The Ringer Mlb Show

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann play "College Baseball Player, Figure From American History, or Nicolas Cage Character?" (02:40) and talk to Twins pitcher Glen Perkins about his return from a torn labrum (09:45), embracing advanced stats (18:00) and preaching sabermetrics to teammates (30:30), reliever valuation and usage (33:30), and setting an entrance-song trend (38:24). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to former White House press secretary Josh Earnest about his Royals fandom (03:20), following baseball in the White House (13:55), President Obama's trash talk (15:30), sticking (or not sticking) to sports (20:15), MLB's PR approach (24:00), the Cardinals hacking scandal (28:50), and his plans for the future (32:35). Then they bring on veteran big league reliever Craig Breslow to discuss how he used statistics and technology to emulate other relievers (36:25) and reinvent himself at the age of 36 (53:50). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann produce one last edition of 'What Did Jerry Dipoto Do?' with Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto (01:08), who dishes on trading tactics (03:43), GM etiquette (08:58), communicating with players (12:22), and jet lag (28:58). Then Ben and Baumann talk to MLB.com writer Mike Petriello about Statcast's progress (34:45), the fragile balance of pitcher-batter power (45:45), and coping with Coors Field (47:43). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann remember Yordano Ventura (01:32) and talk to Baseball Prospectus writers Jeff Long and Jonathan Judge about their new attempts to quantify how some pitchers use command (04:53) and 'tunneling' to achieve more success than their raw stuff would suggest (24:46). Lastly, Ben and Michael discuss how stats have changed the way we talk and write about baseball (50:49) and bring back BP's Meg Rowley for an abbreviated edition of "What Did Jerry Dipoto Do?” (56:07). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann bring back Baseball Prospectus writer Meg Rowley for a second round of "What Did Dipoto Do?" after another active week for the Mariners GM (1:46). Then they talk to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Dugas about a pivotal test of a new procedure that could repair pitchers' elbows much more quickly than Tommy John surgery (12:20). Lastly, they discuss the news that college coaches are considering equipping catchers with headsets to improve the pace of play (41:49). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to Cubs pitcher David Rollins about changing teams five times in 36 days (01:25). Then they bring on FanGraphs writer Nathaniel Grow to discuss a legal loophole that could make Mike Trout a free agent before his contract expires (13:43). Lastly, they talk to Baseball Prospectus writer Meg Rowley about Jerry Dipoto's latest trades (29:31), the Mariners' strange rotation (35:57), and Edgar Martinez's Cooperstown case (43:33). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann bring on writers/analysts Jeff Sullivan (2:30), Rob Arthur (14:42), Corinne Landrey (26:40), Gerald Schifman (36:08) and Jeff Zimmerman (47:10) to discuss their recent research into several sabermetric subjects that yielded new insights in 2016, including catcher framing, defense and Statcast, the positional spectrum, competitive balance, and injuries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inspired by ‘Rogue One,’ The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann pick the former players they’d like to see CGI’d back into their primes. Then they bring on Jonah Keri of CBS Sports to discuss his Hall of Fame philosophy and stump for Tim Raines. Lastly, they talk to WHOOP CEO Will Ahmed about the results of a large-scale study in which minor league players wore his company’s fitness tracker when they weren't on the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to Cleveland Indians coach and former longtime catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. about his team's 2016 playoff run (4:31), his two tough World Series losses, leadership and diversity in the dugout (7:18), the 1990s Indians' crazy clubhouses (10:47), manager Terry Francona's disgusting gum-chewing (35:23), and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann break down the biggest winter meetings moves, including the Chris Sale and Adam Eaton trades, the White Sox's prospect windfall, what the signings and trades involving closers Aroldis Chapman, Mark Melancon, and Wade Davis mean for the closer market, and the Ian Desmond deal. Then they bring on new Brewers first baseman Eric Thames to discuss his improbable journey from the big leagues to Korea and back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann appraise Andrew McCutchen's trade value (3:49) and assess the wisdom of a recent flurry of signings and trades by the Braves (12:50). Then they bring on Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports to discuss the competitive ramifications of baseball's new collective bargaining agreement (18:49) and predict how long labor peace will last (40:15). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann put in a plug for 'Pitch' and talk Hall of Fame with Sports Illustrated writer Jay Jaffe (5:25), discussing the new and returning candidates on this year's ballot (6:13)and Jaffe's forecast for the 2017 Cooperstown class (32:30). Then, they bring on Astros infielder Alex Bregman to talk about his rapid rise to the majors (36:05), the changes he made to his swing before and after overcoming his slow start in the big leagues (39:35), and his outlook for next season (46:32). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann react to Mike Trout's deserved (but still surprising) MVP Award win (4:50) and the Astros' active start to the offseason (11:45). Then, they bring on Twins second baseman Brian Dozier to discuss how the heck he hit 42 homers (16:50). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss the tough transition to the offseason, Theo Epstein's next challenge (3:22), and whether the playoffs are too different from the regular season (8:25). Then they bring on MLB Trade Rumors founder Tim Dierkes to talk about the weak free-agent class (12:25), how CBA uncertainty might affect the market (29:41), and the prospect of record contracts for relievers (39:27). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the aftermath of the Cubs' World Series win, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to their colleague Robert Mays about Cubs fans' euphoria (3:00). Then, Ben and Michael draft and discuss their favorite moments from an unforgettable Game 7 (15:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann recap Michael's trip to Wrigley Field and the Indians' approach against the Cubs' Jon Lester and Javier Báez. Then, they bring on Fox broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt (13:05) to talk about anchoring a panel filled with former superstars, Alex Rodriguez's TV preparation and rapport with Pete Rose, Frank Thomas's imposing size on set, and how to make a postgame show go viral. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann recap the first two games of the 1–1 World Series. Then, they bring on the director of the Cubs' mental skills program, Joshua Lifrak, and the team's mental skills coordinator, Darnell McDonald, to discuss how the organization is teaching its players meditation techniques to cope with the stresses of major (and minor) league life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann preview the upcoming Cubs-Indians World Series matchup from every possible angle with help from Sahadev Sharma, a Cubs reporter for The Athletic Chicago, and MLB.com Indians beat writer Jordan Bastian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk about the Dodgers' subtle scoreboard trolling and rank this year's playoff teams, and 10 more that missed the cut, in order of how likely they are to make the postseason in 2017. Then, they talk to a real-life Indians fan, Ringer staff writer Rob Harvilla, about his expectations and emotions on the eve of Cleveland's first World Series appearance in almost 20 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk about Trevor Bauer's bleeding, the resurgence of short-rest postseason starts (02:10), and the October bullpen evolution (03:50). Then, they bring on the official historian of MLB, John Thorn, and author Steven Goldman to discuss some other unorthodox tactics from baseball's past that modern teams could consider bringing back (09:20). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices