Season*What Boston’s Record Does and Does Not Prove*All Postseason Teams Should Get a Home Game*Cleveland Was Secretly Bad*I Don’t Believe in Relievers (I Just Believe In Me)*Nathan Eovaldi’s Game 3*The Mets Have a New General Manager*Revisiting the Punch in the...
2018-11-031h 48The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 078: Take a Stat Song and Make It BetterTABLE OF CONTENTSCasey Stengel vs. the Nazi Warlord*The Secret New York Conspiracy to Destroy the Red Sox*Rob Neyer: Elevator Pitch for a Baseball Book*The Zobrist*What is “Postmodern” baseball?*Who Takes Responsibility?*The Best of All Possible Baseballs is For the Best?*Pay (Or at Least Feed) the Minor Leaguers!*Here Comes the Flood*Well-Known Facts, Whether You Like It or Not*Love on the Sands of Iwo Jima*The End of Carlos Beltran (and Everyone Else)*Relaxed Rob ‘Riting*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE IN...
2018-10-281h 49The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 077: Meet the New Giants, Same as the Old GiantsTABLE OF CONTENTSAddie Joss is Defunct*The Phillies Are On the Wire*Grant Brisbee: Tongue Tied*“To Glorgle”*Joe West’s Greatest Ejections*The Greatest Hits Theory of Joe West Fans*Hate Mail (Never Criticize Matt Wieters)*Back On Bullpenning? (No; Still On It)*Life After Team Blogging*Gonna Be in L.A. For Game 6*The San Francisco Giants’ Beard Deficit and Other Problems*Leaving Latin America Alone*For the Love of Homegrown Players*Will Madison Bumgarner Be Traded? (And Bryce Harper?)*Rebuilding for Real Estate*It’s the End of Evan Longoria As We Know Him*World Seri...
2018-10-201h 43The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 076: Cubs and TomahawksTABLE OF CONTENTSThe Cubs Buy Sushi*Chop the Chop (in Colorado)*Ryan Davis: Credentialed and Fatigued*A Dynasty Simultaneously Achieved and Denied*Were the Brewers Just Better?*Chili Davis is an Innocent Man!*Do Joe Maddon’s Lineup Changes Hurt Young Players?*In Praise of Tommy La Stella*The Terrance Gore Memorial Roster Spot*If You Swing Enough Times…*Kyle Hendricks, Pitching Detective (Guest-Starring Steve Adkins)*The Jason Heyward Problem*Heyward, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuna*So Long, Addison Russell*The Force Awakens Russia*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
2018-10-122h 11The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 075: A Certain Type of Person, A Certain Type of LifeTABLE OF CONTENTSThe Trial of Dizzy Dean*Dizzy Dean Balks*David Roth: Let’s Remember Guys Named Herm*Misplacing Bob Melvin and Maligning Tony Armas*A Quick Look at Dominic Smith*Questions of Confidence and Security in Baseball and Other Areas*And $200,000 in Nationals Tickets*Drunk People Are Boring*The 2018 Postseason*The A’s and the Brewers (1982 Milwaukee Brewers Appearances Appraised and Rick Mahler too)*Steve’s 1988 Story*The Career and Post-Career of Pete Vuckovich*The David Wright Farewell Tour of Iceland*The Entire Mets Rotation is Arb- Eligible (Jason Vargas and Jay Bruce Forever)*Indefinitely Delayed Cesped...
2018-10-051h 36The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 074: The Flaws Are the Fun of ItTABLE OF CONTENTSThe Baltimore Orioles Were Over So Long Ago*McGraw/Chase Redux*Tommy and Roy*Jeff Pearlman: Why is the USFL remembered more fondly than other failed sports leagues?*It’s not the players, it’s the owners*The Strange Owner of the Los Angeles Express and Other Fallacies About the Rich*Did the USFL Need Ban Johnson?*The Dumbest Trade in the History of Mankind*The Villain Arrives (It’s Not a Political Book)*Mexico Will Pay for Doug Flutie?*“Please Bring Your Final Purchases to the Register”*The Move to the Fall*Collusion! (With the NFL)*Y...
2018-09-291h 28The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 073: Eat the Bullpen!An Addison Russell Problem of Morality*The Pennant Race Decided By a Squeeze Play* Cliff Corcoran: A False Start*Who should be NL MVP?*Ban the Bullpen!*Possibly ignorant analogies from basketball and hockey*Openers and Followers*Shrink the Strikezone!*Mid-Inning Pitching Changes Are the Spawn of Satan*Bring Back Long Relievers*The Poignancy of Taking One For the Team*The 2018 Pennant Races, Such As They Are*It’s All Asdrubal’s Fault*Properly Valuing Defense*Miguel Andujar: Clank! (But Still a Net Positive)*One Last Pass at Shohei Ohtani’s Short-Term Future (Eat the Marshmallow!)*Goodbyes.THE INFINI...
2018-09-221h 53The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 072: Killed Off By the KilljoysBaseballs Try to Murder Fritz Ostermueller* Permanent Rainout, September 21, 1938*Stephon Johnson: The New York Amsterdam News/Advocacy Journalism*When Did African Americans Lose Interest in Baseball?*The Buttoned-Down Culture of Baseball*Fisk and Sanders, Showalter and Griffey*Racists on the Rise*“Baseball Needs Another Rickey Henderson”*Dexter Fowler Calumnied*John Kruk: J’Accuse!*Keith Hernandez vs. Dave Parker*The Effect of the Missing African American Teachers*The Financial Barriers to Being a Prospect*Solutions*The Damage of Disavowing Barry Bonds and the Gang (“We Still Enjoyed What We Saw”)*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
2018-09-151h 36The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 071: Reluctant Red Sox and Other OdditiesTABLE OF CONTENTSWes Ferrell Walks Off*Mediocre White Players/Jimmy Collins’ Unplanned Vacation*Mike Bates and Bill Parker: The historic 2018 season: The Baltimore Orioles and Shohei Ohtani*Rudy Pemberton and Phil Clark*Babe Ruth’s Warning to Ohtani*Who are the Angels?*The Past is More Populous Than the Present*Ski Melillo?*Charlie Hollocher*Elmer Flick and Bill Bergen Too*Gary Gaetti ‘s Awakening*The 2018 Minnesota Twins in Review*The Byron Buxton Conundrum*Joe Mauer in Retrospect*Buy-Low Moves That Didn’t Work*Old Friends*Avenging J.R. Richard and Forgiving Chris Von Der Ahe*Goodbyes.THE...
2018-09-091h 44The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 069: Holiday Road with Rogers and AndyTABLE OF CONTENTSCasey Stengel removes a pitcher*The Babe Ruth Visitors Center*Potential, with Andy Cohen and Rogers Hornsby*Hairstons and Harstons*The Great Gee Walker*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Ex...
2018-08-2447 minThe Infinite InningInfinite Inning 068 Punching Mookie BettsTABLE OF CONTENTSWARNING: The odd cussword is spoken aloud and sometimes thought in this episode. In addition, there is a discussion of an ancient case of rape and manslaughter in the second segment.Pea Ridge Day chooses free will*Fatty Arbuckle and Benny Kauff*David Roth: Bodega cats*The one bad review (Your mother-in-law and the Portland Sea Dogs)*Offending Will Pennyfeather*Easy-access basketball and a visit to Revolutionary War Princeton*David dreams “The Terminal” and other digressions*Smoking on camera*Re-signing Jose Bautista, Re-signing Joe Niekro*The Mets have an analytics department?* “Veteran leadership” and Amed...
2018-08-171h 47The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 067: This Fandom is MineTABLE CONTENTSTall Tales of Josh Gibson*Call-In Radio and WAR*Will Leitch: Productivity*Writing while disappointed*Don’t check the numbers*Cutting High School Memories*Why social media?*Cookies from Twitter*Jaded in the press box*“My fandom is mine”*Mike Matheny and Mike Schildt and The Matheny Manifesto*Ranking 900 Woody Harrelson movies*”Star Wars” vs. “Annie Hall.”*Goodbyes.THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotat...
2018-08-111h 40The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 066: They Don't Care About YouTABLE OF CONTENTSHartnett, Landis, and Capone*Willie Montanez: Tap-Tap*Jesse Spector: Rockies players like tacos and chess*Pregame non-conversations with Derek Jeter and Paul O’Neill at the old Yankee Stadium*Reconciling with Paul O’Neill’s affiliations*The Trevor Story story*The Dome Over Fenway Park*Why take owner finances on faith?*David Wright and Brandon Webb*The parsimony of the Lerners*Roberto Osuna*A glance askance at Josh Hader et al*The Astros throw Justin Verlander under the bus*The Asdrubal Cabrera trade as a teachable moment*An Asdrubal moment with Roger Angell*A note on Ian...
2018-08-041h 33The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 065: Listening, Inquiring, and Touching Base at the DeadlineTABLE OF CONTENTSKen Hunt’s Half-Season of Glory*Jack Morris/Yoenis Cespedes*More on Luke Heimlich*Cliff Corcoran: Diseases of cattle and ballplayers*The pointlessness of trade coverage*Trades that ripple through history*Revising opinions of the Francisco Mejia trade*The Jesus Montero analogy*Everything wrong with the Indians*Red Sox needs*Moving Salvador Perez*The Billy Hunter digression*Mike Moustakas, lame duck*Why Cole Hamels? And other pitchers*How do you make a package for Jacob DeGrom?*Zack Britton and The Cup We All Race 4*Should the Nationals sell?*The Hall of Fame inductions (Lost in Ja...
2018-07-271h 59The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 063: Watching the DetectivesSteve is joined by Christopher Bonanos, author of Flash: The Making of Weegee the Famous to discuss the photographic great who documented what went on in the naked city, the nighttime New York of the 1930s and 40s, after the ballplayers had put their gloves away for the day. Plus, Tom Seaver is traded as the ‘70s Mets force a big-market team into a small-market suit, and a Dodgers fan gets ribbed with fatal results.TABLE OF CONTENTSMets Get Small*Toxic Dodgers Fandom and twin .45s*Christopher Bonanos: Who was Weegee?*“Balcony Seats at a Murd...
2018-07-141h 48The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 062: The Great Disposable Ballpark SocietyBusiness of baseball writer Maury Brown (Forbes) joins Steve to talk about the future of labor relations in the game, the shift from television to on-line viewing, the stadium-financing boondoggle, and more, plus tales of Pepper Martin and Joe DiMaggio in distress.TABLE OF CONTENTSPepper Martin’s breaking point*Joltin’ Joe’s lack of leverage*Maury Brown: The usual hat talk*Do the players get a cut?*The players and online revenue*The legal landscape of a baseball labor war*Maury Year One (a Bay Area baseball upbringing with the Finley robot rabbit)*Remembering Doug Pappas...
2018-07-061h 44The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 059: Fear Factor BaseballEric Stephen (True Blue LA) returns to explain the strange odyssey of the 2018 Dodgers, plus this year’s Orioles versus your great-grandfather’s Browns, bad fan behavior in 1970s Pittsburgh, and a Yankees tugboat not delivered.TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Pirates keep the nickel*The Schleuter-ization of the Orioles*Billy Martin’s tugboat*Eric Stephen: The Dodgers’ child does not resemble the parents*An entire rotation on the DL*Prophetic words from 1973*Dave Roberts’ approach*Cody Bellinger’s slump and recovery*Great postseason slumps*Missing on Dave Winfield and Adrian Beltre*Can you count on a Clayton Kers...
2018-06-151h 35The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning #058: Necessary HeresiesCliff Corcoran (The Athletic) returns to talk baseball, and then is joined by film critic Scott Tobias (The Next Picture Show podcast) to talk about “Solo,” the Star Wars and Marvel franchises, and the curse of the summer movie season. Prior, Steve has two stories of Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst, plus a protest of sorts.TABLE OF CONTENTSStan Musial’s kid and mine*Popeye thoughts*Red Shoendienst, Stan Musial, and Trader Frank Lane*Cliff Corcoran: The Montgomery Biscuits cap et al*The integration of the Philadelphia Phillies*Clayton Kershaw in Decline/The Dodgers at .500*The Ma...
2018-06-102h 13The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning 057: Rebel Without a DraftRotation regular Jesse Spector rejoins Steve for a discussion that starts dark and soon gets silly, with Jesse fighting to the death to abolish the June amateur draft. Also features Steve stories on Hank Greenberg, Tyler O’Neill, and Long Tom Winsett.TRIGGER WARNING: In the Hank Greenberg segment, Greenberg himself is quoted describing anti-Semitic slurs to which he was subjected. There is also a cussword embedded in a quote early on. Hide the children.TABLE OF CONTENTSWith Great Winsett Power Comes Great Responsibility*Hank Greenberg Demands Respect*Jesse Spector: Hot spots and hi...
2018-06-021h 56The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 055: The Man In The DugoutSteve is joined by former major league manager Davey Johnson to discuss his life and adventures as described in his new autobiography, Davey Johnson: My Wild Ride in Baseball and Beyond. This week’s tales include taking the permanent exit from a Babe Ruth-era Yankees game and a Johnson-inspired story of an Orioles no-hitter gone wrong.THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP can be found here.TABLE OF CONTENTSRuthian Fatality*Barber’d and Bauer’d*Davey Johnson: HoJo at short*Hank Bauer*Earl Weaver, batting Mark Belanger second, and small samples*How much pressure are ma...
2018-05-181h 16The Infinite InningInfinite Inning 053: “Why Would They Wanna Blow Up Disco Music?” And Other TalesSteve is joined by major league veteran Greg Pryor to discuss his forthcoming book, The Day the Yankees Made Me Shave: A Baseball Autobiography, and share tales of the game in the 1970s and 80s. Plus, SteveStories on the meaning of 3,000 hits and the way Ty Cobb’s racism is misused.TABLE OF CONTENTSPaul Waner’s two 3000th hits*Abnormalizing Ty Cobb*Short pants and South Side Hitmen*The Syracuse Mustache Rebellion*“No one ever seemed satisfied with me”*A dark scouting report*The Harry Chappas: Sports Illustrated Cover-Guy Saga*The moral hazard of George Brett in...
2018-05-041h 46The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning #050: Shoeless Joe Didn't FlossJacob Pomrenke, editor of Scandal on the South Side: The 1919 Chicago White Sox and SABR’s Director of Editorial Content joins Steve to explore the relevance of the Black Sox to our time, appreciate and criticize both the book Eight Men Out and its filmed counterpart, and attempt to fix the roles of both Joe Jackson and Buck Weaver in throwing the World Series. In addition, this week Steve offers tales of an unappreciated player from the 1940s and of the world of the Black Sox as seen from a small room with just one exit located in the Washington DC...
2018-04-141h 48The Infinite InningInfinite Inning #049: The Zen Of Pitching To Mike TroutDavid Roth returns to talk about competitive balance, over-monitoring mound visits, and the pernicious nature of social media (not back on it, still on it). Meanwhile, Steve tries to turn a nonsensical Jerry Coleman call into something dark and disturbing and rants about outfielders from 1934 to the present day who were damaged, sometimes severely, by unpadded outfield walls.The Haunting of Bruce Benedict*Hazards in the Outfield, with Billy McKinney, Dustin Fowler, Earle Combs, and Pete Reiser*David Roth: Bartolo Colon rides again*Waiting for R.A. Dickey*The cosmopolitanism of Opening-Day rosters*The Way We Never Were...
2018-04-061h 57The Infinite InningThe Infinite Inning #048: Deal With RealityRussell Carleton (Baseball Prospectus, author of The Shift: The Next Evolution in Baseball Thinking) joins Steven to discuss things we don’t have words for, and surprising findings on third-base coaches, the effect of managers, and, of course, the shift.TABLE OF CONTENTSThe Day the Sun Shone on Ty Tyson*Reframing the problem of Alex Johnson*Russell Carlton: Man with a Doctorate*You can’t control for Salvador Perez’s knee*Baseball and Arkham Asylum*Fire all the third base coaches*A book about people (with numbers)*The Zach Britton Game that Zach Britton wasn’t in (We...
2018-03-301h 46The Infinite InningInfinite Inning #023: Oh Say Can't You See?Steven is joined by historian Mary Craig (Baseball Prospectus, Beyond the Box Score) to discuss the intersection of sports and politics as we see it and/or refuse to see it today. Along the way, Herbert Hoover doesn’t meet Babe Ruth and Tom Seaver crosses into John Lennon territory.TABLE OF CONTENTSWar is over if Tom Seaver wants it*Herbert Hoover goes to a ballgame*Mary Craig: John Locke was such a racist (and Martin Heidegger was a Nazi)*Days of Taking a Knee and the Myth of Baseball’s Depoliticization*Baseball’s color line i...
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