The Infinite Inning

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The God of Dan Brouthers*We All Get Old, Miguel Cabrera*Sean Forman: Baseball-Reference Changed My Life*What if Roberto Clemente’s Hit Total Needed to Be Revised? (The “Mr. 3000” Scenario)*bWAR and fWAR and Some Other WARs*Old Fielders and Old Fielding Stats*Gratuitous Derek Jeter Time*Protein Folding as Career Prep*Stalking Baseball-Reference*Giant Bill James Head*Win Shares vs. WAR*Adding More Detail to Baseball-Reference*FBref (Soccer)!*Stats That Tell Stories*The Pele Page is Coming*Women’s Sports and Statistical Availability*Integrating FanGraphs and Baseball Prospectus Stats*The Lack of Statcast Availability*BB-Ref Goin’ Mobile*Injury Codes!*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Bill Dahlen Brings You Flowers*The Infinite Inning Revenge Plot*Scott Sanderson II: A Rejoinder*Andrew Stoeten: It’s Been a Long Time Since 1993*Loyal to the Players, Not to the Team*Calling Up Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.*First- and Second-Guessing Josh Donaldson Decisions*Kevin Pillar Returns*Projecting Guerrero*The Curse of Cito Gaston*The Randal Grichuk Extension*In Praise of Smoak*Up From Drunken Blogging*Growing Up in Public II*Beatwriter Acceptance and Denial (Called Out in the Toronto Sun)*Podcast Behind the Paywall*How Bad is Teoscar Hernandez’s Defense Really?*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

WARNING: One cussword. Just one. It’s gonna be okay.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

On Butterflies and Baseball Injuries*Scott Sanderson’s Hot Dog*Bill Baer: Curating Hardball Talk*The Hate-Readers*Shy On the Internet*We’re So Sorry, Ryan Howard*The Real Meaning of “Stick to Sports”*The Formerly Anti-Analytic Phillies*Hall of Fame Baseball Writer Contretemps*Beginner’s Mind in Baseball Writing*You Don’t Have to Explain WAR Anymore*Trying is the New Market Inefficiency*Are the 2019 Phillies for Real?*The 1980 Phillies vs. the 2019 Phillies*The Opener and Arbitration (Jeff Innis, Too)*Juan Soto Dreaming*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

WARNING: When this many guys from New York and New Jersey get together, some swearing is inevitable. It’s just intermittent, so intermittently hide the children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Eddie’s Opening Day*Opening Day (Featuring Dr. Rick Mohring and Casual Observer)*Big Round Numbers and Leo Durocher on the Radio*Cliff Corcoran, David Roth, Jesse Spector: Tinkers to Evers to I Hate You*Is Florida?*Are the Marlins really worth $1 Billion in the Age of Global Warming?*The Phillies’ Bryce Harper Attendance Bugle*Breaking Free Agency On a Whim*Cleveland Nihilism and Moneyball ambivalence*League Without Pity*Should the Padres Have Signed Manny Machado?*Beards (Keuchel and Kimbrel)*Having Fun with the 2019 Season (Like Hating the Cubs!)*Liberated By/From David Wright*In-Season Happiness vs. Offseason F-ckery*Let’s Remember Some Guys(So Much Rickey)*A Mike Pagliarulo Moment, and Oh, God, Alvaro Espinosa (Where Have All the Bad Players Gone, Long Time Passing?)*Questioning Jeff Mathis/We Love Pat Tabler*Full Circle and Goodbyes to End All Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman and guests discuss the game forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dwight Gooden Without Tears*For Want of Steve Lake, Jody Davis Was Lost*Chris Donnelly: Teams Headed in Opposite Directions*The 1986 Mets Disassembled*Dwight Gooden ‘85*The Depths of High Steinbrennerism*We’re So Sorry, Eddie Lee Whitson*Billy Martin in Rapid Decline*“Why Don’t You Like Me, Butch?”*Mr. Carter Goes to New York*How to Doug Sisk and Influence People*Mr. Henderson Also Goes to New York*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Last Days of Tony Lazzeri*Tommy John’s First Shoulder Injury*Tyler Kepner: Don’t Fool Yourself; You’d Do This With Your Book Royalties Too*Trout Contract Reax*K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches and the 300 Interviews*Zack Greinke Said No*The Sense of Possibility in Pitching*That Johnny Sain X-Ray Question*Archaic Pitches and Colorful Baseball*Sinkers!*Dan Quisenberry and Tug McGraw*Kent Tekulve’s Cap*Ted Williams Was Wrong About Pitchers*Talking With Mike Mussina*The La Lob*Being the National Baseball Writer for the Times*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

WARNING: There are a few cusswords in this episode. Even Steve utters one! Hide the dog, lest his vocabulary be corrupted!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Advice From Tony Lazzeri*Massacres (and Tony Lazzeri Again)*Tom Breihan: Too Many Super-Hero Films?*Nobody Talks the Way They Talk in Marvel Movies*Captain Marvel vs. The Trolls*Fantasies of Empowerment*The “Watchmen” Perspective as Anti-Entertainment*The Batman Silliness and the Mugger’s Story*Bloodless Violence and the Denazified “Captain America”*Mr. Rodgers Against Super-Heroes*Pause for Baltimore Orioles Cheap Shots That Aren’t So Cheap*I Love Spock Whether He’s Gay or Not*Emotional Storytelling in “Avengers Infinity War”*Characters Without Constituencies*In Defense of The Shadow*Writer Origins, “My Ding-a-Ling,” and “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” Ties It All Together*Coming Attractions*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Noted Emergency Catching Scenarios of the 20th Century*Tom Seaver at Twilight*Cliff Corcoran: Pirates-Skin Pillbox Hat*Twenty-Six-Man Rosters*What of Position Players Pitching?*Matt Carpenter/Shawn Green/Joe Adcock and Thwarted Desires*The Proposed Three-Batter Minimum*The LOOGY Myth*Choosing Relievers for Pitches, Not Handedness*The Joe Girardi Thing*The Proposed All-Star Voting Run-Off*An All-Star Emeritus Roster Spot*Bryce Harper Signs, the Phillies Make Money*Manipulating Service-Time Manipulation*Looking Forward to the National League*Denigrating Cleveland’s Offseason*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Warning: As always when David comes around there is the odd cussword in the air. There is also some dimly frank talk about Robert Kraft’s arrest. Mind the children if you think they’d ask embarrassing questions.

Table of Contents

Hank Aaron and Bowie Kuhn*Bob Gibson and the Man-Mountain*David Roth: Let’s Remember Some Triple-A Journeymen*The Baseball Card Gold Rush*Topps: The Motion Picture*The Frank Bolick Moment*Macho Man Randy Savage and Brad “The Animal” Lesley*Why There Are Unwritten Rules*Why the Patriots are Hated/Why Robert Kraft Was Arrested and Why Should We Care?*Admiring a Dynasty*The Worst Logo in Pro Sports*Birds and Bergs of Florida (Ho! The Common Gallinule!)*The Part About Alligators*Golfing with Alligators*Animals Who Might Want to Eat David Roth*The Moose*Talking Baseball*Team Spending and the Pure Food and Drug Act*The Free Agent Market is Not Okay*Debating Craig Kimbrel*The Braves’ Non-Pursuit of Bryce Harper*Giving the Customer as Little as Possible*A Cheapness That Has Nothing to Do with Money*Look for the Union Label*Goodbyes.


The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

WARNING: There is a brief reference to abortion and rape, for those who might be triggered. There is also one four-letter word about half an hour in.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Don Newcombe and the Ordeal of Reputation*The Ballad of Shanty Hogan*Sheryl Ring: Baseball and the Legal Mind*Koufax and Drysdale Hold Out*Do Stats Permit Each Team Have a Unique System and Breaches of Fiduciary Duty*Breaking Noah Syndergaard*Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth Go Into the Stands*Offerman and Nathans*Fowler’s Knee*Beanballs*The Death of Houdini*The Gene Tierney Case*Baseball as a Way of Surviving*Transgender Origins*Software and Firmware*The Bathroom Bill Deflection*Baseball Doesn’t Love You Back/Coke is a Drink, Baseball is an Experience*Goodbyes.

THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.

THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!

SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?