Tipping Pitches

Alex and Bobby discuss whether or not it’s time for Tipping Pitches to hang ‘em up now that the minor leagues are unionized, before determining when is the best time to start getting excited for the playoffs. Then, they answer some listener questions about revising the triple crown, useless merch, and their team’s most evil fans. Links:  Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches Merch Store Songs fe...

Bobby and Alex discuss Queen Elizabeth, MLB’s decision to voluntarily recognize the minor league union, and the rule changes coming in 2023. Then they bring on San Francisco Giants reliever Trevor Hildenberger to discuss the timeline of the minor league unionization effort, what the conversations were like in the clubhouse, how life in the minor leagues shifted his perception of labor, and more. F...

Alex and Bobby talk about Alex Rodriguez’s liquidity concerns and how long it would take him to get to 700 home runs if he came out of retirement. Then they talk with Allison McCague of A Pod of Their Own about this year’s Dollars4Dingers fundraiser for the National Domestic Violence Hotline and how you can get involved. Finally, they bring on Eugene Freedman, a union lawyer and baseball writer, t...

They uhhhh are doing the damn thing! In this emergency podcast, Alex and Bobby break down the announcement that the MLBPA has launched a campaign to unionize minor league baseball players, diving into the history that brought us here, why the current moment is ripe for this effort, and what the coming fight might look like. Links: The MLBPA’s statement on their campaign to unionize the minors Joon...

*Disclaimer: this podcast was recorded before the news that the minor leagues were unionizing. For our reaction episode to that news, click here . Bobby and Alex discuss PPP loans in baseball, then break down the news that Arte Moreno is considering selling the Los Angeles Angels, and try and make sense of Julio Rodríguez choose-your-own-adventure contract extension. Then they bring on Matt Ritchi...

Alex and Bobby discuss their weekend in Philadelphia and the disgust that they incited in Phillies fans, then talk about what the Braves’ recent spate of team-friendly contract extensions means for the sport, as well as their misguided loyalty to Marcell Ozuna. Then they bring on their resident Yankees fan Mike Schubert to talk about the Yankees’ fun August, a Brian Cashman-less franchise, and to...

Alex and Bobby discuss how the business of "getting good players" and "having a winning team" is not profitable before picking their favorite Vin Scully moments, and sharing what those moments tell us about Scully's titanic life, career, and impact. Then, they attempt to make sense of the news and discourse surrounding Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 80-game suspension for PEDs. F...

Bobby is joined by Jordan Shusterman, one half of Céspedes Family BBQ, to serve a 10-course meal on the MLB trade deadline. Then, Alex and Bobby invite on Athletic national reporter Evan Drellich to talk about how he ended up immersed in the business of baseball, what it was like covering the CBA negotiations, why the international draft failed, what’s next in the Senate committee’s investigation...

This week, Bobby and Alex commemorate the fifth anniversary of the show by each making five predictions about the next five years of baseball. Lots of fives! Thanks to everyone for making it all possible. Links: Sign up for the Tipping Pitches Patreon

Alex and Bobby discuss major leaguers’ opinions on what striking out the side actually means, then go over some takeaways from All-Star weekend including a Juan Soto derby conspiracy theory and how we talk about the game’s stars, pick apart Rob Manfred’s dismissal of the idea that minor leaguers are underpaid, and answer listener questions about coping, dowries, hometown discounts, and more. Links...

Bobby and Alex talk about an ill-planned graphic on Fox Sports’s Yankees/Red Sox matchup, then discuss the settlement in Senne v. MLB and what it means in the fight for better minor league pay, as well as Juan Soto v. Nationals and how a prospective buyer muddies the conversation. Then they bring on filmmaker Randy Wilkins to talk about his ESPN Derek Jeter docuseries “The Captain” and what it was...

Alex and Bobby talk for far too long about Alex’s encounter with John Fisher at a recent A’s game, then probe Rob Manfred’s professed desire for expansion teams. Then they talk with Maria Hernandez and Laura Ortiz from UNITE HERE Local 11 about the strike authorization vote among concessions workers at Dodger Stadium and their struggles to negotiate a fair contract. Finally, they answer some liste...

On this episode, Bobby and Alex focus entirely on the letter from the Senate Judiciary Committee to Harry Marino and Advocate for Minor Leaguers, attempting to answer the questions that the four senators pose about MLB’s antitrust exemption and how it impacts minor leaguers. Links: Anti-Trust Issues   A League Built On Trust (feat. Jim Quinn)   The Minor League Theory of Value (feat. Harry Marino)

Alex and Bobby discuss the news that five teams aren’t paying their players in extended spring training and whether we can expect to see change anytime soon. Then they answer listener questions about preferred ballpark food, weaponizing dugout snacks, the best time of day for a game, proper wave timing, Phoebe Bridgers, and more. Links: Minor leaguers lament lack of pay in extended spring training...

Alex and Bobby start with a nominal Bad Take Dramatic Reading (but really more of a Weird Take Dramatic Reading) about Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman. Then, they discuss the whispers that other MLB owners are starting to express frustration at the Oakland Athletics use of their revenue sharing checks, before reacting to the news that the Mets met with Harry Marino, Executive Director of Adv...

Bobby and Alex discuss Don Mattingly’s sense of style, then look at what’s been trending up and down in their eyes over the course of the season, including the questionable existence of the CBA, myriad ump shows, Buck Showalter, Aaron Judge walk-year mode, and more. Then they try to make sense of the turmoil among the Angelos family in Baltimore, and answer a couple listener questions about a miss...

Alex and Bobby banter about the best moments in baseball Twitter history, then briefly check in on Mike Trout’s commisionership before discussing Chris Woodward’s explicitly apolitical comments on the wake of Uvalde, as well as Ron DeSantis pulling funding for a new Rays player development complex. Then they answer listener questions about baseball’s true golden age and whether lineup construction...

Bobby and Alex discuss questionable algorithm-generated sports predictions, then give an update on corruption in Anaheim, try to make sense of Tommy Pham and Joc Pederson’s fantasy football dust-up, and take stock of Gabe Kapler’s national anthem half-protest. Then they bring on PUP guitarist Steve Sladkowski to talk about the parallels between a touring musician and the minor leagues, why basebal...

Alex and Bobby review Taylor Swift’s NYU commencement speech and reminisce on their own graduation memories, then frame Josh Donaldson’s comment towards Tim Anderson within the broader cultural divide facing MLB, as well as try and parse through the corruption charges casting a shadow over the Angels Stadium deal in Anaheim. Then they answer some listener questions about the stigma of the the star...

Bobby and Alex trade prospective “get off my lawn” takes they’ll hold in future years, then take stock of the settlement in Senne v. MLB and how it might play into the future minor league economic system, discuss the recent ill-fated ventures into cryptocurrency around the league, and determine which players are certified Cool and decidedly Uncool. Links: Sign up for the Tipping Pitches Patreon &n...

Bobby and Alex discuss Bill James’s illiteracy regarding team relocations, then review the debut episode of Joe West’s podcast and analyze which NL East team Olivia Rodrigo pulls for. Then they dissect the labor implications of a dead ball and what it says about MLB’s competency, as well as give their takes about Alex Rodriguez’s bizarre commissioner wishlist. Finally, they answer some questions a...

Alex and Bobby announce the official launch of the Tipping Pitches Patreon , revealing the perks of each tier. Then, they try to find resolution with the Trevor Bauer decision and break down the reporting surrounding the Yankees Letter. They wrap things up with an unforced meltdown from a baseball executive and handouts to billionaires from New York to Atlanta. Links:  Subscribe to the Tippin...

Bobby and Alex discuss the despair among Oakland A’s fans and the torture architect making a bid for Nashville baseball, then speed through some topics from around the league, including Miguel Cabrera’s milestone, a surprise parachuting in Washington D.C., just the literally size of sponsored jersey patches, Charlie Blackmon’s gambling deal, and more. Links: Reds fans with bags on their heads

Alex and Bobby rejoice over news of Cowboy Joe West’s new podcast, then pick apart Phil Castellini’s comments to disgruntled Reds fans, the Pirates’ apparent lack of financial woes, and Dave Kaval’s bold claims about the future payroll of the Oakland A’s, wrapping it up with some ideas for some new NFTs for MLB’s most shining moments. Links: Phil Castellini’s comments on 700WLW  Phil Castellini do...

Alex and Bobby discuss Rob Manfred’s generous gift to players on Opening Day and a rest stop encounter in Delaware, then break down the news that the Lerner family is exploring a sale of the Washington Nationals, as well as the Baltimore Orioles receiving a whopping $1.2 billion in public funds from the state of Maryland. Then, they run down some takeaways from Opening Weekend, including the arriv...