Is This A Great Game, Or What? – Details, episodes & analysis

We took time to recap the incredible Little League World Series finish because we think the Major Leaguers could learn a thing or two from those kids. Tim and Jeff, with the help of our friends at Strat-O-Matic, answer the age old question, what would you rather have, all-contact or all-power?

Dan Shaughnessy is a Hall of Famer writer who has relentlessly covered Boston sports throughout his incredible career. Tim and Dan go way back their relationship shines through during their interview together. Also, Tim talked to Danny Jansen about the incredible feat he accomplished, playing for two teams in one game, very impressive!

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 Joy Pop Productions LLC

Need we say more? We were at the Little League World Series with our friends at GameChanger, for this entire episode. We booked the biggest 12-year-old of all time, the one and only Todd Frazier. If you didn't know, he and his Toms River, New Jersey team won it all when he was a kid. He was a really good MLB player, won an Olympic medalist and now has turned to broadcasting.

This episode is dedicated to all things Little League. We talk about the Little League Classic game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. Tim came up with the best MLB of players who played at the LLWS and then Jeff surprised him with something bit from our friends at Strat-O-Matic. 

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 Joy Pop Productions LLC

Get ready, because the Manager of the New York Yankees is joining our show this week. Tim and Aaron Boone worked for years together at ESPN and their stories, well they are just hysterical. But nothing beats Boone’s impressions, just wait until you hear them. We give one last tribute to Willie Mays and compliment Major League Baseball for their amazing work at the Rickwood Game. 

Some Quirkjians that are bound to blow you away along with a Kurkjian Quandary on skates! We don’t know much about hockey on this podcast so we brought in a friend of the show to help us. Jeff had a chance to surprise his dad with a “Best Of All-Tim Team” that we think a lot of people are going to want to add to. Another week, thank you so much for listening. Please remember to follow and subscribe (for free) wherever you are listening right now.

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

Tim has no idea a (small) special guest is joining us with a present for him, what a way to start a show! On Thursday, June 20th, Major League Baseball will play at historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. The importance of this game cannot be overstated so we interviewed Doug Glanville to explain its significance. He also takes a deeper look into the Negro Leagues and Black baseball. 

Also, we hear all about Tim’s All-Courtroom Team (and yes, Aaron Judge is on it). Our Kurkjian Quandary: what would an 18-handicap player shoot under the pressure of the final day of the U.S. Open? And, among so much else, Jeff shared a moment he had with a Hall of Famer that he will never forget.

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

It is our Father’s Day episode, thank you to all of the dads out there listening. Karl and Sam Ravech are joining us, the broadcasting duo can both be heard on ESPN. Tim breaks down the best father-son baseball duos and makes a team out of them. 

Also, it’s worth noting that this is Jeff’s first Father’s Day so we get quite a bit from that. What happened in London? Tim shares all about his trip calling the Phillies-Mets game during the London Series. Knuckleballers, Judge homers and buzzer beaters are all important in this week’s episode. 

A brand new set of Quirkjians and a deep dive into Tim’s best Cardinals stories will round out the show. Thank you for listening!

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

We had the opportunity to record this episode in person at Citizens Bank Park on Lou Gehrig Day. Thank you to the Phillies for being so hospitable! We go through the takeaways from the week in Major League Baseball plus our Quirkjians seemed extra quirky this week. Submit yours at GreatGameOrWhat.com.

Tim came up with his top team using only players who wore number four, there might be some disagreement in the infield on those. We hear about the New York Mets and even talk about both Tim and Jeff's mascoting experience (kind of).

During our live streamed Lou Gehrig Day episode on Sunday, June 2nd, we spoke with two current players; Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola, whose uncle passed away from ALS, Brandon Crawford, who is deeply connected to the cause. We also hear live from Mike Piscotty, who's wife, Gretchen, passed away from the disease. Their son is pro ballplayer Stephen Piscotty. And also, Sam Hilliard, in the Colorado Rockies system, joined the show to talk about his father's battle with the disease. 

This is our chance to wrap up our weekend dedicated to ALS, if you missed Sarah Langs and Boog Sciambi, they were featured in their own episode released back on Friday, so scroll back to hear that. Thank you for supporting this cause and helping us raise awareness.

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

This is an emotional episode for both Tim and Jeff. Tim's brother, Matt Kurkjian, passed away from ALS on Labor Day 2023. This is the first Lou Gehrig Day that the Kurkjian's will be at a ballpark without him since his diagnosis. 

Tim retells an amazing story about what Matt's alma mater did for him shortly after his diagnosis. Plus, we hear some amazing stories from our guests, Sarah Langs and Boog Sciambi. 

Sarah was diagnosed with ALS but continues to be a beacon of light in Major League Baseball. Her knowledge and love of the game shines through her social media accounts where she shares her love of stats and observations. Sarah's recurring hashtag "Baseball Is The Best," has become a rally cry in the MLB/ALS community. She asks friends and family to support Project ALS that raises money for more research to better understand and ultimately cure this disease. 

Broadcaster Boog Sciambi lost a dear friend, Tim Sheehy, to ALS almost twenty years ago. Since then, he has dedicated so much of his life raising money for Project Main Street, an organization dedicated in the name of Sheehy that helps families deal with the financial burden of care of an ALS patient.

We thank you for taking the time to learn more about this disease that has dismantled our family along with so many others. Thank you. 

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

Today is an important show, our Memorial Day episode. Tim Kurkjian breaks down his all-military baseball team, every position and a full starting rotation. We talk to Lindsay Berra, the granddaughter of Yogi Berra. She describes her grandfather's service to this country as being MORE important than his Hall of Fame baseball career. 

We also convinced Tim to do Immaculate Grid on the podcast and as always, we rip open some baseball cards and rifle through them (with a little added surprise Jeff wasn't expecting). 

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

Week 9 of the baseball season leads us to the 9th episode of "Is This A Great Game, Or What?" which features Steve Rushin, one of the greatest writers of our lifetime. We discuss with him his love of the Twins as a child, some of the best games he ever covered and how he met his wife, WNBA Legend Rebecca Lobo. 

What is the baseball significance of May 21st or 5/21? We get into that along with Elly De La Cruz isn't human, we tell you why. And also, don't miss our GameChanger of the Week.

We open a new pack of cards for "It's In The Cards" and end up chatting Seattle Mariners' baseball from our League In Lids segment. 

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC

This is our eighth episode and right off the bat (no pun intended) we have to say thank you. This is only possible because of your love and support of what we are doing. This week we have a real treat for you. Paul Skenes is our "GameChanger of the Week," his Major League debut, his character and charitable actions all factored in. 

We talk with Buck Showalter and he tells us stories of his gnome, seeing some of the best players of today in the minors and a triple play that never touched leather. In addition, you get a fresh "It's In The Cards" along with an Arizona Diamondbacks break-down during "League In Lids."

If you didn't know this already, you can WATCH our show on YouTube or continue to listen wherever you get your podcasts, just don't forget to hit "follow" so you are up to date. 

Visit GreatGameOrWhat.com to contact the show with your questions, quips and insights.

 Joy Pop Productions LLC