Bat Flips and Maple Dips

BFMD Episode 175 – Jays Trade for Chapman, Don’t Sign Freeman

Summary

Matt Chapman is a Toronto Blue Jay! The team traded 4 prospects including Kevin Smith and Gunnar Hoglund to Oakland for the platinum glove third baseman. This gives Toronto an elite defender and adds another 25+ HR hitter to the already deep lineup.

Justin and Patrick break down the trade and discuss the benefits of having a vacuum cleaner at the hot corner in the AL East.

The Jays did miss out on Freddie Freeman, who signed with the Dodgers. Watch out for that lineup! Kris Bryant went to the Rockies and Matt Olson was dealt to Atlanta where he signed a long term extension.

Also on the show: notes from Spring Training, Tatis Jr. is an idiot, and free Joey Votto!

Best wishes to Jamie Campbell as he battles cancer. You’ve got this, Jamie!

BFMD Episode 165 – 2021 Blue Jays Hitting & Fielding Grades

Summary

Justin and Patrick are back with the 2021 hitting and fielding grades for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Unlike previous years where we struggled to hand out As and Bs, this year is full of them! Which catcher got the best grade? What did we think about Grichuk and Springer?

Tune in to hear all of the grades and a teaser for our next episode!

BFMD Episode 157 – Berrios Baffles Twins

BFMD 417 – The Injuries Never Cease – Bat Flips and Maple Dips – A Toronto Blue Jays Podcast

Dylan Cease has hit the IL for the first time in his career. As the news hit during the recording session, Justin and Patrick discuss the ramifications. Vladdy took a pitch to the elbow and is out of the lineup today, but it isn't a serious concern. He should be back in soon. The guys preview the pitching matchups with the Marlins, and play a fun trivia game to open the show.

Coming off of a weekend series win against the Twins, the Blue Jays find themselves 1.5 games clear of the New York Yankees for the 2nd Wild Card spot in the American League. They trail the Boston Red Sox by 1 game for the 1st Wild Card spot.

Jose Berrios was dialed in against his former team on Sunday after the bats staked him to a 5 run lead. Vladdy has his average up to .321 with 46 HR and 105 RBI as he chases the Triple Crown and MVP.

The Jays placed the struggling Hyun-jin Ryu on the IL with a neck strain as they hope the rest will help him sort out the command issues that have plagued him in the 2nd half.

It’s on to Tampa for one final regular season series with the 1st place Rays.

Justin and Patrick will be back at the conclusion of Wednesday’s game with another episode of BFMD!

BFMD Episode 155 – A Crazy Weekend in Baltimore

BFMD 417 – The Injuries Never Cease – Bat Flips and Maple Dips – A Toronto Blue Jays Podcast

Justin and Patrick a back to break down a WILD weekend in Baltimore and to highlight Teoscar’s magnificent season.

On Friday night the Baltimore Orioles ended the Toronto Blue Jays 8-game winning streak.

On Sunday the Jays left no doubt and racked up 22 runs in a 22-7 win of the first Sunday of the NFL season.

In between was a WILD doubleheader the likes of which we may never see again.

After the dust settled the Jays now find themselves in a tie for the first Wild Card spot with the Red Sox and have 2 games in hand. A difficult series against the first place Tampa Bay Rays looms.

Will the Blue Jays keep winning?

BFMD Episode 154 – Semien & Gurriel Power Winning Streak

BFMD 417 – The Injuries Never Cease – Bat Flips and Maple Dips – A Toronto Blue Jays Podcast

Triple Crown Watch! Vladdy is now leading the AL in average and is only 3 HR and 5 RBI behind the leaders.

Winners of 5 in a row your Toronto Blue Jays have closed to within 3.5 games of the 1st Wild Card spot.

Justin & Patrick are here to break down the sweep against the A’s and game 1 victory against the Yankees.

George Springer is clearly playing hurt but does his presence still benefit the lineup?

Nate Pearson is back with the club. Hear our reactions to that and to Bryan Baker’s debut.

Marcus Semien is now the franchise record holder for HR by a 2nd baseman in a single season and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. just keeps producing runs.

BFMD Episode 153 – Grichuk vs Gurriel

BFMD 417 – The Injuries Never Cease – Bat Flips and Maple Dips – A Toronto Blue Jays Podcast

There are 30 games left in the season. The Toronto Blue Jays need at least 22 wins. That’s going to be tough.

Justin and Patrick talk about that, Robbie Ray being AL Pitcher of the Month, and provide roster and injury updates.

The big topic on the day is Randal Grichuk vs Lourdes Gurriel Jr. They’ve both had consistent playing time over the past 75 games and their numbers are very different.

Next up: 3 games vs the Oakland Athletics before a trip to the Bronx for 4.

Make or break time.

BFMD Episode 151 – Things Are Not Great

BFMD 417 – The Injuries Never Cease – Bat Flips and Maple Dips – A Toronto Blue Jays Podcast

After losing 4 of 5 to the Nationals and Tigers the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves 4.5 games back of the second Wild Card spot in the American League.

Things won’t be getting any easier as the Chicago White Sox come to town for 4 games this week.

Justin and Patrick break down where it’s all going wrong for the Jays and talk about why it isn’t time to lose hope.

There are 40 games left and those games include series against Oakland, New York and a bunch of teams with poor records. Assuming that the bats wake up this is still a dangerous baseball team!

BFMD Episode 150 – Losing Ground

Summary

It’s BFMD 150! Thanks to all who have listened over the past 3+ years. You are all greatly appreciated.

The Toronto Blue Jays went 4-5 on the west coast, and Justin and Patrick are hear to break down where it all went wrong.

George Springer is day-to-day after suffering an ankle injury that looked scary. Cavan Biggio, Nate Pearson and Tim Mayza are all rehabbing in Buffalo, and Teoscar Hernandez won AL Player of the Week!

The Jays are headed to D.C. for 2 games against the now rebuilding Nationals before starting a 7-game homestand.

Currently 4.5 back of a Wild Card spot now is the time for a win streak to start!

BFMD Episode 148 – Springer Stomps Sox

Summary

On the back of a clutch George Springer the Toronto Blue Jays took 3 of 4 games from their rival Boston Red Sox to cap a 9-2 homestand. The team is fired up and now head out to Anaheim and Seattle to take on two of the teams they are battling in the Wild Card race.

Justin and Patrick break down the Boston series, tee up the Angels, and give the Canadian Olympic team a shoutout after a record breaking games.

Will the Jays be able to keep their momentum? Will Tampa Bay ever lose again?

We will be back LATE Thursday to record to keep an eye out for a new episode Friday morning.

Thank you for listening!

BFMD Episode 145 – Buy or Sell?

Summary

After a rough week of games against the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, Justin and Patrick break down what happened to the Toronto Blue Jays.

With a big 4-game series at Fenway Park looming should the Blue Jays be buyers or sellers ahead of Friday’s trade deadline? Will the Jays make a move for a big name like Jose Ramirez or Max Scherzer? Will top prospects be included in deals?

The Jays shook up the batting order on Saturday and the top 5 all had a nice weekend. The bottom of the order needs production as Grichuk, Gurriel, Biggio, Espinal, McGuire and Kirk search for consistency.

We’ll be back on Thursday to preview the deadline!