The Show Before the Show: Episode 104

Check out the latest episode 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 The Show Before the Show on iTunes. The podcast is also available via the Stitcher app. Send your questions and feedback to [email protected]. You can follow hosts Tyler Maun (@TylerMaun) and Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) on Twitter.
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Episode 104
Recommended reading

• MiLB.com's Prospect Primers landing page
• Fans' guide to MiLB Opening Day 2017
• Toolshed: Recipe for Rookie of the Year
• Top-100 prospects on MLB Opening Day rosters
• Promo Watch: Trew TV in New Orleans

Seven Strikes (3:55)
This isn't the normal Three Strikes opening segment because this isn't a normal podcast. With Opening Day happening on Thursday, Tyler and Sam are joined by fellow MiLB.com writers Kelsie Heneghan and Josh Jackson to offer their Minor League previews and predictions for: 

• Most interesting lineup
• Most interesting rotation
• Most interesting team
• Biggest breakout prospect
• American/National League Rookie of the Year
• Joe Bauman Home Run Award winner
• No. 1 overall prospect on Opening Day 2018

Ian Happ interview (43:37)

• Cubs No. 2 prospect Ian Happ calls into the show from Oklahoma City ahead of his Triple-A debut with Iowa. MLB.com's No. 26 overall prospect discusses a trip to the Cactus League that saw him hit .383/.441/.750 with five homers and 21 RBIs in 29 games, how he got the push to the Pacific Coast League and how he's approaching being so close to the Majors for the defending World Series champions.

Ben's Biz Banter (57:03)

• MiLB.com's Benjamin Hill joins the show to talk about the first week in Minor League promotions, touching on everything from the Rochester-Syracuse feud to how New Orleans will have a comedian live in its stadium for the first five days of the season.

Wrapping up (1:13:55)