We celebrate the 2025 Opening Day Weekend; and (6:28) Dr. Travis Stern, Author of “Ballplayers on Stage: Baseball, Melodrama, and Theatrical Celebrity in the Deadball Era” and Associate Professor of Theater Arts at Bradley University, talks Goth Music and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Drink: Cava (Brut Reserva 2020) from Roger Goulart in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Spain.

Dr. Stern’s book: https://utpress.org/title/ballplayers-on-stage/
Dr. Stern’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/traviswstern/
Dr. Stern’s Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/travisstern.bsky.social

Last Call Baseball T-Shirts: https://lastcallbaseball.creator-spring.com/
Last Call Baseball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lastcallbaseball/
Last Call Baseball Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lastcallbaseball.bsky.social
Last Call Baseball Twitter: https://x.com/LastCall4040
Intro and Outro Music: DeCarlo 
Podcast Logo Artist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/regan_vasconcellos/


178 - Dr. Travis Stern

It was another week of struggles for the Atlanta Braves, who came home from a seven-game road trip with no wins to show for it and are still searching for answers at the plate.

Grant McAuley delves into the reasons for the struggles, which are many, as well some big losses beyond the box score for the Braves. Left fielder Jurickson Profar was slapped with an 80-game PED suspension while Reynaldo Lopez may be lost for the season due to a shoulder injury.
 
Scott Coleman, host of Hammer Territory, joins the show to examine the slow start, the loss of Profar, the prolonged offensive struggles, the emergence of Spencer Schwellenbach, what the returns of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider could mean for this club, and much more.

In our trip around the big leagues, we take a way-to-early look at the standings and some notable numbers from across the baseball world. Longtime Marlins reporter Craig Mish joins the show to get us up to speed on where Miami stands in its latest attempt to rebuild.

From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. 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 still searching for answers and results as rough start continues

Hour 1
1:18 - Intro
8:59 - Jahki Howard Portal Entry
24:00 - Birthdays in Sports
30:31 - Auburn Basketball 2026 Roster 

Hour 2
51:56 - Phone Call
1:00:52 - Auburn Baseball
1:17:01 - Craig Kimbrell on Braves

Hour 3
1:30:02 - Phone Call
1:37:15 - Spring Football 
1:52:35 - The Masters
2:09:06 - Nightly TV Guide


SportsCall 4.9.25

The Atlanta Braves won some games and showed some signs of life this week, but their collective woes at the plate remain a stumbling block in the early going.

Grant McAuley breaks down an eventful week for the Braves that was filled with both highs and lows. Some dramatic comeback wins and a series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies provided a glimmer of hope, but the Braves remain one of the lowest scoring teams in baseball. There were some other indicators that could bode well for a few key Braves as discussed on this week’s show.

The returns of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. should help the club in the coming weeks, but it’ll take a group effort to find the winning formula. Meanwhile, Spencer Schwellenbach has been a highlight of the young season. Grant caught up with several Braves teammates to discuss what makes Schwellenbach so successful. 

On the trip around the big leagues, Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. became the latest $500 million man, but who’s next in line? Are the Pittsburgh Pirates actively trying to alienate their fans? Some actions this season would seem to indicate they are. And Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Neil Solondz joins the show to discuss a unique season for the Rays.

From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. 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 the Atlanta Braves still scuffling, a pair of key returns supply much needed hope

It was a Wednesday on GCR which meant our guy Drew Forrester, of DrewsMorningDish.com and 105.7 The Fan, was hanging out in studio as we went over some of the news of the week, talked Orioles and their early struggles, what level of the panic the guys are at, reacted to the news clip of the week where a Braves broadcaster got a young lady's number on air during a game in Toronto this week, plus the return of our Drew favorites like 'NBA Corner' and 'Rubbin' Racin' with Drew' before we of course played some Would You Rather brought to you by Glory Days Grill... 

Would You Rather Wednesday With Drew Forrester In Studio (April 16, 2025)

Hour 1
1:04 - Intro
6:06 - Auburn Portal Entrances
18:02 - Phone Call
27:45 - Montgomery Biscuits Affiliation

Hour 2
45:58 - Bryan Mathews Interview
1:03:08 - Birthdays in Sports
1:13:31 - Auburn basketball Portal Thoughts
1:16:44 - Phone Call

Hour 3
1:31:20 - Nico Iamaleava
1:44:40 - Braves Struggles
2:07:11 - Nightly TV Guide


SportsCall 4.16.25

The Atlanta Braves suffered through a disappointing road trip only to return to Truist Park and complete a sweep of the Minnesota Twins over the weekend. Is that enough to swing the momentum after a slow start to the season?

Grant McAuley recaps the week that was for the Braves, an eventful week that included the return of Spencer Strider, some long-awaited good swings from a number of Atlanta sluggers, the arrival of Alex Verdugo and some less-than-stellar baserunning that set off a firestorm of controversy on social media.

Hear from Strider, new Braves lead-off man Verdugo and shortstop Nick Allen shares how the first few weeks of the season have treated him as Atlanta's de facto starting shortstop. All of that, a trip around the big leagues and a visit with Columbus Clingstones broadcaster Jack Johnson on this edition of the show!

From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.

Did the Atlanta Braves finally get right with a well-rounded weekend sweep?

Hour 1
0:45 - Intro 
7:38 - Basketball transfer portal
17:38 - Phone Call
31:15 - Birthdays in Sports 
36:01 - Iamaleava brothers

Hour 2
46:49 - Auburn Baseball
1:06:25 - Braves

Hour 3
1:30:06 - NFL Draft
134:50 - Phone Call
1:43:22 - Quarterbacks for NFL draft
2:03:01 - Nightly TV guide


SportsCall 4-23-25

With three consecutive series wins. the Atlanta Braves are finally starting to put some things together after a slow start to the 2025 season.

Grant McAuley covers the week that was for the Braves, the offensive surge that is powering a strong run for the club., some key contributors to that effort -- including at least one surprising name, and some encouraging statistical trends that indicate the club could be breaking out of the early doldrums.

Hear from Braves ace Spencer Strider, who returned after a one-year absence only to be placed back on the injured list when he strained a hamstring while playing catch in the outfield. Strider shares his reaction and discusses the severity of his injury. We'll also take a deeper dive into the frustrating statistics for the Atlanta pitching staff.

Special guest Kelsey Wingert-Lynch joins the show to provide a preview for the Colorado Rockies, a team that has already been put through the ringer in 2025 but is hoping to see some of its young player take a step forward and develop into stars this season.

From The Diamond airs live on 92-9 The Game in Atlanta on Sundays throughout baseball season. You can also subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Every episode of the show and more great Braves coverage is available at FromTheDiamond.com.

Picking up steam, Atlanta Braves finally playing a better brand of baseball

Follow Lindsay Crosby on Twitter/X: @CrosbyBaseball

Lindsay Crosby (Barn Baseball/Locked On) 5.1.25

Glenn Clark Radio is live every weekday 10am-noon. Listen at PressBoxOnline.com/Radio, watch at Facebook.com/PressBoxSports.

Tune into SportsCall every weekday from 3 until 6 pm CT on WTGZ Tiger 95.9 FM in Auburn, Alabama or listen live at thetiger.fm!

Grant McAuley hosts "From The Diamond." New episodes weekly! Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and FromTheDiamond.com.

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