From The Diamond

Grant McAuley

Grant McAuley hosts "From The Diamond." New episodes weekly! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and FromTheDiamond.com. read less
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Down the stretch they come, can the Atlanta Braves reach October?
Sep 21 2024
Down the stretch they come, can the Atlanta Braves reach October?
Locked in a four-way battle for one of three Wild Card spots, the Atlanta Braves have just a week remaining to punch their ticket to the postseason. Grant McAuley takes you through the week that was for the Braves, one that included the maddeningly inconsistent offense and some missed opportunities to beat lesser teams that could loom large this time of year. With several big bats finally getting hot, can Atlanta get on track in the final few series of the regular season and find its way into October? Will the return of Ozzie Albies benefit the club in more ways than one? Can anyone stop Chris Sale from earning his first career Cy Young. With Shohei Ohtani's history-making performance in establishing the 50-50 club, we look back on Ronald Acuña Jr.'s historic 40-70 season, what the two have in common, why comparison is the thief of joy, and what having this style of baseball back in the mainstream means to the game itself. And with their rivalry rekindled can the Braves and Mets write another memorable chapter this week as they clash at Truist Park with a playoff spot on the line? Adam Gold of 99.9 The Fan in Raleigh joins the show to discuss. All of that and a trip around the big leagues on this edition of From The Diamond! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta every weekend. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Atlanta Braves' hunt for October coming down to the wire
Sep 14 2024
Atlanta Braves' hunt for October coming down to the wire
The Atlanta Braves come down the stretch in a four-way battle for one of three Wild Card spots in the National League. Can they find the offense to back up the stellar pitching and secure their place in the postseason? Grant McAuley discusses the latest goings on for the Braves, which includes their path to the playoffs. With the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks all battling it out and with head-to-head meetings still to come, this four-team race could come down to the final series of the season. The Braves offense has been particularly down in September and need to course correct to support the pitching staff which is the best in Major Leagues. We'll dive into the numbers and highlight some key players who could help Atlanta make a run to and through October. Whit Merrifield returned to the Braves lineup despite suffering a fractured left foot. Hear from the Atlanta second baseman on why getting back in the lineup was so important to him. Meanwhile, reliever A.J. Minter discusses his season-ending surgery, time in a Braves uniform, and his mindset heading into free agency. Heidi Watney of AppleTV joins the show to discuss the big weekend showdown between the Braves and Dodgers, the similarities between both teams this season, the incredible numbers of Shohei Ohtani, and the final playoff push for the NL Wild Card spots. All of that and a trip around the big leagues on this edition of From The Diamond! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta every weekend. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Will it be a September to remember for the Atlanta Braves?
Sep 2 2024
Will it be a September to remember for the Atlanta Braves?
After dropping a series in frustrating fashion to first place Philadelphia, the Atlanta Braves must regroup over the final month to secure a spot in the postseason. Grant McAuley discussed the series against the Phillies, waning division title hope, the wild card picture, some offensive trends for several key players that are encouraging for some and require improvement for others. We'll also turn our attention to the Wild Card race, which has five viable contender for three spot, with Atlanta right in the middle of all these teams. Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution checks in from Philadelphia, where the Braves dropped 3-of-4 with a pair of games slipping through their fingers in the hard-fought series. They discuss that series, the wild card hopefuls, and update the status of All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies. In our trip around the big leagues, a pair of Scott Boras clients have differing feelings about their free agency last winter, the son of a longtime major league manager makes his major league debut, and Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star joins the show to chat about the upstart Kansas City Royals, led by MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. and eyeing a spot in October for the first time in a decade. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta every weekend. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
The one where we discuss August and everything after for the Atlanta Braves
Aug 26 2024
The one where we discuss August and everything after for the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves finished off a winning homestand but now face another big challenge as they hit the road against two more teams with their focus set on October. Grant McAuley recaps an eventful week for the Braves, who lost All-Star third baseman Austin Riley to a fractured right hand, the latest in a string of injuries to key players this season. Riley and manager Brian Snitker discussed this latest setback this week. Will the acquisition of Gio Urshela be enough to hold down the hot corner? Can Atlanta steer clear of any major injuries moving forward? The answer was murky after Michael Harris II was hit by a pitch on his left hand on Sunday, though he has appeared to have dodged a major malady for the moment. Brandon Gaudin of Bally Sports joins the show to size up where the Braves are, the standout work by several injury replacements, and preview the upcoming road trip which includes a stop in Minnesota and the final regular season showdown with the first place Phillies. You'll also hear from Braves reliever Pierce Johnson, who discusses the impact of losing A.J. Minter for the season, the strong work from the Atlanta bullpen this year, and the mindset of the team moving forward. Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio joins the show to discuss the latest in a long line of accomplishments for Shohei Ohtani, who joined the 40-40 club over the weekend, the chances of a 50-50 season, and size up some of the races in the American League. All of that and a trip around the big leagues on this edition of the show! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta every weekend. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Atlanta Braves trying to weather another injury storm to secure their spot in the postseason
Aug 19 2024
Atlanta Braves trying to weather another injury storm to secure their spot in the postseason
The Atlanta Braves were able to bring home a winning record on their 10-game road trip, but were hit with a barrage of injuries in the process. Grant McAuley discusses how the latest injury issues could affect Atlanta's stretch drive, with none bigger than the uncertainty surrounding third baseman Austin Riley. He was hit by a pitch on the right hand and is set to undergo further testing as the club returns home. Between that, Jorge Soler's hamstring issue, and potential season-ending surgery for A.J. Minter, it was a tough stretch for the club on the health front. Not all was doom and gloom, however. Chris Sale continued his run of dominance this season and could be poised to do something no Braves pitcher has done since 1889! Teammate Marcell Ozuna is also in the running for a pretty special distinction if he can finish strong over the final six weeks. Atlanta is set to welcome Reynaldo Lopez back from the IL this week and benefiting from the play of two injury replacements -- Whit Merrifield and Ramon Laureano. The legend of Grant Holmes continued against the Giants and Charlie Morton reached a major strikeout milestone as well on this trip. We'll get into that and much more in "This Week in Braves Baseball." Special guest Brad Rowland of Hammer Territory joins the show to discuss the road trip, the injuries and what's ahead for the Braves as the get set for a showdown with the Philadelphia Phillies this week at Truist Park. Be sure to subscribe to Hammer Territory wherever you get your podcasts. Also, from the archives this week, Braves great Dale Murphy shares his memories and the rationale behind the 1990 trade that sent him to the Phillies some 34 years ago. Hear the inside story from the man himself! All of that and a trip around the big leagues on this edition of the show! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta every weekend. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Trade deadline behind them, the Atlanta Braves embark on stretch drive
Aug 5 2024
Trade deadline behind them, the Atlanta Braves embark on stretch drive
The Atlanta Braves and the rest of MLB have done all the wheeling and dealing they could and now prepare for the final two months of the season on the road to October. Grant McAuley recaps the week that was for the Braves, which included some encouraging signs and a more of the same in some cases. The return of Max Fried was overshadowed by a series loss to the retooling Miami Marlins over the weekend, but the first place Philadelphia Phillies have been encountering some trouble over the past few weeks. Is the time right for Atlanta to make a push for its seventh straight NL East title? With the addition of Jorge Soler, the Braves lineup should get a much-needed lift at the leadoff spot. Can the rest of the bats get going and keep going at the right time? First baseman Matt Olson has emerged from a long cold spell. Hear from Olson on what it's taken to navigate the lows this season and where he feels the team is trending with less than two months to go. Nick Green of Bally Sports joins the show to size up the trade deadline deal for Soler and Luke Jackson, what needs to happen for Atlanta to finally get its bats going, a deeper dive on Olson and Marcell Ozuna, as well as the strength of the Atlanta pitching staff after not going after a starter via trade. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sunday evenings. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Will the Atlanta Braves be among the movers and shakers at the trade deadline?
Jul 29 2024
Will the Atlanta Braves be among the movers and shakers at the trade deadline?
As the MLB Trade Deadline approaches, the Atlanta Braves remain in contention for a playoff spot, but the injuries just keep piling up. Grant McAuley discusses an eventful weekend for the Braves, who rallied to split a four-game series against the New York Mets after dropping the first two games. While the offense was showing some encouraging signs in those wins and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach shined in Game 3, it was an injury to All-Star Reynaldo Lopez that took the shine off a victory in the finale. With trade options to sift through, Atlanta GM Alex Anthopoulos will be scouring the market to find reinforcements for his club. That list includes outfield help, a potential starting pitcher acquisition and the possibility of adding a versatile infielder. Jake Mastroianni of Locked On Braves joins the show to discuss the Braves' deadline strategy. Meanwhile, the rest of MLB has already started significant wheeling and dealing. With the Rays selling off pieces of their club and other contenders getting a jump on the market, Xavier Scruggs of MLB Network and ESPN checks in to react to the early deals, those to come, and weigh in on what the Braves could use at the deadline. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Atlanta Braves once again facing major injury issues as Max Fried and Ozzie Albies go down
Jul 21 2024
Atlanta Braves once again facing major injury issues as Max Fried and Ozzie Albies go down
The Atlanta Braves were dealt two more major injury blows as ace lefty Max Fried and starting second baseman Ozzie Albies suffered injuries as the second half opened this weekend. Grant McAuley discusses the latest on the forearm issue that landed Fried on the IL, an ailment that first cropped up as he prepared to pitch in the All-Star Game. With that news fresh on their minds, the Braves lost Albies to a fractured left wrist. That injury is expected to sideline him for approximately two months. Where will the Braves turn for help? It could be infield prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr.'s opportunity to shine. Atlanta will definitely have to reassess its shopping list with the MLB Trade Deadline just over a week away. Meanwhile, Gaurav Vedak of Baseball Prospectus joins the show to discuss the 2024 Braves draft class and the minor league system that contains some valuable trade chips. You'll also hear from longtime Braves broadcaster Chip Caray, who discusses his time with the Cardinals, the family ties to the broadcast booth, another generation of Carays that follows him, and the Hall of Fame cases of his father Skip Caray as well as Pete Van Wieren and Ernie Johnson Sr. All of that and a trip around the big leagues to cover induction weekend in Cooperstown on this edition of the show! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
After besting the first place Phillies, Atlanta Braves embark on final trip of the first half
Jul 8 2024
After besting the first place Phillies, Atlanta Braves embark on final trip of the first half
The Atlanta Braves took a series a series from the first place Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend and look to carry that momentum out on the road for a seven-game trip this week. Grant McAuley recaps an important weekend for the Braves and delves into some of the most important storylines for the club. That includes some promising signs from the top of the lineup and the continuing struggles lower in the order, the strength of Atlanta's pitching staff, and some All-Star honors for a trio of players -- Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, and Marcell Ozuna -- who will be heading to Arlington Texas when the first half concludes. Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution checks in to discuss the sometimes puzzling results for the Braves in the first half, causes for optimism, causes for concern, and talk about the trade possibilities that general manager Alex Anthopoulos may explore at the Trade Deadline later this month. In three exclusive interviews, you'll also hear from Braves third baseman Austin Riley on how the club hopes to improve its results moving forward. Center fielder Michael Harris II shares his recovery from a hamstring injury that has kept him off the field for three weeks. And finally, righty AJ Smith-Shawver discusses his current rehab assignment and hopes to return to the club sooner than later. All of that and a trip around the big leagues to discuss the American and National League All-Star squads as well as some costly umpiring miscues for the Pittsburgh Pirates! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Can the Atlanta Braves finish the first half strong?
Jul 1 2024
Can the Atlanta Braves finish the first half strong?
With the All-Star break fast approaching, the Atlanta Braves are in the midst an important home stand that will include a showdown with the first place Philadelphia Phillies. Grant McAuley delves into the recent news and trends for the club, which includes a few more questions than answers about the lineup. While Jarred Kelenic and Austin Riley have been among the bright spots, Adam Duvall and Orlando Arcia are fighting extended slumps. How might that impact Alex Anthopoulos' shopping list for the trade deadline? You'll also hear a great conversation with veteran right-hander Charlie Morton. The 40-year-old starter shares his thoughts on Jesse Chavez's success, how it relates to the current game, how club's evaluate pitchers, and what helped Morton unlock his potential in the second half his career. Mark Bowman of MLB.com sits down to discuss his new book - "The Franchise: Atlanta Braves, A Curated History of the Atlanta Braves." He shares the process of writing book, selecting the stories, interviewing the various Braves players and executives, and reflects on the impact of Ted Turner's vision and TBS in not only making the Braves a household name, but changing the way MLB is consumed on television. All of that and a trip around the big leagues to talk about some of the biggest stories in MLB on this episode of the show! From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Don't look now but the Atlanta Braves offense has awakened
Jun 24 2024
Don't look now but the Atlanta Braves offense has awakened
The Atlanta Braves are showing signs of breaking out at the plate after a long and frustrating road. Are they heating up in time to impact the National League East race? Grant McAuley dives into the week that was for the Braves, including the hot hitting of new leadoff man Jarred Kelenic. Is he finally breaking through at the plate as a big leaguer? Can Austin Riley and others keep up their recent trends and get the Atlanta lineup where it needs to be going forward? On the mound, rookie Spencer Schwellenbach has impressed the Braves and is earning the opportunity to pitch some meaningful innings for the club. Veteran Chris Sale has been one of the best stories of the first half and one of the best pitchers in the game. Has he pitched his way into the NL Cy Young conversation? Special guest Heidi Watney of Apple TV+ joins the show to discuss that and the Braves’ big weekend in the Bronx. You’ll also hear from reliever A.J. Minter, who was up in Rome to get some work in on Saturday. He chats about his rehab outing and what the next steps will be. Meanwhile, Ian Anderson is facing hitters in Florida again. Will the young righty be ready for his own rehab assignment soon? All of that and much more in the Braves discussion this week. Across Major League Baseball, the loss of Willie Mays was felt from coast to coast. His life and legacy were celebrated at Rickwood Field this week. His godson, Barry Bonds, was on hand to pay tribute and make some waves on the Fox broadcast. With Mays’ passing, it brings up the question: Who is the greatest living baseball player? Jayson Stark of The Athletic checks in to discuss Mays’ legacy, his incredible statistics, why his impact goes far beyond the numbers and shares some stories of Mays accomplishments as well. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Another frustrating week of waiting for the Atlanta Braves bats to awaken
Jun 10 2024
Another frustrating week of waiting for the Atlanta Braves bats to awaken
The Atlanta Braves' offensive woes in May have grown from a frustration to concern as the club experienced more uneven play in the month of June. Grant McAuley breaks down the recent trends for the club and the rest of MLB, which is also producing decidedly different results in 2024. While the bats have been searching for answers, Max Fried, Chris Sale and the Braves rotation continue to give the club a chance to win with solid pitching. How long can the pitching staff keep up its current level of production? When will the Atlanta lineup find its footing? Those are the questions the Braves are hoping to answer sooner than later. Meanwhile, MLB's gambling issues could be growing after a recent suspension and some abhorrent behavior some players continue to be subjected to. Can the league walk the fine line of keeping gambling out of the game while simultaneously courting the ad revenue the industry could provide the sport? Special guest Anthony Castrovince joins the show to discuss the addition of Negro Leagues statistics into the MLB record book. You'll hear about how this process played out and how the record keeping has evolved over the history of the sport. From the vault on this episode: Hear former Braves great Dale Murphy tell the story behind two of the most iconic baseball posters from the 1980s. Murph tells the story of "Power Alley" and "Stickball" from inception, to photo shoot, to finished product and reflects on the legacy of Nike's promotional efforts in baseball some four decades ago. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
Is the month of June all the Atlanta Braves need to get back on track?
Jun 3 2024
Is the month of June all the Atlanta Braves need to get back on track?
The Atlanta Braves fought their way through a challenging May, so will June once again be the month this club puts it all together? That's been the case each of the last two seasons. Grant McAuley discusses all the Braves news of the past week and looks ahead to the three-city road trip which begins on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox. Chris Sale, Max Fried and the rest of the starting rotation have done more than their fair share this season, even with the fifth spot still unsettled. Can they continue to post up while the offense gets back on track? Could young arms like Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and others step into that final spot? With Ronald Acuña Jr. out for the remainder of 2024, who will step into the leadoff role and how will Brian Snitker balance the rest of his lineup as they try to shake off a collective cold spell? You'll also hear from Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, who appeared on 92-9 The Game on Friday to chat with Carl Dukes and Mike Bell. Where does the Atlanta executive stand on the challenges his club is facing and the need for reinforcements? That and more on this week's show. As the Braves find themselves chasing the Phillies, we take a look at the NL East race with Casey Stern, host of "Unfiltered" on the Bleav Network. We'll also try to make sense of the mess the New York Mets found themselves in with a strange turn of events surrounding former reliever Jorge Lopez. Also on the show, longtime catcher and current Foul Territory host Erik Kratz joins the show to dish on the Phillies, the Braves overcoming the loss of Acuña, unpack the "retirement" of Angel Hernandez, and chat about the process of writing his autobiography, "The Tao of the Backup Catcher," which is available wherever books are sold. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
The Atlanta Braves are still searching for offense as May malaise hangs over them
May 20 2024
The Atlanta Braves are still searching for offense as May malaise hangs over them
The month of May has once again been a bit unkind to the Atlanta Braves, who seem like they are winning games in spite of their offense at the moment. Of course, the pitching staff has been pitching in more than its fair share to make it happen. Grant McAuley discussed the latest Braves news from the week that was, including some encouraging signs for Matt Olson at the plate, but a discouraging injury update for Austin Riley that seems to have the third baseman in limbo as far as a return. You'll hear Riley's comments from Saturday as he described the ailment that has him stuck on the bench for the time being. Meanwhile, Travis d'Arnaud also had a brush with injury but appears to have emerged unscathed while Sean Murphy's return to could be getting closer with an upcoming rehab assignment. Ronald Acuña Jr. is among those still searching for consistency and results, so did a day off help speed that process up? You'll also hear from Atlanta reliever Jesse Chavez, who shares some insight on the inner workings of the bullpen. And we'll discuss the latest Players Only telecast on Bally Sports South with Brian McCann and Jeff Francoeur, who reflect on their friendship and the chance to reunite on the 20th anniversary of their rookie season. Special guest Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports joins the show to discuss the state of the Toronto Blue Jays, a club that once seemed destined to become a powerhouse, but is now staring at the possibility that their homegrown stars are not only under-performing but could also bolt in free agency. David Adler of MLB.com checks in to share the inner workings of Statcast's new bat-tracking metrics, from concept to the first iteration which debuted this past week. This latest evolution allows us to take a deeper look at how the swing works and who has the most explosive swing in MLB. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.
With pitching staff leading the way, the Atlanta Braves are weathering early storms
May 13 2024
With pitching staff leading the way, the Atlanta Braves are weathering early storms
The Atlanta Braves bounced back from a tough road trip to win a pair of series but are still not clicking on all cylinders. Grant McAuley discusses the latest headlines and biggest stories from the week that was in Braves baseball, including big contributions from Chris Sale and Max Fried that highlighted a terrific run from the starting rotation. There were also some signs of life from some of Atlanta's biggest hitters, as Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson each left the yard over the weekend against the New York Mets. Can those two and a couple of other big bats get going as the weather heats up? Can any of them keep up with the torrid pace of Marcell Ozuna? You'll also hear from Braves outfielders Adam Duvall and Jarred Kelenic, who discuss forming their partnership in left field, the early seasons highs and lows and much more. Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley shares his thoughts on how the club overcomes the down times in the season and comes out better for going through those. Brad Rowland of Hammer Territory joins the show to size up some of the early trends for the Braves and promote his new podcast. All of that and a trip around the big leagues to touch on some of the biggest stories from across Major League Baseball are coming at you in this episode of From The Diamond. From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays from 5-7 pm ET. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.