Around the Nest: Blue Jays MiLB Talk

The broadcast voices of the Toronto Blue Jays' MiLB affiliates reconvene to discuss time without baseball, from their personal moment of shutdown to the impending minor league contraction to the future of the Jays' system. Hosted by Jesse Goldberg-Strassler (Class-A Lansing), the lineup comprises Pat Malacaro (Class-AAA Buffalo); Bob Lipman, Tyler Murray, and Tyler Zickel (Class-AA New Hampshire); Rob Fai (Short-Season A Vancouver); and Zach Helton (Adv. Rookie Bluefield).

Once more with gusto: From each level of the Blue Jays' organization, from Buffalo to New Hampshire to Dunedin to Lansing to Vancouver to Bluefield, you'll hear our players of the year, our favorite memories, and our guys to watch out for in 2020. Thanks for supporting us all season!

*snap* Just like that, Dunedin's playoff-bound season is over (and so is the GCL Blue Jays' season). Hurricane Dorian is to blame; stay safe, Florida. We'll talk through the end of the line with Jim Tarabocchia, plus the latest huge attendances in Buffalo and Lansing, Thomas Hatch's 11-K gem, Dunedin's postseason All-Stars, three Fisher Cats infielders heading to the Arizona Fall League, and Alek "Mount" Manoah turned in another dominating line. Is it the end? If not, we're getting there soon.

Playoff chances suffered a blow throughout the system this week, with still only Dunedin assured a spot for postseason play among the Blue Jays' affiliates. But why talk about a 20-3 loss when we can discuss Nate Pearson's Triple-A debut amid a slew of Buffalo gems, plus Kevin Smith's two-homer game for New Hampshire, a 19-1 rout for Lansing, Adam Kloffenstein and Alex Nolan's continued dominance, and more, in our latest circuit around the Jays' farm system!

Bagels! Buffalo's TJ Zeuch, Dunedin's Maximo Castillo, and New Hampshire's Nate Pearson and Yennsy Diaz toss shutout ball, Vancouver's Luis Quinones is perfect and needs more attention, Lansing's Troy Watson (and the Lugnuts) is one batter away from nine-inning perfection, and the playoff push gets more urgent across the board. Join the broadcasters from the Blue Jays' organization for the latest word from the last week!

While Bo Bichette continues his record-breaking start to his Major League career, the week also saw big-time strikeout performances from Conor Fisk in Buffalo, Simeon Woods Richards in Dunedin, and Jimmy Robbins in Bluefield; Adam Kloffenstein, Trevor Schwecke and Philip Clarke represented the Jays at the Northwest/Pioneer League All-Star Game; Cobi Johnson posted hitless frames for Lansing; Patrick Kivlehan went yard twice for Buffalo, as did DJ Daniels for Bluefield; Reggie Pruitt moved up to Dunedin; Anthony Alford returned to Buffalo; and a whole lot more! Join us for the latest insights and outlooks from the last seven days around the Jays' organization.

The trade dealine has now passed and, with the exception of two PTBNLs from Tampa Bay, we know who the Blue Jays acquired for Marcus Stroman, David Phelps, Aaron Sanchez, Joe Biagini, Cal Stevenson, and Daniel Hudson. But... what do we really know about the new acquisitions? Expect a few guest voices as we talk about the newest names in the org., plus discuss Vancouver's three All-Stars, Griffin Conine's power binge, and more from around the Blue Jays' affiliates!

Nate Pearson turned in his latest impressive outing with 5 2/3 hitless innings, the Bisons hit seven home runs in a game, Lansing dealt with power outages, Dunedin was beset by rain and doubleheaders, and Brett Wright bat-flips a game-tying homer in the bottom of the 9th! From Will Robertson to Patrick Kivlehan, tune in for the latest in anecdotes and highlights from the past week's worth of the Blue Jays' organization!

We get it, and so does Bo Bichette - it feels like it's time, sooner or later, that he arrives in the Major Leagues, and he cracked two more home runs in a game this week to prove it. But we have a lot more than Bo on our minds in the Toronto system: It's Blue Jays Weekend in Buffalo; Kevin Smith enjoyed a power-packed weekend for New Hampshire; Ottawa native Demi Orimoloye has re-heated in Dunedin; Johnny Aiello produced highlights both offensively and defensively for Lansing; Luis Quinones impressed in Vancouver; and, after going over the top hit tools last week, we check in for the top pitching tools in Bluefield. It's the latest insights and outlooks from the Toronto Blue Jays organization, from the voices of the system!

This week in the Jays' system:  Vladdy Jr. made a name for himself hitting dingers in Cleveland, Kirby Snead represented the Buffalo Bisons at the Triple-A All-Star Game, three New Hampshire Fisher Cats participated in the Eastern League All-Star Game, the Dunedin Blue Jays' 11-game winning streak came at last to an end, the Lansing Lugnuts' pitching takes over on the road, Philip Clarke debuts with a bang in Vancouver, and the Bluefield Blue Jays keep on swinging.

How did the Jays' affiliates enjoy Canada Day and 4th of July? It's the week of the biggest crowds of the year in baseball, all the while the Bluefield Blue Jays pile up runs, the Vancouver Canadians' offense looks for a spark, Josh Winckowski posts zeroes, DJ Neal and LJ Talley come through in the clutch, Justin Shafer is named to the International League All-Star Team. and more from around the system!

It's good to be a Murray! Joey Murray struck out 12 batters in six innings with A-Adv. Dunedin while Tyler Murray, Voice of New Hampshire, joined Buffalo lead broadcaster Pat Malacaro on the road in Pawtucket. Elsewhere, four Fisher Cats were named Eastern League All-Stars, Angel Camacho and Spencer Horwitz are tearing it up for Bluefield, Yorman Rodriguez is off to a hot start for Vancouver, and the Lansing All-Stars distinguished themselves at the Midwest League Mid-Summer Classic! Join us for the latest as we Jay-talk around the system.

Dunedin Blue Jays Radio Broadcaster Jim Tarabocchia steps in to guest host

Congratulations, Toronto... and happy Opening Day, Vancouver! From the end of the NBA season to the start of the NWL season, the broadcasters of the Blue Jays' system are joined by the Voice of the C's, Rob Fai, to preview the season. Meanwhile, Dunedin's firing goose eggs, Santiago Espinal steals home to win in a walkoff, Bo Bichette rejoins Buffalo, and Lansing's ten-day road schlep has ended. It's the latest from around the organization!

The 2019 MLB Draft has come and gone, with a host of new players set to join the system. Until they do, we'll talk about the exploits of those drafted in previous seasons, like 2017 and 2018 2nd-rounders Hagen Danner and Griffin Conine, who led Class-A Lansing to a series victory over first-place Great Lakes; Joey Murray (8th round, 2018), Justin Dillon (10th round, 2018),  and Nick Allgeyer (12th round, 2018), who turned in gems for A-Adv. Dunedin; Patrick Murphy (3rd round, 2013), who gave up one run in seven innings for Double-A New Hampshire; and Graham Spraker (31st round, 2017), who shined in a promotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Plus, the Midwest League names its All-Stars, Jackson Rees gets a well-deserved promotion, and more.

The offensive performances were huge: Griffin Conine returned from suspension with a pair of blasts for Class-A Lansing, Logan Warmoth came a single from the cycle for Class A-Adv. Dunedin, Forrest Wall was unconscious for Class-AA New Hampshire, and Alen Hanson had a monstrous game for Class-AAA Buffalo in a 15-run romp! We're Jay-talking about everything we've seen from the last week's worth of action.

What's the latest in the Blue Jays' system? The Lugnuts' offense is rolling right along behind a cavalcade of stolen bases, as is the New Hampshire Fisher Cats' pitching staff behind dominant performances from Yennsy Diaz, Hector Perez and Patrick Murphy. In Buffalo, Sean Reid-Foley fires eight innings, striking out eight, while Cavan Biggio gets the Major League call. And in first place Dunedin, the D-Jays are playing doubleheaders galore to great success, with Dany Jimenez emerging out of the bullpen.

The Dunedin Blue Jays walk off in two straight games, Gabriel Moreno debuts with a bang as the Lugnuts pull off a home sweep in the midst of road woes, Buffalo gets Striped at home, and Brock Lundquist is catching fire for New Hampshire! It's the latest news and anecdotes from around the organization, as seen through the eyes of the radio broadcasters.

Tayler Saucedo and Ben Revere's in Buffalo, Nate Pearson and Riley Adams are in New Hampshire, Joey Murray and Alejandro Kirk are in Dunedin, and the Lansing Lugnuts are in Iowa City due to flooding in the Quad Cities. Meanwhile, Patrick Murphy and Shawn Morimando are tossing gems and Cre Finfrock debuts with a splash in the Midwest League. It's the latest check from around the Blue Jays' affiliates!

We've got movement! The Blue Jays are promoting pitcher Nate Pearson and Riley Adams to Double-A New Hampshire, which is sure to start a domino effect throughout the system. Jim Tarabocchia will let New Hampshire know what they're getting, plus more from the week that was in the Jays' organization