Bobby and Alex discuss the whiplash effect the Oakland A’s are starting to have on Alex and the rest of A’s fandom, Max Scherzer’s suspect suspension, and Rob Manfred’s Luncheon World Tour. Then, they’re joined by author and podcaster Mike Duncan (49:30) to discuss Alex Rodriguez a centaur, the state of Mariners fandom, and baseball’s relationship with its own history.

Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeDuncan.

Links:Evan Drellich on Manfred wanting shorter contractsJoin the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise 

Songs featured in this episode:Paramore — “Rose-Colored Boy” • Beach Bunny — "Cloud 9" • Dog Ears — "Sink" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Well, it’s happening. Alex and Bobby react to the late-breaking news that the Oakland A’s are purchasing 49 acres of land on the Las Vegas strip to build a stadium. They break down the ways in which the team failed their fans over the past few years, contextualize how the media has been covering this, try and determine what it means to be a free agent fan, and just generally work through a lot of emotions.

Links:A’s enter agreement for Las Vegas ballpark site Nevada lawmakers on board with Vegas baseball stadium Marc Carig on where the blame falls in Oakland Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise 

Songs featured in this episode:The Coup — “The Guillotine” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Alex and Bobby discuss Michael Kay’s reflexive nihilism in response to being mildly criticized, then revive Three Up, Three Down to talk about some of the happenings around the league this week, including MLB loosening beer cutoffs due to shorter game times, Rob Manfred’s streaming pitch to fans, a possum haunting the Oakland broadcast booth, Jim Bowden’s misguided perspective on contract opt-outs, and more.Links:kay-bemoans-reaction-yankees-bat-boy-comments-rips-awful-announcing.html">Michael Kay has some words for his critics Evan Drellich on the possibility of an MLB streaming service ($) Jim Bowden’s column on opt-outs in baseball ($) Matt Strahm responds to MLB’s relaxed beer policies A possum at the A’s stadium displaced the Mets broadcast team Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in this episode:Microwave — “Dull” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

It’s the start of the baseball season, so what better time to answer all your burning questions? Bobby and Alex dig into the mailbag for this episode, answering listener questions about dynamic duos Barbie-style, whether the Mets scoreboard is too big, which players pour the milk before the cereal, favorite baseball books, Muppet Mets fans, and more.Links:Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon https://www.patreon.com/tippingpitchesTipping Pitches merchandise https://tippingpitches.myshopify.com/Songs featured in this episode:Billy Joel — "Piano Man" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Bobby and Alex banter about some Opening Weekend takeaways, including a timely news dump from the Mets, first reactions to a chaotic new schedule, and the continued takeover of baseball by sports betting, then discuss John Angelos’s game of footsie with financial transparency, Rob Manfred’s PR tour and the disparate narratives coming from league executives, and what to make of the ratification of the first minor league Collective Bargaining Agreement.Links:sp-orioles-john-angelos-financial-meeting-20230329-ceprzpfx3raqljsiemolyx3j34-story.html">John Angelos misses self-imposed deadline to share financials sp-john-angelos-does-not-plan-to-share-orioles-financials-20230331-he74o42r4zaxxeftpqxdwfa2oe-story.html">Angelos declines to share Orioles finances after being pressed on it MLB owner says analytics in baseball are “an arms race to nowhere” MLBPA and MLB reach tentative deal on minor league CBA Michael Baumann’s analysis of the minor league CBA Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in this episode:Taking Back Sunday — "MakeDamnSure" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

The baseball season is back, and so is the Tipping Pitches way of previewing it: by drafting the most GIF-able players in the game right now. Alex and Bobby invite a roster of a guests to pick opposite them, welcoming on Jane Out, Stephen Hesson, Bekah Ansbro, Clinton Yates (by absentee ballot), Sarah Langs, Jake Mintz and Jordan Schusterman, Matthew Ritchie, and Shakeia Taylor to talk about their players to watch this year.Follow Jane on Twitter @JaneOst_Follow Stephen on Twitter @TangoGolfKiloFollow Bekah on Twitter @BekahAnsbroFollow Clinton on Twitter @clintonyatesFollow Sarah on Twitter @SlangsOnSportsFollow Cespedes Family BBQ on Twitter @CespedesBBQFollow Matthew on Twitter @mkrwrtFollow Shakeia on Twitter @curlyfroLinks:The 2022 All-GIF Draft Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in this episode:Sheryl Crow — “Soak Up The Sun” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Bobby and Alex theorize who in the baseball world might've been sweating the SVB bank run, before each ceremoniously banning three topics from the podcast for 2023. Then, they answer a handful of listeners questions about the World Baseball Classic, a parody movie of the Houston Astros, John Smoltz, and more.

Links:Join the Tipping Pitches PatreonTipping Pitches merchandiseSongs featured in this episode:Paul McCartney and the Wings — "Band on the Run" • John Denver — "Take Me Home, Country Roads" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

With movies' biggest stars on display at the Oscars, Alex and Bobby depart from their normal episode structure to try and determine the 30 "most famous" figures within the confines of the baseball world. Current players, retired players, managers, owners, media members, and more battle it out for the unbelievably arbitrary award of being Tipping Pitches' #1 A-lister.

Links: Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in this episode: Daryl Hall & John Oates — "Kiss On My List" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Alex and Bobby discuss favorites for the Mets’ upcoming talent show, break down the news that MLB is lobbying to exclude minor leagues from minimum wage law in Florida, and take stock of the results of the official Tipping Pitches Fans Union Survey (thanks to listener Owen for putting it together!), then talk to The Athletic’s senior MLB writer Evan Drellich about his new book “Winning Fixes Everything,” including the reporting process for the book, how the Astros have influenced other front offices, how consultants took over baseball, ill-advised X-ray machines, and more. Follow Evan on Twitter @EvanDrellich. Links: MLB lobbies to keep minor leaguers from minimum wage law Buy “Winning Fixes Everything” Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in this episode: Gerry Raftery — "Right Down the Line" • Mom Jeans. — "What's Up?" • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”

Alex and Bobby bask in the idea of a book on “business and baseball” from Alex Rodriguez, then discuss Manny Machado’s contract extension and Peter Seidler’s perspective on on risk vs. reward, the A’s going door-to-door looking for stadium money in Las Vegas, Bob Nutting’s CBA hopes and dreams, Tony Clark shutting down the prospect of a salary cap, and Rays reliever Ryan Thompson’s tweet thread on his arbitration experience, before answering listener questions about pitch clock leeway and spring training cliches. Links: Peter Seidler on why he’s comfortable taking risks Bob Nutting is mad about the CBA Ryan Thompson’s tweet thread Marc Normandin on the necessary evil of arbitration Join the Tipping Pitches Patreon Tipping Pitches merchandise Songs featured in this episode:

The Clash — “Should I Stay or Should I Go” • Booker T & the M.G.’s — “Green Onions”