The JD Bunkis Podcast

Jason Timpf, host of Hoops Tonight, joins JD to breaks down what the Raptors may struggle to handle from the Cavaliers, how the roster is built to guard the Cavs' star guards, what he thinks are the most critical hinge points of the series, what fit issues the Raps may face head-on in the first-round, which first-round favourite has the most pressure, the elusive second ring for modern NBA superstars, and if Oklahoma City Thunder should be more favoured than they were last year. The show ends with 'What We Missed'. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to the Maple Leafs missing out on Sunny Mehta and how it appears the Leafs are conducting their management search. MLB Network's Jon Morosi talks about the Blue Jays' precarious rotation situation and the domino effect on the bullpen staff. JD and Jon also discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s slow start, who they're confident about in the lineup, the most surprising part of the Jays start, the rareness of being active in the trade market this early in the season. JD then lists a number of silver linings for the Jays and his favourite first-round matchups in the Stanley Cup playoffs and NBA playoffs.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and James Mirtle, senior writer for The Athletic, break down Auston Matthews' comments about not being able to predict the future and how the team reacted to his injury from the Radko Gudas hit. JD asks James if the Maple Leafs would consider trading William Nylander, the evolution of player empowerment, the differences between the general managers the Leafs are considering, and how the timeline of the search could unfold.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts live to the interviews of Craig Berube, Auston Matthews and William Nylander at the Maple Leafs locker room clean out day. To close the hour, JD touches on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s quiet bat.   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Chris Pronger, Hockey Hall of Famer and author of 'Earned', joins JD to discuss what he hopes people can take from his book, managing accountability, how a team builds up culture in 2026, and what a best player on a team wants to understand about a franchise's direction. JD and Producer Armen then get into Lamelo Ball's dirty play and Rick Bowness' poignant post-game comments (29:00). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Ernie Johnson, host of Inside the NBA on ESPN, talks about the regular season crawl to the NBA playoffs, the success of the Play-In Tournament, who the most compelling player of the postseason is to Ernie, Dillon Brooks' villain arc, Victor Wembanyama's future as the face of the league, and Inside the NBA's first season on ESPN. Later (40:00), JD reacts to Jeff Hoffman blowing the lead for the Blue Jays and wonders how long the leash is in the closing role.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

AJ Pierzynski, MLB analyst and World Series champion, joins JD to talk about what the most important factors are early in the MLB season, if there's a chance Max Scherzer would open to pitching out of the bullpen, the importance of Alejandro Kirk, the best way to determine a catcher's playing time, and why ABS makes framing pitches even more important.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, banter about aging before debating Rory McIlroy's legacy, if he draws casual fans and his rivalry with Scottie Scheffler. Later, the duo discuss how they feel about the Blue Jays a few weeks into the season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Blake Murphy, co-host of The Raptors Show, evaluate the Raptors season in relation to goals and expectations, the optics of making the playoffs versus the play-in, why playing the Cleveland Cavaliers are a more favourable matchup than the New York Knicks, and if they think Scottie Barnes should defend Donovan Mitchell. JD and Blake then get into their biggest wins and disappointments of the Raptors season. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to the Toronto Maple Leafs odds in the draft lottery and what he's pessimistic about.  Ben Nicholson-Smith (13:00), Sportsnet MLB insider, joins JD to break down about the Blue Jays slow start to the season. JD asks Ben about George Springer's injury timeline, how the Jays can temporarily fill the lead-off spot, and what if Max Scherzer continues to struggle. JD and Ben also discuss if they feel any different about the potential in the Blue Jays season, and Brandon Valenzuela's sudden importance. JD explains what he thinks was the biggest win for Rory McIlroy at The Masters.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Cliff Floyd, former MLB veteran and MLB Network analyst, joins JD to talk about the early pressure on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the effects of not having a consistent clean-up hitter, when you really start to worry about a team's record, Addison Barger's expected leap, and dealing with having a target on your back. The show ends with 'What We Missed!'  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, debate if the Blue Jays' 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers was a must-win, the fans complicated relationship with Jeff Hoffman, if Davis Schneider has gotten closer to an everyday player, if the extra time allotted to Shohei Ohtani during games is fair play, and thoughts on the looming MLB lockout.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

The Ringer's Joe House chats about the Raptors' season outlook, before diving into The Masters with JD. They discuss the looming effect of Tiger Woods' accident, if golf could deliberately distance itself from Woods, the most compelling narrative of the tournament, Rory McIlroy's chances to repeat as champion, and his favourite bet to make at Augusta. The show ends with 'What We Missed!'  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD explains how he feels about the Blue Jays amidst their six-game losing streak. JD asks James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, if there are front-running candidates for the Maple Leafs general manager job, Sunny Mehta's fit with Toronto, who the next Leafs head coach could be, James' reporting on Mike Gillis and what role Gillis views himself in, if there's any clarity about the Leafs hiring a president alongside a general manager, and Auston Matthews' level of involvement during the Leafs hiring process. JD ends the hour touching on a report stating the Chicago Bulls potential interest in Masai Ujiri.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Es Baraheni, co-host of NBA Daily at The Athletic, joins JD to explain why this offseason is one of the most important in Raptors franchise history. JD and Es talk about why the Raptors are facing a fork in the road, the viable routes to become a legit contender or make the roster younger, Darko Rajakovic's job security, and which kind of player could take the Raptors out of the middle. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

JD reacts to the Blue Jays getting beat down 14-2 by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ben Nicholson-Smith, MLB insider and Sportsnet reporter, gets into the Blue Jays' long list of injuries. JD and Ben discuss Max Scherzer's forearm tendinitis; when it became a cause for concern and how the Jays might strategize their sudden lack of pitching depth. Later, JD and Ben talk about the weight of expectation and the slow start to the season could spoil the goodwill from the fan base, Brandon Valenzuela's chances of moving up the catcher depth chart, what the most optimistic signs have been, and how aggressive the Jays could get with roster movement. The hour ends with JD's thoughts on the state of college basketball.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD lists what he'll be paying most attention to as the Blue Jays host the Los Angeles Dodgers. JD and Producer Armen then discuss Sidney Crosby amassing another point-per-game season, a baby being born during an Oilers game, Soccer Canada giving away jerseys, and "What We Missed!"  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to a nightmare weekend for the Blue Jays, and a bleak weekend for Toronto sports at large. Blue Jays play-by-play voice, Dan Shulman, discusses Alejandro Kirk's injury and importance, Brandon Valenzuela's learning curve, what Dan finds most concerning with the team, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s pressure, and the weirdness of going up against the Los Angeles Dodgers again. JD closes the hour touching on the New York Islanders decision to replace Patrick Roy with Pete DeBoer and if he feels the Maple Leafs missed on DeBoer.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD asks Kevin Barker, co-host of Blair and Barker, about Addison Barger's start to the season, why Barker is picking the Blue Jays to win the World Series, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s regular season ceiling, Brendon Little's falling standing in the pecking order, how the Jays may manage their injured starting rotation, and early thoughts on ABS. The show ends with 'What We Missed!'  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD and Jackie Redmond, from the NHL on TNT, chat about Max Domi's quote about the Maple Leafs culture and if "none of your business" is really true or what it could really mean. JD and Jackie then discuss what level of transparency fans deserve and how the organization has created an us-versus-them mentality. JD then reacts to the Raptors worst loss of the season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and theScore's Joseph Casciaro dig into the excitement of Scottie Barnes the point guard, make arguments for and against RJ Barrett to be a part of the Raptors long-term future, and talk about Brandon Ingram's first season with the Raptors. JD and Joseph then discuss Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the lingering conversation about officiating, plus NBA expansion on the horizon.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley's press conference following the firing of Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving. JD and Justin Bourne, co-host of Real Kyper and Bourne, explain what they tookaway from Pelley's comments about being "data-driven" and a planning a retool versus a rebuild. JD and Justin then debate if the Leafs should continue building around Auston Matthews. JD wonders if there's too many "if's" and what the argument is for the Leafs to be back in playoff contention next season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet MLB insider and reporter, talk about the decisions ahead for the Blue Jays after Cody Ponce's knee injury in his Jays debut. JD asks Ben about Trey Yesavage throwing a simulated game and when his return timetable could be, his thoughts on the limited time Ponce was able to pitch, what Brendon Little's disastrous start to the season could mean, his thoughts on Spencer Miles, and what's mattered to him to start the season. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.  

JD reacts to the Maple Leafs firing general manager Brad Treliving and reflects on what the lesson(s) learned are. JD asks James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, why the Leafs made this decision now, if the new general manager will be hired by a hiring firm, how wide Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment might cast their net, how other teams around the league have turned their failures into success, what the biggest concern is as the decision-making begins, and if this changes the timeline or decision on Craig Berube.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Blue Jays television analyst, Joe Siddall, joins JD to analyzes the emotional rollover from last season at opening weekend, his most impressive performance of the weekend, early impressions of the Automated Ball-Strike system, the sustainability of Kazuma Okamoto's debut performance, and Ernie Clement's next step. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (37:30) The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, talk about attending the Blue Jays home opener, how Toronto feels connected to this Jays team and their early thoughts that might matter. JD and Ben discuss the lack of confidence in Jeff Hoffman, rank the debuts of the new Jays additions, the waning Brendon Little belief, Kazuma Okamoto's presence, Dylan Cease and Eric Lauer stock, and the evolution of Ernie Clement. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Arden Zwelling, Sportsnet Blue Jays reporter, talk about their expectations for Dylan Cease, why Arden believes pitch framing is more important than ever with the Automated Ball-Strike system, what Cody Ponce could provide, if the bullpen has improved and how John Schneider may deploy it, which bat Arden sees improving, and the difference he's noticed from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The show ends with debate about the crowd-work trend in stand-up comedy.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Dan Shulman, play by play voice of the Toronto Blue Jays, joins JD Bunkis to talk. about the unprecedented popularity and anticipation of the Blue Jays season. Dan shares what he thinks is an underrated storyline to start the season, before getting into Addison Barger's role as the x-factor, how he sees the Jays offence playing out, and his first season broadcasting without Buck Martinez. JD then touches on the Sweet Sixteen of college basketball.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD asks Ben Nicholson-Smith, Sportsnet's MLB insider, what he reads from Trey Yesavage's shoulder impingement, what the next steps for José Berríos may be, the meritocracy of the starting rotation, what surprised him about the Opening Day roster, how the Jays could make up for a lack of historically powerful hitters, what he's noticed in the evolution of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and what he thinks is the most overlooked talking point heading into the season-opener.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, talk about how they'll feel if the Blue Jays start the season off slow, which players could end up being scapegoats, the Jays stories they are most interested in following, and what they think are the underrated and properly rated Jays storylines for the 2026 season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD asks Bobby Marks, ESPN NBA front office insider, about the possibilities and ripple effects of NBA expansion. Bobby analyzes the viability of the proposed destinations in Las Vegas and Seattle, what else is on the slate at the NBA's Board of Governors meeting, how tanking may be curtailed, if there's chance of reducing the 82-game schedule, and what he thinks of the projected 2026 lottery picks. The show ends with 'What We Missed!'  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to the Maple Leafs win over the Boston Bruins and doesn't understand why the organization isn't embracing the tank. JD and James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, discuss why the Leafs seem adverse to tanking, if it'd be different without Craig Berube behind the bench anymore, what the Leafs decision-makers may be thinking about this teams chances in the near future, and if trading William Nylander or Auston Matthews should be considered. JD then touches on Victor Wembanyama's MVP case.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Cliff Floyd, MLB Network Analyst and 17-year MLB veteran, joins JD Bunkis to talk about opening week feels, how different the start of a season is for a team who made the World Series, what Cliff thought about the Blue Jays after visiting their spring training camp, the maturation of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and the Jays biggest question mark(s). The show ends with 'What We Missed! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Blake Murphy, host of The Raptors Show and Jays Talk Plus, chop it up about their Blue Jays opening week excitement, before moving on to the Raptors season. JD and Blake discuss why it's complicated to measure success for the rest of the Raptors season and playoffs, what the next step for the team might be, the awkward Jakob Poeltl contract and Ja'Kobe Walter optimism. JD and Blake close out the hour with their favourite Blue Jays story to watch out for early this season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Tyler Hansbrough, former NCAA National Player of the Year, NCAA champion and Toronto Raptors forward, talks about what's been lost with the increased frequency of transfers in college basketball, how the NCAA can combat the wild nature of the transfer portal, if the tournament is harder for potential lottery or high draft picks, and his outlook on Darryn Peterson and Darius Acuff Jr. and his favourite memory with the Raptors. JD and Producer Armen discuss the Raptors' weekend to end the show.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, get into the weekend of watching March Madness, Trey Yesavage's injury news, and how they see the Blue Jays starting rotation shaking out as the season gets underway. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD explains his frustration about the reports coming from the NHL's General Manager meetings; particularly his gripes about the league's playoff format and the Department of Player Safety's process. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to news that José Berríos' has a stress fracture in his elbow. Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to get into Berríos' injury; what we know about the diagnosis and the most identifiable ripple effects. JD and Ben also discuss Shane Bieber's comments and what his timeline could be, how the first series of the season could be effected, expectations for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s regular season, and feelings on the looming work stoppage in the MLB. JD then touches on the love for Sidney Crosby.   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

The Ringer's Tate Frazier makes his annual appearance on the show to break down everything you need to know for March Madness. JD asks Tate about which lottery pick has the most to win or lose during the tournament, how the top few lottery picks could shake out, point guards to be excited about, where the real drop off is in the 2026 NBA draft, what underdogs he likes to upset higher seeds, and Rick Pitino's place in college sports. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD shares his optimism about the sport of baseball following Venezuela's World Baseball Classic win. Jared Carrabis, co-host of the Baseball is Dead podcast, joins JD to get into the momentum of baseball and the looming lockout threat. Later, JD asks Jared about how American baseball fans are taking the loss, if he thinks the WBC is bigger than the World Series, why the tournament was a success, and three ideas to make it even better. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Tuukka Rask, Stanley Cup Champion and TNT analyst, joins JD Bunkis to give his thoughts on the Auston Matthews-Radko Gudas situation and debates if it's time for the NHL Department of Player Safety to revaluate their process. The pair also discuss the grey area regarding goaltender interference, the difficulty of playing behind a lousy defence, the shrinking gap in international hockey, and what could help propel goaltender's development. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD reacts to the World Championship news coming from the NHL General Manager meetings and explains why he thinks the World Championships may become the premier international hockey tournament. The Athletic's James Mirtle joins JD (10:00) to dive into how they felt about the World Championships of the past and predict what the next tournament may be like. Next (20:00), JD and James get into the ripple effects from the Auston Matthews - Radko Gudas incident and how it's permeating in the organization. Later, JD tries to give a positive spin on an otherwise nightmare Maple Leafs season.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.