The Infinite Inning

Latest Episodes:

Infinite Inning 179: The Giants and Their Crabs Mar 22, 2021

Show notes

Lincoln Mitchell returns to discuss his new book “The Giants and Their City: Major League Baseball in San Francisco, 1976-1992,” a tome redolent with cold Candlestick nights and hot Crazy Crab days. Plus tales: Casey Stengel uses some overly esoteric signs, rookies have short-lived breakouts, and more.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Blinking Lights and Spitting Signs*Harl! The Musical*Lincoln Mitchell: Why the Giants So Bad Between Willie Mays and Barry Bonds?*How a Farm System Dies*Will Clark and Robbie Thompson Arrive*Vida Blue vs. Cruel Fate*Can the Bay Area Support Two Teams?*Why Did Four Ballpark Ballot Initiatives Fail?*And Then the Earthquake*Fay Vincent Tries to Make Things Worse*Al Rosen and Kevin Mitchell*What If: The Tampa Bay Giants?*The Counterintuitive Crazy Crab*Summer at Candlestick Park Was Winter Everywhere Else*What if the Giants Had Moved?*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 178: Duster, Candor, Regrets Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

Craig Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus returns to discuss Baseball Prospectus 2021, highlight some of the best comments, and debate the best approach to writing about players: Plus tales: Did Duster Mails do in one season what other players do in 20? And should a manager be fired for being too blunt with the boss? The Cubs did it.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Duster Mails: All-Time Great in One Season*Manager Fired for Candor*Craig Goldstein: The 26th or the 28th Annual*BP in the Pandemic*Sticking to Sports During the Plague*The Baseball Prospectus Annual*The Seranthony Dominguez and Evan Marshall Comments*Songs from “The Simpsons” and Other Changes*The Dodgers Won (Will There Ever Be Another Party?)*When Your Team is Too Late to Win*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 177: Flaws of the Patient Approach Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

Matthew Trueblood (Baseball Prospectus, Penning Bull newsletter) talks about the Twins, the Mariners, disparate batting styles, and using the Cubs as a self-diagnostic. Plus Rogers Hornsby is mean to Duster Mails and Duster Mails is mean to himself.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
When Cruelty was the Point for Rogers Hornsby*Don’t Run Yourself Down, Duster Mails*Matthew Trueblood: Taking Notice of Player Quirks*Tim Anderson and Non-Conformity*Constructing Trevor Bauer*Willie Wilson as Object Lesson and Why Banjo Hitters Can No Longer Play*The Sammy Sosa: Persona Non-Grata*Power Rankings in the Winter*Kevin Mather-Induced Disillusionment*Should the Cubs Extend Javier Baez?*Lone Ranger Trivia*Luis Arraez and His Knees*Schwarber vs. Pederson*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 176: The Malefactors of Baseball Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

Cliff Corcoran returns to talk some actual my-first-baseman-is-better-than-yours with regards to the AL East, free agent Jackie Bradley, Jr, and Juan Soto’s defensive capabilities. Plus, ex-Mariner Kevin Mather steps in it and the Herculex Body Battery cures all!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Herculex Body Battery Sees All, Cures All*Pie in the Sky When You Die in Seattle*Cliff Corcoran: The comprehensive Cycle*Spencer Torkelson’s Freshman Dorm Moment*“Don’t Know How to Smile,” Starring Charlie Morton*What if the Phillies Didn’t Try to Fix Their Bullpen?*Will the Nationals be Competitive*Juan Soto’s Glove*How to Value Jackie Bradley, Jr.*Bret Gardner vs. Aaron Hicks vs. Bradley*A Glance Towards Kevin Mathers*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 175: The Silent John Titus Comedy Hour Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

Solo-mini-diet episode in which there are stories of people getting hit, both in the sort of fun baseball way and also the sad other kind. Also, a look at San Diego Padres scolds.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Art Fletcher, Oil-Man (Not that Kind)*The Price of Ice in Pittsburgh*Odubel Herrera/Joe Giradi/Sherry Magee*Let Fernando Tatis, Jr Play (For What He’s Worth)!*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 174: The Cronin Principal Feb 14, 2021

Show notes

Mark Armour (Joe Cronin: A Life in Baseball, and Paths to Glory: How Great Teams Got That Way, SABR Board President) talks about the Hall of Fame shortstop, MLB’s retroactive changes to the Negro League’s standing, and great baseball history books. Plus tales of Lou Gehrig, Eleanor Gehrig, and milkfat.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Eleanor’s Bracelet and Ival’s Two Pounds of Butter*Eleanor Gehrig Alone*Mark Armour: The SABR Bio Project*The Missing Biographies*Why Joe Cronin?*A Portly Shortstop on His Knees*Segregation Apologist*Cronin Was in the Mainstream*The Revised Status of the Negro Leagues*What’s It Like Being on the SABR Board?*The Greying of SABR*The Greatest Baseball History Books/Bill James’ Strengths*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 173: Be Mad at Me If You Want Feb 07, 2021

Show notes

Kevin Goldstein returns! Plus, tales of a pitcher who shouldn’t and Lou Gehrig: Great American.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Day in the Life of the Zion Hill… Billies*Lou Gehrig Knew*Kevin Goldstein: The best restaurants in San Pedro de Macoris*The Moment You Found Out*Carlos Correa Claps Back*The Email*The Best Way to Understand What the Rockies Are Doing*Billion-Dollar Franchises*Racism in the Dominican Republic*Evaluating Teenage Players in the Dominican*“These Kids Are My Heroes”*Make-Up Digs*Evil Platoon Left Fielder*Tools Players and Short Guys*Personal Cheeseballs*Goodbyes.
WARNING: There are a few cusswords in this episode. Shelter your parrot lest he be corrupted.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 172: Accentuate the Positive, Eliminate the Pomposity Jan 30, 2021

Show notes

Will Leitch returns to deflate the hero narrative in sports. Plus tales: Phil Niekro is prematurely dismissed and Home Run Baker runs all the way home.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Phil Niekro and Positive Uncertainty*Home Run Baker Goes Home (Then Goes Home Again)*Will Leitch: Family Man*Not Judging the Pandemic Risk-Takers*History Has Its Eyes on Tom Verducci*Clemens and Bonds Retconned*Henry Aaron “Ignored” Racism/The Sanctification of Aaron*A Convention in Cleveland/Escapism*The Wrong “Grierson & Leitch” Episode*“The Great Waltz”*How Lucky*Gilkey, Lankford, and Brian Jordan*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 171: The Good Balboni and the Angry Dad Jan 23, 2021

Show notes

David Roth returns to talk about the Lindor trade, wet presidents, Bip Roberts, and the odor of old cigarettes. Plus Don Sutton doesn’t quite get caught, the Cardinals make a really bad hire, 1970s version, and reflections on Henry Aaron.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Doug Harvey Makes a Bad Call on Don Sutton But Derives the Right Lesson*Henry Aaron, Briefly*The Rapp Experiment in St. Louis*David Roth: Cigarettes Covered in Butter*Jim Leyland in the Dugout/Smokers at the Diner/Masks at Walmart*A Bip Roberts Mention?/Angry Before Breakfast*Bip Roberts : Joe Biden*Millard Fillmore’s Last Words*Living in Orson Welles’ New Jersey*Friends Don’t Tell Friends About the 1982 Mets*Bruce Bochy/Bruce Bochte Confusion*The Mets Do the Right Thing (and the Astros Did Not)*Wet Ex-President/Wet Ex-Astros*Sociopathy Cannot Be a Universal Value*Starving the Minor Leagues, Starving the People*The Downside of Competitive Imbalance*Forgot Joey Lucchesi and Other Mets Pitchers*“Mortgaging the Future”*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Infinite Inning 170: Little Angry Men Jan 16, 2021

Show notes

Cliff Corcoran returns to remember Phil Niekro and Tommy Lasorda, discuss disappointing offseason moves in Cleveland and Chicago, and debate the best way to paint old ballplayers. Plus tales of a president on horseback and a first baseman blocked by Pete Rose.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How’s the Mule?*Don’t Inhale in the Clubhouse*Cliff Corcoran: Negro Leagues Baseball Cards*Strata of Players*Against Photo-Realistic Painting?*Gustave Courbet’s Female Genitalia and Norman Rockwell’s Nixon*Realism in Walter Johnson Undergarments*A Newsletter is Born*Cleveland By Any Other Name (Spiders Memories)*Cy Young’s Waistline*Reviling the Francisco Lindor Trade*The Outfielder-less Cleveland Club*Willing Suspension of Disbelief: Cleveland*Premature Pennant Peak/Do the Cubs Have an Excuse?*On Phil Niekro*Polka Party!*On Tommy Lasorda*Little Angry Men*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected