Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast

Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast
  • 4.8 (26)
  • BASEBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Tablesetters, the podcast where Devin and Steve bring you everything you need to know about Major League Baseball (MLB) and then some! Join these two baseball enthusiasts as they break down the latest games, analyze player performances, and serve up spicy commentary on all the MLB drama. With their witty banter and deep dive into the sport, Devin and Steve are here to satisfy your baseball cravings, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just tuning in. So grab your peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and join the conversation at Tablesetters

  1. 20H AGO

    Guest: Shawn Spradling (World Baseball Classic Coverage) | 2026 WBC Preview, Global Stakes, & Team USA’s “Stacked” Era | 14

    Welcome to Episode 141 of Tablesetters! With the 2026 World Baseball Classic just 17 days away, we’re joined by one of the most trusted and consistent voices covering the tournament — Shawn Spradling. Shawn is an international baseball writer and content creator who has built a passionate following through his detailed roster projections, commitment tracking, and in-depth breakdowns of global storylines. His work approaches the game through an international lens, spotlighting the growth, culture, and competitive identity of baseball far beyond the MLB bubble. In this full WBC preview, we start at the beginning — what first drew Shawn into the Classic and whether he ever imagined becoming the go-to English-language voice for tournament coverage. From there, we turn to the present moment: the most pivotal storylines with roster decisions looming, player availability shifting, and injury updates that could reshape the field before first pitch. We dive into the insurance denials that have sidelined several high-profile players and examine whether those issues are simply growing pains — or something that could hold the tournament back from taking its next step globally. Then we zoom out. How has the WBC reshaped player development? What role does it play in strengthening international talent pipelines? And how much has it accelerated the global growth of the sport? With baseball returning to the Olympics in 2028 — and two additional Americas teams earning spots based on their WBC finish — we explore how Olympic qualification raises the competitive stakes and how that tournament compares to the Classic itself. Of course, we get into the layers that make this event unique: Which underrated country, player, or tradition deserves more attention in 2026? Who has the best uniforms? And why does this year’s Team USA feel truly “stacked,” blending elite young stars with established veterans? We discuss whether this level of participation becomes the new standard for the U.S., and how fans should adjust expectations for pitcher usage given the communication between MLB clubs and manager Mark DeRosa. We also revisit what the WBC means in Japan — and whether any nation matches that intensity — before examining why Japan has dominated three of the last five Classics and who can realistically challenge them this time around. From building a hypothetical dream rotation behind Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal to unpacking the strategy behind the Designated Pitcher Pool, we cover both the competitive chess match and the cinematic moments that define this tournament. We talk about the most electric moments in WBC history, surprising fan reactions to roster debates, the impact of the pitch clock, and which nation could be this year’s surprise deep-run contender. It’s a comprehensive preview of the 2026 World Baseball Classic — where it stands, what’s at stake, and why this edition may be the most globally significant yet. And we close with where you can follow Shawn’s coverage throughout the tournament and what to expect as the Classic gets underway. 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.

    1h 15m
  2. Guest: Chris Welsh (FantasyPros, Prospect One, In This League) | Finding Edges in Fantasy Baseball, Draft Season Truths, ADP Myths, Regression Calls & Pitcher Risk | 140

    5D AGO

    Guest: Chris Welsh (FantasyPros, Prospect One, In This League) | Finding Edges in Fantasy Baseball, Draft Season Truths, ADP Myths, Regression Calls & Pitcher Risk | 140

    Welcome to Episode 140 of Tablesetters. Devin is joined by Chris Welsh, Host and Analyst for FantasyPros and BettingPros, co-owner of In This League, and the creator of The Prospect One Podcast. With fantasy baseball draft season fully underway, this conversation is about stripping things back to what actually matters. Chris joins the show to discuss how he’s approaching drafts in 2026, how preparation has changed in an era of constant information, and where fantasy players can still gain real advantages despite ADP, rankings, and projections being more accessible than ever. The episode opens with Chris reflecting on a recent trip to New Orleans before pivoting into where he’s at right now in draft season—whether he’s already drafting in serious leagues or still focused on mocks, and what those high-stakes leagues actually look like in terms of format, depth, and risk tolerance. From there, the discussion moves into player evaluation and draft dynamics. We start with regression candidates, using Cal Raleigh as a focal point at catcher—how much regression to expect, how positional value factors into his lofty NFBC ADP, and whether taking a catcher that early is a bet worth making. Chris also shares additional players he believes may be overdrafted relative to expectation. We then dig into Ben Rice, his eye-popping underlying metrics, and how roster construction—specifically the Yankees’ decision to re-sign Paul Goldschmidt—could impact Rice’s fantasy value and playing time outlook in 2026. The conversation expands to players who have changed teams and whether those moves meaningfully raise their fantasy ceilings. From there, Devin and Chris tackle the downside of ADP itself—how it can make drafts feel rigid and formulaic—and identify the players Chris is willing to reach for anyway, trusting conviction over consensus. On the flip side, Chris revisits the idea of “disappointment” in fantasy terms—players whose production may not justify where they’re being drafted. We also touch on Nick Kurtz’s aggressive ADP and whether the price tag makes sense. Pitching strategy becomes the next focus, including how the Dodgers handle their arms, whether that caps fantasy value, and why Chris is hesitant to invest early picks in elite pitchers like Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Garrett Crochet despite their upside. Later, Chris explains why the term “sleeper” has become harder to define in modern fantasy baseball, offers his favorite sleeper for the season, and highlights his favorite “if he stays healthy” player to target. We close with a deeper look at Geraldo Perdomo’s puzzling ADP despite elite underlying production, a broader discussion of shortstop as one of the deepest positions in fantasy, keeper-league strategy surrounding Konnor Griffin, and a rapid-fire round of Would You Rather draft decisions featuring players with nearly identical NFBC ADPs. Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: @Tablesetterspod 🐦 X: @Tablesetterspod If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—and as always, drop your fantasy baseball questions in the comments. We’ll keep the conversation going.

    1h 14m
  3. Guest: Jim Martin (Stony Brook Baseball) | New Era, New Challenges & Navigating College Baseball in 2026 | 139

    FEB 6

    Guest: Jim Martin (Stony Brook Baseball) | New Era, New Challenges & Navigating College Baseball in 2026 | 139

    Welcome to Episode 139 of Tablesetters. Steve and Devin are joined by Jim Martin, the first-year head coach of Stony Brook Baseball and just the second Division I head coach in program history. Jim steps into the role following the retirement of Matt Senk, who led the program for 35 seasons and helped establish Stony Brook as a national name, highlighted by the historic 2012 College World Series run. Unlike many coaching transitions, this one comes from within. Jim spent nearly a decade on staff, helping guide conference championships, NCAA appearances, and the program’s move into the Coastal Athletic Association. As the Seawolves head into the 2026 season, they do so amid major changes across college baseball, from transfer portal movement and roster limits to NIL realities and a new CAA divisional format. The conversation begins with Jim reflecting on the moment the promotion became official and what it meant to step into a role shaped by decades of continuity. From there, we explore how his perspective has shifted now that every aspect of the program—culture, development, roster management, and long-term direction—ultimately falls under his responsibility. We dig into the 2026 schedule and what it demands, including an extended early road stretch that reflects the realities of Northeast baseball, the role of midweek games against regional opponents, and how coaches evaluate progress when early-season results can be misleading. Jim also breaks down the new CAA divisional structure, how repeated matchups and RPI factor into postseason access, and what consistency really looks like across conference play. We discuss roster construction in 2026, managing expectations behind the scenes, and the core principles of player development that have stayed constant throughout his career. Before wrapping up, we zoom out to talk about leadership, culture, and how success is measured in a first season beyond the standings. We close with quick hitters on Joe Nathan Field, lessons learned in Year One, and the message Jim wants fans and supporters to hear as this new chapter begins. Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: @Tablesetterspod 🐦 X: @Tablesetterspod If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—and as always, drop your college baseball questions in the comments. We’ll keep the conversation going.

    59 min
  4. Framber Valdez to Detroit, Eugenio Suárez Returns to Cincinnati, & M's Reshape Lineup with Donovan | 138

    FEB 5

    Framber Valdez to Detroit, Eugenio Suárez Returns to Cincinnati, & M's Reshape Lineup with Donovan | 138

    Welcome to Episode 138 of Tablesetters. Steve and Devin break down a trio of offseason moves that quietly say a lot about where teams believe they are—and where they’re trying to go. We open with one of the most consequential pitching signings of the winter: the Tigers landing Framber Valdez on a three-year, $115 million deal. We dig into why this isn’t just about dollars, but about organizational intent—Detroit stepping decisively into the modern ace market, buying durability, variance reduction, and rotation authority rather than chasing upside. We talk contract structure, park fit at Comerica, and what this move signals about the Tigers’ competitive timeline moving forward. From there, we shift to Cincinnati and the Reds bringing Eugenio Suárez back on a one-year, $15 million deal. This isn’t a nostalgia play—it’s a targeted bet on power stabilization. We examine why the market stayed cold despite Suárez’s 49-homer season, how his extreme profile fits Great American Ball Park, and why this move makes sense for a Reds team that reached the postseason on pitching but desperately needed a bat that could change game states with one swing. We close with a deep dive into the Mariners acquiring Brendan Donovan in a three-team trade with the Cardinals and Rays. This is a roster-shaping move for Seattle: contact over chaos, flexibility over blockage, and present value without sacrificing the future. We break down Donovan’s offensive consistency, why his skill set matters so much for a high-variance lineup, and how Seattle managed to improve now without touching their true top-tier prospects. We also zoom out on what this trade means for St. Louis’ rebuild and Tampa Bay’s constant margin optimization. Three moves, three very different strategies—but all rooted in timing, fit, and clarity of direction. Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: @Tablesetterspod 🐦 X: @Tablesetterspod If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share—and drop your MLB offseason takes in the comments. We’ll keep the conversation going.

    54 min
  5. Special!: THE MLB ROYAL RUMBLE | Stat-Based Eliminations, Legends vs Active Players, & Survival by Stats | 137

    JAN 31

    Special!: THE MLB ROYAL RUMBLE | Stat-Based Eliminations, Legends vs Active Players, & Survival by Stats | 137

    Episode 137 of Tablesetters introduces a brand-new live concept: the MLB Royal Rumble — a stat-based elimination format designed to test how different types of baseball careers hold up when the rules never change and the criteria never stop shifting. This isn’t an argument about eras or a shortcut to crowning a “greatest” player. The structure is the point. The ring fills to five players with no eliminations. Once it’s full, every new entrant brings a predetermined stat that immediately forces a ranking. The lowest-ranked player in that category is eliminated, the new entrant takes their place, and the cycle continues. The player pool is generated completely at random, pulling from a wide cross-section of baseball history. Legends, active stars, pitchers, hitters, role players, and wild cards can all land in the same field. Careers from entirely different eras and paths are placed side by side, and the format doesn’t care how they got there. All eliminations are based on rankings, not vibes or debates but the format isn’t allergic to reality either. Sometimes raw totals don’t lie, and when they matter, they’re part of the equation. When pitchers and hitters are compared, equivalent statistics are used and ranked accordingly. Rate stats, value metrics, counting numbers, and durability all rotate through the board, creating matchups that are fair on paper — even when they feel uncomfortable in practice. To add even more unpredictability, select random numbers trigger double-entrant rounds and double eliminations, injecting chaos into the format and forcing the field to adapt on the fly. The stat pool spans everything from modern context-adjusted metrics to old-school production, blending performance, longevity, peak value, and efficiency and no player survives by being good at just one thing. What the MLB Royal Rumble ultimately reveals isn’t a definitive answer about greatness. It reveals something more interesting: which careers are flexible enough to survive constant comparison, and which profiles get exposed when the lens never stops moving. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for live episodes, format breakdowns, and future MLB Royal Rumble editions.

    1h 22m
  6. Guest: Ben Upton (11Point7) | College Baseball’s 2026 Landscape, Power Shifts & Omaha Contenders | 136

    JAN 28

    Guest: Ben Upton (11Point7) | College Baseball’s 2026 Landscape, Power Shifts & Omaha Contenders | 136

    Welcome to Episode 136 of Tablesetters! Steve and Devin are back as we continue our deep dive into all things baseball, and today we’re thrilled to welcome back Ben Upton, co-founder and host of 11Point7, one of the most trusted voices covering the college baseball landscape. Ben last joined us on Episode 59 in February 2025, when college baseball felt like it was standing on the edge of something bigger. One year later, heading into the 2026 season, that momentum hasn’t slowed. If anything, it’s intensified, with portal movement reshaping rosters, NIL becoming more structured, national exposure increasing, and a preseason Top 25 that feels deeper and more volatile than ever. We kick things off by revisiting that conversation from last year and asking Ben what the biggest tangible change has been now that another full season is in the books. Is it the way programs like LSU, Tennessee, and Georgia reload annually, the speed and scale of roster turnover through the portal, or the way fans now follow college baseball on a truly national level? From there, we dive into the 2026 preseason picture. UCLA opens the year at No. 1 behind returning Player of the Year Roch Cholowsky, while LSU chases history, Mississippi State reboots under Brian O’Connor, Georgia Tech brings back its ACC core, and Coastal Carolina enters the year with one of the best pitching staffs in the country. Ben breaks down whether this season represents real parity or simply an unusually strong upper tier and which team is best positioned to take control if UCLA stumbles. Hot topics include the loaded Player of the Year race featuring Cholowsky, Drew Burress, Derek Curiel, Ace Reese, and Justin Lebron, how Ben evaluates award races beyond raw production, and whether 2026 is shaping up to be a pitcher-driven season with arms like Cameron Flukey, Jackson Flora, Casan Evans, Dax Whitney, and Tommy LaPour headlining the conversation. The discussion expands to teams just outside the rankings, Texas A&M’s prove-it season, and the growing trend of college coaches moving into MLB roles. Ben shares his thoughts on Tony Vitello’s jump to the Giants, other recent staff departures to the pro ranks, and whether this movement can officially be called a trend. We also hit mid-majors capable of making real noise, conference realignment growing pains, potential structural changes to the MLB Draft and minor leagues, and what that could mean for college baseball’s future. Before we wrap, we close with quick hitters, including one team Ben is higher on than the rankings, one he’s more skeptical of, a player casual fans will be talking about by April, the pitcher he trusts most in a winner-take-all game, and his early “Eight for Omaha” pick. Follow us for more: 📸 Instagram: @Tablesetterspod 🐦 X: @Tablesetterspod If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share. Let’s keep the conversation going — drop your college baseball questions in the comments!

    1h 1m
  7. Fantasy Baseball H2H Categories Mock Draft on CBS Sports | Draft Flow, Risk Tolerance & Strategy | 135

    JAN 22

    Fantasy Baseball H2H Categories Mock Draft on CBS Sports | Draft Flow, Risk Tolerance & Strategy | 135

    Episode 135 of Tablesetters focuses on a fantasy baseball mock draft on CBS Sports, recorded Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET in a 12-team head-to-head categories format. This was a full-length, 23-round mock that ran close to 90 minutes and featured a room of experienced fantasy managers from across the fantasy baseball landscape. The draft included Scott White of CBS Sports alongside Sean Martin and Mike Nelson from Fantasy Baseball Now, George Kurtz of SportsGrid, Nick Fox of NBC Sports, B_Don of Razzball, Jeremy Heist of Fantistics Fantasy, Chris Mitchell of FantasyData, Anthony Kates of SportsEthos, and TGFBI participant Marty Tallman. The room approached the draft deliberately, reacting to positional runs, managing time, and adjusting strategy as the board developed. Rather than recapping the draft pick by pick, Steve and Devin center the discussion on decision-making and draft structure. They examine how early pitching selections involving arms such as Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Garrett Crochet influenced roster construction, and how elite hitters like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani shaped category planning and lineup balance. The episode breaks down how head-to-head categories formats create specific constraints, particularly with pitching minimums and weekly matchups. The conversation focuses on how managers weighed stability versus upside, managed category needs as the draft progressed, and used roster flexibility to respond to changes in the room. This episode is intended as a look at process rather than results, highlighting how experienced fantasy players interpret draft flow, adjust priorities, and make decisions in real time. For listeners preparing for competitive fantasy baseball drafts or looking to refine how they approach roster construction, this episode provides practical context without relying on full draft recaps. ⚾️ A blueprint for how drafts actually unfold. 📱 Follow Tablesetters for ongoing fantasy baseball discussion, draft strategy, and in-season analysis.

    1 hr
  8. LIVE Special!: Mets Trade for Freddy Peralta After Adding Bichette & Luis Robert Jr., Yankees Re-Sign Bellinger, Beltrán & Jones to Hall | 134

    JAN 22

    LIVE Special!: Mets Trade for Freddy Peralta After Adding Bichette & Luis Robert Jr., Yankees Re-Sign Bellinger, Beltrán & Jones to Hall | 134

    Episode 134 of Tablesetters is a live reaction episode examining how teams across Major League Baseball are balancing urgency, flexibility, and long-term thinking. We open in Queens, where the New York Mets respond to missing out on Kyle Tucker by leaning into short-term upside. That approach begins with the signing of Bo Bichette to a three year, $126 million contract and continues with the trade for Luis Robert Jr., adding contact ability, athleticism, and volatility to the lineup. The week culminates with the Mets acquiring Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers from the Milwaukee Brewers, giving New York a legitimate top of the rotation starter and much needed innings stability. We break down why Peralta’s durability, strikeout profile, and contract value made him the right target despite the significant prospect cost and competitive balance tax impact. From there, we shift to the Bronx, where the New York Yankees re sign Cody Bellinger to a five year, $162.5 million deal. We discuss the structure of the contract, the opt outs, and why Bellinger’s 2025 performance made him a stabilizing fit for a roster already operating deep into the luxury tax. We close with legacy, as Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones are elected to the Hall of Fame. The discussion centers on how very different career paths, one defined by longevity and completeness and the other by historic defensive dominance, ultimately arrive at the same destination. Steve and Devin connect market behavior, roster construction, and long-term planning across a league that continues to operate on multiple timelines at once. ⚾️ One episode, three timelines. The present, the future, and the history that frames them. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for offseason reactions and league wide analysis.

    1h 2m
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4.8
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Welcome to Tablesetters, the podcast where Devin and Steve bring you everything you need to know about Major League Baseball (MLB) and then some! Join these two baseball enthusiasts as they break down the latest games, analyze player performances, and serve up spicy commentary on all the MLB drama. With their witty banter and deep dive into the sport, Devin and Steve are here to satisfy your baseball cravings, whether you’re a die-hard fan or just tuning in. So grab your peanuts and Cracker Jacks, and join the conversation at Tablesetters

Information

  • Creator
    Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    142
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast

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