

Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller banter about Albert Pujols’ touching return to St. Louis, the Dodgers’ deceptive Will Smith walk-off and the reason for the proportional increase in non-pulled home runs, Commissioner Manfred’s latest comments about the ball and dingers, Newsday beat writer Tim Healey’s clubhouse confrontation with Jason Vargas and Mets manager Mickey Callaway, and the possibly pivotal PED suspension of Oakland’s Frankie Montas. Then they revisit two Sullivan-era chats about “baseball IQ” and whether facing death would make baseball teams better, pass judgement on an alleged Mariners-related fun fact, provide an update on Dylan Bundy’s periodic inattention to baserunners, and discuss the causes of the persistent poor performance of relievers relative to starters and the continued democratization of saves.

Audio intro: The Beach Boys, "Angel Come Home"

Audio outro: The Coral, "Come Home"

Link to Doolittle on peak Pujols vs. Trout

Link to video of Pujols’s first at-bat as an Angel in St. Louis

Link to video of Pujols homering in St. Louis

Link to Will’s Pujols newsletter

Link to Derrick’s story on the possible Pujols trade

Link to video of Smith’s surprising walk-off homer

Link to Manfred’s latest comments about the ball

Link to Tim Healey’s explanation of the Callaway/Vargas incident

Link to Verducci on bullpens

Link to Rob Arthur on pitchers’ hot hands

Link to Clay’s comment on starters and stuff

Link to order The MVP Machine

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