A Swing and a Belt with Dan Shulman

With the Los Angeles Dodgers leading the Tampa Bay Rays three games to two heading into Game 6 of the World Series, the finish line is now in sight. MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian has been on the play-by-play call and brings us up to speed on the series so far. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Braden Connolly assisted with archival audio. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; 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 affiliate.

The World Series is off to a great start, with the favoured Dodgers tied up at one with the Rays. Six-time All-Star Nomar Garciaparra, who covers the Dodgers for SportsNet LA, offers his thoughts on the series, Clayton Kershaw’s legacy and Bo Bichette being compared to him. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; ESPN Radio 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.

The World Series is upon us, with the top seeds representing the American and National Leagues. Just like we all expected the season to play out when pitchers and catchers first reported in February… right? There’s no doubt the mighty Dodgers, with their unmatched resources and talent, are the favourites but can the Rays pull off an upset? New York Times national baseball writer Tyler Kepner previews the Fall Classic. This episode is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: ABC, Fox Sports, Hankook Tires, Sportsnet, TBS, WDAE and WLAC 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.

Pete Walker is the pitching coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. And in this strange and unprecedented 2020 season, he worked with 28 pitchers across a 60-game campaign that resulted in a postseason berth. A handful with little or no previous Major League experience definitely left an impression. Walker takes listeners through the roles those youngsters will play in 2021 and beyond. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: MLB.com; MLB.tv; 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 affiliate.

There’s a new rivalry out west. The Dodgers are getting a push from the young, fun San Diego Padres. Led by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, the Padres are hoping to knock off the favoured Dodgers in their NL Division Series. Jon Sciambi, who will call the games for ESPN Radio, previews the series and more. This episode is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: CBS 8 San Diego, ESPN, KWFN and 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 affiliate.

We are on to the Division Series and, in the American League, they are both truly divisional series. The teams know each other well, and don’t like each other one bit. To preview New York-Tampa and Houston-Oakland, Yankees voice Michael Kay and Athletics radio play-by-play man Vince Cotroneo join Dan. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/YESNetwork; YouTube.com/MLB 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.

The Rays? Really, the Rays!? Yes, chances are the Blue Jays will play Tampa in the Wild Card Round beginning Tuesday. Andy Freed, one of the Rays’ radio voices, drops by to chat about that team’s injuries, pitching plans and how they feel about their opponent. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: MLB.com; YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/Rays 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.

As GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Kyle Dubas is known for having grown up in hockey. But his love of baseball runs deep, from time spent with his grandfather as a kid to watching the Blue Jays nightly to the enthusiasm his three-year-old has already shown for the game. Dubas joins Dan to discuss his other favourite sport. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Thanks to Maria St. Aubin for archival help. Audio Credits: Sportsnet 590 The FAN; Sportsnet; YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/TorontoMapleLeafs 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.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is trying to find his way at first base, a position he had never played prior to this season. Former big leaguers Justin Morneau, Pat Tabler and Eduardo Perez offer their opinions on how challenging first can be, and whether or not Guerrero can grow into the position. This episode is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Archival support provided by Maria St. Aubin. Audio Credits: Fox Sports North, SportsNet Spectrum LA 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 Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Joe Panik is not old, but on the Blue Jays, he must certainly feel like he is. He won the World Series with the San Francisco Giants as a rookie in 2014 and has been a regular in the big leagues for seven years. At the age of 29, Panik is a grizzled veteran amongst the youngest group of position players in baseball. And it’s now his job to help the young Toronto core through its first pennant race. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; 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 Media Inc. or any affiliate.

The underdog Los Angeles Dodgers fought their way to the 1988 World Series championship, beating the heavily favoured Oakland Athletics… and they haven’t won a title since. They’ve been close, even making it back to the World Series two of the past three years, but they’ve come up short. Is it World Series or bust for the Dodgers in 2020? The iconic franchise’s television voice Joe Davis weighs in. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB 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.

It’s the stretch run… barely a week to go in the regular season. And there is much to be decided between now and when the playoffs begin. Former GM and current MLB Network Radio host Jim Bowden on which teams are peaking at the right time. This episode is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: Fox Sports Cincinnati, Fox Sports Kansas City, KLAC 570, NBC Sports Chicago, SportsNet Spectrum LA, WGN 720 and YES Network.   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.

Part of being a Major League Baseball reporter is building relationships with the teams and players you cover. It can take years. Now, you can’t go into the clubhouse, can’t get one-on-one interviews and can’t easily generate stories. So how does it work? Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae and Fox Sports Wisconsin’s Sophia Minnaert take us through remote reporting in 2020. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: MLB.tv; YouTube.com/FoxSportsWisconsin; 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 affiliate.

It has been an interesting season for the San Francisco Giants. Like every team, the coronavirus has impacted them. But somehow even more pressing right now are the wildfires burning out of control up and down the West Coast. They’ve laid waste to millions of acres, claimed dozens of lives, forced people back indoors and caused games to be postponed this week. Baseball and life are intersecting on a daily basis for the Giants, who through it all are making an unlikely run at a playoff spot. San Francisco Chronicle beat reporter Henry Schulman has the latest. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: MLB.com; MLB.tv; YouTube.com/MLB; @PavlovicNBCS; YouTube.com/Today; YouTube.com/ABC10. 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.

They are expected to win… virtually every year. They are, after all, the New York Yankees. Big names, big payroll, big expectations. After a great start to the 2020 season, they stumbled, dealing with injuries and losing 15 of 20 games. Now, winners of five in a row, they appear to have turned it around. Are the Bronx Bombers peaking at the right time? Beat reporter Sweeny Murti discusses the state of the Yankees. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; MLB.com; MLB.tv; MLB Pressbox 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.

He knew them back in the day, even if “back in the day” was only a few years ago. Toronto Blue Jays coach John Schneider managed Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Cavan Biggio in A and AA ball, winning championships as they all made their way to the Major Leagues. Schneider, a former Blue Jays draft pick himself, shares stories of the Blue Jays’ young stars. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/NESN; the New Hampshire Fisher Cats broadcast team of Tyler Murray, Tyler Zickel, and Bob Lipman 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.

For Major League umpires, COVID-19 has changed everything. How often do you need to get tested? How do you get from city to city? How different are things between the white lines? MLB umpire John Tumpane takes us through his day-to-day routine after six years in the Majors. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: FOXSports; YouTube.com/MLB 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.

In 2020, any excuse to have fun is welcome. And no team is having more fun right now than the San Diego Padres. Second in the National League, they have one of baseball’s best players in Fernando Tatis Jr. and dominated the trade deadline. Just as fun as their baseball team is their broadcast team. Padres TV play-by-play voice Don Orsillo lets listeners in on the good times. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: MLB.com; YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/Padres 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.

Roberto Clemente was more than just a Hall of Famer. He remains a hero to baseball fans in Puerto Rico, Pittsburgh and elsewhere. Dan is joined by Carlos Delgado, Charlie Montoyo, ESPN’s Marly Rivera and Pirates manager Derek Shelton to celebrate the memory of one of baseball’s most influential figures. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: CBS, Fox Sports, MLB, NBC Radio, SNY, Sportsnet, WGN and WPXI. 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.

Despite two significant coronavirus outbreaks and a lot of concern, we are now in baseball’s stretch run. MLB has reportedly planned for postseason bubbles — of sorts. Two ballparks in Texas for the National League and two in California for the American League, with the World Series scheduled for Globe Life Field in Arlington. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases, calls it “a cruise ship scenario,” which doesn’t have the best connotation right now but isn’t necessarily a negative. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: Sportsnet; YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/ESPN; YouTube.com/NBAonESPN; YouTube.com/ABCNews 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.

Dante Bichette enjoyed an outstanding 14-year big league career. Part of the feared ‘Blake Street Bombers’ in Colorado, Bichette was a four-time All-Star who finished with a .299 batting average and 274 home runs. During the 2013 season, he served as the Rockies’ hitting coach before deciding to spend more time at home, in part to spend more time with his two baseball-playing sons, Dante Jr. and Bo. Now he’s back in uniform as a coach with the Blue Jays, and with a different approach to hitting. Dante joins Dan to talk about how he combats the “boring approach” at the plate he sees in today’s game. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB 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.

North Carolina Tar Heels coach Roy Williams is a legend in the college basketball world; a Hall of Famer who has achieved everything there is to be achieved in the sport. But Williams has never lost his inner child — the one who idolized Mickey Mantle and knew everything there was to know about the New York Yankees. With a lifetime of baseball memories and a chance meeting with Mantle as a young man, Williams has plenty of stories to tell of the diamond. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Production help came from Amil Delic. Audio Credits: Tar Heels Network; YouTube.com/MarchMadness; YouTube.com/MLB 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.

As hard as it is to believe, it’s September. Baseball is still here, and we have pennant races. Today, in Part 2 of our chat with MLB Network Radio’s Casey Stern, we look back at the trade deadline and discuss which teams put themselves in a good spot for the stretch drive. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM Executive Producer Jacob Stevens-Kittner provided archival assistance. Audio Credits: MLB.tv; MLB Network Radio; YouTube.com/MLB 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.

Imagine loving a team so much, it consumes you. Now imagine that team provides you with more anguish than joy, to the point where you wish that you never loved it to begin with. A case can be made that nothing in baseball is harder than being a fan of the New York Mets. MLB Network Radio’s Casey Stern brings us into the struggles of lifelong Mets fandom. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/ESPN; YouTube.com/CNN 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.

This year no one knew quite what to expect at the trade deadline, but it felt strangely… normal. Deals were made; contenders bulked up; the scene was set for the push to October. Dan and MLB Network’s JP Morosi break down the winners and losers.  This episode is produced and sound designed by Amil Delic, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Archival support for this episode was provided by Maria St. Aubin. Audio Credits: ESPN Radio, Fox Sports, KWFN, MLB Network, NBC, NESN, Sportsnet 590 The FAN and WKYC.  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.

Cavan Biggio has a keen eye, both between the white lines and beyond. Whether it’s forcing a pitcher into the strike zone or having a great sense of what is right and wrong in the world, he has quickly become of the most important Blue Jays. Biggio joined Dan Friday afternoon, Jackie Robinson Day, to talk about the fight for social justice, where he got his plate discipline and Toronto’s chances going forward. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Thanks to Richard Lochhead for archival help. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; 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 affiliate.

Jeff Dufine got the promotion of a lifetime over the winter when ESPN gave him the chance to produce Sunday Night Baseball. And then the pandemic shut everything down. When baseball started back up and it was time to get to work, nothing was like he thought it would be back in March. From the cozy confines of his backyard, Dufine offers a peek behind the curtain of a whole new type of broadcast for baseball’s biggest night. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Thanks to Jeff Dufine for archival help. Audio Credits: ESPN 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.

The Chicago White Sox are often overlooked — the “second team” in their own town. Now, they’re forcing people to take notice about what’s happening on the South Side. So, who is this team? And why is it having so much fun? Chicago local and TV voice of the White Sox Jason Benetti brings us up to speed. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: Facebook.com/WhiteSox; MLB.com; MLB.tv 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.

Any other year, if player agents are fortunate enough to have a few major league clients, things go smoothly. They negotiate contracts, look for client endorsement opportunities — everybody’s happy. But in 2020, nothing is as it used to be. Many players are flat out worried about how to make it through, now and in the future. MLB agent Adam Katz takes us into this new reality. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB 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.

The 2020 baseball season is unlike any we’ve ever seen before, for many obvious reasons. Not only at the Major League level, but perhaps even more so for young players trying to make it to the bigs. The same goes for Keith Law, prospect guru and senior baseball writer for the The Athletic, who tells us all about player development this year. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; The Keith Law Show 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.

Richard Deitsch is a sports reporter, and a big part of his job is covering sports media. Who’s calling which games for which network, the business of sports television, and so on. Of course, for a few months, there were no sports on television so there was nothing for him to cover. Now, they’re back — but with a lot of changes. From no fans on site to, in most cases, no broadcasters on site. Everything is different. It’s a brand new world, and it’s his job to write about it. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/ESPN 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.

Jamie Romak is a ballplayer. And he’s been around. Part of seven major league organizations with some time in the big leagues a few years back. Since then, he’s been in Japan and, for the past four years, South Korea. He loves playing there and was looking forward to his wife and two sons joining him this season… until a global pandemic got in the way. But baseball is what he does. So, he went, and stayed. This is what life overseas away from family for an entire season has been like. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; KBO on ESPN 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.

For decades, segregation in the U.S. meant many of the best ballplayers in the world were forced to find their own league to play in, and thus, 100 years ago, the Negro Leagues were born. Bob Kendrick, the President of the Negro Leagues Museum, talks about the players who came before Jackie Robinson and the lasting legacies he helps champion. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, hosted by Dan Shulman and recorded by Amil Delic. Audio Credits: MLB.com; YouTube.com/fskansascity 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.

All Ryan Borucki ever wanted was to be a big-league pitcher. As a skinny high-school kid, his chances didn’t look great — until a growth spurt took him to about 6-foot-3 and his velocity ticked up. He was drafted in the 15th round by the Toronto Blue Jays, but with three elbow surgeries and three years essentially lost to arm troubles, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride to The Show. Yet he’s persevered, he’s made it, and he’s been dealing so far in 2020. This podcast is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Amil Delic provided recording help and Adrian Cheddie added archival assistance. Audio Credits: MLB Pressbox; 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 affiliate.

COVID-19 has made this a weird season for everyone in baseball, especially prospects. Simeon Woods Richardson, 19, is on the Toronto Blue Jays’ 60-man roster, honing his skills at their alternate training site. For 17-year old Los Angeles Angels pick David Calabrese, that’s not the case. This is how both are turning a negative into a positive while working to fulfill their big-league dreams. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Jacob Clark provided archival assistance. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/WKRGNews; Sportsnet; MLB.TV 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.

The 2020 baseball season is unlike any we’ve ever seen before. From health and safety protocols, to the season being just 60 games, to rule changes — you name it. So many things are different, for obvious reasons. Let’s find out what ESPN’s Buster Olney, one of the best observers in the business, thinks of all of this. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/ESPN 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.

David Ross was as respected and beloved a player as there was in the game — his leadership helped propel the Red Sox and Cubs to World Series championships. Following his playing career, he settled into calling games on ESPN, and then his competitive itch returned. Now he manages Cubs players who were his teammates, and makes it look easy. This is how. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Special thanks to ESPN’s Robert Kelly for archival assistance. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; ESPN 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.

The St. Louis Cardinals are respected throughout the industry and pride themselves on doing things “the Cardinal Way.” But none of that matters one bit to COVID-19. The Cardinals began dealing with an outbreak on their first road trip of the season and haven’t played since. Can their season be salvaged? Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch discusses. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB, YouTube.com/KSDK News 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.

The Blue Jays’ long journey to finding a home has reached its end — in Buffalo, at Sahlen Field, which is not your typical minor league park. It is, in some ways, the common ancestor of the beautiful retro facilities now seen across Major League Baseball. Mike Buczkowski has been with the Buffalo Bisons for 33 seasons and is now the President of Rich Baseball Operations. He joins the show to tell listeners about the unique ballpark, how it plays and what’s been done to get it ready for the Big Leagues. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: Buffalo Bisons via Pat Malacaro; Toronto Blue Jays 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.

So you’re trying to put together a baseball team for a season in which you think your team has a chance to compete; really make some noise. Just one problem… you don’t have a place to play. COVID-19 border restrictions have forced the Blue Jays out of Canada, so their temporary home will be their AAA affiliate’s field in Buffalo. How well can it work out? And can you turn it into a competitive advantage? Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show to discuss. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: 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 affiliate.

Minor league baseball has been around since the 1880s, allowing players to develop and pursue their dreams of making it to the big leagues while also providing endless entertainment for baseball fans in those towns. Currently there are 162 teams, but the system as we know it appears to be on the verge of seismic change, which may include up to 42 franchises losing their affiliate status. Why is this happening? Should it happen? J.J. Cooper, Executive Editor of Baseball America, weighs in. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/TODAY 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.

Alex Anthopoulos is the President of Baseball Operations for Atlanta. That means everything, whether it’s between the white lines, or COVID-related, falls under his jurisdiction. Because of the virus, he is dealing with endless new challenges, while still trying to do the traditional part of his job – build a team which could win it all. How does he do it? This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/FOX Sports South 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.

With four World Series titles in the past 16 seasons, no team has won more than the Boston Red Sox. But in the past year or so, their fortunes have taken a noticeable turn for the worse. Mookie Betts – traded. Chris Sale – injured. Alex Cora – relieved of his duties. And Boston looks nothing like a contender early on this season. Is this a blip, or the beginning of a lengthy rebuild? Play-by-play man Dave O’Brien discuses. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; WEEI 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.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon was the second overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft. He was climbing through the minors when he felt a pop in his elbow…Tommy John surgery, which cost him all of the 2014 season. He came back in 2015, only to suffer a sports hernia and miss all of that season as well. By 2017 Taillon had become a full-time starter in the big leagues, when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Remarkably, he returned in less than a month and completed the season. In 2018 he was finally healthy, had a strong year and seemed poised for stardom, but then fate intervened again last season — another elbow injury, a second Tommy John and another year plus of rehab. During a pandemic. Talk about perseverance. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB 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.

As we are now rediscovering within the context of a baseball season, there is no such thing as zero risk when it comes to COVID-19. The Philadelphia Phillies found that out the hard way. By last Sunday, the Miami Marlins had learned of four positive tests. Yet a game was played. Monday, it was reported that nearly a dozen more Marlins had tested positive. Two days after that, the virus hit the Phillies. First their visiting clubhouse attendant and then a coach and one other staff member. Citizens Bank Park is now shut down and the Phillies will miss at least a week of games. Now what? Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy helps us figure that out. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB 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.

The Tampa Bay Rays are both respected and overlooked. Year after year, they have one of the smallest payrolls in baseball. And year after year, with just the odd exception, they’re one of the better teams in baseball. So how do they do it? And is the truncated 2020 season exactly the kind of campaign in which they can thrive? No one knows better than their longest-serving player, Kevin Kiermaier. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Jim Whyte provided archival support. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB; YouTube.com/Rays 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.

Who doesn’t love a Major League debut? Players spend years pursuing their dreams and working their way to the sport’s biggest stage. Sometimes it goes well… but sometimes it doesn’t. Fortunately for Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Thomas Hatch, his recent debut is one worth talking about. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman. Braden Connolly provided archival support. Audio Credits: 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 affiliate.

Mike Matheny took every precaution to avoid testing positive for COVID-19… but it wasn’t enough. The Kansas City Royals manager contracted it, fortunately without serious symptoms. He’s recovered, and now he’s resumed his baseball duties and is trying to convince 60 players how seriously they have to take the virus — which he can do, because he’s the one manager in the game who has first-hand experience with it. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Dan Shulman Audio Credits: Sportsnet, YouTube.com/MLB 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.

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the MLB season, but one thing that is certain this and every year is the pressure on the Yankees to win… a lot. New York manager Aaron Boone joins the podcast to shed some light on that and more. This episode is produced and sound designed by Christian Ryan and Amil Delic. Audio Credits: YouTube.com/MLB 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.

A Swing and a Belt is back with a whole new format. Coming at you every weekday covering issues, trends, stories and news in 15(ish) minutes with Dan and guests from around Major League Baseball.

In the Season 1 finale, Dan sits down with his boyhood hero, George Brett. In a wide-ranging interview, they discuss Brett’s career, from breaking-in to almost hitting .400, as well as the attitude he took into every game: “I was going to be the best player on the field every night.” And in a more contemporary story, Brett talks about a recent dinner with Buck Martinez, Mike Babcock and Brendan Shanahan in Toronto, where the first-ballot Hall of Famer and former Blue Jays killer realized he was the least-famous man at the table. This season was produced by Amil Delic. Audio Credit: KSMO-TV, MLB Network, SportsChannel Los Angeles and 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 affiliate.

Dan talks shop with Hall of Famer broadcaster and noted yarn-spinner Jon Miller, formerly of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball and currently the voice of the San Francisco Giants. And a Blue Jays great from the 1980s joins the show, Jesse Barfield. He and Dan talk about Jesse’s cannon of an arm and the great outfield he was a part of with George Bell and Lloyd Moseby. Audio Credit: CBS Baltimore, FOX Sports, KNBR, KFTY-TV and Sportsnet.

Dan takes an in-depth look at the Montreal Expos, and what makes them so special to their fans to this day. From the birth of the franchise in 1969, through the highs and lows of the 1980’s and 90’s, to the final season in Montreal, in 2004, the history of the Expos was memorable. Guests include a number of former players, including Larry Walker, plus Dave Van Horne, Jonah Keri and Jeff Blair. Audio Credit: CBC, C-Span, ESPN, Fox Sports Rocky Mountain, McGill University, Montreal City Hall Archives, National Film Board, NBC, Sportsnet, TBS, The Baseball Hall of Fame, TSN & theScore.

In this special edition of A Swing and a Belt, Dan catches up with many players from the ’93 World Series, tracing the Jays path from the moment they won the Series in ’92 through to Joe Carter’s dramatic home run that made them repeat champions. With play-by-play from Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth guiding you through the game, this episode will make you feel as if you were sitting at Skydome as Game 6 unfolded.

Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils and USA Basketball is one of the most successful cross-over coaches in sports history. He’s also a lifelong baseball fan, and chats with Dan about his passion for the Cubs. Nikki Huffman is another pioneer. She’s the head athletic trainer for the Blue Jays – just the second woman to hold the post in MLB and the most prominent female in a baseball role in the team’s history. Nikki sits down with Dan to discuss her career. Finally, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. made it all the way from Cuba to Toronto via a Canadian connection. With the help of interpreter Josue Peley, Dan and Lourdes dissect that unique journey. Audio Credit: Duke University, ESPN, and Sportsnet.

The Little League World Series is big-time baseball, but for kids. Dan chats with ESPN LLWS announcer Kyle Peterson, Mike Marino, manager of this year’s Canadian Little League champs from Whalley, B.C, as well as three LLWS alumni: Devon Travis and Randal Grichuk of the Blue Jays and Rays manager Kevin Cash. Audio Credit: ESPN, Little League Baseball and NBC.

In this exclusive, Marcus Stroman opens up to Dan about the importance of family, his emotions on and off the field, his nerves before taking the mound, the competitive fire that burns inside him and what he can do to take his game to the next level. Audio Credit: MLB Network, Sportsnet and TBS.

Orel Hershiser joins Dan to discuss one of baseball’s most impressive records, Hershiser’s 59-inning scoreless streak in 1988. And then, the story of baseball’s first family of broadcasting with Chip Caray, son of Skip and grandson of Harry. Audio Credit: ESPN, FOX, KMOX, MLB Network, NBC, TBS and WGN.

Dan is joined by two men who combine for eight decades of experience playing, managing and analyzing MLB games. Buck Martinez discusses his 50 years in MLB, including his time alongside some of the best players in the sport’s history, how the game has changed over that time and what he’d like to see baseball do now. Pat Tabler remembers choosing between baseball and basketball, what Pete Rose had to say about his swing and transitioning from the field to the booth. Audio Credit: MLB TV, NPR, Sportsnet, TSN & WEWS.

On this week’s episode of A Swing and a Belt, it’s all Cooperstown. Dan chats with first ballot Hall of Famer John Smoltz on his remarkable career, and on him qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open this year. Also, the President of the Hall of Fame, Jeff Idelson, takes us behind the scenes and tells us about a few of his favourite historical artifacts. And in our Voices of the Game segment, Dan talks with legendary announcer Bob Costas, this year’s recipient of the Ford Frick award. Audio Credits: Baseball Hall of Fame, Great Museums Documentary Series, MLB Network, NBC and TBS.

Dan sits down with Red Sox President and GM Dave Dombrowski to discuss his career in the game. Jack Morris joins the show as he prepares for his Hall of Fame induction. MLB umpire Dan Iassogna tells his story of going from umpiring school as a kid just out of college all the way to working the World Series. And Ben chats with Sportsnet Blue Jays producer Doug Walton about what goes into putting a baseball game on the air. Audio Credits: CBC, FOX, MLB TV, NBC, NESN & WXYZ – Detriot.

Dan investigates baseball’s impact around the globe with long-time Japanese-league manager Bobby Valentine, Blue Jays interpreter Josue Peley of Venezuela, Australian Detroit Tigers pitcher Warwick Saupold, and Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish language announcer Jaime Jarrin.

Dan visits with Team Canada and Atlanta Braves slugger Freddie Freeman as well as David Ross, who reminisces about his fairy-tale 2016 season with the Chicago Cubs. Ben finds out what a day at the office is like for a first-base coach, and in the Voices of the Game segment, Ray Fosse discusses 30 years in the booth and being part of a dynasty with the 1970s Oakland A’s.

Dan talks to three of the game’s most respected observers: Jayson Stark of The Athletic, Buster Olney of ESPN and Jon Paul Morosi of MLB Network and Fox. They discuss the state of the game, covering everything from shifts and the pace of play to broader issues, including the possibility of expansion, realignment and changes to the playoff format.

Dan talks with two of this year’s Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees, Pedro Martinez and Lloyd Moseby. Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis joins the show to discuss overcoming two years of serious injuries. And this week’s Voices of the Game segment features one of baseball’s most colourful characters, John Kruk.

The Sheepdogs lead singer Ewan Currie and his dad, Neil, talk sports and music; Blue Jays outfielder Randal Grichuk remembers little league, and his father’s impact as a coach; and Ben Shulman turns the microphone around on Dan in this week’s Voices of the Game segment. Thanks to The Sheepdogs for providing the music this week. Tour dates at www.thesheepdogs.com

Dan sits down with Yankees manager Aaron Boone to discuss his family’s long history in the game and his move from the broadcast booth to the dugout. Dan also chats with Blue Jays special assignment scout Russ Bove during baseball’s amateur draft and with Hall of Fame announcer Marty Brennaman of the Cincinnati Reds on his 40-plus years calling games for one of baseball’s most iconic franchises.

Dan sits down with two first-time big league managers, Alex Cora of the Red Sox and Gabe Kapler of the Phillies. Another Phillie, Victoria’s Nick Pivetta, discusses his journey to becoming a starter in the majors. And Dan catches up with ESPN play-by-play man Sean McDonough, who called both Blue Jays World Series for CBS.

Dan chats with Mike Trout about how he continues to push himself, and with those who watch him on a daily basis about what makes Trout so special. Also, Oakland’s Sean Manaea reflects on his no-hitter against the Red Sox, and Dan talks with two expected 2018 first-round picks, Canadians Tristan Pompey and Noah Naylor. Plus, Ben starts a new job as the play-by-play voice of the Intercounty League’s Barrie Baycats.

Dan sits down with Paul Beeston, the first man ever hired by the Blue Jays and the franchise’s philosophical leader for the better part of three decades. Then Luke Maile offers some insights into life as an MLB catcher. And this week’s Voices of the Game segment features Hall of Fame announcer Eric Nadel of the Texas Rangers discussing his 40 years in the booth.

Dan is joined by a couple of Blue Jays: centre-fielder Kevin Pillar, who discusses going from a 32nd-round pick to a Gold Glove candidate; and team president and CEO Mark Shapiro, who talks about building a franchise from the ground up and why he took the top job in Toronto.

Dan is joined by Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos who discusses his career and players he targeted for the Blue Jays at the 2015 MLB trade deadline but couldn’t acquire, by Basketball Hall of Famer and big baseball fan Dick Vitale, and by Toronto starter Marco Estrada, who goes into detail about how he developed his devastating change-up.

Dan sits down with Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins to discuss his life in the game. Then Don Cherry joins Dan to tell some stories about his baseball-playing days. New radio voice of the Jays, Ben Wagner, explains his unique road to the booth and Ben (Shulman, not Wagner) visits Yankee Stadium as part of his quest to see all 30 MLB ballparks.

Dan talks to John Gibbons about his long and winding path to becoming Blue Jays manager, David Cone about the 1992 World Series and Indians play-by-play man Tom Hamilton about the best moment of his career. Then Ben sits down with Toronto assistant GM Joe Sheehan to discuss the rise of analytics in baseball.

Dan explores Jackie Robinson’s legacy with MLB pitchers CC Sabathia and Chris Archer, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick and ESPN baseball analyst Chris Singleton. Other topics include: Sabathia’s love for Star Wars, Archer’s thoughts on Tampa Bay’s rotation experiment and Kendrick’s story of how Rush frontman Geddy Lee’s passion for the game enriched his museum’s collection.

Dan is at Rogers Centre with Aaron Sanchez to talk about his Little League career and fatherhood, visits with Terry Francona in Anaheim to discuss his time with the Expos and breaking the Red Sox curse, and sits down with Jerry Howarth to reminisce about four decades in the broadcast booth. Dan also introduces his son, Ben, the show’s researcher and social-media expert. Tweet your questions and comments to #aswingandabelt.

In the latest audio project from Sportsnet, Dan Shulman brings his decades of baseball knowledge to this MLB and Toronto Blue Jays podcast, in which he pulls back the curtain on the sport. Because everyone in the game has a story . . . a human story. A Swing and a Belt with Dan Shulman begins April 5 with new episodes every Thursday through the baseball season.