The SIS Baseball Podcast

On this episode, Mark Simon welcomes Washington Post national baseball writer Chelsea Janes , Cleveland Guardians minor league assistant hitting coach Amanda Kamekona , and children’s book author Myra Faye Turner , who gave us a Women’s History month baseball lesson. Mark and Chelsea discussed the best defensive teams entering 2025, underachievers in 2024 who could be in for big years this season,...

For our 5th annual episode with a connection to Black History Month, Mark Simon is joined by Missouri head baseball coach Kerrick Jackson , and Adam Giardino and Grayson Singleton of the Black Play-By-Play Broadcaster & Scholarship Fund . Kerrick is the first Black head baseball coach in SEC history. He shared the story of his career path and influences, explained how data and analytics have b...

On this episode of the Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, we devote the entire episode to exploring the Baseball Hall of Fame from different angles. - Former Mariners outfielder Mike Cameron shares the story of how Ichiro Suzuki made him a better defensive center fielder. - MLB senior database architect, book author, and inventor of baseball stats Tom Tango gave his recommendations for how to...

We close out 2024 by asking two people what they'll remember. First we ask recently-retired (and new father) Kevin Kiermaier about the defensive plays he'll most remember from his career. He's the overall leader in Defensive Runs Saved by a center fielder. We also talked to Kevin about what it was like to play for the Dodgers and got a specific example on how their advance scouting...

On this episode, Mark Simon takes a break from talking defense (mostly) by welcoming in Sean Smith. Sean, a former consultant for the Blue Jays, is the inventor of the WAR you see on Baseball-Reference.com and the author of the new book, War In Pieces , a documenting of how he put it together and an explanation of how it works. The book's chapters are short and not hard to understand, with lo...

We talked to so many Fielding Bible Award winners that we couldn't fit them all into one episode. On this episode we talked to Award winners Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee and Braves first baseman Matt Olson. Bibee shared some of the keys to his success in holding baserunners (he allowed 6 stolen bases in 12 attempts but also had 4 pickoffs) and explained what it's like when a...

Thursday, Sports Info Solutions announced the winners of The 2024 Fielding Bible Awards. Each year since 2006 our voters have picked the best defensive player at each position. This year, we’ve added a Defensive Player of the Year award to the mix. Mark Simon ran through the winners and shared what makes them great defensive players. We also talked to Tigers left fielder Riley Greene , Rockies cen...

On this episode, Mark Simon is joined by one of the top defensive players in the minor leagues, A's outfield prospect Colby Thomas , to talk about how he does what he does in the outfield. Mark also talked to Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post and Tyler Kepner of The Athletic for our 4th annual look at the surprises of the 2024 season. These included the Jose Iglesias, Ronel Blanco, Christo...

On this episode, host Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) is joined by Giants right fielder Mike Yastrzemski ( @mikeyaz18 ) and Brewers broadcaster Vinny Rottino ( @vinnyrottino ) for a pair of discussions on defensive excellence. Mark was also joined by his SIS colleague Noah Gatsik ( @iamthatnoah ). Mark and Mike talked about Yaz's love of defenses from his days as a little kid using the sofa to...

Taking a brief break from our usual player interviews as Mark Simon chats about baseball favorites with one of our favorite baseball writers, Joe Sheehan , whose baseball newsletter is a great read. We're not talking gambling favorites ... instead this was a fun discussion about favorite baseball stories this season, favorite 'out of nowheres,' favorite defensive teams to watch, fav...

On this episode, Mark Simon is joined by Angels shortstop Zach Neto , Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti , and SIS Video Scout Associate Benjamin Cruciani. Neto talked about a couple of ridiculous plays he's made the last two seasons on popups, explained the pre-game work that's helped him rank among the shortstop leaders in Defensive Runs Saved, talked about what kind of tattoo would hono...

On this episode of The Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, Mark Simon talks with Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno , FanGraphs baseball writer Davy Andrews , and SIS Video Scout Associate Christopher Barnett. Gabriel (with help from interpreter Alex Arpiza) talked about his catching history and the different things he’s worked on that have translated to defensive excellence. He also shared a...

On this episode of the Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) is joined by college baseball coach Cody Dennis (@ BSB_Blueprint ), who runs a Twitter community for teaching defensive excellence. Mark was also joined by SIS "superscouts" Brandon Tew ( @brandonteweets ) and Colin Sanders ( @colinjsanders ) who wrote scouting reports on some of the top college...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays )is joined by Nationals center fielder Jacob Young ( @jacob_young27 ) to talk about his run of defensive excellence in 2024. Young talked about what goes into playing the position, specifically how he’s one of the best in MLB at getting good jumps on fly balls. He walked us through 2 catches he made this season, one against Kiké Hernández ( link to wat...

On this episode of The Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) is joined by Rays outfield prospect Chandler Simpson, a baseball fan who cleverly used analytics for good, Jenn Rubenstein ( @queerfancystats ), and SIS baseball operations analyst Stephen Marciello ( LinkedIn ) . Chandler introduced himself by telling us about some videos online showing him as a kid danc...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) is joined by Rangers utility man Josh Smith ( @joshhsmith4 ), baseball writer Matthew Trueblood ( @MATrueblood ) and SIS operations associate Mark Bricker ( @brick26house ).  Mark S. and Josh talk about Josh’s move to different positions, his approach to playing defense, and the tip he’d give to any kids that want to play defense like he does (a diff...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) is joined by Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, Mariners bench coach Manny Acta ( @mannyacta14 ), and SIS operations analyst Nick Rabasco ( @nrabasco1 ). Ryan talks to us about playing first baseman, where he's been a league leader in our "Good Fielding Plays" stat, what it's been like to switch positions at various points in...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays) is joined by Will Carroll ( @injuryexpert ), CEO of NTangible Sports and the Under The Knife baseball injury newsletter and SIS injury associate Brett Barnes. The conversation is all things injury-related, not just pitcher injuries. The 3 discuss the abundance of muscular injuries, future prognosis for Mike Trout and Byron Buxton, and novel ideas like...

On this episode Mark Simon is joined by Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel , baseball writer Daniel Epstein , and SIS baseball operations analyst Brandon Tew . Mark and Kyle talk about Kyle's defensive approach, which has helped him to rank 3rd in Defensive Runs Saved the last 2 seasons. Kyle explains how a childhood game got him on an early path to being a top defensive player and what it was...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) does an "everything but defense" show, talking to Cubs minor league hitting coach and co-hitting coordinator Rachel Folden ( @rachelfolden25 ) and pitching analyst Lance Brozdowski ( @LanceBroz ), who writes his own newsletter and does analysis for Marquee Sports. Rachel, a former softball All-American, talks about her path to her current j...

On this episode, we honor Women’s History Month with 2 interviews featuring women working in baseball in different ways.  First, Mark Simon talks to Saint Elizabeth University catcher Alexia Jorge , who became the 2nd woman to start at catcher in a college baseball game. Alexia has been playing baseball (not softball) her entire life and she speaks to us about her techniques for pitch framing and...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @markasimonsays ) is joined by Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez ( @andresgimenez ). Andrés talks about how he does what he does on defense, which led to him winning a 2023 Fielding Bible Award. Andrés even explains one thing he does with his wife in the offseason to help him stay athletic (0:36). Then, SIS VP of Baseball Bobby Scales ( @bobby_scales )...

 On this special Black History Month episode, Mark Simon ( @MarkASimonSays ) is joined by Pirates' Vice President of Player Personnel Steve Williams and former MLB pitcher LaTroy Hawkins ( @LaTroyHawkins32 ). Steve talks about his career working in baseball and the role he plays as the president of the Buck O'Neil Professional Baseball Scouts & Coaches Association (0:38). LaTroy talk...

On this episode, Mark Simon ( @MarkASimonSays ) is joined by Orioles pitching strategy coach Ryan Klimek, SIS’ Asian Baseball scout and operations associate Brandon Tew, ( @BrandonTeweets ) and our VP of Baseball, Bobby Scales ( @Bobby_Scales ).  Ryan walks us through his career path and explains what goes into being a pitching strategy coach in the major leagues (0:48).  Brandon shares his scouti...

On this episode of the Sports Info Solutions Baseball Podcast, we remember the many baseball players - major leaguers, minor leaguers, NPB players, and college players - that we spoke to in 2023.  You'll hear the best we got from Phillies GM Sam Fuld, Washington Post reporter Chelsea Janes, Tre' Morgan, Vance Honeycutt, Noah Miller, Nasim Nuñez, Brenton Doyle, Bobby Witt Jr., Bobby Scale...