It’s been awhile since the last episode of the Planet Hardball Podcast, but we’re back!

For this episode, I interviewed filmmaker Tony Okun. Tony has recently completed a documentary called, “Time in the Minors.” As the title suggests, the documentary is all about the lives of two minor league baseball players - Jon Drennen and Tony Schrager.

From the film’s website:

Every year in June approximately 1500 new players out of high school and college are chosen from the amateur baseball draft and sent to play in the minor leagues. Trying to make it in the fiercely competitive world of professional baseball can make or break you. TIME IN THE MINORS documents the lives and passionate dreams of two minor league players on their arduous journey to becoming Major League Baseball players. John Drennen (19), a High School All-American from San Diego, California was selected in the first round of the 2005 amateur baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians and offered a one million dollar signing bonus. 2006 will mark John’s first full season in professional baseball. Tony Schrager (28), a 1998 and 6th-round draft pick out of Omaha, Nebraska is an 8-year veteran of the minor leagues. The 2006 season may be Tony’s last shot to make it.

What’s it like trying to make it to the Major Leagues? Follow each player from pre-season and beyond through the ups and downs of a life in professional baseball, and the dream that keeps their hopes alive.

Be sure to visit the website to view a trailer and get the latest information on screenings.

In this interview, I spoke with Jay Shapiro. Jay is the director of “Opposite Field” - a documentary about youth baseball in Uganda. Take a look at the trailer below:

Opposite Field Trailer from Jay Shapiro on Vimeo.

During the interview, Jay explains some of the many challenges faced by youth players and coaches in Uganda. He also details how he became involved in filming a documentary about the subject. For more information, you can visit the film’s official website - “Opposite Field” official website.

In this interview, I spoke with Andy Fleischacker. Andy is the American coach of the Soligen Alligators - a German club team based in Soligen, Germany. The Alligators were ranked #21 in the 2009 European baseball club rankings.

Andy speaks about the growth of baseball in Europe and Germany and the challenges that lie ahead for his team and others like it. He has a unique perspective on these issues because he has played and coached throughout the US and Europe.

You can hear more about the European rankings in my earlier interview with author Josh Chetwynd.

JB Tucker (Photo Source: Grand Prairie Airhogs)

For the latest Planet Hardball Podcast, I spoke with JB Tucker. JB played Division I college ball (Mississippi State and Wake Forest) and has played several years of affiliated and minor league baseball.

This season, JB will be playing with the Therwil Flyers of the Swiss Baseball League. During the interview, he explains his decision to play in Europe and gives advice to American players who may be interested in playing or coaching in Europe.

For more information on JB Tucker’s career, visit Mister-Baseball and The Baseball Cube.

In this installment of the Planet Hardball Podcast, I spoke with European baseball guru Josh Chetwynd about the top teams in Europe. Josh is a former catcher on the British National Team and he has authored two books on baseball in Europe - “Baseball in Europe: A Country by Country History” and “British Baseball And the West Ham Club: History of a 1930s Professional Team in East London.”

Each year, Josh ranks the Top 50 European club teams for the website Mister-Baseball.com. You can see the 2009 rankings here.

During the interview, we discussed Josh’s method for ranking teams as well as the challenges involved with starting and building a club team in Europe.

For this episode of the Planet Hardball Podcast, I spoke with Gary, Eric and Brian of the Victoria Seals Baseball Blog. We discussed their motivations for blogging about their hometown team and recapped the Victoria Seals inaugural season.

For the latest news on the Victoria Seals and the Golden Baseball League, visit the Victoria Seals Baseball Blog.

I spoke with Arnošt Nesňal, the head coach of the Czech Republic’s National Baseball Team. Coach Nesňal discussed the past, present and future of baseball in the Czech Republic, as well as the recent reports of a Czech pitcher signing with the Tampa Bay Rays.

The final segment of our interview with Moby Benedict. In this segment, Coach Benedict discusses his reasons for leaving the University of Michigan after 17 successful seasons.

After leaving Michigan, he managed the Jamestown Expos of the New York-Penn League, where his assistant coach was current Braves GM Frank Wren.

Coach Benedict discusses managing against Yankees prospect John Elway. He also discusses his friendship with New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon. He notes that Wilpon has given millions of dollars to the Michigan baseball and softball program.

Finally, Coach Benedict talks about his long affiliation with the Tigers organization – first as a minor leaguer playing for Johnny Pesky and later when the Tigers pitching staff – including Mark Fidrych and Jack Morris – used his facilities to train in the off-season.

More from our interview with legendary college coach Moby Benedict. In this segment, Coach Benedict discusses his collegiate and professional playing career. While playing for Michigan, his coach was former Major League pitcher Ray Fisher – Fisher pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1919 World Series.

Coach Benedict also discusses playing in the Tigers organization in the late 1950s, as well as baseball discussions he had with Ted Williams and Ralph Houk.

An interview with former University of Michigan coach Moby Benedict. In this segment, Coach Benedict explains how he was able to build a powerhouse baseball program - he recruited 25 future Major League players, including Ted Simmons, Elliot Maddox and Steve Howe.

Coach Benedict also discusses a walk-on pitcher named Fritz Henderson. At the time of this interview (2009), Henderson was the CEO of General Motors.

For Small Ball Podcast #5, I spoke with Laurel Sharpe, founder of Financial Aid Serving Families in the Minors (FASFIM). The organization aims to provide financial assistance to minor league players, so their families can stay together throughout the baseball season.

Laurel explains how being the wife of a minor leaguer motivated her to start FASFIM. Her husband - Steve Sharpe - is currently pitching in the Oakland A’s organization.

In this interview, I spoke with Kris Koch of the Fort Myers Miracle. The Miracle are a Minnesota Twins affiliate, playing in the Florida State League. The league has seen an average attendance increase of 23% over last season.

Kris discusses the league’s increased attendance and some of the promotions scheduled for the 2009 season. He also discusses his rise from being a vendor to becoming the Assistant General Manager.

In this interview, I spoke with Nicolle Meyer of the Lake Erie Crushers. The Crushers are a new team in the independent Frontier League. We discuss the Crushers’ home opener and Nicolle’s experience working for two other teams in the Frontier League (Traverse City Beach Bums and Windy City Thunderbolts).

spoke with Steve Smaldone of the Lake Elsinore Storm. The Storm are the Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Steve talks about the Storm’s unique logo as well as the team’s “Fat Tuesday” promotion. Every Tuesday, fans can enjoy an all-you-can eat menu for the price of a $13 ticket.

The “Fat Tuesday” promotion is sponsored by Subtle Butt - a fabric flatulence “shield” that will be given to the first 250 fans in attendence every Tuesday night. From the Storm blog:

“The first 250 fans each Tuesday will receive a free product sample of Subtle Butt, providing relief both for the environment and for the noses of those around them. Fans can enjoy all their favorite ballpark food (hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, french fries and popcorn) and not worry about clearing out their section with untimely smells. ‘This will really help people out,’ said Storm Assistant General Manager Allan Benavides. ‘I know personally when I eat all that I can, I have problems with gas emissions.’”

I spoke with Mickey Graham of the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Whitecaps are the Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The team will be selling a 4800-calorie hamburger at home games this season. The burger includes 5 beef patties, 5 slices of cheese, one cup of chili, salsa and corn chips. The burger costs $20.

Our interview focuses on the ideas that led to the creation of the infamous burger. We also discuss the criticism the burger has received from a group of animal rights activists.

It was interesting to find out that the team has been very up front about the unhealthy aspects of the promotion - going as far as giving away T-shirts to anyone who finishes the burger. The T-shirt highlights the enormous amounts of fat, sodium and cholesterol in the burger.