This week Fox Sports analyst, Yankees great and friend of the program Alex Rodriguez sits down with Ryan and CC for a heavy dose of candid conversation and baseball nerdery. Alex speaks openly about his journey from being a baseball pariah to the public’s good graces, and waxes poetic about Didi Gregorius and Gary Sanchez — and his simple methods for helping a player get the most out of his at bats. Alex also talks about the Yankees’ managerial situation, and discusses whether or not he’d be interested in replacing Joe Girardi. Finally, the crew answers listener questions, and Alex and CC reflect on what made their 2009 team so special. They two express excitement about how well-positioned both the Yankees and the game of baseball are heading into 2018.

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Alex Rodriguez Loosens the Reins ... a little

Two ‘R’s. Two ‘C’s. Two friends with a Star Wars obsession and four days of down time between starts. Thus, a podcast is born. Join Yankees’ pitcher CC Sabathia and media personality Ryan Ruocco as they bring fans inside the mind of one of MLB’s most successful and durable performers. Recorded in-season and exclusively between CC's days on the mound, you never know who will enter the bullpen as the duo discuss sports, music, culture and more.

Sports

Opening Day is upon us, and that has Ryan and CC very excited for the latest installment of R2C2. The guys are joined for their final show in Tampa by some of their friends, who all tell a few behind-the-scenes stories that you may not have heard. Ryan and CC also discuss some final spring training news, and CC talks about feeling good going into his 18th MLB season. He and Ryan then talk about why having a personal chef is the best part of being wealthy, as well as how CC likes Harry Potter more than his kids. The two then debate the positives and the negatives of snow in New York City, and Ryan tries to explain how acid reflux affects him more than the average person. Just the sort of stuff to get you ready for the 2018 season. Celebrate Opening Day by taking a listen to R2C2!

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Opening Day Mailbag

In this week’s edition of R2C2, Ryan and CC welcome the longest tenured Yankee and clubhouse prankster, Brett Gardner. Gardy reminisces on his journey from walking-on at College of Charleston to grinding through the minors to becoming a leader on the Yankees. He delves into his close relationship with Aaron Judge, including when Judge lived with him at the start of last year. Gardner also relives his greatest pranks, shares his love of fishing and gives CC a hard time about ruining the best chance he’s had at hitting for the cycle. Brett Gardner is the heart of a team that has its sights set on winning it all, which makes him a can’t-miss listen for any Yankees fan.

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On Base with Brett Gardner

R2C2 continues its Spring Training episodes with a BIG guest as Ryan and CC are joined by American League Rookie of the Year, Aaron Judge. They discuss what Aaron’s first year in the big leagues was like, how he’s adjusted to having people recognize him on the streets and how cool it is to be the face of the Yankees for a new generation of fans. Aaron also talks about his role as clubhouse DJ, what it’s like to have Giancarlo Stanton in pinstripes and his thoughts on doing the home-run derby again this year. Aaron also has no problem giving Ryan a hard time about watching “comfort food” movies and explains his fandom of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones. The humble Yankees’ star gets more personal than usual and is sure to get any Yankee fan pumped for the 2018 season.

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In the Chambers with DJ Aaron Judge

This week R2C2 is giving the people exactly what they want as CC’s newest teammate and Super Bowl winning quarterback, Russell Wilson, joins to the show to discuss what he’s up to at Yankee camp this week. They also discuss Russell’s early baseball years, how the sport helps him in football, and if he got nervous taking batting practice with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Wilson also talks about his proposal to Ciara while traveling and how happy he is to have his newly born daughter down at Spring Training with him. There are few things better than a Super Bowl winner who puts on the pinstripes.

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Trying on the Pinstripes with Russell Wilson

This week R2C2 takes a break to present a special bonus episode highlighting a new short-run Players’ Tribune short-run audio series, My Generation. In the spirit of no-nonsense sports talk from the player’s perspective, Ryan and CC hand off the mic to Paul Pierce, who, after 19 years in the NBA, knows a thing or two about the game of basketball — and is not afraid to openly share his thoughts on the experience. During his tenure, Pierce has observed both advancements and regressions in the sport — from larger salaries and endorsement deals to the end of rivalries and the rise of the Internet superstar. In this episode, Pierce chats with Shaquille O’Neal, who is vocal about a league he thinks has become soft and lacks an abundance of nicknames. He also sounds off on why the big man position in the NBA has changed so much. Listen to more episodes of My Generation on theplayerstribune.com.

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Alex Rodriguez Loosens the Reins ... a little

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