Deep Left Field with Mike Wilner

4.6 (48)
BASEBALL
UPDATED WEEKLY

Longtime Toronto Blue Jays radio voice Mike Wilner hosts Deep Left Field, a baseball podcast from the Toronto Star. With great baseball coverage, opinion and analysis from Mike and other Star sports journalists including Laura Armstrong and Gregor Chisholm, as well as MLB players and others in the game, Deep Left Field has everything you need to know about the Jays, specifically, and baseball in general.

1 DAY AGO

Former Blue Jay Jordan Romano and new Jay Andrés Giménez

Guests: Former Toronto Blue Jay and current Philadelphia Phillie Jordan Romano and new Jay Andrés Giménez Now that he has signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, former Jays closer Jordan Romano joins the podcast for his first one-on-one interview since the Jays cut him loose. He goes in-depth about his time in Toronto and signing with a National League contender. We also hear from new Blue Jay Andrés Giménez.

1 hr
DEC 12

Discussing the Blue Jays moves at the Winter Meetings with Gregor Chisholm

Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm, Sports Info Solutions Mark Simon The Blue Jays had their busiest Winter Meetings in years: making a trade, signing a free agent and grabbing a pitcher in the Rule 5 draft. Gregor Chisholm joins us to discuss all the Jays’ doings in Dallas, and whether it’s the right move to continue to drill down on run prevention at the expense of run creation. They made the best defence in MLB even better by picking up Andres Gimenez, but did they make a below-average offence worse? And we drill down on Gimenez – the best defensive infielder in the game – with Fielding Bible guru Mark Simon.

1h 20m
DEC 5

Legendary Toronto Star columnist Dave Perkins and former Blue Jays coach Matt Hague

Guests: Jack Graney Award winner, legendary Toronto Star columnist Dave Perkins; Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach Matt Hague The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame has handed out its annual media award, and we’ve got this year’s winner, Dave Perkins, to talk about his extraordinary career covering baseball for three decades for the Toronto Star. Matt Hague joins us as well, to talk about his year as the Blue Jays’ assistant hitting coach, his decision to leave for Pittsburgh and how much of an effect coaches can actually have at the big-league level.

1h 31m
NOV 28

What team should sign superstar free agent Juan Soto?

Guests: Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Baseball Prospectus Editor-In-Chief Craig Goldstein, Comedian Chris Calogero (“Husky Boy” stand-up special on YouTube), Andy Kindler (Everybody Loves Raymond, Bob’s Burgers) This week, we bring together an all-star panel to make their pitch for superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto. Paul Sun-Hyung Lee represents Blue Jays fans, Craig Goldstein stumps for his Dodgers, Chris Calogero makes the case for the Yankees and Andy Kindler argues that Soto should cross town and come play for his Mets. Who will land the off-season’s biggest prize? We get you closer to the answer!

1h 14m
NOV 21

Team Canada outfielder and Chicago Cubs prospect Owen Caissie

This week, we talk to one of the outstanding young Canadian players working his way to the major leagues. Owen Caissie was named minor-league offensive player of the year by the Canadian Baseball Network for his terrific season with the AAA Iowa Cubs. We celebrate both that award and his being placed on the Cubs’ 40-man major-league roster with the 22-year-old from Burlington, Ontario. We also look ahead to the deadline to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players and see which Blue Jays are on the bubble, and fill you in on the newest member of the Jays front office.

50 min
NOV 14

Off-Season Primer: Blue Jays need to shake it off and fill blank spaces after cruel summer

Listen here or subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can at thestar.com/subscribingmatters. Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm The Hot Stove season is upon us and the Blue Jays have a whole lot to do in order to get back into playoff contention. Gregor Chisholm joins me to discuss the task ahead of them. Will they sign Juan Soto? Will they extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? What other big bats are available for them this winter? Is this the right front office group for the job? We answer these questions and more in this Deep Left Field Off-Season Primer!

57 min
NOV 7

World Series champ Kevin Kiermaier, in his final interview as a player

Guest: Former Blue Jays CF Kevin Kiermaier This week, Kevin Kiermaier gives his final interview as a player, and he has come to Deep Left Field to give it to us! Kiermaier, who is about to retire, talks about going out on top – winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers – and finishing his career the way he started it, as a late-inning defensive replacement. He also reflects on his year and a half with the Blue Jays, what this season was like as the Jays sold off at the trade deadline, and how the Dodgers do things differently (and better) than they’re done in Toronto.

59 min
OCT 31

Freddie Freeman on his Canadian roots, plus Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the Fielding Bible Awards

Guests: World Series MVP Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Mark Simon of Sports Info Solutions The off-season begins as the Los Angeles Dodgers are crowned World Series champions with a five-game victory over the New York Yankees, led by Freddie Freeman’s four home runs and World Series-record-tying 12 RBIs! When the champs were in Toronto to play the Blue Jays earlier this season, we spoke to Freeman about his love of playing for Canada to honour his late mother and to Roberts about being a teenager in San Diego when the Padres traded Joe Carter and Roberto Alomar to Toronto for Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff. You’ll hear those conversations, as well as a great chat with Mark Simon about Daulton Varsho winning two Fielding Bible Awards, including Defensive Player of the Year, and much more!

1h 4m

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Mike Wilner

Host

4.6

out of 5

48 Ratings

The Michael Kay of Blue Jays Media

Dec 12

JTNBGJ

Title says it all. Make of it what you will.
Geddy and Baseball

Aug 17

M Bradley Oliver

Mike, thanks for the interview…my first podcast listen. As a huge fan of baseball (Royals!) and Rush (Geddy Lee), your left field was right up my alley. Interesting story from Geddy’s book tour in Chicago; I was lucky enough for him to take my submitted questions. One was, “who was better, Mike Schmidt or George Brett?” After defending the cases for each, Brett came out on top! Just wanted to share with you and say Thanks to Geddy to help settle an argument with a lifelong friend! Anyway, good luck getting the Blue Jays front office situation ironed out!. Rock on!
Shapiro & Atkins interviews

Oct 3

Shwolfe

Thank you for your podcasts! Curious, why do most reporters throw such softball questions to these guys? Realize Shapiro cut you off because he didn’t want to answer you. Why not ask what you stated in the opening of your last podcast: Why they believe their track record has been good despite the regression , and a lack of a single playoff game? Seems these guys believe mediocrity justifies them keeping their jobs. While I agree no one wants to see people lose their jobs, we want to win more! These guys have had almost a decade here, and have the gall to say “they’re still learning?” We have had enough of losing, and want a new front office stat!
Knowledgeable and level-headed

Aug 14

WideBen

In a moment when social media has created the manic-depressive sports fan, Mike is a breath of calm and calculated fresh air. He’s been a comforting voice for most of my Bluejay fan life, and especially at times where the team is in consistent not where they need to be. Thanks for all you do!

Longtime Toronto Blue Jays radio voice Mike Wilner hosts Deep Left Field, a baseball podcast from the Toronto Star. With great baseball coverage, opinion and analysis from Mike and other Star sports journalists including Laura Armstrong and Gregor Chisholm, as well as MLB players and others in the game, Deep Left Field has everything you need to know about the Jays, specifically, and baseball in general.