Baseball Bar-B-Cast

The 2024 MLB Draft class is already having a major impact on the 2026 baseball season. With seven of the first nine picks in the draft already debuting and contributing to their clubs’ success, there’s a real possibility that the Class of ’24 could go down as one of the best ever. The question now is: If we re-drafted today, who would go No. 1?

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman examine the top 20 picks from the now-infamous 2024 draft and conduct a re-draft based on the recent performances of those players. Would the Cleveland Guardians still take Travis Bazzana No. 1 overall, or would they now prefer Sacramento A’s slugger Nick Kurtz or St. Louis Cardinals shortstop JJ Wetherholt?

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss Rafael Devers not exactly being thrilled with San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello after being pinch-run for, and whether he has a legitimate gripe with the move. They then talk about Bryce Harper’s controversial triple that earned him the first cycle of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Detroit Tigers’ make-or-break stretch in the postseason race and recap all the other series from the past weekend.

1:31 – The Opener: 2024 MLB Draft Re-Draft

35:48 – How Sweep It Is: Devers Is Not Happy

53:03 – Tigers’ Make-or-Break Stretch

55:53 – We Need To Talk About: Harper’s Cycle

1:02:55 – Turbo Mode: Weekend Recap

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

As we rapidly approach the halfway point of the 2026 baseball season, some interesting trends are starting to become more apparent across Major League Baseball. One of the more jarring statistics is the difference in success between teams in the American and National Leagues. While NL teams seem to be having more success, is there a bigger issue at play for teams in the AL?

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman try to make sense of why the vast majority of teams in the American League aren't having great seasons. While 10 teams in the NL have records above .500, only five teams in the AL are above that mark. Additionally, only the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians have reached the 40-win mark. Could it be the amount teams are spending on payroll, or is competition within the AL divisions simply tighter?

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss the latest developments in the MLB and MLBPA negotiations over a new CBA, which could feature radical changes to how teams draft eligible players and what those changes could mean for the college baseball landscape. The guys then get into the new format change for the 2026 Home Run Derby, which some fans might not be thrilled about, before making their picks for this week's edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

1:34 – The Opener: What's wrong with the AL?

23:17 – Around The League: Latest in CBA negotiations

53:40 – We Need To Talk About: HR Derby changes

57:16 – The Good

1:04:01 – The Bad

1:07:58 – The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

When the San Francisco Giants ended the 2025 season, they found themselves at exactly .500 in the ultra-competitive NL West. After acquiring All-Star Rafael Devers during the season and making a few additions in the offseason, there was hope that the Giants would be pushing for a postseason spot in 2026. That plan, however, has not yet taken off, and things are reportedly set to change by the Bay.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss reports that President of Baseball Operations Buster Posey is set to trade away key players before the August 3 trade deadline. The surprising move suggests that the Giants may not believe this is the year for them to compete and that a reset is necessary after falling to a disappointing 29-43 record to this point in the season. The question now is: Which players are going to be moved in potential trades?

Later, Jake and Jordan dream up who they would like to see in the 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, set to take place in Philadelphia next month. While there are a few obvious choices—Kyle Schwarber and Ben Rice, most notably—the guys also hope that Mike Trout could have a special moment and compete in his first-ever Derby in front of a hometown crowd. They then discuss a few key players returning from injury, the Washington Nationals' surprising success and take a look at the current manager ejection standings.

 

1:40 – The Opener: Giants fire sale

26:13 – Dream Home Run Derby field

52:04 – Around the League: Key returning players

56:26 – Nationals are having success

1:01:36 – Manager ejection standings

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

When the New York Knicks snapped their 53-year championship drought this past weekend, it showed how long the fan base had been suffering before finally being able to celebrate a title. However, there are quite a few teams in baseball that can commiserate with what Knicks fans have been going through and hope to one day bring a championship back home.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman take a look at the current title-less droughts in MLB, led by the Cleveland Guardians, who haven’t won since 1948, and the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, neither of whom has yet to win a World Series since their debuts in 1969. Along with the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and others, which team will be next to break its drought?

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss two standout pitching performances from this weekend: Jacob Misiorowski, who threw a Maddux for the Brewers, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who flirted with perfection en route to a Los Angeles Dodgers victory. They then recap Tarik Skubal’s return to the mound, the Tartan Army taking over Fenway Park during the Boston Red Sox–Texas Rangers game and offer thoughts on players giving mixed messages regarding the annual San Francisco Giants Pride Night.

 

1:59 – The Opener: Next title drought to end

37:11 – Around The League: The Miz throws a Maddux

47:00 – Yamamoto flirts with perfection

56:22 – Skubal returns to the Tigers

1:04:52 – Turbo Mode: Tartan Army invades

1:10:01 – Giants Pride Night kerfuffle

1:14:57 – Recap of weekend action

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

The 2026 baseball season hasn’t really gone according to plan for the Boston Red Sox so far. With high expectations that their young core group of players would take the next step and lead the team to a better season than 2025, that has not been the case. Even after firing manager Alex Cora, the team hasn’t seen much of a boost, with many wondering if it’s getting late early for the Red Sox.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about the complete disappointment coming out of Boston so far and who is to blame for the mess the Red Sox currently find themselves in. They then get into whether there is a chance the team could become major players at the trade deadline, but as unexpected sellers, and why there is such a disconnect in messaging between the front office and the fans.

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss the Chicago White Sox surprisingly finding themselves in first place in the AL Central and how sustainable the winning — and the good vibes they’re bringing to Chicago fans — actually is. The guys then get into Tarik Skubal’s scheduled return to the Detroit Tigers this weekend, Shohei Ohtani being removed from a game due to injury and preview the College World Series. They close out the show by making their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

 

1:28 - The Opener: Red Sox disaster

24:15 - Kind of a Big Deal: White Sox in 1st place

37:43 - Around The League: Skubal set to return

44:18 - Notable recent injuries

47:03 - We Need To Talk About: College World Series preview

53:46 - The Good, The Bad & The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:
🎧 Apple Podcasts
🎧 Spotify
🖥️ YouTube
📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:
🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social
🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ
📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq
⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz
🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_