2 Tools Baseball Podcast: Recent Episodes
Alex Jonietz and Travis Miller
Stats nerds and high school jocks, welcome to the 2 Tools Baseball podcast, a show that is designed to walk you through some fresh perspectives on Major League Baseball. Hosted by the numbers guy, Alex, and the lifetime ball player, Travis, the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast aims to tackle weekly hot topics from unique and often contrasting viewpoints throughout the MLB season. We'd appreciate it if you came along for this wild ride. Cheers!
EP 107: Alex and Travis open with an ice breaker question that has them draft their greatest infield of all time. Then they give their thoughts on the major fluctuations happening in the NL Wild Card race over the past couple weeks. Alex and Travis go on to discuss some of the big risers and fallers this season in the Shortstop and Starting Pitcher Power Rankings. They debate some of the best AL MVP candidates that could win if not for Shohei Ohtani, and they close with some Dodgers optimism, White Sox dysfunction, and Rays woes.
EP 106: This week Alex and Travis cover all the big moves that occurred over the last week before the MLB trade deadline. They give their takes on if teams actually moved the needle on their postseason chances, and they debate which teams made good or bad decisions as both wild card races and several divisions still hang in the balance.
EP 105: This week, Alex and Travis open with a breakdown on the greatest single day of baseball ever played by one player. They die into the news that Ohtani will remain an Angel in 2023 as the Angels add Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. The Dodgers kick off their deadline by adding depth in Kiké Hernandez and Amed Rosario. Alex and Travis proceed by discussing which teams will become buyers and sellers before the trade deadline, and they debate who will end up on top of a dead even NL Wild Card race. They close with their thoughts on the fluctuating awards odds, as some accolades are completely up for grabs and other award races are already over.
EP 104: The Shohei Ohtani trade deadline buzz is becoming one of the hottest topics in sports. Alex and Travis give their takes on the situation from every angle: the Angels' perspective, potential buyers, who could extend him, his future contract, and more. Then, Alex and Travis discuss the first notable trade of the trade season as Shintaro Fujinami is sent to the Orioles to bolster their bullpen. Finally, they close with a breakdown on where the Yankees go from here after falling to 5th place in the AL East and several holes in their roster.
EP 103: This week, Alex and Travis open with a conversation about the Shohei Ohtani decision that looms over the Angels as the trade deadline approaches. They discuss some Dodgers pitching woes and a questionable pre-season prediction, before revealing and debating their 1st Half All-MLB teams. Alex and Travis close with their thoughts on the 2023 All-Star Game rosters, the key snubs, and a quick prediction on the Home Run Derby.
EP 102: Alex and Travis open with their selections between the finalists at each position on the 2023 All-Star Game ballot. Then, they break down some of the hot hitters in MLB right now, including Jordan Walker and Luis Arraez. They debate if Arraez can earn MVP consideration by hitting .400. Finally, Alex and Travis review the current Wild Card race standings in each league and discuss how they see the playoff picture shaping up as we reach the halfway point of the season.
EP 101: This week, Alex and Travis catch up on the biggest headlines in MLB this month: deGrom hurt, Elly de la Cruz debut, Luis Arraez chasing .400, and Corbin Carroll's breakout as a superstar. They answer some debate questions about the Yankees struggles and about who the better young superstar is between Corbin and Julio. Finally, Alex and Travis present their updated Power Rankings for the top 10 teams in MLB, and they debate where some of the best teams stand at the halfway point of the season.
EP 100: This week, Alex and Travis open by picking the biggest surprises, both good and bad, through two months of the season. They cover respond to some fun tweets about the best lefty hitter since bonds and if it makes sense to try Ohtani as an outfielder/reliever combo. Then, Alex and Travis explain their picks for their updated All-MLB teams through May, before debating their picks for Player of the Month. Lastly, they give some love to promising players like rookie sensation Ben Joyce and take a look at early MVP favorites for 2023. Can anyone prevent another Judge/Ohtani two-man race? Wander, you're our only hope...
EP 82: Alex and Travis open by recapping the 2022 season award winners and discussing their thoughts on the selections. They dive into all of the trades, free agency signings, and other transactions that have occurred since the offseason began, before going over the newly announced Hall of Fame ballot additions that will be voted on in January.
Alex and Travis open with their reactions to the Houston Astros winning the 2022 World Series and discuss what went wrong for the Phillies in the finals games of the postseason. As soon as the postseason ended, the offseason began, as seen in Edwin Diaz's record contract with the Mets, the announcement that Ohtani would remain an Angel, and betting odds on Judge's next team. Alex and Travis also breakdown the newly announced 2022 awards finalists for the AL and NL. They give their reactions and debate who they see going into the off-season with hardware.
Alex and Travis open by breaking down what the most recent iteration of the Yankees downfall at the hands of the Houston Astros means about these two teams, their construction, and their futures. They talk about what the big NLCS Game 5 homer by Bryce Harper means for his legacy and how the Padres just came up shy against a hotter opponent in the biggest spots. Then, Alex and Travis preview the 2022 World Series between an Astros team that finds itself in this spot time after time and a Phillies team that seems to have an unstoppable amount of momentum and support from the baseball gods. They debate how they see the matchup panning out and make their picks for who will come out on top.
EP 79: Alex and Travis open with their reactions to the shocking upset of the 111 win Dodgers at the hands of the Padres. They welcome on two callers as guests and representatives of Dodger Nation to give their responses to this unexpected failure. Then, Alex and Travis breakdown the Phillies' dominant performance against the defending champion Atlanta Braves. They recap the Astros eliminating the Mariners in the tightest 3 game sweep in recent memory. Then, Alex and Travis breakdown the split Yankees and Guardians series as they head into a game 5, before previewing and making predictions on the upcoming AL and NL Championship Series.
EP 78: Alex and Travis open with their reactions to the Wild Card round from last weekend. They discuss their biggest takeaways from the four Wild Card series and whether or not some big names from eliminated teams played their last games with their current teams. With the ALDS and NLDS matchups finalized, Alex and Travis talk about the final eight teams remaining and make their picks for each series.
EP 77: Alex and Travis open with their reactions to Judge's 62 home run milestone and Albert Pujols wrapping up his final regular season. Then they reveal their picks for the 2022 All-MLB team and debate who they would vote for as the 2022 MVPs, Cy Youngs, and other major awards. Alex and Travis transition into the postseason by previewing the new bracket format and breaking down how they see this weekend's Wild Card series shaping up.
EP 76: Albert Pujols reaches the historic 700 career home run milestones in LA, while Aaron Judge fails to reach 61 against Boston. The playoff picture solidifies with just a week of baseball left in the season. The Dodgers continue to impress, the Guardians clinch against all odds, and the wild card races begin to wrap up. And after nearly a full season of driving the MVP conversation, Paul Goldschmidt has company atop the NL leaderboards as several stars across the league end the season hot.
Alex and Travis start the weekly recap by announcing the Angels playoff elimination and praising the new Players of the Week. Judge and Pujols both inch closer in their pursuits of history, and MLB Insider Jon Heyman sparks heated online debate on the AL MVP award with his overwhelming praise of Aaron Judge. Alex and Travis react to a new MLB Power Rankings as the playoff picture starts to slowly solidify, and they breakdown what deGrom's latest hot streak could mean for the future of his career.
EP 74: Alex and Travis breakdown the significance of historic home run milestones being chased down by Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, and Albert Pujols. The wild card races couldn't be tighter, while the Dodgers remind MLB that no one is on their level. The 2023 season will also feature some rule changes, so Alex and Travis explain their thoughts on how these rules will affect the game of baseball.
EP 73: Angels owner Arte Moreno announces his desire to sell the team, and Angels fans react in a big way. Julio Rodriguez inks a monster extension that has the potential to break records. MLB announced the 2023 regular season schedule that features an all new structure with more interleague play than ever before. The wild card races clearly are beginning to tighten, and Josh Hader's jarring troubles on the mound has made things difficult as the Padres try to hang around in the NL playoff picture.
Johnny Cueto, Paul Goldschmidt, and Albert Pujols earn player of the week nods. The Brewers seem to be slipping away from the Cardinals in the NL Central, while the Dodgers' lead in the NL West grows larger. The Dodgers, Aaron Judge, and Albert Pujols all are on track to flirt with historic milestones by the end of the season. Cedric Mullins also announces he's joining Team USA in the WBC.
Hot slate of topics this week include the 80-game suspension of Fernando Tatis Jr. for testing positive for PEDs, the scorching hot streak the Dodgers are on, the unexpected spiral of the Yankees, and a new challenger in the AL Rookie of the Year race. Jacob deGrom also made his anticipated return to the mound, and this year's Field of Dreams game was not as special as MLB would have liked.
EP 70: New Padres outfielder Juan Soto headlines the biggest trade day of the MLB season. Alex and Travis breakdown the winners and losers between all the buyers, the sellers, and the teams in between.
A Mike Trout injury update filled headlines this week, and Aroldis Chapman has continued to perform poorly. The trade deadline is less than a week away so Alex and Travis give their breakdown on what to expect from contenders, tankers, and everyone in between.
Alex and Travis recap the Home Run Derby and breakdown their thoughts on the All-Star Game lineups, starting pitchers, rule changes, and more. Matt Carpenter gets his own segment since he's breaking all-time records for the 1st place Yankees. Trade talks for phenom Juan Soto seem to be becoming more realistic as the trade deadline approaches, and then Alex and Travis have a hypothetical discussion on how the Angels should handle a potential Shohei Ohtani extension/trade/free agency decision.
Alex and Travis open with the 2022 All-Star Game roster, breaking down deserving starters, biggest snubs, and everything in between. The 1st half of the season is officially over so Alex and Travis debate their updated All-MLB teams and 1st half award picks. They also reveal their power rankings for the 1st half and end on a breakdown of some of the most talented teams that will be featured in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
EP 66: Paul Goldschmidt and Vlad Guerrero Jr win Player of the Week nods, but Mike Trout threw his name in the conversation with a monster series in Seattle. All-Star voting numbers were released which started plenty of debates. Oneil Cruz came out of the gate hot following his season debut, and the new MLB Power Rankings display the big risers and fallers in the recent weeks of the season.
EP 65: Joe Girardi and Joe Maddon were relieved of their managerial duties in attempts to send their teams in a new direction this season. Disappointing times for the White Sox have fans wondering if Tony La Russa could be next. The 2022 All-Star Game ballot was released and some tough decisions and close calls are already coming to mind. The standings across MLB are shifting as teams like the Brewers, the Phillies, and the Braves have gone streaking.
EP 64: Alex and Travis open with the disastrous spiral that the Angels have been on over the last two weeks. Then they discuss the underrated first full season of Ke'Bryan Hayes' young career. Who is the best hitter in baseball right now? Best overall team? How about best and worst offseason signings so far? And how many young studs do the Cardinals have?! All these topics and more are debated on this week's episode.
EP 63: A Jose Trevino walk-off and a monster performance by Joc Pederson made for some of the biggest stories of the week. Trevor Story quickly turned around his rough start in the biggest way possible, and it has the Red sox trending in the right direction. The American League is heading straight for a 7 team race for 6 available playoff spots, and the Yankees pitching staff continues to make the case for being the best in baseball. And with the month of May coming to an end, Alex and Travis debate their picks for the current 2022 All-MLB team and then crown their Player of the Month.
EP 62: MLB Players of the Week Trevor Story and Sandy Alcantara get their credit at the top of the show, followed by a breakdown of Aaron Judge's recent power explosion. Other hot performers include more seasoned veterans like Mookie Betts and Paul Goldschmidt, while fresh rookies across the league continue to make an impact on key teams as MLB's top prospect Adley Rutschman makes his big league debut. The Red Sox and the Cardinals are both trending positively for different reasons, Mike Trout continues to break records, and Albert Pujols puts pressure on 700. A suspension for Josh Donaldson for inappropriate comments made headlines as the White Sox symbolically trounced the Yankees, leaving NYY with a tough decision about their closer.
EP 61: Alex and Travis discuss their thoughts on the players of the week: Reid Detmers for his historic no-hitter and reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper who looks like he is returning to 2021 form. The Angels had one of the wildest regular season games in recent memory, and the Reds fans witnessed an all-time stinger. Christian Yelich hit for the cycle, and Aaron Judge is making the case for a monster contract this offseason. Alex and Travis give with their reactions to the newest MLB Power Rankings and then close with a note on Ohtani's 100th homer coverage and Joe Maddon's head-scratching Manager of the Year case.
EP 60: Alex and Travis open with a discussion about how the two league-leading teams stack up against each other: the Yankees and the Mets. They go into other notable teams who have surprised in the first month of the season, from the rolling Angels to the letdown Red Sox, amongst others. MLB released a new Power Rankings for the teams in baseball, so Alex and Travis discuss what they agree and disagree with on these rankings.
EP 59: Taylor Ward and Willy Adames were announced as players of the week, and the MLB recently released their Team of the Month and an updated power rankings. After one month of play, Alex and Travis present their top 10 teams at this point in the season, and then they reveal their 2022 All-MLB teams through April. They close on the state of the MLB baseball, the trajectory of the league, and more.
Miguel Cabrera officially joins the 3000 hits club, so Alex and Travis explain what that means for his career and which active players could be next to join him. They transition into breaking down the hot topics of the last week including an elite start from Wander Franco, a Jesus Luzardo trade retrospective, and Kyle Wright's breakout. MLB also released their official power rankings as of this Monday, so Alex and Travis discussed how they see the top teams in baseball stacking up.
Alex and Travis open with the their thoughts on the retirement announcements of Jake Arrieta and Tony Watson. They discuss whether or not they think Yelich and Bellinger are truly returning to form so far this season before going through other players and teams who have started the season hot or cold. Storylines of the week go beyond player and team performances though as managers Dave Roberts and Joe Maddon catch serious heat from the media for decisions they made in critical moments of their games.
The first episode of the 2022 MLB regular season opens with Alex and Travis highlighting this year's first "players of the week(end)" before transitioning into some key storylines of the season like Judge's and deGrom's looming free agencies, breakouts of new faces such as Seiya Suzuki and Steven Kwan, and both good and bad performances by teams after one weekend of play. They also analyze Monday's new power rankings released by The Athletic and give their own takes on which teams and players have impressed or disappointed thus far.
This week, Alex and Travis begin by recapping the recent trades and signings that have unfolded in the final week before Opening Day. They give their full 2022 season preview by explaining how they see every division stacking up, and then they debate their most overrated and underrated teams based on the preseason narratives. Alex and Travis then go over all of their hottest betting picks for MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year awards that they made in Vegas last weekend, and they wrap up by rattling over their Opening Day top 10 power rankings for the 2022 season.
Alex and Travis open with their takes on the Albert Pujols signing and other signings and extension that have taken place in the last week. Then, they transition into completing their series of ranking the best players at every position by revealing their top 10 catchers, starting pitcher, and relief pitchers, followed by their rankings of the top 25 players in MLB for the 2022 season.
This week, Alex and Travis open by breaking down all the big moves that took place in the past week in the MLB world. They give their takes on who were the biggest winners and losers of the offseason and how certain teams have started out in Spring Training. Then Alex and Travis reveal their top 10 players at all three outfield positions and DH as they continue their player ranking series.
Alex and Travis open by going through all of the new deals that were made since the lockout ended a week ago. They explain how these new signings and trades affect the teams involved, and they discuss how the remaining big free agents fit into the needs of teams that are still looking to buy. Then, they unveil their top 10 lists for first base, second base, third base, and shortstop as they begin their series of ranking and debating the best players at every position.
Alex and Travis open with celebration regarding the surprising and relieving news that a new CBA has been ratified and the full 2022 MLB season will be played. They discuss some of the changes that will be implemented this season and beyond, and they go over some of their expectations as the MLB ramps back up, including free agency talk, their early thoughts on the current MVP odds, and much more.
Alex and Travis open with their reactions to the news of Derek Jeter stepping down from his role as CEO of the Marlins. Tragically, the MLB and MLBPA could not come to an agreement on a new CBA, and regular season games are officially being cancelled. Alex and Travis break this down and then try to cheer up by analyzing how every team is going to approach free agency as soon as the work stoppage ends.
On this week's episode, Alex and Travis open with the rumors of Seiya Suzuki being linked to the Boston Red Sox. Then, they recap the progress (or lack thereof) in the Collective Bargaining negotiations that are still going on between MLB and the MLB Players' Association. They follow this with a new discussion by dissecting the recently published Top 100 MLB Players of All-Time that was posted by ESPN.
Alex and Travis celebrate the selection of David Ortiz to become a Hall of Famer this year. They go over why this pick makes sense and give their takes on some of the controversial players that were not selected. Alex and Travis break down the players that made substantial gains in voting percentage, those who lost some favor from the voters, and those who are no longer on the ballot going forward. They wrap up by previewing the players that will be on the ballot in 2023.
This episode, Alex and Travis go through all the candidates on the 2022 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot and make their cases for who is worthy of Cooperstown and who falls just short. They also unveil their theoretical ballots if they had a Hall of Fame vote.
This week, Alex and Travis open by commemorating the great career of newly retired Jon Lester. They also give their thoughts on the current progress towards the new collective bargaining agreement. MLB Radio released their top 10 MLB player for 2022, so Alex and Travis broke down the list and explained their agreements and grievances. Then, they dove into their discussion about the biggest snubs that were never voted into the Hall of Fame throughout baseball history. In the spirit of Hall of Fame season, Alex and Travis detail the careers of many of these great players who deserve more credit than they've been given.
Alex and Travis analyze what the best MLB players who do not yet qualify for the Hall of Fame need to do to wind up in Cooperstown some day. They breakdown the cases for some of these young stars and explain just how much Hall of Fame talent exists in the Major Leagues right now.
Alex and Travis present the series finale of their All-Time Teams special. They open by ranking the best franchise teams of all-time and then the best divisions of all-time. They go on to present their All-Time AL, NL, and MLB teams, while debating some of the surprising disagreements that they have.
This episode, Alex and Travis cover the unexpected announcement of the retirement of Mariners' veteran Kyle Seager. They then unveil their all-time teams for the franchises in the NL East, as well as their all-time teams for the NL East division.
This episode Alex and Travis open with the new hiring of Buck Showalter to become the new Mets manager. Then they dive into their all-time teams for each franchise in the NL Central, followed by the all-time team for the historic division.
Alex and Travis walk through the NL West team by team and explain their all-time teams for each franchise. Filled with both deep history and active young superstars, these franchise teams and their all-time NL West team provides good content for their discussion this episode.
This week Alex and Travis continue building their all-time franchise and division teams by jumping into the AL East. A good mix of baseball legends, historic franchises, and expansion teams leads to great balance in our conversation about baseball history.
Alex and Travis open by breaking down the slow news week as the lockout continues. Then they dive into their picks for the all-time teams for each historic franchise in the AL Central, and they finish by revealing their all-time AL Central team.
Six new people were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, so Alex and Travis open by reacting to these new members and a surprising omission as a result of Veteran's Committee voting. Then, Alex and Travis begin their new segment of cataloguing the the best starting lineups for every team in MLB by using the players in that franchise's history. They begin the exercise this week with their all-time teams for the five AL West franchises.
Alex and Travis recorded a bonus early episode because of all the hot news that had come out in the days following their last episode. They open by going over all of the new signings and trades from the past few days and then transition into their predictions for the remaining biggest free agents on the market. Alex and Travis finish with their thoughts about the lockout that was initiated on Wednesday night and breakdown some of the key points of discussion and how MLB could be different in 2022.
Alex and Travis open with their takes on the recently announced 2021 All-MLB first and second teams, explaining the good picks and the major snubs. Then, they jump into their thoughts on the major trades, signings, and extensions that took place over the last week. Alex and Travis proceed with how they think the markets are shifting for some of the big name free agents as we approach the looming CBA deadline.
The 2022 free agent class has begun signing contracts with new teams, so Alex and Travis give their takes on the deals that were completed this week. They also give their thoughts on the posting of Seiya Suzuki and his prospects to join an MLB roster. Then Alex and Travis react to the results of the 2021 Awards voting and provide some context to the seasons of these top performers. Lastly, Alex and Travis present their rankings of their Top 5 Season of All-Time in honor of the extraordinary season put forth by Shohei Ohtani in 2021.
Alex and Travis open by covering some more minor signings and trades that have occurred in the last week. Then they go over their thoughts on all of the Gold Glove, Platinum Glove, and Sliver Slugger award winners. Jeff Passan published a list of the biggest potential trade pieces this offseason, so Alex and Travis broke down what teams make sense to push for some of these difference maker players. Vladimir Guerrero Jr and MLB Network analysts had a discussion on launch angle so Alex and Travis weighed in on that as well. They then wrapped up the episode by giving their current MLB Power Rankings considering all of the free agents on the market at the moment.
Alex and Travis open up with the surprising announcement that Buster Posey is officially retiring from baseball. They continue with other recent news like the hiring of Bob Melvin to head coach the Padres and the trade of catcher Tucker Barnhart to the Tigers. Then Alex and Travis go player by player through a list of several of the top free agents on the market and predict where these players might sign as a preview for this offseason.
Alex and Travis opened by talking about the Braves' World Series victory of the Astros in six games. They discuss their big takeaways from the series and highlighted some top performers. Then Alex and Travis debated about their 2021 All-Postseason teams and made the cases for their postseason MVPs. They finish with a segment where they breakdown the best World Series games of the century in celebration of the 2021 World Series coming to an end.
Alex and Travis open with their takeaways from the conclusions of the ALCS and NLCS. The Astros finished off the Red Sox at home with serious momentum heading into the World Series, while the Braves remained hot and took care of business against the heavily favored Dodgers in six games. Alex and Travis dive into this season's World Series matchup and give their prediction on how they see this series unfolding. Astros versus Braves, Tuesday night, GET HYPED!
This week Alex and Travis start by briefly explaining their thoughts on the controversial ending to the winner-take-all Game 5 between the Dodgers and Giants. Then they jump into the back and forth nature of the ALCS thus far with the offensive outbursts between the Astros and the Red Sox. Alex and Travis also discuss how the Braves have managed to pull off a stunning 3-1 series lead against the Dodgers, pushing the reigning champs' backs against the wall in the NLCS. They wrap up by making their arguments for how they see these series concluding and look ahead to their picks to win the pennants.
Alex and Travis give a full breakdown on each Wild Card game and then dive into the outcomes of all the ALDS and NLDS series, including notable performers and key storylines. Then they organize their thoughts on the remaining teams and give their predictions for the upcoming championship series.
October is here. Alex and Travis jump into their All-MLB teams for the 2021 season and fully breakdown how they would vote for the major awards like MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year in the AL and NL. Then they preview the Dodgers vs Cardinals and Red Sox vs Yankees Wild Card games that are set for this week, as well as the ALDS and NLDS series that would follow this weekend. Alex and Travis give their picks for each series and explain how they think the 2021 MLB Postseason will shape up.
Alex and Travis open by recapping their weekend trip to watch the Yankees take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Entering the final week of the 2021 MLB regular season, Alex and Travis break down the remaining wild card and divisional races that will determine who makes and who misses the playoffs. After going over the remaining games in the season and giving their predictions, Alex and Travis dive into the comments made by Shohei Ohtani regarding the Angels' lack of success, which echoed the quotes from Mike Trout and Joe Maddon on the need to acquire more talent when they retool this offseason.
Alex and Travis open with a breakdown of the Tatis and Machado dugout argument that symbolize where the Padres are at this season. They go into what are some likely outcomes for the wild card races in each league with a couple weeks left in the season. Then Alex and Travis go in depth on who they think are the 10 best teams in MLB this year as the 2021 season nears its conclusion.
Alex and Travis open with a conversation about Corbin Burnes' combined no hitter, Max Scherzer's 3000th career strikeout, and how these feats affect the NL Cy Young race. They also talk about how some other awards races have or have not changed course, specifically with the emergence of Wander Franco and the return of Guerrero Jr.'s triple crown potential. They then provide some historical context on the Triple Crown feat and how that ties into the AL MVP race. They close with some thoughts on the SF Giants being the first team in MLB to clinch a spot in the 2021 Postseason.
Alex and Travis briefly cover the hot trends of the last week of MLB action. Then they give their thoughts on the newly enshrined members of the Baseball Hall of Fame: Derek Jeter, Larry Walker and Ted Simmons. Alex and Travis then breakdown the arguments for or against all of the active players who are eligible for the hall of fame that might wind up on the ballot in the future.
Alex and Travis go over current events in the baseball world first by breaking down what Yadier Molina's extension means for his future and legacy, how significant Wander Franco's hot streak is, and what they think of the growing beef between Mets fans and players. Then they dive deep into what their All-MLB Team is looking like through August, as well as who they have penciled in for the major awards with only one month left in the 2021 MLB season.
Alex and Travis open by covering two big milestones that were reached this week: Shohei Ohtani hitting 40 homers before anyone else on baseball and Miguel Cabrera joining the elusive 500 career home run club. They dive into what this means for Ohtani's season and for Miggy's career, plus they see who are next in line to reach the 500 homer and 3000 hit clubs. In the wake of the Reds surpassing the Padres in the Wild Card race, Alex and Travis bring up some ideas they have to make sure that the best teams and players in MLB get their shot to play in October. They finish up by analyzing the slimming NL Cy Young race and the Yankees lineup dilemma as prepare to enter the last month of the baseball season.
Alex and Travis open with a discussion about how Fernando Tatis Jr is trying to get back into the Padres lineup early by starting off as an outfielder. They break down what it means for his value this season and what it could mean for his legacy going forward. Then Alex and Travis put Mike Trout's WAR this season into perspective despite his IL stint. They follow up by hitting a variety of the week's hot topics from the Field of Dreams game to the wild NL East and NL wild card situations to some of the lowlight performers on the Angels this season.
It feels like we are entering the home stretch of the 2021 MLB season, so Alex and Travis breakdown what teams are surging, what teams are slipping, and how some trade deadline moves are going to impact the last two months of the season. They also go over how chaotic the NL MVP and Cy Young races still are, which leads to an in-depth talk about Bryce Harper's recent hot streak and what kind of player he has been this season and throughout his whole career. Alex and Travis wrap up with some Angels discussion as the forever .500 team gears up for the final third of the season.
Alex and Travis fully breakdown all of the trade deadline deals that broke before Wednesday night and then discuss the way that they would go about choosing who would make a fully-loaded Team USA Olympic baseball team. They go on to briefly respond to a recently posted and deeply flawed Power Rankings that was posted by MLB itself on social media, and then Alex and Travis fully dive into their updated All-MLB team and award winners through July. They end by looking ahead to what is on the horizon for the Angels.
On this week's episode, Alex and Travis start out by covering some of the issues with the umpiring in baseball right now. The main topic at hand is a full breakdown of all of the buyers and sellers as we sit one week away from the trade deadline. Alex and Travis go through the best options for all teams in Major League Baseball to make the most of their potential trade scenarios. Then, they wrap up by going over some interesting trivia and having a discussion comparing the on-field value of Ohtani v.s. Trout.
This episode of the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast features Alex and Travis breaking down all the exciting headlines coming out of the All-Star break, from a star-studded Home Run Derby to the unprecedented performances put on in the All-Star Game. They transition into a brief chat about some suspect comments regarding Shohei Ohtani's ability to be the face of baseball as a Japanese international player in the MLB. Lastly, Alex lays out a series of debate-style questions for himself and Travis to discuss in order to analyze how they see the rest of the 2021 MLB season unfolding.
Alex and Travis start out by going over some hot scoops in the last week of baseball and go back and forth with some trivia and stats. This is followed by a breakdown of their full top 10 list of the best teams in baseball right now. Then the 2 Tools give their mid-season full update on what bets they love and what bets they hate from their pre-season Las Vegas trip. The mid-season recap continues as they take a look back into their Episode 1 predictions for overrated and underrated teams. This episode was wrapped up with a brief Angels mid-season progress report and a quick plug for possibly the most anticipated Home Run Derby ever.
The 2 Tools take a deep dive into every aspect of the 2021 All-Star selection process. There was plenty to discuss from the questionable nominations for top 3 players at every position to some of the sneaky elite players that were left off of the starting squad or the whole team altogether. Alex and Travis tackle all of this and more in this weeks episode of the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast.
After an action-packed first of half of the 2021 MLB season, the 2 Tools had a lot to unpack on this weeks episode. Alex and Travis open by talking about how this 2021 season feels special so far, harkening back to pre-pandemic baseball. Then, the 2 Tools breakdown who they have on their All-MLB teams as it stands halfway through the MLB season, all while the Angels put up a seven run ninth inning in the Bronx in real time during the podcast.
The saga of foreign substances continues as the 2 Tools breakdown the next phase of the story where pitchers are now blaming the MLB's regulations for their injuries. Building up to the All-Star break, international superstar Shohei Ohtani has declared for the Home Run Derby at Coors Field, creating an all-time high in anticipation for the event. Internet chatter also had a lot to say about the ESPYs' four questionable nominees for baseball player of the year and the newest stories about the hardships of minor league baseball life. Alex and Travis discuss all of this and more on this episode of the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast.
Alex and Travis couldn't help but shower praise onto their team, the Angels, after a hot streak has propelled them back above a .500 record. They also go over the rocky performances by every elite pitcher and Cy Young candidate following the recent crackdown on doctored baseballs... except for one. The 2 Tools track some other new storylines like the skidding Yanks, the Patrick Wisdom hype train, and much more! (P.S. All new intro song created in the 2 Tools beat laboratory makes its debut this episode, so hope you enjoy!)
In this week's episode, Alex and Travis make their arguments for who they think the ten best teams in baseball are at this point in the season. They also commemorate Lou Gehrig Day in the MLB by discussing his legendary career and his place in baseball lore. Alex and Travis talk about how the young trio of Vladdy Guerrero Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. are leading the pack in the home run race and taking baseball by storm across the board. The 2 Tools also give some historical context to the deGromination that has taken over the MLB this season thus far by drawing comparisons to Bob Gibson's 1968 and Pedro Martinez's 2000 seasons, and they wrap-up on some Angels optimism after a pleasant 8-4 stretch of play. Listen now!
The month of May has brought about many new storylines and hot performers in the MLB, so Alex and Travis took a look over the season thus far and created their own updated All-MLB teams for the first two months of the season. By going over their starting line-ups, pitching staffs, award winners, and May Players of the Month, the 2 Tools dug deep to cover the players that have impressed them the most this season so far. Also, the MLB had its first instance of an umpire acknowledging the current wave of ball doctoring, an incredibly awful defensive gaffe, and more examples of disappointing strike calling by home plate umps. Alex and Travis cover all of this and more in this weeks episode of the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast!
An eventful week in the MLB season has left Alex and Travis with a myriad of storylines to discuss on this week's episode. Tony La Russa threw his own player under the bus and MLB players responded accordingly. Shohei Ohtani continued his historic tear, and the Year of the Pitcher 2.0 has continued to surprise. Brewers added a shortstop, and Yasmani Grandal walked a lot. The 2 Tools discuss all of this and more in this week's episode of the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast!!
Alex and Travis jump between a handful of hot topics in this weeks episode of the 2 Tools Baseball Podcast. How legit are the Yankees as they slowly heat up thanks to Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge? Will any contact year all-stars be dealt at the trade deadline? How will the World Series or bust Dodgers use Albert Pujols?!?!! Rounding it all out with our updated top 10 Power Rankings and some Angels concerns, catch up with this week in the MLB season right here right now!!
Alex and Travis take an in-depth look at the Los Angeles Angels' decision to release future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols from the organization during the final year of his 10-year deal. Come check out what the 2 Tools think this means for the Angels going forward! After a couple no-hitters and an intense Yankees-Astros series, there was no shortage of hot topics for Alex and Travis to sink their teeth into this week! P.S. Shout-out to moms!!
With one month of the 2021 MLB season under our belts, the 2 Tools decided it's time to unveil their current All-MLB teams for the month of April. Covering the best players in baseball after one month of play and ranking our top 10 teams so far, this monthly round-up is one you won't want to miss!
Join the 2 Tools as they talk about the hot storylines three full weeks into the MLB season! The Dodgers and Padres put on another show this weekend as they battle for dominance in the baseball world. Meanwhile, many rising stars and familiar faces are taking the league by storm by putting up some incredible individual stat lines. Come along for the ride as Alex and Travis dive into all of this and more!
The Dodgers are rolling, and the Padres look good. Should the Yankees be worried? Are the Red Sox legit?! Alex and Travis discuss how they view some the most impressive and concerning performances in the MLB right now. The 2 Tools also go over their top 10 teams in the MLB right now, and they cap off the episode with a tableside chat with a friend of the show to talk Dodgers, Astros, the keys to winning, and way more. Come listen!
With about 10 or so games under most teams' belts, Alex and Travis dive into some of their takes on the season thus far. Covering hot and cold players, winning and losing teams, the shortcomings of instant replay, and much more, the 2 Tools invite you to join them on their journey into the 2021 MLB season!
The 2021 MLB season is officially underway, and it is so good to have baseball back! An exciting first week of play gave Alex and Travis a lot to talk about, from hearing 13,000+ people boo the Astros in person to seeing Shohei Ohtani show off his unreal two-way potential to contextualizing the current greatness of Jacob deGrom, and so much more. Come along for the ride as we dive into the first week of the season!
At long last, the 2021 MLB season is finally upon us. Alex and Travis discuss who they like and don't like going into the season, some preseason bets that they made in Vegas, and how they think the Angels stack up in the American League. Join them in this inaugural 2 Tools Baseball Podcast episode that will kick off their weekly show of covering the 2021 season. Cheers!