AL Slow Starters, Umpire-ABS Communication & John Gibbons!
5/7/202649 min
John Gibbons, bench coach for the Los Angeles Angels, joins Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker to chat about how the role has changed in the modern game. The former Jays skipper also shares what it's like coaching a healthy Mike Trout, how he would've fit into Toronto's 2016 lineup, and his early impressions of the Automated Ball-Strike system. Jeff Passan (22:43), host of Sources Tell Jeff Passan, joins the boys to discuss the slow starts around the American League, if the slump could spark some early-season trades, and how he views the Mariners and Rays. Jeff also details how umpires receive feedback mid-game with the ABS system and the buy-in from veteran officials, along with Tarik Skubal's recovery process.
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.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJeff Blair· Host0:00
[upbeat music] All right, welcome back to Blair and Barker, brought to you by Capital One. Capital One, giving credit to over four million Canadians and counting. We've got Jeff Passan later on in the show. Uh, we got Jays and Angels tickets to give away.
Kevin Barker· Host0:16
Mm-hmm.
Jeff Blair· Host0:16
To see the Jays and Angels at the Rogers Centre- Yeah ... where the, uh, the series will open. The first of three games tomorrow night, and, uh, that gives us an opportunity to welcome our next guest back to Toronto. He needs no introduction.
Kevin Barker· Host0:28
Mm.
Jeff Blair· Host0:28
But, uh, well, seeing as how ... Well, he doesn't need an introduction- No ... per se. It's just John- There he is ... there he is, John Gibbons. Los Angeles Angels bench coach, former Blue Jays manager, et cetera, et cetera. How you, you look good.
Kevin Barker· Host0:39
Yeah.
Jeff Blair· Host0:39
How you doing?
Kevin Barker· Host0:40
You look younger.
John Gibbons· Guest0:41
I do?
Jeff Blair· Host0:41
[laughs] Yeah, you know, you look younger.
Kevin Barker· Host0:43
Yeah.
John Gibbons· Guest0:43
I usually don't get that compliment, that I look good- [laughs] ... so, but, so thank you, boys.
Jeff Blair· Host0:48
Um, hey, I wanted to ask you, how has the role of the bench coach changed- Mm ... since, you know, you were the bench coach, uh, in Kansas City, and now you're the bench coach here. How has, how, how has the role changed?
John Gibbons· Guest1:01
Well, Jeff, you know, uh, I think it all depends on the manager. You know, when I was doing it in, uh, when I first, my first time doing it in Kansas City, you know, I had Trey Hillman, and then Ned Yost came over, and, you know, Ned had been at it for a while. So there was, uh, you know, we'd bounce things off each other. But, you know, uh, Ned had a, had a plan what he wanted to do, and just executed it, you know? And then, of course I went to, uh, New York with the Mets with Mendoza, and he'd been around, he'd been a bench coach for a number of years