Archive for Chin Music

Chin Music, Episode 34: In the Club With the Grandkids

One day after a special episode ofChin Music, it’s time for the regular version. This week, I am joined by Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio for an otherwise guest-less show that still features nearly two hours of baseball talk with a couple of yuks thrown in. We begin by talking through all four Division Series, followed by a look at the future of the front office and manager situations for both New York clubs. Then it’s your emails on made-up utility players, San Francisco’s lineups, and manager/player rifts. We finish by catching up with Mike on the 2021 Arizona Diamondbacks and the challenges of broadcasting games remotely, before offering a series of TV recommendations.

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

Music by Decibelles.

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Chin Music, Episode 33.1: Postseason Preview

It’s a special edition of Chin Music as I preview the postseason with eight experts from the eight remaining teams. We’ll be back tomorrow with a more traditional episode of the show.

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. Read the rest of this entry »


Chin Music, Episode 33: Bagels Instead Of Noise

The end of the season is rapidly approaching, so approach it in style with another episode ofChin Music. This week, I am joined by our very own Ben Clemens to chat for a couple of hours about baseball (and other things). We begin with a look at the wild Wild Card races, including tangents on Cody Bellinger’s future in Los Angeles, Devin Williams‘ wall punching incident and the Rays’ plans (or ruse) to spend their summers north of the border.

We’re then joined by special guest and life-long Mariners fan Meg Rowley of FanGraphs and Effectively Wild to discuss the team with September’s greatest fun differential. Then it’s your emails on Tyler O’Neill’s performance versus good and bad pitchers, the direction of baseball’s popularity, and The Beach Boys. We finish by catching up with Ben, and discussing board games and multiple personality disorder.

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

Music by Bad Bad Hats.

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Chin Music, Episode 32: An Absolute Abomination

With the last full week of the regular season around the corner, it’s another episode ofChin Music. This week, the wonderful Chris Crawford of NBC Sports Edge joins me from the Pacific Northwest as we discuss all things baseball and plenty of other things, too. We begin with a look at the Wild Card races, including the surging Cardinals and the constantly shifting American League East standings, with a quick tangent on city-specific pizzas. Then we get into CardGate, before discussing the future of the San Diego Padres now that their season looks like it will soon be history.

We’re then joined by special guest Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com for an enlightening discussion on the past, present and future of international scouting. Then it’s your emails on R&D departments, umpire grading, DFA mechanics and guilty musical pleasures. We finish by catching up with Chris and offering a couple of film recommendations that fall on the intense side of things.

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

Music by Guerilla Ghost.

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


Chin Music, Episode 31: Like That Girl in Heathers

Friday is Chin Music day, so here we are. My co-host this week is the always entertaining Joe Sheehan, who takes a break from the tables to join us from Las Vegas, Nevada of all places. We begin with the Wild Card races and a discussion of why the Blue Jays seem to be getting far more buzz than the similarly surging Cardinals, complete with a tangent about a playoff structure that would be better than the current system. Then it’s time to talk about front office movement, indulge a rant about getting worked up over awards voting in September, and admit to some begrudging respect for the Rays and their 300 or so good pitchers.

We’re then joined by special guest Jorge Castillo of The Los Angeles Times to discuss the 2021 Dodgers. We consider the team both on and off the field, as well as its path to remaining a dominant franchise. From there, it’s some wedding talk, plus your emails on rebuilding, an international draft, and medical situations, then catching up with Joe, and a plug for some books and podcasts to help you get through the day.

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

Music by Circus Trees.

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


Chin Music, Episode 30: Surely You Know Gritty

It’s Friday, so end your week the right way with another episode of Chin Music. I’m joined this week by the always affable Eric Longenhagen in the co-host chair. We begin by considering the very fun races for the NL West division crown and the AL’s Wild Card spots before discussing some movement at the major league executive level and the numerous hot starts of various 2021 draftees.

We’re then joined by special guest Liz Roscher of Yahoo Sports to discuss the 2021 Philadelphia Phillies and the years-long frustrations felt by both the team and their fans. From there it’s black metal talk, plus e-mails on scouting grades and the best minor league towns, catching up with Eric, and a plug for a way to watch better movies than what’s available in the mainstream.

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

Music by Skaldr.

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


Chin Music, Episode 29: A Town That’s Permanently On Fire

It’s been a rough week, my friends, so at least end it well with another episode of Chin Music. I’m joined by our very own Jon Tayler in the co-host chair. We begin by discussing the never-ending tragedy that is the Mets and some COVID-19 news with the Nationals and MLB Network before settling into some actual baseball talk about September races and whether or not Mike Trout and Jacob deGrom should just call it a day, or at least a season.

We’re then joined by special guest Julian McWilliams, who covers the Red Sox for The Boston Globe, to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak on the team and how it affects both Boston’s chances and his ability to do his job. From there, it’s your e-mails on agents, lineup construction, and the amateur showcase circuit, plus more than a bit of music discussion and a pair of escapist TV show recommendations to help get you through these troubled times.

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

Music by Helen Money.

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


Chin Music, Episode 28: Awful In So Many Ways

End your week with another episode of Chin Music, as I’m joined by co-host Kyle Glaser of Baseball America. We begin by discussing Wednesday night’s insanity in San Diego, legal rumblings with the Angels and opioids, and a discussion of which minor league rule changes might graduate to the big leagues. Then we are joined by special guest Dennis Lin of The Athletic, who discusses what has gone wrong with the Padres in the second half of the season. From there it’s your emails, discussions about Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper, and the disappointment that was the new movie Annette.

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. Read the rest of this entry »


Chin Music, Episode 27: They’re My Lunatic Children

This episode, I’m joined by return co-host Eric Longenhagen as we ramble for nearly three hours. Hey, sometimes it happens, folks. We begin by discussing MLB’s non-starter of a proposal in the CBA talks, the return of sticky stuff headlines after Wednesday night’s games, Chris Bassitt’s horrifying injury, and the sad legal story of Diamondbacks prospect Kristian Robinson. Then we are joined by special guest Lindsey Adler of The Athletic, who gives us an update on Yankees vibes and takes us behind the scenes of her now famous picture of Joey Gallo. From there it’s your emails, including plenty of prospect talk, before ending on a deep dive into funny cake. That’s right, funny cake.

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

Music by Heave.

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Chin Music, Episode 26: That’s a Cat Going Crazy

I’m back from vacation and so is co-host Ben Clemens, so let’s podcast again, shall we? We begin by talking about the good and the bad from the Field Of Dreams game, some silly comments from Mets management about player injuries, and why MLB (and everyone else for that matter) should avoid partnering with Barstool Sports. Then we are joined by special guest Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle, who helps explain how and why the Giants are the most interesting team in baseball. From there it’s your emails, vacation talk, and the rare triple-dose of culture.

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

Music by Laura Stevenson.

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