Two-Minute Drill With Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman

Jim Monaghan
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Radio veterans Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman get together each week to discuss the latest topics in sports, music, and pop culture.

  1. 2D AGO

    Has Parity Hit Major League Baseball?

    There are still more than 140 games left in the regular Major League Baseball season but an early look at the standings after the first few weeks of play will tell you that there are a lot of teams bunched together. In fact, there are currently only two teams that are more than four games behind their respective division leaders in the loss column and even the most casual of MLB observers will tell you that a four-game lead in the middle of April means nothing. Perhaps more surprising are the performances of the so-called "small market teams" who are told they can't compete with the Big Boys.  The Rays, Twins, and Pirates are all leading their respective divisions and others like the Royals and Athletics are well within striking distance. Speaking of Pittsburgh, they are a VERY pleasant surprise here in the middle of April.  For a city that has been yearning for a competitive baseball team to root for, the likes of Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin are giving Bucs fans reason to believe that PNC Park might be a fun place to be this summer. The Mets and Yankees are both struggling; one of those two teams has a better chance of figuring things out sooner rather than later. And finally, kudos to the Governor Livingston High School (Berkeley Heights NJ) baseball team who put together a 40-game winning streak (May 2024 - April 2026) that just came to an end on Saturday April 11 in a 2-1 loss to Arthur L. Johnson High School (Clark NJ).   Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    16 min

  2. MAR 31

    It's Everybody's Favorite New Game Show - Knee-Jerk Reaction Time!

    Sports talk radio gave Joe Fan the opportunity to immediately vent or celebrate his or her favorite team's losses and victories. Social media has given all of us a platform to do the same turning some people into media "stars" and giving rise to one hot take after another, many of which are just ridiculous. But isn't that the point of a hot take? With the first full weekend of the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season in the books, we offer our own knee-jerk reactions to the new ABS strike zone, Aaron Judge, Pete Alonso, Bo Bichette, and the San Francisco Giants controversial hiring of former University of Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello to be their manager. Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    19 min

  3. MAR 24

    Major League Baseball Wants You To Cut the Cord

    Among the numerous changes that have been made to baseball over the past few years - bigger bases, pitch clock, putting a runner on second base in extra innings to name a few - Major League Baseball has REALLY attempted to appeal to younger viewers. One the ways it's doing that is by using streaming services such as Netflix which is where you'll be able to see the Yankees and Giants on Opening Day (or night as the case may be).   As more and more of us cut the cord and leave cable behind, MLB has a deal with Netflix for Opening Night, the Home Run Derby, and the Field of Dreams game. While it may be frustrating for older viewers who are accustomed to watching the YES Network or SNY for our local baseball teams, Major League Baseball is gambling that partnering with a popular streaming service is the future of games on television. Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    17 min

  4. MAR 19

    The World Baseball Classic Sends A Message To Major League Baseball

    Think there's a problem with baseball?  Then you CLEARLY weren't paying attention during the World Baseball Classic. It's not very often that you get a Game 7 in the middle of March! Packed stadiums around the world, passion from both players and fans, some drama with Team USA (did the coaching staff REALLY not know the situation during the game with Italy?) and a championship game that had meaning FAR beyond just two countries/teams playing against one another. Much like the NHL's Four Nations Tournament in 2025, what the WBC showed everyone was that there is an opportunity for baseball to REALLY shine on an international level, and it may in fact give us an idea of what Major League Baseball should do with the All-Star Game. And the "keep politics out of sports" crowd (at least when it's convenient for their way of thinking) has to admit that the political backdrop of a USA-Venezuela championship game was impossible to ignore. Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    21 min

  5. MAR 10

    Special Guest - Kenny Albert On the USA's Amazing Olympic Gold Medal Runs

    This week on the Two-Minute Drill, we're thrilled to share a conversation with Kenny Albert. Kenny Albert is the TV voice of the New York Rangers, and the lead voice for the NHL on TNT.  He says calling the recent Olympic hockey ranks among the most memorable stretches of his career, highlighting multiple overtimes and gold medal games for the United States men's and women's hockey teams. Albert said he has worked seven Winter Olympics and several gold medal games, but this run felt different because NHL players returned and the U.S. beat Canada in overtime in the men's and women's gold medal games. He said the overtime endings left stronger impressions among viewers.  We also catch up on Jason Tatum's return from injury to the Boston Celtics, and what the local NHL teams did (or did not do) at the trade deadline. Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    20 min

  6. MAR 3

    The Athletic's MLB Fan Survey Has Some Big Surprises

    The Athletic just published the results of their recent survey about Major League Baseball and the results just may surprise you. For one, despite the vitriol he draws on social media, Commissioner Rob Manfred's standing among fans is a lot better than you think.  And you also might be VERY surprised by what the fans really think about Major League Baseball's relationship with gambling. Plus, you might be surprised by the (at least for now) success of the Mets' addition-by-subtraction policy since the end of last season. And there's more talk about Pirates #1 prospect Konnor Griffin. Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    22 min

  7. FEB 25

    Why You Shouldn't Believe ANYTHING You See In Spring Training

    Both the US Men's and Women's Hockey Teams brought home the gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics with dramatic wins over their respective Canadian opponents. Plus Major League Baseball will be using its new ABS Strike Zone this season following a few years' worth of experiments in the minor leagues. And there are lots of exciting players to watch in spring training (the Yankees in particular have a couple) but you might want to pump the brakes a little.  While it's fun to watch some young phenom light things up in Florida or Arizona this time of year, it's WAY too early to start penciling some rookie into the starting lineup just yet. Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    19 min

  8. FEB 18

    From Potential MLB Lockouts To Landman!

    The average baseball fan may not know who Tony Clark is, but it's a safe bet that pretty much everybody knows who Billy Bob Thornton is. One is the former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association; the other is the star of the hit TV series "Landman." This week, Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman break down at least some of what we know about Clark's resignation and what it could mean for the upcoming baseball labor negotiations. Plus, if you're not already watching "Landman," you are missing some incredible television!  Follow us on Social Media for more content. YouTube  Facebook Twitter (you want to call it X, go ahead)

    19 min
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Radio veterans Jim Monaghan and Chris Swendeman get together each week to discuss the latest topics in sports, music, and pop culture.

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