Blair & Barker

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' second loss to the Braves in Atlanta, why firing manager John Schneider isn't a solution to the Jays' season so far, why the small things during a game are costing the team's performance, Alejandro Kirk's rehab stint with Dunedin Blue Jays, and more. Then, Baseball Hall of Famer and two-time World Series champion Chipper Jones (24:11) joins the guys to chat about the success the Braves have had through 2026, the comparisons to Jones' Atlanta roster, Mauricio Dubón's hitting, Ozzie Albies being able to make contact on both sides of the plate, how Chipper decides to work on hitting left vs. right, Atlanta's pitching staff reading Vlad Jr. well and what he's seeing in his at-bats, and why Walt Weiss is the perfect manager for this team.

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.

Braves TV analyst CJ Nitkowski (1:48) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of the second game of the Blue Jays' series in Atlanta. They discuss Matt Olson's elite play on offence and defence, Ozzie Albies' quiet reliability, Spencer Strider's evolution, and why manager Walt Weiss was the right choice to replace Brian Snitker. Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability before welcoming former MLB outfielder and Blue Jays Central's Kevin Pillar to the show (26:12). He weighs in on Patrick Corbin's historic struggles against the Braves ahead of his start, how George Springer can adjust at the plate, Daulton Varsho's defensive regression, 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker chat about Patrick Corbin's 11-game losing streak to the Atlanta Braves, his game plan against the Braves, before touching on their series opener in Atlanta, George Springer's struggles, Kevin Gausman's outing and pitching decisions to Matt Olson, and questioning Vlad Jr.'s run to first base out of the box in his fourth at-bat. Then, ESPN insider and host of Sources Tell, Jeff Passan (30:48), joins the guys to discuss the defensive value of a first baseman, if the Seattle Mariners are the second best team in the Majors, which direction the Blue Jays should turn near the trade deadline with their current performance through May and early June, and if the team will look into the hitting over the pitching market. 

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.

Former Blue Jays executive and current Braves President of Baseball Operations and GM Alex Anthopoulos (1:17) joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker ahead of Atlanta's series against Toronto. He discusses the manager transition from Brian Snitker to Walt Weiss, the team's hot start, the offseason emphasis on depth, Raisel Iglesias' unsung efficiency, Matt Olson's MVP-calibre campaign, Chris Sale's mentality, and much more. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's availability from Atlanta. Finally, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi stops by (34:36) to preview the Jays' test against the Braves.

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 to the Blue Jays' series opener in Atlanta against the Braves, keys to a bounce-back game for the team and Kevin Gausman on the mound, and Vlad Jr.'s lack of extra-base hits this season. Then, former pitcher and current co-host of VSiN By the Books, Jensen Lewis (30:50) joins the guys to chat about the state of college baseball, how the Jays should approach their series against one of the best teams in the Majors currently, finding continuity with the bullpen and Jeff Hoffman, Tarik Skubal returning to play soon and the rumours around trading him at the deadline.

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.