Passed Ball Show

PASSED BALL SHOW #113 12/30/2013 Part 1 WITH VANCE LAW; I open up by mourning the passing of former Orioles CF Paul Blair. I segway into a discussion about the favorites to land free agent RHP Masahiro Tanaka. I then play my interview with former MLB 3B Vance Law. Vance was the son of former Pirates RHP Vern Law and played for the Pirates, White Sox, Cubs, Expos and Athletics. I finish off my mentioning some pitchers that few are talking about and the impacts they may have

PASSED BALL SHOW #112 12/24/2013 Part 2 WITH MATT NOKES AND WAYNE ROSENTHAL; I open up by explaining my sudden optimism about the Mets signing free agent SS Stephen Drew. I then get into my comparison to the negative impact Jordany Valdespin had on the Mets to that of a similar situation with Gregg Jefferies. I then play my interview with former Tigers and Yankees catcher Matt Nokes, as Matt talks about his observations on all the dynamics of a swing. I then speak with Miami Marlins pitching coordinator Wayne Rosenthal about his MLB experience as a pitcher and what he has done teaching pitchers as they come up through the minor league system. Wayne was also the Florida Marlins pitching coach in 2003 when they won the World Series

PASSED BALL SHOW #112 12/24/2013 Part 1 WITH BRIAN SANCHES; I open up with sending my condolences to Ed Herrmann's family after his recent passing and talk about my connection with the baseball players I have spoken with. I then play my interview with former Phillies, Marlins and Royals RHP Brian Sanches, talking about his commitment to get back on a MLB team. I then talk about the Ryan Doumit trade and its implications on Evan Gattis' future as the Braves starting catcher. I fiish off by announcing my first annual NMA, given to the biggest MLB bonehead of the 2013 season

PASSED BALL SHOW #111 12/17/2013 Part 2 WITH CHUCK MCELROY AND JERRY SPRADLIN; I start by playing my interview with former Phillies, Cubs, Rockies, Mets (among other teams) LHP Chuck McElroy. He talks about coming up as a MLB reliever and the differences in his uses from when he came up to when he finished his career. He also started a baseball tutorial website annd his son, CJ was recently drafted by the St Louis Cardinals. I then play my interview with former Phillies, Reds, Indians and Giants RHP Jerry Spradlin. Jerry came up with the Reds and talks about his opportunity to learn from some of the games best late inning relievers. I finish off by talking about Carl Erskine, two sport professional athletes and continue my discussion about the history of MLBs expansion drafts. Finally, I conclude why Seattle lost its Pilots baseball team after just one season

PASSED BALL SHOW #111 12/17/2013 Part 1 WITH GREGG ZAUN AND JIM MECIR; I open up by discussing the Yankees recent signing of 2B Brian Roberts and exactly what type of player the team is getting. I talk about how some teams like Houston and the Chicago Cubs may become bigger spenders when some of their younger players start to develop. Then, I talk about why it makes sense for the Mets to keep Ike Davis right now. I then play my interview with longtime MLB catcher Gregg Zaun. Gregg talks about how the game changed before his eyes, why he stopped playing and what it was like having Rick Dempsey as an uncle. Gregg works for Sportsnet in Toronto covering the Blue Jays. I finish off my playing my interview with former Yankees, Devil Rays and Athletics RHP Jim Mecir. Jim mentions his foot condition that he had to overcome to be a major legue pitcher

PASSED BALL SHOW #110 12/12/2013 Part 2 WITH AARON SMALL, DAN COURY AND LANDIS WILSON; I open up by playing my interviews with up and coming pro catchers Landis Wilson and Dan Coury. I then get into the Prince Fielder trade and its impact on future trades. I talk then about the common players that played for the three new Hall of Fame managers Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre. I finish off by playing my interview with former Yankees, Athletics and Blue Jays RHP Aaron Small. We talk about his trials and tribulations of bouncing around from the minors to majors for 12 seasons and his 10-0 season for the Yankees in 20005

PASSED BALL SHOW #110 12/12/2013 Part 1 WITH NORMAN BERMAN AND HIRAM BOCACHICA; I open up by talking about how it was great and valuable for the Mets to sign RHP Bartolo Colon. I then play my interview with former 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers ball boy Norman Berman. He talks about his experiences as an aspiring young ballplayer and what he experienced as the ball boy meeting and playing cath with Jackie Robinson and others on that 1947 team. I then play my interview with former Dodgers, Athletics and Rockies OF Hiram Bocachica. He is now a sports agent

PASSED BALL SHOW #109 12/4/2013 Part 2 WITH TIM LEARY AND DAVE VAN HORNE; I open up by speaking with former Mets, Brewers, Dodgers and Yankees RHP Tim Leary about winning the 1988 World Series with the Dodgers, coming up with the Mets and playing for a couple of bad Yankees teams. Tim also started his own website to help start scholarships for high school players looking to excel in baseball. I then get into my annual Mets Black Friday value list, the career of Turkey Stearns and I recap the expansion drafts of the 1998 Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I finish off by speaking with longtime Montreal Expos broadcaster and current voice for the Miami Marlins Dave Van Horne. Dave broadcasted the first game in the history of the Expos franchise and was the 2011 recipient of the Ford C Frisk Award in Baseball's Hall of Fame

PASSED BALL SHOW #109 12/4/2013 Part 1 WITH FRED VALENTINE; I open up by recapping the Jacoby Ellsbury signing as well as the trades the Oakland Athletics made. I mention the Red Sox signing of AJ Pierzynski and how I like the Rays decision to trade for RHP Heath Bell. I show my doubts over whether the Mets will close the deal on OF Curtis Granderson. I then speak with former Orioles and Senators OF Fred Valentine about his playing career, playing in the minors in segregated areas in the south and how he started the MLBP Ulumni Association

PASSED BALL SHOW #108 11/30/2013 Part 2 WITH JIM "MUDCAT" GRANT, JOEL BENNETT AND WILSON CAICEDO; On hour 2, I keep up with my discussion with the Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot. I am then joined by longtime MLB pitcher Jim "Mudcat" Grant. He talks about rooming with his boyhood idol Larry Doby, finding out he was traded to Minnesota by the clubhouse attendant and finally getting his World Series ring with the Pirates from 1971. Jim was the first African American pitcher to win 20 games as well as the first to win a World Series game. Wilson joins me to talk about the Hall of Fame and the Yankees offseason. I finish off with my interview with former Phillies and Orioles RHP Joel Bennett