Coach and Tucker preview the 2021 MLB Season: Predictions for every team in every division, starting in the AL West (2:38) where the villain Astros are favored once again. Is this make or break time for the Angels and Trout? Can the A’s pull out another moneyball trip to October? The AL Central (9:58) features a stacked White Sox team, and a Twins team ready to go toe-to-toe with the South-Siders. In the AL East (17:57), it is once again the Yankees to lose, but you can’t count out the Rays. In the National League, the Dodgers and Padres are the class of baseball in the West (30:21), and might be the best present-day rivalry in baseball. The Cardinals are loaded in the NL Central (39:52), but start the year with serious pitching issues. The Brewers may have the best manager in baseball, and could grab hold with a hot start. Finally, the strongest division in baseball in the NL East (51:53), where the top four (Braves, Mets, Phillies, Nationals) could finish in any order. All the individual awards and postseason predictions for both leagues, everything from Opening Day until the end of October.

Running the Bases Podcast

RTB 2021 MLB Season Preview (4/01/21)

Running the Bases is back for the 2021 season! Coach and Tucker look forward to (hopefully) a full summer of Baseball (1:30), and what changes to expect moving forward. Coach gives proper tribute to the colossal Henry Aaron, as seen in person from Day One in Atlanta, through Home Run no. 715, all the way to his final game at Fulton County Stadium (20:26). Coming into home, reflecting on the surreal 2020 season- The 60-game sprint, ever-changing Covid protocols, and where baseball fit amid the strife and chaos within the United States (47:36).

2021 Baseball is Here! Plus, Remembering "The Hammer" and Surviving the 2020 Season (2/19/21)

Tucker is joined by Coach via phone for the first Coronavirus podcast for RTB. Out of the Box, Coach and Tucker discuss MLB's different strategies to try and have a 2020 baseball season (3:12). The CPBL in Taiwan offers a baseball fix to the masses with a bizarre new approach (20:26), what permanent changes to MLB will result from COVID-19 (42:12), and what gets lost in a lost season (51:23). Coming into Home, remembering the great Al Kaline, "Mr Tiger" and one of the great elder statesmen of baseball (54:58).

Baseball in Limbo, Goodbye Mr. Tiger (4/28/20)

Originally recorded in 2018, Tucker and Coach are joined by author Clayton Trutor to discuss Bernard Malamud's seminal baseball work, "The Natural" (2:45). Written in 1949, Malamud had no prior knowledge of baseball history. He crafts the character of Roy Hobbs to be the "Great American Monomyth" (5:05). Filled with lush poetic imagery (Wonderboy and the Wasteland), Malamud weaves the Vegetative myth, Arthurian Legend and the mode of Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces", to pen the standard for baseball fiction (15:00). From the book came the beloved 1984 film starring Robert Redford, featuring an A-List cast, Oscar-winning cinematography, and Randy Newman's iconic score. However, the ending is pure Hollywood and a far cry from the book (50:00).

"The Natural" - RTB Book Club Ep. 1 (3/31/20)

First RTB Podcast of 2020, Coach and Tucker discuss the 2019-2020 Offseason (2:00), the best players still available and the team that won the Hot Stove. 1st to 3rd, they give their Hall of Fame predictions for the Class of 2020 (24:30) and respect for Marvin Miller (41:54). Coming into Home, Coach breaks down Chad Harbach's beautiful baseball novel "The Art of Fielding" (46:22). *Podcast recorded before MLB ruled on the cheating Astros, Cora, et. al.

"The Art of Fielding", Hall of Fame 2020 and Hot Stove Chatter (1/16/20)

Coach and Tucker talk MLB Postseason predictions for 2019. Out of the Box (2:00): A recap of key storylines as the regular seasons' end, including Maddon and the Cubs parting ways, and send offs for Bochy, MadBum and King Felix. First to Third (17:35): All the predictions for October baseball, with the Astros as a juggernaut that would give the '27 Yankees the shakes. Cardinals strike fear in the hearts of the Braves, Yankees and Twins slugfest, and can the Dodgers avoid becoming the Buffalo Bills of baseball? Coming into Home (52:30): Awards Predictions and our Prep-Star Shout Out.

Wild October 2019 (10/2/19)

Coach and Tucker give thoughts on the 2019 MLB regular season heading into the stretch run. The Terrifying Cardinals have returned, the Twins are a delightful surprise, while the Rockies make us sad. Who will be playing in October, and a fond farewell to the worst uniforms ever. Going 1st to 3rd, Coach recalls the experience of the Braves first ever division title 50 years ago (37:32), a bow to Aaron and Niekro, and surprisingly disappointing. Coming into home, our first Prep-Squad Shout Out to a star at Hampton High School in Georgia (55:03).

Braves Summer of '69 (8/29/19)

Premiere episode of the Running the Bases "State of the Franchise", breaking down a team in rebuilding. Coach and Tucker take a deep dive into the Cincinnati Reds, the oldest team in MLB, but far removed from the days of the Big Red Machine. Going back to the "Nasty Boys" championship team of 1990, the Reds have stepped out from under the cloud of Marge Schott (3:30), while current ownership has failed to build a contender outside of 2010-2013. We rate farm system health (12:00), "Worst Move of the Decade" (16:50), "Best Move of the Decade" (23:30), and "Time Until Competitive" (32:00). Finally, the ballpark factor, rating the game-day experience and fan support, and what changes we would make to the Great American Ballpark (40:00).

Cincinnati Reds: State of the Franchise (7/22/19)

Coach invites "WhatifSports" superstar Ozomatli on the podcast for a second installment on Simulation Baseball Leagues. Ozomatli shares his strategies on drafting a team (19:30), setting Player Hierarchies (41:00), the difference in managing a sim league versus daily fantasy baseball (54:30), and a memo to all the rookie managers (59:00).

"WhatifSports" Special Edition with Ozomatli (5/27/19)

RTB returns for it's season preview podcast, making all the predictions for the 2019 MLB Season. Love for Ichiro out of the box, predictions for the American League, where the Yankees are a machine, Astros are pitching dominant, Tucker believes in Oakland, and Coach keeps the faith in Cleveland (02:15). A.L. awards and postseason picks (38:00), then on to the far more competitive National League, where the Dodgers reign is over, St. Louis reloads big, and why this could be the swan song for Joe Madden and the Cubs. N.L. Awards and postseason picks (01:16:15), why the Braves make us sad, and quick reaction to Trout's super-mega-deal (01:26:16). Play Ball!

RTB 2019 MLB Season Preview (3/27/19)

Coach invites vaunted "WhatifSports" legend Skunk206 on the podcast to discuss the odds and ends of Simulation Baseball Leagues, where baseball is always in season. What strategies are most successful in building a juggernaut, the difference in managing a sim league versus regular fantasy baseball, and the finest vintages of hall of fame players.

Mastering "WhatifSports" with Skunk206 (12/4/18)

Jonathan Mayo, accomplished writer for MLB.com and MLBPipeline.com, joins the RTB Podcast to talk about His career in journalism, the early days of covering the MLB Draft, and what it takes to produce the MLB Pipeline 100 for every franchise in MLB. He shares insight on favorite Minor League venues, the fun of the Arizona Fall League, and the surreal experience of being involved with the film "Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel".

Jonathan Mayo, MLB Pipeline Writer and "Prospect Guru" (10/10/18)

Tucker is joined by good friend, filmmaker and Chicago homer Scott Brown to talk about his beloved White Sox. Scott shares what makes a person go White Sox over Cubs in Chi-Town (3:05), the recognition of Big Hurt (14:22), the forgotten glory of the 2005 Championship team (26:48), and ranking sports titles in the Windy City (47:22). We discuss the stark differences between Wrigleyville and the South Side (59:30), the current state of the Sox franchise (1:10:00), and what a Sox/Cubs World Series would mean to the people of Chicago (1:45:23).

All Things Chicago White Sox (9/17/18)

Coach and Tucker discuss teams going into the stretch run of the MLB Season. The Nationals are a franchise in need of group therapy (1:50), and for all the hitting additions, the Dodgers are falling off thanks to a banged up bullpen. Who are these Tampa Bay Rays (9:30), here come the terrifying Cardinals, and a real team of ballplayers in Oakland (25:20). Coming into Home: The Problems with Acuna getting hit (28:20), Drysdale vs. Mathews in the 60s, love for the Little League WS (36:41), and not enough love for the Women's Baseball World Cup (40:20).

Pennant Chases, Kids, and Women in Baseball (8/29/18)

Tucker and Coach share the experience of Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Cooperstown. Out of the Box, post-trade deadline baseball chatter. Going 1st to 3rd (26:04), all that is Cooperstown, with speech grades (37:36), the beauty and efficiency of the town on HOF Weekend (41:00), and the great reverence for Hank Aaron (45:00). Coming into Home, thoughts on the tweet controversies surrounding baseball players (48:00).

Adventures in Cooperstown (8/9/18)

The Game of Baseball, the way it's meant to be Loved. MLB, MiLB, Baseball History, everything inside and outside the lines.

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Running the Bases Podcast

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