Bobby and Alex discuss Queen Elizabeth, MLB’s decision to voluntarily recognize the minor league union, and the rule changes coming in 2023. Then they bring on San Francisco Giants reliever Trevor Hildenberger to discuss the timeline of the minor league unionization effort, what the conversations were like in the clubhouse, how life in the minor leagues shifted his perception of labor, and more.

Follow Trevor at @t_hildy.

Links:

Steve Gelbs wrecks Zack Hample 

Songs featured in this episode:

Kelly Clarkson — "Breakaway" • Luther Vandross — "Never Too Much" • David Archuleta — "Crush" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Alex and Bobby talk about Alex Rodriguez’s liquidity concerns and how long it would take him to get to 700 home runs if he came out of retirement. Then they talk with Allison McCague of A Pod of Their Own about this year’s Dollars4Dingers fundraiser for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and how you can get involved. Finally, they bring on Eugene Freedman, a union lawyer and baseball writer, to discuss the mechanics of unionizing minor league baseball, what to expect from the league in the coming weeks, why the timeline is important, and more.

They uhhhh are doing the damn thing! In this emergency podcast, Alex and Bobby break down the announcement that the MLBPA has launched a campaign to unionize minor league baseball players, diving into the history that brought us here, why the current moment is ripe for this effort, and what the coming fight might look like.

Links:
The MLBPA’s statement on their campaign to unionize the minors
Joon Lee on the MLBPA sending out union authorization cards
Evan Drellich on the effort the unionize the minors
Where is the minor league unionization effort? (from 2012)
Buy Unionize the Minors merchandise

Songs featured in this episode:
The Clash — “Career Opportunities” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

*Disclaimer: this podcast was recorded before the news that the minor leagues were unionizing. For our reaction episode to that news, click here.

Bobby and Alex discuss PPP loans in baseball, then break down the news that Arte Moreno is considering selling the Los Angeles Angels, and try and make sense of Julio Rodríguez choose-your-own-adventure contract extension. Then they bring on Matt Ritchie, a freelance writer and graduate student, to discuss his thesis on bolstering the pipeline of Black baseball players, why the sport's Black population has declined, where the most impact can be made by the league, the benefits and limits of Black representation among the top prospects, and more.
Follow Matt on Twitter at @mkrwrt.
Links:
Arte Moreno exploring a sale of the Angels
Jeff Passan breaks down the Julio deal
Minority Baseball Prospects

Alex and Bobby discuss their weekend in Philadelphia and the disgust that they incited in Phillies fans, then talk about what the Braves’ recent spate of team-friendly contract extensions means for the sport, as well as their misguided loyalty to Marcell Ozuna. Then they bring on their resident Yankees fan Mike Schubert to talk about the Yankees’ fun August, a Brian Cashman-less franchise, and to place some bets with Bobby on the upcoming Subway Series. They round things out with a couple listener questions about walk-up song strategy and a Statcast time machine.

Alex and Bobby discuss how the business of "getting good players" and "having a winning team" is not profitable before picking their favorite Vin Scully moments, and sharing what those moments tell us about Scully's titanic life, career, and impact. Then, they attempt to make sense of the news and discourse surrounding Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 80-game suspension for PEDs. Finally, they answer some listeners questions about their luck as fans, the pitchers they'd want to see most, and their most unshakable trad baseball takes.

Links:

Juan Soto is good...but what does Salesforce think?

Tipping Pitches Patreon

Bobby is joined by Jordan Shusterman, one half of Céspedes Family BBQ, to serve a 10-course meal on the MLB trade deadline. Then, Alex and Bobby invite on Athletic national reporter Evan Drellich to talk about how he ended up immersed in the business of baseball, what it was like covering the CBA negotiations, why the international draft failed, what’s next in the Senate committee’s investigation into MLB’s anti-trust exemption*, Rob Manfred’s effectiveness as commissioner, and more.

*Note: this episode was record prior to Manfred’s 17-page response to the committee’s inquiry, and, as such, does not cover this development.

Links:

Follow Evan on Twitter @EvanDrellich 

MLB’s misguided secrecy around the international draft negotiations 

Tipping Pitches Patreon 

This week, Bobby and Alex commemorate the fifth anniversary of the show by each making five predictions about the next five years of baseball. Lots of fives! Thanks to everyone for making it all possible.

Links:
Sign up for the Tipping Pitches Patreon

Alex and Bobby discuss major leaguers’ opinions on what striking out the side actually means, then go over some takeaways from All-Star weekend including a Juan Soto derby conspiracy theory and how we talk about the game’s stars, pick apart Rob Manfred’s dismissal of the idea that minor leaguers are underpaid, and answer listener questions about coping, dowries, hometown discounts, and more.

Bobby and Alex talk about an ill-planned graphic on Fox Sports’s Yankees/Red Sox matchup, then discuss the settlement in Senne v. MLB and what it means in the fight for better minor league pay, as well as Juan Soto v. Nationals and how a prospective buyer muddies the conversation. Then they bring on filmmaker Randy Wilkins to talk about his ESPN Derek Jeter docuseries “The Captain” and what it was like telling the story of a favorite player of his, how it changed his perception of Jeter as a human, literally just what Alex Rodriguez is like, and much more.

Follow Randy on Twitter @pamsson and watch the premiere of “The Captain” on ESPN on July 18.

Links:

Fox Sports’s strange 9/11 tribute 

MLB settles minor league pay lawsuit for $185 million