Advertise on podcast: Locked Up Sports: New York Sports Talk

What makes the knuckleball one of the most fascinating—and unpredictable—pitches in baseball? On this episode of Locked Up Sports: New York Sports Talk, we sit down with Brian Gaffney, Fox News executive and author of School of Hard Knucks: My Three Sons and Baseball’s Wildest Pitch. Brian takes us inside the history, science, mystery and culture surrounding baseball’s knuckleball—and the personal journey that inspired him to write the book. We discuss: ⚾ The history of the knuckleball and the pitchers who made it famous ⚾ Why the knuckleball moves so unpredictably ⚾ What makes the pitch so difficult to throw—and even harder to hit ⚾ How Brian’s son began throwing the knuckleball at a young age ⚾ His son’s journey through youth baseball and into Division II college baseball ⚾ The challenges of developing a pitch that many coaches don’t understand ⚾ Why the knuckleball has become increasingly rare in modern baseball ⚾ What makes the pitch such an incredible underdog story ⚾ The inspiration behind School of Hard Knucks ⚾ Brian’s experience documenting his three sons and their baseball journey ⚾ Why the knuckleball continues to fascinate baseball fans The knuckleball has always existed outside the traditional rules of pitching. It doesn’t necessarily overpower hitters. It doesn’t rely on velocity. And when it’s thrown correctly, sometimes even the pitcher doesn’t know exactly where it’s going. That’s what makes it so special. Brian Gaffney’s School of Hard Knucks explores that mystery through the history of the pitch and his family’s own experience with it. 📖 School of Hard Knucks: My Three Sons and Baseball’s Wildest Pitch is available now. If you enjoy the conversation, LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE to Locked Up Sports, and SHARE it with another baseball fan. 🎙️ Locked Up Sports: New York Sports Talk The Best New York Sports Talk On The Internet #MLB #Baseball #Knuckleball #SchoolOfHardKnucks #BrianGaffney #LockedUpSports

LOCKED UP SPORTS — NFL WEEK 5 PREVIEW GIANTS AT COMMANDERS Giants enter Week 5 at 3-1 and atop the NFC East. Washington enters at 1-3. Jayden Daniels is expected to return for Washington after missing two games with an elbow injury. Giants are trying to establish themselves as a legitimate NFC East contender. Can New York’s defense create enough pressure and turnovers? Can the Giants’ offense stay efficient with Jameis Winston? Malik Nabers remains a major focal point of the Giants’ passing attack. BROWNS AT JETS Browns enter at 3-1. Jets enter at 1-3. Cleveland has been one of the early surprises of the season. Jets return home needing a victory. Can the Jets generate enough pressure against Cleveland’s offense? Can New York eliminate penalties and late-game execution problems? A critical game for the Jets if they don’t want to fall further behind in the AFC East. AROUND THE NFL Quick-hit discussion of: Eagles at Jaguars Bears at Packers Bengals at Dolphins Raiders at Patriots Vikings at Saints Texans at Titans Colts at Steelers Broncos at Chargers Lions at Cardinals 49ers at Seahawks Ravens at Falcons Bills at Rams BIG QUESTIONS Are the Giants for real? Can the Jets save their season? Is Cleveland a legitimate playoff contender? Which Week 5 matchup has the biggest playoff implications? Which team could surprise us this weekend?

Recapping an embarrassing Yankee loss putting them on the brink of elimination. Offense remains nonexistent and four errors headline ugly game 2 loss.

The Giants are officially 3-1 and alone in first place in the NFC East after another wild finish at MetLife Stadium. Big Blue overcame a back-and-forth game and once again made the defining defensive play when it mattered most. With Arizona threatening at the Giants’ 4-yard line late in the fourth quarter, Deonte Banks intercepted Jacoby Brissett at the 2 and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown as time expired. It was the Giants’ second straight game-ending interception and their fourth consecutive game with an interception. Giants Talking Points • Are the Giants becoming a legitimate NFC contender? • Is this defense turning into the identity of the team? • Another goal-line stand — is this becoming a trademark of this Giants team? • Deonte Banks goes from potential goat to hero in a matter of seconds. • Jameis Winston throws for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns, but also has 2 interceptions. • Malik Nabers explodes for 112 receiving yards and a touchdown. • Rookie linebacker Arvell Reese continues to make an impact. • The Giants remain undefeated at MetLife Stadium. • What does being 3-1 and leading the NFC East mean heading into Week 5? BIG GIANTS DEBATE Are the Giants actually good, or are they simply finding ways to win? That may be the biggest question coming out of Week 4. The Giants haven’t been perfect, but they continue to make winning plays at critical moments. JETS — 1-3 AND IN SERIOUS TROUBLE Chicago Bears 23, New York Jets 12 The Jets suffered one of their worst performances of the young season, getting dominated by Chicago at Soldier Field. The numbers tell the story: Bears: 492 total yards Jets: 157 total yards Chicago dominated time of possession, ran 89 offensive plays compared with just 32 for New York, and controlled the game virtually from start to finish. Jets Talking Points • Jets fall to 1-3 after their third straight loss. • Only 157 total yards for New York. • Jets managed just 7 first downs. • Chicago recorded 34 first downs. • Jets committed 12 penalties for 76 yards. • Kyle Monangai ran for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns for Chicago. • Tyson Bagent threw for 268 yards. • Geno Smith finished with 119 passing yards and a touchdown. • Isaiah Williams provided the Jets’ biggest offensive play with a 58-yard TD. • The Jets couldn’t stay on the field and couldn’t stop the Bears from controlling the football. BIG JETS DEBATE What is this Jets team supposed to be? After three straight losses, the pressure is rising on Aaron Glenn and the Jets. Is the biggest problem the offense, the lack of complementary football, the penalties — or is this simply a team that isn’t good enough? NFL WEEK 4 — AROUND THE LEAGUE BIGGEST RESULTS Giants 36, Cardinals 24 Giants improve to 3-1 and take sole possession of first place. Bears 23, Jets 12 Chicago dominates New York and improves to 3-1. Patriots 29, Bills 26 New England hands Buffalo a dramatic loss in a major AFC matchup. Cowboys 34, Texans 30 Dallas survives a high-scoring thriller. Rams 24, Eagles 20 Los Angeles knocks off Philadelphia in a major NFC showdown. Packers 17, Buccaneers 14 Green Bay wins a defensive battle. Ravens 24, Titans 18 Baltimore improves to 3-1 while Tennessee falls to 0-4. Jaguars 22, Bengals 17 Jacksonville continues its strong start at 3-1. Vikings 15, Dolphins 10 Minnesota wins another low-scoring game. Chiefs 30, Raiders 27 Kansas City survives a tight AFC West battle. Seahawks 30, Chargers 23 Seattle picks up an important conference win. 49ers 24, Broncos 14 San Francisco continues its strong start. Panthers 32, Lions 26 Carolina shocks Detroit in the Sunday night game. Colts 30, Commanders 13 Indianapolis wins in London as Washington drops to 1-3. WEEK 4 QUESTIONS NFC • Are the Giants the team to beat in the NFC East right now? • Can Philadelphia rebound? • Are the Rams emerging as a serious contender? • How dangerous are the 3-1 teams? AFC • What happened to Buffalo against New England? • Are the Chiefs still the team to beat in the AFC West? • Which AFC teams are legitimate contenders after four weeks? BIGGEST WINNERS Giants, Bears, Patriots, Jaguars, Rams, Seahawks BIGGEST LOSERS Jets, Bills, Eagles, Lions, Dolphins, Titans

Jaxson Dart is expected to undergo season-ending knee surgery. Why Dart’s injury changes the outlook for the Giants’ 2026 season. What Monday night’s loss to the Rams showed about the offense without Dart. Jameis Winston’s opportunity to lead the team the rest of the way. Why an available quarterback is unlikely to turn the Giants into contenders. The case against trading players or draft picks for a short-term answer. What New York can still accomplish: evaluate its roster and plan for Dart’s return.

WEEK 2 — NEW YORK FOOTBALL PREVIEW PACKERS AT JETS Jets home opener Can New York move to 2-0? What Green Bay presents that Tennessee didn’t Jordan Love and the Packers’ vertical passing game Jets Key #1: Start fast at home Jets Key #2: Geno Smith doesn’t need to be Superman Jets Key #3: Make Jordan Love play underneath Jets Key #4: Establish the run early Breece Hall’s importance to the offensive game plan Turnover battle Jets defense vs. Green Bay’s explosive plays Prediction: Jets 28, Packers 24 GIANTS AT RAMS — MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL Giants face their first major road test Throw out Week 1 for Los Angeles? Matthew Stafford and the Rams passing attack Can the Giants secondary hold up? Giants Key #1: Make Stafford uncomfortable early Giants Key #2: Attack the middle of the Rams defense Giants Key #3: Use Dart’s legs Giants Key #4: Protect Dart inside the pocket Giants must eliminate penalties Why turnovers could decide this game Can the Giants generate enough offense to keep pace? Prediction: Rams 31, Giants 21 PLUS What 2-0 would mean for the Jets What we need to learn about both New York teams in Week 2 Bob’s final predictions

New York football couldn't have asked for a much better start. The Jets opened the season with an impressive 23-10 win over the Tennessee Titans, putting together a dominant performance to begin Week 1 on the right foot. Is this the first sign that the Jets could be better than expected this season? Then, the Giants delivered under the lights, knocking off the Dallas Cowboys 28-20 in a statement victory to open their season. Both New York teams are 1-0, and both gave their fans plenty to be excited about. Bob Walters and Brett Grosso break down the Jets and Giants victories, what impressed them most, what still needs work, and how much we should take away from one week. Plus, it's a complete trip around the NFL as Locked Up Sports reviews the biggest games, performances, surprises and storylines from Week 1 of the NFL season. The Best New York Sports Talk on the Internet — Locked Up Sports.

Pete Alonso has delivered plenty of home runs and memorable moments—but is he really a Hall of Famer? In this episode, Bob Walters explains why Alonso's career résumé falls short of Cooperstown and why the Mets made the right decision by refusing to commit to a five-year contract last offseason. It may have been an unpopular move, but was it the correct baseball decision? Listen now and decide for yourself: Did the Mets make the right call?

Mets place Luis Robert Jr on Waivers. Is this admission of a $20 million mistake?Are the Mets' young players building the foundation for a winning 2027 season? Bob and Brett breaks down Nolan McLean's latest dominant start, Juan Soto's return and the decision to place Luis Robert Jr. on waivers. Also: Yankees–Red Sox with the season-series tiebreaker at stake, George Lombard Jr.'s injury, Max Fried's return, Odell Beckham Jr.'s Giants roster fate, NFL cutdown day, Bill Belichick's upset win and Little League World Series Sign Stealing Scandal #LockedUpSports #NewYorkSports #Mets #LGM #BabyMets #NolanMcLean #JuanSoto #Yankees #RepBX #RedSox #YankeesRedSox #Giants #NYGiants #OdellBeckhamJr #Jets #TakeFlight #NFL #USOpen #SportsTalk #SportsPodcast

Who should become the next general manager of the New York Mets? Bob examines the direction of the organization and what the Mets should prioritize when choosing their next baseball decision-maker. Plus, why the Jets cannot afford another slow start, whether Odell Beckham Jr. deserves a spot on the Giants' roster and a look at the most interesting college football Week 1 spreads.

The NFL regular season is approaching, and the Jets and Giants are facing some major questions. Bob Walters delivers a complete training camp report, beginning with Breece Hall's groin injury and whether the Jets have enough talent to make a run at the AFC playoffs with Geno Smith at quarterback. On the Giants' side, Malik Nabers has finally returned to team drills without the red no-contact jersey. What does his progress mean for Jaxson Dart and the Giants' chances of becoming a playoff team? Plus, should Odell Beckham Jr. make the 53-man roster? Is the reunion worth continuing? And after a missed blitz pickup and preseason fumble is Tyrone Tracy in danger of being cut? We have a complete breakdown of both the jets and Giants no fan is gonna want to miss

Mets Stay Hot! Winners of 8 of 11 | MLB Wild Card Race & NFL Preseason YouTube Description:The Mets remain one of baseball's hottest teams, winning eight of their last 11 games. Can they keep rolling and make the National League wild-card race even more interesting? On this episode of Sunday Morning Mancini, Mark Mancini breaks down: ⚾ The Mets' continued resurgence The Brewers–Dodgers series The Pirates falling out of contention The latest MLB wild-card race The opening weekend of NFL preseason action Subscribe to Locked Up Sports for passionate New York sports talk, MLB coverage, NFL analysis and live watch-alongs. #Mets #MLB #NFLPreseason #SundayMorningMancini #LockedUpSports

The NFL preseason is underway, and the pressure is already building around the New York Jets. Bob Walters breaks down what to watch in the Jets' preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and asks whether Aaron Glenn can keep the season from slipping away. Plus, a recap of the biggest developments from Week 1 of the preseason, including an impressive first start from Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

The Mets sold at the trade deadline — and apparently forgot they were supposed to stop winning. The post-deadline Mets are 4-0, playing loose, aggressive baseball and suddenly looking a whole lot more entertaining than the team we watched before the fire sale. They're stealing bases, getting timely hits and giving some of the younger players an opportunity to show what they can do. Are the Mets actually BETTER to watch now that expectations are gone? And while this probably isn't the beginning of some miracle playoff run, could the final two months finally give Mets fans something fun to watch? Across town, the pressure is building on the Yankees. Boston has won 27 of its last 30 and is charging hard, while the Yankees continue searching for consistent offense. With the Red Sox breathing down their necks, the Yankees can't afford to wait much longer for the lineup to figure things out. Plus, the Yankees are in the middle of a huge weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. Can the Bombers find enough offense to hold off Boston and protect their position in the American League? On this episode of Locked Up Sports:⚾ Mets win four straight after the trade deadline⚾ Are the post-deadline Mets actually MORE entertaining?⚾ Why the younger, more aggressive Mets are suddenly fun to watch⚾ What Mets fans should look for over the final two months⚾ Red Sox win 27 of 30 and put serious pressure on the Yankees⚾ Yankees offense continues to be a major concern⚾ Yankees-Braves weekend series⚾ How worried should Yankees fans be about Boston? Locked Up Sports: New York Sports Talk Hosted by Bob Walters and Brett Grasso Subscribe for New York sports talk covering the Mets, Yankees, Knicks, Giants, Jets, Rangers, St. John's and more.

The MLB trade deadline delivers three major deals. The Mets send Freddy Peralta to Tampa Bay, the Yankees acquire Luis García Jr. from Washington, and the Dodgers land two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from Detroit. Bob Walters and Brett Grosso break down each trade, evaluate the returns and determine which teams improved their championship chances.