MLB Matchmaker Parts 1 & 2

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

Tipping Pitches, a.k.a NYSE: TIPP

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

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Baseball

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

The Empire Strikes Out (feat. Debbie Sharnak)

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

It’s All Green to Me

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

The CBA Deep Dive

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

Is There a Right Way to Build a Ballpark? (feat. Neil deMause)

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,

Let’s Give Jeff Bezos a Hand

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

Gambler’s Paradise

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

You Wouldn’t Download a Strike Zone (feat. Steve Sladkowski)

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

Meaningful Games (feat. Trevor Hildenberger)

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

To The Moon (And Back)

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

Tax Rebates Fly Forever (feat. Mike Duncan)

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

John Fisher and the A’s Are Cowards Who Quit On Oakland

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,

Rob Manfred Reaches Back

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,

Mailbag: Barbie, The Muppets, Cereal & Scoreboards

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,

This Ain’t a Sport, It’s an Arms Race

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,

The 2023 All-GIF Draft

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 Out, Stephen Hesson, Bekah Ansbro, Clinton Yates (by absentee ballot), Sarah Langs, Jake

The 2023 Tipping Pitches Banned Topics

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

The Baseball A-Listers

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