Ben Lindbergh (Effectively Wild podcast, The Ringer) returns to not breakdown the postseason, not talk about starting a family, and not talk about all the managers. Actually, we do cover that last one, and some of the others as well. Plus: Fred Merkle vs. the Stoics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Me and My Friend Fred*Bucky Harris, Gene Mauch, Joe Girardi, and Stuckness*The Wedding Bell Blues*Starting a Family Blues*Not Necessarily a World Series Conversations*Cubs-Indians still lingers*When writers root, fans say “We,” and Will Leitch yelled at Steve*Dusty Baker moves on*Managers who grew on the job/Joe McCarthy vs. Ted Williams*Ron Gardenhire’s compromised second chance and Mickey Callaway’s comprised first*Ron Gardenhire Origin Stories*Brad Ausmus, Joe Girardi, and fireable offenses*Lindbergh on Bullpenning*Goodbyes.

The Infinite Inning is not only about baseball but a state of mind. Steven Goldman, rotating cohosts Jesse Spector, Cliff Corcoran, and David Roth, and occasional guests discuss the game’s present, past, and future with forays outside the foul lines to the culture at large. Expect stats, anecdotes, digressions, explorations of writing and fandom, and more Casey Stengel quotations than you thought possible. Along the way, they’ll try to solve the puzzle that is the Infinite Inning: How do you find the joy in life when you can’t get anybody out?