Has it been 16 episodes already? It has, as Chin Music returns to help get you through the weekend. The co-host chair gets some Midwest time this week, as good friend and good person C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic joins me from Cincinnati to discuss baseball and other stuff. We begin by talking about the ifs and hows of Major League Baseball’s plans to crack down on sticky stuff before moving to a frank and insightful conversation about media and player access in light of this week’s news from The French Open. Then we are joined by special guest Deesha Thosar, Mets beat writer for The New York Daily News, who provides plenty of great insight into the team, both on and off the field. Then it’s the usual with emails and some discussion of C. Trent’s role as president of the BBWAA before finishing with a Moment of Culture.

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

Music by feminist punk icons Spitboy.

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It’s a long weekend, folks, so get it started with another episode of Chin Music. The co-host chair stays away from New York, as the always wonderful Ben Clemens joins me from San Francisco to yammer about baseball and other things. We start by talking about the hottest team in baseball (that’s the Rays) and the hottest player in baseball (that’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) before delving into HatGate (not the ugly ones, the ones loaded with sticky stuff). We’re then joined by our first listener of the week, a public defender in a major metropolitan area who wishes to remain anonymous and offers some fascinating insight into the legal system. Then it’s emails, and they are good, but one doozy really takes the cake. From there it’s a Moment of Culture, catching up with Ben, and then departing.

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

Music by the Belgian punk monsters Cocaine Piss.

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It’s Friday, so it’s Chin Music time. The co-host chair returns to New York yet again, as the always entertaining Andy Mccullough, senior writer for The Athletic, joins me for two hours of mostly baseball. We start with the news of the day and talk about the rash of no-hitters, the rash of injuries, the rash of good teams in the American League East, and how we’re perfectly fine with the Dodgers signing Albert Pujols. We’re then joined by special guest Herb Lawerence, Chicago radio veteran and host of the Locked on Sox podcast, to discuss a very good White Sox team and the constant distractions created by Tony La Russa. Herb has some thoughts, and he doesn’t hold back. Then it’s emails about trade partners, the CBA, umpires, and Tommy Lee Jones, before getting into a Moment of Culture, catching up with Andy, and then departing.

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

Music by the amazing French noise/punk trio Decibelles.

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Chin Music returns, whether you like it or not. The traveling co-host chair finally leaves New York and arrives in Tempe, Arizona. And with the great Eric Longenhagen becoming the first repeat co-host of the show, most of the discussion revolves around baseball below the big league level. We begin by trying to set realistic expectations for Seattle’s rookie crop before delving into what is becoming a very complicated 2021 amateur draft. Then we are joined by special guest Alex Coffey of The Athletic, who explains what is actually going on with the Oakland Athletics’ ballpark situation, and boy is it complicated. Then it’s emails on TV broadcasts, housing for minor league players, and some cultural moments before we depart. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Couch Flambeau.

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Chin Music is back on schedule. The traveling co-host chair stays put in New York as the sole proprietor of the Joe Sheehan Newsletter (that would be Joe Sheehan) joins me for a rousing discussion of baseball and, of course, other things. We begin by discussing the breaking news of Albert Pujols‘ release, John Means‘ no-no, parity in the standings and whether the San Francisco Giants are real. Sadly, we had a guest, an interview took place, and it was wonderful, but I regret to inform you that technical issues took it all away from us. The internet can be cruel sometimes. All is explained before the show starts. We finish up with emails on minor league assignments, the perks of working for a team, and how to get into baseball media, before delving into Joe’s career path and the wonderfully relaxing Pokemon Snap. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening. Note: We had some audio issues with Joe, especially in the first segment; we did our best with it.

Music by Nice Ghost.

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Chin Music comes a day early this week due to a scheduled COVID-19 vaccine dose. The co-host chair is considering claiming permanent residency in New York as Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Stephanie Apstein joins me to babble about baseball. We begin by discussing the Dodgers/Padres rivalry, the upside-down AL Central standings, using a home run derby as a tie breaker, and as happens on most shows, a quick check-in on the CBA situation. Then we are joined by Nick Groke, Rockies beat writer for The Athletic, who provides a frank and entertaining discussion of what’s going on in Colorado, from the resignation of GM Jeff Bridich to where we go from here. We finish up with emails on Zack Greinke and how the Astros scandal effects players’ Hall of Fame chances, before delving into Stephanie’s upcoming trip (maybe, probably) to Tokyo to cover the Olympic Games. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Mint Mile.

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This week, the co-host chair heads back to New York as Jake Mintz of Cespedes Family BBQ steps away from his obsession with obscure professional cycling to spend an afternoon talking about baseball. We begin by discussing hot teams (that’s Oakland), hot players (that’s Corbin Burnes), bad bullpens (that’s the Phillies — again), and the first baby steps in the CBA talks. Then we are joined by Charles Star, one of my favorite podcasters and the most entertaining legal analyst in the world, who explains baseball’s nearly century old anti-trust exemption. From there, it’s the final segment, where we go through emails, think about cricket, and delve into Jake’s remarkable path in baseball. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening.

Music by Event Horizon Jazz Quartet.

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Let’s do it again, folks. This week, the co-host chair lands back in Brooklyn as Jay Jaffe makes time to yammer with me for two-plus hours. We start by figuring out how many games the Dodgers will win before discussing how today’s game creates a good environment for no-hitters and watching Jay count to 20. Then we are joined by special guest J.J. Cooper, the executive editor of Baseball America, who gives his reasons for being open-minded about baseball’s experimental rule changes in the minor and independent leagues. From there, it’s the final segment, where we dream about a few injury-free careers and consider an offer to become multi-millionaires before finishing off with British dramas and Fellini films. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for listening. Read the rest of this entry »

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On this episode, I’m joined by the eminently intelligent and charming Steven Goldman, who serves as my co-host for the week. We start with some hot takes on hot starts and socially gross restaurants. From there, we are joined by special guest Bradford William Davis of the New York Daily News to discuss the complicated political and economic issues behind MLB’s decision to move the All-Star game from Georgia to Colorado. As a bonuses, Bradford also attended the Rangers’ fan-packed home opener, so we spend some time on that as well. From there, it’s onto emails and all sorts of tangents. As always, we hope you enjoy, and thank you for putting up with how damn long this thing has gotten.

Music by Interesting Time Gang.

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Things are a little different this week, as we present a special 2021 season preview edition of the podcast. No listener emails (but keep ’em coming!), no special guest, no Moment of Culture, just me and the wonderful Ben Clemens walking you through every division and every team. Does it take nearly three and half hours? Of course it does. Is that a problem? Of course not! It’s a podcast, there are no limitations.

Music by late 70s/early 80s Boston-based cult art-punk legends Vitamin.

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