Buck Showalter, manager of the New York Mets, and Bob Melvin, manager of the San Diego Padres are peas in a pod.

In this edition of Baseball Discourse, I explain why these managers are similar, as they prepare to battle in the National League Wild Card Series.  

I also detail why this series, in many respects, is more important for Showalter and his legacy than Melvin and his baseball resume. 

Aaron Judge is chasing baseball history, having hit 60 home runs in the 2022 season.  He needs one more to tie the American League single-season home run mark, held by the late Roger Maris, who hit 61 home runs in 1961.

The nation has been captivated by the chase, much as the nation was enthralled back in 1961, when Maris and teammate Mickey Mantle were chasing Babe Ruth's single season record of 60.

In this episode of Baseball Discourse, I look back at the closing week of the season, as Maris attempted to set the mark. (Mantle fell from the race, sidelined with a hip infection.)  We hear the "Voice of the Yankees," Mel Allen, interview Maris in the Yankees clubhouse, after New York clinched the AL pennant, and we hear the call (in its entirety) of Yankees broadcaster Phil Rizzuto, as Maris slugs home run number 61.

Enjoy. 

Can the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge break the American League single-season home run record?  The record was set by another Yankee, Roger Maris, when he belted 61 home runs in 1961.

In this episode, I speculate on Judge's chances and also take you back to a game in 1961 between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians.  Maris and teammate Mickey Mantle had captivated a nation, chasing Babe Ruth's single-season home run mark.  I also play a snippet of Mel Allen, the "Voice of the Yankees," in a single discourse about the chances for Maris and Mantle to set a new record.

It is against this backdrop, I measure Judge's chances of making history. 

While sifting through my collection of interviews the other day, I came across one with former New York Yankees first baseman Joe Pepitone.  As I explain in the podcast, it is appropriate that Pepitone be part of episode 63.

The interview took place on Aug. 4, 2001, when I was broadcasting New Britain Rock Cats games with the "Voice of the Rock Cats," Jeff Dooley, and the Rock Cats - at the time AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins - were playing the Norwich Navigators, AA affiliate of the New York Yankees.  

Pepitone was in a hurry to get out of the booth, but still, he was terrific and generous enough to sit in for one-half inning.

By the way, Jeff and I are still broadcasting games together, calling the action for the Hartford Yard Goats, AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.  Where does the time go?

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN this week, that there is a good chance baseball will go to an automated strike zone in 2024.  In this podcast, I discuss why MLB will adopt the system and why umpires are not as opposed to it as you might think.

July 1st is also "Bobby Bonilla Day," and I talk about what that means.  Let's just say, it's not too bad, being Bobby Bonilla, when July 1 rolls around. 

Bobby Bonilla Day

In 2002 I had the chance to interview former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, Bruce Kison.  At the time he was working in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system.

Kison, who died on June 2, 2018 at the age of 68, was the winning pitcher in the first-ever World Series night game.  We talked about that fete, as well as his pitching for notable managers Danny Murtaugh, Gene Mauch and John McNamara.

We cover a lot of ground in this interview, including Michael discussing his relationship with club owner George Steinbrenner, his trade for Paul O'Neill, and his favorite sport, growing up in Akron, OH.  

Why the name change?  I am glad you asked.  Well, for openers, the old name contained a word that should not be part of a show's title.  And no, it is not a four-letter word.  I do all of my explaining in this latest episode.

Thank you for subscribing to the podcast. 

Admit it Yankees fans it hurts to see the Boston Red Sox in the post season.