Episode 51 -- Jeff Fletcher

Longtime baseball reporter Jeff Fletcher enjoyed an up-close view of Shohei Ohtani's magical 2021 season, and also the two previous disappointing seasons, that made it all the more remarkable to watch this two-way player perform in ways we've never seen before.

Fletcher just published a new book that details the entire life story of Ohtani, from Japan, to the decision of which team to join in the United States, why comparison to Babe Ruth really aren't very accurate, and how once the well-meaning restrictions were taken off Ohtani, it allowed him to flourish as a hitter and pitcher.

Since we both used to cover baseball in the Bay Area, we also have some fun imagining how long the A's competitive advantage would have lasted if Michael Lewis never wrote "Moneyball" and how the baseball world would be different if Billy Beane took the Red Sox job.