Passed Ball Show

0:02 / 43:05

3/6/2019 PBS- MLB FA's after Kimbrel, Keuchel, Gio, 2019 Previews, Top QB, LeBron, Boygirl Sports

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John Pielli

Published on Mar 6, 2019

3-6-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up this show by talking about the remaining MLB free agents and gives a top ten list of solid options not named Craig Kimbrel, Dallas Keuchel, and Gio Gonzalez. The 2019 PBS MLB Countdown team predictions are up on johnpielli.com- John breaks down some of his favorites and why his prediction method is different from what most sites base their picks off of. If the Arizona Cardinals choose to draft Kyler Murray number one overall and trade Josh Rosen, teams should be lining up at the door for the opportunity as Rosen's potential is much better than what most teams are considering. LeBron James is polarizing mostly because of jealousy. This is a man who has been well compensated for his talents, but has used his wealth to help others, while living an honest life with his wife and children. Haters are bothered that he has the wealth and success, but most importantly, a life that is free from scandal and the downfalls many run into when they are afforded a life of luxury. Finally, John talks about girls playing boy sports and how boys should be able to play girl sports. The total number of boys playing on a girls team should be limited to allow for as many girls possible to have a chance to compete.

2-27-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by discussing the issues MLB teams have when it comes to gaining an extra season of control. It is a flawed point of view, one in which could be eradicated by simply signing the player to an extension. John also points out the fact that the Cubs may have cost themselves a chance of winning the NL Central in 2015, or at least the first Wild Card spot, by not playing Kris Bryant in the first eight games of the season. John then takes a phone call from "Willie" from Toms River, who asks about Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his recently being in the news. John talks about the need for the NFL to hold owners to the same standards as players and coaches when it comes to its personal conduct policy. If convicted, Kraft should face a suspension of some sorts, from a couple of games to a full season. The severity of the case has to do with whether the girls in question were being trafficked for sex or this was a woman making a living getting paid for the sex. Bruce Bochy is finishing his managerial career in 2019, is he as much a Hall of Fame lock as some think? While three World Series Championships in five seasons have only been done six times, Bochy is likely to finish his career as a manager with a losing record (unless the 2019 Giants win 90 games or more). Out of the other nine managers who have won three or more World Series, all nine are in Baseball's Hall of Fame. John wishes his father John Anthony Pielli a Happy 63'rd Birthday and mentions on February 27, 1956, the Piedmont League, a minor league baseball entity, disbanded after 35 years of business. The Piedmont League was based in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and briefly in Maryland. It was also one of the only minor leagues which continued operations during World War II.

2-21-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by mourning the loss of long time Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe. Don was a force in the Dodgers World Series Championship season in 1955 and won 27 games a year later. An extremely prolific figure in the civil rights movement, Newcombe had his MLB career interrupted two separate times. Because of this, he should get more consideration for Baseball's Hall of Fame. John also talks about Vinny Vella's impact on his life and his show. Vinny was a solid actor and comedian and had a show only he could host. Really, nobody else could have successfully hosted his show- his personality and style was perfect for his show. Thanks to Vinny for having John as a guest on his show. John then suggests a change to the rules of Nascar which would give racers another chance if their car either malfunctions or is involved in an accident during a race. Finally, John talks about the difference between being the greatest and being the best, making some points about how it is difficult to quantify how good a player of 100 years ago or 75 years ago is compared to a player over the last 45-50 years. John then lists his top ten MLB position players of all time.

2-20-2019 Passed Ball Show- John starts off this edition by talking about the positivity in regards to baseball with the Padres signing of Manny Machado. Great to see a non-known spending team go the distance for both the present and the future. While the future looks bright (What is a prospect?) for the Padres, they may not quite be at the level as a complete team as the Dodgers and Rockies right now. Jacob deGrom has handled himself like a true professional his entire career. He deserves a mulligan for his comments perceived as being a threat that he would compromise his future performance if he does not get a new contract soon. The NBA should try to align its yearly All Star Game to what a regular season and postseason game is. Perhaps more defensive minded and role player types could make each All Star team, making each a real team and not just a compilation of the league's top scorers. Great to see Collin Kaepernick and Eric Reid getting settlements from the NFL. They both deserve it and should not have been colluded against by the league's owners. It is also good for the NFL to reach a settlement and not have to air out its dirty laundry through arbitration.

2-12-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up this version of the program by talking about Kareem Hunt's second chance. After he faces his penalty (by the court of law) for the crimes he committed and his penalty for violation of NFL's personal conduct policy, he has the right to earn a living. The general public does not agree (for the most part) with the concept of a person earning a living. The feeling is, because an athlete has a "name" to them, they should lose their right to work- something the critic themselves never has to worry about. Kyler Murray and his decision to play in the NFL is a product of a best case scenario, not an example of the player using the Oakland Athletics in any way, shape, or form. John then mentions NHL's shift times of star players being on the screen of their telecasts and how they would be better suited having the top player of each team listed under the score with a colored light shining when they are on the ice. Finally, a disturbing story out of the University of Nebraska involving a top recruit and "revenge porn." John talks about what that means and why it is not a coincidence that the University of Nebraska is at an all time low as a CFB program.

2-5-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens this program up by talking about how the Patriots should be respected for what they have done. Not this year, but for the past eighteen. And for those upset that the Patriots are "always in the Super Bowl," they should maybe write their Congressman (i.e. favorite NFL team) and encourage them to get a better squad. Dynasties like this generally get more respect after they are finished. The Pats are more in the league of Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr- they have surpassed the likes of Bill Walsh and Joe Montana. While the latter were great in the Super Bowl, they also have faced little criticism for all the years they did not make it as well as all the times they lost in the divisional round or in the conference championship. Lonzo Ball needs to stop his father from controlling his life. They need to have a deep conversation, one that consists of Lonzo telling dad to stop living his life son's vociferously through him. As much as John is looking forward to baseball season, he has to tell the viewers it is not. February does not belong to baseball, baseball season is not coming for the better part of another month.

2-3-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens the show by apologizing for the cold he has and how it is impacting the sound of his voice. The New York Knicks made a solid trade with the attempt to save some salary cap space. Hopefully, this will lead the team to two max players. The problem with Madison Square Garden is the fact that New York looks at it as the place to be and because of that believes a winning team should be handed to them by the NBA. Yes, the Garden is full virtually every game, but it is full because it is owned by the corporations who buy the tickets up in advance. Stop with this silly insinuations that the die hard fans still fill the building in spite of having one of the worst teams in the NBA. John shares some interesting Super Bowl facts about the Rams and Patriots, where they each came from, their records in Championship Games, and the fact that Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have played in more Super Bowls than any team in NFL history. Finally, John talks about the reasons Don Coryell and Tom Flores should have made it into this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

1-29-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up this version of the program by talking about the waste of time in sports information that exists between the NFC and AFC Championship games in pro football and the Super Bowl. He also mentions how it is a precursor to what to expect in the world of sports in the month of February. John then talks about competitive advantage in sports, compares it to cheating, gamesmanship, and the lines that are drawn when it comes to being devious. John concludes this filibuster by putting together a team of baseball non- Hall of Famers against a team of the least deserving of what has been put in. What team is better?

1-21-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by asking a trivia question about baseball and the Cincinnati Reds (the question was answered correctly). The official(s) that missed the call during the NFC Championship game this past Sunday need their names put out to the general public. Patrick Turner and Gary Cavaletto were negligent for not throwing a flag during the non-call on the pass interference situation. Their names need to be known, not so they can be at risk- not even to encourage ridicule- but so they can be accountable for their actions (or lack there of) just like anybody else that makes a mistake. The Baseball Hall of Fame will gain some new members, mainly Mariano Rivera and Roy Halladay, and possibly Edgar Martinez and Mike Mussina. John has a message for those writers who feel they are doing the game justice by holding out Hall of Fame worthy players because of "ethical reasons." Baseball is and never has been an ethical game and holding the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Curt Schilling out of the game for "ethical" reasons is delaying the inevitable. THEY ARE GETTING INTO THE HALL OF FAME. Is the story about Eagles QB Carson Wentz' likeness from teammates a fabrication? We will never know because the writer was not able to get any players to make comments on the record. John finishes off the program by talking about Willard Hershberger, the Cincinnati Reds catcher who committed suicide in 1940, the first act in season in the history of the sport.

1-19-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by paying his respect to former Yankees and Angels pitcher Eli Grba, the one time PBS guest who passed away this week at the age of 84. John then brings up what he feels is an overemphasis of two way MLB players, basically a glorification of a position player who will pitch regularly in mop up situations. We are likely to not even see a Shohei Ohtani like scenario again in the sport. Have fans and the media today forgot about Wilt Chamberlain? James Harden scoring 40 points a game is nice, but please stop making like it has never happened before. Speaking of not getting attention that is deserved, the NHL should make January 18th Willie O'Ree day and make every team pay homage to the first black player in the history of the National Hockey League. All that plus a preview of the NFL Conference Championship games.