Baseball the way it's meant to be Loved.
Out of the Box: The Braves are back! Coach and Tucker debate the All Star Game, which (thankfully) doesn’t count, but does it matter at all? Going First to Third: The moves to make at the trade deadline, how the surprise 1st-half struggles of the Giants, Cubs and Indians, overshadows the success of the feel-good Rockies and Brewers, and the end of the Tigers window. Coming into Home: Sleeper picks for the postseason, and any excitement for the 2017 Hall of Fame weekend?
Oakland fan Kate Fratar joins Tucker on the Podcast to talk about the state of Athletics Baseball. Getting a new stadium, opening up the third deck, “Rooted in Oakland” campaign, and the showdown between the A’s and Braves. The next jersey to be retired in Oakland? Do we still want interleague play, 20 years later?
Coach Bounds offers THE Solution to MLB’s Pace of Play problem! And with SunTrust Park officially open for baseball in Atlanta (28:00), Coach and Tucker discuss the Cash Cow of the Battery, why every visiting team to SunTrust will want a new stadium when they leave, and who is to blame in the case of Braves vs. City of Atlanta?
Part 2 of our 2017 MLB Season Preview runs through the American League: The Indians and Red Sox are the cream, while the Tigers, Yankees and Astros are the crop. The middle class Blue Jays and Orioles remain formidable, and what to make of the Wild Wild AL West? Coming into Home: A return to Riverwood High School baseball in Atlanta for Coach Jordan Bounds.
Podcast available for download on iTunes.
Coach and Tucker’s two-part 2017 MLB Season Preview! Out of the Box: Recap of the excitement that was the World Baseball Classic, and why we’ll never see another Classic that compares. First-to-Third: The National League predictions for 2017 – Can the Nationals and Mets stay healthy? Will the Cardinals take back the division from the World Champion Cubs? And is the West the Dodgers to lose?
Podcast available for download on iTunes.
Author and Sports Clairvoyant Clayton Trutor joins the RTB podcast to discuss his new book, “Overcoming Adversity: Baseball’s Tony Conigliaro Award.” Clayton talks about writing for SB Nation’s Cincinnati Bearcats blog (0:34), the “What if?” of Tony Conigliaro and his significance to Red Sox fans (11:00), the collaborative efforts of SABR in editing the book (17:04), fan inspiration from personal struggle (24:50), hanging your hat on singular sports success (37:00), love for the WBC (42:20) and a few predictions for the 2017 Red Sox (45:18).
Podcast available for download on iTunes.
Episode 100 of the Running the Bases Podcast! Coach and Tucker discuss how baseball exists in the digital era: How social media can enhance the game experience, but can also distract fans from the real beauty of the ballpark. The changes in writing (and baseball writers) with the exponential growth of the “Baseball Blogger”, and where baseball media goes from here? (Congratulations! We played ourselves!) Thank you to everyone who has ever listened to an RTB Podcast over 100 episodes.
Podcast available for download on iTunes.
Revising the “Faces of MLB” debate from the 2015 ASG, Coach and Tucker pick one all-time and one for the present day of the franchises in the American League. Out of the Box: Excitement building for the 2017 WBC(1:34). First to Third: The “Face of the Franchise” in the American League East (5:35), the Central (22:42), and the West (40:45). Coming into Home: Final predictions for the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 (1:02:02).
Podcast also available on iTunes.
We kick off the New Year with our annual Hall of Fame Special! Coach makes a case for Larry Walker (1:50), the softening stance on PEDs and character flaws (4:00), and the case against Trevor Hoffman (9:02). Coach casts his ballot (12:05), professional hitter Matt Stairs gets a vote (19:12), Tucker’s ballot (23:28) with love for the Crime Dog (28:17) and the need for Edgar Martinez (35:50). Going First to Third, the better ballot is for “Snubbed Players” (35:49), and Coming into Home, changes to make with the HOF process (48:25).
Part 3 of our extensive breakdown of the Hot Stove Season looks at the entire National League! In the East, the Braves (0:38), Phillies (4:20), Marlins (7:22), Mets (9:42), and Nats (14:02). In the Central, Reds (19:38), Brewers (22:12), Pirates (25:00), Cards (31:15) and Cubs (36:00). Then in the West, Padres (41:25), D-Backs (44:06), Rockies (49:15), Giants (53:53) and Dodgers (58:42). Finally, a farewell to 2016, a turbulent year that produced incredible Baseball (1:06:14). See you in 2017!