Passed Ball Show

9-25-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about how the NFL is a complete free for all when it comes to competition and its parity. Tiger Woods draws a lot of attention, particularly when he is contention or is in position to win a PGA Tour event. When John feels is being disregarded is the witnessing of a living legend, which is clearly what Tiger is. Hopefully anybody watching is appreciating what they have the opportunity to see with their own eyes. The National League baseball playoff races are causing a series of games to have a playoff like atmosphere over the last week of the regular season. Finally, there has to be a line drawn in the NFL between what officials should allow and what is in the best interest of players safety. When it comes to concussions and serious head and brain injuries, only those who can relate seem to have compassion. For those that think vicious hits in the NFL are funny and great entertainment, you obviously have not had your brain jarred in that type of matter (no pun intended).

9-21-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about how the Cleveland Browns could be 3-0 if Baker Mayfield was their quarterback. It would be a clown move if coach Hue Jackson does not use Mayfield as his QB the rest of the season- he gives them the best chance to win RIGHT NOW. The Passed Ball Show gives an official warning to umpire DJ Rayburn for his actions in yesterday's Mets/ Nationals, a game in which he embarrassed himself in his manner of ejection members of each team. Mark Geragos is a lawyer who represented Scott Peterson- a murderer- and Chris Brown- a convicted domestic abuser. He is also representing Collin Kaepernick. In a separate question, when are criminal defense attorneys going to be held accountable for the criminals they defend? Especially the ones that are convicted? All that plus Pielli's picks for Week Three of the National Football League.

2-19-2018 Listen back to @john_pielli's interview with former Twins, Orioles, and Dodgers relief pitcher Mike Trombley.

9-18-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by discussing his opinion of his show from yesterday. A college team in South Dakota defeated a team from Arkansas 90-6 and the coach apologized for using incorrect judgement in running up the score. On the surface, this looks like a clear path to blast the South Dakota State coach. His handling of the situation and his comments were as good as could have been imagined and it honestly seems like the man (John Stiegelmeier) learned a great deal from the ordeal. The penalty called on Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews for his tackle of Minnesota Vikings QB Kurt Cousins puts the NFL in a position where they MUST do one of two things. Either the NFL must physically demonstrate exactly what an acceptable tackle on a passing NFL QB looks like or make a proclamation that any contact with a QB will result in a penalty. If they choose the latter, the quarterback must be considered down with a simple touch of a hand or any contact from a defensive player. Whatever the rule is must be enforced fairly. Finally, with the announcement of the first openly gay golfer, does it matter what the man's sexual orientation is? Former MLB umpire Dale Scott never felt the need to have a news conference. In a world full of political correctness and attention to every statement ever made- in addition to the narrative that people are treated differently because of differences, why can a player just be gay and not have to have a press conference? John finishes the program by talking about the importance of being the individual first, then your difference- whether the difference in self-induced or pointed out by the general public.

9-17-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about how much it could suck to have "skin in the game" after a disastrous performance in his weekly NFL picks. How selfish was the move of Vonte Davis to retire during halftime during a loss to the LA Chargers? Terrible job and a virtual slap in the face to his teammates. He should have addressed it at a different time, similar to Alex Rodriguez'/ Scott Boras' decision to opt out of his contract during the 2007 World Series- one in which ARod was not playing. There is clearly a blueprint to stop the New York Giants offense- expect every team to duplicate it going forward. MLB umpire Tom Hallion made the game of baseball about himself again when he interfered with Mets celebration by standing on home plate. Known for his hot temper, Hallion was making a childish statement against Todd Frazier, who had been critical of the umpiring throughout the series against the Marlins. Walker Buehler, though he may not impact this year's post season- even if the Dodgers make it- will be the next star pitcher in major league baseball. Finally, the David Wright catch (when he jumped into the stands vs Seattle) was a better catch than the Derek Jeter stands catch vs Boston.

9-14-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by talking about the word immediacy and how it applies to today's news. People need to hear immediate reaction, something I started doing in 2012 with Johan Santana's no hitter. John gives a recap of his Week One NFL picks and picks five games for Week Two. The National League is going to be interesting as we reach the two week (left in the season) point. The Rockies have an ace, something they did not have last season. Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw, and Jake McGee have struggled this year, but the Rockies need them to perform at a high level if they are going to advance in the NL Postseason. As for the Braves, they need to push their starting pitchers further than most teams traditionally do in the playoffs.

9-13-2018 Passed Ball Show- John starts the show by calling into the question the decision to have a press conference just to announce when David Wright is playing again. Obviously, there is more to this- likely the announcement that Wright will either be retiring or not playing anymore after this season. If not, what is the need to have COO Jeff Wilpon and assistant GM John Ricco at the same presser. Khris Davis will almost certainly not be playing for the Oakland Athletics after the 2019 season when he is eligible to become a free agent and may even be traded this off season. This has more to do with precedence than anything else and is (and will be) clearly money-driven. Davis, an AL MVP candidate this season and a huge reason the Athletics are headed to an unexpected playoff season, fits the build of a reasonably paid player who is exceeding the worth of his contract ($10.5 million in 2018). Rather than pay him what he deserves, the Athletics would rather either trade him or simply not retain him once his contract runs out after the 2019 season. Finally, defensive pro football players should not be expected to be nice people. For years, since the days of Buddy Ryan, defensive players have been taught to be ferocious, tenacious, and have little regard for the safety of offensive players, particularly the quarterback. And we expect them to be nice guys? The days of the conventional defensive player becoming the best of all time are likely over for that reason. Players that play with that regard today would likely be suspended and eventually blackballed.

9-11-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the show by giving a quick recap of Week One in the National... Football... League. Pro Football is supposed to be for the toughest of tough, the manliness of man, however, there are more weather delays during the game than ever before. Le'veon Bell should continue his holdout as it is different than others in past history. The NFL should modify the franchise tag that it allows teams to put on a player. Finally, for those quick to judge Nike for its commercial that includes Collin Kaepernick, I hope you at least watched the commercial.

9-4-2018 Passed Ball Show- John opens up the program by talking about why it might make more sense to have your fantasy football draft as close to the start of the regular season as possible. John then brings up a proposal for how Major League Baseball can realign itself to reward the team that finishes with the best record (just like it did between the years of 1901-1968). The NFL is always more difficult to call than other sports, as more credit seems to go towards teams that did well last year. How did that go with most people's Giants pick from last year? Expect more surprises this season, especially in the NFC East and West and the AFC South and West. Finally, John reminds the listeners how Rap Artists continue to not be held to the same standards as other entertainers, especially when it comes to providing racist, sexist, and homophobic content.

This is a brief excerpt from an interview I recorded with former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Joe Landrum. It is only about two minutes- but Joe describes a lot of his baseball career in the late 1940's and early 1950's. In college, Joe got to play against a Yale team that included future U.S. President George Bush (#41).