Buck Martinez Back as Sirius/XM Baseball Host

Emmy-winning baseball broadcaster Buck Martinez -- former co-host of the trailblazing XM/Sirius "Baseball This Morning" program -- will return tod his familiar role alongside the empty big chair vacated by former partner Mark Patrick.

Martinez with share the microphone with Scott Graham.

Patrick continues to look for work from his home in Brownsburg, Ind. He is reported to be nearing a deal unrelated to XM.

Martinez, 59, who won an Emmy for the 1995 television broadcast of Cal Ripken's record 2,131 consecutive game, will also continue his broadcast work for TBS.

Martinez and the network had reportedly been trying to reach an agreement in recent weeks, as disclosed by network colleague Lee "Hacksaw" Hamilton.

Hamilton, the familiar voice of AM radio's "Mighty 690" Southern California afternoon drivetime sports program -- recently joined the struggling network after a more than year-long, continuing network personnel upheaval which has seen the departure not only of Patrick, but Ronnie "Night Train" Lane, Mark Grey, Phil Wood, Orestes Destrade and others.

This will be Martinez's fourth year of service with XM. He formerly played 17 years as a major league catcher, making key acquaintances by sharing the same fields as such numerous baseball greats as Mickey Mantle, George Brett, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Palmer, Nolan Ryan, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson, Tom Seaver, Ted Williams and Reggie Jackson, to name just a few.

Martinez managed the original U.S. team in the World Baseball Classic three years ago, earning him the nickname "Commander." He also formerly managed the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 2007 he and Patrick inaugurated XM's morning baseball program with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa, now third base coach for the Dodgers. Listeners gave them generous praise for originality, creativeness, entertainment and informativeness.

Alex Rodriguez Back With Wife, Awaits Madonna

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez reportedly was spotted holding hands with his estranged wife Cynthia as he entered a restaurant in Toronto over the weekend, yet he plans to meet with Madonna tonight as he and other patrons of the 40-40 Club in Manhattan watch the MLB Home Run Derby on 60-inch plasma television screens.

Video broadcast by Fox 5 television in New York showed what was purported to be fresh video of the couple -- looking tanned and fit -- amicably walking together, she, 34, wearing a simple blue, printed blouse with a scoop neck and dark Capri slacks, and he, 32, wearing white chinos, a black belt and white polo shirt.

Currently entangled in an anticipated divorce action -- Rodriguez and his wife were described as being enroute to be united with their four-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, The Daily News reported that Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, had met the couple with the intention of working out some type of reunion or settlement.

Yet tonight Rodriguez plans to dine at the posh, 700-seat 40-40 hip-hop club at 6 West 25th Street in the Flatiron District -- and Madonna, 49, is on the guest list. Using numerous 60-inch plasma television screens throughout the facility, patrons will watch the MLB Home Run Derby being broadcast from Yankee Stadium.

Rodriguez, who recently hit home run No. 537 to pass late Yankee great Mickey Mantle, has declined to participate in the derby out of fear that it will disrupt his patented, smooth power stroke.

Though Rodriguez -- who has an apartment on Park Avenue -- has been widely reported as being seen entering Madonna's building on the Upper East Side, Madonna has denied any romantic link to the superstar slugger.