Passed Ball Show

1-14-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by once again thanking his loyal listeners and viewers- whether it is from I-Tunes, Google Play, YouTube, Periscope, or Facebook Live. The landing spots for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are not important at this point. More needs to be discussed about why most teams do not view these players (and the fact they are about to enter the prime of their career) as upgrades on their current rosters. Is it because most owners already make their bottom lines? Is it because winning a World Series is not profitable enough? Should the reward be more so all teams are on the same page, searching the same prize? Is it time to pass the torch in the NFL when it comes to the New England Patriots? In a league where a lot of teams say they want it, the Pats continue to be among the cream of the NFL year after year. Blake Griffin returning to the Los Angeles Clippers as an opponent makes John think about how a player should be expected to act as they return to a team they starred for. Finally, John releases his MLB Hall of Fame ballot, curtly stating that these ten players need to be put into the HOF before anybody else should be considered.

1-11-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by talking about the following NFL franchises who think the "in thing" is to hire the next quarterback whisperer. A head coach in the National Football League is too serious of a job to be turned into such a specific qualification. If the NFL and NFLPA feel that Eric Reid is fabricating how many times he was drug tested last season, they should report the results of their computer algorithm, list the total amount of tests and players tested, and report who the most tested players are. Great job by P. K. Subban for making a video in support of the 13 year old hockey player in Detroit who is dealing with racial slurs. There should be a penalty for anybody caught using a word that should be forbidden from the English language. The Yankees should not be able to trade Sonny Gray for anything close to what they gave up for him- he is not worth it at this point. Plus, John's NFL Picks for the Divisional Round of the National Football League.

1-9-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about the two most important needs for a College Football National Championship Game: the two best teams and an excellent game. The performance of Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence may change the thought process of NFL teams when it comes to the upcoming NFL draft. Are NFL teams focusing too much on a QB whisperer as opposed to a figurehead to run a football team? Congrats to Kliff Kingsbury for getting the job as Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals- it was completely asinine to even think that USC Athletic Director Lynn Swann would hold back Kingsbury to interview for an NFL HC job. What if the Mets recent trades were a prelude to more trades leading to a couple impactful free agent signings? Finally, people in all professions screw up, have bad days, and do not do their jobs.

1-5-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up this program by talking about using stats to back your argument. When it comes to comparing Johan Santana to Sandy Koufax, stats like ERA+ and WAR are almost the fake news version of comparing the two. Koufax's ability to complete the games he started and the amount of innings he pitched during his prime make the comparison to Johan a little bit unfair. John once again brings up his anonymous source argument to talk about the difference between MLB and NFL players. Few NFL players would run to a reporter and ask them to not put their name behind something they wanted to say or a point they wanted to make. Who is more to blame? The media or the soft individuals who choose to act in this cowardly way? Neither should be commended. What do the likes of Michael Jordan, John Elway, Russell Wilson, and Tim Tebow have in common? Answer... all have been falsely considered two sport athletes when none have played in two sports highest level. Kyler Murray has a chance, if he chooses, to do something the beforementioned (outside of maybe Tebow) will ever do. John then talks about some of the best two sport athletes before giving his NFL Picks for Wild Card weekend.

1-1-2019 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by wishing everybody a Happy New Year (US) and as a reminder, to make any change you want- there is no need to broadcast it. Black Monday (as usual) took a chuck out of the amount of head coaches in the National Football League. Coincidentally, four of the six coaches fired after Sunday and five of seven fired since the season started are African American. Intentional or not, it has to be discussed whether there is anything to this. John gives out his first trivia question (first correct answer wins a ten dollar Visa gift card. John then talks about token Hall of Fame votes, whether they are necessary, but most importantly, whether or not a writer has the right to vote for an undeserving player that happens to be on the ballot. Some interesting facts about the significance of the 1899 baseball season, the Cleveland Spiders, and the first tank job in sports history. Finally, a little bit for those who want to diminish Eli Manning's pro football career.

12-28-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by mentioning Davis Webb and Christian Hackenberg. That should tell you everything you need to know if the New York Giants decide not to play Kyle Lauletta this Sunday in a meaningless game. The Giants have seen Lauletta play, if they do not play him, that is all you need to hear. Once again, hope is that Manny Machado signs a fair deal for him and for baseball- not taking whatever the Yankees offer just because he wants to be a Yankee. The Mets do not have to apologize to anybody for not signing Bryce Harper. After John shares this week's NFL Picks, he talks a little bit about some of the lessons he learned in his first football season of competitive sports gambling. Finally, a Nobody's Listening segment about confrontation and diffusion.

12/26/2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by talking about a familiar topic- the Baseball Hall of Fame. After pointing out its hypocrisy, John talks about all the different players that are not in Baseball's Hall of Fame for different reasons. Commissioners like Kenesaw Mountain Landis and Bud Selig are in despite their shortcomings and ignorance. Why is that looked over? What keeps other players who played during the "steroid era" from facing similar circumstantial suspicion that others are being held out for. John then breaks down the NFL playoff scenarios just prior to Week 17- how the AFC South can be won by three different teams, how either the Steelers or Ravens will win the AFC North or not make the playoffs at all, and how if the Philadelphia Eagles make the playoffs... will it be time for them to consider using Nick Foles as their starting quarterback? Finally, the best sports holidays are Thanksgiving (Football), New Years Day (College Football, Hockey) and Christmas (Basketball)- in that order.

12-23-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up this installment of the program by talking about how few African American managers there have been in baseball history. After starting out by playing the clip of Jackie Robinson speaking at Crosley Field in Cincinnati at the 1972 World Series, John mentions the fact that only two-thirds of MLB's teams have even had one black manager. NL stalwarts like the Braves, Phillies, and Cardinals have never had one, even though they have been playing professional baseball since the 19th Century. Original American League teams like the Red Sox, Tigers, Athletics, Senators (Twins), and Yankees (Orioles in 1901 and 1902) have never had a black manager even though they have been around since 1901. Perhaps racism was involved with the wrestler being forced to cut his hair in the incident in New Jersey. More than likely, it was ignorance. Either way, the referee had no right to do that. John explains why. The AFC playoff picture is starting to take shape. All that, plus Pielli's week sixteen NFL picks.

12-18-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens the show up by talking the whole Yankee (or other hometown team) discount. Fans tend to think players will over compensate because they want to play for a team so bad. Maybe they will take less money to play for a particular franchise. John brings logic back to this topic, and reminds of the implications a hometown discount has on future free agents. As much as any player claims to want to play for the Yankees, they will likely have to offer said player the most lucrative contract for a deal to be consummated. Cam Newton has been playing hurt. Is that necessarily a good thing? We ask our players to toughen out injuries and credit them for playing hurt, but what is where is the line that separates a good player playing at less than 100% and a backup player at 100%? Jay Bruce hurt the Mets by playing hurt last season. Reading about Manchester United soccer coach Jose Mourinho getting fired alerted John about the over use of the word "sack." John finishes off the show talking about the winningest managers in MLB history for each respective MLB team.

12-15-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens this show by talking about the probability of more off season baseball action at the start of this coming week. Harold Baines being in the Hall of Fame is not the fault of Harold, nor anybody else except for the baseball writers. They have created a narrative driven agenda focused on keeping players out of the Hall of Fame as opposed to stating cases for those who are not in to get in. It is clear that there is an undermining that exists with the Veteran's Committee that has not existed since the 1960's and 1970's and this time it is the fault of the baseball writers who are not doing their job. Should more research be done on the results of the 1914 World Series between the Boston Braves and Philadelphia Athletics- considered the biggest upset in World Series history? John points to some important points that could lead to that series not being played on a level. The wrong Brooks and the misunderstanding of the potential three team NBA trade involving Trevor Ariza made John think of the two NBA coaches named Jim Boylan and Boylen and two sets of US Presidents who had the same name. NFL Picks will be on johnpielli.com.