Passed Ball Show #632 (6/25/2022)

Passed Ball Show

6-25-2022 Passed Ball Show. John spends this program talking about Major League Baseball’s arbitration system and how very little constructive things come out of an arbitration hearing. John is lost for words when it comes to the Atlanta Braves choosing to go to arbitration with ace starting pitcher Max Fried over $250,000. John talks about the airing of dirty laundry and the personal elements and what arbitration cases do to the relationship between the player and the team. John then congratulates the New York Yankees and their agreement with Aaron Judge to a contract for the 2021 season that avoided arbitration. John expresses his fear that the “Yankee Brand” and the “Yankee Way” could get in the way of Judge receiving the longterm contract he deserves. John gives some examples of some differences between the free agent market now and what it was during the time of say, Derek Jeter’s and Bernie Williams’ free agency. John concludes his points by stating the Yankees still never miss out on a player they truly want, ie. Gerrit Cole, Masuhiro Tanaka. John then spends some time talking about the struggles of the now 0-35 Empire State Greys of the Independent Frontier Professional Baseball League. He compares their incompetence to the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, though he gives legitimate reasons the latter was so bad. John then celebrates the latest NBA draft by talking about his fascination with parity balanced with his intrigue with dominance (dynasties).