Blair & Barker

Jeff and Kevin are joined by MLB Network Radio's and former Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets manager Jim Duquette (1:22) to get his thought on the Blue Jays designating Jesús Sánchez for assignment after being with the team majority of the season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s decline this year and the lack of home run power compared to 2025, who will sneak into the last AL Wild Card spot, if Bo Bichette would opt out of his contract after his first year with New York, what Pete Alonso has brought to the Orioles, and who should dictate Shohei Ohtani's future in both pitching and hitting for 2027 season. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst Madison Shipman (26:00) weighs in on the Jays moving Sánchez, how the team should attack their former teammate Chris Bassitt, expectation for Vladdy in the final 15 games, what has stood out to her from Brett Bateman's swing, how dangerous Spencer Miles' sinker is, and how can Dylan Cease overcome his velocity dipping. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Baltimore Orioles. They react to the Jays' decision to DFA Jesús Sánchez and call up Rudy Martin Jr., the team's opportunity to make up ground in the Wild Card race, and what to expect from former Blue Jay Chris Bassitt who starts for Baltimore in the series opener. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stops by (26:28) to discuss the timing of the decision to DFA Sánchez, Anthony Santander's progress, Spencer Miles' potential future role, what he wants to see from Dylan Cease's next start, the message for the team after a rough series in Sacramento, 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blair and Barker are joined by ESPN's MLB insider and Host of Sources Tell Jeff Passan (1:06) to give an early look at the 2027 Blue Jays opening day roster, who overlaps from the 2026 squad, the upcoming free agency class, why it's too early to give up on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., if Bo Bichette believes he can win in New York, the potential of him opting out of his new contract, and the future of the aging L.A. Dodgers' roster. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back-Leg Line to hear from listeners after the Blue Jays lost their road series against the Athletics. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the off-day edition, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker start with a look back on the Blue Jays' series loss to the Athletics. They discuss the Jays' bats going quiet in the series finale, whether they could make the playoffs without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. contributing offensively, the significance of the upcoming series against the Orioles, and Alejandro Kirk's missed opportunity on the basepaths. Later, Blue Jays Central's Caleb Joseph stops by (31:12) to share his takeaways from the Jays' road trip, the vibe in the clubhouse after a frustrating series, why Vladdy's struggles are more 'between the ears' than mechanical, and how Dylan Cease can manage through his dropping 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kevin Barker's former skipper and current Nashville Sounds, Milwaukee Brewers AAA Affiliate manager Rick Sweet (12:00) joins the guys to chat about how he has dealt with players who've had struggles both in their at-bats and on defence, how difficult is it to throw and manage a no-hitter after former Blue Jay Thomas Pannone made history in International League history, and the biggest changes in managing a team since he first started up till today. Then, L.A. Times national MLB writer Bill Shaikin joins the guys (31:36) to discuss what it means for the Angels to have a fresh start with new owner Stan Kroenke, the future for the city of Anaheim, the differences between the Dodgers and Angels, if Stan would be willing to pay Mike Trout, if Shohei Ohtani will pitch a game again, and if the age and mileage is catching up to 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the A's in Sacramento, including Dylan Cease's worrying drop in velocity, another quiet offensive game from Vladdy Jr., and whether Kazuma Okamoto can be an everyday third baseman for a championship team. Then, A's analyst and former MLB pitcher Dallas Braden (14:30) shares his thoughts on Cease's velo dip, Henry Bolte's potential, and the ceiling of a healthy A's team in 2027. Later, former Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero (29:52) weighs in on what's behind Cease's recent dip, why he's not overly concerned after the rocky start against the A's, José Soriano's evolution with the Jays, and Tyler Rogers' reliability. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Radio voice of the Athletics Ken Korach (3:55) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about the expectations of the A's heading into the 2026 campaign and how it has turned out into September, playing in a temporary ball park in West Sacramento, manager Mark Kotsay's message to the clubhouse handling the inconsistencies between the win and loss columns, who stands out in their order, and if Kotsay will be the manager of the future when the team heads to Las Vegas. Then, national MLB writer for USA Today's Bob Nightengale stops by (30:34) to take a deeper dive into MLB's proposed rules for the next agreement including adding an extra roster spot for pitchers, modifying the use of position players pitching, how the L.A. Dodgers handle Shohei Ohtani's future in pitching, concerns of their team's performance towards the end of the year, and if Mike Trout has done enough for a future hall of fame entry despite his down trajectory in recent seasons. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' weekend series win over the Kansas City Royals. They discuss the issues at the bottom of the Jays' pitching rotation, another Jesús Sánchez error in the outfield, Brett Bateman's role, and more. Then, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi stops by (27:20) ahead of the conclusion of the Jays' road trip in Sacramento against the A's, and he chats about the Jays' plan for Spencer Arrighetti's next start, impressions of Ricky Tiedemann's play so far, Trey Yesavage's recovery timeline, where Anthony Santander would fit if he returns to the lineup this season, and Kazuma Okamoto's recent adjustments. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (1:12) joins Blair and Barker to chat about the injury statuses for Anthony Santander and Trey Yesavage, if either of them are close to returning to the team, if there has been any adjustments to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s swing after making contact during the Cleveland Guardians series, Brett Bateman moving up and down in the batter's box, if the coaching staff have unlocked the version of José Soriano they wanted on the mound, expectations for Jameson Taillon starting against the Kansas City Royals, the order running up an opposing pitcher's pitch count recently, Ernie Clement's performance in August, and Brandon Valenzuela's catching workload. Then, ESPN's Jeff Passan joins the guys (30:25) to chat about why the Blue Jays should be everyone's pick to make the Wild Card, if Julio Rodríguez or Cal Raleigh will have a comeback year in 2027, why he has Cam Schlittler as the AL Cy Young front runner, why Shohei Ohtani is dictating his career trajectory, and which NL team could overthrow the aging 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Kansas City Royals. They look at the AL Wild Card standings before discussing Anthony Santander commencing rehab games in Triple-A, Trey Yesavage nearing a return, what to expect from the bottom of the rotation in Kansas City, and signs that Vladdy Jr. is on the verge of a hot streak. Later, Royals TV analyst Rex Hudler (23:36) stops by to discuss the role the weather plays at Kauffman Stadium, how the Jays can attack starter Daniel Lynch IV, Bobby Witt Jr.'s up and down season, Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen's potential, and Kansas City's path back to the playoffs in 2027. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off the abridged post-game edition with MLB Network insider Jon Morosi (2:51). They discuss how the Blue Jays' series win over the Guardians sets them up in the AL Wild Card race, the impacts of deadline additions Brett Bateman and José Soriano, why he likes the Jays' chances to take the final Wild Card spot over the Orioles. Then, Jon, Jeff and Kevin chat about potential ripple effects of Stan Kroenke's purchase of the Angels, the AL Cy Young race, and the Dodgers' struggles without Will Smith 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blair and Barker are joined by former MLB infielder and MLB Network analyst Yonder Alonso (1:27) to discuss what makes the Cleveland Guardians historically resilient in the month of September, José Ramírez fully recovering from the broken hamate bone in his left hand, why Vladdy's hitting concerns can't be fixed until the offseason, who will hold the third spot in the AL Wild Card, and the concern level with the Dodgers. Then, Blue Jays Central analyst and former MLB outfielder Kevin Pillar (27:32) joins the guys to chat about Brett Bateman becoming the unlikely hero for the Jays, how his game compares to Steven Kwan, if players are scoreboard watching during a post-season race, if Dylan Cease will be motivated from Cleveland's starter's dominance against his team, and how should we judge hitting coach David Popkins' 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' series-opening loss to the Cleveland Guardians. They discuss Gavin Williams' dominance over the Jays' lineup, the team's standing in the Wild Card race, and the decision to turn to Joe Mantiply in a one-run game. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss the Angels as MLB's next big spenders after being sold to Stan Kroenke. They are joined by former MLB president David Samson (31:28), who shares some thoughts on the Clippers punishment in the NBA, the Angels' sale, the latest around MLB's CBA negotiations, 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1992 World Series Champion with the Blue Jays and author of his upcoming memoir 'Touching All The Bases', Dave Winfield (1:22) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about his early days being involved in multiple sports prior to playing professional baseball, what made him stick to baseball, going against George Steinbrenner, leaving the New York Yankees, his years in Minnesota and Toronto, and how he adjusted his hitting during a prolonged slump. Then, Cleveland Guardians TV analyst (25:35) and former MLB catcher Chris Gimenez joins to discuss why things have started going the team's way as they hold the final AL Wild Card spot, José Ramírez's dangerous ability to hit towards all areas of the field, Gavin Williams' success on the mound, and Steven Kwan's turnaround 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker get set for the Blue Jays' pivotal series against the Cleveland Guardians. To help, Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker stops by (8:21) to discuss the plan for recently called up prospect Ricky Tiedemann, what he's learned from Spencer Miles' rookie season, early returns from Spencer Arrighetti, what's behind Dylan Cease's dip in velocity, and how José Soriano has adapted with the Jays' process. Later, Blue Jays legend Carlos Delgado joins the show (28:45) to discuss the Jays' Wild Card push, what we need to see from Vladdy Jr. down the stretch, and what it means to be recognized on the Level of Excellence. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Athletic's Jayson Stark (1:11) joins Blair and Barker to chat about why the Los Angeles Dodgers could be vulnerable this season, his research into why Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has yet to hit a home run at home this season, Max Scherzer turning back the clock in his recent outing against the Seattle Mariners, Yankees and Red Sox rivalry renewed, and the state of the AL Wild Card race. Then, Jeff and Kevin head to the Back Leg Line to get listener's reactions to the Blue Jays sweeping the Mariners over the weekend. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the off-day edition, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' weekend sweep over the Seattle Mariners, including Max Scherzer turning back the clock in the series finale. MLB Network analyst and former MLB pitcher Dan Plesac joins the show (7:10) to discuss the wild AL Wild Card race, Scherzer's dominant outing, how the Jays can get the best out of José Soriano, the difficulty of staying focused in the final stretch of a season, and why the White Sox will hold on to the top spot in the AL Central. Later, Jeff and Kevin discuss which players will be called up as rosters expand starting September 1, the Jays passing on recently waived power bats Eugenio Suárez and Luis Robert Jr., and what to expect from the Jays' critical upcoming road trip in Cleveland, Kansas City, and Sacramento. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blair and Barker are joined by Ryan Divish (2:20) of The Seattle Times to chat about the Mariners' season, Cal Raleigh's down offensive year, why Julio Rodríguez can't find consistency, why lefty starter Kade Anderson stands out from the rest, how the team can collectively fix their offence, and the worst case scenario with the future of the roster and management if the team doesn't make the postseason. Then guys head to the Back Leg Line to hear from Blue Jays fans ahead of their three-game series against the visiting Mariners for the first time since the ALCS. Afterwards, Jeff Blair remembers the late Jacques Doucet who called Montreal Expos games. To wrap up the show, Blue Jays play-by-play TV voice Dan Shulman (30:42) joins the guys to discuss his former broadcast partner Buck Martinez getting inducted into the Jays' Hall of Excellence, getting the job and working with Buck for the first time, if there was a moment when he knew the chemistry was there, how Buck transitioned from being a player, manager and then broadcaster, and his proudest moment with Buck. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back on the Blue Jays' 13-2 unravelling to the Kansas City Royals to drop the series. They discuss why Spencer Arrighetti's pitch sequencing is limiting his success, the importance of the Jays' next series against the Mariners, and what they need to see from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. down the final stretch of the season. Later, Blue Jays manager John Schneider (29:14) shares how the team has been managing a recent rough stretch, how Vladdy handled the boos at Rogers Centre, how they can get the most out of Arrighetti this season, and whether a series against rival Mariners can help get them going. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blair and Barker are joined by Blue Jays TV analyst and former MLB catcher Joe Siddall (6:05) to chat about the team signing recently DFA'd pitcher Michael Lorenzen, how Spencer Arrighetti can attack the zone, if the Jays can find success with one approach on offence, Eugenio Suárez clearing waivers and whether he would've fit with Toronto, building Brett Bateman into an everyday player, and Louis Varland's changeup. Then, ESPN's and host of Sources Tell Jeff Passan joins Jeff and Kevin (25:35) to discuss the MLB's proposal to shrinking the free agency window in December, who this benefits, and who is the best team to come out of the AL 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.