Podcasts about ringer's ben lindbergh

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh joins Tom and Darius to talk about his new book, The MVP Machine, plus Effectively Wild approaching its seventh anniversary, and how he consumes baseball.

Topics in this edition (ft. The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh) include: - Discussing 'The MVP Machine,' Lindbergh and Travis Sawchik's definitive exploration of the ongoing revolution in baseball's player development approaches and practices. - Why was player development so overlooked historically in Major League Baseball? - Given the recent - and seismic - advances in player development, could anyone (even, say, the host of this podcast) make the big leagues? - Have improvements in player development contributed to the ongoing free agency crisis? - How outsiders and iconoclasts are re-shaping baseball's front offices and coaching staffs.

We celebrate Panzer Dragoon Saga's 20th Anniversary with Ben Lindbergh, author of The Ringer's massive retrospective on Sega's lost classic [26:10]. We talk about the ways it broke new ground, its complex story, and the miracle of it making it to America at all. Then Kat and Nadia dive back into Cosmic Star Heroine [54:06] and talk more Monster Hunter: World!

In an extra-long, year-ending episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Ben's VR Christmas gift (0:15), before welcoming Ringer colleagues Justin Charity and Matt James for a roundtable debate about the best games of 2017, which they share via four personal top 10 lists and an overall combined ranking (5:05). Then they bring on indie designer Jason Roberts to explain how he conceived of and created the new hand-drawn narrative puzzle game 'Gorogoa' (61:35). And finally they wrap up with an in-depth exploration of the highs and the lows of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' and the future of the Lucasfilm franchise (88:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their opinions about porgs and cute creatures in 'Star Wars' and imagine an alternate history in which BioWare adapts 'Game of Thrones' instead of 'Star Wars' (0:15). Then they bring on three writers to discuss four games whose content keeps changing, talking to Polygon's Charlie Hall about 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' coming to consoles and 'Star Citizen' going to court (8:45), Kotaku's Zack Zwiezen about the new Doomsday Heist in 'GTA Online' (41:50), and Geek.com's Jordan Minor about 'Breath of the Wild' DLC (59:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the scare-reducing "safe mode" in the new Xbox port of sci-fi horror game 'Soma' (0:15) then welcome colleagues Justin Charity and Victor Luckerson to talk about Nintendo's dramatic 2017 turnaround, 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2,' and the future of the Switch (8:05). Lastly Ben and Jason bring on Representative Chris Lee of the Hawaii House of Representatives to explain his plans to win the political battle against exploitative loot boxes (42:20).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the microtransaction controversy sweeping the industry and talk to the influential Reddit poster who helped start the backlash against 'Battlefront II' (8:40).They then bring on ESPN esports reporter Jacob Wolf to preview the advent of the innovative Overwatch League and address the questions that Blizzard still has to answer about 'Overwatch' as an esport and the big-buy-in league's long-term viability (39:40).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion soundtrack your holiday travel with their first-ever mailbag episode, answering listener questions about the best and worst trends and games of 2017, the games they most regret missing, open-world design vs. linear levels and single-player vs. multiplayer, how Triple-A games can cut costs, the balance between new IP and sequels, the latest esports and streaming developments, how to introduce kids to video games, the greatest gaming eras, fallen franchises and genres that are due for revivals, trophy hunting, Switch ports, and much more.

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the recent releases of several high-profile Switch ports, what their success means for the system's future, and what might have been for the PlayStation Vita (0:57). Then they review the highlights and lowlights of the multiplayer modes and single-player campaign of 'Star Wars: Battlefront II' and lament the game's heavy-handed use of microtransactions and loot boxes (6:15). Lastly, they bring on 'Battlefront' writer Walt Williams to talk about the special thrills and unique challenges of creating characters and stories inside the 'Star Wars' universe (26:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss whether 'Assassin's Creed: Origins' innovates enough on the franchise's familiar formula to bring them back to the fold (0:15), then welcome Polygon senior reporter Samit Sarkar for a conversation about the benefits and shortcomings of the Xbox One X, the 4K and HDR difference, why the console's presence in the market makes for such a difficult purchasing decision, and what the Xbox One X signifies for the future of console releases and mid-generation hardware updates (15:15).

In an intimate bonus episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's concussion (0:15) and Ben's binge with three newly released games: back-to-basics big-budget shooter 'Call of Duty: WW II' (6:12), 'The Frozen Wilds' (the first downloadable content for game of the year candidate 'Horizon Zero Dawn') (24:23), and throwback Xbox/PC platformer 'Super Lucky's Tale' (33:24).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann catch up with a wave of early-offseason moves, including a quintet of managerial hirings and the emergence of a new model of manager (06:00), the players association's perplexing stance on Shohei Otani (27:30), the opt-in decisions of a trio of pitchers (and the extension of Justin Upton) (39:00), potentially era-ending option decisions regarding Andre Ethier, Ichiro Suzuki, and Jose Bautista, and the Yasmani Grandal trade market (49:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion briefly discuss the latest trailer for 'The Last of Us Part II' (1:00) then bring on Kotaku news editor and 'Blood, Sweat, and Pixels' author Jason Schreier for a wide-ranging discussion about 'Super Mario Odyssey' and Nintendo's stellar 2017 (9:00); the fall of Visceral Games and the cancellation of another high-profile 'Star Wars' game (27:00); the proliferation of loot boxes and microtransactions; whether loot boxes constitute gambling' and the cyclical nature of the video game industry (41:25); and the crowded release calendar and 'South Park: The Fractured But Whole' (54:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss the story lines and hangover from a historic World Series Game 5, including home runs and slick balls (04:30), Clayton Kershaw's renewed postseason struggles (11:30), bad (and depleted) bullpens (14:00), a series of incredible comebacks and unlikely events involving baseball's best teams and biggest stars (24:00), and Yuli Gurriel's deferred suspension (31:30). Then they bring on colleague and brand-new baseball writer Shea Serrano to discuss the experience of seeing Game 5 through the eyes of a newly minted Astros fan (40:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion mark the pod's first anniversary by discussing a quartet of recent releases. First, Ben and Jason examine what makes 'Super Mario Odyssey' amazing and why the Switch is owning 2017 (1:00). Then they talk to 'Achievement Oriented' producer Kyle Crichton about 'Middle Earth: Shadow of War' (21:42), before welcoming in colleague Justin Charity to recount his impressions of 'Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus' and explain why the game's story takes on added depth in the current political climate (35:25). Lastly, Ben talks to 'Darkwood' developer Gustaw Stachaszewski about why he made a horror game despite being scared of horror games, how he channeled his real-life fears into the game, and why he decided to give the game away on torrent sites (56:10).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann go deep on Game 2 of the World Series, a classic tilt between the Astros and Dodgers. They dissect Dave Roberts's fateful decision to pull starter Rich Hill after four innings (02:45), then draft their favorite moments from the game (13:00), from the eight home runs (16:00) to the bat flips (18:00) to a series of bizarre outfield deflections (27:30). They conclude by discussing the Yankees' controversial decision to part ways with manager Joe Girardi (45:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann close the book on the championship series by reviewing the Astros' incredible curveball usage (and bullpen avoidance) in ALCS Game 7 (02:45), tipping their caps to the vanquished Cubs and Yankees (14:00), and discussing their top reasons to be excited about the World Series and explaining why the Dodgers-Astros matchup seems so even (21:00). They finish by reflecting on the dismissal of Dusty Baker and the managerial moves of the Mets, Tigers, and Red Sox (49:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the beginning of the grueling/exciting torrent of fall releases and what they anticipate will be a successful gaming holiday season (0:55), then bring on comedian Nick Wiger to discuss his experience with 'Stardew Valley,' the secret to the game's addictiveness and longevity, and its recent Switch port (9:32). Lastly, Ben talks to Martin Emborg, the game director and art director of newly released PC/PS4 stealth game 'Echo,' about the game's innovative, adaptive AI; the influence of 'Hitman'; and the video game acting debut of Rose Leslie (38:20).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann break down both championship series, starting with the Yankees' comeback from an 0-2 deficit to take a 3-2 lead over the Astros (05:00), the resurgence of Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez (08:00), the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium (15:45), misleading momentum (19:30), and the Astros' issues on offense and in the bullpen (21:00). Then they discuss how the Dodgers have outplayed the Cubs en route to a 3-1 series lead (38:00) and how the Cubs saved themselves in Game 4 (43:30), and wrap up with a conversation about how postseason managing has evolved more quickly than some managers can handle (50:15).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss Ben's furtive baseball-watching on his wedding weekend (02:00), then break down both of the 2-0 championship series (05:00), beginning with the brilliance of Astros starters Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander (12:00), the riveting tag team of José Altuve and Carlos Correa (21:30), the exciting send-off Altuve gave Game 2 (25:00), and the offensive struggles of Aaron Judge and Gary Sánchez (27:30), and ending with the heroics of Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner (30:30), the latest backlash against Puig (42:30), the Cubs' faltering bullpen and Joe Maddon's flagging tactical reputation (48:00), and a discussion about which series is more likely to produce a comeback (52:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk about Ben's video game bachelor party, how 'GoldenEye 007' has aged, and ultra-precise esports competitors (1:45). Then they bring on Mike Stauffer of 'NBA 2K' developer Visual Concepts to ask how he manages rosters and develops player ratings for the game, how he incorporates (or ignores) feedback from NBA players and fans, and how advanced stats have made the ratings more sophisticated (8:50). Lastly, they welcome Ringer colleague Zach Kram to discuss his retrospective article on the 20th anniversary of the cult classic 'Backyard Baseball' series and the games' development and decline (31:58). Article Link: https://www.theringer.com/features/2017/10/10/16451300/backyard-baseball-20-year-anniversary

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann marvel at a sick Stephen Strasburg's brilliant performance in Game 4 of the NLDS (02:00) and condemn the macho culture that questioned his character before the start (10:00). Then they analyze the Yankees' unlikely recovery to beat Cleveland after trailing 2-0 in the ALDS (25:30), preview the Astros-Yankees ALCS (35:00), salute the three teams eliminated from the playoffs this week (48:30), and reflect on the firing of former Red Sox skipper John Farrell (49:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann break down the weekend's playoff action, starting with Joe Girardi's curious relationship with the challenge and Aaron Judge's untimely slump (02:00), then David Price's emergence as Boston's only trustworthy pitcher (23:00) and Jose Altuve's .700-plus batting average (32:45). Then they wrestle with Clayton Kershaw's playoff reputation (37:45), whether Arizona is good enough to come back from a 2-0 deficit (42:00), and Joe Maddon's bullpen management in the Cubs' Game 2 loss to Washington (46:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's ever-changing real-life look and how his hairstyles affect his character-creation strategy (1:40), then share their impressions of the new Windows and Xbox run-and-gun game 'Cuphead' (7:30). Next, they bring on brothers and 'Cuphead' co-creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer to explain how they conceived and perfected the game's eye-catching art while delivering difficulty without frustration, and to discuss the benefits and burdens of hype, the game's speedrunning potential, and their newfound financial prospects and future plans (14:25). Lastly, Ben and Jason wrap up with a few words about Ben's upcoming wedding and video game-themed bachelor party (47:50).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk about their takeaways from the Yankees' and Diamondbacks' lengthy and eventful wins in the wild-card games, focusing on how those games may have given us a glimpse at what's in store for the rest of the playoffs (02:00). Then they preview all four division series matchups, with prop bets and predictions (13:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh talks to author, historian, and statistician Bill James about his new true-crime book, 'The Man From the Train: The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery,' in which James attempts to identify the man who may have been the deadliest serial killer in American history.

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann celebrate the extension of Clayton Kershaw's ERA reduction streak (01:00), then bring on their colleague Zach Kram for a wide-ranging playoff preview, including thoughts on wild-card game formats and strategy (10:30), the lopsided nature of this year's wild-card matchups (22:15), whether there's such a thing as a way to win in the playoffs (25:00), which relievers and bullpens are best suited for heavy playoff workloads (32:00), which teams might be at a particular advantage or disadvantage in October (37:00), and which teams might produce the best stories this month (44:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion reminisce about 'Red Dead Redemption' and react to the trailer for 'Red Dead Redemption 2' (1:10). Then they bring on their colleague Victor Luckerson to recap his all-day marathon with the newly released SNES Classic, weigh in on which 16-bit classics have held up the best, and forecast the future of retro gaming (7:10). Lastly, Ben and Jason bring on Kotaku's Stacie Ponder to discuss how the notorious (and recently rereleased) 'Night Trap' holds up 25 years later, her love-fear relationship with horror games, and the endless porting and remaking of 'Resident Evil' (27:35).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the Nationals' 'Game of Thrones' cosplay (02:00), the Angels' possible salary manipulation (03:30), and the Rockies-Brewers wild-card race (07:00). Then they talk to Yahoo Sports columnist Jeff Passan about Oakland catcher Bruce Maxwell's decision to kneel during the national anthem (12:30), the debate about extending the netting at MLB ballparks (40:00), and the latest outlook for Shohei Otani's potential free agency (50:00). Lastly, they discuss a new baseball acronym and the stakes in Clayton Kershaw's last regular-season start (58:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion reflect on why video game makers are hesitant to talk about the development process publicly (0:15). Then they talk to one who isn't: Walt Williams, who's worked on 'BioShock,' 'Spec Ops: The Line,' and 'Star Wars Battlefront II,' among many other games, and joins the podcast to discuss how game-writing works (20:35), the perils of crunch (25:20), the pitfall of player choice (38:42), how to make morality interesting in interactive games (43:15), and his new book, 'Significant Zero: Heroes, Villains, and the Fight for Art and Soul in Video Games.'

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's inaugural experience as a video game writer on 'NBA 2K18' (1:05). Then they talk to 'NBA 2K18' director Chris Papierniak about the difference between game direction and film direction, how to handle the development of a game that can't be delayed, how to channel NBA drama into an E-rated game, and the expanding scope of sports games (17:33).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann begin by recounting the best listener-submitted nicknames for their guest on the previous episode, Blue Jays hit-by-pitch machine Nick Sinay (01:30). Then, with most of the pennant races decided, Ben and Michael list some of the best reasons to pay attention to the rest of regular-season baseball, from the few remaining playoff races to team records to individual accomplishments (04:00). Lastly, they bring on FanGraphs writer Travis Sawchik to discuss whether home runs will keep coming at record rates (30:30), and how the current high-home-run environment complicates scouting and team-building (41:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann dissect the stats of Blue Jays minor leaguer Nick Sinay, one of the most hit-by-pitch-prone players of all time (02:15), and play a quick game of "Pitcher who's posted at least a 50 Game Score in the last 30 days or pop-punk/emo front man" (09:30). Then they bring on Sinay to find out why and where he gets hit so often (16:30), how many bruises he has (21:00), how he stays on the field despite getting plunked every other game (on average) (23:00), and whether his unique style of play can take him higher on the minor league ladder (30:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss Jason's return to the new and (possibly) improved 'No Man's Sky' (0:55), then bring on colleague Justin Charity to talk about celebrity streamer PewDiePie's latest offense, indie developer Campo Santo's response, the uncertain symbiosis between streamers and publishers, and why gamers get toxic online (5:55). Then they bring on NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory systems engineer Molly Bittner to discuss her work on NASA's Cassini and Europa Clipper missions, what it's like to talk to a spacecraft, how she finds time to play games while working at NASA, and her thoughts on 'Hellblade' as well as 'Destiny 2,' 'Mass Effect,' 'Kerbal Space Program,' and other space-based games (22:40). Lastly, Ben and Jason welcome The Ringer's Rob Harvilla to reflect on the 30th anniversary of the release of the original 'Metroid,' share his impressions of the newly released 'Metroid: Samus Returns,' and explain why 'Metroid' might be gaming's greatest space series (53:13).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss Cleveland's record winning streak (02:45), the prospect of Shohei Otani signing with an MLB team this offseason (05:45), and the continued offensive excellence of the Phillies' Rhys Hoskins (10:30). Then, in a special Space Week crossover, they bring on Ira Steven Behr, former executive producer and showrunner of 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,' to reminisce about the origin, making, and legacy of the legendary 'Deep Space Nine' baseball episode, "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" (14:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk about the teams in the midst of baseball's worst of times and best of times, bringing on L.A. Times beat writer Andy McCullough to diagnose the slumping Dodgers (who've lost 10 in a row and 15 of 16) (03:00) and then MLB.com beat writer Jordan Bastian to discuss the unbeatable Indians (who've won 18 in a row and at least temporarily claimed the AL's best record) (36:00).

For their 50th episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion welcome Kotaku news editor Jason Schreier to discuss the industry trends and revelations inside his new book ('Blood, Sweat, and Pixels: The Triumphant, Turbulent Stories Behind How Video Games Are Made') and their early impressions of 'Destiny 2' (2:50). Then they bring on Sophia Park and Penelope Evans, the cocreators of 'Localhost' and 'Arc Symphony,' to talk about how they provoke emotional reactions in players, how they build games in Twine, and the economics of indie development (51:10).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about their enthusiasm for next month's probable playoff matchups (01:00), examine the significance (if any) of the Dodgers' slump and the Indians' and Diamondbacks' hot streaks (03:30), and discuss the Red Sox–Yankees sign-stealing scandal (18:30). Then they bring on longtime baseball scout and executive Tony Blengino for an insider's perspective on sign-stealing (26:00), whether baseball's prohibition on internet-connected devices in the dugout makes sense in an information-rich era (31:00), how the game might change if that ban is lifted (36:45), the state of grudges and gamesmanship between teams (46:00), and the future of scouting in the age of motion-tracking technology (48:45).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann answer listener questions about playoff chases, statistical milestones, award races, baseball terminology, and more, and try to repair their relationship after having their most vehement disagreement ever.

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss their impressions of 'Undertale,' 'Sonic Mania,' and 'Uncharted: The Lost Legacy' (0:45), then interview 'Uncharted' writer and Naughty Dog veteran Josh Scherr about the game's breakneck development, Naughty Dog's winning formula for 'Uncharted' ideas, and how he feels about working on sequels versus new series (16:30). Lastly, Ben and The Ringer's Alison Herman talk to Jesse Cox and Michele Morrow, cocreators and executive producers of the new esports sitcom, 'Good Game' (48:05).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto's latest trade (03:30), the MLB pitching debut of Astros rookie (and two-way college star) J.D. Davis (08:00), and Indians owner Paul Dolan's latest comments on Cleveland's logo (11:00). Then, they discuss 15 over/unders for the rest of the 2017 season and offer several pennant-race predictions (15:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the hot home run streaks of Rhys Hoskins and Giancarlo Stanton (03:15), then talk to Pirates catcher Chris Stewart about 'Game of Thrones' and 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' his opinion on incest in Westeros (14:00), being baseball's biggest bookworm (20:00), whether any other series has the same cachet in the clubhouse (32:30), how he helps instill the Pirates' pitching philosophy in new acquisitions (35:00), his struggles to stay healthy as a big catcher in his mid-30s (42:30), his top book recommendations (44:45), and more. Lastly, Michael conducts a quick chat with another big 'Game of Thrones' fan, Nationals pitcher Shawn Kelley (48:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion talk to stuntwomen and voice actors Maggie Macdonald and America Young about their work in video games including 'Halo 5,' the 'Dead Space,' 'Uncharted,' and 'Saints Row' series, and the newly released 'Agents of Mayhem,' as well as how working in video games compares to big-budget movies, the advancement of video-game motion-capture technology, the most challenging stunts they've had to perform, and fighting while looking like Lara Croft (1:30). Then Ben and Jason bring on Kyle "Beef" Bautista, general manager of compLexity Gaming, to discuss his team's involvement in a new TBS 'Dota 2' documentary, attempting to qualify for The International 2017, the economics of esports, managing interpersonal issues and turnover on team rosters, and the future of esports statistical analysis, coaching, and corporate partnerships (55:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the history of MLB players who've worn no. 69 (03:00), an incredible catch in the Junior League World Series (05:30), the Giants' official elimination from the NL West race (06:30), Aroldis Chapman's removal from the Yankees' closer role (08:00), and a short-lived umpire protest (11:00), then talk to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports about the growing information gap between teams and agents and the future of labor relations in MLB (16:30).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion banter about 'No Man's Sky' updates, mundane objects that look great in games, and Ben's plans for a video game bachelor party (1:20), then bring on their colleague Alison Herman to discuss the summer hit 'Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator,' a Steam game that subverts the tropes of traditional dating sims (8:40). Finally, Ben and Jason talk to Giant Bomb founding member and video producer Vinny Caravella about the origins of the site and how it anticipated trends in podcasting, streaming, and video that media members are still wrestling with today (32:24).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about the four-man outfield that the Cubs deployed against Joey Votto (01:00), then discuss the reportedly proceeding sale of the Miami Marlins (05:30), the possible impending demise of the Marlins Park home run sculpture (07:30), Giancarlo Stanton's hot streak (11:00), and whether it makes sense for the Marlins to trade the face of their franchise (16:30). Then they bring on FiveThirtyEight writer Rob Arthur to talk about his recent research into the "hot hand" effect for pitchers and why his method succeeds in detecting and predicting hot streaks where so many previous statistical attempts have failed (24:00).

On their centenary episode, The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann banter about Bryce Harper's bone bruise and the AL wild-card logjam (03:30), then talk to former big leaguer and current White Sox player development director Chris Getz about how he and the rest of the White Sox front office plan to turn baseball's best farm system into a winning major league team (11:30), how the organization decides when to promote players to the bigs (21:00), and what highly touted rookie Yoan Moncada still has to work on (38:30). Then they bring on Liz Roscher of Yahoo Sports to talk about the latest Baseball For All tournament (42:30), why more and more girls are resisting being forced to switch from baseball to softball (46:00), the continuing relevance of 'A League of Their Own' (48:45), and what the future holds for girls and women in baseball (54:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss the addition of a free-for-all deathmatch mode to team-based shooter 'Overwatch' (1:05), then bring on makeup artist Ada Trinh to discuss her work with Blizzard, Riot, and esports athletes; why gamers need help in the complexion department; and why it matters that competitive gamers look good (7:00). Then they talk to ESPN senior baseball writer (and Paste Magazine board-game reviewer) Keith Law about his gaming past, the current golden age of tabletop gaming, why tabletop games are making up an ever-larger share of the "gaming" category on Kickstarter, the parallels and differences between board games and video games, how designers have developed tabletop adaptations of video games, and which board games he thinks gamers should try (26:04).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann discuss the leveling out of the infield shift (03:00); the significance of the Dodgers' pursuit of the all-time regular-season wins record (14:30), and the team's playoff outlook (22:00). Then they talk about the latest phase of the Alex Rodriguez redemption saga (32:00), a report about Dave Dombrowski being barred from trading Boston's top prospects (40:30), the Orioles' refusal to spend on the international market (49:00), and, with an assist from FanGraphs' Jeff Sullivan and Baseball Prospectus's Meg Rowley, a late-breaking update on what Jerry Dipoto did (55:00).

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Jason Concepcion discuss whether makers of future consoles will feel pressure to support portability to keep pace with the Switch (2:37), then talk about Ben's impressions of 'Tacoma,' the new game from The Fullbright Company (makers of 'Gone Home'), and the temporarily game-breaking bug that prevented Jason from playing it (7:19). Then they bring on professional fantasy sports player Al Zeidenfeld to discuss how he started streaming 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds,' why the game has become such a phenomenon, the best and worst tactics that players employ, a community controversy, and what's in store for the game's future (28:42).