Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Tim Kurkjian joins Buster to discuss Vi Ripken’s passing, Trey Mancini’s return, his schedule as Spring Training games are underway, the gap between the really good teams and really bad teams in baseball, and why the Royals will be better than people think. Then, Marlins’ play-by-play announcer Paul Severino stops by to talk about growing up in Bristol, CT, what changed for Miami last season, the organizational depth accumulated over the past few seasons, the team’s starting pitching and expectations for the Opening Day lineup.

Karl Ravech joins Buster to discuss who would be good on a mic’d up Spring Training broadcast, expanding the playoff, MiLB teams being trimmed and Carlos Correa. Then, Marly Rivera stops by to talk about why Alex Cora is the perfect manager for Rafael Devers and the relaxed vibe at Yankees camp. Finally, Jeff Francoeur gets into the 2021 Braves, why Atlanta is the team to beat in the NL East, the biggest concern for the team, expectations for Ronald Acuña Jr. and re-signing Freddie Freeman.

Alden Gonzalez joins Buster to discuss Shohei Otani's return and his future if he's shut down again, Jarred Kelenic's comments on the Mariners' service time manipulation and the Dodgers' willingly going over the luxury tax. Then, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game with notes on Juan Soto's OPS+, Otani and the Dodgers' odds of repeating. Later, Nationals' broadcaster F.P. Santangelo talks about confronting and then befriending Pedro Gomez, what’s left to conquer for Juan Soto as a hitter, keys for Washington's defense and that time he hosted Tom Brady after he was drafted by the Expos.

David Schoenfield joins Buster to discuss their collective confusion as to why the Yankees are making a big gamble with its rotation, the slow early days of Spring Training, Aaron Judge’s health and if the Mariners should put Jared Kelenic on the Opening Day roster. Then, Hembo stops by to talk about why Fernando Tatis Jr.’s contract is bad for baseball, teams he thinks will regress this season, and the record number of non-tendered players in 2019 and 2020. Finally, Phillies play-by-play announcer Tom McCarthy hits on J.T. Realmuto’s control of the game, if an average Phillies bullpen makes them postseason contenders, the need for Rhys Hoskins to replicate his performance at the end of last season and why Bryce Harper has been the least of the Phillies’ worries.

Jessica Mendoza joins Buster to discuss Freddie Freeman’s “twins with a twist,” Kevin Mathers resigning as CEO of the Mariners, if Fernando Tatis Jr.’s new deal makes it easier or more difficult for the Mets to sign Francisco Lindor and Mike Trout committing to improving his defense. Next, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game with notes on Albert Pujols’ career WAR, the Mets’ playoff odds and what went wrong for Christian Yelich in 2020. Finally, SNY’s Steve Gelbs joins the show to talk about the Mets’ offseason moves, why the future is so bright for the team, how Lindor dramatically improves the defense and pitching, and where Noah Syndergaard stands coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Tim Kurkjian joins Buster to discuss if he’s related to Dr. Anthony Fauci, Seattle Mariners CEO Kevin Mathers’ offensive comments and his admission of service time manipulation, Clayton Kershaw saying he intends to pitch after 2021, the sustainability of what the Padres are doing, and Tim’s thoughts on the NL East. Then, The Athletic’s Britt Ghiroli talks about her story of being sexually harassed by an Orioles player, the response to the story, why this is only the tip of the iceberg and the need for baseball to forge ahead with a zero-tolerance policy.

Dr. Anthony Fauci joins Buster to talk about his favorite baseball player, if we’ll see fans in the stands this season, what he would say to players who are reluctant to get vaccinated and staying on Max Scherzer’s good side. Then, Alden Gonzalez gets into the league’s reaction to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s new contract, why it’s a triumph for the Padres and Tim Tebow hanging up his spikes. Next, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash compares this year’s Spring Training to Spring Training 2.0, what the win projections miss about his team, and moving on from Blake Snell and Charlie Morton. Finally, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discusses hearing from Mike Krzyzewski after winning the World Series, Trevor Bauer, the Dodgers-Padres rivalry and what he sees in Tatis as a young player.

Buster is joined by Hembo to discuss team win totals for the 2021 season, why this is the stingiest offseason ever and how free agency as we know it may be broken. Then, David Schoenfield hops on to talk about the Mets, Cardinals, Orioles and Angels’ offseasons, win totals that he’s interested in and Clayton Kershaw’s comments on “non-competitive behavior.”

The Baseball Tonight Podcast will return to its daily format starting Friday, February 19 with special guest Dr. Anthony Fauci.

ESPN producer Charlie Moynihan joins Buster to discuss the passing of Pedro Gomez, how Moynihan got to know Gomez, their good times together on the road, covering Barry Bonds and the BALCO scandal, and the outpouring of emotion following his death. Then, Tim Kurkjian hops on to talk about Gomez, including meeting him while they were newspaper writers, Gomez never being afraid to ask difficult questions, his love for the Tigers growing up, his family and the pride he had for son getting to the major leagues. Tim and Buster also hit on the decisions made about another pandemic season, Trevor Bauer signing with the Dodgers and the risk Bauer is taking on by not signing for a long-term deal.

Jeff Passan joins Buster to discuss the latest between MLB and the players’ union, what they think the endgame for the union is, a brief history of the fight between the league and the union, his story on Drew Robinson, how he pursued Robinson’s story, his first conversation with Robinson over FaceTime and the vivid details Robinson remembers from trying to take his own life. Then, Sarah Langs hops on talk about the number of free agents still unsigned, the impact Nolan Arenado will have on the Cardinals and the Angels’ incremental moves. Finally, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold gives the full scoop on St. Louis trading for Arenado, what the Cardinals sent to Colorado and the PR nightmare facing the Rockies.