Blair & Barker

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker open the show discussing the Milwaukee Brewers' chance to sweep the defending World Series champs in Los Angeles before bringing in two-time MLB All-Star and American League Reliever of the Year in 2016, Zack Britton (9:25) to chat about how managers deploy bullpen pitchers in the postseason, the difficulty of being an 'up-down' pitcher, facing scrappy vs. long-ball hitters, figuring out if a batter is tired, and the pressure on a pitcher when the team is struggling on offence. Then, former Blue Jay and outfield consultant with The 3-9 Effect, Kevin Kiermaier (30:35) stops by to weigh in on the Dodgers' offensive struggles in the NLCS, if age has started catching up to the roster, Tampa Bay Rays building through their pitching and defence, Chandler Simpson's speed, playing under Kevin Cash, and what people don't know about Yandy Díaz. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing Shohei Ohtani speaking on his postseason struggles, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts's confidence in  Ohtani and not considering benching their star player before bringing in The Athletic's Jayson Stark (5:39). They chat about the Philadelphia Phillies bringing back Don Mattingly as their manager, Alex Cora's name in the running, why the Dodgers cannot afford to sit Ohtani, where the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen ranks among the teams left, and how William Contreras has impacted the team. Then, Minnesota Twins manager and current MLB Network Radio contributor Derek Shelton joins the guys (29:15) to discuss why the Tampa Bay Rays have the edge on offence over the Cleveland Guardians, Stephen Vogt vs. Kevin Cash, Aaron Ashby's ability to extend his innings for the Brewers, how Pat Murphy would change his approach while up 2-0 in their series, and pitching around batters like José Ramírez.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker check in with the NLCS and ALCS as the Brewers jump ahead 2-0 over the Dodgers and the Guardians stealing Game 1 against the Rays in the Trop. They discuss Shohei Ohtani's rough postseason and whether he'll be benched before bringing in host of 'Nothing Personal' and former MLB executive David Samson (12:58). He weighs in on the Dodgers' Ohtani options, William Contreras' energy, José Ramírez's resurgence, how a Dodgers-less World Series would impact labour negotiations, and much more. Later, MLB Network analyst and former MLB pitcher Dan Plesac stops by (33:22) to discuss Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' difficult lineup decision in Game 3, the Brewers solving Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Aaron Ashby's reliability. 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.

Kevin Barker is joined by co-host Sho Alli filling in for Jeff Blair to look back at Milwaukee Brewers taking Game 1 of the NLCS over the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jacob Misiorowski vs. Tarik Skubal, and manager Dave Roberts juggling the lineup in hopes to create offence early, before bringing in Cleveland Guardians TV analyst and former MLB catcher Chris Gimenez (11:32). He weighs in on the team's offence peaking at the right time, José Ramírez's productive at-bats even through an injury, why Jo Adell is the most important player on the Guardians in their series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and if Cleveland's pitching staff can handle the workload in the ALCS. Afterwards, Blue Jays and postseason analyst for Sportsnet, Madison Shipman (26:35) joins the guys in-studio to discuss the difficulty of game planning against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani's rare playoff struggles, Aaron Ashby's emergence in relief for the Brewers, why Cleveland and Tampa Bay are similar teams, and Christian Yelich's return to the lineup after not starting in Game 1.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the Cleveland Guardians' 9-5 win to force a win or go home Game 5 against the Chicago White Sox before bringing in The Athletic's Ian O'Connor (12:09) to chat about the New York Yankees postseason exit, why the team won't make a change with Aaron Boone as their bench boss, if there's any other managers that would be a perfect fit in New York, the team's needs to bolster their lineup, and if Aaron Judge not winning a World Series changes the way we view him as a player. Then, ESPN and host of Sources Tell Jeff Passan joins the guys (31:31) to discuss if it's the right time to change managers for the Bronx Bombers, José Ramírez's all-around performance in Game 4, the difference Jo Adell has made since being acquired by Cleveland, Jackson Chourio's impressive postseason numbers, and who outside of Freddie Freeman needs to step up for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to another early exit for the New York Yankees and question whether Aaron Boone will be their manager moving forward. MLB pitcher and co-host of VSiN By The Books Jensen Lewis (6:36) weighs in on the future of NY's bench boss, how a potential MLB lockout could affect their decisions, José Ramírez fighting through an injury with his Cleveland Guardians avoiding elimination, how Parker Messick can pitch his way to help his team force a Game 5, who is the best position player he's faced and an early look into the NLCS between the Milwaukee Brewers and L.A. Dodgers. Then, 2010 NL MVP and six-time MLB All-Star Joey Votto (24:43) joins the guys to discuss whether the Brewers have become a better team to face the Dodgers this season, how hitting has changed over the years as pitching has improved, why you have to earn your way to 'guess' pitches, what makes Freddie Freeman a great hitter in the postseason, and his biggest advice for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to overcome his down 2026 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.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker are joined by MLB on TBS analyst Ron Darling (6:25) to chat about Alex Cora turning down the Philadelphia Phillies managerial job, why Yoshinobu Yamamoto continues to be the hardest pitcher to hit, Atlanta Braves' September success not translating in the postseason, whether the Chicago White Sox are becoming serious contenders, and Bo Bichette's first season with the New York Mets. Then, former MLB outfielder and Blue Jays Central analyst Kevin Pillar joins the guys (30:08) to discuss playing at Petco Park and why it may be difficult to play there during the playoffs, Jackson Merrill's defense in the outfield, José Ramírez's struggles and dealing with his left wrist issues, Aaron Boone's lineup decision surrounding Jazz Chisholm Jr., Kiké Hernández's clutch hitting in the postseason, and Yamamoto's pitching arsenal. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the defensive blunder by the New York Yankees in their Game 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, Cam Schlittler's outing, and Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable's management towards a 2-0 series lead over the Cleveland Guardians. FOX Sports play-by-play broadcaster Adam Amin (11:25) joins the guys to chat about the belief within the Milwaukee Brewers to make a deep run in the postseason, how the San Diego Padres can get Fernando Tatís Jr. going on offence, which bullpen has the upper edge, and if age is catching up to Christian Yelich. Then, The Athletic's L.A. Dodgers reporter Katie Woo (30:11) joins the guys to discuss Shohei Ohtani dropping to 5th in the batting order, his future of being a two-way player, how the Dodgers can produce runs outside of the long ball, Kyle Tucker rewriting his 2026 season narrative in the postseason, Dave Roberts' circle of trust when the 7th inning comes around, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto's pitching arsenal.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker look back at the weekend of post-season games including the Atlanta Braves tying their series against the Dodgers in L.A., before bringing on Baseball Today and Dugout Discussions' Chris Rose (9:29) to chat about San Diego Padres' Mason Miller's blown save against the Milwaukee Brewers and on the verge of being swept, the state of playoff pitching, if the Cleveland Guardians would consider moving José Ramírez around the batting order, the team's matchup against Chicago White Sox's Anthony Kay in Game 2, and why the Tampa Bay Rays look dominant against the New York Yankees. Then, Rays TV analyst and former MLB pitcher Brian Anderson (31:15) shares his expectations for Freddy Peralta in Game 2 against the Yankees, how the coaching staff got Peralta's arm extension back, Tampa's lineup against Cam Schlittler, Liam Hicks' transition to the organization, and why Victor Mesa Jr. could be an x-factor. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker begin the show discussing the Atlanta Braves punching their ticket to the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers before bringing on Milwaukee Brewers TV analyst and former MLB pitcher Tim Dillard (7:42). They chat about the sustainability of power pitching and hitting through the post-season, who would be some of the x-factors on the Brewers during their series against the San Diego Padres, Brice Turang's ability to drive in multiple runs, and how batters would attack Jacob Misiorowski. Then, ESPN and host of Sources Tell Jeff Passan joins the guys (30:47) to touch on the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays' matchup, Seattle Mariners firing manager Dan Wilson and who would be the perfect fit to replace him, why the Houston Astros could be in a long-term rebuild, if the Philadelphia Phillies' competitive window has closed, and who's the best player in the playoffs after PCA and the Cubs were eliminated.  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.