Today on my national baseball talk-show, Minors and Majors, I was joined by two entertaining and enjoyable guests. Talented author Brad Snyder and Pittsburgh Pirates all-world outfield-prospect Andrew McCutchen both took time out of their busy off-season schedules to talk baseball with me on my weekly radio-show.

Snyder is the author of ‘A Well-Paid Slave,’ a book he wrote documenting former St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder Curt Flood’s fight for free-agency. Snyder discussed with me how he went about gathering information for the book, which was difficult for him because Flood passed away 10-years-ago now. He also explained Bowie Kuhn’s role in the book, and in Flood’s life. Kuhn you may or may not know, was the commisioner when Flood sued baseball for the freedom to play where he wanted to. For more information on Snyder’s book, or on Flood’s astounding story, visit the author’s website at www.wellpaidslave.com.

McCutchen is as astounding a prospect as there is in baseball. Still only 19-years-old, McCutchen is in his third-season as a prospect in the Pirates’ system. The 11th-overall pick in the 2005 draft, McCutchen was a star football player where he grew up in central-Florida before suffering an ankle injury early in a rainy-game during his sophomore season. I talked with McCutchen about his comfort-level in playing with the big-league club, and asked to grade his last two year’s in the minor-leagues. I found it interesting that McCutchen said he was 100% sure that he’d thrive in the Major Leauges if he was an every-day starter this season.

In addition to interviewing Snyder and McCutchen this morning, I also discussed what looks to be a much-improved Baltimore Orioles’ starting-rotation. Jose Bautista winning the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting third-base job, and the Cleveland Indians’ decision not to replace Cliff Lee with top pitching-prospect Adam Miller, were other topics of discussion.        

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Minors and Majors is a live 2-hour baseball talk-show that airs from 8 to 10 a.m eastern every Saturday morning. If you are an XM subscriber, you can hear Minors and Majors on MLB Home Plate, XM Channel 175. The show is also replayed on XM Sports Nation (XM Channel 143) every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. eastern.