Passed Ball Show

8-20-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up the program by reminding the viewers about his Top 100 Offensive Position Players of All Time project and an additional feature to the www.johnpielli.com website. He then makes fun of baseball’s unwritten rules and criticizes a whining team that is losing. John talks about how multiple games are played within MLB teams and even the worst teams beat the best teams once in a while. For those really bothered by Fernando Tatis’ grand slam the other day with a 3-0 count and a seven run lead, how about a forfeit option to end the game instantly is an opponent feels like they are down by too many runs? John then brings up the unfortunate hot mic incident involving Thom Brennaman. While there is no excuse for using that kind of language today, John applauds the reaction to it- it may have not gotten the same attention thirty years ago. John discusses some of the ways society has progressed in regards to race and homophobia issues. He finishes off by talking about the Los Angeles Clippers losing to the Dallas Mavericks and whether a lack of home court advantage could hurt the favorited teams.

Listen back to @john_pielli's interview with former Yankees first round draft pick James Kaprielian. During this interview, James was pitching for the Staten Island Yankees.

8-13-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by explaining why Oakland Athletics bench coach Ryan Christenson should not be shamed for his inappropriate gesture(s) during a game. There is no evidence that exists to prove that Christenson is a Nazi sympathizer. Yes, his gesture could be perceived as hurtful and for that he apologized, like he should have. But to make him out to be a disciple of Adolph Hitler is extreme and a bit of a reach. Shaming of those in a public spotlight has gotten excessive and should be limited by examples of blatant acts. John then gives a couple of psychological reasons the New York Mets do not support Jacob deGrom. Finally, John declares that it is time to get over the trade of Jared Kelenic. He left you (John explains why).

8-1-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by bringing up Joe Kelly’s decision to police the Houston Astros cheating scandal by throwing at Alex Bregman. John has made it clear that he has no problem with players policing the sport. It has been part of the game for years. When MLB did very little to Chase Utley for hurting Mets infielder Ruben Tejada in a playoff game in 2015, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard took matters in his own hands. While John has no problem with that, nor Kelly’s actions by themselves, he has an issue with the timing. MLB has put health and safety protocols in place with the intention of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Part of it involves the avoidance of any team to team altercations. Kelly could have waited until the virus boils over or until next season to the season after. He was selfish to allow his agenda to override the need to be safe. A team (the Miami Marlins) is on the verge of losing their season and this guy wants to be the poster child for revenge on the Astros. Time and place. John then talks about how the use of starting pitchers may completely change the game forever. It has already cause the need for 12-14 pitchers on a staff and the universal designated hitter. It may very well be responsible for the change of the game length from nine to seven innings. Contemporary starting pitchers are ruining the game of baseball. Finally, John has a message for Mets General Manager Brodie VanWagenen- Stop trying to justify the trade for Edwin Diaz and put the best players in position to compete for a playoff spot. Diaz is not good, he is a bad pitcher. And it has nothing to do with the “bright lights of New York City.”

7-24-2020 Passed Ball Show. John starts the show by calling out the media for, once again, being hypocritical. The media says it supports Black Lives Matter, yet calls out everybody that wears a BLM shirt. The media says it supports athletes that kneel for the National Anthem, yet calls out every player that kneels. As it applies to sports, we need to be more like Pee Wee Reese was portrayed in the movie “42,” as it is embarrassing that we have not grown as a society in regards to race relations since Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball in 1947. Those who still say “All Lives Matter” and focus on the One Percenters- the minority, which is those out there looting and rioting, have to come to grips with the fact they simply do not like black people. There is hope though, because if this dawned on you today, you probably are not too proud to learn this. Talk to your family members, friends, etc. Most of those who understand were in your shoes before. John then talks about the reason Mookie Betts never signed a long term extension with the Boston Red Sox. Torii Hunter, Adam Jones, and others have pointed out the fact that fans at Fenway Park often yell racial slurs at opposing players- most in plain view of everybody, likely including Betts. Even though Betts was probably not the target to such taunts, why would a black man want to spend the rest of his career in Boston, where the “good fans” refuse to condemn the actions of the racist few? Finally, John gives his predictions for the upcoming 2020 truncated baseball season with a couple of surprises. He then explains why there is a better chance for a surprise team to make the playoffs or even win the World Series.

7-18-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show by giving a couple of reasons he is not excited about the return of sports, especially with no fans. The compromised rules and shortened baseball season may lead to future changes. Baseball continues to want to appease a group of fans who don’t like baseball anyways. John also has his doubts of the bubble like settings in regards to the NBA, NHL, and MLS. And it will be a matter of time before owners start opening the doors of their sports stadium, most likely by the time the NFL season starts. And it will be because of their need for revenue and not because of YOUR safety. John then talks about the worst managers in the history of the New York Mets franchise. Casey Stengel and Joe Torre are in the Baseball Hall of Fame and deservedly so. However, John struggles to name another Mets manager who performed worse than those two.

7-11-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up by talking about the fact the show has reached 500 episodes. He transitions into discussing exactly what he wants to be part of. Thinking of recent comments of Drew Brees and Desean Jackson, John brings up one of societies biggest failures, it’s inability to condemn those of their own group. Police officers refuse to condemn the actions of those who abused their powers. Blacks refuse to condemn blacks who riot and loot during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest. Until we can hold our own self segregated groups accountable for what they are doing wrong, unity amongst its people will be a far cry from reality. Within that, is the ability to grow and use mistakes to educate those who make mistakes. John sites the example of Jackie Robinson and how he was treated. As unacceptable as the treatment was, future generations have turned racists into the minority. Racism is universally condemned by society today. We still have further to go. John finishes this non sports discussion by reminding us that we are all God’s children, created to be equal. All of us are to blame for the negative and unequal treatment of others. John brings up some possible scenarios we may see in a shortened baseball season and finishes off my reiterating how sports are a sanctuary which distract us from all of our self- inflicted negativity.

7-2-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this version of the program by talking about opportunity. A greater amount of opportunity exists for those who are known and popular within the general public. Will Ferrell gets to play spring training baseball because he is Will Ferrell, not a C or D list actor. Michael Jordan gets to play professional baseball because he is Michael Jordan, not an average an ordinary NBA basketball player. Tim Tebow has absolutely used his fame to get an opportunity to play professional baseball. Perhaps the 2020 baseball season would have provided a last chance to see if Tebow could bring his hitting ability to a higher level, but with no minor league baseball season that means he will not get a chance to prove himself. John makes a legit case that Tebow could be on a 60 man MLB roster with a condition that he will not, under any circumstance, suit up and play in a Major League Baseball game this season. Tebow gets to work out with the team, prepare for next year, and give playing professional baseball one more shot. In spite of Tim's celebrity, he kind of gives off a "First World Rudy" vibe to him and one that would be worth seeing if he can earn a chance to play in the big leagues. John then talks about whether or not we can any longer criticize a player for his performance on an athletic field, court, or ice. Ian Desmond chose a great reason for opting out for the 2020 baseball season. Does that leave him in a position to not be criticized for his performance during the first three seasons of his 5 year, $70 million contract with the Colorado Rockies? Perhaps the expectations were too high. Desmond is an A+ person and his decision to take the season off is well respected, but he gets a grade of a C at the very highest for how he has performed as a Rockies player. John then spends a couple minutes hyping his book, "Top 100 Offensive Position Players of All Time,"

6-27-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by reminding those to wear a mask in public. Those who are not wearing a mask are directly responsible for the outbreak in cases of the coronavirus in the states of Florida, Texas, and California. Major League Baseball is implementing a rule to start the tenth inning with a runner at second base as a means to speed up the game. Who had a say in this rule change? It is near criminal that the Commissioner of Major League Baseball has the authority to completely change the rules of the game on a whim. It is embarrassing, and it is insulting to any baseball fan. It is also embarrassing that MLB owners, led by Commissioner Manfred have used a national wide pandemic to air the dirty laundry they have with their players. John then talks about sports like NASCAR and the National Hockey League and asks why there so few blacks and minorities involved in these sports. Hopefully NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and Jerome Iginla, the most recent inductee into the Pro Hockey Hall of Fame, can serve as role models to other people of color and encourage them to be part of the sports. John once again mentions the lack of diversity when it comes to MLB managers and NFL Head Coaches and suggests the teams who have not hired a black coach or manager be forced to fulfill their next vacancy with one.

6-20-2020 Passed Ball Show. John opens this program talking about the owners of Major League Baseball. In a nationwide pandemic, they have chosen to take advantage of it by attempting to reduce the players’ salaries. Basically, the owners are trying to reverse the Peter Seitz decision of 1975. It is not the time or place. There are owners (all health concerns aside) that would prefer to not have a baseball season at all just so they do not have to pay their players. Those owners need to speak up, not just so the general public knows who they are, but so they can be asked questions of why they feel that they feel. And what happened to winning a World Series being the number one goal? John then talks about some rough (bad) sports takes that exist. As much as one may disagree, the right to a bad take is equated to the rights of any difference any American may have. We are about inclusion, right? So we need to include the bad takes of Mad Dog Russo and Phil Mushnick. Censoring is not an option. John finishes off this program by talking about the underrated success of Indians pitcher Stan Coveleski. Coveleski pitched in three games in the 1920, won all three with three complete games- including a shutout in the decisive seventh game (best of nine series). Where will he rank on the upcoming PBS top 100 starting pitchers of all time?