bzr | The Baseball Zealot

BZR interviews Erik Manning of Future Redbirds

Baseball Zealot Radio got a chance to interview Erik Manning tonight. Erik writes for FutureRedbirds.net, a website that scouts Cardinals prospects in their farm system.

In show 46, we talk a bit about Future Redbirds and the tools he needs to scout the players. He then gives us a snapshot of the current Cardinals’ farm system. Who’s hot and who’s not.

I couldn’t let Erik off the line without asking him about the big league so we talked a little about the NL Central race, one that’s shaping up to be a humdinger.

thanks, Erik!

PS don’t miss the Amaury Marti Facts page on Future Redbirds!

Length: 31:53

Date Recorded: 7/24/08

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Baseball Zealot Radio: Trade Talk and All Star Jabbering

Pirate fan and resident umpire Todd V and I recorded show 45 for Baseball Zealot Radio.

We analyze the two big trades in the NL Central, Harden and the big guy before critiquing the voters’ choices in the All-Star balloting.

It’s been a while since we’ve done an honest-to-goodness roundtable so the two of us took a look at the MLB division-by-division pinpointing the big surprises of the 2008 season so far.

Length: 41:26

Date Recorded: 7/14/08

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Baseball Zealot Radio: Interview with Erick Robertson from Simyard

It’s been a while since we’ve put out a show but this is a good one. Teddy Ballgame and CLuke put me in touch with Erick Robertson who is a programmer who has created an online fantasy baseball “universe”. I took the time to create a login at Sim Yard and it looks pretty interesting. It allows people to create teams of players and and build franchises. It’s a brand new project so we thought we get Erick on the show to talk about it.

Using the best marketing tool out there, viral marketing, Sim Yard lets people play for free for as long as they want. Of course, if you want to build a franchise, the subscription route is the way to go. Erick explains that Sim Yard is not just about winning the game but also developing your ballclub and increasing your franchise revenue.

While we were emailing each other about logistics, Erick told me he had the chance to watch more than a few baseball games while in Japan. Not only that, he took part in one of Hanshin Tigers’ cheerleading organizations. So I couldn’t pass up the chance to ask Erick about his experience with Japanese baseball from a fan’s perspective.

Finally, Erick is a Cubs fan so we wrap up the show trying not to get too giddy about the Cubs’ latest successes.

Thanks to Erick for being on the show!

Time: 49:21

Date Recorded: 6/15/08

External Links:

Simyard.com

Listen to Episode 44	Listen to the show via iTunes!
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Baseball Zealot Radio: Roundtable with Todd and Chuck

Our first roundtable of the season. We get through it without majorly insulting each other’s teams.

I talk college baseball with Chuck and he even sounded somewhat interested.

Trivia question for the week (thanks to DonS):

When Barry Bonds played last year he was the career leader among all active players in these 3 categories’ On Base %, Home Run ratio, and Runs scored. Since he is not playing this year who then are the new leaders in those same 3 categories? Hint: It’s 3 different players.

You could look it up or you could listen to the podcast. Listening to the podcast is more fun, I guarantee it.

Listen to Episode 43	Listen to the show via iTunes!
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Baseball Zealot Radio chats with Shawn Roof from Detroit Tigers Spring Training Camp

Anyone who knows me that I’ve followed Shawn Roof since he and I met during his Illinois days. It seems so long ago but it was only a year ago when he entered his senior year as Illinois shortstop.

Since then, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2007 draft and entered their minor league system. Now he’s down in Lakeland, Florida in the Tigers camp.

Shawn took some time for an interview for Baseball Zealot Radio. He talks about life in the minors, his daily routine in spring training and even talked a bit about his alum, the University of Illinois and their chances for 2008.

Time: 16:33

Date Recorded: 3/6/08

Listen to Episode 42	Listen to the show via iTunes!
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Baseball Zealot Radio gets a Spring Training update from Teddy Ballgame

Tedd Mallasch (aka Teddy Ballgame) is down in Florida and enjoying some Grapefruit League action. He called up to give us an update on what’s happening down there.

If you haven’t already, read some of Teddy’s articles he written from Florida. He’s posted to the blog pretty much daily since he went down there.

As always, it was a pleasure to talk to Teddy. Hopefully, it won’t be the last time as he is headed to Arizona to see some Cactus League games later this month.

Enjoy!

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Baseball Zealot Radio talks to Big Ten Hardball’s Brian DeCaussin

Brian DeCaussin probably knows more about Big Ten baseball than anyone I know. If you’ve been to his blog, Big Ten Hardball, you might agree.

For our 40th episode, I interview Brian and we run through the Big Ten teams and discuss who’s hot (and who’s not).

Not only that, we have the advantage of having some real actual games to talk about since the college baseball season started last weekend.

Enjoy!

Time: 26:10

Date Recorded: 2/26/08

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Baseball Zealot Radio #39: It’s Spring Training!

After some interviews on Baseball Zealot Radio the past few weeks, regular Todd and I finally get a chance to chat. As always, I’m treated to a bittersweet update of his team, the Pirates. I don’t give him too much crap about his team though… if I do, he’ll ask me which team actually won a World Championship (more than one, actually) in our lifetime.

In episode 39, we cover the latest in baseball news in light of the first week of spring training.

Enjoy!

Time: 45:10

Date Recorded: 2/17/08

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Baseball Zealot Radio interviews Brian Foley from The College Baseball Blog

I’ve said it before but one thing I like about doing a podcast is being in contact with other baseball people. I’ve been emailing and chatting online with Brian Foley from The College Baseball Blog for over a year and a half but this is the first time I’ve talked to him.

Brian warned me ahead of time about his Boston accent. Funny, I didn’t notice it at all (that’s a joke if you don’t get around to listening to the podcast. He’s got a wonderful one).

For those who are into college baseball and haven’t seen The College Baseball Blog, please take five minutes and do so. You’ll thank me later.

Now, the show notes…

Hosts: Tom:

Summary: I interview Brian Foley from The College Baseball Blog. Brian chats a bit how The College Blog came about, sums up the 2007 college postseason and gives us a pre-season look at this year’s college baseball. Finally, we discuss where college baseball is headed as a college sport.

Links:

The College Baseball Blog

Time: 28:39

Date Recorded: 2/10/08

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Baseball Zealot Radio interviews Haunted Baseball author Dan Gordon

It’s spooky enough that a Red Sox fan and a Yankee fan can get together and accomplish anything but the book Haunted Baseball (which has its own brand of spookiness) is proof enough that it can happen.

Dan Gordon (the Red Sox fan) is my guest this week on Baseball Zealot Radio and he’s talking up the book. Here are the show notes:

Show Notes for Episode 37:

Hosts: Tom:

Summary: In this week’s show, I interview author Dan Gordon who has just come out with his book, Haunted Baseball: Ghosts, Curses, Legends and Eerie Events with co-author Mickey Bradley. Dan talks about the impetus to write his book and relates some of the stories he heard when he and Mickey interviewed hundreds of baseball players in researching the book.

Links:

Haunted Baseball book web site

Haunted Baseball review on The Baseball Zealot

Time: 22:28

Date Recorded: 2/5/08

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