MVN - Most Valuable Network

MLB Week 6: Criticism of Joba, Gagne out of control; Unwritten rules of the MLB clubhouse; Ichiro quotes

Joba Chamberlain (IconSMI)

Armageddon is upon us: Joba Chamberlain gave up a lead-changing three-run home run to the Tribe on Wednesday.

The impending doom is something the East Coast media would have you believe, anyway. Hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage paint a different picture, however, pleading with baseball fans to lay off relievers like Chamberlain, Eric Gagne, Brad Lidge and Trevor Hoffmann. They’ve blown some leads, but they’re getting the job done — and the numbers support it.

The show also delves into the White Sox’ battle to get the Chicago press to leave their blow-up dolls alone, leading to a discussion about the unwritten rules of the MLB clubhouse. And the guys cover another gem from Ichiro, backtracking from a remark last year that he hates visiting Cleveland. This year, Ichiro would have you believe he loves shoe shopping in C-Town.

Don’t miss the latest rundown for this weekend’s “Pick-Off” competition and more e-mail from The Pitch community. Interact via e-mail at thepitch@mvn.com or via phone at 360-450-MVN3.

MLB Week 6: Tejada’s HR miracle, Twins defying logic and expectations, Replacing closers with aces

Miguel Tejada (IconSMI)

The Pitch reviews the first week of play in the month of May with miracles on the field, highlighted by Miguel Tejada making good on a promise to a sick child that he’d hit a home run in an Astros win. The Minnesota Twins join in the fun, as well, sweeping the Tigers and making all of the pundits look silly for burying them before 2008 as a result of their offseason losses.

Hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage review Monday’s lineup changes, including Detroit’s designation for assignment of Jacque Jones and New York’s demotion of Ian Kennedy. And the guys weigh in on the embarrassing and tragic news of a Yankees fan who killed a Red Sox fan in a spat over the rivalry.

Don’t miss the latest count on the show’s interactive “Pick-off” game and intriguing listener e-mails about banishing closers and saves and sharing perspective on MLB from Australia.

Interact via e-mail at thepitch@mvn.com or via phone at 360-450-MVN3.

MLB Week 5: Buy or Sell Cueto and Hughes? Tough-luck Halladay, Broken Brewers

Roy Halladay (IconSMI)

May was not a good month to replenish your lineup with healthy players — namely in New York, where Alex Rodriguez and Phil Hughes joined the long Yankees DL. John Smoltz shared the same news about his immediate future via SMS and one of the game’s young star starters — Johnny Cueto — was humbled in a roller coaster Week 5 for Major League Baseball. And as expected, The Pitch sifts through all of it in its Thursday edition of the show.

Hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage also give props to Diamondbacks pitcher-turned-power-hitter Micah Owings and Toronto’s hard-luck ace Roy Halladay, who is boggling the mind with his complete game numbers.

The guys also cover news of the weird, with Lee Elia exorcising the “And print it!” curse and a college softball team showing the ultimate display of sportsmanship.

Listener e-mail and phone calls are included in a good-times Major League Baseball discussion on the Monday edition of The Pitch. Interact via e-mail at thepitch@mvn.com or via phone at 360-450-MVN3.

MLB Week 5: Webb and Dbacks grab NL West by the throat, Zito a wealthy reliever, BoSox crying about schedule

Brandon Webb (IconSMI)

After a perfect Sunday chock full of aces locked up in pitchers’ duels, The Pitch hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage give props to Week Four’s top performers (Brandon Webb and the NL West-killers in Arizona) and duds (winless Barry Zito).

Joe also reviews his trip to Nationals Park in Washington D.C. while Brandon rips into the theory that the Red Sox were disadvantaged by their opening series trip to Japan when Josh Beckett is whining about 20 straight games.

And don’t miss the catch the guys couldn’t get enough of, thanks to Reed Johnson (YouTube). Oh, and those nasty photos of our favorite country singer before and after.

Listener e-mail and phone calls are included in a good-times Major League Baseball discussion on the Monday edition of The Pitch. Interact via e-mail at thepitch@mvn.com or via phone at 360-450-MVN3.

MLB Week 4: Who wants The Big Hurt? Cubs fans are easy to hate, Yanks fight over Joba’s role

Frank Thomas (IconSMI)

The gang kicks off the final week of April baseball with chatter about The Big Hurt’s messy departure from Toronto and his sketchy future as a Hall-of-Fame DH. And the discussion gets set against the backdrop of current White Sox DH Jim Thome’s HR barrage.

Conversation veers to Jimmy Rollins‘ rare stint on the DL in Philly, the Pirates’ latest stretch of being outscored 48-12, Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman’s suggestion that fan behavior at Wrigley Field “makes you want to see the Cubs lose” and the Yankees’ front office bickering over whether Joba Chamberlain should be a starter.

Listener e-mail and phone calls are included in a good-times Major League Baseball discussion on the Monday edition of The Pitch. Interact via e-mail at thepitch@mvn.com or via phone at 360-450-MVN3.

MLB Week 3: Maddux schools LA, The Ultimate Ballpark, New Yankee Stadium cursed

The Pitch kicks off MLB’s third week of regular season play with banter from a weekend that saw ageless ace Greg Maddux carve up the Dodgers, Francisco Liriano stumble in a “rehab” start, Tom Glavine fall off of the Braves’ rotation and the-Detroit-team-that-shall-remain-nameless continue its high school style of play.

Hosts Joe Aiello and Brandon Rosage also review Curtis Granderson’s vision for the perfect big league ballpark, Arizona pitcher Doug Davis’ F-you to cancer and a Red Sox fan’s attempt to curse Yankee Stadium, and the Yankees’ suits absurd reaction.