Headline Sports podcast Marko Ukalovic: Yanks Williams struggling in relief role; Braves Verdugo off to a hitting start in first two games; plus more MLB news

Atlanta Braves Alex Verdugo (8) is greeted at by Braves manager Brian Snitker (43) after scoring a third inning run against the Minnesota Twins at Truist Field in Cobb County GA on Sat Apr 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Marko:

#1 After joining the New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams doesn’t look like the All Star thrower he was when he pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers last season. The Tampa Bay Rays Brandon Lowe’s two run single off Williams was part of a four run rally. The Rays Jon Aranda hit a two run homer in the tenth against Yoendrys Gomez for extra measure to defeat the Yankees 10-8 that snapped the New York five game win streak.

#2 The Atlanta Braves Alex Verdugo said he’s not taking credit for the Braves going 2-0 since being recalled this week. Verdugo got four hits and scored two runs on Saturday night against the Minnesota Twins for a 4-3 win. Verdugo in those two games has been the key to the Braves line up so far.

#3 Forget baseball the face of baseball two way star Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka have announced the birth of their child on Saturday. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote in an Instagram post. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

#4 Toronto Blue Jays right hand pitcher Jose Berrios was suspected Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was tipping his pitches to the Mariners bench. When Raleigh was walking back to the dugout Berrios let Raleigh know what he thought of it. The Jays lost to the Mariners 8-4 in 12 innings on Saturday. Berrios said “people are trying to fight with us in the field, I don’t respect that. I don’t like that.”

#5 Marko, how do you explain the Sacramento A’s having baseball’s second best road record at 8-4 and a home record of 2-7. The A’s picked up their fourth win in five games on this current road trip against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Are they having a tough time at Sutter Health Park or are the visitors just pumped and ready to win in Sacramento?

Marko Ukalovic filled for Charlie O who does Headline Sports podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

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Headline Sports podcast Charlie O Sat : Astro Fan grabs ball out of Halo Trout’s glove, ruled foul fan tossed; Yanks Stroman on 15 day IL for inflammation; plus more news

Los Angeles Angels right fielder Mike Trout is none too happy after Houston Astros fan Jared Whalen took the ball out of his glove after reaching into the stands and making a catch. Whalen apologized and tried to hand the ball back to Trout. Whalen was ejected out of the park but later returned to meet and apologize to Trout in person at Daikin Park in Houston on Sat Apr 12, 2025 (New York Times photo)

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O:

#1 Los Angeles Angels right fielder Mike Trout was racing towards the right field stands to make a leaping catch while extending his arm in what would have been a great catch but a fan who was wearing a Houston Astros jersey caught the ball before Trout and took the ball away. The umpires further ruled that the fan had took the ball out of Trout’s glove. The fan looked sorry for the misdeed raised his arms and offered to give the ball back to Trout. The fan was escorted out of the Daikin Park in Houston. First base umpire Alan Porter ruled the ball foul rather than rule it a fly out. Astros hitter Yanier Diaz later ended up flying to center to end the inning. Jared Whalen the fan later said he was protecting his son’s face and later met with Trout in the clubhouse area where Trout ended up giving a bat to Whalen’s son.

#2 The New York Yankees announced on Saturday that Marcus Stroman will be placed on the 15 day IL due to left knee inflammation this being one day after Stroman surrendered five runs with two outs in a 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. Stroman was sent to the hospital after throwing 46 pitches during a rainy Friday game.

#3 Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Richard Fitts had to leave Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox with right shoulder pain. Fitts surrendered two hits, struck out five and walked a batter and left in the fifth inning. Fitts will be coming back to Boston to undergo an MRI said Sox manager Alex Cora.

#4  Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians was one of the most dominating relievers in baseball last season. Clase said he was not a pitching machine and that he was human and that he could make mistakes. Clase has struggled in the first few weeks of the season. So far Clase is 2-0 with one save. On Saturday night he gave up six runs on 14 hits.

#5 Could the Los Angeles Dodgers end up being one of the best big league teams. The all time win record for a season sits at 116 held by the 1906 Chicago White Sox and the 2001 Seattle Mariners. The Dodgers are good enough but can they eclipse the Sox and M’s for the all time wins in a season record.

Join Charlie for headline sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports with Charlie O podcast: Yankees Cole rocked in 2 2/3 innings with sore elbow; Tigers Urquidy hoping to make comeback this season; plus more news

Former Houston Astro Jose Urquidy is signed to a $1 million deal that includes a one year option with the Detroit Tigers for the 2025 season. Urquidy has had Tommy surgery twice and is on the 60 day IL and hopes to make a return to baseball with the Tiger this season. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole who has a sore elbow had imaging done on his right elbow and the Yankees expect to know more about his elbow in two more days. Cole 34, pitched on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins and was lit up for six runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings of work. Cole said in the post game presser he felt alright but the elbow was sore after the game.

#2 The Detroit Tigers signed right hand pitcher Jose Urquidy that includes a one year option for 2026 to a $1 million one year deal. Urquidy is 30 and had Tommy John surgery back on Jun 5th. Urquidy also had his first Tommy John in 2017. Urquidy was placed on the 60 day IL and it’s a question on when he will return. Urquidy last pitched in 2023 and went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA.

#3 One of the scary things about spring training is that one of your highest paid players could down with an injury and miss significant time. The Atlanta Braves Jurickson Profar is hoping that won’t be the case he had to leave Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after jamming his left wrist when he landed on his left arm. X-rays proved negative and the Braves said Profar will go further testing.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr said that his contract proposal was significantly lower than New York Mets Juan Soto and was less than $600 million. Guerrero said that he and the Blue Jays failed to secure an extended contract before the start of spring training. Guerrero is eligible to enter the free agency market this November. Guerrero is in his last season of his contract with the Jays.

#5 Two Major League teams two minor league parks. How much of a mistake is this on the decision of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to allow this to happen or did Manfred do the right thing with no choice but to have the Sacramento A’s and the Tampa Bay Rays play in minor league parks for the interim?

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O Sun Mar 2, 2025: Pete Rose being considered for reinstatement; Bucs Skenes expected to make a splash this season; plus more news

Major League Baseball All Time hits leader Pete Rose is being considered by Commissioner Rob Manfred to lift the lifetime ban against Rose for gambling on baseball. Rose’s family has petitioned Manfred and MLB to reconsider the ban. (AP News photo)

Headline Sports podcast Charlie O Sun Mar 2, 2025:

#1 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly is considering lifting baseball’s lifetime ban on former Cincinnati Reds and MLB all time hit leader Pete Rose. The Rose family had petitioned Manfred and he is considering the request. If the ban is lifted the late Reds player and manager could be eligible for being nominated for the Hall of Fame.

#2 Pittsburgh Pirates right hander Paul Skenes showcased his handy work during during the Grapefruit League for the first time in spring training. Skenes is know for his success last season going 11-3, ERA 1.96 with 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. There is little doubt why the Pirates selected him as the number one pick in the 2023 draft.

#3 New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will start the 2025 campaign on the injured list with elbow injuries. The elbow injury has kept Stanton from any spring training action since camp started. Stanton has received platelet rich plasma on both elbows. Stanton also has been away from camp due to a personal matter and expected back next at George M Steinbrenner Park in Tampa. Yanks infielder DJ LaMahieu is suffering from a calf muscle injury on Saturday against the Houston Astros. Manager Aaron Boone says the LaMahieu injury is “a little concerning.”

#4 An emotional former Milwaukee Brewer Willy Adames now with the San Francisco Giants faced his old teammates for the first time since the death of former legend broadcaster Bob Uecker. Adames if he would share his conversation with Uecker after finishing the NL Wild Card round. He said it was deep, emotional. Charlie didn’t realize how close Adames was to Mr. Baseball.

#5 John Shea of the San Francisco Standard wrote a piece regarding former Oakland A’s Spanish broadcasters Amaury Pi Gonzalez who is part of our broadcast crew and Manolo Hernandez Douen will not be returning to the A’s Spanish booth. The A’s although they have not announced a new Spanish radio flagship station and new broadcasters said in a statement that they will be making those changes but Pi Gonzalez and Hernandez Douen will not be returning. Shea said that the move was not fair after all the years that Pi Gonzalez put in since 1977 and he was notified on the first day of pitchers and catchers.

Join Charlie O for Headlines podcasts Sundays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com