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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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.