Introducing The Top Step

Somewhere in the right-center field gap of Saint John Paul the Great’s baseball field, Paul Fritschner and Steve Miller realized their futures in baseball would revolve more around analyzing the game than playing it.

It took a few preliminary (but fun!) podcasts, six years, and both Paul and Steve moving to southwest Ohio for college to get their plan grooving. But at long last, here it is!

Welcome to The Top Step! Here, Paul and Steve join forces on a website and podcast dedicated to bringing you the best insight and stories that baseball has to offer.

Since 2011, Steve wrote Fish Fry, a blog centered on the Miami Marlins. If you do some digging on The Top Step, you’ll find the remnants of Fish Fry, which documented Steve’s arduous fan journey from the Florida Marlins through the Ozzie Guillen era to the almost-competitive Miami Marlins.

Paul started Our National(s) Pastime in 2014 to document the Washington Nationals and his journey as a fan.

Why is it called “The Top Step” you might ask? For anyone who has not played baseball, the top step of the dugout is where discussions and analysis among players and coaches is most prevalent and influential. It’s where the leadoff batter, after returning to the dugout, will inform the cleanup hitter what kind of movement the pitcher has on his fastball. It’s where the the manager will signal across the diamond to the third base coach to relay a hit-and-run play to the batter and runner. It’s where the starting pitchers who are not in the game chill out and make fun of their teammate on the hill. It’s the Fertile Crescent of baseball knowledge and it’s a fitting name for a show where we plan to discuss all things baseball. So it’s our hope that you, as potential listeners, will learn something on The Top Step and take part in the fun and relaxing tradition of baseball.

In May of 2014, Steve (@Smiller_96) and Paul (@PaulFritschner) launched The Top Step Podcast, and even interviewed some high-profile guests, but the project fizzled as college years got in the way.

Now, it’ll be back and better than ever on The Top Step! So come along, comment on our posts and follow us on Twitter (@TopStepTalk). We’d love to hear from you!