Olde Towne: A show about the Boston Red Sox

Tim and Chad react to the news that Alex Cora will return to Boston as Red Sox manager one year after being suspended by Major League Baseball for his role in the Astros sign stealing scandal. Who's decision was this? What should expectations be? Does he need to win back the fanbase?

The Athletic's Tim McMaster and Red Sox beat writer Chad Jennings examine why Ron Roenicke's time with the Red Sox is over, whether Alex Cora will be considered for the job and what the expectations will be on the next manager for 2021.

Michael Schur, the creator of Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place joins the show. The life-long Red Sox fan takes us through the ups and downs of his fandom. Then we compare his TV characters to Red Sox personalities. Finally, Michael, Jen, Chad and Tim draft their top Red Sox villains.

With negotiations failing to pick up momentum between MLB and the players, the 2020 season looks less and less likely to happen. Chad, Jen and Tim discuss what has gone wrong and if it can be saved. Then they talk about how the Red Sox missed the mark with staff salary cuts before finally previewing next week's MLB Draft.

Daniel Bard joins the show to discuss why he decided to climb back up on the mound after three years of retirement, what he learned while away and what he thinks of the latest pay proposal from the MLB owners.

MLB and its players have a lot to figure out if they're going to play baseball in 2020. Tim, Jen and Chad dive into the safety protocols the league is considering and how they could affect the Red Sox. Even with protocols in place, will players want to risk their health or their family's health to get back to the diamond?

Former Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan joins the show to reminisce about the 2007 World Champs and give some insight into what made Manny, Big Papi and Pedroia such great hitters. Before that, Tim and Lars rant about MLB's decision to cut the Draft from 40 rounds to 5. They debate the implications on college baseball and the future impact on the big leagues. The guys also discuss the proposal to return to the diamond in July and how money could become a bigger issue than COVID-19.

Mark Simon from Sports Info Solutions joins Tim and Jen to talk defense. Why the Red Sox haven't scored well in Defensive Runs Scored (DRS) the past two seasons. (7:55) How does the outfield look entering 2020, from the polarizing Jackie Bradley Jr to Alex Verdugo's ability to replace Mookie? (11:47) Can the infield defense improve as Rafael Devers puts in the work at third base? (18:40) Lastly, Mark covers the rest of the defense including Christian Vazquez behind the plate. (25:54)

We asked and you answered! Over 1000 fans cast their ballots in The Athletic's Red Sox Fan Survey. Tim McMaster, Jen McCaffrey and Chad Jennings breakdown the results discussing some of the surprises and the overall pulse of Red Sox nation.

Finally, after a months long MLB investigation, the Red Sox receive penalties from Major League Baseball. Tim, Jen and Chad break them down in a bonus episode. They explain who J.T. Watkins is, what he did to cheat and how this information affects the legacy of the 2018 World Series champions.

Bob Tewksbury played 13 seasons in the Majors before becoming one of the sports' first mental skills coaches. He shares stories from both careers on this week's show with Tim McMaster and Lars Anderson. Plus Lars explains how his bat company started a benches clearing brawl in Taiwan.

Tom Caron joins Tim and Chad to share his favorite regular season Red Sox games of the last 20 years. The guys also discuss reports of MLB considering opening the season with all 30 teams quarantined in Arizona and how it would impact reporting and broadcasting.

It's a "family" reunion on The Olde Towne Podcast. Matt Paré and Lars Anderson join the show a decade after sharing a roof in Portland, Maine. Matt's organization, Advocates For Minor Leaguers, is fighting for the rights of players in the minors. He's a former player himself and now can be seen creating funny content on YouTube and Twitter.

"We'll see you later tonight!" Tim McMaster and Jen McCaffrey rewatch Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS with a twist. Lifelong Yankees fan Marissa Morris joins the show to revisit all the pain from one of the worst nights of her childhood.

The Greek God of Walks turned Greek God of Hops joins the Olde Towne Podcast. Kevin Youkilis joins Tim McMaster and Lars Anderson to talk about how his Loma Brewing Company is coping with the coronavirus. The guys then go on to talk about how baseball has changed since Youk's playing days and what Lars' learned from him with the Red Sox. The show ends with a game matching up former Red Sox players to the beer that best represents them.

Red Sox ace Chris Sale will have Tommy John surgery and miss the 2020 season. Tim McMaster is joined by Jen McCaffrey and Chad Jennings to discuss what it means for Sale, the rest of the rotation and more.

Tim McMaster, Chad Jennings and Lars Anderson dive into the issues facing Major League Baseball as the sport takes a break due to the coronavirus.

Red Sox fans have dealt with plenty of bad news over the winter and first few weeks of Spring Training. The Olde Towne podcast is here to lighten the mood. Tim McMaster, Jen McCaffrey and Steve Buckley talk about some silver linings in Fort Myers. Before that, they try to piece together a rotation without Chris Sale and weigh in on Chaim Bloom's first 130 days in charge. To save 40% off a subscription to The Athletic visit www.theathletic.com/wickedpod.

To save 40% off a one-year subscription to The Athletic, go to theathletic.com/wickedpod.