Podcast · Sport

Dirt From The Dugout

by Foul Territory Network · English · Sport

ESPN’s Karl Ravech and Justin Musil launch Dirt From The Dugout, a podcast as part of their groundbreaking ecosystem, The Parent Dugout. The Parent Dugout provides unmatched resources and strategies to demystify the often overwhelming journey of youth and high school baseball. Hear expert advice thr

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 49 min

Championship Series Preview: Our Picks & MLB’s New Proposal

On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil break down a loaded League Championship Series slate, with the Brewers-Dodgers NLCS set and the Rays waiting to find out their ALCS opponent after sweeping the Yankees. Musil, drawing on his own front-office experience as a strategic advisor to the Brewers’ scouting department, explains the organizational identity that’s carried Milwaukee through a historic run, while Ravech makes the case that the Dodgers’ financial edge shows up most in a seven-game series, where star-studded depth in the rotation and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

8 Oct 2026 · 34 min
Part 2 | Adam Ottavino on the Pitching Lab That Saved His Career
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil wrap up their conversation with 15-year MLB veteran Adam Ottavino, diving into the career-saving decision he made after a disastrous 2017 season. Ottavino tells the story of building his own pitching lab in a former shoe store in Harlem owned by his father-in-law, training alone in the middle of the night with a high-speed camera and a Rapsodo unit to rebuild his delivery and commit fully to his slider after a Dodger Stadium meltdown nearly got him sent to the minors. He traces the longer arc of learning to trust his own…
6 Oct 2026 · 30 min
Part 1 | Adam Ottavino on Mentors, Mistakes & Making the Majors
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil welcome former big-league reliever Adam Ottavino, who pitched for the Rockies, Yankees, Mets, and more over a 15-year career. Ottavino breaks down just how unhittable modern pitching has become, pointing to the explosion in repertoire size, pitch design, and sheer volume of arms hitters now face. He traces his own path from a Brooklyn kid obsessed with emulating big leaguers in Wiffle ball games to a late physical bloomer who got DH'd for as a high school freshman second baseman, through the growth spurt at 15 that finally…
2 Oct 2026 · 48 min
MLB Postseason Preview: Wild Card Picks & Predictions
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil break down the wild card round as the 2026 postseason kicks off, naming their teams and players of the year before diving series by series. Musil goes with the Brewers as team of the year for their relentless, never-say-die style, while Ravech makes the case for the Rays and their similarly pesky, pressure-everyone approach, floating a Brewers-Rays World Series as the season's ultimate underdog story. The two debate player of the year between Jacob Misiorowski's dominant strikeout stuff and Pete Crow-Armstrong's 40-40…
30 Sep 2026 · 28 min
Part 2 | Erik Neander's Unpaid Internship Story Will Shock You
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil wrap up their conversation with Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander, digging into the unglamorous grind behind his rise. Neander tells the story of his unpaid internship with Baseball Info Solutions, the four months he spent sleeping on a twin bed crammed into a coworker's walk-in closet, and the winter-break scramble to enroll at a random community college just to qualify for the internship stipend. He talks about why he waits as long as possible before evaluating young players, the sacrifice it…
29 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Part 1 | Rays President Erik Neander on Leading Without Egos
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil sit down with Erik Neander, president of baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, on the eve of the playoffs with Tampa Bay sitting atop the American League. Neander traces his path from a Cal Ripken-loving kid growing up 20 minutes from Cooperstown to landing a Rays internship on his third or fourth attempt, and shares the leadership philosophy that's driven the organization's success: staying grounded, leading with humility, and never confusing the importance of the job with the importance of any one person in it. He…
24 Sep 2026 · 21 min
Part 2 | Aaron Boone on Social Media, Pressure & His 2003 Walk-Off
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil close out their conversation with Yankees manager Aaron Boone, diving into how he handles the pressure of New York and the social media noise that comes with it, including the annual talk he gives his team every spring training about protecting themselves from it, and the lesson Giancarlo Stanton once shared with the clubhouse. Boone also revisits one of the most iconic moments in Yankees history: his walk-off home run off Tim Wakefield in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, from Joe Torre's on-deck advice to the Velcro batting pad…
22 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Part 1 | Aaron Boone: Baseball, Brotherhood, & Building Perspective
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil welcome Yankees manager Aaron Boone, drawing on Ravech's decades covering Boone's playing career at ESPN and their long friendship since. Boone opens up about growing up in a baseball dynasty with his grandfather, father, and brothers all in the game, and how his family gave him room to make the journey his own rather than pushing him into it. He talks through the balance parents need to strike between support and helicoptering, why he still values kids playing multiple sports growing up (pointing to Cody Bellinger and…
21 Sep 2026 · 26 min
Part 2 | Jesse Cole Gets Real: $30 a Week, Foster Care & Banana Ball
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil close out their conversation with Savannah Bananas founder Jesse Cole, and it gets personal. Jesse breaks down the rule he thinks is Banana Ball's real secret weapon, the one-point-per-inning scoring system born from a phone call with his dad after a blowout loss on the night he proposed to his wife, Emily. He opens up about the couple's near-collapse in 2016, selling their house and living off $30 a week to keep the team alive, and how that same partnership led them to become foster parents and launch the Bananas Foster…
18 Sep 2026 · 35 min
Part 1 | Jesse Cole Shares the Secrets Behind Banana Ball's Success
Ravvy and Justin are joined this episode by Jesse Cole, the creator of "Banana Ball" and founder of Fans First Entertainment. He's best known as the owner of the viral baseball sensation, the Savannah Bananas. Starting out as a minor league baseball general manager who wanted to make the game more exciting and engaging for fans, he created a faster-paced, highly choreographed version of baseball that now regularly sells out major stadiums across the country. In this first part of the interview, Cole talks through his "what if" approach to reinventing baseball's slow spots, his LCP (learn,…
11 Sep 2026 · 36 min
September Sports Talk with Karl Ravech & Justin Musil
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil talk all things September. From the food to the weather, to the sports, and of course, the baseball. Nothing beats September, and this conversation captures exactly why American sports fans love this time of year. Hear Ravvy and Justin's World Series Favorite, their favorite teams to watch as the regular season comes to a close, and even which NFL teams the boys are rooting for this season! Join our growing community today! https://theparentdugout.com/ Subscribe to the podcast!…
10 Sep 2026 · 35 min
Part 2 | Michael King Shares Which Pitches to Master as An MLB Starter
Karl Ravech and Justin Musil welcome San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King to the show. A Rochester, New York native and Boston College product, King was a 12th-round pick who developed into a full-time starter with the Yankees before headlining the trade that sent Juan Soto to New York, and has since become one of the Padres' most reliable arms. Ravvy and Justin talk with King about his winding path to a big-league rotation, what it takes to reinvent yourself as a pitcher, and the mindset that's carried him through the ups and downs of a long MLB season. On this part, King shares…
9 Sep 2026 · 25 min
Part 1 | What Boston College Meant to Padres Ace Michael King
Karl Ravech and Justin Musil welcome San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King to the show. A Rochester, New York native and Boston College product, King was a 12th-round pick who developed into a full-time starter with the Yankees before headlining the trade that sent Juan Soto to New York, and has since become one of the Padres' most reliable arms. Ravvy and Justin talk with King about his winding path to a big-league rotation, what it takes to reinvent yourself as a pitcher, and the mindset that's carried him through the ups and downs of a long MLB season. In this first part of our…
5 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Karl Ravech Reflects On His Career at ESPN
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Justin turns the mic around on his co-host, sitting down with Karl for a rare look back at his nearly three-decade run at ESPN. Ravvy has been one of the defining voices of baseball broadcasting since joining the network in 1996, anchoring Baseball Tonight as its longtime primary host and, most recently, calling games as the lead announcer for Sunday Night Baseball from 2022 to 2026. A Needham, Massachusetts native and Ithaca College grad, Karl got his start in local news in Binghamton before working his way up to the national stage, where he's had a…
3 Sep 2026 · 33 min
Part 2 | How Shohei Ohtani Has Changed Dave Roberts' Managing Career
Ravvy and Justin are joined this episode by Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's best known as the steady hand behind one of the most dominant runs in modern baseball, guiding the Dodgers to World Series titles in 2020, 2024, and 2025. Roberts began his career as an outfielder, playing for the Cleveland Indians, Dodgers, Red Sox, Padres, and Giants, and famously stole a pivotal base in the 2004 ALCS that sparked Boston's historic comeback. In the second part of our exclusive interview with Dave Roberts, we hear what it has been like managing Shohei Ohtani, stories about his…
2 Sep 2026 · 30 min
Part 1 | Dave Roberts Talks Managing Accomplished MLB Superstars
Ravvy and Justin are joined this episode by Dave Roberts, manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's best known as the steady hand behind one of the most dominant runs in modern baseball, guiding the Dodgers to World Series titles in 2020, 2024, and 2025. Roberts began his career as an outfielder, playing for the Cleveland Indians, Dodgers, Red Sox, Padres, and Giants, and famously stole a pivotal base in the 2004 ALCS that sparked Boston's historic comeback. In this first part of our exclusive interview, Doc talks about his baseball career both playing and coaching, the difference between…
18 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
Dave Belisle Shares What Makes the LLWS So Special
Ravvy & Justin are joined this week by the legendary Little League World Series Manager for Cumberland, Rhode Island, Dave Belisle. His teams, which made two appearances in 2011 and 2014 at Williamsport, were both New England Champions. For 39 years (1980-2019), Dave also coached hockey alongside his father at Mount Saint Charles Academy and won 30 Rhode Island State Championships together. Dave discusses the impact his legendary 2014 speech had on his life, what his father meant to him, and the most memorable moments from his historic Little League runs. Use our code for 10% off your next…
11 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Alex Cora Shares His Baseball Future & Best Memories
On this episode, Justin & Ravvy are joined by former Red Sox manager and 14-Year MLB vet Alex Cora! After retiring as a player, Cora served as the bench coach for the Houston Astros when they won their first World Series title in 2017. Cora was named Boston's manager the following season, winning a franchise-best 108 games and leading the team to victory in the 2018 World Series. He is the fifth MLB manager to win the World Series in his first season and the first Puerto Rican manager of a World Series-winning team. Cora shares what his MLB future might look like, the importance of his…
9 Aug 2026 · 50 min
4x Gold Glover & World Series Champion Eric Hosmer Joins the Dugout!
This week, Justin & Ravvy are joined by 2015 World Series Champion and 2016 All-Star Game MVP Eric Hosmer! He played for the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, he helped win Team USA's first gold medal in a WBC tournament and was named to the All-World Baseball Classic Team. Use our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on SeatGeek*: seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
All-Time Great Manager Buck Showalter Shares His Best Stories
Ravvy and Justin are joined this episode by longtime manager and baseball legend Buck Showalter. Showalter has earned a reputation for building baseball teams into postseason contenders in short periods of time.He helped the Yankees rise from the bottom half of the AL East to first place before a players' strike prematurely ended the 1994 campaign. Under his watch, the Diamondbacks made their first-ever playoff appearance in only the second year of the team's existence. Showalter shares hilarious stories, memories with baseball legends, and so much more on this latest episode! Use our code…
22 Jul 2026 · 53 min
Cardinals Legend Adam Wainwright Shares Stories and Memories
This week, Ravvy and Justin are joined by all-time Cardinals great, Team USA medal winner, and renaissance man, Adam Wainwright! In his career, Wainwright won 200 games, received three All-Star selections and two Gold Glove Awards, and finished in the top three in the Cy Young Award balloting four times. With 2,202 career strikeouts, Wainwright is second to Bob Gibson (3,117) in Cardinals franchise history. Listen to "Waino" talk about his pitching tips for youth players, what his greatest baseball memory was, and so much more! Use our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on…
16 Jul 2026 · 59 min
Tim Kurkjian Dives Into Decades of Baseball Stories and Memories
On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Ravvy and Justin are joined by one of the greatest personalities in baseball, Tim Kurkjian! Kurkjian is an MLB analyst on Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter while also contributing to ESPN's website and magazine. On December 7, 2021, Kurkjian was named the recipient of the BBWAA Career Excellence Award for 2022, presented annually by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and officially awarded during induction ceremonies for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Hear Tim dive into his favorite memories working at ESPN with Ravvy, the greatest player he has…
7 Jul 2026 · 1 hr
David Ross Opens Up About the Most Memorable Moments of His Career
Ravvy and Justin are joined this episode by the great David Ross. Ross played college baseball for Auburn University and the University of Florida and participated in two College World Series. Ross had two World Series wins, one with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the Chicago Cubs in 2016. The Cubs named him their manager prior to the 2020 season. Hear Ross talk about his time in Chicago, Boston, the amazing connections he's made, and why baseball is so much special to him! Use our code for 10% off your next order of MLB tickets on SeatGeek*: seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by…
1 Jul 2026 · 49 min
Rajai Davis Breaks Down 2016 Home Run and His Preparation in the MLB
This week, Ravvy and Justin are joined by long time big leaguer, Rajai Davis. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets. He is most known for his game-tying home run against Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, which at the time was the third-most consequential play in terms of Championship Win Probability Added. Listen to Rajai break down his famous home run, how he prepared to be his best self,…
30 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Chris Burke Details College and Professional Baseball Comparisons
Ravvy and Justin are joined by former unanimous SEC Player of the Year and top Astros prospect, Chris Burke! Burke played baseball at the University of Tennessee, where he was named to three All-America teams. In 1999, Burke was selected as a Freshman 2nd team All-American at second base. In 2000, he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference team at second base. In 2001, Burke moved to shortstop and helped the Volunteers make an appearance in the College World Series by hitting .435 with 20 home runs and 49 stolen bases, being named to the CWS all-tournament team. Chris talks youth…
25 Jun 2026 · 58 min
Jeff Nelson Shares the Impact of Winning Four World Series
Ravvy and Justin are joined this episode by All-Star Yankees Pitcher and MLB analyst Jeff Nelson. He had two stints with the New York Yankees, with whom he won four World Series championships. Nelson had three stints with the Seattle Mariners (1992–1995, 2001–2003 and again in 2005). He was named an All-Star in 2001. He is Seattle's all-time record holder for most games pitched (383). Nellie shares what pitchers should focus on other than velocity, favorite memories from the '95 Mariners and four rings with the Yankees, and some of the intangibles that make today's All-Star…
10 Jun 2026 · 59 min
Dustin Pedroia Details the End to His Big League Career and the State of Youth Baseball
Ravvy & Justin are joined by Dustin Pedroia. Dustin played in the major leagues for 14 years all with the Boston Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia has an extremely decorated career for an everyday second baseman including an MVP, ROTY, 2 Championships, 4 All Star nods, 4 Gold Glove awards, and a Silver Slugger. The "Laser Show" dives into the state of youth baseball, how baseball injuries are treated, and how his big league career ended. Join our growing community today! https://theparentdugout.com/ Subscribe to the podcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirt-from-the-dugout/id1895617382…
3 Jun 2026 · 50 min
Dusty Baker Opens Up on Highs and Lows from Life in Baseball
Legendary baseball manager and 2-time World Series champion Dusty Baker joins Karl Ravech and Justin Musil on this special episode of Dirt From The Dugout! Dusty opens up on his life and career in baseball, sharing stories about the most impactful people and moments along the way. He details it further in his memoir "Crossroads," available online and in stores now. Dusty talks about his World Series teams and the great teams that should have gotten there, including the 2003 Chicago Cubs. Join our growing community today! https://theparentdugout.com/ Subscribe to the podcast!…
27 May 2026 · 55 min
Jim Schlossnagle Shares Keys to Success; Talks Why He Left TCU
The great college baseball coach, current Texas Longhorns head coach, and TCU legend, Jim Schlossnagle, joins Karl Ravech and Justin Musil on this edition of Dirt From The Dugout! Coach Schloss talks about his mentality and the keys to his long run of success. Along with questions from our teammates in the live chat, Schloss also answers why he decided to leave TCU after a massively successful run. Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order* seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Join our growing community today!…
19 May 2026 · 56 min
Theo Epstein Shares Keys to Legendary Career; Talks Breaking Two Curses
Legendary baseball executive, Theo Epstein, joins Karl Ravech and Justin Musil on this edition of Dirt From The Dugout! Theo opens up about his baseball background and upbringing, and the lessons he learned early that helped mold him into one of the most successful front office executives of all time. Theo also shares more insight about the Cubs' signing of veteran catcher David Ross that was recently revealed in a viral clip online. Which curse-breaking championship -- between the 2004 Red Sox and 2016 Cubs -- felt like the greater feat to him. Join our growing community today!…

About Dirt From The Dugout

Dirt From The Dugout is a English sport podcast from Foul Territory Network. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Foul Territory Network
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1895617382

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