https://simplecast.com Blair & Barker Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker talk all things Blue Jays and MLB. Airing live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 4-6 PM ET during the baseball season. Copyright Rogers Sports & Media en Thu, 2 Apr 2026 20:04:23 +0000 Thu, 2 Apr 2026 20:04:36 +0000 https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair & Barker https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/b72bc3d0-7e44-4b66-8de6-c187dbaa3a4f/6b1f028e-0d15-4e00-822d-f37c1b954793/3000x3000/snpodcast-blairandbarker.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ episodic Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker talk all things Blue Jays and MLB. Airing live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 4-6 PM ET during the baseball season. Sportsnet false https://feeds.simplecast.com/3UhSEnAe Sportsnet Contact@Sportsnet590.ca c1e7abe2-8ed4-4147-9c39-9c23b2e1b5a6 Early Takeaways with Jeff Passan + Player Development with Paul Janish Chicago White Sox's Director of Player Development, Paul Janish (0:26) joins Jeff Blair and his former teammate Kevin Barker to chat about his role with the organization, how they approach players' goals season-to-season, if they've considered 'out of the box' methods of playing like the Colorado Rockies calling pitching from the dugout, how younger players are learning compared to when Paul and Kevin played, the evolution of scouting with analytics, how he would define a successful season for the White Sox, and ABS' implementation. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan stops by (29:32) to discuss the Rockies' method of calling pitches from the dugout, the most surprising and disappointing teams to start their year, his expectations for the Blue Jays vs. Dodgers for the first time since the 2025 World Series and the flurry of contract signings and extensions for prospects on long-term deals. 

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.

]]> Thu, 2 Apr 2026 20:04:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Chicago White Sox's Director of Player Development, Paul Janish (0:26) joins Jeff Blair and his former teammate Kevin Barker to chat about his role with the organization, how they approach players' goals season-to-season, if they've considered 'out of the box' methods of playing like the Colorado Rockies calling pitching from the dugout, how younger players are learning compared to when Paul and Kevin played, the evolution of scouting with analytics, how he would define a successful season for the White Sox, and ABS' implementation. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan stops by (29:32) to discuss the Rockies' method of calling pitches from the dugout, the most surprising and disappointing teams to start their year, his expectations for the Blue Jays vs. Dodgers for the first time since the 2025 World Series and the flurry of contract signings and extensions for prospects on long-term deals. 

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.

]]> Early Takeaways with Jeff Passan + Player Development with Paul Janish Sportsnet 00:49:51 Chicago White Sox's Director of Player Development, Paul Janish (0:26) joins Jeff Blair and his former teammate Kevin Barker to chat about his role with the organization, how they approach players' goals season-to-season, if they've considered 'out of the box' methods of playing like the Colorado Rockies calling pitching from the dugout, how younger players are learning compared to when Paul and Kevin played, the evolution of scouting with analytics, how he would define a successful season for the White Sox, and ABS' implementation. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan stops by (29:32) to discuss the Rockies' method of calling pitches from the dugout, the most surprising and disappointing teams to start their year, his expectations for the Blue Jays vs. Dodgers for the first time since the 2025 World Series and the flurry of contract signings and extensions for prospects on long-term deals.  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. Chicago White Sox's Director of Player Development, Paul Janish (0:26) joins Jeff Blair and his former teammate Kevin Barker to chat about his role with the organization, how they approach players' goals season-to-season, if they've considered 'out of the box' methods of playing like the Colorado Rockies calling pitching from the dugout, how younger players are learning compared to when Paul and Kevin played, the evolution of scouting with analytics, how he would define a successful season for the White Sox, and ABS' implementation. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan stops by (29:32) to discuss the Rockies' method of calling pitches from the dugout, the most surprising and disappointing teams to start their year, his expectations for the Blue Jays vs. Dodgers for the first time since the 2025 World Series and the flurry of contract signings and extensions for prospects on long-term deals.  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. false full fcc55ac7-f812-4969-8d0d-ef22f2960d2b Takeaways Through Two Series with Jon Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the off-day edition with some Blue Jays takeaways through the first two series of the season. They discuss reasons to be optimistic with Jeff Hoffman, why they're not concerned with the team's offensive struggles with runners in scoring position, who fits best in the clean-up spot, and Kevin Gausman's stellar start. Later, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (29:56) shares his early-season Blue Jays thoughts, including his concerns for the rotation's health, Brendon Little's struggles, Hoffman's resilience, and more.

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.

]]> Thu, 2 Apr 2026 19:01:32 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the off-day edition with some Blue Jays takeaways through the first two series of the season. They discuss reasons to be optimistic with Jeff Hoffman, why they're not concerned with the team's offensive struggles with runners in scoring position, who fits best in the clean-up spot, and Kevin Gausman's stellar start. Later, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (29:56) shares his early-season Blue Jays thoughts, including his concerns for the rotation's health, Brendon Little's struggles, Hoffman's resilience, and more.

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.

]]> Takeaways Through Two Series with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the off-day edition with some Blue Jays takeaways through the first two series of the season. They discuss reasons to be optimistic with Jeff Hoffman, why they're not concerned with the team's offensive struggles with runners in scoring position, who fits best in the clean-up spot, and Kevin Gausman's stellar start. Later, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (29:56) shares his early-season Blue Jays thoughts, including his concerns for the rotation's health, Brendon Little's struggles, Hoffman's resilience, and more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the off-day edition with some Blue Jays takeaways through the first two series of the season. They discuss reasons to be optimistic with Jeff Hoffman, why they're not concerned with the team's offensive struggles with runners in scoring position, who fits best in the clean-up spot, and Kevin Gausman's stellar start. Later, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (29:56) shares his early-season Blue Jays thoughts, including his concerns for the rotation's health, Brendon Little's struggles, Hoffman's resilience, and more. 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. false full 285b0e14-6340-4b2c-aa8b-00962d66cc36 Rotation Without Ponce, Brendan Little Solution and Bisons Report Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing how John Schneider could navigate the pitching rotation with Cody Ponce's status up in the air, the best way forward for Brendan Little after strong Spring outings and two rocky relief stints to start the regular season, why Kazuma Okamoto's second career MLB home run was impressive, and Ponce's first pitches in the Majors. Then, the guys bring on play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bisons Pat Malacaro (27:00) to chat about potential options for the main roster to call up if Ponce misses time, Josh Kasevich's popularity among the managers and coaches, and Josh Rivera's growing potential. 

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.

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:02:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing how John Schneider could navigate the pitching rotation with Cody Ponce's status up in the air, the best way forward for Brendan Little after strong Spring outings and two rocky relief stints to start the regular season, why Kazuma Okamoto's second career MLB home run was impressive, and Ponce's first pitches in the Majors. Then, the guys bring on play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bisons Pat Malacaro (27:00) to chat about potential options for the main roster to call up if Ponce misses time, Josh Kasevich's popularity among the managers and coaches, and Josh Rivera's growing potential. 

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.

]]> Rotation Without Ponce, Brendan Little Solution and Bisons Report Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing how John Schneider could navigate the pitching rotation with Cody Ponce's status up in the air, the best way forward for Brendan Little after strong Spring outings and two rocky relief stints to start the regular season, why Kazuma Okamoto's second career MLB home run was impressive, and Ponce's first pitches in the Majors. Then, the guys bring on play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bisons Pat Malacaro (27:00) to chat about potential options for the main roster to call up if Ponce misses time, Josh Kasevich's popularity among the managers and coaches, and Josh Rivera's growing potential.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing how John Schneider could navigate the pitching rotation with Cody Ponce's status up in the air, the best way forward for Brendan Little after strong Spring outings and two rocky relief stints to start the regular season, why Kazuma Okamoto's second career MLB home run was impressive, and Ponce's first pitches in the Majors. Then, the guys bring on play-by-play voice of the Buffalo Bisons Pat Malacaro (27:00) to chat about potential options for the main roster to call up if Ponce misses time, Josh Kasevich's popularity among the managers and coaches, and Josh Rivera's growing potential.  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. false full 9e03db6a-c8db-44a3-81f8-fc04ed14d53f Following Up a World Series Berth with Mark Shapiro Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by co-host of VSiN By The Books and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (0:58) to chat about the first weekend of ABS' implementation, his takeaways from the Blue Jays' pitchers successful weekend with the strike zone, why he's not overreacting to Jeff Hoffman's first blown save to the year, and Rōki Sasaki's 2026 debut after a rocky Spring Training. Then, Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro (25:40) stops by to discuss the World Series' effect on the 2026 roster and organization, how he would define a successful season, what Kazuma Okamoto brings to the team on and off the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s growth into a leader and his ceiling, the Jays' pitch to Dylan Cease, and maintaining a high-end minor league teams.

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.

]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:01:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by co-host of VSiN By The Books and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (0:58) to chat about the first weekend of ABS' implementation, his takeaways from the Blue Jays' pitchers successful weekend with the strike zone, why he's not overreacting to Jeff Hoffman's first blown save to the year, and Rōki Sasaki's 2026 debut after a rocky Spring Training. Then, Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro (25:40) stops by to discuss the World Series' effect on the 2026 roster and organization, how he would define a successful season, what Kazuma Okamoto brings to the team on and off the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s growth into a leader and his ceiling, the Jays' pitch to Dylan Cease, and maintaining a high-end minor league teams.

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.

]]> Following Up a World Series Berth with Mark Shapiro Sportsnet 00:49:57 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by co-host of VSiN By The Books and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (0:58) to chat about the first weekend of ABS' implementation, his takeaways from the Blue Jays' pitchers successful weekend with the strike zone, why he's not overreacting to Jeff Hoffman's first blown save to the year, and Rōki Sasaki's 2026 debut after a rocky Spring Training. Then, Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro (25:40) stops by to discuss the World Series' effect on the 2026 roster and organization, how he would define a successful season, what Kazuma Okamoto brings to the team on and off the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s growth into a leader and his ceiling, the Jays' pitch to Dylan Cease, and maintaining a high-end minor league teams. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by co-host of VSiN By The Books and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (0:58) to chat about the first weekend of ABS' implementation, his takeaways from the Blue Jays' pitchers successful weekend with the strike zone, why he's not overreacting to Jeff Hoffman's first blown save to the year, and Rōki Sasaki's 2026 debut after a rocky Spring Training. Then, Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro (25:40) stops by to discuss the World Series' effect on the 2026 roster and organization, how he would define a successful season, what Kazuma Okamoto brings to the team on and off the field, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s growth into a leader and his ceiling, the Jays' pitch to Dylan Cease, and maintaining a high-end minor league teams. 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. false full a00cf4aa-f599-4229-950b-31e385e0d8f7 Starting the Season with a Sweep Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' first series of the 2026 season - a three-game sweep over the Athletics. They discuss the rotation's early statement, as Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Eric Lauer combined for 32 strikeouts, share their first impressions of Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto, and express early concerns for Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman in the bullpen. Later, ahead of the Jays' series opener against the Rockies, Colorado TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:25) joins the show to discuss the Rockies' goals this season, Ethan Holliday's progression, and his expectations for Cody Ponce's first start of the year.

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.

]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:00:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' first series of the 2026 season - a three-game sweep over the Athletics. They discuss the rotation's early statement, as Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Eric Lauer combined for 32 strikeouts, share their first impressions of Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto, and express early concerns for Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman in the bullpen. Later, ahead of the Jays' series opener against the Rockies, Colorado TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:25) joins the show to discuss the Rockies' goals this season, Ethan Holliday's progression, and his expectations for Cody Ponce's first start of the year.

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.

]]> Starting the Season with a Sweep Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' first series of the 2026 season - a three-game sweep over the Athletics. They discuss the rotation's early statement, as Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Eric Lauer combined for 32 strikeouts, share their first impressions of Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto, and express early concerns for Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman in the bullpen. Later, ahead of the Jays' series opener against the Rockies, Colorado TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:25) joins the show to discuss the Rockies' goals this season, Ethan Holliday's progression, and his expectations for Cody Ponce's first start of the year. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Toronto Blue Jays' first series of the 2026 season - a three-game sweep over the Athletics. They discuss the rotation's early statement, as Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, and Eric Lauer combined for 32 strikeouts, share their first impressions of Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto, and express early concerns for Brendon Little and Jeff Hoffman in the bullpen. Later, ahead of the Jays' series opener against the Rockies, Colorado TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:25) joins the show to discuss the Rockies' goals this season, Ethan Holliday's progression, and his expectations for Cody Ponce's first start of the year. 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. false full 1396c527-f747-40cd-800c-bb3467818e48 Kicking Off a New Season with John Schneider and Joe Siddall Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:39) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss why the end of the 2025 World Series won't define the team's 2026 season, how he's evolved as a manager, Addison Barger's confidence, Andrés Giménez finding his swing and transitioning into an everyday shortstop, if the 9th inning will be Jeff Hoffman's, Brendon Little's outlook and the challenge for Kazuma Okamoto playing third base in MLB. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Joe Siddall (22:45) gives his thoughts on the opening-day batting order, who could be a long-term solution batting in the 2-hole, Barger's ceiling, the top left-handed option out of the bullpen, Okamoto's impressions, and whether Giménez has found his offence. 

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:59:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:39) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss why the end of the 2025 World Series won't define the team's 2026 season, how he's evolved as a manager, Addison Barger's confidence, Andrés Giménez finding his swing and transitioning into an everyday shortstop, if the 9th inning will be Jeff Hoffman's, Brendon Little's outlook and the challenge for Kazuma Okamoto playing third base in MLB. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Joe Siddall (22:45) gives his thoughts on the opening-day batting order, who could be a long-term solution batting in the 2-hole, Barger's ceiling, the top left-handed option out of the bullpen, Okamoto's impressions, and whether Giménez has found his offence. 

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.

]]> Kicking Off a New Season with John Schneider and Joe Siddall Sportsnet 00:49:49 Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:39) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss why the end of the 2025 World Series won't define the team's 2026 season, how he's evolved as a manager, Addison Barger's confidence, Andrés Giménez finding his swing and transitioning into an everyday shortstop, if the 9th inning will be Jeff Hoffman's, Brendon Little's outlook and the challenge for Kazuma Okamoto playing third base in MLB. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Joe Siddall (22:45) gives his thoughts on the opening-day batting order, who could be a long-term solution batting in the 2-hole, Barger's ceiling, the top left-handed option out of the bullpen, Okamoto's impressions, and whether Giménez has found his offence. 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. Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:39) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss why the end of the 2025 World Series won't define the team's 2026 season, how he's evolved as a manager, Addison Barger's confidence, Andrés Giménez finding his swing and transitioning into an everyday shortstop, if the 9th inning will be Jeff Hoffman's, Brendon Little's outlook and the challenge for Kazuma Okamoto playing third base in MLB. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Joe Siddall (22:45) gives his thoughts on the opening-day batting order, who could be a long-term solution batting in the 2-hole, Barger's ceiling, the top left-handed option out of the bullpen, Okamoto's impressions, and whether Giménez has found his offence. 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. false full 617387ec-d919-45a8-b63e-077234527080 Opening Day is Here! + Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays get set for their Opening Day matchup against the Athletics. They react to the starting lineup, predict how it might change against lefty starters, and share their expectations for the first series of the season. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (26:30) to discuss some of the storylines heading into the 2026 season, including the Dodgers' chances to three-peat, who will challenge them in the National League, and why he sees the Mariners running away with the AL West. Then, he gets into the Jays, their path to a second-straight AL East title, bullpen concerns, and how the industry views offseason additions, Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease. Finally, Jeff and Kevin break down Shane Baz's 5-year extension with the Orioles.

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:04:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays get set for their Opening Day matchup against the Athletics. They react to the starting lineup, predict how it might change against lefty starters, and share their expectations for the first series of the season. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (26:30) to discuss some of the storylines heading into the 2026 season, including the Dodgers' chances to three-peat, who will challenge them in the National League, and why he sees the Mariners running away with the AL West. Then, he gets into the Jays, their path to a second-straight AL East title, bullpen concerns, and how the industry views offseason additions, Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease. Finally, Jeff and Kevin break down Shane Baz's 5-year extension with the Orioles.

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.

]]> Opening Day is Here! + Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays get set for their Opening Day matchup against the Athletics. They react to the starting lineup, predict how it might change against lefty starters, and share their expectations for the first series of the season. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (26:30) to discuss some of the storylines heading into the 2026 season, including the Dodgers' chances to three-peat, who will challenge them in the National League, and why he sees the Mariners running away with the AL West. Then, he gets into the Jays, their path to a second-straight AL East title, bullpen concerns, and how the industry views offseason additions, Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease. Finally, Jeff and Kevin break down Shane Baz's 5-year extension with the Orioles. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to first pitch as the Toronto Blue Jays get set for their Opening Day matchup against the Athletics. They react to the starting lineup, predict how it might change against lefty starters, and share their expectations for the first series of the season. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (26:30) to discuss some of the storylines heading into the 2026 season, including the Dodgers' chances to three-peat, who will challenge them in the National League, and why he sees the Mariners running away with the AL West. Then, he gets into the Jays, their path to a second-straight AL East title, bullpen concerns, and how the industry views offseason additions, Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease. Finally, Jeff and Kevin break down Shane Baz's 5-year extension with the Orioles. 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. false full 6fdd0bdc-910e-4f99-8ca8-271f0d551c74 What Ross Atkins Envisions for 2026 Toronto Blue Jays EVP and general manager Ross Atkins (0:24) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about what he's looking forward to and his goals for the organization's 2026 season, how they handled their first Spring Training after a long season and World Series push, Kevin Gausman entering his 14th MLB season and his workload, how Spencer Miles earned a main roster spot, what he learned from Dylan Cease, how Max Scherzer ended up returning to the team, what he envisions for third base and Kazuma Okamoto as a hitter, Vladdy Jr.'s maturation, Daulton Varsho's consistency and continuing to work with John Schneider after both signing contract extensions. Then, New York Yankees reporter Erik Boland (28:22) drops by to recap their season opener, if the defence or bullpen is the biggest weakness, Ben Rice's season outlook, and if Aaron Judge can stay healthy enough to win another AL MVP. Plus, we hear from Kevin Gausman ahead of his Opening Day start.

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.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:00:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Toronto Blue Jays EVP and general manager Ross Atkins (0:24) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about what he's looking forward to and his goals for the organization's 2026 season, how they handled their first Spring Training after a long season and World Series push, Kevin Gausman entering his 14th MLB season and his workload, how Spencer Miles earned a main roster spot, what he learned from Dylan Cease, how Max Scherzer ended up returning to the team, what he envisions for third base and Kazuma Okamoto as a hitter, Vladdy Jr.'s maturation, Daulton Varsho's consistency and continuing to work with John Schneider after both signing contract extensions. Then, New York Yankees reporter Erik Boland (28:22) drops by to recap their season opener, if the defence or bullpen is the biggest weakness, Ben Rice's season outlook, and if Aaron Judge can stay healthy enough to win another AL MVP. Plus, we hear from Kevin Gausman ahead of his Opening Day start.

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.

]]> What Ross Atkins Envisions for 2026 Sportsnet 00:50:25 Toronto Blue Jays EVP and general manager Ross Atkins (0:24) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about what he's looking forward to and his goals for the organization's 2026 season, how they handled their first Spring Training after a long season and World Series push, Kevin Gausman entering his 14th MLB season and his workload, how Spencer Miles earned a main roster spot, what he learned from Dylan Cease, how Max Scherzer ended up returning to the team, what he envisions for third base and Kazuma Okamoto as a hitter, Vladdy Jr.'s maturation, Daulton Varsho's consistency and continuing to work with John Schneider after both signing contract extensions. Then, New York Yankees reporter Erik Boland (28:22) drops by to recap their season opener, if the defence or bullpen is the biggest weakness, Ben Rice's season outlook, and if Aaron Judge can stay healthy enough to win another AL MVP. Plus, we hear from Kevin Gausman ahead of his Opening Day start. 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. Toronto Blue Jays EVP and general manager Ross Atkins (0:24) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about what he's looking forward to and his goals for the organization's 2026 season, how they handled their first Spring Training after a long season and World Series push, Kevin Gausman entering his 14th MLB season and his workload, how Spencer Miles earned a main roster spot, what he learned from Dylan Cease, how Max Scherzer ended up returning to the team, what he envisions for third base and Kazuma Okamoto as a hitter, Vladdy Jr.'s maturation, Daulton Varsho's consistency and continuing to work with John Schneider after both signing contract extensions. Then, New York Yankees reporter Erik Boland (28:22) drops by to recap their season opener, if the defence or bullpen is the biggest weakness, Ben Rice's season outlook, and if Aaron Judge can stay healthy enough to win another AL MVP. Plus, we hear from Kevin Gausman ahead of his Opening Day start. 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. false full b5b8d662-af22-470c-a465-c36c20469178 2026 Season Predictions! Major League Baseball is officially back! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their thoughts on the Yankees' dominant win over the Giants to kick off the season, before going live to John Schneider's availability from the Blue Jays' workout day at the Rogers Centre. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their picks and predictions for the 2026 season, including playoff teams, World Series matchups, and award winners! 

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.

]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Major League Baseball is officially back! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their thoughts on the Yankees' dominant win over the Giants to kick off the season, before going live to John Schneider's availability from the Blue Jays' workout day at the Rogers Centre. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their picks and predictions for the 2026 season, including playoff teams, World Series matchups, and award winners! 

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.

]]> 2026 Season Predictions! Sportsnet 00:49:22 Major League Baseball is officially back! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their thoughts on the Yankees' dominant win over the Giants to kick off the season, before going live to John Schneider's availability from the Blue Jays' workout day at the Rogers Centre. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their picks and predictions for the 2026 season, including playoff teams, World Series matchups, and award winners! 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. Major League Baseball is officially back! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their thoughts on the Yankees' dominant win over the Giants to kick off the season, before going live to John Schneider's availability from the Blue Jays' workout day at the Rogers Centre. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their picks and predictions for the 2026 season, including playoff teams, World Series matchups, and award winners! 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. false full 4495e653-c6a8-496d-bd58-9fe848543bb5 Rays' Return to the Top with Brian Anderson + Back-Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to chat about their breakout star for the Blue Jays this season, José Berríos' outlook, which bat and arm should we pay attention to starting the year, confidence levels with Jeff Hoffman and more. Then, the guys bring on former MLB pitcher and Tampa Bay Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (29:40) to discuss the Rays' chances at reclaiming the AL East, Shane McClanahan's road back from a lost season, which players will benefit from returning to play at the Trop, homefield renovations, and if Junior Caminero can replicate his strong 2025 year. 

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 20:03:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to chat about their breakout star for the Blue Jays this season, José Berríos' outlook, which bat and arm should we pay attention to starting the year, confidence levels with Jeff Hoffman and more. Then, the guys bring on former MLB pitcher and Tampa Bay Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (29:40) to discuss the Rays' chances at reclaiming the AL East, Shane McClanahan's road back from a lost season, which players will benefit from returning to play at the Trop, homefield renovations, and if Junior Caminero can replicate his strong 2025 year. 

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.

]]> Rays' Return to the Top with Brian Anderson + Back-Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to chat about their breakout star for the Blue Jays this season, José Berríos' outlook, which bat and arm should we pay attention to starting the year, confidence levels with Jeff Hoffman and more. Then, the guys bring on former MLB pitcher and Tampa Bay Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (29:40) to discuss the Rays' chances at reclaiming the AL East, Shane McClanahan's road back from a lost season, which players will benefit from returning to play at the Trop, homefield renovations, and if Junior Caminero can replicate his strong 2025 year.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to chat about their breakout star for the Blue Jays this season, José Berríos' outlook, which bat and arm should we pay attention to starting the year, confidence levels with Jeff Hoffman and more. Then, the guys bring on former MLB pitcher and Tampa Bay Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (29:40) to discuss the Rays' chances at reclaiming the AL East, Shane McClanahan's road back from a lost season, which players will benefit from returning to play at the Trop, homefield renovations, and if Junior Caminero can replicate his strong 2025 year.  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. false full db494477-559d-4537-b1eb-0ab81b84859b Hunter Pence Sets Up a New Season + State of the Athletics with GM David Forst! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with thoughts on the Blue Jays final moves to set their 26-man roster. Hunter Pence (07:20), two-time World Series champion and Giants analyst, sets the stage ahead of tonight's first MLB game of the season between the Yankees and Giants! The boys chat about the outlook for the Bronx Bombers this season, the misconception with how San Francisco will call pitches this season, and what to expect before first pitch. David Forst (27:38), Athletics General Manager, shares how his team's mentality has changed heading into this season. David outlines the A's opportunity to contend in the American League West, the names on the roster to watch out for, and the club's first series of the year in Toronto.

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Mar 2026 19:01:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with thoughts on the Blue Jays final moves to set their 26-man roster. Hunter Pence (07:20), two-time World Series champion and Giants analyst, sets the stage ahead of tonight's first MLB game of the season between the Yankees and Giants! The boys chat about the outlook for the Bronx Bombers this season, the misconception with how San Francisco will call pitches this season, and what to expect before first pitch. David Forst (27:38), Athletics General Manager, shares how his team's mentality has changed heading into this season. David outlines the A's opportunity to contend in the American League West, the names on the roster to watch out for, and the club's first series of the year in Toronto.

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.

]]> Hunter Pence Sets Up a New Season + State of the Athletics with GM David Forst! Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with thoughts on the Blue Jays final moves to set their 26-man roster. Hunter Pence (07:20), two-time World Series champion and Giants analyst, sets the stage ahead of tonight's first MLB game of the season between the Yankees and Giants! The boys chat about the outlook for the Bronx Bombers this season, the misconception with how San Francisco will call pitches this season, and what to expect before first pitch. David Forst (27:38), Athletics General Manager, shares how his team's mentality has changed heading into this season. David outlines the A's opportunity to contend in the American League West, the names on the roster to watch out for, and the club's first series of the year in Toronto. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with thoughts on the Blue Jays final moves to set their 26-man roster. Hunter Pence (07:20), two-time World Series champion and Giants analyst, sets the stage ahead of tonight's first MLB game of the season between the Yankees and Giants! The boys chat about the outlook for the Bronx Bombers this season, the misconception with how San Francisco will call pitches this season, and what to expect before first pitch. David Forst (27:38), Athletics General Manager, shares how his team's mentality has changed heading into this season. David outlines the A's opportunity to contend in the American League West, the names on the roster to watch out for, and the club's first series of the year in Toronto. 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. baseball, giants, mlb, jays, yankees, toronto, david forst, kevin barker, jeff blair, hunter pence, sportsnet, athletics, blue false full 230bb9fd-8b45-4d97-9c7a-4af59e1f534d What Pete Alonso Brings to the O's + Kevin Kiermaier Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and current Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (5:44) to chat about the excitement of a competitive AL East, the biggest addition during the offseason for Baltimore, what sets apart Pete Alonso from the rest of the great hitters of the game, if we can see a bounce back year from Adley Rutschman, and the state of the Orioles' bullpen arms after their starters. Then, former MLB outfielder and newest MLB Network analyst Kevin Kiermaier joins the guys (28:18) to discuss which teams in the AL East has the most pressure heading into the new year, if a team like the Blue Jays can replicate a 'ball in play' approach two seasons in a row, Kevin Gausman's legacy, how Vlad Jr. will approach the season without Bo Bichette and vice versa, and his early thoughts on ABS. 

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:00:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and current Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (5:44) to chat about the excitement of a competitive AL East, the biggest addition during the offseason for Baltimore, what sets apart Pete Alonso from the rest of the great hitters of the game, if we can see a bounce back year from Adley Rutschman, and the state of the Orioles' bullpen arms after their starters. Then, former MLB outfielder and newest MLB Network analyst Kevin Kiermaier joins the guys (28:18) to discuss which teams in the AL East has the most pressure heading into the new year, if a team like the Blue Jays can replicate a 'ball in play' approach two seasons in a row, Kevin Gausman's legacy, how Vlad Jr. will approach the season without Bo Bichette and vice versa, and his early thoughts on ABS. 

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.

]]> What Pete Alonso Brings to the O's + Kevin Kiermaier Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and current Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (5:44) to chat about the excitement of a competitive AL East, the biggest addition during the offseason for Baltimore, what sets apart Pete Alonso from the rest of the great hitters of the game, if we can see a bounce back year from Adley Rutschman, and the state of the Orioles' bullpen arms after their starters. Then, former MLB outfielder and newest MLB Network analyst Kevin Kiermaier joins the guys (28:18) to discuss which teams in the AL East has the most pressure heading into the new year, if a team like the Blue Jays can replicate a 'ball in play' approach two seasons in a row, Kevin Gausman's legacy, how Vlad Jr. will approach the season without Bo Bichette and vice versa, and his early thoughts on ABS.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and current Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (5:44) to chat about the excitement of a competitive AL East, the biggest addition during the offseason for Baltimore, what sets apart Pete Alonso from the rest of the great hitters of the game, if we can see a bounce back year from Adley Rutschman, and the state of the Orioles' bullpen arms after their starters. Then, former MLB outfielder and newest MLB Network analyst Kevin Kiermaier joins the guys (28:18) to discuss which teams in the AL East has the most pressure heading into the new year, if a team like the Blue Jays can replicate a 'ball in play' approach two seasons in a row, Kevin Gausman's legacy, how Vlad Jr. will approach the season without Bo Bichette and vice versa, and his early thoughts on ABS.  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. false full f8ed303a-58b8-4253-ad83-c701d291b3f6 Life on the Fringes + Dan Shulman's Difference Makers Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show looking ahead to Blue Jays Opening Day! Barker shares what it's like for players on the fringes of a 26-man roster and reflects on his own training camp experiences. The boys also dive into John Schneider's choices to bat second in the Jays order, Cody Ponce's outlook this season, and Josh Kasevich's upside. Dan Shulman (26:52), Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins the conversation to discuss what can separate Toronto from the pack heading into 2026. They trio take a closer look at Max Scherzer's scoreless spring training, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s soaring confidence, expectations for Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease, Jeff Hoffman's status, and Brendon Little's opportunity to bounce back.

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:58:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show looking ahead to Blue Jays Opening Day! Barker shares what it's like for players on the fringes of a 26-man roster and reflects on his own training camp experiences. The boys also dive into John Schneider's choices to bat second in the Jays order, Cody Ponce's outlook this season, and Josh Kasevich's upside. Dan Shulman (26:52), Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins the conversation to discuss what can separate Toronto from the pack heading into 2026. They trio take a closer look at Max Scherzer's scoreless spring training, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s soaring confidence, expectations for Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease, Jeff Hoffman's status, and Brendon Little's opportunity to bounce back.

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.

]]> Life on the Fringes + Dan Shulman's Difference Makers Sportsnet 00:49:26 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show looking ahead to Blue Jays Opening Day! Barker shares what it's like for players on the fringes of a 26-man roster and reflects on his own training camp experiences. The boys also dive into John Schneider's choices to bat second in the Jays order, Cody Ponce's outlook this season, and Josh Kasevich's upside. Dan Shulman (26:52), Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins the conversation to discuss what can separate Toronto from the pack heading into 2026. They trio take a closer look at Max Scherzer's scoreless spring training, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s soaring confidence, expectations for Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease, Jeff Hoffman's status, and Brendon Little's opportunity to bounce back. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show looking ahead to Blue Jays Opening Day! Barker shares what it's like for players on the fringes of a 26-man roster and reflects on his own training camp experiences. The boys also dive into John Schneider's choices to bat second in the Jays order, Cody Ponce's outlook this season, and Josh Kasevich's upside. Dan Shulman (26:52), Blue Jays play-by-play voice, joins the conversation to discuss what can separate Toronto from the pack heading into 2026. They trio take a closer look at Max Scherzer's scoreless spring training, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s soaring confidence, expectations for Kazuma Okamoto and Dylan Cease, Jeff Hoffman's status, and Brendon Little's opportunity to bounce back. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full afd0ec10-da96-42f6-9a20-217d9bd09f66 Blue Jays 2026 Expectations with Caleb Joseph + Red Sox Preview Former MLB catcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:15) to chat about the Jays' path to winning the AL East, if Jeff Hoffman will continue to be the closer to start the year, Alejandro Kirk's job to transition pitch calling behind the plate between Spring Training to the regular season, how Dylan Cease can build efficiency, if we can expect a breakout year for Vlad Jr., and if he's buying in on Daulton Varsho's Spring numbers. Then, host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' and Red Sox reporter for WEEI Boston, Rob Bradford, stops by (28:12) to discuss where the team stacks in the division, if post-season hangovers exist, if Boston can improve on their infield defence from 2025, expectations for Roman Anthony, and how hot Alex Cora's managerial seat is. 

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 20:02:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB catcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:15) to chat about the Jays' path to winning the AL East, if Jeff Hoffman will continue to be the closer to start the year, Alejandro Kirk's job to transition pitch calling behind the plate between Spring Training to the regular season, how Dylan Cease can build efficiency, if we can expect a breakout year for Vlad Jr., and if he's buying in on Daulton Varsho's Spring numbers. Then, host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' and Red Sox reporter for WEEI Boston, Rob Bradford, stops by (28:12) to discuss where the team stacks in the division, if post-season hangovers exist, if Boston can improve on their infield defence from 2025, expectations for Roman Anthony, and how hot Alex Cora's managerial seat is. 

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.

]]> Blue Jays 2026 Expectations with Caleb Joseph + Red Sox Preview Sportsnet 00:49:11 Former MLB catcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:15) to chat about the Jays' path to winning the AL East, if Jeff Hoffman will continue to be the closer to start the year, Alejandro Kirk's job to transition pitch calling behind the plate between Spring Training to the regular season, how Dylan Cease can build efficiency, if we can expect a breakout year for Vlad Jr., and if he's buying in on Daulton Varsho's Spring numbers. Then, host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' and Red Sox reporter for WEEI Boston, Rob Bradford, stops by (28:12) to discuss where the team stacks in the division, if post-season hangovers exist, if Boston can improve on their infield defence from 2025, expectations for Roman Anthony, and how hot Alex Cora's managerial seat is.  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. Former MLB catcher and Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:15) to chat about the Jays' path to winning the AL East, if Jeff Hoffman will continue to be the closer to start the year, Alejandro Kirk's job to transition pitch calling behind the plate between Spring Training to the regular season, how Dylan Cease can build efficiency, if we can expect a breakout year for Vlad Jr., and if he's buying in on Daulton Varsho's Spring numbers. Then, host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' and Red Sox reporter for WEEI Boston, Rob Bradford, stops by (28:12) to discuss where the team stacks in the division, if post-season hangovers exist, if Boston can improve on their infield defence from 2025, expectations for Roman Anthony, and how hot Alex Cora's managerial seat is.  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. false full adf30de3-30e2-4250-9261-4767653bade8 Jays Extend Atkins and Schneider + Final Roster Battles Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week by reacting to the Blue Jays extending GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. Sportsnet insider Ben Nicholson-Smith joins them (4:30) to share his thoughts on the extensions, the plan for Jesús Sánchez, Leo Jimenez's chances at cracking the Opening Day roster, the battle for the final reliever spot, what to expect from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following a breakout postseason run, Dylan Cease's ceiling, and much more. Later, David Samson, host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, stops by (28:50) to discuss Cristopher Sanchez's extension with the Phillies, why MLB seems set for a work stoppage in 2027, Tarik Skubal's future in Detroit, and the state of the game after the success of the World Baseball Classic.

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:03:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week by reacting to the Blue Jays extending GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. Sportsnet insider Ben Nicholson-Smith joins them (4:30) to share his thoughts on the extensions, the plan for Jesús Sánchez, Leo Jimenez's chances at cracking the Opening Day roster, the battle for the final reliever spot, what to expect from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following a breakout postseason run, Dylan Cease's ceiling, and much more. Later, David Samson, host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, stops by (28:50) to discuss Cristopher Sanchez's extension with the Phillies, why MLB seems set for a work stoppage in 2027, Tarik Skubal's future in Detroit, and the state of the game after the success of the World Baseball Classic.

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.

]]> Jays Extend Atkins and Schneider + Final Roster Battles Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week by reacting to the Blue Jays extending GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. Sportsnet insider Ben Nicholson-Smith joins them (4:30) to share his thoughts on the extensions, the plan for Jesús Sánchez, Leo Jimenez's chances at cracking the Opening Day roster, the battle for the final reliever spot, what to expect from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following a breakout postseason run, Dylan Cease's ceiling, and much more. Later, David Samson, host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, stops by (28:50) to discuss Cristopher Sanchez's extension with the Phillies, why MLB seems set for a work stoppage in 2027, Tarik Skubal's future in Detroit, and the state of the game after the success of the World Baseball Classic. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week by reacting to the Blue Jays extending GM Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider. Sportsnet insider Ben Nicholson-Smith joins them (4:30) to share his thoughts on the extensions, the plan for Jesús Sánchez, Leo Jimenez's chances at cracking the Opening Day roster, the battle for the final reliever spot, what to expect from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. following a breakout postseason run, Dylan Cease's ceiling, and much more. Later, David Samson, host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, stops by (28:50) to discuss Cristopher Sanchez's extension with the Phillies, why MLB seems set for a work stoppage in 2027, Tarik Skubal's future in Detroit, and the state of the game after the success of the World Baseball Classic. 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. false full 25d90511-d5f0-497c-895d-7d2fbfec1f25 Shades of Opening Day in Dunedin + Jays Farm on the Rise Jeff Blair kicks off Friday's show setting up the Blue Jays' spring training clash against the Twins with Kevin Barker live from Dundein, Florida. They look back on yesterday's 11-0 drubbing of the Yankees highlighted by Cody Ponce's scoreless 5.2 innings of work and yet another long ball off the bat of Daulton Varsho. The boys also chat about Kazuma Okamoto's play at third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s streak of not striking out, and the battle for the final roster spots. Next, Jonathan Mayo (31:12) of MLB Pipeline breaks down how the Blue Jays' prospect system has climbed the ranks from 2025 to 2026, highlights the young stars to keep an eye on, and projects a new dynamic duo on the rise.

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.

]]> Fri, 20 Mar 2026 16:57:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair kicks off Friday's show setting up the Blue Jays' spring training clash against the Twins with Kevin Barker live from Dundein, Florida. They look back on yesterday's 11-0 drubbing of the Yankees highlighted by Cody Ponce's scoreless 5.2 innings of work and yet another long ball off the bat of Daulton Varsho. The boys also chat about Kazuma Okamoto's play at third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s streak of not striking out, and the battle for the final roster spots. Next, Jonathan Mayo (31:12) of MLB Pipeline breaks down how the Blue Jays' prospect system has climbed the ranks from 2025 to 2026, highlights the young stars to keep an eye on, and projects a new dynamic duo on the rise.

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.

]]> Shades of Opening Day in Dunedin + Jays Farm on the Rise Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair kicks off Friday's show setting up the Blue Jays' spring training clash against the Twins with Kevin Barker live from Dundein, Florida. They look back on yesterday's 11-0 drubbing of the Yankees highlighted by Cody Ponce's scoreless 5.2 innings of work and yet another long ball off the bat of Daulton Varsho. The boys also chat about Kazuma Okamoto's play at third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s streak of not striking out, and the battle for the final roster spots. Next, Jonathan Mayo (31:12) of MLB Pipeline breaks down how the Blue Jays' prospect system has climbed the ranks from 2025 to 2026, highlights the young stars to keep an eye on, and projects a new dynamic duo on the rise. 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. Jeff Blair kicks off Friday's show setting up the Blue Jays' spring training clash against the Twins with Kevin Barker live from Dundein, Florida. They look back on yesterday's 11-0 drubbing of the Yankees highlighted by Cody Ponce's scoreless 5.2 innings of work and yet another long ball off the bat of Daulton Varsho. The boys also chat about Kazuma Okamoto's play at third base, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s streak of not striking out, and the battle for the final roster spots. Next, Jonathan Mayo (31:12) of MLB Pipeline breaks down how the Blue Jays' prospect system has climbed the ranks from 2025 to 2026, highlights the young stars to keep an eye on, and projects a new dynamic duo on the rise. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, jonathan mayo, sportsnet, blue false full ea7fee09-2128-4e4c-9b75-37611079c67d Trey's a Crowd: Yesavage Joins Berríos & Bieber on IL + Jeff Passan! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's latest update on Trey Yesavage. They discuss the impact of Trey joining José Berríos and Shane Bieber on the IL to start the season and break down how the Blue Jays Opening Day rotation is shaping up. The boys also chat about how to manage the team's high leverage relievers, Brendon Little's development over the offseason, and who to watch out for to make the 26-man roster. After the break, Jeff details the Blue Jays' plans to debut the "Hall of Excellence" with legendary broadcast Buck Martinez to be induced later this year. Jeff Passan (27:35), ESPN insider, weighs in on how the success of the World Baseball Classic could impact MLB's pending labour negotiations. Jeff and Jeff also touch on the beauty of the WBC and the growth of the tournament, before digging into Yesavage's IL stint and expectations for Gerrit Cole.

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.

]]> Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:59:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's latest update on Trey Yesavage. They discuss the impact of Trey joining José Berríos and Shane Bieber on the IL to start the season and break down how the Blue Jays Opening Day rotation is shaping up. The boys also chat about how to manage the team's high leverage relievers, Brendon Little's development over the offseason, and who to watch out for to make the 26-man roster. After the break, Jeff details the Blue Jays' plans to debut the "Hall of Excellence" with legendary broadcast Buck Martinez to be induced later this year. Jeff Passan (27:35), ESPN insider, weighs in on how the success of the World Baseball Classic could impact MLB's pending labour negotiations. Jeff and Jeff also touch on the beauty of the WBC and the growth of the tournament, before digging into Yesavage's IL stint and expectations for Gerrit Cole.

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.

]]> Trey's a Crowd: Yesavage Joins Berríos & Bieber on IL + Jeff Passan! Sportsnet 00:49:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's latest update on Trey Yesavage. They discuss the impact of Trey joining José Berríos and Shane Bieber on the IL to start the season and break down how the Blue Jays Opening Day rotation is shaping up. The boys also chat about how to manage the team's high leverage relievers, Brendon Little's development over the offseason, and who to watch out for to make the 26-man roster. After the break, Jeff details the Blue Jays' plans to debut the "Hall of Excellence" with legendary broadcast Buck Martinez to be induced later this year. Jeff Passan (27:35), ESPN insider, weighs in on how the success of the World Baseball Classic could impact MLB's pending labour negotiations. Jeff and Jeff also touch on the beauty of the WBC and the growth of the tournament, before digging into Yesavage's IL stint and expectations for Gerrit Cole. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's latest update on Trey Yesavage. They discuss the impact of Trey joining José Berríos and Shane Bieber on the IL to start the season and break down how the Blue Jays Opening Day rotation is shaping up. The boys also chat about how to manage the team's high leverage relievers, Brendon Little's development over the offseason, and who to watch out for to make the 26-man roster. After the break, Jeff details the Blue Jays' plans to debut the "Hall of Excellence" with legendary broadcast Buck Martinez to be induced later this year. Jeff Passan (27:35), ESPN insider, weighs in on how the success of the World Baseball Classic could impact MLB's pending labour negotiations. Jeff and Jeff also touch on the beauty of the WBC and the growth of the tournament, before digging into Yesavage's IL stint and expectations for Gerrit Cole. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full aefb407b-879d-4294-9897-8de0cde27906 Viva Venezuela + Jays 2025-26 Comparisons with Tim Kurkjian Jeff Blair kicks off today's show celebrating Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory over Team USA. Kevin Barker joins the conversation live from Dunedin, Florida to weigh in the success of the WBC, before sharing the latest news from Blue Jays training camp. Barker updates us on the timeline for José Berríos after doctors discovered a stress fracture in his elbow, how the rotation is structured heading into the final games of the spring, expectation for Kazuma Okamoto in Toronto, and more ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. After the break, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (27:56) shares why he believes the Blue Jays will be better during the regular season in this season compared to 2025. Tim also chat about the mentality of the group, the most eye-catching stories of spring training, the Orioles' outlook in 2026, and the excitement of the WBC.

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.

]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:00:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair kicks off today's show celebrating Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory over Team USA. Kevin Barker joins the conversation live from Dunedin, Florida to weigh in the success of the WBC, before sharing the latest news from Blue Jays training camp. Barker updates us on the timeline for José Berríos after doctors discovered a stress fracture in his elbow, how the rotation is structured heading into the final games of the spring, expectation for Kazuma Okamoto in Toronto, and more ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. After the break, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (27:56) shares why he believes the Blue Jays will be better during the regular season in this season compared to 2025. Tim also chat about the mentality of the group, the most eye-catching stories of spring training, the Orioles' outlook in 2026, and the excitement of the WBC.

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.

]]> Viva Venezuela + Jays 2025-26 Comparisons with Tim Kurkjian Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair kicks off today's show celebrating Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory over Team USA. Kevin Barker joins the conversation live from Dunedin, Florida to weigh in the success of the WBC, before sharing the latest news from Blue Jays training camp. Barker updates us on the timeline for José Berríos after doctors discovered a stress fracture in his elbow, how the rotation is structured heading into the final games of the spring, expectation for Kazuma Okamoto in Toronto, and more ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. After the break, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (27:56) shares why he believes the Blue Jays will be better during the regular season in this season compared to 2025. Tim also chat about the mentality of the group, the most eye-catching stories of spring training, the Orioles' outlook in 2026, and the excitement of the WBC. 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. Jeff Blair kicks off today's show celebrating Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory over Team USA. Kevin Barker joins the conversation live from Dunedin, Florida to weigh in the success of the WBC, before sharing the latest news from Blue Jays training camp. Barker updates us on the timeline for José Berríos after doctors discovered a stress fracture in his elbow, how the rotation is structured heading into the final games of the spring, expectation for Kazuma Okamoto in Toronto, and more ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. After the break, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (27:56) shares why he believes the Blue Jays will be better during the regular season in this season compared to 2025. Tim also chat about the mentality of the group, the most eye-catching stories of spring training, the Orioles' outlook in 2026, and the excitement of the WBC. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, tim kurkjian, canada, venezuela, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 3c76ba5a-e626-4d9d-b590-b61ba40417a9 Unknowns in the Rotation with Ben Shulman Jeff Blair opens today's show chatting with Kevin Barker live from TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. The boys set the stage for tonight's World Baseball Classic final between Team USA and Venezuela and debate who has the edge ahead of first pitch. Barker shares the latest Blue Jays news including how the rotation might be structured to start the season, the unknowns of Cody Ponce, how the team plans to roll out Trey Yesavage, what we know ahead of José Berríos' visit to Dr. Keith Meister, and who's in the bullpen mix. Later, Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (33:03) stops by to discuss what to watch for in the final ten days before Opening Day in Toronto. Ben highlights the depth in the organization, looks into Arjun Nimmala's outlook in 2026, and previews tonight's WBC final.

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:58:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair opens today's show chatting with Kevin Barker live from TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. The boys set the stage for tonight's World Baseball Classic final between Team USA and Venezuela and debate who has the edge ahead of first pitch. Barker shares the latest Blue Jays news including how the rotation might be structured to start the season, the unknowns of Cody Ponce, how the team plans to roll out Trey Yesavage, what we know ahead of José Berríos' visit to Dr. Keith Meister, and who's in the bullpen mix. Later, Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (33:03) stops by to discuss what to watch for in the final ten days before Opening Day in Toronto. Ben highlights the depth in the organization, looks into Arjun Nimmala's outlook in 2026, and previews tonight's WBC final.

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.

]]> Unknowns in the Rotation with Ben Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair opens today's show chatting with Kevin Barker live from TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. The boys set the stage for tonight's World Baseball Classic final between Team USA and Venezuela and debate who has the edge ahead of first pitch. Barker shares the latest Blue Jays news including how the rotation might be structured to start the season, the unknowns of Cody Ponce, how the team plans to roll out Trey Yesavage, what we know ahead of José Berríos' visit to Dr. Keith Meister, and who's in the bullpen mix. Later, Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (33:03) stops by to discuss what to watch for in the final ten days before Opening Day in Toronto. Ben highlights the depth in the organization, looks into Arjun Nimmala's outlook in 2026, and previews tonight's WBC final. 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. Jeff Blair opens today's show chatting with Kevin Barker live from TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. The boys set the stage for tonight's World Baseball Classic final between Team USA and Venezuela and debate who has the edge ahead of first pitch. Barker shares the latest Blue Jays news including how the rotation might be structured to start the season, the unknowns of Cody Ponce, how the team plans to roll out Trey Yesavage, what we know ahead of José Berríos' visit to Dr. Keith Meister, and who's in the bullpen mix. Later, Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (33:03) stops by to discuss what to watch for in the final ten days before Opening Day in Toronto. Ben highlights the depth in the organization, looks into Arjun Nimmala's outlook in 2026, and previews tonight's WBC final. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, canada, wbc, toronto, ben shulman, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full da734ed1-7dff-4d5b-982e-38cd63177e94 WBC Knockout Round Notes with Shi Davidi + Barker Live on Location! Kevin Barker re-joins Jeff Blair from sunny Dunedin, Florida to chat about last weekend's World Baseball Classic action. They outline how Team USA paved their way to the finals, the controversial call to end the Dominican Republic's tournament run, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s explosive play. Kevin then shares the latest from Blue Jays spring training including Max Scherzer's strong start, how the rotation is shaping up with less than two weeks until Opening Day, and Daulton Varsho's strides made at the plate early on. After the break, Jeff shares his biggest takeaways from WBC so far, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:08) joins the conversation. He chats about the buy-in from players in this year's tournament, why the Automated Ball-Strike system was not implemented, and the impact of Team Canada's run.

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.

]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:59:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Kevin Barker re-joins Jeff Blair from sunny Dunedin, Florida to chat about last weekend's World Baseball Classic action. They outline how Team USA paved their way to the finals, the controversial call to end the Dominican Republic's tournament run, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s explosive play. Kevin then shares the latest from Blue Jays spring training including Max Scherzer's strong start, how the rotation is shaping up with less than two weeks until Opening Day, and Daulton Varsho's strides made at the plate early on. After the break, Jeff shares his biggest takeaways from WBC so far, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:08) joins the conversation. He chats about the buy-in from players in this year's tournament, why the Automated Ball-Strike system was not implemented, and the impact of Team Canada's run.

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.

]]> WBC Knockout Round Notes with Shi Davidi + Barker Live on Location! Sportsnet 00:49:46 Kevin Barker re-joins Jeff Blair from sunny Dunedin, Florida to chat about last weekend's World Baseball Classic action. They outline how Team USA paved their way to the finals, the controversial call to end the Dominican Republic's tournament run, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s explosive play. Kevin then shares the latest from Blue Jays spring training including Max Scherzer's strong start, how the rotation is shaping up with less than two weeks until Opening Day, and Daulton Varsho's strides made at the plate early on. After the break, Jeff shares his biggest takeaways from WBC so far, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:08) joins the conversation. He chats about the buy-in from players in this year's tournament, why the Automated Ball-Strike system was not implemented, and the impact of Team Canada's run. 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. Kevin Barker re-joins Jeff Blair from sunny Dunedin, Florida to chat about last weekend's World Baseball Classic action. They outline how Team USA paved their way to the finals, the controversial call to end the Dominican Republic's tournament run, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s explosive play. Kevin then shares the latest from Blue Jays spring training including Max Scherzer's strong start, how the rotation is shaping up with less than two weeks until Opening Day, and Daulton Varsho's strides made at the plate early on. After the break, Jeff shares his biggest takeaways from WBC so far, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:08) joins the conversation. He chats about the buy-in from players in this year's tournament, why the Automated Ball-Strike system was not implemented, and the impact of Team Canada's run. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, canada, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 9a36a9e9-a147-4a9c-b724-40e96ae855f0 Berríos Visits the Doc + David vs. Goliath Jeff Blair rides solo on today's show as Kevin Barker travels to Dunedin to take in some Blue Jays spring training action. We hear the latest updates from John Schneider including José Berríos' doctor's visit, before Chris Leroux (06:22), former MLB pitcher and Sportsnet analyst, joins the conversation. They chat about who's in line to start in Toronto's rotation, before setting the stage for Canada's matchup against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal. After the break, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:04) shares his thoughts on tonight's Canada-USA clash, Mark DeRosa's blunder, and the top contenders to win the tournament. They wrap up the week by detailing Jeff's latest ultimate season preview and getting his view on the 2026 Blue Jays.

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.

]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:00:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair rides solo on today's show as Kevin Barker travels to Dunedin to take in some Blue Jays spring training action. We hear the latest updates from John Schneider including José Berríos' doctor's visit, before Chris Leroux (06:22), former MLB pitcher and Sportsnet analyst, joins the conversation. They chat about who's in line to start in Toronto's rotation, before setting the stage for Canada's matchup against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal. After the break, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:04) shares his thoughts on tonight's Canada-USA clash, Mark DeRosa's blunder, and the top contenders to win the tournament. They wrap up the week by detailing Jeff's latest ultimate season preview and getting his view on the 2026 Blue Jays.

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.

]]> Berríos Visits the Doc + David vs. Goliath Sportsnet 00:49:39 Jeff Blair rides solo on today's show as Kevin Barker travels to Dunedin to take in some Blue Jays spring training action. We hear the latest updates from John Schneider including José Berríos' doctor's visit, before Chris Leroux (06:22), former MLB pitcher and Sportsnet analyst, joins the conversation. They chat about who's in line to start in Toronto's rotation, before setting the stage for Canada's matchup against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal. After the break, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:04) shares his thoughts on tonight's Canada-USA clash, Mark DeRosa's blunder, and the top contenders to win the tournament. They wrap up the week by detailing Jeff's latest ultimate season preview and getting his view on the 2026 Blue Jays. 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. Jeff Blair rides solo on today's show as Kevin Barker travels to Dunedin to take in some Blue Jays spring training action. We hear the latest updates from John Schneider including José Berríos' doctor's visit, before Chris Leroux (06:22), former MLB pitcher and Sportsnet analyst, joins the conversation. They chat about who's in line to start in Toronto's rotation, before setting the stage for Canada's matchup against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal. After the break, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:04) shares his thoughts on tonight's Canada-USA clash, Mark DeRosa's blunder, and the top contenders to win the tournament. They wrap up the week by detailing Jeff's latest ultimate season preview and getting his view on the 2026 Blue Jays. 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. baseball, chris leroux, jeff passan, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, canada, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 02d992bc-5725-4464-9f91-43fed1a01ce1 Back on the Bump with Kevin Gausman + Canada Moves On! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode with thoughts on Team Canada's historic win over Cuba to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. They touch on the complicating factors of José Berríos' injury, before digging in on the players that contributed to Canada's success. Kevin Gausman (06:58), Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, joins the boys live from Dunedin to discuss the team's revamped rotation, building off last year's World Series run, and his process of getting ready for the season. KG also chats about being a baseball dad, his first impressions of Dylan Cease, the potential of starting on Opening Day, and much more! Later, we hear John Schneider's comments on Berríos' status, before the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:48).

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:59:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode with thoughts on Team Canada's historic win over Cuba to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. They touch on the complicating factors of José Berríos' injury, before digging in on the players that contributed to Canada's success. Kevin Gausman (06:58), Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, joins the boys live from Dunedin to discuss the team's revamped rotation, building off last year's World Series run, and his process of getting ready for the season. KG also chats about being a baseball dad, his first impressions of Dylan Cease, the potential of starting on Opening Day, and much more! Later, we hear John Schneider's comments on Berríos' status, before the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:48).

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.

]]> Back on the Bump with Kevin Gausman + Canada Moves On! Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode with thoughts on Team Canada's historic win over Cuba to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. They touch on the complicating factors of José Berríos' injury, before digging in on the players that contributed to Canada's success. Kevin Gausman (06:58), Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, joins the boys live from Dunedin to discuss the team's revamped rotation, building off last year's World Series run, and his process of getting ready for the season. KG also chats about being a baseball dad, his first impressions of Dylan Cease, the potential of starting on Opening Day, and much more! Later, we hear John Schneider's comments on Berríos' status, before the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:48). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode with thoughts on Team Canada's historic win over Cuba to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. They touch on the complicating factors of José Berríos' injury, before digging in on the players that contributed to Canada's success. Kevin Gausman (06:58), Toronto Blue Jays pitcher, joins the boys live from Dunedin to discuss the team's revamped rotation, building off last year's World Series run, and his process of getting ready for the season. KG also chats about being a baseball dad, his first impressions of Dylan Cease, the potential of starting on Opening Day, and much more! Later, we hear John Schneider's comments on Berríos' status, before the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:48). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, kevin gausman, world baseball classic, canada, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 7c073efc-345c-4820-87aa-d30b1d5da91e Italy Stuns Team USA + Canada's Must-Win Matinee Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Team USA's loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, opening the possibility of USA not qualifying for the quarterfinals. Jon Morosi (07:17), MLB Network insider, joins the boys to reflect on Manager Mark DeRosa's confusion about his team's clinching scenario, how the Italians were able to complete the upset, and Canada's outlook heading into this afternoon's must-win against Cuba. Joe Siddall (30:00), former MLB catcher and Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, checks in to discuss Canada's opportunity to advance, before checking in the standout performers from Blue Jays spring training. They touch on Toronto's stretch of four-consecutive shutout wins, Brandon Valenzuela's upside behind the plate, the battle for the final rotation spots, Addison Barger's strong spring, and what Dylan Cease needs to get to the next level.

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.

]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:00:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Team USA's loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, opening the possibility of USA not qualifying for the quarterfinals. Jon Morosi (07:17), MLB Network insider, joins the boys to reflect on Manager Mark DeRosa's confusion about his team's clinching scenario, how the Italians were able to complete the upset, and Canada's outlook heading into this afternoon's must-win against Cuba. Joe Siddall (30:00), former MLB catcher and Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, checks in to discuss Canada's opportunity to advance, before checking in the standout performers from Blue Jays spring training. They touch on Toronto's stretch of four-consecutive shutout wins, Brandon Valenzuela's upside behind the plate, the battle for the final rotation spots, Addison Barger's strong spring, and what Dylan Cease needs to get to the next level.

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.

]]> Italy Stuns Team USA + Canada's Must-Win Matinee Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Team USA's loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, opening the possibility of USA not qualifying for the quarterfinals. Jon Morosi (07:17), MLB Network insider, joins the boys to reflect on Manager Mark DeRosa's confusion about his team's clinching scenario, how the Italians were able to complete the upset, and Canada's outlook heading into this afternoon's must-win against Cuba. Joe Siddall (30:00), former MLB catcher and Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, checks in to discuss Canada's opportunity to advance, before checking in the standout performers from Blue Jays spring training. They touch on Toronto's stretch of four-consecutive shutout wins, Brandon Valenzuela's upside behind the plate, the battle for the final rotation spots, Addison Barger's strong spring, and what Dylan Cease needs to get to the next level. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Team USA's loss to Italy in the World Baseball Classic, opening the possibility of USA not qualifying for the quarterfinals. Jon Morosi (07:17), MLB Network insider, joins the boys to reflect on Manager Mark DeRosa's confusion about his team's clinching scenario, how the Italians were able to complete the upset, and Canada's outlook heading into this afternoon's must-win against Cuba. Joe Siddall (30:00), former MLB catcher and Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, checks in to discuss Canada's opportunity to advance, before checking in the standout performers from Blue Jays spring training. They touch on Toronto's stretch of four-consecutive shutout wins, Brandon Valenzuela's upside behind the plate, the battle for the final rotation spots, Addison Barger's strong spring, and what Dylan Cease needs to get to the next level. 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. baseball, italy, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, canada, jon morosi, wbc, toronto, usa, kevin barker, jeff blair, joe siddall, sportsnet, blue false full f6bfdc39-b170-490c-b0e5-f5d3369da44d World Baseball Business with Shi Davidi & David Samson Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays game against the Atlanta Braves with José Berríos taking the mound. They sort through the lineups for today's game and detail how the bullpen is shaping up, before moving on to discuss tonight's World Baseball Classic matchup between Canada and Puerto Rico with Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (12:21). They dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Team Canada's squad and outline their path to the quarterfinals. David Samson (28:22), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the business side of the WBC, the best stories from the tournament so far, Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh's moment at home plate, and more!

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.

]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:06:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays game against the Atlanta Braves with José Berríos taking the mound. They sort through the lineups for today's game and detail how the bullpen is shaping up, before moving on to discuss tonight's World Baseball Classic matchup between Canada and Puerto Rico with Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (12:21). They dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Team Canada's squad and outline their path to the quarterfinals. David Samson (28:22), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the business side of the WBC, the best stories from the tournament so far, Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh's moment at home plate, and more!

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.

]]> World Baseball Business with Shi Davidi & David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays game against the Atlanta Braves with José Berríos taking the mound. They sort through the lineups for today's game and detail how the bullpen is shaping up, before moving on to discuss tonight's World Baseball Classic matchup between Canada and Puerto Rico with Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (12:21). They dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Team Canada's squad and outline their path to the quarterfinals. David Samson (28:22), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the business side of the WBC, the best stories from the tournament so far, Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh's moment at home plate, and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays game against the Atlanta Braves with José Berríos taking the mound. They sort through the lineups for today's game and detail how the bullpen is shaping up, before moving on to discuss tonight's World Baseball Classic matchup between Canada and Puerto Rico with Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (12:21). They dive into the strengths and weaknesses of Team Canada's squad and outline their path to the quarterfinals. David Samson (28:22), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the business side of the WBC, the best stories from the tournament so far, Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh's moment at home plate, and more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, david samson, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 54087b7a-44e4-48fc-a6a3-c7c693a1b578 Team Canada's Tough Road Ahead with Chris Rose Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program with thoughts on Team Canada's first weekend of action at the World Baseball Classic. They begin with James Paxton's costly error in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Panama, before taking a look at how some Blue Jays players are faring around the tournament. The boys pivot to the Grapefruit League to chat about the Jays' three-win weekend including Max Scherzer's four scoreless innings of work and Cody Ponce's latest outing. Chris Rose (27:23) of Jomboy Media joins to chat about Canada's path to the quarterfinals and the rise of the WBC over the years, before setting the stage for knockout round.

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.

]]> Mon, 9 Mar 2026 16:58:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program with thoughts on Team Canada's first weekend of action at the World Baseball Classic. They begin with James Paxton's costly error in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Panama, before taking a look at how some Blue Jays players are faring around the tournament. The boys pivot to the Grapefruit League to chat about the Jays' three-win weekend including Max Scherzer's four scoreless innings of work and Cody Ponce's latest outing. Chris Rose (27:23) of Jomboy Media joins to chat about Canada's path to the quarterfinals and the rise of the WBC over the years, before setting the stage for knockout round.

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.

]]> Team Canada's Tough Road Ahead with Chris Rose Sportsnet 00:46:29 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program with thoughts on Team Canada's first weekend of action at the World Baseball Classic. They begin with James Paxton's costly error in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Panama, before taking a look at how some Blue Jays players are faring around the tournament. The boys pivot to the Grapefruit League to chat about the Jays' three-win weekend including Max Scherzer's four scoreless innings of work and Cody Ponce's latest outing. Chris Rose (27:23) of Jomboy Media joins to chat about Canada's path to the quarterfinals and the rise of the WBC over the years, before setting the stage for knockout round. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program with thoughts on Team Canada's first weekend of action at the World Baseball Classic. They begin with James Paxton's costly error in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Panama, before taking a look at how some Blue Jays players are faring around the tournament. The boys pivot to the Grapefruit League to chat about the Jays' three-win weekend including Max Scherzer's four scoreless innings of work and Cody Ponce's latest outing. Chris Rose (27:23) of Jomboy Media joins to chat about Canada's path to the quarterfinals and the rise of the WBC over the years, before setting the stage for knockout round. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, canada, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, chris rose, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 77414590-bfca-45dc-9e2e-94ae09a13743 Team Canada's Opportunity with Cal Quantrill + Dan Shulman's Spring Storylines Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the final episode of this week setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Braves Grapefruit League matchup with Dylan Cease missing today's start. They pivot to chat about the preliminary World Baseball Classic action with Cal Quantrill (09:02), pitcher for Team Canada! He chats about the opportunity ahead of the squad, switching gears from spring training to tournament play, the Group A competition, and their mentality heading into their first game Saturday. Later, Dan Shulman (27:38), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, discusses the biggest stories out of Dunedin, the battle for the rotation, the prospects making the most noise, and early outlook for the bullpen.

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.

]]> Thu, 5 Mar 2026 18:01:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the final episode of this week setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Braves Grapefruit League matchup with Dylan Cease missing today's start. They pivot to chat about the preliminary World Baseball Classic action with Cal Quantrill (09:02), pitcher for Team Canada! He chats about the opportunity ahead of the squad, switching gears from spring training to tournament play, the Group A competition, and their mentality heading into their first game Saturday. Later, Dan Shulman (27:38), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, discusses the biggest stories out of Dunedin, the battle for the rotation, the prospects making the most noise, and early outlook for the bullpen.

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.

]]> Team Canada's Opportunity with Cal Quantrill + Dan Shulman's Spring Storylines Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the final episode of this week setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Braves Grapefruit League matchup with Dylan Cease missing today's start. They pivot to chat about the preliminary World Baseball Classic action with Cal Quantrill (09:02), pitcher for Team Canada! He chats about the opportunity ahead of the squad, switching gears from spring training to tournament play, the Group A competition, and their mentality heading into their first game Saturday. Later, Dan Shulman (27:38), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, discusses the biggest stories out of Dunedin, the battle for the rotation, the prospects making the most noise, and early outlook for the bullpen. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the final episode of this week setting up this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Braves Grapefruit League matchup with Dylan Cease missing today's start. They pivot to chat about the preliminary World Baseball Classic action with Cal Quantrill (09:02), pitcher for Team Canada! He chats about the opportunity ahead of the squad, switching gears from spring training to tournament play, the Group A competition, and their mentality heading into their first game Saturday. Later, Dan Shulman (27:38), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, discusses the biggest stories out of Dunedin, the battle for the rotation, the prospects making the most noise, and early outlook for the bullpen. 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. baseball, cal quantrill, mlb, jays, world baseball classic, canada, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full 69117fd4-98b1-4404-b908-7f79455e56ef World Baseball Classic Preview with Jon Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Tuesday's matinee between Team Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays and Kevin Gausman's two innings of work. Jon Morosi (09:13), MLB Network insider, stops by to set up the upcoming World Baseball Classic, before discussing the possibility on baseball being an Olympic event in 2028. Jon also touches on the strength of Team USA, the contenders to win the tournament, the dark house teams to keep an eye on, and what to expect as Canada takes on the Phillies this afternoon. After the break, the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments!

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.

]]> Wed, 4 Mar 2026 17:58:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Tuesday's matinee between Team Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays and Kevin Gausman's two innings of work. Jon Morosi (09:13), MLB Network insider, stops by to set up the upcoming World Baseball Classic, before discussing the possibility on baseball being an Olympic event in 2028. Jon also touches on the strength of Team USA, the contenders to win the tournament, the dark house teams to keep an eye on, and what to expect as Canada takes on the Phillies this afternoon. After the break, the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments!

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.

]]> World Baseball Classic Preview with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:41 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Tuesday's matinee between Team Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays and Kevin Gausman's two innings of work. Jon Morosi (09:13), MLB Network insider, stops by to set up the upcoming World Baseball Classic, before discussing the possibility on baseball being an Olympic event in 2028. Jon also touches on the strength of Team USA, the contenders to win the tournament, the dark house teams to keep an eye on, and what to expect as Canada takes on the Phillies this afternoon. After the break, the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with thoughts on Tuesday's matinee between Team Canada and the Toronto Blue Jays and Kevin Gausman's two innings of work. Jon Morosi (09:13), MLB Network insider, stops by to set up the upcoming World Baseball Classic, before discussing the possibility on baseball being an Olympic event in 2028. Jon also touches on the strength of Team USA, the contenders to win the tournament, the dark house teams to keep an eye on, and what to expect as Canada takes on the Phillies this afternoon. After the break, the boys open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, canada, world baseball, jon morosi, wbc, toronto, kevin barker, sportsnet, classic, blue false full 75990b37-37a4-4697-8b9c-af2b505da180 Inside the ABS System with Dale Scott & Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program with thoughts Team Canada's lineup as they get set to face the Blue Jays in this afternoon's World Baseball Classic tune-up game. The boys pivot to chat about the battle for the Jays final rotation spot and how the back-end of the bullpen is shaping up. Dale Scott (09:21), former MLB umpire, joins to chat about the new Automated Ball-Strike system, how it could change the relationship between players and umpires, and offers insight into calling a game. Later, ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:42) discusses how ABS could change our view on umpires, Max Scherzer's one-year deal, and Konnor Griffin's immense potential in Pittsburgh.

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.

]]> Tue, 3 Mar 2026 18:00:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program with thoughts Team Canada's lineup as they get set to face the Blue Jays in this afternoon's World Baseball Classic tune-up game. The boys pivot to chat about the battle for the Jays final rotation spot and how the back-end of the bullpen is shaping up. Dale Scott (09:21), former MLB umpire, joins to chat about the new Automated Ball-Strike system, how it could change the relationship between players and umpires, and offers insight into calling a game. Later, ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:42) discusses how ABS could change our view on umpires, Max Scherzer's one-year deal, and Konnor Griffin's immense potential in Pittsburgh.

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.

]]> Inside the ABS System with Dale Scott & Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:48:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program with thoughts Team Canada's lineup as they get set to face the Blue Jays in this afternoon's World Baseball Classic tune-up game. The boys pivot to chat about the battle for the Jays final rotation spot and how the back-end of the bullpen is shaping up. Dale Scott (09:21), former MLB umpire, joins to chat about the new Automated Ball-Strike system, how it could change the relationship between players and umpires, and offers insight into calling a game. Later, ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:42) discusses how ABS could change our view on umpires, Max Scherzer's one-year deal, and Konnor Griffin's immense potential in Pittsburgh. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program with thoughts Team Canada's lineup as they get set to face the Blue Jays in this afternoon's World Baseball Classic tune-up game. The boys pivot to chat about the battle for the Jays final rotation spot and how the back-end of the bullpen is shaping up. Dale Scott (09:21), former MLB umpire, joins to chat about the new Automated Ball-Strike system, how it could change the relationship between players and umpires, and offers insight into calling a game. Later, ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:42) discusses how ABS could change our view on umpires, Max Scherzer's one-year deal, and Konnor Griffin's immense potential in Pittsburgh. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, abs, toronto, dale scott, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 11d280c1-a2f2-4d29-bd85-d3a38c41736c Rounding Out the Rotation, Closing Questions & Kevin Pillar! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open a new week on the show with thoughts on Max Scherzer joining the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. Florida. The boys look back on the Jays' weekend of Grapefruit League action, before projecting Friday's anticipated José Berríos-Eric Lauer tandem on the mound. Could this be an indicator of what's to come this season? They also chat about Jeff Hoffman's role in 2026, how the rotation is shaping up, and who might potentially be the odd-man-out. Kevin Pillar (27:47), former Blue Jay and host of To the Majors, stops by to chat about the impact of re-signing Scherzer, his experience facing Dylan Cease, and expectations for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2026. KP wraps up with a discussion about Daulton Varsho's strong spring so far, balancing outfield and DH reps for George Springer, and more!

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.

]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2026 18:00:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open a new week on the show with thoughts on Max Scherzer joining the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. Florida. The boys look back on the Jays' weekend of Grapefruit League action, before projecting Friday's anticipated José Berríos-Eric Lauer tandem on the mound. Could this be an indicator of what's to come this season? They also chat about Jeff Hoffman's role in 2026, how the rotation is shaping up, and who might potentially be the odd-man-out. Kevin Pillar (27:47), former Blue Jay and host of To the Majors, stops by to chat about the impact of re-signing Scherzer, his experience facing Dylan Cease, and expectations for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2026. KP wraps up with a discussion about Daulton Varsho's strong spring so far, balancing outfield and DH reps for George Springer, and more!

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.

]]> Rounding Out the Rotation, Closing Questions & Kevin Pillar! Sportsnet 00:49:30 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open a new week on the show with thoughts on Max Scherzer joining the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. Florida. The boys look back on the Jays' weekend of Grapefruit League action, before projecting Friday's anticipated José Berríos-Eric Lauer tandem on the mound. Could this be an indicator of what's to come this season? They also chat about Jeff Hoffman's role in 2026, how the rotation is shaping up, and who might potentially be the odd-man-out. Kevin Pillar (27:47), former Blue Jay and host of To the Majors, stops by to chat about the impact of re-signing Scherzer, his experience facing Dylan Cease, and expectations for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2026. KP wraps up with a discussion about Daulton Varsho's strong spring so far, balancing outfield and DH reps for George Springer, and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open a new week on the show with thoughts on Max Scherzer joining the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. Florida. The boys look back on the Jays' weekend of Grapefruit League action, before projecting Friday's anticipated José Berríos-Eric Lauer tandem on the mound. Could this be an indicator of what's to come this season? They also chat about Jeff Hoffman's role in 2026, how the rotation is shaping up, and who might potentially be the odd-man-out. Kevin Pillar (27:47), former Blue Jay and host of To the Majors, stops by to chat about the impact of re-signing Scherzer, his experience facing Dylan Cease, and expectations for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2026. KP wraps up with a discussion about Daulton Varsho's strong spring so far, balancing outfield and DH reps for George Springer, and more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, marinersben shulman, toronto, kevin pillar, kevin barker, seattle, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 42fbf8be-b933-4a2c-8445-838288fabbf8 The Path Back to the Fall Classic with Jayson Stark & Robert Flores Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's program with a preview of this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Rays spring training game. They look back on Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins and discuss Andrés Giménez' first home run of the spring, before projecting how the Jays rotation and 26-man roster might come together ahead of Opening Day. The boys also take a moment to chat about Alek Manoah's comments about Toronto's World Series run, before Jayson Stark (15:08) of The Athletic joins to discuss his recent piece on the Blue Jays outlook in 2026. He debates if the team is better equipped this season, how to manage the rotation, and Jeff Hoffman's opportunity to bounce back. Later, MLB Network host Robert Flores (30:50) chats about the Jays' ability to rebound this year, the players at camp he's keeping his eye on, the Max Scherzer signing, the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Tarik Skubal's limited availability.

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Feb 2026 18:05:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's program with a preview of this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Rays spring training game. They look back on Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins and discuss Andrés Giménez' first home run of the spring, before projecting how the Jays rotation and 26-man roster might come together ahead of Opening Day. The boys also take a moment to chat about Alek Manoah's comments about Toronto's World Series run, before Jayson Stark (15:08) of The Athletic joins to discuss his recent piece on the Blue Jays outlook in 2026. He debates if the team is better equipped this season, how to manage the rotation, and Jeff Hoffman's opportunity to bounce back. Later, MLB Network host Robert Flores (30:50) chats about the Jays' ability to rebound this year, the players at camp he's keeping his eye on, the Max Scherzer signing, the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Tarik Skubal's limited availability.

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.

]]> The Path Back to the Fall Classic with Jayson Stark & Robert Flores Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's program with a preview of this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Rays spring training game. They look back on Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins and discuss Andrés Giménez' first home run of the spring, before projecting how the Jays rotation and 26-man roster might come together ahead of Opening Day. The boys also take a moment to chat about Alek Manoah's comments about Toronto's World Series run, before Jayson Stark (15:08) of The Athletic joins to discuss his recent piece on the Blue Jays outlook in 2026. He debates if the team is better equipped this season, how to manage the rotation, and Jeff Hoffman's opportunity to bounce back. Later, MLB Network host Robert Flores (30:50) chats about the Jays' ability to rebound this year, the players at camp he's keeping his eye on, the Max Scherzer signing, the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Tarik Skubal's limited availability. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's program with a preview of this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Rays spring training game. They look back on Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins and discuss Andrés Giménez' first home run of the spring, before projecting how the Jays rotation and 26-man roster might come together ahead of Opening Day. The boys also take a moment to chat about Alek Manoah's comments about Toronto's World Series run, before Jayson Stark (15:08) of The Athletic joins to discuss his recent piece on the Blue Jays outlook in 2026. He debates if the team is better equipped this season, how to manage the rotation, and Jeff Hoffman's opportunity to bounce back. Later, MLB Network host Robert Flores (30:50) chats about the Jays' ability to rebound this year, the players at camp he's keeping his eye on, the Max Scherzer signing, the upcoming World Baseball Classic and Tarik Skubal's limited availability. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, jayson stark, sportsnet, robert flores, blue false full 4c33df7a-dd70-4167-a82c-e770d2290dbc Max Scherzer on His Return to the Blue Jays Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Thursday's podcast with thoughts on Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer to a one-year, $3 million deal with plenty of incentives. Ben Nicholson-Smith (10:47), Sportsnet's MLB insider and host of At the Letters, joins the boys to share how this morning breaking news came together and who might be the odd-man-out of the rotation. BNS also highlights Cody Ponce's first start in a Blue Jays uniform, the bats vying for a roster spot, and how the batting order might shape up. Later, we hear from the man himself, Max Scherzer (27:25)! The starter shares what sparked his reunion with the Jays, his goals for the upcoming season, and his thoughts on the ABS system.

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.

]]> Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:02:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Thursday's podcast with thoughts on Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer to a one-year, $3 million deal with plenty of incentives. Ben Nicholson-Smith (10:47), Sportsnet's MLB insider and host of At the Letters, joins the boys to share how this morning breaking news came together and who might be the odd-man-out of the rotation. BNS also highlights Cody Ponce's first start in a Blue Jays uniform, the bats vying for a roster spot, and how the batting order might shape up. Later, we hear from the man himself, Max Scherzer (27:25)! The starter shares what sparked his reunion with the Jays, his goals for the upcoming season, and his thoughts on the ABS system.

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.

]]> Max Scherzer on His Return to the Blue Jays Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Thursday's podcast with thoughts on Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer to a one-year, $3 million deal with plenty of incentives. Ben Nicholson-Smith (10:47), Sportsnet's MLB insider and host of At the Letters, joins the boys to share how this morning breaking news came together and who might be the odd-man-out of the rotation. BNS also highlights Cody Ponce's first start in a Blue Jays uniform, the bats vying for a roster spot, and how the batting order might shape up. Later, we hear from the man himself, Max Scherzer (27:25)! The starter shares what sparked his reunion with the Jays, his goals for the upcoming season, and his thoughts on the ABS system. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Thursday's podcast with thoughts on Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer to a one-year, $3 million deal with plenty of incentives. Ben Nicholson-Smith (10:47), Sportsnet's MLB insider and host of At the Letters, joins the boys to share how this morning breaking news came together and who might be the odd-man-out of the rotation. BNS also highlights Cody Ponce's first start in a Blue Jays uniform, the bats vying for a roster spot, and how the batting order might shape up. Later, we hear from the man himself, Max Scherzer (27:25)! The starter shares what sparked his reunion with the Jays, his goals for the upcoming season, and his thoughts on the ABS system. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, max scherzer, ben nicholson smith, blue false full be2399ed-35da-4b9e-9a1a-82754b4084ad The Challenge of Challenging & AL East Landscape with Adam Ottavino & Caleb Joseph Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with a recap of the Blue Jays' 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action. They tee up Cody Ponce's start this afternoon against the Tigers, discuss how to properly evaluate talent in the Grapefruit League, and gauge their expectations for Eloy Jiménez, Jesús Sánchez and Daulton Varsho in 2026. Adam Ottavino (14:50), former MLB pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, chats about his return to the mound for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Adam also touches on the Yankees' mentality against the Blue Jays, Gerrit Cole's return to the mound, the American League East landscape, and the newly-implemented ABS system. Later, we hear the latest from Manager John Schneider, before Sportsnet's Caleb Joseph (29:34) joins the program. They chat about how players are utilizing the challenge system early on, Ponce's first Blue Jays start, what Drew Butera brings to the coaching staff, and the opportunity for some Rule 5 relievers.

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:58:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with a recap of the Blue Jays' 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action. They tee up Cody Ponce's start this afternoon against the Tigers, discuss how to properly evaluate talent in the Grapefruit League, and gauge their expectations for Eloy Jiménez, Jesús Sánchez and Daulton Varsho in 2026. Adam Ottavino (14:50), former MLB pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, chats about his return to the mound for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Adam also touches on the Yankees' mentality against the Blue Jays, Gerrit Cole's return to the mound, the American League East landscape, and the newly-implemented ABS system. Later, we hear the latest from Manager John Schneider, before Sportsnet's Caleb Joseph (29:34) joins the program. They chat about how players are utilizing the challenge system early on, Ponce's first Blue Jays start, what Drew Butera brings to the coaching staff, and the opportunity for some Rule 5 relievers.

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.

]]> The Challenge of Challenging & AL East Landscape with Adam Ottavino & Caleb Joseph Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with a recap of the Blue Jays' 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action. They tee up Cody Ponce's start this afternoon against the Tigers, discuss how to properly evaluate talent in the Grapefruit League, and gauge their expectations for Eloy Jiménez, Jesús Sánchez and Daulton Varsho in 2026. Adam Ottavino (14:50), former MLB pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, chats about his return to the mound for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Adam also touches on the Yankees' mentality against the Blue Jays, Gerrit Cole's return to the mound, the American League East landscape, and the newly-implemented ABS system. Later, we hear the latest from Manager John Schneider, before Sportsnet's Caleb Joseph (29:34) joins the program. They chat about how players are utilizing the challenge system early on, Ponce's first Blue Jays start, what Drew Butera brings to the coaching staff, and the opportunity for some Rule 5 relievers. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with a recap of the Blue Jays' 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action. They tee up Cody Ponce's start this afternoon against the Tigers, discuss how to properly evaluate talent in the Grapefruit League, and gauge their expectations for Eloy Jiménez, Jesús Sánchez and Daulton Varsho in 2026. Adam Ottavino (14:50), former MLB pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, chats about his return to the mound for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Adam also touches on the Yankees' mentality against the Blue Jays, Gerrit Cole's return to the mound, the American League East landscape, and the newly-implemented ABS system. Later, we hear the latest from Manager John Schneider, before Sportsnet's Caleb Joseph (29:34) joins the program. They chat about how players are utilizing the challenge system early on, Ponce's first Blue Jays start, what Drew Butera brings to the coaching staff, and the opportunity for some Rule 5 relievers. 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. baseball, adam ottavino, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 0c641606-8a31-406d-ade6-13afcf46c091 Okamoto's Blast, Rotation Questions & Yankees First Look Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show reacting to Kazuma Okamoto's first Blue Jays home run in Monday's spring training game. The boys take some time to set up this afternoon's game against the Yankees and look back on José Berríos first start of the spring, before discussing Ricky Tiedemann's setback, Eric Lauer's post-arbitration comments, and Tyler Rogers first impressions. Later, the boys question how the American League East will shake out in 2026, share an update on Trey Yesavage as he continues to ramp up, and project where Jesús Sánchez might slot into the batting order. Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts what Drew Butera brings to the Jays coaching staff, Brandon Valenzuela's upside, and some positional battles around the diamond.

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:59:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show reacting to Kazuma Okamoto's first Blue Jays home run in Monday's spring training game. The boys take some time to set up this afternoon's game against the Yankees and look back on José Berríos first start of the spring, before discussing Ricky Tiedemann's setback, Eric Lauer's post-arbitration comments, and Tyler Rogers first impressions. Later, the boys question how the American League East will shake out in 2026, share an update on Trey Yesavage as he continues to ramp up, and project where Jesús Sánchez might slot into the batting order. Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts what Drew Butera brings to the Jays coaching staff, Brandon Valenzuela's upside, and some positional battles around the diamond.

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.

]]> Okamoto's Blast, Rotation Questions & Yankees First Look Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show reacting to Kazuma Okamoto's first Blue Jays home run in Monday's spring training game. The boys take some time to set up this afternoon's game against the Yankees and look back on José Berríos first start of the spring, before discussing Ricky Tiedemann's setback, Eric Lauer's post-arbitration comments, and Tyler Rogers first impressions. Later, the boys question how the American League East will shake out in 2026, share an update on Trey Yesavage as he continues to ramp up, and project where Jesús Sánchez might slot into the batting order. Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts what Drew Butera brings to the Jays coaching staff, Brandon Valenzuela's upside, and some positional battles around the diamond. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show reacting to Kazuma Okamoto's first Blue Jays home run in Monday's spring training game. The boys take some time to set up this afternoon's game against the Yankees and look back on José Berríos first start of the spring, before discussing Ricky Tiedemann's setback, Eric Lauer's post-arbitration comments, and Tyler Rogers first impressions. Later, the boys question how the American League East will shake out in 2026, share an update on Trey Yesavage as he continues to ramp up, and project where Jesús Sánchez might slot into the batting order. Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts what Drew Butera brings to the Jays coaching staff, Brandon Valenzuela's upside, and some positional battles around the diamond. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full ffc6e387-ed77-4546-b202-465bd4cfec42 The Boys of Summer Start Their Spring Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program breaking down the Blue Jays first two games of Spring Training. They begin with thoughts on what José Berríos' role might look like this season, Shane Bieber's status as we ramp up to Opening Day, and first impressions of Kazuma Okamoto. The boys then set up this afternoon's game against the Mets and discuss the scrutiny surrounding Bo Bichette's first reps at third base. Sportsnet's Madison Shipman (18:01) joins to share her early takeaways from Jays camp so far including Daulton Varsho's breakout potential and Berríos' first spring start today. Later Tim Britton (27:08) of The Athletic checks in on Bichette's work at the hot corner, how Canadian Jonah Tong might factor into the pitching staff, Francisco Lindor's injury, positional battles around the diamond, and more!

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:58:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program breaking down the Blue Jays first two games of Spring Training. They begin with thoughts on what José Berríos' role might look like this season, Shane Bieber's status as we ramp up to Opening Day, and first impressions of Kazuma Okamoto. The boys then set up this afternoon's game against the Mets and discuss the scrutiny surrounding Bo Bichette's first reps at third base. Sportsnet's Madison Shipman (18:01) joins to share her early takeaways from Jays camp so far including Daulton Varsho's breakout potential and Berríos' first spring start today. Later Tim Britton (27:08) of The Athletic checks in on Bichette's work at the hot corner, how Canadian Jonah Tong might factor into the pitching staff, Francisco Lindor's injury, positional battles around the diamond, and more!

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.

]]> The Boys of Summer Start Their Spring Sportsnet 00:48:09 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program breaking down the Blue Jays first two games of Spring Training. They begin with thoughts on what José Berríos' role might look like this season, Shane Bieber's status as we ramp up to Opening Day, and first impressions of Kazuma Okamoto. The boys then set up this afternoon's game against the Mets and discuss the scrutiny surrounding Bo Bichette's first reps at third base. Sportsnet's Madison Shipman (18:01) joins to share her early takeaways from Jays camp so far including Daulton Varsho's breakout potential and Berríos' first spring start today. Later Tim Britton (27:08) of The Athletic checks in on Bichette's work at the hot corner, how Canadian Jonah Tong might factor into the pitching staff, Francisco Lindor's injury, positional battles around the diamond, and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program breaking down the Blue Jays first two games of Spring Training. They begin with thoughts on what José Berríos' role might look like this season, Shane Bieber's status as we ramp up to Opening Day, and first impressions of Kazuma Okamoto. The boys then set up this afternoon's game against the Mets and discuss the scrutiny surrounding Bo Bichette's first reps at third base. Sportsnet's Madison Shipman (18:01) joins to share her early takeaways from Jays camp so far including Daulton Varsho's breakout potential and Berríos' first spring start today. Later Tim Britton (27:08) of The Athletic checks in on Bichette's work at the hot corner, how Canadian Jonah Tong might factor into the pitching staff, Francisco Lindor's injury, positional battles around the diamond, and more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, tim britton, mets, new york, madison shipman, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 23693b53-4082-4a70-953e-7ad8636661da Gearing Up For the WBC with Greg Hamilton + Back Leg Line! With the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off on Saturday, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line for the first time this season to take your calls and questions! They get into how the Jays will replace Bo Bichette's offensive production, how the team can avoid another slow start to the season, and whether a 'bullpen-by-committee' can work in the playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that the Blue Jays are negotiating with Max Scherzer before welcoming Greg Hamilton (30:49), Director of National Teams and Baseball Canada coach, to the show to help set the stage for the World Baseball Classic. Greg discusses the WBC's evolution since its debut in 2006, what he's looking forward to most at the tournament, and the state of Canadian baseball.

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.

]]> Fri, 20 Feb 2026 21:04:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off on Saturday, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line for the first time this season to take your calls and questions! They get into how the Jays will replace Bo Bichette's offensive production, how the team can avoid another slow start to the season, and whether a 'bullpen-by-committee' can work in the playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that the Blue Jays are negotiating with Max Scherzer before welcoming Greg Hamilton (30:49), Director of National Teams and Baseball Canada coach, to the show to help set the stage for the World Baseball Classic. Greg discusses the WBC's evolution since its debut in 2006, what he's looking forward to most at the tournament, and the state of Canadian baseball.

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.

]]> Gearing Up For the WBC with Greg Hamilton + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:42 With the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off on Saturday, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line for the first time this season to take your calls and questions! They get into how the Jays will replace Bo Bichette's offensive production, how the team can avoid another slow start to the season, and whether a 'bullpen-by-committee' can work in the playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that the Blue Jays are negotiating with Max Scherzer before welcoming Greg Hamilton (30:49), Director of National Teams and Baseball Canada coach, to the show to help set the stage for the World Baseball Classic. Greg discusses the WBC's evolution since its debut in 2006, what he's looking forward to most at the tournament, and the state of Canadian baseball. 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. With the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off on Saturday, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line for the first time this season to take your calls and questions! They get into how the Jays will replace Bo Bichette's offensive production, how the team can avoid another slow start to the season, and whether a 'bullpen-by-committee' can work in the playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that the Blue Jays are negotiating with Max Scherzer before welcoming Greg Hamilton (30:49), Director of National Teams and Baseball Canada coach, to the show to help set the stage for the World Baseball Classic. Greg discusses the WBC's evolution since its debut in 2006, what he's looking forward to most at the tournament, and the state of Canadian baseball. 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. false full ec21d02f-f42e-4eec-9b6a-da68f17d594b Roster Battles + Breaking Down ABS Challenge System Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue to count down to the Blue Jays' first taste of Grapefruit League action against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. They discuss the introduction of the ABS challenge rule and whether any Jays will be 'exempt' from using it in a game. Then, they look at the rotation and project who will occupy the fourth and fifth starter roles, share expectations for Trey Yesavage's first full MLB season, and react to the news that Kevin Gausman is considering retirement following this year. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman stops by (25:45) from Dunedin to discuss the mood around camp, the battle for roster spots in the bullpen, Ricky Tiedemann's Spring outlook, and where Leo Jimenez fits in the mix of infielders.

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.

]]> Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:04:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue to count down to the Blue Jays' first taste of Grapefruit League action against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. They discuss the introduction of the ABS challenge rule and whether any Jays will be 'exempt' from using it in a game. Then, they look at the rotation and project who will occupy the fourth and fifth starter roles, share expectations for Trey Yesavage's first full MLB season, and react to the news that Kevin Gausman is considering retirement following this year. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman stops by (25:45) from Dunedin to discuss the mood around camp, the battle for roster spots in the bullpen, Ricky Tiedemann's Spring outlook, and where Leo Jimenez fits in the mix of infielders.

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.

]]> Roster Battles + Breaking Down ABS Challenge System Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue to count down to the Blue Jays' first taste of Grapefruit League action against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. They discuss the introduction of the ABS challenge rule and whether any Jays will be 'exempt' from using it in a game. Then, they look at the rotation and project who will occupy the fourth and fifth starter roles, share expectations for Trey Yesavage's first full MLB season, and react to the news that Kevin Gausman is considering retirement following this year. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman stops by (25:45) from Dunedin to discuss the mood around camp, the battle for roster spots in the bullpen, Ricky Tiedemann's Spring outlook, and where Leo Jimenez fits in the mix of infielders. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue to count down to the Blue Jays' first taste of Grapefruit League action against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. They discuss the introduction of the ABS challenge rule and whether any Jays will be 'exempt' from using it in a game. Then, they look at the rotation and project who will occupy the fourth and fifth starter roles, share expectations for Trey Yesavage's first full MLB season, and react to the news that Kevin Gausman is considering retirement following this year. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman stops by (25:45) from Dunedin to discuss the mood around camp, the battle for roster spots in the bullpen, Ricky Tiedemann's Spring outlook, and where Leo Jimenez fits in the mix of infielders. 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. false full bc1fb73f-f877-4927-abb3-4eeb8a3a72f5 First Impressions with Shi Davidi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on yesterday's conversation on whether or not the Blue Jays are better than they were at this point last year. Then, they discuss whether Leo Jimenez could crack the big-league roster, pitchers on the roster bubble, what to expect from Kazuma Okamoto in the field, and the pressure on Jeff Hoffman. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:54) joins the show from Dunedin to share insight into the timeline of Anthony Santander's injury, his first impressions of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the team's plan for Okamoto, and much more.

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.

]]> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 21:02:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on yesterday's conversation on whether or not the Blue Jays are better than they were at this point last year. Then, they discuss whether Leo Jimenez could crack the big-league roster, pitchers on the roster bubble, what to expect from Kazuma Okamoto in the field, and the pressure on Jeff Hoffman. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:54) joins the show from Dunedin to share insight into the timeline of Anthony Santander's injury, his first impressions of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the team's plan for Okamoto, and much more.

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.

]]> First Impressions with Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:41 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on yesterday's conversation on whether or not the Blue Jays are better than they were at this point last year. Then, they discuss whether Leo Jimenez could crack the big-league roster, pitchers on the roster bubble, what to expect from Kazuma Okamoto in the field, and the pressure on Jeff Hoffman. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:54) joins the show from Dunedin to share insight into the timeline of Anthony Santander's injury, his first impressions of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the team's plan for Okamoto, and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on yesterday's conversation on whether or not the Blue Jays are better than they were at this point last year. Then, they discuss whether Leo Jimenez could crack the big-league roster, pitchers on the roster bubble, what to expect from Kazuma Okamoto in the field, and the pressure on Jeff Hoffman. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:54) joins the show from Dunedin to share insight into the timeline of Anthony Santander's injury, his first impressions of Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce, the team's plan for Okamoto, and much more. 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. false full d7d9b2b8-668f-4921-b16c-a92b7dd60d24 We're Back! Jays Spring Storylines + Will We See a Lockout? With Spring Training games around the corner, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back to their daily schedule! They start with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s comments about being 'happier' this season, whether the Jays are better this year than last year — even without Bo Bichette, and where the Jays stand in a much-improved American League. Then, they discuss the biggest camp storylines for the Jays, including where Kazuma Okamoto will line up, whether the number of Jays in the World Baseball Classic is cause for concern, and if Jesús Sánchez fits as a clean-up hitter. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:02) stops by to discuss what Tony Clark's recent resignation as MLBPA executive director means for upcoming MLB CBA talks and why players should be concerned about an impending lockout.

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:01:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With Spring Training games around the corner, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back to their daily schedule! They start with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s comments about being 'happier' this season, whether the Jays are better this year than last year — even without Bo Bichette, and where the Jays stand in a much-improved American League. Then, they discuss the biggest camp storylines for the Jays, including where Kazuma Okamoto will line up, whether the number of Jays in the World Baseball Classic is cause for concern, and if Jesús Sánchez fits as a clean-up hitter. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:02) stops by to discuss what Tony Clark's recent resignation as MLBPA executive director means for upcoming MLB CBA talks and why players should be concerned about an impending lockout.

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.

]]> We're Back! Jays Spring Storylines + Will We See a Lockout? Sportsnet 00:49:30 With Spring Training games around the corner, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back to their daily schedule! They start with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s comments about being 'happier' this season, whether the Jays are better this year than last year — even without Bo Bichette, and where the Jays stand in a much-improved American League. Then, they discuss the biggest camp storylines for the Jays, including where Kazuma Okamoto will line up, whether the number of Jays in the World Baseball Classic is cause for concern, and if Jesús Sánchez fits as a clean-up hitter. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:02) stops by to discuss what Tony Clark's recent resignation as MLBPA executive director means for upcoming MLB CBA talks and why players should be concerned about an impending lockout. 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. With Spring Training games around the corner, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back to their daily schedule! They start with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s comments about being 'happier' this season, whether the Jays are better this year than last year — even without Bo Bichette, and where the Jays stand in a much-improved American League. Then, they discuss the biggest camp storylines for the Jays, including where Kazuma Okamoto will line up, whether the number of Jays in the World Baseball Classic is cause for concern, and if Jesús Sánchez fits as a clean-up hitter. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:02) stops by to discuss what Tony Clark's recent resignation as MLBPA executive director means for upcoming MLB CBA talks and why players should be concerned about an impending lockout. 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. false full 7d1e9ada-1097-41fb-b5c6-2c8910bdbb0b Getting Set for Spring '26! With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back! They discuss what to expect from a post-Bo Bichette Blue Jays lineup, how Kazuma Okamoto's production in Japan will translate to the MLB level, and why the bullpen is still the biggest weakness heading into the 2026 regular season. Then, they get into José Berríos's role for the Jays moving forward, Toronto's standing in a much-improved AL East, and whether there's cause for concern over the number of Jays participating in the World Baseball Classic.

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 20:14:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back! They discuss what to expect from a post-Bo Bichette Blue Jays lineup, how Kazuma Okamoto's production in Japan will translate to the MLB level, and why the bullpen is still the biggest weakness heading into the 2026 regular season. Then, they get into José Berríos's role for the Jays moving forward, Toronto's standing in a much-improved AL East, and whether there's cause for concern over the number of Jays participating in the World Baseball Classic.

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.

]]> Getting Set for Spring '26! Sportsnet 00:48:35 With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back! They discuss what to expect from a post-Bo Bichette Blue Jays lineup, how Kazuma Okamoto's production in Japan will translate to the MLB level, and why the bullpen is still the biggest weakness heading into the 2026 regular season. Then, they get into José Berríos's role for the Jays moving forward, Toronto's standing in a much-improved AL East, and whether there's cause for concern over the number of Jays participating in the World Baseball Classic. 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. With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back! They discuss what to expect from a post-Bo Bichette Blue Jays lineup, how Kazuma Okamoto's production in Japan will translate to the MLB level, and why the bullpen is still the biggest weakness heading into the 2026 regular season. Then, they get into José Berríos's role for the Jays moving forward, Toronto's standing in a much-improved AL East, and whether there's cause for concern over the number of Jays participating in the World Baseball Classic. 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. false full 6ce26e24-6976-48b3-a47a-c801110c21be Dodgers Sign Tucker, Mets Sign Bo, and What It Means for the Jays Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are in for an offseason edition to react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets signing Bo Bichette, and what it means for the Blue Jays. They start with Bo and what the Jays' lineup will look like without their long-time shortstop and his fit at third base with the Mets. Then, they discuss where the Jays may turn for an impact bat, how aggressively they should approach Cody Bellinger's market, and whether adding to the bullpen is a higher priority at this point. Finally, Blake and Kevin look at Cardinals' infielder Brendan Donovan as a potential trade target, and where the Jays stand in an improved AL East if their offseason work is now complete.

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.

]]> Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:38:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are in for an offseason edition to react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets signing Bo Bichette, and what it means for the Blue Jays. They start with Bo and what the Jays' lineup will look like without their long-time shortstop and his fit at third base with the Mets. Then, they discuss where the Jays may turn for an impact bat, how aggressively they should approach Cody Bellinger's market, and whether adding to the bullpen is a higher priority at this point. Finally, Blake and Kevin look at Cardinals' infielder Brendan Donovan as a potential trade target, and where the Jays stand in an improved AL East if their offseason work is now complete.

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.

]]> Dodgers Sign Tucker, Mets Sign Bo, and What It Means for the Jays Sportsnet 00:26:34 Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are in for an offseason edition to react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets signing Bo Bichette, and what it means for the Blue Jays. They start with Bo and what the Jays' lineup will look like without their long-time shortstop and his fit at third base with the Mets. Then, they discuss where the Jays may turn for an impact bat, how aggressively they should approach Cody Bellinger's market, and whether adding to the bullpen is a higher priority at this point. Finally, Blake and Kevin look at Cardinals' infielder Brendan Donovan as a potential trade target, and where the Jays stand in an improved AL East if their offseason work is now complete. 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. Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are in for an offseason edition to react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets signing Bo Bichette, and what it means for the Blue Jays. They start with Bo and what the Jays' lineup will look like without their long-time shortstop and his fit at third base with the Mets. Then, they discuss where the Jays may turn for an impact bat, how aggressively they should approach Cody Bellinger's market, and whether adding to the bullpen is a higher priority at this point. Finally, Blake and Kevin look at Cardinals' infielder Brendan Donovan as a potential trade target, and where the Jays stand in an improved AL East if their offseason work is now complete. 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. false full 54b2da03-e98e-49d5-a7da-e8bb9b5b1208 Welcome to Toronto, Kazuma Okamoto Jeff Blair and Sho Alli listen in on the Toronto Blue Jays' newest addition, Kazumo Okamoto's press conference. They follow up with their thoughts on the move, a discussion on what the six-time NPB All-Star brings to the lineup, and a projection of what comes next in the Blue Jays' offseason, including where the team stands in Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker's market.

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.

]]> Tue, 6 Jan 2026 20:03:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Sho Alli listen in on the Toronto Blue Jays' newest addition, Kazumo Okamoto's press conference. They follow up with their thoughts on the move, a discussion on what the six-time NPB All-Star brings to the lineup, and a projection of what comes next in the Blue Jays' offseason, including where the team stands in Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker's market.

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.

]]> Welcome to Toronto, Kazuma Okamoto Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Blair and Sho Alli listen in on the Toronto Blue Jays' newest addition, Kazumo Okamoto's press conference. They follow up with their thoughts on the move, a discussion on what the six-time NPB All-Star brings to the lineup, and a projection of what comes next in the Blue Jays' offseason, including where the team stands in Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker's market. 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. Jeff Blair and Sho Alli listen in on the Toronto Blue Jays' newest addition, Kazumo Okamoto's press conference. They follow up with their thoughts on the move, a discussion on what the six-time NPB All-Star brings to the lineup, and a projection of what comes next in the Blue Jays' offseason, including where the team stands in Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker's market. 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. false full 1e254bc6-9c74-4517-9b21-abebe37346b0 Offseason Check-In + AL East Arms Race Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for a special holiday edition! They kick off with a quick recap of the Toronto Blue Jays' offseason, discuss the team's plans in the position player market — be it Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman — and share their favourite memories from the World Series and the Jays' unforgettable 2025 season. Then, they get into the team's need for a ninth-inning reliever, their trust in Ross Atkins and John Schneider moving forward, and whether the Jays' success can be sustained in 2026. Later, Jeff and Kevin take the temperature of the AL East as the Yankees stay quiet while the Orioles get aggressive. For the final word of 2025, the guys share some early 2026 World Series picks and project where Bichette will land.

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:01:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for a special holiday edition! They kick off with a quick recap of the Toronto Blue Jays' offseason, discuss the team's plans in the position player market — be it Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman — and share their favourite memories from the World Series and the Jays' unforgettable 2025 season. Then, they get into the team's need for a ninth-inning reliever, their trust in Ross Atkins and John Schneider moving forward, and whether the Jays' success can be sustained in 2026. Later, Jeff and Kevin take the temperature of the AL East as the Yankees stay quiet while the Orioles get aggressive. For the final word of 2025, the guys share some early 2026 World Series picks and project where Bichette will land.

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.

]]> Offseason Check-In + AL East Arms Race Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for a special holiday edition! They kick off with a quick recap of the Toronto Blue Jays' offseason, discuss the team's plans in the position player market — be it Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman — and share their favourite memories from the World Series and the Jays' unforgettable 2025 season. Then, they get into the team's need for a ninth-inning reliever, their trust in Ross Atkins and John Schneider moving forward, and whether the Jays' success can be sustained in 2026. Later, Jeff and Kevin take the temperature of the AL East as the Yankees stay quiet while the Orioles get aggressive. For the final word of 2025, the guys share some early 2026 World Series picks and project where Bichette will land. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for a special holiday edition! They kick off with a quick recap of the Toronto Blue Jays' offseason, discuss the team's plans in the position player market — be it Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman — and share their favourite memories from the World Series and the Jays' unforgettable 2025 season. Then, they get into the team's need for a ninth-inning reliever, their trust in Ross Atkins and John Schneider moving forward, and whether the Jays' success can be sustained in 2026. Later, Jeff and Kevin take the temperature of the AL East as the Yankees stay quiet while the Orioles get aggressive. For the final word of 2025, the guys share some early 2026 World Series picks and project where Bichette will land. 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. false full 3b699429-b1bc-4469-b561-21213883a15f Dwindling Reliever Options + Kyle Tucker's Market For the final episode of 2025 —barring any emergency podcasts— Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their reactions to the Atlanta Braves taking closer Robert Suárez off the market with a 3-year, $45M deal. Then, they share their thoughts on Jeff Passan's report that the Jays could be in on both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. MLB Network's Dan Plesac joins the show (13:08) to discuss the Jays' narrowing options for a top-end reliever, why Pete Fairbanks makes sense as a target for Toronto, how Dylan Cease can improve under Pete Walker and the Yankees' offseason uncertainties. Later, ESPN's Jesse Rogers stops by (34:32) to discuss Tucker's market, how he'd fit in with the Jays' culture and how Bo's defence impacts his free agent value.

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.

]]> Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:04:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ For the final episode of 2025 —barring any emergency podcasts— Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their reactions to the Atlanta Braves taking closer Robert Suárez off the market with a 3-year, $45M deal. Then, they share their thoughts on Jeff Passan's report that the Jays could be in on both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. MLB Network's Dan Plesac joins the show (13:08) to discuss the Jays' narrowing options for a top-end reliever, why Pete Fairbanks makes sense as a target for Toronto, how Dylan Cease can improve under Pete Walker and the Yankees' offseason uncertainties. Later, ESPN's Jesse Rogers stops by (34:32) to discuss Tucker's market, how he'd fit in with the Jays' culture and how Bo's defence impacts his free agent value.

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.

]]> Dwindling Reliever Options + Kyle Tucker's Market Sportsnet 00:49:56 For the final episode of 2025 —barring any emergency podcasts— Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their reactions to the Atlanta Braves taking closer Robert Suárez off the market with a 3-year, $45M deal. Then, they share their thoughts on Jeff Passan's report that the Jays could be in on both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. MLB Network's Dan Plesac joins the show (13:08) to discuss the Jays' narrowing options for a top-end reliever, why Pete Fairbanks makes sense as a target for Toronto, how Dylan Cease can improve under Pete Walker and the Yankees' offseason uncertainties. Later, ESPN's Jesse Rogers stops by (34:32) to discuss Tucker's market, how he'd fit in with the Jays' culture and how Bo's defence impacts his free agent value. 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. For the final episode of 2025 —barring any emergency podcasts— Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their reactions to the Atlanta Braves taking closer Robert Suárez off the market with a 3-year, $45M deal. Then, they share their thoughts on Jeff Passan's report that the Jays could be in on both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. MLB Network's Dan Plesac joins the show (13:08) to discuss the Jays' narrowing options for a top-end reliever, why Pete Fairbanks makes sense as a target for Toronto, how Dylan Cease can improve under Pete Walker and the Yankees' offseason uncertainties. Later, ESPN's Jesse Rogers stops by (34:32) to discuss Tucker's market, how he'd fit in with the Jays' culture and how Bo's defence impacts his free agent value. 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. false full 07129f30-e5f2-4a0b-b727-dbb5036f0d50 Getting to Know Dylan Cease with Mike Shildt Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in on the final day of MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando. They react to Pete Alonso signing a 5-year, $155M deal with the Baltimore Orioles, follow up with some takeaways from Dylan Cease's introductory press conference yesterday, and revisit Shane Bieber's decision to pick up his player option. Cease's former manager and current Orioles instructor, Mike Shildt, joins the show (10:20) to share what the starter brings to Toronto, what he's like away from the mound, and a scouting report on a potential Jays target, Robert Suárez. Later, former MLB executive Thad Levine (31:27) shares his thoughts on the Jays' offseason so far, how the team navigates the José Berríos situation, a front office POV of Kyle Tucker, and the fundamental importance of roster turnover.

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.

]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:01:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in on the final day of MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando. They react to Pete Alonso signing a 5-year, $155M deal with the Baltimore Orioles, follow up with some takeaways from Dylan Cease's introductory press conference yesterday, and revisit Shane Bieber's decision to pick up his player option. Cease's former manager and current Orioles instructor, Mike Shildt, joins the show (10:20) to share what the starter brings to Toronto, what he's like away from the mound, and a scouting report on a potential Jays target, Robert Suárez. Later, former MLB executive Thad Levine (31:27) shares his thoughts on the Jays' offseason so far, how the team navigates the José Berríos situation, a front office POV of Kyle Tucker, and the fundamental importance of roster turnover.

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.

]]> Getting to Know Dylan Cease with Mike Shildt Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in on the final day of MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando. They react to Pete Alonso signing a 5-year, $155M deal with the Baltimore Orioles, follow up with some takeaways from Dylan Cease's introductory press conference yesterday, and revisit Shane Bieber's decision to pick up his player option. Cease's former manager and current Orioles instructor, Mike Shildt, joins the show (10:20) to share what the starter brings to Toronto, what he's like away from the mound, and a scouting report on a potential Jays target, Robert Suárez. Later, former MLB executive Thad Levine (31:27) shares his thoughts on the Jays' offseason so far, how the team navigates the José Berríos situation, a front office POV of Kyle Tucker, and the fundamental importance of roster turnover. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in on the final day of MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando. They react to Pete Alonso signing a 5-year, $155M deal with the Baltimore Orioles, follow up with some takeaways from Dylan Cease's introductory press conference yesterday, and revisit Shane Bieber's decision to pick up his player option. Cease's former manager and current Orioles instructor, Mike Shildt, joins the show (10:20) to share what the starter brings to Toronto, what he's like away from the mound, and a scouting report on a potential Jays target, Robert Suárez. Later, former MLB executive Thad Levine (31:27) shares his thoughts on the Jays' offseason so far, how the team navigates the José Berríos situation, a front office POV of Kyle Tucker, and the fundamental importance of roster turnover. 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. false full f4e2442b-ec6c-406d-8d5c-91c0db0838b5 Welcome to Toronto, Dylan Cease! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program ahead of this afternoon's introductory press conference for new Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher, Dylan Cease. The boys sift through the news of the day including Edwin Diaz's three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million extension with the Phillies. Sportsnet Shi Davidi (03:19) checks in from MLB's Winter Meetings with thoughts on what the Blue Jays are now prioritizing this offseason, the names potentially on the table for the team, Shane Bieber's status for 2026, and what's next for José Berríos. Later, Jeff and Kevin listen back to John Schneider's comments reflecting on the 2025 World Series, before heading live to Orlando to listen to Cease's introductory press conference (26:00).

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.

]]> Tue, 9 Dec 2025 21:00:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program ahead of this afternoon's introductory press conference for new Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher, Dylan Cease. The boys sift through the news of the day including Edwin Diaz's three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million extension with the Phillies. Sportsnet Shi Davidi (03:19) checks in from MLB's Winter Meetings with thoughts on what the Blue Jays are now prioritizing this offseason, the names potentially on the table for the team, Shane Bieber's status for 2026, and what's next for José Berríos. Later, Jeff and Kevin listen back to John Schneider's comments reflecting on the 2025 World Series, before heading live to Orlando to listen to Cease's introductory press conference (26:00).

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.

]]> Welcome to Toronto, Dylan Cease! Sportsnet 00:50:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program ahead of this afternoon's introductory press conference for new Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher, Dylan Cease. The boys sift through the news of the day including Edwin Diaz's three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million extension with the Phillies. Sportsnet Shi Davidi (03:19) checks in from MLB's Winter Meetings with thoughts on what the Blue Jays are now prioritizing this offseason, the names potentially on the table for the team, Shane Bieber's status for 2026, and what's next for José Berríos. Later, Jeff and Kevin listen back to John Schneider's comments reflecting on the 2025 World Series, before heading live to Orlando to listen to Cease's introductory press conference (26:00). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program ahead of this afternoon's introductory press conference for new Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher, Dylan Cease. The boys sift through the news of the day including Edwin Diaz's three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million extension with the Phillies. Sportsnet Shi Davidi (03:19) checks in from MLB's Winter Meetings with thoughts on what the Blue Jays are now prioritizing this offseason, the names potentially on the table for the team, Shane Bieber's status for 2026, and what's next for José Berríos. Later, Jeff and Kevin listen back to John Schneider's comments reflecting on the 2025 World Series, before heading live to Orlando to listen to Cease's introductory press conference (26:00). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 67a58e48-76fa-440e-9ad5-58c4c6179fb2 Winter Meetings Buzz with Jon Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for the week to cover MLB's winter meetings! They go through the Blue Jays' early offseason moves, what free agents they'd be willing to part with, the need for a closer, and back-up plans if the team can't bring Bo Bichette back. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins the show (16:00) from the winter meetings in Orlando to discuss Jeff Kent's selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame and whether voters will ever change tunes on Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Don Mattingly. Then, Morosi shares his impressions of the trade talks in Orlando, where the Blue Jays fit into the conversations surrounding big-name relievers, and what contracts for Bo, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger might look like. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the contract status of the Jays' front office personnel and review some of the early offseason moves around the majors.

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.

]]> Mon, 8 Dec 2025 21:01:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for the week to cover MLB's winter meetings! They go through the Blue Jays' early offseason moves, what free agents they'd be willing to part with, the need for a closer, and back-up plans if the team can't bring Bo Bichette back. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins the show (16:00) from the winter meetings in Orlando to discuss Jeff Kent's selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame and whether voters will ever change tunes on Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Don Mattingly. Then, Morosi shares his impressions of the trade talks in Orlando, where the Blue Jays fit into the conversations surrounding big-name relievers, and what contracts for Bo, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger might look like. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the contract status of the Jays' front office personnel and review some of the early offseason moves around the majors.

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.

]]> Winter Meetings Buzz with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for the week to cover MLB's winter meetings! They go through the Blue Jays' early offseason moves, what free agents they'd be willing to part with, the need for a closer, and back-up plans if the team can't bring Bo Bichette back. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins the show (16:00) from the winter meetings in Orlando to discuss Jeff Kent's selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame and whether voters will ever change tunes on Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Don Mattingly. Then, Morosi shares his impressions of the trade talks in Orlando, where the Blue Jays fit into the conversations surrounding big-name relievers, and what contracts for Bo, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger might look like. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the contract status of the Jays' front office personnel and review some of the early offseason moves around the majors. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for the week to cover MLB's winter meetings! They go through the Blue Jays' early offseason moves, what free agents they'd be willing to part with, the need for a closer, and back-up plans if the team can't bring Bo Bichette back. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins the show (16:00) from the winter meetings in Orlando to discuss Jeff Kent's selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame and whether voters will ever change tunes on Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds and Don Mattingly. Then, Morosi shares his impressions of the trade talks in Orlando, where the Blue Jays fit into the conversations surrounding big-name relievers, and what contracts for Bo, Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger might look like. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the contract status of the Jays' front office personnel and review some of the early offseason moves around the majors. 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. false full 6f4a7637-231f-48ac-a861-665eef2bced4 What Dylan Cease Brings + What's Next for the Blue Jays? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for an offseason edition as the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. They share their reactions to the move, what Cease can bring to Toronto's rotation, and what comes next on the Jays' list of offseason priorities. Sportsnet insider Shi Davidi (6:55) shares his thoughts on the signing, its impact on the team's plans moving forward, and what the rotation might look like with José Berríos and Louis Varland both competing for the 5th spot. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (30:32) to discuss the timing of Cease's signing, the terms of the deal, and which position the Jays should target —by trade or signing— next. Finally, Passan looks at Bo Bichette's market and how he's valued as a free agent.

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.

]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 21:00:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for an offseason edition as the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. They share their reactions to the move, what Cease can bring to Toronto's rotation, and what comes next on the Jays' list of offseason priorities. Sportsnet insider Shi Davidi (6:55) shares his thoughts on the signing, its impact on the team's plans moving forward, and what the rotation might look like with José Berríos and Louis Varland both competing for the 5th spot. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (30:32) to discuss the timing of Cease's signing, the terms of the deal, and which position the Jays should target —by trade or signing— next. Finally, Passan looks at Bo Bichette's market and how he's valued as a free agent.

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.

]]> What Dylan Cease Brings + What's Next for the Blue Jays? Sportsnet 00:49:29 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for an offseason edition as the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. They share their reactions to the move, what Cease can bring to Toronto's rotation, and what comes next on the Jays' list of offseason priorities. Sportsnet insider Shi Davidi (6:55) shares his thoughts on the signing, its impact on the team's plans moving forward, and what the rotation might look like with José Berríos and Louis Varland both competing for the 5th spot. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (30:32) to discuss the timing of Cease's signing, the terms of the deal, and which position the Jays should target —by trade or signing— next. Finally, Passan looks at Bo Bichette's market and how he's valued as a free agent. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for an offseason edition as the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. They share their reactions to the move, what Cease can bring to Toronto's rotation, and what comes next on the Jays' list of offseason priorities. Sportsnet insider Shi Davidi (6:55) shares his thoughts on the signing, its impact on the team's plans moving forward, and what the rotation might look like with José Berríos and Louis Varland both competing for the 5th spot. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan stops by (30:32) to discuss the timing of Cease's signing, the terms of the deal, and which position the Jays should target —by trade or signing— next. Finally, Passan looks at Bo Bichette's market and how he's valued as a free agent. 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. false full 70ef5c78-d24c-4f19-9ace-4e8e33f6a5c3 Emergency Pod: Blue Jays Land Dylan Cease Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reconvene for an emergency podcast to discuss the Blue Jays reported signing of right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. It's the largest pitching contract handed out by Toronto in franchise history and Blair and Barker break it all down!  

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.

 

]]> Thu, 27 Nov 2025 01:21:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reconvene for an emergency podcast to discuss the Blue Jays reported signing of right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. It's the largest pitching contract handed out by Toronto in franchise history and Blair and Barker break it all down!  

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.

 

]]> Emergency Pod: Blue Jays Land Dylan Cease Sportsnet 00:15:11 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reconvene for an emergency podcast to discuss the Blue Jays reported signing of right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. It's the largest pitching contract handed out by Toronto in franchise history and Blair and Barker break it all down! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reconvene for an emergency podcast to discuss the Blue Jays reported signing of right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. It's the largest pitching contract handed out by Toronto in franchise history and Blair and Barker break it all down! false full 01ccc02a-29d5-4d3a-bfb0-406407900dbc Mark Shapiro & Ross Atkins End-Of-Season Avails We hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins discussing a wide range of topics, including Shapiro's contract, Bo Bichette's free agency, Shane Bieber picking up his player option and much more! Plus, Jeff Blair heads to the Back-Leg Line to get your reactions on the Jays' front office end-of-season media avails.

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.

]]> Thu, 6 Nov 2025 19:53:44 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ We hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins discussing a wide range of topics, including Shapiro's contract, Bo Bichette's free agency, Shane Bieber picking up his player option and much more! Plus, Jeff Blair heads to the Back-Leg Line to get your reactions on the Jays' front office end-of-season media avails.

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.

]]> Mark Shapiro & Ross Atkins End-Of-Season Avails Sportsnet 01:24:13 We hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins discussing a wide range of topics, including Shapiro's contract, Bo Bichette's free agency, Shane Bieber picking up his player option and much more! Plus, Jeff Blair heads to the Back-Leg Line to get your reactions on the Jays' front office end-of-season media avails. 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. We hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins discussing a wide range of topics, including Shapiro's contract, Bo Bichette's free agency, Shane Bieber picking up his player option and much more! Plus, Jeff Blair heads to the Back-Leg Line to get your reactions on the Jays' front office end-of-season media avails. 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. false full e8e6ec7f-0676-43a7-adcf-6ad18a5c938d Post-World Series Priorities with David Samson Former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal' David Samson (1:28) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he would plan for the upcoming offseason, assessing 'breakout years' from the likes of Ernie Clement and George Springer, Jeff Hoffman overcoming the game-tying home run in Game 7, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's uniqueness, how he would rank the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette's free agency and if load management will increase amongst the teams. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-Leg Line for the final time this season!

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.

]]> Mon, 3 Nov 2025 23:00:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal' David Samson (1:28) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he would plan for the upcoming offseason, assessing 'breakout years' from the likes of Ernie Clement and George Springer, Jeff Hoffman overcoming the game-tying home run in Game 7, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's uniqueness, how he would rank the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette's free agency and if load management will increase amongst the teams. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-Leg Line for the final time this season!

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.

]]> Post-World Series Priorities with David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:44 Former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal' David Samson (1:28) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he would plan for the upcoming offseason, assessing 'breakout years' from the likes of Ernie Clement and George Springer, Jeff Hoffman overcoming the game-tying home run in Game 7, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's uniqueness, how he would rank the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette's free agency and if load management will increase amongst the teams. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-Leg Line for the final time this season! 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. Former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal' David Samson (1:28) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he would plan for the upcoming offseason, assessing 'breakout years' from the likes of Ernie Clement and George Springer, Jeff Hoffman overcoming the game-tying home run in Game 7, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's uniqueness, how he would rank the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette's free agency and if load management will increase amongst the teams. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-Leg Line for the final time this season! 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. false full 4cb0406d-2d71-4517-812d-ae8dcd2a8817 An Incredible Run Comes to an End Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling short of a World Series title. They break down the game, including Jeff Hoffman giving up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers' nine-hole hitter and Isiah Kiner-Falefa's base-running in the ninth inning. Then, they share positive takeaways from the Jays' run that they can build on in 2026, which aspects of the team may regress, and whether resigning Bo Bichette will be a priority in the offseason. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (31:56) weighs in on IKF's base-running, silver linings from the Jays' loss, and the next step for Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro.

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.

]]> Mon, 3 Nov 2025 22:00:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling short of a World Series title. They break down the game, including Jeff Hoffman giving up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers' nine-hole hitter and Isiah Kiner-Falefa's base-running in the ninth inning. Then, they share positive takeaways from the Jays' run that they can build on in 2026, which aspects of the team may regress, and whether resigning Bo Bichette will be a priority in the offseason. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (31:56) weighs in on IKF's base-running, silver linings from the Jays' loss, and the next step for Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro.

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.

]]> An Incredible Run Comes to an End Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling short of a World Series title. They break down the game, including Jeff Hoffman giving up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers' nine-hole hitter and Isiah Kiner-Falefa's base-running in the ninth inning. Then, they share positive takeaways from the Jays' run that they can build on in 2026, which aspects of the team may regress, and whether resigning Bo Bichette will be a priority in the offseason. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (31:56) weighs in on IKF's base-running, silver linings from the Jays' loss, and the next step for Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling short of a World Series title. They break down the game, including Jeff Hoffman giving up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers' nine-hole hitter and Isiah Kiner-Falefa's base-running in the ninth inning. Then, they share positive takeaways from the Jays' run that they can build on in 2026, which aspects of the team may regress, and whether resigning Bo Bichette will be a priority in the offseason. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (31:56) weighs in on IKF's base-running, silver linings from the Jays' loss, and the next step for Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro. 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. false full 080eb53b-88e1-4fbf-ae72-13ff93f05fb7 The Magnitude of 'One More Game' with Pat Gillick Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hear from both Bo Bichette and John Schneider ahead of Game 6, reacting to Bo's comments about his future, returning from injury to play in the World Series, his maturity through the years within the Blue Jays' organization, and John's comments on how he spent Halloween at his doorstep a year ago to now having the chance to clinch a championship. Then, 3-time World Series Champion and former Blue Jays' manager Pat Gillick stops by (31:00) to chat about the 2025 Jays' roster compared to his 1992 & 1993 winning team, if we can expect a shift in hitting philosophy across the league after seeing the success by the Jays, the difficulties of winning "one more game", and difficulties of clinching back-to-back championships. 

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.

]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2025 22:02:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hear from both Bo Bichette and John Schneider ahead of Game 6, reacting to Bo's comments about his future, returning from injury to play in the World Series, his maturity through the years within the Blue Jays' organization, and John's comments on how he spent Halloween at his doorstep a year ago to now having the chance to clinch a championship. Then, 3-time World Series Champion and former Blue Jays' manager Pat Gillick stops by (31:00) to chat about the 2025 Jays' roster compared to his 1992 & 1993 winning team, if we can expect a shift in hitting philosophy across the league after seeing the success by the Jays, the difficulties of winning "one more game", and difficulties of clinching back-to-back championships. 

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.

]]> The Magnitude of 'One More Game' with Pat Gillick Sportsnet 00:49:26 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hear from both Bo Bichette and John Schneider ahead of Game 6, reacting to Bo's comments about his future, returning from injury to play in the World Series, his maturity through the years within the Blue Jays' organization, and John's comments on how he spent Halloween at his doorstep a year ago to now having the chance to clinch a championship. Then, 3-time World Series Champion and former Blue Jays' manager Pat Gillick stops by (31:00) to chat about the 2025 Jays' roster compared to his 1992 & 1993 winning team, if we can expect a shift in hitting philosophy across the league after seeing the success by the Jays, the difficulties of winning "one more game", and difficulties of clinching back-to-back championships. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hear from both Bo Bichette and John Schneider ahead of Game 6, reacting to Bo's comments about his future, returning from injury to play in the World Series, his maturity through the years within the Blue Jays' organization, and John's comments on how he spent Halloween at his doorstep a year ago to now having the chance to clinch a championship. Then, 3-time World Series Champion and former Blue Jays' manager Pat Gillick stops by (31:00) to chat about the 2025 Jays' roster compared to his 1992 & 1993 winning team, if we can expect a shift in hitting philosophy across the league after seeing the success by the Jays, the difficulties of winning "one more game", and difficulties of clinching back-to-back championships. 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. false full 8f5a7516-c30d-4f68-b714-fd0708114986 A Chance to Close Out Against Yamamoto It's game day! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Game 6, a potential World Series-clinching stage for the Jays against the Dodgers. They go through the lineup, including George Springer's return to the lead-off spot and Bo Bichette's corresponding move back to second base. Then, two-time World Series champ and MLB Network's Al Leiter joins the show (11:45) to discuss what mentality the Jays must have against a red-hot Yoshinobu Yamamoto, what Kevin Gausman can take away from Trey Yesavage's outing, and his memories from playing in the World Series. Later, Sportsnet play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman stops by (32:00) to share his confidence levels going into Game 6 against Yamamoto, the late-innings plan for Bichette, Addison Barger's growth, Chris Bassitt embracing the bullpen role, and his favourite moments from the booth through the Jays' playoff run.

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.

]]> Fri, 31 Oct 2025 21:01:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ It's game day! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Game 6, a potential World Series-clinching stage for the Jays against the Dodgers. They go through the lineup, including George Springer's return to the lead-off spot and Bo Bichette's corresponding move back to second base. Then, two-time World Series champ and MLB Network's Al Leiter joins the show (11:45) to discuss what mentality the Jays must have against a red-hot Yoshinobu Yamamoto, what Kevin Gausman can take away from Trey Yesavage's outing, and his memories from playing in the World Series. Later, Sportsnet play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman stops by (32:00) to share his confidence levels going into Game 6 against Yamamoto, the late-innings plan for Bichette, Addison Barger's growth, Chris Bassitt embracing the bullpen role, and his favourite moments from the booth through the Jays' playoff run.

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.

]]> A Chance to Close Out Against Yamamoto Sportsnet 00:50:17 It's game day! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Game 6, a potential World Series-clinching stage for the Jays against the Dodgers. They go through the lineup, including George Springer's return to the lead-off spot and Bo Bichette's corresponding move back to second base. Then, two-time World Series champ and MLB Network's Al Leiter joins the show (11:45) to discuss what mentality the Jays must have against a red-hot Yoshinobu Yamamoto, what Kevin Gausman can take away from Trey Yesavage's outing, and his memories from playing in the World Series. Later, Sportsnet play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman stops by (32:00) to share his confidence levels going into Game 6 against Yamamoto, the late-innings plan for Bichette, Addison Barger's growth, Chris Bassitt embracing the bullpen role, and his favourite moments from the booth through the Jays' playoff run. 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. It's game day! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Game 6, a potential World Series-clinching stage for the Jays against the Dodgers. They go through the lineup, including George Springer's return to the lead-off spot and Bo Bichette's corresponding move back to second base. Then, two-time World Series champ and MLB Network's Al Leiter joins the show (11:45) to discuss what mentality the Jays must have against a red-hot Yoshinobu Yamamoto, what Kevin Gausman can take away from Trey Yesavage's outing, and his memories from playing in the World Series. Later, Sportsnet play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman stops by (32:00) to share his confidence levels going into Game 6 against Yamamoto, the late-innings plan for Bichette, Addison Barger's growth, Chris Bassitt embracing the bullpen role, and his favourite moments from the booth through the Jays' playoff run. 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. false full 68662144-3aab-485a-8daa-4071032c1c58 Closing Out the World Series with MVP Jack Morris Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 3-time World Series Champion and National Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris (4:20) to chat Trey Yesavage's historic Game 5 start in the World Series, the differences in pitching in the Fall Classic and regular season, how Kevin Gausman should approach pitching in a clincher, playing in extra-inning postseason games, the comfort of having Chris Bassitt coming out of the bullpen, and the Blue Jays surpassing the underdog title. Then, we hear from Blue Jays manager John Schneider a day before Game 6. Afterwards, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi stops by (32:10) to discuss Addison Barger's at-bats, George Springer's status for Game 6, how much the break in-between the regular season and postseason helped Vladdy's monster performances and if other MLB teams will look to replicate the Jays' offensive approach. 

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.

]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 22:03:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 3-time World Series Champion and National Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris (4:20) to chat Trey Yesavage's historic Game 5 start in the World Series, the differences in pitching in the Fall Classic and regular season, how Kevin Gausman should approach pitching in a clincher, playing in extra-inning postseason games, the comfort of having Chris Bassitt coming out of the bullpen, and the Blue Jays surpassing the underdog title. Then, we hear from Blue Jays manager John Schneider a day before Game 6. Afterwards, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi stops by (32:10) to discuss Addison Barger's at-bats, George Springer's status for Game 6, how much the break in-between the regular season and postseason helped Vladdy's monster performances and if other MLB teams will look to replicate the Jays' offensive approach. 

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.

]]> Closing Out the World Series with MVP Jack Morris Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 3-time World Series Champion and National Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris (4:20) to chat Trey Yesavage's historic Game 5 start in the World Series, the differences in pitching in the Fall Classic and regular season, how Kevin Gausman should approach pitching in a clincher, playing in extra-inning postseason games, the comfort of having Chris Bassitt coming out of the bullpen, and the Blue Jays surpassing the underdog title. Then, we hear from Blue Jays manager John Schneider a day before Game 6. Afterwards, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi stops by (32:10) to discuss Addison Barger's at-bats, George Springer's status for Game 6, how much the break in-between the regular season and postseason helped Vladdy's monster performances and if other MLB teams will look to replicate the Jays' offensive approach.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 3-time World Series Champion and National Baseball Hall of Famer Jack Morris (4:20) to chat Trey Yesavage's historic Game 5 start in the World Series, the differences in pitching in the Fall Classic and regular season, how Kevin Gausman should approach pitching in a clincher, playing in extra-inning postseason games, the comfort of having Chris Bassitt coming out of the bullpen, and the Blue Jays surpassing the underdog title. Then, we hear from Blue Jays manager John Schneider a day before Game 6. Afterwards, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi stops by (32:10) to discuss Addison Barger's at-bats, George Springer's status for Game 6, how much the break in-between the regular season and postseason helped Vladdy's monster performances and if other MLB teams will look to replicate the Jays' offensive approach.  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. false full fd228d1f-1537-4aa3-8cab-a9caf8e7a8c2 One. More. Win. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' 6-1 win over the LA Dodgers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 World Series lead back to Toronto. They discuss Trey Yesavage's masterpiece on the mound and Addison Barger's awareness on the basepaths before looking ahead to Game 6 and how the Jays adjust to Yoshinobu Yamamoto the second time through. Later, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (27:00) to share his thoughts on the Dodgers' stars' struggles, what to expect from Kevin Gausman in Game 6, how the Jays approach Yamamoto, and the impact the Rogers Centre crowd might have on Friday.

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.

]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:01:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' 6-1 win over the LA Dodgers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 World Series lead back to Toronto. They discuss Trey Yesavage's masterpiece on the mound and Addison Barger's awareness on the basepaths before looking ahead to Game 6 and how the Jays adjust to Yoshinobu Yamamoto the second time through. Later, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (27:00) to share his thoughts on the Dodgers' stars' struggles, what to expect from Kevin Gausman in Game 6, how the Jays approach Yamamoto, and the impact the Rogers Centre crowd might have on Friday.

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.

]]> One. More. Win. Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' 6-1 win over the LA Dodgers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 World Series lead back to Toronto. They discuss Trey Yesavage's masterpiece on the mound and Addison Barger's awareness on the basepaths before looking ahead to Game 6 and how the Jays adjust to Yoshinobu Yamamoto the second time through. Later, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (27:00) to share his thoughts on the Dodgers' stars' struggles, what to expect from Kevin Gausman in Game 6, how the Jays approach Yamamoto, and the impact the Rogers Centre crowd might have on Friday. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' 6-1 win over the LA Dodgers in Game 5 to take a 3-2 World Series lead back to Toronto. They discuss Trey Yesavage's masterpiece on the mound and Addison Barger's awareness on the basepaths before looking ahead to Game 6 and how the Jays adjust to Yoshinobu Yamamoto the second time through. Later, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (27:00) to share his thoughts on the Dodgers' stars' struggles, what to expect from Kevin Gausman in Game 6, how the Jays approach Yamamoto, and the impact the Rogers Centre crowd might have on Friday. 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. false full 37af8fcd-905b-47ea-9d91-e222c58bbbbd Can Jays Take a Fall Classic Lead Back to Toronto? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour leading up to Game 5 of the World Series with Baseball Today host and Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:00). He shares his impressions of the first four games of the Fall Classic, the Dodgers' bottom-of-the-order hole, Chris Bassitt's bullpen breakout, and a national POV of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin throw to a snippet of Hazel Mae's sit-down with Andrés Giménez and discuss the shortstop's defensive impact. Later, they listen in on Dave Roberts' and John Schneider's game-day availabilities.

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.

]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:01:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour leading up to Game 5 of the World Series with Baseball Today host and Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:00). He shares his impressions of the first four games of the Fall Classic, the Dodgers' bottom-of-the-order hole, Chris Bassitt's bullpen breakout, and a national POV of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin throw to a snippet of Hazel Mae's sit-down with Andrés Giménez and discuss the shortstop's defensive impact. Later, they listen in on Dave Roberts' and John Schneider's game-day availabilities.

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.

]]> Can Jays Take a Fall Classic Lead Back to Toronto? Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour leading up to Game 5 of the World Series with Baseball Today host and Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:00). He shares his impressions of the first four games of the Fall Classic, the Dodgers' bottom-of-the-order hole, Chris Bassitt's bullpen breakout, and a national POV of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin throw to a snippet of Hazel Mae's sit-down with Andrés Giménez and discuss the shortstop's defensive impact. Later, they listen in on Dave Roberts' and John Schneider's game-day availabilities. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour leading up to Game 5 of the World Series with Baseball Today host and Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:00). He shares his impressions of the first four games of the Fall Classic, the Dodgers' bottom-of-the-order hole, Chris Bassitt's bullpen breakout, and a national POV of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin throw to a snippet of Hazel Mae's sit-down with Andrés Giménez and discuss the shortstop's defensive impact. Later, they listen in on Dave Roberts' and John Schneider's game-day availabilities. 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. false full f64c7832-fae9-46fb-b4d7-5f8b0895c071 Jays Get to Ohtani to Even Up World Series Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look back on the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 to tie up the World Series, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s big home run off Shohei Ohtani and Shane Bieber's bounce-back. Then, they look ahead to Game 5, how the starters in Blake Snell and Trey Yesavage will adjust from their Game 1 outings, the Dodgers' lineup change and Chris Bassitt's role. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (30:30) to share his expectations for Yesavage, what the Jays' bats can expect from Snell the second time around, how Will Smith's move up to the two-hole impacts the approach to Ohtani, and Bo Bichette getting back to full speed at the plate.

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.

]]> Wed, 29 Oct 2025 21:02:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look back on the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 to tie up the World Series, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s big home run off Shohei Ohtani and Shane Bieber's bounce-back. Then, they look ahead to Game 5, how the starters in Blake Snell and Trey Yesavage will adjust from their Game 1 outings, the Dodgers' lineup change and Chris Bassitt's role. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (30:30) to share his expectations for Yesavage, what the Jays' bats can expect from Snell the second time around, how Will Smith's move up to the two-hole impacts the approach to Ohtani, and Bo Bichette getting back to full speed at the plate.

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.

]]> Jays Get to Ohtani to Even Up World Series Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look back on the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 to tie up the World Series, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s big home run off Shohei Ohtani and Shane Bieber's bounce-back. Then, they look ahead to Game 5, how the starters in Blake Snell and Trey Yesavage will adjust from their Game 1 outings, the Dodgers' lineup change and Chris Bassitt's role. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (30:30) to share his expectations for Yesavage, what the Jays' bats can expect from Snell the second time around, how Will Smith's move up to the two-hole impacts the approach to Ohtani, and Bo Bichette getting back to full speed at the plate. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look back on the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Dodgers in Game 4 to tie up the World Series, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s big home run off Shohei Ohtani and Shane Bieber's bounce-back. Then, they look ahead to Game 5, how the starters in Blake Snell and Trey Yesavage will adjust from their Game 1 outings, the Dodgers' lineup change and Chris Bassitt's role. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (30:30) to share his expectations for Yesavage, what the Jays' bats can expect from Snell the second time around, how Will Smith's move up to the two-hole impacts the approach to Ohtani, and Bo Bichette getting back to full speed at the plate. 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. false full e26aae88-0cd9-4762-ae33-7fb85c41a555 Overcoming an 18-Inning Loss Ahead of Game 4 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and two-time World Series champion Jake Peavy to chat about what he thinks the message would be in the Blue Jays clubhouse before Game 4 after a gut-wrenching Game 3 loss, Shane Bieber's gameplan at attacking Shohei Ohtani, hitting against high velo pitches, and why we're seeing two of the best catchers in the World Series. Then, Jeff and Kevin touch on Eric Lauer's extra innings dominance before bringing on Blue Jays' outfielder and Sportsnet MLB analyst Kevin Pillar stops by to discuss Ohtani's pitching, bench decisions from Game 3, how Mookie Betts would feel seeing Shohei getting intentionally walked at-bat after at-bat, and what could be at stake for Shane Bieber in his Game 4 start.

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:59:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and two-time World Series champion Jake Peavy to chat about what he thinks the message would be in the Blue Jays clubhouse before Game 4 after a gut-wrenching Game 3 loss, Shane Bieber's gameplan at attacking Shohei Ohtani, hitting against high velo pitches, and why we're seeing two of the best catchers in the World Series. Then, Jeff and Kevin touch on Eric Lauer's extra innings dominance before bringing on Blue Jays' outfielder and Sportsnet MLB analyst Kevin Pillar stops by to discuss Ohtani's pitching, bench decisions from Game 3, how Mookie Betts would feel seeing Shohei getting intentionally walked at-bat after at-bat, and what could be at stake for Shane Bieber in his Game 4 start.

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Overcoming an 18-Inning Loss Ahead of Game 4 Sportsnet 00:49:25 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and two-time World Series champion Jake Peavy to chat about what he thinks the message would be in the Blue Jays clubhouse before Game 4 after a gut-wrenching Game 3 loss, Shane Bieber's gameplan at attacking Shohei Ohtani, hitting against high velo pitches, and why we're seeing two of the best catchers in the World Series. Then, Jeff and Kevin touch on Eric Lauer's extra innings dominance before bringing on Blue Jays' outfielder and Sportsnet MLB analyst Kevin Pillar stops by to discuss Ohtani's pitching, bench decisions from Game 3, how Mookie Betts would feel seeing Shohei getting intentionally walked at-bat after at-bat, and what could be at stake for Shane Bieber in his Game 4 start. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and two-time World Series champion Jake Peavy to chat about what he thinks the message would be in the Blue Jays clubhouse before Game 4 after a gut-wrenching Game 3 loss, Shane Bieber's gameplan at attacking Shohei Ohtani, hitting against high velo pitches, and why we're seeing two of the best catchers in the World Series. Then, Jeff and Kevin touch on Eric Lauer's extra innings dominance before bringing on Blue Jays' outfielder and Sportsnet MLB analyst Kevin Pillar stops by to discuss Ohtani's pitching, bench decisions from Game 3, how Mookie Betts would feel seeing Shohei getting intentionally walked at-bat after at-bat, and what could be at stake for Shane Bieber in his Game 4 start. 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 affiliate. false full 8a38dfc2-6363-4b2f-95c6-9c1a77969dbe Questionable Decisions in the Game 3 Marathon Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' marathon Game 3 against the LA Dodgers, a 6-5 in the 18th inning. They reflect on the Jays' consequential decision to pitch to Shohei Ohtani in the seventh inning, John Schneider's pinch-run replacements, questionable umpire calls, Nathan Lukes' 12-inning at-bat against Clayton Kershaw with the bases loaded, and more of the Jays' missed opportunities. Then, they move on to Game 4, what to expect from the starters in Shane Bieber and Ohtani, and how the lineup changes in the potential absence of George Springer. Later, Blue Jays special assistant and 12-year MLB veteran Kevin Kiermaier (29:02) stops by to discuss the toll of an extra-innings postseason loss, how the Jays can bounce back in Game 4, and how they can attack Ohtani on the mound.

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.

]]> Tue, 28 Oct 2025 21:02:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' marathon Game 3 against the LA Dodgers, a 6-5 in the 18th inning. They reflect on the Jays' consequential decision to pitch to Shohei Ohtani in the seventh inning, John Schneider's pinch-run replacements, questionable umpire calls, Nathan Lukes' 12-inning at-bat against Clayton Kershaw with the bases loaded, and more of the Jays' missed opportunities. Then, they move on to Game 4, what to expect from the starters in Shane Bieber and Ohtani, and how the lineup changes in the potential absence of George Springer. Later, Blue Jays special assistant and 12-year MLB veteran Kevin Kiermaier (29:02) stops by to discuss the toll of an extra-innings postseason loss, how the Jays can bounce back in Game 4, and how they can attack Ohtani on the mound.

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.

]]> Questionable Decisions in the Game 3 Marathon Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' marathon Game 3 against the LA Dodgers, a 6-5 in the 18th inning. They reflect on the Jays' consequential decision to pitch to Shohei Ohtani in the seventh inning, John Schneider's pinch-run replacements, questionable umpire calls, Nathan Lukes' 12-inning at-bat against Clayton Kershaw with the bases loaded, and more of the Jays' missed opportunities. Then, they move on to Game 4, what to expect from the starters in Shane Bieber and Ohtani, and how the lineup changes in the potential absence of George Springer. Later, Blue Jays special assistant and 12-year MLB veteran Kevin Kiermaier (29:02) stops by to discuss the toll of an extra-innings postseason loss, how the Jays can bounce back in Game 4, and how they can attack Ohtani on the mound. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' marathon Game 3 against the LA Dodgers, a 6-5 in the 18th inning. They reflect on the Jays' consequential decision to pitch to Shohei Ohtani in the seventh inning, John Schneider's pinch-run replacements, questionable umpire calls, Nathan Lukes' 12-inning at-bat against Clayton Kershaw with the bases loaded, and more of the Jays' missed opportunities. Then, they move on to Game 4, what to expect from the starters in Shane Bieber and Ohtani, and how the lineup changes in the potential absence of George Springer. Later, Blue Jays special assistant and 12-year MLB veteran Kevin Kiermaier (29:02) stops by to discuss the toll of an extra-innings postseason loss, how the Jays can bounce back in Game 4, and how they can attack Ohtani on the mound. 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. false full 6ae58fe9-d335-40c0-be98-176d01662434 A Must-Win for Both Teams at Dodger Stadium Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and co-host of 'VSiN By The Books' Jensen Lewis (1:03) to chat about the challenges for the Blue Jays playing in a late afternoon game in L.A. for the next three World Series games that includes shadows, the keys to attacking Tyler Glasnow and vice versa for pitching against the Jays' batters, Dodgers fans' dislike for George Springer and Max Scherzer, if the Houston Astros' hitting scandal still has an impact on today's players, why it's a 'must-win' for both sides, and why he expects to see Rōki Sasaki making his World Series debut out of the bullpen. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:45) stops by to discuss his expectations for Max Scherzer's turn in the Fall Classic, Chris Bassitt's usage, why he's hesitant to use Brendon Little, and Bo Bichette's return to the Game 3 lineup. 

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.

]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:04:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and co-host of 'VSiN By The Books' Jensen Lewis (1:03) to chat about the challenges for the Blue Jays playing in a late afternoon game in L.A. for the next three World Series games that includes shadows, the keys to attacking Tyler Glasnow and vice versa for pitching against the Jays' batters, Dodgers fans' dislike for George Springer and Max Scherzer, if the Houston Astros' hitting scandal still has an impact on today's players, why it's a 'must-win' for both sides, and why he expects to see Rōki Sasaki making his World Series debut out of the bullpen. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:45) stops by to discuss his expectations for Max Scherzer's turn in the Fall Classic, Chris Bassitt's usage, why he's hesitant to use Brendon Little, and Bo Bichette's return to the Game 3 lineup. 

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.

]]> A Must-Win for Both Teams at Dodger Stadium Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and co-host of 'VSiN By The Books' Jensen Lewis (1:03) to chat about the challenges for the Blue Jays playing in a late afternoon game in L.A. for the next three World Series games that includes shadows, the keys to attacking Tyler Glasnow and vice versa for pitching against the Jays' batters, Dodgers fans' dislike for George Springer and Max Scherzer, if the Houston Astros' hitting scandal still has an impact on today's players, why it's a 'must-win' for both sides, and why he expects to see Rōki Sasaki making his World Series debut out of the bullpen. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:45) stops by to discuss his expectations for Max Scherzer's turn in the Fall Classic, Chris Bassitt's usage, why he's hesitant to use Brendon Little, and Bo Bichette's return to the Game 3 lineup. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and co-host of 'VSiN By The Books' Jensen Lewis (1:03) to chat about the challenges for the Blue Jays playing in a late afternoon game in L.A. for the next three World Series games that includes shadows, the keys to attacking Tyler Glasnow and vice versa for pitching against the Jays' batters, Dodgers fans' dislike for George Springer and Max Scherzer, if the Houston Astros' hitting scandal still has an impact on today's players, why it's a 'must-win' for both sides, and why he expects to see Rōki Sasaki making his World Series debut out of the bullpen. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:45) stops by to discuss his expectations for Max Scherzer's turn in the Fall Classic, Chris Bassitt's usage, why he's hesitant to use Brendon Little, and Bo Bichette's return to the Game 3 lineup. 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. false full c7ea01b8-dd90-4acf-a67e-03439c4e5997 Sizing Up Game 3's Starters with Jeff Passan and Eric Karros As the World Series heads to Los Angeles, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Monday night's Game 3 and share their expectations for the game's starters in Max Scherzer and Tyler Glasnow before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan to the show (11:33). They discuss how Scherzer and George Springer are viewed in LA, whether Game 3 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, the unsung impacts of Will Smith and Max Muncy, and what the Orioles are getting with their new managerial hire, Craig Albernaz. Later, Dodgers broadcaster Eric Karros (28:45) shares a more in-depth preview of Glasnow's start, how the Jays' bats should approach Shohei Ohtani in Game 4, if there are still hard feelings for the LA faithful over Scherzer's time with the Dodgers, and the impact of the shadows at Dodger Stadium. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Jays and Dodgers' Game 3 lineups. 

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.

]]> Mon, 27 Oct 2025 21:02:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ As the World Series heads to Los Angeles, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Monday night's Game 3 and share their expectations for the game's starters in Max Scherzer and Tyler Glasnow before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan to the show (11:33). They discuss how Scherzer and George Springer are viewed in LA, whether Game 3 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, the unsung impacts of Will Smith and Max Muncy, and what the Orioles are getting with their new managerial hire, Craig Albernaz. Later, Dodgers broadcaster Eric Karros (28:45) shares a more in-depth preview of Glasnow's start, how the Jays' bats should approach Shohei Ohtani in Game 4, if there are still hard feelings for the LA faithful over Scherzer's time with the Dodgers, and the impact of the shadows at Dodger Stadium. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Jays and Dodgers' Game 3 lineups. 

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.

]]> Sizing Up Game 3's Starters with Jeff Passan and Eric Karros Sportsnet 00:49:21 As the World Series heads to Los Angeles, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Monday night's Game 3 and share their expectations for the game's starters in Max Scherzer and Tyler Glasnow before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan to the show (11:33). They discuss how Scherzer and George Springer are viewed in LA, whether Game 3 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, the unsung impacts of Will Smith and Max Muncy, and what the Orioles are getting with their new managerial hire, Craig Albernaz. Later, Dodgers broadcaster Eric Karros (28:45) shares a more in-depth preview of Glasnow's start, how the Jays' bats should approach Shohei Ohtani in Game 4, if there are still hard feelings for the LA faithful over Scherzer's time with the Dodgers, and the impact of the shadows at Dodger Stadium. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Jays and Dodgers' Game 3 lineups. 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. As the World Series heads to Los Angeles, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Monday night's Game 3 and share their expectations for the game's starters in Max Scherzer and Tyler Glasnow before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan to the show (11:33). They discuss how Scherzer and George Springer are viewed in LA, whether Game 3 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, the unsung impacts of Will Smith and Max Muncy, and what the Orioles are getting with their new managerial hire, Craig Albernaz. Later, Dodgers broadcaster Eric Karros (28:45) shares a more in-depth preview of Glasnow's start, how the Jays' bats should approach Shohei Ohtani in Game 4, if there are still hard feelings for the LA faithful over Scherzer's time with the Dodgers, and the impact of the shadows at Dodger Stadium. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Jays and Dodgers' Game 3 lineups. 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. false full 0f969367-b4a5-42bb-970e-96e31d57d64c World Series Game 1 Special Preview Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker had the chance to chat with Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (1:13) from the World Series Media Day to talk about Trey Yesavage making his first Fall Classic start, Chris Bassitt's adjustment into a bullpen role during the ALCS and his projected workload against the L.A. Dodgers, and Jeff Hoffman's closing confidence. Then, MLB Network host Greg Amsinger (8:43) weighs in on how Game 1 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, if we'll see a complete game from a Dodgers' pitcher, and Vladdy's perception in America. Afterwards, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (22:53) to discuss Bo Bichette's deployment at 2B, who ends up facing Shohei Ohtani coming out of the bullpen, and Louis Varland's expected usage. To wrap up before Game 1, The Athletic's Jayson Stark jumps on (45:17) to give his thoughts on the impact of Bichette's long layoff, Blake Snell's strong competitive pitch arsenal, if the Dodgers have 'ruined' baseball, and who is the most important player for the Blue Jays outside of Guerrero Jr. 

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.

]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 22:34:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker had the chance to chat with Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (1:13) from the World Series Media Day to talk about Trey Yesavage making his first Fall Classic start, Chris Bassitt's adjustment into a bullpen role during the ALCS and his projected workload against the L.A. Dodgers, and Jeff Hoffman's closing confidence. Then, MLB Network host Greg Amsinger (8:43) weighs in on how Game 1 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, if we'll see a complete game from a Dodgers' pitcher, and Vladdy's perception in America. Afterwards, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (22:53) to discuss Bo Bichette's deployment at 2B, who ends up facing Shohei Ohtani coming out of the bullpen, and Louis Varland's expected usage. To wrap up before Game 1, The Athletic's Jayson Stark jumps on (45:17) to give his thoughts on the impact of Bichette's long layoff, Blake Snell's strong competitive pitch arsenal, if the Dodgers have 'ruined' baseball, and who is the most important player for the Blue Jays outside of Guerrero Jr. 

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.

]]> World Series Game 1 Special Preview Sportsnet 01:08:07 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker had the chance to chat with Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (1:13) from the World Series Media Day to talk about Trey Yesavage making his first Fall Classic start, Chris Bassitt's adjustment into a bullpen role during the ALCS and his projected workload against the L.A. Dodgers, and Jeff Hoffman's closing confidence. Then, MLB Network host Greg Amsinger (8:43) weighs in on how Game 1 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, if we'll see a complete game from a Dodgers' pitcher, and Vladdy's perception in America. Afterwards, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (22:53) to discuss Bo Bichette's deployment at 2B, who ends up facing Shohei Ohtani coming out of the bullpen, and Louis Varland's expected usage. To wrap up before Game 1, The Athletic's Jayson Stark jumps on (45:17) to give his thoughts on the impact of Bichette's long layoff, Blake Snell's strong competitive pitch arsenal, if the Dodgers have 'ruined' baseball, and who is the most important player for the Blue Jays outside of Guerrero Jr.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker had the chance to chat with Blue Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (1:13) from the World Series Media Day to talk about Trey Yesavage making his first Fall Classic start, Chris Bassitt's adjustment into a bullpen role during the ALCS and his projected workload against the L.A. Dodgers, and Jeff Hoffman's closing confidence. Then, MLB Network host Greg Amsinger (8:43) weighs in on how Game 1 is a must-win for the Blue Jays, if we'll see a complete game from a Dodgers' pitcher, and Vladdy's perception in America. Afterwards, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (22:53) to discuss Bo Bichette's deployment at 2B, who ends up facing Shohei Ohtani coming out of the bullpen, and Louis Varland's expected usage. To wrap up before Game 1, The Athletic's Jayson Stark jumps on (45:17) to give his thoughts on the impact of Bichette's long layoff, Blake Snell's strong competitive pitch arsenal, if the Dodgers have 'ruined' baseball, and who is the most important player for the Blue Jays outside of Guerrero Jr.  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. false full 9a8b823d-c671-495d-b073-66ab6a6ece18 Bo is Back + Blue Jays' National Reach Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays' Game 1 lineup, which includes Bo Bichette in the clean-up spot and at second base. They weigh in on the decision and look at the rest of the World Series roster before listening in on Ross Atkins' and Bichette's game-day availability. Later, TVA Sports' play-by-play announcer Denis Casavant (27:58) discusses the Jays' reception in Quebec considering the province's historical ties to the Dodgers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s similarities and differences to his father and his expectations for Trey Yesavage in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability.

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.

]]> Fri, 24 Oct 2025 21:09:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays' Game 1 lineup, which includes Bo Bichette in the clean-up spot and at second base. They weigh in on the decision and look at the rest of the World Series roster before listening in on Ross Atkins' and Bichette's game-day availability. Later, TVA Sports' play-by-play announcer Denis Casavant (27:58) discusses the Jays' reception in Quebec considering the province's historical ties to the Dodgers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s similarities and differences to his father and his expectations for Trey Yesavage in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability.

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.

]]> Bo is Back + Blue Jays' National Reach Sportsnet 00:56:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays' Game 1 lineup, which includes Bo Bichette in the clean-up spot and at second base. They weigh in on the decision and look at the rest of the World Series roster before listening in on Ross Atkins' and Bichette's game-day availability. Later, TVA Sports' play-by-play announcer Denis Casavant (27:58) discusses the Jays' reception in Quebec considering the province's historical ties to the Dodgers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s similarities and differences to his father and his expectations for Trey Yesavage in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays' Game 1 lineup, which includes Bo Bichette in the clean-up spot and at second base. They weigh in on the decision and look at the rest of the World Series roster before listening in on Ross Atkins' and Bichette's game-day availability. Later, TVA Sports' play-by-play announcer Denis Casavant (27:58) discusses the Jays' reception in Quebec considering the province's historical ties to the Dodgers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s similarities and differences to his father and his expectations for Trey Yesavage in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability. 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. false full 4a200420-4a02-43fc-b992-7fdb8b66ba29 State of MLB with Rob Manfred + '93 World Series MVP Paul Molitor Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred (0:35) to chat about the current state of the game on the field and for audiences across all mediums and the world, the international stage being highlighted for the Fall Classic, how MLB approaches the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A., Rogers Centre renos and Toronto's prospects of hosting an MLB All-Star weekend, the rule changes over the years and ABS coming in 2026 and the chance of expansion in Canada. Then, '93 World Series MVP and National Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor stops by (29:38) to discuss the difficulties of reaching the final series in a playing career, memories of Joe Carter's walk-off homer, home-field advantage playing a role, and his advice to Trey Yesavage and other young players.

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.

]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2025 22:02:08 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred (0:35) to chat about the current state of the game on the field and for audiences across all mediums and the world, the international stage being highlighted for the Fall Classic, how MLB approaches the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A., Rogers Centre renos and Toronto's prospects of hosting an MLB All-Star weekend, the rule changes over the years and ABS coming in 2026 and the chance of expansion in Canada. Then, '93 World Series MVP and National Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor stops by (29:38) to discuss the difficulties of reaching the final series in a playing career, memories of Joe Carter's walk-off homer, home-field advantage playing a role, and his advice to Trey Yesavage and other young players.

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.

]]> State of MLB with Rob Manfred + '93 World Series MVP Paul Molitor Sportsnet 00:49:31 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred (0:35) to chat about the current state of the game on the field and for audiences across all mediums and the world, the international stage being highlighted for the Fall Classic, how MLB approaches the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A., Rogers Centre renos and Toronto's prospects of hosting an MLB All-Star weekend, the rule changes over the years and ABS coming in 2026 and the chance of expansion in Canada. Then, '93 World Series MVP and National Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor stops by (29:38) to discuss the difficulties of reaching the final series in a playing career, memories of Joe Carter's walk-off homer, home-field advantage playing a role, and his advice to Trey Yesavage and other young players. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by the Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred (0:35) to chat about the current state of the game on the field and for audiences across all mediums and the world, the international stage being highlighted for the Fall Classic, how MLB approaches the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A., Rogers Centre renos and Toronto's prospects of hosting an MLB All-Star weekend, the rule changes over the years and ABS coming in 2026 and the chance of expansion in Canada. Then, '93 World Series MVP and National Baseball Hall of Famer Paul Molitor stops by (29:38) to discuss the difficulties of reaching the final series in a playing career, memories of Joe Carter's walk-off homer, home-field advantage playing a role, and his advice to Trey Yesavage and other young players. 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. false full 7f749c82-fea7-4c46-8c78-54b8e710e011 Yesavage Gets Game 1, Bo's Options, and Pat Hentgen Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays announcing Trey Yesavage as the Game 1 starter for the World Series and lay out their expectations for the 22-year-old. Then, Bo Bichette sits down with Jeff and Kevin (16:40) to discuss his recovery and how he'd approach possibly playing second base. Later, Dodgers President Stan Kasten (20:52) reflects on a second straight World Series trip, how the team has changed from last season, the rotations' postseason dominance, and the narrative that the Dodgers' spending is 'bad for baseball.' Finally, former Blue Jay pitcher and World Series winner Pat Hentgen (34:55) discusses the franchise's return to the Fall Classic, his advice for Yesavage, and his postseason memories from his playing days.

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.

]]> Thu, 23 Oct 2025 21:05:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays announcing Trey Yesavage as the Game 1 starter for the World Series and lay out their expectations for the 22-year-old. Then, Bo Bichette sits down with Jeff and Kevin (16:40) to discuss his recovery and how he'd approach possibly playing second base. Later, Dodgers President Stan Kasten (20:52) reflects on a second straight World Series trip, how the team has changed from last season, the rotations' postseason dominance, and the narrative that the Dodgers' spending is 'bad for baseball.' Finally, former Blue Jay pitcher and World Series winner Pat Hentgen (34:55) discusses the franchise's return to the Fall Classic, his advice for Yesavage, and his postseason memories from his playing days.

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.

]]> Yesavage Gets Game 1, Bo's Options, and Pat Hentgen Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays announcing Trey Yesavage as the Game 1 starter for the World Series and lay out their expectations for the 22-year-old. Then, Bo Bichette sits down with Jeff and Kevin (16:40) to discuss his recovery and how he'd approach possibly playing second base. Later, Dodgers President Stan Kasten (20:52) reflects on a second straight World Series trip, how the team has changed from last season, the rotations' postseason dominance, and the narrative that the Dodgers' spending is 'bad for baseball.' Finally, former Blue Jay pitcher and World Series winner Pat Hentgen (34:55) discusses the franchise's return to the Fall Classic, his advice for Yesavage, and his postseason memories from his playing days. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays announcing Trey Yesavage as the Game 1 starter for the World Series and lay out their expectations for the 22-year-old. Then, Bo Bichette sits down with Jeff and Kevin (16:40) to discuss his recovery and how he'd approach possibly playing second base. Later, Dodgers President Stan Kasten (20:52) reflects on a second straight World Series trip, how the team has changed from last season, the rotations' postseason dominance, and the narrative that the Dodgers' spending is 'bad for baseball.' Finally, former Blue Jay pitcher and World Series winner Pat Hentgen (34:55) discusses the franchise's return to the Fall Classic, his advice for Yesavage, and his postseason memories from his playing days. 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. false full bc3a95a2-5ac4-4cd1-96a1-2c7ac5e11304 How Dodgers & Jays Match Up + Hall of Famer Frank Thomas MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:11) to discuss how the Blue Jays match up against the L.A. Dodgers, the differences in types of pitchers and hitters the Milwaukee Brewers have compared to the American League champions, John Schneider's bullpen usage, why Chris Bassitt should get more run in the World Series, and projecting Bo Bichette's deployment. Then, National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Blue Jay Frank Thomas stops by (29:41) to chat about winning MLB's Comeback of the Year and George Springer potentially winning the same award, living up to the expectations bestowed on a player like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if home field advantage plays a factor in the Fall Classic, if Shohei Ohtani can pitch and hit throughout his MLB career and his memories of his time with the Blue Jays. 

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.

]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 22:01:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:11) to discuss how the Blue Jays match up against the L.A. Dodgers, the differences in types of pitchers and hitters the Milwaukee Brewers have compared to the American League champions, John Schneider's bullpen usage, why Chris Bassitt should get more run in the World Series, and projecting Bo Bichette's deployment. Then, National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Blue Jay Frank Thomas stops by (29:41) to chat about winning MLB's Comeback of the Year and George Springer potentially winning the same award, living up to the expectations bestowed on a player like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if home field advantage plays a factor in the Fall Classic, if Shohei Ohtani can pitch and hit throughout his MLB career and his memories of his time with the Blue Jays. 

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.

]]> How Dodgers & Jays Match Up + Hall of Famer Frank Thomas Sportsnet 00:49:47 MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:11) to discuss how the Blue Jays match up against the L.A. Dodgers, the differences in types of pitchers and hitters the Milwaukee Brewers have compared to the American League champions, John Schneider's bullpen usage, why Chris Bassitt should get more run in the World Series, and projecting Bo Bichette's deployment. Then, National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Blue Jay Frank Thomas stops by (29:41) to chat about winning MLB's Comeback of the Year and George Springer potentially winning the same award, living up to the expectations bestowed on a player like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if home field advantage plays a factor in the Fall Classic, if Shohei Ohtani can pitch and hit throughout his MLB career and his memories of his time with the Blue Jays.  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 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:11) to discuss how the Blue Jays match up against the L.A. Dodgers, the differences in types of pitchers and hitters the Milwaukee Brewers have compared to the American League champions, John Schneider's bullpen usage, why Chris Bassitt should get more run in the World Series, and projecting Bo Bichette's deployment. Then, National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Blue Jay Frank Thomas stops by (29:41) to chat about winning MLB's Comeback of the Year and George Springer potentially winning the same award, living up to the expectations bestowed on a player like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if home field advantage plays a factor in the Fall Classic, if Shohei Ohtani can pitch and hit throughout his MLB career and his memories of his time with the Blue Jays.  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. false full a6a11722-e23d-4696-8f71-8aee28066ade Is Game 1 a Must-Win? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Friday's Game 1 of the World Series and discuss the Blue Jays' keys against the Dodgers. They get into L.A.'s starting pitching edge and project how John Schneider will deploy the bullpen. Then, former MLB pitcher and cohost of Intentional Talk, Ryan Dempster, stops by (23:46) to discuss his World Series run with the 2013 Red Sox after finishing last in the division in the previous season, the mentality required to win a Fall Classic, and how the Jays' bats attack Blake Snell in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the pressure of the World Series vs. the League Championship Series and whether Game 1 is a must-win for the Jays.

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. 

]]> Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:02:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Friday's Game 1 of the World Series and discuss the Blue Jays' keys against the Dodgers. They get into L.A.'s starting pitching edge and project how John Schneider will deploy the bullpen. Then, former MLB pitcher and cohost of Intentional Talk, Ryan Dempster, stops by (23:46) to discuss his World Series run with the 2013 Red Sox after finishing last in the division in the previous season, the mentality required to win a Fall Classic, and how the Jays' bats attack Blake Snell in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the pressure of the World Series vs. the League Championship Series and whether Game 1 is a must-win for the Jays.

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. 

]]> Is Game 1 a Must-Win? Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Friday's Game 1 of the World Series and discuss the Blue Jays' keys against the Dodgers. They get into L.A.'s starting pitching edge and project how John Schneider will deploy the bullpen. Then, former MLB pitcher and cohost of Intentional Talk, Ryan Dempster, stops by (23:46) to discuss his World Series run with the 2013 Red Sox after finishing last in the division in the previous season, the mentality required to win a Fall Classic, and how the Jays' bats attack Blake Snell in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the pressure of the World Series vs. the League Championship Series and whether Game 1 is a must-win for the Jays. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to Friday's Game 1 of the World Series and discuss the Blue Jays' keys against the Dodgers. They get into L.A.'s starting pitching edge and project how John Schneider will deploy the bullpen. Then, former MLB pitcher and cohost of Intentional Talk, Ryan Dempster, stops by (23:46) to discuss his World Series run with the 2013 Red Sox after finishing last in the division in the previous season, the mentality required to win a Fall Classic, and how the Jays' bats attack Blake Snell in Game 1. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss the pressure of the World Series vs. the League Championship Series and whether Game 1 is a must-win for the Jays. 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. false full 02c44a4d-f036-46d9-a981-a6c0d0266541 Who Killed the Expos? + World Series Back-Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome back former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (1:05) to revisit the fallout of the Montreal Expos as the newest Netflix documentary "Who Killed the Montreal Expos" releases which included Jeff and David, before looking towards the financial implications for both teams entering the World Series, the front office's influence on the post-season run, why Mookie Betts could be an x-factor for the L.A. Dodgers, if the Blue Jays should be favourites in the Fall Classic and if Albert Pujols will be a great player turned manager. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-leg Line to hear your calls with reactions on the Jays' berth to the World Series! 

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.

]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 22:00:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome back former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (1:05) to revisit the fallout of the Montreal Expos as the newest Netflix documentary "Who Killed the Montreal Expos" releases which included Jeff and David, before looking towards the financial implications for both teams entering the World Series, the front office's influence on the post-season run, why Mookie Betts could be an x-factor for the L.A. Dodgers, if the Blue Jays should be favourites in the Fall Classic and if Albert Pujols will be a great player turned manager. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-leg Line to hear your calls with reactions on the Jays' berth to the World Series! 

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.

]]> Who Killed the Expos? + World Series Back-Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome back former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (1:05) to revisit the fallout of the Montreal Expos as the newest Netflix documentary "Who Killed the Montreal Expos" releases which included Jeff and David, before looking towards the financial implications for both teams entering the World Series, the front office's influence on the post-season run, why Mookie Betts could be an x-factor for the L.A. Dodgers, if the Blue Jays should be favourites in the Fall Classic and if Albert Pujols will be a great player turned manager. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-leg Line to hear your calls with reactions on the Jays' berth to the World Series!  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome back former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (1:05) to revisit the fallout of the Montreal Expos as the newest Netflix documentary "Who Killed the Montreal Expos" releases which included Jeff and David, before looking towards the financial implications for both teams entering the World Series, the front office's influence on the post-season run, why Mookie Betts could be an x-factor for the L.A. Dodgers, if the Blue Jays should be favourites in the Fall Classic and if Albert Pujols will be a great player turned manager. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-leg Line to hear your calls with reactions on the Jays' berth to the World Series!  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. false full ee1dce05-97c2-43e7-bf62-d22b00ad20ba The Blue Jays Are Going to the World Series! The Blue Jays are going to the World Series for the first time in 32 years! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker listen back on all the calls of George Springer's clutch, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7, discuss the teams' winding path to this point, and look ahead at the decisions the team will have to make ahead of Friday's Game 1 against the L.A. Dodgers. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show (26:27) to reflect on the Game 7 victory, Springer's clutch gene, the veteran starters' impact out of the bullpen, Bo Bichette's status for the World Series, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s rise into superstardom.

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.

]]> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:03:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Blue Jays are going to the World Series for the first time in 32 years! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker listen back on all the calls of George Springer's clutch, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7, discuss the teams' winding path to this point, and look ahead at the decisions the team will have to make ahead of Friday's Game 1 against the L.A. Dodgers. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show (26:27) to reflect on the Game 7 victory, Springer's clutch gene, the veteran starters' impact out of the bullpen, Bo Bichette's status for the World Series, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s rise into superstardom.

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.

]]> The Blue Jays Are Going to the World Series! Sportsnet 00:49:54 The Blue Jays are going to the World Series for the first time in 32 years! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker listen back on all the calls of George Springer's clutch, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7, discuss the teams' winding path to this point, and look ahead at the decisions the team will have to make ahead of Friday's Game 1 against the L.A. Dodgers. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show (26:27) to reflect on the Game 7 victory, Springer's clutch gene, the veteran starters' impact out of the bullpen, Bo Bichette's status for the World Series, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s rise into superstardom. 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. The Blue Jays are going to the World Series for the first time in 32 years! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker listen back on all the calls of George Springer's clutch, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning of Game 7, discuss the teams' winding path to this point, and look ahead at the decisions the team will have to make ahead of Friday's Game 1 against the L.A. Dodgers. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show (26:27) to reflect on the Game 7 victory, Springer's clutch gene, the veteran starters' impact out of the bullpen, Bo Bichette's status for the World Series, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s rise into superstardom. 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. false full dfcfb3d3-71b6-48ef-8375-f774a81d8958 Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Deliver Once Again? ESPN's MLB Insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:20) to chat about if the Los Angeles Dodgers care who they face in the World Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s incredible offensive performance throughout October, and if his view on John Schneider as a manager changed after his pitching decision in Game 5. Then, we hear from George Springer on his experience playing Game 7s and manager John Schneider. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share the keys for the Jays in the do-or-die stage at Rogers Centre.

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.

]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 22:01:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN's MLB Insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:20) to chat about if the Los Angeles Dodgers care who they face in the World Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s incredible offensive performance throughout October, and if his view on John Schneider as a manager changed after his pitching decision in Game 5. Then, we hear from George Springer on his experience playing Game 7s and manager John Schneider. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share the keys for the Jays in the do-or-die stage at Rogers Centre.

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.

]]> Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Deliver Once Again? Sportsnet 00:49:53 ESPN's MLB Insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:20) to chat about if the Los Angeles Dodgers care who they face in the World Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s incredible offensive performance throughout October, and if his view on John Schneider as a manager changed after his pitching decision in Game 5. Then, we hear from George Springer on his experience playing Game 7s and manager John Schneider. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share the keys for the Jays in the do-or-die stage at Rogers Centre. 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. ESPN's MLB Insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (3:20) to chat about if the Los Angeles Dodgers care who they face in the World Series between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s incredible offensive performance throughout October, and if his view on John Schneider as a manager changed after his pitching decision in Game 5. Then, we hear from George Springer on his experience playing Game 7s and manager John Schneider. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share the keys for the Jays in the do-or-die stage at Rogers Centre. 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. false full 6ff2e8b2-3dfe-4252-b12d-95660953b8b7 Game 7 in the Six We've got a Game 7 in Toronto! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set with former GM and MLB Network analyst Jim Duquette (4:30), who discusses the Jays' momentum heading into the do-or-die stage, how the bats approach George Kirby the second time around and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin project how John Schneider will manage the bullpen with the season on the line, share expectations for Shane Bieber, and look at the two teams' lineups. Later, Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman stops by (27:45) to weigh in on Addison Barger's adjustment at the plate, the impact of George Springer's knee injury, the plan for Jeff Hoffman after a busy Game 6, the Mariners' mental mistakes, and the importance of a strong start. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share who they think will be the x-factor in Game 7.

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.

]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:01:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ We've got a Game 7 in Toronto! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set with former GM and MLB Network analyst Jim Duquette (4:30), who discusses the Jays' momentum heading into the do-or-die stage, how the bats approach George Kirby the second time around and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin project how John Schneider will manage the bullpen with the season on the line, share expectations for Shane Bieber, and look at the two teams' lineups. Later, Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman stops by (27:45) to weigh in on Addison Barger's adjustment at the plate, the impact of George Springer's knee injury, the plan for Jeff Hoffman after a busy Game 6, the Mariners' mental mistakes, and the importance of a strong start. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share who they think will be the x-factor in Game 7.

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.

]]> Game 7 in the Six Sportsnet 00:49:54 We've got a Game 7 in Toronto! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set with former GM and MLB Network analyst Jim Duquette (4:30), who discusses the Jays' momentum heading into the do-or-die stage, how the bats approach George Kirby the second time around and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin project how John Schneider will manage the bullpen with the season on the line, share expectations for Shane Bieber, and look at the two teams' lineups. Later, Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman stops by (27:45) to weigh in on Addison Barger's adjustment at the plate, the impact of George Springer's knee injury, the plan for Jeff Hoffman after a busy Game 6, the Mariners' mental mistakes, and the importance of a strong start. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share who they think will be the x-factor in Game 7. 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. We've got a Game 7 in Toronto! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set with former GM and MLB Network analyst Jim Duquette (4:30), who discusses the Jays' momentum heading into the do-or-die stage, how the bats approach George Kirby the second time around and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin project how John Schneider will manage the bullpen with the season on the line, share expectations for Shane Bieber, and look at the two teams' lineups. Later, Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman stops by (27:45) to weigh in on Addison Barger's adjustment at the plate, the impact of George Springer's knee injury, the plan for Jeff Hoffman after a busy Game 6, the Mariners' mental mistakes, and the importance of a strong start. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share who they think will be the x-factor in Game 7. 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. false full 3ae561b6-f9b3-4707-823e-06f1a8c8329c The Blue Jays' Game 5 Blueprint Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (0:49) to go over the Blue Jays' Game 4 win and how they keep it rolling in Game 5. He discusses Max Scherzer's throwback start, how John Schneider will adjust in managing Kevin Gausman, how the bats attack Bryce Miller, and what's behind Andrés Giménez's recent offensive breakthrough. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Giménez's impact, Scherzer's mound-meeting moment and Ernie Clement's evolution before listening in on the Jays' pre-game availability. 

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.

]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2025 21:01:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (0:49) to go over the Blue Jays' Game 4 win and how they keep it rolling in Game 5. He discusses Max Scherzer's throwback start, how John Schneider will adjust in managing Kevin Gausman, how the bats attack Bryce Miller, and what's behind Andrés Giménez's recent offensive breakthrough. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Giménez's impact, Scherzer's mound-meeting moment and Ernie Clement's evolution before listening in on the Jays' pre-game availability. 

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.

]]> The Blue Jays' Game 5 Blueprint Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (0:49) to go over the Blue Jays' Game 4 win and how they keep it rolling in Game 5. He discusses Max Scherzer's throwback start, how John Schneider will adjust in managing Kevin Gausman, how the bats attack Bryce Miller, and what's behind Andrés Giménez's recent offensive breakthrough. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Giménez's impact, Scherzer's mound-meeting moment and Ernie Clement's evolution before listening in on the Jays' pre-game availability. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (0:49) to go over the Blue Jays' Game 4 win and how they keep it rolling in Game 5. He discusses Max Scherzer's throwback start, how John Schneider will adjust in managing Kevin Gausman, how the bats attack Bryce Miller, and what's behind Andrés Giménez's recent offensive breakthrough. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Giménez's impact, Scherzer's mound-meeting moment and Ernie Clement's evolution before listening in on the Jays' pre-game availability. 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. false full 9e571d87-76f5-420b-93f1-620b09aca128 Managing the Moment with Derek Shelton & Dan Plesac Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Dan Plesac, former MLB pitcher and current MLB Network analyst, discusses Toronto's momentum moving forward and Max Scherzer's fiery interaction with John Schneider in the fifth inning, before setting the stage for Kevin Gausman's start in Game 5 this evening. Derek Shelton (26:10), former MLB player and manager, joins the guys to chat about how each team in the ALCS has managed their pitching staff, how to approach Bryce Miller, Trey Yesavage's meteoric rise, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's utility, and George Springer's resurgence. Derek wraps up his segment addressing his future in Major League Baseball, before Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Addison Barger's outfield defence.

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.

]]> Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:57:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Dan Plesac, former MLB pitcher and current MLB Network analyst, discusses Toronto's momentum moving forward and Max Scherzer's fiery interaction with John Schneider in the fifth inning, before setting the stage for Kevin Gausman's start in Game 5 this evening. Derek Shelton (26:10), former MLB player and manager, joins the guys to chat about how each team in the ALCS has managed their pitching staff, how to approach Bryce Miller, Trey Yesavage's meteoric rise, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's utility, and George Springer's resurgence. Derek wraps up his segment addressing his future in Major League Baseball, before Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Addison Barger's outfield defence.

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.

]]> Managing the Moment with Derek Shelton & Dan Plesac Sportsnet 00:48:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Dan Plesac, former MLB pitcher and current MLB Network analyst, discusses Toronto's momentum moving forward and Max Scherzer's fiery interaction with John Schneider in the fifth inning, before setting the stage for Kevin Gausman's start in Game 5 this evening. Derek Shelton (26:10), former MLB player and manager, joins the guys to chat about how each team in the ALCS has managed their pitching staff, how to approach Bryce Miller, Trey Yesavage's meteoric rise, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's utility, and George Springer's resurgence. Derek wraps up his segment addressing his future in Major League Baseball, before Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Addison Barger's outfield defence. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' Game 4 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Dan Plesac, former MLB pitcher and current MLB Network analyst, discusses Toronto's momentum moving forward and Max Scherzer's fiery interaction with John Schneider in the fifth inning, before setting the stage for Kevin Gausman's start in Game 5 this evening. Derek Shelton (26:10), former MLB player and manager, joins the guys to chat about how each team in the ALCS has managed their pitching staff, how to approach Bryce Miller, Trey Yesavage's meteoric rise, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's utility, and George Springer's resurgence. Derek wraps up his segment addressing his future in Major League Baseball, before Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Addison Barger's outfield defence. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, mariners, toronto, derek shelton, dan plesac, kevin barker, seattle, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 0f80ce61-80f5-4017-96fb-3f4e1d4a0533 Managing October with Scott Servais Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Seattle Mariners' manager and current special assistant with the San Diego Padres, Scott Servais (3:53) to chat about Luis Castillo as a starter, how Cal Raleigh grew into an MVP-caliber ballplayer, Julio Rodríguez's performance with the team, the magnitude of the ALCS for Seattle, how well home field advantage plays in post-season baseball, and how a manager's game planning changes from the regular season to playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa being inserted into the lineup with Anthony Santander being placed on the bench. To wrap up, the guys look ahead to Max Scherzer's return to the postseason mound. 

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.

]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 22:01:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Seattle Mariners' manager and current special assistant with the San Diego Padres, Scott Servais (3:53) to chat about Luis Castillo as a starter, how Cal Raleigh grew into an MVP-caliber ballplayer, Julio Rodríguez's performance with the team, the magnitude of the ALCS for Seattle, how well home field advantage plays in post-season baseball, and how a manager's game planning changes from the regular season to playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa being inserted into the lineup with Anthony Santander being placed on the bench. To wrap up, the guys look ahead to Max Scherzer's return to the postseason mound. 

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.

]]> Managing October with Scott Servais Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Seattle Mariners' manager and current special assistant with the San Diego Padres, Scott Servais (3:53) to chat about Luis Castillo as a starter, how Cal Raleigh grew into an MVP-caliber ballplayer, Julio Rodríguez's performance with the team, the magnitude of the ALCS for Seattle, how well home field advantage plays in post-season baseball, and how a manager's game planning changes from the regular season to playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa being inserted into the lineup with Anthony Santander being placed on the bench. To wrap up, the guys look ahead to Max Scherzer's return to the postseason mound.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Seattle Mariners' manager and current special assistant with the San Diego Padres, Scott Servais (3:53) to chat about Luis Castillo as a starter, how Cal Raleigh grew into an MVP-caliber ballplayer, Julio Rodríguez's performance with the team, the magnitude of the ALCS for Seattle, how well home field advantage plays in post-season baseball, and how a manager's game planning changes from the regular season to playoffs. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa being inserted into the lineup with Anthony Santander being placed on the bench. To wrap up, the guys look ahead to Max Scherzer's return to the postseason mound.  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. false full 7cc8f41f-ff13-4e5a-8965-98d92184d4fe Did the Jays' Offence Unlock Something in Seattle? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-4 win over the Seattle Mariners to pull back to 2-1 in the ALCS, highlighting Shane Bieber bouncing back after a shaky first inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting back to his ALDS form. Buck Martinez joins the show (6:54) to discuss the Jays' aggressive approach in Game 3, Bieber's adjustment, what to expect from Max Scherzer in Game 4 after nearly a month since his last start, and Ernie Clement's growth. Later, MLB on TBS's Jeff Francoeur stops by (29:06) ahead of Game 3 in the NLCS to discuss the pitching showcase between the Dodgers and Brewers, Shohei Ohtani's postseason slump, and what to expect from Tyler Glasnow. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Mariners announcing Bryce Miller as the Game 5 starter and break down Daulton Varsho's clutch two-run double in Game 3.

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.

]]> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:04:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-4 win over the Seattle Mariners to pull back to 2-1 in the ALCS, highlighting Shane Bieber bouncing back after a shaky first inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting back to his ALDS form. Buck Martinez joins the show (6:54) to discuss the Jays' aggressive approach in Game 3, Bieber's adjustment, what to expect from Max Scherzer in Game 4 after nearly a month since his last start, and Ernie Clement's growth. Later, MLB on TBS's Jeff Francoeur stops by (29:06) ahead of Game 3 in the NLCS to discuss the pitching showcase between the Dodgers and Brewers, Shohei Ohtani's postseason slump, and what to expect from Tyler Glasnow. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Mariners announcing Bryce Miller as the Game 5 starter and break down Daulton Varsho's clutch two-run double in Game 3.

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.

]]> Did the Jays' Offence Unlock Something in Seattle? Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-4 win over the Seattle Mariners to pull back to 2-1 in the ALCS, highlighting Shane Bieber bouncing back after a shaky first inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting back to his ALDS form. Buck Martinez joins the show (6:54) to discuss the Jays' aggressive approach in Game 3, Bieber's adjustment, what to expect from Max Scherzer in Game 4 after nearly a month since his last start, and Ernie Clement's growth. Later, MLB on TBS's Jeff Francoeur stops by (29:06) ahead of Game 3 in the NLCS to discuss the pitching showcase between the Dodgers and Brewers, Shohei Ohtani's postseason slump, and what to expect from Tyler Glasnow. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Mariners announcing Bryce Miller as the Game 5 starter and break down Daulton Varsho's clutch two-run double in Game 3. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-4 win over the Seattle Mariners to pull back to 2-1 in the ALCS, highlighting Shane Bieber bouncing back after a shaky first inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting back to his ALDS form. Buck Martinez joins the show (6:54) to discuss the Jays' aggressive approach in Game 3, Bieber's adjustment, what to expect from Max Scherzer in Game 4 after nearly a month since his last start, and Ernie Clement's growth. Later, MLB on TBS's Jeff Francoeur stops by (29:06) ahead of Game 3 in the NLCS to discuss the pitching showcase between the Dodgers and Brewers, Shohei Ohtani's postseason slump, and what to expect from Tyler Glasnow. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the Mariners announcing Bryce Miller as the Game 5 starter and break down Daulton Varsho's clutch two-run double in Game 3. 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. false full 40a35e89-77e0-47c4-8f3e-4638d324e621 Josh Donaldson's Keys to an ALCS Comeback Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 AL MVP with the Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson (3:35), to chat about his experience being doing 0-2 in a series, batting in Seattle, blocking out the noise of the Mariners' strength in pitching, combating the elevated fastball and his thoughts on Cal Raleigh's historic offensive season. Then, he looks back at Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip and the controversial and chaotic inning leading up to it. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (28:18) to chat about how Shane Bieber can be dominant against the Mariners' batters, holding batters away from hitting towards the 'big part' of the field, Anthony Santander and Addison Barger switching spots in the batting order, Chris Bassitt's outing out of the bullpen in Game 2, and sets the scene for T-Mobile Park. 

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.

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:00:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 AL MVP with the Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson (3:35), to chat about his experience being doing 0-2 in a series, batting in Seattle, blocking out the noise of the Mariners' strength in pitching, combating the elevated fastball and his thoughts on Cal Raleigh's historic offensive season. Then, he looks back at Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip and the controversial and chaotic inning leading up to it. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (28:18) to chat about how Shane Bieber can be dominant against the Mariners' batters, holding batters away from hitting towards the 'big part' of the field, Anthony Santander and Addison Barger switching spots in the batting order, Chris Bassitt's outing out of the bullpen in Game 2, and sets the scene for T-Mobile Park. 

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.

]]> Josh Donaldson's Keys to an ALCS Comeback Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 AL MVP with the Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson (3:35), to chat about his experience being doing 0-2 in a series, batting in Seattle, blocking out the noise of the Mariners' strength in pitching, combating the elevated fastball and his thoughts on Cal Raleigh's historic offensive season. Then, he looks back at Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip and the controversial and chaotic inning leading up to it. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (28:18) to chat about how Shane Bieber can be dominant against the Mariners' batters, holding batters away from hitting towards the 'big part' of the field, Anthony Santander and Addison Barger switching spots in the batting order, Chris Bassitt's outing out of the bullpen in Game 2, and sets the scene for T-Mobile Park.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 AL MVP with the Blue Jays, Josh Donaldson (3:35), to chat about his experience being doing 0-2 in a series, batting in Seattle, blocking out the noise of the Mariners' strength in pitching, combating the elevated fastball and his thoughts on Cal Raleigh's historic offensive season. Then, he looks back at Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip and the controversial and chaotic inning leading up to it. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (28:18) to chat about how Shane Bieber can be dominant against the Mariners' batters, holding batters away from hitting towards the 'big part' of the field, Anthony Santander and Addison Barger switching spots in the batting order, Chris Bassitt's outing out of the bullpen in Game 2, and sets the scene for T-Mobile Park.  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. false full 286d27dd-df34-49eb-bd3c-c6c5d5e41f7d The Magnitude of Game 3 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open their discussion on their expectations for Shane Bieber in his second postseason start ahead of Game 3 in Seattle, how the Blue Jays' hitters should game plan against George Kirby, and how the season will be viewed if Toronto falls out of the ALCS. Then, they turn their attention to the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Later, 4-time World Series champion, member of the '01 Mariners and current Yankees & Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson stops by (28:55) to chat about his experience in New York completing a 0-2 comeback against the Atlanta Braves in 1996, the intimidation of a road game, if he sees changes to the Yankees roster, bullpen days in the postseason, and how managers are utilizing their starters. To wrap up, Jeff and Kevin react to John Schneider changing up the batting order with Anthony Santander returning and hitting cleanup. 

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.

]]> Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:01:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open their discussion on their expectations for Shane Bieber in his second postseason start ahead of Game 3 in Seattle, how the Blue Jays' hitters should game plan against George Kirby, and how the season will be viewed if Toronto falls out of the ALCS. Then, they turn their attention to the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Later, 4-time World Series champion, member of the '01 Mariners and current Yankees & Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson stops by (28:55) to chat about his experience in New York completing a 0-2 comeback against the Atlanta Braves in 1996, the intimidation of a road game, if he sees changes to the Yankees roster, bullpen days in the postseason, and how managers are utilizing their starters. To wrap up, Jeff and Kevin react to John Schneider changing up the batting order with Anthony Santander returning and hitting cleanup. 

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.

]]> The Magnitude of Game 3 Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open their discussion on their expectations for Shane Bieber in his second postseason start ahead of Game 3 in Seattle, how the Blue Jays' hitters should game plan against George Kirby, and how the season will be viewed if Toronto falls out of the ALCS. Then, they turn their attention to the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Later, 4-time World Series champion, member of the '01 Mariners and current Yankees & Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson stops by (28:55) to chat about his experience in New York completing a 0-2 comeback against the Atlanta Braves in 1996, the intimidation of a road game, if he sees changes to the Yankees roster, bullpen days in the postseason, and how managers are utilizing their starters. To wrap up, Jeff and Kevin react to John Schneider changing up the batting order with Anthony Santander returning and hitting cleanup.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open their discussion on their expectations for Shane Bieber in his second postseason start ahead of Game 3 in Seattle, how the Blue Jays' hitters should game plan against George Kirby, and how the season will be viewed if Toronto falls out of the ALCS. Then, they turn their attention to the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Later, 4-time World Series champion, member of the '01 Mariners and current Yankees & Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson stops by (28:55) to chat about his experience in New York completing a 0-2 comeback against the Atlanta Braves in 1996, the intimidation of a road game, if he sees changes to the Yankees roster, bullpen days in the postseason, and how managers are utilizing their starters. To wrap up, Jeff and Kevin react to John Schneider changing up the batting order with Anthony Santander returning and hitting cleanup.  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. false full a32cc6b1-415e-4636-98e3-cf92df185c68 Looking Ahead to Shane Bieber & Game 3 in Seattle Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (1:24) to chat about the positives coming out of the first two losses against the Seattle Mariners, if John Schneider will make any changes to the batting order, whether Shane Bieber can bounce back in his second postseason start, Trey Yesavage's Game 2 outing, and if Jeff Hoffman has got back his command of his pitches. Then, we hear from Jays' closer Hoffman in his off-day availability before bringing on former pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (28:15) to get his thoughts on how Bieber can find success against Seattle, the adjustments the Jays need to make for Game 3, pitching decisions from Alejandro Kirk, and where he sees the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers series moving towards.

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.

]]> Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:00:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (1:24) to chat about the positives coming out of the first two losses against the Seattle Mariners, if John Schneider will make any changes to the batting order, whether Shane Bieber can bounce back in his second postseason start, Trey Yesavage's Game 2 outing, and if Jeff Hoffman has got back his command of his pitches. Then, we hear from Jays' closer Hoffman in his off-day availability before bringing on former pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (28:15) to get his thoughts on how Bieber can find success against Seattle, the adjustments the Jays need to make for Game 3, pitching decisions from Alejandro Kirk, and where he sees the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers series moving towards.

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.

]]> Looking Ahead to Shane Bieber & Game 3 in Seattle Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (1:24) to chat about the positives coming out of the first two losses against the Seattle Mariners, if John Schneider will make any changes to the batting order, whether Shane Bieber can bounce back in his second postseason start, Trey Yesavage's Game 2 outing, and if Jeff Hoffman has got back his command of his pitches. Then, we hear from Jays' closer Hoffman in his off-day availability before bringing on former pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (28:15) to get his thoughts on how Bieber can find success against Seattle, the adjustments the Jays need to make for Game 3, pitching decisions from Alejandro Kirk, and where he sees the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers series moving towards. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (1:24) to chat about the positives coming out of the first two losses against the Seattle Mariners, if John Schneider will make any changes to the batting order, whether Shane Bieber can bounce back in his second postseason start, Trey Yesavage's Game 2 outing, and if Jeff Hoffman has got back his command of his pitches. Then, we hear from Jays' closer Hoffman in his off-day availability before bringing on former pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (28:15) to get his thoughts on how Bieber can find success against Seattle, the adjustments the Jays need to make for Game 3, pitching decisions from Alejandro Kirk, and where he sees the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers series moving towards. 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. false full 4bd00aa3-34a0-4187-b141-a716ad4f130b Postseason Pitching Decisions with Joe Maddon Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 to fall into an 0-2 hole in the ALCS. They break down the meat of the order's struggles, Jorge Polanco's go-ahead home run and John Schneider's pitcher decisions before discussing what the Jays need to do to turn it around in Game 3 in Seattle. Then, World Series champion manager Joe Maddon stops by (27:15) to discuss managing around analytics in the postseason, when to pull a starter from a playoff start, and how the Jays approach Cal Raleigh.

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.

]]> Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:01:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 to fall into an 0-2 hole in the ALCS. They break down the meat of the order's struggles, Jorge Polanco's go-ahead home run and John Schneider's pitcher decisions before discussing what the Jays need to do to turn it around in Game 3 in Seattle. Then, World Series champion manager Joe Maddon stops by (27:15) to discuss managing around analytics in the postseason, when to pull a starter from a playoff start, and how the Jays approach Cal Raleigh.

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.

]]> Postseason Pitching Decisions with Joe Maddon Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 to fall into an 0-2 hole in the ALCS. They break down the meat of the order's struggles, Jorge Polanco's go-ahead home run and John Schneider's pitcher decisions before discussing what the Jays need to do to turn it around in Game 3 in Seattle. Then, World Series champion manager Joe Maddon stops by (27:15) to discuss managing around analytics in the postseason, when to pull a starter from a playoff start, and how the Jays approach Cal Raleigh. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 to fall into an 0-2 hole in the ALCS. They break down the meat of the order's struggles, Jorge Polanco's go-ahead home run and John Schneider's pitcher decisions before discussing what the Jays need to do to turn it around in Game 3 in Seattle. Then, World Series champion manager Joe Maddon stops by (27:15) to discuss managing around analytics in the postseason, when to pull a starter from a playoff start, and how the Jays approach Cal Raleigh. 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. false full e7b7d859-ec58-45b4-ab3a-629e0cf94d20 A Make-or-Break Game 2 with Jeff Passan & Ryan Divish Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 2 of the ALDS. They touch on Anthony Santander's late scratch, what to expect from Trey Yesavage in his second-career playoff start, and feelings in Toronto down 0-1 in the series. Jeff also checks in on the strength of the Mariners' pitching staff, Jorge Polanco's ability to perform in high-pressure spots, and what to make of John Schneider's decision making. Later, the boys listen in to Shane Bieber's media availability ahead of his Game 3 start on Wednesday. Ryan Divish (28:02) of the Seattle Times gets us set for first pitch with thoughts on Cal Raleigh's defensive prowess, the difference makers in the M's lineup, the team's ability to keep their arms fresh, and what to expect from Logan Gilbert.

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.

]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:58:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 2 of the ALDS. They touch on Anthony Santander's late scratch, what to expect from Trey Yesavage in his second-career playoff start, and feelings in Toronto down 0-1 in the series. Jeff also checks in on the strength of the Mariners' pitching staff, Jorge Polanco's ability to perform in high-pressure spots, and what to make of John Schneider's decision making. Later, the boys listen in to Shane Bieber's media availability ahead of his Game 3 start on Wednesday. Ryan Divish (28:02) of the Seattle Times gets us set for first pitch with thoughts on Cal Raleigh's defensive prowess, the difference makers in the M's lineup, the team's ability to keep their arms fresh, and what to expect from Logan Gilbert.

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.

]]> A Make-or-Break Game 2 with Jeff Passan & Ryan Divish Sportsnet 00:46:25 Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 2 of the ALDS. They touch on Anthony Santander's late scratch, what to expect from Trey Yesavage in his second-career playoff start, and feelings in Toronto down 0-1 in the series. Jeff also checks in on the strength of the Mariners' pitching staff, Jorge Polanco's ability to perform in high-pressure spots, and what to make of John Schneider's decision making. Later, the boys listen in to Shane Bieber's media availability ahead of his Game 3 start on Wednesday. Ryan Divish (28:02) of the Seattle Times gets us set for first pitch with thoughts on Cal Raleigh's defensive prowess, the difference makers in the M's lineup, the team's ability to keep their arms fresh, and what to expect from Logan Gilbert. 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. Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 2 of the ALDS. They touch on Anthony Santander's late scratch, what to expect from Trey Yesavage in his second-career playoff start, and feelings in Toronto down 0-1 in the series. Jeff also checks in on the strength of the Mariners' pitching staff, Jorge Polanco's ability to perform in high-pressure spots, and what to make of John Schneider's decision making. Later, the boys listen in to Shane Bieber's media availability ahead of his Game 3 start on Wednesday. Ryan Divish (28:02) of the Seattle Times gets us set for first pitch with thoughts on Cal Raleigh's defensive prowess, the difference makers in the M's lineup, the team's ability to keep their arms fresh, and what to expect from Logan Gilbert. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, mariners, ryan divish, toronto, kevin barker, seattle, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 94b7c305-67c5-458b-9411-291d5c835706 Pitching Decisions, Silent Bats & Game 2 Scouting Reports Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss at the hands of the Seattle Mariners to open the American League Championship Series. They break down John Schneider's decision to pull Kevin Gausman in the sixth inning, Bryce Miller's performance on short rest, and what caused Toronto's bats to fall silent in Game 1. The boys also touch on the crowd noise at Rogers Centre last night, and how it compared to the electric atmosphere during the ALDS. Caleb Joseph (22:35), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, discusses how to attack Cal Raleigh at the plate, what went wrong for Brendon Little last night, and the scouting report for today’s opposing starter, Logan Gilbert. Caleb also checks in on Raleigh's elite defence behind the plate and how to navigate bullpen usage throughout a seven-game series. The boys wrap up this hour with thoughts on John Schneider's pregame comments.

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.

]]> Mon, 13 Oct 2025 19:01:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss at the hands of the Seattle Mariners to open the American League Championship Series. They break down John Schneider's decision to pull Kevin Gausman in the sixth inning, Bryce Miller's performance on short rest, and what caused Toronto's bats to fall silent in Game 1. The boys also touch on the crowd noise at Rogers Centre last night, and how it compared to the electric atmosphere during the ALDS. Caleb Joseph (22:35), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, discusses how to attack Cal Raleigh at the plate, what went wrong for Brendon Little last night, and the scouting report for today’s opposing starter, Logan Gilbert. Caleb also checks in on Raleigh's elite defence behind the plate and how to navigate bullpen usage throughout a seven-game series. The boys wrap up this hour with thoughts on John Schneider's pregame comments.

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.

]]> Pitching Decisions, Silent Bats & Game 2 Scouting Reports Sportsnet 00:53:02 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss at the hands of the Seattle Mariners to open the American League Championship Series. They break down John Schneider's decision to pull Kevin Gausman in the sixth inning, Bryce Miller's performance on short rest, and what caused Toronto's bats to fall silent in Game 1. The boys also touch on the crowd noise at Rogers Centre last night, and how it compared to the electric atmosphere during the ALDS. Caleb Joseph (22:35), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, discusses how to attack Cal Raleigh at the plate, what went wrong for Brendon Little last night, and the scouting report for today’s opposing starter, Logan Gilbert. Caleb also checks in on Raleigh's elite defence behind the plate and how to navigate bullpen usage throughout a seven-game series. The boys wrap up this hour with thoughts on John Schneider's pregame comments. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss at the hands of the Seattle Mariners to open the American League Championship Series. They break down John Schneider's decision to pull Kevin Gausman in the sixth inning, Bryce Miller's performance on short rest, and what caused Toronto's bats to fall silent in Game 1. The boys also touch on the crowd noise at Rogers Centre last night, and how it compared to the electric atmosphere during the ALDS. Caleb Joseph (22:35), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, discusses how to attack Cal Raleigh at the plate, what went wrong for Brendon Little last night, and the scouting report for today’s opposing starter, Logan Gilbert. Caleb also checks in on Raleigh's elite defence behind the plate and how to navigate bullpen usage throughout a seven-game series. The boys wrap up this hour with thoughts on John Schneider's pregame comments. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, mariners, toronto, kevin barker, seattle, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 76ea459f-3fbc-4292-ab11-7cd0e2e85ca6 Next Steps for Phillies & Yankees + Win or Go Home Game 5 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (3:20) to chat about whether the Philadelphia Phillies fanbase could forgive Orion Kerkering's misjudgement in Game 4 giving the L.A. Dodgers the win and ticket to the NLCS, what's next for the Phillies, if the Dodgers have returned to being the best team in the MLB, what the New York Yankees should focus on in the offseason, and potential roster changes for the Blue Jays ahead of the ALCS. Then, FOX Sports' play-by-play broadcaster Adam Amin (35:46) stops by to discuss the Seattle Mariners-Detroit Tigers series heading to 5 games, if Josh Naylor can become an x-factor in a win-or-go-home scenario, and if a Tigers series win will erase a bad end to their regular season. 

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.

]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2025 22:01:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (3:20) to chat about whether the Philadelphia Phillies fanbase could forgive Orion Kerkering's misjudgement in Game 4 giving the L.A. Dodgers the win and ticket to the NLCS, what's next for the Phillies, if the Dodgers have returned to being the best team in the MLB, what the New York Yankees should focus on in the offseason, and potential roster changes for the Blue Jays ahead of the ALCS. Then, FOX Sports' play-by-play broadcaster Adam Amin (35:46) stops by to discuss the Seattle Mariners-Detroit Tigers series heading to 5 games, if Josh Naylor can become an x-factor in a win-or-go-home scenario, and if a Tigers series win will erase a bad end to their regular season. 

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.

]]> Next Steps for Phillies & Yankees + Win or Go Home Game 5 Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (3:20) to chat about whether the Philadelphia Phillies fanbase could forgive Orion Kerkering's misjudgement in Game 4 giving the L.A. Dodgers the win and ticket to the NLCS, what's next for the Phillies, if the Dodgers have returned to being the best team in the MLB, what the New York Yankees should focus on in the offseason, and potential roster changes for the Blue Jays ahead of the ALCS. Then, FOX Sports' play-by-play broadcaster Adam Amin (35:46) stops by to discuss the Seattle Mariners-Detroit Tigers series heading to 5 games, if Josh Naylor can become an x-factor in a win-or-go-home scenario, and if a Tigers series win will erase a bad end to their regular season.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (3:20) to chat about whether the Philadelphia Phillies fanbase could forgive Orion Kerkering's misjudgement in Game 4 giving the L.A. Dodgers the win and ticket to the NLCS, what's next for the Phillies, if the Dodgers have returned to being the best team in the MLB, what the New York Yankees should focus on in the offseason, and potential roster changes for the Blue Jays ahead of the ALCS. Then, FOX Sports' play-by-play broadcaster Adam Amin (35:46) stops by to discuss the Seattle Mariners-Detroit Tigers series heading to 5 games, if Josh Naylor can become an x-factor in a win-or-go-home scenario, and if a Tigers series win will erase a bad end to their regular season.  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. false full 9ff394c5-7242-4391-b4d1-442760e2454a Jays' ALCS Roster Projection with Shi Davidi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Dodgers advancing to the NLCS after Orion Kerkering's error cost the Phillies their season in extra innings. They discuss whether the Phillies make big changes in the offseason, look at the lopsided Game 4 between the Cubs and Brewers, and debate who would be a better matchup for the Jays in the ALCS - the Tigers or Mariners. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi joins the show (27:17) to make predictions for the Blue Jays' roster changes, whether Bo Bichette will be ready and whose spot he would take, why Anthony Santander is safe, where Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt fit in, and why the Mariners might be the better ALCS matchup for Toronto.

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.

]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2025 21:02:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Dodgers advancing to the NLCS after Orion Kerkering's error cost the Phillies their season in extra innings. They discuss whether the Phillies make big changes in the offseason, look at the lopsided Game 4 between the Cubs and Brewers, and debate who would be a better matchup for the Jays in the ALCS - the Tigers or Mariners. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi joins the show (27:17) to make predictions for the Blue Jays' roster changes, whether Bo Bichette will be ready and whose spot he would take, why Anthony Santander is safe, where Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt fit in, and why the Mariners might be the better ALCS matchup for Toronto.

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.

]]> Jays' ALCS Roster Projection with Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Dodgers advancing to the NLCS after Orion Kerkering's error cost the Phillies their season in extra innings. They discuss whether the Phillies make big changes in the offseason, look at the lopsided Game 4 between the Cubs and Brewers, and debate who would be a better matchup for the Jays in the ALCS - the Tigers or Mariners. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi joins the show (27:17) to make predictions for the Blue Jays' roster changes, whether Bo Bichette will be ready and whose spot he would take, why Anthony Santander is safe, where Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt fit in, and why the Mariners might be the better ALCS matchup for Toronto. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Dodgers advancing to the NLCS after Orion Kerkering's error cost the Phillies their season in extra innings. They discuss whether the Phillies make big changes in the offseason, look at the lopsided Game 4 between the Cubs and Brewers, and debate who would be a better matchup for the Jays in the ALCS - the Tigers or Mariners. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi joins the show (27:17) to make predictions for the Blue Jays' roster changes, whether Bo Bichette will be ready and whose spot he would take, why Anthony Santander is safe, where Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt fit in, and why the Mariners might be the better ALCS matchup for Toronto. 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. false full c45a5b6e-daa6-4bed-bfa5-0f69b42989b2 How the Jays Got to the ALCS + Tigers or Mariners? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (0:35) to take a look at the Detroit Tigers-Seattle Mariners series, who would be a better matchup for the Blue Jays between those two teams, Vladdy's new legacy against the New York Yankees, why the Jays have silenced the nay-sayers of their small ball approach, how John Schneider managed the Yankees series and bullpen day, and what's next for the Bronx Bombers. Then, Mariners insider Shannon Drayer (33:30) stops by to chat about the team's feelings after the Tigers forced Game 5, which player needs to step up for Seattle, what makes Cal Raleigh a special player on both ends of the bat, and how Seattle can come out of the series and meet Toronto for the ALCS. 

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.

]]> Thu, 9 Oct 2025 22:03:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (0:35) to take a look at the Detroit Tigers-Seattle Mariners series, who would be a better matchup for the Blue Jays between those two teams, Vladdy's new legacy against the New York Yankees, why the Jays have silenced the nay-sayers of their small ball approach, how John Schneider managed the Yankees series and bullpen day, and what's next for the Bronx Bombers. Then, Mariners insider Shannon Drayer (33:30) stops by to chat about the team's feelings after the Tigers forced Game 5, which player needs to step up for Seattle, what makes Cal Raleigh a special player on both ends of the bat, and how Seattle can come out of the series and meet Toronto for the ALCS. 

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.

]]> How the Jays Got to the ALCS + Tigers or Mariners? Sportsnet 00:49:25 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (0:35) to take a look at the Detroit Tigers-Seattle Mariners series, who would be a better matchup for the Blue Jays between those two teams, Vladdy's new legacy against the New York Yankees, why the Jays have silenced the nay-sayers of their small ball approach, how John Schneider managed the Yankees series and bullpen day, and what's next for the Bronx Bombers. Then, Mariners insider Shannon Drayer (33:30) stops by to chat about the team's feelings after the Tigers forced Game 5, which player needs to step up for Seattle, what makes Cal Raleigh a special player on both ends of the bat, and how Seattle can come out of the series and meet Toronto for the ALCS. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (0:35) to take a look at the Detroit Tigers-Seattle Mariners series, who would be a better matchup for the Blue Jays between those two teams, Vladdy's new legacy against the New York Yankees, why the Jays have silenced the nay-sayers of their small ball approach, how John Schneider managed the Yankees series and bullpen day, and what's next for the Bronx Bombers. Then, Mariners insider Shannon Drayer (33:30) stops by to chat about the team's feelings after the Tigers forced Game 5, which player needs to step up for Seattle, what makes Cal Raleigh a special player on both ends of the bat, and how Seattle can come out of the series and meet Toronto for the ALCS. 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. false full a861fe9b-bf51-45ae-b5aa-cb225d138f7e Daaaa Blue Jays Advance to the ALCS Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' series-clinching Game 4 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium to advance to the ALCS. They get into the offensive effort, Nathan Lukes' clutch hit, John Schneider's bullpen deployment, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant series. Later, fresh off a champagne shower in the Jays' clubhouse, reporter Hazel Mae joins the show (28:56) to discuss the Jays' postgame celebrations and how it speaks to the team's personality.

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.

 

]]> Thu, 9 Oct 2025 21:01:22 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' series-clinching Game 4 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium to advance to the ALCS. They get into the offensive effort, Nathan Lukes' clutch hit, John Schneider's bullpen deployment, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant series. Later, fresh off a champagne shower in the Jays' clubhouse, reporter Hazel Mae joins the show (28:56) to discuss the Jays' postgame celebrations and how it speaks to the team's personality.

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.

 

]]> Daaaa Blue Jays Advance to the ALCS Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' series-clinching Game 4 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium to advance to the ALCS. They get into the offensive effort, Nathan Lukes' clutch hit, John Schneider's bullpen deployment, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant series. Later, fresh off a champagne shower in the Jays' clubhouse, reporter Hazel Mae joins the show (28:56) to discuss the Jays' postgame celebrations and how it speaks to the team's personality. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Blue Jays' series-clinching Game 4 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium to advance to the ALCS. They get into the offensive effort, Nathan Lukes' clutch hit, John Schneider's bullpen deployment, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s dominant series. Later, fresh off a champagne shower in the Jays' clubhouse, reporter Hazel Mae joins the show (28:56) to discuss the Jays' postgame celebrations and how it speaks to the team's personality. 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. false full 71190777-1490-4047-9f51-1095ed4b33bb Will the Bullpen End It in New York? ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 4 in the Jays' and Yankees' Divisional Series (3:20). He shares his thoughts on Louis Varland getting the start after giving up a big home run to Aaron Judge in Game 3, whether the Jays use Trey Yesavage or save him for a potential Game 5, Vladdy Jr. and Judge turning around their postseason reputations, and the rise of the splitter. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, former MLB catcher and host of 'Foul Territory' Erik Kratz stops by (35:30) to discuss the Jays' defences lapses in Game 3, whether Yankee Stadium atmosphere made an impact, catching a bullpen day, and much more.

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.

]]> Wed, 8 Oct 2025 22:00:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 4 in the Jays' and Yankees' Divisional Series (3:20). He shares his thoughts on Louis Varland getting the start after giving up a big home run to Aaron Judge in Game 3, whether the Jays use Trey Yesavage or save him for a potential Game 5, Vladdy Jr. and Judge turning around their postseason reputations, and the rise of the splitter. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, former MLB catcher and host of 'Foul Territory' Erik Kratz stops by (35:30) to discuss the Jays' defences lapses in Game 3, whether Yankee Stadium atmosphere made an impact, catching a bullpen day, and much more.

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.

]]> Will the Bullpen End It in New York? Sportsnet 00:49:44 ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 4 in the Jays' and Yankees' Divisional Series (3:20). He shares his thoughts on Louis Varland getting the start after giving up a big home run to Aaron Judge in Game 3, whether the Jays use Trey Yesavage or save him for a potential Game 5, Vladdy Jr. and Judge turning around their postseason reputations, and the rise of the splitter. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, former MLB catcher and host of 'Foul Territory' Erik Kratz stops by (35:30) to discuss the Jays' defences lapses in Game 3, whether Yankee Stadium atmosphere made an impact, catching a bullpen day, and much more. 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. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Game 4 in the Jays' and Yankees' Divisional Series (3:20). He shares his thoughts on Louis Varland getting the start after giving up a big home run to Aaron Judge in Game 3, whether the Jays use Trey Yesavage or save him for a potential Game 5, Vladdy Jr. and Judge turning around their postseason reputations, and the rise of the splitter. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, former MLB catcher and host of 'Foul Territory' Erik Kratz stops by (35:30) to discuss the Jays' defences lapses in Game 3, whether Yankee Stadium atmosphere made an impact, catching a bullpen day, and much more. 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. false full f1310b43-a107-4681-9c4f-f193d58695f2 Rookie Cam Schlittler Faces Second Elimination Game Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Aaron Judge's clutch homerun to help the New York Yankees take Game 3, Louis Varland and Alejandro Kirk's approaches to pitching Judge, and the expectations for Varland making his second start for the Blue Jays. Then, Northeastern University Baseball head coach Mike Glavine joins the guys (9:30) to chat about recruiting Yankees rookie starter Cam Schlittler, why he could be a perfect fit to pitch in an elimination game, Cam's pitch mix with his size, and what Mike has learned from his brother Tom Glavine passing on the knowledge to his current pitchers. Afterwards, former MLB pitcher and MLB Network analyst Jake Peavy (29:35) shares his thoughts on switching mindsets from game to game in the postseason, pitching to Aaron Judge, why the Yankees are getting comfortable with being on the other side of an elimination match, and the difficulties of a bullpen day as a pitcher. 

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.

]]> Wed, 8 Oct 2025 21:05:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Aaron Judge's clutch homerun to help the New York Yankees take Game 3, Louis Varland and Alejandro Kirk's approaches to pitching Judge, and the expectations for Varland making his second start for the Blue Jays. Then, Northeastern University Baseball head coach Mike Glavine joins the guys (9:30) to chat about recruiting Yankees rookie starter Cam Schlittler, why he could be a perfect fit to pitch in an elimination game, Cam's pitch mix with his size, and what Mike has learned from his brother Tom Glavine passing on the knowledge to his current pitchers. Afterwards, former MLB pitcher and MLB Network analyst Jake Peavy (29:35) shares his thoughts on switching mindsets from game to game in the postseason, pitching to Aaron Judge, why the Yankees are getting comfortable with being on the other side of an elimination match, and the difficulties of a bullpen day as a pitcher. 

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.

]]> Rookie Cam Schlittler Faces Second Elimination Game Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Aaron Judge's clutch homerun to help the New York Yankees take Game 3, Louis Varland and Alejandro Kirk's approaches to pitching Judge, and the expectations for Varland making his second start for the Blue Jays. Then, Northeastern University Baseball head coach Mike Glavine joins the guys (9:30) to chat about recruiting Yankees rookie starter Cam Schlittler, why he could be a perfect fit to pitch in an elimination game, Cam's pitch mix with his size, and what Mike has learned from his brother Tom Glavine passing on the knowledge to his current pitchers. Afterwards, former MLB pitcher and MLB Network analyst Jake Peavy (29:35) shares his thoughts on switching mindsets from game to game in the postseason, pitching to Aaron Judge, why the Yankees are getting comfortable with being on the other side of an elimination match, and the difficulties of a bullpen day as a pitcher.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Aaron Judge's clutch homerun to help the New York Yankees take Game 3, Louis Varland and Alejandro Kirk's approaches to pitching Judge, and the expectations for Varland making his second start for the Blue Jays. Then, Northeastern University Baseball head coach Mike Glavine joins the guys (9:30) to chat about recruiting Yankees rookie starter Cam Schlittler, why he could be a perfect fit to pitch in an elimination game, Cam's pitch mix with his size, and what Mike has learned from his brother Tom Glavine passing on the knowledge to his current pitchers. Afterwards, former MLB pitcher and MLB Network analyst Jake Peavy (29:35) shares his thoughts on switching mindsets from game to game in the postseason, pitching to Aaron Judge, why the Yankees are getting comfortable with being on the other side of an elimination match, and the difficulties of a bullpen day as a pitcher.  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. false full 9b7c50a8-7b39-4fab-b43c-1feae17d4851 Jays' Path to an ALDS Sweep in the Bronx Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the Jays' keys to completing the ALDS sweep in the Bronx (1:48). He shares how the lineup must approach Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, his expectations for Shane Bieber off 10 days' rest, the key to Vladdy's postseason success, and how the Jays can manage the hostility of Yankee Stadium. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on Aaron Boone's and John Schneider's pregame availability. Finally, they reflect on Schneider's growth as a manager and share what has them worried and what gives them confidence going into Game 3.

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.

]]> Tue, 7 Oct 2025 22:02:08 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the Jays' keys to completing the ALDS sweep in the Bronx (1:48). He shares how the lineup must approach Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, his expectations for Shane Bieber off 10 days' rest, the key to Vladdy's postseason success, and how the Jays can manage the hostility of Yankee Stadium. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on Aaron Boone's and John Schneider's pregame availability. Finally, they reflect on Schneider's growth as a manager and share what has them worried and what gives them confidence going into Game 3.

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.

]]> Jays' Path to an ALDS Sweep in the Bronx Sportsnet 00:49:43 Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the Jays' keys to completing the ALDS sweep in the Bronx (1:48). He shares how the lineup must approach Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, his expectations for Shane Bieber off 10 days' rest, the key to Vladdy's postseason success, and how the Jays can manage the hostility of Yankee Stadium. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on Aaron Boone's game-day availability. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss the postseason's splitter invasion and the Yankees' decision to leave Ben Rice in the lineup before going to John Schneider's pregame availability. Finally, they reflect on Schneider's growth as a manager and share what has them worried and what gives them confidence going into Game 3. 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. Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the Jays' keys to completing the ALDS sweep in the Bronx (1:48). He shares how the lineup must approach Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, his expectations for Shane Bieber off 10 days' rest, the key to Vladdy's postseason success, and how the Jays can manage the hostility of Yankee Stadium. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen in on Aaron Boone's game-day availability. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss the postseason's splitter invasion and the Yankees' decision to leave Ben Rice in the lineup before going to John Schneider's pregame availability. Finally, they reflect on Schneider's growth as a manager and share what has them worried and what gives them confidence going into Game 3. 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. false full 5ae056a8-07ac-41b0-8704-41536f85e20b Game 3 in New York: Shane Bieber vs. Carlos Rodón Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker lookahead to Game 3 between the Blue Jays and Yankees in New York, the keys to victory for Toronto's hitters, the importance of scoring first at Yankees Stadium, what to look for with Shane Bieber's post-season start after a 10-day rest period before looking at the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Then, Yankees beat writer Erik Boland stops by (23:35) to discuss the fanbase's and team's view on being down two games to start the ALDS, Carlos Rodón's leash in an elimination game, Aaron Judge's search for his defining moment, and if Aaron Boone's job is on the line if the Yankees fall out of the postseason. 

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.

]]> Tue, 7 Oct 2025 21:01:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker lookahead to Game 3 between the Blue Jays and Yankees in New York, the keys to victory for Toronto's hitters, the importance of scoring first at Yankees Stadium, what to look for with Shane Bieber's post-season start after a 10-day rest period before looking at the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Then, Yankees beat writer Erik Boland stops by (23:35) to discuss the fanbase's and team's view on being down two games to start the ALDS, Carlos Rodón's leash in an elimination game, Aaron Judge's search for his defining moment, and if Aaron Boone's job is on the line if the Yankees fall out of the postseason. 

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.

]]> Game 3 in New York: Shane Bieber vs. Carlos Rodón Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker lookahead to Game 3 between the Blue Jays and Yankees in New York, the keys to victory for Toronto's hitters, the importance of scoring first at Yankees Stadium, what to look for with Shane Bieber's post-season start after a 10-day rest period before looking at the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Then, Yankees beat writer Erik Boland stops by (23:35) to discuss the fanbase's and team's view on being down two games to start the ALDS, Carlos Rodón's leash in an elimination game, Aaron Judge's search for his defining moment, and if Aaron Boone's job is on the line if the Yankees fall out of the postseason.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker lookahead to Game 3 between the Blue Jays and Yankees in New York, the keys to victory for Toronto's hitters, the importance of scoring first at Yankees Stadium, what to look for with Shane Bieber's post-season start after a 10-day rest period before looking at the L.A. Dodgers taking a 2-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. Then, Yankees beat writer Erik Boland stops by (23:35) to discuss the fanbase's and team's view on being down two games to start the ALDS, Carlos Rodón's leash in an elimination game, Aaron Judge's search for his defining moment, and if Aaron Boone's job is on the line if the Yankees fall out of the postseason.  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. false full be59013d-5dbf-44ef-95b9-f013b8c95b54 Kevin Pillar Talks Divisional Series Dominance & Pitch Tipping Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Blue Jay and Sportsnet analyst Kevin Pillar (1:04) to share impressions from the Blue Jays' scorching start to the ALDS over the weekend. He discusses Daulton Varsho's growth at the plate after a four-hit outing on Sunday, the keys to winning at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees' focus on identifying pitch-tipping, and his nerves on the mound when throwing the first pitch. Later, Jeff and Kevin take a look at the other Divisional Series and discuss Teoscar Hernández's elevated postseason play, Seranthony Domínguez tipping his pitches, the Jays' commitment to defence, the 2025 finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, and Aaron Boone's comments on Vladdy Jr.

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.

]]> Mon, 6 Oct 2025 22:01:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Blue Jay and Sportsnet analyst Kevin Pillar (1:04) to share impressions from the Blue Jays' scorching start to the ALDS over the weekend. He discusses Daulton Varsho's growth at the plate after a four-hit outing on Sunday, the keys to winning at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees' focus on identifying pitch-tipping, and his nerves on the mound when throwing the first pitch. Later, Jeff and Kevin take a look at the other Divisional Series and discuss Teoscar Hernández's elevated postseason play, Seranthony Domínguez tipping his pitches, the Jays' commitment to defence, the 2025 finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, and Aaron Boone's comments on Vladdy Jr.

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.

]]> Kevin Pillar Talks Divisional Series Dominance & Pitch Tipping Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Blue Jay and Sportsnet analyst Kevin Pillar (1:04) to share impressions from the Blue Jays' scorching start to the ALDS over the weekend. He discusses Daulton Varsho's growth at the plate after a four-hit outing on Sunday, the keys to winning at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees' focus on identifying pitch-tipping, and his nerves on the mound when throwing the first pitch. Later, Jeff and Kevin take a look at the other Divisional Series and discuss Teoscar Hernández's elevated postseason play, Seranthony Domínguez tipping his pitches, the Jays' commitment to defence, the 2025 finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, and Aaron Boone's comments on Vladdy Jr. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Blue Jay and Sportsnet analyst Kevin Pillar (1:04) to share impressions from the Blue Jays' scorching start to the ALDS over the weekend. He discusses Daulton Varsho's growth at the plate after a four-hit outing on Sunday, the keys to winning at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees' focus on identifying pitch-tipping, and his nerves on the mound when throwing the first pitch. Later, Jeff and Kevin take a look at the other Divisional Series and discuss Teoscar Hernández's elevated postseason play, Seranthony Domínguez tipping his pitches, the Jays' commitment to defence, the 2025 finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, and Aaron Boone's comments on Vladdy Jr. 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. false full 45bf27da-d461-4566-99de-1cb84345d8a8 Blue Jays & Trey Yesavage's Commanding Start to the ALDS Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on the Blue Jays' dominating opening weekend of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and Vladdy Jr. leading the offensive showcase. Then, they break down Trey Yesavage's historic postseason debut, the effectiveness of Trey's high release into a downward angle against the Yankees hitters, Aaron Judge's comments on facing the rookie and why John Schneider made the right call to pull his starter through a commanding no-hitter. Then, former MLBer and current ESPN MLB analyst Eduardo Pérez (28:30) speaks on the Jays leaning on their power, the difficulties of facing Yesavage's arm, John Schneider learning from his first managerial postseason in 2023, and Vlad Jr. stepping up as a leader on the Toronto baseball club.

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.

]]> Mon, 6 Oct 2025 21:02:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on the Blue Jays' dominating opening weekend of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and Vladdy Jr. leading the offensive showcase. Then, they break down Trey Yesavage's historic postseason debut, the effectiveness of Trey's high release into a downward angle against the Yankees hitters, Aaron Judge's comments on facing the rookie and why John Schneider made the right call to pull his starter through a commanding no-hitter. Then, former MLBer and current ESPN MLB analyst Eduardo Pérez (28:30) speaks on the Jays leaning on their power, the difficulties of facing Yesavage's arm, John Schneider learning from his first managerial postseason in 2023, and Vlad Jr. stepping up as a leader on the Toronto baseball club.

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.

]]> Blue Jays & Trey Yesavage's Commanding Start to the ALDS Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on the Blue Jays' dominating opening weekend of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and Vladdy Jr. leading the offensive showcase. Then, they break down Trey Yesavage's historic postseason debut, the effectiveness of Trey's high release into a downward angle against the Yankees hitters, Aaron Judge's comments on facing the rookie and why John Schneider made the right call to pull his starter through a commanding no-hitter. Then, former MLBer and current ESPN MLB analyst Eduardo Pérez (28:30) speaks on the Jays leaning on their power, the difficulties of facing Yesavage's arm, John Schneider learning from his first managerial postseason in 2023, and Vlad Jr. stepping up as a leader on the Toronto baseball club. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on the Blue Jays' dominating opening weekend of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, and Vladdy Jr. leading the offensive showcase. Then, they break down Trey Yesavage's historic postseason debut, the effectiveness of Trey's high release into a downward angle against the Yankees hitters, Aaron Judge's comments on facing the rookie and why John Schneider made the right call to pull his starter through a commanding no-hitter. Then, former MLBer and current ESPN MLB analyst Eduardo Pérez (28:30) speaks on the Jays leaning on their power, the difficulties of facing Yesavage's arm, John Schneider learning from his first managerial postseason in 2023, and Vlad Jr. stepping up as a leader on the Toronto baseball club. 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. false full 3ec6e390-4630-498a-a34d-be8d69896e07 Getting Set for Game 1 with Chipper Jones & Joe Davis Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Hall of Famer Chipper Jones to kick off the final hour of the week. He discusses the potential impacts of the Jays' 5-day layoff, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can be a 'tough out,' the key to managing playoff nerves, and his thoughts on the AL MVP between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. Later, Fox Sports' Joe Davis (26:26), who will be on the call for the Jays' and Yankees' series, joins the show to share his expectations for Game 1, the postseason's pitching showcase so far, why George Springer is the Jays' x-factor, and the Dodgers' keys to victory against the Phillies. Finally, Jeff and Kevin review the Jays' media day.

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.

]]> Fri, 3 Oct 2025 22:02:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Hall of Famer Chipper Jones to kick off the final hour of the week. He discusses the potential impacts of the Jays' 5-day layoff, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can be a 'tough out,' the key to managing playoff nerves, and his thoughts on the AL MVP between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. Later, Fox Sports' Joe Davis (26:26), who will be on the call for the Jays' and Yankees' series, joins the show to share his expectations for Game 1, the postseason's pitching showcase so far, why George Springer is the Jays' x-factor, and the Dodgers' keys to victory against the Phillies. Finally, Jeff and Kevin review the Jays' media day.

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.

]]> Getting Set for Game 1 with Chipper Jones & Joe Davis Sportsnet 00:49:21 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Hall of Famer Chipper Jones to kick off the final hour of the week. He discusses the potential impacts of the Jays' 5-day layoff, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can be a 'tough out,' the key to managing playoff nerves, and his thoughts on the AL MVP between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. Later, Fox Sports' Joe Davis (26:26), who will be on the call for the Jays' and Yankees' series, joins the show to share his expectations for Game 1, the postseason's pitching showcase so far, why George Springer is the Jays' x-factor, and the Dodgers' keys to victory against the Phillies. Finally, Jeff and Kevin review the Jays' media day. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Hall of Famer Chipper Jones to kick off the final hour of the week. He discusses the potential impacts of the Jays' 5-day layoff, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can be a 'tough out,' the key to managing playoff nerves, and his thoughts on the AL MVP between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. Later, Fox Sports' Joe Davis (26:26), who will be on the call for the Jays' and Yankees' series, joins the show to share his expectations for Game 1, the postseason's pitching showcase so far, why George Springer is the Jays' x-factor, and the Dodgers' keys to victory against the Phillies. Finally, Jeff and Kevin review the Jays' media day. 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. false full 859adcf1-5384-4ebf-907b-7ba064d6f78c ALDS: Blue Jays vs. Yankees Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker chat about the New York Yankees advancing to the ALDS over the Boston Red Sox, locking in a date against the Blue Jays. They get into New York's pitching, including Cam Schlittler's 12-strikeout masterpiece in Game 3, what else they've learned from the Yankees during the Wild Card series, and John Schneider officially declaring Kevin Gausman as the Game 1 starter. Then, ESPN analyst and two-time World Series winner Hunter Pence (12:21) stops by to discuss New York's performance over Boston, the blueprint for the Jays to take down the Bronx Bombers, and the impacts of the 5-day layoff. Afterwards, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (34:12) to weigh in on the two teams' velocity, game planning with pitch-tipping, who he expects to start in Game 2, and how Kevin Gausman should attack Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

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.

]]> Fri, 3 Oct 2025 21:07:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker chat about the New York Yankees advancing to the ALDS over the Boston Red Sox, locking in a date against the Blue Jays. They get into New York's pitching, including Cam Schlittler's 12-strikeout masterpiece in Game 3, what else they've learned from the Yankees during the Wild Card series, and John Schneider officially declaring Kevin Gausman as the Game 1 starter. Then, ESPN analyst and two-time World Series winner Hunter Pence (12:21) stops by to discuss New York's performance over Boston, the blueprint for the Jays to take down the Bronx Bombers, and the impacts of the 5-day layoff. Afterwards, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (34:12) to weigh in on the two teams' velocity, game planning with pitch-tipping, who he expects to start in Game 2, and how Kevin Gausman should attack Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

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.

]]> ALDS: Blue Jays vs. Yankees Sportsnet 00:50:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker chat about the New York Yankees advancing to the ALDS over the Boston Red Sox, locking in a date against the Blue Jays. They get into New York's pitching, including Cam Schlittler's 12-strikeout masterpiece in Game 3, what else they've learned from the Yankees during the Wild Card series, and John Schneider officially declaring Kevin Gausman as the Game 1 starter. Then, ESPN analyst and two-time World Series winner Hunter Pence (12:21) stops by to discuss New York's performance over Boston, the blueprint for the Jays to take down the Bronx Bombers, and the impacts of the 5-day layoff. Afterwards, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (34:12) to weigh in on the two teams' velocity, game planning with pitch-tipping, who he expects to start in Game 2, and how Kevin Gausman should attack Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker chat about the New York Yankees advancing to the ALDS over the Boston Red Sox, locking in a date against the Blue Jays. They get into New York's pitching, including Cam Schlittler's 12-strikeout masterpiece in Game 3, what else they've learned from the Yankees during the Wild Card series, and John Schneider officially declaring Kevin Gausman as the Game 1 starter. Then, ESPN analyst and two-time World Series winner Hunter Pence (12:21) stops by to discuss New York's performance over Boston, the blueprint for the Jays to take down the Bronx Bombers, and the impacts of the 5-day layoff. Afterwards, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins the guys (34:12) to weigh in on the two teams' velocity, game planning with pitch-tipping, who he expects to start in Game 2, and how Kevin Gausman should attack Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. 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. false full 57d79144-86ca-40d3-8dca-bd47c439f185 Jays' Keys to a Deep Postseason Run Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Apple TV & MLB Network analyst Ryan Spilborghs (0:58) to share some thoughts on the Wild Card thus far. He weighs in on the Dodgers' decision to start Shohei Ohtani in Game 1 against the Phillies in the NLDS, Mookie Betts' reinvention, the Jays' keys to a deep run, and whether the Yankees' and Red Sox's fielding will come back to bite them. Then, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (13:52) to share his advice for young starters making their postseason debuts, why the Jays' final regular season stretch sets them up well for playoff baseball, and the pressure on Aaron Judge to turn around his postseason reputation. Finally, Jeff and Kevin tee up the Red Sox and Yankees' Game 3, discuss how the Jays will roll out their rotation in the ALDS, and weigh in on where Max Scherzer fits 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 any affiliates.

]]> Thu, 2 Oct 2025 22:00:17 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Apple TV & MLB Network analyst Ryan Spilborghs (0:58) to share some thoughts on the Wild Card thus far. He weighs in on the Dodgers' decision to start Shohei Ohtani in Game 1 against the Phillies in the NLDS, Mookie Betts' reinvention, the Jays' keys to a deep run, and whether the Yankees' and Red Sox's fielding will come back to bite them. Then, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (13:52) to share his advice for young starters making their postseason debuts, why the Jays' final regular season stretch sets them up well for playoff baseball, and the pressure on Aaron Judge to turn around his postseason reputation. Finally, Jeff and Kevin tee up the Red Sox and Yankees' Game 3, discuss how the Jays will roll out their rotation in the ALDS, and weigh in on where Max Scherzer fits 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 any affiliates.

]]> Jays' Keys to a Deep Postseason Run Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Apple TV & MLB Network analyst Ryan Spilborghs (0:58) to share some thoughts on the Wild Card thus far. He weighs in on the Dodgers' decision to start Shohei Ohtani in Game 1 against the Phillies in the NLDS, Mookie Betts' reinvention, the Jays' keys to a deep run, and whether the Yankees' and Red Sox's fielding will come back to bite them. Then, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (13:52) to share his advice for young starters making their postseason debuts, why the Jays' final regular season stretch sets them up well for playoff baseball, and the pressure on Aaron Judge to turn around his postseason reputation. Finally, Jeff and Kevin tee up the Red Sox and Yankees' Game 3, discuss how the Jays will roll out their rotation in the ALDS, and weigh in on where Max Scherzer fits 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 any affiliates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Apple TV & MLB Network analyst Ryan Spilborghs (0:58) to share some thoughts on the Wild Card thus far. He weighs in on the Dodgers' decision to start Shohei Ohtani in Game 1 against the Phillies in the NLDS, Mookie Betts' reinvention, the Jays' keys to a deep run, and whether the Yankees' and Red Sox's fielding will come back to bite them. Then, MLB Network analyst Sean Casey joins the show (13:52) to share his advice for young starters making their postseason debuts, why the Jays' final regular season stretch sets them up well for playoff baseball, and the pressure on Aaron Judge to turn around his postseason reputation. Finally, Jeff and Kevin tee up the Red Sox and Yankees' Game 3, discuss how the Jays will roll out their rotation in the ALDS, and weigh in on where Max Scherzer fits 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 any affiliates. false full af7f359b-375a-4462-a43e-7646b20248eb Maximizing October with Mark Buehrle Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their discussions on the New York Yankees tying the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers punching their ticket to the NLDS over the Cincinnati Reds and Shohei Ohtani making the start for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies before bringing on Seattle Mariners' bench coach Manny Acta (12:02). He chats about his team's intrasquad games including Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, the positive and negative effects of a long layoff before the first round of post-season games, what people don't know about Cal Raleigh, and Josh Naylor's contributions to the Mariners this year. Then, Jeff and Kevin catch up with World Series champion and former Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle (27:30), who talks about life after baseball, the 2015 Jays' squad, the difficulties of pitching a postseason game, and the game's transition to using the pitch clock. 

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.

]]> Thu, 2 Oct 2025 21:02:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their discussions on the New York Yankees tying the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers punching their ticket to the NLDS over the Cincinnati Reds and Shohei Ohtani making the start for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies before bringing on Seattle Mariners' bench coach Manny Acta (12:02). He chats about his team's intrasquad games including Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, the positive and negative effects of a long layoff before the first round of post-season games, what people don't know about Cal Raleigh, and Josh Naylor's contributions to the Mariners this year. Then, Jeff and Kevin catch up with World Series champion and former Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle (27:30), who talks about life after baseball, the 2015 Jays' squad, the difficulties of pitching a postseason game, and the game's transition to using the pitch clock. 

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.

]]> Maximizing October with Mark Buehrle Sportsnet 00:49:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their discussions on the New York Yankees tying the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers punching their ticket to the NLDS over the Cincinnati Reds and Shohei Ohtani making the start for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies before bringing on Seattle Mariners' bench coach Manny Acta (12:02). He chats about his team's intrasquad games including Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, the positive and negative effects of a long layoff before the first round of post-season games, what people don't know about Cal Raleigh, and Josh Naylor's contributions to the Mariners this year. Then, Jeff and Kevin catch up with World Series champion and former Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle (27:30), who talks about life after baseball, the 2015 Jays' squad, the difficulties of pitching a postseason game, and the game's transition to using the pitch clock.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their discussions on the New York Yankees tying the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers punching their ticket to the NLDS over the Cincinnati Reds and Shohei Ohtani making the start for Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies before bringing on Seattle Mariners' bench coach Manny Acta (12:02). He chats about his team's intrasquad games including Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki, the positive and negative effects of a long layoff before the first round of post-season games, what people don't know about Cal Raleigh, and Josh Naylor's contributions to the Mariners this year. Then, Jeff and Kevin catch up with World Series champion and former Blue Jays pitcher Mark Buehrle (27:30), who talks about life after baseball, the 2015 Jays' squad, the difficulties of pitching a postseason game, and the game's transition to using the pitch clock.  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. false full e6ba4ac1-4c78-44a6-bab5-35363a923444 Playoff Pitching with Bronson Arroyo + Passan's Wild Card Impressions Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo to kick off the second hour (1:00). He discusses the pressure that comes with pitching at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, the mental chess match of postseason pitching, the Reds' experience mismatch in their series against the Dodgers, and he shares a live sample from his new record, Raw Confessions. Later, ESPN insider Jeff Passan joins the show (28:40) to share some impressions from the first day and a half of Wild Card baseball, the lefty-pitching showcase, Aaron Boone's decision to pull Max Fried in the seventh inning of Game 1, rumours that Albert Pujols is in line for the Angels manager job, and much more.

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.

]]> Wed, 1 Oct 2025 22:02:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo to kick off the second hour (1:00). He discusses the pressure that comes with pitching at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, the mental chess match of postseason pitching, the Reds' experience mismatch in their series against the Dodgers, and he shares a live sample from his new record, Raw Confessions. Later, ESPN insider Jeff Passan joins the show (28:40) to share some impressions from the first day and a half of Wild Card baseball, the lefty-pitching showcase, Aaron Boone's decision to pull Max Fried in the seventh inning of Game 1, rumours that Albert Pujols is in line for the Angels manager job, and much more.

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.

]]> Playoff Pitching with Bronson Arroyo + Passan's Wild Card Impressions Sportsnet 00:49:44 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo to kick off the second hour (1:00). He discusses the pressure that comes with pitching at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, the mental chess match of postseason pitching, the Reds' experience mismatch in their series against the Dodgers, and he shares a live sample from his new record, Raw Confessions. Later, ESPN insider Jeff Passan joins the show (28:40) to share some impressions from the first day and a half of Wild Card baseball, the lefty-pitching showcase, Aaron Boone's decision to pull Max Fried in the seventh inning of Game 1, rumours that Albert Pujols is in line for the Angels manager job, and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo to kick off the second hour (1:00). He discusses the pressure that comes with pitching at Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, the mental chess match of postseason pitching, the Reds' experience mismatch in their series against the Dodgers, and he shares a live sample from his new record, Raw Confessions. Later, ESPN insider Jeff Passan joins the show (28:40) to share some impressions from the first day and a half of Wild Card baseball, the lefty-pitching showcase, Aaron Boone's decision to pull Max Fried in the seventh inning of Game 1, rumours that Albert Pujols is in line for the Angels manager job, and much more. 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. false full cba55bbc-098b-4a5c-aab3-235e19e2f4e0 Blue Jays' Postseason Expectations with Dan Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the Boston Red Sox's comeback win over the Yankees in New York in the Wild Card opener, Aroldis Chapman holding off a late chance by the Bronx Bombers in two straight innings before hearing from Blue Jays' general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider's media availabilities on their expectations for Vladdy, Trey Yesavage, and Jeff Hoffman, and learning from past post-season failures. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (32:05) to chat about his ideal playoff rotation, how many left-handed pitchers could we see on the roster, closer options, and his assessment of the Red Sox's Game 1 win.

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.

]]> Wed, 1 Oct 2025 21:01:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the Boston Red Sox's comeback win over the Yankees in New York in the Wild Card opener, Aroldis Chapman holding off a late chance by the Bronx Bombers in two straight innings before hearing from Blue Jays' general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider's media availabilities on their expectations for Vladdy, Trey Yesavage, and Jeff Hoffman, and learning from past post-season failures. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (32:05) to chat about his ideal playoff rotation, how many left-handed pitchers could we see on the roster, closer options, and his assessment of the Red Sox's Game 1 win.

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.

]]> Blue Jays' Postseason Expectations with Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the Boston Red Sox's comeback win over the Yankees in New York in the Wild Card opener, Aroldis Chapman holding off a late chance by the Bronx Bombers in two straight innings before hearing from Blue Jays' general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider's media availabilities on their expectations for Vladdy, Trey Yesavage, and Jeff Hoffman, and learning from past post-season failures. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (32:05) to chat about his ideal playoff rotation, how many left-handed pitchers could we see on the roster, closer options, and his assessment of the Red Sox's Game 1 win. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the Boston Red Sox's comeback win over the Yankees in New York in the Wild Card opener, Aroldis Chapman holding off a late chance by the Bronx Bombers in two straight innings before hearing from Blue Jays' general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider's media availabilities on their expectations for Vladdy, Trey Yesavage, and Jeff Hoffman, and learning from past post-season failures. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (32:05) to chat about his ideal playoff rotation, how many left-handed pitchers could we see on the roster, closer options, and his assessment of the Red Sox's Game 1 win. 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. false full 83ef123f-a9e6-47b2-b35a-8d74f7170a73 Postseason Baseball is Underway! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:07) to go over the Tigers' Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians to kick off the postseason. He gets into Tarik Skubal's dominant outing, the key to Cleveland's pitching development, his view of the Red Sox and Yankees' series, why the Brewers are vulnerable, and the pressure on Aaron Judge. Later, Jeff and Kevin tune in to Skubal's post-game availability, review his franchise-record tying performance, and discuss the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws ahead of first pitch in their Wild Card series.

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.

]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:01:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:07) to go over the Tigers' Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians to kick off the postseason. He gets into Tarik Skubal's dominant outing, the key to Cleveland's pitching development, his view of the Red Sox and Yankees' series, why the Brewers are vulnerable, and the pressure on Aaron Judge. Later, Jeff and Kevin tune in to Skubal's post-game availability, review his franchise-record tying performance, and discuss the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws ahead of first pitch in their Wild Card series.

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.

]]> Postseason Baseball is Underway! Sportsnet 00:49:39 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:07) to go over the Tigers' Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians to kick off the postseason. He gets into Tarik Skubal's dominant outing, the key to Cleveland's pitching development, his view of the Red Sox and Yankees' series, why the Brewers are vulnerable, and the pressure on Aaron Judge. Later, Jeff and Kevin tune in to Skubal's post-game availability, review his franchise-record tying performance, and discuss the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws ahead of first pitch in their Wild Card series. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Jomboy Media's Chris Rose (1:07) to go over the Tigers' Game 1 win over the Cleveland Guardians to kick off the postseason. He gets into Tarik Skubal's dominant outing, the key to Cleveland's pitching development, his view of the Red Sox and Yankees' series, why the Brewers are vulnerable, and the pressure on Aaron Judge. Later, Jeff and Kevin tune in to Skubal's post-game availability, review his franchise-record tying performance, and discuss the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws ahead of first pitch in their Wild Card series. 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. false full 4e2338ff-310d-43ee-90be-aa0b938cca88 Win or Go Home Pitching with Marco Estrada Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show, discussing Tarik Skubal's outstanding performance to help his Detroit Tigers win Game 1 over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Wild Card, and the Blue Jays' hosting two intrasquad games at the Rogers Centre during their bye week. former Jays All-Star pitcher Marco Estrada stops by (16:05) to chat about his experience on the mound starting an elimination game, his advice to Trey Yesavage in his first potential postseason start, working through long layoffs in between playoff series and games, playing in front of the Toronto crowd, and who he thinks is the better matchup for the Jays between the Yankees and Red Sox. Then, Jays' analyst and former catcher Caleb Joseph joins the guys (34:50) in-studio to touch on how he would handle a bunch of days off before their playoff game, what it would mean for the Jays to beat the Yankees in the DS, and his ideal starting rotation.

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.

]]> Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:02:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show, discussing Tarik Skubal's outstanding performance to help his Detroit Tigers win Game 1 over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Wild Card, and the Blue Jays' hosting two intrasquad games at the Rogers Centre during their bye week. former Jays All-Star pitcher Marco Estrada stops by (16:05) to chat about his experience on the mound starting an elimination game, his advice to Trey Yesavage in his first potential postseason start, working through long layoffs in between playoff series and games, playing in front of the Toronto crowd, and who he thinks is the better matchup for the Jays between the Yankees and Red Sox. Then, Jays' analyst and former catcher Caleb Joseph joins the guys (34:50) in-studio to touch on how he would handle a bunch of days off before their playoff game, what it would mean for the Jays to beat the Yankees in the DS, and his ideal starting rotation.

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.

]]> Win or Go Home Pitching with Marco Estrada Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show, discussing Tarik Skubal's outstanding performance to help his Detroit Tigers win Game 1 over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Wild Card, and the Blue Jays' hosting two intrasquad games at the Rogers Centre during their bye week. former Jays All-Star pitcher Marco Estrada stops by (16:05) to chat about his experience on the mound starting an elimination game, his advice to Trey Yesavage in his first potential postseason start, working through long layoffs in between playoff series and games, playing in front of the Toronto crowd, and who he thinks is the better matchup for the Jays between the Yankees and Red Sox. Then, Jays' analyst and former catcher Caleb Joseph joins the guys (34:50) in-studio to touch on how he would handle a bunch of days off before their playoff game, what it would mean for the Jays to beat the Yankees in the DS, and his ideal starting rotation. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show, discussing Tarik Skubal's outstanding performance to help his Detroit Tigers win Game 1 over the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Wild Card, and the Blue Jays' hosting two intrasquad games at the Rogers Centre during their bye week. former Jays All-Star pitcher Marco Estrada stops by (16:05) to chat about his experience on the mound starting an elimination game, his advice to Trey Yesavage in his first potential postseason start, working through long layoffs in between playoff series and games, playing in front of the Toronto crowd, and who he thinks is the better matchup for the Jays between the Yankees and Red Sox. Then, Jays' analyst and former catcher Caleb Joseph joins the guys (34:50) in-studio to touch on how he would handle a bunch of days off before their playoff game, what it would mean for the Jays to beat the Yankees in the DS, and his ideal starting rotation. 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. false full a58db920-d56f-4d67-8da8-43e6a7819cea Playoff Roster Decisions with Shi Davidi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (1:21) to look ahead to the ALDS and discuss the Jays' playoff roster decisions. He gets into Bo Bichette's status, the plan for Chris Bassitt, how the team might use Trey Yesavage, what the Jays will focus on during their time off and which opponent would make for a more entertaining ALDS, the Red Sox or the Yankees. Then, Jeff and Kevin make their Wild Card predictions. Later, MLB Network's Dan Plesac (30:14) stops by to share how important the bye is for the Blue Jays, the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws, the pressure on Aaron Judge, why the Mariners are dangerous, the Phillies' path to the World Series and the significance of home-field advantage in the playoffs.

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.

]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2025 22:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (1:21) to look ahead to the ALDS and discuss the Jays' playoff roster decisions. He gets into Bo Bichette's status, the plan for Chris Bassitt, how the team might use Trey Yesavage, what the Jays will focus on during their time off and which opponent would make for a more entertaining ALDS, the Red Sox or the Yankees. Then, Jeff and Kevin make their Wild Card predictions. Later, MLB Network's Dan Plesac (30:14) stops by to share how important the bye is for the Blue Jays, the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws, the pressure on Aaron Judge, why the Mariners are dangerous, the Phillies' path to the World Series and the significance of home-field advantage in the playoffs.

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.

]]> Playoff Roster Decisions with Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (1:21) to look ahead to the ALDS and discuss the Jays' playoff roster decisions. He gets into Bo Bichette's status, the plan for Chris Bassitt, how the team might use Trey Yesavage, what the Jays will focus on during their time off and which opponent would make for a more entertaining ALDS, the Red Sox or the Yankees. Then, Jeff and Kevin make their Wild Card predictions. Later, MLB Network's Dan Plesac (30:14) stops by to share how important the bye is for the Blue Jays, the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws, the pressure on Aaron Judge, why the Mariners are dangerous, the Phillies' path to the World Series and the significance of home-field advantage in the playoffs. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (1:21) to look ahead to the ALDS and discuss the Jays' playoff roster decisions. He gets into Bo Bichette's status, the plan for Chris Bassitt, how the team might use Trey Yesavage, what the Jays will focus on during their time off and which opponent would make for a more entertaining ALDS, the Red Sox or the Yankees. Then, Jeff and Kevin make their Wild Card predictions. Later, MLB Network's Dan Plesac (30:14) stops by to share how important the bye is for the Blue Jays, the Yankees' and Red Sox's biggest flaws, the pressure on Aaron Judge, why the Mariners are dangerous, the Phillies' path to the World Series and the significance of home-field advantage in the playoffs. 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. false full 3402d64d-a664-48ed-b802-bcceb062cb0c Winning the East + Who Would You Want to Face in the ALDS? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the week discussing the Blue Jays clinching the AL East title in style with their season finale win over the Tampa Bay Rays, whether we will see Chris Bassitt or Bo Bichette make an appearance in the ALDS, and the outlook on the starting rotation for the postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin look at the managerial carousel across the MLB, Wild Card matchups and the differences between the Jays' 2015 and 2025 rosters. Finally, the guys open up the Back Leg Line for your thoughts on who would be a better matchup for Toronto between the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and more!

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.

]]> Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:01:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the week discussing the Blue Jays clinching the AL East title in style with their season finale win over the Tampa Bay Rays, whether we will see Chris Bassitt or Bo Bichette make an appearance in the ALDS, and the outlook on the starting rotation for the postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin look at the managerial carousel across the MLB, Wild Card matchups and the differences between the Jays' 2015 and 2025 rosters. Finally, the guys open up the Back Leg Line for your thoughts on who would be a better matchup for Toronto between the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and more!

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.

]]> Winning the East + Who Would You Want to Face in the ALDS? Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the week discussing the Blue Jays clinching the AL East title in style with their season finale win over the Tampa Bay Rays, whether we will see Chris Bassitt or Bo Bichette make an appearance in the ALDS, and the outlook on the starting rotation for the postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin look at the managerial carousel across the MLB, Wild Card matchups and the differences between the Jays' 2015 and 2025 rosters. Finally, the guys open up the Back Leg Line for your thoughts on who would be a better matchup for Toronto between the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the week discussing the Blue Jays clinching the AL East title in style with their season finale win over the Tampa Bay Rays, whether we will see Chris Bassitt or Bo Bichette make an appearance in the ALDS, and the outlook on the starting rotation for the postseason. Then, Jeff and Kevin look at the managerial carousel across the MLB, Wild Card matchups and the differences between the Jays' 2015 and 2025 rosters. Finally, the guys open up the Back Leg Line for your thoughts on who would be a better matchup for Toronto between the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox in the ALDS and more! 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. false full 5514029b-740c-4b24-a274-69bae056dd9a High-Stakes Season Finale with Buck Martinez Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (1:50) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to kick off the second hour. They look back on the Jays' 6-1 win over the Red Sox, Daulton Varsho's grand slam, what's made George Springer's production sustainable, and Louis Varland and Eric Lauer's statement to start the bullpen game. Then, Buck weighs in on Vladdy Jr.'s recent performance at the plate, what to expect from Shane Bieber against the Rays, and the importance of the bye for the Jays. Later, WEEI reporter and host of Baseball Isn't Boring, Rob Bradford (25:15), swings by to tee up the Detroit Tigers' series against the Red Sox with the AL Central title on the line. He discusses Detroit's historic collapse after having led the Guardians by 15 games this season, Boston's postseason outlook, and his thoughts on the Jays. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share their predictions for this weekend's action around MLB.

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.

]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:01:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (1:50) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to kick off the second hour. They look back on the Jays' 6-1 win over the Red Sox, Daulton Varsho's grand slam, what's made George Springer's production sustainable, and Louis Varland and Eric Lauer's statement to start the bullpen game. Then, Buck weighs in on Vladdy Jr.'s recent performance at the plate, what to expect from Shane Bieber against the Rays, and the importance of the bye for the Jays. Later, WEEI reporter and host of Baseball Isn't Boring, Rob Bradford (25:15), swings by to tee up the Detroit Tigers' series against the Red Sox with the AL Central title on the line. He discusses Detroit's historic collapse after having led the Guardians by 15 games this season, Boston's postseason outlook, and his thoughts on the Jays. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share their predictions for this weekend's action around MLB.

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.

]]> High-Stakes Season Finale with Buck Martinez Sportsnet 00:49:55 Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (1:50) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to kick off the second hour. They look back on the Jays' 6-1 win over the Red Sox, Daulton Varsho's grand slam, what's made George Springer's production sustainable, and Louis Varland and Eric Lauer's statement to start the bullpen game. Then, Buck weighs in on Vladdy Jr.'s recent performance at the plate, what to expect from Shane Bieber against the Rays, and the importance of the bye for the Jays. Later, WEEI reporter and host of Baseball Isn't Boring, Rob Bradford (25:15), swings by to tee up the Detroit Tigers' series against the Red Sox with the AL Central title on the line. He discusses Detroit's historic collapse after having led the Guardians by 15 games this season, Boston's postseason outlook, and his thoughts on the Jays. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share their predictions for this weekend's action around MLB. 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. Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (1:50) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to kick off the second hour. They look back on the Jays' 6-1 win over the Red Sox, Daulton Varsho's grand slam, what's made George Springer's production sustainable, and Louis Varland and Eric Lauer's statement to start the bullpen game. Then, Buck weighs in on Vladdy Jr.'s recent performance at the plate, what to expect from Shane Bieber against the Rays, and the importance of the bye for the Jays. Later, WEEI reporter and host of Baseball Isn't Boring, Rob Bradford (25:15), swings by to tee up the Detroit Tigers' series against the Red Sox with the AL Central title on the line. He discusses Detroit's historic collapse after having led the Guardians by 15 games this season, Boston's postseason outlook, and his thoughts on the Jays. Finally, Jeff and Kevin share their predictions for this weekend's action around MLB. 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. false full 7273456c-ad6c-49d2-8d2c-28155ae346ba Heading into the Final 3 with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' big home win to end their series against the Boston Red Sox, Louis Varland's and Eric Lauer's strong outing in the finale, and Alek Manoah getting claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (28:25) for his weekly chat on Varland's start to the bullpen game, how both him and Lauer could be utilized in the postseason, the decision to keep Daulton Varsho in the game to face against a left-handed pitcher, how Anthony Santander's swing looks coming off the IL and rehab stints, George Springer's decisions at the plate, who could be in the running to start the regular season finale, and Alejandro Kirk's increased workload this year.

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.

]]> Fri, 26 Sep 2025 21:03:08 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' big home win to end their series against the Boston Red Sox, Louis Varland's and Eric Lauer's strong outing in the finale, and Alek Manoah getting claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (28:25) for his weekly chat on Varland's start to the bullpen game, how both him and Lauer could be utilized in the postseason, the decision to keep Daulton Varsho in the game to face against a left-handed pitcher, how Anthony Santander's swing looks coming off the IL and rehab stints, George Springer's decisions at the plate, who could be in the running to start the regular season finale, and Alejandro Kirk's increased workload this year.

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.

]]> Heading into the Final 3 with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' big home win to end their series against the Boston Red Sox, Louis Varland's and Eric Lauer's strong outing in the finale, and Alek Manoah getting claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (28:25) for his weekly chat on Varland's start to the bullpen game, how both him and Lauer could be utilized in the postseason, the decision to keep Daulton Varsho in the game to face against a left-handed pitcher, how Anthony Santander's swing looks coming off the IL and rehab stints, George Springer's decisions at the plate, who could be in the running to start the regular season finale, and Alejandro Kirk's increased workload this year. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' big home win to end their series against the Boston Red Sox, Louis Varland's and Eric Lauer's strong outing in the finale, and Alek Manoah getting claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (28:25) for his weekly chat on Varland's start to the bullpen game, how both him and Lauer could be utilized in the postseason, the decision to keep Daulton Varsho in the game to face against a left-handed pitcher, how Anthony Santander's swing looks coming off the IL and rehab stints, George Springer's decisions at the plate, who could be in the running to start the regular season finale, and Alejandro Kirk's increased workload this year. 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. false full b53e84ed-73f9-4fd2-bd2f-66a40adffa00 Offence Absent, AL East Title Slipping Away Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look in on John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox. To help tee up the game, Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (7:03) weighs in on the decision to start Louis Varland in the pivotal matchup, how the team is dealing with the pressure of a division race and Anthony Santander's return to the lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take calls, questions, and gauge the Jays' faithful's concern levels as the division lead dwindles. Finally, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner stops by (27:15) to discuss the New York Yankees' recent play to gain ground on the Jays, their postseason outlook and Aaron Judge's MVP-level season.

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.

]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2025 22:02:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look in on John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox. To help tee up the game, Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (7:03) weighs in on the decision to start Louis Varland in the pivotal matchup, how the team is dealing with the pressure of a division race and Anthony Santander's return to the lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take calls, questions, and gauge the Jays' faithful's concern levels as the division lead dwindles. Finally, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner stops by (27:15) to discuss the New York Yankees' recent play to gain ground on the Jays, their postseason outlook and Aaron Judge's MVP-level season.

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.

]]> Offence Absent, AL East Title Slipping Away Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look in on John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox. To help tee up the game, Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (7:03) weighs in on the decision to start Louis Varland in the pivotal matchup, how the team is dealing with the pressure of a division race and Anthony Santander's return to the lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take calls, questions, and gauge the Jays' faithful's concern levels as the division lead dwindles. Finally, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner stops by (27:15) to discuss the New York Yankees' recent play to gain ground on the Jays, their postseason outlook and Aaron Judge's MVP-level season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look in on John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox. To help tee up the game, Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (7:03) weighs in on the decision to start Louis Varland in the pivotal matchup, how the team is dealing with the pressure of a division race and Anthony Santander's return to the lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take calls, questions, and gauge the Jays' faithful's concern levels as the division lead dwindles. Finally, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner stops by (27:15) to discuss the New York Yankees' recent play to gain ground on the Jays, their postseason outlook and Aaron Judge's MVP-level season. 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. false full 48e917f2-a78d-4ee2-8258-62c1f03c1258 Concern Level Assessment + Berríos Sent to the IL Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh the magnitude of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox after dropping two straight, including being shut out, with Louis Varland getting the nod to start their bullpen day. Then, they go through Max Scherzer's final regular-season start and react to the news of José Berríos being sent to the IL following his bullpen outing. Later, Mike Cameron (31:07), special assignment coach of the Seattle Mariners, stops by to discuss the club clinching the AL West, the hitting differences from 2024 to Cal Raleigh's historic 2025 season, and the difficulties of a manager trying to bring the best out of their team's offence.

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.

]]> Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:02:17 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh the magnitude of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox after dropping two straight, including being shut out, with Louis Varland getting the nod to start their bullpen day. Then, they go through Max Scherzer's final regular-season start and react to the news of José Berríos being sent to the IL following his bullpen outing. Later, Mike Cameron (31:07), special assignment coach of the Seattle Mariners, stops by to discuss the club clinching the AL West, the hitting differences from 2024 to Cal Raleigh's historic 2025 season, and the difficulties of a manager trying to bring the best out of their team's offence.

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.

]]> Concern Level Assessment + Berríos Sent to the IL Sportsnet 00:49:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh the magnitude of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox after dropping two straight, including being shut out, with Louis Varland getting the nod to start their bullpen day. Then, they go through Max Scherzer's final regular-season start and react to the news of José Berríos being sent to the IL following his bullpen outing. Later, Mike Cameron (31:07), special assignment coach of the Seattle Mariners, stops by to discuss the club clinching the AL West, the hitting differences from 2024 to Cal Raleigh's historic 2025 season, and the difficulties of a manager trying to bring the best out of their team's offence. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh the magnitude of the Blue Jays' series finale against the Boston Red Sox after dropping two straight, including being shut out, with Louis Varland getting the nod to start their bullpen day. Then, they go through Max Scherzer's final regular-season start and react to the news of José Berríos being sent to the IL following his bullpen outing. Later, Mike Cameron (31:07), special assignment coach of the Seattle Mariners, stops by to discuss the club clinching the AL West, the hitting differences from 2024 to Cal Raleigh's historic 2025 season, and the difficulties of a manager trying to bring the best out of their team's offence. 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. false full 2227d6aa-1f58-4a5a-9d1a-5998ede4cbb8 AL East Crunch + ABS Specifics with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays signing Korean pitching prospect Seojun Moon and some rotation updates before listening in on John Schneider's game-day availability. ESPN MLB analyst Doug Glanville (9:46) stops by to share his thoughts on the Jays' season, George Springer's buy-in, the Yankees' October outlook and whether the Detroit Tigers have 'lost their mojo.' Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins the show (29:32) to discuss the controversial foul call in the Jays/Red Sox's series opener, a lack of pushback on the incoming ABS rule, the Guardians' postseason potential, and how he handicaps the AL playoff races that could go down to the wire.

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.

]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:05:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays signing Korean pitching prospect Seojun Moon and some rotation updates before listening in on John Schneider's game-day availability. ESPN MLB analyst Doug Glanville (9:46) stops by to share his thoughts on the Jays' season, George Springer's buy-in, the Yankees' October outlook and whether the Detroit Tigers have 'lost their mojo.' Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins the show (29:32) to discuss the controversial foul call in the Jays/Red Sox's series opener, a lack of pushback on the incoming ABS rule, the Guardians' postseason potential, and how he handicaps the AL playoff races that could go down to the wire.

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.

]]> AL East Crunch + ABS Specifics with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays signing Korean pitching prospect Seojun Moon and some rotation updates before listening in on John Schneider's game-day availability. ESPN MLB analyst Doug Glanville (9:46) stops by to share his thoughts on the Jays' season, George Springer's buy-in, the Yankees' October outlook and whether the Detroit Tigers have 'lost their mojo.' Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins the show (29:32) to discuss the controversial foul call in the Jays/Red Sox's series opener, a lack of pushback on the incoming ABS rule, the Guardians' postseason potential, and how he handicaps the AL playoff races that could go down to the wire. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays signing Korean pitching prospect Seojun Moon and some rotation updates before listening in on John Schneider's game-day availability. ESPN MLB analyst Doug Glanville (9:46) stops by to share his thoughts on the Jays' season, George Springer's buy-in, the Yankees' October outlook and whether the Detroit Tigers have 'lost their mojo.' Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan joins the show (29:32) to discuss the controversial foul call in the Jays/Red Sox's series opener, a lack of pushback on the incoming ABS rule, the Guardians' postseason potential, and how he handicaps the AL playoff races that could go down to the wire. 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. false full 71197320-9b11-49d9-a4ed-0b01d0d03d54 A Big Bat Returns & Scherzer's Final Regular Season Start Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the controversial calls from the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the Boston Red Sox, Alek Manoah being DFA'd, Anthony Santander batting fifth in the order in his return to the lineup and Vladdy's struggles in the final games of the year. Then, VSiN By The Books co-host and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (30:17) stops by to chat about the Cleveland Guardians on the verge of a historical comeback in the AL Central standings over dwindling Detroit Tigers, the adjustment Bo Naylor made in his swing, how important Max Scherzer's final regular season start is, the path for the Blue Jays to clinch the division, and his clubhouse experience with Myles Straw.

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.

]]> Wed, 24 Sep 2025 21:00:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the controversial calls from the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the Boston Red Sox, Alek Manoah being DFA'd, Anthony Santander batting fifth in the order in his return to the lineup and Vladdy's struggles in the final games of the year. Then, VSiN By The Books co-host and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (30:17) stops by to chat about the Cleveland Guardians on the verge of a historical comeback in the AL Central standings over dwindling Detroit Tigers, the adjustment Bo Naylor made in his swing, how important Max Scherzer's final regular season start is, the path for the Blue Jays to clinch the division, and his clubhouse experience with Myles Straw.

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.

]]> A Big Bat Returns & Scherzer's Final Regular Season Start Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the controversial calls from the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the Boston Red Sox, Alek Manoah being DFA'd, Anthony Santander batting fifth in the order in his return to the lineup and Vladdy's struggles in the final games of the year. Then, VSiN By The Books co-host and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (30:17) stops by to chat about the Cleveland Guardians on the verge of a historical comeback in the AL Central standings over dwindling Detroit Tigers, the adjustment Bo Naylor made in his swing, how important Max Scherzer's final regular season start is, the path for the Blue Jays to clinch the division, and his clubhouse experience with Myles Straw. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the controversial calls from the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the Boston Red Sox, Alek Manoah being DFA'd, Anthony Santander batting fifth in the order in his return to the lineup and Vladdy's struggles in the final games of the year. Then, VSiN By The Books co-host and former MLB pitcher Jensen Lewis (30:17) stops by to chat about the Cleveland Guardians on the verge of a historical comeback in the AL Central standings over dwindling Detroit Tigers, the adjustment Bo Naylor made in his swing, how important Max Scherzer's final regular season start is, the path for the Blue Jays to clinch the division, and his clubhouse experience with Myles Straw. 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. false full f998d103-4149-4b46-9bb7-5b046dfc2211 ABS Incoming + Blue Jays Prospect Gage Stanifer in Studio! MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (0:32) to kick off the second hour, and they react to MLB's announcement that it will be implementing the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) for the 2026 season. Then, they discuss the Jays' outlook down the stretch, the Guardians' miraculous playoff push, the Mets' late-season collapse, and why the Reds could be dangerous in the postseason. Later, Blue Jays pitching prospect Gage Stanifer joins the guys in studio (29:38) to reflect on his year across three levels in the Jays' farm system, his impressions of Trey Yesavage, and the next steps in his development.

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 22:01:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (0:32) to kick off the second hour, and they react to MLB's announcement that it will be implementing the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) for the 2026 season. Then, they discuss the Jays' outlook down the stretch, the Guardians' miraculous playoff push, the Mets' late-season collapse, and why the Reds could be dangerous in the postseason. Later, Blue Jays pitching prospect Gage Stanifer joins the guys in studio (29:38) to reflect on his year across three levels in the Jays' farm system, his impressions of Trey Yesavage, and the next steps in his development.

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.

]]> ABS Incoming + Blue Jays Prospect Gage Stanifer in Studio! Sportsnet 00:49:45 MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (0:32) to kick off the second hour, and they react to MLB's announcement that it will be implementing the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) for the 2026 season. Then, they discuss the Jays' outlook down the stretch, the Guardians' miraculous playoff push, the Mets' late-season collapse, and why the Reds could be dangerous in the postseason. Later, Blue Jays pitching prospect Gage Stanifer joins the guys in studio (29:38) to reflect on his year across three levels in the Jays' farm system, his impressions of Trey Yesavage, and the next steps in his development. 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 insider Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (0:32) to kick off the second hour, and they react to MLB's announcement that it will be implementing the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) for the 2026 season. Then, they discuss the Jays' outlook down the stretch, the Guardians' miraculous playoff push, the Mets' late-season collapse, and why the Reds could be dangerous in the postseason. Later, Blue Jays pitching prospect Gage Stanifer joins the guys in studio (29:38) to reflect on his year across three levels in the Jays' farm system, his impressions of Trey Yesavage, and the next steps in his development. 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. false full 43f1a85c-3089-4ba5-813f-742bec8527e1 Chasing an AL East Title at Rogers Centre Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Anthony Santander's injury status, the ideal spot for him in the batting order once he returns, Addison Barger cleaning up, and the magnitude of the Blue Jays' final series against the Boston Red Sox. Then, NESN Red Sox's studio host Tom Caron (19:26) jumps on to discuss Boston's path to the post-season, the velocity from their top starters including Lucas Giolito, the glaring gap without Roman Anthony, the ramifications if the club don't make the playoffs, Alex Cora's future, where Aroldis Chapman's year stacks up in his career and Red Sox's history, and who needs to step up during this chase into the Wild Card. Afterwards, we hear from Blue Jays' manager John Schneider on Anthony Santander's road back to becoming active on the roster.

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:02:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Anthony Santander's injury status, the ideal spot for him in the batting order once he returns, Addison Barger cleaning up, and the magnitude of the Blue Jays' final series against the Boston Red Sox. Then, NESN Red Sox's studio host Tom Caron (19:26) jumps on to discuss Boston's path to the post-season, the velocity from their top starters including Lucas Giolito, the glaring gap without Roman Anthony, the ramifications if the club don't make the playoffs, Alex Cora's future, where Aroldis Chapman's year stacks up in his career and Red Sox's history, and who needs to step up during this chase into the Wild Card. Afterwards, we hear from Blue Jays' manager John Schneider on Anthony Santander's road back to becoming active on the roster.

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.

]]> Chasing an AL East Title at Rogers Centre Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Anthony Santander's injury status, the ideal spot for him in the batting order once he returns, Addison Barger cleaning up, and the magnitude of the Blue Jays' final series against the Boston Red Sox. Then, NESN Red Sox's studio host Tom Caron (19:26) jumps on to discuss Boston's path to the post-season, the velocity from their top starters including Lucas Giolito, the glaring gap without Roman Anthony, the ramifications if the club don't make the playoffs, Alex Cora's future, where Aroldis Chapman's year stacks up in his career and Red Sox's history, and who needs to step up during this chase into the Wild Card. Afterwards, we hear from Blue Jays' manager John Schneider on Anthony Santander's road back to becoming active on the roster. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Anthony Santander's injury status, the ideal spot for him in the batting order once he returns, Addison Barger cleaning up, and the magnitude of the Blue Jays' final series against the Boston Red Sox. Then, NESN Red Sox's studio host Tom Caron (19:26) jumps on to discuss Boston's path to the post-season, the velocity from their top starters including Lucas Giolito, the glaring gap without Roman Anthony, the ramifications if the club don't make the playoffs, Alex Cora's future, where Aroldis Chapman's year stacks up in his career and Red Sox's history, and who needs to step up during this chase into the Wild Card. Afterwards, we hear from Blue Jays' manager John Schneider on Anthony Santander's road back to becoming active on the roster. 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. false full cf7751ef-edb0-4363-a420-6f6b59cb82be Details Down the Stretch with Caleb Joseph & Kevin Kiermaier Jeff Blair welcomes Kevin Barker back from his Virginia Tech Hall of Fame ceremony before they are joined by Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (6:30) to discuss the Jays' biggest unknowns with just six games left in the regular season. They get into the potential postseason rotation, how the Jays would use Anthony Santander once —or if— he returns, and who hits second against righties. Later, Blue Jays special assistant Kevin Kiermaier (31:45) discusses the clubhouse vibes after clinching a playoff spot, what's different about the 2025 Jays, and what the young players can expect from playoff baseball.

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.

]]> Mon, 22 Sep 2025 22:06:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair welcomes Kevin Barker back from his Virginia Tech Hall of Fame ceremony before they are joined by Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (6:30) to discuss the Jays' biggest unknowns with just six games left in the regular season. They get into the potential postseason rotation, how the Jays would use Anthony Santander once —or if— he returns, and who hits second against righties. Later, Blue Jays special assistant Kevin Kiermaier (31:45) discusses the clubhouse vibes after clinching a playoff spot, what's different about the 2025 Jays, and what the young players can expect from playoff baseball.

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.

]]> Details Down the Stretch with Caleb Joseph & Kevin Kiermaier Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair welcomes Kevin Barker back from his Virginia Tech Hall of Fame ceremony before they are joined by Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (6:30) to discuss the Jays' biggest unknowns with just six games left in the regular season. They get into the potential postseason rotation, how the Jays would use Anthony Santander once —or if— he returns, and who hits second against righties. Later, Blue Jays special assistant Kevin Kiermaier (31:45) discusses the clubhouse vibes after clinching a playoff spot, what's different about the 2025 Jays, and what the young players can expect from playoff baseball. 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. Jeff Blair welcomes Kevin Barker back from his Virginia Tech Hall of Fame ceremony before they are joined by Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (6:30) to discuss the Jays' biggest unknowns with just six games left in the regular season. They get into the potential postseason rotation, how the Jays would use Anthony Santander once —or if— he returns, and who hits second against righties. Later, Blue Jays special assistant Kevin Kiermaier (31:45) discusses the clubhouse vibes after clinching a playoff spot, what's different about the 2025 Jays, and what the young players can expect from playoff baseball. 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. false full 4e1b6f47-e362-49cb-b0fa-b0b3e6213cd4 En Route to October + Postseason Pitching with Adam Wainwright Jeff Blair and the returning Kevin Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays clinching a postseason berth after their win in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Trey Yesavage's second start and Max Scherzer's outing over the weekend, their roles in October and Bo Bichette's comments on Ernie Clement and Myles Straw's clubhouse leadership. Then, FOX Sports' MLB analyst and World Series Champion Adam Wainwright stops by (29:18) to discuss pitching in the regular season vs. in the postseason, the pressure on a starter and bullpen pitcher, playoff experience, and changing routines nearing the end of the year and during a pennant race.

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.

]]> Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:03:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and the returning Kevin Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays clinching a postseason berth after their win in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Trey Yesavage's second start and Max Scherzer's outing over the weekend, their roles in October and Bo Bichette's comments on Ernie Clement and Myles Straw's clubhouse leadership. Then, FOX Sports' MLB analyst and World Series Champion Adam Wainwright stops by (29:18) to discuss pitching in the regular season vs. in the postseason, the pressure on a starter and bullpen pitcher, playoff experience, and changing routines nearing the end of the year and during a pennant race.

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.

]]> En Route to October + Postseason Pitching with Adam Wainwright Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and the returning Kevin Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays clinching a postseason berth after their win in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Trey Yesavage's second start and Max Scherzer's outing over the weekend, their roles in October and Bo Bichette's comments on Ernie Clement and Myles Straw's clubhouse leadership. Then, FOX Sports' MLB analyst and World Series Champion Adam Wainwright stops by (29:18) to discuss pitching in the regular season vs. in the postseason, the pressure on a starter and bullpen pitcher, playoff experience, and changing routines nearing the end of the year and during a pennant race. 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. Jeff Blair and the returning Kevin Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays clinching a postseason berth after their win in the series finale against the Kansas City Royals, Trey Yesavage's second start and Max Scherzer's outing over the weekend, their roles in October and Bo Bichette's comments on Ernie Clement and Myles Straw's clubhouse leadership. Then, FOX Sports' MLB analyst and World Series Champion Adam Wainwright stops by (29:18) to discuss pitching in the regular season vs. in the postseason, the pressure on a starter and bullpen pitcher, playoff experience, and changing routines nearing the end of the year and during a pennant race. 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. false full efe1bc87-408c-4c9b-8a1f-50437993ed1b Last KC Meeting with Rex Hudler + Bullpen Trust with Chris Leroux Jeff Blair is joined by Kansas City Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (2:55) to get his thoughts on the benefits of being able to play multiple position like Andrés Giménez filling in for Bo Bichette at shortstop, previews the weekend series against the Blue Jays, the lack of consistency from the Royals' offence, and optimism for the team's pitching staff after this season. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst and former MLB pitcher Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (29:55) to chat about his top concerns as we near the last week of the regular season, trust in Braydon Fisher, and Max Scherzer post-season projections. 

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.

]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:01:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by Kansas City Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (2:55) to get his thoughts on the benefits of being able to play multiple position like Andrés Giménez filling in for Bo Bichette at shortstop, previews the weekend series against the Blue Jays, the lack of consistency from the Royals' offence, and optimism for the team's pitching staff after this season. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst and former MLB pitcher Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (29:55) to chat about his top concerns as we near the last week of the regular season, trust in Braydon Fisher, and Max Scherzer post-season projections. 

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.

]]> Last KC Meeting with Rex Hudler + Bullpen Trust with Chris Leroux Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair is joined by Kansas City Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (2:55) to get his thoughts on the benefits of being able to play multiple position like Andrés Giménez filling in for Bo Bichette at shortstop, previews the weekend series against the Blue Jays, the lack of consistency from the Royals' offence, and optimism for the team's pitching staff after this season. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst and former MLB pitcher Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (29:55) to chat about his top concerns as we near the last week of the regular season, trust in Braydon Fisher, and Max Scherzer post-season projections.  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. Jeff Blair is joined by Kansas City Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (2:55) to get his thoughts on the benefits of being able to play multiple position like Andrés Giménez filling in for Bo Bichette at shortstop, previews the weekend series against the Blue Jays, the lack of consistency from the Royals' offence, and optimism for the team's pitching staff after this season. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst and former MLB pitcher Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (29:55) to chat about his top concerns as we near the last week of the regular season, trust in Braydon Fisher, and Max Scherzer post-season projections.  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. false full 7691f89c-8936-4760-9399-8fd0db3baa18 Clinching Scenarios with John Schneider Jeff Blair outlines the Blue Jays' potential playoff-clinching scenarios on Friday before welcoming manager John Schneider to the show (4:10). The skipper shares updates on Bo Bichette and Anthony Santander, the vibes around the clubhouse with the postseason in view, what goes into managing the platoon advantage, and the plan for the rotation's workload down the stretch. Later, MLB.com Tigers reporter Jason Beck stops by (28:37) to discuss what's behind Detroit's recent slide, the Guardians' edge in the division race and Tarik Skubal's status after his recent injury scare. Finally, Jeff opens up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:08:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair outlines the Blue Jays' potential playoff-clinching scenarios on Friday before welcoming manager John Schneider to the show (4:10). The skipper shares updates on Bo Bichette and Anthony Santander, the vibes around the clubhouse with the postseason in view, what goes into managing the platoon advantage, and the plan for the rotation's workload down the stretch. Later, MLB.com Tigers reporter Jason Beck stops by (28:37) to discuss what's behind Detroit's recent slide, the Guardians' edge in the division race and Tarik Skubal's status after his recent injury scare. Finally, Jeff opens up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Clinching Scenarios with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair outlines the Blue Jays' potential playoff-clinching scenarios on Friday before welcoming manager John Schneider to the show (4:10). The skipper shares updates on Bo Bichette and Anthony Santander, the vibes around the clubhouse with the postseason in view, what goes into managing the platoon advantage, and the plan for the rotation's workload down the stretch. Later, MLB.com Tigers reporter Jason Beck stops by (28:37) to discuss what's behind Detroit's recent slide, the Guardians' edge in the division race and Tarik Skubal's status after his recent injury scare. Finally, Jeff opens up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair outlines the Blue Jays' potential playoff-clinching scenarios on Friday before welcoming manager John Schneider to the show (4:10). The skipper shares updates on Bo Bichette and Anthony Santander, the vibes around the clubhouse with the postseason in view, what goes into managing the platoon advantage, and the plan for the rotation's workload down the stretch. Later, MLB.com Tigers reporter Jason Beck stops by (28:37) to discuss what's behind Detroit's recent slide, the Guardians' edge in the division race and Tarik Skubal's status after his recent injury scare. Finally, Jeff opens up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions! 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. false full 6ad41550-71ba-4c81-b981-fbce7ac797a1 Managing the Home Stretch with Derek Shelton Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the postgame edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to close out their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins the show (4:49) to discuss what's wrong with the Tigers after they got swept at home by the Guardians, the impact of Bo Bichette's absence, why Trey Yesavage should be used as a starter in the playoffs, and Clayton Kershaw's legacy now that he's announced his intent to retire. Then, Jeff and Kevin debate whether the Dodgers should play Shohei Ohtani in the outfield in the playoffs. Finally, former MLB manager Derek Shelton stops by (30:38) to give a manager's perspective on how the Jays should handle Yesavage down the stretch and into the playoffs.

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.

]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:07:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the postgame edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to close out their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins the show (4:49) to discuss what's wrong with the Tigers after they got swept at home by the Guardians, the impact of Bo Bichette's absence, why Trey Yesavage should be used as a starter in the playoffs, and Clayton Kershaw's legacy now that he's announced his intent to retire. Then, Jeff and Kevin debate whether the Dodgers should play Shohei Ohtani in the outfield in the playoffs. Finally, former MLB manager Derek Shelton stops by (30:38) to give a manager's perspective on how the Jays should handle Yesavage down the stretch and into the playoffs.

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.

]]> Managing the Home Stretch with Derek Shelton Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the postgame edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to close out their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins the show (4:49) to discuss what's wrong with the Tigers after they got swept at home by the Guardians, the impact of Bo Bichette's absence, why Trey Yesavage should be used as a starter in the playoffs, and Clayton Kershaw's legacy now that he's announced his intent to retire. Then, Jeff and Kevin debate whether the Dodgers should play Shohei Ohtani in the outfield in the playoffs. Finally, former MLB manager Derek Shelton stops by (30:38) to give a manager's perspective on how the Jays should handle Yesavage down the stretch and into the playoffs. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the postgame edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to close out their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins the show (4:49) to discuss what's wrong with the Tigers after they got swept at home by the Guardians, the impact of Bo Bichette's absence, why Trey Yesavage should be used as a starter in the playoffs, and Clayton Kershaw's legacy now that he's announced his intent to retire. Then, Jeff and Kevin debate whether the Dodgers should play Shohei Ohtani in the outfield in the playoffs. Finally, former MLB manager Derek Shelton stops by (30:38) to give a manager's perspective on how the Jays should handle Yesavage down the stretch and into the playoffs. 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. false full b48277ad-f3e2-4e58-b5be-53aeac99a865 Options in the 9th + Yesavage's Outlook with Dan Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails and discuss Trey Yesavage's role in the postseason and in 2026, who will be the default closer in October, the mechanical changes in Andrés Giménez's swing, the front office's roster decisions making dividends, and much more. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:35) stops by to get his thoughts on Anthony Santander getting a stint in the Buffalo Bisons' outfield, Yesavage's outlook before the regular season ends, if José Berríos' playoff spot is in jeopardy, and the fan's interference at the Minor League ballpark the Tampa Bay Rays are playing 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 any affiliates.

]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2025 22:08:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails and discuss Trey Yesavage's role in the postseason and in 2026, who will be the default closer in October, the mechanical changes in Andrés Giménez's swing, the front office's roster decisions making dividends, and much more. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:35) stops by to get his thoughts on Anthony Santander getting a stint in the Buffalo Bisons' outfield, Yesavage's outlook before the regular season ends, if José Berríos' playoff spot is in jeopardy, and the fan's interference at the Minor League ballpark the Tampa Bay Rays are playing 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 any affiliates.

]]> Options in the 9th + Yesavage's Outlook with Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails and discuss Trey Yesavage's role in the postseason and in 2026, who will be the default closer in October, the mechanical changes in Andrés Giménez's swing, the front office's roster decisions making dividends, and much more. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:35) stops by to get his thoughts on Anthony Santander getting a stint in the Buffalo Bisons' outfield, Yesavage's outlook before the regular season ends, if José Berríos' playoff spot is in jeopardy, and the fan's interference at the Minor League ballpark the Tampa Bay Rays are playing 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 any affiliates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails and discuss Trey Yesavage's role in the postseason and in 2026, who will be the default closer in October, the mechanical changes in Andrés Giménez's swing, the front office's roster decisions making dividends, and much more. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:35) stops by to get his thoughts on Anthony Santander getting a stint in the Buffalo Bisons' outfield, Yesavage's outlook before the regular season ends, if José Berríos' playoff spot is in jeopardy, and the fan's interference at the Minor League ballpark the Tampa Bay Rays are playing 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 any affiliates. false full 7c6d7a73-db9e-425b-95ed-5ec1b16a95a0 AL Playoff Picture and MVP Pulse with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, moving their magic number to clinch a playoff spot down to three. They get into the fan-interference review, José Berríos' outing, and Jeff Hoffman's velocity. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (16:15) stops by to discuss the AL MVP race after Cal Raleigh's recent switch-hitting milestone, why the Yankees' place in the standings doesn't hurt Aaron Judge's case, George Springer's resurgent season and how the Jays might use Trey Yesavage in the playoffs. Later, Jeff and Kevin break down Joey Loperfido's pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning.

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.

]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:05:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, moving their magic number to clinch a playoff spot down to three. They get into the fan-interference review, José Berríos' outing, and Jeff Hoffman's velocity. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (16:15) stops by to discuss the AL MVP race after Cal Raleigh's recent switch-hitting milestone, why the Yankees' place in the standings doesn't hurt Aaron Judge's case, George Springer's resurgent season and how the Jays might use Trey Yesavage in the playoffs. Later, Jeff and Kevin break down Joey Loperfido's pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning.

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.

]]> AL Playoff Picture and MVP Pulse with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, moving their magic number to clinch a playoff spot down to three. They get into the fan-interference review, José Berríos' outing, and Jeff Hoffman's velocity. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (16:15) stops by to discuss the AL MVP race after Cal Raleigh's recent switch-hitting milestone, why the Yankees' place in the standings doesn't hurt Aaron Judge's case, George Springer's resurgent season and how the Jays might use Trey Yesavage in the playoffs. Later, Jeff and Kevin break down Joey Loperfido's pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, moving their magic number to clinch a playoff spot down to three. They get into the fan-interference review, José Berríos' outing, and Jeff Hoffman's velocity. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (16:15) stops by to discuss the AL MVP race after Cal Raleigh's recent switch-hitting milestone, why the Yankees' place in the standings doesn't hurt Aaron Judge's case, George Springer's resurgent season and how the Jays might use Trey Yesavage in the playoffs. Later, Jeff and Kevin break down Joey Loperfido's pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning. 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. false full fd104f11-00bc-46c2-9a5d-994dd824f79d A Catcher's Responsibility with Joe Siddall + Pete Walker's First Impressions Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (1:19) to recap Trey Yesavage's MLB debut, how Tyler Heineman approached catching Trey's first game, Jeff Hoffman's pitch sequencing, Andrés Giménez's stint as shortstop while Bo Bichette is on the IL, who would round out as the Jays' three starters in a three-game series, the final roster spots on the pitching end, and José Berríos' slurve. Then, the guys are joined by pitching coach Pete Walker (25:45) to get his take on Trey's first game with the big-league roster, the plan for Yesavage moving forward, Braydon Fisher's control late in the game, and getting Jeff Hoffman's and Berríos' elite pitches back. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that Bo Bichette will miss the remainder of the regular season.

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.

]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2025 22:02:32 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (1:19) to recap Trey Yesavage's MLB debut, how Tyler Heineman approached catching Trey's first game, Jeff Hoffman's pitch sequencing, Andrés Giménez's stint as shortstop while Bo Bichette is on the IL, who would round out as the Jays' three starters in a three-game series, the final roster spots on the pitching end, and José Berríos' slurve. Then, the guys are joined by pitching coach Pete Walker (25:45) to get his take on Trey's first game with the big-league roster, the plan for Yesavage moving forward, Braydon Fisher's control late in the game, and getting Jeff Hoffman's and Berríos' elite pitches back. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that Bo Bichette will miss the remainder of the regular season.

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.

]]> A Catcher's Responsibility with Joe Siddall + Pete Walker's First Impressions Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (1:19) to recap Trey Yesavage's MLB debut, how Tyler Heineman approached catching Trey's first game, Jeff Hoffman's pitch sequencing, Andrés Giménez's stint as shortstop while Bo Bichette is on the IL, who would round out as the Jays' three starters in a three-game series, the final roster spots on the pitching end, and José Berríos' slurve. Then, the guys are joined by pitching coach Pete Walker (25:45) to get his take on Trey's first game with the big-league roster, the plan for Yesavage moving forward, Braydon Fisher's control late in the game, and getting Jeff Hoffman's and Berríos' elite pitches back. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that Bo Bichette will miss the remainder of the regular season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (1:19) to recap Trey Yesavage's MLB debut, how Tyler Heineman approached catching Trey's first game, Jeff Hoffman's pitch sequencing, Andrés Giménez's stint as shortstop while Bo Bichette is on the IL, who would round out as the Jays' three starters in a three-game series, the final roster spots on the pitching end, and José Berríos' slurve. Then, the guys are joined by pitching coach Pete Walker (25:45) to get his take on Trey's first game with the big-league roster, the plan for Yesavage moving forward, Braydon Fisher's control late in the game, and getting Jeff Hoffman's and Berríos' elite pitches back. Finally, Jeff and Kevin react to the news that Bo Bichette will miss the remainder of the regular season. 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. false full 8f03552e-0ce1-4213-bb21-5645a6fbe56d Yesavage Deals in Debut + Extra Innings Hero Braydon Fisher Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with a look back on Trey Yesavage's 9-strikeout debut against the Tampa Bay Rays. They weigh in on how the Jays should deploy Yesavage in the postseason, news on Bo Bichette's injury, Andrés Giménez's play at shortstop, and potential solutions for Jeff Hoffman's dipping velocity. Later, following his heroics in extra innings on Monday, Blue Jays reliever Braydon Fisher stops by (26:40) to discuss how his trip to Triple-A helped him reset, the difference between pitching in the sixth and seventh versus pitching late innings, what he's learned from Hoffman this season, his thoughts on Yesavage's stellar debut, and the team's winning culture.

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.

]]> Tue, 16 Sep 2025 21:03:07 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with a look back on Trey Yesavage's 9-strikeout debut against the Tampa Bay Rays. They weigh in on how the Jays should deploy Yesavage in the postseason, news on Bo Bichette's injury, Andrés Giménez's play at shortstop, and potential solutions for Jeff Hoffman's dipping velocity. Later, following his heroics in extra innings on Monday, Blue Jays reliever Braydon Fisher stops by (26:40) to discuss how his trip to Triple-A helped him reset, the difference between pitching in the sixth and seventh versus pitching late innings, what he's learned from Hoffman this season, his thoughts on Yesavage's stellar debut, and the team's winning culture.

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.

]]> Yesavage Deals in Debut + Extra Innings Hero Braydon Fisher Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with a look back on Trey Yesavage's 9-strikeout debut against the Tampa Bay Rays. They weigh in on how the Jays should deploy Yesavage in the postseason, news on Bo Bichette's injury, Andrés Giménez's play at shortstop, and potential solutions for Jeff Hoffman's dipping velocity. Later, following his heroics in extra innings on Monday, Blue Jays reliever Braydon Fisher stops by (26:40) to discuss how his trip to Triple-A helped him reset, the difference between pitching in the sixth and seventh versus pitching late innings, what he's learned from Hoffman this season, his thoughts on Yesavage's stellar debut, and the team's winning culture. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with a look back on Trey Yesavage's 9-strikeout debut against the Tampa Bay Rays. They weigh in on how the Jays should deploy Yesavage in the postseason, news on Bo Bichette's injury, Andrés Giménez's play at shortstop, and potential solutions for Jeff Hoffman's dipping velocity. Later, following his heroics in extra innings on Monday, Blue Jays reliever Braydon Fisher stops by (26:40) to discuss how his trip to Triple-A helped him reset, the difference between pitching in the sixth and seventh versus pitching late innings, what he's learned from Hoffman this season, his thoughts on Yesavage's stellar debut, and the team's winning culture. 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. false full 46fed577-ba44-4249-9cf1-1f94aa2b92df Trey Yesavage Scouting Report + An Update on Bo Bichette Buffalo Bisons' pitching coach Drew Hayes joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to describe Trey Yesavage as a pitcher and person in the clubhouse, his best pitch within his arsenal, the dynamics of his high release point, the stints between starting a game and coming out of the bullpen, and what would be a clear indicator that he's on the right path to success ahead of his Blue Jays' debut (11:00). Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (35:19) to discuss the news that Bo Bichette is looking into a second opinion on his sprained left PCL, what steered the Blue Jays into calling Yesavage up to the main roster, and why Tyler Heineman is catching Trey's MLB debut. 

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.

]]> Mon, 15 Sep 2025 22:01:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Buffalo Bisons' pitching coach Drew Hayes joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to describe Trey Yesavage as a pitcher and person in the clubhouse, his best pitch within his arsenal, the dynamics of his high release point, the stints between starting a game and coming out of the bullpen, and what would be a clear indicator that he's on the right path to success ahead of his Blue Jays' debut (11:00). Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (35:19) to discuss the news that Bo Bichette is looking into a second opinion on his sprained left PCL, what steered the Blue Jays into calling Yesavage up to the main roster, and why Tyler Heineman is catching Trey's MLB debut. 

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.

]]> Trey Yesavage Scouting Report + An Update on Bo Bichette Sportsnet 00:49:43 Buffalo Bisons' pitching coach Drew Hayes joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to describe Trey Yesavage as a pitcher and person in the clubhouse, his best pitch within his arsenal, the dynamics of his high release point, the stints between starting a game and coming out of the bullpen, and what would be a clear indicator that he's on the right path to success ahead of his Blue Jays' debut (11:00). Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (35:19) to discuss the news that Bo Bichette is looking into a second opinion on his sprained left PCL, what steered the Blue Jays into calling Yesavage up to the main roster, and why Tyler Heineman is catching Trey's MLB debut. 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. Buffalo Bisons' pitching coach Drew Hayes joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to describe Trey Yesavage as a pitcher and person in the clubhouse, his best pitch within his arsenal, the dynamics of his high release point, the stints between starting a game and coming out of the bullpen, and what would be a clear indicator that he's on the right path to success ahead of his Blue Jays' debut (11:00). Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (35:19) to discuss the news that Bo Bichette is looking into a second opinion on his sprained left PCL, what steered the Blue Jays into calling Yesavage up to the main roster, and why Tyler Heineman is catching Trey's MLB debut. 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. false full ecaf29d2-c4c1-43ed-94a1-1c264bda23d5 Trey Day in Tampa Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for Blue Jays' top prospect Trey Yesavage's MLB debut to kick off the team's series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They share expectations for the young starter, takeaways from the Jays' weekend sweep over the Baltimore Orioles, Addison Barger's push for a larger role, and much more. Later, Rays TV analyst and former pitcher Brian Anderson (32:40) joins the show to discuss what's behind Tampa's streaky season, Junior Caminero's breakout year, and how the Rays' bats might attack Yesavage's tricky release point.

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.

]]> Mon, 15 Sep 2025 21:06:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for Blue Jays' top prospect Trey Yesavage's MLB debut to kick off the team's series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They share expectations for the young starter, takeaways from the Jays' weekend sweep over the Baltimore Orioles, Addison Barger's push for a larger role, and much more. Later, Rays TV analyst and former pitcher Brian Anderson (32:40) joins the show to discuss what's behind Tampa's streaky season, Junior Caminero's breakout year, and how the Rays' bats might attack Yesavage's tricky release point.

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.

]]> Trey Day in Tampa Sportsnet 00:50:09 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for Blue Jays' top prospect Trey Yesavage's MLB debut to kick off the team's series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They share expectations for the young starter, takeaways from the Jays' weekend sweep over the Baltimore Orioles, Addison Barger's push for a larger role, and much more. Later, Rays TV analyst and former pitcher Brian Anderson (32:40) joins the show to discuss what's behind Tampa's streaky season, Junior Caminero's breakout year, and how the Rays' bats might attack Yesavage's tricky release point. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for Blue Jays' top prospect Trey Yesavage's MLB debut to kick off the team's series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They share expectations for the young starter, takeaways from the Jays' weekend sweep over the Baltimore Orioles, Addison Barger's push for a larger role, and much more. Later, Rays TV analyst and former pitcher Brian Anderson (32:40) joins the show to discuss what's behind Tampa's streaky season, Junior Caminero's breakout year, and how the Rays' bats might attack Yesavage's tricky release point. 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. false full c94bcc1c-a114-4218-a187-6c8fa9dff654 Pennant Races with Troy Tulowitzki Former Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his transition to coaching for the University of Texas, how he's navigated being a mentor versus a coach, working closely with Bo Bichette, his hitting style, the unique style of playing at short, Bo's overall performance in 2025, working through a contract year, memories of Rogers Centre and the 2015 baseball club, and his advice to the current Jays on pushing through October. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker touch on their expectations for Chris Bassitt against the Baltimore Orioles and their keys to victory over the weekend series. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:57:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his transition to coaching for the University of Texas, how he's navigated being a mentor versus a coach, working closely with Bo Bichette, his hitting style, the unique style of playing at short, Bo's overall performance in 2025, working through a contract year, memories of Rogers Centre and the 2015 baseball club, and his advice to the current Jays on pushing through October. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker touch on their expectations for Chris Bassitt against the Baltimore Orioles and their keys to victory over the weekend series. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Pennant Races with Troy Tulowitzki Sportsnet 00:49:19 Former Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his transition to coaching for the University of Texas, how he's navigated being a mentor versus a coach, working closely with Bo Bichette, his hitting style, the unique style of playing at short, Bo's overall performance in 2025, working through a contract year, memories of Rogers Centre and the 2015 baseball club, and his advice to the current Jays on pushing through October. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker touch on their expectations for Chris Bassitt against the Baltimore Orioles and their keys to victory over the weekend series.  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 affiliate. Former Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his transition to coaching for the University of Texas, how he's navigated being a mentor versus a coach, working closely with Bo Bichette, his hitting style, the unique style of playing at short, Bo's overall performance in 2025, working through a contract year, memories of Rogers Centre and the 2015 baseball club, and his advice to the current Jays on pushing through October. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker touch on their expectations for Chris Bassitt against the Baltimore Orioles and their keys to victory over the weekend series.  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 affiliate. false full 6251fd66-1639-4694-8b21-f0760422e419 Lineup Decisions Without Bichette + Bisons Report Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly chat about his lineup decisions with Bo Bichette on the IL, if Addison Barger can be a mainstay as the clean-up hitter, Anthony Santander's rehab stint with Buffalo, revisiting Jeff Hoffman's workload and sequencing his pitches, when he would consider changing the closer role, Kevin Gausman's longevity, Jose Berrios' progression back towards being himself on the mound, confidence in Davis Schneider, and the feeling of playing at home. Then, Buffalo Bisons play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro stops by to elaborate on Santander's rehab, Trey Yesavage's adjustment to pitching in AAA, Orelvis Martínez's struggles, and the outlook on Alek Manoah's potential road back to the Majors. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 12 Sep 2025 20:58:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly chat about his lineup decisions with Bo Bichette on the IL, if Addison Barger can be a mainstay as the clean-up hitter, Anthony Santander's rehab stint with Buffalo, revisiting Jeff Hoffman's workload and sequencing his pitches, when he would consider changing the closer role, Kevin Gausman's longevity, Jose Berrios' progression back towards being himself on the mound, confidence in Davis Schneider, and the feeling of playing at home. Then, Buffalo Bisons play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro stops by to elaborate on Santander's rehab, Trey Yesavage's adjustment to pitching in AAA, Orelvis Martínez's struggles, and the outlook on Alek Manoah's potential road back to the Majors. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Lineup Decisions Without Bichette + Bisons Report Sportsnet 00:49:14 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly chat about his lineup decisions with Bo Bichette on the IL, if Addison Barger can be a mainstay as the clean-up hitter, Anthony Santander's rehab stint with Buffalo, revisiting Jeff Hoffman's workload and sequencing his pitches, when he would consider changing the closer role, Kevin Gausman's longevity, Jose Berrios' progression back towards being himself on the mound, confidence in Davis Schneider, and the feeling of playing at home. Then, Buffalo Bisons play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro stops by to elaborate on Santander's rehab, Trey Yesavage's adjustment to pitching in AAA, Orelvis Martínez's struggles, and the outlook on Alek Manoah's potential road back to the Majors.  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 affiliate. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly chat about his lineup decisions with Bo Bichette on the IL, if Addison Barger can be a mainstay as the clean-up hitter, Anthony Santander's rehab stint with Buffalo, revisiting Jeff Hoffman's workload and sequencing his pitches, when he would consider changing the closer role, Kevin Gausman's longevity, Jose Berrios' progression back towards being himself on the mound, confidence in Davis Schneider, and the feeling of playing at home. Then, Buffalo Bisons play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro stops by to elaborate on Santander's rehab, Trey Yesavage's adjustment to pitching in AAA, Orelvis Martínez's struggles, and the outlook on Alek Manoah's potential road back to the Majors.  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 affiliate. false full 0fe80cff-3e40-44f8-9f51-e14ec1728fd5 AL & NL MVP Races + The Jays' Resilience ESPN's Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss whether Bo Bichette is a bigger loss to the Blue Jay than Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies, the scouting reports on relivers and why there wasn't a greater market for them during the trade deadline, the NL and AL MVP race, if the San Francisco Giants can sneak into the post-season, and what could Kyle Schwarber get on the free agency market. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by to chat about the baseball club's resilience, Daulton Varsho's place as the clean-up hitter vs. putting Addison Barger in that spot, expectations for Jose Berrios, and the communication between Vladdy and the rest of the infield. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:59:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN's Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss whether Bo Bichette is a bigger loss to the Blue Jay than Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies, the scouting reports on relivers and why there wasn't a greater market for them during the trade deadline, the NL and AL MVP race, if the San Francisco Giants can sneak into the post-season, and what could Kyle Schwarber get on the free agency market. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by to chat about the baseball club's resilience, Daulton Varsho's place as the clean-up hitter vs. putting Addison Barger in that spot, expectations for Jose Berrios, and the communication between Vladdy and the rest of the infield. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> AL & NL MVP Races + The Jays' Resilience Sportsnet 00:49:22 ESPN's Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss whether Bo Bichette is a bigger loss to the Blue Jay than Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies, the scouting reports on relivers and why there wasn't a greater market for them during the trade deadline, the NL and AL MVP race, if the San Francisco Giants can sneak into the post-season, and what could Kyle Schwarber get on the free agency market. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by to chat about the baseball club's resilience, Daulton Varsho's place as the clean-up hitter vs. putting Addison Barger in that spot, expectations for Jose Berrios, and the communication between Vladdy and the rest of the infield.  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 affiliate. ESPN's Jeff Passan joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss whether Bo Bichette is a bigger loss to the Blue Jay than Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies, the scouting reports on relivers and why there wasn't a greater market for them during the trade deadline, the NL and AL MVP race, if the San Francisco Giants can sneak into the post-season, and what could Kyle Schwarber get on the free agency market. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by to chat about the baseball club's resilience, Daulton Varsho's place as the clean-up hitter vs. putting Addison Barger in that spot, expectations for Jose Berrios, and the communication between Vladdy and the rest of the infield.  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 affiliate. false full 9d20776b-8ddb-4a91-902c-5006a267476e Walking Off the Astros + Alejandro Kirk's Biggest Adjustment Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays-Astros series opening thriller, Vladdy's decision to throw to Addison Barger at third base to cut off Jose Altuve, the bottom of the order's rally in the 9th including Isiah Kiner-Falefa's crucial hit, Daulton Varsho's stint as the clean-up hitter, and the gap increasing between the Jays and New York Yankees. Then, MLB Network's and former MLB catcher Alex Avila joins the guys to chat about what it means for the Jays to secure their 8th walk-off of the season, if the team is still the best club without Bo Bichette on the active roster, the home cooking, Alejandro Kirk's ability to adjust to his increased workload, and Max Scherzer's season.

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2025 21:00:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays-Astros series opening thriller, Vladdy's decision to throw to Addison Barger at third base to cut off Jose Altuve, the bottom of the order's rally in the 9th including Isiah Kiner-Falefa's crucial hit, Daulton Varsho's stint as the clean-up hitter, and the gap increasing between the Jays and New York Yankees. Then, MLB Network's and former MLB catcher Alex Avila joins the guys to chat about what it means for the Jays to secure their 8th walk-off of the season, if the team is still the best club without Bo Bichette on the active roster, the home cooking, Alejandro Kirk's ability to adjust to his increased workload, and Max Scherzer's season.

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Walking Off the Astros + Alejandro Kirk's Biggest Adjustment Sportsnet 00:49:12 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays-Astros series opening thriller, Vladdy's decision to throw to Addison Barger at third base to cut off Jose Altuve, the bottom of the order's rally in the 9th including Isiah Kiner-Falefa's crucial hit, Daulton Varsho's stint as the clean-up hitter, and the gap increasing between the Jays and New York Yankees. Then, MLB Network's and former MLB catcher Alex Avila joins the guys to chat about what it means for the Jays to secure their 8th walk-off of the season, if the team is still the best club without Bo Bichette on the active roster, the home cooking, Alejandro Kirk's ability to adjust to his increased workload, and Max Scherzer's season. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays-Astros series opening thriller, Vladdy's decision to throw to Addison Barger at third base to cut off Jose Altuve, the bottom of the order's rally in the 9th including Isiah Kiner-Falefa's crucial hit, Daulton Varsho's stint as the clean-up hitter, and the gap increasing between the Jays and New York Yankees. Then, MLB Network's and former MLB catcher Alex Avila joins the guys to chat about what it means for the Jays to secure their 8th walk-off of the season, if the team is still the best club without Bo Bichette on the active roster, the home cooking, Alejandro Kirk's ability to adjust to his increased workload, and Max Scherzer's season. 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 affiliate. false full 53aae245-7198-452a-916c-5ec16382591b The Next Most Important Series Against Astros Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph to chat about Daulton Varsho's mechanical changes at the plate, pitching against Yordan Alvarez, if Braydon Fisher is the front-runner to takeover Louis Varland's spot in high leverage, and his expectations for Jose Berrios in his next start. Then, we hear from manager John Schneider ahead of their series against the Astros. Afterwards, Houston Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum stops by to discuss how Jeremy Peña has been able to elevate his offence, Jake Meyers importance in the outfield, the protection around Alvarez in the order, and Luis Garcia's pitching since coming off of Tommy John. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 9 Sep 2025 21:59:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph to chat about Daulton Varsho's mechanical changes at the plate, pitching against Yordan Alvarez, if Braydon Fisher is the front-runner to takeover Louis Varland's spot in high leverage, and his expectations for Jose Berrios in his next start. Then, we hear from manager John Schneider ahead of their series against the Astros. Afterwards, Houston Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum stops by to discuss how Jeremy Peña has been able to elevate his offence, Jake Meyers importance in the outfield, the protection around Alvarez in the order, and Luis Garcia's pitching since coming off of Tommy John. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> The Next Most Important Series Against Astros Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph to chat about Daulton Varsho's mechanical changes at the plate, pitching against Yordan Alvarez, if Braydon Fisher is the front-runner to takeover Louis Varland's spot in high leverage, and his expectations for Jose Berrios in his next start. Then, we hear from manager John Schneider ahead of their series against the Astros. Afterwards, Houston Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum stops by to discuss how Jeremy Peña has been able to elevate his offence, Jake Meyers importance in the outfield, the protection around Alvarez in the order, and Luis Garcia's pitching since coming off of Tommy John. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph to chat about Daulton Varsho's mechanical changes at the plate, pitching against Yordan Alvarez, if Braydon Fisher is the front-runner to takeover Louis Varland's spot in high leverage, and his expectations for Jose Berrios in his next start. Then, we hear from manager John Schneider ahead of their series against the Astros. Afterwards, Houston Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum stops by to discuss how Jeremy Peña has been able to elevate his offence, Jake Meyers importance in the outfield, the protection around Alvarez in the order, and Luis Garcia's pitching since coming off of Tommy John. 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 affiliate. false full 4e3cbef5-a656-48a4-9ea9-9a9819226b3c Late Season Stretch without Bo Bichette Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' roster move sending Bo Bichette to the 10-day IL and calling up Joey Loperfido, expectations for the team moving forward without Bo for the final stretch of September, and the upcoming series opener against the Houston Astros. Then, host of Foul Territory and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz stops by to chat about stealing signs across the league and in particular during the New York Yankees-Blue Jays series finale, if the Jays can win the division without Bo in the lineup, Shane Bieber's outing coming off Tommy John, and if the Astros' consistent run into the post-season is nearing it's end. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 9 Sep 2025 20:59:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' roster move sending Bo Bichette to the 10-day IL and calling up Joey Loperfido, expectations for the team moving forward without Bo for the final stretch of September, and the upcoming series opener against the Houston Astros. Then, host of Foul Territory and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz stops by to chat about stealing signs across the league and in particular during the New York Yankees-Blue Jays series finale, if the Jays can win the division without Bo in the lineup, Shane Bieber's outing coming off Tommy John, and if the Astros' consistent run into the post-season is nearing it's end. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Late Season Stretch without Bo Bichette Sportsnet 00:49:15 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' roster move sending Bo Bichette to the 10-day IL and calling up Joey Loperfido, expectations for the team moving forward without Bo for the final stretch of September, and the upcoming series opener against the Houston Astros. Then, host of Foul Territory and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz stops by to chat about stealing signs across the league and in particular during the New York Yankees-Blue Jays series finale, if the Jays can win the division without Bo in the lineup, Shane Bieber's outing coming off Tommy John, and if the Astros' consistent run into the post-season is nearing it's end.  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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Blue Jays' roster move sending Bo Bichette to the 10-day IL and calling up Joey Loperfido, expectations for the team moving forward without Bo for the final stretch of September, and the upcoming series opener against the Houston Astros. Then, host of Foul Territory and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz stops by to chat about stealing signs across the league and in particular during the New York Yankees-Blue Jays series finale, if the Jays can win the division without Bo in the lineup, Shane Bieber's outing coming off Tommy John, and if the Astros' consistent run into the post-season is nearing it's end.  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 affiliate. false full 02a4d62d-c723-40bc-9e59-c57197eb3968 Yankees' Path to October + Stealing Signs in Baseball New York Yankees reporter Pete Caldera joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the chances for the team to make up some ground for the top of the AL East before the end of the regular season, how Aaron Boone deploys Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton in the right field, narrowing down their circle of trust in the bullpen, Cody Bellinger's season, and Anthony Volpe's future at shortstop. Then, host of Nothing Personal with David Samson stops by to discuss the Yankees embracing the sign stealing, why fans shouldn't be worried about the Blue Jays dropping two out of three in New York, if the Houston Astros have 'championship DNA', Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers building towards that, having experienced managers towards October and if there's cap circumvention across major league sports. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 8 Sep 2025 22:00:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ New York Yankees reporter Pete Caldera joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the chances for the team to make up some ground for the top of the AL East before the end of the regular season, how Aaron Boone deploys Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton in the right field, narrowing down their circle of trust in the bullpen, Cody Bellinger's season, and Anthony Volpe's future at shortstop. Then, host of Nothing Personal with David Samson stops by to discuss the Yankees embracing the sign stealing, why fans shouldn't be worried about the Blue Jays dropping two out of three in New York, if the Houston Astros have 'championship DNA', Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers building towards that, having experienced managers towards October and if there's cap circumvention across major league sports. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Yankees' Path to October + Stealing Signs in Baseball Sportsnet 00:49:27 New York Yankees reporter Pete Caldera joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the chances for the team to make up some ground for the top of the AL East before the end of the regular season, how Aaron Boone deploys Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton in the right field, narrowing down their circle of trust in the bullpen, Cody Bellinger's season, and Anthony Volpe's future at shortstop. Then, host of Nothing Personal with David Samson stops by to discuss the Yankees embracing the sign stealing, why fans shouldn't be worried about the Blue Jays dropping two out of three in New York, if the Houston Astros have 'championship DNA', Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers building towards that, having experienced managers towards October and if there's cap circumvention across major league sports. 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 affiliate. New York Yankees reporter Pete Caldera joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the chances for the team to make up some ground for the top of the AL East before the end of the regular season, how Aaron Boone deploys Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton in the right field, narrowing down their circle of trust in the bullpen, Cody Bellinger's season, and Anthony Volpe's future at shortstop. Then, host of Nothing Personal with David Samson stops by to discuss the Yankees embracing the sign stealing, why fans shouldn't be worried about the Blue Jays dropping two out of three in New York, if the Houston Astros have 'championship DNA', Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers building towards that, having experienced managers towards October and if there's cap circumvention across major league sports. 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 affiliate. false full 288a1d69-ba58-4409-900b-1e896dcb3de2 Pitch-Tipping and Learning from Jays-Yankees Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts from the Blue Jays' weekend series at Yankees Stadium, Max Scherzer's pitch tipping, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger picking up on it, how it's part of the game of baseball and how the Jays handled the situation. Then, Blair and Barker head to Back Leg Line to hear listener's calls on what they've learned from the series loss to the New York Yankees. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 8 Sep 2025 21:02:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts from the Blue Jays' weekend series at Yankees Stadium, Max Scherzer's pitch tipping, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger picking up on it, how it's part of the game of baseball and how the Jays handled the situation. Then, Blair and Barker head to Back Leg Line to hear listener's calls on what they've learned from the series loss to the New York Yankees. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Pitch-Tipping and Learning from Jays-Yankees Sportsnet 00:49:14 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts from the Blue Jays' weekend series at Yankees Stadium, Max Scherzer's pitch tipping, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger picking up on it, how it's part of the game of baseball and how the Jays handled the situation. Then, Blair and Barker head to Back Leg Line to hear listener's calls on what they've learned from the series loss to the New York Yankees. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts from the Blue Jays' weekend series at Yankees Stadium, Max Scherzer's pitch tipping, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger picking up on it, how it's part of the game of baseball and how the Jays handled the situation. Then, Blair and Barker head to Back Leg Line to hear listener's calls on what they've learned from the series loss to the New York Yankees. 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 affiliate. false full 47567719-b692-424f-81b6-bb1d3c051d4d The Most Important Series for the Yankees & Blue Jays The Athletic's Jayson Starks joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about why it's a bigger series for the New York Yankees against the Blue Jays, Aaron Judge's return to the outfield, the BBWAA adding Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 2026 for both the NL and AL, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in the National League after taking two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, if it takes a superstar to win a World Series, concerns with L.A. Dodgers' offence, and the Baltimore Orioles honouring Cal Ripken Jr. for his Ironman streak 30 years later. Then, Yankees' radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims stops by to discuss  the implications between the Jays and Bronx Bombers, what has gone wrong with their closer Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger's impact on the lineup. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 5 Sep 2025 21:58:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Athletic's Jayson Starks joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about why it's a bigger series for the New York Yankees against the Blue Jays, Aaron Judge's return to the outfield, the BBWAA adding Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 2026 for both the NL and AL, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in the National League after taking two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, if it takes a superstar to win a World Series, concerns with L.A. Dodgers' offence, and the Baltimore Orioles honouring Cal Ripken Jr. for his Ironman streak 30 years later. Then, Yankees' radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims stops by to discuss  the implications between the Jays and Bronx Bombers, what has gone wrong with their closer Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger's impact on the lineup. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> The Most Important Series for the Yankees & Blue Jays Sportsnet 00:49:24 The Athletic's Jayson Starks joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about why it's a bigger series for the New York Yankees against the Blue Jays, Aaron Judge's return to the outfield, the BBWAA adding Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 2026 for both the NL and AL, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in the National League after taking two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, if it takes a superstar to win a World Series, concerns with L.A. Dodgers' offence, and the Baltimore Orioles honouring Cal Ripken Jr. for his Ironman streak 30 years later. Then, Yankees' radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims stops by to discuss  the implications between the Jays and Bronx Bombers, what has gone wrong with their closer Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger's impact on the lineup.  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 affiliate. The Athletic's Jayson Starks joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about why it's a bigger series for the New York Yankees against the Blue Jays, Aaron Judge's return to the outfield, the BBWAA adding Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in 2026 for both the NL and AL, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the best team in the National League after taking two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, if it takes a superstar to win a World Series, concerns with L.A. Dodgers' offence, and the Baltimore Orioles honouring Cal Ripken Jr. for his Ironman streak 30 years later. Then, Yankees' radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims stops by to discuss  the implications between the Jays and Bronx Bombers, what has gone wrong with their closer Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger's impact on the lineup.  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 affiliate. false full ef3baa5d-0782-48b6-83d4-7593e9ace0d0 AL East Battle in New York with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about facing the New York Yankees as they close the gap to his team in the AL East, his expectations for his pitchers to attack the Bronx Bombers, how he'll utilize Jose Berrios nearing the end of the year, giving Max Scherzer an extra days rest, Brendon Little's pitches, Jeff Hoffman's workload, Addison Barger's recent stretch of at-bats, the status of Anthony Santander, calling up Braydon Fisher and Trey Yesavage's path to the big leagues. Then, Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Scherzer and Chris Bassitt flipping their starts in New York, if Max's back issues will be a bigger problem, Jose Berrios' slated to pitch against the Houston Astros and Taylor Trammell's bat being confiscated. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 5 Sep 2025 20:59:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about facing the New York Yankees as they close the gap to his team in the AL East, his expectations for his pitchers to attack the Bronx Bombers, how he'll utilize Jose Berrios nearing the end of the year, giving Max Scherzer an extra days rest, Brendon Little's pitches, Jeff Hoffman's workload, Addison Barger's recent stretch of at-bats, the status of Anthony Santander, calling up Braydon Fisher and Trey Yesavage's path to the big leagues. Then, Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Scherzer and Chris Bassitt flipping their starts in New York, if Max's back issues will be a bigger problem, Jose Berrios' slated to pitch against the Houston Astros and Taylor Trammell's bat being confiscated. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> AL East Battle in New York with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:13 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about facing the New York Yankees as they close the gap to his team in the AL East, his expectations for his pitchers to attack the Bronx Bombers, how he'll utilize Jose Berrios nearing the end of the year, giving Max Scherzer an extra days rest, Brendon Little's pitches, Jeff Hoffman's workload, Addison Barger's recent stretch of at-bats, the status of Anthony Santander, calling up Braydon Fisher and Trey Yesavage's path to the big leagues. Then, Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Scherzer and Chris Bassitt flipping their starts in New York, if Max's back issues will be a bigger problem, Jose Berrios' slated to pitch against the Houston Astros and Taylor Trammell's bat being confiscated. 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 affiliate. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about facing the New York Yankees as they close the gap to his team in the AL East, his expectations for his pitchers to attack the Bronx Bombers, how he'll utilize Jose Berrios nearing the end of the year, giving Max Scherzer an extra days rest, Brendon Little's pitches, Jeff Hoffman's workload, Addison Barger's recent stretch of at-bats, the status of Anthony Santander, calling up Braydon Fisher and Trey Yesavage's path to the big leagues. Then, Jeff and Kevin weigh in on Scherzer and Chris Bassitt flipping their starts in New York, if Max's back issues will be a bigger problem, Jose Berrios' slated to pitch against the Houston Astros and Taylor Trammell's bat being confiscated. 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 affiliate. false full f0663eec-2c37-43ba-85ce-8aa8786e2197 Preparing for Yankees Stadium with John Smoltz & Jon Morosi MLB Network's Jon Morosi (2:17) jumps on with Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about a messy 8th inning during the New York Yankees and Houston Astros game, if the Blue Jays pitchers can attack against the Yankees' hitters, Aaron Judge's future in the outfield, Bo Bichette's market value, and the chaotic race within the American League for a playoff spot. Then, MLB Hall of Famer and MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz stops by (28:01) to discuss how difficult it is to be a closer vs. a starter nearing the postseason, playing on the road at Yankees Stadium, pitching coming out of Tommy John surgery, the playoff experience Max Scherzer brings to the pitching staff, and who is the best pitcher in baseball in 2025. 

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.

]]> Thu, 4 Sep 2025 22:02:04 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network's Jon Morosi (2:17) jumps on with Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about a messy 8th inning during the New York Yankees and Houston Astros game, if the Blue Jays pitchers can attack against the Yankees' hitters, Aaron Judge's future in the outfield, Bo Bichette's market value, and the chaotic race within the American League for a playoff spot. Then, MLB Hall of Famer and MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz stops by (28:01) to discuss how difficult it is to be a closer vs. a starter nearing the postseason, playing on the road at Yankees Stadium, pitching coming out of Tommy John surgery, the playoff experience Max Scherzer brings to the pitching staff, and who is the best pitcher in baseball in 2025. 

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.

]]> Preparing for Yankees Stadium with John Smoltz & Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:47 MLB Network's Jon Morosi (2:17) jumps on with Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about a messy 8th inning during the New York Yankees and Houston Astros game, if the Blue Jays pitchers can attack against the Yankees' hitters, Aaron Judge's future in the outfield, Bo Bichette's market value, and the chaotic race within the American League for a playoff spot. Then, MLB Hall of Famer and MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz stops by (28:01) to discuss how difficult it is to be a closer vs. a starter nearing the postseason, playing on the road at Yankees Stadium, pitching coming out of Tommy John surgery, the playoff experience Max Scherzer brings to the pitching staff, and who is the best pitcher in baseball in 2025.  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 (2:17) jumps on with Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about a messy 8th inning during the New York Yankees and Houston Astros game, if the Blue Jays pitchers can attack against the Yankees' hitters, Aaron Judge's future in the outfield, Bo Bichette's market value, and the chaotic race within the American League for a playoff spot. Then, MLB Hall of Famer and MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz stops by (28:01) to discuss how difficult it is to be a closer vs. a starter nearing the postseason, playing on the road at Yankees Stadium, pitching coming out of Tommy John surgery, the playoff experience Max Scherzer brings to the pitching staff, and who is the best pitcher in baseball in 2025.  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. false full 5cf531bd-86d7-4221-ba36-4df370ad5dcd Who is the Blue Jays' MVP? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-9 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds to close out the series. They debate who is the Jays' MVP this season between George Springer and Bo Bichette, break down Shane Bieber's mid-game adjustments, and share their confidence levels in the bullpen heading into their pivotal series against the Yankees. Then, they get into where Anthony Santander would slot in if he gets healthy. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (28:00) stops by to discuss the stakes of the Jays/Yanks weekend series, Springer's miraculous resurgence, Bichette's open-market value, and he ranks his top three teams in each league. Finally, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Thu, 4 Sep 2025 21:06:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-9 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds to close out the series. They debate who is the Jays' MVP this season between George Springer and Bo Bichette, break down Shane Bieber's mid-game adjustments, and share their confidence levels in the bullpen heading into their pivotal series against the Yankees. Then, they get into where Anthony Santander would slot in if he gets healthy. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (28:00) stops by to discuss the stakes of the Jays/Yanks weekend series, Springer's miraculous resurgence, Bichette's open-market value, and he ranks his top three teams in each league. Finally, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Who is the Blue Jays' MVP? Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-9 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds to close out the series. They debate who is the Jays' MVP this season between George Springer and Bo Bichette, break down Shane Bieber's mid-game adjustments, and share their confidence levels in the bullpen heading into their pivotal series against the Yankees. Then, they get into where Anthony Santander would slot in if he gets healthy. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (28:00) stops by to discuss the stakes of the Jays/Yanks weekend series, Springer's miraculous resurgence, Bichette's open-market value, and he ranks his top three teams in each league. Finally, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-9 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds to close out the series. They debate who is the Jays' MVP this season between George Springer and Bo Bichette, break down Shane Bieber's mid-game adjustments, and share their confidence levels in the bullpen heading into their pivotal series against the Yankees. Then, they get into where Anthony Santander would slot in if he gets healthy. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (28:00) stops by to discuss the stakes of the Jays/Yanks weekend series, Springer's miraculous resurgence, Bichette's open-market value, and he ranks his top three teams in each league. Finally, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to take your calls and questions! 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. false full e7bbea6a-b840-415c-86ea-aa8a22d4c0bb Houston's Pitcher-Catcher Problem with Joe Siddall + Jeff Passan Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (0:20) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the pitching incident between Houston Astros' starter Framber Valdez and his catcher César Salazar, what he expects from Shane Bieber in his third start since coming off the IL, how he views the Jays handling Jose Berrios' struggles against the Cincinnati Reds, Trey Yesavage's future in Buffalo, who will become Toronto's second hitter in the lineup in October, how Bo Bichette has controlled his 'aggressiveness' at the plate and Alejandro Kirk's season catching. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:44) stops by to give an early look at the Jays' weekend clash with AL East rivals New York Yankees, how the Yankees have climbed back into the standings behind Toronto, Boston Red Sox's Roman Anthony rookie year coming to a halt, why Bieber might not be far from becoming the Jays' number one pitcher and his view on Framber Valdez's seemingly intentionally pitching his catcher. 

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.

]]> Wed, 3 Sep 2025 22:02:44 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (0:20) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the pitching incident between Houston Astros' starter Framber Valdez and his catcher César Salazar, what he expects from Shane Bieber in his third start since coming off the IL, how he views the Jays handling Jose Berrios' struggles against the Cincinnati Reds, Trey Yesavage's future in Buffalo, who will become Toronto's second hitter in the lineup in October, how Bo Bichette has controlled his 'aggressiveness' at the plate and Alejandro Kirk's season catching. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:44) stops by to give an early look at the Jays' weekend clash with AL East rivals New York Yankees, how the Yankees have climbed back into the standings behind Toronto, Boston Red Sox's Roman Anthony rookie year coming to a halt, why Bieber might not be far from becoming the Jays' number one pitcher and his view on Framber Valdez's seemingly intentionally pitching his catcher. 

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.

]]> Houston's Pitcher-Catcher Problem with Joe Siddall + Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:45 Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (0:20) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the pitching incident between Houston Astros' starter Framber Valdez and his catcher César Salazar, what he expects from Shane Bieber in his third start since coming off the IL, how he views the Jays handling Jose Berrios' struggles against the Cincinnati Reds, Trey Yesavage's future in Buffalo, who will become Toronto's second hitter in the lineup in October, how Bo Bichette has controlled his 'aggressiveness' at the plate and Alejandro Kirk's season catching. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:44) stops by to give an early look at the Jays' weekend clash with AL East rivals New York Yankees, how the Yankees have climbed back into the standings behind Toronto, Boston Red Sox's Roman Anthony rookie year coming to a halt, why Bieber might not be far from becoming the Jays' number one pitcher and his view on Framber Valdez's seemingly intentionally pitching his catcher.  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. Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (0:20) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the pitching incident between Houston Astros' starter Framber Valdez and his catcher César Salazar, what he expects from Shane Bieber in his third start since coming off the IL, how he views the Jays handling Jose Berrios' struggles against the Cincinnati Reds, Trey Yesavage's future in Buffalo, who will become Toronto's second hitter in the lineup in October, how Bo Bichette has controlled his 'aggressiveness' at the plate and Alejandro Kirk's season catching. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:44) stops by to give an early look at the Jays' weekend clash with AL East rivals New York Yankees, how the Yankees have climbed back into the standings behind Toronto, Boston Red Sox's Roman Anthony rookie year coming to a halt, why Bieber might not be far from becoming the Jays' number one pitcher and his view on Framber Valdez's seemingly intentionally pitching his catcher.  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. false full 8ba7f7d9-6c72-433f-b5d8-651c1816fde4 Bullpen Bounces Back Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the bullpen limiting the damage, Louis Varland figuring it out, and José Berríos's waning confidence on the mound. Then, they get into how George Springer's season impacts his legacy, Framber Valdez seemingly intentionally crossing up his catcher, and their expectations for Shane Bieber in his third start. Later, Adam Ottavino (28:35), former pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, stops by to give his take on the Valdez/Salazar incident, the Jays' pitching potential, what it takes to get back to form after Tommy John surgery, and Canadian pitcher Jonah Tong impressing early after his Mets call-up.

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.

]]> Wed, 3 Sep 2025 21:03:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the bullpen limiting the damage, Louis Varland figuring it out, and José Berríos's waning confidence on the mound. Then, they get into how George Springer's season impacts his legacy, Framber Valdez seemingly intentionally crossing up his catcher, and their expectations for Shane Bieber in his third start. Later, Adam Ottavino (28:35), former pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, stops by to give his take on the Valdez/Salazar incident, the Jays' pitching potential, what it takes to get back to form after Tommy John surgery, and Canadian pitcher Jonah Tong impressing early after his Mets call-up.

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.

]]> Bullpen Bounces Back Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the bullpen limiting the damage, Louis Varland figuring it out, and José Berríos's waning confidence on the mound. Then, they get into how George Springer's season impacts his legacy, Framber Valdez seemingly intentionally crossing up his catcher, and their expectations for Shane Bieber in his third start. Later, Adam Ottavino (28:35), former pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, stops by to give his take on the Valdez/Salazar incident, the Jays' pitching potential, what it takes to get back to form after Tommy John surgery, and Canadian pitcher Jonah Tong impressing early after his Mets call-up. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 12-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds, the bullpen limiting the damage, Louis Varland figuring it out, and José Berríos's waning confidence on the mound. Then, they get into how George Springer's season impacts his legacy, Framber Valdez seemingly intentionally crossing up his catcher, and their expectations for Shane Bieber in his third start. Later, Adam Ottavino (28:35), former pitcher and host of Baseball and Coffee, stops by to give his take on the Valdez/Salazar incident, the Jays' pitching potential, what it takes to get back to form after Tommy John surgery, and Canadian pitcher Jonah Tong impressing early after his Mets call-up. 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. false full 6b278a7d-28ab-4c0f-a5ff-948ae8efaaa7 September Decisions with Thad Levine + Buck Martinez Blue Jays' TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:30) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his expectations for Jose Berrios' start after coming off an extended rest, Shane Bieber's first two starts with the Jays, if Brendon Little can adjust to his pitches this late into the year, how he would catch Jeff Hoffman, why Addison Barger moving down in the lineup could benefit him, and Bo Bichette's consistent at-bats. Then, former MLB executive and host of "Roster to Rings" podcast Thad Levine joins the guys (28:00) to discuss Louis Varland's slow acclimation into the Blue Jays' system, if his can become a starter again, navigating call-ups during September for a playoff bound team, having the tough conversation and decision to send a veteran player to waivers, and how his role changed nearing the end of the regular season.

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.

]]> Tue, 2 Sep 2025 22:02:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays' TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:30) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his expectations for Jose Berrios' start after coming off an extended rest, Shane Bieber's first two starts with the Jays, if Brendon Little can adjust to his pitches this late into the year, how he would catch Jeff Hoffman, why Addison Barger moving down in the lineup could benefit him, and Bo Bichette's consistent at-bats. Then, former MLB executive and host of "Roster to Rings" podcast Thad Levine joins the guys (28:00) to discuss Louis Varland's slow acclimation into the Blue Jays' system, if his can become a starter again, navigating call-ups during September for a playoff bound team, having the tough conversation and decision to send a veteran player to waivers, and how his role changed nearing the end of the regular season.

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.

]]> September Decisions with Thad Levine + Buck Martinez Sportsnet 00:49:35 Blue Jays' TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:30) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his expectations for Jose Berrios' start after coming off an extended rest, Shane Bieber's first two starts with the Jays, if Brendon Little can adjust to his pitches this late into the year, how he would catch Jeff Hoffman, why Addison Barger moving down in the lineup could benefit him, and Bo Bichette's consistent at-bats. Then, former MLB executive and host of "Roster to Rings" podcast Thad Levine joins the guys (28:00) to discuss Louis Varland's slow acclimation into the Blue Jays' system, if his can become a starter again, navigating call-ups during September for a playoff bound team, having the tough conversation and decision to send a veteran player to waivers, and how his role changed nearing the end of the regular season. 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. Blue Jays' TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:30) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his expectations for Jose Berrios' start after coming off an extended rest, Shane Bieber's first two starts with the Jays, if Brendon Little can adjust to his pitches this late into the year, how he would catch Jeff Hoffman, why Addison Barger moving down in the lineup could benefit him, and Bo Bichette's consistent at-bats. Then, former MLB executive and host of "Roster to Rings" podcast Thad Levine joins the guys (28:00) to discuss Louis Varland's slow acclimation into the Blue Jays' system, if his can become a starter again, navigating call-ups during September for a playoff bound team, having the tough conversation and decision to send a veteran player to waivers, and how his role changed nearing the end of the regular season. 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. false full 6c8eac33-5a6d-406a-af55-7dbfd71e7bc2 Ninth Inning Nightmares in Cincinnati Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds and another bullpen breakdown in the ninth. They discuss Ryan Borucki's call-up, whether Brendon Little's second-half struggles are correctable, and Bo Bichette's consistency at the plate. Then, they review Max Scherzer's interview on Foul Territory where he opened up on his back injury and Vladdy's untapped potential. Later, Reds broadcaster and former MLB reliever Jeff Brantley (29:11) shares his thoughts on the season in Cincinnati, Terry Francona's management style, the difficulty of balancing being competitive vs. fostering player development, and the pressure on the closer during a playoff push.

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.

]]> Tue, 2 Sep 2025 21:02:17 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds and another bullpen breakdown in the ninth. They discuss Ryan Borucki's call-up, whether Brendon Little's second-half struggles are correctable, and Bo Bichette's consistency at the plate. Then, they review Max Scherzer's interview on Foul Territory where he opened up on his back injury and Vladdy's untapped potential. Later, Reds broadcaster and former MLB reliever Jeff Brantley (29:11) shares his thoughts on the season in Cincinnati, Terry Francona's management style, the difficulty of balancing being competitive vs. fostering player development, and the pressure on the closer during a playoff push.

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.

]]> Ninth Inning Nightmares in Cincinnati Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds and another bullpen breakdown in the ninth. They discuss Ryan Borucki's call-up, whether Brendon Little's second-half struggles are correctable, and Bo Bichette's consistency at the plate. Then, they review Max Scherzer's interview on Foul Territory where he opened up on his back injury and Vladdy's untapped potential. Later, Reds broadcaster and former MLB reliever Jeff Brantley (29:11) shares his thoughts on the season in Cincinnati, Terry Francona's management style, the difficulty of balancing being competitive vs. fostering player development, and the pressure on the closer during a playoff push. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds and another bullpen breakdown in the ninth. They discuss Ryan Borucki's call-up, whether Brendon Little's second-half struggles are correctable, and Bo Bichette's consistency at the plate. Then, they review Max Scherzer's interview on Foul Territory where he opened up on his back injury and Vladdy's untapped potential. Later, Reds broadcaster and former MLB reliever Jeff Brantley (29:11) shares his thoughts on the season in Cincinnati, Terry Francona's management style, the difficulty of balancing being competitive vs. fostering player development, and the pressure on the closer during a playoff push. 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. false full d061fef8-27e4-4d61-a22c-88d7463a0ef5 Bullpen Issues Linger into September Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio with Blue Jays radio analyst and former pitcher Chris Leroux to debate how John Schneider should reconsider utilizing Brendon Little and the rest of the relievers, if the roster is capable of being the best team in the Majors, even the AL East, Eric Lauer's second stint back to the bullpen, and Bo Bichette's contact ability this season. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by to discuss the Blue Jays' recent additions to the team with rosters expanding for the month, if they can still call-up Trey Yesavage to the big leagues, why he wouldn't be too concerned with Jeff Hoffman despite some hiccups over the recent stretch, and if John Schneider will consider switching up the second spot in the batting order.  

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 1 Sep 2025 21:58:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio with Blue Jays radio analyst and former pitcher Chris Leroux to debate how John Schneider should reconsider utilizing Brendon Little and the rest of the relievers, if the roster is capable of being the best team in the Majors, even the AL East, Eric Lauer's second stint back to the bullpen, and Bo Bichette's contact ability this season. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by to discuss the Blue Jays' recent additions to the team with rosters expanding for the month, if they can still call-up Trey Yesavage to the big leagues, why he wouldn't be too concerned with Jeff Hoffman despite some hiccups over the recent stretch, and if John Schneider will consider switching up the second spot in the batting order.  

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Bullpen Issues Linger into September Sportsnet 00:49:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio with Blue Jays radio analyst and former pitcher Chris Leroux to debate how John Schneider should reconsider utilizing Brendon Little and the rest of the relievers, if the roster is capable of being the best team in the Majors, even the AL East, Eric Lauer's second stint back to the bullpen, and Bo Bichette's contact ability this season. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by to discuss the Blue Jays' recent additions to the team with rosters expanding for the month, if they can still call-up Trey Yesavage to the big leagues, why he wouldn't be too concerned with Jeff Hoffman despite some hiccups over the recent stretch, and if John Schneider will consider switching up the second spot in the batting order. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio with Blue Jays radio analyst and former pitcher Chris Leroux to debate how John Schneider should reconsider utilizing Brendon Little and the rest of the relievers, if the roster is capable of being the best team in the Majors, even the AL East, Eric Lauer's second stint back to the bullpen, and Bo Bichette's contact ability this season. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by to discuss the Blue Jays' recent additions to the team with rosters expanding for the month, if they can still call-up Trey Yesavage to the big leagues, why he wouldn't be too concerned with Jeff Hoffman despite some hiccups over the recent stretch, and if John Schneider will consider switching up the second spot in the batting order. 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 affiliate. false full 70d5b22c-0be4-421b-8d02-f375e7b189e6 A Weekend Between Two of MLB's Best Teams Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Milwaukee Brewers TV play-by-play voice Brian Anderson (1:39) to discuss the team's offensive style of play, what's behind Christian Yelich's resurgence, why Abner Uribe could fill their closer's shoes with Trevor Megill out, and who would be the team's Game 1 starter in October. Then, Jeff and Kevin chat about Markham, ON's Jonah Tong making his big league debut for the New York Mets, before diving back into the Blue Jays' lineup without Ernie Clement, how the batting order stacks up compared to previous years, the continuation of the 6-man rotation, and how the rest of the schedule shapes up for Toronto.

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.

]]> Fri, 29 Aug 2025 22:03:01 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Milwaukee Brewers TV play-by-play voice Brian Anderson (1:39) to discuss the team's offensive style of play, what's behind Christian Yelich's resurgence, why Abner Uribe could fill their closer's shoes with Trevor Megill out, and who would be the team's Game 1 starter in October. Then, Jeff and Kevin chat about Markham, ON's Jonah Tong making his big league debut for the New York Mets, before diving back into the Blue Jays' lineup without Ernie Clement, how the batting order stacks up compared to previous years, the continuation of the 6-man rotation, and how the rest of the schedule shapes up for Toronto.

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.

]]> A Weekend Between Two of MLB's Best Teams Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Milwaukee Brewers TV play-by-play voice Brian Anderson (1:39) to discuss the team's offensive style of play, what's behind Christian Yelich's resurgence, why Abner Uribe could fill their closer's shoes with Trevor Megill out, and who would be the team's Game 1 starter in October. Then, Jeff and Kevin chat about Markham, ON's Jonah Tong making his big league debut for the New York Mets, before diving back into the Blue Jays' lineup without Ernie Clement, how the batting order stacks up compared to previous years, the continuation of the 6-man rotation, and how the rest of the schedule shapes up for Toronto. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Milwaukee Brewers TV play-by-play voice Brian Anderson (1:39) to discuss the team's offensive style of play, what's behind Christian Yelich's resurgence, why Abner Uribe could fill their closer's shoes with Trevor Megill out, and who would be the team's Game 1 starter in October. Then, Jeff and Kevin chat about Markham, ON's Jonah Tong making his big league debut for the New York Mets, before diving back into the Blue Jays' lineup without Ernie Clement, how the batting order stacks up compared to previous years, the continuation of the 6-man rotation, and how the rest of the schedule shapes up for Toronto. 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. false full e9aa7121-6506-45cc-89ab-034e46322bd1 Jays' August Overview with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (7:04) ahead of the team's weekend series against the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The skipper shares team injury updates, how Jeff Hoffman and Addison Barger have handled up-and-down months, Trey Yesavage's pathway to a postseason opportunity, Davis Schneider's evolution as a big leaguer, and much more. Later, NESN analyst and former World Series champion Jonathan Papelbon (30:32) swings by to discuss Walker Buehler's release from the Red Sox today, how much credit Alex Cora gets for Boston's mid-season turnaround, and the pressure on a closer at this time of the season.

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.

]]> Fri, 29 Aug 2025 21:03:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (7:04) ahead of the team's weekend series against the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The skipper shares team injury updates, how Jeff Hoffman and Addison Barger have handled up-and-down months, Trey Yesavage's pathway to a postseason opportunity, Davis Schneider's evolution as a big leaguer, and much more. Later, NESN analyst and former World Series champion Jonathan Papelbon (30:32) swings by to discuss Walker Buehler's release from the Red Sox today, how much credit Alex Cora gets for Boston's mid-season turnaround, and the pressure on a closer at this time of the season.

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.

]]> Jays' August Overview with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:50:00 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (7:04) ahead of the team's weekend series against the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The skipper shares team injury updates, how Jeff Hoffman and Addison Barger have handled up-and-down months, Trey Yesavage's pathway to a postseason opportunity, Davis Schneider's evolution as a big leaguer, and much more. Later, NESN analyst and former World Series champion Jonathan Papelbon (30:32) swings by to discuss Walker Buehler's release from the Red Sox today, how much credit Alex Cora gets for Boston's mid-season turnaround, and the pressure on a closer at this time of the season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (7:04) ahead of the team's weekend series against the NL-leading Milwaukee Brewers. The skipper shares team injury updates, how Jeff Hoffman and Addison Barger have handled up-and-down months, Trey Yesavage's pathway to a postseason opportunity, Davis Schneider's evolution as a big leaguer, and much more. Later, NESN analyst and former World Series champion Jonathan Papelbon (30:32) swings by to discuss Walker Buehler's release from the Red Sox today, how much credit Alex Cora gets for Boston's mid-season turnaround, and the pressure on a closer at this time of the season. 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. false full 2aec1f35-c91b-4677-b98b-6b3ed4faacb0 Attention to Detail + Catching Up with Cito Gaston Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (3:28) to weigh in on the Blue Jays' series against the Minnesota Twins, the bullpen's struggles keeping runners on base, who slots into the Jays' two-hole in an ideal order, whether Eric Lauer's rocky start is a red flag for the rotation's extended rest, and which relievers are in the 'circle of trust.' Later, former Blue Jays manager and two-time World Series champion Cito Gaston (31:23) joins the show to reflect on his upcoming induction into the Negro League Baseball Museum's Hall of Game, his relationship with other inductees Dusty Baker, Jerry Manuel, and Willie Randolph, and his thoughts on the 2025 Blue Jays as they make the final push to the playoffs.

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.

]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2025 22:02:07 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (3:28) to weigh in on the Blue Jays' series against the Minnesota Twins, the bullpen's struggles keeping runners on base, who slots into the Jays' two-hole in an ideal order, whether Eric Lauer's rocky start is a red flag for the rotation's extended rest, and which relievers are in the 'circle of trust.' Later, former Blue Jays manager and two-time World Series champion Cito Gaston (31:23) joins the show to reflect on his upcoming induction into the Negro League Baseball Museum's Hall of Game, his relationship with other inductees Dusty Baker, Jerry Manuel, and Willie Randolph, and his thoughts on the 2025 Blue Jays as they make the final push to the playoffs.

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.

]]> Attention to Detail + Catching Up with Cito Gaston Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (3:28) to weigh in on the Blue Jays' series against the Minnesota Twins, the bullpen's struggles keeping runners on base, who slots into the Jays' two-hole in an ideal order, whether Eric Lauer's rocky start is a red flag for the rotation's extended rest, and which relievers are in the 'circle of trust.' Later, former Blue Jays manager and two-time World Series champion Cito Gaston (31:23) joins the show to reflect on his upcoming induction into the Negro League Baseball Museum's Hall of Game, his relationship with other inductees Dusty Baker, Jerry Manuel, and Willie Randolph, and his thoughts on the 2025 Blue Jays as they make the final push to the playoffs. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (3:28) to weigh in on the Blue Jays' series against the Minnesota Twins, the bullpen's struggles keeping runners on base, who slots into the Jays' two-hole in an ideal order, whether Eric Lauer's rocky start is a red flag for the rotation's extended rest, and which relievers are in the 'circle of trust.' Later, former Blue Jays manager and two-time World Series champion Cito Gaston (31:23) joins the show to reflect on his upcoming induction into the Negro League Baseball Museum's Hall of Game, his relationship with other inductees Dusty Baker, Jerry Manuel, and Willie Randolph, and his thoughts on the 2025 Blue Jays as they make the final push to the playoffs. 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. false full 3439f996-3639-4b67-a474-53eaf490d39d Pitching Into the Final Stretch with Dan Plesac + Inside Jays' Hitting Coach Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly recap the Blue Jays late game comeback against the Minnesota Twins and Jeff Hoffman's redemption in the 9th inning before bringing on former pitcher and MLB Network Analyst Dan Plesac (5:55) to chat about what he saw from Shane Bieber's first outing against the Miami Marlins since coming off Tommy John, how the Jays' top three pitchers stack up against other teams' top starters, what are clear red flags coming from your closers as we near October, his assessment of Jeff Hoffman, and how the Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the AL. Then, The Athletic's Twins reporter Dan Hayes stops by (31:19) to discuss the team's hitting differences since letting go of the current Jays hitting coach David Popkins, how David found success with Toronto's lineup, and his ability to work with hitters. 

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.

]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2025 21:05:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly recap the Blue Jays late game comeback against the Minnesota Twins and Jeff Hoffman's redemption in the 9th inning before bringing on former pitcher and MLB Network Analyst Dan Plesac (5:55) to chat about what he saw from Shane Bieber's first outing against the Miami Marlins since coming off Tommy John, how the Jays' top three pitchers stack up against other teams' top starters, what are clear red flags coming from your closers as we near October, his assessment of Jeff Hoffman, and how the Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the AL. Then, The Athletic's Twins reporter Dan Hayes stops by (31:19) to discuss the team's hitting differences since letting go of the current Jays hitting coach David Popkins, how David found success with Toronto's lineup, and his ability to work with hitters. 

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.

]]> Pitching Into the Final Stretch with Dan Plesac + Inside Jays' Hitting Coach Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly recap the Blue Jays late game comeback against the Minnesota Twins and Jeff Hoffman's redemption in the 9th inning before bringing on former pitcher and MLB Network Analyst Dan Plesac (5:55) to chat about what he saw from Shane Bieber's first outing against the Miami Marlins since coming off Tommy John, how the Jays' top three pitchers stack up against other teams' top starters, what are clear red flags coming from your closers as we near October, his assessment of Jeff Hoffman, and how the Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the AL. Then, The Athletic's Twins reporter Dan Hayes stops by (31:19) to discuss the team's hitting differences since letting go of the current Jays hitting coach David Popkins, how David found success with Toronto's lineup, and his ability to work with hitters.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly recap the Blue Jays late game comeback against the Minnesota Twins and Jeff Hoffman's redemption in the 9th inning before bringing on former pitcher and MLB Network Analyst Dan Plesac (5:55) to chat about what he saw from Shane Bieber's first outing against the Miami Marlins since coming off Tommy John, how the Jays' top three pitchers stack up against other teams' top starters, what are clear red flags coming from your closers as we near October, his assessment of Jeff Hoffman, and how the Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the AL. Then, The Athletic's Twins reporter Dan Hayes stops by (31:19) to discuss the team's hitting differences since letting go of the current Jays hitting coach David Popkins, how David found success with Toronto's lineup, and his ability to work with hitters.  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. false full 3c78c495-48f7-4d81-9408-c96c97feb3dd Can the Blue Jays' Bullpen Win a World Series? ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:59) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Milwaukee Brewers losing closer Trevor Megill to a flexor strain, if the Blue Jays' bullpen is good enough to win a World Series, Cal Raleigh's case for American League MVP, and who will come out of the AL West. Then, host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (25:14) stops by to discuss Jeff Hoffman's recent blown save, why he's still picking the Blue Jays over the Boston Red Sox, who's the best team in performing on the road, if he's surprised with the Texas Rangers added to the group of one-and-done teams, and how he views pitchers coming off Tommy John and returning to the mound. 

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.

]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:03:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:59) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Milwaukee Brewers losing closer Trevor Megill to a flexor strain, if the Blue Jays' bullpen is good enough to win a World Series, Cal Raleigh's case for American League MVP, and who will come out of the AL West. Then, host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (25:14) stops by to discuss Jeff Hoffman's recent blown save, why he's still picking the Blue Jays over the Boston Red Sox, who's the best team in performing on the road, if he's surprised with the Texas Rangers added to the group of one-and-done teams, and how he views pitchers coming off Tommy John and returning to the mound. 

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.

]]> Can the Blue Jays' Bullpen Win a World Series? Sportsnet 00:49:23 ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:59) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Milwaukee Brewers losing closer Trevor Megill to a flexor strain, if the Blue Jays' bullpen is good enough to win a World Series, Cal Raleigh's case for American League MVP, and who will come out of the AL West. Then, host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (25:14) stops by to discuss Jeff Hoffman's recent blown save, why he's still picking the Blue Jays over the Boston Red Sox, who's the best team in performing on the road, if he's surprised with the Texas Rangers added to the group of one-and-done teams, and how he views pitchers coming off Tommy John and returning to the mound.  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. ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:59) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Milwaukee Brewers losing closer Trevor Megill to a flexor strain, if the Blue Jays' bullpen is good enough to win a World Series, Cal Raleigh's case for American League MVP, and who will come out of the AL West. Then, host of Nothing Personal, David Samson (25:14) stops by to discuss Jeff Hoffman's recent blown save, why he's still picking the Blue Jays over the Boston Red Sox, who's the best team in performing on the road, if he's surprised with the Texas Rangers added to the group of one-and-done teams, and how he views pitchers coming off Tommy John and returning to the mound.  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. false full 3bc0304c-b507-4910-abec-4b86aca098b2 Jeff Hoffman Closing Concerns Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins and discuss Jeff Hoffman's ninth-inning blowup. They get into the team's bullpen-wide slump, George Springer's two-homer game and Chris Bassitt's start. Later, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. Should the Jays have added a bona fide closer at the deadline? Can Springer sustain his scorching August form? Will Eric Lauer make a permanent move to the bullpen? And more.

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.

]]> Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:03:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins and discuss Jeff Hoffman's ninth-inning blowup. They get into the team's bullpen-wide slump, George Springer's two-homer game and Chris Bassitt's start. Later, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. Should the Jays have added a bona fide closer at the deadline? Can Springer sustain his scorching August form? Will Eric Lauer make a permanent move to the bullpen? And more.

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.

]]> Jeff Hoffman Closing Concerns Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins and discuss Jeff Hoffman's ninth-inning blowup. They get into the team's bullpen-wide slump, George Springer's two-homer game and Chris Bassitt's start. Later, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. Should the Jays have added a bona fide closer at the deadline? Can Springer sustain his scorching August form? Will Eric Lauer make a permanent move to the bullpen? And more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins and discuss Jeff Hoffman's ninth-inning blowup. They get into the team's bullpen-wide slump, George Springer's two-homer game and Chris Bassitt's start. Later, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. Should the Jays have added a bona fide closer at the deadline? Can Springer sustain his scorching August form? Will Eric Lauer make a permanent move to the bullpen? And more. 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. false full 6304cf5d-4dd3-4867-8133-73519b8b52ea Putting It In Play with Don Mattingly + Dan Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly (0:51) to chat about the success throughout their lineup this season, their home versus road performances, whether he sees their hitting approach translating well into the postseason, Addison Barger's evolution in his bat skills, Vlad Jr.'s 2025, and how John Schneider has navigated managing. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (28:36) to discuss the expectations on when Anthony Santander could return to the main roster, the team's success rate at Rogers Centre, Dan's walkthrough with the Jays' Trajekt tech hitting machine, how Schneider maps out his bullpen pitchers up until calling upon his closer, and Andrés Giménez's presence in the infield. 

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.

]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:02:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly (0:51) to chat about the success throughout their lineup this season, their home versus road performances, whether he sees their hitting approach translating well into the postseason, Addison Barger's evolution in his bat skills, Vlad Jr.'s 2025, and how John Schneider has navigated managing. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (28:36) to discuss the expectations on when Anthony Santander could return to the main roster, the team's success rate at Rogers Centre, Dan's walkthrough with the Jays' Trajekt tech hitting machine, how Schneider maps out his bullpen pitchers up until calling upon his closer, and Andrés Giménez's presence in the infield. 

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.

]]> Putting It In Play with Don Mattingly + Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:30 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly (0:51) to chat about the success throughout their lineup this season, their home versus road performances, whether he sees their hitting approach translating well into the postseason, Addison Barger's evolution in his bat skills, Vlad Jr.'s 2025, and how John Schneider has navigated managing. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (28:36) to discuss the expectations on when Anthony Santander could return to the main roster, the team's success rate at Rogers Centre, Dan's walkthrough with the Jays' Trajekt tech hitting machine, how Schneider maps out his bullpen pitchers up until calling upon his closer, and Andrés Giménez's presence in the infield. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly (0:51) to chat about the success throughout their lineup this season, their home versus road performances, whether he sees their hitting approach translating well into the postseason, Addison Barger's evolution in his bat skills, Vlad Jr.'s 2025, and how John Schneider has navigated managing. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (28:36) to discuss the expectations on when Anthony Santander could return to the main roster, the team's success rate at Rogers Centre, Dan's walkthrough with the Jays' Trajekt tech hitting machine, how Schneider maps out his bullpen pitchers up until calling upon his closer, and Andrés Giménez's presence in the infield. 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. false full 89b3c28e-2b16-4bef-86de-a94ff7d39e0a Taking One from the Twinkies + Bassitt's Home/Road Riddle Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to kick off a three-game series. They get into Andrés Giménez's adjustment at the plate before reflecting on the team's consistency since the All-Star break. Then, ahead of his start tonight, they debate whether Chris Bassitt's home/road split discrepancy is overblown. Later, retired MLB outfielder and Twins TV analyst Denard Span (23:09) discusses the Twins' future outlook after their fire-sale at the deadline, what the Jays' bats can expect from tonight's starter Bailey Ober, the next step in Royce Lewis' development, and former Twin Louis Varland's potential as a starter in Toronto.

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.

]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:07:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to kick off a three-game series. They get into Andrés Giménez's adjustment at the plate before reflecting on the team's consistency since the All-Star break. Then, ahead of his start tonight, they debate whether Chris Bassitt's home/road split discrepancy is overblown. Later, retired MLB outfielder and Twins TV analyst Denard Span (23:09) discusses the Twins' future outlook after their fire-sale at the deadline, what the Jays' bats can expect from tonight's starter Bailey Ober, the next step in Royce Lewis' development, and former Twin Louis Varland's potential as a starter in Toronto.

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.

]]> Taking One from the Twinkies + Bassitt's Home/Road Riddle Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to kick off a three-game series. They get into Andrés Giménez's adjustment at the plate before reflecting on the team's consistency since the All-Star break. Then, ahead of his start tonight, they debate whether Chris Bassitt's home/road split discrepancy is overblown. Later, retired MLB outfielder and Twins TV analyst Denard Span (23:09) discusses the Twins' future outlook after their fire-sale at the deadline, what the Jays' bats can expect from tonight's starter Bailey Ober, the next step in Royce Lewis' development, and former Twin Louis Varland's potential as a starter in Toronto. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to kick off a three-game series. They get into Andrés Giménez's adjustment at the plate before reflecting on the team's consistency since the All-Star break. Then, ahead of his start tonight, they debate whether Chris Bassitt's home/road split discrepancy is overblown. Later, retired MLB outfielder and Twins TV analyst Denard Span (23:09) discusses the Twins' future outlook after their fire-sale at the deadline, what the Jays' bats can expect from tonight's starter Bailey Ober, the next step in Royce Lewis' development, and former Twin Louis Varland's potential as a starter in Toronto. 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. false full 97d52333-bc53-4c9c-be90-bbc9221b3995 Shane Bieber's Return & Scherzer's Resurgence with Jensen Lewis Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly revisit Shane Bieber's debut with the Blue Jays and how the rotation could shape up with the former Cy Young Award winner in the fold, before hearing John Schneider's media availability ahead of their series against the Minnesota Twins, including an update on Yimi Garcia's injury. Then, former pitcher and host on MLB Network Radio Jensen Lewis (28:00) stops by to discuss Bieber's return to the mound, how difficult is it to pitch to a new catcher, Max Scherzer maintaining his velocity at the age of 41, who would pitch Game 1 of the postseason between Shane and Max, how he would evaluate relievers near the end of a regular season, and the Boston Red Sox's post trade deadline turnaround. 

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.

]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2025 22:01:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly revisit Shane Bieber's debut with the Blue Jays and how the rotation could shape up with the former Cy Young Award winner in the fold, before hearing John Schneider's media availability ahead of their series against the Minnesota Twins, including an update on Yimi Garcia's injury. Then, former pitcher and host on MLB Network Radio Jensen Lewis (28:00) stops by to discuss Bieber's return to the mound, how difficult is it to pitch to a new catcher, Max Scherzer maintaining his velocity at the age of 41, who would pitch Game 1 of the postseason between Shane and Max, how he would evaluate relievers near the end of a regular season, and the Boston Red Sox's post trade deadline turnaround. 

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.

]]> Shane Bieber's Return & Scherzer's Resurgence with Jensen Lewis Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly revisit Shane Bieber's debut with the Blue Jays and how the rotation could shape up with the former Cy Young Award winner in the fold, before hearing John Schneider's media availability ahead of their series against the Minnesota Twins, including an update on Yimi Garcia's injury. Then, former pitcher and host on MLB Network Radio Jensen Lewis (28:00) stops by to discuss Bieber's return to the mound, how difficult is it to pitch to a new catcher, Max Scherzer maintaining his velocity at the age of 41, who would pitch Game 1 of the postseason between Shane and Max, how he would evaluate relievers near the end of a regular season, and the Boston Red Sox's post trade deadline turnaround.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker quickly revisit Shane Bieber's debut with the Blue Jays and how the rotation could shape up with the former Cy Young Award winner in the fold, before hearing John Schneider's media availability ahead of their series against the Minnesota Twins, including an update on Yimi Garcia's injury. Then, former pitcher and host on MLB Network Radio Jensen Lewis (28:00) stops by to discuss Bieber's return to the mound, how difficult is it to pitch to a new catcher, Max Scherzer maintaining his velocity at the age of 41, who would pitch Game 1 of the postseason between Shane and Max, how he would evaluate relievers near the end of a regular season, and the Boston Red Sox's post trade deadline turnaround.  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. false full bc9ded1f-665b-4127-814a-5768a2f3f710 Vladdy's Back + Unpredictability in the Pen Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week with a look back on the Blue Jays' series against the Miami Marlins. They check in on the standings before digging into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s return to the lineup, Shane Bieber's debut, shaky play from the bullpen, and whether it's time for the club to call up top prospect Trey Yesavage. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (29:03) weighs in on the team's bullpen-wide struggles, the plan for the rotation down the stretch, what's behind Addison Barger's recent power outage at the plate, and who bats second in a must-win game. 

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.

]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2025 21:04:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week with a look back on the Blue Jays' series against the Miami Marlins. They check in on the standings before digging into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s return to the lineup, Shane Bieber's debut, shaky play from the bullpen, and whether it's time for the club to call up top prospect Trey Yesavage. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (29:03) weighs in on the team's bullpen-wide struggles, the plan for the rotation down the stretch, what's behind Addison Barger's recent power outage at the plate, and who bats second in a must-win game. 

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.

]]> Vladdy's Back + Unpredictability in the Pen Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week with a look back on the Blue Jays' series against the Miami Marlins. They check in on the standings before digging into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s return to the lineup, Shane Bieber's debut, shaky play from the bullpen, and whether it's time for the club to call up top prospect Trey Yesavage. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (29:03) weighs in on the team's bullpen-wide struggles, the plan for the rotation down the stretch, what's behind Addison Barger's recent power outage at the plate, and who bats second in a must-win game. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the week with a look back on the Blue Jays' series against the Miami Marlins. They check in on the standings before digging into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s return to the lineup, Shane Bieber's debut, shaky play from the bullpen, and whether it's time for the club to call up top prospect Trey Yesavage. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (29:03) weighs in on the team's bullpen-wide struggles, the plan for the rotation down the stretch, what's behind Addison Barger's recent power outage at the plate, and who bats second in a must-win game. 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. false full ca804a7b-f7c0-4123-af41-9f0a17d59d13 Roman Anthony's New York Takeover + Bob Nightengale Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Bob Nightengale (3:01) of USA Today to share his expectations for Shane Bieber's return to the mound and Blue Jays debut, if the Jays are capable of a deep run and win the AL East, Max Scherzer pitching like he was 10 years ago, the New York Mets' drastic turnaround season, whether Kyle Tucker's market will dictate Bo Bichette's pending free agency, and the prospect of the MLB looking into expansion with a shorten season. Then, Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston stops by (34:40) to chat about Walker Buehler's move to the bullpen, Red Sox calling up Jhostynxon Garcia, how the Boston club stacks up against the New York Yankees, and the confidence coming from Roman Anthony in his rookie year.

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.

]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 22:02:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Bob Nightengale (3:01) of USA Today to share his expectations for Shane Bieber's return to the mound and Blue Jays debut, if the Jays are capable of a deep run and win the AL East, Max Scherzer pitching like he was 10 years ago, the New York Mets' drastic turnaround season, whether Kyle Tucker's market will dictate Bo Bichette's pending free agency, and the prospect of the MLB looking into expansion with a shorten season. Then, Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston stops by (34:40) to chat about Walker Buehler's move to the bullpen, Red Sox calling up Jhostynxon Garcia, how the Boston club stacks up against the New York Yankees, and the confidence coming from Roman Anthony in his rookie year.

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.

]]> Roman Anthony's New York Takeover + Bob Nightengale Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Bob Nightengale (3:01) of USA Today to share his expectations for Shane Bieber's return to the mound and Blue Jays debut, if the Jays are capable of a deep run and win the AL East, Max Scherzer pitching like he was 10 years ago, the New York Mets' drastic turnaround season, whether Kyle Tucker's market will dictate Bo Bichette's pending free agency, and the prospect of the MLB looking into expansion with a shorten season. Then, Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston stops by (34:40) to chat about Walker Buehler's move to the bullpen, Red Sox calling up Jhostynxon Garcia, how the Boston club stacks up against the New York Yankees, and the confidence coming from Roman Anthony in his rookie year. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Bob Nightengale (3:01) of USA Today to share his expectations for Shane Bieber's return to the mound and Blue Jays debut, if the Jays are capable of a deep run and win the AL East, Max Scherzer pitching like he was 10 years ago, the New York Mets' drastic turnaround season, whether Kyle Tucker's market will dictate Bo Bichette's pending free agency, and the prospect of the MLB looking into expansion with a shorten season. Then, Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston stops by (34:40) to chat about Walker Buehler's move to the bullpen, Red Sox calling up Jhostynxon Garcia, how the Boston club stacks up against the New York Yankees, and the confidence coming from Roman Anthony in his rookie year. 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. false full a3281d9a-3a56-4043-8453-d86906eb533a John Schneider + Shane Bieber is Back in the Bigs! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The skipper shares an update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring injury, his expectations for Shane Bieber in his Blue Jays debut tonight, internal competition in the rotation, and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin set the stage for Bieber's first Major League start in 507 days and what would be considered a successful outing for the returning righty. Finally, they weigh in on Samuel Basallo signing a long-term contract with the Orioles and what it means for Adley Rutschman.

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.

]]> Fri, 22 Aug 2025 21:02:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The skipper shares an update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring injury, his expectations for Shane Bieber in his Blue Jays debut tonight, internal competition in the rotation, and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin set the stage for Bieber's first Major League start in 507 days and what would be considered a successful outing for the returning righty. Finally, they weigh in on Samuel Basallo signing a long-term contract with the Orioles and what it means for Adley Rutschman.

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.

]]> John Schneider + Shane Bieber is Back in the Bigs! Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The skipper shares an update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring injury, his expectations for Shane Bieber in his Blue Jays debut tonight, internal competition in the rotation, and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin set the stage for Bieber's first Major League start in 507 days and what would be considered a successful outing for the returning righty. Finally, they weigh in on Samuel Basallo signing a long-term contract with the Orioles and what it means for Adley Rutschman. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series against the Miami Marlins. The skipper shares an update on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring injury, his expectations for Shane Bieber in his Blue Jays debut tonight, internal competition in the rotation, and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin set the stage for Bieber's first Major League start in 507 days and what would be considered a successful outing for the returning righty. Finally, they weigh in on Samuel Basallo signing a long-term contract with the Orioles and what it means for Adley Rutschman. 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. false full d4e7ed91-8947-4487-96a3-09645706aa9f Shane Bieber Report and October Stretch with Adam Cimber Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Blue Jays' pitcher Adam Cimber (1:15) to chat about his old teammate Shane Bieber and what he was like during their days with the Cleveland Guardians, expectations for Shane returning to the mound coming off an injury, the difficulties as a pitcher of putting yourself aside and focus on the team first, and the feeling in the clubhouse of being hunted in the standings than being the hunter. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back Leg Line to hear some listeners' voicemail messages! 

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.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2025 22:02:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Blue Jays' pitcher Adam Cimber (1:15) to chat about his old teammate Shane Bieber and what he was like during their days with the Cleveland Guardians, expectations for Shane returning to the mound coming off an injury, the difficulties as a pitcher of putting yourself aside and focus on the team first, and the feeling in the clubhouse of being hunted in the standings than being the hunter. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back Leg Line to hear some listeners' voicemail messages! 

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.

]]> Shane Bieber Report and October Stretch with Adam Cimber Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Blue Jays' pitcher Adam Cimber (1:15) to chat about his old teammate Shane Bieber and what he was like during their days with the Cleveland Guardians, expectations for Shane returning to the mound coming off an injury, the difficulties as a pitcher of putting yourself aside and focus on the team first, and the feeling in the clubhouse of being hunted in the standings than being the hunter. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back Leg Line to hear some listeners' voicemail messages!  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Blue Jays' pitcher Adam Cimber (1:15) to chat about his old teammate Shane Bieber and what he was like during their days with the Cleveland Guardians, expectations for Shane returning to the mound coming off an injury, the difficulties as a pitcher of putting yourself aside and focus on the team first, and the feeling in the clubhouse of being hunted in the standings than being the hunter. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back Leg Line to hear some listeners' voicemail messages!  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. false full e65e2e29-781a-4ef7-90c2-b042347762e6 Off Day Playoff Push Reset Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day edition with a look at the AL East landscape as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox get set to square off in a four-game series. Then, they debate the importance of the Blue Jays' upcoming weekend series against the Marlins. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins the show (26:36) to discuss the Jays' recent scoring slump, how the starters are adjusting to the changed rotation, his expectations for Shane Bieber, and Brendon Little's control issues.

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.

]]> Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:03:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day edition with a look at the AL East landscape as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox get set to square off in a four-game series. Then, they debate the importance of the Blue Jays' upcoming weekend series against the Marlins. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins the show (26:36) to discuss the Jays' recent scoring slump, how the starters are adjusting to the changed rotation, his expectations for Shane Bieber, and Brendon Little's control issues.

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.

]]> Off Day Playoff Push Reset Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day edition with a look at the AL East landscape as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox get set to square off in a four-game series. Then, they debate the importance of the Blue Jays' upcoming weekend series against the Marlins. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins the show (26:36) to discuss the Jays' recent scoring slump, how the starters are adjusting to the changed rotation, his expectations for Shane Bieber, and Brendon Little's control issues. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day edition with a look at the AL East landscape as the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox get set to square off in a four-game series. Then, they debate the importance of the Blue Jays' upcoming weekend series against the Marlins. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph joins the show (26:36) to discuss the Jays' recent scoring slump, how the starters are adjusting to the changed rotation, his expectations for Shane Bieber, and Brendon Little's control issues. 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. false full 29791b9d-f61f-42aa-b0d8-336129b18352 Pitching Decisions Towards the Off Day Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a deeper dive into the Blue Jays' decision to option Braydon Fisher to Buffalo, bumping Eric Lauer to the bullpen ahead of Shane Bieber's debut, and the competition around the rotation for postseason starts. ESPN's Jeff Passan jumps on (27:45) to discuss if Max Scherzer's play as of late, how the Jays can translate their hitting approach in the playoffs, how he views the New York Yankees roster in the second half, why the Baltimore Orioles' down year is just a blip, and how soon could the MLB look into expansion. Finally, MLB Network's and World Series Champion Ryan Dempster joins the guys (56:41) to chat about Lauer's move to the pen, his experience from pitching as a starter to being asked to close, how the Jays stack up against their rivals ahead of October, and how to be a great teammate supporting the final stretch.

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.

]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2025 22:06:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a deeper dive into the Blue Jays' decision to option Braydon Fisher to Buffalo, bumping Eric Lauer to the bullpen ahead of Shane Bieber's debut, and the competition around the rotation for postseason starts. ESPN's Jeff Passan jumps on (27:45) to discuss if Max Scherzer's play as of late, how the Jays can translate their hitting approach in the playoffs, how he views the New York Yankees roster in the second half, why the Baltimore Orioles' down year is just a blip, and how soon could the MLB look into expansion. Finally, MLB Network's and World Series Champion Ryan Dempster joins the guys (56:41) to chat about Lauer's move to the pen, his experience from pitching as a starter to being asked to close, how the Jays stack up against their rivals ahead of October, and how to be a great teammate supporting the final stretch.

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.

]]> Pitching Decisions Towards the Off Day Sportsnet 01:14:44 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a deeper dive into the Blue Jays' decision to option Braydon Fisher to Buffalo, bumping Eric Lauer to the bullpen ahead of Shane Bieber's debut, and the competition around the rotation for postseason starts. ESPN's Jeff Passan jumps on (27:45) to discuss if Max Scherzer's play as of late, how the Jays can translate their hitting approach in the playoffs, how he views the New York Yankees roster in the second half, why the Baltimore Orioles' down year is just a blip, and how soon could the MLB look into expansion. Finally, MLB Network's and World Series Champion Ryan Dempster joins the guys (56:41) to chat about Lauer's move to the pen, his experience from pitching as a starter to being asked to close, how the Jays stack up against their rivals ahead of October, and how to be a great teammate supporting the final stretch. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a deeper dive into the Blue Jays' decision to option Braydon Fisher to Buffalo, bumping Eric Lauer to the bullpen ahead of Shane Bieber's debut, and the competition around the rotation for postseason starts. ESPN's Jeff Passan jumps on (27:45) to discuss if Max Scherzer's play as of late, how the Jays can translate their hitting approach in the playoffs, how he views the New York Yankees roster in the second half, why the Baltimore Orioles' down year is just a blip, and how soon could the MLB look into expansion. Finally, MLB Network's and World Series Champion Ryan Dempster joins the guys (56:41) to chat about Lauer's move to the pen, his experience from pitching as a starter to being asked to close, how the Jays stack up against their rivals ahead of October, and how to be a great teammate supporting the final stretch. 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. false full f6e01203-f639-49f5-8c74-723a131b0f55 What Shane Bieber Brings with Pete Walker Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (2:32) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he's navigated the 2025 season with his pitchers' injuries and trade deadline acquisitions, expectations for Shane Bieber when he makes his Blue Jays debut, what he's learned about Max Scherzer, how Jose Berrios can find his velocity again, Brendon Little's walk rate, Jeff Hoffman's adjustment to the closer role, and his assessments of Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark stops by (28:38) to discuss the sustainability of the Blue Jays' approach to hitting, the team's high-calibre pitching staff, Scherzer's longevity, and potential MLB expansion. 

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.

]]> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 22:02:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (2:32) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he's navigated the 2025 season with his pitchers' injuries and trade deadline acquisitions, expectations for Shane Bieber when he makes his Blue Jays debut, what he's learned about Max Scherzer, how Jose Berrios can find his velocity again, Brendon Little's walk rate, Jeff Hoffman's adjustment to the closer role, and his assessments of Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark stops by (28:38) to discuss the sustainability of the Blue Jays' approach to hitting, the team's high-calibre pitching staff, Scherzer's longevity, and potential MLB expansion. 

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.

]]> What Shane Bieber Brings with Pete Walker Sportsnet 00:49:51 Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (2:32) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he's navigated the 2025 season with his pitchers' injuries and trade deadline acquisitions, expectations for Shane Bieber when he makes his Blue Jays debut, what he's learned about Max Scherzer, how Jose Berrios can find his velocity again, Brendon Little's walk rate, Jeff Hoffman's adjustment to the closer role, and his assessments of Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark stops by (28:38) to discuss the sustainability of the Blue Jays' approach to hitting, the team's high-calibre pitching staff, Scherzer's longevity, and potential MLB expansion. 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. Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (2:32) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he's navigated the 2025 season with his pitchers' injuries and trade deadline acquisitions, expectations for Shane Bieber when he makes his Blue Jays debut, what he's learned about Max Scherzer, how Jose Berrios can find his velocity again, Brendon Little's walk rate, Jeff Hoffman's adjustment to the closer role, and his assessments of Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark stops by (28:38) to discuss the sustainability of the Blue Jays' approach to hitting, the team's high-calibre pitching staff, Scherzer's longevity, and potential MLB expansion. 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. false full 1eb6638f-6160-4872-b024-fb51a18b958c Pham-ily Drama Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' eventful series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 5-2 loss at PNC Park. They discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s exit, the Jays' sloppy fielding, Tommy Pham's tiff with Tyler Heineman and his later social-media outburst. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (31:18) shares his thoughts on Heineman and Pham's dust-up from a catcher's POV, Kevin Gausman's outing, and Addison Barger's growth as a hitter.

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.

]]> Tue, 19 Aug 2025 21:04:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' eventful series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 5-2 loss at PNC Park. They discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s exit, the Jays' sloppy fielding, Tommy Pham's tiff with Tyler Heineman and his later social-media outburst. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (31:18) shares his thoughts on Heineman and Pham's dust-up from a catcher's POV, Kevin Gausman's outing, and Addison Barger's growth as a hitter.

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.

]]> Pham-ily Drama Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' eventful series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 5-2 loss at PNC Park. They discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s exit, the Jays' sloppy fielding, Tommy Pham's tiff with Tyler Heineman and his later social-media outburst. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (31:18) shares his thoughts on Heineman and Pham's dust-up from a catcher's POV, Kevin Gausman's outing, and Addison Barger's growth as a hitter. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' eventful series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a 5-2 loss at PNC Park. They discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s exit, the Jays' sloppy fielding, Tommy Pham's tiff with Tyler Heineman and his later social-media outburst. Later, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (31:18) shares his thoughts on Heineman and Pham's dust-up from a catcher's POV, Kevin Gausman's outing, and Addison Barger's growth as a hitter. 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. false full 8b37cd7d-7d54-41c7-93d4-3d42aadd3b84 Madison & The Mayor Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman (0:45) to chat about the news of Shane Bieber slated to make his Jays' debut and a potential six-man rotation. Then, she gets into Max Scherzer's velocity, who would be the Jays' second-best bullpen arm after Jeff Hoffman, what stands out from Ernie Clement's game, whether the Blue Jays sustain their contact-first approach into the playoffs, and how John Schneider has navigated the team's 2025 campaign. Later, Jeff and Kevin share who they don't want the Blue Jays to face in the playoffs before bringing on MLB Network's Sean Casey (32:14) to discuss how to attack Paul Skenes, his assessment of Bo Bichette, and Jose Berrios' struggles. 

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.

]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2025 22:01:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman (0:45) to chat about the news of Shane Bieber slated to make his Jays' debut and a potential six-man rotation. Then, she gets into Max Scherzer's velocity, who would be the Jays' second-best bullpen arm after Jeff Hoffman, what stands out from Ernie Clement's game, whether the Blue Jays sustain their contact-first approach into the playoffs, and how John Schneider has navigated the team's 2025 campaign. Later, Jeff and Kevin share who they don't want the Blue Jays to face in the playoffs before bringing on MLB Network's Sean Casey (32:14) to discuss how to attack Paul Skenes, his assessment of Bo Bichette, and Jose Berrios' struggles. 

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.

]]> Madison & The Mayor Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman (0:45) to chat about the news of Shane Bieber slated to make his Jays' debut and a potential six-man rotation. Then, she gets into Max Scherzer's velocity, who would be the Jays' second-best bullpen arm after Jeff Hoffman, what stands out from Ernie Clement's game, whether the Blue Jays sustain their contact-first approach into the playoffs, and how John Schneider has navigated the team's 2025 campaign. Later, Jeff and Kevin share who they don't want the Blue Jays to face in the playoffs before bringing on MLB Network's Sean Casey (32:14) to discuss how to attack Paul Skenes, his assessment of Bo Bichette, and Jose Berrios' struggles. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman (0:45) to chat about the news of Shane Bieber slated to make his Jays' debut and a potential six-man rotation. Then, she gets into Max Scherzer's velocity, who would be the Jays' second-best bullpen arm after Jeff Hoffman, what stands out from Ernie Clement's game, whether the Blue Jays sustain their contact-first approach into the playoffs, and how John Schneider has navigated the team's 2025 campaign. Later, Jeff and Kevin share who they don't want the Blue Jays to face in the playoffs before bringing on MLB Network's Sean Casey (32:14) to discuss how to attack Paul Skenes, his assessment of Bo Bichette, and Jose Berrios' struggles. 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. false full 8c77d641-3bab-4cb9-b50d-4e00398fde37 Bieber Fever Fuels Rotation Questions Kevin Barker is back with Jeff Blair, and they open the Monday show with a look back on what he missed last week. They dig into the Jays' weekend series against the Rangers, George Springer's return to the lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hot stretch, how José Berríos fits into the starting rotation when Shane Bieber is activated, and what's still left to figure out in the bullpen. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Pirates, what the order can expect from Paul Skenes on the mound, and they listen in to John Schneider's pre-game availability.

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.

]]> Mon, 18 Aug 2025 21:01:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Kevin Barker is back with Jeff Blair, and they open the Monday show with a look back on what he missed last week. They dig into the Jays' weekend series against the Rangers, George Springer's return to the lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hot stretch, how José Berríos fits into the starting rotation when Shane Bieber is activated, and what's still left to figure out in the bullpen. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Pirates, what the order can expect from Paul Skenes on the mound, and they listen in to John Schneider's pre-game availability.

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.

]]> Bieber Fever Fuels Rotation Questions Sportsnet 00:49:53 Kevin Barker is back with Jeff Blair, and they open the Monday show with a look back on what he missed last week. They dig into the Jays' weekend series against the Rangers, George Springer's return to the lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hot stretch, how José Berríos fits into the starting rotation when Shane Bieber is activated, and what's still left to figure out in the bullpen. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Pirates, what the order can expect from Paul Skenes on the mound, and they listen in to John Schneider's pre-game availability. 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. Kevin Barker is back with Jeff Blair, and they open the Monday show with a look back on what he missed last week. They dig into the Jays' weekend series against the Rangers, George Springer's return to the lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hot stretch, how José Berríos fits into the starting rotation when Shane Bieber is activated, and what's still left to figure out in the bullpen. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Pirates, what the order can expect from Paul Skenes on the mound, and they listen in to John Schneider's pre-game availability. 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. false full cf79975f-3404-4150-b61e-6c31d0e50203 A Weekend Against the Range + The Jays' 'Good Problem' Jeff Blair is joined by Texas Rangers TV and radio broadcaster Jared Sandler (1:49) to chat about the team's struggles to break out over .500, the offence stalling, Bret Boone's hitting philosophy, if Chris Young did enough at the trade deadline, how Bruce Bochy is navigating the season, and Jacob DeGrom's 2025 pitching report. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (22:32) to discuss if there's a clear indication at why Chris Bassitt finds a lot of success pitching at Rogers Centre, how he would roll out the pitching rotation with Shane Bieber potentially coming up and into the post-season, Max Scherzer's outing against the Chicago Cubs, and who's the odd man out when George Springer returns to the main roster. Finally, Kevin Barker makes a short return to the show! 

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.

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 22:04:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by Texas Rangers TV and radio broadcaster Jared Sandler (1:49) to chat about the team's struggles to break out over .500, the offence stalling, Bret Boone's hitting philosophy, if Chris Young did enough at the trade deadline, how Bruce Bochy is navigating the season, and Jacob DeGrom's 2025 pitching report. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (22:32) to discuss if there's a clear indication at why Chris Bassitt finds a lot of success pitching at Rogers Centre, how he would roll out the pitching rotation with Shane Bieber potentially coming up and into the post-season, Max Scherzer's outing against the Chicago Cubs, and who's the odd man out when George Springer returns to the main roster. Finally, Kevin Barker makes a short return to the show! 

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.

]]> A Weekend Against the Range + The Jays' 'Good Problem' Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair is joined by Texas Rangers TV and radio broadcaster Jared Sandler (1:49) to chat about the team's struggles to break out over .500, the offence stalling, Bret Boone's hitting philosophy, if Chris Young did enough at the trade deadline, how Bruce Bochy is navigating the season, and Jacob DeGrom's 2025 pitching report. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (22:32) to discuss if there's a clear indication at why Chris Bassitt finds a lot of success pitching at Rogers Centre, how he would roll out the pitching rotation with Shane Bieber potentially coming up and into the post-season, Max Scherzer's outing against the Chicago Cubs, and who's the odd man out when George Springer returns to the main roster. Finally, Kevin Barker makes a short return to the show! 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. Jeff Blair is joined by Texas Rangers TV and radio broadcaster Jared Sandler (1:49) to chat about the team's struggles to break out over .500, the offence stalling, Bret Boone's hitting philosophy, if Chris Young did enough at the trade deadline, how Bruce Bochy is navigating the season, and Jacob DeGrom's 2025 pitching report. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (22:32) to discuss if there's a clear indication at why Chris Bassitt finds a lot of success pitching at Rogers Centre, how he would roll out the pitching rotation with Shane Bieber potentially coming up and into the post-season, Max Scherzer's outing against the Chicago Cubs, and who's the odd man out when George Springer returns to the main roster. Finally, Kevin Barker makes a short return to the show! 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. false full da395add-f0b4-4a36-aadc-2e83c00d3c8b Navigating the Dog Days of August with John Schneider Jeff Blair looks ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Texas Rangers and reflects on what's changed since the clubs last met. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo joins the show (6:05) to discuss the site's updated farm system rankings, how the Jays improved from 27 to 20, what they have in Yohendrick Pinango, and Trey Yesavage's ceiling. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:03) to discuss George Springer's timeline to return, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s post-All-Star heater, Max Scherzer's growing confidence, José Berríos's recent struggles, and how he manages the dog days of August.

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.

]]> Fri, 15 Aug 2025 21:02:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair looks ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Texas Rangers and reflects on what's changed since the clubs last met. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo joins the show (6:05) to discuss the site's updated farm system rankings, how the Jays improved from 27 to 20, what they have in Yohendrick Pinango, and Trey Yesavage's ceiling. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:03) to discuss George Springer's timeline to return, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s post-All-Star heater, Max Scherzer's growing confidence, José Berríos's recent struggles, and how he manages the dog days of August.

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.

]]> Navigating the Dog Days of August with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair looks ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Texas Rangers and reflects on what's changed since the clubs last met. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo joins the show (6:05) to discuss the site's updated farm system rankings, how the Jays improved from 27 to 20, what they have in Yohendrick Pinango, and Trey Yesavage's ceiling. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:03) to discuss George Springer's timeline to return, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s post-All-Star heater, Max Scherzer's growing confidence, José Berríos's recent struggles, and how he manages the dog days of August. 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. Jeff Blair looks ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Texas Rangers and reflects on what's changed since the clubs last met. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo joins the show (6:05) to discuss the site's updated farm system rankings, how the Jays improved from 27 to 20, what they have in Yohendrick Pinango, and Trey Yesavage's ceiling. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:03) to discuss George Springer's timeline to return, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s post-All-Star heater, Max Scherzer's growing confidence, José Berríos's recent struggles, and how he manages the dog days of August. 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. false full ed6dc054-8d52-4d93-a540-a18b478b910d The Scary Mariners + Updates from Buffalo with Casey Candaele Jeff Blair and ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:43) discuss the Milwaukee Brewers continuing to lead the way in the NL Central, whether the New York Yankees will be out of the postseason mix, why the Seattle Mariners could be the scariest team towards September, and how the Blue Jays currently stack against the American League teams. Then, Casey Candaele (30:30), manager for the Buffalo Bisons shares an update on Alek Manoah's recent rehab start with the team, what he looks for in his players during their process of getting back to the Majors, how much of a factor velocity is for their pitchers, differences in time spent on the mound between newer and older pitchers, and the expectations for Trey Yesavage's first start in Triple-A. 

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.

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:01:44 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:43) discuss the Milwaukee Brewers continuing to lead the way in the NL Central, whether the New York Yankees will be out of the postseason mix, why the Seattle Mariners could be the scariest team towards September, and how the Blue Jays currently stack against the American League teams. Then, Casey Candaele (30:30), manager for the Buffalo Bisons shares an update on Alek Manoah's recent rehab start with the team, what he looks for in his players during their process of getting back to the Majors, how much of a factor velocity is for their pitchers, differences in time spent on the mound between newer and older pitchers, and the expectations for Trey Yesavage's first start in Triple-A. 

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.

]]> The Scary Mariners + Updates from Buffalo with Casey Candaele Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:43) discuss the Milwaukee Brewers continuing to lead the way in the NL Central, whether the New York Yankees will be out of the postseason mix, why the Seattle Mariners could be the scariest team towards September, and how the Blue Jays currently stack against the American League teams. Then, Casey Candaele (30:30), manager for the Buffalo Bisons shares an update on Alek Manoah's recent rehab start with the team, what he looks for in his players during their process of getting back to the Majors, how much of a factor velocity is for their pitchers, differences in time spent on the mound between newer and older pitchers, and the expectations for Trey Yesavage's first start in Triple-A.  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. Jeff Blair and ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:43) discuss the Milwaukee Brewers continuing to lead the way in the NL Central, whether the New York Yankees will be out of the postseason mix, why the Seattle Mariners could be the scariest team towards September, and how the Blue Jays currently stack against the American League teams. Then, Casey Candaele (30:30), manager for the Buffalo Bisons shares an update on Alek Manoah's recent rehab start with the team, what he looks for in his players during their process of getting back to the Majors, how much of a factor velocity is for their pitchers, differences in time spent on the mound between newer and older pitchers, and the expectations for Trey Yesavage's first start in Triple-A.  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. false full 50203192-ae33-4b76-8d14-9759a6119237 Clement Clubs Against the Cubs Jeff Blair looks back on the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs to open the series and Ernie Clement extending his home run streak to three games. ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers joins the show (10:20) to share what the Jays can expect in the rest of their series against the Cubs, whether they did enough at the deadline, Kyle Tucker's future, and how the Brewers have found their NL-leading success this season. Later, Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (28:50) weighs in on Clement's timely hot stretch, Alek Manoah's rocky Triple-A rehab start, José Berríos's recent form, and John Schneider's bullpen management since the deadline.

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.

]]> Wed, 13 Aug 2025 21:00:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair looks back on the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs to open the series and Ernie Clement extending his home run streak to three games. ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers joins the show (10:20) to share what the Jays can expect in the rest of their series against the Cubs, whether they did enough at the deadline, Kyle Tucker's future, and how the Brewers have found their NL-leading success this season. Later, Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (28:50) weighs in on Clement's timely hot stretch, Alek Manoah's rocky Triple-A rehab start, José Berríos's recent form, and John Schneider's bullpen management since the deadline.

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.

]]> Clement Clubs Against the Cubs Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair looks back on the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs to open the series and Ernie Clement extending his home run streak to three games. ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers joins the show (10:20) to share what the Jays can expect in the rest of their series against the Cubs, whether they did enough at the deadline, Kyle Tucker's future, and how the Brewers have found their NL-leading success this season. Later, Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (28:50) weighs in on Clement's timely hot stretch, Alek Manoah's rocky Triple-A rehab start, José Berríos's recent form, and John Schneider's bullpen management since the deadline. 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. Jeff Blair looks back on the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Chicago Cubs to open the series and Ernie Clement extending his home run streak to three games. ESPN reporter Jesse Rogers joins the show (10:20) to share what the Jays can expect in the rest of their series against the Cubs, whether they did enough at the deadline, Kyle Tucker's future, and how the Brewers have found their NL-leading success this season. Later, Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (28:50) weighs in on Clement's timely hot stretch, Alek Manoah's rocky Triple-A rehab start, José Berríos's recent form, and John Schneider's bullpen management since the deadline. 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. false full 2d9bc762-0538-44fb-af52-800777a10db8 Matthew Boyd's Road Back from TJ + Clubbing Against the Cubs Jeff Blair is joined by current starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and former Blue Jay Matthew Boyd (0:41) to chat about what it was like to be traded for David Price, his road back from Tommy John in 2024, his relationship with the Cubs' front office, and the team's aspirations to return to the World Series. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (17:00) to discuss how much of a boost Andrés Giménez will give to the clubhouse returning for the final stretch towards the postseason, José Berríos losing steam, and Jeff Hoffman's recent form. To wrap up the show, we hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro discussing his future with the organisation.

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.

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2025 22:02:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by current starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and former Blue Jay Matthew Boyd (0:41) to chat about what it was like to be traded for David Price, his road back from Tommy John in 2024, his relationship with the Cubs' front office, and the team's aspirations to return to the World Series. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (17:00) to discuss how much of a boost Andrés Giménez will give to the clubhouse returning for the final stretch towards the postseason, José Berríos losing steam, and Jeff Hoffman's recent form. To wrap up the show, we hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro discussing his future with the organisation.

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.

]]> Matthew Boyd's Road Back from TJ + Clubbing Against the Cubs Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair is joined by current starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and former Blue Jay Matthew Boyd (0:41) to chat about what it was like to be traded for David Price, his road back from Tommy John in 2024, his relationship with the Cubs' front office, and the team's aspirations to return to the World Series. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (17:00) to discuss how much of a boost Andrés Giménez will give to the clubhouse returning for the final stretch towards the postseason, José Berríos losing steam, and Jeff Hoffman's recent form. To wrap up the show, we hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro discussing his future with the organisation. 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. Jeff Blair is joined by current starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and former Blue Jay Matthew Boyd (0:41) to chat about what it was like to be traded for David Price, his road back from Tommy John in 2024, his relationship with the Cubs' front office, and the team's aspirations to return to the World Series. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (17:00) to discuss how much of a boost Andrés Giménez will give to the clubhouse returning for the final stretch towards the postseason, José Berríos losing steam, and Jeff Hoffman's recent form. To wrap up the show, we hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro discussing his future with the organisation. 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. false full f305e2ed-324f-4828-b053-526fee178fb8 Clubhouse Cultures with Kevin Kiermaier Jeff Blair welcomes in guest co-host, MLB Network's Jon Morosi, to share a national perspective on the Blue Jays ahead of their series against the Chicago Cubs. They look at the Jays' standing in the AL, share takeaways from Mark Shapiro's availability, and project what the Jays might do with their rotation when Shane Bieber is ready. Later, Jays Special Assistant and retired MLB outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (31:31) reflects on winning a World Series with the Dodgers in his final season, his transition to coaching, and the clubhouse culture in the Jays' minor league system.

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.

]]> Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:04:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair welcomes in guest co-host, MLB Network's Jon Morosi, to share a national perspective on the Blue Jays ahead of their series against the Chicago Cubs. They look at the Jays' standing in the AL, share takeaways from Mark Shapiro's availability, and project what the Jays might do with their rotation when Shane Bieber is ready. Later, Jays Special Assistant and retired MLB outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (31:31) reflects on winning a World Series with the Dodgers in his final season, his transition to coaching, and the clubhouse culture in the Jays' minor league system.

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.

]]> Clubhouse Cultures with Kevin Kiermaier Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair welcomes in guest co-host, MLB Network's Jon Morosi, to share a national perspective on the Blue Jays ahead of their series against the Chicago Cubs. They look at the Jays' standing in the AL, share takeaways from Mark Shapiro's availability, and project what the Jays might do with their rotation when Shane Bieber is ready. Later, Jays Special Assistant and retired MLB outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (31:31) reflects on winning a World Series with the Dodgers in his final season, his transition to coaching, and the clubhouse culture in the Jays' minor league system. 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. Jeff Blair welcomes in guest co-host, MLB Network's Jon Morosi, to share a national perspective on the Blue Jays ahead of their series against the Chicago Cubs. They look at the Jays' standing in the AL, share takeaways from Mark Shapiro's availability, and project what the Jays might do with their rotation when Shane Bieber is ready. Later, Jays Special Assistant and retired MLB outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (31:31) reflects on winning a World Series with the Dodgers in his final season, his transition to coaching, and the clubhouse culture in the Jays' minor league system. 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. false full 4898dd94-796c-4939-8035-cb76e0022c6e Trey Yesavage's Timeline + Yankees' Ejection Overload Jeff Blair welcomes David Samson (1:05), host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, to chat about the dumpster fire around the New York Yankees since the trade deadline, the Blue Jays' success on the recent road trip despite dropping two games against the L.A. Dodgers, how he would approach a prospect making debuting in September, Dave Roberts calling out Shohei Ohtani, and Jen Pawol becoming the first female umpire in MLB. Then, to wrap up the show, Jeff heads to the Back-Leg Line to hear some of your calls and questions about the Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers and recent road trip! 

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.

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2025 22:01:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair welcomes David Samson (1:05), host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, to chat about the dumpster fire around the New York Yankees since the trade deadline, the Blue Jays' success on the recent road trip despite dropping two games against the L.A. Dodgers, how he would approach a prospect making debuting in September, Dave Roberts calling out Shohei Ohtani, and Jen Pawol becoming the first female umpire in MLB. Then, to wrap up the show, Jeff heads to the Back-Leg Line to hear some of your calls and questions about the Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers and recent road trip! 

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.

]]> Trey Yesavage's Timeline + Yankees' Ejection Overload Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair welcomes David Samson (1:05), host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, to chat about the dumpster fire around the New York Yankees since the trade deadline, the Blue Jays' success on the recent road trip despite dropping two games against the L.A. Dodgers, how he would approach a prospect making debuting in September, Dave Roberts calling out Shohei Ohtani, and Jen Pawol becoming the first female umpire in MLB. Then, to wrap up the show, Jeff heads to the Back-Leg Line to hear some of your calls and questions about the Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers and recent road trip!  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. Jeff Blair welcomes David Samson (1:05), host of Nothing Personal and former MLB President, to chat about the dumpster fire around the New York Yankees since the trade deadline, the Blue Jays' success on the recent road trip despite dropping two games against the L.A. Dodgers, how he would approach a prospect making debuting in September, Dave Roberts calling out Shohei Ohtani, and Jen Pawol becoming the first female umpire in MLB. Then, to wrap up the show, Jeff heads to the Back-Leg Line to hear some of your calls and questions about the Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers and recent road trip!  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. false full a86690d0-bf8c-452c-aaf2-91c5ce2c6125 Yesavage Promoted Again + Jays Salvage One in LA Jeff Blair is hosting solo this week, and he kicks it off with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers in LA. Then, the Athletic's Mitch Bannon (15:38) breaks down the Jays' promotion of No. 1 prospect Trey Yesavage to Triple-A, whether he can factor in for the Jays down the stretch, and the unmistakable impact of George Springer's absence. Later, after his return to the booth this weekend, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:15) stops by to evaluate John Schneider's bullpen usage since the deadline, what Yesavage needs to do to earn a spot in the big leagues this season, and how the team has evolved since he was last in the booth.

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.

]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2025 21:03:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is hosting solo this week, and he kicks it off with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers in LA. Then, the Athletic's Mitch Bannon (15:38) breaks down the Jays' promotion of No. 1 prospect Trey Yesavage to Triple-A, whether he can factor in for the Jays down the stretch, and the unmistakable impact of George Springer's absence. Later, after his return to the booth this weekend, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:15) stops by to evaluate John Schneider's bullpen usage since the deadline, what Yesavage needs to do to earn a spot in the big leagues this season, and how the team has evolved since he was last in the booth.

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.

]]> Yesavage Promoted Again + Jays Salvage One in LA Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair is hosting solo this week, and he kicks it off with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers in LA. Then, the Athletic's Mitch Bannon (15:38) breaks down the Jays' promotion of No. 1 prospect Trey Yesavage to Triple-A, whether he can factor in for the Jays down the stretch, and the unmistakable impact of George Springer's absence. Later, after his return to the booth this weekend, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:15) stops by to evaluate John Schneider's bullpen usage since the deadline, what Yesavage needs to do to earn a spot in the big leagues this season, and how the team has evolved since he was last in the booth. 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. Jeff Blair is hosting solo this week, and he kicks it off with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Dodgers in LA. Then, the Athletic's Mitch Bannon (15:38) breaks down the Jays' promotion of No. 1 prospect Trey Yesavage to Triple-A, whether he can factor in for the Jays down the stretch, and the unmistakable impact of George Springer's absence. Later, after his return to the booth this weekend, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:15) stops by to evaluate John Schneider's bullpen usage since the deadline, what Yesavage needs to do to earn a spot in the big leagues this season, and how the team has evolved since he was last in the booth. 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. false full 03215eb8-2d3b-4bdb-bf94-708f56dde817 A Test Against the World Series Champs Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (2:05) ahead of the team's weekend series in LA. He shares an update on George Springer, Andrés Giménez, and Anthony Santander, the ideal goal Shane Bieber will need to reach before a return to the Majors, balancing playing time for his infielders and managing tough decisions, how he views this matchup against the World Series champs, Vladdy's effectiveness at the plate and how Alejandro Kirk has adjusted to catching new pitchers. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (36:25) to chat about his expectations for Max Scherzer against the Dodgers, how Jays' pitching matches up against Dodgers' hitting, Schneider's options out of the pen, and whether Bo Bichette will strive against the champs.

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.

]]> Fri, 8 Aug 2025 22:03:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (2:05) ahead of the team's weekend series in LA. He shares an update on George Springer, Andrés Giménez, and Anthony Santander, the ideal goal Shane Bieber will need to reach before a return to the Majors, balancing playing time for his infielders and managing tough decisions, how he views this matchup against the World Series champs, Vladdy's effectiveness at the plate and how Alejandro Kirk has adjusted to catching new pitchers. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (36:25) to chat about his expectations for Max Scherzer against the Dodgers, how Jays' pitching matches up against Dodgers' hitting, Schneider's options out of the pen, and whether Bo Bichette will strive against the champs.

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.

]]> A Test Against the World Series Champs Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (2:05) ahead of the team's weekend series in LA. He shares an update on George Springer, Andrés Giménez, and Anthony Santander, the ideal goal Shane Bieber will need to reach before a return to the Majors, balancing playing time for his infielders and managing tough decisions, how he views this matchup against the World Series champs, Vladdy's effectiveness at the plate and how Alejandro Kirk has adjusted to catching new pitchers. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (36:25) to chat about his expectations for Max Scherzer against the Dodgers, how Jays' pitching matches up against Dodgers' hitting, Schneider's options out of the pen, and whether Bo Bichette will strive against the champs. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (2:05) ahead of the team's weekend series in LA. He shares an update on George Springer, Andrés Giménez, and Anthony Santander, the ideal goal Shane Bieber will need to reach before a return to the Majors, balancing playing time for his infielders and managing tough decisions, how he views this matchup against the World Series champs, Vladdy's effectiveness at the plate and how Alejandro Kirk has adjusted to catching new pitchers. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (36:25) to chat about his expectations for Max Scherzer against the Dodgers, how Jays' pitching matches up against Dodgers' hitting, Schneider's options out of the pen, and whether Bo Bichette will strive against the champs. 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. false full 6da8cfd7-10d4-4fdc-8139-7c11d68be806 Mad Max vs. Kershaw Kicks Off Dodgers Duel Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker set the stage for the Jays' weekend series in LA against the Dodgers, and what to expect in the Hall-of-Fame head-to-head tonight between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. They debate which of the vets had the better prime, whether Shane Bieber is a lock for a postseason start, and storylines to watch at Dodger Stadium. Later, LA Times' Bill Shaikin (27:35) joins the show to discuss how Kershaw has evolved in his veteran years, what's behind Mookie Betts' struggles, the plan for Shohei Ohtani down the stretch and whether he will pitch in the playoffs.

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.

]]> Fri, 8 Aug 2025 21:06:00 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker set the stage for the Jays' weekend series in LA against the Dodgers, and what to expect in the Hall-of-Fame head-to-head tonight between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. They debate which of the vets had the better prime, whether Shane Bieber is a lock for a postseason start, and storylines to watch at Dodger Stadium. Later, LA Times' Bill Shaikin (27:35) joins the show to discuss how Kershaw has evolved in his veteran years, what's behind Mookie Betts' struggles, the plan for Shohei Ohtani down the stretch and whether he will pitch in the playoffs.

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.

]]> Mad Max vs. Kershaw Kicks Off Dodgers Duel Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker set the stage for the Jays' weekend series in LA against the Dodgers, and what to expect in the Hall-of-Fame head-to-head tonight between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. They debate which of the vets had the better prime, whether Shane Bieber is a lock for a postseason start, and storylines to watch at Dodger Stadium. Later, LA Times' Bill Shaikin (27:35) joins the show to discuss how Kershaw has evolved in his veteran years, what's behind Mookie Betts' struggles, the plan for Shohei Ohtani down the stretch and whether he will pitch in the playoffs. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker set the stage for the Jays' weekend series in LA against the Dodgers, and what to expect in the Hall-of-Fame head-to-head tonight between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. They debate which of the vets had the better prime, whether Shane Bieber is a lock for a postseason start, and storylines to watch at Dodger Stadium. Later, LA Times' Bill Shaikin (27:35) joins the show to discuss how Kershaw has evolved in his veteran years, what's behind Mookie Betts' struggles, the plan for Shohei Ohtani down the stretch and whether he will pitch in the playoffs. 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. false full 25fb7dfe-27cb-4202-acb8-842ff6d980a4 The Cooking Brew Crew + A Weekend in L.A. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:12) to chat about the recent surge by the Milwaukee Brewers, why they're arguably the deepest team in the MLB, Bo Bichette's next contract, the Blue Jays' ability to make contact, similarities between the Jays and the 2015 Kansas City Royals roster, and why the battle within the AL East is still up for grabs. Then, L.A. Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward stops by (26:58) to discuss if the team still has a lingering World Series hangover, if Shohei Ohtani is a better pitcher or hitter, where Clayton Kershaw stacks up among the best left-handed pitchers of all time, Mookie Betts' hitting slump, and how he would envision the starting rotation rolling out for the post-season.

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.

]]> Thu, 7 Aug 2025 22:01:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:12) to chat about the recent surge by the Milwaukee Brewers, why they're arguably the deepest team in the MLB, Bo Bichette's next contract, the Blue Jays' ability to make contact, similarities between the Jays and the 2015 Kansas City Royals roster, and why the battle within the AL East is still up for grabs. Then, L.A. Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward stops by (26:58) to discuss if the team still has a lingering World Series hangover, if Shohei Ohtani is a better pitcher or hitter, where Clayton Kershaw stacks up among the best left-handed pitchers of all time, Mookie Betts' hitting slump, and how he would envision the starting rotation rolling out for the post-season.

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.

]]> The Cooking Brew Crew + A Weekend in L.A. Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:12) to chat about the recent surge by the Milwaukee Brewers, why they're arguably the deepest team in the MLB, Bo Bichette's next contract, the Blue Jays' ability to make contact, similarities between the Jays and the 2015 Kansas City Royals roster, and why the battle within the AL East is still up for grabs. Then, L.A. Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward stops by (26:58) to discuss if the team still has a lingering World Series hangover, if Shohei Ohtani is a better pitcher or hitter, where Clayton Kershaw stacks up among the best left-handed pitchers of all time, Mookie Betts' hitting slump, and how he would envision the starting rotation rolling out for the post-season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (2:12) to chat about the recent surge by the Milwaukee Brewers, why they're arguably the deepest team in the MLB, Bo Bichette's next contract, the Blue Jays' ability to make contact, similarities between the Jays and the 2015 Kansas City Royals roster, and why the battle within the AL East is still up for grabs. Then, L.A. Dodgers first base coach Chris Woodward stops by (26:58) to discuss if the team still has a lingering World Series hangover, if Shohei Ohtani is a better pitcher or hitter, where Clayton Kershaw stacks up among the best left-handed pitchers of all time, Mookie Betts' hitting slump, and how he would envision the starting rotation rolling out for the post-season. 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. false full 7026c0cc-ac39-4bbb-ba8b-5d2dbadf2eab Domination in Denver + Marlins' Momentum with Liam Hicks Following the Blue Jays' dominating sweep over the Colorado Rockies, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the off-edition by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! They get into Shane Bieber's future in Toronto, whether the Jays go big-game hunting in the offseason once again, and the looming return of Alek Manoah. Later, Miami Marlins catcher and Canadian Liam Hicks swings by (31:37) to discuss the Marlins' unexpected run this year, his experience getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, building a routine in the big leagues, and his path from the Toronto Mets to MLB.

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.

]]> Thu, 7 Aug 2025 21:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Following the Blue Jays' dominating sweep over the Colorado Rockies, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the off-edition by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! They get into Shane Bieber's future in Toronto, whether the Jays go big-game hunting in the offseason once again, and the looming return of Alek Manoah. Later, Miami Marlins catcher and Canadian Liam Hicks swings by (31:37) to discuss the Marlins' unexpected run this year, his experience getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, building a routine in the big leagues, and his path from the Toronto Mets to MLB.

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.

]]> Domination in Denver + Marlins' Momentum with Liam Hicks Sportsnet 00:49:50 Following the Blue Jays' dominating sweep over the Colorado Rockies, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the off-edition by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! They get into Shane Bieber's future in Toronto, whether the Jays go big-game hunting in the offseason once again, and the looming return of Alek Manoah. Later, Miami Marlins catcher and Canadian Liam Hicks swings by (31:37) to discuss the Marlins' unexpected run this year, his experience getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, building a routine in the big leagues, and his path from the Toronto Mets to MLB. 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. Following the Blue Jays' dominating sweep over the Colorado Rockies, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the off-edition by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! They get into Shane Bieber's future in Toronto, whether the Jays go big-game hunting in the offseason once again, and the looming return of Alek Manoah. Later, Miami Marlins catcher and Canadian Liam Hicks swings by (31:37) to discuss the Marlins' unexpected run this year, his experience getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, building a routine in the big leagues, and his path from the Toronto Mets to MLB. 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. false full eff4d66f-6dd8-4696-925b-33c11cbc8f79 Red Hot Sox + The Jays' Identity From an Outside POV Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by WEEI Boston Red Sox writer and co-host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' Rob Bradford (2:55) to chat about the team's recent hot streak since turning the page from the trade deadline, why Garrett Crochet should be front-running the Cy Young Award, Lucas Giolito's resurgence, and expectations for recently acquired Dustin May from the L.A. Dodgers. Then, Rockies TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:15) stops by to discuss how different the Colorado baseball club is compared to the Blue Jays, Eric Lauer's turnaround and performance against the Rockies, and why he likes the Jays so much as the best team in the American League. 

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.

]]> Tue, 5 Aug 2025 22:02:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by WEEI Boston Red Sox writer and co-host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' Rob Bradford (2:55) to chat about the team's recent hot streak since turning the page from the trade deadline, why Garrett Crochet should be front-running the Cy Young Award, Lucas Giolito's resurgence, and expectations for recently acquired Dustin May from the L.A. Dodgers. Then, Rockies TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:15) stops by to discuss how different the Colorado baseball club is compared to the Blue Jays, Eric Lauer's turnaround and performance against the Rockies, and why he likes the Jays so much as the best team in the American League. 

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.

]]> Red Hot Sox + The Jays' Identity From an Outside POV Sportsnet 00:49:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by WEEI Boston Red Sox writer and co-host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' Rob Bradford (2:55) to chat about the team's recent hot streak since turning the page from the trade deadline, why Garrett Crochet should be front-running the Cy Young Award, Lucas Giolito's resurgence, and expectations for recently acquired Dustin May from the L.A. Dodgers. Then, Rockies TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:15) stops by to discuss how different the Colorado baseball club is compared to the Blue Jays, Eric Lauer's turnaround and performance against the Rockies, and why he likes the Jays so much as the best team in the American League. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by WEEI Boston Red Sox writer and co-host of 'Baseball Isn’t Boring' Rob Bradford (2:55) to chat about the team's recent hot streak since turning the page from the trade deadline, why Garrett Crochet should be front-running the Cy Young Award, Lucas Giolito's resurgence, and expectations for recently acquired Dustin May from the L.A. Dodgers. Then, Rockies TV analyst Ryan Spilborghs (27:15) stops by to discuss how different the Colorado baseball club is compared to the Blue Jays, Eric Lauer's turnaround and performance against the Rockies, and why he likes the Jays so much as the best team in the American League. 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. false full 70a568f5-2738-42f7-9ebe-a58ae69689e9 Jays' Bats Breakout in Colorado + Will Lauer Start in October? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' offensive barrage to open their series against the Colorado Rockies -- putting up a season-high 15 runs in the road win. They discuss Daulton Varsho's big fly, Bo Bichette's two-homer night, Eric Lauer overcoming his Coors Field demons and whether he's earned consideration for a start in the postseason. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (24:02) to tee up the second game of the series in Colorado and discuss how José Berríos gets back on track with his fastball, Lauer's chances at getting a start in the postseason, Bo's hot streak and why the Jays must work something out on an extension. 

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.

]]> Tue, 5 Aug 2025 21:04:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' offensive barrage to open their series against the Colorado Rockies -- putting up a season-high 15 runs in the road win. They discuss Daulton Varsho's big fly, Bo Bichette's two-homer night, Eric Lauer overcoming his Coors Field demons and whether he's earned consideration for a start in the postseason. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (24:02) to tee up the second game of the series in Colorado and discuss how José Berríos gets back on track with his fastball, Lauer's chances at getting a start in the postseason, Bo's hot streak and why the Jays must work something out on an extension. 

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.

]]> Jays' Bats Breakout in Colorado + Will Lauer Start in October? Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' offensive barrage to open their series against the Colorado Rockies -- putting up a season-high 15 runs in the road win. They discuss Daulton Varsho's big fly, Bo Bichette's two-homer night, Eric Lauer overcoming his Coors Field demons and whether he's earned consideration for a start in the postseason. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (24:02) to tee up the second game of the series in Colorado and discuss how José Berríos gets back on track with his fastball, Lauer's chances at getting a start in the postseason, Bo's hot streak and why the Jays must work something out on an extension. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' offensive barrage to open their series against the Colorado Rockies -- putting up a season-high 15 runs in the road win. They discuss Daulton Varsho's big fly, Bo Bichette's two-homer night, Eric Lauer overcoming his Coors Field demons and whether he's earned consideration for a start in the postseason. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph stops by (24:02) to tee up the second game of the series in Colorado and discuss how José Berríos gets back on track with his fastball, Lauer's chances at getting a start in the postseason, Bo's hot streak and why the Jays must work something out on an extension. 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. false full f450dbdd-75d5-473b-b618-7bf68edfb0ad Yanking After the Deadline + Rockies Report Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (1:09) to chat about the worries around the New York Yankees post-trade deadline and after being swept by the Miami Marlins for the first time in franchise history, how recently traded players from small market teams adjust to the pressure in New York, if Craig Breslow made the right moves for the Boston Red Sox, and the future of the Rockies in Colorado. Then, former MLB outfielder and colour commentator for the Rockies, Jeff Huson, stops by (28:54) to discuss the team's losing season, the difficulties of pitching in Colorado, Warming Bernabel overcoming a robbery to play in the Majors, and the roster's struggles against left-handed pitchers.

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.

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 22:02:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (1:09) to chat about the worries around the New York Yankees post-trade deadline and after being swept by the Miami Marlins for the first time in franchise history, how recently traded players from small market teams adjust to the pressure in New York, if Craig Breslow made the right moves for the Boston Red Sox, and the future of the Rockies in Colorado. Then, former MLB outfielder and colour commentator for the Rockies, Jeff Huson, stops by (28:54) to discuss the team's losing season, the difficulties of pitching in Colorado, Warming Bernabel overcoming a robbery to play in the Majors, and the roster's struggles against left-handed pitchers.

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.

]]> Yanking After the Deadline + Rockies Report Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (1:09) to chat about the worries around the New York Yankees post-trade deadline and after being swept by the Miami Marlins for the first time in franchise history, how recently traded players from small market teams adjust to the pressure in New York, if Craig Breslow made the right moves for the Boston Red Sox, and the future of the Rockies in Colorado. Then, former MLB outfielder and colour commentator for the Rockies, Jeff Huson, stops by (28:54) to discuss the team's losing season, the difficulties of pitching in Colorado, Warming Bernabel overcoming a robbery to play in the Majors, and the roster's struggles against left-handed pitchers. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (1:09) to chat about the worries around the New York Yankees post-trade deadline and after being swept by the Miami Marlins for the first time in franchise history, how recently traded players from small market teams adjust to the pressure in New York, if Craig Breslow made the right moves for the Boston Red Sox, and the future of the Rockies in Colorado. Then, former MLB outfielder and colour commentator for the Rockies, Jeff Huson, stops by (28:54) to discuss the team's losing season, the difficulties of pitching in Colorado, Warming Bernabel overcoming a robbery to play in the Majors, and the roster's struggles against left-handed pitchers. 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. false full 2a70c7a6-2312-4215-864c-aad9183dfdfd Jays Look to End Rocky Stretch in Colorado Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals and get into early returns from the new acquisitions, some questionable bullpen management, Daulton Varsho's return, Max Scherzer's strong outing, and Shane Bieber's progress in his latest rehab start at Triple-A. Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall joins the show (27:05) from Colorado to help tee up the Jays' series against the Rockies. He discusses why there's no reason to overreact to the teams' recent slide, George Springer's impactful absence and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss Bo Bichette's future and what he might be worth on the open free-agent market.

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.

]]> Mon, 4 Aug 2025 21:03:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals and get into early returns from the new acquisitions, some questionable bullpen management, Daulton Varsho's return, Max Scherzer's strong outing, and Shane Bieber's progress in his latest rehab start at Triple-A. Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall joins the show (27:05) from Colorado to help tee up the Jays' series against the Rockies. He discusses why there's no reason to overreact to the teams' recent slide, George Springer's impactful absence and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss Bo Bichette's future and what he might be worth on the open free-agent market.

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.

]]> Jays Look to End Rocky Stretch in Colorado Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals and get into early returns from the new acquisitions, some questionable bullpen management, Daulton Varsho's return, Max Scherzer's strong outing, and Shane Bieber's progress in his latest rehab start at Triple-A. Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall joins the show (27:05) from Colorado to help tee up the Jays' series against the Rockies. He discusses why there's no reason to overreact to the teams' recent slide, George Springer's impactful absence and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss Bo Bichette's future and what he might be worth on the open free-agent market. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals and get into early returns from the new acquisitions, some questionable bullpen management, Daulton Varsho's return, Max Scherzer's strong outing, and Shane Bieber's progress in his latest rehab start at Triple-A. Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall joins the show (27:05) from Colorado to help tee up the Jays' series against the Rockies. He discusses why there's no reason to overreact to the teams' recent slide, George Springer's impactful absence and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss Bo Bichette's future and what he might be worth on the open free-agent market. 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. false full bef14926-7026-4593-9385-ae3ec175c09d Options on Deck Post Deadline with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider to get his thoughts on the front office's trade deadline acquisitions (1:40). The skipper shares how he plans on using Louis Varland out of the bullpen, his job of getting new players acquainted to their roles and setting within a game and clubhouse, Shane Bieber's recovery and fit within the rotation, why they'll have a cautious approach with Daulton Varsho returning, and his options within the pen and on the bench. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (25:47) to discuss how the players feel post-trade-deadline, why Ty France is a depth upgrade in the infield, if Joey Loperfido is predictable, why Max Scherzer could be on a verge of a successful run, and why Vladdy Jr. is the most important player down the stretch.

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.

]]> Fri, 1 Aug 2025 22:01:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider to get his thoughts on the front office's trade deadline acquisitions (1:40). The skipper shares how he plans on using Louis Varland out of the bullpen, his job of getting new players acquainted to their roles and setting within a game and clubhouse, Shane Bieber's recovery and fit within the rotation, why they'll have a cautious approach with Daulton Varsho returning, and his options within the pen and on the bench. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (25:47) to discuss how the players feel post-trade-deadline, why Ty France is a depth upgrade in the infield, if Joey Loperfido is predictable, why Max Scherzer could be on a verge of a successful run, and why Vladdy Jr. is the most important player down the stretch.

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.

]]> Options on Deck Post Deadline with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider to get his thoughts on the front office's trade deadline acquisitions (1:40). The skipper shares how he plans on using Louis Varland out of the bullpen, his job of getting new players acquainted to their roles and setting within a game and clubhouse, Shane Bieber's recovery and fit within the rotation, why they'll have a cautious approach with Daulton Varsho returning, and his options within the pen and on the bench. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (25:47) to discuss how the players feel post-trade-deadline, why Ty France is a depth upgrade in the infield, if Joey Loperfido is predictable, why Max Scherzer could be on a verge of a successful run, and why Vladdy Jr. is the most important player down the stretch. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider to get his thoughts on the front office's trade deadline acquisitions (1:40). The skipper shares how he plans on using Louis Varland out of the bullpen, his job of getting new players acquainted to their roles and setting within a game and clubhouse, Shane Bieber's recovery and fit within the rotation, why they'll have a cautious approach with Daulton Varsho returning, and his options within the pen and on the bench. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (25:47) to discuss how the players feel post-trade-deadline, why Ty France is a depth upgrade in the infield, if Joey Loperfido is predictable, why Max Scherzer could be on a verge of a successful run, and why Vladdy Jr. is the most important player down the stretch. 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. false full 7e3925bc-2e21-4492-adce-3788f0fdace4 Deadline Reflections with Ross Atkins With the deadline down, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals, where some of the new Jays will make their Toronto debuts. They discuss which teams had the best deadlines, what to expect from Daulton Varsho in his return from injury and how the lineup changes when Andrés Giménez returns. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show following the deadline (25:38). He gets into the decision to target Shane Bieber despite his injury, the competitive relief-pitcher market, what Louis Varland brings to the bullpen, Ty France's fit, his trade negotiation process and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 1 Aug 2025 21:06:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With the deadline down, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals, where some of the new Jays will make their Toronto debuts. They discuss which teams had the best deadlines, what to expect from Daulton Varsho in his return from injury and how the lineup changes when Andrés Giménez returns. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show following the deadline (25:38). He gets into the decision to target Shane Bieber despite his injury, the competitive relief-pitcher market, what Louis Varland brings to the bullpen, Ty France's fit, his trade negotiation process and much more.

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.

]]> Deadline Reflections with Ross Atkins Sportsnet 00:49:48 With the deadline down, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals, where some of the new Jays will make their Toronto debuts. They discuss which teams had the best deadlines, what to expect from Daulton Varsho in his return from injury and how the lineup changes when Andrés Giménez returns. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show following the deadline (25:38). He gets into the decision to target Shane Bieber despite his injury, the competitive relief-pitcher market, what Louis Varland brings to the bullpen, Ty France's fit, his trade negotiation process and much more. 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. With the deadline down, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Royals, where some of the new Jays will make their Toronto debuts. They discuss which teams had the best deadlines, what to expect from Daulton Varsho in his return from injury and how the lineup changes when Andrés Giménez returns. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show following the deadline (25:38). He gets into the decision to target Shane Bieber despite his injury, the competitive relief-pitcher market, what Louis Varland brings to the bullpen, Ty France's fit, his trade negotiation process and much more. 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. false full 6872cf62-5d79-4be8-b69e-49574fbe7cb5 Pencils Down, the MLB Trade Deadline is Over Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up their trade deadline special touching on the Blue Jays' last acquisitions with reliever Louis Varland and first basemen Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, before putting a bow on Toronto's deadline moves, if the team's roster has significantly improved, and how they compare to the New York Yankees after improving their bullpen. Then, they bring on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (20:35) to chat about the Jays transitioning into a 6-man rotation, how Ty France can help the roster, how the Jays stack up to New York's roster, and where Varland slots in during a game. Then, Jeff and Kevin end the show with the Back-Leg Line with listeners' thoughts on how the Blue Jays' trade deadline went. 

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.

]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 23:01:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up their trade deadline special touching on the Blue Jays' last acquisitions with reliever Louis Varland and first basemen Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, before putting a bow on Toronto's deadline moves, if the team's roster has significantly improved, and how they compare to the New York Yankees after improving their bullpen. Then, they bring on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (20:35) to chat about the Jays transitioning into a 6-man rotation, how Ty France can help the roster, how the Jays stack up to New York's roster, and where Varland slots in during a game. Then, Jeff and Kevin end the show with the Back-Leg Line with listeners' thoughts on how the Blue Jays' trade deadline went. 

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.

]]> Pencils Down, the MLB Trade Deadline is Over Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up their trade deadline special touching on the Blue Jays' last acquisitions with reliever Louis Varland and first basemen Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, before putting a bow on Toronto's deadline moves, if the team's roster has significantly improved, and how they compare to the New York Yankees after improving their bullpen. Then, they bring on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (20:35) to chat about the Jays transitioning into a 6-man rotation, how Ty France can help the roster, how the Jays stack up to New York's roster, and where Varland slots in during a game. Then, Jeff and Kevin end the show with the Back-Leg Line with listeners' thoughts on how the Blue Jays' trade deadline went.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up their trade deadline special touching on the Blue Jays' last acquisitions with reliever Louis Varland and first basemen Ty France from the Minnesota Twins, before putting a bow on Toronto's deadline moves, if the team's roster has significantly improved, and how they compare to the New York Yankees after improving their bullpen. Then, they bring on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (20:35) to chat about the Jays transitioning into a 6-man rotation, how Ty France can help the roster, how the Jays stack up to New York's roster, and where Varland slots in during a game. Then, Jeff and Kevin end the show with the Back-Leg Line with listeners' thoughts on how the Blue Jays' trade deadline went.  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. false full d7c7fb8e-d91e-455b-99a0-95d936da77ae Did Jays Do Enough? + Deadline Memory Lane with David Price Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue their trade deadline special by reacting to the Blue Jays trading Will Wagner to the Padres for Minor League catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Then, 10 years after being traded to Toronto, former pitcher David Price joins the show (1:35) to relive the Jays' big deadline in 2015 and his time with that special team. Then, he shares his message for Shane Bieber as he adjusts to his new reality with the Jays and his election into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Red Sox acquiring Dustin May from the Dodgers before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions.

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.

]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:01:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue their trade deadline special by reacting to the Blue Jays trading Will Wagner to the Padres for Minor League catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Then, 10 years after being traded to Toronto, former pitcher David Price joins the show (1:35) to relive the Jays' big deadline in 2015 and his time with that special team. Then, he shares his message for Shane Bieber as he adjusts to his new reality with the Jays and his election into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Red Sox acquiring Dustin May from the Dodgers before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions.

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.

]]> Did Jays Do Enough? + Deadline Memory Lane with David Price Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue their trade deadline special by reacting to the Blue Jays trading Will Wagner to the Padres for Minor League catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Then, 10 years after being traded to Toronto, former pitcher David Price joins the show (1:35) to relive the Jays' big deadline in 2015 and his time with that special team. Then, he shares his message for Shane Bieber as he adjusts to his new reality with the Jays and his election into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Red Sox acquiring Dustin May from the Dodgers before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue their trade deadline special by reacting to the Blue Jays trading Will Wagner to the Padres for Minor League catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Then, 10 years after being traded to Toronto, former pitcher David Price joins the show (1:35) to relive the Jays' big deadline in 2015 and his time with that special team. Then, he shares his message for Shane Bieber as he adjusts to his new reality with the Jays and his election into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Red Sox acquiring Dustin May from the Dodgers before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. 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. false full 39606170-c6f9-4820-b91a-311f3069fcff Inside the MLB Trade Deadline with David Samson Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their trade deadline special by recapping the Blue Jays' moves so far, including Seranthony Domínguez and recently acquired Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, while arguing if this is enough to go on a run in the AL. Then, they bring on former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal with David Samson (30:36), to chat about what it means for the Jays acquiring a pitcher who hasn't pitched due to an injury, roster comparisons between the New York Yankees and Toronto, Aaron Judge's uncertainty in the right-field for the rest of the season, whether other front offices have scouting reports on other general managers, clubhouse moral when the franchise is looking to sell, the Rays' focus at the deadline with their current home-field issues, and looks back at the role of a President during trade calls.

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.

]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 21:02:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their trade deadline special by recapping the Blue Jays' moves so far, including Seranthony Domínguez and recently acquired Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, while arguing if this is enough to go on a run in the AL. Then, they bring on former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal with David Samson (30:36), to chat about what it means for the Jays acquiring a pitcher who hasn't pitched due to an injury, roster comparisons between the New York Yankees and Toronto, Aaron Judge's uncertainty in the right-field for the rest of the season, whether other front offices have scouting reports on other general managers, clubhouse moral when the franchise is looking to sell, the Rays' focus at the deadline with their current home-field issues, and looks back at the role of a President during trade calls.

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.

]]> Inside the MLB Trade Deadline with David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their trade deadline special by recapping the Blue Jays' moves so far, including Seranthony Domínguez and recently acquired Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, while arguing if this is enough to go on a run in the AL. Then, they bring on former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal with David Samson (30:36), to chat about what it means for the Jays acquiring a pitcher who hasn't pitched due to an injury, roster comparisons between the New York Yankees and Toronto, Aaron Judge's uncertainty in the right-field for the rest of the season, whether other front offices have scouting reports on other general managers, clubhouse moral when the franchise is looking to sell, the Rays' focus at the deadline with their current home-field issues, and looks back at the role of a President during trade calls. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin their trade deadline special by recapping the Blue Jays' moves so far, including Seranthony Domínguez and recently acquired Shane Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians, while arguing if this is enough to go on a run in the AL. Then, they bring on former MLB President and host of Nothing Personal with David Samson (30:36), to chat about what it means for the Jays acquiring a pitcher who hasn't pitched due to an injury, roster comparisons between the New York Yankees and Toronto, Aaron Judge's uncertainty in the right-field for the rest of the season, whether other front offices have scouting reports on other general managers, clubhouse moral when the franchise is looking to sell, the Rays' focus at the deadline with their current home-field issues, and looks back at the role of a President during trade calls. 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. false full 250dba11-aca4-4fd7-b5c3-0c8b4d653385 Getting Set for the Deadline Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker roll on following the Blue Jays' 9-8 win over the Orioles to close out the series. Cardinals writer Derrick Goold (1:00) discusses St. Louis' plans at the deadline and what it would cost the Jays to acquire closer Ryan Helsley. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Noah Hiles (10:26) shares what led to the Pirates trading Ke'Bryan Hayes away to the Reds and who else could be on the move ahead of Thursday's deadline. Chris Rose stops by (28:01) to weigh in on the potential outcomes of MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase, how the Guardians pivot and whether the Jays should be 'all in.' Finally, ESPN insider Jeff Passan (51:50) breaks down today's trades and shares a final tee-up ahead of the deadline.

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.

]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2025 22:08:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker roll on following the Blue Jays' 9-8 win over the Orioles to close out the series. Cardinals writer Derrick Goold (1:00) discusses St. Louis' plans at the deadline and what it would cost the Jays to acquire closer Ryan Helsley. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Noah Hiles (10:26) shares what led to the Pirates trading Ke'Bryan Hayes away to the Reds and who else could be on the move ahead of Thursday's deadline. Chris Rose stops by (28:01) to weigh in on the potential outcomes of MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase, how the Guardians pivot and whether the Jays should be 'all in.' Finally, ESPN insider Jeff Passan (51:50) breaks down today's trades and shares a final tee-up ahead of the deadline.

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.

]]> Getting Set for the Deadline Sportsnet 01:14:41 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker roll on following the Blue Jays' 9-8 win over the Orioles to close out the series. Cardinals writer Derrick Goold (1:00) discusses St. Louis' plans at the deadline and what it would cost the Jays to acquire closer Ryan Helsley. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Noah Hiles (10:26) shares what led to the Pirates trading Ke'Bryan Hayes away to the Reds and who else could be on the move ahead of Thursday's deadline. Chris Rose stops by (28:01) to weigh in on the potential outcomes of MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase, how the Guardians pivot and whether the Jays should be 'all in.' Finally, ESPN insider Jeff Passan (51:50) breaks down today's trades and shares a final tee-up ahead of the deadline. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker roll on following the Blue Jays' 9-8 win over the Orioles to close out the series. Cardinals writer Derrick Goold (1:00) discusses St. Louis' plans at the deadline and what it would cost the Jays to acquire closer Ryan Helsley. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Noah Hiles (10:26) shares what led to the Pirates trading Ke'Bryan Hayes away to the Reds and who else could be on the move ahead of Thursday's deadline. Chris Rose stops by (28:01) to weigh in on the potential outcomes of MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase, how the Guardians pivot and whether the Jays should be 'all in.' Finally, ESPN insider Jeff Passan (51:50) breaks down today's trades and shares a final tee-up ahead of the deadline. 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. false full dd3e9b73-de64-46c5-9029-283c36363194 Jays Land Seranthony Dominguez Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue the game-day edition following the Blue Jays' 16-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the first leg of their doubleheader. Former MLB general manager and executive Thad Levine stops by (1:39) to share a front office's perspective on the lead-up to the trade deadline, Ross Atkins' reputation in trade talks, and the Twins' direction. Then, Jeff and Kevin react live to the Jays acquiring reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles for prospect Juaron Watts-Brown. Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (26:11) shares what Dominguez brings to Toronto, discusses his time at Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and projects what could come from MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase.

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.

]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2025 21:35:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue the game-day edition following the Blue Jays' 16-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the first leg of their doubleheader. Former MLB general manager and executive Thad Levine stops by (1:39) to share a front office's perspective on the lead-up to the trade deadline, Ross Atkins' reputation in trade talks, and the Twins' direction. Then, Jeff and Kevin react live to the Jays acquiring reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles for prospect Juaron Watts-Brown. Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (26:11) shares what Dominguez brings to Toronto, discusses his time at Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and projects what could come from MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase.

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.

]]> Jays Land Seranthony Dominguez Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue the game-day edition following the Blue Jays' 16-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the first leg of their doubleheader. Former MLB general manager and executive Thad Levine stops by (1:39) to share a front office's perspective on the lead-up to the trade deadline, Ross Atkins' reputation in trade talks, and the Twins' direction. Then, Jeff and Kevin react live to the Jays acquiring reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles for prospect Juaron Watts-Brown. Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (26:11) shares what Dominguez brings to Toronto, discusses his time at Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and projects what could come from MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue the game-day edition following the Blue Jays' 16-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the first leg of their doubleheader. Former MLB general manager and executive Thad Levine stops by (1:39) to share a front office's perspective on the lead-up to the trade deadline, Ross Atkins' reputation in trade talks, and the Twins' direction. Then, Jeff and Kevin react live to the Jays acquiring reliever Seranthony Dominguez from the Orioles for prospect Juaron Watts-Brown. Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (26:11) shares what Dominguez brings to Toronto, discusses his time at Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and projects what could come from MLB's investigation into Emmanuel Clase. 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. false full 84bd4826-6503-4b06-b172-9198b3a917a7 Heating Up Near the Deadline and At Camden Yards Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the second hour touching on Bryce Harper's reported confrontation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in the Phillies' clubhouse, before bringing on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (10:14) to chat about Bo Bichette's at-bats post All-Star break, how the Blue Jays' trade market is shaping up, where the team is in the standings could dictate their approach at the deadline, and Chad Green's outlook. Afterwards, Baltimore Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko stops by (32:57) to discuss who's untouchable on the roster, Adley Rutschman's season, and the direction of the franchise. 

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.

]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2025 22:01:00 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the second hour touching on Bryce Harper's reported confrontation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in the Phillies' clubhouse, before bringing on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (10:14) to chat about Bo Bichette's at-bats post All-Star break, how the Blue Jays' trade market is shaping up, where the team is in the standings could dictate their approach at the deadline, and Chad Green's outlook. Afterwards, Baltimore Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko stops by (32:57) to discuss who's untouchable on the roster, Adley Rutschman's season, and the direction of the franchise. 

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.

]]> Heating Up Near the Deadline and At Camden Yards Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the second hour touching on Bryce Harper's reported confrontation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in the Phillies' clubhouse, before bringing on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (10:14) to chat about Bo Bichette's at-bats post All-Star break, how the Blue Jays' trade market is shaping up, where the team is in the standings could dictate their approach at the deadline, and Chad Green's outlook. Afterwards, Baltimore Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko stops by (32:57) to discuss who's untouchable on the roster, Adley Rutschman's season, and the direction of the franchise.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the second hour touching on Bryce Harper's reported confrontation with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred in the Phillies' clubhouse, before bringing on Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (10:14) to chat about Bo Bichette's at-bats post All-Star break, how the Blue Jays' trade market is shaping up, where the team is in the standings could dictate their approach at the deadline, and Chad Green's outlook. Afterwards, Baltimore Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko stops by (32:57) to discuss who's untouchable on the roster, Adley Rutschman's season, and the direction of the franchise.  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. false full ce02f12b-00ae-4cf6-8e64-01cc689a9510 Jays Topple Tigers + MLB Investigates Clase Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by reacting to MLB's sports-betting investigation into Guardians' sought-after trade piece, Emmanuel Clase, and discussing what it means for the Blue Jays in their hunt for bullpen support. Then, they look back on the Jays' weekend series against the Tigers, Max Scherzer's efficient outing and Bo Bichette's quiet consistency. Later, former Cleveland pitcher and current analyst Jensen Lewis (29:10) delves deeper into the Clase investigation, the next steps for the Guardians, its impact on Cade Smith's trade market, and what the Jays should do at the deadline. 

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.

]]> Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:03:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by reacting to MLB's sports-betting investigation into Guardians' sought-after trade piece, Emmanuel Clase, and discussing what it means for the Blue Jays in their hunt for bullpen support. Then, they look back on the Jays' weekend series against the Tigers, Max Scherzer's efficient outing and Bo Bichette's quiet consistency. Later, former Cleveland pitcher and current analyst Jensen Lewis (29:10) delves deeper into the Clase investigation, the next steps for the Guardians, its impact on Cade Smith's trade market, and what the Jays should do at the deadline. 

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.

]]> Jays Topple Tigers + MLB Investigates Clase Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by reacting to MLB's sports-betting investigation into Guardians' sought-after trade piece, Emmanuel Clase, and discussing what it means for the Blue Jays in their hunt for bullpen support. Then, they look back on the Jays' weekend series against the Tigers, Max Scherzer's efficient outing and Bo Bichette's quiet consistency. Later, former Cleveland pitcher and current analyst Jensen Lewis (29:10) delves deeper into the Clase investigation, the next steps for the Guardians, its impact on Cade Smith's trade market, and what the Jays should do at the deadline. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by reacting to MLB's sports-betting investigation into Guardians' sought-after trade piece, Emmanuel Clase, and discussing what it means for the Blue Jays in their hunt for bullpen support. Then, they look back on the Jays' weekend series against the Tigers, Max Scherzer's efficient outing and Bo Bichette's quiet consistency. Later, former Cleveland pitcher and current analyst Jensen Lewis (29:10) delves deeper into the Clase investigation, the next steps for the Guardians, its impact on Cade Smith's trade market, and what the Jays should do at the deadline. 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. false full 0c0223b8-a560-44ea-b20f-329b686e385f Josh Naylor Traded, Micah Bucknam Drafted and the Big 50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Aaron Goldsmith (0:52), Seattle Mariners TV play-by-play voice, to chat about the team's most recent trade, acquiring Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks, what this could signal for the trade market and the organisation moving forward, what needs Seattle must address, and Julio Rodriguez's 2025 season. Afterwards, Blue Jays 4th-round pick, right-handed pitcher Micah Bucknam stops by (28:20) to discuss getting into the sport being born from New Zealand and growing up in Canada, his draft experience, the moment he had to focus on his craft knowing scouts were watching, the transition from high school to university, and watching his former LSU teammate Paul Skenes transition into the Majors.

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.

]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:02:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Aaron Goldsmith (0:52), Seattle Mariners TV play-by-play voice, to chat about the team's most recent trade, acquiring Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks, what this could signal for the trade market and the organisation moving forward, what needs Seattle must address, and Julio Rodriguez's 2025 season. Afterwards, Blue Jays 4th-round pick, right-handed pitcher Micah Bucknam stops by (28:20) to discuss getting into the sport being born from New Zealand and growing up in Canada, his draft experience, the moment he had to focus on his craft knowing scouts were watching, the transition from high school to university, and watching his former LSU teammate Paul Skenes transition into the Majors.

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.

]]> Josh Naylor Traded, Micah Bucknam Drafted and the Big 50 Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Aaron Goldsmith (0:52), Seattle Mariners TV play-by-play voice, to chat about the team's most recent trade, acquiring Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks, what this could signal for the trade market and the organisation moving forward, what needs Seattle must address, and Julio Rodriguez's 2025 season. Afterwards, Blue Jays 4th-round pick, right-handed pitcher Micah Bucknam stops by (28:20) to discuss getting into the sport being born from New Zealand and growing up in Canada, his draft experience, the moment he had to focus on his craft knowing scouts were watching, the transition from high school to university, and watching his former LSU teammate Paul Skenes transition into the Majors. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Aaron Goldsmith (0:52), Seattle Mariners TV play-by-play voice, to chat about the team's most recent trade, acquiring Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks, what this could signal for the trade market and the organisation moving forward, what needs Seattle must address, and Julio Rodriguez's 2025 season. Afterwards, Blue Jays 4th-round pick, right-handed pitcher Micah Bucknam stops by (28:20) to discuss getting into the sport being born from New Zealand and growing up in Canada, his draft experience, the moment he had to focus on his craft knowing scouts were watching, the transition from high school to university, and watching his former LSU teammate Paul Skenes transition into the Majors. 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. false full f94f59c7-c839-41aa-9e43-6a2c8144ffe7 Atop the AL with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Detroit Tigers to improve to the best record in the American League. Then, they share their thoughts on the Mariners trading for Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks, the Yankees filling their third-base hole with Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, the Mets landing Gregory Soto from the Orioles, and how the early trade action impacts the Jays' plans for the deadline. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:40) stops by to share an update on Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez's rehab progress, what part the players play in trade decisions, how Eric Lauer has sustained his success, where he's improved most as a manager and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 25 Jul 2025 21:04:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Detroit Tigers to improve to the best record in the American League. Then, they share their thoughts on the Mariners trading for Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks, the Yankees filling their third-base hole with Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, the Mets landing Gregory Soto from the Orioles, and how the early trade action impacts the Jays' plans for the deadline. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:40) stops by to share an update on Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez's rehab progress, what part the players play in trade decisions, how Eric Lauer has sustained his success, where he's improved most as a manager and much more.

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.

]]> Atop the AL with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Detroit Tigers to improve to the best record in the American League. Then, they share their thoughts on the Mariners trading for Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks, the Yankees filling their third-base hole with Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, the Mets landing Gregory Soto from the Orioles, and how the early trade action impacts the Jays' plans for the deadline. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:40) stops by to share an update on Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez's rehab progress, what part the players play in trade decisions, how Eric Lauer has sustained his success, where he's improved most as a manager and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Detroit Tigers to improve to the best record in the American League. Then, they share their thoughts on the Mariners trading for Josh Naylor from the Diamondbacks, the Yankees filling their third-base hole with Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, the Mets landing Gregory Soto from the Orioles, and how the early trade action impacts the Jays' plans for the deadline. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:40) stops by to share an update on Daulton Varsho and Andrés Giménez's rehab progress, what part the players play in trade decisions, how Eric Lauer has sustained his success, where he's improved most as a manager and much more. 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. false full 285a67e7-d2cf-479e-b270-a734b2294f11 Road Bumps with Chris Leroux + Back Leg Line! It's Thursday, so Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to answer some listeners' calls! Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (30:18) to discuss how he would react as a pitcher to poor infield performances behind him, Chris Bassitt's command of his pitches, Eric Lauer's in-game adjustments, home vs. road games, and will Yariel Rodriguez carve out a role for the Jays after the trade deadline. 

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.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 22:02:00 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ It's Thursday, so Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to answer some listeners' calls! Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (30:18) to discuss how he would react as a pitcher to poor infield performances behind him, Chris Bassitt's command of his pitches, Eric Lauer's in-game adjustments, home vs. road games, and will Yariel Rodriguez carve out a role for the Jays after the trade deadline. 

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.

]]> Road Bumps with Chris Leroux + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:50 It's Thursday, so Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to answer some listeners' calls! Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (30:18) to discuss how he would react as a pitcher to poor infield performances behind him, Chris Bassitt's command of his pitches, Eric Lauer's in-game adjustments, home vs. road games, and will Yariel Rodriguez carve out a role for the Jays after the trade deadline.  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. It's Thursday, so Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back Leg Line to answer some listeners' calls! Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by in-studio (30:18) to discuss how he would react as a pitcher to poor infield performances behind him, Chris Bassitt's command of his pitches, Eric Lauer's in-game adjustments, home vs. road games, and will Yariel Rodriguez carve out a role for the Jays after the trade deadline.  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. false full 1ce2cbdc-94b2-4e0f-9279-874eefc25bb9 Yanks' Infield Implodes + Dueling Detroit for First in the AL Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 8-4 win over the New York Yankees to secure the series victory. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes, George Springer's hustle on the base paths, whether the Jays can continue their stretch of success on the road against the Detroit Tigers, and Chris Bassitt's up-and-down outing. Later, Tigers radio analyst and former MLB pro Bobby Scales joins the show (36:07) to discuss Detroit's skid coming out of the All-Star break, Javier Báez's resurgence this season, Riley Greene's stellar production, Reese Olson's confident changeup, and much more.

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.

]]> Thu, 24 Jul 2025 21:02:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 8-4 win over the New York Yankees to secure the series victory. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes, George Springer's hustle on the base paths, whether the Jays can continue their stretch of success on the road against the Detroit Tigers, and Chris Bassitt's up-and-down outing. Later, Tigers radio analyst and former MLB pro Bobby Scales joins the show (36:07) to discuss Detroit's skid coming out of the All-Star break, Javier Báez's resurgence this season, Riley Greene's stellar production, Reese Olson's confident changeup, and much more.

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.

]]> Yanks' Infield Implodes + Dueling Detroit for First in the AL Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 8-4 win over the New York Yankees to secure the series victory. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes, George Springer's hustle on the base paths, whether the Jays can continue their stretch of success on the road against the Detroit Tigers, and Chris Bassitt's up-and-down outing. Later, Tigers radio analyst and former MLB pro Bobby Scales joins the show (36:07) to discuss Detroit's skid coming out of the All-Star break, Javier Báez's resurgence this season, Riley Greene's stellar production, Reese Olson's confident changeup, and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 8-4 win over the New York Yankees to secure the series victory. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes, George Springer's hustle on the base paths, whether the Jays can continue their stretch of success on the road against the Detroit Tigers, and Chris Bassitt's up-and-down outing. Later, Tigers radio analyst and former MLB pro Bobby Scales joins the show (36:07) to discuss Detroit's skid coming out of the All-Star break, Javier Báez's resurgence this season, Riley Greene's stellar production, Reese Olson's confident changeup, and much more. 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. false full c107416c-434d-4816-98d7-dc0a9cc95765 Another Jays Verbal Agreement + Battling the Top of the AL ESPN's Jeff Passan (0:53) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Houston Astros' winning streak, the intricacies of a verbal agreement as reported between the Blue Jays and the top international prospect in the 2028 class Angel Montas, if the Jays would consider taking a deep look into their prospect pool versus their current depth on the main roster for trades, and how far Toronto is from building a AL-winning — or even World Series — roster. Then, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman joins the guys (31:35) to discuss Braydon Fisher's adjustment stage against the scouting report on him, George Springer's consistency, and whether Vladdy's down year is weighing heavily on the first baseman.

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.

]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2025 22:01:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN's Jeff Passan (0:53) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Houston Astros' winning streak, the intricacies of a verbal agreement as reported between the Blue Jays and the top international prospect in the 2028 class Angel Montas, if the Jays would consider taking a deep look into their prospect pool versus their current depth on the main roster for trades, and how far Toronto is from building a AL-winning — or even World Series — roster. Then, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman joins the guys (31:35) to discuss Braydon Fisher's adjustment stage against the scouting report on him, George Springer's consistency, and whether Vladdy's down year is weighing heavily on the first baseman.

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.

]]> Another Jays Verbal Agreement + Battling the Top of the AL Sportsnet 00:49:49 ESPN's Jeff Passan (0:53) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Houston Astros' winning streak, the intricacies of a verbal agreement as reported between the Blue Jays and the top international prospect in the 2028 class Angel Montas, if the Jays would consider taking a deep look into their prospect pool versus their current depth on the main roster for trades, and how far Toronto is from building a AL-winning — or even World Series — roster. Then, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman joins the guys (31:35) to discuss Braydon Fisher's adjustment stage against the scouting report on him, George Springer's consistency, and whether Vladdy's down year is weighing heavily on the first baseman. 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. ESPN's Jeff Passan (0:53) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Houston Astros' winning streak, the intricacies of a verbal agreement as reported between the Blue Jays and the top international prospect in the 2028 class Angel Montas, if the Jays would consider taking a deep look into their prospect pool versus their current depth on the main roster for trades, and how far Toronto is from building a AL-winning — or even World Series — roster. Then, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman joins the guys (31:35) to discuss Braydon Fisher's adjustment stage against the scouting report on him, George Springer's consistency, and whether Vladdy's down year is weighing heavily on the first baseman. 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. false full 986e615e-3f40-476b-a0fb-617b5417bd13 Waiting For Vladdy + Prospect Jake Casey's Hitting Lineage Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees in the second game of the three-game series. They break down Max Scherzer's start, whether Jeff Hoffman's home run problem is due to his heavy workload and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles with runners in scoring position. MLB Network analyst Sean Casey (12:03) stops by to discuss his son Jake's transition to the pros after being drafted by the Blue Jays and his role in his son's development as a former MLB hitting coach. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Blue Jays' lineup in the rubber match featuring Davis Schneider in the lead-off spot, and they outline the Jays' keys to victory in the series finale.

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.

]]> Wed, 23 Jul 2025 21:00:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees in the second game of the three-game series. They break down Max Scherzer's start, whether Jeff Hoffman's home run problem is due to his heavy workload and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles with runners in scoring position. MLB Network analyst Sean Casey (12:03) stops by to discuss his son Jake's transition to the pros after being drafted by the Blue Jays and his role in his son's development as a former MLB hitting coach. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Blue Jays' lineup in the rubber match featuring Davis Schneider in the lead-off spot, and they outline the Jays' keys to victory in the series finale.

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.

]]> Waiting For Vladdy + Prospect Jake Casey's Hitting Lineage Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees in the second game of the three-game series. They break down Max Scherzer's start, whether Jeff Hoffman's home run problem is due to his heavy workload and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles with runners in scoring position. MLB Network analyst Sean Casey (12:03) stops by to discuss his son Jake's transition to the pros after being drafted by the Blue Jays and his role in his son's development as a former MLB hitting coach. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Blue Jays' lineup in the rubber match featuring Davis Schneider in the lead-off spot, and they outline the Jays' keys to victory in the series finale. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the New York Yankees in the second game of the three-game series. They break down Max Scherzer's start, whether Jeff Hoffman's home run problem is due to his heavy workload and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s struggles with runners in scoring position. MLB Network analyst Sean Casey (12:03) stops by to discuss his son Jake's transition to the pros after being drafted by the Blue Jays and his role in his son's development as a former MLB hitting coach. Later, Jeff and Kevin react to the Blue Jays' lineup in the rubber match featuring Davis Schneider in the lead-off spot, and they outline the Jays' keys to victory in the series finale. 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. false full 3545a7b3-db23-40a4-84dc-aa80938bedb8 Priorities for a Winning Baseball Club Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (1:08) to give his gut feeling on which direction the Blue Jays will take after the trade deadline, if teams lean towards adding to their strengths or address their weaknesses, how deep the Jays might dive into their prospect pool, and why he believes the National League is wide open. Then, Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (29:13) stops by to chat about why New York fans are disappointed in Anthony Volpe's season, the way the Jays approach Aaron Judge, if Aaron Boone is the right fit for the Bronx Bombers' managerial job, how big of an issue is Max Fried's blister problems, and the Yankees' new house of horrors now lives at Rogers Centre. 

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.

]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 22:01:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (1:08) to give his gut feeling on which direction the Blue Jays will take after the trade deadline, if teams lean towards adding to their strengths or address their weaknesses, how deep the Jays might dive into their prospect pool, and why he believes the National League is wide open. Then, Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (29:13) stops by to chat about why New York fans are disappointed in Anthony Volpe's season, the way the Jays approach Aaron Judge, if Aaron Boone is the right fit for the Bronx Bombers' managerial job, how big of an issue is Max Fried's blister problems, and the Yankees' new house of horrors now lives at Rogers Centre. 

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.

]]> Priorities for a Winning Baseball Club Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (1:08) to give his gut feeling on which direction the Blue Jays will take after the trade deadline, if teams lean towards adding to their strengths or address their weaknesses, how deep the Jays might dive into their prospect pool, and why he believes the National League is wide open. Then, Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (29:13) stops by to chat about why New York fans are disappointed in Anthony Volpe's season, the way the Jays approach Aaron Judge, if Aaron Boone is the right fit for the Bronx Bombers' managerial job, how big of an issue is Max Fried's blister problems, and the Yankees' new house of horrors now lives at Rogers Centre. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network's Jon Morosi (1:08) to give his gut feeling on which direction the Blue Jays will take after the trade deadline, if teams lean towards adding to their strengths or address their weaknesses, how deep the Jays might dive into their prospect pool, and why he believes the National League is wide open. Then, Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (29:13) stops by to chat about why New York fans are disappointed in Anthony Volpe's season, the way the Jays approach Aaron Judge, if Aaron Boone is the right fit for the Bronx Bombers' managerial job, how big of an issue is Max Fried's blister problems, and the Yankees' new house of horrors now lives at Rogers Centre. 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. false full 1da4ecee-6374-4067-aa40-7eb26be1809b Rogers Centre Stronghold + Deadline Pitcher Preference Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the New York Yankees to open a three-game series — their 11th home win in a row. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes and listen to Aaron Boone's availability before discussing the viability of a six-man rotation in Toronto and debating whether the Jays should prioritise a bullpen arm over a starter at the deadline. Later, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 21:00:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the New York Yankees to open a three-game series — their 11th home win in a row. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes and listen to Aaron Boone's availability before discussing the viability of a six-man rotation in Toronto and debating whether the Jays should prioritise a bullpen arm over a starter at the deadline. Later, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Rogers Centre Stronghold + Deadline Pitcher Preference Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the New York Yankees to open a three-game series — their 11th home win in a row. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes and listen to Aaron Boone's availability before discussing the viability of a six-man rotation in Toronto and debating whether the Jays should prioritise a bullpen arm over a starter at the deadline. Later, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the New York Yankees to open a three-game series — their 11th home win in a row. They get into the Yankees' fielding woes and listen to Aaron Boone's availability before discussing the viability of a six-man rotation in Toronto and debating whether the Jays should prioritise a bullpen arm over a starter at the deadline. Later, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. false full 360390f9-9925-4dc4-a6c9-2fe868cae868 The Magnitude of Anthony Santander's Status Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (2:33) to chat about how the team can repeat a sweep over the visiting New York Yankees, if he's seen a step forward for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with his at-bats, how the bottom of the order and the bench have found ways to sustain their productivity, what he expects from Kevin Gausman with a long layoff between starts, and if the uncertainty of Anthony Santander's return impacts their trade deadline targets. Then, former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal with David Samson' stops by (29:40) to discuss what it means for a sports team to declare they are 'all-in' and how Santander's injury status changes the front office's mindset.

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.

]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2025 22:02:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (2:33) to chat about how the team can repeat a sweep over the visiting New York Yankees, if he's seen a step forward for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with his at-bats, how the bottom of the order and the bench have found ways to sustain their productivity, what he expects from Kevin Gausman with a long layoff between starts, and if the uncertainty of Anthony Santander's return impacts their trade deadline targets. Then, former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal with David Samson' stops by (29:40) to discuss what it means for a sports team to declare they are 'all-in' and how Santander's injury status changes the front office's mindset.

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.

]]> The Magnitude of Anthony Santander's Status Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (2:33) to chat about how the team can repeat a sweep over the visiting New York Yankees, if he's seen a step forward for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with his at-bats, how the bottom of the order and the bench have found ways to sustain their productivity, what he expects from Kevin Gausman with a long layoff between starts, and if the uncertainty of Anthony Santander's return impacts their trade deadline targets. Then, former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal with David Samson' stops by (29:40) to discuss what it means for a sports team to declare they are 'all-in' and how Santander's injury status changes the front office's mindset. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (2:33) to chat about how the team can repeat a sweep over the visiting New York Yankees, if he's seen a step forward for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with his at-bats, how the bottom of the order and the bench have found ways to sustain their productivity, what he expects from Kevin Gausman with a long layoff between starts, and if the uncertainty of Anthony Santander's return impacts their trade deadline targets. Then, former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal with David Samson' stops by (29:40) to discuss what it means for a sports team to declare they are 'all-in' and how Santander's injury status changes the front office's mindset. 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. false full 5be546f6-9ce2-4ac0-bf53-5fac40f8bd16 Sweeping San Fran + Second-Place Yanks in Town Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by looking back on the Blue Jays' three-game sweep over the San Francisco Giants. They discuss Vladdy showing signs of an offensive breakthrough, the Jays' team-wide approach, José Berríos's outing and the type of pitcher the Jays would be looking for ahead of the deadline. Then, they react to the latest news on Anthony Santander's status before YES Network's Meredith Marakovits stops by (30:40) to discuss the state of the Yankees as they begin a three-game series in Toronto tonight. She shares how they've changed since their last visit to the Rogers Centre, Anthony Volpe's dip, how Aaron Boone responds to John Schneider's approach to Aaron Judge, and much more.

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.

]]> Mon, 21 Jul 2025 21:03:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by looking back on the Blue Jays' three-game sweep over the San Francisco Giants. They discuss Vladdy showing signs of an offensive breakthrough, the Jays' team-wide approach, José Berríos's outing and the type of pitcher the Jays would be looking for ahead of the deadline. Then, they react to the latest news on Anthony Santander's status before YES Network's Meredith Marakovits stops by (30:40) to discuss the state of the Yankees as they begin a three-game series in Toronto tonight. She shares how they've changed since their last visit to the Rogers Centre, Anthony Volpe's dip, how Aaron Boone responds to John Schneider's approach to Aaron Judge, and much more.

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.

]]> Sweeping San Fran + Second-Place Yanks in Town Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by looking back on the Blue Jays' three-game sweep over the San Francisco Giants. They discuss Vladdy showing signs of an offensive breakthrough, the Jays' team-wide approach, José Berríos's outing and the type of pitcher the Jays would be looking for ahead of the deadline. Then, they react to the latest news on Anthony Santander's status before YES Network's Meredith Marakovits stops by (30:40) to discuss the state of the Yankees as they begin a three-game series in Toronto tonight. She shares how they've changed since their last visit to the Rogers Centre, Anthony Volpe's dip, how Aaron Boone responds to John Schneider's approach to Aaron Judge, and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the week by looking back on the Blue Jays' three-game sweep over the San Francisco Giants. They discuss Vladdy showing signs of an offensive breakthrough, the Jays' team-wide approach, José Berríos's outing and the type of pitcher the Jays would be looking for ahead of the deadline. Then, they react to the latest news on Anthony Santander's status before YES Network's Meredith Marakovits stops by (30:40) to discuss the state of the Yankees as they begin a three-game series in Toronto tonight. She shares how they've changed since their last visit to the Rogers Centre, Anthony Volpe's dip, how Aaron Boone responds to John Schneider's approach to Aaron Judge, and much more. 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. false full b24bf501-dc80-45ad-8572-c331b61b1b47 Post All-Star Chat with John Schneider and Matt Stairs Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (3:20) to chat about his All-Star break, the swing off, and give some roster updates on Yimi Garcia, Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, and other names. Then, he gets into how he's set up his rotation for the first two series after the week's rest against the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, how the team has settled in performing at Rogers Centre versus on the road, what it'll take for Vladdy Jr. to get hot at the dish, Davis Schneider capitalizing pitcher's mistakes, and how a long layoff could affect the entire pitching staff. Then, former MLB outfielder Matt Stairs stops by (30:09) to discuss the development of Canadian prospects across the baseball summer leagues, analyzing a player's hitting mechanics early in their career, how the Blue Jays jump on success right out of the break, and if it's easy to make a change one's mechanics at this stage of the season. 

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.

]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 22:03:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (3:20) to chat about his All-Star break, the swing off, and give some roster updates on Yimi Garcia, Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, and other names. Then, he gets into how he's set up his rotation for the first two series after the week's rest against the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, how the team has settled in performing at Rogers Centre versus on the road, what it'll take for Vladdy Jr. to get hot at the dish, Davis Schneider capitalizing pitcher's mistakes, and how a long layoff could affect the entire pitching staff. Then, former MLB outfielder Matt Stairs stops by (30:09) to discuss the development of Canadian prospects across the baseball summer leagues, analyzing a player's hitting mechanics early in their career, how the Blue Jays jump on success right out of the break, and if it's easy to make a change one's mechanics at this stage of the season. 

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.

]]> Post All-Star Chat with John Schneider and Matt Stairs Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (3:20) to chat about his All-Star break, the swing off, and give some roster updates on Yimi Garcia, Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, and other names. Then, he gets into how he's set up his rotation for the first two series after the week's rest against the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, how the team has settled in performing at Rogers Centre versus on the road, what it'll take for Vladdy Jr. to get hot at the dish, Davis Schneider capitalizing pitcher's mistakes, and how a long layoff could affect the entire pitching staff. Then, former MLB outfielder Matt Stairs stops by (30:09) to discuss the development of Canadian prospects across the baseball summer leagues, analyzing a player's hitting mechanics early in their career, how the Blue Jays jump on success right out of the break, and if it's easy to make a change one's mechanics at this stage of the season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (3:20) to chat about his All-Star break, the swing off, and give some roster updates on Yimi Garcia, Anthony Santander, Daulton Varsho, and other names. Then, he gets into how he's set up his rotation for the first two series after the week's rest against the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees, how the team has settled in performing at Rogers Centre versus on the road, what it'll take for Vladdy Jr. to get hot at the dish, Davis Schneider capitalizing pitcher's mistakes, and how a long layoff could affect the entire pitching staff. Then, former MLB outfielder Matt Stairs stops by (30:09) to discuss the development of Canadian prospects across the baseball summer leagues, analyzing a player's hitting mechanics early in their career, how the Blue Jays jump on success right out of the break, and if it's easy to make a change one's mechanics at this stage of the season. 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. false full 3db18f5a-b062-4f9b-bbce-0740f506a612 Back from the Break! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back after the All-Star Break! They share their thoughts on All-Star festivities before outlining the Jays' tough stretch coming out of the break, starting with this weekend's series against the San Francisco Giants, and how the next two-week push will impact the way they approach the deadline. Later, they share their expectations for the trade deadline before welcoming in Giants analyst Susan Slusser (37:34) to tee up the three-game series between San Francisco and Toronto, share what the Jays' bats can expect from future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander tonight, and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 18 Jul 2025 21:02:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back after the All-Star Break! They share their thoughts on All-Star festivities before outlining the Jays' tough stretch coming out of the break, starting with this weekend's series against the San Francisco Giants, and how the next two-week push will impact the way they approach the deadline. Later, they share their expectations for the trade deadline before welcoming in Giants analyst Susan Slusser (37:34) to tee up the three-game series between San Francisco and Toronto, share what the Jays' bats can expect from future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander tonight, and much more.

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.

]]> Back from the Break! Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back after the All-Star Break! They share their thoughts on All-Star festivities before outlining the Jays' tough stretch coming out of the break, starting with this weekend's series against the San Francisco Giants, and how the next two-week push will impact the way they approach the deadline. Later, they share their expectations for the trade deadline before welcoming in Giants analyst Susan Slusser (37:34) to tee up the three-game series between San Francisco and Toronto, share what the Jays' bats can expect from future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander tonight, and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back after the All-Star Break! They share their thoughts on All-Star festivities before outlining the Jays' tough stretch coming out of the break, starting with this weekend's series against the San Francisco Giants, and how the next two-week push will impact the way they approach the deadline. Later, they share their expectations for the trade deadline before welcoming in Giants analyst Susan Slusser (37:34) to tee up the three-game series between San Francisco and Toronto, share what the Jays' bats can expect from future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander tonight, and much more. 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. false full 63a96f29-96e6-4804-92c1-3421cc17490e Is Vladdy One Swing Away? + Ernie Clement's Patience Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (4:38) to chat about a catcher's job with their pitcher dealing with the heat before and during a game, if Vladdy Jr. is 'one swing away' from returning to hitting form, Bo Bichette's ability to create opportunities, Alejandro Kirk taking ownership behind the plate and for the team's infield defence, and the importance of getting a start before an All-Star break. Then, Jays' infielder Ernie Clement joins the guys (26:52) to discuss his transition and balance from being aggressive to patience with his at-bats, playing multiple positions in the infield, Davis Schneider finding his way back onto the team, George Springer's veteran experience, and how the clubhouse is handling the recent stretch of success sitting atop of the AL East.

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.

]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2025 22:01:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (4:38) to chat about a catcher's job with their pitcher dealing with the heat before and during a game, if Vladdy Jr. is 'one swing away' from returning to hitting form, Bo Bichette's ability to create opportunities, Alejandro Kirk taking ownership behind the plate and for the team's infield defence, and the importance of getting a start before an All-Star break. Then, Jays' infielder Ernie Clement joins the guys (26:52) to discuss his transition and balance from being aggressive to patience with his at-bats, playing multiple positions in the infield, Davis Schneider finding his way back onto the team, George Springer's veteran experience, and how the clubhouse is handling the recent stretch of success sitting atop of the AL East.

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.

]]> Is Vladdy One Swing Away? + Ernie Clement's Patience Sportsnet 00:49:50 Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (4:38) to chat about a catcher's job with their pitcher dealing with the heat before and during a game, if Vladdy Jr. is 'one swing away' from returning to hitting form, Bo Bichette's ability to create opportunities, Alejandro Kirk taking ownership behind the plate and for the team's infield defence, and the importance of getting a start before an All-Star break. Then, Jays' infielder Ernie Clement joins the guys (26:52) to discuss his transition and balance from being aggressive to patience with his at-bats, playing multiple positions in the infield, Davis Schneider finding his way back onto the team, George Springer's veteran experience, and how the clubhouse is handling the recent stretch of success sitting atop of the AL East. 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. Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (4:38) to chat about a catcher's job with their pitcher dealing with the heat before and during a game, if Vladdy Jr. is 'one swing away' from returning to hitting form, Bo Bichette's ability to create opportunities, Alejandro Kirk taking ownership behind the plate and for the team's infield defence, and the importance of getting a start before an All-Star break. Then, Jays' infielder Ernie Clement joins the guys (26:52) to discuss his transition and balance from being aggressive to patience with his at-bats, playing multiple positions in the infield, Davis Schneider finding his way back onto the team, George Springer's veteran experience, and how the clubhouse is handling the recent stretch of success sitting atop of the AL East. 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. false full 782de84f-a224-4f39-b34a-6e5b42cfa8c2 Getting Set for the Sacramento Sun with John Schneider Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' final series before the All-Star break in Sacramento against the Athletics. A's TV analyst Dallas Braden (10:05) shares what the Jays can expect over the weekend series, the next steps in the Athletics' development, the difficulty of evaluating talent at Sutter Health Park, players that could be on the move at the deadline, and how older pitchers handle the Sacramento heat. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:50) discusses how he's preparing for the sunshine down south, bullpen availability ahead of the All-Star break, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s timing issues, why Bo Bichette fits best in the clean-up spot, Joey Loperfido's Triple-A improvements, the pressure that comes with leading the division, and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 11 Jul 2025 21:01:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' final series before the All-Star break in Sacramento against the Athletics. A's TV analyst Dallas Braden (10:05) shares what the Jays can expect over the weekend series, the next steps in the Athletics' development, the difficulty of evaluating talent at Sutter Health Park, players that could be on the move at the deadline, and how older pitchers handle the Sacramento heat. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:50) discusses how he's preparing for the sunshine down south, bullpen availability ahead of the All-Star break, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s timing issues, why Bo Bichette fits best in the clean-up spot, Joey Loperfido's Triple-A improvements, the pressure that comes with leading the division, and much more.

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.

]]> Getting Set for the Sacramento Sun with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:41 Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' final series before the All-Star break in Sacramento against the Athletics. A's TV analyst Dallas Braden (10:05) shares what the Jays can expect over the weekend series, the next steps in the Athletics' development, the difficulty of evaluating talent at Sutter Health Park, players that could be on the move at the deadline, and how older pitchers handle the Sacramento heat. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:50) discusses how he's preparing for the sunshine down south, bullpen availability ahead of the All-Star break, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s timing issues, why Bo Bichette fits best in the clean-up spot, Joey Loperfido's Triple-A improvements, the pressure that comes with leading the division, and much more. 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. Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' final series before the All-Star break in Sacramento against the Athletics. A's TV analyst Dallas Braden (10:05) shares what the Jays can expect over the weekend series, the next steps in the Athletics' development, the difficulty of evaluating talent at Sutter Health Park, players that could be on the move at the deadline, and how older pitchers handle the Sacramento heat. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:50) discusses how he's preparing for the sunshine down south, bullpen availability ahead of the All-Star break, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s timing issues, why Bo Bichette fits best in the clean-up spot, Joey Loperfido's Triple-A improvements, the pressure that comes with leading the division, and much more. 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. false full c44f201c-1e6a-4637-8b11-4f8909dd5e35 Blue Jays Trade Deadline Expectations Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and former general manager Dan O'Dowd (4:18) to chat about DJ LeMahieu being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, how a front office would handle a stretch of success and prepare for some regression just like the Blue Jays, why he would be cautious about moving off Toronto's top prospects at the trade deadline, trading in the MLB Draft, and working around chemistry in the clubhouse. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin continue to head to the Back-Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails!

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.

]]> Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:01:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and former general manager Dan O'Dowd (4:18) to chat about DJ LeMahieu being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, how a front office would handle a stretch of success and prepare for some regression just like the Blue Jays, why he would be cautious about moving off Toronto's top prospects at the trade deadline, trading in the MLB Draft, and working around chemistry in the clubhouse. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin continue to head to the Back-Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails!

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.

]]> Blue Jays Trade Deadline Expectations Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and former general manager Dan O'Dowd (4:18) to chat about DJ LeMahieu being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, how a front office would handle a stretch of success and prepare for some regression just like the Blue Jays, why he would be cautious about moving off Toronto's top prospects at the trade deadline, trading in the MLB Draft, and working around chemistry in the clubhouse. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin continue to head to the Back-Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB Network analyst and former general manager Dan O'Dowd (4:18) to chat about DJ LeMahieu being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, how a front office would handle a stretch of success and prepare for some regression just like the Blue Jays, why he would be cautious about moving off Toronto's top prospects at the trade deadline, trading in the MLB Draft, and working around chemistry in the clubhouse. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin continue to head to the Back-Leg Line to hear listeners' voicemails! 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. false full 9076b72b-1aad-43fa-b3ad-c29555ddfc8b From Markham to MLB with Jonah Tong Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day with a look back on the Blue Jays' streak-breaking loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Then, they get into some early trade action with the Orioles trading Bryan Baker to the Rays, why the Jays should act quick for bullpen help and what they should be willing to give up. Later, New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong (26:20) joins the show to discuss his path from Markham to the minors, how he developed his unique mechanics, the biggest challenges in Double-A, and what he's looking forward to at the All-Star Futures Game.

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.

]]> Thu, 10 Jul 2025 21:01:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day with a look back on the Blue Jays' streak-breaking loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Then, they get into some early trade action with the Orioles trading Bryan Baker to the Rays, why the Jays should act quick for bullpen help and what they should be willing to give up. Later, New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong (26:20) joins the show to discuss his path from Markham to the minors, how he developed his unique mechanics, the biggest challenges in Double-A, and what he's looking forward to at the All-Star Futures Game.

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.

]]> From Markham to MLB with Jonah Tong Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day with a look back on the Blue Jays' streak-breaking loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Then, they get into some early trade action with the Orioles trading Bryan Baker to the Rays, why the Jays should act quick for bullpen help and what they should be willing to give up. Later, New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong (26:20) joins the show to discuss his path from Markham to the minors, how he developed his unique mechanics, the biggest challenges in Double-A, and what he's looking forward to at the All-Star Futures Game. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the off-day with a look back on the Blue Jays' streak-breaking loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. Then, they get into some early trade action with the Orioles trading Bryan Baker to the Rays, why the Jays should act quick for bullpen help and what they should be willing to give up. Later, New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong (26:20) joins the show to discuss his path from Markham to the minors, how he developed his unique mechanics, the biggest challenges in Double-A, and what he's looking forward to at the All-Star Futures Game. 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. false full b31644c3-5a1f-4b5b-996f-3c6d809ec46a Going for 10 + Inside the Nationals' Changes Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (3:05) to chat about the contributions across the entire lineup during Toronto's winning streak, Chris Bassitt's performance on the road, where Addison Barger has grown the most, why Nathan Lukes leads the order, how they will split outfield and DH duties between George Springer and Anthony Santander when he comes back, and if Chad Green is within the circle of trust. Then, Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post jumps on (33:07) to discuss the changes with the Nationals' management, the direction of the franchise now, why ownership hasn't sold the team, and Dave Martinez's tenure as the bench boss.

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.

]]> Tue, 8 Jul 2025 22:01:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (3:05) to chat about the contributions across the entire lineup during Toronto's winning streak, Chris Bassitt's performance on the road, where Addison Barger has grown the most, why Nathan Lukes leads the order, how they will split outfield and DH duties between George Springer and Anthony Santander when he comes back, and if Chad Green is within the circle of trust. Then, Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post jumps on (33:07) to discuss the changes with the Nationals' management, the direction of the franchise now, why ownership hasn't sold the team, and Dave Martinez's tenure as the bench boss.

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.

]]> Going for 10 + Inside the Nationals' Changes Sportsnet 00:49:22 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (3:05) to chat about the contributions across the entire lineup during Toronto's winning streak, Chris Bassitt's performance on the road, where Addison Barger has grown the most, why Nathan Lukes leads the order, how they will split outfield and DH duties between George Springer and Anthony Santander when he comes back, and if Chad Green is within the circle of trust. Then, Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post jumps on (33:07) to discuss the changes with the Nationals' management, the direction of the franchise now, why ownership hasn't sold the team, and Dave Martinez's tenure as the bench boss. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (3:05) to chat about the contributions across the entire lineup during Toronto's winning streak, Chris Bassitt's performance on the road, where Addison Barger has grown the most, why Nathan Lukes leads the order, how they will split outfield and DH duties between George Springer and Anthony Santander when he comes back, and if Chad Green is within the circle of trust. Then, Barry Svrluga of The Washington Post jumps on (33:07) to discuss the changes with the Nationals' management, the direction of the franchise now, why ownership hasn't sold the team, and Dave Martinez's tenure as the bench boss. 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. false full 8b59f870-f042-4e3f-a6de-2c3b8a5e7d51 Juggernaut Jays + Deadline Demands with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' series-opening win over the Chicago White Sox to extend their win streak to nine games. They get into Joey Loperfido's improvements since his last stint in the majors, John Schneider's decision to pull José Berríos early, Nathan Lukes' jump and more. Then, they discuss the Jays' positional surpluses and needs as they approach the deadline. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:45) stops by to share his thoughts on George Springer's All-Star snub, what type of pitcher the Jays should be zeroing in on at the trade deadline, the Red Sox's plans at the deadline, why the Royals should be sellers, how aggressive the Yankees will be in the third baseman market after Jazz Chisholm's move to second base, and how teams view Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara.

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.

]]> Tue, 8 Jul 2025 21:06:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' series-opening win over the Chicago White Sox to extend their win streak to nine games. They get into Joey Loperfido's improvements since his last stint in the majors, John Schneider's decision to pull José Berríos early, Nathan Lukes' jump and more. Then, they discuss the Jays' positional surpluses and needs as they approach the deadline. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:45) stops by to share his thoughts on George Springer's All-Star snub, what type of pitcher the Jays should be zeroing in on at the trade deadline, the Red Sox's plans at the deadline, why the Royals should be sellers, how aggressive the Yankees will be in the third baseman market after Jazz Chisholm's move to second base, and how teams view Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara.

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.

]]> Juggernaut Jays + Deadline Demands with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:50:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' series-opening win over the Chicago White Sox to extend their win streak to nine games. They get into Joey Loperfido's improvements since his last stint in the majors, John Schneider's decision to pull José Berríos early, Nathan Lukes' jump and more. Then, they discuss the Jays' positional surpluses and needs as they approach the deadline. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:45) stops by to share his thoughts on George Springer's All-Star snub, what type of pitcher the Jays should be zeroing in on at the trade deadline, the Red Sox's plans at the deadline, why the Royals should be sellers, how aggressive the Yankees will be in the third baseman market after Jazz Chisholm's move to second base, and how teams view Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' series-opening win over the Chicago White Sox to extend their win streak to nine games. They get into Joey Loperfido's improvements since his last stint in the majors, John Schneider's decision to pull José Berríos early, Nathan Lukes' jump and more. Then, they discuss the Jays' positional surpluses and needs as they approach the deadline. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:45) stops by to share his thoughts on George Springer's All-Star snub, what type of pitcher the Jays should be zeroing in on at the trade deadline, the Red Sox's plans at the deadline, why the Royals should be sellers, how aggressive the Yankees will be in the third baseman market after Jazz Chisholm's move to second base, and how teams view Marlins starter Sandy Alcántara. 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. false full 1170d1c4-98d7-4d2e-a2ae-557777d496eb Clubhouse Chemistry with Kevin Pillar and David Samson Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB outfielder Kevin Pillar (3:25) to chat about his decision to retire from the game of baseball, how differently he views the games now through the lens of a fan, the clubhouse experience near the trade deadline, and the importance of chemistry with his teammates. Then, former MLB president David Samson (28:38) stops by to discuss the Blue Jays hot stretch and leading the AL East, adding pitching at the deadline, how a front office analyzes their team during a winning streak, if they factor teammates' chemistry in roster decisions, Bryan Reynolds's peculiar no-trade list, and the Washington Nationals deciding to let go of both their manager and general manager halfway through the season.

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.

]]> Mon, 7 Jul 2025 22:02:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB outfielder Kevin Pillar (3:25) to chat about his decision to retire from the game of baseball, how differently he views the games now through the lens of a fan, the clubhouse experience near the trade deadline, and the importance of chemistry with his teammates. Then, former MLB president David Samson (28:38) stops by to discuss the Blue Jays hot stretch and leading the AL East, adding pitching at the deadline, how a front office analyzes their team during a winning streak, if they factor teammates' chemistry in roster decisions, Bryan Reynolds's peculiar no-trade list, and the Washington Nationals deciding to let go of both their manager and general manager halfway through the season.

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.

]]> Clubhouse Chemistry with Kevin Pillar and David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB outfielder Kevin Pillar (3:25) to chat about his decision to retire from the game of baseball, how differently he views the games now through the lens of a fan, the clubhouse experience near the trade deadline, and the importance of chemistry with his teammates. Then, former MLB president David Samson (28:38) stops by to discuss the Blue Jays hot stretch and leading the AL East, adding pitching at the deadline, how a front office analyzes their team during a winning streak, if they factor teammates' chemistry in roster decisions, Bryan Reynolds's peculiar no-trade list, and the Washington Nationals deciding to let go of both their manager and general manager halfway through the season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB outfielder Kevin Pillar (3:25) to chat about his decision to retire from the game of baseball, how differently he views the games now through the lens of a fan, the clubhouse experience near the trade deadline, and the importance of chemistry with his teammates. Then, former MLB president David Samson (28:38) stops by to discuss the Blue Jays hot stretch and leading the AL East, adding pitching at the deadline, how a front office analyzes their team during a winning streak, if they factor teammates' chemistry in roster decisions, Bryan Reynolds's peculiar no-trade list, and the Washington Nationals deciding to let go of both their manager and general manager halfway through the season. 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. false full 2e14a4ad-bf24-4c62-b2f6-f8be5024ab37 Jays Go Streaking Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the week by breaking down the Blue Jays' weekend sweep over the Angels to extend their winning streak to eight games. They get into the Jays' home-field advantage, call-ups Joey Loperfido, Lazaro Estrada and Ryan Burr making an impact, the vibes around the team, and Alejandro Kirk earning All-Star honours. Later, former MLB catcher and host of Foul Territory, Erik Kratz (28:10), weighs in on George Springer's snub from the All-Star game, shares a national perspective of the Blue Jays, discusses the Nationals' decision to fire manager Dave Martinez, and much more.

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.

]]> Mon, 7 Jul 2025 21:04:01 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the week by breaking down the Blue Jays' weekend sweep over the Angels to extend their winning streak to eight games. They get into the Jays' home-field advantage, call-ups Joey Loperfido, Lazaro Estrada and Ryan Burr making an impact, the vibes around the team, and Alejandro Kirk earning All-Star honours. Later, former MLB catcher and host of Foul Territory, Erik Kratz (28:10), weighs in on George Springer's snub from the All-Star game, shares a national perspective of the Blue Jays, discusses the Nationals' decision to fire manager Dave Martinez, and much more.

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.

]]> Jays Go Streaking Sportsnet 00:49:57 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the week by breaking down the Blue Jays' weekend sweep over the Angels to extend their winning streak to eight games. They get into the Jays' home-field advantage, call-ups Joey Loperfido, Lazaro Estrada and Ryan Burr making an impact, the vibes around the team, and Alejandro Kirk earning All-Star honours. Later, former MLB catcher and host of Foul Territory, Erik Kratz (28:10), weighs in on George Springer's snub from the All-Star game, shares a national perspective of the Blue Jays, discusses the Nationals' decision to fire manager Dave Martinez, and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the week by breaking down the Blue Jays' weekend sweep over the Angels to extend their winning streak to eight games. They get into the Jays' home-field advantage, call-ups Joey Loperfido, Lazaro Estrada and Ryan Burr making an impact, the vibes around the team, and Alejandro Kirk earning All-Star honours. Later, former MLB catcher and host of Foul Territory, Erik Kratz (28:10), weighs in on George Springer's snub from the All-Star game, shares a national perspective of the Blue Jays, discusses the Nationals' decision to fire manager Dave Martinez, and much more. 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. false full 3afcda44-c542-4706-946d-9812429099ce How Jays Can Stretch AL East Lead Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour with a look down the Blue Jays' lineup with Vladdy out and Bo returning for their series opener against the Angels. They take some calls on the Back Leg Line before welcoming in Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (9:18) to discuss how this year's team compares to the roster from the last time the Jays led the AL East in 2016, how they've managed Jeff Hoffman, what to expect from Max Scherzer's next start and the latest on Daulton Varsho's recovery. Finally, they close out the week by going back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions.

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.

]]> Fri, 4 Jul 2025 22:01:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour with a look down the Blue Jays' lineup with Vladdy out and Bo returning for their series opener against the Angels. They take some calls on the Back Leg Line before welcoming in Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (9:18) to discuss how this year's team compares to the roster from the last time the Jays led the AL East in 2016, how they've managed Jeff Hoffman, what to expect from Max Scherzer's next start and the latest on Daulton Varsho's recovery. Finally, they close out the week by going back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions.

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.

]]> How Jays Can Stretch AL East Lead Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour with a look down the Blue Jays' lineup with Vladdy out and Bo returning for their series opener against the Angels. They take some calls on the Back Leg Line before welcoming in Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (9:18) to discuss how this year's team compares to the roster from the last time the Jays led the AL East in 2016, how they've managed Jeff Hoffman, what to expect from Max Scherzer's next start and the latest on Daulton Varsho's recovery. Finally, they close out the week by going back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour with a look down the Blue Jays' lineup with Vladdy out and Bo returning for their series opener against the Angels. They take some calls on the Back Leg Line before welcoming in Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (9:18) to discuss how this year's team compares to the roster from the last time the Jays led the AL East in 2016, how they've managed Jeff Hoffman, what to expect from Max Scherzer's next start and the latest on Daulton Varsho's recovery. Finally, they close out the week by going back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions. 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. false full bac4a78e-b644-4b58-8382-f56b40ca96d4 What Has Led to First Place Success with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Anthony Santander moving to the 60-day IL and Lazaro Estrada's promotion to the Majors, if the Blue Jays can keep the top spot of the AL East, how the coaching staff utilizes Chad Green, and how the trade deadline focus will be dictated by the roster's health and success. Then, Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:37) to chat about his team's winning streak, George Springer's ability to hit the fastball this season, Addison Barger's plate discipline, Max Scherzer's status for the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, the pitching staff's approach against the Halos and how much credit he gives to the infield coaches for the team's baserunning improvements.

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.

]]> Fri, 4 Jul 2025 21:01:22 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Anthony Santander moving to the 60-day IL and Lazaro Estrada's promotion to the Majors, if the Blue Jays can keep the top spot of the AL East, how the coaching staff utilizes Chad Green, and how the trade deadline focus will be dictated by the roster's health and success. Then, Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:37) to chat about his team's winning streak, George Springer's ability to hit the fastball this season, Addison Barger's plate discipline, Max Scherzer's status for the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, the pitching staff's approach against the Halos and how much credit he gives to the infield coaches for the team's baserunning improvements.

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.

]]> What Has Led to First Place Success with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Anthony Santander moving to the 60-day IL and Lazaro Estrada's promotion to the Majors, if the Blue Jays can keep the top spot of the AL East, how the coaching staff utilizes Chad Green, and how the trade deadline focus will be dictated by the roster's health and success. Then, Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:37) to chat about his team's winning streak, George Springer's ability to hit the fastball this season, Addison Barger's plate discipline, Max Scherzer's status for the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, the pitching staff's approach against the Halos and how much credit he gives to the infield coaches for the team's baserunning improvements. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Anthony Santander moving to the 60-day IL and Lazaro Estrada's promotion to the Majors, if the Blue Jays can keep the top spot of the AL East, how the coaching staff utilizes Chad Green, and how the trade deadline focus will be dictated by the roster's health and success. Then, Jays manager John Schneider stops by (30:37) to chat about his team's winning streak, George Springer's ability to hit the fastball this season, Addison Barger's plate discipline, Max Scherzer's status for the weekend series against the Los Angeles Angels, the pitching staff's approach against the Halos and how much credit he gives to the infield coaches for the team's baserunning improvements. 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. false full 072eb26a-16aa-4516-b0f3-54d6e5f552a6 Run Differential Be Damned Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with reaction to the All-Star teams, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the honour for a fifth time. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:24) stops by to discuss MLB's gambling investigation on Luis Ortiz, the Jays' place atop the AL East despite a meagre run differential, and their chances at holding on to the division lead through this season. Later, Yankees analyst Pete Caldera (25:55) helps tee up the series finale between the Yanks and Blue Jays and discusses what Brian Cashman will need to prioritise at the trade deadline, whether this is the best version of Aaron Judge and the team's future at shortstop.

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.

]]> Thu, 3 Jul 2025 22:00:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with reaction to the All-Star teams, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the honour for a fifth time. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:24) stops by to discuss MLB's gambling investigation on Luis Ortiz, the Jays' place atop the AL East despite a meagre run differential, and their chances at holding on to the division lead through this season. Later, Yankees analyst Pete Caldera (25:55) helps tee up the series finale between the Yanks and Blue Jays and discusses what Brian Cashman will need to prioritise at the trade deadline, whether this is the best version of Aaron Judge and the team's future at shortstop.

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.

]]> Run Differential Be Damned Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with reaction to the All-Star teams, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the honour for a fifth time. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:24) stops by to discuss MLB's gambling investigation on Luis Ortiz, the Jays' place atop the AL East despite a meagre run differential, and their chances at holding on to the division lead through this season. Later, Yankees analyst Pete Caldera (25:55) helps tee up the series finale between the Yanks and Blue Jays and discusses what Brian Cashman will need to prioritise at the trade deadline, whether this is the best version of Aaron Judge and the team's future at shortstop. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with reaction to the All-Star teams, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting the honour for a fifth time. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:24) stops by to discuss MLB's gambling investigation on Luis Ortiz, the Jays' place atop the AL East despite a meagre run differential, and their chances at holding on to the division lead through this season. Later, Yankees analyst Pete Caldera (25:55) helps tee up the series finale between the Yanks and Blue Jays and discusses what Brian Cashman will need to prioritise at the trade deadline, whether this is the best version of Aaron Judge and the team's future at shortstop. 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. false full 71d9408e-a16c-433c-969f-df0c59f276f9 Who Will Grab First-Place, Yankees or Blue Jays? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' thrilling win against the New York Yankees to tie them at the top of the AL East, their resilience throughout the series while missing Bo Bichette, if the Jays a truly a first-place team in comparison to the Bronx Bombers and Yimi Garcia's return. Then, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back-Leg Line to hear callers' voicemails!

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.

]]> Thu, 3 Jul 2025 21:02:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' thrilling win against the New York Yankees to tie them at the top of the AL East, their resilience throughout the series while missing Bo Bichette, if the Jays a truly a first-place team in comparison to the Bronx Bombers and Yimi Garcia's return. Then, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back-Leg Line to hear callers' voicemails!

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.

]]> Who Will Grab First-Place, Yankees or Blue Jays? Sportsnet 00:49:58 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' thrilling win against the New York Yankees to tie them at the top of the AL East, their resilience throughout the series while missing Bo Bichette, if the Jays a truly a first-place team in comparison to the Bronx Bombers and Yimi Garcia's return. Then, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back-Leg Line to hear callers' voicemails! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' thrilling win against the New York Yankees to tie them at the top of the AL East, their resilience throughout the series while missing Bo Bichette, if the Jays a truly a first-place team in comparison to the Bronx Bombers and Yimi Garcia's return. Then, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back-Leg Line to hear callers' voicemails! 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. false full 544ccba9-34cd-4987-99c1-f4b347cc194e The Gap Between the Best Teams + Yankees' Slide Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (1:05) to get his thoughts on the New York Yankees' slide with the potential to lose the lead in the AL East, the gap between the American League teams and the Detroit Tigers, Dave Dombrowski's history in the front office, and if the Chicago Cubs are the third-best team in the MLB. Then, WFAN New York Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman stops by (24:45) to discuss the players juggling around the infield, the Blue Jays pitching away from Aaron Judge, the state of the team's bullpen, and their trade deadline focus.

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.

]]> Wed, 2 Jul 2025 22:01:00 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (1:05) to get his thoughts on the New York Yankees' slide with the potential to lose the lead in the AL East, the gap between the American League teams and the Detroit Tigers, Dave Dombrowski's history in the front office, and if the Chicago Cubs are the third-best team in the MLB. Then, WFAN New York Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman stops by (24:45) to discuss the players juggling around the infield, the Blue Jays pitching away from Aaron Judge, the state of the team's bullpen, and their trade deadline focus.

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.

]]> The Gap Between the Best Teams + Yankees' Slide Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (1:05) to get his thoughts on the New York Yankees' slide with the potential to lose the lead in the AL East, the gap between the American League teams and the Detroit Tigers, Dave Dombrowski's history in the front office, and if the Chicago Cubs are the third-best team in the MLB. Then, WFAN New York Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman stops by (24:45) to discuss the players juggling around the infield, the Blue Jays pitching away from Aaron Judge, the state of the team's bullpen, and their trade deadline focus. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by The Athletic's Jayson Stark (1:05) to get his thoughts on the New York Yankees' slide with the potential to lose the lead in the AL East, the gap between the American League teams and the Detroit Tigers, Dave Dombrowski's history in the front office, and if the Chicago Cubs are the third-best team in the MLB. Then, WFAN New York Yankees radio broadcaster Suzyn Waldman stops by (24:45) to discuss the players juggling around the infield, the Blue Jays pitching away from Aaron Judge, the state of the team's bullpen, and their trade deadline focus. 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. false full 2e037ee8-2135-4da9-b9b1-f5772900886d Canada Day Domination Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off with a reaction to Yimi García's return from IL and the Blue Jays' corresponding move sending Mason Fluharty down to Triple-A. Then, they look back on the Jays' big Canada Day win over the New York Yankees, discuss José Berríos' recent success against lefties, and react to Andrés Giménez's move to the lead-off spot after his three-run homer yesterday. Later, Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall (26:30) stops by to share his thoughts on Bo Bichette's status, what's behind George Springer's sustained success this season, the decision to send Fluharty down, Jeff Hoffman getting back on track, and the increase of catcher interference calls.

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.

]]> Wed, 2 Jul 2025 21:01:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off with a reaction to Yimi García's return from IL and the Blue Jays' corresponding move sending Mason Fluharty down to Triple-A. Then, they look back on the Jays' big Canada Day win over the New York Yankees, discuss José Berríos' recent success against lefties, and react to Andrés Giménez's move to the lead-off spot after his three-run homer yesterday. Later, Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall (26:30) stops by to share his thoughts on Bo Bichette's status, what's behind George Springer's sustained success this season, the decision to send Fluharty down, Jeff Hoffman getting back on track, and the increase of catcher interference calls.

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.

]]> Canada Day Domination Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off with a reaction to Yimi García's return from IL and the Blue Jays' corresponding move sending Mason Fluharty down to Triple-A. Then, they look back on the Jays' big Canada Day win over the New York Yankees, discuss José Berríos' recent success against lefties, and react to Andrés Giménez's move to the lead-off spot after his three-run homer yesterday. Later, Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall (26:30) stops by to share his thoughts on Bo Bichette's status, what's behind George Springer's sustained success this season, the decision to send Fluharty down, Jeff Hoffman getting back on track, and the increase of catcher interference calls. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off with a reaction to Yimi García's return from IL and the Blue Jays' corresponding move sending Mason Fluharty down to Triple-A. Then, they look back on the Jays' big Canada Day win over the New York Yankees, discuss José Berríos' recent success against lefties, and react to Andrés Giménez's move to the lead-off spot after his three-run homer yesterday. Later, Blue Jays analyst Joe Siddall (26:30) stops by to share his thoughts on Bo Bichette's status, what's behind George Springer's sustained success this season, the decision to send Fluharty down, Jeff Hoffman getting back on track, and the increase of catcher interference calls. 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. false full ec631301-2338-48ea-8967-02b88e7d5377 Measuring Stick Series Against the Yanks + Division Race Report Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with MLB Network's Ryan Dempster (3:34) to discuss how important the Jays' series against the Yankees will be as it gets started tonight. The three discuss how teams should pitch to Aaron Judge, the Jays' ceiling this season, the Phillies' edge on the Mets in the NL East and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (26:16) shares some thoughts on Mitch Marner being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before getting into what the Jays' priority should be at the deadline, John Schneider's case for Manager of the Year, the Astro's sudden emergence in the AL, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza's seat heating up, and the Brewers' prospects in the NL Central.

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.

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 22:01:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with MLB Network's Ryan Dempster (3:34) to discuss how important the Jays' series against the Yankees will be as it gets started tonight. The three discuss how teams should pitch to Aaron Judge, the Jays' ceiling this season, the Phillies' edge on the Mets in the NL East and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (26:16) shares some thoughts on Mitch Marner being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before getting into what the Jays' priority should be at the deadline, John Schneider's case for Manager of the Year, the Astro's sudden emergence in the AL, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza's seat heating up, and the Brewers' prospects in the NL Central.

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.

]]> Measuring Stick Series Against the Yanks + Division Race Report Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with MLB Network's Ryan Dempster (3:34) to discuss how important the Jays' series against the Yankees will be as it gets started tonight. The three discuss how teams should pitch to Aaron Judge, the Jays' ceiling this season, the Phillies' edge on the Mets in the NL East and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (26:16) shares some thoughts on Mitch Marner being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before getting into what the Jays' priority should be at the deadline, John Schneider's case for Manager of the Year, the Astro's sudden emergence in the AL, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza's seat heating up, and the Brewers' prospects in the NL Central. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with MLB Network's Ryan Dempster (3:34) to discuss how important the Jays' series against the Yankees will be as it gets started tonight. The three discuss how teams should pitch to Aaron Judge, the Jays' ceiling this season, the Phillies' edge on the Mets in the NL East and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (26:16) shares some thoughts on Mitch Marner being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights before getting into what the Jays' priority should be at the deadline, John Schneider's case for Manager of the Year, the Astro's sudden emergence in the AL, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza's seat heating up, and the Brewers' prospects in the NL Central. 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. false full 1a26bdb0-ee45-47ee-a82f-446ebafacfc7 Early Trade Deadline Focus + AL East Clash Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a bow on the Blue Jays weekend series against the Red Sox in Boston, Chris Bassitt's road struggles resurfacing, if Jeff Hoffman can continue to build off the positive outings at Fenway ahead of their next series against the Yankees, and they hear from Jays general manager Ross Atkins ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline and Draft. Then, Yankees radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims (31:30) stops by to chat about how Carlos Rodón has become a dependable arm, Aaron Judge's underrated game in the outfield, New York's focus at the trade deadline, Paul Goldschmidt's ability to revert to old-school hitting, and why the baseball club have a strong mental fortitude during a slump.

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.

]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:02:08 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a bow on the Blue Jays weekend series against the Red Sox in Boston, Chris Bassitt's road struggles resurfacing, if Jeff Hoffman can continue to build off the positive outings at Fenway ahead of their next series against the Yankees, and they hear from Jays general manager Ross Atkins ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline and Draft. Then, Yankees radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims (31:30) stops by to chat about how Carlos Rodón has become a dependable arm, Aaron Judge's underrated game in the outfield, New York's focus at the trade deadline, Paul Goldschmidt's ability to revert to old-school hitting, and why the baseball club have a strong mental fortitude during a slump.

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.

]]> Early Trade Deadline Focus + AL East Clash Sportsnet 00:49:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a bow on the Blue Jays weekend series against the Red Sox in Boston, Chris Bassitt's road struggles resurfacing, if Jeff Hoffman can continue to build off the positive outings at Fenway ahead of their next series against the Yankees, and they hear from Jays general manager Ross Atkins ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline and Draft. Then, Yankees radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims (31:30) stops by to chat about how Carlos Rodón has become a dependable arm, Aaron Judge's underrated game in the outfield, New York's focus at the trade deadline, Paul Goldschmidt's ability to revert to old-school hitting, and why the baseball club have a strong mental fortitude during a slump. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a bow on the Blue Jays weekend series against the Red Sox in Boston, Chris Bassitt's road struggles resurfacing, if Jeff Hoffman can continue to build off the positive outings at Fenway ahead of their next series against the Yankees, and they hear from Jays general manager Ross Atkins ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline and Draft. Then, Yankees radio play-by-play voice Dave Sims (31:30) stops by to chat about how Carlos Rodón has become a dependable arm, Aaron Judge's underrated game in the outfield, New York's focus at the trade deadline, Paul Goldschmidt's ability to revert to old-school hitting, and why the baseball club have a strong mental fortitude during a slump. 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. false full 0b79b63b-ed73-4be3-8fd8-c939ed875cbb Setting Up at Fenway + Are Rays the Best Team in Baseball? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker project how the Blue Jays will perform in their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox before welcoming in Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (10:55) to discuss Tampa's recent hot stretch after Yandy Diaz's declaration that they are the best team in baseball. Later, from the booth at Fenway, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:18) stops by to help tee up Toronto's series in Boston and discuss what's behind the Jays' road struggles, George Springer's sustained success at the plate, the team's MVP at the halfway point in the season, Jonatan Clase's maturity, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s play in the field and how the bullpen hierarchy will change when Yimi García returns.

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Jun 2025 22:01:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker project how the Blue Jays will perform in their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox before welcoming in Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (10:55) to discuss Tampa's recent hot stretch after Yandy Diaz's declaration that they are the best team in baseball. Later, from the booth at Fenway, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:18) stops by to help tee up Toronto's series in Boston and discuss what's behind the Jays' road struggles, George Springer's sustained success at the plate, the team's MVP at the halfway point in the season, Jonatan Clase's maturity, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s play in the field and how the bullpen hierarchy will change when Yimi García returns.

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.

]]> Setting Up at Fenway + Are Rays the Best Team in Baseball? Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker project how the Blue Jays will perform in their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox before welcoming in Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (10:55) to discuss Tampa's recent hot stretch after Yandy Diaz's declaration that they are the best team in baseball. Later, from the booth at Fenway, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:18) stops by to help tee up Toronto's series in Boston and discuss what's behind the Jays' road struggles, George Springer's sustained success at the plate, the team's MVP at the halfway point in the season, Jonatan Clase's maturity, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s play in the field and how the bullpen hierarchy will change when Yimi García returns. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker project how the Blue Jays will perform in their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox before welcoming in Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson (10:55) to discuss Tampa's recent hot stretch after Yandy Diaz's declaration that they are the best team in baseball. Later, from the booth at Fenway, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (29:18) stops by to help tee up Toronto's series in Boston and discuss what's behind the Jays' road struggles, George Springer's sustained success at the plate, the team's MVP at the halfway point in the season, Jonatan Clase's maturity, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s play in the field and how the bullpen hierarchy will change when Yimi García returns. 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. false full 9b0cd103-b190-491e-9c88-b84b09011113 Halfway Mark with John Schneider + Red Sox Report with Alanna Rizzo Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:24) to share an update on Vlad Jr., how he should adjust to being pitched in, his focus on finding extra rest days for Kevin Gausman, what he's expecting from José Berríos' start in Boston, his biggest takeaways for his ball club from the first half of the season, and if he's seeing a turnaround for Andrés Giménez on the offensive side. Then, Jeff and Kevin welcome in Alanna Rizzo (28:26) to discuss the Boston Red Sox playing at Fenway Park for the first time since trading away Rafael Devers, why the pitching staff needs to pick up their slack, how the hitting has been exposed without Devers on their lineup, Alex Cora's tenure as Red Sox's manager, and how the Tampa Bay Rays continue to find success despite their current situation with their home ballpark.

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Jun 2025 21:01:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:24) to share an update on Vlad Jr., how he should adjust to being pitched in, his focus on finding extra rest days for Kevin Gausman, what he's expecting from José Berríos' start in Boston, his biggest takeaways for his ball club from the first half of the season, and if he's seeing a turnaround for Andrés Giménez on the offensive side. Then, Jeff and Kevin welcome in Alanna Rizzo (28:26) to discuss the Boston Red Sox playing at Fenway Park for the first time since trading away Rafael Devers, why the pitching staff needs to pick up their slack, how the hitting has been exposed without Devers on their lineup, Alex Cora's tenure as Red Sox's manager, and how the Tampa Bay Rays continue to find success despite their current situation with their home ballpark.

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.

]]> Halfway Mark with John Schneider + Red Sox Report with Alanna Rizzo Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:24) to share an update on Vlad Jr., how he should adjust to being pitched in, his focus on finding extra rest days for Kevin Gausman, what he's expecting from José Berríos' start in Boston, his biggest takeaways for his ball club from the first half of the season, and if he's seeing a turnaround for Andrés Giménez on the offensive side. Then, Jeff and Kevin welcome in Alanna Rizzo (28:26) to discuss the Boston Red Sox playing at Fenway Park for the first time since trading away Rafael Devers, why the pitching staff needs to pick up their slack, how the hitting has been exposed without Devers on their lineup, Alex Cora's tenure as Red Sox's manager, and how the Tampa Bay Rays continue to find success despite their current situation with their home ballpark. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:24) to share an update on Vlad Jr., how he should adjust to being pitched in, his focus on finding extra rest days for Kevin Gausman, what he's expecting from José Berríos' start in Boston, his biggest takeaways for his ball club from the first half of the season, and if he's seeing a turnaround for Andrés Giménez on the offensive side. Then, Jeff and Kevin welcome in Alanna Rizzo (28:26) to discuss the Boston Red Sox playing at Fenway Park for the first time since trading away Rafael Devers, why the pitching staff needs to pick up their slack, how the hitting has been exposed without Devers on their lineup, Alex Cora's tenure as Red Sox's manager, and how the Tampa Bay Rays continue to find success despite their current situation with their home ballpark. 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. false full 5edebc63-0a15-4c4e-a970-39c42dc90753 Trey Yesavage's Double-A Jump + Boston Breakdown Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the abridged, post-game edition with a look back over the Jays' 6-0 win over the Guardians before welcoming in New Hampshire Fisher Cats manager Brent Lavalee (4:10). The skipper gets into the season so far for the Fisher Cats, Trey Yesavage's performance since his promotion to Double-A and the difference between evaluating pitching and hitting. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (28:00) stops by to tee up the Sox series against the Blue Jays — Boston's first trip back home since trading Rafael Devers. He discusses how the team will be received back home after a five-game losing streak, their path to the postseason, the pressure on rookie Roman Anthony, what's behind Jarren Duran's fall-off and much more.

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.

]]> Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:03:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the abridged, post-game edition with a look back over the Jays' 6-0 win over the Guardians before welcoming in New Hampshire Fisher Cats manager Brent Lavalee (4:10). The skipper gets into the season so far for the Fisher Cats, Trey Yesavage's performance since his promotion to Double-A and the difference between evaluating pitching and hitting. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (28:00) stops by to tee up the Sox series against the Blue Jays — Boston's first trip back home since trading Rafael Devers. He discusses how the team will be received back home after a five-game losing streak, their path to the postseason, the pressure on rookie Roman Anthony, what's behind Jarren Duran's fall-off and much more.

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.

]]> Trey Yesavage's Double-A Jump + Boston Breakdown Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the abridged, post-game edition with a look back over the Jays' 6-0 win over the Guardians before welcoming in New Hampshire Fisher Cats manager Brent Lavalee (4:10). The skipper gets into the season so far for the Fisher Cats, Trey Yesavage's performance since his promotion to Double-A and the difference between evaluating pitching and hitting. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (28:00) stops by to tee up the Sox series against the Blue Jays — Boston's first trip back home since trading Rafael Devers. He discusses how the team will be received back home after a five-game losing streak, their path to the postseason, the pressure on rookie Roman Anthony, what's behind Jarren Duran's fall-off and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the abridged, post-game edition with a look back over the Jays' 6-0 win over the Guardians before welcoming in New Hampshire Fisher Cats manager Brent Lavalee (4:10). The skipper gets into the season so far for the Fisher Cats, Trey Yesavage's performance since his promotion to Double-A and the difference between evaluating pitching and hitting. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (28:00) stops by to tee up the Sox series against the Blue Jays — Boston's first trip back home since trading Rafael Devers. He discusses how the team will be received back home after a five-game losing streak, their path to the postseason, the pressure on rookie Roman Anthony, what's behind Jarren Duran's fall-off and much more. 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. false full 04498364-5f76-47f4-8b26-4d0374bd05a8 Trade Candidates with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with a chat about what to expect from Max Scherzer in his return to the mound before listening to John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Jays' second game against the Guardians. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (26:11) stops by to discuss his recently published article on trade candidates around the majors. He gets into the chances of Alex Bregman getting dealt, what position the Jays should try to improve, whether the Orioles will double down on their young core or shake it up at the deadline, and why the Pirates should be considering a Paul Skenes trade.

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:02:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with a chat about what to expect from Max Scherzer in his return to the mound before listening to John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Jays' second game against the Guardians. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (26:11) stops by to discuss his recently published article on trade candidates around the majors. He gets into the chances of Alex Bregman getting dealt, what position the Jays should try to improve, whether the Orioles will double down on their young core or shake it up at the deadline, and why the Pirates should be considering a Paul Skenes trade.

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.

]]> Trade Candidates with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with a chat about what to expect from Max Scherzer in his return to the mound before listening to John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Jays' second game against the Guardians. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (26:11) stops by to discuss his recently published article on trade candidates around the majors. He gets into the chances of Alex Bregman getting dealt, what position the Jays should try to improve, whether the Orioles will double down on their young core or shake it up at the deadline, and why the Pirates should be considering a Paul Skenes trade. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with a chat about what to expect from Max Scherzer in his return to the mound before listening to John Schneider's pre-game availability ahead of the Jays' second game against the Guardians. Then, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (26:11) stops by to discuss his recently published article on trade candidates around the majors. He gets into the chances of Alex Bregman getting dealt, what position the Jays should try to improve, whether the Orioles will double down on their young core or shake it up at the deadline, and why the Pirates should be considering a Paul Skenes trade. 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. false full bfe9bb82-9909-4606-b201-b5be2c28065f Max Scherzer's Return + Adjustments with Caleb Joseph Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays series opening win against the Cleveland Guardians, why John Schneider's decisions shows how important the series is, Chad Green now leading the Majors with the most homeruns allowed, Andrés Giménez becoming a mainstay in the infield despite his hitting woes, and Spencer Turnbull DFA'd for the returning Max Scherzer. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (25:55) stops by in-studio to preview Scherzer's return to the mound, what adjustments Green and Jeff Hoffman need to make, when it would be appropriate to reconsider the 9th inning role, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find his timing against the fastball.

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Jun 2025 21:02:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays series opening win against the Cleveland Guardians, why John Schneider's decisions shows how important the series is, Chad Green now leading the Majors with the most homeruns allowed, Andrés Giménez becoming a mainstay in the infield despite his hitting woes, and Spencer Turnbull DFA'd for the returning Max Scherzer. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (25:55) stops by in-studio to preview Scherzer's return to the mound, what adjustments Green and Jeff Hoffman need to make, when it would be appropriate to reconsider the 9th inning role, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find his timing against the fastball.

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.

]]> Max Scherzer's Return + Adjustments with Caleb Joseph Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays series opening win against the Cleveland Guardians, why John Schneider's decisions shows how important the series is, Chad Green now leading the Majors with the most homeruns allowed, Andrés Giménez becoming a mainstay in the infield despite his hitting woes, and Spencer Turnbull DFA'd for the returning Max Scherzer. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (25:55) stops by in-studio to preview Scherzer's return to the mound, what adjustments Green and Jeff Hoffman need to make, when it would be appropriate to reconsider the 9th inning role, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find his timing against the fastball. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays series opening win against the Cleveland Guardians, why John Schneider's decisions shows how important the series is, Chad Green now leading the Majors with the most homeruns allowed, Andrés Giménez becoming a mainstay in the infield despite his hitting woes, and Spencer Turnbull DFA'd for the returning Max Scherzer. Then, Blue Jays TV analyst Caleb Joseph (25:55) stops by in-studio to preview Scherzer's return to the mound, what adjustments Green and Jeff Hoffman need to make, when it would be appropriate to reconsider the 9th inning role, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find his timing against the fastball. 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. false full 9e54944a-585f-4a5c-95ca-c9eec62df2a4 Dodgers Pitching Prognosis with Stan Kasten + Back Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (1:30). He discusses why so many Dodgers pitchers are getting hurt, how they mitigate the risks associated with Shohei Ohtani pitching, their rivalry with the Padres, and the challenge of managing multiple superstars for Dave Roberts. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Blue Jays manager John Schneider's pregame availability, where he discussed Alek Manoah's progress and Yimi García's looming return. Finally, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2025 22:01:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (1:30). He discusses why so many Dodgers pitchers are getting hurt, how they mitigate the risks associated with Shohei Ohtani pitching, their rivalry with the Padres, and the challenge of managing multiple superstars for Dave Roberts. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Blue Jays manager John Schneider's pregame availability, where he discussed Alek Manoah's progress and Yimi García's looming return. Finally, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Dodgers Pitching Prognosis with Stan Kasten + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (1:30). He discusses why so many Dodgers pitchers are getting hurt, how they mitigate the risks associated with Shohei Ohtani pitching, their rivalry with the Padres, and the challenge of managing multiple superstars for Dave Roberts. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Blue Jays manager John Schneider's pregame availability, where he discussed Alek Manoah's progress and Yimi García's looming return. Finally, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (1:30). He discusses why so many Dodgers pitchers are getting hurt, how they mitigate the risks associated with Shohei Ohtani pitching, their rivalry with the Padres, and the challenge of managing multiple superstars for Dave Roberts. Then, Jeff and Kevin react to Blue Jays manager John Schneider's pregame availability, where he discussed Alek Manoah's progress and Yimi García's looming return. Finally, Jeff and Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. false full b27238f3-194f-4f3b-9e06-4a9acf301c51 On Guard for a Series Against Cleveland Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their reactions to Ernie Clement's promotion to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, Eric Lauer's start against the Cleveland Guardians, and why they're still optimistic about Jeff Hoffman coming out of his struggles in the 9th innings. Then, Guardians TV analyst Chris Gimenez (32:24) stops by to chat about Cleveland's issues against left-handed pitchers, Logan Allen's adjustments since his last start against the Blue Jays, why Emmanuel Clase could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, Cade Smith's strong ability to keep the ball in the yard, and what he would keep an eye on when Max Scherzer returns to the mound.

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Jun 2025 21:01:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their reactions to Ernie Clement's promotion to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, Eric Lauer's start against the Cleveland Guardians, and why they're still optimistic about Jeff Hoffman coming out of his struggles in the 9th innings. Then, Guardians TV analyst Chris Gimenez (32:24) stops by to chat about Cleveland's issues against left-handed pitchers, Logan Allen's adjustments since his last start against the Blue Jays, why Emmanuel Clase could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, Cade Smith's strong ability to keep the ball in the yard, and what he would keep an eye on when Max Scherzer returns to the mound.

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.

]]> On Guard for a Series Against Cleveland Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their reactions to Ernie Clement's promotion to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, Eric Lauer's start against the Cleveland Guardians, and why they're still optimistic about Jeff Hoffman coming out of his struggles in the 9th innings. Then, Guardians TV analyst Chris Gimenez (32:24) stops by to chat about Cleveland's issues against left-handed pitchers, Logan Allen's adjustments since his last start against the Blue Jays, why Emmanuel Clase could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, Cade Smith's strong ability to keep the ball in the yard, and what he would keep an eye on when Max Scherzer returns to the mound. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their reactions to Ernie Clement's promotion to the No. 2 spot in the batting order, Eric Lauer's start against the Cleveland Guardians, and why they're still optimistic about Jeff Hoffman coming out of his struggles in the 9th innings. Then, Guardians TV analyst Chris Gimenez (32:24) stops by to chat about Cleveland's issues against left-handed pitchers, Logan Allen's adjustments since his last start against the Blue Jays, why Emmanuel Clase could be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, Cade Smith's strong ability to keep the ball in the yard, and what he would keep an eye on when Max Scherzer returns to the mound. 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. false full 1f2ede0d-79bc-4e8a-a960-0ec13880e080 Around the Majors with Jensen Lewis & College World Series Recap Former MLB Pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (1:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to comment on John Schneider sticking by Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays’ play and standing in the American League, the Phillies sitting pretty in the NL East, and the depth of the Rays’ rotation, before looking ahead to Chase Burns’ MLB debut vs. the Yankees and the upcoming Paul Skenes-Jacob Misiorowski pitching duel. ESPN College Baseball analyst Kyle Peterson (32:46) recaps LSU’s second win in three years at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha as they defeated Coastal Carolina and discusses the decision by umpires to eject Coastal Carolina’s manager and first-base coach in the first inning of the deciding game.

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2025 22:01:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB Pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (1:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to comment on John Schneider sticking by Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays’ play and standing in the American League, the Phillies sitting pretty in the NL East, and the depth of the Rays’ rotation, before looking ahead to Chase Burns’ MLB debut vs. the Yankees and the upcoming Paul Skenes-Jacob Misiorowski pitching duel. ESPN College Baseball analyst Kyle Peterson (32:46) recaps LSU’s second win in three years at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha as they defeated Coastal Carolina and discusses the decision by umpires to eject Coastal Carolina’s manager and first-base coach in the first inning of the deciding game.

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.

]]> Around the Majors with Jensen Lewis & College World Series Recap Sportsnet 00:49:58 Former MLB Pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (1:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to comment on John Schneider sticking by Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays’ play and standing in the American League, the Phillies sitting pretty in the NL East, and the depth of the Rays’ rotation, before looking ahead to Chase Burns’ MLB debut vs. the Yankees and the upcoming Paul Skenes-Jacob Misiorowski pitching duel. ESPN College Baseball analyst Kyle Peterson (32:46) recaps LSU’s second win in three years at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha as they defeated Coastal Carolina and discusses the decision by umpires to eject Coastal Carolina’s manager and first-base coach in the first inning of the deciding game. 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. Former MLB Pitcher and VSiN host Jensen Lewis (1:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to comment on John Schneider sticking by Jeff Hoffman, the Blue Jays’ play and standing in the American League, the Phillies sitting pretty in the NL East, and the depth of the Rays’ rotation, before looking ahead to Chase Burns’ MLB debut vs. the Yankees and the upcoming Paul Skenes-Jacob Misiorowski pitching duel. ESPN College Baseball analyst Kyle Peterson (32:46) recaps LSU’s second win in three years at the Men’s College World Series in Omaha as they defeated Coastal Carolina and discusses the decision by umpires to eject Coastal Carolina’s manager and first-base coach in the first inning of the deciding game. 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. false full a1124f5a-8ecf-4b72-9910-12da82c617bf Ernie's June-Bug & Closer Options Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, John Schneider reinforcing his belief in Jeff Hoffman despite his struggles as their closer, the options outside Hoffman, Max Scherzer's comments ahead of his return to the mound, and how Ernie Clement has been able to hunt and attack the fastball. Then, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (28:08) stops by to chat about the level of concern surrounding Hoffman, if we could see an increased workload for Yariel Rodriguez, Scherzer's rehab and pending return, why Anthony Santander's injury might be more serious than originally believed, Andrés Giménez's offensive trajectory and if Ernie can become an everyday MLB player.

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Jun 2025 21:01:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, John Schneider reinforcing his belief in Jeff Hoffman despite his struggles as their closer, the options outside Hoffman, Max Scherzer's comments ahead of his return to the mound, and how Ernie Clement has been able to hunt and attack the fastball. Then, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (28:08) stops by to chat about the level of concern surrounding Hoffman, if we could see an increased workload for Yariel Rodriguez, Scherzer's rehab and pending return, why Anthony Santander's injury might be more serious than originally believed, Andrés Giménez's offensive trajectory and if Ernie can become an everyday MLB player.

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.

]]> Ernie's June-Bug & Closer Options Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, John Schneider reinforcing his belief in Jeff Hoffman despite his struggles as their closer, the options outside Hoffman, Max Scherzer's comments ahead of his return to the mound, and how Ernie Clement has been able to hunt and attack the fastball. Then, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (28:08) stops by to chat about the level of concern surrounding Hoffman, if we could see an increased workload for Yariel Rodriguez, Scherzer's rehab and pending return, why Anthony Santander's injury might be more serious than originally believed, Andrés Giménez's offensive trajectory and if Ernie can become an everyday MLB player. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Chicago White Sox, John Schneider reinforcing his belief in Jeff Hoffman despite his struggles as their closer, the options outside Hoffman, Max Scherzer's comments ahead of his return to the mound, and how Ernie Clement has been able to hunt and attack the fastball. Then, Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (28:08) stops by to chat about the level of concern surrounding Hoffman, if we could see an increased workload for Yariel Rodriguez, Scherzer's rehab and pending return, why Anthony Santander's injury might be more serious than originally believed, Andrés Giménez's offensive trajectory and if Ernie can become an everyday MLB player. 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. false full ebd0f144-dd41-48af-a084-2f6b23ff05c9 Inside Boston's Brass with Jeff Passan + State of the Southside Sox Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:05) to detail his latest article surrounding the Boston Red Sox's messy breakup with Rafael Devers. He chronicles the lack of continuity in the Red Sox management structure, their declining payroll year over year and how this saga impacts the Red Sox's future ability to recruit high-profile free agents. Then, he weighs in on which AL teams will emerge in the postseason, the Braves' deadline direction and the Dodgers/Padres rivalry heating up. Finally, former MLB second baseman Gordon Beckham (30:21) stops by to tee up the Chicago White Sox's weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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.

]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2025 22:01:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:05) to detail his latest article surrounding the Boston Red Sox's messy breakup with Rafael Devers. He chronicles the lack of continuity in the Red Sox management structure, their declining payroll year over year and how this saga impacts the Red Sox's future ability to recruit high-profile free agents. Then, he weighs in on which AL teams will emerge in the postseason, the Braves' deadline direction and the Dodgers/Padres rivalry heating up. Finally, former MLB second baseman Gordon Beckham (30:21) stops by to tee up the Chicago White Sox's weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

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.

]]> Inside Boston's Brass with Jeff Passan + State of the Southside Sox Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:05) to detail his latest article surrounding the Boston Red Sox's messy breakup with Rafael Devers. He chronicles the lack of continuity in the Red Sox management structure, their declining payroll year over year and how this saga impacts the Red Sox's future ability to recruit high-profile free agents. Then, he weighs in on which AL teams will emerge in the postseason, the Braves' deadline direction and the Dodgers/Padres rivalry heating up. Finally, former MLB second baseman Gordon Beckham (30:21) stops by to tee up the Chicago White Sox's weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:05) to detail his latest article surrounding the Boston Red Sox's messy breakup with Rafael Devers. He chronicles the lack of continuity in the Red Sox management structure, their declining payroll year over year and how this saga impacts the Red Sox's future ability to recruit high-profile free agents. Then, he weighs in on which AL teams will emerge in the postseason, the Braves' deadline direction and the Dodgers/Padres rivalry heating up. Finally, former MLB second baseman Gordon Beckham (30:21) stops by to tee up the Chicago White Sox's weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays. 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. false full 22333734-07e6-44eb-a5f7-8e93f5ccddea A No. 2 Starter + Addison Barger's Trajectory with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a cap on the Blue Jays' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Vlad Jr.'s comfortability in the third spot in the order, Kevin Gausman's reflection on his performances in June and loss to the D-Backs, and how Toronto's front office will look into the pitching market in search of a number two starter. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (24:30) stops by to chat about Nick Sandlin's return to the main roster, Addison Barger's transition into the outfield and up in the batting order, Alejandro Kirk's bat finding a way to the opposite field, and if Gausman will have to tinker with his pitches as he progresses through his career.

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.

]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2025 21:02:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a cap on the Blue Jays' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Vlad Jr.'s comfortability in the third spot in the order, Kevin Gausman's reflection on his performances in June and loss to the D-Backs, and how Toronto's front office will look into the pitching market in search of a number two starter. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (24:30) stops by to chat about Nick Sandlin's return to the main roster, Addison Barger's transition into the outfield and up in the batting order, Alejandro Kirk's bat finding a way to the opposite field, and if Gausman will have to tinker with his pitches as he progresses through his career.

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.

]]> A No. 2 Starter + Addison Barger's Trajectory with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a cap on the Blue Jays' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Vlad Jr.'s comfortability in the third spot in the order, Kevin Gausman's reflection on his performances in June and loss to the D-Backs, and how Toronto's front office will look into the pitching market in search of a number two starter. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (24:30) stops by to chat about Nick Sandlin's return to the main roster, Addison Barger's transition into the outfield and up in the batting order, Alejandro Kirk's bat finding a way to the opposite field, and if Gausman will have to tinker with his pitches as he progresses through his career. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker put a cap on the Blue Jays' series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Vlad Jr.'s comfortability in the third spot in the order, Kevin Gausman's reflection on his performances in June and loss to the D-Backs, and how Toronto's front office will look into the pitching market in search of a number two starter. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (24:30) stops by to chat about Nick Sandlin's return to the main roster, Addison Barger's transition into the outfield and up in the batting order, Alejandro Kirk's bat finding a way to the opposite field, and if Gausman will have to tinker with his pitches as he progresses through his career. 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. false full 034940cf-9d8b-495b-a964-47a1455ab500 The Next Steps in Barger's Development Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with some thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions, including whether Vladdy is a 'slow starter,' where Addison Barger fits best, Ernie Clement's potential and much more. Later, Blue Jays Central's Joe Siddall stops by (28:00) to share why he's not a fan of Vladdy hitting third in the order, the next step in Barger's development, how Eric Lauer has found success with his fastball, whether there's any concern for the bullpen's increased workload and how the Jays have gotten the best out of Alejandro Kirk.

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.

]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:01:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with some thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions, including whether Vladdy is a 'slow starter,' where Addison Barger fits best, Ernie Clement's potential and much more. Later, Blue Jays Central's Joe Siddall stops by (28:00) to share why he's not a fan of Vladdy hitting third in the order, the next step in Barger's development, how Eric Lauer has found success with his fastball, whether there's any concern for the bullpen's increased workload and how the Jays have gotten the best out of Alejandro Kirk.

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.

]]> The Next Steps in Barger's Development Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with some thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions, including whether Vladdy is a 'slow starter,' where Addison Barger fits best, Ernie Clement's potential and much more. Later, Blue Jays Central's Joe Siddall stops by (28:00) to share why he's not a fan of Vladdy hitting third in the order, the next step in Barger's development, how Eric Lauer has found success with his fastball, whether there's any concern for the bullpen's increased workload and how the Jays have gotten the best out of Alejandro Kirk. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with some thoughts on the Stanley Cup Final before going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions, including whether Vladdy is a 'slow starter,' where Addison Barger fits best, Ernie Clement's potential and much more. Later, Blue Jays Central's Joe Siddall stops by (28:00) to share why he's not a fan of Vladdy hitting third in the order, the next step in Barger's development, how Eric Lauer has found success with his fastball, whether there's any concern for the bullpen's increased workload and how the Jays have gotten the best out of Alejandro Kirk. 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. false full b9d07669-44ec-40d3-9408-2e2011ca314d New Look Success Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a look back at the Blue Jays' walk-off win in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, how optimistic they are about the batting order finding success, the first game with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting third, and Addison Barger's future hitting in the two-hole. Then, D-Backs legend and special advisor Luis Gonzalez stops by (24:12) to chat about how the team has handled Corbin Burnes's injury, what Josh Naylor has brought to the lineup, if it's difficult to hit in today's game versus when he was playing, the tightly contested NL West, and Torey Lovullo's tenure has Arizona's manager.

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.

]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 21:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a look back at the Blue Jays' walk-off win in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, how optimistic they are about the batting order finding success, the first game with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting third, and Addison Barger's future hitting in the two-hole. Then, D-Backs legend and special advisor Luis Gonzalez stops by (24:12) to chat about how the team has handled Corbin Burnes's injury, what Josh Naylor has brought to the lineup, if it's difficult to hit in today's game versus when he was playing, the tightly contested NL West, and Torey Lovullo's tenure has Arizona's manager.

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.

]]> New Look Success Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a look back at the Blue Jays' walk-off win in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, how optimistic they are about the batting order finding success, the first game with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting third, and Addison Barger's future hitting in the two-hole. Then, D-Backs legend and special advisor Luis Gonzalez stops by (24:12) to chat about how the team has handled Corbin Burnes's injury, what Josh Naylor has brought to the lineup, if it's difficult to hit in today's game versus when he was playing, the tightly contested NL West, and Torey Lovullo's tenure has Arizona's manager. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take a look back at the Blue Jays' walk-off win in their series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, how optimistic they are about the batting order finding success, the first game with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting third, and Addison Barger's future hitting in the two-hole. Then, D-Backs legend and special advisor Luis Gonzalez stops by (24:12) to chat about how the team has handled Corbin Burnes's injury, what Josh Naylor has brought to the lineup, if it's difficult to hit in today's game versus when he was playing, the tightly contested NL West, and Torey Lovullo's tenure has Arizona's manager. 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. false full 630a526c-05a7-45a7-ad04-41654c48ba35 Devers Fallout + Is a MLB Lockout Likely? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former MLB executive David Samson (0:23) to weigh in on the Rafael Devers blockbuster, why it was inevitable, Craig Breslow's comments on Devers after the trade and why the deal could be considered a win for the Red Sox. Then, he shares how the Blue Jays should approach the trade deadline, whether a 2026 lockout is a guarantee and much more. Later, Chris Leroux joins the show (29:53) from the booth at Rogers Centre to discuss Erik Swanson getting DFA'd, whether Bowden Francis can find his form with a reset on the IL and his expectations for Chris Bassitt in the Jays' series opener against the Diamondbacks.

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Jun 2025 22:01:00 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former MLB executive David Samson (0:23) to weigh in on the Rafael Devers blockbuster, why it was inevitable, Craig Breslow's comments on Devers after the trade and why the deal could be considered a win for the Red Sox. Then, he shares how the Blue Jays should approach the trade deadline, whether a 2026 lockout is a guarantee and much more. Later, Chris Leroux joins the show (29:53) from the booth at Rogers Centre to discuss Erik Swanson getting DFA'd, whether Bowden Francis can find his form with a reset on the IL and his expectations for Chris Bassitt in the Jays' series opener against the Diamondbacks.

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.

]]> Devers Fallout + Is a MLB Lockout Likely? Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former MLB executive David Samson (0:23) to weigh in on the Rafael Devers blockbuster, why it was inevitable, Craig Breslow's comments on Devers after the trade and why the deal could be considered a win for the Red Sox. Then, he shares how the Blue Jays should approach the trade deadline, whether a 2026 lockout is a guarantee and much more. Later, Chris Leroux joins the show (29:53) from the booth at Rogers Centre to discuss Erik Swanson getting DFA'd, whether Bowden Francis can find his form with a reset on the IL and his expectations for Chris Bassitt in the Jays' series opener against the Diamondbacks. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former MLB executive David Samson (0:23) to weigh in on the Rafael Devers blockbuster, why it was inevitable, Craig Breslow's comments on Devers after the trade and why the deal could be considered a win for the Red Sox. Then, he shares how the Blue Jays should approach the trade deadline, whether a 2026 lockout is a guarantee and much more. Later, Chris Leroux joins the show (29:53) from the booth at Rogers Centre to discuss Erik Swanson getting DFA'd, whether Bowden Francis can find his form with a reset on the IL and his expectations for Chris Bassitt in the Jays' series opener against the Diamondbacks. 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. false full bc4a5165-4ebb-4b2a-bc51-9105f2277b99 Bowden to IL, Batting Order Shifts and Zoning In on the D-Backs Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays roster moves, including Bowden Francis heading to the IL, Erik Swanson getting DFA'd and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shifting one spot down in the batting order. Then, the guys chat about Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound since his Tommy John surgery and if this is the best case for the L.A. Dodgers moving forward. Then, D-Backs reporter Nick Piecoro stops by (27:50) to chat about the team's pitching injuries including Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John, how Rafael Devers playing in the NL West impacts Arizona's approach to the trade deadline, Josh Naylor's future, and what has kept Gabriel Moreno in the lineup.

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Jun 2025 21:05:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays roster moves, including Bowden Francis heading to the IL, Erik Swanson getting DFA'd and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shifting one spot down in the batting order. Then, the guys chat about Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound since his Tommy John surgery and if this is the best case for the L.A. Dodgers moving forward. Then, D-Backs reporter Nick Piecoro stops by (27:50) to chat about the team's pitching injuries including Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John, how Rafael Devers playing in the NL West impacts Arizona's approach to the trade deadline, Josh Naylor's future, and what has kept Gabriel Moreno in the lineup.

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.

]]> Bowden to IL, Batting Order Shifts and Zoning In on the D-Backs Sportsnet 00:49:26 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays roster moves, including Bowden Francis heading to the IL, Erik Swanson getting DFA'd and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shifting one spot down in the batting order. Then, the guys chat about Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound since his Tommy John surgery and if this is the best case for the L.A. Dodgers moving forward. Then, D-Backs reporter Nick Piecoro stops by (27:50) to chat about the team's pitching injuries including Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John, how Rafael Devers playing in the NL West impacts Arizona's approach to the trade deadline, Josh Naylor's future, and what has kept Gabriel Moreno in the lineup. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays roster moves, including Bowden Francis heading to the IL, Erik Swanson getting DFA'd and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shifting one spot down in the batting order. Then, the guys chat about Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound since his Tommy John surgery and if this is the best case for the L.A. Dodgers moving forward. Then, D-Backs reporter Nick Piecoro stops by (27:50) to chat about the team's pitching injuries including Corbin Burnes undergoing Tommy John, how Rafael Devers playing in the NL West impacts Arizona's approach to the trade deadline, Josh Naylor's future, and what has kept Gabriel Moreno in the lineup. 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. false full c94c20a2-7ff8-44b5-92bb-a670d5d5ef75 Can Vladdy Get Hot? + Ohtani's Return to the Mound Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:15) to reflect on the team's series in Philadelphia where they were swept by the Phillies. They discuss the positives from Bowden Francis's latest start, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s swing decisions and Max Scherzer's rehab start. Then, Jeff and Kevin get into whether John Schneider should separate Bo and Vladdy in the lineup. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (24:56) shares what led to Rafael Devers getting traded from the Boston Red Sox, the Giants' management's aggression and Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound for the 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 or any affiliates.

]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 22:02:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:15) to reflect on the team's series in Philadelphia where they were swept by the Phillies. They discuss the positives from Bowden Francis's latest start, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s swing decisions and Max Scherzer's rehab start. Then, Jeff and Kevin get into whether John Schneider should separate Bo and Vladdy in the lineup. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (24:56) shares what led to Rafael Devers getting traded from the Boston Red Sox, the Giants' management's aggression and Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound for the 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 or any affiliates.

]]> Can Vladdy Get Hot? + Ohtani's Return to the Mound Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:15) to reflect on the team's series in Philadelphia where they were swept by the Phillies. They discuss the positives from Bowden Francis's latest start, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s swing decisions and Max Scherzer's rehab start. Then, Jeff and Kevin get into whether John Schneider should separate Bo and Vladdy in the lineup. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (24:56) shares what led to Rafael Devers getting traded from the Boston Red Sox, the Giants' management's aggression and Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound for the 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 or any affiliates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:15) to reflect on the team's series in Philadelphia where they were swept by the Phillies. They discuss the positives from Bowden Francis's latest start, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s swing decisions and Max Scherzer's rehab start. Then, Jeff and Kevin get into whether John Schneider should separate Bo and Vladdy in the lineup. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (24:56) shares what led to Rafael Devers getting traded from the Boston Red Sox, the Giants' management's aggression and Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound for the 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 or any affiliates. false full ec78b885-9cc6-4def-8af9-a59d1592fb05 Jays Road Report in Philly + Boston & Rafael Devers Break-Up Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays weekend series against the Phillies,  signs of improvement from Bowden Francis despite the losing result, Chad Green and Eric Swanson's inconsistency, and growing concerns about Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s at-bat decisions. Then, the guys shift their attention to an MLB-shaking trade that saw long-time Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers moved to the San Francisco Giants and the end of a season-long drama within Boston's clubhouse. Afterwards, former MLB player and Giants' analyst F.P. Santangelo (29:11) stops by to give his thoughts on the team's newest addition to the lineup, how the Red Sox may have handled juggling Devers' role, and his ideal lineup for the Giants.

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.

]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:01:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays weekend series against the Phillies,  signs of improvement from Bowden Francis despite the losing result, Chad Green and Eric Swanson's inconsistency, and growing concerns about Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s at-bat decisions. Then, the guys shift their attention to an MLB-shaking trade that saw long-time Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers moved to the San Francisco Giants and the end of a season-long drama within Boston's clubhouse. Afterwards, former MLB player and Giants' analyst F.P. Santangelo (29:11) stops by to give his thoughts on the team's newest addition to the lineup, how the Red Sox may have handled juggling Devers' role, and his ideal lineup for the Giants.

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.

]]> Jays Road Report in Philly + Boston & Rafael Devers Break-Up Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays weekend series against the Phillies, signs of improvement from Bowden Francis despite the losing result, Chad Green and Eric Swanson's inconsistency, and growing concerns about Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s at-bat decisions. Then, the guys shift their attention to an MLB-shaking trade that saw long-time Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers moved to the San Francisco Giants and the end of a season-long drama within Boston's clubhouse. Afterwards, former MLB player and Giants' analyst F.P. Santangelo (29:11) stops by to give his thoughts on the team's newest addition to the lineup, how the Red Sox may have handled juggling Devers' role, and his ideal lineup for the Giants. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays weekend series against the Phillies, signs of improvement from Bowden Francis despite the losing result, Chad Green and Eric Swanson's inconsistency, and growing concerns about Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s at-bat decisions. Then, the guys shift their attention to an MLB-shaking trade that saw long-time Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers moved to the San Francisco Giants and the end of a season-long drama within Boston's clubhouse. Afterwards, former MLB player and Giants' analyst F.P. Santangelo (29:11) stops by to give his thoughts on the team's newest addition to the lineup, how the Red Sox may have handled juggling Devers' role, and his ideal lineup for the Giants. 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. false full a0a84d0a-27cd-4192-9b5c-a0947ba37306 Rematch in Philly Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. (1:00) ahead of the Blue Jays' weekend series in Philadelphia to kick off the final hour of the week. They get into the Phillies' recent power outage, what the Jays bats can expect from Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zach Wheeler, what's gone wrong for former Phillie Jeff Hoffman in Toronto and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin review Hoffman's availability ahead of his return to Philly. Finally, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (31:40) looks at the Blue Jays' recent hot streak and how it will impact their approach to the trade deadline, the teams that will be most aggressive on the trade market ahead of July 31, and why the Dodgers' pitchers can't stay healthy.

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.

]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:00:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. (1:00) ahead of the Blue Jays' weekend series in Philadelphia to kick off the final hour of the week. They get into the Phillies' recent power outage, what the Jays bats can expect from Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zach Wheeler, what's gone wrong for former Phillie Jeff Hoffman in Toronto and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin review Hoffman's availability ahead of his return to Philly. Finally, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (31:40) looks at the Blue Jays' recent hot streak and how it will impact their approach to the trade deadline, the teams that will be most aggressive on the trade market ahead of July 31, and why the Dodgers' pitchers can't stay healthy.

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.

]]> Rematch in Philly Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. (1:00) ahead of the Blue Jays' weekend series in Philadelphia to kick off the final hour of the week. They get into the Phillies' recent power outage, what the Jays bats can expect from Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zach Wheeler, what's gone wrong for former Phillie Jeff Hoffman in Toronto and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin review Hoffman's availability ahead of his return to Philly. Finally, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (31:40) looks at the Blue Jays' recent hot streak and how it will impact their approach to the trade deadline, the teams that will be most aggressive on the trade market ahead of July 31, and why the Dodgers' pitchers can't stay healthy. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. (1:00) ahead of the Blue Jays' weekend series in Philadelphia to kick off the final hour of the week. They get into the Phillies' recent power outage, what the Jays bats can expect from Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sanchez, and Zach Wheeler, what's gone wrong for former Phillie Jeff Hoffman in Toronto and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin review Hoffman's availability ahead of his return to Philly. Finally, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (31:40) looks at the Blue Jays' recent hot streak and how it will impact their approach to the trade deadline, the teams that will be most aggressive on the trade market ahead of July 31, and why the Dodgers' pitchers can't stay healthy. 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. false full d210d0e8-8eae-466a-8f58-387fe910e914 Stretch of Success with John Schneider + Scherzer Begins Rehab Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker preview the Blue Jays' rematch against the Phillies in Philadelphia, how they can attack left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez, why Toronto's lineup performs well against lefties, and whether Kevin Gausman can build off his 6-inning outing against the Minnesota Twins. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:58) stops by to chat about his lineup's success against lefties, updates on his injured players including Max Scherzer's rehab stint in Buffalo, Kevin Gausman's splitter, how Jeff Hoffman has handled his recent up and down stretch and if Yariel Rodriguez is ready for an extended 9th-inning role.

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.

]]> Fri, 13 Jun 2025 21:03:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker preview the Blue Jays' rematch against the Phillies in Philadelphia, how they can attack left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez, why Toronto's lineup performs well against lefties, and whether Kevin Gausman can build off his 6-inning outing against the Minnesota Twins. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:58) stops by to chat about his lineup's success against lefties, updates on his injured players including Max Scherzer's rehab stint in Buffalo, Kevin Gausman's splitter, how Jeff Hoffman has handled his recent up and down stretch and if Yariel Rodriguez is ready for an extended 9th-inning role.

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.

]]> Stretch of Success with John Schneider + Scherzer Begins Rehab Sportsnet 00:50:02 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker preview the Blue Jays' rematch against the Phillies in Philadelphia, how they can attack left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez, why Toronto's lineup performs well against lefties, and whether Kevin Gausman can build off his 6-inning outing against the Minnesota Twins. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:58) stops by to chat about his lineup's success against lefties, updates on his injured players including Max Scherzer's rehab stint in Buffalo, Kevin Gausman's splitter, how Jeff Hoffman has handled his recent up and down stretch and if Yariel Rodriguez is ready for an extended 9th-inning role. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker preview the Blue Jays' rematch against the Phillies in Philadelphia, how they can attack left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez, why Toronto's lineup performs well against lefties, and whether Kevin Gausman can build off his 6-inning outing against the Minnesota Twins. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:58) stops by to chat about his lineup's success against lefties, updates on his injured players including Max Scherzer's rehab stint in Buffalo, Kevin Gausman's splitter, how Jeff Hoffman has handled his recent up and down stretch and if Yariel Rodriguez is ready for an extended 9th-inning role. 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. false full ffdbe656-b209-4996-ad69-79dc61dde036 Probing the Trade Market + The Boston Soap Opera Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:17) in on the Blue Jays' off-day. They get into where the Jays rank among the best batting orders in baseball, how recent headline pitcher injuries shape the trade market, how the Braves approach the deadline and much more. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (29:15) joins the show to discuss the dysfunction in Boston, the plan for Rafael Devers, their deadline priorities and how they've handled Roman Anthony's arrival.

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2025 22:01:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:17) in on the Blue Jays' off-day. They get into where the Jays rank among the best batting orders in baseball, how recent headline pitcher injuries shape the trade market, how the Braves approach the deadline and much more. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (29:15) joins the show to discuss the dysfunction in Boston, the plan for Rafael Devers, their deadline priorities and how they've handled Roman Anthony's arrival.

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.

]]> Probing the Trade Market + The Boston Soap Opera Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:17) in on the Blue Jays' off-day. They get into where the Jays rank among the best batting orders in baseball, how recent headline pitcher injuries shape the trade market, how the Braves approach the deadline and much more. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (29:15) joins the show to discuss the dysfunction in Boston, the plan for Rafael Devers, their deadline priorities and how they've handled Roman Anthony's arrival. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:17) in on the Blue Jays' off-day. They get into where the Jays rank among the best batting orders in baseball, how recent headline pitcher injuries shape the trade market, how the Braves approach the deadline and much more. Later, WEEI Red Sox reporter Rob Bradford (29:15) joins the show to discuss the dysfunction in Boston, the plan for Rafael Devers, their deadline priorities and how they've handled Roman Anthony's arrival. 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. false full 2fc9f36c-3990-4333-94d0-15b596537895 Sweeping the Cards + Who's the Jays' Closer? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. They get into whether Yariel Rodriguez is ready to take over the closer's role, whether it's beneficial to have multiple options available to pitch in the 9th inning and the Jays' identity and plate approach through June. Then, Jeff and Kevin go through the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' calls!

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Jun 2025 21:01:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. They get into whether Yariel Rodriguez is ready to take over the closer's role, whether it's beneficial to have multiple options available to pitch in the 9th inning and the Jays' identity and plate approach through June. Then, Jeff and Kevin go through the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' calls!

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.

]]> Sweeping the Cards + Who's the Jays' Closer? Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. They get into whether Yariel Rodriguez is ready to take over the closer's role, whether it's beneficial to have multiple options available to pitch in the 9th inning and the Jays' identity and plate approach through June. Then, Jeff and Kevin go through the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' calls! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker revisit the Blue Jays' sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis. They get into whether Yariel Rodriguez is ready to take over the closer's role, whether it's beneficial to have multiple options available to pitch in the 9th inning and the Jays' identity and plate approach through June. Then, Jeff and Kevin go through the Back Leg Line to hear listeners' calls! 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. false full cb64ef3f-a052-4bcf-849c-64d2d5e874e9 The Art of Outfielding with Denzel Clarke Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Sportsnet Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi (1:50) to kick off the second hour, and they get into the team's pitching options as they work around Bowden Francis's enduring struggles, whether they will look to add to their injured bullpen at the deadline, Jonatan Clase's maturity and whether Addison Barger's trial batting second can become permanent. Later, Athletics' Canadian outfielder Denzel Clarke (28:54) relives his highlight-reel home run robbery against the Angels before discussing his process in the outfield, how he's adjusting to the big leagues and his experience playing in his hometown in Toronto.

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.

]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2025 22:01:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Sportsnet Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi (1:50) to kick off the second hour, and they get into the team's pitching options as they work around Bowden Francis's enduring struggles, whether they will look to add to their injured bullpen at the deadline, Jonatan Clase's maturity and whether Addison Barger's trial batting second can become permanent. Later, Athletics' Canadian outfielder Denzel Clarke (28:54) relives his highlight-reel home run robbery against the Angels before discussing his process in the outfield, how he's adjusting to the big leagues and his experience playing in his hometown in Toronto.

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.

]]> The Art of Outfielding with Denzel Clarke Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Sportsnet Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi (1:50) to kick off the second hour, and they get into the team's pitching options as they work around Bowden Francis's enduring struggles, whether they will look to add to their injured bullpen at the deadline, Jonatan Clase's maturity and whether Addison Barger's trial batting second can become permanent. Later, Athletics' Canadian outfielder Denzel Clarke (28:54) relives his highlight-reel home run robbery against the Angels before discussing his process in the outfield, how he's adjusting to the big leagues and his experience playing in his hometown in Toronto. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Sportsnet Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi (1:50) to kick off the second hour, and they get into the team's pitching options as they work around Bowden Francis's enduring struggles, whether they will look to add to their injured bullpen at the deadline, Jonatan Clase's maturity and whether Addison Barger's trial batting second can become permanent. Later, Athletics' Canadian outfielder Denzel Clarke (28:54) relives his highlight-reel home run robbery against the Angels before discussing his process in the outfield, how he's adjusting to the big leagues and his experience playing in his hometown in Toronto. 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. false full 5bfe2bdc-1f3d-47e3-9f68-218e3d2a1eba Mid-Season Pitching Report with Pete Walker Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the Blue Jays' second-most comeback wins (20) before being joined by Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (5:58) to chat about some of the positives from Bowden Francis' pitching performances, areas to zone in and improve on, Chris Bassitt's adjustment to stand closer towards first base, Yariel Rodriguez in high-leverage situations, the timeline for a Max Scherzer's return, and what had stood out from Brendon Little. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Alejandro Kirk's hot bat and revisit his performances since the increased workload.

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.

]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2025 21:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the Blue Jays' second-most comeback wins (20) before being joined by Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (5:58) to chat about some of the positives from Bowden Francis' pitching performances, areas to zone in and improve on, Chris Bassitt's adjustment to stand closer towards first base, Yariel Rodriguez in high-leverage situations, the timeline for a Max Scherzer's return, and what had stood out from Brendon Little. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Alejandro Kirk's hot bat and revisit his performances since the increased workload.

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.

]]> Mid-Season Pitching Report with Pete Walker Sportsnet 00:49:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the Blue Jays' second-most comeback wins (20) before being joined by Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (5:58) to chat about some of the positives from Bowden Francis' pitching performances, areas to zone in and improve on, Chris Bassitt's adjustment to stand closer towards first base, Yariel Rodriguez in high-leverage situations, the timeline for a Max Scherzer's return, and what had stood out from Brendon Little. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Alejandro Kirk's hot bat and revisit his performances since the increased workload. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show touching on the Blue Jays' second-most comeback wins (20) before being joined by Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (5:58) to chat about some of the positives from Bowden Francis' pitching performances, areas to zone in and improve on, Chris Bassitt's adjustment to stand closer towards first base, Yariel Rodriguez in high-leverage situations, the timeline for a Max Scherzer's return, and what had stood out from Brendon Little. Then, Jeff and Kevin discuss Alejandro Kirk's hot bat and revisit his performances since the increased workload. 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. false full cfbae04c-551f-4770-b4be-332992c2a586 Red Sox Activate Anthony + Youth Movement in St. Louis Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Twins GM Thad Levine (1:20) to share his thoughts on the Red Sox calling up MLB's no. 1 ranked prospect Roman Anthony, the impact of A.J. Hinch's experience in Detroit, the challenge of winning with high expectations, the Jays' options for the struggling Bowden Francis, and why GMs are more focussed on 'platoon players.' Later, Cardinals analyst and former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson joins the show (29:36) ahead of the Cards' series against the Jays to discuss how they have defied expectations this season, the biggest surprises for St. Louis this year, and where they can improve.

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.

]]> Mon, 9 Jun 2025 22:05:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Twins GM Thad Levine (1:20) to share his thoughts on the Red Sox calling up MLB's no. 1 ranked prospect Roman Anthony, the impact of A.J. Hinch's experience in Detroit, the challenge of winning with high expectations, the Jays' options for the struggling Bowden Francis, and why GMs are more focussed on 'platoon players.' Later, Cardinals analyst and former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson joins the show (29:36) ahead of the Cards' series against the Jays to discuss how they have defied expectations this season, the biggest surprises for St. Louis this year, and where they can improve.

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.

]]> Red Sox Activate Anthony + Youth Movement in St. Louis Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Twins GM Thad Levine (1:20) to share his thoughts on the Red Sox calling up MLB's no. 1 ranked prospect Roman Anthony, the impact of A.J. Hinch's experience in Detroit, the challenge of winning with high expectations, the Jays' options for the struggling Bowden Francis, and why GMs are more focussed on 'platoon players.' Later, Cardinals analyst and former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson joins the show (29:36) ahead of the Cards' series against the Jays to discuss how they have defied expectations this season, the biggest surprises for St. Louis this year, and where they can improve. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in former Twins GM Thad Levine (1:20) to share his thoughts on the Red Sox calling up MLB's no. 1 ranked prospect Roman Anthony, the impact of A.J. Hinch's experience in Detroit, the challenge of winning with high expectations, the Jays' options for the struggling Bowden Francis, and why GMs are more focussed on 'platoon players.' Later, Cardinals analyst and former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson joins the show (29:36) ahead of the Cards' series against the Jays to discuss how they have defied expectations this season, the biggest surprises for St. Louis this year, and where they can improve. 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. false full 72dee474-1e74-4ba4-8113-48d8ab5be50b What's Next for Bowden Francis? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis continuing to struggle on the mound, what's best for him moving forward and Tyler Heineman's baseball IQ with his at-bats and behind the plate. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:50) to discuss if Bowden will make his start against the Phillies in Philadelphia, the bullpen's workload, why the team isn't concerned about Jeff Hoffman, whether this is the best version of George Springer in a Jays uniform and an evaluation for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season.

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.

]]> Mon, 9 Jun 2025 21:01:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis continuing to struggle on the mound, what's best for him moving forward and Tyler Heineman's baseball IQ with his at-bats and behind the plate. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:50) to discuss if Bowden will make his start against the Phillies in Philadelphia, the bullpen's workload, why the team isn't concerned about Jeff Hoffman, whether this is the best version of George Springer in a Jays uniform and an evaluation for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season.

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.

]]> What's Next for Bowden Francis? Sportsnet 00:49:28 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis continuing to struggle on the mound, what's best for him moving forward and Tyler Heineman's baseball IQ with his at-bats and behind the plate. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:50) to discuss if Bowden will make his start against the Phillies in Philadelphia, the bullpen's workload, why the team isn't concerned about Jeff Hoffman, whether this is the best version of George Springer in a Jays uniform and an evaluation for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis continuing to struggle on the mound, what's best for him moving forward and Tyler Heineman's baseball IQ with his at-bats and behind the plate. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:50) to discuss if Bowden will make his start against the Phillies in Philadelphia, the bullpen's workload, why the team isn't concerned about Jeff Hoffman, whether this is the best version of George Springer in a Jays uniform and an evaluation for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s season. 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. false full b61973ad-c51d-48fe-b120-56095e1ccba2 ABS on the Way + Trade Market Research with Jon Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off hour two with a discussion on the ABS challenge system as commissioner Rob Manfred hinted this week that it could be implemented at the MLB level in 2026. Then, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! Finally, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (25:20) joins Jeff and Kevin to share his thoughts on the ABS proposal, what the pitcher market might look like ahead of the deadline, whether the Blue Jays should be buyers, sellers or stand pat, off-field drama in Boston and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 6 Jun 2025 22:02:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off hour two with a discussion on the ABS challenge system as commissioner Rob Manfred hinted this week that it could be implemented at the MLB level in 2026. Then, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! Finally, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (25:20) joins Jeff and Kevin to share his thoughts on the ABS proposal, what the pitcher market might look like ahead of the deadline, whether the Blue Jays should be buyers, sellers or stand pat, off-field drama in Boston and much more.

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.

]]> ABS on the Way + Trade Market Research with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off hour two with a discussion on the ABS challenge system as commissioner Rob Manfred hinted this week that it could be implemented at the MLB level in 2026. Then, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! Finally, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (25:20) joins Jeff and Kevin to share his thoughts on the ABS proposal, what the pitcher market might look like ahead of the deadline, whether the Blue Jays should be buyers, sellers or stand pat, off-field drama in Boston and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off hour two with a discussion on the ABS challenge system as commissioner Rob Manfred hinted this week that it could be implemented at the MLB level in 2026. Then, they go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! Finally, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (25:20) joins Jeff and Kevin to share his thoughts on the ABS proposal, what the pitcher market might look like ahead of the deadline, whether the Blue Jays should be buyers, sellers or stand pat, off-field drama in Boston and much more. 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. false full adfd77e3-d0bd-49b6-81a2-96410ddc2664 Taking on the Twins with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker dive into why the Blue Jays are in a better position to compete in the post-season after their recent stretch and series win over the Phillies, the AL standings, and the expectations for the upcoming 9-game road trip. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (26:27) stops by to chat about the team's extended run of recent success, the buy-in from the bottom of the order, managing platoons, putting Paxton Schultz as the opener against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis' struggles, and if Brandon Little is handling the increased workload out of the bullpen. 

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.

]]> Fri, 6 Jun 2025 21:04:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker dive into why the Blue Jays are in a better position to compete in the post-season after their recent stretch and series win over the Phillies, the AL standings, and the expectations for the upcoming 9-game road trip. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (26:27) stops by to chat about the team's extended run of recent success, the buy-in from the bottom of the order, managing platoons, putting Paxton Schultz as the opener against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis' struggles, and if Brandon Little is handling the increased workload out of the bullpen. 

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.

]]> Taking on the Twins with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker dive into why the Blue Jays are in a better position to compete in the post-season after their recent stretch and series win over the Phillies, the AL standings, and the expectations for the upcoming 9-game road trip. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (26:27) stops by to chat about the team's extended run of recent success, the buy-in from the bottom of the order, managing platoons, putting Paxton Schultz as the opener against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis' struggles, and if Brandon Little is handling the increased workload out of the bullpen. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker dive into why the Blue Jays are in a better position to compete in the post-season after their recent stretch and series win over the Phillies, the AL standings, and the expectations for the upcoming 9-game road trip. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (26:27) stops by to chat about the team's extended run of recent success, the buy-in from the bottom of the order, managing platoons, putting Paxton Schultz as the opener against the Minnesota Twins, Bowden Francis' struggles, and if Brandon Little is handling the increased workload out of the bullpen. 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. false full 2b72354e-e6c7-41f7-9869-dc1cdad65e0a Early Trade Deadline Preview with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jeff Passan (3:12), ESPN MLB insider, to the show to discuss his recently published early deadline preview. He gets into when teams start thinking trade, whether the Jays buy, hold or sell at the deadline, their options for a potential Bo Bichette deal, what Sandy Alcántara would cost, how aggressive the Dodgers and Phillies will be and much more. Later, Jeff and Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Wed, 4 Jun 2025 22:00:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jeff Passan (3:12), ESPN MLB insider, to the show to discuss his recently published early deadline preview. He gets into when teams start thinking trade, whether the Jays buy, hold or sell at the deadline, their options for a potential Bo Bichette deal, what Sandy Alcántara would cost, how aggressive the Dodgers and Phillies will be and much more. Later, Jeff and Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Early Trade Deadline Preview with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jeff Passan (3:12), ESPN MLB insider, to the show to discuss his recently published early deadline preview. He gets into when teams start thinking trade, whether the Jays buy, hold or sell at the deadline, their options for a potential Bo Bichette deal, what Sandy Alcántara would cost, how aggressive the Dodgers and Phillies will be and much more. Later, Jeff and Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jeff Passan (3:12), ESPN MLB insider, to the show to discuss his recently published early deadline preview. He gets into when teams start thinking trade, whether the Jays buy, hold or sell at the deadline, their options for a potential Bo Bichette deal, what Sandy Alcántara would cost, how aggressive the Dodgers and Phillies will be and much more. Later, Jeff and Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. false full e25e2554-7c07-4cf2-a341-b90160b21784 Bowden Burned in Phillies Series Opener Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays series-opening loss to the Phillies, Bowden Francis giving up 6 runs in the first inning, his pitch-location struggles, and what has changed in Addison Barger's at-bats and why he's a mainstay on the team's everyday lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin dive into the Back-Leg Line taking listener's calls, discussing the mindset of a hitter seeing runs being given up early in a game and much more!

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.

]]> Wed, 4 Jun 2025 21:01:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays series-opening loss to the Phillies, Bowden Francis giving up 6 runs in the first inning, his pitch-location struggles, and what has changed in Addison Barger's at-bats and why he's a mainstay on the team's everyday lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin dive into the Back-Leg Line taking listener's calls, discussing the mindset of a hitter seeing runs being given up early in a game and much more!

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.

]]> Bowden Burned in Phillies Series Opener Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays series-opening loss to the Phillies, Bowden Francis giving up 6 runs in the first inning, his pitch-location struggles, and what has changed in Addison Barger's at-bats and why he's a mainstay on the team's everyday lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin dive into the Back-Leg Line taking listener's calls, discussing the mindset of a hitter seeing runs being given up early in a game and much more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the Blue Jays series-opening loss to the Phillies, Bowden Francis giving up 6 runs in the first inning, his pitch-location struggles, and what has changed in Addison Barger's at-bats and why he's a mainstay on the team's everyday lineup. Then, Jeff and Kevin dive into the Back-Leg Line taking listener's calls, discussing the mindset of a hitter seeing runs being given up early in a game and much more! 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. false full d183085c-053f-4393-ae8e-33ae98f7374f Red-Sox Circus + Fighting the Phillies Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome David Samson (0:25), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, to the show to discuss the Rockies' embarrassing season, the Red Sox's off-field dysfunction, why the Royals should've waited just a bit longer to call up top prospect Jac Caglianone, the Jays' ceiling this season and MLB pushing the ABS challenge system back another year. Later, Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (30:26) shares his thoughts on Jeff Hoffman's recent slide, expectations for Bowden Francis tonight against the Phillies, how the Jays attack Bryce Harper in his return from injury and much more.

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.

]]> Tue, 3 Jun 2025 22:01:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome David Samson (0:25), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, to the show to discuss the Rockies' embarrassing season, the Red Sox's off-field dysfunction, why the Royals should've waited just a bit longer to call up top prospect Jac Caglianone, the Jays' ceiling this season and MLB pushing the ABS challenge system back another year. Later, Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (30:26) shares his thoughts on Jeff Hoffman's recent slide, expectations for Bowden Francis tonight against the Phillies, how the Jays attack Bryce Harper in his return from injury and much more.

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.

]]> Red-Sox Circus + Fighting the Phillies Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome David Samson (0:25), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, to the show to discuss the Rockies' embarrassing season, the Red Sox's off-field dysfunction, why the Royals should've waited just a bit longer to call up top prospect Jac Caglianone, the Jays' ceiling this season and MLB pushing the ABS challenge system back another year. Later, Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (30:26) shares his thoughts on Jeff Hoffman's recent slide, expectations for Bowden Francis tonight against the Phillies, how the Jays attack Bryce Harper in his return from injury and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome David Samson (0:25), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, to the show to discuss the Rockies' embarrassing season, the Red Sox's off-field dysfunction, why the Royals should've waited just a bit longer to call up top prospect Jac Caglianone, the Jays' ceiling this season and MLB pushing the ABS challenge system back another year. Later, Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (30:26) shares his thoughts on Jeff Hoffman's recent slide, expectations for Bowden Francis tonight against the Phillies, how the Jays attack Bryce Harper in his return from injury and much more. 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. false full 65acbc3e-5b8f-48f6-a34e-8d2bcb3b3ad4 A Series Test and Jordan Romano's Return with the Phillies Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and how significant the next few games will be for identifying Toronto's post-season hopes. Then, Ben Davis, Phillies TV analyst stops by (26:20) to chat about the team's offensive numbers, Trea Turner's hiccup in the infield and in his at-bats, where Philadelphia has their expectations levels at, Jordan Romano's turnaround since the start of the season, how they're splitting the workload between J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan, how Kyle Schwarber has turned into a complete player and his future with the team.

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.

]]> Tue, 3 Jun 2025 21:01:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and how significant the next few games will be for identifying Toronto's post-season hopes. Then, Ben Davis, Phillies TV analyst stops by (26:20) to chat about the team's offensive numbers, Trea Turner's hiccup in the infield and in his at-bats, where Philadelphia has their expectations levels at, Jordan Romano's turnaround since the start of the season, how they're splitting the workload between J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan, how Kyle Schwarber has turned into a complete player and his future with the team.

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.

]]> A Series Test and Jordan Romano's Return with the Phillies Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and how significant the next few games will be for identifying Toronto's post-season hopes. Then, Ben Davis, Phillies TV analyst stops by (26:20) to chat about the team's offensive numbers, Trea Turner's hiccup in the infield and in his at-bats, where Philadelphia has their expectations levels at, Jordan Romano's turnaround since the start of the season, how they're splitting the workload between J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan, how Kyle Schwarber has turned into a complete player and his future with the team. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead to the Blue Jays series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies and how significant the next few games will be for identifying Toronto's post-season hopes. Then, Ben Davis, Phillies TV analyst stops by (26:20) to chat about the team's offensive numbers, Trea Turner's hiccup in the infield and in his at-bats, where Philadelphia has their expectations levels at, Jordan Romano's turnaround since the start of the season, how they're splitting the workload between J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan, how Kyle Schwarber has turned into a complete player and his future with the team. 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. false full 9061ae1e-e40d-4dee-a33a-a969750055e9 MLB's Quarter-Century Team + Greg Hamilton's Path to Canadian Baseball HoF Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jayson Stark to the show (2:25) to discuss the most controversial picks of his recently published column, the Athletic's MLB All-Quarter-Century team, including David Ortiz over Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge over Ichiro Suzuki. Then, ahead of his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Greg Hamilton (31:16), director of national teams at Baseball Canada, reflects on the growth of the national junior team program, his path to the Hall and his expectations for the national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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.

]]> Mon, 2 Jun 2025 22:02:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jayson Stark to the show (2:25) to discuss the most controversial picks of his recently published column, the Athletic's MLB All-Quarter-Century team, including David Ortiz over Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge over Ichiro Suzuki. Then, ahead of his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Greg Hamilton (31:16), director of national teams at Baseball Canada, reflects on the growth of the national junior team program, his path to the Hall and his expectations for the national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

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's Quarter-Century Team + Greg Hamilton's Path to Canadian Baseball HoF Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jayson Stark to the show (2:25) to discuss the most controversial picks of his recently published column, the Athletic's MLB All-Quarter-Century team, including David Ortiz over Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge over Ichiro Suzuki. Then, ahead of his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Greg Hamilton (31:16), director of national teams at Baseball Canada, reflects on the growth of the national junior team program, his path to the Hall and his expectations for the national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Jayson Stark to the show (2:25) to discuss the most controversial picks of his recently published column, the Athletic's MLB All-Quarter-Century team, including David Ortiz over Shohei Ohtani, and Aaron Judge over Ichiro Suzuki. Then, ahead of his induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Greg Hamilton (31:16), director of national teams at Baseball Canada, reflects on the growth of the national junior team program, his path to the Hall and his expectations for the national team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. 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. false full 5cfba46d-6d72-4668-9ef3-64778e933a6a Bats & Brooms Come Alive Against the A's Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series sweep of the Athletics, if they've bought in on Addison Barger and Ernie Clement, how John Schneider will fit Andrés Giménez back into the lineup, and if the Jays' hitters are finally adjusting to the ballpark with George Springer and Bo Bichette's uptrend in hitting. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (23:40) to chat about where his concern levels are at with Jeff Hoffman's pitching, the expectations for him against facing his former team, if Barger can be a mainstay in the lineup, could Yariel Rodriguez be thrown into a closer role over Brendon Little and how Alejandro Kirk has performed with the workload he's been given behind the plate.

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. 

]]> Mon, 2 Jun 2025 21:03:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series sweep of the Athletics, if they've bought in on Addison Barger and Ernie Clement, how John Schneider will fit Andrés Giménez back into the lineup, and if the Jays' hitters are finally adjusting to the ballpark with George Springer and Bo Bichette's uptrend in hitting. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (23:40) to chat about where his concern levels are at with Jeff Hoffman's pitching, the expectations for him against facing his former team, if Barger can be a mainstay in the lineup, could Yariel Rodriguez be thrown into a closer role over Brendon Little and how Alejandro Kirk has performed with the workload he's been given behind the plate.

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. 

]]> Bats & Brooms Come Alive Against the A's Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series sweep of the Athletics, if they've bought in on Addison Barger and Ernie Clement, how John Schneider will fit Andrés Giménez back into the lineup, and if the Jays' hitters are finally adjusting to the ballpark with George Springer and Bo Bichette's uptrend in hitting. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (23:40) to chat about where his concern levels are at with Jeff Hoffman's pitching, the expectations for him against facing his former team, if Barger can be a mainstay in the lineup, could Yariel Rodriguez be thrown into a closer role over Brendon Little and how Alejandro Kirk has performed with the workload he's been given behind the plate. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series sweep of the Athletics, if they've bought in on Addison Barger and Ernie Clement, how John Schneider will fit Andrés Giménez back into the lineup, and if the Jays' hitters are finally adjusting to the ballpark with George Springer and Bo Bichette's uptrend in hitting. Then, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux stops by (23:40) to chat about where his concern levels are at with Jeff Hoffman's pitching, the expectations for him against facing his former team, if Barger can be a mainstay in the lineup, could Yariel Rodriguez be thrown into a closer role over Brendon Little and how Alejandro Kirk has performed with the workload he's been given behind the plate. 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. false full 1176c8cd-4d84-4fae-a29e-e543d84d5d67 Building off the Blowout with John Schneider + Passan on Prospect Caution Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan (5:25) to discuss parity across the American League, who's to blame for the Red Sox's disappointing season so far, why teams are more cautious when calling up top prospects and his recent story on OneTeam Partners, an MLBPA & NFLPA firm being investigated by the FBI. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (31:14) shares why an IL stint is the best course of action for the ailing Anthony Santander, how the bats build off their 12-0 win over the Athletics, what's behind Ernie Clements' recent hot stretch, his expectations for Alan Roden in his return to the majors, the plan for the 5th starter and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 30 May 2025 22:04:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan (5:25) to discuss parity across the American League, who's to blame for the Red Sox's disappointing season so far, why teams are more cautious when calling up top prospects and his recent story on OneTeam Partners, an MLBPA & NFLPA firm being investigated by the FBI. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (31:14) shares why an IL stint is the best course of action for the ailing Anthony Santander, how the bats build off their 12-0 win over the Athletics, what's behind Ernie Clements' recent hot stretch, his expectations for Alan Roden in his return to the majors, the plan for the 5th starter and much more.

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.

]]> Building off the Blowout with John Schneider + Passan on Prospect Caution Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan (5:25) to discuss parity across the American League, who's to blame for the Red Sox's disappointing season so far, why teams are more cautious when calling up top prospects and his recent story on OneTeam Partners, an MLBPA & NFLPA firm being investigated by the FBI. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (31:14) shares why an IL stint is the best course of action for the ailing Anthony Santander, how the bats build off their 12-0 win over the Athletics, what's behind Ernie Clements' recent hot stretch, his expectations for Alan Roden in his return to the majors, the plan for the 5th starter and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN's MLB insider Jeff Passan (5:25) to discuss parity across the American League, who's to blame for the Red Sox's disappointing season so far, why teams are more cautious when calling up top prospects and his recent story on OneTeam Partners, an MLBPA & NFLPA firm being investigated by the FBI. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (31:14) shares why an IL stint is the best course of action for the ailing Anthony Santander, how the bats build off their 12-0 win over the Athletics, what's behind Ernie Clements' recent hot stretch, his expectations for Alan Roden in his return to the majors, the plan for the 5th starter and much more. 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. false full b767cdbc-ddf1-4b87-8161-d9cab91bf65f Anthony Santander Heads to the Injured List Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the news that Anthony Santander has been placed on the IL with Alan Roden getting the call-up, and how much confidence the Blue Jays' hitters got after their monster series-opening win against the Athletics. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:10) to chat about Max Scherzer's live BP and his next steps, the state of the starting rotation, why Vladdy could be on the verge of a breakthrough in his hitting, Alejandro Kirk's underrated season, and how the batting order will line up without Santander.

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.

]]> Fri, 30 May 2025 21:01:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the news that Anthony Santander has been placed on the IL with Alan Roden getting the call-up, and how much confidence the Blue Jays' hitters got after their monster series-opening win against the Athletics. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:10) to chat about Max Scherzer's live BP and his next steps, the state of the starting rotation, why Vladdy could be on the verge of a breakthrough in his hitting, Alejandro Kirk's underrated season, and how the batting order will line up without Santander.

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.

]]> Anthony Santander Heads to the Injured List Sportsnet 00:49:44 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the news that Anthony Santander has been placed on the IL with Alan Roden getting the call-up, and how much confidence the Blue Jays' hitters got after their monster series-opening win against the Athletics. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:10) to chat about Max Scherzer's live BP and his next steps, the state of the starting rotation, why Vladdy could be on the verge of a breakthrough in his hitting, Alejandro Kirk's underrated season, and how the batting order will line up without Santander. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show reacting to the news that Anthony Santander has been placed on the IL with Alan Roden getting the call-up, and how much confidence the Blue Jays' hitters got after their monster series-opening win against the Athletics. Then, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman stops by (27:10) to chat about Max Scherzer's live BP and his next steps, the state of the starting rotation, why Vladdy could be on the verge of a breakthrough in his hitting, Alejandro Kirk's underrated season, and how the batting order will line up without Santander. 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. false full c66e8c64-5d90-4fb0-8e04-19bb01e3c00a Scouting Report on the Athletics + Trey Yesavage's Journey Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to answer some questions before bringing on Vancouver Canadians' pitcher Trey Yesavage (17:04) to chat about what he's been working on within his pitch arsenal, how he's been able to ingest information from his coaches and training staff through the minor leagues, working on velocity, and his journey from college to the minors. Then, Athletics TV play-by-play voice Jenny Cavnar (31:51) stops by to discuss how the team has adjusted to playing in a smaller ballpark in Sacramento, how players like Luis Severino will compare results on the mound from a big league ballpark vs. where they play, why Jacob Wilson is the most interesting player in the league, and Lawrence Butler's confidence in his at-bats.

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.

]]> Thu, 29 May 2025 22:03:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to answer some questions before bringing on Vancouver Canadians' pitcher Trey Yesavage (17:04) to chat about what he's been working on within his pitch arsenal, how he's been able to ingest information from his coaches and training staff through the minor leagues, working on velocity, and his journey from college to the minors. Then, Athletics TV play-by-play voice Jenny Cavnar (31:51) stops by to discuss how the team has adjusted to playing in a smaller ballpark in Sacramento, how players like Luis Severino will compare results on the mound from a big league ballpark vs. where they play, why Jacob Wilson is the most interesting player in the league, and Lawrence Butler's confidence in his at-bats.

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.

]]> Scouting Report on the Athletics + Trey Yesavage's Journey Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to answer some questions before bringing on Vancouver Canadians' pitcher Trey Yesavage (17:04) to chat about what he's been working on within his pitch arsenal, how he's been able to ingest information from his coaches and training staff through the minor leagues, working on velocity, and his journey from college to the minors. Then, Athletics TV play-by-play voice Jenny Cavnar (31:51) stops by to discuss how the team has adjusted to playing in a smaller ballpark in Sacramento, how players like Luis Severino will compare results on the mound from a big league ballpark vs. where they play, why Jacob Wilson is the most interesting player in the league, and Lawrence Butler's confidence in his at-bats. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker head to the Back-Leg Line to answer some questions before bringing on Vancouver Canadians' pitcher Trey Yesavage (17:04) to chat about what he's been working on within his pitch arsenal, how he's been able to ingest information from his coaches and training staff through the minor leagues, working on velocity, and his journey from college to the minors. Then, Athletics TV play-by-play voice Jenny Cavnar (31:51) stops by to discuss how the team has adjusted to playing in a smaller ballpark in Sacramento, how players like Luis Severino will compare results on the mound from a big league ballpark vs. where they play, why Jacob Wilson is the most interesting player in the league, and Lawrence Butler's confidence in his at-bats. 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. false full 131e9dce-08af-433e-9f6e-4bb7ae31065b Attacking the A's + Back Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 2-0 win in the rubber match over the Texas Rangers and discuss what worked and didn't work from the team's mixed-up lineup. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Athletics kicking off tonight and how Toronto's bats can attack the A's below-average pitching staff. Later, Jeff & Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Thu, 29 May 2025 21:01:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 2-0 win in the rubber match over the Texas Rangers and discuss what worked and didn't work from the team's mixed-up lineup. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Athletics kicking off tonight and how Toronto's bats can attack the A's below-average pitching staff. Later, Jeff & Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Attacking the A's + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 2-0 win in the rubber match over the Texas Rangers and discuss what worked and didn't work from the team's mixed-up lineup. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Athletics kicking off tonight and how Toronto's bats can attack the A's below-average pitching staff. Later, Jeff & Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 2-0 win in the rubber match over the Texas Rangers and discuss what worked and didn't work from the team's mixed-up lineup. Then, they look ahead to the Jays' series against the Athletics kicking off tonight and how Toronto's bats can attack the A's below-average pitching staff. Later, Jeff & Kevin go to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. false full b8472949-e6de-4754-99b0-29c4e5bf17f3 The Art of Adjustments with Kevin Gausman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield (3:15) to dissect the - through 100 games - MLB's best Detroit Tigers. He shares what's behind their jump this season, AJ Hinch's impact as manager, his impressions of the Blue Jays and the abundance of struggling teams across the American League. Then, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Tigers' 'what-if?' scenarios with Tarik Skubal trade rumours last season before reacting to the Jays' shaken-up lineup. Finally, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (26:19) discusses the mood in the clubhouse, how he's reclaimed confidence in his splitters & fastballs, the evolution of his view toward in-season adjustments and much more.

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.

]]> Wed, 28 May 2025 22:11:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield (3:15) to dissect the - through 100 games - MLB's best Detroit Tigers. He shares what's behind their jump this season, AJ Hinch's impact as manager, his impressions of the Blue Jays and the abundance of struggling teams across the American League. Then, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Tigers' 'what-if?' scenarios with Tarik Skubal trade rumours last season before reacting to the Jays' shaken-up lineup. Finally, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (26:19) discusses the mood in the clubhouse, how he's reclaimed confidence in his splitters & fastballs, the evolution of his view toward in-season adjustments and much more.

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.

]]> The Art of Adjustments with Kevin Gausman Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield (3:15) to dissect the - through 100 games - MLB's best Detroit Tigers. He shares what's behind their jump this season, AJ Hinch's impact as manager, his impressions of the Blue Jays and the abundance of struggling teams across the American League. Then, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Tigers' 'what-if?' scenarios with Tarik Skubal trade rumours last season before reacting to the Jays' shaken-up lineup. Finally, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (26:19) discusses the mood in the clubhouse, how he's reclaimed confidence in his splitters & fastballs, the evolution of his view toward in-season adjustments and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in ESPN senior writer David Schoenfield (3:15) to dissect the - through 100 games - MLB's best Detroit Tigers. He shares what's behind their jump this season, AJ Hinch's impact as manager, his impressions of the Blue Jays and the abundance of struggling teams across the American League. Then, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Tigers' 'what-if?' scenarios with Tarik Skubal trade rumours last season before reacting to the Jays' shaken-up lineup. Finally, Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (26:19) discusses the mood in the clubhouse, how he's reclaimed confidence in his splitters & fastballs, the evolution of his view toward in-season adjustments and much more. 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. false full 6aba0cba-acb7-4e41-8b71-50af6b964d29 Blair & Hokie Hall of Famer Jeff Blair and 2025 Virginia Tech Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Barker chat about receiving the news of the honour and his time playing for the Hokies, before getting into the Blue Jays shutout loss to the Texas Rangers. Then, Sportsnet 590 The FAN's Ben Shulman (30:50) stops by to share his expectations for Paxton Schultz as the opener for their third game against Texas, Chad Green's workload, reasons to shake up the batting order again, Jeff Hoffman's struggles and John Schneider's confidence with the closer. 

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.

]]> Wed, 28 May 2025 21:01:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and 2025 Virginia Tech Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Barker chat about receiving the news of the honour and his time playing for the Hokies, before getting into the Blue Jays shutout loss to the Texas Rangers. Then, Sportsnet 590 The FAN's Ben Shulman (30:50) stops by to share his expectations for Paxton Schultz as the opener for their third game against Texas, Chad Green's workload, reasons to shake up the batting order again, Jeff Hoffman's struggles and John Schneider's confidence with the closer. 

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.

]]> Blair & Hokie Hall of Famer Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair and 2025 Virginia Tech Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Barker chat about receiving the news of the honour and his time playing for the Hokies, before getting into the Blue Jays shutout loss to the Texas Rangers. Then, Sportsnet 590 The FAN's Ben Shulman (30:50) stops by to share his expectations for Paxton Schultz as the opener for their third game against Texas, Chad Green's workload, reasons to shake up the batting order again, Jeff Hoffman's struggles and John Schneider's confidence with the closer. 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. Jeff Blair and 2025 Virginia Tech Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Barker chat about receiving the news of the honour and his time playing for the Hokies, before getting into the Blue Jays shutout loss to the Texas Rangers. Then, Sportsnet 590 The FAN's Ben Shulman (30:50) stops by to share his expectations for Paxton Schultz as the opener for their third game against Texas, Chad Green's workload, reasons to shake up the batting order again, Jeff Hoffman's struggles and John Schneider's confidence with the closer. 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. false full fda904b4-e447-4f54-b62f-3fed4913e772 Checking In with Chipper Jones Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Hall of Famer Chipper Jones (0:24) to discuss how Anthony Santander can snap his season-long slump, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s explosive return to the Braves lineup after his ACL tear, Atlanta's ceiling this season, and how he's preparing for his management duties at MLB's All-Star Futures Game. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss whether Aaron Judge needs a ring to stand among MLB's all-time greats, what the Jays need to see from Bowden Francis against the Texas Rangers tonight, and the impact of mounting pressure on Santander.

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.

]]> Tue, 27 May 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Hall of Famer Chipper Jones (0:24) to discuss how Anthony Santander can snap his season-long slump, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s explosive return to the Braves lineup after his ACL tear, Atlanta's ceiling this season, and how he's preparing for his management duties at MLB's All-Star Futures Game. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss whether Aaron Judge needs a ring to stand among MLB's all-time greats, what the Jays need to see from Bowden Francis against the Texas Rangers tonight, and the impact of mounting pressure on Santander.

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.

]]> Checking In with Chipper Jones Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Hall of Famer Chipper Jones (0:24) to discuss how Anthony Santander can snap his season-long slump, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s explosive return to the Braves lineup after his ACL tear, Atlanta's ceiling this season, and how he's preparing for his management duties at MLB's All-Star Futures Game. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss whether Aaron Judge needs a ring to stand among MLB's all-time greats, what the Jays need to see from Bowden Francis against the Texas Rangers tonight, and the impact of mounting pressure on Santander. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Hall of Famer Chipper Jones (0:24) to discuss how Anthony Santander can snap his season-long slump, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s explosive return to the Braves lineup after his ACL tear, Atlanta's ceiling this season, and how he's preparing for his management duties at MLB's All-Star Futures Game. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss whether Aaron Judge needs a ring to stand among MLB's all-time greats, what the Jays need to see from Bowden Francis against the Texas Rangers tonight, and the impact of mounting pressure on Santander. 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. false full 8a86ddfa-bb60-4b8c-8bfe-d2a357b6a00d Pitching Big in Texas Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Kevin Gausman's 8-inning outing en route to a Blue Jays series-opening win against the Texas Rangers. They look at the scouting report on Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi before bringing in Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (17:21) to discuss Anthony Santander's place in the batting order, if Gausman will need to continue experimenting with his pitches, Bowden Francis' fastball, and why Brendon Little is the second-most important arm out of the bullpen. Then, former GM & MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd stops by (29:54) to share a front-office perspective on managing the lack of scoring opportunities, giving one player a contract while leaving another pending free agent without one, and Shohei Ohtani's desire to pitch again.

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.

]]> Tue, 27 May 2025 21:00:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Kevin Gausman's 8-inning outing en route to a Blue Jays series-opening win against the Texas Rangers. They look at the scouting report on Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi before bringing in Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (17:21) to discuss Anthony Santander's place in the batting order, if Gausman will need to continue experimenting with his pitches, Bowden Francis' fastball, and why Brendon Little is the second-most important arm out of the bullpen. Then, former GM & MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd stops by (29:54) to share a front-office perspective on managing the lack of scoring opportunities, giving one player a contract while leaving another pending free agent without one, and Shohei Ohtani's desire to pitch again.

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.

]]> Pitching Big in Texas Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Kevin Gausman's 8-inning outing en route to a Blue Jays series-opening win against the Texas Rangers. They look at the scouting report on Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi before bringing in Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (17:21) to discuss Anthony Santander's place in the batting order, if Gausman will need to continue experimenting with his pitches, Bowden Francis' fastball, and why Brendon Little is the second-most important arm out of the bullpen. Then, former GM & MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd stops by (29:54) to share a front-office perspective on managing the lack of scoring opportunities, giving one player a contract while leaving another pending free agent without one, and Shohei Ohtani's desire to pitch again. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Kevin Gausman's 8-inning outing en route to a Blue Jays series-opening win against the Texas Rangers. They look at the scouting report on Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi before bringing in Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (17:21) to discuss Anthony Santander's place in the batting order, if Gausman will need to continue experimenting with his pitches, Bowden Francis' fastball, and why Brendon Little is the second-most important arm out of the bullpen. Then, former GM & MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd stops by (29:54) to share a front-office perspective on managing the lack of scoring opportunities, giving one player a contract while leaving another pending free agent without one, and Shohei Ohtani's desire to pitch again. 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. false full 243debcc-4c04-4221-bc83-cf26c5d20681 Taking on the Rangers in Texas Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Texas Rangers hitting coach Bret Boone (1:07) ahead of his side's series against the Blue Jays in Texas. He discusses his adjustment to the staff side of the game since getting hired earlier this month, what he's learned in his time with the team and his hitting-coach philosophy. Then, Jeff & Kevin get into the urgency for the Jays in this series and how they can top the premiere pitching in Texas. Later, Rangers analyst Evan Grant (28:15) sets the stage for the series and weighs in on why Texas' offence has dried up, what Boone brings to the clubhouse and Nathan Eovaldi's leadership for the rotation.

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.

]]> Mon, 26 May 2025 20:01:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Texas Rangers hitting coach Bret Boone (1:07) ahead of his side's series against the Blue Jays in Texas. He discusses his adjustment to the staff side of the game since getting hired earlier this month, what he's learned in his time with the team and his hitting-coach philosophy. Then, Jeff & Kevin get into the urgency for the Jays in this series and how they can top the premiere pitching in Texas. Later, Rangers analyst Evan Grant (28:15) sets the stage for the series and weighs in on why Texas' offence has dried up, what Boone brings to the clubhouse and Nathan Eovaldi's leadership for the rotation.

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.

]]> Taking on the Rangers in Texas Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Texas Rangers hitting coach Bret Boone (1:07) ahead of his side's series against the Blue Jays in Texas. He discusses his adjustment to the staff side of the game since getting hired earlier this month, what he's learned in his time with the team and his hitting-coach philosophy. Then, Jeff & Kevin get into the urgency for the Jays in this series and how they can top the premiere pitching in Texas. Later, Rangers analyst Evan Grant (28:15) sets the stage for the series and weighs in on why Texas' offence has dried up, what Boone brings to the clubhouse and Nathan Eovaldi's leadership for the rotation. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in Texas Rangers hitting coach Bret Boone (1:07) ahead of his side's series against the Blue Jays in Texas. He discusses his adjustment to the staff side of the game since getting hired earlier this month, what he's learned in his time with the team and his hitting-coach philosophy. Then, Jeff & Kevin get into the urgency for the Jays in this series and how they can top the premiere pitching in Texas. Later, Rangers analyst Evan Grant (28:15) sets the stage for the series and weighs in on why Texas' offence has dried up, what Boone brings to the clubhouse and Nathan Eovaldi's leadership for the rotation. 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. false full 72598c29-f736-428e-9adc-375f19791a92 Swept at Steinbrenner + Heater Horror Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the pre-game edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series in Tampa where the Rays swept them in three games. They get into the unique conditions at Steinbrenner Field, the 4-pitch third inning on Sunday, the Jays' struggles against the fastball, Anthony Santander's health and what's behind the extended slumps at the top of the lineup. Later, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:50) reflects on the teams' play in Tampa this weekend before helping set the stage for their series against the Texas Rangers kicking off today.

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.

]]> Mon, 26 May 2025 19:01:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the pre-game edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series in Tampa where the Rays swept them in three games. They get into the unique conditions at Steinbrenner Field, the 4-pitch third inning on Sunday, the Jays' struggles against the fastball, Anthony Santander's health and what's behind the extended slumps at the top of the lineup. Later, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:50) reflects on the teams' play in Tampa this weekend before helping set the stage for their series against the Texas Rangers kicking off today.

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.

]]> Swept at Steinbrenner + Heater Horror Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the pre-game edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series in Tampa where the Rays swept them in three games. They get into the unique conditions at Steinbrenner Field, the 4-pitch third inning on Sunday, the Jays' struggles against the fastball, Anthony Santander's health and what's behind the extended slumps at the top of the lineup. Later, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:50) reflects on the teams' play in Tampa this weekend before helping set the stage for their series against the Texas Rangers kicking off today. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the pre-game edition with a look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series in Tampa where the Rays swept them in three games. They get into the unique conditions at Steinbrenner Field, the 4-pitch third inning on Sunday, the Jays' struggles against the fastball, Anthony Santander's health and what's behind the extended slumps at the top of the lineup. Later, Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (27:50) reflects on the teams' play in Tampa this weekend before helping set the stage for their series against the Texas Rangers kicking off today. 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. false full 21d7983a-a964-4ac4-af0f-4b4de1d8af32 John Schneider's Jays Roll Into Tampa + Jeff Passan! Jeff Passan, MLB insider with ESPN, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to take a look around the majors including the Cardinals, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Braves, and of course, the Blue Jays! John Schneider (27:05), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys to discuss the nuances of playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field this weekend. Skip shares an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin, Max Scherzer, before getting into Nathan Lukes' walk-off hit, Jeff Hoffman's form of late, and the intricacies of pitching decisions. We wrap up this week on the program with today's listener question from Jim in Belleville, Ontario!

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.

]]> Fri, 23 May 2025 19:58:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Passan, MLB insider with ESPN, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to take a look around the majors including the Cardinals, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Braves, and of course, the Blue Jays! John Schneider (27:05), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys to discuss the nuances of playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field this weekend. Skip shares an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin, Max Scherzer, before getting into Nathan Lukes' walk-off hit, Jeff Hoffman's form of late, and the intricacies of pitching decisions. We wrap up this week on the program with today's listener question from Jim in Belleville, Ontario!

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.

]]> John Schneider's Jays Roll Into Tampa + Jeff Passan! Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Passan, MLB insider with ESPN, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to take a look around the majors including the Cardinals, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Braves, and of course, the Blue Jays! John Schneider (27:05), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys to discuss the nuances of playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field this weekend. Skip shares an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin, Max Scherzer, before getting into Nathan Lukes' walk-off hit, Jeff Hoffman's form of late, and the intricacies of pitching decisions. We wrap up this week on the program with today's listener question from Jim in Belleville, Ontario! 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. Jeff Passan, MLB insider with ESPN, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to take a look around the majors including the Cardinals, Padres, Rockies, Mets, Braves, and of course, the Blue Jays! John Schneider (27:05), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys to discuss the nuances of playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field this weekend. Skip shares an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin, Max Scherzer, before getting into Nathan Lukes' walk-off hit, Jeff Hoffman's form of late, and the intricacies of pitching decisions. We wrap up this week on the program with today's listener question from Jim in Belleville, Ontario! 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a9ca7fc7-dd3f-411b-94ca-f6821751e640 Flying Past the Friars + State of the Vagabond Rays Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley's press conference. After sharing their takeaways, the boys dive into the Blue Jays' sweep of the San Diego Padres! They chat about the keys that lifted Toronto past the Friars, John Schneider's best-managed series of the season, what to make of Bo Bichette's 2025 at the plate, and Bowden Francis' identity as a starter. Later on, Marc Topkin (28:08) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on the Rays ahead of their upcoming series against the Blue Jays. He shares the state of affairs at the team's temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field, who needs to step up offensively, the quality pieces in the bullpen, and the outlook for a new stadium.

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.

]]> Fri, 23 May 2025 18:58:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley's press conference. After sharing their takeaways, the boys dive into the Blue Jays' sweep of the San Diego Padres! They chat about the keys that lifted Toronto past the Friars, John Schneider's best-managed series of the season, what to make of Bo Bichette's 2025 at the plate, and Bowden Francis' identity as a starter. Later on, Marc Topkin (28:08) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on the Rays ahead of their upcoming series against the Blue Jays. He shares the state of affairs at the team's temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field, who needs to step up offensively, the quality pieces in the bullpen, and the outlook for a new stadium.

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.

]]> Flying Past the Friars + State of the Vagabond Rays Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley's press conference. After sharing their takeaways, the boys dive into the Blue Jays' sweep of the San Diego Padres! They chat about the keys that lifted Toronto past the Friars, John Schneider's best-managed series of the season, what to make of Bo Bichette's 2025 at the plate, and Bowden Francis' identity as a starter. Later on, Marc Topkin (28:08) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on the Rays ahead of their upcoming series against the Blue Jays. He shares the state of affairs at the team's temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field, who needs to step up offensively, the quality pieces in the bullpen, and the outlook for a new stadium. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following MLSE President and CEO Keith Pelley's press conference. After sharing their takeaways, the boys dive into the Blue Jays' sweep of the San Diego Padres! They chat about the keys that lifted Toronto past the Friars, John Schneider's best-managed series of the season, what to make of Bo Bichette's 2025 at the plate, and Bowden Francis' identity as a starter. Later on, Marc Topkin (28:08) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on the Rays ahead of their upcoming series against the Blue Jays. He shares the state of affairs at the team's temporary home at George M. Steinbrenner Field, who needs to step up offensively, the quality pieces in the bullpen, and the outlook for a new stadium. 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. baseball, rays, mlb, jays, tampa, toronto, kevin barker, bay, jeff blair, padres, sportsnet, marc topkin, san diego, blue false full fb65f95a-7004-4148-b5e6-f880cb1c5cd6 Santander Settling In + Your Calls! Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to break down the Blue Jays' complete 3-0 victory against the San Diego Padres. Joe dives into Anthony Santander's adjustments at the plate, the keys for Kevin Gausman ahead of tonight's start at Rogers Centre, and who makes the most sense to bat cleanup in Toronto. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments!

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.

]]> Wed, 21 May 2025 19:59:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to break down the Blue Jays' complete 3-0 victory against the San Diego Padres. Joe dives into Anthony Santander's adjustments at the plate, the keys for Kevin Gausman ahead of tonight's start at Rogers Centre, and who makes the most sense to bat cleanup in Toronto. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments!

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.

]]> Santander Settling In + Your Calls! Sportsnet 00:50:03 Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to break down the Blue Jays' complete 3-0 victory against the San Diego Padres. Joe dives into Anthony Santander's adjustments at the plate, the keys for Kevin Gausman ahead of tonight's start at Rogers Centre, and who makes the most sense to bat cleanup in Toronto. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments! 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. Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to break down the Blue Jays' complete 3-0 victory against the San Diego Padres. Joe dives into Anthony Santander's adjustments at the plate, the keys for Kevin Gausman ahead of tonight's start at Rogers Centre, and who makes the most sense to bat cleanup in Toronto. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, joe siddall, sportsnet, blue false full 63030edd-b0b5-47f2-8485-8b2ae3dceb17 Standouts From a Shutout Win + David Samson! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' first shutout win of the season! They break down Anthony Santander's approach that led to his two-run home run, Chris Bassitt's seven excellent innings of work, and Yariel Rodriguez' strong performance in the eighth. David Samson (28:04), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the nature of building a team for October, the impact, or lack thereof, of firing a manager, where the Orioles go from here, and what to make of Juan Soto's start with the Mets.

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.

]]> Wed, 21 May 2025 18:59:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' first shutout win of the season! They break down Anthony Santander's approach that led to his two-run home run, Chris Bassitt's seven excellent innings of work, and Yariel Rodriguez' strong performance in the eighth. David Samson (28:04), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the nature of building a team for October, the impact, or lack thereof, of firing a manager, where the Orioles go from here, and what to make of Juan Soto's start with the Mets.

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.

]]> Standouts From a Shutout Win + David Samson! Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' first shutout win of the season! They break down Anthony Santander's approach that led to his two-run home run, Chris Bassitt's seven excellent innings of work, and Yariel Rodriguez' strong performance in the eighth. David Samson (28:04), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the nature of building a team for October, the impact, or lack thereof, of firing a manager, where the Orioles go from here, and what to make of Juan Soto's start with the Mets. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' first shutout win of the season! They break down Anthony Santander's approach that led to his two-run home run, Chris Bassitt's seven excellent innings of work, and Yariel Rodriguez' strong performance in the eighth. David Samson (28:04), former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, chats about the nature of building a team for October, the impact, or lack thereof, of firing a manager, where the Orioles go from here, and what to make of Juan Soto's start with the Mets. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, david samson, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 1b71702c-f632-4a59-872f-83786c3c66a5 State of the Padres & Orioles Jesse Agler, Padres broadcaster, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss San Diego's ballclub after their weekend to forget against the Seattle Mariners. Jesse checks in on Manny Machado's ability to produce with runners in scoring position, Jackson Merrill's high ceiling, how to attack Dylan Cease, the ultra-competitive National League West, and Mike Shildt's presence in the dugout. Mike Bordick (25:20), 14-year MLB infield and host of the BMORE Baseball Podcast, takes a look at Brandon Hyde's firing, what behind Adley Rutschman's slow start, Cedric Mullins' impressive offensive game, and former Oriole Anthony Santander’s struggles at the plate.

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.

]]> Tue, 20 May 2025 20:04:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jesse Agler, Padres broadcaster, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss San Diego's ballclub after their weekend to forget against the Seattle Mariners. Jesse checks in on Manny Machado's ability to produce with runners in scoring position, Jackson Merrill's high ceiling, how to attack Dylan Cease, the ultra-competitive National League West, and Mike Shildt's presence in the dugout. Mike Bordick (25:20), 14-year MLB infield and host of the BMORE Baseball Podcast, takes a look at Brandon Hyde's firing, what behind Adley Rutschman's slow start, Cedric Mullins' impressive offensive game, and former Oriole Anthony Santander’s struggles at the plate.

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.

]]> State of the Padres & Orioles Sportsnet 00:49:12 Jesse Agler, Padres broadcaster, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss San Diego's ballclub after their weekend to forget against the Seattle Mariners. Jesse checks in on Manny Machado's ability to produce with runners in scoring position, Jackson Merrill's high ceiling, how to attack Dylan Cease, the ultra-competitive National League West, and Mike Shildt's presence in the dugout. Mike Bordick (25:20), 14-year MLB infield and host of the BMORE Baseball Podcast, takes a look at Brandon Hyde's firing, what behind Adley Rutschman's slow start, Cedric Mullins' impressive offensive game, and former Oriole Anthony Santander’s struggles at the plate. 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. Jesse Agler, Padres broadcaster, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss San Diego's ballclub after their weekend to forget against the Seattle Mariners. Jesse checks in on Manny Machado's ability to produce with runners in scoring position, Jackson Merrill's high ceiling, how to attack Dylan Cease, the ultra-competitive National League West, and Mike Shildt's presence in the dugout. Mike Bordick (25:20), 14-year MLB infield and host of the BMORE Baseball Podcast, takes a look at Brandon Hyde's firing, what behind Adley Rutschman's slow start, Cedric Mullins' impressive offensive game, and former Oriole Anthony Santander’s struggles at the plate. 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. baseball, orioles, mlb, jays, baltimore, jesse agler, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, padres, sportsnet, san diego, blue, mike bordick false full 42fcd102-02ff-43fb-92bd-b47c6123d70c Tony No-Taters, Jays Identity & Jon Morosi! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the Victoria Day long weekend with a recap of the Blue Jays' series with the Detroit Tigers. The pair dive into what's behind Anthony Santander's offensive dry spell, Toronto's identity at this point in the season, and the state the rotation. Jon Morosi (26:27), MLB Network analyst, checks in on the Jays' outlook and this roster's ceiling, before taking a look around the league. He wraps up with thoughts on Juan Soto's first impressions with the Mets, the strength of the American League Central, and what to make of the Orioles.

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.

]]> Tue, 20 May 2025 19:01:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the Victoria Day long weekend with a recap of the Blue Jays' series with the Detroit Tigers. The pair dive into what's behind Anthony Santander's offensive dry spell, Toronto's identity at this point in the season, and the state the rotation. Jon Morosi (26:27), MLB Network analyst, checks in on the Jays' outlook and this roster's ceiling, before taking a look around the league. He wraps up with thoughts on Juan Soto's first impressions with the Mets, the strength of the American League Central, and what to make of the Orioles.

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.

]]> Tony No-Taters, Jays Identity & Jon Morosi! Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the Victoria Day long weekend with a recap of the Blue Jays' series with the Detroit Tigers. The pair dive into what's behind Anthony Santander's offensive dry spell, Toronto's identity at this point in the season, and the state the rotation. Jon Morosi (26:27), MLB Network analyst, checks in on the Jays' outlook and this roster's ceiling, before taking a look around the league. He wraps up with thoughts on Juan Soto's first impressions with the Mets, the strength of the American League Central, and what to make of the Orioles. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the Victoria Day long weekend with a recap of the Blue Jays' series with the Detroit Tigers. The pair dive into what's behind Anthony Santander's offensive dry spell, Toronto's identity at this point in the season, and the state the rotation. Jon Morosi (26:27), MLB Network analyst, checks in on the Jays' outlook and this roster's ceiling, before taking a look around the league. He wraps up with thoughts on Juan Soto's first impressions with the Mets, the strength of the American League Central, and what to make of the Orioles. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, jon morosi, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full ab3459d4-79ab-44f8-901c-cbf0a45d76ed John Schneider's Weekend Walkthrough + Bobby Scales Talks Tigers John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. Skip shares some updates on his team's injured players, before diving into Anthony Santander's job ahead and if he would consider changing up the batting order. John also chats about Bo Bichette's work at the plate this season, his pitching staff's struggles keeping the ball in the yard, and Bowden Francis' keys to success tonight, before responding to this week's fan question of the week from Brandon in Whitehorse, Yukon! The trio wrap up with thoughts on what's different about Nathan Lukes and the impact of having the dome open at Rogers Centre. Bobby Scales (23:55), Tigers radio analyst, joins the conversation to share the low down on Detroit. He chats about Javier Báez' resurgence, the team-wide offensive approach, Riley Greene's ceiling, how Gleyber Torres has fit in, and what makes Tarik Skubal so special.

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.

]]> Fri, 16 May 2025 20:01:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. Skip shares some updates on his team's injured players, before diving into Anthony Santander's job ahead and if he would consider changing up the batting order. John also chats about Bo Bichette's work at the plate this season, his pitching staff's struggles keeping the ball in the yard, and Bowden Francis' keys to success tonight, before responding to this week's fan question of the week from Brandon in Whitehorse, Yukon! The trio wrap up with thoughts on what's different about Nathan Lukes and the impact of having the dome open at Rogers Centre. Bobby Scales (23:55), Tigers radio analyst, joins the conversation to share the low down on Detroit. He chats about Javier Báez' resurgence, the team-wide offensive approach, Riley Greene's ceiling, how Gleyber Torres has fit in, and what makes Tarik Skubal so special.

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.

]]> John Schneider's Weekend Walkthrough + Bobby Scales Talks Tigers Sportsnet 00:49:35 John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. Skip shares some updates on his team's injured players, before diving into Anthony Santander's job ahead and if he would consider changing up the batting order. John also chats about Bo Bichette's work at the plate this season, his pitching staff's struggles keeping the ball in the yard, and Bowden Francis' keys to success tonight, before responding to this week's fan question of the week from Brandon in Whitehorse, Yukon! The trio wrap up with thoughts on what's different about Nathan Lukes and the impact of having the dome open at Rogers Centre. Bobby Scales (23:55), Tigers radio analyst, joins the conversation to share the low down on Detroit. He chats about Javier Báez' resurgence, the team-wide offensive approach, Riley Greene's ceiling, how Gleyber Torres has fit in, and what makes Tarik Skubal so special. 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. John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. Skip shares some updates on his team's injured players, before diving into Anthony Santander's job ahead and if he would consider changing up the batting order. John also chats about Bo Bichette's work at the plate this season, his pitching staff's struggles keeping the ball in the yard, and Bowden Francis' keys to success tonight, before responding to this week's fan question of the week from Brandon in Whitehorse, Yukon! The trio wrap up with thoughts on what's different about Nathan Lukes and the impact of having the dome open at Rogers Centre. Bobby Scales (23:55), Tigers radio analyst, joins the conversation to share the low down on Detroit. He chats about Javier Báez' resurgence, the team-wide offensive approach, Riley Greene's ceiling, how Gleyber Torres has fit in, and what makes Tarik Skubal so special. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, bobby scales, toronto, tigers, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, detroit false full 6e480fa4-6f0a-4569-afd2-7057e18fdb8f Taming the Tigers + This Week in MLB with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's episode with some thoughts on the visiting Detroit Tigers ahead of this weekend's series at Rogers Centre. The duo focus in on Bowden Francis' start tonight, what's going on with Anthony Santander at the plate and if a lineup change is in order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:48) joins the program to chat about the validity of player heights and weighs in the MLB media guides. The trio go around the horn to touch on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility, the Tigers' strong start to the 2025 season, and the Rangers' bounce-back week.

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.

]]> Fri, 16 May 2025 18:58:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's episode with some thoughts on the visiting Detroit Tigers ahead of this weekend's series at Rogers Centre. The duo focus in on Bowden Francis' start tonight, what's going on with Anthony Santander at the plate and if a lineup change is in order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:48) joins the program to chat about the validity of player heights and weighs in the MLB media guides. The trio go around the horn to touch on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility, the Tigers' strong start to the 2025 season, and the Rangers' bounce-back week.

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.

]]> Taming the Tigers + This Week in MLB with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's episode with some thoughts on the visiting Detroit Tigers ahead of this weekend's series at Rogers Centre. The duo focus in on Bowden Francis' start tonight, what's going on with Anthony Santander at the plate and if a lineup change is in order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:48) joins the program to chat about the validity of player heights and weighs in the MLB media guides. The trio go around the horn to touch on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility, the Tigers' strong start to the 2025 season, and the Rangers' bounce-back week. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's episode with some thoughts on the visiting Detroit Tigers ahead of this weekend's series at Rogers Centre. The duo focus in on Bowden Francis' start tonight, what's going on with Anthony Santander at the plate and if a lineup change is in order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (28:48) joins the program to chat about the validity of player heights and weighs in the MLB media guides. The trio go around the horn to touch on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility, the Tigers' strong start to the 2025 season, and the Rangers' bounce-back week. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, tigers, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, detroit false full 1c4a8700-5f3d-41d2-a8bd-51f760cd6ea0 Rubber Match Mindset with Ben Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's pregame episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Alejandro Kirk's clutch go-ahead home run and Anthony Santander's continued struggles catching up to fastballs, before setting up Kevin Gausman's start in this afternoon's rubber match. Ben Shulman (25:14), radio play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, continues the conversation on Gausman and Santander. Ben also checks in on what's different with Kirk at the plate in 2025, Ernie Clement's offensive approach, Yimi Garcia's lights-out performance in the ninth, Yariel Rodriguez trending up, and Addison Barger's growth as a big leaguer.

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.

]]> Thu, 15 May 2025 18:58:04 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's pregame episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Alejandro Kirk's clutch go-ahead home run and Anthony Santander's continued struggles catching up to fastballs, before setting up Kevin Gausman's start in this afternoon's rubber match. Ben Shulman (25:14), radio play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, continues the conversation on Gausman and Santander. Ben also checks in on what's different with Kirk at the plate in 2025, Ernie Clement's offensive approach, Yimi Garcia's lights-out performance in the ninth, Yariel Rodriguez trending up, and Addison Barger's growth as a big leaguer.

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.

]]> Rubber Match Mindset with Ben Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's pregame episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Alejandro Kirk's clutch go-ahead home run and Anthony Santander's continued struggles catching up to fastballs, before setting up Kevin Gausman's start in this afternoon's rubber match. Ben Shulman (25:14), radio play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, continues the conversation on Gausman and Santander. Ben also checks in on what's different with Kirk at the plate in 2025, Ernie Clement's offensive approach, Yimi Garcia's lights-out performance in the ninth, Yariel Rodriguez trending up, and Addison Barger's growth as a big leaguer. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's pregame episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Alejandro Kirk's clutch go-ahead home run and Anthony Santander's continued struggles catching up to fastballs, before setting up Kevin Gausman's start in this afternoon's rubber match. Ben Shulman (25:14), radio play-by-play voice of the Blue Jays, continues the conversation on Gausman and Santander. Ben also checks in on what's different with Kirk at the plate in 2025, Ernie Clement's offensive approach, Yimi Garcia's lights-out performance in the ninth, Yariel Rodriguez trending up, and Addison Barger's growth as a big leaguer. 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. baseball, rays, mlb, jays, tampa, toronto, bayr, ben shulman, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full d194fdda-c0cb-4ef0-bd7d-732404f365f5 Fernando Rodney Suits Up in Steeltown + Rays Identity Check Fernando Rodney, World Series champion and current Hamilton Cardinals pitcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his journey to play in the Intercounty Baseball League. He shares what it's been like to continue his career in Canada, his experience in the dugout with his new teammates, and how baseball has changed since his time in the majors. Brian Anderson (22:55), former MLB pitcher turned Tampa Bay Rays analyst, stops by to discuss his Maple Leafs fandom, before diving into this week's series at Rogers Centre. Brian zeros in on the Rays' identity in 2025, Junior Caminero's bright future ahead, what makes Ryan Pepiot difficult to stop on the mound, and more!

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.

]]> Wed, 14 May 2025 19:58:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Fernando Rodney, World Series champion and current Hamilton Cardinals pitcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his journey to play in the Intercounty Baseball League. He shares what it's been like to continue his career in Canada, his experience in the dugout with his new teammates, and how baseball has changed since his time in the majors. Brian Anderson (22:55), former MLB pitcher turned Tampa Bay Rays analyst, stops by to discuss his Maple Leafs fandom, before diving into this week's series at Rogers Centre. Brian zeros in on the Rays' identity in 2025, Junior Caminero's bright future ahead, what makes Ryan Pepiot difficult to stop on the mound, and more!

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.

]]> Fernando Rodney Suits Up in Steeltown + Rays Identity Check Sportsnet 00:49:52 Fernando Rodney, World Series champion and current Hamilton Cardinals pitcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his journey to play in the Intercounty Baseball League. He shares what it's been like to continue his career in Canada, his experience in the dugout with his new teammates, and how baseball has changed since his time in the majors. Brian Anderson (22:55), former MLB pitcher turned Tampa Bay Rays analyst, stops by to discuss his Maple Leafs fandom, before diving into this week's series at Rogers Centre. Brian zeros in on the Rays' identity in 2025, Junior Caminero's bright future ahead, what makes Ryan Pepiot difficult to stop on the mound, and more! 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. Fernando Rodney, World Series champion and current Hamilton Cardinals pitcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his journey to play in the Intercounty Baseball League. He shares what it's been like to continue his career in Canada, his experience in the dugout with his new teammates, and how baseball has changed since his time in the majors. Brian Anderson (22:55), former MLB pitcher turned Tampa Bay Rays analyst, stops by to discuss his Maple Leafs fandom, before diving into this week's series at Rogers Centre. Brian zeros in on the Rays' identity in 2025, Junior Caminero's bright future ahead, what makes Ryan Pepiot difficult to stop on the mound, and more! 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. baseball, rays, fernando rodney, hamilton, brian anderson, mlb, jays, tampa, toronto, kevin barker, bay, jeff blair, sportsnet, cardinals, blue false full c1cf4e05-0239-474d-89f3-6bd653aff8af Rays Outslug Jays + Bullpen Confidence Levels Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker sort through the highs and lows of the Blue Jays' 11-9 loss to open their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Jeff Hoffman's pitch selection in the ninth inning, the confidence levels in the back end of the bullpen, and Daulton Varsho's recent power surge. Dan Shulman (22:35), voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, joins the conversation to share his view on what went wrong for Toronto late in yesterday's game. Dan checks in on the Jays' impact relievers, the recent rise of home run power from this lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s start to the 2025 season, and Junior Caminaro's potential.

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.

]]> Wed, 14 May 2025 18:58:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker sort through the highs and lows of the Blue Jays' 11-9 loss to open their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Jeff Hoffman's pitch selection in the ninth inning, the confidence levels in the back end of the bullpen, and Daulton Varsho's recent power surge. Dan Shulman (22:35), voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, joins the conversation to share his view on what went wrong for Toronto late in yesterday's game. Dan checks in on the Jays' impact relievers, the recent rise of home run power from this lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s start to the 2025 season, and Junior Caminaro's potential.

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.

]]> Rays Outslug Jays + Bullpen Confidence Levels Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker sort through the highs and lows of the Blue Jays' 11-9 loss to open their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Jeff Hoffman's pitch selection in the ninth inning, the confidence levels in the back end of the bullpen, and Daulton Varsho's recent power surge. Dan Shulman (22:35), voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, joins the conversation to share his view on what went wrong for Toronto late in yesterday's game. Dan checks in on the Jays' impact relievers, the recent rise of home run power from this lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s start to the 2025 season, and Junior Caminaro's potential. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker sort through the highs and lows of the Blue Jays' 11-9 loss to open their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. They dive into Jeff Hoffman's pitch selection in the ninth inning, the confidence levels in the back end of the bullpen, and Daulton Varsho's recent power surge. Dan Shulman (22:35), voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, joins the conversation to share his view on what went wrong for Toronto late in yesterday's game. Dan checks in on the Jays' impact relievers, the recent rise of home run power from this lineup, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s start to the 2025 season, and Junior Caminaro's potential. 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. baseball, rays, mlb, jays, tampa, toronto, kevin barker, bay, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full 714da36e-52cc-421f-8042-fe244397ed79 Catching Up with Danny Jansen & Travis Snider Danny Jansen, former Toronto Blue Jay and current Tampa Bay Rays catcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of this week's series at Rogers Centre. Danny chats about the Rays' situation playing in George M. Steinbrenner Stadium this season, what it's like joining a new team within the division, and how Tampa is able find so many "diamonds in the rough". He also dive into his club's constant threat on the base paths, his mentality as a major leaguer, and Junior Caminero's incredibly high ceiling. Travis Snider (27:46), former Blue Jays outfielder and CEO of 3A Athletics, shares his team's mission to help young athletes navigate the complex world of youth sports.

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.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 19:57:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Danny Jansen, former Toronto Blue Jay and current Tampa Bay Rays catcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of this week's series at Rogers Centre. Danny chats about the Rays' situation playing in George M. Steinbrenner Stadium this season, what it's like joining a new team within the division, and how Tampa is able find so many "diamonds in the rough". He also dive into his club's constant threat on the base paths, his mentality as a major leaguer, and Junior Caminero's incredibly high ceiling. Travis Snider (27:46), former Blue Jays outfielder and CEO of 3A Athletics, shares his team's mission to help young athletes navigate the complex world of youth sports.

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.

]]> Catching Up with Danny Jansen & Travis Snider Sportsnet 00:49:05 Danny Jansen, former Toronto Blue Jay and current Tampa Bay Rays catcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of this week's series at Rogers Centre. Danny chats about the Rays' situation playing in George M. Steinbrenner Stadium this season, what it's like joining a new team within the division, and how Tampa is able find so many "diamonds in the rough". He also dive into his club's constant threat on the base paths, his mentality as a major leaguer, and Junior Caminero's incredibly high ceiling. Travis Snider (27:46), former Blue Jays outfielder and CEO of 3A Athletics, shares his team's mission to help young athletes navigate the complex world of youth sports. 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. Danny Jansen, former Toronto Blue Jay and current Tampa Bay Rays catcher, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of this week's series at Rogers Centre. Danny chats about the Rays' situation playing in George M. Steinbrenner Stadium this season, what it's like joining a new team within the division, and how Tampa is able find so many "diamonds in the rough". He also dive into his club's constant threat on the base paths, his mentality as a major leaguer, and Junior Caminero's incredibly high ceiling. Travis Snider (27:46), former Blue Jays outfielder and CEO of 3A Athletics, shares his team's mission to help young athletes navigate the complex world of youth sports. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, danny jansen, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, travis snider, sportsnet, blue false full 88f2876b-4286-4507-a035-ad380e8632af Hazel Mae Takes the Mound + Jays on the Rise Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode alongside Sportsnet's Hazel Mae! The trio chat about Hazel's upcoming first pitch at a Vancouver Canadians game this weekend in celebration of Women in Sports Day, before discussing all things Blue Jays. Hazel shares what's behind the drop in Jays' fans attendance during the team's road trip to Seattle, Addison Barger's breakout, Jeff Hoffman's personality off the mound, Mason Fluharty's mindset, and much more! Later, Jeff and Kevin dive into Toronto's form heading into this week's series with the Tampa Bay Rays (22:25).

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.

]]> Tue, 13 May 2025 19:02:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode alongside Sportsnet's Hazel Mae! The trio chat about Hazel's upcoming first pitch at a Vancouver Canadians game this weekend in celebration of Women in Sports Day, before discussing all things Blue Jays. Hazel shares what's behind the drop in Jays' fans attendance during the team's road trip to Seattle, Addison Barger's breakout, Jeff Hoffman's personality off the mound, Mason Fluharty's mindset, and much more! Later, Jeff and Kevin dive into Toronto's form heading into this week's series with the Tampa Bay Rays (22:25).

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.

]]> Hazel Mae Takes the Mound + Jays on the Rise Sportsnet 00:50:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode alongside Sportsnet's Hazel Mae! The trio chat about Hazel's upcoming first pitch at a Vancouver Canadians game this weekend in celebration of Women in Sports Day, before discussing all things Blue Jays. Hazel shares what's behind the drop in Jays' fans attendance during the team's road trip to Seattle, Addison Barger's breakout, Jeff Hoffman's personality off the mound, Mason Fluharty's mindset, and much more! Later, Jeff and Kevin dive into Toronto's form heading into this week's series with the Tampa Bay Rays (22:25). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode alongside Sportsnet's Hazel Mae! The trio chat about Hazel's upcoming first pitch at a Vancouver Canadians game this weekend in celebration of Women in Sports Day, before discussing all things Blue Jays. Hazel shares what's behind the drop in Jays' fans attendance during the team's road trip to Seattle, Addison Barger's breakout, Jeff Hoffman's personality off the mound, Mason Fluharty's mindset, and much more! Later, Jeff and Kevin dive into Toronto's form heading into this week's series with the Tampa Bay Rays (22:25). 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. baseball, rays, mlb, jays, hazel mae, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, tampa bay, blue false full abbd18bc-569a-4619-8e3d-2614c16e1b05 Chris Rose Sits Down With Vladdy + Shi Davidi's Surprises & Disappointments Shi Davidi, Sportsnet Blue Jays columnist, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on a sunny Monday afternoon to chat about Toronto's climb back to .500. They dive into Addison Barger's strong weekend in Seattle, Yariel Rodriguez' run of good form out of the bullpen, George Springer's continued success, and prospect Arjun Nimmala's potential. Shi wraps up with his biggest surprises and disappointments from the 2025 Blue Jays season. Chris Rose (26:20), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, shares his impressions of Toronto midway through May. He dives into what he learned during his conversation with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over the weekend, before discussing what the future holds for Bo Bichette, Rafael Devers, the Rockies and the Pirates.

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.

]]> Mon, 12 May 2025 19:58:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Shi Davidi, Sportsnet Blue Jays columnist, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on a sunny Monday afternoon to chat about Toronto's climb back to .500. They dive into Addison Barger's strong weekend in Seattle, Yariel Rodriguez' run of good form out of the bullpen, George Springer's continued success, and prospect Arjun Nimmala's potential. Shi wraps up with his biggest surprises and disappointments from the 2025 Blue Jays season. Chris Rose (26:20), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, shares his impressions of Toronto midway through May. He dives into what he learned during his conversation with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over the weekend, before discussing what the future holds for Bo Bichette, Rafael Devers, the Rockies and the Pirates.

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.

]]> Chris Rose Sits Down With Vladdy + Shi Davidi's Surprises & Disappointments Sportsnet 00:49:37 Shi Davidi, Sportsnet Blue Jays columnist, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on a sunny Monday afternoon to chat about Toronto's climb back to .500. They dive into Addison Barger's strong weekend in Seattle, Yariel Rodriguez' run of good form out of the bullpen, George Springer's continued success, and prospect Arjun Nimmala's potential. Shi wraps up with his biggest surprises and disappointments from the 2025 Blue Jays season. Chris Rose (26:20), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, shares his impressions of Toronto midway through May. He dives into what he learned during his conversation with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over the weekend, before discussing what the future holds for Bo Bichette, Rafael Devers, the Rockies and the Pirates. 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. Shi Davidi, Sportsnet Blue Jays columnist, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on a sunny Monday afternoon to chat about Toronto's climb back to .500. They dive into Addison Barger's strong weekend in Seattle, Yariel Rodriguez' run of good form out of the bullpen, George Springer's continued success, and prospect Arjun Nimmala's potential. Shi wraps up with his biggest surprises and disappointments from the 2025 Blue Jays season. Chris Rose (26:20), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, shares his impressions of Toronto midway through May. He dives into what he learned during his conversation with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. over the weekend, before discussing what the future holds for Bo Bichette, Rafael Devers, the Rockies and the Pirates. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, chris rose, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 154bfb15-9dd7-404c-9ce3-09601734cb04 Jays Sweep in Their Home Away From Home Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' series sweep on the road in Seattle. The boys dive into the work by the pitching staff over the weekend, George Springer's clutch three-run homer on Sunday, Bo Bichette's production at the plate, as well as Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes' contributions. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:17)!

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.

]]> Mon, 12 May 2025 19:00:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' series sweep on the road in Seattle. The boys dive into the work by the pitching staff over the weekend, George Springer's clutch three-run homer on Sunday, Bo Bichette's production at the plate, as well as Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes' contributions. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:17)!

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.

]]> Jays Sweep in Their Home Away From Home Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' series sweep on the road in Seattle. The boys dive into the work by the pitching staff over the weekend, George Springer's clutch three-run homer on Sunday, Bo Bichette's production at the plate, as well as Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes' contributions. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:17)! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' series sweep on the road in Seattle. The boys dive into the work by the pitching staff over the weekend, George Springer's clutch three-run homer on Sunday, Bo Bichette's production at the plate, as well as Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes' contributions. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (26:17)! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, mariners, toronto, kevin barker, seattle, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full d1076aa1-d4cc-47a4-95ad-86ecce1d6c8d The Art of Durable Relief with Mike Timlin + John Schneider Live From Seattle! Mike Timlin, four-time World Series champion reliever, opens the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He discusses the keys to avoiding fatigue as a bullpen arm, Jeff Hoffman's transition to a closing role, how a manager can help get a reliever back on track, and how to know when it's time to change a routine. John Schneider (25:00), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys live from Seattle to share an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin and Max Scherzer as they work back from injuries. Skip also chats about what his team can build on from last night's win, Anthony Santander trending upward, Chad Green's save, Yimi Garcia's issues locating, avoiding outside pressure, Kevin Gausman's routine, and Addison Barger's growth.

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.

]]> Fri, 9 May 2025 19:58:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Mike Timlin, four-time World Series champion reliever, opens the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He discusses the keys to avoiding fatigue as a bullpen arm, Jeff Hoffman's transition to a closing role, how a manager can help get a reliever back on track, and how to know when it's time to change a routine. John Schneider (25:00), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys live from Seattle to share an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin and Max Scherzer as they work back from injuries. Skip also chats about what his team can build on from last night's win, Anthony Santander trending upward, Chad Green's save, Yimi Garcia's issues locating, avoiding outside pressure, Kevin Gausman's routine, and Addison Barger's growth.

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.

]]> The Art of Durable Relief with Mike Timlin + John Schneider Live From Seattle! Sportsnet 00:49:01 Mike Timlin, four-time World Series champion reliever, opens the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He discusses the keys to avoiding fatigue as a bullpen arm, Jeff Hoffman's transition to a closing role, how a manager can help get a reliever back on track, and how to know when it's time to change a routine. John Schneider (25:00), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys live from Seattle to share an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin and Max Scherzer as they work back from injuries. Skip also chats about what his team can build on from last night's win, Anthony Santander trending upward, Chad Green's save, Yimi Garcia's issues locating, avoiding outside pressure, Kevin Gausman's routine, and Addison Barger's growth. 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. Mike Timlin, four-time World Series champion reliever, opens the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He discusses the keys to avoiding fatigue as a bullpen arm, Jeff Hoffman's transition to a closing role, how a manager can help get a reliever back on track, and how to know when it's time to change a routine. John Schneider (25:00), Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins the guys live from Seattle to share an update on Andrés Giménez, Nick Sandlin and Max Scherzer as they work back from injuries. Skip also chats about what his team can build on from last night's win, Anthony Santander trending upward, Chad Green's save, Yimi Garcia's issues locating, avoiding outside pressure, Kevin Gausman's routine, and Addison Barger's growth. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, mariners, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, seattle, jeff blair, sportsnet, mike timlin, blue false full dfa4341e-dfbc-4812-981d-82a3506f5097 Jays Steal One From the Halos + Jeff Passan's Player Stock Watch Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 8-5 victory in the series finale against the Angels. The fellas dive into the highs and lows of Chris Bassitt's outing, Toronto's plan of attack against José Soriano's fastball, and what to expect from Kevin Gausman tonight in Seattle. Jeff and Kevin also look into the state of the lineup, the need for another bat to help boost the team's offense, and some potential targets on the market. ESPN's Jeff Passan (26:45) joins the conversation to chat about the state of the Mariners ahead of their weekend set against the Jays. The trio check in on Toronto's reliance on their bullpen, Bo Bichette's drop in value, the tear Pete Alonso is on, who's in line for the next mega-contract, Rafael Devers' opposition to playing first base, and Derek Shelton's firing in Pittsburgh.

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.

]]> Fri, 9 May 2025 18:59:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 8-5 victory in the series finale against the Angels. The fellas dive into the highs and lows of Chris Bassitt's outing, Toronto's plan of attack against José Soriano's fastball, and what to expect from Kevin Gausman tonight in Seattle. Jeff and Kevin also look into the state of the lineup, the need for another bat to help boost the team's offense, and some potential targets on the market. ESPN's Jeff Passan (26:45) joins the conversation to chat about the state of the Mariners ahead of their weekend set against the Jays. The trio check in on Toronto's reliance on their bullpen, Bo Bichette's drop in value, the tear Pete Alonso is on, who's in line for the next mega-contract, Rafael Devers' opposition to playing first base, and Derek Shelton's firing in Pittsburgh.

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.

]]> Jays Steal One From the Halos + Jeff Passan's Player Stock Watch Sportsnet 00:50:26 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 8-5 victory in the series finale against the Angels. The fellas dive into the highs and lows of Chris Bassitt's outing, Toronto's plan of attack against José Soriano's fastball, and what to expect from Kevin Gausman tonight in Seattle. Jeff and Kevin also look into the state of the lineup, the need for another bat to help boost the team's offense, and some potential targets on the market. ESPN's Jeff Passan (26:45) joins the conversation to chat about the state of the Mariners ahead of their weekend set against the Jays. The trio check in on Toronto's reliance on their bullpen, Bo Bichette's drop in value, the tear Pete Alonso is on, who's in line for the next mega-contract, Rafael Devers' opposition to playing first base, and Derek Shelton's firing in Pittsburgh. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 8-5 victory in the series finale against the Angels. The fellas dive into the highs and lows of Chris Bassitt's outing, Toronto's plan of attack against José Soriano's fastball, and what to expect from Kevin Gausman tonight in Seattle. Jeff and Kevin also look into the state of the lineup, the need for another bat to help boost the team's offense, and some potential targets on the market. ESPN's Jeff Passan (26:45) joins the conversation to chat about the state of the Mariners ahead of their weekend set against the Jays. The trio check in on Toronto's reliance on their bullpen, Bo Bichette's drop in value, the tear Pete Alonso is on, who's in line for the next mega-contract, Rafael Devers' opposition to playing first base, and Derek Shelton's firing in Pittsburgh. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, mariners, angels, toronto, kevin barker, seattle, los angeles, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 401e5696-e424-4bf5-9efe-f8a140e34413 Bob Nightengale's Big League Overview + Shelton Sacked in Pittsburgh Bob Nightengale, MLB columnist with USA Today, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Pirates firing manager Derek Shelton and who's else might be on the hot seat around the league. Bob also checks in on the Blue Jays, before sharing his most disappointing team of the season so far, what to make of the Diamondbacks in 2025, and his thoughts on Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker. Travis Sawchik (24:50), MLB writer with TheScore, stops by to share his take on Shelton's dismissal in Pittsburgh. The trio dive deeper into what's gone wrong for the Buccos and the path forward to right the ship. Jeff and Kevin wrap up today's program with more of your calls on the "Back Leg Line".

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.

]]> Thu, 8 May 2025 19:58:22 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Bob Nightengale, MLB columnist with USA Today, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Pirates firing manager Derek Shelton and who's else might be on the hot seat around the league. Bob also checks in on the Blue Jays, before sharing his most disappointing team of the season so far, what to make of the Diamondbacks in 2025, and his thoughts on Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker. Travis Sawchik (24:50), MLB writer with TheScore, stops by to share his take on Shelton's dismissal in Pittsburgh. The trio dive deeper into what's gone wrong for the Buccos and the path forward to right the ship. Jeff and Kevin wrap up today's program with more of your calls on the "Back Leg Line".

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.

]]> Bob Nightengale's Big League Overview + Shelton Sacked in Pittsburgh Sportsnet 00:48:33 Bob Nightengale, MLB columnist with USA Today, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Pirates firing manager Derek Shelton and who's else might be on the hot seat around the league. Bob also checks in on the Blue Jays, before sharing his most disappointing team of the season so far, what to make of the Diamondbacks in 2025, and his thoughts on Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker. Travis Sawchik (24:50), MLB writer with TheScore, stops by to share his take on Shelton's dismissal in Pittsburgh. The trio dive deeper into what's gone wrong for the Buccos and the path forward to right the ship. Jeff and Kevin wrap up today's program with more of your calls on the "Back Leg Line". 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. Bob Nightengale, MLB columnist with USA Today, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Pirates firing manager Derek Shelton and who's else might be on the hot seat around the league. Bob also checks in on the Blue Jays, before sharing his most disappointing team of the season so far, what to make of the Diamondbacks in 2025, and his thoughts on Juan Soto and Kyle Tucker. Travis Sawchik (24:50), MLB writer with TheScore, stops by to share his take on Shelton's dismissal in Pittsburgh. The trio dive deeper into what's gone wrong for the Buccos and the path forward to right the ship. Jeff and Kevin wrap up today's program with more of your calls on the "Back Leg Line". 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. baseball, bob nightengale, mlb, jays, toronto, derek shelton, kevin barker, jeff blair, travis sawchik, sportsnet, pittsburgh, pirates, blue false full b11a269f-5322-48c6-9981-21d770f83eff Blue Jays' Late-Game Grief Continues Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Angels, capped off by Jeff Hoffman's blown save in the bottom of the ninth. The guys question Hoffman's late-game pitch selection, if the bullpen has been overworked of late, and what to make of Alan Roden's demotion to Triple-A. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:21)!

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.

]]> Thu, 8 May 2025 18:59:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Angels, capped off by Jeff Hoffman's blown save in the bottom of the ninth. The guys question Hoffman's late-game pitch selection, if the bullpen has been overworked of late, and what to make of Alan Roden's demotion to Triple-A. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:21)!

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.

]]> Blue Jays' Late-Game Grief Continues Sportsnet 00:50:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Angels, capped off by Jeff Hoffman's blown save in the bottom of the ninth. The guys question Hoffman's late-game pitch selection, if the bullpen has been overworked of late, and what to make of Alan Roden's demotion to Triple-A. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:21)! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Angels, capped off by Jeff Hoffman's blown save in the bottom of the ninth. The guys question Hoffman's late-game pitch selection, if the bullpen has been overworked of late, and what to make of Alan Roden's demotion to Triple-A. Later on, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:21)! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 29c9ce17-7638-4507-a0ad-5cb4431703fc Life After the Show with Ross Stripling Former Toronto Blue Jay, Ross Stripling, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on the heels of his announcement of retirement earlier this week. Ross chats about what's next for him after baseball, the advice he would offer his younger self, his favourite moments during his time in Toronto, and the state of baseball in 2025. Later on, Jayson Stark (24:37) of MLB Network and The Athletic breaks down the changes to the strike zone in 2025 and the reception around the league.

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.

]]> Wed, 7 May 2025 19:58:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former Toronto Blue Jay, Ross Stripling, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on the heels of his announcement of retirement earlier this week. Ross chats about what's next for him after baseball, the advice he would offer his younger self, his favourite moments during his time in Toronto, and the state of baseball in 2025. Later on, Jayson Stark (24:37) of MLB Network and The Athletic breaks down the changes to the strike zone in 2025 and the reception around the league.

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.

]]> Life After the Show with Ross Stripling Sportsnet 00:49:09 Former Toronto Blue Jay, Ross Stripling, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on the heels of his announcement of retirement earlier this week. Ross chats about what's next for him after baseball, the advice he would offer his younger self, his favourite moments during his time in Toronto, and the state of baseball in 2025. Later on, Jayson Stark (24:37) of MLB Network and The Athletic breaks down the changes to the strike zone in 2025 and the reception around the league. 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. Former Toronto Blue Jay, Ross Stripling, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker on the heels of his announcement of retirement earlier this week. Ross chats about what's next for him after baseball, the advice he would offer his younger self, his favourite moments during his time in Toronto, and the state of baseball in 2025. Later on, Jayson Stark (24:37) of MLB Network and The Athletic breaks down the changes to the strike zone in 2025 and the reception around the league. 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. baseball, mlb, ross stripling, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, jayson stark, sportsnet, blue false full b0b5c413-e44c-4dd3-844a-3a51f737f2db Jays' Bullpen Unravels in Anaheim Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out their grievances following the Blue Jays' 8-3 loss in the series opener against the Angels. The pair dive into the lineup's issues producing with runners in scoring position, Bo Bichette's lack of competitive at-bats, the bullpen's collapse in the eighth inning, and how to right the ship. Chris Leroux (29:28), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to discuss the role fatigue played in last night's loss. The trio take a closer look at how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen, Toronto's ongoing issues at the plate, and what to make of Anthony Santander's season so far.

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.

]]> Wed, 7 May 2025 18:59:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out their grievances following the Blue Jays' 8-3 loss in the series opener against the Angels. The pair dive into the lineup's issues producing with runners in scoring position, Bo Bichette's lack of competitive at-bats, the bullpen's collapse in the eighth inning, and how to right the ship. Chris Leroux (29:28), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to discuss the role fatigue played in last night's loss. The trio take a closer look at how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen, Toronto's ongoing issues at the plate, and what to make of Anthony Santander's season so far.

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.

]]> Jays' Bullpen Unravels in Anaheim Sportsnet 00:50:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out their grievances following the Blue Jays' 8-3 loss in the series opener against the Angels. The pair dive into the lineup's issues producing with runners in scoring position, Bo Bichette's lack of competitive at-bats, the bullpen's collapse in the eighth inning, and how to right the ship. Chris Leroux (29:28), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to discuss the role fatigue played in last night's loss. The trio take a closer look at how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen, Toronto's ongoing issues at the plate, and what to make of Anthony Santander's season so far. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out their grievances following the Blue Jays' 8-3 loss in the series opener against the Angels. The pair dive into the lineup's issues producing with runners in scoring position, Bo Bichette's lack of competitive at-bats, the bullpen's collapse in the eighth inning, and how to right the ship. Chris Leroux (29:28), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to discuss the role fatigue played in last night's loss. The trio take a closer look at how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen, Toronto's ongoing issues at the plate, and what to make of Anthony Santander's season so far. 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. baseball, chris leroux, mlb, jays, angels, toronto, kevin barker, los angeles, la, sportsnet, blue false full 19c88251-c91b-441e-b44b-626ebcb96df4 David Samson on Toronto's Troubles + Mark Gubicza's Halos Report! David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Blue Jays continued offensive struggles. David weighs in on the state of the team heading into Los Angeles, Bo Bichette's ceiling, and how real George Springer's resurgence is, before wrapping with thoughts on who he would rather build a team around: Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal? Mark Gubicza (30:35), Angels TV analyst, checks in on Tyler Anderson's recipe for success, which players make up L.A. young core, and Mike Trout's status in 2025. Mark also chats about what Yusei Kikuchi brings to the team, how the Halos stack up in the American League West, and the job Ron Washington has done.

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.

]]> Tue, 6 May 2025 20:00:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Blue Jays continued offensive struggles. David weighs in on the state of the team heading into Los Angeles, Bo Bichette's ceiling, and how real George Springer's resurgence is, before wrapping with thoughts on who he would rather build a team around: Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal? Mark Gubicza (30:35), Angels TV analyst, checks in on Tyler Anderson's recipe for success, which players make up L.A. young core, and Mike Trout's status in 2025. Mark also chats about what Yusei Kikuchi brings to the team, how the Halos stack up in the American League West, and the job Ron Washington has done.

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.

]]> David Samson on Toronto's Troubles + Mark Gubicza's Halos Report! Sportsnet 00:49:31 David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Blue Jays continued offensive struggles. David weighs in on the state of the team heading into Los Angeles, Bo Bichette's ceiling, and how real George Springer's resurgence is, before wrapping with thoughts on who he would rather build a team around: Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal? Mark Gubicza (30:35), Angels TV analyst, checks in on Tyler Anderson's recipe for success, which players make up L.A. young core, and Mike Trout's status in 2025. Mark also chats about what Yusei Kikuchi brings to the team, how the Halos stack up in the American League West, and the job Ron Washington has done. 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. David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the Blue Jays continued offensive struggles. David weighs in on the state of the team heading into Los Angeles, Bo Bichette's ceiling, and how real George Springer's resurgence is, before wrapping with thoughts on who he would rather build a team around: Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal? Mark Gubicza (30:35), Angels TV analyst, checks in on Tyler Anderson's recipe for success, which players make up L.A. young core, and Mike Trout's status in 2025. Mark also chats about what Yusei Kikuchi brings to the team, how the Halos stack up in the American League West, and the job Ron Washington has done. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, david samson, angels, toronto, kevin barker, los angeles, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, mark gubizca false full 38151895-eff7-4100-b0a1-9bcc24b62a3e Ureña Gets the Nod + Jays' Opportunity in L.A. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show teeing up the Blue Jays' opportunity to get back on track in their series opener at Angel Stadium. The boys take a closer look at Bo Bichette's lack of power, José Ureña's first start for the Jays, and how to attack opposing starter Tyler Anderson. Caleb Joseph (25:10), former MLB catcher turned Blue Jays Central analyst, joins the conversation to share his view on Ureña's strengths and weaknesses on the mound. Caleb also chats about his experience catching Anderson in Seattle, along with some reasons for optimism and concern surrounding the Jays' offence.

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.

]]> Tue, 6 May 2025 19:02:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show teeing up the Blue Jays' opportunity to get back on track in their series opener at Angel Stadium. The boys take a closer look at Bo Bichette's lack of power, José Ureña's first start for the Jays, and how to attack opposing starter Tyler Anderson. Caleb Joseph (25:10), former MLB catcher turned Blue Jays Central analyst, joins the conversation to share his view on Ureña's strengths and weaknesses on the mound. Caleb also chats about his experience catching Anderson in Seattle, along with some reasons for optimism and concern surrounding the Jays' offence.

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.

]]> Ureña Gets the Nod + Jays' Opportunity in L.A. Sportsnet 00:48:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show teeing up the Blue Jays' opportunity to get back on track in their series opener at Angel Stadium. The boys take a closer look at Bo Bichette's lack of power, José Ureña's first start for the Jays, and how to attack opposing starter Tyler Anderson. Caleb Joseph (25:10), former MLB catcher turned Blue Jays Central analyst, joins the conversation to share his view on Ureña's strengths and weaknesses on the mound. Caleb also chats about his experience catching Anderson in Seattle, along with some reasons for optimism and concern surrounding the Jays' offence. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show teeing up the Blue Jays' opportunity to get back on track in their series opener at Angel Stadium. The boys take a closer look at Bo Bichette's lack of power, José Ureña's first start for the Jays, and how to attack opposing starter Tyler Anderson. Caleb Joseph (25:10), former MLB catcher turned Blue Jays Central analyst, joins the conversation to share his view on Ureña's strengths and weaknesses on the mound. Caleb also chats about his experience catching Anderson in Seattle, along with some reasons for optimism and concern surrounding the Jays' offence. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, caleb jospeh, angels, toronto, kevin barker, los angeles, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a30f0e04-fc11-4f97-bae3-f43846582994 Managing Pitcher Fatigue + May's Early Contenders Jensen Lewis, MLB Network Radio analyst and co-host of By the Books, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss Steven Kwan's instrumental role in the Guardians' success following their series in Toronto. The trio dive into the Blue Jays' bullpen and Kevin Gausman's bounce-back start, before taking a look at the MLB landscape in early May. After the break, Jeff and Kevin diagnose the Blue Jays' offensive struggles and identify some areas to work on as the team heads out on the road for six games (26:45).

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.

]]> Mon, 5 May 2025 19:59:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jensen Lewis, MLB Network Radio analyst and co-host of By the Books, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss Steven Kwan's instrumental role in the Guardians' success following their series in Toronto. The trio dive into the Blue Jays' bullpen and Kevin Gausman's bounce-back start, before taking a look at the MLB landscape in early May. After the break, Jeff and Kevin diagnose the Blue Jays' offensive struggles and identify some areas to work on as the team heads out on the road for six games (26:45).

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.

]]> Managing Pitcher Fatigue + May's Early Contenders Sportsnet 00:48:42 Jensen Lewis, MLB Network Radio analyst and co-host of By the Books, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss Steven Kwan's instrumental role in the Guardians' success following their series in Toronto. The trio dive into the Blue Jays' bullpen and Kevin Gausman's bounce-back start, before taking a look at the MLB landscape in early May. After the break, Jeff and Kevin diagnose the Blue Jays' offensive struggles and identify some areas to work on as the team heads out on the road for six games (26:45). 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. Jensen Lewis, MLB Network Radio analyst and co-host of By the Books, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss Steven Kwan's instrumental role in the Guardians' success following their series in Toronto. The trio dive into the Blue Jays' bullpen and Kevin Gausman's bounce-back start, before taking a look at the MLB landscape in early May. After the break, Jeff and Kevin diagnose the Blue Jays' offensive struggles and identify some areas to work on as the team heads out on the road for six games (26:45). 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. baseball, mlb, jensen lewis, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 8b1f1c96-8d03-41f6-ae7f-044e49709a9b No Fly Zone: Jays Offensive Frustrations Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves for new week on the program recapping the Blue Jays' weekend set against the Guardians. The boys share their frustrations about the state of Toronto's offence, before taking a closer look at the team's bullpen usage and new additions to the pitching staff ahead of their upcoming road trip starting at Angel Stadium. Jon Morosi (27:47) of MLB Network checks in on Jays' issues at the plate, Chad Green's place among the relievers, and if the team has produced any All-Stars in 2025. Jon also chats about the Rangers firing their offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, free agent bats still on the market, and what's behind the dip in MLB scoring in 2025.

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.

]]> Mon, 5 May 2025 18:59:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves for new week on the program recapping the Blue Jays' weekend set against the Guardians. The boys share their frustrations about the state of Toronto's offence, before taking a closer look at the team's bullpen usage and new additions to the pitching staff ahead of their upcoming road trip starting at Angel Stadium. Jon Morosi (27:47) of MLB Network checks in on Jays' issues at the plate, Chad Green's place among the relievers, and if the team has produced any All-Stars in 2025. Jon also chats about the Rangers firing their offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, free agent bats still on the market, and what's behind the dip in MLB scoring in 2025.

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.

]]> No Fly Zone: Jays Offensive Frustrations Sportsnet 00:50:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves for new week on the program recapping the Blue Jays' weekend set against the Guardians. The boys share their frustrations about the state of Toronto's offence, before taking a closer look at the team's bullpen usage and new additions to the pitching staff ahead of their upcoming road trip starting at Angel Stadium. Jon Morosi (27:47) of MLB Network checks in on Jays' issues at the plate, Chad Green's place among the relievers, and if the team has produced any All-Stars in 2025. Jon also chats about the Rangers firing their offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, free agent bats still on the market, and what's behind the dip in MLB scoring in 2025. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves for new week on the program recapping the Blue Jays' weekend set against the Guardians. The boys share their frustrations about the state of Toronto's offence, before taking a closer look at the team's bullpen usage and new additions to the pitching staff ahead of their upcoming road trip starting at Angel Stadium. Jon Morosi (27:47) of MLB Network checks in on Jays' issues at the plate, Chad Green's place among the relievers, and if the team has produced any All-Stars in 2025. Jon also chats about the Rangers firing their offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker, free agent bats still on the market, and what's behind the dip in MLB scoring in 2025. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, jon morosi, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 790db572-af43-4ed1-9e35-6811b55e342d Power, Pitching & Process with John Schneider + Jeff Passan! John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. The skipper chats about his team's recent power surge, signs that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up, Mason Fluharty's deception on the mound, how to manage the fifth rotation spot, getting Kevin Gausman, Bowden Francis and Andrés Giménez back on track, and his process of getting ready for an evening game. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (24:15) checks in on Guardians ahead of their trip to Toronto this weekend. Jeff also weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s hitting streak, his takeaways from the first month of the Major League Baseball season, the state of the American League East, how the Blue Jays factor in, and Hunter Brown's breakout in Houston.

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.

]]> Fri, 2 May 2025 20:00:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. The skipper chats about his team's recent power surge, signs that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up, Mason Fluharty's deception on the mound, how to manage the fifth rotation spot, getting Kevin Gausman, Bowden Francis and Andrés Giménez back on track, and his process of getting ready for an evening game. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (24:15) checks in on Guardians ahead of their trip to Toronto this weekend. Jeff also weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s hitting streak, his takeaways from the first month of the Major League Baseball season, the state of the American League East, how the Blue Jays factor in, and Hunter Brown's breakout in Houston.

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.

]]> Power, Pitching & Process with John Schneider + Jeff Passan! Sportsnet 00:48:51 John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. The skipper chats about his team's recent power surge, signs that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up, Mason Fluharty's deception on the mound, how to manage the fifth rotation spot, getting Kevin Gausman, Bowden Francis and Andrés Giménez back on track, and his process of getting ready for an evening game. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (24:15) checks in on Guardians ahead of their trip to Toronto this weekend. Jeff also weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s hitting streak, his takeaways from the first month of the Major League Baseball season, the state of the American League East, how the Blue Jays factor in, and Hunter Brown's breakout in Houston. 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. John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. The skipper chats about his team's recent power surge, signs that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up, Mason Fluharty's deception on the mound, how to manage the fifth rotation spot, getting Kevin Gausman, Bowden Francis and Andrés Giménez back on track, and his process of getting ready for an evening game. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (24:15) checks in on Guardians ahead of their trip to Toronto this weekend. Jeff also weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s hitting streak, his takeaways from the first month of the Major League Baseball season, the state of the American League East, how the Blue Jays factor in, and Hunter Brown's breakout in Houston. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, cleveland, toronto, guardians, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 55c82e09-2e60-4695-9fbc-c6b575286f7a Back-to-Back Comebacks + Guarding the Six Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 4-2 comeback victory to claim the rubber match against the Boston Red Sox. They pair dive into Daulton Varsho's clutch at-bat that resulted in a opposite field home run, the job Mason Fluharty has done out of the bullpen, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch moment to take the lead. Tom Hamilton (27:50), play-by-play voice of the Guardians and Ford C. Frick Award winner, joins the show to tee up this weekend's series! He chats about the strength of Cleveland's bullpen, Kyle Manzardo's breakout this season, the Canadians Cade Smith and Bo Naylor, and his perspective on Andrés Giménez.

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.

]]> Fri, 2 May 2025 19:00:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 4-2 comeback victory to claim the rubber match against the Boston Red Sox. They pair dive into Daulton Varsho's clutch at-bat that resulted in a opposite field home run, the job Mason Fluharty has done out of the bullpen, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch moment to take the lead. Tom Hamilton (27:50), play-by-play voice of the Guardians and Ford C. Frick Award winner, joins the show to tee up this weekend's series! He chats about the strength of Cleveland's bullpen, Kyle Manzardo's breakout this season, the Canadians Cade Smith and Bo Naylor, and his perspective on Andrés Giménez.

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.

]]> Back-to-Back Comebacks + Guarding the Six Sportsnet 00:50:19 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 4-2 comeback victory to claim the rubber match against the Boston Red Sox. They pair dive into Daulton Varsho's clutch at-bat that resulted in a opposite field home run, the job Mason Fluharty has done out of the bullpen, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch moment to take the lead. Tom Hamilton (27:50), play-by-play voice of the Guardians and Ford C. Frick Award winner, joins the show to tee up this weekend's series! He chats about the strength of Cleveland's bullpen, Kyle Manzardo's breakout this season, the Canadians Cade Smith and Bo Naylor, and his perspective on Andrés Giménez. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 4-2 comeback victory to claim the rubber match against the Boston Red Sox. They pair dive into Daulton Varsho's clutch at-bat that resulted in a opposite field home run, the job Mason Fluharty has done out of the bullpen, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch moment to take the lead. Tom Hamilton (27:50), play-by-play voice of the Guardians and Ford C. Frick Award winner, joins the show to tee up this weekend's series! He chats about the strength of Cleveland's bullpen, Kyle Manzardo's breakout this season, the Canadians Cade Smith and Bo Naylor, and his perspective on Andrés Giménez. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, cleveland, tom hamilton, toronto, guardians, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 155cee4b-ca9c-4007-b789-b225eebf6129 Building May Momentum + Ready for the Rubber Match Madison Shipman, Blue Jays Central analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how Toronto can carry over the momentum of last night's electric win. The trio take a closer look at Anthony Santander's clutch home run, Alan Roden at the plate, Jeff Hoffman's presence in high-leverage spots, the rise of Brendon Little, José Berríos' plan of attack tonight, and how to manage Andrés Giménez. Jeff and Kevin then open up the "Back Leg Line" to hear your questions and comments! Rob Bradford (27:45), Red Sox reporter for WEEI and host of the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, chats about Aroldis Chapman's longevity as a closer, Wilyer Abreu's meteoric rise, and what to make of Triston Casas and Rafael Devers through the first month.

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.

]]> Thu, 1 May 2025 19:58:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Madison Shipman, Blue Jays Central analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how Toronto can carry over the momentum of last night's electric win. The trio take a closer look at Anthony Santander's clutch home run, Alan Roden at the plate, Jeff Hoffman's presence in high-leverage spots, the rise of Brendon Little, José Berríos' plan of attack tonight, and how to manage Andrés Giménez. Jeff and Kevin then open up the "Back Leg Line" to hear your questions and comments! Rob Bradford (27:45), Red Sox reporter for WEEI and host of the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, chats about Aroldis Chapman's longevity as a closer, Wilyer Abreu's meteoric rise, and what to make of Triston Casas and Rafael Devers through the first month.

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.

]]> Building May Momentum + Ready for the Rubber Match Sportsnet 00:50:36 Madison Shipman, Blue Jays Central analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how Toronto can carry over the momentum of last night's electric win. The trio take a closer look at Anthony Santander's clutch home run, Alan Roden at the plate, Jeff Hoffman's presence in high-leverage spots, the rise of Brendon Little, José Berríos' plan of attack tonight, and how to manage Andrés Giménez. Jeff and Kevin then open up the "Back Leg Line" to hear your questions and comments! Rob Bradford (27:45), Red Sox reporter for WEEI and host of the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, chats about Aroldis Chapman's longevity as a closer, Wilyer Abreu's meteoric rise, and what to make of Triston Casas and Rafael Devers through the first month. 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. Madison Shipman, Blue Jays Central analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how Toronto can carry over the momentum of last night's electric win. The trio take a closer look at Anthony Santander's clutch home run, Alan Roden at the plate, Jeff Hoffman's presence in high-leverage spots, the rise of Brendon Little, José Berríos' plan of attack tonight, and how to manage Andrés Giménez. Jeff and Kevin then open up the "Back Leg Line" to hear your questions and comments! Rob Bradford (27:45), Red Sox reporter for WEEI and host of the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast, chats about Aroldis Chapman's longevity as a closer, Wilyer Abreu's meteoric rise, and what to make of Triston Casas and Rafael Devers through the first month. 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. baseball, rob bradford, mlb, jays, madison shipman, boston, red sox, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 151353bf-f086-48eb-bafe-a5d67793031d April Is Over! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker rejoice following the Blue Jays' 7-6 walk-off win over the Red Sox in extra innings! The boys recap the marquee moments from the game including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch tag-up to move to third base, Anthony Santander's three-run blast, and Alejandro Kirk's heroics on his own bobblehead night. Jeff and Kevin also take some time to discuss Yariel Rodriguez' rough start to the game and where he fits in the pitching staff, before debating if Aroldis Chapman's career deserves Hall of Fame recognition. Chris Rose (27:15), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, chats about Lucas Giolito's first start of the season, the cream of the crop in the American League, and the state of the Mariners through April. Chris wraps up with his thoughts on the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Mike Trout's injury troubles resurfacing.

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.

]]> Thu, 1 May 2025 19:00:32 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker rejoice following the Blue Jays' 7-6 walk-off win over the Red Sox in extra innings! The boys recap the marquee moments from the game including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch tag-up to move to third base, Anthony Santander's three-run blast, and Alejandro Kirk's heroics on his own bobblehead night. Jeff and Kevin also take some time to discuss Yariel Rodriguez' rough start to the game and where he fits in the pitching staff, before debating if Aroldis Chapman's career deserves Hall of Fame recognition. Chris Rose (27:15), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, chats about Lucas Giolito's first start of the season, the cream of the crop in the American League, and the state of the Mariners through April. Chris wraps up with his thoughts on the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Mike Trout's injury troubles resurfacing.

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.

]]> April Is Over! Sportsnet 00:49:02 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker rejoice following the Blue Jays' 7-6 walk-off win over the Red Sox in extra innings! The boys recap the marquee moments from the game including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch tag-up to move to third base, Anthony Santander's three-run blast, and Alejandro Kirk's heroics on his own bobblehead night. Jeff and Kevin also take some time to discuss Yariel Rodriguez' rough start to the game and where he fits in the pitching staff, before debating if Aroldis Chapman's career deserves Hall of Fame recognition. Chris Rose (27:15), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, chats about Lucas Giolito's first start of the season, the cream of the crop in the American League, and the state of the Mariners through April. Chris wraps up with his thoughts on the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Mike Trout's injury troubles resurfacing. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker rejoice following the Blue Jays' 7-6 walk-off win over the Red Sox in extra innings! The boys recap the marquee moments from the game including Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s clutch tag-up to move to third base, Anthony Santander's three-run blast, and Alejandro Kirk's heroics on his own bobblehead night. Jeff and Kevin also take some time to discuss Yariel Rodriguez' rough start to the game and where he fits in the pitching staff, before debating if Aroldis Chapman's career deserves Hall of Fame recognition. Chris Rose (27:15), host of Dugout Discussions and Baseball Today with Jomboy Media, chats about Lucas Giolito's first start of the season, the cream of the crop in the American League, and the state of the Mariners through April. Chris wraps up with his thoughts on the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Mike Trout's injury troubles resurfacing. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, chris rose, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full abadf636-3d84-4ed5-9b2c-0f034c9885d6 A Trip Around the Majors + Pete Rose's HOF Eligibility Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out the remainder of their Blue Jays' frustrations, before teeing up tonight's lineup with Yariel Rodriguez on the mound. They welcome on Alanna Rizzo (12:22), MLB Network analyst and new member of NESN's Red Sox coverage, to take a look around the majors! The trio chat about the Dodgers' road to NL West title, Mookie Betts' adjustment to playing shortstop, and Teoscar Hernández' fit in Los Angeles, before weighing in on Toronto's window to win. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (29:00) checks in on the Orioles' rough month of April, the Yankees' ceiling, and if it's time for the Jays to panic. Tim wraps up with thoughts on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility following United States President Donald Trump's call to lift the former player's ban.

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.

]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2025 20:01:44 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out the remainder of their Blue Jays' frustrations, before teeing up tonight's lineup with Yariel Rodriguez on the mound. They welcome on Alanna Rizzo (12:22), MLB Network analyst and new member of NESN's Red Sox coverage, to take a look around the majors! The trio chat about the Dodgers' road to NL West title, Mookie Betts' adjustment to playing shortstop, and Teoscar Hernández' fit in Los Angeles, before weighing in on Toronto's window to win. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (29:00) checks in on the Orioles' rough month of April, the Yankees' ceiling, and if it's time for the Jays to panic. Tim wraps up with thoughts on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility following United States President Donald Trump's call to lift the former player's ban.

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.

]]> A Trip Around the Majors + Pete Rose's HOF Eligibility Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out the remainder of their Blue Jays' frustrations, before teeing up tonight's lineup with Yariel Rodriguez on the mound. They welcome on Alanna Rizzo (12:22), MLB Network analyst and new member of NESN's Red Sox coverage, to take a look around the majors! The trio chat about the Dodgers' road to NL West title, Mookie Betts' adjustment to playing shortstop, and Teoscar Hernández' fit in Los Angeles, before weighing in on Toronto's window to win. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (29:00) checks in on the Orioles' rough month of April, the Yankees' ceiling, and if it's time for the Jays to panic. Tim wraps up with thoughts on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility following United States President Donald Trump's call to lift the former player's ban. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker air out the remainder of their Blue Jays' frustrations, before teeing up tonight's lineup with Yariel Rodriguez on the mound. They welcome on Alanna Rizzo (12:22), MLB Network analyst and new member of NESN's Red Sox coverage, to take a look around the majors! The trio chat about the Dodgers' road to NL West title, Mookie Betts' adjustment to playing shortstop, and Teoscar Hernández' fit in Los Angeles, before weighing in on Toronto's window to win. Later, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian (29:00) checks in on the Orioles' rough month of April, the Yankees' ceiling, and if it's time for the Jays to panic. Tim wraps up with thoughts on Pete Rose's Hall of Fame eligibility following United States President Donald Trump's call to lift the former player's ban. 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. baseball, alanna rizzo, mlb, jays, tim kurkjian, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 91bd4b55-ff1a-4693-b75f-63200849f1e9 Gauging Jays Panic Levels with Dan Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 10-2 defeat in last night's series opener against the Boston Red Sox. The boys sift through that stats that dictate just how bad Toronto's offense has been to start the season, before zooming out to discuss the level of panic around the organization and the fanbase. Jeff and Kevin take some time to debate if Pete Rose should be reinstated into Major League Baseball following Rob Manfred's meeting with United States President Donald Trump. Later on, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman (24:10), lays out some lineup changes that could help the team get back on track. Dan also dives into Eric Lauer's potential as a spot starter, Andrés Giménez' struggles of late, Bowden Francis' trouble limiting homeruns, and Kevin Gausman's extra day of rest.

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.

]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:59:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 10-2 defeat in last night's series opener against the Boston Red Sox. The boys sift through that stats that dictate just how bad Toronto's offense has been to start the season, before zooming out to discuss the level of panic around the organization and the fanbase. Jeff and Kevin take some time to debate if Pete Rose should be reinstated into Major League Baseball following Rob Manfred's meeting with United States President Donald Trump. Later on, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman (24:10), lays out some lineup changes that could help the team get back on track. Dan also dives into Eric Lauer's potential as a spot starter, Andrés Giménez' struggles of late, Bowden Francis' trouble limiting homeruns, and Kevin Gausman's extra day of rest.

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.

]]> Gauging Jays Panic Levels with Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 10-2 defeat in last night's series opener against the Boston Red Sox. The boys sift through that stats that dictate just how bad Toronto's offense has been to start the season, before zooming out to discuss the level of panic around the organization and the fanbase. Jeff and Kevin take some time to debate if Pete Rose should be reinstated into Major League Baseball following Rob Manfred's meeting with United States President Donald Trump. Later on, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman (24:10), lays out some lineup changes that could help the team get back on track. Dan also dives into Eric Lauer's potential as a spot starter, Andrés Giménez' struggles of late, Bowden Francis' trouble limiting homeruns, and Kevin Gausman's extra day of rest. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves following the Blue Jays' 10-2 defeat in last night's series opener against the Boston Red Sox. The boys sift through that stats that dictate just how bad Toronto's offense has been to start the season, before zooming out to discuss the level of panic around the organization and the fanbase. Jeff and Kevin take some time to debate if Pete Rose should be reinstated into Major League Baseball following Rob Manfred's meeting with United States President Donald Trump. Later on, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, Dan Shulman (24:10), lays out some lineup changes that could help the team get back on track. Dan also dives into Eric Lauer's potential as a spot starter, Andrés Giménez' struggles of late, Bowden Francis' trouble limiting homeruns, and Kevin Gausman's extra day of rest. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, boston, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, sox, red, blue false full 21d6125c-f7ed-47a2-b07d-2d7aa5155869 State of the Sox + Your Calls! Alex Speier, Red Sox writer for the Boston Globe, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help tee up this week's series in Toronto. Alex dives into how the Red Sox have rounded into form, the fan reception for Garrett Crochet, if Rafael Devers' DH debate is finally put to rest, Kristian Campbell's early returns, the state of Boston's bullpen, Jarren Duran's star-power, and more! After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (21:35).

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.

]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:59:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Alex Speier, Red Sox writer for the Boston Globe, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help tee up this week's series in Toronto. Alex dives into how the Red Sox have rounded into form, the fan reception for Garrett Crochet, if Rafael Devers' DH debate is finally put to rest, Kristian Campbell's early returns, the state of Boston's bullpen, Jarren Duran's star-power, and more! After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (21:35).

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.

]]> State of the Sox + Your Calls! Sportsnet 00:49:36 Alex Speier, Red Sox writer for the Boston Globe, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help tee up this week's series in Toronto. Alex dives into how the Red Sox have rounded into form, the fan reception for Garrett Crochet, if Rafael Devers' DH debate is finally put to rest, Kristian Campbell's early returns, the state of Boston's bullpen, Jarren Duran's star-power, and more! After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (21:35). 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. Alex Speier, Red Sox writer for the Boston Globe, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help tee up this week's series in Toronto. Alex dives into how the Red Sox have rounded into form, the fan reception for Garrett Crochet, if Rafael Devers' DH debate is finally put to rest, Kristian Campbell's early returns, the state of Boston's bullpen, Jarren Duran's star-power, and more! After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (21:35). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, sportsnet, alex speier, sox, red, bostonr, blue false full 730ae69c-0f05-4805-bacb-1041bb5d5d42 The Varsho Must Go On with Shi Davidi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show previewing tonight's series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. They begin with thoughts on Daulton Varsho's pending return; where he will slot into the lineup and who will be the odd man out on the roster. The boys move on to tee up this week's pitching matchups including who will get the ball on Thursday, the recipe for Bowden Francis' success tonight, and how to attack opposing starter Garrett Crochet. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (24:42) joins the conversation as news breaks of Daulton Varsho's official return and Will Wagner's subsequent demotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Shi reacts to the roster moves, before diving into Casey Lawrence's potential as a spot starter, options to align the Jays' defence, how to get Andrés Giménez back on track at the plate, where Toronto stacks up in the American League East, and Max Scherzer's status.

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.

]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:01:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show previewing tonight's series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. They begin with thoughts on Daulton Varsho's pending return; where he will slot into the lineup and who will be the odd man out on the roster. The boys move on to tee up this week's pitching matchups including who will get the ball on Thursday, the recipe for Bowden Francis' success tonight, and how to attack opposing starter Garrett Crochet. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (24:42) joins the conversation as news breaks of Daulton Varsho's official return and Will Wagner's subsequent demotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Shi reacts to the roster moves, before diving into Casey Lawrence's potential as a spot starter, options to align the Jays' defence, how to get Andrés Giménez back on track at the plate, where Toronto stacks up in the American League East, and Max Scherzer's status.

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.

]]> The Varsho Must Go On with Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show previewing tonight's series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. They begin with thoughts on Daulton Varsho's pending return; where he will slot into the lineup and who will be the odd man out on the roster. The boys move on to tee up this week's pitching matchups including who will get the ball on Thursday, the recipe for Bowden Francis' success tonight, and how to attack opposing starter Garrett Crochet. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (24:42) joins the conversation as news breaks of Daulton Varsho's official return and Will Wagner's subsequent demotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Shi reacts to the roster moves, before diving into Casey Lawrence's potential as a spot starter, options to align the Jays' defence, how to get Andrés Giménez back on track at the plate, where Toronto stacks up in the American League East, and Max Scherzer's status. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show previewing tonight's series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. They begin with thoughts on Daulton Varsho's pending return; where he will slot into the lineup and who will be the odd man out on the roster. The boys move on to tee up this week's pitching matchups including who will get the ball on Thursday, the recipe for Bowden Francis' success tonight, and how to attack opposing starter Garrett Crochet. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (24:42) joins the conversation as news breaks of Daulton Varsho's official return and Will Wagner's subsequent demotion to Triple-A Buffalo. Shi reacts to the roster moves, before diving into Casey Lawrence's potential as a spot starter, options to align the Jays' defence, how to get Andrés Giménez back on track at the plate, where Toronto stacks up in the American League East, and Max Scherzer's status. 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. boston, red sox, jeff blair, shi davidi false full ed846f94-22af-401c-9744-398767dda071 First Month Feelings with Jim Bowden & Buck Martinez Jim Bowden, former MLB executive and current CBS Sports analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his impressions from the first month of the season. Jim weighs in on when it's time to shake up an unproductive lineup and John Schneider's decision to keep Kevin Gausman on the mound during a tumultuous third inning, before taking a look around the league to discuss the state of the Orioles, Tigers, and Yankees. Buck Martinez (23:50), former Blue Jays catcher and current Sportsnet broadcaster, joins the boys on an off day ahead of Toronto's upcoming homestand. Buck chats about the value of changing the batting order, the signs that a player need more time to develop, what was behind Gausman's poor outing, and how Yariel Rodriguez has reinvented himself in 2025.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:59:01 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jim Bowden, former MLB executive and current CBS Sports analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his impressions from the first month of the season. Jim weighs in on when it's time to shake up an unproductive lineup and John Schneider's decision to keep Kevin Gausman on the mound during a tumultuous third inning, before taking a look around the league to discuss the state of the Orioles, Tigers, and Yankees. Buck Martinez (23:50), former Blue Jays catcher and current Sportsnet broadcaster, joins the boys on an off day ahead of Toronto's upcoming homestand. Buck chats about the value of changing the batting order, the signs that a player need more time to develop, what was behind Gausman's poor outing, and how Yariel Rodriguez has reinvented himself in 2025.

 

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.

]]> First Month Feelings with Jim Bowden & Buck Martinez Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jim Bowden, former MLB executive and current CBS Sports analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his impressions from the first month of the season. Jim weighs in on when it's time to shake up an unproductive lineup and John Schneider's decision to keep Kevin Gausman on the mound during a tumultuous third inning, before taking a look around the league to discuss the state of the Orioles, Tigers, and Yankees. Buck Martinez (23:50), former Blue Jays catcher and current Sportsnet broadcaster, joins the boys on an off day ahead of Toronto's upcoming homestand. Buck chats about the value of changing the batting order, the signs that a player need more time to develop, what was behind Gausman's poor outing, and how Yariel Rodriguez has reinvented himself in 2025. 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. Jim Bowden, former MLB executive and current CBS Sports analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his impressions from the first month of the season. Jim weighs in on when it's time to shake up an unproductive lineup and John Schneider's decision to keep Kevin Gausman on the mound during a tumultuous third inning, before taking a look around the league to discuss the state of the Orioles, Tigers, and Yankees. Buck Martinez (23:50), former Blue Jays catcher and current Sportsnet broadcaster, joins the boys on an off day ahead of Toronto's upcoming homestand. Buck chats about the value of changing the batting order, the signs that a player need more time to develop, what was behind Gausman's poor outing, and how Yariel Rodriguez has reinvented himself in 2025. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, sportsnet, blue false full a5d6026a-8003-4ba7-ad2b-18e25a586bc5 A Road Trip to Forget + Backyard Bats on the Big Stage Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week expressing their frustrations after the Blue Jays' series loss to the Yankees, capped off by a sweep of Sunday's double-header. The guys dive into Kevin Gausman's rough start and subsequent ejection, the team's ongoing offensive struggles, and how to address the lineup. Later on, Ryan LaPensee and Paul Lamantia (24:40), co-founders of Backyard Bats, join the show. The pair chat about the origins of their company, the challenges that come with breaking into the professional market, how the relationship with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos developed, their thoughts on the new "torpedo bats", and more!

 

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.

]]> Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:00:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week expressing their frustrations after the Blue Jays' series loss to the Yankees, capped off by a sweep of Sunday's double-header. The guys dive into Kevin Gausman's rough start and subsequent ejection, the team's ongoing offensive struggles, and how to address the lineup. Later on, Ryan LaPensee and Paul Lamantia (24:40), co-founders of Backyard Bats, join the show. The pair chat about the origins of their company, the challenges that come with breaking into the professional market, how the relationship with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos developed, their thoughts on the new "torpedo bats", and more!

 

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.

]]> A Road Trip to Forget + Backyard Bats on the Big Stage Sportsnet 00:49:39 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week expressing their frustrations after the Blue Jays' series loss to the Yankees, capped off by a sweep of Sunday's double-header. The guys dive into Kevin Gausman's rough start and subsequent ejection, the team's ongoing offensive struggles, and how to address the lineup. Later on, Ryan LaPensee and Paul Lamantia (24:40), co-founders of Backyard Bats, join the show. The pair chat about the origins of their company, the challenges that come with breaking into the professional market, how the relationship with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos developed, their thoughts on the new "torpedo bats", and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week expressing their frustrations after the Blue Jays' series loss to the Yankees, capped off by a sweep of Sunday's double-header. The guys dive into Kevin Gausman's rough start and subsequent ejection, the team's ongoing offensive struggles, and how to address the lineup. Later on, Ryan LaPensee and Paul Lamantia (24:40), co-founders of Backyard Bats, join the show. The pair chat about the origins of their company, the challenges that come with breaking into the professional market, how the relationship with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos developed, their thoughts on the new "torpedo bats", and more! 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. baseball, mlb, paul lamantia, jays, ryan lapensee, toronto, ben shulman, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full ff604767-41b1-48d7-ba93-8faf7c2c7a3b Waking the Bats in the City That Never Sleeps with John Schneider John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker live from Yankee Stadium. Skip shares an update on Daulton Varsho, Nick Sandlin and Erik Swanson as they work back from injury, before getting into where Varsho would likely slot into the lineup when he returns and what went wrong for his team in Houston. John also weighs in Anthony Santander's slow offensive start, Alejandro Kirk at the plate, Paul Goldschmidt's impact in the Bronx, how to contain Aaron Judge, the state of Kevin Gausman's splitter, and the idea of George Springer returning to the leadoff spot. After the break, former MLB pitcher and current YES analyst, Jeff Nelson (28:48), chats about Judge's incredible start to 2025, the early returns on the Yankees' off-season moves, and what to expect from Carlos Carrasco on the mound tonight. Jeff and Kevin wrap up the week with thoughts on how the Jays' bats can wake up this weekend and beyond.

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.

]]> Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:59:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker live from Yankee Stadium. Skip shares an update on Daulton Varsho, Nick Sandlin and Erik Swanson as they work back from injury, before getting into where Varsho would likely slot into the lineup when he returns and what went wrong for his team in Houston. John also weighs in Anthony Santander's slow offensive start, Alejandro Kirk at the plate, Paul Goldschmidt's impact in the Bronx, how to contain Aaron Judge, the state of Kevin Gausman's splitter, and the idea of George Springer returning to the leadoff spot. After the break, former MLB pitcher and current YES analyst, Jeff Nelson (28:48), chats about Judge's incredible start to 2025, the early returns on the Yankees' off-season moves, and what to expect from Carlos Carrasco on the mound tonight. Jeff and Kevin wrap up the week with thoughts on how the Jays' bats can wake up this weekend and beyond.

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.

]]> Waking the Bats in the City That Never Sleeps with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:50:41 John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker live from Yankee Stadium. Skip shares an update on Daulton Varsho, Nick Sandlin and Erik Swanson as they work back from injury, before getting into where Varsho would likely slot into the lineup when he returns and what went wrong for his team in Houston. John also weighs in Anthony Santander's slow offensive start, Alejandro Kirk at the plate, Paul Goldschmidt's impact in the Bronx, how to contain Aaron Judge, the state of Kevin Gausman's splitter, and the idea of George Springer returning to the leadoff spot. After the break, former MLB pitcher and current YES analyst, Jeff Nelson (28:48), chats about Judge's incredible start to 2025, the early returns on the Yankees' off-season moves, and what to expect from Carlos Carrasco on the mound tonight. Jeff and Kevin wrap up the week with thoughts on how the Jays' bats can wake up this weekend and beyond. 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. John Schneider, Manager of your Toronto Blue Jays, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker live from Yankee Stadium. Skip shares an update on Daulton Varsho, Nick Sandlin and Erik Swanson as they work back from injury, before getting into where Varsho would likely slot into the lineup when he returns and what went wrong for his team in Houston. John also weighs in Anthony Santander's slow offensive start, Alejandro Kirk at the plate, Paul Goldschmidt's impact in the Bronx, how to contain Aaron Judge, the state of Kevin Gausman's splitter, and the idea of George Springer returning to the leadoff spot. After the break, former MLB pitcher and current YES analyst, Jeff Nelson (28:48), chats about Judge's incredible start to 2025, the early returns on the Yankees' off-season moves, and what to expect from Carlos Carrasco on the mound tonight. Jeff and Kevin wrap up the week with thoughts on how the Jays' bats can wake up this weekend and beyond. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, new york, yankees, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, jeff nelson, blue false full 2d9cfa59-82a8-4633-a107-82892222d39f Bring On the Bronx Bombers + Jeff Passan! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode teeing up this weekend's series in the Bronx. The pair break down José Berríos' keys to success against the Yankees' sluggers and how to navigate New York's lineup, before discussing Daulton Varsho's pending return and the idea of Bo Bichette batting fourth in the order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:28) checks in on the Cubs' red-hot start to 2025, what's wrong with the Phillies, the sustainability of Aaron Judge's .415 average, and Kevin Gausman's work refining his splitter. 

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.

]]> Fri, 25 Apr 2025 19:03:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode teeing up this weekend's series in the Bronx. The pair break down José Berríos' keys to success against the Yankees' sluggers and how to navigate New York's lineup, before discussing Daulton Varsho's pending return and the idea of Bo Bichette batting fourth in the order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:28) checks in on the Cubs' red-hot start to 2025, what's wrong with the Phillies, the sustainability of Aaron Judge's .415 average, and Kevin Gausman's work refining his splitter. 

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.

]]> Bring On the Bronx Bombers + Jeff Passan! Sportsnet 00:49:03 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode teeing up this weekend's series in the Bronx. The pair break down José Berríos' keys to success against the Yankees' sluggers and how to navigate New York's lineup, before discussing Daulton Varsho's pending return and the idea of Bo Bichette batting fourth in the order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:28) checks in on the Cubs' red-hot start to 2025, what's wrong with the Phillies, the sustainability of Aaron Judge's .415 average, and Kevin Gausman's work refining his splitter. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's episode teeing up this weekend's series in the Bronx. The pair break down José Berríos' keys to success against the Yankees' sluggers and how to navigate New York's lineup, before discussing Daulton Varsho's pending return and the idea of Bo Bichette batting fourth in the order. ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:28) checks in on the Cubs' red-hot start to 2025, what's wrong with the Phillies, the sustainability of Aaron Judge's .415 average, and Kevin Gausman's work refining his splitter. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, new york, yankees, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full d4bf5ef4-ff60-4d8e-ae9a-5373c9eb4c67 Hitting 101 with Sean Casey + Caleb Joseph! Sean Casey, former big leaguer and MLB Network analyst, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! "The Mayor" weighs in on the Blue Jays' offensive shortcomings, the contagious nature of hitting, signs that a "slow starter" is heating up, what constitutes a mechanical change, and his most-underrated batter in baseball. Later on, former MLB backstop and Blue Jays Central analyst, Caleb Joseph (23:25), joins the conversation. He talks about which Jays hitter is nearing a breakout, Bo Bichette's identity at the plate, the volume of home runs given up by Toronto's pitching staff, and more! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with your calls on the "Back Leg Line". 

 

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.

]]> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 20:03:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Sean Casey, former big leaguer and MLB Network analyst, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! "The Mayor" weighs in on the Blue Jays' offensive shortcomings, the contagious nature of hitting, signs that a "slow starter" is heating up, what constitutes a mechanical change, and his most-underrated batter in baseball. Later on, former MLB backstop and Blue Jays Central analyst, Caleb Joseph (23:25), joins the conversation. He talks about which Jays hitter is nearing a breakout, Bo Bichette's identity at the plate, the volume of home runs given up by Toronto's pitching staff, and more! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with your calls on the "Back Leg Line". 

 

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.

]]> Hitting 101 with Sean Casey + Caleb Joseph! Sportsnet 00:48:34 Sean Casey, former big leaguer and MLB Network analyst, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! "The Mayor" weighs in on the Blue Jays' offensive shortcomings, the contagious nature of hitting, signs that a "slow starter" is heating up, what constitutes a mechanical change, and his most-underrated batter in baseball. Later on, former MLB backstop and Blue Jays Central analyst, Caleb Joseph (23:25), joins the conversation. He talks about which Jays hitter is nearing a breakout, Bo Bichette's identity at the plate, the volume of home runs given up by Toronto's pitching staff, and more! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with your calls on the "Back Leg Line". 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. Sean Casey, former big leaguer and MLB Network analyst, kicks off the second hour alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! "The Mayor" weighs in on the Blue Jays' offensive shortcomings, the contagious nature of hitting, signs that a "slow starter" is heating up, what constitutes a mechanical change, and his most-underrated batter in baseball. Later on, former MLB backstop and Blue Jays Central analyst, Caleb Joseph (23:25), joins the conversation. He talks about which Jays hitter is nearing a breakout, Bo Bichette's identity at the plate, the volume of home runs given up by Toronto's pitching staff, and more! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with your calls on the "Back Leg Line". 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. baseball, sean casey, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full ee9acf43-692b-4801-94d6-8c9893196c09 Headaches at the Plate: Everything's Bigger in Texas Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros. The boys are fed up with Toronto's offensive drought and voice their concerns over the lack of quality at bats in Wednesday's series finale, along with the absence of slugging throughout the lineup. They then take some time to open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. Jon Morosi (27:50), MLB Network insider, stops by to share what's different about this year's version of the Chicago Cubs. Jon takes a look around the league to chat about the Mets' positioning in the NL East, Jordan Romano's struggles in Philadelphia, and Bo Bichette's performance in a contract year.

 

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.

]]> Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:01:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros. The boys are fed up with Toronto's offensive drought and voice their concerns over the lack of quality at bats in Wednesday's series finale, along with the absence of slugging throughout the lineup. They then take some time to open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. Jon Morosi (27:50), MLB Network insider, stops by to share what's different about this year's version of the Chicago Cubs. Jon takes a look around the league to chat about the Mets' positioning in the NL East, Jordan Romano's struggles in Philadelphia, and Bo Bichette's performance in a contract year.

 

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.

]]> Headaches at the Plate: Everything's Bigger in Texas Sportsnet 00:51:00 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros. The boys are fed up with Toronto's offensive drought and voice their concerns over the lack of quality at bats in Wednesday's series finale, along with the absence of slugging throughout the lineup. They then take some time to open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. Jon Morosi (27:50), MLB Network insider, stops by to share what's different about this year's version of the Chicago Cubs. Jon takes a look around the league to chat about the Mets' positioning in the NL East, Jordan Romano's struggles in Philadelphia, and Bo Bichette's performance in a contract year. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on the airwaves following the Blue Jays' sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros. The boys are fed up with Toronto's offensive drought and voice their concerns over the lack of quality at bats in Wednesday's series finale, along with the absence of slugging throughout the lineup. They then take some time to open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. Jon Morosi (27:50), MLB Network insider, stops by to share what's different about this year's version of the Chicago Cubs. Jon takes a look around the league to chat about the Mets' positioning in the NL East, Jordan Romano's struggles in Philadelphia, and Bo Bichette's performance in a contract year. 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. baseball, mlb, houston, jays, jon morosi, toronto, astros, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 6298a8ad-8ba5-4a84-988d-22f5bba97b41 Casey Candaele's Farm Report + Trade Market Check-In Casey Candaele, Manager of the Buffalo Bisons, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share the latest news from Sahlen Field! Skip breaks down Orelvis Martinez' work at the plate, how Daulton Varsho is progressing in his rehab stint, early standouts from the Triple-A roster, and Jake Bloss' upside on the mound. Later, David Schoenfield (31:42) takes us through his latest piece for ESPN detailing some early trade deadline targets for all 30 teams, along with his 2025 MLB watchability index! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts on who the Jays should look at to help bolster the lineup.

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.

]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:58:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Casey Candaele, Manager of the Buffalo Bisons, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share the latest news from Sahlen Field! Skip breaks down Orelvis Martinez' work at the plate, how Daulton Varsho is progressing in his rehab stint, early standouts from the Triple-A roster, and Jake Bloss' upside on the mound. Later, David Schoenfield (31:42) takes us through his latest piece for ESPN detailing some early trade deadline targets for all 30 teams, along with his 2025 MLB watchability index! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts on who the Jays should look at to help bolster the lineup.

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.

]]> Casey Candaele's Farm Report + Trade Market Check-In Sportsnet 00:50:04 Casey Candaele, Manager of the Buffalo Bisons, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share the latest news from Sahlen Field! Skip breaks down Orelvis Martinez' work at the plate, how Daulton Varsho is progressing in his rehab stint, early standouts from the Triple-A roster, and Jake Bloss' upside on the mound. Later, David Schoenfield (31:42) takes us through his latest piece for ESPN detailing some early trade deadline targets for all 30 teams, along with his 2025 MLB watchability index! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts on who the Jays should look at to help bolster the lineup. 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. Casey Candaele, Manager of the Buffalo Bisons, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share the latest news from Sahlen Field! Skip breaks down Orelvis Martinez' work at the plate, how Daulton Varsho is progressing in his rehab stint, early standouts from the Triple-A roster, and Jake Bloss' upside on the mound. Later, David Schoenfield (31:42) takes us through his latest piece for ESPN detailing some early trade deadline targets for all 30 teams, along with his 2025 MLB watchability index! Jeff and Kevin wrap up with thoughts on who the Jays should look at to help bolster the lineup. 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. baseball, mlb, buffalo, jays, bisons, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, casey candaele, david schoenfield false full cc86fc35-0dff-4b8a-9c84-7c1c47a16b4a Jays Downed in H-Town with Ben Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program recapping another quiet night for the Blue Jays' bats at Daikin Park. The guys dive into Chris Bassitt's six innings of work, Daulton Varsho's status as he continues to rehab his shoulder, and where Toronto's centre fielder should slot into the lineup when he returns. Later, Jeff and Kevin zoom out to share their view on how to fix the batting order as the team's losing streak stretches to four games. Ben Shulman (26:00), radio voice of the Blue Jays, checks in after the break live from Houston! The trio chat about Bassitt's post-game comments surrounding the team's upcoming stretch, how to fix to the team's the stalled offence, what to expect from Bowden Francis on the bump tonight, the state of the bullpen, and who's next in line to heat up. The boys wrap up with thoughts on Will Wagner's ideal position in Toronto's infield, along with Alan Roden's first month in the majors.

 

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.

]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2025 19:00:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program recapping another quiet night for the Blue Jays' bats at Daikin Park. The guys dive into Chris Bassitt's six innings of work, Daulton Varsho's status as he continues to rehab his shoulder, and where Toronto's centre fielder should slot into the lineup when he returns. Later, Jeff and Kevin zoom out to share their view on how to fix the batting order as the team's losing streak stretches to four games. Ben Shulman (26:00), radio voice of the Blue Jays, checks in after the break live from Houston! The trio chat about Bassitt's post-game comments surrounding the team's upcoming stretch, how to fix to the team's the stalled offence, what to expect from Bowden Francis on the bump tonight, the state of the bullpen, and who's next in line to heat up. The boys wrap up with thoughts on Will Wagner's ideal position in Toronto's infield, along with Alan Roden's first month in the majors.

 

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.

]]> Jays Downed in H-Town with Ben Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:57 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program recapping another quiet night for the Blue Jays' bats at Daikin Park. The guys dive into Chris Bassitt's six innings of work, Daulton Varsho's status as he continues to rehab his shoulder, and where Toronto's centre fielder should slot into the lineup when he returns. Later, Jeff and Kevin zoom out to share their view on how to fix the batting order as the team's losing streak stretches to four games. Ben Shulman (26:00), radio voice of the Blue Jays, checks in after the break live from Houston! The trio chat about Bassitt's post-game comments surrounding the team's upcoming stretch, how to fix to the team's the stalled offence, what to expect from Bowden Francis on the bump tonight, the state of the bullpen, and who's next in line to heat up. The boys wrap up with thoughts on Will Wagner's ideal position in Toronto's infield, along with Alan Roden's first month in the majors. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program recapping another quiet night for the Blue Jays' bats at Daikin Park. The guys dive into Chris Bassitt's six innings of work, Daulton Varsho's status as he continues to rehab his shoulder, and where Toronto's centre fielder should slot into the lineup when he returns. Later, Jeff and Kevin zoom out to share their view on how to fix the batting order as the team's losing streak stretches to four games. Ben Shulman (26:00), radio voice of the Blue Jays, checks in after the break live from Houston! The trio chat about Bassitt's post-game comments surrounding the team's upcoming stretch, how to fix to the team's the stalled offence, what to expect from Bowden Francis on the bump tonight, the state of the bullpen, and who's next in line to heat up. The boys wrap up with thoughts on Will Wagner's ideal position in Toronto's infield, along with Alan Roden's first month in the majors. 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. baseball, mlb, houston, jays, toronto, astros, ben shulman, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 3a095743-6e26-4991-bbbe-680577d38626 Solutions at the Plate + Get to Know the 'Stros Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help diagnose Toronto's offensive issues following yesterday's 7-0 shelling. Joe shares his view on potential lineup changes to come, before sifting through the performances of Anthony Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, and Alejandro Kirk. Later on, Astros analyst Steve Sparks (28:22) previews Ronel Blanco's start in Houston tonight. The trio also chat about what's changed in Josh Hader's approach in 2025, the aftermath of Alex Bregman's departure, what's behind Jose Altuve's move to the outfield, Jeremy Peña's development, and much more!

 

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.

]]> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 19:59:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help diagnose Toronto's offensive issues following yesterday's 7-0 shelling. Joe shares his view on potential lineup changes to come, before sifting through the performances of Anthony Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, and Alejandro Kirk. Later on, Astros analyst Steve Sparks (28:22) previews Ronel Blanco's start in Houston tonight. The trio also chat about what's changed in Josh Hader's approach in 2025, the aftermath of Alex Bregman's departure, what's behind Jose Altuve's move to the outfield, Jeremy Peña's development, and much more!

 

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.

]]> Solutions at the Plate + Get to Know the 'Stros Sportsnet 00:49:37 Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help diagnose Toronto's offensive issues following yesterday's 7-0 shelling. Joe shares his view on potential lineup changes to come, before sifting through the performances of Anthony Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, and Alejandro Kirk. Later on, Astros analyst Steve Sparks (28:22) previews Ronel Blanco's start in Houston tonight. The trio also chat about what's changed in Josh Hader's approach in 2025, the aftermath of Alex Bregman's departure, what's behind Jose Altuve's move to the outfield, Jeremy Peña's development, and much more! 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. Joe Siddall, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to help diagnose Toronto's offensive issues following yesterday's 7-0 shelling. Joe shares his view on potential lineup changes to come, before sifting through the performances of Anthony Santander, George Springer, Alan Roden, and Alejandro Kirk. Later on, Astros analyst Steve Sparks (28:22) previews Ronel Blanco's start in Houston tonight. The trio also chat about what's changed in Josh Hader's approach in 2025, the aftermath of Alex Bregman's departure, what's behind Jose Altuve's move to the outfield, Jeremy Peña's development, and much more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, steve sparks, kevin barker, jeff blair, joe siddall, sportsnet, blue false full 6229df78-72cc-4908-a408-ad81f44bd1cc Jays' Flightless Offence with Ryan Dempster Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show rehashing their debate about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s lack of home run power early on this season. After agreeing to disagree, the guys move on to discuss the Blue Jays' 7-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Houston Astros. They chat about what they saw from Kevin Gausman on the mound Monday night, how to fix Toronto's sputtering offence, and what to make of limited production from the top of the batting order. Ryan Dempster (29:06), World Series champion and co-host of Intentional Talk on MLB Network, shares what it's like pitching for a team without an offensive punch. Ryan weighs in on Anthony Santander's slow start and the challenges that come with pitching in different ballparks, before taking a look around league to discuss the crowded N.L. West and the state of the Cubs.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 22 Apr 2025 18:59:22 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show rehashing their debate about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s lack of home run power early on this season. After agreeing to disagree, the guys move on to discuss the Blue Jays' 7-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Houston Astros. They chat about what they saw from Kevin Gausman on the mound Monday night, how to fix Toronto's sputtering offence, and what to make of limited production from the top of the batting order. Ryan Dempster (29:06), World Series champion and co-host of Intentional Talk on MLB Network, shares what it's like pitching for a team without an offensive punch. Ryan weighs in on Anthony Santander's slow start and the challenges that come with pitching in different ballparks, before taking a look around league to discuss the crowded N.L. West and the state of the Cubs.

 

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.

]]> Jays' Flightless Offence with Ryan Dempster Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show rehashing their debate about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s lack of home run power early on this season. After agreeing to disagree, the guys move on to discuss the Blue Jays' 7-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Houston Astros. They chat about what they saw from Kevin Gausman on the mound Monday night, how to fix Toronto's sputtering offence, and what to make of limited production from the top of the batting order. Ryan Dempster (29:06), World Series champion and co-host of Intentional Talk on MLB Network, shares what it's like pitching for a team without an offensive punch. Ryan weighs in on Anthony Santander's slow start and the challenges that come with pitching in different ballparks, before taking a look around league to discuss the crowded N.L. West and the state of the Cubs. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show rehashing their debate about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s lack of home run power early on this season. After agreeing to disagree, the guys move on to discuss the Blue Jays' 7-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Houston Astros. They chat about what they saw from Kevin Gausman on the mound Monday night, how to fix Toronto's sputtering offence, and what to make of limited production from the top of the batting order. Ryan Dempster (29:06), World Series champion and co-host of Intentional Talk on MLB Network, shares what it's like pitching for a team without an offensive punch. Ryan weighs in on Anthony Santander's slow start and the challenges that come with pitching in different ballparks, before taking a look around league to discuss the crowded N.L. West and the state of the Cubs. 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. baseball, mlb, houston, jays, ryan dempster, toronto, astros, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 2b98406b-1249-49f3-a889-6f5775ef51d0 Hall of Fame DNA with Billy Wagner + David Samson! David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to forecast the sustainability of the Cubs, Tigers and Padres' hot starts to the season. The trio take a trip around the league to discuss Aaron Judge's case as the best hitter in baseball, if there's any truth to certain players being "slow starters", Juan Soto's comments about the Mets' lineup protection, the fallout from Jarred Kelenic's lack of hustle, and the Marlins' farm system calling pitches from the dugout. After the break, National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Billy Wagner (30:17) joins the program! He shares how life has changed since getting the call to the Hall, his enjoyment of teaching the next generation, and his inspirations growing up on the mound. Billy wraps up with thoughts on his son Will's MLB journey so far and offers some advice for the road ahead.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2025 20:00:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to forecast the sustainability of the Cubs, Tigers and Padres' hot starts to the season. The trio take a trip around the league to discuss Aaron Judge's case as the best hitter in baseball, if there's any truth to certain players being "slow starters", Juan Soto's comments about the Mets' lineup protection, the fallout from Jarred Kelenic's lack of hustle, and the Marlins' farm system calling pitches from the dugout. After the break, National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Billy Wagner (30:17) joins the program! He shares how life has changed since getting the call to the Hall, his enjoyment of teaching the next generation, and his inspirations growing up on the mound. Billy wraps up with thoughts on his son Will's MLB journey so far and offers some advice for the road ahead.

 

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.

]]> Hall of Fame DNA with Billy Wagner + David Samson! Sportsnet 00:49:49 David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to forecast the sustainability of the Cubs, Tigers and Padres' hot starts to the season. The trio take a trip around the league to discuss Aaron Judge's case as the best hitter in baseball, if there's any truth to certain players being "slow starters", Juan Soto's comments about the Mets' lineup protection, the fallout from Jarred Kelenic's lack of hustle, and the Marlins' farm system calling pitches from the dugout. After the break, National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Billy Wagner (30:17) joins the program! He shares how life has changed since getting the call to the Hall, his enjoyment of teaching the next generation, and his inspirations growing up on the mound. Billy wraps up with thoughts on his son Will's MLB journey so far and offers some advice for the road ahead. 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. David Samson, former MLB executive and host of Nothing Personal, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to forecast the sustainability of the Cubs, Tigers and Padres' hot starts to the season. The trio take a trip around the league to discuss Aaron Judge's case as the best hitter in baseball, if there's any truth to certain players being "slow starters", Juan Soto's comments about the Mets' lineup protection, the fallout from Jarred Kelenic's lack of hustle, and the Marlins' farm system calling pitches from the dugout. After the break, National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Billy Wagner (30:17) joins the program! He shares how life has changed since getting the call to the Hall, his enjoyment of teaching the next generation, and his inspirations growing up on the mound. Billy wraps up with thoughts on his son Will's MLB journey so far and offers some advice for the road ahead. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, billy wagner, david samson, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 437ba723-4aff-4880-84bc-2c17c342cae3 Unlocking Tony Taters + Astros' Identity Crisis Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this week with thoughts on the Blue Jays' lack of production at the plate to start the season. The pair dive into how the team can unlock Anthony Santander's offence and Nick Sandlin's status after being placed on the 15-day IL, before setting the stage for tonight's series opener in Houston. The conversation continues with Geoff Blum (26:40), Astros TV analyst. Geoff discusses Houston's identity crisis in 2025 and Hunter Brown's strong form heading into tonight's start, before sharing his early impressions of Cam Smith, Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:59:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this week with thoughts on the Blue Jays' lack of production at the plate to start the season. The pair dive into how the team can unlock Anthony Santander's offence and Nick Sandlin's status after being placed on the 15-day IL, before setting the stage for tonight's series opener in Houston. The conversation continues with Geoff Blum (26:40), Astros TV analyst. Geoff discusses Houston's identity crisis in 2025 and Hunter Brown's strong form heading into tonight's start, before sharing his early impressions of Cam Smith, Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker.

 

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.

]]> Unlocking Tony Taters + Astros' Identity Crisis Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this week with thoughts on the Blue Jays' lack of production at the plate to start the season. The pair dive into how the team can unlock Anthony Santander's offence and Nick Sandlin's status after being placed on the 15-day IL, before setting the stage for tonight's series opener in Houston. The conversation continues with Geoff Blum (26:40), Astros TV analyst. Geoff discusses Houston's identity crisis in 2025 and Hunter Brown's strong form heading into tonight's start, before sharing his early impressions of Cam Smith, Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this week with thoughts on the Blue Jays' lack of production at the plate to start the season. The pair dive into how the team can unlock Anthony Santander's offence and Nick Sandlin's status after being placed on the 15-day IL, before setting the stage for tonight's series opener in Houston. The conversation continues with Geoff Blum (26:40), Astros TV analyst. Geoff discusses Houston's identity crisis in 2025 and Hunter Brown's strong form heading into tonight's start, before sharing his early impressions of Cam Smith, Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker. 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. false full acd47bb4-c7e0-4a1a-9ea4-0bdfb1f25d06 Early-Season Success with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of the team's series against the Seattle Mariners (1:25). The skipper starts with the decision to send Davis Schneider down to Triple-A and the injury statuses of George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer. Then, he gets into Andrés Giménez coming back to earth, how he's preparing for Blue-Jay-killer Cal Raleigh, Anthony Santander getting into rhythm, the team's different feel from last season and much more. Later, Mariners TV play-by-play voice Aaron Goldsmith (27:54) joins the show to discuss Raleigh's scorching stretch, Seattle's ceiling this season, Julio Rodriguez's inconsistency and what to expect from the Mariners' pitching staff in the weekend series in Toronto.

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.

]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:03:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of the team's series against the Seattle Mariners (1:25). The skipper starts with the decision to send Davis Schneider down to Triple-A and the injury statuses of George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer. Then, he gets into Andrés Giménez coming back to earth, how he's preparing for Blue-Jay-killer Cal Raleigh, Anthony Santander getting into rhythm, the team's different feel from last season and much more. Later, Mariners TV play-by-play voice Aaron Goldsmith (27:54) joins the show to discuss Raleigh's scorching stretch, Seattle's ceiling this season, Julio Rodriguez's inconsistency and what to expect from the Mariners' pitching staff in the weekend series in Toronto.

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.

]]> Early-Season Success with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:50:01 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of the team's series against the Seattle Mariners (1:25). The skipper starts with the decision to send Davis Schneider down to Triple-A and the injury statuses of George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer. Then, he gets into Andrés Giménez coming back to earth, how he's preparing for Blue-Jay-killer Cal Raleigh, Anthony Santander getting into rhythm, the team's different feel from last season and much more. Later, Mariners TV play-by-play voice Aaron Goldsmith (27:54) joins the show to discuss Raleigh's scorching stretch, Seattle's ceiling this season, Julio Rodriguez's inconsistency and what to expect from the Mariners' pitching staff in the weekend series in Toronto. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of the team's series against the Seattle Mariners (1:25). The skipper starts with the decision to send Davis Schneider down to Triple-A and the injury statuses of George Springer, Daulton Varsho and Max Scherzer. Then, he gets into Andrés Giménez coming back to earth, how he's preparing for Blue-Jay-killer Cal Raleigh, Anthony Santander getting into rhythm, the team's different feel from last season and much more. Later, Mariners TV play-by-play voice Aaron Goldsmith (27:54) joins the show to discuss Raleigh's scorching stretch, Seattle's ceiling this season, Julio Rodriguez's inconsistency and what to expect from the Mariners' pitching staff in the weekend series in Toronto. 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. false full 60038f6c-8d28-4f3b-b497-a1d2734c8f10 Meet the Mariners with Ryan Spilborghs Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's show teeing up the Blue Jays' series against the Seattle Mariners this weekend. The guys dive into Cal "Big Dumper" Raleigh's red-hot stretch coming into Toronto, Randy Arozarena's impact on Seattle's roster, and how Julio Rodríguez' first few years in the majors compare to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s, before taking a closer look at some other intriguing teams around the American League. Ryan Spilborghs (22:20), former MLB outfielder and Apple TV+ analyst, checks in ahead of tonight's game at Rogers Centre! He shares his view on J-Rod's future in Seattle, how much early season stats matter, and Jeff Hoffman's revival in Toronto, before weighing in on the tough road ahead for the Rockies in 2025.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:04:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's show teeing up the Blue Jays' series against the Seattle Mariners this weekend. The guys dive into Cal "Big Dumper" Raleigh's red-hot stretch coming into Toronto, Randy Arozarena's impact on Seattle's roster, and how Julio Rodríguez' first few years in the majors compare to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s, before taking a closer look at some other intriguing teams around the American League. Ryan Spilborghs (22:20), former MLB outfielder and Apple TV+ analyst, checks in ahead of tonight's game at Rogers Centre! He shares his view on J-Rod's future in Seattle, how much early season stats matter, and Jeff Hoffman's revival in Toronto, before weighing in on the tough road ahead for the Rockies in 2025.

 

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.

]]> Meet the Mariners with Ryan Spilborghs Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's show teeing up the Blue Jays' series against the Seattle Mariners this weekend. The guys dive into Cal "Big Dumper" Raleigh's red-hot stretch coming into Toronto, Randy Arozarena's impact on Seattle's roster, and how Julio Rodríguez' first few years in the majors compare to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s, before taking a closer look at some other intriguing teams around the American League. Ryan Spilborghs (22:20), former MLB outfielder and Apple TV+ analyst, checks in ahead of tonight's game at Rogers Centre! He shares his view on J-Rod's future in Seattle, how much early season stats matter, and Jeff Hoffman's revival in Toronto, before weighing in on the tough road ahead for the Rockies in 2025. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Friday's show teeing up the Blue Jays' series against the Seattle Mariners this weekend. The guys dive into Cal "Big Dumper" Raleigh's red-hot stretch coming into Toronto, Randy Arozarena's impact on Seattle's roster, and how Julio Rodríguez' first few years in the majors compare to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s, before taking a closer look at some other intriguing teams around the American League. Ryan Spilborghs (22:20), former MLB outfielder and Apple TV+ analyst, checks in ahead of tonight's game at Rogers Centre! He shares his view on J-Rod's future in Seattle, how much early season stats matter, and Jeff Hoffman's revival in Toronto, before weighing in on the tough road ahead for the Rockies in 2025. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, mariners, ryan spilborghs, toronto, kevin barker, seattle, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full c7490eb7-f322-4f42-b049-b2fe2f2bb434 El Niño's MVP-Level Start Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with today's trivia question, before taking a closer look at the San Diego Padres' hot start to the season. Ben Higgins, co-host of Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan, joins the conversation to discuss who can be the difference-maker on the Padres' roster, the underrated contributors on the squad, and Fernando Tatís Jr.'s MVP-caliber performance. Ben also dives into what's behind Tatís' breakout start, the lasting effects of the team's 2024 playoff series with the Dodgers, and the job Mike Shildt has done. Later, Jeff and Kevin debate how the conversation surrounding PEDs has changed over the years, before chatting about the state of the Blue Jays' bullpen (28:15). Today's program wraps up with your questions and comments on the "Back Leg Line".

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.

]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:59:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with today's trivia question, before taking a closer look at the San Diego Padres' hot start to the season. Ben Higgins, co-host of Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan, joins the conversation to discuss who can be the difference-maker on the Padres' roster, the underrated contributors on the squad, and Fernando Tatís Jr.'s MVP-caliber performance. Ben also dives into what's behind Tatís' breakout start, the lasting effects of the team's 2024 playoff series with the Dodgers, and the job Mike Shildt has done. Later, Jeff and Kevin debate how the conversation surrounding PEDs has changed over the years, before chatting about the state of the Blue Jays' bullpen (28:15). Today's program wraps up with your questions and comments on the "Back Leg Line".

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.

]]> El Niño's MVP-Level Start Sportsnet 00:49:57 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with today's trivia question, before taking a closer look at the San Diego Padres' hot start to the season. Ben Higgins, co-host of Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan, joins the conversation to discuss who can be the difference-maker on the Padres' roster, the underrated contributors on the squad, and Fernando Tatís Jr.'s MVP-caliber performance. Ben also dives into what's behind Tatís' breakout start, the lasting effects of the team's 2024 playoff series with the Dodgers, and the job Mike Shildt has done. Later, Jeff and Kevin debate how the conversation surrounding PEDs has changed over the years, before chatting about the state of the Blue Jays' bullpen (28:15). Today's program wraps up with your questions and comments on the "Back Leg Line". 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with today's trivia question, before taking a closer look at the San Diego Padres' hot start to the season. Ben Higgins, co-host of Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan, joins the conversation to discuss who can be the difference-maker on the Padres' roster, the underrated contributors on the squad, and Fernando Tatís Jr.'s MVP-caliber performance. Ben also dives into what's behind Tatís' breakout start, the lasting effects of the team's 2024 playoff series with the Dodgers, and the job Mike Shildt has done. Later, Jeff and Kevin debate how the conversation surrounding PEDs has changed over the years, before chatting about the state of the Blue Jays' bullpen (28:15). Today's program wraps up with your questions and comments on the "Back Leg Line". 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. baseball, ben higgins, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, padres, sportsnet, san diego, blue false full b9c73721-acdb-4e3b-b044-f7269efaf5bc Buffalo Bound Babe Kevin Barker returns alongside Jeff Blair to recount the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory to seal a series victory over the Braves, fueled by Chris Bassitt's 10 strikeout performance. The duo break the news of Davis Schneider's demotion to Triple-A Buffalo, before getting into who's next in line to get called up to big leagues, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander simultaneously heating up, and the roles players are taking on early this season. After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:20).

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.

]]> Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:59:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Kevin Barker returns alongside Jeff Blair to recount the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory to seal a series victory over the Braves, fueled by Chris Bassitt's 10 strikeout performance. The duo break the news of Davis Schneider's demotion to Triple-A Buffalo, before getting into who's next in line to get called up to big leagues, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander simultaneously heating up, and the roles players are taking on early this season. After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:20).

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.

]]> Buffalo Bound Babe Sportsnet 00:49:42 Kevin Barker returns alongside Jeff Blair to recount the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory to seal a series victory over the Braves, fueled by Chris Bassitt's 10 strikeout performance. The duo break the news of Davis Schneider's demotion to Triple-A Buffalo, before getting into who's next in line to get called up to big leagues, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander simultaneously heating up, and the roles players are taking on early this season. After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:20). 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. Kevin Barker returns alongside Jeff Blair to recount the Blue Jays' 3-1 victory to seal a series victory over the Braves, fueled by Chris Bassitt's 10 strikeout performance. The duo break the news of Davis Schneider's demotion to Triple-A Buffalo, before getting into who's next in line to get called up to big leagues, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander simultaneously heating up, and the roles players are taking on early this season. After the break, Jeff and Kevin open up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments (25:20). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 50d60ade-a728-493c-a094-d8b4cfcb4b57 Tom Glavine on Strider's Return + A.J. Pierzynski! Jeff Blair opens this episode with a sneak preview of Hazel Mae's interview with Jeff Hoffman recounting how an at-bat with Bryce Harper helped save his MLB career. Jeff then opens up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. A.J. Pierzynski (12:47), World Series champion and host of Foul Territory, shares his perspective on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension, how it changes the perception of Toronto as a free agent destination, and the state of the American League East. Later, JB reacts to Ryan Yarbrough's comments about his split with the Blue Jays organization. Tom Glavine (26:40), two-time Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Famer, joins the show to discuss Spencer Strider's looming return, the strength of Atlanta's rotation when healthy, and Kevin Gausman's recipe for success.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:01:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair opens this episode with a sneak preview of Hazel Mae's interview with Jeff Hoffman recounting how an at-bat with Bryce Harper helped save his MLB career. Jeff then opens up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. A.J. Pierzynski (12:47), World Series champion and host of Foul Territory, shares his perspective on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension, how it changes the perception of Toronto as a free agent destination, and the state of the American League East. Later, JB reacts to Ryan Yarbrough's comments about his split with the Blue Jays organization. Tom Glavine (26:40), two-time Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Famer, joins the show to discuss Spencer Strider's looming return, the strength of Atlanta's rotation when healthy, and Kevin Gausman's recipe for success.

 

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.

]]> Tom Glavine on Strider's Return + A.J. Pierzynski! Sportsnet 00:48:57 Jeff Blair opens this episode with a sneak preview of Hazel Mae's interview with Jeff Hoffman recounting how an at-bat with Bryce Harper helped save his MLB career. Jeff then opens up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. A.J. Pierzynski (12:47), World Series champion and host of Foul Territory, shares his perspective on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension, how it changes the perception of Toronto as a free agent destination, and the state of the American League East. Later, JB reacts to Ryan Yarbrough's comments about his split with the Blue Jays organization. Tom Glavine (26:40), two-time Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Famer, joins the show to discuss Spencer Strider's looming return, the strength of Atlanta's rotation when healthy, and Kevin Gausman's recipe for success. 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. Jeff Blair opens this episode with a sneak preview of Hazel Mae's interview with Jeff Hoffman recounting how an at-bat with Bryce Harper helped save his MLB career. Jeff then opens up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments. A.J. Pierzynski (12:47), World Series champion and host of Foul Territory, shares his perspective on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension, how it changes the perception of Toronto as a free agent destination, and the state of the American League East. Later, JB reacts to Ryan Yarbrough's comments about his split with the Blue Jays organization. Tom Glavine (26:40), two-time Cy Young Award winner and Hall of Famer, joins the show to discuss Spencer Strider's looming return, the strength of Atlanta's rotation when healthy, and Kevin Gausman's recipe for success. 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. baseball, a.j. pierzynski, braves, mlb, jays, atlanta, toronto, tom glavine, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 6cfa045e-c11a-459e-8f0b-e79290268aab Way of the Braves + Toronto Trends Early On Jeff Blair opens today's show with thoughts on what went wrong for the Blue Jays during their 8-4 blowout at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play voice of the Braves, discusses what's contributed to the team's slow start, how Spencer Strider's pending return will solidify the team's rotation, what to expect from Spencer Schwellenbach on the mound tonight, and the priorities for Alex Anthopoulos. Later, Dan Shulman (22:08), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, shares his takeaways from yesterday's press conference officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Dan also comments on what's next for Easton Lucas, Yariel Rodriguez' outlook as a reliever, and the state of Toronto's offence.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:01:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair opens today's show with thoughts on what went wrong for the Blue Jays during their 8-4 blowout at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play voice of the Braves, discusses what's contributed to the team's slow start, how Spencer Strider's pending return will solidify the team's rotation, what to expect from Spencer Schwellenbach on the mound tonight, and the priorities for Alex Anthopoulos. Later, Dan Shulman (22:08), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, shares his takeaways from yesterday's press conference officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Dan also comments on what's next for Easton Lucas, Yariel Rodriguez' outlook as a reliever, and the state of Toronto's offence.

 

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.

]]> Way of the Braves + Toronto Trends Early On Sportsnet 00:49:20 Jeff Blair opens today's show with thoughts on what went wrong for the Blue Jays during their 8-4 blowout at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play voice of the Braves, discusses what's contributed to the team's slow start, how Spencer Strider's pending return will solidify the team's rotation, what to expect from Spencer Schwellenbach on the mound tonight, and the priorities for Alex Anthopoulos. Later, Dan Shulman (22:08), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, shares his takeaways from yesterday's press conference officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Dan also comments on what's next for Easton Lucas, Yariel Rodriguez' outlook as a reliever, and the state of Toronto's offence. 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. Jeff Blair opens today's show with thoughts on what went wrong for the Blue Jays during their 8-4 blowout at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Brandon Gaudin, play-by-play voice of the Braves, discusses what's contributed to the team's slow start, how Spencer Strider's pending return will solidify the team's rotation, what to expect from Spencer Schwellenbach on the mound tonight, and the priorities for Alex Anthopoulos. Later, Dan Shulman (22:08), Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet, shares his takeaways from yesterday's press conference officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Dan also comments on what's next for Easton Lucas, Yariel Rodriguez' outlook as a reliever, and the state of Toronto's offence. 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. baseball, braves, mlb, jays, atlanta, brandon gaudin, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full 2ff527e2-859b-481f-8841-e89880010e1a GM Hour: Inside Vladdy Negotiations with Ross Atkins Jeff Blair is joined by Jim Bowden - former GM and MLB analyst with CBS Sports and the Athletic - to continue the conversation around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. making his extension official (0:46). They discuss the industry's reaction to Vladdy's deal, costly timing for the Jays and ownership's role in negotiations. Then, he tees up the Jays' series against the struggling Atlanta Braves. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show (26:09) to share a timeline of the negotiation process with Vladdy, the clubhouse's reaction to the deal, the next steps towards a potential Bo Bichette extension and much more.

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.

]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 20:03:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by Jim Bowden - former GM and MLB analyst with CBS Sports and the Athletic - to continue the conversation around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. making his extension official (0:46). They discuss the industry's reaction to Vladdy's deal, costly timing for the Jays and ownership's role in negotiations. Then, he tees up the Jays' series against the struggling Atlanta Braves. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show (26:09) to share a timeline of the negotiation process with Vladdy, the clubhouse's reaction to the deal, the next steps towards a potential Bo Bichette extension and much more.

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.

]]> GM Hour: Inside Vladdy Negotiations with Ross Atkins Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair is joined by Jim Bowden - former GM and MLB analyst with CBS Sports and the Athletic - to continue the conversation around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. making his extension official (0:46). They discuss the industry's reaction to Vladdy's deal, costly timing for the Jays and ownership's role in negotiations. Then, he tees up the Jays' series against the struggling Atlanta Braves. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show (26:09) to share a timeline of the negotiation process with Vladdy, the clubhouse's reaction to the deal, the next steps towards a potential Bo Bichette extension and much more. 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. Jeff Blair is joined by Jim Bowden - former GM and MLB analyst with CBS Sports and the Athletic - to continue the conversation around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. making his extension official (0:46). They discuss the industry's reaction to Vladdy's deal, costly timing for the Jays and ownership's role in negotiations. Then, he tees up the Jays' series against the struggling Atlanta Braves. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins joins the show (26:09) to share a timeline of the negotiation process with Vladdy, the clubhouse's reaction to the deal, the next steps towards a potential Bo Bichette extension and much more. 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. false full fe72dbda-e12b-4ba8-98c4-369ff38348e4 Insider Hour: Shi Davidi & Jeff Passan Sportsnet's own Shi Davidi joins Jeff Blair live from Rogers Centre following the press conference announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Shi discusses the role ownership played in the signing, how the rest of the league views the deal, the positive direction this move signifies for the franchise, and what's ahead for Bo Bichette. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:12) shares his perspective on Vlad's 14-year extension and the potential ripple effects for future MLB free agents, before shifting to chat about the how the American East-leading Blue Jays have started 2025.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:59:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Sportsnet's own Shi Davidi joins Jeff Blair live from Rogers Centre following the press conference announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Shi discusses the role ownership played in the signing, how the rest of the league views the deal, the positive direction this move signifies for the franchise, and what's ahead for Bo Bichette. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:12) shares his perspective on Vlad's 14-year extension and the potential ripple effects for future MLB free agents, before shifting to chat about the how the American East-leading Blue Jays have started 2025.

 

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.

]]> Insider Hour: Shi Davidi & Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:40 Sportsnet's own Shi Davidi joins Jeff Blair live from Rogers Centre following the press conference announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Shi discusses the role ownership played in the signing, how the rest of the league views the deal, the positive direction this move signifies for the franchise, and what's ahead for Bo Bichette. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:12) shares his perspective on Vlad's 14-year extension and the potential ripple effects for future MLB free agents, before shifting to chat about the how the American East-leading Blue Jays have started 2025. 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 own Shi Davidi joins Jeff Blair live from Rogers Centre following the press conference announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension. Shi discusses the role ownership played in the signing, how the rest of the league views the deal, the positive direction this move signifies for the franchise, and what's ahead for Bo Bichette. Later on, ESPN's Jeff Passan (23:12) shares his perspective on Vlad's 14-year extension and the potential ripple effects for future MLB free agents, before shifting to chat about the how the American East-leading Blue Jays have started 2025. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 907e2de1-b6ae-42f0-b2b1-b047efd379b9 It's Official: Vlad Puts Pen to Paper Jeff Blair opens the program by teeing up today's press conference at Rogers Centre officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million, 14-year contract extension. General Manager Ross Atkins, President and CEO Mark Shapiro, and Rogers Executive Chairman Edward Rogers III, join Vladdy on the podium as he puts the pen to paper to sign the historic deal. Jeff checks back in following the media availability to reflect on the magnitude and importance of this contract for the Blue Jays franchise.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:02:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair opens the program by teeing up today's press conference at Rogers Centre officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million, 14-year contract extension. General Manager Ross Atkins, President and CEO Mark Shapiro, and Rogers Executive Chairman Edward Rogers III, join Vladdy on the podium as he puts the pen to paper to sign the historic deal. Jeff checks back in following the media availability to reflect on the magnitude and importance of this contract for the Blue Jays franchise.

 

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.

]]> It's Official: Vlad Puts Pen to Paper Sportsnet 00:49:36 Jeff Blair opens the program by teeing up today's press conference at Rogers Centre officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million, 14-year contract extension. General Manager Ross Atkins, President and CEO Mark Shapiro, and Rogers Executive Chairman Edward Rogers III, join Vladdy on the podium as he puts the pen to paper to sign the historic deal. Jeff checks back in following the media availability to reflect on the magnitude and importance of this contract for the Blue Jays franchise. 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. Jeff Blair opens the program by teeing up today's press conference at Rogers Centre officially announcing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million, 14-year contract extension. General Manager Ross Atkins, President and CEO Mark Shapiro, and Rogers Executive Chairman Edward Rogers III, join Vladdy on the podium as he puts the pen to paper to sign the historic deal. Jeff checks back in following the media availability to reflect on the magnitude and importance of this contract for the Blue Jays franchise. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, guerrero, jr, vladimir, toronto, kevin barker, sportsnet, blue false full 26cbcced-bd2a-4d1f-8d4b-b37562b922fe Encouraging & Concerning Starts with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series in Baltimore. The skipper follows up on umpire Manny Gonzalez's questionable call in the Jays' series finale at Fenway and how he manages around inconsistent strike zones. Then, he gets into the pleasant surprise of Tyler Heineman, early concerns at the top of the lineup, the rotation's red-hot start to the season, the big-league adjustment for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin close out the week by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 20:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series in Baltimore. The skipper follows up on umpire Manny Gonzalez's questionable call in the Jays' series finale at Fenway and how he manages around inconsistent strike zones. Then, he gets into the pleasant surprise of Tyler Heineman, early concerns at the top of the lineup, the rotation's red-hot start to the season, the big-league adjustment for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin close out the week by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions!

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.

]]> Encouraging & Concerning Starts with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series in Baltimore. The skipper follows up on umpire Manny Gonzalez's questionable call in the Jays' series finale at Fenway and how he manages around inconsistent strike zones. Then, he gets into the pleasant surprise of Tyler Heineman, early concerns at the top of the lineup, the rotation's red-hot start to the season, the big-league adjustment for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin close out the week by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:15) ahead of the team's weekend series in Baltimore. The skipper follows up on umpire Manny Gonzalez's questionable call in the Jays' series finale at Fenway and how he manages around inconsistent strike zones. Then, he gets into the pleasant surprise of Tyler Heineman, early concerns at the top of the lineup, the rotation's red-hot start to the season, the big-league adjustment for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin close out the week by going to the Back Leg Line to answer your calls and questions! 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. false full 6b68a0df-31ba-4d44-b3d1-d8b82dabea8a Pete Walker on His Rotation's Historic Start Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-2 extra innings loss to the Red Sox. They listen back to John Schneider's postgame comments about some questionable umpiring calls behind the plate, before teeing up tonight's matchup to open a three-game series against the Orioles. Toronto Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker (05:55) joins the show to discuss his rotation's historic numbers early on, the challenges that come with pitching in the elements, and what's behind Easton Lucas' strong start. Pete also dives into the effectiveness of Kevin Gausman and Brendon Little, the messaging to the team when calls don't go your way, Nick Sandlin's early returns, and Yariel Rodriguez work out of the bullpen. After the break, Jeff and Kevin examine Anthony Santander's slow start, the troubling weather rolling into Baltimore this evening, and the state of Toronto's offence two weeks into the season.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 11 Apr 2025 18:58:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-2 extra innings loss to the Red Sox. They listen back to John Schneider's postgame comments about some questionable umpiring calls behind the plate, before teeing up tonight's matchup to open a three-game series against the Orioles. Toronto Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker (05:55) joins the show to discuss his rotation's historic numbers early on, the challenges that come with pitching in the elements, and what's behind Easton Lucas' strong start. Pete also dives into the effectiveness of Kevin Gausman and Brendon Little, the messaging to the team when calls don't go your way, Nick Sandlin's early returns, and Yariel Rodriguez work out of the bullpen. After the break, Jeff and Kevin examine Anthony Santander's slow start, the troubling weather rolling into Baltimore this evening, and the state of Toronto's offence two weeks into the season.

 

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.

]]> Pete Walker on His Rotation's Historic Start Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-2 extra innings loss to the Red Sox. They listen back to John Schneider's postgame comments about some questionable umpiring calls behind the plate, before teeing up tonight's matchup to open a three-game series against the Orioles. Toronto Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker (05:55) joins the show to discuss his rotation's historic numbers early on, the challenges that come with pitching in the elements, and what's behind Easton Lucas' strong start. Pete also dives into the effectiveness of Kevin Gausman and Brendon Little, the messaging to the team when calls don't go your way, Nick Sandlin's early returns, and Yariel Rodriguez work out of the bullpen. After the break, Jeff and Kevin examine Anthony Santander's slow start, the troubling weather rolling into Baltimore this evening, and the state of Toronto's offence two weeks into the season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 3-2 extra innings loss to the Red Sox. They listen back to John Schneider's postgame comments about some questionable umpiring calls behind the plate, before teeing up tonight's matchup to open a three-game series against the Orioles. Toronto Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker (05:55) joins the show to discuss his rotation's historic numbers early on, the challenges that come with pitching in the elements, and what's behind Easton Lucas' strong start. Pete also dives into the effectiveness of Kevin Gausman and Brendon Little, the messaging to the team when calls don't go your way, Nick Sandlin's early returns, and Yariel Rodriguez work out of the bullpen. After the break, Jeff and Kevin examine Anthony Santander's slow start, the troubling weather rolling into Baltimore this evening, and the state of Toronto's offence two weeks into the season. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, pete walker, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 7cb8df2d-7e52-41ac-ba2c-5c6bcf4954d9 Brooms Out in Boston? Lou Merloni, former MLB infielder and current NESN analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to tee up today's matinee at Fenway Park! He discusses Walker Buehler's start this afternoon, Boston's issues striking out, if the team's third base debate is finally put to rest, Tristan Casas' rough start at the plate, Trevor Story's deterioration, and Kristian Campbell's outlook. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin listen to what John Schneider had to say about his relievers' work in high-leverage spots, before opening up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments!

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.

]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 20:00:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Lou Merloni, former MLB infielder and current NESN analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to tee up today's matinee at Fenway Park! He discusses Walker Buehler's start this afternoon, Boston's issues striking out, if the team's third base debate is finally put to rest, Tristan Casas' rough start at the plate, Trevor Story's deterioration, and Kristian Campbell's outlook. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin listen to what John Schneider had to say about his relievers' work in high-leverage spots, before opening up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments!

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.

]]> Brooms Out in Boston? Sportsnet 00:49:29 Lou Merloni, former MLB infielder and current NESN analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to tee up today's matinee at Fenway Park! He discusses Walker Buehler's start this afternoon, Boston's issues striking out, if the team's third base debate is finally put to rest, Tristan Casas' rough start at the plate, Trevor Story's deterioration, and Kristian Campbell's outlook. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin listen to what John Schneider had to say about his relievers' work in high-leverage spots, before opening up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments! 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. Lou Merloni, former MLB infielder and current NESN analyst, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to tee up today's matinee at Fenway Park! He discusses Walker Buehler's start this afternoon, Boston's issues striking out, if the team's third base debate is finally put to rest, Tristan Casas' rough start at the plate, Trevor Story's deterioration, and Kristian Campbell's outlook. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin listen to what John Schneider had to say about his relievers' work in high-leverage spots, before opening up the "Back Leg Line" to respond to your questions and comments! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, boston, red sox, toronto, lou merloni, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full b3472345-0fe1-4e98-8e00-fbe591016f3c Oh My Gausman + Signing Bonus Breakdown with David Samson Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show sorting through the Blue Jays' lineup ahead of this afternoon's series finale against the Red Sox. The guys look back on Kevin Gausman's elite performance in last night's win in Boston, with a focus on his adjustments game to game. They also zero in on Alejandro Kirk's night to forget on both sides of the ball, Jeff Hoffman's dominant two innings of work, and state of Toronto's offence early on this season. David Samson (25:20), former MLB executive and current host of Nothing Personal, joins the program to share his view on the structuring of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year contract extension. He breaks down how the $325 million signing bonus could impact relations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, the process of getting a deal of this magnitude done, what's ahead for Bo Bichette, and the rationale of having team captains in baseball.

 

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.

]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:59:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show sorting through the Blue Jays' lineup ahead of this afternoon's series finale against the Red Sox. The guys look back on Kevin Gausman's elite performance in last night's win in Boston, with a focus on his adjustments game to game. They also zero in on Alejandro Kirk's night to forget on both sides of the ball, Jeff Hoffman's dominant two innings of work, and state of Toronto's offence early on this season. David Samson (25:20), former MLB executive and current host of Nothing Personal, joins the program to share his view on the structuring of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year contract extension. He breaks down how the $325 million signing bonus could impact relations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, the process of getting a deal of this magnitude done, what's ahead for Bo Bichette, and the rationale of having team captains in baseball.

 

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.

]]> Oh My Gausman + Signing Bonus Breakdown with David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:59 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show sorting through the Blue Jays' lineup ahead of this afternoon's series finale against the Red Sox. The guys look back on Kevin Gausman's elite performance in last night's win in Boston, with a focus on his adjustments game to game. They also zero in on Alejandro Kirk's night to forget on both sides of the ball, Jeff Hoffman's dominant two innings of work, and state of Toronto's offence early on this season. David Samson (25:20), former MLB executive and current host of Nothing Personal, joins the program to share his view on the structuring of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year contract extension. He breaks down how the $325 million signing bonus could impact relations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, the process of getting a deal of this magnitude done, what's ahead for Bo Bichette, and the rationale of having team captains in baseball. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show sorting through the Blue Jays' lineup ahead of this afternoon's series finale against the Red Sox. The guys look back on Kevin Gausman's elite performance in last night's win in Boston, with a focus on his adjustments game to game. They also zero in on Alejandro Kirk's night to forget on both sides of the ball, Jeff Hoffman's dominant two innings of work, and state of Toronto's offence early on this season. David Samson (25:20), former MLB executive and current host of Nothing Personal, joins the program to share his view on the structuring of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 14-year contract extension. He breaks down how the $325 million signing bonus could impact relations with the Major League Baseball Players Association, the process of getting a deal of this magnitude done, what's ahead for Bo Bichette, and the rationale of having team captains in baseball. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, david samson, vladimir guerrero jr, boston, toronto, kevin barker, sportsnet, sox, red, blue false full 95de45d1-56fc-4e65-8f2d-334626c8cef0 The Giménez Effect + Guerrero Jr.'s Extension is Official Jensen Lewis of MLB Network Radio and By the Books on VSiN, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He dives into Andrés Giménez' "fun factor", how the baseball world outside of Toronto views Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract, the state of the Guardians' bullpen, and Cleveland's outlook in 2025. Next, Jeff and Kevin discuss the reported details of Vlad's extension including a $325 million signing bonus spread out of the 14-year deal, before debating who's in line to receive MLB's next mega-contract. Today’s program wraps up by going live to Guerrero Jr.'s media availability in Boston on the heels of the Blue Jays' officially announcing his contract.

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.

]]> Wed, 9 Apr 2025 19:58:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jensen Lewis of MLB Network Radio and By the Books on VSiN, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He dives into Andrés Giménez' "fun factor", how the baseball world outside of Toronto views Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract, the state of the Guardians' bullpen, and Cleveland's outlook in 2025. Next, Jeff and Kevin discuss the reported details of Vlad's extension including a $325 million signing bonus spread out of the 14-year deal, before debating who's in line to receive MLB's next mega-contract. Today’s program wraps up by going live to Guerrero Jr.'s media availability in Boston on the heels of the Blue Jays' officially announcing his contract.

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.

]]> The Giménez Effect + Guerrero Jr.'s Extension is Official Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jensen Lewis of MLB Network Radio and By the Books on VSiN, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He dives into Andrés Giménez' "fun factor", how the baseball world outside of Toronto views Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract, the state of the Guardians' bullpen, and Cleveland's outlook in 2025. Next, Jeff and Kevin discuss the reported details of Vlad's extension including a $325 million signing bonus spread out of the 14-year deal, before debating who's in line to receive MLB's next mega-contract. Today’s program wraps up by going live to Guerrero Jr.'s media availability in Boston on the heels of the Blue Jays' officially announcing his contract. 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. Jensen Lewis of MLB Network Radio and By the Books on VSiN, kicks off the second hour of the show alongside Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker. He dives into Andrés Giménez' "fun factor", how the baseball world outside of Toronto views Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract, the state of the Guardians' bullpen, and Cleveland's outlook in 2025. Next, Jeff and Kevin discuss the reported details of Vlad's extension including a $325 million signing bonus spread out of the 14-year deal, before debating who's in line to receive MLB's next mega-contract. Today’s program wraps up by going live to Guerrero Jr.'s media availability in Boston on the heels of the Blue Jays' officially announcing his contract. 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. baseball, mlb, jensen lewis, jays, vladimir guerrero jr, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 6faf6df4-6aac-4e02-8584-093cc9213667 Easton Bound and Down: Lucas Shines Under the Fenway Lights Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 6-1 victory over the Red Sox powered by Easton Lucas. The duo highlight the work by Toronto's starter and "low leverage" bullpen arms in the win, the continued lack of power from the team's power bats, and John Schneider's level of trust among his relievers! Later, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, Caleb Joseph (25:00) checks in on George Springer's revival this season, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s extension could influence what's next for Bo Bichette, and the keys for Kevin Gausman's success tonight in Boston. Caleb also chats about Lucas' strong start to 2025, Tyler Heineman's efforts behind the plate, and the strength of the team defensively.

 

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.

]]> Wed, 9 Apr 2025 18:58:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 6-1 victory over the Red Sox powered by Easton Lucas. The duo highlight the work by Toronto's starter and "low leverage" bullpen arms in the win, the continued lack of power from the team's power bats, and John Schneider's level of trust among his relievers! Later, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, Caleb Joseph (25:00) checks in on George Springer's revival this season, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s extension could influence what's next for Bo Bichette, and the keys for Kevin Gausman's success tonight in Boston. Caleb also chats about Lucas' strong start to 2025, Tyler Heineman's efforts behind the plate, and the strength of the team defensively.

 

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.

]]> Easton Bound and Down: Lucas Shines Under the Fenway Lights Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 6-1 victory over the Red Sox powered by Easton Lucas. The duo highlight the work by Toronto's starter and "low leverage" bullpen arms in the win, the continued lack of power from the team's power bats, and John Schneider's level of trust among his relievers! Later, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, Caleb Joseph (25:00) checks in on George Springer's revival this season, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s extension could influence what's next for Bo Bichette, and the keys for Kevin Gausman's success tonight in Boston. Caleb also chats about Lucas' strong start to 2025, Tyler Heineman's efforts behind the plate, and the strength of the team defensively. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's program with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 6-1 victory over the Red Sox powered by Easton Lucas. The duo highlight the work by Toronto's starter and "low leverage" bullpen arms in the win, the continued lack of power from the team's power bats, and John Schneider's level of trust among his relievers! Later, former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, Caleb Joseph (25:00) checks in on George Springer's revival this season, how Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s extension could influence what's next for Bo Bichette, and the keys for Kevin Gausman's success tonight in Boston. Caleb also chats about Lucas' strong start to 2025, Tyler Heineman's efforts behind the plate, and the strength of the team defensively. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, boston, red sox, toronto, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full c18563a8-4e4a-47d8-bd34-8adfd4599afb Carlos Delgado on Toronto's Next Homegrown Hero + Jonathan Papelbon! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this hour giving away a pair of tickets, before welcoming on Blue Jays legend, Carlos Delgado! The two-time All-Star weighs in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension and the pressure that comes with signing a deal of that magnitude. Carlos also shares his view on the place of analytics in today's game, Vlad's ceiling as a power hitter, how to maintain on-field efficiency as you age, and more! Later on, World Series champion and NESN Red Sox analyst, Jonathan Papelbon (30:15) joins the conversation. He chats about Boston overcoming adversity early in the season, the challenges of pitching in the cold, Jeff Hoffman's return to Toronto, how Alex Bregman is settling in with his new team, and his first impressions of Garrett Crochet.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 8 Apr 2025 19:59:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this hour giving away a pair of tickets, before welcoming on Blue Jays legend, Carlos Delgado! The two-time All-Star weighs in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension and the pressure that comes with signing a deal of that magnitude. Carlos also shares his view on the place of analytics in today's game, Vlad's ceiling as a power hitter, how to maintain on-field efficiency as you age, and more! Later on, World Series champion and NESN Red Sox analyst, Jonathan Papelbon (30:15) joins the conversation. He chats about Boston overcoming adversity early in the season, the challenges of pitching in the cold, Jeff Hoffman's return to Toronto, how Alex Bregman is settling in with his new team, and his first impressions of Garrett Crochet.

 

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.

]]> Carlos Delgado on Toronto's Next Homegrown Hero + Jonathan Papelbon! Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this hour giving away a pair of tickets, before welcoming on Blue Jays legend, Carlos Delgado! The two-time All-Star weighs in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension and the pressure that comes with signing a deal of that magnitude. Carlos also shares his view on the place of analytics in today's game, Vlad's ceiling as a power hitter, how to maintain on-field efficiency as you age, and more! Later on, World Series champion and NESN Red Sox analyst, Jonathan Papelbon (30:15) joins the conversation. He chats about Boston overcoming adversity early in the season, the challenges of pitching in the cold, Jeff Hoffman's return to Toronto, how Alex Bregman is settling in with his new team, and his first impressions of Garrett Crochet. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this hour giving away a pair of tickets, before welcoming on Blue Jays legend, Carlos Delgado! The two-time All-Star weighs in on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s mega-extension and the pressure that comes with signing a deal of that magnitude. Carlos also shares his view on the place of analytics in today's game, Vlad's ceiling as a power hitter, how to maintain on-field efficiency as you age, and more! Later on, World Series champion and NESN Red Sox analyst, Jonathan Papelbon (30:15) joins the conversation. He chats about Boston overcoming adversity early in the season, the challenges of pitching in the cold, Jeff Hoffman's return to Toronto, how Alex Bregman is settling in with his new team, and his first impressions of Garrett Crochet. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, boston, red sox, toronto, jonathan papelbon, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, delgado, carlos, blue false full dc75d53a-d6f5-40f7-b53f-f8f19651ecf7 Cold Monster + Significance of Signing Vladdy with Jon Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' win in their series opener against the Boston Red Sox, the positive changes in George Springer's mechanics and mental approach, Andrés Giménez's addition to the infield's defence, José Berríos battling through the cold weather at Fenway Park, and Pete Walker jawing back and forth with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson. Then, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (28:32) stops by to chat about the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reaching the finish line in a contract extension early in the regular season, Toronto front office's next move is for Bo Bichette, what Kyle Tucker's next contract is projected to be, and who could be the next biggest free agent signing on the market. 

 

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.

]]> Tue, 8 Apr 2025 18:59:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' win in their series opener against the Boston Red Sox, the positive changes in George Springer's mechanics and mental approach, Andrés Giménez's addition to the infield's defence, José Berríos battling through the cold weather at Fenway Park, and Pete Walker jawing back and forth with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson. Then, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (28:32) stops by to chat about the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reaching the finish line in a contract extension early in the regular season, Toronto front office's next move is for Bo Bichette, what Kyle Tucker's next contract is projected to be, and who could be the next biggest free agent signing on the market. 

 

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.

]]> Cold Monster + Significance of Signing Vladdy with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' win in their series opener against the Boston Red Sox, the positive changes in George Springer's mechanics and mental approach, Andrés Giménez's addition to the infield's defence, José Berríos battling through the cold weather at Fenway Park, and Pete Walker jawing back and forth with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson. Then, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (28:32) stops by to chat about the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reaching the finish line in a contract extension early in the regular season, Toronto front office's next move is for Bo Bichette, what Kyle Tucker's next contract is projected to be, and who could be the next biggest free agent signing on the market.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' win in their series opener against the Boston Red Sox, the positive changes in George Springer's mechanics and mental approach, Andrés Giménez's addition to the infield's defence, José Berríos battling through the cold weather at Fenway Park, and Pete Walker jawing back and forth with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson. Then, MLB Network's Jon Morosi (28:32) stops by to chat about the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. reaching the finish line in a contract extension early in the regular season, Toronto front office's next move is for Bo Bichette, what Kyle Tucker's next contract is projected to be, and who could be the next biggest free agent signing on the market.  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. baseball, mlb, jays, jon morosi, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 9769703c-585b-4d99-93b1-f1ffb6b06e5f Vlad's Splash & MLB Ripple Effects with Jayson Stark Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of 'Vladurday' by going to the Back Leg Line to get your questions and takes on the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s newly inked extension! Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark joins the show (27:34) to discuss Vladdy's $500M deal from a broader, MLB point of view. He shares his thoughts on the deal itself before getting into how it might impact the free agent market, realistic post-contract expectations for Vladdy, the role the looming new CBA plays in teams' negotiations, the AL landscape and much more!

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.

]]> Mon, 7 Apr 2025 20:05:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of 'Vladurday' by going to the Back Leg Line to get your questions and takes on the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s newly inked extension! Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark joins the show (27:34) to discuss Vladdy's $500M deal from a broader, MLB point of view. He shares his thoughts on the deal itself before getting into how it might impact the free agent market, realistic post-contract expectations for Vladdy, the role the looming new CBA plays in teams' negotiations, the AL landscape and much more!

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.

]]> Vlad's Splash & MLB Ripple Effects with Jayson Stark Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of 'Vladurday' by going to the Back Leg Line to get your questions and takes on the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s newly inked extension! Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark joins the show (27:34) to discuss Vladdy's $500M deal from a broader, MLB point of view. He shares his thoughts on the deal itself before getting into how it might impact the free agent market, realistic post-contract expectations for Vladdy, the role the looming new CBA plays in teams' negotiations, the AL landscape and much more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of 'Vladurday' by going to the Back Leg Line to get your questions and takes on the Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s newly inked extension! Later, The Athletic's Jayson Stark joins the show (27:34) to discuss Vladdy's $500M deal from a broader, MLB point of view. He shares his thoughts on the deal itself before getting into how it might impact the free agent market, realistic post-contract expectations for Vladdy, the role the looming new CBA plays in teams' negotiations, the AL landscape and much more! 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. false full f530fc2a-3ad1-46ac-be29-53b3cba3d0be Birds of Pay: Jays Extend Vladdy ft. Shi Davidi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week with today's news: the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have agreed to a 14-year, $500 million extension! The guys dive into the specifics of the deal, the impact of the signing for the organization, and the how the outlook changes as time rolls on. Jeff and Kevin take some time to tee up Blue Jays upcoming series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (24:16)! The man who helped break the news discusses the timeline of how the extension came to be, the major sticking pieces along the way, and if the deal can lift some pressure off the slugger's shoulders. Shi also weighs in on where the signing ranks among significant moments in team history, how it will impact the MLB free agent market, and much more!

 

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.

]]> Mon, 7 Apr 2025 18:58:32 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week with today's news: the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have agreed to a 14-year, $500 million extension! The guys dive into the specifics of the deal, the impact of the signing for the organization, and the how the outlook changes as time rolls on. Jeff and Kevin take some time to tee up Blue Jays upcoming series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (24:16)! The man who helped break the news discusses the timeline of how the extension came to be, the major sticking pieces along the way, and if the deal can lift some pressure off the slugger's shoulders. Shi also weighs in on where the signing ranks among significant moments in team history, how it will impact the MLB free agent market, and much more!

 

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.

]]> Birds of Pay: Jays Extend Vladdy ft. Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week with today's news: the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have agreed to a 14-year, $500 million extension! The guys dive into the specifics of the deal, the impact of the signing for the organization, and the how the outlook changes as time rolls on. Jeff and Kevin take some time to tee up Blue Jays upcoming series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (24:16)! The man who helped break the news discusses the timeline of how the extension came to be, the major sticking pieces along the way, and if the deal can lift some pressure off the slugger's shoulders. Shi also weighs in on where the signing ranks among significant moments in team history, how it will impact the MLB free agent market, and much more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week with today's news: the Toronto Blue Jays and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have agreed to a 14-year, $500 million extension! The guys dive into the specifics of the deal, the impact of the signing for the organization, and the how the outlook changes as time rolls on. Jeff and Kevin take some time to tee up Blue Jays upcoming series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, before Sportsnet's Shi Davidi stops by (24:16)! The man who helped break the news discusses the timeline of how the extension came to be, the major sticking pieces along the way, and if the deal can lift some pressure off the slugger's shoulders. Shi also weighs in on where the signing ranks among significant moments in team history, how it will impact the MLB free agent market, and much more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, vladimir guerrero jr, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full c161c68a-1d00-4f71-a746-2b0c96cc6628 Split Happens: Inside Gausman's Signature Pitch + Jeff Passan! The Blue Jays are back in action, and so are Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! The guys start by teeing up Kevin Gausman's start this afternoon in New York with thoughts on his unorthodox splitter grip, the rotation he's searching for, and its sustainability over the course of a season. Jeff and Kevin continue to set the stage by sorting through today's lineups, before ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (27:00) stops by! He weighs in on the wave of "torpedo bats" taking baseball by storm, the state of the Houston Astros, the reasoning behind Kristian Campbell's eight-year extension in Boston, and more!

 

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.

]]> Fri, 4 Apr 2025 18:58:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Blue Jays are back in action, and so are Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! The guys start by teeing up Kevin Gausman's start this afternoon in New York with thoughts on his unorthodox splitter grip, the rotation he's searching for, and its sustainability over the course of a season. Jeff and Kevin continue to set the stage by sorting through today's lineups, before ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (27:00) stops by! He weighs in on the wave of "torpedo bats" taking baseball by storm, the state of the Houston Astros, the reasoning behind Kristian Campbell's eight-year extension in Boston, and more!

 

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.

]]> Split Happens: Inside Gausman's Signature Pitch + Jeff Passan! Sportsnet 00:49:50 The Blue Jays are back in action, and so are Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! The guys start by teeing up Kevin Gausman's start this afternoon in New York with thoughts on his unorthodox splitter grip, the rotation he's searching for, and its sustainability over the course of a season. Jeff and Kevin continue to set the stage by sorting through today's lineups, before ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (27:00) stops by! He weighs in on the wave of "torpedo bats" taking baseball by storm, the state of the Houston Astros, the reasoning behind Kristian Campbell's eight-year extension in Boston, and more! 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. The Blue Jays are back in action, and so are Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker! The guys start by teeing up Kevin Gausman's start this afternoon in New York with thoughts on his unorthodox splitter grip, the rotation he's searching for, and its sustainability over the course of a season. Jeff and Kevin continue to set the stage by sorting through today's lineups, before ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (27:00) stops by! He weighs in on the wave of "torpedo bats" taking baseball by storm, the state of the Houston Astros, the reasoning behind Kristian Campbell's eight-year extension in Boston, and more! 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 04e68e27-631b-4824-89d7-aaea68ebb485 Measuring Up the Mets with Tim Britton Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Tim Britton (0:24), Mets reporter with the Athletic, ahead of the Blue Jays' series at Citi Field. He gets into the state of the Mets' rotation without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, their team identity, how aggressive they'll be in the Vladdy Jr. free agency market, breakout candidates and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions - including what's behind Andrés Giménez's hot start, why the Jays have struggled on challenge calls and how Yimi Garcia brings stability to the bullpen.

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.

]]> Thu, 3 Apr 2025 20:05:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Tim Britton (0:24), Mets reporter with the Athletic, ahead of the Blue Jays' series at Citi Field. He gets into the state of the Mets' rotation without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, their team identity, how aggressive they'll be in the Vladdy Jr. free agency market, breakout candidates and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions - including what's behind Andrés Giménez's hot start, why the Jays have struggled on challenge calls and how Yimi Garcia brings stability to the bullpen.

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.

]]> Measuring Up the Mets with Tim Britton Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Tim Britton (0:24), Mets reporter with the Athletic, ahead of the Blue Jays' series at Citi Field. He gets into the state of the Mets' rotation without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, their team identity, how aggressive they'll be in the Vladdy Jr. free agency market, breakout candidates and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions - including what's behind Andrés Giménez's hot start, why the Jays have struggled on challenge calls and how Yimi Garcia brings stability to the bullpen. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Tim Britton (0:24), Mets reporter with the Athletic, ahead of the Blue Jays' series at Citi Field. He gets into the state of the Mets' rotation without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, their team identity, how aggressive they'll be in the Vladdy Jr. free agency market, breakout candidates and much more. Finally, Jeff and Kevin dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions - including what's behind Andrés Giménez's hot start, why the Jays have struggled on challenge calls and how Yimi Garcia brings stability to the bullpen. 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. false full 10c8f7ed-35b8-4416-b242-3e90ae6a8068 Blue Jays Hit the Road With a Division Lead Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this off-day episode celebrating the Blue Jays' sweep of the Nationals to push them atop the American League East! The guys start off with thoughts on how the switch to playing outdoors could impact Toronto's young players as the team heads to New York to take on the Mets. They also chat about the team's standouts and surprises from the first week, the Dodgers' winning ways to kick off the season, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s form early on. Joe Siddall (24:00), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins the guys on the heels of the Jays' first homestand of 2025. Joe weighs in on the team's depth contributors, the sustainability of their hot start, early impressions of Alan Roden, George Springer, Bowden Francis, Yariel Rodriguez, Anthony Santander, and Guerrero, before sharing his expectation for the team's upcoming road trip.

 

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.

]]> Thu, 3 Apr 2025 18:59:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this off-day episode celebrating the Blue Jays' sweep of the Nationals to push them atop the American League East! The guys start off with thoughts on how the switch to playing outdoors could impact Toronto's young players as the team heads to New York to take on the Mets. They also chat about the team's standouts and surprises from the first week, the Dodgers' winning ways to kick off the season, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s form early on. Joe Siddall (24:00), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins the guys on the heels of the Jays' first homestand of 2025. Joe weighs in on the team's depth contributors, the sustainability of their hot start, early impressions of Alan Roden, George Springer, Bowden Francis, Yariel Rodriguez, Anthony Santander, and Guerrero, before sharing his expectation for the team's upcoming road trip.

 

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.

]]> Blue Jays Hit the Road With a Division Lead Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this off-day episode celebrating the Blue Jays' sweep of the Nationals to push them atop the American League East! The guys start off with thoughts on how the switch to playing outdoors could impact Toronto's young players as the team heads to New York to take on the Mets. They also chat about the team's standouts and surprises from the first week, the Dodgers' winning ways to kick off the season, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s form early on. Joe Siddall (24:00), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins the guys on the heels of the Jays' first homestand of 2025. Joe weighs in on the team's depth contributors, the sustainability of their hot start, early impressions of Alan Roden, George Springer, Bowden Francis, Yariel Rodriguez, Anthony Santander, and Guerrero, before sharing his expectation for the team's upcoming road trip. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off this off-day episode celebrating the Blue Jays' sweep of the Nationals to push them atop the American League East! The guys start off with thoughts on how the switch to playing outdoors could impact Toronto's young players as the team heads to New York to take on the Mets. They also chat about the team's standouts and surprises from the first week, the Dodgers' winning ways to kick off the season, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s form early on. Joe Siddall (24:00), former MLB catcher and current Sportsnet analyst, joins the guys on the heels of the Jays' first homestand of 2025. Joe weighs in on the team's depth contributors, the sustainability of their hot start, early impressions of Alan Roden, George Springer, Bowden Francis, Yariel Rodriguez, Anthony Santander, and Guerrero, before sharing his expectation for the team's upcoming road trip. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, joe siddall, sportsnet, blue false full e189bd11-7d18-47fb-a4b4-3a97947fd8e2 John Schneider Tees Up the Jays' Matinee in Search of a Sweep Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program teeing up this afternoon's snowy series finale against the Nationals in search of a sweep. They begin with thoughts on the Blue Jays' game plan to attack opposing starter Mackenzie Gore, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, and Davis Schneider's opportunity in the lineup today. Jeff and Kevin also share their expectations for Easton Lucas ahead of his first start of the season, before looking into how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen early on and José Berríos' bounce-back start last night. The guys chat about Kristian Campbell and Jackson Merrill signing long-term extensions, before Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins the show (29:55)! Skip shares his view on Lucas getting the ball for today's game, Yariel Rodriguez' efforts out of the 'pen, Jeff Hoffman's early returns, George Springer's hot start, and what's stood out about Alan Roden and Will Wagner. John wraps up by answering this week's fan question from Darrell in Ingersoll!

 

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.

]]> Wed, 2 Apr 2025 18:59:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program teeing up this afternoon's snowy series finale against the Nationals in search of a sweep. They begin with thoughts on the Blue Jays' game plan to attack opposing starter Mackenzie Gore, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, and Davis Schneider's opportunity in the lineup today. Jeff and Kevin also share their expectations for Easton Lucas ahead of his first start of the season, before looking into how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen early on and José Berríos' bounce-back start last night. The guys chat about Kristian Campbell and Jackson Merrill signing long-term extensions, before Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins the show (29:55)! Skip shares his view on Lucas getting the ball for today's game, Yariel Rodriguez' efforts out of the 'pen, Jeff Hoffman's early returns, George Springer's hot start, and what's stood out about Alan Roden and Will Wagner. John wraps up by answering this week's fan question from Darrell in Ingersoll!

 

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.

]]> John Schneider Tees Up the Jays' Matinee in Search of a Sweep Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program teeing up this afternoon's snowy series finale against the Nationals in search of a sweep. They begin with thoughts on the Blue Jays' game plan to attack opposing starter Mackenzie Gore, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, and Davis Schneider's opportunity in the lineup today. Jeff and Kevin also share their expectations for Easton Lucas ahead of his first start of the season, before looking into how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen early on and José Berríos' bounce-back start last night. The guys chat about Kristian Campbell and Jackson Merrill signing long-term extensions, before Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins the show (29:55)! Skip shares his view on Lucas getting the ball for today's game, Yariel Rodriguez' efforts out of the 'pen, Jeff Hoffman's early returns, George Springer's hot start, and what's stood out about Alan Roden and Will Wagner. John wraps up by answering this week's fan question from Darrell in Ingersoll! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the program teeing up this afternoon's snowy series finale against the Nationals in search of a sweep. They begin with thoughts on the Blue Jays' game plan to attack opposing starter Mackenzie Gore, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, and Davis Schneider's opportunity in the lineup today. Jeff and Kevin also share their expectations for Easton Lucas ahead of his first start of the season, before looking into how John Schneider has deployed his bullpen early on and José Berríos' bounce-back start last night. The guys chat about Kristian Campbell and Jackson Merrill signing long-term extensions, before Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins the show (29:55)! Skip shares his view on Lucas getting the ball for today's game, Yariel Rodriguez' efforts out of the 'pen, Jeff Hoffman's early returns, George Springer's hot start, and what's stood out about Alan Roden and Will Wagner. John wraps up by answering this week's fan question from Darrell in Ingersoll! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 494ecc54-aeb7-4694-89c2-1b80465bfd78 The Nationals' Vision with Kevin Frandsen Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Kevin Frandsen (0:50), Washington Nationals TV colour analyst, former MLB player, and host of MLB Network Radio, to discuss the potential of Vlad Jr. receiving an offer from the Nats if he entered free agency, CJ Abrams’ ceiling, the rising star of James Wood, what would define a successful season for the team, the future trajectory of the Washington baseball club, scouting report on left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, and weighs in on the controversial torpedo bats. Then, Jeff and Kevin look ahead to Jose Berrios' second start of the year and how he can bounce back from Opening Day in the Blue Jays' second game against the Nationals.

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.

]]> Tue, 1 Apr 2025 20:09:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Kevin Frandsen (0:50), Washington Nationals TV colour analyst, former MLB player, and host of MLB Network Radio, to discuss the potential of Vlad Jr. receiving an offer from the Nats if he entered free agency, CJ Abrams’ ceiling, the rising star of James Wood, what would define a successful season for the team, the future trajectory of the Washington baseball club, scouting report on left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, and weighs in on the controversial torpedo bats. Then, Jeff and Kevin look ahead to Jose Berrios' second start of the year and how he can bounce back from Opening Day in the Blue Jays' second game against the Nationals.

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.

]]> The Nationals' Vision with Kevin Frandsen Sportsnet 00:50:05 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Kevin Frandsen (0:50), Washington Nationals TV colour analyst, former MLB player, and host of MLB Network Radio, to discuss the potential of Vlad Jr. receiving an offer from the Nats if he entered free agency, CJ Abrams’ ceiling, the rising star of James Wood, what would define a successful season for the team, the future trajectory of the Washington baseball club, scouting report on left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, and weighs in on the controversial torpedo bats. Then, Jeff and Kevin look ahead to Jose Berrios' second start of the year and how he can bounce back from Opening Day in the Blue Jays' second game against the Nationals. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Kevin Frandsen (0:50), Washington Nationals TV colour analyst, former MLB player, and host of MLB Network Radio, to discuss the potential of Vlad Jr. receiving an offer from the Nats if he entered free agency, CJ Abrams’ ceiling, the rising star of James Wood, what would define a successful season for the team, the future trajectory of the Washington baseball club, scouting report on left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore, and weighs in on the controversial torpedo bats. Then, Jeff and Kevin look ahead to Jose Berrios' second start of the year and how he can bounce back from Opening Day in the Blue Jays' second game against the Nationals. 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. false full e4559c59-37f7-415b-bb29-8efd1902a63b Jays Climb Above .500 with Dan Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Nationals to move above .500 for the first time in 2025. The guys break down Andrés Giménez' third home run in his first five games, Bowden Francis' first outing of the season, and George Springer's promising start to the year. Dan Shulman (24:50), play-by-play of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, shares his view on Brendon Little's work out of the bullpen, how José Berríos can rebound from his rough Opening Day start, and the sustainability of Springer's hot start. Dan also weighs in on Will Wagner and Alan Roden's expectations in 2025, Davis Schneider's stats that matter, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, early returns of Alejandro Kirk hitting behind Giménez, and more!

 

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.

]]> Tue, 1 Apr 2025 19:00:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Nationals to move above .500 for the first time in 2025. The guys break down Andrés Giménez' third home run in his first five games, Bowden Francis' first outing of the season, and George Springer's promising start to the year. Dan Shulman (24:50), play-by-play of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, shares his view on Brendon Little's work out of the bullpen, how José Berríos can rebound from his rough Opening Day start, and the sustainability of Springer's hot start. Dan also weighs in on Will Wagner and Alan Roden's expectations in 2025, Davis Schneider's stats that matter, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, early returns of Alejandro Kirk hitting behind Giménez, and more!

 

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.

]]> Jays Climb Above .500 with Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Nationals to move above .500 for the first time in 2025. The guys break down Andrés Giménez' third home run in his first five games, Bowden Francis' first outing of the season, and George Springer's promising start to the year. Dan Shulman (24:50), play-by-play of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, shares his view on Brendon Little's work out of the bullpen, how José Berríos can rebound from his rough Opening Day start, and the sustainability of Springer's hot start. Dan also weighs in on Will Wagner and Alan Roden's expectations in 2025, Davis Schneider's stats that matter, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, early returns of Alejandro Kirk hitting behind Giménez, and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on the Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Nationals to move above .500 for the first time in 2025. The guys break down Andrés Giménez' third home run in his first five games, Bowden Francis' first outing of the season, and George Springer's promising start to the year. Dan Shulman (24:50), play-by-play of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet, shares his view on Brendon Little's work out of the bullpen, how José Berríos can rebound from his rough Opening Day start, and the sustainability of Springer's hot start. Dan also weighs in on Will Wagner and Alan Roden's expectations in 2025, Davis Schneider's stats that matter, what's behind Anthony Santander's slow start, early returns of Alejandro Kirk hitting behind Giménez, and more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full 0e4ad0c8-501b-4bad-b954-0c34ba682678 In the GM's Office with Jim Bowden Former MLB General Manager, Jim Bowden, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his take on the Yankees' use of "torpedo bats", how the Blue Jays' signing of Max Scherzer looks in hindsight, and what's behind Rafael Devers' 0-for-16 start to the season. Jim also chats about Rōki Sasaki's rough outing for the Dodgers, as well as what to make of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s agency being in attendance over the weekend. Blair and Barker wrap up with thoughts on Alan Roden's MLB debut, if his approach at the plate is sustainable, Bo Bichette's form to start to season, and what to expect heading into a three-game set with the Nationals (23:55).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:00:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB General Manager, Jim Bowden, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his take on the Yankees' use of "torpedo bats", how the Blue Jays' signing of Max Scherzer looks in hindsight, and what's behind Rafael Devers' 0-for-16 start to the season. Jim also chats about Rōki Sasaki's rough outing for the Dodgers, as well as what to make of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s agency being in attendance over the weekend. Blair and Barker wrap up with thoughts on Alan Roden's MLB debut, if his approach at the plate is sustainable, Bo Bichette's form to start to season, and what to expect heading into a three-game set with the Nationals (23:55).

 

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.

]]> In the GM's Office with Jim Bowden Sportsnet 00:47:58 Former MLB General Manager, Jim Bowden, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his take on the Yankees' use of "torpedo bats", how the Blue Jays' signing of Max Scherzer looks in hindsight, and what's behind Rafael Devers' 0-for-16 start to the season. Jim also chats about Rōki Sasaki's rough outing for the Dodgers, as well as what to make of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s agency being in attendance over the weekend. Blair and Barker wrap up with thoughts on Alan Roden's MLB debut, if his approach at the plate is sustainable, Bo Bichette's form to start to season, and what to expect heading into a three-game set with the Nationals (23:55). 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. Former MLB General Manager, Jim Bowden, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his take on the Yankees' use of "torpedo bats", how the Blue Jays' signing of Max Scherzer looks in hindsight, and what's behind Rafael Devers' 0-for-16 start to the season. Jim also chats about Rōki Sasaki's rough outing for the Dodgers, as well as what to make of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s agency being in attendance over the weekend. Blair and Barker wrap up with thoughts on Alan Roden's MLB debut, if his approach at the plate is sustainable, Bo Bichette's form to start to season, and what to expect heading into a three-game set with the Nationals (23:55). 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. baseball, jim bowden, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full d1f218bb-f6dd-41e7-aa03-cf3a16a785c8 Blue Jays Opening Weekend Rewind + Torpedo Talk Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' opening series of the 2025 season. They dive into Max Scherzer's thumb injury that limited the veteran's debut in Toronto, Yariel Rodriguez' performance out of the bullpen, the options to fill out the rotation, George Springer's change in approach and the lack of power from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their take on the "torpedo bat" the Yankees have implemented. Chris Leroux (31:20), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to share his view the new bat technology being utilized, before weighing in on Chris Bassitt's 105-pitch outing and Rodriguez' form in Sunday's series finale.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 31 Mar 2025 19:03:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' opening series of the 2025 season. They dive into Max Scherzer's thumb injury that limited the veteran's debut in Toronto, Yariel Rodriguez' performance out of the bullpen, the options to fill out the rotation, George Springer's change in approach and the lack of power from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their take on the "torpedo bat" the Yankees have implemented. Chris Leroux (31:20), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to share his view the new bat technology being utilized, before weighing in on Chris Bassitt's 105-pitch outing and Rodriguez' form in Sunday's series finale.

 

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.

]]> Blue Jays Opening Weekend Rewind + Torpedo Talk Sportsnet 00:51:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' opening series of the 2025 season. They dive into Max Scherzer's thumb injury that limited the veteran's debut in Toronto, Yariel Rodriguez' performance out of the bullpen, the options to fill out the rotation, George Springer's change in approach and the lack of power from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their take on the "torpedo bat" the Yankees have implemented. Chris Leroux (31:20), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to share his view the new bat technology being utilized, before weighing in on Chris Bassitt's 105-pitch outing and Rodriguez' form in Sunday's series finale. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open this week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' opening series of the 2025 season. They dive into Max Scherzer's thumb injury that limited the veteran's debut in Toronto, Yariel Rodriguez' performance out of the bullpen, the options to fill out the rotation, George Springer's change in approach and the lack of power from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander. Later, Jeff and Kevin share their take on the "torpedo bat" the Yankees have implemented. Chris Leroux (31:20), former MLB pitcher and current Sportsnet Blue Jays analyst, joins the conversation to share his view the new bat technology being utilized, before weighing in on Chris Bassitt's 105-pitch outing and Rodriguez' form in Sunday's series finale. 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. baseball, chris leroux, mlb, jays, toronto, torpedo, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 8713ac5a-0412-4534-b40a-6a261b2ff34b Juan Soto's Trajectory with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by going to the Back Leg Line where they answer your burning Blue Jays questions after a lopsided Opening Day loss at the Rogers Centre. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:11) joins the show to discuss his chat with Juan Soto, Soto declaring himself 'the best hitter of all time,' and his ceiling with the Mets. Then, the three get into how the standard of Hall of Fame pitching is shifting, whether Teoscar Hernandez is underappreciated and much more.

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2025 20:10:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by going to the Back Leg Line where they answer your burning Blue Jays questions after a lopsided Opening Day loss at the Rogers Centre. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:11) joins the show to discuss his chat with Juan Soto, Soto declaring himself 'the best hitter of all time,' and his ceiling with the Mets. Then, the three get into how the standard of Hall of Fame pitching is shifting, whether Teoscar Hernandez is underappreciated and much more.

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 affiliate.

]]> Juan Soto's Trajectory with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:48:31 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by going to the Back Leg Line where they answer your burning Blue Jays questions after a lopsided Opening Day loss at the Rogers Centre. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:11) joins the show to discuss his chat with Juan Soto, Soto declaring himself 'the best hitter of all time,' and his ceiling with the Mets. Then, the three get into how the standard of Hall of Fame pitching is shifting, whether Teoscar Hernandez is underappreciated and much more. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by going to the Back Leg Line where they answer your burning Blue Jays questions after a lopsided Opening Day loss at the Rogers Centre. Later, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (27:11) joins the show to discuss his chat with Juan Soto, Soto declaring himself 'the best hitter of all time,' and his ceiling with the Mets. Then, the three get into how the standard of Hall of Fame pitching is shifting, whether Teoscar Hernandez is underappreciated and much more. 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 affiliate. false full 7d6c632d-12fc-443d-a7f2-7338e33e9850 How the Jays Can Bounce Back w/ John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin Friday's show finding some positives from the Blue Jays' 12-2 loss to open the regular season. The conversation shifts to the underlying concerns that Opening Day exposed including José Berríos' ugly debut and the lack of offensive power, before looking into how the team can regroup ahead of tonight's game. Later on, Manager John Schneider (21:34) joins the guys to share his view on his club's disappointing start to 2025 and how to combat the volume of home runs given up by the pitching staff. Skip also weighs in on Alan Roden's first major league hit, the challenge Charlie Morton poses tonight, the highs and lows of Alejandro Kirk's first game, Yariel Rodriguez' appearance out of the bullpen, what to expect from Kevin Gausman, George Springer's progress, and Daulton Varsho's timeline.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 28 Mar 2025 19:00:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin Friday's show finding some positives from the Blue Jays' 12-2 loss to open the regular season. The conversation shifts to the underlying concerns that Opening Day exposed including José Berríos' ugly debut and the lack of offensive power, before looking into how the team can regroup ahead of tonight's game. Later on, Manager John Schneider (21:34) joins the guys to share his view on his club's disappointing start to 2025 and how to combat the volume of home runs given up by the pitching staff. Skip also weighs in on Alan Roden's first major league hit, the challenge Charlie Morton poses tonight, the highs and lows of Alejandro Kirk's first game, Yariel Rodriguez' appearance out of the bullpen, what to expect from Kevin Gausman, George Springer's progress, and Daulton Varsho's timeline.

 

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.

]]> How the Jays Can Bounce Back w/ John Schneider Sportsnet 00:51:01 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin Friday's show finding some positives from the Blue Jays' 12-2 loss to open the regular season. The conversation shifts to the underlying concerns that Opening Day exposed including José Berríos' ugly debut and the lack of offensive power, before looking into how the team can regroup ahead of tonight's game. Later on, Manager John Schneider (21:34) joins the guys to share his view on his club's disappointing start to 2025 and how to combat the volume of home runs given up by the pitching staff. Skip also weighs in on Alan Roden's first major league hit, the challenge Charlie Morton poses tonight, the highs and lows of Alejandro Kirk's first game, Yariel Rodriguez' appearance out of the bullpen, what to expect from Kevin Gausman, George Springer's progress, and Daulton Varsho's timeline. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin Friday's show finding some positives from the Blue Jays' 12-2 loss to open the regular season. The conversation shifts to the underlying concerns that Opening Day exposed including José Berríos' ugly debut and the lack of offensive power, before looking into how the team can regroup ahead of tonight's game. Later on, Manager John Schneider (21:34) joins the guys to share his view on his club's disappointing start to 2025 and how to combat the volume of home runs given up by the pitching staff. Skip also weighs in on Alan Roden's first major league hit, the challenge Charlie Morton poses tonight, the highs and lows of Alejandro Kirk's first game, Yariel Rodriguez' appearance out of the bullpen, what to expect from Kevin Gausman, George Springer's progress, and Daulton Varsho's timeline. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 7f94e00a-cac0-4776-820e-cfbcb2cbd897 Bring On Opening Day! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays’ play-by-play announcer Ben Shulman, discussing the Opening Day lineup, game expectations, Alejandro Kirk’s season outlook, Jose Berrios’ start, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract situation. Later, former MLB Manager Fredi Gonzalez (25:43) joins to share insights on Anthony Santander, strategies against Berrios, and his expectations for Adley Rutschman.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:00:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays’ play-by-play announcer Ben Shulman, discussing the Opening Day lineup, game expectations, Alejandro Kirk’s season outlook, Jose Berrios’ start, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract situation. Later, former MLB Manager Fredi Gonzalez (25:43) joins to share insights on Anthony Santander, strategies against Berrios, and his expectations for Adley Rutschman.

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 affiliate.

]]> Bring On Opening Day! Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays’ play-by-play announcer Ben Shulman, discussing the Opening Day lineup, game expectations, Alejandro Kirk’s season outlook, Jose Berrios’ start, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract situation. Later, former MLB Manager Fredi Gonzalez (25:43) joins to share insights on Anthony Santander, strategies against Berrios, and his expectations for Adley Rutschman. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays’ play-by-play announcer Ben Shulman, discussing the Opening Day lineup, game expectations, Alejandro Kirk’s season outlook, Jose Berrios’ start, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s contract situation. Later, former MLB Manager Fredi Gonzalez (25:43) joins to share insights on Anthony Santander, strategies against Berrios, and his expectations for Adley Rutschman. 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 affiliate. false full bebf06fc-8f50-4b37-ae4c-6126f8415af3 Final Season Prep with Ross Atkins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (1:15) to share his impressions of the team ahead of Opening Day on Thursday. They discuss Alan Roden's early opportunity, Alejandro Kirk's importance, expectations for Max Scherzer, and the hierarchy in the bullpen. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins (35:26) joins the show to discuss the latest in the organization's negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his evaluation of the team's offseason, takeaways from Spring Training and much more! 

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.

]]> Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:07:17 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (1:15) to share his impressions of the team ahead of Opening Day on Thursday. They discuss Alan Roden's early opportunity, Alejandro Kirk's importance, expectations for Max Scherzer, and the hierarchy in the bullpen. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins (35:26) joins the show to discuss the latest in the organization's negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his evaluation of the team's offseason, takeaways from Spring Training and much more! 

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.

]]> Final Season Prep with Ross Atkins Sportsnet 00:49:58 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (1:15) to share his impressions of the team ahead of Opening Day on Thursday. They discuss Alan Roden's early opportunity, Alejandro Kirk's importance, expectations for Max Scherzer, and the hierarchy in the bullpen. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins (35:26) joins the show to discuss the latest in the organization's negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his evaluation of the team's offseason, takeaways from Spring Training and much more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the second hour with Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (1:15) to share his impressions of the team ahead of Opening Day on Thursday. They discuss Alan Roden's early opportunity, Alejandro Kirk's importance, expectations for Max Scherzer, and the hierarchy in the bullpen. Later, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins (35:26) joins the show to discuss the latest in the organization's negotiations with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., his evaluation of the team's offseason, takeaways from Spring Training and much more! 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. false full 161db8b3-c00c-4367-b77f-10d2dabd3bbd Can the Yankees Stay Competitive in 2025? On the eve of Opening Day, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by sifting through Manager John Schneider's press conference. They dive into their expectations for the Blue Jays in 2025, as well as the latest on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract negotiations. Later, Emmanuel Berbari (28:05), Yankees broadcaster on WFAN, checks in from New York to share his read on the Bronx Bombers. He chats about the state of the roster with Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season, if the rest rotation can pick up the slack, and how the team can rebound from the loss of Juan Soto. Emmanuel also looks into Jazz Chisholm's importance, Oswaldo Cabrera's job security, the Yanks' bullpen arms to watch, Paul Goldschmidt's veteran presence, and more!

 

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.

]]> Wed, 26 Mar 2025 18:58:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ On the eve of Opening Day, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by sifting through Manager John Schneider's press conference. They dive into their expectations for the Blue Jays in 2025, as well as the latest on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract negotiations. Later, Emmanuel Berbari (28:05), Yankees broadcaster on WFAN, checks in from New York to share his read on the Bronx Bombers. He chats about the state of the roster with Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season, if the rest rotation can pick up the slack, and how the team can rebound from the loss of Juan Soto. Emmanuel also looks into Jazz Chisholm's importance, Oswaldo Cabrera's job security, the Yanks' bullpen arms to watch, Paul Goldschmidt's veteran presence, and more!

 

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.

]]> Can the Yankees Stay Competitive in 2025? Sportsnet 00:49:52 On the eve of Opening Day, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by sifting through Manager John Schneider's press conference. They dive into their expectations for the Blue Jays in 2025, as well as the latest on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract negotiations. Later, Emmanuel Berbari (28:05), Yankees broadcaster on WFAN, checks in from New York to share his read on the Bronx Bombers. He chats about the state of the roster with Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season, if the rest rotation can pick up the slack, and how the team can rebound from the loss of Juan Soto. Emmanuel also looks into Jazz Chisholm's importance, Oswaldo Cabrera's job security, the Yanks' bullpen arms to watch, Paul Goldschmidt's veteran presence, and more! 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. On the eve of Opening Day, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by sifting through Manager John Schneider's press conference. They dive into their expectations for the Blue Jays in 2025, as well as the latest on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract negotiations. Later, Emmanuel Berbari (28:05), Yankees broadcaster on WFAN, checks in from New York to share his read on the Bronx Bombers. He chats about the state of the roster with Gerrit Cole sidelined for the season, if the rest rotation can pick up the slack, and how the team can rebound from the loss of Juan Soto. Emmanuel also looks into Jazz Chisholm's importance, Oswaldo Cabrera's job security, the Yanks' bullpen arms to watch, Paul Goldschmidt's veteran presence, and more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, yankees, new, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, york, blue, emmanuel berbari false full 5b615873-88e5-4b57-ba06-3f05b6140647 Managing Jays' Expectations + Orioles' 2025 Identity Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (5:51) to chat about his expectations for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, the buildup to 'Opening Day' each year, whether Kevin Gausman can return to form, what classifies a good year for Max Scherzer, bullpen depth, Alejandro Kirk's workload behind the plate and on offence, and whether Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find some comfort alongside Andrés Giménez in the infield. Then, MASN's Roch Kubatko (27:10) stops by to discuss the impact moving the left field wall closer to home plate will have for hitters at Camden Yards, who are the Orioles heading into the 2025 season, projections for Zach Eflin, not signing Corbin Burnes, if the team will look into calling up prospect catcher Samuel Basallo, and concerns for the aging pitching staff.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:06:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (5:51) to chat about his expectations for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, the buildup to 'Opening Day' each year, whether Kevin Gausman can return to form, what classifies a good year for Max Scherzer, bullpen depth, Alejandro Kirk's workload behind the plate and on offence, and whether Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find some comfort alongside Andrés Giménez in the infield. Then, MASN's Roch Kubatko (27:10) stops by to discuss the impact moving the left field wall closer to home plate will have for hitters at Camden Yards, who are the Orioles heading into the 2025 season, projections for Zach Eflin, not signing Corbin Burnes, if the team will look into calling up prospect catcher Samuel Basallo, and concerns for the aging pitching staff.

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 affiliate.

]]> Managing Jays' Expectations + Orioles' 2025 Identity Sportsnet 00:49:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (5:51) to chat about his expectations for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, the buildup to 'Opening Day' each year, whether Kevin Gausman can return to form, what classifies a good year for Max Scherzer, bullpen depth, Alejandro Kirk's workload behind the plate and on offence, and whether Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find some comfort alongside Andrés Giménez in the infield. Then, MASN's Roch Kubatko (27:10) stops by to discuss the impact moving the left field wall closer to home plate will have for hitters at Camden Yards, who are the Orioles heading into the 2025 season, projections for Zach Eflin, not signing Corbin Burnes, if the team will look into calling up prospect catcher Samuel Basallo, and concerns for the aging pitching staff. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (5:51) to chat about his expectations for Will Wagner and Alan Roden, the buildup to 'Opening Day' each year, whether Kevin Gausman can return to form, what classifies a good year for Max Scherzer, bullpen depth, Alejandro Kirk's workload behind the plate and on offence, and whether Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can find some comfort alongside Andrés Giménez in the infield. Then, MASN's Roch Kubatko (27:10) stops by to discuss the impact moving the left field wall closer to home plate will have for hitters at Camden Yards, who are the Orioles heading into the 2025 season, projections for Zach Eflin, not signing Corbin Burnes, if the team will look into calling up prospect catcher Samuel Basallo, and concerns for the aging pitching staff. 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 affiliate. false full 353124c5-10d9-42c4-859b-da705813a5de David Samson Balances the Jays' Books + Over/Unders! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Tuesday's episode zeroing in on the Blue Jays roster. They share their expectations for Alan Roden, Will Wagner and Leo Jimenez heading into the season, before looking into Toronto's clean-up options for Opening Day. Producer Mark Boffo joins the guys to pose some Jays over/under bets including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home runs, Bo Bichette hits, Anthony Santander RBIs, and much more! Later on, David Samson (29:13), former MLB executive and host of the Nothing Personal podcast, stops by! He offers his view on Alejandro Kirk's contract extension, the value of winning in April, which teams will surprise in 2025, what it will take to strike a deal with Vladdy, and how to manage George Springer in his age 35 season.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:01:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Tuesday's episode zeroing in on the Blue Jays roster. They share their expectations for Alan Roden, Will Wagner and Leo Jimenez heading into the season, before looking into Toronto's clean-up options for Opening Day. Producer Mark Boffo joins the guys to pose some Jays over/under bets including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home runs, Bo Bichette hits, Anthony Santander RBIs, and much more! Later on, David Samson (29:13), former MLB executive and host of the Nothing Personal podcast, stops by! He offers his view on Alejandro Kirk's contract extension, the value of winning in April, which teams will surprise in 2025, what it will take to strike a deal with Vladdy, and how to manage George Springer in his age 35 season.

 

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.

]]> David Samson Balances the Jays' Books + Over/Unders! Sportsnet 00:49:44 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Tuesday's episode zeroing in on the Blue Jays roster. They share their expectations for Alan Roden, Will Wagner and Leo Jimenez heading into the season, before looking into Toronto's clean-up options for Opening Day. Producer Mark Boffo joins the guys to pose some Jays over/under bets including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home runs, Bo Bichette hits, Anthony Santander RBIs, and much more! Later on, David Samson (29:13), former MLB executive and host of the Nothing Personal podcast, stops by! He offers his view on Alejandro Kirk's contract extension, the value of winning in April, which teams will surprise in 2025, what it will take to strike a deal with Vladdy, and how to manage George Springer in his age 35 season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off Tuesday's episode zeroing in on the Blue Jays roster. They share their expectations for Alan Roden, Will Wagner and Leo Jimenez heading into the season, before looking into Toronto's clean-up options for Opening Day. Producer Mark Boffo joins the guys to pose some Jays over/under bets including Vladimir Guerrero Jr. home runs, Bo Bichette hits, Anthony Santander RBIs, and much more! Later on, David Samson (29:13), former MLB executive and host of the Nothing Personal podcast, stops by! He offers his view on Alejandro Kirk's contract extension, the value of winning in April, which teams will surprise in 2025, what it will take to strike a deal with Vladdy, and how to manage George Springer in his age 35 season. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, mark boffo, david samson, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 8750c962-baa8-4284-8fc8-681229cb62ba 2025 MLB Season Preview with Jon Morosi MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the Detroit Tigers' chances for a World Series berth, the differences with the Boston Red Sox's 2025 roster, how the Baltimore Orioles can learn from the L.A. Dodgers' method of handling prospects, why they believe that the Blue Jays and Vlad Jr. have come to an agreement on an extension, and a breakout year for Julio Rodríguez. Then, Jon, Jeff and Kevin discuss Adley Rutschman's future catching for the Orioles, if the Dodgers are good for baseball, and how the game is presented towards diehard and new fans. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:01:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the Detroit Tigers' chances for a World Series berth, the differences with the Boston Red Sox's 2025 roster, how the Baltimore Orioles can learn from the L.A. Dodgers' method of handling prospects, why they believe that the Blue Jays and Vlad Jr. have come to an agreement on an extension, and a breakout year for Julio Rodríguez. Then, Jon, Jeff and Kevin discuss Adley Rutschman's future catching for the Orioles, if the Dodgers are good for baseball, and how the game is presented towards diehard and new fans. 

 

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 affiliate.

]]> 2025 MLB Season Preview with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:38 MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the Detroit Tigers' chances for a World Series berth, the differences with the Boston Red Sox's 2025 roster, how the Baltimore Orioles can learn from the L.A. Dodgers' method of handling prospects, why they believe that the Blue Jays and Vlad Jr. have come to an agreement on an extension, and a breakout year for Julio Rodríguez. Then, Jon, Jeff and Kevin discuss Adley Rutschman's future catching for the Orioles, if the Dodgers are good for baseball, and how the game is presented towards diehard and new fans. 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 affiliate. MLB Network's Jon Morosi joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker in-studio to chat about the Detroit Tigers' chances for a World Series berth, the differences with the Boston Red Sox's 2025 roster, how the Baltimore Orioles can learn from the L.A. Dodgers' method of handling prospects, why they believe that the Blue Jays and Vlad Jr. have come to an agreement on an extension, and a breakout year for Julio Rodríguez. Then, Jon, Jeff and Kevin discuss Adley Rutschman's future catching for the Orioles, if the Dodgers are good for baseball, and how the game is presented towards diehard and new fans. 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 affiliate. false full 161677c0-9cca-4087-bc9c-c69bc8d014e5 Kirk's Extension, Preseason Picks & Shi Davidi! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are sick of spring training... bring on the regular season! The guys dive into the Blue Jays 26-man roster to debate those who made the cut and Alejandro Kirk's five-year extension with the club, before sharing their preseason picks for MLB division winners and Wild Card spots. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:02) joins the guys to chat about Toronto's roster decisions including Alan Roden's promotion, Ryan Yarbrough's release, and Yariel Rodriguez' outlook for 2025. Shi also shares his view on Kirk's freshly inked contract, what's next for Orelvis Martínez, and who will start in centerfield on Opening Day.

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.

]]> Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:01:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are sick of spring training... bring on the regular season! The guys dive into the Blue Jays 26-man roster to debate those who made the cut and Alejandro Kirk's five-year extension with the club, before sharing their preseason picks for MLB division winners and Wild Card spots. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:02) joins the guys to chat about Toronto's roster decisions including Alan Roden's promotion, Ryan Yarbrough's release, and Yariel Rodriguez' outlook for 2025. Shi also shares his view on Kirk's freshly inked contract, what's next for Orelvis Martínez, and who will start in centerfield on Opening Day.

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.

]]> Kirk's Extension, Preseason Picks & Shi Davidi! Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are sick of spring training... bring on the regular season! The guys dive into the Blue Jays 26-man roster to debate those who made the cut and Alejandro Kirk's five-year extension with the club, before sharing their preseason picks for MLB division winners and Wild Card spots. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:02) joins the guys to chat about Toronto's roster decisions including Alan Roden's promotion, Ryan Yarbrough's release, and Yariel Rodriguez' outlook for 2025. Shi also shares his view on Kirk's freshly inked contract, what's next for Orelvis Martínez, and who will start in centerfield on Opening Day. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are sick of spring training... bring on the regular season! The guys dive into the Blue Jays 26-man roster to debate those who made the cut and Alejandro Kirk's five-year extension with the club, before sharing their preseason picks for MLB division winners and Wild Card spots. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (28:02) joins the guys to chat about Toronto's roster decisions including Alan Roden's promotion, Ryan Yarbrough's release, and Yariel Rodriguez' outlook for 2025. Shi also shares his view on Kirk's freshly inked contract, what's next for Orelvis Martínez, and who will start in centerfield on Opening Day. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 58f8e68b-391d-4c7f-af39-ef02bb14e9a8 Road to Opening Day with John Schneider + Mark Topkin's Rays Report Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into the box on Friday's edition of Blair and Barker with a promising update on Max Scherzer's thumb injury, before sifting through today's Blue Jays lineup. Manager John Schneider (15:56) joins the guys to discuss the latest on Scherzer, before getting into how Bowden Francis can build off of his strong second half of 2024, Yariel Rodriguez' form this spring, and how Will Wagner is fitting in at third base. John also sheds light on the plan leading up to Opening Day, how he wants his team to utilize the Automatic Ball-Strike system, the general reception of ABS from umpires, and who he envisions batting clean-up. Later, Marc Topkin (33:27) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on Rays as they gear up to play the 2025 season from George Steinbrenner Field. Marc looks into how the minor league park could impact the team's offensive presence, the "big three" in Tampa's lineup, Shane McClanahan's status, and how former Jay Danny Jansen is fitting 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 any affiliates.

]]> Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:00:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into the box on Friday's edition of Blair and Barker with a promising update on Max Scherzer's thumb injury, before sifting through today's Blue Jays lineup. Manager John Schneider (15:56) joins the guys to discuss the latest on Scherzer, before getting into how Bowden Francis can build off of his strong second half of 2024, Yariel Rodriguez' form this spring, and how Will Wagner is fitting in at third base. John also sheds light on the plan leading up to Opening Day, how he wants his team to utilize the Automatic Ball-Strike system, the general reception of ABS from umpires, and who he envisions batting clean-up. Later, Marc Topkin (33:27) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on Rays as they gear up to play the 2025 season from George Steinbrenner Field. Marc looks into how the minor league park could impact the team's offensive presence, the "big three" in Tampa's lineup, Shane McClanahan's status, and how former Jay Danny Jansen is fitting 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 any affiliates.

]]> Road to Opening Day with John Schneider + Mark Topkin's Rays Report Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into the box on Friday's edition of Blair and Barker with a promising update on Max Scherzer's thumb injury, before sifting through today's Blue Jays lineup. Manager John Schneider (15:56) joins the guys to discuss the latest on Scherzer, before getting into how Bowden Francis can build off of his strong second half of 2024, Yariel Rodriguez' form this spring, and how Will Wagner is fitting in at third base. John also sheds light on the plan leading up to Opening Day, how he wants his team to utilize the Automatic Ball-Strike system, the general reception of ABS from umpires, and who he envisions batting clean-up. Later, Marc Topkin (33:27) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on Rays as they gear up to play the 2025 season from George Steinbrenner Field. Marc looks into how the minor league park could impact the team's offensive presence, the "big three" in Tampa's lineup, Shane McClanahan's status, and how former Jay Danny Jansen is fitting 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 any affiliates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into the box on Friday's edition of Blair and Barker with a promising update on Max Scherzer's thumb injury, before sifting through today's Blue Jays lineup. Manager John Schneider (15:56) joins the guys to discuss the latest on Scherzer, before getting into how Bowden Francis can build off of his strong second half of 2024, Yariel Rodriguez' form this spring, and how Will Wagner is fitting in at third base. John also sheds light on the plan leading up to Opening Day, how he wants his team to utilize the Automatic Ball-Strike system, the general reception of ABS from umpires, and who he envisions batting clean-up. Later, Marc Topkin (33:27) of the Tampa Bay Times checks in on Rays as they gear up to play the 2025 season from George Steinbrenner Field. Marc looks into how the minor league park could impact the team's offensive presence, the "big three" in Tampa's lineup, Shane McClanahan's status, and how former Jay Danny Jansen is fitting 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 any affiliates. baseball, rays, mlb, jays, tampa, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, bay, jeff blair, sportsnet, marc topkin, blue false full 72237f85-34dc-4531-956c-67c8f4ee4dcd Vladdy Optimism + History Restored w/ Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's episode with thoughts on Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro's optimism that the team and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will reach an agreement. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (06:52) joins the conversation to share his view on divide between the two parties, before discussing his efforts to republish a story on Jackie Robinson's military service that was removed from the United States Department of Defense website. After the break, Blair and Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' to respond to your questions and comments (27:10)!

 

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.

]]> Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:00:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's episode with thoughts on Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro's optimism that the team and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will reach an agreement. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (06:52) joins the conversation to share his view on divide between the two parties, before discussing his efforts to republish a story on Jackie Robinson's military service that was removed from the United States Department of Defense website. After the break, Blair and Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' to respond to your questions and comments (27:10)!

 

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.

]]> Vladdy Optimism + History Restored w/ Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's episode with thoughts on Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro's optimism that the team and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will reach an agreement. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (06:52) joins the conversation to share his view on divide between the two parties, before discussing his efforts to republish a story on Jackie Robinson's military service that was removed from the United States Department of Defense website. After the break, Blair and Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' to respond to your questions and comments (27:10)! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's episode with thoughts on Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro's optimism that the team and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will reach an agreement. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan (06:52) joins the conversation to share his view on divide between the two parties, before discussing his efforts to republish a story on Jackie Robinson's military service that was removed from the United States Department of Defense website. After the break, Blair and Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' to respond to your questions and comments (27:10)! 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 636c4f43-c9ad-4b65-8d6b-9181eb326820 Should Ohtani Stay Off the Mound + Red Sox Taking the A.L. East? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Brian Kenny from the MLB Network to discuss whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champions this year, whether Shohei Ohtani should abandon pitching and what the Blue Jays need to do to make the playoffs. Later in the show, Red Sox reporter, Rob Bradford (27:47) joins the show to discuss the state of the team, whether they’re capable of taking the A.L. East, whether Rafael Devers should be DH and Alex Bregman’s contribution to the Red Sox.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:02:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Brian Kenny from the MLB Network to discuss whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champions this year, whether Shohei Ohtani should abandon pitching and what the Blue Jays need to do to make the playoffs. Later in the show, Red Sox reporter, Rob Bradford (27:47) joins the show to discuss the state of the team, whether they’re capable of taking the A.L. East, whether Rafael Devers should be DH and Alex Bregman’s contribution to the Red Sox.

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 affiliate.

]]> Should Ohtani Stay Off the Mound + Red Sox Taking the A.L. East? Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Brian Kenny from the MLB Network to discuss whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champions this year, whether Shohei Ohtani should abandon pitching and what the Blue Jays need to do to make the playoffs. Later in the show, Red Sox reporter, Rob Bradford (27:47) joins the show to discuss the state of the team, whether they’re capable of taking the A.L. East, whether Rafael Devers should be DH and Alex Bregman’s contribution to the Red Sox. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Brian Kenny from the MLB Network to discuss whether the Los Angeles Dodgers can repeat as champions this year, whether Shohei Ohtani should abandon pitching and what the Blue Jays need to do to make the playoffs. Later in the show, Red Sox reporter, Rob Bradford (27:47) joins the show to discuss the state of the team, whether they’re capable of taking the A.L. East, whether Rafael Devers should be DH and Alex Bregman’s contribution to the Red Sox. 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 affiliate. false full 0077a2a9-e909-4f76-b762-ad2a0b706527 Cubs’ Division Outlook + Scherzer Concerns with Ben Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with ESPN MLB Writer, Jesse Rogers to discuss Max Scherzer’s looming injury and whether Yariel Rodriguez will get the start over Scherzer. Next, they hit on Kyle Tucker’s free agency, the state of the A.L. Central and the Chicago Cubs division outlook. Later, Blue Jays Announcer Ben Shulman (27:46) joins the show to weigh in on Scherzer’s thumb implications, whether Davis Schneider’s impressive spring training will be sustainable, how the Opening Day lineup will look like and debate Yariel Rodriguez’s role this year.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:02:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with ESPN MLB Writer, Jesse Rogers to discuss Max Scherzer’s looming injury and whether Yariel Rodriguez will get the start over Scherzer. Next, they hit on Kyle Tucker’s free agency, the state of the A.L. Central and the Chicago Cubs division outlook. Later, Blue Jays Announcer Ben Shulman (27:46) joins the show to weigh in on Scherzer’s thumb implications, whether Davis Schneider’s impressive spring training will be sustainable, how the Opening Day lineup will look like and debate Yariel Rodriguez’s role this year.

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 affiliate.

]]> Cubs’ Division Outlook + Scherzer Concerns with Ben Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with ESPN MLB Writer, Jesse Rogers to discuss Max Scherzer’s looming injury and whether Yariel Rodriguez will get the start over Scherzer. Next, they hit on Kyle Tucker’s free agency, the state of the A.L. Central and the Chicago Cubs division outlook. Later, Blue Jays Announcer Ben Shulman (27:46) joins the show to weigh in on Scherzer’s thumb implications, whether Davis Schneider’s impressive spring training will be sustainable, how the Opening Day lineup will look like and debate Yariel Rodriguez’s role this year. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with ESPN MLB Writer, Jesse Rogers to discuss Max Scherzer’s looming injury and whether Yariel Rodriguez will get the start over Scherzer. Next, they hit on Kyle Tucker’s free agency, the state of the A.L. Central and the Chicago Cubs division outlook. Later, Blue Jays Announcer Ben Shulman (27:46) joins the show to weigh in on Scherzer’s thumb implications, whether Davis Schneider’s impressive spring training will be sustainable, how the Opening Day lineup will look like and debate Yariel Rodriguez’s role this year. 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 affiliate. false full 9ac26bd4-c8d5-45e6-8970-1960fb92af19 Berríos Gets the Opening Day Start + Vladdy’s Alleged New Offer? On this St. Patrick's Day edition, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show by discussing an outfield scare involving Anthony Santander and Alan Roden, José Berríos' Opening Day start, the decision to start Daulton Varsho, and reports of a new contract offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Next, MLB Analyst and Insider Jim Bowden (27:51) joins the show to discuss the continued injuries in spring training, whether prospect spring training stats matter and his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s alleged new offer.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2025 17:01:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ On this St. Patrick's Day edition, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show by discussing an outfield scare involving Anthony Santander and Alan Roden, José Berríos' Opening Day start, the decision to start Daulton Varsho, and reports of a new contract offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Next, MLB Analyst and Insider Jim Bowden (27:51) joins the show to discuss the continued injuries in spring training, whether prospect spring training stats matter and his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s alleged new offer.

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 affiliate.

]]> Berríos Gets the Opening Day Start + Vladdy’s Alleged New Offer? Sportsnet 00:49:30 On this St. Patrick's Day edition, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show by discussing an outfield scare involving Anthony Santander and Alan Roden, José Berríos' Opening Day start, the decision to start Daulton Varsho, and reports of a new contract offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Next, MLB Analyst and Insider Jim Bowden (27:51) joins the show to discuss the continued injuries in spring training, whether prospect spring training stats matter and his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s alleged new offer. 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 affiliate. On this St. Patrick's Day edition, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show by discussing an outfield scare involving Anthony Santander and Alan Roden, José Berríos' Opening Day start, the decision to start Daulton Varsho, and reports of a new contract offer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Next, MLB Analyst and Insider Jim Bowden (27:51) joins the show to discuss the continued injuries in spring training, whether prospect spring training stats matter and his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s alleged new offer. 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 affiliate. false full 547827c9-38be-497f-b2ea-a6a37556360e Meet the Managers: Don Mattingly & John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into Friday's edition of Blair & Barker with managers on the mind. Toronto Blue Jays Bench Coach Don Mattingly joins the guys to discuss how his role with the team has evolved, how he applies tactics from his playing career as a coach, and how that strategy changes from player to player. "Donnie Baseball" also weighs in on how the team envisions the batting order, his first impressions of Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez, and what he's focusing on as spring training winds down. Later, Manager John Schneider (26:05) checks in from the team bus on the way to tonight's game against the Astros. John updates us on Erik Swanson's health after experiencing elbow discomfort, before diving into Addison Barger's spring, what he wants to see from George Springer at the plate this season, who's in contention for the final roster spots, and how Bowden Francis can build off of a strong 2024. 

 

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.

]]> Fri, 14 Mar 2025 17:01:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into Friday's edition of Blair & Barker with managers on the mind. Toronto Blue Jays Bench Coach Don Mattingly joins the guys to discuss how his role with the team has evolved, how he applies tactics from his playing career as a coach, and how that strategy changes from player to player. "Donnie Baseball" also weighs in on how the team envisions the batting order, his first impressions of Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez, and what he's focusing on as spring training winds down. Later, Manager John Schneider (26:05) checks in from the team bus on the way to tonight's game against the Astros. John updates us on Erik Swanson's health after experiencing elbow discomfort, before diving into Addison Barger's spring, what he wants to see from George Springer at the plate this season, who's in contention for the final roster spots, and how Bowden Francis can build off of a strong 2024. 

 

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.

]]> Meet the Managers: Don Mattingly & John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:21 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into Friday's edition of Blair & Barker with managers on the mind. Toronto Blue Jays Bench Coach Don Mattingly joins the guys to discuss how his role with the team has evolved, how he applies tactics from his playing career as a coach, and how that strategy changes from player to player. "Donnie Baseball" also weighs in on how the team envisions the batting order, his first impressions of Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez, and what he's focusing on as spring training winds down. Later, Manager John Schneider (26:05) checks in from the team bus on the way to tonight's game against the Astros. John updates us on Erik Swanson's health after experiencing elbow discomfort, before diving into Addison Barger's spring, what he wants to see from George Springer at the plate this season, who's in contention for the final roster spots, and how Bowden Francis can build off of a strong 2024. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker step into Friday's edition of Blair & Barker with managers on the mind. Toronto Blue Jays Bench Coach Don Mattingly joins the guys to discuss how his role with the team has evolved, how he applies tactics from his playing career as a coach, and how that strategy changes from player to player. "Donnie Baseball" also weighs in on how the team envisions the batting order, his first impressions of Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez, and what he's focusing on as spring training winds down. Later, Manager John Schneider (26:05) checks in from the team bus on the way to tonight's game against the Astros. John updates us on Erik Swanson's health after experiencing elbow discomfort, before diving into Addison Barger's spring, what he wants to see from George Springer at the plate this season, who's in contention for the final roster spots, and how Bowden Francis can build off of a strong 2024. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 5b70189c-7596-4529-bce5-cab2958c25e0 Overreaction Thursday ft. Caleb Joseph & Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's comments about Max Scherzer and if his thumb injury is related to past ailments. Barker shares his take on the Blue Jays' lineup for this afternoon's spring training matchup against the Orioles, before getting Sportsnet's own Caleb Joseph's opinion (12:30). The former big league catcher shares his view on Bo Bichette's power surge this spring, his level of concern on Scherzer's setback, and what to make Kevin Gausman's performance in Dunedin so far. Later on, MLB Insider Jeff Passan (31:21) shares his view on the Tampa Bay Rays not moving forward with a new ballpark in the St. Petersburg area and the contract negotiations between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Jays.

 

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.

]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2025 17:32:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's comments about Max Scherzer and if his thumb injury is related to past ailments. Barker shares his take on the Blue Jays' lineup for this afternoon's spring training matchup against the Orioles, before getting Sportsnet's own Caleb Joseph's opinion (12:30). The former big league catcher shares his view on Bo Bichette's power surge this spring, his level of concern on Scherzer's setback, and what to make Kevin Gausman's performance in Dunedin so far. Later on, MLB Insider Jeff Passan (31:21) shares his view on the Tampa Bay Rays not moving forward with a new ballpark in the St. Petersburg area and the contract negotiations between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Jays.

 

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.

]]> Overreaction Thursday ft. Caleb Joseph & Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:25 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's comments about Max Scherzer and if his thumb injury is related to past ailments. Barker shares his take on the Blue Jays' lineup for this afternoon's spring training matchup against the Orioles, before getting Sportsnet's own Caleb Joseph's opinion (12:30). The former big league catcher shares his view on Bo Bichette's power surge this spring, his level of concern on Scherzer's setback, and what to make Kevin Gausman's performance in Dunedin so far. Later on, MLB Insider Jeff Passan (31:21) shares his view on the Tampa Bay Rays not moving forward with a new ballpark in the St. Petersburg area and the contract negotiations between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Jays. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off today's show with thoughts on John Schneider's comments about Max Scherzer and if his thumb injury is related to past ailments. Barker shares his take on the Blue Jays' lineup for this afternoon's spring training matchup against the Orioles, before getting Sportsnet's own Caleb Joseph's opinion (12:30). The former big league catcher shares his view on Bo Bichette's power surge this spring, his level of concern on Scherzer's setback, and what to make Kevin Gausman's performance in Dunedin so far. Later on, MLB Insider Jeff Passan (31:21) shares his view on the Tampa Bay Rays not moving forward with a new ballpark in the St. Petersburg area and the contract negotiations between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Jays. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 3ae4e1df-dc16-45c9-b612-e00d6f19c650 The Vladdy Saga Intensifies with Shi Davidi & Jon Heyman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Shi Davidi discussing Max Scherzer's lingering thumb injury and whether it is cause for concern. They also discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s reported contract offer from the Blue Jays, how the offer will be perceived throughout the season, and whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can block out the noise. The lads then briefly move to the back leg line before being joined by MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman (29:23). The three discuss how the front office should approach the problem, how to enhance their rotations, and whether first basemen should be paid more.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2025 17:02:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Shi Davidi discussing Max Scherzer's lingering thumb injury and whether it is cause for concern. They also discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s reported contract offer from the Blue Jays, how the offer will be perceived throughout the season, and whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can block out the noise. The lads then briefly move to the back leg line before being joined by MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman (29:23). The three discuss how the front office should approach the problem, how to enhance their rotations, and whether first basemen should be paid more.

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 affiliate.

]]> The Vladdy Saga Intensifies with Shi Davidi & Jon Heyman Sportsnet 00:49:28 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Shi Davidi discussing Max Scherzer's lingering thumb injury and whether it is cause for concern. They also discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s reported contract offer from the Blue Jays, how the offer will be perceived throughout the season, and whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can block out the noise. The lads then briefly move to the back leg line before being joined by MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman (29:23). The three discuss how the front office should approach the problem, how to enhance their rotations, and whether first basemen should be paid more. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Shi Davidi discussing Max Scherzer's lingering thumb injury and whether it is cause for concern. They also discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s reported contract offer from the Blue Jays, how the offer will be perceived throughout the season, and whether Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can block out the noise. The lads then briefly move to the back leg line before being joined by MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman (29:23). The three discuss how the front office should approach the problem, how to enhance their rotations, and whether first basemen should be paid more. 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 affiliate. false full 2624dd09-28ff-4822-8526-284b65af2567 Catching Max Scherzer with Alex Avila Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the episode by discussing Gerrit Cole's season-ending injury, whether George Springer deserves to continue as a lead-off hitter, and whether Myles Straw should be the everyday center fielder in Daulton Varsho's absence. Later, former MLB catcher and MLB Network analyst Alex Avila (23:35) joins the show to discuss what it's like to catch Max Scherzer, how Alejandro Kirk should catch him, and how other veteran players like Gausman and Bassitt can still learn from Scherzer. Finally, Alex tells one of his favourite stories about Max while playing a game.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:02:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the episode by discussing Gerrit Cole's season-ending injury, whether George Springer deserves to continue as a lead-off hitter, and whether Myles Straw should be the everyday center fielder in Daulton Varsho's absence. Later, former MLB catcher and MLB Network analyst Alex Avila (23:35) joins the show to discuss what it's like to catch Max Scherzer, how Alejandro Kirk should catch him, and how other veteran players like Gausman and Bassitt can still learn from Scherzer. Finally, Alex tells one of his favourite stories about Max while playing a game.

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 affiliate.

]]> Catching Max Scherzer with Alex Avila Sportsnet 00:49:30 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the episode by discussing Gerrit Cole's season-ending injury, whether George Springer deserves to continue as a lead-off hitter, and whether Myles Straw should be the everyday center fielder in Daulton Varsho's absence. Later, former MLB catcher and MLB Network analyst Alex Avila (23:35) joins the show to discuss what it's like to catch Max Scherzer, how Alejandro Kirk should catch him, and how other veteran players like Gausman and Bassitt can still learn from Scherzer. Finally, Alex tells one of his favourite stories about Max while playing a game. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the episode by discussing Gerrit Cole's season-ending injury, whether George Springer deserves to continue as a lead-off hitter, and whether Myles Straw should be the everyday center fielder in Daulton Varsho's absence. Later, former MLB catcher and MLB Network analyst Alex Avila (23:35) joins the show to discuss what it's like to catch Max Scherzer, how Alejandro Kirk should catch him, and how other veteran players like Gausman and Bassitt can still learn from Scherzer. Finally, Alex tells one of his favourite stories about Max while playing a game. 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 affiliate. false full 9e187b65-1c24-4fda-ab8a-4cd248508562 Blue Jays’ Bullpen Questions + Rays Selling the Team w/ David Samson? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by reacting to the Blue Jays signing Dillon Tate, discussing how the bullpen could be another negative factor in the season, and delving into their schedule for the season. Next, David Samson (27:15) joins the show to discuss rumours of the Tampa Bay Rays selling the team, as well as the implications and possibilities of such a move. They then turn their attention to the Blue Jays, whether it was smart for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reveal his contract details, whether Max Scherzer tried to sell himself to other teams and the landscape of the A.L. East.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:02:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by reacting to the Blue Jays signing Dillon Tate, discussing how the bullpen could be another negative factor in the season, and delving into their schedule for the season. Next, David Samson (27:15) joins the show to discuss rumours of the Tampa Bay Rays selling the team, as well as the implications and possibilities of such a move. They then turn their attention to the Blue Jays, whether it was smart for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reveal his contract details, whether Max Scherzer tried to sell himself to other teams and the landscape of the A.L. East.

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 affiliate.

]]> Blue Jays’ Bullpen Questions + Rays Selling the Team w/ David Samson? Sportsnet 00:49:29 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by reacting to the Blue Jays signing Dillon Tate, discussing how the bullpen could be another negative factor in the season, and delving into their schedule for the season. Next, David Samson (27:15) joins the show to discuss rumours of the Tampa Bay Rays selling the team, as well as the implications and possibilities of such a move. They then turn their attention to the Blue Jays, whether it was smart for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reveal his contract details, whether Max Scherzer tried to sell himself to other teams and the landscape of the A.L. East. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by reacting to the Blue Jays signing Dillon Tate, discussing how the bullpen could be another negative factor in the season, and delving into their schedule for the season. Next, David Samson (27:15) joins the show to discuss rumours of the Tampa Bay Rays selling the team, as well as the implications and possibilities of such a move. They then turn their attention to the Blue Jays, whether it was smart for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to reveal his contract details, whether Max Scherzer tried to sell himself to other teams and the landscape of the A.L. East. 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 affiliate. false full 0fe08cf8-f127-46ec-aead-6cc24cf93b1c The Blue Jays' Batting Order with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Manager John Schneider, who spoke about Kevin Gausman’s Spring debut, the use and impact of his slider, Alejandro Kirk catching Max Scherzer, how he views the team’s batting order, slotting Anthony Santander behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and his impressions of top prospect Arjun Nimmala. MLB Insider Jeff Passan discusses a variety of topics around the sport notably the Rays and A’s both playing in minor-league ballparks in 2025, if Pete Rose will be re-instated, and former Mariner Justin Turner criticizing Seattle and their unwillingness to improve their roster during the offseason (30:27).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 6 Mar 2025 18:01:29 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Manager John Schneider, who spoke about Kevin Gausman’s Spring debut, the use and impact of his slider, Alejandro Kirk catching Max Scherzer, how he views the team’s batting order, slotting Anthony Santander behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and his impressions of top prospect Arjun Nimmala. MLB Insider Jeff Passan discusses a variety of topics around the sport notably the Rays and A’s both playing in minor-league ballparks in 2025, if Pete Rose will be re-instated, and former Mariner Justin Turner criticizing Seattle and their unwillingness to improve their roster during the offseason (30:27).

 

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.

]]> The Blue Jays' Batting Order with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Manager John Schneider, who spoke about Kevin Gausman’s Spring debut, the use and impact of his slider, Alejandro Kirk catching Max Scherzer, how he views the team’s batting order, slotting Anthony Santander behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and his impressions of top prospect Arjun Nimmala. MLB Insider Jeff Passan discusses a variety of topics around the sport notably the Rays and A’s both playing in minor-league ballparks in 2025, if Pete Rose will be re-instated, and former Mariner Justin Turner criticizing Seattle and their unwillingness to improve their roster during the offseason (30:27). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Manager John Schneider, who spoke about Kevin Gausman’s Spring debut, the use and impact of his slider, Alejandro Kirk catching Max Scherzer, how he views the team’s batting order, slotting Anthony Santander behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and his impressions of top prospect Arjun Nimmala. MLB Insider Jeff Passan discusses a variety of topics around the sport notably the Rays and A’s both playing in minor-league ballparks in 2025, if Pete Rose will be re-instated, and former Mariner Justin Turner criticizing Seattle and their unwillingness to improve their roster during the offseason (30:27). 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. baseball, arjun nimmala, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 077576a6-2df9-4c86-8980-7fadaced8ad9 Gausman Bump Day with Joe Siddall Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing Kevin Gausman’s 2025 spring training debut today, his expectations for the season, and the importance of a hot start. Next, Blue Jays Central Analyst, Joe Siddall (26:49) joins the show to discuss Gauman’s pitching adjustments this spring, they debate what are the Blue Jays' plans with Yariel Rodriguez, Alejandro Kirk's longevity for the season and whether the Jays need to trade for a lead-off man.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 5 Mar 2025 18:02:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing Kevin Gausman’s 2025 spring training debut today, his expectations for the season, and the importance of a hot start. Next, Blue Jays Central Analyst, Joe Siddall (26:49) joins the show to discuss Gauman’s pitching adjustments this spring, they debate what are the Blue Jays' plans with Yariel Rodriguez, Alejandro Kirk's longevity for the season and whether the Jays need to trade for a lead-off man.

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 affiliate.

]]> Gausman Bump Day with Joe Siddall Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing Kevin Gausman’s 2025 spring training debut today, his expectations for the season, and the importance of a hot start. Next, Blue Jays Central Analyst, Joe Siddall (26:49) joins the show to discuss Gauman’s pitching adjustments this spring, they debate what are the Blue Jays' plans with Yariel Rodriguez, Alejandro Kirk's longevity for the season and whether the Jays need to trade for a lead-off man. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing Kevin Gausman’s 2025 spring training debut today, his expectations for the season, and the importance of a hot start. Next, Blue Jays Central Analyst, Joe Siddall (26:49) joins the show to discuss Gauman’s pitching adjustments this spring, they debate what are the Blue Jays' plans with Yariel Rodriguez, Alejandro Kirk's longevity for the season and whether the Jays need to trade for a lead-off man. 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 affiliate. false full a79ed82b-3ee8-49a0-9a0a-7187dd01c28a Spring Training Pitching Adjustments with Ryan Dempster + Back Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing yesterday's game against the Detroit Tigers. MLB Network Analyst Ryan Dempster then joins them to discuss pitchers making spring training changes, the Blue Jays' veteran rotation, and spring training expectations. Finally, the boys close the program with questions from the back leg line (26:38).

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 4 Mar 2025 18:02:08 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing yesterday's game against the Detroit Tigers. MLB Network Analyst Ryan Dempster then joins them to discuss pitchers making spring training changes, the Blue Jays' veteran rotation, and spring training expectations. Finally, the boys close the program with questions from the back leg line (26:38).

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 affiliate.

]]> Spring Training Pitching Adjustments with Ryan Dempster + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing yesterday's game against the Detroit Tigers. MLB Network Analyst Ryan Dempster then joins them to discuss pitchers making spring training changes, the Blue Jays' veteran rotation, and spring training expectations. Finally, the boys close the program with questions from the back leg line (26:38). 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing yesterday's game against the Detroit Tigers. MLB Network Analyst Ryan Dempster then joins them to discuss pitchers making spring training changes, the Blue Jays' veteran rotation, and spring training expectations. Finally, the boys close the program with questions from the back leg line (26:38). 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 affiliate. false full 191bea12-51b9-4e0e-8eca-0daa2405233f Projecting the Blue Jays' Opening Day lineup with Dan Shulman Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing their first impressions of Daulton Varsho's 2025 spring training debut, how the Blue Jays should structure their batting lineup, whether Max Scherzer can fine-tune his pitches before the season begins, and who should start in center field on Opening Day. Next up, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman (25:01) joins the show to talk about Bo Bichette's first home run of the spring, how the team will build their lineup, and who will make the Opening Day roster.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 3 Mar 2025 18:02:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing their first impressions of Daulton Varsho's 2025 spring training debut, how the Blue Jays should structure their batting lineup, whether Max Scherzer can fine-tune his pitches before the season begins, and who should start in center field on Opening Day. Next up, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman (25:01) joins the show to talk about Bo Bichette's first home run of the spring, how the team will build their lineup, and who will make the Opening Day roster.

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 affiliate.

]]> Projecting the Blue Jays' Opening Day lineup with Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:32 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing their first impressions of Daulton Varsho's 2025 spring training debut, how the Blue Jays should structure their batting lineup, whether Max Scherzer can fine-tune his pitches before the season begins, and who should start in center field on Opening Day. Next up, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman (25:01) joins the show to talk about Bo Bichette's first home run of the spring, how the team will build their lineup, and who will make the Opening Day roster. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by discussing their first impressions of Daulton Varsho's 2025 spring training debut, how the Blue Jays should structure their batting lineup, whether Max Scherzer can fine-tune his pitches before the season begins, and who should start in center field on Opening Day. Next up, Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman (25:01) joins the show to talk about Bo Bichette's first home run of the spring, how the team will build their lineup, and who will make the Opening Day roster. 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 affiliate. false full beb5eb59-41f8-4081-bb52-f740294e1014 An All Jeff Hour: Passan and Hoffman! MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:26) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the Red Sox' impressive offseason, their top prospects that should make a huge impact, if Mike Trout can bounce back after another injury-plagued year, and just how good the Dodgers can be in 2025 after winning it all last season. Later, Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (27:55) joins the guys to reflect on re-joining the team after being traded for Troy Tulowitzki while he was still a prospect, his expectations for the upcoming season, working with a new array of catchers, how free agency unfolded for him and more! Blair and Barker end the show with thoughts on Daulton Varsho, who is returning to the lineup and making his 2025 Grapefruit League debut.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 28 Feb 2025 18:07:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:26) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the Red Sox' impressive offseason, their top prospects that should make a huge impact, if Mike Trout can bounce back after another injury-plagued year, and just how good the Dodgers can be in 2025 after winning it all last season. Later, Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (27:55) joins the guys to reflect on re-joining the team after being traded for Troy Tulowitzki while he was still a prospect, his expectations for the upcoming season, working with a new array of catchers, how free agency unfolded for him and more! Blair and Barker end the show with thoughts on Daulton Varsho, who is returning to the lineup and making his 2025 Grapefruit League debut.

 

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.

]]> An All Jeff Hour: Passan and Hoffman! Sportsnet 00:49:38 MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:26) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the Red Sox' impressive offseason, their top prospects that should make a huge impact, if Mike Trout can bounce back after another injury-plagued year, and just how good the Dodgers can be in 2025 after winning it all last season. Later, Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (27:55) joins the guys to reflect on re-joining the team after being traded for Troy Tulowitzki while he was still a prospect, his expectations for the upcoming season, working with a new array of catchers, how free agency unfolded for him and more! Blair and Barker end the show with thoughts on Daulton Varsho, who is returning to the lineup and making his 2025 Grapefruit League debut. 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 insider Jeff Passan (3:26) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the Red Sox' impressive offseason, their top prospects that should make a huge impact, if Mike Trout can bounce back after another injury-plagued year, and just how good the Dodgers can be in 2025 after winning it all last season. Later, Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (27:55) joins the guys to reflect on re-joining the team after being traded for Troy Tulowitzki while he was still a prospect, his expectations for the upcoming season, working with a new array of catchers, how free agency unfolded for him and more! Blair and Barker end the show with thoughts on Daulton Varsho, who is returning to the lineup and making his 2025 Grapefruit League debut. 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jeff hoffman, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full fc01129e-d465-4cbe-b44b-42eff0905c4f The Art of Managing with Joe Maddon + Back Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode sorting through the Blue Jays' spring training lineup ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. The pair chat about Anthony Santander's arrival to Dunedin and his critique of how Kevin Gausman and José Berríos pitched to him in 2024, before opening up the 'Back Leg Line' to answer listener questions! Later on, former MLB manager and host of the Book of Joe podcast, Joe Maddon joins the program (26:35)! He discusses the evolution of spring training, what goes into managing players on a walk year, how the Jays stack up in the American League East, and the Yankees finally allowing players to grow beards.

 

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.

]]> Thu, 27 Feb 2025 18:03:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode sorting through the Blue Jays' spring training lineup ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. The pair chat about Anthony Santander's arrival to Dunedin and his critique of how Kevin Gausman and José Berríos pitched to him in 2024, before opening up the 'Back Leg Line' to answer listener questions! Later on, former MLB manager and host of the Book of Joe podcast, Joe Maddon joins the program (26:35)! He discusses the evolution of spring training, what goes into managing players on a walk year, how the Jays stack up in the American League East, and the Yankees finally allowing players to grow beards.

 

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.

]]> The Art of Managing with Joe Maddon + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode sorting through the Blue Jays' spring training lineup ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. The pair chat about Anthony Santander's arrival to Dunedin and his critique of how Kevin Gausman and José Berríos pitched to him in 2024, before opening up the 'Back Leg Line' to answer listener questions! Later on, former MLB manager and host of the Book of Joe podcast, Joe Maddon joins the program (26:35)! He discusses the evolution of spring training, what goes into managing players on a walk year, how the Jays stack up in the American League East, and the Yankees finally allowing players to grow beards. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's episode sorting through the Blue Jays' spring training lineup ahead of this afternoon's game against the Orioles. The pair chat about Anthony Santander's arrival to Dunedin and his critique of how Kevin Gausman and José Berríos pitched to him in 2024, before opening up the 'Back Leg Line' to answer listener questions! Later on, former MLB manager and host of the Book of Joe podcast, Joe Maddon joins the program (26:35)! He discusses the evolution of spring training, what goes into managing players on a walk year, how the Jays stack up in the American League East, and the Yankees finally allowing players to grow beards. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, joe maddon, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 96a6ef89-717f-4a03-ae56-433bdf24286e First Impressions of Mad Max with Jayson Stark + Ben Davis Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Jayson Stark from The Athletic to discuss Max Scherzer's Blue Jays spring training debut, how much he has left in the tank, an overall check-in with the team, what Jeff Hoffman brings to the team, and how Anthony Santander will help the Blue Jays make a push this season. Later, Philadelphia Phillies TV Analyst Ben Davis (31:02) joins the show to discuss the team's current status, fighting for roster spots, and if the team's bullpen can propel them to a long-term run.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 26 Feb 2025 18:03:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Jayson Stark from The Athletic to discuss Max Scherzer's Blue Jays spring training debut, how much he has left in the tank, an overall check-in with the team, what Jeff Hoffman brings to the team, and how Anthony Santander will help the Blue Jays make a push this season. Later, Philadelphia Phillies TV Analyst Ben Davis (31:02) joins the show to discuss the team's current status, fighting for roster spots, and if the team's bullpen can propel them to a long-term run.

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 affiliate.

]]> First Impressions of Mad Max with Jayson Stark + Ben Davis Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Jayson Stark from The Athletic to discuss Max Scherzer's Blue Jays spring training debut, how much he has left in the tank, an overall check-in with the team, what Jeff Hoffman brings to the team, and how Anthony Santander will help the Blue Jays make a push this season. Later, Philadelphia Phillies TV Analyst Ben Davis (31:02) joins the show to discuss the team's current status, fighting for roster spots, and if the team's bullpen can propel them to a long-term run. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show with Jayson Stark from The Athletic to discuss Max Scherzer's Blue Jays spring training debut, how much he has left in the tank, an overall check-in with the team, what Jeff Hoffman brings to the team, and how Anthony Santander will help the Blue Jays make a push this season. Later, Philadelphia Phillies TV Analyst Ben Davis (31:02) joins the show to discuss the team's current status, fighting for roster spots, and if the team's bullpen can propel them to a long-term run. 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 affiliate. false full 44be2499-97f6-4bd7-abf2-8a6d3ef696c8 Scherz-Day with Buck Martinez + Red Sox’s Potential with Jon Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez, who discusses Max Scherzer's first spring training start today, what fans can expect from him, how his new relationship with Alejandro Kirk will play out, forecasting Yariel Rodriguez's bullpen season, and the Blue Jays' biggest questions and new additions. In the second half of the hour, Jon Morosi (28:26) of the MLB Network joins the show to discuss Nolan Arenado's trade scenario with the St. Louis Cardinals, how the team needs to get back to winning, and how the Boston Red Sox can be a major threat in the American League East.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 25 Feb 2025 18:02:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez, who discusses Max Scherzer's first spring training start today, what fans can expect from him, how his new relationship with Alejandro Kirk will play out, forecasting Yariel Rodriguez's bullpen season, and the Blue Jays' biggest questions and new additions. In the second half of the hour, Jon Morosi (28:26) of the MLB Network joins the show to discuss Nolan Arenado's trade scenario with the St. Louis Cardinals, how the team needs to get back to winning, and how the Boston Red Sox can be a major threat in the American League East.

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 affiliate.

]]> Scherz-Day with Buck Martinez + Red Sox’s Potential with Jon Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez, who discusses Max Scherzer's first spring training start today, what fans can expect from him, how his new relationship with Alejandro Kirk will play out, forecasting Yariel Rodriguez's bullpen season, and the Blue Jays' biggest questions and new additions. In the second half of the hour, Jon Morosi (28:26) of the MLB Network joins the show to discuss Nolan Arenado's trade scenario with the St. Louis Cardinals, how the team needs to get back to winning, and how the Boston Red Sox can be a major threat in the American League East. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show with Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez, who discusses Max Scherzer's first spring training start today, what fans can expect from him, how his new relationship with Alejandro Kirk will play out, forecasting Yariel Rodriguez's bullpen season, and the Blue Jays' biggest questions and new additions. In the second half of the hour, Jon Morosi (28:26) of the MLB Network joins the show to discuss Nolan Arenado's trade scenario with the St. Louis Cardinals, how the team needs to get back to winning, and how the Boston Red Sox can be a major threat in the American League East. 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 affiliate. false full d5c441db-5275-428a-ba80-be2076947a72 Will Vladdy Be a Distraction This Season with David Samson Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by addressing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension discourse, if it will be a distraction for the rest of the season, whether Orelvis Martinez will make the team and their observations from the Blue Jays' first spring training games. Next up, former MLB executive David Samson (27:53) joins the show to discuss the Vladdy situation, how the Blue Jays front office should approach it, and Rob Manfred's statements about a potential lockout. Finally, they address Giancarlo Stanton's latest injury.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 24 Feb 2025 18:03:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by addressing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension discourse, if it will be a distraction for the rest of the season, whether Orelvis Martinez will make the team and their observations from the Blue Jays' first spring training games. Next up, former MLB executive David Samson (27:53) joins the show to discuss the Vladdy situation, how the Blue Jays front office should approach it, and Rob Manfred's statements about a potential lockout. Finally, they address Giancarlo Stanton's latest injury.

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 affiliate.

]]> Will Vladdy Be a Distraction This Season with David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by addressing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension discourse, if it will be a distraction for the rest of the season, whether Orelvis Martinez will make the team and their observations from the Blue Jays' first spring training games. Next up, former MLB executive David Samson (27:53) joins the show to discuss the Vladdy situation, how the Blue Jays front office should approach it, and Rob Manfred's statements about a potential lockout. Finally, they address Giancarlo Stanton's latest injury. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show by addressing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension discourse, if it will be a distraction for the rest of the season, whether Orelvis Martinez will make the team and their observations from the Blue Jays' first spring training games. Next up, former MLB executive David Samson (27:53) joins the show to discuss the Vladdy situation, how the Blue Jays front office should approach it, and Rob Manfred's statements about a potential lockout. Finally, they address Giancarlo Stanton's latest injury. 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 affiliate. false full 67f8b9b0-7908-4916-aa5f-1a8584c2a311 The Design in Dunedin with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off tomorrow against the Yankees and look at the biggest position battles for the team in Spring. They discuss what Orelvis Martinez has to prove, ripple effects of the Ryan Yarbrough signing and their expectations for Max Scherzer. Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (13:46) shares the vibes from Dunedin and the biggest storylines for the team this Spring. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:55) joins the show to discuss early action at Spring Training, the team's injury news, Vlad Guerrero Jr. pushing through contract distractions, the positions up for grabs and much more.

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.

]]> Fri, 21 Feb 2025 20:05:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off tomorrow against the Yankees and look at the biggest position battles for the team in Spring. They discuss what Orelvis Martinez has to prove, ripple effects of the Ryan Yarbrough signing and their expectations for Max Scherzer. Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (13:46) shares the vibes from Dunedin and the biggest storylines for the team this Spring. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:55) joins the show to discuss early action at Spring Training, the team's injury news, Vlad Guerrero Jr. pushing through contract distractions, the positions up for grabs and much more.

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.

]]> The Design in Dunedin with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off tomorrow against the Yankees and look at the biggest position battles for the team in Spring. They discuss what Orelvis Martinez has to prove, ripple effects of the Ryan Yarbrough signing and their expectations for Max Scherzer. Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (13:46) shares the vibes from Dunedin and the biggest storylines for the team this Spring. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:55) joins the show to discuss early action at Spring Training, the team's injury news, Vlad Guerrero Jr. pushing through contract distractions, the positions up for grabs and much more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off tomorrow against the Yankees and look at the biggest position battles for the team in Spring. They discuss what Orelvis Martinez has to prove, ripple effects of the Ryan Yarbrough signing and their expectations for Max Scherzer. Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman (13:46) shares the vibes from Dunedin and the biggest storylines for the team this Spring. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:55) joins the show to discuss early action at Spring Training, the team's injury news, Vlad Guerrero Jr. pushing through contract distractions, the positions up for grabs and much more. 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. false full ea541fb4-edde-4212-9d98-2081d2fe4e3c Front Office POV on Vlad and Bo Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look at the Blue Jays' recently announced Spring Training rotation and lay out expectations for Yariel Rodriguez before going to the Back Leg Line (4:57) to answer listener questions! They get into how big of a distraction a walk year is for players, whether the Jays will regret trading Spencer Horwitz, what defines a 'generational talent,' and much more. Later, the Athletic's Jim Bowden (27:55) joins the show to discuss teams that should be targeting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason, why the Nationals make sense as a landing spot and whether the door is still open for the Jays on a Vladdy extension. Finally, he weighs in on how the Jays manage contract distractions, the plan for Bo Bichette, and Rafael Devers' commitment to third base in Boston.

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.

]]> Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:06:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look at the Blue Jays' recently announced Spring Training rotation and lay out expectations for Yariel Rodriguez before going to the Back Leg Line (4:57) to answer listener questions! They get into how big of a distraction a walk year is for players, whether the Jays will regret trading Spencer Horwitz, what defines a 'generational talent,' and much more. Later, the Athletic's Jim Bowden (27:55) joins the show to discuss teams that should be targeting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason, why the Nationals make sense as a landing spot and whether the door is still open for the Jays on a Vladdy extension. Finally, he weighs in on how the Jays manage contract distractions, the plan for Bo Bichette, and Rafael Devers' commitment to third base in Boston.

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.

]]> Front Office POV on Vlad and Bo Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look at the Blue Jays' recently announced Spring Training rotation and lay out expectations for Yariel Rodriguez before going to the Back Leg Line (4:57) to answer listener questions! They get into how big of a distraction a walk year is for players, whether the Jays will regret trading Spencer Horwitz, what defines a 'generational talent,' and much more. Later, the Athletic's Jim Bowden (27:55) joins the show to discuss teams that should be targeting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason, why the Nationals make sense as a landing spot and whether the door is still open for the Jays on a Vladdy extension. Finally, he weighs in on how the Jays manage contract distractions, the plan for Bo Bichette, and Rafael Devers' commitment to third base in Boston. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look at the Blue Jays' recently announced Spring Training rotation and lay out expectations for Yariel Rodriguez before going to the Back Leg Line (4:57) to answer listener questions! They get into how big of a distraction a walk year is for players, whether the Jays will regret trading Spencer Horwitz, what defines a 'generational talent,' and much more. Later, the Athletic's Jim Bowden (27:55) joins the show to discuss teams that should be targeting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next offseason, why the Nationals make sense as a landing spot and whether the door is still open for the Jays on a Vladdy extension. Finally, he weighs in on how the Jays manage contract distractions, the plan for Bo Bichette, and Rafael Devers' commitment to third base in Boston. 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. false full 607cfd18-1c53-4686-9505-678bcb7af694 Leading Off at Spring Training + Vladdy's Value with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to John Schneider's comments on the Blue Jays' potential lead-off hitter this season and project the team's ideal lineup order. Then, they discuss the task ahead for John Schneider, what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is actually worth on the open market and how management views him. Later, they share what they're looking forward to from the Jays' Spring Training before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (31:20). The three reflect on the Blue Jays' failure to lock up Vladdy long-term, the front office's flawed approach to talent management, and where the organization goes from this point. Finally, Jeff shares what to expect from Spring Training's trial of the ABS challenge system.

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.

]]> Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:10:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to John Schneider's comments on the Blue Jays' potential lead-off hitter this season and project the team's ideal lineup order. Then, they discuss the task ahead for John Schneider, what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is actually worth on the open market and how management views him. Later, they share what they're looking forward to from the Jays' Spring Training before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (31:20). The three reflect on the Blue Jays' failure to lock up Vladdy long-term, the front office's flawed approach to talent management, and where the organization goes from this point. Finally, Jeff shares what to expect from Spring Training's trial of the ABS challenge system.

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.

]]> Leading Off at Spring Training + Vladdy's Value with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:28 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to John Schneider's comments on the Blue Jays' potential lead-off hitter this season and project the team's ideal lineup order. Then, they discuss the task ahead for John Schneider, what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is actually worth on the open market and how management views him. Later, they share what they're looking forward to from the Jays' Spring Training before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (31:20). The three reflect on the Blue Jays' failure to lock up Vladdy long-term, the front office's flawed approach to talent management, and where the organization goes from this point. Finally, Jeff shares what to expect from Spring Training's trial of the ABS challenge system. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to John Schneider's comments on the Blue Jays' potential lead-off hitter this season and project the team's ideal lineup order. Then, they discuss the task ahead for John Schneider, what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is actually worth on the open market and how management views him. Later, they share what they're looking forward to from the Jays' Spring Training before welcoming ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (31:20). The three reflect on the Blue Jays' failure to lock up Vladdy long-term, the front office's flawed approach to talent management, and where the organization goes from this point. Finally, Jeff shares what to expect from Spring Training's trial of the ABS challenge system. 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. false full db218300-383d-43ce-bd51-8b5c8bc2429a Jays Swing & Miss on Vlad Extension + What's Next w/ Shi Davidi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back with daily episodes of Blair & Barker! The guys open with thoughts on today's breaking news that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on an extension by the slugger's self-imposed deadline. They dive into what this means for Vlad's future in Toronto, if the door is still open for an extension after the 2025 season, and the organization's level of trust in the player long-term. Jeff and Kevin listen back to President and CEO Mark Shapiro's comments from this morning's media availability, before discussing how the team can rebound if the 4x All-Star does not return next season. Later on, Sportsnet MLB Insider Shi Davidi checks in from sunny Dunedin to share his read on the situation with the Blue Jays' first baseman (29:00). He examines the possibility of a deal between the two sides after the season, who's to blame in the failed negotiations, the front office's mentality throughout the process, how the team can stay focused in 2025, and what's next for Bo Bichette.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:04:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back with daily episodes of Blair & Barker! The guys open with thoughts on today's breaking news that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on an extension by the slugger's self-imposed deadline. They dive into what this means for Vlad's future in Toronto, if the door is still open for an extension after the 2025 season, and the organization's level of trust in the player long-term. Jeff and Kevin listen back to President and CEO Mark Shapiro's comments from this morning's media availability, before discussing how the team can rebound if the 4x All-Star does not return next season. Later on, Sportsnet MLB Insider Shi Davidi checks in from sunny Dunedin to share his read on the situation with the Blue Jays' first baseman (29:00). He examines the possibility of a deal between the two sides after the season, who's to blame in the failed negotiations, the front office's mentality throughout the process, how the team can stay focused in 2025, and what's next for Bo Bichette.

 

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.

]]> Jays Swing & Miss on Vlad Extension + What's Next w/ Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back with daily episodes of Blair & Barker! The guys open with thoughts on today's breaking news that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on an extension by the slugger's self-imposed deadline. They dive into what this means for Vlad's future in Toronto, if the door is still open for an extension after the 2025 season, and the organization's level of trust in the player long-term. Jeff and Kevin listen back to President and CEO Mark Shapiro's comments from this morning's media availability, before discussing how the team can rebound if the 4x All-Star does not return next season. Later on, Sportsnet MLB Insider Shi Davidi checks in from sunny Dunedin to share his read on the situation with the Blue Jays' first baseman (29:00). He examines the possibility of a deal between the two sides after the season, who's to blame in the failed negotiations, the front office's mentality throughout the process, how the team can stay focused in 2025, and what's next for Bo Bichette. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back with daily episodes of Blair & Barker! The guys open with thoughts on today's breaking news that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Toronto Blue Jays were unable to come to terms on an extension by the slugger's self-imposed deadline. They dive into what this means for Vlad's future in Toronto, if the door is still open for an extension after the 2025 season, and the organization's level of trust in the player long-term. Jeff and Kevin listen back to President and CEO Mark Shapiro's comments from this morning's media availability, before discussing how the team can rebound if the 4x All-Star does not return next season. Later on, Sportsnet MLB Insider Shi Davidi checks in from sunny Dunedin to share his read on the situation with the Blue Jays' first baseman (29:00). He examines the possibility of a deal between the two sides after the season, who's to blame in the failed negotiations, the front office's mentality throughout the process, how the team can stay focused in 2025, and what's next for Bo Bichette. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, guerrero, vlad, vladimir, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue, vladdy false full 8c8081a8-87b9-4e12-9fa6-922fc82285da Vladdy's Deadline + Sprinting into Spring with Jeff Passan With pitchers and catchers beginning to report at Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Ross Atkins' comments on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations as the slugger's self-imposed extension deadline nears. ESPN insider Jeff Passan (9:27) discusses how Blue Jays management approaches Vladdy's deadline and what he'd be worth after an offseason of mega-deals around MLB. Then, Jeff weighs in on the Red Sox outlook this season after signing Alex Bregman, teams with the most surprising offseasons and the biggest Spring Training storylines. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss uncertainties for the Blue Jays at Spring Training and take calls on the Back Leg Line!

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.

]]> Thu, 13 Feb 2025 22:07:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With pitchers and catchers beginning to report at Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Ross Atkins' comments on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations as the slugger's self-imposed extension deadline nears. ESPN insider Jeff Passan (9:27) discusses how Blue Jays management approaches Vladdy's deadline and what he'd be worth after an offseason of mega-deals around MLB. Then, Jeff weighs in on the Red Sox outlook this season after signing Alex Bregman, teams with the most surprising offseasons and the biggest Spring Training storylines. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss uncertainties for the Blue Jays at Spring Training and take calls on the Back Leg Line!

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.

]]> Vladdy's Deadline + Sprinting into Spring with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:39 With pitchers and catchers beginning to report at Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Ross Atkins' comments on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations as the slugger's self-imposed extension deadline nears. ESPN insider Jeff Passan (9:27) discusses how Blue Jays management approaches Vladdy's deadline and what he'd be worth after an offseason of mega-deals around MLB. Then, Jeff weighs in on the Red Sox outlook this season after signing Alex Bregman, teams with the most surprising offseasons and the biggest Spring Training storylines. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss uncertainties for the Blue Jays at Spring Training and take calls on the Back Leg Line! 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. With pitchers and catchers beginning to report at Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Ross Atkins' comments on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. negotiations as the slugger's self-imposed extension deadline nears. ESPN insider Jeff Passan (9:27) discusses how Blue Jays management approaches Vladdy's deadline and what he'd be worth after an offseason of mega-deals around MLB. Then, Jeff weighs in on the Red Sox outlook this season after signing Alex Bregman, teams with the most surprising offseasons and the biggest Spring Training storylines. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss uncertainties for the Blue Jays at Spring Training and take calls on the Back Leg Line! 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. false full 6c91132e-ff80-4702-90fa-25e8865f5bd3 Kevin Gausman Looks Ahead to the 2025 Season Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays’ starter Kevin Gausman before he takes off for Spring Training. Gausman shares his thoughts on the team’s offseason so far, his time as a free agent before signing with Toronto, making adjustments on the fly when pitching, and what three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer will bring to the team’s rotation. Blair and Barker end the show with a discussion on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he remains unsigned to a long-term contract.

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.

]]> Mon, 3 Feb 2025 20:17:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays’ starter Kevin Gausman before he takes off for Spring Training. Gausman shares his thoughts on the team’s offseason so far, his time as a free agent before signing with Toronto, making adjustments on the fly when pitching, and what three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer will bring to the team’s rotation. Blair and Barker end the show with a discussion on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he remains unsigned to a long-term contract.

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.

]]> Kevin Gausman Looks Ahead to the 2025 Season Sportsnet 00:38:18 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays’ starter Kevin Gausman before he takes off for Spring Training. Gausman shares his thoughts on the team’s offseason so far, his time as a free agent before signing with Toronto, making adjustments on the fly when pitching, and what three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer will bring to the team’s rotation. Blair and Barker end the show with a discussion on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he remains unsigned to a long-term contract. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays’ starter Kevin Gausman before he takes off for Spring Training. Gausman shares his thoughts on the team’s offseason so far, his time as a free agent before signing with Toronto, making adjustments on the fly when pitching, and what three-time Cy Young award winner Max Scherzer will bring to the team’s rotation. Blair and Barker end the show with a discussion on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as he remains unsigned to a long-term contract. 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. false full 3d9e0db8-522b-4e5f-9bad-18ee48f3c8af Scherzer Shores Up The Jays Pitching Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick things off with reactions to the Blue Jays' signing of future hall-of-fame pitcher Max Scherzer to a one-year deal, and how this addition affects Toronto's starting pitching rotation. The duo then welcome in Blue Jays Centrals' Caleb Joseph to weigh in on what the veteran righty brings to the lineup, if the Jays have any other moves on the horizon in free agency, and how the recently acquired Anthony Santander can bolster the team's power. Later, Dallas Morning News' (33:22) Evan Grant joins to chat what Scherzer has left in the tank, and how his veteran presence along with pitching coach Pete Walker will elevate this Jays squad. 

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.

]]> Fri, 31 Jan 2025 01:03:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick things off with reactions to the Blue Jays' signing of future hall-of-fame pitcher Max Scherzer to a one-year deal, and how this addition affects Toronto's starting pitching rotation. The duo then welcome in Blue Jays Centrals' Caleb Joseph to weigh in on what the veteran righty brings to the lineup, if the Jays have any other moves on the horizon in free agency, and how the recently acquired Anthony Santander can bolster the team's power. Later, Dallas Morning News' (33:22) Evan Grant joins to chat what Scherzer has left in the tank, and how his veteran presence along with pitching coach Pete Walker will elevate this Jays squad. 

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.

]]> Scherzer Shores Up The Jays Pitching Sportsnet 00:49:57 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick things off with reactions to the Blue Jays' signing of future hall-of-fame pitcher Max Scherzer to a one-year deal, and how this addition affects Toronto's starting pitching rotation. The duo then welcome in Blue Jays Centrals' Caleb Joseph to weigh in on what the veteran righty brings to the lineup, if the Jays have any other moves on the horizon in free agency, and how the recently acquired Anthony Santander can bolster the team's power. Later, Dallas Morning News' (33:22) Evan Grant joins to chat what Scherzer has left in the tank, and how his veteran presence along with pitching coach Pete Walker will elevate this Jays squad. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick things off with reactions to the Blue Jays' signing of future hall-of-fame pitcher Max Scherzer to a one-year deal, and how this addition affects Toronto's starting pitching rotation. The duo then welcome in Blue Jays Centrals' Caleb Joseph to weigh in on what the veteran righty brings to the lineup, if the Jays have any other moves on the horizon in free agency, and how the recently acquired Anthony Santander can bolster the team's power. Later, Dallas Morning News' (33:22) Evan Grant joins to chat what Scherzer has left in the tank, and how his veteran presence along with pitching coach Pete Walker will elevate this Jays squad. 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. false full 9a2e66b3-18de-47f4-b146-2f17cf04bf18 All About Alonso Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wonder what else could be in-store for the Toronto Blue Jays (Max Scherzer?) after signing Anthony Santander before sharing their thoughts on this year’s Hall of Fame Class, and which players got snubbed. With Toronto’s reported interest in free-agent slugger Pete Alonso, the guys call up ex-Mets GM and SportsNet New York Contributor Zack Scott (22:32) to discuss the Alonso sweepstakes, Mets’ owner Steve Cohen making public comments about the team’s offers to Alonso, what its like to negotiate with super-agent Scott Boras, and how he grades Santander’s contract with the Blue Jays.

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.

]]> Mon, 27 Jan 2025 20:57:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wonder what else could be in-store for the Toronto Blue Jays (Max Scherzer?) after signing Anthony Santander before sharing their thoughts on this year’s Hall of Fame Class, and which players got snubbed. With Toronto’s reported interest in free-agent slugger Pete Alonso, the guys call up ex-Mets GM and SportsNet New York Contributor Zack Scott (22:32) to discuss the Alonso sweepstakes, Mets’ owner Steve Cohen making public comments about the team’s offers to Alonso, what its like to negotiate with super-agent Scott Boras, and how he grades Santander’s contract with the Blue Jays.

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.

]]> All About Alonso Sportsnet 00:39:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wonder what else could be in-store for the Toronto Blue Jays (Max Scherzer?) after signing Anthony Santander before sharing their thoughts on this year’s Hall of Fame Class, and which players got snubbed. With Toronto’s reported interest in free-agent slugger Pete Alonso, the guys call up ex-Mets GM and SportsNet New York Contributor Zack Scott (22:32) to discuss the Alonso sweepstakes, Mets’ owner Steve Cohen making public comments about the team’s offers to Alonso, what its like to negotiate with super-agent Scott Boras, and how he grades Santander’s contract with the Blue Jays. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wonder what else could be in-store for the Toronto Blue Jays (Max Scherzer?) after signing Anthony Santander before sharing their thoughts on this year’s Hall of Fame Class, and which players got snubbed. With Toronto’s reported interest in free-agent slugger Pete Alonso, the guys call up ex-Mets GM and SportsNet New York Contributor Zack Scott (22:32) to discuss the Alonso sweepstakes, Mets’ owner Steve Cohen making public comments about the team’s offers to Alonso, what its like to negotiate with super-agent Scott Boras, and how he grades Santander’s contract with the Blue Jays. 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. false full 26deb835-3cd5-4957-9d9a-9a128a2a4305 Anthony Santander is a Blue Jay Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker host a special edition of Blair and Barker reacting to the news of the Toronto Blue Jays agreeing to a 5-year deal with outfielder Anthony Santander, his track record with the Baltimore Orioles, what he adds to the Jays' offence, before diving into the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and trading for centrefielder Myles Straw. Then, Roch Kubatko, Orioles reporter for MASN Sports, jumps on to give the scouting report on Santander on and off the field, if he's able to translate to an analytics-heavy organization, the potential for him to play in the infield, and if Rogers Centre will be a challenge for Anthony (30:10).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 20 Jan 2025 20:01:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker host a special edition of Blair and Barker reacting to the news of the Toronto Blue Jays agreeing to a 5-year deal with outfielder Anthony Santander, his track record with the Baltimore Orioles, what he adds to the Jays' offence, before diving into the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and trading for centrefielder Myles Straw. Then, Roch Kubatko, Orioles reporter for MASN Sports, jumps on to give the scouting report on Santander on and off the field, if he's able to translate to an analytics-heavy organization, the potential for him to play in the infield, and if Rogers Centre will be a challenge for Anthony (30:10).

 

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.

]]> Anthony Santander is a Blue Jay Sportsnet 00:49:44 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker host a special edition of Blair and Barker reacting to the news of the Toronto Blue Jays agreeing to a 5-year deal with outfielder Anthony Santander, his track record with the Baltimore Orioles, what he adds to the Jays' offence, before diving into the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and trading for centrefielder Myles Straw. Then, Roch Kubatko, Orioles reporter for MASN Sports, jumps on to give the scouting report on Santander on and off the field, if he's able to translate to an analytics-heavy organization, the potential for him to play in the infield, and if Rogers Centre will be a challenge for Anthony (30:10). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker host a special edition of Blair and Barker reacting to the news of the Toronto Blue Jays agreeing to a 5-year deal with outfielder Anthony Santander, his track record with the Baltimore Orioles, what he adds to the Jays' offence, before diving into the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and trading for centrefielder Myles Straw. Then, Roch Kubatko, Orioles reporter for MASN Sports, jumps on to give the scouting report on Santander on and off the field, if he's able to translate to an analytics-heavy organization, the potential for him to play in the infield, and if Rogers Centre will be a challenge for Anthony (30:10). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, roch kubatko, myles straw, toronto, anthony santander, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, roki sasaki false full 58f9ab94-3318-4d30-a86c-a03a1924ac39 Jays Land Hoffman + The FA Market & Roki Sasaki with Jim Bowden Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker return for their first podcast of 2025 with plenty to discuss. First, they comment on the Blue Jays bolstering their bullpen with Jeff Hoffman after he agreed to a three-year contract and the reports that his medicals raised red flags with other teams before agreeing to terms with Toronto. Later, they turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki after it was reported they hosted him for a visit in Toronto. MLB Network Radio Host & former GM Jim Bowden (18:35) discusses assessing problematic medical reports before signing a player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s lack of a long-term deal, the remaining bats on the FA market, and why Sasaki makes sense for the Jays.

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.

]]> Mon, 13 Jan 2025 20:30:04 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker return for their first podcast of 2025 with plenty to discuss. First, they comment on the Blue Jays bolstering their bullpen with Jeff Hoffman after he agreed to a three-year contract and the reports that his medicals raised red flags with other teams before agreeing to terms with Toronto. Later, they turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki after it was reported they hosted him for a visit in Toronto. MLB Network Radio Host & former GM Jim Bowden (18:35) discusses assessing problematic medical reports before signing a player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s lack of a long-term deal, the remaining bats on the FA market, and why Sasaki makes sense for the Jays.

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.

]]> Jays Land Hoffman + The FA Market & Roki Sasaki with Jim Bowden Sportsnet 00:38:58 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker return for their first podcast of 2025 with plenty to discuss. First, they comment on the Blue Jays bolstering their bullpen with Jeff Hoffman after he agreed to a three-year contract and the reports that his medicals raised red flags with other teams before agreeing to terms with Toronto. Later, they turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki after it was reported they hosted him for a visit in Toronto. MLB Network Radio Host & former GM Jim Bowden (18:35) discusses assessing problematic medical reports before signing a player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s lack of a long-term deal, the remaining bats on the FA market, and why Sasaki makes sense for the Jays. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker return for their first podcast of 2025 with plenty to discuss. First, they comment on the Blue Jays bolstering their bullpen with Jeff Hoffman after he agreed to a three-year contract and the reports that his medicals raised red flags with other teams before agreeing to terms with Toronto. Later, they turn their attention to the Blue Jays’ interest in Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki after it was reported they hosted him for a visit in Toronto. MLB Network Radio Host & former GM Jim Bowden (18:35) discusses assessing problematic medical reports before signing a player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s lack of a long-term deal, the remaining bats on the FA market, and why Sasaki makes sense for the Jays. 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. false full e942036d-f003-4e51-836a-4d3b62375fc5 Jordan Romano on Signing With the Phillies + Shi Davidi on Jays' Offseason Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker close out the calendar year with one last episode! The guys open with their thoughts on the Blue Jays' offseason so far and if they expect to see more activity before the new year. Sportsnet Blue Jays writer Shi Davidi (11:33) joins the guys to share what he is hearing around the team including which free agents they are in on, the state of extension talks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and if Bo Bichette will finish the 2025 season playing shortstop. Next up, newly acquired Phillies relief pitcher, Jordan Romano stops by (43:12)! He looks back on his exit from Toronto and how he felt last season with the Blue Jays, before discussing why he chose to sign with Philadelphia. Blair and Barker wrap up this episode with a chat about the direction of the Jays' bullpen heading into 2025.

 

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Dec 2024 18:51:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker close out the calendar year with one last episode! The guys open with their thoughts on the Blue Jays' offseason so far and if they expect to see more activity before the new year. Sportsnet Blue Jays writer Shi Davidi (11:33) joins the guys to share what he is hearing around the team including which free agents they are in on, the state of extension talks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and if Bo Bichette will finish the 2025 season playing shortstop. Next up, newly acquired Phillies relief pitcher, Jordan Romano stops by (43:12)! He looks back on his exit from Toronto and how he felt last season with the Blue Jays, before discussing why he chose to sign with Philadelphia. Blair and Barker wrap up this episode with a chat about the direction of the Jays' bullpen heading into 2025.

 

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.

]]> Jordan Romano on Signing With the Phillies + Shi Davidi on Jays' Offseason Sportsnet 01:03:14 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker close out the calendar year with one last episode! The guys open with their thoughts on the Blue Jays' offseason so far and if they expect to see more activity before the new year. Sportsnet Blue Jays writer Shi Davidi (11:33) joins the guys to share what he is hearing around the team including which free agents they are in on, the state of extension talks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and if Bo Bichette will finish the 2025 season playing shortstop. Next up, newly acquired Phillies relief pitcher, Jordan Romano stops by (43:12)! He looks back on his exit from Toronto and how he felt last season with the Blue Jays, before discussing why he chose to sign with Philadelphia. Blair and Barker wrap up this episode with a chat about the direction of the Jays' bullpen heading into 2025. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker close out the calendar year with one last episode! The guys open with their thoughts on the Blue Jays' offseason so far and if they expect to see more activity before the new year. Sportsnet Blue Jays writer Shi Davidi (11:33) joins the guys to share what he is hearing around the team including which free agents they are in on, the state of extension talks with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and if Bo Bichette will finish the 2025 season playing shortstop. Next up, newly acquired Phillies relief pitcher, Jordan Romano stops by (43:12)! He looks back on his exit from Toronto and how he felt last season with the Blue Jays, before discussing why he chose to sign with Philadelphia. Blair and Barker wrap up this episode with a chat about the direction of the Jays' bullpen heading into 2025. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jordan romano, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 75f87e5e-5123-4ccf-ac6c-7151236becb1 What Will Giménez Bring + David Samson on the Art of the Offseason Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return with another offseason edition of the show! They start with the Andrés Giménez acquisition and what it means for the Blue Jays and the rest of their winter plans. Jeff & Kevin then get into Juan Soto's contract with the Mets and where Toronto finished in the bidding. Next, the guys are joined by MLB Radio analyst Jensen Lewis for his thoughts on Giménez. Finally, former Miami Marlins President and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson joins the show. The guys get into how the offseason works from a front office perspective. What are some of the red lines in contract negations and what was David surprised by in the Juan Soto deal?

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Dec 2024 20:53:04 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return with another offseason edition of the show! They start with the Andrés Giménez acquisition and what it means for the Blue Jays and the rest of their winter plans. Jeff & Kevin then get into Juan Soto's contract with the Mets and where Toronto finished in the bidding. Next, the guys are joined by MLB Radio analyst Jensen Lewis for his thoughts on Giménez. Finally, former Miami Marlins President and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson joins the show. The guys get into how the offseason works from a front office perspective. What are some of the red lines in contract negations and what was David surprised by in the Juan Soto deal?

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.

]]> What Will Giménez Bring + David Samson on the Art of the Offseason Sportsnet 00:56:18 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return with another offseason edition of the show! They start with the Andrés Giménez acquisition and what it means for the Blue Jays and the rest of their winter plans. Jeff & Kevin then get into Juan Soto's contract with the Mets and where Toronto finished in the bidding. Next, the guys are joined by MLB Radio analyst Jensen Lewis for his thoughts on Giménez. Finally, former Miami Marlins President and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson joins the show. The guys get into how the offseason works from a front office perspective. What are some of the red lines in contract negations and what was David surprised by in the Juan Soto deal? 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return with another offseason edition of the show! They start with the Andrés Giménez acquisition and what it means for the Blue Jays and the rest of their winter plans. Jeff & Kevin then get into Juan Soto's contract with the Mets and where Toronto finished in the bidding. Next, the guys are joined by MLB Radio analyst Jensen Lewis for his thoughts on Giménez. Finally, former Miami Marlins President and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson joins the show. The guys get into how the offseason works from a front office perspective. What are some of the red lines in contract negations and what was David surprised by in the Juan Soto deal? 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. juan soto, blair and barker, toronto blue jays, david samson, andres gimenez, winter meeting false full 84051b22-7ffb-4c3f-bec1-0328d41da948 Start of the Blue Jays' Offseason Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back from their winter hiatus with a new episode! The guys offer their thoughts on the offseason so far and where the Jays stand in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Do the Blue Jays have a legitimate chance at signing Soto? Is it preventing them from pursuing other free agents? And ultimately where will he land? Then, they discuss other free agents the Jays should be keying in on and debate the merits of the Golden At-Bat rule.

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.

]]> Thu, 5 Dec 2024 20:59:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back from their winter hiatus with a new episode! The guys offer their thoughts on the offseason so far and where the Jays stand in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Do the Blue Jays have a legitimate chance at signing Soto? Is it preventing them from pursuing other free agents? And ultimately where will he land? Then, they discuss other free agents the Jays should be keying in on and debate the merits of the Golden At-Bat rule.

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.

]]> Start of the Blue Jays' Offseason Sportsnet 00:51:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back from their winter hiatus with a new episode! The guys offer their thoughts on the offseason so far and where the Jays stand in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Do the Blue Jays have a legitimate chance at signing Soto? Is it preventing them from pursuing other free agents? And ultimately where will he land? Then, they discuss other free agents the Jays should be keying in on and debate the merits of the Golden At-Bat rule. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back from their winter hiatus with a new episode! The guys offer their thoughts on the offseason so far and where the Jays stand in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Do the Blue Jays have a legitimate chance at signing Soto? Is it preventing them from pursuing other free agents? And ultimately where will he land? Then, they discuss other free agents the Jays should be keying in on and debate the merits of the Golden At-Bat rule. 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. false full 7d89246b-157f-4a85-bee5-63ad0ed7c6f9 Season Finale with Jayson Stark and Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up this season of Blair and Barker sharing their expectations for the Blue Jays’ offseason, before welcoming on two of their favourite guests. Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, hops aboard (10:22) to discuss Freddie Freeman’s battle with injuries in the postseason, his Hall of Fame candidacy, the next steps for the Yankees and the Juan Soto free agency sweepstakes. Later on, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (33:18) looks into the Dodgers’ road to the World Series with a shorthanded starting rotation, the Scott Boras factor of Soto’s next deal, Walker Buehler’s heroics in the ninth inning of Game 5, and if the Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge Fall Classic lived up to the hype. 

Thank you for listening!

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.

]]> Fri, 1 Nov 2024 20:06:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up this season of Blair and Barker sharing their expectations for the Blue Jays’ offseason, before welcoming on two of their favourite guests. Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, hops aboard (10:22) to discuss Freddie Freeman’s battle with injuries in the postseason, his Hall of Fame candidacy, the next steps for the Yankees and the Juan Soto free agency sweepstakes. Later on, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (33:18) looks into the Dodgers’ road to the World Series with a shorthanded starting rotation, the Scott Boras factor of Soto’s next deal, Walker Buehler’s heroics in the ninth inning of Game 5, and if the Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge Fall Classic lived up to the hype. 

Thank you for listening!

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.

]]> Season Finale with Jayson Stark and Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up this season of Blair and Barker sharing their expectations for the Blue Jays’ offseason, before welcoming on two of their favourite guests. Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, hops aboard (10:22) to discuss Freddie Freeman’s battle with injuries in the postseason, his Hall of Fame candidacy, the next steps for the Yankees and the Juan Soto free agency sweepstakes. Later on, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (33:18) looks into the Dodgers’ road to the World Series with a shorthanded starting rotation, the Scott Boras factor of Soto’s next deal, Walker Buehler’s heroics in the ninth inning of Game 5, and if the Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge Fall Classic lived up to the hype. Thank you for listening! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up this season of Blair and Barker sharing their expectations for the Blue Jays’ offseason, before welcoming on two of their favourite guests. Jeff Passan, ESPN MLB insider, hops aboard (10:22) to discuss Freddie Freeman’s battle with injuries in the postseason, his Hall of Fame candidacy, the next steps for the Yankees and the Juan Soto free agency sweepstakes. Later on, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (33:18) looks into the Dodgers’ road to the World Series with a shorthanded starting rotation, the Scott Boras factor of Soto’s next deal, Walker Buehler’s heroics in the ninth inning of Game 5, and if the Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge Fall Classic lived up to the hype. Thank you for listening! 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. false full 1e080634-3c52-420d-bc28-35edf78598ad The Dodgers Win the World Series! The Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2024 World Series Champions! Blair and Barker look back on the dramatic and series-deciding Game 5 - the Dodgers' five-run 5th inning characterized by Yankees defensive miscues, Dave Roberts' managing, Freddie Freeman's MVP performance and the next steps in New York. Then, they react to the Braves starting their offseason early and trading Jorge Soler to the Angels. Later, former MLB executive David Samson (29:58) discusses how this postseason changes Aaron Judge's legacy, whether Aaron Boone's job is safe, the Dodgers' roster construction and Juan Soto's free-agent future.

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.

]]> Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:03:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2024 World Series Champions! Blair and Barker look back on the dramatic and series-deciding Game 5 - the Dodgers' five-run 5th inning characterized by Yankees defensive miscues, Dave Roberts' managing, Freddie Freeman's MVP performance and the next steps in New York. Then, they react to the Braves starting their offseason early and trading Jorge Soler to the Angels. Later, former MLB executive David Samson (29:58) discusses how this postseason changes Aaron Judge's legacy, whether Aaron Boone's job is safe, the Dodgers' roster construction and Juan Soto's free-agent future.

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.

]]> The Dodgers Win the World Series! Sportsnet 00:49:52 The Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2024 World Series Champions! Blair and Barker look back on the dramatic and series-deciding Game 5 - the Dodgers' five-run 5th inning characterized by Yankees defensive miscues, Dave Roberts' managing, Freddie Freeman's MVP performance and the next steps in New York. Then, they react to the Braves starting their offseason early and trading Jorge Soler to the Angels. Later, former MLB executive David Samson (29:58) discusses how this postseason changes Aaron Judge's legacy, whether Aaron Boone's job is safe, the Dodgers' roster construction and Juan Soto's free-agent future. 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. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the 2024 World Series Champions! Blair and Barker look back on the dramatic and series-deciding Game 5 - the Dodgers' five-run 5th inning characterized by Yankees defensive miscues, Dave Roberts' managing, Freddie Freeman's MVP performance and the next steps in New York. Then, they react to the Braves starting their offseason early and trading Jorge Soler to the Angels. Later, former MLB executive David Samson (29:58) discusses how this postseason changes Aaron Judge's legacy, whether Aaron Boone's job is safe, the Dodgers' roster construction and Juan Soto's free-agent future. 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. false full 3ef4ae17-cbd7-4cee-9080-8ac0ca8136b6 Yankees Survive the Day + Post-Season Pitching Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the New York Yankees living another day with their Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Boone's lineup changes, Freddie Freeman's surge at the plate and Mookie Betts' outfield encounter with a Yankees fan. Then, Cleveland Guardians' pitcher Cade Smith (27:26) jumps on to chat about his approach to a shorter offseason for himself this year, high leverage pitching in the regular season vs. the post-season, using the pitch clock to his advantage, attacking Aaron Judge on the mound and if he pitches differently from park-to-park.

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.

]]> Wed, 30 Oct 2024 20:03:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the New York Yankees living another day with their Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Boone's lineup changes, Freddie Freeman's surge at the plate and Mookie Betts' outfield encounter with a Yankees fan. Then, Cleveland Guardians' pitcher Cade Smith (27:26) jumps on to chat about his approach to a shorter offseason for himself this year, high leverage pitching in the regular season vs. the post-season, using the pitch clock to his advantage, attacking Aaron Judge on the mound and if he pitches differently from park-to-park.

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.

]]> Yankees Survive the Day + Post-Season Pitching Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the New York Yankees living another day with their Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Boone's lineup changes, Freddie Freeman's surge at the plate and Mookie Betts' outfield encounter with a Yankees fan. Then, Cleveland Guardians' pitcher Cade Smith (27:26) jumps on to chat about his approach to a shorter offseason for himself this year, high leverage pitching in the regular season vs. the post-season, using the pitch clock to his advantage, attacking Aaron Judge on the mound and if he pitches differently from park-to-park. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the New York Yankees living another day with their Game 4 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Aaron Boone's lineup changes, Freddie Freeman's surge at the plate and Mookie Betts' outfield encounter with a Yankees fan. Then, Cleveland Guardians' pitcher Cade Smith (27:26) jumps on to chat about his approach to a shorter offseason for himself this year, high leverage pitching in the regular season vs. the post-season, using the pitch clock to his advantage, attacking Aaron Judge on the mound and if he pitches differently from park-to-park. 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. false full 53413a65-bc07-4876-822d-f87cc82c98c3 The Dodgers Only Need One Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Game 3 of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers' chance to sweep the final and the need for Aaron Judge to perform in the elimination game. Then, the guys dive into Walker Buehler's performance in three post-season starts. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin are joined by Sportsnet analyst and former MLB catcher Caleb Joseph (31:44), who tries to diagnose the issues at the plate for Judge and the Dodgers' success pitching against him, New York's championship window closing quickly, Buehler's rising free agency stock, and the positive and negative effects of a players-only meeting.

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.

]]> Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:01:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Game 3 of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers' chance to sweep the final and the need for Aaron Judge to perform in the elimination game. Then, the guys dive into Walker Buehler's performance in three post-season starts. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin are joined by Sportsnet analyst and former MLB catcher Caleb Joseph (31:44), who tries to diagnose the issues at the plate for Judge and the Dodgers' success pitching against him, New York's championship window closing quickly, Buehler's rising free agency stock, and the positive and negative effects of a players-only meeting.

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.

]]> The Dodgers Only Need One Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Game 3 of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers' chance to sweep the final and the need for Aaron Judge to perform in the elimination game. Then, the guys dive into Walker Buehler's performance in three post-season starts. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin are joined by Sportsnet analyst and former MLB catcher Caleb Joseph (31:44), who tries to diagnose the issues at the plate for Judge and the Dodgers' success pitching against him, New York's championship window closing quickly, Buehler's rising free agency stock, and the positive and negative effects of a players-only meeting. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Game 3 of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers' chance to sweep the final and the need for Aaron Judge to perform in the elimination game. Then, the guys dive into Walker Buehler's performance in three post-season starts. Afterwards, Jeff and Kevin are joined by Sportsnet analyst and former MLB catcher Caleb Joseph (31:44), who tries to diagnose the issues at the plate for Judge and the Dodgers' success pitching against him, New York's championship window closing quickly, Buehler's rising free agency stock, and the positive and negative effects of a players-only meeting. 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. false full 82835d00-6bc4-4f96-bf5c-abdf4f68b8e4 Dodgers Defend LA Blair and Barker look back on the pair of World Series games this weekend where the Dodgers got up 2-0 over the Yankees. They discuss Shohei Ohtani's Game-2 injury, Aaron Boone's bullpen management in Game 1, Aaron Judge's struggles and more. Later, Kevin Pillar (26:44) joins the show in-studio to discuss his offseason surgery and his baseball future following his 12th MLB season. Then, he shares his thoughts on the series, Judge's playoff slump, the impact of New York's home field and the role of analytics in the postseason.

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.

]]> Mon, 28 Oct 2024 20:04:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker look back on the pair of World Series games this weekend where the Dodgers got up 2-0 over the Yankees. They discuss Shohei Ohtani's Game-2 injury, Aaron Boone's bullpen management in Game 1, Aaron Judge's struggles and more. Later, Kevin Pillar (26:44) joins the show in-studio to discuss his offseason surgery and his baseball future following his 12th MLB season. Then, he shares his thoughts on the series, Judge's playoff slump, the impact of New York's home field and the role of analytics in the postseason.

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.

]]> Dodgers Defend LA Sportsnet 00:49:52 Blair and Barker look back on the pair of World Series games this weekend where the Dodgers got up 2-0 over the Yankees. They discuss Shohei Ohtani's Game-2 injury, Aaron Boone's bullpen management in Game 1, Aaron Judge's struggles and more. Later, Kevin Pillar (26:44) joins the show in-studio to discuss his offseason surgery and his baseball future following his 12th MLB season. Then, he shares his thoughts on the series, Judge's playoff slump, the impact of New York's home field and the role of analytics in the postseason. 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. Blair and Barker look back on the pair of World Series games this weekend where the Dodgers got up 2-0 over the Yankees. They discuss Shohei Ohtani's Game-2 injury, Aaron Boone's bullpen management in Game 1, Aaron Judge's struggles and more. Later, Kevin Pillar (26:44) joins the show in-studio to discuss his offseason surgery and his baseball future following his 12th MLB season. Then, he shares his thoughts on the series, Judge's playoff slump, the impact of New York's home field and the role of analytics in the postseason. 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. false full cab6ec70-53c1-439f-959f-ff7a972dfed7 Game 1 Is Finally Here Game 1 of the World Series has arrived! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts on what to expect tonight in Los Angeles, including a look at the starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys from L.A.  (10:55). They talk about how the ample rest between series could help Cole perform at his best, get into the star power on display in this series, and debate who is under the most pressure to perform - Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. To close out the show, the fellas visit the back-leg line and take questions from listeners.

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.

]]> Fri, 25 Oct 2024 20:01:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Game 1 of the World Series has arrived! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts on what to expect tonight in Los Angeles, including a look at the starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys from L.A.  (10:55). They talk about how the ample rest between series could help Cole perform at his best, get into the star power on display in this series, and debate who is under the most pressure to perform - Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. To close out the show, the fellas visit the back-leg line and take questions from listeners.

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.

]]> Game 1 Is Finally Here Sportsnet 00:49:46 Game 1 of the World Series has arrived! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts on what to expect tonight in Los Angeles, including a look at the starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys from L.A. (10:55). They talk about how the ample rest between series could help Cole perform at his best, get into the star power on display in this series, and debate who is under the most pressure to perform - Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. To close out the show, the fellas visit the back-leg line and take questions from listeners. 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. Game 1 of the World Series has arrived! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show with their thoughts on what to expect tonight in Los Angeles, including a look at the starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Jack Flaherty. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys from L.A. (10:55). They talk about how the ample rest between series could help Cole perform at his best, get into the star power on display in this series, and debate who is under the most pressure to perform - Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. To close out the show, the fellas visit the back-leg line and take questions from listeners. 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. false full ec06a14e-f56e-4efa-a169-5bdf866b8605 What It Means to Win in the Bronx While Blair and Barker continue to count down to Game 1 of the World Series, they are joined by two-time champion Johnny Damon (12:20). He shares memories from his title runs with the Yankees and Red Sox, what it means to win in New York and the mental & physical challenges of prepping for the biggest stage. Later, host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (30:58) discusses Gerrit Cole's outlook ahead of Game 1, which team and players the scheduled time off benefits most, why Aaron Judge is the Yankees' X-factor and how their pitchers must attack Shohei Ohtani.

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.

]]> Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:03:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ While Blair and Barker continue to count down to Game 1 of the World Series, they are joined by two-time champion Johnny Damon (12:20). He shares memories from his title runs with the Yankees and Red Sox, what it means to win in New York and the mental & physical challenges of prepping for the biggest stage. Later, host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (30:58) discusses Gerrit Cole's outlook ahead of Game 1, which team and players the scheduled time off benefits most, why Aaron Judge is the Yankees' X-factor and how their pitchers must attack Shohei Ohtani.

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.

]]> What It Means to Win in the Bronx Sportsnet 00:49:52 While Blair and Barker continue to count down to Game 1 of the World Series, they are joined by two-time champion Johnny Damon (12:20). He shares memories from his title runs with the Yankees and Red Sox, what it means to win in New York and the mental & physical challenges of prepping for the biggest stage. Later, host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (30:58) discusses Gerrit Cole's outlook ahead of Game 1, which team and players the scheduled time off benefits most, why Aaron Judge is the Yankees' X-factor and how their pitchers must attack Shohei Ohtani. 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. While Blair and Barker continue to count down to Game 1 of the World Series, they are joined by two-time champion Johnny Damon (12:20). He shares memories from his title runs with the Yankees and Red Sox, what it means to win in New York and the mental & physical challenges of prepping for the biggest stage. Later, host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (30:58) discusses Gerrit Cole's outlook ahead of Game 1, which team and players the scheduled time off benefits most, why Aaron Judge is the Yankees' X-factor and how their pitchers must attack Shohei Ohtani. 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. false full 686c53f5-6050-4506-bb20-854ec76eaf74 Dodgers' World Series Path with President Stan Kasten Blair and Barker are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (9:32) to share some memories of the late MLB superstar Fernando Valenzuela, his review of Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking regular season, if home field advantage is a factor in the 2024 World Series, Tommy Edman's fit with the Dodgers, and the evolution of pitchers. Then, New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro (31:30) stops by to expand on his recent article on New York Yankees' manager Aaron Boone about his playing days, transition into a managerial role, his comparisons with the past Yankees' managers and legacy heading into the World Series. 

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.

]]> Wed, 23 Oct 2024 20:00:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (9:32) to share some memories of the late MLB superstar Fernando Valenzuela, his review of Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking regular season, if home field advantage is a factor in the 2024 World Series, Tommy Edman's fit with the Dodgers, and the evolution of pitchers. Then, New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro (31:30) stops by to expand on his recent article on New York Yankees' manager Aaron Boone about his playing days, transition into a managerial role, his comparisons with the past Yankees' managers and legacy heading into the World Series. 

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.

]]> Dodgers' World Series Path with President Stan Kasten Sportsnet 00:49:51 Blair and Barker are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (9:32) to share some memories of the late MLB superstar Fernando Valenzuela, his review of Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking regular season, if home field advantage is a factor in the 2024 World Series, Tommy Edman's fit with the Dodgers, and the evolution of pitchers. Then, New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro (31:30) stops by to expand on his recent article on New York Yankees' manager Aaron Boone about his playing days, transition into a managerial role, his comparisons with the past Yankees' managers and legacy heading into the World Series.  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. Blair and Barker are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten (9:32) to share some memories of the late MLB superstar Fernando Valenzuela, his review of Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking regular season, if home field advantage is a factor in the 2024 World Series, Tommy Edman's fit with the Dodgers, and the evolution of pitchers. Then, New York Post columnist Mike Vaccaro (31:30) stops by to expand on his recent article on New York Yankees' manager Aaron Boone about his playing days, transition into a managerial role, his comparisons with the past Yankees' managers and legacy heading into the World Series.  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. false full fbc26227-d0a8-48dc-9aab-b5073bc29908 New Jays Hitting Coach + Early World Series Storylines MLB Network's Jon Morosi (3:20) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the early storylines heading into the World Series, how the New York Yankees' and Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching staffs match up, who has more pressure on them between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, and if the league can leverage the marketing value of Judge vs. Ohtani. Then, Blair and Barker dive into the Blue Jays hiring David Popkins as their new hitting coach and why it may not change the outlook for their hitters in 2025 before inviting Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (40:40) to expand on Toronto's decision and if it sparks more moves around the coaching staff and front office. 

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.

]]> Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:02:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network's Jon Morosi (3:20) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the early storylines heading into the World Series, how the New York Yankees' and Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching staffs match up, who has more pressure on them between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, and if the league can leverage the marketing value of Judge vs. Ohtani. Then, Blair and Barker dive into the Blue Jays hiring David Popkins as their new hitting coach and why it may not change the outlook for their hitters in 2025 before inviting Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (40:40) to expand on Toronto's decision and if it sparks more moves around the coaching staff and front office. 

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.

]]> New Jays Hitting Coach + Early World Series Storylines Sportsnet 00:49:39 MLB Network's Jon Morosi (3:20) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the early storylines heading into the World Series, how the New York Yankees' and Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching staffs match up, who has more pressure on them between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, and if the league can leverage the marketing value of Judge vs. Ohtani. Then, Blair and Barker dive into the Blue Jays hiring David Popkins as their new hitting coach and why it may not change the outlook for their hitters in 2025 before inviting Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (40:40) to expand on Toronto's decision and if it sparks more moves around the coaching staff and front office. 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 (3:20) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the early storylines heading into the World Series, how the New York Yankees' and Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching staffs match up, who has more pressure on them between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, and if the league can leverage the marketing value of Judge vs. Ohtani. Then, Blair and Barker dive into the Blue Jays hiring David Popkins as their new hitting coach and why it may not change the outlook for their hitters in 2025 before inviting Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (40:40) to expand on Toronto's decision and if it sparks more moves around the coaching staff and front office. 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. false full 8fbd52a4-50cf-4d8a-9d1c-b053b21e7858 World Series Stage is Set The World Series stage is set as the New York Yankees will face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers! Blair and Barker look back on the two League Championship Series and discuss the next steps for the eliminated Guardians and Mets. Then, they share the Yankees' and Dodgers' biggest concerns heading into Game 1 on Friday. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:15) shares his thoughts on the financial aspect of Judge vs. Ohtani for MLB, the biggest World Series storylines, and the future of Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton.

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.

]]> Mon, 21 Oct 2024 20:04:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The World Series stage is set as the New York Yankees will face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers! Blair and Barker look back on the two League Championship Series and discuss the next steps for the eliminated Guardians and Mets. Then, they share the Yankees' and Dodgers' biggest concerns heading into Game 1 on Friday. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:15) shares his thoughts on the financial aspect of Judge vs. Ohtani for MLB, the biggest World Series storylines, and the future of Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton.

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.

]]> World Series Stage is Set Sportsnet 00:49:49 The World Series stage is set as the New York Yankees will face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers! Blair and Barker look back on the two League Championship Series and discuss the next steps for the eliminated Guardians and Mets. Then, they share the Yankees' and Dodgers' biggest concerns heading into Game 1 on Friday. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:15) shares his thoughts on the financial aspect of Judge vs. Ohtani for MLB, the biggest World Series storylines, and the future of Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton. 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. The World Series stage is set as the New York Yankees will face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers! Blair and Barker look back on the two League Championship Series and discuss the next steps for the eliminated Guardians and Mets. Then, they share the Yankees' and Dodgers' biggest concerns heading into Game 1 on Friday. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:15) shares his thoughts on the financial aspect of Judge vs. Ohtani for MLB, the biggest World Series storylines, and the future of Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton. 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. false full d0d9ef13-8940-4193-a1e7-3ddf8d83b1cf Big Christmas & Big Fry Take Game 3 Blair and Barker open the show discussing Jhonkensy Noel's game-tying homer and David Fry's walk-off home run to take hold of a thrilling Game 3 in the ALCS. ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:51) chats about the difficulties of closing in the post-season, if Game 4 is now a must-win game for the New York Yankees, and if Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is a better duo than Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Then, Blair and Barker check in on the Back-Leg Line, fielding listener's questions on what the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros need to address in the offseason after an early exit from the playoffs, situational base stealing, and more.

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.

]]> Fri, 18 Oct 2024 20:00:08 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker open the show discussing Jhonkensy Noel's game-tying homer and David Fry's walk-off home run to take hold of a thrilling Game 3 in the ALCS. ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:51) chats about the difficulties of closing in the post-season, if Game 4 is now a must-win game for the New York Yankees, and if Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is a better duo than Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Then, Blair and Barker check in on the Back-Leg Line, fielding listener's questions on what the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros need to address in the offseason after an early exit from the playoffs, situational base stealing, and more.

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.

]]> Big Christmas & Big Fry Take Game 3 Sportsnet 00:49:49 Blair and Barker open the show discussing Jhonkensy Noel's game-tying homer and David Fry's walk-off home run to take hold of a thrilling Game 3 in the ALCS. ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:51) chats about the difficulties of closing in the post-season, if Game 4 is now a must-win game for the New York Yankees, and if Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is a better duo than Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Then, Blair and Barker check in on the Back-Leg Line, fielding listener's questions on what the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros need to address in the offseason after an early exit from the playoffs, situational base stealing, and more. 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. Blair and Barker open the show discussing Jhonkensy Noel's game-tying homer and David Fry's walk-off home run to take hold of a thrilling Game 3 in the ALCS. ESPN's Jeff Passan (6:51) chats about the difficulties of closing in the post-season, if Game 4 is now a must-win game for the New York Yankees, and if Aaron Judge and Juan Soto is a better duo than Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. Then, Blair and Barker check in on the Back-Leg Line, fielding listener's questions on what the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros need to address in the offseason after an early exit from the playoffs, situational base stealing, and more. 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. false full 4704cae5-2da0-4db7-9c44-7dbcf083a3ce Vintage Buehler, Trop's Future, and Judge is Back Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Walker Buehler's return to form in the L.A. Dodgers' Game 3 win and how pitchers change mechanics from regular season starts to games that matter in the playoffs. Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin shares an update on the future of Tropicana Field's status for the 2025 season and beyond and where the Rays would play in the meantime. Then, MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur (31:45) joins the guys to preview Game 3 of the ALCS, how Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher Matthew Boyd can give an extended outing for his team and if Aaron Judge has found himself in his post-season at-bats. 

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.

]]> Thu, 17 Oct 2024 20:02:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Walker Buehler's return to form in the L.A. Dodgers' Game 3 win and how pitchers change mechanics from regular season starts to games that matter in the playoffs. Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin shares an update on the future of Tropicana Field's status for the 2025 season and beyond and where the Rays would play in the meantime. Then, MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur (31:45) joins the guys to preview Game 3 of the ALCS, how Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher Matthew Boyd can give an extended outing for his team and if Aaron Judge has found himself in his post-season at-bats. 

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.

]]> Vintage Buehler, Trop's Future, and Judge is Back Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Walker Buehler's return to form in the L.A. Dodgers' Game 3 win and how pitchers change mechanics from regular season starts to games that matter in the playoffs. Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin shares an update on the future of Tropicana Field's status for the 2025 season and beyond and where the Rays would play in the meantime. Then, MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur (31:45) joins the guys to preview Game 3 of the ALCS, how Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher Matthew Boyd can give an extended outing for his team and if Aaron Judge has found himself in his post-season at-bats. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Walker Buehler's return to form in the L.A. Dodgers' Game 3 win and how pitchers change mechanics from regular season starts to games that matter in the playoffs. Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin shares an update on the future of Tropicana Field's status for the 2025 season and beyond and where the Rays would play in the meantime. Then, MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur (31:45) joins the guys to preview Game 3 of the ALCS, how Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher Matthew Boyd can give an extended outing for his team and if Aaron Judge has found himself in his post-season at-bats. 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. false full 52c33366-9c33-47d4-8d09-7410e6c7fb8b Judge Gets on the Board + NLCS Game 3 Preview Blair and Barker look ahead to game 3 of the NLCS and debate whether the Dodgers should shuffle the top of their lineup. Then, over to the ALCS and Austin Wells' clean-up struggles, the Guardian's stingy offensive identity and Clase's usage in the series. ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian (15:32) shares his thoughts on the Yankees' 6-3 win over the Guardians last night, Aaron Judge's maturity, Gleyber Torres stepping up at the top of the lineup and how Luke Weaver became the playoff's most dominant closer. Finally, Jeff & Kevin dive deeper into tonight's game between the Mets and 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 or any affiliates.

]]> Wed, 16 Oct 2024 20:07:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker look ahead to game 3 of the NLCS and debate whether the Dodgers should shuffle the top of their lineup. Then, over to the ALCS and Austin Wells' clean-up struggles, the Guardian's stingy offensive identity and Clase's usage in the series. ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian (15:32) shares his thoughts on the Yankees' 6-3 win over the Guardians last night, Aaron Judge's maturity, Gleyber Torres stepping up at the top of the lineup and how Luke Weaver became the playoff's most dominant closer. Finally, Jeff & Kevin dive deeper into tonight's game between the Mets and 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 or any affiliates.

]]> Judge Gets on the Board + NLCS Game 3 Preview Sportsnet 00:49:27 Blair and Barker look ahead to game 3 of the NLCS and debate whether the Dodgers should shuffle the top of their lineup. Then, over to the ALCS and Austin Wells' clean-up struggles, the Guardian's stingy offensive identity and Clase's usage in the series. ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian (15:32) shares his thoughts on the Yankees' 6-3 win over the Guardians last night, Aaron Judge's maturity, Gleyber Torres stepping up at the top of the lineup and how Luke Weaver became the playoff's most dominant closer. Finally, Jeff & Kevin dive deeper into tonight's game between the Mets and 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 or any affiliates. Blair and Barker look ahead to game 3 of the NLCS and debate whether the Dodgers should shuffle the top of their lineup. Then, over to the ALCS and Austin Wells' clean-up struggles, the Guardian's stingy offensive identity and Clase's usage in the series. ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian (15:32) shares his thoughts on the Yankees' 6-3 win over the Guardians last night, Aaron Judge's maturity, Gleyber Torres stepping up at the top of the lineup and how Luke Weaver became the playoff's most dominant closer. Finally, Jeff & Kevin dive deeper into tonight's game between the Mets and 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 or any affiliates. false full 42a897e1-2699-43ee-b826-ce05277171d0 New York State of Mind Blair and Barker open the show with their reactions to the Yankees opening the ALCS with a 5-2 win over Cleveland and the Mets evening up the NLCS in L.A. The fellas also preview what to expect on Tuesday, when the ALCS resumes. Then, Chris Rose (28:37) of The Chris Rose Rotation Podcast & Baseball Today joins Jeff and Kevin to analyze the Championship Series so far, including Steven Kwan's continued excellence and the Guardians' need for Josh Naylor to step up. Next, they discuss Aaron Judge's October struggles and Giancarlo Stanton's HOF case off the back of another strong postseason.

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.

]]> Tue, 15 Oct 2024 20:03:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker open the show with their reactions to the Yankees opening the ALCS with a 5-2 win over Cleveland and the Mets evening up the NLCS in L.A. The fellas also preview what to expect on Tuesday, when the ALCS resumes. Then, Chris Rose (28:37) of The Chris Rose Rotation Podcast & Baseball Today joins Jeff and Kevin to analyze the Championship Series so far, including Steven Kwan's continued excellence and the Guardians' need for Josh Naylor to step up. Next, they discuss Aaron Judge's October struggles and Giancarlo Stanton's HOF case off the back of another strong postseason.

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.

]]> New York State of Mind Sportsnet 00:49:41 Blair and Barker open the show with their reactions to the Yankees opening the ALCS with a 5-2 win over Cleveland and the Mets evening up the NLCS in L.A. The fellas also preview what to expect on Tuesday, when the ALCS resumes. Then, Chris Rose (28:37) of The Chris Rose Rotation Podcast & Baseball Today joins Jeff and Kevin to analyze the Championship Series so far, including Steven Kwan's continued excellence and the Guardians' need for Josh Naylor to step up. Next, they discuss Aaron Judge's October struggles and Giancarlo Stanton's HOF case off the back of another strong postseason. 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. Blair and Barker open the show with their reactions to the Yankees opening the ALCS with a 5-2 win over Cleveland and the Mets evening up the NLCS in L.A. The fellas also preview what to expect on Tuesday, when the ALCS resumes. Then, Chris Rose (28:37) of The Chris Rose Rotation Podcast & Baseball Today joins Jeff and Kevin to analyze the Championship Series so far, including Steven Kwan's continued excellence and the Guardians' need for Josh Naylor to step up. Next, they discuss Aaron Judge's October struggles and Giancarlo Stanton's HOF case off the back of another strong postseason. 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. false full f93e6bb5-67d3-4338-bf98-0660907ee7cd Yanking ALCS Ticket from the Royals + Game 5 Weekend Blair and Barker look back at the New York Yankees clinching their spot in the ALCS, who the Bronx Bombers would rather face between the Detroit Tigers or Cleveland Guardians, how Aaron Boone has mastered his lineup and pitching staff in the postseason. Then, they look ahead to Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres and check in on listeners' questions on the Back-Leg Line. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (33:40) joins the guys to discuss the overhaul of coaching staffs across the MLB, if sluggers are more valuable than smart-at-bat takers and why it's easier to scout opposing pitchers in the postseason.

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.

]]> Fri, 11 Oct 2024 20:05:29 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker look back at the New York Yankees clinching their spot in the ALCS, who the Bronx Bombers would rather face between the Detroit Tigers or Cleveland Guardians, how Aaron Boone has mastered his lineup and pitching staff in the postseason. Then, they look ahead to Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres and check in on listeners' questions on the Back-Leg Line. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (33:40) joins the guys to discuss the overhaul of coaching staffs across the MLB, if sluggers are more valuable than smart-at-bat takers and why it's easier to scout opposing pitchers in the postseason.

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.

]]> Yanking ALCS Ticket from the Royals + Game 5 Weekend Sportsnet 00:49:53 Blair and Barker look back at the New York Yankees clinching their spot in the ALCS, who the Bronx Bombers would rather face between the Detroit Tigers or Cleveland Guardians, how Aaron Boone has mastered his lineup and pitching staff in the postseason. Then, they look ahead to Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres and check in on listeners' questions on the Back-Leg Line. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (33:40) joins the guys to discuss the overhaul of coaching staffs across the MLB, if sluggers are more valuable than smart-at-bat takers and why it's easier to scout opposing pitchers in the postseason. 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. Blair and Barker look back at the New York Yankees clinching their spot in the ALCS, who the Bronx Bombers would rather face between the Detroit Tigers or Cleveland Guardians, how Aaron Boone has mastered his lineup and pitching staff in the postseason. Then, they look ahead to Game 5 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres and check in on listeners' questions on the Back-Leg Line. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (33:40) joins the guys to discuss the overhaul of coaching staffs across the MLB, if sluggers are more valuable than smart-at-bat takers and why it's easier to scout opposing pitchers in the postseason. 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. false full e85689ca-4007-4187-bbd8-095877e65fc6 Mets Magic Continues Blair and Barker begin today's show by revisiting a big night for the NLCS-bound New York Mets, while the Yankees, Dodgers, and Tigers registered big wins of their own. Then, SNY analyst Zack Scott joins the show to discuss how the Mets have become such a tough out after recovering from an abysmal May. Scott also describes how the Mets won the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes, of which the Blue Jays were apart of (9:49). In the final segment of the show, Royals analyst Rex Hudler joins Jeff and Kevin to examine how Kansas City find themselves facing a must-win game tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Hudler explains why good pitching is behind Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.'s struggles thus far (31:18).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:04:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin today's show by revisiting a big night for the NLCS-bound New York Mets, while the Yankees, Dodgers, and Tigers registered big wins of their own. Then, SNY analyst Zack Scott joins the show to discuss how the Mets have become such a tough out after recovering from an abysmal May. Scott also describes how the Mets won the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes, of which the Blue Jays were apart of (9:49). In the final segment of the show, Royals analyst Rex Hudler joins Jeff and Kevin to examine how Kansas City find themselves facing a must-win game tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Hudler explains why good pitching is behind Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.'s struggles thus far (31:18).

 

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.

]]> Mets Magic Continues Sportsnet 00:50:09 Blair and Barker begin today's show by revisiting a big night for the NLCS-bound New York Mets, while the Yankees, Dodgers, and Tigers registered big wins of their own. Then, SNY analyst Zack Scott joins the show to discuss how the Mets have become such a tough out after recovering from an abysmal May. Scott also describes how the Mets won the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes, of which the Blue Jays were apart of (9:49). In the final segment of the show, Royals analyst Rex Hudler joins Jeff and Kevin to examine how Kansas City find themselves facing a must-win game tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Hudler explains why good pitching is behind Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.'s struggles thus far (31:18). 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. Blair and Barker begin today's show by revisiting a big night for the NLCS-bound New York Mets, while the Yankees, Dodgers, and Tigers registered big wins of their own. Then, SNY analyst Zack Scott joins the show to discuss how the Mets have become such a tough out after recovering from an abysmal May. Scott also describes how the Mets won the Francisco Lindor sweepstakes, of which the Blue Jays were apart of (9:49). In the final segment of the show, Royals analyst Rex Hudler joins Jeff and Kevin to examine how Kansas City find themselves facing a must-win game tonight at Kauffman Stadium. Hudler explains why good pitching is behind Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.'s struggles thus far (31:18). 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. false full 91e29772-be9a-4293-a68e-ce322c35b91b NLDS on The Brink + The Soto Situation Blair and Barker look back at the New York Mets and San Diego Padres taking a 2-1 lead in their respective series, the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching matchups, the Padres' early attack on Walker Buehler and rumours around the Blue Jays' bid for Juan Soto's pending free agency. Then, former MLB catcher and Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (33:13) jumps on to share some stories of his playing days with Manny Machado, if the third baseman has embraced a "villain" role, how much pressure is on Aaron Judge and which team would have the most disappointing exit with high expectations entering the postseason.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 9 Oct 2024 20:01:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker look back at the New York Mets and San Diego Padres taking a 2-1 lead in their respective series, the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching matchups, the Padres' early attack on Walker Buehler and rumours around the Blue Jays' bid for Juan Soto's pending free agency. Then, former MLB catcher and Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (33:13) jumps on to share some stories of his playing days with Manny Machado, if the third baseman has embraced a "villain" role, how much pressure is on Aaron Judge and which team would have the most disappointing exit with high expectations entering the postseason.

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 affiliate.

]]> NLDS on The Brink + The Soto Situation Sportsnet 00:49:48 Blair and Barker look back at the New York Mets and San Diego Padres taking a 2-1 lead in their respective series, the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching matchups, the Padres' early attack on Walker Buehler and rumours around the Blue Jays' bid for Juan Soto's pending free agency. Then, former MLB catcher and Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (33:13) jumps on to share some stories of his playing days with Manny Machado, if the third baseman has embraced a "villain" role, how much pressure is on Aaron Judge and which team would have the most disappointing exit with high expectations entering the postseason. 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 affiliate. Blair and Barker look back at the New York Mets and San Diego Padres taking a 2-1 lead in their respective series, the Philadelphia Phillies' pitching matchups, the Padres' early attack on Walker Buehler and rumours around the Blue Jays' bid for Juan Soto's pending free agency. Then, former MLB catcher and Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (33:13) jumps on to share some stories of his playing days with Manny Machado, if the third baseman has embraced a "villain" role, how much pressure is on Aaron Judge and which team would have the most disappointing exit with high expectations entering the postseason. 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 affiliate. false full 947788d9-2265-4e20-bd34-9181ed1eb4fe Carpenter's Heroics + Rivalry Heats Up in San Diego Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers tying their respective series, then bring on Cleveland Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (8:28) to chat about Emmanuel Clase giving up the game-winning homer, Tarik Skubal's plan of attack against KC and what it's like to pitch at your home stadium during the post-season. Then, Blair and Barker discuss Jazz Chisholm's post-game comments after their Game 2 loss, the Phillies' losing streak on the road and go behind the scenes of Francisco Lindor's free agency link with the Blue Jays.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 8 Oct 2024 20:03:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers tying their respective series, then bring on Cleveland Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (8:28) to chat about Emmanuel Clase giving up the game-winning homer, Tarik Skubal's plan of attack against KC and what it's like to pitch at your home stadium during the post-season. Then, Blair and Barker discuss Jazz Chisholm's post-game comments after their Game 2 loss, the Phillies' losing streak on the road and go behind the scenes of Francisco Lindor's free agency link with the Blue Jays.

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 affiliate.

]]> Carpenter's Heroics + Rivalry Heats Up in San Diego Sportsnet 00:49:47 Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers tying their respective series, then bring on Cleveland Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (8:28) to chat about Emmanuel Clase giving up the game-winning homer, Tarik Skubal's plan of attack against KC and what it's like to pitch at your home stadium during the post-season. Then, Blair and Barker discuss Jazz Chisholm's post-game comments after their Game 2 loss, the Phillies' losing streak on the road and go behind the scenes of Francisco Lindor's free agency link with the Blue Jays. 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 affiliate. Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers tying their respective series, then bring on Cleveland Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (8:28) to chat about Emmanuel Clase giving up the game-winning homer, Tarik Skubal's plan of attack against KC and what it's like to pitch at your home stadium during the post-season. Then, Blair and Barker discuss Jazz Chisholm's post-game comments after their Game 2 loss, the Phillies' losing streak on the road and go behind the scenes of Francisco Lindor's free agency link with the Blue Jays. 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 affiliate. false full 5850834d-dea0-49cc-afd4-1ff2bb1c81ed Postseason Pressure, Rivalries and Who Is Mr. October? Blair and Barker begin their Monday edition recapping the San Diego Padres' blowout win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles to tie the series, the Mets' bullpen collapse in Game 2 and A.J. Hinch's in-game adjustments. Then, they invite former MLB executive David Samson (28:27) on to chat about the importance of post-season messaging after a down year, who has the most pressure in the playoffs between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, whether Bryce Harper is Mr. October and rivalries in baseball.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 7 Oct 2024 20:02:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin their Monday edition recapping the San Diego Padres' blowout win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles to tie the series, the Mets' bullpen collapse in Game 2 and A.J. Hinch's in-game adjustments. Then, they invite former MLB executive David Samson (28:27) on to chat about the importance of post-season messaging after a down year, who has the most pressure in the playoffs between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, whether Bryce Harper is Mr. October and rivalries in baseball.

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 affiliate.

]]> Postseason Pressure, Rivalries and Who Is Mr. October? Sportsnet 00:49:48 Blair and Barker begin their Monday edition recapping the San Diego Padres' blowout win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles to tie the series, the Mets' bullpen collapse in Game 2 and A.J. Hinch's in-game adjustments. Then, they invite former MLB executive David Samson (28:27) on to chat about the importance of post-season messaging after a down year, who has the most pressure in the playoffs between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, whether Bryce Harper is Mr. October and rivalries in baseball. 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 affiliate. Blair and Barker begin their Monday edition recapping the San Diego Padres' blowout win over the Dodgers in Los Angeles to tie the series, the Mets' bullpen collapse in Game 2 and A.J. Hinch's in-game adjustments. Then, they invite former MLB executive David Samson (28:27) on to chat about the importance of post-season messaging after a down year, who has the most pressure in the playoffs between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, whether Bryce Harper is Mr. October and rivalries in baseball. 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 affiliate. false full 3a7cea47-2c56-46fa-b890-48edff6b8c94 Division Series Preview Blair and Barker share their reactions to the New York Mets punching their ticket to the NLDS with late-game heroics from Pete Alonso and Minnesota Twins long-time GM Thad Levine leaving the organization. Then, they preview each Division Series with their picks to win the round including how the Kansas City Royals can shut down the Yankees' big bats. Afterwards, they invite ESPN's Jeff Passan (35:47) on to get his thoughts on Terry Francona returning to the bench as the Cincinnati Red's manager and if the non-Wild Card teams will benefit from their 5-day rest between series.

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 4 Oct 2024 20:02:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker share their reactions to the New York Mets punching their ticket to the NLDS with late-game heroics from Pete Alonso and Minnesota Twins long-time GM Thad Levine leaving the organization. Then, they preview each Division Series with their picks to win the round including how the Kansas City Royals can shut down the Yankees' big bats. Afterwards, they invite ESPN's Jeff Passan (35:47) on to get his thoughts on Terry Francona returning to the bench as the Cincinnati Red's manager and if the non-Wild Card teams will benefit from their 5-day rest between series.

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 affiliate.

]]> Division Series Preview Sportsnet 00:49:50 Blair and Barker share their reactions to the New York Mets punching their ticket to the NLDS with late-game heroics from Pete Alonso and Minnesota Twins long-time GM Thad Levine leaving the organization. Then, they preview each Division Series with their picks to win the round including how the Kansas City Royals can shut down the Yankees' big bats. Afterwards, they invite ESPN's Jeff Passan (35:47) on to get his thoughts on Terry Francona returning to the bench as the Cincinnati Red's manager and if the non-Wild Card teams will benefit from their 5-day rest between series. 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 affiliate. Blair and Barker share their reactions to the New York Mets punching their ticket to the NLDS with late-game heroics from Pete Alonso and Minnesota Twins long-time GM Thad Levine leaving the organization. Then, they preview each Division Series with their picks to win the round including how the Kansas City Royals can shut down the Yankees' big bats. Afterwards, they invite ESPN's Jeff Passan (35:47) on to get his thoughts on Terry Francona returning to the bench as the Cincinnati Red's manager and if the non-Wild Card teams will benefit from their 5-day rest between series. 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 affiliate. false full bfef0b38-9b07-40a6-9f04-e7f01dd40323 American League Sweeps Blair and Barker begin the show recapping both series sweeps in the AL Wild Card games before bringing on former Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (12:23) to get his thoughts on Baltimore's lack lustered second half and falling out of the postseason yet again, what will be the front office's focus heading into the offseason and the importance of having clubhouse confidence during the playoffs. Then, World Series champion and Astros analyst Geoff Blum (33:02) jumps on to discuss Houston's season ending despite winning their division, how high on the priority list are Yusei Kikuchi and Alex Bregman to get re-signed, and if the Tigers have the chance to play in the World Series.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 3 Oct 2024 20:06:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show recapping both series sweeps in the AL Wild Card games before bringing on former Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (12:23) to get his thoughts on Baltimore's lack lustered second half and falling out of the postseason yet again, what will be the front office's focus heading into the offseason and the importance of having clubhouse confidence during the playoffs. Then, World Series champion and Astros analyst Geoff Blum (33:02) jumps on to discuss Houston's season ending despite winning their division, how high on the priority list are Yusei Kikuchi and Alex Bregman to get re-signed, and if the Tigers have the chance to play in the World Series.

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 affiliate.

]]> American League Sweeps Sportsnet 00:49:47 Blair and Barker begin the show recapping both series sweeps in the AL Wild Card games before bringing on former Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (12:23) to get his thoughts on Baltimore's lack lustered second half and falling out of the postseason yet again, what will be the front office's focus heading into the offseason and the importance of having clubhouse confidence during the playoffs. Then, World Series champion and Astros analyst Geoff Blum (33:02) jumps on to discuss Houston's season ending despite winning their division, how high on the priority list are Yusei Kikuchi and Alex Bregman to get re-signed, and if the Tigers have the chance to play in the World Series. 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 affiliate. Blair and Barker begin the show recapping both series sweeps in the AL Wild Card games before bringing on former Orioles outfielder Adam Jones (12:23) to get his thoughts on Baltimore's lack lustered second half and falling out of the postseason yet again, what will be the front office's focus heading into the offseason and the importance of having clubhouse confidence during the playoffs. Then, World Series champion and Astros analyst Geoff Blum (33:02) jumps on to discuss Houston's season ending despite winning their division, how high on the priority list are Yusei Kikuchi and Alex Bregman to get re-signed, and if the Tigers have the chance to play in the World Series. 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 affiliate. false full 6e1bf468-3ac5-4ede-9ebe-c2ac9176d78e Defining Generational Talent & Roster Construction Blair and Barker are joined by Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (10:55) to get his takeaways from Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro's end-of-season press conferences, if he thinks the front office will pay Vladdy Jr.'s asking price for a contract extension, what roster changes he expects Atkins to go for, the reasons behind the coaching changes, and what are the positives of heading into the offseason and 2025. Afterwards, the guys check into the Back Leg Line to hear what fans think of Atkins and Shapiro's pressers.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 2 Oct 2024 20:01:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (10:55) to get his takeaways from Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro's end-of-season press conferences, if he thinks the front office will pay Vladdy Jr.'s asking price for a contract extension, what roster changes he expects Atkins to go for, the reasons behind the coaching changes, and what are the positives of heading into the offseason and 2025. Afterwards, the guys check into the Back Leg Line to hear what fans think of Atkins and Shapiro's pressers.

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 affiliate.

]]> Defining Generational Talent & Roster Construction Sportsnet 00:49:51 Blair and Barker are joined by Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (10:55) to get his takeaways from Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro's end-of-season press conferences, if he thinks the front office will pay Vladdy Jr.'s asking price for a contract extension, what roster changes he expects Atkins to go for, the reasons behind the coaching changes, and what are the positives of heading into the offseason and 2025. Afterwards, the guys check into the Back Leg Line to hear what fans think of Atkins and Shapiro's pressers. 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 affiliate. Blair and Barker are joined by Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (10:55) to get his takeaways from Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro's end-of-season press conferences, if he thinks the front office will pay Vladdy Jr.'s asking price for a contract extension, what roster changes he expects Atkins to go for, the reasons behind the coaching changes, and what are the positives of heading into the offseason and 2025. Afterwards, the guys check into the Back Leg Line to hear what fans think of Atkins and Shapiro's pressers. 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 affiliate. false full dc4a958b-bb54-47e5-bdb1-c1a80d8f28fa Atkins and Shapiro Take the Podium Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take us through the Blue Jays end-of-season press conference featuring General Manager Ross Atkins and President and CEO Mark Shapiro (37:26). Later on, Jeff and Kevin share their takeaways including the team’s payroll moving forward, the security of the front office and coaching staff, the disconnect between the franchise and fanbase, steps to improve the roster heading into 2025, and what’s ahead for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette (1:28:29).

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 2 Oct 2024 17:13:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take us through the Blue Jays end-of-season press conference featuring General Manager Ross Atkins and President and CEO Mark Shapiro (37:26). Later on, Jeff and Kevin share their takeaways including the team’s payroll moving forward, the security of the front office and coaching staff, the disconnect between the franchise and fanbase, steps to improve the roster heading into 2025, and what’s ahead for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette (1:28:29).

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 affiliate.

]]> Atkins and Shapiro Take the Podium Sportsnet 01:31:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take us through the Blue Jays end-of-season press conference featuring General Manager Ross Atkins and President and CEO Mark Shapiro (37:26). Later on, Jeff and Kevin share their takeaways including the team’s payroll moving forward, the security of the front office and coaching staff, the disconnect between the franchise and fanbase, steps to improve the roster heading into 2025, and what’s ahead for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette (1:28:29). 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker take us through the Blue Jays end-of-season press conference featuring General Manager Ross Atkins and President and CEO Mark Shapiro (37:26). Later on, Jeff and Kevin share their takeaways including the team’s payroll moving forward, the security of the front office and coaching staff, the disconnect between the franchise and fanbase, steps to improve the roster heading into 2025, and what’s ahead for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette (1:28:29). 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 affiliate. false full 091cd9c8-fc1b-4377-bd4d-a170c34ccf9a Wild Card Stages & Blue Jays' Staff Changes Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' plethora of moves within their coaching staff including letting go of their hitting coach Guillermo Martínez. Then, Padres radio play-by-play voice Jesse Agler (11:45) previews the NL Wild Card between San Diego and Atlanta, what fueled the Padres' second-half push and which player will be an X factor in this series. Afterwards, Blue Jays analyst Buck Martinez (28:55) jumps on to chat about what he wants to hear from GM Ross Atkins and President Mark Shapiro's end-of-year press conferences, adjustments for Yariel Rodriguez, the importance of Vladdy's next contract, how he views the starting rotation heading into the offseason and some thoughts on the late Pete Rose's career. 

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.

]]> Tue, 1 Oct 2024 20:11:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' plethora of moves within their coaching staff including letting go of their hitting coach Guillermo Martínez. Then, Padres radio play-by-play voice Jesse Agler (11:45) previews the NL Wild Card between San Diego and Atlanta, what fueled the Padres' second-half push and which player will be an X factor in this series. Afterwards, Blue Jays analyst Buck Martinez (28:55) jumps on to chat about what he wants to hear from GM Ross Atkins and President Mark Shapiro's end-of-year press conferences, adjustments for Yariel Rodriguez, the importance of Vladdy's next contract, how he views the starting rotation heading into the offseason and some thoughts on the late Pete Rose's career. 

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.

]]> Wild Card Stages & Blue Jays' Staff Changes Sportsnet 00:49:51 Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' plethora of moves within their coaching staff including letting go of their hitting coach Guillermo Martínez. Then, Padres radio play-by-play voice Jesse Agler (11:45) previews the NL Wild Card between San Diego and Atlanta, what fueled the Padres' second-half push and which player will be an X factor in this series. Afterwards, Blue Jays analyst Buck Martinez (28:55) jumps on to chat about what he wants to hear from GM Ross Atkins and President Mark Shapiro's end-of-year press conferences, adjustments for Yariel Rodriguez, the importance of Vladdy's next contract, how he views the starting rotation heading into the offseason and some thoughts on the late Pete Rose's career. 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. Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays' plethora of moves within their coaching staff including letting go of their hitting coach Guillermo Martínez. Then, Padres radio play-by-play voice Jesse Agler (11:45) previews the NL Wild Card between San Diego and Atlanta, what fueled the Padres' second-half push and which player will be an X factor in this series. Afterwards, Blue Jays analyst Buck Martinez (28:55) jumps on to chat about what he wants to hear from GM Ross Atkins and President Mark Shapiro's end-of-year press conferences, adjustments for Yariel Rodriguez, the importance of Vladdy's next contract, how he views the starting rotation heading into the offseason and some thoughts on the late Pete Rose's career. 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. false full 7ad9daa0-99ff-4fdb-b7ac-d612dda87c7d 2024 Playoff Preview & Predictions The Athletic's Jayson Stark (4:24) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the dramatic doubleheader finale between the Braves and Mets, the Tigers' uphill battle against the Astros, Buster Posey taking over baseball ops duties in San Francisco and the Jays' offseason direction. Later, Jeff & Kevin review their regular season picks, make their predictions for MLB's 2024 postseason and discuss the Jays' front office's top priority as they enter the offseason.

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.

]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2024 22:00:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Athletic's Jayson Stark (4:24) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the dramatic doubleheader finale between the Braves and Mets, the Tigers' uphill battle against the Astros, Buster Posey taking over baseball ops duties in San Francisco and the Jays' offseason direction. Later, Jeff & Kevin review their regular season picks, make their predictions for MLB's 2024 postseason and discuss the Jays' front office's top priority as they enter the offseason.

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.

]]> 2024 Playoff Preview & Predictions Sportsnet 00:49:54 The Athletic's Jayson Stark (4:24) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the dramatic doubleheader finale between the Braves and Mets, the Tigers' uphill battle against the Astros, Buster Posey taking over baseball ops duties in San Francisco and the Jays' offseason direction. Later, Jeff & Kevin review their regular season picks, make their predictions for MLB's 2024 postseason and discuss the Jays' front office's top priority as they enter the offseason. 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. The Athletic's Jayson Stark (4:24) joins Blair and Barker to discuss the dramatic doubleheader finale between the Braves and Mets, the Tigers' uphill battle against the Astros, Buster Posey taking over baseball ops duties in San Francisco and the Jays' offseason direction. Later, Jeff & Kevin review their regular season picks, make their predictions for MLB's 2024 postseason and discuss the Jays' front office's top priority as they enter the offseason. 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. false full 67acdc9e-ba4c-4589-b0a5-92a3fa4b86e3 Putting a Bow on the '24 Blue Jays Blair and Barker begin the show summing up the Blue Jays' 2024 season, what they want to hear from general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro in their end-of-year press conferences and which of the players acquired and called up since the trade deadline will be starting on opening day in 2025. Then, Blue Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (31:05) jumps on to discuss if there should be a limit on Alejandro Kirk's usage next year, what improvements he'd like to see from Yariel Rodriguez's pitching and Joey Loperfido's hitting, Vlad Jr.'s next contract and if Will Wagner can be the team's opening day leadoff hitter. 

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.

]]> Mon, 30 Sep 2024 21:05:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show summing up the Blue Jays' 2024 season, what they want to hear from general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro in their end-of-year press conferences and which of the players acquired and called up since the trade deadline will be starting on opening day in 2025. Then, Blue Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (31:05) jumps on to discuss if there should be a limit on Alejandro Kirk's usage next year, what improvements he'd like to see from Yariel Rodriguez's pitching and Joey Loperfido's hitting, Vlad Jr.'s next contract and if Will Wagner can be the team's opening day leadoff hitter. 

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.

]]> Putting a Bow on the '24 Blue Jays Sportsnet 00:49:43 Blair and Barker begin the show summing up the Blue Jays' 2024 season, what they want to hear from general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro in their end-of-year press conferences and which of the players acquired and called up since the trade deadline will be starting on opening day in 2025. Then, Blue Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (31:05) jumps on to discuss if there should be a limit on Alejandro Kirk's usage next year, what improvements he'd like to see from Yariel Rodriguez's pitching and Joey Loperfido's hitting, Vlad Jr.'s next contract and if Will Wagner can be the team's opening day leadoff hitter. 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. Blair and Barker begin the show summing up the Blue Jays' 2024 season, what they want to hear from general manager Ross Atkins and president Mark Shapiro in their end-of-year press conferences and which of the players acquired and called up since the trade deadline will be starting on opening day in 2025. Then, Blue Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (31:05) jumps on to discuss if there should be a limit on Alejandro Kirk's usage next year, what improvements he'd like to see from Yariel Rodriguez's pitching and Joey Loperfido's hitting, Vlad Jr.'s next contract and if Will Wagner can be the team's opening day leadoff hitter. 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. false full b8f6d73b-a0d8-4323-9927-dd2484dde3d8 Olympic Stadium's Final Out Following yesterday's final outs in Oakland Coliseum, Blair and Barker are joined by former Expos & Marlins infielder Mike Mordecai (3:06), who caught the final out at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He shares the story of what happened to the final ball put in play and his thoughts on how the final game in Oakland was handled. Finally, the guys dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions for the last time this regular season!

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Sep 2024 22:02:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Following yesterday's final outs in Oakland Coliseum, Blair and Barker are joined by former Expos & Marlins infielder Mike Mordecai (3:06), who caught the final out at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He shares the story of what happened to the final ball put in play and his thoughts on how the final game in Oakland was handled. Finally, the guys dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions for the last time this regular season!

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.

]]> Olympic Stadium's Final Out Sportsnet 00:49:37 Following yesterday's final outs in Oakland Coliseum, Blair and Barker are joined by former Expos & Marlins infielder Mike Mordecai (3:06), who caught the final out at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He shares the story of what happened to the final ball put in play and his thoughts on how the final game in Oakland was handled. Finally, the guys dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions for the last time this regular season! 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. Following yesterday's final outs in Oakland Coliseum, Blair and Barker are joined by former Expos & Marlins infielder Mike Mordecai (3:06), who caught the final out at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He shares the story of what happened to the final ball put in play and his thoughts on how the final game in Oakland was handled. Finally, the guys dip into the Back Leg Line to answer your questions for the last time this regular season! 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. false full 3ab91293-6ff0-42a1-a6a2-e20971343b7a Yankees Clinch, Hinch's Tigers and Season Reflection with John Schneider MLB Network's Jon Morosi (6:45) joins Blair and Barker to chat about where he ranks the Detroit Tigers' 2024 season among the franchise's history, how A.J. Hinch extracted the best out of his players and who will have the most pressure heading into the postseason between Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. Afterwards, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (28:16) stops by for his final interview of the season with the guys to share his message to fans on the team's underwhelming year and what he hopes for heading into 2025, what he's focusing on in the final series and if there will be a change in philosophy for hitters throughout the Jays' organization. 

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.

]]> Fri, 27 Sep 2024 21:04:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network's Jon Morosi (6:45) joins Blair and Barker to chat about where he ranks the Detroit Tigers' 2024 season among the franchise's history, how A.J. Hinch extracted the best out of his players and who will have the most pressure heading into the postseason between Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. Afterwards, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (28:16) stops by for his final interview of the season with the guys to share his message to fans on the team's underwhelming year and what he hopes for heading into 2025, what he's focusing on in the final series and if there will be a change in philosophy for hitters throughout the Jays' organization. 

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.

]]> Yankees Clinch, Hinch's Tigers and Season Reflection with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:55 MLB Network's Jon Morosi (6:45) joins Blair and Barker to chat about where he ranks the Detroit Tigers' 2024 season among the franchise's history, how A.J. Hinch extracted the best out of his players and who will have the most pressure heading into the postseason between Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. Afterwards, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (28:16) stops by for his final interview of the season with the guys to share his message to fans on the team's underwhelming year and what he hopes for heading into 2025, what he's focusing on in the final series and if there will be a change in philosophy for hitters throughout the Jays' organization. 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 (6:45) joins Blair and Barker to chat about where he ranks the Detroit Tigers' 2024 season among the franchise's history, how A.J. Hinch extracted the best out of his players and who will have the most pressure heading into the postseason between Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. Afterwards, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (28:16) stops by for his final interview of the season with the guys to share his message to fans on the team's underwhelming year and what he hopes for heading into 2025, what he's focusing on in the final series and if there will be a change in philosophy for hitters throughout the Jays' organization. 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. false full 2d5e3b28-6880-46a4-896f-4b763e335c3d Jays' Last Series of 2024 + Schneider's Closeout Chat Ahead of the Blue Jays' final series of the season against the Marlins, Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson (4:36) to discuss the Marlins' identity and a playoff outlook for his former team, the Yankees. Then, a chat about John Schneider's future following Shi Davidi's season-closing conversation with him. Finally, Jeff & Kevin review the returns of the 'new' Jays and discuss who the organization needs to prioritize in 2025.

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.

]]> Thu, 26 Sep 2024 22:07:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ahead of the Blue Jays' final series of the season against the Marlins, Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson (4:36) to discuss the Marlins' identity and a playoff outlook for his former team, the Yankees. Then, a chat about John Schneider's future following Shi Davidi's season-closing conversation with him. Finally, Jeff & Kevin review the returns of the 'new' Jays and discuss who the organization needs to prioritize in 2025.

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.

]]> Jays' Last Series of 2024 + Schneider's Closeout Chat Sportsnet 00:49:51 Ahead of the Blue Jays' final home series of the season against the Marlins, Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson (4:36) to discuss the Marlins' identity and a playoff outlook for his former team, the Yankees. Then, a chat about John Schneider's future following Shi Davidi's season-closing conversation with him. Finally, Jeff & Kevin review the returns of the 'new' Jays and discuss who the organization needs to prioritize in 2025. 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. Ahead of the Blue Jays' final home series of the season against the Marlins, Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and Marlins analyst Jeff Nelson (4:36) to discuss the Marlins' identity and a playoff outlook for his former team, the Yankees. Then, a chat about John Schneider's future following Shi Davidi's season-closing conversation with him. Finally, Jeff & Kevin review the returns of the 'new' Jays and discuss who the organization needs to prioritize in 2025. 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. false full fc33cd80-3096-4926-8819-6d79ee988d54 A Lens Through Ohtani's Coach + Doubleheader Implications Blair and Barker briefly share their thoughts on the Blue Jays' series-ending win over the Red Sox and Kevin Gausman's final start of the season. They are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel (8:58) to discuss who Shohei Ohtani is as a person and player, his mentality approaching the 50-50 mark and his evolution since entering the MLB. Afterwards, Atlanta Braves TV analyst C.J. Nitkowski (28:15) chats about the upcoming doubleheader against the New York Mets with massive postseason implications and whether fans will be content with potentially being bounced considering their abundance of bad injury luck.

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.

]]> Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:05:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker briefly share their thoughts on the Blue Jays' series-ending win over the Red Sox and Kevin Gausman's final start of the season. They are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel (8:58) to discuss who Shohei Ohtani is as a person and player, his mentality approaching the 50-50 mark and his evolution since entering the MLB. Afterwards, Atlanta Braves TV analyst C.J. Nitkowski (28:15) chats about the upcoming doubleheader against the New York Mets with massive postseason implications and whether fans will be content with potentially being bounced considering their abundance of bad injury luck.

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.

]]> A Lens Through Ohtani's Coach + Doubleheader Implications Sportsnet 00:49:48 Blair and Barker briefly share their thoughts on the Blue Jays' series-ending win over the Red Sox and Kevin Gausman's final start of the season. They are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel (8:58) to discuss who Shohei Ohtani is as a person and player, his mentality approaching the 50-50 mark and his evolution since entering the MLB. Afterwards, Atlanta Braves TV analyst C.J. Nitkowski (28:15) chats about the upcoming doubleheader against the New York Mets with massive postseason implications and whether fans will be content with potentially being bounced considering their abundance of bad injury luck. 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. Blair and Barker briefly share their thoughts on the Blue Jays' series-ending win over the Red Sox and Kevin Gausman's final start of the season. They are joined by Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel (8:58) to discuss who Shohei Ohtani is as a person and player, his mentality approaching the 50-50 mark and his evolution since entering the MLB. Afterwards, Atlanta Braves TV analyst C.J. Nitkowski (28:15) chats about the upcoming doubleheader against the New York Mets with massive postseason implications and whether fans will be content with potentially being bounced considering their abundance of bad injury luck. 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. false full b49e477c-b8e1-44f6-8814-55c959c9963e Final Week Wind Down + Jeff Passan ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:19) joins Blair & Barker to discuss the 50th anniversary of the first Tommy John surgery, whether or not the Dodgers should be panicking, the A's final games in Oakland and why the Rays are poised for a bounce back in 2025. Later, TV play-by-play voice of the Jays Dan Shulman (25:55) weighs in on which bullpen arms to bring back next season, positive takeaways from the 'new' Jays and which player has the most to prove in 2025.

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Sep 2024 22:03:04 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:19) joins Blair & Barker to discuss the 50th anniversary of the first Tommy John surgery, whether or not the Dodgers should be panicking, the A's final games in Oakland and why the Rays are poised for a bounce back in 2025. Later, TV play-by-play voice of the Jays Dan Shulman (25:55) weighs in on which bullpen arms to bring back next season, positive takeaways from the 'new' Jays and which player has the most to prove in 2025.

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.

]]> Final Week Wind Down + Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:48 ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:19) joins Blair & Barker to discuss the 50th anniversary of the first Tommy John surgery, whether or not the Dodgers should be panicking, the A's final games in Oakland and why the Rays are poised for a bounce back in 2025. Later, TV play-by-play voice of the Jays Dan Shulman (25:55) weighs in on which bullpen arms to bring back next season, positive takeaways from the 'new' Jays and which player has the most to prove in 2025. 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. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:19) joins Blair & Barker to discuss the 50th anniversary of the first Tommy John surgery, whether or not the Dodgers should be panicking, the A's final games in Oakland and why the Rays are poised for a bounce back in 2025. Later, TV play-by-play voice of the Jays Dan Shulman (25:55) weighs in on which bullpen arms to bring back next season, positive takeaways from the 'new' Jays and which player has the most to prove in 2025. 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. false full 330aa23e-8e69-4c18-ad92-7e48e875b54d Bo's Injury Update + Padres Clinching in Style Blair and Barker react to the San Diego Padres clinching a playoff spot following a triple play to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers before diving into the Blue Jays' second straight loss to the Red Sox at home, an update on Bo Bichette's injury and Alejandro Kirk's hitting streak. Then, Ben & Woods' host Ben Higgins (25:43) stops by to explain why the Padres are a complete team for the post-season, Mike Shildt's managerial impact, Manny Machado's influence and the strength of their pitching staff. 

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.

]]> Wed, 25 Sep 2024 21:00:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker react to the San Diego Padres clinching a playoff spot following a triple play to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers before diving into the Blue Jays' second straight loss to the Red Sox at home, an update on Bo Bichette's injury and Alejandro Kirk's hitting streak. Then, Ben & Woods' host Ben Higgins (25:43) stops by to explain why the Padres are a complete team for the post-season, Mike Shildt's managerial impact, Manny Machado's influence and the strength of their pitching staff. 

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.

]]> Bo's Injury Update + Padres Clinching in Style Sportsnet 00:49:43 Blair and Barker react to the San Diego Padres clinching a playoff spot following a triple play to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers before diving into the Blue Jays' second straight loss to the Red Sox at home, an update on Bo Bichette's injury and Alejandro Kirk's hitting streak. Then, Ben & Woods' host Ben Higgins (25:43) stops by to explain why the Padres are a complete team for the post-season, Mike Shildt's managerial impact, Manny Machado's influence and the strength of their pitching staff. 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. Blair and Barker react to the San Diego Padres clinching a playoff spot following a triple play to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers before diving into the Blue Jays' second straight loss to the Red Sox at home, an update on Bo Bichette's injury and Alejandro Kirk's hitting streak. Then, Ben & Woods' host Ben Higgins (25:43) stops by to explain why the Padres are a complete team for the post-season, Mike Shildt's managerial impact, Manny Machado's influence and the strength of their pitching staff. 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. false full 1ec8bdbf-92e3-48d5-ab0c-9738ea0ea599 Wild Card Walkthrough & Jays' Fastball Problem MLB Network's Chris Gimenez joins Blair and Barker (2:17) to look at MLB's playoff picture with less than a week to go in the regular season. He shares why to buy in on the Guardians, who has the edge in the AL Wild Card race and why he's picking the Padres to win the 2024 World Series. Later, Jays analyst Joe Siddall (29:31) weighs in on Kirk's improved play with an increased workload, Bassitt's blowup in his possible final start last night and why the team's bats have struggled against the fastball.

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Sep 2024 22:01:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network's Chris Gimenez joins Blair and Barker (2:17) to look at MLB's playoff picture with less than a week to go in the regular season. He shares why to buy in on the Guardians, who has the edge in the AL Wild Card race and why he's picking the Padres to win the 2024 World Series. Later, Jays analyst Joe Siddall (29:31) weighs in on Kirk's improved play with an increased workload, Bassitt's blowup in his possible final start last night and why the team's bats have struggled against the fastball.

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.

]]> Wild Card Walkthrough & Jays' Fastball Problem Sportsnet 00:49:48 MLB Network's Chris Gimenez joins Blair and Barker (2:17) to look at MLB's playoff picture with less than a week to go in the regular season. He shares why to buy in on the Guardians, who has the edge in the AL Wild Card race and why he's picking the Padres to win the 2024 World Series. Later, Jays analyst Joe Siddall (29:31) weighs in on Kirk's improved play with an increased workload, Bassitt's blowup in his possible final start last night and why the team's bats have struggled against the fastball. 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 Chris Gimenez joins Blair and Barker (2:17) to look at MLB's playoff picture with less than a week to go in the regular season. He shares why to buy in on the Guardians, who has the edge in the AL Wild Card race and why he's picking the Padres to win the 2024 World Series. Later, Jays analyst Joe Siddall (29:31) weighs in on Kirk's improved play with an increased workload, Bassitt's blowup in his possible final start last night and why the team's bats have struggled against the fastball. 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. false full 0877cea9-0904-4e4c-8817-ca5c8b2ef6c8 Playing to the Contracts + Legendary Broadcaster Joe Castiglione Blair and Barker share their ideal World Series matchup based on the 2024 season, discuss the Pirates DFA'ing Rowdy Tellez to avoid his contract incentive and which players aren't playing to their contracts. Then, long-time radio voice of the Boston Red Sox Joe Castiglione (27:34) jumps on to chat about his decision to retire from the booth, if the game of baseball is in a good state, how Red Sox fans viewed their team after the Curse of the Bambino was broken and whether Boston has had a successful year. 

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.

]]> Tue, 24 Sep 2024 21:01:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker share their ideal World Series matchup based on the 2024 season, discuss the Pirates DFA'ing Rowdy Tellez to avoid his contract incentive and which players aren't playing to their contracts. Then, long-time radio voice of the Boston Red Sox Joe Castiglione (27:34) jumps on to chat about his decision to retire from the booth, if the game of baseball is in a good state, how Red Sox fans viewed their team after the Curse of the Bambino was broken and whether Boston has had a successful year. 

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.

]]> Playing to the Contracts + Legendary Broadcaster Joe Castiglione Sportsnet 00:49:49 Blair and Barker share their ideal World Series matchup based on the 2024 season, discuss the Pirates DFA'ing Rowdy Tellez to avoid his contract incentive and which players aren't playing to their contracts. Then, long-time radio voice of the Boston Red Sox Joe Castiglione (27:34) jumps on to chat about his decision to retire from the booth, if the game of baseball is in a good state, how Red Sox fans viewed their team after the Curse of the Bambino was broken and whether Boston has had a successful year. 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. Blair and Barker share their ideal World Series matchup based on the 2024 season, discuss the Pirates DFA'ing Rowdy Tellez to avoid his contract incentive and which players aren't playing to their contracts. Then, long-time radio voice of the Boston Red Sox Joe Castiglione (27:34) jumps on to chat about his decision to retire from the booth, if the game of baseball is in a good state, how Red Sox fans viewed their team after the Curse of the Bambino was broken and whether Boston has had a successful year. 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. false full 7851419f-8769-4e5f-ba37-7631f5a46dce Focusing on the Regular Season's Final Week Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:30) to chat about the Athletics' final home games in Oakland, a front office's focus entering the final week of the season, the importance of home field advantage in the post-season and Shohei Ohtani's future in pitching. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (29:47) stops by to discuss Tampa Bay's hopes to compete next year, Vlad Jr.'s third base ambitions, why there might not be many changes on the Jays' coaching staff and front office, and who starts at centre field in 2025 with Daulton Varsho set to miss the start of the campaign. 

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:01:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:30) to chat about the Athletics' final home games in Oakland, a front office's focus entering the final week of the season, the importance of home field advantage in the post-season and Shohei Ohtani's future in pitching. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (29:47) stops by to discuss Tampa Bay's hopes to compete next year, Vlad Jr.'s third base ambitions, why there might not be many changes on the Jays' coaching staff and front office, and who starts at centre field in 2025 with Daulton Varsho set to miss the start of the campaign. 

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.

]]> Focusing on the Regular Season's Final Week Sportsnet 00:49:51 Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:30) to chat about the Athletics' final home games in Oakland, a front office's focus entering the final week of the season, the importance of home field advantage in the post-season and Shohei Ohtani's future in pitching. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (29:47) stops by to discuss Tampa Bay's hopes to compete next year, Vlad Jr.'s third base ambitions, why there might not be many changes on the Jays' coaching staff and front office, and who starts at centre field in 2025 with Daulton Varsho set to miss the start of the campaign. 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. Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:30) to chat about the Athletics' final home games in Oakland, a front office's focus entering the final week of the season, the importance of home field advantage in the post-season and Shohei Ohtani's future in pitching. Then, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi (29:47) stops by to discuss Tampa Bay's hopes to compete next year, Vlad Jr.'s third base ambitions, why there might not be many changes on the Jays' coaching staff and front office, and who starts at centre field in 2025 with Daulton Varsho set to miss the start of the campaign. 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. false full 0843b621-f6a0-4d10-87af-a6a09168fe90 Rays Sweep Jays & Orioles' September Slide Blair and Barker look back on the Jays' weekend series where they were swept by the Rays, and share concerns for the team's enduring issues when facing fastballs. Then, they reflect on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s season and his unexpected bid for a batting title. Later, MASN Orioles analyst Roch Kubatko (29:20) weighs in on who's to blame for Baltimore's September skid, Jackson Holliday's playoff role and Adley Rutschman's second-half fall-off.

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.

]]> Mon, 23 Sep 2024 21:00:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker look back on the Jays' weekend series where they were swept by the Rays, and share concerns for the team's enduring issues when facing fastballs. Then, they reflect on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s season and his unexpected bid for a batting title. Later, MASN Orioles analyst Roch Kubatko (29:20) weighs in on who's to blame for Baltimore's September skid, Jackson Holliday's playoff role and Adley Rutschman's second-half fall-off.

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.

]]> Rays Sweep Jays & Orioles' September Slide Sportsnet 00:49:43 Blair and Barker look back on the Jays' weekend series where they were swept by the Rays, and share concerns for the team's enduring issues when facing fastballs. Then, they reflect on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s season and his unexpected bid for a batting title. Later, MASN Orioles analyst Roch Kubatko (29:20) weighs in on who's to blame for Baltimore's September skid, Jackson Holliday's playoff role and Adley Rutschman's second-half fall-off. 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. Blair and Barker look back on the Jays' weekend series where they were swept by the Rays, and share concerns for the team's enduring issues when facing fastballs. Then, they reflect on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s season and his unexpected bid for a batting title. Later, MASN Orioles analyst Roch Kubatko (29:20) weighs in on who's to blame for Baltimore's September skid, Jackson Holliday's playoff role and Adley Rutschman's second-half fall-off. 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. false full 633299ce-8716-43bd-ad8b-3f760626bf1b Inside Shohei's Superstar Season ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:15) joins Blair and Barker to dive deep into Shohei Ohtani's 2024 campaign. Then, he reflects on what part ownership played in the White Sox' embarrassing year, the Tigers' streak and how serious to take the Guardians in October. Later, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:21) sets the stage for the Jays' weekend series against the Rays in Tampa, what to expect from Jonatan Clase's debut and rotation questions ahead of 2025.

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.

]]> Fri, 20 Sep 2024 22:01:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:15) joins Blair and Barker to dive deep into Shohei Ohtani's 2024 campaign. Then, he reflects on what part ownership played in the White Sox' embarrassing year, the Tigers' streak and how serious to take the Guardians in October. Later, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:21) sets the stage for the Jays' weekend series against the Rays in Tampa, what to expect from Jonatan Clase's debut and rotation questions ahead of 2025.

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.

]]> Inside Shohei's Superstar Season Sportsnet 00:49:33 ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:15) joins Blair and Barker to dive deep into Shohei Ohtani's 2024 campaign. Then, he reflects on what part ownership played in the White Sox' embarrassing year, the Tigers' streak and how serious to take the Guardians in October. Later, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:21) sets the stage for the Jays' weekend series against the Rays in Tampa, what to expect from Jonatan Clase's debut and rotation questions ahead of 2025. 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. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (2:15) joins Blair and Barker to dive deep into Shohei Ohtani's 2024 campaign. Then, he reflects on what part ownership played in the White Sox' embarrassing year, the Tigers' streak and how serious to take the Guardians in October. Later, Blue Jays TV play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:21) sets the stage for the Jays' weekend series against the Rays in Tampa, what to expect from Jonatan Clase's debut and rotation questions ahead of 2025. 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. false full a7f9abd0-9146-4958-89ca-d37ae4256ce8 Ohtani's 50-50 Club + Bowden's Pitch Mix with John Schneider Blair and Barker begin the show by sharing their thoughts on Shohei Ohtani establishing MLB's 50-50 club before checking in on the Back Leg Line with listeners' voicemails. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:32) joins the guys to discuss Bo Bichette's unfortunate end to his 2024 season, Bowden Francis' transition to throwing with a different catcher, Davis Schneider's mid-September turnaround and expectations for recent call-up Dillon Tate.

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.

]]> Fri, 20 Sep 2024 21:02:17 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show by sharing their thoughts on Shohei Ohtani establishing MLB's 50-50 club before checking in on the Back Leg Line with listeners' voicemails. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:32) joins the guys to discuss Bo Bichette's unfortunate end to his 2024 season, Bowden Francis' transition to throwing with a different catcher, Davis Schneider's mid-September turnaround and expectations for recent call-up Dillon Tate.

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.

]]> Ohtani's 50-50 Club + Bowden's Pitch Mix with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:31 Blair and Barker begin the show by sharing their thoughts on Shohei Ohtani establishing MLB's 50-50 club before checking in on the Back Leg Line with listeners' voicemails. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:32) joins the guys to discuss Bo Bichette's unfortunate end to his 2024 season, Bowden Francis' transition to throwing with a different catcher, Davis Schneider's mid-September turnaround and expectations for recent call-up Dillon Tate. 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. Blair and Barker begin the show by sharing their thoughts on Shohei Ohtani establishing MLB's 50-50 club before checking in on the Back Leg Line with listeners' voicemails. Then, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:32) joins the guys to discuss Bo Bichette's unfortunate end to his 2024 season, Bowden Francis' transition to throwing with a different catcher, Davis Schneider's mid-September turnaround and expectations for recent call-up Dillon Tate. 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. false full f927c329-d3d8-4b3e-a545-5146827a35fb Orioles Spiral + Catcher Chemistry Blair and Barker start with former Phillies GM and MLB Network's Ruben Amaro Jr. (2:12), who discusses Craig Kimbrel being DFA'd, how the Orioles can turn things around ahead of October and what the Phillies learned from last season's playoff exit. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (27:07) ahead of the teams' second game of their series against the Rangers and what to expect from Bowden Francis without his regular catcher, Brian Serven.

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.

]]> Wed, 18 Sep 2024 22:03:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker start with former Phillies GM and MLB Network's Ruben Amaro Jr. (2:12), who discusses Craig Kimbrel being DFA'd, how the Orioles can turn things around ahead of October and what the Phillies learned from last season's playoff exit. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (27:07) ahead of the teams' second game of their series against the Rangers and what to expect from Bowden Francis without his regular catcher, Brian Serven.

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.

]]> Orioles Spiral + Catcher Chemistry Sportsnet 00:49:46 Blair and Barker start with former Phillies GM and MLB Network's Ruben Amaro Jr. (2:12), who discusses Craig Kimbrel being DFA'd, how the Orioles can turn things around ahead of October and what the Phillies learned from last season's playoff exit. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (27:07) ahead of the teams' second game of their series against the Rangers and what to expect from Bowden Francis without his regular catcher, Brian Serven. 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. Blair and Barker start with former Phillies GM and MLB Network's Ruben Amaro Jr. (2:12), who discusses Craig Kimbrel being DFA'd, how the Orioles can turn things around ahead of October and what the Phillies learned from last season's playoff exit. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (27:07) ahead of the teams' second game of their series against the Rangers and what to expect from Bowden Francis without his regular catcher, Brian Serven. 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. false full b22d0e4a-21d6-4dc3-b4c2-12a7ac171f03 Bichette Returns and the Surging Tigers Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays dropping their series opener to the Rangers in Texas and Bo Bichette's return to the lineup. Then, Detroit Tigers TV voice Jason Benetti jumps on (12:32) to chat about the team's recent surge in hopes of securing the last AL Wild Card spot and how A.J. Hinch has performed as their manager. Afterwards, Blair and Barker check in on the post-season picture across the league.

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.

]]> Wed, 18 Sep 2024 20:59:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays dropping their series opener to the Rangers in Texas and Bo Bichette's return to the lineup. Then, Detroit Tigers TV voice Jason Benetti jumps on (12:32) to chat about the team's recent surge in hopes of securing the last AL Wild Card spot and how A.J. Hinch has performed as their manager. Afterwards, Blair and Barker check in on the post-season picture across the league.

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.

]]> Bichette Returns and the Surging Tigers Sportsnet 00:49:36 Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays dropping their series opener to the Rangers in Texas and Bo Bichette's return to the lineup. Then, Detroit Tigers TV voice Jason Benetti jumps on (12:32) to chat about the team's recent surge in hopes of securing the last AL Wild Card spot and how A.J. Hinch has performed as their manager. Afterwards, Blair and Barker check in on the post-season picture across the league. 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. Blair and Barker begin the show discussing the Blue Jays dropping their series opener to the Rangers in Texas and Bo Bichette's return to the lineup. Then, Detroit Tigers TV voice Jason Benetti jumps on (12:32) to chat about the team's recent surge in hopes of securing the last AL Wild Card spot and how A.J. Hinch has performed as their manager. Afterwards, Blair and Barker check in on the post-season picture across the league. 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. false full fa12511b-b0a0-4d97-883d-1f2f7b16c8af September Uncertainties with Buck Martinez + Bo's Back! Buck Martinez joins Blair and Barker (3:53) ahead of the Blue Jays' three-game series in Arlington against the Rangers and he discusses the decision to DFA Brian Serven, Will Wagner's 2025 outlook now that he's been ruled out for the rest of the season and what to expect from Bo Bichette's return to the lineup tonight. Later, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Jays' free agent options in the offseason and why extending Vlad & Bo is essential in hooking the big fish.

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Sep 2024 22:02:32 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Buck Martinez joins Blair and Barker (3:53) ahead of the Blue Jays' three-game series in Arlington against the Rangers and he discusses the decision to DFA Brian Serven, Will Wagner's 2025 outlook now that he's been ruled out for the rest of the season and what to expect from Bo Bichette's return to the lineup tonight. Later, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Jays' free agent options in the offseason and why extending Vlad & Bo is essential in hooking the big fish.

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.

]]> September Uncertainties with Buck Martinez + Bo's Back! Sportsnet 00:50:00 Buck Martinez joins Blair and Barker (3:53) ahead of the Blue Jays' three-game series in Arlington against the Rangers and he discusses the decision to DFA Brian Serven, Will Wagner's 2025 outlook now that he's been ruled out for the rest of the season and what to expect from Bo Bichette's return to the lineup tonight. Later, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Jays' free agent options in the offseason and why extending Vlad & Bo is essential in hooking the big fish. 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. Buck Martinez joins Blair and Barker (3:53) ahead of the Blue Jays' three-game series in Arlington against the Rangers and he discusses the decision to DFA Brian Serven, Will Wagner's 2025 outlook now that he's been ruled out for the rest of the season and what to expect from Bo Bichette's return to the lineup tonight. Later, Jeff & Kevin discuss the Jays' free agent options in the offseason and why extending Vlad & Bo is essential in hooking the big fish. 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. false full 55dc1955-663d-4437-86da-65b18b027157 Playoff Pitching with Ryan Dempster + Jays & Rangers Preview Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and 2013 World Series champion Ryan Dempster (13:10) to chat about the difficulties in trying to win back-to-back World Series, Shohei Ohtani's potential return to pitching in the post-season, why the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat and why Gerrit Cole intentionally walking Rafael Devers sets a bad tone. Then, Rangers TV analyst David Murphy (29:05) discusses how GM Chris Young will approach their offseason after an underwhelming title defence, Kirby Yates' success on the mound and whether the Houston Astros are the best team in the American League.

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.

]]> Tue, 17 Sep 2024 21:03:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and 2013 World Series champion Ryan Dempster (13:10) to chat about the difficulties in trying to win back-to-back World Series, Shohei Ohtani's potential return to pitching in the post-season, why the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat and why Gerrit Cole intentionally walking Rafael Devers sets a bad tone. Then, Rangers TV analyst David Murphy (29:05) discusses how GM Chris Young will approach their offseason after an underwhelming title defence, Kirby Yates' success on the mound and whether the Houston Astros are the best team in the American League.

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.

]]> Playoff Pitching with Ryan Dempster + Jays & Rangers Preview Sportsnet 00:49:42 Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and 2013 World Series champion Ryan Dempster (13:10) to chat about the difficulties in trying to win back-to-back World Series, Shohei Ohtani's potential return to pitching in the post-season, why the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat and why Gerrit Cole intentionally walking Rafael Devers sets a bad tone. Then, Rangers TV analyst David Murphy (29:05) discusses how GM Chris Young will approach their offseason after an underwhelming title defence, Kirby Yates' success on the mound and whether the Houston Astros are the best team in the American League. 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. Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB pitcher and 2013 World Series champion Ryan Dempster (13:10) to chat about the difficulties in trying to win back-to-back World Series, Shohei Ohtani's potential return to pitching in the post-season, why the Philadelphia Phillies are the team to beat and why Gerrit Cole intentionally walking Rafael Devers sets a bad tone. Then, Rangers TV analyst David Murphy (29:05) discusses how GM Chris Young will approach their offseason after an underwhelming title defence, Kirby Yates' success on the mound and whether the Houston Astros are the best team in the American League. 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. false full 200c0adc-29c8-4224-bc05-65a831bd3f6a Evolution of the Canadian Futures Showcase The Athletic's Jayson Stark (2:25) joins Blair and Barker to discuss his recent interview with Joey Votto about his post-playing-career vocation and Hall of Fame case. Then, he shares concerns about the Dodgers' rotation after losing Glasnow and whether Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs. Later, TJ Burton (28:33), tournament director & program manager of Canadian Futures Showcase, tees up the event and shares how it and Canadian youth baseball have evolved over the decade it's been running.

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.

]]> Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:00:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Athletic's Jayson Stark (2:25) joins Blair and Barker to discuss his recent interview with Joey Votto about his post-playing-career vocation and Hall of Fame case. Then, he shares concerns about the Dodgers' rotation after losing Glasnow and whether Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs. Later, TJ Burton (28:33), tournament director & program manager of Canadian Futures Showcase, tees up the event and shares how it and Canadian youth baseball have evolved over the decade it's been running.

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.

]]> Evolution of the Canadian Futures Showcase Sportsnet 00:49:56 The Athletic's Jayson Stark (2:25) joins Blair and Barker to discuss his recent interview with Joey Votto about his post-playing-career vocation and Hall of Fame case. Then, he shares concerns about the Dodgers' rotation after losing Glasnow and whether Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs. Later, TJ Burton (28:33), tournament director & program manager of Canadian Futures Showcase, tees up the event and shares how it and Canadian youth baseball have evolved over the decade it's been running. 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. The Athletic's Jayson Stark (2:25) joins Blair and Barker to discuss his recent interview with Joey Votto about his post-playing-career vocation and Hall of Fame case. Then, he shares concerns about the Dodgers' rotation after losing Glasnow and whether Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs. Later, TJ Burton (28:33), tournament director & program manager of Canadian Futures Showcase, tees up the event and shares how it and Canadian youth baseball have evolved over the decade it's been running. 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. false full ce73091e-12cb-4395-a9af-b4e61c46590e Berríos' Tenure + Yankees' Intentional Decision Blair and Barker begin the week recapping the Blue Jays' weekend sweep against the Cardinals, José Berríos' success rate since he's joined the organization, and designating Brian Serven for assignment. Then, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner (26:13) takes us through the Yankees' and Gerrit Cole's decision to intentionally walk Rafael Devers, the Bronx ace's performance in 2024 and the Mets' chances of sneaking into the Wild Card. 

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.

]]> Mon, 16 Sep 2024 21:00:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the week recapping the Blue Jays' weekend sweep against the Cardinals, José Berríos' success rate since he's joined the organization, and designating Brian Serven for assignment. Then, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner (26:13) takes us through the Yankees' and Gerrit Cole's decision to intentionally walk Rafael Devers, the Bronx ace's performance in 2024 and the Mets' chances of sneaking into the Wild Card. 

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.

]]> Berríos' Tenure + Yankees' Intentional Decision Sportsnet 00:49:44 Blair and Barker begin the week recapping the Blue Jays' weekend sweep against the Cardinals, José Berríos' success rate since he's joined the organization, and designating Brian Serven for assignment. Then, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner (26:13) takes us through the Yankees' and Gerrit Cole's decision to intentionally walk Rafael Devers, the Bronx ace's performance in 2024 and the Mets' chances of sneaking into the Wild Card. 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. Blair and Barker begin the week recapping the Blue Jays' weekend sweep against the Cardinals, José Berríos' success rate since he's joined the organization, and designating Brian Serven for assignment. Then, The Athletic's Tyler Kepner (26:13) takes us through the Yankees' and Gerrit Cole's decision to intentionally walk Rafael Devers, the Bronx ace's performance in 2024 and the Mets' chances of sneaking into the Wild Card. 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. false full c55ee302-8990-4bfd-add5-36c881f92851 Clashing with the Cardinals + Back Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by answering your questions on Friday's Back Leg Line! To close out the week, Cardinals TV analyst & former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson (29:13) tees up the Jays' weekend series against St. Louis and discusses the Cards' disappointing season, who's most to blame for their falloff and how they can fix it in 2025.

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.

]]> Fri, 13 Sep 2024 22:02:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by answering your questions on Friday's Back Leg Line! To close out the week, Cardinals TV analyst & former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson (29:13) tees up the Jays' weekend series against St. Louis and discusses the Cards' disappointing season, who's most to blame for their falloff and how they can fix it in 2025.

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.

]]> Clashing with the Cardinals + Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by answering your questions on Friday's Back Leg Line! To close out the week, Cardinals TV analyst & former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson (29:13) tees up the Jays' weekend series against St. Louis and discusses the Cards' disappointing season, who's most to blame for their falloff and how they can fix it in 2025. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by answering your questions on Friday's Back Leg Line! To close out the week, Cardinals TV analyst & former MLB pitcher Brad Thompson (29:13) tees up the Jays' weekend series against St. Louis and discusses the Cards' disappointing season, who's most to blame for their falloff and how they can fix it in 2025. 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. false full f77cc289-e594-4d74-a5d9-10b69581ae16 Schneider, Walker, Blair & Barker Blair and Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:55) to share an update on Bo Bichette's progress rehabbing his calf injury, Bowden Francis' September performances and finding consistency on the mound, and how the team has played against playoff-bound opponents. Then, Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (35:47) stops by to chat about the workload for his starters nearing the end of the season, helping Yariel Rodriguez find success in his outings, Jose Berrios' 2024 starts and what he wants to see from Chad Green when he enters the game. 

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.

]]> Fri, 13 Sep 2024 21:03:17 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:55) to share an update on Bo Bichette's progress rehabbing his calf injury, Bowden Francis' September performances and finding consistency on the mound, and how the team has played against playoff-bound opponents. Then, Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (35:47) stops by to chat about the workload for his starters nearing the end of the season, helping Yariel Rodriguez find success in his outings, Jose Berrios' 2024 starts and what he wants to see from Chad Green when he enters the game. 

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.

]]> Schneider, Walker, Blair & Barker Sportsnet 00:49:52 Blair and Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:55) to share an update on Bo Bichette's progress rehabbing his calf injury, Bowden Francis' September performances and finding consistency on the mound, and how the team has played against playoff-bound opponents. Then, Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (35:47) stops by to chat about the workload for his starters nearing the end of the season, helping Yariel Rodriguez find success in his outings, Jose Berrios' 2024 starts and what he wants to see from Chad Green when he enters the game. 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. Blair and Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (5:55) to share an update on Bo Bichette's progress rehabbing his calf injury, Bowden Francis' September performances and finding consistency on the mound, and how the team has played against playoff-bound opponents. Then, Jays' pitching coach Pete Walker (35:47) stops by to chat about the workload for his starters nearing the end of the season, helping Yariel Rodriguez find success in his outings, Jose Berrios' 2024 starts and what he wants to see from Chad Green when he enters the game. 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. false full 0ac09556-6f5a-4777-9f0f-d5f8356161fa Lindor Or Ohtani? Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:55) to dig deep into the NL MVP race and why Shohei has the edge over Lindor despite playing DH. Then, they discuss Dave Roberts leaving the door open for Ohtani to pitch in the playoffs and ESPN's recent poll on the most exciting player in baseball. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (31:01) weighs in on Serven's impact on Bowden Francis' recent outings, Chad Green's role in 2025 and what position the Jays should target in the offseason.

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Sep 2024 22:01:22 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:55) to dig deep into the NL MVP race and why Shohei has the edge over Lindor despite playing DH. Then, they discuss Dave Roberts leaving the door open for Ohtani to pitch in the playoffs and ESPN's recent poll on the most exciting player in baseball. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (31:01) weighs in on Serven's impact on Bowden Francis' recent outings, Chad Green's role in 2025 and what position the Jays should target in the offseason.

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.

]]> Lindor Or Ohtani? Sportsnet 00:49:52 Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:55) to dig deep into the NL MVP race and why Shohei has the edge over Lindor despite playing DH. Then, they discuss Dave Roberts leaving the door open for Ohtani to pitch in the playoffs and ESPN's recent poll on the most exciting player in baseball. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (31:01) weighs in on Serven's impact on Bowden Francis' recent outings, Chad Green's role in 2025 and what position the Jays should target in the offseason. 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. Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (3:55) to dig deep into the NL MVP race and why Shohei has the edge over Lindor despite playing DH. Then, they discuss Dave Roberts leaving the door open for Ohtani to pitch in the playoffs and ESPN's recent poll on the most exciting player in baseball. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (31:01) weighs in on Serven's impact on Bowden Francis' recent outings, Chad Green's role in 2025 and what position the Jays should target in the offseason. 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. false full c83f76b2-648d-4aba-8881-d11ec084d630 Bowden's Big Night & Evaluating in September Blair and Barker recap the Blue Jays loss to the Mets in their series finale and Bowden Francis's 8-inning no-hitter. Then, Sean Casey (27:05) stops by to chat about player fatigue entering the final month of the season, evaluating in September, his experience with opposing pitchers having a good outing, improving in hitting within the Majors, and Shohei Ohtani's MVP race.

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.

]]> Thu, 12 Sep 2024 21:02:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker recap the Blue Jays loss to the Mets in their series finale and Bowden Francis's 8-inning no-hitter. Then, Sean Casey (27:05) stops by to chat about player fatigue entering the final month of the season, evaluating in September, his experience with opposing pitchers having a good outing, improving in hitting within the Majors, and Shohei Ohtani's MVP race.

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.

]]> Bowden's Big Night & Evaluating in September Sportsnet 00:49:46 Blair and Barker recap the Blue Jays loss to the Mets in their series finale and Bowden Francis's 8-inning no-hitter. Then, Sean Casey (27:05) stops by to chat about player fatigue entering the final month of the season, evaluating in September, his experience with opposing pitchers having a good outing, improving in hitting within the Majors, and Shohei Ohtani's MVP race. 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. Blair and Barker recap the Blue Jays loss to the Mets in their series finale and Bowden Francis's 8-inning no-hitter. Then, Sean Casey (27:05) stops by to chat about player fatigue entering the final month of the season, evaluating in September, his experience with opposing pitchers having a good outing, improving in hitting within the Majors, and Shohei Ohtani's MVP race. 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. false full 428db8da-3175-4288-8525-6fb0f6131644 2025 Projections & NL Playoff Outlook Blair and Barker start with an update on Bo Bichette's rehab stint in Triple-A before they are joined by USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (2:35). He shares which NL Wild Card result is best for MLB, the Astros' difficult Verlander decision, why Ohtani is a lock for NL MVP and playoff outlooks for NL teams. Finally, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (27:30) weighs in on the future of the bullpen, the plan for Davis Schneider and who of the 'new Jays' he expects to be on the roster in 2025.

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.

]]> Tue, 10 Sep 2024 22:01:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker start with an update on Bo Bichette's rehab stint in Triple-A before they are joined by USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (2:35). He shares which NL Wild Card result is best for MLB, the Astros' difficult Verlander decision, why Ohtani is a lock for NL MVP and playoff outlooks for NL teams. Finally, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (27:30) weighs in on the future of the bullpen, the plan for Davis Schneider and who of the 'new Jays' he expects to be on the roster in 2025.

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.

]]> 2025 Projections & NL Playoff Outlook Sportsnet 00:49:51 Blair and Barker start with an update on Bo Bichette's rehab stint in Triple-A before they are joined by USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (2:35). He shares which NL Wild Card result is best for MLB, the Astros' difficult Verlander decision, why Ohtani is a lock for NL MVP and playoff outlooks for NL teams. Finally, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (27:30) weighs in on the future of the bullpen, the plan for Davis Schneider and who of the 'new Jays' he expects to be on the roster in 2025. 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. Blair and Barker start with an update on Bo Bichette's rehab stint in Triple-A before they are joined by USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale (2:35). He shares which NL Wild Card result is best for MLB, the Astros' difficult Verlander decision, why Ohtani is a lock for NL MVP and playoff outlooks for NL teams. Finally, Blue Jays play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (27:30) weighs in on the future of the bullpen, the plan for Davis Schneider and who of the 'new Jays' he expects to be on the roster in 2025. 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. false full 13fb26d3-974b-4810-9a58-d2b3651f3520 The Bull in Bullpen + Mets' Surge Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the New York Mets which included another bullpen meltdown late in the game. Then, SNY's John Harper stops by (28:29) to chat about the Mets' late season surge and battle between the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card, Francisco Lindor's MVP-like season, Edwin Diaz's turnaround on the mound and Pete Alonso's future with the baseball club.

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.

]]> Tue, 10 Sep 2024 21:01:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the New York Mets which included another bullpen meltdown late in the game. Then, SNY's John Harper stops by (28:29) to chat about the Mets' late season surge and battle between the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card, Francisco Lindor's MVP-like season, Edwin Diaz's turnaround on the mound and Pete Alonso's future with the baseball club.

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.

]]> The Bull in Bullpen + Mets' Surge Sportsnet 00:49:38 Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the New York Mets which included another bullpen meltdown late in the game. Then, SNY's John Harper stops by (28:29) to chat about the Mets' late season surge and battle between the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card, Francisco Lindor's MVP-like season, Edwin Diaz's turnaround on the mound and Pete Alonso's future with the baseball club. 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. Blair and Barker begin the show recapping the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the New York Mets which included another bullpen meltdown late in the game. Then, SNY's John Harper stops by (28:29) to chat about the Mets' late season surge and battle between the Atlanta Braves for the Wild Card, Francisco Lindor's MVP-like season, Edwin Diaz's turnaround on the mound and Pete Alonso's future with the baseball club. 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. false full ec6bd7a9-9f9d-434a-b6eb-5322b6b3f90d The Future of the Core with Shi Davidi MLB Network radio host Jensen Lewis (2:12) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the NL Wild Card race between the Braves and Mets, the NL MVP race, what a 'successful' postseason for the Guardians is and Verlander's struggles coming off his injury. Then, Jeff & Kevin listen to and break down John Schneider's pregame availability. Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (27:15) shares insight from his chat with Bo Bichette and the Jays' contractual options for Bo & Vlad in the offseason.

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.

]]> Mon, 9 Sep 2024 22:03:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network radio host Jensen Lewis (2:12) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the NL Wild Card race between the Braves and Mets, the NL MVP race, what a 'successful' postseason for the Guardians is and Verlander's struggles coming off his injury. Then, Jeff & Kevin listen to and break down John Schneider's pregame availability. Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (27:15) shares insight from his chat with Bo Bichette and the Jays' contractual options for Bo & Vlad in the offseason.

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.

]]> The Future of the Core with Shi Davidi Sportsnet 00:49:31 MLB Network radio host Jensen Lewis (2:12) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the NL Wild Card race between the Braves and Mets, the NL MVP race, what a 'successful' postseason for the Guardians is and Verlander's struggles coming off his injury. Then, Jeff & Kevin listen to and break down John Schneider's pregame availability. Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (27:15) shares insight from his chat with Bo Bichette and the Jays' contractual options for Bo & Vlad in the offseason. 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 radio host Jensen Lewis (2:12) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss the NL Wild Card race between the Braves and Mets, the NL MVP race, what a 'successful' postseason for the Guardians is and Verlander's struggles coming off his injury. Then, Jeff & Kevin listen to and break down John Schneider's pregame availability. Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (27:15) shares insight from his chat with Bo Bichette and the Jays' contractual options for Bo & Vlad in the offseason. 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. false full 7679a287-ddac-47cf-9030-dd90e650fa45 Bo Bichette's "Ultimate Goal" with the Blue Jays Blair and Barker begin the Monday edition sharing their reactions to Bo Bichette's comments on his future with the Toronto Blue Jays and José Berríos' performance in 2024. Then, former MLB executive David Samson joins the guys (31:25) to give his take on the impact of Bichette wanting to stay with the Jays, the importance of keeping players happy, how management evaluates coaches in September and the MVP race in the National League.

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.

]]> Mon, 9 Sep 2024 21:01:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the Monday edition sharing their reactions to Bo Bichette's comments on his future with the Toronto Blue Jays and José Berríos' performance in 2024. Then, former MLB executive David Samson joins the guys (31:25) to give his take on the impact of Bichette wanting to stay with the Jays, the importance of keeping players happy, how management evaluates coaches in September and the MVP race in the National League.

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.

]]> Bo Bichette's "Ultimate Goal" with the Blue Jays Sportsnet 00:48:46 Blair and Barker begin the Monday edition sharing their reactions to Bo Bichette's comments on his future with the Toronto Blue Jays and José Berríos' performance in 2024. Then, former MLB executive David Samson joins the guys (31:25) to give his take on the impact of Bichette wanting to stay with the Jays, the importance of keeping players happy, how management evaluates coaches in September and the MVP race in the National League. 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. Blair and Barker begin the Monday edition sharing their reactions to Bo Bichette's comments on his future with the Toronto Blue Jays and José Berríos' performance in 2024. Then, former MLB executive David Samson joins the guys (31:25) to give his take on the impact of Bichette wanting to stay with the Jays, the importance of keeping players happy, how management evaluates coaches in September and the MVP race in the National League. 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. false full 435718f2-3562-45bd-ad50-1ab17ef2890e Clubhouse Dynamics + Jays Injury Update Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Erik Kratz (0:45), host of Foul Territory and former major leaguer, to discuss clubhouse dynamics for young teams, Clay Holmes' closing struggles for the Yankees, the Orioles 'getting too cute' and who he's got for the final NL Wild Card - Mets or Braves. Later, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:25) from Atlanta shares some injury updates on Bo Bichette and Jordan Romano before teeing up the Jays' weekend series against the Braves. 

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.

]]> Fri, 6 Sep 2024 22:02:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Erik Kratz (0:45), host of Foul Territory and former major leaguer, to discuss clubhouse dynamics for young teams, Clay Holmes' closing struggles for the Yankees, the Orioles 'getting too cute' and who he's got for the final NL Wild Card - Mets or Braves. Later, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:25) from Atlanta shares some injury updates on Bo Bichette and Jordan Romano before teeing up the Jays' weekend series against the Braves. 

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.

]]> Clubhouse Dynamics + Jays Injury Update Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Erik Kratz (0:45), host of Foul Territory and former major leaguer, to discuss clubhouse dynamics for young teams, Clay Holmes' closing struggles for the Yankees, the Orioles 'getting too cute' and who he's got for the final NL Wild Card - Mets or Braves. Later, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:25) from Atlanta shares some injury updates on Bo Bichette and Jordan Romano before teeing up the Jays' weekend series against the Braves. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Erik Kratz (0:45), host of Foul Territory and former major leaguer, to discuss clubhouse dynamics for young teams, Clay Holmes' closing struggles for the Yankees, the Orioles 'getting too cute' and who he's got for the final NL Wild Card - Mets or Braves. Later, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:25) from Atlanta shares some injury updates on Bo Bichette and Jordan Romano before teeing up the Jays' weekend series against the Braves. 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. false full a023d198-90c2-4239-b910-d8db32652a68 Hotlanta Convo with John Schneider Blair and Barker begin the Friday edition checking in on the Back-Leg Line - discussing if Juan Soto is worth signing to a long-term contract in free agency, why bringing in talent to the roster is more important to the Blue Jays than changing the coaching staff and addressing the bullpen issues. Jays' skipper John Schneider (26:13) stops by for his weekly chat to discuss the Atlanta Braves and lefty Max Fried, his team's recent trends against left-handed pitchers, his assessment of Will Wagner, Spencer Horwitz' outlook at second base and whether we'll see Jake Bloss by the end of the season.

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.

]]> Fri, 6 Sep 2024 21:02:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the Friday edition checking in on the Back-Leg Line - discussing if Juan Soto is worth signing to a long-term contract in free agency, why bringing in talent to the roster is more important to the Blue Jays than changing the coaching staff and addressing the bullpen issues. Jays' skipper John Schneider (26:13) stops by for his weekly chat to discuss the Atlanta Braves and lefty Max Fried, his team's recent trends against left-handed pitchers, his assessment of Will Wagner, Spencer Horwitz' outlook at second base and whether we'll see Jake Bloss by the end of the season.

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.

]]> Hotlanta Convo with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:54 Blair and Barker begin the Friday edition checking in on the Back-Leg Line - discussing if Juan Soto is worth signing to a long-term contract in free agency, why bringing in talent to the roster is more important to the Blue Jays than changing the coaching staff and addressing the bullpen issues. Jays' skipper John Schneider (26:13) stops by for his weekly chat to discuss the Atlanta Braves and lefty Max Fried, his team's recent trends against left-handed pitchers, his assessment of Will Wagner, Spencer Horwitz' outlook at second base and whether we'll see Jake Bloss by the end of the season. 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. Blair and Barker begin the Friday edition checking in on the Back-Leg Line - discussing if Juan Soto is worth signing to a long-term contract in free agency, why bringing in talent to the roster is more important to the Blue Jays than changing the coaching staff and addressing the bullpen issues. Jays' skipper John Schneider (26:13) stops by for his weekly chat to discuss the Atlanta Braves and lefty Max Fried, his team's recent trends against left-handed pitchers, his assessment of Will Wagner, Spencer Horwitz' outlook at second base and whether we'll see Jake Bloss by the end of the season. 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. false full 73ab60d2-3457-4034-a078-ab59f2baf103 Chapman Cashes In + John Gibbons Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:35) to break down Matt Chapman's 6-year extension with the Giants and how it might impact Alex Bregman's market in the offseason. Then, he shares why the Astros are the team to beat in the AL and puts Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 campaign in perspective. Later, Mets bench coach and former Jays manager John Gibbons (28:02) discusses his role in New York, Francisco Lindor's turnaround and his approach to analytics.

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.

]]> Thu, 5 Sep 2024 22:02:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:35) to break down Matt Chapman's 6-year extension with the Giants and how it might impact Alex Bregman's market in the offseason. Then, he shares why the Astros are the team to beat in the AL and puts Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 campaign in perspective. Later, Mets bench coach and former Jays manager John Gibbons (28:02) discusses his role in New York, Francisco Lindor's turnaround and his approach to analytics.

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.

]]> Chapman Cashes In + John Gibbons Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:35) to break down Matt Chapman's 6-year extension with the Giants and how it might impact Alex Bregman's market in the offseason. Then, he shares why the Astros are the team to beat in the AL and puts Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 campaign in perspective. Later, Mets bench coach and former Jays manager John Gibbons (28:02) discusses his role in New York, Francisco Lindor's turnaround and his approach to analytics. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:35) to break down Matt Chapman's 6-year extension with the Giants and how it might impact Alex Bregman's market in the offseason. Then, he shares why the Astros are the team to beat in the AL and puts Shohei Ohtani's historic 2024 campaign in perspective. Later, Mets bench coach and former Jays manager John Gibbons (28:02) discusses his role in New York, Francisco Lindor's turnaround and his approach to analytics. 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. false full 3e40e445-dc94-4c73-91bf-a29308f9e119 Jays' Remaining Tasks + Atlanta Braves Check-In Blair and Barker begin the show sharing their to-do list of what they want to see from the 2024 Blue Jays with only 21 games remaining including playing time for Addison Barger in different positions, Bo Bichette's availability and Yariel Rodriguez's pitching. Then, TV play-by-play voice for the Atlanta Braves Brandon Gaudin (25:34) stops by to chat about the importance of their lead-off hitter, Chris Sale's return to form and how manager Brian Snitker has navigated his team this season. 

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.

]]> Thu, 5 Sep 2024 21:02:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show sharing their to-do list of what they want to see from the 2024 Blue Jays with only 21 games remaining including playing time for Addison Barger in different positions, Bo Bichette's availability and Yariel Rodriguez's pitching. Then, TV play-by-play voice for the Atlanta Braves Brandon Gaudin (25:34) stops by to chat about the importance of their lead-off hitter, Chris Sale's return to form and how manager Brian Snitker has navigated his team this season. 

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.

]]> Jays' Remaining Tasks + Atlanta Braves Check-In Sportsnet 00:49:54 Blair and Barker begin the show sharing their to-do list of what they want to see from the 2024 Blue Jays with only 21 games remaining including playing time for Addison Barger in different positions, Bo Bichette's availability and Yariel Rodriguez's pitching. Then, TV play-by-play voice for the Atlanta Braves Brandon Gaudin (25:34) stops by to chat about the importance of their lead-off hitter, Chris Sale's return to form and how manager Brian Snitker has navigated his team this season.  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. Blair and Barker begin the show sharing their to-do list of what they want to see from the 2024 Blue Jays with only 21 games remaining including playing time for Addison Barger in different positions, Bo Bichette's availability and Yariel Rodriguez's pitching. Then, TV play-by-play voice for the Atlanta Braves Brandon Gaudin (25:34) stops by to chat about the importance of their lead-off hitter, Chris Sale's return to form and how manager Brian Snitker has navigated his team this season.  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. false full 53cd1d0d-e0ca-47b4-bc3b-6192a3efc104 Phillies' Flaws & Fact-Finding in September Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' two-game series against the Phillies with Phillies TV analyst Ben Davis. He digs into potential reasons for Philadelphia's late-season skid, what lessons they can take away from their last postseason run and the team's X-Factors heading into October. Blue Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:05) discusses the Jays' roster uncertainties they need to sort out in the final month of the regular season - Barger's upside, Horwitz's ideal position, Will Wagner's role and more.

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.

]]> Tue, 3 Sep 2024 22:02:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' two-game series against the Phillies with Phillies TV analyst Ben Davis. He digs into potential reasons for Philadelphia's late-season skid, what lessons they can take away from their last postseason run and the team's X-Factors heading into October. Blue Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:05) discusses the Jays' roster uncertainties they need to sort out in the final month of the regular season - Barger's upside, Horwitz's ideal position, Will Wagner's role and more.

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.

]]> Phillies' Flaws & Fact-Finding in September Sportsnet 00:50:07 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' two-game series against the Phillies with Phillies TV analyst Ben Davis. He digs into potential reasons for Philadelphia's late-season skid, what lessons they can take away from their last postseason run and the team's X-Factors heading into October. Blue Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:05) discusses the Jays' roster uncertainties they need to sort out in the final month of the regular season - Barger's upside, Horwitz's ideal position, Will Wagner's role and more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' two-game series against the Phillies with Phillies TV analyst Ben Davis. He digs into potential reasons for Philadelphia's late-season skid, what lessons they can take away from their last postseason run and the team's X-Factors heading into October. Blue Jays' play-by-play voice Dan Shulman (26:05) discusses the Jays' roster uncertainties they need to sort out in the final month of the regular season - Barger's upside, Horwitz's ideal position, Will Wagner's role and more. 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. false full 83bcd343-3954-402c-93f1-9c8db1cf1618 Jays' Mainstays & Wild Card Races Blair and Barker begin the show projecting which of the younger Blue Jays players will become mainstays in the lineup heading into the next season including Spencer Horwitz at second base, starting rotation and Jordan Romano's closer role. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (27:01) stops by to chat about the Wild Card races ramping up as we enter September, if the AL East has weakened as a division, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series hopes and whether the Philadelphia Phillies shifted their focus to October too early. 

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.

]]> Tue, 3 Sep 2024 21:06:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker begin the show projecting which of the younger Blue Jays players will become mainstays in the lineup heading into the next season including Spencer Horwitz at second base, starting rotation and Jordan Romano's closer role. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (27:01) stops by to chat about the Wild Card races ramping up as we enter September, if the AL East has weakened as a division, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series hopes and whether the Philadelphia Phillies shifted their focus to October too early. 

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.

]]> Jays' Mainstays & Wild Card Races Sportsnet 00:49:13 Blair and Barker begin the show projecting which of the younger Blue Jays players will become mainstays in the lineup heading into the next season including Spencer Horwitz at second base, starting rotation and Jordan Romano's closer role. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (27:01) stops by to chat about the Wild Card races ramping up as we enter September, if the AL East has weakened as a division, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series hopes and whether the Philadelphia Phillies shifted their focus to October too early. 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. Blair and Barker begin the show projecting which of the younger Blue Jays players will become mainstays in the lineup heading into the next season including Spencer Horwitz at second base, starting rotation and Jordan Romano's closer role. Then, The Athletic's Jayson Stark (27:01) stops by to chat about the Wild Card races ramping up as we enter September, if the AL East has weakened as a division, Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series hopes and whether the Philadelphia Phillies shifted their focus to October too early. 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. false full 2965c8dd-89b7-4f2c-947b-c3aef6f0c978 Will Bo Play? + Twins GM Thad Levine Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (7:23) to reflect on the teams' performances one month after the trade deadline, if it's worth it for Bo Bichette and the organization to play some of the remaining games of the season, projecting Japanese star pitcher Rōki Sasaki's chance of playing in the MLB, and what Corbin Burnes and Juan Soto could be eyeing for ahead of entering free agency. Then Twins Senior VP & GM Thad Levine (29:18) jumps on ahead of the Blue Jays' meeting in Minnesota, the challenges his baseball club has gone through while fighting for a spot in the post-season, and how Simeon Woods Richardson found success on the mound. 

 

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.

]]> Fri, 30 Aug 2024 21:59:01 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (7:23) to reflect on the teams' performances one month after the trade deadline, if it's worth it for Bo Bichette and the organization to play some of the remaining games of the season, projecting Japanese star pitcher Rōki Sasaki's chance of playing in the MLB, and what Corbin Burnes and Juan Soto could be eyeing for ahead of entering free agency. Then Twins Senior VP & GM Thad Levine (29:18) jumps on ahead of the Blue Jays' meeting in Minnesota, the challenges his baseball club has gone through while fighting for a spot in the post-season, and how Simeon Woods Richardson found success on the mound. 

 

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.

]]> Will Bo Play? + Twins GM Thad Levine Sportsnet 00:49:42 Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (7:23) to reflect on the teams' performances one month after the trade deadline, if it's worth it for Bo Bichette and the organization to play some of the remaining games of the season, projecting Japanese star pitcher Rōki Sasaki's chance of playing in the MLB, and what Corbin Burnes and Juan Soto could be eyeing for ahead of entering free agency. Then Twins Senior VP & GM Thad Levine (29:18) jumps on ahead of the Blue Jays' meeting in Minnesota, the challenges his baseball club has gone through while fighting for a spot in the post-season, and how Simeon Woods Richardson found success on the mound. 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. Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN's Jeff Passan (7:23) to reflect on the teams' performances one month after the trade deadline, if it's worth it for Bo Bichette and the organization to play some of the remaining games of the season, projecting Japanese star pitcher Rōki Sasaki's chance of playing in the MLB, and what Corbin Burnes and Juan Soto could be eyeing for ahead of entering free agency. Then Twins Senior VP & GM Thad Levine (29:18) jumps on ahead of the Blue Jays' meeting in Minnesota, the challenges his baseball club has gone through while fighting for a spot in the post-season, and how Simeon Woods Richardson found success on the mound. 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. false full 44172ab8-2703-47a4-95f1-3ec64dc9590f Talking to John Schneider in the Twin Cities Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from Minnesota as Toronto gets ready to face the Twins. The guys discuss the club’s recent play, notably Bowden Francis’ last few impressive starts after he pitched another gem Thursday night against the Red Sox. It’s Friday so Blair & Barker open up the Back Leg Line and answer some questions from fans of the show!

 

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.

]]> Fri, 30 Aug 2024 20:58:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from Minnesota as Toronto gets ready to face the Twins. The guys discuss the club’s recent play, notably Bowden Francis’ last few impressive starts after he pitched another gem Thursday night against the Red Sox. It’s Friday so Blair & Barker open up the Back Leg Line and answer some questions from fans of the show!

 

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.

]]> Talking to John Schneider in the Twin Cities Sportsnet 00:48:54 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from Minnesota as Toronto gets ready to face the Twins. The guys discuss the club’s recent play, notably Bowden Francis’ last few impressive starts after he pitched another gem Thursday night against the Red Sox. It’s Friday so Blair & Barker open up the Back Leg Line and answer some questions from fans of the show! 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from Minnesota as Toronto gets ready to face the Twins. The guys discuss the club’s recent play, notably Bowden Francis’ last few impressive starts after he pitched another gem Thursday night against the Red Sox. It’s Friday so Blair & Barker open up the Back Leg Line and answer some questions from fans of the show! 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. false full e49c4256-6310-4bd6-96bb-2893a504d9c7 The Royals' Rise & Free Agent Forecast Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (0:40) to discuss KC's transformative 2024 season after their 100-loss 2023 campaign - specifically, Bobby Witt Jr.'s superstar jump and the unsung heroes of the Royals' push for an AL Central lead. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (26:25) shares his thoughts on the different directions the Jays could go in free agency, Aaron Judge running away with AL MVP and the chances that Juan Soto stays in the Bronx. 

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.

]]> Thu, 29 Aug 2024 22:02:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (0:40) to discuss KC's transformative 2024 season after their 100-loss 2023 campaign - specifically, Bobby Witt Jr.'s superstar jump and the unsung heroes of the Royals' push for an AL Central lead. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (26:25) shares his thoughts on the different directions the Jays could go in free agency, Aaron Judge running away with AL MVP and the chances that Juan Soto stays in the Bronx. 

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.

]]> The Royals' Rise & Free Agent Forecast Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (0:40) to discuss KC's transformative 2024 season after their 100-loss 2023 campaign - specifically, Bobby Witt Jr.'s superstar jump and the unsung heroes of the Royals' push for an AL Central lead. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (26:25) shares his thoughts on the different directions the Jays could go in free agency, Aaron Judge running away with AL MVP and the chances that Juan Soto stays in the Bronx. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (0:40) to discuss KC's transformative 2024 season after their 100-loss 2023 campaign - specifically, Bobby Witt Jr.'s superstar jump and the unsung heroes of the Royals' push for an AL Central lead. MLB Network's Mark Feinsand (26:25) shares his thoughts on the different directions the Jays could go in free agency, Aaron Judge running away with AL MVP and the chances that Juan Soto stays in the Bronx. 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. false full 3602fd79-1841-4bb1-bc2f-c950a5e6f173 Bassitt’s Adjustment & Ernie Clement from Fenway! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the Blue Jays 3-0 loss against the Boston Red Sox and concentrate on Chris Bassitt’s bounce back performance in a tough luck loss. Blue Jays’ infielder Ernie Clement (26:38) joins the guys ahead of the series finale at Fenway Park to discuss his 2024 season so far particularly his defensive play. 

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.

]]> Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:48:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the Blue Jays 3-0 loss against the Boston Red Sox and concentrate on Chris Bassitt’s bounce back performance in a tough luck loss. Blue Jays’ infielder Ernie Clement (26:38) joins the guys ahead of the series finale at Fenway Park to discuss his 2024 season so far particularly his defensive play. 

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.

]]> Bassitt’s Adjustment & Ernie Clement from Fenway! Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the Blue Jays 3-0 loss against the Boston Red Sox and concentrate on Chris Bassitt’s bounce back performance in a tough luck loss. Blue Jays’ infielder Ernie Clement (26:38) joins the guys ahead of the series finale at Fenway Park to discuss his 2024 season so far particularly his defensive play. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the Blue Jays 3-0 loss against the Boston Red Sox and concentrate on Chris Bassitt’s bounce back performance in a tough luck loss. Blue Jays’ infielder Ernie Clement (26:38) joins the guys ahead of the series finale at Fenway Park to discuss his 2024 season so far particularly his defensive play. 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. false full 12ac8441-3c9f-40be-afea-fd7c8bb211f7 'Run It Back' Ambiguity Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look at the tight race in the AL Central between the Guardians, Royals and Twins and project which might come out on top. Former GM and MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd (9:01) shares how he evaluates a team down the stretch, the sustainability of Vladdy's hot stretch, off-field concerns around Bo Bichette and more. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:10) weighs in on the proposed minimum-innings-pitched rule, the Jays' biggest needs in the offseason, the problem of building through free agency and how Toronto's management's contract situation complicates their future spending plans.

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.

]]> Wed, 28 Aug 2024 22:06:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look at the tight race in the AL Central between the Guardians, Royals and Twins and project which might come out on top. Former GM and MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd (9:01) shares how he evaluates a team down the stretch, the sustainability of Vladdy's hot stretch, off-field concerns around Bo Bichette and more. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:10) weighs in on the proposed minimum-innings-pitched rule, the Jays' biggest needs in the offseason, the problem of building through free agency and how Toronto's management's contract situation complicates their future spending plans.

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.

]]> 'Run It Back' Ambiguity Sportsnet 00:50:07 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look at the tight race in the AL Central between the Guardians, Royals and Twins and project which might come out on top. Former GM and MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd (9:01) shares how he evaluates a team down the stretch, the sustainability of Vladdy's hot stretch, off-field concerns around Bo Bichette and more. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:10) weighs in on the proposed minimum-innings-pitched rule, the Jays' biggest needs in the offseason, the problem of building through free agency and how Toronto's management's contract situation complicate their future spending plans. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look at the tight race in the AL Central between the Guardians, Royals and Twins and project which might come out on top. Former GM and MLB Network's Dan O'Dowd (9:01) shares how he evaluates a team down the stretch, the sustainability of Vladdy's hot stretch, off-field concerns around Bo Bichette and more. Former MLB executive David Samson (29:10) weighs in on the proposed minimum-innings-pitched rule, the Jays' biggest needs in the offseason, the problem of building through free agency and how Toronto's management's contract situation complicate their future spending plans. 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. false full f4de3e17-e2a1-4006-be7b-b8a6d9b418eb Pitching 101 with Tom Glavine Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s latest outing after picking up the loss at Fenway Park. Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine (25:00) discusses the run the Braves have been on despite their numerous injuries, Chris Sale’s Cy Young-calibre season, and shares his thoughts on the state of pitching in the game today and the importance of a starting pitcher.

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.

]]> Wed, 28 Aug 2024 22:00:16 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s latest outing after picking up the loss at Fenway Park. Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine (25:00) discusses the run the Braves have been on despite their numerous injuries, Chris Sale’s Cy Young-calibre season, and shares his thoughts on the state of pitching in the game today and the importance of a starting pitcher.

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.

]]> Pitching 101 with Tom Glavine Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s latest outing after picking up the loss at Fenway Park. Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine (25:00) discusses the run the Braves have been on despite their numerous injuries, Chris Sale’s Cy Young-calibre season, and shares his thoughts on the state of pitching in the game today and the importance of a starting pitcher. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s latest outing after picking up the loss at Fenway Park. Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Glavine (25:00) discusses the run the Braves have been on despite their numerous injuries, Chris Sale’s Cy Young-calibre season, and shares his thoughts on the state of pitching in the game today and the importance of a starting pitcher. 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. false full f8da6f36-46ab-4db2-8a3d-68bfb339f58e The Path Forward with Buck Martinez Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (6:15) from Boston to share some team storylines to watch with 29 games remaining in the regular season. He gets into the future of the rotation, the plan for Bo Bichette when he returns, their young players with the highest upside and more. WEEI's Rob Bradford (28:32) helps tee up the rest of the Jays' series against the Red Sox and discusses Boston's defensive issues, their offseason plans and his takeaways from his recent interview with Kevin Gausman.

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.

]]> Tue, 27 Aug 2024 22:03:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (6:15) from Boston to share some team storylines to watch with 29 games remaining in the regular season. He gets into the future of the rotation, the plan for Bo Bichette when he returns, their young players with the highest upside and more. WEEI's Rob Bradford (28:32) helps tee up the rest of the Jays' series against the Red Sox and discusses Boston's defensive issues, their offseason plans and his takeaways from his recent interview with Kevin Gausman.

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.

]]> The Path Forward with Buck Martinez Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (6:15) from Boston to share some team storylines to watch with 29 games remaining in the regular season. He gets into the future of the rotation, the plan for Bo Bichette when he returns, their young players with the highest upside and more. WEEI's Rob Bradford (28:32) helps tee up the rest of the Jays' series against the Red Sox and discusses Boston's defensive issues, their offseason plans and his takeaways from his recent interview with Kevin Gausman. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (6:15) from Boston to share some team storylines to watch with 29 games remaining in the regular season. He gets into the future of the rotation, the plan for Bo Bichette when he returns, their young players with the highest upside and more. WEEI's Rob Bradford (28:32) helps tee up the rest of the Jays' series against the Red Sox and discusses Boston's defensive issues, their offseason plans and his takeaways from his recent interview with Kevin Gausman. 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. false full 778b8f25-be6d-49b8-9582-082cafaee6c9 Looking Ahead to This Winter’s Free-Agent Frenzy Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays recent play as they attempt to get back to .500 on the season and react to Justin Verlander’s comments on Sunday Night Baseball regarding the state of starting pitching in the game. Later on, ESPN baseball insider Kiley McDaniel (31:18) examines the tiers of the upcoming free-agent class and how Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are perceived by front office executives across the majors.

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.

]]> Tue, 27 Aug 2024 21:37:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays recent play as they attempt to get back to .500 on the season and react to Justin Verlander’s comments on Sunday Night Baseball regarding the state of starting pitching in the game. Later on, ESPN baseball insider Kiley McDaniel (31:18) examines the tiers of the upcoming free-agent class and how Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are perceived by front office executives across the majors.

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.

]]> Looking Ahead to This Winter’s Free-Agent Frenzy Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays recent play as they attempt to get back to .500 on the season and react to Justin Verlander’s comments on Sunday Night Baseball regarding the state of starting pitching in the game. Later on, ESPN baseball insider Kiley McDaniel (31:18) examines the tiers of the upcoming free-agent class and how Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are perceived by front office executives across the majors. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays recent play as they attempt to get back to .500 on the season and react to Justin Verlander’s comments on Sunday Night Baseball regarding the state of starting pitching in the game. Later on, ESPN baseball insider Kiley McDaniel (31:18) examines the tiers of the upcoming free-agent class and how Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are perceived by front office executives across the majors. 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. false full 4949a3b0-5cdc-4a4f-9a8b-f78902a063d2 Strife in Seattle & Jake Bloss Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Jays' recent offensive surge before they are joined by Jays' pitching prospect at Triple-A Buffalo, Jake Bloss (6:32). He shares what it was like getting traded at the deadline, how he's settled in with the organization and what he's been working on as he awaits a call-up for his Jays debut. Seattle Times' Ryan Divish (28:07) discusses what's next for the Mariners after cutting ties with manager Scott Servais. To close the week, Jeff & Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line!

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.

]]> Fri, 23 Aug 2024 22:00:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Jays' recent offensive surge before they are joined by Jays' pitching prospect at Triple-A Buffalo, Jake Bloss (6:32). He shares what it was like getting traded at the deadline, how he's settled in with the organization and what he's been working on as he awaits a call-up for his Jays debut. Seattle Times' Ryan Divish (28:07) discusses what's next for the Mariners after cutting ties with manager Scott Servais. To close the week, Jeff & Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line!

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.

]]> Strife in Seattle & Jake Bloss Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Jays' recent offensive surge before they are joined by Jays' pitching prospect at Triple-A Buffalo, Jake Bloss (6:32). He shares what it was like getting traded at the deadline, how he's settled in with the organization and what he's been working on as he awaits a call-up for his Jays debut. Seattle Times' Ryan Divish (28:07) discusses what's next for the Mariners after cutting ties with manager Scott Servais. To close the week, Jeff & Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Jays' recent offensive surge before they are joined by Jays' pitching prospect at Triple-A Buffalo, Jake Bloss (6:32). He shares what it was like getting traded at the deadline, how he's settled in with the organization and what he's been working on as he awaits a call-up for his Jays debut. Seattle Times' Ryan Divish (28:07) discusses what's next for the Mariners after cutting ties with manager Scott Servais. To close the week, Jeff & Kevin go back to the Back Leg Line! 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. false full c8cf5b43-f7a3-4abf-a205-374d19c297db B&B Reunited & Friday with John Schneider After some time apart, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are BACK! After catching up they open up the Back Leg Line for a few calls and are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:45) coming off of Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Angels. To end the hour, the guys discuss how much time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could see at third base in 2025. 

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.

]]> Fri, 23 Aug 2024 21:22:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ After some time apart, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are BACK! After catching up they open up the Back Leg Line for a few calls and are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:45) coming off of Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Angels. To end the hour, the guys discuss how much time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could see at third base in 2025. 

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.

]]> B&B Reunited & Friday with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:43 After some time apart, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are BACK! After catching up they open up the Back Leg Line for a few calls and are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:45) coming off of Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Angels. To end the hour, the guys discuss how much time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could see at third base in 2025. 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. After some time apart, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are BACK! After catching up they open up the Back Leg Line for a few calls and are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (27:45) coming off of Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Angels. To end the hour, the guys discuss how much time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could see at third base in 2025. 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. false full 44af378f-c1cd-490d-88da-e8083d074f70 Catching Up with Jano + Hosting the Halos Jeff Blair welcomes Red Sox & former Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (1:10) to share how he's settling in with the Sox since he was traded at the deadline, catching a different pitching crew and his chance to become the first player to play for both teams in the same game. Then, Jeff reacts to the Mariners firing manager Scott Servais and reflects on where it went wrong for them. Finally, radio voice of the Blue Jays Ben Shulman (23:53) - ahead of the team's series against the Angels - shares his thoughts on Joey Votto's career and legacy, what to expect from a Ryan Burr opener tonight, when Jake Bloss might get called up and much more.

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.

]]> Thu, 22 Aug 2024 22:02:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair welcomes Red Sox & former Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (1:10) to share how he's settling in with the Sox since he was traded at the deadline, catching a different pitching crew and his chance to become the first player to play for both teams in the same game. Then, Jeff reacts to the Mariners firing manager Scott Servais and reflects on where it went wrong for them. Finally, radio voice of the Blue Jays Ben Shulman (23:53) - ahead of the team's series against the Angels - shares his thoughts on Joey Votto's career and legacy, what to expect from a Ryan Burr opener tonight, when Jake Bloss might get called up and much more.

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.

]]> Catching Up with Jano + Hosting the Halos Sportsnet 00:49:26 Jeff Blair welcomes Red Sox & former Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (1:10) to share how he's settling in with the Sox since he was traded at the deadline, catching a different pitching crew and his chance to become the first player to play for both teams in the same game. Then, Jeff reacts to the Mariners firing manager Scott Servais and reflects on where it went wrong for them. Finally, radio voice of the Blue Jays Ben Shulman (23:53) - ahead of the team's series against the Angels - shares his thoughts on Joey Votto's career and legacy, what to expect from a Ryan Burr opener tonight, when Jake Bloss might get called up and much more. 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. Jeff Blair welcomes Red Sox & former Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (1:10) to share how he's settling in with the Sox since he was traded at the deadline, catching a different pitching crew and his chance to become the first player to play for both teams in the same game. Then, Jeff reacts to the Mariners firing manager Scott Servais and reflects on where it went wrong for them. Finally, radio voice of the Blue Jays Ben Shulman (23:53) - ahead of the team's series against the Angels - shares his thoughts on Joey Votto's career and legacy, what to expect from a Ryan Burr opener tonight, when Jake Bloss might get called up and much more. 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. false full 116f7a0b-3ee5-46bb-9044-a66dd674b65a Joey Votto Announces His Retirement Jeff Blair discusses Joey Votto’s retirement and his potential for reaching the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Padres analyst and former player Tony Gwynn Jr. (15:02) shares a story of Votto reaching out to his dad, arguably the best hitter of all-time, before examining the wild card race in the National League, AJ Preller’s moves throughout the season and at the deadline, and if Fernando Tatis Jr. will re-join the team before the postseason. Votto’s longtime teammate (and the only person Joey follows on Twitter/X!) Devin Mesoraco (29:40) talks about playing with him in Cincinnati and what made him such a great teammate and prolific hitter.

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.

]]> Thu, 22 Aug 2024 21:49:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair discusses Joey Votto’s retirement and his potential for reaching the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Padres analyst and former player Tony Gwynn Jr. (15:02) shares a story of Votto reaching out to his dad, arguably the best hitter of all-time, before examining the wild card race in the National League, AJ Preller’s moves throughout the season and at the deadline, and if Fernando Tatis Jr. will re-join the team before the postseason. Votto’s longtime teammate (and the only person Joey follows on Twitter/X!) Devin Mesoraco (29:40) talks about playing with him in Cincinnati and what made him such a great teammate and prolific hitter.

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.

]]> Joey Votto Announces His Retirement Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair discusses Joey Votto’s retirement and his potential for reaching the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Padres analyst and former player Tony Gwynn Jr. (15:02) shares a story of Votto reaching out to his dad, arguably the best hitter of all-time, before examining the wild card race in the National League, AJ Preller’s moves throughout the season and at the deadline, and if Fernando Tatis Jr. will re-join the team before the postseason. Votto’s longtime teammate (and the only person Joey follows on Twitter/X!) Devin Mesoraco (29:40) talks about playing with him in Cincinnati and what made him such a great teammate and prolific hitter. 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. Jeff Blair discusses Joey Votto’s retirement and his potential for reaching the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Padres analyst and former player Tony Gwynn Jr. (15:02) shares a story of Votto reaching out to his dad, arguably the best hitter of all-time, before examining the wild card race in the National League, AJ Preller’s moves throughout the season and at the deadline, and if Fernando Tatis Jr. will re-join the team before the postseason. Votto’s longtime teammate (and the only person Joey follows on Twitter/X!) Devin Mesoraco (29:40) talks about playing with him in Cincinnati and what made him such a great teammate and prolific hitter. 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. false full 4211d751-fb86-4932-897e-803ffa419923 Pitching Prognosis & Passan on MLB Parity Jeff Blair is joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:40) to make his now weekly projection for a potential Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension and how his recent play at third base can impact negotiations. Then, they go around MLB - whether the Orioles did enough at the deadline, parity around the big leagues and what's next for the Cardinals after releasing Brandon Crawford & optioning Nolan Gorman. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:21) evaluates Toronto's pitching this season, what he and the team are looking for from each arm down the stretch and what's up with Davis Schneider.

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.

]]> Wed, 21 Aug 2024 22:09:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:40) to make his now weekly projection for a potential Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension and how his recent play at third base can impact negotiations. Then, they go around MLB - whether the Orioles did enough at the deadline, parity around the big leagues and what's next for the Cardinals after releasing Brandon Crawford & optioning Nolan Gorman. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:21) evaluates Toronto's pitching this season, what he and the team are looking for from each arm down the stretch and what's up with Davis Schneider.

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.

]]> Pitching Prognosis & Passan on MLB Parity Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair is joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:40) to make his now weekly projection for a potential Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension and how his recent play at third base can impact negotiations. Then, they go around MLB - whether the Orioles did enough at the deadline, parity around the big leagues and what's next for the Cardinals after releasing Brandon Crawford & optioning Nolan Gorman. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:21) evaluates Toronto's pitching this season, what he and the team are looking for from each arm down the stretch and what's up with Davis Schneider. 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. Jeff Blair is joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:40) to make his now weekly projection for a potential Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension and how his recent play at third base can impact negotiations. Then, they go around MLB - whether the Orioles did enough at the deadline, parity around the big leagues and what's next for the Cardinals after releasing Brandon Crawford & optioning Nolan Gorman. Later, Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux (29:21) evaluates Toronto's pitching this season, what he and the team are looking for from each arm down the stretch and what's up with Davis Schneider. 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. false full b11ca74d-0154-4096-af31-e3960fdfacd6 Jays Rout Reds, WBC Announcement + the Beat on Baltimore Jeff Blair recaps the Blue Jays' 10-3 beat-down on the Reds in the second game of the series, including another stellar outing from José Berríos. Coach & Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (11:10) joins Jeff to discuss the next World Baseball Classic and Team Canada's outlook following today's announcement of pools, dates and formats for the tournament in 2026. TheScore's Travis Sawchik (28:14) dives deep on the Orioles - why they've struggled recently, whether they did enough at the deadline and how they've gotten the most out of Jackson Holliday in his second stint in the majors.

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.

]]> Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:05:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair recaps the Blue Jays' 10-3 beat-down on the Reds in the second game of the series, including another stellar outing from José Berríos. Coach & Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (11:10) joins Jeff to discuss the next World Baseball Classic and Team Canada's outlook following today's announcement of pools, dates and formats for the tournament in 2026. TheScore's Travis Sawchik (28:14) dives deep on the Orioles - why they've struggled recently, whether they did enough at the deadline and how they've gotten the most out of Jackson Holliday in his second stint in the majors.

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.

]]> Jays Rout Reds, WBC Announcement + the Beat on Baltimore Sportsnet 00:49:33 Jeff Blair recaps the Blue Jays' 10-3 beat-down on the Reds in the second game of the series, including another stellar outing from José Berríos. Coach & Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (11:10) joins Jeff to discuss the next World Baseball Classic and Team Canada's outlook following today's announcement of pools, dates and formats for the tournament in 2026. TheScore's Travis Sawchik (28:14) dives deep on the Orioles - why they've struggled recently, whether they did enough at the deadline and how they've gotten the most out of Jackson Holliday in his second stint in the majors. 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. Jeff Blair recaps the Blue Jays' 10-3 beat-down on the Reds in the second game of the series, including another stellar outing from José Berríos. Coach & Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (11:10) joins Jeff to discuss the next World Baseball Classic and Team Canada's outlook following today's announcement of pools, dates and formats for the tournament in 2026. TheScore's Travis Sawchik (28:14) dives deep on the Orioles - why they've struggled recently, whether they did enough at the deadline and how they've gotten the most out of Jackson Holliday in his second stint in the majors. 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. false full 6df23b30-7e45-4f66-a2dc-7caa0fd026b6 Future Plans + Catching Up with Dan Shulman Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair to kick off the second hour, and he shares what he would do if he were president of the Blue Jays (1:23). Then, he discusses how he evaluates executives, the likelihood of a Vladdy Jr. extension this offseason and what's behind the Brewers' miraculous 2024 season. Later, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (28:29) reflects on his time at the Paris Olympics before weighing in on the possibility that the Jays move Vladdy to third base more regularly, how Schneider handles the rotation down the stretch and why Loperfido has struggled in his Jays tenure so far.

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.

]]> Tue, 20 Aug 2024 22:01:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair to kick off the second hour, and he shares what he would do if he were president of the Blue Jays (1:23). Then, he discusses how he evaluates executives, the likelihood of a Vladdy Jr. extension this offseason and what's behind the Brewers' miraculous 2024 season. Later, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (28:29) reflects on his time at the Paris Olympics before weighing in on the possibility that the Jays move Vladdy to third base more regularly, how Schneider handles the rotation down the stretch and why Loperfido has struggled in his Jays tenure so far.

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.

]]> Future Plans + Catching Up with Dan Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:48 Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair to kick off the second hour, and he shares what he would do if he were president of the Blue Jays (1:23). Then, he discusses how he evaluates executives, the likelihood of a Vladdy Jr. extension this offseason and what's behind the Brewers' miraculous 2024 season. Later, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (28:29) reflects on his time at the Paris Olympics before weighing in on the possibility that the Jays move Vladdy to third base more regularly, how Schneider handles the rotation down the stretch and why Loperfido has struggled in his Jays tenure so far. 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. Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair to kick off the second hour, and he shares what he would do if he were president of the Blue Jays (1:23). Then, he discusses how he evaluates executives, the likelihood of a Vladdy Jr. extension this offseason and what's behind the Brewers' miraculous 2024 season. Later, Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (28:29) reflects on his time at the Paris Olympics before weighing in on the possibility that the Jays move Vladdy to third base more regularly, how Schneider handles the rotation down the stretch and why Loperfido has struggled in his Jays tenure so far. 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. false full c70b7d04-b7cc-4211-99d3-476f8811f874 Final Stretch Goals & Soto Sweepstakes Jeff Blair kicks off with a quick recap of the Jays' 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener before he's joined by Blue Jays Central's Madison Shipman (3:08) to discuss team goals down the stretch. She shares what to look for Berríos in his final starts, whether Vlad Jr. could make a full-time switch to third base, Will Wagner's growing role and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (25:51) looks at early favourites in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, what he might cost and what the market for Bo Bichette could look like in the offseason.

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.

]]> Tue, 20 Aug 2024 20:59:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair kicks off with a quick recap of the Jays' 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener before he's joined by Blue Jays Central's Madison Shipman (3:08) to discuss team goals down the stretch. She shares what to look for Berríos in his final starts, whether Vlad Jr. could make a full-time switch to third base, Will Wagner's growing role and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (25:51) looks at early favourites in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, what he might cost and what the market for Bo Bichette could look like in the offseason.

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.

]]> Final Stretch Goals & Soto Sweepstakes Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair kicks off with a quick recap of the Jays' 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener before he's joined by Blue Jays Central's Madison Shipman (3:08) to discuss team goals down the stretch. She shares what to look for Berríos in his final starts, whether Vlad Jr. could make a full-time switch to third base, Will Wagner's growing role and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (25:51) looks at early favourites in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, what he might cost and what the market for Bo Bichette could look like in the offseason. 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. Jeff Blair kicks off with a quick recap of the Jays' 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the series opener before he's joined by Blue Jays Central's Madison Shipman (3:08) to discuss team goals down the stretch. She shares what to look for Berríos in his final starts, whether Vlad Jr. could make a full-time switch to third base, Will Wagner's growing role and much more. Later, MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (25:51) looks at early favourites in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, what he might cost and what the market for Bo Bichette could look like in the offseason. 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. false full a25e06bd-5a1d-48f1-a134-eb2ef26fb13d Little League Vibes, Bo's Future & Where's Votto? MLB Network insider Jon Morosi checks in with Jeff Blair from Williamsport where the Little League World Series is underway (1:18). He discusses the vibes of the tournament before discussing parity around MLB, Bo Bichette trade rumours and the Jays' path to competitiveness in 2025. Later, Sportsnet.ca MLB insider Shi Davidi (30:37) weighs in on Joey Votto's absence in the Jays' series against the Reds before going in-depth on Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today, his subsequent clarification and murmurs that Bo's time in Toronto is coming to an end.

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.

]]> Mon, 19 Aug 2024 22:02:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network insider Jon Morosi checks in with Jeff Blair from Williamsport where the Little League World Series is underway (1:18). He discusses the vibes of the tournament before discussing parity around MLB, Bo Bichette trade rumours and the Jays' path to competitiveness in 2025. Later, Sportsnet.ca MLB insider Shi Davidi (30:37) weighs in on Joey Votto's absence in the Jays' series against the Reds before going in-depth on Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today, his subsequent clarification and murmurs that Bo's time in Toronto is coming to an end.

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.

]]> Little League Vibes, Bo's Future & Where's Votto? Sportsnet 00:49:18 MLB Network insider Jon Morosi checks in with Jeff Blair from Williamsport where the Little League World Series is underway (1:18). He discusses the vibes of the tournament before discussing parity around MLB, Bo Bichette trade rumours and the Jays' path to competitiveness in 2025. Later, Sportsnet.ca MLB insider Shi Davidi (30:37) weighs in on Joey Votto's absence in the Jays' series against the Reds before going in-depth on Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today, his subsequent clarification and murmurs that Bo's time in Toronto is coming to an end. 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 insider Jon Morosi checks in with Jeff Blair from Williamsport where the Little League World Series is underway (1:18). He discusses the vibes of the tournament before discussing parity around MLB, Bo Bichette trade rumours and the Jays' path to competitiveness in 2025. Later, Sportsnet.ca MLB insider Shi Davidi (30:37) weighs in on Joey Votto's absence in the Jays' series against the Reds before going in-depth on Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today, his subsequent clarification and murmurs that Bo's time in Toronto is coming to an end. 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. false full 622f27ce-0894-442d-b0ed-060b49f861ce Bassitt's Bitterness + Getting Ready for the Reds Jeff Blair is riding solo for the week and he kicks off with Chris Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today. To help break it down, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (12:45) discusses the team's mounting player frustration and the potential effects of Bassitt's outburst. Then, he looks back on the Jays' 1-0 win over the Cubs. Former MLB pitcher & Reds' analyst Chris Welsh (32:31) tees up Cincinnati's series in Toronto and shares what would be considered a 'successful' season for the Reds.

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.

]]> Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:03:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is riding solo for the week and he kicks off with Chris Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today. To help break it down, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (12:45) discusses the team's mounting player frustration and the potential effects of Bassitt's outburst. Then, he looks back on the Jays' 1-0 win over the Cubs. Former MLB pitcher & Reds' analyst Chris Welsh (32:31) tees up Cincinnati's series in Toronto and shares what would be considered a 'successful' season for the Reds.

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.

]]> Bassitt's Bitterness + Getting Ready for the Reds Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair is riding solo for the week and he kicks off with Chris Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today. To help break it down, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (12:45) discusses the team's mounting player frustration and the potential effects of Bassitt's outburst. Then, he looks back on the Jays' 1-0 win over the Cubs. Former MLB pitcher & Reds' analyst Chris Welsh (32:31) tees up Cincinnati's series in Toronto and shares what would be considered a 'successful' season for the Reds. 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. Jeff Blair is riding solo for the week and he kicks off with Chris Bassitt's comments on the Chris Rose Rotation today. To help break it down, Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph (12:45) discusses the team's mounting player frustration and the potential effects of Bassitt's outburst. Then, he looks back on the Jays' 1-0 win over the Cubs. Former MLB pitcher & Reds' analyst Chris Welsh (32:31) tees up Cincinnati's series in Toronto and shares what would be considered a 'successful' season for the Reds. 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. false full 9549c384-53d7-4145-b3eb-8aaf8c53b4d9 MLB Olympic Uncertainty Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by emptying out the Back Leg Line and answering your burning Blue Jays questions! Then, former MLB catcher and Team USA manager at the Tokyo Olympics Mike Scioscia (30:33) discusses the chances of MLB players being involved in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He gets into potential hurdles, the feasibility of a mid-season Olympic break, middle-ground solutions and the difference between managing a national team vs. managing in MLB.

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.

]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2024 22:05:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by emptying out the Back Leg Line and answering your burning Blue Jays questions! Then, former MLB catcher and Team USA manager at the Tokyo Olympics Mike Scioscia (30:33) discusses the chances of MLB players being involved in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He gets into potential hurdles, the feasibility of a mid-season Olympic break, middle-ground solutions and the difference between managing a national team vs. managing in MLB.

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 Olympic Uncertainty Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by emptying out the Back Leg Line and answering your burning Blue Jays questions! Then, former MLB catcher and Team USA manager at the Tokyo Olympics Mike Scioscia (30:33) discusses the chances of MLB players being involved in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He gets into potential hurdles, the feasibility of a mid-season Olympic break, middle-ground solutions and the difference between managing a national team vs. managing in MLB. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour by emptying out the Back Leg Line and answering your burning Blue Jays questions! Then, former MLB catcher and Team USA manager at the Tokyo Olympics Mike Scioscia (30:33) discusses the chances of MLB players being involved in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He gets into potential hurdles, the feasibility of a mid-season Olympic break, middle-ground solutions and the difference between managing a national team vs. managing in MLB. 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. false full 9685ca95-2df7-4d8e-8c18-ab37b42330dc Brooms in Anaheim, Blair Returns, and Bobby V Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the finale of the Blue Jays’ 9-2 win over the Angels to complete the three-game sweep and discuss Alejandro Kirk’s increased workload since the Danny Jansen trade, his recent play, and what they need to see from him in the final six weeks of the season. Longtime MLB manager and current Angels analyst Bobby Valentine (28:25) shares him impressions of the Jays; notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and what it takes to survive managing in New York.

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.

]]> Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:38:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the finale of the Blue Jays’ 9-2 win over the Angels to complete the three-game sweep and discuss Alejandro Kirk’s increased workload since the Danny Jansen trade, his recent play, and what they need to see from him in the final six weeks of the season. Longtime MLB manager and current Angels analyst Bobby Valentine (28:25) shares him impressions of the Jays; notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and what it takes to survive managing in New York.

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.

]]> Brooms in Anaheim, Blair Returns, and Bobby V Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the finale of the Blue Jays’ 9-2 win over the Angels to complete the three-game sweep and discuss Alejandro Kirk’s increased workload since the Danny Jansen trade, his recent play, and what they need to see from him in the final six weeks of the season. Longtime MLB manager and current Angels analyst Bobby Valentine (28:25) shares him impressions of the Jays; notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and what it takes to survive managing in New York. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the finale of the Blue Jays’ 9-2 win over the Angels to complete the three-game sweep and discuss Alejandro Kirk’s increased workload since the Danny Jansen trade, his recent play, and what they need to see from him in the final six weeks of the season. Longtime MLB manager and current Angels analyst Bobby Valentine (28:25) shares him impressions of the Jays; notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and what it takes to survive managing in New York. 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. false full d588e5d6-fafb-4c55-8a08-bfbed819f423 Future on the Field with John Schneider Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:32) to give a state of affairs amidst the team's series against the Angels. The skipper shares an update on Bichette and Romano's status, long-term plans for the deadline additions, what's changed for Vladdy during his prolonged hot stretch and much more. Later, Ben and Kevin go around MLB with ESPN insider Jeff Passan (27:23) - Kikuchi's stellar start in Houston, price tags & markets for upcoming big-name free agents and which teams' post-All-Star trends - good and bad - he believes in most.

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.

]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2024 22:05:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:32) to give a state of affairs amidst the team's series against the Angels. The skipper shares an update on Bichette and Romano's status, long-term plans for the deadline additions, what's changed for Vladdy during his prolonged hot stretch and much more. Later, Ben and Kevin go around MLB with ESPN insider Jeff Passan (27:23) - Kikuchi's stellar start in Houston, price tags & markets for upcoming big-name free agents and which teams' post-All-Star trends - good and bad - he believes in most.

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.

]]> Future on the Field with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:40 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:32) to give a state of affairs amidst the team's series against the Angels. The skipper shares an update on Bichette and Romano's status, long-term plans for the deadline additions, what's changed for Vladdy during his prolonged hot stretch and much more. Later, Ben and Kevin go around MLB with ESPN insider Jeff Passan (27:23) - Kikuchi's stellar start in Houston, price tags & markets for upcoming big-name free agents and which teams' post-All-Star trends - good and bad - he believes in most. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (0:32) to give a state of affairs amidst the team's series against the Angels. The skipper shares an update on Bichette and Romano's status, long-term plans for the deadline additions, what's changed for Vladdy during his prolonged hot stretch and much more. Later, Ben and Kevin go around MLB with ESPN insider Jeff Passan (27:23) - Kikuchi's stellar start in Houston, price tags & markets for upcoming big-name free agents and which teams' post-All-Star trends - good and bad - he believes in most. 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. false full 3009b3f7-d178-4fc7-8c9c-453024e9c7ca Ump Show in Anaheim + Bret Boone Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 6-1 win over the Angels, specifically George Springer getting thrown out of the game after it appeared he was hit by a pitch. 14-Year MLB veteran and podcast host Bret Boone (28:05) chimes-in on the Springer incident, Jazz Chisholm’s injury, who needs to step up for the Yankees other than Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, and the wild card races in both the American and National League.

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.

]]> Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:08:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 6-1 win over the Angels, specifically George Springer getting thrown out of the game after it appeared he was hit by a pitch. 14-Year MLB veteran and podcast host Bret Boone (28:05) chimes-in on the Springer incident, Jazz Chisholm’s injury, who needs to step up for the Yankees other than Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, and the wild card races in both the American and National League.

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.

]]> Ump Show in Anaheim + Bret Boone Sportsnet 00:49:53 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 6-1 win over the Angels, specifically George Springer getting thrown out of the game after it appeared he was hit by a pitch. 14-Year MLB veteran and podcast host Bret Boone (28:05) chimes-in on the Springer incident, Jazz Chisholm’s injury, who needs to step up for the Yankees other than Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, and the wild card races in both the American and National League. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 6-1 win over the Angels, specifically George Springer getting thrown out of the game after it appeared he was hit by a pitch. 14-Year MLB veteran and podcast host Bret Boone (28:05) chimes-in on the Springer incident, Jazz Chisholm’s injury, who needs to step up for the Yankees other than Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, and the wild card races in both the American and National League. 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. false full c3a7ed4c-118f-4ecb-9c32-3e63fad81dd6 Current Affairs in California Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (1:26) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker from Anaheim to break down Toronto's 4-2 win over the Angels yesterday. He gets into Bowden Francis' 7-inning statement, Zach Pop running out of time to prove himself, Will Wagner's impressive debut and more. Later, Angels analyst Mark Gubicza (30:17) helps tee up the rest of the series, discusses the Angels' identity without Trout and shares how far away they are from being competitive.

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.

]]> Tue, 13 Aug 2024 22:03:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (1:26) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker from Anaheim to break down Toronto's 4-2 win over the Angels yesterday. He gets into Bowden Francis' 7-inning statement, Zach Pop running out of time to prove himself, Will Wagner's impressive debut and more. Later, Angels analyst Mark Gubicza (30:17) helps tee up the rest of the series, discusses the Angels' identity without Trout and shares how far away they are from being competitive.

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.

]]> Current Affairs in California Sportsnet 00:49:22 Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (1:26) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker from Anaheim to break down Toronto's 4-2 win over the Angels yesterday. He gets into Bowden Francis' 7-inning statement, Zach Pop running out of time to prove himself, Will Wagner's impressive debut and more. Later, Angels analyst Mark Gubicza (30:17) helps tee up the rest of the series, discusses the Angels' identity without Trout and shares how far away they are from being competitive. 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. Jays analyst Caleb Joseph (1:26) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker from Anaheim to break down Toronto's 4-2 win over the Angels yesterday. He gets into Bowden Francis' 7-inning statement, Zach Pop running out of time to prove himself, Will Wagner's impressive debut and more. Later, Angels analyst Mark Gubicza (30:17) helps tee up the rest of the series, discusses the Angels' identity without Trout and shares how far away they are from being competitive. 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. false full 7a2b57c6-4f32-4db8-b121-a4cb9492e8ec Billy The Kid’s Son Will Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 4-2 win in Anaheim, notably Will Wagner’s three-hit game in his debut and Bowden Francis pitching seven strong innings. Billy Wagner (18:35) re-joins the show to discuss Will’s big game and making the cross-country trip to witness his debut live with his family. ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian (29:05) discusses the latest news and notes around the majors including the Yankees blowout loss to the lowly White Sox and the parity among all of the teams fighting for spots in the postseason. 

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.

]]> Tue, 13 Aug 2024 21:29:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 4-2 win in Anaheim, notably Will Wagner’s three-hit game in his debut and Bowden Francis pitching seven strong innings. Billy Wagner (18:35) re-joins the show to discuss Will’s big game and making the cross-country trip to witness his debut live with his family. ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian (29:05) discusses the latest news and notes around the majors including the Yankees blowout loss to the lowly White Sox and the parity among all of the teams fighting for spots in the postseason. 

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.

]]> Billy The Kid’s Son Will Sportsnet 00:50:24 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 4-2 win in Anaheim, notably Will Wagner’s three-hit game in his debut and Bowden Francis pitching seven strong innings. Billy Wagner (18:35) re-joins the show to discuss Will’s big game and making the cross-country trip to witness his debut live with his family. ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian (29:05) discusses the latest news and notes around the majors including the Yankees blowout loss to the lowly White Sox and the parity among all of the teams fighting for spots in the postseason. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 4-2 win in Anaheim, notably Will Wagner’s three-hit game in his debut and Bowden Francis pitching seven strong innings. Billy Wagner (18:35) re-joins the show to discuss Will’s big game and making the cross-country trip to witness his debut live with his family. ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian (29:05) discusses the latest news and notes around the majors including the Yankees blowout loss to the lowly White Sox and the parity among all of the teams fighting for spots in the postseason. 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. false full 95b7b623-34a2-4d35-8c5e-3b1d468547e6 Olympic Baseball & Auditions in Anaheim Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker start the second hour by reacting to the Blue Jays calling up Will Wagner from Triple-A. Jayson Stark of The Athletic reflects on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s hitting streak ending at 22 games and why hitting streaks are becoming more rare and less appreciated (1:24). Then, he weighs in on the Yankees and Aaron Judge's intentional-walk issues, Mike Trout's legacy, baseball at the Olympics and more. Finally, Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (28:33) helps tee up the team's 3-game series against the Angels getting started tonight and shares what Will Wagner brings to the lineup.

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.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2024 22:01:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker start the second hour by reacting to the Blue Jays calling up Will Wagner from Triple-A. Jayson Stark of The Athletic reflects on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s hitting streak ending at 22 games and why hitting streaks are becoming more rare and less appreciated (1:24). Then, he weighs in on the Yankees and Aaron Judge's intentional-walk issues, Mike Trout's legacy, baseball at the Olympics and more. Finally, Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (28:33) helps tee up the team's 3-game series against the Angels getting started tonight and shares what Will Wagner brings to the lineup.

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.

]]> Olympic Baseball & Auditions in Anaheim Sportsnet 00:49:40 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker start the second hour by reacting to the Blue Jays calling up Will Wagner from Triple-A. Jayson Stark of The Athletic reflects on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s hitting streak ending at 22 games and why hitting streaks are becoming more rare and less appreciated (1:24). Then, he weighs in on the Yankees and Aaron Judge's intentional-walk issues, Mike Trout's legacy, baseball at the Olympics and more. Finally, Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (28:33) helps tee up the team's 3-game series against the Angels getting started tonight and shares what Will Wagner brings to the lineup. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker start the second hour by reacting to the Blue Jays calling up Will Wagner from Triple-A. Jayson Stark of The Athletic reflects on Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s hitting streak ending at 22 games and why hitting streaks are becoming more rare and less appreciated (1:24). Then, he weighs in on the Yankees and Aaron Judge's intentional-walk issues, Mike Trout's legacy, baseball at the Olympics and more. Finally, Blue Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (28:33) helps tee up the team's 3-game series against the Angels getting started tonight and shares what Will Wagner brings to the lineup. 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. false full 0c89cf79-03a7-44d4-b6c6-a9039442f1e3 Jays Drop Two to the A’s + Jim Duquette Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series loss to the Oakland A’s – notably Chris Bassitt’s performance and post-game comments after the series finale. MLB Network Radio analyst and longtime GM executive Jim Duquette (29:58) shares his thoughts on what Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s next contract will look like, if he’d like to see Bo Bichette return to the lineup  if he were a rival GM looking to trade for him in the offseason and the NL wild card race with the Braves and Mets battling it out for the final spot. 

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.

]]> Mon, 12 Aug 2024 21:29:14 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series loss to the Oakland A’s – notably Chris Bassitt’s performance and post-game comments after the series finale. MLB Network Radio analyst and longtime GM executive Jim Duquette (29:58) shares his thoughts on what Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s next contract will look like, if he’d like to see Bo Bichette return to the lineup  if he were a rival GM looking to trade for him in the offseason and the NL wild card race with the Braves and Mets battling it out for the final spot. 

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.

]]> Jays Drop Two to the A’s + Jim Duquette Sportsnet 00:50:09 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series loss to the Oakland A’s – notably Chris Bassitt’s performance and post-game comments after the series finale. MLB Network Radio analyst and longtime GM executive Jim Duquette (29:58) shares his thoughts on what Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s next contract will look like, if he’d like to see Bo Bichette return to the lineup if he were a rival GM looking to trade for him in the offseason and the NL wild card race with the Braves and Mets battling it out for the final spot. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series loss to the Oakland A’s – notably Chris Bassitt’s performance and post-game comments after the series finale. MLB Network Radio analyst and longtime GM executive Jim Duquette (29:58) shares his thoughts on what Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s next contract will look like, if he’d like to see Bo Bichette return to the lineup if he were a rival GM looking to trade for him in the offseason and the NL wild card race with the Braves and Mets battling it out for the final spot. 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. false full 493b38d7-94d9-496e-8264-7fa547987558 Jays-A's Preview & Jeff Passan ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:39) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker to amend his previous prediction of what a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension might look like and how the baseball world views the Jays front office. Then, he shares possible reasons for the Braves' sudden skid, which AL East contender he's most confident in and his Mount Rushmore of MLB position players right now. Athletics TV analyst Dallas Braden (28:14) helps tee up Oakland's weekend series against the Jays in Toronto and discusses how the organization is preparing for their move to Vegas.

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.

]]> Fri, 9 Aug 2024 22:02:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:39) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker to amend his previous prediction of what a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension might look like and how the baseball world views the Jays front office. Then, he shares possible reasons for the Braves' sudden skid, which AL East contender he's most confident in and his Mount Rushmore of MLB position players right now. Athletics TV analyst Dallas Braden (28:14) helps tee up Oakland's weekend series against the Jays in Toronto and discusses how the organization is preparing for their move to Vegas.

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.

]]> Jays-A's Preview & Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:54 ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:39) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker to amend his previous prediction of what a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension might look like and how the baseball world views the Jays front office. Then, he shares possible reasons for the Braves' sudden skid, which AL East contender he's most confident in and his Mount Rushmore of MLB position players right now. Athletics TV analyst Dallas Braden (28:14) helps tee up Oakland's weekend series against the Jays in Toronto and discusses how the organization is preparing for their move to Vegas. 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. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:39) joins Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker to amend his previous prediction of what a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension might look like and how the baseball world views the Jays front office. Then, he shares possible reasons for the Braves' sudden skid, which AL East contender he's most confident in and his Mount Rushmore of MLB position players right now. Athletics TV analyst Dallas Braden (28:14) helps tee up Oakland's weekend series against the Jays in Toronto and discusses how the organization is preparing for their move to Vegas. 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. false full 10fbc546-19ba-47fc-b6e5-af16dbe00e6e Vlad Jr’s Dominance Continues Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series win over the Orioles where Kevin Gausman went eight innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his dominance at the plate as he ended up being a single short of the cycle. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (28:46) joins the guys to discuss what a potential contract extension would look like for Vlad and the Blue Jays need to spend in the offseason as a penalty for not being able to develop enough players that can make an impact at the major-league level.

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.

]]> Fri, 9 Aug 2024 21:38:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series win over the Orioles where Kevin Gausman went eight innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his dominance at the plate as he ended up being a single short of the cycle. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (28:46) joins the guys to discuss what a potential contract extension would look like for Vlad and the Blue Jays need to spend in the offseason as a penalty for not being able to develop enough players that can make an impact at the major-league level.

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.

]]> Vlad Jr’s Dominance Continues Sportsnet 00:49:50 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series win over the Orioles where Kevin Gausman went eight innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his dominance at the plate as he ended up being a single short of the cycle. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (28:46) joins the guys to discuss what a potential contract extension would look like for Vlad and the Blue Jays need to spend in the offseason as a penalty for not being able to develop enough players that can make an impact at the major-league level. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays series win over the Orioles where Kevin Gausman went eight innings and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his dominance at the plate as he ended up being a single short of the cycle. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (28:46) joins the guys to discuss what a potential contract extension would look like for Vlad and the Blue Jays need to spend in the offseason as a penalty for not being able to develop enough players that can make an impact at the major-league level. 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. false full 109791e6-3f8f-46ef-9454-f5d04fc4cd2f The Orioles' Ceiling & ChiSox Choose Sizemore Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by MASN Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (0:29) to help tee up the the rubber match of the AL East's Battle of the Birds tonight. He discusses how agressive Baltimore will be in resigning Anthony Santander, Jackson Holliday's development and more. Ben and Kevin take a look at the playoff landscape in both leagues before reviewing John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, MLB Network's Jensen Lewis (27:58) weighs in on Pedro Grifol's dismissal in Chicago and shares what his former teammate, Grady Sizemore, brings to the White Sox dugout in the interim manager role. Finally, Jensen shares his view of the Jays, the class of the NL and the AL MVP race.

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.

]]> Thu, 8 Aug 2024 22:03:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by MASN Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (0:29) to help tee up the the rubber match of the AL East's Battle of the Birds tonight. He discusses how agressive Baltimore will be in resigning Anthony Santander, Jackson Holliday's development and more. Ben and Kevin take a look at the playoff landscape in both leagues before reviewing John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, MLB Network's Jensen Lewis (27:58) weighs in on Pedro Grifol's dismissal in Chicago and shares what his former teammate, Grady Sizemore, brings to the White Sox dugout in the interim manager role. Finally, Jensen shares his view of the Jays, the class of the NL and the AL MVP race.

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.

]]> The Orioles' Ceiling & ChiSox Choose Sizemore Sportsnet 00:49:45 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by MASN Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (0:29) to help tee up the the rubber match of the AL East's Battle of the Birds tonight. He discusses how agressive Baltimore will be in resigning Anthony Santander, Jackson Holliday's development and more. Ben and Kevin take a look at the playoff landscape in both leagues before reviewing John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, MLB Network's Jensen Lewis (27:58) weighs in on Pedro Grifol's dismissal in Chicago and shares what his former teammate, Grady Sizemore, brings to the White Sox dugout in the interim manager role. Finally, Jensen shares his view of the Jays, the class of the NL and the AL MVP race. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker are joined by MASN Orioles analyst Ben McDonald (0:29) to help tee up the the rubber match of the AL East's Battle of the Birds tonight. He discusses how agressive Baltimore will be in resigning Anthony Santander, Jackson Holliday's development and more. Ben and Kevin take a look at the playoff landscape in both leagues before reviewing John Schneider's pre-game availability. Later, MLB Network's Jensen Lewis (27:58) weighs in on Pedro Grifol's dismissal in Chicago and shares what his former teammate, Grady Sizemore, brings to the White Sox dugout in the interim manager role. Finally, Jensen shares his view of the Jays, the class of the NL and the AL MVP race. 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. false full fe17081a-8085-42b6-ad10-89530d5fc675 Buck Showalter Joins the Show! Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker examine Toronto’s 7-3 loss to the Orioles before reacting to comments made by MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa on the state of the Blue Jays. Four-time manager of the year and current MLB Network analyst Buck Showalter (28:35) discusses the White Sox moving on from manager Pedro Grifol, his views on the Jays, the Yankees and Orioles battling it out for the AL East division crown and how Aaron Boone should handle teams intentionally walking superstar Aaron Judge.

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.

]]> Thu, 8 Aug 2024 21:17:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker examine Toronto’s 7-3 loss to the Orioles before reacting to comments made by MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa on the state of the Blue Jays. Four-time manager of the year and current MLB Network analyst Buck Showalter (28:35) discusses the White Sox moving on from manager Pedro Grifol, his views on the Jays, the Yankees and Orioles battling it out for the AL East division crown and how Aaron Boone should handle teams intentionally walking superstar Aaron Judge.

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.

]]> Buck Showalter Joins the Show! Sportsnet 00:49:57 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker examine Toronto’s 7-3 loss to the Orioles before reacting to comments made by MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa on the state of the Blue Jays. Four-time manager of the year and current MLB Network analyst Buck Showalter (28:35) discusses the White Sox moving on from manager Pedro Grifol, his views on the Jays, the Yankees and Orioles battling it out for the AL East division crown and how Aaron Boone should handle teams intentionally walking superstar Aaron Judge. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker examine Toronto’s 7-3 loss to the Orioles before reacting to comments made by MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa on the state of the Blue Jays. Four-time manager of the year and current MLB Network analyst Buck Showalter (28:35) discusses the White Sox moving on from manager Pedro Grifol, his views on the Jays, the Yankees and Orioles battling it out for the AL East division crown and how Aaron Boone should handle teams intentionally walking superstar Aaron Judge. 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. false full 15fb1c7f-43ff-4672-b66d-4fa8fac7c770 Making Sense of Shapiro & Starting Catcher Checklist Ben Ennis, filling in for Jeff Blair, and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (1:03) to help break down Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro's media availability today. He shares his initial takeaways, possible offseason priorities, Shapiro's contract situation and how it limits the Jays' free-agent spending options. Former catcher & MLB Network's Chris Gimenez (29:09) discusses how the catcher position has evolved since his playing days, Alejandro Kirk's 2025 outlook and the next steps for the White Sox after snapping their 21-game losing streak.

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.

]]> Wed, 7 Aug 2024 22:02:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis, filling in for Jeff Blair, and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (1:03) to help break down Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro's media availability today. He shares his initial takeaways, possible offseason priorities, Shapiro's contract situation and how it limits the Jays' free-agent spending options. Former catcher & MLB Network's Chris Gimenez (29:09) discusses how the catcher position has evolved since his playing days, Alejandro Kirk's 2025 outlook and the next steps for the White Sox after snapping their 21-game losing streak.

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.

]]> Making Sense of Shapiro & Starting Catcher Checklist Sportsnet 00:49:25 Ben Ennis, filling in for Jeff Blair, and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (1:03) to help break down Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro's media availability today. He shares his initial takeaways, possible offseason priorities, Shapiro's contract situation and how it limits the Jays' free-agent spending options. Former catcher & MLB Network's Chris Gimenez (29:09) discusses how the catcher position has evolved since his playing days, Alejandro Kirk's 2025 outlook and the next steps for the White Sox after snapping their 21-game losing streak. 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. Ben Ennis, filling in for Jeff Blair, and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (1:03) to help break down Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro's media availability today. He shares his initial takeaways, possible offseason priorities, Shapiro's contract situation and how it limits the Jays' free-agent spending options. Former catcher & MLB Network's Chris Gimenez (29:09) discusses how the catcher position has evolved since his playing days, Alejandro Kirk's 2025 outlook and the next steps for the White Sox after snapping their 21-game losing streak. 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. false full 84af889b-149b-4007-ba05-757b2622f497 Mark Shapiro Speaks Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro’s comments after he met with the media for the first time since the start of the season. Chris Rose (27:50) of Jomboy Media examines the Blue Jays difficult season and discusses if Toronto missed their best chance at signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension before touching on the Guardians lead in the AL Central, the White Sox struggles, and who he’s buying in the National League to go on a run.

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.

]]> Wed, 7 Aug 2024 21:28:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro’s comments after he met with the media for the first time since the start of the season. Chris Rose (27:50) of Jomboy Media examines the Blue Jays difficult season and discusses if Toronto missed their best chance at signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension before touching on the Guardians lead in the AL Central, the White Sox struggles, and who he’s buying in the National League to go on a run.

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.

]]> Mark Shapiro Speaks Sportsnet 00:50:15 Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro’s comments after he met with the media for the first time since the start of the season. Chris Rose (27:50) of Jomboy Media examines the Blue Jays difficult season and discusses if Toronto missed their best chance at signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension before touching on the Guardians lead in the AL Central, the White Sox struggles, and who he’s buying in the National League to go on a run. 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. Ben Ennis and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro’s comments after he met with the media for the first time since the start of the season. Chris Rose (27:50) of Jomboy Media examines the Blue Jays difficult season and discusses if Toronto missed their best chance at signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to a contract extension before touching on the Guardians lead in the AL Central, the White Sox struggles, and who he’s buying in the National League to go on a run. 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. false full caf30d81-04ba-4199-ad95-82a3de3de369 Stretch Run Strategies & Jays-Orioles Preview Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:31) to discuss the team's biggest challenges down the stretch. He gets into the plan for the 'Big 3' starters, position players who can make a big impression on their future roles, the outlook for the bullpen and the team's long-term plans at catcher. MASN Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko (30:11) tees up the O's-Jays series getting kicked off in Toronto tonight, how Baltimore's deadline additions can raise the team's ceiling, Jackson Holliday's growing role and more.

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.

]]> Tue, 6 Aug 2024 22:02:20 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:31) to discuss the team's biggest challenges down the stretch. He gets into the plan for the 'Big 3' starters, position players who can make a big impression on their future roles, the outlook for the bullpen and the team's long-term plans at catcher. MASN Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko (30:11) tees up the O's-Jays series getting kicked off in Toronto tonight, how Baltimore's deadline additions can raise the team's ceiling, Jackson Holliday's growing role and more.

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.

]]> Stretch Run Strategies & Jays-Orioles Preview Sportsnet 00:49:59 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:31) to discuss the team's biggest challenges down the stretch. He gets into the plan for the 'Big 3' starters, position players who can make a big impression on their future roles, the outlook for the bullpen and the team's long-term plans at catcher. MASN Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko (30:11) tees up the O's-Jays series getting kicked off in Toronto tonight, how Baltimore's deadline additions can raise the team's ceiling, Jackson Holliday's growing role and more. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Jays TV analyst Buck Martinez (2:31) to discuss the team's biggest challenges down the stretch. He gets into the plan for the 'Big 3' starters, position players who can make a big impression on their future roles, the outlook for the bullpen and the team's long-term plans at catcher. MASN Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko (30:11) tees up the O's-Jays series getting kicked off in Toronto tonight, how Baltimore's deadline additions can raise the team's ceiling, Jackson Holliday's growing role and more. 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. false full ed1f63db-de8b-4254-9a80-b6e375f37dbe Another White Sox Loss & Ryan Dempster Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show discussing Joey Votto and when he’ll be making his Blue Jays debut. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (12:50) discusses the White Sox amidst their epic losing streak after they tied the American League record with their 21st consecutive loss. Ryan Dempster (27:18) of MLB Network’s Intentional Talk catches up with the guys and discusses how the Blue Jays should handle their veteran starters down the stretch.

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.

]]> Tue, 6 Aug 2024 21:42:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show discussing Joey Votto and when he’ll be making his Blue Jays debut. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (12:50) discusses the White Sox amidst their epic losing streak after they tied the American League record with their 21st consecutive loss. Ryan Dempster (27:18) of MLB Network’s Intentional Talk catches up with the guys and discusses how the Blue Jays should handle their veteran starters down the stretch.

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.

]]> Another White Sox Loss & Ryan Dempster Sportsnet 00:50:03 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show discussing Joey Votto and when he’ll be making his Blue Jays debut. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (12:50) discusses the White Sox amidst their epic losing streak after they tied the American League record with their 21st consecutive loss. Ryan Dempster (27:18) of MLB Network’s Intentional Talk catches up with the guys and discusses how the Blue Jays should handle their veteran starters down the stretch. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show discussing Joey Votto and when he’ll be making his Blue Jays debut. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (12:50) discusses the White Sox amidst their epic losing streak after they tied the American League record with their 21st consecutive loss. Ryan Dempster (27:18) of MLB Network’s Intentional Talk catches up with the guys and discusses how the Blue Jays should handle their veteran starters down the stretch. 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. false full bf44600e-607d-42f6-9d91-d4f79130c265 The Evolution of Canadian Women's Baseball Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (1:06) to break down the Blue Jays' weekend series loss against the Yankees. He gets into the team's decision to pull Yariel Rodríguez early in his last start, how the Jays can stay motivated on the outside of the playoff race and players that we need to learn more about down the stretch. Later, Canadian Women's baseball team shortstop Mia Valcke (27:52) reflects on her bronze-medal run at the 2024 WBSC Women's World Cup and the evolution of women's baseball in Canada.

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.

]]> Mon, 5 Aug 2024 22:08:07 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (1:06) to break down the Blue Jays' weekend series loss against the Yankees. He gets into the team's decision to pull Yariel Rodríguez early in his last start, how the Jays can stay motivated on the outside of the playoff race and players that we need to learn more about down the stretch. Later, Canadian Women's baseball team shortstop Mia Valcke (27:52) reflects on her bronze-medal run at the 2024 WBSC Women's World Cup and the evolution of women's baseball in Canada.

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.

]]> The Evolution of Canadian Women's Baseball Sportsnet 00:49:22 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (1:06) to break down the Blue Jays' weekend series loss against the Yankees. He gets into the team's decision to pull Yariel Rodríguez early in his last start, how the Jays can stay motivated on the outside of the playoff race and players that we need to learn more about down the stretch. Later, Canadian Women's baseball team shortstop Mia Valcke (27:52) reflects on her bronze-medal run at the 2024 WBSC Women's World Cup and the evolution of women's baseball in Canada. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (1:06) to break down the Blue Jays' weekend series loss against the Yankees. He gets into the team's decision to pull Yariel Rodríguez early in his last start, how the Jays can stay motivated on the outside of the playoff race and players that we need to learn more about down the stretch. Later, Canadian Women's baseball team shortstop Mia Valcke (27:52) reflects on her bronze-medal run at the 2024 WBSC Women's World Cup and the evolution of women's baseball in Canada. 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. false full 8a448cef-4680-400f-9093-4e4b538b6aa6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr: AL Player of the Week Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' weekend in the Bronx after losing two of three to the Yankees. After the break, they react to the breaking news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being  named American League player of the week before welcoming Bill Shaikin (30:11) of the Los Angeles Times to the show. Bill examines Mike Trout’s injury setback and its impact on his Hall of Fame candidacy before looking at the Dodgers and their outlook following the trade deadline. To end the hour, Jeff and Kevin discuss the Chicago White Sox and their 20-game losing streak.

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.

]]> Mon, 5 Aug 2024 21:25:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' weekend in the Bronx after losing two of three to the Yankees. After the break, they react to the breaking news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being  named American League player of the week before welcoming Bill Shaikin (30:11) of the Los Angeles Times to the show. Bill examines Mike Trout’s injury setback and its impact on his Hall of Fame candidacy before looking at the Dodgers and their outlook following the trade deadline. To end the hour, Jeff and Kevin discuss the Chicago White Sox and their 20-game losing streak.

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.

]]> Vladimir Guerrero Jr: AL Player of the Week Sportsnet 00:49:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' weekend in the Bronx after losing two of three to the Yankees. After the break, they react to the breaking news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being named American League player of the week before welcoming Bill Shaikin (30:11) of the Los Angeles Times to the show. Bill examines Mike Trout’s injury setback and its impact on his Hall of Fame candidacy before looking at the Dodgers and their outlook following the trade deadline. To end the hour, Jeff and Kevin discuss the Chicago White Sox and their 20-game losing streak. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' weekend in the Bronx after losing two of three to the Yankees. After the break, they react to the breaking news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. being named American League player of the week before welcoming Bill Shaikin (30:11) of the Los Angeles Times to the show. Bill examines Mike Trout’s injury setback and its impact on his Hall of Fame candidacy before looking at the Dodgers and their outlook following the trade deadline. To end the hour, Jeff and Kevin discuss the Chicago White Sox and their 20-game losing streak. 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. false full 7323d3e2-7f1f-4127-9d0c-948678cea4ab Around the Bigs with Bob Nightengale & Back Leg Line! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of the Friday show by answering your questions on the Back Leg Line! Then, USA Today's Bob Nightengale (33:22) goes around the big leagues and touches on the biggest headlines coming out of the deadline, including the Padres' second-half strides, Guerrero Jr's extension situation, Mike Trout's season-ending injury and much more. To close out the week, Jeff and Kevin chat about how the Royals avoid making the same mistakes with Bobby Witt Jr. that the Angels made with Trout.

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.

]]> Fri, 2 Aug 2024 22:03:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of the Friday show by answering your questions on the Back Leg Line! Then, USA Today's Bob Nightengale (33:22) goes around the big leagues and touches on the biggest headlines coming out of the deadline, including the Padres' second-half strides, Guerrero Jr's extension situation, Mike Trout's season-ending injury and much more. To close out the week, Jeff and Kevin chat about how the Royals avoid making the same mistakes with Bobby Witt Jr. that the Angels made with Trout.

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.

]]> Around the Bigs with Bob Nightengale & Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:41 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of the Friday show by answering your questions on the Back Leg Line! Then, USA Today's Bob Nightengale (33:22) goes around the big leagues and touches on the biggest headlines coming out of the deadline, including the Padres' second-half strides, Guerrero Jr's extension situation, Mike Trout's season-ending injury and much more. To close out the week, Jeff and Kevin chat about how the Royals avoid making the same mistakes with Bobby Witt Jr. that the Angels made with Trout. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the second hour of the Friday show by answering your questions on the Back Leg Line! Then, USA Today's Bob Nightengale (33:22) goes around the big leagues and touches on the biggest headlines coming out of the deadline, including the Padres' second-half strides, Guerrero Jr's extension situation, Mike Trout's season-ending injury and much more. To close out the week, Jeff and Kevin chat about how the Royals avoid making the same mistakes with Bobby Witt Jr. that the Angels made with Trout. 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. false full aebd8139-e504-4963-b0c7-d8c64d09c9dc John Schneider Joins Post-Deadline Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (10:59) to reflect on his new-look roster following the trade deadline and what’s been behind Vladimir Guerrero’s mid-season resurgence at the plate ahead of this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees. Speaking of the Yankees, YES Network’s Jack Curry (31:03) discusses the team’s recent play and previews this weekend’s series in The Bronx.

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.

]]> Fri, 2 Aug 2024 21:15:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (10:59) to reflect on his new-look roster following the trade deadline and what’s been behind Vladimir Guerrero’s mid-season resurgence at the plate ahead of this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees. Speaking of the Yankees, YES Network’s Jack Curry (31:03) discusses the team’s recent play and previews this weekend’s series in The Bronx.

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.

]]> John Schneider Joins Post-Deadline Sportsnet 00:49:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (10:59) to reflect on his new-look roster following the trade deadline and what’s been behind Vladimir Guerrero’s mid-season resurgence at the plate ahead of this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees. Speaking of the Yankees, YES Network’s Jack Curry (31:03) discusses the team’s recent play and previews this weekend’s series in The Bronx. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (10:59) to reflect on his new-look roster following the trade deadline and what’s been behind Vladimir Guerrero’s mid-season resurgence at the plate ahead of this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees. Speaking of the Yankees, YES Network’s Jack Curry (31:03) discusses the team’s recent play and previews this weekend’s series in The Bronx. 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. false full 38bf38e9-6732-403e-9530-33a4ad56a8b3 Jays' Pitching Picture & Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux in-studio to evaluate the Jays' pitching outlook after the deadline. He shares a player's POV of 'auditioning' for a retooling team, how Yariel Rodríguez closes the season positively and Zach Pop's opportunity to earn a bigger role. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (28:22) starts with his thoughts on Mike Trout's latest injury before digging into some Jays topics. He projects what a Guerrero Jr extension might look like, Bichette's long-term future in Toronto and evaluates the Jays' return in the Kikuchi trade.

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.

]]> Thu, 1 Aug 2024 22:07:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux in-studio to evaluate the Jays' pitching outlook after the deadline. He shares a player's POV of 'auditioning' for a retooling team, how Yariel Rodríguez closes the season positively and Zach Pop's opportunity to earn a bigger role. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (28:22) starts with his thoughts on Mike Trout's latest injury before digging into some Jays topics. He projects what a Guerrero Jr extension might look like, Bichette's long-term future in Toronto and evaluates the Jays' return in the Kikuchi trade.

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.

]]> Jays' Pitching Picture & Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:43 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux in-studio to evaluate the Jays' pitching outlook after the deadline. He shares a player's POV of 'auditioning' for a retooling team, how Yariel Rodríguez closes the season positively and Zach Pop's opportunity to earn a bigger role. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (28:22) starts with his thoughts on Mike Trout's latest injury before digging into some Jays topics. He projects what a Guerrero Jr extension might look like, Bichette's long-term future in Toronto and evaluates the Jays' return in the Kikuchi trade. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux in-studio to evaluate the Jays' pitching outlook after the deadline. He shares a player's POV of 'auditioning' for a retooling team, how Yariel Rodríguez closes the season positively and Zach Pop's opportunity to earn a bigger role. ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (28:22) starts with his thoughts on Mike Trout's latest injury before digging into some Jays topics. He projects what a Guerrero Jr extension might look like, Bichette's long-term future in Toronto and evaluates the Jays' return in the Kikuchi trade. 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. false full 6e156678-6ce1-4ca8-aa08-3a5a3816051a Blair, Barker, Billy Wagner! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are with you on the off-day discussing everything Blue Jays, notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s hot stretch at the plate and the importance of assessing players over the last two months of the season in order to field the best roster in 2025. 16-Year MLB veteran and seven-time all-star Billy Wagner (27:31) joins the show to discuss his son Will’s game after coming over to the Blue Jays organization from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade.

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.

]]> Thu, 1 Aug 2024 21:19:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are with you on the off-day discussing everything Blue Jays, notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s hot stretch at the plate and the importance of assessing players over the last two months of the season in order to field the best roster in 2025. 16-Year MLB veteran and seven-time all-star Billy Wagner (27:31) joins the show to discuss his son Will’s game after coming over to the Blue Jays organization from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade.

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.

]]> Blair, Barker, Billy Wagner! Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are with you on the off-day discussing everything Blue Jays, notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s hot stretch at the plate and the importance of assessing players over the last two months of the season in order to field the best roster in 2025. 16-Year MLB veteran and seven-time all-star Billy Wagner (27:31) joins the show to discuss his son Will’s game after coming over to the Blue Jays organization from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are with you on the off-day discussing everything Blue Jays, notably Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s hot stretch at the plate and the importance of assessing players over the last two months of the season in order to field the best roster in 2025. 16-Year MLB veteran and seven-time all-star Billy Wagner (27:31) joins the show to discuss his son Will’s game after coming over to the Blue Jays organization from the Astros in the Yusei Kikuchi trade. 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. false full f58e3cf8-1b5a-4bd5-b1ef-f168603ed6f7 Deadline Reflections & Kevin Kiermaier Baseball America's JJ Cooper joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to evaluate the Blue Jays' returns from yesterday's trade deadline (2:15). He gets into prospect hit-rate and why the Jays' favouring of prospect 'proximity' can pay off in the long run. Recently traded outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (26:16) shares a player's POV of getting traded at the deadline, reflects on his time in Toronto and shares his thoughts on going from an underperforming Jays team to the World Series contending Dodgers. Then, Jeff and Kevin review some sound from GM Ross Atkins' post-deadline availability. Finally, the Athletic's Jayson Stark (52:05) shares some winners and losers from the deadline, whether the Jays should've sold more than just expiring contracts and the different dynamics at play in a potential Vladdy extension.

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.

]]> Wed, 31 Jul 2024 22:04:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Baseball America's JJ Cooper joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to evaluate the Blue Jays' returns from yesterday's trade deadline (2:15). He gets into prospect hit-rate and why the Jays' favouring of prospect 'proximity' can pay off in the long run. Recently traded outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (26:16) shares a player's POV of getting traded at the deadline, reflects on his time in Toronto and shares his thoughts on going from an underperforming Jays team to the World Series contending Dodgers. Then, Jeff and Kevin review some sound from GM Ross Atkins' post-deadline availability. Finally, the Athletic's Jayson Stark (52:05) shares some winners and losers from the deadline, whether the Jays should've sold more than just expiring contracts and the different dynamics at play in a potential Vladdy extension.

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.

]]> Deadline Reflections & Kevin Kiermaier Sportsnet 01:13:57 Baseball America's JJ Cooper joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to evaluate the Blue Jays' returns from yesterday's trade deadline (2:15). He gets into prospect hit-rate and why the Jays' favouring of prospect 'proximity' can pay off in the long run. Recently traded outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (26:16) shares a player's POV of getting traded at the deadline, reflects on his time in Toronto and shares his thoughts on going from an underperforming Jays team to the World Series contending Dodgers. Then, Jeff and Kevin review some sound from GM Ross Atkins' post-deadline availability. Finally, the Athletic's Jayson Stark (52:05) shares some winners and losers from the deadline, whether the Jays should've sold more than just expiring contracts and the different dynamics at play in a potential Vladdy extension. 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. Baseball America's JJ Cooper joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to evaluate the Blue Jays' returns from yesterday's trade deadline (2:15). He gets into prospect hit-rate and why the Jays' favouring of prospect 'proximity' can pay off in the long run. Recently traded outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (26:16) shares a player's POV of getting traded at the deadline, reflects on his time in Toronto and shares his thoughts on going from an underperforming Jays team to the World Series contending Dodgers. Then, Jeff and Kevin review some sound from GM Ross Atkins' post-deadline availability. Finally, the Athletic's Jayson Stark (52:05) shares some winners and losers from the deadline, whether the Jays should've sold more than just expiring contracts and the different dynamics at play in a potential Vladdy extension. 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. false full 4fbf9725-badd-42e6-993b-11f2f4f2ae2d Deadline Day with Samson, Joseph & Blum Approaching the official deadline, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:48) to discuss the inflated starting pitcher market, the Jays' hesitancy to 'fully' sell and whether a good deadline can save a GM's job. Then, he shares some winners from the day. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (20:57) shares his thoughts on the Jays' active deadline, reacts live to the IKF trade and discusses the team's next steps toward their goal of being competitive in 2025. As the deadline passes, Jeff and Kevin do a final roundup of Toronto's trades and the big moves around MLB before they are joined by Astros analyst Geoff Blum (57:36), who shares what the Jays are getting with their return in the Yusei Kikuchi deal - Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss & Will Wagner.

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.

]]> Tue, 30 Jul 2024 22:44:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Approaching the official deadline, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:48) to discuss the inflated starting pitcher market, the Jays' hesitancy to 'fully' sell and whether a good deadline can save a GM's job. Then, he shares some winners from the day. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (20:57) shares his thoughts on the Jays' active deadline, reacts live to the IKF trade and discusses the team's next steps toward their goal of being competitive in 2025. As the deadline passes, Jeff and Kevin do a final roundup of Toronto's trades and the big moves around MLB before they are joined by Astros analyst Geoff Blum (57:36), who shares what the Jays are getting with their return in the Yusei Kikuchi deal - Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss & Will Wagner.

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.

]]> Deadline Day with Samson, Joseph & Blum Sportsnet 01:14:47 Approaching the official deadline, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:48) to discuss the inflated starting pitcher market, the Jays' hesitancy to 'fully' sell and whether a good deadline can save a GM's job. Then, he shares some winners from the day. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (20:57) shares his thoughts on the Jays' active deadline, reacts live to the IKF trade and discusses the team's next steps toward their goal of being competitive in 2025. As the deadline passes, Jeff and Kevin do a final roundup of Toronto's trades and the big moves around MLB before they are joined by Astros analyst Geoff Blum (57:36), who shares what the Jays are getting with their return in the Yusei Kikuchi deal - Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss & Will Wagner. 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. Approaching the official deadline, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:48) to discuss the inflated starting pitcher market, the Jays' hesitancy to 'fully' sell and whether a good deadline can save a GM's job. Then, he shares some winners from the day. Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph (20:57) shares his thoughts on the Jays' active deadline, reacts live to the IKF trade and discusses the team's next steps toward their goal of being competitive in 2025. As the deadline passes, Jeff and Kevin do a final roundup of Toronto's trades and the big moves around MLB before they are joined by Astros analyst Geoff Blum (57:36), who shares what the Jays are getting with their return in the Yusei Kikuchi deal - Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss & Will Wagner. 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. false full 20a951ad-224d-4c50-868d-019ecb15c987 Deadline Day with Davidi & Morosi Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered with everything related to MLB’s trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (4:41) joins the show off the top from Baltimore to weigh-in on the Blue Jays’ moves so far and if there’s more to come today. After speaking to Shi,  the guys react to the breaking news of Jays reliever Trevor Richards being dealt to Minnesota. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (32:12) checks-in from Detroit to discuss the industry’s reaction to the Blue Jays moves so far, notably the haul they received from trading Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros. He also discusses the Tigers likely keeping Tarik Skubal, the need for them to move more pieces out like Jack Flaherty to improve their future, and what the White Sox will do with Garrett Crochet.

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.

]]> Tue, 30 Jul 2024 21:23:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered with everything related to MLB’s trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (4:41) joins the show off the top from Baltimore to weigh-in on the Blue Jays’ moves so far and if there’s more to come today. After speaking to Shi,  the guys react to the breaking news of Jays reliever Trevor Richards being dealt to Minnesota. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (32:12) checks-in from Detroit to discuss the industry’s reaction to the Blue Jays moves so far, notably the haul they received from trading Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros. He also discusses the Tigers likely keeping Tarik Skubal, the need for them to move more pieces out like Jack Flaherty to improve their future, and what the White Sox will do with Garrett Crochet.

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.

]]> Deadline Day with Davidi & Morosi Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered with everything related to MLB’s trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (4:41) joins the show off the top from Baltimore to weigh-in on the Blue Jays’ moves so far and if there’s more to come today. After speaking to Shi, the guys react to the breaking news of Jays reliever Trevor Richards being dealt to Minnesota. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (32:12) checks-in from Detroit to discuss the industry’s reaction to the Blue Jays moves so far, notably the haul they received from trading Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros. He also discusses the Tigers likely keeping Tarik Skubal, the need for them to move more pieces out like Jack Flaherty to improve their future, and what the White Sox will do with Garrett Crochet. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered with everything related to MLB’s trade deadline. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (4:41) joins the show off the top from Baltimore to weigh-in on the Blue Jays’ moves so far and if there’s more to come today. After speaking to Shi, the guys react to the breaking news of Jays reliever Trevor Richards being dealt to Minnesota. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (32:12) checks-in from Detroit to discuss the industry’s reaction to the Blue Jays moves so far, notably the haul they received from trading Yusei Kikuchi to the Astros. He also discusses the Tigers likely keeping Tarik Skubal, the need for them to move more pieces out like Jack Flaherty to improve their future, and what the White Sox will do with Garrett Crochet. 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. false full 474e7974-a5dc-44f9-a434-5c1259c525ec Crochet’s Ultimatum & Friday’s Back Leg Line Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses White Sox starter Garrett Crochet (and his agent) telling teams interested in acquiring him that he won’t pitch in the bullpen and won’t pitch in the postseason without a contract extension (1:15). Samson explains how he would handle the situation if he was in Chicago’s front office and Toronto starting Yusei Kikuchi tonight despite his name being bandied about in trade rumours. Jeff and Kevin check their voicemails one final time before the trade deadline in this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (29:00)! 

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.

]]> Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:15:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses White Sox starter Garrett Crochet (and his agent) telling teams interested in acquiring him that he won’t pitch in the bullpen and won’t pitch in the postseason without a contract extension (1:15). Samson explains how he would handle the situation if he was in Chicago’s front office and Toronto starting Yusei Kikuchi tonight despite his name being bandied about in trade rumours. Jeff and Kevin check their voicemails one final time before the trade deadline in this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (29:00)! 

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.

]]> Crochet’s Ultimatum & Friday’s Back Leg Line Sportsnet 00:49:52 Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses White Sox starter Garrett Crochet (and his agent) telling teams interested in acquiring him that he won’t pitch in the bullpen and won’t pitch in the postseason without a contract extension (1:15). Samson explains how he would handle the situation if he was in Chicago’s front office and Toronto starting Yusei Kikuchi tonight despite his name being bandied about in trade rumours. Jeff and Kevin check their voicemails one final time before the trade deadline in this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (29:00)! 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. Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses White Sox starter Garrett Crochet (and his agent) telling teams interested in acquiring him that he won’t pitch in the bullpen and won’t pitch in the postseason without a contract extension (1:15). Samson explains how he would handle the situation if he was in Chicago’s front office and Toronto starting Yusei Kikuchi tonight despite his name being bandied about in trade rumours. Jeff and Kevin check their voicemails one final time before the trade deadline in this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (29:00)! 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. baseball, mlb, toronto blue jays, blue jays false full 3e553843-85a0-4aae-952e-91fb61a219d7 Deadline Headstart & García Heads West Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to some of the early player movement ahead of the trade deadline before they look ahead to the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rangers tonight with Yusei Kikuchi making his (likely) final start for the team. Then, they evaluate the front office's season thus far and discuss what comes next after Tuesday's deadline. Later, they are joined by Ryan Divish (28:26) of the Seattle Times to help break down the Mariners' trade for Randy Arozarena and he reacts live to them acquiring Jays' reliever Yimi García for prospects Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp.

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.

]]> Fri, 26 Jul 2024 21:08:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to some of the early player movement ahead of the trade deadline before they look ahead to the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rangers tonight with Yusei Kikuchi making his (likely) final start for the team. Then, they evaluate the front office's season thus far and discuss what comes next after Tuesday's deadline. Later, they are joined by Ryan Divish (28:26) of the Seattle Times to help break down the Mariners' trade for Randy Arozarena and he reacts live to them acquiring Jays' reliever Yimi García for prospects Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp.

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.

]]> Deadline Headstart & García Heads West Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to some of the early player movement ahead of the trade deadline before they look ahead to the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rangers tonight with Yusei Kikuchi making his (likely) final start for the team. Then, they evaluate the front office's season thus far and discuss what comes next after Tuesday's deadline. Later, they are joined by Ryan Divish (28:26) of the Seattle Times to help break down the Mariners' trade for Randy Arozarena and he reacts live to them acquiring Jays' reliever Yimi García for prospects Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to some of the early player movement ahead of the trade deadline before they look ahead to the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rangers tonight with Yusei Kikuchi making his (likely) final start for the team. Then, they evaluate the front office's season thus far and discuss what comes next after Tuesday's deadline. Later, they are joined by Ryan Divish (28:26) of the Seattle Times to help break down the Mariners' trade for Randy Arozarena and he reacts live to them acquiring Jays' reliever Yimi García for prospects Jonatan Clase and Jacob Sharp. 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. false full 92cf168d-e9a1-49bf-a1dc-9a0e07b57315 AL Landscape & Kiermaier Calling It a Career MLB Network host and Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (1:13) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Red Sox extending manager Alex Cora, the Jays' disappointing season, how aggressive the Orioles get at the deadline and AL teams that could make a splash on July 30. Later, Rays reporter Marc Topkin (27:43) reflects on Kevin Kiermaier's career as he reports the veteran outfielder will retire at the end of this season. Finally, he looks ahead to the rest of the Rays series against the Blue Jays and whether Yandy Díaz's status impacts where they go at the deadline.

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.

]]> Wed, 24 Jul 2024 22:07:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ MLB Network host and Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (1:13) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Red Sox extending manager Alex Cora, the Jays' disappointing season, how aggressive the Orioles get at the deadline and AL teams that could make a splash on July 30. Later, Rays reporter Marc Topkin (27:43) reflects on Kevin Kiermaier's career as he reports the veteran outfielder will retire at the end of this season. Finally, he looks ahead to the rest of the Rays series against the Blue Jays and whether Yandy Díaz's status impacts where they go at the deadline.

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.

]]> AL Landscape & Kiermaier Calling It a Career Sportsnet 00:49:50 MLB Network host and Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (1:13) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Red Sox extending manager Alex Cora, the Jays' disappointing season, how aggressive the Orioles get at the deadline and AL teams that could make a splash on July 30. Later, Rays reporter Marc Topkin (27:43) reflects on Kevin Kiermaier's career as he reports the veteran outfielder will retire at the end of this season. Finally, he looks ahead to the rest of the Rays series against the Blue Jays and whether Yandy Díaz's status impacts where they go at the deadline. 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 host and Guardians analyst Jensen Lewis (1:13) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Red Sox extending manager Alex Cora, the Jays' disappointing season, how aggressive the Orioles get at the deadline and AL teams that could make a splash on July 30. Later, Rays reporter Marc Topkin (27:43) reflects on Kevin Kiermaier's career as he reports the veteran outfielder will retire at the end of this season. Finally, he looks ahead to the rest of the Rays series against the Blue Jays and whether Yandy Díaz's status impacts where they go at the deadline. 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. false full d27f1181-0ebf-40fe-aa40-b8f57f77bb19 Jays, Rays, and Six Days ‘til the Deadline Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker assess the Blue Jays’ 4-2 loss to the Rays in game one of their series; notably Jose Berrios’ performance where he lasted 4.2 innings and walked six Tampa Bay hitters. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (29:08) looks ahead to Yariel Rodriguez’s upcoming start, his work with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate, and what he’s seen out of Leo Jimenez since his promotion to the big leagues.  To end the hour, Jeff & Kevin discuss Toronto’s top pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann and the second and third medical opinions he’s receiving on his arm.

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.

]]> Wed, 24 Jul 2024 21:19:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker assess the Blue Jays’ 4-2 loss to the Rays in game one of their series; notably Jose Berrios’ performance where he lasted 4.2 innings and walked six Tampa Bay hitters. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (29:08) looks ahead to Yariel Rodriguez’s upcoming start, his work with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate, and what he’s seen out of Leo Jimenez since his promotion to the big leagues.  To end the hour, Jeff & Kevin discuss Toronto’s top pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann and the second and third medical opinions he’s receiving on his arm.

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.

]]> Jays, Rays, and Six Days ‘til the Deadline Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker assess the Blue Jays’ 4-2 loss to the Rays in game one of their series; notably Jose Berrios’ performance where he lasted 4.2 innings and walked six Tampa Bay hitters. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (29:08) looks ahead to Yariel Rodriguez’s upcoming start, his work with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate, and what he’s seen out of Leo Jimenez since his promotion to the big leagues. To end the hour, Jeff & Kevin discuss Toronto’s top pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann and the second and third medical opinions he’s receiving on his arm. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker assess the Blue Jays’ 4-2 loss to the Rays in game one of their series; notably Jose Berrios’ performance where he lasted 4.2 innings and walked six Tampa Bay hitters. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (29:08) looks ahead to Yariel Rodriguez’s upcoming start, his work with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate, and what he’s seen out of Leo Jimenez since his promotion to the big leagues. To end the hour, Jeff & Kevin discuss Toronto’s top pitching prospect Ricky Tiedemann and the second and third medical opinions he’s receiving on his arm. 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. false full f0ff1e2b-53ab-4f30-85e6-f78e776e4954 In-Depth Deadline Preview with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:45) to get into detail on his new article previewing the 2024 trade deadline a week away. He discusses the Blue Jays 'subtracting, but not completely,' what type of return they'll look for in trades and Bo/Vlad's long-term futures in Toronto. Then, around MLB, he weighs in on fringe teams that could make a splash, the Braves' & Phillies' arms race and the AL MVP race. Later, Ben Shulman (31:27) helps tee up the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rays tonight, what to expect from José Berríos and how they'll approach workloads for players likely to be traded.

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Jul 2024 22:13:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:45) to get into detail on his new article previewing the 2024 trade deadline a week away. He discusses the Blue Jays 'subtracting, but not completely,' what type of return they'll look for in trades and Bo/Vlad's long-term futures in Toronto. Then, around MLB, he weighs in on fringe teams that could make a splash, the Braves' & Phillies' arms race and the AL MVP race. Later, Ben Shulman (31:27) helps tee up the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rays tonight, what to expect from José Berríos and how they'll approach workloads for players likely to be traded.

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.

]]> In-Depth Deadline Preview with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:45) to get into detail on his new article previewing the 2024 trade deadline a week away. He discusses the Blue Jays 'subtracting, but not completely,' what type of return they'll look for in trades and Bo/Vlad's long-term futures in Toronto. Then, around MLB, he weighs in on fringe teams that could make a splash, the Braves' & Phillies' arms race and the AL MVP race. Later, Ben Shulman (31:27) helps tee up the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rays tonight, what to expect from José Berríos and how they'll approach workloads for players likely to be traded. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:45) to get into detail on his new article previewing the 2024 trade deadline a week away. He discusses the Blue Jays 'subtracting, but not completely,' what type of return they'll look for in trades and Bo/Vlad's long-term futures in Toronto. Then, around MLB, he weighs in on fringe teams that could make a splash, the Braves' & Phillies' arms race and the AL MVP race. Later, Ben Shulman (31:27) helps tee up the Blue Jays' series opener against the Rays tonight, what to expect from José Berríos and how they'll approach workloads for players likely to be traded. 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. false full 8a0de9de-9e2d-4471-8618-8199d1ecb74d Deadline Discussion & Rays-Jays Preview with BA Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show assessing the Blue Jays' potential moves with the trade deadline one week away; notably why it makes more sense to trade Bo Bichette in the offseason if that’s the route the front office wants to take. Rays TV analyst and friend of the show Brian Anderson (28:00) previews the latest Tampa Bay-Toronto series at Rogers Centre and discusses the talent of starting pitcher Taj Bradley.

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Jul 2024 21:16:46 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show assessing the Blue Jays' potential moves with the trade deadline one week away; notably why it makes more sense to trade Bo Bichette in the offseason if that’s the route the front office wants to take. Rays TV analyst and friend of the show Brian Anderson (28:00) previews the latest Tampa Bay-Toronto series at Rogers Centre and discusses the talent of starting pitcher Taj Bradley.

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.

]]> Deadline Discussion & Rays-Jays Preview with BA Sportsnet 00:49:59 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show assessing the Blue Jays' potential moves with the trade deadline one week away; notably why it makes more sense to trade Bo Bichette in the offseason if that’s the route the front office wants to take. Rays TV analyst and friend of the show Brian Anderson (28:00) previews the latest Tampa Bay-Toronto series at Rogers Centre and discusses the talent of starting pitcher Taj Bradley. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show assessing the Blue Jays' potential moves with the trade deadline one week away; notably why it makes more sense to trade Bo Bichette in the offseason if that’s the route the front office wants to take. Rays TV analyst and friend of the show Brian Anderson (28:00) previews the latest Tampa Bay-Toronto series at Rogers Centre and discusses the talent of starting pitcher Taj Bradley. 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. false full fc88024d-688d-444e-bea8-ddbe27550da7 Path to the Trade Deadline Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (3:33) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share how the Jays are approaching the upcoming MLB trade deadline. He digs into pitcher/hitter markets across the majors, the Jays' trade assets and what sort of market they could generate for players on expiring contracts. Later, MLB host & analyst Ryan Spilborghs (40:26) weighs in on the Blue Jays' roster flaws, their outlook for the 2025 season and the clubhouse vibes ahead of the deadline.

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.

]]> Mon, 22 Jul 2024 22:01:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (3:33) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share how the Jays are approaching the upcoming MLB trade deadline. He digs into pitcher/hitter markets across the majors, the Jays' trade assets and what sort of market they could generate for players on expiring contracts. Later, MLB host & analyst Ryan Spilborghs (40:26) weighs in on the Blue Jays' roster flaws, their outlook for the 2025 season and the clubhouse vibes ahead of the deadline.

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.

]]> Path to the Trade Deadline Sportsnet 00:49:54 Sportsnet's MLB insider Shi Davidi (3:33) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share how the Jays are approaching the upcoming MLB trade deadline. He digs into pitcher/hitter markets across the majors, the Jays' trade assets and what sort of market they could generate for players on expiring contracts. Later, MLB host & analyst Ryan Spilborghs (40:26) weighs in on the Blue Jays' roster flaws, their outlook for the 2025 season and the clubhouse vibes ahead of the deadline. 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 MLB insider Shi Davidi (3:33) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share how the Jays are approaching the upcoming MLB trade deadline. He digs into pitcher/hitter markets across the majors, the Jays' trade assets and what sort of market they could generate for players on expiring contracts. Later, MLB host & analyst Ryan Spilborghs (40:26) weighs in on the Blue Jays' roster flaws, their outlook for the 2025 season and the clubhouse vibes ahead of the deadline. 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. false full b64f5ffc-475d-4f8f-af3c-5e2a98af6fee Tigers Take Two as the Deadline Looms… Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays losing two of three against the Tigers and the types of trades the Blue Jays could make before next week’s deadline citing how the front office has operated in years past. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (16:31) discusses this year’s Hall of Fame class that was inducted in Cooperstown over the weekend; particularly Jim Leyland’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest managers; before discussing the deadline and if the Orioles and Tigers could match up on a deal for starting pitching. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss reports that Bo Bichette would 'welcome a trade.'

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.

]]> Mon, 22 Jul 2024 21:14:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays losing two of three against the Tigers and the types of trades the Blue Jays could make before next week’s deadline citing how the front office has operated in years past. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (16:31) discusses this year’s Hall of Fame class that was inducted in Cooperstown over the weekend; particularly Jim Leyland’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest managers; before discussing the deadline and if the Orioles and Tigers could match up on a deal for starting pitching. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss reports that Bo Bichette would 'welcome a trade.'

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.

]]> Tigers Take Two as the Deadline Looms… Sportsnet 00:49:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays losing two of three against the Tigers and the types of trades the Blue Jays could make before next week’s deadline citing how the front office has operated in years past. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (16:31) discusses this year’s Hall of Fame class that was inducted in Cooperstown over the weekend; particularly Jim Leyland’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest managers; before discussing the deadline and if the Orioles and Tigers could match up on a deal for starting pitching. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss reports that Bo Bichette would 'welcome a trade.' 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays losing two of three against the Tigers and the types of trades the Blue Jays could make before next week’s deadline citing how the front office has operated in years past. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (16:31) discusses this year’s Hall of Fame class that was inducted in Cooperstown over the weekend; particularly Jim Leyland’s legacy as one of the game’s greatest managers; before discussing the deadline and if the Orioles and Tigers could match up on a deal for starting pitching. Finally, Jeff and Kevin discuss reports that Bo Bichette would 'welcome a trade.' 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. false full cb5719d9-bcec-458b-ae98-8b420a07dccf Sights on the Second Half with David Samson Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:23) to review the past week of All-Star activities. He gets into the diminishing allure of the Home Run Derby, its lack of star power and whether it needs a fix. Then, getting back into the swing of the season, he shares a front office's POV of what to look for coming out of the All-Star break, his expectations for the Jays' second half and more around MLB. To close, Jeff and Kevin answer your questions on the Back Leg Line!

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.

]]> Fri, 19 Jul 2024 22:01:07 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:23) to review the past week of All-Star activities. He gets into the diminishing allure of the Home Run Derby, its lack of star power and whether it needs a fix. Then, getting back into the swing of the season, he shares a front office's POV of what to look for coming out of the All-Star break, his expectations for the Jays' second half and more around MLB. To close, Jeff and Kevin answer your questions on the Back Leg Line!

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.

]]> Sights on the Second Half with David Samson Sportsnet 00:49:49 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:23) to review the past week of All-Star activities. He gets into the diminishing allure of the Home Run Derby, its lack of star power and whether it needs a fix. Then, getting back into the swing of the season, he shares a front office's POV of what to look for coming out of the All-Star break, his expectations for the Jays' second half and more around MLB. To close, Jeff and Kevin answer your questions on the Back Leg Line! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by former MLB executive David Samson (1:23) to review the past week of All-Star activities. He gets into the diminishing allure of the Home Run Derby, its lack of star power and whether it needs a fix. Then, getting back into the swing of the season, he shares a front office's POV of what to look for coming out of the All-Star break, his expectations for the Jays' second half and more around MLB. To close, Jeff and Kevin answer your questions on the Back Leg Line! 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. false full 8bb4b0b3-f2c8-4df8-a33b-0325151237f9 Back from the Break & Matt Stairs’ Hitting Clinic Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the All-Star break ready to look ahead to the unofficial second half of the MLB season! They are joined off the top by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (4:30), who provides a few roster updates and discusses Joey Votto inching closer to his Blue Jays debut as he plays this weekend in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Matt Stairs (25:53) catches up with the guys to talk some hitting with Barker, this weekend’s WCBL All-Star Game and just how widespread baseball is in Canada from coast-to-coast. 

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.

]]> Fri, 19 Jul 2024 21:11:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the All-Star break ready to look ahead to the unofficial second half of the MLB season! They are joined off the top by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (4:30), who provides a few roster updates and discusses Joey Votto inching closer to his Blue Jays debut as he plays this weekend in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Matt Stairs (25:53) catches up with the guys to talk some hitting with Barker, this weekend’s WCBL All-Star Game and just how widespread baseball is in Canada from coast-to-coast. 

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.

]]> Back from the Break & Matt Stairs’ Hitting Clinic Sportsnet 00:49:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the All-Star break ready to look ahead to the unofficial second half of the MLB season! They are joined off the top by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (4:30), who provides a few roster updates and discusses Joey Votto inching closer to his Blue Jays debut as he plays this weekend in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Matt Stairs (25:53) catches up with the guys to talk some hitting with Barker, this weekend’s WCBL All-Star Game and just how widespread baseball is in Canada from coast-to-coast. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the All-Star break ready to look ahead to the unofficial second half of the MLB season! They are joined off the top by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (4:30), who provides a few roster updates and discusses Joey Votto inching closer to his Blue Jays debut as he plays this weekend in Triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons. Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Matt Stairs (25:53) catches up with the guys to talk some hitting with Barker, this weekend’s WCBL All-Star Game and just how widespread baseball is in Canada from coast-to-coast. 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. false full 80e19152-594b-4fde-a3d5-168f79a59ba4 Checking-In Near the All-Star Break with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:12) for his weekly chat to discuss the difficulties of telling players they've been place on waivers with the news that the team placed Kevin Kiermaier on waivers yesterday. Then, the skipper shares his takeaways from the team's series against the Giants, Bassitt and Gausman's forms heading into the break, Spencer Horwitz's path to everyday play and what he is looking to see from Zach Pop and Trevor Richards at this stage of the season. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker take some calls from the Back-Leg Line (27:13).

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.

]]> Fri, 12 Jul 2024 22:04:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:12) for his weekly chat to discuss the difficulties of telling players they've been place on waivers with the news that the team placed Kevin Kiermaier on waivers yesterday. Then, the skipper shares his takeaways from the team's series against the Giants, Bassitt and Gausman's forms heading into the break, Spencer Horwitz's path to everyday play and what he is looking to see from Zach Pop and Trevor Richards at this stage of the season. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker take some calls from the Back-Leg Line (27:13).

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.

]]> Checking-In Near the All-Star Break with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:12) for his weekly chat to discuss the difficulties of telling players they've been place on waivers with the news that the team placed Kevin Kiermaier on waivers yesterday. Then, the skipper shares his takeaways from the team's series against the Giants, Bassitt and Gausman's forms heading into the break, Spencer Horwitz's path to everyday play and what he is looking to see from Zach Pop and Trevor Richards at this stage of the season. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker take some calls from the Back-Leg Line (27:13). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:12) for his weekly chat to discuss the difficulties of telling players they've been place on waivers with the news that the team placed Kevin Kiermaier on waivers yesterday. Then, the skipper shares his takeaways from the team's series against the Giants, Bassitt and Gausman's forms heading into the break, Spencer Horwitz's path to everyday play and what he is looking to see from Zach Pop and Trevor Richards at this stage of the season. To wrap up the show, Blair and Barker take some calls from the Back-Leg Line (27:13). 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. false full 2e74cfba-c5a5-4904-93fa-207a5ad8d16d Reuniting with Randal Grichuk Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series win over the San Francisco Giants, discuss the team placing Kevin Kiermaier on waivers, the best place to slot Spencer Horwitz in the lineup and how his in-game awareness has improved. Then, former Blue Jay and current Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk (27:43) stops by to chat about what impressed him the most about his current baseball club prior to signing with them, adjusting to playing under different managers, the art of being a pinch-hitter when called upon and dealing with the uncertainty of his playing time from team to team. 

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.

]]> Fri, 12 Jul 2024 21:04:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series win over the San Francisco Giants, discuss the team placing Kevin Kiermaier on waivers, the best place to slot Spencer Horwitz in the lineup and how his in-game awareness has improved. Then, former Blue Jay and current Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk (27:43) stops by to chat about what impressed him the most about his current baseball club prior to signing with them, adjusting to playing under different managers, the art of being a pinch-hitter when called upon and dealing with the uncertainty of his playing time from team to team. 

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.

]]> Reuniting with Randal Grichuk Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series win over the San Francisco Giants, discuss the team placing Kevin Kiermaier on waivers, the best place to slot Spencer Horwitz in the lineup and how his in-game awareness has improved. Then, former Blue Jay and current Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk (27:43) stops by to chat about what impressed him the most about his current baseball club prior to signing with them, adjusting to playing under different managers, the art of being a pinch-hitter when called upon and dealing with the uncertainty of his playing time from team to team. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series win over the San Francisco Giants, discuss the team placing Kevin Kiermaier on waivers, the best place to slot Spencer Horwitz in the lineup and how his in-game awareness has improved. Then, former Blue Jay and current Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk (27:43) stops by to chat about what impressed him the most about his current baseball club prior to signing with them, adjusting to playing under different managers, the art of being a pinch-hitter when called upon and dealing with the uncertainty of his playing time from team to team. 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. false full 76e59587-071f-44b7-861f-3f1391070162 Picturing the Trade Deadline with Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in World Series champion and Giants analyst Hunter Pence (1:42) to give his take on the identity of the San Francisco Giants this season, the difficulties to get an offence going at Oracle Park, Heliot Ramos' path to becoming an MLB All-Star and what the Blue Jays can expect facing Jordan Hicks. Blair and Barker then look at their first impressions of Matt Chapman playing in the Bay Area and the offseason fallout between the third baseman and Toronto. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:57) shares his thoughts on why Paul Skenes should start in the MLB All-Star game, which teams in the AL East will be buying at the trade deadline and why a move from an NL team won't shake up the post-season picture.

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.

]]> Wed, 10 Jul 2024 22:02:32 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in World Series champion and Giants analyst Hunter Pence (1:42) to give his take on the identity of the San Francisco Giants this season, the difficulties to get an offence going at Oracle Park, Heliot Ramos' path to becoming an MLB All-Star and what the Blue Jays can expect facing Jordan Hicks. Blair and Barker then look at their first impressions of Matt Chapman playing in the Bay Area and the offseason fallout between the third baseman and Toronto. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:57) shares his thoughts on why Paul Skenes should start in the MLB All-Star game, which teams in the AL East will be buying at the trade deadline and why a move from an NL team won't shake up the post-season picture.

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.

]]> Picturing the Trade Deadline with Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:49:50 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in World Series champion and Giants analyst Hunter Pence (1:42) to give his take on the identity of the San Francisco Giants this season, the difficulties to get an offence going at Oracle Park, Heliot Ramos' path to becoming an MLB All-Star and what the Blue Jays can expect facing Jordan Hicks. Blair and Barker then look at their first impressions of Matt Chapman playing in the Bay Area and the offseason fallout between the third baseman and Toronto. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:57) shares his thoughts on why Paul Skenes should start in the MLB All-Star game, which teams in the AL East will be buying at the trade deadline and why a move from an NL team won't shake up the post-season picture. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker welcome in World Series champion and Giants analyst Hunter Pence (1:42) to give his take on the identity of the San Francisco Giants this season, the difficulties to get an offence going at Oracle Park, Heliot Ramos' path to becoming an MLB All-Star and what the Blue Jays can expect facing Jordan Hicks. Blair and Barker then look at their first impressions of Matt Chapman playing in the Bay Area and the offseason fallout between the third baseman and Toronto. Afterwards, ESPN's Jeff Passan (27:57) shares his thoughts on why Paul Skenes should start in the MLB All-Star game, which teams in the AL East will be buying at the trade deadline and why a move from an NL team won't shake up the post-season picture. 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. false full 004714f9-c2ab-4ba2-87ab-e5638fe756bd Midseason Pitching Report with Pete Walker Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (3:15) to chat about the steps for Spencer Horwitz to become an everyday player, why Daulton Varsho could be the team's future centre fielder, Chad Green's trade value and his first impressions of Leo Jiménez. Then, Blair and Barker share their thoughts on Tim Mayza signing with the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal. Afterwards, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (26:25) stops by to discuss the factors of a successful outing from Yusei Kikuchi, the changes Yariel Rodriguez made to his pitch mix, when he knows it's time to talk to his pitchers on adjusting their approach and his relationship with Chris Bassitt and how he's grown as a starter. 

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.

]]> Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:02:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (3:15) to chat about the steps for Spencer Horwitz to become an everyday player, why Daulton Varsho could be the team's future centre fielder, Chad Green's trade value and his first impressions of Leo Jiménez. Then, Blair and Barker share their thoughts on Tim Mayza signing with the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal. Afterwards, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (26:25) stops by to discuss the factors of a successful outing from Yusei Kikuchi, the changes Yariel Rodriguez made to his pitch mix, when he knows it's time to talk to his pitchers on adjusting their approach and his relationship with Chris Bassitt and how he's grown as a starter. 

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.

]]> Midseason Pitching Report with Pete Walker Sportsnet 00:49:22 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (3:15) to chat about the steps for Spencer Horwitz to become an everyday player, why Daulton Varsho could be the team's future centre fielder, Chad Green's trade value and his first impressions of Leo Jiménez. Then, Blair and Barker share their thoughts on Tim Mayza signing with the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal. Afterwards, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (26:25) stops by to discuss the factors of a successful outing from Yusei Kikuchi, the changes Yariel Rodriguez made to his pitch mix, when he knows it's time to talk to his pitchers on adjusting their approach and his relationship with Chris Bassitt and how he's grown as a starter. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV voice Dan Shulman (3:15) to chat about the steps for Spencer Horwitz to become an everyday player, why Daulton Varsho could be the team's future centre fielder, Chad Green's trade value and his first impressions of Leo Jiménez. Then, Blair and Barker share their thoughts on Tim Mayza signing with the New York Yankees on a minor-league deal. Afterwards, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (26:25) stops by to discuss the factors of a successful outing from Yusei Kikuchi, the changes Yariel Rodriguez made to his pitch mix, when he knows it's time to talk to his pitchers on adjusting their approach and his relationship with Chris Bassitt and how he's grown as a starter. 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. false full e3d6ded4-66a0-4512-86e9-739af9c51ce1 Giant Questions in the Bay & Jays-Giants Preview The Athletic's San Francisco Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly (1:19) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss what he'll remember the most from the late Willie Mays, how the Giants have underperformed to their expectations, Matt Chapman's tenure in the Bay Area, if Blake Snell will be moved at the trade deadline and the team's interest in Juan Soto in free agency. Then, Blair & Barker debate the National League selections for All-Star pitchers - including Paul Skenes - and preview the Blue Jays' upcoming series against the Giants.

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.

]]> Tue, 9 Jul 2024 22:02:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Athletic's San Francisco Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly (1:19) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss what he'll remember the most from the late Willie Mays, how the Giants have underperformed to their expectations, Matt Chapman's tenure in the Bay Area, if Blake Snell will be moved at the trade deadline and the team's interest in Juan Soto in free agency. Then, Blair & Barker debate the National League selections for All-Star pitchers - including Paul Skenes - and preview the Blue Jays' upcoming series against the Giants.

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.

]]> Giant Questions in the Bay & Jays-Giants Preview Sportsnet 00:49:45 The Athletic's San Francisco Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly (1:19) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss what he'll remember the most from the late Willie Mays, how the Giants have underperformed to their expectations, Matt Chapman's tenure in the Bay Area, if Blake Snell will be moved at the trade deadline and the team's interest in Juan Soto in free agency. Then, Blair & Barker debate the National League selections for All-Star pitchers - including Paul Skenes - and preview the Blue Jays' upcoming series against the Giants. 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. The Athletic's San Francisco Giants reporter Andrew Baggarly (1:19) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss what he'll remember the most from the late Willie Mays, how the Giants have underperformed to their expectations, Matt Chapman's tenure in the Bay Area, if Blake Snell will be moved at the trade deadline and the team's interest in Juan Soto in free agency. Then, Blair & Barker debate the National League selections for All-Star pitchers - including Paul Skenes - and preview the Blue Jays' upcoming series against the Giants. 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. false full 1106b56c-be04-434b-8178-62e12a9c917a Future of the Jays' Core and MLB Draft Process with Greg Hamilton Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (2:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the expectations for both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to play for the Blue Jays in 2025, the organization staying competitive beyond next season and if Alejandro Kirk can become the team's everyday catcher. Then, Coach and Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (28:41) jumps on to discuss some of the Canadian prospects entering the 2024 MLB Draft, the evolution of the draft process, baseball's accessibility outside the major cities across Canada and Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor's all-star season. 

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.

]]> Tue, 9 Jul 2024 21:05:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (2:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the expectations for both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to play for the Blue Jays in 2025, the organization staying competitive beyond next season and if Alejandro Kirk can become the team's everyday catcher. Then, Coach and Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (28:41) jumps on to discuss some of the Canadian prospects entering the 2024 MLB Draft, the evolution of the draft process, baseball's accessibility outside the major cities across Canada and Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor's all-star season. 

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.

]]> Future of the Jays' Core and MLB Draft Process with Greg Hamilton Sportsnet 00:49:54 Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi (2:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the expectations for both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to play for the Blue Jays in 2025, the organization staying competitive beyond next season and if Alejandro Kirk can become the team's everyday catcher. Then, Coach and Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (28:41) jumps on to discuss some of the Canadian prospects entering the 2024 MLB Draft, the evolution of the draft process, baseball's accessibility outside the major cities across Canada and Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor's all-star season. 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.ca's Shi Davidi (2:15) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the expectations for both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to play for the Blue Jays in 2025, the organization staying competitive beyond next season and if Alejandro Kirk can become the team's everyday catcher. Then, Coach and Director of National Teams at Baseball Canada Greg Hamilton (28:41) jumps on to discuss some of the Canadian prospects entering the 2024 MLB Draft, the evolution of the draft process, baseball's accessibility outside the major cities across Canada and Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor's all-star season. 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. false full 938a1712-0653-428f-af7f-65d1872edae4 State of the Bullpen with Caleb Joseph Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after the Blue Jays' series win in Seattle this weekend to discuss whether Springer's strong return to the lead-off spot is sustainable, Bichette's slump and the relationship between hitting coaches and players (3:32). Then, he evaluates the bullpen's series against a meagre Mariners' offence. MLB Network's Jon Morosi (30:01) looks at different teams' trade deadline plans - the Yankees' biggest needs, why the Red Sox should stand pat, how the Rangers' direction can shift the Jays' trade markets for Bo & Vlad and why the Orioles should go all-in this season.

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. 

]]> Mon, 8 Jul 2024 22:03:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after the Blue Jays' series win in Seattle this weekend to discuss whether Springer's strong return to the lead-off spot is sustainable, Bichette's slump and the relationship between hitting coaches and players (3:32). Then, he evaluates the bullpen's series against a meagre Mariners' offence. MLB Network's Jon Morosi (30:01) looks at different teams' trade deadline plans - the Yankees' biggest needs, why the Red Sox should stand pat, how the Rangers' direction can shift the Jays' trade markets for Bo & Vlad and why the Orioles should go all-in this season.

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. 

]]> State of the Bullpen with Caleb Joseph Sportsnet 00:49:23 Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after the Blue Jays' series win in Seattle this weekend to discuss whether Springer's strong return to the lead-off spot is sustainable, Bichette's slump and the relationship between hitting coaches and players (3:32). Then, he evaluates the bullpen's series against a meagre Mariners' offence. MLB Network's Jon Morosi (30:01) looks at different teams' trade deadline plans - the Yankees' biggest needs, why the Red Sox should stand pat, how the Rangers' direction can shift the Jays' trade markets for Bo & Vlad and why the Orioles should go all-in this season. 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.  Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after the Blue Jays' series win in Seattle this weekend to discuss whether Springer's strong return to the lead-off spot is sustainable, Bichette's slump and the relationship between hitting coaches and players (3:32). Then, he evaluates the bullpen's series against a meagre Mariners' offence. MLB Network's Jon Morosi (30:01) looks at different teams' trade deadline plans - the Yankees' biggest needs, why the Red Sox should stand pat, how the Rangers' direction can shift the Jays' trade markets for Bo & Vlad and why the Orioles should go all-in this season. 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.  false full 1b1549e0-503f-4c1d-a61f-c3dd956de79b A Series Win in the Emerald City & Stark’s HOF Thoughts! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend outlining the positives from the Blue Jays series win in Seattle: Yariel Rodriguez’s impressive start, George Springer continuing his hot stretch, and Alejandro Kirk looking more comfortable at the dish. With this year’s Hall of Fame inductions approaching, the guys call up The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (28:25) to talk about which current players are on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and how voters will look at members of the Houston Astros who were implicated in the organization’s cheating scandal. 

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.

]]> Mon, 8 Jul 2024 21:14:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend outlining the positives from the Blue Jays series win in Seattle: Yariel Rodriguez’s impressive start, George Springer continuing his hot stretch, and Alejandro Kirk looking more comfortable at the dish. With this year’s Hall of Fame inductions approaching, the guys call up The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (28:25) to talk about which current players are on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and how voters will look at members of the Houston Astros who were implicated in the organization’s cheating scandal. 

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.

]]> A Series Win in the Emerald City & Stark’s HOF Thoughts! Sportsnet 00:49:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend outlining the positives from the Blue Jays series win in Seattle: Yariel Rodriguez’s impressive start, George Springer continuing his hot stretch, and Alejandro Kirk looking more comfortable at the dish. With this year’s Hall of Fame inductions approaching, the guys call up The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (28:25) to talk about which current players are on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and how voters will look at members of the Houston Astros who were implicated in the organization’s cheating scandal. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend outlining the positives from the Blue Jays series win in Seattle: Yariel Rodriguez’s impressive start, George Springer continuing his hot stretch, and Alejandro Kirk looking more comfortable at the dish. With this year’s Hall of Fame inductions approaching, the guys call up The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (28:25) to talk about which current players are on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and how voters will look at members of the Houston Astros who were implicated in the organization’s cheating scandal. 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. false full ebfd46f4-d45d-49ea-b8cc-7ae93e2612cb Schneider in Seattle & Friday’s Back Leg Line! John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from the team’s road trip in Seattle coming off of their series loss to the Astros (1:07). The Blue Jays manager reflects on how he’s feeling personally amidst this difficult season to date, Spencer Horwitz’s swing, Davis Schneider’s approach at the plate and pitchers throwing stuff away from him, if Bo Bichette is about to turn the corner offensively, and George Springer’s recent improvement and his ability to hit velocity. The guys head into the weekend hearing from Jays fans (23:44) as they open up the Back Leg Line!

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. 

]]> Fri, 5 Jul 2024 22:17:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from the team’s road trip in Seattle coming off of their series loss to the Astros (1:07). The Blue Jays manager reflects on how he’s feeling personally amidst this difficult season to date, Spencer Horwitz’s swing, Davis Schneider’s approach at the plate and pitchers throwing stuff away from him, if Bo Bichette is about to turn the corner offensively, and George Springer’s recent improvement and his ability to hit velocity. The guys head into the weekend hearing from Jays fans (23:44) as they open up the Back Leg Line!

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. 

]]> Schneider in Seattle & Friday’s Back Leg Line! Sportsnet 00:49:53 John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from the team’s road trip in Seattle coming off of their series loss to the Astros (1:07). The Blue Jays manager reflects on how he’s feeling personally amidst this difficult season to date, Spencer Horwitz’s swing, Davis Schneider’s approach at the plate and pitchers throwing stuff away from him, if Bo Bichette is about to turn the corner offensively, and George Springer’s recent improvement and his ability to hit velocity. The guys head into the weekend hearing from Jays fans (23:44) as they open up the Back Leg Line! 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. John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker from the team’s road trip in Seattle coming off of their series loss to the Astros (1:07). The Blue Jays manager reflects on how he’s feeling personally amidst this difficult season to date, Spencer Horwitz’s swing, Davis Schneider’s approach at the plate and pitchers throwing stuff away from him, if Bo Bichette is about to turn the corner offensively, and George Springer’s recent improvement and his ability to hit velocity. The guys head into the weekend hearing from Jays fans (23:44) as they open up the Back Leg Line! 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. false full 0a90abd9-a91c-495a-9df7-8a84651c1c77 Jays Views from Outside and Inside Toronto Longtime MLB catcher and co-host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (3:01) shares his thoughts on the Blue Jays, notably which players would be smart fits on certain contending teams and how he views Vladimir Guerrero Jr, before discussing this year’s Home Run Derby and Futures Game during All-Star Weekend. Blue Jays play by play voice Dan Shulman (29:59) checks-in from Seattle ahead of the Mariners series to discuss Toronto’s most recent homestand and the vibes surrounding the team.

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.

]]> Fri, 5 Jul 2024 21:03:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Longtime MLB catcher and co-host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (3:01) shares his thoughts on the Blue Jays, notably which players would be smart fits on certain contending teams and how he views Vladimir Guerrero Jr, before discussing this year’s Home Run Derby and Futures Game during All-Star Weekend. Blue Jays play by play voice Dan Shulman (29:59) checks-in from Seattle ahead of the Mariners series to discuss Toronto’s most recent homestand and the vibes surrounding the team.

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.

]]> Jays Views from Outside and Inside Toronto Sportsnet 00:49:50 Longtime MLB catcher and co-host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (3:01) shares his thoughts on the Blue Jays, notably which players would be smart fits on certain contending teams and how he views Vladimir Guerrero Jr, before discussing this year’s Home Run Derby and Futures Game during All-Star Weekend. Blue Jays play by play voice Dan Shulman (29:59) checks-in from Seattle ahead of the Mariners series to discuss Toronto’s most recent homestand and the vibes surrounding the team. 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. Longtime MLB catcher and co-host of Foul Territory Erik Kratz (3:01) shares his thoughts on the Blue Jays, notably which players would be smart fits on certain contending teams and how he views Vladimir Guerrero Jr, before discussing this year’s Home Run Derby and Futures Game during All-Star Weekend. Blue Jays play by play voice Dan Shulman (29:59) checks-in from Seattle ahead of the Mariners series to discuss Toronto’s most recent homestand and the vibes surrounding the team. 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. false full 5b7eac2b-8504-4572-8c48-c1bb870ff9fe Samson’s Read on the Jays & M’s Series Preview with Bret Boone Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Blue Jays - notably how they should handle contract discussions with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - and why it is so difficult to repeat as World Series champions, citing the Rangers as the most recent example (1:17). Former Mariners all-star and podcast host Bret Boone (27:44) previews the Blue Jays' upcoming series against Seattle, discussing Julio Rodriguez’s season to date and if the Mariners got rid of too much offence this past offseason.

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.

]]> Thu, 4 Jul 2024 22:01:44 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Blue Jays - notably how they should handle contract discussions with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - and why it is so difficult to repeat as World Series champions, citing the Rangers as the most recent example (1:17). Former Mariners all-star and podcast host Bret Boone (27:44) previews the Blue Jays' upcoming series against Seattle, discussing Julio Rodriguez’s season to date and if the Mariners got rid of too much offence this past offseason.

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.

]]> Samson’s Read on the Jays & M’s Series Preview with Bret Boone Sportsnet 00:49:38 Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Blue Jays - notably how they should handle contract discussions with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - and why it is so difficult to repeat as World Series champions, citing the Rangers as the most recent example (1:17). Former Mariners all-star and podcast host Bret Boone (27:44) previews the Blue Jays' upcoming series against Seattle, discussing Julio Rodriguez’s season to date and if the Mariners got rid of too much offence this past offseason. 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. Former MLB executive David Samson joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on the Blue Jays - notably how they should handle contract discussions with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - and why it is so difficult to repeat as World Series champions, citing the Rangers as the most recent example (1:17). Former Mariners all-star and podcast host Bret Boone (27:44) previews the Blue Jays' upcoming series against Seattle, discussing Julio Rodriguez’s season to date and if the Mariners got rid of too much offence this past offseason. 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. false full b5fad2b0-7cae-41c2-9b36-41125e80ad90 Pitchers' Road to Recovery and Cy Young Winner Éric Gagné Following the news of Jordan Romano undergoing arthroscopic surgery today for his elbow, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:35) to share a pitcher's perspective on recovering from an injuries and surgery and whether Romano stays as the team's closer when he returns. Then, former LA Dodgers pitcher & 2003 NL CY Young Award winner Éric Gagné (15:50) jumps on to chat about how he would be deployed in today's MLB, his views on the pitch clock and the biggest mental hurdles in recovering from injuries. Afterward, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys (29:19) to discuss the Rays trading away right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale to the Brewers, what it says about MLB's trade market, Bo Bichette trade murmurs and possible shortstop replacements for the Jays.

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.

]]> Wed, 3 Jul 2024 22:02:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Following the news of Jordan Romano undergoing arthroscopic surgery today for his elbow, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:35) to share a pitcher's perspective on recovering from an injuries and surgery and whether Romano stays as the team's closer when he returns. Then, former LA Dodgers pitcher & 2003 NL CY Young Award winner Éric Gagné (15:50) jumps on to chat about how he would be deployed in today's MLB, his views on the pitch clock and the biggest mental hurdles in recovering from injuries. Afterward, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys (29:19) to discuss the Rays trading away right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale to the Brewers, what it says about MLB's trade market, Bo Bichette trade murmurs and possible shortstop replacements for the Jays.

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.

]]> Pitchers' Road to Recovery and Cy Young Winner Éric Gagné Sportsnet 00:49:51 Following the news of Jordan Romano undergoing arthroscopic surgery today for his elbow, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:35) to share a pitcher's perspective on recovering from an injuries and surgery and whether Romano stays as the team's closer when he returns. Then, former LA Dodgers pitcher & 2003 NL CY Young Award winner Éric Gagné (15:50) jumps on to chat about how he would be deployed in today's MLB, his views on the pitch clock and the biggest mental hurdles in recovering from injuries. Afterward, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys (29:19) to discuss the Rays trading away right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale to the Brewers, what it says about MLB's trade market, Bo Bichette trade murmurs and possible shortstop replacements for the Jays. 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. Following the news of Jordan Romano undergoing arthroscopic surgery today for his elbow, Blue Jays radio analyst Chris Leroux joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker (1:35) to share a pitcher's perspective on recovering from an injuries and surgery and whether Romano stays as the team's closer when he returns. Then, former LA Dodgers pitcher & 2003 NL CY Young Award winner Éric Gagné (15:50) jumps on to chat about how he would be deployed in today's MLB, his views on the pitch clock and the biggest mental hurdles in recovering from injuries. Afterward, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys (29:19) to discuss the Rays trading away right-handed pitcher Aaron Civale to the Brewers, what it says about MLB's trade market, Bo Bichette trade murmurs and possible shortstop replacements for the Jays. 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. false full 68b2634f-7257-4782-9172-fc6ff17b73e1 Tough News for Romano & An MLB Draft Lookahead Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Bo Bichette’s recent struggles at the dish and react to the breaking news that Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery which puts the rest of his season in question. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis (30:00) looks ahead to the MLB draft later this month as he breaks down the top prospects and comments on the Blue Jays system.

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.

]]> Wed, 3 Jul 2024 21:24:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Bo Bichette’s recent struggles at the dish and react to the breaking news that Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery which puts the rest of his season in question. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis (30:00) looks ahead to the MLB draft later this month as he breaks down the top prospects and comments on the Blue Jays system.

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.

]]> Tough News for Romano & An MLB Draft Lookahead Sportsnet 00:49:28 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Bo Bichette’s recent struggles at the dish and react to the breaking news that Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery which puts the rest of his season in question. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis (30:00) looks ahead to the MLB draft later this month as he breaks down the top prospects and comments on the Blue Jays system. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Bo Bichette’s recent struggles at the dish and react to the breaking news that Jordan Romano underwent arthroscopic surgery which puts the rest of his season in question. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis (30:00) looks ahead to the MLB draft later this month as he breaks down the top prospects and comments on the Blue Jays system. 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. false full a7a33687-ec57-4851-94a6-c42488620b49 IKF Hits The IL Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa hitting the IL after missing yesterday’s game on Canada Day. Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum (27:38) comments on the Houston’s recent play and if he sees similarities between Hunter Brown and veteran ‘Stros starter Justin Verlander. Buck Martinez (1:07:36) checks-in from Rogers Centre ahead of first pitch to discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s standout start and what he expects from Jose Berrios taking the mound in Game 2 vs. Houston.

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.

]]> Tue, 2 Jul 2024 22:06:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa hitting the IL after missing yesterday’s game on Canada Day. Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum (27:38) comments on the Houston’s recent play and if he sees similarities between Hunter Brown and veteran ‘Stros starter Justin Verlander. Buck Martinez (1:07:36) checks-in from Rogers Centre ahead of first pitch to discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s standout start and what he expects from Jose Berrios taking the mound in Game 2 vs. Houston.

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.

]]> IKF Hits The IL Sportsnet 01:39:02 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa hitting the IL after missing yesterday’s game on Canada Day. Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum (27:38) comments on the Houston’s recent play and if he sees similarities between Hunter Brown and veteran ‘Stros starter Justin Verlander. Buck Martinez (1:07:36) checks-in from Rogers Centre ahead of first pitch to discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s standout start and what he expects from Jose Berrios taking the mound in Game 2 vs. Houston. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to Isiah Kiner-Falefa hitting the IL after missing yesterday’s game on Canada Day. Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum (27:38) comments on the Houston’s recent play and if he sees similarities between Hunter Brown and veteran ‘Stros starter Justin Verlander. Buck Martinez (1:07:36) checks-in from Rogers Centre ahead of first pitch to discuss Yariel Rodriguez’s standout start and what he expects from Jose Berrios taking the mound in Game 2 vs. Houston. 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. false full 9a7507c0-a603-4000-9305-8f0771fcc62f A Spring in George’s Step + Back Leg Line Friday! Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays’ 9-2 blowout win against the Yankees where George Springer starred once again in the victory. Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:30) discusses why he continues to believe in Springer and Ross Atkins giving him a vote of confidence when speaking yesterday. The guys empty out their voicemail in the latest edition of Friday’s Back Leg Line. MLB.com’s Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (1:18:33) discusses the team’s recent play - notably, how Gerrit Cole has looked since his return to the rotation, Gleyber Torres’ underwhelming season, the lack of swing-and-miss stuff in their bullpen and if Luis Gil could be moved to the pen despite his success as a starter.

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.

]]> Fri, 28 Jun 2024 22:03:47 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays’ 9-2 blowout win against the Yankees where George Springer starred once again in the victory. Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:30) discusses why he continues to believe in Springer and Ross Atkins giving him a vote of confidence when speaking yesterday. The guys empty out their voicemail in the latest edition of Friday’s Back Leg Line. MLB.com’s Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (1:18:33) discusses the team’s recent play - notably, how Gerrit Cole has looked since his return to the rotation, Gleyber Torres’ underwhelming season, the lack of swing-and-miss stuff in their bullpen and if Luis Gil could be moved to the pen despite his success as a starter.

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.

]]> A Spring in George’s Step + Back Leg Line Friday! Sportsnet 01:39:41 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays’ 9-2 blowout win against the Yankees where George Springer starred once again in the victory. Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:30) discusses why he continues to believe in Springer and Ross Atkins giving him a vote of confidence when speaking yesterday. The guys empty out their voicemail in the latest edition of Friday’s Back Leg Line. MLB.com’s Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (1:18:33) discusses the team’s recent play - notably, how Gerrit Cole has looked since his return to the rotation, Gleyber Torres’ underwhelming season, the lack of swing-and-miss stuff in their bullpen and if Luis Gil could be moved to the pen despite his success as a starter. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays’ 9-2 blowout win against the Yankees where George Springer starred once again in the victory. Blue Jays manager John Schneider (25:30) discusses why he continues to believe in Springer and Ross Atkins giving him a vote of confidence when speaking yesterday. The guys empty out their voicemail in the latest edition of Friday’s Back Leg Line. MLB.com’s Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch (1:18:33) discusses the team’s recent play - notably, how Gerrit Cole has looked since his return to the rotation, Gleyber Torres’ underwhelming season, the lack of swing-and-miss stuff in their bullpen and if Luis Gil could be moved to the pen despite his success as a starter. 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. false full 4c8fd44a-86f3-47b0-834d-ce1745d41ede Springer's Surge with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after a big 9-2 win to open the series against the Yankees. The skipper discusses Springer's recent hot stretch and why he always believed the veteran outfielder would find his game at the plate. Later, he weighs in on Bichette's slow return from injury in the lead-off spot, how to get Jansen back on track, Kikuchi's historic dominance over the Yankees and more. Finally, he shares his thoughts on Ross Atkins' comments yesterday.

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.

]]> Fri, 28 Jun 2024 21:06:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after a big 9-2 win to open the series against the Yankees. The skipper discusses Springer's recent hot stretch and why he always believed the veteran outfielder would find his game at the plate. Later, he weighs in on Bichette's slow return from injury in the lead-off spot, how to get Jansen back on track, Kikuchi's historic dominance over the Yankees and more. Finally, he shares his thoughts on Ross Atkins' comments yesterday.

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.

]]> Springer's Surge with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:15:47 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after a big 9-2 win to open the series against the Yankees. The skipper discusses Springer's recent hot stretch and why he always believed the veteran outfielder would find his game at the plate. Later, he weighs in on Bichette's slow return from injury in the lead-off spot, how to get Jansen back on track, Kikuchi's historic dominance over the Yankees and more. Finally, he shares his thoughts on Ross Atkins' comments yesterday. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker after a big 9-2 win to open the series against the Yankees. The skipper discusses Springer's recent hot stretch and why he always believed the veteran outfielder would find his game at the plate. Later, he weighs in on Bichette's slow return from injury in the lead-off spot, how to get Jansen back on track, Kikuchi's historic dominance over the Yankees and more. Finally, he shares his thoughts on Ross Atkins' comments yesterday. 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. false full 9019b121-9103-4b42-b16c-b5b0244f0d4d Ross the Boss & Trade Talk Aplenty Blue Jays EVP/General Manager Ross Atkins (15:47) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for a lengthy mid-season conversation ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (51:23) checks in from Rogers Centre to react to Bo Bichette’s comments on his status ahead of the trade deadline. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:02) discusses which additions he’d like to see contending teams make at the deadline, how the Blue Jays would factor into the equation if they decide to sell, why he’s bullish on the Phillies and much more around Major League Baseball.

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.

]]> Thu, 27 Jun 2024 22:05:30 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays EVP/General Manager Ross Atkins (15:47) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for a lengthy mid-season conversation ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (51:23) checks in from Rogers Centre to react to Bo Bichette’s comments on his status ahead of the trade deadline. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:02) discusses which additions he’d like to see contending teams make at the deadline, how the Blue Jays would factor into the equation if they decide to sell, why he’s bullish on the Phillies and much more around Major League Baseball.

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.

]]> Ross the Boss & Trade Talk Aplenty Sportsnet 01:39:24 Blue Jays EVP/General Manager Ross Atkins (15:47) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for a lengthy mid-season conversation ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (51:23) checks in from Rogers Centre to react to Bo Bichette’s comments on his status ahead of the trade deadline. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:02) discusses which additions he’d like to see contending teams make at the deadline, how the Blue Jays would factor into the equation if they decide to sell, why he’s bullish on the Phillies and much more around Major League Baseball. 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. Blue Jays EVP/General Manager Ross Atkins (15:47) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for a lengthy mid-season conversation ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (51:23) checks in from Rogers Centre to react to Bo Bichette’s comments on his status ahead of the trade deadline. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:02) discusses which additions he’d like to see contending teams make at the deadline, how the Blue Jays would factor into the equation if they decide to sell, why he’s bullish on the Phillies and much more around Major League Baseball. 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. false full 15da5a5c-c4af-4b7b-bacb-fe7f215629dc Mid-Season Status Check with Ross Atkins Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. He gets into the underlying reasons behind the team's struggles and the declining state of the team's offence. Then, he reflects on the Varsho and Swanson trades, long-term plans for Guerrero and Bichette and why he still has faith in Springer. Finally, he discusses the Jays potentially being buyers this season, fanbase frustration and the future of John Schneider.

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.

]]> Thu, 27 Jun 2024 20:46:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. He gets into the underlying reasons behind the team's struggles and the declining state of the team's offence. Then, he reflects on the Varsho and Swanson trades, long-term plans for Guerrero and Bichette and why he still has faith in Springer. Finally, he discusses the Jays potentially being buyers this season, fanbase frustration and the future of John Schneider.

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.

]]> Mid-Season Status Check with Ross Atkins Sportsnet 00:18:56 Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. He gets into the underlying reasons behind the team's struggles and the declining state of the team's offence. Then, he reflects on the Varsho and Swanson trades, long-term plans for Guerrero and Bichette and why he still has faith in Springer. Finally, he discusses the Jays potentially being buyers this season, fanbase frustration and the future of John Schneider. 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. Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of a pivotal series against the Yankees. He gets into the underlying reasons behind the team's struggles and the declining state of the team's offence. Then, he reflects on the Varsho and Swanson trades, long-term plans for Guerrero and Bichette and why he still has faith in Springer. Finally, he discusses the Jays potentially being buyers this season, fanbase frustration and the future of John Schneider. 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. false full 394c7020-16a8-4364-9d30-f5501f16cdc7 Losing Streak Snapped + Talking Pitching with Chris Bassitt Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays win at Fenway Park which snapped their losing streak and in particular the contributions made by George Springer. Jays starter Chris Bassitt (15:30) reflects on the win before discussing how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (50:35) comments on offence being down in the majors, Orelvis Martinez’s suspension and how honest a front office should be in the media. Blue Jays Central’s Caleb Joseph (1:15:30) drops-by in-studio before tonight’s rubber match in Boston.

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.

]]> Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:04:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays win at Fenway Park which snapped their losing streak and in particular the contributions made by George Springer. Jays starter Chris Bassitt (15:30) reflects on the win before discussing how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (50:35) comments on offence being down in the majors, Orelvis Martinez’s suspension and how honest a front office should be in the media. Blue Jays Central’s Caleb Joseph (1:15:30) drops-by in-studio before tonight’s rubber match in Boston.

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.

]]> Losing Streak Snapped + Talking Pitching with Chris Bassitt Sportsnet 01:39:03 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays win at Fenway Park which snapped their losing streak and in particular the contributions made by George Springer. Jays starter Chris Bassitt (15:30) reflects on the win before discussing how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (50:35) comments on offence being down in the majors, Orelvis Martinez’s suspension and how honest a front office should be in the media. Blue Jays Central’s Caleb Joseph (1:15:30) drops-by in-studio before tonight’s rubber match in Boston. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays win at Fenway Park which snapped their losing streak and in particular the contributions made by George Springer. Jays starter Chris Bassitt (15:30) reflects on the win before discussing how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (50:35) comments on offence being down in the majors, Orelvis Martinez’s suspension and how honest a front office should be in the media. Blue Jays Central’s Caleb Joseph (1:15:30) drops-by in-studio before tonight’s rubber match in Boston. 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. false full e5c89591-8394-4f57-84a3-1a81692d3985 Adjustments on the Bump with Chris Bassitt Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker following the team's losing-streak-snapping 9-4 win over the Red Sox. 'The Hound' discusses the vibes in the clubhouse, how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Then, he looks ahead at Yariel Rodríguez's start tonight and how he improves on his poor outing last time out. Finally, he gets into the Jays' recent rough stretch and why he has faith they can turn it around.

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.

]]> Wed, 26 Jun 2024 20:39:19 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker following the team's losing-streak-snapping 9-4 win over the Red Sox. 'The Hound' discusses the vibes in the clubhouse, how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Then, he looks ahead at Yariel Rodríguez's start tonight and how he improves on his poor outing last time out. Finally, he gets into the Jays' recent rough stretch and why he has faith they can turn it around.

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.

]]> Adjustments on the Bump with Chris Bassitt Sportsnet 00:10:09 Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker following the team's losing-streak-snapping 9-4 win over the Red Sox. 'The Hound' discusses the vibes in the clubhouse, how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Then, he looks ahead at Yariel Rodríguez's start tonight and how he improves on his poor outing last time out. Finally, he gets into the Jays' recent rough stretch and why he has faith they can turn it around. 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. Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker following the team's losing-streak-snapping 9-4 win over the Red Sox. 'The Hound' discusses the vibes in the clubhouse, how warmups dictate his pitch selection and his unique usage of PitchCom. Then, he looks ahead at Yariel Rodríguez's start tonight and how he improves on his poor outing last time out. Finally, he gets into the Jays' recent rough stretch and why he has faith they can turn it around. 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. false full 4ce68957-afdf-45f3-8dba-f35bb6d0db14 A Tough Loss at Fenway Park Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss last night’s Blue Jays loss in Boston after the team relinquished the lead late in the game before welcoming Joe Siddall with his thoughts on the opening game of the series (9:50). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale provides a national perspective on the Jays' recent play and more around the majors (27:10). MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur checks-in from Citi Field ahead Mets-Yankees with his thoughts on the subway series and how a clubhouse knows if they’re out of the postseason race (52:08). The guys end the show reacting to John Schneider’s pre-game availability from Boston and comments from MLB Network’s Dan O’Dowd on the direction of the team.

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.

]]> Tue, 25 Jun 2024 22:21:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss last night’s Blue Jays loss in Boston after the team relinquished the lead late in the game before welcoming Joe Siddall with his thoughts on the opening game of the series (9:50). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale provides a national perspective on the Jays' recent play and more around the majors (27:10). MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur checks-in from Citi Field ahead Mets-Yankees with his thoughts on the subway series and how a clubhouse knows if they’re out of the postseason race (52:08). The guys end the show reacting to John Schneider’s pre-game availability from Boston and comments from MLB Network’s Dan O’Dowd on the direction of the team.

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.

]]> A Tough Loss at Fenway Park Sportsnet 01:39:11 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss last night’s Blue Jays loss in Boston after the team relinquished the lead late in the game before welcoming Joe Siddall with his thoughts on the opening game of the series (9:50). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale provides a national perspective on the Jays' recent play and more around the majors (27:10). MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur checks-in from Citi Field ahead Mets-Yankees with his thoughts on the subway series and how a clubhouse knows if they’re out of the postseason race (52:08). The guys end the show reacting to John Schneider’s pre-game availability from Boston and comments from MLB Network’s Dan O’Dowd on the direction of the team. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss last night’s Blue Jays loss in Boston after the team relinquished the lead late in the game before welcoming Joe Siddall with his thoughts on the opening game of the series (9:50). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale provides a national perspective on the Jays' recent play and more around the majors (27:10). MLB on TBS analyst Jeff Francoeur checks-in from Citi Field ahead Mets-Yankees with his thoughts on the subway series and how a clubhouse knows if they’re out of the postseason race (52:08). The guys end the show reacting to John Schneider’s pre-game availability from Boston and comments from MLB Network’s Dan O’Dowd on the direction of the team. 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. false full 11d24151-cfff-4a93-87fd-42b3d3f2122e Shipping Up to Boston Post-Sweep Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend on and off the field where Toronto was swept for a second consecutive series and Orelvis Martínez was given an 80-game suspension for use of a banned substance. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (29:19) discusses why offense has been on the decline this season across MLB and more on the legendary ‘Say Hey Kid’ Willie Mays following his passing last week. Red Sox analyst Lou Merloni (54:41) previews this week’s series at Fenway Park. Blue Jays play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:17:37) drops by the studio to share his thoughts on both the Jays and Guardians after calling this past weekend’s series in Cleveland. 

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.

]]> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 22:23:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend on and off the field where Toronto was swept for a second consecutive series and Orelvis Martínez was given an 80-game suspension for use of a banned substance. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (29:19) discusses why offense has been on the decline this season across MLB and more on the legendary ‘Say Hey Kid’ Willie Mays following his passing last week. Red Sox analyst Lou Merloni (54:41) previews this week’s series at Fenway Park. Blue Jays play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:17:37) drops by the studio to share his thoughts on both the Jays and Guardians after calling this past weekend’s series in Cleveland. 

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.

]]> Shipping Up to Boston Post-Sweep Sportsnet 01:39:31 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend on and off the field where Toronto was swept for a second consecutive series and Orelvis Martínez was given an 80-game suspension for use of a banned substance. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (29:19) discusses why offense has been on the decline this season across MLB and more on the legendary ‘Say Hey Kid’ Willie Mays following his passing last week. Red Sox analyst Lou Merloni (55:09) previews this week’s series at Fenway Park. Blue Jays play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:17:55) drops by the studio to share his thoughts on both the Jays and Guardians after calling this past weekend’s series in Cleveland. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend on and off the field where Toronto was swept for a second consecutive series and Orelvis Martínez was given an 80-game suspension for use of a banned substance. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (29:19) discusses why offense has been on the decline this season across MLB and more on the legendary ‘Say Hey Kid’ Willie Mays following his passing last week. Red Sox analyst Lou Merloni (55:09) previews this week’s series at Fenway Park. Blue Jays play-by-play voice Ben Shulman (1:17:55) drops by the studio to share his thoughts on both the Jays and Guardians after calling this past weekend’s series in Cleveland. 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. false full cc94ebaa-2ab6-488f-9fc0-d8aeff841158 Martinez’s Debut & Back Leg Line Friday Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open by emptying out the voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (12:01). Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (27:18) joins the show to discuss the choice behind having Orelvis Martinez debut against Cleveland's starter Carlos Carrasco. Tom Hamilton, the voice of the Guardians, shares his thoughts on the ballclub ahead of this weekend (51:19). Orioles' broadcaster Melanie Newman (1:25:42) recaps the Baltimore-New York series that went down in the Bronx between the two best teams in the AL East and discusses the unsung heroes on Baltimore, and her experience overseas covering and calling the London series. 

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.

]]> Fri, 21 Jun 2024 22:17:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open by emptying out the voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (12:01). Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (27:18) joins the show to discuss the choice behind having Orelvis Martinez debut against Cleveland's starter Carlos Carrasco. Tom Hamilton, the voice of the Guardians, shares his thoughts on the ballclub ahead of this weekend (51:19). Orioles' broadcaster Melanie Newman (1:25:42) recaps the Baltimore-New York series that went down in the Bronx between the two best teams in the AL East and discusses the unsung heroes on Baltimore, and her experience overseas covering and calling the London series. 

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.

]]> Martinez’s Debut & Back Leg Line Friday Sportsnet 01:39:29 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open by emptying out the voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (12:01). Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (27:18) joins the show to discuss the choice behind having Orelvis Martinez debut against Cleveland's starter Carlos Carrasco. Tom Hamilton, the voice of the Guardians, shares his thoughts on the ballclub ahead of this weekend (51:19). Orioles' broadcaster Melanie Newman (1:25:42) recaps the Baltimore-New York series that went down in the Bronx between the two best teams in the AL East and discusses the unsung heroes on Baltimore, and her experience overseas covering and calling the London series. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open by emptying out the voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (12:01). Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (27:18) joins the show to discuss the choice behind having Orelvis Martinez debut against Cleveland's starter Carlos Carrasco. Tom Hamilton, the voice of the Guardians, shares his thoughts on the ballclub ahead of this weekend (51:19). Orioles' broadcaster Melanie Newman (1:25:42) recaps the Baltimore-New York series that went down in the Bronx between the two best teams in the AL East and discusses the unsung heroes on Baltimore, and her experience overseas covering and calling the London series. 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. false full 8ce2b511-c0a4-4214-acb2-a51a86e937ea Orelvis' Debut and Yariel Rodriguez's Return with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to discuss the upcoming series against the Guardians kicking off tonight. He gets into the decision to put Orelvis Martinez in for his long-awaited debut and what he can bring to the lineup. Then, the skipper discusses Yariel Rodriguez making his first start since late April and what he expects from him. Finally, he weighs in on the team's home run problems on both sides of the ball, Springer's struggles, how Vladdy can find more consistency at the plate and more.

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.

]]> Fri, 21 Jun 2024 21:01:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to discuss the upcoming series against the Guardians kicking off tonight. He gets into the decision to put Orelvis Martinez in for his long-awaited debut and what he can bring to the lineup. Then, the skipper discusses Yariel Rodriguez making his first start since late April and what he expects from him. Finally, he weighs in on the team's home run problems on both sides of the ball, Springer's struggles, how Vladdy can find more consistency at the plate and more.

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.

]]> Orelvis' Debut and Yariel Rodriguez's Return with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:16:21 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to discuss the upcoming series against the Guardians kicking off tonight. He gets into the decision to put Orelvis Martinez in for his long-awaited debut and what he can bring to the lineup. Then, the skipper discusses Yariel Rodriguez making his first start since late April and what he expects from him. Finally, he weighs in on the team's home run problems on both sides of the ball, Springer's struggles, how Vladdy can find more consistency at the plate and more. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker to discuss the upcoming series against the Guardians kicking off tonight. He gets into the decision to put Orelvis Martinez in for his long-awaited debut and what he can bring to the lineup. Then, the skipper discusses Yariel Rodriguez making his first start since late April and what he expects from him. Finally, he weighs in on the team's home run problems on both sides of the ball, Springer's struggles, how Vladdy can find more consistency at the plate and more. 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. false full 2ff7bf1a-c27b-4d4c-9bcf-0677c99ba5ba Boston Breaks Out the Brooms & HOFer Fergie Jenkins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered on the Blue Jays off-day as they react to the team’s sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. Legendary pitcher and Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (27:29) reflects on what it was like to face Willie Mays and how the Blue Jays can turn things around in the second half of the season. MLB insider Jeff Passan (50:47) comments on Toronto’s home run issues: allowing too many and not hitting enough of them; before debating who the better team is between the Yankees and Orioles and which current player is this generation’s version of Willie Mays. MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (1:21:13) discusses the Guardians as the Blue Jays make the trip to Cleveland for a three-game series starting Friday.

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.

]]> Thu, 20 Jun 2024 22:06:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered on the Blue Jays off-day as they react to the team’s sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. Legendary pitcher and Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (27:29) reflects on what it was like to face Willie Mays and how the Blue Jays can turn things around in the second half of the season. MLB insider Jeff Passan (50:47) comments on Toronto’s home run issues: allowing too many and not hitting enough of them; before debating who the better team is between the Yankees and Orioles and which current player is this generation’s version of Willie Mays. MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (1:21:13) discusses the Guardians as the Blue Jays make the trip to Cleveland for a three-game series starting Friday.

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.

]]> Boston Breaks Out the Brooms & HOFer Fergie Jenkins Sportsnet 01:39:39 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered on the Blue Jays off-day as they react to the team’s sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. Legendary pitcher and Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (27:29) reflects on what it was like to face Willie Mays and how the Blue Jays can turn things around in the second half of the season. MLB insider Jeff Passan (50:47) comments on Toronto’s home run issues: allowing too many and not hitting enough of them; before debating who the better team is between the Yankees and Orioles and which current player is this generation’s version of Willie Mays. MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (1:21:13) discusses the Guardians as the Blue Jays make the trip to Cleveland for a three-game series starting Friday. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker have you covered on the Blue Jays off-day as they react to the team’s sweep at the hands of the Red Sox. Legendary pitcher and Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins (27:29) reflects on what it was like to face Willie Mays and how the Blue Jays can turn things around in the second half of the season. MLB insider Jeff Passan (50:47) comments on Toronto’s home run issues: allowing too many and not hitting enough of them; before debating who the better team is between the Yankees and Orioles and which current player is this generation’s version of Willie Mays. MLB.com’s Mandy Bell (1:21:13) discusses the Guardians as the Blue Jays make the trip to Cleveland for a three-game series starting Friday. 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. false full faa76a60-619f-419e-bf99-1dade3cd0e98 'No'relvis & Remembering the Say Hey Kid Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker go over the Blue Jays' decision to sit Orelvis Martinez for a second consecutive day before welcoming Buffalo Bisons' play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro to the show to talk about how Martinez was performing in AAA before his call-up (12:05). Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick discusses the life and legacy of the legendary Willie Mays after his passing at age 93 (25:57). MLB Network’s Dan Plesac shares his view on the Jays ahead of working the finale of the BOS-TOR series (59:01). WEEI’s Rob Bradford comments on the Red Sox play and if Alex Cora remains in Beantown past this year (1:11:33). Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman (1:25:00) checks-in from Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays look to avoid a series sweep.

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.

]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2024 22:07:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker go over the Blue Jays' decision to sit Orelvis Martinez for a second consecutive day before welcoming Buffalo Bisons' play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro to the show to talk about how Martinez was performing in AAA before his call-up (12:05). Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick discusses the life and legacy of the legendary Willie Mays after his passing at age 93 (25:57). MLB Network’s Dan Plesac shares his view on the Jays ahead of working the finale of the BOS-TOR series (59:01). WEEI’s Rob Bradford comments on the Red Sox play and if Alex Cora remains in Beantown past this year (1:11:33). Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman (1:25:00) checks-in from Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays look to avoid a series sweep.

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.

]]> 'No'relvis & Remembering the Say Hey Kid Sportsnet 01:39:15 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker go over the Blue Jays' decision to sit Orelvis Martinez for a second consecutive day before welcoming Buffalo Bisons' play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro to the show to talk about how Martinez was performing in AAA before his call-up (12:05). Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick discusses the life and legacy of the legendary Willie Mays after his passing at age 93 (25:57). MLB Network’s Dan Plesac shares his view on the Jays ahead of working the finale of the BOS-TOR series (59:01). WEEI’s Rob Bradford comments on the Red Sox play and if Alex Cora remains in Beantown past this year (1:11:33). Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman (1:25:00) checks-in from Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays look to avoid a series sweep. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker go over the Blue Jays' decision to sit Orelvis Martinez for a second consecutive day before welcoming Buffalo Bisons' play-by-play voice Pat Malacaro to the show to talk about how Martinez was performing in AAA before his call-up (12:05). Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick discusses the life and legacy of the legendary Willie Mays after his passing at age 93 (25:57). MLB Network’s Dan Plesac shares his view on the Jays ahead of working the finale of the BOS-TOR series (59:01). WEEI’s Rob Bradford comments on the Red Sox play and if Alex Cora remains in Beantown past this year (1:11:33). Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman (1:25:00) checks-in from Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays look to avoid a series sweep. 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. false full 20c2316e-64a2-4f70-816d-c5a8ec9a2dd3 Morosi Musings, Martinez on Martinez, & Russell Martin! Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the top Blue Jays news of the day: Bo Bichette is hitting the IL and prospect Orelvis Martinez getting called up from the Buffalo Bisons. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (23:06) stops by in-studio with his thoughts on Bichette/Martinez, the Blue Jays’ current youth movement and more from around the majors including this week’s pivotal AL East series between the Yankees & Orioles. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (54:07) joins the show ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre and shares that the Blue Jays’ newest Martinez plans to wear his old # 13 when he debuts for Toronto. 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inductee Russell Martin (1:15:59) reflects on the honour and his career.

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.

]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2024 22:10:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the top Blue Jays news of the day: Bo Bichette is hitting the IL and prospect Orelvis Martinez getting called up from the Buffalo Bisons. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (23:06) stops by in-studio with his thoughts on Bichette/Martinez, the Blue Jays’ current youth movement and more from around the majors including this week’s pivotal AL East series between the Yankees & Orioles. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (54:07) joins the show ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre and shares that the Blue Jays’ newest Martinez plans to wear his old # 13 when he debuts for Toronto. 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inductee Russell Martin (1:15:59) reflects on the honour and his career.

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.

]]> Morosi Musings, Martinez on Martinez, & Russell Martin! Sportsnet 01:39:34 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the top Blue Jays news of the day: Bo Bichette is hitting the IL and prospect Orelvis Martinez getting called up from the Buffalo Bisons. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (23:06) stops by in-studio with his thoughts on Bichette/Martinez, the Blue Jays’ current youth movement and more from around the majors including this week’s pivotal AL East series between the Yankees & Orioles. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (54:07) joins the show ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre and shares that the Blue Jays’ newest Martinez plans to wear his old # 13 when he debuts for Toronto. 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inductee Russell Martin (1:15:59) reflects on the honour and his career. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker react to the top Blue Jays news of the day: Bo Bichette is hitting the IL and prospect Orelvis Martinez getting called up from the Buffalo Bisons. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (23:06) stops by in-studio with his thoughts on Bichette/Martinez, the Blue Jays’ current youth movement and more from around the majors including this week’s pivotal AL East series between the Yankees & Orioles. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (54:07) joins the show ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre and shares that the Blue Jays’ newest Martinez plans to wear his old # 13 when he debuts for Toronto. 2024 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inductee Russell Martin (1:15:59) reflects on the honour and his career. 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. false full d44aa99d-fe48-431d-bdd0-86205178baea Jays Weekend Wrap + Red Sox with The Real J Pap Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays series win over the Cleveland Guardians and discuss the state of the team’s bullpen with Yimi Garcia leaving Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Former Red Sox closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon (25:37) comments on Boston’s young talent, Tanner Houck becoming the ace of the rotation and how to deal with bullpen injuries in-season. The guys go around the majors with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (51:58) and discuss how aggressive Atlanta will be ahead of the trade deadline, the injury bug hitting the Dodgers, the Orioles and more. Sportsnet’s Madison Shipman (1:16:10) checks in from Rogers Centre ahead of Jays-Red Sox with her read on Toronto’s recent play.

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.

]]> Mon, 17 Jun 2024 22:04:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays series win over the Cleveland Guardians and discuss the state of the team’s bullpen with Yimi Garcia leaving Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Former Red Sox closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon (25:37) comments on Boston’s young talent, Tanner Houck becoming the ace of the rotation and how to deal with bullpen injuries in-season. The guys go around the majors with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (51:58) and discuss how aggressive Atlanta will be ahead of the trade deadline, the injury bug hitting the Dodgers, the Orioles and more. Sportsnet’s Madison Shipman (1:16:10) checks in from Rogers Centre ahead of Jays-Red Sox with her read on Toronto’s recent play.

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.

]]> Jays Weekend Wrap + Red Sox with The Real J Pap Sportsnet 01:39:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays series win over the Cleveland Guardians and discuss the state of the team’s bullpen with Yimi Garcia leaving Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Former Red Sox closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon (25:37) comments on Boston’s young talent, Tanner Houck becoming the ace of the rotation and how to deal with bullpen injuries in-season. The guys go around the majors with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (51:58) and discuss how aggressive Atlanta will be ahead of the trade deadline, the injury bug hitting the Dodgers, the Orioles and more. Sportsnet’s Madison Shipman (1:16:10) checks in from Rogers Centre ahead of Jays-Red Sox with her read on Toronto’s recent play. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays series win over the Cleveland Guardians and discuss the state of the team’s bullpen with Yimi Garcia leaving Sunday’s game with an elbow injury. Former Red Sox closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon (25:37) comments on Boston’s young talent, Tanner Houck becoming the ace of the rotation and how to deal with bullpen injuries in-season. The guys go around the majors with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (51:58) and discuss how aggressive Atlanta will be ahead of the trade deadline, the injury bug hitting the Dodgers, the Orioles and more. Sportsnet’s Madison Shipman (1:16:10) checks in from Rogers Centre ahead of Jays-Red Sox with her read on Toronto’s recent play. 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. false full 9aeb0bcb-06c8-44f1-9ad2-a4c3c158e646 Barger’s Back + Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes Talks Cavan Biggio Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of the Guardians series to discuss the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and recall Addison Barger (11:04). Later, the guys check their voicemails for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:28). Los Angeles Dodgers EVP & GM Brandon Gomes discusses the Cavan Biggio trade from his club’s perspective, Shohei Ohtani performing as advertised in his first year with the team and Teoscar Hernandez’s standout season (51:02). MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:26) discusses Bo Bichette, last weekend’s marquee Dodgers-Yankees series, what the Astros' approach could be leading up to the trade deadline and more from around the major leagues.

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.

]]> Fri, 14 Jun 2024 22:05:00 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of the Guardians series to discuss the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and recall Addison Barger (11:04). Later, the guys check their voicemails for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:28). Los Angeles Dodgers EVP & GM Brandon Gomes discusses the Cavan Biggio trade from his club’s perspective, Shohei Ohtani performing as advertised in his first year with the team and Teoscar Hernandez’s standout season (51:02). MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:26) discusses Bo Bichette, last weekend’s marquee Dodgers-Yankees series, what the Astros' approach could be leading up to the trade deadline and more from around the major leagues.

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.

]]> Barger’s Back + Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes Talks Cavan Biggio Sportsnet 01:39:41 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of the Guardians series to discuss the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and recall Addison Barger (11:04). Later, the guys check their voicemails for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:28). Los Angeles Dodgers EVP & GM Brandon Gomes discusses the Cavan Biggio trade from his club’s perspective, Shohei Ohtani performing as advertised in his first year with the team and Teoscar Hernandez’s standout season (51:02). MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:26) discusses Bo Bichette, last weekend’s marquee Dodgers-Yankees series, what the Astros' approach could be leading up to the trade deadline and more from around the major leagues. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of the Guardians series to discuss the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and recall Addison Barger (11:04). Later, the guys check their voicemails for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:28). Los Angeles Dodgers EVP & GM Brandon Gomes discusses the Cavan Biggio trade from his club’s perspective, Shohei Ohtani performing as advertised in his first year with the team and Teoscar Hernandez’s standout season (51:02). MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:17:26) discusses Bo Bichette, last weekend’s marquee Dodgers-Yankees series, what the Astros' approach could be leading up to the trade deadline and more from around the major leagues. 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. false full c8f3e35d-6289-4fdc-8f35-28903a96693e The Addison Addition with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Guardians over the weekend. The skipper discusses the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and why it was the right time to recall Addison Barger and if he has a chance to be a long-time right fielder in the league. Then, how Spencer Horwitz is adjusting to the Majors, Tim Mayza's string of struggles coming out of the pen and if Kevin Gausman can have an effective sinker moving forward. 

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.

]]> Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:32:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Guardians over the weekend. The skipper discusses the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and why it was the right time to recall Addison Barger and if he has a chance to be a long-time right fielder in the league. Then, how Spencer Horwitz is adjusting to the Majors, Tim Mayza's string of struggles coming out of the pen and if Kevin Gausman can have an effective sinker moving forward. 

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.

]]> The Addison Addition with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:13:16 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Guardians over the weekend. The skipper discusses the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and why it was the right time to recall Addison Barger and if he has a chance to be a long-time right fielder in the league. Then, how Spencer Horwitz is adjusting to the Majors, Tim Mayza's string of struggles coming out of the pen and if Kevin Gausman can have an effective sinker moving forward.  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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Guardians over the weekend. The skipper discusses the team's decision to DFA Daniel Vogelbach and why it was the right time to recall Addison Barger and if he has a chance to be a long-time right fielder in the league. Then, how Spencer Horwitz is adjusting to the Majors, Tim Mayza's string of struggles coming out of the pen and if Kevin Gausman can have an effective sinker moving forward.  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. false full b543c2e6-ad57-480c-8aff-4bc937bbf740 The Trade Market with Mark Feinsand & Jason Kipnis Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker touch on the Cavan Biggio trade and react to Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts’ comments on his newest player before bringing on MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (12:06) to discuss Aaron Judge’s hot streak, players garnering interest on the trade market, and Gerrit Cole’s impending return to the Yankees rotation. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph (52:52) comments on Toronto’s recent play, notably the loss in the series finale vs. Milwaukee. Foul Territory contributor and Guardians radio analyst Jason Kipnis (1:16:27) looks ahead to this weekend’s series at Rogers Centre and discusses the Guardians' season so far and their extremely successful bullpen.

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.

]]> Thu, 13 Jun 2024 22:05:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker touch on the Cavan Biggio trade and react to Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts’ comments on his newest player before bringing on MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (12:06) to discuss Aaron Judge’s hot streak, players garnering interest on the trade market, and Gerrit Cole’s impending return to the Yankees rotation. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph (52:52) comments on Toronto’s recent play, notably the loss in the series finale vs. Milwaukee. Foul Territory contributor and Guardians radio analyst Jason Kipnis (1:16:27) looks ahead to this weekend’s series at Rogers Centre and discusses the Guardians' season so far and their extremely successful bullpen.

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.

]]> The Trade Market with Mark Feinsand & Jason Kipnis Sportsnet 01:38:45 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker touch on the Cavan Biggio trade and react to Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts’ comments on his newest player before bringing on MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (12:06) to discuss Aaron Judge’s hot streak, players garnering interest on the trade market, and Gerrit Cole’s impending return to the Yankees rotation. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph (52:52) comments on Toronto’s recent play, notably the loss in the series finale vs. Milwaukee. Foul Territory contributor and Guardians radio analyst Jason Kipnis (1:16:27) looks ahead to this weekend’s series at Rogers Centre and discusses the Guardians' season so far and their extremely successful bullpen. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker touch on the Cavan Biggio trade and react to Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts’ comments on his newest player before bringing on MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand (12:06) to discuss Aaron Judge’s hot streak, players garnering interest on the trade market, and Gerrit Cole’s impending return to the Yankees rotation. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph (52:52) comments on Toronto’s recent play, notably the loss in the series finale vs. Milwaukee. Foul Territory contributor and Guardians radio analyst Jason Kipnis (1:16:27) looks ahead to this weekend’s series at Rogers Centre and discusses the Guardians' season so far and their extremely successful bullpen. 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. false full 5119f88d-0c6c-425f-a8e0-ed9cd07cd231 IKF + Horsin’ Around with Jayson Werth Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Toronto’s 3-1 loss to Milwaukee in the opener of the series, and look ahead to game two where Yusei Kikuchi and rookie Carlos Rodriguez will take the mound for their respective clubs. Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (35:34) discusses how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season.  David Samson (50:28) discusses the latest around the major leagues; particularly if an in-season tournament would make sense for baseball like it does in the NBA. Former major-league outfielder Jayson Werth (1:18:33) comments about his wild weekend where his horse Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont stakes before looking back on his career including his time with the Blue Jays.

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.

]]> Tue, 11 Jun 2024 22:09:29 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Toronto’s 3-1 loss to Milwaukee in the opener of the series, and look ahead to game two where Yusei Kikuchi and rookie Carlos Rodriguez will take the mound for their respective clubs. Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (35:34) discusses how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season.  David Samson (50:28) discusses the latest around the major leagues; particularly if an in-season tournament would make sense for baseball like it does in the NBA. Former major-league outfielder Jayson Werth (1:18:33) comments about his wild weekend where his horse Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont stakes before looking back on his career including his time with the Blue Jays.

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.

]]> IKF + Horsin’ Around with Jayson Werth Sportsnet 01:39:07 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Toronto’s 3-1 loss to Milwaukee in the opener of the series, and look ahead to game two where Yusei Kikuchi and rookie Carlos Rodriguez will take the mound for their respective clubs. Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (35:34) discusses how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season. David Samson (50:28) discusses the latest around the major leagues; particularly if an in-season tournament would make sense for baseball like it does in the NBA. Former major-league outfielder Jayson Werth (1:18:33) comments about his wild weekend where his horse Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont stakes before looking back on his career including his time with the Blue Jays. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Toronto’s 3-1 loss to Milwaukee in the opener of the series, and look ahead to game two where Yusei Kikuchi and rookie Carlos Rodriguez will take the mound for their respective clubs. Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (35:34) discusses how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season. David Samson (50:28) discusses the latest around the major leagues; particularly if an in-season tournament would make sense for baseball like it does in the NBA. Former major-league outfielder Jayson Werth (1:18:33) comments about his wild weekend where his horse Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont stakes before looking back on his career including his time with the Blue Jays. 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. false full 7d3c3eb5-536e-4823-bc3b-a76593f94def In the Clutch with Isiah Kiner-Falefa Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season. Then, he gets into how MLB's shift bans have changed fielding, his unique path to the big leagues and lessons from his years with the Yankees.

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.

]]> Tue, 11 Jun 2024 21:06:01 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season. Then, he gets into how MLB's shift bans have changed fielding, his unique path to the big leagues and lessons from his years with the Yankees.

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.

]]> In the Clutch with Isiah Kiner-Falefa Sportsnet 00:12:45 Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season. Then, he gets into how MLB's shift bans have changed fielding, his unique path to the big leagues and lessons from his years with the Yankees. 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. Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss how his positional versatility helps take pressure off, adjustments to his approach at the plate and why the fastball has eluded the Blue Jays batting order this season. Then, he gets into how MLB's shift bans have changed fielding, his unique path to the big leagues and lessons from his years with the Yankees. 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. false full e7e4c509-5fe0-4c8e-81ba-868bc90a768e Paying a Visit to the Brew Crew + Player Polls! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s series win over Oakland, notably Sunday’s win in extra innings, and the standout pitching performances from starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman. Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering discusses Milwaukee’s successful season so far and how the organization continues to play well following the departure of manager Craig Counsell in the offseason (28:20). Jeff and Kevin discuss and debate the results of The Athletic’s players poll (51:05). MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:17:42) discusses the latest around the game including the overwhelming number of teams below .500 and the success of this past weekend’s London series between the Phillies and Mets in the UK.

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.

]]> Mon, 10 Jun 2024 22:25:36 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s series win over Oakland, notably Sunday’s win in extra innings, and the standout pitching performances from starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman. Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering discusses Milwaukee’s successful season so far and how the organization continues to play well following the departure of manager Craig Counsell in the offseason (28:20). Jeff and Kevin discuss and debate the results of The Athletic’s players poll (51:05). MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:17:42) discusses the latest around the game including the overwhelming number of teams below .500 and the success of this past weekend’s London series between the Phillies and Mets in the UK.

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.

]]> Paying a Visit to the Brew Crew + Player Polls! Sportsnet 01:38:55 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s series win over Oakland, notably Sunday’s win in extra innings, and the standout pitching performances from starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman. Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering discusses Milwaukee’s successful season so far and how the organization continues to play well following the departure of manager Craig Counsell in the offseason (28:20). Jeff and Kevin discuss and debate the results of The Athletic’s players poll (51:05). MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:17:42) discusses the latest around the game including the overwhelming number of teams below .500 and the success of this past weekend’s London series between the Phillies and Mets in the UK. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s series win over Oakland, notably Sunday’s win in extra innings, and the standout pitching performances from starters Chris Bassitt and Kevin Gausman. Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering discusses Milwaukee’s successful season so far and how the organization continues to play well following the departure of manager Craig Counsell in the offseason (28:20). Jeff and Kevin discuss and debate the results of The Athletic’s players poll (51:05). MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:17:42) discusses the latest around the game including the overwhelming number of teams below .500 and the success of this past weekend’s London series between the Phillies and Mets in the UK. 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. false full 0adc3b1a-bfa4-45d3-8b0d-d1b4d88c842b Horwitz Here to Stay? + A Final Jays-A’s Series in the Bay Blue Jays manager John Schneider discusses what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could possibly warrant a spot on the main roster, the lack of producing runs in the first inning, and more surrounding his club as they get ready to play the Oakland A’s (26:53). Jeff and Kevin open up their voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (52:06). Shi Davidi checks-in from Oakland ahead of the final Blue Jays-A’s series in Oakland with his reporting that Horwitz is currently with the team (1:09:20). A’s play-by-play broadcaster Vince Cotroneo previews the series and discusses the young talent on their rebuilding roster (1:21:00).

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.

]]> Fri, 7 Jun 2024 22:06:25 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider discusses what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could possibly warrant a spot on the main roster, the lack of producing runs in the first inning, and more surrounding his club as they get ready to play the Oakland A’s (26:53). Jeff and Kevin open up their voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (52:06). Shi Davidi checks-in from Oakland ahead of the final Blue Jays-A’s series in Oakland with his reporting that Horwitz is currently with the team (1:09:20). A’s play-by-play broadcaster Vince Cotroneo previews the series and discusses the young talent on their rebuilding roster (1:21:00).

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.

]]> Horwitz Here to Stay? + A Final Jays-A’s Series in the Bay Sportsnet 01:39:07 Blue Jays manager John Schneider discusses what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could possibly warrant a spot on the main roster, the lack of producing runs in the first inning, and more surrounding his club as they get ready to play the Oakland A’s (26:53). Jeff and Kevin open up their voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (52:06). Shi Davidi checks-in from Oakland ahead of the final Blue Jays-A’s series in Oakland with his reporting that Horwitz is currently with the team (1:09:20). A’s play-by-play broadcaster Vince Cotroneo previews the series and discusses the young talent on their rebuilding roster (1:21:00). 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider discusses what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could possibly warrant a spot on the main roster, the lack of producing runs in the first inning, and more surrounding his club as they get ready to play the Oakland A’s (26:53). Jeff and Kevin open up their voicemail for this Friday’s edition of the Back Leg Line (52:06). Shi Davidi checks-in from Oakland ahead of the final Blue Jays-A’s series in Oakland with his reporting that Horwitz is currently with the team (1:09:20). A’s play-by-play broadcaster Vince Cotroneo previews the series and discusses the young talent on their rebuilding roster (1:21:00). 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. false full 3d34daf0-a7ac-44b8-bea3-481693ef7639 Potential Reinforcements & First Inning Droughts with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Athletics. The skipper gets into what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could warrant a spot on the main roster with reports he's with the team in Oakland. Then, he discusses the team's ongoing first-inning scoring drought, the challenges Bo Bichette is facing in his at-bats and Danny Jansen's workload. Finally, how Chris Bassitt can find success against his former team and how he views his team bouncing back after a blowout loss to the Baltimore Orioles. 

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.

]]> Fri, 7 Jun 2024 21:04:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Athletics. The skipper gets into what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could warrant a spot on the main roster with reports he's with the team in Oakland. Then, he discusses the team's ongoing first-inning scoring drought, the challenges Bo Bichette is facing in his at-bats and Danny Jansen's workload. Finally, how Chris Bassitt can find success against his former team and how he views his team bouncing back after a blowout loss to the Baltimore Orioles. 

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.

]]> Potential Reinforcements & First Inning Droughts with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:14:53 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Athletics. The skipper gets into what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could warrant a spot on the main roster with reports he's with the team in Oakland. Then, he discusses the team's ongoing first-inning scoring drought, the challenges Bo Bichette is facing in his at-bats and Danny Jansen's workload. Finally, how Chris Bassitt can find success against his former team and how he views his team bouncing back after a blowout loss to the Baltimore Orioles. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker ahead of a three-game series against the Athletics. The skipper gets into what improvements he has seen in Spencer Horwitz's game that could warrant a spot on the main roster with reports he's with the team in Oakland. Then, he discusses the team's ongoing first-inning scoring drought, the challenges Bo Bichette is facing in his at-bats and Danny Jansen's workload. Finally, how Chris Bassitt can find success against his former team and how he views his team bouncing back after a blowout loss to the Baltimore Orioles. 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. false full 7561a842-77fa-4d89-ae6a-25ce06c8f36b Jays Head West Post Series Split Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker between the Orioles and A’s series as the Blue Jays head west to Oakland in hopes of continuing their winning ways (8:54). The Athletic’s Andy McCollough (28:11) discusses the latest story he co-authored on Latin American starting pitchers in MLB and why the number of them has dwindled over the years.

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.

]]> Thu, 6 Jun 2024 22:01:56 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker between the Orioles and A’s series as the Blue Jays head west to Oakland in hopes of continuing their winning ways (8:54). The Athletic’s Andy McCollough (28:11) discusses the latest story he co-authored on Latin American starting pitchers in MLB and why the number of them has dwindled over the years.

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.

]]> Jays Head West Post Series Split Sportsnet 00:49:50 Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker between the Orioles and A’s series as the Blue Jays head west to Oakland in hopes of continuing their winning ways (8:54). The Athletic’s Andy McCollough (28:11) discusses the latest story he co-authored on Latin American starting pitchers in MLB and why the number of them has dwindled over the years. 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 Caleb Joseph joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker between the Orioles and A’s series as the Blue Jays head west to Oakland in hopes of continuing their winning ways (8:54). The Athletic’s Andy McCollough (28:11) discusses the latest story he co-authored on Latin American starting pitchers in MLB and why the number of them has dwindled over the years. 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. false full 4c79551e-9c20-471f-bc41-5e3af6ea606c More Mountcastle Magic & Hall of Famer Chipper Jones Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 10-1 loss to the Orioles, notably Baltimore’s balanced offensive attack and Ryan Mountcastle continuing his Jays-killing ways with a two-HR performance at Rogers Centre. What makes certain hitters hot at certain ballparks? The guys call up Hall-of-Famer and former Braves hitting consultant Chipper Jones (27:03) to ask him about that and what changes he had to make mechanically whenever he was in a slump. With two games of four completed in the O’s series, Jeff & Kevin open up the Back Leg Line (52:15). Dan Shulman (1:19:05) shares his point of view on the Blue Jays and the series so far ahead of first pitch of tonight’s game. 

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.

]]> Wed, 5 Jun 2024 22:06:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 10-1 loss to the Orioles, notably Baltimore’s balanced offensive attack and Ryan Mountcastle continuing his Jays-killing ways with a two-HR performance at Rogers Centre. What makes certain hitters hot at certain ballparks? The guys call up Hall-of-Famer and former Braves hitting consultant Chipper Jones (27:03) to ask him about that and what changes he had to make mechanically whenever he was in a slump. With two games of four completed in the O’s series, Jeff & Kevin open up the Back Leg Line (52:15). Dan Shulman (1:19:05) shares his point of view on the Blue Jays and the series so far ahead of first pitch of tonight’s game. 

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.

]]> More Mountcastle Magic & Hall of Famer Chipper Jones Sportsnet 01:39:21 Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 10-1 loss to the Orioles, notably Baltimore’s balanced offensive attack and Ryan Mountcastle continuing his Jays-killing ways with a two-HR performance at Rogers Centre. What makes certain hitters hot at certain ballparks? The guys call up Hall-of-Famer and former Braves hitting consultant Chipper Jones (27:03) to ask him about that and what changes he had to make mechanically whenever he was in a slump. With two games of four completed in the O’s series, Jeff & Kevin open up the Back Leg Line (52:15). Dan Shulman (1:19:05) shares his point of view on the Blue Jays and the series so far ahead of first pitch of tonight’s game. 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. Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 10-1 loss to the Orioles, notably Baltimore’s balanced offensive attack and Ryan Mountcastle continuing his Jays-killing ways with a two-HR performance at Rogers Centre. What makes certain hitters hot at certain ballparks? The guys call up Hall-of-Famer and former Braves hitting consultant Chipper Jones (27:03) to ask him about that and what changes he had to make mechanically whenever he was in a slump. With two games of four completed in the O’s series, Jeff & Kevin open up the Back Leg Line (52:15). Dan Shulman (1:19:05) shares his point of view on the Blue Jays and the series so far ahead of first pitch of tonight’s game. 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. false full f3b0d9a4-8414-4f52-a242-09a2a9d2e09c O’s Woes + Passan’s Early Trade Deadline Preview Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s latest loss to the Orioles, the team’s difficulty at scoring runs continuing, and examine a few of the trades and signings Ross Atkins has made during his tenure as Blue Jays GM. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (33:03) checks in from field level at Rogers Centre with his thoughts on game one of the O’s series and the team’s recent play. MASN’s Roch Kubatko (54:43) gives the lowdown on Connor Norby, the organization’s latest top prospect to be recalled and Corbin Burnes pitching as advertised since coming over from Milwaukee. Jeff Passan (1:17:01) shares an early look ahead to the trade deadline, if the Jays' mindset can change between now and then and the latest gambling bans and suspensions levied by MLB. 

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.

]]> Tue, 4 Jun 2024 22:08:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s latest loss to the Orioles, the team’s difficulty at scoring runs continuing, and examine a few of the trades and signings Ross Atkins has made during his tenure as Blue Jays GM. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (33:03) checks in from field level at Rogers Centre with his thoughts on game one of the O’s series and the team’s recent play. MASN’s Roch Kubatko (54:43) gives the lowdown on Connor Norby, the organization’s latest top prospect to be recalled and Corbin Burnes pitching as advertised since coming over from Milwaukee. Jeff Passan (1:17:01) shares an early look ahead to the trade deadline, if the Jays' mindset can change between now and then and the latest gambling bans and suspensions levied by MLB. 

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.

]]> O’s Woes + Passan’s Early Trade Deadline Preview Sportsnet 01:39:35 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s latest loss to the Orioles, the team’s difficulty at scoring runs continuing, and examine a few of the trades and signings Ross Atkins has made during his tenure as Blue Jays GM. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (33:03) checks in from field level at Rogers Centre with his thoughts on game one of the O’s series and the team’s recent play. MASN’s Roch Kubatko (54:43) gives the lowdown on Connor Norby, the organization’s latest top prospect to be recalled and Corbin Burnes pitching as advertised since coming over from Milwaukee. Jeff Passan (1:17:01) shares an early look ahead to the trade deadline, if the Jays' mindset can change between now and then and the latest gambling bans and suspensions levied by MLB.  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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s latest loss to the Orioles, the team’s difficulty at scoring runs continuing, and examine a few of the trades and signings Ross Atkins has made during his tenure as Blue Jays GM. Sportsnet’s Joe Siddall (33:03) checks in from field level at Rogers Centre with his thoughts on game one of the O’s series and the team’s recent play. MASN’s Roch Kubatko (54:43) gives the lowdown on Connor Norby, the organization’s latest top prospect to be recalled and Corbin Burnes pitching as advertised since coming over from Milwaukee. Jeff Passan (1:17:01) shares an early look ahead to the trade deadline, if the Jays' mindset can change between now and then and the latest gambling bans and suspensions levied by MLB.  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. false full c204aef0-cfc2-4e3b-8af2-cf3bd0313fbc The O’s Return to Rogers Centre Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Toronto Blue Jays series win over the Pirates; notably, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing 3B in the finale before reacting to comments Jays GM Ross Atkins made on MLB network radio. Former Orioles closer and ESPN analyst Gregg Olson (32:34) comments on the O’s and how closer injuries can affect the rest of the bullpen. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (49:42) goes around MLB with the guys with his thoughts on Toronto’s season to date, their important month ahead, Aaron Judge’s hot streak, and Rob Thomson’s successful two-year stint as Phillies manager.  Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (1:20:58) checks in ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre.

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.

]]> Mon, 3 Jun 2024 22:23:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Toronto Blue Jays series win over the Pirates; notably, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing 3B in the finale before reacting to comments Jays GM Ross Atkins made on MLB network radio. Former Orioles closer and ESPN analyst Gregg Olson (32:34) comments on the O’s and how closer injuries can affect the rest of the bullpen. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (49:42) goes around MLB with the guys with his thoughts on Toronto’s season to date, their important month ahead, Aaron Judge’s hot streak, and Rob Thomson’s successful two-year stint as Phillies manager.  Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (1:20:58) checks in ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre.

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.

]]> The O’s Return to Rogers Centre Sportsnet 01:38:30 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Toronto Blue Jays series win over the Pirates; notably, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing 3B in the finale before reacting to comments Jays GM Ross Atkins made on MLB network radio. Former Orioles closer and ESPN analyst Gregg Olson (32:34) comments on the O’s and how closer injuries can affect the rest of the bullpen. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (49:42) goes around MLB with the guys with his thoughts on Toronto’s season to date, their important month ahead, Aaron Judge’s hot streak, and Rob Thomson’s successful two-year stint as Phillies manager. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (1:20:58) checks in ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Toronto Blue Jays series win over the Pirates; notably, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. playing 3B in the finale before reacting to comments Jays GM Ross Atkins made on MLB network radio. Former Orioles closer and ESPN analyst Gregg Olson (32:34) comments on the O’s and how closer injuries can affect the rest of the bullpen. The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (49:42) goes around MLB with the guys with his thoughts on Toronto’s season to date, their important month ahead, Aaron Judge’s hot streak, and Rob Thomson’s successful two-year stint as Phillies manager. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez (1:20:58) checks in ahead of first pitch from Rogers Centre. 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. false full 6b3fb2a1-ab05-4448-9fdb-6e8df6ee39df Manoah Update, Managers Hour & José Bautista! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Alek Manoah heading to the IL and more with Blue Jays Manager John Schneider ahead of this weekend’s Pirates series (2:18). Former Blue Jays coach and current Pirates bench boss Derek Shelton comments on his club, notably phenom Paul Skenes taking MLB by storm following his call-up (25:22). Blair & Barker open up the voicemail for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (50:05). Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista (1:14:41) joins the show with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s season and the team’s new City Connect jerseys! 

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.

]]> Fri, 31 May 2024 22:08:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Alek Manoah heading to the IL and more with Blue Jays Manager John Schneider ahead of this weekend’s Pirates series (2:18). Former Blue Jays coach and current Pirates bench boss Derek Shelton comments on his club, notably phenom Paul Skenes taking MLB by storm following his call-up (25:22). Blair & Barker open up the voicemail for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (50:05). Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista (1:14:41) joins the show with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s season and the team’s new City Connect jerseys! 

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.

]]> Manoah Update, Managers Hour & José Bautista! Sportsnet 01:39:29 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Alek Manoah heading to the IL and more with Blue Jays Manager John Schneider ahead of this weekend’s Pirates series (2:18). Former Blue Jays coach and current Pirates bench boss Derek Shelton comments on his club, notably phenom Paul Skenes taking MLB by storm following his call-up (25:22). Blair & Barker open up the voicemail for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (50:05). Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista (1:14:41) joins the show with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s season and the team’s new City Connect jerseys! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Alek Manoah heading to the IL and more with Blue Jays Manager John Schneider ahead of this weekend’s Pirates series (2:18). Former Blue Jays coach and current Pirates bench boss Derek Shelton comments on his club, notably phenom Paul Skenes taking MLB by storm following his call-up (25:22). Blair & Barker open up the voicemail for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (50:05). Blue Jays legend Jose Bautista (1:14:41) joins the show with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s season and the team’s new City Connect jerseys! 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. false full d601eae7-4c79-4290-b114-ed2d31947d00 Manoah to IL & Approach Shifts with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on unveiling the team's City Connect jerseys. Then, he shares the latest on Alek Manoah as he heads to the IL and their plans in his absence, including elevating newly acquired pitcher Ryan Burr. Later, the skipper evaluates his coaching staff, Springer's play in the 7th-spot and Romano's recent dip in fastball velocity.

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.

]]> Fri, 31 May 2024 20:30:07 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on unveiling the team's City Connect jerseys. Then, he shares the latest on Alek Manoah as he heads to the IL and their plans in his absence, including elevating newly acquired pitcher Ryan Burr. Later, the skipper evaluates his coaching staff, Springer's play in the 7th-spot and Romano's recent dip in fastball velocity.

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.

]]> Manoah to IL & Approach Shifts with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:12:59 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on unveiling the team's City Connect jerseys. Then, he shares the latest on Alek Manoah as he heads to the IL and their plans in his absence, including elevating newly acquired pitcher Ryan Burr. Later, the skipper evaluates his coaching staff, Springer's play in the 7th-spot and Romano's recent dip in fastball velocity. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to share his thoughts on unveiling the team's City Connect jerseys. Then, he shares the latest on Alek Manoah as he heads to the IL and their plans in his absence, including elevating newly acquired pitcher Ryan Burr. Later, the skipper evaluates his coaching staff, Springer's play in the 7th-spot and Romano's recent dip in fastball velocity. 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. false full 0ea8d2b2-6ff8-4799-8106-6eeb0e917776 Manoah's Setback, City Connects & Superman Pillar Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 victory and sweep of the Chicago White Sox, notably, starter Alek Manoah’s status after leaving the game in the second inning. David Samson (25:54) shares why he’s feeling for Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins before discussing the release of ‘City Connect’ jerseys around MLB and the renderings of a new ballpark in Tampa Bay. LA Angels' outfielder Kevin Pillar (50:38) speaks on his resurgent year and reflects on his unique career path after reaching the 1000-hit milestone. SNY's Andy Martino (1:07:48) breaks down the Jorge Lopez situation and shares what's wrong with the Mets. Finally, former MLB pitcher Jason Grilli (1:21:45) on the Pirates' exciting outlook with Paul Skenes and to what level ownership will invest in building around him.

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.

]]> Thu, 30 May 2024 22:05:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 victory and sweep of the Chicago White Sox, notably, starter Alek Manoah’s status after leaving the game in the second inning. David Samson (25:54) shares why he’s feeling for Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins before discussing the release of ‘City Connect’ jerseys around MLB and the renderings of a new ballpark in Tampa Bay. LA Angels' outfielder Kevin Pillar (50:38) speaks on his resurgent year and reflects on his unique career path after reaching the 1000-hit milestone. SNY's Andy Martino (1:07:48) breaks down the Jorge Lopez situation and shares what's wrong with the Mets. Finally, former MLB pitcher Jason Grilli (1:21:45) on the Pirates' exciting outlook with Paul Skenes and to what level ownership will invest in building around him.

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.

]]> Manoah's Setback, City Connects & Superman Pillar Sportsnet 01:39:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 victory and sweep of the Chicago White Sox, notably, starter Alek Manoah’s status after leaving the game in the second inning. David Samson (25:54) shares why he’s feeling for Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins before discussing the release of ‘City Connect’ jerseys around MLB and the renderings of a new ballpark in Tampa Bay. LA Angels' outfielder Kevin Pillar (50:38) speaks on his resurgent year and reflects on his unique career path after reaching the 1000-hit milestone. SNY's Andy Martino (1:07:48) breaks down the Jorge Lopez situation and shares what's wrong with the Mets. Finally, former MLB pitcher Jason Grilli (1:21:45) on the Pirates' exciting outlook with Paul Skenes and to what level ownership will invest in building around him. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 victory and sweep of the Chicago White Sox, notably, starter Alek Manoah’s status after leaving the game in the second inning. David Samson (25:54) shares why he’s feeling for Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins before discussing the release of ‘City Connect’ jerseys around MLB and the renderings of a new ballpark in Tampa Bay. LA Angels' outfielder Kevin Pillar (50:38) speaks on his resurgent year and reflects on his unique career path after reaching the 1000-hit milestone. SNY's Andy Martino (1:07:48) breaks down the Jorge Lopez situation and shares what's wrong with the Mets. Finally, former MLB pitcher Jason Grilli (1:21:45) on the Pirates' exciting outlook with Paul Skenes and to what level ownership will invest in building around him. 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. false full e571bbe8-c02b-49f2-add3-107c34224a3a Davis Schneider, Paul Janish & Passan’s Trival Pursuit Chicago White Sox Director of Player Development (and Barker’s former teammate!) Paul Janish discusses his role, joining a young and up-and-coming front office and how his time as a player has helped him transition to management (23:59). Blue Jays’ OF Davis Schneider joins the show to talk about his move to the lead-off spot, playing in both the infield and outfield and his overall success since his promotion last season (51:02). ESPN’s Jeff Passan comments on Paul Skenes’ latest elite start, the Pirates duty to surround him with strong talent, Angel Hernandez’s retirement and also fact-checks previous trivia questions asked on this show (1:16:31).

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.

]]> Wed, 29 May 2024 22:16:06 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Chicago White Sox Director of Player Development (and Barker’s former teammate!) Paul Janish discusses his role, joining a young and up-and-coming front office and how his time as a player has helped him transition to management (23:59). Blue Jays’ OF Davis Schneider joins the show to talk about his move to the lead-off spot, playing in both the infield and outfield and his overall success since his promotion last season (51:02). ESPN’s Jeff Passan comments on Paul Skenes’ latest elite start, the Pirates duty to surround him with strong talent, Angel Hernandez’s retirement and also fact-checks previous trivia questions asked on this show (1:16:31).

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.

]]> Davis Schneider, Paul Janish & Passan’s Trival Pursuit Sportsnet 01:39:53 Chicago White Sox Director of Player Development (and Barker’s former teammate!) Paul Janish discusses his role, joining a young and up-and-coming front office and how his time as a player has helped him transition to management (23:59). Blue Jays’ OF Davis Schneider joins the show to talk about his move to the lead-off spot, playing in both the infield and outfield and his overall success since his promotion last season (51:02). ESPN’s Jeff Passan comments on Paul Skenes’ latest elite start, the Pirates duty to surround him with strong talent, Angel Hernandez’s retirement and also fact-checks previous trivia questions asked on this show (1:16:31). 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. Chicago White Sox Director of Player Development (and Barker’s former teammate!) Paul Janish discusses his role, joining a young and up-and-coming front office and how his time as a player has helped him transition to management (23:59). Blue Jays’ OF Davis Schneider joins the show to talk about his move to the lead-off spot, playing in both the infield and outfield and his overall success since his promotion last season (51:02). ESPN’s Jeff Passan comments on Paul Skenes’ latest elite start, the Pirates duty to surround him with strong talent, Angel Hernandez’s retirement and also fact-checks previous trivia questions asked on this show (1:16:31). 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. false full c26ca030-3f5b-4ab7-a328-389e0656d213 Leading Off with Davis Schneider Blue Jays' infielder and outfielder Davis Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his approach to being the team's lead-off hitter, the types of batting stances he has and the adjustment between playing in the outfield versus on second base. Then, he shares when he knew he's capable of playing in the Majors, the difficulty of cracking the 40-man roster and if he gets star struck by other players he's watched and now play against. Finally, he discusses the mood in the clubhouse as the baseball club navigates through an up and down 2024 season. 

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.

]]> Wed, 29 May 2024 21:26:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays' infielder and outfielder Davis Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his approach to being the team's lead-off hitter, the types of batting stances he has and the adjustment between playing in the outfield versus on second base. Then, he shares when he knew he's capable of playing in the Majors, the difficulty of cracking the 40-man roster and if he gets star struck by other players he's watched and now play against. Finally, he discusses the mood in the clubhouse as the baseball club navigates through an up and down 2024 season. 

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.

]]> Leading Off with Davis Schneider Sportsnet 00:12:28 Blue Jays' infielder and outfielder Davis Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his approach to being the team's lead-off hitter, the types of batting stances he has and the adjustment between playing in the outfield versus on second base. Then, he shares when he knew he's capable of playing in the Majors, the difficulty of cracking the 40-man roster and if he gets star struck by other players he's watched and now play against. Finally, he discusses the mood in the clubhouse as the baseball club navigates through an up and down 2024 season.  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. Blue Jays' infielder and outfielder Davis Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his approach to being the team's lead-off hitter, the types of batting stances he has and the adjustment between playing in the outfield versus on second base. Then, he shares when he knew he's capable of playing in the Majors, the difficulty of cracking the 40-man roster and if he gets star struck by other players he's watched and now play against. Finally, he discusses the mood in the clubhouse as the baseball club navigates through an up and down 2024 season.  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. false full c789839b-7406-43eb-9278-c6190837edf8 Angel’s Exit, Erik Kratz, & Terry Francona Ahead of Game two of the Blue Jays-White Sox series, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz who discussed umpire Angel Hernandez’s retirement, Chris Bassitt’s latest start and the rest vs. rust debate when it comes to clinching a postseason berth (27:00). Legendary MLB manager Terry Francona comments further on Hernandez before talking about the emergence of the Naylor brothers in Cleveland, how his managing style changed over the years and the best players he’s ever played with and managed (51:16). Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph breaks down the latest surrounding the Blue Jays, notably the decision to send down Erik Swanson with Chad Green returning to the team’s bullpen (1:16:13).

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.

]]> Tue, 28 May 2024 22:06:11 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Ahead of Game two of the Blue Jays-White Sox series, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz who discussed umpire Angel Hernandez’s retirement, Chris Bassitt’s latest start and the rest vs. rust debate when it comes to clinching a postseason berth (27:00). Legendary MLB manager Terry Francona comments further on Hernandez before talking about the emergence of the Naylor brothers in Cleveland, how his managing style changed over the years and the best players he’s ever played with and managed (51:16). Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph breaks down the latest surrounding the Blue Jays, notably the decision to send down Erik Swanson with Chad Green returning to the team’s bullpen (1:16:13).

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.

]]> Angel’s Exit, Erik Kratz, & Terry Francona Sportsnet 01:39:20 Ahead of Game two of the Blue Jays-White Sox series, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz who discussed umpire Angel Hernandez’s retirement, Chris Bassitt’s latest start and the rest vs. rust debate when it comes to clinching a postseason berth (27:00). Legendary MLB manager Terry Francona comments further on Hernandez before talking about the emergence of the Naylor brothers in Cleveland, how his managing style changed over the years and the best players he’s ever played with and managed (51:16). Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph breaks down the latest surrounding the Blue Jays, notably the decision to send down Erik Swanson with Chad Green returning to the team’s bullpen (1:16:13). 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. Ahead of Game two of the Blue Jays-White Sox series, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz who discussed umpire Angel Hernandez’s retirement, Chris Bassitt’s latest start and the rest vs. rust debate when it comes to clinching a postseason berth (27:00). Legendary MLB manager Terry Francona comments further on Hernandez before talking about the emergence of the Naylor brothers in Cleveland, how his managing style changed over the years and the best players he’s ever played with and managed (51:16). Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph breaks down the latest surrounding the Blue Jays, notably the decision to send down Erik Swanson with Chad Green returning to the team’s bullpen (1:16:13). 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. false full e0bfa89b-c20d-4919-9cd4-48ead5e93313 Offensive Outburst in Motown Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 9-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers before Blue Jays manager John Schneider (16:21) talks about what it’s like managing with an ongoing power outage, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, and the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot in tonight’s game. Following Schneider, the guys take your phone calls for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:31). ESPN’s Jeff Passan discusses the newest pitches in the game that are taking MLB by storm (51:41). Tigers analyst & former outfielder Craig Monroe comments on the ongoing DET-TOR series, particularly reliever Alex Lange and his demotion (1:17:52).

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.

]]> Fri, 24 May 2024 22:12:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 9-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers before Blue Jays manager John Schneider (16:21) talks about what it’s like managing with an ongoing power outage, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, and the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot in tonight’s game. Following Schneider, the guys take your phone calls for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:31). ESPN’s Jeff Passan discusses the newest pitches in the game that are taking MLB by storm (51:41). Tigers analyst & former outfielder Craig Monroe comments on the ongoing DET-TOR series, particularly reliever Alex Lange and his demotion (1:17:52).

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.

]]> Offensive Outburst in Motown Sportsnet 01:39:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 9-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers before Blue Jays manager John Schneider (16:21) talks about what it’s like managing with an ongoing power outage, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, and the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot in tonight’s game. Following Schneider, the guys take your phone calls for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:31). ESPN’s Jeff Passan discusses the newest pitches in the game that are taking MLB by storm (51:41). Tigers analyst & former outfielder Craig Monroe comments on the ongoing DET-TOR series, particularly reliever Alex Lange and his demotion (1:17:52). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 9-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers before Blue Jays manager John Schneider (16:21) talks about what it’s like managing with an ongoing power outage, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, and the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot in tonight’s game. Following Schneider, the guys take your phone calls for this week’s edition of the Back Leg Line (30:31). ESPN’s Jeff Passan discusses the newest pitches in the game that are taking MLB by storm (51:41). Tigers analyst & former outfielder Craig Monroe comments on the ongoing DET-TOR series, particularly reliever Alex Lange and his demotion (1:17:52). 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. false full 53199fdd-6068-40b8-9241-e0c8977780b7 Signs of Life with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s home run in the series opener against the Tigers, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot, Alek Manoah's adjustment to pace of play and attacking left-handed batters. Then, the Jays' skipper shares some updates on Chad Green, Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez. 

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.

]]> Fri, 24 May 2024 20:40:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s home run in the series opener against the Tigers, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot, Alek Manoah's adjustment to pace of play and attacking left-handed batters. Then, the Jays' skipper shares some updates on Chad Green, Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez. 

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.

]]> Signs of Life with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:11:21 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s home run in the series opener against the Tigers, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot, Alek Manoah's adjustment to pace of play and attacking left-handed batters. Then, the Jays' skipper shares some updates on Chad Green, Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s home run in the series opener against the Tigers, when he knows Vladdy and Bo Bichette's hitting and approach have signs of life, the decision to put Daulton Varsho in the lead-off spot, Alek Manoah's adjustment to pace of play and attacking left-handed batters. Then, the Jays' skipper shares some updates on Chad Green, Bowden Francis and Yariel Rodriguez. 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. false full 16a0ba67-5213-4f60-af33-bd8ccaa6fbf4 The Jacket’s Back & Bobby Valentine Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays offensive surge in the series finale against the White Sox which coincided with the return of the team’s home run jacket. Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine (28:20) comments on how to handle scuffling lineups on the job and the success of Japanese pitchers across major league baseball. David Samson (51:19) joins the show to discuss Astros closer Josh Hader and his 'rules,' if MLB is behind the curve when it comes to successful national TV deals and the emergence of Ranger Suarez. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:16:32) checks in from Comerica Park ahead of Jays-Tigers.

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.

]]> Thu, 23 May 2024 22:08:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays offensive surge in the series finale against the White Sox which coincided with the return of the team’s home run jacket. Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine (28:20) comments on how to handle scuffling lineups on the job and the success of Japanese pitchers across major league baseball. David Samson (51:19) joins the show to discuss Astros closer Josh Hader and his 'rules,' if MLB is behind the curve when it comes to successful national TV deals and the emergence of Ranger Suarez. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:16:32) checks in from Comerica Park ahead of Jays-Tigers.

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.

]]> The Jacket’s Back & Bobby Valentine Sportsnet 01:39:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays offensive surge in the series finale against the White Sox which coincided with the return of the team’s home run jacket. Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine (28:20) comments on how to handle scuffling lineups on the job and the success of Japanese pitchers across major league baseball. David Samson (51:19) joins the show to discuss Astros closer Josh Hader and his 'rules,' if MLB is behind the curve when it comes to successful national TV deals and the emergence of Ranger Suarez. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:16:32) checks in from Comerica Park ahead of Jays-Tigers. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays offensive surge in the series finale against the White Sox which coincided with the return of the team’s home run jacket. Former MLB manager Bobby Valentine (28:20) comments on how to handle scuffling lineups on the job and the success of Japanese pitchers across major league baseball. David Samson (51:19) joins the show to discuss Astros closer Josh Hader and his 'rules,' if MLB is behind the curve when it comes to successful national TV deals and the emergence of Ranger Suarez. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi (1:16:32) checks in from Comerica Park ahead of Jays-Tigers. 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. false full 45ac8cc9-aecc-4ad5-89f0-ad5a70c02c37 Michael Soroka & Alex Anthopoulos Return to Blair & Barker Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show with thoughts on Toronto’s 5-0 loss to the White Sox where the bats once again went cold. Calgary’s Michael Soroka joins the guys to discuss his fresh start and how he’s fitting in with Chicago after an injury-riddled stint in Atlanta (16:10). White Sox radio analyst Darrin Jackson stops by with his thoughts on the series to date ahead of the rubber match (34:37). Braves President & General Manager Alex Anthopoulos comments on his club’s recent play, Chris Sale’s resurgent 2024 and why run differential is big factor in determining how aggressive to be on the trade market (51:27). Dan Shulman checks-in from Rogers Centre with his view on the Blue Jays, notably what to expect from Justin Turner and George Springer going forward and Alek Manoah’s encouraging last two starts (1:17:03).

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.

]]> Wed, 22 May 2024 22:31:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show with thoughts on Toronto’s 5-0 loss to the White Sox where the bats once again went cold. Calgary’s Michael Soroka joins the guys to discuss his fresh start and how he’s fitting in with Chicago after an injury-riddled stint in Atlanta (16:10). White Sox radio analyst Darrin Jackson stops by with his thoughts on the series to date ahead of the rubber match (34:37). Braves President & General Manager Alex Anthopoulos comments on his club’s recent play, Chris Sale’s resurgent 2024 and why run differential is big factor in determining how aggressive to be on the trade market (51:27). Dan Shulman checks-in from Rogers Centre with his view on the Blue Jays, notably what to expect from Justin Turner and George Springer going forward and Alek Manoah’s encouraging last two starts (1:17:03).

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.

]]> Michael Soroka & Alex Anthopoulos Return to Blair & Barker Sportsnet 01:39:30 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show with thoughts on Toronto’s 5-0 loss to the White Sox where the bats once again went cold. Calgary’s Michael Soroka joins the guys to discuss his fresh start and how he’s fitting in with Chicago after an injury-riddled stint in Atlanta (16:10). White Sox radio analyst Darrin Jackson stops by with his thoughts on the series to date ahead of the rubber match (34:37). Braves President & General Manager Alex Anthopoulos comments on his club’s recent play, Chris Sale’s resurgent 2024 and why run differential is big factor in determining how aggressive to be on the trade market (51:27). Dan Shulman checks-in from Rogers Centre with his view on the Blue Jays, notably what to expect from Justin Turner and George Springer going forward and Alek Manoah’s encouraging last two starts (1:17:03). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show with thoughts on Toronto’s 5-0 loss to the White Sox where the bats once again went cold. Calgary’s Michael Soroka joins the guys to discuss his fresh start and how he’s fitting in with Chicago after an injury-riddled stint in Atlanta (16:10). White Sox radio analyst Darrin Jackson stops by with his thoughts on the series to date ahead of the rubber match (34:37). Braves President & General Manager Alex Anthopoulos comments on his club’s recent play, Chris Sale’s resurgent 2024 and why run differential is big factor in determining how aggressive to be on the trade market (51:27). Dan Shulman checks-in from Rogers Centre with his view on the Blue Jays, notably what to expect from Justin Turner and George Springer going forward and Alek Manoah’s encouraging last two starts (1:17:03). 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. false full 9c088665-ad78-43ff-be3a-2505472a1c79 Trevor May Day + Jays-White Sox with Gordon Beckham Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Trevor May (27:35) to go around the majors; notably his thoughts on former teammate Jose Berrios’ start to the year, and the trust that exists between managers and starting pitchers after Sonny Gray asked to be taken out of his start against the Orioles. Shi Davidi (50:05) checks in pre-game from Rogers Centre, as does former White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham (1:19:00) with his scouting report on starter Garrett Crochet and more surrounding the Chi Sox.

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.

]]> Tue, 21 May 2024 22:27:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Trevor May (27:35) to go around the majors; notably his thoughts on former teammate Jose Berrios’ start to the year, and the trust that exists between managers and starting pitchers after Sonny Gray asked to be taken out of his start against the Orioles. Shi Davidi (50:05) checks in pre-game from Rogers Centre, as does former White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham (1:19:00) with his scouting report on starter Garrett Crochet and more surrounding the Chi Sox.

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.

]]> Trevor May Day + Jays-White Sox with Gordon Beckham Sportsnet 01:39:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Trevor May (27:35) to go around the majors; notably his thoughts on former teammate Jose Berrios’ start to the year, and the trust that exists between managers and starting pitchers after Sonny Gray asked to be taken out of his start against the Orioles. Shi Davidi (50:05) checks in pre-game from Rogers Centre, as does former White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham (1:19:00) with his scouting report on starter Garrett Crochet and more surrounding the Chi Sox. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Foul Territory’s Trevor May (27:35) to go around the majors; notably his thoughts on former teammate Jose Berrios’ start to the year, and the trust that exists between managers and starting pitchers after Sonny Gray asked to be taken out of his start against the Orioles. Shi Davidi (50:05) checks in pre-game from Rogers Centre, as does former White Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham (1:19:00) with his scouting report on starter Garrett Crochet and more surrounding the Chi Sox. 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. false full 1daf3fc1-3655-4ed2-a9e0-037432b0845f Welcoming the White Sox with Ben Shulman Jeff and Kevin begin the show talking to Ben Shulman, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, about his takeaways from the weekend, before getting us set for this week's series with the Chicago White Sox.

 

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.

]]> Mon, 20 May 2024 19:30:09 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff and Kevin begin the show talking to Ben Shulman, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, about his takeaways from the weekend, before getting us set for this week's series with the Chicago White Sox.

 

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.

]]> Welcoming the White Sox with Ben Shulman Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff and Kevin begin the show talking to Ben Shulman, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, about his takeaways from the weekend, before getting us set for this week's series with the Chicago White Sox. 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. Jeff and Kevin begin the show talking to Ben Shulman, Blue Jays play-by-play voice on Sportsnet 590 The FAN, about his takeaways from the weekend, before getting us set for this week's series with the Chicago White Sox. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, ben shulman, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 09aae0b8-8e07-4019-8cbc-2150cf7ea703 Jays-Rays Preview + Happy Paul Skenes Day Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line, before being joined by MLB Network Radio and Apple TV’s Ryan Spilborghs ahead of Blue Jays-Rays weekend series (17:14). Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson dives deeper into the series providing a scouting report on Tampa’s pitchers, notably Friday’s starter Tyler Alexander (31:40). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance on the show to discuss tonight’s lineup and the decision to start Chris Bassitt tonight (50:05). ESPN’s Jesse Rogers discusses Pirates’ rookie Paul Skenes’ electric second major-league start against the Cubs and his recent story on load management in MLB (01:13:39).

 

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.

]]> Fri, 17 May 2024 20:38:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line, before being joined by MLB Network Radio and Apple TV’s Ryan Spilborghs ahead of Blue Jays-Rays weekend series (17:14). Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson dives deeper into the series providing a scouting report on Tampa’s pitchers, notably Friday’s starter Tyler Alexander (31:40). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance on the show to discuss tonight’s lineup and the decision to start Chris Bassitt tonight (50:05). ESPN’s Jesse Rogers discusses Pirates’ rookie Paul Skenes’ electric second major-league start against the Cubs and his recent story on load management in MLB (01:13:39).

 

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.

]]> Jays-Rays Preview + Happy Paul Skenes Day Sportsnet 01:39:38 Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line, before being joined by MLB Network Radio and Apple TV’s Ryan Spilborghs ahead of Blue Jays-Rays weekend series (17:14). Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson dives deeper into the series providing a scouting report on Tampa’s pitchers, notably Friday’s starter Tyler Alexander (31:40). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance on the show to discuss tonight’s lineup and the decision to start Chris Bassitt tonight (50:05). ESPN’s Jesse Rogers discusses Pirates’ rookie Paul Skenes’ electric second major-league start against the Cubs and his recent story on load management in MLB (01:13:39). 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. Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line, before being joined by MLB Network Radio and Apple TV’s Ryan Spilborghs ahead of Blue Jays-Rays weekend series (17:14). Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson dives deeper into the series providing a scouting report on Tampa’s pitchers, notably Friday’s starter Tyler Alexander (31:40). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance on the show to discuss tonight’s lineup and the decision to start Chris Bassitt tonight (50:05). ESPN’s Jesse Rogers discusses Pirates’ rookie Paul Skenes’ electric second major-league start against the Cubs and his recent story on load management in MLB (01:13:39). 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. baseball, jesse rogers, brian anderson, mlb, jays, ryan spilborghs, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, blake murphy false full e3a79330-ca0d-4bb2-a189-cfb3d052394f Mound Success & Offensive Turnaround with John Schneider Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Kevin Barker and Blake Murphy to discuss the decision to matchup Chris Bassitt to start the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the positive and negative effects of extra days rest between pitcher's starts, Alek Manoah's improvements on the mound, what has made Yimi Garcia successful coming out of the bullpen, and why he's not worried about his offence.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 17 May 2024 19:31:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Kevin Barker and Blake Murphy to discuss the decision to matchup Chris Bassitt to start the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the positive and negative effects of extra days rest between pitcher's starts, Alek Manoah's improvements on the mound, what has made Yimi Garcia successful coming out of the bullpen, and why he's not worried about his offence.

 

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.

]]> Mound Success & Offensive Turnaround with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:15:47 Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Kevin Barker and Blake Murphy to discuss the decision to matchup Chris Bassitt to start the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the positive and negative effects of extra days rest between pitcher's starts, Alek Manoah's improvements on the mound, what has made Yimi Garcia successful coming out of the bullpen, and why he's not worried about his offence. 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. Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins Kevin Barker and Blake Murphy to discuss the decision to matchup Chris Bassitt to start the series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the positive and negative effects of extra days rest between pitcher's starts, Alek Manoah's improvements on the mound, what has made Yimi Garcia successful coming out of the bullpen, and why he's not worried about his offence. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, blake murphy false full e7f740c0-dbfa-4e65-9e9c-958b12e143a7 Minor League Reminiscing with The Mayor Blair and Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 3-2 loss to the Orioles and discuss the back end of the bullpen; notably how good Yimi Garcia has been all season long. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph calls up the guys with his recent thoughts on Toronto’s play ahead of their weekend series against the Rays (25:50). Current Rays and former Blue Jays hitting coach Chad Mottola talks about his role with Tampa, why great hitters aren’t necessarily the best hitting coaches, pitchers “stuff” nowadays getting better and better, and Yandy Diaz’s improvement as a player (50:00). Sean Casey, former Yankees hitting coach and host of The Mayor’s Office, joins the guys to talk about life in the minor leagues, if hitters can be given too much data, and how to approach players about moving down in the lineup when they’re struggling (01:15:58).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 16 May 2024 20:32:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 3-2 loss to the Orioles and discuss the back end of the bullpen; notably how good Yimi Garcia has been all season long. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph calls up the guys with his recent thoughts on Toronto’s play ahead of their weekend series against the Rays (25:50). Current Rays and former Blue Jays hitting coach Chad Mottola talks about his role with Tampa, why great hitters aren’t necessarily the best hitting coaches, pitchers “stuff” nowadays getting better and better, and Yandy Diaz’s improvement as a player (50:00). Sean Casey, former Yankees hitting coach and host of The Mayor’s Office, joins the guys to talk about life in the minor leagues, if hitters can be given too much data, and how to approach players about moving down in the lineup when they’re struggling (01:15:58).

 

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.

]]> Minor League Reminiscing with The Mayor Sportsnet 01:39:21 Blair and Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 3-2 loss to the Orioles and discuss the back end of the bullpen; notably how good Yimi Garcia has been all season long. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph calls up the guys with his recent thoughts on Toronto’s play ahead of their weekend series against the Rays (25:50). Current Rays and former Blue Jays hitting coach Chad Mottola talks about his role with Tampa, why great hitters aren’t necessarily the best hitting coaches, pitchers “stuff” nowadays getting better and better, and Yandy Diaz’s improvement as a player (50:00). Sean Casey, former Yankees hitting coach and host of The Mayor’s Office, joins the guys to talk about life in the minor leagues, if hitters can be given too much data, and how to approach players about moving down in the lineup when they’re struggling (01:15:58). 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. Blair and Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 3-2 loss to the Orioles and discuss the back end of the bullpen; notably how good Yimi Garcia has been all season long. Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph calls up the guys with his recent thoughts on Toronto’s play ahead of their weekend series against the Rays (25:50). Current Rays and former Blue Jays hitting coach Chad Mottola talks about his role with Tampa, why great hitters aren’t necessarily the best hitting coaches, pitchers “stuff” nowadays getting better and better, and Yandy Diaz’s improvement as a player (50:00). Sean Casey, former Yankees hitting coach and host of The Mayor’s Office, joins the guys to talk about life in the minor leagues, if hitters can be given too much data, and how to approach players about moving down in the lineup when they’re struggling (01:15:58). 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. baseball, sean casey, mlb, jays, caleb jospeh, toronto, chad mottola, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full f5e993af-865e-4849-9eed-b33675462669 A Comeback at Camden Yards Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-2 extra innings victory over the Orioles, notably Daulton Varsho getting it done offensively and defensively. The guys also react to Corbin Burnes’ post-game comments on Toronto’s hitters crediting them for making him work during his start. Orioles Bench Coach Fredi Gonzalez joins the show to discuss the influx of young talent joining the O’s at the same time and how they compare to other hitters he’s coached such as Freddie Freeman when he managed in Atlanta (28:00). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale discusses the rumoured interest in Jordan Romano league-wide and predicts what the market for both he and Yusei Kikuchi would fetch if the Blue Jays become sellers at the deadline (49:45). To end the show, ESPN’s Jeff Passan does a deep-dive on the bat-tracking data released by MLB and shares his takeaways with Jeff and Kevin (01:16:10).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 14 May 2024 20:05:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-2 extra innings victory over the Orioles, notably Daulton Varsho getting it done offensively and defensively. The guys also react to Corbin Burnes’ post-game comments on Toronto’s hitters crediting them for making him work during his start. Orioles Bench Coach Fredi Gonzalez joins the show to discuss the influx of young talent joining the O’s at the same time and how they compare to other hitters he’s coached such as Freddie Freeman when he managed in Atlanta (28:00). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale discusses the rumoured interest in Jordan Romano league-wide and predicts what the market for both he and Yusei Kikuchi would fetch if the Blue Jays become sellers at the deadline (49:45). To end the show, ESPN’s Jeff Passan does a deep-dive on the bat-tracking data released by MLB and shares his takeaways with Jeff and Kevin (01:16:10).

 

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.

]]> A Comeback at Camden Yards Sportsnet 01:39:19 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-2 extra innings victory over the Orioles, notably Daulton Varsho getting it done offensively and defensively. The guys also react to Corbin Burnes’ post-game comments on Toronto’s hitters crediting them for making him work during his start. Orioles Bench Coach Fredi Gonzalez joins the show to discuss the influx of young talent joining the O’s at the same time and how they compare to other hitters he’s coached such as Freddie Freeman when he managed in Atlanta (28:00). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale discusses the rumoured interest in Jordan Romano league-wide and predicts what the market for both he and Yusei Kikuchi would fetch if the Blue Jays become sellers at the deadline (49:45). To end the show, ESPN’s Jeff Passan does a deep-dive on the bat-tracking data released by MLB and shares his takeaways with Jeff and Kevin (01:16:10). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-2 extra innings victory over the Orioles, notably Daulton Varsho getting it done offensively and defensively. The guys also react to Corbin Burnes’ post-game comments on Toronto’s hitters crediting them for making him work during his start. Orioles Bench Coach Fredi Gonzalez joins the show to discuss the influx of young talent joining the O’s at the same time and how they compare to other hitters he’s coached such as Freddie Freeman when he managed in Atlanta (28:00). USA Today’s Bob Nightengale discusses the rumoured interest in Jordan Romano league-wide and predicts what the market for both he and Yusei Kikuchi would fetch if the Blue Jays become sellers at the deadline (49:45). To end the show, ESPN’s Jeff Passan does a deep-dive on the bat-tracking data released by MLB and shares his takeaways with Jeff and Kevin (01:16:10). 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. baseball, jeff passan, bob nightengale, mlb, jays, fredi gonzalez, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full b83557a2-4af2-4538-b97d-deecaa1aeec2 Meet the Duquettes Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend series against the Twins; notably Alek Manoah’s performance in the finale, George Springer in the lead-off spot, and Vladimir Guerrero’s recent success at the dish. MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette comments on if the Orioles will part with young talent to further improve their major league roster, why Toronto needs to sign at least one of Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, and his read on the Yankees and their ability to sign Juan Soto (27:23). Ahead of Jays-Orioles, former Baltimore GM (and Jim’s cousin) Dan Duquette discusses the Orioles’ trajectory as an organization, how front offices decide who to commit to long-term, and pivoting in-season as a GM when your team is playing below expectations (49:52). To end the show, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez checks-in from Camden Yards to preview tonight’s pitching matchup between José Berríos and Corbin Burnes (01:21:03).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 13 May 2024 20:04:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend series against the Twins; notably Alek Manoah’s performance in the finale, George Springer in the lead-off spot, and Vladimir Guerrero’s recent success at the dish. MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette comments on if the Orioles will part with young talent to further improve their major league roster, why Toronto needs to sign at least one of Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, and his read on the Yankees and their ability to sign Juan Soto (27:23). Ahead of Jays-Orioles, former Baltimore GM (and Jim’s cousin) Dan Duquette discusses the Orioles’ trajectory as an organization, how front offices decide who to commit to long-term, and pivoting in-season as a GM when your team is playing below expectations (49:52). To end the show, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez checks-in from Camden Yards to preview tonight’s pitching matchup between José Berríos and Corbin Burnes (01:21:03).

 

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.

]]> Meet the Duquettes Sportsnet 01:39:37 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend series against the Twins; notably Alek Manoah’s performance in the finale, George Springer in the lead-off spot, and Vladimir Guerrero’s recent success at the dish. MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette comments on if the Orioles will part with young talent to further improve their major league roster, why Toronto needs to sign at least one of Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, and his read on the Yankees and their ability to sign Juan Soto (27:23). Ahead of Jays-Orioles, former Baltimore GM (and Jim’s cousin) Dan Duquette discusses the Orioles’ trajectory as an organization, how front offices decide who to commit to long-term, and pivoting in-season as a GM when your team is playing below expectations (49:52). To end the show, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez checks-in from Camden Yards to preview tonight’s pitching matchup between José Berríos and Corbin Burnes (01:21:03). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend series against the Twins; notably Alek Manoah’s performance in the finale, George Springer in the lead-off spot, and Vladimir Guerrero’s recent success at the dish. MLB Network Radio’s Jim Duquette comments on if the Orioles will part with young talent to further improve their major league roster, why Toronto needs to sign at least one of Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, and his read on the Yankees and their ability to sign Juan Soto (27:23). Ahead of Jays-Orioles, former Baltimore GM (and Jim’s cousin) Dan Duquette discusses the Orioles’ trajectory as an organization, how front offices decide who to commit to long-term, and pivoting in-season as a GM when your team is playing below expectations (49:52). To end the show, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez checks-in from Camden Yards to preview tonight’s pitching matchup between José Berríos and Corbin Burnes (01:21:03). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, buck martinez, toronto, kevin barker, dan duquette, jeff blair, sportsnet, jim duquette, blue false full c19ab4c2-3e0e-4e35-b8fe-659dd2f8e5f6 Back Leg Line Friday with Thad Levine & John Schneider Barker’s back and so are the Blue Jays as they open up a weekend series against Minnesota. Twins Senior VP and GM Thad Levine joins the show to discuss his ballclub’s play up to this point and the improvements made by Canadian infielder Edouard Julien. Later the guys open the Back Leg Line with fan questions on a Friday (30:05), before being joined by Blue Jays skipper John Schneider who talked about Yimi Garcia’s status, tonight’s lineup, what he’s seeing from George Springer at the dish, Davis Schneider, and Danny Jansen since his return from injury (49:50).

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.

]]> Fri, 10 May 2024 20:10:39 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Barker’s back and so are the Blue Jays as they open up a weekend series against Minnesota. Twins Senior VP and GM Thad Levine joins the show to discuss his ballclub’s play up to this point and the improvements made by Canadian infielder Edouard Julien. Later the guys open the Back Leg Line with fan questions on a Friday (30:05), before being joined by Blue Jays skipper John Schneider who talked about Yimi Garcia’s status, tonight’s lineup, what he’s seeing from George Springer at the dish, Davis Schneider, and Danny Jansen since his return from injury (49:50).

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.

]]> Back Leg Line Friday with Thad Levine & John Schneider Sportsnet 01:39:37 Barker’s back and so are the Blue Jays as they open up a weekend series against Minnesota. Twins Senior VP and GM Thad Levine joins the show to discuss his ballclub’s play up to this point and the improvements made by Canadian infielder Edouard Julien. Later the guys open the Back Leg Line with fan questions on a Friday (30:05), before being joined by Blue Jays skipper John Schneider who talked about Yimi Garcia’s status, tonight’s lineup, what he’s seeing from George Springer at the dish, Davis Schneider, and Danny Jansen since his return from injury (49:50). 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. Barker’s back and so are the Blue Jays as they open up a weekend series against Minnesota. Twins Senior VP and GM Thad Levine joins the show to discuss his ballclub’s play up to this point and the improvements made by Canadian infielder Edouard Julien. Later the guys open the Back Leg Line with fan questions on a Friday (30:05), before being joined by Blue Jays skipper John Schneider who talked about Yimi Garcia’s status, tonight’s lineup, what he’s seeing from George Springer at the dish, Davis Schneider, and Danny Jansen since his return from injury (49:50). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, thad levine, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 5b5db09b-aa93-48e7-9afb-6b9ef8614e9f Lineup Shuffles & Davis Schneider's At-Bats with John Schneider Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Jeff and Kevin to give the guys an update on Yimi Garcia, shares his approach to shuffling the batting order and talks about Davis Schneider's ability to reinvent in his at-bats. Schneider also touches on Bo Bichette's struggles, biggest differences in playing baseball from the minor leagues to the majors, and making the case to keep Danny Jansen in the lineup. 

 

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.

]]> Fri, 10 May 2024 19:36:13 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Jeff and Kevin to give the guys an update on Yimi Garcia, shares his approach to shuffling the batting order and talks about Davis Schneider's ability to reinvent in his at-bats. Schneider also touches on Bo Bichette's struggles, biggest differences in playing baseball from the minor leagues to the majors, and making the case to keep Danny Jansen in the lineup. 

 

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.

]]> Lineup Shuffles & Davis Schneider's At-Bats with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:18:16 Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Jeff and Kevin to give the guys an update on Yimi Garcia, shares his approach to shuffling the batting order and talks about Davis Schneider's ability to reinvent in his at-bats. Schneider also touches on Bo Bichette's struggles, biggest differences in playing baseball from the minor leagues to the majors, and making the case to keep Danny Jansen in the lineup. 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. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Jeff and Kevin to give the guys an update on Yimi Garcia, shares his approach to shuffling the batting order and talks about Davis Schneider's ability to reinvent in his at-bats. Schneider also touches on Bo Bichette's struggles, biggest differences in playing baseball from the minor leagues to the majors, and making the case to keep Danny Jansen in the lineup. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full b98ec237-1ef3-44f5-b0b4-78235bdd825e Blair & Shi, Samson, Sawchik, Shulman Jeff Blair hosts the show solo today to bring you the latest around MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi comments on Toronto’s recent play, the correlation between Triple-A pitching numbers being so bad this year, hitting prospects scuffling at the big league level, and how this might affect Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez. Former Marlins President and host of Nothing Personal David Samson talks about things to look out for when changes may be afoot when it comes to the front office or roster of an organization (26:05). Jeff invites theScore’s Travis Sawchik to discuss the latest around the majors, notably the Pirates calling up Paul Skenes and his thoughts on the state of the Jays (49:41). Play-by-play voice Dan Shulman wraps up today's show with his off-day Jays observations from the road trip including if Danny Jansen might be someone the Jays could look to extend (01:15:03).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 9 May 2024 20:24:43 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair hosts the show solo today to bring you the latest around MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi comments on Toronto’s recent play, the correlation between Triple-A pitching numbers being so bad this year, hitting prospects scuffling at the big league level, and how this might affect Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez. Former Marlins President and host of Nothing Personal David Samson talks about things to look out for when changes may be afoot when it comes to the front office or roster of an organization (26:05). Jeff invites theScore’s Travis Sawchik to discuss the latest around the majors, notably the Pirates calling up Paul Skenes and his thoughts on the state of the Jays (49:41). Play-by-play voice Dan Shulman wraps up today's show with his off-day Jays observations from the road trip including if Danny Jansen might be someone the Jays could look to extend (01:15:03).

 

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.

]]> Blair & Shi, Samson, Sawchik, Shulman Sportsnet 01:39:08 Jeff Blair hosts the show solo today to bring you the latest around MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi comments on Toronto’s recent play, the correlation between Triple-A pitching numbers being so bad this year, hitting prospects scuffling at the big league level, and how this might affect Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez. Former Marlins President and host of Nothing Personal David Samson talks about things to look out for when changes may be afoot when it comes to the front office or roster of an organization (26:05). Jeff invites theScore’s Travis Sawchik to discuss the latest around the majors, notably the Pirates calling up Paul Skenes and his thoughts on the state of the Jays (49:41). Play-by-play voice Dan Shulman wraps up today's show with his off-day Jays observations from the road trip including if Danny Jansen might be someone the Jays could look to extend (01:15:03). 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. Jeff Blair hosts the show solo today to bring you the latest around MLB and the Toronto Blue Jays. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi comments on Toronto’s recent play, the correlation between Triple-A pitching numbers being so bad this year, hitting prospects scuffling at the big league level, and how this might affect Blue Jays prospect Orelvis Martinez. Former Marlins President and host of Nothing Personal David Samson talks about things to look out for when changes may be afoot when it comes to the front office or roster of an organization (26:05). Jeff invites theScore’s Travis Sawchik to discuss the latest around the majors, notably the Pirates calling up Paul Skenes and his thoughts on the state of the Jays (49:41). Play-by-play voice Dan Shulman wraps up today's show with his off-day Jays observations from the road trip including if Danny Jansen might be someone the Jays could look to extend (01:15:03). 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. baseball, travis swachik, mlb, jays, mark boffo, david samson, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full 27b93e53-c8f4-4ddb-85ce-a39d6aa95009 Foray in Philly Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead at the Blue Jays’ series against the red-hot Phillies starting tonight. Phillies analyst Ben Davis helps tee up the first game of the series, how Philadelphia has managed their league-best start, a tough matchup for Berríos and what the Jays’ lineup can expect from Cristopher Sanchez (27:21). Chris Rose of the Chris Rose Rotation discusses the Guardians’ unexpected, AL Central-leading campaign and whether they can sustain it in the suddenly competitive division (49:55). Then, he shares his thoughts on the Jays’ frustrating offence, Manoah’s return and the Luis Arráez deal. Finally, Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall weighs in on possible batting order changes to consider, the Jays bullpen issues heating up without Garcia and how Berríos attacks the Phillies’ lineup (01:17:15).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 7 May 2024 20:10:04 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead at the Blue Jays’ series against the red-hot Phillies starting tonight. Phillies analyst Ben Davis helps tee up the first game of the series, how Philadelphia has managed their league-best start, a tough matchup for Berríos and what the Jays’ lineup can expect from Cristopher Sanchez (27:21). Chris Rose of the Chris Rose Rotation discusses the Guardians’ unexpected, AL Central-leading campaign and whether they can sustain it in the suddenly competitive division (49:55). Then, he shares his thoughts on the Jays’ frustrating offence, Manoah’s return and the Luis Arráez deal. Finally, Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall weighs in on possible batting order changes to consider, the Jays bullpen issues heating up without Garcia and how Berríos attacks the Phillies’ lineup (01:17:15).

 

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.

]]> Foray in Philly Sportsnet 01:39:33 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead at the Blue Jays’ series against the red-hot Phillies starting tonight. Phillies analyst Ben Davis helps tee up the first game of the series, how Philadelphia has managed their league-best start, a tough matchup for Berríos and what the Jays’ lineup can expect from Cristopher Sanchez (27:21). Chris Rose of the Chris Rose Rotation discusses the Guardians’ unexpected, AL Central-leading campaign and whether they can sustain it in the suddenly competitive division (49:55). Then, he shares his thoughts on the Jays’ frustrating offence, Manoah’s return and the Luis Arráez deal. Finally, Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall weighs in on possible batting order changes to consider, the Jays bullpen issues heating up without Garcia and how Berríos attacks the Phillies’ lineup (01:17:15). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look ahead at the Blue Jays’ series against the red-hot Phillies starting tonight. Phillies analyst Ben Davis helps tee up the first game of the series, how Philadelphia has managed their league-best start, a tough matchup for Berríos and what the Jays’ lineup can expect from Cristopher Sanchez (27:21). Chris Rose of the Chris Rose Rotation discusses the Guardians’ unexpected, AL Central-leading campaign and whether they can sustain it in the suddenly competitive division (49:55). Then, he shares his thoughts on the Jays’ frustrating offence, Manoah’s return and the Luis Arráez deal. Finally, Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall weighs in on possible batting order changes to consider, the Jays bullpen issues heating up without Garcia and how Berríos attacks the Phillies’ lineup (01:17:15). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, ben davis, toronto, kevin barker, chris rose, jeff blair, joe siddall, sportsnet, blue false full eb2164b2-516b-433a-8123-446f399c7b26 Weekend Recap with Demp, Stark & Ruben Amaro Jr. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series loss to the Washington Nationals, notably what they saw out of Alek Manoah in the finale and George Springer’s lack of production in the lead off spot. Intentional Talk’s Ryan Dempster joins the guys with his thoughts on Manoah’s results and how to battle through struggles as a pitcher, Luis Arráez being dealt to the Padres, and Shota Imanaga’s incredible start with the Cubs (28:49). What have we learned in MLB so far this season? The guys discuss that and more with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, including his thoughts on the Blue Jays and what they have to trade if it comes to that (49:49). Former Phillies GM and MLB Network analyst Ruben Amaro Jr. looks ahead to the Jays' series in Philadelphia and how to evaluate your club in-season when falling low of expectations (01:16:47).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 6 May 2024 20:07:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series loss to the Washington Nationals, notably what they saw out of Alek Manoah in the finale and George Springer’s lack of production in the lead off spot. Intentional Talk’s Ryan Dempster joins the guys with his thoughts on Manoah’s results and how to battle through struggles as a pitcher, Luis Arráez being dealt to the Padres, and Shota Imanaga’s incredible start with the Cubs (28:49). What have we learned in MLB so far this season? The guys discuss that and more with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, including his thoughts on the Blue Jays and what they have to trade if it comes to that (49:49). Former Phillies GM and MLB Network analyst Ruben Amaro Jr. looks ahead to the Jays' series in Philadelphia and how to evaluate your club in-season when falling low of expectations (01:16:47).

 

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.

]]> Weekend Recap with Demp, Stark & Ruben Amaro Jr. Sportsnet 01:39:34 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series loss to the Washington Nationals, notably what they saw out of Alek Manoah in the finale and George Springer’s lack of production in the lead off spot. Intentional Talk’s Ryan Dempster joins the guys with his thoughts on Manoah’s results and how to battle through struggles as a pitcher, Luis Arráez being dealt to the Padres, and Shota Imanaga’s incredible start with the Cubs (28:49). What have we learned in MLB so far this season? The guys discuss that and more with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, including his thoughts on the Blue Jays and what they have to trade if it comes to that (49:49). Former Phillies GM and MLB Network analyst Ruben Amaro Jr. looks ahead to the Jays' series in Philadelphia and how to evaluate your club in-season when falling low of expectations (01:16:47). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' series loss to the Washington Nationals, notably what they saw out of Alek Manoah in the finale and George Springer’s lack of production in the lead off spot. Intentional Talk’s Ryan Dempster joins the guys with his thoughts on Manoah’s results and how to battle through struggles as a pitcher, Luis Arráez being dealt to the Padres, and Shota Imanaga’s incredible start with the Cubs (28:49). What have we learned in MLB so far this season? The guys discuss that and more with The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, including his thoughts on the Blue Jays and what they have to trade if it comes to that (49:49). Former Phillies GM and MLB Network analyst Ruben Amaro Jr. looks ahead to the Jays' series in Philadelphia and how to evaluate your club in-season when falling low of expectations (01:16:47). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, ryan dempster, toronto, kevin barker, ruben amaro jr., jeff blair, jayson stark, sportsnet, blue false full 2347b867-69c9-45c4-8e5a-fba4b26ff628 AL Pitcher of the Month José Berríos & A.J. Pierzynski Is there a reckoning coming for the Toronto Blue Jays? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece in The Athletic on the direction of certain teams including Toronto. The guys call up Nationals’ analyst Kevin Frandsen to preview this weekend’s upcoming series (26:04). José Berríos joins the show to reflect on his start to the season after being named American League Pitcher of the Month for April (49:48). Later on, Foul Territory’s A.J. Pierzynski comments on the status of the Jays, the competition overall in the AL, and if he has any interest in coaching or managing in the big leagues (01:10:24).

 

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.

]]> Fri, 3 May 2024 20:06:05 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Is there a reckoning coming for the Toronto Blue Jays? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece in The Athletic on the direction of certain teams including Toronto. The guys call up Nationals’ analyst Kevin Frandsen to preview this weekend’s upcoming series (26:04). José Berríos joins the show to reflect on his start to the season after being named American League Pitcher of the Month for April (49:48). Later on, Foul Territory’s A.J. Pierzynski comments on the status of the Jays, the competition overall in the AL, and if he has any interest in coaching or managing in the big leagues (01:10:24).

 

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.

]]> AL Pitcher of the Month José Berríos & A.J. Pierzynski Sportsnet 01:39:31 Is there a reckoning coming for the Toronto Blue Jays? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece in The Athletic on the direction of certain teams including Toronto. The guys call up Nationals’ analyst Kevin Frandsen to preview this weekend’s upcoming series (26:04). José Berríos joins the show to reflect on his start to the season after being named American League Pitcher of the Month for April (49:48). Later on, Foul Territory’s A.J. Pierzynski comments on the status of the Jays, the competition overall in the AL, and if he has any interest in coaching or managing in the big leagues (01:10:24). 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. Is there a reckoning coming for the Toronto Blue Jays? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their thoughts on Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece in The Athletic on the direction of certain teams including Toronto. The guys call up Nationals’ analyst Kevin Frandsen to preview this weekend’s upcoming series (26:04). José Berríos joins the show to reflect on his start to the season after being named American League Pitcher of the Month for April (49:48). Later on, Foul Territory’s A.J. Pierzynski comments on the status of the Jays, the competition overall in the AL, and if he has any interest in coaching or managing in the big leagues (01:10:24). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, aj pierzynski, kevin barker, kevin frandsen, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, josé berríos false full 39142a31-a66f-42b5-8376-87342a96b63d Success Against Lefties with José Berríos AL Pitcher of the Month for April, José Berríos joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss receiving the recognition from the MLB, how effective he's been pitching against left-handed batters, his process in learning something new towards his game, the pitching staff's success, and how they've approached to run prevention on the bases. 

 

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.

]]> Fri, 3 May 2024 19:27:28 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ AL Pitcher of the Month for April, José Berríos joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss receiving the recognition from the MLB, how effective he's been pitching against left-handed batters, his process in learning something new towards his game, the pitching staff's success, and how they've approached to run prevention on the bases. 

 

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.

]]> Success Against Lefties with José Berríos Sportsnet 00:09:17 AL Pitcher of the Month for April, José Berríos joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss receiving the recognition from the MLB, how effective he's been pitching against left-handed batters, his process in learning something new towards his game, the pitching staff's success, and how they've approached to run prevention on the bases.  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. AL Pitcher of the Month for April, José Berríos joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss receiving the recognition from the MLB, how effective he's been pitching against left-handed batters, his process in learning something new towards his game, the pitching staff's success, and how they've approached to run prevention on the bases.  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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, josé berríos false full 96f7c9cd-af07-4665-a42e-dc6d25fe5913 What’s ‘Shaikin’ with Mike Trout? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph to discuss the Blue Jays’ offence following the series finale vs. Kansas City where the team earned only one run on four hits (27:22). Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times discusses Mike Trout’s latest injury and how he seems to be stuck in Anaheim with other clubs unwilling to take on his mammoth contract (49:38). Later on, the guys empty out the voicemail on the 'Back Leg Line' with listener questions on the Blue Jays ahead of their next series against the Washington Nationals (01:13:00).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 2 May 2024 20:04:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph to discuss the Blue Jays’ offence following the series finale vs. Kansas City where the team earned only one run on four hits (27:22). Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times discusses Mike Trout’s latest injury and how he seems to be stuck in Anaheim with other clubs unwilling to take on his mammoth contract (49:38). Later on, the guys empty out the voicemail on the 'Back Leg Line' with listener questions on the Blue Jays ahead of their next series against the Washington Nationals (01:13:00).

 

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.

]]> What’s ‘Shaikin’ with Mike Trout? Sportsnet 01:39:16 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph to discuss the Blue Jays’ offence following the series finale vs. Kansas City where the team earned only one run on four hits (27:22). Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times discusses Mike Trout’s latest injury and how he seems to be stuck in Anaheim with other clubs unwilling to take on his mammoth contract (49:38). Later on, the guys empty out the voicemail on the 'Back Leg Line' with listener questions on the Blue Jays ahead of their next series against the Washington Nationals (01:13:00). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Caleb Joseph to discuss the Blue Jays’ offence following the series finale vs. Kansas City where the team earned only one run on four hits (27:22). Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times discusses Mike Trout’s latest injury and how he seems to be stuck in Anaheim with other clubs unwilling to take on his mammoth contract (49:38). Later on, the guys empty out the voicemail on the 'Back Leg Line' with listener questions on the Blue Jays ahead of their next series against the Washington Nationals (01:13:00). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, bill shaikin, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full db5d414a-9c89-4ff3-bf0f-ed10ee3cf608 Manoah Motion & Hitting the Heater Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the pre-game show with some takeaways on the Jays’ 4-1 loss to the Royals yesterday before being joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. He discusses Yariel Rodriguez’s move to the IL and whether the Jays will run a 4-man rotation or elevate Alex Manoah off his stellar Triple-A start. Will Rodriguez be moved to the bullpen when he returns? Later, they chat about how the Jays’ batters have attacked the fastball this season and their biggest concerns when it comes to the order. Finally, they react to John Schneider’s pre-game availability as they tee up the rubber match at the Rogers Centre!

 

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.

]]> Wed, 1 May 2024 19:15:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the pre-game show with some takeaways on the Jays’ 4-1 loss to the Royals yesterday before being joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. He discusses Yariel Rodriguez’s move to the IL and whether the Jays will run a 4-man rotation or elevate Alex Manoah off his stellar Triple-A start. Will Rodriguez be moved to the bullpen when he returns? Later, they chat about how the Jays’ batters have attacked the fastball this season and their biggest concerns when it comes to the order. Finally, they react to John Schneider’s pre-game availability as they tee up the rubber match at the Rogers Centre!

 

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.

]]> Manoah Motion & Hitting the Heater Sportsnet 00:49:39 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the pre-game show with some takeaways on the Jays’ 4-1 loss to the Royals yesterday before being joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. He discusses Yariel Rodriguez’s move to the IL and whether the Jays will run a 4-man rotation or elevate Alex Manoah off his stellar Triple-A start. Will Rodriguez be moved to the bullpen when he returns? Later, they chat about how the Jays’ batters have attacked the fastball this season and their biggest concerns when it comes to the order. Finally, they react to John Schneider’s pre-game availability as they tee up the rubber match at the Rogers Centre! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the pre-game show with some takeaways on the Jays’ 4-1 loss to the Royals yesterday before being joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. He discusses Yariel Rodriguez’s move to the IL and whether the Jays will run a 4-man rotation or elevate Alex Manoah off his stellar Triple-A start. Will Rodriguez be moved to the bullpen when he returns? Later, they chat about how the Jays’ batters have attacked the fastball this season and their biggest concerns when it comes to the order. Finally, they react to John Schneider’s pre-game availability as they tee up the rubber match at the Rogers Centre! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full 0690627d-cf0f-4205-a2c8-f4c417b95be3 ‘Diggin’ Deep’ with World Series Champion Eric Hosmer Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh in on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Royals to kick off the series, highlighted by Justin Turner's two home run night. Eric Hosmer, former MLB player and host of the Diggin’ Deep podcast, discusses Bobby Witt Jr’s player profile and how good he can become, if the Padres can get to another level with their talent-laden roster, and looks back at the 2015 ALCS between the Royals and Blue Jays (26:08). Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman joins the show with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play including how Yariel Rodriguez fared in game one of the series (49:53). Blair and Barker end the show talking some baseball business with former MLB executive David Samson; notably the latest on the A’s situation in Vegas and the current state of the Marlins (01:17:20).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:08:26 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh in on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Royals to kick off the series, highlighted by Justin Turner's two home run night. Eric Hosmer, former MLB player and host of the Diggin’ Deep podcast, discusses Bobby Witt Jr’s player profile and how good he can become, if the Padres can get to another level with their talent-laden roster, and looks back at the 2015 ALCS between the Royals and Blue Jays (26:08). Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman joins the show with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play including how Yariel Rodriguez fared in game one of the series (49:53). Blair and Barker end the show talking some baseball business with former MLB executive David Samson; notably the latest on the A’s situation in Vegas and the current state of the Marlins (01:17:20).

 

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.

]]> ‘Diggin’ Deep’ with World Series Champion Eric Hosmer Sportsnet 01:39:22 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh in on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Royals to kick off the series, highlighted by Justin Turner's two home run night. Eric Hosmer, former MLB player and host of the Diggin’ Deep podcast, discusses Bobby Witt Jr’s player profile and how good he can become, if the Padres can get to another level with their talent-laden roster, and looks back at the 2015 ALCS between the Royals and Blue Jays (26:08). Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman joins the show with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play including how Yariel Rodriguez fared in game one of the series (49:53). Blair and Barker end the show talking some baseball business with former MLB executive David Samson; notably the latest on the A’s situation in Vegas and the current state of the Marlins (01:17:20). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker weigh in on the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Royals to kick off the series, highlighted by Justin Turner's two home run night. Eric Hosmer, former MLB player and host of the Diggin’ Deep podcast, discusses Bobby Witt Jr’s player profile and how good he can become, if the Padres can get to another level with their talent-laden roster, and looks back at the 2015 ALCS between the Royals and Blue Jays (26:08). Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman joins the show with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play including how Yariel Rodriguez fared in game one of the series (49:53). Blair and Barker end the show talking some baseball business with former MLB executive David Samson; notably the latest on the A’s situation in Vegas and the current state of the Marlins (01:17:20). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, david samson, toronto, ben shulman, kevin barker, eric hosmer, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full f918b5b4-86d5-4e90-b644-1b4ebea48fdd Jonathan Papelbon and Buck Martinez on a Monday Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend where the Dodgers took two of three against Toronto; despite the losses the guys discuss how it was encouraging to see Kevin Gausman return to his elite form. World Series champion closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon comments on Canadian Tyler O’Neill’s hot start with the Red Sox and the competition within the American League East (27:48). Later on, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez shares his most recent thoughts on the Jays as they get set to re-familiarize with the Royals at Rogers Centre after facing them last week in Kansas City (49:53).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 29 Apr 2024 20:17:29 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend where the Dodgers took two of three against Toronto; despite the losses the guys discuss how it was encouraging to see Kevin Gausman return to his elite form. World Series champion closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon comments on Canadian Tyler O’Neill’s hot start with the Red Sox and the competition within the American League East (27:48). Later on, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez shares his most recent thoughts on the Jays as they get set to re-familiarize with the Royals at Rogers Centre after facing them last week in Kansas City (49:53).

 

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.

]]> Jonathan Papelbon and Buck Martinez on a Monday Sportsnet 01:39:27 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend where the Dodgers took two of three against Toronto; despite the losses the guys discuss how it was encouraging to see Kevin Gausman return to his elite form. World Series champion closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon comments on Canadian Tyler O’Neill’s hot start with the Red Sox and the competition within the American League East (27:48). Later on, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez shares his most recent thoughts on the Jays as they get set to re-familiarize with the Royals at Rogers Centre after facing them last week in Kansas City (49:53). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ weekend where the Dodgers took two of three against Toronto; despite the losses the guys discuss how it was encouraging to see Kevin Gausman return to his elite form. World Series champion closer and NESN analyst Jonathan Papelbon comments on Canadian Tyler O’Neill’s hot start with the Red Sox and the competition within the American League East (27:48). Later on, Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez shares his most recent thoughts on the Jays as they get set to re-familiarize with the Royals at Rogers Centre after facing them last week in Kansas City (49:53). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, buck martinez, toronto, jonathan papelbon, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 0603d68d-f9b9-4c00-90ac-9bcf1fa23612 Friday with Pete Walker, John Schneider & Stan Kasten Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' for fan reaction on a Friday. Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker talks about preparing for the Dodgers talent-laden lineup and what he expects from Kevin Gausman in his next start (25:12). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins for his weekly appearance and comments on if he’s given any thought to switching around the batting order (49:50). Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten discusses his ballclub ahead of this weekend’s series; notably L.A.’s pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, his marketability, and how he has fit in since joining his new team (01:16:30)

 

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.

]]> Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:14:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' for fan reaction on a Friday. Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker talks about preparing for the Dodgers talent-laden lineup and what he expects from Kevin Gausman in his next start (25:12). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins for his weekly appearance and comments on if he’s given any thought to switching around the batting order (49:50). Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten discusses his ballclub ahead of this weekend’s series; notably L.A.’s pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, his marketability, and how he has fit in since joining his new team (01:16:30)

 

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.

]]> Friday with Pete Walker, John Schneider & Stan Kasten Sportsnet 01:39:31 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' for fan reaction on a Friday. Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker talks about preparing for the Dodgers talent-laden lineup and what he expects from Kevin Gausman in his next start (25:12). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins for his weekly appearance and comments on if he’s given any thought to switching around the batting order (49:50). Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten discusses his ballclub ahead of this weekend’s series; notably L.A.’s pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, his marketability, and how he has fit in since joining his new team (01:16:30) 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the 'Back Leg Line' for fan reaction on a Friday. Blue Jays Pitching Coach Pete Walker talks about preparing for the Dodgers talent-laden lineup and what he expects from Kevin Gausman in his next start (25:12). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins for his weekly appearance and comments on if he’s given any thought to switching around the batting order (49:50). Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten discusses his ballclub ahead of this weekend’s series; notably L.A.’s pursuit of Shohei Ohtani, his marketability, and how he has fit in since joining his new team (01:16:30) 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. baseball, stan kasten, mlb, jays, pete walker, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a7c3afd7-9738-4417-b5c6-82371da9ff50 Dealing with the Dodgers with John Schneider Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his takeaways from the team's trip to Kansas City, the structure of the batting order, the state of the Jays' offence and how to deal with the Dodgers ahead of this weekend's series.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 26 Apr 2024 19:47:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his takeaways from the team's trip to Kansas City, the structure of the batting order, the state of the Jays' offence and how to deal with the Dodgers ahead of this weekend's series.

 

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.

]]> Dealing with the Dodgers with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:16:41 Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his takeaways from the team's trip to Kansas City, the structure of the batting order, the state of the Jays' offence and how to deal with the Dodgers ahead of this weekend's series. 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. Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to discuss his takeaways from the team's trip to Kansas City, the structure of the batting order, the state of the Jays' offence and how to deal with the Dodgers ahead of this weekend's series. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 2fd610ee-c841-43b5-83ad-5e94033fcd82 Tough Luck Loss for Gaus Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss in Kansas City with thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s game, Kevin Gausman’s fastball usage, and Kevin Kiermaier leaving the game with a hip injury. Royals analyst and franchise saves leader, Jeff Montgomery, weighs-in on Jays-Royals, Jordan Romano, and how to sustain longevity as a closer (28:35). The Athletic's Jayson Stark discusses the results of a poll ranking the best front offices in MLB (49:50). Later on, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall comments on Guerrero’s plate approach and if Addison Barger can add a spark to the big league lineup (01:16:58).

 

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.

]]> Wed, 24 Apr 2024 20:06:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss in Kansas City with thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s game, Kevin Gausman’s fastball usage, and Kevin Kiermaier leaving the game with a hip injury. Royals analyst and franchise saves leader, Jeff Montgomery, weighs-in on Jays-Royals, Jordan Romano, and how to sustain longevity as a closer (28:35). The Athletic's Jayson Stark discusses the results of a poll ranking the best front offices in MLB (49:50). Later on, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall comments on Guerrero’s plate approach and if Addison Barger can add a spark to the big league lineup (01:16:58).

 

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.

]]> Tough Luck Loss for Gaus Sportsnet 01:39:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss in Kansas City with thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s game, Kevin Gausman’s fastball usage, and Kevin Kiermaier leaving the game with a hip injury. Royals analyst and franchise saves leader, Jeff Montgomery, weighs-in on Jays-Royals, Jordan Romano, and how to sustain longevity as a closer (28:35). The Athletic's Jayson Stark discusses the results of a poll ranking the best front offices in MLB (49:50). Later on, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall comments on Guerrero’s plate approach and if Addison Barger can add a spark to the big league lineup (01:16:58). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss in Kansas City with thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s game, Kevin Gausman’s fastball usage, and Kevin Kiermaier leaving the game with a hip injury. Royals analyst and franchise saves leader, Jeff Montgomery, weighs-in on Jays-Royals, Jordan Romano, and how to sustain longevity as a closer (28:35). The Athletic's Jayson Stark discusses the results of a poll ranking the best front offices in MLB (49:50). Later on, Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall comments on Guerrero’s plate approach and if Addison Barger can add a spark to the big league lineup (01:16:58). 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. baseball, jeff montgomery, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, joe siddall, jayson stark, sportsnet, blue false full b8d43297-b040-4d5c-8c61-e5ce815f4e73 Blake & Barker After a Win in KC Guest host Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals; where Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho provided the offence and Jordan Romano locked down his 100th career save. The guys welcome Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman on the show after his call of Monday’s game to discuss the Blue Jays’ recent play and look ahead to tonight’s matchup at Kauffman Stadium with Kevin Gausman on the hill (24:55). With Varsho on an absolute tear offensively, Blake and Kevin call-up his dad, former MLBer Gary Varsho, to discuss the work he put into the offseason and how to stay consistent at the plate and in the field (49:50). To end the show, the guys go around the majors with Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, notably Heston Kjerstad being the latest prospect promoted in Baltimore and his honest thoughts on Toronto’s offence in the early-going (01:15:12).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 23 Apr 2024 20:05:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Guest host Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals; where Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho provided the offence and Jordan Romano locked down his 100th career save. The guys welcome Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman on the show after his call of Monday’s game to discuss the Blue Jays’ recent play and look ahead to tonight’s matchup at Kauffman Stadium with Kevin Gausman on the hill (24:55). With Varsho on an absolute tear offensively, Blake and Kevin call-up his dad, former MLBer Gary Varsho, to discuss the work he put into the offseason and how to stay consistent at the plate and in the field (49:50). To end the show, the guys go around the majors with Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, notably Heston Kjerstad being the latest prospect promoted in Baltimore and his honest thoughts on Toronto’s offence in the early-going (01:15:12).

 

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.

]]> Blake & Barker After a Win in KC Sportsnet 01:39:39 Guest host Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals; where Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho provided the offence and Jordan Romano locked down his 100th career save. The guys welcome Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman on the show after his call of Monday’s game to discuss the Blue Jays’ recent play and look ahead to tonight’s matchup at Kauffman Stadium with Kevin Gausman on the hill (24:55). With Varsho on an absolute tear offensively, Blake and Kevin call-up his dad, former MLBer Gary Varsho, to discuss the work he put into the offseason and how to stay consistent at the plate and in the field (49:50). To end the show, the guys go around the majors with Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, notably Heston Kjerstad being the latest prospect promoted in Baltimore and his honest thoughts on Toronto’s offence in the early-going (01:15:12). 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. Guest host Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals; where Bo Bichette and Daulton Varsho provided the offence and Jordan Romano locked down his 100th career save. The guys welcome Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman on the show after his call of Monday’s game to discuss the Blue Jays’ recent play and look ahead to tonight’s matchup at Kauffman Stadium with Kevin Gausman on the hill (24:55). With Varsho on an absolute tear offensively, Blake and Kevin call-up his dad, former MLBer Gary Varsho, to discuss the work he put into the offseason and how to stay consistent at the plate and in the field (49:50). To end the show, the guys go around the majors with Hall of Famer Tim Kurkjian, notably Heston Kjerstad being the latest prospect promoted in Baltimore and his honest thoughts on Toronto’s offence in the early-going (01:15:12). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, tim kurkjian, toronto, kevin barker, gary varsho, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue, blake murphy false full b352a2a1-9475-45aa-b015-316aba580635 San Diego Survives the Sweep + Sights and Sounds of Kansas City Jeff and Kevin kick off a new week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' near sweep of the San Diego Padres; what we've seen from Toronto's starters, the bullpen management at the tail end of Sunday's game, and which bats in the lineup are finding their stride. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph shares his takeaways from the series and previews Yusei Kikuchi's start in Kansas City tonight (25:52). Buffalo Bisons announcer Pat Malacaro updates us on the Jays' farm system including Orelvis Martinez' red-hot stretch and Addison Barger's upside (49:56). Later on, Royals colour commentator Rex Hudler weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s breakout and the keys to Kansas City's strong start to the 2024 season (01:14:36). 

 

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.

]]> Mon, 22 Apr 2024 20:07:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff and Kevin kick off a new week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' near sweep of the San Diego Padres; what we've seen from Toronto's starters, the bullpen management at the tail end of Sunday's game, and which bats in the lineup are finding their stride. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph shares his takeaways from the series and previews Yusei Kikuchi's start in Kansas City tonight (25:52). Buffalo Bisons announcer Pat Malacaro updates us on the Jays' farm system including Orelvis Martinez' red-hot stretch and Addison Barger's upside (49:56). Later on, Royals colour commentator Rex Hudler weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s breakout and the keys to Kansas City's strong start to the 2024 season (01:14:36). 

 

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.

]]> San Diego Survives the Sweep + Sights and Sounds of Kansas City Sportsnet 01:39:29 Jeff and Kevin kick off a new week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' near sweep of the San Diego Padres; what we've seen from Toronto's starters, the bullpen management at the tail end of Sunday's game, and which bats in the lineup are finding their stride. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph shares his takeaways from the series and previews Yusei Kikuchi's start in Kansas City tonight (25:52). Buffalo Bisons announcer Pat Malacaro updates us on the Jays' farm system including Orelvis Martinez' red-hot stretch and Addison Barger's upside (49:56). Later on, Royals colour commentator Rex Hudler weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s breakout and the keys to Kansas City's strong start to the 2024 season (01:14:36). 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. Jeff and Kevin kick off a new week on the program looking back on the Blue Jays' near sweep of the San Diego Padres; what we've seen from Toronto's starters, the bullpen management at the tail end of Sunday's game, and which bats in the lineup are finding their stride. Blue Jays Central analyst Caleb Joseph shares his takeaways from the series and previews Yusei Kikuchi's start in Kansas City tonight (25:52). Buffalo Bisons announcer Pat Malacaro updates us on the Jays' farm system including Orelvis Martinez' red-hot stretch and Addison Barger's upside (49:56). Later on, Royals colour commentator Rex Hudler weighs in on Bobby Witt Jr.'s breakout and the keys to Kansas City's strong start to the 2024 season (01:14:36). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, rex hudler, toronto, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, pat malacaro false full c93c1438-750c-4e12-9b22-d54650484278 Getting Ready to Play the Padres Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg line for their usual fan interaction on Friday. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi checks-in from San Diego with an update on prospect Ricky Tiedemann after being placed on the IL (32:07). Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show for his weekly hit to reflect on his club’s 6-3 homestand before heading west (49:47). Padres TV analyst Mark Grant previews the Jays' weekend series with a scouting report on Friday’s starter Matt Waldron, before discussing young phenom Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado continuing to play at an elite level (01:15:42).

 

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.

]]> Fri, 19 Apr 2024 20:04:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg line for their usual fan interaction on Friday. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi checks-in from San Diego with an update on prospect Ricky Tiedemann after being placed on the IL (32:07). Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show for his weekly hit to reflect on his club’s 6-3 homestand before heading west (49:47). Padres TV analyst Mark Grant previews the Jays' weekend series with a scouting report on Friday’s starter Matt Waldron, before discussing young phenom Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado continuing to play at an elite level (01:15:42).

 

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.

]]> Getting Ready to Play the Padres Sportsnet 01:39:17 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg line for their usual fan interaction on Friday. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi checks-in from San Diego with an update on prospect Ricky Tiedemann after being placed on the IL (32:07). Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show for his weekly hit to reflect on his club’s 6-3 homestand before heading west (49:47). Padres TV analyst Mark Grant previews the Jays' weekend series with a scouting report on Friday’s starter Matt Waldron, before discussing young phenom Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado continuing to play at an elite level (01:15:42). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg line for their usual fan interaction on Friday. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi checks-in from San Diego with an update on prospect Ricky Tiedemann after being placed on the IL (32:07). Blue Jays manager John Schneider joins the show for his weekly hit to reflect on his club’s 6-3 homestand before heading west (49:47). Padres TV analyst Mark Grant previews the Jays' weekend series with a scouting report on Friday’s starter Matt Waldron, before discussing young phenom Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado continuing to play at an elite level (01:15:42). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, mark grant, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full dc6cb2a8-486f-40df-9345-8c61715c5ecd Blue Jay Bats, Bullpens and Battleships with John Schneider Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly visit to discuss his team's offence, bullpen deployment, Daulton Varsho's strong homestand, Alek Manoah's next steps and more.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 19 Apr 2024 19:49:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly visit to discuss his team's offence, bullpen deployment, Daulton Varsho's strong homestand, Alek Manoah's next steps and more.

 

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.

]]> Blue Jay Bats, Bullpens and Battleships with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:14:49 Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly visit to discuss his team's offence, bullpen deployment, Daulton Varsho's strong homestand, Alek Manoah's next steps and more. 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. Blue Jays Manager John Schneider joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker for his weekly visit to discuss his team's offence, bullpen deployment, Daulton Varsho's strong homestand, Alek Manoah's next steps and more. 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a68708ad-0c96-41df-8e7b-1ec66486217d A Nervous Ninth Inning + Prospect Report with JJ Cooper Blair and Barker discuss the Blue Jays' bullpen use in the series finale vs. the New York Yankees, and the notion that they should have activated Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson in a more staggered approach, and not demoted Nate Pearson. MLB insider Jeff Passan talks about umpire Angel Hernandez’s strike zone, if the Royals are for real, and more across the big leagues (27:02). Baseball America’s JJ Cooper talks about Jack Leiter’s promotion to the Texas Rangers and how he views Toronto's prospects overall (49:47). To end the show, Blair and Barker react to Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks' post-game comments after blowing the save against the Angels, before looking ahead to the pitching matchups for Toronto’s weekend series against the Padres (01:21:37).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 18 Apr 2024 20:10:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blair and Barker discuss the Blue Jays' bullpen use in the series finale vs. the New York Yankees, and the notion that they should have activated Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson in a more staggered approach, and not demoted Nate Pearson. MLB insider Jeff Passan talks about umpire Angel Hernandez’s strike zone, if the Royals are for real, and more across the big leagues (27:02). Baseball America’s JJ Cooper talks about Jack Leiter’s promotion to the Texas Rangers and how he views Toronto's prospects overall (49:47). To end the show, Blair and Barker react to Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks' post-game comments after blowing the save against the Angels, before looking ahead to the pitching matchups for Toronto’s weekend series against the Padres (01:21:37).

 

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.

]]> A Nervous Ninth Inning + Prospect Report with JJ Cooper Sportsnet 01:39:33 Blair and Barker discuss the Blue Jays' bullpen use in the series finale vs. the New York Yankees, and the notion that they should have activated Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson in a more staggered approach, and not demoted Nate Pearson. MLB insider Jeff Passan talks about umpire Angel Hernandez’s strike zone, if the Royals are for real, and more across the big leagues (27:02). Baseball America’s JJ Cooper talks about Jack Leiter’s promotion to the Texas Rangers and how he views Toronto's prospects overall (49:47). To end the show, Blair and Barker react to Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks' post-game comments after blowing the save against the Angels, before looking ahead to the pitching matchups for Toronto’s weekend series against the Padres (01:21:37). 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. Blair and Barker discuss the Blue Jays' bullpen use in the series finale vs. the New York Yankees, and the notion that they should have activated Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson in a more staggered approach, and not demoted Nate Pearson. MLB insider Jeff Passan talks about umpire Angel Hernandez’s strike zone, if the Royals are for real, and more across the big leagues (27:02). Baseball America’s JJ Cooper talks about Jack Leiter’s promotion to the Texas Rangers and how he views Toronto's prospects overall (49:47). To end the show, Blair and Barker react to Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks' post-game comments after blowing the save against the Angels, before looking ahead to the pitching matchups for Toronto’s weekend series against the Padres (01:21:37). 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jj cooper, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 0718b076-c8d1-4e2f-9625-f18129d88812 Kikuchi: The Yankees Kryptonite Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Yusei Kikuchi’s standout performance over the Yankees. Later, they react to Aaron Judge’s post-game comments on facing the Blue Jays’ lefty; and look forward to Wednesday’s series finale where ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman will be taking the mound. To end the show, the guys go around the majors with MLB Network analyst and former General Manager Dan O'Dowd and ask him about when the time is right to commit long-term to certain players (24:07).

 

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.

]]> Wed, 17 Apr 2024 19:01:02 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Yusei Kikuchi’s standout performance over the Yankees. Later, they react to Aaron Judge’s post-game comments on facing the Blue Jays’ lefty; and look forward to Wednesday’s series finale where ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman will be taking the mound. To end the show, the guys go around the majors with MLB Network analyst and former General Manager Dan O'Dowd and ask him about when the time is right to commit long-term to certain players (24:07).

 

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.

]]> Kikuchi: The Yankees Kryptonite Sportsnet 00:49:48 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Yusei Kikuchi’s standout performance over the Yankees. Later, they react to Aaron Judge’s post-game comments on facing the Blue Jays’ lefty; and look forward to Wednesday’s series finale where ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman will be taking the mound. To end the show, the guys go around the majors with MLB Network analyst and former General Manager Dan O'Dowd and ask him about when the time is right to commit long-term to certain players (24:07). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Yusei Kikuchi’s standout performance over the Yankees. Later, they react to Aaron Judge’s post-game comments on facing the Blue Jays’ lefty; and look forward to Wednesday’s series finale where ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Kevin Gausman will be taking the mound. To end the show, the guys go around the majors with MLB Network analyst and former General Manager Dan O'Dowd and ask him about when the time is right to commit long-term to certain players (24:07). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue, dan o’dowd false full 813a9ffc-b9ab-46fe-b03a-91ceb00e72ce All About That Bassitt + Top Prospect Ricky Tiedemann Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 win over the Yankees, highlighted by the battery of Chris Bassitt and Alejandro Kirk. Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann joins to discuss what his goals are for the rest of 2024, doing whatever it takes to stay healthy, and being ready for the call to the majors when it comes (27:51). Jays’ radio analyst Chris Leroux stops-by in-studio with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play and what Yusei Kikuchi needs to do to have success tonight against New York (49:52). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin react to the breaking news regarding Blue Jays pitchers: Nate Pearson has been optioned to the Buffalo Bisons and Mitch White has been designated for assignment (01:16:25).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 16 Apr 2024 20:08:23 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 win over the Yankees, highlighted by the battery of Chris Bassitt and Alejandro Kirk. Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann joins to discuss what his goals are for the rest of 2024, doing whatever it takes to stay healthy, and being ready for the call to the majors when it comes (27:51). Jays’ radio analyst Chris Leroux stops-by in-studio with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play and what Yusei Kikuchi needs to do to have success tonight against New York (49:52). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin react to the breaking news regarding Blue Jays pitchers: Nate Pearson has been optioned to the Buffalo Bisons and Mitch White has been designated for assignment (01:16:25).

 

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.

]]> All About That Bassitt + Top Prospect Ricky Tiedemann Sportsnet 01:39:36 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 win over the Yankees, highlighted by the battery of Chris Bassitt and Alejandro Kirk. Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann joins to discuss what his goals are for the rest of 2024, doing whatever it takes to stay healthy, and being ready for the call to the majors when it comes (27:51). Jays’ radio analyst Chris Leroux stops-by in-studio with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play and what Yusei Kikuchi needs to do to have success tonight against New York (49:52). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin react to the breaking news regarding Blue Jays pitchers: Nate Pearson has been optioned to the Buffalo Bisons and Mitch White has been designated for assignment (01:16:25). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 3-1 win over the Yankees, highlighted by the battery of Chris Bassitt and Alejandro Kirk. Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann joins to discuss what his goals are for the rest of 2024, doing whatever it takes to stay healthy, and being ready for the call to the majors when it comes (27:51). Jays’ radio analyst Chris Leroux stops-by in-studio with his thoughts on Toronto’s recent play and what Yusei Kikuchi needs to do to have success tonight against New York (49:52). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin react to the breaking news regarding Blue Jays pitchers: Nate Pearson has been optioned to the Buffalo Bisons and Mitch White has been designated for assignment (01:16:25). 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. baseball, chris leroux, mlb, jays, ricky tiedemann, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 0e0445d8-0c6d-453f-b7a9-1fedc7c5cb0a Jays Weekend Recap & Jano’s Return Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their weekend takeaways after the Blue Jays took two of three against the Colorado Rockies. The guys break down José Berríos’ outstanding start, Yariel Rodriguez’s MLB debut, Alek Manaoh’s performance with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, and Daulton Varsho sitting on Sunday after hitting a grand slam in Saturday’s win. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and MLB Network shares the latest from New York ahead of the Jays-Yankees series: notably how they have mitigated the loss of ace Gerrit Cole in the early-going (29:42). Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez discusses Danny Jansen being reinstated from the IL, what he’s seen from Nate Pearson out of the bullpen, and why he sees Berríos being in the American League Cy Young running in 2024 (49:41). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine the Blue Jays lineup for game one against the Yankees and give some love to Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his recent play (01:18:53).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:06:29 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their weekend takeaways after the Blue Jays took two of three against the Colorado Rockies. The guys break down José Berríos’ outstanding start, Yariel Rodriguez’s MLB debut, Alek Manaoh’s performance with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, and Daulton Varsho sitting on Sunday after hitting a grand slam in Saturday’s win. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and MLB Network shares the latest from New York ahead of the Jays-Yankees series: notably how they have mitigated the loss of ace Gerrit Cole in the early-going (29:42). Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez discusses Danny Jansen being reinstated from the IL, what he’s seen from Nate Pearson out of the bullpen, and why he sees Berríos being in the American League Cy Young running in 2024 (49:41). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine the Blue Jays lineup for game one against the Yankees and give some love to Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his recent play (01:18:53).

 

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.

]]> Jays Weekend Recap & Jano’s Return Sportsnet 01:39:15 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their weekend takeaways after the Blue Jays took two of three against the Colorado Rockies. The guys break down José Berríos’ outstanding start, Yariel Rodriguez’s MLB debut, Alek Manaoh’s performance with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, and Daulton Varsho sitting on Sunday after hitting a grand slam in Saturday’s win. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and MLB Network shares the latest from New York ahead of the Jays-Yankees series: notably how they have mitigated the loss of ace Gerrit Cole in the early-going (29:42). Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez discusses Danny Jansen being reinstated from the IL, what he’s seen from Nate Pearson out of the bullpen, and why he sees Berríos being in the American League Cy Young running in 2024 (49:41). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine the Blue Jays lineup for game one against the Yankees and give some love to Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his recent play (01:18:53). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their weekend takeaways after the Blue Jays took two of three against the Colorado Rockies. The guys break down José Berríos’ outstanding start, Yariel Rodriguez’s MLB debut, Alek Manaoh’s performance with the AAA Buffalo Bisons, and Daulton Varsho sitting on Sunday after hitting a grand slam in Saturday’s win. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com and MLB Network shares the latest from New York ahead of the Jays-Yankees series: notably how they have mitigated the loss of ace Gerrit Cole in the early-going (29:42). Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez discusses Danny Jansen being reinstated from the IL, what he’s seen from Nate Pearson out of the bullpen, and why he sees Berríos being in the American League Cy Young running in 2024 (49:41). To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine the Blue Jays lineup for game one against the Yankees and give some love to Isiah Kiner-Falefa for his recent play (01:18:53). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, buck martinez, mark feinsand, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full e8eb88a0-1092-4b92-a584-fbe013e8e77d John Schneider, Spilly Goat, Samson! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker address the reports that Yariel Rodriguez will be called up by the Blue Jays and examine Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano’s outings at AAA Buffalo; before opening up the Back Leg Line for fan questions. Rockies analyst Ryan Spilborghs weighs in ahead of Colorado's weekend series in Toronto (24:25). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance to comment on Rodriguez’s status with the club, his team's series win over Seattle, Danny Jansen working his way back, Alejandro Kirk handling the pitchers in his absence, and Yimi Garcia’s outstanding start to the year (49:51). Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses the latest developments in the Ippei Mizuhara-Shohei Ohtani gambling story, the A’s moving to Sacramento pre-Vegas, Scott Boras losing Jordan Montgomery as one of his clients and more (01:16:56).

 

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.

]]> Fri, 12 Apr 2024 20:06:29 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker address the reports that Yariel Rodriguez will be called up by the Blue Jays and examine Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano’s outings at AAA Buffalo; before opening up the Back Leg Line for fan questions. Rockies analyst Ryan Spilborghs weighs in ahead of Colorado's weekend series in Toronto (24:25). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance to comment on Rodriguez’s status with the club, his team's series win over Seattle, Danny Jansen working his way back, Alejandro Kirk handling the pitchers in his absence, and Yimi Garcia’s outstanding start to the year (49:51). Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses the latest developments in the Ippei Mizuhara-Shohei Ohtani gambling story, the A’s moving to Sacramento pre-Vegas, Scott Boras losing Jordan Montgomery as one of his clients and more (01:16:56).

 

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.

]]> John Schneider, Spilly Goat, Samson! Sportsnet 01:39:14 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker address the reports that Yariel Rodriguez will be called up by the Blue Jays and examine Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano’s outings at AAA Buffalo; before opening up the Back Leg Line for fan questions. Rockies analyst Ryan Spilborghs weighs in ahead of Colorado's weekend series in Toronto (24:25). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance to comment on Rodriguez’s status with the club, his team's series win over Seattle, Danny Jansen working his way back, Alejandro Kirk handling the pitchers in his absence, and Yimi Garcia’s outstanding start to the year (49:51). Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses the latest developments in the Ippei Mizuhara-Shohei Ohtani gambling story, the A’s moving to Sacramento pre-Vegas, Scott Boras losing Jordan Montgomery as one of his clients and more (01:16:56). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker address the reports that Yariel Rodriguez will be called up by the Blue Jays and examine Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano’s outings at AAA Buffalo; before opening up the Back Leg Line for fan questions. Rockies analyst Ryan Spilborghs weighs in ahead of Colorado's weekend series in Toronto (24:25). Blue Jays manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance to comment on Rodriguez’s status with the club, his team's series win over Seattle, Danny Jansen working his way back, Alejandro Kirk handling the pitchers in his absence, and Yimi Garcia’s outstanding start to the year (49:51). Former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson discusses the latest developments in the Ippei Mizuhara-Shohei Ohtani gambling story, the A’s moving to Sacramento pre-Vegas, Scott Boras losing Jordan Montgomery as one of his clients and more (01:16:56). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, david samson, ryan spilborghs, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a24e4872-5fa1-4dd0-95ec-21b83680c5c2 Blue Jays' Injury Index with John Schneider Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who shares the latest updates on Danny Jansen, Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson and more!

 

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.

]]> Fri, 12 Apr 2024 19:51:48 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who shares the latest updates on Danny Jansen, Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson and more!

 

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.

]]> Blue Jays' Injury Index with John Schneider Sportsnet 00:15:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who shares the latest updates on Danny Jansen, Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson and more! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays manager John Schneider, who shares the latest updates on Danny Jansen, Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson and more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 160a5e9e-3573-49e1-b94e-ec0f428a9616 Cal the Blue Jays ‘Raleigh’ Killer & Dr. James Andrews Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays-Mariners finale as Cal Raleigh once again played spoiler to help give Seattle the 6-1 victory. Blair and Barker examine Raleigh’s post-game comments suggesting he has “beef” with Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider, Yusei Kikuchi’s standout nine strikeout performance, and Yimi Garcia continuing to impress in the bullpen. Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, Framber Valdez, Gerrit Cole… so many of MLB’s top pitchers have been hitting the IL with elbow injuries early in the 2024 campaign. The guys call up world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Tommy John surgery expert Dr. James Andrews for his opinion on the number of injuries, if the pitch clock is a main culprit, and the advice he should share to parents of young pitchers (25:37). Next, Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko talks about top prospect Jackson Holliday getting called up and making his MLB debut at Fenway Park (49:54). Later on, MLB insider and author of The Arm, Jeff Passan weighs-in further on the pitching epidemic, before discussing the iron men across baseball who strive to be in the lineup everyday (01:17:02).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 11 Apr 2024 20:14:54 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays-Mariners finale as Cal Raleigh once again played spoiler to help give Seattle the 6-1 victory. Blair and Barker examine Raleigh’s post-game comments suggesting he has “beef” with Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider, Yusei Kikuchi’s standout nine strikeout performance, and Yimi Garcia continuing to impress in the bullpen. Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, Framber Valdez, Gerrit Cole… so many of MLB’s top pitchers have been hitting the IL with elbow injuries early in the 2024 campaign. The guys call up world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Tommy John surgery expert Dr. James Andrews for his opinion on the number of injuries, if the pitch clock is a main culprit, and the advice he should share to parents of young pitchers (25:37). Next, Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko talks about top prospect Jackson Holliday getting called up and making his MLB debut at Fenway Park (49:54). Later on, MLB insider and author of The Arm, Jeff Passan weighs-in further on the pitching epidemic, before discussing the iron men across baseball who strive to be in the lineup everyday (01:17:02).

 

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.

]]> Cal the Blue Jays ‘Raleigh’ Killer & Dr. James Andrews Sportsnet 01:38:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays-Mariners finale as Cal Raleigh once again played spoiler to help give Seattle the 6-1 victory. Blair and Barker examine Raleigh’s post-game comments suggesting he has “beef” with Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider, Yusei Kikuchi’s standout nine strikeout performance, and Yimi Garcia continuing to impress in the bullpen. Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, Framber Valdez, Gerrit Cole… so many of MLB’s top pitchers have been hitting the IL with elbow injuries early in the 2024 campaign. The guys call up world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Tommy John surgery expert Dr. James Andrews for his opinion on the number of injuries, if the pitch clock is a main culprit, and the advice he should share to parents of young pitchers (25:37). Next, Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko talks about top prospect Jackson Holliday getting called up and making his MLB debut at Fenway Park (49:54). Later on, MLB insider and author of The Arm, Jeff Passan weighs-in further on the pitching epidemic, before discussing the iron men across baseball who strive to be in the lineup everyday (01:17:02). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays-Mariners finale as Cal Raleigh once again played spoiler to help give Seattle the 6-1 victory. Blair and Barker examine Raleigh’s post-game comments suggesting he has “beef” with Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider, Yusei Kikuchi’s standout nine strikeout performance, and Yimi Garcia continuing to impress in the bullpen. Shane Bieber, Spencer Strider, Framber Valdez, Gerrit Cole… so many of MLB’s top pitchers have been hitting the IL with elbow injuries early in the 2024 campaign. The guys call up world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Tommy John surgery expert Dr. James Andrews for his opinion on the number of injuries, if the pitch clock is a main culprit, and the advice he should share to parents of young pitchers (25:37). Next, Orioles reporter Roch Kubatko talks about top prospect Jackson Holliday getting called up and making his MLB debut at Fenway Park (49:54). Later on, MLB insider and author of The Arm, Jeff Passan weighs-in further on the pitching epidemic, before discussing the iron men across baseball who strive to be in the lineup everyday (01:17:02). 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, roch kubatko, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dr. james andrews, blue false full 77692d57-561f-4a41-a2d3-faad0f5891f5 Bassitt Hound’s Magic on the Mound Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Mariners on Tuesday to give them their first series win of the season. The guys discuss Chris Bassitt after his standout performance, his post-game comments about the team’s starting rotation having more to offer, and the offence finding its rhythm totalling eleven hits. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman checks in ahead of the first pitch from Rogers Centre as Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for Toronto against his former team in search of the series sweep.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Wed, 10 Apr 2024 19:02:33 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Mariners on Tuesday to give them their first series win of the season. The guys discuss Chris Bassitt after his standout performance, his post-game comments about the team’s starting rotation having more to offer, and the offence finding its rhythm totalling eleven hits. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman checks in ahead of the first pitch from Rogers Centre as Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for Toronto against his former team in search of the series sweep.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Bassitt Hound’s Magic on the Mound Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Mariners on Tuesday to give them their first series win of the season. The guys discuss Chris Bassitt after his standout performance, his post-game comments about the team’s starting rotation having more to offer, and the offence finding its rhythm totalling eleven hits. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman checks in ahead of the first pitch from Rogers Centre as Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for Toronto against his former team in search of the series sweep. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Mariners on Tuesday to give them their first series win of the season. The guys discuss Chris Bassitt after his standout performance, his post-game comments about the team’s starting rotation having more to offer, and the offence finding its rhythm totalling eleven hits. Later, Blue Jays radio voice Ben Shulman checks in ahead of the first pitch from Rogers Centre as Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for Toronto against his former team in search of the series sweep. 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 affiliate. false full 74a186e3-2196-4703-984c-85d66c0771c6 Ernie Clement & Manny Talks Mariners Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-2 win in their home opener; particularly José Berríos’ solid outing, along with the crowd’s reaction to John Schneider pregame and when he took Berríos out of the game. The guys invite Sportsnet's Dan Shulman on with his thoughts on the home opener and Berríos' "ace" potential given how well he’s pitched so far this season (26:30). Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement discusses his start to the season, the renovations at Rogers Centre being beneficial for the players, and the importance of Matt Hague to his development as a hitter (49:54). Do you have to plan differently as a coach when changes are made to the dimensions of a ballpark? Jeff and Kevin call-up former MLB manager and Mariners’ 3B Coach Manny Acta to ask him (01:03:44), before being joined by play-by-play voice Dave Sims who provides a scouting report on tonight’s starter George Kirby (01:18:16).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 9 Apr 2024 20:17:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-2 win in their home opener; particularly José Berríos’ solid outing, along with the crowd’s reaction to John Schneider pregame and when he took Berríos out of the game. The guys invite Sportsnet's Dan Shulman on with his thoughts on the home opener and Berríos' "ace" potential given how well he’s pitched so far this season (26:30). Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement discusses his start to the season, the renovations at Rogers Centre being beneficial for the players, and the importance of Matt Hague to his development as a hitter (49:54). Do you have to plan differently as a coach when changes are made to the dimensions of a ballpark? Jeff and Kevin call-up former MLB manager and Mariners’ 3B Coach Manny Acta to ask him (01:03:44), before being joined by play-by-play voice Dave Sims who provides a scouting report on tonight’s starter George Kirby (01:18:16).

 

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.

]]> Ernie Clement & Manny Talks Mariners Sportsnet 01:39:41 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-2 win in their home opener; particularly José Berríos’ solid outing, along with the crowd’s reaction to John Schneider pregame and when he took Berríos out of the game. The guys invite Sportsnet's Dan Shulman on with his thoughts on the home opener and Berríos' "ace" potential given how well he’s pitched so far this season (26:30). Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement discusses his start to the season, the renovations at Rogers Centre being beneficial for the players, and the importance of Matt Hague to his development as a hitter (49:54). Do you have to plan differently as a coach when changes are made to the dimensions of a ballpark? Jeff and Kevin call-up former MLB manager and Mariners’ 3B Coach Manny Acta to ask him (01:03:44), before being joined by play-by-play voice Dave Sims who provides a scouting report on tonight’s starter George Kirby (01:18:16). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 5-2 win in their home opener; particularly José Berríos’ solid outing, along with the crowd’s reaction to John Schneider pregame and when he took Berríos out of the game. The guys invite Sportsnet's Dan Shulman on with his thoughts on the home opener and Berríos' "ace" potential given how well he’s pitched so far this season (26:30). Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement discusses his start to the season, the renovations at Rogers Centre being beneficial for the players, and the importance of Matt Hague to his development as a hitter (49:54). Do you have to plan differently as a coach when changes are made to the dimensions of a ballpark? Jeff and Kevin call-up former MLB manager and Mariners’ 3B Coach Manny Acta to ask him (01:03:44), before being joined by play-by-play voice Dave Sims who provides a scouting report on tonight’s starter George Kirby (01:18:16). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, manny acta, kevin barker, ernie clement, dave sims, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full d1c3a481-2ce1-4cf0-9341-de4ceba43fd8 Home-Opener Upgrade Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' home opener against the Mariners. They share positives and negatives after 10 games and break down Don Mattingly's comments on the team's offensive identity. Then, Jays' Central's Joe Siddall (26:00) discusses the Jays' lack of home-field advantage last season, how the renovations impact hitting and his biggest concerns 10 games in. Later, Blue Jays president & CEO Mark Shapiro (50:54) joins the show to discuss Rogers Centre renovations and his takeaways from the first 10 games of the season. Finally, Shi Davidi (1:16:43) shares the latest on Romano, Swanson, Manoah and Jansen before looking at how John Schneider will navigate the injury-struck roster.

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.

]]> Mon, 8 Apr 2024 22:06:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' home opener against the Mariners. They share positives and negatives after 10 games and break down Don Mattingly's comments on the team's offensive identity. Then, Jays' Central's Joe Siddall (26:00) discusses the Jays' lack of home-field advantage last season, how the renovations impact hitting and his biggest concerns 10 games in. Later, Blue Jays president & CEO Mark Shapiro (50:54) joins the show to discuss Rogers Centre renovations and his takeaways from the first 10 games of the season. Finally, Shi Davidi (1:16:43) shares the latest on Romano, Swanson, Manoah and Jansen before looking at how John Schneider will navigate the injury-struck roster.

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.

]]> Home-Opener Upgrade Sportsnet 01:39:54 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' home opener against the Mariners. They share positives and negatives after 10 games and break down Don Mattingly's comments on the team's offensive identity. Then, Jays' Central's Joe Siddall (26:00) discusses the Jays' lack of home-field advantage last season, how the renovations impact hitting and his biggest concerns 10 games in. Later, Blue Jays president & CEO Mark Shapiro (50:54) joins the show to discuss Rogers Centre renovations and his takeaways from the first 10 games of the season. Finally, Shi Davidi (1:16:43) shares the latest on Romano, Swanson, Manoah and Jansen before looking at how John Schneider will navigate the injury-struck roster. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' home opener against the Mariners. They share positives and negatives after 10 games and break down Don Mattingly's comments on the team's offensive identity. Then, Jays' Central's Joe Siddall (26:00) discusses the Jays' lack of home-field advantage last season, how the renovations impact hitting and his biggest concerns 10 games in. Later, Blue Jays president & CEO Mark Shapiro (50:54) joins the show to discuss Rogers Centre renovations and his takeaways from the first 10 games of the season. Finally, Shi Davidi (1:16:43) shares the latest on Romano, Swanson, Manoah and Jansen before looking at how John Schneider will navigate the injury-struck roster. 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. false full 3f6ee2a0-1976-4b41-86dc-6b6723b0a0fb Rogers Centre Renos & Season Start Takeaways with Mark Shapiro Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to touch on the culmination of the Rogers Centre's two-year renovation, his takeaways from his ballclub's start to the 2024 season after 10 games and his concerns for the growing list of pitchers sidelined with injury across the league.

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.

]]> Mon, 8 Apr 2024 21:22:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to touch on the culmination of the Rogers Centre's two-year renovation, his takeaways from his ballclub's start to the 2024 season after 10 games and his concerns for the growing list of pitchers sidelined with injury across the league.

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.

]]> Rogers Centre Renos & Season Start Takeaways with Mark Shapiro Sportsnet 00:07:39 Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to touch on the culmination of the Rogers Centre's two-year renovation, his takeaways from his ballclub's start to the 2024 season after 10 games and his concerns for the growing list of pitchers sidelined with injury across the league. 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. Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to touch on the culmination of the Rogers Centre's two-year renovation, his takeaways from his ballclub's start to the 2024 season after 10 games and his concerns for the growing list of pitchers sidelined with injury across the league. 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. false full ca49c37e-5fa7-47bf-983c-75a15d864984 Blue Jays Bats Grounded Again in Houston Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 8-0 loss to the Astros in the finale of their three-game series where Toronto managed only one hit. The guys debate why Davis Schneider wasn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for the rubber match vs. the Astros after hitting the game-winning home run in Game 2. Buffalo Bisons Manager Casey Candaele shares what he's seen so far from Blue Jays prospects Yariel Rodriguez and Ricky Tiedemann after earning his 200th win as Bisons skipper (19:05) . Following Candaele, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to hear fan reaction on the team’s scuffling offence (31:30). MLB analyst and former player Doug Glanville explains what he saw in this Blue Jays’ team ahead of this season that made him pencil them in as his World Series pick (49:47). Astros analyst and three-time World Series champion with the Yankees, Mike Stanton looks back on Jays-Astros before previewing Toronto’s upcoming series in the Bronx, particularly his thoughts on Friday’s starter ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Juan Soto’s fast start (01:17:43) .

 

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.

]]> Thu, 4 Apr 2024 20:08:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 8-0 loss to the Astros in the finale of their three-game series where Toronto managed only one hit. The guys debate why Davis Schneider wasn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for the rubber match vs. the Astros after hitting the game-winning home run in Game 2. Buffalo Bisons Manager Casey Candaele shares what he's seen so far from Blue Jays prospects Yariel Rodriguez and Ricky Tiedemann after earning his 200th win as Bisons skipper (19:05) . Following Candaele, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to hear fan reaction on the team’s scuffling offence (31:30). MLB analyst and former player Doug Glanville explains what he saw in this Blue Jays’ team ahead of this season that made him pencil them in as his World Series pick (49:47). Astros analyst and three-time World Series champion with the Yankees, Mike Stanton looks back on Jays-Astros before previewing Toronto’s upcoming series in the Bronx, particularly his thoughts on Friday’s starter ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Juan Soto’s fast start (01:17:43) .

 

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.

]]> Blue Jays Bats Grounded Again in Houston Sportsnet 01:39:11 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 8-0 loss to the Astros in the finale of their three-game series where Toronto managed only one hit. The guys debate why Davis Schneider wasn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for the rubber match vs. the Astros after hitting the game-winning home run in Game 2. Buffalo Bisons Manager Casey Candaele shares what he's seen so far from Blue Jays prospects Yariel Rodriguez and Ricky Tiedemann after earning his 200th win as Bisons skipper (19:05) . Following Candaele, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to hear fan reaction on the team’s scuffling offence (31:30). MLB analyst and former player Doug Glanville explains what he saw in this Blue Jays’ team ahead of this season that made him pencil them in as his World Series pick (49:47). Astros analyst and three-time World Series champion with the Yankees, Mike Stanton looks back on Jays-Astros before previewing Toronto’s upcoming series in the Bronx, particularly his thoughts on Friday’s starter ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Juan Soto’s fast start (01:17:43) . 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Toronto’s 8-0 loss to the Astros in the finale of their three-game series where Toronto managed only one hit. The guys debate why Davis Schneider wasn't in the Blue Jays' lineup for the rubber match vs. the Astros after hitting the game-winning home run in Game 2. Buffalo Bisons Manager Casey Candaele shares what he's seen so far from Blue Jays prospects Yariel Rodriguez and Ricky Tiedemann after earning his 200th win as Bisons skipper (19:05) . Following Candaele, Jeff and Kevin open up the Back Leg Line to hear fan reaction on the team’s scuffling offence (31:30). MLB analyst and former player Doug Glanville explains what he saw in this Blue Jays’ team ahead of this season that made him pencil them in as his World Series pick (49:47). Astros analyst and three-time World Series champion with the Yankees, Mike Stanton looks back on Jays-Astros before previewing Toronto’s upcoming series in the Bronx, particularly his thoughts on Friday’s starter ex-Jay Marcus Stroman and Juan Soto’s fast start (01:17:43) . 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. baseball, mike stanton, mlb, jays, doug glanville, toronto, casey candale, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a64ff79d-77d5-47d2-ad65-f3adf77031a9 Jays-Astros Reaction with John Schneider & Dana Brown Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' 2-1 comeback win over the Houston Astros as Davis Schneider played hero in the 9th inning. Houston Astros GM Dana Brown (28:45) discusses why he's not going to overreact to his team’s slow start with such high expectations and what he's learned about himself after his first full season in his new role. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (52:57) talks about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter, and the status of the team's injured pitchers. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:20:52) comments on the status of the Royals in Kansas City after residents voted to decline a tax hike which would have gone towards a new ballpark before discussing the Tigers' hot start and how the Astros will handle Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman’s next contracts.

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.

]]> Wed, 3 Apr 2024 20:09:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' 2-1 comeback win over the Houston Astros as Davis Schneider played hero in the 9th inning. Houston Astros GM Dana Brown (28:45) discusses why he's not going to overreact to his team’s slow start with such high expectations and what he's learned about himself after his first full season in his new role. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (52:57) talks about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter, and the status of the team's injured pitchers. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:20:52) comments on the status of the Royals in Kansas City after residents voted to decline a tax hike which would have gone towards a new ballpark before discussing the Tigers' hot start and how the Astros will handle Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman’s next contracts.

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.

]]> Jays-Astros Reaction with John Schneider & Dana Brown Sportsnet 01:39:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' 2-1 comeback win over the Houston Astros as Davis Schneider played hero in the 9th inning. Houston Astros GM Dana Brown (28:45) discusses why he's not going to overreact to his team’s slow start with such high expectations and what he's learned about himself after his first full season in his new role. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (52:57) talks about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter, and the status of the team's injured pitchers. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:20:52) comments on the status of the Royals in Kansas City after residents voted to decline a tax hike which would have gone towards a new ballpark before discussing the Tigers' hot start and how the Astros will handle Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman’s next contracts. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' 2-1 comeback win over the Houston Astros as Davis Schneider played hero in the 9th inning. Houston Astros GM Dana Brown (28:45) discusses why he's not going to overreact to his team’s slow start with such high expectations and what he's learned about himself after his first full season in his new role. Blue Jays skipper John Schneider (52:57) talks about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter, and the status of the team's injured pitchers. MLB insider Jeff Passan (1:20:52) comments on the status of the Royals in Kansas City after residents voted to decline a tax hike which would have gone towards a new ballpark before discussing the Tigers' hot start and how the Astros will handle Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman’s next contracts. 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. false full 7f350223-1e62-46b1-9bc5-b1fb2a9afacb John Schneider: Berríos' Awesome Evolution Following late-inning drama in Houston, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter during his time in Toronto, the status of the team's injured pitchers, and potential adjustments to the batting order with a few regulars struggling out of the gates. Next, the manager gets into what goes into self-correcting in-game when being no-hit.

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.

]]> Wed, 3 Apr 2024 19:32:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Following late-inning drama in Houston, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter during his time in Toronto, the status of the team's injured pitchers, and potential adjustments to the batting order with a few regulars struggling out of the gates. Next, the manager gets into what goes into self-correcting in-game when being no-hit.

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.

]]> John Schneider: Berríos' Awesome Evolution Sportsnet 00:20:47 Following late-inning drama in Houston, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter during his time in Toronto, the status of the team's injured pitchers, and potential adjustments to the batting order with a few regulars struggling out of the gates. Next, the manager gets into what goes into self-correcting in-game when being no-hit. 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. Following late-inning drama in Houston, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about bouncing back from being no-hit on Monday, José Berríos' evolution as a starter during his time in Toronto, the status of the team's injured pitchers, and potential adjustments to the batting order with a few regulars struggling out of the gates. Next, the manager gets into what goes into self-correcting in-game when being no-hit. 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. false full d8a9414b-5227-4eee-8df7-b94a81212035 No Fooling: Blanco Blanks the Blue Jays Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays getting no-hit by Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco on April Fools Day; notably the lack of adjustments made at the plate by Toronto’s hitters. Intentional Talk host Ryan Dempster weighs-in on the no-no, takes the guys inside the mind of a pitcher when he’s dealing on the mound, and comments on what’s caught his eye MLB-wide early on (26:17) . MLB Insider Jim Bowden shares why he was concerned about Toronto’s lineup even before last night’s result, his thoughts on how Toronto’s payroll is managed, and if he’s surprised Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. haven’t been extended by the organization (49:37). Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae discusses the life and legacy of former MLB executive Larry Lucchino, Ernie Clement earning more playing time, and Bowden Francis’ demeanour following his tough start in Houston (01:17:18).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 2 Apr 2024 20:18:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays getting no-hit by Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco on April Fools Day; notably the lack of adjustments made at the plate by Toronto’s hitters. Intentional Talk host Ryan Dempster weighs-in on the no-no, takes the guys inside the mind of a pitcher when he’s dealing on the mound, and comments on what’s caught his eye MLB-wide early on (26:17) . MLB Insider Jim Bowden shares why he was concerned about Toronto’s lineup even before last night’s result, his thoughts on how Toronto’s payroll is managed, and if he’s surprised Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. haven’t been extended by the organization (49:37). Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae discusses the life and legacy of former MLB executive Larry Lucchino, Ernie Clement earning more playing time, and Bowden Francis’ demeanour following his tough start in Houston (01:17:18).

 

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.

]]> No Fooling: Blanco Blanks the Blue Jays Sportsnet 01:39:19 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays getting no-hit by Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco on April Fools Day; notably the lack of adjustments made at the plate by Toronto’s hitters. Intentional Talk host Ryan Dempster weighs-in on the no-no, takes the guys inside the mind of a pitcher when he’s dealing on the mound, and comments on what’s caught his eye MLB-wide early on (26:17) . MLB Insider Jim Bowden shares why he was concerned about Toronto’s lineup even before last night’s result, his thoughts on how Toronto’s payroll is managed, and if he’s surprised Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. haven’t been extended by the organization (49:37). Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae discusses the life and legacy of former MLB executive Larry Lucchino, Ernie Clement earning more playing time, and Bowden Francis’ demeanour following his tough start in Houston (01:17:18). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Blue Jays getting no-hit by Houston Astros starter Ronel Blanco on April Fools Day; notably the lack of adjustments made at the plate by Toronto’s hitters. Intentional Talk host Ryan Dempster weighs-in on the no-no, takes the guys inside the mind of a pitcher when he’s dealing on the mound, and comments on what’s caught his eye MLB-wide early on (26:17) . MLB Insider Jim Bowden shares why he was concerned about Toronto’s lineup even before last night’s result, his thoughts on how Toronto’s payroll is managed, and if he’s surprised Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. haven’t been extended by the organization (49:37). Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae discusses the life and legacy of former MLB executive Larry Lucchino, Ernie Clement earning more playing time, and Bowden Francis’ demeanour following his tough start in Houston (01:17:18). 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. baseball, jim bowden, mlb, jays, hazel mae, ryan dempster, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full a0ac3338-9306-49a5-8538-c6d5a306c23a A Series Split… Now Bring on the ‘Stros! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their takeaways from the Blue Jays' series split against the Rays; notably clean-up hitter Justin Turner’s big game and why having him swinging free-and-easy in that spot makes it easier on every other hitter in the lineup. Buck Martinez joins the guys with further thoughts on Turner, Kevin Gausman’s 2024 debut, and the amount of stolen base attempts across MLB in the early-going (24:00). Next hour, Blair and Barker look ahead to Toronto’s series against the Astros and ask Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi about how to deploy the bullpen against Houston, before getting into Vladimir Guerrero’s game plan at the plate in the opening series (49:45). Later, World Series champion and Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum shares his scouting report on Houston and discusses the team’s 0-4 start after being swept by the Yankees (01:17:55).

 

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.

]]> Mon, 1 Apr 2024 20:15:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their takeaways from the Blue Jays' series split against the Rays; notably clean-up hitter Justin Turner’s big game and why having him swinging free-and-easy in that spot makes it easier on every other hitter in the lineup. Buck Martinez joins the guys with further thoughts on Turner, Kevin Gausman’s 2024 debut, and the amount of stolen base attempts across MLB in the early-going (24:00). Next hour, Blair and Barker look ahead to Toronto’s series against the Astros and ask Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi about how to deploy the bullpen against Houston, before getting into Vladimir Guerrero’s game plan at the plate in the opening series (49:45). Later, World Series champion and Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum shares his scouting report on Houston and discusses the team’s 0-4 start after being swept by the Yankees (01:17:55).

 

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.

]]> A Series Split… Now Bring on the ‘Stros! Sportsnet 01:39:20 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their takeaways from the Blue Jays' series split against the Rays; notably clean-up hitter Justin Turner’s big game and why having him swinging free-and-easy in that spot makes it easier on every other hitter in the lineup. Buck Martinez joins the guys with further thoughts on Turner, Kevin Gausman’s 2024 debut, and the amount of stolen base attempts across MLB in the early-going (24:00). Next hour, Blair and Barker look ahead to Toronto’s series against the Astros and ask Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi about how to deploy the bullpen against Houston, before getting into Vladimir Guerrero’s game plan at the plate in the opening series (49:45). Later, World Series champion and Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum shares his scouting report on Houston and discusses the team’s 0-4 start after being swept by the Yankees (01:17:55). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker share their takeaways from the Blue Jays' series split against the Rays; notably clean-up hitter Justin Turner’s big game and why having him swinging free-and-easy in that spot makes it easier on every other hitter in the lineup. Buck Martinez joins the guys with further thoughts on Turner, Kevin Gausman’s 2024 debut, and the amount of stolen base attempts across MLB in the early-going (24:00). Next hour, Blair and Barker look ahead to Toronto’s series against the Astros and ask Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi about how to deploy the bullpen against Houston, before getting into Vladimir Guerrero’s game plan at the plate in the opening series (49:45). Later, World Series champion and Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum shares his scouting report on Houston and discusses the team’s 0-4 start after being swept by the Yankees (01:17:55). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, buck martinez, toronto, kevin barker, jeff blair, shi davidi, sportsnet, blue false full c302cbe3-0428-4c77-b330-35a4f8ec32f1 It’s a Good Friday Following a Jays Win Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman with his Opening Day takeaways after being on the call for Toronto’s 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Following Dan, Blair and Barker open up the ‘Back Leg Line’ for fan reaction to yesterday's maiden win (25:14). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider comments on his club’s impressive victory, provides an update on Justin Turner, and admits he will keep today’s lineup the same after its success in game one (49:35). Later, MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his early Jays impressions, before discussing payroll disparity across MLB, Bo Bichette’s contract status, and if upcoming free agents are more likely to re-sign with their current clubs given how this past offseason played out (01:16:24).

 

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.

]]> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:08:53 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman with his Opening Day takeaways after being on the call for Toronto’s 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Following Dan, Blair and Barker open up the ‘Back Leg Line’ for fan reaction to yesterday's maiden win (25:14). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider comments on his club’s impressive victory, provides an update on Justin Turner, and admits he will keep today’s lineup the same after its success in game one (49:35). Later, MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his early Jays impressions, before discussing payroll disparity across MLB, Bo Bichette’s contract status, and if upcoming free agents are more likely to re-sign with their current clubs given how this past offseason played out (01:16:24).

 

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.

]]> It’s a Good Friday Following a Jays Win Sportsnet 01:38:56 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman with his Opening Day takeaways after being on the call for Toronto’s 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Following Dan, Blair and Barker open up the ‘Back Leg Line’ for fan reaction to yesterday's maiden win (25:14). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider comments on his club’s impressive victory, provides an update on Justin Turner, and admits he will keep today’s lineup the same after its success in game one (49:35). Later, MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his early Jays impressions, before discussing payroll disparity across MLB, Bo Bichette’s contract status, and if upcoming free agents are more likely to re-sign with their current clubs given how this past offseason played out (01:16:24). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Sportsnet’s Dan Shulman with his Opening Day takeaways after being on the call for Toronto’s 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Following Dan, Blair and Barker open up the ‘Back Leg Line’ for fan reaction to yesterday's maiden win (25:14). Blue Jays Manager John Schneider comments on his club’s impressive victory, provides an update on Justin Turner, and admits he will keep today’s lineup the same after its success in game one (49:35). Later, MLB Insider Jeff Passan shares his early Jays impressions, before discussing payroll disparity across MLB, Bo Bichette’s contract status, and if upcoming free agents are more likely to re-sign with their current clubs given how this past offseason played out (01:16:24). 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. baseball, jeff passan, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, dan shulman, blue false full 90fc08e9-b810-489b-8738-8514496ac886 John Schneider: All Smiles After First Win Following their first win in Tampa Bay, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about translating their success from Spring Training to the regular season, his batter's two-strike approach, if there's any pressure on Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. heading into the new year, expectations for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, how much workload Alejandro Kirk will have with Danny Jansen out, Kevin Gausman's injury status and much more!

 

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.

]]> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 19:47:55 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Following their first win in Tampa Bay, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about translating their success from Spring Training to the regular season, his batter's two-strike approach, if there's any pressure on Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. heading into the new year, expectations for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, how much workload Alejandro Kirk will have with Danny Jansen out, Kevin Gausman's injury status and much more!

 

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.

]]> John Schneider: All Smiles After First Win Sportsnet 00:18:25 Following their first win in Tampa Bay, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about translating their success from Spring Training to the regular season, his batter's two-strike approach, if there's any pressure on Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. heading into the new year, expectations for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, how much workload Alejandro Kirk will have with Danny Jansen out, Kevin Gausman's injury status and much more! 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. Following their first win in Tampa Bay, Blue Jays skipper John Schneider joins Blair & Barker to chat about translating their success from Spring Training to the regular season, his batter's two-strike approach, if there's any pressure on Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. heading into the new year, expectations for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, how much workload Alejandro Kirk will have with Danny Jansen out, Kevin Gausman's injury status and much more! 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. baseball, mlb, jays, toronto, john schneider, kevin barker, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full 3d9f6649-8203-4661-83b1-a02ebf6d4eaa Opening Day 2024 Preview Opening Day has finally arrived and Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Caleb Joseph to set the stage for the Blue Jays' 2024 opener against the Rays. They discuss the lineup, José Berríos' outlook and who will need to step up in the pen with Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson out. Then, Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson weighs in on Tampa's pitching depth, how they stay competitive after significant losses in the offseason and what to expect from Zach Eflin today (22:30). Next, Jayson Stark of The Athletic looks into the uptick of pitcher injuries, how teams adjust to the rise of stolen bases, pressure on the Dodgers and his expectations for the Blue Jays (46:45). Finally, the fellas reflect on how things ended last season and how the team moves forward into 2024 (01:12:56).

 

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.

]]> Thu, 28 Mar 2024 20:10:21 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Opening Day has finally arrived and Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Caleb Joseph to set the stage for the Blue Jays' 2024 opener against the Rays. They discuss the lineup, José Berríos' outlook and who will need to step up in the pen with Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson out. Then, Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson weighs in on Tampa's pitching depth, how they stay competitive after significant losses in the offseason and what to expect from Zach Eflin today (22:30). Next, Jayson Stark of The Athletic looks into the uptick of pitcher injuries, how teams adjust to the rise of stolen bases, pressure on the Dodgers and his expectations for the Blue Jays (46:45). Finally, the fellas reflect on how things ended last season and how the team moves forward into 2024 (01:12:56).

 

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.

]]> Opening Day 2024 Preview Sportsnet 01:34:46 Opening Day has finally arrived and Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Caleb Joseph to set the stage for the Blue Jays' 2024 opener against the Rays. They discuss the lineup, José Berríos' outlook and who will need to step up in the pen with Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson out. Then, Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson weighs in on Tampa's pitching depth, how they stay competitive after significant losses in the offseason and what to expect from Zach Eflin today (22:30). Next, Jayson Stark of The Athletic looks into the uptick of pitcher injuries, how teams adjust to the rise of stolen bases, pressure on the Dodgers and his expectations for the Blue Jays (46:45). Finally, the fellas reflect on how things ended last season and how the team moves forward into 2024 (01:12:56). 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. Opening Day has finally arrived and Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined in-studio by Caleb Joseph to set the stage for the Blue Jays' 2024 opener against the Rays. They discuss the lineup, José Berríos' outlook and who will need to step up in the pen with Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson out. Then, Rays TV analyst Brian Anderson weighs in on Tampa's pitching depth, how they stay competitive after significant losses in the offseason and what to expect from Zach Eflin today (22:30). Next, Jayson Stark of The Athletic looks into the uptick of pitcher injuries, how teams adjust to the rise of stolen bases, pressure on the Dodgers and his expectations for the Blue Jays (46:45). Finally, the fellas reflect on how things ended last season and how the team moves forward into 2024 (01:12:56). 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. baseball, brian anderson, mlb, jays, toronto, kevin barker, caleb joseph, jeff blair, jayson stark, sportsnet, blue false full 07dde59c-90ab-4c45-be91-6e951cce3523 Gausman Looks Good, Ohtani Speaks & HOFer Greg Maddux! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Kevin Gausman’s outing against the Pirates as he impressed in his only start of the Grapefruit League season. Later, they discuss how important Yimi Garcia will be in the back of the Blue Jays' bullpen amidst the unknown status of Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano. MLB analyst David Samson shares his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani’s press conference and where he thinks the Blue Jays will finish in the AL East (26:18). The Athletic’s Sam Blum shares more on Ohtani and the fallout of this gambling story after covering the superstar’s availability yesterday (49:36) Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux talks about taking the mound on opening day, the importance of switching speeds on the mound, his brother Mike’s work with the World champion Texas Rangers, and the potential of Las Vegas as an MLB city (01:15:26).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:14:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Kevin Gausman’s outing against the Pirates as he impressed in his only start of the Grapefruit League season. Later, they discuss how important Yimi Garcia will be in the back of the Blue Jays' bullpen amidst the unknown status of Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano. MLB analyst David Samson shares his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani’s press conference and where he thinks the Blue Jays will finish in the AL East (26:18). The Athletic’s Sam Blum shares more on Ohtani and the fallout of this gambling story after covering the superstar’s availability yesterday (49:36) Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux talks about taking the mound on opening day, the importance of switching speeds on the mound, his brother Mike’s work with the World champion Texas Rangers, and the potential of Las Vegas as an MLB city (01:15:26).

 

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.

]]> Gausman Looks Good, Ohtani Speaks & HOFer Greg Maddux! Sportsnet 01:39:16 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Kevin Gausman’s outing against the Pirates as he impressed in his only start of the Grapefruit League season. Later, they discuss how important Yimi Garcia will be in the back of the Blue Jays' bullpen amidst the unknown status of Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano. MLB analyst David Samson shares his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani’s press conference and where he thinks the Blue Jays will finish in the AL East (26:18). The Athletic’s Sam Blum shares more on Ohtani and the fallout of this gambling story after covering the superstar’s availability yesterday (49:36) Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux talks about taking the mound on opening day, the importance of switching speeds on the mound, his brother Mike’s work with the World champion Texas Rangers, and the potential of Las Vegas as an MLB city (01:15:26). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine Kevin Gausman’s outing against the Pirates as he impressed in his only start of the Grapefruit League season. Later, they discuss how important Yimi Garcia will be in the back of the Blue Jays' bullpen amidst the unknown status of Erik Swanson and Jordan Romano. MLB analyst David Samson shares his thoughts on Shohei Ohtani’s press conference and where he thinks the Blue Jays will finish in the AL East (26:18). The Athletic’s Sam Blum shares more on Ohtani and the fallout of this gambling story after covering the superstar’s availability yesterday (49:36) Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux talks about taking the mound on opening day, the importance of switching speeds on the mound, his brother Mike’s work with the World champion Texas Rangers, and the potential of Las Vegas as an MLB city (01:15:26). 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. baseball, mlb, jays, david samson, sam blum, toronto, kevin barker, greg maddux, jeff blair, sportsnet, blue false full d56d1a54-2190-4956-ade5-aad92102b751 Gausman Throws + Monty to the O’s? The Blue Jays opening day roster is beginning to take shape as the team prepares for their final Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Kevin Gausman’s prognosis as he makes the start, Bo Bichette potentially moving around the batting order, and John Schneider announcing Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, and Daniel Vogelbach will break camp with the team. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the guys (20:45) with the latest on Gausman ahead of his start, who’s making the team, and Joey Votto’s status. Jeff and Kevin end the show talking about why Jordan Montgomery makes a ton of sense for the Baltimore Orioles as he remains on the FA market.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:04:50 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ The Blue Jays opening day roster is beginning to take shape as the team prepares for their final Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Kevin Gausman’s prognosis as he makes the start, Bo Bichette potentially moving around the batting order, and John Schneider announcing Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, and Daniel Vogelbach will break camp with the team. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the guys (20:45) with the latest on Gausman ahead of his start, who’s making the team, and Joey Votto’s status. Jeff and Kevin end the show talking about why Jordan Montgomery makes a ton of sense for the Baltimore Orioles as he remains on the FA market.

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 affiliate.

]]> Gausman Throws + Monty to the O’s? Sportsnet 00:49:51 The Blue Jays opening day roster is beginning to take shape as the team prepares for their final Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Kevin Gausman’s prognosis as he makes the start, Bo Bichette potentially moving around the batting order, and John Schneider announcing Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, and Daniel Vogelbach will break camp with the team. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the guys (20:45) with the latest on Gausman ahead of his start, who’s making the team, and Joey Votto’s status. Jeff and Kevin end the show talking about why Jordan Montgomery makes a ton of sense for the Baltimore Orioles as he remains on the FA market. 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 affiliate. The Blue Jays opening day roster is beginning to take shape as the team prepares for their final Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Kevin Gausman’s prognosis as he makes the start, Bo Bichette potentially moving around the batting order, and John Schneider announcing Ernie Clement, Davis Schneider, and Daniel Vogelbach will break camp with the team. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the guys (20:45) with the latest on Gausman ahead of his start, who’s making the team, and Joey Votto’s status. Jeff and Kevin end the show talking about why Jordan Montgomery makes a ton of sense for the Baltimore Orioles as he remains on the FA market. 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 affiliate. false full 55c7f212-d1c1-41fb-b867-d06bbbe014db Return of the Back (Leg Line) & Barker! Kevin Barker makes his return from Dunedin and joins Jeff Blair to discuss Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro’s comments to reporters about pursuing Shohei Ohtani in free agency and doubling down on the belief in their own players after he signed with the Dodgers. The guys also talk about Bowden Francis being named to Toronto’s starting rotation and Ricky Tiedemann impressing in his latest tune-up against Pittsburgh. It’s Friday so the guys open up the Back Leg Line before welcoming MLB Network Radio’s CJ Nitkowski on the show (30:13) for his Blue Jays thoughts and where Jordan Montgomery will sign as the last remaining Scott Boras client on the market.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:17:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Kevin Barker makes his return from Dunedin and joins Jeff Blair to discuss Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro’s comments to reporters about pursuing Shohei Ohtani in free agency and doubling down on the belief in their own players after he signed with the Dodgers. The guys also talk about Bowden Francis being named to Toronto’s starting rotation and Ricky Tiedemann impressing in his latest tune-up against Pittsburgh. It’s Friday so the guys open up the Back Leg Line before welcoming MLB Network Radio’s CJ Nitkowski on the show (30:13) for his Blue Jays thoughts and where Jordan Montgomery will sign as the last remaining Scott Boras client on the market.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Return of the Back (Leg Line) & Barker! Sportsnet 00:49:45 Kevin Barker makes his return from Dunedin and joins Jeff Blair to discuss Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro’s comments to reporters about pursuing Shohei Ohtani in free agency and doubling down on the belief in their own players after he signed with the Dodgers. The guys also talk about Bowden Francis being named to Toronto’s starting rotation and Ricky Tiedemann impressing in his latest tune-up against Pittsburgh. It’s Friday so the guys open up the Back Leg Line before welcoming MLB Network Radio’s CJ Nitkowski on the show (30:13) for his Blue Jays thoughts and where Jordan Montgomery will sign as the last remaining Scott Boras client on the market. 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 affiliate. Kevin Barker makes his return from Dunedin and joins Jeff Blair to discuss Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro’s comments to reporters about pursuing Shohei Ohtani in free agency and doubling down on the belief in their own players after he signed with the Dodgers. The guys also talk about Bowden Francis being named to Toronto’s starting rotation and Ricky Tiedemann impressing in his latest tune-up against Pittsburgh. It’s Friday so the guys open up the Back Leg Line before welcoming MLB Network Radio’s CJ Nitkowski on the show (30:13) for his Blue Jays thoughts and where Jordan Montgomery will sign as the last remaining Scott Boras client on the market. 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 affiliate. false full 89635836-1bed-4e4d-b62d-1a04db25d1b7 Interpreting the Ohtani Gambling Story It’s Barker’s last day in Dunedin as he and Jeff Blair comment on the Blue Jays parting ways with Santiago Espinal after he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds for P Chris McElvain. Later they discuss Kevin Gausman’s timetable after he threw on Wednesday, and Barker outlines his concerns going into the season after covering the team throughout his time in Florida. To end the show, Blair is joined by MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:51) to discuss two major off-the-field stories: Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara being implicated in an illegal gambling investigation, and the division within the MLBPA and the future of its Executive Director Tony Clark.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:37:18 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ It’s Barker’s last day in Dunedin as he and Jeff Blair comment on the Blue Jays parting ways with Santiago Espinal after he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds for P Chris McElvain. Later they discuss Kevin Gausman’s timetable after he threw on Wednesday, and Barker outlines his concerns going into the season after covering the team throughout his time in Florida. To end the show, Blair is joined by MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:51) to discuss two major off-the-field stories: Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara being implicated in an illegal gambling investigation, and the division within the MLBPA and the future of its Executive Director Tony Clark.

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 affiliate.

]]> Interpreting the Ohtani Gambling Story Sportsnet 00:49:18 It’s Barker’s last day in Dunedin as he and Jeff Blair comment on the Blue Jays parting ways with Santiago Espinal after he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds for P Chris McElvain. Later they discuss Kevin Gausman’s timetable after he threw on Wednesday, and Barker outlines his concerns going into the season after covering the team throughout his time in Florida. To end the show, Blair is joined by MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:51) to discuss two major off-the-field stories: Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara being implicated in an illegal gambling investigation, and the division within the MLBPA and the future of its Executive Director Tony Clark. 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 affiliate. It’s Barker’s last day in Dunedin as he and Jeff Blair comment on the Blue Jays parting ways with Santiago Espinal after he was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds for P Chris McElvain. Later they discuss Kevin Gausman’s timetable after he threw on Wednesday, and Barker outlines his concerns going into the season after covering the team throughout his time in Florida. To end the show, Blair is joined by MLB insider Jeff Passan (32:51) to discuss two major off-the-field stories: Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter Ippei Mizuhara being implicated in an illegal gambling investigation, and the division within the MLBPA and the future of its Executive Director Tony Clark. 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 affiliate. false full cc2eaf60-a135-40a1-8145-1bdc93e86e86 A Green Bullpen, Impressive Varsho, & Joe Joins the Show! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the state of the Blue Jays bullpen, mentioning Chad Green and Nate Pearson as pitchers who could be relied upon to step up in the absence of Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson. The guys also wonder about Kevin Gausman’s readiness for the season, and Barker explains why Daulton Varsho is the hitter who has impressed him most in Dunedin. Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall joins Jeff (28:21) to share his thoughts on Green, why Ernie Clement is making his Opening Day roster, where Cavan Biggio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa slot in defensively, and the need for Danny Jansen to build up his arm strength following his latest injury.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:15:03 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the state of the Blue Jays bullpen, mentioning Chad Green and Nate Pearson as pitchers who could be relied upon to step up in the absence of Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson. The guys also wonder about Kevin Gausman’s readiness for the season, and Barker explains why Daulton Varsho is the hitter who has impressed him most in Dunedin. Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall joins Jeff (28:21) to share his thoughts on Green, why Ernie Clement is making his Opening Day roster, where Cavan Biggio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa slot in defensively, and the need for Danny Jansen to build up his arm strength following his latest injury.

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 affiliate.

]]> A Green Bullpen, Impressive Varsho, & Joe Joins the Show! Sportsnet 00:49:28 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the state of the Blue Jays bullpen, mentioning Chad Green and Nate Pearson as pitchers who could be relied upon to step up in the absence of Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson. The guys also wonder about Kevin Gausman’s readiness for the season, and Barker explains why Daulton Varsho is the hitter who has impressed him most in Dunedin. Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall joins Jeff (28:21) to share his thoughts on Green, why Ernie Clement is making his Opening Day roster, where Cavan Biggio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa slot in defensively, and the need for Danny Jansen to build up his arm strength following his latest injury. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker examine the state of the Blue Jays bullpen, mentioning Chad Green and Nate Pearson as pitchers who could be relied upon to step up in the absence of Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson. The guys also wonder about Kevin Gausman’s readiness for the season, and Barker explains why Daulton Varsho is the hitter who has impressed him most in Dunedin. Blue Jays Central’s Joe Siddall joins Jeff (28:21) to share his thoughts on Green, why Ernie Clement is making his Opening Day roster, where Cavan Biggio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa slot in defensively, and the need for Danny Jansen to build up his arm strength following his latest injury. 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 affiliate. false full cb62d626-8daf-4555-89b8-96b93e83a1d3 A Banged Up Bullpen Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the latest news out of Spring Training as both Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are dealing with arm issues, and why this team can't afford to be without their top two relievers for too long. With the Orioles in Dunedin to face the Blue Jays, analyst Ben McDonald breaks down Baltimore’s exciting young lineup and if he thinks 20-year-old phenom Jackson Holliday can make the team out of camp. Later, Blair and Barker react to Chris Bassitt’s comments on pitching velocity before welcoming Buck Martinez to the show (30:38). Jeff and Buck talk about today’s Jays lineup and how it could resemble the one we see on opening day, Justin Turner’s impact in the clubhouse, and Alejandro Kirk’s positive Spring.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 19 Mar 2024 16:02:10 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the latest news out of Spring Training as both Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are dealing with arm issues, and why this team can't afford to be without their top two relievers for too long. With the Orioles in Dunedin to face the Blue Jays, analyst Ben McDonald breaks down Baltimore’s exciting young lineup and if he thinks 20-year-old phenom Jackson Holliday can make the team out of camp. Later, Blair and Barker react to Chris Bassitt’s comments on pitching velocity before welcoming Buck Martinez to the show (30:38). Jeff and Buck talk about today’s Jays lineup and how it could resemble the one we see on opening day, Justin Turner’s impact in the clubhouse, and Alejandro Kirk’s positive Spring.

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 affiliate.

]]> A Banged Up Bullpen Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the latest news out of Spring Training as both Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are dealing with arm issues, and why this team can't afford to be without their top two relievers for too long. With the Orioles in Dunedin to face the Blue Jays, analyst Ben McDonald breaks down Baltimore’s exciting young lineup and if he thinks 20-year-old phenom Jackson Holliday can make the team out of camp. Later, Blair and Barker react to Chris Bassitt’s comments on pitching velocity before welcoming Buck Martinez to the show (30:38). Jeff and Buck talk about today’s Jays lineup and how it could resemble the one we see on opening day, Justin Turner’s impact in the clubhouse, and Alejandro Kirk’s positive Spring. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the latest news out of Spring Training as both Jordan Romano and Erik Swanson are dealing with arm issues, and why this team can't afford to be without their top two relievers for too long. With the Orioles in Dunedin to face the Blue Jays, analyst Ben McDonald breaks down Baltimore’s exciting young lineup and if he thinks 20-year-old phenom Jackson Holliday can make the team out of camp. Later, Blair and Barker react to Chris Bassitt’s comments on pitching velocity before welcoming Buck Martinez to the show (30:38). Jeff and Buck talk about today’s Jays lineup and how it could resemble the one we see on opening day, Justin Turner’s impact in the clubhouse, and Alejandro Kirk’s positive Spring. 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 affiliate. false full 60b229df-e0ea-4dde-84ed-a89ee2f805e8 When Will Gausman Be Ready? Jeff Blair is joined by Kevin Barker, who is currently on-site in Dunedin. The guys discuss Kevin Gausman’s ongoing rehab process when the Blue Jays’ ace might be ready to rejoin the team’s starting rotation, Alek Manoah’s current injury timeline, Yariel Rodriguez’s intriguing Grapefruit League debut, Joey Votto’s performance in his brief outing on Sunday, and the Blue Jays’ encouraging offensive trends this spring. Later, Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com prospects writer, stops by (32:04) to discuss the fallout from MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout series, the possibility of MLB adopting a tournament-style format in future years, and the current depth of talent within the Blue Jays’ farm system.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:04:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by Kevin Barker, who is currently on-site in Dunedin. The guys discuss Kevin Gausman’s ongoing rehab process when the Blue Jays’ ace might be ready to rejoin the team’s starting rotation, Alek Manoah’s current injury timeline, Yariel Rodriguez’s intriguing Grapefruit League debut, Joey Votto’s performance in his brief outing on Sunday, and the Blue Jays’ encouraging offensive trends this spring. Later, Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com prospects writer, stops by (32:04) to discuss the fallout from MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout series, the possibility of MLB adopting a tournament-style format in future years, and the current depth of talent within the Blue Jays’ farm system.

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 affiliate.

]]> When Will Gausman Be Ready? Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair is joined by Kevin Barker, who is currently on-site in Dunedin. The guys discuss Kevin Gausman’s ongoing rehab process when the Blue Jays’ ace might be ready to rejoin the team’s starting rotation, Alek Manoah’s current injury timeline, Yariel Rodriguez’s intriguing Grapefruit League debut, Joey Votto’s performance in his brief outing on Sunday, and the Blue Jays’ encouraging offensive trends this spring. Later, Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com prospects writer, stops by (32:04) to discuss the fallout from MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout series, the possibility of MLB adopting a tournament-style format in future years, and the current depth of talent within the Blue Jays’ farm system. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair is joined by Kevin Barker, who is currently on-site in Dunedin. The guys discuss Kevin Gausman’s ongoing rehab process when the Blue Jays’ ace might be ready to rejoin the team’s starting rotation, Alek Manoah’s current injury timeline, Yariel Rodriguez’s intriguing Grapefruit League debut, Joey Votto’s performance in his brief outing on Sunday, and the Blue Jays’ encouraging offensive trends this spring. Later, Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com prospects writer, stops by (32:04) to discuss the fallout from MLB’s inaugural Spring Breakout series, the possibility of MLB adopting a tournament-style format in future years, and the current depth of talent within the Blue Jays’ farm system. 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 affiliate. false full ee771ebb-8559-4b89-a9fa-4b7852d02bf6 A Tough Break for Danny Jansen Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Friday’s breaking news that Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen will miss time with a fractured pisiform bone. Jays manager John Schneider then joins the guys with more on Jansen’s prognosis, Kevin Gausman’s availability for the start of the season, and the decision-making into who makes the opening day roster. The guys head to the Back Leg Line for a few calls before Jeff welcomes former catcher and Sportsnet analyst Caleb Joseph (31:41) on for his Jansen thoughts and Spring Training observations.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Fri, 15 Mar 2024 16:20:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Friday’s breaking news that Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen will miss time with a fractured pisiform bone. Jays manager John Schneider then joins the guys with more on Jansen’s prognosis, Kevin Gausman’s availability for the start of the season, and the decision-making into who makes the opening day roster. The guys head to the Back Leg Line for a few calls before Jeff welcomes former catcher and Sportsnet analyst Caleb Joseph (31:41) on for his Jansen thoughts and Spring Training observations.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> A Tough Break for Danny Jansen Sportsnet 00:49:23 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Friday’s breaking news that Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen will miss time with a fractured pisiform bone. Jays manager John Schneider then joins the guys with more on Jansen’s prognosis, Kevin Gausman’s availability for the start of the season, and the decision-making into who makes the opening day roster. The guys head to the Back Leg Line for a few calls before Jeff welcomes former catcher and Sportsnet analyst Caleb Joseph (31:41) on for his Jansen thoughts and Spring Training observations. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Friday’s breaking news that Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen will miss time with a fractured pisiform bone. Jays manager John Schneider then joins the guys with more on Jansen’s prognosis, Kevin Gausman’s availability for the start of the season, and the decision-making into who makes the opening day roster. The guys head to the Back Leg Line for a few calls before Jeff welcomes former catcher and Sportsnet analyst Caleb Joseph (31:41) on for his Jansen thoughts and Spring Training observations. 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 affiliate. false full c1ee5cca-90de-4b3d-af8f-dffac34e073c The Return of the Home Run Jacket? Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s admission that he would like to see the Blue Jays’ home run jacket return in 2024 - will he get his wish? Later they transition to Joey Votto after his minor-league debut and the importance of Bowden Francis going into the season. In the second segment, Blair welcomes former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (31:31) to talk about the Padres reversing course and trading for SP Dylan Cease after parting with Juan Soto, dealing with medical reports and team doctors from a front office perspective, and the number of pitching injuries that have occurred so far in Spring Training.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:11:57 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s admission that he would like to see the Blue Jays’ home run jacket return in 2024 - will he get his wish? Later they transition to Joey Votto after his minor-league debut and the importance of Bowden Francis going into the season. In the second segment, Blair welcomes former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (31:31) to talk about the Padres reversing course and trading for SP Dylan Cease after parting with Juan Soto, dealing with medical reports and team doctors from a front office perspective, and the number of pitching injuries that have occurred so far in Spring Training.

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 affiliate.

]]> The Return of the Home Run Jacket? Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s admission that he would like to see the Blue Jays’ home run jacket return in 2024 - will he get his wish? Later they transition to Joey Votto after his minor-league debut and the importance of Bowden Francis going into the season. In the second segment, Blair welcomes former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (31:31) to talk about the Padres reversing course and trading for SP Dylan Cease after parting with Juan Soto, dealing with medical reports and team doctors from a front office perspective, and the number of pitching injuries that have occurred so far in Spring Training. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s admission that he would like to see the Blue Jays’ home run jacket return in 2024 - will he get his wish? Later they transition to Joey Votto after his minor-league debut and the importance of Bowden Francis going into the season. In the second segment, Blair welcomes former MLB executive and host of ‘Nothing Personal’ David Samson (31:31) to talk about the Padres reversing course and trading for SP Dylan Cease after parting with Juan Soto, dealing with medical reports and team doctors from a front office perspective, and the number of pitching injuries that have occurred so far in Spring Training. 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 affiliate. false full 01d549ae-0a2f-45d3-ad82-1351f6ca80d4 Dunedin Updates with Barker & Ben With Barker in Dunedin, both he and Blair discuss Ernie Clement and Santiago Espinal battling it out for Toronto’s final roster spot, and the season ahead for catcher Alejandro Kirk – can he improve on his 2023 campaign? Blue Jays play by play voice Ben Shulman joins the show (31:30) with his thoughts on likely opening day starter Jose Berrios after his most recent Spring tune-up, and provides updates on pitchers Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, and Yariel Rodriguez.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 13 Mar 2024 16:17:42 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With Barker in Dunedin, both he and Blair discuss Ernie Clement and Santiago Espinal battling it out for Toronto’s final roster spot, and the season ahead for catcher Alejandro Kirk – can he improve on his 2023 campaign? Blue Jays play by play voice Ben Shulman joins the show (31:30) with his thoughts on likely opening day starter Jose Berrios after his most recent Spring tune-up, and provides updates on pitchers Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, and Yariel Rodriguez.

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 affiliate.

]]> Dunedin Updates with Barker & Ben Sportsnet 00:49:53 With Barker in Dunedin, both he and Blair discuss Ernie Clement and Santiago Espinal battling it out for Toronto’s final roster spot, and the season ahead for catcher Alejandro Kirk – can he improve on his 2023 campaign? Blue Jays play by play voice Ben Shulman joins the show (31:30) with his thoughts on likely opening day starter Jose Berrios after his most recent Spring tune-up, and provides updates on pitchers Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, and Yariel Rodriguez. 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 affiliate. With Barker in Dunedin, both he and Blair discuss Ernie Clement and Santiago Espinal battling it out for Toronto’s final roster spot, and the season ahead for catcher Alejandro Kirk – can he improve on his 2023 campaign? Blue Jays play by play voice Ben Shulman joins the show (31:30) with his thoughts on likely opening day starter Jose Berrios after his most recent Spring tune-up, and provides updates on pitchers Kevin Gausman, Alek Manoah, and Yariel Rodriguez. 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 affiliate. false full 5096567f-b127-45f2-bdab-f5289e34cb14 Clement Vying for The Show + Gerrit Cole’s Elbow Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss health updates on Blue Jays hurlers Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, and free-agent signing Yariel Rodriguez. Later they examine some of the roster battles in camp for pitchers like Mitch White and Bowden Francis, and talk about Ernie Clement’s hot Grapefruit League season and John Schneider’s praise for the infielder. With the Yankees facing Toronto, Jeff welcomes SNY reporter and author of The Yankee Way Andy Martino to discuss the latest on Gerrit Cole’s injury status after an MRI on his pitching elbow, Aaron Judge, and Brian Cashman’s tenure as Yankees GM (30:13).

 

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.

]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2024 16:32:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss health updates on Blue Jays hurlers Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, and free-agent signing Yariel Rodriguez. Later they examine some of the roster battles in camp for pitchers like Mitch White and Bowden Francis, and talk about Ernie Clement’s hot Grapefruit League season and John Schneider’s praise for the infielder. With the Yankees facing Toronto, Jeff welcomes SNY reporter and author of The Yankee Way Andy Martino to discuss the latest on Gerrit Cole’s injury status after an MRI on his pitching elbow, Aaron Judge, and Brian Cashman’s tenure as Yankees GM (30:13).

 

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.

]]> Clement Vying for The Show + Gerrit Cole’s Elbow Sportsnet 00:49:40 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss health updates on Blue Jays hurlers Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, and free-agent signing Yariel Rodriguez. Later they examine some of the roster battles in camp for pitchers like Mitch White and Bowden Francis, and talk about Ernie Clement’s hot Grapefruit League season and John Schneider’s praise for the infielder. With the Yankees facing Toronto, Jeff welcomes SNY reporter and author of The Yankee Way Andy Martino to discuss the latest on Gerrit Cole’s injury status after an MRI on his pitching elbow, Aaron Judge, and Brian Cashman’s tenure as Yankees GM (30:13). 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss health updates on Blue Jays hurlers Alek Manoah, Kevin Gausman, and free-agent signing Yariel Rodriguez. Later they examine some of the roster battles in camp for pitchers like Mitch White and Bowden Francis, and talk about Ernie Clement’s hot Grapefruit League season and John Schneider’s praise for the infielder. With the Yankees facing Toronto, Jeff welcomes SNY reporter and author of The Yankee Way Andy Martino to discuss the latest on Gerrit Cole’s injury status after an MRI on his pitching elbow, Aaron Judge, and Brian Cashman’s tenure as Yankees GM (30:13). 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. baseball, mlb, toronto, kevin barker, blue jays, jeff blair, andy martino, sportsnet false full ead049d5-9367-4872-b379-b926f854e95e Barker on Assignment + Inside Votto’s Arrival w/ Jayson Stark Jeff Blair is joined by our resident Dunedin correspondent, Kevin Barker, who is currently on site at the Blue Jays’ Spring Training complex in Florida. The guys discuss Joey Votto’s arrival at Jays camp, his chances of cracking the team’s Opening Day roster, Justin Turner’s potential usage at third base, the current state of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, and how the team will manage Votto’s playing time during the remainder of the spring. Later, Jayson Stark, MLB Insider for The Athletic, stops by (28:42) to chat about Gerrit Cole’s lingering elbow discomfort, the current free agent market for Blake Snell, and his latest piece on Joey Votto’s presence at Jays camp.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:05:40 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair is joined by our resident Dunedin correspondent, Kevin Barker, who is currently on site at the Blue Jays’ Spring Training complex in Florida. The guys discuss Joey Votto’s arrival at Jays camp, his chances of cracking the team’s Opening Day roster, Justin Turner’s potential usage at third base, the current state of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, and how the team will manage Votto’s playing time during the remainder of the spring. Later, Jayson Stark, MLB Insider for The Athletic, stops by (28:42) to chat about Gerrit Cole’s lingering elbow discomfort, the current free agent market for Blake Snell, and his latest piece on Joey Votto’s presence at Jays camp.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Barker on Assignment + Inside Votto’s Arrival w/ Jayson Stark Sportsnet 00:49:54 Jeff Blair is joined by our resident Dunedin correspondent, Kevin Barker, who is currently on site at the Blue Jays’ Spring Training complex in Florida. The guys discuss Joey Votto’s arrival at Jays camp, his chances of cracking the team’s Opening Day roster, Justin Turner’s potential usage at third base, the current state of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, and how the team will manage Votto’s playing time during the remainder of the spring. Later, Jayson Stark, MLB Insider for The Athletic, stops by (28:42) to chat about Gerrit Cole’s lingering elbow discomfort, the current free agent market for Blake Snell, and his latest piece on Joey Votto’s presence at Jays camp. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair is joined by our resident Dunedin correspondent, Kevin Barker, who is currently on site at the Blue Jays’ Spring Training complex in Florida. The guys discuss Joey Votto’s arrival at Jays camp, his chances of cracking the team’s Opening Day roster, Justin Turner’s potential usage at third base, the current state of the Blue Jays’ bullpen, and how the team will manage Votto’s playing time during the remainder of the spring. Later, Jayson Stark, MLB Insider for The Athletic, stops by (28:42) to chat about Gerrit Cole’s lingering elbow discomfort, the current free agent market for Blake Snell, and his latest piece on Joey Votto’s presence at Jays camp. 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 affiliate. false full 1e15da6b-6227-44a6-bb01-ed63a8c3b50a Extra Innings: A Spring Fling for Joey Votto and the Jays Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get into the news that the Blue Jays have allegedly signed former Reds first baseman - and Canada's own - Joey Votto to a non-roster invite at Spring Training. They discuss what it means for the rest of the roster, including for Daniel Vogelbach - could the team bring in Votto over either Vogelbach or Eduardo Escobar? Who needs to go for Votto to make the roster? Plus, they debate his clubhouse presence, and what it could mean for a team that already has Bo Bichette and others in leadership positions.

 

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.

]]> Fri, 8 Mar 2024 21:32:24 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get into the news that the Blue Jays have allegedly signed former Reds first baseman - and Canada's own - Joey Votto to a non-roster invite at Spring Training. They discuss what it means for the rest of the roster, including for Daniel Vogelbach - could the team bring in Votto over either Vogelbach or Eduardo Escobar? Who needs to go for Votto to make the roster? Plus, they debate his clubhouse presence, and what it could mean for a team that already has Bo Bichette and others in leadership positions.

 

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.

]]> Extra Innings: A Spring Fling for Joey Votto and the Jays Sportsnet 00:20:19 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get into the news that the Blue Jays have allegedly signed former Reds first baseman - and Canada's own - Joey Votto to a non-roster invite at Spring Training. They discuss what it means for the rest of the roster, including for Daniel Vogelbach - could the team bring in Votto over either Vogelbach or Eduardo Escobar? Who needs to go for Votto to make the roster? Plus, they debate his clubhouse presence, and what it could mean for a team that already has Bo Bichette and others in leadership positions. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get into the news that the Blue Jays have allegedly signed former Reds first baseman - and Canada's own - Joey Votto to a non-roster invite at Spring Training. They discuss what it means for the rest of the roster, including for Daniel Vogelbach - could the team bring in Votto over either Vogelbach or Eduardo Escobar? Who needs to go for Votto to make the roster? Plus, they debate his clubhouse presence, and what it could mean for a team that already has Bo Bichette and others in leadership positions. 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. false full 4eb4f78b-412f-40b6-83a9-9143f717c74f Kiermaier’s Revelation + The Return of Jeff Passan Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss John Schneider’s recent comments about the Blue Jays’ naysayers heading into 2024 and Kevin Kiermaier’s omission that he dealt with persistent foot issues last season. Then, the guys head to the Back Leg Line to field questions from the B&B audience! Later, ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan drops by (31:12) to chat about the genesis of MLB’s new Spring Breakout series, the potential fallout from this year’s slow-moving free agent market, the Blue Jays’ playoff chances in 2024, and his latest piece on Chris Sale’s quest for redemption with the Atlanta Braves.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 7 Mar 2024 17:06:49 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss John Schneider’s recent comments about the Blue Jays’ naysayers heading into 2024 and Kevin Kiermaier’s omission that he dealt with persistent foot issues last season. Then, the guys head to the Back Leg Line to field questions from the B&B audience! Later, ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan drops by (31:12) to chat about the genesis of MLB’s new Spring Breakout series, the potential fallout from this year’s slow-moving free agent market, the Blue Jays’ playoff chances in 2024, and his latest piece on Chris Sale’s quest for redemption with the Atlanta Braves.

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 affiliate.

]]> Kiermaier’s Revelation + The Return of Jeff Passan Sportsnet 00:48:51 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss John Schneider’s recent comments about the Blue Jays’ naysayers heading into 2024 and Kevin Kiermaier’s omission that he dealt with persistent foot issues last season. Then, the guys head to the Back Leg Line to field questions from the B&B audience! Later, ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan drops by (31:12) to chat about the genesis of MLB’s new Spring Breakout series, the potential fallout from this year’s slow-moving free agent market, the Blue Jays’ playoff chances in 2024, and his latest piece on Chris Sale’s quest for redemption with the Atlanta Braves. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss John Schneider’s recent comments about the Blue Jays’ naysayers heading into 2024 and Kevin Kiermaier’s omission that he dealt with persistent foot issues last season. Then, the guys head to the Back Leg Line to field questions from the B&B audience! Later, ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan drops by (31:12) to chat about the genesis of MLB’s new Spring Breakout series, the potential fallout from this year’s slow-moving free agent market, the Blue Jays’ playoff chances in 2024, and his latest piece on Chris Sale’s quest for redemption with the Atlanta Braves. 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 affiliate. false full 9e05178b-40e5-4ef5-a9d3-8c198675586c An Off Day in Dunedin with Joe Siddall Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Jose Berrios following his latest Spring tune-up against the Pirates, can the Jays starter improve on his successful 2023 campaign? Later the guys are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (10:30) with his assessments from camp and who he thinks will crack Toronto’s opening-day roster once the season starts.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 6 Mar 2024 17:20:35 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Jose Berrios following his latest Spring tune-up against the Pirates, can the Jays starter improve on his successful 2023 campaign? Later the guys are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (10:30) with his assessments from camp and who he thinks will crack Toronto’s opening-day roster once the season starts.

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 affiliate.

]]> An Off Day in Dunedin with Joe Siddall Sportsnet 00:49:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Jose Berrios following his latest Spring tune-up against the Pirates, can the Jays starter improve on his successful 2023 campaign? Later the guys are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (10:30) with his assessments from camp and who he thinks will crack Toronto’s opening-day roster once the season starts. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Jose Berrios following his latest Spring tune-up against the Pirates, can the Jays starter improve on his successful 2023 campaign? Later the guys are joined by Blue Jays Central analyst Joe Siddall (10:30) with his assessments from camp and who he thinks will crack Toronto’s opening-day roster once the season starts. 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 affiliate. false full 1c05b1e9-e4b2-4632-8e47-578c7c090031 The Bringer of Rain Retires Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson (13:33) after the slugger announced his retirement after 13 MLB seasons. Donaldson talks about his tenure in Toronto, the brotherhood of the 2015-2016 Blue Jays, his plans in retirement, and how he wants to be remembered now that his playing career has come to an end. Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose (32:00) discusses the unfortunate prognosis on his co-host Lucas Giolito, his view on the Jays and the AL East, and if free agency will be looked at differently next off-season with name players currently still on the market.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 5 Mar 2024 17:18:34 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson (13:33) after the slugger announced his retirement after 13 MLB seasons. Donaldson talks about his tenure in Toronto, the brotherhood of the 2015-2016 Blue Jays, his plans in retirement, and how he wants to be remembered now that his playing career has come to an end. Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose (32:00) discusses the unfortunate prognosis on his co-host Lucas Giolito, his view on the Jays and the AL East, and if free agency will be looked at differently next off-season with name players currently still on the market.

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 affiliate.

]]> The Bringer of Rain Retires Sportsnet 00:48:53 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson (13:33) after the slugger announced his retirement after 13 MLB seasons. Donaldson talks about his tenure in Toronto, the brotherhood of the 2015-2016 Blue Jays, his plans in retirement, and how he wants to be remembered now that his playing career has come to an end. Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose (32:00) discusses the unfortunate prognosis on his co-host Lucas Giolito, his view on the Jays and the AL East, and if free agency will be looked at differently next off-season with name players currently still on the market. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson (13:33) after the slugger announced his retirement after 13 MLB seasons. Donaldson talks about his tenure in Toronto, the brotherhood of the 2015-2016 Blue Jays, his plans in retirement, and how he wants to be remembered now that his playing career has come to an end. Jomboy Media’s Chris Rose (32:00) discusses the unfortunate prognosis on his co-host Lucas Giolito, his view on the Jays and the AL East, and if free agency will be looked at differently next off-season with name players currently still on the market. 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 affiliate. false full 288b9fa8-87b0-4f24-937e-6d56319acc7d Matt Chapman Lands in San Francisco Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show concentrating on Kevin Gausman and the starting rotation after John Schneider announced that the Blue Jays’ ace has been dealing with shoulder soreness in camp. Giants analyst and former player F.P. Santangelo comments on former Jay Matt Chapman signing with San Francisco (29:23), if the Giants are done making moves, and the perception vs. reality when it comes to luring free agents to the Bay Area. Following Santangelo, Blair & Barker examine the bullpen, particularly closer Jordan Romano.

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 affiliate.

]]> Mon, 4 Mar 2024 17:02:58 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show concentrating on Kevin Gausman and the starting rotation after John Schneider announced that the Blue Jays’ ace has been dealing with shoulder soreness in camp. Giants analyst and former player F.P. Santangelo comments on former Jay Matt Chapman signing with San Francisco (29:23), if the Giants are done making moves, and the perception vs. reality when it comes to luring free agents to the Bay Area. Following Santangelo, Blair & Barker examine the bullpen, particularly closer Jordan Romano.

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 affiliate.

]]> Matt Chapman Lands in San Francisco Sportsnet 00:49:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show concentrating on Kevin Gausman and the starting rotation after John Schneider announced that the Blue Jays’ ace has been dealing with shoulder soreness in camp. Giants analyst and former player F.P. Santangelo comments on former Jay Matt Chapman signing with San Francisco (29:23), if the Giants are done making moves, and the perception vs. reality when it comes to luring free agents to the Bay Area. Following Santangelo, Blair & Barker examine the bullpen, particularly closer Jordan Romano. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the show concentrating on Kevin Gausman and the starting rotation after John Schneider announced that the Blue Jays’ ace has been dealing with shoulder soreness in camp. Giants analyst and former player F.P. Santangelo comments on former Jay Matt Chapman signing with San Francisco (29:23), if the Giants are done making moves, and the perception vs. reality when it comes to luring free agents to the Bay Area. Following Santangelo, Blair & Barker examine the bullpen, particularly closer Jordan Romano. 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 affiliate. false full 7d13b2f8-ee2f-4f82-808b-493b266ae8f4 Kevin Barker’s Top 10 List As they head into the weekend, Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open up the back leg line and answer fan questions including who they think is most likely to be the Blue Jays' fourth outfielder and who Kevin ranks as his top ten players in baseball heading into the 2024 season. Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman shares his Spring Training observations and discusses the fourth outfielder spot, Toronto’s players and coaches emphasizing longer at-bats, and what the team is looking for from Alek Manoah in camp (30:40).

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 affiliate.

]]> Fri, 1 Mar 2024 17:12:45 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ As they head into the weekend, Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open up the back leg line and answer fan questions including who they think is most likely to be the Blue Jays' fourth outfielder and who Kevin ranks as his top ten players in baseball heading into the 2024 season. Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman shares his Spring Training observations and discusses the fourth outfielder spot, Toronto’s players and coaches emphasizing longer at-bats, and what the team is looking for from Alek Manoah in camp (30:40).

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 affiliate.

]]> Kevin Barker’s Top 10 List Sportsnet 00:49:50 As they head into the weekend, Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open up the back leg line and answer fan questions including who they think is most likely to be the Blue Jays' fourth outfielder and who Kevin ranks as his top ten players in baseball heading into the 2024 season. Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman shares his Spring Training observations and discusses the fourth outfielder spot, Toronto’s players and coaches emphasizing longer at-bats, and what the team is looking for from Alek Manoah in camp (30:40). 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 affiliate. As they head into the weekend, Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker open up the back leg line and answer fan questions including who they think is most likely to be the Blue Jays' fourth outfielder and who Kevin ranks as his top ten players in baseball heading into the 2024 season. Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Shulman shares his Spring Training observations and discusses the fourth outfielder spot, Toronto’s players and coaches emphasizing longer at-bats, and what the team is looking for from Alek Manoah in camp (30:40). 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 affiliate. false full b238f833-a7c6-4850-8b3b-0695a94eb040 Return of The Mayor “The Mayor” Sean Casey joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s upcoming 2024 campaign, the Blue Jays adding Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and his view on the Yankees offense after being their hitting coach in 2023. Later on, the guys react to comments from Jays manager John Schneider on what he’s seeing from both Jose Berrios & George Springer in Spring Training. The show ends with the guys welcoming former MLB executive David Samson (31:17) to the show who shared his thoughts on Scott Boras’ remaining free agents and if he would circle back on Matt Chapman if he were in Toronto’s front office.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:02:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ “The Mayor” Sean Casey joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s upcoming 2024 campaign, the Blue Jays adding Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and his view on the Yankees offense after being their hitting coach in 2023. Later on, the guys react to comments from Jays manager John Schneider on what he’s seeing from both Jose Berrios & George Springer in Spring Training. The show ends with the guys welcoming former MLB executive David Samson (31:17) to the show who shared his thoughts on Scott Boras’ remaining free agents and if he would circle back on Matt Chapman if he were in Toronto’s front office.

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 affiliate.

]]> Return of The Mayor Sportsnet 00:49:40 “The Mayor” Sean Casey joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s upcoming 2024 campaign, the Blue Jays adding Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and his view on the Yankees offense after being their hitting coach in 2023. Later on, the guys react to comments from Jays manager John Schneider on what he’s seeing from both Jose Berrios & George Springer in Spring Training. The show ends with the guys welcoming former MLB executive David Samson (31:17) to the show who shared his thoughts on Scott Boras’ remaining free agents and if he would circle back on Matt Chapman if he were in Toronto’s front office. 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 affiliate. “The Mayor” Sean Casey joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker with his thoughts on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s upcoming 2024 campaign, the Blue Jays adding Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and his view on the Yankees offense after being their hitting coach in 2023. Later on, the guys react to comments from Jays manager John Schneider on what he’s seeing from both Jose Berrios & George Springer in Spring Training. The show ends with the guys welcoming former MLB executive David Samson (31:17) to the show who shared his thoughts on Scott Boras’ remaining free agents and if he would circle back on Matt Chapman if he were in Toronto’s front office. 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 affiliate. false full df4e8e1f-56d7-4293-8809-b73774994fa4 Making Sense of Manoah’s Debut Blue Jays reporter Hazel Mae joins Blair and Barker to discuss her conversations with Pete Walker and John Schneider following Alek Manoah's first spring start, and what they expect to see in his next start and going forward throughout the spring. With the Blue Jays taking on Tampa Bay in Grapefruit League play, Rays analyst, former MLB pitcher, and Maple Leafs fan Brian Anderson checks-in with the guys (30:25) to give the low down on the team, notably pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and starters not going as deep into games as they used to.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 17:04:52 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Blue Jays reporter Hazel Mae joins Blair and Barker to discuss her conversations with Pete Walker and John Schneider following Alek Manoah's first spring start, and what they expect to see in his next start and going forward throughout the spring. With the Blue Jays taking on Tampa Bay in Grapefruit League play, Rays analyst, former MLB pitcher, and Maple Leafs fan Brian Anderson checks-in with the guys (30:25) to give the low down on the team, notably pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and starters not going as deep into games as they used to.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Making Sense of Manoah’s Debut Sportsnet 00:49:36 Blue Jays reporter Hazel Mae joins Blair and Barker to discuss her conversations with Pete Walker and John Schneider following Alek Manoah's first spring start, and what they expect to see in his next start and going forward throughout the spring. With the Blue Jays taking on Tampa Bay in Grapefruit League play, Rays analyst, former MLB pitcher, and Maple Leafs fan Brian Anderson checks-in with the guys (30:25) to give the low down on the team, notably pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and starters not going as deep into games as they used to. 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 affiliate. Blue Jays reporter Hazel Mae joins Blair and Barker to discuss her conversations with Pete Walker and John Schneider following Alek Manoah's first spring start, and what they expect to see in his next start and going forward throughout the spring. With the Blue Jays taking on Tampa Bay in Grapefruit League play, Rays analyst, former MLB pitcher, and Maple Leafs fan Brian Anderson checks-in with the guys (30:25) to give the low down on the team, notably pitcher Ryan Pepiot, and starters not going as deep into games as they used to. 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 affiliate. false full 2eba0be5-ef89-4515-a15d-5256292b27ad Why Stark’s Bullish on the Blue Jays Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show discussing Yusei Kikuchi’s new changeup after his 2024 Grapefruit League debut on Monday, and Alek Manoah who pitches today against the Tigers. Jayson Stark of The Athletic & MLB Network shares some takeaways from his visit to the Blue Jays facility in Dunedin; notably a commitment from players like Manoah and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to be better and Justin Turner knowing what it takes to win. Stark also comments on how much money Juan Soto will make at season’s end, and if Scott Boras deserves criticism for how he handled contract negotiations this offseason. To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine Chris Bassitt’s outing against Pittsburgh and the expectations for him this upcoming year (35:13).

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 27 Feb 2024 17:04:38 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show discussing Yusei Kikuchi’s new changeup after his 2024 Grapefruit League debut on Monday, and Alek Manoah who pitches today against the Tigers. Jayson Stark of The Athletic & MLB Network shares some takeaways from his visit to the Blue Jays facility in Dunedin; notably a commitment from players like Manoah and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to be better and Justin Turner knowing what it takes to win. Stark also comments on how much money Juan Soto will make at season’s end, and if Scott Boras deserves criticism for how he handled contract negotiations this offseason. To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine Chris Bassitt’s outing against Pittsburgh and the expectations for him this upcoming year (35:13).

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 affiliate.

]]> Why Stark’s Bullish on the Blue Jays Sportsnet 00:49:38 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show discussing Yusei Kikuchi’s new changeup after his 2024 Grapefruit League debut on Monday, and Alek Manoah who pitches today against the Tigers. Jayson Stark of The Athletic & MLB Network shares some takeaways from his visit to the Blue Jays facility in Dunedin; notably a commitment from players like Manoah and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to be better and Justin Turner knowing what it takes to win. Stark also comments on how much money Juan Soto will make at season’s end, and if Scott Boras deserves criticism for how he handled contract negotiations this offseason. To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine Chris Bassitt’s outing against Pittsburgh and the expectations for him this upcoming year (35:13). 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start the show discussing Yusei Kikuchi’s new changeup after his 2024 Grapefruit League debut on Monday, and Alek Manoah who pitches today against the Tigers. Jayson Stark of The Athletic & MLB Network shares some takeaways from his visit to the Blue Jays facility in Dunedin; notably a commitment from players like Manoah and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to be better and Justin Turner knowing what it takes to win. Stark also comments on how much money Juan Soto will make at season’s end, and if Scott Boras deserves criticism for how he handled contract negotiations this offseason. To end the show, Jeff and Kevin examine Chris Bassitt’s outing against Pittsburgh and the expectations for him this upcoming year (35:13). 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 affiliate. false full 3bce0ac2-459f-461a-9029-826a757054b8 Two Grapefruit League Games In… Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend with their takeaways from the Blue Jays first two games against the Phillies and Yankees. Later, they turn their attention to Yusei Kikuchi who will be starting today’s game against Pittsburgh before examining Cody Bellinger’s three-year pact with the Chicago Cubs, and the Cleveland Guardians methods to improve their hitting from a year ago (27:01).

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:02:51 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend with their takeaways from the Blue Jays first two games against the Phillies and Yankees. Later, they turn their attention to Yusei Kikuchi who will be starting today’s game against Pittsburgh before examining Cody Bellinger’s three-year pact with the Chicago Cubs, and the Cleveland Guardians methods to improve their hitting from a year ago (27:01).

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Two Grapefruit League Games In… Sportsnet 00:49:46 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend with their takeaways from the Blue Jays first two games against the Phillies and Yankees. Later, they turn their attention to Yusei Kikuchi who will be starting today’s game against Pittsburgh before examining Cody Bellinger’s three-year pact with the Chicago Cubs, and the Cleveland Guardians methods to improve their hitting from a year ago (27:01). 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker return from the weekend with their takeaways from the Blue Jays first two games against the Phillies and Yankees. Later, they turn their attention to Yusei Kikuchi who will be starting today’s game against Pittsburgh before examining Cody Bellinger’s three-year pact with the Chicago Cubs, and the Cleveland Guardians methods to improve their hitting from a year ago (27:01). 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 affiliate. false full 906b97b9-6ca8-4fb4-9df8-5001a15020ac Extra Innings: Chopping it Up with Daulton Varsho Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker briefly discuss Ricky Tiedemann after being scratched from Saturday’s start with a hamstring issue before being joined by Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho. Varsho talks about the messaging from the coaching staff to players early in camp, what he worked on this offseason, and being teammates with Justin Turner after being a division rival the past four years.

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.

]]> Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:56:37 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker briefly discuss Ricky Tiedemann after being scratched from Saturday’s start with a hamstring issue before being joined by Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho. Varsho talks about the messaging from the coaching staff to players early in camp, what he worked on this offseason, and being teammates with Justin Turner after being a division rival the past four years.

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.

]]> Extra Innings: Chopping it Up with Daulton Varsho Sportsnet 00:21:59 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker briefly discuss Ricky Tiedemann after being scratched from Saturday’s start with a hamstring issue before being joined by Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho. Varsho talks about the messaging from the coaching staff to players early in camp, what he worked on this offseason, and being teammates with Justin Turner after being a division rival the past four years. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker briefly discuss Ricky Tiedemann after being scratched from Saturday’s start with a hamstring issue before being joined by Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho. Varsho talks about the messaging from the coaching staff to players early in camp, what he worked on this offseason, and being teammates with Justin Turner after being a division rival the past four years. 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. false full 0b42676d-0011-4840-b181-8719bc6d2ef4 The Back Leg Line Is Open! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show discussing Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann and what we can expect out of him from Spring Training. The guys are then joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (30:23) from Dunedin and open up the back leg line for fan questions ahead of the Blue Jays’ first Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> Fri, 23 Feb 2024 17:07:12 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show discussing Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann and what we can expect out of him from Spring Training. The guys are then joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (30:23) from Dunedin and open up the back leg line for fan questions ahead of the Blue Jays’ first Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

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 affiliate.

 

]]> The Back Leg Line Is Open! Sportsnet 00:49:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show discussing Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann and what we can expect out of him from Spring Training. The guys are then joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (30:23) from Dunedin and open up the back leg line for fan questions ahead of the Blue Jays’ first Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the show discussing Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann and what we can expect out of him from Spring Training. The guys are then joined by Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (30:23) from Dunedin and open up the back leg line for fan questions ahead of the Blue Jays’ first Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. 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 affiliate. false full e2afb5da-e54d-4491-85a1-8a8e2d8f19ee Working with Donny Baseball + Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to comments from the Blue Jays yesterday at Spring Training; notably Bo Bichette discussing the work players are doing with Don Mattingly and John Schneider looking ahead to Toronto’s early season schedule. Foul Territory host and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz (27:42) shares his thoughts on the new MLB jerseys which have been a controversial topic amongst players, Spring Training being a good time for coaches and players to have honest conversations, and the expectations on Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2024.

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 affiliate.

]]> Thu, 22 Feb 2024 17:23:15 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to comments from the Blue Jays yesterday at Spring Training; notably Bo Bichette discussing the work players are doing with Don Mattingly and John Schneider looking ahead to Toronto’s early season schedule. Foul Territory host and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz (27:42) shares his thoughts on the new MLB jerseys which have been a controversial topic amongst players, Spring Training being a good time for coaches and players to have honest conversations, and the expectations on Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2024.

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 affiliate.

]]> Working with Donny Baseball + Foul Territory’s Erik Kratz Sportsnet 00:49:47 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to comments from the Blue Jays yesterday at Spring Training; notably Bo Bichette discussing the work players are doing with Don Mattingly and John Schneider looking ahead to Toronto’s early season schedule. Foul Territory host and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz (27:42) shares his thoughts on the new MLB jerseys which have been a controversial topic amongst players, Spring Training being a good time for coaches and players to have honest conversations, and the expectations on Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2024. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to comments from the Blue Jays yesterday at Spring Training; notably Bo Bichette discussing the work players are doing with Don Mattingly and John Schneider looking ahead to Toronto’s early season schedule. Foul Territory host and former MLB catcher Erik Kratz (27:42) shares his thoughts on the new MLB jerseys which have been a controversial topic amongst players, Spring Training being a good time for coaches and players to have honest conversations, and the expectations on Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2024. 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 affiliate. false full 5980b6d4-2cbc-46d4-9894-db11fdbfb104 Who Will Sign the ‘Boras Five’? With everyone in camp, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker turn their attention to the free agents who remain unsigned; notably super agent Scott Boras’ clients: Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, JD Martinez, and Jordan Montgomery. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale checks-in from Spring Training in Arizona with his free agency thoughts (27:47) and Mike Trout’s future with the Angels. To end the show, the guys discuss Montgomery further and why they’re surprised he’s still available to sign with any team.

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 affiliate.

]]> Wed, 21 Feb 2024 17:01:41 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ With everyone in camp, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker turn their attention to the free agents who remain unsigned; notably super agent Scott Boras’ clients: Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, JD Martinez, and Jordan Montgomery. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale checks-in from Spring Training in Arizona with his free agency thoughts (27:47) and Mike Trout’s future with the Angels. To end the show, the guys discuss Montgomery further and why they’re surprised he’s still available to sign with any team.

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 affiliate.

]]> Who Will Sign the ‘Boras Five’? Sportsnet 00:49:49 With everyone in camp, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker turn their attention to the free agents who remain unsigned; notably super agent Scott Boras’ clients: Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, JD Martinez, and Jordan Montgomery. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale checks-in from Spring Training in Arizona with his free agency thoughts (27:47) and Mike Trout’s future with the Angels. To end the show, the guys discuss Montgomery further and why they’re surprised he’s still available to sign with any team. 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 affiliate. With everyone in camp, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker turn their attention to the free agents who remain unsigned; notably super agent Scott Boras’ clients: Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell, JD Martinez, and Jordan Montgomery. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale checks-in from Spring Training in Arizona with his free agency thoughts (27:47) and Mike Trout’s future with the Angels. To end the show, the guys discuss Montgomery further and why they’re surprised he’s still available to sign with any team. 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 affiliate. false full 100666aa-d545-41ae-8310-997ac1498589 Blair and Barker Are Back! Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on-the-air five days a week as full teams have now reported to spring training! The guys look back to last season and agree that internal improvements from players like Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alek Manoah will go a long way to the Blue Jays’ overall success in 2024. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez joins the show (27:50) from Dunedin with his early impressions from camp, notably players buying in by showing up early and the emphasis on attention to detail from the Jays’ coaching staff.

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 affiliate.

]]> Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:06:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on-the-air five days a week as full teams have now reported to spring training! The guys look back to last season and agree that internal improvements from players like Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alek Manoah will go a long way to the Blue Jays’ overall success in 2024. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez joins the show (27:50) from Dunedin with his early impressions from camp, notably players buying in by showing up early and the emphasis on attention to detail from the Jays’ coaching staff.

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 affiliate.

]]> Blair and Barker Are Back! Sportsnet 00:49:42 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on-the-air five days a week as full teams have now reported to spring training! The guys look back to last season and agree that internal improvements from players like Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alek Manoah will go a long way to the Blue Jays’ overall success in 2024. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez joins the show (27:50) from Dunedin with his early impressions from camp, notably players buying in by showing up early and the emphasis on attention to detail from the Jays’ coaching staff. 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 affiliate. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on-the-air five days a week as full teams have now reported to spring training! The guys look back to last season and agree that internal improvements from players like Alejandro Kirk, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alek Manoah will go a long way to the Blue Jays’ overall success in 2024. Sportsnet’s Buck Martinez joins the show (27:50) from Dunedin with his early impressions from camp, notably players buying in by showing up early and the emphasis on attention to detail from the Jays’ coaching staff. 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 affiliate. false full a265cd48-afaf-4465-8e22-b207d20d0839 Pete Walker Preps for Pitchers and Catchers in Dunedin Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (0:22) from Florida, as they discuss the state of the starting rotation, how they're aiming to repeat the successful (and healthy) season the starters had last year, where Alek Manoah is at in his 2024 preparation, and what Yariel Rodriguez might contribute as one of the newest pitchers on the roster. Plus, Walker discusses the bullpen, including a fully healthy start to the season for Chad Green - is the Jays bullpen being slept on? Afterwards, Blair and Barker chat the process of getting ready for exhibition games over a month before meaningful games begin, and Barker shares his experience on what it's like trying to prove yourself at this stage of the season.  

 

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.

]]> Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:50:27 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (0:22) from Florida, as they discuss the state of the starting rotation, how they're aiming to repeat the successful (and healthy) season the starters had last year, where Alek Manoah is at in his 2024 preparation, and what Yariel Rodriguez might contribute as one of the newest pitchers on the roster. Plus, Walker discusses the bullpen, including a fully healthy start to the season for Chad Green - is the Jays bullpen being slept on? Afterwards, Blair and Barker chat the process of getting ready for exhibition games over a month before meaningful games begin, and Barker shares his experience on what it's like trying to prove yourself at this stage of the season.  

 

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.

]]> Pete Walker Preps for Pitchers and Catchers in Dunedin Sportsnet 00:45:45 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (0:22) from Florida, as they discuss the state of the starting rotation, how they're aiming to repeat the successful (and healthy) season the starters had last year, where Alek Manoah is at in his 2024 preparation, and what Yariel Rodriguez might contribute as one of the newest pitchers on the roster. Plus, Walker discusses the bullpen, including a fully healthy start to the season for Chad Green - is the Jays bullpen being slept on? Afterwards, Blair and Barker chat the process of getting ready for exhibition games over a month before meaningful games begin, and Barker shares his experience on what it's like trying to prove yourself at this stage of the season. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker (0:22) from Florida, as they discuss the state of the starting rotation, how they're aiming to repeat the successful (and healthy) season the starters had last year, where Alek Manoah is at in his 2024 preparation, and what Yariel Rodriguez might contribute as one of the newest pitchers on the roster. Plus, Walker discusses the bullpen, including a fully healthy start to the season for Chad Green - is the Jays bullpen being slept on? Afterwards, Blair and Barker chat the process of getting ready for exhibition games over a month before meaningful games begin, and Barker shares his experience on what it's like trying to prove yourself at this stage of the season. 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. false full 8bcc26a1-9f25-4eee-bb26-59e9c0058dee Justin Turner Never Stops Hitting Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Justin Turner (3:40) - live from a batting cage - as he preps for a rapidly approaching spring training. Turner discusses what free agency was like during the offseason, what he would like to see from new teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the plate, where he might play both on the diamond and in the order, and briefly gets into his Dodgers career.

 

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.

]]> Sat, 10 Feb 2024 01:04:59 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Justin Turner (3:40) - live from a batting cage - as he preps for a rapidly approaching spring training. Turner discusses what free agency was like during the offseason, what he would like to see from new teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the plate, where he might play both on the diamond and in the order, and briefly gets into his Dodgers career.

 

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.

]]> Justin Turner Never Stops Hitting Sportsnet 00:23:31 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Justin Turner (3:40) - live from a batting cage - as he preps for a rapidly approaching spring training. Turner discusses what free agency was like during the offseason, what he would like to see from new teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the plate, where he might play both on the diamond and in the order, and briefly gets into his Dodgers career. 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Justin Turner (3:40) - live from a batting cage - as he preps for a rapidly approaching spring training. Turner discusses what free agency was like during the offseason, what he would like to see from new teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the plate, where he might play both on the diamond and in the order, and briefly gets into his Dodgers career. 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. false full 45ecd00b-4290-4cc9-9580-f417f3bfbb3d Vladdy's First Big Win of the Year Comes via Arbitration Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. winning his arbitration hearing vs. the Blue Jays - what does that mean for the relationship between player and team? They debate if it could have an impact down the road, and bring on David Samson (13:03) for some expert advice, as someone who has been involved in player-team negotiations. Samson chats about the arbitration process, and afterwards they discuss the ongoing Vegas-Oakland saga and the Orioles being sold to a pair of venture capitalists. Plus, Blair and Barker open up the Back Leg Line and take your questions!

 

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.

]]> Thu, 8 Feb 2024 18:08:31 +0000 Contact@Sportsnet590.ca (Sportsnet) https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/ Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. winning his arbitration hearing vs. the Blue Jays - what does that mean for the relationship between player and team? They debate if it could have an impact down the road, and bring on David Samson (13:03) for some expert advice, as someone who has been involved in player-team negotiations. Samson chats about the arbitration process, and afterwards they discuss the ongoing Vegas-Oakland saga and the Orioles being sold to a pair of venture capitalists. Plus, Blair and Barker open up the Back Leg Line and take your questions!

 

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.

]]> Vladdy's First Big Win of the Year Comes via Arbitration Sportsnet 00:56:52 Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. winning his arbitration hearing vs. the Blue Jays - what does that mean for the relationship between player and team? They debate if it could have an impact down the road, and bring on David Samson (13:03) for some expert advice, as someone who has been involved in player-team negotiations. Samson chats about the arbitration process, and afterwards they discuss the ongoing Vegas-Oakland saga and the Orioles being sold to a pair of venture capitalists. Plus, Blair and Barker open up the Back Leg Line and take your questions! 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. Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr. winning his arbitration hearing vs. the Blue Jays - what does that mean for the relationship between player and team? They debate if it could have an impact down the road, and bring on David Samson (13:03) for some expert advice, as someone who has been involved in player-team negotiations. Samson chats about the arbitration process, and afterwards they discuss the ongoing Vegas-Oakland saga and the Orioles being sold to a pair of venture capitalists. Plus, Blair and Barker open up the Back Leg Line and take your questions! 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. false full