Who’s in First – August 30, 2011

Can the Professor Repeat?

This week is Astros week with our podcast featuring the Houston Astros being released on Friday, September 2nd.  Ed Kasputis will be interviewing Timothy De Block from crawfishboxes.com and James Yasko from astroscounty.com about their beloved Astros.

On another note, with 30 days left in the regular season, Professor Bruce Bukiet from the New Jersey Institute of Technology is leading in our predictions contest.  If the season would end today, 6 of Bukiet’s 8 teams would make the playoffs (Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers, Rangers, Phillies & Braves.)  Jonathan Eig and Baseball PhD’s Mark Rantala are tied for second with 5 teams that would make the playoffs today.

“The key is the American League Central.” says Ed Kasputis, Creative Director of Baseball PhD. “Professor Bukiet has picked the Tigers while Jonathan Eig has chosen the White Sox.  Whoever wins the AL Central will win it all.  Catching the Professor will be as hard as catching the motivated Astros fan whose video is below.”

Houston Astros Team Pulse

Listen to our 2010 Houston Astros Podcast

2011 Florida Marlins

It’s our last trip to Sun Life Stadium but there are no tears.  Marlin fans deserve better and next April they’ll get their state of the art ball park.  Dave Matejczyk takes us to baseball heaven – the Dominican Republic.  Sam Zygner talks about his beloved Marlins and we listen to the late great, Clarence Clemons (1942 – 2011) as he plays opening day for the Marlins.  Our PhD Committee leaves some luggage behind since we’ll be back next April.  Next stop, Houston.

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Hurricane Irene

This week is Marlins‘ week with our podcast featuring the Florida Marlins being released on Friday, August 26th.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of the Caribbean and the United States East Coast in harm’s way of Hurricane Irene.

During our next podcast, Ed Kasputis will interview Dave Matejczyk who visited the New York Mets baseball academy in the Dominican Republic earlier this month.  During his interview, Matejczyk described the Dominican Republic as “baseball heaven.  Let’s pray that “baseball heaven” is protected from Irene’s wrath.

The Stormy Beaches of the Dominican Republic

Florida Marlins Team Pulse

Listen to our 2010 Florida Marlins Podcast

2011 Pittsburgh Pirates

Oh those Pirates.  They teased their fans by being in first but have faded.  Our PhD Committee talks about the Pittsburgh Pirates and the great city of Pittsburgh.  Ed Kasputis interviews Charlie Wilmoth from bucsdogout.com and Steve Barr from the Little League.  The Little League World Series starts on August 18th and we review this bucket list event.  We then pack up and head to Miami Gardens to say good bye to Sun Life Stadium and hello to the Florida Marlins.

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2011 Little League Series is Coming!

This week is Pirates‘ week with our podcast featuring the Pittsburgh Pirates being released on Friday, August 19.  On Thursday, August 18th, one of the greatest baseball events of the summer begins in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania - The Little League World Series.

Ed Kasputis will be interviewing Steve Barr from Little League about this event.  The Little League World Series runs from Thursday, August 18th to August 28th. All events are free as is parking.  If you love baseball, a trip to South Williamsport will make a great baseball road trip.

Scenes from the 2010 Little League World Series

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Pulse

Listen to our 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

2011 Oakland Athletics

We are in Oakland pondering why the A’s with their great pitching are out of contention.  Our PhD Committee talks about Brad Pitt, Moneyball - the movie and all things A’s.  Baseball Bob gives us his insight on this year’s A’s season.  The Wise Guys share their first time experience at Fenway Park and in another segment of Where in The World is Dave Matejczyk, Dave shares a Charlie Finley story and tells us about the California League.  We then pack up and head east to what may be the prettiest Major League ball park – PNC Park.  Pittsburgh Pirates here we come!

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Moneyball – The book becomes a movie

This week is A’s week with our podcast featuring the Oakland Athletics being released on Friday, August 12th.  Moneyball was the 2003 best selling book by Michael Lewis about the Oakland A’s.  The movie version will be released on September 23rd.

Our PhD Committee will be talking about this upcoming movie and all things A’s (and Charlie Finley). We’ll also hear from the Wise Guys as they visit Fenway Park for the first time.

Oakland Athletics’ Team Pulse

Listen to our 2010 Oakland A’s Podcast

 

 

 

 

 

2011 Los Angeles Angels

We’re in Orange County talking about those Angels.  No hitters in Cleveland, the Rally Moneky, carmaggedon, Josh Beckett’s Angel imitation, the 162 game journey of comedian, Steve Melia and much more in this Angelic podcast.  Then our PhD Committee packs up and heads north to the 4th oldest Major League ball park – the Oakland Coliseum.  Next week, it’s time for the Oakland Athletics.

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The Monkey & The Boy

This week is Angels‘ week with our podcast featuring the Los Angeles Angels being released on Friday, August 5th.  You can’t visit Angel Stadium without getting to know the Rally Monkey who debuted on June 6, 2000 when the Angels were trailing the Giants, 5 – 4 in the bottom of the ninth.

Two video board operators, Dean Fraulino and Jaysen Humes, took a clip of a monkey jumping around from the 1994 Jim Carrey movie comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and superimposed the words “RALLY MONKEY!” on top of it.  The Angels scored two runs and won the game.  The rest is history.

And then last week, Red Sox ace Josh Beckett did his Angel imitation with a random act of kindness.  He gave 10 year old Red Sox fan, Dylan Sylvia a souvenir to remember.  We’ll talk about both the monkey and the boy during our next podcast.

Katie – The Rally Monkey

Josh Beckett’s Simple Act of Kindness

Los Angeles Angels’ Team Pulse

Listen to our 2010 Los Angeles Angels Podcast

Past Posts about the Angels

OC