The Lead

At the peak of his career, Daniel Bard was a dominant relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Then, he suddenly and mysteriously lost the ability to throw strikes. Now, seven years and a remarkable journey later, he's back in the big leagues and throwing heat for the Colorado Rockies. The Athletic’s Nick Groke tells us Bard’s remarkable comeback story, including his unusual path to overcoming the yips.Read Nick Groke's story about Daniel Bard's incredible comeback:https://theathletic.com/1625689/2020/02/22/daniel-bard-found-grace-through-goodwill-from-red-sox-heat-to-a-rockies-revival/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than four and a half months after the season shut down, the NBA is finally back. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre to look at some of the big story lines as the season resumes at Disney World, including Zion Williamson and the Pelicans fighting for a playoff berth, and LeBron James and the Lakers gearing up for a potential title run. We also discuss what to expect from Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam and the defending champion Raptors, favorite moments from inside the Disney bubble, and whether the NBA’s Orlando experiment will ultimately succeed.Follow Wosny Lambre’s coverage of the NBA: https://theathletic.com/author/wosny-lambre/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a lot happening in the WNBA right now, both on and off the court. The Athletic's Chantel Jennings joins us to talk about the league’s relationship with the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as pushback it has received recently from a U.S. Senator and partial team owner. We also break down what's been happening on the court in the first few games of the season, including with rookie sensation Sabrina Ionescu, who made her WNBA debut last weekend.More from Chantel Jennings:https://theathletic.com/author/chantel-jennings/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than a dozen members of the Miami Marlins have tested positive for COVID-19, and several MLB games have now been canceled as a result. The Athletic’s Andy McCullough joins us to talk about what the team outbreak could mean for the Marlins' season and the fate of Major League Baseball's 2020 campaign.More from Andy McCullough:https://theathletic.com/author/andy-mccullough/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last week, before his first game with the Dodgers, and prior to the start of MLB’s abbreviated 60-game season, Mookie Betts signed a massive extension to stay in Los Angeles — for 12 years and $365 million. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Pedro Moura to go inside the mind of Mookie Betts, and learn more about the hyper-competitiveness — in every aspect of his life from baseball to bowling — that makes the 2018 AL MVP such a remarkable player. Read Pedro Moura’s story about Mookie Betts: https://theathletic.com/1932530/2020/07/20/inside-the-mind-of-mookie-betts-how-he-channels-his-intense-focus-and-drive/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Natalie Portman, Eva Longoria, and Jennifer Garner are among a group of owners who are bringing a new professional women’s soccer team to Los Angeles and the NWSL in 2022. The Athletic’s Meg Linehan joins us to talk about how the star-studded franchise came together and why it could signal a new direction for the league. And, with the Challenge Cup Final on Sunday, we take a closer look at the two teams that will be vying for the title -- the Houston Dash and Chicago Red Stars.More from Meg Linehan:https://theathletic.com/author/meg-linehan/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Opening Day is here and the Toronto Blue Jays are still looking for a place to play. The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath joins us to talk about why both the Canadian government and the state of Pennsylvania have shut the door on the Blue Jays, what options are still on the table, and how all of this has been impacting the players.More from Kaitlyn McGrath:https://theathletic.com/author/kaitlyn-mcgrath/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thursday is Opening Day in Major League Baseball, and in the weeks leading up to this abbreviated season, an unexpected star has emerged for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clubhouse attendant Francisco “Chico” Herrera got a chance to play the outfield for L.A. out of necessity during training camp, and responded by making some remarkable plays — catching the eye of teammates Justin Turner and Joc Pederson, as well as manager Dave Roberts, among others. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Pedro Moura to discuss the legend of Chico. Read Pedro Moura’s story about Chico: https://theathletic.com/1931245/2020/07/16/the-legend-of-chico-provides-much-needed-diversion-for-dodgers-fans/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NBA teams have been holed up in Disney World for several weeks now, as they prepare to resume the season late next week. The Athletic’s Joe Vardon joins us from inside the NBA bubble, to talk about what life is like there (hint: waterslides and fishing poles are involved), what NBA players think of the so-called “snitch line,” and how players are coping with the threat of the coronavirus.Read Joe Vardon's dispatches from inside the NBA bubble:https://theathletic.com/author/joe-vardon/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Washington Post recently published a highly anticipated investigative report about the experiences of more than a dozen women working for and within the Washington NFL team. The report described sexual harassment and verbal abuse occurring throughout the organization and spanning more than a decade. The Athletic’s Lindsay Jones joins us to discuss what the report means for the future of the troubled franchise, just how widespread this behavior is in the NFL, and if it will lead to a #MeToo reckoning for the league.More from Lindsay Jones:https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.