Pushing the Right Bench and Bullpen Buttons

Sept. 30: Judge, Jury and…: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays’ 6-2 loss to the Yankees in the series finale at Rogers Centre. They discuss Robbie Ray’s final regular season start, the bottom of the order (including Randal Grichuk), a not-so-great finale from Teoscar Hernandez. Plus, a discussion on Nate Pearson’s potential as a closer vs. a starter, and what the offseason shopping list might look like. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

25 min listen

Undefeated No More in 2022: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays' 12-6 loss to the Rangers in the series finale. They get into Hyun-jin Ryu's start, whether or not he ran out of gas, and what to make of Ross Stripling's outing following Ryu. They discuss the moonshot by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and get into the increased usage of the bullpen so far through the season's first three games. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

44 min listen

Tapia Goes Deep in Boston: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-1 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park to even the series. They break down the home run from Raimel Tapia - his first as a Blue Jay - and get into Bo Bichette's 300th hit. Plus, a discussion on Trevor Richards' fastball, Jose Berrios going six strong, and George Springer avoiding a major injury after getting hit by a pitch on his forearm. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

32 min listen

Yankees Split Series vs. Blue Jays: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays 3-0 loss to the Yankees and touch on Teoscar Hernandez missing tonight's game, Matt Chapman's night off till his pinch-hit in the 9th, Kevin Gausman and Luis Severino start, and Alejandro Kirk filling in for Danny Jansen behind the plate. Plus, we take your calls to chat about the lineup juggling with the team dealing with injuries early in the season, and if there are any concerns with Cavan Biggio. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

32 min listen

Does Santiago Espinal Need More Playing Time?: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the Athletics down at Rogers Centre! They take your calls, and get into the start from Ross Stripling, the dependability from Yimi Garcia, and another stellar performance from Jordan Romano. Plus, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits another home run, Santiago Espinal gets intentionally walked, and Zack Collins gets his first RBI as a Blue Jay. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. by Blue Jays Talk

41 min listen

Blue Jays Get Rained Out in Dunedin: Blake Murphy and Andrew Zuber break down the rained out Blue Jays - Phillies game down in Dunedin. They discuss Matt Chapman both continuing to flash the glove at a high level and hitting a home run, and how today's lineup was in essence what we can expect to see on Opening Day. Plus, a discussion on the state of the outfield, including the health of George Springer, and whether or not the Teoscar Hernandez - Francisco Liriano 2017 trade was one of the best in franchise history. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

57 min listen

Oct. 1: Staying Alive: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays’ 6-4 win over the Orioles at Rogers Centre. They discuss Jordan Romano slamming the door on the Orioles in the ninth for a five-out save, another very good outing by Steven Matz in his final regular season outing, Danny Jansen hitting a two-run homer, and Cavan Biggio making his return to the majors in a big way. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

43 min listen

Sept. 24: Ober-Loaded By The Twins: Sho Alli and Josh Goldberg break down the Blue Jays’ 3-1 loss to the Twins at Target Field. They discuss the bats being put in the freezer, George Springer’s continued struggles, the lack of run support for José Berríos, and the baffling decision to keep Reese McGuire at the dish to open the eighth inning. Plus, a discussion about the team’s overall struggles, and what kind of record they’ll need to make the AL Wild Card 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. by Blue Jays Talk

28 min listen

Sept. 28: Stanton Sinks Jays: Rob Wong and Sho Alli break down the Blue Jays’ 7-2 loss to the Yankees at Rogers Centre. They discuss Giancarlo Stanton’s three-run blast to put the game out of reach, how he and Rizzo made contact on pitches way out of the zone, Hyun-jin Ryu’s outing off the IL, and the Yankees bullpen shutting down the Jays bats. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

19 min listen

Taking Stock Ahead of the Regular Season: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 7-5 win over the Yankees, and take stock of the team as a whole ahead of the beginning of the regular season in less than a week! They discuss the contract extension for Charlie Montoyo, a comparable for Raimel Tapia, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looks ahead of Opening Day. Plus, more José Ramirez rumours and a chat on the (positive) state of the 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. by Blue Jays Talk

31 min listen

Oct. 2: Hitting The Long Ball: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays’ 10-1 win over the Orioles at Rogers Centre. They discuss the sterling start from Alek Manoah, George Springer having a day at the plate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. clobbering a two-run jack to start things off, and the team setting a new franchise record for home runs hit in a single 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. by Blue Jays Talk

51 min listen

Putting Away the Brooms in Houston: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 8-7 walk-off loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston. They take your calls, and break down the start from Yusei Kikuchi - which included five walks - and discuss how much of the final result can be laid at the feet of Jordan Romano. They also get into a discussion on Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting his first home run of the year, throwing out Brantley at third base, and Bo Bichette's defensive capabilities. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

22 min listen

Sept. 26: Jansen Leads the Jays to a Win Heading Into Final Week: Josh Goldberg and Sho Alli recap the Toronto Blue Jays’ 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins and set up the final week of the season with series against the New York Yankees and 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 affiliate. by Blue Jays Talk

19 min listen

Oct. 3: Wrapping Up The 2021 Season: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays’ 12-4 win over the Orioles at Rogers Centre, and discuss the end of the season as the Yankees and Red Sox both win to eliminate the Jays from postseason hopes. They discuss the future of manager Charlie Montoyo, the contracts of Robbie Ray and Marcus Semien, the role the bullpen played in the end-of-year result, and sort through the bittersweet feelings of having a 91-win team that misses the playoffs. Plus, a conversation with Ben Wagner on the return of the Blue Jays to Toronto, after stints in Dunedin and Buffalo. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

74 min listen

Jays Talk is Back!: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are back on Jays Talk, as the Blue Jays crush the Pirates 10-4 down at TD Ballpark in Spring Training action. They break down Matt Chapman going yard in his first game as a Blue Jay, Alejandro Kirk hitting a home run as well, and what they saw out of prospect Jordan Groshans in limited action. Plus, your calls and texts! 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. by Blue Jays Talk

32 min listen

Sept. 29: Bichette and the Jays Break Records: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays 6-5 win over the Yankees and discuss Bo Bichette’s two home run night, his approach to the game of baseball, the potential growth of the current Jays team, Tim Mayza’s performance out of the bullpen, and Jose Berrios’ start. Plus, Blair and Barker take your calls and texts, and hear post-game comments from Bo Bichette. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

45 min listen

Another Shortened Outing for Ryu: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Athletics down at Rogers Centre. He gets into the short stint on the mound for Hyun-jin Ryu and whether or not that's something to be concerned about, plus a potential injury update on the lefty from Charlie Montoyo. Afterwards, he discusses Montoyo getting ejected and the reaction at the ballpark, the inconsistent strike zone, and what to make of Julian Merryweather. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. by Blue Jays Talk

30 min listen

Bo My Goodness: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-2 win over the Red Sox at Rogers Centre. They take your calls, and discuss Bo Bichette's monster grand slam to break the game open in the eighth inning, and the terrific start from Jose Berrios that saw him cruise through seven innings. They break down the Bradley Zimmer bunt that helped to load the bases for Bo's grand salami, and how the bullpen needs more starts to give them some rest in a busy stretch of games. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

26 min listen

The Losing Streak Hits Four: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 5-3 loss to the Yankees in New York. They take your calls and texts, and get more into the issue with runners in scoring position, and whether or not the batting order needs a shakeup at all. Sportsnet's Ben Wagner stops by to discuss the bullpen not getting a lot of swings and misses, and where reinforcements could come from (17:42). Afterwards, MLB Insider Mark Feinsand joins to chat the outside view of the Blue Jays, plus his thoughts on PitchCom and the outcry from players on the quality of baseballs around the league (49:03). 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. by Blue Jays Talk

76 min listen

Long Live the Plakata King: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-4 win over the Yankees in New York! They take your calls, and discuss the monster night from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who launched three home runs in the Bronx. They get into the plays from George Springer and Matt Chapman, the outing from Jose Berrios and the bullpen, and break down the injury to Teoscar Hernandez including the ripple effects in the outfield and batting order. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate. by Blue Jays Talk

30 min listen

Greg Bird Takes Flight in Tampa: Blake Murphy and Andrew Zuber break down the Blue Jays' 10-9 Spring Training win over the Yankees in Tampa. They discuss the potential of Greg Bird to crack the major league roster, the sterling outing by Alek Manoah (in limited action), and what to expect from Raimel Tapia and Teoscar Hernandez on Sunday. 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 affiliate. by Blue Jays Talk

33 min listen

Manoah, Defence Shine in the Bronx: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 3-0 win over the Yankees in the Bronx! They take your calls, and discuss the terrific start by Alek Manoah, who returns to the site of his major league debut and tosses six shutout innings of one hit ball. They also get to the great defence on the infield, including from Bo Bichette, Santiago Espinal, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and break down the three runs coming off the bat of George Springer. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

72 min listen

Sept. 25: A Spring In Their Step: Sho Alli and Josh Goldberg break down the Blue Jays’ 6-1 win over the Twins at Target Field. They discuss Robbie Ray’s candidacy for the AL Cy Young, George Springer breaking an 0-for-16 streak with a two-run homer, and Marcus Semien tying the all-time single-season MLB record for most home runs hit by a second baseman. Plus, a conversation on additional postseason teams potentially being added during CBA negotiations, and what that could mean for baseball going 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. by Blue Jays Talk

25 min listen

Santia-Go Ahead!: Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz recap the Blue Jays 3-2 victory over the Astros and chat about Santiago Espinal's hot bat, his future in the infield, Alek Manoah's outing in Houston, the way Toronto is winning these 1-run games, Ryan Borucki's season debut, Charlie Montoyo hitting his 200th win as their manager 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. by Blue Jays Talk

44 min listen

Grinding Out Another One-Run Win: Sho Alli and Ben Nicholson-Smith break down the Blue Jays' 2-1 win over the Reds at Rogers Centre. They take your calls and texts, get to the offensive performances from players like Raimel Tapia and Bradley Zimmer, and kick around some potential trade target help in the outfield. They also break down another encouraging pitching performance by Hyun-jin Ryu, who went six strong innings in his second stint back from the IL, and take a look down in the minors at someone like Jordan Groshans. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

38 min listen

A Seventh Inning Meltdown at Rogers Centre: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 9-1 loss to the Yankees at Rogers Centre. They take your texts, and they get to the two controversial calls in the seventh inning, including the no-call on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the rundown on Marwin Gonzalez. They discuss the error from Bo Bichette, and the continuing issues with runners in scoring position. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

27 min listen

The Marvelous Manoah Dazzles Again: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays 1-0 win over the Red Sox at Rogers Centre! They take your calls, and discuss another sterling start from Alek Manoah, a seven-inning outing to wrap things vs. Boston. They break down the lone RBI coming off the bat of Alejandro Kirk, and debate who would get the ball for a must-win game between Manoah, Kevin Gausman, and Jose Berrios. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

31 min listen

The Bats Run Cold in New York: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to the Yankees in New York. They take your calls, discuss Yusei Kikuchi's first start landing as a dud, and the starting rotation's potential as a whole. They also get into the catching situation with Danny Jansen on the IL, what Alejandro Kirk is made of, and what the next moves are there when Kirk isn't behind the plate. Plus, a conversation on Bo Bichette's struggles at the plate to start the 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 Media Inc. or any affiliate. by Blue Jays Talk

34 min listen

Runners in Scoring Position Woes Continue: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-5 loss to the Guardians at Progressive Field. They take your texts, get into the suboptimal (to say the least) start from José Berríos, and dive into the hitting issues with runners in scoring position. They break down the batting order, question if Teoscar Hernandez's potential return in a few days would help solve those problems, and discuss scheduled days off for players like George Springer. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

35 min listen

Kikuchi Bounces Back vs. Yankees: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 2-1 win over the Yankees at Rogers Centre! They take your texts, and get into the performance from Yusei Kikuchi, a six-inning start - his best as a Toronto Blue Jay. They also get into Matt Chapman and his glove, the bounce back game from Yimi Garcia, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doing the splits to wrap up the action. 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. by Blue Jays Talk

17 min listen

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Pushing the Right Bench and Bullpen Buttons

Pushing the Right Bench and Bullpen Buttons

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