Birds All Day

Is it time we recalibrate our expectations for this Blue Jays club? Drew and Ricky meditate and respond to that question as well as discussing Vlad Jr. piecing together one of the "quietest" hitting streaks to date. Plus, Yusei Kikuchi's perseverance and boldness is paying dividends. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Ricky on Twitter: @Ricky_Ro24 Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions continue to hang around the Jays' offense like a hat on a rack. Drew and Kaitlyn seek the facts about the Bluebirds' bats and try to separate the noise from the truth. Staying with the theme of offense, Danny Jansen has been swinging at a high level. Plus, we glimpsed promise in Hyun-Jin Ryu's return. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode two of the Future of Sports series, The Athletic's Mike Smeltz looks at how the team experience may change in the future: increased use of technology in gameplay, robotic umpires and the unique initiatives of a startup sports league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode one of the Future of Sports series, The Athletic's Mike Smeltz looks at how the fan experience may change: how going to games, watching games at home and how memorabilia is shifting from physical to digital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto has had an inauspicious run as of late. Drew and Ricky dive into the rough patch the Bluebirds are facing, and discuss how a spell, like this, can snowball. Vladdy's frustration manifested in a bat-splintering crack; should the team's level of annoyance be where it is now considering we're 30-some games into the season? Plus, Kirk's consistent bat and Kikuchi's adjustments are helping the squad. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Ricky on Twitter: @Ricky_Ro24 Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 games into the 2022 MLB regular season, the Blue Jays boast a 17-13 record. Drew and Kaitlyn ponder what we can make of this Toronto team through nearly the first fifth of the year. How does the offense stack up to 2021's production so far? Plus, what areas of this club can we nitpick, and Kaitlyn shares her story about a Blue Jays fan who made a young Yankees fan's day. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alek Manoah posts another great start against the Yankees keeping his ERA under 1.50 so far this season. Can he keep this up for a full season? Are there positives to take out of a bad loss to New York? The Jays are struggling to hit with runners in scoring position, is it reason for concern. And Alejandro Kirk’s proving his value behind the plate early in the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew and Kaitlyn take a peek behind the curtain at Kevin Gausman's nearly-unblemished start to his Blue Jays career. The pair discuss his sequencing, location, stats, and more. Kaitlyn weighs in on Toronto's close wins this season, and she and Drew hone in on the Bluebirds' RISP shortcomings. Plus, a look ahead to the Yankees series. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto's late-game heroics have been well documented this season, yet, Drew is ordering a blowout. He and Ricky discuss the uneasiness of the one-run games the Jays have been involved in this season. The Bluebirds are shifting more than any other MLB team this year, will this strategy pay off? Ross Stripling, Kevin Gausman, and Alek Manoah are all dealing at the moment, when will Kikuchi join in the fun? Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Ricky on Twitter: @Ricky_Ro24 Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soaked in triumph, the back-to-back series-winning Jays appeared to turn a corner offensively, if only a shallow corner. Drew and Kaitlyn discuss the wins in Boston and Houston, and they also wonder out loud if moving Vlad to the 2-spot would result in a cloudburst of offense. Espinal continues to impress, as does Matt Chapman's ludicrous arm. Jordan Romano looked a bit shaky versus the 'Stros, is all OK in Savesland? Plus, Toronto faces a crucial 10-game homestand. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A narrow series-opening defeat at the hands of the nefarious Red Sox has Drew and Ricky discussing Bo Bichette and the bottom of the order's offense. When will it find water, and what adjustments can those parties make? Kikuchi and Stripling stacked solid performances for the Jays. Plus, are there mechanical issues with Ryu? Ricky shares his thoughts. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Ricky on Twitter: @Ricky_Ro24 Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alek Manoah powered the Jays to a series finale victory over the Athletics. Drew and Kaitlyn discuss Manoah's hot start as well as Jordan Romano's stellar start to 2022. Despite the Blue Jays smashing homers at a high clip, this offense hasn't reached its potential yet. Lastly, Ryu and others' bumps and lumps and the Jeff Nelson fiasco. Also, go kick cancers' ass, Buck. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a man on a mission. Drew and Ricky react to Vladdy going OFF in a three-home-run performance versus the dreaded Yankees. Plus, Julian Merryweather and the bullpen are humming; can Santiago Espinal play himself into an everyday role, and Jose Berrios bounces back. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Ricky on Twitter: @Ricky_Ro24 Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The opening series of 2022 is in the rearview mirror for the Blue Jays. Drew and Kaitlyn detail the electric atmosphere and emotional fans at Rogers Centre. The pair discuss their mixed feelings about the new scoreboard, Friday's comeback win versus the Rangers, Berrios and Ryu's uncharacteristic outings, and the current absence of a true ace on the team. Plus, an overview of the upcoming Yankees series. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spin Rate fans! Let's welcome the newest member of the podcast, former Blue Jays all-star pitcher, Opening Day starter, and golf extraordinaire, Ricky Romero! Drew and Ricky will bring you all the Blue Jays nuggets, insights, and opinions weekly throughout the season! The guys discuss Ricky's memories from his Opening Day start, expectations for Toronto in 2022, their perfect lineup, Jays' pitchers' signature pitches, and season predictions, including a Blue Jays World Series title! Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Ricky on Twitter: @Ricky_Ro24 Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opening Day is this Friday!!! There's still plenty left for Drew and Kaitlyn to cover before Toronto's first pitch against the Rangers, such as the Zack Collins trade and Charlie Montoyo's extension. Why did the Blue Jays release Greg Bird, and who will the Jays' brain trust bring in to fill out their remaining roster spots? Drew shares his burning questions about this year's squad before he and Kaitlyn wrap up the show with season predictions. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of course, as soon as we published last week's podcast, the Randal Grichuk trade was announced. Fingers crossed we don't release a podcast just before another acquisition by the Jays. But that's where Drew and Kaitlyn begin today's show, serving up their thoughts on the Randal Grichuk-Raimel Tapia exchange. Why did Toronto trade for Tapia? What role will he have with the team? While focusing on specific players, the duo cogitates on if Greg Bird will make the Jays' roster. Who will be the club's Opening Day starter? Plus, what is Charlie Montoyo's future with the organization? Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opening Day is how close?! Fleeting March Grapefruit League games will soon turn over to actual baseball, so let's talk about the actual Blue Jays players who will be taking the field! Drew and Kaitlyn project Toronto's roster and inspect positions that still have unanswered questions, including the bullpen's composition, and what to do with Nate Pearson and Ryan Borucki. Though George Springer is optimistically aiming to play "150+ games", the Jays need more centerfield help. Longtime Yankee, Brett Gardner, has been linked to the Jays, is an exchange feasible? Also, the Jose Ramirez chatter is unceasing and Drew has a Ramirez-related theory. Lastly, Drew and Kaitlyn confab about the AL East's competitiveness. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baseball is back! And so it has been for nearly a week, nevertheless, Drew and Kaitlyn are ecstatic about delivering Spin Rate to you, in all of its splendor, with actual baseball to play. A torrent of transactions have transpired over the last 48-72 hours, some involving the Jays. One, in particular, is Toronto's deal with the Oakland A's to land 3B, Matt Chapman. What does Chapman do for the Jays' at third base? Who all did the organization trade in order to land Chapman? The pair then kibbitz about the Jays adding to their rotation with the addition of Yusei Kikuchi. Kaitlyn offers her observations from Spring Training, and the duo briefly discusses if the Jays are AL's pound-for-pound best team. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlyncmcgrath Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Athletic's senior baseball writer and prospect guru Keith Law jumps on the podcast with Drew and Kaitlyn to discuss Toronto's farm system. The crew chats about how the Blue Jays are one of the best, if not the best, evaluators of international talent in the Majors. Of the talent the organization has identified, who should fans keep the closest eye on? Getting more granular; Keith shares his thoughts on Kevin Smith, Gabriel Moreno, Jordan Groshans, and more. After parting with Keith, Drew and Kaitlyn converse about canceled games how they could impact the Blue Jays. Follow Drew on Twitter: @DrewGROF Follow Kaitlyn on Twitter: @kaitlynmcgrath Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlaw Subscribe to The Athletic for just $1/month for 6 months by visiting: theathletic.com/spinrate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices