Episode 19 (8.10.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • A case of the Mumps
  • Jake Arrieta's resurgence explained
  • Will the Jays catch the Yankees?
  • MLB Advanced Media makes a lot of money
  • Stat of the Week: Out of Zone Plays (OOZ) (18:13)
  • Sounds of the Game: Tom Cheek (21:06)
  • Baseball Profile: Thurman Munson (27:28)
  • Ump or No Ump (32:47)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: The Changeup: How baseball's tech team built the future of television (Ben Popper)

Peter's article: MLBAM and the Future of MLB's Revenues (Craig Edwards)

Stat of the Week: Out of Zone Plays (OOZ) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Tom Cheek calls Joe Carter's walk-off homer in 1993 World Series

"A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks"

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Episode 18 (8.3.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Our take on a very busy trade deadline
  • How we feel about the Cubs and White Sox's playoff chances
  • A look back at three deadline deals from recent memory and how they panned out (15:10)
  • Stat of the Week: Revised Zone Rating (RZR) (21:51)
  • Sounds of the Game: Bob Uecker (25:11)
  • We pick the winners of our Summer Flicks contest (28:07)
  • Ump or No Ump (30:04)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

A complete list of the 2015 Trade Deadline trades

Stat of the Week: Revised Zone Rating (RZR) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle

The winners of the "A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks" contest (full contest details)

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Episode 17 (7.27.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An update from our Chicago correspondent
  • Cole Hamels no hitter discussion
  • A Hall of Fame journalist is unemployed
  • Two guys doing Moneyball stuff before Billy Beane
  • Stat of the Week: Runs Created (RC) (18:21)
  • Sounds of the Game: Dick Enberg (21:17)
  • AFITB Summer Flicks (27:40)
  • Ump or No Ump (32:49)
  • A listener of the week (and rival baseball journalist)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Baseball Writer To Be Honored By Hall of Fame, But He's Out of a Job (David Greene, NPR)

Peter's Article: Before Beane (Ben Lindbergh, Grantland)

Stat of the Week: Runs Created (RC) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Enberg on the passing of Tony Gwynn, Enberg accepts Frick Award (MLB.com)

A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks (full contest details)

Kiefer's Blog: The Baseball Philosopher

Cole Hamels No-Hits the Cubs

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Episode 16 (7.20.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An All-Star week (and #BaseballBrocation) recap
  • The Normal Cornbelters selling their soul to Pete Rose
  • Has the strike zone gotten bigger?
  • Update from our 4-year-old correspondent
  • Stat of the Week: BB% (17:14)
  • Sounds of the Game: Kirk Gibson Walk-off (10/15/1988) (22:28)
  • Baseball Profile: Mike Trout (27:23)
  • Ump or No Ump (35:12)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: "Pete Rose at the Corn Crib: Next Stop, the All-Star Game" (Dan Barry)

Peter's Article: "Baseball's strike zone has expanded, and hitters aren't happy" (Alex Speier)

Stat of the Week: Walk Rate (BB%) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Kirk Gibson Walk-Off (10/15/1988)

Baseball Profile: Mike Trout (Wikipedia, Grantland, ESPN Radio)

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Episode 15 (7.13.15)

It's the Brothers' Baseball Road Trip this week. All four of us recorded a podcast while on our annual Elliott brothers' summer baseball trip. The podcast includes the following segments:

  • Meet the brothers (00:00-11:00)
  • Lacey's hard-hitting baseball questions (11:27-28:06)
  • The 90's All-Star team (picked by John and Kevin) versus the 2000's All-Star team (picked by Peter and Paul) (28:15-44:34)
  • Paul's roundtable discussion on baseball current events (44:45-57:15)
  • Baseball Profile Trivia (0:57:15-1:05:28)
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Episode 14 (7.6.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • A story involving a Cardinals fan, the Cubs, and a regrettable tattoo
  • A recap of the Angels organizational mess
  • Our midseason awards (MVP, Cy Young, ROY, Most Disappointing Team, Most Surprising Team)
  • Revisiting our preseason predictions (Peter wins in a landslide)
  • First half attendance and pace of play update
  • Stat of the Week: WAR (20:39)
  • Sounds of the Game: The Jeffrey Maier Play (10/9/1996) (24:40)
  • Baseball Profile: Bobby Bonilla (30:36)
  • Preview of next week's special podcast (35:50)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Stat of the Week: Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: The Jeffrey Maier Play (10/9/1996)

Baseball Profile: Bobby Bonilla (Wikipedia)

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Episode 13 (6.29.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Paul recapping his vacation to Colorado
  • Peter explaining why he visited Scranton
  • A look around the league: Stanton's injury, Scherzer dominating, Sandberg fired
  • Would Paul catch a foul ball while holding his baby?
  • Comparing the Cubs and Cardinals
  • Confirmation that Pete Rose bet on baseball as a player
  • Stat of the Week: Strikeout Rate (K%) (20:10)
  • Sounds of the Game: Henry Aaron hits #715 (4/8/1974) (21:28)
  • Baseball Profile: Archibald Graham (24:40)
  • Umpire or Not An Umpire? (27:47)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Can Cubs Catch the Cardinals? (Bernie Miklasz)

Peter's article: Pete Rose Update (Outside the Lines)

Stat of the Week: Strikeout Rate (K%) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Henry Aaron Passes the Babe (4/8/1974)

Baseball Profile: "Moonlight" Graham Remembered

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Episode 12 (6.22.15)

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This week's podcast is a little different. Peter and his friend Matt record live at the Indians-Cubs game last Thursday. For the box score and write-up from that game, click here.

We will be back to normal next week. Happy Father's Day! Thanks for listening!

Episode 11 (6.15.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Bryan filling in for Paul
  • An assessment of Tyler Jay and Dansby Swanson
  • Discussion on how much fan cheering is acceptable
  • A possible All-Star game fix
  • Ty Cobb was definitely not a racist (or was he?)
  • Stat of the Week: Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) (30:55)
  • Throwback Box Score: Reds-Phillies (10/6/2010) (35:28)
  • Baseball Profile: Johnny Vander Meer (44:00)
  • How many pitchers can you guess that have thrown a no-hitter? (48:19)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Bryan's article: How Ty Cobb Was Framed As A Racist (Kyle Smith)

Peter's article: Proposing An All-Star Game Overhaul (Dave Cameron)

Stat of the Week: Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) (Fangraphs)

Throwback Box Score: Reds-Phillies (10/6/2010)

List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
 (Wikipedia)

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Episode 10 (6.8.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Illinois baseball update (for more updated info head here)
  • Discussion on all the young power hitters in baseball
  • More Bryce Harper love from Paul
  • Lots of MLB draft discussion
  • Stat of the Week: True Average (TAv) (19:58)
  • Throwback Box Score: Rays-Yankees (9/14/2008) (23:47)
  • Baseball Profile: Rick Monday (27:50)
  • #1 Overall MLB draft picks (34:40)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Washington's Bryce Harper and the Hottest-Ever Hot Streak (Ben Lindbergh)

Peter's article: How Two Recent MLB Trends Can Help Us Anticipate This Year's Results (Ben Lindbergh)

Stat of the Week: True Average (Baseball Prospectus)

Throwback Box Score: Yankees-Rays (9/14/2008)

List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks
 (Wikipedia)

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Episode 9 (6.1.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Illinois baseball update (for more updated info head here)
  • An important life update from both of us
  • Bryce Harper vs. Kris Bryant
  • Josh Hamilton is back in Texas
  • More discussion on what a team's record at this point in the season means
  • An article on how Bryce Harper has improved so much this season
  • Stat of the Week: Slugging Percentage (SLG) (22:20)
  • Throwback Box Score: Statcast (32:22)
  • The guy that invented the MLB logo passed away (38:00)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Bryce Harper on His Breakout (Eno Sarris)

Peter's article: As Signpost Nears, Clues About Who Will Reach October (Tom Verducci)

Stat of the Week: Slugging Percentage (Wikipedia)

Throwback Box Score: Statcast Data

Jerry Dior, designer of Major League Baseball's logo, dies at 82
 (New York Times)

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Episode 8 (5.25.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Illinois baseball update (the streak is over)
  • We revisit our preseason predictions
  • Bryce Harper and Nelson Cruz are crushing right now
  • An MLB attendance update
  • Paul recapping a book on A-Rod
  • Discussion on how predictive a team's record on May 15th is
  • Stat of the Week: Isolated Power (ISO) (22:11)
  • Throwback Box Score: Retired Numbers (27:21)
  • Our first interview with a female (33:30)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez (Selena Roberts)

Peter's article: The Meaning of a Team's Record in Mid-May (Alex Remington)

Stat of the Week: ISO (FanGraphs)

Throwback Box Score: MLB Retired Uniform Numbers

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Episode 7 (5.18.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Illinois baseball update (they're still really good)
  • Excitement surrounding the Cubs and White Sox current hot streaks
  • A listener shout out from a state that borders Canada
  • An ambidextrous pitcher?
  • Discussion on how the Cardinals have kept winning without Wainwright
  • Stat of the Week: Runs Scored (20:33)
  • Throwback Box Score: Cubs-Astros 1998 (24:55)
  • Our first guest interview (spoiler: he has a killer accent) (29:41)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Show Of Hands (Chris Jones)

Peter's article: We Don't Need An Ace: How The Cardinals Have Kept Winning Without Adam Wainwright  (Jonah Keri)

Stat of the Week: Runs Scored (Baseball Reference)

Throwback Box Score: Cubs - Astros (5/6/1998)

Ambidextrous Pitcher Video: youtube.com/watch?v=-2oD8KzxS14

Gregory Polanco falls down, Cubs win

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Episode 6 (5.11.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Two (you read that correctly) listener shout-outs
  • Remembering last second shots and walk-off's
  • Our reaction to the Bill Simmons news
  • More doubleheaders in baseball?
  • A discussion on the person that Ted Williams was
  • Stat of the Week: BABIP (22:49)
  • Throwback Box Score (26:45)
  • Baseball Profiles: Peter Gammons (31:11)
  • How to make a sports podcast that doesn't suck (34:17)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: MLB Attendance So Far and a Call for Doubleheaders (Craig Edwards)

Peter's article: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived On (Wright Thompson)

Stat of the Week: Batting average on balls in play (BABIP) (Wikipedia)

Throwback Box Score: Devil Rays - Tigers (3/31/1998)

How to Make a Sports Podcast That Doesn't Suck (David G. Temple)

Mike Matheney on NPR

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Episode 5 (5.4.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An explanation for why this week's podcast is different
  • A listener shout-out
  • Pace of Play rules update
  • Discussion on the White Sox-Orioles game that was played without fans
  • A-Rod ties Willie Mays with home run 660
  • The University of Illinois winning steak (now at 21 games)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Jayson Stark: Was Hamilton Worst Free Agent Signing of All-Time?

Jayson Stark: MLB Showing Notable Drop In Game Time, Will Relax Pace-Of-Play Fines

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Episode 4 (4.27.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Paul's reaction to receiving our first piece of fan mail
  • A brief divisional look at the first three weeks of the season
  • The Royals being bad at life
  • A debate about "batting around"
  • Stat of the Week: Stolen Bases (19:23)
  • Throwback Box Score (24:55)
  • Baseball Profiles: Bernie Williams (30:44)
  • Ranking of the best interleague rivalries (37:35)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Royals Must Address Yordano Ventura's Emotional Misadventures (Vahe Gregorian)

Peter's article: MLB: Here's A Perplexing Question to Bat Around (Jared Diamond)

Stat of the Week: Stolen Bases (Baseball Reference)

Throwback Box Score: 2003 All Star-Game

Best Interleague Location Rivalries (Will Leitch)

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Episode 3 (4.20.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • A special shout out to three of our listeners, including two from a foreign land
  • The country of origin for Chin Ming Wang
  • KRIS BRYANT IS PLAYING BASEBALL IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES
  • Stat of the Week: WHIP (16:26)
  • A twist on the Throwback Box Score (20:41)
  • Baseball Profile: Cal Ripken, Jr. ( 27:09)
  • Chicken Finger delays MLB game (34:48)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Kris Bryant and Floor Versus Ceiling (Dave Cameron)

Peter's article: Expectations Too High For Bryant? (Will Leitch)

Stat of the Week: Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched (WHIP) (FranGraphs)

Throwback Box Score: Home Run Leader For Each Franchise

Giant-Diamondbacks game delayed by a chicken finger falling from the sky (Seth Rosenthal)

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Episode 2 (4.13.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • A special shout out to one of our listeners
  • Paul talking about taking naps
  • MLB television ratings on Opening Day
  • Stat of the Week: ERA (12:03)
  • Throwback Box Score (20:47)
  • Baseball Profile: Matt Bush ( 24:26)
  • Celebration of National Sibling Day (29:42)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: From print edition of Sports Illustrated Nap Time (Matt McCarthy)

Peter's article: Very Ealry Verdict: MLB Pace of Play Has Picked Up (Scott Boeck)

Stat of the Week: Earned Run Average (ERA) (Wikipedia)

Throwback Box Score: Red Sox - Rockies (October 27, 2007)

MLB.com ranking of baseball brothers (Lyle Spencer)

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Episode 1.5 (4.9.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Feedback from our first episode (including an individual shout-out)
  • One-word description of each team
  • One intriguing player to watch for from each team
  • Predictions: Awards, Postseason, World Series
  • Explanation of 2015 rule changes
  • Tony La Russa's cat obsession

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Tony La Russa's cat obsession (Jason Gay)

Pitchers and hitters that take the longest time in-between pitches

Pitchers and hitters that take the shortest time in-between pitches

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Episode 1 (4.6.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • An introduction to "A Foot In The Box", including an explanation of the name
  • Introductions of each other (including an in-depth analysis of our high school baseball careers)
  • Debut of weekly segments: Out of the Box, Stat of the Week, Throwback Box Score, Baseball Profiles
  • MLB players reciting famous speech from "Field of Dreams"

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Dodgers set MLB record payroll at $270M; average is $4.2M (Ronald Blum)

Peter's article: A Q & A With Baseball's New Commissioner (Brian Costa, Matthew Futterman)

Stat of the Week: On-Base Percentage (FanGraphs explanation)

Throwback Box Score: White Sox - Indians (April 4, 2005)

MLB players recite famous "Field of Dreams" speech

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