Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez back on Sportsnet ‘for the rest of the rodeo’

There isn’t a time of year that Buck Martinez loves more than September and Blue Jays fans will get a fill of that distinctive voice and enthusiasm the rest of the way.

After a brief hiatus to return to Houston for further medical treatment, the popular Sportsnet analyst rejoined long-time partner Dan Shulman for Monday’s Labour Day game in Cincinnati.

And Martinez doesn’t plan to go anywhere until the last out of the Jays season — whenever that may come.

“I’ll be back on the first of September for the rest of the rodeo,” Martinez told us prior to his previous return after missing almost two and a half months as he underwent cancer treatment in Houston.

With one more session scheduled in August, Martinez took another break and returned to the booth as promised on Monday.

Sounding as strong as ever and none the worse for wear from his trying summer, Martinez didn’t pull any punches with what he believes must happen for the Jays over the remaining 24 games of the season.

“There’s no player in the world that wouldn’t trade places with the Blue Jays now, going into the month in September with a three-game lead in your division,” Martinez said off the top of Monday’s Sportsnet broadcast after Shulman welcomed him back to the booth.

“And now, for me, it’s all up to the players. Managers, coaches, they can’t do anything more. The players have to take the game in their own hands and say, ‘We’re going to win this thing.’”

Martinez said players such as Bo Bichette and George Springer — veteran leaders on the field and in the clubhouse — will be critical to how the Jays position themselves for the playoffs.

“This is something that the veterans understand on this team, that they know it’s all about what we do on the field,” Martinez said. “This is all about who can help us today. What can you do to help us win today.

“This is what players play for, the opportunity to clinch a division championship in the final month of the season.”

After leaving the team on May 29 to begin a series of treatments for lung cancer, Martinez returned for nine games and the beloved broadcaster was well received from both players and teammates.

And after a two-week break — which always was on his original schedule — Buck is back for the most meaningful stretch of this wildly entertaining season.