The Infinite Inning

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Delay of Game, May 27, 1941 at the Polo Grounds*John McGraw II: Don’t Follow Leaders and Their Sandwiches*Mike Bates: What I Learned After the Wedding*The Obligatory Harper-Machado Minutes: They Symbolic Bid*Let Them Entertain Me*The Twins are Restive*Buxton, Sano, and Kepler*Kiriloff is Coming*Free Agent Courting Relationship Status*Brusdar/Sinistar*Goodbye, Robbie Grossman (Who Could Hang a Name on You?)*Spelunking Jake Cave*The LoMo Segue and the Danger of One-Year Veterans*The Joe Genewich Playing-Through-Injury Anecdote*“This Week in Baseball History” Negro Leagues and Players Series*Rube Foster: Literal Giant*Casey Stengel and the Negro National League*Ray Dandridge and a Speech*Rod Carew vs. Calvin Griffith*Emmett Ashford*Goodbyes.

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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

Rusie, Brouthers, and Dahlen Dreaming*John McGraw at Bay*Ben Lindbergh: Too Much Audio Friendship/When You Throw Away Your Question-Shot*“Ballroom Dancing” vs. “The Pound is Sinking” vs. “Your Mother Should Know”*The MLB The Show Non-Cover*The Mystery Machine/The MVP Machine*Dexter Fowler Presses the Spacebar*The Votto Advantage*They Don’t Use VCRs Anymore*Virginia, There Is Such a Thing as Player Development*Archaic Wind-Ups*Fresh Eyes*Batting Follow-Through*The Post-Book Refractory Period*Jill Abramson’s Note-Taking*The Machado- and Harper-ness of Everything (Or Lack Thereof)*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 Quality of Mercy to Rabbits is Not Strained*Shanty Should Have Known Better*Patrick McLellan: I Don’t Need Glasses*The Lima Time Time/Casa Ole Ad/Self-Destructive Personas*Baseball is Unpopular?*Tracking the Last Reliever in the Bullpen*The Astros’ Non-Encore Encore*Is the Astros Lineup Getting Old?*Climbing Carlin’s Ladder*What Level of Engagement Should We Expect From an Entertainer or a Ballplayer?*Craig Biggio: The Declining Years*Jeff Kent: The Disliked Years*Be Careful Who You Root For; You Are Who You Root For*A Dallas Keuchel Prediction*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: Oh, my, are there cusswords this week. Mr. Normandin is just full of ‘em. Or something. Mind the children.  

Table of Contents

Lenny Merullo’s Bad (But Not THAT Bad) Day*Steve’s nomination for the2019 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards*That Fatal Mets Game*Marc Normandin: You Can’t Edit a Newsletter*A Different Kind of Lefty*Too Young for a Mid-Life Crisis But Too Old to Care*Marc for the Proletariat*Toxic Ballpark Food and Cats Who Pick Pennant Winners*Possibly Dangerous Eating Advice*“I’m not gonna pretend I’m friends with that cow”*Career Origins and Adventures in Editing*The Scoobies Question*The Flooded Baseball Zone*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 is one cussword early in the interview segment and one late. We beg your forgiveness.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hello, My Honey, Hello, My Jay*The Goslin Files*Mike Ferrin: Professional Radio Talk*Lean Questions*Mindfulness*Winning the Interview*Jim Duquette and the Stick Michael Approach*When You’re Just Not in the Mood to Broadcast/The Show Must Go On*Brodie Van Wagenen*The Paul Goldschmidt Trade and the Andrew McCutchen Conundrum*The Shelby Miller Trade and Other Prospect Disappointments*“This Guy’s a 40”*The Duck and the Llama*Eddie Stanky Tries to Get Fired Too*Wilmer Flores Comes to Phoenix*The Return of the Long Reliever*Sports Talk Radio is Negative?*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

Trevor Bauer Online/Jackie Robinson On a Plane*Tommy Henrich and Earned Good Luck*Craig Calcaterra: The NPR Voice*Steve’s Shameful Vin Scully Secret*The Coming Labor Crisis in Baseball*The Anti-Enthusiasm Cold Stove League*All the Team’s That Aren’t Adding Talent*Bryce Harper-to-the-Rockies Dreaming*Craig’s Car Dealership Metaphor*Bonds and Clemens (and Sosa): The Price*Craig’s Harold Baines Story/Steve’s Jose Guillen Story*Gaylord Perry in Arizona/Bob Costats’s Unsigned Mays Photograph*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 couple of cusswords in this episode, but one of them is about Ted Williams, and he would have appreciated that.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ted Williams’ False Washington Dawn*Tommy Pham and Jack Fournier*Cliff Corcoran: A Philosophy of Underbills*Return of The Descalse!*Mariano Rivera and Craig Kimbrel*Big Hall-Small Hall and Joe Gantenbein Forever*The Nine Worlds of Harold Baines/In Praise of Argument*The Jurickson Profar Deal*Yasiel Puig to the Reds Etc*Cliff’s Stats Feature*Reds Callback: Jesse Winker*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 couple of cusswords abroad in the land.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Rogers Hornsby’s War With Baseball (Stop it! Cut it out!)*Go See “They Shall Not Grow Old”/The Paths of Glory Lead Only to the Latrine/Hank Gowdy Falls Down*Connie Mack and The Difficulty of Getting Good Takeout in the Suburbs*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 Embedded Yankee: An Analogy*Babe Ruth’s Rough Year*Jane Leavy: A New View of the Babe*Felicitous Accidents of Research (Johnny Bassler and the Babe’s Childhood)*The Crimes of Babe Ruth’s Parents Against Babe Ruth*Ruth’s Right-Wing Connection*The Indispensable Christy Walsh*There is No Asterisk!*Fifty-Ounce Bats (What Would Ruth Do Today?)*In Search of the Inner Babe*The Unprecedented Revelation of Claire*Ruth’s Inner Hunger and the Babe at St. Mary’s*After the Cheering Stopped*The Tender Ruth?*Babe Ruth vs. Florence Nightingale for All the Nurses*Why Were the Owners So Angry at Ruth?/Ruth as Divisive Racial Figure*The Great Man Votes*The Romance of Ruth*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

Hans Christian Andersen’s Negro Leagues*Why I Was Not at the Winter Meetings*Bill Lange Goes Home Forever*Liz Roscher: The Winter Meetings Social Ramble Ain’t Restful*Martyrs to Baseball*A Late-Blooming Phillies Fan*Can You Earn Your Angry Fandom?*Pessimistic Mets Fans*“Fair-Weather Fans” and Other Accusations of Inauthenticity*More Fannish Pessimism*The “We Really Suck” Chant*How Do You Explain the Phillies’ Free-fall?*“It Feels Like They Don’t Have a Plan”*Carlos Santana, Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura and other Phillies*When Freddy Galvis Gets Up Your Butt*Our Owner Wants a New Boat*The Star Wars-Batman Analogy to Killing the Gate*Objectivity and Readers’ Imaginary Boundaries*Steve Comes to a Realization*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?