dan shulman

SEASON 2 EPISODE 61: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN

A-Block (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: House Republicans have fully embraced Dementia J. Trump's tiny, ugly, Johnson. And even as Speaker Mike Johnson checks all the denialist nihilist boxes - he's homophobic, he wants to put abortion providers in prison, he wants to make gay sex illegal, he wants to spend taxpayer money on religious projects, he is so obscure that Senators Barrasso and Collins had no idea who he was - are the seeds already in price for his eventual dethroning?

On January 6th, during the insurrection, on Fox News, Mike Johnson CRITICIZED DONALD TRUMP. One can only assume that nobody has played the clip for Trump or said "Are you aware, sir, that he blamed you for not doing more to stop things, SIR?"

In the short term there is new reporting that Johnson was far more involved in the insurrection than originally known. He was the point man in the House's Amicus Brief to the Texas lawsuit to throw out the electoral results from Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Washington (a brief so controversial that other Republicans said Trump should preemptively pardon all the Congressmen who signed it). But now it turns out he briefed other Congressmen on January 5th on how to rationalize blocking the certification of Biden's victory on bullshit "constitutional" grounds. 

Meanwhile: when will a judge in this country do the right thing and put Trump in jail the way he would put you or me in jail? During the lunch break at the civil fraud trial yesterday, Trump AGAIN attacked Judge Arthur Engoron's clerk. The judge merely assessed a $10,000 fine. If you're not going to have the balls to put him in prison, at least get his attention. The fine should be $1,500,000,000. See what he does about that.

B-Block (19:43) IN SPORTS: Dusty Baker ends his baseball managerial career, while the only manager to commute with me on the New York Subway system shifts from San Diego to San Francisco. And Baseball's Hall of Fame announces ten nominees for its annual recognition of one great broadcaster and I've worked with three of them and four of them are good friends and good grief I'm old. (26:17) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Tommy Tuberville may have been thwarted by Senate Democrats. There's a Clarence Thomas money scandal (no, a DIFFERENT one), and here we go: Eric Adams says he was made mayor of New York City by God. Only this time it gets translated in real time into Spanish.

C-Block (32:47) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: America lost something when the intricate, rehearsed, multi-person practical joke vanished. 41 years ago this month I was fortunate to play a minor role in the greatest practical joke I ever witnessed, when we at the NFL player strike negotiations convinced a reporter from The New York Times that he had just missed the biggest story of the year.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the final hour of today’s FAN Morning Show extravaganza, hosts Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning turn their full attention to Game 1 of the Wild Card series between the Jays and Twins. Our first stop is with Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman, who outlines Toronto's tough playoff roster decisions ahead and make the case for who should fill out the 26-man ensemble. Next up, Minnesota Twins President of Baseball Operations, Derek Falvey, offers his perspective on the series ahead, the state of his ball club, and the city's expectations heading into the playoffs (25:45)

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jays Talk Plus with Blake Murphy kicks off with his summary of the team’s second consecutive shutout loss to the New York Yankees. He opens up the JTP Mailbag to address the audience's ‘feelings’, questions and comments about the team amid the final week of the season. In the latter part of the hour, TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman dissects why the Blue Jays are adding complexity to their situation, deciphers the significance of certain players falling out of the 'circle of trust,' and explores why even a challenging week can still secure their postseason berth (27:04). As we step into the second hour, Blake is joined by MLB.com's Mike Petriello to discuss the impact of the Rogers Centre's revised dimensions on hitting, while being conversely auspicious for pitching and defense, and explore the idea of shaping future team rosters to align with the ballpark's characteristics. Lastly, they examine how MLB's new rule changes have influenced the rise in stolen base activity (53:34). Wrapping up today's show is Alex Eisert of FanGraphs, who delves into his latest piece on the “Quiet Brilliance of Kevin Gausman’s Splitter,” before getting into the analytics of defensive fielding data and aggressive vs. patient hitting approaches (01:20:00).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

The Blue Jays' fulfilled fans' wishes this weekend with a sweep of the Kansas City Royals, capped off with some odd luck to help in Sunday’s win. Host Blake Murphy gives his thoughts on a positive weekend for Toronto’s team heading into an important series with the Texas Rangers with MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. Next up, Blake checks in with CityNews reporter Lindsay Dunn on the atmosphere around the team, both inside the clubhouse and within the fanbase, before sharing her experience at the George Springer Bowling Benefit in support of The Stuttering Association for the Young (33:52). In the second hour, Blue Jays TV voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman weighs in on Canada Basketball's historic weekend at the FIBA World Cup, before breaking down the Jays' big weekend and George Springer's tendency to heat up as the weather cools down (50:38). To close, Blake turns his attention the visitor’s dugout with the help of MLB.com's Kennedi Landry for some insight on the Rangers as they come into town (01:18:18).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

JD Bunkis kicks things off sharing why the Blue Jays' latest road trip left a bad taste in his mouth following yesterday's loss to the Athletics. If they manage to make the playoffs, do they still pose a threat to other contenders (00:01)? Soon after, voice of the FIBA World Cup, Dan Shulman joins JD to discuss Canada's performance thus far in the tournament, what it means to qualify for the Olympics, and how the team stacks up against semi-final opponent Serbia. Later on, the pair offer their thoughts on the Blue Jays' September stretch and the state of the Green Bay Packers (07:43). Next up, Head Coach of the Canadian men's national basketball team, Jordi Fernández stops by to reflect on the tournament for his team so far, before diving into his knowledge of the program and what we can expect against Serbia in the semis (35:32). Then the boys close out the day with what we missed, highlighted by the return of NFL football! (48:23)

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

On Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show, Ailish and Jesse are joined in-studio by Dan Shulman to discuss Canada’s run at the FIBA World Cup, where Canada’s epic win over Spain ranks in the pantheon of his career highlights, potential roster decisions that could loom next summer at the Paris Olympics, Jordi Fernandez’s leadership prowess, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s emergence as one of the best players in the world. Later, Trey Wingo, senior NFL analyst for Pro Football Network and the 33rd Team, stops by to chat about Thursday night’s Lions-Chiefs matchup, Travis Kelce’s knee injury, how his absence could impact the Chiefs’ offence, the Bills’ outlook for 2023, and Aaron Rodgers’ honeymoon phase with the New York Jets (27:56). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On the final hour of The FAN Morning Show, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman jumps on with Brent and Daniele to chat about whether his or his son Ben’s call of Bo Bichette’s 9th inning defensive gem was better. The trio then discuss about the Blue Jays' tendency to fall behind early in games, how important Varsho’s 2nd inning home run was to relax the team, why nobody ever talks about how pitchers perform with runners in scoring position, and having to perform double duty as he gets set to call FIBA World Cup games.  Speaking of the FIBA World Cup, Aaron Rose, Raptors Reporter for Sports Illustrated, joins the guys ahead of the tournament to talk about Canada’s chances to win it all, how frustrating it is for Canada to have players decide not to play, and what it could mean for the guys that do play if they end up winning it all and making it to the Olympics (26:26).  

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

The Blue Jays head into their weekend series with the Cincinnati Reds clinging to a half game lead on that last Wild Card spot. Host Blake Murphy brings on Sportsnet’s own Ben Nicholson-Smith to discuss this road trip and what the Jays need to do to come out of it with an increased lead with a focus on the usage of their pitching staff. Next up, with Friday Night Smackdown in town, WWE mega-superstar L.A. Knight joins Blake in-studio to discuss where baseball fits in his sports fandom, as well as his lengthy wrestling career which has recently seen a meteoric rise (31:09). In the second hour, Blake turns his attention back to the Jays and this important series with the Reds as he talks to Ryan Spilborghs (51:00) and Dan Shulman (01:20:20), both of whom who will be on the call for APPLE TV+ (Friday) and Sportsnet (Saturday and Sunday) respectively. In between those two chats, Blake checks in with utility man in the Blue Jays system, Ernie Clement, who has been red hot for the Buffalo Bisons recently (01:07:26).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

As the clock struck 1:00am in Toronto, collapse struck for the Toronto Blue Jays on the West Coast. After leading by four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, bullpen troubles and defensive miscues ended up costing the Jays a win. Host Blake Murphy elicits the help of Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman to take a closer look at what went wrong in the closing stages. Next, Blake opens up our JTP Mailbag again to read out your listener texts and tweets about the upcoming trade deadline and Toronto's stance with one week to go (28:00). Sticking with our Jays deep dive, MLB.com's Keegan Matheson shares his read on what roster moves he has his eye on as we approach August 1st (50:08). To close today’s show, Blake is joined by Jon Morosi of MLB Network, who highlights which trade targets could make an meaningful impact in the home stretch of the season (01:18:43).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

The Blue Jays kicked off their series with the Padres with a disappointing 9-1 loss, accentuated by a short start from Alek Manoah. Host Blake Murphy furthers the conversation with MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, before shifting gears to look at some positive signs from the team and the organization as a whole. Next up, Ryan Dempster of MLB Network’s Intentional Talk, offers a pitcher’s perspective on Manoah and what he’s seen from him recently, before weighing in on the trade deadline and how it affects players on both sides of the coin (31:08). Later on, Sportsnet’s own Dan Shulman shifts focus back to Alek Manoah and his next steps, as well as how Toronto's starting rotation might shape up in the coming weeks (51:36). Afterwards, MLB Network's Jon Morosi checks in from Anaheim to chat about Shohei Ohtani, the possibility he gets traded at the deadline, and what a trade package might look like (01:09:20). To close out today, Sweeny Murti chats about a great piece he recently published on MLB.com about the Jays’ first round draft pick this year, Arjun Nimmala (01:25:00).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

With th All-Star festivities wrapped, guest hosts Ben Shulman & Julia Kreuz turn their attention to the future, specifically the Blue Jays in the unofficial second half of the season. They focus in on the American League as a whole and where the Jays fit in the playoff landscape, before MLB Network’s Jon Morosi stops by! He shares his expectations for the second half and the fast-approaching trade deadline, as well as offering a few ideas on what MLB can do improve All-Star Week (33:00). Later on, Ben & Julia hand out their first half awards for the Blue Jays, including MVP (51:33)! Who you got: Kevin Gausman or Bo Bichette? Next up, TV voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet and Ben's dad, Dan Shulman offers thoughts on what the Jays face in the second half on their quest for the postseason (01:02:31). To end today, we go over some items on our baseball bucket lists including which ballparks around the league we'd most like to visit (01:27:02).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On the heels of yesterday's All-Star showdown, JD likes the direction baseball is heading in! Blue Jays television voice, Dan Shulman, joins JD to discuss Shohei Ohtani's looming free agency, the keys to a strong second half of the season for the Blue Jays, Daulton Varsho's impact, Toronto's urgency heading towards the trade deadline, if a six-man rotation is ideal, and a potential reunion with Teoscar Hernández (07:00).  

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, play-by-play voice Dan Shulman checks in from Chicago to discuss Alek Manoah’s impending return to the Blue Jays’ rotation, potential recourse if he falters again, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s clutch home run on Tuesday night, and Jordan Romano rebounding from Sunday’s outing. Later, Ailish and Justin are joined by Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad “Swag” Kelly to chat about the Argos’ 3-0 start, his emergence as a Grey Cup hero last season, how he’s adjusted to becoming the team’s full-time starter, and the best advice he’s received from his uncle Jim Kelly (23:55). Afterwards, Ailish and Justin close out the show by assembling our daily Wake and Rake parlay (40:19)!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Host Blake Murphy kicks off today's show looking back another solid start from Kevin Gausman squandered by the Blue Jays' lack of run support in the series opener against the Giants. MLB.com Keegan Matheson hops aboard to evaluate Toronto's offensive draught, before shifting gears to the Florida Complex League following Alek Manoah's disastrous start. Next, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle weighs in on the Giants' strong first half, and offers some insight on Brandon Belt and former Blue Jay Ross Stripling (30:55). Sportsnet's Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman stops by to evaluate some of the big picture decisions surrounding this cub moving towards the All-Star break (50:04). In the last segment, Eno Sarris of The Athletic and FanGraphs takes a deeper look at Alek Manoah’s situation, the state of the Blue Jays' starting rotation, and how Toronto's pitching staff fairs in the STUFF+ metric (01:21:32).

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

The final hour of The FAN Morning Show kicks off with Ben Shulman, Blue Jays radio voice, who stops by to discuss José Berríos' gem against the Orioles, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s struggles at the dish, and Alek Manoah’s potential timeline for a return to the Big Leagues. Afterwards, Ailish and Justin are joined by Henoc Muamba, linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts and 2022 Grey Cup champion, to chat about his involvement in designing the team’s Grey Cup ring, why he chose to re-sign in Toronto, and his expectations for the 2023 season (25:45). We close the show by assembling our daily Wake and Rake parlay (40:39)!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, play-by-play Dan Shulman checks in from Baltimore to tee up the Blue Jays’ three-game series against the Orioles. He also weighs in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s inconsistency this season, the continuity within the Jays’ clubhouse, and which players are most likely to represent the Blue Jays at next month’s All-Star Game. Later, Ailish and Justin are joined by Sports Illustrated's Aaron Rose to discuss the Raptors’ hiring of Darko Rajakovic, Fred VanVleet’s decision to decline his player option for next season, the chances he returns to Toronto on a new deal, and what he hopes to learn from today’s introductory press conference (24:01). We close out the show with our daily Wake and Rake parlay (40:07)!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

After stealing a victory over the Mets yesterday Pat McCarthy meets with Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Schulman to discuss how the team has been able to win despite some offensive struggles as of late.

The Blue Jays win their series-opener against the Brewers! Blake Murphy elicits the help of MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson to break it all down, both what happened on the field and off around reliever Anthony Bass. Next up, Lindsay Dunn of City News takes us behind the scenes on her conversation with Jays coach Don Mattingly and shares some of the points that we might not have seen on air (33:58). In the second hour, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman dives deep into the team's pitching and what Nate Pearson's future usage could look like after an impressive performance last night (50:00). We wrap things up with Dennis Cook, a World Series champion, former MLB pitcher and current pitching coach at Northwestern. He reminisces about working with a then struggling Alek Manoah on the Chatham Anglers back in 2018, and shares what helped him get back on track on his road to the Majors (01:12:45). Blake closes the show with some listener texts!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, Brent and Justin welcome on NHL Network analyst Mike Rupp to discuss the Maple Leafs' shortcomings against Florida so far, how Toronto can right the ship in Game 4, and the other storylines around the NHL playoffs that caught his eye. Later on, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman weighs in on the Blue Jays' series-opening loss in Philadelphia, if Alek Manoah can regain his 2022 form, and what to expect in this afternoon's matinee game (25:21). Brent and Justin wrap things up assembling our daily Wake and Rake parlay (43:50)!

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, Ailish and Justin are joined by Darren Pang, former NHL goalie and current TNT analyst, to discuss what makes Matthew Tkachuk special, the Leafs’ potential adjustments for Game 2, how they can generate more offence against Sergei Bobrovsky, Ryan O’Reilly’s championship pedigree, and Brandon Montour’s ascent. Afterwards, Dan Shulman checks in from Boston to chat about the Blue Jays’ four-game losing skid, if the Red Sox are better than advertised, Alex Verdugo trying to bury the hatchet with Alek Manoah, Matt Chapman winning AL Player of the Month for April, and if the organization has lost faith in Brandon Belt. Then, Ailish and Justin close out the show by assembling our daily Wake and Rake parlay (25:06)! 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.