Scott Podcastnik

On what was supposed to be opening day, Joe and Intern Matt discuss the delay of the season and the potential for baseball in December. They also discuss some crazy statistical anomalies, and how numbers might change in the future.

2019 MLB win totals, playoff predictions and World Champion. Plus, is Kyle Hendricks going to end up being the *best* Cubs pitcher of the last 30 years when it's all said and done? And we debut the Lunch Angle with: How good are beans>

It's February and Bryce Harper is still unemployed. And Manny Machado. And others. What's going on? When does it end and who comes out on top? This, plus a handful of rules changes being proposed to baseball. Some suck, others don't. But there are other changes they could make but aren't talking about.

The guys talk to former big league infielder Homer Bush about playing for the Yankees dynasty, being involved in a blockbuster trade, how advanced stats affected his career, working with young players and much, much more.

The guys talk about their favorite opening days, the misnomer of teams being "one year away" and who is going to win the 2018 World Series

The guys answer listener questions ranging from Cubs/Yankees Monday morning quarterbacking, C.C. Sabathia's HOF candidacy, MLB expansion/realignment and more.

The guys talk about how expectations for fandoms can change rapidly and dramatically. They also discuss how some of the game's most prolific baserunners might fair in long distance running.

The guys discuss some major recent trades and speculate on the next domino to fall (Pat Neshek). They also decide who won some of the biggest July trades of the last decade. Summer Intern Matt joins again.

Miguel Montero's Cub tenure is over because he complains a lot. Is his career also over? Bartolo Colon's probably is. We discuss this and a lot more. Jon Lester's neighbor and close personal friend of the podcast Matt Kulling joins.

Rich Thompson became a prolific base stealer in college and in the minors, but after a brief stint in the majors in 2004, he had to wait a long while for a second shot in the bigs. Rich tells us what it was like to battle through the minors and fight for a chance to get back to the MLB, his thoughts on the evolution of the leadoff hitter, his post retirement audition for "American Ninja Warrior" & more.

The guys went – and stayed – through the entire 18-inning Cubs/Yankees marathon. Their thoughts, here.

Friend of the Podcastnik Will Ohman returns to go in-depth on how the free agency and arbitration processes work from a player's perspective, and how different reliever roles are valued by teams. This includes a discussion on the value of the save stat and what it takes – if anything in particular – to be a dominant closer. Will also shares his new work in youth baseball and what he hopes to accomplish working with younger players by focusing on three things: attitude, commitment and effort.

On his way to a scouting trip in the northwest – driving through a snowstorm in the mountains – Todd Greene, former big league catcher and current Arizona Diamondbacks scout, joins the show over the phone to talk about scouting, player development, hype over prospects and more. Todd also shares the story of catching the first pitch from President George W. Bush during the 2001 World Series – just a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The guys preview the 2017 MLB season – complete with division & wild card winners, World Series picks and MVP and Cy Young winners.

Was this year's WBC a success? Is the tournament getting more popular? Who was raised the right way – Ian Kinsler or baseball players who are actually fun? Joe and Chris break all this down and more following the completion of the fourth World Baseball Classic.

The next Willie Mays? That's what a young Lastings Milledge heard coming up through the Mets system. How did he handle pressure, and what did he learn throughout his time in the big leagues and in Japan? The outfielder – after a year hiatus from baseball – talks to Joe and Chris about all this and more, as he now returns to the states to play for the Lancaster Barnstomers and begin ventures outside of baseball, including giving back to his community.

Former big league pitcher Aaron Small, best known for his improbable – and memorable – 10-0 season in 2005, talks to Joe and Chris about his journey bouncing from team to team, trying to find his place before finally doing so with the Yankees. What compelled him to not give up? Would Aaron ever turn his inspirational story into a movie? Listen as he walks us through his career. *Disclaimer: Not our best audio quality. It may sound like we recorded this in a bunker, but Aaron's insight is worth it*

Former big league starting pitcher Jason Hirsh talks to the guys about his three-year MLB career – which included some experiences beyond what most major leaguers see in a lifetime. Hirsh pitched for the incredible 2007 Colorado Rockies team, which went on to win the National League pennant. He also played along side several HOF-caliber players, had the challenge of overcoming several injuries and gained wisdom he now carries into helping younger players. During the episode, Hirsh also gives some insight on Team Israel and the pipeline of Jewish baseball talent.

What did Will Ohman, rehabbing from injury, do between 2002-2004? How has he dealt with getting traded midseason? What is the future of German baseball? All of these questions you've probably asked yourself recently will be answered. The guys talk to Will Ohman about all this and more. Will and Joe even invent a statistic – dubbed "awesomeness" – to solve all pitching-metric controversies.

What did Will Ohman, rehabbing from injury, do between 2002-2004? How has he dealt with getting traded midseason? What is the future of German baseball? All of these questions you've probably asked yourself recently will be answered. The guys talk to Will Ohman about all this and more. Will and Joe even invent a statistic – dubbed "awesomeness" – to solve all pitching-metric controversies.