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Baseball Purity with J.R. Moehringer | Sportuality Episode 17
•47:53

Baseball Purity with J.R. Moehringer | Sportuality Episode 17

0:00 / 47:53

Liner notes

In this episode of Sportuality, Gotham Chopra and Varun Soni are joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and writer J.R. Moehringer! Together they get to the bottom of J.R.’s hatred for robot umpires in the MLB. How is it different than the pitch clock? Has baseball gone too far? Have these changes appealed to a younger audience? Then, J.R. makes the case for Hall of Fame redemption for players like Pete Rose and Alex Rodriguez. Can you be honored posthumously? How much is too much when it comes to sports fandom? Lastly, how has being a baseball fan changed with the new technology?

Chapters

00:00 Orthodox vs. Heterodox in religion and sports 

5:45 Welcome, J.R. Moehringer!

10:05 Why We Hate Robot Umps

17:25 The Rise of Sports Betting

22:50 Baseball’s spike in popularity

27:25 Redemption within baseball

31:41 Can Baseball change the soul?

35:15 Where are you now as a baseball fan?

40:00 Reflecting on the conversation with J.R.

Key Takeaways

  • J.R. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, discusses his opposition to robot umpires in MLB and how this differs from other rule changes like the pitch clock.
  • The episode explores whether MLB's recent changes, including robot umpires and the pitch clock, have successfully appealed to younger audiences.
  • J.R. makes arguments for Hall of Fame redemption for players like Pete Rose and Alex Rodriguez, raising questions about posthumous honors in baseball.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the hosts of this Sportuality episode?

Gotham Chopra and Varun Soni host the episode.

What is J.R. Moehringer's professional background?

He is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and writer.

What is the main topic of disagreement regarding baseball changes?

J.R. expresses hatred for robot umpires in MLB, distinguishing this from other changes like the pitch clock.

Which players does J.R. discuss for Hall of Fame redemption?

Pete Rose and Alex Rodriguez are mentioned as examples for potential Hall of Fame redemption.