Editor’s Note: Please help me welcome Joseph Egoian to The Baseball Diaspora. This is Joseph’s first post, but we hope he will be a regular around here going forward, offering insight into the Oakland A’s, the business of baseball, advanced statistics and a variety of other baseball-related topics, both weighty and whimsical. Hi Y’all! Before…
In Episode 38, Brock & Ben discuss the Dodgers-Diamondbacks brawl, the Hollywood entrance of Yasiel Puig & wrap up the 2013 Draft with a few final quick hits. In the educational segment, the guys break down BABIP (batting average on balls in play) and the factors that influence it for both hitters and pitchers. Finally, in the discussion segment, Brock & Ben start the awards talk early – at the 1/3-season mark instead of the more conventional 1/2-season – and look at how the MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year races are shaping up.
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In a very special episode, Dan returns to The Baseball Diaspora Podcast to break down the American League West with Brock & Ben. The guys discuss the latest developments from the World Baseball Classic, including Team USA’s outlook, the Canada-Mexico brawl and Samurai Japan’s offensive awakening. The discussion then turns to the AL West, where the guys ask & answer:
- Will the Oakland A’s build upon their 2012 success & return to the playoffs?
- How does Bob Melvin find handle the positional surplus the A’s project at catcher, in the outfield and at 2B, 3B & SS?
- Will the Houston Astros be an historically bad team in 2013?
- Is the Astros’ complete rebuilding a positive or negative for the young players on the team?
- How do the Texas Rangers replace the production they lose with the departure of Josh Hamilton?
- Where does Jurickson Profar fit on the Rangers this year and how will they get him into the lineup?
- Have the Seattle Mariners’ modest upgrades moved them into contention in the AL West?
- Did the Mariners make the right decision in extending Felix Hernandez with a record-setting contract?
- Have the Los Angeles Angels misstepped in handling Mike Trout’s salary and position this offseason?
- How will Josh Hamilton fit with the Angels and will he prove the missing piece that gets the Angels to the playoffs after falling short last season?
- Is it possible that 3 AL West teams make the playoffs this year?
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In Episode 24, Brock & Ben turn their attention to the upcoming World Baseball Classic. After briefly discussing the Curtis Granderson injury and what it means for the Yankees in 2013 and beyond, it’s 100% WBC! The guys provide a brief primer of the history, rules and format of the tournament, then break down the rosters pool by pool. To wrap up, Brock & Ben put their reputations on the line, predicting the 2013 World Baseball Classic from the First Round to the Championship game.
For more on the World Baseball Classic, check out the WBC’s website.
Special thanks goes to Yahoo! Sports’ Big League Stew. Their team-by-team WBC previews were indispensable in preparing us for this episode.
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In Episode 20, Brock & Dan look back at the memorable 2012 Division Series, then turn their attention to the League Championship Series currently in progress. In typical TBD fashion, the topics of discussion hew closely to the teams closest to the guys’ hearts. Topics include: - The impressive showing by the Oakland crowd in…
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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I just read the news, so I haven’t had time to process just how excited I am about the 2013 World Baseball Classic semifinals and final coming to San Francisco’s AT&T Park next March. I’m pretty confident, however, that my anticipation level falls somewhere within the “a lot” to “a whole lot” range. I was…
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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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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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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