Foul Ball Area

Memorial Day Benchmarks

We've reached Memorial Day Weekend, which means we're about two months into the MLB season. This gives us plenty of evidence to see how teams really look this season and how we can expect the division races to shake out. Which teams are contenders and pretenders at this point? Which players have a legitimate shot at winning individual awards?

Plus, conference tournaments are well underway in NCAA baseball. Which teams from the Commonwealth still have a chance to make a run in the national tournament?

Contender or Pretender?

We're about a month into the 2024 MLB season, and there are some surprising temas at the top of their divisions and in the Wild Card spots. Can teams like the Reds, Mariners and Tigers hold onto their playoff hopes through an entire season, or are they just having luck at the beginning of the year? Will the Braves and Yankees run their respective divisions after their hot starts, or are they due for a falloff at some point in the year? Plus, Elly De La Cruz is playing like an MVP candidate, and a quick update on Virginia Tech and UVA baseball. 

Biggest Surprises So Far

We're just three weeks into the 2024 MLB season, but this year has already produced some big surprises. Teams that we didn't expect to do well are leading the divisions. MVP-caliber players are off to slow starts. So which teams and players have us shocked at this point?

Plus, Mike Trout is back to looking like Mike Trout - he leads the league in home runs and has already matched his stolen base total from the past three seasons combined. Can he lead to Angels to success with his level of play?

Ohtani Investigation, More Pitchers Head to the IL

Federal authorities have released an affidavit detailing their investigation into Shohei Ohtani's former translator, and it looks like Ohtani had no involvement in the gambling scandal at all. Text and phone call records are pretty incriminating for Ippei Mizuhara, who is now accused of stealing more than $16 million from Ohtani. Mizuhara is expected to appear in court this week for an arraignment, and we'll follow the case as it develops further. 

Plus, star pitchers Shane Bieber and Spencer Strider are on the IL with elbow injuries. What's the catalyst behind the rise in pitcher injuries this year? Is it the pitch clock, or the longer-term issue of an uptick in velocity? 

First Week Reactions

We're through one week of the 2024 MLB season, and there's been plenty of action. Lots of home runs, MLB debuts and even a no-hitter. We break down a few opinions on the first week of games and debate whether they're overreactions or reasonable. Plus, the Oakland A's will play the next three seasons in Sacramento, the latest drama in their saga of leaving Oakland. And, which new ballpark foods would we try this year?

2024 American League Preview

Opening Day is just 24 hours away! With the season coming up, we take this week to preview the American League in 2024 and predict which teams will make the postseason. How good will the Yankees be with Juan Soto? Can the Rangers repeat their success from last year? Will we see a dark horse team come out of the AL Central? We answer all these questions and more on today's episode!

2024 NL Picks and Predictions

The first games of the 2024 MLB season are just a day away with the Seoul Series coming up tomorrow morning. With the Padres and Dodgers about to start the season, we though we'd take this time to go over our picks and predictions. We pick our division winners, NL Pennant winner and predict how many wins each team will end up with. Did we get them all right? Let us know your thoughts!

Pitcher Injuries; Cease Traded

As we get deeper into Spring Training and closer to Opening Day, we're seeing more and more pitchers go down with injuries. This week, reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole received news that he'll miss 1-2 months with an elbow injury. Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams will miss 3 months with stress fractures in his back. Where do these teams go to fill those holes in their pitching staff?

Plus, Dylan Cease finally gets traded. What we think of the deal that sends him to the Padres. And, a look at the week in college baseball around the Commonwealth. 

A's Stadium Renderings, Spring Breakout Rosters

We're another week closer to the start of the 2024 MLB season and we've got a lot to talk about around the league. MLB's brightest young stars are playing in a new initiative this year called Spring Breakout. The series will consist of 16 games from March 14-17 featuring each team's top prospects, including players like Jackson Holiday, Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews. 

Plus, the Oakland A's have released renderings for their future stadium in Las Vegas, and the internet has some thoughts. And, another week of college baseball is in the books with an exciting weekend of series coming up. 

Cody Bellinger Signs, Danville Gets a New Team

A lot has happened around the baseball world over the past week. We've got Spring Training games to break down, Shohei Ohtani making his Dodgers debut and a week of college baseball to recap. The biggest news this week? Cody Bellinger re-signs with the Cubs on a three-year, $80 million deal, much less than we expected for him. Plus, Danville has a new team this year in the collegiate Old North State League. Get ready to cheer on the Dairy Daddies this summer.