Passed Ball Show

1-18-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show by criticizing JK Dobbins for his comments after his team lost on Wild Card weekend. While John gets a grown man wanting the ball, Dobbins looked bad by ripping his team, a team in which (arguably) he has still not earned the number one running back spot. John believes the Baltimore Ravens should look to trade Dobbins for his comments alone. John also believes that Los Angeles Quarterback Justin Herbert deserves some of the blame for his team’s blowing of a 27-0 lead during their loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fans and the media will continue to spin it in a different direction, ie. blaming coaches, etc. There is no more accountable position on a NFL field than the QB and because of that, Herbert will be judged by his wins and not by his individual numbers. Herbert should be expected to not only lead his team to the playoffs in 2023, but to win playoff games. John takes another shot at soon to be former Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder for refusing to play while his team seeks a trade. With Devin Booker and Chris Paul, among others, out it would be a time for Crowder to show how much of a “leader” he is. He is called a “leader” but has bailed on his team when they need him the most. John finishes off the program with this day in sports history.

1-14-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by stating that if Brooklyn Nets Guard Ben Simmons premeditated intention was to not score for an entire game, his team needed to win said game for it to be a good look. John’s prolegomenal point of the program is centered around the Head Coaching position of the National Football League. John’s belief has been centered around the fact that because the NFL Head Coach is the most important from the standpoint of being “face of the franchise,” firing a coach after a year or two is a bad look. The New York Giants and Brian Daboll have put a wrinkle in John’s argument, as have Doug Pederson and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both coaches have proven the previous were the incorrect hires (obviously) but most importantly, proved that their predecessors were not right for the franchise. John explains the difference before talking about whether a coach such as Sean Payton can change the Denver Broncos and their fortune. John spends the rest of the program talking about Lamar Jackson and why his value to the Baltimore Ravens is higher to that of any other NFL franchise and compares it to Aaron Judge’s value to the New York Yankees. John still believes there is a racial undertone to NFL teams trusting black quarterbacks and head coaches, but does not believe this to be the case with Jackson and the Ravens. He finishes this show by stating he believes Jackson will remain in Baltimore and explains why.

1-10-2023 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about Black Monday and the National Football League, mainly the psychological “good place” fans are in if their favorite team’s coach gets fired. It is like a consolation prize for the team not making the playoffs, as if the coach is the only one to blame for the team not making the postseason. John gives a handful of reasons firing a coach is not always a good idea, especially after just one season. John then tries to place the now two time defending National Champion Quarterback Stetson Bennett into the NFL wondering how much of a chance he will get considering NFL teams obsession with the QB position. John explains why the Tampa Bay Rays are the right team to add Trevor Bauer and finishes off explaining why it is best for baseball that Carlos Correa signs with the Minnesota Twins.

1-7-2023 Passed Ball Show. In this brief episode, John takes a shot at star NBA guard Trae Young, declaring he might be what is holding the Atlanta Hawks back. John defends Hawks coach Nate McMillan and doubles down, claiming that Young will NEVER win a NBA Championship, comparing him (different players) to Russell Westbrook by stating he does make his team better. Instead, both are big on padding stats, Russ being Mr. Triple Double and Trae padding his scoring line. Next, John declares that Trevor Bauer will pitch for a MLB team THIS season and the fans for said team will still show up and root for the team he plays for. John believes that fans threaten to boycott their teams all the time but never follow through. Some might, but not enough to get a team to change their mind. Finally, John states the seriousness of cardiac infractions, and that there are 1,000 cases of cardiac arrest every day, over 90% of them fatal. John stands up for everybody that were not the sheep when it came to the Damar Hamlin moment of last Monday night. John states that you can BOTH care deeply about the young man, pray for his health, support him, and be compassionate AND question whether the NFL was right for cancelling the game and shutting the league down. John cites the fact that this decision was unprecedented and may have been done to appease a radical crowd- one of whom may be trying to silence free speech. John brings up Chuck Hughes, who died on the field for the Detroit Lions on October 24, 1971 in a game that was completed in its entirety. John then names six players who became paralyzed during a game that was then completed in its entirety.

12-28-2022 Passed Ball Show. In the final PBS broadcast of 2022, John wonders whether it is just Mets fans or whether other fans just expect the worst when it comes to things surrounding their favorite team. John now feels that somehow the Mets are going to back out of their deal with Carlos Correa. John reiterates his belief in Baker Mayfield and thinks he will be a starter in the NFL next season. Russell Wilson deserves blame for the embarrassing season the Denver Broncos are having. John suggests a contingency plan for the Broncos in the near future in case Russ is “Cooked.” With the possibilities of two (2) NFL divisions getting a postseason berth (a home playoff game) with a losing record, John suggests a reformatting of the playoff grid to give the team with the better record a hone playoff game. Finally, John criticizes the NBA media, and the players for taking the bait, when it comes to selfish NBA stat lines.

Passed Ball Show #103 10-22-2013 Part 2 with Todd Greene, John spends this program talking about America's Pasttime and shares his interview with former MLB catcher Todd Greene

Passed Ball Show #103 (10/22/2013) Part 1. John spends this part of the program doing a preview of the 2013 World Series between the Red Sox and Cardinals. John plays an interview he recorded with former MLB pitcher Roger Salkeld.

PASSED BALL SHOW #102 10/17/2013 Part 2 WITH RON BLOOMBERG AND TOBY HALL; I open up by speaking with former Yankees DH/ 1B Ron Bloomberg about being MLB's first DH and his time with the New York Yankees. I then get into my opinions about Yasiel Puig's antics and then talk about the LA Dodgers manager legacy and how it would be if Bill Russell remained the manager for the past 16 1/2 seasons. I finish off by speaking with former Tampa Bay Devil Rays catcher Toby Hall about some of the managers he played for as well as his time catching for Tampa Bay

PASSED BALL SHOW #102 10/17/2013 Part 1 WITH RON KITTLE; I open up the program by talking about the passing of MLB umpire Wally Bell. I get into the discussion about what players and managers on each remaining postseason team I'd like to see winning a World Series. I then speak with former White Sox OF/ DH Ron Kittle about how he was almost out of baseball before he ever played a MLB game and his connection to the White Sox community. I fiish off by highlighting the Pennant and World Series success of the remaining four teams

PASSED BALL SHOW #101 10/8/2013 Part 2 WITH DAN SCHLOSSBERG AND PETE LACOCK; I open up by speaking with longtime well known baseball author Dan Schlossberg. Dan is a big time Atlanta Braves fan and hosts a podcast called Braves Bantor and gives some perspective on the Braves 2014 season and off season and some info about Brian McCann. I then speak with former MLB 1B Pete LaCock about his experience playing for the Royals and Cubs in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Pete talks about how he disliked playing baseball in Japan and how his father was Peter Marshall, the host of Hollywood Squares