The Ringer Mlb Show

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk about their takeaways from the Yankees' and Diamondbacks' lengthy and eventful wins in the wild-card games, focusing on how those games may have given us a glimpse at what's in store for the rest of the playoffs (02:00). Then they preview all four division series matchups, with prop bets and predictions (13:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann celebrate the extension of Clayton Kershaw's ERA reduction streak (01:00), then bring on their colleague Zach Kram for a wide-ranging playoff preview, including thoughts on wild-card game formats and strategy (10:30), the lopsided nature of this year's wild-card matchups (22:15), whether there's such a thing as a way to win in the playoffs (25:00), which relievers and bullpens are best suited for heavy playoff workloads (32:00), which teams might be at a particular advantage or disadvantage in October (37:00), and which teams might produce the best stories this month (44:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about Michael’s blasts-from-the-past Diamond Mind draft (0:20) and the White Sox broadcast crew’s beliefs about batting around (2:50), then discuss the evolution of BBWAA awards voting (0:00), why some of this season’s awards races are too close to call (5:35), and which players they would pick for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year (11:10). Later, they bring back baseball historian, writer, and podcaster Steven Goldman to discuss ex-player precedents for Derek Jeter’s ascension to an ownership role with the Marlins (21:45), why the transition from beloved, legendary player to baseball-operations executive doesn’t always go smoothly (24:15), and whether the Marlins will be better off under the Jeter regime (29:50). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the Nationals' 'Game of Thrones' cosplay (02:00), the Angels' possible salary manipulation (03:30), and the Rockies-Brewers wild-card race (07:00). Then they talk to Yahoo Sports columnist Jeff Passan about Oakland catcher Bruce Maxwell's decision to kneel during the national anthem (12:30), the debate about extending the netting at MLB ballparks (40:00), and the latest outlook for Shohei Otani's potential free agency (50:00). Lastly, they discuss a new baseball acronym and the stakes in Clayton Kershaw's last regular-season start (58:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann begin by recounting the best listener-submitted nicknames for their guest on the previous episode, Blue Jays hit-by-pitch machine Nick Sinay (01:30). Then, with most of the pennant races decided, Ben and Michael list some of the best reasons to pay attention to the rest of regular-season baseball, from the few remaining playoff races to team records to individual accomplishments (04:00). Lastly, they bring on FanGraphs writer Travis Sawchik to discuss whether home runs will keep coming at record rates (30:30), and how the current high-home-run environment complicates scouting and team-building (41:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann dissect the stats of Blue Jays minor leaguer Nick Sinay, one of the most hit-by-pitch-prone players of all time (02:15), and play a quick game of "Pitcher who's posted at least a 50 Game Score in the last 30 days or pop-punk/emo front man" (09:30). Then they bring on Sinay to find out why and where he gets hit so often (16:30), how many bruises he has (21:00), how he stays on the field despite getting plunked every other game (on average) (23:00), and whether his unique style of play can take him higher on the minor league ladder (30:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss Cleveland's record winning streak (02:45), the prospect of Shohei Otani signing with an MLB team this offseason (05:45), and the continued offensive excellence of the Phillies' Rhys Hoskins (10:30). Then, in a special Space Week crossover, they bring on Ira Steven Behr, former executive producer and showrunner of 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,' to reminisce about the origin, making, and legacy of the legendary 'Deep Space Nine' baseball episode, "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" (14:45). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk about the teams in the midst of baseball's worst of times and best of times, bringing on L.A. Times beat writer Andy McCullough to diagnose the slumping Dodgers (who've lost 10 in a row and 15 of 16) (03:00) and then MLB.com beat writer Jordan Bastian to discuss the unbeatable Indians (who've won 18 in a row and at least temporarily claimed the AL's best record) (36:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about their enthusiasm for next month's probable playoff matchups (01:00), examine the significance (if any) of the Dodgers' slump and the Indians' and Diamondbacks' hot streaks (03:30), and discuss the Red Sox–Yankees sign-stealing scandal (18:30). Then they bring on longtime baseball scout and executive Tony Blengino for an insider's perspective on sign-stealing (26:00), whether baseball's prohibition on internet-connected devices in the dugout makes sense in an information-rich era (31:00), how the game might change if that ban is lifted (36:45), the state of grudges and gamesmanship between teams (46:00), and the future of scouting in the age of motion-tracking technology (48:45). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann answer listener questions about playoff chases, statistical milestones, award races, baseball terminology, and more, and try to repair their relationship after having their most vehement disagreement ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto's latest trade (03:30), the MLB pitching debut of Astros rookie (and two-way college star) J.D. Davis (08:00), and Indians owner Paul Dolan's latest comments on Cleveland's logo (11:00). Then, they discuss 15 over/unders for the rest of the 2017 season and offer several pennant-race predictions (15:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the hot home run streaks of Rhys Hoskins and Giancarlo Stanton (03:15), then talk to Pirates catcher Chris Stewart about 'Game of Thrones' and 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' his opinion on incest in Westeros (14:00), being baseball's biggest bookworm (20:00), whether any other series has the same cachet in the clubhouse (32:30), how he helps instill the Pirates' pitching philosophy in new acquisitions (35:00), his struggles to stay healthy as a big catcher in his mid-30s (42:30), his top book recommendations (44:45), and more. Lastly, Michael conducts a quick chat with another big 'Game of Thrones' fan, Nationals pitcher Shawn Kelley (48:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about Rich Hill’s brilliant, heartbreaking, nine-no-hit-inning loss (0:35), Giancarlo Stanton’s comments about the single-season home run record (6:10), and why every record comes with caveats (8:10). Then, they talk to Baseball Prospectus writer Russell Carleton about how teams are abandoning traditional defensive alignments (12:40), why it’s becoming more common for players to play multiple positions (23:40), and whether techniques such as the four-man outfield, the Waxahachie Swap, and swapping corner defenders based on batter handedness make strategic sense (33:25). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the history of MLB players who've worn no. 69 (03:00), an incredible catch in the Junior League World Series (05:30), the Giants' official elimination from the NL West race (06:30), Aroldis Chapman's removal from the Yankees' closer role (08:00), and a short-lived umpire protest (11:00), then talk to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports about the growing information gap between teams and agents and the future of labor relations in MLB (16:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the four-man outfield that the Cubs deployed against Joey Votto (01:00), then discuss the reportedly proceeding sale of the Miami Marlins (05:30), the possible impending demise of the Marlins Park home run sculpture (07:30), Giancarlo Stanton's hot streak (11:00), and whether it makes sense for the Marlins to trade the face of their franchise (16:30). Then they bring on FiveThirtyEight writer Rob Arthur to talk about his recent research into the "hot hand" effect for pitchers and why his method succeeds in detecting and predicting hot streaks where so many previous statistical attempts have failed (24:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On their centenary episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about Bryce Harper's bone bruise and the AL wild-card logjam (03:30), then talk to former big leaguer and current White Sox player development director Chris Getz about how he and the rest of the White Sox front office plan to turn baseball's best farm system into a winning major league team (11:30), how the organization decides when to promote players to the bigs (21:00), and what highly touted rookie Yoan Moncada still has to work on (38:30). Then they bring on Liz Roscher of Yahoo Sports to talk about the latest Baseball For All tournament (42:30), why more and more girls are resisting being forced to switch from baseball to softball (46:00), the continuing relevance of 'A League of Their Own' (48:45), and what the future holds for girls and women in baseball (54:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about an Angels team photo (1:15), the Mets-Indians Jay Bruce trade (2:00), and an Astros blooper (4:05). Then, they bring on ESPN’s Mark Simon to discuss how teams are attacking the slumping Aaron Judge (6:30) and Mike Trout’s continued dominance (15:50). After that, they welcome Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of MLB.com and Cespedes Family BBQ to talk about the best and the worst player-chosen nicknames for the upcoming Players Weekend (27:45), and whether the event signals a thaw in baseball’s aversion to self-expression (44:55). Lastly, Ben and Michael discuss what Jerry Dipoto did (53:35). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss the leveling out of the infield shift (03:00); the significance of the Dodgers' pursuit of the all-time regular-season wins record (14:30), and the team's playoff outlook (22:00). Then they talk about the latest phase of the Alex Rodriguez redemption saga (32:00), a report about Dave Dombrowski being barred from trading Boston's top prospects (40:30), the Orioles' refusal to spend on the international market (49:00), and, with an assist from FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan and Baseball Prospectus's Meg Rowley, a late-breaking update on what Jerry Dipoto did (55:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Michael Baumann is joined by Jake Kaplan from the Houston Chronicle to discuss Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Cooperstown (03:00), a disappointing trade deadline for the Astros (05:00), Carlos Correa's return (11:15), and the truth behind the funeral for Carlos Beltrán's glove. Then, Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs joins the show to talk about Mets shortstop Amed Rosario (23:00) and other late-season call-ups to keep an eye on (29:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann celebrate Adrián Beltré's 3,000th hit and improbable Hall of Fame career path (04:00), then break down all the action on trade-deadline day, including the Dodgers adding Yu Darvish to their already-formidable rotation (10:00), the Yankees acquiring Sonny Gray and Jaime García (21:30), and other contenders (including the Red Sox, Indians, and Nationals) restocking their bullpens (25:00). They also discuss whether teams such as the Red Sox, Astros, and Orioles should have been more active (27:30), as well as the steep decline in the value of Jonathan Lucroy (38:30), who was traded at a second consecutive deadline, this time for a much smaller return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices