For the longest time in baseball we have had some of the most detailed pitching metrics thanks to Major League Baseball’s Statcast technology, but now we are privy to a little more in-depth information in how hitters swing and make contact thanks to the newly released data and updated tech at ballparks.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss and explain what these new metrics are and how they will be useful for teams, writers and even fans in evaluating players. With the use of bat speed, swing length, squared up rate, sweet spot percentage and blast rate, you’ll now be able to tell if certain hitters are battling an injury, if they’re changing their approach depending on the count or if a team has an overall developed hitting philosophy, just to name a few, because of these stats.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys get into the success of the Philadelphia Phillies and how despite battling through some adversity, they’ve become the first team in baseball to 30 wins. They also discuss Ron Washington and the disappointing Los Angeles Angels following a botched suicide squeeze play, as well as give some quiet notes from around the league.

(1:56) - New Statcast hitting metrics

(23:38) - How these stats will be used

(28:21) - A look at early data trends

(37:03) - Phillies are first to 30 wins

(47:05) - Everything going wrong with Angels

(53:16) - Notes from around the league

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This weekend at PNC Park, the baseball world got their first glimpse of the future for the Pittsburgh Pirates when Paul Skenes made his long awaited debut.

And boy did it have everything and more.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman give their review of the start from the 21-year-old future ace, as well as discuss the wacky and crazy game that would ensure once Skenes came out of the game. While the Pirates were able to get the win, it would all come after one of the weirdest innings of baseball either have ever seen.

Also on this edition of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys recap all the action from around the league this weekend including the Colorado Rockies surprising everyone by sweeping the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers in Denver, the deep-rooted problems that surround the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves’ pitching stepping up in Queens against the New York Mets.

The guys close out the show by discussing the retirement of Dylan Bundy and why he could be a cautionary tale for young, phenom pitchers on the rise in the minors who must continue to develop once they get to the big leagues.

1:51 - Paul Skenes’ first start in Pittsburgh

18:01 - Rockies complete the sweep against Texas

21:30 - Cardinals’ deep problems

30:40 - Ron Washington’s confidence in Angels

33:52 - Postseason Padres

39:18 - Braves pitching stepping up

49:56 - Astros showing signs of life

55:09 - Dylan Bundy’s retirement

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Get pumped Pittsburgh Pirates fans, Paul Skenes is on his way to PNC Park.

After it was announced on Wednesday, the number one overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft will make his first start for the club on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. After dominating in the minors in less than half a full season, the powerful righty has proven that he’s ready for the show.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman get fans hyped up for baseball’s number three overall prospect, dishing what kind of player Skenes is, the comparisons to him and former Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg’s MLB debut and why when you watch him pitch, there’s something noticeably special about him.

Also on this episode, the guys discuss Shohei Ohtani’s former translator Ippei Mizuhara pleading guilty to authorities, a strange trade that the Texas Rangers just made and why the ridiculous Mason Miller trade calls are starting to get louder.

Closing out the show, Jake & Jordan give their Good, Bad and Uggla for this week, which include the Tampa Bay Rays pranking one of their rookies, the Los Angeles Angels questionable roster construction and Derek Thomas ranking as the best home plate umpire this season. We also get a quick peek of what Jake and Jordan are looking forward to in baseball this weekend.

0:50 - Paul Skenes will start this weekend for Pittsburgh

19:46 - Ohtani-Ippei gambling scandal update

24:17 - Texas Rangers make a trade

28:14 - Mason Miller on the move?

30:56 - The Good

35:08 - The Bad

42:20 - The Uggla

46:53 - Weekend preview

47:57 - Jake glasses update

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The Houston Astros have been one of the best teams in baseball since 2015. With multiple World Series wins and four American League pennants, they’ve been a model of success in MLB.

However, all things must end eventually.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman talk about the Astros dynasty and if their trip to the Bronx this week could result in the final death knell on this season. Between their underperforming offense and their disappointing pitching, after a pounding by the New York Yankees on Tuesday, the Astros are a shell of what we’ve been used to.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast the guys get into the Toronto Blue Jays’ struggles this year and if it’s time to panic about them, Corbin Carroll possibly on the rebound following his rough start to the season and they discuss all the happenings in the NL Central.

Later, Jake & Jordan are joined by comedian Eitan Levine as they dive into his journey attempting to break the Guinness world record for most first pitches in a season and they close out the show talking about the Detroit Tigers new City Connect uniforms and why the Rays can’t stop wearing theirs.

1:35 - End of Astros dynasty

8:12 - Panic in Toronto

15:28 - Corbin Carroll is back?

20:45 - NL Central round-up

24:47 - Eitan Levine joins the show

39:45 - Rays & Tigers city connect

46:51 - 20 inning softball game

50:40 - Jake needs glasses

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It’s not too often you see a big-time trade in the beginning of May, but the San Diego Padres struck while the iron was hot and acquired two-time batting champ Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins this past weekend.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman talk about the trade made by general manager A.J. Preller, the instant impact that the two-time All-Star has already had on the Padres and why it’s a clear sign that the team is focused on making the postseason this year.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake & Jordan break down every series from this past weekend, including a potential NLCS preview that saw the Los Angeles Dodgers sweeping the Atlanta Braves thanks to Shohei Ohtani going full MVP mode, the Seattle Mariners taking two of three from the Houston Astros causing the 'Stros to sink even further in the AL West and why Jordan is finally jumping ship on the St. Louis Cardinals after a dreadful weekend against the Chicago White Sox.

The guys close the episode by wishing all-time baseball great Willie Mays a very happy 93rd birthday by reminiscing about his remarkable hall-of-fame career and the lasting impact he’s had on the game.

2:07 - Padres-Marlins make a trade

15:48 - Weekend recap, the sweeps

22:24 - Phillies time to strike

29:15 - Juan Soto is clutch

36:40 - The series wins

47:30 - Jumping ship on Cardinals

56:34 - Willie Mays’ 93rd birthday

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You never know who will become an instant celebrity in baseball. This was the case on Tuesday night at Chase Field, when the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers was delayed by two hours due to an invasion of bees.

Enter bees control specialist Matt Hilton.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss what became a viral moment when Hilton eradicated the bees that gathered on the net behind home plate, which led to Hilton getting bestowed the honor of throwing out the first pitch prior to the game.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys talk about the suddenly surging Minnesota Twins and their 10-game winning streak, coming to terms with the fact that Mike Trout is injury plagued at this point of his career and the Tampa Bay Rays releasing their city connect uniforms to rave reviews.

Jake & Jordan then do a baseball standings lottery, in which they try to predict which team will maintain their spot in the divisional standings by the time the season ends. The guys also give their good, bad and Uggla for this week, that includes Pete Crow-Armstrong’s helmet use, Kyle Bradish returning to the mound and so much more.

1:18 - The Twins are on fire

8:57 - Rays city connect uniforms

14:33 - Mike Trout is out

22:00 - O’s take 3-of-4 from Yankees

23:20 - Standings draft

39:39 - The good

43:17 - The bad

50:37 - The Uggla (bees talk)

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is one of the most accomplished MLB players of this generation and now, we have a comprehensive biography detailing the backstory of what made him the future hall of famer that he is.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman are joined by senior writer of The Athletic and author of The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness to discuss the biography about the All-Star lefty pitcher. In their discussion, the guys get into why Andy chose to focus on Kershaw, the mindset that the lefty needed to pivot his modest high school career into greatness in the bigs and how he has dealt with and overcome his postseason failures.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jordan talks about seeing Paul Sekens pitch in person in Indiana as he gets closer to his inevitable call-up by the Pittsburgh Pirates. And, the guys discuss why it’s taking the Buccos so long to call-up Skenes, who is clearly ready for the big time.

The guys also briefly touch on the Los Angeles Angels losing Mike Trout for a significant period of time after it was reported he will undergo surgery for his torn meniscus.

2:31 - Paul Sekens call-up is inevitable

11:57 - Watching Skenes in Indiana

18:43 - Andy McCullough joins the show

27:10 - How Clayton Kershaw deals with pressure

32:02 - Kershaw’s playoff failures

42:21 - Where are we at with Kershaw now?

49:30 - Kershaw finally winning a World Series

54:52 - Andy on the process of writing the biography

1:03:48 - Mike Trout needs surgery

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One of the biggest stories in all of baseball has taken a new twist and it’s something that fans and players can equally rejoice about. Major League Baseball will be reverting their uniforms back to how they were from previous seasons, as reported on Sunday night by ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

While the changes could take as long as the full season to go into place, it’s a step forward that many in the baseball community were hoping for. Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman express their delight in the changes, after which we’ll hopefully see larger letters on the backs of jerseys, pants that aren’t see-through and jerseys where players like Carlos Rodon aren’t completely sweating through.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys recap all the action from the weekend including where the Minnesota Twins came up with their home run sausage dugout celebration and why manager Rocco Baldelli is trying his best to be the adult in the room over this outrageous new rally item.

Jake & Jordan also talk about the not-so-warm reception Shohei Ohtani received this weekend from Toronto Blue Jays fans, a recap of the Mexico City series between the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies and the recent complete dominance from Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller.

1:03 - Uniform changes are coming

9:15 - Weekend sweeps

19:03 - Twins home run sausage

32:46 - The series wins

39:47 - Ohtani’s not-so-warm reception

45:38 - Braves vs Guardians

56:23 - Shota Imanaga continuing to impress

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When we previewed the 2024 MLB season a few months back, it was pretty clear which teams would be in the basement of the baseball standings. With teams like the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies living up to their projections, it’s the Houston Astros and their 7-19 record that shocks us here on the Baseball Bar-B-Cast.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman try to make sense of how the once powerhouse Astros sit in last place in the AL West and place among some of the worst teams in the league. They talk about the numerous injuries that have ravaged their pitching staff, the bad signings that they’ve made and why the front office consists of former MLB players that probably aren’t qualified to make roster decisions.

The guys then discuss their Good, Bad, Uggla for the week, in which they highlight Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong getting his first major league hit, a home run, during a day game at Wrigley Field after failing to get a hit when he was called up last season.

Jake & Jordan also touch on what the reaction might be like for Shohei Ohtani when he plays in Toronto this weekend, the legend that is Cleveland Guardians pitching prospect Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson and highlight a few big matchups on the slate for baseball this weekend.

1:24 - What happened to the Astros?

24:18 - Could the Astros break it down?

27:57 - The good

34:37 - The bad

40:35 - The Uggla

49:27 - Weekend preview

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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has developed quite the reputation within baseball as being someone who isn’t afraid to stick up to his players when they’ve been wronged by umpires. We saw that once again on Monday when he was ejected after only five pitches following a checked swing call at first base. However, it appears he was unjustly thrown from the game following a fan heckling home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss the controversial ejection to the Yankees’ skipper and whether his reputation as someone who’s willing to go toe-to-toe with umpires is affecting how umpires call games against his club. 

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys get into the discourse on how the Baltimore Orioles have gone about creating their roster following a few years of tanking. However, there are other reasons why the O’s have been able to successfully assemble a talented roster mainly made from their own pipeline.

Jake & Jordan close out the episode answering some listener emails including a cricket vs baseball debate, prospect evaluations gone wrong and ask if the World Series winner goes to the White House, where should the worst team in baseball go. 

2:30 - Aaron Boone’s ejection

19:20 - Orioles discourse

26:23 - Why the O’s did more than just tank

33:30 - Listener emails

48:31 - San Francisco Giants light show

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Another weekend is in the books for Major League Baseball and the Baseball Bar-B-Cast is here to catch you up on all the sweeps, series wins, splits and news that you might’ve missed, which includes Cincinnati Reds young star Elly De La Cruz playing like he did last season when he was first called up. Elly’s numbers since the solar eclipse a few weeks ago should have Reds fans very excited for what the future potentially holds for their shortstop.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman break down the multiple sweeps from the weekend including the Milwaukee Brewers taking care of business against their division rival St. Louis Cardinals to which Jake wonders if Jordan is ready to jump ship on the redbirds after a rough start from players like Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Miles Mikolas. 

The guys then discuss the rather large hole the Houston Astros have dug themselves in the AL West after the Washington Nationals took the series from them this weekend, appropriately enough when the Nats honored their 2019 World Series championship team. They also talk about how Juan Soto appears to be elevating the baseball a little more in what has been an absolute dream start with the New York Yankees.

Closing out the show, Jake & Jordan highlight the flop that was the Blake Snell vs. Jordan Montgomery matchup in San Francisco, Colton Cowser tossing an important baseball into the Kauffman Stadium fountains and Jake’s dive into how the word “show” has become a big-time verb used in baseball.

3:35 - The sweeps

9:36 - Jordan on the Angels

25:40 - Time to jump ship on Cardinals?

30:25 - The series wins

33:54 - Are the Astros in trouble?

43:20 - Juan Soto’s big change

56:46 - The splits

1:00:42 - “Show” in baseball

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