Running the Bases Podcast

Jeff Pearlman, New York Times best-selling author of nine books including "The Bad Guys Won", "Boys Will Be Boys", and "Showtime" (adapted for the HBO Series 'Winning Time'), joins the podcast to talk about his new book "The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson." Jeff shares his process that took almost three years, 700 original interviews and scores of research to craft this seminal biography about the elusive Bo Jackson. Bo was the first two-sport superstar in the modern era, shining on the diamond for the Kansas City Royals and on the gridiron with the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1980s. Jackson was a Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, the only professional athlete to play in an MLB All-Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl, and a pop culture phenomenon with his incredible athletic exploits in both. Jeff deep dives into the mythology of what makes Bo Jackson immortal in a time before social media and 24/7 sports coverage.

Author Clayton Trutor joins Tucker and Coach to talk about his new book “Loserville: How Professional Sports Remade Atlanta - and How Atlanta Remade Professional Sports.” In the time period between the early 1960s through the late 1970s in Atlanta, city government and local business leadership created the mold for bringing sports franchises to a new city (4:51). A cautionary tale of “Too Much, Too Soon”, Clayton examines the circumstances and actions that led to Atlanta having zero major professional sports teams to all four in less than a decade (31:20). The lack of success and support gave Atlanta the moniker of “Loserville”, a struggle later experienced in cities like Phoenix, Tampa and San Diego (39:53). Finally, Tucker and Coach take a long overdue victory lap on the Braves’ improbable 2021 World Series Championship (54:46).

Coach and Tucker preview the 2021 MLB Season: Predictions for every team in every division, starting in the AL West (2:38) where the villain Astros are favored once again. Is this make or break time for the Angels and Trout? Can the A’s pull out another moneyball trip to October? The AL Central (9:58) features a stacked White Sox team, and a Twins team ready to go toe-to-toe with the South-Siders. In the AL East (17:57), it is once again the Yankees to lose, but you can’t count out the Rays. In the National League, the Dodgers and Padres are the class of baseball in the West (30:21), and might be the best present-day rivalry in baseball. The Cardinals are loaded in the NL Central (39:52), but start the year with serious pitching issues. The Brewers may have the best manager in baseball, and could grab hold with a hot start. Finally, the strongest division in baseball in the NL East (51:53), where the top four (Braves, Mets, Phillies, Nationals) could finish in any order. All the individual awards and postseason predictions for both leagues, everything from Opening Day until the end of October.

Running the Bases is back for the 2021 season! Coach and Tucker look forward to (hopefully) a full summer of Baseball (1:30), and what changes to expect moving forward. Coach gives proper tribute to the colossal Henry Aaron, as seen in person from Day One in Atlanta, through Home Run no. 715, all the way to his final game at Fulton County Stadium (20:26). Coming into home, reflecting on the surreal 2020 season- The 60-game sprint, ever-changing Covid protocols, and where baseball fit amid the strife and chaos within the United States (47:36).

Tucker is joined by Coach via phone for the first Coronavirus podcast for RTB. Out of the Box, Coach and Tucker discuss MLB's different strategies to try and have a 2020 baseball season (3:12). The CPBL in Taiwan offers a baseball fix to the masses with a bizarre new approach (20:26), what permanent changes to MLB will result from COVID-19 (42:12), and what gets lost in a lost season (51:23). Coming into Home, remembering the great Al Kaline, "Mr Tiger" and one of the great elder statesmen of baseball (54:58).

Originally recorded in 2018, Tucker and Coach are joined by author Clayton Trutor to discuss Bernard Malamud's seminal baseball work, "The Natural" (2:45). Written in 1949, Malamud had no prior knowledge of baseball history. He crafts the character of Roy Hobbs to be the "Great American Monomyth" (5:05). Filled with lush poetic imagery (Wonderboy and the Wasteland), Malamud weaves the Vegetative myth, Arthurian Legend and the mode of Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces", to pen the standard for baseball fiction (15:00). From the book came the beloved 1984 film starring Robert Redford, featuring an A-List cast, Oscar-winning cinematography, and Randy Newman's iconic score. However, the ending is pure Hollywood and a far cry from the book (50:00).

First RTB Podcast of 2020, Coach and Tucker discuss the 2019-2020 Offseason (2:00), the best players still available and the team that won the Hot Stove. 1st to 3rd, they give their Hall of Fame predictions for the Class of 2020 (24:30) and respect for Marvin Miller (41:54). Coming into Home, Coach breaks down Chad Harbach's beautiful baseball novel "The Art of Fielding" (46:22). *Podcast recorded before MLB ruled on the cheating Astros, Cora, et. al.

Coach and Tucker talk MLB Postseason predictions for 2019. Out of the Box (2:00): A recap of key storylines as the regular seasons' end, including Maddon and the Cubs parting ways, and send offs for Bochy, MadBum and King Felix. First to Third (17:35): All the predictions for October baseball, with the Astros as a juggernaut that would give the '27 Yankees the shakes. Cardinals strike fear in the hearts of the Braves, Yankees and Twins slugfest, and can the Dodgers avoid becoming the Buffalo Bills of baseball? Coming into Home (52:30): Awards Predictions and our Prep-Star Shout Out.

Coach and Tucker give thoughts on the 2019 MLB regular season heading into the stretch run. The Terrifying Cardinals have returned, the Twins are a delightful surprise, while the Rockies make us sad. Who will be playing in October, and a fond farewell to the worst uniforms ever. Going 1st to 3rd, Coach recalls the experience of the Braves first ever division title 50 years ago (37:32), a bow to Aaron and Niekro, and surprisingly disappointing. Coming into home, our first Prep-Squad Shout Out to a star at Hampton High School in Georgia (55:03).

Premiere episode of the Running the Bases "State of the Franchise", breaking down a team in rebuilding. Coach and Tucker take a deep dive into the Cincinnati Reds, the oldest team in MLB, but far removed from the days of the Big Red Machine. Going back to the "Nasty Boys" championship team of 1990, the Reds have stepped out from under the cloud of Marge Schott (3:30), while current ownership has failed to build a contender outside of 2010-2013. We rate farm system health (12:00), "Worst Move of the Decade" (16:50), "Best Move of the Decade" (23:30), and "Time Until Competitive" (32:00). Finally, the ballpark factor, rating the game-day experience and fan support, and what changes we would make to the Great American Ballpark (40:00).