Passed Ball Show

5-15-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by knocking those that overrate the release of the new NFL Schedule. His two reasons are 1. The parity of the NFL is unlike any other sport. How does anybody know how good any team is going to be? You cannot logically predict records for your favorite game based on the opponent in the month of May.

2. The opponents of each team are known well before the announcement of the new schedule. Each team knows it will play their division rivals twice, each team in an in conference division once, and each team in a non conference division once. Those divisions rotate each season and are known well before the release of the schedule.

John then spends a couple minutes talking about Tim Tebow and his attempted comeback in the NFL. It is simple, either he can play or he can’t. The NFL will not give him similar privileges he got in minor league baseball. Ask Tiki Barber. If Tebow cannot play, he will be cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Finally, John spends a couple minutes on the Colorado Rockies and their dysfunction. They have been blessed with some incredible offensive players but have been unable to retain them. They may be the worst team in baseball for the next five years

5-8-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the show by reminding the viewers of the ignorant/ racist comments made by former Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Al Campanis and CBS NFL Today host Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder. While both statements made by each men could be considered reprehensible, John questions whether the statute of limitations have run out and they should finally be forgiven. John makes a comparison to contrite criminals who have served their time and in some cases, are given a chance to rehabilitate. Should Thom Brennaman and Jared Porter have the opportunity to work again? John then spends a little time talking about the Atlanta Hawks and their turnaround under new Head Coach Nate McMillan. He talks about the difference between coaching changes in the NBA and NHL and those in the NFL and MLB. Finally, John spends a little bit of time talking about the Rangers/ Capitals animosity over the past week. John compares the fighting in the NHL and wonders if MLB should eliminate allowing pitches coming in from the bullpen during altercations.

4-29-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by talking about the difference Chris Paul has made for the Phoenix Suns and why they should be taken seriously when it comes to the upcoming NBA playoffs. He also asks out loud whether the Los Angeles Lakers at full strength can be stopped and when the Los Angeles Clippers’ players, mainly Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, will be held accountable for the team not winning a championship or getting to the Finals. He then talks about the problems with Major League Baseball as it is currently played and the advantage that pitchers have over the hitters. For the first time in the history of baseball, the percentage of time a hitter strikes out is actually higher than the league’s collective batting average. John drives that point home when talking about the complaints fans have when watching the game. Fans don’t want gimmicks, they want a more entertaining product. But quite simply, fans do not want to see a bunch of strikeouts and walks. That is what bores them. Not extra innings, not too many pitching changes. Excessive walks and strikeouts lead to less action, hence the reason popularity of the game is down. John finishes off this show by talking about the upcoming NFL Draft and why a couple teams will be making a mistake by selective a quarterback.

4-15-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by talking about baseball fans disconnect with who is to blame when things go wrong for their favorite baseball team. Fans still believe MLB managers are responsible for more than they are. John talks about some of the things MLB managers are responsible and then some things they no longer do, such as writing lineups and arrange defensive alignments. John then compares the responsibilities of a MLB manager to that of an NFL Head Coach. Should Kyrie Irving retire from playing professional basketball? John wonders how many personal days any average American worker could get away with taking in a given year. He then finishes off the program by talking about the Chicago Bears quarterback situation and why they should draft one this year. Then, he wonders how many of the QB’s drafted this year will turn into busts in the NFL

4-8-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up the least watched talk program in the country by talking about the decision MLB made on its own to change the site of the 2021 MLB All Star Game. Their political stance punishes nobody but the Atlanta Braves and their fans. It also is an insult to the legacy of Hank Aaron, who should have been honored in the stadium of the team he was most known for the first All Star Game after his death. John then talks about anti-trust and why baseball should not have special powers to govern itself when no other sport has such right. John then talks about how the game has thrown rules changes in our face that we can do nothing about. Even if one was to leave a game before the runner is automatically put on second base in the start of extra innings, baseball has already gotten that person's ticket money and any revenue for food and merchandise. John recommends not attending seven inning double headers and shares the story of the Washington Nationals offering the first game of a seven inning double header as equal to the price of an overpriced opening day game ticket. JT Realmuto is better than James McCann- John is astonished that he even has to say that. What gives James McCann the right to tell another MLB player what to do? A leader needs to have a track record, right? Finally, John talks about the obsession that exists when it comes to college football quarterbacks and why the first four players (all likely quarterbacks) will not be the four best players taken in the draft.

3-18-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about Shohei Ohtani's value when it comes to fantasy baseball. John once again gives his top 20 players that should be drafted in order. He then breaks down the top players at each position, and gives a sleeper player as well as a player he believes is overrated. John takes a little time to share his belief that there is a good chance women's sports can gain more popularity over time. John then debates with himself which team is better right now, the Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers? He finishes off talking about the offseason the New England Patriots are having and how the AFC East looks at this very moment.

3-12-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show talking about the Nolan Ryan trade from the New York Mets to the California Angels. Hindsight says the trade was one of the worst in the history of the Mets franchise, but is it that easy to assume Ryan would have been great for the Mets. Imagine a 1970’s starting rotation of Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, and Ryan? After the trade to the Angels, his walk rate went down two walks per nine innings pitched and he proceeded to give up the fewest hits per nine innings pitched in baseball history, signs he never showed for the Mets. John then talks about the first two times a player (or players) were granted free agency in Major League Baseball. Looking back, John explains why the Catfish Hunter and Andy Messersmith contracts did not work out. Finally, John provides some insight when it comes to what to expect for the upcoming fantasy baseball season. He talks about how the game has changed, gives his top twenty players he would take, then gives his top sleeper or keeper eligible picks. Stay tuned for the sleeper/ keeper eligible players to stay away from, some insight on Shohei Ohtani, and some other players that may be undervalued on the next PBS which is scheduled for Thursday March 18th.

3-11-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by talking about how the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is watered down and this year's "finalists" are an example of how watered down the Hall of Fame is. John then profiles the coaches in every major sport (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAAB) that have the highest winning percentage in their respective history. After that, John spends some time reminding the general public they are being selfish when it comes to the cancel culture that exists today. Just because somebody has a notable position, the general public cannot wait to see them eliminated from the workforce and hope that they never work again. John cites several examples of figures such as Greg McDermott, Andrew Cuomo, Mickey Callaway, and Jared Porter- obviously all different circumstances and levels of evidence and the public's interest in seeing them fired from their employer and banned from ever getting a job again. John explains why cancel culture has gone too far.

3-6-2021 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by expressing his frustration with the cancel culture and why it has gone too far. He then breaks down the National League and gives his predictions of the division winners and wild card representatives. He talks about why the Mets will fall short in their chase for the postseason and why more playoff teams would have benefitted them. He then talks about why extra playoff teams are a bad idea. He then throws his support for coach Greg McDermott of Creighton College Basketball after his “insensitive” remarks make to his team the other day. Though the word “plantation” was a poorly chosen word, there was no racial motivation or intent behind it. Assistant coach Terrance Rencher is using race-baiting tactics to make this story more than it is, and John gives respect to the Creighton players for standing behind their coach and not succumbing to the pressure to cancel. John also mentions the allegedly false allegations against Star New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin. The general public and court of public opinion is against anybody that has a name to them. John will continue to defend those who want to destroy the credibility of anybody in the spotlight as a sign of jealousy. Finally, John discusses the Elam Ending and describes how it might make sense to play a whole game to a target score.

3-4-2021 Passed Ball Show. John broadcasts this show live from West Palm Beach, Florida. John talks about the fact that Major League Baseball already announced that the National League would operate without the designated hitter in 2021... in December. The media kept the possibility open and is responsible for this long, drawn out, process. Nobody should be surprised that the NL is not using the DH, it was announced already. John talks about the for spring training (through March 13th) rules that may or may not impact the games that are being played. John does not mind the rule that allows a team to reinsert a pitcher that has already been taken out. However, when it comes to allowing a team to terminate an inning if their pitcher has thrown more than 20 pitches, it compromises the integrity of the game and in this case, may be better if the teams stopped keeping score. John talks about how that happened in yesterday's Mets/ Cardinals game in Jupiter, FL. Finally, John has imposes a cease and desist order against the sports media outlets that are making believe Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott are getting traded. John explains why neither player are getting traded and then politely asks outlets such as ESPN to stop talking about this nonsense.