The Show Before the Show: Episode 109

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. The podcast is also available via the Stitcher app. Send your questions and feedback to [email protected]. You can follow hosts Tyler Maun (@TylerMaun) and Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) on Twitter.
Listen to The Show Before the Show Podcast »

Episode 109
Recommended reading

• McKenzie whiffs career-high 14 for Hillcats
• Buies Creek's Martin nets homer hat trick
• Lugnuts help recover stolen clubhouse items
• Atkinson seizes latest chance for Rawhide
• Flaherty among April Players of the Month
• Cut4's 'definitive' ranking of Minor League team names

Three Strikes (4:00)

• There were a lot of interesting performances this past week, with three-homer games and dominant outings on the mound. Tyler and Sam open with some of their favorites since the last podcast.
• The Braves had a busy week by promoting four of their top 30 prospects in Ronald Acuña Jr., Luiz Gohara, Patrick Weigel and Anfernee Seymour. What does that say about Atlanta's farm system? The co-hosts discuss.
• Of course, the Minors isn't entirely about what happens on the field. This month alone, there have been stories about proposals and creatures of all sorts creating havoc. Tyler and Sam close out the first segment by talking about what's caught their eye away from the game in May.

Jack Flaherty interview (27:17)

• The Cardinals' No. 8 prospect has gotten off to a hot start in the Texas League with a 0.69 ERA, 40 strikeouts and only five walks in 39 1/3 innings for Double-A Springfield. He talks about what's behind his early effectiveness as well as his high-school connections to top-100 prospects Lucas Giolito and Max Fried in this week's interview.

Bonus segment (44:23)

• Benjamin Hill was traveling to California during this week's taping, so Tyler and Sam talk about whether early-season farm system records should change our perceptions about different organizations and their opinions on Cut4's Minor League team name rankings.

Wrapping up (1:00:43)