With the current collective bargaining agreement nearing its end, baseball fans have plenty of reasons to worry. But history offers an interesting reason for optimism: every owner lockout in MLB history has been resolved without costing the sport a regular-season game. We discuss whether the enormous amount of money now at stake could ultimately push MLB and the players toward another agreement.
Plus, with about 40 games left in the 2026 season, the playoff races are getting serious.
The Red Sox are surging. The Dodgers are suddenly struggling. The Rays refuse to fade. The Yankees have George Lombard Jr. at shortstop, while Anthony Volpe tries to work his way back from the minors. Which teams should we actually trust heading toward October?
Also in Episode 720:
• Tommy John's fascinating Hall of Fame case—and whether the surgery that bears his name should matter
• Jacob Wilson's record-setting errorless streak at shortstop
• Matt Olson reaching 900 consecutive games played
• Why Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2,632-game streak may never be broken
• Craig Kimbrel joining his 12th MLB team
• The upcoming Field of Dreams game
• Why the Chicago Cubs may be fielding one of the greatest defensive teams in MLB history
• What the Red Sox-White Sox extra-inning thriller tells us about baseball's ghost-runner rule
Mark and Gordon break down another eventful week in baseball—and connect today's game to the players, records and history that came before it.
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