Baseball Isn’t Boring

Baseball Isn't Boring has identified this year's spring training MVP. His name is Matt Olson, and he plays first base for the Atlanta Braves. Bradfo catches up with Olson to talk about what a difference a year makes and his mindset heading into his second season with Atlanta. And just for good measure, Bradfo also talks to Olson's teammate, Austin Riley, another one of the Braves who is living life with a semi-new contract extension. Congratulations to Matt!

With a week passed since one of the most impactful few days we have seen in baseball for some time, our WBC Central host Shawn Spradling reflects on his Top 5 memorable off-the-field moments while covering the tournament's biggest game in Miami.

So, does it matter if your team gets off to a good start. Well, it certainly helped the Yankees in 2022. The Twins and Angels? Not so much. Bradfo sits down with three people - Alex Cora, Justin Turner and Rocco Baldelli - who all have unique perspectives when it comes to the merits and importance of starting strong. We also give a pat on the back to friend of the podcast, Anthony Volpe, who has made the Yankees after giving us one of the best answers to the question, "Why isn't baseball boring?" It's a great way to storm into the first games of the regular season.

From 'The Boone Podcast' (subscribe here): Host Bret Boone talks to Team Mexico Manager Benji Gil. Gil talks about the intensity of the WBC and why it compares to the College World Series, his favorite part of the tournament, what he would change about it, what Randy Arozarena is like and his parting words for Team Mexico.

A new era is upon at Baseball Isn't Boring. Betting Isn't Boring. Every Friday during the baseball seaso former All-Star closer Jonathan Papelbon will join Bradfo to help make you money by talking the great game of baseball. And it's all now sponsored by our great friends at FanDuel! Heading into Opening Day, Pap makes it very clear what players he feels will be taking home the MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year honors, giving some takes on over-unders for individuals, as well. He also has the no-question-about-it Opening Day win for one team. (Sorry, Astros.) And, on top of it all, we are organizing the 'Pitch of Destiny' where Papelbon will try and throw a baseball 90 mph. Good times.

Kenley Jansen can speak on a lot of things. That's what happens when you turn in the kind of potentially-Hall of Fame-worthy career he has. And one of the things the Red Sox closer can wax poetic about with anybody is basketball. Players. Teams. You name it. It's why Bradfo sat down with Jansen and MLB.com's Ian Browne to talk hoop, and what baseball might be able to learn from that game and fan base. There is also some rule changes talk. We're talking hoops with Kenley!

Was Japan's win over Team USA in the finals of the WBC the greatest game of all-time? That's a tough one. But a strong case could be made that this showdown - that ended with perhaps the two best baseball players in the world, Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, facing off with each other - was one of the most impactful games for this sport. Bradfo makes that case, with WBC expert Shawn Spradling weighing in from Miami. And to top it off, we had one of the many voices of players who were forever impacted by their WBC experience - Red Sox pitching prospect Rio Gomez - offer a powerful perspective. What a ride!

Here we go! The launching pad for the 2023 Major League Baseball season has been the World Baseball Classic and thanks to the Team Japan walk-off Monday night we have ignition. Bradfo reflects on the culmination of the WBC chaos before sitting down with Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh. Marsh is an excellent representative for the Baseball Isn't Boring campaign, as he shows when talking the new world of baseball heading into the upcoming season.

Joe Kelly wrote a book. "A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America's Pastime" is gettin get reaction and reviews since being released a few weeks ago, and now you can hear how it all came together. Joe joins his co-author, Bradfo, to talk about the journey - including Joe chasing down Rob Manfred to give him a book. The podcast also touches on Joe's pointed thoughts on the WBC and his recent revelation when it came to throwing a potentially difference-making pitch. If you want to know what it is like to be a big league player and author at the same time, listen to this.

The debates are flying throughout baseball. Most recently, there has been the arguments for and against the World Baseball Classic after Edwin Diaz's injury. Bradfo has his thoughts on the matter, as he voices at the outset of this podcast. And then there are the rule changes. Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo joins Bradfo to offer a well thought out perspective of where baseball is at with these new rules and why they may or may not work. It's the kind of conversation that should be important with less than two weeks until the regular season. And, to top things off, Mets manager Buck Showalter weighs in.