The Ringer MLB Show

The Dodgers' Yasiel Puig trade this offseason shook some fans to their core. Craig Gaines joins to share why that angst has passed. Plus, will this be the year the Dodgers get over the hump, or is there reason for continued anxiety for the best team in baseball heading into the postseason (2:00)? Then, Rob Harvilla calls in to delineate the Indians’ two-year fallout since the 2016 World Series (16:27).

Host: Bobby Wagner

Guests: Craig Gaines and Rob Harvilla

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The Braves have been the most competent team in an NL East full of turmoil—why aren’t we talking more about them? Then Marc Normandin joins to discuss the latest deep dives into MLB’s cynical international practices. Finally we review the Hall of Fame ceremonies from over the weekend, which included the inductions of Mike Mussina, Roy Halladay, and Edgar Martinez, among others.

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

Guest: Marc Normandin

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Contending teams have started to make modest moves for rotation help and extra bats in the lineup—are larger moves coming down the road or will this be a slow July (0:52)? Plus, the Phillies are in a state of turmoil on the field that could lead to one off (22:58), while the Giants have overperformed expectations to the point that it might throw a wrench in their plans to trade stars like Madison Bumgarner (38:24).

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

Guest: Meghan Montemurro

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We break down the Vlad Guerrero Jr. show that was the Home Run Derby (1:11) before calling up FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen to talk about what stood out to him at the MLB Futures Game (17:44). Then, to wrap up the pod, Ben Lindbergh comes on to speculate about what we most have to look forward to in the second half of the season (37:06).

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram,

Guest: Eric Longenhagen

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We mourn the unexpected loss of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs and discuss what he meant to his team and the camaraderie of MLB teammates (0:48). Then Donnie Kwak joins the show to talk about his cousin Tommy Edman’s first few weeks in the big leagues (17:30), and finally we discuss the stark contrast between the NBA and MLB offseasons and free agency (38:35).

Host: Michael Baumann, Zach Kram, Ben Lindbergh

Guests: Donnie Kwak

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In the first episode of “Why I Hate My Team,” Sean Fennessey joins to have a (relatively) reasonable conversation about the turmoil in Queens over the past two weeks (0:30). Then, Mallory Rubin describes the acute pain of watching your favorite baseball player return, in a different uniform, to your team’s home ballpark (25:00).

Host: Bobby Wagner

Guests: Sean Fennessey and Mallory Rubin

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We detail the latest week in Mets mania (1:10), wonder how Lance Lynn became possibly the best pitcher in baseball (26:15), and try to make sense of MLB’s plan for international expansion—specifically theLondon series and the Rays' early plans for a Montreal/Tampa Bay crossover (39:39).

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh

Guests: Katie Baker, Craig Edwards

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The Yankees traded for Edwin Encarnación this weekend and expect to get Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge back soon. Is this the deepest home-run-hitting lineup of all time (1:30)? Then we check in with MLB.com Padres beat writer AJ Cassavell about the state of baseball in San Diego as it continues to be more interesting than it has been in years (18:54). Finally, we do our annual checkup on Clayton Kershaw’s status as the ace of his generation and wonder whether he’ll age as nicely as lefties like Tom Glavine have (40:00).

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

Guest: AJ Cassavell

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We bounce around a busy week in baseball news, starting with a first look at some surprising names atop the All-Star voting leaderboards (2:12) and then discussing David Ortiz’s health after he was shot in the Dominican Republic (21:31). We finish by talking about whether the home run is diminished by the ball flying out of the park seemingly easier than it ever has before (37:51).

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

Guest: Emma Baccellieri

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We react to the first worthwhile trade of the MLB season—Jay Bruce to the Philadelphia Phillies (1:45). Then, FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen joins the show to go deep on the (still unfolding) MLB draft, sharing his biggest winners so far (21:00). Finally, Ben Lindbergh shares the work and reporting that went into his latest book, 'The MVP Machine': What was the impetus for writing it? What was the most surprising and resounding takeaway (45:34)?

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

Guest: Eric Longenhagen

Buy Ben's book here!

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