Blair & Barker

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program with thoughts Team Canada's lineup as they get set to face the Blue Jays in this afternoon's World Baseball Classic tune-up game. The boys pivot to chat about the battle for the Jays final rotation spot and how the back-end of the bullpen is shaping up. Dale Scott (09:21), former MLB umpire, joins to chat about the new Automated Ball-Strike system,...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open a new week on the show with thoughts on Max Scherzer joining the Blue Jays down in Dunedin. Florida. The boys look back on the Jays' weekend of Grapefruit League action, before projecting Friday's anticipated José Berríos-Eric Lauer tandem on the mound. Could this be an indicator of what's to come this season? They also chat about Jeff Hoffman's role in 2026, how t...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Friday's program with a preview of this afternoon's Blue Jays vs. Rays spring training game. They look back on Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Marlins and discuss Andrés Giménez' first home run of the spring, before projecting how the Jays rotation and 26-man roster might come together ahead of Opening Day. The boys also take a moment to chat about Alek Manoah's comment...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open Thursday's podcast with thoughts on Blue Jays re-signing Max Scherzer to a one-year, $3 million deal with plenty of incentives. Ben Nicholson-Smith (10:47), Sportsnet's MLB insider and host of At the Letters , joins the boys to share how this morning breaking news came together and who might be the odd-man-out of the rotation. BNS also highlights Cody Ponce's first...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show with a recap of the Blue Jays' 8-7 loss to the Yankees in spring training action. They tee up Cody Ponce's start this afternoon against the Tigers, discuss how to properly evaluate talent in the Grapefruit League, and gauge their expectations for Eloy Jiménez, Jesús Sánchez and Daulton Varsho in 2026. Adam Ottavino (14:50), former MLB pitcher and host...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's show reacting to Kazuma Okamoto's first Blue Jays home run in Monday's spring training game. The boys take some time to set up this afternoon's game against the Yankees and look back on José Berríos first start of the spring, before discussing Ricky Tiedemann's setback, Eric Lauer's post-arbitration comments, and Tyler Rogers first impressions. Later, the b...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker kick off a new week on the program breaking down the Blue Jays first two games of Spring Training. They begin with thoughts on what José Berríos' role might look like this season, Shane Bieber's status as we ramp up to Opening Day, and first impressions of Kazuma Okamoto. The boys then set up this afternoon's game against the Mets and discuss the scrutiny surrounding Bo...

With the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League season kicking off on Saturday, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open up the Back Leg Line for the first time this season to take your calls and questions! They get into how the Jays will replace Bo Bichette's offensive production, how the team can avoid another slow start to the season, and whether a 'bullpen-by-committee' can work in the playoffs. Then, Jeff and...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker continue to count down to the Blue Jays' first taste of Grapefruit League action against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. They discuss the introduction of the ABS challenge rule and whether any Jays will be 'exempt' from using it in a game. Then, they look at the rotation and project who will occupy the fourth and fifth starter roles, share expectations for Trey Y...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker follow up on yesterday's conversation on whether or not the Blue Jays are better than they were at this point last year. Then, they discuss whether Leo Jimenez could crack the big-league roster, pitchers on the roster bubble, what to expect from Kazuma Okamoto in the field, and the pressure on Jeff Hoffman. Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (28:54) joins the show from Du...

With Spring Training games around the corner, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back to their daily schedule! They start with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s comments about being 'happier' this season, whether the Jays are better this year than last year — even without Bo Bichette, and where the Jays stand in a much-improved American League. Then, they discuss the biggest camp storylines for the Jays, inclu...

With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back! They discuss what to expect from a post-Bo Bichette Blue Jays lineup, how Kazuma Okamoto's production in Japan will translate to the MLB level, and why the bullpen is still the biggest weakness heading into the 2026 regular season. Then, they get into José Berríos's role for the Jays moving forward, Tor...

Blake Murphy and Kevin Barker are in for an offseason edition to react to Kyle Tucker signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets signing Bo Bichette, and what it means for the Blue Jays. They start with Bo and what the Jays' lineup will look like without their long-time shortstop and his fit at third base with the Mets. Then, they discuss where the Jays may turn for an impact bat, how...

Jeff Blair and Sho Alli listen in on the Toronto Blue Jays' newest addition, Kazumo Okamoto's press conference. They follow up with their thoughts on the move, a discussion on what the six-time NPB All-Star brings to the lineup, and a projection of what comes next in the Blue Jays' offseason, including where the team stands in Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker's market. The views and opinions expressed...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for a special holiday edition! They kick off with a quick recap of the Toronto Blue Jays' offseason, discuss the team's plans in the position player market — be it Bo Bichette, Kyle Tucker or Alex Bregman — and share their favourite memories from the World Series and the Jays' unforgettable 2025 season. Then, they get into the team's need for a ninth-inning rel...

For the final episode of 2025 —barring any emergency podcasts— Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open with their reactions to the Atlanta Braves taking closer Robert Suárez off the market with a 3-year, $45M deal. Then, they share their thoughts on Jeff Passan's report that the Jays could be in on both Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker. MLB Network's Dan Plesac joins the show (13:08) to discuss the Jays' narr...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in on the final day of MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando. They react to Pete Alonso signing a 5-year, $155M deal with the Baltimore Orioles, follow up with some takeaways from Dylan Cease's introductory press conference yesterday, and revisit Shane Bieber's decision to pick up his player option. Cease's former manager and current Orioles instructor, Mike Shildt, join...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open today's program ahead of this afternoon's introductory press conference for new Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher, Dylan Cease. The boys sift through the news of the day including Edwin Diaz's three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers and Kyle Schwarber's five-year, $150 million extension with the Phillies. Sportsnet Shi Davidi (03:19) checks in from MLB's...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for the week to cover MLB's winter meetings! They go through the Blue Jays' early offseason moves, what free agents they'd be willing to part with, the need for a closer, and back-up plans if the team can't bring Bo Bichette back. MLB Network insider Jon Morosi joins the show (16:00) from the winter meetings in Orlando to discuss Jeff Kent's selection to the Ba...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back for an offseason edition as the Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly signed starting pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. They share their reactions to the move, what Cease can bring to Toronto's rotation, and what comes next on the Jays' list of offseason priorities. Sportsnet insider Shi Davidi (6:55) shares his thoughts on the signing, its im...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reconvene for an emergency podcast to discuss the Blue Jays reported signing of right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease to a 7-year, $210 million contract. It's the largest pitching contract handed out by Toronto in franchise history and Blair and Barker break it all down!   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessari...

We hear from Blue Jays President and CEO Mark Shapiro and General Manager Ross Atkins discussing a wide range of topics, including Shapiro's contract, Bo Bichette's free agency, Shane Bieber picking up his player option and much more! Plus, Jeff Blair heads to the Back-Leg Line to get your reactions on the Jays' front office end-of-season media avails. The views and opinions expressed in this podc...

Former MLB President and host of 'Nothing Personal' David Samson (1:28) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how he would plan for the upcoming offseason, assessing 'breakout years' from the likes of Ernie Clement and George Springer, Jeff Hoffman overcoming the game-tying home run in Game 7, Yoshinobu Yamamoto's uniqueness, how he would rank the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette's free ag...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker reflect on the Toronto Blue Jays' Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling short of a World Series title. They break down the game, including Jeff Hoffman giving up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers' nine-hole hitter and Isiah Kiner-Falefa's base-running in the ninth inning. Then, they share positive takeaways from the Jays' run that they can build on in 2026,...

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hear from both Bo Bichette and John Schneider ahead of Game 6, reacting to Bo's comments about his future, returning from injury to play in the World Series, his maturity through the years within the Blue Jays' organization, and John's comments on how he spent Halloween at his doorstep a year ago to now having the chance to clinch a championship. Then, 3-time World Seri...