The off-season may be at a standstill, but prospect season is rolling along, so I’m joined by returning co-host Eric Longenhagen for some in-depth breakdowns on this week’s Chin Music. After a quick discussion of weather wackiness, very old houses, and watching winter league baseball, Eric and I spend nearly an hour walking through the systems of the Cubs, Angels, and Athletics, whose prospect lists were published this week at FanGraphs. Then we are joined by Ryan Thibodaux, better know as the person behind The Baseball Hall Of Fame Tracker, who explains (or at least tries to) why he does that, why some people take this way too seriously, and believe it or not, accupuncture. Then it’s your emails on Frankenstein players and our baseball movie ideas, followed by some Moments of Culture. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Dead Best.

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: 2:17:19

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There’s no lockout on the podcast, which means Chin Music keeps going. This week I’m joined by returning co-host C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic and even without much baseball news, we find plenty to talk about. We begin with a non-update on the lockout and discuss how we’ve each gotten a bit more pessimistic about how this thing ends. Next, since the lockout means no Winter Meetings, we instead dip into our memory banks for a few fun stories from Meetings past, while sharing what we miss (and don’t) about the annual event. Finally, as there was Hall of Fame news this week, Jay Jaffe joins the show to discuss the six newly elected inductees, as well as some new faces on this year’s ballot. Then it’s your emails on minor league team purchases, the potential for an international draft, and domain squatting, followed by a few light-hearted and easy-on-the-brain Moments Of Culture.

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: 2:29:25

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The season is over, but Chin Music rolls on, as Lindsey Adler of The Athletic takes a spin in the revolving co-host chair. We sure have plenty to talk about, and we begin with (what else?) the lockout, though not in the sense of how we got here or how it ends. Instead, we consider what is or isn’t going on in front offices and throughout baseball right now, and just how draconian the league has been in enforcing its lockout rules. Then we discuss the insanity that was the free agent frenzy in the days leading up to the lockout, as we try to figure out why teams behaved the way they did and what it might mean. Then we get away from baseball for a bit with our guest segment, as professional poker player Brandon Shack-Harris joins the show to talk about his recently concluded World Series, catching COVID, wearing bear suits at the table, and how he learned how to play from the lead singer of Muse. Then it’s your emails on the Winter Meetings, drugs, and scouting scales, followed by some high- and low-brow entries in the Moment Of Culture.

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: 2:38:28

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Let’s do a quick podcast, I said to Jon Tayler. We’ll just do listener emails and give people a little something going into the holidays, I added. More than two hours later, here we are. We talk about the breaking news of a Wander Franco extension, give a quick labor update, and then it’s your emails — 17 of them to be exact. From free agent decisions, to Total Bases Ball updates to difficult music decisions, we ramble on and on, while hoping that said ramblings help get you through an enjoyable and safe holiday. We’ll be back next week with a more normal episode, whatever that means.

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Kowloon Walled City.

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: 2:10:52

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It’s a day late but certainly not a dollar short as Chin Music returns with guest co-host Hannah Keyser of Yahoo Sports, who joins me to talk about baseball and other stuff. We begin by discussing awards week, or more accurately, the reaction to awards voting and the weird emotional energy some devote to it. Then we move on to actual baseball news with some big deals for pitchers, the Mets finally getting a GM, and the success and failure of some of the experimental rules being tested in the Arizona Fall League. After that, we’re joined by special guest Evan Drellich of The Athletic, who updates us on baseball’s labor negotiations, with all three of us setting odds on where things go from here. Then it’s your emails on private workouts, trade targets and some changes in the game, which allows Hannah to talk about her ridiculous concept of Total Bases Ball. Finally, we finish with some Sumo and Project Runway talk before leaving you for the week.

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: 2:27:51

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For reasons explained during the intro, it’s a brief, one-segment, guest-only edition of Chin Music. I hope you enjoy an informative and entertaining discussion with free agent pitcher Collin McHugh.

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

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: 36:37

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The season is over, but Chin Music rolls on, as FanGraphs’ very own Ben Clemens joins me to talk about baseball and other things. We begin by reviewing the 2021 World Series, including both teams’ in-game strategies, before moving on to the offseason. We touch on this year’s free agent class and the looming labor strife, before finishing the segment with a tribute to Buster Posey. Then, we’re joined by special guest Robert Ford, the Houston Astros radio play-by-play man, who discusses the World Series from his unique point of view, while also touching on his fascinating career path and his involvement with The Black Play-by-Play Broadcaster Grant and Scholarship Fund, which is working to bring greater diversity to broadcast booths. Then it’s your emails on player consistency, team complexes in the DR and why baseball is the best sport, followed by some talk of trashy television and the first installment of Ben’s Recipe Corner.

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Dr. Colossus.

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History is made on this week’s episode of Chin Music, as FanGraphs Managing Editor and Effectively Wild co-host Meg Rowley becomes the first former guest to serve as a co-host. Meg joins me for two hours of talk on baseball and other stuff to help you waste another afternoon. We begin by reviewing the first two games of the 2021 World Series, including a discussion on postseason pitching strategies and the wildly different reactions neutral fans have had toward the Houston Astros as a whole as compared to their manager, Dusty Baker. Then we get into Rob Manfred’s unfortunate comments on fan behavior in Atlanta, as well as an update on the sport’s potential upcoming labor impasse. Next we are joined by special guest Deesha Thosar of The New York Daily News to talk about what the hell is going on with the New York Mets and their GM/POBO search. Then it’s your emails, including a discussion of Jeff Luhnow’s baseball future (if any), followed by Meg’s literary plans and a few podcast, book and YouTube channel recommendations.

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Winterhawk.

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It’s Friday, and thus it’s time for another episode of Chin Music. This week, I am joined by the always well-coiffed Eric Longenhagen for a wide-ranging discussion about baseball and other subjects. We begin by reviewing the League Championship Series to this point, before getting into some front office news and discussing just how silly titles have become. Then we delve below the big leagues to talk about who has caught Eric’s eye so far in the Arizona Fall League. Next we are joined by special guest Katie Woo of The Athletic to talk about the sudden and surprising firing of now former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt, and what lies ahead for the franchise. Then it’s your emails, including a discussion of how the Orioles re-build is going, followed by one hell of a story from Eric, who took a walk the other night that got very strange. We finish with a discussion of stand-up comedy, parasocial relationships, and the greatest band nobody listened to at the time.

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Kowloon Walled City.

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The postseason continues, as does Chin Music, and even though we had a last-second (and perfectly understandable) guest cancellation, I am joined by Steven Goldman of The Infinite Inning podcast and Baseball Prospectus for more than two hours of baseball talk and other stuff. We begin by reviewing the three Division Series that have ended, as well as the one that hadn’t at the time of recording, followed by a philosophical discussion on what defines a successful season. Then it’s your emails on why catchers don’t hit, what base coaches actually do, as well as a long discussion about my personal feelings (both good and bad) when watching the Houston Astros, and how I wish people understood that they don’t need to avoid the subject with me. We finish by catching up with Steven before discussing the darkest of dark comedies, 1971’s Little Murders.

As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Kowloon Walled City.

Have a question you’d like answered on the show? Ask us anything at chinmusic@fangraphs.com. Read the rest of this entry »

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