Podcast appearances and mentions of ben verlander

Seth and Sean kick off the show talking about the Astros being in KC this weekend, the reality that a Yordan MVP campaign might be the only reason to watch in the fall, and react to Ben Verlander laying out why they're a playoff team.

Seth and Sean discuss the Astros heading to KC, why Ben Verlander thinks they're a playoff team, if Center is the deepest position battle for the Texans as we head towards training camp, and go through the day's Headlines.

Seth and Sean discuss the Astros heading to KC, why Ben Verlander thinks they're a playoff team, if Center is the deepest position battle for the Texans as we head towards training camp, go through the day's Headlines, if we're hearing too much about the basics of the Texans' offense, dive into their favorite QB storylines and battles from around the NFL, which Texans will make the NFL Top 100 when it comes out in a couple weeks, discuss Texas AG wagging his finger at schools thinking of boycotting playing Texas Tech, react to James Gladstone overdrafting, lay out 5 reasons to hate Paraguay ahead of their FIFA match vs the US later, power rank acceptable reasons to oversleep for the morning show, see if any of the worst takes of the week can dethrone Ken Carman in Take-a-Mania, dive into what the true probability was that the Knicks would get where they are right now, if the Astros are a playoff team, and see what the ITL question of the day is.

Has Roki Sasaki finally arrived?After an up-and-down start to his MLB career, Roki Sasaki is beginning to look like the dominant pitcher baseball fans were promised. We break down his recent surge, what's changed, and why his latest outing may be the clearest sign yet that he's figuring things out at the Major League level.Plus, Aaron Judge is on the injured list with a stress fracture, what play did it happen on? How long is he out? All that and more is answered! Shohei Ohtani continues to put up numbers that don't seem possible, Cristopher Sanchez's incredible scoreless streak comes to an end, and I explain why I believe the Houston Astros are going to make the playoffs.We also dive into Josh Naylor's heated weekend, Tarik Skubal's return, this week's MLB Power Rankings, Team of the Week, and everything else happening around Major League Baseball.Subscribe for new episodes multiple times per week covering the biggest stories, players, and moments from around the game.#flippinbats FlippinBats #MLB #shoheiohtani #houstonastros #rokisasaki #japan #npb #aaronjudge #tarikskubal #powerrankings SUBSCRIBE to get the latest Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander content: https://www.youtube.com/flippinbatspod?sub_confirmation=1Timestamps:0:00 Intro0:41 Around The League Recap10:48 Roki Sasaki 13:45 Houston Astros17:05 Kevin McGonigle19:27 MLB Power Rankings28:56 Team of the Week37:43 UC Health HR Derby40:08 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for another great weekly breakdown. We discuss: - Does a combined no-hitter actually count as a real no-hitter? - The wild NL Central race... Why the Cubs are such a rollercoaster while the Brewers remain the model of consistency (and how they turned Kyle Harrison into an ace). - Who's the best in the NL Central? - One of the craziest celebrations you'll ever see! Abner Uribe's over-the-top, derogatory strikeout celebration + the craziest thing Smoltz ever saw or did Smoltz also shares his unfiltered thoughts on what counts as “disrespectful” in today's game and his most memorable celebration stories from his playing days. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:34 Smoltz Joins 1:47 Do Combined No-Hitters Count? 4:21 Cubs or Brewers in NL Central? 7:04 How Do The Brewers Do It? 9:23 Most Disrespectful Celebration Ever? 13:00 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Smoltz on Tarik Skubal's Elbow Procedure, Framber Valdez Meltdown & Sign Stealing Rumors John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for a candid conversation on the biggest stories in MLB right now. We discuss Tarik Skubal's elbow procedure and what it means for the Tigers' ace. Then we break down Framber Valdez's ugly ejection after giving up 7 earned runs, throwing at Trevor Story after back-to-back homers, and the ongoing mental side of his game. The Tigers desperately need Framber to step up as the leader of their staff, can he handle it? Plus: Sign stealing rumors and how prevalent it was during Smoltz's playing days Remembering broadcasting legend John Sterling — Smoltz shares fun stories Remembering Ted Turner — classic stories from Smoltz's time with the Braves Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - John Smoltz Joins 1:25 - Smoltz on Skubal Elbow Surgery 5:11 - Can Framber Valdez lead a staff? 7:14 - Smoltz discusses sign stealing 11:30 - Smoltz remembers John Sterling 12:37 - Smoltz remembers Ted Turner 14:44 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani delivered his longest pitching performance of 2026 — going 7 innings for the first time this season and as a Dodger (since his second elbow surgery). He struck out 8, walked zero, and threw 89 pitches with 15 whiffs in a dominant outing. Yet the Dodgers continue to give him ZERO RUN SUPPORT! They're just 2-7 in his last 9 starts and have scored nothing in his last 19 offensive innings on the mound. Ohtani now has a ridiculous 0.70 ERA (just 4 earned runs in 51.2 innings). On the offensive side, Shohei busted out of a major slump: 0-for-18, his second-longest hitless drought of his career, and 0-12 in one series. Am I worried? Will he be fine? Should he focus on one or another? Ben will answer it all this episode! Plus: Ohtani's honest (and mature) comments on his slump, NL Pitcher of the Month honors, and more. #FlippinBats #MLB #shoheiohtani #dodgers #shohei #ohtani SUBSCRIBE to get the latest Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander content which includes a WEEKLY "This Week in Shohei Ohtani News": https://www.youtube.com/flippinbatspod?sub_confirmation=1 CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro 1:06 - Shohei Ohtani pitching performance 9:13 - Shohei Offensive Struggles 11:04 - Ben Verlander Guarantee 12:00 - Shohei Offensive Struggles 15:55 - Dramatic HBP 16:53 - NL Pitcher of the Month 17:47 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Smoltz on Red Sox Chaos, Phillies Firing Rob Thompson & Power Rankings Debate John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for his weekly breakdown of the biggest storylines in MLB. We dive into the Boston Red Sox drama: What's really going on with the organization after their coaching shakeup? Then we ask the tough question on the Philadelphia Phillies: Was firing Rob Thompson the right move, or is it still too early to panic on this talented (but struggling) roster? Plus: Power Rankings debate — Braves, Dodgers or Yankees at #1 right now? Smoltz shares his funniest mound visit story of all time Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:19 - Red Sox Fiasco 7:38 - Phillies Bad Start 11:29 - Smoltz #1 Team in Power Rankings 13:40 - Funniest Mound Visit Story 16:21 - Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani keeps making history his on-base streak is now at 51 straight games (dating back to August 24th of last season). He's closing in on Barry Bonds, the Dodgers' all-time record, and legends like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams. We also react to one of the most wholesome moments you'll see all week involving Jake Mangum. On the darker side: The New York Mets are in the middle of their longest losing streak in 22 years (11 games straight). Sitting at 7-15, they have the worst record in baseball tied with the Royals and are further out of first place than any other team. Is it time to stop giving them the benefit of the doubt? Plus, the AL West is a complete mess! Only a .500 team is leading the division, the Astros are struggling despite Yordan Alvarez raking, the Mariners look nothing like a contender, and the A's and Angels are somehow the bright spots. We break down the latest Power Rankings and our Team of the Week, including standout performances from Mike Trout, Yordan Alvarez, Mason Miller, and more. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:46 - Shohei Ohtani's 51-Game On-Base Streak 4:03 - Mets' Historic Losing Streak 9:29 - The Awful AL West 12:40 - New MLB Power Rankings 23:27 - Team of the Week 31:03 - Wholesome Moment of the Week 32:20 - Outro What's your biggest takeaway this week? Ohtani's streak, the Mets collapse, or the AL West disaster? Let us know in the comments! SUBSCRIBE for weekly MLB breakdowns with Ben Verlander & John Smoltz: https://www.youtube.com/flippinbatspod?sub_confirmation=1 #ShoheiOhtani #Mets #ALWest #MLB #PowerRankings #FlippinBats Like Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flippinbatspod/ Follow Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flippinbatspod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Follow Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@flippinbatspod Follow Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinBatsPod Follow Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flippinbatspod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander for a full breakdown of the biggest storylines in MLB right now. We dive deep into Shohei Ohtani's Cy Young chances, how realistic is it for him to win one as a two-way superstar, and what would he need to do to take home the award? Can Mason Miller actually win the Cy Young as a closer? Smoltz shares his Hall of Fame pitcher perspective on what it would take for a reliever to win the award for the first time since Eric Gagné in 2003. Plus: - Are the Braves legitimately back after their brutal 2025 season? - The Mets' early struggles, should we be worried? Smoltz gives his unfiltered takes on all of it, including his thoughts on pitching dominance, team identity, and what stands out early in the 2026 season. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:40 - John Smoltz joins the show 2:00 - Can Shohei win Cy Young? 8:28 - Can Mason Miller win Cy Young? 12:33 - Worried about the Mets? 15:59 - Are the Braves back? 18:11 - When will the Braves build a statue? 20:28 - Brewers baseball on display 23:47 - Outro What do you think — can Ohtani win Cy Young this year? Could a closer like Mason Miller actually take home the award? Drop your thoughts in the comments! SUBSCRIBE for weekly MLB conversations with John Smoltz and so much more: https://www.youtube.com/@FlippinBatsPod #JohnSmoltz #ShoheiOhtani #MasonMiller #Braves #Mets #MLB #CyYoung #FlippinBats #baseball Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shohei Ohtani makes history by passing Ichiro Suzuki for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history, reaching 46 games — and the viral broken Ichiro statue moment adds to the drama. After a disappointing 76-86 season in 2025 that saw them miss the playoffs and the entire projected Opening Day rotation hit the IL, the Atlanta Braves are off to a hot 10-6 start in 2026. They lead the league in home runs and rank 3rd in batting average despite ongoing pitching injuries. Are the Braves legitimately back? We also dive into whether Mason Miller is on track for Cy Young contention — the first closer to win the award since Eric Gagne in 2003. Miller is dominating with a 0.00 ERA, 19 strikeouts in 7.1 innings, and perfect save opportunities so far. Plus, MLB power rankings shakeup (Dodgers holding strong, Braves rising, Padres jumping, Yankees sliding), our Team of the Week, and more early-season storylines. What do you think — are the Braves back, and could a closer actually win Cy Young in 2026? Let us know! Follow Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander for weekly MLB breakdowns. SUBSCRIBE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/flippinbatspod?sub_confirmation=1 Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flippinbatspod/ Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@flippinbatspod Follow on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@flippinbatspod Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinBatsPod Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flippinbatspod/ #MLB #Ohtani #Braves #MasonMiller #FlippinBats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hall of Famer John Smoltz joins Ben Verlander to break down the hottest topics from the first week-plus of the 2026 MLB season. We discuss the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System: Is it perfect? Is three challenges per team the right balance, or should MLB move to full ABS? Smoltz shares his unfiltered take as a former pitcher. Then we relive the wild Braves-Angels brawl from Tuesday night, including Jorge Soler charging the mound and Braves manager Walt Weiss, Smoltz's former teammate, delivering a memorable tackle takedown. Plus, the ongoing feud between Willson Contreras and the Brewers — especially Brandon Woodruff. Smoltz opens up about whether he ever had heated rivalries with specific teams or batters during his career. We also cover the most surprising teams so far in 2026 — who's exceeding expectations and who's struggling early in the season. What are your thoughts on the new ABS rules? Let us know in the comments or reviews! Subscribe for weekly MLB conversations with John Smoltz and more all season long. #MLB #JohnSmoltz #ABS #Braves #MLB2026 Chapters: 0:00 Intro 2:22 John Smoltz on ABS 6:16 Smoltz on Braves/Angels Brawl 10:33 Contreras vs Brewers Fued  13:30 John Smoltz Surprising Teams  17:32 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Ben Verlander ahead of MLB Opening night. They discuss the biggest storylines around baseball heading into opening night, if the Jays improved this offseason, if anyone could overtake the Dodgers, the expectations for the Phillies, and more. Then, they end things off discussing the rookies to keep an eye on. Then, former MLB Catcher Erik Kratz joins the show to discuss why players love to play for Toronto, what a former catcher thinks about the MLB's implementation of ABS, expectations for Bo Bichette with the Mets, and much more.   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

In the final hour, Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote were joined by Flippin' Bats podcast host Ben Verlander to explain why he loved the long-term contract extension that was reached by center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs. After that, Rahimi and Grote discussed which Chicago athlete – other than Bears quarterback Caleb Williams – will be next to sign a lucrative long-term contract.

Venezuela upset USA in the World Baseball Classic Final. Ben Verlander breaks down the WBC final and what this win means for Venezeula and how big of a disappointment this is for Team USA. Ben interviewed Miguel Cabrera, Gleyber Torres, and Eugenio Suarez after the win. CHAPTERS:0:00 INTRO0:45 VENEZUELA DEF. USA2:48 VENEZEULA WINS 1ST WBC CHAMPIONSHIP3:45 MIGUEL CABRERA4:15 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR VENEZEULA6:30 GLEYBER TORRES7:30 VENZEULA WINS, 3-28:54 EUGENIO SUAREZ9:50 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC RECAP12:45 USA DISAPPOINTMENT15:00 OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander breakdown the instant classic between the USA & Dominican Republic LIVE from the field in Miami. Ben also talks about the atmosphere and why attending a World Baseball Classic should be in every baseball fan's future. He talks about Japan failing to make it the Semis for the first time ever & also takes a brief look ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander welcomes Los Angeles Dodgers' Kyle Tucker to the show. They discuss what made him choose to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, first impressions of Shohei Ohtani & so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander welcomes Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal to the show! They discuss Skubal's decision to play in the World Baseball Classic and how much USA Hockey fired him up to play in the WBC. He also discusses his offseason dealing with arbitration and the Tigers signing Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez & so much more! CHAPTERS:00:00 INTRO01:50 TARIK SKUBAL JOINS03:00 SPRING TRAINING04:30 HOW'S JUSTIN VERLANDER AS A TEAMMATE?09:00 THE OFFSEASON10:50 ARBITRATION PROCESS15:35 DID YOU KNOW ABOUT FRAMBER?16:50 TIGERS ROTATION18:00 THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC20:00 USA HOCKEY FIRING UP MLB24:00 USA'S BASEBALL DREAM TEAM25:40 2026 TIGERS BASEBALL29:00 TIGERS' YOUNGSTERS30:00 ADVICE TO YOUNG BASEBALL PLAYERS33:00 OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our second hour, we played Bill's previous interview with Ben Verlander in regards to his brother Justin being a Detroit Tiger again. Chris Balas from theWolverine.com then joined us to talk about Michigan/Duke tomorrow. He gave us his thought's on how that game will go, talked about how the two teams stack up, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Crystal Miller, who is the Lakeland Florida Market Leader for Lake Michigan Credit Union. She filled us in on why LMCU has such a big presence down in Florida, talked about their growth and the response they've gotten, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, we're broadcasting from Lakeland Florida as the Tigers Spring Training is underway. Throughout the show, we talked about the Detroit Tigers, Michigan/Duke, and more as we were joined by some of our great guests. We kicked off the show talking about the Tigers and Spring Training as we were joined by Jeff Greenberg, who is the General Manager of the Detroit Tigers. He and Huge talked about how the off-season went for the Tigers, talked about everything that they've done over the past couple weeks, talked about expectations for the season, and much more. Clayton Sayfie from theWolverine.com then joined us. He and Huge previewed tomorrow's Michigan/Duke match-up, talked about how the two teams compare, gave their thought's on how the game goes, and more. In our second hour, we played Bill's previous interview with Ben Verlander in regards to his brother Justin being a Detroit Tiger again. Chris Balas from theWolverine.com then joined us to talk about Michigan/Duke tomorrow. He gave us his thought's on how that game will go, talked about how the two teams stack up, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Crystal Miller, who is the Lakeland Florida Market Leader for Lake Michigan Credit Union. She filled us in on why LMCU has such a big presence down in Florida, talked about their growth and the response they've gotten, and more. In our final hour, we played Bill's earlier conversation with Tigers General Manager Jeff Greenburg in regards to our Detroit Tigers and Spring Training. We were then joined by Brandon Day from Bless You Boys. He and Huge talked about the Tigers and everything they've done in the past couple weeks, talked about Spring Training, and more. We were then joined by Kassia Alamm from 'Explore Lakeland' so she could talk about some of the great things you could find in Lakeland, talked about how much Tourism drives Lakeland, and more. We wrapped up the hour talking with Paul Woods, who is one of the voices of our Detroit Red Wings. He and Huge talked about the Men's Olympic Hockey team beating Slovakia earlier, looked ahead to USA/Canada, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Verlander talks about what he thinks of the 2026 Detroit Tigers and his thoughts on the saga between the Philadelphia Phillies & Nick Castellanos. Ben also comments on how the ABS system will affect MLB tv viewing moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our final hour, Clayton Sayfie from theWolverine.com joined us. He and Huge talked about the video that was released which shows Michigan football players allegedly smoking pot. We then played Bill's earlier conversation with Ben Verlander in regards to Justin coming back to Detroit. We wrapped up the show talking with Kassia Alamm from "Explore Lakeland." She told us about the impact that the Tigers and Spring Training have on the Lakeland area, told us about all of the great things that Lakeland has to offer its visitors, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on the show, we're talking about the Detroit Tigers, Michigan and Michigan State Athletics, and more as we were joined by some of our great guests. We kicked off the show talking with Bobby Scales who is part of the Tiger radio broadcast team. He and Huge talked about everything that the Tigers have done in the last 10 days, gave their thought's on Tarik, Valdez and Verlander, talked about expectations for the season, and much more. We were then joined by Ben Verlander, who is the brother of Justin Verlander, and has the "Flippin' Bats Podcast." He talked about how cool it is to see his brother come back to Detroit and what it means to the Verlander's, talked about the other great pitchers the Tigers have this season and the impact they'll make, and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We were joined by Ben Verlander, who is the brother of Justin Verlander, and has the "Flippin' Bats Podcast." He talked about how cool it is to see his brother come back to Detroit and what it means to the Verlander's, talked about the other great pitchers the Tigers have this season and the impact they'll make, and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on the show, we're talking about the Detroit Tigers, Michigan and Michigan State Athletics, and more as we were joined by some of our great guests. We kicked off the show talking with Bobby Scales who is part of the Tiger radio broadcast team. He and Huge talked about everything that the Tigers have done in the last 10 days, gave their thought's on Tarik, Valdez and Verlander, talked about expectations for the season, and much more. We were then joined by Ben Verlander, who is the brother of Justin Verlander, and has the "Flippin' Bats Podcast." He talked about how cool it is to see his brother come back to Detroit and what it means to the Verlander's, talked about the other great pitchers the Tigers have this season and the impact they'll make, and much more. In our second hour, we were joined by Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit. He and Huge talked about some of the storylines surrounding our Detroit Lions, Jeremy told us what he learned from his interview with new OC Drew Petzing, gave his thought's on the impact that he can make, and much more. Jim Comparoni from SpartanMag.com then joined us. He and Huge previewed tonight's MSU/Wisconsin game, talked about the path moving forward, and more. We wrapped up the hour with a "Moving Ferris Forward" interview as Huge spoke with Brody Keiser, who is the voice of Ferris State Hockey. He and Huge talked about how year one has gone for new Head Coach Brett Riley, talked about this weekend's final home weekend for FSU Hockey and the Mason Cup Playoffs, and more. In our final hour, Clayton Sayfie from theWolverine.com joined us. He and Huge talked about the video that was released which shows Michigan football players allegedly smoking pot. We then played Bill's earlier conversation with Ben Verlander in regards to Justin coming back to Detroit. We wrapped up the show talking with Kassia Alamm from "Explore Lakeland." She told us about the impact that the Tigers and Spring Training have on the Lakeland area, told us about all of the great things that Lakeland has to offer its visitors, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Verlander previews the World Baseball Classic now that the rosters have been set. He also talks about the best lineup, rotation & team in the WBC. The Detroit Tigers surprised the baseball world by giving Framber Valdez the highest AAV for the left-handed pitcher & Tarik Skubal also won his record arbitration deal. That and so much more on Flippin' Bats. CHAPTERS:00:00 INTRO01:30 TIGERS SIGN FRAMBER VALDEZ07:00 TARIK SKUBAL'S RECORD DEAL18:00 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC PREVIEW19:30 POOL A23:10 POOL B29:00 POOL C31:50 POOL D35:50 BEST LINEUP38:30 BEST ROTATION39:50 BEST TEAM42:50 TOP 10 TEAMS46:30 OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back with the latest news in baseball. Ben hits on the Boston Red Sox after their trade of Jordan Hicks to the White Sox and revists the Rafael Devers trade. He also touches on the Chicago White Sox sneaky good offseason. Ben touches on Eugenio Suarez signing back with the Cincinnati Reds and why no one else was in on him. Finally, Ben talks about the latest World Baseball Classic news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by Flippin' Bats podcast host Ben Verlander to discuss the Cubs' additions this offseason and the latest MLB storylines.

In the final hour, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by Flippin' Bats podcast host Ben Verlander to discuss the Cubs' additions this offseason and the latest MLB storylines. After that, Harris and Grote listened to Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley share his disappointment in the legendary Michael Jordan failing to appear on NBC more often after he was hired as a special contributor for the network's coverage of the NBA.

Ben Verlander is back with another new episode of Flippin' Bats! Ben talks about the New York Mets big backup plan after missing out on Kyle Tucker by adding Bo Bichette & Freddy Peralta to the roster. Ben also talks about the drama between the Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers being very far apart on their arbitration numbers. Then, he touches on the Texas Rangers huge trade for Washington Nationals ace Mackenzie Gore & the remaining free agents available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is finally back from his wedding & honeymoon to recap and breakdown all the latest big offseason moves in the MLB. The reigning champs signed the biggest free agent again this offseason in Kyle Tucker, the New York Mets pulled Bo Bichette away from the Philadelphia Phillies and more! 00:00 INTRO01:30 BICHETTE TO METS08:00 BREGMAN TO CUBS13:00 WHAT DO THE PHILLIES DO?19:30 TUCKER TO DODGERS25:00 DODGERS BAD FOR BASEBALL?28:30 WHAT DO THE YANKEES DO?38:00 WEDDING & HONEYMOON40:30 OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back with some big MLB news as NPB Stars Tatsuya Imai & Kazuma Okamoto sign with their respective MLB clubs: The Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays are far away the best American League team despite the New York Yankees being the betting favorite. Ben also gives his Top 3 Wedding Requests for things he would like to see get done by the time he comes back from his honeymoon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back with another fresh episode of Flippin' Bats. This episode Ben gets you caught up on all the most recent trades including the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox and more. He also breaks down Munetaka Murakami signing with the Chicago White Sox. Ben also gives his Top 3 moves so far this offseason and his thoughts on Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MLB's Winter Meetings are underway and we already have three blockbuster signings to kickoff the offseason. Ben Verlander is back with another episode of Flippin' Bats to breakdown these moves and what it means for these teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander talks through the Hall of Fame vote over the weekend with the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee having their turn. A committee of 16 people with a ballot some of the all-time MLB greats. Some big names did NOT get in while one potentially shocking name did. The Winter Meetings get underway in Orlando, FL meaning big moves are coming SOON! Do the Pittsburgh Pirates pull the trigger on Kyle Schwarber? Does he go back to the Philadelphia Phillies? Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 00:45 Recent Offseason Moves 02:15 Hall of Fame Vote 04:20 Voting Results 05:35 Congratulations Jeff Kent 08:07 Barry Bonds DENIED 13:15 Is Dale Murphy a Hall of Famer? 19:38 Pirates ACTUALLY Going For It? 23:45 Outro #FlippinBats #MLB #barrybonds #MLBHallofFame #halloffame #DaleMurphy #kyleschwarber #pittsburghpirates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back with another new edition of Flippin' Bats and this week it is the MLB Free Agency extravaganza. Ben breaks down his Top 10 MLB free agents and their possible new franchises. Ben also breaks down the latest trade between the Texas Rangers & the New York Mets. CHAPTERS:00:00 INTRO01:00 METS-RANGERS TRADE10:30 TOP 10 FREE AGENTS11:00 FREE AGENTS 10-624:45 FREE AGENTS 5-144:30 OUTRO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back again to recap the end of the MLB Season and to recap the MLB Awards where Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani and New York Yankees Aaron Judge repeat as MVPs & so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back to recap the wild World Series between Los Angeles Dodgers & Toronto Blue Jays. Dodgers won a wild Game 7 to become back-to-back World Series Champs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander and John Smoltz are back once again to talk everything about World Series Game 6 so lock it and get dialed in before the BIG GAME! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back to recap you on games 3 & 4 of the World Series. World Series Game 3 was tied for the longest World Series game of all time, 18 innings. Game 3 was a wild one, but Freddie Freeman walked it off. Blue Jays came out unfazed and energized to tied it up in game 4 of the World Series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is recapping World Series Game 2 from Toronto. The Los Angeles Dodgers just tied up the World Series as they head back to Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander welcomes back MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz to the show to preview the 2025 MLB World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is finally here - The World Series!! We've waited all year for this moment and it is going to be the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays making it back for the first time since 1993. Ben Verlander is back to break down each teams strengths, weaknesses and gives his 2025 World Series Prediction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander welcomes back John Smoltz to discuss what he is seeing in the ALCS between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. Will the Mariners and Dodgers sweep the ALCS & NLCS? Ben and Smoltz also discuss who is the greatest postseason rotation of all time & more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is back to recap the Seattle Mariners stellar last couple of days including winning Game 5 of the ALDS in a 15 inning classic and then going on to win Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays after exhausting most of their pitching in Game 5 of the ALDS. Ben also previews the Los Angeles Dodgers vs Milwaukee Brewers NLCS and the stunning news out of San Diego as Padres manager Mike Shildt has retired. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander and John Smoltz talk through a WILD ALDS series between the Yankees and Blue Jays and dive into the other LDS series'. How are the Phillies able to keep Shohei Ohtani quiet? Will the Tigers or Mariners win Game 5? Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 03:23 Blue Jays defeat Yankees 08:02 What Went Wrong for NYY 09:45 Tigers vs Mariners Game 5 11:15 Phillies vs Dodgers 14:17 Ohtani quiet against Phillies 15:30 Teams Using An Opener 22:10 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All the ALDS & NLDS have played two games and the Seattle Mariners vs Detroit Tigers is the only series tied 1-1. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays are all just one game away from advancing to the NLCS & ALCS. Ben Verlander is back to recap all the series so far and preview the Game 3's for the Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees & Toronto Blue Jays. Playoff baseball is back! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander welcomes back MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz to the show to recap the Wild Card Series and what was the biggest surprise so far this postseason. Ben and John also talk about the Los Angeles Dodgers Roki Sasaki and their upcoming series with the Philadelphia Phillies & More. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander is here for all your Wild Card Recap needs! Ben also ranks his Top 5 performers from the Wild Card rounds. He then previews every series from the ALDS & NLDS including the Los Angeles Dodgers battle against the Philadelphia Phillies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Verlander welcomes back MLB Hall of Famer John Smoltz to the show and this week they discuss what is going on with the Detroit Tigers. Plus, they also talk about the American League MVP Race between New York Yankees Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners Cal Raleigh. Finally, they talk about the news that the ABS System will be coming to MLB in 2026 and what are Smoltz's thoughts on that. Ben also talks about Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani reaching his 100th start on the mound. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices