The Ringer Mlb Show

Ringer staff writer Michael Baumann is joined by Zach Kram to examine the impact of Robinson Cano testing positive for a banned diuretic, from how the 80-game suspension will hurt this year's Mariners to how it could hurt Cano's Hall of Fame chances (02:00). Then Ringer editor-at-large Bryan Curtis joins the podcast to talk about the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on sports betting, how it reflects on baseball's colorful history with gambling, and how it might change the way we talk about the game going forward (21:00). Finally, Megan Schuster explains what's so special about Twins rookie right-hander Fernando Romero and breaks down the bizarre start to the race for the AL Central (36:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer staff writer Michael Baumann starts this week's show by joining Zach Kram to stare at the Braves' young stars in slack-jawed awe (01:55). He then talks Yankees-Red Sox and the star qualities of Luis Severino and Mookie Betts with Paolo Uggetti (22:25) before asking Ben Lindbergh if Clayton Kershaw is still the best pitcher in baseball (37:08). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer staff writer Michael Baumann wanted to talk to Zach Kram about the dominant Arizona Diamondbacks, but fittingly, the Dodgers overshadowed their rivals again by announcing that star shortstop Corey Seager is out for the season (03:00). Then he talks about Gerrit Cole's impressive April with Ringer editor Ben Glicksman (19:30), and Ben Lindbergh gives his thoughts on Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius's power surge (33:45). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer staff writer Michael Baumann is joined by Zach Kram to talk about baseball's holy trinity leading the league in homers (02:00). Then, Rodger Sherman shares his proposal for what should happen to teams that get no-hit (20:30), and Ben Lindbergh breaks down the early AL favorites (32:30) and explains how throwing strikes ain't all it's been cracked up to be (44:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer staff writer Michael Baumann is joined by Zach Kram to discuss the upside-down NL East (01:15) and NL Central races (10:00) then marvels at the Angels' hot start with Ben Lindbergh (21:15). Finally Ringer senior editor and staff contrarian Ryan "O'Headline" O'Hanlon joins the pod to talk about whether pitch framing is dishonorable (37:30) and whether Aaron Judge is still the worst player in baseball (46:15). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Michael Baumann talks to Zach Kram about the 8-1 Mets (01:45), then brings in Ben Lindbergh to marvel at Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani's stellar week (16:00). Finally, Bill Simmons drops by to talk about Ohtani's unique star potential (30:45), the Red Sox (46:30), and the story lines that could make this regular season one to remember (53:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Michael Baumann talks to Chris Ryan about rookie Phillies manager Gabe Kapler's creative bullpen use (01:00). Then he brings in Zach Kram to talk about Shohei Ohtani's debut(s) (16:00) and Sean Yoo to talk about the Yankees' return to Evil Empire status (28:15), before Ben Lindbergh closes with the Astros' new-look rotation (38:00) and the awkward timing of Yuli Gurriel's suspension (47:00). You can find the official Ringer merch store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ringer writer Michael Baumann examines the Vegas win total over/unders for all 30 teams, featuring Zach Kram on the AL West (02:00) and NL Central (14:00), Claire McNear on the NL East (23:30) and NL West (29:45), and Ben Lindbergh on the AL Central (37:30) and AL East (44:15). You can find the official Ringer merch store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons links up with Jack-O to get ready for the 2018 baseball season by checking up on whom the Yankees have in their outfield (2:46) and surveying the starting lineup (13:40) before wrapping up the show with some spring 2018 prop bets (26:02). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Michael Baumann kicks off the 2018 baseball season by needling Mallory Rubin about Manny Machado's future in Baltimore (01:15) and chatting with Zach Kram about the unique problems that Shoehei Otani poses for fantasy baseball (08:30). Then Sean Fennessey joins the show to discuss the confusing and frustrating Mets (22:00) and Ben Lindbergh closes out the show with free-agency talk (34:30). Read Claire McNear's article on the future of Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals here: https://t.co/af1FgWUhxH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann catch up with a wave of early-offseason moves, including a quintet of managerial hirings and the emergence of a new model of manager (06:00), the players association's perplexing stance on Shohei Otani (27:30), the opt-in decisions of a trio of pitchers (and the extension of Justin Upton) (39:00), potentially era-ending option decisions regarding Andre Ethier, Ichiro Suzuki, and Jose Bautista, and the Yasmani Grandal trade market (49:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss Game 7 of the World Series, dwelling on the Dodgers’ lack of timely hitting, Yu Darvish’s Series struggles, the argument that Clayton Kershaw should have started Game 7 instead, and how the Astros-Dodgers battle stacks up historically. Then they talk about the effectiveness of (and backlash to) tanking, how hard it is to win titles, whether teams can still become dynasties in baseball today, and how the Astros and Dodgers set up for the future (spoiler: pretty well). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss the story lines and hangover from a historic World Series Game 5, including home runs and slick balls (04:30), Clayton Kershaw's renewed postseason struggles (11:30), bad (and depleted) bullpens (14:00), a series of incredible comebacks and unlikely events involving baseball's best teams and biggest stars (24:00), and Yuli Gurriel's deferred suspension (31:30). Then they bring on colleague and brand-new baseball writer Shea Serrano to discuss the experience of seeing Game 5 through the eyes of a newly minted Astros fan (40:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann go deep on Game 2 of the World Series, a classic tilt between the Astros and Dodgers. They dissect Dave Roberts's fateful decision to pull starter Rich Hill after four innings (02:45), then draft their favorite moments from the game (13:00), from the eight home runs (16:00) to the bat flips (18:00) to a series of bizarre outfield deflections (27:30). They conclude by discussing the Yankees' controversial decision to part ways with manager Joe Girardi (45:45). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann close the book on the championship series by reviewing the Astros' incredible curveball usage (and bullpen avoidance) in ALCS Game 7 (02:45), tipping their caps to the vanquished Cubs and Yankees (14:00), and discussing their top reasons to be excited about the World Series and explaining why the Dodgers-Astros matchup seems so even (21:00). They finish by reflecting on the dismissal of Dusty Baker and the managerial moves of the Mets, Tigers, and Red Sox (49:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann break down both championship series, starting with the Yankees' comeback from an 0-2 deficit to take a 3-2 lead over the Astros (05:00), the resurgence of Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez (08:00), the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium (15:45), misleading momentum (19:30), and the Astros' issues on offense and in the bullpen (21:00). Then they discuss how the Dodgers have outplayed the Cubs en route to a 3-1 series lead (38:00) and how the Cubs saved themselves in Game 4 (43:30), and wrap up with a conversation about how postseason managing has evolved more quickly than some managers can handle (50:15). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss Ben's furtive baseball-watching on his wedding weekend (02:00), then break down both of the 2-0 championship series (05:00), beginning with the brilliance of Astros starters Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander (12:00), the riveting tag team of José Altuve and Carlos Correa (21:30), the exciting send-off Altuve gave Game 2 (25:00), and the offensive struggles of Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez (27:30), and ending with the heroics of Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner (30:30), the latest backlash against Puig (42:30), the Cubs' faltering bullpen and Joe Maddon's flagging tactical reputation (48:00), and a discussion about which series is more likely to produce a comeback (52:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann marvel at a sick Stephen Strasburg's brilliant performance in Game 4 of the NLDS (02:00) and condemn the macho culture that questioned his character before the start (10:00). Then they analyze the Yankees' unlikely recovery to beat Cleveland after trailing 2-0 in the ALDS (25:30), preview the Astros-Yankees ALCS (35:00), salute the three teams eliminated from the playoffs this week (48:30), and reflect on the firing of former Red Sox skipper John Farrell (49:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann break down the weekend's playoff action, starting with Joe Girardi's curious relationship with the challenge and Aaron Judge's untimely slump (02:00), then David Price's emergence as Boston's only trustworthy pitcher (23:00) and Jose Altuve's .700-plus batting average (32:45). Then they wrestle with Clayton Kershaw's playoff reputation (37:45), whether Arizona is good enough to come back from a 2-0 deficit (42:00), and Joe Maddon's bullpen management in the Cubs' Game 2 loss to Washington (46:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Mallory Rubin and Ryan O’Hanlon present the casual fan’s guide to baseball playoffs by explaining what they look forward to most in October (2:10). Plus, they are joined by The Ringer’s resident Cubs fan Robert Mays to chat about his team’s chances of repeating as the World Series champions (50:19). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices