Peanuts & Popcorn

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, we give a crunch of the nut to Rachel Balkovik, the first female manager of a professional baseball team . We run down some of the more dramatic highlights around the league including the Cubs and White Sox. In our Popcorn segment at the 38:02 mark, our Movie of the Week is Under the Volcano , directed by John Huston.  Next week:  Bullets Over Broadway

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, all these years and it’s only just now that we find out second base was in the wrong place the whole time! The 2022 season will see umpires mic'd up and  announcing their decisions and reversals, while Nippon Baseball finds creative ways to present their product. Albert Pujols is back with the Cardinals and Jacob deGrom’s injury may sink the Mets chances this...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, with MLB camps open for business, most free agents have been spoken for, but we’ll take a look at some of the players who “ahem”, still might be able to help a club. Seiyu Suzuki makes his Spring debut for the Cubs, while the White Sox force their best starting pitcher to endure an arbitration hearing for less than $500,000. And finally, on the morning of the day...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, Carlos Correa shocks the world and signs with the Twins for $35 million a year. In other news of the 1%, Chicago Cubs owner teams up with an Illinois billionaire to attempt to purchase the Chelsea football club.  Our popcorn talk begins at 28:00 and it's on the Academy Award nominated, Coda.  Next week is Oscar night and we'll discuss all of the Best Pic...

This week on the Spring Training edition of Peanuts and Popcorn, the lockout is over. The owners and the player’s association have FINALLY agreed to a deal that will allow for the 2022 season to begin. With the new labor deal comes new free-agent signings. Tom and I will break down what you can expect this season including some of the new rule changes.  The Baseball Writers Association elects...

This week on a special Hot Stove edition of Peanuts and Popcorn, Major League Baseball make slow progress on their collective bargaining. We react to the recent transactions that happened BEFORE the lockout began and we give our votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame, if someone would ever give us a ballot. Our Popcorn discussion begins at the 50:12 mark with our review of what looks to be a surefire...

This week on on the 2021’s final installment of Peanuts and Popcorn, the World Series is over and the Atlanta Braves are the last team standing . We’ll discuss the contributions of Jorge Soler and Brian Snitker. The Astros have committed to Dusty Baker for 2022.  Buster Posey hangs up his catchers mask, we ask if he is a Hall of Famer? The players offer a proposal to the owners; what will hap...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the World Series moves to Atlanta where the discussion turns to collective bargaining, the Tomahawk Chop and the legacy of Hank Aaron.  Meanwhile, the Braves lead 3 games to 1.  Mr. October is helping Jose Altuve and the MLBPA recognizes the efforts of two Baltimore Orioles. We'll also catch up on what the Cubs and Sox need to do to get closer to the bra...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, after a week-long sabbatical, Tom and Leo are back to break down the playoffs. We’ll discuss the demise of the Brewers, Giants, Rays, Red Sox and the Dodgers. We lament the passing of Ray Fosse and the Cardinals fire Mike Schildt. We’ll talk about the Cubs and the Sox and our Popcorn discussion is at the 50:25 mark, on Robert Redford's The Milagro Beanfield War. &...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, we give our reactions to the playoffs so far.  Freddy Freeman likes to treat first base as his own front porch while Luis Rojas and Jayce Tingler pay the price for their teams failures. Two players from the permanently ineligible list are in the news this week, one dead, one alive. We’ll talk about the Cubs and the Sox and our Popcorn discussion is at the 54:...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, post-season chaos is the rule as four teams vie for two playoff spots. We’ll talk about who deserves post-season hardware and we’ll answer burning questions for playoff contending teams.  Marcus Semien is setting records while Devin Williams finds himself sitting out of the playoffs. We’ll talk about how the Cubs might try to improve for next season and how t...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, with only a week remaining in the 2021 regular season---two games separate the Giants and Dodgers. The Cardinals flutter their way into the post-season with 14 straight wins. The Home Run leaderboard is unlike any we’ve ever seen. We’ll talk about what it’s like to work with Bob Uecker. We’ll discuss whether baseball should retire Roberto Clemente’s #21 across MLB...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, MLB now requires all non-playing personnel to get the COVID-19 vaccine for the playoffs. We’ll talk about a whether or not a 15-second pitch clock can work at the Major League level. Leo has not taken his family to a game this season, part of the reason is that it costs too much money. The St. Louis Cardinals are in the hunt for a wild card berth and Vladimir Guer...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we discuss how baseball helped bring us back to a sense of normalcy . The Hall of Fame class of 2020 finally gets their induction, a year later. The New York Yankees are circling the drain and Yadier Molina will get a farewell tour in 2022. Johnny Bench caught COVID, but is recovering, while Trevor Bauer will not be back this seaso...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, Jayson Stark gets weird and wild with Shohei Ohtani and we discuss remaining 2021 goals for Major League teams. MLB’s collective bargaining proposal could be  a lot better and Javy Baez is condemned and redeemed in the same week. Anti-vaxxers are making it tough for their teams and in the broadcast booth. We’ll have the week that was for the Cubs and the Sox...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the Padres lose a 16-inning affair to the Dodgers and then fire their pitching coach. The Baltimore Orioles are one of the worst teams of all time while the Giants refuse to be knocked down. Christian Yelich is heating up and the Brewers look unstoppable. We’ll talk about girls playing catcher and no-hitters in the Little League World Series. Miguel Cabrera finall...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, Tiger Nation mourns the loss of Bill Freehan and we look back on the sacrifices made by Curt Flood. Joe Pepitone wants his bat back, and Atlanta’s, Max Fried, pitches a “Maddux”. Trevor Bauer’s lawyer has tough questions for his accuser, while MLB extends his leave of absence. Jack Morris gets a time out and Felipe Vazquez is sentenced to prison. We’ll talk Cubs a...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, baseball comes to Iowa as the Yankees and the White Sox face off in a corn field. We discuss the relevance of “Field of Dreams” in 2021. The Orioles’ Chris Davis, finally retires, and Miguel Cabrera should not be too far behind. Trevor Bauer has issues and a former batboy alleges Omar Vizquel sexually harassed him. We’ll talk about Sod Poodles, Yard Goats and Tras...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, we break down the individual divisional races and we'll examine the NY Times prediction of a World Series preview. Jayson Stark brought to light some oddities about the recent trade activity. JR Richard passes away and we’ll talk about baseball on the radio. Ramon Laureano is suspended for steroid use and minor league ballplayers are still living in squalor. In To...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the MLB trade deadline has come and gone, we’ll look at the winners and the losers . Terry Francona vacates the manager’s chair in Cleveland citing health reasons and Joey Votto is getting hot. Anthony Rizzo pays immediate dividends for the Yankees, and Santiago Espinal reminds of us Kevin Mitchell. We’ll break down Olympic Baseball and their use of a ball that co...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the Cleveland Indians are now the Guardians…of second place in the AL Central. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic maps out some possible trades; we’ll predict which ones are the most likely. A shooting takes place outside of Nationals Park forcing fans and players to take cover. Taijuan Walker makes one of the worst on-field blunders in over thirty years. Broadcaster,...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the All-Star Break has come and gone, we’ll break down the highlights. Ichiro Suzuki is remembered by the men who played with him. Commissioner, Rob Manfred, says the league will do away with some of the COVID rule changes in 2022 and he keeping mum on the possible new voting laws in Texas. Trevor Bauer and Starlin Castro are placed on administrative leave, Tom an...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the Commissioner thinks the foreign substances ban is succeeding, while MLB games look more like a TSA checkpoint. Kyle Schwarber is doing well after leaving the Cubs. Is he a player that may be traded before the deadline? The Negro League Baseball Museum is 101 years old and is celebrating with a fact, per day. The Orioles debut an old rookie and an Atlanta music...

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, the foreign substances purge begins. At what point will MLB appear they know what they are doing? Garret Cole wants the baseball to “Talk to us”, while Joe Posnanski takes the long-term view. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. can do something that no one else has ever done and Shohei Othani will anchor the only home run derby that we may actually watch....

This week on Peanuts and Popcorn, USA Today's Bob Nightengale identifies the players most likely to be traded and the teams most likely to trade for them at the deadline. Foreign substances. Who are using them and what are they using? Jacob deGrom has three different ERA titles to shoot for. Derek Jeter will have to wait to be inducted into the HOF, and we’ll ask the tough questions: Do bigger bas...