The JD Bunkis Podcast

JD reacts to Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins speaking to the media. Ariel Helwani joins JD (7:00) to go through his sports trauma, why he's bitter about the Dodgers victory lap, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's probe on fight-fixing in the UFC. Next, JD gets into what he thought were the most important comments made at the conference by Shapiro and Atkins...

Nick Kypreos of Real Kyper & Bourne joins JD to break down the biggest issues with the Leafs early in the season. They dive into the effort conundrum, the impact of undefined roles, how the powerplay might improve, what the Leafs could deal at the deadline and the best way to handle Easton Cowan. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (33:00)  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are tho...

JD reacts to Mark Shapiro's message to Blue Jays nation, before reflecting the front office's journey and what message(s) to expect from Shapiro and Ross Atkins in today's end-of-season press conference (00:00). Jackie Redmond of the NHL on TNT and WWE Network, joins JD (12:00) to lament about the end of the Blue Jays season, draw comparisons to the Maple Leafs, and outline the complicated feeling...

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to detail Shane Bieber's decision to return to the Blue Jays (00:00). JD and Ben turn their attention to the other pitchers in the Jays 2025 starting rotation to discuss which pitchers could, or should, return to the Jays in 2026 (8:00). They foreshadow what the strategy of Jays ownership and management will be during the offseason, how they can take advant...

JD reacts to the news of Shane Bieber exercising his 2026 player option to stay with the Blue Jays (00:00). Joseph Casciaro from theScore joins JD to continue the conversation about the beloved Blue Jays, before turning the page to the Raptors (15:00). JD and Joseph sift through some early season impressions from the Raptors; RJ Barrett as the vocal leader, playmaking by committee, how Brandon Ing...

Charles McDonald from Yahoo Sports joins JD to break down his takeaways from the Bills winning streak against the Chiefs in the regular season, why the Cowboys are buyers at the trade deadline, and what teams are real through Week 9 (00:00). Later, JD then explains why he thinks the Bills still have the best chance to knock-out the Chiefs in the AFC, before wrapping up the show with 'What We Misse...

JD hopes the Leafs can use their comeback victory to begin formulating a team identity (0:00). James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, joins JD to discuss the Leafs volatile effort, how the Leafs can separate from the mushy-middle of the Eastern Conference, if he's buying what he's seeing from Nick Robertson, Matias Macelli being healthy scratched by Craig Berube, Bobby McMann's role and fit...

JD recaps a heartbreaking weekend for Blue Jays fans after the Jays lost Games 6 & 7 of the World Series at home to the Dodgers, and details the pain that comes from being a game away and eventually missing out on a championship (00:00). Ben Ennis, host of The FAN Morning Show joins JD to put a cap on the 2025 Blue Jays season (6:48), including the misery of watching the Dodgers' Game 7 comeback,...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, start with a look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' 3-1 loss to the LA Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series. They discuss Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dominance on the mound and the strange ninth inning which featured a wedged dead-ball and a wild double play to end the game. Then, they tee up Game 7, share their expectations from the starters in Max Scherz...

JD prepares for Game 6 of the World Series, as the Blue Jays have a chance to clinch their first championship since 1993 at Rogers Centre, before getting into the terrifying thought of the potential curse that is a Halloween game, and the importance of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to this team and fanbase (00:00). Cliff Floyd, 1997 World Series champion and MLB Network analyst, joins JD t...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show , discuss Trey Yesavage's historic Game 4 pitching performance to bring the Blue Jays within one win of their first World Series championship since 1993 (00:00). The guys dig into the numerous records set by the 22-year old Yesavage, and the impact he's made since arriving in the majors in September, before looking towards the future for this team...

JD revels in the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory over the Dodgers in LA, credits the team for their gusty performance by the team after the historically long Game 3 on Monday, and looks closer at the Vladimir Guerrero Jr.-Shohei Ohtani matchup (00:00). Jonathan Papelbon, '07 World Series champion, joins the show to discuss what we've seen during the Fall Classic (11:59), the pitching matchups throughout...

JD reacts to the heartbreaking Blue Jays loss to the Dodgers in 18 innings during Game 3 of the World Series, before dissecting the game's biggest moments (00:00). Jared Carrabis, host of the Baseball Is Dead podcast, joins the show to help break down the incredible action from the Fall Classic (10:52). The guys get into the craziness of the night, including the decisions made by managers John Sch...

JD recaps the weekend of baseball in Toronto as the Blue Jays split their two games with the Dodgers in their first World Series appearance since 1993, breaking down the highlights of Friday night's victory and how Los Angeles was able to even it up on Saturday (00:00). Eric Hosmer, 2015 World Series champion, joins the show to continue the conversation around the World Series. He dives into the i...

JD Bunkis is joined by Sam McKee, host and producer at Sportsnet 590 The FAN, to reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series. They discuss the Rogers Centre's electric atmosphere, Addison Barger's pinch-hit grand slam -- the first in Fall Classic history, and contributions from up and down the Jays' roster. Afterwards, the duo reacts to Bo...

JD opens with his thoughts ahead of Game 1 of the World Series in Toronto between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers, including the decision to start Trey Yesavage on Friday night at Rogers Centre (00:00). Adam Ottavino, former MLB reliever & host of Baseball and Coffee , joins the show to further break down Yesavage starting Game 1, the effect of Kevin Gausman pitching in Game 7 against the Mariners,...

JD takes a moment to discuss the market for World Series tickets in Toronto, the pricing amongst the secondary options, and the difficulty for true Blue Jays fans to get into the Rogers Centre for Game 1, before looking at his questions for the Jays heading into the Fall Classic (00:00). Jon Morosi, MLB Network insider, joins JD to chat about the World Series matchup between the Jays and the Los A...

JD reflects on the 2025 Blue Jays season so far with the World Series getting underway on Friday against the Dodgers, looking at the biggest contributors to the Jays' making their first appearance in Fall Classic since 1993 (00:00). Blake Murphy, host of Jays Talk Plus and The Raptors Show , joins JD in-studio to further discuss the chemistry of this Blue Jays squad, the progression of the offence...

JD celebrates the Blue Jays winning the ALCS against the Mariners in Game 7, as they move on to their first World Series since 1993 to take on the L.A. Dodgers (00:00). Ben Ennis, host of The FAN Morning Show , joins JD in-studio to further discuss the Jays' Game 7 victory (5:38), George Springer's legacy in Toronto after his game-winning 3-run home run, Mariners' skipper Dan Wilson's decision to...

JD gives his thoughts on the Blue Jays' split against the Mariners over the weekend, the belief in the team after pushing the series to seven games, other Toronto comparables to this postseason run by the Jays, and the historical impact Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having on the city and country with his incredible play in October (00:00). Sportsnet.ca's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins the show to add-on to...

JD gives his thoughts on Max Scherzer's exciting performance in the Blue Jays' Game 4 win against the Mariners, as they tied the ALCS with the Mariners (00:00). A.J. Pierzynski, former MLB catcher and FOX analyst, jumps on with JD to chat about the dynamics between starting pitchers and managers in the postseason, what stood out about Scherzer's performance in his first Blue Jays' postseason start...

JD breaks down the Blue Jays Game 3 win over the Mariners in Seattle, and recalls his keys for the Jays to get back into the series, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s offensive outburst, Shane Bieber's dominant start after a shaky first inning, and the contributions from the rest of the lineup (00:00). Joe Siddall, Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the show to continue the conversation about the...

JD opens the show with his thoughts ahead of Game 3 between the Blue Jays and Mariners, and looks back on the Jays resilient season so far as they head to Seattle to fight for a chance to come back home later in the series, before giving his keys for Toronto to extend the series (00:00). Then, Mike Futa, co-host of The FAN Hockey Show , jumps on with JD to chat about the Maple Leafs' start to the...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show , discuss the Blue Jays' Game 2 loss against the Mariners, as the Jays go down 0-2 in the ALCS (00:00). The guys debate John Schneider's decisions to pull his starting pitcher in both games to start the series, the strength of the Blue Jays' bullpen compared to the Mariners, the futility of Game 2 home plate umpire Doug Eddings in calling balls and...

JD outlines the Blue Jays' stressful 3-1 loss to the Mariners in Game 1 of the ALCS, the Jays squandering a good start against Seattle starter Bryce Miller, and Manager John Schneider's bullpen decision-making (00:00). Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins the show to detail the Jays offensive struggles against Miller, the impact of the loss of Nathan Lukes after fouling a ball off his knee in the...