MLB Pipeline reporter and prospect analyst Jim Callis returns to the Jack Vita Show to discuss a mix of football and baseball on this fine Tuesday. NFL season is in full-swing, the World Series stage is set, and the Arizona Fall League enters its third week of play. Jim is here to break it all down!

First, Jim and Jack chat about their Pittsburgh Steelers. Just days ago, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made a bold decision to bench quarterback Justin Fields in favor of veteran Russell Wilson, despite his team opening the season with a 4-2 record with Fields behind center. The move was met with much criticism, as Wilson was booed Sunday by Pittsburgh fans at Acrisure Stadium. Wilson, however, turned in a successful outing, passing for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, taking just one sack, as the Steelers hung a season-high 37 points in a 37-15 victory over the New York Jets. What do Jack and Jim make of all of this, and what was their reaction to Tomlin's decision? (0:00 - 14:00).

Then, Jim and Jack pivot to baseball. The World Series stage is set, with Aaron Judge's New York Yankees taking on Shohei Ohtani's Los Angeles Dodgers. The matchup should make for one of the most star-studded Fall Classics in recent memory. Jack and Jim recap the ALCS and NLCS, and preview a World Series, featuring two historic franchises, that should certainly deliver in the ratings department (14:00 - 23:50).

Later, Jack and Jim get you caught up on the later from the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is a developmental league for some of baseball's best minor league prospects, which runs for six weeks each fall (23:50 - END).

The biggest headline from this year's AFL season thus far is without a doubt the return of top Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Andrew Painter. Painter tore his UCL in early 2023, needing Tommy John surgery. The hard-throwing righty hadn't pitched in a game since 2022, prior to his start ten days ago in Scottsdale. Painter made his second start last Friday, mixing in more pitches from his pitch arsenal. Jim and Jack discuss Painter's return, his recovery, his timeline and how he's looked thus far. They also highlight other prospects that have impressed through the first third of the AFL season, and discuss why they love the Fall League so much!

With one week remaining in the 2024 MLB regular season, the Seattle Sports Guy and creator of The Funny 115, Mario Lanza, returns to the Jack Vita Show to discuss the Seattle Mariners' season and the latest trends within the game of baseball. Mario and Jack also take a broader look at the sport, from a national perspective.

Mario is one the most knowledgeable Seattle sports fans on the planet. Each year, Mario leaves us a voice message, providing a detailed outlook for the coming Mariners' season, in our AL West Preview show. And each year, Mario has a generally positive outlook entering the season. He's remained quite patient and rational, even while the M's have just barely missed the postseason two of the last three seasons. It appears Mario's patience has run out, however. Find out why this is one of Mario's least favorite Mariners teams of his lifetime.

Sunday, the Mariners held a four-run lead over the Texas Rangers entering the bottom of the sixth inning. The M's blew a 4-0 lead, falling to the Rangers 6-5, and squandering an opportunity to move up in the American League Wild Card standings. Both teams in front of the M's in the AL Wild Card standings — the Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins — lost on Sunday. With six games left, Seattle is two games back of the Royals for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Mariners are still very much alive, but they have their work cut out for them this week.

Three teams from the AL Central sit in front of the Mariners in the Wild Card standings, and all three of them can thank the Chicago White Sox for part of their success this season. Both the Royals and Twins are 12-1 versus the lowly South Siders in 2024, and the Tigers are 9-1, with one series remaining before season's end. Meanwhile, the White Sox (36-120) are on the cusp of putting together the worst regular season record in MLB history. Mario and Jack talk about the 2024 White Sox. Have either of them scene a worse Major League team before?

Later, Mario and Jack discuss how dominant pitching has become in Major League Baseball and the remarkable seasons Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are enjoying. Mario and Jack discuss the state of baseball in 2024, thoughts on the 2024 season, baseball fights, and so much more along the way!

You can follow Mario on Twitter, @MarioJLanza. He hosts two podcasts: Survivor Historians and Staff Picks. He wrote a book on the first three seasons of CBS' hit reality competition show Survivor called "When it was Worth Playing For". You can find all his work at Funny115.com.

In March 2024, Jack taped a 2024 AL Central Preview with MLB Network analyst and former Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd. Dan and Jack previewed the division, providing projected win totals for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers. With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, the division is still up for grabs. The Royals are just 3.5 games back of the Guardians, who lead the division, with the Twins 6 GB and fighting for a Wild Card berth. The AL Central could produce three playoff teams. How are Jack and Dan's predictions looking? Tune in to find out!