Latest on MLB’s Gambling Scandal with Emmanuel Clase, Judge vs. Raleigh One More Time & Rookie of the Year Winners

·1 hr 14 min·5 clips

Emmanuel Clase was indicted for conspiring to rig pitches, texting a better during games to throw balls on purpose.

This episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast provides an update on MLB's gambling scandal and analyzes the Rookie of the Year awards. Hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz, who cover baseball for FOX Sports, deliver the news and commentary. The hosts dissect a newly unsealed 23-page indictment from the Eastern District of New York concerning pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians. The document alleges the pitchers conspired with a bettor to rig specific pitches, like throwing a first-pitch ball, for gambling profits totaling over $450,000. Clase is portrayed as the primary orchestrator, with activity dating back to 2023, while Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme later. The indictment includes specific timestamps of texts and calls, including communication during games. One surprising detail involves a pitch where Andy Pages accidentally swung and missed at an intentionally thrown ball, frustrating the conspirators. In response to the scandal, MLB has announced a new policy capping prop bets at $200 and removing them from parlays. A key insight is the hosts' analysis that the large sums wagered without immediate detection challenge MLB's public assurances about its monitoring systems. They express particular dismay at Clase's alleged recklessness, given his career earnings and status, and a nuanced sadness for Ortiz's involvement considering his background and lesser earnings. The indictment reveals Clase allegedly arranged bets on Ortiz's rigged pitches and also profited from them. The tone shifts when discussing the American League Rookie of the Year, which Jordan voted on as a BBWAA member. He explains his first-place vote for Nick Kurtz, citing historic slugging numbers that placed him among the league's best hitters immediately after his debut. His ballot ranked Jacob Wilson second for his contact-heavy approach and shortstop play, followed by Roman Anthony, Carlos Narváez, and Noah Cameron. The hosts debate the merits of Roman Anthony versus Colson Montgomery for the third spot, noting both played only 71 games but impressed. They appreciate the expanded five-player ballot for fostering deeper discussion about players like Chandler Simpson, who received a fifth-place vote for leading the league in stolen bases. The National League Rookie of the Year winner is announced as catcher Drake Baldwin. The episode's style is conversational and analytical, blending serious discussion of the scandal's details with lively debate over award season logic. This episode is ideal for listeners who want a thorough, nuanced breakdown of baseball's current gambling crisis and award races. Those seeking only lighthearted game analysis might find the detailed legal discussion heavy.

As heard by us

A scandal update and award-season chat that stays lively, specific, and baseball-literate.

This episode moves between the Emanuel Classe and Luis Ortiz gambling investigation and the award-season chatter, including the rookies of the year announced on Monday and a look ahead to the remaining awards later this week.

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Why you'd press play

You want the Clase and Ortiz gambling case plus the awards run-up in one brisk listen.

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