Claim OwnershipDeep Left Field with Mike Wilner
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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, Deep Left Field has everything you need to know about the Jays, specifically, and baseball in general.
330 Episodes
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Guests: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductees Stubby Clapp, Kate Psota, Paul Runge, Bill Stoneman, Devon White This week in Deep Left Field, we speak to every living member of the just-announced Class of 2026 for the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. They will be inducted in a ceremony in St. Marys, Ont. on June 20. Devon White, the greatest centrefielder in Blue Jays' history. Stubby Clapp, perhaps the living embodiment of the Canadian national team player. Kate Psota, one of the first superstar women's players in modern history. Bill Stoneman, who threw the first of his two no-hitters for the Montreal Expos in the ninth game in franchise history. Paul Runge, a St. Catharines, Ont. native who spent a quarter-century as a major-league umpire, including working the 1993 World Series between the Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. All those immortals of Canadian baseball, plus your thoughts in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm, former New York Post baseball columnist, now journalism professor and author Ken Davidoff This week in Deep Left Field, we talk labour. Baseball's Collective Bargaining Agreement expires this year and the stage is set for another off-season lockout, just like we saw five years ago. There's no question that the 2026 season will be played, but questions about 2027 loom large and we have convened a Deep Left Field panel to try to answer them. What do the owners want? What about the players? How united is each side? Will there be a work stoppage - the first since the 1994 strike - that delays the start of the 2027 season or worse? My Blue Jays beat partner Gregor Chisholm and longtime Yankees' columnist Ken Davidoff, author of the new book "101 Lessons From The Dugout" join me and we try to figure things out. All this, plus your thoughts and questions in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guests: Former Blue Jay Russell Martin, Mets pitcher Jonah Tong, Athletics' outfielder Denzel Clarke This week in Deep Left Field, we take you to New York City to hear what Bo Bichette had to say at the media conference that introduced him as a New York Met. We also go back to the Baseball Canada awards banquet to hear from Canadian baseball luminaries, including new Bichette teammate Jonah Tong, Denzel Clarke, who made MLB's catch of the year in Anaheim as a rookie last summer and Russell Martin, who discussed having two of his old teams facing off in the World Series (and having to pretend to be rooting for both). Plus, my take on the Cooperstown Class of 2026 and your thoughts in the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guest: Paul Sun-Hyung Lee of Kim's Convenience, The Mandalorian and more Bo Bichette agrees to a three-year contract with the New York Mets, ending the Bichette-Guerrero era with a thud. Reaction from Blue Jays' fandom has been all over the map, from devastation to "good riddance" and everywhere in between. We reach out to Canadian icon and huge Jays fan Paul Sun-Hyung Lee to discuss his feelings about Bichette moving on, what the Jays could have done differently and where they go from here. Plus, we open the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca for your thoughts on the move!
Guests: Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement, general manager Ross Atkins The face of the "Glue Jays," Ernie Clement, moves from the infield out to Deep Left Field to join us on the show this week. He talks about the immediate aftermath of Game 7 of the World Series in the clubhouse and gives his thoughts on the Jays' magical season and his magical post-season that fell just short. As well, Ernie fills us in on the pitch he made to Bo Bichette to stay with the Jays during Bichette's wedding. Also, the 2025 Blue Jays were given a Special Recognition Award at last weekend's Baseball Canada awards banquet. Ross Atkins joined me on stage to accept the award and for an interview, which you can hear here. Plus, as always, we open the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guest: Former Blue Jays all-star slugger Justin Smoak This week in Deep Left Field, we find out about the Blue Jays' new free-agent acquisition, Kazuma Okamoto, from someone who played with him. Justin Smoak, a five-year Jay and an all-star in 2017, when he hit 38 home runs, played his final professional season in Japan in 2021 as a teammate of Okamoto's, and joins us to give his up-close-and-personal scouting report on the Jays' $60 million (US) man, as well as some memories of playing with 20-year-old Vladimir Guerrero Jr. You'll also hear highlights of Okamoto's introductory news conference, where the six-time Japanese all-star talked about what brought him to Toronto and how he expects to contribute and also showed off his sneaky sense of humour. And, as always, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca to hear from you! 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/subscribe.
In this special bonus episode of Deep Left Field, we take an in-depth look at the Blue Jays first real foray into the Pacific Rim, the signing of six-time NPB all-star Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million (US) contract. Who is Okamoto and what does he bring? How does his signing affect the Jays' roster - who goes where? And, of course, what about Bo Bichette? The answers to all these questions, plus a dip into the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca, are all here for you on our first special bonus episode of 2026!
Guest: Former Toronto Blue Jay and Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Ross Stripling In our final episode of 2025 (or first of 2026, depending on when you listen), an old friend comes back to Deep Left Field for a long-overdue Long Toss With Ross segment. Ross Stripling, who spent the majority of his nine-year major-league career with the Jays and Dodgers, joins us to catch up and talk about watching his two teams square off in one of the greatest World Series of all time. Strip also fills us in on what the Jays picked up when they signed reliever Tyler Rogers earlier this month, given that they were teammates in San Francisco in 2023. As always, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca so that your voice can be heard! This week, we hear some reflections on 2025 and answer questions about Jose Berrios, the still-unresolved free agency of Bo Bichette and more!
Guest: Dave Bidini, Renaissance Man With the holidays upon us, we brought the biggest baseball romantic we know into Deep Left Field to talk about the magic that was the Blue Jays' 2025 season. Dave Bidini - author of multiple books including "Baseballissimo," publisher of the West End Phoenix, Toronto Star contributor and Rheostatics guitarist - joins us to wax poetic on the year that was, the post-season run and how he's handling the Blue Jays' loss in Game 7 of the World Series. And, as always, we open the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca (our inbox is always open) to hear your thoughts including, of course, questions about Bo Bichette's still-unresolved free agency.
Guests: New Blue Jays pitcher Cody Ponce, former Blue Jays pitcher Jay Jackson This week in Deep Left Field, we meet Cody Ponce, the right-hander the Jays signed earlier this month who is coming off the greatest season ever pitched in the Korea Baseball Organization. Ponce was introduced to the Toronto media this week, and we have highlights from that conversation, including what drew him to the Jays, his relationship with Hyun-Jin Ryu, what's changed since he was drummed out of the big leagues in 2021 and his deep and abiding love for all things Star Wars. Also, Jay Jackson joins us to give us an update on baby JR, who spent the first few months of his life in the NICU while his dad was pitching for the Blue Jays and is now a healthy, happy 2 1/2-year-old. Jackson also fills us in on new Jays acquisition Tyler Rogers, with whom he pitched for the San Francisco Giants in 2021, and gives some straight talk on how he believes the Jays have handled Bo Bichette's free agency so far. Plus, we open the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca - keep those cards and letters coming!
Guest: Toronto Star Baseball Columnist Gregor Chisholm This week in Deep Left Field, we wrap up the winter meetings with my partner on the Star's Blue Jays beat, Gregor Chisholm, who was in Orlando to watch the Jays introduce free-agent signee Dylan Cease and to talk to general manager Ross Atkins about the Jays' winter plans, Shane Bieber's forearm fatigue and Jose Berrios' state of mind, among other things. We also hear from newly-elected Hall of Famer Jeff Kent, baseball's all-time leader in home runs by a second baseman. Kent was drafted and developed by the Jays and, until he was traded for David Cone in August, was the only rookie on the eventual World Series champion 1992 Blue Jays for most of the season. And, as always, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca to hear from you!
Guests: Gord Ash, VP Baseball Projects, Milwaukee Brewers; Jee-ho Yoo, Yonhap News Agency This week in Deep Left Field, we get you set for Major League Baseball's annual swap meet and free-agent signing session, the winter meetings, by giving you a look from the inside. Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Gord Ash joins us to talk about what the meetings are like from a general manager's perspective. Ash was the Blue Jays' GM from 1995-2001 after working under Pat Gillick for six seasons. We also take you across the world to South Korea, where the Jays dove into the international market and pulled out right-hander Cody Ponce, who had a record-setting season with the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO, winning the pitching triple crown while establishing new league marks in ERA and strikeouts. Jee-ho Yoo, who spent his university days in Toronto, joins us from the far east to tell us what he saw from Ponce this season and what Jays fans can expect. And, as always, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca
Guests: Toronto Star baseball columnist Gregor Chisholm, Canadian Baseball League commissioner Ted Kalnins The Blue Jays have made their first big move of the off-season, agreeing to a seven-year, $210 million (US) contract with starting pitcher Dylan Cease - the biggest contract they've given to a free agent in franchise history. We're joined by Gregor Chisholm, my partner on the Star's baseball beat, to talk about the deal and what it means as the Jays go into their first off-season as pennant winners in over 30 years. And about Cease and what he brings to the team as well. Also, Ted Kalnins talks about what used to be the semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League, now re-branded as the Canadian Baseball League, one that's fully professional. Plus, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guests: Ryan Bondy (Book of Mormon), Jeff Madden (Jersey Boys, Shrek The Musical), Paloma Nunez (Second City) This week in Deep Left Field, we sit in the limbo between the end of the World Series and the beginning of the winter transaction season, so we took advantage and gathered some Canadian stars of stage and screen who also happen to be huge Blue Jays fans. Ryan Bondy, Jeff Madden and Paloma Nunez join us to talk about their memories and feelings about the Jays' magical 2025 that saw them get within two outs of winning the World Series, and we look ahead to the off-season with an eye on Bo Bichette and whether or not the Jays should keep the whole gang together in an attempt to run it back. Also, Madden fills us in on what it's like to sing the anthems at a Jays game. The mailbag is always open at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guest: Former Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly After three years with the Jays, Don Mattingly feels that his work is done and he is moving on. But before the 64-year-old tackles the next challenge in a life that has seen him involved in Major League Baseball since the New York Yankees drafted him in 1979, he joins us in Deep Left Field to talk about his time in Toronto. Mattingly went to the World Series for the first time this season and he discusses what they could have done better in the late innings of Game 7, but also compares this Jays team to his old Yankees teams in the mid-90s that would go on to build a dynasty. Also, as always, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
As they do at the end of every season, Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins meet the media to discuss the year just passed and to hint at their plans for the year to come. This year, for the first time in a long time, it wasn't a disaster. We take you through Shapiro and Atkins' availabilities and go through heir comments as they discuss, among other things, the impact that this World Series run had on the people they encountered, the unique toughness and cohesion of the 2025 Blue Jays, John Schneider's future and what might happen as Bo Bichette enters free agency for the first time. Plus, we open up the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca!
Guest: Former Blue Jay Kevin Kiermaier The off-season is upon us but the sad ending to the Blue Jays' season still lingers. We wanted to know what one of the greatest baserunners in baseball history thought about the bottom of the ninth of Game 7, so we reached out to Kevin Kiermaier and he joins us to answer some questions. Kiermaier discusses whether he thinks Isiah Kiner-Falefa should have scored on Daulton Varsho's one-out grounder in that inning, and what he would have done had he been on the bases. He also talks about the unique closeness of the Jays' clubhouse, Shane Bieber's return and what the next move might be for Bo Bichette and others. Plus, a quick dip into the mailbag at deepleftfied@thestar.ca!
Guest: Shane Bieber It only took three days for the most shocking move of the off-season to happen. Against all odds, Shane Bieber exercised his $16 million (US) player option and is staying with the Blue Jays for the 2026 season. The 30-year-old, a two-time all-star who won the Cy Young award in 2020, loved his two months as a Blue Jay and has unfinished business here, so he's sticking around to try to run it back. We spoke to Bieber after the Jays clinched the American League pennant, beating Seattle in Game 7 of the ALCS. You'll hear that conversation, in which he talks about how much he loves the Blue Jays, plus analysis of the move on this bonus episode of Deep Left Field!
It's the day after the day after and the Blue Jays' loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series is still a heartbreaking gut punch. We throw open the Monday Mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca to share your thoughts, feelings and questions about the game, the series and the season as a whole and hear from a wide range of listeners, from the zen-like appreciation of the Jays' magical year to the anger and frustration over opportunities missed by a team that had a championship within its grasp. And why did IKF slide? Plus, my thoughts on the grave injustice of Gold Gloves denied to Ernie Clement and Alejandro Kirk. 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/subscribe.
Guests: Chris Bassitt, Ernie Clement, Myles Straw, Daulton Varsho The baseball season is over and the Blue Jays fell short by two outs or one run, however you want to slice it. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat them 5-4 in 11 innings to finish one of the greatest World Series ever played with one of the greatest Game 7s. We went through the saddest clubhouse I have ever seen to bring you the post-game reactions of Ernie Clement and Chris Bassitt, who were in tears throughout their media scrum, Daulton Varsho, whose one-out grounder in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded couldn't plate the winning run, and Myles Straw, one of the "glue guys" on an extraordinarily close team. Also, we open the mailbag at deepleftfield@thestar.ca. It was a sad finish to a phenomenal season, and we still want to hear from you!
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What a nice young man Alek Manoah comes across as. Thoughtful, intelligent, straightforward, and no attempt to obfuscate. There's clearly a lot of respect between him and Mike (and other Jays' correspondents by the sound of things), and that made for a really interesting listen. Looking forward to seeing him pitch again in August, fingers crossed...
Wilner you are doing such a great job. Your pacing and rhythm you have in your interviews and the way you speak is just fantastic. Though what I love most is how you listen. It’s such a great quality in an interviewer. To let space happen, let thoughts happen and then wind them together in a great response that adds to your listeners enjoyment. As a songwriter and someone with Bipolar and ADHD I end up hyper focused on minute small things that others might not pay attention to. Pacing and space is one of them. Since leaving your last gig and then starting this podcast you’ve improved remarkably in that manner. I think the platform helps with that. Please keep up the great work and know that the people that listen keep listening because they can’t pull away. Much love and respect BiPolaRMaN Ps. If you like new music our group Special Agent Sunshine is on the come up in the Canadian seen. Feel free to check us out. Stay awesome 😊