Hosts: Tom

Summary:   

Erik Manning from FutureRedbirds.net is my guest.  Erik talks about Future Redbirds and what his website is all about.  He then gives his analysis of the Cardinals' farm system. 

Finally, Erik does touch on the Cardinals' big league team and talk about their chances in 2008.

Time: 31:53

Date Recorded: 7:24/08

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Hosts: Tom and Todd

Summary:   

On the night before the All-Star Game, Todd and Tom discuss the Brewers and Cubs trades for starting pitching then hit on the All-Star voting. 

We then do a quick wrap up of the MLB division by division.   

Time: 41:46

Date Recorded: 7:14/08

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Hosts: Tom

Summary:   

It's been a while since we've put out a show but this is a good one.  Teddy Ballgame and CLuke put me in touch with Erick Robertson who is a programmer who has created an online fantasy baseball "universe".  I took the time to create a login at Sim Yard and it looks pretty interesting.  It allows people to create teams of players and and build franchises.  It's a brand new project so we thought we get Erick on the show to talk about it. 

Using the best marketing tool out there, viral marketing, Sim Yard lets people play for free for as long as they want.  Of course, if you want to build a franchise, the subscription route is the way to go.  Erick explains that Sim Yard is not just about winning the game but also developing your ballclub and increasing your franchise revenue.  

While we were emailing each other about logistics, Erick told me he had the chance to watch more than a few baseball games while in Japan.  Not only that, he took part in one of Hanshin Tigers' cheerleading organizations.  So I couldn't pass up the chance to ask Erick about his experience with Japanese baseball from a fan's perspective. 

Finally, Erick is a Cubs fan so we  wrap up the show trying not to get too giddy about the Cubs' latest successes. 

Thanks to Erick for being on the show!

Time: 49:21

Date Recorded: 6:15/08

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Hosts: Tom, Tedd, Chuck

Summary:   Our first roundtable of the year.  Tom, Todd, and Chuck discuss the first week of Major League Baseball with special emphasis on the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs.

We get a few words in about the University of Illinois baseball team, too.

Time: 45:38

Date Recorded: 4/6/08

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Hosts: Tom

Summary:   In a special show, I interview Shawn Roof.  Roof is a former Illini who was drafted into the Detroit Tigers organization in 2007.  He talks to us from the Tigers spring training camp in Lakeland, Florida. 

Roof talks about life in the minor leagues, his daily routine in spring training now and his thoughts on his old alum, University of Illinois and their chances in 2008.

Time: 16:33

Date Recorded: 3/6/08

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Hosts: Tom and Tedd

Summary:   Regular Tedd Mallasch, aka Teddy Ballgame, phones in an interview from Florida where he is enjoying some spring training games.  He updates on what he has seen and who he has talked to.

Check out Teddy's daily reports from Florida on The Baseball Zealot.

Time: 28:41

Date Recorded: 3/3/08

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Hosts: Tom

Summary:   I interview Brian DeCaussin from Big Ten Hardball.  Brian reviews the Big Ten baseball teams and we take a look at the first weekend of Big Ten baseball. 

Time: 26:10

Date Recorded: 2/26/08

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Hosts: Tom and Todd 

Summary:   With Spring Training beginning this week, Todd and I chat about the latest in baseball news,  We cover the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Roger Clemens ordeal, Alfonso Soriano, and a few of the trades and signings in the off-season. 

Time: 45:10

Date Recorded: 2/17/08

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Hosts: Tom:

Summary:   I interview Brian Foley from The College Baseball Blog.  Brian chats a bit how The College Blog came about, sums up the 2007 college postseason and gives us a pre-season look at this year's college baseball.  Finally, we discuss where college baseball is headed as a college sport.

Links: 

The College Baseball Blog

Time: 28:39

Date Recorded: 2/10/08

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Hosts: Tom:

Summary:  In this week's show, I interview author Dan Gordon who has just come out with his book, Haunted Baseball:  Ghosts, Curses, Legends and Eerie Events with co-author Mickey Bradley.  Dan talks about the impetus to write his book and relates some of the stories he heard when he and Mickey interviewed hundreds of baseball players in researching the book.

Links: 

Haunted Baseball book web site

Haunted Baseball review on The Baseball Zealot

Time: 22:28

Date Recorded: 2/5/08

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Hosts: Tom:

Summary:  Tim Dierkes is our guest for our first episode of 2008.  Tim has two web sites, MLBTradeRumors.com and RotoAuthority.com.  He talks a bit about his background and his work with both sites.     

We then talk about some of the pressing hot stove issues including Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, and Joe Crede. 

Time: 21:35

Date Recorded: 1/30/08

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Hosts: Tom, Chuck, Todd:

Summary:      It's December but there has been a lot of baseball news lately.  Todd, Chuck and I discuss the Ford Frick ballot, the Veterans Committee selections for the HOF as well as the latest trades and signings in light of the Winter Meetings. 

Links we talked about: 

2008 Cubs Convention 

2008 PirateFest

2008 SoxFest

Time: 48:35

Date Recorded: 12/9/07

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Hosts: Tom, Chuck:

Summary:     Chuck and I review the Gold Glove, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and Cy Young awards.  We take a look forward to the MVP award next week. 

An email that we get prompts some discussion about the 1922 St Louis Browns. 

The Veterans Committee is voting on executives and managers so we give our opinions.  Also, the Ford Frick voting is near and fans can help narrow the selection.  Chuck and I discuss what it means exactly to be in the Hall of Fame. 

Links we talked about: 

Bob Bavasi's Guide to Japanese Baseball

Veterans Committee Ballots Announced

2008 Ford Frick Award

Time: 51:26

Date Recorded: 11/18/07

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Hosts: Tom, Tedd:

Summary:     Teddy's back from the warm climate of Arizona where he caught some Arizona Fall League action.  In Show 33, he gives his scouting report of the players he saw and an overall summary of his trip. 

A-Rod is one of Teddy Ballgame's favorite players so we managed to hit on the topic of his departure from the Yankees as well.

We aren't always graced by Teddy smooth voice (he says he has a face meant for radio) and sharp analysis so take advantage of his appearance on this show and take a listen. 

Links: 

Arizona Fall League main web page

Teddy Ballgame's report on his trip to the AFL on The Baseball Zealot

Teddy mentioned a few AFL players (Joe Savery and Andrew McCutchen) that were keeping player blogs.  You can access these players' blogs and others on the AFL's 2007 Player Journals page.

Time: 35:44

Date Recorded: 11/1/07

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Hosts: Tom, Chuck, Todd

Summary:     After Todd tells how happy he is about the Littlefield leaving the Pirates, we discuss the upcoming postseason.  We give our opinions on who will go on and who won't. 

 Thanks for listening!!

Time: 46:19

Date Recorded: 9/30/07

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