Romantic About Baseball Podcast

This week, award-winning writer Shakeia Taylor (@curlyfro) stops by the show to talk to Adam about the complexity of race in today's game of baseball, and about her article discussing the history of Negro Leagues Magnate Effa Manley, her legacy, and how it's complicated nature only feeds the mystery of her life.

Shakeia's piece:

https://www.sbnation.com/2020/4/30/21238190/effa-manley-hall-of-fame-negro-league-newark-eagles

In this episode, Adam rants about the brinksmanship of MLB teams and their stadiums, most recently in Oakland, and then talks with David Krell, author of "1962: Baseball and America in the time of JFK".

Bailey from Foolish Baseball pads his all-time Pod appearances to join Jim and Adam on the Committee to Rebuild the Colorado Rockies franchise from it's current state of destitute. We will trade, sign, and overhaul the culture, of course after we talk about the unceremonious release of Albert Pujols.

Jim has the week off so Adam is doing his best Jacob deGrom impression and tries to do it himself, talking about the NL East, and some of the proposed new rules that could be coming for MLB.

Thanks to Jeff Passan for answering a couple of questions for me, and if you haven't read Ben Limbergh's piece in the Ringer, here's the link:

https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2021/3/15/22331075/pitching-mound-move-distance

Episode 61: Who we're Concerned About by Romantic About Baseball

In this episode, Fangraphs writer Devan Fink joins the show to talk about who the THIRD best position player in baseball might (or might not) be. We also talk about sticky stuff, mound moving, and so much more.

Friend of the show Eric Nusbaum returns to chat with Adam and Jim about his book "Stealing Home" a year after it's release on the anniversary of the first ever game at Dodger Stadium in 1962. The conversation then turns to the very thing Jim hates the most, the new MLB Extra Innings Rule.

Stealing Home is out on paperback this month and I highly recommend it! Here's my review:

https://romanticaboutbaseball.com/book-review-stealing-home-by-eric-nusbaum/

And here's where you can buy it!:

https://bookshop.org/books/stealing-home-los-angeles-the-dodgers-and-the-lives-caught-in-between-9781541742222/9781541742215

It's a RAB Double Feature! First, Adam talks with Andrea from ScoutGirlReport to talk about the upcoming season, and what it's REALLY like to be a Rays fan. After the break, Joan Ryan joins the show to talk about her book "Intangibles", and how team chemistry affects a clubhouse, even when "disruptions" arrive.

Jim and Adam talk to Craig Calcaterra, writer of the "Cup of Coffee" newsletter about the upcoming season, the Minor Leagues, and his latest adventures in writing!

Subscribe to Craig's newsletter (you wont regret it!):

https://cupofcoffee.substack.com/

In This Episode, PitcherList writer Max Greenfield join Adam and Jim to draft their teams for the 2021 Season, using only a Lineup, Rotation, Bullpen, and Defense from a unique team (no repeats on a team) in MLB.

THE RESULTS:

Max's Team:

LINEUP: New York Yankees

ROTATION: Atlanta Braves

BULLPEN: San Diego Padres

DEFENSE: Oakland A's

Jim's Team:

LINEUP: Toronto Blue Jays

ROTATION: Los Angeles Dodgers

BULLPEN: New York Yankees

DEFENSE: St. Louis Cardinals

Adam's Team:

LINEUP: Chicago White Sox

ROTATION: Cleveland

BULLPEN: Atlanta Braves

DEFENSE: Minnesota Twins