The Kevin Karius Show - Mar. 26th, 2026 - Ben Shulman

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2:03and I was thinking back then. I was at Exhibition Stadium in 78 to watch a Blue Jays game. It was the first game I ever saw of being a Western Canadian guy, but I remember it well as I was 11 years old and it was so so cool to be out there. And here we are 50, 50 years later. And again, we're going to have the games with you and Chris LaRue doing them on sports 1440. So we're really excited about that. You know, we've had so many guests on Ben that cover the Blue Jays in the last six weeks and we always go back to last year and how close this team was and everyone sees man, I don't know if I'll ever get over it. I don't know because the Blue Jays were so close and you were right there front row center to see it all. This maybe go back to last year and how close this team was to winning its third world series. Yeah, it was, I mean, you really can't get closer. I mean, as they would tell you, they essentially played an eight game two winning series with the amount of extra innings. There were 11 extra innings in total in that series and they obviously

3:04led with two outs left not to mention, you know, they led, they led before that by multiple runs with a couple innings left and had a lot of chances probably to tack on some insurance runs and win that game before the night setting. But it's as close as you can get. I mean, it was the ride of a lifetime for me and I'm hoping that, you know, if they'll get back there again soon, but it's a year that regardless, even if this turns into a dynasty, which I know a lot of people would like, still last year, I think, will hold a special place for me. It was so unexpected. It, you know, was such a crazy ride after they didn't necessarily have the best month of September. And so we didn't necessarily see any of that coming even when they were one of the best teams in baseball. And it's, it was just incredible. But yeah, they were, they were as close as it gets. I mean, I won't lie to you when Miguel Rojas is sitting with one out in the ninth. I look on deck. I see Shohei Otani and I'm starting to think about framing up, you know, this is going to be off and against Otani for the world series. So I was, I was getting prepared for the world series

4:07and in that ninth inning. And I imagine a lot of people were preparing for that or even thought they couldn't away a little earlier. Oh, I just can't imagine what it would have been like for you. Ben Shulman with his J's play by play, man on sports 1440. But here we go. We got another year in front of us. As you said, be great to have success like the J's had. And going back to last year and comparing this year's team, the closeness and everyone talked about how tight net of a unit this was. Do you think that carries over again here, Ben, into into this season? I think a lot of it does, you know, and they'll have to create their own group because, you know, it's not the exact same team. And so they'll have to find new things to bond about with some of the newer players and stuff like that. But I think it's a strength of the Blue J's that they do return a lot of the same team. You still have Vladimir Carrero Jr. obviously leading the ball club. You still have George Springer, Kevin Gosman, even guys like, you know, Milestraw, Ernie Clement, who are such pillars of that clubhouse better set to make a big impact

5:09in that room again. So I think you carry most of it over. But as the Blue J's have said constantly, it's not the exact same thing. And so they have to find, you know, their own way to to bond as this new group with these new faces and and find, you know, hopefully a very similar chemistry that they had last year because it works so well for him. You just mentioned Vladie Carrero. I'm not sure if he gets back to 48 home runs that he had five years ago in 2021, but I think he's up for a big year. And I think you would feel that way. And a lot of Blue J fans feel that way as well. And I was watching something on the Major League Baseball Network the other day Ben where they feel that Vladimir Carrero is in that conversation with the the judges in Otonis is being the face of baseball. Maybe it's after the World Baseball Classic or whatever you want to call it, but because of his personality and everything else, do you see Vladie kind of entering that stratosphere with the rest of those big names in the game? In terms of, you know, popularity and all of that, I think 100%. You know, when you're talking about faces of the game,

6:13I think Vladie has a unique position to where, you know, obviously he's incredibly popular in Canada and brings all those fans into the game. He's incredibly popular in the Dominican public public for obvious reasons. And then, you know, now that I think fans watched him more closely than they've probably ever had during that World Series run fans in the US and more casual baseball fans, I think they started to really realize how how entertaining how lovable of a style of play he has also. And so I think that he I think baseball hopes he's one of the faces of the game too. He's also like a guy who's, you know, represented his organization well and never gotten in trouble and, you know, brings a lot of young people into the game too. So I do think that's the case. And then on the field, I also think he's set for a big year. You know, for me, I know the home runs became such a focus because he hit so many of them in that young season. For me, the best version of him probably isn't a 50 home run guy, but it's a guy who could hit 320 with 30 home runs. I think he's got a chance to be one of those all around really, really tough players. Maybe more

7:18like Miguel Cabrera types and Prince Fielder, let's say. And I think if that if he can do that, I mean, I think he might threaten for a batting title this year or next year. And that would be really exciting because that's that's the kind of player that I think is really fun for fans to watch too. Yeah, Ben Shulman with us on sports 1440. Let's discuss this pitching staff where a few months ago, you know, they had too many starters now with all the injuries. They just got enough. Just run us through what you think this pitching staff can, you know, hold up to once you get guys like you savage and the likes of those guys back. Yeah, at full strength, I think this is one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. I think when you're looking at a rotation that you know Kevin Gossman and Dylan C. So you're going to be in and then you have three other spots to fill with six incredibly capable guys to do that, frankly, and whether it's your savage and Bieber or and Barrios or it's Lauer and Sherzer and Ponce, I think that they have a lot of irons of the fire. They're probably more capable starting pitching options than they've had in years. I don't even know

8:21when the last time is that they could have three guys that they would have expected to be in their rotation, not start the year, and then still roll out a rotation as impressive as this. So I think at full strength, you're looking at an absolute buzzsaw of a rotation. No breaks, no easy days. Everyone has given you a lot and then even in its current form, you know, it worked itself out like you said, having quote unquote too many starters, they still have a very nice rotation going into this year. I think that, you know, Kevin Gossman and Dylan C's right at the top are going to be two of the better pitchers in the American league. I think that there's a lot to like with Eric Lauer and what he brought to the rotation last year, Cody Ponce, you know, has incredible stuff and was the best all-around player, not just pitcher in Korea last year and that's why he got the contract he did. And then, you know, Maxgers or I don't even think I need to explain fully what he brings. I think we all kind of know it and he looks healthier than ever. So I think that they're in a really good spot. I like the additions in the bullpen, mainly Tyler Rogers as well. And I thought that a lot

9:21of the relievers look great in camp. I think one through 13, they're going to pitch really well this year. And if you're looking at a spot where they could even take a step forward from last year, I think that looking at the pitching staff might be where it happens. What did you see from Cody Ponce been in spring training and what would your expectations be of him this season? Yeah, he's a very interesting guy off the field. I think Blue James fans are going to learn. It's a like his character a lot. He brings a dynamic to the clubhouse that I don't think they've had in a while. Just interested in a lot of things that maybe the quote-unquote typical baseball player might not be. And then on the field, huge basketball, you know, can get it to 97-98. I have a starter consistently and that's really impressive. Probably will sit around 95-96 range and that wipeout changeup that he has. It's called a changeup but it acts more like a splitter. It's an approach that Blue James fans will be used to from the guys they already have in their rotation where he can kind of go up in the zone at 96 and then have the guy change their eye level

10:21to look to the bottom of the zone and all of a sudden that changeup just drops off the table into the dirt but you've already started swinging at it. So I think that there's a lot to be like there. There's the question of how will it translate over from Asia? You know, he hasn't been in the major leagues in four years. And so I think that's a legitimate question to ask how seamless lethal transition over. And also, you know, at times it looked like his command of his non-fastball was a little bit sporadic in spring. Now it's spring training so it's hard to to know too much about how much that matters. But, you know, I think this stuff is there and we'll just see if he can put it together in the toughest league in the world and do it with consistency. But I think they're hoping he's, you know, they're four or five guys. They're not asking him to be, you know, right up there with Kevin Cosbyn. If he gives them a chance to win most days, I think they'll be pretty happy. Ben Schulman with us on the Kevin Kerr issue on sports 1440. I think most Blue J fans in these parts would know pretty well what the bullpen entails here. Ben, for me personally, I don't know a

11:22whole heck of a lot about Spencer Miles, the Rule 5 picture that came over from the Giants. Can you maybe tell our listeners what you saw of him in spring training and what, you know, enabled him to crack the roster to start the season? Sure. He's a very interesting case. You know, he's a guy that was drafted in the fourth round in 2022, but has not stayed healthy at all. He had back surgery missed all of 2023. And then five starts in the 2024 five appearances. He ends up you're straining something in his arm. It leads eventually to Tommy John surgery. So he was exposed to the Rule 5 draft because the Giants didn't want to put him on their 40-man roster. They wanted to use the space elsewhere likely because he hasn't pitched that much, but he went to the Arizona fall league in the winter where prospects get a little extra time to play and flash some really, you know, interesting pitches and some pretty enticing stuff and the Blue Jay's prod him in. And, you know, he showed those flashes again in camp. There were some ups and downs. There were some outings where he didn't have a ton of command, but I think he's a guy, again, has got a pretty

12:23big fastball. He's got a big, big curveball. That's his best pitch, I think, is his big looping curveball that can get a lot of swing and miss. And he's a guy that probably, if not for injuries, would be in the Major League right now. But, you know, because of Rule 5 eligibility, the Blue Jay's had to take him to the Major League or offer him back to the San Francisco Giants. And I think when they looked at their options of who could be a quote-unquote, you know, last guy in that 10, especially due to some injuries that might have opened up a spot there, I think they felt like giving him a shot, made some sense. They can, you know, they can always go back on it in five days if they want to. They made their first change in the bullpen last year, four days into the season, but I think they're going to give this guy who has Major League ready stuff a shot and see if he can make up for the lack of professional experience that he has. And if not, they'll obviously look elsewhere. Instacart makes grocery shopping easier. And just because you're not doing the shopping yourself doesn't mean you don't care how it's done. With Instacart's shopper notes, you can get

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14:28Sessions average about $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0 depending on their plan. Visit growththerapy.com slash start now to get started. That's growtharapy.com slash start now. Growtherapy.com slash start now. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. I wanted to just discuss the bottom of the order with you Ben, and I really think if Andre Simenez can bat 250, and then change, he's going to steal 30 bags, and I just maybe your thoughts on how the bottom of the order is going to be able to turn things over for the top of the order here. Yeah, such a huge strength to the Blue Jays last year. Good point to highlight it, because they wouldn't be anywhere without the amount of traffic they created for the top of the order guys like Springer, Bichette, Carrero, last season. I think you look at most days to start the year. I think they'll start hitting Okamoto 7. I think it was room for him to move up, but I think

15:29they don't want to put too much pressure on him. They want to do some lefty writing stuff. So that's like potentially a way overqualified bat for the bottom third of the order. If he's even three quarters of what he could produce in Japan, he's going to be an above average major league hitter with the possibility to run into some homers and maybe knock in some of those guys that are hitting in front of him. I think you will see a shocking as it is given he set the major league baseball postseason hits record last year. I think you'll see Ernie Clement down there a lot, and he creates a lot of havoc in that bottom third. He's on base, a fair bid, he makes a lot of contact. He doesn't steal a ton of bases, but he's got a lot of speed, so he can, he's a great first to third guy or steal from first on a double. That kind of stuff he's going to do really well for you, and then you mentioned Andres cemented. So I think last year they felt obviously he did not have a great offensive year, but he got hurt in the middle of the season. Then, you know, late in the season, they're switching him over to shortstop. There was a lot for him to deal with, not to mention it was his first season with a new organization. I think they feel like he's maybe set up slightly better this year. He knows what

16:32position he's playing. He obviously knows where he's playing, who he's playing with at this point, knowing the city and his teammates. And so I think they feel like, you know, they can get him back to a closer to league average level. And if he's doing that with what he's going to provide it defensively, I think you have a big boost. And then you'll also see guys factor in, you know, Haysu Sanchez could be in that mix of Okamoto moves up. David Schneider could be in that mix at times. Miles Straub. Obviously, we'll take some of that in those talks as well. But I think it'll be a lot of the same for the blue chase in that bottom third, which worked for them last year and probably just the addition of more Okamoto in there, which I I'm pretty high on what he could do for them this year. Yeah, I mean, him and us was 30 bags, 30 bags and 23, 24 in Cleveland with regular playing time. I think this guy is going to be, everyone's going to go, where did he come from? While he was, he was damn near a 300 hitter back in 2022 and he was with Cleveland. Yeah, you mentioned Ernie Clement. How bad do you think Ernie Clement and George Springer are going to get the gears today after the Leafs game last night, Ben, where they were

17:36in the wrong seats and at the back up a few, a few roles? I imagine they already got it pretty good, but I think it'll keep going. It was cool to see all the all those jays at the game and Ernie and George get into, you know, talk some hockey at that sport that they really like outside of baseball, but I think it just shows, you know, the cool thing about the jays I think with with those guys and it's it's funny to compare it using, you know, a guy sitting in the wrong seats, but they just have the feeling of like, just your normal guys, you know, and I think a lot of people, it's hard to be just a normal guy. I understand when people have difficulty doing that when you're playing a game for a living and you're, you know, you're making large sums of money and you're very famous, but they really are, you know, they've connected so much with the city and the country at large, they really are integrated and really feel like, you know, a baseball fan that you would see in Toronto when you're talking to them. So it was it was cool to see them and I don't know if the Leafs wanted to win, but it helped the Leafs win. So I guess that's the good thing. They're high five in fans after a goal and like the fans are they're just like regular guys in

18:40the stands and it was just fun to watch. I have to ask about how you got involved in the prices right at night. How did that opportunity come to you? Yeah, that was that was a big surprise to me as I imagine it was everyone else. It was kind of, you know, to circle back to the start of our, you know, discussion is after the World Series and I probably took a week or two where my basketball season hadn't started yet and I just kind of relaxed and probably was a sad sack for a day or whatever and then just kind of got some sleep and did laundry and like cooked a meal for the first time in a while and just got an email from some of the folks at City TV who, you know, I guess, you know, had been following the Blue James run and wanted to know if I would be interested in the opportunity in doing it and pretty much immediately, you know, I said I'd be interested and went down and it kind of, you know, what I would call it like a table read for them just sat there and we did like a fake show and I read some prizes and did some come on down and

19:43waited for about a week or so after that to hear back from them, jumped on a call with some of their people and they said that they wanted me to do it. I was thrilled. I mean, I've loved game shows growing up. I was a big viewer of, you know, the game show network watched a lot of that, you know, watched a lot of prices right, family feud, real fortune with my mom and so getting to be on a game show and getting to see TV from a whole different kind of side of it was with a lot of fun. And I'm jealous, man. I'd love to do the prices rate. I love that show, man. Well, apply and maybe maybe you'll get on the show. Yeah, you just being contestant. I'm just starting off, you know, whatever. It's Chris Leroux basically on all the broadcasts with you like last year, you know, he had in or out with a few other commentators. What's it like this year? Yeah, as far as I know, it'll be predominantly Chris. There'll be something, you know, all of us will have time off or maybe responsibly to fill in on another part of a sports

20:44set broadcast. But I would say, you know, eight times, nine times and a 10 if you tune in. It'll be myself and Chris again. Perfect. Add a text to from the rig. Deben and Chris get to travel with the team doing radio. How does that work? Not at this moment to have I heard plans on that. So I'll let you know if I hear anything back. Perfect. Hey, Ben. Thanks for coming on. I know things are really busy with the home opener and season opener and opening day tomorrow. I'm sure we'll talk in the near future because we're just so happy and proud to have Blue J's baseball with yourself and Chris on sports 1440. Thanks for coming on. Thank you so much. Really love that that we're on 1440 and I appreciate everyone tuning in. With almost half a million customers and over a trillion dollars of secure payments, Bill isn't new to intelligent finance. It's the proven way to simplify bill pay and maximize cash flow. Want to learn more? Visit bill.com slash proven for a special offer. Craving the coffee flavor

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