David, Justin and James discuss what’s next for the Phillies pitching staff now that Aaron Nola is returning, and whether they need more rotation help. What could the Braves be up to with their recent activity? The group also touches on the aggressive nature of the front offices in Atlanta and Philadelphia. Plus, why Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson don’…

David, Justin, and James react to MLB's Cy Young award announcements and dive into what's to follow long-term and short-term with Gerrit Cole and Blake Snell being the winners. Does this cement Cole's Hall of Fame case? How much does this help Snell in free agency? The crew also dives into a surprising possibility regarding Shohei Ohtani's free age…

David, Justin, and James put a bow on the World Series along with diving into some early offseason news including Clayton Kershaw undergoing shoulder surgery, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's posting, opt-outs and options, and more. The crew also dives into three foreign stars that may wind up with the Yankees. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use pr…

David, Justin and James examine the first two games of the World Series and wonder if we’ll see another seven inning performance from any pitcher the rest of the series like we did from Merrill Kelly. What should we realistically expect from Max Scherzer? How can Texas tame Arizona’s running game? And will MLB’s plan to reduce the number of pitcher…

The gang reviews the pitching decisions of NLCS Game 7, and the emergence of Brandon Pfaadt, whom Coney believes is a star in the making. Looking ahead to the World Series, James sizes up two bullpens who have proved many wrong. Who holds the edge in the bullpen, rotation and lineup? Justin believes Max Scherzer is a true wild card. Plus, the Giant…

David, Justin and James react to the Rangers winning Game 7 in Houston to reach the World Series, how short a leash Max Scherzer may have in the Fall Classic, and whether they consider this era of Astros baseball “dynastic.” Plus, what to expect for Game 7 of the NLCS tonight in Philadelphia. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use promo cod…

David, Justin and James wonder out loud what the Astros and Dbacks can do to get back in their respective series. Arizona will have to be the more creative team with their pitching moving forward. Who has been the best starting pitcher in October? Would you invest more in Jordan Montgomery or Aaron Nola in free agency? What’s preventing other teams…

David, Justin and James try and catch their breath after an amazing Game 2 between the Braves and Phillies. Despite one heart-breaking defeat, Coney remains bullish on the Phils. While none of the hosts feel the layoff for teams with byes is “a thing” just yet, is the layoff *too* long? Do fans need to recalibrate their minds for what the postseaso…

David is in Philadelphia for Phillies/Marlins. James is in Minnesota for Twins/Blue Jays. The postseason is here! The hosts touch on whether they’d take the momentum of a Wild Card team or the rest of a team on a bye into the Division Series. Coney, Justin and James dig deeper into Jordan Montgomery’s and Zack Wheeler’s respective performances to o…

David, Justin and James put out an S.O.S. for Coney’s iPad at LaGuardia Airport. They open the show by touching on the passing of Brooks Robinson. Then, is the Braves pitching staff in trouble? How close will the voting be for the NL Cy Young Award? Where’s the love for the Twins pitching staff? Where’s the offense for the Blue Jays pitching staff?…

David, Justin and James open by saluting Adam Wainwright for his 200th career victory. Coney gives his short-list of expansion cities now that the Rays seemingly have their new stadium. Shohei Ohtani will have missed a full month to end the season. He’s still the AL MVP, right? The hosts size up the Dodgers potential rotation for a division series,…

David, Justin and James weigh in on reports of Alek Manoah not reporting to Toronto's AAA affiliate. They also deep dive on the comments made by George Kirby last week, and how they represent where pitching conditioning/development has been and where it could be going next. The hosts examine both Cy Young races with two and a half weeks to play. Co…

David, Justin, and James discuss all things pitching and more in another episode of Toeing the Slab! In today's show the crew talks the latest from Shohei Ohtani's camp, the Dodgers rotation after Julio Urias' arrest, Rangers bullpen, Jasson Dominguez and more! For tickets to tailgate with the Talkin’ Giants crew go go to shop.jomboymedia.com, clic…

David, Justin, and James discuss all things pitching and more in another episode of Toeing the Slab! In today's show the crew talks how the Angels handled Shohei Ohtani ahead of his devastating UCL tear, the Brewers and Mariners pitching staffs, O's losing Felix Bautista, and the Yankees releasing Josh Donaldson. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook …

David, Justin, and James discuss all things pitching and more in another episode of Toeing the Slab! In today's show the crew talks Boston's chances at making the playoffs, the Astros pitching woes of late, Mariners surging to an AL West crown (?), Mike Trout returning, Everson Pereira's call up and a former Yankee prospect airing it out on their a…

David, Justin and James examine why several pitchers are thriving early with their new teams following the trade deadline. The trio believes the Mariners can continue to win, and they look at other teams in the wild card hunt who could go on an extended run. Coney assesses where Luis Severino is for the Yankees, and why Michael King transitioning i…

With the expanded playoff format, David, Justin and James wonder whether the trade deadline needs to be extended by two weeks. The hosts size up the Rays chances without Shane McClanahan, the Dodgers chances with an improving Julio Urias, and which division race intrigues them more: the AL West or NL Central? We’ve reached the point where we wonder…

After the trade deadline, all the focus is on the AL West race in Texas. David believes Max Scherzer will make the biggest impact for his new team, the Rangers. James and Justin believes it will be Justin Verlander for the Astros. The hosts recap the historic day for the Astros, which ended in Framber Valdez’s no-hitter, and the polar opposite hist…

David, Justin and James tackle some big topics with a week before the trade deadline. Have we seen the Rays at their low point, and what deals can they swing to put them over the top? The hosts do their weekly check-in on the Shohei Ohtani situation in Anaheim, and stress the fact that if the Angels decide to hold on to Ohtani, they need to be big …

David, Justin and James go all in on Shohei Ohtani! Will he break Aaron Judge’s AL home run record? How do the Angels separate business from baseball with Ohtani’s impending free agency and the trade deadline two weeks away? Do east coast teams need to trade for Ohtani to entice him to sign during free agency? Also, which clubs make sense for pitch…

David, Justin, and James recap the highlights from MLB's All-Star Week and what stood out to them most. They also go in depth on Shohei Ohtani's future as the trade deadline approaches, potential rule changes in the postseason, and what's next for the Yankees after firing their hitting coach. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use our promo…

David, James and Justin tackle the biggest questions surrounding the Angels and Shohei Ohtani with Mike Trout now out for an extended period of time with a hamate fracture. The hosts pick their starting pitchers for next week’s All Star Game and reveal the pitchers they would buy stock in for the second half of the season. In discussing the Yankees…

David Cone and the crew talk Domingo German throwing the 24th perfect game in MLB history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesVon Jomboy Media

David, Justin, and James discuss the game's hottest topics including Shohei Ohtani continuing his incredible season after crushing two homers and striking out 10, who the game's best pitching staff is half way through, the Yankees offense and more. Sandwiched between an interview with former MLB pitcher Mark Mulder where the guys discuss the curren…

Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller joins the show to go over what has led to his filthy arsenal of pitches. David opens with contenders and pretenders as we approach the midway point. The hosts explain why they may be worried about traditional powerhouses, and which upstart contender has the pitching to take them to the postseason. David explain…

David, Justin and James begin the show by showering some love toward the A’s as they run through their best stretch of baseball this season. The crew touches on the 156 pitch performance by Stanford’s Quinn Mathews in the NCAA Super Regional. The consensus? Not a good look by Stanford! With roughly a month to go until the All Star Game, who is wort…

David, Justin and James react to Aaron Judge going on the IL again. They also react to Jacob deGrom’s second Tommy John surgery, and whether the Rangers need more pitching to make a deep run in the postseason. Coney believes Alek Manoah getting fixed at the Blue Jays Florida complex is the best course of action for the team and player. Yankees Qual…

David, Justin and James take a look at some of the pitching that’s dictating tighter than expected division races around the game as the season is a third of the way complete. The Mets and Phillies meet for the first time this week—which team can potentially hang with the Braves? The crew dives deeper into Sonny Gray’s season with the Twins. Could …

David, Justin and James are focusing on how relievers are still the group that offers teams the most promise. They dive into what is keeping the Blue Jays from taking off, and in the wake of The Athletic article documenting the split between Madison Bumgarner and Arizona, Coney identifies one team that may speak MadBum’s language. The crew gives th…

David, Justin and James jump right into the controversy(?) from Monday in Toronto where Aaron Judge’s eyes were…wandering. The crew touches on the pitching injuries suffered by the Braves and Rays, and dissects why the Dodgers rotation is still keeping them as the class of the National League. The trio discusses the struggles of Alek Manoah, and wo…

David, Justin and James are back after Coney experienced baseball’s best current rivalry on Sunday Night Baseball: Dodgers-Padres! The crew dives into the Cardinals mess with catcher Willson Contreras, and David believes St. Louis pitchers need to take a harder look at themselves. The hosts wonder whether the Cubs pitching staff will continue to pe…

David, Justin and James open the show touching on Bryce Harper’s return for the Phillies and discuss what April told us about where the game is going when it comes to pitching. The Rays are pitching and hitting at a superior level, so how would Coney game plan for the Rays lineup? Where will the Pirates be in two weeks? What to watch for with Justi…

David, Justin and James are all over the rosin saga that has caught the attention of every team. How does MLB establish a firm level of an allowable substance for pitchers? David touches on his Sunday Night Baseball experiment with the rosin and alcohol. The group also dives into the Rays historical start, the toughest pitch-types for young MLB hit…

David, Justin and James look toward Shohei vs Judge over the next few days in New York. Coney highlights the trend of so much young talent being given a chance by their respective teams. The trio talks about the best parts of Astros catcher Martín Maldonado being mic’d up on Sunday Night Baseball. Which pitcher’s “minor injury” has you worried more…

David, Justin and James are joined by HOF pitcher & FOX Sports analyst John Smoltz, who touches on the evolution of the strike zone, the starter/closer dynamic, Shohei Ohtani and whether he actually hates the current game of baseball. The crew dives into the latest and best pitch by Ohtani, who is must-watch two weeks into the season and why the Ra…

David, Justin and James explain what jumps out to them from MLB’s opening week, what matters after a small sample size and what big trends may subside as the season progresses. The crew wonders if the Rays could be an elite pitching force even without Tyler Glasnow. They touch on certain pitching injuries to start the season, Kodai Senga’s debut, t…

David, Justin and James get you set for the very start of the season by giving their juiciest opening day pitching matchups. Once the games actually begin, David believes the balanced schedule is going to be just as big a topic as the new rules. The crew looks at three makeshift starting rotations for the Braves, Dodgers and Yankees to begin the se…

David, Justin and James look back at everything that made this year’s WBC the coming-out-party for the tournament, and what MLB can do to build on that momentum. Is there added pressure on the Angels to make the playoffs based on what we just saw from Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout? What does the Dodgers rotation depth look like in the wake of the la…

David, James and Justin react to Team USA’s victory over Canada and wonder if anything can be done for American baseball fans to show the kind of energy we’ve seen from other countries in the World Baseball Classic. Was Mike Trout’s 3-run home run in the 1st inning the most meaningful homer he’s going to hit in 2023? The hosts touch on the WBC styl…

David, Justin and James go over the gamesmanship they’ve observed with the pitch clock and whether it should lead to rules being tweaked. They feel not everything Max Scherzer is doing with the pitch clock is correct. The trio discusses how a six-man rotation would affect a starter’s routine. Each host gives their most important starting pitcher in…

David, Justin and James are joined by the people who put the new rules in motion for 2023, Raúl Ibanez (MLB Sr. VP of On-Field Operations) and Joe Martinez (MLB VP of On-Field Strategy). The guests discuss what has stood out over the first week of games with new rules in place, whether tweaks will be made in-season, whether we can expect more rules…

David, Justin and James are scratching their heads wondering why we are hearing from so many MLB owners at the start of spring training, which should only produce happy thoughts. David pays tribute to the late Tim McCarver, who was on the call for David’s perfect game in 1999. The crew each gives one starter and one reliever who they believe has th…

Fresh off his Chiefs Super Bowl win, David is back with Justin and James and they react to the PECOTA projections that were released just before recording. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, each host gives the one pitch he has a crush on. The gang then reacts to the extensions given to Yu Darvish and Christian Javier, and whether new Astros GM Dana…

David, Justin and James take a look at several promising pitchers who have the potential to elevate themselves and pitch like an ace in 2023. The trio discusses the current list of aces that MLB Network recently ranked on its “Top 10 Right Now” list and feel several names are misplaced, including Sandy Alcantara, Jacob deGrom, and possibly, Gerrit …

With Spring Training around the corner, David, Justin and James each give their three most improved bullpens and/or starting rotations. The hosts discuss where the Rays starting rotation ranks among American League contenders and how that affects the state of The Opener. The crew discusses the inactivity of the Orioles this off-season and where the…

David, Justin and James react to the 2023 Hall of Fame voting results that led to Scott Rolen being elected into Cooperstown. The trio discusses how much the Twins rotation has improved after the addition of Pablo Lopez. The hosts close out the episode by wondering whether the Yankees have too many question marks attached to their roster heading in…

David, Justin and James discuss the concern over the news that Yankees pitcher Frankie Montas will miss time with shoulder inflammation and how nothing has gone right for Montas since he perhaps returned from the IL prematurely in July of last year. The hosts dive into some of the recent comments made by the ownerships families from the Reds and Or…

David, Justin and James break down the state of the Dodgers pitching staff after they designated Trevor Bauer for assignment and wonder if 2023 is the first time in nearly a decade that LA is not the preseason favorites to win the NL West. Justin asks which NL starting pitcher will receive an extension first: Max Fried, Julio Urías or Logan Webb? T…

David, Justin and James usher in 2023 by taking a look at what may happen with Trevor Bauer’s immediate future as a MLB pitcher. David and James believe the poison of the entire situation will be too much for other teams to deal with if the Dodgers release Bauer. Justin believes Bauer will receive another chance somewhere because history has shown …

David, Justin and James fully cover the six year agreement between Carlos Rodón and the Yankees. David breaks down what makes Rodón an ideal fit for the Yankees at this moment in time. The crew goes over his increased K-rate the last couple of seasons, the range of fastball velocity he possesses, and David believes Rodón shouldn’t tweak anything th…