After a few exciting weeks, the U.S. Men’s National Team came crashing back to earth Monday night and were eliminated from the World Cup. Eno and DVR lament a disappointing effort before turning their attention back to baseball. The guys discuss what baseball and soccer have in common when it comes to developing young athletes. They examine how different types of pitchers age and highlight a few who have exceeded expectations this season. Later, they tackle the fan debate surrounding whether the Mets should consider trading Francisco Lindor and spotlight some unexpected relievers from around the league.

Rundown:

0:45 U.S. Men’s National Team’s World Cup Loss

3:08 Youth Development: Similar Issues in Soccer and Baseball?

12:40 Cam Schlittler’s Outlook

21:47 Will League Eventually Adjust to Three Fastballs?

27:52 Which Pitchers Have Topped OOPSY K% and BB%?

35:50 Francisco Lindor Rumors

40:11 Is Eno Jumping Ship with E. Hancock, B. Ashcroft, C. Cavalli & K. Harrison?

47:22 Casey Mize’s K% Rise

52:06 Surprising Relievers

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Editor: Jason Potere

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From a bullpen call that sparked chants of "Shame!" to the never-ending pile of streaming apps and another Tommy John surgery for Cole Ragans, the boys have plenty to get off their chests. This week, Eno and DVR discuss Eury Pérez’s bid for perfection and why Marlins manager Clayton McCullough may have made the right call by pulling the young right-hander. Then, they dig into why it's often tougher than fans realize for pitchers like Ragans to regain their previous form after undergoing UCL reconstruction. Later, they welcome back Hunter Greene and break down where the money went over the weekend.

Rundown:

0:56 Is Eno Mad About Baseball?

4:44 Eury Pérez’s Bid for Perfection

9:54 DVR Is Mad About App Mania to Watch Baseball Continues

11:54 Junior Caminero’s Streak Ends with 11 HR in 11 Days

16:42 Tommy John Recovery

24:37 In-Season Usage Also a Challenge Post TJ Surgery

29:10 Can Gerrit Cole Recover to 2023 Skills Levels?

32:33 Batting Average Blues: When Should You Punt the Category?

40:47 Jordan Walker’s June

45:51 Looking for Intriguing Players ~1,000 Career PA

51:03 Hunter Greene Returns!

56:21 Where the Money Went

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Editor: Jason Potere

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Pete Crow-Armstrong was thrown out stealing on a walk... except he wasn't actually caught stealing on a walk. Confused? So were Jayson and Doug. This week, they break down PCA's controversial play at second base against the Mets, explain exactly what happened, and debate whether the league needs to change the rule.

Then, the guys revisit last week's search for a nickname worthy of Jacob Misiorowski's electric fastball, turning to the Starkville Hotline to hear listeners' best submissions.

Later, Jon ‘Boog’ Sciambi joins the show to talk about his working relationship with Doug, the Cubs' up-and-down season, the unique atmosphere at Wrigley Field, the time he bought mozzarella sticks for an entire bar, and a couple hilarious stories about Chipper Jones.

Rundown:

2:59 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Steal That Wasn’t

13:58 Nickname for Jacob Misiorowski’s Fastball

20:18 Jon ‘Boog’ Sciambi Joins the Show

22:08 Was PCA Safe or Out?

28:13 The 2026 Chicago Cubs

33:38 Great Rivalries

35:57 Boog the Broadcaster

41:15 ‘Mozzarella Sticks for Everybody’

44:29 Calling Games at Wrigley Field

47:31 Calling the World Series

49:41 Boog’s Bucket List

50:52 Chipper Jones’ Stories

57:15 Strange But True w/ the Phillies

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Starkville Hotline: (347) 313-8371

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Hosts: Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville

With: Jon ‘Boog’ Sciambi

Producer: Jason Potere

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As America celebrates its birthday, fantasy managers are getting ready for the second half of the baseball season. This week, Eno and DVR take a closer look at what's behind Paul Skenes' recent struggles, and whether his declining fastball velocity helps explain the dip in results. Then, they size up several players around the league to determine who could be worth targeting in a trade. Plus, they wrap up the show by highlighting the best waiver-wire pickups on both the hitting and pitching sides ahead of the holiday weekend.

Rundown:

2:52 Concerns About Paul Skenes

14:40 Trade Activity Picking Up in Second Half

20:40 Which Lagging Bats Should Be Targets?

24:30 Younger Position Players to Trade For

29:02 First-Rounder Challenge Trade - Gunnar Henderson vs. Paul Skenes?

31:36 Plate Discipline Forward Targets

32:41 Pitchers to Deal For: Leaning on ERA-SIERA?

41:25 Is Drew Rasmussen Underrated in Long-Term Leagues?

43:27 Weekend Waiver Targets: Pitchers of Interest

54:47 Weekend Waiver Targets: Looking for Hitters Back After the Break?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Editor: Jason Potere

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As the weather warms up, the guys are bringing the heat to some intriguing pitching storylines. Eno, Trevor, and DVR examine Tatsuya Imai's inconsistencies and Jake Bennett's promising start to his career. They also explore why Bryan Woo has been so much more effective at home than on the road, whether Brandon Woodruff can continue to thrive with a diminished fastball, and how pitchers can still succeed even without high velocity.

Rundown:

0:58 Brent Rooker’s Season is Over

6:16 Corey Seager Returns to IL

9:15 Ryan Helsley Injured

11:26 Tatsuya Imai: Extreme Command Fluctuations Continue

14:27 Jake Bennett: Seizing Opportunity in Boston

23:57 Is Regression on the Horizon for Jake Bennett?

26:08 Have Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers Found Something?

41:35 Bryan Woo: What Is Driving Road Struggles?

52:30 What Drives Pitchers’ Success When They Lack Top Velo?

1:03:02 Brandon Woodruff: It’s Extremely Difficult to Adjust This Well

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Trevor May

Editor: Jason Potere

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It’s time for a tour around the National League, where every division has its own storylines taking shape. Eno, Jed, and DVR begin in the NL West, where the Dodgers have opened up a sizable lead. They discuss whether the Padres can still make a push, what needs to happen for the Diamondbacks' offense to get going, and where the Giants and Rockies go from here. From there, they head to "America’s Division," the NL Central, where the Brewers and Cubs are battling for the top spot while the Cardinals and Pirates remain in the postseason mix. Finally, they wrap up in the NL East, where the Phillies are gaining ground on the Braves and tightening the division race.

Rundown:

0:45 Jed The Banana

4:28 MLB Baseballs’ Manufacturing Error

6:52 The 2026 Dodgers: The Machine is Working

16:05 The Padres’ League-Worst Offense

25:12 Can the D-backs’ Outhit Pitching Woes?

30:46 Giants Falling to Sellers?

31:46 Rockies Taking Steps Forward

34:37 Should Brewers Go Big with Upgrades?

39:10 Can the Cubs Find Enough Pitching?

44:24 Cardinals Have 34.2% Chance of Reaching Playoffs

48:37 Is Pirates’ Biggest Need a Top-End Reliever?

51:05 Check In on Your Cincinnati Friends

57:25 Philly Closes Gap on Atlanta to 2.5 Games

1:00:28 Phillies Climbing: Where Will They Upgrade?

1:06:02 The Marlins Need Bats: A Sneaky-Good Mid-Pack Team?

1:11:55 The Nats Need Pitching: An Intriguing Deadline on Tap?

1:13:47 Mets Owner Steve Cohen Says Stearns is Safe

Eno’s Article on MLB Baseballs: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7410468/

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Jed Lowrie

Editor: Jason Potere

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Baseballs started flying in June -- and it wasn't simply warmer weather -- it might be a manufacturing error! Eno and DVR explain why changes in drag on the baseball have a significant impact on home runs, and how Major League Baseball's revelation of a manufacturing error may provide some clues as to why we have seen so much variation in how the ball has played throughout the first half of the season. With drag recently returning to the same levels we saw in 2019, they wonder if we're going to see a massive uptick in home runs throughout the second half.

Story from Eno Sarris & Evan Drellich 'MLB sees no link between factory defect and liveliest baseball since year of the homer in ‘19'

Gift Link: https://theathletic.lnk.to/TA26Ball

Rundown

0:17 Breaking News: MLB Reveals Manufacturing Error with Ball

1:44 A Sudden Change: Drag Significantly Dropped in Recent Weeks

6:40 Don’t Forget 2019 When 6,776 Home Runs Were Hit

9:19 Hitters and Pitchers Notice and React to Ball Changes

12:20 Will Barrels Recover?

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

Editor: Jason Potere

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It’s time to take a tour around the American League, and there’s plenty to unpack. Eno, Britt, and DVR begin in the AL East, where the Rays have surged into first place as the Yankees try to stay afloat without their captain, Aaron Judge. From there, they head to the AL Central to break down the surprising White Sox, the steady Guardians, and the disappointing Tigers. Finally, they wrap up in the AL West, where the Rangers sit atop the division and the Astros are left trying to prove they still have one more run in them.

Rundown:

1:35 Atop the AL East: The Rays Are Holding On, For Now!

6:09 The Yankees Weathering the Storm Without Aaron Judge

9:54 Jays, O’s & Red Sox Scrambling to Make Up Ground

12:25 A Case for the Blue Jays to Continue Buying

17:22 Most Likely to Rally: Blue Jays, Orioles, or Red Sox?

21:15 Key Injuries for Boston

22:15 Cleveland Pitching, Again

27:43 Can White Sox Build On a Surprising Start?

32:16 Eno’s Bold Prediction on the Tigers

38:23 The Twins Aren’t Bad: But Are They Stuck in the Middle?

46:04 What If Wyatt Langford & Corey Seager Get Healthy?

50:06 Does Anyone Still Like Houston?

59:59 Future Autopsies: 2026 Royals and 2026 Angels

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Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris

With: Britt Ghiroli

Editor: Jason Potere

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