Running The Bases

Part 1 of the 2018 Season Preview: Coach and Tucker give their sure-fire, can't miss predictions for the American League in 2018! The Yankees are monsters (but don't hand them the world), the Indians are right there (again), and the Astros own the least compelling division in MLB. The Twins are most exciting, Detroit and Oakland are punching bags, and the Blue Jays could surprise for one more ride.

Coach and Tucker debate the 20 "Most Significant" baseball persons to put on a uniform and step between the lines, based on criteria of performance, innovation, character, and importance to the game of baseball.

Tucker and Coach recap the premiere of the baseball documentary "Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel" at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, and reactions to the film. Going First to Third: Making sense of the "Race to the Bottom" for tanking MLB teams (2:55) and if there is actual collusion amongst owners, the future of free agency (23:30), and the need for a Salary Floor (30:45). Coming into Home: The Tampa Bay Rays announce a stadium site (36:35), and if this will make baseball in Florida fully viable.

Coach and Tucker cast their annual fictitious ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame, make predictions on who will be in the Class of 2018, the greatest omissions to the Hall, and what changes they would make to the HOF election process. Chipper and Thome are 1st ballot, with Hoffman and Vladdy as virtual locks. Love for Alan Trammel and Jack Morris, the case for Dale Murphy and Tim Simmons, and why Cooperstown should create the "Wing of Infamy."

Coach and Tucker debate the 20 most significant moments through the history of Major League Baseball. From Jackie in '47 (2:05), the invention of the curveball (6:15), the 1994 strike (17:55), through the significance of baseball in war-time (33:53), Coach and Tucker present the moments that forever changed the course of "Our Great Game", for better or worse.

Game 5 of the 2017 World Series was EPIC! However... Was it actually a good baseball game? Tucker and Coach sort through the madness of Game 5, the league-doctored ball, the "tremendously awful" managing, and discuss the entire picture of the WS, leading into Game 6. Plus, the era of successful failures in managing, and if the AZ Fall League All-Star Game is the last chance to see Ronald Acuna in a Braves uniform.

Tucker and Coach preview the World Series match-up between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros, including: Best match-up, most intriguing sub-plot, potential heroes and goats, and who America wants to win. We recap the 2017 Postseason that was, why the Indians fell flat (all credit to the Yankees), where the Cubs go from here, and is there no end to the dysfunction in D.C.?

We review all that was in the 2017 MLB regular season: The teams that surprisingly over-performed (Brewers, Twins), underperformed (GIANTS), and the sad state of the Atlanta Braves. The players that shined the brightest (Lindor, Judge, Altuve), and those that would just as soon forget this season happened (MATT HARVEY). Then, all things Postseason, with predictions through to the World Series. Coming into home: We hand out the awards for the regular season, and give our love to Puerto Rico, Houston, South Florida, and Las Vegas.

Cleveland Indians are making history, and it's a true joy to watch (6:53). The Dodgers are floundering and can't beat the Snakes (12:35). Going 1st to 3rd- The Nature of Momentum, if there's truth to peaking too soon in the regular season, whether October clears the slate for all teams (17:29), and how bullpen and health are the best indicators of postseason success (26:20). The Cardinals are the "Ultimate Villain" (33:18), the Yanks are scary-good and still two years away (38:20), and pennant predictions coming into home (46:22).

Orwin Smith, former All-ACC running back at Georgia Tech, joins the podcast to talk about his boys playing youth football, club teams vs. multi-sport at the youth level, CTE and the "gladiator" culture of football. We also discuss the continuing rise of MLS with Atlanta United, NCAA revenue sharing with its' players, Orwin's near-sit out while playing at Georgia Tech, and baseball's problem with reaching inner-city youth.

Out of the Box: The Braves are back! Coach and Tucker debate the All Star Game, which (thankfully) doesn't count, but does it matter at all? Going First to Third: The moves to make at the trade deadline, how the surprise 1st-half struggles of the Giants, Cubs and Indians, overshadows the success of the feel-good Rockies and Brewers, and the end of the Tigers window. Coming into Home: Sleeper picks for the postseason, and any excitement for the 2017 Hall of Fame weekend?

Die-hard Oakland A's fan Kate Fratar joins Tucker on the Podcast to talk about the state of Athletics Baseball: The quest for a new stadium, opening up the third deck, "Rooted in Oakland", and the showdown between the A's and Braves. The next jersey to be retired in Oakland? And has interleague play overstayed it's welcome, 20 years later?

Coach Bounds offers THE Solution to MLB's Pace of Play problem! And with SunTrust Park officially open for baseball in Atlanta (28:00), Coach and Tucker discuss the Cash Cow of the Battery, why every visiting team to SunTrust will want a new stadium when they leave, and who is to blame in the case of Braves vs. City of Atlanta?

Part 2 of our 2017 MLB Season Preview runs through the American League: The Indians and Red Sox are the cream, while the Tigers, Yankees and Astros are the crop. The middle class Blue Jays and Orioles remain formidable, and what to make of the Wild Wild AL West? Coming into Home: A return to Riverwood High School baseball in Atlanta for Coach Jordan Bounds.

Coach and Tucker's two-part 2017 MLB Season Preview! Out of the Box: Recap of the excitement that was the World Baseball Classic, and why we'll never see another Classic that compares. First-to-Third: The National League predictions for 2017 - Can the Nationals and Mets stay healthy? Will the Cardinals take back the division from the World Champion Cubs? And is the West the Dodgers to lose?

Author and Sports Clairvoyant Clayton Trutor joins the RTB podcast to discuss his new book, "Overcoming Adversity: Baseball's Tony Conigliaro Award." Clayton talks about writing for SB Nation's Cincinnati Bearcats blog (0:34), the "What if?" of Tony Conigliaro and his significance to Red Sox fans (11:00), the collaborative efforts of SABR in editing the book (17:04), fan inspiration from personal struggle (24:50), hanging your hat on singular sports success (37:00), love for the WBC (42:20) and a few predictions for the 2017 Red Sox (45:18).

Episode 100 of the Running the Bases Podcast! Coach and Tucker discuss how baseball exists in the digital era: How social media can enhance the game experience, but can also distract fans from the real beauty of the ballpark. The changes in writing (and baseball writers) with the exponential growth of the "Baseball Blogger", and where baseball media goes from here? (Congratulations! We played ourselves!) Thank you to everyone who has ever listened to an RTB Podcast over 100 episodes.

Coach and Tucker debate the "Faces of Baseball" in the National League. Out of the Box: Love to the Super Bowl bound Falcons (District 5 Pride), and the baseball community mourns the loss of Yordano Ventura and Andy Marte(2:48). First to Third: The Faces of the National League(5:47), and if Bryce Harper's face is too young(20:52). The NL Central(22:38) with "Mr. Cardinal" Willie McGee(23:48), and waving the black flag in Pittsburgh(33:35). The NL West(41:34), where Buster Posey could be the Face of the National League(48:54), given how much money he saves and how he delivers babies in the clutch... Coming into Home: Coach and Tucker give reactions to the Hall of Fame Class of 2017(1:00:15), and preparing to swallow the bitter pill of Bonds and Clemens.

Revising the "Faces of MLB" debate from the 2015 ASG, Coach and Tucker pick one all-time and one for the present day of the franchises in the American League. Out of the Box: Excitement building for the 2017 WBC(1:34). First to Third: The "Face of the Franchise" in the American League East (5:35), the Central (22:42), and the West (40:45). Coming into Home: Final predictions for the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 (1:02:02).

We kick off the New Year with our annual Hall of Fame Special! Coach makes a case for Larry Walker (1:50), the softening stance on PEDs and character flaws (4:00), and the case against Trevor Hoffman (9:02). Coach casts his ballot (12:05), professional hitter Matt Stairs gets a vote (19:12), Tucker's ballot (23:28) with love for the Crime Dog (28:17) and the need for Edgar Martinez (35:50). Going First to Third, the better ballot is for "Snubbed Players" (35:49), and Coming into Home, changes to make with the HOF process (48:25).