Birds All Day

When he's not padding his 5-to-1 kill-death ratio in Call of Duty, Zubes is busy building the Sportsfeld media empire...and joining Drew and Ol' Reliable to talk all things Blue Jays. Speaking of Blue Jays, why are they performing so woefully? (I mean, aside from the obvious. - 6:00) The trio target an overarching issue this season: the plodding pace of play (12:30). What enhancements can be made to correct the sluggishness, and why is the game in this laggard state anyways? What do we say to the unwritten rules??? Well, listen to find out, silly (20:15). Losing Bo Bichette blows, and, what's worse, Brandon Drury and Joe Panik have been disappointing to say the least (24:45). Nate Pearson was recently added to the injured list because of an elbow injury, could his respite from hurling baseballs really, really fast prove beneficial (33:00)? It's time for, yet again, another edition of What Did Charlie Montoyo Do Wrong This Week (46:30).Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROFFollow Stoeten on Twitter: @AndrewStoetenF

As the title of this episode would suggest, Drew, Ol' Reliable and, possibly, someone even more reliable than Ol' Reliable, The Athletic's Blue Jays beat reporter, Kaitlyn McGrath, examine the good, the bad and the, at times, very ugly of the Blue Jays start in Buffalo. But! Before then, the trio wield their words adeptly and fasten details together to create a vivid image of a welcoming Sahlen Park, furnished to properly accommodate the Jays (2:30). From Kaitlyn's perspective, is there a difference covering the games at Sahlen Park from home (8:45)? The flock flies towards Toronto's seemingly good feats as of late, including Jordan Romano and the 'pen (16:00). What positives has Kaitlyn been able to identify (18:45)? Getting into the not so good, re: bad: Nate Pearson, though bright and brimming with potential, has fumbled through his last couple starts (27:15), and Vlad Guerrero Jr. absolutely, unequivocally, needs to begin producing offensively (40:15). As for the ugly, in a normal season, would the Jays c

Two things about Stoeten: 1) He's old and reliable and 2) if he offers you a hamburger, politely decline. You've been warned. Drew (And)rew welcome ProPlayAI chief scientist, Dr. Mike Sonne, to today's show (5:00). The scholarly Dr. Sonne details ProPlayAI's technology and how pitchers like Nate Pearson are using these programs to further their understanding of biomechanics. In what ways are biomechanics/ProPlayAI being utilized to help Pearson and other users (7:30)? Does Pearson's cerebral, thoughtful approach to his craft help him better understand the benefits of sound biomechanics (12:30)? How does player health factor in when analyzing data (15:00)? Will players employing the use of ProPlayAI's understanding of biomechanics, open the door for athletes who we may not have originally thought of as having a chance (18:15)? Which player does Mike believe could benefit from improved biomechanics (22:00)? Drew and Andrew bid farewell to Mike and recap Toronto and Nate Pearson's performances against Atlanta (2

They don't have a crystal ball, but they sure have the next best thing; Drew and Stoeten welcome The Athletic's Philadelphia Phillies scrivener, and possible seer, Matt Gelb to answer a very simple question: What the f--k is going on in Philadelphia (10:45)? Gelb eloquently lays out the timeline of events leading up to the Phillies canceling all activities (13:30) and what the players are doing now amid the shutdown (17:15). The trio discuss competitive balance (20:55) and potential grievances spawning from this uncertain time (24:15). After bidding adieu to Matt, Drew 1 and Drew 2 (you decide which is which) react to Nate Pearson's scintillating debut (31:30). The guys share their takeaways from Pearson's first start against Washington, and chat about what the future holds for the 23-year-old. Old Reliable's Twitter is ablaze with "Fire Charlie Montoyo" tweets, but do they actually have merit (46:30)? Where do the guys see Montoyo after this season? Lastly, the bullpen has demonstrated its a potential to be

Drew and Ol' Reliable react to the rare atmosphere, that will eventually become customary, in a fan-less Nationals Park on Opening Day (:30). The guys then welcome CBS Sports staff writer, R.J. Anderson, to the podcast to discuss Toronto's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays (12:15). Before diving headlong into Rays analysis, R.J. dishes out his outlook on the Blue Jays (14:15), and Nate Pearson's service time along with Toronto's extended control over the young pitcher (15:45). How has R.J.'s view(s) of the Rays changed over the years (22:15) and what insight can he bring about Tampa Bay's player development (24:15)? Before disembarking from the show, R.J. rains praise on rookie Austin Martin (28:30). Drew And-drew continue their discuss about service time management (31:30), and then dive into the Jays' current home ballpark options (36:00). The two share their observations from Toronto's scrimmages against Boston (47:00), and roll the dice on season predictions (1:02:15)!Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewG

Another week, another behind the scenes conversation about NBA Live 2006. I mean, how underrated was Jason Kapono (62 Overall with a an 80 3pt? C'mon, that's doing my man dirty.)? What wasn't underrated this week (great [bad] segue) was news of Vladimir Gurrero Jr. moving to first base (3:30). Why was this move made; will it bolster Toronto's defense; could it stunt Guerrero Jr.'s growth and was this move made because of Travis Shaw? As high as their ceilings are, there still seems to be uncertainty surrounding Cavan Biggio and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (25:45). Can the Blue Jays please re-sign Ken Giles (41:15)? Plus, confidence is building in Toronto's attempt to play at home in the Rogers Centre (49:15).Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROFFollow Old Reliable on Twitter: @AndrewStoetenSave 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by visiting: theathletic.com/birdsallday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heeeee'ssss bbaaccckkk. Andrew Zuber, aka Zubes, joins Drew and Ol' Reliable to applaud Toronto first-round pick Austin Martin on signing above slot (6:00). Will Martin fill a vacant spot in the Blue Jays' player pool (16:00). The full nest hesitate reacting to Toronto's schedule because of an important missing ingredient: there's no concrete location for a home stadium (18:25). The guys ask ponder amid the continued civil unrest, is there a situation where the national anthem isn't played (24:30)? Has there ever been more monumental time for players to use their platform to bring about change? Besides the obvious, why does it take million/billion dollar corporate partners voicing their disdain against insensitive team names for action to take place (28:45)? Oh, and will there be a season, because tests and its accompanying results aren't being delivered fast enough (35:30)?Follow Andrew!: https://www.patreon.com/sportsfeldSave 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by visiting: theathletic.com/

The fairest Fairservice and Stoeten welcome The Athletic's Blue Jays reporter Kaitlyn McGrath to today's program! How about that player pool (7:30)!? With the 58-player pool formed, what are some of the biggest questions still looming over this squad? In a sad and, seemingly, inevitable move, the Minor League Baseball season canceled. How will this affect improving players like Joey Murray (12:00)? The triumvirate tackle the most surprising moves in Toronto's player pool (23:00), plus Ty Tice (and Drew) and dunk (27:30)? Do any Blue Jays players fit the mold of someone who would opt out of participating in this season (36:00)? Concern still lingers about the Jays commuting in and out of Canada (40:30).Save 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by visiting: theathletic.com/birdsallday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sports Illustrated staff writer, Emma Baccellieri, answers Drew and Stoeten's call (surprisingly) to (unsurprisingly) answer questions about health concerns in a shortened 2020 MLB season (12:30). Drawing from her myriad conversations with epidemiologists about the subject, Emma presents what issues Major League Baseball could face by having teams play in their home ballpark, compared to competing in a controlled environment a la the NBA. What issues are associated with increased roster sizes (22:30) and players traveling to other venues (24:00)? The guys express concern over multiple Jays players and coaches contracting Covid, which begs the question - what, if anything, would it take to derail the season (30:00)? Is it possible players like Nate Pearson have their service time manipulated (33:15)? Could players be classified as essential workers (44:15)? To close, what silver lining is there to all these questions (53:20)?Baccellieri's story: https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/24/baseball-return-coronavirus-epi

On another glorious episode of Birds All Day, Drew and Stoeten welcome Toronto Blue Jays radio play-by-play announcer, Mike Wilner, to the program (6:30)! Mike fills us in on life without baseball and broaches a cornucopia of subjects, including: his level of optimism in a season (11:45); the advantages the Jays could present in a truncated year (13:30); how to quantify success under these circumstances (16:40) and should Toronto excel early in a condensed season, should they go for broke and orchestrate title-contending moves (25:10)? After Drew and Stoeten bid Mike adieu, they cover a couple topics like the ongoing labor dispute (28:30) and rule changes that won't be redacted and their impact on the spirit and spontaneity of the sport (38:45). The guys conclude today's podcast by sorting through Stoeten's all-time best Blue Jays' free agent signings, and mull what it will take for Hyun-jin Ryu to rank among the club's legendary signees (53:00).Save 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by vis

Sportsnet writer extraordinaire, Nick Ashbourne, accompanies Drew and Andrew on their trip through the Blue Jays MLB Draft (5:15). The triumvirate hone in on Toronto's top-selection, Austin Martin, and how he projects as a major leaguer, what skills he offers defensively and in future Jays' lineups and more. Hey, guess what? Toronto drafted more than one player, and they actually matter! The trio tackle the trajectory of CJ Van Eyk, Trent Palmer and other draftees. Once Nick departs, the Drew with two extra letters and Drew react to Keith Law's comments on Martin's upside (25:15). The guys wrap up the show by encouraging others to keep the dialogue about the injustices in our country open.Save 40% off your first-year subscription to The Athletic by visiting: theathletic.com/birdsallday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew and Drew discuss the need to actively seek change in the pursuit of social justice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaitlyn McGrath returns to the show to help us break down the latest in negotiations between MLB and the Union, including the league's low-ball proposal and the reaction from players across baseball. We discuss Scott Boras encouraging players to stand up to owners, how all of this factors into the upcoming CBA negotiations, and what it means for the prospect of a return to play in 2020. Plus, we go over the results of The Athletic's Blue Jays Fan Survey and some of the most notable responses, and debate how to evaluate the career of Derek Jeter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero joins us this week to chat about his new podcast, which has included guests such as Jose Bautista and Aaron Sanchez. Ricky discusses how he's been able to get former teammates to open up and some of his favourite stories from the Joey Bats episode, then talks about his own career with the Blue Jays (11:14), including what he learned from Roy Halladay as a rookie, dealing with injuries late in his career and playing through pain, and how he fell in love with Toronto during his time with the Jays. Plus, we discuss baseball's ongoing negotiations with the MLBPA on return to play scenarios, and how the conversation has turned against the players with the upcoming CBA negotiations as the backdrop. Check out Ricky Romero's podcast, Let's Go Ricky Ro! with Beto Duran: t.co/OIq0DN8Yxn?amp=1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With baseball still on hiatus, we speak with Todd Zolecki, the author of 'Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay' to discuss the process of writing the book, what he learned about Doc through his years covering him, new nuggets about the trade that sent him from the Blue Jays to the Phillies, as well as the recent details around his death and how the darker side of his story are reflected in the book. Plus, we discuss the reaction to MLB's reported proposal to reduce player salaries in a condensed season, the public's tendency to side with owners after players like Blake Snell and Marcus Stroman spoke out, as well as our thoughts on the adoption of a universal DH across baseball. Pre-order Todd's book, 'Doc: The Life of Roy Halladay' at Triumph Books: triumphbooks.com/DocBlueJays Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewStoeten Read Andrew's work here: https://theathletic.com/author/andrew-stoeten Subscribe to the Vlad Religion Newsletter: https://fairservice.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See

Plausible potential! With Major League Baseball taking more steps to attempt a return to play, we welcome in Blue Jays Central host Jamie Campbell to chat about the volunteer work he's been doing with Conquer Covid-19, including delivering PPE to communities across Ontario and calling Blue Jays fans over the phone. Jamie explains the inspiration behind both ideas, takes us behind the scenes on Blue Jays Central and his philosophy on connecting with fans of all ages, gives his thoughts on how the Blue Jays were projecting coming into the 2020 season, and the team's chances of competing in the A.L. East. Plus, we discuss the Blue Jays looking at alternative stadium plans if games have to be played outside Canada, the latest trailer for Roy Halladay's upcoming E:60 documentary, and touch on Stoeten's piece comparing Mark Shapiro and Alex Anthopoulos. For more information on Conquer Covid-19, visit conquercovid19.ca. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewStoeten Read Andrew's work her

Holding our breath! To-be Hall of Famer Larry Walker joins us this week to chat about his delayed induction into Cooperstown with the 2020 ceremony being postponed for a year. Larry chats about having to wait a bit longer and how he was preparing for the ceremony, his thoughts on measuring players with modern metrics and how data is used to explain the game, as well a trip down memory lane, including playing at Coors Field and being involved in the infamous Canada-Mexico brawl in the World Baseball Classic. Plus, we discuss MLB's proposed realignment plan in return to play scenarios, as well as the Blue Jays announcing their refund policy for ticket buyers through the end of May. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewStoeten Read Andrew's work here: https://theathletic.com/author/andrew-stoeten Subscribe to the Vlad Religion Newsletter: https://fairservice.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thinking about thinking! Keith Law makes his return to the show and discusses how the minor leagues could be impacted by the ongoing stoppage in play and his new book, The Inside Game, researching behavioural economics and the history of cognitive bias among baseball decision-makers. Keith shares some of the people he spoke with for the book, including former Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, and weighs in on whether or not family ties in pro baseball could be part of the same conversation. Plus, we discuss the punishment handed down to the Red Sox by Rob Manfred and what differentiates it from the Astros scandal, how both could impact the role of video replay in baseball, and we look ahead to the start of the Korean baseball season. Keith's new book, The Inside Game: Bad Calls, Strange Moves, and What Baseball Behavior Teaches Us about Ourselves, is available now at BookShop.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a tough week of Blue Jays news, we discuss the passing of former Blue Jays infielder Dámaso García and the mark he left on the game (1:25), as well as what to make of some troubling details emerging about Roy Halladay's death from the National Transportation Safety Board (5:33). To lighten the mood, we're joined by FanGraph's Jay Jaffe to chat about how ta lost season could impact the Hall of Fame candidacy for players like Josh Donaldson and Joey Votto (12:45), and how he's passing on the legacy of Jackie Robinson to a new generation (27:15). Plus, we draft the best all-time single-season performances with the Blue Jays (35:06). Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewStoeten Read Andrew's work here: https://theathletic.com/author/andrew-stoeten Subscribe to the Vlad Religion Newsletter: https://fairservice.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Zubes! Andrew Zuber returns to chat about the ongoing disruption to baseball and the limitations of replaying old games. Plus, we sort through some of the issues with MLB's idea for a possible 'Arizona Plan', and chat about our favourite all-time players to coincide with the recent series running on The Athletic. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Andrew on Twitter: @AndrewStoeten Read Andrew's work here: https://theathletic.com/author/andrew-stoeten Subscribe to the Vlad Religion Newsletter: https://fairservice.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.