Season Turnaround? + Yordan Álvarez's Elite Hitting with Geoff Blum
6/22/202650 min
Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker recap the Blue Jays' weekend series against the Chicago Cubs, Jays acquiring infielder Luis Urías from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations and sending outfielder Yohendrick Piñango down to Triple-A Buffalo, Kevin Gausman getting torched against the Cubs, if there's signs for a turnaround this season for the Blue Jays or Houston Astros, Kazuma Okamoto's stability at the plate, Daulton Varsho's at-bats since returning from his injury, and Louis Varland's six-out save. Then, Astros TV analyst Geoff Blum (30:20) stops by to chat about why Yordan Álvarez is the purist hitter in baseball, how he has influenced his teammate Christian Walker, Hunter Brown's growth into becoming the Astros' ace, Jose Altuve's regression, and how aggressive the club will be at the trade 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.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJeff Blair· Host0:00
[upbeat music] All right, well. Parker, you got a job interview or something? You're all dolled up.
Kevin Barker· Host0:11
Yeah.
Jeff Blair· Host0:11
All right, push the on button- There it is ... there, big boy. Don't wanna- You know ... teach you.
Kevin Barker· Host0:15
Hey.
Jeff Blair· Host0:15
Look at that.
Kevin Barker· Host0:17
It's early. How do I look?
Jeff Blair· Host0:20
You look nice. Shame about the shoes, but, uh- What's wrong with my shoes? Well, running shoes and a suit, eh.
Kevin Barker· Host0:26
Actually, it's not running shoes. Yeah, yeah. Do you watch any sports whatsoever other than the sport that we're watching- Well, I mean, you know what? ... on a TV that nobody can see?
Jeff Blair· Host0:34
Okay, what would you call them, sneakers?
Kevin Barker· Host0:35
Uh, yeah.
Jeff Blair· Host0:36
Whatever.
Kevin Barker· Host0:37
It's not whatever.
Jeff Blair· Host0:38
Well, well, they're not dress shoes. You should be wearing dress shoes.
Kevin Barker· Host0:41
I, yeah, nobody's gonna see them anyway.
Jeff Blair· Host0:42
Yeah.
Kevin Barker· Host0:43
It's about comfort.
Jeff Blair· Host0:43
How'd they know?
Kevin Barker· Host0:43
Style. Hmm. Yeah.
Jeff Blair· Host0:48
Interesting color combo.
Kevin Barker· Host0:49
How was your, uh- Don't change the subject ... that's the first, that's the first thing you noticed, right? It wasn't, "Hey, you look sharp in the suit, nice tie."
Jeff Blair· Host0:55
I know. It, it, um- It's the, "Man, that, that color coordinating- Well- ...
Kevin Barker· Host0:58
boy, you're bad at that."
Jeff Blair· Host0:59
Well, let, let me just, uh- Gee ... let me- Jesus. Well, no. What I, it- That's exactly what you started with ... you're wearing a vest. What, are you going to play pool or what?
Kevin Barker· Host1:06
Well, it'll look nice whenever I put my jacket on and- Anyhow, it is Blair and Barker for a Monday.
Jeff Blair· Host1:11
Barker's all dressed up. He's gonna leave us in an hour for a job interview.
Kevin Barker· Host1:14
Oh, that's what you're mad about.
Jeff Blair· Host1:15
[laughs] No.
Kevin Barker· Host1:15
Oh, I got it.
Jeff Blair· Host1:16
I don't care.
Kevin Barker· Host1:17
Boom. Huh?
Jeff Blair· Host1:18
I don't care. I don't care.
Kevin Barker· Host1:18
I had sorta seen.
Jeff Blair· Host1:19
[laughs] I don't care about that. [laughs] I don't really care about that.
Kevin Barker· Host1:22
I mean, they got you three guests. You'll be all right.
Jeff Blair· Host1:24
Yeah. I'll make it work.
Kevin Barker· Host1:24
You'll work through it. You always do.
Jeff Blair· Host1:26
I did for eight years. I'll make it work.
Kevin Barker· Host1:28
All right.