Deep Left Field: Recent Episodes
Toronto Star
Longtime Toronto Blue Jays radio voice Mike Wilner hosts Deep Left Field, a baseball podcast from the Toronto Star. With great baseball coverage, opinion and analysis from Mike and other Star sports journalists including Laura Armstrong and Gregor Chisholm, as well as MLB players and others in the game, Deep Left Field has everything you need to know about the Jays, specifically, and baseball in general.
Guests: Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays pitcher Braydon Fisher This week in Deep Left Field, we catch up with an old pal Randal Grichuk, who played four seasons for the Jays, is back in Toronto for the first time since being traded to the Colorado Rockies in spring training of 2022. We look back at his time here, at the Jays' great 2021 team, Grichuk helping to break in a 20-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr and, of course, we get the story on his nickname, Handsome Randal. Then we introduce you to rookie Braydon Fisher, who has yet to allow a run in 14 appearances out of the Jays' bullpen this season. Also, a tribute to longtime Jays team doctor Ron Taylor, who passed away this week at the age of 87.
Guests: Phillies closer Jordan Romano, Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly and his son, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly The Blue Jays chose not to tender a contract to homegrown closer Jordan Romano, who is third on their all-time saves list, this winter, and he was snapped up by Philadelphia pretty quickly. He came back to Toronto and got walked off by old buddy Alejandro Kirk. We talked to Romano after that game. And with fathers' day weekend upon us, we talk to father-son Mattinglys - Blue Jays bench coach Don and his son Preston, who grew up to run the Phillies.
DeMarlo Hale, Athletics/Baseball Canada outfielder Denzel Clarke This week in Deep Left Field, we sit down with DeMarlo Hale for his thoughts on the Blue Jays season so far. Hale thinks a season is best looked over after each third, so we look back at the first third and forward to what he thinks the team can accomplish over the next couple of months. We also introduce you to Denzel Clarke, a Pickering native who had his coming out party at Rogers Centre on the weekend. While the Jays were sweeping his A's in four straight games, Clarke belted his first big-league home run, had his first career multi-hit game and dazzled on defence, including going up and over the center field wall to take a home run away from Alejandro Kirk.
Guests: Former Blue Jays/current San Diego Padres coach Tim Leiper, major-league umpire Steven Jaschinski, Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board Chair Jeremy Diamond This week in Deep Left Field is all about the true north strong and free! Tim Leiper joins us to reminisce about his Jays days and talk about Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Jose Bautista and Greg Hamilton. Leiper, a southern California native who now makes his home in Huntsville, Ont., was coaching first base when Bautista flipped his bat in 2015 and has coached third base for Canada's senior men's national team for more than two decades. Jaschinski made his major-league debut as an umpire on May 16 when the Jays hosted Detroit and the Burlington, Ont. native tells us how he got to the bigs all the way from Aldershot School. And with the CBHOF induction weekend coming up, Jeremy Diamond checks in to tell us what to expect in St. Marys.
Guests: Blue Jays centerfielder Daulton Varsho, third baseman Addison Barger, Buffalo Bisons manager Casey Candaele This week, we talk to two of the players most consequential to the Jays' recent turnaround that has seen them win eight out of 12 games going into their May 22 series finale against the San Diego Padres. Daulton Varsho leads the team with seven home runs despite only having been active since the end of April. He joins us to talk about his power prowess, his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery and his advice to his teammates who had been struggling offensively when he arrived. Addison Barger got a chance to play every day when Andres Gimenez got hurt and been one of the Jays' best hitters since then. He talks about his time on the shuttle back and forth from Buffalo, his power potential and his record-setting day in right field back in April. Also, we get the word on the Jays' to minor-league affiliate and the players down there who are on the verge of helping the big club from Bisons skipper Casey Candaele.
Guests: Blue Jays reliever Mason Fluharty, pitching coach Pete Walker, Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm This week in Deep Left Field, we introduce you to rookie left-hander Mason Fluharty, who came within six outs of throwing a "perfect game" out of the bullpen. As the Jays hit the one-quarter mark of the season, we catch up with pitching coach Pete Walker for his thoughts on how the pitching has held up so far, with a focus on the starting rotation, and Gregor Chisholm and I share our thoughts about the controversial MLB decision to remove all deceased players - including and especially Pete Rose - from baseball's Permanently Ineligible list.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, Director of Position Player Development Eric Duncan, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt
The Jays might be in freefall, but we’ve put together a tremendous show for you regardless! Kevin Gausman joins us to talk about the aftermath of his 53-pitch inning in New York, his dominant outing against Cleveland and his family’s off-day adventures in Toronto. We get to know Eric Duncan, who is in charge of position player development throughout the Jays’ farm system and catch up with Cleveland skipper Stephen Vogt about his former teammates and current Jays Ernie Clement and Daulton Varsho.
Guests: Blue Jays home run leader Anthony Santander, reliever Brendon Little, 1B/OF coach Mark Budzinski
The Blue Jays miserable April is over and it ended with a massive comeback win against the Boston Red Sox. No one might be happier to turn the page to May than Anthony Santander, who is hitting just .175 as the calendar flips. The switch-hitter joins us for a frank and open discussion about his early-season struggles and how he and the team hope to turn things around. After the interview, Santander hit a game-tying three-run homer to help the Jays to victory on April 30. We also speak to Mark Budzinski, who knows Santander better than anyone, having managed him in the minor leagues, and we also get insight into the incredible circus catch made by Daulton Varsho – on one knee and with his back to the plate – in Varsho’s first game back. Plus, get to know the Jays’ top left-handed reliever, Brendon Little!
Guests: Blue Jays outfielders George Springer and Nathan Lukes, pitcher Easton Lucas
Coming off a sweep in Houston where Blue Jays hitters were almost completely shut down for three games, we go over an agonizing “week that was,” one in which the Jays only won once and one that finished on a tear-your-hair-out frustrating five-game losing streak. One of the only players on the team who is hitting at the moment is the resurgent George Springer, and he joins us to discuss his unexpectedly hot start as well as his charity bowling event in support of The Stuttering Association for the Young. We talk to Nathan Lukes, who welcomed a new baby boy last week, though he wasn’t able to make it home to Arizona for the birth. We also chat with left-hander Easton Lucas, the day before his second straight rough start got him optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.
Guests: Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia, catcher Tyler Heineman, Atlanta 3B coach Matt Tuiasosopo
We celebrate the 250th episode of the podcast with the first-ever 1-on-1 interview with Yimi Garcia in English. The big, scary set-up man with the 0.00 ERA turns out to be a gentle giant off the mound! We also check in with back-up catcher Tyler Heineman, who is off to a sizzling start to the season, both at the plate and behind it, and since Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has officially signed up to become a Blue Jay for life, we wanted to chat with someone who was a Blue Jay for about 20 minutes once upon a time –current Atlanta third-base coach Matt Tuiasosopo joins us.
Guests: Blue Jays icons Pat Hentgen and Vernon Wells
With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. putting pen to paper on the second-largest contract in baseball history, one that will keep him with the team until 2039, when he’s forty years old, and could very well make him the first “Forever Blue Jay,” we are joined by two of the greatest players in club history. Pat Hentgen, who won 19 games for the 1993 World Series champs and picked up the team’s first Cy Young award in 1996, was a Blue Jay for 10 years and in the organization for 15. Vernon Wells, who is in the top five of almost every offensive category in the Jays’ all-time record book and still holds the team’s single-season record with 215 hits (2003), spent 12 years with the Jays and was in the organization for 14. They’ll talk about what it means to play in Toronto for a long time, to be stars here, and what the future could hold for Vladdy as a fellow iconic Blue Jay who will rewrite the team’s record book and may well be headed for Cooperstown by the time he’s done.
Overnight, the news broke that the Jays and their superstar slugger have agreed to the second-largest contract in baseball history. Guerrero will be a Blue Jay through his age-40 season with a 14-year, $500 million (U.S.) deal that kicks in beginning next season. We threw down a special bonus episode of Deep Left Field for you, sharing our thoughts about what this means, why it happened now and who could have been behind the final push to get a deal done nearly two months after Guerrero’s deadline passed. We also took your questions and comments on Bluesky!
Guests: Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez, outfielder Alan Roden, pitcher Jacob Barnes, Orioles/Baseball Canada outfielder Tyler O’Neill
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to the clean-up man, record-setting slugger Andres Gimenez, who has 60% of the Jays’ home runs so far. Rookie sensation Alan Roden catches us up on his first week in the big leagues and we’ll also meet one of the new, but also not so new, guys in the Jays’ bullpen, Jacob Barnes. As well, we talk to Burnaby, B.C.’s Tyler O’Neill, who extended an incredible major-league record by hitting a home run on opening day for the sixth straight season.
Guests: Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., closer Jeff Hoffman, OF Anthony Santander, starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman, manager John Schneider
The 2025 season is finally upon us and so we bring you the Opening Day Extravaganza! The fifth season of Deep Left Field begins with a star-studded roster of guests to get you ready for the season. You’ll hear from star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. about his spring, his thoughts on the off-season changes and his future with the team. You’ll meet new Jays Anthony Santander and Jeff Hoffman, both of whom will be playing critical roles in the success (or otherwise) of this season. 40 percent of the starting rotation joins us in Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman, and manager John Schneider sits down for a conversation about his long tenure with the organization, his thoughts on Bo Bichette and Vladdy and his expectations for the coming year. The Opening Day Extravaganza is here!
Guests: Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis, hitting coach David Popkins, Vancouver Canadians 1B Peyton Williams
Spring training is over and the Blue Jays are back home in Toronto, coming off their Grapefruit League title, getting set to open their season on March 27 against the Baltimore Orioles. We go over the season-opening 26-man roster for you, which includes a few surprises, then hear from last year’s breakout star, Bowden Francis, who has to wait until March 31 to make his first start of the season. The Jays revamped their hitting department over the winter, and you’ll meet new hitting coach David Popkins, who has the players buying what he’s selling, at least so far. Also, they call him The Iowa Meat Truck – we chat with up-and-coming young slugger Peyton Williams.
Guests: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jordan Romano, Blue Jays pitcher Nick Sandlin
Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro held his annual spring training session with the media and we take you through what he had to say in painstaking detail. His confidence that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would re-sign with the Jays, despite their failure to make a deal all winter, the state of the farm system, whether players like Daulton Varsho, Andres Gimenez and Alejandro Kirk need to hit better for the Jays to succeed and much more.
Also, we head over to Phillies camp to check in with “the one who they let get away.” Jordan Romano is thriving in his new digs. And meet the new guy – Nick Sandlin!
Guests: Blue Jays outfielder Alan Roden, starter Max Scherzer, top pitching prospect Trey Yesavage
Deep Left Field is back in Dunedin as the Blue Jays move into their final week of spring training leading the Grapefruit League with a 14-9-1 record!
This week, we talk to the story of the spring – young Alan Roden, who is trying to hit his way onto the team and doing a spectacular job so far, batting .409. We also hear from Trey Yesavage, the Jays’ first-round pick in 2024 who made his pro debut in this weekend’s Spring Breakout game with two shutout innings, and starter Max Scherzer, whose spring has been derailed by thumb soreness.
Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm
This week, Gregor and I crack open the mailbag and tackle your Blue Jays questions submitted by email, on Bluesky and here at thestar.com. We touch on the leak of Vladdy’s contract demands, the broken promises of Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins, a Jays’ fan’s existential crises and much more! One submission was pretty much a plea for Vladdy to get off the writer’s lawn! Your questions answered on this episode of Deep Left Field!
Guest: Ellen Harrigan, current Los Angeles Dodgers VP of baseball administration and Blue Jays front office member from 1981-1995.
This week, we’re joined by Ellen Harrigan, who is about to begin her 45th season working in baseball. She started out with the Blue Jays in Exhibition Stadium in 1981, as part of a skeleton-crew front office, and will receive her fourth career World Series ring next month (Blue Jays 1992-93, Dodgers 2020, 2024).
Harrigan shares her story, from the quirky way she landed that first job with the Jays out of high school, to working for the modern-day Dodgers of Betts, Ohtani, Freeman and Sasaki. She was the first woman ever to be the general manager of a professional baseball team and has been a mentor, teacher and pioneer for women in baseball for decades.
Guests: Former Blue Jays Communications Director, current Niagara Ironbacks owner Mal Romanin
With spring training games underway, many Blue Jays fans are still having a hard time getting the taste of a rough winter out of their mouths. The failure to lock up Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Roki Sasaki debacle will be the biggest stories of the Jays’ off-season, and have just added to the fury of the fanbase that seems to be close to boiling over, if it hasn’t already. Mal Romanin, who was a member of the Jays’ communications team from the J.P. Ricciardi era through the 2015 resurgence and into the beginning of the Mark Shapiro-Ross Atkins regime, joins us to talk about how baseball’s public relations teams deal with crises, whether they’re generated by the front office or the players, and shares stories of some of the fires he had to try to help put out when he was with the team.
Guests: Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm
Spring training is underway in Dunedin, Florida, and Gregor Chisholm has been there since the first day, which means he was there when the news broke that the Blue Jays had failed to come to a long-term contract agreement with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Gregor joins us to discuss all the goings-on from camp, first and foremost the how and why Guerrero is moving into a walk year that nobody wanted. Aside from the Vladdy story, we talk about what he’s seen and heard during the first week of spring. Baseball is back!
Guests: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Inductees Jose Bautista and Greg Hamilton
This week, we celebrate the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame as it announces the newest honoured members who will take their place among the immortals at the Hall on Induction Day, June 7 in St. Marys. Jose Bautista headlines the class and he joins us to talk about his career with the Blue Jays, from the beginning to the BatFlip and beyond, and to reflect on becoming a Hall of Famer. Greg Hamilton, the Director of National Teams for Baseball Canada for a quarter-century, also stops by to talk about his career, his impact on baseball in Canada and his well-earned recognition from the Hall.
Guests: Aaron Abrams, star of CTV’s “Children Ruin Everything,” plus clips from Max Scherzer and Ross Atkins’ news conference
and we bring you clips and analysis of that news conference. Scherzer talks about his health, the hows and whys of his coming to Toronto, his motivations in finally coming to the AL East and his feelings about baseball’s data revolution. Ross Atkins avoids a question about a possible contract extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Also, TV star and huge Jays fan Aaron Abrams joins us for a Jays vibe check as they get set to head to spring training.
The Blue Jays Add A Hall of Famer
A busy January on the free agent front came to a close with the Blue Jays snagging Max Scherzer, the 40-year-old eight-time all-star who will bring his three Cy Young awards and two World Series rings to town with him.
With five trips to the injured list in the past two seasons, and only having been able to make nine starts in 2024, what does Scherzer have left to add to a decent Jays rotation? Can he stay healthy, and if he does how much should be expected of him? Does the big right-hander help the Jays in their quest to get back to the post-season?
Guests: Blue Jays 1B coach Mark Budzinski, former Baseball Canada slugger Scott Thorman
Not too many people in the Jays’ system know their new acquisition, Anthony Santander, better than Mark Budzinski, who managed Santander at two levels of the minor leagues. We get the goods on the new guy from his ex-skipper, who is very excited for the reunion. Also, we catch up with Cambridge, Ontario’s Scott Thorman, a Baseball Canada standout and Joey Votto’s inspiration growing up.
The Blue Jays introduced Anthony Santander, their first major offensive acquisition in four years, and we bring you clips of his media availability and interpret Ross Atkins’ attempts to sidestep criticism for the Roki Sasaki debacle and the Jays’ failure (so far) to sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension. We examine the Cooperstown Class of 2025, as well as those who fell just short in the voting, and talk to Ayami Sato, the greatest female baseball player of the modern era, who will become the first woman to play pro ball for a Canadian team when she suits up for the Intercounty Maple Leafs this summer.
Only days after the Roki Sasaki debacle, the Blue Jays finally added a significant power bat, the first time they’ve done such a thing in four years. Anthony Santander, a switch-hitter who clubbed 44 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles last season, got a five-year deal worth a reported $92.5 million to come to Toronto, and his slugging stylings are desperately needed for a team that finished 26th in the majors in home runs last season.
The addition of Santander bolsters a lineup that only had one hitter with as many as 20 home runs last year, and was definitely a significant enough move to warrant a special bonus episode. Finally, some good Blue Jays news.
There’s no shame in making an aggressive attempt to sign a coveted free agent but falling short, and the Blue Jays have done that several times over the past few years, whether it was with superduperstars Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto or mere mortals like Corbin Burnes, Justin Verlander and Xander Bogaerts, but the way the Jays mismanaged the pursuit of Roki Sasaki required a special episode of Deep Left Field.
Not only did the Jays miss out on the 23-year-old Japanese phenom, who pings the radar gun at 102 mph, they quite literally threw away $11 million (U.S.) in doing so. This one wasn’t disappointing, it was infuriating.
Guests: Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman, Canadian Women’s National Team shortstop Mia Valcke
The Blue Jays re-introduced Jeff Hoffman to the Toronto media this week, bringing the right-hander back as a free agent 11 years after drafting him and 10 years after trading him to Colorado in the Troy Tulowitzki deal. We bring you highlights of the conversation with Hoffman, including his comments about failed physicals with Baltimore and Atlanta and whether he will be the Jays’ closer in 2025. Also, the Baseball Canada Ashley Stephenson Award winner, Mia Valcke, joins us to talk about her move from the outfield to shortstop in order to help Team Canada reach the podium at the 2024 World Cup. Plus thoughts on the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and the ballot for the Cooperstown class of 2025.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah, former Blue Jays beat reporter Kaitlyn McGrath
Our first episode of 2025 brings a check-in and a farewell. Alek Manoah, rehabbing from mid-June Tommy John surgery, joins us to give an update on the state of his elbow and the timeline for his late-season return. He also shares his thoughts about the Jays’ slow off-season to this point and the lack of a contract extension for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Also, departing Jays’ reporter Kaitlyn McGrath, late of The Athletic, shares her memories and stories of being on the beat through the team’s rise in the early part of the decade and recent fall.
Guests: Second City alumni Sandy Jobin-Bevans and Pat Smith, Actor/Director Stu Stone
2024 was a rough year for the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans, and the way this off-season has gone so far, it doesn’t seem as though 2025 is going to be much better. For our final episode of the year, we convene a roundtable of Canadian stars of stage and screen, in front of and behind the camera, to discuss where the Jays stand as the calendar flips and what it means that the fanbase seems to have completely lost faith in the ability of the front office to get the team back on track.
Guests: Former Toronto Blue Jay and current Philadelphia Phillie Jordan Romano and new Jay Andrés Giménez Now that he has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, former Jays closer Jordan Romano joins the podcast for his first one-on-one interview since the Jays cut him loose. He goes in-depth about his time in Toronto and signing with a National League contender. We also hear from new Blue Jay Andrés Giménez.
Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm, Sports Info Solutions Mark Simon
The Blue Jays had their busiest Winter Meetings in years: making a trade, signing a free agent and grabbing a pitcher in the Rule 5 draft. Gregor Chisholm joins us to discuss all the Jays’ doings in Dallas, and whether it’s the right move to continue to drill down on run prevention at the expense of run creation. They made the best defence in MLB even better by picking up Andres Gimenez, but did they make a below-average offence worse? And we drill down on Gimenez – the best defensive infielder in the game – with Fielding Bible guru Mark Simon.
Guests: Jack Graney Award winner, legendary Toronto Star columnist Dave Perkins; Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach Matt Hague
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame has handed out its annual media award, and we’ve got this year’s winner, Dave Perkins, to talk about his extraordinary career covering baseball for three decades for the Toronto Star. Matt Hague joins us as well, to talk about his year as the Blue Jays’ assistant hitting coach, his decision to leave for Pittsburgh and how much of an effect coaches can actually have at the big-league level.
Guests: Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Baseball Prospectus Editor-In-Chief Craig Goldstein, Comedian Chris Calogero (“Husky Boy” stand-up special on YouTube), Andy Kindler (Everybody Loves Raymond, Bob’s Burgers)
This week, we bring together an all-star panel to make their pitch for superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee represents Blue Jays fans, Craig Goldstein stumps for his Dodgers, Chris Calogero makes the case for the Yankees and Andy Kindler argues that Soto should cross town and come play for his Mets. Who will land the off-season’s biggest prize? We get you closer to the answer!
This week, we talk to one of the outstanding young Canadian players working his way to the major leagues. Owen Caissie was named minor-league offensive player of the year by the Canadian Baseball Network for his terrific season with the AAA Iowa Cubs. We celebrate both that award and his being placed on the Cubs’ 40-man major-league roster with the 22-year-old from Burlington, Ontario.
We also look ahead to the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players and see which Blue Jays are on the bubble, and fill you in on the newest member of the Jays front office.
Listen here or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm
The Hot Stove season is upon us and the Blue Jays have a whole lot to do in order to get back into playoff contention. Gregor Chisholm joins me to discuss the task ahead of them. Will they sign Juan Soto? Will they extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? What other big bats are available for them this winter? Is this the right front office group for the job? We answer these questions and more in this Deep Left Field Off-Season Primer!
Guest: Former Blue Jays CF Kevin Kiermaier
This week, Kevin Kiermaier gives his final interview as a player, and he has come to Deep Left Field to give it to us! Kiermaier, who is about to retire, talks about going out on top – winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers – and finishing his career the way he started it, as a late-inning defensive replacement. He also reflects on his year and a half with the Blue Jays, what this season was like as the Jays sold off at the trade deadline, and how the Dodgers do things differently (and better) than they’re done in Toronto.
Guests: World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Mark Simon of Sports Info Solutions
The off-season begins as the Los Angeles Dodgers are crowned World Series champions with a five-game victory over the New York Yankees, led by Freddie Freeman’s four home runs and World Series-record-tying 12 RBIs! When the champs were in Toronto to play the Blue Jays earlier this season, we spoke to Freeman about his love of playing for Canada to honour his late mother and to Roberts about being a teenager in San Diego when the Padres traded Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar to Toronto for Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff. You’ll hear those conversations, as well as a great chat with Mark Simon about Daulton Varsho winning two Fielding Bible Awards, including Defensive Player of the Year, and much more!
Guests: Blue Jays outfielder George Springer, creator of Dynasty League Baseball Powered by Pursue The Pennant Mike Cieslinski
Coming off the worst season of his major-league career George Springer joins us to talk about his personal disappointment, the Blue Jays’ terrible season and also the positives he managed to pull out of it. On the eve of the first Yankees-Dodgers World Series in over four decades, we reveal the results of a heart-pounding simulation run with Dynasty League Baseball and discuss the ins and outs of the game with Mike Cieslinski. Also, a look at the Jays’ new hitting coach and unexpected scouting director vacancy plus a pre-emptive rant about the Fielding Bible Awards.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, Dodgers 1B coach Clayton McCullough
This week in Deep Left Field, Kevin Gausman – who had his worst season in five years – joins us to reflect on what went wrong with the Blue Jays this year, how he turned his season around in July and how badly he wants to not just get back to the playoffs but to go on a deep run. We also talk to Clayton McCullough, who spent seven seasons managing in the Blue Jays minor-league system and now may be headed to the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. All that, plus a look at the Jays’ Gold Glove finalists and a peek into the Deep Left Field mailbag (deepleftfield@thestar.ca)!
Guests: Blue Jays 2024 Team Award Winners Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jose Berrios, Spencer Horwitz and Bowden Francis
Every year, good or bad, we poll the Blue Jays’ clubhouse to ask players, coaches and support staff to vote for the Jays’ end-of-season awards. This week, we bring all the winners into Deep Left Field! You’ll hear from unanimous MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr., pitcher of the year Jose Berrios, rookie of the year Spencer Horwitz and unsung Hero Bowden Francis with thoughts on their terrific seasons (and of course, the disappointment in the team’s results overall) and the promise, they hope, for a return to contention in 2025.
“Ross needs to get better.”
Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but Blue Jays’ president/CEO Mark Shapiro reiterated – word for word – the same thing he said last year while saying that Ross Atkins will remain in his position as general manager.
We go through Shapiro’s end-of-season media conference as well as Atkins’ appearance that followed shortly after, sharing their comments and our interpretation of them. It wasn’t as much of a debacle as last year, but it certainly wasn’t good.
Guest: Blue Jays manager John Schneider
The Blue Jays season ends with a whimper, swept at home by the 100-loss Miami Marlins. In this special bonus edition of Deep Left Field, we sit down with John Schneider to discuss what led to one of the most disappointing seasons in club history and what needs to be done to fix things to get the team back on track for a 2025 season in which it expects to be a playoff contender once again.
Guests: Red Sox catcher Danny Jansen, Blue Jays associate manager DeMarlo Hale and relief pitcher Dillon Tate
The Blue Jays final homestand of the season opened with Danny Jansen coming home, but playing for the Red Sox, after the long-time Jay was traded to Boston at the deadline. We renew acquaintances with the fan favourite to talk about the warm reception he got at Rogers Centre and how strange it is to see him in a different uniform. Also, DeMarlo Hale joins us to discuss his first season back on the Jays’ bench after a five-year absence, what led to the Jays’ last-place finish and what he thinks needs to happen to fix things. Plus, we get to know Dillon Tate, one of a boatload of relievers the Jays have claimed on waivers over the past month, but the one with the most big-league experience and one who is not far removed from having had serious success.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt, infielder Ernie Clement, Baseball Canada legend Stubby Clapp
With the Jays’ worst season in years winding down, Chris Bassitt joins us to talk about where the blame lies for the disappointment and to discuss being the Jays’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. We catch up with Ernie Clement to go over his first full season in the big leagues and what positives to take from among the negatives and chat with an honest-to-goodness Canadian baseball hero as Stubby Clapp stops by on his way through town with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Guests: New York Mets bench coach John Gibbons, Blue Jays catcher Brian Serven and outfielder Nathan Lukes
John Gibbons, who returned to Rogers Centre in uniform for the first time since being fired as Jays manager after the 2018 season, joins us to talk about his time in Toronto, his great (and not-so-great) Jays squads, playoff runs and trade deadlines. We also get Brian Serven’s perspective on Bowden Francis’ near no-hitters, both of which he caught, and chat with Nathan Lukes about finally getting an opportunity for real playing time after doing nothing but hit in Buffalo for almost three years.
Guests: Blue Jays shortstop Leo Jimenez and reliever Ryan Yarbrough; Jays’ prospects Josh Kasevich and Alan Roden
The Blue Jays are playing much more entertaining baseball lately with the influx of youth around the trade deadline, and we catch up with one of the youngsters, Leo Jimenez, who has seamlessly fit into the middle infield after the injury to Bo Bichette and the trade of Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Ryan Yarbrough, the only veteran added at the deadline, talks about going from being a thorn in the Jays’ side to wearing their uniform, and we introduce you to a pair young up-and-comers who were already in the Jays’ system when the deadline dealing began – shortstop Josh Kasevich and outfielder Alan Roden started last season in A-ball in Vancouver and are now knocking on the door of the major leagues in Buffalo.
Guests: Los Angeles Angels outfielder Kevin Pillar and infield coach Ryan Goins, Blue Jays prospect pitcher Jake Bloss
This week in Deep Left Field, we catch up with a couple of former Blue Jays who are now working together on the west coast. Kevin Pillar talks about contemplating retirement and Ryan Goins, already onto the next chapter of his baseball career, looks back on his days as Pillar’s teammate on those great Toronto teams of 2015-16. Also, we introduce you to right-hander Jake Bloss, the only piece of the Yusei Kikuchi deal who has yet to appear with the major-league team. For now.
Guests: New retiree Joey Votto, Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis, Jays infielder Will Wagner, Cincinnati Reds infielder Santiago Espinal
This week, we share highlights of the impromptu scrum that Joey Votto did at Rogers Centre just hours after announcing his retirement from baseball. Also, we sit down with reigning American League player of the week Bowden Francis, introduce you to hot-hitting rookie Will Wagner and catch up with a beloved former Blue Jay, Santiago Espinal, who was in town with his new team.
Guests: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Geddy Lee, lead singer and bassist of seminal Canadian rock band Rush
This week in Deep Left Field, we are joined by honest-to-goodness Canadian rock royalty. Geddy Lee is here for an in-depth conversation about baseball and the Blue Jays, two of his great loves.
We remember Jays history and discuss what went wrong this year, what he thinks of the current front office, and the renovations that forced him to move back a couple of rows at Rogers Centre. We also talk about his music, his family, his bandmates and more. Geddy’s book “My Effin’ Life” is currently available wherever finer books are sold.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah, outfielder Joey Loperfido
On a special Monday bonus episode of Deep Left Field, and his insight into what’s been a miserable season for Bo Bichette. We also get to know one of the new guys acquired by the Jays at the trade deadline – Joey Loperfido, one of three players who came over from Houston in the Yusei Kikuchi deal.
Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro met with the media this week – for the first time since spring training – and we break down what Shapiro had to say. He touched on the Jays’ lost season, the future of Ross Atkins, what the Jays need to do to get back to being contenders and more. We analyze what Shapiro said, what he meant, and what that means to a fan base that seems to have lost faith in the front office and the direction in which they’ve taken the team.
Guests: Blue Jays starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kevin Kiermaier
We move into August with the Jays having dealt away nearly one-third of their big-league roster, including Kevin Kiermaier, who gave us his last 1-on-1 interview as a Blue Jay before being traded to L.A. You’ll hear his thoughts on a season gone sideways, his impending retirement and what he’ll take from his time in Toronto. Also, Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman join us to talk about how tough it is to go through trade deadline limbo on a team that’s out of the race and where the Jays go from here.
Guest: Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm
In this special bonus episode of Deep Left Field, we recap the Blue Jays’ comings and goings at the trade deadline that just passed. The Jays traded eight members of their major-league roster and got back 13 minor-league prospects (plus one 32-year-old big-league reliever). How did they do? Did they do enough? Has Ross Atkins saved his job? We answered those questions and more with The Star’s Gregor Chisholm.
Guests: Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi
With the trade deadline looming, the Blue Jays are sellers for the first time in five years. Two of the most prominent free-agents-to-be, Danny Jansen and Yusei Kikuchi, who are very likely to be traded, join us to talk about what it’s like to be living with the uncertainty of where they’ll be playing next week, how they’re managing to stay focused and what playing in Toronto has meant to them.
Guests: Former Blue Jays first-round pick and top prospect Travis Snider
In a special episode of Deep Left Field, we focus on mental health. Travis Snider joins us to discuss his career and why he wound up being a journeyman big-league outfielder as opposed to the can’t miss superstar that he was projected to be. Snider talks openly and honestly about mental health, the fragility of confidence, the weight of expectations – both his own and those placed upon him – and how to avoid the roadblocks that prevented him from fulfilling his potential on the field.
With the Blue Jays fighting against heavy odds trying to get back into a wild card race as they head toward the all-star break, we talk to a couple of former Jays about their all-star experiences back in the day. Tom Henke (1987) and Marco Estrada (2016) made the all-star team once each as Blue Jays and they get together to share their stories about being a part of the midsummer classic.
This week, on the 200th episode of Deep Left Field, we catch up with some of our favourites. Kevin Kiermaier talks about the mess the Jays continue to find themselves in, his poor season, the injury to Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the DFA of Tim Mayza and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s all-star nod. Mark Budzinski gives his thoughts on the tough road ahead and how the coaching staff works to help the team stay positive and try to turn things around. Marcus Stroman looks back at his time in Toronto and how he’s changed since then.
Guests: Canadian stars of stage and screen Ryan Bondy (“Book of Mormon”), Sandy Jobin-Bevans (Second City, “Just Like Mom and Dad”), Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (“Kim’s Convenience,” “The Mandalorian,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender”)
The Toronto Blue Jays are about to hit the halfway point of the season and, despite snapping a seven-game losing streak on Tuesday, things are not going well. We have convened a panel to discuss what has gone wrong, why it has gone wrong, how we feel about it and how it can be fixed (...if it can even be fixed). Including great stories about a “Kim’s Convenience” tie-in to Edwin Encarnacion’s wild card walk-off in 2016 and the Great Shohei Ohtani Private Plane Watch!
The Blue Jays have been swept in back-to-back series. They’re playing their worst baseball with the most important week of the season beginning Monday – three games at Boston and then four at home against the first-place New York Yankees. With the team taking on water, literally and figuratively, it was time for an emergency bonus episode of Deep Left Field!
We take your comments and questions: Should the Blue Jays sell, and if so, who? Retool or Rebuild? Should Ross Atkins be the one to oversee the changes? Who is really in charge? What to do with George Springer? Was Orelvis Martinez cheating or did he make an innocent mistake?
These questions and more answered on this special bonus episode!
Guests: Blue Jays DH Justin Turner and infielders Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Spencer Horwitz
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we talk to the resurgent Justin Turner, who has shaken off a terrible month of May to get back to his normal self in June. We catch up with Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his thoughts about the team’s current predicament and having to take over at shortstop with Bo Bichette on the injured list, and chat with Spencer Horwitz, who has done nothing but hit — and at a new position — since his call-up to the big leagues a fortnight ago.
What would you like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez, former Jays farmhand (and son of Tom Cheek) Jeff Cheek
This week, we honour Tom Cheek, the forever voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, on what would have been his 85th birthday. We remember the Hall of Fame broadcaster with stories and memories from Buck Martinez, who Cheek pushed toward a post-playing career behind the mic, and Tom’s youngest son, Jeff. We also look at the Cavan Biggio trade and preview Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
What would you like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Former Blue Jays pitcher Jason Grilli, Jays’ associate manager DeMarlo Hale
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we get Jason Grilli’s thoughts on the surprise (and welcome) retirement of Angel Hernandez and check in with DeMarlo Hale for his assessment of the Blue Jays through one-third of the season. Also, thoughts on Hernandez’ legacy, such as it is, as well as Alek Manoah’s injury and the Jays’ City Connect uniforms!
What would you like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, Jays fan Liz McGuire
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we hear from Kevin Kiermaier on the Blue Jays’ rough first couple months of the season, including the virus that tore through the clubhouse and what he believes we’ll be seeing from here on out. We also catch up with former Blue Jay Kevin Cash, now the most-winning manager in Tampa Bay Rays’ history, and we check in on Liz McGuire, who garnered international attention after being hit in the forehead by a 110-m.p.h. foul ball off the bat of Bo Bichette.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Blue Jays 2B/LF Davis Schneider, former Jay and current Minnesota Twins pitcher Jay Jackson, Blue Jays mental skills coach John Lannan
This week, we sit down with Davis Schneider, who has been one of MLB’s best hitters since coming to the big leagues last August, catch up with old pal Jay Jackson to see how he’s doing with a new team and to get an update on 10-month-old J.R., and introduce you to John Lannan, whose job it is to help out the Blue Jays between the ears.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Once-and-future Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez, Dodgers reliever (and former Jay) Daniel Hudson plus your e-mail!!!
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we dip into the mailbag to hear your thoughts on what’s been an incredibly frustrating couple of weeks in Blue Jay land, then we talk to two pitchers traded by the Jays on the same day back in 2019, Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Hudson. They’re both trying to bounce back from a rough last few years, and Sanchez is getting the opportunity to do it back in the Jays’ organization, having signed a minor-league deal this week.
Guests: Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano and starter Kevin Gausman, Los Angeles Dodgers/Baseball Canada slugger Freddie Freeman
This week, we celebrate Markham’s own Jordan Romano joining the 100-save club, check in with Kevin Gausman for an in-depth look at the Blue Jays’ disappointing first month of the season and catch up with all-star Freddie Freeman, who honours his late mother by suiting up for Team Canada.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
As Shohei Ohtani weekend comes to a close, we answer your questions about where the Blue Jays stand one month into the season. What’s wrong with the offence? Should Vladdy be given a few games off? How safe is Ross Atkins? What about the hitting coaches? Do clutch players exist? Are the Jays at risk of losing their fan base? All these and so much more!
Guests: Former Blue Jay pitcher Ross Stripling and Colorado manager and ex-Jay Bud Black
This week, we give you “Long Toss With Ross” once again, as Ross Stripling joins us to talk about his tough start to the season with the Oakland A’s. We catch up with Rockies’ manager Bud Black, a Blue Jay for two weeks in the pennant race of 1990, and talk about the glory days and his part in breaking Jays’ fans hearts while with the 1985 Kansas City Royals. Also, a look back at the week that was, focusing on a couple of games the Jays gave away.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Blue Jays DH Justin Turner, third base coach Carlos Febles, rehabbing starter Alek Manoah
This week, we do a deep dive into the confluence of events that led to the Blue Jays using the bullpen the way they did in their series-ending loss to the Yankees — the first blown save for the Jays this season — and then check in with Justin Turner for his thoughts on the first home stand. We introduce you to new third-base coach Carlos Febles and hear from Alek Manoah on the lessons he learned from his terrible 2023.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier, third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa and pitcher Paolo Espino; former Jays pitcher Trent Thornton
This week, Kevin Kiermaier checks in for his regular visit despite a 3-for-31 start to his season. We talk to Isiah Kiner-Falefa about his first home opener as a Blue Jay and his strong start to the season, catch up with former Jay Trent Thornton, now a Seattle Mariner, and get to know Paolo Espino, who spent 11 years in the minors before making it to the big leagues.
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Blue Jays win their home opener behind “Bad Dawg” Jose Berríos - we hear from him, Davis Schneider and John Schneider and take your email questions and comments!
The Blue Jays get no-hit, so you get a special bonus episode! My take on the Jays shooting blanks in Houston.
Guests: Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier, right fielder George Springer, reliever Tim Mayza, starter Bowden Francis, associate manager DeMarlo Hale
It’s the Opening Day Extravaganza and we’ve got half a dozen Blue Jays checking in with their thoughts about the year to come! We check in with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer on how they plan to rebound from their worst offensive seasons, talk to Kevin Kiermaier about how good he thinks the Jays can be in 2024, chat with the longest-serving member of the team, Tim Mayza, and the newest member of the starting rotation, Bowden Francis. We also catch up with an old friend – DeMarlo Hale has been gone for five years, but he’s back to help return the Jays to the glory days of his first time around these parts.
Guest: Gregor Chisholm, baseball columnist
Spring training is over and before we bring you the opening day extravaganza, we are dipping into the “Deep Left Field” mailbag! Baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm and I answer your Toronto Blue Jays questions on this bonus episode of “Deep Left Field.”
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guest: Joseph Daniel Votto The greatest Toronto-born player in baseball history joins us to discuss his attempt to continue his career in his hometown, whether he’s got anything left and why he apologized once again for his anti-Baseball Canada rant of 2018.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, top prospect Ricky Tiedemann, slugger Daniel Vogelbach
As we head into the final week of spring training, we take you back to the beginning with Kevin Gausman, who was scheduled to be the Blue Jays’ opening day starter. We check in with Ricky Tiedemann as he begins the season that’s likely to see his major-league debut and get to know Daniel Vogelbach, widely recognized across the game as an elite clubhouse presence. Plus, thoughts on the Santiago Espinal trade, the rash of Blue Jays pitching injuries and the Shohei Ohtani scandal.
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Guests: Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano, catcher Danny Jansen, third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa and breakout pitcher Adam Macko
This week in “Deep Left Field,” host Mike Wilner brings good pals Danny Jansen and Jordan Romano together to talk about their expectations for the Blue Jays in 2024, introduces you to one of the new Jays, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and gets to know Canadian lefty — by way of Slovakia and Ireland — Adam Macko, who will be pitching for the Jays in the Spring Breakout game on March 16.
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Joey Votto signed a minor league deal with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays. Votto has been the toughest hitter to get out in the 21st century, so if he's healthy, this could be a big deal. Mike Wilner gave his initial thoughts on the signing in this bonus episode.
Guests: New Blue Jays DH Justin Turner, Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho, Phillies manager Rob Thomson
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we get to know the new guy, Justin Turner, who brings championship experience and an unflinching approach at the plate into the clubhouse. We catch up with Daulton Varsho, who knows what he has to do to win over Jays fans in his second year, and we talk to Phillies’ skipper Rob Thomson about one of his old teammates on the 1984 Canadian Olympic Baseball team, new Hall of Famer Rod Heisler.
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Guests: Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and manager John Schneider Spring training has begun in Dunedin, Florida, and Mike Wilner is down there to give you the goods on what’s going on at camp. He’s also there to have incredible conversations with Bo Bichette and John Schneider.
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Guests: Blue Jays pitcher José Berrios, Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we are live from the opening of Toronto Blue Jays’ spring training in Dunedin, Florida! We kick off the 2024 season with a look back at how ’23 ended, talking to José Berrios, who started the Jays’ final game of the post-season, and Rocco Baldelli, who managed the Twins to the series victory. Also, the Jays sign Eduardo Escobar and I give my thoughts on the team’s newly-announced radio crew.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guest: Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm On the eve of spring training, as host Mike Wilner prepares to join the Blue Jays in Dunedin, we bring you a special bonus episode featuring your questions! Mike and Gregor Chisholm, the Star’s baseball writers, answer your Jays questions about Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alek Manoah, Ross Atkins and his quiet off-season, potential further additions before the season starts and many more!
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we talk to two members of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum’s Class of 2024 — Ashley Stephenson, current Vancouver Canadians coach and the greatest female baseball player in Canadian history, and Paul Godfrey, who is largely responsible for Toronto getting a major-league baseball team and for SkyDome being built. We also discuss new homes for old pals Jay Jackson and Ross Stripling and talk about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s arbitration win.
Guests: Blue Jays pitcher Mitch White, former Jays 3B Rance Mulliniks
This week in "Deep Left Field," host Mike Wilner talks about the Jays’ signing of Justin Turner with Mitch White, who was his teammate with the Dodgers from 2020-22. They also talk about the strides White made at the end of last season and his outlook for 2024. As well, Rance Mulliniks joins us to remember former Jays’ manager Jimy Williams, who passed away at age 80 last week, and to relive the ups and downs of the glory years.
Guests: Baseball Canada Wall of Excellence member Michael Saunders and Blue Jays Assistant Hitting Coach Hunter Mense
This week in "Deep Left Field," we talk to Michael Saunders about being honoured by Baseball Canada, suiting up for his country and his 2016 season with the Blue Jays. We also take a deep dive into the 2023 Jays’ hitting woes with Hunter Mense.
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Guests: Washington Nationals manager/former Blue Jays and Expos outfielder Dave Martinez; Ken Carson, former Jays trainer.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Dave Martinez about the incredible start to his brief Blue Jays' career back in 2000, and about playing for the Expos then leading the Washington Nationals to the franchise's first-ever World Series title in 2019. We also catch up with Ken Carson, the Jays' trainer for the first decade of the franchise's existence.
Guests: "Kim’s Convenience" star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Andy Kindler ("Bob’s Burgers," "Everybody Loves Raymond") and Chris Calogero ("The Movie Guy")
This week in "Deep Left Field," host Mike Wilner convenes "The Roundtable of Frustrated Fan Bases!" Paul Sun-Hyung Lee talks the Blue Jays, Andy Kindler talks the New York Mets and Chris Calogero talks the Yankees as we commiserate over each team’s disappointing 2023 on the field and off.
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Guests: Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, free agent pitcher Jay Jackson.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Kevin Kiermaier about returning to the Blue Jays for another year of Gold Glove defence and chats with Jay Jackson on the former Jay's experience in Toronto, his free agency this winter and baby JR coming home for Christmas.
Guests: New York Post columnist Jon Heyman, Injury Expert Will Carroll of Under The Knife.
This week in "Deep Left Field," Jon Heyman joins us to express his bewilderment as to why anyone would be insulted when he wrote that Shohei Ohtani signing with the Blue Jays would have been bad for baseball. Also, Will Carroll talks about the health status of Rhys Hoskins, a free agent who could be a good fit in Toronto, and the Jays’ success with keeping their 2023 starting rotation healthy.
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Guests: Blue Jays past and present all-stars Ricky Romero, Jordan Romano and Vernon Wells.
This week in "Deep Left Field," we convene an all-star roundtable with Vernon Wells, Jordan Romano and Ricky Romero, who combined to make six all-star teams as Blue Jays, to discuss what it's like to play in Toronto and how much opposing players enjoy coming here. The table also pushes back against some recent opinion columns from south of the border that suggested having Shohei Ohtani sign with the Jays would have been bad for baseball.
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Guests: Arkells’ bassist Nick Dika; Drew Fairservice, former host of Spin Rate; Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, star of "Kim’s Convenience"
This week in "Deep Left Field," it’s all about Ohtani. Host Mike Wilner convenes a "Shohei Fever" Roundtable with Nick Dika, Drew Fairservice and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to discuss the Blue Jays pursuit of the reigning American League MVP, the likelihood of Ohtani actually choosing to sign with the Jays and what his arrival — or spurning of the Jays — could mean to the team, the city and the country.
What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.
Guests: Blue Jays reliever Chad Green, Reds catcher and former Jay Luke Maile
This week in "Deep Left Field," we dive into Shohei Ohtani’s chances of coming to Toronto and talk about Cito Gaston’s possible election to the Hall of Fame this weekend as well as Ben Wagner’s dismissal from Jays’ radio broadcasts. Then Chad Green talks about his first year with the Jays, the playoff disappointment and the intricate, creative contract he signed last winter and Luke Maile joins us to talk about his Jays’ days and working with hitting coach Guillermo Martinez and new associate manager DeMarlo Hale.
Guests: Blue Jays infielders Davis Schneider, Spencer Horwitz and Ernie Clement
This week in “Deep Left Field,” host Mike Wilner gathers The Buffalo Bunch! Davis Schneider, Spencer Horwitz and Ernie Clement get together to discuss their time with the Blue Jays and Bisons this past season, watching each other succeed in the big leagues, their mutual admiration for each other and the impact they had on the playoff race.
Guests: Blue Jays Bench Coach/Offensive Co-Ordinator Don Mattingly, Jays prospect and Baseball Canada Outfielder Dasan Brown
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Donnie Baseball himself about his new role, what needs to change about the Jays’ offence and the addition of DeMarlo Hale to the coaching staff. We also chat with Dasan Brown, coming off an Arizona Fall League championship with the Surprise Saguaros.
Guests: Kevin Kiermaier, free agent centre fielder, and Gregor Chisholm, baseball columnist
This week in “Deep Left Field,” host Mike Wilner talks to Kevin Kiermaier about winning the American League Gold Glove and Fielding Bible awards in centre field, and what the future holds for him as he enters free agency again. We also check in with baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm on the Blue Jays‘ moves so far this off-season and what to expect over the winter.
Guests: Former Blue Jays and Diamondbacks shortstop John McDonald, original Jay and current Arizona 1B coach Dave McKay, and Mike Cieslinski, creator of Dynasty League Baseball powered by Pursue the Pennant
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we check in John McDonald about his days with the DBacks (including a trip to the playoffs), reminisce about the Blue Jays of the 1970s with Dave McKay and go over a wild and wacky World Series simulation with Mike Cieslinski.
Guests: Blue Jays 2023 MVP Bo Bichette, Pitcher of the Year Kevin Gausman, Rookie of the Year Davis Schneider, Unsung Hero Cavan Biggio
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner hands out the Blue Jays 2023 End-of-Season Awards as voted on by the players and coaching staff themselves. Each of the winners joins us for a conversation looking back at their year and (unfortunately, as it turned out) looking ahead to the playoffs.
It was Blue Jays' President Mark Shapiro's turn to address the media in the wake of the Jays’ early playoff exit, following Ross Atkins' suboptimal display a few days prior. We discuss the continuing fallout of the decision to remove a cruising Jose Berrios in the fourth inning of Game 2 and go through Shapiro's comments about the frustrations of the season, the team's inability to score and the front office's credibility issues. We also answer your e-mail questions!
Ross Atkins addressed the media in the wake of the Blue Jays’ early playoff exit and missed the opportunity to be a leader. We discuss the continuing fallout of the decision to remove a cruising Jose Berrios in the fourth inning of Game 2, go over Atkins’ dance with the media and lack of accountability and answer your e-mail questions on this special edition of Deep Left Field!
The Blue Jays season is over. They scored one run in two playoff games, which is bad enough, but there was so much more than that. We will dive into the decision to pull Jose Berrios while he was cruising, hear from Berrios himself, John Schneider, Kevin Kiermaier, George Springer, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette and answer your many e-mail questions on this final daily edition of Deep Left Field for 2023.
The Jays lose 3-1 to the Minnesota Twins and now need to win two in a row to keep their season alive. We’ll hear from Bo Bichette, Brendan Belt, Erik Swanson and manager John Schneider
The Blue Jays lost their meaningless season finale, 12-8 to Tampa Bay, then partied afterward in celebration of their wild card playoff berth. We’ll hear from Deep Left Field regulars Kevin Kiermaier and Jordan Romano, along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Matt Chapman. You’ll also hear John Schneider’s post-game speech to the team. And we answer your email questions to DeepLFPodcast@gmail.com as we get you set for the Jays’ first-round date with Minnesota.
The Blue Jays worked overtime on Saturday trying to clinch a playoff spot, but didn’t get it done. We break down the 7-5, 10-inning loss to Tampa Bay that made the road to a playoff berth that much tougher. We’ll also hear from John Schneider and George Springer, and answer your emails to DeepLFPodcast@gmail.com.
The Jays beat the the Rays 11-4, so the magic number is down to one. We'll record as soon as the the Seattle-Texas game is over to break down how the night played out.
The Blue Jays blanked the New York Yankees with Chris Bassitt throwing a gem that culminated with striking out Aaron Judge to finish the regular season at a career-high 200 innings pitched. He’s the first Jay to reach that mark in seven years. With the win, the Jays could clinch a playoff berth as early as Friday night.
Also, we answer your emails (send them to DeepLFPodcast@gmail.com or leave a question in the comments below).
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt and outfielder/pinch-runner Cam Eden.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to post-season veteran Chris Bassitt, who goes into his final start of the regular season looking to move into a tie for the American League lead in wins and we meet rookie Cam Eden, whose elite-level speed could play a very large role for the Jays in the playoffs.
Another night, another shut out at the hands of the Yankees. Gerrit Cole went the route on a two-hitter to finish off a Cy Young season and Aaron Judge blasted two homers. The Blue Jays, despite a scoreless homestand so far still hold the second wild card spot. We break it down, tonight and every night the Jays play!
Also, we answer your emails - send them to DeepLFPodcast@gmail.com! Or leave a question in the comments below.
It’s the first edition of Deep Left Field Daily! We take you through the Blue Jays’ 2-0 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday, touching on the silent bats, the great start by Kevin Gausman, and Jordan Romano’s second straight rough outing. Also, we answer your emails to DeepLFPodcast@gmail.com!
Guests: Blue Jays legend Joe Carter, utilityman Cavan Biggio and infielder Ernie Clement
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner reminisces with all-time Jay Joe Carter about his World Series-winning home run and gets his thoughts about this season's club, chats with Cavan Biggio about playing all over the place and coming into his own offensively, and introduces you to Ernie Clement, who grew up right on the other side of Lake Ontario.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman, catcher Danny Jansen, closer Jordan Romano and rookie sensation Davis Schneider.
This week in Deep Left Field, we take you right into the dugout and get to the heart of the Jays' playoff predicament with Kevin Gausman, check in with Danny Jansen and Jordan Romano about heading into a third straight tight, tense September race and catch up with Davis Schneider, who spent the month of August rewriting the Jays' rookie record book.
Guest: Former Blue Jays left-hander and all-star Ricky Romero.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner goes deep with Ricky Romero about the Blue Jays as they head into the final stretch: How pitchers deal with the tear-your-hair-out frustrations of the Jays' offence, what needs to change the rest of the way and how every game needs to be treated with the urgency of a playoff game from here on out. Plus, his experience at Bautistapalooza!
Guests: Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista, reliever Jay Jackson and Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Jose Bautista about being elevated to the Level of Excellence, checks in with Jay Jackson about the bullpen, the baby and the stretch run and sits down with Jeff Hoffman, who was traded to Colorado in 2015 to kick off the greatest trade deadline in baseball history!
Guests: Blue Jays 1B/OF coach Mark Budzinski, Jays SS Paul DeJong, Red Sox 1B/DH Justin Turner
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Jays’ coach Mark Budzinski for his assessment of the team at the 2/3 point of the season, introduces you to the newest Jay, Paul DeJong, and catches up with Justin Turner on his lengthy career and being college roommates with Ricky Romero.
Guest: Canadian Icon Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, star of Kim’s Convenience, The Mandalorian, Avatar; The Last Airbender
In this special Trade Deadline Extra edition of Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee discuss what the Blue Jays did (and didn’t) do at the MLB Trade Deadline and how they’re set up for the stretch run.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios, reliever Chad Green, New Hampshire Fisher Cats starter Adam Kolffenstein
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Jose Berrios about bouncing back from a very rough 2022, introduces you to rehabbing righty Chad Green, who is on his way back from Tommy John surgery, and checks in with 2018 draftee Adam Kloffenstein as he makes his way through the Jays' system.
Guests: Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, reliever Jay Jackson, Arizona coach/former Jays 2B Orlando Hudson
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner takes you right into the dugout with our regular monthly visit with Kevin Kiermaier, checks in with Jay Jackson about balancing work and a newborn in hospital and talks about the old days with Orlando Hudson.
Guests: Former Blue Jays right fielder Shawn Green, ex-Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi, New Hampshire Fisher Cats pitcher Sem Robberse
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Shawn Green about his days with the Jays in the late-90s, catches up with J.P. Ricciardi about running the show in Toronto over the decade after that and looks ahead to the next decade with Sem Robberse, who represented the Jays in the All-Star Futures Game this year.
Guests: Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, manager John Schneider and pitcher Alek Manoah
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Bo Bichette about his season so far and whether he has his sights set on Derek Jeter's career numbers, checks in with John Schneider for a state-of-the-team as he approaches one full year as a big-league skipper and catches up with Alek Manoah in New Hampshire as he comes off the start that got him called back up to the bigs.
Guests: Blue Jays' closer Jordan Romano, Oakland 2B/OF Tony Kemp and Giants' pitcher Ross Stripling
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gets Jordan Romano's thoughts on the Jays at the halfway point, checks in with Tony Kemp about the A's troubles on the field and off and celebrates the return of Long Toss With Ross as Ross Stripling visits from San Francisco!
Guests: Ex-Blue Jays and new Canadian Baseball Hall of Famers John Olerud and Denis Boucher, and Marla Barfield, wife of new Hall of Famer Jesse.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner brings you to St. Marys for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction and talks to new inductees and former Blue Jays John Olerud and Denis Boucher about receiving the honour, looking back at their time on the field. And Marla Barfield talks about the heavy lifting she did behind the scenes to support her husband and many other young Jays.
Guests: Blue Jays World Series Champion architect Pat Gillick, Jays' 1980s centrefielder Lloyd Moseby, Twins' infielder Edouard Julien
This week in Deep Left Field, we celebrate both Tom Cheek's birthday and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Week by talking to Blue Jays' legends and Hall of Famers Pat Gillick and Lloyd Moseby, and we get a glimpse of the future of Canadian baseball with Canada's 2023 WBC star Edouard Julien.
Guests: Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, former Jays pitcher Ricky Romero and Baseball legend Dusty Baker.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner sits down with Kevin Kiermaier for his monthly visit, talking about the state of the Jays, the demotion of Alek Manoah and when fans boo the home team. Ricky Romero checks in to discuss his demotion all the way to A-ball in 2013 and Dusty Baker speaks with reverence about his former teammate Cito Gaston.
Guests: Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly and infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield, Brewers first baseman Rowdy Tellez
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gives his thoughts about Alek Manoah's struggles and the Anthony Bass controversy, then does a one-third-of-the-season check-up with bench coach Don Mattingly, checks in with Whit Merrifield about speed, defence and robot umpires and catches up with Rowdy Tellez on his first games in Toronto in almost four years.
Guests: Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen and closer Jordan Romano; Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes; Orioles manager Brandon Hyde
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner goes over the roller-coaster Jays' season with Danny Jansen and Jordan Romano in their regular monthly appearance, catches up with Brandon Hyde to talk about his surging Baltimore team, and checks in with Nathan Lukes on life on the bench in the bigs.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson, Yankees broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, Atlanta outfielder Kevin Pillar
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Nate Pearson about finally beginning to establish a foothold in the majors as a reliever, goes over this week's nonsense with the Yankees with Suzyn Waldman and catches up with Superman himself, Kevin Pillar, looking back on his Jays days.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman, centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, and reliever Jay Jackson.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Kevin Gausman about his start to the season and about getting to know Toronto, living in midtown and enjoying the local food scene, has his monthly visit with Kevin Kiermaier and plays Meet The New Guy with Jay Jackson!
Guests: Former Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, Team Canada closer Matt Brash, Blue Jays bullpen catcher/catching coach Luis Hurtado
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner takes you right into the dugout, catching up with Teoscar Hernandez in his first trip back to Toronto since being traded to Seattle last November, checking in with Kingston, Ont.'s Matt Brash, who also came to town with the Mariners, and introduces you to Luis Hurtado, who started his managerial career in pro ball at the age of 28.
Guests: Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano and starting pitcher Chris Bassitt, White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Jordan Romano about his and Danny Jansen's bobblehead night - and more! - in the first of his regular monthly appearances; checks in with Chris Bassitt on his strong start and his thoughts about the A's potentially leaving Oakland, and catches up with Kendall Graveman, who was drafted and developed by the Jays before being traded as part of the Josh Donadlson deal.
Guests: Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho and reliever Erik Swanson, and West End Phoenix Photo Director Jalani Morgan
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Daulton Varsho and Erik Swanson about their first series at home as Blue Jays, beating the unbeaten Rays and getting ready for New York, and has a in-depth conversation with Jalani Morgan about Jackie Robinson Day and so much more.
Guests: Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, Jays designated hitter Brandon Belt, Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Kevin Kiermaier about the incredible start to his Blue Jays career, including robbing a home run and hitting one himself in the home opener; checks in with Brandon Belt about his rough start to the season, and whether chicken fingers are helping get him out of it; and catches up with Matthew Boyd, who was traded by the Jays to Detroit at the 2015 trade deadline in the David Price deal.
Guests: Canadian television greats and huge Blue Jays fans Aaron Abrams (Children Ruin Everything) and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian).
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner convenes a round table with Canadian small screen greats Aaron Abrams and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to look back on the first week of the Blue Jays season: What went wrong (Chris Bassitt), what went right (Daulton Varsho) and what to expect the rest of the way (World Series or bust?).
Guests: Blue Jays Opening Day starter Alek Manoah, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., right fielder George Springer, closer Jordan Romano and catcher Danny Jansen.
This week in Deep Left Field, it's the Opening Day Extravaganza! We kick off our third year of the podcast by setting up the season with some of the most important players on the Jays' roster as they look to win the AL East for the first time since 2015. Opening Day starter Alek Manoah, leadoff hitter George Springer and slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. talk about building off last season and just how good this team can be in 2023, then Jordan Romano and Danny Jansen team up to give us the rundown on the team and tell us how many times they'll be shaking hands at the end of games this year.
Guests: Former Blue Jays Player and Broadcaster Pat Tabler, Jays' DH/1B Brandon Belt
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Pat Tabler about his three decades as a Jays' player and broadcaster, and looks ahead to his new gig in Cleveland, and plays "Meet The New Guy" with two-time World Series champion Brandon Belt.
Guests: Team Canada veteran Scott Mathieson, Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt, Phillies' starter Taijuan Walker
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Scott Mathieson in the aftermath of Canada's elimination from the World Baseball Classic by Mexico, plays "Meet The New Guy" with Chris Bassitt, and chats with Taijuan Walker, a former Blue Jay who never got the chance to wear the uniform in Toronto.
Guests: Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly, Team Canada WBC shortstop Otto Lopez, new Jays reliever Erik Swanson.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to six-time all-star Don Mattingly about his new role as manager John Schneider's right-hand man, checks in with Otto Lopez before he heads off to play for Canada at the World Baseball Classic, and plays "Get To Know The New Guy" with Erik Swanson.
Guests: Blue Jays top prospect, left-hander Ricky Tiedemann, new outfielder Daulton Varsho, potential third baseman of the future Addison Barger.
This week, Deep Left Field continues its coverage of Jays' spring training as host Mike Wilner catches up with Ricky Tiedemann, the 20-year-old who has dropped jaws all spring long; chats with Addison Barger, the rookie who homered up and over everything in the Jays' Grapefruit League opener; and plays "Meet The New Guy" with Daulton Varsho.
Guests: Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, manager John Schneider and reliever Tim Mayza.
This week in Deep Left Field, we celebrate our 100th episode from Blue Jays Spring Training in Dunedin, Florida! Host Mike Wilner has a wide-ranging conversation with an introspective Bo Bichette, talks to John Schneider about his first spring as a big-league skipper (and about saving a life!) and checks in with the longest-serving current Jay, Tim Mayza.
Guests: Writer/Podcaster/Raconteur Drew Fairservice, late of the Spin Rate Podcast.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner opens the mailbag and calls on Drew Fairservice to help answer questions submitted by you, the listener. Among other things, they try to pinpoint a Blue Jays' 2023 win total, see where the Jays would fit if there's divisional realignment, decide how far is too far as regards cheating and the Hall of Fame and debate whether Dave Stieb's 37 should be retired in Toronto.
Guests: Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano and catcher Danny Jansen, Chicago Cubs reliever Ryan Borucki
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner brings together three best friends as Ryan Borucki, Danny Jansen and Jordan Romano talk about their journey through the minor leagues on the way to Toronto and how their friendship developed through small towns and injury rehab, with great stories along the way.
Guests: Blue Jays legend Jesse Barfield, Insider Investigative Sports Reporter Bradford William Davis
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Blue Jays' all-timer Jesse Barfield in the wake of his election to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, and dives into Major League Baseball's use of different baseballs - especially in late-season games involving Aaron Judge - with Bradford William Davis.
Guests: Blue Jays first base/outfielders coach Mark Budzinski and Vancouver Canadians coach Ashley Stephenson
This week in “Deep Left Field,” host Mike Wilner talks to Mark Budzinski about the Blue Jays' new-look outfield and what they might do with bigger bases and new rules in place, and checks in with Team Canada all-time great Ashley Stephenson as she gets set to leave for spring training and become the first female coach in the Jays' organization.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman, Phillies manager (and Corunna, Ont. native) Rob Thomson.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Kevin Gausman about starting the Jays' final game of 2022 and the changes the team has made heading into 2023; and talks to Rob Thomson about taking the Phillies to the World Series as a rookie manager, nearly 40 years after playing baseball for Canada at the Olympics.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Mitch White, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner shares his thoughts about the Jays' signing of 1B/DH Brandon Belt, then talks to Mitch White about the rough start to his Blue Jays' career and what he's looking forward to in 2023, and catches up with Pirates' skipper Derek Shelton, reminiscing about him spending 2017 on the Jays' coaching staff working under John Gibbons.
Guests: Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Paloma Nuñez and Pat Smith, Second City greats and stars of Canadian stage and screen
This week in “Deep Left Field,” we assemble a panel of Canadian comedy greats who are also huge Blue Jays fans and talk to actors Sandy Jobin-Bevans (“Just Like Mom and Dad,” “Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle”), Paloma Nuñez (“Baroness Von Sketch Show,” “Upload”) and Pat Smith (“Travelers,” “Slap Shot Live!”) about the off-season so far!
Guests: Baseball writers Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic and Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gives his thoughts on the Blue Jays trade of Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to Arizona for Daulton Varsho, then convenes a baseball writers' panel to get the lowdown on the off-season so far from Kaitlyn McGrath and Meghan Montemurro.
Guests: Blue Jays centrefielder Kevin Kiermaier, San Francisco Giants pitcher Ross Stripling
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner sits down with Kevin Kiermaier to talk about the former Tampa Bay Ray's expectations as a Blue Jay in 2023 and how he plans to win over Jays' fans who might not love him; and catches up with Ross Stripling to find out how negotiations went down that saw him land in San Francisco, how close he came to staying with the Jays and how much he loved his time in Toronto.
Guests: Hall of Famer Fred McGriff, Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano
This week in Deep Left Field, we discuss the signings of outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and right-hander Chris Bassitt and the departure of Ross Stripling. Then we talk to the Crime Dog, Fred McGriff, about his early years with the Blue Jays and his recent election to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, and we catch up with Tip O'Neill Award winner Jordan Romano about the Canadian honour, the Jays' off-season moves and more!
Guests: Former Blue Jay and current MLB Network Host Mark DeRosa, Jays' Mental Skills Coach Jimmy Van Ostrand, Toronto Star columnist Gregor Chisholm.
This week in Deep Left Field - from the Winter Meetings in San Diego - host Mike Wilner talks to former Baseball Canada star Jimmy Van Ostrand about Greg Hamilton winning Baseball America's Lifetime Achievement Award, assesses the Jays' San Diego inaction with Gregor Chisholm and has a great chat with Mark DeRosa, whose final big-league season was with the 2013 Blue Jays.
Guests: Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly, President Emeritus Paul Beeston and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Don Mattingly about joining John Schneider's coaching staff, chats with Paul Beeston about being part of the Hall of Fame Contemporary Baseball Era committee and catches up with R.A. Dickey, who is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time.
Guests: Blue Jays legend Ernie Whitt; Host of MLB Network Radio's "Power Alley" Mike Ferrin.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Ernie Whitt about returning to manage Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic for a fifth time and also compares the current Blue Jays to the mid-'80s teams. Then Phoenix-based Mike Ferrin plays Let's Make A Deal between the Jays and Diamondbacks for one of Arizona's many centrefielders.
Guests: Free Agent pitcher Ross Stripling, Blue Jays prospect Spencer Horwitz
This week, host Mike Wilner brings back Long Toss With Ross and talks to Stripling about his first days of free agency, as well as the Teoscar trade, Vladdy winning a Gold Glove and Matt Chapman not winning one, then talks to Spencer Horwitz about being added to the Jays' 40-man roster and the work that got him there.
Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm; Rheostatics guitarist, author and West End Pheonix publisher Dave Bidini.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner goes over the Jays' doings at the General Managers' meetings in Las Vegas with Gregor Chisholm, live in Sin City, and has a great wide-ranging conversation with baseball romantic and Canadian indie music icon Dave Bidini.
Guests: Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman; former Blue Jays reliever and current MLB Network broadcaster Dan Plesac
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Dan Shulman about their fathers, both of whom passed away this year, and how baseball was a part of their relationships, and catches up with Dan Plesac about his Jays days, including the opening of SkyDome.
Guests: Six-year major-leaguer and 1984 Canadian Olympian Mike Gardiner; Mike Cieslinski, creator of Dynasty League Baseball
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Mike Gardiner about his Canadian Olympic teammate, Rob Thomson, who is currently managing the Phillies in the World Series in his rookie year as a skipper, and simulates the 2022 World Series (Phillies in seven!) with Mike Cieslinski, creator of Dynasty League Baseball.
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Guests: Former Blue Jays catcher and broadcaster Alan Ashby; Comedian Andy Kindler (Everybody Loves Raymond; Bob's Burgers; Wizards of Waverly Place)
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Alan Ashby about the new playoff format, since he played in both a best-of-five and best-of-seven LCS in the '80s, and checks in with Mets' fan Andy Kindler after his 101-win team got knocked out in the first round.
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Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Striping; Paul Sun-Hyung Lee of Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian, Avatar: The Last Airbender; Aaron Abrams, Star of CTV's Children Ruin Everything, currently the #1 Canadian comedy.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner plays Long Toss with Ross one last time, talking to Stripling about the playoff series he never got to pitch in and his impending free agency, then breaks down the heartbreaking loss to Seattle and what comes next with Jays' superfans and Canadian sitcom stars Paul Lee and Aaron Abrams.
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Guests: Blue Jays right-handers Alek Manoah and Ross Stripling; Blue Jays manager John Schneider
This week in Deep Left Field, we get you set for post-season baseball by talking to the best Blue Jays of 2022, as voted by the players, coaches and front office. Alek Manoah is awarded both the MVP and Pitcher of the Year awards, John Schneider is the Jays' Rookie of the Year and DLF regular Ross Stripling is the Unsung Hero!
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling, Jays outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., Yankees outfielder Tim Locastro
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner discusses that despite ups and downs, the Jays have been in a playoff spot all year, he also plays Long Toss With Ross with the Jays on the verge of clinching only their fourth playoff berth since 1993, chats with Jackie Bradley Jr., who will be going to the post-season for the fifth time in seven seasons, and catches up with Tim Locastro, a Blue Jays' draft pick who played a huge role in the signing of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Guests: Rays manager Kevin Cash plus Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling and reliever David Phelps
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner plays Long Toss With Ross, discussing the last week and the weeks ahead, watching Alek Manoah in the big leagues and which wild card spot is the best (spoiler: the top spot is the best spot); he also talks to Jays reliever David Phelps, who is top 20 in MLB in stranding inherited runners; and catches up with Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash ahead of this pivotal series between the Rays and Jays in Tampa.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling and infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield, Vancouver Canadians infielder Damiano Palmegiani
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner plays Long Toss With Ross, covering the Jays' big series against the Rays, Stripling's homecoming start in Texas, Bo Bichette's heater and more; talks to Whit Merrifield about contributing to the Jays' playoff push and catches up with Jays' minor-leaguer Damiano Palmegiani, a B.C. kid playing for the Vancouver Canadians.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling, closer Jordan Romano and Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner has a weekly visit with Ross Stripling talking about the start to September, the big series in Baltimore and Tuesday's scuffle with Bryan Baker, catches up with Markham's Jordan Romano about reaching 30 saves and chats with Mike Piazza, who will manage Team Italy in this spring's World Baseball Classic.
Guests: Blue Jays World Series hero Dave Winfield, former Jays ace Marcus Stroman, Jays starter Ross Stripling
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Dave Winfield about being the final piece to the puzzle for the Blue Jays' first World Series championship and driving in the series-winning runs, catches up with Marcus Stroman after he pitched at Rogers Centre for the first time in over three years and gets you set for September with Ross Stripling.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling, ex-Jays manager John Gibbons, former Jays (now Cleveland) catcher Luke Maile
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Ross Stripling about the Jays' big weekend in New York and Yusei Kikuchi's struggles, catches up with John Gibbons, who has just joined the Twitterverse and reminisces with "Lukey Barrels" about his Jays days,
Guests: Blue Jays right-handers Alek Manoah, Ross Stripling and Anthony Bass, Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gets immediate reaction from Ross Stripling after he took a perfect game into the 7th inning against Baltimore, talks to Alek Manoah and Triston McKenzie, who have been playing against each other since grade school, and asks Anthony Bass 10 Questions!
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling; Canadian icon Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, star of Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner has a weekly visit with Ross Stripling, discussing his impending return from the injured list and the Blue Jays' week that was and gets the Jays' fans perspective on where things currently stand from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, one of the biggest Blue Jays fans there is.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling and centrefielder George Springer, former Jays prospect Nick Frasso
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner sits down with George Springer to talk about his stutter, how he's dealt with it and his work with SAY (Stuttering Association for the Young), checks in with Ross Stripling about his trip to the IL, the Jays' trade deadline moves and the passing of Vin Scully, and talks to minor-league pitcher Nick Frasso after the Jays traded him to L.A. at the deadline.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling, Cardinals and Baseball Canada outfielder Tyler O'Neill, Mariners lefty Ryan Borucki
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner discusses the Rogers Centre renovations, talks to Ross Stripling about sightseeing in Toronto over the all-star break and the Jays' wild weekend at Fenway, chats with B.C.'s Tyler O'Neill on the occasion of his first big-league games in Canada and catches up with Ryan Borucki about leaving Toronto and his new life in Seattle.
Guests: Blue Jays legend Devon White and current Jays pitchers Ross Stripling and David Phelps.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner reminisces with Devon White about his appearance in the 1993 All-Star Game; plays Long Toss with Ross, asking Stripling about his all-star experience and talking about where the Jays stand at the break; and asks Dave The Pitcher, the current oldest Blue Jay, ten questions.
Guests: Blue Jays legend Devon White and current Jays pitchers Ross Stripling and David Phelps.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner reminisces with Devon White about his appearance in the 1993 All-Star Game; plays Long Toss with Ross, asking Stripling about his all-star experience and talking about where the Jays stand at the break; and asks Dave The Pitcher, the current oldest Blue Jay, ten questions.
Guests: Blue Jays pitchers Jordan Romano and Ross Stripling, Jays' top pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner dives into the firing of manager Charlie Montoyo in our regular segment with starter Ross Stripling, gets the word on new manager John Schneider from closer Jordan Romano, who was Schneider's ace on two minor-league championship teams, and introduces you to teenage lefty Ricky Tiedemann, the Jays' best pitching prospect.
Guests: Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling, former Jays reliever (now Minnesota Twin) Joe Smith and Jays utility player Cavan Biggio
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Ross Stripling about the terrible tragedy suffered by the Blue Jays' family with the passing of Julia Budzinski, remembers the 2017 club with Joe Smith and asks Cavan Biggio 10 Questions.
Guests: Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, starter Ross Stripling, third baseman Matt Chapman and president Mark Shapiro
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner gets up close and personal with all-star-to-be Alejandro Kirk, plays a weekly game of Long Toss with Ross Stripling, talks to Mark Shapiro about the Jays' first Canada Day home game since 2019 and asks Matt Chapman 10 Questions!
Guests: Blue Jays starter Ross Stripling, newly minted Canadian Baseball Hall of Famers Jeff Francis and Justin Morneau, former Marlins, Yankees and Phillies manager Joe Girardi.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gets the lowdown on all things Blue Jays from Ross Stripling in his regular "Long Toss With Ross" segment, talks to Jeff Francis and Justin Morneau, two Hall of Famers who grew up together in North Delta, B.C., and remembers the late Darryl Kile on the 20th anniversary of his passing with Joe Girardi, who was chosen to tell the fans of Wrigley Field to go home on the day Kile died.
Guests: Blue Jays Broadcaster Dan Shulman, pitcher Ross Stripling, scout Francisco Plasencia and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner remembers Tom Cheek with Dan Shulman; talks about catching the red-hot Yankees with starter Ross Stripling in his regular segment; introduces us to Francisco Plasencia, the scout who signed Gabriel Moreno; and plays 10 Questions with Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Guests: Rock and roll legend Geddy Lee, singer, bassist and keyboardist of Rush; Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner sits down with one of Canada's greatest ever musicians, Geddy Lee, talking baseball with the Rush frontman, and plays "Long Toss With Ross" Stripling, who is the Jays' rotation.
Guests: Blue Jays right-handers Ross Stripling and Alek Manoah, White Sox manager Tony La Russa, Former Montreal Expo Delino DeShields.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Ross Stripling about his first save of the season, reminisces about the great Jays-A's rivalry of the late '80s and early '90s with Tony La Russa, talks Expos with Delino DeShields and asks Alek Manoah 10 Questions!
Guests: All-time Canadian greats Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds) and Stubby Clapp (St. Louis Cardinals), Blue Jays pitcher Ross Stripling and 10 Questions with Santiago Espinal
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner tells some travel stories, talks to Joey Votto about his weekend back home in Toronto, catches up with Canadian Legend Stubby Clapp, now coaching first base in St Louis, gets deep during Long Toss with Ross Stripling and asks Santiago Espinal 10 Questions!
Guests: Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins, Pitchers Ross Stripling and Adam Cimber, Seattle outfielder Jesse Winker
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner checks in with Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins for a look at how he sees the season so far, plays "Long Toss With Ross" Stripling and talks about the Jays' rough road trip and how Strip is adjusting to sporadic work out of the bullpen, asks Jesse Winker to reflect on his time in Cincinnati with Canadian baseball legend Joey Votto and gets Adam Cimber to answer 10 Questions.
Guests: Cleveland Guardians (and Blue Jays legacy) right-hander Cal Quantrill, former Blue Jay outfielder Rajai Davis and 10 Questions with Randal Grichuk.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Cal Quantrill about establishing himself as a big-league starter and pitching for Team Canada, catches up with Rajai Davis to reminisce and see what he's up to now and plays 10 Questions with Handsome Randal!
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling, former Jays 3B Kevin Smith (now with Oakland), ESPN's Marly Rivera, 10 Questions with Trevor Richards.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner checks in with Ross Stripling about the Jays' current grind, eyewash and more, chats with Marly Rivera about visiting her favourite road city and talks to Kevin Smith about moving in the Matt Chapman trade. And Trevor Richards answers 10 questions!
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling and outfielder Raimel Tapia, Red Sox righty Nick Pivetta, and 10 Questions with Trent Thornton.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Ross Stripling about the gauntlet the Jays are currently going through, checks in with Raimel Tapia about his first month as a Jay, talks Canadian baseball with Victoria, B.C.'s Nick Pivetta and asks Trent Thornton 10 Questions.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling and Dale Scott, home plate umpire at "The Batflip Game."
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Ross Stripling about breaking in a couple of new catchers, among other things, and sits down with former MLB umpire Dale Scott, author of "The Umpire Is Out" to talk about, well, pretty much everything.
Guests: Blue Jays catcher Zack Collins, Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward, Jersey Boys/Come From Away star Jeff Madden and 10 Questions with Jordan Romano!
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner plays "meet the new guy" with Zack Collins, chats with Chris Woodward about his journey from Blue Jays' super-utility player to big-league manager, talks to Jeff Madden about the Jays and performing on Toronto's biggest stages and asks Jordan Romano 1o questions.
Guests: Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, pitchers Jose Berrios, Alek Manoah and Jordan Romano, catcher Danny Jansen and third base coach Luis Rivera. Plus 10 Questions with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
This week in Deep Left Field, it's the Opening Day Extravaganza! We get you right down on the field for opening day as the Blue Jays get set to kick off the 2022 season. Host Mike Wilner checks in with Bo Bichette about his first opening day in Toronto, Jose Berrios on getting the ball to start the season, Alek Manoah regarding his first opening day ever, Jordan Romano about starting a new season in his hometown and gets Danny Jansen's thoughts on the elite pitching staff he's going to catch. Luis Rivera talks about how this team compares to the 2015-16 Jays playoff teams he coached and Vladdy Jr. answers ten questions!
Guests: Blue Jays starting pitchers Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, reliever David Phelps and bench coach John Schneider.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gives his thoughts on the Randal Grichuk/Raimel Tapia trade and Pete Walker's arrest, then talks to the Jays' two new starters, Kevin Gausman and Yusei Kikuchi, about signing with Toronto and their springs so far; chats with David Phelps about his unfinished business in the Blue Jays' bullpen; and checks in with newly-minted bench coach John Schneider about his new role and his long history with the Jays' biggest young stars.
Guests: Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, second baseman Cavan Biggio, and JIC lefty Brandon Eisert.
DUNEDIN, FLA.—This week in Deep Left Field, Dunedin Edition, host Mike Wilner talks to Charlie Montoyo about spring training so far and his outlook on the Blue Jays in 2022; catches up with Cavan Biggio on his lost 2021 season and what he sees for the coming year; and introduces us to Brandon Eisert, the "Just In Case" reliever who struck out the side in the 9th to save the Jays' first Grapefruit League game of the year.
Guests: Blue Jays outfielders George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez, and New York Mets Director of Major League Operations Elizabeth Benn
This week on Deep Left Field, we head down to Blue Jays spring training in Dunedin, Fla. to check in with George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez about their off-seasons, the team and the Matt Chapman trade. Later we talk to Elizabeth Benn, who played High Park baseball in Toronto, about working her way into a big-league front office.
Guests: Yankees Broadcaster Suzyn Waldman, Children Ruin Everything star Aaron Abrams.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Suzyn Waldman about her great career and being a true pioneer for women in sports media, and has a wonderful chat with Aaron Abrams about his Blue Jays memories (he was in attendance for both Blue Jays World Series clinchers!) and his terrific television career.
Guest: Mike Boon, host of the Toronto Mike'd podcast.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner shares his thoughts about the cancellation of the first week of the 2022 regular season, then talks all things Blue Jays and many things Toronto with Toronto Mike himself!
Guests: All-time great Blue Jays centrefielder Vernon Wells, New York Post Baseball Columnist Ken Davidoff
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner has a great, wide-ranging talk with Vernon Wells about his decade-plus with the Blue Jays, his teammates, his managers, his memories and the current MLB labour dispute, and chats with Ken Davidoff who is in Jupiter, Florida, where the owners and players are negotiating.
Guest: Blue Jays right-hander and player representative Ross Stripling.
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner has a wide-ranging conversation with Ross Stripling that goes into depth about the current MLB lockout and his role as the Blue Jays' union rep, about the Jays' 2021 season and hopes for the coming year and about his career as a podcaster, hosting The Big Swing Podcast.
Guests: Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President (and host of the Black Diamonds podcast) Bob Kendrick
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Danny Jansen about his great finish to 2021 and how the Jays look right now, and gets some incredible stories from Bob Kendrick about the Negro Leagues and more.
Guests: 2022 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Francis, Buffalo Bisons broadcaster Pat Malacaro, New Hampshire Fisher Cats broadcaster Tyler Murray
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Jeff Francis about capping a wonderful career by being voted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and convenes a Blue Jays minor-league broadcasters roundtable with Pat Malacaro of AAA Buffalo and Tyler Murray of AA New Hampshire.
Guests: 3-Time Canadian Olympian Lauren Bay-Regula, Good Witch's Kylee Evans, comedians Gary Gulman (The Great Depresh) and Jen Kirkman (Anxiety Bites Podcast).
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner gets into lockout negotiations and Hall of Fame balloting, then convenes a round table to talk about dealing with anxiety, depression, panic and more with Lauren Bay-Regula, Kylee Evans and Gary Gulman. As well, Jen Kirkman drops in to offer her insight into anxiety.
Guests: Former Blue Jays 2B Devon Travis, and Eugene Freedman, Special Counsel to the President, NATCA.
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner talks to Devon Travis about his days with the Blue Jays and what he's up to in his post-playing life, and has a great chat with Eugene Freedman about the two sides of the MLB lockout.
Guests: Two-time Team Canada MVP Ashley Stephenson, and you, the listener
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner pays tribute to the life and legacy of Amanda Asay with remembrances from her longtime teammate Ashley Stephenson (interview starts at the 52:52 mark). Also, we take your questions in the first-ever DLF Mailbag.
Guests: Drew Fairservice, Spin Rate; Ben Nicholson-Smith, At The Letters; Andrew Stoeten, Blue Jays Happy Hour; Arden Zwelling, At The Letters
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner convenes Blue Jays podcasters for a round table discussion featuring some of the smartest voices in the Blue Jays podcasting universe.
Guests: A panel of Baseball Canada lifers with Chris Robinson, Jamie Romak, Jimmy Van Ostrand and coach Tim Leiper.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner rings in the New Year by getting terrific stories and memories about life on the National team through Olympics, Pan Am Games and more from a round table of Baseball Canada stars!
Guests: A panel of Second City comedy greats - Sandy Jobin-Bevans, Paloma Nunez, Ann Pornel and Pat Smith
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks baseball and comedy with a round table of performers from the legendary Second City!
Editor's note: There are some curse words in this broadcast.
Guests: Blue Jays right-hander Trevor Richards, Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Trevor Richards about his half-season in the Jays' bullpen and being traded twice in the same year, then checks in with Brandon Hyde about his blow-up with Robbie Ray and managing the Orioles through some very difficult seasons.
This week, host Mike Wilner talks to Jack Graney award winner John Lott about his illustrious career covering the Blue Jays, and catches up with Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee about all the Blue Jays goings-on heading into the lockout.
Guests: Blue Jays all-time great Pat Hentgen, Giants beat writer/author John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner has a fantastic, wide-ranging conversation with Pat Hentgen, the Blue Jays' first Cy Young Award winner, and talks to John Shea about what the Jays are getting in Kevin Gausman and about his Willie Mays book "24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid."
Guests: All-Time Blue Jays Great Vernon Wells; Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner speaks to Vernon Wells about Omar Malave, the long-time Blue Jays minor-league player and manager who passed away Nov. 22 (trigger warning: suicide), and talks A.L. East with Chaim Bloom, who has run both the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.
Guests: 2021 Cy Young winner Robbie Ray, Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker, Roast Battle Canada Host Ennis Esmer.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Pete Walker about Robbie Ray's Cy Young, the Jose Berrios extension and the future of the Jays' pitching, has a great chat with Ennis Esmer about the Blue Jays news of the week and revisits a chat with Robbie Ray from season's end, when he won the Jays' Pitcher of the Year award, foreshadowing his league-wide honour.
Guests: Los Angeles Angels General Manager Perry Minasian, Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm, Jeremy Diamond, Chair of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Board of Directors
This week, Deep Left Field is on location at the MLB General Managers' Meetings in Carlsbad, CA! Host Mike Wilner talks to Perry Minasian about his days in the Blue Jays' front office on the way to running his own team, runs down all the happenings at the meetings with Gregor Chisholm and talks to Jeremy Diamond about the upcoming Special Induction Ceremony at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
On episode 32 of Deep Left Field, host we talk to Alex Anthopoulos about being the architect of a World Series winner and chat with Casey Candaele about the Blue Jays' top farm club and his mother's impending induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Guests: Blue Jays legend Tom Henke, Alyson Footer of mlb.com, Dynasty League Baseball creator Mike Cieslinski.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to The Terminator, Tom Henke, about the great Blue Jays teams he was on from 1985-1992, and playing in the Jays' first World Series, gets Alyson Footer's take on the Houston Astros' likelihood to shake off their cheating scandal, and chat World Series simulation with Mike Cieslinski
Guests: Blue Jays submariner Adam Cimber and More Than Baseball Founder/Director of Outreach Jeremy Wolf
On Episode 30 of Deep Left Field we talk to Adam Cimber about his half-season with the Blue Jays and the abrupt end to their season and have a great chat with Jeremy Wolf about how much major-league teams are really doing to give their minor leaguers the best chance to succeed.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Guests: Actor (For All Mankind, Paper Girls, The Circle) and Red Sox fan Nate Corddry, Blue Jays 2015 first-round pick Jon Harris.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Nate Corddry to see if he can convince Jays fans to root for Boston in the ALCS against Houston and checks in with Jon Harris about his grind through the minor leagues, transitioning from starting to relief and his impending minor-league free agency.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Guests: Blue Jays 2021 Team MVP Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jays 2021 Pitcher of the Year Robbie Ray, Orioles 1B/DH and cancer survivor Trey Mancini, Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Vladdy Jr. and Robbie Ray, voted the club’s MVP and Pitcher of the Year, by Blue Jays players and coaches,we catch up with Trey Mancini about his comeback season after spending 2020 dealing with colon cancer, and wrap up the disappointing end to the Jays’ 2020 season with regular contributor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.
Interviews with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Robbie Ray were recorded in advance, at the field before the Jays were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday, October 3.
Guests: Blue Jays 2021 Rookie of the Year Alek Manoah, Jays 2021 Unsung Hero (listen to find out who it is!), Jays Social Community Manager Alykhan Ravjiani.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Alek Manoah, who was named the Jays' Rookie of the Year by his teammates and coaches, speaks to the player the team chose as its Unsung Hero and has a great chat with Alykhan Ravjiani, part of the team that brings us all the behind-the-scenes Jays pictures and social media stories.
Guests: 2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson, Rays manager (and former Blue Jay) Kevin Cash, Baseball Canada and former Padres catcher Chris Robinson.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Josh Donaldson about his time in Toronto and whether he thinks there should be another Blue Jay voted MVP, check in with Kevin Cash about coming up with the Jays and his relationship with Charlie Montoyo and have a great chat with Chris Robinson about robot umpires and the Kiermaier Kerfuffle.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Robbie Ray about his incredible season and yes, about his tight pants, chat with Kevin Kiermaier about the Jays-Rays rivalry and his relationship with Charlie Montoyo; and sit down with Jimmy Van Ostrand to talk about his role with the Jays and his days with Canada's national team.
This week in Deep Left Field, we celebrate Larry Walker's induction into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown by re-airing our Canada Day conversation with the great former Expo, Rockie and Cardinal. We also have an incredible chat with Tony Kemp about the Blue Jays' magical comeback win over the A's on Sept. 3 and talk to Ryan Bondy, who was at Yankee Stadium for the Jays' season-high 7th straight win.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner talks to Corey Dickerson about being a veteran on a young Blue Jays team and the upcoming stretch run, checks in with Dante Bichette about how to get the Jays' bats going again and gets a monthly visit from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to discuss the state of the ball club as September begins.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Kevin Smith about the beginning of his big-league career (and his namesake moviemaker), check in with Liam Hendriks about his roller coaster career and his memories of the 2015 Blue Jays and have a great chat with Windsor's Jacob Robson, who is on the Tigers' taxi squad and played for Team Canada at the Olympic qualifiers.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, we speak to John Gibbons about managing a ballclub — and running a bullpen — in a playoff race, checks in with Gregor Chisholm about the Jays' rough road trip and chats with Samad Taylor, who is tearing it up in AA New Hampshire.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Marcus Semien about his first trip to Toronto as a Blue Jay, check in with Jenna Caira now that she's back from Tokyo with an Olympic medal, and get the Toronto fan perspective on the Blue Jays first real homestand in almost two years with Second City vet Paloma Nunez.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Bo Bichette about the Blue Jays finally returning to Toronto, checks in with longtime Jays bench coach and current Cleveland skipper Demarlo Hale, and gets to know Jordan Groshans, who is now the Blue Jays' top position player prospect. There's also a visit from a special surprise guest, who might just have been named A.L. Player of the Week!
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Guests: Pittsburgh sports media personality Andrew Fillipponi; former Blue Jay and current Olympian Ty Kelly; Star of Kim's Convenience Paul Sun-Hyung Lee
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Andrew Fillipponi about the Blue Jays' interest in Pirates' closer Richard Rodriguez, and what we can expect should they deal for the righty, checks in with Ty Kelly about his time with the Jays in 2017 and his time in Tokyo right now, and chats with Kim’s Convenience and Mandalorian actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee about the Blue Jays' return to Toronto after 22 months between games at Rogers Centre.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Mark Shapiro about the Blue Jays’ farewell to Buffalo, checks in with Simeon Woods Richardson about his rise through the Blue Jays’ system and going to Tokyo for the Olympics and chats with longtime big-leaguer Ian Kinsler about his journey to Tokyo and his memories of facing the Blue Jays.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Austin Martin about his trip to Denver for the Futures Game and his first season in pro ball, check in with Tyler Black about getting drafted 33rd overall by the Milwaukee Brewers and get into the weeds of front office geekery with Texas Rangers Assistant GM (and Montreal born) Shiraz Rehman.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks, face-to-mask, to Tim Mayza about his season and what’s going on with the Blue Jays’ bullpen - the first in-person interview in Deep Left Field history! Also, we check in with Melanie Newman about the state of the Orioles and her journey to the booth, and pick the brain of Jason Grilli, who pitched in the Futures Game and the All-Star Game, and who was with the Blue Jays in 2016 when they rebuilt their bullpen on the fly.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This Canada Day in Deep Left Field, we have an all-Canadian episode. Mike Wilner talks with Larry Walker, the greatest Canadian position player in MLB history, checks in with John Axford about pitching for Team Canada and working his way back to the big leagues, and convenes a round table of the only Canadians to broadcast Blue Jays play-by-play on the radio with Dan Shulman and Joe Siddall.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, host Mike Wilner talks to Alek Manoah about his first month in the big leagues, checks in with Jays lefty Anthony Kay’s big brother Bobby and includes our monthly visit from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to talk about the state of the Blue Jays.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, Mike Wilner talks to Riley Adams about the first couple of weeks of his major-league career, checks in with Chris Leroux about Canada just missing out on the Olympics and what's going on in the Blue Jays' bullpen and chats with Ken Davidoff about the "sticky stuff" controversy, as well as all the former Blue Jays playing for the Mets right now.
This week in Deep Left Field, we gather a star-studded roundtable. Paul Beeston, Bob Elliott and Dave Perkins join to share stories and memories of Hall of Fame broadcaster Tom Cheek, who called Blue Jays games for the first 28 years in franchise history, on the occasion of what would have been his 82nd birthday
Guests: Team Canada pitcher Andrew Albers, Miami Marlins reliever (and Brampton, Ont., native) Zach Pop and Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Gregor Chisholm about the first 1/3 of the Blue Jays 2021 season, now that it's in the rear-view mirror, check in with Zach Pop on how his rookie season is going so far - and his first outing against his hometown team - and head south to Florida, where Andrew Albers was a big part of a no-hitter for Team Canada as they work to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Ross Stripling about going back to the drawing board and emerging with his best outing as a Blue Jay, touch base with Dan Shulman in anticipation of Alek Manoah's major-league debut, and check in with Chris Leroux and Scott Richmond as they prepare to represent Canada in the Baseball Americas Qualifier on the road to the Tokyo games.
Guests: Blue Jays left-hander Travis Bergen, Red Sox pitching coach (and former Blue Jay Dave Bush), Rays radio voice Andy Freed.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Travis Bergen about his journey to and from the Blue Jays and his sensational start to the season, check in with Dave Bush about being back in Dunedin for big-league games and have a great (former) broadcaster-to-broadcaster chat with Andy Freed, who was there for Tom Cheek's last call.
Guests: Conor Biggio, brother of Blue Jays 3B Cavan Biggio; Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, star of CBC's Kim's Convenience; former Blue Jay all-star Ricky Romero
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Conor Biggio about his little brother's triumphant return to Houston, get Ricky Romero's take on Nate Pearson's erratic season debut and hear from Paul Sun-Hyung Lee about his thoughts on the Blue Jays' season so far.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Randal Grichuk about his and the Blue Jays’ season so far (hours before he went out and had a three-hit game in Oakland), get Gregor Chisholm’s thoughts on the George Springer saga and we hear from Emma Marshall about her experiences working for a major-league team and what baseball can do to create a culture of true inclusion and respect in the wake of MLB cutting ties with Roberto Alomar due to allegations of sexual misconduct.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Guests: Long-time Blue Jays and baseball reporter, and member of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, Bob Elliott, as well as Josh Zeid, former Houston Astro and current member of Team Israel in the upcoming Olympics
Hosted by Mike Wilner, a Toronto-based baseball columnist and podcaster for the Toronto Star.
Guests: Blue Jays starting pitcher Steven Matz and Jays fan/COVID vaccinator Dr. Elliot Lass
This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to lefty Steven Matz, who has had a sensational start to his Blue Jays career, and check in with Dr. Elliot Lass about his Jays fandom and his work on the front lines fighting COVID-19. Also, a little like the old days, we answer your questions!
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Guests: Toronto Star Blue Jays Beat Reporter Laura Armstrong, Baseball Prospectus/ESPN/The Ringer's Rany Jazayerli, Baseball Canada Communications Director Adam Morissette
This week in Deep Left Field, we look at the Blue Jays' season so far - and talk press box snacks - with Laura Armstrong, reminisce about the Jays-Royals rivalry with Kansas City native Rany Jazayerli (whose memories are much happier than ours), and talk to Adam Morissette about the impending retirement of Baseball Canada's Executive Director Jim Baba.
Today on Deep Left Field, the Toronto Star’s baseball podcast, Mike Wilner talks to Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Julian Merryweather, and Jays fan and comedian Ann Pornel, the co-host of the Great Canadian Baking Show.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Thanks for joining us out here in Deep Left Field. This is the Toronto Star’s baseball podcast, and this is our official launch for opening day. Today, we talk to Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, the star of Kim's convenience and a Canadian kid who's a member of the Star Wars universe, with a role in the Mandalorian and a big fan of the Jays. Alyson Footer, a national writer for MLB.com, will also join us. Alyson has covered the Houston Astros for a very long time and saw George Springer when he was just starting out his professional career. And while he's not going to be the closer, he's probably going to get the biggest outs late in games. Canadian Blue Jay Jordan Romano, the pride and joy of Markham, Ontario, also joins us out here in Deep Left Field.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
With the Blue Jays about to begin the 2021 season, Deep Left Field takes a look ahead to what the season might bring. Mike Wilner is joined by his Toronto Star teammates Gregor Chisholm and Laura Armstrong to give you a sneak peek at the Star’s special season preview section in the final preview episode of Deep Left Field before the official launch on April 1st.
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Mike Wilner: "I'm not on the radio anymore, but that doesn't mean I can't talk to you! Here's a pre-launch sneak preview teaser episode of our new baseball podcast, Deep Left Field! I talk about all the things I've wanted to say for the last few months, including an in-depth look at the Blue Jays' batting order and pitching staff."
If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.
Coming soon! Longtime Toronto Blue Jays radio voice Mike Wilner hosts Deep Left Field, a baseball podcast from the Toronto Star. With great baseball coverage, opinion and analysis from Mike and other Star sports journalists including Laura Armstrong and Gregor Chisholm, as well as MLB players and others in the game, Deep Left Field has everything you need to know about the Jays, specifically, and baseball in general.