At The Letters

Two steps forward, one step back. The Blue Jays have some reinforcements coming (10:05) but there are real questions in their bullpen (18:30). Plus, Arden and Ben discuss John Schneider after he got booed at home (48:24). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Sho Alli and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca Audio Credits: MiLB.com, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, 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.

Well, it’s been quite a week. From no-hitters to late comebacks, Arden and Ben break down everything on the Blue Jays starting with their pitching (11:09) before assessing their bats (36:31) and some defensive decisions (54:56). Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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 2024 season about to begin, Arden and Ben start with the latest news out of Blue Jays camp (00:39) before discussing  the high stakes for the coming season (38:07) and whether the team has enough bats (53:02). Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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.

First Danny Jansen, and now some high-leverage relievers. Ben and Arden discuss the injured Blue Jays (00:56) before wondering about the roster’s versatility (25:24) and taking stock of Joey Votto’s progress (39:16). Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. 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.

Well, Joey Votto’s a Blue Jay. Arden and Ben break down his minor-league deal (1:48) before discussing the readiness of the team’s top prospects (16:42) and the Jays’ rotation questions (30:18). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Sho Alli and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca Audio Credits: Sportsnet and Bally Sports Sun. 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.

Two pitchers sidelined in one week. Arden and Ben share a few spring observations (3:54) before discussing the rotation questions bubbling up for the Blue Jays (12:25) and moving on to some more positive storylines (31:16). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Sho Alli and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca Audio Credits: MLB.com and Sportsnet 590 The FAN. 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.

Alek Manoah’s back on the mound, so Arden and Ben break down his debut (15:35)! Later the pair discuss the latest on Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman (27:34), before sharing some under-the-radar spring storylines (45:40). Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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.

Two new deals change the look of the Blue Jays’ bench – maybe. Arden and Ben weigh in on Vogelbach and Escobar (15:58) before discussing the top remaining free agents (37:08) and Hyun Jin Ryu’s Jays legacy (53:20). Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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 spring training now underway in Florida, Arden and Ben weigh in on Alek Manoah’s fresh start (01:04) set expectations for the offence (20:43) and examine some spring training misconceptions (46:27). Additional audio from MLB.com Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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.

What an off-season it’s been. Arden and Ben start by discussing the Justin Turner signing (05:35) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s arbitration win (33:51) before taking stock of where the Jays stand in the AL East after a trying winter (50:03) Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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 off-season now nearing its end, Arden and Ben take stock of the Blue Jays’ latest moves (02:37) weigh in on the Guerrero Jr. arbitration hearing (36:44) and look ahead at where the team can go from here (55:20). Additional audio from MLB.com. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. 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.

All of a sudden, this is all very real. After reporting on the Blue Jays’ unusual and fascinating Shohei Ohtani pursuit from the Winter Meetings, Ben joins Arden to discuss Ohtani’s timeline, the impact of his fame on daily life, and the Blue Jays’ legitimate shot at landing him.

Let’s go beyond the surface on Shohei Ohtani. Arden and Ben dive deep, discussing everything from his work habits (15:29) to his risk profile (27:30) to how he’d fit on the Blue Jays before turning to other possible Jays targets (36:12). This podcast is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca Additional audio from MLB.com. 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.

Ben is joined by Sportsnet's Shi Davdi to forecast the Blue Jays' options over the off-season.

Ben is joined by Blake Murphy to look ahead to what's next for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ben and Arden break down the other aspects of the Blue Jays loss to the Twins.

In the first of a two-part episode, Ben and Arden break down the Blue Jays Wild Card loss to the Minnesota Twins.

Ben and Arden check in from Target Field in Minneapolis to preview the Blue Jays Wild Card Series against the Twins.

A playoff spot is on the line as the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Rogers Centre for the final series of the regular season.

Arden and Ben discuss the wild roller coaster ride that has been the Blue Jays performance over the last couple of series.

These next four games will decide a lot. Ahead of four games against Texas, Ben and Arden discuss what went right for the Blue Jays this weekend (02:45), the strength of their pitching (14:40) and the importance of the Rangers series (27:43).

Ben and Arden discuss some surprise Blue Jays contributors before touching on next steps for Alek Manoah, and the importance of bringing full focus to every inning.

Ben is joined by Nick Ashbourne to look ahead to the month of September for the Blue Jays.

Ben goes over a tough stretch for the Blue Jays as the end of the season comes into view.

Arden and Ben try to make sense of some of the frustration around the team while also weighing in on the Level of Excellence, and looking ahead at the impact of some returning players.

Ben and Arden discuss the MLB trade deadline, whether the Blue Jays did enough to improve, and the acquisition of Jordan Hicks.

Ben and guest host Shi Davidi start by discussing the Blue Jays’ options on the trade market before going behind the scenes on deadline week and discussing some Blue Jays-adjacent Hall of Fame candidates.

Arden and Ben are back from the All-Star break to discuss the state of the Blue Jays pitching staff, look at the team's need for an extra bat, and wonder about just how much a Shohei Ohtani trade would shake up the baseball landscape.

Arden and Ben offer thoughts on the team’s first-half performance and Alek Manoah’s impending return to the majors, they reimagine the all-star game and take a look at some potential trade deadline targets.

Shi Davidi joins Ben at Rogers Centre to discuss the Jays at the halfway mark, Alek Manoah’s road back to the majors and some possible deadline strategies.

Ben opens this ATL short with a look at what we learned from the A’s series before touching on Vlad Jr.’s big weekend and looking ahead at some names to watch at the trade deadline.

Arden and Ben start by taking stock of where the Blue Jays stand in the wild card race, looking at the impact of the team’s four-man rotation and discussing what this means for their trade deadline plans.

Arden and Ben have a big-picture discussion of where the Jays fit in the AL East, look at the final rotation spot and discuss the Jays’ perplexing offence.

Arden and Ben begin with a discussion about Alek Manoah’s demotion, take a look at where the Jays go from here and show some appreciation for Jose Berrios.

Arden and Ben discuss Anthony Bass’s actions, the depth of the Blue Jays, give credit to Nate Pearson and a look at how some recent injuries are impacting the team.

Arden and Ben take stock of where the Jays fit in the AL East, take a closer look at sluggers Vlad Guerrero Jr. and George Springer and take you behind the scenes at what really happens when teams make roster moves.

Ben and Arden make sense of a wild Yankees series, look at Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s importance to the team and discuss what’s next for Alek Manoah.

Arden and Ben start by making sense of the unpredictable Jays before turning to the team’s left-handed bats and the remarkable contact skills of Bo Bichette.

Arden and Ben discuss their evolving view of the Red Sox lineup, Bo Bichette turning a hot streak into a standard, some slumping Toronto hitters and they take a look at Toronto’s bullpen performance.

Arden and Ben take a big-picture look at the team, give the starting pitchers some credit, and discuss Whit Merrifield as well as Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s thoughts on the Yankees.

Arden and Ben discuss the starting rotation with a close look at Alek Manoah, give credit to Matt Chapman and wonder if there's enough production at the bottom of the order.

Ben and Arden discuss the impressive contributions of Kevin Kiermaier, a rocky start from Brandon Belt, a chat about Daulton Varsho, and a look at the starting rotation.

Ben and Arden break down the level of concern around Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt, and then they give us some early-season surprises, both negative and positive.

Ben and Arden take a look at the position players, bullpen and rotation, then address some concerns in Jays camp and make some predictions on what's to come in the year ahead.

Ben and Arden discuss the bounce back from Jose Berrios, they break down the AL East race and discuss some under-the-radar names who could end up helping the 2023 Blue Jays,

Ben and Arden discuss what the WBC means for the Blue Jays, including Vlad Guerrero Jr., they break down a rough start from Jose Berrios, and assess Otto Lopez’s chances of making an impact with the 2023 Blue Jays.

The guys discuss the year ahead for Blue Jays starters Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt, and then weigh in on Vlad Guerrero Jr.’s injury and some potential breakouts on the 2023 Blue Jays.

From Dunedin, Arden and Ben discuss how impressed they are with Ricky Tiedemann, Jose Berrios and Yusei Kikuchi, talk about Cavan Biggio’s role, and what the James Click hire means for the Jays.

Arden and Ben talk expectations for Jose Berrios in 2023, have a discussion about optimal lineup constriction, and a look at what Alejandro Kirk’s delayed arrival means.

Ben and Arden break down the latest news from Jays camp, take a behind-the-scenes look at how breaking news works and have a discussion about MLB’s upcoming rule changes.

First, Arden and Ben break down the ramifications of the Bo Bichette extension. Then, some reflections from Arden on being around playoff teams and a discussion about the best road cities in baseball.

Arden and Ben discuss what’s ahead on ATL in 2023, and a look at what new Blue Jays Daulton Varsho, Chad Green and Brandon Belt will mean for the 2023 roster.

Arden and Ben discuss the off-season so far, what Bassitt brings to the Jays and the possibility of trading a catcher.

Blake Murphy joins Ben and Arden to find out who took home this seasons Over/Under Championship.

Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi are at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas! They discuss the Jays’ pitching search, the future of Raimel Tapia in Toronto and the chances that they trade a catcher this winter.

Shi Davidi joins Ben for a discussion about which players the Jays should pursue, from high-end free agents to mid-tier difference makers to ideal trade candidates.

Shi Davidi joins Ben to discuss the role of the modern skipper, chat about the World Series and expectations for Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who recently had a wrist procedure.

Shi Davidi joins Ben to discuss the status of John Schneider, the lessons we can and can’t learn from the 2022 playoffs and how the Jays will approach their needs this winter.

Arden and Ben share their own recollections of the weekend before discussing what went wrong in Game 1 and going granular on the chaos of Game 2.

Arden and Ben discuss some key decisions awaiting the Blue Jays against the Mariners, weigh in on champagne celebrations in baseball and offer their predictions for the wild-card series.

Arden and Ben discuss Aaron Judge’s record-tying home run, examine some mental lapses by the Blue Jays and preview Toronto’s playoff roster.

Ben dials in from Philly to chat with Arden about what the Blue Jays should prioritize over the regular season’s final two weeks, the team’s most pressing injury concerns, and what the playing time split could look like for Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen going forward.

Ben brings Nick Ashbourne on for a discussion about September baseball, Bichette’s heroics and the ways in which the Blue Jays remain vulnerable.

Arden and Ben discuss the dramatic week that was for the Blue Jays, the state of the team’s pitching staff and the recommended confidence level in various Jays players.

Arden is joined by Shi Davidi to discuss Toronto’s run of play in August, whether Blue Jays hitters are pressing, and later Ben and Arden check in with Blue Jays reliever Anthony Bass.

Ben and Arden turn the mic on several of their colleagues. (Arash Madani, Ben Wagner Shi Davidi & Dan Shulman) to answer one burning question: Who will be the most compelling Blue Jay to watch between now and the end of the season?

Arden and Ben discuss a huge weekend for the Blue Jays, wonder if the Yankees should be scared and welcome Mitch White for a chat about how he manages the mental side of pitching and what he learned from Clayton Kershaw in LA.

From Yankee Stadium, Arden and Ben discuss a strong start for Jose Berríos, examine the give and take surrounding George Springer’s availability and welcome journalist Ariel Helwani to the podcast.

From the visitors’ dugout in the Bronx, Ben and Arden discuss the Blue Jays’ push for the playoffs, catch up with Ross Stripling after his perfect game bid and wonder how Babe Ruth would fare in today’s game.

Arden checks in with Ben in Baltimore to get his take on the Orioles and thoughts on the Jackie Bradley Jr. signing. Plus, they break down Jose Berrios’ inconsistency and the biggest leverage points for the Blue Jays over the season's final eight weeks.

Arden and Ben argue that the Blue Jays should have added one more reliever, discuss the status of George Springer and wonder how and when Whit Merrifield fits on the roster.

Arden and Ben discuss some trade candidates for the starting rotation, make the case for adding aggressively to the bullpen and discuss some position players on the market, from Juan Soto on down.

In the wake of Charlie Montoyo’s firing, Arden and guest host Blake Murphy consider the timing of the move and the factors that led to it before reflecting on what they’ve seen lately from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays offence.

The Blue Jays' pitching issues worsen, prompting Arden and Ben to discuss potential trades for the bullpen, make the case for demoting Yusei Kikuchi and suggest that position player reinforcements don't seem quite as pressing right now.

Arden and Ben wonder about the state of the bullpen, search for answers in the rotation and give Alejandro Kirk some credit for an incredible start to the season.

Arden and Ben break down the need for help in the bullpen, give Matt Chapman’s defence some love and discuss the importance of building around an impressive lineup.

Arden and Ben break down Gabriel Moreno’s MLB debut, look ahead at some potential trade deadline priorities and discuss the Blue Jays legacy of Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Arden and Ben discuss the Blue Jays’ high-flying offence, wonder which Jays might make their first All-Star Game and weigh in on the latest developments around Stripling, Gausman and Berríos.

Arden and Ben get into Toronto’s surging offence and the club’s impressive catching depth before making note of a couple of retirements from the 2015 and ‘16 ALCS teams and wondering how sustainable the club’s current bullpen workload is.

Ben and Arden discuss the struggling Blue Jays offence, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr's rough stretch, and also discuss the team's starting rotation and Danny Jansen's offensive approach.

Arden and Ben discuss the Blue Jays offensive struggles despite some recent wins, take a look at Vladimir Guerrero Jr's last couple of weeks, give Yusei Kikuchi some credit and wonder if the bullpen needs more swing and miss.

Thirty games in, Arden and Ben discuss the Jays' slow start at the plate, the top of their starting rotation and some behind-the-scenes observations from an intense stretch of games.

It feels like every inning of this season has been tense, doesn't it? Arden and Ben discuss those early-season nail-biters before looking at the Jays' slow-starting offence and discussing an under-the-radar prospect.

Arden and Ben wonder what aspects of the Blue Jays' success are most sustainable, looking at Yusei Kikuchi's slow start in more detail, and they discuss the historically low batting average we’ve seen to this point in the season across MLB.

Ben and Arden sit down with Kevin Gausman to talk about his path to the big leagues, how he developed his splitter, his favourite pitchers growing up, and what he’s looking forward to this season (hint: room service pizza).

Arden and Ben present their over/unders for the 2022 Toronto Blue Jays.

Ben and Arden discuss the Blue Jays' impressive defence, the team's starting pitching before taking stock of the catching mix without Danny Jansen.

Alek Manoah joins Ben and Arden to about his rookie season, facing adversity, opening up his own gym, some of the challenges he faced growing up and he tells us about his friendship with Hyun-jin Ryu.

Arden and Ben chat with José Berríos about the extension he signed with the Blue Jays this off-season, the struggles he faced early on in his career, finding a routine that works for him, and when he knew he could be a big leaguer.

Ben joins the podcast from Dunedin to offer his observations from Blue Jays camp including Gosuke Katoh cracking the opening day roster, the club’s acquisition of Zack Collins, a flurry of bullpen news, Charlie Montoyo’s extension, and how Toronto will look to manage player workload this season.

On the last off day of the spring, Arden and Ben talk Blue Jays in Florida. After assessing, the state of the roster the discussion turns to some under-the-radar bullpen candidates. And finally, an interview with Alejandro Kirk.

Arden and Ben are both in Florida with a ton of updates including the consequences of Pete Walker’s arrest, Raimel Tapia acquisition, a discussion around pre-arbitration eligible Jays and upcoming renovations at Rogers Centre.

Arden tells us about some of his observations from Dunedin, Fla., what’s next for the Blue Jays after trading for Matt Chapman and a look at some spring position battles in Jays camp.

Baseball is back and the Blue Jays are already making moves. Ben and Arden look at how the new CBA may impact the Jays, discuss the addition of Yusei Kikuchi, anticipate what’s next for the Toronto front office, and discuss the return of Josh Donaldson to the AL East.

The new CBA will eventually have some major implications for the Blue Jays. Plus, Arden and Ben wonder how teams should now be strategizing, anticipate a wild post-lockout week and explore a parallel between Juan Soto and Vlad Jr.

With spring training likely to be delayed, Ben and Arden turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ top prospects with Ben Badler of Baseball America.

Shi Davidi joins Arden and Ben to discuss possible extensions for Vlad and Bo followed by a chat about Jaime Vieira, the Blue Jays’ first female coach, and a look at how CBA talks may impact the Jays.

What’s a realistic expectation for Vlad Jr. in 2022? What other Jays could be in line for big extensions? And how to make sense of that Freddie Freeman talk? Ben and Arden take a wide assortment of questions in this holiday mailbag edition of At the Letters.

First, a wild week of activity … and then a lockout. Arden and Ben break down the Blue Jays’ deal with Kevin Gausman, discuss the departure of Robbie Ray and preview next steps as the baseball industry enters a lockout.