Podcast appearances and mentions of paul skenes

⚾ Pittsburgh Pirates Post-All-Star Break Check-In – How are the Bucs performing out of the break?

Final thoughts & Paul Skenes president stories bonus 452 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 22:58:13 +0000 VdoLHj4i2nzyO8ZyuaRQK8j4i2MGfEbY sports Spiegel & Holmes Show sports Final thoughts & Paul Skenes president stories Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes bring you Chicago sports talk with great opinions, guests and fun. Join Spiegel and Holmes as they discuss the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox and delve into the biggest sports storylines of the day. Recurring guests include former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, former Bears center Olin Kreutz, Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and MLB Network personality Jon Morosi. Catch the show live Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT on 104.3 The Score, the exclusive audio home of the Cubs and the Bulls, or on the Audacy app. © 2026 Audacy, Inc. Sports https://player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link

Joe Maddon 5 stages of a Ball Player, FIFA World Cup, Paul Skenes president story (Hour 4) bonus 2647 Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:03:01 +0000 IHklDMXoANdOoh5UnPu7aH0pxeqyv2j6 sports Spiegel & Holmes Show sports Joe Maddon 5 stages of a Ball Player, FIFA World Cup, Paul Skenes president story (Hour 4) Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes bring you Chicago sports talk with great opinions, guests and fun. Join Spiegel and Holmes as they discuss the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox and delve into the biggest sports storylines of the day. Recurring guests include former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, former Bears center Olin Kreutz, Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner and MLB Network personality Jon Morosi. Catch the show live Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT on 104.3 The Score, the exclusive audio home of the Cubs and the Bulls, or on the Audacy app. © 2026 Audacy, Inc. Sports http

A sloppy, mistake-filled loss to Pittsburgh—capped by Gabriel Arias getting doubled off second on a bizarre baserunning blunder—has the guys questioning whether Arias has any runway left once Jose Ramirez returns to third base. They contrast his four years of recurring gaffes with rookies like Cooper Ingle and Kahlil Watson, who they say deserve more slack simply because they're new. The conversation spins into frustration over Pittsburgh fans overrunning Progressive Field for the Paul Skenes start, with the crew arguing the Pirates—not the Reds—should be Cleveland's real interleague rival. They close out noting the tight AL Wild Card race, which they say makes a quiet trade deadline more likely than usual.

Ken Carman and Anthony Lima breakdown the Guardians' recent "sloppy" play and the future of Gabriel Arias following a mistake-filled game. They also discuss the influx of Pirates fans in Cleveland, the World Cup final drama, and Shedeur Sanders' message to his critics. 02:41 - Vogt Critiques Sloppy Play 06:45 - Pirates Fans Infiltrate Cleveland 11:00 - Paul Skenes' Star Power 19:03 - World Cup Final Reflections 25:30 - Adopting Soccer As Fan 34:18 - Shedeur Sanders' Loyal Message

The fantasy landscape is bracing for impact as dominant MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge remains entirely shut down from physical activity, stalling his recovery timeline indefinitely. Corey Pieper breaks down a high-stakes pitching landscape, devastating long-term prospect injuries, a seismic trade market update, and the latest FanDuel Bet of the Day. Roster managers face massive late-season fallout as Aaron Judge remains unable to resume baseball activities, Christian Walker exits early with acute hip tightness, and dynamic infielder Jeremy Pena suffers yet another frustrating physical setback. The pitching front is equally turbulent as the Chicago Cubs aggressively trade for right-hander Aaron Civale, the high-octane duo of Mick Abel and David Festa are both declared out for the season, Casey Mize exits his latest start early, and JoJo Romero lands on the injured list. Fortunately, reinforcement is on the horizon with Jameson Taillon's return imminent, Ranger Suarez tracking to be activated tomorrow, and Ronel Blanco scheduled to pitch Monday, though managers must monitor Will Smith's recurring neck issues, Samuel Basallo handling right shoulder discomfort, Shohei Ohtani being withheld from the mound, Corbin Carroll's daily status, and Blaze Alexander's long-term absence with a broken hand. An absolutely loaded performance slate features a masterclass on the bump and offensive explosions. Chris Sale fired seven dominant frames of zero-earned, two-hit ball with six strikeouts, Gerrit Cole struck out eight across six high-quality frames, and Jake Bennett, Pete Lambert, Brady Singer, Landen Roupp, Jared Jones, Brandon Pfaadt, Tarik Skubal, JT Ginn, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Paul Skenes, Shota Imanaga, Hunter Greene, and Logan Gilbert all logged stellar outings, while Troy Melton dueled Reid Detmers, Shane Bieber battled Davis Martin, Sean Burke matched up with Trey Yesavage, and Eury Perez went head-to-head with Robert Gasser. At the plate, Trea Turner and Fernando Tatis Jr. both went completely electric by blasting a home run and swiping a bag on Saturday, Jose Trevino launched two home runs, and huge performances rolled in from Junior Caminero, Sam Antonacci, Drake Baldwin, Ryan Jeffers, Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Andres Chaparro, Curtis Mead, Kody Clemens, Wilyer Abreu, Shane Drohan, Spencer Torkelson, Hunter Goodman, Jackson Merrill, Nolan McLean, Austin Riley, Francisco Lindor, Esmerlyn Valdez, Ty France, and Tyler Stephenson. Conversely, Christian Walker's night was cut short, Jonathan Aranda bottomed out with an 0-for-7 doubleheader collar, and Griffin Jax, Gage Jump, Rhett Lowder, Ian Seymour, Jake Bauers, Eduardo Rodriguez, Cam Schlittler, Noah Cameron, Zebby Matthews, and Munetaka Murakami all landed in the duds column. Our weekly Waiver Wire segment delivers deep-dive evaluation on priority targets available in more than 60% of leagues, isolating the long-term roster utility of Caleb Durbin, AJ Ewing, Ryan Jeffers, Bryce Eldridge, Garrett Mitchell, Shane Drohan, Roki Sasaki, and Kade Anderson. First Cup Fantasy Baseball drops every weekday around 9 AM ET on The F6P Hour. Use code F6PPODS for 15% off All Access at fantasysixpack.net – rankings, matchup tools, DFS and betting cheat sheets, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pirates' broadcaster John Wehner comes on The Fan Hotline to react to the latest developments surrounding the team with Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson.

Bucco Auction House – Bids on Billy Cook, Paul Skenes, and Esmerlyn Valdez ensue.

Ben Cherington defended the lack of bullpen help for the Pirates yesterday, after Dennis Santana gave up a walkoff homer to Travis Bazzana. Cherington said that some of the bullpen help will come internally, and that they still have faith in a lot of the guys in the bullpen. Poni mentions that the Pirates are going to have to give up assets to get assets, and that Cherington can't be afraid to do this if he doesn't want to end up with nothing. Poni also thinks that Cherington is operating as if his job is secure. Poni was scared and thought that he got the new virus that is going around. Callers chime in on the Pirates' big series win. Bucco Auction House – Bids on Billy Cook, Paul Skenes, and Esmerlyn Valdez ensue.

Full Hour 1 in The Sports Bar. Gene reacts to the FIFA World Cup Final. What did you think? Plus we have a local tie to the Little League World Series in Williamsport. Plus the latest NFL & MLB news.

The Sports Bar full jammed packed show: Gene reacts to the World Cup Final & FIFA overall. He has high praise for US & North America for hosting. When will the US host again? Is Messi back in 4 years? Rich Nightingale & Penfield baseball check in from the Little League World Series. Will LeBron ever make his decision? Silver Lining? Timmy's Hot Take, The new nostalgic Knighthawks.

After the bullpen blew another late on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates were able to bounce back to win on Sunday, taking their weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians.Paul Skenes made his first start coming out of the All-Star break, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over seven innings pitched. It was good enough to pick up his ninth win of the season.Jacob Gonzalez went 2-5 with a double and two runs scored. Getting a rare start in center field, Billy Cook went 3-4 with a triple, two runs scored, and a pair of RBI. Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 12th home run of the season, going 1-3 with two RBI and two walks.Bucs On Deck is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The Pirates will head to New York for three games against the Yankees. Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, and Mitch Keller are the probably pitchers for the series.Murf Gray and Duce Gourson wrapped up their first weekend at their new levels after getting promoted coming out of the All-Star break.Now in Double-A Altoona, Gray went 2-9 with a home run and three walks compared to two strikeouts. He played in all three games and was the designated hitter on Sunday.For Gourson, he played in two of the three games over the weekend, going 4-7 with four runs scored, a home run, one walk (no strikeouts) while also stealing a pair of bases. * Greensboro Grasshoppers sent 1B Tony Blanco Jr. on a rehab assignment to Bradenton Marauders* Pittsburgh Pirates optioned RHP Khristian Curtis to Indianapolis Indians* Altoona Curve placed LHP Dominic Perachi on the 7-day injured listTop Exit Velocity* Shawn Ross - IND - 111.4 mph - Home Run* Richard Ramirez - BRD - 107 mph - Single* Jacob Gonzalez - PIT - 106.1 mph - Lineout* Edgleen Perez - BRD - 105.9 mph - Groundout* Duce Gourson - IND - 105.2 mph - Home RunTop Pitch Velocity* Carlos Mateo - BRD - 102 mph* Carlos Mateo - BRD - 101.6 mph* Carlos Mateo - BRD - 101.1 mph* Carlos Mateo - BRD - 100.9 mph* Carlos Mateo - BRD - 100.8 mphMost Whiffs* Paul Skenes - PIT - 18* Irwin Ramirez - BRD - 10* Hung-Leng Chang - GBO - 10* Brandon Neeck - ALT - 9* Matt Ager - ALT - 8Support the site by becoming a paid member and get access to all of our premium content, including our top prospect list with complete player write-ups and video breakdowns, which come out weekly.It will also give access to my player feature articles from on-site trips.We have monthly and yearly plans available, with the latter averaging $4.16/month.Indianapolis Indians - 13 vs Columbus Clippers - 6GamedayTop Hitter - Shawn Ross: 2-4, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB, HRTop Pitcher - Antwone Kelly: 4 IP, 3 H, BB, 2 KAltoona Curve - 6 vs Reading Fightin Phils - 10GamedayTop Hitter - Ivan Brethowr: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, HRTop Pitcher - Brandon Neeck: 2.1 IP, 5 KGreensboro Grasshoppers - 3 vs Hub City Spartanburgers - 7GamedayTop Hitter - Brian Sanchez: 2-4, 2 RBI, BB, 2BTop Pitcher - Kyle Larsen: 2 IP, BB, 3 KBradenton Marauders - 2 vs Tampa Tarpons - 7GamedayTop Hitter - Richard Ramirez: 2-3, R, RBI, BB, HRTop Pitcher - Brandon Cain: IP Get full access to Bucs On Deck at bucsondeck.substack.com/subscribe

Billy Cook delivered an unforgettable performance as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 to take the series. Cook collected three hits, drove in a run, stole a base and threw a runner out at home, while Paul Skenes allowed just one run with eight strikeouts across seven innings. Jim and Nate break down the surprising lineup production, outstanding defense, Esmerlyn Valdez's latest home run and the Pirates heading to New York at 52-48. Subscribe to North Shore Nine for more Pirates coverage throughout the season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Khristian Curtis delivered five scoreless innings in an outstanding MLB debut, but the Pirates bullpen completely wasted it. DiNardo and Nathan react to another brutal collapse against the Cleveland Guardians, the continued struggles of Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto, Don Kelly's bullpen decisions and a defense that failed to help its pitchers. 0:00 Another bullpen collapse 4:20 A bullpen with no identity 9:10 Where was Wilber Dotel? 12:42 Khristian Curtis shines in his debut 17:16 Quiet offense and costly defense 20:05 Paul Skenes gets the series finale Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Join PJ (@prspctvibecheck) and Greg (@greghoogkamp) as they discuss the All Star weekend including the Draft, Futures Game, Home Run Derby and All Star game. They also talk about the extensions for JJ Wetherholt and Chase Burns along with some other news and notes from around the league. They spend the bulk of the podcast reviewing the first half All-MLB Fantasy Team; who has come out of no where and who can sustain their performance through the end of the season and what it might mean in dynasty.Players Discussed: Dillon Dingler, Ben Rice, Liam Hicks, Willson Contreras, Nick Kurtz, Sam Antonacci, Brice Turang, Luis Arraez, Junior Caminero, Miguel Vargas, Josh Jung, Otto Lopez, CJ Abrams, Kevin McGonigle, Yordan Alvarez, James Wood, Juan Soto, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Byron Buxton, Randy Arozarena, Jordan Walker, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Jake Bauers, Yandy Diaz, Jacob Misiorowski, Dylan Cease, Jacob deGrom, Paul Skenes, Cam Schlittler, Joe Ryan, Chris Sale, Cristopher Sanchez, Braxton Ashcraft, Jesus Luzardo, Foster Griffin, Emerson Hancock, Cade Smith, Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran, Aroldis Chapman, Louis Varland, Bryan Baker.

Gbag Nation analyzes Mookie Betts' proposed MLB rule changes and the Texas Rangers 2025 schedule. They also discuss Paul Skenes' future in Pittsburgh and Jeff Passan's mid-season power rankings. 01:37 - MLB Run Rule Discussion 05:05 - Rangers 2025 Schedule Released 08:48 - Paul Skenes On Pittsburgh 14:05 - MLB Power Tiers Review 17:21 - Dating And Stalkers Discussion

The Pirates entered the season believing an average offense would be enough if their starting pitching carried the team. Instead, the offense has exceeded expectations while the rotation has been closer to average. Alex Stumpf explains why Pittsburgh needs Paul Skenes to take control in the second half, pitch deeper into games and give the Pirates a true ace as they fight for a National League Wild Card spot. OffBeat is presented by FanDuel. Subscribe to Alex's Book Rule Bucs Substack: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Approach Angle Nate Schwartz (@_nateschwartz) and Kyle Bland (@blandalytics) discuss pitch tunnels and their impact on arsenal construction. The podcast starts by talking about what a pitch tunnel is and why it can be effective against all types of hitters (including Jordan Walker, who Nate has to give a mention to after the Home Run Derby win). They talk about how release points and movement can confuse a hitter in terms of pitch recognition and affect their decision window when it comes to making a swing. Then, they talk about all of the different ways that the public has attempted to quantify tunneling. The next segment discusses arsenal construction -- like what makes pitches good tunnel partners and how bridge pitches can be effective. Additionally, they talk about why it can be useful to have pitches that don't tunnel with one another. Finally, they close with players that have interesting tunnels & mixes: Davis Martin, Bryan Woo, Nolan McLean, and Paul Skenes. Articles mentioned: The Importance of Release Point Consistency, Daniel Schwartz; Introducing Pitch Tunnels, Baseball Prospectus; Quantifying Arsenal Effects: A New Paradigm in Pitching Models, Driveline Baseball; The Science of Pitch Tunneling, Maxwell Resnick; Introducing BP's New Arsenal Metrics, Stephen Sutton-Brown   https://bit.ly/zenAI_bpp_pitcherlist Join Our Discord & Support The Show: PL+ | PL Pro - Get 15% off Yearly with code PODCASTProud member of the Pitcher List Fantasy Baseball Podcast Network Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

C-Lo returns for an update and starts with Tracy Morgan at the ESPY's as Jalen Brunson won 3 awards. Jerry didn't like the Savannah Bananas opening song. Paul Skenes talked to Jeff Passan about the three greatest Americans. Shaun Morash had an In-N-Out burger review.

We debate who can challenge the Dodgers—perhaps the Phillies, despite their terrible start and fired manager?—and whether Pete Crow-Armstrong has an NL MVP shot. Next, Gio envies Giancarlo Stanton's wealthy offseason lifestyle, Jerry argues Francisco Lindor to the Yankees makes perfect sense, and C-Lo delivers updates on Jalen Brunson winning three ESPYs from Tracy Morgan. Finally, we hear about Jerry's distaste for the Savannah Bananas' opening song, Paul Skenes' three greatest Americans, a Shaun Morash In-N-Out review, and Mike Francesa telling a cardiologist about his stent and claiming he got the first-ever CT scan.

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Hour 1: Do the Pirates need to acquire another starting pitcher before the deadline? The guys debate how much faith we should have in Jared Jones right now. And Dom ate a fried apple pie during the commercial break. Hour 2: Pat Bostick joins the show in-studio for the next couple hours! The guys recap Argentina's stunning win at the World Cup yesterday. Could Dom have been an award-winning play-by-play announcer? And should the Pirates trade Oneil Cruz by the trade deadline? Hour 3: Will Pitt football start the season 5-0 this year? Does ChatGPT know who Harry Callas is? And Dom gives his Kyle Dubas and Matt Campbell hot takes. Hour 4: The guys quiz Dom, and it goes … not well. The guys reminisce on one of the most controversial college football teams of this century. And Jeff Hathhorn joins the show to preview the Pirates' post-All-Star-break moves.

Paul Skenes has optimism that many current Pirates will be future All-Stars. What should the Pirates do with their pitchers in the second half of the season? The guys wonder if another starter is needed by the Buccos. Could Robbie Ray be a trade candidate for Pittsburgh?

Hour 1: Do the Pirates need to acquire another starting pitcher before the deadline? The guys debate how much faith we should have in Jared Jones right now. And Dom ate a fried apple pie during the commercial break.

Chuck Todd opens with the news that Trump is planning a primetime address to push election denialism, and uses it as a lens to examine how thoroughly fealty to the 2020 fraud lie has become the price of admission in Trump's Washington. He argues Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice, that he failed his test under questioning from John Cornyn, and that the weaponization fund could become the red line that finally moves Collins, Tillis, and Cornyn — because an inability to confirm Blanche would be a clear sign of Trump's weakening grip on the GOP. He points to the surreal spectacle of Jay Clayton refusing to answer Jon Ossoff's simple question of who won the 2020 election, looking like a ridiculous sycophant in the process, and to Trump endorsing MyPillow's Mike Lindell — the single biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country, a man who's lost every court case and been forced to pay $5 million over his false claims. He reminds listeners that it was Trump's own appointees who ran election security in 2020, that every major election denier from Giuliani on down has been forced to retract in court, and that Georgia's full hand recount matched the machines exactly — the only real constant in Trumpworld is that any outcome Trump dislikes gets branded fraud. He then turns to the mounting deaths during ICE encounters, arguing the violence isn't an anomaly but an entirely predictable consequence of an agency whose culture has been deliberately reshaped: DHS recruited candidates with violent psychological profiles using white nationalist slogans, imposed quotas that put officers under enormous stress, and pushed them into vehicle stops that former officials admit ICE has no experience conducting. In two fatal shootings the men killed weren't even the targets, witnesses have disputed the DHS account, there's no body cam footage, and Chuck argues DHS has zero credibility, even as Trump clearly wants the theater and the violent confrontations. On Iran, Chuck is blunt that having less leverage than before the war started is simply what losing a war looks like: the administration badly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran deliberately decentralized its regime to survive decapitation strikes, and after three failed military strategies in five months, Trump has spent the entire war negotiating against himself — meaning the best America can now hope for is a managed stalemate, because Iran can't beat the U.S. military, it just has to wait out an increasingly impatient Trump. He closes on a lighter note with the House passing a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, offering the contrarian reminder that the public always wants permanent DST until they actually get it — kids forced to go to school in pitch darkness, and the simple reality that what's good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of professional athletes best positioned to run for political office and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Trump planning primetime address to push election denialism 04:15 Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice 05:00 Blanche failed the test when questioned by John Cornyn 05:30 Weaponization fund could be the red line for Collins, Tillis and Cornyn 07:00 Inability to confirm Blanche would show Trump’s weakening grip on GOP 08:15 John Ossoff asked simple question Jay Clayton wouldn’t answer 09:00 Clayton refused to answer “who won the 2020 election?” 09:30 You must agree with election denialism to work for Trump 10:30 Clayton looked like a ridiculous sycophant 12:00 Administration convinced deportations will help in midterms 12:30 Trump is completely misreading the situation, but nobody will tell him 13:15 Trump gives his endorsement to Mike Lindell from MyPillow 13:45 Trump supporting biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country* 14:30 Lindell was forced to pay $5 million due to his false claims 15:15 Lindell has lost every time his claims ended up in court 15:45 Lindell is a lunatic 16:45 The only constant for Trump is “it’s fraud” if he doesn’t get his way 17:30 It was Trump appointees who ran election security in 2020 18:15 The election fraud claims from Trumpworld kept changing 19:15 Guliani was forced to refute his election denial in court 20:00 Every election denier has had to retract in a court of law 21:15 Georgia conducted a full recount and it matched the machines 23:00 Multiple deaths have occurred during encounters with ICE 24:00 In the two shootings the men killed were not the targets of the operation 24:45 Witnesses have challenged DHS account & there’s no body cam footage 25:15 DHS has no credibility, can’t trust their account of events 26:00 ICE announced they have paused most vehicle stops nationwide 28:00 Trump wants the theater with ICE, he wants violent confrontations* 29:30 The violence isn’t an anomaly, it’s entirely predictable 30:00 DHS’s recruiting for ICE has changed the culture of the organization 31:00 ICE targeted candidates with a violent psychological profile 32:15 ICE used white nationalist slogans in recruitment ads 34:00 The culture of ICE promotes violent confrontation 34:45 Administration’s quotas has put officers under stress 36:45 Former ICE officials admit the agency doesn’t have experience for vehicle stops 37:30 Tragedy isn’t a risk under these circumstances… it’s a guarantee 38:15 Federal law enforcement has turned into a theater of dominance 39:00 ICE set itself up for a war… and we’re seeing the consequences 39:45 Iran has more leverage than before the war… that’s called losing 40:15 Houthis may close another chokepoint 41:15 The U.S. military always knew the Strait of Hormuz was the ballgame 41:45 Administration underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait 42:30 Iran set up the regime to be decentralized in case of decapitation strikes 43:15 We’ve tried 3 major military strategies in 5 months & none worked 44:30 Trump has negotiated against himself for the entire war 46:00 This has now become a fight over leverage 47:00 Every week the war grinds on, the more unpopular it becomes 47:30 Iran can’t beat the U.S. military, they just need to wait out Trump 48:15 The best we can hope for is a managed stalemate 48:45 House passed a bill to make daylight savings time permanent 49:45 The public always wants permanent daylight savings, until they get it 50:15 Kids are forced to get to school in the dark, results in deaths 51:30 What’s good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning 57:00 ToddCast Top 5 American athletes that could transition to politics 1:01:00 #5 Travis Kelce 1:02:15 #4 Paul Skenes 1:03:15 #3 Patrick Mahomes 1:04:00 #2 Steph Curry 1:05:00 #1 Caitlin Clark 1:08:15 Ask Chuck 1:08:30 Favorite old 40s and 50s films? 1:14:45 Your work made a real difference in my life 1:16:15 Are there any states where a congressperson could do what Farage did in UK? 1:19:45 Why don’t presidential campaigns create buzz around VP selection? 1:24:15 What signs would show us we’re turning the corner on this divisive era?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the news that Trump is planning a primetime address to push election denialism, and uses it as a lens to examine how thoroughly fealty to the 2020 fraud lie has become the price of admission in Trump's Washington. He argues Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice, that he failed his test under questioning from John Cornyn, and that the weaponization fund could become the red line that finally moves Collins, Tillis, and Cornyn — because an inability to confirm Blanche would be a clear sign of Trump's weakening grip on the GOP. He points to the surreal spectacle of Jay Clayton refusing to answer Jon Ossoff's simple question of who won the 2020 election, looking like a ridiculous sycophant in the process, and to Trump endorsing MyPillow's Mike Lindell — the single biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country, a man who's lost every court case and been forced to pay $5 million over his false claims. He reminds listeners that it was Trump's own appointees who ran election security in 2020, that every major election denier from Giuliani on down has been forced to retract in court, and that Georgia's full hand recount matched the machines exactly — the only real constant in Trumpworld is that any outcome Trump dislikes gets branded fraud. He then turns to the mounting deaths during ICE encounters, arguing the violence isn't an anomaly but an entirely predictable consequence of an agency whose culture has been deliberately reshaped: DHS recruited candidates with violent psychological profiles using white nationalist slogans, imposed quotas that put officers under enormous stress, and pushed them into vehicle stops that former officials admit ICE has no experience conducting. In two fatal shootings the men killed weren't even the targets, witnesses have disputed the DHS account, there's no body cam footage, and Chuck argues DHS has zero credibility, even as Trump clearly wants the theater and the violent confrontations. On Iran, Chuck is blunt that having less leverage than before the war started is simply what losing a war looks like: the administration badly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran deliberately decentralized its regime to survive decapitation strikes, and after three failed military strategies in five months, Trump has spent the entire war negotiating against himself — meaning the best America can now hope for is a managed stalemate, because Iran can't beat the U.S. military, it just has to wait out an increasingly impatient Trump. He closes on a lighter note with the House passing a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, offering the contrarian reminder that the public always wants permanent DST until they actually get it — kids forced to go to school in pitch darkness, and the simple reality that what's good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning. Then, John Opdycke — founder and president of Open Primaries, one of the leading organizations pushing to end closed partisan primaries — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that the exclusion of independent voters is one of the great overlooked scandals of American democracy. Opdycke walks through the byzantine patchwork of voter and party registration rules that vary wildly by state, explains why so many independents sit out partisan primaries entirely, and argues that after 30 years of closed primaries the cumulative effect has been a system where the parties function as both the umpires and the players — a structure that simply doesn't work. He makes the bipartisan argument that tax dollars shouldn't fund the private nominating contests of what are essentially private organizations, and is pointedly critical of Democrats for actively fighting open primary initiatives.He notes that policies with 80% public support routinely fail to pass because voters don't actually have a meaningful say. The conversation turns tactical and forward-looking, with Opdycke offering a sober assessment of the broader reform landscape and its persistent failures. He argues the ranked-choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors, that the party in power always fights ranked choice voting, and that the modern reform and independent movement suffers from a fundamental lack of a compelling public face — as well as from philanthropic funders who attach outcome expectations that distort the work. Opdycke is candid that third parties fare poorly in nearly every electoral system, that Ross Perot's Reform Party is now essentially a shell, and that the American people still don't trust the reform movement — but he sees real opportunity in specific fights, particularly mobilizing Florida's independents to change the law and pursuing top-two systems that would genuinely open the door to competition. He notes the striking statistic that 10,000 people per week are changing their voter registration, laments the general lack of curiosity (and polling) about who swing voters actually are, and argues there's meaningful left-right overlap among libertarians that reformers could tap. They explore whether the redistricting wars could create a backlash against the two-party system, why there are only about 25 competitive House districts left, and why several states are now actually moving back toward closed primaries. They close with a clear-eyed take on 2028: the reform movement needs a credible presidential candidate, and with 2028 shaping up to be a wild and unpredictable year, the opening for that kind of disruption may be wider than it's been in decades. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of professional athletes best positioned to run for political office and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Trump planning primetime address to push election denialism 04:15 Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice 05:00 Blanche failed the test when questioned by John Cornyn 05:30 Weaponization fund could be the red line for Collins, Tillis and Cornyn 07:00 Inability to confirm Blanche would show Trump’s weakening grip on GOP 08:15 John Ossoff asked simple question Jay Clayton wouldn’t answer 09:00 Clayton refused to answer “who won the 2020 election?” 09:30 You must agree with election denialism to work for Trump 10:30 Clayton looked like a ridiculous sycophant 12:00 Administration convinced deportations will help in midterms 12:30 Trump is completely misreading the situation, but nobody will tell him 13:15 Trump gives his endorsement to Mike Lindell from MyPillow 13:45 Trump supporting biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country* 14:30 Lindell was forced to pay $5 million due to his false claims 15:15 Lindell has lost every time his claims ended up in court 15:45 Lindell is a lunatic 16:45 The only constant for Trump is “it’s fraud” if he doesn’t get his way 17:30 It was Trump appointees who ran election security in 2020 18:15 The election fraud claims from Trumpworld kept changing 19:15 Guliani was forced to refute his election denial in court 20:00 Every election denier has had to retract in a court of law 21:15 Georgia conducted a full recount and it matched the machines 23:00 Multiple deaths have occurred during encounters with ICE 24:00 In the two shootings the men killed were not the targets of the operation 24:45 Witnesses have challenged DHS account & there’s no body cam footage 25:15 DHS has no credibility, can’t trust their account of events 26:00 ICE announced they have paused most vehicle stops nationwide 28:00 Trump wants the theater with ICE, he wants violent confrontations* 29:30 The violence isn’t an anomaly, it’s entirely predictable 30:00 DHS’s recruiting for ICE has changed the culture of the organization 31:00 ICE targeted candidates with a violent psychological profile 32:15 ICE used white nationalist slogans in recruitment ads 34:00 The culture of ICE promotes violent confrontation 34:45 Administration’s quotas has put officers under stress 36:45 Former ICE officials admit the agency doesn’t have experience for vehicle stops 37:30 Tragedy isn’t a risk under these circumstances… it’s a guarantee 38:15 Federal law enforcement has turned into a theater of dominance 39:00 ICE set itself up for a war… and we’re seeing the consequences 39:45 Iran has more leverage than before the war… that’s called losing 40:15 Houthis may close another chokepoint 41:15 The U.S. military always knew the Strait of Hormuz was the ballgame 41:45 Administration underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait 42:30 Iran set up the regime to be decentralized in case of decapitation strikes 43:15 We’ve tried 3 major military strategies in 5 months & none worked 44:30 Trump has negotiated against himself for the entire war 46:00 This has now become a fight over leverage 47:00 Every week the war grinds on, the more unpopular it becomes 47:30 Iran can’t beat the U.S. military, they just need to wait out Trump 48:15 The best we can hope for is a managed stalemate 48:45 House passed a bill to make daylight savings time permanent 49:45 The public always wants permanent daylight savings, until they get it 50:15 Kids are forced to get to school in the dark, results in deaths 51:30 What’s good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning 00:00 John Opdycke joins the Chuck ToddCast 59:45 Voter & party registration rules vary greatly by state 1:01:00 Why do so many independents sit out partisan primaries? 1:03:30 NYC Democratic party actively fought open primary initiative 1:05:00 There have been cumulative effects of 30 years of closed primaries 1:06:15 Voter apathy across the board for voting in primaries 1:07:00 Independents showing strong support for Open Primaries 1:08:45 Parties have every right to choose their candidates 1:09:15 Parties now are both the umpires and the players, it doesn’t work 1:11:00 There’s bipartisan arguments for not using tax dollars for private orgs 1:12:15 Why are Democrats fighting against open primaries? 1:14:15 Ross Perot’s Reform Party is basically a shell at this point 1:17:00 Independent voters are incorrectly understood as in the middle 1:17:30 Independents are moderate in temperament, not ideology 1:19:15 Politics post-Clinton/Gingrich designed to keep independents down 1:20:15 The modern reform/independent movement lacks a face 1:21:15 Philanthropic funders come with expectations of outcomes 1:22:15 Ranked choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors 1:24:30 Party in power always fights ranked choice voting 1:26:00 Exclusion of independent voters is a Jim Crow level violation of rights 1:26:30 Policies with 80% support don’t pass, voters don’t have a say 1:28:00 Third parties don’t do well in almost any electoral system 1:29:15 Swing voters are ignored until October 1:29:45 Which states offer best opportunities for a third party? 1:30:30 Independents require the Democrat to drop out in senate races 1:34:00 Could the redistricting wars create backlash to the two party system? 1:34:45 There’s only 25 competitive house district 1:35:30 Leaders in several states now looking to go back to closed primaries 1:36:45 The American people don’t trust the Reform movement 1:38:45 Mobilizing independents in Florida to change the law 1:41:15 There’s left-right overlap amongst the libertarians 1:42:45 There’s a lack of curiosity about independent/swing voters 1:44:45 10,000 people per week change their voter registration 1:45:30 We need a flood of polling and research about independent voters 1:46:45 What does success look like for Open Primaries this year? 1:49:45 A top two system would open up the door to competition 1:51:15 There are fewer “generic” candidates, much more variance 1:53:45 The Reform movement needs a presidential candidate in ‘28 1:57:30 Perot had to scare both parties to get them to make reforms 1:59:00 Have to creative in ‘28, it will be a wild year in politics 2:00:00 Primaries should be open to all voters 2:00:15 ToddCast Top 5 American athletes that could transition to politics 2:04:15 #5 Travis Kelce 2:05:30 #4 Paul Skenes 2:06:30 #3 Patrick Mahomes 2:07:15 #2 Steph Curry 2:08:15 #1 Caitlin Clark 2:11:30 Ask Chuck 2:11:45 Favorite old 40s and 50s films? 2:18:00 Your work made a real difference in my life 2:19:30 Are there any states where a congressperson could do what Farage did in UK? 2:23:00 Why don’t presidential campaigns create buzz around VP selection? 2:27:30 What signs would show us we’re turning the corner on this divisive era?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Skenes future Yankee? Jason Robertson future Penguin? Paul Zeise at the bottom of the hour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All-Star Game and Home Run Derby brought out the best in baseball, but also highlighted the challenges of the modern game. This episode of the podcast delves into the record-breaking pitching performances and the debate over whether the game is becoming too dominated by pitchers. The host and guest discuss the adrenaline-fueled atmosphere of the All-Star Game and how it affects the players, as well as the trend of players choosing not to participate in the Midsummer Classic.The conversation touches on the excitement of the Home Run Derby, where Jordan Walker's impressive performance stole the show. The guest shares his thoughts on the Philly crowd's energy and the unique characteristics of the city's fans. The discussion also explores the state of the game, with the guest arguing that the abundance of velocity and spin is making it harder for hitters to succeed.The episode also covers the tribute to the movie The Sandlot, which was a highlight of the All-Star Game. The guest shares his opinion on the film, which sparked a lighthearted debate with the host. Additionally, the conversation touches on the potential for the All-Star Game to return to Oracle Park in San Francisco, which would be a great opportunity for the city to showcase its energy.The conversation also delves into the challenges of being an All-Star and the All-Star game. The guest shares his thoughts on the list of players who missed the game, including Aaron Judge and Paul Skenes, and the reasons behind their absence. The discussion wraps up with a look ahead to the future, including an upcoming interview with Buster Posey.If you're interested in hearing more about the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby, and the state of the game, tune in to this episode to hear the full conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft are very good friends. They were both very frustrated that no one from the offense was named an All-Star. Paul Skenes is ok with the velocity being down and doesn't think it's hurting his pitching. Skenes likes helping Jones, Ashcraft, and others, and is in a good place. Jason expects the Pirates to be very active at the deadline. 

Hour 4 with Jeff Hathhorn: Matt Clement's son Madden was drafted by Kansas City in the 15th round. Matt was lost in the draft this year with slot values and other places. Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft are very good friends. They were both very frustrated that no one from the offense was named an All-Star. Paul Skenes is ok with the velocity being down and doesn't think it's hurting his pitching.

Hour 1: Are Pirates fans not letting themselves buy into this season's time right now? The guys try to get to the bottom of Crowley's jaw pain. Is there any update with Jason Robertson and the Penguins? And the Mega Millions is reaching record levels. Hour 2: Which team was better, the 2013 Pirates or the 2026 Pirates? The guys debate if Will Ferrell is funny. And Dom claims to be a good singer, but will he sing on the show? Hour 3: Ray Fittipaldo joins the show to go through the biggest Steelers stories ahead of training camp. Do people still go to the library? And Dorin and Dom love Tubi's horror movie selection. Hour 4: Doug Whaley joins the guys for the hour for Wednesday with Whaley! Are the Steelers in quarterback purgatory? Doug explains how the Bills almost drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017. And Doug evaluates Dom's appearance in the studio.

Hour 3: Ray Fittipaldo joins the show to go through the biggest Steelers stories ahead of training camp. Could a salary cap in MLB actually be a BAD thing for the fans??? Do people still go to the library? The guys react to breaking Anthony Mantha news. And Dorin and Dom love Tubi's horror movie selection.

Hour 2: Which team was better, the 2013 Pirates or the 2026 Pirates? The guys debate if Will Ferrell is funny. And Dom claims to be a good singer, but will he sing on the show?

Michael McKenry said yesterday that this year's Pirates team is more talented than 2013's. The guys go position by position to compare both teams. Is Napoleon Dynamite a good movie? Who's more talented, Andrew McCutchen or O'Neil Cruz?

Paul Skenes said that he did not want an All-Star break, as the Pirates are rolling right now. Poni and Mueller spend a minute listening to Limits catch strays from Pomp and Joe. Jason Mackey sat down with Paul Skenes at the All-Star Game, and Skenes called his first half of the season weird. Skenes graded his first half of the season a B. ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – Aditi is a massive soccer fan, and just missed England's goal to make it 1-0 against Argentina. Aditi says that conspiracy theories are always possibilities when it regards Aaron Rodgers. Todd Haley said that the new Steelers WR duo of DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman can be like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Aditi would rather have Lamar Jackson than Joe Burrow, much to the chagrin of Poni. Donny Football Debrief – CBS Sports made a list of the 5 best and worsts QB situations in the NFL. The Steelers were not in the bottom 5.

Tim Benz and Kevin Gorman talk abotu Oneil Cruz's future, the All-Star Game, the Fox broadcast, trade ideas, Paul Skenes and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dom DiTommaso back in for The Early Morning Show today! Do people still care about the MLB All-Star Game? Dom shares a crazy story from his trip to Penn State last weekend. It is a great week for horror movie fans, but is there controversy brewing with a new show coming out? And Dom wonders if George Pickens is trying to get traded to the Ravens.

Hour 1: This week on the Sports Leader, Murph and Markus are back with a bang, discussing the thrilling Home Run Derby and the upcoming All-Star Game. The guys dive into the drama of the Home Run Derby, where Jordan Walker stole the show with his incredible performance, taking down Kyle Schwarber in the final round. They also share their thoughts on the Netflix broadcast, which left a lot to be desired, and the perfect energy of the Philadelphia crowd. The conversation takes a turn as they discuss the All-Star Game, where several players are opting out, including Jacob Mizerowski and Paul Skenes. The guys debate the significance of the All-Star Game and whether it's still relevant in today's sports landscape. They also touch on the latest news about LeBron James, with rumors swirling about his potential return to the Golden State Warriors. The episode also features an exciting interview with Jackson Flora, the number four pick in the MLB draft, who shares his story of growing up as a Giants fan and making his way to the top. The guys discuss his impressive college career and what he's looking forward to in his professional debut. Don't miss this episode of the Sports Leader, where the guys dish on the latest sports news, share their opinions, and interview exciting guests. Tune in to hear more about the Home Run Derby, the All-Star Game, and Jackson Flora's inspiring story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pirates are sending Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft to the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, but neither pitcher will actually appear. Even worse, one of baseball's highest-scoring offenses will not have a single position player representing it. Alex Stumpf breaks down the historic snub, why Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe deserved serious consideration and why MLB may need to expand All-Star rosters to better recognize deserving hitters. Read Alex's work at Book Rule Bucs: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ North Shore Nine is presented by FanDuel. Download our app! : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-shore-nine/id6771171000 : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northshorenine.app Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myshopify.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m #pittsburghpirates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

7-14 Fan Morning Show 8am Hour Matt Clement joins the show. The guys congratulate the Clement family as Madden was drafted by the Kansas City Royals. Paul Skenes gave some comments about his last couple of starts and what he thinks is different from years past. Matt says he thinks Skenes would like his velocity to be a little bit higher but he has adjusted to what it is now. Matt says that this has been a "maddening first half" but also a fun one! Who are the guys' picks for MVP of the Pirates so far? Crowley says that Esmerlyn Valdez is his pick. Nick Gonzales gets an underrated honorable mention. Brandon Lowe has fallen off a little bit in recent weeks but he has still shown he is a main contributor My MVP pick is Evan Cisk if we are picking players who are not the usual suspects. Even though he is hurt, Cisk is the only player that has been consistent and leaves you confident he will get the job done. A caller says Braxton Ashcraft is his first half MVP. Crowley says the LVP is Mitch Keller over Marcel Ozuna. Dennis Santana is the leading LVP candidate in the clubhouse not named Mitch Keller. Someone in the Audacy Office is trying to lose weight but also ate 6 tacos last night. Crowley is trying to quit drinking, but he has high school friends visiting this weekend.

Paul Skenes had a very weird interaction with a reporter last night. During his media availability, a reporter called him a "future Yankee". Crowley says that this is the only sport where that happens. The reporter was chastised by many in the Pittsburgh media. The All Star Game is meant to be fun and now it has been tarnished for Pirates fans. Jeff Passan said that the new format was going to suck, Bryce Harper kicked Rob Manfred out of a locker room, and Paul Skenes was told he is going to be a future Yankee. This is where we are in baseball right now. Crowley says we are entering a very dark period in the sport. What is the thing that snakes live in called? Crowley breaks down his top four moments from the Pirates' first half of the season. Bryan Reynolds' walk-off home run vs old friend Derek Shelton, Esmerlyn Valdez's grand slam, Tyler Callihan hitting his home run off Shohei Ohtani, and Ryan O'Hearn's 3 home runs and 10 RBIs make up the list. A lot of people texted in that Konnor Griffin's RBI double in his debut should have been among Crowley's best moments.This is the most fun Pirates team to watch since when? Even though there have been some really bad losses so far this year, they have been a lot of fun to watch. Nick Yorke's walk off single in the series against the Orioles is another honorable mention. Crowley says don't eat your veggies unless you cook them. There is something going around and veggies are to blame. Apple Cider season is almost upon us meaning it is almost time for football.

Jason did not see the woman call Paul Skenes a future Yankee to his face. Jason was with Braxton Ashcraft at the time. Jason says that it is problematic in many aspects of the sport, especially the media. It irritates Jason, a member of the media. Skenes talked about his dip in velocity. Did Skenes have any ideas why his velocity is down? Jason has indeed consumed a cheesesteak in Philly.

Matt Clement joins the show. The guys congratulate the Clement family as Madden was drafted by the Kansas City Royals. Paul Skenes gave some comments about his last couple of starts and what he thinks is different from years past. Matt says he thinks Skenes would like his velocity to be a little bit higher but he has adjusted to what it is now. Matt says that this has been a "maddening first half" but also a fun one!

Jeff Hatthorn joins the show! Does Jeff have hope that the Pirates make the playoffs? He believes they can make it especially if Paul Skenes pitches better in the second half. He also points out that Braxton Ashcraft is entering uncharted territory regarding innings pitched. Jeff also says he does not care what it costs for someone like Josh Hader or Aroldis Chapman because everything else on the team is there. Who is more likely to be cut: Roman Wilson or Mason Rudolph? Status quo on everything related to Jason Robertson. Could the Penguins offer sheet Connor Bedard?

Paul Skenes had a very weird interaction with a reporter last night. During his media availability, a reporter called him a "future Yankee". Crowley says that this is the only sport where that happens. The reporter was chastised by many in the Pittsburgh media. The All Star Game is meant to be fun and now it has been tarnished for Pirates fans. Jeff Passan said that the new format was going to suck, Bryce Harper kicked Rob Manfred out of a locker room, and Paul Skenes was told he is going to be a future Yankee. This is where we are in baseball right now. Crowley says we are entering a very dark period in the sport.

7-14 Fan Morning Show 9am Hour What is Neil Walker's go-to cookout meal? Neil says he is very simple: burgers and dogs. Neil gives the Pirates a B and 82% when grading their first half. The pitching brings the grade down a lot with their poor first half. Is it possible we see Seth Hernandez coming out of the bullpen in September? Neil says it is definitely possible even if the Pirates add bullpen arms at the deadline. Hopefully there is not a revolving door between the minors and MLB arms and the bullpen is steady when it comes down the stretch. Neil suggests having him throw in low leverage situations just to see what he has. Despite the USMNT not being in the World Cup anymore, the World Cup is still happening. France and Spain play today at Jerry World. Would you rather watch the World Cup or the MLB All-Star Game? Will anyone watch the All-Star Game tonight? Will Crowley ever drink a Long Island Iced Tea again? Jason did not see the woman call Paul Skenes a future Yankee to his face. Jason was with Braxton Ashcraft at the time. Jason says that it is problematic in many aspects of the sport, especially the media. It irritates Jason, a member of the media. Skenes talked about his dip in velocity. Did Skenes have any ideas why his velocity is down? Jason has indeed consumed a cheesesteak in Philly. Crowley is jealous of Dorin's muscles.

7-14 Fan Morning Show Full Show

On today's show, Pat, Darius Butler, and the boys are LIVE from Citizen's Bank Park ahead of tonight's MLB Home Run Derby recapping all of the NFL news we missed while we were on break, talk about what has been an awesome World Cup so far and the end of USMNT's run, Pat attending Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce wedding, and more. To kick things off, we are joined by NFL Senior Insider Adam Schefter, who updates us on Aaron Donald's potential return to the Rams after his work out at the Rams facility, Baker Mayfield's contract talks with the Buccaneers, and more. After Schefter, we are joined by World Baseball Classic Manager of Team USA and MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa, who previews the Home Run Derby tonight and what goes into it, his perspective on Paul Skenes, Jacob Misiorowski's insane velocity this season, and more. In the second hour, we are joined by Philadelphia Phillies DH & Home Run Hitting legend Kyle Schwarber who discussed the new Home Run Derby format, where he wants the baseball, whether they should introduce metal bat to the Derby, his favorite Derby memories from growing up, and more. After Schwarber, we are joined by White Sox DH Munetaka Murakami and his interpreter who tells us about his taste in music, his thoughts on the Toxic Table boys, and much more. We wrap things up with comedian and friend of the show Adam Ray, who tells us about his new show, The Adam Ray Show available now on Netflix with new episodes each Friday, updates on his life, and more. Make sure to subscribe to youtube.com/thepatmcafeeshow or watch on ESPN (12-2 EDT), ESPN's Youtube (12-3 EDT), or ESPN+. We will be back again tomorrow live from New York City ahead of the ESPYs. We appreciate the hell out of you. Cheers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about failed former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt’s subsequent sports ownership endeavors, a claim about Jacob Misiorowski’s pitching improvement, Jackson Chourio (batting lefty) as “a baseball player,” the recent struggles of Paul Skenes and Steven Kwan, Justin Verlander’s retirement, Zack Wheeler’s continued dominance, Andrew McCutchen’s return to the minors, the Orioles’ lack of improvement, the epitome of a Little League home run, Tyler Tolbert’s contribution to one of baseball’s great mysteries, and a 2026 Dodgers first. Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme” Audio outro: Alex Glossman and Ali Breneman, “Effectively Wild Theme” Link to McCourt’s new league Link to McCourt wiki Link to show jumping wiki Link to Vladimir Shpunt article Link to NPR on Fitzgerald’s quote Link to Nickelodeon Guts wiki Link to “Let’s go to Mo” Link to “Aggro Crag piece Link to Slippery Stairs video Link to Murphy/Chourio quote Link to Rendon lefty dinger Link to Mr. Baseball wiki Link to Mr. Baseball scene Link to FG post on Skenes Link to Sheehan on Skenes Link to Skenes mechanics post Link to Skenes velo tweet Link to Skenes velo data Link to Skenes on his velo Link to Skenes on O’Hearn Link to O’Hearn article Link to Skenes hot dog ad Link to Skenes on EW Link to Griffin injury article Link to sagittal band info Link to FG post on Kwan Link to Verlander’s retirement post Link to Verlander Legend pick Link to 2025 ASG box score Link to Wheeler leaderboard Link to Wheeler ASG article 1 Link to Wheeler ASG article 2 Link to McCutchen tweet Link to Orioles record post Link to Orioles WAR leaders Link to “great call from the haters” Link to LLHR article Link to LLHR video Link to Sam on the LLHR Link to Posnanski on the LLHR Link to BP on the LLHR Link to FG post on the LLHR Link to Tolbert record post 1 Link to Tolbert record post 2 Link to Dodgers extra-inning game Sponsor Us on Patreon Give a Gift Subscription Email Us: podcast@fangraphs.com Effectively Wild Subreddit Effectively Wild Wiki Apple Podcasts Feed Spotify Feed YouTube Playlist Facebook Group Bluesky Account Twitter Account Get Our Merch! var SERVER_DATA = Object.assign(SERVER_DATA || {}); Source