The Ringer MLB Show

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss the ingredients of a good baseball memoir (01:00), then bring on former major leaguer Rick Ankiel to discuss his new book, ‘The Phenomenon’ (05:00), his outfield conversion (09:00), his battle with the yips (11:00), and the improvement in baseball’s treatment of its players’ psyches (14:00). Then, they talk to Astros relief ace Chris ‘The Dragon’ Devenski about his unpredictable, multi-inning role (28:30), why he was underrated as a prospect (32:30), his filthy changeup and evolving slider (33:30), and his distinctive nickname (38:15).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the early season’s upside-down standings (02:00), toasted grasshoppers at Safeco Field (06:30), the etiquette of the wave (09:30), and how quickly you should quit on a closer (12:00). Then they bring on two dermatologists, Dr. John E. Olerud and Dr. Charles E. Crutchfield (15:00), to talk about how Dr. Olerud balanced pro baseball and medical school (16:00), possible remedies for Rich Hill’s seemingly unfixable blister (23:00), the dangers of sun exposure in sports (30:00), and how Botox is helping hitters (40:45).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss 10 of the strangest, most surprising, and most impressive events from the first week of the MLB regular season, including an epic battle between Mike Trout and King Félix (10:30), Jeremy Guthrie's disaster start (15:00), Yadier Molina's sticky-baseball blooper (29:30), and the Padres' unprecedented tanking (41:00).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann review a dozen developments from the first week of the season and analyze whether they're signs of things to come (02:00). Then they bring on Baseball Prospectus writer Rob Mains to talk about how April differs from the rest of the regular season (23:00) and how fans (and fellow writers!) can avoid being misled by early-season small-sample results (41:30).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann bring on actor Hank Azaria to discuss spoofing baseball broadcasters (03:00), juxtaposing baseball and black comedy (10:00), explaining the sport's eccentricities (19:30), his reaction to a famous line from 'Heat' (22:45), and his new IFC TV series, 'Brockmire' (26:00). Then they call former MVP and future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones to talk about becoming baseball-obsessed (27:00), switch-hitting (34:20), playoff randomness (39:00), misbehaving away from the field (41:15), and his new book, 'Ballplayer' (43:15).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann ask and answer 21 either/or and over/under questions about the upcoming season (01:30). Then they bring on Sony Interactive Entertainment America community manager and game designer Ramone Russell to talk about AI improvements (25:30), increased realism (29:00), and new modes in 'MLB the Show 17' (30:00), the choice of cover model Ken Griffey Jr. (40:45), and how much research into real baseball it takes to digitize the sport (44:30).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to Eric Longenhagen and Chris Mitchell from FanGraphs about the differences between the site's scouting-based and stats-based top-prospect lists and the highly ranked players who appear on the former but not the latter (02:00). Then they bring on Evan October and Justin Safely from Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club to discuss the band's origin story and songwriting process (27:00), baseball's punk-rock cred (34:00), and the Isotopes' new single, "Legend of George Brett," and forthcoming album, '1994 World Series Champions' (43:30).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss whether MLB teams should limit the workloads of players on WBC teams (02:00), break down Michael's clubhouse interviewing technique (11:00), and comment on quotes from two players Michael talked to on his trip to Arizona (14:00), Rangers starter Cole Hamels (on aging and wearable sensors) and Indians outfielder Brandon Guyer (on getting hit by pitches). Then they bring on Economist editor Dan Rosenheck to talk about his study on the significance of spring training stats (27:50) and examine why earlier analysts came to incorrect conclusions about traditional baseball beliefs (35:00).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to baseball columnist and historian Steven Goldman about the new so-called Carter Capps and David Price rules (04:00), the evolution of the pitching motion (04:40), and past examples of rule changes prompted by a specific player, person, or event (07:10). Then they bring on journalist Octavio Hernández to discuss his statistical work for the World Baseball Classic (23:55), how big the WBC is in Venezuela (28:10), and how the top teams stack up (39:05).

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The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to MLB.com columnist Joe Posnanski about his new job as a full-time baseball writer (01:45), his hatred for the intentional walk (04:50), the automatic IBB rule (5:50), and why baseball fans are so attached to rules and resistant to change (12:55). Then they bring on Padres super-utility player Christian Bethancourt to discuss his conversion from catcher to two-way player who catches, pitches, and plays all over the field (27:25).

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