Section 138: A Toronto Blue Jays podcast

Mark, Bryson and Jacob are back after the Toronto Blue Jays take a series win -- FINALLY -- against the Detroit Tigers. Despite the wins, the offense scored just six runs over the course of the three-game series. Will the imminent return of George Springer fix all of Toronto's problems? Just how great has the starting pitching been to keep the Blue Jays in games? What has to happen for the Blue Ja...

Robbie Ray put on the performance of the season his last time out, striking out 14 Chicago White Sox over seven innings and giving up one earned run. He's now firmly in the race for American League Cy Young and will command a hefty contract if and when he hits the free agent market. How much would the Blue Jays have to pay to re-sign him? What are his odds of winning the Cy Young Award? Mark, Brys...

It just keeps getting worse. The Toronto Blue Jays drop two of three to the Detroit Tigers in soul-crushing fashion, including a game that was within feet of victory on Sunday. While this doesn't change much about the crew's perspective on the season, it does spark a conversation about Charlie Montoyo. How much is he to blame for this weekend? What about his decision to pinch-hit for Alejandro Kir...

Oh boy. The Toronto Blue Jays are officially in free fall, getting swept by the Washington Nationals and only winning three games on their nine-game road trip, in addition to losing George Springer for at least a few weeks. Mark, Bryson and Jacob have come to the sad conclusion that the 2021 Blue Jays are not making the postseason. They discuss what a best-case scenario would look like at this poi...

In a rough series where the Toronto Blue Jays lost two of three to the Seattle Mariners, one thing is clear: Teoscar Hernández is carrying the Blue Jays right now. While George Springer might be headed to the injured list and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. starts to break out of his slump, Hernández is creeping up the AL batting leaderboards and is fresh off an AL Player of the Week award. Mark, Bryson and...

For whatever reason, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is in a deep slump. Should we be concerned? What should the Blue Jays do to try to fix it? How long will it last? Mark, Bryson and Jacob also discuss Toronto's disappointing series against the Los Angeles Angels, the recent success of George Springer and Ross Stripling's injury and how it solves the rotation problem. Subscribe to Section 138 on YouTube fo...

A Marcus Semien walk-off. A five-run comeback. George Springer's landmark moment as a Toronto Blue Jay. This series was one of the best homestands in franchise history, or at least the best in recent memory, and it all happened in front of the first home crowds the team has had in two years. Mark and Bryson discuss how big it was to take three of four against the Boston Red Sox, where the team is...

The Toronto Blue Jays did exactly what they needed to do against the Cleveland Guardians, winning three of four and climbing within 2.5 games of the wildcard spot. It was all thanks to the starting rotation, which will be facing a crunch over the next few days. Which of Steven Matz and Ross Stripling should move to the bullpen? Mark, Bryson and Jacob discuss that, plus whether Adam Cimber deserves...

WARNING: THIS PODCAST CONTAINS OVERWHELMING GOOD VIBES. The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a SERIES SWEEP of the Kansas City Royals as they play some of their best baseball in years. They're playing in front of a home crowd and have the energy of a late-season postseason push, and it's making them the most fun team in baseball. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting tied up in the dugout? Adam Cimber bei...

The trade deadline is officially in our rear-view mirror, and what a deadline it turned out to be. The Toronto Blue Jays acquired José Berríos, Brad Hand and Joakim Soria and parted ways with two of their top prospects, Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. It was a big asking price for Berríos and perhaps the biggest prospect haul of any deadline trade this year. Did the Blue Jays send too m...

The Toronto Blue Jays continued their second-half struggles in a series loss to the New York Mets, but the bright spot is a new-look lineup that appears to be clicking. Why did it take so long for George Springer to move back up to the leadoff spot? Should Alejandro Kirk be batting higher than eighth? What about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the two-hole? Mark, Bryson and Jacob also discuss what will h...

Ross Stripling had one of the worst starts of the season on Monday, giving up six runs and recording just one out. Is it time to move him to the bullpen, like many fans are suggesting? Who do you replace him with? Mark, Bryson and Jacob also discuss what the Blue Jays' approach should be to the trade deadline after a sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. Also discussed: The Blue Jays' return t...

We're officially halfway through the 2021 season. It's been a journey to get here for the Toronto Blue Jays, but we're still standing at the midway point. Mark, Bryson and Jacob dish out seven awards for first half performances and announce the results of the fan vote, which collected over 33,000 votes. Subscribe to Section 138 on YouTube for video podcasts and live streams: https://www.youtube.co...

At only a few games over .500 as the trade deadline approaches, Mark and Bryson ask the question: Should the Toronto Blue Jays trade Marcus Semien and Robbie Ray? They're both on expiring contracts and could command a large pool of talent in return. What would it do to Toronto's morale if they sold at the deadline? What are the potential benefits? Even if they won't, should they? We also discuss T...

It's Trade Deadline Central for the Toronto Blue Jays right now. Coming off a two-game split against the Baltimore Orioles, the Blue Jays have acquired Trevor Richards and Bowden Francis from the Milwaukee Brewers for Rowdy Tellez. They're also rumoured to be interested in Nelson Cruz and Craig Kimbrel. Does it make any sense for Toronto to try to improve the offense when the bullpen is still a we...

It's finally happening -- maybe. The Toronto Blue Jays might be coming back to the Rogers Centre on July 30 and the gang couldn't be more excited. After months of teasing, is it finally happening? Is August 20 a more realistic return date? What are our hopes for the grand home opener? Mark, Bryson and Jacob discuss that, plus the decision to keep using Rafael Dolis in high leverage situations, Tor...

The Toronto Blue Jays finally made a big move on the trade market, acquiring reliever Adam Cimber and outfielder Corey Dickerson from the Miami Marlins for Joe Panik and prospect Andrew McInvale. They've also shown interest in Pittsburgh Pirates closer Richard Rodríguez. Is this enough to make Toronto's bullpen playoff-caliber? Did the Blue Jays win this deal? What was the point of getting Dickers...

It's the MVP race of the decade: Toronto Blue Jay Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Los Angeles Angel Shohei Ohtani? On the one hand, Guerrero is having one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory, but on the other, Ohtani is doing things no one has ever seen before in the history of baseball. Mark, Bryson and Jacob discuss who they would vote for if they could and what to expect from the race as th...

The Toronto Blue Jays officially have their first four-game winning streak of the season as they complete the season sweep of the Miami Marlins. But they only scored five runs over the two-game series -- is that a cause for concern? What about George Springer, who finally made his triumphant return to the Blue Jays' lineup? Mark, Bryson and Jacob also discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s decision to no...

George Springer is nearly back and there's a very real possibility we see him in the Toronto Blue Jays' two-game set against the Miami Marlins. But his return presents another pressing question -- where do you hit him in the lineup? Mark, Bryson and Jacob banter about that, plus Toronto's bounceback series against the Baltimore Orioles and what relief help like Jacob Barnes and John Axford will do...

Where to start? The Toronto Blue Jays get swept by the New York Yankees in a brutal, bone-crushing three game collapse at Sahlen Field. It had everything: blown leads, players screaming at each other, getting screwed by the umpires and a triple play, not to mention a lifetime of anguish. Is this rock bottom for the Blue Jays? For all of our mental health, we hope so. Where does Toronto go from her...

Ohhhhhhhhh boy. What a series it was for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Boston Red Sox this weekend. Mark, Bryson and Jacob unpack all the takeaways from two blown games, plus a wild 18-4 win on Sunday. How ridiculous is Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season so far? What do the Blue Jays need to do to fix this team and bullpen? What can we blame on Charlie Montoyo and what should be blamed on the fron...

After a third consecutive sub-par start and underlying numbers indicating he's having a rough season, Hyun Jin Ryu is making some Toronto Blue Jays fans sweat. Should we be concerned about his long-term viability? What would it mean for the Blue Jays' rotation if he's struggling? Mark, Bryson and Jacob discuss a rough series against the Chicago White Sox, including questionable bullpen management...

The possibility of the Toronto Blue Jays actually returning to Canada got a big boost this week, as the NHL's plan for playoff hockey received the official approval of the federal government. When might we see the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre again? What's holding them back? Mark, Bryson and special guest David also discuss Toronto's latest series with the Houston Astros and the injury to Danny...

Major league start #2 is in the books for Alek Manoah, and it certainly didn't go as planned. Is there any possibility the Toronto Blue Jays subject him to a similar fate as Nate Pearson? Bryson and Jacob discuss Toronto's two-game sweep of the Miami Marlins, early MVP contenders and whether the team should consider extending AL Player of the Month Marcus Semien. Note: Apologies for the poor audio...