Episode 39: Alan Nathan Interview

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This week's episode includes:

  • A look back at season previews for the worst teams in recent history
  • An interview with Alan Nathan on the physics of baseball (10:20)
  • Paul reading iTunes reviews of the podcast (43:25)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Season Previews: 2015 Phillies, 2014 Diamondbacks, 2013 Astros, 2012 Astros, 2011 Twins

Alan Nathan: Twitter, Website, The Hardball Times

Offseason Music: Leon Bridges: Better Man

Intro Song: Nelly, St. Lunatics: Batter Up

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Episode 38: Griffey and Piazza

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This week's episode includes:

  • Banter: NL DH and Jim Devlin
  • Griffey and Piazza tributes (12:35)
  • 2016 free agency (41:08)
  • Fangraphs projections (54:32)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Frank Fitzpatrick: Sad story of a storied pitcher

Jared Diamond: Why a National League Designated Hitter Is Inevitable

Ryan Thibodaux: Hall of Fame vote tracker

Baseball Reference: 2016 Hall of Fame Voting

A Foot In The Box: 2016 Hall of Fame Ballots

Griffey clips: 1995 ALDS 2 homers, 1999 Home Run Derby, SkyDome shot, The Double

Piazza clips: 1999 walk off on Hoffman, 2000 Grand Slam on Clemens, 2000 World Series

Fangraphs: 2016 Projected Standings

Offseason Music: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: My Oh My

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Episode 36 (12.14.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Breakdown of the Winter Meetings
  • Peter's interview with Jesse Carey (13:56)
  • A look ahead to our next podcast (48:18)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

A Fascinating Case: Managers, Execs Weigh In On Jason Heyward's Value (Tom Verducci)

Jesse Carey: Twitter, Relevant Magazine

A Foot In The Box Episode 15

Offseason Music: Just Smoke - Mumford and Sons

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Episode 35 (11.30.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Discussion on the offseason thus far
  • Offseason Book Club: Moneyball (12:05)
  • The Game Without a Name (29:09)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Tigers Sign Jordan Zimmerman (Dave Cameron)

The Boys of Summer (Roger Kahn)

A Foot In The Box Episode 15

2015 Top 30 OBP

Offseason Music: The Chainsmokers - Roses

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Episode 34 (11.9.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An update on the strike zone and pace of play with 2015 data (4:14)
  • Our top moments of 2015 (11:30)
  • What we will remember from this past year (21:13)
  • One year of podcasting (30:22)
  • 2016 Offseason Preview (36:12)
  • What you can expect from us in the offseason (1:00:28)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

The 2015 Strike Zone (Jon Roegele)

Dave Cameron's Free Agent Predictions

Jon Heyman's Free Agent Predictions

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Episode 33 (11.3.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • World Series breakdown
  • Out of the Box (21:24)
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Terry Collins (26:21)
  • Sounds of the Game: 2015 World Series (29:23)
  • Playoff TV Ratings Update (34:06)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (36:00)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Royals are World Champs (Andy McCullough)

Peter's Article: The Giants Order Pizzas for the Royals (Minsky's Pizza)

Must C: Royals win World Series (MLB.com)

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Episode 32 (10.26.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • ALCS and NLCS recaps
  • Our 3 bold World Series predictions (14:25)
  • Non-playoff baseball news (19:54)
  • Out of the Box: Royals and Mets (24:01)
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Ned Yost (34:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: 1985 World Series (Denny Matthews), 2014 World Series (Jon Miller) (39:39)
  • Playoff TV Ratings Update (46:01)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (47:44)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Ken Rosenthal: Troubling Trend In Hiring Is Closing the Door on Baseball's Veterans

Paul's Article: How Three Unheralded Contributors Helped Royals Repeat as AL Champs (Tom Verducci)

Peter's Article: How the Mets went from woeful to the World Series in 5 long years (Adam Rubin)

1985 World Series: Game 6

2014 World Series: Game 7

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Episode 31 (10.19.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • ALCS & NLCS discussion
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Mike Matheny (20:07)
  • Sounds of the Game: Vin Scully - 1986 World Series (23:28)
  • 2015 Playoff Pick 'Em Update (28:53)
  • Playoff Ratings Update (30:30)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (33:18)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Andy McCullough, Kansas City Star

Peter's Article: Adam Rubin, ESPN.com

1986 World Series: Game 6, Game 7

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Episode 30 (10.16.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Blue Jays - Rangers (2:17)
  • Royals - Astros (10:34)
  • Cubs - Cardinals (15:53)
  • Mets - Dodgers (23:06)
  • Preview of ALCS and NLCS (28:37)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Jose Bautista's 3-run HR (SPORTSNET 590 The FAN)

The Royals come back and tie up the Astros in the 8th (FS1 and FS Kansas City)

The Cubs beat the Cardinals (WBBM)

Daniel Murphy hits go-ahead homer in Game 5 (WOR)

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Episode 29 (10.12.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Discussion on Wild Card Games (3:28)
  • Peter's critique of modern society (5:43)
  • Division Series updates (14:10)
  • Our opinions of the Chase Utley slide (23:34)
  • A playoff ratings update (30:40)
  • Paul's Managerial Decision: Joe Maddon (33:11)
  • Sounds of the Game: Bryan Cranston (36:12)
  • 5 Seconds or Less (41:06)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Chase Utley Slide

Craig Edwards: Joe Maddon's Defensive Calculus

Bryan Cranston Performs One-Man Postseason Show

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Episode 28 (10.5.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Recap of Game 162 (4:30)
  • 3 playoff storylines we're watching (12:35)
  • Who's got the most pressure on them? (16:16)
  • Our official predictions (20:27)
  • Playoff fantasy pick'em (24:25)
  • The last Ump or No Ump of 2015 (29:13)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Our 2015 Playoff Preview Podcast w/ Guests: Episode 27

Hawk Harrelson- Mark Wegner: Hawk Harrelson Rant

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Episode 26 (9.28.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • Playoff outlook with less than a week to go
  • Which teammates will be the first to 40?
  • Paul smells like baby feces
  • The AFITB 2015 Awards Show (12:40)
  • Stat of the Week: Context Neutral Wins(23:00)
  • Baseball Profile: Yogi Berra (27:08)
  • Sounds of the Game: Bob Costas tells a Yogi story on Conan (35:12)
  • Five Seconds or Less and Ump or No Ump (37:28)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Yogi Berra articles: Grantland, MLB.com, Wall Street Journal

Stat of the Week: Context Neutral Wins (WPA/LI) (Fangraphs)

Baseball Profile Resources: Wikipedia, Baseball-Reference, New York Times

Sounds of the Game: Bob Costas tells a Yogi Berra story on 9/12/12 (Conan)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

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Episode 25 (9.21.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • Paul's take on a couple Cubs controversies
  • Fringe Wild Card teams
  • An update on Trout and Harper
  • Theo Epstein's baseball philosophy
  • An examination of the current Wild Card format
  • Stat of the Week: Leverage Index (LI) (24:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: October 26, 1997 (30:52)
  • Five Seconds or Less and Ump or No Ump (37:16)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Front Row Seat: The Cubs are poised to return to the postseason, thanks in part to Theo Epstein's grand vision (Joe Posnanski)

Peter's article: Is Current Wild Card System Fair? (Ken Rosenthal)

Stat of the Week: Leverage Index (LI) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Game 7 of 1997 World Series (NBC)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

Pete Rose - Jim Gray interview (1999)

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Episode 24 (9.14.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Our podcast reaches a new continent
  • An examination of the lack of playoff races
  • Remembering 9/11 and how baseball was impacted
  • David Ortiz, Hall of Famer?
  • Joey Votto's mastery of the strike zone
  • Stat of the Week: Win Probability Added (WPA) (20:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: October 31, 2001 (24:40)
  • Five Seconds or Less (31:13)
  • Ump or No Ump

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: David Ortiz, even with 500 HRs, no lock for Hall of Fame (Michael Silverman)

Peter's article: Reds Mist: The Perfectionism and Historic Production of Joey Votto (Jonah Keri)

Stat of the Week: Win Probability Added (WPA) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Game 4 of 2001 World Series (Tino) (Jeter)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

George Bush throws out first pitch at 2001 World Series

Grantland: "The Pitch"

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Episode 23 (9.7.15)

This week's episode includes:

  • Matt Harvey discussion
  • A look around the standings
  • How the Pirates have built a great team
  • Is Dayton Moore a good GM?
  • Stat of the Week: Ground Ball Percentage GB% (20:55)
  • Sounds of the Game: Cal breaks the streak (9/6/1995) (24:25)
  • A new segment: Five Seconds or Less (29:09)
  • Ump or No Ump

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's Article: Big Data Baseball (Travis Sawchik)

Peter's Article: A Dayton With Destiny (Rany Jazayerli)

Stat of the Week: Ground Ball Percentage GB% (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Cal breaks the streak (9/6/1995)

Fangraphs Playoff Odds

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Episode 22 (8.31.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Paul and Kate have their baby!
  • Jake Arrieta throws a no-hitter
  • Vin Scully is coming back for another year
  • A fan dies at Turner Field
  • Playoff Odds of teams still in the hunt

Episode 21 (8.24.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • An update on Paul and Kate's baby
  • An attendance update from Peter
  • Another 2015 no-hitter
  • Is Chris Sale underrated?
  • Why the Nationals are under performing
  • Stat of the Week: Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) (18:55)
  • AFITB Summer Flicks Recap: Little Big League (22:05)
  • Sounds of the Game: 1995 ALDS (31:54)
  • Baseball Profile: Dave Magadan (38.23)
  • Ump or No Ump (43:00)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Chris Sale simply a swing-and-miss, dominating machine (Jayson Stark)

Peter's article: The Collapse of the Nationals (Dave Cameron)

Stat of the Week: Weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+) (Fangraphs)

"A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks"

Sounds of the Game: Dave Niehaus, 1995 ALDS

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: My Oh My

Baseball Profile Research: Baseball Reference, Wikipedia

2015 MLB Playoffs Schedule

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Episode 20 (8.17.15)

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This week's episode includes:

  • Paul defining pregnancy terms
  • Good and bad news for baseball fans
  • An MLB Advanced Media update
  • Sad news out of Boston
  • An answer to increased strike outs and decreased walks in modern times
  • Stat of the Week: Stolen Bases Runs Saved (rSB) (22:53)
  • Sounds of the Game: 1985 World Series (26:13)
  • AFITB Summer Flicks Recap: Eddie's Million Dollar Cook-Off (32:14)
  • Ump or No Ump (42:34)

Mentioned in this week's episode:

Paul's article: Reliever Domination Is at a Historical Level (Chris Teeter)

Peter's article: Walks Are Way Down In Baseball Because of Capitalism (Eric Chemi)

Stat of the Week: Stolen Bases Runs Saved (rSB) (Fangraphs)

Sounds of the Game: Al Michael calls Game 6 of 1985 World Series

"A Foot In The Box Summer Flicks"

Kiefer's case for the automated strike zone

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