Tipping Pitches

Bobby and Alex open with a discussion about Kim Ng’s historic hiring and what it means for baseball’s landscape. Then they tackle a lineup of news items from the past two weeks, including Tony LaRussa’s DUI, Jeff Luhnow suing the Astros, Cleveland’s commitment to mediocrity, Awards SZN, and more. Links: Read Marc Carig and Lindsey Adle r on the hiring of Kim Ng ($). Jeff Luhnow is suing the Astros

Alex and Bobby are joined by writer and comedian River Butcher to discuss the Los Angeles Dodgers and their World Series title, the arc of River's fandom, separating the concept of baseball from the product of baseball, alternate histories in the sport, and much more. Alex and Bobby also chat about Joe Kelly bursting Rob Manfred’s bubble, a terminally-online Steve Cohen, and Jon Lester’s bar t...

Alex and Bobby talk about the Los Angeles Dodgers winning the World Series, and dissect the timeline of events that immediately followed, including Justin Turner testing positive for COVID-19 and Rob Manfred’s sea of boos. They discuss the Rays and what their postseason showing means for the #sabermetrics #movement, and attempt to determine what qualifies as a “championship drought.” Then they tur...

Alex and Bobby take a last look at the NLCS and the wild game that ended it before moving on to preview the World Series, how the Dodgers and Rays match up against each other, and what to expect from the ~narrative~ around the teams. Then they give a final sendoff to Billy Beane as he sets his sights on European soccer, and explore the mark he’s left on the game — for better or for worse. This wee...

Bobby and Alex are joined by Jess Scarane, former candidate for Senate in Delaware, who gives her five observations from the week in playoff baseball. They talk the bracket format, a laundry list of rule changes, the return of hair flow, some guy named Randy on the Rays, what it’s like watching games without fans, and much more. Follow Jess on Twitter . Songs featured in this episode: Voxtrot — "T...

Alex and Bobby review the first week of playoff baseball, including Fernando Tatis Jr.’s dramatic October entrance, a not-quite-fraudulent Oakland A’s squad, baseball through the eyes of Alex Rodriguez, and much more. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features Bob Gibson and thoughts on in-game interviews. Links: Mariah Carey on Derek Jeter between the sheets

Bobby and Alex attempt to recap and grapple with a 60-game season that didn’t feel all that important during, doesn’t feel all that important now, and won’t feel all that important during the playoffs. What does it mean for a season to matter, or be good? Then, they’re briefly joined by Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of Céspedes Family BBQ to recount the time the Wilpons put Michael Conforto on...

Bobby and Alex give some quick reactions to the spoken word album of major league umpire and country artist Cowboy Joe West. Then they discuss what expanded playoffs forever might look like, why fans might be allowed back into stadiums this fall, and what Josh Donaldson was thinking as he rounded the bases last week. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features Derek Jeter’s $29 million Airbnb and ba...

Alex and Bobby talk troubles with MLB.tv, Joe West’s political affiliations, and Alex Rodriguez facing public rejection. Then they bring on Marc Normandin to talk Publication To Be Named Later, creating a media organization from the ground up, how players could do the same but with baseball, and more. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features a washed-up Justin Timberlake and a nightmare-inducing...

Bobby and Alex break down a billionaire’s purchase of a certain New York baseball team, get fired up about gatekeeping in baseball journalism, and scrutinize the baseball trade deadline in typical fashion. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features tweeter’s remorse from Boston and Mariah Carey in New York. Links: Rob Manfred talks tattoos Mariah Carey sings of Derek Jeter Songs featured in this ep...

Alex and Bobby talk with writer and burgeoning third co-host Shakeia Taylor about the genesis of her letter to Jackie Robinson, being anti-racist as good PR, Rob Manfred as baseball’s comic book villain, and much more. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features a rant against “magic plays” on “special nights” and the Mets continuing to out-Mets themselves. Links: Dear Jackie, Songs featured in this...

In this midweek bonus episode, Bobby and Alex talk with Jess Scarane, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Delaware, about the ethics of swinging 3-0, minor league unionization efforts, baseball fandom on the campaign trail, and much more. Plus, a brief discussion on this week’s protests in baseball and how they fit into the larger conversation around police brutality. Follow Jess on Twitte...

Alex and Bobby wax poetic about the virtues of swinging 3-0, and the New York Mets as this week’s victims of coronavirus. Then they talk with Jen Ramos of Baseball Prospectus about Thom Brennaman and baseball’s shifting response to bigotry, the strangest league in the minors, and more. Follow Jen on Twitter here . Songs featured in this episode: Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Bobby and Alex try to take in Zach Plesac’s chaotic explanation for breaking COVID protocols, fret about the wellbeing of the Cardinals, and hold their breaths for the Reds. Then, a discussion of how Major League Baseball is engaging with the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues, and what it means to pit Ronald Acuña Jr. and Juan Soto against each other. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features...

Alex and Bobby talk about the blasphemy of being unable to buy a Fernando Tatís Jr. jersey online, discuss the merits of jerseys vs. shirseys, and wonder how the hell an adult human accidentally does the Nazi salute…twice. Then they bring on Jeremy Taché to talk about the Miami Marlins, their roller coaster of a season, the two factions of Miami sports fandom, and more. This week’s Three Up, Three...

Bobby and Alex discuss the three year anniversary of the podcast, and in doing so, revisit a bad take from…themselves! Honesty is the policy on Tipping Pitches. Then, they discuss the last week in Rob Manfred dumpster fires, before debuting a revamped ‘Three Up, Three Down’ segment for the 2020 baseball season — or whatever is left of it, anyway. Songs featured in this episode: Tei Shi — "Matando"...

Bobby and Alex talk about what “normal” looks like in baseball amid a global pandemic, the swift co-opting of the Black Lives Matter messaging, and how some world class procrastination led to bizarre playoffs and a team left in limbo. Then they bring on Craig Goldstein, editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus, to talk failures in broadcasting, fake fans, and whether this all feels real. Follow Crai...

The 2020 All-GIF Draft is here — and this year it got a tuneup. Alex and Bobby join forces to draft against a rotating cast of guests including Shakeia Taylor, Hannah Keyser, Meg Rowley, Jake Mintz, and Jordan Shusterman. Mainstays like Francisco Lindor and Yasiel Puig were quick off the board again, but the picks included some fresh faces and new names. Follow Shakeia , Hannah , Meg , and Céspede...

Bobby and Alex debate the legitimacy of Joe West’s COVID-19 conspiracy theory, do a Bad Take Dramatic Reading of a column chastising players who opt out of the season, and yell about blackouts. Then they bring on Fabian Ardaya, Angels beat writer for the Athletic, to discuss the #vibe among players in summer camp right now, how these circumstances have changed the meaning of media access, what a s...

Alex and Bobby talk about Alex Rodriguez’s favorite ways in which pitchers tip their pitches — ranked, of course. They talk Rob Manfred’s admission of guilt, and a sobering message from Ian Desmond. Then they bring on ESPN.com staff writer Joon Lee to talk about the Ivy League to front office pipeline, MLB’s diversity reckoning, and Joon’s burgeoning influencer career. Follow Joon on Twitter here...

In this bonus episode, Alex and Bobby talk to Ema Ryan Yamazaki, director of the recently-released documentary “Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams.” They talk about the the process of filming high school baseball in Japan, the internal culture struggle between old and new, gender roles on and off the field, and much more. Follow Ema on Twitter at @emaexplorations .

Bobby and Alex talk about the confirmed return of Major League Baseball in 2020, and wonder what responsible coverage of and engagement with the sport will look like. Then they try to parse through some of the out-of-the-blue rule changes for this season and their ramifications, including wet rags, wet butts, and Rob Manfred’s embodiment of both George Bush AND Barack Obama. Read Hannah Keyser, fr...

Alex and Bobby discuss Marco Rubio’s budding friendship with Rob Manfred, and read an incredibly inspired column on why swearing might lead to the end of baseball as we know it. Then they talk about the week in negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA, and wonder about what the last few months of acrimony can tell us about what the sport’s future might look like. Follow the full MLB labor negotiatio...

After taking a couple weeks off, Alex and Bobby return to discuss how baseball is engaging with the social unrest around police brutality. They bring on Micah Johnson, former major league second baseman, to talk about the 2015 Orioles-White Sox game played in front of no fans due to protests in Baltimore, what it was like being in that atmosphere, and how baseball’s relationship with activism has...

Alex and Bobby talk about absurdity that went into creating the Nationals' World Series ring and whether Baby Shark deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. They also talk about the precedent that it sets to let broadcasts pipe fake crowd noise into broadcasts, and why we're having the player vs. owner conversation all wrong. Finally, they take a look at some of baseball's oldest traditions...