Alex and Bobby react to the news that MLB plans to provide housing for all its minor leaguers starting in 2022, wonder what that will look like in practice, and theorize how that will affect the continued organizing effort among minor leaguers. Then, they’re joined by Josh Gondelman, comedian and producer of Desus & Mero, to make a humble case for why the remaining non-partisan baseball fans should throw their support behind the…gasp…Boston Red Sox. Finally, this week’s Three Up, Three Down features an existential look at advertising, Carlos Correa apologia, and one more slap in the face to A’s fans. Links: Jeff Passan on MiLB housing MLB Cutting the Cord? Buy Tipping Pitches Merch! Songs featured in this episode: illuminati hotties — “Pool Hopping” • Ariana Grande — “just like magic” • Diet Cig — “Harvard” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Tipping Pitches

A Return To Normalcy (feat. Josh Gondelman)

Alex and Bobby debate the merits of rally towels, then break down the last week in baseball, including a mighty Astros showing again the White Sox, the endless cycle of Rays “resources” discourse, the exceptional balance between the Giants and Dodgers, and more. They also listen to some voicemails about just, like, enjoying things, the virtues of losing your voice, and the difference between Thom Brennaman and Jim Kaat’s offenses. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features a modest proposal from Tony La Russa and One Weird Trick That Made the Red Sox Likable. Songs featured in this episode: Haim — "Gasoline" • Robyn — "Call Your Girlfriend" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Turn Around and No Peeking!

In this abbreviated episode, Bobby and Alex break down the first few games of the playoffs, including a confusing Broadway-themed postseason promo, what it takes to be good in October these days, the heyday of the quick hook, Jim Kaat’s amazingly racist remark about Yoán Moncada, the Astros leveling up every October, and more. They’ll be back on Wednesday for a full episode. Links: MLB Network’s Broadway promo Songs featured in this episode: Soccer Mommy — "Last Girl" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

The 2021 Playoffs: The Musical

Alex and Bobby discuss the anti-climactic end to the regular season and what they want to see out of the playoff vs. what they actually expect to happen. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features Congresspeople procrastinating, a dress down of rabid praise of the Rays, and a tapping of the “it’s not your money” sign. Links: Giants concessions workers reach tentative contract agreement FiveThirtyEight polls congresspeople on, just like, baseball  Songs featured in this episode: Yo La Tengo — “Let’s Save Tony Orlando’s House” • Shuggie Otis — “Strawberry Letter 23” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Politics Liberal, Baseball Conservative

In this episode, Bobby and Alex discuss recent developments around the #FairBall protest, and check in on the chances of a work stoppage this off-season. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features a eurostep-off, Kevin Kiermaier’s recovery of a Blue Jays scouting card, the Oakland A’s season ticket scam, the resurgence of Cardinal Devil Magic, and more. Links: The Rays will advertise the Montreal plan this postseason The Dodgers’ costume flight Songs featured in this episode: Blondie — “Dreaming” • Lindsey Buckingham — “Trouble”  • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Cards on the Table

Alex and Bobby discuss the stance taken by Phillies and Mets minor leaguers against unfair wages and living conditions this past week, and what it suggests about how the conversation has shifted. Then they run through some listener questions about ethical consumption under baseball, alumni pride for Dayton Moore, what baseball players have in common with elementary school kids, and how we frame contract discussions. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features predatory lending for teenagers and lessons in probability. Links: Mets & Phillies minor leaguers protest unfair pay  Pay No Attention to the Investment Firm Behind the Predatory Loans!  Mike Elk on Roberto Clemente and Curt Flood The Royals explore new stadium options  Songs featured in this episode: DeBarge — “I Like It” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Shut Up, I’m Calculating Win Probability

Bobby and Alex are joined by Lauren Walker, Jane Ost, and Stephen Hesson of Batting Around to talk about the weirdest and dumbest things that happened on and off the field this season, including Javy Báez magic, All-Star Game meltdowns, pine tar checks, *gestures at Tony La Russa*, and more. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features lessons on toughness and plenty of #content from the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Links: Hyun Jin Ryu’s Korean fried chicken parties  What is Aaron Boone actually saying about Derek Jeter?  Hunter Renfroe claims MLB has stopped mandating COVID tests  Songs featured in this episode: The Rolling Stones — "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" • Jain — "Makeba" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

The Dumbest Baseball Things of 2021 (feat. Batting Around)

Alex and Bobby talk with Ted Waechter, organizer with UNITE HERE Local 2, about the recent strike vote among Oracle Park concessions workers and what they’re demanding from the Giants. Then they try to break down MLB’s proposed changes to service time and arbitration, and look at how the rise of streaming spells danger for regional sports networks — and the teams that profit off them. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features experiments in the Atlantic League and minor league baseball’s encounter with climate change. Links: Giants concessions workers vote in favor of a strike A closer look at the concessions workers’ demands MLB proposes changes to service time MLB’s struggles with direct-to-consumer streaming ($) Atlantic League mound experiment pushes players to the brink Who erased MLB pitcher Devin Williams' tribute to Black Lives Matter? Songs featured in this episode: Strawbs — “Part Of The Union” • Pete Seeger — “Solidarity Forever” • Time Zone — “World Destruction” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Win In a Walkoff

Bobby and Alex talk about advice columns, the side of baseball’s rags to riches stories that doesn’t get discussed, and what the Orioles show us about the state of tanking in baseball. Then they answer listener voicemails about a player’s union eligibility, Statcast’s strange deployment, and the decline of custom shirseys. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features one broadcaster’s introduction to NFTs and rule bending for yellow bats. Links: The substitute teacher who can throw 100  Ken Rosenthal on the Orioles’ extreme tanking ($)  Topps loses its grip on the sports trading card industry  Mike Shannon learns about NFTs  Shake Shohei Ohtani’s hand in Oshu City  Songs featured in this episode: Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations — " I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" • The Rolling Stones — "Out Of Time" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Mistrust the Process

Alex and Bobby discuss the Dodgers City Connect jerseys (and whether they mailed them in), before being joined by Craig Calcaterra to talk about having a full baseball season back, MLB's big bet on gambling, the upcoming labor fight, unionizing the minor leagues, and more. Follow Craig on Twitter and subscribe to his newsletter, Cup of Coffee. Links:  Buy your own "Unionize the Minors" shirt Read Shakeia Taylor on Marcus Stroman Songs featured in this episode: Paramore — “I'm Not Angry Anymore” • The Who — “You Better You Bet” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Bet The House (feat. Craig Calcaterra)

Alex and Bobby banter about their superstitions while playing — or watching — baseball. Then they share thoughts on the Field of Dreams game and what actually made it special, as well as Buster Olney’s reporting on the Angels’ supposed limited financial options for extending Shohei Ohtani. They field some voicemails about bullpen catchers, MLB The Show, and separating the owner from the players, and end on a Three Up, Three Down that features an accidental endorsement of a Trea Turner extension and baseball under climate change. Links: Can the Angels keep Shohei Ohtani? https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/31997589/can-angels-keep-shohei-ohtani-payroll-crisis-looms-los-angeles The Phillie Phanatic shakes up Hollywood https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/phillie-phanatic-1234996044/ Minor league baseball in the shadow of wildfires https://theathletic.com/2766126/2021/08/13/this-is-going-to-get-worse-smoke-pollution-concerns-in-reno-bring-focus-to-a-growing-obstacle-for-baseball/ Songs featured in this episode: Eagles — “Lyin’ Eyes” • Anthony Hamilton — “I Tried” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

All Tied Up In Monopolies

Bobby and Alex toast to four years of the podcast by discussing — what else — an article about minor league housing, what the potential partnership between MLB and Barstool Sports says about the league’s priorities, and shenanigans at the trade deadline. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features the Mets’ Kumar Rocker gaffe and whether 31 mph pitches are good or not. Links: Billy Ripken on velocity through the years Britt Ghiroli chronicles minor league living conditions Buy a Unionize the Minors t-shirt Songs featured in this episode: Los Bravos — "Bring a Little Lovin'" • Booker T & the M.G.'s — "Green Onions"

This Is The Bad Place

Bobby and Alex decide to dive deeper into the furor around some recent New Era hat drops and try to break down how the fitted cap community differs from the average baseball fan. To do that, they turn to Benjamin Christensen, a community events & engagement manager at Hat Club, and James Holas, a former basketball blogger and recent fitted cap convert, to talk about the fitted cap trend and the market for it, the process of hat design, what brings them joy about their collections — and their takes on some of those New Era caps.  Follow Benjamin on Twitter @shakabrodie. Follow James on Twitter @snottiedrippen. Links: Custom Fitted Hats Have Become Must-Have Collectors’ Items. Here’s How.  Songs featured in this episode: Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

At The Drop of a Hat (feat. Benjamin Christensen & James Holas)

Alex and Bobby talk about the soon-to-be Cleveland Guardians and probe how genuine this transition has felt, check in on a pivotal vote to keep the A’s in Oakland, and read about — shocker! — minor leaguers in poor living conditions. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features electronic pitch signs and the freakin’ K-zone. Links: Tom Hanks’s relationship to Cleveland Joon Lee on minor league player treatment in the Angels’ system MLB testing electronic sign devices The return of Thom Brennaman The All-Star Game’s economic boom that wasn’t Buy Tipping Pitches merch Songs featured in this episode: Assembly of Dust — “The Honest Hour” • Jimmy Eat World — “The World You Love” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Avant Guardians

Alex and Bobby banter about the All-Star Break festivities and Pete Alonso’s Home Run Derby prowess. Then they discuss the impasse in the Oakland A’s ballpark negotiations and John Fisher’s vision for his legacy, as well as player comments about priorities in this round of CBA negotiations. They take some listener calls about the Derby format, minor league team shuffling, and a run-scoring rule change. This week’s Three Up, Three Down features Good Guy Shohei Ohtani and All-Star opt-out #discourse. Links: Who Is John Fisher? MLB All-Star talk labor priorities ($) Won’t MLB All-Stars think of Joel Sherman’s feelings? Will Craig on the move to the KBO Colnessa continue to be couple goals The Phillies and Vaccines Songs featured in this episode: “Best Hugs” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

John Fisher’s Daddy Issues

Sitting for the anthem. Standing for the bat flips. A baseball podcast trying to nationalize our national pastime. Hosted by Alex Bazeley and Bobby Wagner