Bob Costas makes a return visit to Starkville before the MLB postseason starts. Jayson and Doug get his take on the 2020 season and what expanded playoffs should look like moving forward. Bob also explains why fans think broadcasters hate their teams before putting the current state of the game into historic perspective.

Also in this episode, a Ron Gardenhire inspired trivia question and our weekly Strange But True segment featuring a Yankees big inning and an unlikely intentional walk.

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst
Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville
Follow Evil Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster
Follow Austin Gates on Twitter: @Extollllllll
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Expanding MLB's postseason with Bob Costas

Destination: Starkville! Join Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville as they dive into the beauty of our national pastime, from the biggest stories to the minutiae that makes baseball so quirky and fun. And yes, there will be trivia!

Sports

Baseball

Starting the week of March 29th, Starkville is moving. Jayson and Doug will bring you the same great baseball talk, guests, and trivia that you've come to expect as part of The Athletic Baseball Show. Head on over and subscribe now. In addition to Starkville, the Baseball Show will feature Ken Rosenthal, Hunter Pence, Keith Law, Grant Brisbee and Derek VanRiper. Navigate to the links below...
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-athletic-baseball-show-a-show-about-mlb/id1558220009
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4TovFTucYh4BtSCDGenO1k?si=XZiAT84PQiaSw2wsa2moEg
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We're moving Starkville (The whole town!)

Baseball's virtual Winter Meetings are here and so is college basketball season so who better to talk Rays baseball and hoops than the one and only Dick Vitale! Dickie V laments the Rays pulling Blake Snell from Game 6 but confirms hit commitment to Tampa Bay baseball. He explains what he misses most while calling college games from home and he shares some life lessons that have helped him along the way.

In honor of Dick, Jayson and Doug attempt to tackle some basketball trivia and discuss baseball's Winter Meetings which have gone virtual this year.

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst
Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville
Follow Dickie V on Twitter: @DickieV
Follow Michael Model on Twitter: @mhlmdl
Follow Evil Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster
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Dick Vitale on the Rays, what he's missing this college hoops season and why he's so dedicated to battling childhood cancer

Things are heating up in Starkville for the Hot Stove season and Ken Rosenthal visits to get us ready for all the major storylines.

-Predicting this week's BBWAA Awards
-Will free agency be a "blood bath" for middle class?
-How will Steve Cohen factor into the market for Springer, Bauer and Realuto?
-Will the Indians finally trade Francisco Lindor?
-Could the Rockies move Nolan Arenado?
-Will the Cubs breakup their championship core?
-Plus... Hot Stove over/under

Jayson and Doug couldn't play listener trivia without paying tribute to the great Alex Trebek. Three-time Jeopardy champion and Giants reporter at The Athletic, Andrew Baggarly joins the show to share his memories.

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst
Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville
Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_Rosenthal
Follow Andrew Baggarly on Twitter: @extrabaggs
Follow Evil Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster
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Ken Rosenthal sets up the Hot Stove season, and three-time Jeopardy champion Andrew Baggarly remembers Alex Trebek

Orel Hershiser guided the 1988 Dodgers to a World Series title and watched as a club broadcaster as they did it again 32 years later. Who better to visit Starkville this week:

6:45 - Orel remembers 1988 and one of the greatest seasons a pitcher has ever had
18:40 - Why the Rays should have ignored the analytics with Blake Snell
31:10 - Justin Turner's decision to leave quarantine to celebrate on the field after testing positive for COVID-19
33:03 - What does this mean for Clayton Kershaw's legacy
37:45 - What Mookie Betts meant to this team
42:00 - Sport and baseball as a conduit for change in America
50:30 - The future of the Dodgers
53:00 - 1988 Dodgers trivia

After the interview, Jayson and Doug take a shot at listener trivia and look back at the World Series' Strange but True moments.

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst
Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville
Follow Orel Hershiser on Twitter: @OrelHershiser
Follow Evil Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster
Follow Jeffrey Gao on Twitter: @LIBOR_and_taxes
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Orel Hershiser on the 2020 Dodgers, the 1988 Dodgers and much more

David Price was drafted by Rays and helped get Tampa Bay to the World Series in 2008. Twelve years later, Price finds himself with the Dodgers as they take on the Rays in the World Series. What a perfect guest to get us ready for the Fall Classic.

6:15 - His decision to opt out of the 2020 season
11:00 - Mookie Betts the player, the teammate, the person
14:10 - The trade that sent Price and Betts to Los Angeles
18:00 - Dodgers president of baseball ops Andrew Friedman's impact on the Rays organization
20:25 - The changing role of starting pitchers
29:20 - Know your Dodgers/Rays trivia

After the interview, Jayson and Doug take a shot at listener trivia with John Fisher, make their World Series picks and look back at last week's Strange but True moments.

Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonst
Follow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanville
Follow David Price on Twitter: @DAVIDprice24
Follow Evil Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster
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Expanding MLB's postseason with Bob Costas

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