Ever found yourself sitting in gridlock on the 401, white-knuckling the steering wheel while a high-leverage late-inning jam unfolds at the Rogers Centre? You’re not watching the screen, but you can see the dirt flying and the sweat on the pitcher’s brow. That is the power of a top-tier blue jays play by play call. It’s more than just reporting; it’s a shared cultural language for fans from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
Honestly, the landscape of Toronto baseball broadcasting has shifted more in the last three years than it did in the previous twenty. We went from the comfort of Jerry Howarth's "Hello friends" to a high-tech, multi-platform beast that sometimes leaves fans wondering exactly who they are going to hear when they flip on the switch.
The Evolution of the Blue Jays Play by Play Experience
For a long time, the voice was the anchor. You had Tom Cheek for 4,306 consecutive games. Think about that number. He didn't miss a day of work for decades. When Joe Carter hit that walk-off in ’93, Tom’s "Touch 'em all, Joe!" wasn't just a description; it became the definitive historical record of the moment.
Today, the vibe is different. It’s younger, faster, and frankly, a bit more corporate, though the talent is undeniably world-class. Dan Shulman is widely considered one of the best in the business—not just in Canada, but across all of North America. His return to the primary chair for the television side on Sportsnet brought a level of "big game" gravity that the broadcast lacked for a while.
But here is the thing: the radio side has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
After the unceremonious exit of Ben Wagner after the 2023 season, the torch was passed to Ben Shulman. Yeah, the name is familiar for a reason. He’s Dan’s son. Some people grumbled about "nepotism," but if you actually listen to the kid, he’s a natural. He’s got that Syracuse journalism polish mixed with a genuine, unbridled excitement that works perfectly for the medium of radio.
Who is Calling the Action in 2026?
As of the 2026 season, the broadcast booths have solidified into a pretty consistent rhythm. If you’re watching on Sportsnet, you’re getting the "A-Team" for the majority of the schedule:
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- Dan Shulman: The primary play-by-play voice. His timing is impeccable. He knows when to let the crowd noise breathe and when to hammer home a stat.
- Buck Martinez: The legend. Whether he’s providing color commentary or stepping into the play-by-play role for select stretches, his voice is Blue Jays baseball to multiple generations.
- Joe Siddall: He’s moved seamlessly between the studio and the booth. His "catcher's eye" provides a level of technical depth about pitch framing and sequence that you just don't get from most analysts.
On the radio side (Sportsnet 590 The FAN and the Blue Jays Radio Network), it’s Ben Shulman taking the lead. He’s usually paired with Chris Leroux, the former Major Leaguer who brings a bit of a "one of the guys" feel to the broadcast.
The chemistry between a play-by-play lead and their analyst is a fragile thing. If they talk over each other, it's a mess. If they don't talk enough, it's boring. Ben and Chris have developed this rhythm where they feel like two guys at a bar who just happen to be incredibly articulate about launch angles and exit velocity.
Why Fans Still Care About the "Simulcast" Controversy
You can't talk about blue jays play by play without mentioning the Great Simulcast Disaster of 2021. Rogers tried to save a few bucks by just running the TV audio over the radio waves. It was, to put it mildly, a train wreck.
Radio listeners need to know where the ball is. TV viewers can see the ball. When a TV announcer says, "Look at the movement on that slider," the radio listener is left wondering if the ball ended up in the catcher's mitt or the third row of the bleachers.
The backlash was so fierce that the team had to backtrack. Now, we have dedicated radio calls again. It’s a win for the medium. Radio play-by-play is an art form. It requires a specific type of descriptive energy that doesn't exist anywhere else in sports media.
The Tech Factor: How to Tune In
In 2026, finding the game is easier than ever, but it also requires a bit of a map.
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- Sportsnet+: This is the primary streaming hub. If you're out of the house and want to see the game on your phone, this is where you go.
- SiriusXM Channel 868: This is the "home" feed. Great for long hauls through the prairies where FM signals die out.
- The Local Affiliates: From CJBK in London to the big signal at 590 AM in Toronto, the radio network is still the heartbeat of the team’s reach.
There's something nostalgic about the crackle of a radio signal, isn't there? Even with 4K resolution and high-speed internet, a lot of die-hards prefer the radio call because it allows them to multitask. You can garden, work in the garage, or paint the spare room while Ben Shulman tells you exactly how many feet that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homer traveled.
What Makes a "Human" Call?
We live in an age of automated stats and AI-generated recaps. You could probably program a computer to read out "Strike one, outside corner, 98 miles per hour." But a computer can't capture the tension of a bases-loaded count in the bottom of the ninth.
A great play-by-play announcer is a storyteller. They know that the game isn't just about what's happening right now; it's about the narrative of the season. They remember that the pitcher struggled with his control in April. They know the rookie on deck grew up idolizing the guy on the mound.
When Dan Shulman gets that slight rasp in his voice during a pivotal moment, you feel it. That’s the "human quality" that keeps people coming back. It’s not just information; it’s an emotional experience.
Dealing With the Road Game Reality
One thing that still irks some fans is the "remote" broadcast. For several seasons, there’s been a back-and-forth about whether the radio crew travels to every road city or calls the game from a studio in Toronto watching monitors.
Let's be real: calling a game from a screen is never as good as being there. You miss the "feel" of the stadium. You can't see the outfielders shifting before the camera pans. You can't see the manager pacing in the dugout. Fortunately, for the bigger series and the postseason, the commitment to being "on-site" has remained high. It makes a massive difference in the quality of the blue jays play by play experience.
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The Actionable Insight for Fans
If you want to get the most out of your listening or viewing experience this year, here’s a pro tip: mix it up.
Don't just stick to the TV. Try the radio call for a game while you're doing something else. You'll notice details about the field conditions or player mannerisms that the TV cameras often skip over in favor of a close-up on a celebrity in the stands.
Also, keep an eye on the "At the Letters" podcast with Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling. They provide the "why" behind the "what" you hear in the play-by-play. It adds a whole new layer of depth to your understanding of the roster moves and strategic shifts.
The voices might change, and the technology definitely will, but the core of the game remains the same. It’s about that one person, sitting in a booth, telling you a story about a ball and a bat. As long as the Blue Jays are playing, there will be someone there to call the action. And as long as they’re doing it well, we’ll be listening.
To stay fully immersed in the season, make sure you have the Sportsnet app set to notify you of start times, as the 2026 schedule features more "getaway day" afternoon games than previous years. If you’re a radio purist, bookmark the affiliate list for your region so you never lose the signal when crossing provincial or state lines. Stay tuned, because this season’s narrative is already shaping up to be a wild one.