Beyond the Scrum: The Baseball Stories We Didn't Write

Marc and Andy are joined by the new president of the Baseball Writers Association of America, The Athletic's Reds reporter C. Trent Rosecrans. They debate some of the big topics facing the Hall of Fame and its voters including whether or not writers should be voting at all. Marc and Andy also react to the Mets firing new general manager Jared Porter after he acknowledged sending explicit text messages to a female reporter in 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Ferrin joins Andy and Marc for a celebration of the virtual Winter Meetings. They cover everything they would have in the lobby at the real Winter Meetings right here on the podcast. -Surprisingly active free agency -Updating the arbitration system -The state of tanking -The Phillies are a mess -Checking in on Mike's D-backs -When would today's worst GM have been baseball's best GM? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc and Andy weigh in on the early days of Steve Cohen's ownership of the Mets and how unrecognizable it is from the Wilpon era. Then L.A. Times columnist and Around the Horn regular Bill Plaschke joins the show to tell tales of 25 years as a sports columnist in Los Angeles. How does he continue to succeed in a sports journalism landscape dominated by Twitter. How 18 years on ESPN's Around the Horn has helped him in clubhouses and locker rooms. Bill and Andy share their story ledes if the Dodgers hadn't won the World Series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Major League Baseball has a new champion and almost made it through the postseason without a major COVID-19 story. Andy and Marc discuss the Dodgers win over the Rays in what became a potential super-spreader event in Texas. The guys dig into Kevin Cash's decision to pull Blake Snell, attempting and failing to see both sides of the argument. Finally it's a look ahead to the offseason and the possible returns of Alex Cora and A.J. Hinch to the managing ranks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Series is underway and Marc and Andy dive into the key storylines between the Dodgers and Rays. A fresh look at the Clayton Kershaw narrative. The misery of Red Sox fans watching Mookie Betts shine this October. Every club has analytics, so what makes the Rays different? Marc also vows not to rant anymore... we'll see. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's Astros reporter Jake Kaplan joins Marc and Andy to delve into the state of the Astros. Will they try to bring back George Springer? Should they shake up the roster to better separate themselves from the cheating scandal? Did Dusty Baker do a good job managing the team in 2020? The guys answer those questions and also debate the right time to ask Walker Buehler about his pants. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy and Marc begrudgingly welcome back third mic Evan Drellich to the show to discuss why MLB is allowing fans at games, what to make of the Astros in this postseason, what J.A. Happ is so mad about and much more.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Wright had to deal with Andy and Marc in the Mets clubhouse during his playing days and yet somehow they convinced him to join the podcast. He looks back on the highs and lows of his All-Star career in New York. Confronting Chase Utley after the controversial slide that injured Reuben Tejada. Battling back from the injury that eventually ended his career. What happened to the clothing from that GQ shoot with Jose Reyes and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jorge Arangure has covered sports for ESPN, the Washington Post and Vice. Now he's doing the news thing at the New York Times. He talks to Andy and Marc about his journey and his lasting love of the Padres. The guys also talk about what we can take from the 60-game season that is winding down and what they're looking forward to in the postseason. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Cohen has agreed on a deal to purchase the Mets and Andy and Marc weigh in on what it all means. Yes he's rich, but will he spend the right way to build a successful franchise. Also, how will the Wilpons be remembered. Then the guys dive into the debate surrounding Trent Grisham's home run pose and the Dodgers' reaction. Hint- Everyone can be right in this situation! The episode ends with some press box meltdown memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some reflection on the best football books of all time (Friday Night Lights), Marc and Andy try to figure out why the Yankees are not a good baseball team. From injuries, to bad defense and fundamentals, the guys explain what drove Brian Cashman to visit Buffalo and how big a deal it is. Then The Athletic's White Sox reporter James Fegan joins the show to talk discuss the magic that's happening on Chicago's south side. James also opens up about his struggles going to high school on the north side as a White Sox fan and takes us inside the minds of Sox fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evan Drellich becomes the first two time guest on Beyond the Scrum. He takes Andy and Marc behind the scenes of his latest story on MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. They discuss what kind of leader Manfred is, whether or not he loves the game, how baseball has failed with diversity and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sure the season's only 60-games long. That's not stopping The Athletic's Marc Carig and Andy McCullough from handing out MLB Midseason Awards! (Yes, they included Trout) The guys also discuss if the season can be considered a success so far and what team should the Dodgers fear the most in the first round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc and Andy welcome The Athletic's Padres reporter Dennis Lin to the show to make sense of the Twitter-storm around Fernando Tatis Jr.'s breaking of baseball's unwritten rules. The guys also dive into the origins of the unwritten rules and try to explain why they won't go away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cardinals beat writer Mark Saxon joins the show to talk with Marc and Andy about all the issues the Cardinals have faced the last two weeks. The team hasn't played since July 29 after a COVID-19 outbreak, and is now facing an uphill battle to play a true competitive season. Saxon fills us in with what's been happening on the ground, and where the team goes from here, on this episode of Beyond the Scrum.Rundown1:42 What's the State of Play in St. Louis?3:13 Is There Any Clarity on Why This Happened?4:41 Showing Restraint Amidst the Recklessness7:23 The Hunt for Causation10:21 A Tempting Fiction13:42 The Responsibility of Organizations17:35 Can the Cardinals Still Be Competitve?18:34 Should They Shut Down Jack Flaherty?21:42 How Many Games Do They Have to Play for Their Season to Be Legitimate?26:18 What Happened with the Last Round of Positive Tests?29:02 Do They Have Enough Arms to Get Through the Season?34:15 How Are the Fans Handling This?37:58 Covering a Team Going Through ThisFollow Mark on Twitter: @markasaxonFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Get 40% off your first year of a subscription to The Athletic by visiting theathletic.com/beyondthescrum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc and Andy have both experienced the wonders of covering the Mets beat.  That qualifies them to weigh in on the latest mess in Flushing as the club and Yoenis Cespedes part ways.  Then The Athletic's Phillies reporter Matt Gelb joins the show to discuss everything going on with the team that went eight days without playing a game despite having no positive COVID-19 tests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marc Carig and Andy McCullough "celebrate" the return of baseball. The guys explain why Dusty Baker's dugout and postgame comments about Joe Kelly and the Dodgers were brilliant (20:00). They consider the implications of the COVID outbreak with the Marlins (2:00) and bemoan the expanded playoffs and sloppy play on the field (30:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talented writer, former Deadspin editor and optimistic Mets fan David Roth joins the show. The guys discuss at what moment they realized they were excited for the 2020 baseball season, why baseball owners don't join Twitch, who's high school has the most famous alumni and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy has major problems with Marc's ballpark rankings and takes him to task (3:00). Then the guys name the aces of MLB and coming up with a shortlist of four current players (12:00). Finally the show dives into the dilemma fans face this season trying to cheer on their favorite team while also understanding the risks involved in playing (39:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN National baseball writer Howard Bryant joins the show to explain how his recent Bruce Maxwell story came together. Andy, Marc and Howard go on to discuss why African Americans have less and less of a presence in the sport, why the players are ready to dig in for the next labor negotiation and whether or not the 60-game season will be completed. Howard's story: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29414410/the-exile-oakland-bruce-maxwell-birth-mlb-black-player-movement Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MLB is ready to go but will we ever hear the words "Play Ball?" Andy and Marc have their doubts and dive into the problems the sport is still facing. 1:45 - Players are ready to report as COVID-19 cases climb 9:14 - Marc does NOT hate baseball! 18:10 - Should baseball have gone with bubble plan? 23:45 - The greatest World Series champs of all-time 24:35 - Interview with union labor lawyer Eugene Freedman about potential union grievance, what went wrong, what went right and how could media better cover these negotiations. Follow Eugene on Twitter: @EugeneFreedman Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:28 How Did The Parties Get Here?5:01 How Did the System Break Down?11:06 Any Way the Relationship Could Become a Partnership?15:43 Can the MLBPA Ever Stay Even with the Owners?19:29 Was the Post-Strike Generation Unprepared for Something Like This?24:11 Worried about What This Will Do to the Sport's Health?27:08 Coverage of Owners vs. Players31:35 The Fans' Stance36:03 How MLBPA Educates a Diverse Membership39:09 Do You Miss It?43:52 We're Charlie Brown, They're LucyFollow Greg on Twitter: @bourisgFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarigFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:45 Facing Uneasy Truths5:46 Marc's Experience as a Filipino-American Baseball Writer10:37 A Personal Story from Marc18:08 The Pernicious Influence of "Individualism"21:52 How Systemic Racism Manifests Itself in Baseball Coverage30:30 The Resource and Opportunity Gap40:00 The Potential Gains Being Made in the Moment44:47 Time to Re-Learn American History48:03 Trent Rosecrans' Offer on Twitter Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarigFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown0:58 Ned Colletti Joins the Show4:30 The State of MLB's and MLBPA's Negotiations10:17 Is This Really Going to Break Down over Money?17:20 Bizarre Trade Discussions21:05 What Hasn't Changed in the GM Game?26:46 Irritations with the Media32:23 Ned's Personal Story about Lee Elia's Famous Rant40:35 At Peace with Not Being an MLB GM Follow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarigFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:02 Ron Washington Stories3:02 MLB's Health and Safety Protocols for the 2020 Season12:03 Levi's Stay-at-Home Experience14:14 Levi's Unlikely Route to Covering Baseball for a Living19:27 Songwriting Troubles and a Life in Music27:46 Baseball Travel vs. Musician Travel32:41 Empathizing with Players as Performers37:33 Levi Explains, and Plays, 'Rank Five'Follow Levi on Twitter: @ThreeTwoEephusFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarigFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCullough Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown0:49 Rangers GM Jon Daniels Joins the Show3:14 Staying on Top of COVID-19 Developments7:08 The Cliff Lee Trade12:19 Lessons Learned from the Adrian Gonzalez/Chris Young Trade17:05 How Different Was the Job a Decade Ago?19:05 What Would You Tell The First-Year GM Version of Yourself20:57 What Did That Version Have Right? Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:19 Marc's Bizarre Jeter-Era Yankees Draft5:36 The Temperature of the Red Sox Fanbase9:40 The Mookie Betts Trade16:02 The Red Sox' Timeline for Contention19:13 Why Letting Jon Lester Go Still Stings24:07 Where is the Fanbase on Alex Cora?27:10 Covering Sports in Boston34:28 The Craziness of the '04 SummerFollow Jen on Twitter: @jcmccaffreyFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:58 Evan Drellich Joins the Show3:33 Memories from the Radio Days8:03 Being on an Island in Major Sports Cities11:00 Dealing with Teams as Beat Reporters18:01 The Business of Baseball During the Pandemic25:45 Can There Possibly be Minor League Baseball in 2020?30:22 Covering the Player/Owner Economics Fairly35:26 Missing the Regular Flow of Covering Baseball41:45 One Last Trip Down Radio Memory LaneFollow Evan on Twitter: @EvanDrellichFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:15 The Red Sox Get a Slap on the Wrist4:18 The Culture of Cheating (or Gamesmanship) in Baseball7:00 Power Dynamics and Playoff Shares12:02 Baseball in Taiwan14:08 Our Interview with Richard Wang15:08 Richard's Experience with Sudden Worldwide Attention20:02 Broadcasting in Your Second Language24:30 Richard's Time in Boston28:29 Introducing Taiwanese Baseball to the World31:24 Games for the English-Speaking Audience33:59 Talking Fubon Guardians39:16 How to Find This Weekend's Games42:20 The James Shields-Wil Myers Trade, and New Info on Old Stories44:55 Marc's Diving Deep on Uniforms46:25 Andy's 'Centerfield' Controversy Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown2:44 Marc Checked Out Taiwanese Baseball6:35 The Arizona Plan is Probably MLB's Most Realistic11:03 The Players We Want to See This Year11:41 Andy on Yu Darvish14:17 Marc on Nelson Cruz17:39 Andy on Mookie Betts19:57 Marc on Keston Hiura21:25 The White Sox and Brewers23:47 The Battle Between Good (A's) and Evil (Astros) in the AL West25:04 Marc's Story on the Passing of New York Post Photographer Anthony Causi32:22 Looking Back at the Last Month35:30 Embracing CreativityFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get a 90-day free trial or 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown2:38 Laying out the Arizona Plan8:54 No Good Solution13:31 Perspective from the Players19:44 Taking the 2020 Season Seriously25:40 Missing Sports28:32 Baseball as a Companion32:24 Is the Plan Feasible?Follow Trent on Twitter: @ctrentFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown2:57 Where are the Cubs?4:28 Sahadev's Shutdown Experience6:18 The Cubs' Post-World Series Trajectory10:43 Front Office Fallibility15:20 Exploring the Nuance of a Dynasty That Wasn't22:21 Why Were the Cubs Slow to Adjust?26:05 Characterizing the Cubs' Spending30:18 The Eventual Break with Joe Maddon32:59 A Paean to David Ross36:19 If David Ross Struggles as a Manager, It Will Be With...39:08 Ross' Work with the Cubs' R&D Group41:51 Sahadev's Unconventional Start in Sports Writing46:07 What's Sahadev Working On?Follow Sahadev on Twitter: @sahadevsharmaFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown2:45 The Challenges of Covering Baseball Right Now8:46 The Day Baseball Shut Down13:19 What Does Ken Miss about Opening Day and the Game?16:15 What it Was Like Being on the Same Beat as Tim Kurkjian24:27 A New Project with Jayson Stark28:10 Are People around the Game Bored?32:07 Durability of Feature Stories35:33 A Great Frank Robinson Story from KenFollow Ken on Twitter: @Ken_RosenthalFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to get 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown2:17 What Can Sportswriters Provide in a Time Like This?10:32 Marc's "Best Lineup Ever" Story13:00 Breaking the MLB Routine19:56 Andy's Working on a Poker Story23:00 What's Marc Working On?30:04 Things We Miss about Opening Day38:39 Tom Brady Buries the Lede Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to save 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown1:50 Importance of Clubhouse Access to All Stakeholders11:17 Creating Relationships with Players16:45 Giving Players Freedom Away from the Park19:52 Can Baseball Afford to Limit Access?22:21 A Game of 1 (Yes) or 0 (No)27:33 Has MLB Given Barry Bonds Been a 'Death Sentence?' Follow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to save 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rundown2:34 What 'Beyond the Scrum' Is All About10:07 The Value in Putting Microphones on Players15:41 Working in Big Markets vs. Small Markets21:15 The Art of the Post-Game Interview24:42 Quizzing One Another on Their First Teams Covered29:02 A-Rod on the AstrosFollow Andy on Twitter: @ByMcCulloughFollow Marc on Twitter: @MarcCarig Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to save 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Go to theathletic.com/beyondthescrum to save 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices