FanGraphs Audio: Dan Szymborski Recites His Jeff Bridich Poetry

Episode 920

This week on FanGraphs Audio, we cover the changing of the guard in Colorado, the beginning of the minor league season, and some strange new rule experiments.

• To begin the program, Dan Szymborski welcomes Renee Dechert of Purple Row and Rockies Pitch and Bryan Kilpatrick of Mile High Sports to discuss Jeff Bridich leaving the Colorado Rockies. Dan recently wrote about Bridich’s generally unsuccessful tenure leading the club, and the trio rect to the news and what the future looks like in Colorado. They also talk about the strength of the team’s rotation, the Rockies Twitter tournament, the response to the Nolan Arenado trade, and a t-shirt fundraiser for a late member of the Rockies Twitter community. [3:41]
• Following that, David Laurila is joined by Kyle Glaser of Baseball America and Andrew Luftglass, broadcaster for the Lake County Captains, to discuss the start of the minor league season. They share a number of stories about players they have seen develop in the minors, including Zach McKinstry, Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, James Karinchak, and more. They also discuss the challenge of multiple Logan Allens, who won the Zac Gallen/Jazz Chisholm trade, and a Jacob deGrom interview that was tragically lost to a spilled beverage. [31:58]
• In the final segment, Jay Jaffe brings Dan back to talk about the strange new rules going on in the now-independent Pioneer League. Dan expressed his interest in a Home Run Derby to settle tie games years ago, and that is now set to occur under the “Knock Out Rule.” Jay and Dan also consider experiments like moving the mound back a foot and allowing batters to appeal on check swings. While these changes have not found their way to affiliated ball, the pair share a concern for what this could mean for the major leagues one day. [56:11]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 1 hour 16 minute play time.)

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