Caught Listening

This week on Caught Listening, Christian Heimall dedicates the entire show to listener questions! From analytics and sabremetrics, to Clayton Kershaw's legacy as a postseason pitcher, he heads to the listener line for topics to discuss.

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the United States, one of the most unanswerable questions is how long will it last? With that question comes the potential impact of early 2021 sports, including collegiate baseball. This week on Caught Listening, Christian dives in to the topic and how some programs are preparing for the unknown.

Joining Christian is John Russo, head baseball coach at Hofstra University in New York. The two discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the Pride baseball team, including those seniors who had their 2020 campaigns cut short. Christian and Coach Russo talk about everything from how the pandemic has adjusted recruiting, in-person practices, scheduling, and roster management for next season.

Being that it is Christian's alma mater, they also talk about Hofstra's turnaround in a competitive conference over the last decade. Be sure to search "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to be a part of our next episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

As Major League Baseball enters the postseason, the sport itself is entering uncharted waters. For the first time since 1993, there is no Professional Baseball Agreement between the MLB and it's Minor League Affiliates. However, that hasn't stopped Commissioner Rob Manfred from moving forward on his vision for MLB to control much of the sport of baseball in America.

This week on Caught Listening, Christian Heimall is joined by Baseball America's Executive Editor, JJ Cooper, to discuss Manfred's goal of "One Baseball", a system that can see MLB direct much of how the sport operates from the professional level all the way down to Little League. From announcements regarding professional Partner Leagues to the reasoning behind this movement, and even how the sport of softball could be impacted; Christian and JJ dive in to what could be the future of America's favorite pastime.

JJ also discusses the two separate paths baseball could be on should this vision become reality and whether or not it is good for the future of the sport. Be sure to search "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to be a part of our next episode. You can also email the show at [email protected]

Our four-part series on baseball's unwritten rules wraps up by talking to the one player this subject seems to revolve around: the pitcher. Join Christian Heimall on Caught Listening as he talks with a former Major Leaguer on how and when certain rules are broken and the discussions that happen in the dugout.

It's not just any Major Leaguer either joining the show. The 1987 World Series MVP, and 1988 Cy Young Award winner, Frank Viola is on the program to give his thoughts on this controversial topic. How does he perceive the notion that many of the rules are made to protect a pitchers ego? When does a position player go to far? What happens when the opposing pitcher instigates something and what scenarios make the unwritten rules go away? Plus, Frank lends his thoughts on how the way players police these rules has changed from his time as a player, to now as a profesisonal pitching coach.

Frank also takes your listener questions including his favorite Tom Seaver story. Be sure to search "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also email the show at [email protected]

The discussion on baseball's unwritten rules continues as Part 3 gets insight from a former Major Leaguer, and current professional player, on Caught Listening.

Christian Heimall is joined by former Oakland Athletics infielder Tyler Ladendorf, who is currently playing for the Chicago Dogs of the independent American Association. As one of the few pro baseball players able to get on the field in 2020, Christian starts off asking what kind of differences there are this year compared to prior seasons. He also discusses how he learned about the unwritten rules and if the dynamic of them change from minor leagues to the majors. As a player who has been to the bigs this decade, how have things changed in the clubhouse and on the field for today's game? Tune in to find out.

Tyler also takes your listener questions which you can submit any time via social media. Be sure to search "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also email the show at [email protected]

This week on Caught Listening it's part two of our four-part series on baseball's unwritten rules. In part two, Christian Heimall sits down with a manager with more than 20 years of experience leading the guys who have to abide by those missives.

Joining him is Jamie Keefe, professional baseball manager and former Minor League player, who has almost 30 years of experience in professional baseball. The two talk about how the rules have changed, how and where they get taught to young players, and the way in which the game gets policed. While touching on topics of today like Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Aroldis Chapman, they also look at the way the evolution of the game has influenced those rules and how they get enforced.

Jamie also takes your listener questions, including answering whether or not a manager makes the call on throwing at an opposing hitter.Be a part of next week's show, or any show, by searching "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also email the show at [email protected]

Every year in baseball a hitter flips his bat or admires a home run and is admonished for breaking one of baseball's "sacred" unwritten rules. These rules have been challenged by many and spark a fire in most, but what really are these rules? Join Christian Heimall as he begins a four-part series on Caught Listening all about these polorizing rules of the game.

Joining him for Part One is Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and MLB Network. The veteran reporter wrote down some of these unwritten requirements and chats with Christian about the perceived validity of them, the exact way to recognize them, and how the perception of these rules have changed. From the reason why these rules keep getting challenged to the ones that make the least amount of sense, Christian and Anthony do their best to flush out the real issues behind these missives.

They also play a game of "Pepper" where Anthony answers your listener questions, submitted on social media. Be a part of next week's show, or any show, by searching "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also email the show at [email protected]

We can all agree that 2020 is a strange year. The evidence is even available in Major League Baseball games where doubleheaders are seven innings and runners start at second base in extra innings. But how much weirder can MLB rules get? This week on Caught Listening, Christian explores just that.

Joining him is Ryan Fagan of Sporting News who is bringing some slow-pitch softball rules in to the mix. Everything from even more bizzare extra inning rules to scoring more runs for longer home runs, it's all on the table on this episode. Ryan and Christian discuss some of the stranger things they've seen, including one rule from youth baseball that they both kind of like, and even talk about some of the newer MLB rules they don't mind sticking around.

Ryan also answers your listener questions, submitted on social media. You can be a part of the show and ask your question, or suggest a show topic, by searching "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also email the show at [email protected]

Following last week's discussion on the idea of bringing Major League Baseball to Nashville, Tennessee, Caught Listening explores other possible areas of MLB Expansion. Take listen as Christian Heimall chats about seven other potential locations for a new MLB team to surface.

Joining him this week on the show is Daniel R. Epstein, writer for Baseball FYI, Baseball Prospectus, and Off The Bench Baseball. Together two two discuss the merits of cities such as Portland, Oregon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Las Vegas, and even Mexico City. From travel arrangements to baseball history, the guys talk about where they would most like to see a new team and which city has the best chance of landing the next franchise. Daniel also gives his thoughts on how you could realign the two leagues with two new franchises and how a potential expansion could impact interleague play.

Don't forget, you can be a part of the show each and every week by submitting your questions or show topic suggestions on social media. Just search "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or email [email protected].

As the Major League Baseball season gets in to full swing, one city in America has been putting on an all out assault on garnering rights to a new MLB franchise. This week on Caught Listening, learn more about the efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the budding sports city of Nashville, Tennessee.

Christian Heimall is joined by Bob Kendrick, President of Negro League Baseball Museum and a member of the Board of Directors of Music City Baseball, to talk about the potential franchise. Music City Baseball is comprised of some legends of the sport, and some of the biggest names that Nashville has to offer. Designs for a stadium, the name, and logo are already in place. Now, it's up to the city and the MLB to bring the worlds best baseball players to one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Tune in to to hear who is involved, how you can support them, and just how historic the Nashville Stars could be if granted MLB rights.

Don't forget, you can be a part of the show each and every week by submitting your questions or show topic suggestions on social media. Just search "Caught Listening by Public House Media" on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or email [email protected].