Podcast Summary: The Windup – Starkville | Best Of Edition: Pat Murphy & John Schneider

Podcast: The Windup: A Show About Baseball
Host(s): Jayson Stark & Doug Glanville, The Athletic
Episode: Best Of Edition – Two of the Game’s Best Managers: Pat Murphy & John Schneider
Date: December 31, 2025

Episode Overview

This "Best Of Starkville" episode spotlights in-depth, candid interviews with two standout MLB managers—Pat Murphy (Milwaukee Brewers) and John Schneider (Toronto Blue Jays). Hosts Jayson Stark and Doug Glanville tap into the philosophies, humor, leadership styles, and season-defining stories from both managers. The conversations provide insights into building winning teams, adapting leadership, balancing data with intuition, and how personal touch and camaraderie nourish a clubhouse.

Segment 1: Pat Murphy (Milwaukee Brewers)

[02:30–29:29] Managing on a Budget: The Brewers’ Secret Sauce

Motivation and the Brewers’ Approach

• Current State: Murphy reflects on being named National League Manager of the Year, crediting his players' hunger and his club's frugal, player-development-driven ethos (03:39).
  • “I don’t know that I deserved it. Hungry players make managers look good. You know they were hungry.” (Pat Murphy, 02:38)
• Club Identity: Murphy describes the Brewers as fostering a "next man up" mentality—filling roster gaps through internal promotion and chemistry over big spending (03:39–04:52).

Year Two as Manager & Staying Present

• Murphy discusses lessons from last year and key themes for 2025: competing “in the now,” appreciating the uniqueness of each team, and living up to being a true teammate (05:18).
  • “Can you get yourself in the now, into that presence?...it’s your responsibility as one of the best in the world to compete and be a teammate the way you want to be remembered.” (Pat Murphy, 05:18–06:52)
• He notes the distraction and toxicity of “stinkin’ thinkin’”—players anxious about their contracts—vs. focusing on the game at hand (06:52).

Small-Market Mindset, Winning Mentality

• Jayson Stark points out that the Brewers, despite financial constraints, have outpaced big spenders like the Yankees and Cubs in regular-season success (07:21).
• Murphy emphasizes club culture: “There’s never a thought of, ‘Oh, wait till next year.’ There’s this year…We’ve already proven it doesn’t take budget to win.” (Pat Murphy, 07:58)

Old School vs. New School Leadership [09:02]

• Self-Description: “Old and probably need more school.” (Pat Murphy, 09:02)
  • Walks through his winding path from college coach to MLB, never feeling fully “arrived”—“I tell everybody, I’m still under construction.” (09:02)
• Data & Collaboration: Murphy values analytics as guidance, not doctrine. He shares lighthearted stories of blending front-office analytics and field experience, always challenging questionable metrics (10:00–13:26).
  • Example: “There’s a ball in Cincinnati…Michael Jordan couldn’t get it. It was a 90% catch on the defensive metrics, you know what I mean? And I’m like, well that’s wrong. So throw that out.” (Pat Murphy, 11:49)

Relationship with Front Office & Clubhouse Culture [13:04–18:25]

• Collaborative, not adversarial dynamic; Murphy invites front office to team meetings (“Ivory Tower” shirts gag) and jokes with them even as he stands his ground on in-game management.
  • “They don’t get involved in how I manage the game at all. And we collaborate.” (Pat Murphy, 13:26)
• Insights on which advanced metrics resonate (“framing” and batter-pitcher matchups), but reiterates numbers as a guide, not a rulebook.

Bob Uecker’s Legacy [19:33–22:00]

• Murphy shares a moving tribute to Bob Uecker, the legendary Brewers broadcaster, describing his genuine presence, courage during illness, and role in the clubhouse.
  • “You want to talk about a loss…Euchre’s will not be overcome. But we can honor him by saying…he never showed his pain.” (Pat Murphy, 20:00)
• Example used for the team: show up with consistent positivity, no matter what.

Manager’s “Spiritual Wall” [22:00–25:23]

• Pat displays photos of iconic players and leaders who inspire him—Derek Jeter, Clemente, Ty Cobb, Ali, Rivera, Satchel Paige, Bob Welch—each representing different ideals to pass on to his team.
  • “Jeter represents for me…not the most talented, but what he did with his ability and how he impacted others and how he led on a baseball team.” (Pat Murphy, 22:00)

Levity and Clubhouse Tales [25:23–29:29]

• Murphy’s pranks: hoodie snacks (“pouch pancakes” and “pocket bagels”), breaking bread with players, and the legendary “throwing away forks” story to mark having arrived in the big leagues.
  • “I’d be giving a talk about first and third defense or whatever and just pull out a pancake and take a bite…be like, what just happened?” (Pat Murphy, 26:03)
  • “I’m in the big leagues, bro. I can throw away the fork.” (Pat Murphy, 27:21)

Segment 2: John Schneider (Toronto Blue Jays)

[29:29–58:30] Leadership in Toronto: Culture, Contact, and Chemistry

Welcoming Schneider—Expansion, Realignment, and Change [30:03–33:20]

• Discusses the hypothetical end of AL/NL distinction in MLB:
  • “It seems weird right? Just because of what we’re used to and what we’ve been used to for so long…But I think everyone will really adjust…We just adjust.” (John Schneider, 30:43)

Blue Jays’ 2025 Surge—Contact is King [33:27–36:48]

• This season’s team is what Schneider envisioned: creative offense, blending big bats (Bo, Vlad, George) with high-contact supporting cast.
  • “David Popkins…said he wanted to be the most creative offense in baseball.” (John Schneider, 34:01)
• Strongest team batting average, lowest strikeout rate; results from a deliberate shift towards contact and situational hitting.
  • “It’s kind of the team you envisioned, and they’ve really kind of leaned into it.” (John Schneider, 34:01–36:05)

Contact in October Success [36:05–38:22]

• Stark asks if contact translates to October wins.
  • “I think the more you can put the ball in play, the better because pitching is so good. Guys have such elite stuff now…But I think within that too, you have to have some guys that can deliver the big blow.” (John Schneider, 36:48)

Why It Clicked—Team Culture, Maturity, and Leadership [38:22–40:35]

• Assembled a roster with complementary personalities and stages of career:
  • “Every year you’re starting out…trying to get that feel where guys want to be here early, stay here late, and come do it again the next day.” (John Schneider, 38:42)
  • Highlights importance of veterans, long-term contracts (Vlad, Kirk), and competitors like Max Scherzer and Andres Jimenez to set the tone.

Embracing MLB Manager Life: Arrival and Growth [42:59–45:37]

• Schneider reflects on personal milestone moments in adjusting to the big-league manager role—learning via failure, being vulnerable, having “uncomfortable conversations.”
  • “This job takes reps. This job takes failure. This job takes scrutiny…But I think just being okay with the way you go about it and not trying to please everyone and just being your genuine self is just kind of freeing.” (John Schneider, 43:55)

Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s Extension—Lifting the Cloud [45:37–47:44]

• Securing Vlad on a 14-year extension freed the team from daily distraction and signaled a commitment to winning.
  • “It freed a lot of people up, I think, because…not only did it take pressure off of a daily narrative, but it shows everyone…what our intentions are every single year, and that’s to be competitive and try to win.” (John Schneider, 46:11)

Managing Max Scherzer—Baseball Brainiac [47:44–49:47]

• Max offers feedback daily, is a “manager on the mound” who “knows his pitch count, opposing starter’s pitch count, bullpen availability, fly ball tendencies…” (John Schneider, 47:58)
• Prepares with unmatched intensity, even assists with defensive positioning.

Automated Balls and Strikes: ABS System [49:47–52:00]

• Early impressions: “I thought it'd be a little bit better…” Adds suspense, supports fairness, and the challenge system serves as a “buffer.”
  • “To have a game be decided on human error—I just think we’re past that as a game.” (John Schneider, 50:39)

Alejandro Kirk’s First Career Stolen Base [52:00–54:33]

• Humorous celebration at Kirk snagging his first base in game 532.
  • “The ovation from the fans was epic…he didn’t let go of that thing for like an hour and a half.” (John Schneider, 54:24)
• Players and coaches had joked about it—special moment for team camaraderie.

The Weight of History—Joe Carter and Blue Jays’ Legacy [55:23–57:26]

• Acknowledges city and country’s hunger for another World Series, living under Carter’s famous ’93 World Series walk-off.
  • “You have the World Series trophies sitting in the middle of our hallway, walking out to the field, you look at them every day, and you immediately think about Joe hitting the walk off.” (John Schneider, 56:03)

Fan Culture & National Support [57:26–58:04]

• Explains the unique dynamic of having an entire nation behind the team.
  • “It’s really cool to feel support from a country…you forget that you’re being watched by an entire nation, not just the people of Toronto.” (John Schneider, 57:26)

Notable Quotes & Lighthearted Moments

• Pat Murphy, on managing analytics:
  • “Throw that out. Michael Jordan couldn’t get it.” (11:49)
• Murphy’s “throwaway” story:
  • “I’m in the big leagues, bro. I can throw away the fork.” (27:21)
• John Schneider, on Scherzer:
  • “He’s never off. And you learn to think along with him a little bit.” (49:47)
• On the Kirk SB:
  • “He finally got one, but he doesn’t have the green light going forward.” (53:50)
• On the culture of the Jays:
  • “This city gets so electric when we’re winning. They are behind you like no other fan base.” (57:26)

Key Timestamps

• Pat Murphy Interview: 02:30–29:29
  • Motivation & “Secret Sauce”: 03:39–07:19
  • Analytics & Collaboration: 09:02–13:26
  • Bob Uecker Tribute: 19:33–22:00
  • Clubhouse Stories: 25:23–29:29
• John Schneider Interview: 29:29–58:30
  • On Realignment & Change: 30:43–33:20
  • Blue Jays’ Offensive Philosophy: 34:01–36:48
  • Vlad Jr. Impact: 45:37–47:44
  • Managing Max Scherzer: 47:58–49:47
  • Kirk’s SB & Blue Jays Lore: 52:00–57:26

Tone & Style

The episode weaves insightful analysis, hard-won lessons, and deep baseball wisdom with playful banter, personal storytelling, and warmth. Murphy’s dry humor and honesty juxtapose Schneider’s self-reflection and energy, with the hosts keeping the mood loose but thoughtful.

Conclusion

This Best Of Starkville special delivers much more than managerial shop talk—it’s a vivid lesson in leadership, camaraderie, baseball culture, and the lasting impact of genuine connection in the clubhouse. Through the stories, jokes, and reflections of Pat Murphy and John Schneider, listeners are reminded why the magic of the game endures both on and off the field.