Foul Ball Area

WBC Recap

The World Baseball Classic has come and gone, and what a tournament it was. From the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico playing in pool play, to Mexico making the semifinals, to the U.S. and Japan battling it out for the championship, it was the best thing to happen to baseball in a long time. And we got our dream matchup with Shohei Ohtani pitching to Mike Trout with the championship on the line. We break down everything that happened over the past two weeks, plus what we hope to see in 2026 during the next tournament. 

Liberty Baseball 2023

As we get deeper into the 2023 college baseball season, we're continuing to cover teams around the Commonwealth. We're excited today to be joined by Jon Manson from A Sea of Red to help us break down what we've seen from the Liberty Flames so far, and what we can continue to expect. Is this the year Liberty finally wins the ASUN tournament? Do they have what it takes to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament? We talk with Jon about the expectations the team is facing and how they've handled them on the field up to this point. 

 

Plus, the World Baseball Classic is underway! Who will take home the crown. We break down what to expect, and when we could see an Ohtani vs. Trout matchup. 

Top 10 Players

We're just under a month away from the start of the 2023 MLB season and that means it's time for some season previews. On this week's episode of the podcast, we name our top 10 active players across Major League Baseball, with some honorable mentions. Who will be included? Who will come out on top? Who is the most controversial player to be ranked?

Plus, we review the past week in college baseball across the commonwealth, with teams like Virginia Tech and UVA putting on strong showings over the weekend. And Old Dominion is of to a hot start. 

Week 1 Review and Contract Opt-outs

One week of college baseball is in the books and it's been a good one for some teams across the Commonwealth. Virginia Tech started the season 3-1, going on a three-game win streak after losing the first game of the season at College of Charleston. The Hokies' offense has come alive, scoring in the double digits the last three games. Meanwhile, No. 19 UVA is a perfect 4-0 to get the season started.

Over in Major League Baseball, there seems to be some drama in the Padres clubhouse as Manny Machado has announced plans to opt out of his contract after the 2023 season. Machado signed a 10-year, $300-million contract in 2019 and is reportedly looking for $400 million this time around. 

Plus, does Trey really think the Angels should trade Mike Trout? Tune in to find out.

Virginia Tech Baseball Preview

The Virginia Tech baseball team is set to kick off their 2023 season at the College of Charleston this weekend, and we're excited for it! The Hokies are coming off a historic 2022 season that saw them win the ACC Regular Season Championship and host the first ever NCAA Super Regional in Blacksburg. The team lost some key players to the MLB Draft over the offseason, but they have a lot of great players ready to go for 2023. 

Here to help up break down what we can expect this year is the voice of Hokies baseball, Evan Hughes. Tune in as we preview this weekend's series, some of the top ACC series of the season, and what we expect from individual players in Blacksburg.

Christmas Wishlists

Christmastime is here! As we get ready for the holidays, we're thinking about Christmas wishlists and considering what various MLB teams and players might want for Christmas. 

Plus, Carlos Correa has another new team, the Braves lose another home-grown player and the Yankees have a new captain. Tune in for a festive episode of the podcast as this wild offseason continues.

Free Agent Frenzy

In the time since our last episode, the free agent market has blown up. Record contracts are being signed, MVPs and Cy Young winners are on the move, and franchise stars are saying goodbye to the only team they've ever known. 

We break down every major move that's happened and how they'll look when next season rolls around. 

Over/Under Review

On this week's episode of the podcast, Trey and I look back at our over/under predictions from before the season and see how wrong (or right in some cases) we were. 

Did we correctly predict how many games the Orioles, Pirates, and Blue Jays would win? Were we way off on how many games the Mets and Red Sox would win? Tune in to find out if you should trust us for predictions.

Plus, Jose Abreu has found a team for next season, Justin Verlander could be on the move, and a big star is hanging it up after next year. 

Hot Stove Season Begins!

We're back with a new episode this week detailing everything you need to know for the beginning of the offseason. We recap the major award winners and debate whether there were any surprises or if they were all deserving. 

Plus, free agency is underway, and there are a lot of big names this year. Where will Aaron Judge land? Or Cody Bellinger and Justin Verlander? 

Tune in for all of our offseason predictions, and a surprise appearance from Mariah. 

Astros Win the World Series

We have a World Series champion! The Houston Astros have won their second championship in franchise history, beating the Phillies 4 games to 2. 

 

Jeremy Pena continues his historic rookie season, winning World Series MVP. He is the first rookie position player to win the award, as well as the first rookie to hit safely in each of the first six games of a World Series.

Framber Valdez was lights out on the mound for the Astros, pitching 12.1 innings and giving up just two runs while striking out 18 batters.

Four Astros pitchers combined to throw a no-hitter in Game 4, the first in World Series history since 1956. 

And lastly, manager Dusty Baker solidifies his Hall of Fame resume by winning his first World Series championship. 

Tune in for all of our thoughts and analysis on a historic World Series on this week's episode.