The On Deck Podcast

In this episode, I give a quick update on where the podcast has been and what you can expect moving forward. Then we dive into the current MLB landscape with a full breakdown of the American League and National League standings, discussing which teams are exceeding expectations, who's starting to pull away in the playoff race, and which clubs need to turn things around before it's too la...

Episode 37 of The On Deck Podcast features a special guest and former D’Youville teammate, Mateo Santos — my 7th-floor neighbour and day-one Spartan from the 2019–2020 season. We talk about his journey from joining a D3 program to graduating from a D2 school, the culture shift that came with it, and whether he’d change anything about his career as a C/1B. Mateo shares what people on the outside do...

In this episode of The On Deck Podcast, I’m joined by AJ Rowe from the Painting the Black podcast for a deep dive into MLB’s biggest free-agent moves. We break down the headline signings of Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, and Bo Bichette, giving our honest reactions to the contracts and team fits. From value to long-term impact, we analyze what these deals mean for the league moving forward. We also...

On this episode of The On Deck Podcast , AJ Rowe joins me to cover the full spectrum of MLB hitter free agency, from star bats and everyday contributors to depth pieces and bounce-back candidates. We break down how players like Cedric Mullins, Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber, Ha-Seong Kim, Adolis García, and Jorge Polanco fit into their new teams, looking at roles, versatility, defence, and lineup imp...

In this episode of the On Deck Podcast, Josh Kalmin takes us back to the moment he realized something was truly wrong with his arm. He walks us through the emotions leading up to surgery, the toughest parts of early rehab, and the mental battles that come with rebuilding from scratch. We dive into the milestones of his throwing program, the moments of doubt, and how he eventually regained his stre...

Episode 33 of The On Deck Podcast dives deep into one of the most dramatic and unpredictable World Series matchups in recent memory — the Blue Jays vs. the Dodgers. Roberto breaks down every game, from the Jays’ explosive Game 1 and Addison Barger’s historic pinch-hit grand slam to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s complete-game masterpiece in Game 2 and Shohei Ohtani’s offensive dominance in Game 3. The serie...

In this episode of The On Deck Podcast , I sit down with my mom and my brother, Lu, for a fun family debate about the game we all know and love. We talk about who the most talented player of all time is, what the hardest position in baseball might be, and how to make the game more exciting for casual fans. Plus, Lu gets called out to see how many at-bats he’d need to get a hit off a 95 mph fastbal...

In Episode 31 of the On Deck Podcast , I’m joined by a longtime teammate and battery mate, Graham Henry. From our days together in 18U Leaside to linking up again this past summer with Leaside Senior, we’ve built years of chemistry on the diamond. We dive into Graham’s unique perspective, having played in both the OUA with Laurier and the OCAA with Seneca, breaking down the differences and tendenc...

Episode 30 of The On Deck Podcast is a milestone as Roberto delivers the very first video podcast. This episode dives into his trip to Regina for the Senior Baseball Nationals, giving listeners an inside look at the week-long experience. Roberto sits down with players to capture their perspectives while also sharing his own reflections on the tournament. The mix of interviews, stories, and persona...

In episode 29 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto covers several major MLB headlines, including Roman Anthony’s surprising eight-year, $180M extension with the Red Sox, Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s record-setting homer off 104 mph heat from Mason Miller, and Devin Williams’ rough season with the Yankees. He also dives into the Angels’ unexpected 5-0 dominance over the Dodgers this year, highlighted by a lig...

On Episode 28 of The On Deck Podcast , host Roberto breaks down the wild 2025 MLB Trade Deadline. The Padres made the biggest splash, landing flamethrower Mason Miller and adding serious depth across the board. The Mariners quietly won big too, adding power bats like Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor without giving up top prospects. Meanwhile, the Astros shocked everyone by bringing back Carlos Corre...

In Episode 27 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto dives deep into the 2025 All-Star festivities, covering everything from the Futures Game to the revamped Home Run Derby and the dramatic All-Star Game itself. He highlights standout performances from rising prospects like Trey Yeasavage, Jonah Tong, and George Lombard Jr., and voices his frustration with the Futures Game being limited to just seven in...

In Episode 26 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto breaks down both the American and National League All-Star ballots, spotlighting major snubs like Jonathan Aranda, Brandon Lowe, Jeremy Peña, Byron Buxton, Hunter Goodman, Elly De La Cruz, and James Wood. He critiques the flaws in the fan voting process, arguing it often favours popularity over performance, with examples like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts,...

In this episode of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto sits down with pitcher Malkolm Barrett for a deep dive into the art and mindset of pitching. They discuss when Malkolm first started taking pitching seriously, his pregame rituals, and the toughest pitch he’s had to master. He shares what pitch he leans on in high-pressure moments and the one he's working to add to his arsenal. The conversation...

In episode 24 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto covers a wave of exciting MLB prospect call-ups—highlighting Jack Caglianone, Jacob Misiorowski, Roman Anthony, and Christian Moore—and breaks down their early performances and long-term upside. He also reacts to the shocking Rafael Devers trade from the Red Sox to the Giants, questioning Boston’s direction while praising San Francisco’s push for cont...

In Episode 23 of the On Deck podcast, host Roberto breaks down Tarik Skubal’s dominant Maddux performance against the Guardians, praising his elite command and rising Cy Young candidacy. He also covers a string of pitching injuries around the league, including Ronel Blanco, A.J. Smith-Shawver, and Evan Phillips, and what they mean for teams like the Astros and Braves. Roberto analyzes the Dodgers-...

In episode 22 of the On Deck podcast, Roberto breaks down Ronald Acuña Jr.'s electric return to the Braves following his ACL rehab, highlighting concerns about his speed on the basepaths. He then covers Alex Bregman's unfortunate quad injury and how it led to top Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer's MLB debut, with potential lineup implications. Roberto also praises Pete Crow-Armstrong’...

In this week’s episode of On Deck , we break down the latest wave of MLB roster moves—from Roki Sasaki’s concerning injury and drop in velocity to the Dodgers DFA'ing longtime vets Austin Barnes and Chris Taylor, and calling up top prospect Dalton Rushing. We also cover the Cubs' promotion of Moisés Ballesteros, Brandon Hyde’s firing in Baltimore, and the Orioles’ struggles that could le...

In episode 20 of the On Deck podcast, Roberto breaks down the Rockies and Pirates firing their managers, pointing to deeper issues within both franchises. He also dives into Javy Báez’s surprising resurgence in center field and what it means for the Tigers. To wrap it up, Roberto shares his take on the Rafael Devers position controversy and why the Red Sox should consider calling up Roman Anthony.

In Episode 19 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto is joined by his mom for a heartfelt and entertaining conversation. She reflects on her experience as his first baseball coach and shares whether she ever imagined him playing the sport seriously. As a now-regular baseball viewer, she offers unique takeaways and insights into the game. They wrap up by discussing her thoughts on MLB rule changes and he...

In this episode of The On Deck Podcast , host Roberto sits down with Ethan Sanasie-Edwards to discuss his athletic transition from hockey to baseball and whether he buys into the quirky superstitions that often come with the sport. Ethan highlights why Kristian Campbell is a player to watch this season and breaks down the Red Sox’s loaded lineup. The two also compare two-way sensation Shohei Ohtan...

In Episode 17 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto breaks down that Tyler Soderstrom, Corbin Carroll, Mike Trout, and Cal Raleigh are tied for the league lead in home runs, with Soderstrom and Carroll being the most surprising breakout power hitters so far. Oakland’s youth movement is exciting, with guys like Nick Kurtz, Mason Miller, and Zack Gelof giving A’s fans real hope for the future. Devin Will...

In Episode 16 of The On Deck Podcast , Host Roberto sat down with Melissa Verge, a passionate writer for the Canadian Baseball Network, to explore her journey into the world of women’s baseball. Melissa shared how her early love for the game and experience in softball shaped her path into sports journalism, eventually leading her to spotlight the stories of female athletes. We dove into the growth...

In Episode 15 of The On Deck Podcast , Roberto breaks down the impact of Justin Steele’s UCL injury on the Cubs’ rotation and discusses potential trade targets like Sandy Alcántara. He highlights Spencer Strider’s solid season debut and milestone 500th strikeout, as well as Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s first homer of the season. Chris Bassitt’s dominant outing and the Blue Jays’ record-setting 19 strik...

In this episode of The On Deck Podcast , hosted by Roberto, the discussion opens with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension and its implications for the long-term outlook of the Toronto Blue Jays. The episode then shifts to an early-season evaluation of several teams—namely the Tigers, Angels, Blue Jays, Giants, and Cubs—who are off to unexpectedly strong starts. Roberto provides insight...