Podcast Episode 7 -- Pitcher/Comedian Tim Dillard

When you think of somebody who has spent their entire career playing for one organization, you usually think of Tony Gwynn with the Padres, Chipper Jones with the Braves, or Cal Ripken, Jr. with the Orioles. The name Tim Dillard probably does not come to mind. 

Yet in many ways, it's even more remarkable that Dillard has only played for the Milwaukee Brewers organization: 16 years total, parts of four years in the majors (73 appearances), and 12 years in the triple-A Pacific Coast League, eight when the affiliate was in Nashville and four when the affiliate was in Colorado Springs. [Dillard also played very briefly for an independent team.]

In Episode 7 of the "Life Around the Seams" podcast, we discuss how and why Dillard has stayed with one organization, how at age 34 his value now is just as much as a quasi-coach and therapy dog as it is a relief pitcher, based primarily on the 500-plus videos he's made and posted on social media.

We also discuss growing up around the ballpark when his father was a minor league manager, his initial "callup" to the majors, his conversion to sidearm pitcher, his next "callup" to the majors, and his most recent "social media callup" to Milwaukee.

Listening options: 

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Podcast Episode 6 -- Switch Pitcher Pat Vanditte

Pat Venditte is the most unique pitcher in professional baseball. He's ambidexterous. He's not a switcher hitter. He's a switch pitcher. Yes, he throws left-handed *and* right-handed, usually in the same game.

In Episode 6 of the "Life Around the Seams" podcast, we learn the story of how Pat's father had this idea of making him a switch-pitcher, when Pat realized throwing with both arms was not normal, the confusion it caused to some people, the challenge of learning to pitch with both arms, and the advantages it creates.

We also discuss how few options he had leaving high school, getting a chance to pitch at Creighton University with both arms, his hilarious professional debut that inspired a rule to be named after him, when he nearly quit baseball in the minor league, why he needed to reinvent himself after injuries, and what it was like making a Major League debut that was unlike anything we've seen in decades.

Listening options:

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Podcast Episode 5 -- Broadcaster/Author Tim Hagerty

Tim Hagerty is the play-by-play announcer for the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padress AAA affiliate), the author of a book titled, "Root for the Home Team," and a correspondent for The Sporting News specializing in unusual tales from minor league baseball's colorful past.

In Episode 5 of the "Life Around the Seams" podcast, it's not an interview. It's just two baseball nerds talking baseball history -- unusual stories that you can't believe are true, and stories that you thought you knew but didn't completely know.

We learn about a very dangerous foul ball, the earliest attempts to speed up baseball, how to play a game when the infield is saturated, why the Detroit Tigers didn't want to tag out a baserunner one day, what happens when a ball is split in half, and when did Pete Rose actually break the all-time hits record.

Listening options:

* PodBean: click here

* iTunes: click here

* Spotify: click here

* Google Play: click here

* YouTube: click here

To purchase a copy of Tim's book, click here.