Foul Ball Area

Greg Madia, The Daily Progress

As we continue making our way across the Commonwealth and covering our state's college baseball teams, we head to Charlottesville for a look at the Cavaliers' 2023 season. Greg Madia of The Daily Progress joins us to discuss the ups and downs of the season, the star players UVA has and their chances at hosting a regional. Tune in for an in-depth discussion of the season so far and a preview of this weekend's series against Louisville. 

Players of the Month

We've made it to May, which means we're over a month into the 2023 MLB season. Major League Baseball named the Players of the Month for April, and we can't help but agree. Ronald Acuna Jr. is having a phenomenal start to the season, leading in several offensive categories. Gerrit Cole is looking like the pitcher the Yankees paid for when they signed him, and he is pretty much carrying the team right now with all of their injuries. 

 

Plus, which surprising teams would be in the playoffs if the season ended right now? And Alabama's baseball coach is fired over "suspicious betting."

Curt Dudley, JMU

As we get deeper into the college baseball season, some teams are facing critical stretches that could make or break their year. One of those teams is JMU, which hasd a solid season in their first year as a Sun Belt team, but they've got a tough road stretch coming up that will really test them. To break down the season so far and preview what's coming up, we talk with Curt Dudley, Director of Broadcast Services Emeritus at JMU about what he's seen from the team this year, plus a few stories from the early days of his career. 

Starting Off Hot

We're now a few weeks into the 2023 MLB season and we've seen some very hot starts. The Rays won their first 13 games of the season and made history practically every night along the way. Their offense has powered them so far, but now that they're playing some tougher teams, how long can they keep it up?

The Braves are off to another strong start, with multiple winning streaks throughout the season so far. Sean Murphy is making an immediate impact in Atlanta, and Matt Olson is providing plenty of power.

Plus, Shohei Ohtani and the Angels visit New York, a quick college baseball update and the future of baseball in Richmond.

Opening Week Overreactions

We're a week into the 2023 MLB season and we've seen plenty of great baseball already. But also a lot of bad baseball. That means it's time to overreact to this very small sample size of games and let you know how we're feeling this early in the season. Are our preseason predictions in jeopardy? Is there a dark horse candidate for MVP? Is the Mets' season already over? We break down all the scenarios that we could see happening based on just a few games. 

2023 MLB Picks and Predictions

It's finally here! Opening Day of the 2023 MLB season has arrived. Pat yourself on the back for making it through the winter and then settle in to listen to all our bold predictions for how this year will shake out. Will the Astros repeat as World Series champions? Will the Braves continue their hot streak in the NL East? And will Shohei Ohtani ride his momentum all the way to an MVP award and playoff berth? We make our picks for all the playoff spots, awards, and out-of-this-world possibilities. It's baseball. Anything can happen. And we're so excited to get started. 

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.