Baseball Isn’t Boring

 Nolan Schanuel. He is becoming a big leaguer just about a month after being taken with the 11th overall pick in the MLB Draft. The former Florida Atlantic star hasn't even got 100 minor league plate appearances, yet now he will be playing alongside the likes of Shohei Ohtani. The last player to make such a jump? Chris Sale. Bradfo caught up with Sale about the Draft dynamic - at that point focusi...

All teams are trying to catch lightning in a bottle at just the perfect time, especially with just 1 1/2 months left in the regular season. The Dodgers are living that life so far this August, as are the Rangers. But the two best recent examples of coming out of nowhere to go on a World Series run are the 2019 Nationals and 2021 Braves. It's why Bradfo sits down with two people who lived that life...

Alex Cora holds court with the Boston Media to address the concerning and cryptic Instagram story posted by Jarren Duran referencing mental health struggles

On May 12th, the Red Sox executed what was thought to be a minor move, purchasing infielder Pablo Reyes from the A's. Reyes wasn't even in the majors, having spent all of 2023 to that point in Triple-A. But seemingly out of nowhere, Reyes has become a very important piece of the Red Sox' puzzle. In his sit-down with Chaim Bloom, Bradfo gets the story behind the story when it comes to the Reyes dea...

With just more than 40 games left in the regular season for most teams, and the Trade Deadline in the rearview mirror, it's time to check in on what life is like for the chief decision-makers from around Major League Baseball. Bradfo sits down with Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom to discuss the dynamic with the Sox joining a bucket of other clubs jockeying for position heading into the...

Josh Winckowski has become one of the best relievers in baseball this season, currently having thrown the second-most innings of any relief pitcher while managing a 2.81 ERA. He also just threw the hardest pitch of his life. So, how is this happening? There are a few reasons, including one brought to light by teammate Chris Murphy - cereal. We get to the bottom of it with this BIB on the Go.

The story of Jordan Weems is one that every baseball player should listen to. The former third-round pick - taken one round before Mookie Betts by the Red Sox in 2011 - hadn't pitched since Little League and was asked to live life on the mound because of his troubles as a position player. Seven years later, Weems lands as one of the best relief pitchers in the game, blowing hitters away with a 99...

The courting of Shohei Ohtani - ultimately won by the Angels - has been well-documented. But how about when he was entertaining the idea of leaving Japan after graduating high school? In the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast with Dodgers Pacific Rim Scouting Director Jon Deeble, Bradfo and Shawn Spradling talk to the longtime scout to reflect on what might have been ... and what was. To listen to Deeb...

It was a trade few paid attention to, with the Dodgers sending minor leaguers Aldrin Bautista and Maximo Martinez to the White Sox for $1 million in exchange for international bonus pool space. It was with that money that Los Angeles signed one of the most intriguing pitchers ever to come out of South Korea, high school hurler Hyun-Suk Jang. Jon Deeble, the Dodgers' Director of Pacific Rim Scoutin...

When you're a high school shortstop drafted in the first round, the expectations are going to be enormous. It's a life Corey Seager came to understand after being taken by the Dodgers in 2014, and now Red Sox minor-leaguer Marcelo Mayer is getting a taste of the ups and downs in Double A. Bradfo talks to both Seager and Mayer about the sometimes difficult (and bizarre) dynamic.

Major League Baseball has landed in an unusual place where a very real debate can be had regarding which team is the best in all the game. The Orioles? The Rangers? The Braves? The Dodgers? All in the mix. Appearing on the latest MLB Power Rankings podcast, Bradfo, Skiff and Producer Evan make their feelings known when it comes to which team deserves to go where. (To listen to the entire Power Ran...

Just when you thought it was safe to predict who were the true contenders heading into the final month of the regular season, along comes the latest Power Rankings. Producer Evan and Skiff join Bradfo for perhaps the spiciest rankings yet, butting heads when it comes to pinpointing which team(s) belong at the tippity-top. The explanations and information is top-notch.

Eduardo Rodriguez has become one of the best pitchers in the American League. But almost five years ago, it was a start in the 2018 World Series that may have been the difference-maker when it came to Rodriguez becoming the pitcher he is today. And within that moment was a subtle encounter with Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez that may have spurred him on. Bradfo sits down with ERod to reflect on that...

The Boston Red Sox entered Friday night 24-5 overall wearing their yellow and blue 'City Connect' uniforms, outscoring opponents 150-89 in the garb. Kenley Jansen, for one, is ready to go back to the traditional gear. Jansen made his feelings known while sitting down with Bradfo before yet another 'City Connect' game.

Taylor Hearn is a good pitcher. He has now taken his talents to the Kansas City Royals after being traded from the Atlanta Braves. He also wants to one day become a rodeo star, just like his grandfather, father and uncles. His passion for the rodeo is contagious, which you can find out in his conversation with Bradfo. It's a refreshing look at a big league ballplayer who would rather rope cattle t...

Jackson Holliday. Marcelo Mayer. Jordan Lawlar. Jackson Merrill. What do they all have in common? They all were taken in the first round as high school shortstops, and are currently being viewed as the future of their respective franchises. Bradfo catches up with each of the prospects to discuss the pressures that come with such expectations. And, just for good measure, we launch the conversation...

When you set a Major League record - like Kansas City pitcher Austin Cox did after not allowing a hit in his first 39 big league batters - Baseball Isn't Boring is going to come calling. Bradfo sat down with Cox to reflect on life as a MLB record-holder.

Picture Day is always a staple in every team's season, with the entire group having to trudge out to the outfield in full uniform to immortalize themselves as part of that season's team. Kyle Barraclough, a veteran of a few Picture Days, experienced his most memorable one Wednesday, landing in the 2023 Red Sox team picture just about an hour after joining the team for the first time. It was the la...

Some teams - like the Dodgers, Rangers and Mariners - have taken off after the Trade Deadline. Same can be said with a few players, with Michael Lorenzen highlighting the group that changed teams thanks in large part to his no-hitter Wednesday. There are also those who stayed put, such as James Paxton. With more than a week now since the Deadline it seemed like a good time to reflect on it all, wi...

Julio Rodriguez showed us once again why he is one of the superstars of the game already, dominating social media with images of him robbing another home run. It just so happened that the topic of outfields and outfield play and taking away homers came up in Bradfo's conversation with Blue Jays outfielder George Springer. Spoiler: George can dunk a basketball.

The baseball world is buzzing about the lunacy that came with the Orioles decision to suspend broadcaster Kevin Brown. It's why Camden Yards was chanting "Free Kevin Brown" in the seventh inning Tuesday night. It's also why Bradfo sat down with Red Sox broadcaster Will Flemming to get an expert perspective on the situation. Flemming doesn't disappoint, with unmatched insight and opinion on the mat...

It's Power Rankings Time! The First Post-Trade Deadline Edition of the BIB Power Rankings and it's safe to say that Producer Evan and Skiff are buying into the hype surrounding the new-look Rangers and suddenly contending Chicago Cubs, while also pouring one out for the Reds, Marlins, Red Sox, and DBacks as it looks like they might be slowly headed down the pretender road instead of the contender...

There is not a more talked-about city in Major League Baseball right now than Chicago. The Cubs are out-of-nowhere in the heart of the postseason conversation, while the White Sox' drama is at an all-time high thanks to a brawl, some pointed comments and subsequent damage control. In a crazy baseball season, it doesn't get much crazier than the last few days in the home of these two teams. That's...

Jonathan Papelbon has lived the life of a high-priced free agent signing on to help the Phillies to a world championship. That's why he can sympathize with what Trea Turner is going through in his first year Philadelphia. Pap joined Bradfo once again to offer his perspective of Turner's season, while doubling down on his love for the Phillies' World Series chances.

The baseball world was buzzing with talk about the fight between the White Sox' Tim Anderson and Jose Ramirez of the Guardians. It's why we wanted to talk to an expert on matters involving baseball brawls, former Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. Gibby - who was at the helm in Toronto when Jose Bautista got clocked by Rougned Odor - takes us inside the dynamic of a baseball fight. Why does it happen...