The Lab

The story of Peaches Bartkowicz, Chris Evert, and the rise of a new way to hit the tennis ball. Reported by Emma Morgenstern.

The HTD crew discusses the World Series, Russell Westbrook's extraordinary numbers and whether Tom Brady could win a Super Bowl on any NFL team.

Charles Reep pioneered soccer analytics, invented the long ball style, and helped ruin the English national team for a generation. Reported and produced by Joe Sykes.

The crew discusses the World Series with FiveThirtyEight's Rob Arthur, previews the NBA season and asks if the Warriors are the best true talent team of all time.

How Mike Smith, the Russia-obsessed coach of the Winnipeg Jets, changed the NHL forever. Part two of our five-part doc series, hosted by Neil Paine.

The HTD team discusses the MLB playoffs, the matchup between Candace Parker and Maya Moore in the WNBA and the start of the NHL season with Neil Greenberg.

Neil Paine tells the story of the rise, fall, and return of the defensive shift in baseball, which stumped Hall of Famer Ted Williams. The first in our five-part doc series.

ESPN's Mike Goodman joins the Hot Takedown crew to explain the strengths and weaknesses of soccer stats. Look out for Ahead Of Their Time in your feed this Thursday!

It's the NL Wild Card game tonight so we're bringing you a special episode of Chad Matlin's and Neil Paine's spin-off podcast about Mets fans' emotions, Panic City. Enjoy!

The HTD crew discusses the MLB playoffs with 538's Rob Arthur and then they ask each other whether the Carolina Panthers are done for the season. Plus, the Ryder Cup!

The crew discusses José Fernandez's extraordinary numbers, talks to SI's Lindsay Schnell about Louisiana firing Les Miles and hails Kevin Garnett's advanced metrics.

The crew discusses how much weight early season form has in the NFL, previews the WNBA playoffs and welcomes Mike Goodman to chat about Mourinho vs Guardiola.

The HTD crew talks to Bill Barnwell about the genius of Bill Belichick, breaks down baseball's movers and shakers and asks how 538 got its U.S. Open predictions so wrong.

Harvey Araton of The New York Times joins Carl to talk about Williams's upset loss, the globalization of tennis and Jimmy Connors's legendary run at the 1991 U.S. Open.

Carl Bialik talks to ESPNW's Jane McManus about the women's semis, the tennis media's gender gap and whether Kei Nishikori is on the verge of a breakthrough.

18-time major winner, Chris Evert, joins Carl Bialik today. They chat about Serena Williams, the depth of women's tennis and what it takes to be the best in the world.

It's a pigskin special this week. HTD breaks down 538's NFL predictions, chats about the start of the college season and picks a new team for Blythe Terrell to root for.

Carl Bialik chats to Louisa Thomas, a writer at the New Yorker, about the U.S. Open's brand new roof, the big four in men's tennis and Angelique Kerber's chances of success.

The HTD team is back together and this week they preview the EPL, talk to Carl Bialik about the U.S. Open and try to help 538's Blythe Terrell pick a new favorite NFL team.