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Foul Ball Area

296 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 23 ratings

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

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Episodes

2024 American League Preview

March 27, 2024 01:14 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MB

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!

2024 NL Picks and Predictions

March 19, 2024 01:05 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MB

The first games of the 2024 MLB season are just a day away with the Seoul Series coming up tomorrow morning. With the Padres and Dodgers about to start the season, we though we'd take this time to go over our picks and predictions. We pick our division winners, NL Pennant winner and predict how many wins each team will end up with. Did we get them all right? Let us know your thoughts!

Pitcher Injuries; Cease Traded

March 15, 2024 00:16 - 26 minutes - 24.5 MB

As we get deeper into Spring Training and closer to Opening Day, we're seeing more and more pitchers go down with injuries. This week, reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole received news that he'll miss 1-2 months with an elbow injury. Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams will miss 3 months with stress fractures in his back. Where do these teams go to fill those holes in their pitching staff? Plus, Dylan Cease finally gets traded. What we think of the deal that sends him to the Padres....

A's Stadium Renderings, Spring Breakout Rosters

March 08, 2024 01:44 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB

We're another week closer to the start of the 2024 MLB season and we've got a lot to talk about around the league. MLB's brightest young stars are playing in a new initiative this year called Spring Breakout. The series will consist of 16 games from March 14-17 featuring each team's top prospects, including players like Jackson Holiday, Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews.  Plus, the Oakland A's have released renderings for their future stadium in Las Vegas, and the internet has some thoughts. And,...

Cody Bellinger Signs, Danville Gets a New Team

March 01, 2024 17:41 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MB

A lot has happened around the baseball world over the past week. We've got Spring Training games to break down, Shohei Ohtani making his Dodgers debut and a week of college baseball to recap. The biggest news this week? Cody Bellinger re-signs with the Cubs on a three-year, $80 million deal, much less than we expected for him. Plus, Danville has a new team this year in the collegiate Old North State League. Get ready to cheer on the Dairy Daddies this summer. 

First Spring Training Games

February 23, 2024 17:24 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB

We have a full slate of Spring Training games this weekend, but some of the biggest stars around MLB are still free agents. Can guys like Blake Snell and Cody Bellinger find a team before Opening Day? Plus, MLB Network released its full list of the Top 100 players in MLB. Which teams had the most players in the Top 10 or on the list overall?

2024 Virginia Tech Baseball Preview

February 16, 2024 17:18 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MB

The 2024 college baseball season is upon us! We have a full slate of game starting this afternoon to usher in the season, including some big matchups across the Commonwealth. To help us get ready and break down what we can expect from the Virginia Tech Hokies this year, we're joined by the voice of Hokies baseball, Evan Hughes. 

Vegas Mayor's Comments, Best Father-Son Duos

February 09, 2024 02:42 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MB

A lot has been happening around MLB this week. Multiple players have received massive contract extensions, including Bobby Witt Jr., who got an 11-year, $288 million contract from the Royals. Astros second baseman Jose Altuve also got a 5-year extension, all but guaranteeing he'll finish his carer in Houston. Plus, Las Vegas mayor Caroyln Goodman said on a podcast this week that the A's plan to move to Vegas doesn't make any sense. Will the A's change course and stay in Oakland? And, with t...

Orioles Sale, Best Remaining Free Agents

February 02, 2024 00:58 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MB

Big news around MLB this week as the Baltimore Orioles have an agreement to sell the team. Owner John Angelo will be selling the franchise to a private equity group led by Baltimore native David Rubenstein. Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. is also involved in the group. What does this mean for the future of the team's payroll? Plus, there are a lot of free agents remaining, enough so that you could put together a pretty good team of them. We went through the best remaining free agents and weig...

2024 Hall of Fame Class Announced

January 26, 2024 16:29 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MB

The Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2024 has been announced, and Trey and I agree everyone who made it in deserves it. Joe Mauer and Adrian Beltre are getting in on their first ballot, while Todd Helton finally made it in on his sixth ballot. But there were still some names that were left off, like Billy Wagner, Gary Sheffield and Andruw Jones. Will these guys make it in next year? Plus, we take a look at some possible candidates for the 2025 class, with some intriguing names coming onto the...

Who is the Bill Belichick of Baseball?

January 12, 2024 16:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MB

This week has been a big one in the sports world, with several legendary coaches either retiring or moving on from their current teams. One of those is Bill Belichick, widely regarded as the greatest head coach of all time in the NFL. So we set out to determine who the Bill Belichick of MLB is. Is there a current manager that has reached his level of success, or do we have to look way back throughout the history of baseball?  Plus, the Dodgers are still making moves and we have some nationa...

2024 New Year Resolutions

January 05, 2024 21:04 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MB

It's our first episode of 2024, which means it's time to look ahead and come up with new year resolutions. But we're not talking about ourselves. We're thinking about what MLB teams and the league overall would like to accomplish in 2024.  Plus, some big names are still available on the free agent market. Where can we expect the reigning NL Cy Young winner to land this offseason. And, the Braves make a surprising move, that we're not really sure how we feel about. 

Christmas Wish Lists & All-MLB Teams

December 22, 2023 02:03 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MB

Christmas is just a few days away, so we though we'd take this time to go over our Christmas wish lists. On today's episode of the podcast, we talk about things we'd like to see our favorite teams do this offseason and next season, and some things we'd like to see happen across all of Major League Baseball. What's on your baseball wish list this Christmas?   Plus, the All-MLB teams were announced last weekend, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has met with the Yankees multiple times, and MLB is bringing ...

Ohtani signs with LA, Glasnow on the move

December 15, 2023 21:28 - 25 minutes - 23 MB

The wait is over. Shohei Ohtani, the biggest name in this year's free agent class, has signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two-way player signed a historic 10-year, $700 million deal that will see $680 million in deferred payments. Ohtani made it clear that he wants to win, and thinks the Dodgers are his best shot. The Dodgers are going all in as well, trading for Rays' ace Tyler Glasnow and extending him on a 4-year deal.  Plus, Michael Wacha signs with the Royals, Yoshinobu Yamamoto ...

Shohei Ohtani Sweepstakes

December 08, 2023 22:10 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MB

We're through the Winter Meetings and the hot stove is heating up. Juan Soto has been traded for the second time in two years, this time ending up with the New York Yankees. His impact is sure to be a significant one as he rounds out the Yankees outfield, which now also includes Alex Verdugo.  The biggest free agent of the offseason has yet to find a new team, but all signs point to that happening soon. Will Shohei Ohtani stay in LA and sign with the Dodgers, or is he heading to Toronto to ...

Unanimous MVPs, A’s Headed to Vegas

November 17, 2023 03:07 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MB

The 2023 BBWAA awards have been announced, and there are no surprises. Trey went 8-for-8 in his award predictions, correctly predicting the rookies of the year, managers of the year, Cy Young winners and MVPs. We saw a lot of unanimous winners this year, with Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll each earning all 30 first place votes for Rookie of the Year. Gerrit Cole won his first Cy Young by unanimous vote. And for the first time ever, both league MVPs were unanimous decisions.  Plus, the ...

Free Agency Predictions

November 11, 2023 02:34 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MB

We're just one week into the offseason and we've seen a lot of moves already. Craig Counsell has left the Brewers to become manager of the Cubs and Ron Washington is getting another shot at managing, this time with the Angels. Plus, the award finalists and Silver Slugger winners have been revealed.  Free agency is also underway, although we haven't seen any big moves yet. Trey and I make our predictions this week on where we think the top free agents will end up. Will Shohei Ohtani stay in ...

Ranger Win the World Series

November 03, 2023 21:08 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MB

The Texas Rangers are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history. The Rangers beat the Diamondbacks in 5 games to clinch the championship and make history. Corey Seager has etched his name alongside some all-time greats, while Nathan Eovaldi put on a historic postseason performance. Trey and I break down everything you need to know from the series and what to look forward to this offseason. 

Foul Ball Area x The Pulse with BP World Series Preview

October 27, 2023 21:13 - 1 hour - 60.6 MB

The World Series is upon us! The Arizona Diamondbacks will face off against the Texas Rangers for baseball's ultimate prize. Will the Dbacks keep the chaos going for four more wins and come away with their second championship? Or can the Rangers' powerful offense keep up the momentum to win their franchise's first ever title?  We teamed up with our good friend Billy Parvatam for today's episode as we break down what we've seen in the postseason so far and what we can expect for this year's ...

Braves Lose NLDS; Dodgers and Orioles Get Swept

October 13, 2023 13:22 - 30 minutes - 28 MB

The NLDS and ALDS are over and we are down to the final four teams in the MLB Postseason. The Phillies have knocked out the Braves in the NLDS for the second-straight year, and Matt has a lot of thoughts on the disappointing playoff performance from Atlanta. Plus, the Dodgers and the Orioles get swept in their division series, bringing some serious questions about the current playoff format. Why are the Astros the only team who can figure out how to win after having a week off due to the fir...

2023 Postseason Preview

October 02, 2023 23:42 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MB

We've made it through the regular season and into the 2023 postseason! The field of 12 teams is set and the Wild Card round gets underway this afternoon with four exciting matchups. Tune in as we discuss what to watch for in each series and give our picks for every round all the way through the World Series. Will the Astros become the first team since 2000 to repeat? Can the Dodgers find their way back on top of the baseball world? Do the young Orioles have what it takes to make a championsh...

AL West Coming Down to the Wire

September 22, 2023 18:12 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MB

We're just a week and a half away from the end of the 2023 regular season, and there's still a lot to be decided. The AL and NL Wild Card races are extremely tight with several teams vying for the final spot in each league. The AL West is another exciting race to watch, with the Astros, Mariners and Rangers all within half a game of each other. To make things even more exciting, the Mariners play the Astros and Rangers over the next week. Which team will come out on top and earn a better see...

Braves Win NL East (Again)

September 15, 2023 17:38 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MB

The 2023 MLB regular season is coming down to the last couple of weeks and there's a lot still to be decided. One division race that's already been claimed? The NL East. The Atlanta Braves have won the division for the 6th straight season, even after the Phillies and Mets reloaded their rosters this past offseason. Now the Braves need to focus on winning the top seed in the NL and turn their attention to the postseason. While the NL East is wrapped up, other divisions look like they might c...

Waiver Moves and Playoff Push

September 01, 2023 17:40 - 29 minutes - 27.2 MB

We have just over one month left in the regular season and teams are desperate in their push to make the postseason. The Reds and Guardians each picked up several players off waivers this week to help them in their quest for the playoffs. Many of these players are coming from the Angels, who have officially given up on the season.  Plus, the Braves and Dodgers have a huge four-game series this weekend in Los Angeles. The four MVP frontrunners go head-to-head in a matchup of the two best tea...

Shohei Shut Down, Trout Back on IL

August 25, 2023 20:07 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MB

Things just can't go right for the Los Angeles Angels. After announcing that they would hold onto Shohei Ohtani at the trade deadline and try to make the postseason this year, the team has struggled to put wins together on the field. Those struggles got even worse this week when Ohtani has a torn UCL and may have to undergo his second Tommy John surgery. He's done pitching for this year, and this impacts from his injury could negatively affect his upcoming free agency. As if that's not enoug...

Yankees Historically Bad Year

August 18, 2023 00:29 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MB

The New York Yankees are playing .500 baseball this season, which for most teams would be a mediocre year, but by their standards it's historically bad. The Yankees haven't been under .500 at this point in the season since 1995, and they haven't finished a season under .500 since 1992. Do you place the blame on manager Aaron Boone or GM Brian Cashman? What changed does the team need to make this offseason in order to get back on track. We break down the Yankees' struggles and other news arou...

Trade Deadline Questions

July 21, 2023 21:07 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MB

We're a little under two weeks away from the trade deadline, and there are a lot of questions that we're waiting to see get answered. Will the Cardinals deal their star sluggers after a disappointing season? Could Juan Soto be on the move at the deadline again? And the big one - will Shohei Ohtani be traded? The Angels are coming off a sweep of the Yankees and are back above .500, but they have a lot of ground to make up. If they keep winning over the next week, the decision to trade Ohtani ...

MLB Draft and All-Star Recap

July 14, 2023 01:03 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MB

The All-Star break is over and it's time to get back to regular season baseball! Tune in to this week's episode as Matt goes over everything that happened this past weekend, from the MLB Draft to the electric Home Run Derby to the first NL win at the All-Star Game since 2012. Plus, with the return to regular season baseball comes the looming trade deadline. Which stars will be on the move this year? Could Shohei Ohtani get traded from the Angels at the deadline? Tu

Angels Injuries, Home Run Derby Bracket and Draft Preview

July 07, 2023 13:46 - 29 minutes - 27 MB

The Los Angeles Angels have surprised us all this year and stayed in contention for the AL Wild Card race up to this point. Unfortunately, luck had to catch up with them and they're now dealing with injuries to Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon. What does this mean for the future of the team? Will they trade Ohtani at the deadline if they're no longer in contention for a playoff spot? Plus, the Home Run Derby bracket has been revealed and we think we'll see a repeat winner this y...

CWS Review, All-Star Starters and a Perfect Game

June 30, 2023 17:23 - 34 minutes - 31.7 MB

What a week in baseball! The LSU Tigers beat Florida in three games to win the College World Series championship, and what a series it was. All two weeks in Omaha was packed full of exciting games and great matchups, including an intense few games between LSU and Wake Forest, but in the end the best team one.  Shifting over to Major League Baseball, the All-Star starters have been announced for the 2023 midsummer classic in Seattle. Four Rangers players made the starting lineup for the AL w...

2023 CWS Preview

June 16, 2023 15:12 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MB

The field for Omaha is set! The 2023 Men's College World Series features the favorite, some expected teams, and a few surprises. Matt's championship pick of Arkansas didn't even make it out of the regionals, while Trey's pick, Wake Forest, has been dominant in every game so far. The Demon Deacons have scored double digits in all but one game and haven't lost yet. UVA is back in Omaha for the sixth time in program history, all since 2009. The Cavaliers have looked good as well so far, and th...

NCAA Regionals Preview

June 02, 2023 12:46 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MB

The Road to Omaha begins today! NCAA Regionals get underway at noon and we're following two teams from the Commonwealth as they try to make it to the College World Series. UVA is hosting a regional in Charlottesville, but they've got a tough road ahead of them with East Carolina coming to town. Can the Cavaliers make it back to Omaha? George Mason is in a regional for the first time since 2013, but they also have their work cut out for them. The Patriots will be in the Winston-Salem regiona...

Conference Tournaments, Turner’s Slow Start, Cole Makes History

May 26, 2023 16:26 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MB

Conference tournaments are underway in college baseball and we're keeping an eye on each team from the Commonwealth that's competing this week. Which teams have a real shot at a title, and which teams will see their seasons come to an end?  Plus, Trea Turner had a terrific World Baseball Classic, but he hasn't been able to replicate that success in the MLB season so far. It took him nearly two months to match the same amount of home runs he hit in six games in the WBC. Can he turn things ar...

Birthday Episode

May 19, 2023 02:16 - 19 minutes - 18 MB

Trey and Matt both have birthdays this week, so we decided to look at which baseball players they share birthdays with. Some surprising names show up, including a good amount of Hall of Famers.  Plus, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Aaron Judge are having great weeks, hitting monster home runs for their teams. Could Acuna keep it up all season and earn his first MVP award? Can Judge help the Yankees get into first place in the incredibly tough AL East? 

Greg Madia, The Daily Progress

May 12, 2023 17:40 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MB

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

May 05, 2023 20:32 - 29 minutes - 27 MB

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...

Curt Dudley, JMU

April 28, 2023 02:27 - 39 minutes - 36.1 MB

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...

Starting Off Hot

April 21, 2023 18:42 - 25 minutes - 23.4 MB

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 ple...

Opening Week Overreactions

April 07, 2023 01:25 - 24 minutes - 22.6 MB

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

March 30, 2023 01:56 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MB

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 possibili...

WBC Recap

March 23, 2023 01:27 - 21 minutes - 19.9 MB

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 202...

Liberty Baseball 2023

March 10, 2023 00:17 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MB

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 handle...

Top 10 Players

March 03, 2023 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MB

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...

Week 1 Review and Contract Opt-outs

February 23, 2023 02:42 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB

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 ...

Virginia Tech Baseball Preview

February 17, 2023 03:31 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MB

The Virginia Tech baseball team is set to kick off their 2023 season at the College of Charleston this weekend, and we're excited for it! The Hokies are coming off a historic 2022 season that saw them win the ACC Regular Season Championship and host the first ever NCAA Super Regional in Blacksburg. The team lost some key players to the MLB Draft over the offseason, but they have a lot of great players ready to go for 2023.  Here to help up break down what we can expect this year is the voic...

Christmas Wishlists

December 23, 2022 19:44 - 29 minutes - 40.5 MB

Christmastime is here! As we get ready for the holidays, we're thinking about Christmas wishlists and considering what various MLB teams and players might want for Christmas.  Plus, Carlos Correa has another new team, the Braves lose another home-grown player and the Yankees have a new captain. Tune in for a festive episode of the podcast as this wild offseason continues.

Free Agent Frenzy

December 15, 2022 12:46 - 26 minutes - 35.9 MB

In the time since our last episode, the free agent market has blown up. Record contracts are being signed, MVPs and Cy Young winners are on the move, and franchise stars are saying goodbye to the only team they've ever known.  We break down every major move that's happened and how they'll look when next season rolls around. 

Over/Under Review

November 29, 2022 02:31 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MB

On this week's episode of the podcast, Trey and I look back at our over/under predictions from before the season and see how wrong (or right in some cases) we were.  Did we correctly predict how many games the Orioles, Pirates, and Blue Jays would win? Were we way off on how many games the Mets and Red Sox would win? Tune in to find out if you should trust us for predictions. Plus, Jose Abreu has found a team for next season, Justin Verlander could be on the move, and a big star is hanging...

Hot Stove Season Begins!

November 23, 2022 13:46 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MB

We're back with a new episode this week detailing everything you need to know for the beginning of the offseason. We recap the major award winners and debate whether there were any surprises or if they were all deserving.  Plus, free agency is underway, and there are a lot of big names this year. Where will Aaron Judge land? Or Cody Bellinger and Justin Verlander?  Tune in for all of our offseason predictions, and a surprise appearance from Mariah. 

Astros Win the World Series

November 07, 2022 13:31 - 27 minutes - 37.4 MB

We have a World Series champion! The Houston Astros have won their second championship in franchise history, beating the Phillies 4 games to 2.    Jeremy Pena continues his historic rookie season, winning World Series MVP. He is the first rookie position player to win the award, as well as the first rookie to hit safely in each of the first six games of a World Series. Framber Valdez was lights out on the mound for the Astros, pitching 12.1 innings and giving up just two runs while striki...