Lefty Specialists

We are back! Or, half back, as it’s a John solo episode. Today he’s breaking down the Dan Snyder situation in Washington. In addition to summing the Snyder Files, this episode also delves into larger questions like, Who is Dan Snyder? Where did he come from? Why does he suck so much? And how are the ways he sucks indicative of the larger ways that capitalism sucks? Listen! Comment! Review! Enjoy!...

It’s Baseball Week here at Undrafted! In honor of the postseason, we’re doing a week of all baseball content, with a new post dropping (hopefully) every day. Starting today with an UNPRECENDENTED version of the Lefty Specialists… It’s a James solo episode! Only one Lefty Specialist today, as James dives deep into the history of Black Brooklyn, white flight, and the story of how the Dodgers conquer...

The Lefty Specialist are back! After mostly taking the summer off, James and John are back and they’re joined by a very special guest: Miguel Garcia, host of the Sports as a Weapon podcast (@SportsAsAWeapon)! Together they discuss how to discuss leftism with sports fans, how to discuss sports with leftists, and the ethical contradictions of rooting for the Dodgers. If you don’t already listen to t...

It’s been nearly six years since Colin Kaepernick first took a knee during the national anthem, and in doing so sparked a wave of protests that spread across the nation. Today, the Lefty Specialists are thrilled to be joined by the great political sportswriter Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) to discuss his most recent book, The Kaepernick Effect: Taking a Knee, Changing the World , about the young athl...

With just a few days left in June, the Lefty Specialists look at how the sports world has celebrated Pride. Specifically, James and John look at the controversy surrounding how the Tampa Bay Rays handled their Pride Night earlier this month. Then (@18:10) they’re joined by Frankie de la Cretaz to talk about not only that incident, but the larger context of celebrating Pride in sports amidst a risi...

The Lefty Specialists are here to do something truly revolutionary: talk about golf. First, though, they discuss the Warriors triumph in the NBA Finals, and what socialist lessons can be drawn from it. But then they turn their attention to the LIV Golf controversy , and whether or not golf is, officially, cancelled now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscri...

What makes a good manager/boss? That’s the question the Lefty Specialists spend most of this episode discussing—that is, after a few minutes of gloating about the Yankees’ hot start, and a quick review of the first ~60 games of the 2022 baseball season. But then James and John dig in for a deeper discussion of the role of managers in the modern game. Should they follow the numbers or trust their g...

The Lefty Specialists are here to honor a fallen comrade, Ray Liotta, by talking about Field of Dreams , one of the best movies ever about ghost baseball players. James and John discuss nostalgia for the 1960s, the whitewashing of baseball’s past, and whether this movie is an example of anti-Italian bigotry. Check it out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subsc...

“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” The Lefty Specialists are back, to explain how Antonio Gramsci was really talking about the 2022 NBA Playoffs. James tries to convince John why the left needs to rally around the Celtics. Also discussed: Steve Kerr’s thoughts on gun control, whether overtime is anti-labor, and how Jayson Tatum is like Br...

Ahead of this weekend’s finale, the Lefty Specialists are here to break down Season One of HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty . James and John discuss such questions as: Why would comrade Adam McKay make a TV show about a fucking owner? Is the show unfair to Jerry West? And why is this show so anti-Paul Westhead? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with othe...

We thought this day might never come, but the Lefty Specialists are here to break down the 2022 baseball season. After a brief lockout discussion, James and John go over who are the leftist teams this season. For the National League (10:30), we break down whether Steve Cohen can be trusted, how much to dislike the Braves, and why we always appreciate the Cardinals. For the American League (31:40),...

As we say goodbye to the college basketball season, the Lefty Specialists look back on the Tournament through the lens of the March Stories series. First, James tries to console John about Duke’s loss, then we discuss the possible end of the one-and-done era, where Saint Peter’s ranks among all-time upsets, and a new era of women’s college basketball. And, if you missed it, here’s the old episodes...

Part III of the Lefty Specialists’ March Madness miniseries is about Rutgers’ surprise Final Four run, the disrespect shown to women’s basketball, and the inherently reactionary nature of talk radio. Thanks to Bryan (@murderxbryan) from Street Fight Radio (https://www.patreon.com/streetfightradio) for joining us on this one! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other su...

Part II of the Lefty Specialists’ March Madness miniseries is about UMBC’s historic 2018 upset, the nature of college basketball Cinderellas, and the class system of American college sports. Thanks to Zac McCord (@zmccord23) for joining us on this one! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit undrafted.substack.com

It’s the return of the Lefty Specialists’ specialty: our NCAA Tournament preview specifically geared towards what is good for the left! In today’s jumbo episode, James and John discuss whether Chet Holmgren makes Gonzaga more pro-labor or less, who are the most egalitarian coaches in the Big Ten, and pour one out for a pod favorite who lost his job this week…. This is a public episode. If you woul...

Part I of the Lefty Specialists’ March Madness miniseries is about Syracuse’s 2003 team, Carmelo Anthony, and the beginning of the one-and-done era. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit undrafted.substack.com

Join the Lefty Specialists for our March Madness miniseries! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit undrafted.substack.com

The Lefty Specialists are back! Again! This time, after a quick rant from John about the Olympics, we’re talking the state of the NBA at the All-Star Break, and then the baseball lockout and Hall of Fame vote. (Quick note: This episode was recorded before the James Harden/Ben Simmons trade was announced, and before Rob Manfred’s press conference where he announced the universal DH, so when discuss...

The Lefty Specialists have returned! After a three month hiatus, we’re back to preview the Super Bowl, and let you know who leftists should be rooting for this weekend. Then we compare Zac Taylor’s coaching resume to Brian Flores’ (14:14), debate whether Flores will ever get hired again (26:25), and what the Divisional and Championship weekends illustrate about capitalism (45:20). We also ask the...

As the era of Covid baseball winds to a close (or at least, the most recent iteration of Covid baseball), the Lefty Specialists are here to explain how the last two MLB seasons illustrate Naomi Klein’s theory of “disaster capitalism.” First, James and John do an overview of what the shock doctrine is. Then, in Part II (@10:15), they go over how the shock of the pandemic led to changes on the baseb...

Check out a new episode of the Lefty Specialists! First, James and John debate whether the Wild Card, Division Series, and League Championship rounds have been good for the left, before telling you who to root for in the World Series (Hint: not who you might think). Then, at the 20-minute mark, they pivot to discussing the recent Undrafted series on the integration of baseball. Enjoy! This is a pu...

The Lefty Specialists are back, with Part II of their baseball playoff preview. This time they’re talking about the NL, and discussing such questions as: Are the Cardinals good for the left if everyone is sick of them? Is Zack Wheeler the working class candidate for NL Cy Young? And should socialists be pulling for anyone but the Dodgers? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this...

The MLB playoffs start tonight! So the Lefty Specialists are here to tell you what is the proper leftist attitude towards the American League. Should we be bummed that the Mariners and Blue Jays missed the postseason? Who should we be rooting to win the MVP and Cy Young races? And, most importantly, are the Red Sox or Rays worse for the left? Listen, review, and learn the answers to all that and m...

It’s time for Part II of the Lefty Specialists football preview! Today James and John are talking about the NFL, and they’ve got a leftist pick for every division. Should socialists root for Tom Brady, as John says? Should the left pull for Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs? Is Jerry Jones a secret leftist? (No.) We’ve got answers for all that and more. Please listen and subscribe! This is a public episo...

The Lefty Specialists are back with the first half our football preview. Today James and John are going over the college football season, talking about how conference realignment mirrors colonialism, how the College Football Playoff only furthers the hegemony of those in power, and we preview our picks for who socialists should be pulling for this season, even if those teams have no chance. Enjoy!...