The Infinite Inning

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The Infinite Inning 060: The Mini-Episode of Evil Jun 22, 2018

Show notes

Steve flies solo in an attenuated episode this week which focuses on current events that take place outside of baseball but find their echoes within in it.
WARNING: A disgusting racial epithet concerning African Americans is quoted in the course of this episode in the telling of a historical incident
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The most evil man in baseball history*The black dog and “I Am So Proud”*When they slandered Rickey Henderson*Hunter Strickland and Doyle Alexander*“Give us a little ‘Lambeth Walk’”*The real Jake Powell story and the fake Jake Powell story*Goodbyes.

The Infinite Inning 059: Fear Factor Baseball Jun 15, 2018

Show notes

Eric Stephen (True Blue LA) returns to explain the strange odyssey of the 2018 Dodgers, plus this year’s Orioles versus your great-grandfather’s Browns, bad fan behavior in 1970s Pittsburgh, and a Yankees tugboat not delivered.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Pirates keep the nickel*The Schleuter-ization of the Orioles*Billy Martin’s tugboat*Eric Stephen: The Dodgers’ child does not resemble the parents*An entire rotation on the DL*Prophetic words from 1973*Dave Roberts’ approach*Cody Bellinger’s slump and recovery*Great postseason slumps*Missing on Dave Winfield and Adrian Beltre*Can you count on a Clayton Kershaw comeback?*The Ross Stripling miracle*The Charles Hudson baseball card reverie*Fear Factor: Baseball*A note on Daniel Descalso*The amazing Max Muncy*The Dodgers and second base at the trading deadline*Whither Alex Verdugo?*The Joc Pederson dilemma*The Matt Kemp renaissance*The power of planning ahead in journalism*Dodgers postseason odds*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 #058: Necessary Heresies Jun 09, 2018

Show notes

Cliff Corcoran (The Athletic) returns to talk baseball, and then is joined by film critic Scott Tobias (The Next Picture Show podcast) to talk about “Solo,” the Star Wars and Marvel franchises, and the curse of the summer movie season. Prior, Steve has two stories of Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst, plus a protest of sorts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Stan Musial’s kid and mine*Popeye thoughts*Red Shoendienst, Stan Musial, and Trader Frank Lane*Cliff Corcoran: The Montgomery Biscuits cap et al*The integration of the Philadelphia Phillies*Clayton Kershaw in Decline/The Dodgers at .500*The Matt Kemp revival*Scott Tobias: “Solo” and early Star Wars relationships*“Godfather II” references*This is a cynical character?*Disney as franchise-keeper*Anti-auterism*Edgar Wright fantasies*Irrelevant cameo*The “You’ve Got Mail” digression*The hardest time of year for a film critic*Coming attractions*Plugs for “Ricki and the Flash” and the “Mission Impossible” film series*Star Wars vs. Lovecraft*The Cinematography of “Solo”*Will J.J. Abrams undo it all?*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 057: Rebel Without a Draft Jun 02, 2018

Show notes

Rotation regular Jesse Spector rejoins Steve for a discussion that starts dark and soon gets silly, with Jesse fighting to the death to abolish the June amateur draft. Also features Steve stories on Hank Greenberg, Tyler O’Neill, and Long Tom Winsett.
TRIGGER WARNING: In the Hank Greenberg segment, Greenberg himself is quoted describing anti-Semitic slurs to which he was subjected. There is also a cussword embedded in a quote early on. Hide the children.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
With Great Winsett Power Comes Great Responsibility*Hank Greenberg Demands Respect*Jesse Spector: Hot spots and high school reunions*The Morbidity and Mortality section*How did we get breaking news before the internet?*How many Frans are on the Padres?*Should baseball draft picks be tradeable?*The Albert Pujols Contract*The Stouffer’s example*Yankees drafts of the 2000s*Do the Reds have a plan?*Brackman and Culver*More on tradeable picks*An admittedly strange Delmon Young reference*Marveling over Miguel Andujar*The George Burns argument*The Dodgers will rise, Cleveland’s bullpen, and other 2018 quick hits*Elevator music?*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 056: The Yogi Berra Redundant Yogi Berra Award May 25, 2018

Show notes

Deadspin’s David Roth returns like a periodic comet to discuss the joy of Shohei Ohtani, ripping old packs of baseball cards on camera, and debate the state of the baseball and the national anthem. Plus Steve Stories on Joe Cronin managing his way to a walk-off loss and early game-throwing pitcher Jim Devlin.
WARNING: As in all David Roth episodes, there is the occasional cussword. We contritely apologize.
THE INFINITE INNING ARCHIVE: All episodes available, popcorn extra.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP: Socialize with like-minded people!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Joe Cronin’s Bad Day: An Inquiry Into Values*The Devlinification of Everything*David Roth: Provocative ad content*The “Let’s Remember Some Guys” show (1981 Fleer Cards and prog rock)*The days before instant gratification*MLB nonchalants the balls*The greying of the Mets*Illegitimate oldies tours*Suspiciously active blobs of mozzarella*Sports and the National Anthem (A Fantasia on a Theme)*The Wonderful, Wonderful World of Shohei Ohtani (You Don’t Comp Pedro)*Goodbyes.

Infinite Inning 055: The Man In The Dugout May 18, 2018

Show notes

Steve is joined by former major league manager Davey Johnson to discuss his life and adventures as described in his new autobiography, Davey Johnson: My Wild Ride in Baseball and Beyond. This week’s tales include taking the permanent exit from a Babe Ruth-era Yankees game and a Johnson-inspired story of an Orioles no-hitter gone wrong.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP can be found here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ruthian Fatality*Barber’d and Bauer’d*Davey Johnson: HoJo at short*Hank Bauer*Earl Weaver, batting Mark Belanger second, and small samples*How much pressure are managers under?*Support Our Scholars*Marge Schott for Marriage!*Self-Confidence*Dwight Gooden and Bryce Harper*Managing the clubhouse*The Juan Samuel-Lenny Dykstra trade and who let the dogs out?*Maintaining success*The impossibility of saving Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry (and Kevin Mitchell deserves an apology)*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 Episode 54: Strangers In The Ballpark May 11, 2018

Show notes

Steve is joined by Meg Rowley (Fangraphs, The Hardball Times) to discuss some unlikely Mariners success, including James Paxton’s no-hitter, defense-first first base prospects, and the batting-out-of-order rule. Plus SteveStories of the Singing Umpire and a continuation of last week’s discussion about Ty Cobb.
WARNING: Late in the show, there is a cussword uttered in regards to Chuck Knoblauch. It is a quote. More seriously, a racial epithet from a newspaper article printed in 1892 is spoken at approximately 30:07. TRIGGER WARNING: During this discussion of historic racism, there is some mention of sexual assault.
THE INFINITE INNING FACEBOOK GROUP can be found here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lord Byron’s Umpire Follies*Cucumbers*Ty Cobb II*The James Paxton no-hitter/no-hitter ennui*Excitement is a positive*People who boo and people who don’t*The batting-out-of-order rule*Can the Mariners continue to contend?*Evan White, Keith Hernandez, and Ichiro’s decline*Rachael McDaniel’s “In the Sun”*Failing to extend the baseball bridge*Osuna-Schneiderman*Favorite spy movies*Goodbyes.

Infinite Inning 053: “Why Would They Wanna Blow Up Disco Music?” And Other Tales May 04, 2018

Show notes

Steve is joined by major league veteran Greg Pryor to discuss his forthcoming book, The Day the Yankees Made Me Shave: A Baseball Autobiography, and share tales of the game in the 1970s and 80s. Plus, SteveStories on the meaning of 3,000 hits and the way Ty Cobb’s racism is misused.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paul Waner’s two 3000th hits*Abnormalizing Ty Cobb*Short pants and South Side Hitmen*The Syracuse Mustache Rebellion*“No one ever seemed satisfied with me”*A dark scouting report*The Harry Chappas: Sports Illustrated Cover-Guy Saga*The moral hazard of George Brett injuries*Bottom of the 16th courage*The untimely death of Dick Howser*On strikeouts and “launch-angle stuff”*Disco Demolition Night*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 #52: Pain, Lies and Disco Fries Apr 27, 2018

Show notes

Cliff Corcoran (The Athletic) takes his turn in the rotation to pursue topics within topics, from the widening space between balls in play to a sinister plan to headhunt an 11-year-old girl. Cliff also quotes Dr. Dre, which is a first for this program. SteveStories include Dan Ford’s infamous baserunning mishap and how outfielder Johnny Mostil’s darkest day collides with a Harlan Ellison adage on resiliency.
WARNING: There is an extended discussion of a ballplayer’s long-ago suicide attempt in the second segment. If you are having similar thoughts, the National Suicide Hotline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Disco Dan Learns a Lesson*Johnny Mostil was a Paingod*Cliff Corcoran: Rise of the Silver and Black Caps*The uniforms you never see on throwback days*Uniforms intended to intimidate Johnny Cueto and other people*Discrimination in Durham, NH*The lack of pronoun diversity in baseball*Setting the stage for the female ballplayers*A momentary pause for whale facts and insecurity*The state of 2018 so far*The rising time between balls in play*Advanced analysis has pushed us into making baseball boring?*Batter vs. pitcher strikeouts*More time with Brandon Belt and Luke Appling on a Per-At-Bat Basis than Anyone Desires*Getting 1,000 hits in a single day*Jumping on the Phillies bandwagon?*Goodbyes.
The Infinite Inning now has a Facebook group! Come one, come all, come as you are, come as Willie Kamm ‘28.

The Infinite Inning #051: The Official Winnebago Of Major League Baseball Apr 20, 2018

Show notes

Craig Calcaterra (NBC’s Hardball Talk) returns to assess the start of the 2018 season, envision the damage that tanking is doing to the game, and reminisce about some really bad Atlanta Braves teams. Plus, SteveStories about drowned ballparks in Cincinnati and Tampa and a baseball “witch-hunt.”
The Infinite Inning now has a Facebook group! Come one, come all, come as you are, come as Reggie Jackson ’77.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Ballpark in Atlantis*Witch-Hunts and Redlegs*The Infinite Inning has a Facebook group; be good to each other*Craig Calcaterra: The Fifth Column works through baseball*Efficiency thinking*The human side of No-Neck Williams*How d’ya like the 2018 season so far?*The March of the Relief Pitchers*Pitching in a Pinch*Can baseball support expansion? And tanking, too! (The Portland Possibility)*The fan as consumer/In the run we’re all dead*Watching the mid-‘80s Braves on TBS*Omar Freakin’ Moreno*Tommy Pham and Jose Martinez, old men of hope*Maybined and Shucked*In-show surprise: The Braves sign Jose Bautista*The Weirdness of Nick Markakis*Goodbyes.

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