Sportsnet’s Zach Worden

0:00This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability varies 18 plus. Edmonton's home for great stories, local heroes, and everything you need on the Oilers and Elves. This is Inside Sports brought to you by James H. Brown and Associates, Alberta Injury Lawyers, the heavy hitters of injury law. And now here's your host, Brandon Eska, on 880 Chad. Checking our Inside Sports tonight's right across Alberta. We'll take you up to 10 o'clock and then get way to the last show with David Cooper. Excited for this hour.

1:00We've got a great conversation coming up. How do I know? It's because it always is with Mike Richards. From the raw Mike Richards show, which if you're listening in Calgary tonight or in the south of the province, you may have already heard on a Saturday morning, 11 to noon. You can hear it on QR, each and every Saturday. The raw Mike Richards show. You can also catch it on YouTube if you choose the visual medium. But that's coming up at 930 right now. We are going to talk Blue Jays. And we go to the south of the province to connect with a Calgary in himself. It is Zach Warden from Sportsnet. He's one of their Blue Jays writers. It's always a pleasure having you on the show. My man, how you doing tonight? Yeah, Brandon, thanks for having me on. You and well here, obviously, end of the season a little bit better, sweet after the six months grind. But I excited for the post season to finally arrive here, even if it does get here without the Blue Jays. Yeah, disappointing for sure.

2:02And I want to get your take on sort of what you are looking at post season wise in little bit. But we better address the Jays out of the shoot. Canada's team coming off a world series appearance, significant additions in the off season. So I guess how do you explain a season that ended in the basement of the division at 79 and 83, Zach? Yeah, I mean, I think when you kind of look back on 2026, like it's the you can't frame it as anything other than a disappointment with them coming off the world series run and making, you know, significant additions with Dylan C's, because we're Motto Spencer Miles coming in and making an impact right away. You know, just generally a pretty solid off season from the front office and for them to finish the way that they did. It's super disappointing and the way that they tack the Roger Center and fans were there every night. You know, I just kind of all added up to to, yeah, just just an overall disappointment. And I think, you know, there are so many different facets that you can kind of point to with the season, whether it's the pitching injuries and having to deal with a trace of it's missing

3:04time, shame be remissing time, Cody Ponds only making it to innings into his season. Jose Barrios and down Francis not making it to the mound. I think you kind of look at how much that toll or how much that took its toll on the Blue Jays rotation throughout the year is a major factor. And then, you know, the injuries that, of course, accumulated throughout the regular season, whether that's George Springer breaking his toe, Al Hunter Kirk in his broken foul Madison barger only being able to be in the lineup for a limited amount of time. You know, Anthony Santander not even being able to make it back in time for any games this year. You know, it was just kind of one of those years where the injury bug was something that they couldn't shake. And I mean, you know, that all goes to say, you know, that the injuries did kind of impact so many different parts of this roster. And when you kind of combine that with the underperformance that we saw from a number of players, of course, you know, Vladimir Groud Jr. is right at the front of that with his nine home run season, something that I don't think anybody thought that we would ever see from from Vladimir Groud Jr. in a year where he played the majority of games.

4:07So I think you kind of look at the injuries, the underperformance from the stars and just kind of some of the inconsistencies up and down the line up there where they really didn't kind of have anybody take the load and then run with it as kind of that superstar producer. And I think, you know, just kind of those things all combined ultimately end up in this year where they are going to have to go back to the drawing board and then find a way to come back healthier in 2027. Of course, if there is a season and find a way to just certainly score some more runs. Yeah, I mean, it's funny the year having just watched them come off of all of the excitement and everything go right and then to watch so much go wrong all at the same time. Some controllable, some out of their control is using the cast of the injuries act. So yeah, just one of those years and an opportunity now to look into the future for sure. Now, Vlad, he stepped in it's talking about the contract and I think that any time you've

5:07got a star player that's talking at all about a contract, it's dangerous waters to be treading in the factor in a language barrier and maybe something was lost in translation there. I don't think he intended it to come off as it did. But what do you make of the whole situation there? What was your take on on that? Exactly. As I very poorly described it to my listening audience just now. No, no, I think you described it well. I think you're talking about something that are in your control and something that are out of your control, making comments like that are certainly something that are in their control. And I think ultimately at the end of the day it was just an unforced error by him to one come out and have these conversations about his contract while he's in the middle of this or at the end of this really disappointing season. And ultimately I agree with what you said where I surely there's some cultural nuances that we are unable to pick up on as non-native Spanish speakers and I'm sure that things

6:10didn't come across the way that he certainly intended them to. And I think him coming out and apologizing kind of speaks to that obviously. He did say that he spoke to his dad about it and his dad that he was wrong. And I think for him to come back out and make that apology kind of speaks to just him realizing that it was kind of not the best look for him and that he is trying to make things right with the fans. I think he's the guy who has very frequently spoken his mind and seems like a very honest guy with the media and very open to the fan base and everything like that. So I think that there isn't any bad intentions with the way that he was phrasing that or making those comments. But I think ultimately when you are a guy in his position who is in the first year of this $500 million contract, these are the type of situations that you really have to be careful around and avoid making statements like that.

7:11I think when you look at him saying that he was paid for what he's done and not what he's going to do, I think obviously that is incorrect for the way that Major League Basel teams operate here in 2026 and that they're paying him the huge salary to be a productive player going forward. And I think you see the way that he works and the way that he is and the way that he cares about the Bluejaise organization, the way that he cares about his team, I think that the comments don't come across as well as the way that he carries himself and the way that he operates behind the scenes. So to me, I think it's just one of those scenarios where you get caught up, you talk it on a podcast and you say something that is not exactly what you meant to do. And of course, as we said, there's the language barrier and things that can be lost in translation there. So I think it's just a really unfortunate situation for Vladie and the Bluejaise and obviously

8:11I think for him to come back out and make the apology is kind of the way that they had to operate after the Firestorm came out after that. With Sportsnet, Zach Warden talking Bluejaise right now and inside Sports. So John Schneider is an interesting figure in all this because sometimes he takes quite a bit of heat. There's certain media personalities I think that like giving it to John Schneider and there's certain days where I think that they might be onto something. And he might have been not riding the coattails of Vlad Grewo Jr. But I just wonder why there wasn't more willingness to drop Vladie in the lineup, let's say. There wasn't more willingness not to punish him for the season that he was having, but just he didn't really move in the lineup. So how do you evaluate the job that John Schneider did amid a very tough season dealing with these injuries and dealing with a slumping Superstars, Zach? Yeah, you know, it's interesting because I think that you look at the job that he did

9:16this year and you kind of look at how they dealt with the injuries. And you know, to me, one of the more impressive things for his resume on this season is the fact that they were kind of left for dead around the trade deadline and they ultimately were able to get some new blood in and turn things around. And to me, that shows that the players didn't check out. They were still invested and when they brought in new guys, that was kind of a way for them to kind of reinvigorate themselves and give back in. And I think that kind of speaks to the culture that that Schneider has been or the culture that Schneider has had a hand in creating in Toronto and then within that blue jade club host. And, you know, I think you kind of look at some of the tactical moves and I think you can probably, you know, you can take issue with the tactical decisions of any manager and baseball, you know, no manager is going to go 100 for 100 on unbolt pen moves or pinch head moves or anything like that. And I think when you kind of look at the stuff behind the scenes that really we don't have the inside info to seeing on how these managers handle the cloth I was day to day, how they

10:18handle the players day to day. I think you kind of look at what he did in 2025 and kind of reinventing himself as this player's manager who's going to stand up for his players and have his players back. I think that was a really important development for him and, you know, kind of the next step for him as the manager and ultimately kind of when you look at, you know, the individual move that he made through the season, I don't know if there was, you know, say 10 moves that he could have done differently. That would have resulted in this team making, making the playoffs just given the roster that they had and the injury hand that they were dealt this season. So I think it's an interesting conversation around Schneider and where his place is within baseball and among managers, but I do think, you know, ultimately this is a year that it makes it even tougher to evaluate his decision making and everything like that just because of how much injury that they had and there are so many factors that we really just kind of aren't aware of when it does kind of come to the job that a manager is doing behind the scenes, which is really one of the more important parts of a majorly baseball manager's

11:22job in 2026 here. Again, with Zach Warden tonight talking Blue Jays on inside sports. So Toronto, you know, pretty heavily invests in the rotation and adding Dylan C's in the off season and boy did that pay off right up really until the arm started to fade into the lot of portion of the season he was just used so much, right? But that move hit. So I look at the front office and I say that they did some things even at that trade deadline as you alluded to bringing in Jose Soriano. I thought it was a really shrewd bit of business, right? He looked like he can hang and be a key piece of a rotation too. So the front office wise, it looks like they did a reasonable job trying to put some pieces in place not only now, but into the future so that maybe the task isn't as arduous for them this off season and trying to get back to where they once were. Yeah, no, no, 100% I think you kind of looked at the 2027 season as the deadline approached and the blue jays had some very clear hold and then you know, one of those was in the

12:26rotation next to Dylan C's with Kevin Gosman approaching for agency with Shane Bieber approaching for agency, uh, macchars are in that conversation a little bit and then they went out and they did some shopping early and they land Jose Soriano as you said to kind of pair with C's atop rotation. And I know that the end of year numbers for Soriano's tenure with the blue jays maybe aren't the prettiest to that you would that you would have liked as a blue jays fan. But I think you know, ultimately this guy's pedigree and his resume show that there is a top of the rotation arm in there and I think that the blue jays are going to do everything they can to have him perform back at that level and kind of be able to slot in really nicely into that number number two position and beyond that, you know, the center field role was something that is very much up for or was very much up for grabs next season with Dylan Varsho heading into free agency and they go out and they're able to bring in Brett Bateman who was an absolute spark plug for the team in the second half and I think really maybe the story of the, you know, the post deadline blue jays was him coming in and having

13:28the success as a great defender, a great lead off hitter, a guy who just really gave them a really good at bat night in a night out and I kind of think when you look at those to additions, you can kind of look at those as this team going out and making some moves for next year before free agency where, you know, ultimately, this year's Trajan Market is a little bit thin so for them to go out and make those two moves, really good pieces of business to set themselves up for 2027 and, you know, I think like you said, it just kind of does add to their offies that they had which is a really good one and, you know, the pressure will certainly be on the front office on Russ acting the March of Piro to find some offensive impact that this winter, you know, whether that's before the lockout or before the CBA expires on December 1st or whenever that potential lockout does come to it and, you know, I think that finding that impact that or a pair of impact that's going to be the number one priority for them and, you know, going out and adding a guy like Soriano allows them to kind of focus on that here when, when free agency does open.

14:33So Major League Baseball playoffs begin tomorrow with some excellent, delicious wild card match-ups. What are you following storyline-wise as the calendar changes over to October? Yeah, no, I think, you know, it doesn't get much better than Yankees Red Sox in October. I know it's still going to be September here tomorrow, but, you know, for all intents and purposes, October is officially here and I think you kind of look at this Yankees Red Sox match-up and it's not exactly, you know, the Yankees and Red Sox that we're used to. You know, there's been, you know, this rivalry has so long or has so, has had kind of this offensive talent for so long whether it's Aaron Judge, whether it's Alice Rodriguez, Derek Dieter, you know, I think, Faxman, Eramera, David Ortiz, all these types of guys who kind of fueled into this Red Sox Yankees rivalry and this time around it's going to be the pictures. It's the young guys, it's Cam Schletler, it's Peyton Toley who are both incredible young talents in the game and beyond those two, you got a number of veterans with Max Fried,

15:34Garic Cole, Ranger Swares and then Sonny Gray kind of set the takeable on this series. So certainly going to be watching how that unfolds and kind of how, you know, things go for both those sides. Obviously, Aaron Judge and his status is going to be a very important factor over the next couple of days here and whether he's able to make his way back onto the field and, and, and, you know, return to the Yankees lineup because ultimately, you know, I think, you know, you talk about how strong both these pitching tabs are. Obviously, the rotations are great. The bullpen's are two of the best in baseball. So it's going to take some star level player to kind of provide a swing or two that that changes the series, whether that's Aaron Judge who makes his way back, whether it's something like a Cody Belinger, Ben Rice, you think on the Red Sox side, like a Roman Anthony, an Adley Rushman, like these are the guys who are going to have to dictate the series on the open to the side of the ball. So certainly going to be following that here as, as this, you know, it's a really fascinating series, especially after they, they met in this exact scenario last season. And I'm sure that, you know, we're going to get a motivated Red Sox team to kind of come back and,

16:38and get, get, get some revenge. And I think on the Yankees side, you know, it's, it's a really interesting time for them as, as they kind of enter this, this phase later into Judge's career and kind of the pressure to, to get him a championship before he does kind of start to tail off here. Awesome stuff, Zach. Just quickly hear what's up at sportsnet.ca with your byline on it right now. Yeah, right now up on sportsnet, I got wild card preview coming up or that went up today. That is team up everything for tomorrow and the rest of the week. And then tomorrow morning, I'll have a, a piece up on the Canadian set to play in this year's post season. So that'll be a fun one to see here as, you know, a group of, of Kinox kind of have a chance to, to lead their fingerprints all over the post season. All right, on. We'll check it out for sure. Zach, thanks so much for your time tonight. My man, appreciate that. Yeah, appreciate you guys having me on. Always always the blast coming on and channel a little bit of baseball.

17:40Absolutely. We love it. Sportsnet, Zach Warden joining us this evening on Inside Sports. We're a little late to the break. Apologies to you, Kellan and to the, this episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability, very 16 plus. College football is back. So, Hilton called to me the superstition concierge to make your fan rituals a reality. Need a room to match your lucky number? We got you. Want to make sure our team doesn't wash your lucky jersey? Oh, that smells lucky. Hilton's unmatched hospitality can keep up with any superstition. Even a marching bandwreck up call it 555 and 55 seconds. Hit it! When you need a team that will do whatever it takes on game day, it matters where you stay.

18:43Hilton, for this day. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. No two football players are exactly alike, and the same is true off the field. That's why State Farm gifts to know you so they can help personalize coverage for your life and budget. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. The men down in Calgary as well will be right back on Inside Sports. This is Robbie Smith of your Edmonton Alcs and your listening to Inside Sports with Braden and Eska on 880 Chef. Going down to the final half hour of the show tonight with a good conversation on deck. Mike Richards from the raw Mike Richards show. Why does he ever not bring it at? Death, taxes and Mike Richards bringing it. We're going to hear it tonight. If you don't believe me, we'll stick around. You only have to wait a few minutes to be convinced.

19:44We're right back on Shad and QR after a quick break with Mike Richards. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. No two football players are exactly alike, and the same is true off the field. That's why State Farm gifts to know you so they can help personalize coverage for your life and budget. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.