Coach and Tucker preview the 2021 MLB Season: Predictions for every team in every division, starting in the AL West (2:38) where the villain Astros are favored once again. Is this make or break time for the Angels and Trout? Can the A’s pull out another moneyball trip to October? The AL Central (9:58) features a stacked White Sox team, and a Twins team ready to go toe-to-toe with the South-Siders. In the AL East (17:57), it is once again the Yankees to lose, but you can’t count out the Rays. In the National League, the Dodgers and Padres are the class of baseball in the West (30:21), and might be the best present-day rivalry in baseball. The Cardinals are loaded in the NL Central (39:52), but start the year with serious pitching issues. The Brewers may have the best manager in baseball, and could grab hold with a hot start. Finally, the strongest division in baseball in the NL East (51:53), where the top four (Braves, Mets, Phillies, Nationals) could finish in any order. All the individual awards and postseason predictions for both leagues, everything from Opening Day until the end of October.

Running the Bases 2021

RTB 2021 MLB Season Preview (4/01/21)

Author Clayton Trutor joins Tucker and Coach to talk about his new book “Loserville: How Professional Sports Remade Atlanta - and How Atlanta Remade Professional Sports.” In the time period between the early 1960s through the late 1970s in Atlanta, city government and local business  leadership created the mold for bringing sports franchises to a new city (4:51). A cautionary tale of “Too Much, Too Soon”, Clayton examines the circumstances and actions that led to Atlanta having zero major professional sports teams to all four in less than a decade (31:20). The lack of success and support gave Atlanta the moniker of “Loserville”, a struggle later experienced in cities like Phoenix, Tampa and San Diego (39:53). Finally, Tucker and Coach take a long overdue victory lap on the Braves’ improbable 2021 World Series Championship (54:46).

"Loserville" Author Clayton Trutor, Plus an Atlanta Braves Victory Lap! (12/20/21)

Jeff Pearlman, New York Times best-selling author of nine books including "The Bad Guys Won", "Boys Will Be Boys", and "Showtime" (adapted for the HBO Series 'Winning Time'), joins the podcast to talk about his new book "The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson." Jeff shares his process that took almost three years, 700 original interviews and scores of research to craft this seminal biography about the elusive Bo Jackson. Bo was the first two-sport superstar in the modern era, shining on the diamond for the Kansas City Royals and on the gridiron with the Los Angeles Raiders in the 1980s. Jackson was a Heisman Trophy winner at Auburn, the only professional athlete to play in an MLB All-Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl, and a pop culture phenomenon with his incredible athletic exploits in both. Jeff deep dives into the mythology of what makes Bo Jackson immortal in a time before social media and 24/7 sports coverage.

Running the Bases 2022

Author Jeff Pearlman on "The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson" (10/28/22)

Are the Braves leaving for Cobb County out of NEED?  Or are they leaving due to GREED?... All this, and Coach is the new commish for a day.

June 5, 2014

Coach and I remember the legendary Tony Gwynn, which team does God root for, and our Top 9, Starting 5, and Closer of all time.

June 18, 2014

Coach talks about the best African American baseball players he ever saw in person during the Civil Rights era of American History.  A preview of the Hall of Fame weekend, and predictions for the second half.

RTB July 23, 2014

The 2014 Postseason begins with one of the great games of all time in Kansas City.  The return of Great Baseball Towns in October, the end of Jeter, and what makes a player clutch.

RTB - October 1, 2014

The joy of the Royals and Orioles, the enigma of the Cardinals and the Giants, the day of the Dead Ball, and 1930: The Greatest Year of the Hitter.

RTB - October 8, 2014

The tradition of Baseball on Independence Day, and how MLB can improve the significance of this date on the regular season calendar.  Also, we look ahead to a very Royal All-Star Game.  USA! USA!

Ball on the 4th of July

We reflect on the first half and look forward to the second half of the 2015 MLB regular season.  Plus, the best Derby EVER, and the value of the All-Star Break.

Halfway to October

Coach and I discuss the most interesting match-ups coming into the pennant stretch, teams getting a return on investment, and the great character guys and "characters" of the clubhouse.

Clubhouse Character and "Characters"

Debate on the evolving issue of fan and player safety, in the wake of the tragic fan death at Turner Field in Atlanta.

Playing it Safe?

The Pennant Races heat up, and what to make of the concept of "Innings Restrictions" with Matt Harvey, as the Mets continue to surge into October.

No Limits in October

Bold reaction to the Braves' trading of Simmons, and the RTB Hot Stove Tour goes through the NL West. 

Hot Stove Tour 2015: NL West

On the last day of 2015, we reach the final stop of our Hot Stove Tour: The NL East. Full rebuilds in Atlanta and Philadelphia, no clue in Miami, and who has to win, now: Mets or the Nats? 

The End of the Line

Horsehide meets leather this week, and thus, Baseball is Back! We celebrate the coming of Spring Training by looking at some of the great baseball TV advertisements ever made. Chicks will always dig the long ball... 
Full commercials here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtEnfoh_7omzRs4jzAvyubUTMC76GWeiM

Warming Up...

Spring Training has officially begun! We look at the best in the National League on paper, and discuss the lack of minority managers, and the importance of giving fair opportunity, in Major League Baseball.

Managing in the Minority

Coach and I determine the best teams in the American League (on paper), and hold out First Annual MLB "Ultimate Expansion Draft!" To Trout, or not to Trout?... Is that really even a question?...

The Ultimate MLB Expansion Draft, 2016! (3/9/16)

Our 2016 MLB predictions, beginning with the American League. This may be the most wide open field in the AL in over 40 years... National League in Part 2!

2016 MLB Season Preview - Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of our 2016 MLB predictions, looking at the National League: The "Haves" and the "Have Nots", in a year where there are 2 entirely different classes of teams within the NL... American League in Part 1!

2016 MLB Season Preview - Part 2 of 2

We breakdown the first 2 weeks of the 2016 MLB season, the Dangers of Tanking, and yet another player involved in a domestic violence incident.

Outta the Gates

Tyler Boronski, young sports vlogger and reporter for the Bridgeport Bluefish, joins the podcast to talk about the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, Big Pappi's last game in the Bronx, interviewing the "D-Train", and the joys of watching batting practice.  Find his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/Tbautos512.

Running the Bases 2016

RTB "Off the Bag" - Tyler Boronski (11/22/16)

Part 2 of our 2017 MLB Season Preview runs through the American League: The Indians and Red Sox are the cream, while the Tigers, Yankees and Astros are the crop.  The middle class Blue Jays and Orioles remain formidable, and what to make of the Wild Wild AL West? Coming into Home: A return to Riverwood High School baseball in Atlanta for Coach Jordan Bounds.

Running the Bases 2017

RTB 2017 MLB Predictions, Part 2: The American League

Tucker and Coach share the experience of Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Cooperstown.  Out of the Box, post-trade deadline baseball chatter. Going 1st to 3rd (26:04), all that is Cooperstown, with speech grades (37:36), the beauty and efficiency of the town on HOF Weekend (41:00), and the great reverence for Hank Aaron (45:00).  Coming into Home, thoughts on the tweet controversies surrounding baseball players (48:00).

Running the Bases 2018

Adventures in Cooperstown (8/9/18)

Tucker is joined by good friend, filmmaker and Chicago homer Scott Brown to talk about his beloved White Sox. Scott shares what makes a person go White Sox over Cubs in Chi-Town (3:05), the recognition of Big Hurt (14:22), the forgotten glory of the 2005 Championship team (26:48), and ranking sports titles in the Windy City (47:22). We discuss the stark differences between Wrigleyville and the South Side (59:30), the current state of the Sox franchise (1:10:00), and what a Sox/Cubs World Series would mean to the people of Chicago (1:45:23).

All Things Chicago White Sox (9/17/18)

Coach invites vaunted "WhatifSports" legend Skunk206 on the podcast to discuss the odds and ends of Simulation Baseball Leagues, where baseball is always in season. What strategies are most successful in building a juggernaut, the difference in managing a sim league versus regular fantasy baseball, and the finest vintages of hall of fame players.

Mastering "WhatifSports" with Skunk206 (12/4/18)

Coach invites "WhatifSports" superstar Ozomatli on the podcast for a second installment on Simulation Baseball Leagues. Ozomatli shares his  strategies on drafting a team (19:30), setting Player Hierarchies (41:00), the difference in managing a sim league versus daily fantasy baseball (54:30), and a memo to all the rookie managers (59:00).

Running the Bases 2019

"WhatifSports?" Special Edition with Ozomatli (5/27/19)

RunningtheBases.com

"WhatifSports" Special Edition with Ozomatli (5/27/19)

Premiere episode of the Running the Bases "State of the Franchise", breaking down a team in rebuilding. Coach and Tucker take a deep dive into the Cincinnati Reds, the oldest team in MLB, but far removed from the days of the Big Red Machine. Going back to the "Nasty Boys" championship team of 1990, the Reds have stepped out from under the cloud of Marge Schott (3:30), while current ownership has failed to build a contender outside of 2010-2013. We rate farm system health (12:00), "Worst Move of the Decade" (16:50), "Best Move of the Decade" (23:30), and "Time Until Competitive" (32:00). Finally, the ballpark factor, rating the game-day experience and fan support, and what changes we would make to the Great American Ballpark (40:00).

Cincinnati Reds: State of the Franchise (7/22/19)

Coach and Tucker give thoughts on the 2019 MLB regular season heading into the stretch run. The Terrifying Cardinals have returned, the Twins are a delightful surprise, while the Rockies make us sad. Who will be playing in October, and a fond farewell to the worst uniforms ever. Going 1st to 3rd, Coach recalls the experience of the Braves first ever division title 50 years ago (37:32), a bow to Aaron and Niekro, and surprisingly disappointing. Coming into home, our first Prep-Squad Shout Out to a star at Hampton High School in Georgia (55:03).

Braves Summer of '69 (8/29/19)

Coach and Tucker talk MLB Postseason predictions for 2019. Out of the Box (2:00): A recap of key storylines as the regular seasons' end, including Maddon and the Cubs parting ways, and send offs for Bochy, MadBum and King Felix. First to Third (17:35): All the predictions for October baseball, with the Astros as a juggernaut that would give the '27 Yankees the shakes. Cardinals strike fear in the hearts of the Braves, Yankees and Twins slugfest, and can the Dodgers avoid becoming the Buffalo Bills of baseball? Coming into Home (52:30): Awards Predictions and our Prep-Star Shout Out.

Wild October 2019 (10/2/19)

First RTB Podcast of 2020, Coach and Tucker discuss the 2019-2020 Offseason (2:00), the best players still available and the team that won the Hot Stove. 1st to 3rd, they give their Hall of Fame predictions for the Class of 2020 (24:30) and respect for Marvin Miller (41:54). Coming into Home, Coach breaks down Chad Harbach's beautiful baseball novel "The Art of Fielding" (46:22). *Podcast recorded before MLB ruled on the cheating Astros, Cora, et. al.

Running the Bases 2020

"The Art of Fielding", Hall of Fame 2020 and Hot Stove Chatter (1/16/20)

Originally recorded in 2018, Tucker and Coach are joined by author Clayton Trutor to discuss Bernard Malamud's seminal baseball work, "The Natural" (2:45). Written in 1949, Malamud had no prior knowledge of baseball history. He crafts the character of Roy Hobbs to be the "Great American Monomyth" (5:05). Filled with lush poetic imagery (Wonderboy and the Wasteland), Malamud weaves the Vegetative myth, Arthurian Legend and the mode of Joseph Campbell's "Hero with a Thousand Faces", to pen the standard for baseball fiction (15:00). From the book came the beloved 1984 film starring Robert Redford, featuring an A-List cast, Oscar-winning cinematography, and Randy Newman's iconic score. However, the ending is pure Hollywood and a far cry from the book (50:00).

"The Natural" - RTB Book Club Ep. 1 (3/31/20)

Tucker is joined by Coach via phone for the first Coronavirus podcast for RTB. Out of the Box, Coach and Tucker discuss MLB's different strategies to try and have a 2020 baseball season (3:12). The CPBL in Taiwan offers a baseball fix to the masses with a bizarre new approach (20:26), what permanent changes to MLB will result from COVID-19 (42:12), and what gets lost in a lost season (51:23). Coming into Home, remembering the great Al Kaline, "Mr Tiger" and one of the great elder statesmen of baseball (54:58).

Baseball in Limbo, Goodbye Mr. Tiger (4/28/20)

Running the Bases is back for the 2021 season! Coach and Tucker look forward to (hopefully) a full summer of Baseball (1:30), and what changes to expect moving forward. Coach gives proper tribute to the colossal Henry Aaron, as seen in person from Day One in Atlanta, through Home Run no. 715, all the way to his final game at Fulton County Stadium (20:26). Coming into home, reflecting on the surreal 2020 season- The 60-game sprint, ever-changing Covid protocols, and where baseball fit amid the strife and chaos within the United States (47:36).

2021 Baseball is Here! Plus, Remembering "The Hammer" and Surviving the 2020 Season (2/19/21)

The Game of Baseball, the way it's meant to be Loved. MLB, MiLB, Baseball History, everything inside and outside the lines.

Popular tracks by Running the Bases