Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Tim Kurkjian and Buster Olney discuss their colleague Karl Ravech signing off the ESPN airwaves for the final time, why the Los Angeles Dodgers need Shohei Ohtani’s bat more than his arm, Pete Crow-Armstrong’s five home run weekend, the Atlanta Braves’ heater, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox possibly setting up for a Wild Card series in the Bronx, and which teams will grab the third Wild Card spots in the American and National Leagues. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Top of the First

4:34 Tim Kurkjian joins

5:04 Karl Ravech signs off

8:52 Should Shohei Ohtani shut it down on the mound?

12:19 Ohtani’s knee for a RHP is a red flag

14:59 Pete Crow-Armstrong pulls ahead in NL MVP

17:40 Braves on 7-game win streak

20:56 Yankees take season series vs. Red Sox

22:55 Max Scherzer 9th on all-time K list

25:08 Sal Stewart locking up NL ROY

27:58 Third NL Wild Card team?

30:39 Third AL Wild Card team?

32:41 Bleacher Tweets



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Welcome back to the Baseball Tonight Podcast with Buster Olney! On today’s episode, Buster is joined by ESPN Producer and Researcher for “Get Up!” Paul “Hembo” Hembekides to discuss why the Mariners’ weak strength of schedule at the and of the season should lead them into the playoffs. We’ll also discuss why the Red Sox have a historically great outfield duo in Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. We’ll also hear from ESPN’s MLB prospect and farm system expert Kiley McDaniel on why the Brewers came in at number 1 in his latest farm system rankings, and why beauty is in the eyes of the beholder when it comes to teams’ player evaluations. All this, plus we play the numbers game with Sarah Langs, and Buster answers your questions in Bleacher Tweets.

Timecodes: 

0:02 Welcome, Top of the First 

2:53 Hembo joins the show!

3:34 Cooper Pratt benched for lack of hustle

7:32 Mariners fighting for a playoff spot

10:33 MLB has a competitive balance problem

15:00 Red Sox are playing great defense

19:01 Sal Stewart is an RBI machine

21:37 Andrew Painter stepping up

24:42 Mike Trout, Ernie Banks & Walker Johnson shared stat

28:42 Sarah Langs plays the numbers game 

30:24 who topped Kiley McDaniel’s farm system rankings?

32:07 Did the Brewers offer enough for Tarik Skubal?

34:28 Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder when it comes to player value

42:17 The Angels take a big step forward in the rankings

46:05 Why do the Orioles' prospects constantly stall? 

50:11 What direction are the Mets heading? 

58:05 Bleacher Tweets




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Alden Gonzalez joins to talk about how the WBC champion Venezuelan team is aiding recovery efforts and reacting to the devastating June earthquakes. He also talks about what Padres fans can expect from their new owners, and gives an update on Shohei Ohtani's pitching status.

Diamondbacks beat writer Nick Piecoro then joins to discuss the bizarre Ketel Marte situation and where the Diamondbacks go from here.

0:00 Intro

2:48 Venezuelan earthquake recovery with Alden Gonzalez

9:59 Reaction to Padres new owners' first press conference

14:18 How much money will the new owners spend?

16:17 Shohei Ohtani pitching update

19:04 How much does NL MVP drive Ohtani's return?

21:47 Timeline of Ketel Marte saga with Nick Piecoro

29:39 Manager Torey Lovullo's strategy in handling Marte
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Buster Olney recaps all of the fun from the Little League Classic, culminating with the Braves exciting win over the Brewers. Eric Hosmer then joins to go in-depth on the Ketel Marte saga and what's next for him and the Diamondbacks. They also discuss Kade Anderson's impressive debut, the latest in the PCA-Ohtani NL MVP race, the Dodgers pitching rotation and Skubal's first win, the Yankees injury setbacks, and the hottest team in baseball - the Kansas City Royals. We cap it off with Bleacher Tweets: Is Buster's real name, 'Buster?'

0:00 Little League Classic recap, Phillies walkoff

5:10 Hosmer joins, LLWS memories

8:45 The Ketel Marte saga evolves

16:18 Aaron Boone's management of George Lombard Jr

18:35 Kade Anderson's impressive debut vs Cubs

20:17 AL Wild Card drama

21:56 PCA vs Ohtani, NL MVP race

23:34 Dodgers pitching update, Skubal's first win

29:02 Yankees latest injury setback

30:57 Royals are hottest team in baseball

34:11 Bleacher Tweets: Tatis, Buster's real name
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Jorge Castillo and Buster Olney discuss what is going on with the Dodgers and Mark Walter, why Walter needs cash, the real reason the Dodgers are all-in on this season, how Shohei Ohtani should leverage the situation, Yankees pitcher Max Fried heading to the IL, if Aaron Judge can be Aaron Judge in October, and Mets owner Steve Cohen speaking to the media about a disastrous season. Then, Hembo stops by to talk about whether an American League team with a sub-.500 record will make the postseason, how to improve an already very good challenge system in MLB, nobody watching Orioles slugger Pete Alonso mash, Braves ace Chris Sale entering a new stratosphere, how Pete Crow-Armstrong’s season is even better than Hembo realized, and why every dynasty needs a Max Muncy. Then, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Welcome

3:00 Jorge Castillo joins

3:38 What’s going on with Mark Walter and the Dodgers

5:35 Dodgers all-in because of overall uncertainty?

8:26 Dodgers’ off-field advantages could be trimmed

10:38 Shohei Ohtani should use this as leverage

14:27 Yankees Max Fried to the IL

16:06 Will Aaron Judge be ready for October?

18:45 Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks on rough season

20:30 Cohen says he’s committed to GM

23:38 Hembo joins

23:54 Will a sub-.500 AL team make the postseason?

27:57 Orioles Pete Alonso home run ruled foul

30:01 Challenge system works, how to make it better

34:56 Alonso is hitting, no one cares

37:55 Braves Chris Sale entering a new stratosphere

41:26 Pete Crow-Armstrong’s crazy play at Wrigley

44:34 Max Muncy enhancing his Dodgers legend

49:28 George Lombard Jr. is a top-6 shortstop already

50:08 Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game

51:20 Bleacher Tweets



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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