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 ...
Feb 26, 2025•50 min
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. Lou...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min
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, th...
Feb 24, 2025•50 min
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 ...
Feb 21, 2025•50 min
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 Vla...
Feb 20, 2025•50 min
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...
Feb 19, 2025•49 min
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 Presiden...
Feb 18, 2025•49 min
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 o...
Feb 13, 2025•50 min
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 ...
Feb 03, 2025•38 min
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 N...
Jan 31, 2025•50 min
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, ...
Jan 27, 2025•40 min
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 ...
Jan 20, 2025•50 min
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...
Jan 13, 2025•39 min
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 acqu...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min
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 ...
Dec 12, 2024•56 min
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 p...
Dec 05, 2024•52 min
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 ...
Nov 01, 2024•50 min
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'...
Oct 31, 2024•50 min
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, attackin...
Oct 30, 2024•50 min
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 c...
Oct 29, 2024•50 min
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 ...
Oct 28, 2024•50 min
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. T...
Oct 25, 2024•50 min
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 Yank...
Oct 24, 2024•50 min
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 ...
Oct 23, 2024•50 min
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 befor...
Oct 22, 2024•50 min
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 Tropica...
Oct 21, 2024•50 min
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 Oriol...
Oct 18, 2024•50 min
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...
Oct 17, 2024•50 min
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 clos...
Oct 16, 2024•49 min
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 Judg...
Oct 15, 2024•50 min
