Every listener to this podcast knows that a game of catch is rarely just a game of catch. Playing catch is an opportunity to connect with someone, whether you spend that time in conversation or just listening to the pop of the ball hitting the leather. Few understand this more than this week’s guest, Kevin Negaard. Negaard’s journey is nearing his goal of 365 consecutive days of catch. This endeavor has connected him with hundreds of partners, has spanned two continents, and led to two injections in his shoulder.
Read MoreNow that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, Moonlight Graham Show is getting in on the two-for-one deals. No, we aren’t talking about merch, although we have that too, we are talking about major league arm talent. Pat Venditte is the only true ambidextrous pitcher in MLB history.
Read MoreThis week’s episode features an upcoming prospect. We don’t mean a guy projected to develop into something special; we mean a diamond in the rough uncut gem. John Klein has only been pitching for four seasons, yet he recently signed with the Minnesota Twins. It all began with a chance to move to the mound in high school, which set his baseball career on a new trajectory.
Read MoreThere isn’t a more perfect way to kick off this season of the podcast than with a perfect game. Most of us probably think about the pitcher when we hear ‘perfect game,’ but on the Moonlight Graham Show, we are looking for someone behind the scenes. Two-time Moonlighter Pat Hoberg is working his first World Series, and we didn’t want to miss a pitch. And as it turns out, neither did he.
Read MoreEvery once in a while, a Moonlighter just falls into your lap. Matt Buschmann connected to the podcast on Twitter, and, as it turns out, he was just the kind of story we are looking for. Matt Buschmann is a 10-year minor league baseball veteran who made three appearances in the Majors. When his playing days were done, he became the bullpen coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. Buschmann has the kind of story diehard baseball fan loves to hear, and he came to the right place to tell it.
Read MoreNeil and Tim discuss the CyHawk showdown this Saturday, Albert Pujols, Aaron Judge, and the new King of England.
Read MoreThe Baseball Hall of Fame looks to celebrate the greatest from across all generations. Standards like 3,000 hits or 300 wins are looked at as certain marks of excellence that lock in a player’s place in Cooperstown. While we don’t know where Fernando Tatis Jr.’s career is heading or what Aaron Judge’s next few years will be like, our resident baseball experts Tim and Neil sit down to prognosticate the Hall of Fame classes of years to come.
Read MoreThis week’s Moonlighter goes way back with Moonlight Tim. Eric Stein was a sophomore leader for the Iowa Central Tritons when Tim joined the team as a freshman. Even as a 19-year-old, Eric Stein’s baseball IQ made it clear that his future was in coaching if he wanted it. Roughly 18 years after that first meeting, Tim sits down with Eric to talk about Stein’s progression from player to head coach for those same Tritons.
Read MoreThere are few roles more important than that of coach. Part mentor, part cheerleader, part teacher part disciplinarian, and sometimes even part father or mother figure. This week’s Moonlighter fits those descriptors to a T. Marty Sutherland has spent most of his life in sports and played a prominent role in the lives of countless young men.
Read MoreThis week Neil and Tim discuss the current state of attendance in the MLB and the astounding fact that over 600,000 fans attend baseball games each day.
Read MoreThe College World Series has been in Omaha since1950. Would college baseball benefit from alternating sites?
Read MoreAt an imposing 6’7, this week’s Moonlighter might look the part but his path to professional sports had a dog leg or two. Sean Johnson grew up an athlete playing hockey and baseball and though he made a run at a professional baseball career, it was his skills from the ice that has helped him to launch. Johnson is now making a name for himself in professional long drive golf competitions.
Read MoreThis week on the Moonlight Baseball Hour we discuss the role of the modern MLB manager along with the excitement of the college baseball postseason. Don't forget to go out and play some catch this weekend!
Read MoreSomething so simple yet so significant. Playing catch is an undervalued way of spending time connecting without saying words. This week on the podcast, Tim takes some time to reflect on the magic of a game of catch.
Read MoreThis week on the Moonlight Baseball Hour Neil and Tim break down the Joc Pederson and Tommy Pham fantasy football flame-out, which has become one of the most fun off-the-field storylines baseball has seen in years. They also look into how many sets up twins have appeared in an MLB game along with Byron Buxton's frigid month of May.
Read MoreSometimes, a Moonlighter finds a role and sometimes a Moonlighter needs to make a role. While the average Joe can’t even come close, a 5’9 righty who throws around 90 is a dime-a-dozen in professional baseball. This week’s Moonlighter created a role for himself that got him into a major league bullpen. Just like his knuckleball, Jannis’s career took a less than traditional path to his MLB debut.
Read MoreThis week’s Moonlighter takes looking like a pro to a whole new level.
If you google Gar Ryness, the internet refers to him as “an American sports entertainer”. And while you may not know that name, or what an American sports entertainer is, you have probably seen an online video of Ryness doing his impressions of batting stances and what can only be described as baseball comedy sketches.
Read MoreAs the Des Moines area gears up to host the production of the new Field of Dreams show, Tim and Neil discuss the next era of the film's saga.
Read MoreOn this week's Moonlight Baseball Hour Tim and Neil celebrate Anthony Rendon's left-handed home run off Brett Phillips, which could be the highlight of the year thus far. They also dive into the dead ball conspiracy theory and lay out all of the reasons Iowa should continue to play baseball in the summer.
Read MoreAnna DiTommaso, from Baseball Bucket List, joins the Moonlight Baseball Hour to discuss the best and worst of the City Connect Uniforms, Miguel Cabrera joining the 3,000 hit club, the best cities for MLB expansion, and our thoughts on new technology in the game.
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