Passed Ball Show

PASSED BALL SHOW #125 3/26/2014 Part 2 WITH JASON GRILLI AND KENT TEKULVE; I start out by speaking with All Star Pirates closer Jason Grilli about his book "Just My Game" which talks about his battle back from a potentially devastating knee injury to get back into the big leagues. I then discuss my 30-1 MLB countdown previews for the Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays,...

PASSED BALL SHOW #125 3/26/2014 Part 1 WITH VIN MAZZARO AND KENN KASPAREK; I open up by talking about how I agree with the Mets decision to start Ruben Tejada at SS on opening day. I then give my 30-1 MLB countdown previews of the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. I play my brief interviews I recorded with Pirates relievers Vin Mazzaro and Kenn Kasparek which I recorded at the Pirates S...

PASSED BALL SHOW #124 3/18/2014 Part 2 WITH RAUL GONZALEZ AND JORGE PIEDRA; I open up by speaking with former Indians, Reds and Mets OF Raul Gonzalez. Raul was selected to go on the road with Tigers superstar Miguel Cabrera after Miguel was arrested for drunken driving. I then get into my 30-1 MLB countdown previews for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians. I finish off by speaking with fo...

PASSED BALL SHOW #124 3/18/2014 Part 1 WITH PEDRO VALDES; I open up by playing my interview with former Cubs (1996, 1998) and Rangers (2000) OF Pedro Valdes. We talk about how he got into coaching and his great career he had in Japan and Mexico after he played briefly in the majors. I then get into my 30-1 MLB countdown previews of the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets and San Diego Padres

PASSED BALL SHOW #123 3/11/2014 Part 2 WITH PETER MUNRO; I start out by talking about the Braves signing of Ervin Santana and what it means for the other two remaining impactful free agents. I then do my 30-1 MLB countdown previews of the Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays. I finish off by interviewing former Blue Jays RHP Peter Munro. We talk about his combined...

PASSED BALL SHOW #123 3/11/2014 Part 1 WITH ED CHARLES; I start out by talking about my preseason predictions and what they mean. I then interview former Athletics and Mets 3B Ed Charles about his portrayal in the Jackie Robinson movie 42, his being held back in AAA for four seasons with the Milwaukee Braves and being part of the 1969 World Series Champion New York Mets. I finish off by doing the...

PASSED BALL SHOW #122 3/5/2014 Part 2 WITH CORY ALDRIDGE AND DOUG BOCHTLER; I open up by playing my interview with former Braves (2001) and Angels (2010) OF Cory Aldridge. Cory is still playing ball currently in Mexico and has not stopped playing professionally since he signed with the Braves. I also spoke with Doug Bochtler, a former Padres pitcher who is now a pitching coach in the Arizona Diamo...

PASSED BALL SHOW #122 2/25/2014 Part 1 WITH ED KRANEPOOL; I open up the program by talking about the declaration that Mets GM Sandy Alderson made to ownership that the team will win 90 games this season. I also broke down what the Mets player stats have to be for the team to win 90 games. I then speak with original Mets 1B and all time franchise leader in games, at bats and sacrifice flies Ed Kran...

PASSED BALL SHOW #38 7/26/2012 Part 2 WITH PHIL HUFFMAN; On part 2, @john_pielli is joined by former Toronto Blue Jays RHP Phil Huffman, who tells the story of how he made all 31 starts at age 20-21 in 1979, only to never pitch again in the majors. Phil gives his opinion of the change in management of the 1980 Blue Jays as well as his attempts to return to the majors. I also touch on the 1983 Pine...

PASSED BALL SHOW #38 7/26/2012 Part 1 WITH CHRIS BANDO; On Part 1 of today's PBS, @john_pielli speaks with former Cleveland Indians catcher Chris Bando. We discuss catching a knuckleball, playing in the shadow of his older brother, Sal and what happens to a hitter after devoting your game to being a defensive catcher. I also suggest to expect the rest of the season for the New York Mets, laugh at...

PASSED BALL SHOW #37 7/19/2012 Part 2; On part 2 of the PBS, @john_pielli spends some time discussing what happened to Royals LHP Jonathan Sanchez and how he may very well be the next Oilver Perez. I also break down the trade that sent him to KC for Melky Cabrera and the prior move that sent Cabrera to Atlanta for Javier Vazquez. I spend some time breaking down the legendary career of the great Ty...

PASSED BALL SHOW #37 7/19/2012 Part 1 WITH PAUL SPOLJARIC; On part 1 of the Passed Ball Show, @john_pielli speaks with former Blue Jays LHP Paul Spoljaric. Among the topics are the change in the use of bullpens over even the past 10 years, what he feels about innings limits and the babying of highly rated pitchers and how he was converted into a reliever after being a starter his entire minor leag...

PASSED BALL SHOW #36 7/12/2012 Part 2 WITH BOY MEETS MACHINE IN STUDIO; On part 2 of the PBS, with Boy Meets Machine in studio, the Bill Pulsipher story is finally revealed. Another acoustic performance and then discussion about how much of a jerk Marlins team president David Samson is, would MLB players today fight for their country, and why pitchers always want to be starting pitchers. We also q...

PASSED BALL SHOW #36 7/12/2012 Part 1 WITH BOY MEETS MACHINE IN STUDIO; @john_pielli is joined in studio by Boy Meets Machine as they perform a couple of acoustic songs live. They talk about how they created and wrote the Passed Ball Show theme song. We also touch on topics such as how Freddy Garcia gets people out and why Chris Berman is still calling the home run derby. Also hear about why Matt...

PASSED BALL SHOW #34 6/28/2012 Part 2 WITH SNY ANCHOR AND GEICO SPORTSNIGHT HOST KIRK GIMENEZ; On Part 2 of the PBS, @john_pielli speaks with SNY Anchor and host of Geico Sportsnight Kirk Gimenez. Kirk explains the difference between working for a national network (ESPN) and a local, New York-centric network. He lets us know what his favorite sports are and why he is so passionate about what he do...

PASSED BALL SHOW #34 6/28/2012 Part 1 WITH FORMER PIRATES RHP JOSE SILVA; Listen to @john_pielli as he interviews former Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Jose Silva. We talk about his experiences pitching in the Mexican Leagues for the past 9 years as well as his MLB playing career which lasted from 1996-2002. I also touch on how the east coast MLB teams struggle playing on the west coast. I make my case wh...

PASSED BALL SHOW #104 10/29/2013 Part 2 WITH MIKE BUDDIE, ALONZO HARRIS AND DOUG BERNIER; I open up by playing my interview with former Yankees and Brewers RHP Mike Buddie. We talk about his time with the Yankees, being part of the WS Championship of 1998 and finishing off his education at Wake Forest. He is currently the Associate AD at Wake Forest. I then summarize the limited free agent signing...

PASSED BALL SHOW #104 10/29/2013 Part 1 WITH CHAD HERMANSEN AND JAKE EIGSTI; I open up with my interview with former Pirates OF Chad Hermansen. We talk about him being a highly touted prospect and what he does now as a scout for the Angels. I then break down the Jake Peavy trade and explain how all three teams involved could win in the end. I finish off by playing my interview with former Mets min...

PASSED BALL SHOW #99 9/24/2013 Part 2 WITH STEVE ROGERS; I start out by playing my extended interview with former Montreal Expos RHP Steve Rogers. We talk about the 1970s Expos teams, the 1981 strike and making the NLCS in 1981. Steve now works for the MLBPA. I then get into the possibility of Jose Reyes being traded either this offseason or next and the best suitor for the services of Mets 1B Luc...

PASSED BALL SHOW #99 9/24/2013 Part 1 WITH WILLIE MONTANEZ AND ETHAN CHAPMAN; I start out by talking about how teams will continue to overpay for middle relievers/ closers and how Joaquin Benoit and Grant Balfour will benefit. I then speak with former Phillies, Mets, Braves and Giants OF/ 1B Willie Montanez about being a power hitter and how he got under the skin of the teams he played for. I fini...

PASSED BALL SHOW #98 9/17/2013 Part 2 WITH WES CHAMBERLAIN, DICK DRAGO AND JON NUNNALLY; I finish off my interview with Wes Chamberlain. I then speak with former Royals and Red Sox RHP Dick Drago as we get into pitch counts and what allowed him and his contemporaries to pitch deeper into games. I finish off by speaking with former Royals and Reds OF Jon Nunnally about being a Rule 5 pick, playing...

PASSED BALL SHOW #98 9/17/2013 Part 1 WITH FELIX MILLAN AND WES CHAMBERLAIN; I open up by adding a new player to the "clown of the year" discussion, talk a little about Jose Fernandez and discuss whether Roger Maris should be a Hall of Famer. I am then joined by former Mets and Braves 2B Felix Millan and talk about the importance of playing defense in the 1960s and 1970s. Former Phillies OF Wes Ch...

PASSED BALL SHOW #97 9/10/2013 Part 2 WITH WILLIE AIKENS AND JERRY MORALES; I open up with my interview with former Angels, Royals and Blue Jays 1B Willie Aikens. We talk about his book "Safe at Home", his life story, and how he overcame cocaine abuse and incarceration. We talk about cocaine abuse in MLB and how predominant it was in the early 1980s. I then talk about the foolish thought of how th...

PASSED BALL SHOW #97 9/10/2013 Part 1 WITH EARL AVERILL; I open up by making a case that the Jayson Werth and Gio Gonzalez signings were good moves by Nationals GM Mike Rizzo. I am then joined by former Indians, Cubs and Angels catcher Earl Averill, son of HOF OF Earl Averill. We talk about his playing career, his father and his father's animosity with the Veterans Committee regarding his delayed...

PASSED BALL SHOW #96 9/3/2013 Part 2 WITH BILL LANDRUM AND CHRIS MICHALAK; I open up by discussing the possibility of Houston Astros manager Bo Porter leaving to take the Washington Nationals job. I then break down the trade that sent RHP Scott Feldman to the Baltimore Orioles for RHPs Jake Arietta and Pedro Strop. I speak with former Pirates and Reds RHP Bill Landrum about watching his former tea...