Passed Ball Show

PASSED BALL SHOW #90 7/25/2013 Part 2 WITH CHRIS DONNELS AND CHARLIE LEIBRANDT; I open up with my interview with former Mets, Astros, Dodgers and Diamondbacks infielder Chris Donnels. We talk about him being the Mets first round draft pick after winning the World Series, reasons he struggled early in the majors after success in the minors, playing in Japan and making the postseason. I then get int...

PASSED BALL SHOW #90 7/25/2013 Part 1 WITH AL OLIVER; I inform the listener about the upcoming Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this weekend and give a biography of each of the three inductees. Does the Hall of Fame selection of Col Jacob Ruppert mean George Steinbrenner could be next? I finish up with my extended interview with longtime MLB 1B/OF Al Oliver and discuss playing for the Pirates tea...

PASSED BALL SHOW #89 7/16/2013 Part 2 WITH CALVIN MADURO; I open up by remembering Disco Demolition Night and who was the case of that disaster. I talk about the significance of Cesar Tovar's feat of playing all 9 positions in a single game. The several players that returned to big leagues after prolonged absences to fill roster spots from players serving in WWII. I compare Josh Satin's start to t...

PASSED BALL SHOW #89 7/16/2013 Part 1 WITH BENNY AYALA; I open the program by talking about the possibility of pitchers Tim Lincecum, Matt Garza and Phil Hughes being traded. I then speak with former Mets and Orioles outfielder Benny Ayala about hitting a HR in his first MLB AB as well as his postseason success with the Orioles. I finish off by talking about Chris Davis, his all time single season...

PASSED BALL SHOW #82 5/30/2013 Part 2 WITH MATT WALBECK, BOB FRIEND AND CHAD MOELLER; Former MLB catcher Matt Walbeck joins the program to tslk about his baseball clinic, his MLB career and playing for the 2003 Detroit Tigers, one of the worst teams in MLB history. I mention Ken Brett and how underrated of a hitter he was as a pitcher. 1960 Pirates World Champion pitcher and 197 game winner Bob Fr...

PASSED BALL SHOW #82 5/30/2013 Part 1 WITH BUDDY BIANCALANA AND DAMON HOLLINS; Buddy Biancalana, former Royals SS on the 1985 World Series team, talks about his "zone" experience in the WS as well as his zone training program. Damon Hollins, former OF for the Devil Rays and Braves, calls in to talk about his career and whether he got a fair chance to show his talents with Atlanta. I conclude the f...

PASSED BALL SHOW #81 5/21/2013 Part 1 WITH ROY SIEVERS AND ROGER MASON; I open up with my interview with 1949 AL Rookie of the Year and 1957 AL HR and RBI leader Roy Sievers. After discussing possible trades for Mets 1B, I speak with former Pirates, Phillies and Giants RHP Roger Mason about his nearly flawless postseason stats. I talk about team is really worse, the 2013 Astros or 2013 Marlins. Al...

PASSED BALL SHOW #51 10/25/2012 Part 2 WITH BOY MEETS MACHINE; On part two of the PBS, Boy Meets Machine joins @john_pielli for some more talk on topics such as Carlton Fisk, Chipper Jones and Josh Hamilton. That plus an acoustic performance by the band as well as what is on the callers minds

PASSED BALL SHOW #51 10/25/2012 Part 1 WITH TITO LANDRUM, JOINED IN STUDIO BY BOY MEETS MACHINE; Listen back to @john_pielli as he is joined in studio once again by Boy Meets Machine. Former Cardinals OF Tito Landrum calls in to talk about the 1985 Cardinals team, how he ended up in the starting lineup, how 1983 helped him prepare for the 1985 WS and the Don Denkinger call. Also listen to some dis...

PASSED BALL SHOW #49 10/11/2012 Part 2 WITH DYLAN OWEN; On part 2 of the PBS, @john_pielli speaks with New York Mets pitching prospect Dylan Owen. Also listen to his take on Chris Carpenter's place in Cardinals history as well as the model of consistency the St Louis Cardinals have maintained in spite of the loss of Albert Pujols, Tony LaRussa and Dave Duncan

PASSED BALL SHOW #49 10/11/12 Part 1; Listen back to the PBS, where @john_pielli speaks with former Phillies and Cubs pitcher Terry Adams and reporter and radio personality from 610 Sports in Kansas City Robert Ford. Also listen to a recent recap of the 2012 MLB Postseason and up to date progress of the current games in as they were going on. Also some recap of the 2012 over/unders

PASSED BALL SHOW #50 10/18/2012 Part 2 WITH GREGG OLSON; On part 2 of the PBS, @john_pielli gives his opinion on both the Yankees disaster with Alex Rodriguez and the Nationals failure with Stephen Strasburg. Former All Star closer with the Orioles Gregg Olson calls in to talk about his confidence being a closer. He talks about coming up to the majors his first season being drafted on a Baltimore...

PASSED BALL SHOW #50 10/18/2012 Part 1 WITH JOHN D'ACQUISTO AND DAVE COGGIN; On part one of the PBS, @john_pielli speaks with former Giants pitcher John D'Acquisto about Tim Lincecum and the adjustments he has made. We also break down the strengths and weaknesses of the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants as they prepare for game 4 of the NLCS. Former Phillies RHP Dave Coggin calls in to t...

PASSED BALL SHOW #56 11/29/2012 Part 2 WITH CJ NITKOWSKI;Listen back to part 2 of the program as @john_pielli speaks with MLB pitcher CJ Nitkowski about his comeback, changing his arm angle and his interest in writing. I also touch on this date in baseball history and how Kenishaw Landis may have covered up another gambling scandal as well as what is means to win the offseason pennant

PASSED BALL SHOW #56 11/29/2012 Part 1 WITH BRUCE MURRAY; Listen back to part 1 of the show as @john_pielli speaks with Sirius XM host Bruce Murray from Mad Dog Radio. I also hit on topics like Denard Span and Washington, Mets chances of trading David Wright if he is not extended as well as RA Dickey and BJ Upton signing with the Braves. I also question people’s motives when they suggest trading a...

PASSED BALL SHOW #54 11/15/2012 Part 2 WITH PHILLIP EVANS AND GREG BLOSSER; Listen back to part two of the PBS, where @john_pielli speaks with Mets SS prospect Phillip Evans and former MLB OF Greg Blosser. Also, the MVPs of both leagues are announced, the Reyes trade and which teams will become the next generation of big spenders

PASSED BALL SHOW #54 11/15/2012 Part 1 WITH RYAN FRASER AND MATT BUDGELL; Listen back to part one of the show where @john_pielli speaks with Mets pitching prospects Ryan Fraser and Matt Budgell. Also, some discussion on the Detroit Tigers signing Tori Hunter and how much of a fit Rafael Soriano would be there. A little bit on the postseason, mainly the NL Cy Young award.

12-21-2022 Passed Ball Show. John spends the majority of this show speaking of his proudness to be a New York Mets fan right now. The Carlos Correa reported signing is one that he is having a hard time matching throughout the history of the franchise. While expressing his excitement, he discusses the implications on what the Mets have become as it compares to the past perception of the New York Ya...

PASSED BALL SHOW #13 1/12/2012 HOW THE METS HAVE MISMANAGED THE $11.7 MILLION THEY HAVE SPENT ON FREE AGENTS, AN OUTLINE OF THE PERFECTION THAT IS NEEDED FOR THE METS TO BE COMPETITIVE, COMPARING BARRY LARKIN TO ALAN TRAMMELL, HOW THE 2013 HALL OF FAME BALLOT WORKS OUT

PASSED BALL SHOW #12 1/5/2012 NOT A SURPRISE METS WILL NOT SIGN ANOTHER PLAYER FOR $1.5 MIL, CASE FOR BILLY WAGNER IN THE HALL OF FAME, RYAN BRAUN HAS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS "MISTAKE", ALARMING NUMBER OF SCOTT BORAS CLIENTS STILL UNSIGNED

12-20-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show by talking about Jacob deGrom’s decision to leave the Mets and New York. John specifically talks about Jake’s right to not want to thank the fans, the Mets, and New York if he truly does not want to. John makes the comparison to a “forced” apology- one that we ALL know is not sincere. John states that Jacob has the right to have not liked his ti...

12-14-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by talking about how great a job MLB Player Agent Scott Boras has done this offseason. He has gotten his players paid and it seems like his pending FA clients will be getting paid as well. John describes the payroll flexibility many teams have had and why San Francisco was ready to pay Carlos Correa. He uses the same logic to explain why Carl...

12-13-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this show by talking about the embarrassment that is the Oakland Athletics. The franchise is currently being run into the ground by its cheap ass owner with little hope in sight. John believes something could be done to save the team and he brings up a couple possibilities. He then pays his respect to Mississippi State Head Coach Mike Leach, who passed aw...

12-10-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by stating what the most overrated annual game is. He then explains why the Mets were in a Catch 22 situation this offseason because of how impactful their free agents were this season. They needed to retain/ replace their free agents (and that cost of business is high) just to be as good (on paper) as the team that won 101 games in 2022. Aft...

12-7-2022 Passed Ball Show. John opens up this program by displaying the point of view of the average baseball fan during the free agent signing period. As players sign new deals with teams, the fan reacts to each one as if it applies to their own favorite team. Every time a free agent signs, that means the person’s team missed out on another player. John then talks about the surprising sudden fir...