Pete Crow-Armstrong and Cam Johnson Dive DEEP into Baseball vs. Basketball Intricacies

·1 hr 17 min·5 clips

Pete Crow-Armstrong reveals how playing at Wrigley Field makes nine innings feel short, despite the season's numbing grind.

The episode features a crossover conversation between NBA player Cam Johnson and MLB All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong, a Chicago Cubs outfielder, joins during the first day of full-squad spring training. He describes the length of the MLB season, noting he played around 155-156 games last year, and discusses the 'dog days' of August. The hosts and guest compare the daily realities of baseball and basketball, focusing on the mental challenges and failure rates inherent in both sports. Crow-Armstrong talks about the importance of environment, citing Wrigley Field as a motivating factor, and admits the mental side of the game is the last piece he's figuring out. He mentions leaning on veterans like Justin Turner and Nico Hoerner for guidance. The conversation shifts to his athletic development, crediting multi-sport background for his speed, and his surprising trade from the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs. Crow-Armstrong recounts his MLB debut and first hit, a home run. They discuss facing elite pitchers like Paul Skenes and Shohei Ohtani, and the use of video for hitting and advanced baserunning preparation. The group debates the impact of big-market spending like the Los Angeles Dodgers on the sport. Crow-Armstrong shares his favorite Chicago food spots. He offers advice to young athletes, emphasizing keeping the game fun. The episode concludes with Crow-Armstrong arguing that getting a hit off a major league pitcher is the hardest thing to do in sports.

As heard by us

A trade story opens into a clear-eyed conversation about how little control pro athletes really have.

Pete Crow-Armstrong's first official full-squad day becomes a way into the odd, impersonal logic of pro sports. With Cam Johnson and Tommy Alter, he looks back on the trade that moved him from the Mets to the Cubs, Jared Banner's role in advocating for him, and the disorienting…

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Why you'd press play

You get Pete Crow-Armstrong on the Cubs trade, a 1 a.m. basketball trade shock, and Halo wandering in for the close.

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