Passed Ball Show

10-19-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by talking about the possibility of Clayton Kershaw and David Price pitching against each other in the World Series. He also adds some other pitchers to the list of those who have not performed well in the postseason. John then talks about Champion Floyd Mayweather and how he is planning to at least take on a fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov after claiming he was likely done boxing. Boxers always have the tendency to take at least one fight too many and Floyd seems to be no different; Khabib and a Manny Pacquiao rematch are on the reasonable horizon. It is a shame and at some point, will lead to the destruction of his perfect record. It is getting closer and closer to the time top college football and basketball players should be paid legally. The NBA's G-League potentially giving high school players an option not to go to college is a good idea, but there is a lot of things to sort out- such as what constitutes a team's right to have the property of a certain player or what draft pick compensation should a team give up for the rights to a player. That an Week Seven's PBS NFL Picks.

10-18-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by adding the Houston Rockets to his list of possible unders when it comes to 2018 NBA win totals, citing Carmelo Anthony's impact on the 2017 Oklahoma City Thunder as a reason to think he may not help the Rockets as much as expected. John then mans up and admits his mistake on a tweet he sent earlier in the morning claiming that the Red Sox and Dodgers have never played in a World Series. They did, of course, in 1916, when the Red Sox won the series 4 games to 1. Mookie Betts attempt to catch a ball in the stands last night should have been either a ball in play or a home run, depending on whether the fan actually made contact with the ball. More information is coming out about the life of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez- from his relationship with Tim Tebow to his asking Bill Bellichick to trade him early in 2013. Was Hernandez hanging out with a bad crowd, or was he the negative influence on his "friends"? Looking forward to reading the Babe Ruth book by sportswriter Jane Leavy, "The Big Fellow." Was Babe Ruth the first American domestic celebrity?

10-17-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens the show up with a little discussion about the MLB playoffs and how the winner of the Red Sox/ Astros series will likely be the World Series favorite. There is a clear difference between gamesmanship and cheating, especially as it applies to the sport of baseball. If there is reasonable doubt whether something is cheating, it is likely gamesmanship being taken to literally. The Buffalo Bills traded Tyrod Taylor to the Cleveland Browns at the same time they traded for AJ McCarron (from the Bengals). The subsequent trade of McCarron to the Oakland Raiders left the Bills with Josh Allen and Nathan Peterman. Allen's injury has forced the Bills to bring in Derek Anderson- could it make sense for the Bills to possible trade back for Taylor? John then discusses his five over/ unders he bet for the upcoming NBA season.

10-12-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about how the New York football Giants are a bad team. Any team that is 4-18 in their last 22 games cannot be just a win a way from turning it around. In Major League Baseball, there is no coincidence that the four teams that are alive in the playoffs are all analytically driven. It is also no coincidence that the three teams looking for new leadership (General Managers) are the three teams who seem to be the least tech savy when it comes to analytics. This weeks NFL picks, plus a message about those say "Happy Birthday" to people they do not know and do not know them.

10-9-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up with a little recap of the roller coaster Boston Red Sox season 2018 season. One that went from historic, to overrated- back to confident as the Yankees face elimination. Please consider donating for two year old JJ Schmoyer, who was inexplicably murdered by his father during a suicide car-bombing.

https://www.gofundme.com/674zlb4

John then talks about the umpiring of Angel Hernandez. While Hernandez has himself to blame for his lousy reputation and the fact that he is fraudulently suing MLB, is another umpire had the misfortune of missing the calls he missed, it may not be as much of a story. The Phoenix Suns just fired General Manager Ryan McDonough (no relation to the NHL defenseman)- kind of odd since it comes with just over a week to go before the NBA season and just after he was able to hire a new coach, draft the number one player overall in the NBA draft, and make a significant trade. Finally, the vultures are about to come after Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, after his friend, photographer Danny Bollinger was fired for sexual misconduct.

10-8-2018 Passed Ball Show- The show opens up with a quick take on the inevitability of the Yankees/ Red Sox ALDS Series and a mention of how Odell Beckham has turned back to his old self after getting his contract. UFC might very well be scripted. Not the action, but the sideshows. John talks about the similarities between the antics at the McGregor/ Khabib fight and boxing of the 1990's, even some comparisons to the WWE and the Real Housewives of !#@. Twins designated hitter Miguel Sano had his live encounter with what could have come from the TV Series Cops.

10-5-2018 Passed Ball Show- The show opens up with a welcome to the start of the National Hockey League season. John then adds to his points on why the overuse of relievers in baseball will ultimately lead to the destruction of a postseason team. John then makes the comparison of the most recent NASCAR race to the movie Talledega Nights. Finally, Week 5 NFL Picks which will be on the website johnpielli.com.

10-2-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show with a brief recap of some of the sports happenings of this past weekend. Should he bet against himself? To vilify Peter O'Brien in the 2019 baseball season, Mets fans will prove their stupidity more than John can ever state on his own. O'Brien is not Chase Utley, Pete Rose, or John Rocker, nor Chipper Jones, Willie Stargell or Willie McCovey- you are booing him because he caught a ball? For doing his job? The most redundant thing in baseball is throwing the ball to third or first base on the third out on a strikeout. John takes out his frustration on this pointless act. Are the Athletics throwing in the towel against the Yankees in the Wild Card Game this Wednesday? John ranks the 32 NFL starting quarterbacks in order of worst to best.

9-28-2018 Passed Ball Show- John starts out the show by giving his NFL Picks for Week number 4 in the National Football League. All picks will be on www.johnpielli.com. The Ryder Cup has started; as exciting as it is, is there an issue with the fact that the United States get to assemble their own team and the European countries get to put together theirs? How about the Little League World Series? Should either or both be similar to the selection process of the World Cup in soccer? John gets into the political correctness argument and its selective usage. Whether it is right or not, Hooters has the ability to be more selective in its hiring process and use looks and body figure to hire its waitresses. Even if they did not, those that are more attractive and have better looking bodies are guaranteed to be able to earn more money in tips. Finally, has the importance of the use of grammar gone completely out the window?

9-26-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about all the different ways you can listen or watch the PBS. John then gives his MLB regular season awards for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year in each league. John then talks about the depths of the decision making process when it comes to a National Championship contending College Football team and their quarterback. Clemson, Alabama, and Ohio State have had similar decisions to make. Choosing a QB in college is more immediate as opposed to the NFL where it is likely more long term. Finally, how should Bill Cosby be remembered? John chooses to remember the comedian, America's Dad, and entertainment icon over the sexual predator.