shi davidi

Hour 2 of The FAN Morning Show kicks off with Sportsnet's Luke Fox stopping by to discuss Ryan O’Reilly’s impending return, where he belongs in the Leafs’ lineup, Calle Järnkrok's fit with Auston Matthews, Sheldon Keefe’s persistent line juggling, the Leafs’ goaltending situation, Joseph Woll likely becoming a mainstay next season, Michael Bunting’s antics, and his potential market in free agency. Later, Ailish and Justin are joined by Sportsnet's Shi Davidi to chat about José Berríos’ shaky outing on Monday, his recurring struggles with command, Yusei Kikuchi’s key changes over the off-season, Daulton Varsho’s fit in the cleanup spot, and Matt Chapman’s strong start at the plate (28:34).

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.

JD Bunkis kicks off this week sharing his thoughts on the latest drama surrounding Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors. Next up, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi joins the show to break down Chris Bassitt’s Blue Jays debut, his key takeaways from the first series of the season, a potential Kevin Gausman curse, and what the team needs to see from Yusei Kikuchi and José Berríos against the Kansas City Royals (13:48). Later on, JD discusses last night's NCAA women’s basketball championship, how LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese has helped grow the game, and the impact of Matt Murray's injury (35:11). We wrap things up with a podcast-only version of 'What we Missed' (50:16)!

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.

It’s Opening Day and Jeff Blair & Kevin Barker are ready for Blue Jays baseball! The guys open up the phone lines throughout the show for fans to weigh-in on the 2023 edition of the team. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi (38:43) and Cardinals TV analyst Brad Thompson (50:38) join the show from St. Louis to preview today’s matchup with Alek Manoah and Miles Mikolas taking the hill.

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.

On Hour 3 of The FAN Morning Show, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi joins Ailish and Justin to discuss Canada's narrow exit from the World Baseball Classic, the bright future for the program, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s return to Blue Jays, and the early standouts and disappointments from Jays camp in Dunedin. Later on, it's time for the Wake and Rake! Ailish and Justin tee up today's slate of NCAA March Madness games, before compiling our daily Wake and Rake parlay with the help of the text-line (26:05).

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 & Kevin Barker focus in on Jose Berrios’ performance for Puerto Rico at the World Baseball Classic as he struggled lasting only one inning in a 9-6 loss versus Venezuela. Later they focus on the rest of the Blue Jays, who went 3-0 in Grapefruit League action over weekend; notably George Springer’s big weekend at the plate, Yusei Kikuchi’s latest outing, and how Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is progressing with his knee injury. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi checks in from the World Baseball Classic to recap Canada’s wild 18-8 mercy rule win against Great Britain, and looks ahead to their next game against Team USA tonight (28:18). Lastly, the guys head to "Barker’s Back Leg Line" for his latest assignment from Dunedin (43:56).

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.

Blair and Barker are back in their daily timeslot to bring you their Blue Jays thoughts now that spring training is in full swing! Jeff and Kevin examine the projected win totals for Toronto and their foes in the AL East, the expectations for the starting rotation, and the importance of the team's starters pitching deeper into games. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the show from the Blue Jays complex in Dunedin, Florida to chat about how teams will adjust to the 2023 MLB rule changes, José Berríos’ outlook for 2023, and manager John Schneider being a hero off the field (26:47).

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.

With the World Series in the rear-view mirror, Blair and Barker turn their attention towards the offseason. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the show from the GM Meetings in Las Vegas with a focus on the Toronto Blue Jays: their wants and needs and how active they will be to improve the roster (10:46). Afterwards, MLB insider Jeff Passan discusses Shohei Ohtani’s potential availability, what teams would have to give up for someone of his calibre, and the star players available in free agency including Aaron Judge and Jacob deGrom (36:04).

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.

John Schneider is back as the Blue Jays’ manager after agreeing to a three-year contract extension, with a team option for the 2026 season. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the guys for instant reaction as they discuss who could be joining Schneider on his coaching staff (03:49). Afterwards, San Diego Padres’ President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller discusses his club’s postseason run, Game 3 starter Joe Musgrove, Manny Machado’s Hall of Fame trajectory, and much more as the NLCS heads east to Philadelphia tied 1-1 (28:57).

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.

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins the guys ahead of Ross Atkins' news conference to discuss what he would like to hear from the Blue Jays’ GM, the state of the team’s bullpen, keeping George Springer healthy, and if he thinks the organization should sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and/or Bo Bichette to a long-term extension this offseason (01:18). Following Shi, Blue Jays fans have their say on what they want to hear from Atkins and what they would like to see happen to the roster in the offseason.

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 & Kevin Barker discuss the Blue Jays’ 5-2 loss to the Yankees as New York was able to clinch the AL East division on Toronto’s home turf. Jeff and Kevin talk about the mistakes made on the base paths by Toronto, Bo Bichette’s play in the field, and José Berríos’ latest start where he lasted 5.1 innings in the loss. The guys invite Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi in on the conversation where he shared his reaction to John Schneider’s post-game availability and the baserunning blunders from the Blue Jays in an important game where they are also trying to solidify their place in the postseason (34:19).

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 & Kevin Barker welcome Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi to the show to discuss who would be the Blue Jays’ primary DH when everyone is healthy, the importance of Anthony Bass and Tim Mayza in the bullpen, and how to set up the starting rotation come playoff time (02:49). Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider makes his weekly appearance to reflect on his club going 7-4 in a 10-day stretch, Alek Manoah’s latest outing, Raimel Tapia making the most of his opportunities, and Jansen and Kirk working with the pitching staff (27:10). In Barker’s Back Leg Bits, the guys answer your questions, including one on Aaron Judge's options to sign in the off-season outside of New York (41:57).

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.

Sportsnet's Shi Davidi jumps on with Blake Murphy to discuss how Alek Manoah battled through a stomach bug, the fight shown by the roster in the final weeks of the season, the need to tweak their attention to detail heading into the post-season, and if there will be another bullpen day to open another series against the Baltimore Orioles (06:52). Then, Blake gives out the scouting report on Tampa Bay Rays' starter Drew Rasmussen, if he could be a good matchup for Vlad Jr., and how the Jays will line up for tonight's game (25:35). Afterward, FanGraphs' Michael Baumann weighs in on the upcoming rule changes and the addition of the pitch clock in 2023, the evolution of the game of baseball in the Majors, and how Bo Bichette has re-established himself amongst the top hitters today (50:07). Finally, Raptors Republic's Samson Folk joins to discuss the comparison from watching and analyzing baseball to basketball, and what metrics could translate from the MLB to NBA (01:15:42).

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 examine the Blue Jays' 4-1 win over the Orioles, taking three of four from them on the road, highlighted by Alek Manoah’s performance on the mound. The guys discuss how nothing spilled over after the tension in Tuesday’s game and assess the Jays’ schedule going forward with 26 games remaining. Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins to comment on Toronto’s recent stretch and who he would start in Game One of a playoff series: Kevin Gausman or Alek Manoah (33:04).

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.

Following the Blue Jays’ 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs, Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker hit the airwaves with Barker explaining what he has seen from Toronto's hitters far too often in the batter’s box. The guys welcome Shi Davidi to the show with his thoughts on the Jays-Cubs series, Santiago Espinal's playing time, Mitch White’s outing, and how the Blue Jays might set their rotation for the upcoming series against Pittsburgh & Baltimore (16:29). Later on, phone lines are opened up to gauge the temperature of the Blue Jays’ fanbase after a losing record in August (33:34).

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.

Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi joins Blair and Barker to discuss some Blue Jays topics including his latest column on John Schneider, George Springer’s troublesome elbow, and Yusei Kikuchi’s role going forward with the ball club (03:44). Later on, Tom Hamilton, the voice of The Guardians, previews this weekend's series from a Cleveland perspective and touches on the job Terry Francona has done as Manager, reliever James Karinchak not making the trip, Steven Kwan’s standout season, and Mississauga’s Josh Naylor working his way back from injury (28:43).

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

Blake Murphy is joined by Sportsnet's Chris Black and Joe Siddall to weigh in on how the Blue Jays should address their bullpen issues, why it's essential to get pitchers that have swing and miss pitches, and if the team would consider rolling a 6-man starting rotation (01:48). Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi gives his thoughts on the Jays acquiring Zach Pop and Anthony Bass from the Marlins, why they're welcoming a return for Bass, and if a starting pitcher would've been involved in the negotiations (21:53). Drew Fairservice of the Spin Rate podcast shares his initial reaction to Jordan Groshans' departure to Miami, and how a potential deal for Ian Happ could affect their current outfielder crop (34:47). MLB.com's Christina De Nicola joins us from Miami to share the reaction in the Marlins' clubhouse on today's trade with Toronto, Zach Pop getting to play for his hometown team, and what kind of pitchers the Jays are receiving in both Pop and Bass (51:54). Blue Jays radio voice Ben Wagner discusses when the team could expect their new relief pitchers to arrive and if the front office is still diving into the trade market late in the day (01:05:11). Finally, Arden Zwelling of At The Letters jumps in to chat about a good opportunity for Jordan Groshans within the Marlins system, and who is left on the board that would be a great addition to Toronto's rotation or bullpen (01:20:32).

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 discuss the latest moves around MLB on the day of the trade deadline, notably the moves made by their rivals in the AL East. Sportsnet's Shi Davidi checks-in from Tampa Bay with what the Blue Jays are up to: their reported interest in Noah Syndergaard, if their preference is to trade for players who are free agents at the end of the season, and being runners-up to the Yankees in the Frankie Montas sweepstakes (26:08). Later on, WEEI's Rob Bradford comments on the Red Sox both buying and selling so far (36:10), before the guys react to Orioles' closer Jorge Lopez being dealt to Minnesota.

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.

Blake Murphy opens the show looking back on some of the trades over the weekend including Luis Castillo to the Mariners and Scott Effross to the Yankees, before focusing on where the Blue Jays fit in the trade market and who fans want the team to target. FanGraphs' Ben Clemens jumps on to discuss his trade value rankings including four Jays players, the Mariners' shift from eyeing Juan Soto to the pitching market, and why he thinks starting and relief pitchers will become more expensive as the deadline nears (26:45).  Sportsnet's Shi Davidi shares his sense of the Jays' options in the rental and controllable pitcher markets, and how Toronto's previous business deal with Oakland for Matt Chapman could affect a potential deal for Frankie Montas (51:42). Finally, Baseball Prospectus' Mikey Ajeto weighs in on the impact Luis Castillo will have on the Mariners' rotation, the price Seattle paid for the righty, and the Wild Card race heating up between Toronto and Seattle (01:16:14).

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.

MLB insider Jon Morosi joins Blair and Barker to sort through the latest on Juan Soto and question if the Jays should mortgage the farm to get him, before looking into Shohei Ohtani's market price and sharing his takeaways from the 2022 All-Star festivities (02:08). Later on, Blue Jays insider Shi Davidi adds to the All-Star conversation discussing the vibe in L.A. this past week and if the Juan Soto rumours overshadowed the event, before sharing where the Blue Jays currently stand as they approach the trade deadline (26:26). Finally, the boys welcome everyone back with an edition of Barkers’s Back Leg Bits (40:29)!

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.

Blair and Barker react to the breaking Blue Jays news of the day: that Charlie Montoyo has been fired as manager. They call up Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi upon his return from the team’s west coast road-trip and ask him if he is surprised by the timing of the move (35:42).

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.