The Infinite Inning

Latest Episodes:

Infinite Inning 100: The Million Dollar Quartet Apr 16, 2019

Show notes

WARNING: When this many guys from New York and New Jersey get together, some swearing is inevitable. It’s just intermittent, so intermittently hide the children.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Eddie’s Opening Day*Opening Day (Featuring Dr. Rick Mohring and Casual Observer)*Big Round Numbers and Leo Durocher on the Radio*Cliff Corcoran, David Roth, Jesse Spector: Tinkers to Evers to I Hate You*Is Florida?*Are the Marlins really worth $1 Billion in the Age of Global Warming?*The Phillies’ Bryce Harper Attendance Bugle*Breaking Free Agency On a Whim*Cleveland Nihilism and Moneyball ambivalence*League Without Pity*Should the Padres Have Signed Manny Machado?*Beards (Keuchel and Kimbrel)*Having Fun with the 2019 Season (Like Hating the Cubs!)*Liberated By/From David Wright*In-Season Happiness vs. Offseason F-ckery*Let’s Remember Some Guys(So Much Rickey)*A Mike Pagliarulo Moment, and Oh, God, Alvaro Espinosa (Where Have All the Bad Players Gone, Long Time Passing?)*Questioning Jeff Mathis/We Love Pat Tabler*Full Circle and Goodbyes to End All Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman and guests discuss the game forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. 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 099: Why Don’t You Like Me, Butchie? Apr 08, 2019

Show notes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dwight Gooden Without Tears*For Want of Steve Lake, Jody Davis Was Lost*Chris Donnelly: Teams Headed in Opposite Directions*The 1986 Mets Disassembled*Dwight Gooden ‘85*The Depths of High Steinbrennerism*We’re So Sorry, Eddie Lee Whitson*Billy Martin in Rapid Decline*“Why Don’t You Like Me, Butch?”*Mr. Carter Goes to New York*How to Doug Sisk and Influence People*Mr. Henderson Also Goes to New York*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
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 098: Intelligence, Will, and Creativity Mar 22, 2019

Show notes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Last Days of Tony Lazzeri*Tommy John’s First Shoulder Injury*Tyler Kepner: Don’t Fool Yourself; You’d Do This With Your Book Royalties Too*Trout Contract Reax*K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches and the 300 Interviews*Zack Greinke Said No*The Sense of Possibility in Pitching*That Johnny Sain X-Ray Question*Archaic Pitches and Colorful Baseball*Sinkers!*Dan Quisenberry and Tug McGraw*Kent Tekulve’s Cap*Ted Williams Was Wrong About Pitchers*Talking With Mike Mussina*The La Lob*Being the National Baseball Writer for the Times*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
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 097: New Westerns and Old Characters Mar 17, 2019

Show notes

WARNING: There are a few cusswords in this episode. Even Steve utters one! Hide the dog, lest his vocabulary be corrupted!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Advice From Tony Lazzeri*Massacres (and Tony Lazzeri Again)*Tom Breihan: Too Many Super-Hero Films?*Nobody Talks the Way They Talk in Marvel Movies*Captain Marvel vs. The Trolls*Fantasies of Empowerment*The “Watchmen” Perspective as Anti-Entertainment*The Batman Silliness and the Mugger’s Story*Bloodless Violence and the Denazified “Captain America”*Mr. Rodgers Against Super-Heroes*Pause for Baltimore Orioles Cheap Shots That Aren’t So Cheap*I Love Spock Whether He’s Gay or Not*Emotional Storytelling in “Avengers Infinity War”*Characters Without Constituencies*In Defense of The Shadow*Writer Origins, “My Ding-a-Ling,” and “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” Ties It All Together*Coming Attractions*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.

Infinite Inning 096: Tom Seaver at Twilight and Other Stories Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Noted Emergency Catching Scenarios of the 20th Century*Tom Seaver at Twilight*Cliff Corcoran: Pirates-Skin Pillbox Hat*Twenty-Six-Man Rosters*What of Position Players Pitching?*Matt Carpenter/Shawn Green/Joe Adcock and Thwarted Desires*The Proposed Three-Batter Minimum*The LOOGY Myth*Choosing Relievers for Pitches, Not Handedness*The Joe Girardi Thing*The Proposed All-Star Voting Run-Off*An All-Star Emeritus Roster Spot*Bryce Harper Signs, the Phillies Make Money*Manipulating Service-Time Manipulation*Looking Forward to the National League*Denigrating Cleveland’s Offseason*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
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 095: I Was Somewhat Here, Johnny Damon Mar 02, 2019

Show notes

Warning: As always when David comes around there is the odd cussword in the air. There is also some dimly frank talk about Robert Kraft’s arrest. Mind the children if you think they’d ask embarrassing questions.
Table of Contents
Hank Aaron and Bowie Kuhn*Bob Gibson and the Man-Mountain*David Roth: Let’s Remember Some Triple-A Journeymen*The Baseball Card Gold Rush*Topps: The Motion Picture*The Frank Bolick Moment*Macho Man Randy Savage and Brad “The Animal” Lesley*Why There Are Unwritten Rules*Why the Patriots are Hated/Why Robert Kraft Was Arrested and Why Should We Care?*Admiring a Dynasty*The Worst Logo in Pro Sports*Birds and Bergs of Florida (Ho! The Common Gallinule!)*The Part About Alligators*Golfing with Alligators*Animals Who Might Want to Eat David Roth*The Moose*Talking Baseball*Team Spending and the Pure Food and Drug Act*The Free Agent Market is Not Okay*Debating Craig Kimbrel*The Braves’ Non-Pursuit of Bryce Harper*Giving the Customer as Little as Possible*A Cheapness That Has Nothing to Do with Money*Look for the Union Label*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?

The Infinite Inning 094: A Reasonably Foreseeable Episode Feb 25, 2019

Show notes

WARNING: There is a brief reference to abortion and rape, for those who might be triggered. There is also one four-letter word about half an hour in.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Don Newcombe and the Ordeal of Reputation*The Ballad of Shanty Hogan*Sheryl Ring: Baseball and the Legal Mind*Koufax and Drysdale Hold Out*Do Stats Permit Each Team Have a Unique System and Breaches of Fiduciary Duty*Breaking Noah Syndergaard*Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth Go Into the Stands*Offerman and Nathans*Fowler’s Knee*Beanballs*The Death of Houdini*The Gene Tierney Case*Baseball as a Way of Surviving*Transgender Origins*Software and Firmware*The Bathroom Bill Deflection*Baseball Doesn’t Love You Back/Coke is a Drink, Baseball is an Experience*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
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 093: Trying, Failing, Learning Feb 17, 2019

Show notes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Delay of Game, May 27, 1941 at the Polo Grounds*John McGraw II: Don’t Follow Leaders and Their Sandwiches*Mike Bates: What I Learned After the Wedding*The Obligatory Harper-Machado Minutes: They Symbolic Bid*Let Them Entertain Me*The Twins are Restive*Buxton, Sano, and Kepler*Kiriloff is Coming*Free Agent Courting Relationship Status*Brusdar/Sinistar*Goodbye, Robbie Grossman (Who Could Hang a Name on You?)*Spelunking Jake Cave*The LoMo Segue and the Danger of One-Year Veterans*The Joe Genewich Playing-Through-Injury Anecdote*“This Week in Baseball History” Negro Leagues and Players Series*Rube Foster: Literal Giant*Casey Stengel and the Negro National League*Ray Dandridge and a Speech*Rod Carew vs. Calvin Griffith*Emmett Ashford*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
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?

The Infinite Inning 092: The MVP Machine Dreams of Second Chances Feb 08, 2019

Show notes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Rusie, Brouthers, and Dahlen Dreaming*John McGraw at Bay*Ben Lindbergh: Too Much Audio Friendship/When You Throw Away Your Question-Shot*“Ballroom Dancing” vs. “The Pound is Sinking” vs. “Your Mother Should Know”*The MLB The Show Non-Cover*The Mystery Machine/The MVP Machine*Dexter Fowler Presses the Spacebar*The Votto Advantage*They Don’t Use VCRs Anymore*Virginia, There Is Such a Thing as Player Development*Archaic Wind-Ups*Fresh Eyes*Batting Follow-Through*The Post-Book Refractory Period*Jill Abramson’s Note-Taking*The Machado- and Harper-ness of Everything (Or Lack Thereof)*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING: Visit our Patreon page.
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 091: You Are Who You Root For Feb 02, 2019

Show notes

TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Quality of Mercy to Rabbits is Not Strained*Shanty Should Have Known Better*Patrick McLellan: I Don’t Need Glasses*The Lima Time Time/Casa Ole Ad/Self-Destructive Personas*Baseball is Unpopular?*Tracking the Last Reliever in the Bullpen*The Astros’ Non-Encore Encore*Is the Astros Lineup Getting Old?*Climbing Carlin’s Ladder*What Level of Engagement Should We Expect From an Entertainer or a Ballplayer?*Craig Biggio: The Declining Years*Jeff Kent: The Disliked Years*Be Careful Who You Root For; You Are Who You Root For*A Dallas Keuchel Prediction*Goodbyes.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
SUPPORT THE INFINITE INNING:Visit our Patreon page.
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?

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