Bobby and Alex discuss the Cleveland baseball team’s decision to drop their team name...eventually, and weigh in on the bubbling debate over the length of the 2021 season. Then they bring on Clinton Yates, columnist at the Undefeated and panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn, to talk about MLB bringing the Negro Leagues under their umbrella, who owns the concept of baseball, the lessons that MLB can’t seem to learn, and more.

Follow @clintonyates on Twitter.

Links:

Why the Negro Leagues doesn’t need MLB’s approval 

Alex and Bobby run through a collection of items from the baseball world this past week, including but not limited to: the best (read: worst) gifts that the MLB shop has to offer, new faces in front offices, Giancarlo Stanton’s contract, insurance lawsuits, Taylor Swift’s new album, and more. It’s the offseason!

Links:

Giancarlo Stanton’s contract is hurting the Yankees, supposedly 

MLB is suing its insurance providers

Songs featured in this episode:

Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Bobby and Alex look at the best and worst references to baseball players in rap songs (shout out to Action Bronson). Then they bring on Sean Gibson, executive director of the Josh Gibson Foundation and Josh Gibson’s great-grandson, to discuss the campaign to rename the MVP award after the Negro League legend, what redemption looks like for an untold history, and more.

Links:

The Josh Gibson Foundation

JG20MVP Campaign

The case for the Josh Gibson MVP Award

Rap Genius’s baseball references

Ken Griffey Jr. is a rapper too

Alex and Bobby talk about the Tampa Bay Rays’ desire for “financial” “flexibility,” MLB’s long and winding history of championship trophies, and Shohei Ohtani getting in his feels. Then they bring on free agent pitcher Collin McHugh to discuss what it’s like being at the bargaining table with MLB, what baseball in 2021 will look like, the prospect of minor league unionization, and much more.
Links:
Follow Collin on Twitter
Listen to the Twelve Six Podcast
Shohei Ohtani talks a difficult season
The Rays consider some winter cleaning
Scott Boras’s reservoir quote

In this abbreviated episode, Alex and Bobby talk about Robinson Canó’s PED suspension and how his legacy came undone, what Theo Epstein’s departure from the Cubs means for baseball, and why the World Series champions are laying off employees. Back next week!
Links:
Dodgers are laying off employees

Bobby and Alex open with a discussion about Kim Ng’s historic hiring and what it means for baseball’s landscape. Then they tackle a lineup of news items from the past two weeks, including Tony LaRussa’s DUI, Jeff Luhnow suing the Astros, Cleveland’s commitment to mediocrity, Awards SZN, and more.

Links:

Read Marc Carig and Lindsey Adler on the hiring of Kim Ng ($).
Jeff Luhnow is suing the Astros

Alex and Bobby are joined by writer and comedian River Butcher to discuss the Los Angeles Dodgers and their World Series title, the arc of River's fandom, separating the concept of baseball from the product of baseball, alternate histories in the sport, and much more. Alex and Bobby also chat about Joe Kelly bursting Rob Manfred’s bubble, a terminally-online Steve Cohen, and Jon Lester’s bar tab.
Links:

THE OKRA PROJECT

THE LOVELAND FOUNDATION

Listen to Three Swings
Unionize the Minors t-shirts
Jon Lester runs up a bar tab

Alex and Bobby talk about the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series, and dissect the timeline of events that immediately followed, including Justin Turner testing positive for COVID-19 and Rob Manfred’s sea of boos. They discuss the Rays and what their postseason showing means for the #sabermetrics #movement, and attempt to determine what qualifies as a “championship drought.” Then they turn their attention to Tony LaRussa and wonder how on Earth he’s the guy for the White Sox, and forecast what’s sure to be a dreary offseason.

Links:

Albert Burneko on why it's not Justin Turner's fault

Stephen A. Smith is mad about owners

Jen Ramos on the Dodgers and their priorities

Alex and Bobby take a last look at the NLCS and the wild game that ended it before moving on to preview the World Series, how the Dodgers and Rays match up against each other, and what to expect from the ~narrative~ around the teams. Then they give a final sendoff to Billy Beane as he sets his sights on European soccer, and explore the mark he’s left on the game — for better or for worse. This week’s Three Up, Three down features a fond farewell to the Astros and some tight, tight pants.

Billy Beane's next steps

Ben Sasse? More like...

The greatest catch you will ever see

Bobby and Alex are joined by Jess Scarane, former candidate for Senate in Delaware, who gives her five observations from the week in playoff baseball. They talk the bracket format, a laundry list of rule changes, the return of hair flow, some guy named Randy on the Rays, what it’s like watching games without fans, and much more.

Follow Jess on Twitter.

Songs featured in this episode:

Voxtrot — "The Start of Something" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”