Jays Journal Podcast - July 22. "Strength of Will."

Jays Journal Podcast - July 22. "Strength of Will."

As the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves reeling from an inauspicious trip to Cleveland with (yet another) frustrating extra-innings loss, we're pleased to bring you a trio of refreshingly candid interviews that will elevate your appreciation for the finer aspects of modern day baseball. Tune in as host Ari Shapiro delves deeper into the psyche of the sport with three brilliant guests:

First, we're excited to bring you an exclusive look at Ryan Noda (@RyanNoda14), drafted in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB draft, Ryan talks about what it means to be chosen by the Jays (1:14), how improved plate control and an elevated walk rate turned him into a desirable prospect (2:03), and his advice to aspiring players on the moment that he knew he'd "made it" (5:21).

Next, inspirational two-sport athlete Diamyn Hall (@DiamynHall), shares his extraordinary journey from a horrific sports injury to a new beginning in baseball (9:42), how his belief in his natural abilities and leadership skills transformed his relationships with others (11:41), on his appreciation of the mercurial Bo Jackson (14:22), and the power of sports psychology when it comes to dealing with adversity (18:51).

Finally, Shawn W. Smith (@shawn_w_smith), a reporter for Metroland Media and freelance writer with The Globe and Mail, Vice Sports, and Sportsnet joins us to discuss his thoughts on the current team (22:41), on the phenomenon that is Justin Smoak (25:18), and the challenge that awaits journalists finding true inspiration in a clickbait world (26:11).