Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and the MLB Network joins the show to discuss the Indians potentially changing their name, how the 60-game schedule and new rules for 2020 affect the Tribe, and whether roster restrictions in place this year could decrease the odds of a midseason trade of Francisco Lindor.
Follow us on Twitter: @TheNailPodcast Email us: thenailpodcast [at] gmail.com Intro/outro music: "The 3rd" by Anitek Photo from Associated Press | Photo illustration by The Nail in the Coffin
Sooooo...you could say the Indians took care of business on Wednesday night. But 24 hours earlier—you know, back when they weren’t putting up 19 runs—a lackluster start to the 9th inning by closer Cody Allen, a miscommunication between manager Terry Francona and pitching coach Carl Willis, and a bad matchup for reliever Dan Otero turned a fine night at the ballpark into downright ugly loss, bringing out the boo birds at Progressive Field. It was called the nadir of the season for the team's beleaguered bullpen, and aggravation is mounting amongst the Tribe faithful. A talented-but-flawed Indians roster continues to trudge through the season in first place in the AL Central, but clearly is a step behind the rest of the league’s top teams. What is the Tribe front office waiting for? The guys discuss that, as well as Travis’ adventures at the AAA Home Run Derby in Columbus on Monday night. …. Plus: Travis is once again riding in Pelotonia to raise money for cancer research. You can help by donating at: pelotonia.org/travisulle
Baseball is back, baby, and the Indians have given Cleveland all sorts of reasons to be excited. John Arthur Hutchison, a contributing writer for Burning River Baseball, is back on the show to bring us up to speed on all things Tribe for 2017. Topics covered include: offseason roster moves, the emergence of Yandy Diaz, the return of Michael Brantley, Francisco Lindor’s star power, Andrew Miller’s role in the bullpen, Cody Allen’s underappreciated greatness and lots more.
With no guests lined up or major Cleveland sports happenings to focus on this week, the guys borrow a line from their favorite comedian-turned-sitcom star and wander through all sorts of topics for an hour. From Deandre Liggins and water bottle tosses to 0-16 parades and Browns training camp locations to the MLB hot stove and the unreleased, original ending to the movie Major League, it's an episode about nothing that still offers something for everyone. Giddy up!
Craig Lyndall, a longtime writer and podcast host at Waiting for Next Year, joins the show to look back on an eventful Indians regular season that has culminated in an AL Central Division title. Plus: Browns chatter, including why it’s way too early to say the team lost its draft day trade when it had the opportunity to take Carson Wentz, and some shop talk on coverage of Cleveland’s teams at WFNY.
Heading into the final month of the MLB regular season, the guys assess the Tribe pitching staff, the returns the Indians have gotten on their deadline deals for Brandon Guyer and Andrew Miller, as well as the overall state of the team as they try to hold off the Tigers and Royals. ... PLUS: The Browns' notable roster moves this week, a profile of Coach Hue Jackson on NFL.com, and the most interesting games of Week 1 in college football.
As the Indians were on their way to a franchise record-tying 13th straight win on Thursday night, T.D. Dery, one of the sharpest and most diehard Tribe fans around, joined the show to give the guys a crash course on a tremendous first half of the season. We covered everything from the brilliance of the starting rotation and the overall state of the roster to potential targets at the trade deadline and biggest threats in the American League down the stretch.
With the Major League Baseball season just days away, the guys welcome John Arthur Hutchison, who writes for Burning River Baseball, for the first half of a two-part Indians season preview. Topics covered include: New faces who will make a difference this year, a radically reshaped outfield, the Tribe’s decision to move Trevor Bauer to the bullpen (for now), and how the Indians stack up in what should be a competitive AL Central Division.
