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There will not be any Automatic Balls and Strikes called in the World Baseball Classic that begins this week at four sites around the globe. 16 teams are vying for the title currently held by two-time defending champ Japan.

ABS is alive and well (so far) in #MLB spring training so far. Umpires get things wrong but the calls are so close you can understand why and how. Will this lead to full robot umps eventually? We wondered about that and gave some thoughts.

We also discuss if another epic WBC showdown is in the cards like it was to end the 2023 WBC when Shohei Ohtani struck out then-teammate Mike Trout. That can't happen this year but we peek at a what could be a few delicious and delightful potential encounters between MLB teammates who are current rivals.

Intro & Outro music this season courtesy of Mercury Maid! Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends!

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Newspapers have long since stopped publishing MLB box scores and stories about each game in MLB on the prior day. Tom Stone took on a crazy project in 2025 - he put out a daily newsletter recapping not only the results of all of the prior day's games, but also included standings, transactions, and even ballplayer birthdays. He did it for all 162 games of the regular season and then continued on through the playoffs and World Series. And he does it all himself.

We had a great time talking with Tom who has 10,000 subscribers to his newsletter and hoping for more. Check it out - https://nowtakingthefield.beehiiv.com

Intro & Outro music this season courtesy of Mercury Maid! Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends!

www.almostcooperstown.com

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First it was #Mets Francisco Lindor who came up with the 'hamate' bone problem on his left (glove) hand. It bothers players when swinging the bat as the bone rests on the knob of the bat. Lindor had surgery last week as did Jackson Holliday of the #Orioles and Corbin Carroll of the #D'backs. The latter two will miss the start of the 2026 #MLB season but Lindor may make it for Opening Day since the injury is not to his throwing hand unlike the others.

Injuries a sadly a part of Spring Training. With the WBC starting in early March managing player health is trickier this year. #Brewers Caleb Durbin who finished 3rd in the NL Rookie of the Year race in 2025 was shipped to the #Red Sox and we wondered what Milwaukee was thinking!

We also talk about the impact ballparks play on a hitter's home run rate. Brandon Lowe may have a problem now that he's a Pittsburgh #Pirates player. PNC Park is notoriously bad for home run hitters as are several of the NL Central parks. This is in contrast to the parks in the AL East where Lowe played for the #Rays last season.

Check out the podcast and next week we will have Tom Stone of Now Taking the Field and his Baseball Buffet newsletter.

Here's the link to the Baseball Savant Page that lists home runs for each MLB park.

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-factors?type=year&year=2025&batSide=&stat=index_wOBA&condition=All&rolling=3&parks=mlb

Intro & Outro music this season courtesy of Mercury Maid! Check them out on Spotify or Apple Music!

Please subscribe to our podcast and thanks for listening! If you can give us 4 or 5 star rating that means a lot. And if you have a suggestion for an episode please drop us a line via email at Almostcooperstown@gmail.com. You can also follow us on X @almostcoop or visit the Almost Cooperstown Facebook page or YouTube channel. And please tell your friends!

www.almostcooperstown.com