Blair & Barker - podcast cover

Blair & Barker

Sportsnetwww.sportsnet.ca
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.
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Episodes

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 Tige...

May 16, 202550 min

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 ...

May 15, 202550 min

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...

May 14, 202550 min

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, ...

May 14, 202550 min

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 ce...

May 13, 202549 min

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 Toro...

May 13, 202550 min

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 wi...

May 12, 202550 min

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 t...

May 12, 202550 min

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 b...

May 09, 202549 min

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...

May 09, 202550 min

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....

May 08, 202549 min

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...

May 08, 202551 min

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 exp...

May 07, 202549 min

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 tak...

May 07, 202551 min

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 playe...

May 06, 202550 min

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 experien...

May 06, 202549 min

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 gam...

May 05, 202549 min

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 prod...

May 05, 202551 min

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 ahe...

May 02, 202549 min

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! H...

May 02, 202550 min

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...

May 01, 202551 min

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...

May 01, 202549 min

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 ...

Apr 30, 202550 min

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 D...

Apr 30, 202550 min

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...

Apr 29, 202550 min

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 (24:4...

Apr 29, 202550 min

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 broadca...

Apr 28, 202550 min

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 i...

Apr 28, 202550 min

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, ...

Apr 25, 202551 min

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...

Apr 25, 202549 min
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