Bat Flips And Nerds

The season is over and the Red Sox are champions. Tom, Ben, and Darius discuss the World Series, including how we were still wrong about Boston even though they won, and whether Alex Cora and his gut reactions really beat the analytical moves of Dave Roberts. They then kickstart the offseason by breaking down the free agency cases of Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, before Tom makes Darius and Ben decide whether they would sign any of the oldest free agents in an ill-conceived game. Listener questions follow, including Halloween-themed questions about players who are always a nightmare for your team, resurrecting dead MLB stars, and filling out a lineup based on classic costumes.

John talks to Joey Mellows aka 'Baseball Brit' about his 75 game baseball adventure. Joey shares his favourite spots, meetings and experiences of the trip, a few scrapes and wild stories and tips for planning your own baseball pilgrimage.

Strap in, this is quite a ride!

John begins the show going crazy about the Jose Altuve "home run" reactions, whilst trying to stay calm.

Tom then tries to bring John down by making reference to his now famous "passed ball" line.

Darius laughs at both of them whilst they go back and forth all about the Red Sox and how they have surprised most this series.

The team then move onto the Brewers and their secret plan to use Wade Miley for one hitter, before bringing in Brandon Woodruff. Except it may be that everyone knew the plan before it happened.

Manny "Johnny Hustle", "Calf Kicker" Machado is discussed, which Tom begins ranting about before his youngest daughter interrupts proceedings.

John then wants Darius to tell him something good thats happened in the postseason because the episode so far has been miserable.

Then Darius rounds it off by giving his LCS predictions for the rest of the way (He's not very bold).

Jackie Bradley Junior is the ALCS MVP.

Four teams are still in with a chance to win the World Series. Darius talks to representatives of all four, starting with Leon Boyne (Dodgers) and Charlie Batho (Brewers) ahead of the NLDS, before bringing on George Martin (Astros) and some guy called Tom Pringle (Red Sox). They discuss the Divisional Series results, the most nervous and confident moments, the prospects for the Championship Series, and predict each team's unlikely hero.

It's playoff season, and that means it's time for some more ill-advised predictions from the gang. Russell, Ben, and Darius go through the entire playoff bracket and put together the official Bat Flips and Nerds predictions, with some pre-recorded input from Tom and John. Will Rocktober last more than three hours? Can the Brewers overcome their thin rotation? Is anyone good enough to beat the Red Sox? Will Aaron Boone use himself to pinch-hit? It's all here, and much more...

The Rays have had such an unusual season that we enlist specialist help to discuss them, in the form of regular Rays expert Rob Noverraz. Rob, Ben, and Darius discuss the experience and effectiveness of the opener, if the fanbase is on board with the strategy, and whether trading star players has actually helped them. There is a check in on Ben's health after a remarkable week which has put his Rockies atop the NL West again, and receive an extremely vehement response on the topic of whether they can hang on. Listener questions follow, with some mathematical debate over how likely it is that the Red Sox and Yankees would both fail to reach the ALCS, the recent call-ups that have impressed the guys the most, which teams will start rebuilding this offseason, whether Carlos Correa will return to form, and last year's stand-outs who have failed to impress in 2018.

Tom and Darius talk their way through the race for the NL West and the NL Wildcard.

Tom waxes lyrical about the Padres future, Darius has little gloom for the Giants future, then the guys work together through the rest of the NL West.

Tom once again makes a stupid bet, offends the Astros fanbase and laughs at his own idiocy.

Darius refuses to offend fanbases and continues to convince Tom into his way of thinking (Kershaw).

With the announcement of David Wright's impending retirement, John quizzes Ben and Darius about Wright's career and whether the Mets third baseman will end up in the Hall of Fame. They debate the likely Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and MVP winners, allowing John to make his Shohei Ohtani case for RoY. Questions follow on the worst deadline trade, where the Nationals will go from here, the most depressing team to follow next season, which unique team rules they'd impose, and much more.

Russell Eassom and Darius give the listeners (well, at least two of them, anyway) what they want with an exclusively stat-focused listener question show. Questions answered range from 'what is a good batting average?' to 'FanGraphs or Baseball Reference WAR?', with a whole lot more on their favourite stats, the limitations of defensive metrics, combining the human and analytical side of the game, and what stats they would like to see on a broadcast.

Sabermetric Starter Cards: http://www.banishedtothepen.com/saber-starter/

Russell's latest piece on the Rays: http://batflipsandnerds.com/2018/08/27/the-rays-are-breaking-baseball-records/

John and Darius discuss the storming Oakland As, the end of the affair in Washington and the latest on MLB London. John also finds time for another rant, this one focussed on Red Sox all-timer and awful human, Carl Yastrzemski.