Starkville with Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville The Athletic

As we've said before, Starkville is a safe baseball haven for all and in order to preserve and proliferate this mindset, we need to have constructive conversations about race inequity in our country. Retired African American MLB players Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Dontrelle Willis, Torii Hunter, LaTroy Hawkins and Doug Glanville with The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal, voice their opinions about racial division and share their personal accounts of dealing with racism within their lives. Before and after the interview, Jayson Stark, Doug and Ken share how the panel came to be as well as their thoughts pre- and post-discussion.

Starkville is a place open to all, that's why it's important to have an open dialogue. Doug provides his perspective on last weekend's events and the perturbing scenes that have spilled into this week. He cites moments from his life where he was discriminated against, and how educating his children and those around him can, and have, lead to change. Doug also explains why he views sports, namely baseball, as an agent of unification and healing. Los Angeles Angeles manager Joe Maddon then joins the program, and broaches what meaning baseball holds during these trying times. Maddon answers where his players stand on participating this year amid health concerns. He also shares how he aims to motivate his players, and his approach to this year as a medically at-risk individual as well as maneuvering a radically changing baseball terrain and his secret to remaining optimistic. Plus, a special guest joins the program to explain why Jayson made a grave error drafting Doug to his All-Phillies team!

Jayson and Doug welcome Houston Astros Manager Dusty Baker to the shimmering city of Starkville! Dusty delineates how he and players and fans will respond to a radically different form of baseball. And in a vastly different baseball world, how are he and players communicating necessary changes in preparation for a possible season? Dusty shares his health concerns as someone who is deemed "at-risk", plus having contributed to the first recorded high-five in sports history, what are his thoughts about the celebration being outlawed? If/when baseball returns, will Houston still be viewed in the same light? The guys and Dusty, who was a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, remember and honor those who served and continue to serve our country. Also how can baseball continue to uphold the sacrifices these men and women have made?

Starkville has thoroughly enjoyed 'The Last Dance', and for additional insight into the worldwide phenomena Mike Tollin, the docuseries' executive producer, visits the 'Ville! Tollin describes the processes involved in creating the series, including the decision to accelerate its release date amid the pandemic. The trio also cover Jordan's je ne sais quoi, pooling over 500 hours of film, comparing and contrasting Barry Bonds (whom Mike worked with) and Jordan, what's the next great sports story, more info into his Dick Allen movie and more! In this week's edition of Stark's Strange But True Files, Jean Segura steals a base...first base to be exact, plus Mike finally settles our Field of Dreams debate!

Welcome back to another edition of Starkville! Jayson and Doug invite in MLB Network do-it-all and broadcasting icon, Bob Costas, to today's show! The 'Ville incumbents ask Costas about what it was like being interviewed for 'The Last Dance' and covering Michael Jordan in his heyday. Is there a baseball equivalent to Michael Jordan in respect to the same way that MJ mesmerized the world back then and today? Where was the Jordan's baseball career trajectory headed had the 1995 strike not happened? Jayson and Doug bestow the title of Commissioner of Baseball upon Bob, wherein he proposes solutions for teams not playing at their home stadiums in a condensed season; enforcing the Minor League extra innings rule in the Majors; will this be an asterisk-riddle season, and how would the new commish handle the scandals that are tarnishing the League?

Welcome to Starkville! Jayson and Glanville High-Middle-Elementary School vice principal, Doug Glanville, welcome Washington Nationals pitcher, Sean Doolitte, to today's episode! To start, Doolittle brings attention to World Central Kitchen (founded by chef Jose Andres), and its efforts in supplying relief to those who need it most. After, the trio tackle some of the sport's biggest questions, including: How can baseball accurately inform, and encourage, viewers/fans to care for themselves and others during this time; What measures should MLB employ if a player contracts the virus; and, how can the League address the potential risk posed to labor workers, hotel staff, etc. and their families; much like Doolittle and his wife, Eireann, who suffers from respiratory issues. The triumvirate muse over potential baseball celebration/ritual replacements like high-fives, they're a thing of the past! So, what takes it place? The jellyfish? Also, what happens to the World Series-winner's dog pile on the mound? Will actual dogs charge the mound (and more!)?! Plus, is the, once thought closed, Field of Dreams case reopened?