Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

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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The Philadelphia Phillies have official fired manager Rob Thomson and named Don Mattingly the interim manager. Buster Olney and Paul "Hembo" Hembekides discussing Thomson's dismissal, why it should've happened after the 2025 postseason, the outlook on Mattingly at interim, where recently fired Alex Cora fits into this puzzle, and Buster's advice for Cora while he examines the landscape. Plus, panic or patience on the Dodgers' Kyle Tucker, Yordan Álvarez looking downright terrifying, Craig Stammen has the Padres humming, and the Brewers have unlocked Kyle Harrison.

0:00 Welcome
0:15 Hembo
0:30 Phillies fire Rob Thomson
8:06 Could Alex Cora take over in Philadelphia?
13:31 Dodgers Kyle Tucker
15:57 Astros Yordan Álvarez
18:29 Craig Stammen has Padres rolling
21:10 Brewers unlocked Kyle Harrison

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The Boston Red Sox fire manager Alex Cora, in a stunning early-season move. Buster Olney and Rob Bradford (WEEI, Baseball Isn't Boring) discuss the timing of the firing, how it went down, the power struggle with GM Craig Breslow, what the Red Sox are losing in Cora, John Henry's disappearing act, and when they think we'll see Cora managing again. Then, ESPN's Jesse Rogers stops by to talk about what kind of impact new Red Sox manager Chad Tracy can have on the lineup, Breslow's leadership style, the Chicago Cubs coming off a ten-game winning streak, and Pete Crow-Armstrong searching for his superstar form.



0:00 Welcome

0:30 Rob Bradford (WEEI, Baseball Isn't Boring)

0:53 Boston Red Sox fire Alex Cora

4:21 Power struggle between Cora and GM Craig Breslow

10:05 Who's to blame in all of this

13:24 John Henry's stewardship as owner

15:41 When will we see Cora back in the dugout?

17:56 Can new Red Sox manager Chad Tracy unlock the lineup?

19:49 Breslow's leadership style

24:09 NL East

27:23 Chicago Cubs

30:56 Pete Crow-Armstrong maturing on the field

35:07 Bleacher Tweets



CALL THE SHOW: 406-404-8460

EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS



Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw



Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI



Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
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The streak is dead! The Mets win two in a row over the Minnesota Twins. Buster Olney and Hembo discuss the Mets’ playoff chances, Buster’s wacky trade idea for Philadelphia, the Phillies’ hilariously thin lineup, the Padres’ sale price, Elly De La Cruz beginning to break out, and why the Athletics should lock up Shea Langeliers. Then, Todd Radom talks about Yankee players pushing for alternate road uniforms, and the Royals drawing new plans for a stadium in Crown Center. Later, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game. Plus, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Hembo joins the show

1:00 Mets breaking losing streak

9:14 Phillies lose ninth straight

14:37 Should Philadelphia trade for Alex Cora?

17:50 Reds Elly De La Cruz leap year

20:16 Takeaways from Padres sale

25:51 Athletics should lock up Shea Langelier’s

27:53 Todd Radom joins the show

28:18 Yankee players want alternative road uniforms 

29:43 Royals move downtown

31:37 Quiz

33:58 Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game

35:11 Bleacher Tweets



CALL THE SHOW: 406-404-8460

EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS



Follow The Baseball Tonight Podcast on…

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHeL6O-A-ASmSMwbSCFvPKEq1Cslo_lrw



Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5FG6xCcd338SgZjZ9urHRI



Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/baseball-tonight-with-buster-olney/id137699414
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