The JD Bunkis Podcast

Blake Murphy from The Raptors Show joins JD in-studio to chat about MLB free agency before turning their attention to the Raptors (00:00).  JD and Blake chat about the Raptors win against the Charlotte Hornets, Brandon Ingram's fit on the offensive end, the biggest surprise of the early season, and Gradey Dick's underwhelming season. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' 

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 wonders how the Maple Leafs will respond after losing five-straight ahead of tonight's matchup against Craig Berube's former team (00:00). Andy Strickland, St. Louis Blues reporter and co-host of The Cam & Strick Podcast, joins JD to get into why the Blues fired Berube in the middle of the 2023-24 season, the desperation of firing a coach mid-season, and the latest on Jordan Kyrou and Doug Armstrong (14:00). The first hour ends with JD's thoughts on the weird discourse surrounding Sheduer Sanders (45:00). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do n...

Jason Bukala, Sportsnet NHL analyst and former NHL scout, breaks down Easton Cowan's start with the Maple Leafs; how the Leafs rough start affects Cowan, if he should be on the top powerplay unit, and if the Leafs should be cautious about entitlement. JD and Jason also discuss how to quell the litany of problems the Leafs are facing (20:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!" (40:00). 

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.

JD touches on the 112th Grey Cup and CFL culture, before moving to the NFL with former NFL quarterback and our Monday morning insider, Brady Quinn (10:00). JD asks Brady about who the best teams in the NFL are, the identity inconsistency across the NFL, if any teams changed his mind in Week 11, what the Kansas City Chiefs need to realize, Sam Darnold's volatile play, the Detroit Lions' offensive failures, and other faulty teams. JD closes the hour reacting to Islam Makhachev's win at UFC 322 (49:00). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and...

Sportsnet MLB writer, Ben Nicholson-Smith, joins JD to go over the American League MVP voting and the criteria that baseball writers lean on (00:00). Then (10:31), JD and Ben get into Blue Jays free agency; if their chase for free-agents feels materially different, what they absolutely need, what positional need they'll look to address first, Jose Berrios' standing going into next season and the names they are rumoured to have interest in. 

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 a...

JD wonders how this year Blue Jays offseason may be different from years past and touches on the rumours of the Maple Leafs courting Rasmus Andersson (00:00). Sportsnet NHL writer, Luke Fox, discusses the biggest problems with the Maple Leafs, how a lack of accountability is playing out, bringing back Joseph Woll, Bobby McMann's improved play and the lacklustre impact from the new players (12:00). Next, JD says what he liked best about the Raptors statement win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (39:00). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not n...

Stanley Cup Champion and 19-year NHL forward, Patrice Bergeron, joins the show to discuss what culture and accountability really mean and how they're built, getting to a level in the NHL where you have a voice in the locker room, navigating pressure, and Sidney Crosby's impact on Hockey Canada. JD then relays Bergeron's thoughts into the local market (30:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' 

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 lays out his thoughts about Auston Matthews' injury and how the Maple Leafs might go about handling it (00:00). NHL analyst and fomer NHL forward, Colby Armstrong, hops on with JD (8:00) to chat about Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and their potential fits on Canada's Olympic hockey roster. JD asks Colby (25:00) if he sees the Leafs improving and about his travelling diet. JD explains why he thinks Matthew Knies might be the person the Leafs should lean on and reacts to the Leafs recalling Artur Akhtyamov.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the...

ESPN Front Office Insider, Bobby Marks, joins JD to get into some disastrous situations across the NBA (00:00). Bobby explains why the Dallas Mavericks decided now was the time to fire General Manager Nico Harrison, if the trade market will percolate more this season, and the tricky situations with the Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. JD and Bobby then chat about the Raptors and where they stand among the open, yet pesky, Eastern Conference (28:00). The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (39:00) 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests a...

JD weighs where the Maple Leafs are at after their third consecutive loss. Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup Champion, joins JD (10:00) to break down what's structurally wrong with the Leafs, what might be off with the coaching, and the dire situation at the centre position. JD and Versteeg also discuss Nikita Zadorov's hit on Auston Matthews and Duncan Keith's legacy. 

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.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins JD to analyze the MLB free agency market; the pace of information, what names on the market might cause a domino effect, why the Blue Jays are in a unique position, Bo Bichette being a priority but not the priority, how the Jays position puzzle may come together, how the team could explore the trade market, and the state of the starting rotation. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (38:30) 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the p...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, air out some Toronto sports bar gripes, before turning their attention to MLB free agency. The Good Hour duo (14:00) describe why the Los Angeles Dodgers are the real evil empire, as JD announces that the Dodgers have passed the New York Yankees on his most-hated list. Next, JD and Ben sift through the MLB rumour mill, including if they believe in the momentum linking All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Blue Jays (30:00). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests a...

James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, joins JD to dive into the pool of problems with the Maple Leafs (00:00). JD and James try to discern what the team's identity is, what the eye test and analytics is telling them about Toronto's poor defense, who deserves a slice of the blame pie and why, what the reason(s) for optimism are, and the strong play from John Tavares, William Nylander, Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (33:00) 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and g...

JD reacts to the ugly weekend of hockey from the Maple Leafs (00:00). Brady Quinn, FOX NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback, helps JD (10:00) decipher teams who are contenders or pretenders, the Buffalo Bills brutal loss to the Miami Dolphins, different head coaching styles and what works in the modern game, Aaron Rodgers' reluctance to get hit, and JD's Seattle Seahawks. JD then offers a subtle warning to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

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 o...

Shi Davidi, Sportsnet's senior MLB columnist, joins JD to reflect on the comments from Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins and offers his read on why the President and General Manager didn't offer many meaningful thoughts (11:00). JD asks Shi about potential parallels between signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, what may sway Bichette, if the Jays payroll is expected to grow, Shane Bieber opting in, not being married to Jeff Hoffman as the closer in 2026, and which of the Jays starting pitchers may play a role next season. JD ends the week with his thoughts on the new Hockey...

JD reacts to Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins speaking to the media. Ariel Helwani joins JD (7:00) to go through his sports trauma, why he's bitter about the Dodgers victory lap, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's probe on fight-fixing in the UFC. Next, JD gets into what he thought were the most important comments made at the conference by Shapiro and Atkins (36:00). 

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.

Nick Kypreos of Real Kyper & Bourne joins JD to break down the biggest issues with the Leafs early in the season. They dive into the effort conundrum, the impact of undefined roles, how the powerplay might improve, what the Leafs could deal at the deadline and the best way to handle Easton Cowan. The show ends with 'What We Missed!' (33:00) 

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.

JD reacts to Mark Shapiro's message to Blue Jays nation, before reflecting the front office's journey and what message(s) to expect from Shapiro and Ross Atkins in today's end-of-season press conference (00:00). Jackie Redmond of the NHL on TNT and WWE Network, joins JD (12:00) to lament about the end of the Blue Jays season, draw comparisons to the Maple Leafs, and outline the complicated feelings surrounding the Buds. 

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.

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins JD to detail Shane Bieber's decision to return to the Blue Jays (00:00). JD and Ben turn their attention to the other pitchers in the Jays 2025 starting rotation to discuss which pitchers could, or should, return to the Jays in 2026 (8:00). They foreshadow what the strategy of Jays ownership and management will be during the offseason, how they can take advantage of the Jays deep postseason run, and their thought process behind re-signing Bo Bichette. 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect t...

JD reacts to the news of Shane Bieber exercising his 2026 player option to stay with the Blue Jays (00:00). Joseph Casciaro from theScore joins JD to continue the conversation about the beloved Blue Jays, before turning the page to the Raptors (15:00). JD and Joseph sift through some early season impressions from the Raptors; RJ Barrett as the vocal leader, playmaking by committee, how Brandon Ingram is fitting in, Scottie Barnes' relentless defense, and Jamal Shead's impact. JD then touches on the moves at the NFL trade deadline (45:30). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of t...

Charles McDonald from Yahoo Sports joins JD to break down his takeaways from the Bills winning streak against the Chiefs in the regular season, why the Cowboys are buyers at the trade deadline, and what teams are real through Week 9 (00:00). Later, JD then explains why he thinks the Bills still have the best chance to knock-out the Chiefs in the AFC, before wrapping up the show with 'What We Missed!' (23:00) 

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 o...

JD hopes the Leafs can use their comeback victory to begin formulating a team identity (0:00). James Mirtle, senior writer at The Athletic, joins JD to discuss the Leafs volatile effort, how the Leafs can separate from the mushy-middle of the Eastern Conference, if he's buying what he's seeing from Nick Robertson, Matias Macelli being healthy scratched by Craig Berube, Bobby McMann's role and fit on the team, a necessary powerplay shakeup, and Chris Tanev's health (14:00). 

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position o...

JD recaps a heartbreaking weekend for Blue Jays fans after the Jays lost Games 6 & 7 of the World Series at home to the Dodgers, and details the pain that comes from being a game away and eventually missing out on a championship (00:00). Ben Ennis, host of The FAN Morning Show joins JD to put a cap on the 2025 Blue Jays season (6:48), including the misery of watching the Dodgers' Game 7 comeback, Jeff Hoffman's untimely pitch to Miguel Rojas in the 9th inning, Ernie Clement's near-game winning drive in the bottom half, the disappointment for the fans at Rogers Centre on Saturday...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, start with a look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' 3-1 loss to the LA Dodgers in Game 6 of the World Series. They discuss Yoshinobu Yamamoto's dominance on the mound and the strange ninth inning which featured a wedged dead-ball and a wild double play to end the game. Then, they tee up Game 7, share their expectations from the starters in Max Scherzer and Shohei Ohtani, and project how John Schneider might manage the bullpen in a do-or-die stage. Finally, they listen to and break down the skipper's pre-game...

JD prepares for Game 6 of the World Series, as the Blue Jays have a chance to clinch their first championship since 1993 at Rogers Centre, before getting into the terrifying thought of the potential curse that is a Halloween game, and the importance of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to this team and fanbase (00:00). Cliff Floyd, 1997 World Series champion and MLB Network analyst, joins JD to further break down the ability of Bo Bichette to jump back into the lineup in the World Series after being out since September 6th, the supporting cast coming through at the biggest moments...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, discuss Trey Yesavage's historic Game 4 pitching performance to bring the Blue Jays within one win of their first World Series championship since 1993 (00:00). The guys dig into the numerous records set by the 22-year old Yesavage, and the impact he's made since arriving in the majors in September, before looking towards the future for this team with Yesavage and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leading the way. After the break, JD and Ben continue the conversation around the Blue Jays World Series run, the potential for the Dodgers to push the series...

JD revels in the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory over the Dodgers in LA, credits the team for their gusty performance by the team after the historically long Game 3 on Monday, and looks closer at the Vladimir Guerrero Jr.-Shohei Ohtani matchup (00:00). Jonathan Papelbon, '07 World Series champion, joins the show to discuss what we've seen during the Fall Classic (11:59), the pitching matchups throughout the series, the impact that Chris Bassitt has provided for the bullpen, the incredible atmosphere at Rogers Centre for these postseason games, and Trey Yesavage's chances in Game 5, as he makes his second start against the...

JD reacts to the heartbreaking Blue Jays loss to the Dodgers in 18 innings during Game 3 of the World Series, before dissecting the game's biggest moments (00:00). Jared Carrabis, host of the Baseball Is Dead podcast, joins the show to help break down the incredible action from the Fall Classic (10:52). The guys get into the craziness of the night, including the decisions made by managers John Schneider and Dave Roberts, the impact of George Springer's unfortunate injury, Shohei Ohtani's two home run performance, and the theatrics of having Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw appear in what could be their final World...

JD recaps the weekend of baseball in Toronto as the Blue Jays split their two games with the Dodgers in their first World Series appearance since 1993, breaking down the highlights of Friday night's victory and how Los Angeles was able to even it up on Saturday (00:00). Eric Hosmer, 2015 World Series champion, joins the show to continue the conversation around the World Series. He dives into the incredible pitching matchups we've seen throughout the first two games, the comparisons of this Blue Jays team to his 2015 Royals championship team, the consistency Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s postseason performances, Bo Bichette's gutsy...

JD Bunkis is joined by Sam McKee, host and producer at Sportsnet 590 The FAN, to reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series. They discuss the Rogers Centre's electric atmosphere, Addison Barger's pinch-hit grand slam -- the first in Fall Classic history, and contributions from up and down the Jays' roster. Afterwards, the duo reacts to Bo Bichette's absence from Toronto's Game 2 lineup and share their optimism that Bichette could stay a Jay beyond 2025.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those o...

JD opens with his thoughts ahead of Game 1 of the World Series in Toronto between the Blue Jays and the Dodgers, including the decision to start Trey Yesavage on Friday night at Rogers Centre (00:00). Adam Ottavino, former MLB reliever & host of Baseball and Coffee, joins the show to further break down Yesavage starting Game 1, the effect of Kevin Gausman pitching in Game 7 against the Mariners, how the Jays will have to use their limited left-handed arms in the bullpen, how Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt will factor into the series, the Blue Jays plan of attack against the Dodgers...

JD takes a moment to discuss the market for World Series tickets in Toronto, the pricing amongst the secondary options, and the difficulty for true Blue Jays fans to get into the Rogers Centre for Game 1, before looking at his questions for the Jays heading into the Fall Classic (00:00). Jon Morosi, MLB Network insider, joins JD to chat about the World Series matchup between the Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bo Bichette's apparent readiness to re-join the team at the biggest point of the season, the progression of George Springer's knee injury suffered in Game 5 against the Mariners...

JD reflects on the 2025 Blue Jays season so far with the World Series getting underway on Friday against the Dodgers, looking at the biggest contributors to the Jays' making their first appearance in Fall Classic since 1993 (00:00). Blake Murphy, host of Jays Talk Plus and The Raptors Show, joins JD in-studio to further discuss the chemistry of this Blue Jays squad, the progression of the offence with first-year hitting coach David Popkins, the new demographics of Blue Jays fans at playoff games, and the impact of this season's theatrics across the Blue Jays history (7:49). After the break, JD and Blake...

JD celebrates the Blue Jays winning the ALCS against the Mariners in Game 7, as they move on to their first World Series since 1993 to take on the L.A. Dodgers (00:00). Ben Ennis, host of The FAN Morning Show, joins JD in-studio to further discuss the Jays' Game 7 victory (5:38), George Springer's legacy in Toronto after his game-winning 3-run home run, Mariners' skipper Dan Wilson's decision to go with Eduard Bazardo in the 7th inning instead of closer Andrés Muñoz, and John Schneider's deployment of Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and Jeff Hoffman in the winner-take-all game, after the decision to...

JD gives his thoughts on the Blue Jays' split against the Mariners over the weekend, the belief in the team after pushing the series to seven games, other Toronto comparables to this postseason run by the Jays, and the historical impact Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is having on the city and country with his incredible play in October (00:00). Sportsnet.ca's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins the show to add-on to the Blue Jays conversation (14:55), including the performance from Vlad Jr., the contributions from the unsung heroes after the injury to George Springer, how much a World Series appearance would mean to the...

JD gives his thoughts on Max Scherzer's exciting performance in the Blue Jays' Game 4 win against the Mariners, as they tied the ALCS with the Mariners (00:00). A.J. Pierzynski, former MLB catcher and FOX analyst, jumps on with JD to chat about the dynamics between starting pitchers and managers in the postseason, what stood out about Scherzer's performance in his first Blue Jays' postseason start, the continued contributions from the unsung heroes on the team, the historic run that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is on this postseason, and the potential consequences of the Dodgers extending their success with another World...

JD breaks down the Blue Jays Game 3 win over the Mariners in Seattle, and recalls his keys for the Jays to get back into the series, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s offensive outburst, Shane Bieber's dominant start after a shaky first inning, and the contributions from the rest of the lineup (00:00). Joe Siddall, Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the show to continue the conversation about the Jays win, the offensive adjustments that resulted in the 13-run explosion, Vladdy's approach at the plate against George Kirby, Shane Bieber's ability to settle in after allowing the Mariners to take the early...

JD opens the show with his thoughts ahead of Game 3 between the Blue Jays and Mariners, and looks back on the Jays resilient season so far as they head to Seattle to fight for a chance to come back home later in the series, before giving his keys for Toronto to extend the series (00:00). Then, Mike Futa, co-host of The FAN Hockey Show, jumps on with JD to chat about the Maple Leafs' start to the season, expectations for Easton Cowan after making his NHL debut this week, the team's motivation heading into the year after the Mitch Marner...

JD and Ben Ennis, co-host of The FAN Morning Show, discuss the Blue Jays' Game 2 loss against the Mariners, as the Jays go down 0-2 in the ALCS (00:00). The guys debate John Schneider's decisions to pull his starting pitcher in both games to start the series, the strength of the Blue Jays' bullpen compared to the Mariners, the futility of Game 2 home plate umpire Doug Eddings in calling balls and strikes, before getting into Trey Yesavage's struggles in just his second postseason start. After the break, JD and Ben chat about their concerns about the Blue Jays ability to...

JD outlines the Blue Jays' stressful 3-1 loss to the Mariners in Game 1 of the ALCS, the Jays squandering a good start against Seattle starter Bryce Miller, and Manager John Schneider's bullpen decision-making (00:00). Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith joins the show to detail the Jays offensive struggles against Miller, the impact of the loss of Nathan Lukes after fouling a ball off his knee in the first inning, who could potentially take Lukes' spot in the lineup in Game 2, the comparisons between lefty relievers Brendon Little and Mason Fluharty, the question of whether or not to walk Cal Raleigh to avoid...