Baseball Bar-B-Cast

With Spring Training games in full swing, baseball fans are starting to get familiar with the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system. Although ABS isn’t brand new to baseball, as it’s been used in the minor leagues for a few seasons, it will be new to the majors in 2026 — so now is the time to learn all about it.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman give you the history of the ABS challenge system and explain how we’ve gotten to the point where it will be implemented in the game. MLB catcher Garrett Stubbs joins the show to give a catcher’s point of view on how it’s impacting his position, as well as the strategies that come along with challenging calls and the tension it can create with umpires.

Later, Jake and Jordan talk about Rhys Hoskins and Michael Conforto both getting minor league deals and a wave of new injuries plaguing the Minnesota Twins and the Baltimore Orioles. They then close the show by remembering Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski following his passing this weekend.

1:56 - What is the ABS system?

35:48 - Garrett Stubbs gives POV on ABS

54:19 - Around the League: Minor league deals

1:00:51 - Injury bug is going around

1:05:14 - College baseball happenings

1:11:29 - Remembering Bill Mazeroski

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 Major League Baseball Players Association had a major shakeup this week after union head Tony Clark resigned from his position following an investigation into an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law. This shocking news has caused a ripple effect with collective bargaining agreement discussions set to begin next offseason.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss why this controversy is such a big deal as the players’ union looks for strong leadership ahead of upcoming negotiations. They then dive into the newly elected leader, Bruce Meyer, and why he is an interesting choice to lead the players at a crucial moment as the league prepares for 2027 and beyond.

Later, Jake and Jordan are joined by Yahoo Fantasy analyst Scott Pianowski, who gives his expert opinion on whether Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani or Bobby Witt Jr. should be the number one overall pick in your draft — and which sleepers you should have your eye on. Then, the guys discuss the Milwaukee Brewers giving Pat Murphy an extension and why Tony Vitello felt the need to clarify his move to the majors. To close the show, Jake and Jordan make their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

2:02 – The Opener: MLBPA drama

13:33 – Who is Bruce Meyer?

29:03 – Fantasy baseball advice

49:26 – Around the League: Murphy extension

52:35 – Tony Vitello clears things up

58:02 – 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_

With Spring Training fully underway in Florida and Arizona, we’re starting to hear more and more from those in the baseball world about their thoughts on this offseason. Between how New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge voiced his displeasure with his club’s slow-moving offseason and Bryce Harper not being too happy with how he was spoken about by Philadelphia Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski, things are getting spicy.
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about which of these headlines are actually big deals and which aren’t, including Steve Cohen saying there won’t be a captain for the New York Mets as long as he owns the team and a couple of players with questionable thoughts on position changes. Then, the guys get into the San Diego Padres having a busy week that saw them bring in Nick Castellanos, along with other free agents, to fill out their roster and signing General Manager A.J. Preller to a long-term deal.
Later, Jake and Jordan present the grand finale to this year’s Scott Boras Scoreboard after a flurry of his players received new deals and Roman Anthony replaced Corbin Carroll on Team USA’s World Baseball Classic roster. They close the show by reintroducing the 26-and-under rankings for this season after big players graduated from the list last season.

0:34 - Tony Clark update
3:20 - The Opener: Hot Springs Training headlines
39:05 - Around the League: Padres keeping busy
48:03 - Team USA roster update
50:38 - Scott Boras Scoreboard finale
59:41 - 2026 26-and-under rankings

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_

With the wonderful sounds of spring training filling the air in Arizona and Florida, there have already been a few unfortunate injuries that have knocked out several top MLB stars from getting their work in. Francisco Lindor, Corbin Carroll and Jackson Holliday have all been sidelined with hamate injuries, and it’s bringing us all down.
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about the impact these injuries will have on their clubs, including what Team USA might do since Corbin Carroll will not be able to start and play in the World Baseball Classic. They then get into the situation surrounding Nick Castellanos being released from the Philadelphia Phillies and him addressing the now-infamous incident that occurred in Miami.
Later, Jake and Jordan discuss Justin Verlander reuniting with the Detroit Tigers to help continue his push for 300 wins, the Los Angeles Dodgers re-signing a couple of familiar names and give a quick college baseball preview with the season opening today. The guys close the episode by making their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

1:28 - The Opener: The hamate issue
9:12 - Nick Castellanos and the incident
25:36 - Around The League: JV back to Detroit
35:48 - Other notable free agent signings
42:40 - Dodgers bring back familiar names
46:02 - 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_

As pitchers and catchers start to report to their teams’ camps this week, signaling the official return of baseball, it’s time to take a look back at each club’s offseason and give them a final grade for their work.
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman go through all 30 teams division by division, talking about the newest additions and subtractions for each side, as well as which teams could’ve done a little bit more.
Did the Los Angeles Dodgers do enough to bolster their squad and try for a three-peat? Did the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies do the right thing by essentially running back their rosters? Are the Milwaukee Brewers and Cleveland Guardians throwing away a golden chance during a championship window? With at least one team getting an A and another getting an F, find out how your squad did this offseason.

5:45 – AL East
25:04 – NL East
38:52 – AL West
51:11 – NL West
1:01:08 – AL Central
1:17:30 – NL Central

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_