Game 162 Review, Showalter/Kapler Out, and Remembering Tim Wakefield

When Major League Baseball announced the first ever Spring Breakout games, many wondered who would make the rosters for their favorite teams. We finally got our answers and there is plenty to be excited about. Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about some of their favorite players who were named to their squads and why it’ll be a good chance to see some of the lesser known prospects in the baseball world showcased. The guys also discuss Brayan Bello’s contract extension with the Boston Red Sox after his exciting 2023 debut and the need for him to develop a strikeout breaking ball pitch to help take his game to the next level.

Later on, Jake and Jordan are joined by Yahoo Fantasy baseball analyst Dalton Del Don to talk about strategy when drafting your fantasy team this year and why stolen bases are the biggest value one can target. The guys chat about some of their favorite picks outside of the top 100 ranked players who can be a game changer for your fantasy season and a few players who might bounce back after not having a great 2023 campaign.

Jake and Jordan close out the show talking about still active, we think, pitcher Rich Hill joining the Red Sox broadcast booth, Jazz Chisholm’s new diet that excludes daily McDonald’s visits in hopes of staying off the injured list this season and they introduce their new producer for the Baseball Bar-B-Cast.

2:04 - Spring Breakout rosters announced

17:17 - Brayan Bello signs extension with the Boston Red Sox

21:31 - Red Sox-Rays set to meet in Quisqueya

25:05 - Dalton Del Don joins to discuss fantasy baseball moves

51:40 - Rich Hill is in the Red Sox broadcast booth

53:37 - Jazz Chisholm’s new diet that doesn’t include daily McDonald’s visits

1:01:30 - Jake and Jordan welcome their new producer

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What happens when you have a knock-off Sydney Opera House, no dugouts or netting, an umpire wearing high socks and a fake New York City skyline? You have yourself the renderings of the Oakland Athletics new ballpark in Las Vegas. Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss all the latest ridiculousness from the A’s, including their cowardice of not allowing fans to reply to their X posts for months and whether or not a move to Vegas is actually going to happen.

They then discuss the overreaction to the Pirates’ top prospect Ben Skenes starting the season in the minor leagues and the disconnect between the owner and the team. The 2024 season will see the return of Oneil Cruz after he suffered a season ending injury in April last year, which means the Buccos must find a way to take a step forward after a not-bad 2023.

Later in the episode, the guys talk about Lucas Giolito’s partially torn UCL that will most likely result in the Boston Red Sox pitcher needing Tommy John surgery. This leads to a bigger question being asked: is spring training too long? The countless number of injuries this year has convinced the guys that a must-needed conversation has to be had to prevent this problem going forward.

The Wednesday show wraps up by taking a look at the evolution of Tyler Glasnow as a pitcher in his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the newest career mode in the latest installment of MLB The Show, which allows gamers to play as a woman in career mode.

2:09 - Renderings of the Oakland A's proposed Las Vegas stadium

20:47 - Pittsburgh Pirates could make waves in 2024

29:42 - Lucas Giolito's potentially season-ending injury

36:52 - Is spring training too long?

41:15 - Tyler Glasnow ready for the spotlight in LA

45:17 - MLB The Show adds female playable characters

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2024 MLB season]

Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ

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Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman are back on a Monday morning to look at two big NL transactions that happened over the last few days. This morning, the Philadelphia Phillies reportedly locked in pitcher Zack Wheeler on a 3-year, $126 million extension that will keep the Ace in eastern Pennsylvania for another four years. The guys explain why this is a great deal for both sides.

Next, they look back at the San Francisco Giants signing 3B Matt Chapman over the weekend to a 3-year, $54 million deal. Jake & Jordan explain why this is less good for Chapman money-wise and a great move for the Giants, looking to make a dent in the loaded NL West. With larger extensions reportedly left on the table in Oakland and Toronto for Chapman, could his agent Scott Boras' strategy of having his clients wait out the market until deep into March be failing?

In the second half of the podcast, the guys open up the grab bag and hit a number of miscellaneous baseball nuggets from the past week including new Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein visiting spring training, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen clapping back on X, Robinson Canó's return to the Mexican League & more.

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1:25 - Zack Wheeler extension in Philadelphia

12:00 - Matt Chapman signs with Giants

27:35 - Orioles new owner David Rubenstein, man of the people

31:00 - Mets owner Steve Cohen claps back on X

36:35 - Adam LaRoche's son Drake's impressive D3 outing

40:25 - Sixto Sanchez and Brendan McKay are back!

44:30 - Fanatics CEO responds to backlash

47:40 - Robinson Canó in the Mexican League

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Shohei Ohtani isn't the only new player in Dodger blue this offseason making waves. Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman kick off this episode reacting to Yoshinobu Yamamoto's first start in spring training, as he threw two scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers and looks exactly as advertised in terms of being an electric addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation.

Looking at the Dodgers' NorCal rivals, the guys also respond to Jung Hoo Lee's first homer of spring training and discuss why the San Francisco Giants could be sneakily watchable this season, if not outright good.

Jordan then dives into his frustration around spring training broadcasts and why so many games from March are unavailable to be viewed outside of a few highlights here or there. In a sport that's been desperate to make fans more aware of its teams and stars, and in a time where anything is possible technologically, why limit how many games fans can see?

After the break, the guys dive into what everyone really came here for: Shohei Ohtani's surprise marriage announcement. Jake & Jordan dive into Ohtani's massive privacy in comparison to other stars & try to determine how secret of a wedding the Dodgers star actually had.

Wrapping up the show, the crew discusses a picture circulating around the internet of St. Louis Cardinals legend Yadier Molina wearing Cubs gear, a strange baseball-themed tweet from the Vegas Golden Knights & Jordan's visit with Ken Griffey Jr., who has taken up wildlife photography in his retirement years.

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2:25 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Dodger debut

14:00 - Jung Hoo Lee's first homer for San Francisco

18:40 - Why aren't more spring training games broadcast?

29:05 - Shohei Ohtani got secretly married

44:55 - Yadier Molina in Cubs gear?

47:45 - Vegas Golden Knights have baseball tweets

50:25 - Ken Griffey Jr.'s wildlife photography

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After three weeks off in the middle of February, Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman have a lot to catch up on. The guys spend the bulk of today's episode recapping an avalanche of baseball transactions that happened in the leadup to spring training.

First, the Los Angeles Dodgers re-signed Clayton Kershaw on a 2-year deal, keeping the future Hall of Famer in town on a Dodger rotation that, for the first time in years, won't be dependent on him for success. The Dodgers also traded Manuel Margot to the Minnesota Twins and brought back Kiké Hernandez. Oh, and Shohei Ohtani was very good in his spring training debut.

Up the California coastline, the San Francisco Giants signed Jorge Soler to add some power to the middle of their lineup. Intriguingly, they've also brought back Pablo Sandoval, who had been out of the majors for a few years now, in order to recreate some early 2010s magic?

The guys roll through a number of other signings including Brandon Woodruff and Gary Sanchez to the Milwaukee Brewers, Tim Anderson to the Miami Marlins, Gio Urshela to the Detroit Tigers, Liam Hendriks to the Boston Red Sox, the combination of Spencer Turnbull and Whit Merrifield to the Philadelphia Phillies & the St. Louis Cardinals bringin in Brandon Crawford.

Next, they discuss a trio of extensions in Jose Altuve, Bobby Witt Jr. and Mitch Keller all inking deals with the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals & Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively.

Closing out the show, the guys discuss the Royals bucking the new uniform rules, two teams who will not be getting City Connect jerseys, the Washington Nationals displaying a troubling sign in their bullpen & three non-irrelevant spring training stories.

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3:10 - Dodgers: Ohtani's debut, Kershaw's new deal & Margot trade

15:30 - Giants: Jorge Soler joins the squad, plus Pablo Sandoval?

23:00 - Cardinals bring in Brandon Crawford

25:00 - Lightning-round signings

33:10 - Jose Altuve, Bobby Witt Jr. & Mitch Keller extensions

41:15 - More uniform shenanigans

46:20 - Washington Nationals' disconcering sign

53:05 - 3 Spring Training stories that matter

57:50 - Funny business: Torey Lovullo & little league stories

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After three weeks off since their last podcast, Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman are back with the latest episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, now on the Yahoo Sports network. So many exciting baseball things have happened in the last few weeks as spring training gets off the ground, and of course we have nowhere else to start but the pants.

Yes, we need to lead off the show with the ongoing controversy around the new uniforms supplied to the MLB players by Nike and Fanatics. Players hate how they feel around their rear-ends, the lettering looks cheap and weird, and they may be see-through in the groin area. It's a real perfect storm of where baseball silly meets baseball business in the weirdest way possible.

In transaction news, the Chicago Cubs signed OF Cody Bellinger this Saturday to a reported 3-year, $80 million dollar contract with opt-out clauses after each year. The guys explain what this means for Bellinger, the Cubs and for super-agent Scott Boras.

In the second half of the show, Jake & Jordan discuss their myriad spring training visits from the past week, including stops at the Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, Braves & more. What's the deal with Bryce Harper wanting a contract extension? Is the circus around Shohei Ohtani's move to the Dodgers upstaging their other stars? How about Rafael Devers calling out the front office for Boston's lack of pitching depth?

Wrapping up the show, the guys discuss two upcoming musical tour dates for former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright & Jake has an update on the scoop that former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez is training for the 2024 Olympics in cycling.

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2:45 - See-through pants controversy keeps on giving

11:00 - Cody Bellinger's 3-year deal to stay in Chicago

23:40 - Spring training visits to Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Twins & more

53:50 - Adam Wainwright's musical career takes off with two tour dates

57:35 - Carlos Gomez, Olympic cyclist?

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ

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It’s been quite a week for Jake, as his beloved Baltimore Orioles traded for 3x All-Star Corbin Burnes, while also getting new ownership in the form of billionaire Baltimore native David Rubenstein. The guys break down what these moves mean for Baltimore for the 2024 season and beyond. Then, the guys welcome Theo Epstein back to Boston after it was announced that he would be returning to Fenway Sports Group as a senior advisor, talk about the possibility of Backyard Sports returning thanks to Jason Kelce, and say goodbye to Producer Chris and the SiriusXM Team as the show departs SiriusXM for a new venture. 

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The Mariners have acquired switch-hitting All-Star Jorge Polanco from the Twins in exchange for four players and cash. Jordan and Mike Ferrin break down both sides of the trade and explain why this could be a game changer for the Mariners. Then, the guys react to the latest Top 100 Prospects rankings and highlight some players to keep an eye on during the upcoming college baseball season. 

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Minnesota Twins All-Star Byron Buxton will return to center field in 2024 after injuries forced him into the DH spot last season. Although excited about this news, Jake and Jordan explain why they’re still a little skeptical. Then, the guys dive into the latest transactions across the league, including Adam Ottavino re-signing with the Mets on a one-year deal, and open up the mailbag to answer some listener questions, including “how would baseball be different if pitchers had to use the same ball all game?”

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Former San Francisco Giants Manager Gabe Kapler posted an incredible video to social media telling people to ditch the car and just walk faster. Jake and Jordan examine Kapler’s words of wisdom and break down the execution of the video. Then, the guys talk about the Yankees changing their road uniforms, explain what “Farewell to Fitzy Day” is, and provide an important update on Jake’s claim that he has a higher fastball velocity than Jerry Dipoto.

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