Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast

LIVE Special!: 2025 World Series Preview — Dodgers vs. Blue Jays | 112

The stage is finally set. The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the World Series, looking to defend their crown and become baseball’s first repeat champion in 25 years. Standing in their way are the Toronto Blue Jays, back in the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993 when Joe Carter sent an entire country into celebration.
This matchup has everything. The Dodgers have been steady, efficient, and in control from start to finish. The Blue Jays have been resilient and relentless, finding ways to win close games and rising to every challenge in October. It’s experience against emotion. Power against contact. The sport’s most complete team against one that has played its best baseball when it matters most.
Game 1 is Friday night in Toronto. The Rogers Centre will be loud, the moment will feel heavy, and both teams have earned their place here.
🎙 Steve and Devin are live right now, previewing the 2025 World Series. They’ll look at how each team reached this point, what could decide the series, and why this matchup captures the state of modern baseball better than any in recent memory.
⚾️ Two teams built differently. One chance to define a season.
📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for live coverage, reactions, and full World Series breakdowns all week.

LIVE Special!: Dodgers Win the Pennant, Mariners–Blue Jays Head to Game 7, & Tony Vitello to Giants? | 111

What a weekend for baseball. We went live Sunday night for Episode 111 to unpack a remarkable few days, from Shohei Ohtani’s historic performance in Los Angeles to Toronto’s season-saving win and a major development in San Francisco.
On Friday, Ohtani delivered one of the most complete postseason performances in recent memory. He hit three home runs, struck out ten, and threw six shutout innings as the Dodgers swept the Brewers to clinch another National League pennant. Los Angeles continues to set the standard for sustained excellence, blending star power and player development in a way that few teams can match. It also raised one of the biggest questions we tackled on the show: are the Dodgers good for baseball, or are they proof of how wide the gap has grown between organizations that invest in winning and those that do not?
By Sunday, the spotlight shifted to Toronto, where the Blue Jays refused to let their season end. In front of a roaring Rogers Centre crowd, they defeated the Mariners 6–2 to force a Game 7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his outstanding postseason with his sixth home run, tying José Bautista and Joe Carter for the most in franchise playoff history. Rookie Trey Yesavage rose to the occasion with seven strikeouts in just under six innings, while Toronto’s defense turned three double plays, including two with the bases loaded. The Blue Jays played crisp, confident baseball, taking advantage of Seattle’s mistakes and controlling the game from start to finish.
Meanwhile, out west, reports surfaced that Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello is finalizing a deal to become the next manager of the San Francisco Giants. If confirmed, it would make him the first college coach to step directly into a major league managerial position. It is a forward-thinking move from Buster Posey’s front office, emphasizing leadership, communication, and culture over traditional experience.
From Ohtani’s brilliance and the Dodgers’ continued dominance to Toronto’s resilience and San Francisco’s bold step into the future, this weekend captured everything that makes October baseball special.
🎙️ Steve and Devin went live Sunday night to break down every storyline and discuss what it all means as the World Series approaches.📱 Follow @tablesetterspod on Instagram and X for highlights, analysis, and full postseason coverage.

Tarik Skubal: Trade, Extend, or Gamble? w/ Jordan Hall (Eat ’em Up Podcast) | Dodgers-Brewers & Mariners-Blue Jays | 110

October baseball is delivering everything fans could ask for. Blake Snell’s masterpiece — eight innings, one hit, ten strikeouts — set the tone as the Dodgers took control of the NLCS. In the American League, Jorge Polanco and Julio Rodríguez continue to fuel Seattle’s push toward the franchise’s first World Series appearance. The energy and emotion of October are in full swing.
From there, the focus shifts to Detroit, where the Tigers’ dream season ended in heartbreak. Fifteen innings in Seattle, eight total runs in five games, and another postseason exit that raised difficult questions about what comes next.
In Episode 110 of Tablesetters, Steve and Devin welcome back Jordan Hall, host of Eat ’em Up: A Detroit Tigers Podcast, for an in-depth look at the offseason’s defining storyline: Tarik Skubal’s future. After a Cy Young caliber season with 195⅓ innings pitched, a 2.21 ERA, 241 strikeouts, and a .677 win rate in his starts, Detroit faces a pivotal decision. Should they extend their ace, explore a trade, or wait and risk free agency in 2026 with Scott Boras leading negotiations? The answer could shape the franchise for years to come.
The conversation also examines A.J. Hinch’s leadership, Detroit’s late season collapse, and the continued growth of Riley Greene and Kevin McGonigle as key pieces in the club’s next chapter.
🎧 This episode blends strategy, storytelling, and perspective, capturing everything that makes October baseball unforgettable — from Snell’s dominance and Seattle’s rise to the hard choices facing Detroit’s front office.
📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for exclusive postseason content and behind the scenes coverage.

LIVE Special!: Blue Jays Bury Yankees in ALDS, Phillies Collapse in LA, Are the Dodgers a Dynasty?, & the Next Generation Shines in the Arizona Fall League | 109

Welcome to Episode 109 of Tablesetters — a live October edition packed with drama, heartbreak, and the pulse of postseason baseball. Devin and Steve were on-air during the crucial moments of Game 5 between the Tigers and Mariners, breaking down the action in real time while unpacking a wild week across the baseball world.
The headlines are brutal but fascinating:The Blue Jays ended the Yankees’ season with a decisive 3–1 ALDS victory, exposing every flaw in New York’s October formula and reigniting the debate about whether stability has become stagnation in the Bronx. Aaron Judge did everything possible — a batting title, 53 home runs, MVP-level brilliance — but Toronto’s contact-first offense proved too balanced, too relentless, and maybe even too modern for the Yankees’ aging approach.
Over in Los Angeles, the Phillies’ season ended in stunning fashion, on a throw that sailed high and sealed their fate. The Dodgers moved on — again — with calm precision, behind Tyler Glasnow’s dominance, Roki Sasaki’s breakout, and the quiet intensity of Shohei Ohtani’s first postseason run in Dodger Blue. The dynasty question looms: is this simply sustained excellence, or has L.A. become the model every franchise is now chasing?
Meanwhile, in Arizona, the next generation is already announcing itself. Prospects like Sebastian Walcott, Rhett Lowder, and others are redefining the future in the Arizona Fall League, each representing a story of either precocious dominance or long-awaited redemption. The desert has rarely felt this alive — fastballs touching 102, teenagers owning at-bats, and front offices taking notes on baseball’s evolution in real time.
From postseason heartbreak to developmental rebirth, Episode 109 covers it all — live reactions, tactical breakdowns, and raw emotion from a night that had everything October baseball can offer.
🎙️ Hosted by Devin and Steve📸 Instagram + 🐦 X: @TablesettersPod💬 Join the conversation and sound off in the comments — who impressed you most this postseason, and what’s next for the teams that fell short?

Division Series Preview LIVE Special: Yankees–Blue Jays, Brewers–Cubs, Mariners–Tigers, & Phillies–Dodgers | 108

Welcome to Episode 108 of Tablesetters, a live special edition devoted to the theater of October baseball. The Wild Card round delivered everything that makes this game irresistible — drama, heartbreak, and the sudden swing of fortune that only a short series can bring. The Yankees shut out the Red Sox to punch their ticket. The Dodgers swept past the Reds to set up a heavyweight showdown. The Cubs outlasted the Padres in a tense decider at Wrigley, while the Tigers endured a familiar divisional foe in Cleveland to keep their dream alive.
With the chaos of the Wild Card behind us, the stage is now set for the Division Series — where the stakes climb higher and every mistake, every moment of brilliance, lingers longer. The Yankees and Blue Jays meet in their first-ever postseason clash, an AL East rivalry sharpened by Toronto’s defensive mastery and New York’s reliance on overwhelming power. In Seattle, the Mariners’ long-awaited division crown is tested by a Tigers club leaning on Tarik Skubal’s ace-level dominance. The Phillies and Dodgers bring star power on a scale rarely seen in a Division Series — Harper, Ohtani, Schwarber, Freeman, Yamamoto, and more — a matchup destined to echo beyond October. And then there’s Brewers–Cubs, a postseason rivalry finally realized, where speed, bullpen arms, and one timely swing could tilt the balance of history.
This weekend promises tension, legacy, and the defining moments of the postseason’s middle act. We’ll walk through the fallout of the Wild Card round, preview every Division Series matchup, spotlight the players poised to shape the story, and consider what each battle means on the long road to the pennant. Join us live on Twitter and YouTube, and catch the full episode on all audio platforms after the fact. And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram and X @TablesettersPod for exclusive postseason coverage.

Wild Card Series Preview: Yankees–Red Sox, Padres–Cubs, Guardians–Tigers, & Reds–Dodgers | 107

Welcome to Episode 107 of Tablesetters! The MLB postseason has finally arrived, and we are diving deep into all four Wild Card matchups, exploring the stakes, storylines, and keys that could determine who advances.
We begin in the Bronx with Yankees against Red Sox, a rivalry that has defined October baseball for decades. These two have met six times in the postseason since 1999, and Boston has claimed victory in the last three. This time New York counters with Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and the most powerful lineup in the game. The question is whether Boston’s bullpen and the brilliance of Garrett Crochet can once again swing the balance in their favor.
Next comes Padres against Cubs, their first postseason encounter since 1984. San Diego brings elite strikeout arms and perhaps the strongest bullpen in baseball, while Chicago leans on depth, defense, and the unshakable energy of Wrigley Field. This series could turn entirely on who controls the late innings.
In the Central, it is Guardians against Tigers, a matchup that feels transformed from their earlier meetings. Cleveland enters October riding one of the hottest Septembers in recent memory, while Detroit boasts the ace of the year in Tarik Skubal. It is a contest between momentum and sustained excellence.
Out West we find the underdog story: Reds against Dodgers. The defending champions return armed with Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman, but Cincinnati has a blueprint of its own with Hunter Greene’s overpowering fastball and Terry Francona’s postseason expertise. The real question is whether the Reds can strike early and rewrite the script.
Throughout the episode we cover what truly decides these short series: rotation matchups, bullpen sequencing, defensive sharpness, and the single swing that can turn a season. October baseball is defined by chaos, and the Wild Card round is the first spark.
Follow us on Instagram and X @tablesetterspod, subscribe to the show, and share with your baseball circle. The road to the World Series begins now.
 

Challenges for Balls & Strikes in ‘26, Rays Sale Approved, Mets & Tigers Collapse, Judge vs Raleigh, Trout’s 400th, Kershaw’s Farewell, & NFL-to-MLB Crossovers | 106

Welcome to Episode 106 of Tablesetters. Steve and Devin break down a week where baseball’s future, present, and past all collided. MLB has approved a challenge system for balls and strikes beginning in 2026, officially bringing robo-umps into the big leagues in a way that could change strategy and pacing forever. At the ownership level, the Rays sale was approved, ending the Sternberg era but leaving all the familiar ballpark questions behind.
On the field, collapses define September. The Mets’ fade feels like history repeating itself, while the Tigers are flirting with a collapse of historic proportions. Meanwhile, the AL MVP race has turned into a showdown: Judge’s all-around dominance vs. Raleigh’s power surge and pursuit of 60 homers.
It was also a week of milestones and goodbyes as Mike Trout hit his 400th career homer, Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement after 18 seasons, and the first wave of teams punched postseason tickets.
And for fun, we ask: if NFL stars had MLB equivalents, who matches the power, disruption, and impact we see every Sunday?
Episode 106 is about the changing shape of the game, the weight of September, and the legends who still define baseball’s story.

Guest: Brady Farkas (Refuse to Lose Podcast, Roundtable Sports) | Cal Raleigh’s Historic Tear, Josh Naylor’s Free Agency, & Mariners’ Postseason Push | 105

The Mariners haven’t led the AL West this late in a season since 2001 and Cal Raleigh is rewriting baseball history in the process.
On Episode 105 of Tablesetters, we welcome back Brady Farkas, host of the Refuse to Lose Mariners podcast and writer for Roundtable Sports. Brady last joined us on Episode 39 before the season began, and now he returns as Seattle’s wild ride hits its peak.
From Raleigh smashing Mantle’s record and tying Griffey Jr. to Josh Naylor’s free agency price tag, Bryan Woo’s playoff case, and Dan Wilson's composure, Brady takes us inside the clubhouse pulse of a team chasing its first division crown in 24 years.
We also hit on: 🔥 The bullpen trust tree: Bazardo’s glue, Jackson’s rise, and October arms to bank on 🔥 Colt Emerson’s rocket rise through the minors and how soon he factors into the core 🔥 Seattle’s road struggles vs. home dominance: what must travel to seal the West 🔥 Playoff path clarity: chasing a first-round bye or bracing for a Wild Card series 🔥 League-wide storylines and Brady’s World Series pick
If you’re a Mariners fan (or just love meaningful baseball conversation), this is the episode you don’t want to miss.
Follow us on Instagram and X @Tablesetterspod for bonus content, updates, and more. Subscribe and join us each week; Tablesetters is where stories shape the season.

“What a Gift” Phils Clinch the NL East, Volpe vs. Caballero, Yesavage’s Dream Debut, Eldridge’s Call-Up, Skubal’s Scare, D-backs Align, Brewers Toast Uecker, Soto’s 40–30–100 | 104

Welcome to Episode 104 of Tablesetters. Devin and Steve are back to capture the drama, joy, and heartbreak of a September week that revealed everything we love and fear about baseball.
In Los Angeles, the Phillies turned fatigue into fuel, clinching their second straight NL East crown in a game that began after a sleepless night of travel and ended in extra innings with Bryce Harper’s fist-pumping eighth-inning home run and J.T. Realmuto’s sacrifice fly. When the champagne popped, it wasn’t just about celebration — it was about perspective. Garrett Stubbs made sure Harper could join the party with apple juice, and Harrison Bader’s mantra rang through the room: “What a gift.” For a club that has known nothing but heartbreak since 2022, that phrase has become the soul of the team: gratitude, joy, and belief that this year can be different.
Contrast that spirit with the Bronx, where Anthony Volpe has been grinding through a partially torn labrum since May, hitting just .197 with his defense slipping. Brian Cashman insists this is merely a “tough stretch,” but José Caballero’s hot bat and steady glove have complicated the conversation. Caballero is hitting .314 since mid-August, and his emergence is forcing Aaron Boone to consider whether loyalty to Volpe is holding the team back.
North of the border, the Blue Jays found a new reason to believe. Trey Yesavage, their top prospect, debuted with nine strikeouts in five innings, a franchise record, his splitter producing an absurd 11 whiffs on 14 swings. His 19 total whiffs put him in Kevin Gausman territory, and for a team already leading the AL East, his arrival feels less like the future and more like a weapon for right now. Toronto hasn’t won a World Series since 1993, but Yesavage’s debut makes that drought feel vulnerable.
The Giants are also leaning into youth, promoting Bryce Eldridge, a 20-year-old, 6-foot-7 slugger ranked the No. 15 prospect in baseball. With 25 homers across Double-A and Triple-A and elite exit velocity numbers, Eldridge is being thrown straight into the fire of a Wild Card chase, where San Francisco sits just 1 ½ games back. With their first basemen producing a meager .614 OPS, Eldridge isn’t just a curiosity — he’s an immediate solution.
In Detroit, fear gave way to relief when Tarik Skubal, the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young, exited his last start with side tightness. Initial panic subsided after imaging revealed no structural damage, and he’s slated to pitch Thursday against Cleveland. His numbers speak to his dominance: 13–5, 2.26 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 224 strikeouts in 185 innings. In a franchise that hasn’t seen an ace like this since Hal Newhouser, Skubal is the difference between a quick October exit and a run that could echo through history.
Out in Arizona, the Diamondbacks are embracing the stars — literally. Blaze Alexander’s joke about undergoing a “horoscope” on his bruised elbow became a clubhouse rallying cry, and suddenly the D-backs are aligning at the right moment. Zac Gallen notched his 1,000th career strikeout, joining Randy Johnson and Brandon Webb, while a six-run sixth inning powered them to an 8–1 win over San Francisco. With Jordan Lawlar’s RBI double, Geraldo Perdomo’s five times on base, and James McCann’s homer, Arizona is playing like a team that refuses to fade.
In Milwaukee, the Brewers clinched their own ticket to October in a celebration filled with laughter and tenderness. After the fireworks and walk-off, manager Pat Murphy read aloud a letter he pretended came from the late Bob Uecker. Players laughed at the imagined line about being God’s “third catcher,” but the tribute brought misty eyes too. Christian Yelich captured the moment perfectly: enjoy it, but don’t forget — the job isn’t done.
And then there’s Juan Soto, whose brilliance continues to collide with the Mets’ collapse. His 40th home run put him in Barry Bonds and Jeff Bagwell’s company with a 40–30–100 season, the first of its kind in Mets history. He is the ninth player to hit 40 for different teams in consecutive years, joining legends like Griffey, A-Rod, and Ohtani. Yet while Soto shines, the Mets stumble, 21–30 in the second half, their Wild Card lead slipping away. His season is a masterpiece, but without October, it may be remembered as a monument to wasted potential.
From Philadelphia’s “what a gift” mantra to Soto’s historic swing in Queens, from rookies Yesavage and Eldridge redefining futures to Skubal and Gallen reminding us of aces past and present, Episode 104 is the story of September baseball. It’s belief, heartbreak, and joy — colliding night after night as October looms.
Follow us on Instagram and X @TablesettersPod, and join us as we set the table for another unforgettable week in the game we love.

The 1-2-3 "MLB Jam" Pitching Punch, Anthony Rizzo Retires, Remembering Davey Johnson, Schwarber’s 50 Home Runs vs Soto’s 30–30 Season, & Tigers Misconduct Fallout | 103

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 Tablesetters. Follow us on Instagram and X @TablesettersPod, and join us as we set the table for another unforgettable week in the game we love.