Episode 993

On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with a veteran major league manager before considering the latest Triple Crown chase.

• To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes A.J. Hinch, former catcher and current manager of the Detroit Tigers. Hinch recently passed Rogers Hornsby on the all-time managerial wins list, and he isn’t upset to hear the comparison. We learn what it is like to work with pitching coach Chris Fetter and vice president of player development Ryan Garko as they lead this group of young Tigers and try to prepare the team’s next competitive core. We also get insight into Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, Alex Faedo, Beau Brieske, Joey Wentz, Matt Manning, and more. And although this segment was recorded just before the Tigers announced their new president of baseball operations, we hear why Hinch wasn’t interested in the role and instead has his focus on the field. Hinch also shares his thoughts on how important it is for pitchers to get strikeouts, the fences moving at Comerica Park and elsewhere, bench coach George Lombard’s potential future in managing, and the rule changes that will limit defensive shifting starting in 2023. [4:40]
• In the second half, Ben Clemens is joined by Dan Szymborski to banter about the latest baseball happenings, highlighted by the possibility of a Triple Crown-winning hitter. Aaron Judge is within reach of the goal, and while Paul Goldschmidt is unlikely to nab it in the National League, he does find himself in an MVP race with teammate Nolan Arenado. Ben and Dan discuss the top-heavy Yankees and Cardinals, the rebuilding and still-intriguing Detroit Tigers, J.P. Feyreisen’s under-the-radar achievement, and why it is really difficult to believe reports out of front offices. Finally, Dan shares why he enjoys (playfully) misleading his friends and family, and why he has ended up with more snacks than he needs. [34:42]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 74 minute play time.)

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Episode 992

This week on the show, we welcome one of the biggest names in baseball writing to talk about a court case with big implications for the sport before our newest full-time hire makes his podcast debut.

• To begin, Eric Longenhagen is joined by Jeff Passan, ESPN writer and author of The Arm, to discuss the pair of teenage prospects who have sued the Los Angeles Angeles in a Dominican Republic court, alleging that the organization reneged on verbal agreements to sign them. Eric and Jeff are familiar with how flawed the current international amateur system can be, and they consider what kinds of sweeping changes and regulations could arrive as the result of the case. We also hear about censoring yourself on-air, the potentially playoff-bound Seattle Mariners, minor league unionization, baseball’s new rule changes, and teams that seem to be especially focused on making contact at the plate. [4:42]
• After that, Ben Clemens welcomes Michael Baumann to the website and to the podcast. Michael wastes no time sharing why he thinks college baseball is worth your time, offering a rant about the evils of golf, and issuing a challenge to Eric to meet him in The Octagon. The duo also chat about how it can be a little intimidating to write for the FanGraphs readership compared to a single-team site. Finally, the pair discuss Christian Walker, who Ben recently wrote about and who Michael shares an alma mater with. The Diamondbacks first baseman is quietly having a great season thanks to strong defense and his ability to hit the ball pretty darn hard. [1:01:46]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 90 minute play time.)

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Episode 991

On this edition of the podcast, we welcome a former big-league catcher who knows a lot about the position before some banter about an awards race between two unicorns.

• To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes Bobby Wilson, veteran of 10 major league seasons and current catching coach for the Texas Rangers. Wilson has gone from being drafted in the 48th round in 2002, to playing for seven clubs (including alongside Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli in Anaheim), to now finding himself teaching young catchers everything he knows. We get insight into how important the pitcher/catcher relationship is, how analytics and technology have changed the game since Wilson’s playing days, what it was like to catch Ervin Santana’s no-hitter, the one-knee approach to catching, and how vital it is to continue learning as the game evolves. [3:13]
• In the second segment, Dan Szymborski is joined by Jay Jaffe for some banter about the American League MVP race. Aaron Judge has been record-setting levels of incredible, while Shohei Ohtani continues to do things that have simply never been done by anyone else. Jay and Dan discuss the fascinating (but complicated) nuances involved with comparing this apple and orange, and how there doesn’t seem to be an airtight case for either player just yet. After that, the duo talk about Zac Gallen’s remarkable scoreless innings streak, which has prompted an Orel Hershiser comparison that Jay has some opinions about. Finally, the pair muse on how they don’t make them like Justin Verlander anymore, as well as Jay’s developing S-JAWS system. [35:05]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 56 minute play time.)

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Episode 990

On this week’s episode, Eric Longenhagen welcomes our friend and yours, Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, to look ahead to next summer’s draft class before casting an eye toward the playoff race and stretch run.

Eric and Mike discuss the abundance of amateur talent in the 2023 class. We hear about intriguing young players such as Max Clark, Arjun Nimmala, Alfonso Rosario, Kevin McGonigle, and more. After that, the duo take a look at how the expanded playoffs have affected the big league playoff landscape. Squads like the Brewers, Padres, and White Sox seem to be struggling at a bad time, while the Cardinals may somehow be underrated when compared to the game’s elite teams. We also hear how the Orioles are ahead of schedule and playing with house money, while the Seattle Mariners look good to go and ready to break their playoff drought.

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 56 minute play time.)

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Episode 989

This week on the show, we hear great stories from a veteran minor league broadcaster and discuss those darn Yankees, but not before talking about the new FanGraphs app!

• In the first segment, David Laurila welcomes Tim Hagerty, broadcaster for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. We learn about a number of interesting Padres prospects playing for El Paso, including Jay Groome, Luis Campusano, and Ryan Weathers, before hearing about Tim’s upcoming book, Tales from the Dugout: 1,001 Humorous, Inspirational & Wild Anecdotes from Minor League Baseball. Tim tells us about the PA announcer who got tossed by an umpire, the minor league team that spent a night in jail, the team that set its field on fire on purpose, the pitcher who got locked in a bathroom, and many more fun tales from his research. [6:50]
• After that, Ben Clemens and Jay Jaffe get together to talk about the New York Yankees, who dominated the first half of the season but have found themselves in a skid since the trade deadline. Jordan Montgomery has been superlative since his trade to the Cardinals, while Frankie Montas has been inconsistent with New York, and the combination isn’t helping the mood among Yankees fans. The duo discuss those deals as well as the Yankees having their eye on October, how hard it is to catch a home run on video at the ballpark, and how it seems like everyone in the Yankees lineup (apart from Aaron Judge) has struggled. [28:59]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 59 minute play time.)

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Episode 988

On this episode of FanGraphs Audio, we have a conversation with a pitching great before discussing our disappointment in a current face of baseball.

• To begin the show, David Laurila welcomes David Cone, five-time All-Star pitcher, podcaster, and current broadcaster for the Yankees and ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. We hear about how Cone modeled his game and style off Luis Tiant, as well as which current players may have been inspired a bit by Cone. The duo also discuss the impact of seam-shifted wake and pitching science and how the Yankees have deployed both so effectively. Finally, Cone shares stories about players like John Smoltz, Dennis Eckersley, and David Wells, as well as the magical 1998 Yankees season. [4:06]
• After that, Dan Szymborski chats with Jay Jaffe, who is calling in from his vacation in San Diego. As a parent himself, Jay understands the frustrated Padres, who again find themselves disappointed following the news of Fernando Tatis Jr.’s PED suspension. The pair discuss how this affects San Diego’s playoff chances and Tatis’ potential Hall of Fame case many years from now. We also hear about how this compares to Ryan Braun’s suspension and tarnished legacy, the Dodgers not getting Walker Buehler back this season, and the Rockies once again doing something a little encouraging. [20:59]

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Episode 987

This week on the program, we get into some Blue Jays banter before looking at how some other squads are faring after the trade deadline.

• In the first half, David Laurila welcomes Kaitlyn McGrath, a writer and podcaster for The Athletic focused on the Toronto Blue Jays. They talk about the surprisingly competitive Baltimore Orioles, compare Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah’s great seasons, consider the concerning campaigns of Yusei Kikuchi and José Berríos, and discuss the interesting acquisitions of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Whit Merrifield. We also hear how fans wish the club was a bit more aggressive even as the front office often leans in a more practical direction. [3:02]
• In the second half, Ben Clemens and Dan Szymborski convene to chat about the landscape of both Central divisions and their respective races. The White Sox just lost Tim Anderson at a terrible time, while the Cardinals are surging following some successful deadline deals. The pair talk about the Harrison Bader/Jordan Montgomery trade, how Milwaukee was too passive at the deadline, Jed Lowrie being DFA’d, Chris Sale’s latest unfortunate injury, and Dan’s own history of embarrassing accidents. Finally, they give the Rockies some credit after they claimed Dinelson Lamet off waivers. [36:53]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 73 minute play time.)

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Episode 986

On this week’s show, we welcome a major league veteran and Phillies broadcaster for a chat before reacting to an overwhelming week of trade deadline moves, as well as the loss of a broadcasting legend.

• To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes Chad Durbin, a TV analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies with 14 years of major league pitching on his resume. The pair discuss the Phillies’ moves at the deadline and how new faces like Noah Syndergaard, Brandon Marsh, and old pal David Robertson could help the squad down the stretch. They also discuss the Juan Soto trade, and how he stacks up compared to another former National great: Bryce Harper. Durbin also offers insights into clubhouse leadership and chemistry, what it was like to play with Pedro Martinez, and why he could not get Magglio Ordóñez out. [4:37]
• After that, Eric Longenhagen is joined by Jay Jaffe and Jason Martinez for an extended conversation about Tuesday’s trade deadline. The trio discuss Soto’s historical significance, the haul he was traded for, and the King Kong vs. Godzilla battle that is the Dodgers vs. the Padres. They also break down playing for 162 vs. playing for the playoffs, which teams should have done more, and which clubs now find themselves out of the race, as well as the intriguing prospects who now find themselves with new homes. Finally, the group laments the passing of Vin Scully, one of the most beloved icons in the sport. We hear about how Scully had an impact on anyone who heard or was lucky enough to meet him, and how the baseball world stopped to remember him. [33:23]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 91 minute play time.)

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Episode 985

On this edition of FanGraphs Audio, Ben Clemens is joined by Eric Longenhagen for an extended conversation about this week’s Trade Value Series, next week’s trade deadline, and more.

Eric tells us about his trip to Los Angeles, including seeing the All-Star Game, the Futures Game, and the amateur draft, before Ben shares what it was like to do the Trade Value Series on his own for the first time. We hear how difficult the apples-to-oranges rankings can be, especially when you have players like Oneil Cruz with unpredictable futures or guys who are true unicorns like Shohei Ohtani. The duo also discuss surplus value, Sandy Alcantara growing into his amazing control, Ketel Marte getting too strong for his hamstrings, Mookie Betts’ specific form of athleticism (and contract structure), how modern Shane Bieber looks on the mound vs. his results, how teams with looming 40-man crunch might approach the deadline, and much more.

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Episode 984

This week on the show, David Laurila welcomes Ellen Adair, actor, MLB Network analyst, host of multiple podcasts and, perhaps most importantly, diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan.

David and Ellen begin by discussing the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, the controversial uniformity of the uniforms, mic’d up pitchers, and which Phillies were missing from the festivities. We also hear about Dick Allen’s absence from the Hall of Fame, how the Phillies have changed course following the firing of Joe Girardi, and the inner conflict associated with still rooting for a player that has been traded away. Finally, the duo opens a fresh pack of baseball cards and discusses players such as Darick Hall, Bryce Harper, Matt Vierling, and “Big Ed” Delahanty.

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 39 minute play time.)

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