At The Letters

Another top prospect has arrived in Toronto, and he’s making a strong first impression. This week, Arden and Ben break down Gabriel Moreno’s MLB debut (08:45), look ahead at some potential trade deadline priorities (30:00) and discuss the Blue Jays legacy of Hyun-Jin Ryu (47:37). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. C...

The Blue Jays’ lineup is finally producing again, but some questions linger on the pitching staff. Arden and Ben discuss the Blue Jays’ high-flying offence (08:32), wonder which Jays might make their first All-Star Game (19:00) and weigh in on the latest developments around Stripling, Gausman and Berríos (22:35). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nic...

The Blue Jays are going streaking! Arden and Ben get into Toronto’s surging offence (1:00) and the club’s impressive catching depth (5:40 ) before making note of a couple of retirements from the 2015 and ‘16 ALCS teams (25:00) and wondering how sustainable the club’s current bullpen workload is (41:30). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling an...

It’s been a tough month for the Blue Jays offence, but does that mean the club needs to make drastic changes or continue trusting the process? Ben and Arden react to a listener email wondering about a new voice on the coaching staff (01:20), dive into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s struggles (16:55), note some standout performances from the club’s rotation (33:45), and discuss Danny Jansen’s pull-heavy a...

The Blue Jays still aren't hitting to their potential, but there's lots of intrigue around the team. This week, Arden and Ben discuss the Blue Jays offensive struggles despite recent wins (12:09), take a look at Vladimir Guerrero Jr's last couple of weeks (31:52), give Yusei Kikuchi some credit (41:31) and wonder if the bullpen needs more swing and miss (48:51). This episode is produced and sound...

The Blue Jays have played roughly one-fifth of their season now. Thirty games in, Arden and Ben discuss the Jays' slow start at the plate (00:26) the top of their starting rotation (32:40) and some behind-the-scenes observations from an intense stretch of games (41:26). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us:...

It feels like every inning of this season has been tense, doesn't it? Arden and Ben discuss those early-season nail-biters (00:26) before looking at the Jays' slow-starting offence (15:08) and discussing an under-the-radar prospect (34:57). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us:  attheletters@sportsnet.ca Au...

Thanks to some impressive depth performances, the Blue Jays are off to the kind of hot start that has often eluded them in recent years (00:32). Arden and Ben wonder what aspects of their success are most sustainable (07:34) before looking at Yusei Kikuchi's slow start in more detail (43:50), and they discuss the historically low batting average we’ve seen to this point in the season across MLB (3...

Arden and Ben sit down with Kevin Gausman to talk about his path to the big leagues, being part of a history pennant race last season, his favourite pitchers growing up, how everything unravelled this off-season, when he began to develop his pitches including his splitter, why he was a fan of the Colorado Rockies, what he’s looking forward to this season, and why he loves yoga and pilates. This ep...

The day has finally arrived! Arden and Ben give you their 2022 Blue Jays over/unders (23:30). But before they get into it, they open the podcast by discussing the latest news around the club (03:54), the injury we should be most concerned about (14:10), and they send their well wishes to Buck Martinez as he begins his cancer treatment. This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Rya...

One turn through the rotation, what have we learned about the Blue Jays? After discussing the Blue Jays' impressive defence (08:00) Arden and Ben take a look at the team's starting pitching (22:54) before taking stock of the catching mix without Danny Jansen (38:58). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us:  a...

Arden and Ben had the opportunity to sit down with Toronto starting pitcher Alek Manoah while they were in Dunedin for Spring Training. Manoah talked about his rookie season and facing adversity, what he worked on in the off-season, opening up his own gym, some of the challenges he faced growing up, his friendship with Hyun-jin Ryu and their love of good food. This episode is produced and sound en...

Arden and Ben are joined by Opening Day starter José Berríos who talks about being traded from Minnesota, the seven-year extension he signed this off-season, what makes Toronto special, when he realized he could be a big leaguer, finding a routine that works for him, and the importance of family. This episode is produced and sound engineered by Amil Delic, mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Ard...

Ben joins from Dunedin to offer his observations from Blue Jays camp (01:08), before the guys weigh in on Gosuke Katoh cracking the opening day roster (03:24), the club’s acquisition of Zack Collins (08:16), a flurry of bullpen news (19:21), Charlie Montoyo’s extension (31:21), and how Toronto will look to manage player workload this season (47:29). This episode is produced and sound engineered by...

On the last off day of the spring, Arden and Ben talk Blue Jays in Florida. After assessing, the state of the roster (00:01) the discussion turns to some under-the-radar bullpen candidates (13:00). And finally, an interview with Alejandro Kirk (31:00). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Amil Delic and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us:  attheletters@sportsn...

Arden and Ben are both in Florida for a busy edition of ATL. First, the consequences of Pete Walker’s arrest (2:00). Then a look at the Raimel Tapia acquisition (9:50), an interesting decision by some pre-arbitration eligible Jays (28:40) and upcoming renovations at Rogers Centre (41:10). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Amil Delic and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelli...

A new third baseman changes the dynamic on the Blue Jays’ infield. Plus: Arden’s observations from Dunedin, Fla., what’s next for the Blue Jays after trading for Matt Chapman (01:23) and a look at some spring position battles in Jays camp (40:58). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us:  attheletters@sportsne...

Baseball is back and the Blue Jays are already making moves. First, a look at how the new CBA may impact the Jays (13:16). Then, Arden and Ben look at the addition of Yusei Kikuchi (29:03), anticipate what’s next for the Toronto front office (36:17) and discuss the return of Josh Donaldson to the AL East (54:43). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nic...

The new CBA will eventually have some major implications for the Blue Jays (18:00). Plus, Arden and Ben wonder how teams should now be strategizing (33:00), anticipate a wild post-lockout week and explore a parallel between Juan Soto and Vlad Jr. (50:00). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us:  attheletters@...

With spring training likely to be delayed, Ben and Arden turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ top prospects. This week Ben Badler of Baseball America joins ATL to discuss Gabriel Moreno (10:57), Jordan Groshans (28:29), Orelvis Martinez (21:47) and some lesser-known minor-leaguers in the Jays’ system (50:29).  This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zw...

Shi Davidi joins Arden and Ben for a wide-ranging discussion about the latest off-field developments in MLB. First, a look at possible extensions for Vlad and Bo (1:00) followed by a discussion about Jaime Vieira, the Blue Jays’ first female coach (29:10), and a look at how CBA talks may impact the Jays (47:15). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Amil Delic, mixed by Mike Rogerson, a...

What’s a realistic expectation for Vlad Jr. in 2022 (9:38)? What other Jays could be in line for big extensions(1:01:52)? And how to make sense of that Freddie Freeman talk (24:32)? Ben and Arden take a wide assortment of questions in this holiday mailbag edition of At the Letters. This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nicholson-Smith....

First, a wild week of activity … and then a lockout (4:00). Arden and Ben break down the Blue Jays’ deal with Kevin Gausman (13:00) discuss the departure of Robbie Ray (19:00) and preview next steps as the baseball industry enters a lockout (40:20). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan, and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Watch the podcast on YouTube Th...

The Blue Jays are spending big to keep Jose Berrios – so what does this seven-year deal mean (1:00)? Plus, Arden and Ben break down the Blue Jays’ place in the starting pitching market (25:30), credit Robbie Ray for a Cy Young season (38:00) and discuss some challenges of awards voting (46:00). This episode is produced and sound engineered by Andrew Norton and hosted by Arden Zwelling and Ben Nich...

The Blue Jays are keeping their options open, but the market’s actually moving better than expected. So what happens from here? Ben joins Arden from the GM Meetings to talk Steven Matz, Scott Boras and the Jays’ potential targets. This episode is produced and sound engineered by Christian Ryan and hosted by Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. Contact us: attheletters@sportsnet.ca The views and...