How did the Guardians cure their run-scoring malaise from last season and wind up in first place in 2024? Legendary Cleveland radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton lays out the specific gameplan changes that led to this rise and Stephen Vogt's impact following Terry Francona.Also covered with Hamilton: Cleveland's bugaboo, looking back at Tom's famous "DOWN GOES Anderson" call and an epic untold story about recently-retired Yankees radio voice John Sterling.Subscribe HERE (free) to the FT Leadoff newsletter!
Who is the leader of the Dodgers and which team is their top rival? Manager Dave Roberts takes us inside his star-studded clubhouse and we hit him with as many questions as we could knock out!Shohei Ohtani talk in here includes a breakdown of how he's changed since the Dodgers fired conman interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.Doc reviewed Yoshinobu Yamamoto's best start of his young MLB career and comp'd Toddfather to one of his players.Other fan q's answered by Roberts: Andy Pages up for good? Jason Heyward injury update & what's the plan to get Chris Taylor going again?Hosts: Todd Frazier, Erik Kratz, Scott BraunWe have a new show all about Doc's club ---> Subscribe to the Dodgers Territory podcast
Breaking news during the show that the Orioles sent down #1 overall prospect Jackson Holliday. (18:49)(14:40) FT Senior Insider Ken Rosenthal's instant reaction in here and that's after we get to Marlins stud pitcher Jesus Luzardo having elbow trouble. (23:25) Also covered with Ken: Cardinals fan frustration after Jordan Walker is optioned, Tommy Pham replacing Kevin Pillar, and JD Martinez is ready for action with the Mets.(3:00) Toddfather kicks off the show with an untold story about how he talked Aaron Judge into ALL RISE on his uniform.(32:30) Another day, another Astros loss and another segment on what's next for them.FRESH and FREE FT Leadoff newsletter is out now ---> SUBSCRIBE
DT hosts Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasillas hit the latest Dodgers topics before welcoming guest Andy McCullough, senior writer at The Athletic.McCullough discusses his upcoming new book, "The Last of His Kind," a deep dive biography centered on future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. He shares how the book came together and some of the more surprising things he learned while chatting with Kershaw and some 200 others interviewed along the way.Plus Andy talks about Shohei Ohtani's seamless fit with the Dodgers and his future as a two-way player.TAP IN to subscribe to the Dodgers Territory pod to catch all episodes!
Seeing words like CHICKEN STRIP on the back of a uniform was what showed off MLB Player's Weekend to the world. Why tf would that be gone? We discuss and then bring in A's pitcher Ross Stripling.Strip also reacts to Max Scherzer's call for umpire relegation!More topics covered: FREE ESTY RUIZ, A's > Astros??Hosts: Pierzynski, Kratz, BraunTRUCKER HATS ARE LIVE ON THE FT SHOP!!! ---> TAP IN
Ken Rosenthal and Alanna Rizzo cover the Red Sox staying afloat despite losing a league-leading 13 players to the IL.Blake Snell headed to the IL allows us to revisit the Boras Four. They're not doing so hot to start the season.Has baseball gone too far with closer entrances?Fan q's include: Mason Miller trade candidate, Willy Adames not for sale, Nats for sale affecting their spending & why stolen bases are down again.Ken & Alanna also react to Aaron Boone's wrongful ejection Monday in Dude & Dork of the Week!Get involved next time! Join Fair Territory LIVE on Thursdays at 12:30p ET on the FT Network
Should the bottom 10% of umpires get demoted? Heated debate rages on about how to handle a recent run of glaring missed calls coupled with Max Scherzer’s bold new idea.(7:36) But also AJ offers an alternate take on what lost the game for the Angels besides a replay review miss.(Top of show) How is Esteury Ruiz not in the lineup everyday for the A’s?(19:28) Which record are we buying more: the Mets positive start or the Astros collapse?FRESH and FREE FT Leadoff newsletter is out now ---> SUBSCRIBE
A sly reply in here from the veteran starter to a fan question about Jazz Chisholm choosing to bunt against him.Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn also delivers insight on who will have the advantage with the automatic strike zone, what the unrevealed City Connects might look like for St. Louis and why the celebration for his teammates after a hit is an ode to Paul Goldschmidt.Before the convo, we shoutout the FUEL that A's closer Mason Miller is throwing out there right now. (Lynn convo starts at 3:48)Other topics with Lynn: advice to young pitchers on how to prevent injuries and what Sonny Gray does better than anyone else.Hosts: AJ Pierzynski, Erik Kratz, Scott BraunFRESH and FREE FT Leadoff newsletter is out now ---> SUBSCRIBE
Offseason payroll chopping and a poor start to the season leads to depressed Twins fans. The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman guides us through issues that include injured stars, a lineup that is flailing at spin and a velo drop from Pablo Lopez.OK, hold up. The team finally cracks a playoff series win and they tank their payroll??? Gleeman perfectly explains why the fan morale pendulum has swung so far down.NEW ITEM ALERT! FT SHOP has trucker hats!!!Hosts: AJ, Kratz, Braun
Late signings don't just hurt players. They hurt teams too! We hit the Blake Snell to the injured list breaking news. (2:33)(9:59) Cardinals younger slugger Jordan Walker was optioned today. What does he need to work on and is it an unrealistic ask? This leads to a larger convo about flyball pull percentage.(20:02) Should Mike Trout bat leadoff more often?(24:23) Marcus Stroman shoved for the Yankees and they needed every bit of it.(28:11) Shohei Ohtani smashed the blast of the year. Side convo too: Ohtani in the outfield or nah?Also covered: Astros PANIC mode, Max Fried is BACKFREE FT Leadoff newsletter on Mondays and Thursdays ---> SUBSCRIBE
Washington fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for the debuts of top prospects Dylan Crews and James Wood. Nats commentator Kevin Frandsen breaks down his view of how and when to call players up to the show.Why should A’s fans show up to games? Franny hails from the Bay Area and tells us why Oakland fans have been getting the short end of the stick for far too long.While some umpires are doing a historically bad job right now, Frandsen praised the Adrian Johnson crew! It could be time for the minor league challenge system to get called up the bigs, but will everyone on your favorite team get to use it?Hosts: AJ Pierzynski, Todd Frazier, Erik Kratz, Scott BraunSubscribe FREE to the FT Leadoff Newsletter
Ronald Acuña Jr. didn't know about a team record he broke and Ken Rosenthal tells us how it's not the media's job!What's wrong with the Astros? Ken dives into Jose Abreu's plunge being a part of their fall and tell us why he's expecting bouncebacks from Paul Goldschmidt and Blake Snell.Ken turns the tables and asks AJ if he'd manage the White Sox right now!Also covered: Daulton Varsho shining with the Blue Jays, Mets pros/cons and Ken's bet that Juan Soto gets more present-day money than Shohei Ohtani!Hosts: Pierzynski, Kratz, BraunFair Territory w/Ken and Alanna Rizzo is back on Thursday LIVE at 12:30p ET on the FT Network
Ump Show Part II: Hunter Wendelstedt's postgame excuse was worse than his on-field performance after tossing Aaron Boone from a game for saying...nothing. (16:43) Is this the best version of the Phillies? We hype the Ranger Suarez encore. (7:46) (11:20) Dylan Cease said this was his best start in a minute. AJ points out a big simple stat that made the difference.(26:33) Jared Jones pitch of the year? Jeff McNeil got two balls and one strike :/(37:16) Did we predict the Colton Cowser MOO takeover coming last year? Also, that Camilo Doval entrance has us thinking about other marketing ideas for teams at the park.NEW: FT Leadoff newsletter --> sign up (FREE)Hosts: Kratz, AJ & Braun had fun reading an epic clapback from FT fans to an FT troll :)
Dodgers analyst and former big leaguer Jerry Hairston Jr. joins DT (23:10) to talk about the latest update on Walker Buehler, struggles from the bottom of the LA lineup, Tyler Glasnow the stopper, and Mookie Betts at shortstop.Before that, DT hosts Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasillas size up Glasnow's 'Clayton Kershaw-esque' performance for LA and the latest historic home run from Shohei Ohtani.Plus thoughts on Freddie Freeman's slump, the bullpen and this week's pup looking for a new 'furever' home, Flower.Not every Dodgers Territory runs in this feed so head over to the DT page to SUBSCRIBE or TAP IN HERE!
Are the Cardinals boring? We relayed that fan question to Derrick Goold (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) and also asked him about slow starts by Jordan Walker, Paul Goldschmidt and others.We start with Goold's thoughts on the FIRE start by new addition Sonny Gray and later get to Tyler O'Neil's hot start in Boston. Why do their outfielders thrive elsewhere?DISCLAIMER: this chat happened Monday afternoon before the Cardinals received a Nolan Gorman walkoff blast against the Diamondbacks that night.After Derrick, we dissect the quotes from Astros GM Dana Brown about the super slow start for Jose Abreu. Do the Astros have time to let him figure it out?Hosts: Todd Frazier, AJ Pierzynski, Scott Braun, Erik KratzAre you signed up for the FREE FT Leadoff newsletter?! TAP IN
Ken Rosenthal gauges the panic meter for four marquee players underperforming to start the season: Blake Snell, Paul Goldschmidt, Jose Abreu & Kyle Hendricks. The Mets looked disinteresting in Spring Training, but now they've got juice! Ken explains how his initial impressions have changed, thanks in part to first-year manager Carlos Mendoza.Grillin' Ken answers your questions, including why every team doesn't have a retractable roof, biggest small market surprises, Juan Soto's next contract & what's wrong with Aaron Judge??Fair Territory will be LIVE on Thursdays at 12:30p ET all season long! Get your questions ready for Ken and Alanna Rizzo.Watch Fair Territory on the FT YouTube channel
Aaron Boone got ejected because of a fan? (29:21) Yup, you read that correctly. We discuss the latest surrounding the notorious ump show happening in baseball right now.(03:15) You’d be hard-pressed to find a division hotter than the NL East. The Braves, Phillies and Mets are shining brighter than Kratz’s head on a bright and sunny afternoon.(22:06) Anthony Rendon just can’t catch a break. He lands on the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury as he said he was quote, “just getting into a groove.”(17:27) Jordan Montgomery is back and thriving. Did Blake Snell need more time to get ready for ball?(42:22) Are the Twins OK?Hosts: Todd Frazier, Erik Kratz, Scott BraunBRAND NEW NEWSLETTER! Sign up for FT Leadoff
The free agent experience was not fun for many vets this past offseason but Nick Martinez details why he thrived.Epic story time in here with Nick and Toddfather revealing their adventures as teammates in the Olympic Village.Martinez didn't want to be labeled as a depth guy. He dives into how playing in Japan changed his life.And we ask him about THE Reds pitcher to watch right now.Hosts: Kratz, Toddfather & Braun on the fieldFT SHOP on a Monday :)
Mike Trout tells FT how he tried to get Shohei to stay in Anaheim. The Angels superstar is missing his former MVP teammate but explains how he’s amping up his own game to make up the difference. 40+ steals again??What happens when two GOATs put their heads together? Trout talks about what it’s been like to work with fellow GOAT Tiger Woods on their new golf course.Host lineup: Todd Frazier & Scott Braun on the field w/Trout + Erik Kratz in his bunkerPete Alonso was rocking his FT shirt all over national television this week. Got yours?! FT MERCH SHOP
Do the Phillies look like a "sexy men’s beer league softball team" in their new City Connects? Catcher Garrett Stubbs eloquently describes the new look and offers a baller idea for the next round.The Gold Glove awards have a BS qualifying rule and we SLAM it. Let us know if you agree plz!Also covered: Inside info on the Ranger Suarez shutout, advantage of Phillies keeping their players, modern pitching/catching (overthrowing, 1-knee catching)Support the FT fam! Rock FT Merch