The Windup: A show about Baseball

As expected the frenzy of transactions is here as MLB teams look to fill their rosters before Opening Day in less than a month. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Josh Donaldson to the Yankees as well as what may happen with Carlos Correa. Then they open up the mailbag...-Is there a way to enjoy baseball without being the sucker that MLB is relying on to be there after a lockout?-Would getting rid of MLB's antitrust exemption be good for the game?-Ideas on the international draft-Would a dead ball help baseball?-What players should the Pirates build around?-Would it be good PR for MLB to get rid of Rob Manfred?-Does baseball hurt itself by talking so much about its problems?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email tabaseballshow@gmail.com.Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast we've all been waiting for! The lockout is over and players are on their way to Spring Training to get ready for an April 7th Opening Day across Major League Baseball.Jayson and Doug dive into the new CBA on an emergency episode of Starkville. Now that the lockout is over, will frustrated fans return to the sport? How does Rob Manfred avoid a repeat next time around? What is new with this CBA? Will it help eliminate tanking? What will the expanded playoffs look like? and where will Freddie Freeman land?Let us know how you feel about baseball right now at starkville@theathletic.com and we'll read them on the next episode.Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterGet six months of The Athletic for just $1 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss recent progress in the CBA negotiations between MLB and the MLBPA, Britt's trip to the MLBPA training facility in Arizona, how we might see 'spring training games' if the lockout lingers further into March, and Apple's first step into streaming live games. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_GhiroliFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperRelated LinksMaria Torres & Ken Rosenthal: ‘A failed system’: A corrupt process exploits Dominican baseball prospects. Is an international draft really the answer?': https://theathletic.com/3080470Subscribe to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first year: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spring Training has opened in Arizona and Florida but only for minor leaguers who aren't on 40-man rosters. Jayson is in Florida and he and Doug tell tales of happier Spring Trainings of yesteryear and explain why you never want to be on the back fields.Then, Ken Rosenthal adds to his record setting number of visits to Starkville. This time around he brings news from the negotiating table where MLB and the players continue to make little progress getting baseball back on the field.There's also trivia and a trip to the Doug-out for Astronomy and Spring dinners between teammates!Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterGet six months of The Athletic for just $1 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DVR and Keith discuss college baseball as an alternative for fans missing spring training, a trio of Top 100 prospects likely to contribute in 2022, and ways to make inevitably expanding playoff fields less terrible. Plus, would the league be any less competitive than it is today if the competitive balance tax were removed completely?Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawGet a subscription to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first six months by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the current state of the MLB owner-imposed lockout, the origins of their love of baseball, and other sources of baseball to consider -- including a relatively new twist on the game with invention of 'Banana Ball'. Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_GhiroliFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperRelated LinksSportsCenter Feature 'How the Savannah Bananas have become the greatest show in baseball': https://youtu.be/T5RkB7_qNh8The Savannah Bananas 'Banana Ball: The Future of the Bananas': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A03_WbiSVUSubscribe to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first year: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monday is the final day for MLB and the players to reach a new CBA to avoid missed regular season games according to Rob Manfred. But how strict is that deadline really. Ken Rosenthal and Tim McMaster discuss that before answering your questions in the mailbag...-Why is Tony Clark still in charge of Union after failures with last CBA?-How would an owner convince a fan that their side is fair?-How much power does Scott Boras have in these negotiations?-Could players start their own league as leverage?-Could National League DH lead to return of Rizzo or Scwarber to Cubs?-Is the automated strike zone a made up problem?-Manager contracts-How much animosity is there between big market and small market owners?-Why didn't they get a new CBA done during 2020 shutdown?Those questions and more! To be a part of next week's episode call the voicemail at 646-543-7072 or email tabaseballshow@gmail.com.Follow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMaster Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eno, Britt and DVR discuss the many ways that baseball will change over the next 30 years, from automated strike zones to expansion, to finding ways to increase the number of balls in play, how different will the game look in 2052?Follow Eno on Twitter: @enosarrisFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_GhiroliFollow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperRelated LinksGrant Brisbee 'What Major League Baseball will be like in 2052': https://theathletic.com/3136290James Fegan 'The death of pitch framing? A potential automated strike zone looms over the future of catching': https://theathletic.com/3134661Subscribe to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first year: theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who cares about the lockout when Brett Phillips is visiting Starkville to remind us all how much fun baseball is! He talks about how he's staying in shape (working out with local high school teams!) and reflects on his World Series walk-off hit, facing the Blue Jays as a pitcher and much more.Plus Jayson and Doug do talk about the lockout and the progress that has been made. They brainstorm events for an MLB skills competition and try to stay hot in listener trivia.Follow Jayson on Twitter: @jaysonstFollow Doug on Twitter: @dougglanvilleFollow Brett Phillips on Twitter: @Brett_Phillips8Follow Mayor Tim on Twitter: @TimMMcMasterGet six months of The Athletic for just $1 per month at theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DVR and Keith discuss a few of Keith's top-ranked farm systems -- including the Dodgers, D-backs and Pirates -- and their prospects most likely to make an impact at some point in 2022. Follow DVR on Twitter: @DerekVanRiperFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawGet a subscription to The Athletic at $1/mo for the first six months by visiting theathletic.com/baseballshow Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.