Passion for the Pastime

2 weeks in and baseball is in full swing, sort of. Teams havent skipped a beat amid Covid, some even exceeding expectations. Is it too early to tell about what these teams will be? Oakland, Rockies, Padres, Cubs, and South side White Sox are hot teams with the expected Dodgers, Twins and Yankees, but which teams are you buying and selling. Teams that were shut down will be returning to games by th...

We have alot to get to in this one. From Opt Outs to Walk Offs. From Covid updates to chasing history. It is all here on the latest episode of Passion for the Pastime.

Is someone who intentionally throws at a batter a hero? In this case, it depends who you ask. Joe Kelly threw at the Astros in response to their recent sign stealing scandal, and you either hate it or you love it. Regardless of how you feel, baseballs punishment sent a clear message. None of this will happen during the pandemic, or maybe even ever because of how hung up Manfred is on protecting th...

With the good news, come bad news. Baseball returned to our tv screens, but no one is immune to Covid-19, as players from the Marlins organization have tested positive for Covid. At first it was four, now it is an upward of 14 players and staff. Mlb has responded by cancelling games of the Marlins- Orioles and Phillies-Yankees, in order to protect their players. Phillies -Yankees was cancelled due...

The first weekend of baseball is in the books and i never realized how much I've missed the big fly. Well we were spoiled with homeruns last season, but a couple of the big flys have been majestic, you can't help but admire them. Stanton got the party started and kept it going. It seems like every homerun hit this year has a different sound and go 450 plus. There was also the return to the mound w...

The first day of the regular season did not disappoint one bit. We had a first pitch that summed up 2020 as a whole. Rain storms and floods, debuts of Cole and Mookie, and proof that Pennywise may exist. This is only the first of many strange days of the 2020 season. I'm just lucky to be alone for the ride.

We have made it! It is finally Opening Day. After waiting for month for the start of the season. No this is not a dream. It is reality and with that reality comes changes. Our world, our game looks a little different in 2020. Amid Covid-19 and social inequality, this season will surely be one to remember. Blue Jays are homeless, no fans, players kneeling, new season format and rule changes. This s...

Its ironic that during these times, some say, stand for what is right. What is i told you, by kneeling, it is standing up. Is it a hard concept to grasp. Do people just not want to listen. Bruce Maxwell tried it a few years ago in 2017, and not all but some booed him for it. Now fast forward to 2020, on that very same field, players along with Gabe Kapler, manager of the San Francisco Giants, took...

With Opening Week upon us, we are only a few days away from the start of the regular season. As the day is coming closer, some last minute changes for mlb clubs. Some approved and others denied. But if a team needs to relocated, how important is home field with no fans? Update for players with Covid, the former Atlanta Brave, Yasiel Puig has tested positive and will no sign with the Braves. So was...

With Opening Day just one week away, a superstar outfielder has finally found a home. Yasiel Puig will be heading to the ATL, joining the Braves. If Jermaine Dupri's "Welcome to Atlanta" isn't Puig's walk up song in his first at bat of the season, I will be very, very disappointed. Good for Puig on finding a home. Not all can be said for a few clubs, facing certain uncertainty entering into the fi...

We have made it through another week of summer camp and that puts baseball fans one week closer to the start of the season. Before we get there , we have some Covid-19 updates. MLB released their stats on Covid testing since testing started on June 27th. 83 total positive cases since then, with 66 something from the initial intake testing and only 17 since then. A large number but it all depends o...

Baseball has returned for Summer camp and not even a week in, there are problems across the board with Covid testing. Testers not showing up, tests results being delayed, long wait periods between testing, making all who are involved at ask. Sure, problems were expected, its a new process, but MLB really needs to kick it into gear before more players opt out. Will more players opting out each day,...

Teams are back home and ready to begin Summer Camp. As ball park cams show us the workouts and batting practice, you cant help but get excited for baseball to finally be back. But i guess we missed some baseball along the way. As some players played in a sandlot style game during quarantine. Thanks for the memo. But as we await to release of the 2020 schedule to be released next week, we have some...

Spring Training 2.0 is HERE! Or should I say Summer Camp? Whatever you want to call it, the bottom line is that baseball is back. It defiantly won't look the same. No I don't mean camp fires and smores. I mean the among of top prospects joining the rosters. We are expected to see some of the top talent at some point this season and that just adds to the excitement if you weren't jumping for joy to...

Baseball is back! Words that I think we all thought we wouldn't hear in 2020. But baseball is back. It wasn't pretty, it still isn't but at least we will have baseball again. Some changes coming to baseball this year is the universal DH and a big one is the new extra innings rule. I mean we have to have something to argue about don't we? Moving forward ,players will return to team camps by next we...

It is becoming more and more evident that the 2020 MLB season will be cancelled. I don't know about you but I am extremely disappointed that these people who represent America's Pastime, can figure out how to bring joy to fan again.

The future of baseball are looked at in two different lights right now. How will baseball get a season done and how will life be after Covid-19 as well as the 2020 MLB Draft. We will focus on the draft mostly, seeing how MLB is trying to keep up with NFL and even NBA draft skeptical. Also looking at who can possible be the next Mike Trout or Justin Verlander. The new format and how it will effect...

It is time to listen everyone. Not just to the podcast but to everyone who is asking for your help. The black community, black lives matter are willing to educate but it takes too to tango. Major league baseball may be behind in the times but many players are not. They are becoming leaders, becoming listeners, educating themselves and others. For too long we have been divided and if this truly is...

Before we get to sports discussion, there is something else we need to talk about. Due to recent events of police brutality and protesting as a result, I have decided to pull away from regular sports talk and open up the discussion. Enough is enough and I am speaking for those who need to be heard. Welcome to the conversation and lets get through this together. It may make you uncomfortable and th...

Baseball's clock is ticking and this is the week. Baseball owners and players know it, as we have already seen more counter proposals being introduced. If something was to happen it is this week. The MLBPA and owners are discussing money but in the form of games to be played because owners latest counter has said full prorated salaries but with much less game than the 114 games proposed by MLBPA....

We are now at the end of May and still, no deal has been reached between Owners and Players to begin the season. There is still time for a deal to be done, but the clock is ticking. Many of us can imagine baseball not being played in 2020 but its starting to be a bigger possibility with each passing day. A new proposal was made to the Players association and it is not looking promising, with some...

While we are staying home, with no sports, we are always looking for something to watch. The Last Dance, a documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, has been a saving grace through these hard times. Now we are itching for more. On this podcast, the fans decided on topics you would like to see turned into a Last Dance style documentary, and here are the results as well as some historic c...

As we all wait for sports to resume, there may be some obstacles in the way. Baseball is no different. With health and safety at the forefront of the conversations being hand with MLB and the Players association, the financial impact is also a big topic and a big hurdle to overcome. Here is a look at the proposed plan for MLB to continue in 2020. Will a deal be struck? We all hope so, but the cloc...

Players league has it's first champion and the Dream bracket as crowns the ultimate franchise. Are you tired of baseball simulations and want to watch some real baseball. Well your prayers have been answered, but next time be more specific. Base has indeed returned, but no state side. Rather, it has returned in South Korea in the KBO. A ten team league has returned. Interesting enough that MLB has...

I am the man, the man with a plan. Not really my plan, but I am the man that knows of a man, who knows of a man with a plan. Baseball continues it's search for a solution to starting baseball again. This latest plan seems to be the most realistic. Is it still a long shot? Yes. Will it still take a while? Yes, but all good things take time. In the meantime, we do actually have some live "sports" to...