Baseball Isn’t Boring

Bradfo, Coop and MassLive's Chris Cotillo are joined by the newest member of the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast family, Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling). Shawn is the host of 'WBC Central' a podcast under the BIB umbrella that dominates all World Baseball Classic conversation. He calls in to talk how the WBC is going to offer an update on all the what's what when it comes to the tournament before...

Rich Hill has faced hundreds upon hundreds of major league hitters over his career. But there is one - who is currently still playing - the lefty pitcher identifies as the best he has ever come across. And, spoiler, it isn't Mike Trout (who he struck out the one time he faced him). Hill joins Bradfo to talk about why some hitters are tougher to get out than others, which hitters present the bigges...

It's one thing to run down the baseline, sprint over to cover first or even try and steal a base, but when it comes to using your legs as a baseball player usually 26.2 miles don't enter into the equation. Well, Ryan Dempster and Brock Holt are attempting to break the mold by running this year's Boston Marathon. Dempster and Holt joined Bradfo to offer their motivations behind taking on such a cha...

He has mesmerized David Letterman, Major League Baseball players, and virtually anybody who grew up loving to imitate their baseball-playing heroes. He is Gar Ryness, known to those in baseball circles as "Batting Stance Guy". Gar is routinely called upon by big league clubs to entertain both the players and their fans. This time he is bringing smiles to the faces of podcast listeners everywhere t...

Chess. It's a game that some would suggest requires the same kind of patience, discipline and strategy as baseball. If any two people knew how much that might be true it would be Joey Votto and Garrett Whitlock. The Reds star and Red Sox pitcher join Bradfo for a fascinating discussion on the game both players have dove head-first into, with Votto taking his experiences with his own chess communit...

Both David Ortiz and Billy Wagner join Bradfo to reflect on the importance of the Baseball Hall of Fame. For Ortiz, it is a conversation on what has happened. For Wagner, it's the dreaming of what might be. It is a perfect way to get ready for the big announcement.

Christian Arroyo was a first-round pick. He made the majors at the age of 22 years old. A year later he though he had his big chance with his hometown team in Tampa. That didn't work out. Next up was Cleveland. That didn't work out. Next up was the Red Sox. He still hasn't got his big opportunity to start ... until now. Arroyo is currently slotted as the Red Sox second baseman due in part to Trevo...

Bradfo caught up with Red Sox bench coach Ramon Vazquez to discuss the challenges these new MLB rules are going to present for those in the dugout, and the players trying to learn the ways of this new world in spring training. (Can you believe they aren't using them in the WBC?) Vazquez presents some previously not-talked-about issues the new rules might present. It's all part of Monday morning's...

The upcoming 2023 season is going to be unlike any that we have seen, thanks in large part to a flurry of significant rule changes that has impacted how MLB teams are doing things both in the front office and in the dugout. Offering unique perspective on how things are changing are Red Sox general manager Brian O'Halloran and his team's new bench coach Ramon Vazquez. Are teams looking at players d...

You think you knew social media and Major League Baseball? Forget about it. The dynamic with how teams and players approach the likes of Instagram and TikTok has changed significantly over the past few years, landing in a place that demands more creativity and participation. Nobody has done a better job with social media this offseason than the Pittsburgh Pirates, which is why Bradfo sat down with...

It's not every day you get a chance to experience the mentoring of a 13-year major league veteran with a new up-and-coming teammate. But that's exactly what this podcast delivered, with new Pirate Rich Hill meeting 23-year-old Mike Burrows, one of Pittsburgh's top pitching prospects for the first time. What transpired was the kind of advice and guidance that is usually reserved for the secrecy of...

Perhaps the least boring team to follow in recent days has been the Baltimore Orioles. While ranking after ranking came out proclaiming the O's farm system to be the be-all, end-all, and soaking in all the optimism that comes with following one of the emerging contenders in the American League, along came some chaos induced by Orioles CEO John Angelos. Bradfo is joined by Eric Arditti of 'Barstool...

Boog Sciambi is among the best at what he does ... broadcasting. He also happens to be the television voice of the Chicago Cubs. So with both of those things in mind, Bradfo sits down with Sciambi to discuss perhaps the mot talked about Major League team over the past week - the Cubs - and what exactly broadcasting a baseball game looks like these days. For those who are curious about what is tran...

In his first interview since announcing his retirement, pitcher Josh Lindblom joined Bradfo to reveal his thoughts behind the decision to hang up his cleats at just 35 years old and what led to the social media post announcing the choice. Lindblom offers fascinating insight into how his career evolved and lessons that can be learned from a career that went from second-round pick, to key parts of s...

So, you think the excitement of free agency in Major League Baseball is done? Think again. Baseball Isn't Boring free agent correspondent Ed Hand joins Bradfo to pick through what is left on the free agent market. Ed also constructs an entire team out of the remaining free agents. (Spoiler: He wants Don Mattingly to manage it.) You are going to be the smartest baseball fan on your block after list...

The guy who is the straw that stir the drinks when it comes to all World Baseball Classic - Shawn Spradling (@shawn_spradling) - joins Bradfo to discuss everything you need to know about the upcoming tournament. Included in the conversation is Shawn's power ranking when it comes to which country's fan base is the most passionate. Spoiler: It's Japan. To listen to the full-length conversation/podca...

Shawn 'The WBC Guy' Spradling has established himself as the preeminent World Baseball Classic this year, helping everyone soak in every bit of news and analysis regarding the upcoming tournament via his social media account. How is the Czech Republic fielding a team? What could go wrong for Team USA? Just how passionate are the Japanese fans? Why is there no merchandise to buy less than two month...

Daniel Bard's journey - from young flamethrower, to victim of the Yips, to retirement, to out-of-nowhere closer for the Rockies - has been well-documented. But now the tale has gotten even better. Bard has been identified as one of the best of the best in the United States, having been named to Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Bard joined Bradfo to discuss the behind-the-scenes doings that...

Bradfo is joined by former closer Billy Wagner, who finds himself on the cusp of becoming a Hall of Famer. Wagner offers an honest take on how he views the Hall of Fame voting while reflecting on a career that will go down as one of the greatest of all-time among all relief pitchers. His insight into how bullpens are used now is fascinating, with the lefty weaving in stories from his playing days....

In the latest Baseball Isn't Boring episode with Rich Hill, now only did the new Pirates pitcher talk about how he landed in Pittsburgh, his trip to Scotland and thoughts on the Bucs' hype video, but he also dove into exactly how Justin Turner was going to make a difference for the Red Sox clubhouse. To listen to the entire Hill conversation with Bradfo, click here.

Baseball Isn't Boring regular Rich Hill made his first appearance on the podcast as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hill explains how the deal came about while mixing in details of his first few days with Pittsburgh while navigating his vacation through Scotland. While offering details of his trip to the Scottish Highlands, he also explains what drew him to the Pirates and what he thought of t...

Fresh off the news that he is shifting from his duties as a Mets broadcaster to the new television play-by-play person for the Angels, Wayne Randazzo joins Bradfo and Courtney Finnicum to talk about his switch, what went into calling Albert Pujols' 700th home run and the realities that come with broadcasting baseball these days. If you want an inside look at what goes into those baseball broadcast...

There is no baseball general manager who has had better fortune of late agreeing to contract extensions for their players than Atlanta's chief decision-maker Alex Anthopoulos. The Braves' GM joins Bradfo to talk about how he is building his team and lessons learned from his stint with the Blue Jays. There is also a spirited debate over ketchup-flavored potato chips. With another big extension - Ra...

Last year, Bradfo got help from Batting Stance Guy to help reveal his Hall of Fame ballot. It was viewed by more than 200,000 people, and launched an important conversation - what would the next reveal look like? Well, we have our answer. With help from actor D.B. Sweeney, Bradfo has gone next-level in announcing his picks, with Sweeney reprising his role in the iconic baseball movie 'Eight Men Ou...

Want to be sold on the chances of the 2023 White Sox? You're going to want to listen to the conversation Bradfo and Courtney Finnicum had with their new manager Pedro Grifol. In a very open and honest back-and-forth, Grifol presents what he perceived was wrong with the White Sox, what could be right with his new team, and why he is going to make sure all his new players watch the Houston Astros ac...