Deep Left Field with Mike Wilner

Episode

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  Joey Votto on greatness (and what's wrong with Vladdy), Gimenez on clutch moments, and the Blue Jays' playoff push 13.08.2026 1j 14mnt

  Guests: Canadian baseball great Joey Votto, Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez and pitcher Spencer Miles This week in Deep Left Field, the Blue Jays are on a roll and have closed to within a game and a half of a playoff spot thanks to five wins in their last six games. We talk to the Jays' "Captain Clutch," Andres Gimenez, about how he seems to elevate his game to produce in big spots, and to Rule 5 rookie Spencer Miles about notching his first big-league save Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox. And we are thrilled to have Joey Votto join us for a wide-ranging conversation about his post-retirement life, how he worked to become one of the greatest hitters Canada has ever produced and what he thinks has gone wrong with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season. All that, plus your thoughts in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Kevin Gausman, Chicago Cub: 'I'm not saying that either one's better than the other. I love Toronto, everyone knows that.' 07.08.2026 59mnt

  Guests: Chicago Cubs pitchers Kevin Gausman and Trent Thornton; Blue Jays third baseman Josh Smith   This week in Deep Left Field we travel to the north side of Chicago to see Kevin Gausman in his new digs at venerable Wrigley Field.   The hope was to see Gausman square off against the team that traded him less than a week ago, but he felt that might be a bit too much.   Instead, we got what might be our last conversation with the right-hander for a while. He compares Wrigley to the Rogers Centre, reiterates his love for Toronto but also says how happy he is to be in a winning situation in Chicago.   We also speak to former Blue Jay and now Cubs pitcher Trent Thornton, who raves about his new team's acquisition of Gausman and looks back at his own Jays days, plus one of the new Jays acquired at the trade deadline, infielder Josh Smith, joins us to introduce himself to the masses.   All that, plus your Bluejays comments and questions in the mailbag at deepleftfield@the star.ca!
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  Blue Jays trade deadline breakdown: Gausman, Varsho and Hoffman are gone. Winners, losers, and what's next 04.08.2026 57mnt

  Guest: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm The trade deadline has passed and the Blue Jays were very busy indeed. After picking up right-hander Jameson Taillon and trading beloved starting pitcher Kevin Gausman to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, the Jays made four more trades on Monday's deadline day. They dealt away embattled former closer Jeff Hoffman and one-time MLB Defensive Player of the Year Daulton Varsho, along with left-hander Adam Macko and former top prospect Arjun Nimmala and they picked up potential all-star starter Jose Soriano, utility player Josh Smith and a whole bunch of very similar-looking young players, both pitchers and position players, plus one kid who stands out from the rest, a 20-year-old left-hander who throws 99 miles per hour named Dasan Hill. Gregor Chisholm and I break down the Jays' deadline and explain what they were trying to accomplish and how we think they did. We also take a dip into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Can the Blue Jays turn it around as the trade deadline looms? DeMarlo Hale weighs in 30.07.2026 1j 4mnt

  Guest: Blue Jays associate manager DeMarlo Hale   This week in Deep Left Field, we check in with DeMarlo Hale to assess the second third of what continues to be a disappointing and frustrating Blue Jays season.   The Jays won 25 of their first 54 games, then 24 of the next 54, so they head into the final third of the season (in which they're 1-0 so far) leaning heavily toward being sellers at the August 3 trade deadline.   Hale talks about what's gone wrong, what can and can't be fixed, and what he's looking for from the team over the season's final third.   Also, we dive into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca for your thoughts on Kevin Gausman's potential exit, the effect of Bo Bichette's departure, the upcoming trade deadline and more!
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  Kevin Gausman's emotional reflections as the Jays spiral before the trade deadline 23.07.2026 1j 7mnt

  Guest: Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman   With the Jays' season spiraling, seemingly out of control, losing seven of their last eight games to fall 10 games under .500, it seems inevitable that they will be sellers at the August 3 trade deadline.   Their most attractive commodity on the trade market is Kevin Gausman, and the five-year Blue Jay joins us for an honest, open and very emotional conversation as he deals with the potential that he has made his final start at home for the Jays.   You might want to grab a tissue or two, Gausman certainly could have used some.   As well, we take a deep dive into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca for your questions, comments and thoughts, including ones about the upcoming deadline, the Jays' uninspiring play of late, the role of the front office in the swoon and the tragic passing of Duane Ward.
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  Unveiling Joe Carter's Statue, celebrating the '92-'93 Blue Jays champions and remembering Duane Ward 20.07.2026 50mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays World Series champions Tom Henke, Juan Guzman, Todd Stottlemyre In this special bonus episode of Deep Left Field, we take you to this past weekend's celebration of the Blue Jays 1992 and '93 World Series championship teams that culminated in the unveiling of a statue of Joe Carter in mid-leap after hitting the walk-off home run to win the '93 fall classic. This episode was supposed to be a happy one, catching up with a few Jays legends, but the tragic death of Duane Ward cast a pall over the weekend. We pay tribute to "Wardo," a great friend and iconic Blue Jay, and then share conversations from Saturday's media availability with pitchers Tom Henke, Juan Guzman and Todd Stottlemyre, who have five Jays World Series rings between them. Those conversations all took place before anyone knew that Ward had passed away.
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  Met's third base coach Tim Leiper, Venezuelan national team manager Omar Lopez and more 16.07.2026 44mnt

  Guests: New York Mets 3B coach Tim Leiper, Houston Astros bench coach Omar Lopez   This week in Deep Left Field, we jump into the unofficial second half with a little international flair!   Recorded during the annual all-star break Wilner Family Vacation - this time to Denmark and Sweden - we bring you Tim Leiper! The long-time third-base coach for Baseball Canada and first-base coach of the Blue Jays in the glory years of 2015-16 now makes his full-time home in Huntsville, Ontario.    Also, we talk to Astros bench coach Omar Lopez, who managed Team Venezuela to an incredibly unexpected gold medal finish at the World Baseball Classic!   The mailbag is always open at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Blue Jays Ernie Clement, John Schneider, DeMarlo Hale and Bowden Francis before the all-star break 09.07.2026 1j 10mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement, manager John Schneider, associate manager DeMarlo Hale, pitcher Bowden Francis    This week in Deep Left Field, the Blue Jays are about to head into the all-star break and they'll be very well-represented at the midsummer classic. Ernie Clement was the American League's leading vote-getter and he joins us to talk about his upcoming trip to Philadelphia that will also include teammates Dylan Cease and Louis Varland. The entire Jays' coaching staff will be there as well, serving in the same role for the AL, and we talked to skipper John Schneider and his right-hand man, DeMarlo Hale, about going to the all-star game. Also, we're joined by rehabbing right-hander Bowden Francis, the last Blue Jays pitcher to take a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Cease did it in San Francisco on Wednesday. All that, plus the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  The Jays beat the Mets on Canada Day and we speak to Bo Bichette, Braydon Fisher and Mason Fluharty 02.07.2026 1j 13mnt

  Guests: New York Mets infielder Bo Bichette, Blue Jays pitchers Braydon Fisher and Mason Fluharty, Jays bullpen coach Graham Johnson       This week in Deep Left Field, we have our first-ever conversation with Bo Bichette while he's wearing a uniform other than the Blue Jays'. Drafted by the Jays in 2016, making it to the big leagues in 2019 and a Toronto mainstay and fan favourite ever since, Bichette belted a three-run home run off Shohei Ohtani in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series and then did not get the off-season interest from the Jays that he was looking for.   He returned to Toronto as a New York Met this week and joins us to discuss his time here and his new start in Queens.   Mason Fluharty and Braydon Fisher took time out from their busy schedules, leading the major leagues in pitching appearances and all, to join us in Deep Left Field, and so did their bullpen coach, Graham Johnson, otherwise known as the guy who slaps Louis Varland in the back awfully hard before the Jays' closer comes into each game.   All that, plus the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  The post .500 collapse: Blue Jays lose 6 straight in agonizing fashion 29.06.2026 36mnt

  The Blue Jays have lost six games in a row after finally reaching the .500 mark, each loss pretty much an agonizing repeat of the one before.   Fall behind early, increase the deficit, rally late but still wind up losing, rinse and repeat.   To suggest it's been a rough week for Jays' fans would be a massive understatement, and so we here in Deep Left Field had to put together an emergency bonus podcast to help get you through.   The star of this show is you - your thoughts, comments, frustrations and venting received in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca and on Bluesky @wilnerness.bsky.social.   There's nothing to be happy about with the Jays right now, so let's talk about it!
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  Shane Bieber's return, Joey Loperfido's revenge and meet Luis Urias 25.06.2026 1j 13mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber, infielder Luis Urias; Houston Astros outfielder Joey Loperfido This week in Deep Left Field, we talk to Shane Bieber after his first start of the season, coming almost three months after opening day. The former Cy Young award winner opens up about working his way back to full health and his disappointment in that first outing, with hopes for better in the second half. We're also joined by Joey Loperfido, a favourite in the Jays' 2025 clubhouse - and a great contributor when given the opportunity - who was traded back to the Astros this spring for Jesus Sanchez. As it turns out, we gave Loperfido the DLF bump, unfortunately for the Blue Jays. And we'll play "Meet The New Guy" with Luis Urias, who the Jays acquired from Arizona earlier in the week. The 29-year-old homered in his first game before making a huge base running blunder in his second. All that, plus a dip into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Devon White, Lloyd Moseby, Stubby Clapp and more live from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction banquet 22.06.2026 53mnt

  Guests: The living inductees from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 - Devon White, Stubby Clapp, Kate Psota, Bill Stoneman and Paul Runge, plus former Blue Jays centrefielder Lloyd Moseby and former Baseball Canada pitcher Steve Green and outfielder Jeremy Ware In this special bonus episode of Deep Left Field, we take you to St. Marys, Ontario, for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's induction weekend. We present a live recording of the annual pre-induction banquet, an intimate and informal discussion with all the inductees the night before the main event. You'll hear from the greatest centre-fielder in Blue Jays history, Devon White, accompanied by his predecessor at the position, Lloyd Moseby. Baseball Canada icon Stubby Clapp is joined by his ex-teammates Steve Green and Jeremy Ware. Arguably the greatest female player this country has ever produced, Kate Psota, joins us, and the evening wraps up with Bill Stoneman, who threw two no-hitters for the Montreal Expos, and Paul Runge, a 25-year National League umpire who brought the house down with a couple of great stories.
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  Max Scherzer on fatherhood, Chad Dallas' first big league win, plus CBHOF induction weekend 18.06.2026 1j 9mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays pitchers Max Scherzer and Chad Dallas; Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame co-chair Cathy Landolt     This week in Deep Left Field, we celebrate Fathers Day as well as the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame's induction weekend. Of course, we'll tell you all about the Blue Jays "week that was" that moved them back into the final American League wild card spot, but we also chat with Max Scherzer - before the back spasms landed him back on the injured list - about being a father on and off the field. First and foremost to his four children, but also as the 19-year big-league veteran who serves as a father figure to his younger teammates. Chad Dallas, just recalled to the Jays this week, joins us to talk about his (so far) only big-league outing, in which he notched the win in his major-league debut, and also to share memories of his late father Tony, lost to ALS last year. On the weekend, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will add six new inductees, including Blue Jays great Devon White and Baseball Canada icons Stubby Clapp and Kate Psota. We're joined by one of the co-chairs of the Hall's board of directors, Cathy Landolt, to fill us in on induction weekend. All that, plus a dip into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Kevin Gausman on the Jays' playoff push, plus Tim Mayza's return to Toronto 11.06.2026 1j 10mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman, Philadelphia Phillies reliever Tim Mayza This week in Deep Left Field, we look into the latest Blue Jays news from a 4-3 week, including the returns of Dylan Cease (good) and Max Scherzer (less good) from the injured list and speculate about how the Jays might handle the impending return of Alejandro Kirk, given that Brandon Valenzuela has emerged as one of the team's best hitters so far this season. Kevin Gausman, the only Jays' pitcher to have not yet missed a start this season, joins us to share his thoughts about the team being under .500 but very much in the playoff race as the first day of summer approaches. Gausman also talks about some of his more lightning-rod-type teammates, including Jeff Hoffman, George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Tim Mayza was back in Toronto this week, but the one-time longest-tenured Blue Jay is now a Philadelphia Phillie. The left-hander reminisces about his Jays days and talks about the ups and downs of life as a reliever in the big leagues. All that, plus a deep dive into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Blue Jays icons Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnación relive the glory days plus the mail bag 04.06.2026 1j 14mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays icons Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion; Jays pitchers Chad Dallas and Simeon Woods Richardson This week in Deep Left Field, we look back at a bleak Week That Was for the Blue Jays, and then bring you back to happier times. You'll hear from Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, who discuss their glory days as running mates with the Jays in the 2010s, culminating with each of them hitting a massive post-season home run for the franchise in back-to-back seasons. You'll meet right-hander Chad Dallas, who is expected to make his major-league debut for the Jays on Thursday night in Atlanta, and we'll step into the wayback machine to bring you a conversation with the newly-reacquired Simeon Woods Richardson. We spoke to Richardson when he was a Jays' farmhand in 2021, about to pitch for Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics and only weeks away from being traded to the Minnesota Twins in the Jose Berrios deal. All that, plus your thoughts in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Demarlo Hale on navigating adversity, plus Liam Hicks' Toronto homecoming and the mailbag 28.05.2026 1j 11mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays associate manager Demarlo Hale, up-and-coming infield prospect Charles McAdoo, Marlins catcher/first baseman and Toronto native Liam Hicks    This week in Deep Left Field, we go over all the Blue Jays' roster machinations of the week, including Dylan Cease's first-ever trip to the injured list, and talk about a bunch of roster churn on the pitching side. On May 25, the Jays reached the one-third mark of the season, so we called upon associate manager Demarlo Hale to discuss what he's seen from the team, how they've done in dealing with a ton of adversity, and what he expects to see over the next 54 games. We'll share that conversation with you. We're joined by Toronto's own Liam Hicks, who is off to a terrific start in his sophomore season in the big leagues, to discuss his first-ever big-league experience in his own backyard. With the Jays' roster in constant flux, the next man up is likely to be infielder Charles McAdoo. We'll introduce you to the new guy. All this, plus a dip into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Kazuma Okamoto on dugout snacks, plus chats with Yohendrick Pinango and Joe Mantiply 21.05.2026 58mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays home run and RBI leader Kazuma Okamoto, rookie outfielder Yohendrick Pinango, reliever Joe Mantiply     This week in Deep Left Field, we rant about Blue Jays fans who for some reason want to declare the season over when it's not even summer yet and they're two games out of a playoff spot. We look back at a break-even"Week That Was" that featured five one-run games, then talk to a couple of rookies and a long-time veteran. Kazuma Okamoto joins us to discuss the up-and-down start to his big-league career and the transition to life in North America, as well as various and sundry dugout snacks. Yohendrick Pinango talks about his first month in the majors and his extremely eye-catching neck tattoo. And we check in with lefty Joe Mantiply, in his 15th season in professional baseball but first with the Jays, about his early-season success (now on hold thanks to a trip to the injured list) and about pitching to young catcher Daulton Varsho when they were both with the Arizona Diamondbacks. All that plus a dip into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  A walk-off, grand slam episode with Blue Jay Ernie Clement, and old friends John Gibbons and Alek Manoah 14.05.2026 1j 19mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Alek Manoah and bench coach John Gibbons This week in Deep Left Field, we take you through a Blue Jays week that ended with a bang - the first grand slam of the season and a walk-off, at that! Then Ernie Clement joins us to talk about the team's rough start to the season, his ever-increasing popularity (and visibility on your television between innings!), and how last season's late-May rebound weighs into the Jays' feelings about this season's issues. With the Angels having been in town, we catch up with a couple of old friends. Two-time Jays skipper John Gibbons sits down for a trip down memory lane and we chat with Alek Manoah about his return to the big leagues in his old home ballpark, as well as his meteoric rise with the Jays and the fall that sees him with his third different team in eight months. All that, plus your thoughts in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  Another rough week for the Jays, plus we continue celebrating the Jay's 50th season and the mailbag 07.05.2026 1j 18mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays alumnus Shannon Stewart, Jays catching coach Drew Butera, Cleveland Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski   This week in Deep Left Field, we force ourselves to look back at a rough Blue Jays Week That Was, in which they got to within one game of the .500 mark then lost four in a row, including a three-game sweep at the House of Horrors that is Tropicana Field.   Continuing the celebration of the Jays' 50th season, we talk to Shannon Stewart, one of the greatest pure hitters in the history of the team, and hear his memories of those mid-'90s to early 2000s teams for which he played such a big part.   We introduce you to Drew Butera, the Jays' new catching coach, and discuss his role on the team that he helped knock out of the playoffs as a member of the 2015 Kansas City Royals.   Young Canadian Erik Sabrowski joins us as well. The Edmonton, AB native has posted a sparkling 1.55 ERA through the first 59 appearances of his big-league career.   All that, plus the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
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  The Jays had a winning week, plus they get some help with players returning from injury 30.04.2026 1j 13mnt

  Guests: Blue Jays pitcher Dylan Cease, catcher Brandon Valenzuela, Boston Red Sox infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa This week in Deep Left Field, we look back at a winning Blue Jays Week That Was. With the injured players starting to return, the Jays went into Thursday's action just half a game out of a playoff spot in the American League. Dylan Cease has had a strong start to his Jays' career, posting a 2.87 ERA through six starts, leading the American League in strikeouts and not having allowed a home run yet. He joins us to talk about the first month of his seven years as a Blue Jay, how he feels he's performing, what he's seen from his new team and why he always looks over at third base before releasing the ball. Brandon Valenzuela has been a big-leaguer for just about a month now, and we check in with the rookie catcher to talk about the work he's doing in the batters' box, filling the shoes of Alejandro Kirk and just how much he likes the ABS system. Also, we catch up with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who had a rough final outing as a Blue Jay in Game 7 of the World Series. All that, plus your thoughts in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!