I think rich hill deserves an in depth video about his odd career and having a lot of no hitters/perfect games robbed from him. I think you’ve already made a small video about him but I can’t find it
There are a lot of people who don’t even really follow baseball who just know Barry Bonds = steroids. I was that way for a long time. That video is a perfect antidote to that way of thinking.
Why Baseball Isn't Fair is the video I share with non-baseball fans to show them why Baseball rules. Most people walk away with at least a "hmmm, that's interesting"
Also I feel like we watched this video play out in real time 2019 world series game 7. Grienke pitched the game of his life, Scherzer had traffic all night, but...the astros lost
I always share the Tim Locastro video with non-baseball fans because the video is exciting and he doesn't fit the mold of what people think when they think "baseball" (mostly strikeouts and homeruns)
I noticed the "penultimate" comment. Don't stress too much about it. I have literally heard dozens of people misuse that word in the exact same way you did. I would venture to say that most of the time someone uses that word they think it means final.
Is there anyone who hasn't watched every single episode of Baseball Bits? I literally watch them all the day they come out. I watch all of Bailey's stuff. He's my favorite RU-vidr. I selfishly want him to make a lot more episodes of baseball bits than he does. I'm sure they take too much time to make though.
The funniest moment in any Baseball Bits was in the Bryce Harper video when talking about WAR expected for FA money, and you show the graphic of his value and say "Hey, wait a minute"
"Up here with Willie Mays and Tim Locastro and Justin Verlander and Rob Barajas" was a sentence that truly only makes sense when talking specifically about baseball bits.
Baseball Bits that I'd personally rate higher are Bryce Harper, Joey Votto, and Jeff Mathis. I think the Jeff Mathis absolutely fits the mold of your best videos, in the sense of "here's a player you've never heard of before, and here's how they defy expectations." Bobby Wallace is basically the dead-ball era equivalent of that thought process and it worked really well. Incorporating a modern, statistically driven approach always keeps me interested and I think you're doing an excellent job with these videos
100% agree on the Willie Mays video being S tier. I showed this video to some older baseball fans in my family and they enjoyed it. It bridges the gap between the traditional and modern eras very well!
Tim Locastro Vid is absolutely S - Tier. It's what I think of when I think baseball bits. Because of the vid he's on my bench on MLB the Show and I have won so many games because of him
I can’t believe you didn’t talk about the most iconic line of baseball bits ever: WAIT WHO PUT THIS PICTURE OF BARTOLO COLON IN MY BOB WICKMAN CALENDAR?
I think the video where Pujos broke that dude is A Tier. The show is called "Baseball Bits" and its a great bit of baseball. I didn't know about that story and it didn't need anything extra, but you told it very well and made it enjoyable. I don't think Baseball Bits needs stats or big brain to be A Tier
I think the Bonds episode was really well done because of the restraint you had in doing the video. You didn’t talk much about his personal choices but focused on what he meant to the game. One quote from that video that is haunting to me is: “It isn’t enough that the Angels won, the American public demands a loser whose heart has been ripped out.” One of the many quotes from that video that really encapsulates American sports culture in general. Bonds is not even recognized as the all time home run leader in MLB The Show. The leader is credited as “San Francisco Giants.” S tier for me. Love your work!!!!
2 years later so probably useless, but MLB the show has a rather unique reason for not using Bonds’ name. He broke away from the MLBPA to be ‘individually licensed’ and that is also why he was never featured in baseball games even when he was playing! Im not sure if records lists fall under his licensing; but I assume if not, the decision to not list his name stems from his refusal to be included in games while he was active. Part of his anti hero charm, imo.
The Willie Mays video is my favourite for sure. It's like watching a movie where you're in suspense the whole time, but the good guy wins in the end. Everyone's happy, tears in their eyes.
I like this video. As an artist, I really like taking an honest look back on things you’ve made and seeing what didn’t work versus what did and why. It really helps you improve.
If you ever do this again, one of my now all time favorite episodes is the one about the Royals video replay review guy, and how he is literally sabermetrically worth positive WAR. Such a sick video and a great idea that lends itself to how important non players or direct coaching staff is to each organization, in all sports for that matter.
honestly surprised that "The Future of Baseball is International" ranked that low. i think it sort of gave a different perspective that the another video, i really enjoy it!
Going through all the videos it’s pretty amazing to see how many Baseball Bits episodes have added something to the Baseball Fan’s lexicon or achieved meme status. I remember when Baseball Bits was starting to take off and many people were comparing Bailey to Jon Bois. The other day I was watching the Dorktown episode on Brandon Guyer and it was pretty cool to see how many people were in the comment section shouting out the channel and the Tim Locastro video. It says a lot to see the comparisons being thrown both ways and it’s a credit to how well produced and researched the videos are. And it shows how well the formula for the series is working when there are videos that get more relevant as time goes on. As well as the hands on approach that has certainly made the comment section a great place to have a good conversation about baseball. Just don’t rush into that magnum opus about Mike Trout too quickly!!!
Honestly the Braves-Pirates one is probably my favorite, I've really enjoyed seeing the growth of the channel but I go back to that one by far the most. The bit at the end with Scott Proctor falling down is what made me love this channel (not to mention the rest of the video changing my mind on a call I thought was 100% wrong)
Bailey, I've been around this channel for awhile and you even inspired me for my project where I analyzed the history of the Tampa Bay Rays, no matter what you ranked the Baseball bits, I enjoyed every last one of them.
I think the Willie Mays video is your best work. It's awesome on the basis of the analytics and the detective work, but "catch probability of 2% like the freaking milk, baby!" just puts it over the top.
Hey Bailey, I think a Gio Urshela baseball bits would be really cool. The bad start and the sudden uphill, it's very cool! Also, I love ALL of them, so they should all be S tier.
bonds in 4 has become my favorite episode of baseball bits by far, feel like it deserved to be S tier for the concept alone, one of the most interesting videos on bonds out there, S tier bonds video w the jon bois one
As a channel, Foolish Baseball is S tier for sure. I stop whatever I'm doing when a new Baseball Bits goes up. Same with Summoning Salt's content. But that's pretty much my entire RU-vid must-watch list.
Not 100% sure why, but the Cleveland Spiders video is always the one I look back on as my favorite and the one that was most enthralling. Loved hearing your perspective on all these, Bailey!
I think how to fix baseball is your best video. I’ve only ever walked away from 2 videos seriously impressed in a lot of years of watching RU-vid. That’s one of them
S tier : Willie Mays catch, Justin Verlander perfect inning, Jeff Mathis, Tim Locastro, Larry Walker,Ichiro secret slugger,Pedro, astros cheating scandal, Barry Bonds,Juan Soto hitting machine, Bryce harper, Joey votto,most strikeouts,Big papi, Earl Weaver Moneyball A tier : everything else (other than 3 videos) B tier : Worst call ever, game of baseball is international, Kershaws prime is over.
Hey Bailey I know you don’t like suggestions all too much, but I just find it weird that the A’s, for as weird and interesting of an organization as they are, don’t have a single baseball bits video having to do with them. I feel like there are a ton of stories to tell over the history of their franchise whether it’s present day, early 2010’s, moneyball (probably overdone), the bash bros, rickey henderson, Charles Finley, the 70s dynasty, their stint in Kansas City, Connie Mack, Jimmie Foxx etc. there’s just so much there and I hope you’ll consider covering one of them soon :).
My S tier is Tim Locastro Jeff Mathis Earl Weaver Bobby Wallace and Justin Verlander. Larry Walker, Yankees CF and Most Breakable Record were ones I think you slept on. The former for its impact and the latter two because I rewatch them a lot and think they're great topics. Rewatchability is a huge thing for me in Baseball bits
I really love the non-Pitcher, Defense-oriented Baseball Bits, so I'd personally put Mathis in S tier (my personal favourite) and Simba in High-A/Low-S range. Otherwise I'm almost in total agreeance with the tier list
Fun fact about how pujoles broke lidge. For some reason I never got a chance to watch that episode of baseball bits so I thought that breaking lidge was an actual phrase. So in an essay (btw I got a 99) I put “I really think the bald eagle broke lidge after the government banned DDT” my English teacher called me up and said what does breaking lidge mean and I said oh it’s a phrase. 2 weeks later I watch the video and I felt like and Idiot. but wait there’s more my English teacher actually ended using the phrase breaking lidge in an example for all of her classes... she was a strict teacher so I was worried about coming clean but, I did and she laughed it off. Now me, friend, and family all use breaking lidge as a phrase Thank you foolish baseball
The Cleveland spiders video should be S tier imo. It’s quintessential baseball bits bc it’s about an unusual topic and it might be your funniest video.
Hey Bailey, every video you've ever made is S tier for me! I literally fall asleep to baseball bits sometimes haha. I was just wondering if you could list out the track names of the songs you use in each video, in the description? I really love the music in your videos! Keep rocking it man!
He usually credits the tracks at the very end. Within the last 30 seconds of the video. I have entire playlist of my favorite baseball but songs. Also, one of the main artists he uses is Maxo. I found it in the Felix Hernandez episode.
I don’t think you’ll see this Bailey but, I came to your channel when the Barajas vid was recommended to me. I then watched all the videos. Keep up the great work
Timmy and Tulo was incredible looking back they were playing when I was a kid first getting into watching baseball and they were electric and they’re decline always made me sad but the video did bring me to that don’t be sad because it’s over smile because it happened
Mark Buehrle and Tim Locastro are the two videos I use to pimp your channel. The only thing missing from the Buehrle video is mention of him drinking three beers before closing out the World Series; though one might argue that had absolutely nothing to do with the point of the video, I believe it is as inseparable from his career as Barry Bonds' healthy breakfast.
I'm really glad you ranked the Earl Weaver video as an A. I've always felt like that was one of the most underrated episodes. Also feel like the Bobby Wallace one is underrated. It's just such a unique and weird story.
Not sure how good of a Baseball Bits this would be, but in a sense, catchers are player managers. They have so much they have to know: every pitchers pitches, opposing teams batters tendencies, counts, potential base stealers if on base, and just overall game management. They’re borderline coaches.
The Larry walker, Ichiro and strikeout videos are the ones I’ve rewatched the most. Would be very high on my list. Honestly though it would be hard for me cos I love all these videos. Coming from somewhere where baseball is never even mentioned, I started to watch because of a combination of foolish baseball videos and Javy Baez highlights.
I think the Jeff Mathis one should be Tier SS, this video is a Gem that shows how Fielding, that is the most under appreciated aspect of the game, can be important and exciting, I am Italian , I remember one day watching Giants vs Reds in the playoffs 2012 I told my father “Posey the catcher” is one of the best players in the world, he didn’t know the fielders also were hitters so he said “What? What does he do? He just catches a ball and he is the best player in the world and makes millions?” So Catchers as fielders seems like something easy to do, even baseball lovers don’t value the catcher as a fielder, and that video showed the vital importance of being a good fielder, I am a huge fan, but that was the video that made me fall in love with baseball even more
my personal favorite was the one on Timmy and Tulo. I haven't been watching baseball for all that long and they are two players that I hadn't really heard about. I wanna thank you for presenting the careers of two phenomenal players with careers cut way too short.
Commenting before I watch....the Tim Locastro episode has to be up there for me. Same with the King Felix vid (but I'm biased on that one) edit: i keep getting jon bois and jomboy mixed up when you drop their names lol
Forgot to comment when I first watched this video, but the Buehrle baseball bits was the first I ever watched and the idea behind it is definitely one of my favourites. After i watched that video it got me hooked on all the other baseball bits and I've enjoyed them all, but for me I would have Buehrle in A at least
I’m a Giants fan so I’m biased for The Catch video, I think that’s how I found the channel, you did great work analyzing old footage. Reminds me a bit of Jon’s college basketball video.
The votto video is literally the reason I knew that Kyle tucker wasn't a bad hitter, he just has a 177 babip so far, I had an entire argument about the validity of his 212 batting average and how he's playing well; honestly, I learned way more about baseball watching baseball bits than watching baseball for the last 11 years, and I appreciate the change in the way I see the sport now. I can admit, after 2019 I was ready to give up on baseball, my team was full of cheaters. I didn't know what to, but now, I still watch baseball daily, seeing so much more of the sport than I ever did before, and it's all because some man named bailey informed me that the sport can be so much more than enjoying winning. Thanks foolish baseball, I hope your braves do well this year.
Fun list. I don’t have much disagreements from your ranking, although I might personally bump Jeff Mathis to an S tier just from the memes that developed out of it. (Also it’s the video that led me to Foolish Baseball.) I’m also glad Rod Barajas got an S just because it’s the video where I got my Patreon shoutout. I’ll have to fill mine out after I get back from the Astros-Rangers game.
great list! I fully agree with Tim Locastro's video being S. It is one of my all-time favorite videos, I love to go back and watch it every couple months Edit: Jeff Mathis isn't S tier booooo I love that video so much
You saying that the Pedro Martinez video got a lot more views a while after it released, because it is by far my favorite episode to rewatch. I’ve watched it probably 20 times.
In my opinion, “when pujols broke lidge” was like an apology for “is Albert pujols too slow for baseball” cuz it’s like the total antithesis of that video. It showcases one of Pujols most badass moments ever. He should make a video about Pujols 2020 season with the Dodgers to finish out the Pujols trilogy
the jeff mathis one should of been a s tier it added a new favorite player for me and it also has been my most watched video from you and also I feel like it is also a well put together one that I dont feel like skipping ahead
I think your baseball rules video was one of my favorites. I never realized how pitifully little A ball players get paid and I never thought about the idea of a salary floor. Opened my eyes.
The best videos are: Bonds in 4, Strasburg, the Yankees CF legacy (I like that one because it travels through eras), Glasnows curveball, and Votto. Idk if you want video ideas but some that come to mind are Manny Ramirez (I thought manny was the quintessential power hitter but he has a high career batting average) Derek Jeter, Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, Alex Rodriguez, the 98 home run chase, and I think Mike Trout deserves another deep dive like you said. Maybe Judge and Stanton as the kings of exit velocity.