Fall Classic Rewind

2026 ALDS Game 1 & 2Before we head to Chicago and New York for Game three, let’s check in on the American League Division Series.Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland GuardiansThe White Sox led the AL Central for much of the season, but once again, Steven Vogt’s Guardians chased down a division rival to take the crown for the third consecutive year. And just like each of the previous years, they will have to face that division rival in the playoffs. Cleveland will have the pitching advantage heading in, as AL ROY favorite Parker Messick will get the ball in game one, with AL strikeout leader Gavin Williams following in game two. Will Venable’s squad is unafraid of this moment, and they are quite familiar with Cleveland. It isn’t always pretty, but there boys just keep finding a way. And if Japanese slugger Munetaka Murikami can rediscover his powerful stroke, look out! The Southside is dangerous!CHW Radio WMVP - Len Kasper and Darrin JacksonCLE Radio WTAM - Tom Hamilton and Jim RosenhausNew York Yankees @ Tampa Bay RaysThe Yanks are flying high after trouncing the Red Sox, but they’ll have their work cut out for them against the Rays. Kevin Cash’s club ran away with the division and the AL’s best record, and what they lack in star power, they more than make up for in execution. But don’t get it twisted, Junior Caminero is an absolute stud, Drew Rasmussen is a bonafide ace, and for the first time perhaps ever, the Trop is BUMPING! These guys will not be intimidated.TBR Radio WDAE 620 AM - Andy Freed and Neil SolondzNYY Radio WFAN - Dave Sims and Suzyn WaldmanAs always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.Catch you next time,Jolly Orange Giant

2026 National League Division SeriesBefore the game threes tonight, let’s quickly recap how the NLDS games have gone so far.Atlanta Braves @ Los Angeles Dodgers - Games 1 and 2Familiar foes face off again, and the Braves appear to begin this series behind the 8-ball. By using ace Chris Sale in relief to close out the Wild Card, Atlanta won’t have him available until at least game three. That means manager Walt Weiss is forced to open this series with consecutive bullpen games. Not ideal in any series, even less so given who they’re facing. The two time defending World Series champion Dodgers are loaded. Despite being without Shohei Ohtani on the mound, they still will send 2X Cy Young Tarik Skubal to the mound in game one, 2X Cy Young Blake Snell in game two… oh and last year’s WSMVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto for game three. But baseball’s not played on paper, it’s decided between the lines and in the batter’s box. Atlanta will need to drag LA into a fight, and that’s exactly what they’re gonna do.ATL Radio The Fan - Ben Ingram and Joe SimpsonLAD Radio AM 570- Charley Steiner and Rick MondaySan Diego Padres @ Milwaukee Brewers - Games 1 and 2How do they keep doing this? The Brewers took their third consecutive NL Central crown, putting up their best regular season ever with 103 wins! They have the presumptive NL Cy Young in Jacob Misiorowski, young stars in Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio, dependable veterans in Christian Yelich and William Contreras (who’s a vet by this point), and a stable full of options for one of the best managers in baseball, Pat Murphy. All of the regular season success is great and all, but what the Milwaukee faithful need is for it to translate to the playoffs. Standing in their way are the Padres, under first year manager Craig Stammen. They’ve got star power, they’ve got passion, and they have the weapons at the back end to rival anyone. They eased past the Cubs, but expect the Brew Crew to mount much more of a challenge.SDP Radio KWFN - Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn, Jr.MIL Radio WTMJ - Jeff Levering, Lane Grindle, and Josh MaurerAs always, shout out to Baseball Reference and MLB.tv for box scores, statistics, audio clips, and much, much more.Catch you next time,P.S. the 20 mile run was a success. I’m now doing what’s called a ‘taper’ slightly reducing the miles to recover before the marathon in less than 20 days!

2026 Wild Card Round RecapThe Postseason is here, and the fireworks have already started. We’ll cover the highlights from the early round action, and preview the division series matchups.Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta BravesFor the third time in the last five seasons, the Braves and Phillies match up again in the playoffs. Despite winning the division in ’22 and ’23, the Braves came up short against their bitter division rival. Things may be different this time around, as the Philadelphia core is aging, and more importantly, the Phillies limped into the playoffs. Let’s see if they can rediscover their old playoff magic, or if the Braves can finally push past them.ATL Radio - 680 The Fan: Ben Ingram and Joe SimpsonPHI Radio - 94.1 WIP: Scott Franzke, Larry Andersen, Kevin StockerChicago White Sox @ Houston AstrosJust two years after losing more game than anyone in baseball history, postseason baseball has returned to the Southside. Call it luck, smart development, or the Pope’s Blessing, it’s great to see the White Sox relevant once again. The Astros are back in the playoffs, but this ain’t the team we’re used to seeing. Don’t be fooled by Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, or presumptive AL MVP Yordan Alvarez, this team’s a mess.CHW Radio - WMVP: Len Kasper and Darrin JacksonBoston Red Sox @ New York YankeesLet’s do this thing again. Just like last year, and many, many times before, Boston and New York face off. While the Sox looked like an ascendant team earlier this year after firing Alex Cora, they have cooled off significantly down the stretch. And even though the Yanks won’t have Aaron Judge, they’re gonna be tough to beat. They’ve got the arms (Schlitter, Fried, Cole, Bednar), they’ve got the bats (lefty or righty), and they’ve got the Bronx Zoo. If Boston’s starters can keep it close, they’ll have a chance. But if they don’t go deep, Aaron Boone has the tools at his disposal to punish any bullpen.NYY Radio - WFAN: Dave Sims and Suzyn WaldmanChicago Cubs @ San Diego PadresYet another rematch, but this time the Padres have home field advantage. The Cubs boast the best offense in baseball, led by breakout superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong. The Padres can swing it too, and unlike the Cubbies, they actually have a strong pitching staff. Many have picked Chicago as an NL favorite, but don’t sleep on San Deigo, and definitely do not underestimate their raucous crowd.SDP Radio - 97.3 FM: Jesse Agler and Tony Gwynn, Jr.Audio clips from MLB.tvAs always, shout out to Baseball Reference for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.Catch you next time,P.S. I’m currently training to run a marathon this month (the Marine Corps Marathon in DC on October 25th!). That’s why I’ve been on hiatus for so long, though I do plan to cover this year’s playoffs, just not as many episodes as usual. Stay tuned!You can follow my marathon training progress on Instagram - @jolly_orangegiant

2026 BBWAA HOF BallotIn a bit of a surprise, the Contemporary Era Committee selected Jeff Kent to the Hall of Fame last month. He will join the likes of Rogers Hornsby, Nellie Fox, Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg, Jackie Robinson, and other MVP second baseman to earn enshrinement (Jose Altuve will join this list in the future, though another player on this year’s writers’ ballot is a long shot.) Dale Murphy, Carlos Delgado, and Don Mattingly all received more than six votes, and the rest of the candidates received fewer than five, meaning they are ineligible to be on the next ballot in three years. For Clemens, Bonds, and Sheffield, that result was not too surprising given their alleged PED use.This coming Tuesday, January 20th, the results from the BBWAA ballot will be revealed, and we will find out who will join Jeff Kent in Cooperstown this year. Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones appear to be in strong position for election this year. Chase Utley and Felix Hernández are the big climbers, and Cole Hamels looks to haver a strong debut on the ballot. We will break down the candidacies (or lack thereof) for the newcomers to the ballot, as well as our predictions for who, if any, will make it this year.Audio clips from MLB.tvHowie Kendrick’s Clutch Homers - WJFK Eats Radio - Dave Jageler and Charlie SlowesAlex Gordon’s WS HR - FOX - Hall of Fame Joe Buck, Tom VerducciEdwin Encarnacion’s Walk-off - TBS - Ernie JohnsonAs always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.Catch you next time,P.C.O.

Contemporary Era Baseball Hall of Fame BallotWith Winter Meetings under way in Orlando, it’s once again time to talk about the Hall of Fame. Eight players are on the ballot for Contemporary Era: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, and Fernando Valenzuela. Results of the committee vote will be released Sunday 12/7 at 7:30 pm ET. In this episode, we will discuss the cases for each of these worthy candidate. We’ll explain who we’d personally vote for, and then try to predict who, if anybody, will be enshrined in Cooperstown.Audio clips from MLB.comValenzuela’s CG in ’81 WS - ABC Howard Cosell and Al MichaelsValenzuela’s No-hitter in ’90 - LAD Vin ScullyMurphy’s 300th Homer - TurnerMattingly’s ALDS in ’95 - ESPN Gary ThorneDelgado’s 4 HR day - TORKent’s NLCS Walk-off - HOU Milo HamiltonSheffield’s 500th HR - SNY Gary CohenAs always, shout out to Baseball Reference and SABR for statistics, box scores, background information, and much, much more.Catch you next time,P.C.O.