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From Little League through the major leagues, hitters are taught that striking out looking is one of the worst things they can do. But what if that conventional baseball wisdom is wrong? Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges changed his approach at the plate by becoming more willing to accept called third strikes rather than making weak, defensive swings. The results raise an intriguing question: Can being less afraid of striking out actually make someone a better hitter? In Episode 727 of Almost Cooperstown, Mark and Gordon Kolier examine the relationship between called third strikes, plate discipline, walks, and on-base percentage. Their research suggests that hitters who take a higher percentage of their strikeouts looking tend to reach base more often. But is that because they're better at recognizing pitches, or is something else at work? The conversation includes Steven Kwan, Seiya Suzuki, Elly De La Cruz, and other major leaguers, along with a memorable example of a hitter frozen by a great pitch: Carlos Beltrán facing Adam Wainwright in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. Also in this episode: Can the Brewers, Guardians, or Rays stop the Dodgers from winning a third consecutive World Series?What MLB's reported 154-game schedule proposal could mean for baseball's future.Why postseason bullpen games have become increasingly common.Yoshinobu Yamamoto's place among successful postseason pitchers.The surprisingly short list of catchers who have won batting titles.Sometimes the smartest swing is the one you don't take. But how do hitters know when to hold back? Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

The 2026 MLB regular season is over, the Division Series are underway, and some teams are already facing a difficult question: When is it time to break up the band? Mark and Gordon take a look at several clubs whose familiar cores may have reached a crossroads. The Phillies still have star power, but after another disappointing finish, does bringing back essentially the same group make sense? Houston won its division, but an aging core and questions about the pitching staff create a similar dilemma. The guys also look at what comes next for the Blue Jays, Orioles, Tigers and other teams trying to determine whether they need a few changes—or something much bigger. Before getting to the offseason questions, Mark and Gordon take a tour through some of the most interesting statistical results from the 2026 regular season, including the decline of the 200-hit season, fewer doubles and triples, stolen-base leaders, saves, and a home-run race that finished without anyone reaching 50. Plus, they recap the opening of the Division Series, including a costly Yankees baserunning decision, dominant pitching, and one of the strangest potential home runs you'll see in a postseason game. In Episode 726: The unusual statistical leaders of the 2026 MLB seasonWhy nobody reached 200 hitsThe changing nature of doubles, triples and stolen basesWhy the 60-save closer may be disappearingA surprisingly modest home-run leaderboardEarly Division Series takeawaysA bizarre roof play that helped decide a postseason gameShould the Phillies break up their veteran core?Is Houston approaching the end of an era?What should Toronto and Baltimore do next?Detroit's offseason opportunityHow the possibility of a 2027 labor stoppage could complicate everythingAt some point, continuity stops being stability and starts becoming stagnation. Which MLB teams have reached that point? Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

The 2026 MLB regular season is over, and the postseason is here. Mark and Gordon look back at a season filled with surprises before breaking down the Wild Card matchups and making their picks. The White Sox completed a remarkable turnaround and reached the postseason. The Astros won the AL West despite finishing 81-81. Tampa Bay captured the AL East, while the National League playoff field looks considerably more familiar. In Episode 725, we also look at some of the season's notable individual performances and milestones, including Yordan Alvarez's batting title, Colson Montgomery setting the single-season strikeout record, Pete Alonso's huge season in Baltimore, and an emotional possible farewell for Justin Verlander. Then it's time for the playoffs: • Yankees vs. Red Sox — Does New York's pitching and power give the Yankees the edge in another chapter of baseball's biggest rivalry? • Phillies vs. Braves — Philadelphia survived to reach October, but now has to go through Atlanta. • Cubs vs. Padres — Chicago's offense and defense were among baseball's best, but can the Cubs' pitching survive October? • White Sox vs. Astros — Chicago is one of baseball's best stories, while Houston became an unlikely division champion at 81-81. Which team can take advantage? Plus: Which division winners are most vulnerable once the Division Series begins, and are we headed toward Dodgers-Brewers and Yankees-Rays championship series? The regular season took 162 games. Now three games can end everything. Welcome to October baseball. Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

Should fans boo their own players? Mets fans appeared to boo one of their own pitchers this week, which got us thinking about when — if ever — it's fair for hometown fans to turn on their own team. Then Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field and received a curtain call after hitting a game-tying home run in the ninth inning. Baseball fans can be a complicated bunch. In Episode 724, Mark and Gordon dig into fan behavior, booing your own players, the Mets and their fans, and what players should expect from a passionate home crowd. We also look around MLB as the 2026 regular season winds down. Most of the postseason field appears to be taking shape, but there are still a couple of playoff spots worth watching. Are boos simply part of being a professional athlete — or should fans support their own players when they're struggling? Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

Major League Baseball awards separate MVPs in the American and National Leagues, but what would happen if there were only one award for the entire sport? The leading candidates present a fascinating contrast. Pete Crow-Armstrong offers elite defense, speed, power and enormous all-around value. Traditional value measurements such as WAR make a compelling case that the Chicago Cubs center fielder has been the most valuable player in baseball. Yordan Alvarez presents a different argument. The Houston Astros slugger may not match Crow-Armstrong’s defensive value, but his bat changes games. Measures such as Win Probability Added give Alvarez credit for delivering in the moments that have most directly affected whether his team wins or loses. That raises a larger question: What should “most valuable” actually mean? Should the award go to the player who accumulates the greatest overall value across hitting, defense and baserunning? Or should greater weight be given to the player whose biggest performances come in the most important moments? In Episode 723 of Almost Cooperstown, Mark and Gordon compare Pete Crow-Armstrong and Yordan Alvarez and consider what WAR, WPA and other measurements reveal—and sometimes fail to reveal—about player value. They also discuss whether clutch performance should influence MVP voting, whether a designated hitter can overcome the value contributed by an elite defensive center fielder and whether one statistic should ever settle an MVP debate. If Major League Baseball selected only one overall MVP, would you vote for PCA or Yordan Alvarez? Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

With the MLB season entering its final stretch, the standings remain crowded—but does that mean baseball has compelling playoff races or simply too many mediocre teams still in contention? In Episode 722 of Almost Cooperstown, Mark and Gordon Kolier examine the American and National League playoff pictures, the teams building momentum and the supposed contenders beginning to fade. The expanded postseason keeps more fan bases interested deep into August, but it can also create a path to October for teams that have barely played winning baseball. Which clubs are legitimate World Series threats? Which teams are hanging around only because the playoff field has grown? And how much should one strong postseason run erase five months of ordinary regular-season baseball? The discussion also covers the continuing uncertainty surrounding MLB’s next collective bargaining agreement, the owners’ interest in greater payroll controls and whether baseball can avoid another damaging work stoppage before the 2027 season. Plus, Mark and Gordon consider late-season injuries, pitching concerns, surprising performances and the players and teams worth watching as September approaches.Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

The 2026 Mets have been a mess—but are they actually better positioned for 2027 than their record suggests? Mark and Gordon, two Mets fans who have suffered through the season firsthand, look at what went wrong, why a brutal 12-game losing streak essentially destroyed the season, and why the emergence of young players may give Mets fans legitimate reasons for optimism next year. Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing could be part of a young outfield alongside Juan Soto. Nolan McLean and Christian Scott are emerging as potential rotation anchors. Kodai Senga may have found a new role in the bullpen. And despite plenty of questionable decisions, the Mets may finally be developing enough young talent that free-agent signings can become luxuries rather than necessities. Before getting to the Mets, there’s plenty happening around baseball. The American League wild-card race has become a dogfight, with Toronto making an unexpected charge and several teams packed together in the standings. Cal Raleigh’s dramatic offensive decline is hurting Seattle, while the entire AL West continues to struggle. We also remember Tommy John, who passed away this week. John finished with 288 career wins—the most ever by a pitcher outside the Hall of Fame other than Roger Clemens—and his death immediately renews the debate over whether Cooperstown has waited far too long. There’s also a remarkable MLB debut: Cardinals rookie Joshua Baez homered on the first pitch he saw, then homered again—and again—becoming the first player in Major League history to hit three home runs in his first game. Plus: Paul Skenes’ declining fastball velocity, what 100-mph pitching may be doing to starting pitchers, the sale of the Dodgers, the competitive advantages created by baseball’s revenue structure, Hunter Greene’s injury, and whether Cincinnati should rethink its direction. It’s another week where today’s baseball collides with history, statistics and plenty of opinion on Almost Cooperstown. Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

With roughly 40 games remaining in the 2026 MLB regular season, the postseason picture is beginning to take shape—but there’s still plenty of time for everything to change. The Boston Red Sox have come roaring back into the American League race after a remarkable stretch of winning baseball. Would you rather be a Red Sox fan right now—or a Dodgers fan? Los Angeles has suddenly hit a rough patch, but is this really cause for concern, or is a veteran championship team simply waiting for October? We look around baseball at the contenders, pretenders and teams hanging onto the edges of the playoff race. The Rays continue to prove us wrong, the Yankees are waiting for reinforcements, and with only about a quarter of the season remaining, one terrible week could effectively end a team's postseason hopes. We also discuss Yankees prospect George Lombard Jr. and the pressure that comes with playing shortstop in New York; the remarkable extra-inning Red Sox-White Sox game that produced scoring in five consecutive innings; and why games like that make a pretty good argument for MLB's regular-season extra-inning rule. Then there's Tommy John. With news about John's health prompting renewed discussion of his Hall of Fame candidacy, we debate a fascinating question: Is his 288-win, 26-year pitching career worthy of Cooperstown on its own—or are people inevitably giving him extra credit because the revolutionary surgery bears his name? Plus, Jacob Wilson sets a Major League record for consecutive errorless games by a shortstop, Matt Olson reaches 900 consecutive games played, and we consider whether Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,632-game streak may be the most unbreakable record in baseball. Finally, there's actually a reason for optimism about MLB's looming labor confrontation. Every owner lockout in MLB history has ended before costing baseball a regular-season game. Could history—and the enormous amount of money now at stake—make a 2027 work stoppage less likely than many fans fear? We finish with Craig Kimbrel joining his 12th MLB franchise and a Chicago Cubs defense that isn't merely good—it has a chance to rank among the best defensive teams we've ever seen. It's another week of baseball history colliding with the game we're watching right now on Almost Cooperstown. Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

Episode 719 - With the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline complete, Mark and Gordon break down every major move and ask the biggest question in baseball: Did any contender actually improve enough to beat the Dodgers? The discussion begins with the hypothetical blockbuster acquisition of Tarik Skubal, leading into a broader conversation about the Dodgers' financial advantage, deferred contracts, and whether Major League Baseball is moving closer to a salary cap and salary floor during the next collective bargaining negotiations. The hosts evaluate which organizations improved their World Series chances the most, why the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs and Red Sox may have positioned themselves best, and why several contenders chose much smaller moves despite an aggressive deadline. Topics include:  Dodgers' overwhelming World Series outlook  The Tarik Skubal domino effect  Deferred contracts and MLB economics  Whether a salary cap is becoming inevitable  Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Phillies deadline grades  Padres' aggressive strategy  Brewers' quiet deadline  Cardinals, Blue Jays and Mets choosing clear organizational directions  American League playoff race  National League contenders  Aaron Judge's injury impact  Spencer Strider's uncertain return  Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and many other notable moves The episode also highlights the exciting launch of the Women's Professional Baseball League, discussing why women's professional baseball deserves far greater attention and how today's players are building upon the legacy of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

Carlos Beltrán, Jeff Kent and Andruw Jones are the newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. In Episode 718 of Almost Cooperstown, Mark and Gordon discuss the 2026 Hall of Fame class, what each player accomplished during his career, and why each ultimately earned a plaque in Cooperstown. The conversation examines Beltrán's remarkable combination of power, speed and defense, Jeff Kent's legacy as one of baseball's greatest offensive second basemen, and Andruw Jones' extraordinary defensive brilliance in center field. The episode also explores what this Hall of Fame class may say about the evolving standards used to evaluate baseball's greatest players. The discussion then turns to the 2026 Major League Baseball season with the trade deadline approaching. Which teams should be buyers? Which clubs should become sellers? Which players could be on the move, and which potential trades could have the greatest impact on the postseason races during the final third of the season? Almost Cooperstown is a weekly baseball podcast featuring thoughtful conversations about the Baseball Hall of Fame, baseball history, current MLB topics, player comparisons, statistics and the stories that connect today's game with its rich history. Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Visit AlmostCooperstown.com for original baseball articles, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow Almost Cooperstown on YouTube.

We didn't watch the ASG or the Home Run Derby. And we're ok with that. In this episode we look at the teams that have surprised positively and negatively.  Only 60 games to go and yet we talk about this being the beginning of the 2nd half of the season. The All-Star Game is too late in the season now.  Olympic Baseball is like Olympic Soccer. World Cup soccer is way cooler and World Baseball Classic is way cooler than Olympic baseball. Could that change?   If your team stinks like the Mets and Rockies, how do you still be a fan with two and a half months to go? Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!   Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on X @markkolier or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  And please tell your friends to check us out!

One of our stories of the week is that #redsox Willson Contreras did something last week that only 35 players have done in MLB history. He got tossed from back to back games vs. #Nationals.  Another is about the baseball flying further in June than it has since good 'ol 2019.  All-Star game rosters are in. Big yawn? Dodgers and Rays are hot, Yankees and Mets are not.  Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!   Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  And please tell your friends to check us out!

College baseball may become even more important if MLB owners get their way.  Changing draft rules is a big part of the first offer from the owners. The players (MLBPA) laughed it off as they should have. We talk about what it means and what it will lead to.  Bunting is back in 2026. Well at least since the universal DH era began.  Will Tarik Skubal be a Detroit #Tigers pitcher after the trade deadline? Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!   Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  And please tell your friends to check us out!

Tim Brown is the author of three baseball books and his latest book "Nolan" The Singular Life of an American Original" goes deeper with the HOF legend than any other. Tim spent time in Alvin, TX, which is Nolan Ryan's home town. There are so many great stories!  Thanks for listening and watching!  Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!   Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  And please tell your friends to check us out!

Shohei Ohtani is on his way to his 5th MVP (in six seasons). He has the lowest ERA and highest OPS+ in the NL - not even HOFer Babe Ruth did that in the same season!  We talk about the rash of injuries to stars including Jose Ramirez, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Spencer Strider. Jacob Misiorowski pitched a game for the ages and Mark tells you why when it comes to pitcher game score.  Ground balls are more deadly to hitters today as hitting the ball in the air means everything!  Gordon tells you what that's all about.  Thanks again to Mercury Maid for the Intro & Outro music. Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!   Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at [email protected].  You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel.  And please tell your friends to check us out!