Deep Left Field with Mike Wilner

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 200 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. 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.

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!