Posts Tagged ‘ Bud Selig ’

Episode 35: Getting the Calls Right

May 16, 2013
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In Episode 35, Brock & Ben debut the new, more sectionalized format of the podcast, beginning with observations on Brandon Belt’s improvement and the impressive pitching performances of the last week.  The guys then debut a new recurring segment designed to unpack and discuss the myriad advanced statistics that inform modern baseball.  This week’s focus is on pitcher strikeouts, specifically the evolution from strikeout rate (K/9) to strikeout percentage (K/PA).  While discussing strikeouts, Brock & Ben explore the recent league-wide spike in strikeouts and strikeout % and what factors might be contributing to this trend.  The guys round out the podcast with a discussion of umpire accountability and expanded replay and how MLB moves closer to what everyone wants: getting the calls right.

For further reading, here are the New York Times and Fangraphs articles referenced during the discussion on the recent rise in strikeouts/K %.

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Baseball’s Teaching Opportunity

September 18, 2012
By
Yunel Escobar

While we may not know until around 3:30 ET today the exact intent behind it, most baseball fans are now aware of the message Yunel Escobar sent via his eye black strips on Saturday, September 15.  “Tu ere(s) maricon.”  You are a faggot.  Now the question is, what message will Major League Baseball send in…

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Episode 17: Baseball in Vegas & the Trade Deadline

July 28, 2012
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In Episode 17, Brock & Dan discuss Dan throwing out the first pitch before a Triple A Las Vegas 51′s game, then turn their attention to the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline, specifically:

- The Miami Marlins’ mini-fire sale and whether the new era of baseball in South Florida is already over

- The Hanley Ramirez and Anibal Sanchez/Omar Infante trades and how they grade out for the teams involved

- The Cole Hamels contract, what it means for the Philadelphia Phillies and whether the aging Phillies have one more run in them

- The Zack Greinke trade and how it impacts the tight race in the AL West

- What moves the Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s might make before the deadline to counter the Angels’ acquisition of Greinke

- Whether the St. Louis Cardinals will make a move before Tuesday and if so, for what

and

- If and where the remaining names on the trade block – Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Josh Johnson, James Shields, Cliff Lee, Francisco Liriano, Chase Headly, Hunter Pence – will move

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Updating Baseball’s Musical Canon

July 24, 2012
By
Ben Gibbard

Although we may be living in Bud Selig’s Golden Age of Baseball (trademark pending), there is one area of our culture baseball has not pervaded in some time: music.  Try and think of a song about baseball that has come out in the last 20 years.  You can’t do it.  Sure “Take Me Out to…

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Episode 16: Looking Forward, Looking Back

July 14, 2012
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In Episode 16, baseball is back and so is The Baseball Diaspora!  Brock & Dan look back at the first half of the 2012 season and look forward to the July 31st trade deadline, focusing specifically on the A’s and the Cardinals.  Topics of discussion include:

- How the A’s have defied predictions to finish above .500 in the first half and just 1.5 games out of the AL Wild Cards

- Revisiting the A’s offseason in light of the production the team has received from Josh Reddick, Jarrod Parker, Tom Milone, Ryan Cook and Derek Norris

- The manner in which the Cardinals have overcome the losses of Albert Pujols, Tony La Russa, Dave Duncan and Chris Carpenter to contend in 2012

- How injuries have impacted the Cardinals, but not in the ways everyone expected

- Assigning 1st half MVP, Cy Young, Rookie and “Thanks for Nothing” honors for both the A’s and the Cardinals

- What direction each of the two teams will go at the trade deadline, buyer or seller

- Whether the playoffs are in reach for either the A’s or the Cards and where each team figures to end up at season’s end

- Which of baseball’s major potential trade pieces – Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Justin Upton – will move before the deadline and where

 

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Episode 15: April in Review

May 3, 2012
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In Episode 15, the Diaspora returns.  Brock and Dan apologize for their extended absence, then turn their attention to the first month of the season, including:

- Albert Pujols’ struggles and whether they are cause for concern

- The Los Angeles Angels’ slow start and whether they remain in the AL playoff picture

- The view from St. Louis on Pujols’ slow start and whether Cardinals fans feel like they dodged a bullet by not signing him

- The difficult Aprils of Adam Wainwright, Tim Lincecum and Josh Johnson and the level of concern associated with each pitcher’s struggles

The guys  then discuss their impressions of ballparks they have recently visited, including Marlins Park, Tropicana Field, Nationals Park and Camden Yards before wrapping the podcast with an update on the Oakland A’s stadium situation

 

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Episode 14: Opening Day Omnibus

April 7, 2012
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In Episode 14, Brock and Dan record in person – a first for The Baseball Diaspora Podcast!  The guys cover baseball’s multiple opening days and discuss insights from the young 2012 season, including:

- Brock and Dan’s attendance at Opening Night at the new Marlins Park in Miami and their impressions of the new stadium

- The Miami Marlins and whether the team’s lack of offense two games in is cause for concern

- The St. Louis Cardinals and if their early success portends good things in 2012

- Yoenis Cespedes, his power and defense, and what he means for baseball in Oakland during the rebuild

- Tim Lincecum’s troubling first start and whether it points to greater concerns for the San Francisco Giants this season

- The Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees and how tight the race for the AL East may become this year

- The “year of the pitcher” trope and whether 2012 projects to continue in the tradition of the last two as more pitching-dominated

- The Dodgers sale, the rise of regional TV revenue and what the new baseball economic landscape means for fans

- The Great Dodger Panic of 2012 – how the Joey Votto and Matt Cain extensions impact the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants, respectively, and what these contracts mean for baseball generally

 

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Episode 13: NL West Preview

March 22, 2012
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In Episode 13, Brock and Dan are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers fan and Citizen of the Diaspora Brett Moore to talk NL West.  After hearing about growing up Dodger Blue from Brett, the guys discuss:

- How bleak things got for Dodgers fans at the end of the McCourt era and who fans hope wins the bidding for the franchise

- Reports that Dodger Stadium naming rights might be for sale and how much of a travesty a name change would be for one of baseball’s most historic parks

- The Dodgers’ offseason moves and whether the 2012 version of the team is better than the 2011 entry

- Matt Kemp’s 8-year $160 million extension and whether it is a good deal for the Dodgers

- If the Arizona Diamondbacks can repeat as division champions

- Whether the San Francisco Giants offseason moves improve their offense sufficiently to return them to the playoffs after they failed to defend their World Series title in 2011

- Whether the Colorado Rockies have a coherent plan in place or if Colorado’s questionable offseason acquisitions signal a lack of direction for the club

- San Diego’s rebuild and if the Mat Latos trade, Cameron Maybin signing and the Padres’ strong farm system are evidence that the Padres are moving in the right direction

- How the additional Wild Card will impact the NL West and if the division can expect more than one team in the playoffs this season and beyond

and

- Predictions for who will win the NL West and NL Wild Card(s)

Brett Moore is a host of sports and fantasy sports shows on KCR College Radio in San Diego.   Follow him  on Twitter as @BigLoudMoore.

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Episode 9.5: Ryan Braun and Yoenis Cespedes

February 27, 2012
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In Episode 9.5, a special mini-pod, Brock and Dan are again joined by Daren Garshelis to discuss the significance of Ryan Braun’s successful appeal of his PED suspension.  Then Daren, fresh off a visit to Cuba, gives the guys a scouting report on Yoenis Cespedes provided by Cuban baseball fans.

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Episode 8, Part 1: AL East Preview (New York Yankees)

February 12, 2012
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In Episode 8, Part 1, Brock and Dan are joined by Yankee fan and Citizen of the Diaspora Digger Lauter to break down the AL East.  After establishing Digger’s Diaspora credentials, the guys discuss:

- The Yankees’ offseason moves, specifically the Michael Pineda-Jesus Montero trade

- Who the five pitchers in the Yankees’ opening day rotation should be

- The Yankees’ search for a left-handed bat

- Whether the aging Yankees lineup is cause for concern for fans in the near future

- Which team – Red Sox or Rays – represents the greatest threat to the Yankees in 2012

- Whether the Blue Jays and Orioles project to contend in the near future or instead are consigned to second division status

- How the second Wild Card impacts the AL East (once implemented)

and

- Projections for who will win the AL East and AL Wild Card in 2012

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