Podcast appearances and mentions of ben nicholson smith

JD returns from vacation and shares his thoughts on the Blue Jays' continued chase for a postseason berth, before discussing the punishment handed down by the NBA down to the Los Angeles Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. Then, JD is joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith (16:01) to react to Toronto's let-down performance in their series opener against the Athletics, how John Schneider will manage the starting rotation down the stretch, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tinkering with his batting mechanics, and the case for Brett Bateman providing more impact on the Blue Jays than Kevin Gausman could have to end 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Ben Nicholson-Smith (1:23) ahead of tonight's matchup between the Blue Jays and the Royals. They break down how the team performed against The Guardians to get back into the playoff hunt, Vladdy's bat, and much more. Then, with changes coming to the PGA tour format, Adam Stanley joins the show (27:12) to break down what is next for the PGA tour and the future of the Canadian Open.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Blue Jays are back. Ben shares his takeaways from a massive series win in Cleveland (5:06) then looks ahead to the Blue Jays' upcoming series against the Royals (19:33).This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith.Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.caThe views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blake is joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to break down the Blue Jays series opening loss to the Guardians in Cleveland. Blake & Ben get into the Jays pitching decisions in the bullpen game, the roster moves leading into the series, before getting into the continued offensive struggles, and the Jays prospects of winning the series with Dylan Cease and Jose Soriano lined up to start the next two (32:44). Later, Ben Clemens (39:58) from FanGraphs joins the show to chat about the Angels sale to Stan Kroenke, how it effects the potential of a lockout in 2027, and the Jays spot within the American League Wild Card race. Finally, FanGraphs' Kiri Oler (1:18:51) jumps on the show to discuss her work on the new Women's Professional Baseball League, the development of the league in its inaugural season, and chat about some of the standout players so far. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Back-to-back series losses have intensified the pressure on the Blue Jays to either start stacking up wins or counting down days until the off-season. Ben and Arden start by sizing up the difficult task ahead for the club (00:31) before considering the club's pitching options in light of Shane Bieber's injury (21:10) and the ongoing mystery that is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 2026 (40:57). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

MLB Insider and Blue Jays reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith (1:16) joins Jeff and Kevin to chat about Alejandro Kirk and George Springer's status after being left off the opening lineup against the visiting Kansas City Royals, what Brett Bateman has brought to the club, if the front office will consider dipping into the current free agent market to find a 5th starter while Shane Bieber is on the IL, where Brendon Little sits in the 'circle of trust', why Ben would be worried about Seattle and Cleveland sneaking into the Wild Card, and who is the second-most important bat in the lineup outside of Vlad Jr. Then, Blue Jays legend Buck Martinez (30:53) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss how retirement has been going, the amount of baseball and Blue Jays games he's been tuning in, if he envisioned returning to the sport after his playing days, how much has he reflected on the best moments from playing, managing and broadcasting, and how the team can support Vladdy during and after a down offensive year.  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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Blue Jays return home with a big opportunity in front of them. Arden and Ben discuss the state of the team (00:50), Kazuma Okamoto's production (36:53) and the pitching puzzle (46:15). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sho Alli and Daniele Franceschi sub in for Blake Murphy to talk about Nathan Lukes' big time performance on Saturday, Dylan Cease's start, Jose Soriano and the 6th inning on Sunday and the inconsistent offence from Toronto. Afterwards, Sportsnet's MLB insider Ben Nicholson-Smith (29:24) breaks down how the Jays could deploy Spencer Arrighetti for the remainder of the season, Charles McAdoo's recent play, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season. Following that, Sho and Daniele present their lineups if Vladdy was moved down the batting order to provide the Jays with more stable production (49:36). In the final segment, Jared Diamond (1:16:38) of Wall Street Journal talks about some of the most intriguing awards races, the letdown seasons of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cal Raleigh's and more. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We are joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith with Avery away in the ocean. We break down the Yankees, talk about Vladdys struggles, what the Blue Jays need to do to make the playoffs and much more! 

Justin Cuthbert and Zack Bodenstein kick things off with Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith following the Jays series win over the Rays at the Trop! They discuss how the young guns helped get the job done for Toronto, if what we are seeing from Kirk the expectation going into the season or an improvement, Jesús Sánchez' struggles as an outfielder, Nathan Lukes' defensive play this season, and much more! Then, former MLB pitcher Adam Ottavino joins the show! They break down Shane Bieber's interest at the deadline and why he remained a Blue Jay in the end, his experience coming back from Tommy John Surgery, if players are scoreboard watching while in the midst of tight playoff races, and more. Justin and Zack end things off discussing the Dodgers, the NHL's increased schedule, and more!   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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Blue Jays are right back in it. Arden and Ben marvel at the team's success (0:11) and discuss how they can keep it going (6:42) before discussing Brett Bateman and the rotation (32:59). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning are joined by Jim Bowden to assess the Blue Jays' trade deadline, their Wild Card outlook, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles, and the NL MVP race. Later, Ben Nicholson-Smith (28:09) discusses Toronto's playoff push, Vladdy's return, and the club's pitching plans 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.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

JD reacts to the Blue Jays' series victory over the New York Yankees before being joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith (9:41) to discuss Toronto's sudden turnaround, their continued reliance on great pitching and defence, contributions from depth pieces, and how sustainable the Jays' success is without an offensive resurgence. Then, JD shares his perspective on Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love's high-ankle sprain (47:34). 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, that was bizarre. Ben breaks down a rarely seen play (1:36) and what it says about the Blue Jays (12:38) before checking in on the health of the team's pitching staff (17:30). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Sho Alli and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca Audio Credits: Sportsnet The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Fuchs kick things off with Ben Nicholson-Smith (2:17) following a long and hard-fought weekend of baseball in a series win over the Phillies. They discuss what has looked different for the Jays over the course of their recent stretch, early impression of newly acquired Brett Bateman, what to expect against the red-hot Red Sox, and more. Then, Jensen Lewis joins the show (25:30) to discuss the Red Sox play as of late finally dropping consecutive games, what to expect as they take on the Jays, what the Angels were thinking trading Soriano to Toronto, what is going on with the Dodgers who are 2-8 in their last 10, and much more. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brent Gunning and Sam McKee wrap up the week with Leafs reporter Luke Fox, breaking down Morgan Rielly's future, Jakob Chychrun's impact, Sergei Bobrovsky's outlook, and the best development path for top prospect Gavin McKenna. The guys also discuss whether Toronto's offseason moves have improved the team and how the Leafs can re-energize the fan base. Later, Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith (27:51) joins to evaluate Dylan Cease's Cy Young case, José Soriano's potential atop the rotation, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles. Brent and Sam close the show with their bold NFL predictions for the season ahead. 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.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

JD reacts to the Blue Jays busy trade deadline and gives his thoughts on the moves, before bringing in Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to break down all the action. They get into the Jays' plan to acquire controllable starting pitchers, the tough decision to trade away veteran players Jeff Hoffman and Daulton Varsho, and how the returning pieces can help the team moving forward. Then, JD and Ben discuss the Kevin Gausman deal and the potential to bring him back as a free agent this offseason, before digging into the moves to bring in pitchers Jose Soriano from the Angels and Spencer Arrighetti from the Astros, and the plans to improve the lineup in the offseason amidst their horrific offensive season. After the break, JD revisits some of the Blue Jays smaller moves, before Chris joins for '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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After a busy, unique, fascinating trade deadline, Arden and Ben regroup to take stock of it all. In the first half, Ben shares his perspective from being around the team on a complicated, emotional day, (0:00) before the guys take a high-level look at what the Blue Jays accomplished (13:47). Then, in the second half, Arden and Ben compare notes on each of the six trades the Blue Jays made (35:30). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Cristian Ceniti and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Justin Cuthbert and Jesse Rubinoff kick things off with Ben Nicholson-Smith (4:20) on MLB trade deadline day! They discuss the moves we have seen so far from the Blue Jays, what the edition of José Soriano means for the Jays going forward, the business of the deadline and if Gausman has a future with Toronto, and much more. Then, Justin and Jesse discuss the trajectory of the Blue Jays based on the state of their contracts and the trades they have made so far. Then, MLB Networks Alex Avila (28:53) joins the show! They discuss the Tigers' side of the Tarik Skubal trade, why the Dodgers' villainy is good for MLB, the Cubs landing Kevin Gausman and if he could be a playoff starter for the team, and much more! Justin and Jesse end off the hour breaking down the big trades of the day so far! 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

JD reacts to Kevin Gausman's comments about the Blue Jays clubhouse, before bringing on MLB insider and Sportsnet Jays reporter (5:30). JD asks Ben about the Jays' strategy, what kind of a market is developing across the league, if the Jays can sell and improve the roster for next season, what the Jays expiring contracts like Kevin Gausman, George Springer and Daulton Varsho could nab the Jays.  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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The countdown is on to the MLB trade deadline. Arden and Ben discuss some Blue Jays trade chips (5:33) before looking at a couple potential targets (33:42) and making some predictions (58:34). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Cristian Ceniti and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ben Nicholson-Smith joins Ailish Forfar and Jesse Rubinoff with the Blue Jays kicking off a series against the Washington Nationals and MLB's trade deadline just a week away (1:34). He discusses what he expects from Max Scherzer as he makes his return to the mound against his former team, Kevin Gausman voicing his desire to stay in Toronto, what type of return the team can expect in a potential Shane Bieber trade, players who might see a bigger role after the deadline, and how labour uncertainty in 2027 will impact deadline movement. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A series loss against the Red Sox has inched the Blue Jays closer to a trade deadline sell-off few expected entering the season. Arden gets the low down from Ben on what he saw while with the team in Boston (4:57) before the two dive into Dylan Cease's one-hitter (19:00) and the nuance of Toronto's trade deadline strategy (27:26). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to discuss what the Blue Jays could get in return for a few players on the roster. Fox Sports' Deesha Thosar (30:25) talks about the latest around Aaron Judge, the New York Mets and more. Following that, Sportsnet's Joe Siddall (50:06) describes the oddity of the countless defensive miscues from Toronto this season. Lastly, the Athletic's Sam Blum (1:10:58) breaks down his reporting on “The Baseball Spy” who was fired by the Angels after allegedly spying on the Rockies. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert are joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith (0:59) to discuss the Blue Jays' disappointing play following the All-Star break. They debate the feelings amongst Jays fans about the team, whether they will be buyers or sellers at the approaching trade deadline, which players could be made available or untouchable, and John Schneider's job security. After the break, Ailish and Justin touch on the Red Sox' 15-game winning streak before the Blue Jays head to Fenway this weekend, Jason Robertson signing a one-year contract to return to the Dallas Stars next season, before looking at the youngest players across sports and their potential to surpass the current slate of stars.  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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As Toronto's postseason hopes grow increasingly remote, Arden and Ben take a big picture look at how the Blue Jays could approach the trade deadline as sellers (2:53). Then, after shouting out a five-star season from Toronto's fanbase (31:53), they dive in on some ancillary factors that could impact the club's behaviour as August 3 approaches (40:26). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A series loss to the White Sox raises the question: will the Blue Jays have to sell? Ben shares some thoughts on the weekend  (1:37) then looks ahead at the Jays' deadline decision (11:55). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Cristian Ceniti and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

JD previews the restart of the Blue Jays season and is joined by Ben Nicholson-Smith (5:00) to dive into the team. JD and Ben discuss the prospect of Bo Bichette returning to the Blue Jays, how bad Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season has really been, who the Jays could target at or before the trade deadline, and which Jays players could garner legitimate returns.  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.

Arden and Ben had just recorded an episode and kicked up their feet to enjoy an afternoon of Blue Jays baseball… when Dylan Cease happened. So, the guys jumped back on the mics to offer their first blush reactions to Cease's near no-hitter (00:39) and dig into the decisions John Schneider made — or didn't make — as the game wore on (13:31). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Not all is well with the Blue Jays as the all-star break looms. But are they any worse off than the similarly middling competition around the American League? Arden and Ben ponder the club's trade deadline strategy (2:42) before checking in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles. (19:23) Then, a quick trip around the rotation with thoughts on Dylan Cease, Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage. (32:08) This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's own Ben Nicholson-Smith (00:00) to talk about last night's loss to the Giants, where the Blue Jays goes from here and why Jojo Parker could be the best prospect in Toronto's system. Afterwards, Doug Fox (32:06) of the Future Blue Jays newsletter talks Parker, Johnny King, Arjun Nimmala and others in the farm system. Josh Rodrigues (50:42) of the “Foundations on the Field” Substack talks catcher framing, managers living on the edges and more. Lastly, Maria Guardado (01:12:55) of MLB.com talks the difficulty of the Giants' season, Luis Arráez's season and Buster Posey's coaching performance. 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.

After a series win over the Mets, it's time for a mid-season vibe check. Sam McKee joins Ben to talk about the state of the Jays (2:53), Bo Bichette's return (24:36) and what happens next (33:32). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Cristian Ceniti and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Ailish Forfar and Jesse Rubinoff kick things off with Ben Nicholson-Smith (2:06) ahead of Bo Bichette's return to Toronto. They discuss the Jays and Mets' disappointing seasons so far, what Vladdy needs to do to improve and how the Jays can help him find his game, if Sean Keys can make an impact for the Blue Jays, and much more. Then, following Canada's historic win over South Africa at the World Cup, OneSoccer's Oliver Platt (26:10) joins the show. They break down Canada's win and Stephen Eustáquio's legacy-making goal, how Canada can stack up against Morocco or the Netherlands, and much more. 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.

With the Blue Jays suffering their roughest stretch of the season, Arden and Ben convene for a big picture look at where things stand and the various potential pathways ahead over the five weeks between now and the trade deadline (00:44). Plus, thoughts on Sean Keys' sudden promotion (29:49) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s effort level during his extended slump (42:01). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

After an unexpected off-day in Chicago, Ben and Arden reconvene to assess the state of the Blue Jays heading into an important, 10-game homestand. How is an extended slump by Toronto's starters impacting the club's overworked bullpen? (13:39) As Shane Bieber returns, which options open at the backend of the rotation? (21:16) Plus, what do we make of the Luis Urías acquisition, recent outfield deployments, and George Springer's hot streak? (33:12) This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to discuss Shane Bieber's return on Tuesday, managing the Alejandro Kirk-Brandon Valenzuela platoon and the epic comeback victory on Saturday. Astros Radio Broadcaster Robert Ford (30:00) talks Hunter Brown, Josh Hader and the rest of Houston's lineup ahead of their 3-game set vs. the Blue Jays. Fangraphs' Paul Sporer (49:54) breaks down the perplexing case of Kyle Bradish and other inconsistent starters, latest trends and the approach to Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage in Fantasy Baseball. Lastly, Baseball America's JJ Cooper (1:13:34) analyzes the latest proposal in labour negotiations, specifically the suggested drastic change to the MLB Draft which would eliminate high school prospects from the draft. 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.

Finally, some momentum. Ben shares his takeaways from the week (1:13) before offering some big-picture thoughts on the trade deadline (13:23) and sharing a few rapid-fire thoughts (20:29). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Jeff Blair is solo for the post-game edition following the Blue Jays' win over the Boston Red Sox to secure the series sweep in Fenway. Jeff recaps the game before listening to John Schneider's post-game availability. Then, Sportsnet insider Ben Nicholson-Smith (7:39) stops by to share his takeaways from the series, including Trey Yesavage's control, what the sweep means for the Jays, whether Vladdy Jr. can build off his first home run since May 17, and whether Max Scherzer has pitched his last innings for the Jays. Later, to help tee up the Jays' series at Wrigley Field, Chicago radio analyst Bruce Levine (31:30) discusses the Cubs' season so far, Alex Bregman's underwhelming debut season, what the team might do at the deadline, and Matt Shaw's usage. 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.

How can the Blue Jays score more runs? Arden and Ben start with a big-picture check-in (4:54) before turning their attention to the Jays' rotation (21:19) and a rule change idea from Ben (39:41). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's MLB insider Ben Nicholson-Smith (29:43), to discuss the lack of home runs from this year's Jays squad, specifically Vladdy, potential lineup shifts to maximize the offense, what the AL playoffs will look like, and potential Tarik Skubal trades. Later, ‘Brooke Knows Ball,' and Joel Laflamme (51:14) join to talk about analytics in baseball, content creation within the sport, watching winter ball in the Dominican Republic, and how to fix Vladdy. Things wrap up with MassLive's Chris Cotillo (1:17:01) to preview the Jays series against the Red Sox, before revisiting some of the former Red Sox stars that are performing on other teams, and the struggles going on in Boston 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 affiliate.

With the Yankees in town, the Blue Jays face some big questions. Arden and Ben discuss Brandon Valenzuela's impact behind the plate (2:04) before wondering which Jays will be all-stars (22:47). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

JD tips off the pod with his thoughts on the New York Knicks unreal 29-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He breaks down how OG Anunoby might be the favorite for Finals MVP, how the Raptors' trading him has never looked worse, and how De'Aaron Fox will bear the brunt of the blame for the collapse. JD and Ben Nicholson Smith, MLB insider and Sportsnet Jays reporter, discuss the Jays following their 7-4 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies. JD and Ben get into what's next for the Jays' pitching staff and specifically Max Scherzer, Brandon Valenzuela's future, and potential trade candidates ahead of the trade deadline. After the break, JD returns to the NBA and discusses the state of New York City as the Finals continue. 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.

A series loss to the Phillies raises questions about the rotation. Arden and Ben discuss Simeon Woods Richardson (5:27) and Max Scherzer (12:54) before turning to the top of the batting order (28:58). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Ben and Arden are in Georgia as the Blue Jays tangle with MLB's best team. They seize on some interesting Kevin Gausman comments to consider the Blue Jays' current trajectory  (1:00), break down the factors behind which catcher will exit upon Alejandro Kirk's impending return (24:52), and round up some pitching developments including what comes next for Jeff Hoffman (37:30). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Cristian Ceniti and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith to discuss the loss to the Braves, Kevin Gausman blaming himself and Toronto's continued struggles at the plate. Afterwards, Derek VanRiper (29:36) of the Athletic chats about projecting upside in fantasy baseball and Jacob Misorowski. Following that, Doug Fox (49:58) of the “Future Blue Jays Newsletter” joins to discuss the progress of Charles McAdoo, Johnny King, Nolan Perry and other top prospects in Toronto's system. Lastly, Musician Kevin Morby (1:17:10), who's in Toronto on a stop during his World Tour, chats about his baseball fandom, his tour and more. 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.

When the Toronto Blue Jays went on their incredible World Series run last season, there was plenty of hope that it was the start of what could be a dominant run by a stacked team. Fast forward to 2026, and Toronto finds itself in a bit of a sticky situation. Although, based on last year's success, all hope might not be lost just yet. On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jordan Shusterman is joined by special guests Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi to break down what has gone wrong this year for the reigning American League champions and whether injuries are the main reason for their sluggish first two months. Even though the Blue Jays might be nine games back in the AL East, they currently hold a Wild Card spot, and with players returning from the IL, it still could be a very exciting summer in Canada. Also on this episode, Jordan and Ben talk about the remarkable turnaround season the Chicago White Sox are having, which sees them sitting just one game back in the AL Central while also occupying a Wild Card spot. Instead of being sellers at the deadline, they could find themselves as buyers. However, with the injury to rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami, will the White Sox be able to tread water until he returns? The guys then discuss the Seattle Mariners' use of piggyback pitching, the New York Yankees continuing to impress and their thoughts on the latest power rankings. 2:37 - The Opener: White Sox roll on 19:54 - Nationals also offering a turnaround 35:01 - Issues plaguing the Blue Jays 51:30 - State of Toronto pitching and hitting 1:09:27 - Around the League: Mariners pitching strategy 1:21:38 - Power rankings thoughts Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

Former MLB outfielder and current NBC analyst Dexter Fowler (3:01) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker following the Blue Jays' series against the Orioles in Baltimore. They discuss Jesús Sánchez's odd injury, the Jays' tough injury luck, the American League landscape, why it's so hard to hit in today's MLB, and how Pete Crow-Armstrong can break out of his defensive slump in the outfield. Later, Ben Nicholson-Smith (29:00) stops by ahead of the Blue Jays' series against the Atlanta Braves, and he discusses Jeff Hoffman's role moving forward, Spencer Miles' outing against the Orioles, Ernie Clement's adjustment to being an everyday second baseman, and what the Jays have in Charles McAdoo. Finally, Jeff and Kevin grade John Schneider's 2026 campaign so far. 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 roster moves keep coming for the Blue Jays. Charles McAdoo is up (1:43) and the pitching staff keeps evolving (10:33). Plus,  Arden and Ben discuss some Jays outfielders (29:32). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Ailish Forfar and Justin Cuthbert kick things off with Antoine Roussel (1:16) ahead of the Montreal Canadiens crucial matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes. They discuss how the Habs need to adjust in Game 4 against the Hurricanes, why the team is struggling to get pucks on net, how Marty St. Louis can adjust his game plan to Carolina, and much more. Then, following the Jays' win against the Marlins, Ben Nicholson-Smith (26:35) joins the show to discuss the series, the Jays' pitching, positive takeaways, and more! They end things off discussing the Vegas Golden Knights heading back to the Stanley Cup Finals and give the Live Conn Smythe Updates! 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 Vegas Golden Knights taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Ben Nicholson-Smith, MLB insider and Sportsnet Jays reporter, discusses the minor injuries to Dylan Cease and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if Patrick Corbin is the Jays MVP so far this season, which position player will be sent down with the nearing returns of Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes, Alejandro Kirk's next steps to returning, what Guerrero Jr.'s expectations were this season, what José Berríos' Tommy John surgery means for the future of the Jays rotation, and if the Jays are serious contenders to trade or sign for Tarik Skubal. 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.