Passed Ball Show

5-26-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by questioning why Manu Ginobili is in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. The Four Time NBA Champion had an exciting run, but John believes this is just another example of the NBA’s Hall of Fame being watered down. John then compares the decision most recent Florida Panthers forward Joe Thornton has to make regarding his future to former MLB players Julio Franco, Jamie Moyer, and Bartolo Colon. The latter group had the energy and stamina to continue playing but were a shed of their best. Does Thornton want to be like Udonis Haslem? Not everybody is Tom Brady. Finally, John talks about the decision of the Las Vegas Raiders to work out Colin Kaepernick. John believes Kaepernick is owed that closure even if his comeback is not successful. John points to recent NFL comebacks by Tiki Barber and Tim Tebow as reasons that Kaepernick should be given an opportunity to attend training camp.

5-24-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by remembering the impact Jackie Robinson had on baseball and reminding many of his sacrifices he made when he signed a professional contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers (Montreal Royals) for the 1946 season. Jackie had a clause in his contract that he agreed to that prevented him from fighting back from any ridicule he would be subjected to. This was for his first three years. Chicago White Sox infielder Tim Anderson could not shine Robinson’s shoes- this is where the comparison between the two should stop. Anderson has every right to admire Robinson, but he should in no way compare himself to the latter. His sensitivity proves he could not go through what Robinson went through. John does not stop at criticizing just Anderson, as he states that Josh Donaldson’s reputation gives him no credibility when he speaks. John also questions why JD has been on so many teams and has not remained with a single team for four (4) complete MLB seasons. John then opines about the Los Angeles Lakers and how they may go forth with Russell Westbrook. While John believes the Lakers’ best play is to keep Westbrook, especially due to his expiring contract, he disagrees with Magic Johnson’s insinuation that the Lakers’ next coach will best be able to utilize the future Hall of Famer. Westbrook’s game is best suited to himself and his best team will fit in with him as opposed to the opposite. John finishes the program off by questioning the longevity of the Lakers Head Coaches since Phil Jackson’s departure. John believes a stable force at the HC position, as opposed to the revolving door which has been the past ten (10) plus years, is the best formula for establishing the proper chain in command.

5-21-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens this show up by mentioning that John Salley was the first player in NBA history to win NBA Championships with three (3) or more NBA teams. He has since been joined by Robert Horry, Danny Green, and LeBron James. John then gets into discussion about what would be the best for Baker Mayfield this coming NFL season. While others have spent time trying to find a team to use him as their starting quarterback, John makes the case of why it might be best for Baker to stay in Cleveland this year. Especially if Deshaun Watson faces a suspension for his off the field conduct, Baker could be best suited playing out his option as a showcase for his future employer. Of course, if Watson plays, it will take a lot for Baker to back off his ego, an ego that John explains is necessary to be a QB in the NFL. John then plays up what he feels can be an enjoyable and exciting NBA Finals between Boston and Golden State, half of which John predicted from the onset of the postseason. John’s finale includes some reasons he believes Tiger Woods playing in a major will always be stronger than the performance of any other player on the PGA Tour.

5-17-2022 Passed Ball Show. John spends this show talking about the state of the Golden State Warriors and whether this playoff run constitutes a part of their dynasty. The dynasty which saw the Warriors make it to five straight NBA Finals and win three championships. John thinks it could be part of the same thing as long as they win the NBA Championship this year. He makes the comparison to the 1990's Chicago Bulls and the "break" in their dynasty caused by Michael Jordan's decision to quit to play baseball. John then goes on a tangent talking about how one can quantify the best player to ever play a sport and why a lot of fans forget to normalize the generational differences between a player that plays now and a player that played a game from a different generation. John cites George Mikan, Babe Ruth, and others as he makes a profound point about comparing different generations of players.

5-14-2022 Passed Ball Show. John spends a significant time on this show comparing the way the Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies lost the sixth (6th) game of their respective conference semifinals series. John wonders why they are being perceived by the National media differently even though they both lost the same way. Both teams went through the motions in the fourth quarter when their opponent took the lead and a case could be made that both teams gave up over the last five minutes of the deciding games. Yet, Philadelphia is looked at as a failure and Memphis is looked at as the future of the NBA. John knocks some holes into this real narrative. John then applauds the New Orleans Saints signing of Jarvis Landry and talks about the potential Wide Receiver core of Landry, Chris Olave, and Michael Thomas and how that may raise the game of Jameis Winston. However, this could also expose the former Florida State star is they cannot develop the appropriate chemistry. John goes off on the fact that the NFL schedule reveal is a waste of time and questions why it is such a big deal even though mostly everyone knows which teams are playing whom. Finally, a little more love and respect for Robinson Cano as John hopes for his success during his future with the San Diego Padres.

5-11-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by giving his grand finale to the Conference Semi-Final round. John’s belief is that three of the four series are coming to a conclusion, with the likeliness that Golden State, Phoenix, and Miami are headed to their respective conference finals. John believes that few are respecting the talents of the top seeded teams in each conference (Miami, Boston, Phoenix, Memphis) with an emphasis on the Heat. John explains why Memphis will not win the series and how the Grizzlies failed to take advantage of an opportunity they will never have again. John then takes a couple minutes to remember former Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks Center Bob Lanier, who passed away at the age of 73. Lanier was a dominant big man when the league took pride in its rim protectors. Lanier was a solid emeritus for the league and his work with NBA players for the past 30 years makes him as much of a Hall of Fame person as he was a Hall of Fame player. John then talks about Reid Detmers no hitter and how nine (9) inning no hitters could become a thing of the past. John then stakes his claim that the Los Angeles Angels are finally going to have a big season. John talks about the Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds and how their owners have single handed lay screwed up the once proud franchises.

5-9-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by professing his love for sports. He talks about the sanctuary sports have become- not only to him, but what it is to other sports fans. John talks about his disappointment when other things work their way into sports, even though he understands. He then explains why athletes have the right to talk about whatever they want with the understanding that they are open to ridicule and the listener/ viewer reserves the right to just not listen. John talks about the difference in NBA Basketball action between the 1980’s and early 1990’s and now and laughs as violence has been replaced with drama and acting. John brings up his favorite sport, baseball, and asks some questions about what can be done to bring more action on the field. Is it a pitchers advantage? Ala 1968? Or has it become an information overload, slowly driving its fans to other sports? Or perhaps it is simply a younger fans game?

5-7-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about why baseball should have a salary cap and why it should come in conjunction with a salary floor. John brings up the reasons why baseball players are having their salaries impacted because the owners have a right to determine exactly how much they want to put aside to pay their players. John then brings up some of the issues with the NFL salary cap and why the players rise in salary is not moving at the same pace as the salary cap number. John talks about Ryan Tannehill and agrees with his comments about not being responsible for mentoring and training his replacement. John compares that to your average job and only has one example why somebody would be willing to train their replacement. John then cites the other examples of NFL quarterbacks and the transition of power to prove that nobody does this. Finally, John previews a piece he is working on in regards to the teams that had the best record in a MLB league since 1969 and how many of them made it to the World Series.

Passed Ball Show 5-4-2022. John opens up this program by mentioning the interesting fact that this week was the first time in Major League Baseball history that the two New York baseball teams (Yankees and Mets) and the two Los Angeles baseball teams (Dodgers and Angels) are all in first place at the same time. John then speaks about the Memphis Grizzlies and questions why the doubt in their quest to be the Western Conference's representative in the NBA Finals. John believes in this team, in spite of its inexperience and in spite of the National respect of the Golden State Warriors and the expected renewal of their dynasty. John then speaks about the Tennessee Titans and their decision to first trade star Wide Receiver AJ Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles, and next to draft Liberty Quarterback Malik Willis in the fourth (4th) round of the NFL Draft John speaks to the importance of incumbent QB Ryan Tannehill to have a solid season and speaks of some reasons it may be tough to duplicate their dominant regular season of a season ago. John also talks about the value of the NFL wide receiver as it is coming at the expense of the running back, starting with Le'Veon Bell. Finally, John speaks a little bit about the future of Robinson Cano and gives a reasonable timetable of when he should receive some Hall of Fame consideration.

4-28-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up by comparing the attendance figures of the first home game of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the first seven (7) home games of the Oakland Athletics. He then gets into his prolegomena point in regard to this year's (2022) NFL draft. Teams are going to reach by taking any quarterback in the first round. John rants about the scarcity of the QB position and the over-analysis that is done because teams have this dream that the player select is going to hold down the fort under center for the next ten (10) to fifteen (15) years. This will not happen in this case. Any team that takes a day one (first round) QB this year will regret it. John then opines about the Yankee fans that threw objects on the field and why Yankee fans should be the most pissed off about it. Finally, John explains why players should not be allowed to leave the bullpens during altercations while conceding that players in the dugout should still be allowed to.