Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

Sarah Langs joins Buster to discuss why all the players don’t wear No. 21 for Roberto Clemente Day, the Cardinals’ slow climb into the NL Wild Card race, Robbie Ray’s continued dominance and matching up the premier shortstop free agents with their future teams. Later, Braves manager Brian Snitker stops by for his first podcast interview. He and Buster talk about how gratifying it is to being atop the NL East with challenges the team has faced this season, the impact of trading for Joc Pederson, Ozzie Albies’ maturity, Austin Riley coming up big and his connection to Bobby Cox.

David Schoenfield joins Buster to discuss Roberto Clemente Day, their thoughts on part one of the new 30 for 30 “Once Upon a Time in Queens,” the Cardinals possibly sneaking into the NL Wild Card, if Shohei Ohtani could REALLY lose the AL MVP, the Rookie of the Year races and Ryan Braun’s legacy. Then, Hembo stops by to talk about if Max Scherzer is the best trade deadline pick-up ever, Scherzer being historically underrated, Cody Bellinger’s disastrous season, and why he thinks Yankees and Red Sox won’t win the AL East any time soon.

Darryl Strawberry joins Buster ahead of ESPN's new 30 for 30 “Once Upon a Time in Queens” about the World Series-winning 1986 New York Mets. Darryl and Buster discuss why Mets fans went so crazy for the ’86 team, their famous curtain calls, being the bad boys of the league, Dwight Goodin’s delivery, Gary Carter playing with joy and what he was thinking during the Bill Buckner play. Later, Sarah Langs stops by with her mom Lisse-Anne Pirofski to talk about her San Francisco Giants clinching a playoff spot, if she endorses the team celebrating with champagne and superstition vs. science. Plus, Langs on Adam Wainwright's phenomenal season at 40, the Blue Jays finally realizing their potential, the Yankees making big changes in the infield and the Red Sox’s fielding disaster.

Tim Kurkjian joins Buster to discuss the chirping between the Mets and Yankees over alleged sign-stealing, Francisco Lindor’s three home runs on Sunday Night Baseball, if either New York team makes the playoffs, Max Scherzer’s 3,000th strikeout, Corbin Burnes and the battle for NL Cy Young, and the Blue Jays surging into playoff position by laying waste to the Orioles.

Michael Kay joins Buster to discuss his memories of 9/11, being unsure if fans were ready to watch “a silly game” when baseball resumed, his moment of clarity when he realized what sports really means to people, the pride he felt after President George W. Bush’s first pitch, and the desperation for the Yankees and Mets headed into the weekend. Then, Karl Ravech stops by to talk about the Yankees lacking the vigor the Blue Jays are playing with, Jacob deGrom and Sandy Alderson not being on the same page with deGrom’s elbow, and Hunter Renfroe’s comments on the Red Sox’s COVID-19 outbreak. Later, Todd Radom has the Forgotten Franchise and the weekly quiz.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman joins Buster to discuss Derek Jeter’s speech in Cooperstown, the state of his and Jeter’s relationship, his conversations with Joe Torre after 9/11 on what role the team should play in the New York City, the love shown to the Yankees throughout the league in the aftermath, and President George W. Bush’s first pitch during the World Series. Later, Sarah Langs on the designation of being unanimously voted into the Hall of Fame, Max Scherzer becoming the second fastest ever to 3,000 strikeouts, the Blue Jays continuing to batter the Yankees and A.J. Pollack.

Stephanie Bell joins Buster to discuss Mets president Sandy Alderson’s assertion that Jacob deGrom’s injury “has resolved itself,” how Fernando Tatis Jr. has been able to protect his shoulder and whether Tatis should have surgery. Then, David Schoenfield talks about the Padres looking like its in trouble, the Blue Jays busting out, Gerrit Cole’s seemingly strategic retreat, the second AL Wild Card spot and his top-three Derek Jeter plays. Later, Hembo stops by with notes on the Yankees benching Joey Gallo, Wander Franco being unfazed by big league pitching and Marcus Semien.

Tim Kurkjian joins Buster to discuss a wacky game between the Red Sox and Rays, if the Blue Jays could make the playoffs, the Yankees losing Jonathan Loaisiga, the Giants taking the weekend series against the Dodgers for first place in the NL West, if Max Scherzer is now the Cy Young favorite in the NL, Cody Bellinger’s struggles and Charlie Morton’s one-year extension. Later, Sarah Langs plays The Numbers Game with notes on another Scherzer 10 strikeout-no walk game, Wander Franco’s seemingly endless on-base streak and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Karl Ravech joins Buster to discuss what they would do if they ran the Mets, why Steve Cohen should do everything he can to get Theo Epstein, the tie for first in the NL West, the wide-open race for NL CY Young, Bryce Harper as the favorite for NL MVP and Gerrit Cole closing in on AL Cy Young. Later, Todd Radom stops by with the Forgotten Franchise and the weekly quiz.

Jeff Passan joins Buster to discuss the Dodgers overtaking the Giants atop the NL West, why it’s the Dodgers’ division and World Series to lose, the Giants running into the Brewers’ buzzsaw, the Mets continuing to devolve, Steve Cohen having a conscience-free opportunity to clean house, who Cohen might look at to run the team, and a sliver of hope in labor negotiations. Later, Sarah Langs stops by with her annual list of the 10-best pitches in baseball.