Episodes
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...
Published 06/27/24
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...
Published 06/24/24
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...
Published 06/20/24
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...
Published 06/13/24
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!
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Published 05/30/24
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...
Published 05/23/24
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...
Published 05/16/24
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...
Published 05/09/24
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...
Published 05/02/24
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!
Published 04/29/24
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,...
Published 04/25/24
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...
Published 04/18/24
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...
Published 04/11/24
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!
Published 04/09/24
The Blue Jays get no-hit, so you get a special bonus episode! My take on the Jays shooting blanks in Houston.
Published 04/02/24
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...
Published 03/28/24
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.”
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Published 03/26/24
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.
Published 03/23/24
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...
Published 03/21/24
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...
Published 03/14/24
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.
Published 03/09/24