Thinking Baseball

Baseball, more than any sport, celebrates and honors its records. They are measuring sticks for greatness, goals to aspire to, and for a precious few, earn the honorable distinction of “unbreakable.”

On today’s episode, ARE records made to be broken? Nothing says tradition in baseball like the hallowed record book, and with the season finishing up this weekend, we are looking back at the 2022 season within the context of history. Records and milestones were set which of course opens the lens wider to a conversation about baseball’s record book. In the new era of analytics, numbers are more important than ever. But baseball has always been a sport in which numbers hold much more special significance. So we are going to take a look at new records being set, touch on those famed “unbreakable” records, and chat a bit about how grey Major League Baseball’s record book has become and if there’s a way past it.

On today’s episode, it’s a special World Series edition of Caught in a Pickle! We’ll take a break from our normal Tradition versus Evolution structure to celebrate the best championship series in sports. But, never fear! There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion, debate, and conversation to be had.

Tonight kicks off the Fall Classic with the dominant Houston Astros facing the streaking Philadelphia Phillies so of course we have to talk about it right?

We’re breaking down the 2022 World Series. We’ll look back at some favorite world series moments, preview the upcoming series, and chat about some storylines and also mention some things that shouldn’t be storylines too.

Every year we see the merry go round of baseball managers and GMs getting fired and hired. A lot of times it’s a result of just poor performance. But, with what seems to be increasing regularity, it has also been the result of conflicting visions and philosophies. And the divide seems to be between those managing the teams on a daily basis and those more behind the scenes, constructing and preparing the teams. This of course trickles down to the fans where in the midst of the more popular firestorm and debates surrounding analytics taking over baseball, there is a discussion being ignored regarding what is becoming something bordering on tribal warfare. Blue collar vs. white collar. Feelings vs. data. Roster implementation vs. roster construction. These are the topics we’ll be tackling today and asking the question, is there common ground to be had between front offices and on-field personnel?

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Featuring an intro from Jim Mora’s iconic “Playoffs” rant, there’s no doubt this episode of Caught In a Pickle has some big opinions and enthusiasm for the game of baseball! 

In today’s episode, our host breaks down this year’s playoff season and what he’d like to see for the future of the game. Should there be divisional realignment? How many teams should be in the playoffs? Do we look at the past for inspiration, or keep our eyes on the future?

Baseball fans have different opinions on these changes to the playoff structure, and Josh touches on the rationale for all sides. He also discusses what these changes mean for the regular season.

Tune in for a quick conversation on the upcoming postseason and how Major League Baseball is following the path of other major sports to give fans a more exciting playoff season!

Topics discussed in this episode:

● Josh explains the current playoff season

● Josh shares his opinion on the changes of this playoff season

● A look at playoff seasons in the past

● Changing the playoff structure in all major sports

● How these changes make the regular season more important

● Josh’s ideal playoff structure

● Josh gives his World Series predictions

Join our private Caught in a Pickle Facebook Group and share your own picks! Plus, you can participate in polls, questions, and discussions. Your insights and thoughts could be featured on the show!

Smells of hot dogs and popcorn, the sound of a hard hit, and cheering fans all fill your senses. The energy of a good baseball game will excite you no matter what ballpark you’re at, but in truth, there’s no place like home for a fun experience.

Kevin Chemidlin, podcast host and lifelong baseball fan, joins our host to talk about the magical experience that is a baseball game. As someone who’s on a mission to see one game in every city in the country, Kevin has (so far) been to 27 cities in ballparks both old and new.

What are the differences in these parks, and do they matter? What ballpark foods and traditions are essential to the baseball experience? Can minor league teams compete for the fan experience?

Tune in for a fun conversation on ballpark traditions, best game experiences, ballpark quirks, what Kevin would change about the game, and MORE!

Topics discussed in this episode:

● Kevin describes his baseball-filled childhood and love for the game

● Kevin on living in Philly as a secret Mets fan

● Stadiums no longer in existence that Kevin wishes he could visit

● The biggest difference between old and new parks

● Josh’s worst baseball game experience at the Old Yankee Stadium

● Different entertainment features at new stadiums

● Kevin shares his tradition of leaving every game with a nice ticket stub

● How Kevin got tours and more perks at most games he’s been to

● Kevin’s favorite baseball game experience and favorite park

● Josh shares his favorite game experience

● Kevin’s favorite ballpark food 

● Minor league teams competing with the big league

● Josh and Kevin share their favorite players to watch and players they’d love to see

● What Kevin would change if he were baseball commissioner for a day

● The Year of the Pitcher

● Kevin shares his favorite ballpark quirks

● Why smaller parks can result in more runs and a more exciting game

● How to get a newbie to love the game of baseball

● Josh’s experience going to a World Baseball Classic game

● Ballpark Chasers is Josh’s new favorite Facebook group

Connect with Kevin:

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Join our private Caught in a Pickle Facebook Group to get in on the conversation. Participate in polls, questions, and discussions. Your insights and thoughts could be featured on the show!

If you’re headed to a new park to catch a game, be sure to check out the Ballpark Chasers Facebook Group for helpful tips!

To butcher the words of 21st Century philosopher, Jay Z: “If you're having lineup problems, I feel bad for you, son. I’ve got 99 problems, but a pitcher ain't one.”

If you haven’t already guessed from this opener, today on Caught in a Pickle, we’re taking a look at a new and highly controversial decision in Major League Baseball: the universal designated hitter (DH) rule!

Love it or hate it, pitcher hitting is dead. The game is going to look different. But HOW different? Traditionalists argue that the DH eliminates half of the game for one of the players on the field. Evolutionists argue that a universal DH creates more offense and excitement. Which argument is right? Well, we’re going to give you our favorite answer: both.

As we do with every topic on this podcast, we take a deeper look at both sides of the discussion and offer you some much-needed historical context. We explore how the universal DH levels the playing field between the American League and the National League, how this consistency can be seen as good or bad, and the impact that the DH will have on the strategic elements of the game, plus a whole lot more.

If you’re looking for a better understanding of a newer rule that is actually rooted in the very foundations of baseball itself, you won’t want to miss today’s episode!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Join our Private Caught in a Pickle Facebook Group to get in on the conversation. Participate in polls, questions, and discussions. Your insights and thoughts could be featured on the show!

On today’s episode we breakdown the new major rule change MLB has recently implemented called ‘pace of play’. This rule can be triggering for a lot of old schoolers out there because it seemingly takes away from the essence of what baseball was intended to be, a pastime.

However, change can be good sometimes, especially when it comes to sport. Elevating the pace of play encourages more action in a game, and who doesn’t want to see that? Even if it is a pastime, you are there to see two teams battle it out in competition.

Tune in to hear what the new pace of play rule change means for the game of baseball and arguments for and against its implementation.

We also want to hear your take on the rule change. Join our Facebook group below for more discussion!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Join our Private Caught in a Pickle Facebook Group to get in on the conversation. Participate in polls, questions, and discussions. Your insights and thoughts could be featured on the show!

Baseball is a game for the young and the young at heart. As the great Dodger catcher, Roy Campanella, once said:

Today, we are joined by high school baseball coach, Jake Haney, to discuss the tension between old school and new school that exists in the game of baseball and to hear his perspective on how the game has evolved.

Join us for a great discussion about Coach Haney’s years of experience with younger players and how he believes we can make the game more exciting for the kids without watering it down for the traditionalists.

For a bit of fun, we also ask Coach Haney how different the game would look if a high school coach were commissioner for a day.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Join our Private Caught in a Pickle Facebook Group to get in on the conversation. Participate in polls, questions, and discussions. Your insights and thoughts could be featured on the show!

Defensive shifts are baseball’s hottest topic right now, and they continue to divide the old school and the new school in how they should play out, and even whether they should still exist. It’s a practice that has been around since about the 1920s, but differs today in that it's become statistics-driven.

In today’s episode, we’ll take a look at how shifts started, how they’ve evolved and whether any changes should be made to the rules, approached to hitting, or both?

Baseball fans can all agree that something needs to change regarding shifts. Borrowing from the old school side of his upbringing and playing style, Josh admits to leaning on the analytics being punted by new school thinking.

You definitely don’t want to miss this one!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Join the Caught In a Pickle Facebook group, where you can connect with others who love the game of baseball!

Who you are greatly impacts your views on baseball. Most fans fall somewhere on the scale between old school traditionalists who keep scorebooks and romanticize the game, and the younger generation with bold ideas about where baseball should go.

So, how do we find common ground and get out of this particular pickle? At the end of the day, baseball thrives on subjectivity and debate!

Too often we try to make things about being right or getting a point across, instead of actually trying to understand each other. With baseball, a sport that could and regularly does bring people of differing views together, it’s important to honor the past while looking forward to the future.

With this podcast, we welcome the tension that exists between the two schools of thought, and hope that you’ll join us in trying to understand each other’s differences and find ways of improving the game we all know and love.

You don’t want to miss this one!

Topics discussed in this episode:

Join the Caught In a Pickle Facebook group, where you can connect with others who love the game of baseball!