WAKE and RAKE Podcast

We have reached the unofficial MLB lockout deadline day, and we still do not have a deal between Major League Baseball and the MLBPA? So, what happens next? Danny and Will provide a lockout update and explain what fans should expect next.

(1:30) MLB lockout latest ... (3:10) MLBPA's new expanded playoff proposal ... (8:04) Incentivizing competition ... (9:57) Explaining the competitive balance tax (CBT) ... (17:19) Jeff Passan's latest ... (18:20) Is the league open to having a full season with a later start date? ... (19:33) Players do not believe a deal will get done by deadline ... (22:11) What happens when a deal does get done? ... (25:30) College baseball updates ... (27:21) Is skiing the hardest sport ever?

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Is it a myth or an inevitability that the game of baseball is dying? What do the ratings tell us? Will and Danny respond to critics claiming the game of baseball is dying amid the ongoing lockout between Major League Baseball and the player's union.

(5:47) Twitter morons critique Mike Trout's swing ... (10:00) Will's crazy story about Adrian Gonzalez's bats ... (13:03) Notable minor league signings ... (14:57) Is baseball dying? ... (19:30) Explaining MLB owners' revenue sharing problem ... (21:30) Why it's the owners' fault, not the players, prices have increased ... (25:27) MLB's marketing problem is a lazy argument ... (28:17) Will's solution to fixing baseball ... (36:04) MLB's young stars ... (40:15) Baseball critique fallacies ... (42:34) How baseball is viewed today vs. previous eras

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We have a MLB lockout update. Delays to the start of Spring Training appear to be inevitable. Time to worry? Plus, Will Middlebrooks answers everything one would want to know about living the life of a big leaguer. What is it like playing in Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park? Is Derek Jeter and Tom Brady as amazing as they say? Plus, so much more.

(1:58) MLB lockout updates ... (8:11) Why Will raked off of Andy Pettitte ... (13:05) Difficulties of hitting a changeup ... (23:55) Playing against A-Rod he was exposed for PEDs ... (25:00) Did Red Sox pitchers hit A-Rod intentionally? ... (27:20) Mailbag Q/A ... (29:39) Will's story about meeting Tom Brady ... (37:57) Why Daniel Bard was the toughest teammate to face ... (48:25) Favorite teammate in Boston ... (57:03) Will's embarrassing moment against Kyle Hendricks

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Who better to talk about the 2022 Hall of Fame results than with Hall of Fame voter and MLB Insider Jon Heyman. MLB Network's own says the writers and voters got it wrong and it's a bad day for Cooperstown. Jon, Danny, and Will all make their case for Barry Bonds in the Hall.

(3:30) Heyman's first reaction ... (4:34) "I don't think this was the right result" ... (8:38) Nobody tested for PEDs more than David Ortiz ... (9:20) "I know David Ortiz failed that test" ... (15:46) Facts of Barry Bonds' PED scandal ... (19:31) Bonds' pre-steroid use numbers are HOF worthy ... (23:15) Do political views sway voters? ... (28:05) Will Posey and Pedroia get in the HOF? ... (30:54) Will sounds off on Big Papi's steroid accusers ... (33:57) Bonds never tested positive ... (39:25) Impact of likability ... (43:28) "This was a major failure by the voters"

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Yahoo Sports MLB reporter and writer Hannah Keyser joins the podcast to fill us in on all of the latest regarding negotiations between Major League Baseball and the MLB Player's Union. Is it time to panic? What rule changes are on the table? Everything you need to know.

(3:00) Hannah Keyser introduction ... (4:58) Dumbing down the lockout in simplest terms ... (9:04) Understanding why we are in a lockout ... (16:22) Will there be a salary floor? ... (23:07) Expanded postseason is a guarantee ... (26:01) Ghost runner to start extra innings? ... (29:31) Could we get robo umpires? ... (33:10) Fixing the infield shift ... (37:27) When is the next scheduled meeting? ... (39:19) Time to panic? Panic Meter?

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Goodbye, 2021. Hello, 2022. Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti reminisce on their favorite moments from the 2021 MLB season and take a look ahead at five players poised to breakout in 2022. Also, they answer your questions with a Q&A Mailbag.

(2:24) Best Christmas presents ... (9:51) Best moments from 2021 MLB season ... (18:38) Kyle Seager's retirement and legacy ... (22:22) 5 players ready to breakout in 2022 ... (30:19) Why do people hate on Salvador Perez? ... (36:55) Q&A Mailbag ... (44:46) What do big league players do for fun when on the road? ... (53:04) New Year's resolutions

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS IN A LOCKOUT for the first time since 1994-95, and everybody is going berserk. Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti were told some information from inside the CBA discussions that you might want to hear. Plus, they grade each of the big time free agent signings so far.

(1:20) Will's hotel alias ... (3:57) Details of the MLB Lockout ... (5:45) Universal DH numbers ... (9:14) Proposed expanded playoff format ... (15:10) Sources say Rob Manfred is lying to the public? ... (22:54) Injured players can't use team doctors ... (25:22) Free agency deadline ... (27:46) Will's story about Bobby Bonilla ... (28:50) Free agent signing grades ... (32:05) Why the Rangers had to overpay ... (34:58) Mariners need more than Robbie Ray ... (38:16) Is Carlos Correa's market shrinking? ... (41:33) Mets get a C+ for the Scherzer signing ... (43:04) Will's biggest surprise ... (45:15) Tigers get their shortstop ... (50:08) Favorite deal so far ... (52:07) What deal we dislike the most ... (54:28) The Rays made a big mistake

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The baseball season may be over, but the action has only just begun. Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti detail the top free agents hitting the open market this offseason and give their predictions. Also, they look back at their 2021 freezing cold takes in what turned out to be a hilarious segment.

(4:12) Will the Oakland A's and Cincinnati Reds clean house? ... (8:21) Oakland fans deserve better ... (11:34) MVP finalist fun fact ... (14:00) Is Buster Posey a Hall of Famer? ... (19:44) Top free agents ... (20:06) Carlos Correa latest rumblings ... (27:37) San Francisco Giants offseason targets ... (28:52) Will's big offseason prediction ... (37:02) Could the Marlins make some noise? ... (41:35) Freezing Cold Takes

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It's all come down to this! The Atlanta Braves have shocked the world. The Astros continue to pride themselves on being baseball's biggest villain. Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti detail everything you need to know before Game 1 on Tuesday.

(1:56) Houston Astros preview ... (5:33) Atlanta Braves preview ... (9:20) Betting odds ... (9:49) Game 1 pitching matchups ... (13:02) Why the Dodgers fell short ... (19:21) Explaining Luis Garcia's rapid rise in velocity ... (28:26) Who has the better lineup? ... (36:44) Tyler Matzek's unlikely journey to the World Series ... (30:01) Revisiting the Astros sign-stealing scandal ... (33:40) Who has the better starting rotation? ... (38:11) World Series predictions

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Umpire Gabe Morales punched Wilmer Flores out on a check swing to end the Giants season, and Will Middlebrooks is fired up about it. Is it the worst call in playoff history? Danny and Will also discuss throwing out the first pitch in Boston and preview the ALCS and NLCS.

(0:50) Throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park ... (3:46) What Will told Xander Bogaerts after the ALDS ... (8:30) Could we see a Will Middlebrooks comeback attempt? ... (12:15) More nerve-racking: playing in the World Series or throwing a first pitch? ... (13:10) Wilmer Flores and the Giants got screwed ... (19:41) Astros-Red Sox ALCS series preview, pitching matchups ... (21:47) Loudest ballpark in MLB? ... (25:22) Braves-Dodgers NLCS series preview ... (28:06) Best rivalry in baseball? ... (30:45) Danny's surprise Dodger call ... (30:59) Why did the Cardinals fire manager Mike Shildt? ... (34:30) LCS predictions 

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