Episode 34 (11.9.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An update on the strike zone and pace of play with 2015 data (4:14)
  • Our top moments of 2015 (11:30)
  • What we will remember from this past year (21:13)
  • One year of podcasting (30:22)
  • 2016 Offseason Preview (36:12)
  • What you can expect from us in the offseason (1:00:28)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

The 2015 Strike Zone (Jon Roegele)

Dave Cameron's Free Agent Predictions

Jon Heyman's Free Agent Predictions

Music provided by Bensound. Check them out at bensound.com

Episode 33 (11.3.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • World Series breakdown
  • Out of the Box (21:24)
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Terry Collins (26:21)
  • Sounds of the Game: 2015 World Series (29:23)
  • Playoff TV Ratings Update (34:06)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (36:00)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Royals are World Champs (Andy McCullough)

Peter's Article: The Giants Order Pizzas for the Royals (Minsky's Pizza)

Must C: Royals win World Series (MLB.com)

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Episode 32 (10.26.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • ALCS and NLCS recaps
  • Our 3 bold World Series predictions (14:25)
  • Non-playoff baseball news (19:54)
  • Out of the Box: Royals and Mets (24:01)
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Ned Yost (34:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: 1985 World Series (Denny Matthews), 2014 World Series (Jon Miller) (39:39)
  • Playoff TV Ratings Update (46:01)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (47:44)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Ken Rosenthal: Troubling Trend In Hiring Is Closing the Door on Baseball's Veterans

Paul's Article: How Three Unheralded Contributors Helped Royals Repeat as AL Champs (Tom Verducci)

Peter's Article: How the Mets went from woeful to the World Series in 5 long years (Adam Rubin)

1985 World Series: Game 6

2014 World Series: Game 7

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Episode 31 (10.19.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • ALCS & NLCS discussion
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Mike Matheny (20:07)
  • Sounds of the Game: Vin Scully - 1986 World Series (23:28)
  • 2015 Playoff Pick 'Em Update (28:53)
  • Playoff Ratings Update (30:30)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (33:18)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Andy McCullough, Kansas City Star

Peter's Article: Adam Rubin, ESPN.com

1986 World Series: Game 6, Game 7

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Episode 30 (10.16.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Blue Jays - Rangers (2:17)
  • Royals - Astros (10:34)
  • Cubs - Cardinals (15:53)
  • Mets - Dodgers (23:06)
  • Preview of ALCS and NLCS (28:37)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Jose Bautista's 3-run HR (SPORTSNET 590 The FAN)

The Royals come back and tie up the Astros in the 8th (FS1 and FS Kansas City)

The Cubs beat the Cardinals (WBBM)

Daniel Murphy hits go-ahead homer in Game 5 (WOR)

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Episode 29 (10.12.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Discussion on Wild Card Games (3:28)
  • Peter's critique of modern society (5:43)
  • Division Series updates (14:10)
  • Our opinions of the Chase Utley slide (23:34)
  • A playoff ratings update (30:40)
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Joe Maddon (33:11)
  • Sounds of the Game: Bryan Cranston (36:12)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (41:06)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Chase Utley Slide

Craig Edwards: Joe Maddon's Defensive Calculus

Bryan Cranston Performs One-Man Postseason Show

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Episode 28 (10.5.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Recap of Game 162 (4:30)
  • 3 playoff storylines we're watching (12:35)
  • Who's got the most pressure on them? (16:16)
  • Our official predictions (20:27)
  • Playoff fantasy pick'em (24:25)
  • The last Ump or No Ump of 2015 (29:13)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Our 2015 Playoff Preview Podcast w/ Guests: Episode 27

Hawk Harrelson- Mark Wegner: Hawk Harrelson Rant

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Episode 26 (9.28.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • Playoff outlook with less than a week to go
  • Which teammates will be the first to 40?
  • Paul smells like baby feces
  • The AFITB 2015 Awards Show (12:40)
  • Stat of the Week: Context Neutral Wins(23:00)
  • Baseball Profile: Yogi Berra (27:08)
  • Sounds of the Game: Bob Costas tells a Yogi story on Conan (35:12)
  • Five Seconds or Less and Ump or No Ump (37:28)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Yogi Berra articles: Grantland, MLB.com, Wall Street Journal

Stat of the Week: Context Neutral Wins (WPA/LI) (Fangraphs)

Baseball Profile Resources: Wikipedia, Baseball-Reference, New York Times

Sounds of the Game: Bob Costas tells a Yogi Berra story on 9/12/12 (Conan)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

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Episode 25 (9.21.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • Paul's take on a couple Cubs controversies
  • Fringe Wild Card teams
  • An update on Trout and Harper
  • Theo Epstein's baseball philosophy
  • An examination of the current Wild Card format
  • Stat of the Week: Leverage Index (LI) (24:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: October 26, 1997 (30:52)
  • Five Seconds or Less and Ump or No Ump (37:16)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Front Row Seat: The Cubs are poised to return to the postseason, thanks in part to Theo Epstein's grand vision (Joe Posnanski)

Peter's article: Is Current Wild Card System Fair? (Ken Rosenthal)

Stat of the Week: Leverage Index (LI) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Game 7 of 1997 World Series (NBC)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

Pete Rose - Jim Gray interview (1999)

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Episode 24 (9.14.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Our podcast reaches a new continent
  • An examination of the lack of playoff races
  • Remembering 9/11 and how baseball was impacted
  • David Ortiz, Hall of Famer?
  • Joey Votto's mastery of the strike zone
  • Stat of the Week: Win Probability Added (WPA) (20:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: October 31, 2001 (24:40)
  • Five Seconds or Less (31:13)
  • Ump or No Ump

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: David Ortiz, even with 500 HRs, no lock for Hall of Fame (Michael Silverman)

Peter's article: Reds Mist: The Perfectionism and Historic Production of Joey Votto (Jonah Keri)

Stat of the Week: Win Probability Added (WPA) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Game 4 of 2001 World Series (Tino) (Jeter)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

George Bush throws out first pitch at 2001 World Series

Grantland: "The Pitch"

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Episode 23 (9.7.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • Matt Harvey discussion
  • A look around the standings
  • How the Pirates have built a great team
  • Is Dayton Moore a good GM?
  • Stat of the Week: Ground Ball Percentage GB% (20:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: Cal breaks the streak (9/6/1995) (24:25)
  • A new segment: Five Seconds or Less (29:09)
  • Ump or No Ump

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Big Data Baseball (Travis Sawchik)

Peter's Article: A Dayton With Destiny (Rany Jazayerli)

Stat of the Week: Ground Ball Percentage GB% (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Cal breaks the streak (9/6/1995)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

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Episode 22 (8.31.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Paul and Kate have their baby!
  • Jake Arrieta throws a no-hitter
  • Vin Scully is coming back for another year
  • A fan dies at Turner Field
  • Playoff Odds of teams still in the hunt

Episode 21 (8.24.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An update on Paul and Kate's baby
  • An attendance update from Peter
  • Another 2015 no-hitter
  • Is Chris Sale underrated?
  • Why the Nationals are under performing
  • Stat of the Week: Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) (18:55)
  • AFITB Summer Flicks Recap: Little Big League (22:05)
  • Sounds of the Game: 1995 ALDS (31:54)
  • Baseball Profile: Dave Magadan (38.23)
  • Ump or No Ump (43:00)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Chris Sale simply a swing-and-miss, dominating machine (Jayson Stark)

Peter's article: The Collapse of the Nationals (Dave Cameron)

Stat of the Week: Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) (Fangraphs)

"A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks"

Sounds of the Game: Dave Niehaus, 1995 ALDS

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: My Oh My

Baseball Profile Research: Baseball Reference, Wikipedia

2015 MLB Playoffs Schedule

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Episode 20 (8.17.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Paul defining pregnancy terms
  • Good and bad news for baseball fans
  • An MLB Advanced Media update
  • Sad news out of Boston
  • An answer to increased strike outs and decreased walks in modern times
  • Stat of the Week: Stolen Bases Runs Saved (rSB) (22:53)
  • Sounds of the Game: 1985 World Series (26:13)
  • AFITB Summer Flicks Recap: Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off (32:14)
  • Ump or No Ump (42:34)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Reliever Domination Is at a Historical Level (Chris Teeter)

Peter's article: Walks Are Way Down In Baseball Because of Capitalism (Eric Chemi)

Stat of the Week: Stolen Bases Runs Saved (rSB) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Al Michael calls Game 6 of 1985 World Series

"A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks"

Kiefer's case for the automated strike zone

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Episode 19 (8.10.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • A case of the Mumps
  • Jake Arrieta's resurgence explained
  • Will the Jays catch the Yankees?
  • MLB Advanced Media makes a lot of money
  • Stat of the Week: Out of Zone Plays (OOZ) (18:13)
  • Sounds of the Game: Tom Cheek (21:06)
  • Baseball Profile: Thurman Munson (27:28)
  • Ump or No Ump (32:47)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: The Changeup: How baseball's tech team built the future of television (Ben Popper)

Peter's article: MLBAM and the Future of MLB's Revenues (Craig Edwards)

Stat of the Week: Out of Zone Plays (OOZ) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Tom Cheek calls Joe Carter's walk-off homer in 1993 World Series

"A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks"

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Episode 18 (8.3.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Our take on a very busy trade deadline
  • How we feel about the Cubs and White Sox's playoff chances
  • A look back at three deadline deals from recent memory and how they panned out (15:10)
  • Stat of the Week: Revised Zone Rating (RZR) (21:51)
  • Sounds of the Game: Bob Uecker (25:11)
  • We pick the winners of our Summer Flicks contest (28:07)
  • Ump or No Ump (30:04)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

A complete list of the 2015 Trade Deadline trades

Stat of the Week: Revised Zone Rating (RZR) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle

The winners of the "A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks" contest (full contest details)

Music provided by Bensound. Check them out at benson.com.

Episode 17 (7.27.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An update from our Chicago correspondent
  • Cole Hamels no hitter discussion
  • A Hall of Fame journalist is unemployed
  • Two guys doing Moneyball stuff before Billy Beane
  • Stat of the Week: Runs Created (RC) (18:21)
  • Sounds of the Game: Dick Enberg (21:17)
  • AFITB Summer Flicks (27:40)
  • Ump or No Ump (32:49)
  • A listener of the week (and rival baseball journalist)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Baseball Writer To Be Honored By Hall of Fame, But He's Out of a Job (David Greene, NPR)

Peter's Article: Before Beane (Ben Lindbergh, Grantland)

Stat of the Week: Runs Created (RC) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Enberg on the passing of Tony Gwynn, Enberg accepts Frick Award (MLB.com)

A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks (full contest details)

Kiefer's Blog: The Baseball Philosopher

Cole Hamels No-Hits the Cubs

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Episode 16 (7.20.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An All-Star week (and #BaseballBrocation) recap
  • The Normal Cornbelters selling their soul to Pete Rose
  • Has the strike zone gotten bigger?
  • Update from our 4-year-old correspondent
  • Stat of the Week: BB% (17:14)
  • Sounds of the Game: Kirk Gibson Walk-off (10/15/1988) (22:28)
  • Baseball Profile: Mike Trout (27:23)
  • Ump or No Ump (35:12)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: "Pete Rose at the Corn Crib: Next Stop, the All-Star Game" (Dan Barry)

Peter's Article: "Baseball's strike zone has expanded, and hitters aren't happy" (Alex Speier)

Stat of the Week: Walk Rate (BB%) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Kirk Gibson Walk-Off (10/15/1988)

Baseball Profile: Mike Trout (Wikipedia, Grantland, ESPN Radio)

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Episode 15 (7.13.15)

It's the Brothers' Baseball Road Trip this week. All four of us recorded a podcast while on our annual Elliott brothers' summer baseball trip. The podcast includes the following segments:

  • Meet the brothers (00:00-11:00)
  • Lacey's hard-hitting baseball questions (11:27-28:06)
  • The 90's All-Star team (picked by John and Kevin) versus the 2000's All-Star team (picked by Peter and Paul) (28:15-44:34)
  • Paul's roundtable discussion on baseball current events (44:45-57:15)
  • Baseball Profile Trivia (0:57:15-1:05:28)
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