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2022 MLB Preview Series — NL West (Feat. Albert Destrade)

For our fifth installment of our 2022 MLB Preview Series, former Survivor contestant and baseball coach Albert Destrade (@Zero_Votes on Twitter) returns to the Jack Vita Show to preview the NL West! The Arizona Diamondbacks were the worst team in the National League a season ago. After extending infielder Ketel Marte, what will 2022 look like for them (0:00 - 24:15)? Over the last 15 months, the Colorado Rockies have said goodbye to stars Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story. A few weeks ago, they said hello to Kris Bryant. What should fans expect from Bryant this season, and how will the Rockies perform (24:15 - 46:00)? The San Diego Padres are coming off an extremely disappointing 2021. Picked by many to win the NL West, the Padres finished 79-83, in third place of the division. What needs to happen in order for the Padres to breakthrough and get back to the postseason for the first time in a non-COVID season since 2006 (46:00 - 1:06:35)? The San Francisco Giants greatly exceeded expectations in 2021, winning 107 games, and with it, the NL West crown. After losing Kris Bryant, Kevin Gausman and Buster Posey, how much regression will be see from the Giants, or will the Giants repeat as division champs (1:06:35 - 1:19:15)? The Los Angeles Dodgers are hungry for another World Series, and added the best first baseman on the planet Freddie Freeman to an already potent lineup. How will the Dodgers look in 2022 (1:19:15 - END)? Episode complete with win total projections for each team.

2022 MLB Preview Series — NL Central (Feat. Ryan Pacatte)

In the fourth installment of our 2022 MLB Preview Series, Cincinnati Reds fan Ryan Pacatte returns to the show for a comprehensive preview of the NL Central. Had Major League Baseball expanded its postseason to include six playoff teams in each league, the Reds would have made the playoffs in 2021. Over the winter, the Redlegs lost three big bats from their lineup, as Nicholas Castellanos signed with the Phillies, and the Reds traded Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to the Mariners. They also lost pitchers Sonny Gray, Wade Miley, Amir Garrett and Michael Lorenzen. Ryan sets the table for the 2022 Reds, and he and Jack estimate how they might perform in 2022 (0:00 - 28:45). The Pittsburgh Pirates are in full-rebuild mode. What should baseball fans watch for from the Buccos this season (28:45 - 37:25)? The Chicago Cubs are also rebuilding. After gutting the heart of their order last year at the trade deadline, what happens next on the North Side (37:25 - 54:35)? After firing their manager Mike Schildt and ending the 2021 regular season as baseball's hottest team, what's the trajectory for the St. Louis Cardinals entering 2022? And how should Major League Baseball recognize Albert Pujols' final season (54:35 - 1:11:45)? The Milwaukee Brewers won 95 games a season ago; will they repeat as division champions (1:11:45 - END)? Episode complete with win total projections for each team.

2022 MLB Preview Series — NL East (Feat. Mickey Morandini and Jordan Morandini)

In the third edition of our 2022 MLB Preview Series, former Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini and his son Jordan Morandini visit the Jack Vita Show to tackle the NL East. The NL East is consistently the most highly touted National League division, but it has a tendency to underdeliver. Will it truly live up to its billing this year, as the Phillies, Mets and Marlins all look for significant improvement in 2022, and the Braves defend their World Series crown? The Nationals took a big step backwards last year, and appear to be in a rebuild; where will they stand in 2022 (0:00 — 15:25)? After a disappointing 2021 season, the Marlins have a lot of young talent coming up through the pipeline; could they be a sneaky dark horse team (15:25 — 27:30)? After adding Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Mark Canha and Starling Marte, will the Mets *finally* turn a corner this season (27:30 — 41:05)? Mickey and Jordan give a full break down of the Phillies and share why they remain optimistic, despite the club currently being the NL team with the longest postseason drought (41:05 — 1:03:05). Finally, the defending world champions enter 2022 in an interesting spot, having replaced Freddie Freeman with first baseman Matt Olson. How big of an impact will the change make for the Braves, and how will the team perform in what looks to be a highly competitive division, with Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuña Jr. returning to the club? Episode complete with win total projections for each club!

2022 MLB Preview Series — AL East (Feat. Jonathan ’JJ’ Jaggard)

In the second installment of our 2022 MLB Preview Series, Yankees fan Jonathan 'JJ' Jaggard visits the show to put the AL East under the microscope. The AL East was baseball's best division last year, and there's no reason it shouldn't be in 2022. The Yankees and Red Sox shook up their rosters, while the young Rays and Blue Jays are another year older, another year wiser. JJ and Jack take a close look at each team, while providing their win total projections. After signing Trevor Story, how will the Red Sox follow up their 2021 season, in which they got all the way to the ALCS? Why Story at second base instead of Bogaerts (0:00 – 22:15)? The Blue Jays lost the reigning Cy Young Robbie Ray, while trading for all-star third baseman Matt Chapman. With Vladdy Jr., Bo Bichette and Teoscar Hernandez entering their prime, will the Blue Jays reclaim the AL East crown for the first time since 2015 (22:15 – 38:50)? The Baltimore Orioles lost 110 last year. With more young talent joining their big league roster, how many will they lose in 2021, and how far away are they from making a move in this division (38:50 – 55:15)? After parting ways with Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela and bringing in Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson, how might the Yankees improve in 2022 (55:15 – 1:19:55)? Will the Tampa Bay Rays three-peat the AL East (1:19:55 – END)?

Sweet 16 + Elite Eight Recap with Boise State Basketball Coach and Former Valpo Player Lexus Williams

Lexus Williams is the assistant to the head coach, Leon Rice, at Boise State. He previously played at Boise State and Valparaiso. He's best known for his game-winning half-court shot that he hit at the buzzer at Oregon in 2018, ending the Ducks' 28-game home win-streak. Lexus visits the Jack Vita Show for the first time to recap the second weekend of the 2022 NCAA Tournament's games, talk Boise State's best basketball season in school history, reflect on Valpo basketball memories (and his big shot vs. Oregon), and hype Valparaiso's alumni team in The Basketball Tournament, The Cru, which is hoping to get the call to TBT this summer. Hear Lexus and Jack's thoughts on the best and worst games of the weekend, as well as set the table for the Final Four.

2022 MLB Preview Series — AL West (Feat. Anthony Franze and Mario Lanza)

The 2022 MLB Preview series is here! In the first edition, Anthony Franze (chief meteorologist at NewsWest9 in Midland, Texas) and Jack put the AL West under the microscope. But first, they provide a quick summary of Major League Baseball rules changes, playoff expansion, and more from the newest Collective Bargaining Agreement. If you were wondering what you missed and what's new, you've come to the right place. Anthony and Jack share some thoughts on the league's changes (0:00 - 20:30), then dive right into previewing each team's season. Anthony is a diehard Rangers fan who is VERY excited about what the Rangers did this past winter, adding Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Jon Gray and Mitch Garver; how many wins better will the Ranger be from 2021, when they finished a dismal 60-102 (20:30 - 38:00)? How will Shohei Ohtani follow up his historic 2022 season, and how will the Angels fare with a healthy Mike Trout returning to their team (38:00 - 48:30)? The Oakland A's are in the process of wildly making over their team and reloading their farm system. Why did the A's move Matt Olson and Matt Chapman, and what would it take in order for the A's to become a bigger spender in the future (48:30 - 1:00:10)? The Seattle Mariners improved their roster and have even more high-level prospects on the way. Are they ready to compete for the division crown (1:00:10 - 1:13:25)? After losing Carlos Correa, is the Astros' window slowly closing? What should we expect from Houston in 2022 (1:13:25 - 1:24:45)? Jack and Anthony provide win total projections for each team. Finally, Mario Lanza, creator of Funny115.com and host of the podcasts Staff Picks and Survivor Historians leaves a voicemail with his outlook for the 2022 Seattle Mariners' season, a season that he is very excited about.

NCAA Tournament First Weekend Reaction with Valparaiso Basketball Associate Head Coach Luke Gore

Valparaiso men's basketball associate head coach Luke Gore returns to the Jack Vita Show to recap the first weekend of the 2022 NCAA Tournament! Listen as Coach Gore and Jack break down the first weekend's most thrilling moments, shocking upsets, best games and more! Later, Coach Gore talks Valpo basketball, coming off a disappointing 2021-22 season. What happens next, and how will the Beacons move forward in 2022-23?

March Madness for Dummies 2.0 (Feat. Cousin Mia Jeffery)

 
Not all who fill out NCAA Tournament brackets are college basketball junkies. In fact, year in and year out, casual fans that tend to not watch much college basketball prior to the Tournament are the ones that win their office pools. Jack brought on a non-college basketball fan to have on the show, and have them fill out their bracket on-air. Today he is joined by his cousin, Mia Jeffery for that very purpose. Mia, who has watched a total of seven minutes of college basketball this season, takes us through her bracket and explains how she arrives at the decisions she's come to. Last year, Mia's sister Zoe joined us for March Madness for Dummies, and somehow picked the NCAA Tournament champion, the Baylor Bears! She picked Baylor because she thought the name "Baylor Bears" was cute. How will Mia fare?
Want to play in the official Jack Vita Show bracket pool, and win money, as well as an appearance on this podcast? Go to jackvita.com to sign up. Hurry, pool closes Thursday morning! Subscribe to the Jack Vita Show and follow along on Facebook (facebook.com/jackvitashow), Twitter (@JackVitaShow) and YouTube (youtube.com/jackvita), so you don't miss any of our NCAA Tournament coverage!