Ep. 80 — Bobby and Alex take a deep dive — too deep — into the congressional baseball game thanks to FiveThirtyEight. Then they discuss what the hell is happening with a certain team in Queens, New York, and ask how the Mets’ national visibility impacts their perceived incompetence. They look at a downright bizarre statement from the MLB umpire’s union on Manny Machado, and wonder whether we should be taking the Rays’ split city proposal seriously. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features a lucky bamboo plant and a good commercial (no, seriously) from the Braves.

Links:

The congressional baseball game…but somehow nerdier

Claire McNear on the Mets’ misery

The MLBUA’s statement on Manny Machado

The Rays won’t actually do this…right?

Atlanta Braves commercial

Baseball players deserve a stake in the game

Songs featured in this episode:

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

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Follow Tipping Pitches on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Find more great content over at tippingpitches.atavist.com. Questions, comments, or concerns? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

Ep. 79 — Alex and Bobby banter about the Max Muncy vs. Madison Bumgarner showdown, and ponder what the Chris Paddack demotion means. Bobby brings a dramatic take reading to the table in the form of Chase Utley apologia, and they take a trip down the rabbit hole that is Alex Rodriguez’s official YouTube channel. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features Pete Alonso’s extraterrestrial encounter, and Klay Thompson’s obliviousness to the concept of baseball. Extremely relatable!

Links:

A-Rod is a motivational speaker now

Joey Gallo talks hitting on FanGraphs

Pete Alonso has seen aliens confirmed

Songs featured in this episode:

Mannequin Pussy — “Drunk II” • George Harrison — “If Not For You” • Jimmy Eat World — “For Me This Is Heaven” • Sade — “Cherish the Day” • Booker T. & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

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Follow Tipping Pitches on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Find more great content over at tippingpitches.atavist.com. Questions, comments, or concerns? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

Ep. 78 — Bobby and Alex talk actual, real baseball transaction new in the form of Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel, and ponder their role in baseball’s larger financial system. They also talk Clint Frazier’s clashes with the media, and how Derek Dietrich and Ronald Acuña Jr. came to occupy so much property inside the Pirates broadcasters’ heads. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features thoughts on the increasing homogeneity in the MLB draft, and Todd Frazier making you question everything. Plus, a bleak look in at our patron saint of the pod!

Links:

John Wehner is extremely mad at Derek Dietrich

Steve Blass saying…something about Ronald Acuña Jr.

Songs featured in this episode:

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

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Follow Tipping Pitches on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Find more great content over at tippingpitches.atavist.com. Questions, comments, or concerns? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

Ep. 77 — Alex and Bobby run through some baseball-themed Jeopardy questions (and knock them out of the park), and try to parse which unwritten rule Twins minor leaguer Royce Lewis broke. Then they bring on Britni de la Cretaz, a sports columnist for Longreads and writer focusing on the intersection of sports and gender, to talk about making space for women in baseball beyond the foul lines, her writing process in an under-covered corner of sports journalism, and why she’s watching less baseball this year. Finally, this week’s Three Up, Three Down features a patchwork A’s rotation, and what Yasiel Puig’s bat tastes like.

Follow Britni on Twitter here, and subscribe to her newsletter here.

Links:

Baseball-themed Jeopardy questions

Yasiel Puig tells us why he licks his bat

Alex Rodriguez goes #2 just like the rest of us plebes

Songs featured in this episode:

Girlpool — “It Gets More Blue” • Real Estate — “Crime” • The Cure — “In Between Days” • Booker T. & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

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Follow Tipping Pitches on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Find more great content over at tippingpitches.atavist.com. Questions, comments, or concerns? Shoot us an email at [email protected].

Ep. 76 — Bobby and Alex banter about Most Valuable Dog Juno Trout, Mike Fiers’s improbable no-hitter, and some extremely undercooked beef between Chris Paddack and Pete Alonso. Then they discuss the stark divide of Red Sox players choosing whether to visit the White House, and ask if Derek Jeter could possibly be less self-aware. Finally, this week’s Three Up, Three Down features talk of a miserable NL East, and cult hero Derek Dietrich.

Make sure to read Shakeia Taylor’s important response to Tim Anderson’s suspension.

Links:

Juno Trout’s Instagram

Ken Rosenthal on Derek Jeter’s right hand man ($)

Songs featured in this episode:

Saweetie, Kehlani — “ICY GRL” • Neffa — “Aspettando Il Sole” • Booker T. & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

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Follow Tipping Pitches on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Find more great content over at tippingpitches.atavist.com. Questions, comments, or concerns? Shoot us an email at [email protected].