The Ringer Mlb Show

The Braves have been the most competent team in an NL East full of turmoil—why aren’t we talking more about them? Then Marc Normandin joins to discuss the latest deep dives into MLB’s cynical international practices. Finally we review the Hall of Fame ceremonies from over the weekend, which included the inductions of Mike Mussina, Roy Halladay, and Edgar Martinez, among others. Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Marc Normandin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Contending teams have started to make modest moves for rotation help and extra bats in the lineup—are larger moves coming down the road or will this be a slow July (0:52)? Plus, the Phillies are in a state of turmoil on the field that could lead to one off (22:58), while the Giants have overperformed expectations to the point that it might throw a wrench in their plans to trade stars like Madison Bumgarner (38:24). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Meghan Montemurro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We break down the Vlad Guerrero Jr. show that was the Home Run Derby (1:11) before calling up FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen to talk about what stood out to him at the MLB Futures Game (17:44). Then, to wrap up the pod, Ben Lindbergh comes on to speculate about what we most have to look forward to in the second half of the season (37:06). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram, Guest: Eric Longenhagen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We mourn the unexpected loss of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs and discuss what he meant to his team and the camaraderie of MLB teammates (0:48). Then Donnie Kwak joins the show to talk about his cousin Tommy Edman’s first few weeks in the big leagues (17:30), and finally we discuss the stark contrast between the NBA and MLB offseasons and free agency (38:35). Host: Michael Baumann, Zach Kram, Ben Lindbergh Guests: Donnie Kwak Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first episode of “Why I Hate My Team,” Sean Fennessey joins to have a (relatively) reasonable conversation about the turmoil in Queens over the past two weeks (0:30). Then, Mallory Rubin describes the acute pain of watching your favorite baseball player return, in a different uniform, to your team’s home ballpark (25:00). Host: Bobby Wagner Guests: Sean Fennessey and Mallory Rubin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We detail the latest week in Mets mania (1:10), wonder how Lance Lynn became possibly the best pitcher in baseball (26:15), and try to make sense of MLB’s plan for international expansion—specifically theLondon series and the Rays' early plans for a Montreal/Tampa Bay crossover (39:39). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh Guests: Katie Baker, Craig Edwards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Yankees traded for Edwin Encarnación this weekend and expect to get Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge back soon. Is this the deepest home-run-hitting lineup of all time (1:30)? Then we check in with MLB.com Padres beat writer AJ Cassavell about the state of baseball in San Diego as it continues to be more interesting than it has been in years (18:54). Finally, we do our annual checkup on Clayton Kershaw’s status as the ace of his generation and wonder whether he’ll age as nicely as lefties like Tom Glavine have (40:00). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: AJ Cassavell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We bounce around a busy week in baseball news, starting with a first look at some surprising names atop the All-Star voting leaderboards (2:12) and then discussing David Ortiz’s health after he was shot in the Dominican Republic (21:31). We finish by talking about whether the home run is diminished by the ball flying out of the park seemingly easier than it ever has before (37:51). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Emma Baccellieri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We react to the first worthwhile trade of the MLB season—Jay Bruce to the Philadelphia Phillies (1:45). Then, FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen joins the show to go deep on the (still unfolding) MLB draft, sharing his biggest winners so far (21:00). Finally, Ben Lindbergh shares the work and reporting that went into his latest book, 'The MVP Machine': What was the impetus for writing it? What was the most surprising and resounding takeaway (45:34)? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Eric Longenhagen Buy Ben's book here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We open this week’s show by processing what it means for the Red Sox to see the Dustin Pedroia era truly on its last legs and then memorializing the life and career of Bill Buckner (1:00). Then, Baseball America’s Teddy Cahill joins the show to break down the upcoming NCAA men’s baseball tournament and its respective pro prospects (18:40). Finally, we theorize over how the Athletics have managed to rip off 10 straight wins and what that means for a surprisingly lively AL playoff race (41:16). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Teddy Cahill Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We go over the nose-diving Nationals, who are now nine games under .500 with seemingly no answers for how to get better (1:20), before putting it into context with their division rivals, the Mets, and why it always seems like the sky is falling in on them even though they’re only slightly below expectations this season (21:05). Finally, we finish by going over the long-standing criticism of Robinson Canó and why it’s a tired argument that’s only propped up by the New York media (39:02). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After the teams on Giants ace Madison Bumgarner's no-trade list were revealed, we speculate about whether that means he’ll get traded or not—and whether it’ll be to a contender (1:52). Then, Baseball Prospectus managing editor Craig Goldstein joins to talk about the statistical outlier seasons of the Dodgers’ Alex Verdugo and Hyun-Jin Ryu (20:15). Finally, Ben Lindbergh closes out the podcast by sharing some of the highlights from his piece on home run robberies and putting into perspective just how bad the Marlins’ 2019 season has been so far (40:05). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Craig Goldstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We bounce around the leading headlines from the past week, including the return of Shohei Ohtani and the Boston Red Sox's divided clubhouse (1:30). Then, Baseball Prospectus editor-in-chief Aaron Gleeman joins the show to break down how the Twins have leap-frogged Cleveland in the AL Central (25:00). Finally, we wave goodbye to our preseason optimism for the Reds and wonder how they’re playing well but still losing games (45:35). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Aaron Gleeman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We hand out some early-season MLB superlatives (2:45), before discussing the Blue Jays’ recent call-up of Vlad Guerrero Jr.—baseball’s top prospect (26:08). Then Ben Lindbergh closes the show out by joining to theorize what might happen to baseball if ‘Avengers: Endgame’ were real life and we lost half the crop of MLB players (43:30). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Katie Baker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger are off to almost unfathomably hot starts. Are their performances sustainable, lucky, or a little bit of both (1:49)? Then, with the Tim Anderson suspension, MLB proves that it never runs out of creative ways to step on its own feet (23:10). Finally, the Yankees are experiencing a rash of injuries we thought wasn’t possible, yet they remain over .500 and in contention for the AL East—how have they done it (32:45)? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Tyler Tynes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We mull over Zach Kram’s preseason prediction that the Tampa Bay Rays would win the AL East and wonder: Should that prediction be expanded (2:20)? Then, The Athletic's Astros beat writer, Jake Kaplan, calls into the show to talk about the slow start and resurgence of Houston, the most-stacked team in baseball (21:30). Finally, Ben Lindbergh joins the show to recap last week’s Ozzie Albies extension (36:30). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Red Sox haven’t gotten off to the start they hoped after steamrolling their way to a World Series victory last October (4:15), while the Mariners have—against all odds—seemingly stolen their thunder (23:30). Plus, which preseason predictions look correct, and which have we already soured on (40:20)? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Meg Rowley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Braves signed Ronald Acuña Jr. to one of the most team-friendly long-term deals in recent memory (1:30), and we wonder whether the Cleveland Indians’ bad first weekend and shallow lineup mean that 2019 isn’t going to be the cakewalk we all thought it’d be (8:41). Then The Athletic’s Meghan Montemurro joins to share an insider’s take on Bryce Harper’s loud, successful first week in Philadelphia (20:00). Finally, are the Padres the most exciting team in baseball (36:03)? Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Guest: Meghan Montemurro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We weigh the Jacob deGrom contract against the extensions of Chris Sale, Justin Verlander, and Kyle Hendricks (2:00). Then, we run through our annual fake prop bets to preview the upcoming 2019 season (19:00). Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We react to Mike Trout agreeing to the largest contract in North American sports history, and posit that it probably doesn’t even amount to what he’s actually worth to the Angels (1:40). Then, we run through all 30 teams, division by division, and give our predictions for whether they’ll go over or under their predicted win totals in the Las Vegas sports books (30:08). Finally, we give a few enticing futures bets for the 2019 season (63:55). Hosts: Michael Baumann and Zach Kram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices