Passed Ball Show

John Pielli describes how baseball (and its voting process) has chosen to keep some of its best players of all time out of its Hall of Fame.

12-13-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens his first show since returning from the Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada by talking about... how Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin has every right to talk about his players that are "there" as opposed to answer any redundant question about Le'Veon Bell. Bell is Benedict Arnold, similar to Ice Cube in NWA. Though neither Bell nor Ice Cube intended to dessert their group/ team, both left their peers with no choice but to feel so. Similar to NWA, the Steelers are moving on, exactly what is expected to happen when a player chooses not to play for their team. The Steelers have replaced Bell, the same way NWA replaced Cube. (Has the point been made yet?) John then talks about the increase in the amount of teams that plan on being competitive, a number much higher than last off season. For those Mets fans who think the team should "just sign a catcher," would you feel the same if that was the only move they could make due to payroll restrictions? Are you okay with just Diaz and Familia? An outfield of Nimmo, Conforto, and Lagares? Even though the UCLA student knew she was not eligible for to win a car for her layup, foul shot, three pointer, and half court shot, John talks about several reasons this situation should have been avoided.

A random demo recorded by John Pielli in 2018.

Brief take on how on base percentage may be overrated in the game of baseball in 2018.

12-9-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by paying his respect to former Major League infielders Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo. There is a parallel to the respect that existed during the Jose Fernandez/ Miami Marlins tributes. Is the stat of On Base Percentage in baseball overrated? John brings up some valid points about the lack of interest in batting average and strikeout percentage and how a walk may not be "as good as a hit." Every NBA and most college basketball players either are or were scorers. What happens to a scorer when they are no longer the "go to" guy? NFL picks will be on www.johnpielli.com.

12-5-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by mentioning his domestic violence points being one minute segments on instagram. He then divulges into the possibility of the New York Mets acquiring Miami Marlins catcher JT Realmuto. It will cost the Mets Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and/ or Amed Rosario to start, and John makes the case for Nimmo being enough to get this deal started. John makes it clear what he thinks of Nimmo- a MLB regular player with a ton of upside. You have to give something to get a player like Realmuto, who is a much better option than signing Yasmani Grandal, as he opines. The NHL continues to water down its product when it comes to expansion. A lot of the world's most talented hockey players do not even play in the NHL, a similar issue that exists in USA soccer. Urban Meyer has nothing left to prove- ie. he does not have another national job that will top his at Ohio State- reason enough to feel he will be coaching his last game in the Rose Bowl this New Year's Day. John touches a little on the impact of Jim Valvano, the great NC State college basketball coach and motivational speaker. Finally, should it be a crime if you are blatantly withholding the truth? Should we take advantage of technology and insert something along the lines of a truth serum chip into all Americans?

12-1-2018 Passed Ball Show- John starts out by reminding the viewer that sports is a sanctuary from the negative aspects of life. As these aspects intersect with the sports news feeds, it is a reminder that there may be no escaping it. Domestic violence is a serious issue in this country (and world)- not just for those whose names are in the spotlight, but for those who are not accomplished. When players like Kareem Hunt, Reuben Foster, and Ray Rice could be blackballed from employment, the same should apply for those aggressors who make minimum wage and everybody in between. Government assistance should be taken away from domestic violence convicts. With Alabama, Clemson, and Notre Dame essentially guaranteed the first three places in the BCS playoffs, the following teams control their own destiny in this order: Georgia, Oklahoma, Ohio State, and UCF. John is rooting for UCF. The trade discussion in MLB is setting up for an unprecedented off season, one in which we have not seen in a series of years. All that- plus Week 13's NFL picks.

11-28-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens this show up with a little recap of what worked in Ohio State's surprising blowout victory over Michigan. Ohio State clearly held back their entire game plan for Michigan for the entire season. College Football has the strongest rivalries in all of sports. Baker Mayfield should have acknowledged his former coach after the Browns victory over the Bengals this past Sunday. It was not Hue Jackson's decision to leave the Browns- he was fired. Because of that, he should not be vilified for choosing his next job. Similarly, Mayfield's decision to leave Texas Tech for Oklahoma was for his own good and under no circumstances be an indictment of Baker. Robinson Cano is likely to be traded by the rebuilding Seattle Mariners, but GM Jerry DiPoto needs to stick to his guns and get the trading team to take Cano's contract in full as part of the deal. Jacoby Ellsbury has no trade value and if he is dealt, it simply means Yankees GM Brian Cashman bullied another team into taking him. John then talks about a couple football fights that reminded him of two unpopular middle school students being baited into a fight with the popular kids just laughing at them. Finally, in "Nobody's Listening," John reminds to viewer that everybody makes inappropriate comments. Maybe it is time to cut people some slack.

11-24-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by teasing his Nobody's Listening segment of the show talking about shopping on Thanksgiving. Have we hit a point where some of the most accomplished athletes should be expected to be owning some of sports' franchises? Why are there not more athletes involved with ownership of sports franchises? It might be time to end the advantage random business owners have over the control of sports teams. The Tiger Woods vs Phil Mickelson match play pay per view event went about as well as could have been imagined. It is two top players playing on the same level and a match went the equivalent of four overtimes. John just finds it hard to expect the same competition with another two golfers. Should Tiger and Phil (and maybe Connor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather) have put their own money down as the prize? Houston Texans owner Bob McNair passed away at the age of 81. While he deserves credit for bringing pro football back to Houston, he seemed to not have a feel of his players during the protesting controversy of last year. NFL picks plus should family members be insulted if their own leave them during Thanksgiving to get some shopping done? Shame on department stores for making people have to make such decisions.

11-21-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up this show with some discussion on rhetorical Thanksgiving comments. Why do people cook for large groups of family members if they are just going to complain about it? If it is such a chore and an inconvenience, don't do it. Don't invite your relatives in from across the country if all you are going to do is complain about the inconvenience of picking them up. Good to decent MLB players have been taken off of rosters due to crunches. Hopefully, CJ Cron and Derek Dietrich will land new roles soon just as Christian Villenueva has by having his contract purchased by the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Pacific League. John also brings up the possibility that teams are not looking at talent as much as they claim; they are loading their 40 man roster with players that happen to just be under the age of 22. Just because a player is young, does it mean they have the upside of the likes of Bryce Harper, Ronald Acuna, and Juan Soto? The Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists were announced. Tony Gonzalez, Eric Reed, Edgerin James, Don Coryell, and Clay Matthews are the most deserving of the honor. Once again, the NFL has done a great job of honoring the best players to ever play the game, unlike another sport we know and love. Perhaps a case can be made (being ambivalent for a minute) that the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a little watered down because of the amount of those honored each year. The Washington Wizards are going through a tough time- one that may lead to the trade of Bradley Beal to the Charlotte Hornets. The disrespect of NBA coaches continues to be an issue that should be addressed. While they are responsible for wins and success, they are not given the tools to do their job.