The Toronto Blue Jays and Texas Rangers had themselves a bit of a fight on Sunday afternoon. The melee featured one of the most solid punches in recent memory. Joe and Greg discuss this scuffle, whether or not the suspensions that arose from it were fair, and how it reminded them of baseball brawls from the past.
Also, Fredi Gonzalez found out about his termination as Atlanta Braves manager in an unusual way. Was it the worst way to learn about being fired? No, there are plenty of worse ways to find out, at least in baseball. Now that managerial blood has been shed this season, who’s the next manager to get the axe midseason?
Also, there are mentions of Bryce Harper and his profanity once again. It seems there can be no episode of Crowding the Plate where the Washington Nationals superstar does not come up at least once.
Crowding the Plate Podcast Episode 8: Baseball Brawls and Manager Firings
Intro/Outro: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” sung by Edward Meeker and “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” by The Isotopes Punk Rock Baseball Club
Break 1: “Live to Fight” by the Bouncing Souls and a quote from Bull Durham.
Break 2: “Shortstop” by Grayling and a quote from The Sandlot.
Hosted by Joe Hojnacki and Greg Hessen, Crowding the Plate is a weekly baseball podcast here on Last Word on Sports. It aims to cover the fun, yet analytical, side of baseball once a week.
Joe Hojnacki writes about soccer for Last Word on Sports and is also co-host of the Crowding the Plate Podcast. An avid Red Sox fan, Joe idolizes Bryce Harper and feels that his fun showmanship is the way to save baseball from becoming overrun by old folks, and from dying out.
Greg Hessen is the resident Tigers fan on Crowding the Plate. As somewhat more of a traditionalist, Greg longs for the days of pitchers hitting in the American League and a landscape that doesn’t include things like bat flips and PEDs tarnishing the greatest of all games.
ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 15: Adrian Beltre #29 of the Texas Rangers holds Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays after being punched by Rougned Odor #12 in the eighth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on May 15, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
