Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast

Welcome to Episode 103 of Tablesetters. Devin and Steve return with another in-depth journey through the world of baseball, tackling both the headlines that shake the game and the performances that define it.

We begin in Detroit, where the Tigers and Ilitch Sports and Entertainment find themselves in the middle of a storm. A series of troubling misconduct allegations have emerged, involving multiple executives and former player Cameron Maybin. It is a story that extends far beyond the diamond and raises difficult questions about accountability, workplace culture, and the responsibility that professional sports organizations bear toward their employees and their communities.

From there, we turn to a pair of emotional and historic chapters. Anthony Rizzo, the face of the Cubs’ modern era, has officially retired from Major League Baseball and steps into a new role as a team ambassador. His legacy in Chicago is written not only in numbers but in leadership, resilience, and the unforgettable moment when he caught the final out of the 2016 World Series. We also reflect on the life of Davey Johnson, who has passed away at the age of eighty-two. Johnson was a visionary manager whose analytical approach was ahead of its time and who came closer than most to building a true dynasty with the unforgettable Mets of the nineteen eighties.

On the field, the race for National League Most Valuable Player has taken center stage. Kyle Schwarber has joined the select company of sluggers with fifty home runs, while Juan Soto has etched his name into history with a rare thirty home run, thirty stolen base season. This debate captures the essence of value in today’s game: is it the thunder of historic power and iconic moments, or is it the balance of all-around excellence?

We will also revisit our rankings of the one-two-three MLB Jam pitching trios. From the dominance of the Dodgers with Yamamoto, Snell, and Glasnow, to Tarik Skubal’s Cy Young campaign that elevates the Tigers’ staff into elite territory, to the balance and depth of the Phillies and Mariners, these rotations represent the backbone of October dreams and postseason survival.

The discussion continues with the Mets’ recent struggles as their wild card lead shrinks and the Giants close the gap, the unsettling controversy surrounding Framber Valdez and his so-called cross-up moment, and the injuries that could shift the balance of pennant races, including the devastating absence of Bo Bichette for the Blue Jays and the double blow of Trea Turner and Alec Bohm for the Phillies.

As always, we round out the episode with our signature segments. We ask “What’s the Word?” to define the week’s most memorable moments and we look ahead to the Arizona Fall League, where thirteen Top 100 prospects will take the stage, providing one more chance to watch the future of the game under the desert sun.

All of this and much more is waiting for you in Episode 103 of