All About Baseball with Byron Copley

Recently, a game between the Orioles and Blue Jays sparked controversy over a Blue Jays' runner who veered well out of the baseline to avoid being tagged. The policy of MLB, which prohibits the league to "publicly address the umpires’ decisions," only serves to amplify mistrust and minimize the credibility of MLB umpires and the league itself. This episode offers an explanation to umpire Nic Lentz's non-call on Blue Jays' runner Ernie Clements that you won't find anywhere else.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

On May 28, the San Francisco Giants relieved Hector Borg of his responsibilities as third-base coach. I think that this decision was as hastily made as the one to hire him in the 2025 off season to handle the most difficult job on the field. In fact, I believe that the Giants should have retained Borg as third-base coach and mentored him into improvement, rather than demoting him to his familiar role of "player development." This episode of All About Baseball explains why I think so, in the face of overwhelming "public opinion" that called for his removal.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

https://youtu.be/SGpovwczuNo

In this episode, I ruminate over the lost art of pitching that was prevalent in MLB as recently as 2010 or so. Now, since the "Velocity Virus" has infected the minds of baseball executives, scouts, coaches, and players at all levels, multiplied by the "schools" and "academies" that promote this fallacy, it seems that the nuance and complexity of baseball has given way to a more primal version -- where the players are grist for a mill that feeds the thrill-seeking fan rather than the informed one.

Link to Real Voices of the Game Podcast, featuring Jim Rooney

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

Since May 4 to May 20, 2026, the Tigers are 2-13. Is this simply a slump? I think not. The episode of All About Baseball delves into the sad statistics that indicate a bigger problem: the Tigers have too many role-playing players playing main roles, especially offensively, and they are not going to miraculously transform into reliable and ready hitters -- or defenders.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

Periodically, I recommend good books about baseball.

The Summer of Beer and Whiskey, by Edward Achorn, is a great book about baseball.

This is my unbridled endorsement of a book that, in great detail, captures the ethos of professional baseball in the 1880s as a time of flux, fanaticism, and fury.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

My first PSA episode of All About Baseball. It's brief by design, but, if you take the action that I suggest, you could directly impact the lives of the people that Kirk Gibson has himself in the long-term. Do me a favor and listen to the end. Thank you.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

Link to Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson's

In this episode of All About Baseball, I introduce you to Cormac Terry, who pitched for Catholic University, in Washington, D.C.,from 2020 to 2024. His story ranges from the challenges of playing in the "Covid Era," to how he reinvented himself as a pitcher after an arm injury, to the virtues and lessons he learned because he played baseball at Catholic University.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

It is a privilege to have Jeff Frye make a guest appearance on All About Baseball. Our 45-minute discussion covers a wide variety of topics. I am ever grateful to Jeff for agreeing to relate his story of the advent and the conclusion of his nine-year MLB career as well as his opinions on the present state of the game, which he considers to be lacking in the fundamentals that he mastered and that helped him succeed in the Major Leagues. Most of all, his compelling story reinforces the importance of believing in oneself.

Music: "Field Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

In this episode of all All About Baseball, I interview Coach Samuel Skinner, Varsity baseball coach at South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, North Carolina. He offers a unique and universal account of his experience as a coach, mentor, and student of the game. I think anyone who loves the game of baseball will appreciate Coach Skinner's observations and opinions on a variety of baseball-related topics -- from how to set up a hitter to the challenges of moving players to the college level.

Music: "FIeld Grass," by Sergei Pavkin

On April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's all-time home run record on national television. Because today, April 8, 2026, is the 52nd anniversary of that event, I thought that I would replay one of the earliest episodes of All About Baseball that recounts my personal experience of that moment when Aaron's bat made contact with the ball. It was one of extreme disappointment, which transitioned into one of personal growth.