Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Welcome back to the Baseball Tonight podcast, publishing a day early because of breaking news surrounding Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal. His agent, Scott Boras, joined us to give us the details surrounding this first-time surgical procedure on an MLB player that could cut Skubal's recovery time in half. He also shares his memories about the late Bobby Cox.

ESPN's Jesse Rogers then hops on to discuss the surprising reason for the Cubs early-season success, and who they could target at the trade deadline. We then switch to the AL where he tells us which playoff-favorite teams he's most concerned about. We finish the segment discussing some concerns about Boston's Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.

Finally, Royals broadcaster Eric Hosmer joins us to react to the Skubal news from Boras and why it could be a life-changing for the game of baseball. He then also shares his AL teams he's most concerned about. We finish with the state of sign-stealing in today's game.

We end the show with Bleacher Tweets and Buster's memories about Bobby Cox.

0:00 Welcome

0:57 Scott Boars joins

1:31 Details on Skubal's surgery

4:27 Skubal's new timeline for returning to baseball

5:52 Update on Skubal post-surgery

6:22 Why Skubal can return much quicker than expected

7:25 Nerves for a new surgery?

8:32 How this surgery might impact Skubal's free agency

9:15 Bobby Cox memories

11:21 Jesse Rogers on the Cubs success

13:25 How Pete Crow-Armstrong is taking control

15:37 Cubs potential trade-deadline targets

18:27 Concern: Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Blue Jays, Royals

22:07 Questions about Craig Breslow

26:51 Eric Hosmer joins the show

28:01 Reaction to Skubal surgery news

31:21 Concern: Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Blue Jays, Royals

33:25 Trouble in Detroit

34:47 Royals are on the rise

35:52 Sign-Stealing discussion

40:28 Bleacher Tweets: Andy Pages + Cubs

42:57 Remembering Bobby Cox

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Welcome back to the Baseball Tonight Podcast! Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos joins us to detail why he's not getting too excited yet about the Braves best start since 1998, how Matt Olson is getting even better, and his reaction to 62-year-old manager Walt Weiss' tackle during last month's brawl. Yankees fan Rich Eisen then stops by to talk about his favorite John Sterling memories, the time he creeped out Don Mattingly, and how scary the Yankees rotation can be with Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole on the way back. Plus Sarah Langs and Todd Radom!

0:00 Welcome

0:37 Cubs are on fire

2:06 Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos joins the show

2:36 Atlanta's best start since 1998

3:51 Matt Olson can do it all

6:33 Reaction to Walt Weiss' tackle in brawl

9:41 Braves depth in face of injuries

11:13 Reflecting on the iconic David Price 2015 trade

16:09 Sarah Langs plays the Numbers Game

17:04 Rich Eisen joins the show

17:19 Favorite John Sterling memories

21:23 Rich's Yankee fandom origin story

23:27 Favorite Yankee players growing up

24:20 Awkward Don Mattingly story

28:33 Rodon and Cole coming back

29:50 Why the Yankees are so good this year

35:40 Todd Radom joins the show

36:20 Best bobblehead giveaways this year

38:44 Quiz time!

39:56 Bleacher Tweets: Mike Trout to the east coast?
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Benches cleared after Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez hit Red Sox batter Trevor Story on Tuesday. Valdez said it was not intentional, while Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said it was a "low moment" for the team. Speculation abounds that Valdez was upset about the Boston stealing signs, rather than the two home runs they hit before Story was beaned. Eduardo Perez joins to break it all down. Later on, Hembo hops on to discuss Matt Olson's hot streak, Rafael Devers slow start, and the rookie who is raking for the Cubs.

0:00 Welcome

0:41 Eduardo Perez joins

0:55 Framber Valdez fallout

3:01 How long should Valdez be suspended?

5:11 Tigers starting pitching injury crisis

6:39 Tarik Skubal out 2-3 months

9:02 Junior Caminero is must-watch

9:57 What is happening with the Giants?

12:09 Carlos Correa out for the season

13:00 Hembo joins the show

13:57 Rafael Devers struggles in San Francisco

18:35 Matt Olson, Hall of Fame bound?

22:30 Red Sox struggling at the plate

25:34 Moises Ballesteros on fire for the Cubs

30:15 Marlins middle infield swap

32:22 Congrats to the Schwinks

33:06 Bleacher Tweets

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Reds Manager Terry Francona joins the show to discuss Elly De La Cruz's improvements this year, what has made rookie Sal Stewart so special early on, and why Boston is such a brutal place to leave as a manager. Then Hunter Pence swings by to talk about two Japanese "rookies" who are lighting up the big leagues: Munetaka Murakami with the White Sox and Kazuma Okamoto with the Blue Jays. He also discusses the biggest threat to the Dodgers' crown and why the Giants have struggled to start the year. We end by giving our tribute to the legendary broadcast, John Sterling.

0:00 Welcome

0:52 Yankees are surging

1:03 Braves have best record but lose Acuna

1:22 Twins SP Joe Ryan leaves with injury

1:38 Yankees option Anthony Volpe to AAA

2:03 Giants calling up Bryce Eldridge

2:24 Welcome Terry Francona

2:45 Elly De La Cruz is getting even better

6:00 What makes Sal Stewart so good

7:24 Hunter Greene injury update

8:07 NL Central is best division in baseball

9:02 Reacting to Alex Cora's firing, why is Boston so brutal?

12:27 Hunter Pence joins the show

12:52 Munetaka Murakami can't stop hitting HRs

15:02 Kazuma Okamoto has established a unique tradition

18:56 Who can challenge the Dodgers?

20:48 Giants early-season struggles

22:19 Taylor baby update!

23:13 Remembering John Sterling
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The Boston Red Sox received bad news with star pitcher Garrett Crochet headed to the IL, just a few days after firing manager Alex Cora. Buster Olney and Alden Gonzalez discuss the Red Sox fate this year. They also dive into the Dodgers tactic of benching Shohei Ohtani as a DH when he pitches; how the Atlanta Braves have the best record in baseball; and the resurgence of the Seattle Mariners. Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman joins the show to discuss Toronto's season, and Sarah Langs plays the numbers game.

0:00 Welcome

1:23 Matt Olson Walks It Off

1:38 JJ Wetherholt HRs off Paul Skenes

1:54 Marlins take series from Dodgers

2:18 Mariners back to .500

2:28 Garrett Crochet to IL

2:39 Alden Gonzalez joins the show

3:10 Red Sox issues

10:44 Dodgers Organizational Success

15:16 Ohtani not batting when pitching

20:08 Braves best record in MLB

23:12 Mariners surging

26:28 Kevin Gausman joins the show

26:45 Gausman close to 2,000 career Ks

27:32 How Gausman unlocked his splitter

29:14 The Braves secret to boosting Gausman

31:30 Advice to younger players

33:05 Blue Jays clubhouse is tight-knit

35:32 How piano playing saved Max Scherzer's career

38:17 Calling pitches

41:22 Sarah Langs plays the numbers game
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