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.

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 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 & 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.