Spring Training is in full form.  The WBC cranks up tonight.  Life is good.

The boys chop it up with Coach Josh from Arlington, TX.  Josh is a 3rd grade teacher, and a loyal patreon supporter who is trying to change the culture of youth baseball in his town...one kind act at a time.  Atta Boy Coach!

The boys talk some World Baseball Classic.  Chopper's High School team is turning the corner, and Ballgame is pumped to drop his 2023 North America Sandlot Tour Schedule this weekend!

RAKE.

Wanna Support Us?  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

He's the GREATEST SHOWMAN and Third Baseman for the Savannah Bananas.  How did he get there?  What new tricks can we expect to see on their 2023 Banana Ball Tour?  What is his advice to Parents and Coaches?  

Ballgame and Chop also share their thoughts on the new rule changes in MLB.

We close with a visit with another loyal patreon, Coach DOGPILE.  What issues has he run into as a Little League Umpire that need some fixing?  How did his son teach the coach how to approach failure?

It's a GOOD one!

Rake.  Bang.

www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

The boys invite a loyal Patreon Supporter to join the conversation this week.  Coach Sparky is Ballgame's Sandlot BOOTS on the ground in Madison, WI.  Sparky is also a weekly listener and supporter of the show.  We discuss how this podcast has not only helped shape his personal coaching philosophy, but how it's impacted his community as well.

Coach Ballgame also recaps his Sandlots in Florida, his Presidents Day Camp with Coach Jamie and Texie, and his upcoming film screening in Sedona.

Chopper's High School Team has their opening day tomorrow, and you won't believe what he and the Diesel are bringing to the game!

RAKE.

Wanna support the Pod?  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

The Boys talk about their Wives.  They go down a list of their favorite qualities of Mrs. Chop and Mrs. Ballgame.  

Ballgame also recaps his weekend with some Bo Bichette, George Springer, and some other Toronto Blue Jays.

RAKE

She's the incredibly talented reporter for the Colorado Rockies.  It's Kelsey Wingert folks!  

This episode may be Coach Ballgame and Chopper's favorite!  Why?  Because her journey to where she's gotten has been an absolute battle.  

She's a grinder.  A battler.  She loves hard.  She cares hard, and by Golly...she's a BASEBALL GAL.  She knows more baseball than Chopper and Ballgame combined.  

She dreamed of being a sportscaster in elementary school.  She was the team manager on her High School's baseball team.  She climbed her way to the top with internship after internship.  Her DREAM JOB came when she was 23.  Then it was pulled from underneath her 4 years later.  Then Covid shut everything down.  How did she overcome that?  

She's also been hit by not one, but TWO foul balls.  How did she overcome that?  

What's Bud Black like?  Freddie Freeman?  Brian Snitker?

This is a MUST LISTEN.  Enjoy the amazing KELSEY FREAKIN WINGERT!

Wanna support the Pod?  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

This episode...WOW.  Coach Ballgame has been telling the Roberto Clemente Story to thousands of kids the past 20 years.  Today, we have a conversation with Roberto's oldest son, Roberto Clemente Jr.  What did Roberto like doing with his kids when he came home from Pirates games?  How did his mother Vera lead the family?  Who stepped up to be a father figure for Junior when the accident happened?  What saved his life when depression set in, and how is he carrying the Clemente name moving forward.  

There's an incredible Ruben Sierra Story.

There's a dozen quotes that are life changing.

There's a story about a gang fight that broke out on a baseball field.

There's enough here to make a dynamite film.  Maybe Coach Ballgame should write it!

Enjoy the story of Roberto Clemente Jr.  

Rake!

Wanna support?  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

He played for the Nats, Rays, D-Backs, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, and Mariners.  His story is incredible.  Find out why he almost quit the game in 2011.  How did his faith change the course of his career?  How did he handle the temptations of "Identity Exchange" when he made it to the Bigs?  Why is Paul Goldschmidt his favorite teammate?  

There's so many gems in this hour long conversation.  "Embrace the Interruptions."  "Build Relational Equity." 

Chopper also does some preaching, and it's pretty awesome.

Ballgame has some BIG NEWS involving his MLB contract.

It's a darn good episode.  Listen, and share.

Thank You Patreons!  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

RAKE

He's the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers!  Jeff Levering has called Brewers games on radio and TV since 2015.  How did he get there?  What's his advice to young broadcasters?  Oh yea, and what's it like sharing a booth with the one and only Bob Uecker for the last 7 years?

Coach Ballgame shares his weekend with some social media influencers, which turned into NOT your average baseball camp.

Coach Chop discusses a big time scare involving his 5 year old boy.  

Thank You to all our Patreon Supporters.

Wanna support?  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

RAKE.  BANG.

He's Mr. Play by Play.  The Number 2 guy for FOX in NFL, and the Number 1 guy for FOX in MLB.  He's also the voice of the LA Dodgers.  He would watch Joe Buck call World Series Games as a kid.  His Childhood Dream was to call those World Series games one day.  This past year, that dream came true.  But it wasn't an easy road to the top.  How did he get his broadcasting career started?  What's it like taking over the job of the best to ever do it, Vin Scully?  How does he prepare?  

It's all here.  There's also an epic Dodgers Trivia Contest between Chopper and Joe.  Who do you think got the W?

Coach Ballgame and Chopper discuss New Years Resolutions.  Ballgame also implements a new segment called, "How's your mental heath?"  The goal...to break the stigma around young men opening up about their mental health.  How can we as coaches create a culture of being transparent?  

Thank You to all our listeners, and our Patreon Supporters!

Wanna support?  www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

He's got a PHD in Hitting, but more importantly...he's got a PHD in "Feel."  It's the Hitting Coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Bates.  He's shared a batting cage with names like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner, and Albert Pujols.  What's his approach?  How does he build trust?  

The boys crack the code on social awareness.  When is it the right time to show a player what they're doing wrong?  How do you differentiate teaching different age groups and skill levels?  When is sarcasm a good thing?  

It's all right here.  EPISODE 50 of the Pod.  Chopper and Ballgame are so very thankful to all our Patreon Supporters and Listeners!  We thrive on this gig!

Here's to another 50 episodes in 2023.  

If you'd like to support the Podcast...www.patreon.com/chopandballgame

Bang!