Aaron Jaffe Podcasts

In this live episode we talk to Andrea Elliott on the occasion of her Pulitzer Prize winning book 'Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival & Hope in an American City'. Elliott is an investigative journalist for The New York Times whose work documents the lives of people on the margins of power. Based on nearly a decade of reporting, Invisible Child foll…

Episode 1015 This week’s episode is a bittersweet one, as your favorite podcast producer (that’s me!) tells his story before saying goodbye. Dialing in from the snowy slopes of France, Ben Clemens interviews me, Dylan Higgins, for the latest edition of FanGraphs Backstories. Ben and I talk about the gateway drug that was Moneyball, how I hopped fro…

Episode 1014 On this week’s show, we discuss the new rules on display in spring training before reacting to Manny Machado’s new extension. Jay Jaffe is joined by Dan Szymborski as they welcome back baseball, now with a pitch clock and bigger bases. The pair discuss the effects of these changes, such as the clock’s impact on relievers vs. starters, …

Episode 1013 It’s Prospect Week at FanGraphs, so our scouting department shares how the prospect list sausage is made before we hear from a fellow ranker who is now on the team side. To start things off, lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen is joined by contributor Tess Taruskin to celebrate making it through Prospect Week and to shine a light on…

Episode 1012 On this edition of the pod, we talk to a player/analyst in the Cardinals system before hearing the story of how our RosterResource guru got here. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Ryan Loutus, a 24-year-old right-hander who went undrafted out of a D-III school and now finds himself in the Cardinals’ big league camp. Loutos…

In this live edition of De Dépendance Podcast labour economist Guy Standing gives a short lecture on his book ‘The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class’. In it he provides a detailed understanding of how the situation of precarious employment affects the lives of the “Precariat”: the rapidly growing number of people facing lives of insecurity, on zer…

Episode 1011 This week, we sit down with one of the bright baseball minds in Baltimore before getting our lead prospect analyst’s backstory. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Sig Mejdal, vice president and assistant general manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Mejdal tells us about breaking into baseball with the Cardinals, and what his d…

Episode 1010 On this week’s show, we consider the career of a potential Hall of Famer before getting to know one of our writers better. With Joe Mauer destined for the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame and set to arrive on the Cooperstown ballot for the first time this year as well, Jay Jaffe felt it appropriate to chat with Dan Hayes of The Athletic ab…

Episode 1009 This week, we reflect on the recent Hall of Fame election results before catching up with a top Pirates prospect. First up, Jay Jaffe welcomes Ryan Thibodaux, who leads the team at the Hall of Fame Ballot Tracker, to discuss Scott Rolen’s enshrinement and the wild day leading up to it. Ryan has worked on the Tracker for a decade now, b…

In this live edition of De Dépendance Podcast we listen to a short lecture by journalist Sarah Jaffe on her book Work Won’t Love You Back – How Devotion to Our Jobs Keeps Us Exploited, Exhausted and Alone. The last decade has seen a seismic shift in attitudes towards work and the idea of labour. Whether it is through the rise of the gig economy, th…

Episode 1008 In this episode, we get insight from a professional run-creator before turning the tables on our favorite interviewer. In the first half, David Laurila welcomes Donnie Ecker, bench coach and offensive coordinator for the Texas Rangers, to the program. Ecker, who David also interviewed last year, shares what it’s like to work with manag…

Episode 1007 This week on the pod, we pair a veteran reliever with a young star before interviewing one of our own fresh faces. To start things off, David Laurila welcomes Spencer Strider and Andrew Miller back to the show. Strider and Miller had not officially met before, but they quickly hit it off, discussing growing up as fans of each others’ c…

Episode 1006 In the first show of 2023, we welcome back a beat writer friend to talk Cardinals before introducing a new series on the podcast. At the top of the program, David Laurila is joined by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (and The Best Podcast in Baseball), who last appeared on episode 903. The duo discuss whether Nolan Arenado …

Episode 1005 This episode, we welcome back another old friend who is casting their first Hall of Fame ballot, then talk about the most surprising free agent move in recent memory. We begin with Jay Jaffe and David Laurila continuing their new annual tradition of discussing their Hall of Fame ballots on the podcast, and […]…

In this special live edition of De Dépendance Podcast we listen to a short lecture by sociologist Bowen Paulle on one of the most pressing social issues of our time: educational inequality. In the past education has long served the function of being the 'great equaliser': not your origin or social class, but your talent and effort would determine y…

Episode 1004 This week, we talk to the man in charge of an on-the-rise franchise before discussing the international market and a puzzling trade. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Jerry Dipoto, president of baseball operations for the Seattle Mariners. We hear his thoughts on the wild spending going on around the […]…

In this episode we talk to Professor of International Politics Laleh Khalili on the occasion of her latest book Sinews of War and Trade, Shipping and Capitalism in the Arabian Peninsula. Khalili travelled the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean aboard gigantic container ships to investigate the secretive and sometimes dangerous world o…

Episode 1003 After a big week in baseball, we bring you two face-to-face conversations from the San Diego Winter Meetings before a chat about outfield defense. First up, David Laurila sits down with Fernando Perez, former major league outfielder and analyst and current coach for the San Francisco Giants. We hear what Fernando was doing […]…

Episode 1002 This week on the show, we welcome a long-time major leaguer to chat about the World Cup before going over some recent moves and looking ahead to the Winter Meetings. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Brad Miller, a 10-year major league veteran and a big soccer fan. The pair […]…

Episode 1001 Hot Stove season is upon us and we are ready to start picking apart transactions, but not before we talk about the Kansas City Royals. To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes Joel Goldberg, broadcaster and reporter for the Royals. David didn’t put Bobby Witt Jr. on his AL Rookie of the Year […]…

Episode 1000 That’s right, we have reached our four-digit milestone. Look back through the years with us before we look to the future (or at least this upcoming offseason). It would be impossible to fully encapsulate all 1,000 episodes of FanGraphs Audio, but this producer put together 22 minutes of great memories. Going all the […]…

Episode 999 This week on the pod, the most Philadelphia pairing we have on staff comes together to break down the World Series so far. Michael Baumann is fresh off covering Games 3 and 4 of the World Series in person, and he welcomes lead prospect analyst and old Crashburn Alley pal Eric Longenhagen to […]…

Episode 998 Just in time for the World Series, we welcome back an author who recently wrote a book on the subject before talking to a prospect in the Arizona Fall League. To start the show, Jay Jaffe welcomes Tyler Kepner, baseball writer at The New York Times and author of The Grandest Stage: A […]By Dylan Higgins

Episode 997 With four teams remaining in the postseason, this week we put our fan hats on before meeting a talented new FanGraphs contributor. In the first segment, resident Phillies fan Michael Baumann is joined by site Padres fan Jason Martinez to discuss the NLCS. Jason was at the first two games in San Diego, […]…

Talking Orioles, Yankees, Red Sox, a bit of playoffs, and more.By Dylan Higgins

Episode 995 With the playoff matchups set, we welcome one half of Céspedes Family BBQ to the show as we look ahead to the newly expanded postseason. First, Michael Baumann welcomes Jake Mintz, one half of Céspedes Family BBQ, writer at Fox Sports, and co-host of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast on SiriusXM, to the show. The […]…

Episode 994 This week on the show, Eric Longenhagen welcomes Sports Illustrated staff writer Emma Baccellieri for an extended conversation about what she’s been working on and what she’s been watching lately. We hear about Emma’s upcoming piece on Austin Riley and get insight into her interview and transcription process, as well as the nitty […]…

Episode 993 On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with a veteran major league manager before considering the latest Triple Crown chase. To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes A.J. Hinch, former catcher and current manager of the Detroit Tigers. Hinch recently passed Rogers Hornsby on the all-time managerial wins list, and he […]…

Episode 992 This week on the show, we welcome one of the biggest names in baseball writing to talk about a court case with big implications for the sport before our newest full-time hire makes his podcast debut. To begin, Eric Longenhagen is joined by Jeff Passan, ESPN writer and author of The Arm, to […]…

Episode 991 On this edition of the podcast, we welcome a former big-league catcher who knows a lot about the position before some banter about an awards race between two unicorns. To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes Bobby Wilson, veteran of 10 major league seasons and current catching coach for the Texas Rangers. Wilson […]…

Episode 990 On this week’s episode, Eric Longenhagen welcomes our friend and yours, Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, to look ahead to next summer’s draft class before casting an eye toward the playoff race and stretch run. Eric and Mike discuss the abundance of amateur talent in the 2023 class. We hear […]…

Episode 989 This week on the show, we hear great stories from a veteran minor league broadcaster and discuss those darn Yankees, but not before talking about the new FanGraphs app! In the first segment, David Laurila welcomes Tim Hagerty, broadcaster for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas. We learn about a number of interesting Padres […]…

Episode 988 On this episode of FanGraphs Audio, we have a conversation with a pitching great before discussing our disappointment in a current face of baseball. To begin the show, David Laurila welcomes David Cone, five-time All-Star pitcher, podcaster, and current broadcaster for the Yankees and ESPN Sunday Night Baseball. We hear about how Cone […

Episode 987 This week on the program, we get into some Blue Jays banter before looking at how some other squads are faring after the trade deadline. In the first half, David Laurila welcomes Kaitlyn McGrath, a writer and podcaster for The Athletic focused on the Toronto Blue Jays. They talk about the surprisingly competitive […]…

Episode 986 On this week’s show, we welcome a major league veteran and Phillies broadcaster for a chat before reacting to an overwhelming week of trade deadline moves, as well as the loss of a broadcasting legend. To kick things off, David Laurila welcomes Chad Durbin, a TV analyst for the Philadelphia Phillies with 14 […]…

Episode 985 On this edition of FanGraphs Audio, Ben Clemens is joined by Eric Longenhagen for an extended conversation about this week’s Trade Value Series, next week’s trade deadline, and more. Eric tells us about his trip to Los Angeles, including seeing the All-Star Game, the Futures Game, and the amateur draft, before Ben shares […]…

Episode 984 This week on the show, David Laurila welcomes Ellen Adair, actor, MLB Network analyst, host of multiple podcasts and, perhaps most importantly, diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan. David and Ellen begin by discussing the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, the controversial uniformity of the uniforms, mic’d up pitchers, and which Phillies w…

Episode 983 On this episode, we discuss the surging underdogs of the AL East before a chat about finishing up prospect lists in time for one of the most eventful weeks on the baseball calendar. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Geoff Arnold, broadcaster for the Baltimore Orioles. We hear about the […]…

Episode 982 On this week’s episode of FanGraphs Audio, Ben Clemens and Dan Szymborski banter about recent baseball happenings before coming up with a new way to quantify how compelling players are to watch. Dan recently ran his ZiPS midseason update for each league, inspiring him and Ben to talk about the Astros and red-hot […]…

Episode 981 This week, we talk to a reporter covering the St. Louis Cardinals before meeting the author of a book about the unique Cleveland team that won it all in 1948. In the first half, David Laurila welcomes Katie Woo, beat writer covering the Cardinals for The Athletic. The pair begin by discussing Woo’s […]…

Episode 980 This episode, we sit down with the head honcho of the Red Sox before an old friend comes by to talk about the state of the amateur draft landscape. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Chaim Bloom, chief baseball officer for the Boston Red Sox. Bloom shares his journey from […]By Dylan Higgins

Episode 979 This week on the show, we welcome a reliever in the middle of a breakout campaign before our Freaky Friday dynamic duo returns for some more banter. To kick things off, David Laurila is joined by Red Sox left-hander Austin Davis. Davis describes his journey from being traded by the Pirates to buying […]…

Episode 978 On this edition of FanGraphs Audio, we talk to another major league general manager before some banter about recent writing on the site. At the top of the show, David Laurila welcomes Nick Krall, GM of the Cincinnati Reds. Krall has been with the club for about two decades, and offers insights into […]…

Episode 977 This week, we remember a legend of baseball writing before a discussion about the Seattle Mariners (and our new merch). To begin the show, Jay Jaffe welcomes Jayson Stark of The Athletic in his return to the pod as they discuss Roger Angell, who recently passed away at age 101. The Hall of […]…

Episode 976 This week on the show, Ben Clemens and Jason Martinez reconvene after having previously discussed the young baseball season last month. Offense hasn’t been as quiet as it was in April, and bullpens have gotten a bit shaky — even before being forced to shrink (though it was announced after recording that the […]…

Episode 975 On this episode, we chat about the AL West-leading Astros before getting help from an astrophysicist as we try to understand why the baseball continues to act so strangely. To start the show, David Laurila welcomes Julia Morales, reporter for AT&T SportsNet Southwest and the Houston Astros. Morales has been covering the team […]…

Episode 974 On this week’s FanGraphs Audio, David Laurila talks to a major league general manager before introducing one of the game’s new radio voices. In the first half, David welcomes Ben Cherington, general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. We hear about how the Pirates are focusing on building instead of rebuilding, including how they […]…

Episode 973 On this episode, Eric Longenhagen welcomes old friend Keith Law of The Athletic back to the show to chat about the draft landscape. Eric recently returned from a trip to Florida, and the duo discuss how challenging travel logistics continue to be while trying to see amateur players. We hear about impressive prospects […]…

Episode 972 This week on the show, we check in on the always-interesting Colorado Rockies, who have been exceeding expectations in the early going, before getting into recent beanball drama and more. To begin the episode, David Laurila welcomes Thomas Harding of MLB.com, who has covered the Rockies for decades. The pair talk about the […]…

Episode 971 On this week’s show, we welcome a club’s president of baseball operations to talk about his team’s inner workings before we react to the exciting first few weeks of the season. At the top of the program, David Laurila welcomes Derek Falvey, president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins. Falvey gives us […]…