Fall Classic Rewind

American League Championship Series Recap

Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are going back to the World Series. After falling behind in the series after game three (and waiting out the rain), the AL’s top team stormed back and finished off Cleveland in six games. The starters did their jobs, the bullpen was near perfect, and the big bats in their lineup, Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Camineiro, finally came alive. They’ll be taking on the Brewers, with a shot at their first World Series trophy on the line.

CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus

TBR Radio WDAE 620 AM - Andy Freed and Neil Solondz

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

Jolly Orange Giant

NLCS Recap - Games Three and Four

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Turnabout is fair play. Revenge is a dish best served cold. An eye for an eye. Name your cliche about retribution, and these Milwaukee Brewers will pay it in spades to the Dodgers. A four game sweep! With multiple come from behind wins and too many heroes to count. What a ride for the Brew Crew, taking their first ever NL Pennant, back in the World Series for the first time since ’82.

LAD Radio AM 570- Charlie Steiner* and Rick Monday

MIL Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Lane Grindle, and Josh Maurer

Audio Clips from MLB.tv 

- Jolly Orange Giant

Championship Series Recaps

We’re down to our final four, with trips to the World Series on the line. Let’s recap the first two games of each series as we the teams travel across country.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers

A rematch of last year’s NLCS, but this one’s got a much different feel. While there is a David vs. Goliath narrative, don’t be fooled. The Brewers are a fantastic team. They won 103 games, and while their series against San Diego was tight, they won convincingly. It’ll take a much better effort than the previous year, but Pat Murphy’s squad is more than up to the challenge.

Dave Roberts’ Dodgers are angling for a three-peat, and they know that this year will be the hardest yet. They’ll be up against the lanky fireballer Jacob Misiorowski in game one, and then Logan Henderson (who was also excellent this year) in game two. The Dodgers will counter with their two best arms, Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Skubal’s never lost a game one, and Yamamoto’s never lost on the road. And the Brewers have never won an NL pennant. Perhaps this year is for something new.

LAD Radio AM 570- Stephen Nelson* and Rick Monday

MIL Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Lane Grindle, and Josh Maurer

Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Cleveland fought all the way back from a 2-0 deficit against Chicago, and behind heroic efforts from Jose Ramirez and Gavin Williams, they’re moving on to face the AL’s best, Tampa. The Rays have been awaiting their opponent, and they’ll send their best arms for games one and two: Drew Rasmussen, who was untouchable against New York, and Freddy Peralta, who was effective, albeit in a short outing. The Cleveland bats had been silent, but they awoke with a vengeance in the final three games. If they can hit, we know their pitching staff is up to the task. Trade deadline acquisition Foster Griffin gets the ball in game one, with AL ROY favorite Parker Messick toeing the slab in game two. Stephen Vogt will not be afraid to go to the pen early, as they were quite effective down the stretch.

CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus

TBR Radio WDAE 620 AM - Andy Freed and Neil Solondz

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

Jolly Orange Giant

2026 National League Division Series

Recaps of Games Three and Four

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves - Games Three and Four

With the series knotted at a game apiece, it’ll be a battle of the aces in game three. Chris Sale vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto. It’ll also be a homecoming of sorts for Freddie Freeman, whose last playoff series in Atlanta was the World Series in 2021. Also be on the lookout for the ever dangerous Kiké Hernandez, who will get the start against the lefty. In game four, it’ll the battle of the Tylers, Glasnow vs. Mahle. Can the Braves get this series back to LA, or will the Dodgers continue their quest for a three peat 

ATL Radio The Fan - Ben Ingram and Joe Simpson

LAD Radio AM 570- Stephen Nelson* and Rick Monday

Milwaukee Brewers @ San Diego Padres - Games Three and Four

The Brewers took game two in thrilling fashion, and the Padres will be without star closer Mason Miller in game three (due to the birth of his child, congrats to the Millers!) We know the Petco Park crowd will be rowdy, can the Friars extend the series? And even if they do, will they force a game five, or will the Brewers return to the NLCS.

SDP Radio KWFN - Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn, Jr.

MIL Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Lane Grindle, and Josh Maurer

Audio clips from MLB.tv

Catch you next time,

Jolly Orange Giant

2026 Division Series Recap

Cleveland Guardians @ Chicago White Sox - Games Three and Four

For the first time since 2021, the Southside will host a playoff game. And they stand right on the verge of clinching at home for the first time in forever. It will be a challenge, as Cleveland is not easy to put away. These games have been close and if Jose Ramirez can somehow, someway redevelop his MVP caliber form, don’t be shocked if we find ourselves back in Cleveland for a winner-take-all game five.

CHW Radio WMVP - Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson

CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus

Tampa Bay Rays @ New York Yankees - Game Three

The Rays are on the verge of eliminating their division foes, but the Yanks won’t go down without a fight. Max Fried gets the ball for game three, and Anthony Volpe is back in the lineup to try and provide a much needed spark. Nick Martinez gets the ball for Tampa, but it will be a team effort as always for Kevin Cash’s club. Can they get the job done in the Bronx?

TBR Radio WDAE 620 AM - Andy Freed and Neil Solondz

NYY Radio WFAN - Dave Sims and Suzyn Waldman

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

Jolly Orange Giant

2026 ALDS Game 1 & 2

Before we head to Chicago and New York for Game three, let’s check in on the American League Division Series.

Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland Guardians

The White Sox led the AL Central for much of the season, but once again, Steven Vogt’s Guardians chased down a division rival to take the crown for the third consecutive year. And just like each of the previous years, they will have to face that division rival in the playoffs. Cleveland will have the pitching advantage heading in, as AL ROY favorite Parker Messick will get the ball in game one, with AL strikeout leader Gavin Williams following in game two. 

Will Venable’s squad is unafraid of this moment, and they are quite familiar with Cleveland. It isn’t always pretty, but there boys just keep finding a way. And if Japanese slugger Munetaka Murikami can rediscover his powerful stroke, look out! The Southside is dangerous!

CHW Radio WMVP - Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson

CLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus

New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays

The Yanks are flying high after trouncing the Red Sox, but they’ll have their work cut out for them against the Rays. Kevin Cash’s club ran away with the division and the AL’s best record, and what they lack in star power, they more than make up for in execution. But don’t get it twisted, Junior Caminero is an absolute stud, Drew Rasmussen is a bonafide ace, and for the first time perhaps ever, the Trop is BUMPING! These guys will not be intimidated.

TBR Radio WDAE 620 AM - Andy Freed and Neil Solondz

NYY Radio WFAN - Dave Sims and Suzyn Waldman

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

Jolly Orange Giant

2026 National League Division Series

Before the game threes tonight, let’s quickly recap how the NLDS games have gone so far.

Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers - Games 1 and 2

Familiar foes face off again, and the Braves appear to begin this series behind the 8-ball. By using ace Chris Sale in relief to close out the Wild Card, Atlanta won’t have him available until at least game three. That means manager Walt Weiss is forced to open this series with consecutive bullpen games. Not ideal in any series, even less so given who they’re facing. 

The two time defending World Series champion Dodgers are loaded. Despite being without Shohei Ohtani on the mound, they still will send 2X Cy Young Tarik Skubal to the mound in game one, 2X Cy Young Blake Snell in game two… oh and last year’s WSMVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto for game three. But baseball’s not played on paper, it’s decided between the lines and in the batter’s box. Atlanta will need to drag LA into a fight, and that’s exactly what they’re gonna do.

ATL Radio The Fan - Ben Ingram and Joe Simpson

LAD Radio AM 570- Charley Steiner and Rick Monday

San Diego Padres @ Milwaukee Brewers - Games 1 and 2

How do they keep doing this? The Brewers took their third consecutive NL Central crown, putting up their best regular season ever with 103 wins! They have the presumptive NL Cy Young in Jacob Misiorowski, young stars in Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio, dependable veterans in Christian Yelich and William Contreras (who’s a vet by this point), and a stable full of options for one of the best managers in baseball, Pat Murphy. All of the regular season success is great and all, but what the Milwaukee faithful need is for it to translate to the playoffs. 

Standing in their way are the Padres, under first year manager Craig Stammen. They’ve got star power, they’ve got passion, and they have the weapons at the back end to rival anyone. They eased past the Cubs, but expect the Brew Crew to mount much more of a challenge.

SDP Radio KWFN - Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn, Jr.

MIL Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Lane Grindle, and Josh Maurer

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.S. the 20 mile run was a success. I’m now doing what’s called a ‘taper’ slightly reducing the miles to recover before the marathon in less than 20 days!

2026 Wild Card Round Recap

The Postseason is here, and the fireworks have already started. We’ll cover the highlights from the early round action, and preview the division series matchups.

Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves

For the third time in the last five seasons, the Braves and Phillies match up again in the playoffs. Despite winning the division in ’22 and ’23, the Braves came up short against their bitter division rival. Things may be different this time around, as the Philadelphia core is aging, and more importantly, the Phillies limped into the playoffs. Let’s see if they can rediscover their old playoff magic, or if the Braves can finally push past them.

ATL Radio - 680 The Fan: Ben Ingram and Joe Simpson

PHI Radio - 94.1 WIP: Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Kevin Stocker

Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros

Just two years after losing more game than anyone in baseball history, postseason baseball has returned to the Southside. Call it luck, smart development, or the Pope’s Blessing, it’s great to see the White Sox relevant once again. The Astros are back in the playoffs, but this ain’t the team we’re used to seeing. Don’t be fooled by Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, or presumptive AL MVP Yordan Alvarez, this team’s a mess.

CHW Radio - WMVP: Len Kasper and Darrin Jackson

Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

Let’s do this thing again. Just like last year, and many, many times before, Boston and New York face off. While the Sox looked like an ascendant team earlier this year after firing Alex Cora, they have cooled off significantly down the stretch. And even though the Yanks won’t have Aaron Judge, they’re gonna be tough to beat. They’ve got the arms (Schlitter, Fried, Cole, Bednar), they’ve got the bats (lefty or righty), and they’ve got the Bronx Zoo. If Boston’s starters can keep it close, they’ll have a chance. But if they don’t go deep, Aaron Boone has the tools at his disposal to punish any bullpen.

NYY Radio - WFAN: Dave Sims and Suzyn Waldman

Chicago Cubs @ San Diego Padres

Yet another rematch, but this time the Padres have home field advantage. The Cubs boast the best offense in baseball, led by breakout superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Padres can swing it too, and unlike the Cubbies, they actually have a strong pitching staff. Many have picked Chicago as an NL favorite, but don’t sleep on San Deigo, and definitely do not underestimate their raucous crowd.

SDP Radio - 97.3 FM: Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn, Jr.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.S. I’m currently training to run a marathon this month (the Marine Corps Marathon in DC on October 25th!). That’s why I’ve been on hiatus for so long, though I do plan to cover this year’s playoffs, just not as many episodes as usual. Stay tuned!

You can follow my marathon training progress on Instagram - @jolly_orangegiant

2026 BBWAA HOF Ballot

In a bit of a surprise, the Contemporary Era Committee selected Jeff Kent to the Hall of Fame last month. He will join the likes of Rogers Hornsby, Nellie Fox, Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg, Jackie Robinson, and other MVP second baseman to earn enshrinement (Jose Altuve will join this list in the future, though another player on this year’s writers’ ballot is a long shot.) Dale Murphy, Carlos Delgado, and Don Mattingly all received more than six votes, and the rest of the candidates received fewer than five, meaning they are ineligible to be on the next ballot in three years. For Clemens, Bonds, and Sheffield, that result was not too surprising given their alleged PED use.

This coming Tuesday, January 20th, the results from the BBWAA ballot will be revealed, and we will find out who will join Jeff Kent in Cooperstown this year. Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones appear to be in strong position for election this year. Chase Utley and Felix Hernández are the big climbers, and Cole Hamels looks to haver a strong debut on the ballot. We will break down the candidacies (or lack thereof) for the newcomers to the ballot, as well as our predictions for who, if any, will make it this year.

Audio clips from MLB.tv

Howie Kendrick’s Clutch Homers - WJFK Eats Radio - Dave Jageler and Charlie Slowes

Alex Gordon’s WS HR - FOX - Hall of Fame Joe Buck, Tom Verducci

Edwin Encarnacion’s Walk-off - TBS - Ernie Johnson

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.

Contemporary Era Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot

With Winter Meetings under way in Orlando, it’s once again time to talk about the Hall of Fame. Eight players are on the ballot for Contemporary Era: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, and Fernando Valenzuela. Results of the committee vote will be released Sunday 12/7 at 7:30 pm ET. In this episode, we will discuss the cases for each of these worthy candidate. We’ll explain who we’d personally vote for, and then try to predict who, if anybody, will be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Audio clips from MLB.com

Valenzuela’s CG in ’81 WS - ABC Howard Cosell and Al Michaels

Valenzuela’s No-hitter in ’90 - LAD Vin Scully

Murphy’s 300th Homer - Turner

Mattingly’s ALDS in ’95 - ESPN Gary Thorne

Delgado’s 4 HR day - TOR

Kent’s NLCS Walk-off - HOU Milo Hamilton

Sheffield’s 500th HR - SNY Gary Cohen

As always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.

Catch you next time,

P.C.O.