Hooks & Runs

Film historian and critic Noah Tsika , Professor of Media Studies at Queens College, City University of New York has a new book, "I'm Not There," being released on November 14. The book reflects on director Todd Haynes' 2007 film "I'm Not There," a wonderful, creative film about Bob Dylan. Professor Tsika joins us this week to discuss the book, the film and much,...

The Houston Astros 2023 season came to a close this week with Houston once again losing 4 home games in a 7 game series. Houston! We have a problem and the problem is playing in Houston! Also in this episode, the Hooks & Runs post-season awards, the Rolling Stones new album, "Hackney Diamonds," our third quarter new music picks and Craig review the Deer Tick, Country Westerns show at...

Bob LeMoine is the author of "When the Babe Went Back to Boston: Babe Ruth, Judge Fuchs and the Hapless Braves of 1935." The book recounts the story about Babe Ruth's final MLB season - about two months with Judge Emil Fuchs' Braves. Ruth by then was 40, out of shape and wholly at loss on the baseball field. Ruth hit .181 in 92 plate appearances for a financially strapped Brave...

On July 18, 1994, the Houston Astros overcame an 11-0 deficit in the Astrodome to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 15-12. Houston Astro outfielder, Mike Felder , drove in the tying run in the Astros' 11-run sixth inning and later in the frame scored the go-ahead run. Felder, a 10-year Major League veteran, joins the show this week to talk about that game , his career and how to hit a knucklebal...

The Houston Astros were in first place in the American League West only 18 game days in 2023, but they ended the year with another divisional title and a first round bye. In this episode Craig and Rex look at the Astros furious final weekend run to the title, Kyle Tucker's bizarre did he or didn't he chase to a 30/30 season and the four wild card match-ups. We wrap up the episode discuss...

Adam Lazarus (https://www.adamlazarusbooks.com/) joins the show this week to discuss his wonderful new book, "The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams" (Citadel Press, 2023). This is a fast-paced discussion starting with Glenn and Williams in battle as fighter pilots during the Korean Conflict through the space program, Williams'...

Katie S. Sanders (www.katiessanders.com) is a freelancer based in New York City who writes about innovation, history, and fascinating people/things overlooked by history and media. She joined this podcast this week to discuss the enigmatic and mysterious Moe Berg, a long-time back-up catcher for five Major League teams in the 20s and 30s who later earned a Medal of Honor for his spy efforts for th...

Gabey Lewis is a Seattle based writer, editor and stand up comic who contributes to UW Dawg Pound , a Washington Huskies football blog on SB Nation. She joins us this week to discuss the Pac-12's implosion, the aftermath and the outlook for the 2023 college football season. Gabey Lucas on Instagram Gabey Lucas on Substack (The Everett Flabbergasters) Gabey Lucas on Twitter Go see Gabey Lucas...

Doug Rau pitched 9 seasons in the Major Leagues compiling an 81-60 record with a 3.35 ERA. He was a starter for the Los Angeles through their 1970s heyday, playing for managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda and with great Dodger players like Steve Garvey, Dusty Baker, Rick Monday and many, many more. In this episode Rau reflects on growing up  in rural Texas west of Houston, achieving All-Americ...

J. Daniel is our guest this week to talk about his new book "Suds Series: Baseball, Beer Wars and the Summer of '82." The Book is a comprehensive look at baseball and the larger culture in the season following the sport's first major labor conflict and its 1981 split season disaster. Daniel weaves the season's developments with pop culture references and the high-stakes ba...

In this week's episode, Andrew, Craig and Rex discuss Colorado's sudden decision to bolt to the Big 12, some early trade deadline musings, Bartolo Colon's retirement announcement almost 5 years since his last Major League appearance and bands we would like to see come out of retirement. Episodes Mentioned; 152 - R.E.M.'s Murmur at 40 w/ Tony Fletcher Errata: The New York Yankee...

This week, Professor Michael T. Friedman (Univ. of Maryland) is our guest to discuss his book "Mallparks: Baseball Stadiums and the Culture of Consumption" (Cornell Univ. Press 2023).  We analyzed the future of baseball stadiums by looking at the past, from Union Grounds in the 1860's to Fenway Park (1912), Dodger Stadium (1960), Camden Yards (1993) to the newest parks & develop...

 With less than two weeks to go until the 2023 trade deadline, the question on everyone's mind is -- what will the Angels do with Shohei Ohtani? Andrew and Craig weigh in an also look at whether the Astros should deal from their bare farm system for pitching help. Also in this rare music-free episode, more on the All-Star game, plus what's the deal with old people gatekeeping who gets to...

With summer vacation travels upon us, this week's episode mixes a little old with a little new. In part 1, our 2020 interview with Bill Rogan, author of "Life Ain’t the Same in the Pecos League: A Rookie Manager Navigates Baseball’s Most Notorious Independent League." Bill wrote the book about his 2019 season at the helm for the  Tucson Saguaros  in the independent Pecos League.  Th...

This week the Hooks & Runs, giddy from Houston's thrilling 12-11 win over Texas Monday afternoon, examine the complaints and criticisms against Dusty Baker. Is it possible that after owning the American League West lock, stock and barrel since 2017 Astro fans have become spoiled by success? Texas is not going to give this race away -- Houston will have to earn it, there will be bumps alon...

Old photographs offer "the hidden history of the game in plain sight," and no one knows that better than Jim Chapman, the author of "Baseball Photography of the Deadball Era.” Chapman also operates the website Chapman Deadball Collection which includes some photographs with commentary from his captivating collection. In this interview, Chapman provides a fascinating and comprehensiv...

This week we discuss the continued drama in Oakland and Las Vegas, whether Luis Arraez is a legitimate .400 threat, the Houston Astros' dire injury situation, and a new Beatles song on the books thanks to artificial intelligence - will AI be good, bad or indifferent for musicians and music fans? Errata: The Kansas City Royals won the World Series in 2015 ... The Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) los...

London & New York based artist Joan LeMay (a Texas native) has illustrated a fascinating new book authored by Alex Pappademas, " Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers and Other Sole Survivors from the Songs of Steely Dan " (Univ. of Texas Press 2023), released earlier this Spring. Joan joins Hooks & Runs in this episode for a wild ride discussing the derelicts, drifters, sla...

This week writer, novelist and editor Lincoln Michel joins us to discuss his 2021 baseball-themed cyperpunk novel "The Body Scout" and his 2021 essay "Why is Baseball the Most Literary of Sports?" This turned into a fun conversation that also dives into baseball in science fiction, Robert Coover's "The Universal Baseball Association," what exactly is cyberpunk, a...

This week, Andrew and Craig contemplate whether or not the Oakland A's can beat the Mendoza Line (.200), as this is published, the A's are 12-46 (.207). Also this week, The Rangers are for real, Jose Abreu is making us worried, when does a musical artist or band become a just a nostalgia act and more. Episodes Mentioned this Week 152 - R.E.M.'s Murmur at 40 w/ Tony Fletcher 150 - Th...

Erik Sherman ( erikshermanbaseball.com ) is a baseball historian and the New York Times best-selling author of King of Queens, Life Beyond Baseball with the '86 Mets . His most recent book, Daybreak at Chavez Ravine: Fernandomania and the Remaking of the Los Angeles Dodgers   (Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2023) relives and sheds new light on Dodger great Fernando Valenzuela's path from rural...

Andrew and Craig discuss Jose Altuve's return from his broken thumb to the Astro line-up, the Astros' recent hot streak and more. Episodes Mentioned: Episode 98 - " If You Miss Pitchers Hitting, Check Out the Astro Catchers " (the favorite obscure album episode) Errata: The 1988 Baltimore Orioles started the season 0-21 on their way to a 54-107 season. Framber Valdez threw 104...

Tony Fletcher is a rock journalist and author of a dozen books including "Perfect Circle: The Story of R.E.M.," initially published in 2003 and expanded twice since. He joins us on the podcast this week to discuss R.E.M.'s legendary debut album and "Murmur," released 40 years ago, April 12 and the band's music career, which spanned over 30 years.  Fletcher's late...

Andrew, Craig and Rex discuss why it costs so much to go see Taylor Swift and baseball current events. Episodes Referenced: Ep. 52 - I Dig Attitude More Than the Sound of It w/ Country Westerns Ep. 138 - Béisbol, Fiestas y Monster Dogs w/ Jesús Granados Ep. 140 - Hey, That's Not Fleetwood Mac! w/ Rich Engler Ep. 143 - The Rays Are Getting Their New Stadium w/ Dr. Elizabeth Strom --> Join o...

Andrew, Craig and Rex cast their mythical Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballots and ponder whether or not it is possible to have too many rock & roll bands inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Also this week, the Astros get north of .500 by sweeping the Braves, the A's look historically bad and our first quarter 2023 music recommendations. Music Andrew - None Rex - Saxon, "...