The Blue Jays won a series in Texas by scoring just four runs, and while normally that would be cause to celebrate some extraordinary pitching performances, that certainly doesn't feel like what we just witness. The Jays and Rangers were abysmal offensively over the three games, with Toronto batters going a staggering 2-for-31 with runners in scori…

The Blue Jays are not a team without problems, as we've been seeing all season. But after (eventually) picking up a much-needed and well-deserved sweep of the San Diego Padres—and potentially finding some solutions to some of their run-scoring problems in Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, and a Daulton Varsho suddenly leaning in on his power—they now f…

After an episode last week that felt about as grim as any show we've recorded in-season for this podcast, the Jays brought us—and themselves—back to life. They've won five of six since we last spoke, and if not for three ugly bullpen blow-ups could be on an eight-game winning streak. Alejandro Kirk and Daulton Varsho have been especially aggressive…

The vibes around the Blue Jays would certainly feel a whole lot better if not for two stomach-churning late-inning losses in Anaheim this week. But they did lose those games. And though the immediate fault lies with the bullpen for failing to close out leads, the relievers would be in much better shape if the offence could build a lead bigger than …

It's been an awful couple of weeks for the Blue Jays, who looked like they were about to suffer their ninth defeat in ten games on Wednesday before embarking on a massive, home-run-powered, six-run comeback that reminded all of us what they ought to be capable of. And that entirely changed the tone of the conversation around the team—at least for a…

The Blue Jays have lost five straight, their power output has somehow been worse than expected, and they don't have a lot of levers to pull. The vibes? They're bad. And this week we talk about our confidence levels of the big three at the top of the lineup turning things around, where solutions beyond their best four starters and relievers will com…

The Blue Jays couldn't afford to dig themselves an early hole this season, and they've managed to avoid doing exactly that. Chris Bassitt, Jeff Hoffman, and Yimi Garcia pitching like the best starter, closer, and setup man in baseball will certainly help in that regard. But whether their success will prove durable—whether enough offence will come, …

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is now under contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for the next 15 years, and all it took to make it happen was a mere half-a-billion dollars. Everybody gets what they want except the pocketbook of a rich weirdo who couldn't spend all his money in a thousand lifetimes anyway. That's a win-win-win in my book! Hosted on Acast. See…

The Blue Jays split a four-gamer with the Orioles to start the 2025 season, and then swept the Nationals at home. Max Scherzer may be out, but with performances like we've been seeing from the likes of Andrés Giménez, George Springer, and Easton Lucas, his absence has barely been felt so far. And so for this week's episode, knowing precisely what t…

The 2025 MLB season is nearly upon us, and the Blue Jays have a fighting chance in an ultra-tight American League in which every team still has the same record. But merely meeting their projections won't be good enough, and succeeding will rely on some good stories from a group of position player prospects older than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and healt…

We start this one off with an obligatory check-in on the Vladdy circus—and circle back on it at the end because of Mark Shapiro's surprising admission of optimism on still getting an extension done—and some of the goings-on in Dunedin, before heading full on into Food Talk. That's right, it's our annual review of the Jays' newly announced ballpark …

New reporting suggests that the contract talks between the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stalled out with a gap of just $50 million over 14 years. Does that change how we feel? Is anybody being reasonable here? Can they still perhaps salvage this now that both sides can be credibly seen as ridiculous? This week we focus on the biggest story o…

We mostly take Nick's advice this week and "focus on the season." Though big picture concerns about the franchise aren't going away anytime soon, the Jays have a talented group in camp, are already seeing some positive stories, and potentially have the makings of a fun and relevant team. It may not work out that way, of course. But if you can't get…

Spring has finally sprung for the Toronto Blue Jays, who have several high-profile players potentially in camp for the last time. Could one of those be George Springer, who—unless he's able to reverse the sharp offensive decline he's seen over his last two seasons—faces an uncertain future with just one more year on his contract after this one? Tha…

You had one job, Ross and Mark! And in this Vlad-centric episode, we discuss how and why they failed at it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like this very podcast episode itself, the Blue Jays' offseason may be ending on a positive note. January signings of Anthony Santander and Max Scherzer—the latter only made official this week—have put the club back firmly into the American League playoff mix. But they aren't out of the mushy middle yet. And with projections that may seem a bit too…

The Blue Jays have finally added some desperately needed power to the middle of their lineup, signing switch-hitting Orioles slugger Anthony Santander to a five-year, $90 million deal—with an opt out, a potential sixth year, and a whole bunch of deferred money. This week we talk about what the signing means and how Santander fits. Plus, what's next…

Jeff Hoffman is the Blue Jays new closer, but not after a couple of failed physicals elsewhere—potentially an odd choice given that medicals seemed to be a big part of the rationale for the club parting ways with the popular Jordan Romano. PLUS: Roki Sasaki's decision seems to be imminent, and as of the time of this recording the Jays hadn't been r…

After a quick opening digression to discuss Vlad's recent contract comments and the offseason so far, this week we dive into what we've learned in 2024—about the franchise, the front office, and its most important players—looking backwards and forwards, as your Toronto Blue Jays enter a pivotal year teetering on the edge of the abyss. FOLLOW BLUE J…

The Jays made a trade just after we recorded our previous episode, but have been kind enough not to do much else since. So this week we review the Andrés Giménez deal, touching on Nick Sandlin, who—along with the newly re-acquired Yimi García—is part of a bullpen that may be more complete than fans realize. Plus: the biggest question hanging over t…

The Winter Meetings are on, Juan Soto and Jordan Romano are gone, and the Blue Jays have entered their pivot. In is former interim closer Yimi García, and—though we didn't know it at the time of this recording—glove-first-except-for-that-one-season second baseman Andrés Giménez. But as deck chairs get shuffled, big questions—Will they be able to si…

The Juan Soto saga will continue on through MLB's traditional quiet period for American Thanksgiving—no, he is not joining the Boston Red Sox, as some were fooled into thinking was happening this week—which means that we're obligated to check in on the race for his signature. Plus, we've got some big name pitching signings to talk about—Snell to th…

Juan Soto "rumours" continue to fly, as Jays fans brace themselves to be hurt again. Plus, the Jays have hired former Reds manager David Bell as the latest "name" to join their front office, and the business of the offseason continues, with the Jays choosing not to add any Rule-5-eligible prospects to their 40-man roster in order to protect them fr…

It's Juan Soto's world, we're just living in it. But probably not for a whole lot longer! So, for this week's episode, we checked in on a "reeking of desperation" pursuit of the league's top available free agent that is once again being undertaken by the Toronto Blue Jays. Plus: Making the pitch for Roki Sasaki, Blue Jays trade chips, some actually…

The "uber-agent," Scott Boras, was in his element this week in San Antonio, Texas. That's where the MLB world met for the league's annual GM Meetings. And, though not before rounding up all the latest Jays-related chatter—Ross Atkins' "easy no" on Bo, experimenting with Vlad at third base, dabbling in the high-end pitching market, questions about t…

Did the Blue Jays have a good-enough offseason? Which players were getting too much hype, and which weren't getting enough? How well would the team do this season? These were all questions that we discussed back in the spring, before the Jays embarked on what ultimately became their most disappointing season in years. Come join us as we revisit our…

Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins have met the media to wrap-up another disappointing Blue Jays season, and this week Nick and Stoeten discuss the highlights and lowlights of what they said, and whether fans are ready to swallow another helping of what it feels to many has been sold to them for the last nine straight years. FOLLOW BLUE JAYS NATION! Webs…

The Blue Jays' season has mercifully over. But as a crucial offseason begins, fans seem to have little interest in showing mercy to those responsible for putting the team together—especially as it seems increasingly clear that President Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins will continue to lead the club into 2025. This week Nick and Stoeten have a wide-…

Bo Bichette tries to play baseball in 2024. No-show Bichette. It's been a tough year for the Blue Jays' star shortstop, who had his season end last week after returning for just a single game following a two-month layoff. But it's been tough for a whole lot of people, hasn't it? Daulton Varsho just had surgery, several relievers are not going to re…

Bowden Francis continues to pitch his way into the Jays' 2025 rotation, but what will happen to him now that his "personal catcher" is off the roster? PLUS: Davis Schneider's resurgence, Yariel Rodríguez's season, Addison Barger's tools, Chris Bassitt's comments, Heyman-Schneider nonsense, and more! FOLLOW BLUE JAYS NATION! Website: https://bluejay…

Bo Bichette has declared his desire to stay in Toronto long-term, and to win a championship with teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It's a bold and surprising statement for a player long considered to be more willing than most to test free agency, but how important is it? Does it change anything? What does it really mean? Plus: Was keeping Chad Green a…

The Blue Jays stuck with MLB's least experienced lineup of the season on Sunday, even when down one run in the ninth with a bench full of veterans. Does a team owe fans better, even in a lost season like this one? Nick and Stoeten talked all about it this week—but not before checking in on Bowden Francis, assessing the young hitters currently getti…

The Blue Jays have been MLB's sixth-best team by wRC+ in August. They're tied for seventh in home runs, and if you counted the four runs they scored when completing their June 26th game against the Red Sox on Monday they'd rank ninth. Suddenly they're... watchable? But what, if anything, does all that mean? PLUS: Bo's imminent return, Votto's depar…

Jays RHP Chris Bassitt stirred up controversy this week with some fairly benign—but, admittedly, fascinating—comments about the Blue Jays, their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, and the failures of their offseason and 2024 as a whole during an appearance on the Chris Rose Rotation, before clarifying in a hasty seeming follow-up interview that his intentio…

The Blue Jays and their fans are now firmly into the process of getting to know a number of young players acquired at last month's trade deadline, so it's time to think about first impressions. Joey Loperfido has struggled, Davis Schneider still looks lost, and Addison Barger has yet to find his footing, but Will Wagner had a loud debut, and we've …

The trade deadline has come and gone, the Band-Aid has been ripped off, and now the Blue Jays—and their fans—get to float along into the unknown. The vibes feel like they've improved in the days since 1/3 of the roster was overturned, but how long with that last with little to do but watch young hitters experiencing growing pains and struggling vet…

Trades, trades, trades! The Blue Jays had a wildly active trade deadline, and in this episode Nick and Stoeten review the particulars of all eight of them and discuss where this leaves the team in 2024, how it sets them up for the future, and whether or not the team was successful in this one small aspect of what's obviously been—and will continue …

For the first time since 2019, the Blue Jays will unambiguously be sellers at the trade deadline, giving them just a week to start reshaping their roster for 2025—assuming they believe that taking a crack at the playoffs again next year is even viable. Whichever way that plays out, the choices they need to make with their two most important players…

One of the worst qualified hitters in baseball after nearly three months of play, George Springer has suddenly, surprisingly been one of the best in MLB over the last few weeks. Is this anything? PLUS: Prospect talk, Yariel Rodríguez, Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, Nate Pearson, the future of the Jays' rotation, and a whole lot more. Hosted on Acast. …

We're now less than a month away from what will likely be the most significant moment of the 2024 Blue Jays' season: the trade deadline. And while Vlad's heated up, and guys like Spencer Horwitz and Yariel Rodríguez have been good, the team has continued to spin its wheels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

Well that was quick. Top Blue Jays hitting prospect Orelvis Martinez is gone as quickly as he arrived, thanks to an 80-game PED suspension. And somehow that wasn't even the worst part of the week for the losers of seven straight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Blue Jays are once again turning to a product of their farm system, as top hitting prospect Orelvis Martinez has joined the club—though only because (future Dodger?) Bo Bichette's calf strain has landed him on the injured list. And more help is potentially also on the way in the form of Joey Votto, who has finally started a rehab assignment dow…

Alek Manoah's brief resurgence will end in surgery this week, meanwhile the Jays cut bait on Cavan Biggio, and their playoff chances—though nominally increasing—continue to feel as though they're hanging on a knife's edge. In this week's episode Nick and Stoeten talk about all of that, plus Spencer Horwitz at second base, the bizarre Yusei Kikuchi …

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. started at third base for the first time since 2019 over the weekend, and in this week's episode, Nick and Stoeten talk themselves into the idea—while also reviewing the recent soft portion of the schedule, Ross Atkins' comments on MLB Network Radio, fresh pitching woes, the real City Connect uniforms, and a whole lot more. Ho…

The Blue Jays' Home Run Jacket has returned, and with it has come some additional offence. It is already too little too late? In this week's clothing-heavy episode, Nick and Stoeten talk about it, as well as the sorry state of the Blue Jays, positive stories to watch going forward, the upcoming City Connect uniform reveal, and the (possibly fake?) …

Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins chose to meet with the media on the Saturday morning of Canada's first long weekend of the summer to talk about his team's full calendar year of wheel-spinning. In this episode, Nick and Stoeten try to make sense of his performance, and talk about the state of the offence, hope for Alek Manoah, Joey Votto's status, and more…

Despite some uplifting recent performances, including a surprising one from Alek Manoah, the Blue Jays' bats still feel awfully sluggish—and Statcast's just-released bat speed data concurs. In this episode, Nick and Stoeten will try to make sense of that, while also talking about Manoah's big rebound, Vlad the singles hitter, Springer panic, Turner…

The Blue Jays didn't have a great time in their weekend series in D.C., and now face a tough schedule ahead just as questions about the direction of the franchise are truly growing louder. A midweek tilt with a red hot Phillies team awaits, and it feels like things could get interesting over the next few weeks—and not in a good way. The vibes are b…

Things looked bleak for the Blue jays amid a five-game losing streak that featured three low-scoring losses in Kansas City and a blowout home loss to the Dodgers on Friday, but a fresh Danny Jansen hot streak and the ongoing magic of Justin Turner has powered the club back to relevance—or, at the very least, to .500. In this week's episode Nick and…

The Jays can't seem to score more than five runs in a game or finish off a sweep, but things are going well, and the way has been led lately by Daulton Varsho—last year's much maligned major acquisition. Granted, not everything is perfect for the club, but that just gives Nick and Stoeten plenty else to talk about in this week's episode, including:…