The Ringer Mlb Show

For the final time this season, we run through the biggest movers in terms of playoff odds, and share which of the final contenders have surprised us most this season (1:27). Then, with less than a week left in the season, we share our MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year ballots, including unanimous choices like Shane Bieber for AL Cy Young, and three-way split decisions like Freddie Freeman, Fernando Tatís Jr., and Mookie Betts for NL MVP (33:44). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We lead the podcast by discussing the news that commissioner Rob Manfred and team owners want to make the 2020 playoff structure (16 teams and a three-game series in the first round) permanent (1:35). Then, we discuss how the MLB playoff bubble will affect this year and how team strategies will change because there are no days off in between games (18:38). Finally, we preview a weekend full of key series for the 2020 playoff picture (31:58) before discussing the largest movers by playoff odds this past week (48:13). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We narrow in on the two biggest preseason favorites to win the 2020 World Series: the Yankees and the Dodgers. What has contributed to their polar opposite seasons, and can the Yankees pull it together in time to regain their chance at a 2020 ring (8:12)? Then, we remember MLB legends Lou Brock and Tom Seaver (27:11) and then choose a preseason underdog that we now think is most likely to make the playoffs (36:02). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After some alleged beanball dominated the discourse around the Yankees-Rays game last night, we outline the recent history of bad blood between the two teams (1:34). Then, we discuss the highest impact trades from the deadline on Monday, including Mike Clevinger and Austin Nola to the Padres (16:29). Finally, we talk about the biggest playoff odds moves of the week (51:34). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With nearly half of the season over (unbelievably), we run down the awards ballots for the AL and NL and share our top three picks for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year (6:37). Then, we end by recapping the last week in playoff odds changes (48:06). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, we home in on the biggest story in baseball: Fernando Tatis Jr. vs. regressive unwritten rules. We open by wondering whether this will be the old generation’s last big stance against electric young players (1:03), before inviting The Ringer’s Shea Serrano onto the show so he can learn and react to some of baseball’s most ridiculous unwritten rules (21:15). Finally, Mike and Ben close by assessing the most drastic movers by FanGraphs’ playoff odds (46:41). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Shea Serrano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gerrit Cole is the new guy in the Bronx—CC knows a little something about that. The guys are joined by the Yankees’ new ace to talk about staying intense with no fans in the stands (12:45), getting to know new teammates and developing a relationship with a new catcher (34:00), CC’s ceremonial first pitch (43:47), witnessing Aaron Judge up close and personal (49:42), and more. This podcast originally aired on 'R2C2.' Subscribe on Spotify. Hosts: CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco Guest: Gerrit Cole Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Zach Kram breaks out more halfway-hot takes to open this week’s episode, including that the Angels offense will finish in the top two in baseball but the team will miss the playoffs, Fernando Tatís Jr. will go 20/20 in only 60 games, and more (1:40). Then, Ben Lindbergh joins to make sense of the Cleveland starting rotation violating COVID protocols, and then discusses the biggest movers in playoff odds this week (25:02). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We open this week's podcast by reviewing Sunday's ill-advised brawl between the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Astros, from which the resulting penalties are rumored to be severe (1:02). Then, we bring on ESPN’s Clinton Yates to break down the unique and growing appeal of Fernando Tatís Jr. and to make the case for the runner on second rule (25:26). Finally, we debate whether the Rockies and Padres are actually good (57:23). This podcast initially aired on the "Baseball BBQ" feed. Follow on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosts: Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We scan over the last week in COVID-related baseball news, including the latest on outbreaks in St. Louis and Miami, Yoenis Céspedes opting out, and more (1:23). Then, we curate some of the best things you can spend this shortened season watching—from Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, to Fernando Tatís Jr., all the way to Shane Bieber and James Karinchak (17:14). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now a couple of days removed from news of a COVID-19 outbreak on the Miami Marlins, we break down what this means for the other 29 teams in baseball, whether the season has a hope of rebounding and finishing, and how MLB can put a better foot forward with its coronavirus protocols (1:19). Then, we discuss an unfortunate rash of pitcher injuries before debuting a new segment in which we choose the largest movers by playoff probability and discuss how their previous week of games affects their chances in a shortened season (30:39). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The MLB season is just one day away. We preview the strange 60-game season by choosing the players we think are most likely to reach statistical milestones unseen in this millennium: hitting .400 for a full season or posting an ERA less than Bob Gibson’s 1.12 mark from 1968 (30:57). Plus: Michael Baumann’s annual prop bet game (1:51). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We gather for an update to our previous conversation about the coronavirus after MLB announced that it would suspend spring training and delay the beginning of the season by at least two weeks. Hosts: Ben Lindbergh and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We briefly discuss the evolving situation surrounding the coronavirus as it pertains to Major League Baseball (0:45) before previewing the upcoming season by analyzing whether teams will finish over or under their projected win totals (11:55). We finish with Zach Kram making four long-shot predictions that he thinks have a chance to play out in the National League this year (38:16). Disclaimer: This podcast was recorded Wednesday, March 11, at noon PT. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As we prepare to preview the 2020 season, we recap the biggest story of the offseason: the Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal and MLB’s response to it. We run through a list of 10 questions and explain the effects the punishment will have on the 2020 season. Hosts: Michael Baumann and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We convene for another emergency podcast to discuss the biggest MLB trade in years: former MVP Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers. We run down what this means for the competitive balance of baseball in the 2020 season, why the Red Sox didn’t back up the Brinks truck, and more.  Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The punishment is in: the Houston Astros' GM and manager were both suspended for a year by Major League Baseball and subsequently fired by the Astros. Has this set a strong enough precedent for what the Astros did? Plus: Will Red Sox manager Alex Cora get the worst suspension of all for his role in devising the Astros' sign-stealing scheme? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our third emergency free-agent signing podcast of the week, we break down the contract for former Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon: seven years and $245 million to play for the Los Angeles Angels. Now that the best hitter and the best pitcher are off the market, how will the rest of free agency shake out? Plus: analysis of this year’s market versus last year’s much slower, bleaker market. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gerrit Cole just signed the biggest contract in baseball history for a pitcher, and it’s not particularly close. Does this mean the Yankees are the Yankees of old, and have they upended the Astros as the best team in baseball? Plus: The AL East is stacked. Is the addition of Cole, the best pitcher in baseball, enough to win that arms race? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We react to the news that Stephen Strasburg is headed back to the Washington Nationals for the largest total contract for a pitcher in baseball history. What does this mean for his (maybe former) teammate Anthony Rendon, as well as the other top starting pitcher on the market, Gerrit Cole? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices