Ozzie Smith and Michael Lorenzen (Ep. 67)

The Ringer's Ben Lindbergh and Michael Baumann talk to Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith about baseball’s rising strikeout rate (04:00), the current crop of talented young shortstops (10:00), the impact of shifting and data-driven defensive positioning (12:30), and the ascendance of advanced defensive stats (14:30). Then they bring on Reds reliever/pinch hitter Michael Lorenzen to talk about Cincinnati’s unorthodox free-flowing bullpen and quick-working staff (26:00), his history and preparation as a hitter (34:30), and his attempt to fill roles both in the bullpen and on the bench (38:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices