Read the rest of this entry »

Is baseball just a bummer these days? For the most part, yes. So let’s mope together with another episode of Chin Music. I’m joined by FanGraphs editor-in-chief managing editor Meg Rowley as we try to help you laugh through the pain. We begin by assessing where we stand in terms of the lockout (wobbly at best), then move on to the Eric Kay trial and what it means for baseball overall, before spending a small amount of time trying to find something positive to say about the current state of the game. Then it’s special guest time, as we are joined by Lincoln Mitchell, one of the preeminent experts on post-Soviet Russia. Lincoln explains what’s really going on in the Ukraine so we can all be a little smarter about world affairs and stop listening quite so much to the talking heads on network news. From there, it’s your emails on Rule 5 draft pick trades and high-altitude baseball, followed by some new television and music recommendations. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Model Home.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Warning One: While ostensibly a podcast about baseball, these conversations often veer into other subjects.

Warning Two: There is explicit language.

Run Time: 2:00:17.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast (chin-music): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve griped enough about the struggle to create baseball content in these troubling times, so the long-form show returns with over 150 minutes of baseball talk, good tunes, and other stuff. This week, I’m joined by Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic. We begin by talking about opioids in baseball before getting into the Cubs and their roster plans for the next few years, as well as their goal to try to set up a streaming service against the wishes of Major League Baseball. Then it’s special guest time as I am joined by Joel Sherman of The New York Post for a 40-minute conversation on the state of the labor negotiations. From there, it’s your emails on evaluating coaches, projecting hit tools, and the best of ballpark food, followed by some talk on listening to movies and the memoir Good Talk by Mira Jacob. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Rid Of Me.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Warning One: While ostensibly a podcast about baseball, these conversations often veer into other subjects.

Warning Two: There is explicit language.

Run Time: 2:32:34.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast (chin-music): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s a challenge to talk about baseball every week when nothing is really going on, but we at least have some laughs on this week’s episode of Chin Music. To help facilitate those laughs, I’m joined by Andy McCullough of The Athletic. In an episode that was recorded before Thursday afternoon’s news of MLB requesting federal mediation, we begin by talking about where we are (or rather, are not) in the labor negotiations. Then we return to Hall of Fame voting, with Andy explaining why he’s made a conscious decision not to participate. Then it’s your emails on whether team owners actually like baseball and vacationing in the Dominican Republic, followed by some talk of underground hip-hop and a Netflix series to avoid. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Weakened Friends.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Warning One: While ostensibly a podcast about baseball, these conversations often veer into other subjects.

Warning Two: There is explicit language.

Run Time: 1:28:25.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast (chin-music): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s another episode of Chin Music, the number one baseball podcast in Ecuador and Hungary! This week’s episode features the return Eric Longenhagen for plenty of prospect talk and other stuff. We begin by discussing this week’s mess of a Hall of Fame vote, which leads us into the mess of the labor negotiations, including why using public-facing statistics to calculate player compensation is a bad idea. From there we move into the meat of the show as we dive into the recently published prospect rankings of the Yankees, Phillies and Diamondbacks systems. Then it’s your emails on the inner workings of the CBA negotiations and arbitration, as well as players with weird first names, followed by some high-brow Moments Of Culture from the world of television and sports. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Weakened Friends.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Warning One: While ostensibly a podcast about baseball, these conversations often veer into other subjects.

Warning Two: There is explicit language.

Run Time: 2:08:49.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast (chin-music): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Read the rest of this entry »

This week’s Chin Music features the return of FanGraphs’ very own Ben Clemens, and despite the dearth of baseball news, we still find plenty to talk about. We begin by discussing what’s not happening in regards to the labor situation, then get into the biggest remaining free agent switching agents, the future of Seiya Suzuka and the past of Jon Lester, plus an extended sidetrack conversation on unique box score lines. Then it’s your emails on stadium changes, agents, and baseball stock investing, followed by some high-brow Moments Of Culture from the world of film and literature. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Mirror Boxx.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Warning One: While ostensibly a podcast about baseball, these conversations often veer into other subjects.

Warning Two: There is explicit language.

Run Time: 1:38:28.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com.

You can subscribe to the podcast via iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast (chin-music): Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS