On what was supposed to be opening day, Joe and Intern Matt discuss the delay of the season and the potential for baseball in December. They also discuss some crazy statistical anomalies, and how numbers might change in the future.

Scott Podcastnik

Ep. 19: A delayed season, a delayed podcast and crazy stats

2019 MLB win totals, playoff predictions and World Champion. Plus, is Kyle Hendricks going to end up being the *best* Cubs pitcher of the last 30 years when it's all said and done? And we debut the Lunch Angle with: How good are beans>

Ep 18: Opening Day special, Kyle Hendricks and the best kinds of beans

It's February and Bryce Harper is still unemployed. And Manny Machado. And others. What's going on? When does it end and who comes out on top? This, plus a handful of rules changes being proposed to baseball. Some suck, others don't. But there are other changes they could make but aren't talking about.

Ep 17: What's Bryce Harper up to these days? Plus rules changes and other tidbits

The guys talk to former big league infielder Homer Bush about playing for the Yankees dynasty, being involved in a blockbuster trade, how advanced stats affected his career, working with young players and much, much more.

Ep 16: Homer Bush

The guys talk about their favorite opening days, the misnomer of teams being "one year away" and who is going to win the 2018 World Series

Ep. 15: 2018 Opening Day Special

Rich Thompson became a prolific base stealer in college and in the minors, but after a brief stint in the majors in 2004, he had to wait a long while for a second shot in the bigs. Rich tells us what it was like to battle through the minors and fight for a chance to get back to the MLB, his thoughts on the evolution of the leadoff hitter, his post retirement audition for "American Ninja Warrior" & more.

Ep. 14: Rich Thompson

Friend of the Podcastnik Will Ohman returns to go in-depth on how the free agency and arbitration processes work from a player's perspective, and how different reliever roles are valued by teams. This includes a discussion on the value of the save stat and what it takes – if anything in particular – to be a dominant closer. Will also shares his new work in youth baseball and what he hopes to accomplish working with younger players by focusing on three things: attitude, commitment and effort.

Ep. 13: Will Ohman on free agent markets; the save stat; and attitude, commitment and effort

On his way to a scouting trip in the northwest – driving through a snowstorm in the mountains – Todd Greene, former big league catcher and current Arizona Diamondbacks scout, joins the show over the phone to talk about scouting, player development, hype over prospects and more. Todd also shares the story of catching the first pitch from President George W. Bush during the 2001 World Series – just a month after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Ep. 12: Todd Greene

The next Willie Mays? That's what a young Lastings Milledge heard coming up through the Mets system. How did he handle pressure, and what did he learn throughout his time in the big leagues and in Japan? The outfielder – after a year hiatus from baseball – talks to Joe and Chris about all this and more, as he now returns to the states to play for the Lancaster Barnstomers and begin ventures outside of baseball, including giving back to his community.

Ep. 11: Lastings Milledge

Former big league pitcher Aaron Small, best known for his improbable – and memorable – 10-0 season in 2005, talks to Joe and Chris about his journey bouncing from team to team, trying to find his place before finally doing so with the Yankees. What compelled him to not give up? Would Aaron ever turn his inspirational story into a movie? Listen as he walks us through his career. *Disclaimer: Not our best audio quality. It may sound like we recorded this in a bunker, but Aaron's insight is worth it*

Ep. 10: Aaron Small

Former big league starting pitcher Jason Hirsh talks to the guys about his three-year MLB career – which included some experiences beyond what most major leaguers see in a lifetime. Hirsh pitched for the incredible 2007 Colorado Rockies team, which went on to win the National League pennant. He also played along side several HOF-caliber players, had the challenge of overcoming several injuries and gained wisdom he now carries into helping younger players. During the episode, Hirsh also gives some insight on Team Israel and the pipeline of Jewish baseball talent.

Ep. 9: Jason Hirsh

What did Will Ohman, rehabbing from injury, do between 2002-2004? How has he dealt with getting traded midseason? What is the future of German baseball? All of these questions you've probably asked yourself recently will be answered. The guys talk to Will Ohman about all this and more. Will and Joe even invent a statistic – dubbed "awesomeness" – to solve all pitching-metric controversies.

Ep. 8: Will Ohman

There's a ton of chatter now about two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Otani, but don't forget there have already been a few dual-threat pitcher/position players in baseball history. The guys talk to Brooks Kieschnick, the last true two-way player in baseball, about his unique career, how he was able to pull off pitching, hitting and playing the field, and what he thinks the future of being a two-way player is. They also ask him his favorite spots in Milwaukee, and Brooks explains why he doesn't like instant replay.

Ep. 7: Brooks Kieschnick

Former big-league reliever Buddy Groom talks to the guys about his long career – which includes the record of most games played without a plate appearance – and his new work on the show "Buckventures" on Outdoors TV. Also: Where does Buddy think his mustache ranks among the players in his era? And what's the story behind his name?

Ep. 6: Buddy Groom

Memphis Redbirds Manager Stubby Clapp – an Olympian and World Baseball Classic vet – talks to Joe and Chris about the Olympics, World Baseball Classic and the talent pipeline from his native Canada. He also discusses his new managerial gig in the St. Louis Cardinals' system and talks about his playing days, which included a perennial All Star robbing his would-be first career hit. Also, Stubby and Joe make a friendly wager over the Cubs and Cardinals. Listen to hear the stakes.

Ep. 5: Stubby Clapp

Your favorite baseball podcast trying to interview every living ex-MLB player, one week at a time. Hosted by Chris Chavez and Joe Kaiser.

hubhopper

Scott Podcastnik

hubhopper