'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other podcast-listening apps. This episode can also be found on Minor League Baseball's official YouTube page. Send questions or feedback to podcast@milb.com, and follow hosts Sam Dykstra (@samdykstramilb.bsky.social) and Tyler Maun (@tylermaun.bsky.social) on Bluesky and Benjamin Hill (@bensbiz) on X.
Intro/Ben's Biz Banter (0:00)
Ben and Tyler open up this week's show by talking about some new Minor League alternate identities in places like Delmarva (Wild Ponies), Fredericksburg (Frogs) and Round Rock (Ryan Express 34s).
Sam's Spring Training report (19:12)
Sam is out in Florida on Spring Training assignment and shares some of what he's seen and heard from Tigers, Phillies, Red Sox and Yankees camps.
Carson Lund interview (42:21)
The new baseball movie Eephus shares the fictional story of one final men's league game played at a New England diamond before it's set to be closed for good. Director Carson Lund tells stories from the making of the film and discusses the themes about small-town baseball.
Wrapping up/Ghosts of the Minors (1:10:04)
Josh needs a new pair of shoes in Ghosts of the Minors, and Ben and Tyler close out the show.
Amarillo Drops Series Opener To Frisco
AMARILLO, TX. (May 27, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (20-26) fell to the Frisco RoughRiders (27-18), 7-5, on Tuesday evening at HODGETOWN. Following two weeks on the road, Amarillo dropped the series opener at home playing as the Pointy Boots de Amarillo. Both offenses went straight to work, scoring
Player Spotlight: Starting Rotation Shines Bright
AMARILLO, TX – Since the calendar turned to May, it has been the month of the starting pitcher for the Sod Poodles. As the team returns to hitter-friendly HODGETOWN this week, let’s shine the spotlight on the arms of the starters. Amarillo’s five-man rotation of Dylan Ray, Avery Short, Spencer
Angelo's Brilliant Start Squandered In Extras
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. (May 25, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (20-25) fell to the Corpus Christi Hooks (16-28), 6-5, in 10 innings on Sunday night at Whataburger Field. A strong starting effort was erased by a late Hooks surge, tabbing the Sod Poodles with the series loss, four games
Amarillo Stumbles in One-Run Defeat
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. (May 24, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (20-24) fell to the Corpus Christi Hooks (15-28), 3-2, on Saturday night at Whataburger Field. A late inning home run and three stolen bases spelled trouble for Amarillo and gave the hosts a one-run victory. Kristian Robinson led off
Sod Poodles Shutout Hooks in 1-0 Pitcher's Duel
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. (May 23, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (20-23) defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (14-28), 1-0, on Friday evening at Whataburger Field. Five Amarillo pitchers combined to blank the Hooks, evening up the series and secured Amarillo’s 20th win of the 2025 campaign. Both starters showed their
Sod Poodles Hitting Clinic Leads To Thursday Win
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. (May 22, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (19-23) defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (14-27), 10-3, on Thursday night at Whataburger Field. Backed by the fourth straight quality start from Dylan Ray, Amarillo puts up double-digit runs to earn the win. Despite two quick outs to open
Amarillo Walked Off In Wednesday Matinee
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. (May 21, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (18-23) fell to the Corpus Christi Hooks (14-26), 6-5, in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Whataburger Field. Bryce Willits delivered a walk-off single to hand the Hooks consecutive home victories. Amarillo scored first in the opening stanza after
Hurley Homers As Soddies Drop Opener To Hooks
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. (May 20, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (18-21) fell to the Corpus Christi Hooks (13-26), 4-2, on Tuesday night at Whataburger Field. The Soddies’ center fielder drove in both of Amarillo’s two runs in the series opening pitching duel It was smooth sailing in the opening
Amarillo Sticks Silenced In Sunday Finale
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (May 18, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (18-21) fell to the Springfield Cardinals (19-20), 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at Hammons Field. The Cardinals kept Amarillo traffic off the basepaths, tabbing the Soddies with the loss in the series finale After a scoreless top of the first, the
Ninth Inning Comeback Secures Amarillo Win
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (May 15, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (17-19) defeated the Springfield Cardinals (17-19), 5-4, on Thursday night at Hammons Field. Tommy Troy’s go-ahead two-run single in the ninth provided a one-run victory for Amarillo over Springfield, who played as the Cashew Chickens. An early pitcher’s duel saw
Cardinals Outlast Soddies In One-Run Battle
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (May 17, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (18-20) fell to the Springfield Cardinals (18-20), 4-3, on Saturday night at Hammons Field. Both squads go back and forth in the late innings, but the hometown team ends up on top. The Cardinals struck first this evening courtesy of
Amarillo Rides Late Inning Pushes To Victory
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (May 16, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (18-19) defeated the Springfield Cardinals (17-20), 3-2, on Friday night at Hammons Field. For the second straight night, the Sod Poodles battle from behind to even the series at two games apiece. Strikeouts were in high supply early in the
Late Inning Swing Hurts Soddies On Wednesday
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (May 14, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (16-19) fell to the Springfield Cardinals (17-18), 7-5, on Wednesday afternoon at Hammons Field. The Cardinals secured the back-and-forth affair on a clutch three-run homer in the seventh inning. The Soddies tallied a pair of runs in their first at-bats
Sod Poodles Win Sunday Home Finale
AMARILLO, TX (May 11, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (16-17) defeated the Tulsa Drillers (14-19), 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at HODGETOWN. A four-run fifth and 4.2 innings of scoreless relief fueled the Sod Poodles to their third straight series victory and first Sunday home win. Tulsa scored first on
Giesting Dazzles In Series Opening Defeat
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (May 13, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (16-18) fell to the Springfield Cardinals (16-18), 7-2, on Tuesday night at Hammons Field. The Cardinals overcame a seven-inning masterpiece from the Amarillo starter, taking the series opener after a six-run eighth. Kristian Robinson led off the series opener with
Ray Shines, Calf Fries Win On County Fair Night
AMARILLO, TX (May 10, 2025) -- The Amarillo Calf Fries (15-17) defeated the Tulsa Drillers (14-18), 5-1, on Saturday night at HODGETOWN. Dylan Ray’s second straight scoreless outing set the tone for a Calf Fries victory on County Fair Night in front of a season high 6,128 fans. Amarillo struck
Ninth Inning Rally Sinks Soddies On Friday Night
AMARILLO, TX (May 9, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (14-17) fell to the Tulsa Drillers (14-17), 6-4, on Friday night at HODGETOWN. A late inning push by the visitors tabbed the Soddies with the loss, evening the series at two. It wouldn’t take long for the Sod Poodles to
Twin-Bill Sweep Highlighted By Soddies Starters, Walkoff Winner
AMARILLO, TX (May 8, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (14-16) defeated the Tulsa Drillers (13-17), in both games of the Thursday night doubleheader by scores of 6-5 and 5-4 at HODGETOWN. The hometown squad earned their second doubleheader sweep in walk-off fashion backed by stellar starting pitching in both
Dylan Ray Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week
AMARILLO, TX (May 5, 2025) – Minor League Baseball today announced that Amarillo Sod Poodles right-handed pitcher Dylan Ray is the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 29 - May 4. Rated as the Diamondbacks number 20 prospect (MLB Pipeline), Ray shined among top Texas
Sod Poodles Steam Day to be reimagined in Pecos League Exhibition at HODGETOWN
AMARILLO, TX (May 8, 2025) – The Amarillo Sod Poodles today announced that postponed STEAM Day activities will be made up on Tuesday, May 20 during an exhibition baseball game between teams in the Pecos League, an independent professional baseball league in the southwest United States. In an effort to
Soddies Squander Early Lead, Drop Series Opener
AMARILLO, TX (May 7, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (12-16) fell to the Tulsa Drillers (13-15), 8-2, on Wednesday night at HODGETOWN. Despite taking a 2-0 first inning lead, Tulsa scored eight unanswered runs to complete their fourth straight victory. Amarillo wasted no time scoring, as Kristian Robinson led
Amarillo Wins Third Straight In Midland
MIDLAND, TX (May 4, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (12-15) defeated the Midland RockHounds (13-14), 6-2, on Sunday afternoon at Momentum Bank Ballpark. The offense erupted for five runs in the seventh inning to secure their third straight victory. Midland scored first in the second inning on a sacrifice
Sod Poodles Blank RockHounds on Saturday
MIDLAND, TX (May 3, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (11-15) defeated the Midland RockHounds (13-13), 4-0, on Saturday evening at Momentum Bank Ballpark. The Soddies spoiled another Midland Amigos night at the ballpark in a combined four-hit shutout, highlighted by Dylan Ray’s gem. Pitching dominated the early frames of
Melendez's Homer Powers Soddies To Victory
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Sod Poodles Shut Out At Midland
MIDLAND, TX (May 1, 2025) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (9-15) fell to the Midland RockHounds (13-11), 2-0, on Thursday night at Momentum Bank Ballpark. The Soddies were limited to three hits in the pitcher’s duel in their first shutout loss of the season. Both starting pitchers were firing on