MLB podcast Stephen Ruderman: Raleigh signs 6 yr $105 million deal with M’s; Ex-Yank Gardner’s son cause of death still a mystery; plus more news

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh signed a six year $105 million extension on Mon Mar 24, 2025 and is considered one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball (AP News photo)

San Francisco Giants podcast Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Seattle catcher signed Cal Raleigh to a six year $105 million extension deal. Raleigh last season hit .220 hit 34 home runs, 100 RBIs, and had 120 hits. Raleigh called the “Big Dumper” is considered one of the best catchers in baseball.

#2 Miller Gardner 14 the son of former New York Yankee Brett Gardner who passed on Mar 21st cause of death was not asphyxiation. Miller with other family members fell ill during a family vacation. Brett said that Miller passed away in his sleep peacefully.

#3  Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker will both be on the opening day roster as the two first round draft picks will take the last two spots on the pitching rotation for the Texas Rangers. The Rangers rotation are Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, Jon Gray, Tyler Mahle, Rocker and Leiter. The Rangers also have been picked as a favorite to win the American League pennant.

#4 Arizona Diamondbacks have announced that left hander Jordan Montgomery will go under Tommy John next week. Montgomery 32 said that he knew his season was over due to the elbow injury and ironically it happened just two days before the regular season. Montgomery was 8-7, with a 6.23 ERA in 25 games and had 21 starts last season for Arizona.

#5 Stephen, Heliot Ramos looks like he could very well be the San Francisco Giants lead off hitter taking a spring training batting average of .308, with 12 hits, two home runs, and eight RBIs into Tuesday. Ramos belted a home run on Monday night against the Detroit Tigers at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

Join Stpehen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Ohtani done for season; San Diego manager Melvin talks about being back in Oakland

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. Ohtani left the Angels on Fri Sep 16, 2023. His agent said he’ll be a DH somewhere next season (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Los Angeles Angels two way star Shohei Ohtani cleared out his locker on Friday night and is done for the rest of the 2023 season. Ohtani has been out of the line up since Sep 4th is will need a procedure for his right elbow. Ohtani’s personal items were seen in a garbage can in the Angels clubhouse according to reporters and Ohtani didn’t speak to the media after taking batting practice in a cage before the game.

#2 Stephen, with former Oakland A’s and now San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin was back in his old confines at the Oakland Coliseum. It gave Melvin who showed up at the ballpark at 11 AM time to run the stairs in the lower bowl of the Coliseum.

#3 Asked about the A’s move to Las Vegas Melvin said he hopes fans would enjoy the ballpark and hope that the A’s are in Oakland a lot longer then people expect. Meaning getting the extension at the Coliseum through the 2027 before they move to Vegas if it gets the owners approval.

#4 The Los Angeles Angels Anthony Rendon has been out a good two months and has not made himself available to talk about what was thought to be his bruised deep bone which outside doctors with no working relationship with the Angels said it was a fractured tibia.

#5 New York Yankees pitcher Anthony Misiewicz was hit in the head by line drive hit by the Pittsburgh Pirates Ji Hwan Bae which happened in the bottom of the sixth inning at PNC Park. Misiewicz was hit on the side of the head as the ball rolled to right field. Misiewicz stood up after getting hit and was escorted off the field via cart under the watchful eye of medical personnel and the Yankee trainer.

#6 If the bags are ever juiced and the Minnesota Twins Royce Lewis is coming to the plate his odds of hitting a grand slam home run are pretty good. Royce hit grand slam number four for the season a Twins record for a season on Friday night. Lewis said he thinks of the wins that comes with hitting the grand slam and he hopes his teammates hits some as well.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Ex-Brewers pres baseball operations Stearns takes job at Mets; Braves Olson hits HRs 49 & 50 but loses game; plus more news

David Stearns has joined the New York Mets as president of operations. The Mets after dealing some of their superstar players players are looking to Stearns to replace and improve on the team. (AP file photo)

On MLB The Show podcast with Stephen:

#1 The New York Mets have hired Milwaukee Brewers David Stearns as president of baseball operations. Stearns was hired by the Brewers as general manager in 2015. Stearns was promoted to the Brewers president of baseball operations in 2019. Under Stearns the Brewers made the playoffs four straight years in a row. The Brewers missed the post season by just one game in the NL Wild Card.

#2 The Atlanta Braves Matt Olson hit home runs 49 and 50 in the second game of a doubleheader on Monday night. Olson’s first offering for #49 was an upper deck shot and his second home run was to opposite away left field.

#3 All the murals were covered up and the locker of Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Juan Urias was cleaned out and the Dodgers are trying to leave no hint that Urias had been there. Urias was arrested for the second time for domestic violence. Fans at an MLS game between Miami Inter vs. LAFC in Los Angeles saw Urias get into a fight with his girlfriend during the Sep 3 game.

#4 The Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jeff Siri was placed on the 10 day IL on Tuesday after receiving a fractured right hand. Siri is a critical piece to the Rays line up and has hit 25 home runs this season. Siri was hit in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s game and left after being a base runner.

#5 The Texas Rangers and manager Bruce Bochy has melted down from when they were all the rage Aug 15th in the AL West winning 12 of their last 14 games. What came next was a eight game losing streak, the Rangers lost 16 of 20 games. The Rangers had a 6.5 game lead in the West and wound up with a three game deficit. As of Tuesday night the Rangers are just two games behind first place Houston.

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Bad blood between Yanks-Rays spills out onto the field twice; Former Guardians manager Corrales dead at 82; plus more news

Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena argues with New York Yankees relief pitcher Albert Abreu (84) during the eighth inning at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Sun Aug 27, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Stephen:

#1 The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays got into two bench clearing dust ups at Tropicana Park in Tampa Bay. The first one was when the Rays Randy Arozarena was hit by a pitch by Yankees pitcher Albert Abreu. Some of the players needed to be held back by the coaches and umpires. After the field was cleared play continued. Arozarena stole second and third base and at third base started jawing with Abreu and the benches emptied again.

#2 Stephen, sad week, we’ve had a baseball player, radio talk show host and an official scorer pass away this past week. Former KNBR talk show host Mychal Urban, former MLB official scorer Art Santo Domingo, and now former Cleveland Guardian’s manager Pat Corrales passed away on Sunday at age 82. Los Angeles Dodgers president Stan Kasten said that Corrales worked hard, had a long list of players he influenced and that Pat truly loved the game. Urban was a talk show host and passed away early last week and Santo Domingo passed away on Friday was an MLB official scorer.

#3 Chicago interim police superintendent said Monday that the two women who were shot at Guarantee Rate Field had most likely been shot inside of the ballpark. Officials said they have no idea where the bullets came from but have ruled out that the bullets came from outside of the park. The shooting took place on Friday during the Oakland A’s-Chicago White Sox game.

#4 Stephen, the Toronto Blue Jays have their share of IL headaches as Matt Chapman has been placed on the 10 day IL for a sprained right middle finger and shortstop Bo Bichette is scheduled for an MRI for a sore right quadriceps. The Blue Jays are 2.5 game out of the AL Wild Card and will badly miss Chapman and Bichette out of the line up.

#5 Philadelphia Phillies start Bryce Harper and 2022 NL MVP said that he’s bummed that his AL MVP 2022 counterpart Shohei Ohtani won’t be allowed to pitch. Harper said he was looking forward to facing Ohtani at the Big A in Anaheim during the current series with Harper saying “I think we were all looking forward to it because he’s one of the best is the game, on that mound and in the batter’s box, as well,”

Stephen Ruderman is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Manfred predicted slam dunk for re-election; ex-A’s Fujinami had improved before trade; plus much more

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is pleased with the 2024 All Star Game logo which will be held in Texas next season. Manfred was in Arlington on Thu Jul 20, 2023 for the unveiling. Things have been going well for Manfred and he is expected to be re-elected that will take him as Commissioner through 2030. (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen:

#1 MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is no doubt going to be elected according to a dependable source said. Manfred needs 16 of 30 votes by MLB teams to be reelected and the source it won’t even be that close he’s a slam dunk to be re-elected. Once re-elected his new term will run five years or ending in 2030.

#2 Manfred has received criticism from the media and fans alike over his handling of the Oakland A’s relocation and if there was any doubt that the owners are split on the A’s relocation Manfred’s predicted slam dunk re-election might be an indication that the owners are together and will vote to relocate the A’s to Las Vegas.

#3 Former Oakland A’s pitcher Shintaro Fujinami said that Japanese players are rarely traded in Japan but Fujinami was prepared for anything when he signed wit the A’s for two years at $3.25 million. Yet and still Fujinami was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles last Wednesday.

#4 Fujinami’s value had improved over the last 12 appearances and his ERA had gone down the Orioles who are in the thick of the hunt saw that and got a deal with the A’s sending double A pitcher Easton Lucas in exchange for Fujinami.

#5 Will the Los Angeles Angels deal two way player Shohei Ohtani? The Angels had said they want to keep Ohtani and Ohtani said he was open to stay in Anaheim but both sides are also listening to offers. The Angels said they would absolutely not deal Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers but money and talented players talk. Amongst some of the top teams named in the Ohtani sweepstakes, the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres.

Stephen Ruderman does MLB podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Auggie Mussenburg: MLB owners A’s relocation vote delay; Golden Fields memories; plus more

Golden Gate Fields is about to close permanently it opened in 1941 and is closing to merge their business model in the Southland leaving the Bay Area with no race tracks (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Auggie:

#1 MLB owners have not taken a vote on relocating the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas do you think there is haggling going on behind the scenes and the owners don’t like the idea of moving a team in the fifth largest market to what would be the smallest market in MLB.

#2 If a move is made how much will MLB owner be concerned about losing the gate in the smallest MLB Park and smallest media MLB market.

#3 Golden Gate Fields Race Track will close permanently after the ’23 Meet in December 2023. The historic track is the last of what were two race tracks the other being Bay Meadows. The Stronach Group will double business at the Santa Anita Race Track and train at San Luis Rey Downs and at San Luis Rey Downs in the Southland.

#4 The Boston Red Sox shutout the A’s in a laugher Monday night. The Sox Connor Wong drove in three runs and pitcher Nick Pivetta matched a career high striking out 13 batters in the Sox 7-0 shoutout of the A’s at the Coliseum.

#5 Frustrations for the A’s Ryan Noda who was called out on strikes drew a line by the plate and was ejected by plate umpire Emil Jimenez. A’s manager Mark Kotsay came out to discuss and he and Noda went back towards the dugout.

Auggie is reporter KWAI 1080 Honolulu and podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Codero suspended for rest of season for domestic violence by Yanks; Angels IL problem; plus much more

New York Yankee pitcher Jimmy Codero has been suspended for the rest of the 2023 season including the post season for domestic violence. Details of what happened has not been disclosed by the Yankees. Codero’s suspension started immediately according to the Yankees. (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen:

#1 The New York Yankees suspended pitcher Jimmy Cordero for domestic violence. The Yankees in a statement said they are aware of Cordero domestic violence policy violations saying “there is no justification for domestic violence.” Cordero is suspended for the remaining 76 games and the post season. Cordero a 3.86 ERA with 34 strikeouts and ten walks. No details of the domestic violence charge was disclosed.

#2 The Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout is out with a fracture left wrist and was put on the ten day IL, Anthony Rendon was injured after fouling a ball off his left leg and is suffering from a shin contusion and did not suffer an fractures, finally Angels star pitcher Shohei Ohtani will not play in the All Star game due to a blister in his last outing and had a cracked finger nail in his last start.

#3 On Tuesday Chicago Cubs manager David Ross took all he could after the Cubs saw a four run lead and beat the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Park in Milwaukee. There were frustrations in the 11th inning when Cubs first base coach Mike Napoli shouted his disagreement with plate umpire Erich Bacchus on third strike call on Cubs hitter Dansby Swanson. Ross came out onto the field to argue and was also tossed out by Bacchus. The Cubs did come back to win it in 11, 7-6.

#4 Stephen talk about second baseman Thairo Estrada he’s suffering from a left hand fracture that will sideline him from two to six weeks. Estrada was hitting .272 with 79 hits, 9 home runs and 31 RBIs. The Giants will replace him with Casey Schmitt and Brett Wisley at second.

#5 What are the chances? The organization Schools over Stadiums has launched a petition campaign to put a bill on the ballot to stop the state of Nevada from using $380 million in public money to finance a new Las Vegas A’s ballpark at the Tropicana location. The campaign needs over 25,000 signatures in four Nevada districts to get the measure on the ballot and over 1 million votes to end the state’s public funding of the Las Vegas ballpark money Schools over Stadiums say should be used for education.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Yanks German gets touched up in first start after perfect game; Met’s Alfonso knows its going to be competitive at home run derby; plus more news

New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German couldn’t get out of the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Mon Jul 3, 2023 his first start since pitching a perfect game on Wed Jun 28, 2023 in Oakland (AP News photo)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen:

#1 Last Wed Jun 28th the New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German became baseball’s 24th pitcher to throw a perfect game on Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles. German couldn’t get out of the fifth inning as the Baltimore Orioles touched him up for two runs and nine hits after 4 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium.

#2 Stephen there’s a growing field of competitiveness when it comes to the MLB home run derby at the All Star Game in Seattle and the New York Mets Pete Alfonso the former 2 time derby champ will know he’s going up against some big bets next Monday night to the like of the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani (31) and the Atlanta Braves Matt Olson (28).

#3 The Atlanta Braves will have a huge contingent representing them at the All Star game their entire infield has been invited to come to the All Star game, starting with All Star representative outfielder Ronald Acuna, infielders Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Orlando Arcia, and catcher Sean Murphy. The Braves are loaded during the regular season but they will also be loaded at the All Star game.

#4 It’s the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s misfortune to have to be placed on the 15 day IL due to a shoulder injury and will miss the All Star game. Kershaw experienced shoulder soreness during his previous start on Jun 27th against the Colorado Rockies.

#5 Former San Francisco Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon will finally make his 2023 debut with the New York Yankees. Rodon who had been out with various injuries is ready to make his first start of the season against the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Yankee Stadium. Rodon signed with the Yankees for six years at $162 million.

Stpehen Ruderman does the MLB podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman: A’s move could end up in courts; Rep Lee and Sen Padilla might look into baseball’s anti exemption over issue

Rep Barbara Lee (D) Calif speaks at a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. Lee has said that she and Sen Alex Padilla (D) Calif might look into baseball’s anti trust exemption and how MLB and A’s owner John Fisher moved the team to Las Vegas and how it impacts California financially (AP file photo)

MLB The Show podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 This week MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said the City of Oakland was not prepared with an offer to the A’s. Many a talk show host and reporter said that was not true that Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao said they were close to a deal.

#2 Mayor Thao said Howard Terminal had the finishing touches ready to go and was 10% of the way there.

#3 Do you believe that A’s owner John Fisher and Manfred wanted Las Vegas all along even though the Howard Terminal deal looked like it was close to being completed and they made the “binding agreement” in Las Vegas announcement ahead of any deal with the City of Oakland?

#4 Historically how will baseball history look back on Commissioner Manfred and owner Fisher. Will it be favorably because they brought baseball to Las Vegas or negatively because they didn’t bargain in good faith with the City of Oakland because they were close to a deal.

#5 The hopes of any change for the A’s to stay in Oakland rests with the MLB owners who have a vote that could be coming as soon as next week. Will they vote no because the A’s are not paying any relocation fees which would be a $30 million share for each team or no team in the future would have to pay a relocation fee in the future.

#6 Should playing in the #40 media market matter? Las Vegas is the smallest in MLB with the smallest park in MLB.

Join Steve Ruderman for MLB podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com