The Windup: A show about Baseball

Ken Rosenthal was at Cubs-Dodgers this weekend and has thoughts on both teams. Ken and Tim McMaster also discuss MLB's enforcement of illegal substances one week into the league's crackdown. Then, we open up the mailbag...-Is the Mariner's rebuild on track?-Why isn't Josh Donaldson being treated the way Mike Fiers was during the Astros cheating scandal?-Will we ever see left handed players playing catcher or on the left side of the infield?-Why don't MLB players hold out for new contracts like NFL players?-Why don't MLB broadcasts use more advanced metrics?-Will Marcell Ozuna play again this season?All that and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DVR and Keith discuss the highly-anticipated arrival of Wander Franco, where he would go in an open universe re-draft of all MLB players, Matt Manning’s first two starts with the Tigers, the possibility of another great young starter falling to Detroit at No. 3 in next month’s draft, and the position players most likely to debut in the big leagues now that Super Two considerations have waned. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperSubscribe to The Athletic just for just $3.99/mo to start: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence and Grant Brisbee are back and ready to talk about some of the big stories going on in baseball. This episode they talk about MLB starting to check pitchers for substances, Shohei Ohtani's amazing season & how defense is a big key for good teams.MLB started this week to check pitchers for substances during games. Some interesting reactions from Max Scherzer and Sergio Romo so far. They talk about the back and forth between Scherzer and Joe Giradi. Shohei Ohtani is changing the game in a big way this season. More players in the minors and college might try to be 2 way players after seeing the success of Ohtani. The guys talk about if they think we will see more 2 way players. They talk about how defense is a big key for some of the better teams in baseball. They talk about a few different stats that show that to be the case. And they talk about what would be their perfect team if they were building it in a video game and in real life.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've covered MLB's sticky stuff problem from just about every angle, but what about the impact on sports betting? Jeopardy legend and professional sports gambler James Holzhauer visits Starkville to discuss it. James also explains his new role at The Athletic, talks about growing up a Cubs fan and dreaming of running an MLB front office, and of course tries his luck at Doug Glanville trivia.James also tries to help Jayson and Doug snap their losing streak on listener trivia! Throw in a segment of Strange But True and this is one full episode.Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow James Holzhauer: @James_HolzhauerFollow Alex Simon on Twitter: @AlexSimonSportsFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MLB's enforcement of pitchers using illegal substances is here. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss what we can expect as pitchers and umpires adapt. Then in the mailbag...-How will the lack of sticky stuff impact the pitching trade market?-Will the Rays replace Glasnow by trade or look internally?-Does Zack Wheeler deserve Cy Young consideration?-Will the Rockies trade any players not named Story?-What's an award MLB should hand out that it doesn't right now?-Ken's favorite MLB career statisticAll that and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…-Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_Rosenthal-Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss a few surprises in San Diego, including the disappointing results from Blake Snell and Trent Grisham's ascent toward stardom. Plus, the separation of the Red Sox and Rays from the Yankees and Jays in the AL East, Xander Bogaerts as one of the baseball's most overlooked big-market stars, and Division 1 schools that have recently dropped baseball. Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are back with another hot cup of baseball takes. They are going to talk about some players that are putting up crazy stats so far this season & the art of picking the right walk-up music. Vlad Jr is leading MLB in 2 of 3 of the main categories for the Triple Crown in baseball. He had a great offseason workout plan and it's showing so far this season. He is a much different player then his dad was. Zach Wheeler of the Phillies is putting up some amazing numbers this season and has really come into his own. Jacob deGrom is just putting up some absurd numbers so far this season. Hunter talks about if there is any keys to trying to have success vs deGrom. Hunter talks about some pitchers that were tough on him when he was playing and how the Giants pitching staff from 2010-2014 was really nasty and needs more credit. They talk about the art of picking the right walk-up song or entrance music for a closer. Everyone does it different and Hunter has some great stories of how some players went about picking their walk up music. And they talk about the health benefits of drinking coffeeFollow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fire up the Star Spangled Banner, USA Baseball is headed back to the Olympics. Todd Frazier joins Starkville to explain how he went from the Pirates to Team USA in a matter of weeks. Frazier describes some of the wild moments of the qualifying tournament.Also on this episode, Jayson and Doug talk about Gerrit Cole's struggles trying to explain illegal substances and why the sticky stuff is causing major problems for Major League Baseball. Strange But True covers the history of players failing to touch first base like Ke'Bryan Hayes. All that plus trivia (of course!)Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Todd Frazier: @FlavaFraz21Follow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Yankees continue to struggle and Aaron Boone is visibly frustrated. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss what it all means for the manager's future in The Bronx. From there, a check in on the party atmosphere this weekend on Chicago's North Side. In the mailbag...-What can we expect from MLB's enforcement of illegal substances?-Will Max Scherzer be traded and could he end up back home in Missouri?-What could the Pirates get in return for Adam Frazier and Richard Rodriguez?-Do teams spend enough time on fundamentals like baserunning?-Will the sticky stuff have an impact on Hall of Fame voting?-Why didn't Johan Santana get more Hall of Fame consideration?Answers to those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected] Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss the sticky-substance saga, Jarred Kelenic's return to Tacoma, the challenge of determining a player's readiness to contribute at the MLB level, and the surprising Giants. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/mo to start: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee have some fresh hot takes on illegal substances on baseballs, if the humidor is good or bad for baseball and being aggressive on the first pitch.The big story right now in baseball in pitchers using illegal substances on baseballs to gain an edge over the batters. Hunter gives his thoughts on the situation and wonders why MLB is doing this now since it's been around for so long. He is a fan of pitchers having a good grip of the ball for safety reasons and doesn't think it is as big of a deal as it's being made out to be right now. They talk about more teams using the humidor this season and if it is good or bad for baseball. Hunter talks about playing games at Coors Field and how hitters loved it, but pitchers really didn't. They talk about how this season more players are being aggressive on the first pitch & the numbers show it. Hunter talks about his approach at the plate when he was playing and how things are different now then from when he was playing.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon "Boog" Sciambi makes the trip to Starkville from his new home in Chicago. He talks about replacing good friend Len Kasper in the Wrigley TV booth, the Cubs surprising start, why broadcasts are suffering from no player access, Lou Gehrig Day and the fight against ALS and more.Also on this episode, Jayson and Doug explain why Starkville wouldn't exist if writers weren't allowed in clubhouses back in the 80's. All of that, plus listener trivia with John Fisher and Strange But True.Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterFollow Boog on Twitter: @BoogSciambi and at https://projectmainst.org/Follow John Fisher on Twitter: @JohnnyPhisherSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Major League Baseball may start cracking down on pitchers using illegal substances soon. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss that and who's to blame for the Yankees underperforming offense. Then in the mailbag...-Are Miguel Andujar, Gary Sanchez, Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier destined to be dissapointments?-Can the Cubs maintain their great start?-Why do teams wait all the way to the deadline before making trades?-Should the Mets make a move now?-Is the NL East the worst division in MLB?-Should the Astros trade Carlos Correa to improve their bullpen?-Do the Brewers have the pitching to compete for a championship?-How is Bill Mazeroski in the Hall of Fame and Roger Maris not?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're into June, and that means the buy/sell divide in advance of the trade deadline is starting to take shape. Michael Beller and Keith Law take a look at either side of that, including some teams on the former side that weren't necessarily expected to be contenders.The guys then turn their eyes to the standings, where they zero in on the A's keeping pace with the Astros, and the Mets putting some distance between themselves and the rest of the NL East, despite being the most injured team in the league. Finally, a quick check in on some of this season's most intriguing rooking starting pitchers.Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Beller on Twitter: @MBellerSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are ready to give you a steaming cup of hot takes on the first third of the MLB season. Who are the surprising teams, who has disappointed and who is leading baseball in homers.The guys break down the team that they each think can make a run the rest of the season to make the playoffs. They break down if the Giants are for real or just having a lucky start to their season. The 2 Chicago teams are looking good so far and they both expect big things from them the rest of the way. The MLB Home Run Race is very exciting with lots of young stars at the top of the list. A lot of Jrs- Guerrero Jr, Tatis Jr & Acuna Jr. They discuss how Vlad Jr has really worked hard this offseason and it has really showed so far a third of the way thru the season.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jayson and Doug welcome Ken Rosenthal and Britt Ghiroli to Starkville for a roundtable discussion on the season’s first two months. They draft the game’s best young players and try to figure out how MLB can help them and everyone else in the game shine.Javy Baez was once one of the games elite young players. He’s still a magician as he showed with his steal of first base in Pittsburgh. Joe West has been an umpire for longer than anyone ever. Doug has stories and Jayson has stats to mark West’s big milestone.Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the mailbag, Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss the rash of injuries across baseball and how some teams, like the Mets, are overcoming injuries and contending. Inside the mailbag...-After Erik Kratz's allegations that more teams have cheated to steal signs in recent years, will baseball look into the claims or move on?-What does the ideal MLB playoff bracket look like?-Would moving the mound back do more harm than good to hitters?-Where did all the bunting go?-Is Yadier Molina the "champion of home-crowd adoration?"-Favorite Expos memories?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss the Yankees' latest bout with the injury bug, the Rays' decision to trade Willy Adames, Taylor Walls getting the call before Vidal Bruján and Wander Franco, Rich Hill's recent run of dominance, Alek Manoah's promotion, and Keith's first mock for the 2021 MLB Draft. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are back with some more hot coffee and baseball talk. They talk about Hunter as a player vs fan, approaches at the plate & important Glue Guys for contenders. Hunter talks about the difference he has felt as a player vs him as a just a fan of baseball this season. Hunter talks about how he went about his approach at the plate vs certain pitchers and how thinking too much at the plate isn't always a good thing. The guys talk about some of the important glue guys for some of the main contenders. Hunter has a different view on how he came up with his glue guys. They talk about ball player body language and how Hunter thinks that is a very big key to a glue guy on a team. And they talk about the amazing season that Giants SS Brandon Crawford is having this season.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jayson and Doug are ready to throw out some unwritten rules and maybe some written ones too! They discuss Yermin Mercedes' 3-0 crush (2:00) and Doug's hatred for the first base line (1:10:40). Plus Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom visits Starkville to talk (12:07)...-The Red Sox hot start and surprising starting pitching-The challenging start to his tenure in Boston-Bringing back Alex Cora this year-Looking back on trading Mookie-Majoring in Latin Classics-Choosing Kevin Cash over Doug for Rays manager job-Making up for the Red Sox organization's history of racismThat and more, plus listener trivia with @aspiegler11 (1:03:10).Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterSubscribe to The Athletic for just $1 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Monday mailbag, Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss all the sticky stuff pitchers are putting on baseballs and why it's time for MLB to do more about it. Then in the mailbag:-Could Mike Trout try to force a trade out of LA?-Who should Yankees target to replace Hicks?-What areas should the Mets target before the trade deadline?-Has Tony La Russa lost the White Sox clubhouses?-Is Xander Bogaerts the best offensive SS in the game?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $1 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss a lengthy absence for Mike Trout, the Angels' outfield prospects waiting in the wings at Triple-A, new homers for Yoshi Tsutsugo and Albert Pujols, the early performance of Logan Gilbert and Jarred Kelenic, unwritten rules vs. ump shows, and dominant starts to the minor-league season from Alek Manoah and Hunter Greene. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperSubscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month to start: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drew Robinson joins the Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee this week to talk about his inspirational comeback story & how he wants to get "the message" out there to people dealing with mental health problems. He lost his right eye in a suicide attempt last year and fought his way back to make the opening day roster for the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. He recently hit his first homer after coming back. He talks about how amazing it was to get all the calls and texts and all the social media love about his return to the field. He wants to get out the message about giving out good energy and love to everyone and not getting down. He gives advice to young players coming up in baseball and how you need to put in the hard work all the time to make it in life.Hunter and Grant talk about the Giants-Dodgers rivalry and how Hunter could tell the fans were way more into the games with the Dodgers then most other games. And they break down the current standings and Hunter talks about a team that everyone should look out for. Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeFollow Drew on Twitter: @DrewrobbbSubscribe to The Athletic for just $1 per month for 6 monthsFollow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeFollow Drew on Twitter: @DrewrobbbSubscribe to The Athletic for just $1 per month for 6 months Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a busy week in Starkville! White Sox broadcaster Jason Benetti joins the show to talk about the White Sox, working with Bill Walton and his journey as a broadcaster with Cerebral Palsy.Listener Trivia takes it up a notch when the answer to the question joins the show! Also, Jayson and Doug talk about Girardi's "next question" rant, Pujols to the Dodgers and Ohtani (of course!). They even squeeze in a Strange by True.Learn more about Cerebral Palsy at https://www.yourcpf.org/Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterFollow Jason Benetti on Twitter: @jasonbenettiSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Monday mailbag, Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss why the Padres are being forced to play shorthanded while other teams had games postponed. Then it's on to the mailbag:-Could Tony Gwynn hit with today's shifts and pitching velocity?-Is Shohei Ohtani more likely to have a 4-homer game or a no-hitter in his career?-What will the Giants do at the deadline?-What's going on with the Rockies?-Why isn't Carlos Rodon getting more credit?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part Three of The Athletic’s Origins story for Dell Technologies ‘Small Business Podference’ series. In this episode The Athletic’s co-founders Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann continue on about the company’s expansion into the U.K., how the team got through the shutdown of sports and challenges that lay ahead. Writers, Marcus Thompson, Anthony Slater, Zach Harper and David Aldridge give their thoughts on that process as well.For the complete lineup of episodes, visit delltechnologiespodference.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part Two of The Athletic’s Origins story for Dell Technologies ‘Small Business Podference’ series. In this episode The Athletic’s co-founders Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann continue on about the company’s first steps into the marketplace. The challenges they met selling this idea to investors, and journalists they were trying to recruit, specifically with the expansion into the Bay Area. Writers, Marcus Thompson and Anthony Slater give their thoughts on that process as well.For the complete lineup of episodes, visit delltechnologiespodference.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part One of The Athletic’s Origins story for Dell Technologies ‘Small Business Podference’ series. In this episode we hear from The Athletic’s co-founders Alex Mather and Adam Hansmann about how they met, how an idea for better sports coverage materialized into a significant media player in the sports landscape and the spirit at the heart of The Athletic’s culture. For the complete lineup of episodes, visit delltechnologiespodference.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss the promotion of Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert to Seattle, changes in what teams are looking for in young pitchers, the struggles of the Twins, Randy Arozarena's quiet start, and a new No. 1 atop Keith's 2021 MLB Draft Prospect Rankings. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee has a hot new cup of podcast breaking down if some of the early surprise teams are contenders & pretenders. Both guys agree that the Red Sox and the Giants are the 2 biggest surprise teams so far this season. They are both doing things a little differently. The Red Sox have a potent offense and their pitching has been in the middle of the pack. The Giants have had really good pitching and the hitting has been decent so far. Some other teams that have been surprises are the Phillies, A's & Mets. When fully healthy, the guys think the Mets could be the best team in baseball. And the guys take a few #ASKHUNTER questions.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jayson and Doug welcome Angels manager Joe Maddon back to Starkville for a return visit. Less than a week after the team DFA'd Albert Pujols, Maddon opens up about the decision, how it went down and how the team has responded. He also explains the club's philosophy in using Shohei Ohtani this year, how Mike Trout could take on more of a leadership roll and how golf and the "GGA" is helping the team bond on the road.Jayson and Doug also discuss the Mets latest missteps with Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil and the New York City rat or raccoon. That plus Strange but True and trivia!Join the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Monday mailbag, Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss Ronald Acuna's injury and how it could have been avoided and what took Shane Greene so long to find a team. Then it's on to the mailbag:-Is Albert Pujols' contract the worst in MLB history?-Are no-hitters becoming too common?-Can Shohei Ohani do this all season?-What's the ideal pitch clock time?-Will MLB ever fire umpires for bad calls?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss the Angels' decision to designate Albert Pujols for assignment -- and the incredible start to his Hall-of-Fame career -- before discussing the surprising development of John Means in the wake of his no-hitter earlier this week, and the Dodgers' pitching depth in the wake of Dustin May's season-ending elbow injury. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/mo to start: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are ready to serve you up a fresh cup of MLB Power Rankings after the first month of baseball. The guys debate their top 5 teams in baseball after the first month. Next they give 3 teams that are just outside the Top 5 that have impressed and could move their way up in the next few weeks. And finally they give a few teams that have disappointed so far in the 1st month of the season. According to Hunter, there is no wrong answer, but we will see if there is any disagreements in their selections.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pitchers are winning early in the season and Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville try to figure out why before welcoming Rex Hudler to Starkville. The former big leaguer and current Royals broadcaster explains why Kansas City has been the surprise team in baseball through one month, plus...-Getting booed on Opening Day at the Vet-Catching a ball from Ripken's 2131-One of the great practical jokers-His relationship with his son Cade who has Down Syndrome-When he knew it was time to go from the dugout to the broadcast boothThe guys wrap things up by brainstorming potential names for a sitcom starring Anthony Rizzo and Freddie Freeman.Subscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Monday mailbag, Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster talk about the Brewers hot start and continued troubles with MLB Instant Replay. In the mailbag...-Should the Royals be getting more attention?-Is MLB tracking Carter Stewart's progress in Japan?-What is Matt Harvey doing differently?-Why won't MLB use technology to eliminate sign stealing?-Will Hank Aaron's #44 be on the field at the All Star Game in Denver?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterJoin the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law discuss the early success of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Oakland Athletics' unusual hot start + more early surprises to believe in. The duo also discusses top prospect, Wander Franco heading to Triple-A.Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence and Grant Brisbee are back with some freshly brewed baseball talk. They are going to talk about what makes a stud pitcher, overrated stats in baseball, sudden death home run duals in the minors and some more #AskHunter questions. There are some surprising teams this year early part of the season and their starting pitching is the reason why. The guys discuss what goes into star stud pitchers in baseball. Hunter goes into what is harder to do- pitching or hitting. They talk about what stats they think are overrated in baseball and what ones are more important in their minds. Was Madison Bumgarner's 7 inning no-hitter a legit no-no? They talk about the smoking hot Oakland A's. And they take some #AskHunter questions and talk about a crazy new minor league rule that was just made for extra inning gamesFollow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jayson and Doug explain why Madison Bumgarner's 7-inning no-hitter IS a no-hitter. Then Jay Bruce visits the show because Starkville is an ideal destination after wrapping up a 14-year Major League career. He talks about...-Being on either side of a no-hitter twice-His favorite career moments-Ken Griffey Jr. stories-Joey Votto stories-Knowing when to say goodbyePlus trivia and Doug charts his path to an EGOT after his recent Emmy nomination for writing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the Monday mailbag, Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster talk about the Dodgers-Padres rivalry and Ken shares more info from his story with Eno Sarris about pitchers using foreign substances for grip. Then, inside the mailbag...-Can the Mets fix their defensive woes and are they wasting Jacob deGrom's career?-Is Joey Votto a Hall of Famer?-Are the Blue Jays a playoff team?-Should players be penalized for bat flipping and showboating?-When can you start rooting for your team again after they cheat?-Should all ballparks have the same playing dimensions?-Are umpires responsible for slowing down the game?Those questions and more. To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email [email protected]…Join the athletic now for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek VanRiper and Keith Law react to Dinelson Lamet's injury. What does it mean for the Padres pitching staff, specifically Ryan Weathers and top prospect MacKenzie Gore? Then DVR and Keith look at potential early call ups who could start making their debuts. With service time no longer an issue, players like Wander Franco, Alex Kirilloff and Jarred Kelenic could be joining their Major League clubs soon. Later in the show, the guys try to find answers to what's wrong with Javier Baez, Keston Hiura and more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence and Grant Brisbee are here to serve you another fresh cup of baseball talk. They are gonna break down catchers needing more credit in no-hitters, old school style vs analytics and some #AskHunter questions. Catchers are sometimes the unsung heroes of no-hitters and deserve more credit. Sometimes it's not always the star catcher on the team that has a special connection with their pitcher. Hunter talks about the balance in the game of old school thinking vs analytics and how he would do if he was starting out now in the new analytics world of baseball. They get into some #ASKHUNTER questions and give predictions on the Dodgers-Padres series coming up this weekend.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you love baseball oddities, you love Jayson Stark and you should also love Sarah Langs. Put these two greats together and you have the strangest but truest podcast ever! Jayson and Sarah explain what led them down the path to baseball's numbers, records and overall weirdness and why they're driven to ask questions about the game that most people don't even consider. Then Starkville becomes a family affair as Sarah's mom stops by.The guys also discuss the rise of the Double Hook... the new rule in the Atlantic League that was named by Jayson and take a moment to marvel at the perseverance of Sean Kazmar Jr.Sarah also delivers this week's trivia question: Nelson Cruz almost became the first player to lead his league in HRs last year in a season in which he turned 40. The oldest HR champ of all time was 38 when he won. Who is he? To join The Athletic for just $3.99 per month, visit theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken Rosenthal answers your questions on specific teams and players or the biggest storylines facing MLB. In this week's mailbag:-Explaining the timing of The Athletic's story on Mets culture-Are the Dodgers better than the 90's Braves?-Where did Akil Baddoo come from?-Should technology be taken out of the dugout?-Impact of MLB expansionThose topics and more. If you want to get involved in the show you can reach the voicemail line at: 646-543-7072 or Email: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith Law and Derek VanRiper discuss Carlos Rodón's long road back to the White Sox's rotation and Wednesday's no-hitter against Cleveland, early pitching risers, the changing profile of Byron Buxton, and Keith's recently updated Top 50 prospects list for the 2021 first-year player draft. Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are ready to serve you a hot cup of baseball talk this week. They will talk about the art of pinch hitting, some early season interesting division battles and how deep bullpens are a big key for championship teams. Pablo Sandoval has great career numbers as a pinch hitter and Hunter talks about what makes The Panda so great at it. The guys break down some of the early season interesting division battles. The NL East is off to an interesting start and the AL West is pretty much wide open so far. The Giants are really surprising in the NL West and are using great pitching, hitting and defense to get the job done. Farhan Zaidi has a system set up to find the best out of players in every situation during a game. The Red Sox have surprised so far in the AL East and their bullpen has been pretty impressive. Hunter talks about how a deep bullpen is something that a lot of the World Series winning teams have had in the past 10 seasons. And they talk about Hunter's approach as a pinch hitter and if he remembers who he hit his first MLB pinch hit HR off.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Buck visits Starkville to discuss his power to jinx no hitters, why he hates your team, why he doesn't love bass fishing, his favorite World Series games, his relationship with his dad and much more (22:10). Also on this episode, Jayson and Doug set out to fix instant replay (1:00), and in the latest edition of Tales from the Doug-out, Glanville shares stories of his favorite stadium of all time, The Vet, which would be celebrating its 50th birthday this month (1:12:25).This week's trivia from David Salituro (@DavidSalituro): Johnny Vaner Meer famously has the record for the fewest starts between no-hitters. Who hasthe second-shortest span between no-hitters? Hint: This pitcher coincidentally also has the record for most starts before his first (1:04:40).To join The Athletic for just $3.99 per month, visit theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ken Rosenthal shares his thoughts on Trevor Bauer, MLB cracking down on pitchers using illegal substances (2:30) and much more in the mailbag...-How will the Yankees address shortstop problems?-Do the Padres need to add more pieces this season?-Is Tony La Russa in over his head in Chicago?-Will MLB expand the playoffs in 2022?To get involved you can leave a voicemail at 646-543-7072 or Email [email protected] and you can join The Athletic for just $3.99 per month by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith Law and Derek VanRiper discuss the Padres' options at shortstop with Fernando Tatis Jr. on the IL, expectations for Geraldo Perdomo in Arizona, early surprises -- including Andrew Vaughn's slow start at the plate, Keston Hiura's struggle to make contact -- the potential impact of learning a new defensive position on offensive production, and more. Rundown2:21 Ha-seong Kim & the Padres’ Depth Behind Fernando Tatis Jr. 9:06 The Importance of Seeing Players Against Upper Level Competition15:53 Geraldo Perdomo Gets the Call to Arizona19:00 Andrew Vaughn’s Slow Start at the Plate22:14 Keston Hiura’s Soaring Strikeout Rate27:08 How Sustainable is Yermín Mercedes as a Big League Hitter?32:45 Akil Baddoo’s Huge First Week36:04 The Value of Game Reps for Rebuilding TeamsFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Derek on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/month to start: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Baseball Barista with Hunter Pence & Grant Brisbee are back to talk about an exciting opening week of baseball and what teams/players surprised them the first week. One of their biggest surprises of the opening week was how much the A's have struggled so far. The Phils and Angels really impressed the guys in the first week of the season. Ohtani has looked amazing at the plate and on the mound so far. Mike Trout has shown a lot more fire this season and you can see if effecting the team in a good way. Hunter talks about what it takes to be able to be the vocal leader of a team and how you have to be able to back it up on the field. Hunter talks about how hard it is to hit off Kershaw. They talk about how much the Tatis Jr injury will hurt the Padres and baseball in general. And Hunter talks about 2 young players that have really surprised him so far in the early season.Follow Hunter on Twitter: @hunterpenceFollow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBrisbeeSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.