Tipping Pitches

Alex and Bobby banter about infrastructure in Pennsylvania and the destruction of the cap shuffle in Washington, D.C., then discuss the rationale behind Arte Moreno’s waiver wire frenzy, Jerry Reinsdorf’s jarring lack of hobbies, and Brian Cashman and the Yankees’ inevitable turn to “outside consultants.” Submit questions for a Tipping Pitches milestone Links: Answering questions about the Angels’...

Bobby and Alex return from summer break with a grab bag of topics in the latest edition of Three Up, Three Down, including the first-place Mariners, owners talking to reporters, Shohei Ohtani, a half dozen team plans to move, ESPN’s big bet, pizza reviews, the delay of Dune 2, and more.  Links: John Angelos talks the future of the Orioles  John Fisher talks the future of the A’s   ESPN launching a...

Alex and Bobby take a trip to the Oakland Coliseum for a Bay Bridge Series protest game and report back on what they saw and heard, like “Sell the team” chants, sick Teamsters shirts, and a whole lot of passionate fans. Plus: Steve Cohen semi-open letter alert, and a programming note about the next couple weeks.  Links: Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon  Tipping Pitches merchandise  Songs featured...

Alex and Bobby reflect on a fun evening at the Brooklyn Cyclones game, then take stock of Rob Manfred’s legacy as his commissionership is renewed, check in on John Sherman’s quest for a new Royals ballpark and interrogate the concept of the “open letter,” react to the Max Scherzer trade, and celebrate six years of being bummed on July 31. Links: Rob Manfred re-elected as MLB commissioner   John Sh...

At long last, Alex has selected the team he will switch his allegiances to. That's it! This is a podcast! Here's a podcast! Please listen! Thanks! Buy tickets for the Tipping Pitches Brooklyn Cyclones Meetup Submit questions for a Tipping Pitches milestone episode Links: Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon  Tipping Pitches merchandise  Songs featured in this episode: [REDACTED] • Booker T &am...

At long last, it's time for Alex to either publicly break up with the Oakland A's and find a new team or renew his vows to the Athletics. In part one of two, we go team-by-team through 20 of the 30 MLB teams to determine where they measure up on Alex's custom made rubric. In part two, we will finish the final 10, consider alternative visions of fandom, and make a final selection. Buy t...

Alex and Bobby discuss the ways MLB's Virtual Ballpark could actually supplement fans' experience, but instead serves as an uncanny reflection of the league's diverging interests. Then, they break down what it means for the Atlanta Braves to be officially listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Finally, they share their thoughts on what the 2023 season has brought us at the halfway poin...

Alex and Bobby talk about air quality and MLB’s discouraging response to hazardous climate events, the Royals stalling in contract talks with stadium workers, scouts suing the league over age discrimination, and the Orioles’ heartening Pride Night, then answer listener questions about a Castellini inheritance, Immaculate Grid strategy, Mets players who would risk it all for Mrs. Met, and more.  Bu...

Bobby and Alex bring on Rowan University professor Debbie Sharnak to discuss MLB’s international presence, including the ways their practices overseas reflect imperialist desires, the U.S.’s long history of baseball as an export, the complicated proposal of an international draft, the impact of talent drain on international communities, the role of baseball academies in the sport’s global influenc...

In this episode, Alex and Bobby delve into the recent news surrounding the Oakland A's move to Las Vegas, dissect Rob Manfred's comments on the A's relocation efforts and his stance on Pride Nights across the league, and drill down into the implications of the recent spate of layoffs at The Athletic. Submit questions for a Tipping Pitches milestone episode . Links: Manfred on the A&#39...

It's here. At long last. Bobby and Alex comb through the recently-released MLB Collective Bargaining Agreement and discuss the parts of it that that stand out beyond the headline items, including sports betting, international play, service time manipulation, grievances, market sizes, uniform regulations, and more.  Links: The Collective Bargaining Agreement  Evan Drellich’s breakdown of the CB...

Alex and Bobby touch on Bally Sports making way for blackout-free baseball in San Diego, then welcome on journalist and stadium economics expert Neil deMause to try and dream up the ideal community-integrated ballpark, exploring the history of baseball in urban areas, the long shadow of mallparks, the ruthless efficiency of today’s mixed-used development stadiums, what ethical engagement with surr...

Bobby and Alex wonder if AI is coming for Alex Rodriguez’s pod spokesperson duties and discuss the potential perils of Amazon’s palm recognition technology in baseball stadiums, then respond to a grab bag of listener topics, including another Billy Eppler masterclass, a reasonable Chicago sports talk radio caller, baseball heists, Oppenheimer vs. Barbie, the new pitch sweeping the nation, and more...

Alex and Bobby banter about internet sleuthing in the golden age of sign stealing, then wade through the latest development in the Oakland A’s non-development, the Dodgers’ spineless response to Marco Rubio, and on-the-ground reporting from the Eras tour. Links: The Dodgers cave to right-wing concern trolling  Statement from the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence  Nevada lawmakers balk at public fund...

Bobby and Alex try to figure out what the hell the Cardinals are doing with Willson Contreras, discuss a Baseball America series on artificial intelligence in baseball, and give updates on the Tipping Pitches Brooklyn Cyclones meetup in July. Then they welcome back friend of the pod and PUP guitarist Steve Sladkowski to talk about being on the road nonstop over the last couple years, the implicati...

Alex and Bobby discuss the role of the audiologist in society and reflect briefly on the ongoing WGA strike, then dive into a CBS Sports article about the potential for a front office union, Jerry Reinsdorf’s comments about the White Sox level of play, and the Angels concern over negative energy from the media. Then they bring on minor league pitcher and friend of the pod Trevor Hildenberger to di...

Alex and Bobby report back from the set of Alex Rodriguez’s documentary, then discuss MLB’s embrace of cryptocurrency products and how the failure of these entities is a blip on the league’s bottom line, how John Fisher and Dave Kaval’s gambit in Las Vegas backfired, and what baseball can learn from the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury’s game-changing new television rights deal. Links: Alex Rodrig...

Bobby and Alex discuss the whiplash effect the Oakland A’s are starting to have on Alex and the rest of A’s fandom, Max Scherzer’s suspect suspension, and Rob Manfred’s Luncheon World Tour. Then, they’re joined by author and podcaster Mike Duncan (49:30) to discuss Alex Rodriguez a centaur, the state of Mariners fandom, and baseball’s relationship with its own history. Follow Mike on Twitter @Mike...

Well, it’s happening. Alex and Bobby react to the late-breaking news that the Oakland A’s are purchasing 49 acres of land on the Las Vegas strip to build a stadium. They break down the ways in which the team failed their fans over the past few years, contextualize how the media has been covering this, try and determine what it means to be a free agent fan, and just generally work through a lot of...

Alex and Bobby discuss Michael Kay’s reflexive nihilism in response to being mildly criticized, then revive Three Up, Three Down to talk about some of the happenings around the league this week, including MLB loosening beer cutoffs due to shorter game times, Rob Manfred’s streaming pitch to fans, a possum haunting the Oakland broadcast booth, Jim Bowden’s misguided perspective on contract opt-outs...

It’s the start of the baseball season, so what better time to answer all your burning questions? Bobby and Alex dig into the mailbag for this episode, answering listener questions about dynamic duos Barbie-style, whether the Mets scoreboard is too big, which players pour the milk before the cereal, favorite baseball books, Muppet Mets fans, and more. Links: Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon  https:...

Bobby and Alex banter about some Opening Weekend takeaways, including a timely news dump from the Mets, first reactions to a chaotic new schedule, and the continued takeover of baseball by sports betting, then discuss John Angelos’s game of footsie with financial transparency, Rob Manfred’s PR tour and the disparate narratives coming from league executives, and what to make of the ratification of...

The baseball season is back, and so is the Tipping Pitches way of previewing it: by drafting the most GIF-able players in the game right now. Alex and Bobby invite a roster of a guests to pick opposite them, welcoming on Jane Ost, Stephen Hesson, Bekah Ansbro, Clinton Yates (by absentee ballot), Sarah Langs, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman, Matthew Ritchie, and Shakeia Taylor to talk about their...

Bobby and Alex theorize who in the baseball world might've been sweating the SVB bank run, before each ceremoniously banning three topics from the podcast for 2023. Then, they answer a handful of listeners questions about the World Baseball Classic, a parody movie of the Houston Astros, John Smoltz, and more. Links: Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in...

With movies' biggest stars on display at the Oscars, Alex and Bobby depart from their normal episode structure to try and determine the 30 "most famous" figures within the confines of the baseball world. Current players, retired players, managers, owners, media members, and more battle it out for the unbelievably arbitrary award of being Tipping Pitches' #1 A-lister. Links: Join...