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Join published journalist and sports reporter Jack Vita each week for an in-depth breakdown of the latest news from the world of sports, featuring thoughtful analysis and exclusive interviews with athletes, coaches, executives and media members. Jack interviews athletes that provide a peak behind the curtain and a look at the daily life of a professional athlete. They also discuss life off-the-field and other various topics, including faith. Prominent guests include Brian Urlacher, Bob Nightengale, Jim Callis and Dan O’Dowd. This is the podcast feed for all sports content on the Jack Vita Show. For Jack’s entertainment and reality TV coverage, subscribe to Jack Vita Show: Entertainment, available wherever podcasts are found.

  1. 3d ago

    Jim Callis Reveals Why the Chicago White Sox Might Pass on UCLA Star Roch Cholowsky in 2026 MLB Draft

    MLB Pipeline Draft and prospect analyst Jim Callis returns to the Jack Vita Show to preview the 2026 MLB Draft and the 2026 College World Series! Between 1989 and 2019, Jim attended all but one College World Series in Omaha. Due to other work obligations, he hasn't been back to Omaha since 2019. He will finally make his long-awaited return next week! A proud alumnus of the University of Georgia, Jim has enjoyed watching his Bulldogs play. The Bulldogs are hot off a thrilling Super-Regional victory over Mississippi State, but will have their work cut out against a deep Texas Longhorns team. But before setting the stage for the College World Series, Jack and Jim chat about the MLB Draft. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky entered the season as the consensus number one overall pick and has comfortably at the top of mock drafts, with the Chicago White Sox picking first for the first time since 1977. However, in recent weeks, Fort Worth Christian High School shortstop Grady Emerson and Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey have been gaining ground. Jim explains why he might take Emerson over Cholowsky, while many scouts believe Emerson has a higher ceiling than the 2025 Baseball America College Player of the Year does. Could the White Sox stun everybody and draft a catcher instead? There have been recent rumors that the White Sox could pass on Cholowsky due to his financial demands. Jim debunks this, explaining that the White Sox will use the number one pick on whichever player they feel is the best in the Draft and the best fit for their organization. Later, Jim and Jack chat about MLB Draft prospects to watch for in the College World Series, beginning Friday. Jack shares why North Carolina centerfielder Owen Hull caught his eye, and why he makes an interesting Draft prospect. Then, Jim and Jack preview the College World Series action, sharing their picks! It's a loaded episode you will NOT want to miss!

    38 min

  2. 12/22/2025

    Why the Baltimore Orioles Shelled Out $155 Million for Pete Alonso, Gave Up on Grayson Rodriguez

    Baltimore Orioles beat reporter Matt Weyrich from The Baltimore Sun visits the Jack Vita Show to chat about the O's highly active offseason. The Orioles are making quick work of the offseason. The club signed former New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, the richest free agent deal in franchise history. The O's patched up their bullpen, inking closer Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal. Baltimore has also been very active in the trade market. Last month, the club dealt promising young pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for outfielder Taylor Ward, in a rare, one-for-one trade. Then, the club turned around and acquired pitching, trading prospects Slater de Brun, Caden Bodine, Michael Forret, Austin Overn, and a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Shane Baz. Matt is here to break it all down with Jack, discussing how the Alonso deal came to fruition, and how the O's lineup stacks up with him and Taylor Ward in it. Full transparency, this episode was taped before the Orioles acquired Baz, so Jack and Matt discuss how they expect the O's to address their starting pitching needs this winter. Can Orioles fans expect their team to add another high-profile starting pitcher before Spring Training? Later, Matt celebrates his James Madison Dukes' playoff berth. Matt is a 2019 graduate of JMU and never thought he'd see the day that his school would be participating in the College Football Playoff. Matt and Jack talk about the College Football Playoff system, and discuss how things shook out this year. All this, and so much more, only on the Jack Vita Show! You can follow Matt on Twitter, @ByMattWeyrich!

    47 min

  3. 11/19/2025

    Jonathan Mayo Reveals Which Minor League Prospects Upped their Stock in the Arizona Fall League 2025

    MLB Pipeline prospect analyst and reporter Jonathan Mayo visits the Jack Vita Show to recap the 2025 Arizona Fall League season. Jonathan has worked at MLB.com since 1999, and is the author of the 2023 book Smart, Wrong, and Lucky: The Origin Stories of Baseball's Unexpected Stars. The Arizona Fall League just wrapped up its 33rd season, with the Surprise Saguaros winning their third championship in four years. Jonathan spent two weeks this fall in Arizona and got a good look at this year's crop of talent. Which players were he and Jack most impressed by? Was Kevin McGonigle, MLB Pipeline's no. 2 overall prospect, truly the best player competing in AFL this year? Who were some of the other best prospects that played in Arizona this fall? Who were some of this year's under-the-radar prospects? Who were some guys who were not in the Top 100 coming into the AFL season, that had a nice showing in the desert, and might move into the next Top 100 rankings (coming in January)? Lastly, how do the Surprise Saguaros keep doing it? What sets them apart from the rest of the league? The Saguaros have appeared in six straight AFL Championship games, and have won the Championship three times over the last four years. Are they the team of the 2020s? Pick up a copy of Jonathan's book, Smart, Wrong, and Lucky: The Origin Stories of Baseball's Unexpected Stars, and check out his new podcast, Something Worth Saving! You can follow him on Twitter (@JonathanMayo) and Instagram (@jonathanmayob3).

    25 min

  4. 10/27/2025

    Why is Bunting So Hard for MLB Players? Are Playoff Teams Bunting TOO MUCH?

    Our Seattle sports guy Mario Lanza (creator of the Funny 115, Survivor: Historian Podcast and Staff Picks Movie Podcast) returns to the Jack Vita Show to lament the end of the 2025 Seattle Mariners season, as the Mariners were eliminated from playoff contention last Monday night. Where did the M's go wrong, and what needs should they address this winter? Along the way, Mario and Jack preview the World Series and chat about trends from this year's postseason. Are teams bunting too much? Why is bunting such a struggle for so many players this time of year? Mario and Jack also discuss the lost art of contact hitting, and why players like Josh Naylor have become so valuable. What did Jack think of the Milwaukee Brewers raising an "L" flag, mocking the Chicago Cubs, after eliminating the Cubbies from the playoffs? Mario and Jack talk about why rivalries are great for the sport. All this, and so much more, only on the Jack Vita Show!

    52 min

  5. 10/13/2025

    Dave Sims Weighs in on Historic Seattle Mariners' Playoff Run, New York Yankees' ALDS Loss

    Dave Sims spent 18 seasons as the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners, calling M's games on both television and radio. Last winter, he accepted a new job, as the radio voice of the New York Yankees, having lived in New York for over 40 years. In his first year away from Seattle, the Mariners clinched their first trip to the American League Championship Series since their magical 2001 season. Dave visits the Jack Vita Show to chat about the Mariners' historic playoff run, their chances in the ALCS against a potent Toronto Blue Jays team, his first season in the Bronx, why the Yankees came up short this year, and much more, as he and Jack recap the Division Series round of the postseason and look ahead to the ALCS and NLCS. What does this Mariners team have that past teams didn't? Dave gives his assessment of the squad, and voices his support for a city that has been extremely meaningful to him. He also discusses what went wrong for the Yankees this postseason, and what needs they will need to address this winter. Does he see the team re-signing Bellinger, who plans to opt out of the final year of his contract? Dave also grew up in Philadelphia and has been a Phillies fan his entire life. Dave shares his thoughts on the Phillies' early postseason exit, and reveals what course of action he expects the club to take as it faces critical decisions regarding the futures of seasoned veterans Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto and Ranger Suarez, all of whom are set to hit free agency. Dave shares some insider info regarding the prospect of Schwarber returning. Later, Jack and Dave touch on the Milwaukee Brewers' NLDS victory over the Chicago Cubs, and preview the Brewers' showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. It's an episode you will NOT want to miss! Follow Dave on Twitter (@davesims_) and Instagram (@tdss), and subscribe to his podcast, Hey Now! The Dave Sims Show, available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever podcasts are found.

    41 min

  6. 10/08/2025

    2025 Arizona Fall League Preview | Jim Callis Reveals Which Top Minor League Prospects to Watch For

    MLB Pipeline prospect analyst and reporter Jim Callis returns to the Jack Vita Show, to preview the 2025 Arizona Fall League. Jim has been covering prospects for over 35 years. In today's episode, he shares some stories from previous years at the Arizona Fall League. He gives a quick rundown of what fans can expect from AFL, and why they should follow along online, and make a trip to Arizona for the AFL experience. This is Jack's third year on-scene at the Arizona Fall League. Last year, he provided coverage of Philadelphia Phillies top pitching prospect Andrew Painter for The Philadelphia Inquirer. This year, he plans to pick up freelance work for other outlets, covering prospects participating in AFL. The Fall League has become a favorite for Jack, and he shares why it's one of the best hidden gems in sports. Jim provides a look at what prospects fans should keep an eye on in the Arizona Fall League this year. This year's AFL crop features eleven players from MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list: Kevin McGonigle (no. 2), Sebastian Walcott (no. 6), Josue De Paula (no. 13), Braden Montgomery (no. 35), Alfredo Duno (no. 48), Charlie Condon (no. 61), Blake Mitchell (no. 62), Jonny Farmelo (no. 75), Rhett Lowder, (no. 80), Hagen Smith (no. 88) and Cam Collier (no. 94). Jim also discusses under-the-radar prospects that could break out this year in the AFL. Last year, Caleb Durbin won AFL Breakout Player of the Year. Now, he's a key cog in the Milwaukee Brewers' potent lineup, as the club pushes for its first World Series in franchise history. Later, Jim shares stories of Tim Tebow and Kyle Schwarber participating in the Fall League. Both played in the AFL in 2016. It's a crash course in AFL that you certainly will NOT want to miss!

    29 min

  7. 08/27/2025

    Is Cal Raleigh the 2025 AL MVP? Why the Seattle Mariners Have the Highest Ceiling of Any AL Team

    Longtime Seattle Mariners fan and entertainment writer Mario Lanza returns to the Jack Vita Show to talk baseball and Survivor. The Mariners were active at the trade deadline, acquiring corner infielders Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The club reaped the benefits immediately, winning 10 of its next 11 games, before hitting a snag. The M's proceeded to lose seven of their ensuing eight games. It's been a summer of high highs and low lows for the Mariners, but with just over a month remaining in the regular season, Seattle finds itself just 1.5 games back of the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. Mario and Jack put the Mariners' season under the microscope, and attempt to predict how they see the club finishing the year. Hear why Jack believes the M's have the highest ceiling of any team in the American League. Later, they debate the merits of Cal Raleigh's season and his AL MVP candidacy. Mario's thoughts on the topic may surprise you! Along the way, they also touch on an extremely close NL West race between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, as well as various news from around Major League Baseball. Later, Mario and Jack chat about Survivor 50, the final season of Mario's Survivor Historians Podcast, The Funny 115, Saturday Night Live, and plenty more! It's an episode you will NOT want to miss!

    1h 43m

  8. 08/05/2025

    How the San Diego Padres Won the Trade Deadline | 2025 MLB Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

    2025 MLB Trade Deadline has come and past, and play-by-play broadcaster Michael Marcantonini is here to discuss this year's trade deadline winners and losers on the Jack Vita Show! The San Diego Padres once again made the most noise on deadline day, as president of baseball operations AJ Preller made a flurry of aggressive moves, most notably dealing the no. 3 prospect in baseball (and three pitching prospects) to the Athletics in exchange for closer Mason Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears. The Padres also acquired catcher Freddy Fermin, outfielder Ramon Laureano, starting pitcher Nestore Cortes, and first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn. Michael and Jack share why they believe the Padres won the deadline, and Jack makes a bold proclamation that the Friars will win the National League West over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs were strangely quiet at this year's deadline. Will their passiveness come back to bite them? The Cubs missed an opportunity to upgrade their pitching staff, just days after the Milwaukee Brewers passed them for the NL Central division lead. Jack assesses the Cubs' approach at the deadline, as they enter into the final crunch of the regular season. Elsewhere, the Houston Astros brought home Carlos Correa, while the Seattle Mariners added a pair of big bats from the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the form of Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez. The Philadelphia Phillies added star closer Jhoan Duran, as the Minnesota Twins blew up their team. Michael and Jack discuss and break down it all! Michael is the play-by-play voice of the Aberdeen IronBirds, the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. He also broadcasts Division I athletics. You can follow him @MikedUpSports on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

    1h 9m
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4.9
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62 Ratings

About

Join published journalist and sports reporter Jack Vita each week for an in-depth breakdown of the latest news from the world of sports, featuring thoughtful analysis and exclusive interviews with athletes, coaches, executives and media members. Jack interviews athletes that provide a peak behind the curtain and a look at the daily life of a professional athlete. They also discuss life off-the-field and other various topics, including faith. Prominent guests include Brian Urlacher, Bob Nightengale, Jim Callis and Dan O’Dowd. This is the podcast feed for all sports content on the Jack Vita Show. For Jack’s entertainment and reality TV coverage, subscribe to Jack Vita Show: Entertainment, available wherever podcasts are found.

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