Positive Spin Rate

Heather, Slickhawk, and Casey react to some of the major trade news around the league, and delve into the trades made by each of our (now seven) teams. (This episode was recorded shortly before 3pm Eastern time, a little more than an hour before the deadline) Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on Twitter Send us an email: positivespinrate@gmail.com

For the first time in over a month, the entire Positive Spin Rate crew is back! Jason, Heather, Slickhawk, and Casey catch up on their favorite moments from the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, reflect on the draft, revisit some of our trade deadline predictions, and take a look at where our teams stand heading into the second half of the season. Then Heather and Slickhawk talk to Pirates prospect and Altoona Curve outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba about what it's like being back after a...

The July 30th MLB trade deadline is fast approaching! Heather, Slickhawk, and Casey discuss which players from our six teams might be getting dealt away and to which contending teams. We also talk about the All-Star Game rosters and Home Run Derby participants (including Derby winner predictions!). We first discuss the recent developments in the Trevor Bauer sexual assault allegations, including the extension of his administrative leave, the poorly handled reactions from both the Dodgers...

Heather and Jason are joined this week by a very special guest (and our show's youngest so far): Jason's son Matteo Strummer La Canfora! They talk to him about why he loves baseball, how he stays engaged with the Orioles, his favorite players, what he thinks teams should do to attract more kids (free Dippin' Dots, of course), and more. Make sure to tune in next week for our trade deadline preview! Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on Twitter Send us an email: positivespinrate@gmail.com

For this bonus episode, Heather and Slickhawk chat with Orioles prospect, Norfolk Tides infielder Jahmai Jones. They discuss what it was like to get traded from the Angels earlier this year, glasses versus contacts, his music taste (a surprise K-Pop fan!), and how he's feeling optimistic to be in the Orioles system, despite the major league team rebuilding. Make sure to tune in next week for our trade deadline preview! Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on Twitter Send us an email:...

Jason, Slickhawk, and Casey continue last weeks' sticky stuff discussion after the new developments regarding MLB's crackdown on pitchers using foreign substances. Then we break down the minor league housing crisis and what happened with the Bowie Baysox, after Advocates for Minor Leaguers tweeted on Tuesday that some players were considering sleeping in their cars since the Orioles (and other MLB teams) stopped providing housing. We talk about the broader implications across MiLB, and how...

Heather, Jason, Slickhawk, and Casey discuss MLB's sticky situation and cracking down on pitchers using foreign substances, highlight some of the less discussed, but very promising prospects in each of our six teams' farm systems. Then we're joined by Hudson Haskin, an outfield prospect in the Orioles system, playing with the Delmarva Shorebirds, and wrap up by highlighting our favorite non-baseball related positive things going on. This week's episode also includes the special treat (or...

This week on Positive Spin Rate, we talk about MLB Pride Nights, yet another Rangers/Mariners series, react to the Orioles' breaking their 14-game losing streak mid-recording, and give our favorite weird and whacky baseball moments of the week. As we're now in the thick of the season, and watching some truly bad baseball, we brainstorm ideas for how to still enjoy and stay engaged with your bad team for the rest of the season (hint: minor leagues and baseball butts). Be sure to follow us...

Heather and Slickhawk are joined by Shakeia Taylor for a special episode this week to discuss how she became a baseball fan and writer, what's missing in discussions about the Negro Leagues, and what we could do to increase Black fandom and participation in baseball. Follow Shakeia on Twitter and Instagram Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on Twitter and Instagram Send us an email: positivespinrate@gmail.com

Heather, Jason, and Casey recap their (rainy) trip to see the Bowie Baysox last week and talk at length about the insane things Shohei Ohtani is doing, why more people aren't freaking out about it, and what could possibly make baseball a little more #hip. They also discuss yet another "swinging on a 3-0 count" controversy, unsurprisingly involving Tony La Russa. And on 7th Team Watch: still the Minnesota and Kansas City, sorry Twins and Royals fans. Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on...

Heather, Jason, Slickhawk, and Casey talk about the Rangers/Mariners series, MLB's lack of COVID vaccination progress, Cedric Mullins' wild triple, Jarred Kelenic's expected call up, and introduce a new "7th Team Watch" segment. Then they're joined by Mike Mills, former bassist of the legendary R.E.M. and The Baseball Project, and lifelong Atlanta Braves fan. Note: We recorded prior to the Seattle Mariners announcing they would also be calling up RHP Logan Gilbert on Thursday. Be sure to...

Heather and Jason celebrate (and Slickhawk laments) John Means' no-hitter (that was really a perfect game) against the Mariners' on Wednesday. Then the crew recaps the week of games and checks in on how the six teams are doing one month into the season (sorry Tigers fans, we really tried). Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on Twitter and Instagram Send us an email: positivespinrate@gmail.com

Ty Kelly joins Heather, Slickhawk, and Jason this week to talk about his semi-un-retirement to play with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League (including his thoughts on some whacky Atlantic League rules changes) and getting ready for the Tokyo Olympics this summer with Team Israel. The crew and Ty also talk about the Tatís/Bauer back and forth from the weekend, the resignation of Rockies GM Jeff Bridich on Monday, and Ty's involvement with Advocates for Minor Leaguers. Check out...

Heather, Jason, and Slickhawk revisit whether the current AL West-leading Mariners really deserve to be on our bad baseball podcast and brainstorm who we should replace them with (Yankees, obviously). They recap the week for our six teams, including the Orioles/Rangers series, the O's and Pirates surprisingly decent bullpens, Matthew Boyd off to a hot start for the Tigers, and Jason attempts to be positive about the Rockies (hint: flip those arms). Then they're joined by Alex Plink, Texas...

Heather, Slickhawk, and Casey recap the week of baseball for our six teams, including live reactions from Tuesday night's game between Heather's Os and Slick's Mariners. Then they're joined by comedian, actor, and Negro Leagues history enthusiast Greg Proops for a conversation covering Greg's time growing up with the Mays, McCovey, and Bobby Bonds Giants, his favorite artifact at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, what MLB can learn from other sports leagues in the US when it comes to...

Heather, Jason, and Slickhawk recap the first week of the season for our Orioles, Mariners, Rangers, Pirates, Rockies, and Tigers. We discuss John Means' fantastic start against the Red Sox, the many promising Rule 5 guys on these teams, the Rougned Odor trade (and how weird he'll look when he has to shave his beard), decide that Daniel Bard is the official closer of Positive Spin Rate, and of course talk about the Coors Cat. This episode also features the debut of our "Good Ball, Bad Times"...

Heather, Jason, and Slickhawk are joined for a special episode this week by a pair who embody positivity in bad baseball: Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of the Cespedes Family BBQ. They discuss what they're looking forward to seeing this season from the Orioles, Mariners, Rangers, Tigers, Rockies, and Pirates, as well as brainstorm what to call these teams. Be sure to follow us @PositiveSpinR8 on Twitter and Instagram Follow Jake and Jordan on Twitter and listen to their show, Baseball...

Happy Opening Day of MLB's 2021 season and of the Positive Spin Rate podcast! Hosts Heather Linington-Noble, Jason La Canfora, and Matt "Slickhawk" Mikolas dive into a range of topics including how they fell in love with baseball and their bad teams, favorite ballparks, and minor league mascots. Then they're joined by Baltimore Orioles play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown to get his perspective on covering a bad team (and address THAT Eckersley comment that made him the hero of Orioles...

Welcome to Positive Spin Rate, your source for uplifting and optimistic coverage of MLB's worst teams. Co-hosts Heather Linington-Noble, Jason La Canfora, and Matt "Slickhawk" Mikolas are here to explore the upsides, silver linings, and the weird and fun happenings on the Orioles, Mariners, Rangers, Pirates, Tigers, and Rockies. Bad ball, good times. The first episode drops Opening Day 2021.