Seriously. We're asking. Our philosophers ponder the role of the manager: what qualities are the most important? Why have Kaplar and Melvin both failed to get this team over the mediocrity hump? Are they just filling out the the lineup card incorrectly?

On the cocktail side of things Ben is drinking a Proto-Punch while Matthew is drinking a Pink Flamingo. Recipes below.

• 1 1/2 oz Congac
• 1 1/2 oz Bourbon
• 1 oz Lemon juice
• 2 oz of Oleo Saccharum syrup (or less, try less)
• 4 oz of club soda
• Combine the congac, bourbon, lemon juice and oleo saccharum syrup in a highball with no ice. Stir well to combine. Add ice and top with the club soda. You can also scale this up to larger quantities by keeping the ratios the same, but in that case you should combine and pre-chill the first four ingredients. When you’re ready to serve have guests or your future self add the club soda themselves.

• 1 1/2 oz White Rum
• 1/2 oz Dark Rum
• 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
• 1/2 oz Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Plum Syrup (or Grenadine)
• 1/4 oz Demerara Syrup (if plum syrup is too tart)
• Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass.

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking an Apple of My Eye while Ben is drinking ... It's Just Lemonade ... Surprise! . Recipes below.

• 1 1/2 oz Apple Brandy
• 1 oz Bourbon or Rye
• 3/4 oz Apple Spiced Demerara Syrup
• 1/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
• Shake all ingredients with ice until well-chilled. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon.

• 2 oz Gin
• 1 1/2 oz - 2 oz Lemon juice syrup (50/50 lemon juice and water)
• 1 dash Lemon bitters (optional)
• 4-6 oz Club soda
• Add gin and lemon juice syrup, and lemon bitters to a highball glass and stir to combine. Fill the glass with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with floating brandied cherries and lemon wedge if desired.

There can be only one ... Bob. The brothers break down the dismissal of manage Bob Melvin. Were they surprised? Do they agree? What kind of manager do they want to replace him?

They took a minute or two to make simple cocktails, Matthew is drinking and Old Fashioned while Ben is drinking a Gin & Ginger Beer. Recipes below.

• 2 oz bourbon
• ¾ oz demerara gum syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Orange peel (for garnish)
• Luxardo cherry (for garnish)
• Combine bourbon, demerara gum syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Express the oil from an orange peel over the drink. Garnish with the orange peel and a Luxardo cherry.

• 2 oz London dry gin
• 3-4 oz Ginger beer
• 7 Brandied cherries for garnish
• Add gin a four cherries to an empty high ball glass. Fill glass with ice. Top with ginger beer and remaining cherries.

#ripgin #youcrankyoldbattleaxe

We'll call it ... the Negroni. Our theme park enthusiasts take stock of the 2025 season: predictions are reviewed, milestones are celebrated, tears of sorrow and tears of relief are shed over a bright red cocktail. Then they ask each other the big questions: Was this season good or bad? Should Bob Melvin be fired or retained? Did Buster make any mistakes? Can he make mistake? One thing is clear, no ERT for these thoosies; one ride on the Negroni was enough. Hit the dispatch music, Bob!

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Negroni because he lost the bet while Matthew is drinking The Fitzgerald to taunt Ben. Recipes below.

• 1 1/2 oz London dry gin
• 1 1/2 oz Sweet vermouth
• 1 1/2 oz Campari
• Orange twist for garnish
• Combine the gin, vermouth and Campari in a mixing glass with ice and stir to desired dilution. Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass and carefully add a single large chunk of ice. Express the orange twist over the glass and drop into the glass. Then trick your brother into a bet where he has to drink it.

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz simple syrup
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters (Matthew's stamp)
• Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake 10-12 seconds. Double strain into a coupe glass.

#doitforginny

The Giants are playing meaningless games, but the Negroni watch is still on. Our Campari haters break down the Cardinals series in which the old rivals eliminated each other from the playoffs. Then they break down the playoffs and pick who they want to win and who they think will win.

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking ----- while Ben is drinking ------. Recipes below.

• 1 1/2 oz Gracia A Dios Receta Oaxaqueña Gin
• 3/4 oz Oaxacan Hot Honey Syrup (1:1 ratio)
• 3/4 oz Lime Juice
• Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice, shake until chilled, and strain into a stemmed cocktail glass.

• 1 part lime juice
• 2 parts cinnamon & clove syrup
• 3 parts Demerara rum
• 4 parts Cloudy apple cider
• Combine all of the ingredients in a vessel and stir to combine. Refrigerate until chilled. Serve over ice.

#doitforginny

More liquor! Our mourners manage their grief as they break down the decisive Dodgers series: Eldridge breaks through, the Giants run out of pitching, and McDonald shuts 'em down (wait, who?). Then they discuss the biggest need for next year ... and not it's not offense.

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Three Rum Double while Matthew is drinking Lilywhacker. Recipes below.

• 2 oz Overproof rum (FTD)
• 2 oz Demerara rum
• 0.5 oz 151 rum
• 1 oz mango juice
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz honey syrup
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• Combine juices, honey syrup, grenadine and overproof and Demerara rums in a shaker with ice. Shake until chilled. Strain into a ice filled hurricane glass. Float the 151 rum on top. Sip with a friend.

• 2 oz Apple brandy - I am using Ambix Apple Brandy out of Sebastopol
• 3/4 oz Sweet Vermouth
• 1/2 oz Cointreau
• 2 dashes chocolate bitters
• Stir all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish is optional but an orange twist would be nice.

#doitforginny

High hopes, low expectations. Our inebriates review the underwhelming dbag series and then review the various highs and lows of the 2025 season.

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking Hibiscus Gin Sour while Ben is drinking Fall on Your Face Nut* Punch. Recipes below.

• 2 oz Gin
• 3/4 oz Lime Juice
• 3/4 oz Hibiscus-Rose Syrup
• Shake all ingredients with ice. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lime wheel.

• 1 part lemon juice
• 2 parts honey syrup
• 3 parts rye whiskey
• 1 part apple juice / cider
• 3 parts chilled black tea
• Combine ingredients in large vessel, chill, and serve over ice.
• * No nuts were harmed in the making of this punch.

#doitforginny

The Eldridge Knight is free! Our hosts guide their players characters through a breakdown of the disappointing LA series and then discuss what it will take for this team to make a meaningful run in the playoffs, which they will definitely make.

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Bitter Blue Blood while Matthew is drinking Cardamom & Banana. Recipes below.

• 1 oz Empress Indigo gin
• 1 oz Benedictine DOM
• 2-3 oz Tonic
• Lime wheel for garnish
• Combine gin and benedictine in a rocks glass with no ice and stir to combine. Fill with ice and top with tonic water. Drop in a lime wheel for garnish.

• 3/4 oz Rye Whiskey
• 3/4 oz Cognac or Brandy
• 1/4 oz Banana Liqueur
• 1/4 oz Cardamom Syrup
• 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters
• 4 drops Cardamom Bitters
• Mix all ingredients with ice until well-chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass. Twist a lemon peel over drink, rub it around rim of the glass, and drop in as a garnish.

#doitforginny

It sure seems like the Mets believe. Our believer and our sourpuss breakdown the dbags series before debating whether the Giants will actually make the playoffs. Matthew brings stats, good vibes and gumption to the debate and Ben brings ... well, himself. Do the Giants have enough starting pitching? Is the bullpen up for the task? Can we trust this offense?

Our cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Matthew is drinking an Apple Sauced while Ben is drinking a Fall Fashioned. Recipes below.

• 2 oz Bourbon
• 3/4 oz Maple Syrup
• 3/4 oz Lemon Juice
• 2 oz Hard Cider
• 1 pinch Cinnamon
• Shake the bourbon, lemon juice, and maple syrup with ice. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and top with cider. Sprinkle with cinnamon and garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple fan/slice (or both!)

• 2 1/2 oz Whisky
• 1/4 - 1/2 Cinnamon Clove Simple Syrup
• 2 dashes Paychaud’s (or Angostura) bitters
• Orage twist
• A lot of brandied cherries
• To make the cocktail, combine the whisky, syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Stir to you desired dilution. Strain into a rocks glass and add a single large chunk of ice. Express the twist over the glass, and drop in to the glass. Add your cherries on a cocktail pick, or just drop them in the glass too.
• To make the syrup, combine 1-2 cinnamon sticks and 3-7 cloves with 1 part water and 1 part in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and let it steep until cool.

#doitforginny

No puppies were diagnosed with rabies in the making of this episode. Our veterinarians break down the Cardinals series including the extension of the inexplicable reign of quality baseball before the sudden return of Verlandering and getting shut down by old pitchers. Then they celebrate the overwhelming personality of Drew Gilbert and how it has made the team more entertaining.

Our new cocktail podcast, The Perfect Sip, is on hiatus but new episodes are in production. (Yeah, it's taking a long time ... life, you know?) If you haven't listened yet, you can catch up here: https://the-perfect-sip.captivate.fm/listen

Speaking of cocktails, today Ben is drinking a Margaret is Not a Pornstar while Matthew is drinking Mr. Beard's Citrus Cooler. Recipes below.

• 1 1/2 oz Tequila
• 1/2 oz Licor 43
• 1/4 oz Passion fruit liqueur
• 1/2 oz Lime juice
• 2 jalapeno coins
• Muddle the jalapeno coins in a shaker mixing tin or glass. Add the remaining ingredients and ice and shake until well chilled. Double strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.

• 1 1/2 oz Gin (or Vodka)
• 3/4 Limoncello
• 1 oz Lemon Juice
• 3/4 oz Simple Syrup (or Oleo Saccharum)
• 4 oz Sparkling Water
• Build in the glass in the order of appearance into an ice-filled glass. Garnish with lemon slices and freshly-slapped mint leaves.

#doitforginny