Writers Bloc

Ben kicks off the show with JD Bunkis who discusses the controversy around the Yankees and the potential for Aaron Judge to hit the record breaking HR on Apple TV as opposed to YES or ESPN where people have bene watching all year. Then over to the Jays and whether or not there is legit cause for concern with this bullpen and Romano blowing 2 saves in less than a week. Then later (28:00) Jimmy Traina from SI, based in NYC, joins us to discuss the "Judge TV" controversy and how the MLB deal with Apple TV has been exploited. Then a look at how the Yankees fan base views Aaron Judge and why a home-grown player simply means much more to them. Finally (50:00) we head to Tampa where Shi Davidi on on Jays/Rays and news today that the Jays would use Manoah in Game 162 to try for home field - even if - it means he won't pitch in the Wild Card round.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.

Ben opens with Maple Leafs media day today and Kyle Dubas being open about how much pressure is on him and laying underneath it all is the Auston Matthews extension which will come to a halt 1 year from now. Next (5:00) we head to Philly where Pat Tabler is covering Jays/Phillies after the 18-11 win last night and how it drew comparisons to the 15-14 Jays win over the Phillies in the 1993 World Series. Among the topics is the use of young players like Manoah and the debate of holding him back although the Nats learned the hard way with Strasburg years ago. Finally (27:00) Nick Kypreos joins us on Leafs media with Dubas front and centre and the Matthews extension looming. Finally (51:00) Ben is joined by Adnan Virk for some perspective and interesting stats behind Aaron Judge and #60. Whether or not there is true home field in the MLB playoffs. Do the Jays put Stripling over Berrios? Would the team prefer the M's, Rays or Guardians in the 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 affiliate.

Ben welcomes Blake Murphy from Jays Talk Plus for the first segment of the show and they get into the breaking news of the day with Canada eliminating vaccine mandates starting September 30. From a sports perspective there is an impact on the Blue Jays as potential opponents like Robbie Ray were unable to play because of the vaccine. Later (25:00) we catch up with Canadian and former Blue Jay Matt Stairs who also won a World Series with the Phillies. He's now coaching young Canadians and looks back at his career, thoughts on this years Jays + Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols. Finally (49:00) a chat with Seth Wickersham, ESPN writer and author of a best selling book on the Patriots with new insights about Tom Brady's off-season, his un-retirement and how he his marriage is lived in the public for better or worseThe 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.

Ben welcomes Jon Morosi from MLB Network who discusses the Stripling vs Berrios debate. There are comparisons to Barry Zito and the Giants in 2012. If he can't be trusted to start can we be dependable out of the pen? Jon likes the way the Jays have been playing and they are now in the mix with all the others to win the AL. Later (27:00) we speak to former Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons who will debut "The Gibby Show" and he talks to us about his podcast and being so open with media between a book and finally joining twitter. Finally, the observations he is making from he sidelines now and how he has kept relationships with people like his first guest - Josh Donaldson. 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.

We start the show with Arash Madani who was covering the Jays / Orioles this weekend. After a discussion about "Stripling or Berrios"  they discuss how Tapia and Bradley Jr have become the best defensive outfielders. Later (25:00) our weekly visit with Peter King who looks back at NFL Week 2, the coming out party for Tua, Lance injury opens door for Jimmy G and why the Bengals are in serious trouble after 2 weeks. 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.

Ben is joined by Mike Petriello of MLB.com (1:00) who wrote about the Ohtani / Judge debate and why a stat like WAR doesn't always tell an accurate story. Plus a discussion about the Jays and how Bo Bichette has become one of the hottest hitters in baseball. Later (15:00) we check in with Peter Galindo from Sportsnet.ca as Team Canada announced their roster for the 2 World Cup tune-up games. Meanwhile hanging in the shadows is the dispute over money as players and Canada Soccer are still without a deal. Finally (28:00) our weekly NFL chat with Ross Tucker takes a look at Week 2 as he will be in Buffalo for Bills & Titans on Monday Night Football. He looks at top injuries across the league and the ones he has suffered. Plus, its another week of wondering where Jimmy G will end up. 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.

Ben kicks off the show with news that Vladdy Jr is open to a contract extension with the Jays - this off season. Then (5:00) over to author Jon Wertheim who reacts to the retirement of Roger Federer and how this era ended up developing the Top 3 players all time. It was hard to truly appreciate Federer's legacy when Nadal and Djokovic burst onto the scene to soon after. Later (27:00) we speak to Hector Gomez, MLB Insider from The Dominican Republic who reported that Vlad Guerrero Jr is interested in signing long term with the Jays and what he means to his home country. Finally (37:00) we head to Rogers Centre where Shi Davidi reacts to the Guerrero news and looks ahead to the Jays series with the Orioles - plus - roster moves and injuries. 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.

 Adnan Virk of MLB Network takes us around the sports world talking football, tennis and he shares his admiration for Bo and explains why TIFF needs to be on your radar this year (1:28). Ben Nicholson- Smith, co- host of the At The Letters podcast, then lets Ben in on who he thinks is the Jays MVP this season. He also offers his opinions on the Jays pitching staff and where they stand compared to the rest of the league (26:00).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 affiliate.

Sportsnet's very own, Jeff Blair, hops on with Ben down at the Rogers Centre to  break down the current state of the Jays. Has Alek Manoah solidified his position as the Jays number one starter? Was Teoscar Hernandez benched again? (1:12) Then, Ben sits down with Jays utility man Whit Merrifield to discuss his tenure and comfort level with the organization so far (24:34). Ben rounds out the hour with  Blue Jays TV analyst Joe Siddall for his expert analysis on the team as of late (36:56). 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.

Ben kicks off the second hour with former blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper. Tim offers his insights on Bo's big bat as of late and digs into why Bo's more serious demeanor could be the key to a healthy Jays clubhouse. Next, former Jays pitcher Ricky Romero  shares his own experience on what it's like pitching with the flu and why it won't hold back Alek Monoah tonight. Ricky even lets the listeners in on the key to a perfect pre- game meal.  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. 

Ben kicks off the show with Dan Shulman fresh off of calling Game 1 vs the Rays and he's enjoying dinner while talking to us before Game 2. The guys break down Bo Bichette and an observation by Ben which suggests his aggression is NOT the reason he's been so hot lately. Later (27:00) we welcome David Samson, former MLB exec and now with CBS Sports. He looks at what execs do at this time of year while managing the end of one season with the start of the next. Plus, his take on the recent rule changes and how it will impact statistics and players contracts in the future. 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.

In the thick of Pennant races, Jon Morosi looks at the massive series between the Jays and Rays, how Tampa was able to stay so competitive this year and why the Padres are under more pressure than any other team pushing for a playoff spot. Next, Ohtani makes a case for back to back MVPs and Albert Pujols is just 3 HRs away from 700 and why that feat might not be matched for years. Later (29:00) we head to Rogers Centre to speak with Caleb Joseph who is on the radio call for Jays/Rays. He takes us through Bo Bichette's hot streak and some of the specific things he's seen that has led to him turning his season around. 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.

Ben opens up the show with Arash Madani who helps to determine if Ben sounds better or worse than Cris Collinsworth after losing his voice over the weekend. From the NFL to the massive series with the Rays. Arash still not sure what the Jays are about. Then over to the US Open and how great Carlos Alcaraz can be after his first major win. Later (28:00) we speak to Peter King from NBC Sports who will join us every Monday. Peter goes through the Dak Prescott injury and if the Cowboys have a real shot at Jimmy G. In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers demands more of his teammates and there is a legit reason for the Bengals to be worried. Finally, the weapons are different but Patrick Mahomes looks just as good as he ever has.  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. 

We have a lot of baseball this hour starting to Jesse Rogers of ESPN who broke the news about the newly announced MLB rule changes including the pitch clock and elimination of the shift. Later we head to Texas where Shi Davidi is covering the Jays/Rangers series. The Jays look at how to set up their pitching staff for the stretch run as they continue to chase the Rays and Mariners.  Finally, a message from Stephen Brunt.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.

We kick off the show with the kick off of the NFL season and how Josh Allen and the Bills met the hype and looked faster and stronger than ever. Then the Jays open a series in Texas and MLB unveils some radical rule changes today including a pitch clock and eliminating the shift. Later (30:00) we speak to Ross Tucker who will be joining the show each and every Friday on the show. He looks back at the Bills win, the other team to watch out for this season and why betting on the AFC East in so fascinating to him.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.

We start the hour with Peter Mansbridge on the passing of The Queen today, what it means to Canada and the future of the Monarchy and why there is still a string tie to the Canadian government. The Queen also drew large crowds in Canada while Charles has been a bit of a bust. Later (32:00) we preview the NFL season with Amy Trask of CBS and former CEO of the Raiders. A ton of new faces in new places and why the Bills are getting so much love that there is a specific AFC team getting disrespected. 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. 

Ben and Stephen look back at Manoah magic and the Jays latest win in Baltimore. Then to the start of the NFL season tonight and the first season where there are no questions about Josh Allen. Later, they react to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and what it means for Canadians. Later (34:00) we speak with Howard Simon from WGF 550 about the Bills opening game, their incredibly tough schedule and how they find themselves thin on defence where they might be exploited.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.

We kick off the hour with Adnan Virk who recalls his trip to US Open Tennis full of drama and overpriced ice cream. With this era coming to an end with Serena out and Federer about done, there is no star to hand the torch to and the sport has suffered specifically with the lack of a star US born player. Later, a debate over the AL MVP and Judge vs Ohtani and whether or not it should matter if they are on a playoff team. Finally (30:00) we head to Buffalo where Nate Geary from WGR 550 explain excitement and nerves when it comes to the Bills 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 affiliate. 

Ben and Stephen do an official recap of the first day of school with some of the staff having kids in JK. Then over to the Jays and the bench clearing brawl in Baltimore plus the moves today with White sent down while Moreno and Pop called up. Later (29:00) we head to Baltimore and join Dan Shulman ahead of tonight's game. Dan goes through the renewed rivalry with the Orioles and then looks ahead to how the Jays will set up their staff for the stretch run. Finally, Judge hits #55 and Joe Maddon takes a shot at "too many analytics" in a recent interview.  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.

We start the hour in Baltimore where Arash Madani sets up the Jays/Orioles and then updates us on Jays pitchers. Julian Merryweather is back and already looks sort of the same. Meanwhile he thinks that Nate Pearson will not throw a pitch for the Jays this season. Later (32:00) a chat with Gord Stellick about all of his 30 years in Toronto sports radio from Leafs colour analyst to hosting his own show and making his way back to the station. 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.

Stephen Brunt is back from vacation and after a recap of NFLD fishing he guys get into the recent run by the Jays, the breakout of Bo Bichette and why this team is one of the strangest he has ever seen. Later (27:00) our weekly chat with Jon Morosi from MLB Network and a theory that Bichette picked up his play after perhaps being mentioned in trade rumours. Then onto Vladdy and how the potential elimination of the shift will impact him. Finally, Ben and Stephen on the AL MVP race and how Judge has already beaten Ohtani well before the season is over. 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.

In a wild summer for golf and with LIV vs PGA still in the news we speak to Canadian author Lorne Rubenstein as today was the final Canadian Open for Lori Kane - meanwhile - Brooke Henderson is in contention in Ottawa. Lorne says what while Brooke is great, there is a laziness among golf media to not tell stories of other great Canadian golfers. Later (27:00) we speak to Arash Madani fresh off of his trip to Boston where the jays swept the Red Sox. Surprise surprise - pitching and defence wins games. Then a detailed look at Jordan Romano and whether or not he will be used as a 6 out closer. 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.

Off the top of the show, Ben heads to Rogers Centre where Ben Nicholson Smith is awaiting the John Schneider availability. As he waits he gives us a few mins coming off of the sweep in Boston. As we celebrate 30 years since the Jays 1992 World Series - we are joined by a couple of architects of the team. Pat Gillick former GM and Gord Ash, Assistant GM. They look back at the building of the team, Gillick recalls being nicknamed "Stand Pat" and loosk back at how the Carter & Alomar for McGriff & Fernandez happened. 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. 

We speak to Tim Burke, formerly of Deadspin and the writer who broke the Manti Te'o story ahead of ESPN and now the story has become part of the Netflix doc (Untold) Tim goes back in time to discuss how he discovered, wrote and published that story and the reaction that he could not see coming - including - becoming a regular guest on CNN as the story became viral and one of the most elaborate stories in sports history. Later (22:00) we catch up with Colby Armstrong on many hockey topics from Phil to Sid The World Cup and the worst dressing rooms in hockey.  Ahead of that - he was blown away by the previous guest and gives his take on the Manti Te'o doc that he just recently watched as well. We finish with Jared Carrabis (36:00) on life in last place with the Red Sox and why that's a good thing. His wild living room setup with 11 televisions for baseball games and why he has close eye on the Blue Jays and loves their offence down the stretch. 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.

Ben opens the show with Ed Sprague, former Blue Jays 3B and now the Oakland Athletics Director of Player Development. They look back at 1992, his incredible HR in Game 2 and how he and other bench players nicknamed themselves "trench players." An interesting behind the scenes look at what the team went through and then his personal knowledge and experience with Matt Chapman who he has known since AA and AAA. Later (25:00) we head to Fenway Park where Pat Tabler is watching Jays BP and explains the current run of this team and how Jose Berrios has made incredible starts at the Yankees and Red Sox this week. He's really turned it around. Finally, back to 1992 and his memories of being in the pileup on the field after the World Series was clinched. 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.

This hour really looks at the theme of "Best on Best" when it comes to sports. First, The World Cup of Hockey is returning in 2024 and we speak to Damien Cox about finally seeing matchups like Matthews vs McDavid. It has been since 2014 and we debate if that creates a real demand from the fans. Later in the "Best on Best" hour we love to LIV Golf vs the PGA Tour. More specifically today the TGL was announced as a new Monday Night league, 3 on 3 teams and the first 2 players are Tiger and Rory. On golf we are joined by Bob Harig from SI and Author of "Tiger and Phil" and then over to former pro and now a writer for Golf Magazine - Dylan Dethier. It's possible that some of the stuff Phil Mickelson, actually helped the game of golf. 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.

It's heavy baseball as we start the show with Adnan Virk and then move to Adren Zwelling live from Fenway Park. Ben takes a look at Yusei Kikuchi, his recent appearance and why the team won't be sending him down to AAA yet even though the pitcher offered. Then a look at the MLB weighted schedule that was announced today and how it will impact the Blue Jays. Then a look at the ballparks everyone wishes they had a chance to visit and a certain NL venue was the winner. Finally some of the unsigned free agents that remain and who the Jays are interested in.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.

In the second hour of FAN drive time Ben Ennis is joined by former Blue Jay catcher and current Sportnet analyst Caleb Joseph to talk about what he has seen from multiple Blue Jays pitchers specifically Ross Stripling what has been the secret to his success? Does Caleb see Yusei Kikuchi  making a turnaround too? Then Nate Saunders ESPN F1 analyst joins the show to catch us up on everything that happened during the summer break in the racing world. Finally Ben closes out the show with your Bet River's last call of the night!  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.

In the first hour of FAN Drive Time Ben Ennis mourns the loss of Kevin Durant trade rumors, as it becomes official he will stay with the Nets. Then Blue Jays play by play announcer Dan Shulman joins us from Boston to give an update on the weather. They then go over what we can expect to see in the series between the two teams. A Sportnet NBA analyst Michael Grange joins Ben to discuss the KD news. And what is going on in Victoria with Canada 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. 

Ben starts the show with award winning writer Joe Posnanski who covered the MLB Showcase game this weekend in Charlotte, NC where many potential rules changes are tested out. Right at the top of the list is a pitch clock and how likely or unlikely it is that we will see one adopted by MLB. Later (15:00) James Sharman, soccer analyst and very vocal Liverpool supporter joins us after his team lost to Man United in a game where the fans protested the American ownership and called for the Glazer's family ... to die! Next up (29:00) we speak with Ricky Romero on the war of words between Manoah and Cole in New York and when pitchers hit the batter on purpose vs someone that just pitches inside. Ricky talks about the toughness that Manoah showed and what it tells his teammates. Then we review John Gibbons' early twitter career and why starters and bullpen pitchers could not be more opposite. 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.

We kick off the week with Stephen Brunt after hosting a writers festival in NFLD and then over to the Jays stunning series in New York and why the Toronto offence is near impossible to figure out night after night. Expectations were high for Vlad and Bo and while Vlad might finish the season with solid numbers, Bo never got out of his funk and now his future does not feel settled. Later, Jon Morosi joins the show from Yankees Stadium with the Mets in town and attempts to figure out how bad the Yankees actually are. Then an update on the AL Playoff race and which teams might be able to sign Michael Conforto.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. 

Ben kicks off the hour with Ren Lavoie from TV-A Sports Montreal with the news that Carey Price will start the season on LTIR and might not even play this season at all. With a new set of executives, managers and coaches, it is really an end of an era. The Price contract alone marked their life tougher if and when when he gets healthy. Later (26:00) we stay in The Bronx with Marly Rivera from ESPN  as the Yankees are in complete free fall since the MLB deadline. Aaron Judge has been incredible but it feels the team is relying too much on him to carry them. Finally (40:00) we speak to the founder of 3ICE which is a 3 on 3 league airing on CBS. It has radical rules like 2 halves with a running clock, continuous play and no faceoffs. Coaches range from John LeClair to Grant Fuhr and Guy Carbonneau.  The Commissioner is Craig Patrick. EJ explains why the NHL is paying attention, the rules it might adopt and removing parts of hockey where there is a lot of stalling on offence. 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. 

Ben welcomes in Blake Murphy from Jays Talk Plus as they debate where certain analytics make the Jays better or worse. Then a deeper dive on Bo Bichette, sliding all the way down to #7 and where he is trending. As is the case with Toronto teams, there is always a star player to blame and for this Jays team it's Bo. Later (27:00) we head to New York where Arash Madani joins us from Yankees Stadium. We look at the situation today with George Springer out of the lineup after a 5-hit performance last night. Finally, some NFL rumours - including - Tom Brady is away from The Bucs currently in order to tape The Masked Singer. 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.

We start with Andrew Brandt, (1:00) former NFL Executive on the DeShaun Watson settlement which saw him go from 6 games to 11 games. He said he got the best contact in NFL history with all of the terrible behavior. Not Brady or Rodgers or Manning got a deal like this and he's so disappointed about it. Next up (13:00) we check in with Adnan Virk. Along with sports he reveals the veteran moves behind Canada's Wonderland and the best day and time to attend. Later, the Yankees freefall lands right ahead of this series with the Jays. Although the offence has not been great, he points to pitching being in complete freefall and the one thing the jays absolutely need on their side. Finally, Kevin Barker (30:00) sets up Jays/Yankees and the pressure on the team and what might happen if the team managed to miss the 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 affiliate. 

Ben kicks off the show with the news of Kadri signing with the Flames and sets up the upcoming series between the Blue Jays and the Yankees in The Bronx. Then (7:00) a chat with Christine Sinclair who is working with A&W on an initiative to fight MS. We get her take on the World Cup (Ladies and Men) plus her relationship with John Herdman. What he accomplished with both teams and why there is interest in him to coach in the EPL.  Later on (16:00) we are joined by Eric Francis in Calgary as the Flames announced the signing of Nazem Kadri and how the Battle of Alberta has gone to another level. Later on we hear from Damien Cox (28:00) on Kadri, an interesting comparison between the Jays and Flames and why things with the Leafs and Sandin have gotten ugly. Finally (43:00) a rare summer check in with NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on how the Kadri deal came together. 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.

Ben welcomes Kevin Brown from ESPN and the Baltimore Orioles broadcast. He says the O's has become "America's Team" this year and a playoff appearance might just make them the best story in all of baseball. The season took a turn on a very specific day when the 2019 1st overall draft pick Adley Rutschman joined the team. They have not looked back since. Baltimore has really spent time working on their pitching from starters to bullpen and how they went about getting younger players max reps. We wrap the show with Arden Zwelling (23:00) who is working the broadcast with Ben Wagner tonight. Why he's monitoring the Manoah pitch count. Why so many fans and media members assumed these 2nd half games against the Orioles were supposed to be easy (and they are not) and whether or not the Jays philosophy on closers undervalues the position. Finally we end the show where it started and discuss the decision to hit Bo Bichette in the 7 spot and how he has never hit that low in the order in his entire career.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.

We are back at Rogers Centre for the show today as the Jays host the Orioles again. First up a visit to our radio booth from Shi Davidi who discusses the surprising news today that Bo Bichette was dropped to the #7 spot in the lineup. Then a discussion about shaking things up day to day vs sending a message. Then the ongoing Kikuchi debate and whether or not we will see him start another game. Then a chat about how the Jays are better than they have looked recently but this is not panic time. Later (28:00) we welcome Buck Martinez to the show and he continues the theme that the Jays have the talent but have been lacking in performance. Then his view on late season baseball from the perspective of both a manager and player. We close the hour with Blue Jays reliever Adam Cimber (40:00) who joined us on the field to discuss the season so far, his sidearm style and why Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay has been making fun of the size of his feet. 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. 

We continue our show down at Rogers Centre ahead of Jays/Orioles. We are joined by a couple of guests on the field before  visit from the former manager of the team. First, Jays analyst Joe Siddall talks about the series, why the team is stuck with Kukuchi and how they are trying to manage the situation. Then one the newest members of the team and Canadian, Zach Pop, joins Ben to discuss his return home to Canada, the experience in Miami, how he has become so close to Anthony Bass and his role with the team. Later (27:00) we catch up with former Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons who also started out as an interim manager just like John Schneider. He describes how he handled it and how even in coaching it can be game to game. Then some stories about how to handle the starting pitchers and bullpen while juggling analytics vs what you see and feel. 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. 

We are down at Rogers Centre in the radio booth ahead of the Blue Jays / Orioles. Ben starts with Dan Shulman the TV voice of the Jays and they dig into the numbers in terms of the offensive numbers and they are above the MLB average in so many categories. Then a look back at Kevin Gausman yesterday and how unlucky he has been in his starts. Is it possible that the fans nerves about this team are a bit premature? Next up (23:00) our weekly chat with Jon Morosi and he gets right into the health of George Springer, starting at DH tonight and how he won't be returning to CF. That means Hernandez or Gurriel will be the odd man out. Then the concerns over Kikuchi, the Jays are stuck with him financially and now they are forced to keep trying to make it work. Finally a look at Tatis and the suspension for PEDs and then why Jon feels the Astros are the best team in the AL and the best pick to make the World Series. 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.

It's been a huge week for Canadian Tennis and we get a chance to speak with Pam Shriver from ESPN and The Tennis Channel about the state of Canadian Tennis both Women's and Men's. Bianca and Layna have a terrific chance to make a run in the post Serena era and then we get her thoughts on Serena Williams who will leave the game after The US Open. We close with a visit from Ben Wagner (30:00) who after speaking with many members of the Blue Jays they still have no explanation for the difference in performance home vs away. Jose has been either really good or really bad, no games in between. Team is still 16-6 in games he starts and he's perfect at home. 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.

Dan Shulman checks in from Rogers Centre ahead of Jays/Guardians. The pressure is on the Jays who have been playing bad baseball in the last 2 series. Then, trying to uncover the mystery behind Jose Berrios and why he's perfect at home and then struggles so much on the road. Next up (27:00) we head to Cleveland and speak to Emmett Golden from ESPN Radio about DeShaun Watson starting a game tonight, waiting on a decision in his case and then a look at the Guardians in Toronto to face the Jays. He expects a 1 year suspension and even in that case the team is still expected to make a run for the playoffs. Finally, Ken Giles was released by the Mariners and Ben makes the case for the Jays to pursue. 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.

Ben welcomes ESPN Sr Writer and best selling author Seth Wickersham. His recent piece on Sean McVay exploits the life behind a head coach for better or worse. The pressure, the wild hours and eventual triumph. Then as the author of a Patriots book he looks at Tom Brady and the fact that his legacy is chipping away with controversies like the tampering allegations. He's not perfect and even flawed and the rules don't always apply to him. Next (28:00) we head to the National Bank Open where Carly Agro is working as the on court reporter. Last night a historic evening as she got to speak with Serena Williams just moments after her final appearance in Canada. Then a look at the women and men at the NBO and why Canada has proved to be a legit tennis country. We wrap with the Jays making a push to become one of the teams to play games in London England. 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.