The Show Before the Show: Episode 35

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. 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 35:

Three Strikes (1:55)

• Tyler and Sam open up the conversation by discussing the retirement and legacy of Mike Hessman, who finishes his career as the Minor League home run king with 433 long balls. 
• The Yankees and Phillies Organization All-Stars were released on MiLB.com this week, and based on those lists, the guys discuss which group of prospects they'd prefer between the two.
• Sam talks about his piece on Speed Scores from this week, focusing on which prospects have made the biggest impacts on the basepaths and which beat expectations based on scouting grades.

Mike Hessman interview (15:26)

• As discussed in the first segment, Hessman announced his retirement last week, so the guys brought the man himself onto the podcast to talk about his record-setting career, his fondest memories in baseball and what he thinks he can bring to the table as a coach. After the interview was conducted, the Tigers announced that Hessman will be the hitting coach for Class A Short Season Connecticut next season. (As an aside in the interview, Hessman talks about how he'd like his record-setting 433rd Minor League home run ball for his collection, so if you have it, please return it to him or the Toledo Mud Hens.)

Ben's Biz Banter (27:39)

• MiLB.com's Benjamin Hill joins for his weekly podcast segment to talk about two International League rebrands -- one by the Norfolk Tides, the other by the Louisville Bats. Ben also introduces this year's crop of job seekers, who will keep journals on their experience at the Baseball Winter Meetings and Professional Baseball Employment Opportunity Job Fair in Nashville next week.

Wrapping up (38:50)