100 episodes

A weekly podcast hosted by Matthew Atkins focused on baseball, beer and life.

Foul Ball Area Foul Ball Area

    • Sport

A weekly podcast hosted by Matthew Atkins focused on baseball, beer and life.

    Memorial Day Benchmarks

    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?

    • 22 min
    Contender or Pretender?

    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. 

    • 21 min
    Biggest Surprises So Far

    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?

    • 17 min
    Ohtani Investigation, More Pitchers Head to the IL

    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? 

    • 28 min
    First Week Reactions

    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?

    • 35 min
    2024 American League Preview

    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!

    • 53 min

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