Immaculate Talk

Craig Elsten and Sean Riley wrap up the week with a creative grid...while Sean highlights some key stories (A-Rod out of the HOF, comparison between Dwight Evans and Andre Dawson), Craig got a creative wind in the morning and filled his grid out exclusively with first basemen! Plenty of fun baseball conversation follows, wide-ranging and we hope engaging.

Craig Elsten and Sean Riley navigate their way through Immaculate Grid #186, which as of the time of recording was only conceding 4.6 correct answers on average out of 9! The guys talk about the eternal difficulty of finding players with 200+ hit seasons, as well as some great stories about the Ulitmate Grid Sicko, the Lou Brock-Ernie Broglio trade, and more! Send an email for tomorrow's mailbag episode: immaculatetalk@gmail.com

Craig Elsten and Sean Riley go through one of the more challenging Immaculate Grids of the week (5.4 average correct), talking about the 1993 Blue Jays, low-average power hitting shortstops, the brilliant strand rate of Rollie Fingers, and much more!

Craig Elsten is joined by the baseball Immaculate Gridmaster himself, Adam Darowski, for a special episode that begins with mailbag questions from the listeners for Adam. Then, the boys go square-by-square through Grid #180, including a secret theme (and sub-theme) for Craig's grid, and a "junk wax grid" from Adam!

Sean Riley returns for his second appearance of the week, joining Craig Elsten to go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #179, including:A great example of the dangers of overuse from a former Reds aceA closer who Sean gave up on far too early thanks to some bad scoutingA Hall of Famer who was also a Comeback Player of the Year...and much more!Send in any questions for tomorrow's mailbag at immaculatetalk@gmail.com

Craig Elsten is joined by the Gridmaster himself, Adam Darowski, Director of Product for Sports Reference and the man who helps plan the Immaculate Grid daily. After answering some questions about how the grid is made, the guys go square-by-square through Grid #178, filled with Hall of Famers and some great players from the past. Make sure to send email questions for Craig and Adam to immaculatetalk@gmail.com, we'll have a mailbag episode on Friday!

Craig Elsten is joined by former White Sox and Dodgers GM Dan Evans for a special edition of Immaculate Talk! Dan knows his stuff, and today's Sicko Tuesday edition of the show will feature Dan running circles around Craig in a Rookie of the Year performance! Enjoy the baseball banter...

With Joe Sheehan on hiatus, Craig Elsten is joined by former Strat-o-Matic World Champion Sean Riley to go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #176, including The heartbreak of growing up an Angels fanSomething you'll never believe Mike Trout didn't doThe second-best leadoff hitter of the 1980sA couple different Shawn Green stories...and more!

Today's show starts with a pair of non-grid topics. First, Craig Elsten talks about his trip to the ballpark last night, watching the Padres come within three outs of a no-hitter, and the guys talk about Blake Snell's dominant pitching performance. Then, Joe Sheehan discusses why he needs to take a brief hiatus from the show in order to concentrate his schedule on writing the newsletter during the postseason. Immaculate Talk will take Thursday and Friday off this week, and Craig will return with rotating co-hosts the following week, find out who on the podcast. Last but DEFINITELY not least, the guys go square-by-square through Grid #171, with some eerie coincidences along the way...Same two players, swapped into adjacent boxesBoth Joe and Craig brick the same boxThe guys match an ENTIRE ROW

It's a Sicko Tuesday on Immaculate Talk, as Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten compete to try and come up with the lowest rarity score on today's Immaculate Grid. This one comes down to less than two points difference!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back for another week of Immaculate Talk! It's a MAX PERCENTAGE MONDAY, meaning we're playing the Immaculate Grid "Family Feud style", looking for the #1 answer given by the gridsters. Along the way, we talk a LOT about the changing style of pitching in MLB, how a Jack Morris-style workhorse would be valued in modern baseball, and how it's also mostly impossible...plus plenty more baseball stories and guys we remember along the way! Tomorrow is SICKO TUESDAY looking for the lowest score. Play along and email the grids you're proud of to immaculatetalk@gmail.com

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten wrap up the week with a check of the mailbag (immaculatetalk@gmail.com), with some great stories about Jim Palmer, Julio Franco and more. Then, the guys go square-by-square through Grid #166, including...The very weird 1984 AL MVP votingTWO pitchers who won Silver Slugger awardsa WWII era MVP up the middle...and more!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten start the podcast with a listener email remembering one of the more obscure and well-traveled journeymen of the past few decades. Then, the boys go square-by-square through Grid #165, including...Multiple Hall of Famers discussedComparing a modern Cy Young winner (Blake Snell) to winners of past decadesA player who was drafted six consecutive years in the MLB June draft...and more!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #164, including...Matches in all three boxes on the right column!A Reds favorite who both hosts placed in different boxesA forgotten innings-eater who's known for only one pitch...and much more!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten start with a look back at Saturday's "sicko" grid, and a rarity score of 3! Then, the guys go square-by-square through Grid #163, including...A bad trade for the Giants48-year-olds playing MLBThe record for consecutive complete games pitched...and more!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back for another week of baseball stories and Immaculate Grids filled out, including a square-by-square tour of today's Grid #162. We talk about...Kenny Lofton's Hall of Fame caseThe disappearing knuckleballerWhat should be the expected career arc for a modern power pitcher...and much more!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten open today's show with a trip into the Immaculate Talk mailbag (immaculatetalk@gmail.com) where they get some great stories of listeners' favorite squares and more. Then, they go square-by-square through Grid #159, featuring some surprisingly random matches from our co-hosts!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten were delayed in recording today because the Immaculate Grid was down early in the morning, preventing the show from being done until the afternoon. Hope the wait was worth it, because the guys have plenty of great stories, including...One of Billy Beane's worst-ever tradesThe Cy Young winner who went to Kansas City and did nothingOne of the best pitchers of the '70s you may not have heard ofSeveral great players who were also great peopleEnjoying the show? Please leave us a five-star review and positive written review on Apple Podcasts!

Okay, we went a little longer than intended on today's show, but it's because there was a TON of fun to discuss in Immaculate Grid #157! Craig went for the show's all-time single box sicko score, we debated the Giants' team-building philosphy in a center square that didn't involve the franchise (you'll find out why), and one of our loyal listeners set the stage for some really fun players to talk about. We'll deal with...Deer meat-related injuriesThe sexiest lines on the back of baseball cardsand, one-time All-Stars galore! We'll try and be shorter tomorrow.

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back after the Labor Day weekend break with a whole new grid full of baseball stories, as they go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #156, including...A role reversal, as Joe plucks some obscure names while Craig fills his grid with Hall of FamersDid you know how good Lefty Grove was?Dominance and tragedy involving a couple of former Reds catchers...and more!Enjoying the show? Please leave us a 5-star review and written review on Apple Podcasts!

Another week of Immaculate Talk wraps up with a mailbag episode! Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten hear from listeners on a variety of topics before diving into a closer-heavy Immaculate Grid #152!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through an all-teams Immaculate Grid #151, offering the chance to tell some great trade stories, including...The Johan Santana deal between the Mets and TwinsHow Kevin Tapani was involved in a three-team Bob Welch tradeOliver Perez's multiple moves early in his careerThe Carlos Peña deal immortalized in Moneyball...and more!Enjoying the show? Please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform! Mailbag tomorrow, email the show at immaculatetalk@gmail.com

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten have stories galore as they work their way through Immaculate Grid #150, including...The unexpected place where Eric Davis played the best baseball of his careerThe moral dilemma of using relievers in the "career .300 average" categoryBroken bats, some generating World Series hits, others releasing bouncy ballsA celebration of Bip Roberts

A sleep-deprived Joe Sheehan joins Craig Elsten for their daily tour of the Immaculate Grid, going square-by-square including...The player Joe believes is a major omission from the Hall of FameThe once-coveted prospect traded for Devon WhiteThe least memorable part of Eddie Murray's career...and more!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back for another Max Percentage Monday, as they try to get the highest score possible for Immaculate Grid #148! Along the way...Does recency bias help when picking in the Gold Glove category?Joe gets ticked at Craig, find out why!A discussion of the incredible career of Dennis EckersleyTomorrow we'll be back to try and get the lowest score possible. Enjoying the show? Leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast platform!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten open the program by answering listener emails, including one on the possible direction the hosts should take when making their picks. Then, they go square-by-square through Grid #145, including...The Hammer, Mad Dog and Three FingersTwo of the great catchers of the '70s and '80sA Hall of Famer traded for a future batting champion...and more!Send your emails to immaculatetalk@gmail.com to be on a future mailbag!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten start the show by talking about the Shohei Ohtani news, what a bummer it is for baseball fans everywhere, and how his upcoming free agency could be impacted. Then, the guys go square-by-square through Grid #144, including:The story of the player whose career was derailed by falling out of a tree blindA leadoff hitter who never should have led offA little-known trade that blew up in the Padres' faceEnjoying the show? Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten freshen things up today by attempting to only use players who have played in the 21st century to fill out Immaculate Grid #143.

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are going for the lowest score possible on today's Immaculate Talk grid, but the categories get in the way! However, some great stories emerge from today's grid, including...A player who helped transform baseball in the '80sOne of the worst trades in Baltimore Orioles historyOne of the Astros' all-time one year heroesA trivia question you may not know the answer to!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back for another week of Immaculate Talk! The guys start the Monday podcast with a listener email, an update on how San Diego weathered a rare tropical storm, and a funny highlight from the weekend's grids. Then, it's a square-by-square tour through Monday's grid, on a MAX PERCENTAGE MONDAY! The guys are trying to guess the #1 answer in each square. See who is ahead after Day 1 of the five-day contest!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten open up the Friday edition of Immaculate Talk with another opening of the mailbag, answering five listener emails. Then, the guys go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #138, including...Joe's masterpiece, putting together two columns with under 2% TOTAL sicko scoreRevisitng the Gary Carter MON/NYM trade from both directionsCraig wins the weekly contest but not without a fight!We'll be back with another week of shows on Monday!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten start today's podcast with a litttle current baseball talk, and some important rules clarifications directly from one of the Immaculate Grid creators! Then, they go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #137, including...Joe with two all-time pulls of classic baseball namesA story of why ex-pitcher and current Padres announcer Mark Grant is such a great humanSome old-school Mariners All-Stars!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #136 for Wednesday, August 16, 2023, including...A square devoted to one of the biggest trades in modern baseball historyJoe comes this close to taking the lead in our week-long contest before stumblingblack-and-white 20-game winners......and a 20-game winner who was arrested and deported! If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a 5-star review and written review on Apple Podcasts!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #135, trying to come up with the lowest "sicko score" possible in their weeklong contest. Along the way, they find...How many squares Rafael Palmeiro could have fit into todayThe story of how the A's ruined the start of Mike Morgan's careerTwo Padres in the lower-right box...and more!

It's a head-to-head contest week and a MAX PERCENTAGE MONDAY on Immaculate Talk! Join Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten as they go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #134, looking for the #1 most popular answer in each square! Along the way, you'll hear...Why this was one of the most difficult grids in IG historyCraig and Joe have a handful of Super Matches...and a Super Miss!Is Brian Snitker wearing the Braves starters down with an everyday schedule?...and much more!If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star podcast review!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten wrap up another week of Immaculate Talk with some listener emails to begin, revealing players' routines for filling out the Immaculate Grid. Then, the boys go square-by-square through Grid #131, featuring...The lowest grid sicko score in show history! Joe and Craig fill one box with two players who were traded for one another!Why there's no room for a great pinch hitter on modern MLB benchesEnjoying the show? Help others find it! Please share with your IG playing friends, and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform. Have a great weekend, talk to you Monday!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten were foiled for the second straight day in their goal of doing an all-managers grid, because the categories didn't abide...so they go square-by-square through Grid #130, including...Craig's first regulation miss on the grid!Joe putting the Schu on the other footA Padres broadcaster sneaks into the grid, andthe boys match on an entire column!If you're enjoying the show, please recommend it to friends and leave us a 5-star review, thank you!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten couldn't do an all-managers grid today because the grid did not match the theme, so they went for a traditional square-by-square run through Grid #129, including...Joe getting ticked at Craig for using some Swiss Army Knife players who BARELY qualified for certain boxesSome 1987 Twins in the center squarea fun convo about the career of Fred Lynn...and more!If you are enjoying the show, please leave us a 5-star review and/or written review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite platform!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back to go square-through-square through Immaculate Grid #128 for August 8, 2023, including...Joe's black-and-white old-timey ballplayer of the day (and he names a couple doozies!)Craig pisses off Joe by remembering a very brief appearance in Detroit by Matt StairsA great 1980's pitcher comes back to bite Joe by coming up two strikeouts short of 200Plus some Howard Johnson and poker stories! If you enjoy Immaculate Talk, please leave us a 5-star review on your podcast platform of choice!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten are back for another week of going square-by-square through the daily baseball Immaculate Grid. The guys went for a MAX PERCENTAGE MONDAY today, meaning they looked to match the game's #1 answer in each square. Find out how they did, and who came out ahead!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten open the Friday edition of the show by reading a couple of emails to the program (immaculatetalk@gmail.com for your submission) and set a theme episode for next week. Then (at the 10:30 mark) they go square-by-square through Grid #124, including...our lowest sicko score ever??Joe gets an X on a REALLY tough squareThe Duke of Flatbush and Old Mother Hubbard both make an appearance!If you like the show, please recommend it to friends and leave a 5-star rating and review on the podcast platform you use! Talk to you Monday!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #123, including...Joe including a key CIN-CLE trade in his top rowAn Immaculate Talk Match in the center square!A player whose career was sneakily much better than you might have remembered...and much more!If you are enjoying the podcast, please leave a 5-star review and written review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you sample the show!Friday is a MAILBAG episode, send your emails to immaculatetalk@gmail.com

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten tried something today...and flamed out spectacularly. The idea was to put only active MLB players in the grid. Then, the grid was not particularly friendly to the task. Enjoy the worst scores and fewest correct matches in Immaculate Talk history! We'll try to do better tomorrow.

Happy Trade Deadline Day! On August 1, 2023, Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #121, including...Some trade-themed boxes, with "the other guy" in a major tradeWorst Astros trade ever? We revisit......and some silly '80s stories from extra-innings Angels games for today's Sicko Score of the DayIf you are enjoying the podcast, please recommend it to your Grid-playing friends! Also leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you are enjoying the show. Thank you!

It's our first-ever Immaculate Talk THEME DAY! Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten try to fit as many Hall-of-Famers as possible into today's 3X3 grid of baseball fun, including: A Phillies HOF player who is "also" in the Cubs' Hall of FameA great Joe Sheehan rant about Rafael PalmeiroTwo HOF players who you might not remember as playing for Cleveland...and much more!Immaculate Talk is now available on Google Podcasts! Please leave us a 5-star review and written review if possible, if you like the show.

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Grid #117 for Friday, July 28, 2023, including...We select our theme grid challenge for next week's show in the mailbag!Craig's favorite childhood player makes an appearance on the gridA box with only THREE possible correct answers!...and more! We'll be back on Monday with another week of fun!If you're enjoying the show, please help it grow! Leave us a five-star review on your podcast platform, share the show with your friends, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #116 for July 27, 2023, and this episode is chock full of great stories! Including...A response to listener feedback about Charles Nelson Reilly and Hollywood Squares (this is literally today's deep dive, please still download the show)The WORST trade Kevin Towers made as Padres GM......and then his BEST trade, and one of the best trades in the last 30 yearsa Cardinals Gold Glove catcher not named Molina...and more! This is a fun one!

Joe Sheehan and Craig Elsten adjust to the new morning drop of Immaculate Grid, and share some words from the listeners before diving into Grid #115, which includes...Our Sicko Score of the Day, a semi-forgotten KC sluggerThere are a LOT of A's All-StarsHas there ever been a player who appeared in the All-Star Game for BOTH KC and Houston?Enjoying the show? Please share it with your baseball-loving friends and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts!

Craig Elsten and Joe Sheehan cover Tuesday, July 25th's Immaculate Grid, including...What specialty shows or theme shows would you like to hear going forward?Craig has his first missed square on the showJoe goes sicko in the bottom row with some old timey picksOur stat Rabbit Hole: the FIVE (and only five) Blue Jays with a 200+ hit seasonGive us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform if you are enjoying the show!

Craig Elsten and Joe Sheehan are back for another week of Immaculate Talk! Join the guys as they go square-by-square through Immaculate Grid #113, covering the following: Columns: BOS—TB—Hall of FameRows: NYY—SEA—300 SVSFind out this episode's Sicko Score of the Day, and on our statistical rabbit hole, the four Tampa closers with 300 saves, and seven Hall of Famers with 300 saves!