Jays Talk Plus: Guardians Set-Up + A Batter's Approach Change

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

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

Manoah Shows Off His All-Star Arm: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 8-1 win over the Royals at Rogers Centre. He takes your texts, and gets right to the All-Star performance of Alek Manoah, who threw seven innings of one-run ball in his tenth win of the year. Sho also discusses what we've seen from Matt Chapman and his three-run bomb, and takes a look at Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who still seems to look a little uncomfortable at the plate. Plus, a quick chat on Trevor Richards - is he back to his 2021 self? 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

Jays Talk Plus: Moreno's Stint in the Majors + Phillies Preview: Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet Producer Chris Black for another round of "Explain It Black" as the guys share their thoughts on how the Jays can progress out of this losing stretch, opponents being comfortable in throwing inside against Toronto, and Gabriel Moreno's first 18 games in the Majors (04:12). Then, the guys chat about Vladdy Jr. performing under expectations, how he's still years away from reaching his peak, where the Jays stand mid-summer in comparison to the team's performance in 2015 and the difficulties of evaluating mangers (25:00). Afterward, Blake is joined by Philadelphia Inquirer's Alex Coffey to discuss J.T. Realmuto's comments on missing games in Toronto, the change in managers from Joe Girardi to Rob Thomson, and the strategy for the Phillies' bullpen day to start the two-game series (50:47). To wrap up, Blake answers your texts and tweets and previews the short series ahead, the shift in sched by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: The Case for The Shift & Being an All-Star: Blake Murphy is joined by MLB.com's Julia Kreuz to discuss Alejandro Kirk's All-Star candidacy, which other Jays fielder could join the team, why Jordan Romano might get the nod, and if Gabriel Moreno has lived up to the hype since getting called up (04:56). Former Raptors forward and Milwaukee Brewers fan Sam Dekker jumps on to chat about his decision to pursue basketball over baseball, his relationship with George Springer, and how he relates to Rowdy Tellez's career in the Majors (26:13). MLB.com's Mike Petriello stops by to break down the effectiveness of the shift, the disparity in Jordan Romano's home and road splits, and his early take on how he sees the trade deadline playing out (50:04). To wrap up, Blake tees-up the weekend series against the Brewers (01:17:23). 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 by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Berríos Gets Hit Hard, Road Trip Goes Awry: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 10-3 loss to the Brewers. They take your calls and texts, and discuss another consecutive disappointing start from José Berríos, who only managed 2.2 IP vs. in Milwaukee. Are these last two starts a sign of something more worrying? They get into the play of Max Castillo and Matt Gage as of late, take a look at the upcoming turn through the starting rotation, and discuss some of the potential starting options available on the trade market. Plus, a discussion on the All-Star play from Alejandro Kirk over the last week. 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

40 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Gausman's Stellar Outing + The Matt Gage Story: Chris Black joins Blake Murphy for another edition of "Explain It Black" as they touch on Kevin Gausman's bounce-back outing against the Red Sox, the use of the shift especially behind Gausman, if the team should consider moving Yusei Kikuchi to the bullpen, and how Ross Stripling can be effective on the mound (01:52). Then, Blake discusses Vlad Jr. choosing to skip the home run derby, criticisms against Charlie Montoyo, and which Jay would likely be part of a future trade deal (29:28). The Athletic's Britt Ghiroli jumps on to chat about Jays' reliever Matt Gage's journey from the minors to the Majors, why Matt chose to sign with Toronto, and the history behind the AL East being a tough division to play in (51:07). Finally, The Athletic Toronto's Kaitlyn McGrath stops by to discuss Kikuchi's pitching woes, another setback for Nate Pearson, and some early trade targets for Toronto (01:10:12). The views and opinions expres by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Irvin Shuts Down Jays Offence in Oakland: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 5-1 loss to the Athletics in Oakland. He takes your texts, and gets to the listless performance from the offence, one that saw only four hits over eight innings off opposing starter Cole Irvin. He discusses the lack of quality at-bats from the Jays offence, and how the velocity on Alek Manoah's fastball just wasn't there to kick off the series in Oakland. Plus, a discussion on if the Jays got 'baseballed', and Sho asks if we can chalk this up to a long stretch of games without time off. 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

24 min listen

Vladdy Jr. Comes Through With the Walk-Off: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-5 walk-off win over the Red Sox at Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get right to the ninth inning as four straight Blue Jays reach base, including a pinch-hit single from Alejandro Kirk to get things started, and the game-winning RBI from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. They discuss how this could be a massive turning point within the AL East/AL Wild Card race, and how Ross Stripling held it down for another terrific start. Plus, a discussion on how the bats saved the bullpen from an embarrassing end to the 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

33 min listen

Cruising to a Big Win on Canada Day: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 9-2 win over the Rays at Rogers Centre on Canada Day! He takes your calls and texts, and discusses the start from José Berríos, who allowed just two runs over five innings of work. He discusses position players pitching (thanks to the Rays' Brett Phillips), Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s three-hit day including a no-doubt bomb in the seventh inning, and the debut of Sergio Romo in a Blue Jays uniform. Plus, a quick discussion on the Russell Martin pre-game ceremony, as the former catcher was honoured by the team before first pitch. 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

33 min listen

How Do You Solve the Kikuchi Conundrum?: Sho Alli and Julia Kreuz break down the Blue Jays' 5-4 loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee. They take your texts, and get right to another short outing for Yusei Kikuchi - what do you do at this point? They debate if he can be trusted with even one more start, and throw around some names in the minors that could take his spot. They also discuss the outing from Max Castillo, who notched seven strikeouts over four innings of work in relief - could Castillo take Kikuchi's spot in the rotation for a few turns through the 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 Sports & Media or any affiliates. by Blue Jays Talk

38 min listen

Kikuchi Conundrum Continues to Confound: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 5-3 loss to the Athletics as the losing streak ties a season-high. He takes your texts and gets to the main source of consternation: Yusei Kikuchi going less than three innings, walking five batters and hitting two more. Sho discusses how nothing can be off the table at this point, from having an opener, to benching him, or even releasing him outright. Plus, a discussion on the 'movie' that is the 2022 season, and whether or not there's still time to turn things around for the third act. 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

Yusei Kikuchi Rebounds on the Mound: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the Rays at Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get to the six-inning, eight-strikeout performance from Yusei Kikuchi - can we be cautiously optimistic going forward? They discuss the bullpen showing up, including a bounce back outing from David Phelps, and Adam Cimber closing things out in the ninth. Plus, they get to more stellar defensive plays from Matt Chapman and how that has become so routine that it's expected. 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

Jays Talk Plus: Midway Check-In + Second Half Wish List: Blake Murphy is joined by Chris Black and Joe Siddall for another edition of "Explain It Black" as they touch on Alek Manoah's first bad start of the season to begin Toronto's West Coast trip, if a drop in Manoah's velocity is a concern, catchers framing pitches, and if Yusei Kikuchi should continue to throw cutters within his pitching arsenal (01:53). Next, FanGraphs' Dan Szymborski discusses the race in the AL East being dominated by the Yankees, how Hyun-jin Ryu's injury affects the Jays' playoff projections, and how he would handle carrying three catchers at a time (27:52). Then, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith stops by to give out grades for the team at the halfway point of the season, look back at Alejandro Kirk's emergence, and discuss Jose Berrios inconsistency (50:14). Finally, the guys share their wish lists for the second half, who could be the biggest swing piece for the rest of the season and the top targets the team by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Trade Partners + Doubleheader Call Up?: Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling to chat about Ross Stripling's outing against the Red Sox, pitchers facing a lineup for the third time, the dependence on the bullpen, who will pitch Saturday's double-header, and his expectations for Sergio Romo (03:10). Afterwards, the guys look into the Kansas City Royals potentially becoming trade partners with the Jays (30:35). Later on, Future Blue Jays' Doug Fox discusses the potential bullpen reinforcements in the minors including Yosver Zulueta, who he sees pitching the second game of their doubleheader against Tampa Bay, and outlines his list of breakout hitters in Toronto's organization (50:15). Finally, co-founder of Strata Athletics and former Raptors and 905 coach, Brittni Donaldson stops by to chat about the use of analytics in baseball compared to basketball, and shares Strata Athletics' mission of aiding youth sports and player's development (01:10:02). The vi by Blue Jays Talk

98 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

Battening Down the Hatches at Rogers Centre: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 11-5 loss to the Rays, as Tampa sweeps the doubleheader at Rogers Centre. He takes your calls and texts, and discusses the idea of flipping the starts of Thomas Hatch and Kevin Gausman, and why the Jays may have been reticent to do that in the first place. He highlights some potential names to watch when the team goes shopping for bullpen help, gets into Hatch's start (12 hits and 10 earned runs), and discusses Bradley Zimmer who launched a home run for the first time at Rogers Centre. 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

A Very Long Holiday Weekend as Bats Go Cold: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 7-3 loss to the Rays at Rogers Centre. They take your calls and texts, get to the performance of the bats against guys like Shane Baz, how there were a number of missed bases loaded opportunities, and discuss how the offence has now underperformed for three straight games. They get into the approach from the entire lineup, how trades must be on the horizon soon, and how the bullpen still requires a boost. Plus, a discussion on where to draw the line when criticizing Charlie Montoyo. 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

Jays Talk Plus: Concern Index 2.0: Blake Murphy is joined by the co-host of "At The Letters" Arden Zwelling to share what concerns him most from the Jays' recent losing skid, the team's aggressive approach in their at-bats, the spike in groundballs, and if the Major League schedule is catching up to Gabriel Moreno (02:30). Afterward, the guys chat about when Kevin Gausman will start next, if Yusei Kikuchi's injury has shifted their attention in the trade market, and if they would consider trading away Alejandro Kirk (32:39). MLB.com's Sarah Langs weighs in on some of the players heading to the 2022 midsummer classic and the demand for an extra bullpen arm across the league (52:56). Then, The FAN Morning Show's JD Bunkis and Blake run through another concern index including which has struggled the most: the bullpen or starting rotation, the bats quieting down, and where they stand on Vladdy Jr. and Bo Bichette (01:08:40). The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of th by Blue Jays Talk

98 min listen

Sweep Put on Hold, Rally Falls Short in Extras: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 6-5 loss to the Red Sox in extras. They take your calls, and get to the beleaguered bullpen catching some heat yet again (especially David Phelps, after tonight). They also get to the 'brawl' after Nick Pivetta plunked Alejandro Kirk, and the performance from Alek Manoah on the mound. Plus, they look ahead to Yusei Kikuchi taking the hill vs. the Rays on Thursday. 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

16 min listen

Starting Rotation Gets Thinner with Gausman Injury: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 6-2 loss to the Rays at Rogers Centre. He takes your texts on an afternoon where starter Kevin Gausman takes a comebacker to his ankle, and was forced to depart the game after just two innings of work. Does this make the starting rotation the most pressing area of need come the trade deadline? Sho outlines a few pitchers who could be potentially available on the market, including someone from South Beach, Florida. Plus, a conversation on Casey Lawrence who let up six earned runs, but also saved the bullpen from being taxed too much ahead of the second game of the doubleheader. 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

24 min listen

Gausman Carves the Red Sox for Ten Strikeouts: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 7-2 win over the Red Sox at Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get to the outstanding performance from Kevin Gausman, who comes in as the 'stopper' as he grabs 10 strikeouts vs. the Red Sox. They discuss Gausman locating his pitches extremely well, his play against the Red Sox in 2022, and whether or not the larger glove helped him at all. Plus, they get into Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s team-leading 18th home run of the season, and have a chat on the bullpen - including Max Castillo and maybe...Yusei Kikuchi? 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

Jays Talk Plus: Schneider’s First Win + Some Royals in Town: Blake Murphy is joined by The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath to discuss how players in the clubhouse reacted to the news of manager Charlie Montoyo being let go, what could be John Schneider's biggest hurdle as their interim manager, if the front office and Ross Atkins are feeling a sense of urgency, Ross Stripling's outing in their finale against the Phillies and looks ahead to Kevin Gausman's return from an ankle injury (05:21). Sports Illustrated's Stephanie Apstein stop by to chat about the Kansas City Royals not having 10 of their players travelling to Toronto due to being unvaccinated, and how this affects the competitive aspect of sports and the trade market (26:18). Sportsnet's Caleb Joseph shares his thought on Montoyo's release, his time playing under him in 2020, how a veteran would handle a mid-season managerial change, his expectations from Schneider for the rest of the year, what he makes of tonight's changes in the by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Disappointing Weekend of Baseball: Blake Murphy is joined by The Athletic's Kaitlyn McGrath to chat about the most disappointing aspect of the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Rays, the importance of bolstering their pitching staff after Kevin Gausman suffered an ankle contusion, and who the team can look to target in the trade market (04:28). The Athletic's Melissa Lockard stops by to discuss what makes Frankie Montas a special pitcher for Oakland, how the return packages for Matt Chapman are performing, and previews what to look for from A's starter Cole Irvin in their series opener (27:11). Afterward, Ben Shulman of the "Locked on Jays" podcast recaps the rare doubleheader at Rogers Centre, takeaways from Casey Lawrence's relief appearance after Gausman left the game, and the state of the AL East (50:02). To wrap up the show, Blake answers your texts about Yusei Kikuchi, Danny Jansen, and the pitching woes (01:14:53). The views and opinions expressed in this p by Blue Jays Talk

99 min listen

Captain Kirk Beams Jays Into All-Star Break With Win: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 4-2 win over the Royals at Rogers Centre! They take your calls and texts, and get to the team being led into the break by their All-Stars, including a two-run blast from Alejandro Kirk and Jordan Romano slamming the door in the ninth. They discuss whether or not the Blue Jays should explore trading one of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette to acquire Juan Soto, and what the cost might be in both prospect capital and major league players. Plus, a discussion on what needs improving the most at the deadline, the bullpen, starting rotation, or the lineup. 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

48 min listen

Chapman Gets a Win in Coliseum Return: Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker break down the Blue Jays' 2-1 win over the Athletics to wrap up the series in Oakland. They take your calls, and they discuss six strong innings from José Berríos to (somewhat) stabilize the starting rotation. They get to the great outings from Adam Cimber and Jordan Romano, and how the Jays' closer had the velocity up in Oakland to wrap things up. Plus, a conversation on trade value for prospects and when you should trade them (or not). 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

33 min listen

Jays Talk Plus: Lackluster Debut of New Batting Order + Futures Game Tee-Up: Blake Murphy opens the show recapping the series-opening loss against the Kansas City Royals, the debut of John Schneider's new batting order, and how Kevin Gausman looked in his return from injury (2:23). Baseball America's Kyle Glaser stops by to discuss where he expects Toronto to aim for in the upcoming MLB draft, how Jays prospects Rickey Tiedeman and Yosver Zulueta are viewed ahead of the 2022 Futures Game, and if Gabriel Moreno's stock has changed since being called up to the Majors (24:23). Jays Radio play-by-play voice Ben Wagner jumps on to chat about Schneider's first few games as their interim manager, if there's a potential for more base-stealing, and how Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr. feel about their new spots in the lineup (49:05). Afterward, Jays Talk's Sho Alli weighs in on the changes to the lineup, how they'll approach facing Zack Greinke's six pitches, and if they will address Alek Manoah's work by Blue Jays Talk

97 min listen

Winless in Seattle: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 6-5 loss to the Mariners, who complete the series sweep in Seattle. He takes your calls and texts, and discusses the idea that Max Castillo needs to stay in the starting rotation ahead of guys like Yusei Kikuchi or Casey Lawrence. He gets into the 'blown glove' play at first base, how someone should have called off Gabriel Moreno on the dropped ball in the in-field, and the need for the bullpen to acquire an arm that can throw some smoke. Plus, a conversation on how a change might be needed somewhere in this organization, and how the manager usually is the first to take the blame. 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: The Setup Against the Mariners: Baseball Prospectus' Mikey Ajeto joins Blake Murphy to chat about how Robbie Ray turned around his season following a rough start, his reliance on the sinker and slider, the optimism surrounding the Mariners' rotation, and why Logan Gilbert may be close to a breakout (04:54). Co-host of Intentional Talk and AppleTV+ announcer Stephen Nelson stops by to discuss his experience calling the weekly games on Friday night, Shohei Ohtani's greatness, and his standouts from the Jays this year (28:39). Then, The Athletic's Keith Law looks at his Jays prospect rankings at the midway point, what he makes of Spencer Horwitz, and which areas of the prospect pool would be included in a future trade (49:33). Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi discusses where he ranks the road trip to Seattle to cover the Jays games, how the team will approach their rotation without Kevin Gausman, how to handle Yusei Kikuchi's struggles, and when Toronto could start addressing the by Blue Jays Talk

97 min listen

Run Support Falters for a Manoah Gem: Sho Alli breaks down the Blue Jays' 2-1 loss to the Mariners out in Seattle. He takes your texts, and discusses the lack of run support once again, as the bats go cold during a terrific pitching performance from Alek Manoah that saw him work into the eighth inning. He gets into the top of the fifth inning, one that saw Robbie Ray escape a bases loaded no out jam completely unscathed, and discusses a potential trade for one of the big bats in the middle of the order. Plus, a conversation on whether or not the team needs a serious veteran voice in the clubhouse, and if Bo Bichette can eventually become that guy. 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

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Jays Talk Plus: Guardians Set-Up + A Batter's Approach Change

Jays Talk Plus: Guardians Set-Up + A Batter's Approach Change

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