Could Jays' Continued Offensive Struggles Force Change?

Stripling Saves the Day in the Ninth: Sho Alli and Ben Nicholson-Smith break down the Blue Jays' 6-5 win over the Angels! They take your calls and texts, get into the decision to pitch Jordan Romano for a third straight day, and Ross Stripling coming in to shut the door in the ninth inning. They discuss the luck of Matt Chapman, who finally had one fall his way in the eighth, and another deep flyout by Danny Jansen. Plus, Sho and Ben debate the call to use Julian Merryweather in a high leverage situation, and whether or not that should (or will) happen again 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

Jays Talk Plus: The Confidence and Concern Index: On your Monday edition of Jays Talk Plus, Blake Murphy revisits the Blue Jays' weekend series with the Twins, Kevin Gausman's rough start yesterday, and George Springer's record setting season from the lead off spot (00:55). Ben Nicholson-Smith then joins to establish the Toronto Blue Jays Concern and Confidence Index, including Hyun-Jin Ryu's injury, the rotation going forward, Alejandro Kirk's All-Star case, and the need for an additional lefty bat (21:36). Later on, Senior writer from FanGraphs Dan Szymborski chats about the Royals' falloff since their World Series victory in 2012, the ongoing issues in the organization's re-building process, and the FanGraphs projections for this upcoming series (50:43). Finally, former Blue Jays catcher Caleb Joseph joins to talk break down Gausman's latest outing, before sharing his expectations for Ross Stripling on the mound tonight and thoughts on the Bo-Vladdy infield cross-up Sunday (01:14:46 by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Berríos Shoves + Bats Explode in Blowout Victory: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 10-1 win over the Tigers at Comerica Park! He takes your texts, and gets into the stellar outing from José Berríos, who allowed just one run and five hits over eight innings of work, and gave the bullpen a much-needed reprieve. He also discusses the work of Alejandro Kirk - is he a top ten catcher across Major League Baseball? Sho debates that with the listeners, and also gets into the decision to pull George Springer from the game a triple shy of the cycle. 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

21 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: The Debut and Berrios' Early Exit: Blake Murphy hosts the first episode of Jays Talk Plus and opens the show by outlining what's on tap and sharing his baseball background, before getting into former Blue Jay catcher Russell Martin announcing his retirement, and what it takes to be a good game caller behind the mask. Ben Shulman, who made his play-by-play debut for the Jays this weekend, stops by to chat about his first experience working those four games, when he knew he wanted to get into broadcasting like his father, and calling games for the Fort Wayne TinCaps (26:25). Later on, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith shares his thoughts on Jose Berrios' latest outing cut short to just under three innings, the bullpen's weekend workload, if its time to carry three catchers with Gabriel Moreno's looming call up, and if Nate Pearson has a path to help out the pen (50:26). Finally, PUP guitarist Steve Sladkowski jumps on to discuss the creation of the Jays Talk Plus theme musi by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Weekend Setup Against the Rays: Blake Murphy is joined by Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Wagner to chat about how Yusei Kikuchi's start against the Rays dictates the rest of the weekend series, if Jose Berrios can bounce back in his next outing, and how Toronto can take advantage of Tampa Bay's struggling bullpen (03:18). FanGraphs' Ben Clemens looks at the Rays' big bats heading to the IL, Tampa's roster depth both on the field and in their pitching staff, and what he makes of the Jays' pitching rotation (3:34). Blake then previews the 5-game series and focuses in on some of the starting pitchers Toronto will be facing (51:38). Finally, former Jays pitcher and MLB Network Radio's Ricky Romero stops by to discuss the response from the bench after Alejandro Kirk got hit by Boston Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta, his relationship with Sergio Romo and what he brings to the Jays' staff, his experience starting on Canada Day, and what he expects from Berrios' holiday s by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Jays Offence Comes Alive in Angels Sweep: Sho Alli and Ben Nicholson-Smith break down the Blue Jays' 11-10 win over the Angels to complete the four-game series sweep! They take your calls and texts, get into the five RBI from Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and discuss the offensive contributions from Raimel Tapia over the last four games. They also break down the wild play by Matt Chapman to avoid the tag at first base, the impressive offence from Alejandro Kirk, and where Santiago Espinal belongs in the batting order. Plus, Sho thinks the 'Ryan Borucki Experiment' is over - what comes next for the lefty? 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

36 min listen

Berríos Fans a Baker's Dozen: Blake Murphy breaks down the Blue Jays' 12-3 win over the Twins at Rogers Centre! He takes your calls and texts, and gets into the terrific start from José Berríos, a seven-inning, 13-strikeout performance vs. his former team. He also discusses the bombs from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, and Bo Bichette, and also gets to the bullpen getting a break with the strong performance from Berríos. 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

36 min listen

Captain Kirk Has a Four-Hit Night in Milwaukee: Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' 9-4 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee. They take your texts, and get to the outstanding performance of Alejandro Kirk, who had four hits including a two-run bomb as the exclamation point (and hope he avoided serious injury after a scare in the seventh inning). They also discuss another terrific start from Alek Manoah, his competitive fire coming through once again, and the bullpen performances from Adam Cimber and Matt Gage. Plus, a discussion on Cavan Biggio heating up, and which starting pitcher they'd like the Jays to pursue 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. by Blue Jays Talk

23 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Numbers, Photos, and Pitch Grips: Blake Murphy is joined by Chris Black, Blue Jays on Sportsnet Producer, to take us through his role working on MLB coverage, the integration of Statcast in the broadcasts, Jose Berrios' up and down starts, and makes the case to carry three catchers at a time on the lineup (02:09). Photo Director at West End Phoenix Jalani Morgan shares his ongoing photo essay called "Black Jays" and his experience mentoring photojournalists (29:06). The Athletic's Eno Sarris weighs in on the best ballparks that offer the top craft beer options, why the vulcan grip isn't used often by pitchers, the death of the fastball count and the use of more sliders (50:26). Finally, MLB.com's Mike Petriello breaks down Vlad Jr.'s slide in May, how he recognizes when a player is coming out of a slump, and a look at battle of the aces tonight between Chicago's Lucas Giolito and Kevin Gausman (01:15:57). Finally, Blake gives the scouting report for Toronto's upcoming s by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Explain It Black + The Catcher Conundrum: On today's edition of Jays Talk Plus, Blake Murphy debuts “Explain it Black” with Blue Jays Producer Chris Black and analyst Joe Siddall! They look back on the signs that indicated Kevin Gausman could be tipping his splitter, and weigh-in on Alejandro Kirk’s red-hot bat and what to look for in tonight’s game against the Royals with Alek Manoah on the mound (03:08). FanGraphs writer Ben Clemens joins Blake to break down about some nifty stats, what they mean and how they apply to the Blue Jays, before discussing his latest piece on Adam Cimber's slider usage against lefties (27:45). Later on, Blake opens up his mailbag to answer your questions, and takes a closer look at the Angels' managerial situation with Joe Maddon out the door (51:59). Next up, the Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath chats about Danny Jansen's season, the Jays' surplus at the catcher position, and helps get us set for Game 2 against the Royals tonight (01:15:49)! Th by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Sense of Urgency for the Pitching Staff?: Blake Murphy is joined by Blue Jays radio voice Ben Wagner who shares his impressions on Gabriel Moreno, Yusei Kikuchi's continuing struggle to start strong, how Hyun-jin Ryu's injury affects the pitching staff, and how Jose Berrios can build off his last few starts (02:33). Next, Blake reads your mailbag questions and looks at the Ryu void to identify what options are available, if Ross Stripling is the answer, and if this changes any future plans for Nate Pearson (25:54). In the second hour, The Athletic's Keith Law reveals what he looks for in catching prospects progressing from the Minors to the Majors, what makes the jump so difficult, why he's not high on RHP prospect Max Castillo, and how Keith scouts the stat line for young players (48:17). Finally, former MLB pitcher and VSiN host Josh Towers joins to discuss the transition from being a player to a part of the media, how pitchers can retain the trust of their coaching s by Blue Jays Talk

97 min listen

Manoah is Magnificent Once Again: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 11-1 win over the Orioles at Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get right to another terrific performance from Alek Manoah, who threw six innings of one-hit ball. They discuss the idea that perhaps he should be in the conversation with Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for a new mega-deal at some point in the not-too-distant future. Plus, they break down the double-digit offensive performance, including another towering home run from Vladdy Jr. 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

34 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Is Gabriel Moreno Ready to Get Called Up?: Blake Murphy opens the show with a quick look back at the Jays' series-opening win against the White Sox. MLB.com's Julia Kreuz jumps on to discuss an ideal plan for splitting time between Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen, Teoscar Hernandez getting back on track, and how the team is finding ways to win 1-run games (05:03). Spin Rate's Drew Fairservice breaks down Kirk's at-bats, an interest in Bo Bichette's plate approach, and Charlie Montoyo finding a spot for Julian Merryweather to pitch in relief (25:03). The Athletic's Keith Law shares his impressions on Jays prospect Gabriel Moreno, why he's hesitant to call up the young catcher, that position's value in the trade market, and LHP Ricky Tiedemann cracking into the pipeline's top 100 prospects (50:54). Finally, The FAN Drive's Ben Ennis stops by to chat about his confidence level in Hyun-Jin Ryu this season, why Matt Chapman is due for a big game, the thought of trading away by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

All Good Things Must Come to an End: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 9-3 loss to the Twins at Rogers Centre, snapping the win streak at eight. He takes your calls and texts, gets into the short start from Yusei Kikuchi, and if there's cause for concern. He discusses the bullpen being stressed with no Tim Mayza, and whether or not there are some minor leaguers that could make their way to the majors before the end of the season. Plus, a conversation on some left-handed bats that could be available via trade, and whether or not Alejandro Kirk should be on the block. 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

21 min listen

A Bo Doubt Grand Slam in Chicago: Blake Murphy breaks down the Blue Jays' 9-5 win over the White Sox to salvage the series in Chicago. He takes your calls and texts, and gets to another great start from Ross Stripling through six innings. He discusses the Bo Bichette grand slam, home runs from Alejandro Kirk and Teoscar Hernandez, and the bullpen being taxed once again - where's the swing and miss stuff? Plus, potential trade options for the bullpen (and team at-large) 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. by Blue Jays Talk

31 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Explain It Black with Joe Siddall + Artist Hour: Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet producer Chris Black and analyst Joe Siddall for another edition of 'Explain It Black' to touch on if Jose Berrios' struggles is a pitch setup or fastball location problem, what has gone wrong in Kevin Gausman's starts, and if Toronto is relying too heavily on the shift (01:52). White Sox radio analyst Darrin Jackson looks back at his playing days with the Jays and both Chicago ball clubs, before discussing if the Sox will find a way to break through following a down start to their campaign, how the team has handled their injuries, and what makes Dylan Cease a potential Cy Young candidate (27:02). Next hour, Chicago rapper Matt Muse jumps on to chat his White Sox fandom, what Tim Anderson means to him and the city, and where's his confidence level at for the baseball club to turn their season around (50:47). Painter and digital creator Kory Parkin stops by to chat about his recent desig by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Fireworks Galore from Danny Jansen: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 7-3 win over the White Sox at Rogers Centre. They take your calls and texts, get into the recent stretch of play by Danny Jansen, and how he made a conscious decision to make some changes offensively when he was rehabbing from his early season injury. Afterwards, they discuss the injury to Hyun-jin Ryu, the walks from Bo Bichette, and the late-inning blast from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Plus, a chat on how valuable is Ross Stripling in the bullpen vs. in the starting rotation. 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

Splitting the First Series of the Year vs. the Orioles: Blake Murphy breaks down the Blue Jays' 10-2 loss to the Orioles to wrap up the four-game series at Rogers Centre. He takes your calls and texts, and gets to the rough start from Kevin Gausman, who got beaten up by his former team. He also gets to the offence getting largely shut out, the lineup (both at the beginning and end of the game) shaking out, and living to fight another day (especially with the Yankees coming to town). 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

36 min listen

Yes or No: Was Gausman Tipping Pitches?: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 8-6 loss to the Twins at Rogers Centre to wrap up the series. They take your calls and texts, and ask the question: was Kevin Gausman tipping pitches or was it simply a bad game? They debate the idea that Gausman needs to rely more on some of his non-splitter pitches, discuss the lack of sunglasses and whether or not that contributed to the defensive miscues early on, and get to the offensive performances of George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Santiago Espinal. 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

37 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: In-Depth Twins Scouting Report: On this episode of Jays Talk Plus, Blake Murphy kicks off the show recapping the Blue Jays' 8-3 victory over the White Sox and "pitching coach" Matt Chapman's impact on Alek Manoah. Blake is then joined by The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath to anticipate the return of Tim Mayza to the bullpen, what that might mean for the Jays' high-leverage relievers, and looks into how the lineup turned itself around in such a dramatic fashion (06:42). Later on, Brandon Warne of Access Twins joins Blake to play a little Blue Jays-Twins trivia, before discussing Minnesota's season so far and which roster pieces will be absent in Toronto due to the COVID 19 protocols (26:37). ESPN's Joon Lee joins afterward to discuss his feature on Bo Bichette, encapsulating his leadership abilities in the Blue Jays' clubhouse (51:13). To wrap up today, Blake breaks down what to look forward to this weekend, looks back on the last time the Jays saw Chi Chi Gonzalez, and shar by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Captain Kirk Powers Jays Bats to a Win: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays 6-5 win over the White Sox at Rogers Centre! They take your calls, break down some timely defensive plays, and get to the pitching performances of Kevin Gausman and the bullpen. They discuss the urgency from Julian Merryweather on the mound, and also debate what they've seen from Jordan Romano. Plus, Alejandro Kirk looks terrific - Blair and Barker break down his bat looking quicker, and how Kirk can focus on his offensive development with Danny Jansen back on the roster. 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

What Is Going On With the Strike Zone?: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 7-6 loss in extras at the hands of the White Sox in Chicago. He takes your calls and texts, and gets right into the strike zone squeezing almost every Blue Jays batter, including Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman, and (especially) Santiago Espinal. He discusses the encouraging start from Kevin Gausman despite the loss, how Jordan Romano got beat up at the worst possible time, and if there are any true concerns with the star closer. Plus, a discussion on the backend of the starting rotation, the development of pitchers across the organization, and how Alejandro Kirk continues to deserve votes as a 2022 MLB All-Star. 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

30 min listen

Manoah Busts Out the Brooms for a Sweep: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 8-3 win over the White Sox at Rogers Centre! They take your calls, and get into yet another terrific performance from Alek Manoah that saw him go deep once more - where does your confidence fall whenever Manoah is on the mound? They discuss the bats staying hot, Santiago Espinal providing some insurance late amidst a good game, and Matt Chapman's defensive prowess. Plus, could there be a trade in the starting rotation with Hyun-jin Ryu on the IL? 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

Stripling Shuts Out the Royals: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 8-0 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium! He takes your texts, and gets into the five innings of one-hit ball from Ross Stripling as he rejoins the starting rotation. He discusses the value of having a player like Stripling be able to go from the bullpen to the rotation and back again, and Alejandro Kirk perhaps still being undervalued despite his recent contributions. Plus, a conversation on Santiago Espinal's continued climb up the list of favourite Blue Jays, and if Nate Pearson can return to the pitching room any time soon. 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

23 min listen

Manoah Magic Bottled, Blue Jays Blanked at Home: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to the Yankees at Rogers Centre. He takes your calls and texts, and gets into whether or not the 'Red Jersey Curse' is real (spoiler: it is). He gets into the outing by Alek Manoah, discusses if he struggled (in part) due to not using the PitchCom device, and whether or not he should consider adopting it going forward with the pitch clock eventually on its way to the majors. Plus, a chat on the game's umpiring and the prospects of robot strike zones/umpires at large. 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

Kirk, Bichette Stuff Stat Sheets for Second Straight Shutout: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 7-0 win over the Royals, their second straight shutout. They take your calls, and break down Alek Manoah's night that saw him complete six innings of work despite having to grind most of the game. They discuss Alejandro Kirk's four-hit night and how his defensive play has improved, Santiago Espinal's All-Star-level play, Bradley Zimmer's place on this roster, and Bo Bichette getting on base five times. 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

29 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Moreno Palooza: Blake Murphy reacts to the news of Blue Jays prospect Gabriel Moreno getting the call up to the Majors, looks into what he could bring to the team, and asks listeners which former prospect they fell in love with first. MLB.com's Julia Kreuz, who collaborated on a piece dating Moreno's roots from Venezuela to becoming one of the top prospects in baseball, shares why he almost stopped playing the sport, and the strides he's made in his defensive game (07:12). Also from MLB.com, Sarah Langs breaks down Alejandro Kirk slotting himself alongside some of the best hitters in the league this year, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s tendency to hit ground balls, and Matt Chapman's defense at third base (29:12). Later on, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi weighs in on how much workload we can expect from Moreno both behind the plate and in the batting lineup, how he'll be integrated among the coaching staff and pitchers, and if there are concerns with Yusei Kikuchi's up and down start by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Rizzo, Yankees Harsh the Vibes at a Packed Rogers Centre: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 12-3 loss to the Yankees at Rogers Centre. They take your calls, and discuss the Yankees bats staying incredibly hot, smashing apart the Jays relief pitching in the fifth inning. They get to the decision to go to Trent Thornton and Trevor Richards in that particular spot, and where any further reinforcements for relief pitching might come from. Plus, a discussion on home run celebrations when down big, and whether or not the Jays should focus more on the Wild Card race instead of the AL East title. 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

36 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Moreno Debut, Stripling Outing & Orioles Series Set-Up: Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling in the first hour to recap the weekend series against the Tigers, Gabriel Moreno's debut catching Kevin Gausman and Ross Stripling, and highlight Moreno's impressive pop time (01:35). Afterward, Blake and Arden discuss Stripling's growing confidence on the mound, his use of the slider in comparison to his fastball, and the trust level the Jays have in the righty, before sharing their expectations for rookie pitcher Matt Gage (31:05). Later on, MASN's Paul Mancano stops by to chat about "the process" in the Orioles organization, if this will be another year of selling at the trade deadline, and if the Baltimore starters are getting comfortable with catching prospect Adley Rutschman since his call-up (50:42). Cadence Weapon (a.k.a. Rollie Pemberton), the author of "Bedroom Rapper", joins the show to talk about his newest book, his upbringing as a Canadian rapper an by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Kikuchi Gets Royally Roughed Up: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 8-4 loss to the Royals to wrap the series. They take your calls, and get to the shortest outing of Yusei Kikuchi's career in Kansas City. They discuss whether or not he can recapture a better form, the miscues from Raimel Tapia in the sun (despite cranking a massive home run), and also break down the lineup itself with some dangerous batters on the bench. 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

12 min listen

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Could Jays' Continued Offensive Struggles Force Change?

Could Jays' Continued Offensive Struggles Force Change?

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