Blue Jays Talk-logo

Blue Jays Talk

THE FAN Radio Network

Recapping Toronto Blue Jays action after ever game and fielding listener texts with hosts Jeff Blair, Kevin Barker and Sho Alli! Don't miss Jays Talk Plus from Monday to Friday with Blake Murphy at 10am-12pm.

Location:

Toronto, ON

Description:

Recapping Toronto Blue Jays action after ever game and fielding listener texts with hosts Jeff Blair, Kevin Barker and Sho Alli! Don't miss Jays Talk Plus from Monday to Friday with Blake Murphy at 10am-12pm.

Language:

English

Contact:

One Ted Rogers Way Toronto, Ontario M4Y 3B7 416 870 0590


Episodes

Yariel Rodriguez Makes His Spring Debut + Joey Votto Still Bangs

3/17/2024
Sho Alli and Nick Ashbourne break down the Blue Jays' 9-4 win over the Twins in Spring Training action down in Dunedin! They take your texts, and get to the spring debut of Yariel Rodriguez - was his promising start something to get excited about? They chat about the outings from Mitch White and Nate Pearson, and discuss George Springer and Kevin Kiermaier blasting a few home runs. Plus, they discuss the 5-5 split squad tie between the Jays and Phillies in Clearwater, which featured a Joey Votto home run off Zack Wheeler - can he still bang? 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.

Duration:00:42:39

How Will the Blue Jays Fill Out the Remaining Roster Spots?

3/16/2024
Sho Alli and Nick Ashbourne break down the Blue Jays' 10-9 loss to the Yankees in Spring Training action down in Tampa. They take your texts, and discuss what they saw from Daulton Varsho, who stole three bases and added a hit and a walk - how will Varsho acquit himself after a tough 2023? They also chat about Payton Henry, who is battling Brian Serven for the second catcher spot following Danny Jansen's wrist injury. Did he do enough to separate himself? Plus, they debate the final three spots available for position players this spring - who do you take to fill out the roster, and where does Daniel Vogelbach stand in that race? 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.

Duration:00:36:48

Capping a Busy Week w/ Split Squad Action in Dunedin & Sarasota

3/10/2024
Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' 11-6 loss to the Orioles in Dunedin. They get into the start from Yusei Kikuchi, who gave up five earned runs early on before settling down - any worry there at this point in the spring? They chat about the bullpen, including Chad Green and Erik Swanson - how much does Green have to do in order to change his place in the bullpen order? With split squad action also happening in Sarasota, they get to Ernie Clement banging a three-run bomb off Corbin Burnes, and debate Brian Serven vs. Payton Henry as the organization's third catcher. Plus, with a busy week now wrapped up, they also chat about Ricky Tiedemann's outing, Joey Votto signing a minor league deal, and Josh Donaldson calling it a 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.

Duration:00:41:18

Captain Kirk Launches Another Spring Bomb

3/3/2024
Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss to the Red Sox in Spring Training action down in Fort Myers. They take your texts, and get to the second spring dinger from Alejandro Kirk - is this a sign he might be closer to his 2022 offensive form? They chat Addison Barger, who made some impressive throws from the outfield - how much more does he have to do in order to be in consideration for the Opening Day roster? Plus, they discuss some Ricky Tiedemann updates from Dunedin, and how he could be close to live game action in the coming days. 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.

Duration:00:25:15

Can Bowden Francis Potentially Be the Jays' Fifth Starter?

3/2/2024
Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' 6-2 Spring Training loss to the Braves down in Dunedin. They take your texts, and get to the work at the hot corner by Isiah Kiner-Falefa - is he ready to be the (almost) everyday third baseman? Plus, Danny Jansen looks ready for the regular season - how much are expectations for him tempered by his injury woes of the past? Afterwards, they chat about the pitching, including a start from Chris Bassitt, and a solid 2.1 IP from Bowden Francis. If Alek Manoah isn't ready for the regular season, could Francis be relied upon as the team's fifth starter? 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.

Duration:00:29:58

Buying Shares of the Jays After Two Spring Games

2/25/2024
Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' first road game of the Spring campaign, a 12-6 loss vs. the Yankees in Tampa. They take your texts, and chat about buying and selling Jays narratives following two spring games. Julia focuses on Davis Schneider after a terrific diving grab in left field - could that be a home for him this season? Sho gets to Orelvis Martinez and his eye at the plate - is there any chance he breaks camp with the team? Plus, they chat about the multi-inning relief options available to the team, and discuss how Cody Bellinger being re-signed by the Cubs could have a domino effect on Matt Chapman's potential contract status. 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.

Duration:00:24:49

Spring Training 2024 Has Sprung in Dunedin

2/24/2024
Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' Spring Training opener vs. the Phillies in Dunedin! They take your texts and get to what they saw out of the names to watch on the mound, including starter Chad Dallas, and relief options Nate Pearson, Zach Pop, and Yosver Zulueta. Plus, what are they buying this early in the spring campaign? They get to Pearson showing off a splitter, Orelvis Martinez at the plate, Bo Bichette's potential for stealing more bases, and the importance of Daulton Varsho getting in an early groove. 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

Duration:00:27:30

Jays Talk Plus: Hitting Reset on a Post-Ohtani Offseason

12/12/2023
Blake Murphy and Ben Nicholson-Smith reset the Blue Jays offseason in the aftermath of Shohei Ohtani signing with the Dodgers. After a debriefing from the Ohtani chase and the lessons learned, they examine what the top of the free agent market now looks like, including a dramatic drop-off after Ohtani. They also discuss a number of available position player free agents, explore the idea of adding pitching and dealing from a position of strength, and get to possible trade targets from teams who might need to shed some salary by March. 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

Duration:01:06:35

Shohei Decides to Stay Out West

12/9/2023
Blake Murphy and Jeff Blair react live to the breaking news regarding superstar free agent Shohei Ohtani signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the Jays were believed to be a finalist. They welcome Sportsnet MLB Insider Shi Davidi (6:53) to discuss how the Jays' front office will approach the rest of free agency. Then, Bill Shaikin (36:11) of the L.A. Times shares what the Dodgers are getting in Ohtani, what led to the decision, and more. Next, Ben Nicholson-Smith (51:21) joins the show to discuss which free agents the Jays could look towards next. Finally, Blake and Jeff talk about the creativity we could see from the Jays front office. 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.

Duration:01:35:48

Mark Shapiro Addresses the Media

10/12/2023
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by Blue Jays Central’s Caleb Joseph ahead of Mark Shapiro’s end of season media availability to discuss what they expect to hear from the Jays’ President and more on how the season ended. After Shapiro addressed the media and announced GM Ross Atkins will be returning in 2024, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins Blair and Barker with his thoughts on how Shapiro handled the questioning (01:07:50). 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.

Duration:01:18:58

Jays Talk Plus: A Fitting End to a Frustrating Season

10/5/2023
Blake Murphy kicks off the final Jays Talk Plus of the season with a full recap of the Blue Jays’ unceremonious exit from the 2023 MLB playoffs. The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath promptly addresses the prominent issue at hand, soon to be known as ‘The Berrios Ultimatum’, before taking a look ahead to the looming offseason (12:47). Later on, Blake welcomes former MLB pitcher John Axford to offer his unique viewpoint on the pitching change, and shed some light on the influence of analytics in pre-game choices and when it becomes more fitting to empower the player over the game situation (36:54). In the second hour, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel helps us understand impulsive decisions made at the team level, the importance of trusting the investments made in players to carry out their roles effectively, and how analytics can be communicated more effectively from top management down (51:52). Next up, former Blue Jays Bullpen Coach Matt Buschmann provides an inside look at the behind-the-scenes decision-making processes that fans typically aren't privy to, such as the intricacies and various "what-if" scenarios considered (01:06:34). To wrap up this season of Jays Talk Plus, MLB.com's Jon Morosi helps us put a final bow on the team’s early exit from the playoffs, before shifting the focus to team-specific offseason matters including player movement and free agent options (01:24:25). Thank you all for listening - see you next 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.

Duration:01:39:32

An Agonizing Shutout Loss Ends the 2023 Blue Jays Season

10/4/2023
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker wrap up the Blue Jays' 2023 season following the 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Twins. They take your calls, and discuss the decision to yank José Berríos in the fourth inning for Yusei Kikuchi. Does John Schneider wear that decision? Should he have defied the higher-ups if it was a decision from above him? They chat about Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting picked off at second base, and a missed Matt Chapman frozen rope down the line - how many missed opportunities can there be in tight ballgames? Plus, they discuss what comes next and what kind of changes are on the horizon for 2024. 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.

Duration:01:12:01

Jays Talk Plus: Must-Win Wednesday

10/4/2023
Blake Murphy kicks off the show with a recap of the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss yesterday afternoon to open their Wild Card playoff series against the Twins. He is then joined by the pride of New Westminster, British Columbia, and current Twins Analyst with Bally Sports, Justin Morneau! He offers his immediate insights on Minnesota's relief after finally breaking their 18-game playoff losing streak, before delving into how the young Twins hitters attacked Kevin Gausman, highlighted the impressive performance of rookie Royce Lewis. Later in the hour, Blake welcomes MLB.com's Keegan Matheson to revisit the investigation into Gausman’s missing run support, clarify that Bo Bichette's baserunning error might not have been as egregious as it initially appeared, the conclude by speculating about the potential unconfirmed starting pitcher for the Jays in Game 3, if necessary (25:46). Next up, Sportsnet’s Madison Shipman provides a comprehensive recap of the Jays' offensive struggles and crucial missed opportunities in Game 1, before looking ahead to identify the best approach to deal with Sonny Gray tonight (51:18). To wrap up the show, Mike Petriello of MLB.com reflects on how the city of Minnesota confronted their playoff challenges, highlights the numerous Twins players on the roster that hit for power, but not volume, and concludes by sharing his prediction for a potential Game 3 (01:17:10). 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.

Duration:01:39:33

Jays on Brink of Elimination in Minnesota

10/3/2023
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 3-1 loss vs. the Twins in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series at Target Field. They take your calls, and get to the outing from Kevin Gausman in which he could only complete four innings - was he tipping his pitches? How did the Twins lay off the splitter so effectively? They chat about the Bo Bichette run decision following a Jorge Polanco error - bad decision by Bo or great throw from Carlos Correa? Plus, they get to the overall performance of the offence, and whether or not they failed to take advantage of Pablo Lopez and the Twins 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.

Duration:00:55:36

Jays Talk Plus: Lights, Camera, Playoff Action!

10/3/2023
Blake Murphy kicks things off preparing for this afternoon's Wild Card matchup in Minneapolis. He is joined by Ben Nicholson-Smith, Senior MLB Editor at Sportsnet, to explore the expected pitching matchups, the unveiling of rosters, and potential omissions. Next up, Lance Brozdowski from Marquee Sports Network furthers the discussion with a deep dive into tonight's starters, which team has the bullpen advantage, and how the Jays stack up against the other playoff contenders (33:20). Moving into the second hour, Ben Clemens from FanGraphs joins the show to dissect his Wild Card preview piece for the Jays-Twins matchup (55:23). This includes discussions about the released rosters and the impact of injuries on both teams, with Ben also sharing his thoughts on which series around the league should generate the most interest. Wrapping up today's show is MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park, who reviews the Twins' playoff roster and shares his take on Minnesota's 18-game playoff losing streak (01:15:09). 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.

Duration:01:39:43

Jays Talk Plus: Locked on Target (Field)

10/2/2023
The second season is here! Blake Murphy kicks off Jays Talk Plus by providing a brief overview of Toronto's weekend series and the festivities that followed the clinch. He is later joined by Jonah Birenbaum, Senior Editor at TheScore, who outlines why the Jays have reasons to be optimistic as they head into the playoffs and why it would be a mistake to underestimate the Twins. In the latter part of the hour, Jon Morosi from MLB Network joins, opening with praise the potential farewells of four sure-fire Hall of Famers, including Cabrera, Wainwright, Greinke, and Votto. They then dive deep into a preview of Wild Card week, discussing all four matchups, including the Jays/Twins series, and debating the MLB's decision to go with dual overlap games versus a quadruple-header format (31:05). During the final hour, Sportsnet Producer Chris Black joins in-studio for an extended discussion. They begin by weighing the pros and cons of playing afternoon games at Target Field, before delving into a comprehensive review of the 2023 Blue Jays' regular season (51:32). From there, they explore potential roster decisions, game strategies, and share their overall expectations for the first round (01:20:15). 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.

Duration:01:39:23

Minnesota Bound: Jays-Twins Set for Wild Card Clash

10/1/2023
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 12-8 loss to the Rays to wrap the season at 89-73 overall. They take your calls, and discuss the coming playoff matchup, as they will be headed to Target Field to take on the Minnesota Twins - is that a positive for the team given the season to-date? Plus, they discuss the work accomplished by both John Schneider and Ross Atkins over the whole year, the offence and how it has fared, and we hear from a number of Jays during their champagne-soaked clubhouse celebrations. 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.

Duration:00:49:51

Playoff Celebration on Hold After Narrow Extra Innings Loss

9/30/2023
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 7-5 loss to the Rays at the Rogers Centre in extra innings. They take your calls, and get to the decisions that saw Jordan Romano enter the game in the eighth inning and Jordan Hicks take the mound in both the ninth and tenth - were those the right moves? Brandon Belt entered the game late as a pinch hitter - could he have just been in the starting lineup if that was the case? They also discuss the outing from Hyun-jin Ryu - was that the last time he will be seen in a Jays uniform? Plus, they get to the four-way tie scenario that could await the Blue Jays depending on out-of-town results from the Rangers, Astros, and Mariners, and what should (and could) happen in Game 162. 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.

Duration:00:42:45

Good Vibes + Lots of Runs Take Jays to Brink of Playoffs

9/29/2023
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 11-4 win over the Rays to open the series at Rogers Centre! They take your calls, and get right to the playoff clinching scenarios, as the team's magic number is down to one after the victory. They discuss the play of the offence, including big swings from Matt Chapman, Alejandro Kirk, and Cavan Biggio, and also discuss the outing from Yusei Kikuchi. Plus, they debate - should the team make the playoffs - the difference between playing Tampa and Minnesota in the postseason. 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.

Duration:00:39:25

Jays Talk Plus: Magic Number Down to Two

9/29/2023
Blake Murphy starts the show with a summary of the previous day's crucial victory against the Yankees, avoiding a series sweep with a 6-0 shutout win. The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath stops by to discuss the remarkable achievement of the "unbelievable competitor" Chris Bassitt, before providing a brief preview of the potential Wild Card series between the Blue Jays and Rays. In the second half hour, MLB.com's Adam Berry hops aboard to review the Rays' season as a whole, highlighting both their early successes and challenges, before delving into the team's concerns regarding injuries heading into the playoffs (31:21). Blue Jays radio play-by-play voice Ben Wagner kicks off the second hour with his perspective on Chris Bassitt's performance throughout the season, potential starting lineups for the upcoming week, and the cost of not securing a playoff spot ahead of this weekend (51:35). Levi Weaver from The Athletic wraps up this week with a comprehensive analysis of the various scenarios and potential outcomes for the A.L. and N.L. Wild Card candidates during the upcoming weekend (01:15:05). To conclude, they reflect on the 2023 Major League Baseball season, discussing the surprise contenders and the impact of rule changes. 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.

Duration:01:39:35