How about books and podcasts?

I am currently listening to Dan Crenshaw's audiobook "Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage". I truly enjoyed his interview with Bill Maher, he was composed and firm and was able to stick it to Bill's arrogant arse. His life story is truly motivating, his politics...meh, but I am a cynic by nature.

I’ve been listening to Cressey’s pod lately.  That turned me on to another guy named lee Taft. 

I like history, like Al Zambone’s Historically thinking. Then I stumbled into Dan Carlin’s long form history podcasts. Often 20+ hours and conflict/conquest/war based. From the Persian Empire to nuclear cold war. Lots of space industry, futurism, archeology/prehistory but very little sports. Highly recommend NPR’s Hidden Brain w Shankar Vedantam.

I dropped the Kyle Boddy/Cressey/ physical development when I couldn’t get my son interested. He’s not a deep thinker, Trevor Bauer type. 

Wondery has a couple of really high quality podcast covering various themes.  Business wars is has interesting insight on businesses i.e. Sony versus Nintendo on the development of gaming consoles.  Also, a couple of history podcast that are well done. 

Being a Reds fan from childhood the Redleg Nation podcast in a fun take on Reds baseball.  They are doing a multi hour podcast on building the Big Red Machine.  A different era of baseball when it comes to trades.  

I find that the book Lords of the Realm wades into the labor history of baseball in a very easy to read and informative way.  While we ultimately pay the enormous baseball salaries as consumers and the salaries are way out of whack with society it is absurd how players used to be treated.  The Minor league players are stuck in the same model of the MLB players fifty years ago.  However, a MiLB player will never have any leverage to change the system.   Marvin Miller was amazing at what he accomplished for the players.

If you just like thumbing through a book a few pages at a time the Baseball America's Ultimate Draft Book is a good read.  They share draft information in list and story format that is very interesting.  For instance in the first drafts teams actually drafted on perceived need, eventually teams like the Dodgers talked Football teams and understood, take the best player available and time and circumstances will solve the position issues.  They lay out the draft as it occurred versus how it should have been based on player value.  It is really clear how few highly rated players in the draft pan out, while there are almost always lower round players who have solid careers or HOF players.  It is a fun book to look at when you have 30 minutes to read and do not need a lot of concentration.  If your not a youngster it brings back a lot of memories about players you may have not thought about in a long time.

Ron Luciano's first book is a very humorous.  Ball Four is obviously a well known classic as long as you don't have heartburn with a player breaking the code of silence.  Then again Jim Bouton needed to make a living because baseball did not provide a lot of money for a guy who was actually a star before arm injuries hit.

I second the Ball Four/Jim Bouton sentiment.  

My oldest son swears by Joe Rogan's podcast.

I'm embarrassed to say I've never listened to a podcast or a book on tape, if there's any times to start, it might as well be now.

books: Cormac McCarthy, Don DeLillo, and Louise Erdrich

Mvp machine, The arm, Swing kings, the only rule is it has to work, Astroball.  All great books available on audible.  

Astroball and the MVP Machine are must reads for MLB fans.  I first read Ball Four when I was 12...I remember blushing while reading.  Later my best friend got me an autographed copy for my 30th birthday.

Wharton Moneyball is a sports analytics podcast that covers all sports, not just baseball.  Recently they have also discussed Covid-19 stats and testing...very interesting.

2022NYC posted:

I am currently listening to Dan Crenshaw's audiobook "Fortitude: American Resilience in the Era of Outrage". I truly enjoyed his interview with Bill Maher, he was composed and firm and was able to stick it to Bill's arrogant arse. His life story is truly motivating, his politics...meh, but I am a cynic by nature.

Just saw Crenshaw's interview and decided to get the book.  I also thought he did very well.  Although I don't agree with Maher on most topics I do find the show thought provoking.

Agreed. I need thought provoking to balance out Tiger King and ESPN 30 for 30.