The Keith Law Show

Nik Sharma on his new book, 'Veg-table' Nov 30, 2023

Keith is joined by Nik Sharma, the author of the new cookbook, Veg-table. He attempts to combine vegetable recipes with big flavor through a science background.

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Follow Nik on social: @abrowntable

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Matt Singer on his new book about Siskel and Ebert, 'Opposable Thumbs' Nov 15, 2023

Keith is joined by author Matt Singer who's new book Opposable Thumbs dives into the relationship of Gene Siskel & Roger Ebert and the long lasting impact of their hit movie review show, Siskel & Ebert.

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Follow Matt on X: @mattsinger

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Author Robert Kolker on Hidden Valley Road, Lost Girls and more Nov 08, 2023

Keith is joined by author Robert Kolker to discuss his New York Times Bestselling novel Hidden Valley Road and his previous book Lost Girls.

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Follow Robert Kolker on X: @bobkolker

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Dr. Lee McIntyre talks about his new book, 'On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy' Oct 26, 2023

Keith is joined by philosopher Dr. Lee McIntyre. His new book is titled On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy. He believes we are in a lot of trouble regarding disinformation, but also outlines ways we can push back on the problem.

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Follow Matthew on X: @LeeCMcIntyre

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Sarah Langs reflects on the 2023 MLB season and why Baseball Is The Best Oct 04, 2023

Keith is joined by MLB researcher and reporter Sarah Langs who always does an amazing job reminding us why baseball is the best. They look back on the best of the 2023 season and also some of the disappointments.

Sarah continues her work in the baseball while battling ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and has become an inspiration to many around the sport. If you want to support Sarah as she raises awareness for ALS, you can at the following sites:

Stars for Sarah: https://starsforsarah.org/
#FistBumps4ALS: https://fundraise.projectals.org/campaign/fistbumps4als-in-honor-of-sarah-langs/c482208
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Oscar winning director Matthew Cherry on Hair Love and Young Love Sep 26, 2023

Keith is joined by writer, director, producer and former NFL receiver Matthew Cherry. Matthew won an Oscar for directing the animated short film Hair Love. His new project Young Love continues the story of Hair Love as an animated series on Max.

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Follow Matthew on X: @MatthewACherry

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Jonathan Abrams on The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop Sep 07, 2023

Keith is joined by Jonathan Abrams to discuss his new book, The Come Up: An Oral History of the Rise of Hip-Hop. Jonathan is an award-winning staff reporter for The New York Times. He is the bestselling author of two previous books, Boys Among Men and All the Pieces Matter.

From the publisher: The essential oral history of hip-hop, from its origins on the playgrounds of the Bronx to its reign as the most powerful force in pop culture—from the award-winning journalist behind All the Pieces Matter, the New York Times bestselling oral history of The Wire

Follow Keith on Twitter at: @keithlaw

Follow Jonathan on Twitter at: @Jpdabrams

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Why We Love Baseball with Joe Posnanski Aug 22, 2023

Joe Posnanski joins Keith to discuss his new book, Why We Love Baseball: A History In 50 Moments, which will be out September 5th. The guys also look back on Joe's Baseball 100 and jump ahead to what will be his next book, Why We Love Football.

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Follow Joe on Twitter: @JPosnanski

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Susanna Hoffs on her new book The Bird Has Flown, new album and The Bangles years Aug 07, 2023

You may remember her from The Bangles but Susanna Hoffscontinues to create. She recently released her fifth solo album, The Deep End and just published her first novel, The Bird Has Flown. She joins Keith to talk about those projects as well as the 80s and the Bangles.

Follow Keith on Twitter: @KeithLaw

Follow Susanna on Twitter: @SusannaHoffs

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Joe Casey on his band Protomartyr and his love of the Detroit Tigers Jul 23, 2023

Joe Casey, lead singer of the post-punk band Protomartyr. They discuss the band's new album Formal Growth in the Desert. They go on to talk about baseball and Joe's life-long love of the Detroit Tigers.

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Follow Protomartyr on Twitter: @protomartyrband

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Joe Sheehan weighs in on the MLB Draft, player development and the early trade deadline season Jul 04, 2023

Joe Sheehan is back! He and Keith take a big picture look at next week's MLB Draft and All-Star weekend. They have ideas for how the league can fix the Future's Game. They also get into pitcher development and what could be done differently through the minor leagues. The guys also discuss the early movement before the trade deadline.

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Follow Joe on Twitter: @joe_sheehan

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Michael Ruhlman on 'The Book of Cocktail Ratios' Jun 22, 2023

Keith is joined by Michael Ruhlman, who has simplified the making of classic cocktails in his new book, The Book of Cocktail Ratios. They discuss the evolution of cocktails, what you need for your home bar, and how you can very easily make exceptional cocktails at home.

Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw

Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @ruhlman

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Jonathan Mayo talks mock drafts and his new book 'Smart, Wrong and Lucky' Jun 02, 2023

Keith is joined by MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo. They talk mock drafts now that they are both on the record with their version 1.0's. How likely are the Pirates to take Dylan Crews? If they go a different direction, who would it be? What separates the top five players who are all considered potential 1-1 players? Keith and Jonathan also discuss Jonathan's new book, Smart, Wrong and Lucky.

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Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanMayo

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The Baseball Project with Scott McCaughey May 23, 2023

Keith is joined by Scott McCaughey of The Baseball Project, a supergroup he formed with Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon that has been writing and performing baseball songs since 2007. The band is promoting its new album, Grand Salami Time, which will be released on June 30th. They talk about how the band came together, what teams the musicians root for, where McCaughey's fandom stems from and where they come up with the ideas behind their songs.

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Baseball Prospectus' Russell Carleton on 'The New Ballgame' May 19, 2023

Keith is joined by Baseball Prospectus' Russell Carleton. His new book, The New Ballgame, covers a lot of ground in what's happening in baseball now and what could be coming. Did analytics ruin baseball? How to fix the strike out problem? What's wrong with WAR? Why are so many teams cheap on development? Keith and Russell cover those topics and much more.

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Follow Russell on Twitter: @pizzacutter4

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Max Bazerman on how we can be complicit in unethical behavior May 10, 2023

Keith is joined by Harvard professor and the author of the new book, Complicit: How We Enable the Unethical and How to Stop. From Theranos, to police force protection to West Virginia men's basketball coach Bob Huggins recent comments on Cincinnati radio, Bazerman explains how we can be complicit in unethical behavior.

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Follow Max on Twitter: @BazermanMax

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Will Leitch on the Cardinals struggles and his new book, 'The Time Has Come' May 04, 2023

Will Leitch is back for another visit. He and Keith discuss the Cardinals rough start and Will's new book, The Time Has Come, which will be released on May 16th. It's Leitch's follow up to How Lucky, his 2022 Edgar Award Nominated novel.

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Follow Elizabeth on Twitter: @williamfleitch

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Elizabeth McCracken on her latest book, 'The Hero of this Book' Apr 27, 2023

Keith catches up with Elizabeth McCracken, author of The Hero of this Book, a 2022 "memoir adjacent" book in which McCracken (or the narrator) copes with the death of her mother by traveling to London to revisit places she had been with her mother.

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Follow Elizabeth on Twitter: @elizmccracken

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David Grann on his new book 'The Wager' Apr 18, 2023

David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon which is being made into a movie by Martin Scorsese starring Leonardo DeCaprio and Robert De Niro, has a new book out. David and Keith discuss The Wager which tells a story of shipwreck, survival and savagery.

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Follow David on Twitter: @DavidGrann

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Awakening your genius with Ozan Varol Apr 11, 2023

Keith is joined by former rocket scientist and law professor Ozan Varol to discuss his new book 'Awaken Your Genius.' The book discusses how people can stop living life on autopilot and tap into their own unique talents and creativity to find bigger success.

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Awaken Your Genius is available at www.geniusbook.net

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Previewing the Oscars with Christopher Crawford Mar 08, 2023

Christopher Crawford of RotoWire is back for another Oscars preview episode. Keith and Christopher discuss some of the best films of 2022 -- including their Top 10 lists from the past year -- plus selections and expectations for several awards including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, and more.

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Follow Christopher on Twitter: @Crawford_MILB

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Comparing Top 100 lists with Eric Longenhagen and looking ahead to the draft Feb 24, 2023

Keith welcomes back his first ever guest on the show, Eric Longenhagen, prospect writer for Fangraphs. Eric's Top 100 Prospects list just dropped so the guys compare where their lists differ. They also look ahead to draft season after the college baseball season started last weekend.

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Follow Eric on Twitter: @longenhagen

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Stephen Ives on 'Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History' Feb 02, 2023

Keith is joined by Stephen Ives, who's new documentary 'Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History,' tells the story of Lizzy Magie who originally invented the popular board game but never got the credit.

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Justin Havens (Jay Hay) on baseball's offseason Jan 25, 2023

Keith catches up with old ESPN friend Justin Havens to talk about some of the bigger storylines this offseason in baseball. They talk about teams that should have done more, look at interesting trades, break down the AL West race and more.

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Follow Justin on Twitter: @jayhaykid

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Screenwriter Seth Reiss on his movie The Menu, entitled foodies and much more Jan 17, 2023

Keith is joined by Seth Reiss, one of the writers for the new movie The Menu starring Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult and more. They discuss where the idea for the movie came from, the art of writing parody and much more.

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What are the Red Sox doing? Alex Speier tries to explain Dec 14, 2022

Alex Speier of the Boston Globe joins Keith to try to explain what the Red Sox are doing. The core of the 2018 team is mostly gone. The club still hasn't extended Rafael Devers. Is the franchise that has regularly had one of the biggest payrolls in the game changing its philosophy? Is Chaim Bloom on the hot seat? What prospects are on the way?

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Follow Alex on Twitter: @alexspeier

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Scott Hershovitz on his new book, 'Nasty, Brutish, and Short' Dec 07, 2022

Keith is joined by University of Michigan professor of philosophy Scott Hershovitz to discuss his new book, Nasty, Brutish, and Short. The book cuts a fresh path through the scary world of metaphysics and morals, using deft storytelling and a sharp wit to show what philosophy is; why kids are the best philosophers of all; how they can teach us to puzzle through revenge, rights, consciousness, the size of the universe and other daunting mysteries most grown-ups learn to ignore; and finally why the examined life is not only worth living but seriously fun.

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Follow Scott on Twitter: @shershovitz

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Screaming on the Inside with Jessica Grose Nov 16, 2022

New York Times opinion writers Jessica Grose joins Keith to talk about her new book, "Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainablility of American Motherhood." Grose lived through a difficult pregnancy opening her eyes to the realities of parenting expectations. Her book empowers today's mothers to make choices that actually serve themselves, their children, and their communities.

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Follow Jessica on Twitter: @JessGrose

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Caroline Criado-Perez on her new book, 'Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men' Nov 01, 2022

Caroline Criado-Perez's new book dives into the natural bias in data skewing the world towards men. Car crash test dummies are based on the average sized male. Medication doses are based on the average male body. Where does this issue come from and how can it be changed?

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Follow on Twitter: @CCriadoPerez

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Joe Posnanski helps preview the World Series and talks about his upcoming book Oct 28, 2022

On the eve of the World Series Keith is joined by Joe Posnanski. They discuss his last book, The Baseball 100, and his upcoming book, Why We Love Baseball and of course they discuss the game today and the 2022 World Series.

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Follow Joe on Twitter: @JPosnanski

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Rethinking Fandom, soccer relegation and more with Craig Calcaterra Oct 18, 2022

Craig Calcaterra joins Keith to cover a slew of topics including a check in on the current postseason, Craig's perspective on fandom, what makes relegation so great in the soccer world and more.

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Follow Craig on Twitter: @craigcalcaterra

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Looking ahead to awards season with Stephanie Apstein Oct 06, 2022

With the regular season in the books, Keith is joined by Sports Illustrated senior writer Stephanie Apstein to look ahead to awards season. They also discuss the new rules coming to MLB in 2023.

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Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @stephapstein

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Three's a charm with Will Leitch Sep 28, 2022

Will Leitch is back for a record third visit. He and Keith talk about movies, his upcoming book, the Cardinals and more. He's heading to St. Louis to watch Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina play their final home games for the Red Birds.

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Follow Will on Twitter: @williamfleitch

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Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yong on his new book 'An Immense World' Sep 20, 2022

Keith is joined by Pulitzer Prize winning writer Ed Yong to discuss Yong's new book, An Immense World - How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us. The book dives into the animal world and what we can learn from all of the creatures who are living around us. What senses they have, that we do not and what we're missing out on by blocking out the world around us.

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Follow Ed on Twitter: @edyong209

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'The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is,' with Justin E.H. Smith Sep 13, 2022

Keith is joined by Professor Justin E.H. Smith, who just released a new book, 'The Internet Is Not What You Think It Is." He discusses his book which goes into the desire for humans to be connected over long distances but also the failures of the internet to allow actual smart discourse.

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Board game designer Elizabeth Hargrave joins Keith for episode 100! Sep 06, 2022

Award winning board game designer Elizabeth Hargrave is the guest for episode 100 of The Keith Law Show. Hargrave's 2019 debut Wingspan won the Kennerspiel des Jahres. She has a brand new game just released called The Fox Experiment. Keith and Elizabeth discuss her games, the industry as a whole and much more.

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Follow Elizabeth on Twitter: @elizhargrave

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Pod Save America's Dan Pfeiffer on his new book, 'Battling the Big Lie' Aug 29, 2022

Keith is joined by former Senior Advisor to President Obama and current author and host of Pod Save America Dan Pfeiffer. They discuss Dan's new book, 'Battling the Big Lie - How Fox, Facebook and the MAGA Media are Destroying America.'

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2022 MLB Draft Prep w/Eric Longenhagen Jul 06, 2022

Keith is joined by Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs to discuss the upcoming MLB draft, how the Orioles are likely thinking about their selection with the first overall pick, Termarr Johnson’s incredible swing and makeup, the Royals’ ongoing struggle to develop pitching, the Rockies’ options at Pick 10, the Mets’ options with the 11th and 14th selections, a big potential haul awaiting the Reds with extra early-round selections, and much more.

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Follow Eric on Twitter: @longenhagen

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'Invisible Storm' w/Jason Kander Jun 28, 2022

Keith is joined by Jason Kander, author of 'Invisible Storm: A Soldier's Memoir of Politics and PTSD' to discuss what led the decision to write his book, trauma, unhealthy (and healthy) coping mechanisms, avoidance, and advice Jason would give to younger people who are currently upset about the state of things in America.

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Follow Jason on Twitter: @JasonKander

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Statcast & The 2022 Rookies w/Sarah Langs Jun 22, 2022

Keith is joined by Sarah Langs of MLB.com to examine the 2022 rookie class through a Statcast lens — including Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Oneil Cruz, and more.

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Follow Sarah on Twitter: @SlangsOnSports

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Film Festivals & The Godfather w/Tim Grierson Jun 08, 2022

Keith is joined by Tim Grierson, Senior U.S. Critic for ScreenDaily.com, co-host of the Grierson & Leitch podcast, and author of the recently released book 'This is How You Make a Movie' to discuss how Tim prepares to cover a film festival — the similarities to scouting baseball — and managing large volumes of information while consuming films in that setting. Plus, Keith’s first foray into The Godfather trilogy, Tim’s returns to those films over time, and more.

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Follow Tim on Twitter: @TimGrierson

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Sports Illustrated's Emma Baccellieri on the sweeper, Brett Phillips, the Mets and more May 31, 2022

Keith is joined by Sports Illustrated's national baseball writer Emma Baccellieri. They talk about the sweeper pitch and how it's different than a slurve. They also discuss the joy of watching Brett Phillips on a baseball field, the incredible writing career of Roger Angell and the early success of the Mets.

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Follow Emma on Twitter: @emmabaccellieri

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2022 MLB Draft Talk w/Jonathan Mayo May 24, 2022

Keith is joined by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com to discuss several 2022 MLB Draft topics including the Orioles’ decision at the top of the board, the long wait until Draft Day, Cam Collier’s unique position as a 17-year-old with junior college experience, questions surrounding this year’s class of pitchers, the value of playing in the Cape Cod League with the later timing of the draft, and risers in this current class.

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Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanMayo

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Everything Everything's Jonathan Higgs on the band's new album 'Raw Data Feel' and much more May 16, 2022

Jonathan Higgs, singer/song writer for the British band Everything Everything, joins the show. Jonathan discusses his song writing approach and the use of concrete images in his lyrics. Then he gets into the new album, 'Raw Data Feel' that includes some AI written lyrics and discusses the group's overall approach to album creation.

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An Early-Season Reunion w/Eric Karabell May 03, 2022

Keith is joined by Eric Karabell of ESPN to discuss the Phillies’ middling start, a brutal April for the Reds, the White Sox’s mounting issues, the Giants’ bid to continue building on last season’s success, and the Padres’ excellent first month.

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Follow Eric on Twitter: @karabelleric

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'How to Be Yourself' with Dr. Ellen Hendriksen Apr 26, 2022

Keith is joined by Dr. Ellen Hendriksen to discuss her book ‘How to Be Yourself’, the difference between social anxiety and shyness, introversion, perfectionism, post-event processing, cringe attacks, and the benefits of a having challenge list.

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Follow Ellen on Twitter: @EllenHendriksen

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'The Voltage Effect' w/John List Apr 19, 2022

Keith is joined by Professor John List, Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago to discuss his new book 'The Voltage Effect: How to Make Good Ideas Great and Great Ideas Scale', how focus groups are often poorly utilized, resentful demoralization and its application in baseball, sunk-cost fallacy, and how ambiguity aversion can keep us from making big changes in our work or personal lives.

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Follow John on Twitter: @Econ_4_Everyone

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Early Season Baseball w/Ian Miller & Riley Breckenridge Apr 14, 2022

Keith is joined by Ian Miller (also of Kowloon Walled City) and Riley Breckenridge (also of Thrice) of Puig Destroyer & the Productive Outs Podcast to discuss the teams and players they’ve watched most closely through the first week of the season, prospects getting immediate opportunities at the big-league level this season, the state of the NL West, and much more.

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Follow Ian on Twitter: @ProductiveOuts

Follow Riley on Twitter: @rileybreck

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Oscar Season & Best Films of 2021 w/Christopher Crawford Mar 21, 2022

Keith is joined by Christopher Crawford of NBC Sports Edge to discuss some of the best films of 2021 -- including their Top 10 lists from the past year -- plus selections and expectations for several awards including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Picture, and more.

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Follow Christopher on Twitter: @Crawford_MILB

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Baseball is Back w/Joe Sheehan Mar 15, 2022

Keith is joined by Joe Sheehan, author of the Joe Sheehan Newsletter, to discuss the new CBA, the Twins' post-lockout roster shuffle, the Yankees' structural redundancy, why a draft lottery won't prevent tanking, and more.

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Follow Joe on Twitter: @joe_sheehan

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'Lost & Found' w/Kathryn Schulz Mar 01, 2022

Keith is joined by author and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Kathryn Schulz to discuss her new memoir ‘Lost & Found’, loss, fandom through family, and finding love at first sight.

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Follow Kathryn on Twitter: @kathrynschulz

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The Wombats lead singer Matthew Murphy on the band's new album and much more Feb 21, 2022

Matthew Murphy, the lead singer of the Wombats, joins Keith to talk about the band's latest album 'Fix Yourself, Not the World.' They also talk about what goes into Murphy's lyric writing and song titles, how the band felt about going viral on TikTok and how Murphy has dealt with bouts of anxiety and depression throughout his career.

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Follow The Wombats on Twitter: @thewombats

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The Lockout & CBA Negotiations w/Eugene Freedman Feb 15, 2022

Keith is joined by union labor lawyer Eugene Freedman to discuss the owner's decision to lock out the players, and the generally unproductive negotiations between the two sides to this point.

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Follow Eugene on Twitter: @EugeneFreedman

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Top 100 Questions & Catching Up with 'Geese' Feb 04, 2022

Keith answers a few reader and listener questions about his recently-released Top 100 Prospects List before catching up with Cameron Winter and Dominic DiGesu of the band Geese.

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Follow Geese on Twitter: @geese_band

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'How to be Perfect' w/Michael Schur Jan 22, 2022

Keith is joined by Michael Schur, co-creator of ‘Parks & Recreation’, creator of ‘The Good Place’, and author of the soon-to-be released book ‘How to Be Perfect’ (Jan. 25th), to discuss the book, philosophy, their shared love of muppet violence, and NBC’s initial reaction to ‘The Good Place’.

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Follow Michael on Twitter: @KenTremendous

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‘The Flavor Equation’ w/Nik Sharma Dec 14, 2021

Keith is joined by Nik Sharma, author of the ‘The Flavor Equation’ to discuss his approach to cooking, the book’s unique structure, one ingredient that Nik would like to see more people work with, and his path to the culinary world from molecular biology.

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Follow Nik on Twitter @abrowntable

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'Four Thousand Weeks' with Oliver Burkeman Nov 24, 2021

Keith is joined by Oliver Burkeman, author of the book 'Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals.' They discuss not waiting for the perfect time to do what you want to do, avoiding the social media rabbit hole, principals of time and more.

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Follow Oliver on Twitter: @oliverburkeman

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The Quest for ‘Queen Bee’ w/Sam Ezersky Nov 10, 2021

Keith is joined by Sam Ezersky, Digital Puzzles Editor for the New York Times, to discuss their shared love of word puzzles, the highly engaging and potentially addictive ‘Spelling Bee’, Sam’s path to his current role, and the ongoing challenge of determining which words make the cut for each version of the puzzle.

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Follow Sam on Twitter: @thegridkid

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Useless Predictions, Early Free Agent Thoughts, and Oakland's Stadium Saga w/Christina Kahrl Oct 26, 2021

Keith is joined by Christina Kahrl, sports editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, to discuss the MLB playoffs so far, useless predictions, a few intriguing players approaching free agency this winter -- including the unusual task of imagining Clayton Kershaw wearing a different uniform -- and the ongoing stadium saga with the A's in Oakland.

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Follow Christina on Twitter: @ChristinaKahrl

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Story Mode w/Trevor Strunk Oct 21, 2021

Keith is joined by Dr. Trevor Strunk to discuss Trevor's upcoming book "Story Mode: Video Games and the Interplay Between Consoles and Culture".

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Follow Trevor on Twitter: @Hegelbon

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2022 Draft Prospects & Player Development w/Jeremy Booth Oct 06, 2021

Keith is joined by Jeremy Booth, Founder and CEO of Program 15, to discuss a few players from the 2022 high school draft class who recently appeared in the New Balance Future Stars Series Main Event at Citi Field, and the big picture changes taking place in many organizations with player development.

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Follow Jeremy on Twitter: @_JeremyBooth

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'Drawing Down the Moon' & Gaming w/Conor Murphy Sep 30, 2021

Keith is joined by Conor Murphy of Foxing to discuss the band’s latest album ‘Drawing Down the Moon’, and their shared love of gaming.

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Follow Conor on Twitter: @TokeEverlasting

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The Baseball 100 w/Joe Posnanski Sep 22, 2021

Keith is joined by Joe Posnanski to discuss his soon-to-be released book 'The Baseball 100', including the evolution of the book, the process of compiling the group of players featured in the book, Joe's favorite player who narrowly missed the cut, and more.

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Finding Joy in Meaningless Baseball & Rethinking Fandom w/Craig Calcaterra Sep 14, 2021

Keith is joined by Craig Calcaterra, author of the Cup of Coffee newsletter, to discuss the Orioles’ rebuild, the enjoyable aspects of meaningless baseball, listening to games on the radio, their developing interests in sports overseas, and Craig’s upcoming book ‘Rethinking Fandom’.

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2021 MLB Awards w/Sarah Langs Sep 07, 2021

Keith is joined by Sarah Langs of MLB.com to discuss the race for several MLB awards including Wander Franco’s case for AL Rookie of the Year honors, Jonathan India v. Trevor Rogers in the NL, the best candidates to push Shohei Ohtani for AL MVP honors, and a wide-open field in the NL.

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‘Choke’ w/Dr. Sian Beilock Aug 31, 2021

Keith is joined by Dr. Sian Beilock, President of Barnard College, and author of ‘Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To’to discuss the science of choking in sport (and beyond) and ways to reduce the likelihood of underperformance.

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'Screen Violence' w/Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches Aug 24, 2021

Keith is joined by Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches ahead of the band’s release of their fourth album ‘Screen Violence’, inspiration behind the album, making a song for Death Stranding, working with Robert Smith, and more.

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Reunion No. 2 w/Joe Sheehan Aug 16, 2021

Keith is joined by Joe Sheehan, author of the Joe Sheehan Newsletter, to discuss the *new* titleholder of Best Player in Baseball, concerns about the long-term durability of Mike Trout, the league's current stratified nature, MLB's ongoing need to market itself more effectively, and what Joe would prioritize in the Union's position in this winter's CBA negotiations.

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A conversation with novelist Jasper Fforde Aug 10, 2021

Keith is joined by novelist Jasper Fforde, author of the Thursday Next series, the Last Dragonslayer, Shades of Grey, The Constant Rabbit, and Early Riser, to discuss his work, writing without a plan, and some of his favorite comic novels.

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Exploring 'How to Change' with w/ Katy Milkman Aug 02, 2021

Keith is joined by Katy Milkman, Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, host of the Choiceology podcast and author of 'How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be.' They discuss techniques for making real change including tricks to motivate yourself that work. Katy explains temptation bundling and commitment devices along with many other tools to achieve goals.

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Mary Shane & 'The Queen' w/Josh Levin Jul 29, 2021

Keith is joined by Josh Levin, National editor at Slate, host of the ‘ONE YEAR: 1977’ podcast, to discuss the story of Mary Shane, the first full-time female broadcaster for a Major League Baseball team, and Josh’s book ‘The Queen: The Forgotten Life Behind an American Myth’.

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The 2021 MLB Draft w/Eric Longenhagen Jul 19, 2021

Keith is joined by Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs to discuss their takeaways from the 2021 MLB Draft, including Eric’s pick for which teams put together the best draft class, pitching-heavy approaches, the Dodgers’ best on their development group, and which prospects from this group will immediately join Eric’s Top 100 Prospects list.

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Talking Draft w/Jonathan Mayo Jul 08, 2021

Keith is joined by Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com to discuss the upcoming MLB Draft including the surprisingly unsettled nature of the top of the board, the potential early first-round slide of Kumar Rocker, Jonathan's pick for the third-ranked college pitcher behind Rocker and Jack Leiter, and more.

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The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft w/Stephen Kurkjian Jun 28, 2021

Keith is joined by investigative reporter Stephen Kurkjian to discuss his book 'MASTER THIEVES: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World's Greatest Art Heist' and the story of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft.

For more on this story, check out the Last Seen podcast from WBUR, and 'This Is a Robbery' on Netflix.

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'America on Fire' w/Dr. Elizabeth Hinton Jun 22, 2021

Keith is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Hinton to discuss her latest book ‘America on Fire: The Untold History of Police Violence and Black Rebellion Since the 1960s’ including the important distinction between rebellion and rioting, the subsequent policy cycle of expanded policing, and Cairo, Illinois as an example of the devastating effects of racism on a community.

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'How Lucky' w/Will Leitch Jun 14, 2021

Keith is joined by Will Leitch to discuss Will’s recently-released novel ‘How Lucky’, including the creation of the book’s main character, Daniel, how Will ‘subverted’ the rules of a thriller, and the decision to have the story take place in Athens, Georgia.

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Moving forward in the pandemic w/Dr. Peter Hotez Jun 10, 2021

Keith is joined by Dr. Peter Hotez to discuss the current state of the pandemic, what to say to those who are choosing not to get vaccinated, and how baseball (and other sports) might respond better to the pandemic going forward.

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Changes in the Pioneer League & D-backs talk w/Zach Buchanan May 24, 2021

Keith is joined by Zach Buchanan of The Athletic to discuss big changes in the Pioneer League, Pavin Smith's step forward, Daulton Varsho's very limited role, the state of the NL West through two months, and options for Arizona with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Rundown

2:15 Big Changes in the Pioneer League

8:48 Is There Any Good News with the D-backs?

11:52 Pavin Smith’s Steps Forward

15:06 Why Doesn’t Daulton Varsho Play More?

17:21 Stacking Up the NL West Through Two Months

26:06 Considerations for the D-backs w/Sixth Overall Pick

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The Mookie Betts trade, Boston's future pitching plans, and board games w/John Tomase May 17, 2021

Keith is joined by John Tomase of NBC Sports Boston to discuss the Mookie Betts trade, whether the Red Sox will spend on starting pitching in the near future, and their options with the fourth pick in the 2021 draft, before sharing some of their favorite board games from the past year.

Rundown

3:03 Revisiting the Mookie Betts Trade

10:36 Will the Red Sox Spend for Pitching in the Near Future?

14:56 Considerations for Boston at No. 4 Overall

19:48 Which GMs Should be Panicking Right Now?

29:09 John & Keith’s Recent Go-To Board Games

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A conversation w/Louisville catcher Henry Davis & Mailbag Questions May 03, 2021

Keith is joined by University of Louisville catcher Henry Davis to discuss his offensive approach, adjustments that opposing pitchers have made to him, his ongoing work as a game caller, and the best pizza back home in New York. Keith also answers several draft and prospect-related mailbag questions.

Rundown

2:02 Henry Davis Interview Begins

4:21 Henry's Offensive Approach

6:15 Are Teams Pitching You Differently This Season?

9:31 Learning How to Call Games

11:43 Best Pizza Back Home; Keith's Pick in Louisville

15:27 Keith's Mailbag

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2021 Draft Prospects w/Jim Callis Apr 28, 2021

Keith is joined by Jim Callis of MLBPipeline.com to discuss several players from the 2021 draft class, including the debate at No. 1 overall, Jackson Jobe, Sam Bachman, Ryan Cusick, Jud Fabian, and a few potentially overlooked prospects in this year's class.

Rundown

2:52 Leiter vs. Rocker vs. Lawler vs. Mayer

8:03 Where Do You Expect Henry Davis to Be Selected?

11:59 Jackson Jobe v. Rocker & Other Recent Early HS RHP

16:17 Sam Bachman & Ryan Cusick

20:03 The Impact of Unusual High School Season Schedules

26:04 Where Will Jud Fabian End Up?

31:10 Where Will Alex Binelas End Up?

33:53 Three Potentially Overlooked Prospects in the Class

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An early look at the White Sox w/James Fegan Apr 20, 2021

Keith is joined by The Athletic's James Fegan to discuss the resurgence of Carlos Rodón, the surprising arrival of Yermín Mercedes, Andrew Vaughn's slow start, and all things White Sox.

Rundown

1:47 A Disappointing Patriot’s Day for Lucas Giolito & the White Sox

4:15 A Rare Instance of Giolito’s Changeup Being Hittable

7:19 Carlos Rodón’s Return to Prominence

12:28 Is Rodón a More Complete Pitcher Now?

19:15 The Surprising Emergence of Yermín Mercedes

23:45 Andrew Vaughn’s Slow Start

29:29 Garrett Crochet’s 2021 Role

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Talking Padres and replay woes w/Dennis Lin Apr 13, 2021

Keith is joined by Dennis Lin, The Athletic’s Padres beat writer, to discuss Joe Musgrove’s no-hitter, the health of Fernando Tatis Jr., ETAs for CJ Abrams, the Padres’ pitching depth, recent problems with MLB’s replay system, and early impressions of Ha-seong Kim.

Rundown

1:40 Joe Musgrove Throws the Padres’ First No-Hitter

3:27 Musgrove’s Evolution on the Mound

5:16 Fernando Tatis Jr. Update

7:34 CJ Abrams’ Timetable for Arrival in San Diego

10:07 Adrian Morejon’s Latest Arm Injury

12:27 MLB’s Recent Replay Issues

16:21 The NL West Outlook

18:10 Similarities and Differences Between Organizations In This Division?

20:35 Early Impressions of Ha-seong Kim

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White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito on rebuilding his delivery and changing his pitch mix Apr 05, 2021

Keith is joined by White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito to discuss the changes he's made to his delivery over time, alterations to his pitch mix, and how he improved his arm action and timing.

Rundown

2:05 What to Expect From 'The Inside Game'

5:11 How Did You Rebuild Your Delivery?

8:05 Getting Away From the Curveball

10:40 The Development of the Changeup

16:00 Shortening Arm Action & Improving Timing

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Purchase Keith's latest book 'The Inside Game' -- now available in paperback (4/6)!

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Kim Ng as a pioneer, an inflection point for baseball and domestic violence, and the yips w/Stephanie Apstein Mar 29, 2021

Keith is joined by Stephanie Apstein, senior writer at Sports Illustrated to discuss Kim Ng's career as a pioneer in baseball, the Astros' reaction to the Brandon Taubman story, Jose Altuve's case of the yips, and more.

Rundown

2:15 Kim Ng’s Career as a Baseball Pioneer

7:33 Reducing Barriers for the Next Generation of Female Executives

10:59 Facing Criticism from the Astros After the Brandon Taubman Story

15:46 An Inflection Point in How Baseball Responds to Domestic Violence?

19:50 Jose Altuve’s Case of the Yips

27:52 How Many Players Are Dealing with This Issue?

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Why bad behavior in baseball matters w/Julie DiCaro Mar 23, 2021

Keith is joined by Julie DiCaro, senior writer and editor at Deadspin, and author of 'Sidelined: Sports, Culture, and Being A Woman in America' to discuss why Aroldis Chapman's past matters, how league policies could shift fan attitudes about domestic violence and sexual assault, the complication of lifetime bans, and more.

Rundown

2:11 'Why Should I Care About Aroldis Chapman’s Past?'

5:35 Can Leagues Shift Fan Attitudes About Domestic Violence?

9:48 The Complications of Lifetime Bans

11:57 The Media's Role in Coverage of Bad Behavior

15:18 Getting Women Into Decision-Making Positions & The Mirror Complex

19:27 Should We Continue to Bring Up Transgressions from the Distant Past?

23:54 Was the Mets' Quick Dismissal of Jared Porter a Sign of Progress?

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Movies, Oscar Nominations & The Cardinals w/Tim Grierson Mar 15, 2021

Keith is joined by Tim Grierson, Senior U.S. Critic for ScreenDaily.com, co-host of the Grierson & Leitsch podcast, and author of the recently released book 'This is How You Make a Movie' to discuss his new book, this year's Oscar nominations, and his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.

Rundown

2:43 Inspiration for ’This is How You Make a Movie’

9:31 Appreciation of Great Techniques From Less Than Great Films

13:16 ‘Elf’ and Forced Perspective

17:39 2021 Oscar Nominations

21:59 ‘One Night in Miami’ as a Best Picture Snub

25:48 The Impact of Recency Bias on Oscar Nominations

30:28 ‘The White Tiger’ Gets a Nod

37:28 Are the Cardinals Dangerously Under the Radar in 2021?

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Pitching development and making adjustments w/Triston McKenzie Mar 09, 2021

Keith is joined by Cleveland pitcher Triston McKenzie to discuss his path into baseball, adjustments he's made as a pro, how he's trying to hold his velocity deeper into starts, his choice between going pro and attending Vanderbilt after being drafted, and his involvement with True2U in Cleveland.

Interview w/Triston McKenzie

3:48 Triston’s Path into Baseball & Development as a Pitcher

7:03 Cleveland's Organizational Approach & Adjustments

9:20 Holding Velocity Deeper Into Starts & Building Strength

11:38 Focusing on Health

13:17 The Choice Between Vanderbilt vs. Signing Out of High School

15:47 Working with True2U in Cleveland & Being a Role Model

17:49 How Can MLB Increase Interest with Young Black Athletes

Mailbag Questions

20:08 Chances MLB Changes Course on DH Before Opening Day?

21:11 What is a ‘Feel Pitch’?

23:17 Root for Kumar Rocker to go 1.1 or to Texas?

25:56 Highest Ceiling Among Shortstop Prospects (Non Wander Division)

28:00 Commissioner Law’s Improvements to the Game

32:13 MLB Teams vs. Vandy: Developing Big Leaguers

33:47 Should New Order Be in the Rock and Roll HOF?

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College Prospects w/Aaron Fitt Mar 02, 2021

Keith is joined by Aaron Fitt, editor at D1Baseball.com to discuss Kumar Rocker vs. Jack Leiter atop the 2021 draft board, the strengths of the 2021 draft class, Tommy Mace’s move up the board, comps for Sal Frelick, Mississippi State’s loaded rotation, and more.

Rundown

2:40 Kumar Rocker vs. Jack Leiter at No. 1 Overall

5:14 Strengths of 2021 Draft Class

7:18 Will Teams Prefer High School Players In This Draft?

10:50 Tommy Mace is Moving Up Boards

12:17 Expectations and Comps for Sal Frelick

19:12 ACC & SEC Talent

22:04 Mississippi State’s Loaded Rotation

26:14 Intriguing Prospects From Smaller College Programs

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International Scouting & Blue Jays Prospects w/Andrew Tinnish Feb 24, 2021

Keith is joined by Blue Jays VP of International Scouting Andrew Tinnish to discuss the unique challenges of scouting international players, and several current members of the organization including Alejandro Kirk, Gabriel Moreno, Orelvis Martinez, and more.

Rundown

4:24 Andrew’s Background in International Scouting

7:21 Projecting Physical Growth From Younger Players

9:56 Evaluating Players with Longer Timetables to the Big Leagues

13:21 Alejandro Kirk and the Leap from High-A to MLB

17:29 Gabriel Moreno’s Profile

20:53 Orelvis Martinez’s Bright Future

23:38 The Jays’ Dutch Prospects

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Prospects with big growth potential, JJ Bleday's timetable, Spencer Howard's ceiling, and board game questions! Feb 15, 2021

Keith opens up the mailbag to discuss several prospects -- including expectations for JJ Bleday's arrival in Miami, Spencer Howard's ceiling, Nolan Gorman's long-term position -- and a mix of board game questions.

Rundown

2:00 Expectations for Atlanta Prospect Bryce Ball

3:34 D.J. Peterson & Mitch Garver, Hitters in New Mexico

6:50 Prospects w/Biggest Growth Potential

8:18 JJ Bleday’s Timetable

9:51 Evaluation Takeaways From Winter Leagues

10:40 Cubs Starting Pitching Prospects

11:27 Spencer Howard’s Ceiling

12:54 Mason Thompson’s Chances of Being a Starter

13:55 What is Keith's Favorite Bird in Wingspan?

15:28 Who Are the Blue Jays’ Untouchables?

16:48 Time to Alter Expectations for Jo Adell?

17:45 Changes to Oakland’s Draft Strategy & Player Development

20:21 Masyn Winn’s Future

21:35 Ranking the Tigers’ Top Pitching Prospects

22:38 Nolan Gorman’s Long-Term Position

23:27 Simeon Woods Richardson’s Future Role

25:52 Top Priority for MLBPA in CBA Negotiations

29:12 Best Expansion for Seven Wonders?

30:31 Preferred Place for Reviews in New Fiction

34:59 Positional Value in Top 100 Prospect Rankings

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Building great farm systems w/Bobby Heck Feb 09, 2021

Keith is joined by Bobby Heck, special assistant to the general manager for the Tampa Bay Rays to discuss Wander Franco, a shift in the Rays' recent draft philosophy, what they saw in Randy Arozarena before acquiring him from St. Louis, and the scouting process behind George Springer and Dallas Keuchel from Bobby's tenure as the Astros' scouting director.

Rundown

2:49 Getting Wander Franco Into the Rays’ System

5:16 Recent Changes to the Draft Philosophy in Tampa Bay

8:42 Seeking Carrying Tools vs. Broader Skill Sets in Scouting

10:58 Are Teams Still Overemphasizing a Player’s Height in Scouting?

15:47 How the Rays Effectively Blend Scouting with R&D

20:05 What Did the Rays See in Randy Arozarena?

21:27 The Process of Scouting George Springer as a First-Round Pick

25:43 Why the Astros Targeted Dallas Keuchel as a Seventh-Rounder in 2009

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Top 100 misses & Adam Macko's unique path to baseball Feb 02, 2021

Keith discusses a few omissions from his recently released Top 100 prospects list before Mariners pitching prospect Adam Macko joins the show to share the early chapters of his journey into baseball from an unexpected starting point.

Rundown

1:01 Notable Omissions From Keith's Top 100 Prospects

8:38 Adam Macko's Unique Path Into Baseball

14:05 The Process of Learning Different Pitches

21:22 Early Professional Development with Mariners

24:02 Making Baseball More Popular in Europe

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Catching up with Britt Ghiroli Jan 26, 2021

Keith is joined by Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic to discuss her experiences as a woman covering baseball for more than a decade — including an unfortunate familiarity with the Jared Porter story — before discussing the latest chapter in the MASN saga, and spring training plans as potential delays loom.

Rundown

1:39 The Unfortunate Familiarity with the Jared Porter Story

5:14 The Tip of the Iceberg & Gender Power Dynamics

14:46 How Men Can Be Better Allies

20:15 The MASN Mess with the Orioles & Nationals

26:41 Spring Training Plans In Light of Possible Delays

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Top Books of 2020 w/Ron Charles Dec 15, 2020

Keith opens up the mailbag for several baseball questions before discussing some of the top books of 2020 with Ron Charles of The Washington Post.

Rundown

1:05 Baseball Mailbag!

10:17 Interview w/Ron Charles

11:34 "Parnesi" by Susanna Clarke

14:56 "Utopia Avenue" by David Mitchell

18:03 "Jack" by Marilynne Robinson

20:26 "Here We Are" by Graham Swift

23:05 "The Glass Hotel" by Emily St. John Mandel

27:02 Ron’s Favorite Books of 2020

29:25 The Impact of Penguin Random House Buying Simon & Schuster

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Talking Tigers & diversity in baseball w/Tony Paul Dec 08, 2020

Keith is joined by Tony Paul of The Detroit News to discuss the Tigers -- including what it's like to cover a bad team, how the franchise missed its window to trade Matthew Boyd, and the struggle to develop position players in recent years -- diversity in baseball, and sushi.

Rundown

2:40 The Unique Challenge of Covering a Bad Team

8:45 Showing More Patience with Young Players

12:10 Missing the Window to Trade Matthew Boyd

15:27 What Has Prevented the Tigers From Developing Position Players?

21:32 Baseball’s Recent Diversity Efforts & Improved Locker Room Environments

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Red Sox prospects, the marriage of scouting and data, and player development changes w/Mike Rikard Nov 24, 2020

Keith is joined by Red Sox VP of Scouting Mike Rikard to discuss the development of Jarren Duran, Jay Groome's return to health, the unique challenges in Boston's recent draft classes, big changes in scouting and player development around baseball, and more.

Rundown

4:01 Jarren Duran’s Development & Recent Swing Changes

6:46 Jay Groome is Healthy & Has Added a Slider

9:02 Unique Challenges in Recent Red Sox Draft Situations

11:07 How Data & Tech Has Changed the Way Players Are Evaluated

14:26 The Use of Models in the Draft Room

19:25 Big Changes to Scouting & Player Development Around Baseball

24:12 Can We Make This Environment Work for Traditional Scouts?

26:44 Dining Recommendations for Raleigh

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The offseason, how we talk about players and contracts, and the Phillies' direction w/Bill Baer Nov 17, 2020

Keith is joined by Bill Baer, author of the Baer in Mind newsletter, to discuss Drew Smyly's quick move to Atlanta, the unusual position of fans taking the side of MLB owners over the players, and the Phillies' current GM vacancy and near-future direction.

Rundown

3:10 Drew Smyly to Atlanta & Pillow Deals

4:40 Marcus Stroman Accepts the Qualifying Offer

8:14 The Puzzling Nature of Fans Backing Owners Over Players

10:56 Changing the Way We Talk About Players and Their Contracts

15:11 The Struggle to Grasp the Magnitude of the Owners' Wealth

18:50 What Should the Phillies Do with Their Front Office Vacancies?

21:33 Fixing the Phillies’ Roster & Choosing a Direction

29:00 The Damage Being Done with Minor League Contraction

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Check out Bill's newsletter 'Baer in Mind': https://baerinmind.substack.com/

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The state of baseball w/Meg Rowley Nov 11, 2020

Keith is joined by Meg Rowley, Managing Editor of FanGraphs and a co-co-host of the Effectively Wild podcast, to discuss expectations for free agency, big cuts in baseball operations, and MLB’s need for revamped hiring processes in the wake of Tony La Russa’s move to the White Sox.

Topics

2:53 Free Agency Expectations

8:24 The Impact of Future Non-Tenders on Current Free Agents

12:41 In Consideration of Short-Term Deals

17:04 Big Cuts in Baseball Operations

24:37 Tony La Russa, A.J. Hinch, Alex Cora & Baseball’s Need for Revamped Hiring Processes

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Free agency breakdown w/Sarah Langs Nov 01, 2020

Keith is joined by Sarah Langs of MLB to discuss this winter's free agent class.

Rundown

2:09 Overall Assessment of This Year’s Free Agent Class

4:09 J.T. Realmuto & Catcher Aging Profiles

7:58 The Market for Marcell Ozuna

12:33 Jackie Bradley’s Foray Into the Open Market

15:51 Andrelton Simmons & The Value of Defense

20:50 Trevor Bauer vs. Marcus Stroman

26:14 Chris Archer & Potentially Overlooked Free Agents

31:37 DJ LeMahieu's Step Forward with the Yankees

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Creating more opportunities for Black players in baseball w/Taylor Trammell Oct 26, 2020

Keith is joined by Mariners outfielder Taylor Trammell to discuss baseball's need for change to attract and retain Black players -- including necessary adjustments at the youth levels and to college scholarships -- and the importance of representation.

Rundown

1:35 Where is Baseball Failing to Get Black Players On the Field?

7:10 How Limited Scholarships Reduce Interest in Baseball

14:14 What Needs to Change in Little League to Retain Players?

19:55 The Importance of Representation

Read Taylor's piece 'Baseball Is Not Black Enough' at the Players' Tribune: https://www.theplayerstribune.com/articles/baseball-is-not-black-enough-taylor-trammell-mlb

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Billy Beane's opportunity and the future of the A's w/Susan Slusser Oct 20, 2020

Keith is joined by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle to discuss the opportunity that might lead to the end of Billy Beane's time with the A's, the future of the franchise in Oakland, the evolution of Liam Hendriks, the chances of a reunion with pending free agent Marcus Semien, and more.

Rundown

3:17 The Opportunity that May Lead Billy Beane to Leave the A’s

7:08 Why MLB Might Be Opposed to Public Team Ownership

10:48 The A’s Future in Oakland & Ongoing Stadium Saga

14:11 The Evolution of Liam Hendriks an an Elite Reliever

18:39 Marcus Semien’s Foray Into Free Agency After a Step Back in 2020

21:09 Thoughts on the LCS & World Series

26:13 Appreciating the Rays

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A Reunion Episode w/Eric Karabell Oct 12, 2020

Keith is joined by Eric Karabell of ESPN to discuss the "real" portion of the MLB playoffs, vulnerabilities in the Atlanta rotation, the adjustments the Phillies should make after a disappointing 2020, and whether teams should pursue A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora to fill current managerial vacancies.

Rundown

3:02 The Real Playoffs Have Begun

5:15 Is It Time to Increase Balls in Play?

10:06 How Much Better Are the Dodgers than the Braves?

15:05 Vulnerabilities in the Atlanta Rotation

19:23 What Should the Phillies Do Now?

28:04 Would You Give A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora a Second Chance?

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Talking Twins w/LaVelle Neal Oct 06, 2020

Keith is joined by LaVelle Neal of the Minneapolis Star Tribune to discuss the Twins' early exit from the postseason, Byron Buxton's 2020 power surge, and the decisions facing the front office during the offseason.

Rundown

3:27 Why Can’t These Twins Win in the Postseason?

8:07 Did the Twins Go to the Bullpen Too Quickly in the Wild Card Round?

11:21 Why Wasn’t Byron Buxton Available for Game 2?

13:37 Buxton’s 2020 Power Surge & Adjustments

16:37 Alex Kirilloff & The Offseason Decision on Eddie Rosario

21:22 Will Nelson Cruz Return?

23:05 Future Plans for Jake Odorizzi & Rich Hill

26:20 What Will the Twins Do Behind the Plate Next Season?

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The West in 2020 w/Nick Piecoro Sep 29, 2020

Keith is joined by Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic to discuss the unanswered development questions for prospects in 2020, the impressive rise of the Padres, the Dodgers' status as favorites to win the World Series, and what wrong for the D-backs in a disappointing season.

Rundown

2:44 Unanswered Player Development Questions in 2020

5:02 General Impressions of the West This Season

9:25 San Diego Puts It Together

15:03 Will a Championship in 2020 Will Be Legitimate?

19:58 Are the Dodgers the Clear-Cut Favorites?

23:13 The D-backs Postmortem

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Covering the Jays From Afar w/Kaitlyn McGrath Sep 21, 2020

Keith is joined by The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath, who is covering the Blue Jays from Toronto while the team spends the 2020 season temporarily relocated in Buffalo. They discuss the challenges of remote team coverage, the surprising promotion of Alejandro Kirk, the Jays' decision to add players at the trade deadline, and the lack of progress from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Year 2.

Rundown
3:25 The Challenge of Covering a Team Remotely
6:23 How Much Has Access Changed This Season?
9:10 A Clear Communication Hierarchy
12:04 Building Rapport & Providing More Detailed Analysis with In-Person Coverage
16:54 Dealing with Limited Information From the Alternate Site
19:10 Alejandro Kirk’s Surprising Leap from High-A to Toronto
25:21 Evaluating the Jays’ Trade Deadline Approach
29:08 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Development in Year 2

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Playoff Races, Most Exciting Plays & Films To Look Forward To w/Adnan Virk Sep 15, 2020

Keith is joined by Adnan Virk from MLB Network, DAZN & Host of the Cinephile Podcast to discuss the 2020 playoff races, the most exciting plays in baseball, and films to look forward to in the months ahead.

Rundown
5:50 What Have You Been Watching the Most This Season?
11:26 Feelings About 2020 Rules Changes & Playoff Format
15:19 The Most Exciting Plays (and Pitches) in Baseball
18:58 Most Important Pitcher Skills
21:31 Movies & Returning to Theaters with New Seating Preferences
24:00 Films To Look Forward To
31:27 Check Out Adnan’s Podcast — Cinephile!

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Baseball in 2020, The Cardinals & Movies w/Will Leitch Sep 04, 2020

Keith is joined by Will Leitch, Founder of Deadspin, Columnist at MLB, Contributing Editor at New York Magazine and co-host of the Grierson & Leitch podcast about the unusual 2020 baseball season, the Cardinals, and going back to a movie theater in a pandemic.

Rundown
4:42 Things Seem to Be Going Pretty Well This Baseball Season
9:46 MLB’s Success with Contact Tracing
15:33 The Challenge of Playing Catch Up with the Cards’ Schedule
21:00 Have You Noticed a Difference in the Quality of Play in 2020?
25:15 Enjoying New Little Quirks About This Season
28:44 Going to a Movie Theater in a Pandemic
36:03 Considerations in Returning to Scouting Games

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Follow Will on Twitter: @williamfleitch

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Loving Sports When Sports Don't Love You Back w/Jessica Luther & Kavitha Davidson Aug 31, 2020

Keith is joined by Jessica Luther and Kavitha Davidson, authors of the book ‘Loving Sports When They Don’t Love You Back’, to discuss increased athlete activism, how teams, leagues and unions can better handle cases of domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, misogyny, and signs of progress in younger generations.

Rundown
2:57 Can Increased Athlete Activism Lead to Sustained Change?
9:41 How Can Teams, Leagues & Unions Better Handle Cases of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault & Harassment?
17:22 Fear of Retribution & The Problem with Zero-Tolerance Policies
22:15 Misogyny and The False Claim that ‘Nobody Cares About Women’s Sports’
27:23 Signs of Progress in Younger Generations

Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw
Follow Kavitha on Twitter: @kavithadavidson
Follow Jessica on Twitter: @jessicawluther

Purchase a copy of Jessica and Kavitha’s book from Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/loving-sports-when-they-don-t-love-you-back-dilemmas-of-the-modern-fan/9781477313138

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Youth Baseball, Big Decisions & Making Adjustments w/Dillon Tate Aug 25, 2020

Keith is joined by Orioles pitcher Dillon Tate to discuss his experience growing up playing baseball, the choice of going to college vs. going pro after high school, adjustments he’s made along the way, and more!

Rundown
4:21 Experiences with Direct or Structural Racism in Baseball?
7:11 Pressure to Focus on Pitching at Young Age?
9:43 Learning & Playing at the Urban Youth Academy
11:37 When Was It Clear You Had a Future in Baseball?
13:19 Preference Between Starting Role vs. Relief Role
17:27 Incorporating Statcast Data & Making Adjustments
20:48 Weighing College vs. Pro Offer After High School

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A Cup of Coffee w/Craig Calcaterra Aug 17, 2020

Keith is joined by Craig Calcaterra to discuss his new baseball newsletter ‘Cup of Coffee’, Cleveland’s handling of Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac, the Tigers’ promotion of Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal, and A-Rod’s attempt to buy the Mets.

Rundown
3:54 Craig’s Baseball Newsletter ‘Cup of Coffee’
5:23 Cleveland’s Handling of Mike Clevinger & Zach Plesac
10:30 Tigers Promote Casey Mize & Tarik Skubal
15:19 MLB’s Latest COVID-19 Protocol Adjustments
19:01 Is A-Rod Really the Clubhouse Leader to Buy the Mets?
22:28 Charlie Blackmon’s Pursuit of .400 is Fun, and That’s Fine

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Grit & Talent w/Dr. Angela Duckworth Aug 10, 2020

Keith is joined by Dr. Angela Duckworth to discuss grit, failure and the malleability of talent.

Rundown
4:24 Defining & Measuring 'Grit'
6:58 How Should Teams Assess Grit & Intangibles?
11:10 Intangibles as Coded Language in Baseball
18:10 Failure & 'The Fragile Perfects'
20:41 Select for Talent or Select for Grit?
22:52 The Malleability of Talent & Phantom Plateaus

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Follow Dr. Duckworth on Twitter: @angeladuckw

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A BP Reunion w/Joe Sheehan Aug 03, 2020

Keith is joined by Joe Sheehan, author of the Joe Sheehan Newsletter, to discuss how long this 2020 will last, the importance of the playoffs in MLB's plans, the problem with low strikes, early season standouts, and more!

Rundown
4:58 How Long Will This Season Last?
6:47 It's All About the Playoffs
12:01 The Shape of the Game in 2020
16:07 The Problem with Low Strikes
19:01 What Has Stood Out In a Good Way This Season?
20:52 Prospects & Service Time Considerations

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Follow Joe on Twitter: @Joe_Sheehan

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The Relationship Between Diversity & Creativity w/Dr. Paul Paulus Jul 27, 2020

Rundown
1:27 Thoughts on the Marlins' COVID-19 Outbreak
4:23 Cultural Diversity & Team Creativity
7:28 The Relationship Between Diversity & Performance
9:26 Task Relevance & Applications in Baseball
14:02 Idea Quantity vs. Idea Quality
17:30 Purists in Sports & Polarization
21:03 'Good Climate' & Cohesion
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The Unique Challenges of 2020 w/C. Trent Rosecrans Jul 20, 2020

Rundown
2:45 Should We Even Be Having a Major League Baseball Season?
8:28 The Difficulty of Evaluating Intrasquad Games
13:19 How Will Teams Build Up Pitchers For Future Seasons?
17:18 Minor League Contraction (and Realignment)
22:38 Rebuilding Without Minor League Games
28:43 One Big Prediction for 2020

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Mailbag Grab Bag Jul 13, 2020

Rundown
1:56 How Much Will This Short Season Hurt Starting Pitchers for 2021?
4:43 How Many Games Will We Get Before the Season Shuts Down?
7:06 How Will Prospect Rankings Be Handled w/Minimal Activity for Prospects?
11:35 How Many More Players Do You Expect to Test Positive for the Virus?
12:48 Should Teams Be More Aggressive with Near MLB-Ready Prospects?
15:12 Do You Ever Dabble in Puzzles?
17:17 Favorite Baseball Books Written By Others
19:15 Carcassonne Strategy
21:05 Dustin May as a David Price Replacement
23:05 Are You Sending Your Kids to School This Fall?
25:05 Confident in Reds’ Development of Big Power, Low Contact Bats?
26:58 Giants Prospect Questions: Corry, Canario, Matos & Luciano
27:42 Can Clarke Schmidt Skip Triple-A Entirely?
28:57 Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter Outlook

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Smart Thinking w/Dr. Richard Nisbett Jul 06, 2020

Rundown
2:55 How Humans Are Profligate Causal Theorists
4:44 Unconscious Influences
9:28 Reasoning By Schemas
11:20 Can Schemas Be Helpful & Unhelpful?
14:10 The Thinkability Heuristic
16:51 When Is Cost-Benefit Analysis Appropriate?
19:53 When Cost-Benefit Analysis Runs Into Moral Considerations

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Race & Unrepresented Groups in Baseball w/Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique Jun 29, 2020

Rundown
3:57 Dr. Carter-Francique’s Background, Experience & Research
6:26 Major Obstacles for Black Athletes
9:48 What MLB Can Do to Increase Black Youth Participation in Baseball
15:22 The Future Role of HBCUs in Sports with Declining Representation
21:40 Barriers Preventing Black Athletes From Pursuing Coaching Roles
26:12 How MLB & Other Leagues Can Create More Director-Level Opportunities for Women

Follow Keith on Twitter @keithlaw
Follow Dr. Carter-Francique on Twitter: @doctafrancique

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The Jays' 2020 Draft w/Shane Farrell Jun 22, 2020

Rundown
Interview with Shane Farrell
3:04 The Surprise of Austin Martin at No. 5 Overall
6:44 Did the Jays Draft Five College Players By Design?
8:58 CJ Van Eyk Outlook
10:29 Trent Palmer & Long-Term Role
13:01 How Did Jays Approach Unique Nature of 2020 Draft?
15:57 Preparing for Limited Amateur Season This Summer

Mailbag Questions
21:03 Biggest Steals of the Draft
23:48 How Bad Was MLB's Decision to Shorten the 2020 Draft?
25:04 Thoughts on Padres' Strategy & Hassell Over Veen
26:15 Why Some Players Sign Under 'Slot Value'
28:43 Should the Giants Have Taken More Risks?

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The Mets' Draft Process w/Marc Tramuta Jun 15, 2020

Rundown
Interview w/Marc Tramuta
4:18 How Did the Mets Approach This Spring?
6:34 Going All-In on High Ceiling Early Picks
8:01 Drafting J.T. Ginn Following Tommy John Surgery
9:42 Pete Crow-Armstrong Scouting Report
12:17 Expectations For Isaiah Greene
14:23 The Process Behind Selecting Brett Baty as 2019 First Rounder
16:13 Matt Allan & Signability Risk
18:48 Favorite Pizza Spots Around the Country

Mailbag Questions
23:45 The Red Sox's 2020 Draft Plan
24:52 Measuring Five-Round Draft Class Success
25:54 Determining 2021 Draft Order Without 2020 Season
26:51 How Did Astros' Draft Turn Out?
28:01 Picks Bound for Top-100 Prospects List
29:19 Why Doesn't MLB Allow the Trading of Draft Picks?
31:05 Biggest Surprise Pick & Draft 'Winner'
31:50 Masyn Winn's Development & Cards' Risk v. Reward Approach

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2020 MLB Draft Talk w/Jonathan Mayo Jun 08, 2020

Rundown
5:55 First Night Draft Predictions
8:21 High School Pitching Prospects
13:46 Expecting O’s to Be Aggressive
16:00 Top of the Board
23:02 Biggest Potential Surprises

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Negotiations Between MLBPA & Owners w/Evan Drellich Jun 01, 2020

Rundown
3:59 MLBPA Recent Counterproposal
6:00 Why Players Are Pushing for Larger Schedule
8:13 PR Angles in Negotiations
12:06 Will Owners Actually Lose More Money if Games Are Played?
15:15 Spring Training 2.0
16:47 Potential for 2020 Taxi Squads
19:10 Postseason Plans
22:40 What Led to the 2020 Five-Round Draft?

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Follow Evan on Twitter: @EvanDrellich

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Stereotype Threat w/Professor Claude Steele May 25, 2020

Rundown
4:54 What is Stereotype Threat?
6:50 Effects of Stereotype Threat
10:27 Stereotypes Within Player Evaluations
15:40 Protecting Yourself Against the Sense of Stereotype Threat
18:10 Remedies to Stereotype Threat in Evaluation
24:32 The Impact of Language on Stereotypes

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Coffee for a Cause w/Ian Happ May 18, 2020

Rundown
Interview
4:15 A New Partnership
7:20 Preferred Coffee Prep Method
11:39 Seeking New Favorites on the Road
16:15 Coffee-Loving Teammates?

Mailbag
21:29 MLB Scholarship Money
23:10 Zac Veen vs. Emerson Hancock
25:19 Concerns with Cole Wilcox's Fastball?
26:57 International Drafts in the Future?

Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw

Check out Ian's 'Coffee for Covid' partnership with Connect Roasters: http://coffeeforcovid.com/

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Willie Mays w/John Shea May 11, 2020

Rundown
3:32 Greatness Without Drama
6:27 Embracing a Leadership Role
10:39 Mays & The Civil Rights Movement
18:54 A Uniting Figure
23:47 The Perfect Five-Tool Player
30:30 Matters of Height

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Phillies Talk w/Meghan Montemurro May 04, 2020

Rundown
3:39 Why Phillies Classics Have Been Limited
6:28 Is Alec Bohm Ready to Contribute in Philly?
10:56 Spencer Howard's Chances of Opening 2020 in the Majors
14:01 Is a J.T. Realmuto Extension On Tap?
17:10 Meghan's Experience as GM of the Phillies in TAAU
23:40 Mailbag Q's: Pitching Experience, Zac Veen & Favorite Quarantine Reads

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Board Games w/Daryl Andrews Apr 27, 2020

Rundown
2:36 Background as a Jays Fan
6:08 'Canada's Biggest Baseball Fan'
8:28 Games to Play Over Zoom
10:33 Sagrada & A New Legacy Version
14:48 The Design Process, In Isolation
17:14 New Games on Tap
25:16 Final Thoughts

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Baseball After a Pandemic w/Dr. Paul Sax Apr 20, 2020

Rundown
3:38 Are We Going to Have Baseball This Year?
5:00 Safety Challenges Even Without Fans
6:40 What Needs to Happen Before Public Gatherings Resume?
9:51 The Contrast Between the Pace of Scientific Discovery & Public Response
11:18 Could Sports Return Without a Vaccine?
14:00 Likelihood of Developing Medicines to Treat COVID-19
15:49 What Protections Should Players Seek Before Playing?
17:33 A Yankees Fan in Enemy Territory
19:18 Rooting for Losing Teams in Formative Years
23:31 Watching Pedro Martinez in Fenway at His Peak

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Finding Mike Trout with Eddie Bane Apr 13, 2020

Rundown
3:11 Finding & Drafting Mike Trout
5:48 The Angels' Impressive 2009 Draft Class
9:26 A Big Miss: Bill Bene (Not Billy Beane)
12:56 Kiki Jones: 'The Best High School Pitcher I Ever Saw Perform'
16:40 Paul Konerko as a Prospect
22:44 Chris Sale and Rapid Adjustments

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Prospects & Movies w/Christopher Crawford Apr 06, 2020

Rundown
4:28 2020 Impact Prospects
7:46 Risk with Jesus Luzardo & Nate Pearson
9:43 Expectations for Dustin May
12:41 Prospects Less Likely to Debut with Shortened Season
16:22 Movies: Best (& Worst) of 2019
22:33 Overlooked Films From 2019
31:58 Supporting Local Businesses

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Scouting Greg Maddux & Building a Dynasty Mar 30, 2020

Rundown
Interview with Doug Mapson
2:43 Scouting Greg Maddux in High School
9:31 Finding Mark Grace in the 24th Round
14:21 The Transformation of Brandon Belt
19:06 Building the Foundation of the Giants' 2010-2014 Success

Mailbag Q's
25:49 What Makes An 80-Grade Pitch?
27:04 Advantage for Teams w/Extra Picks in Truncated 2020 Draft?
29:51 What Happened to Tirso Ornelas?
31:12 2020 Starting Assignment for Jasson Dominguez

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Helping Minor Leaguers w/Lindsey Adler Mar 23, 2020

Rundown
Interview with Lindsey Adler
2:51 Organizational Reaction to a Player Testing Positive for COVID-19
5:01 Players' Varying Need For Spring Training
8:15 The Grassroots Effort to Help Minor Leaguers
14:22 Baking Bread As a Distraction
18:09 A Shared Appreciation for Oasis
Mailbag Q's
25:37 Why Does Keith Hate the Reds?
25:53 Keith's Ideal Organizational Contributions
27:29 A More College-Heavy Draft?
29:25 Do Some Orgs Give More to Their Minor Leaguers?
30:07 Productivity Tips for Working From Home
Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw
Follow Lindsey on Twitter: @lindseyadler

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Major Impact on the Minor Leagues Mar 16, 2020

Rundown
2:03 Interview with Jeff Lantz
4:01 Impact of Reduced Season on Minor League Owners
6:06 Behind the Scenes: Logistics
10:00 Where Are Minor League Players Headed Now?
14:38 Changes for 2020 MLB Draft Class

Mailbag Q's
19:11 MLB Players on The Great British Baking Show
20:55 Potential Season Cancellation Point
22:37 Contractual Challenges of Shortened Season
24:23 Impact of Added NCAA Eligibility
25:50 Advice for Aspiring Writers
27:04 Board Game Question: Gaia Project & Terra Mystica

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Breaking Down the Red Sox with Alex Speier Mar 09, 2020

Rundown
4:25 Chris Sale's Injury & Boston's SP Depth Problem
9:34 Rationalizing the Decision to Trade Mookie Betts
14:07 Expectations for David Price in Los Angeles
21:45 Early Strengths of Chaim Bloom as GM
26:20 Media Access to the Clubhouse

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Digging Into the Best Farm System In Baseball Mar 02, 2020

Rundown
2:35 The Process of Signing Wander Franco
5:55 Vidal Brujan’s Growth in the Rays’ System
8:08 Joe Ryan & Non-Traditional Development
10:17 When to Bring International Prospects Stateside
12:28 Do the Rays Have a “Type”?
14:40 On Trading Matthew Liberatore
16:34 Talking Coffee with Carlos
Mailbag Qs
21:52 2020 Workload Expectations for Hunter Greene
23:19 Changing Evaluations of International Talent
25:16 Keith’s Evaluation Process
Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw
Check out Keith's farm system rankings for all 30 teams: https://theathletic.com/1641139

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Top 100 Talk w/Eric Longenhagen Feb 26, 2020

Rundown
1:46 Julio Rodriguez vs. Jarred Kelenic
6:25 Why Teams Are Pushing Young Prospects More Aggressively
10:22 The Evolution of Pitching Evaluations
21:06 Comparing Witt, Abrams and Luciano
24:52 Incorporating Injury Info Into Rankings
28:31 Nick Madrigal
Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw
Follow Eric on Twitter: @longenhagen

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