{"podcast":{"title":"Blair & Barker","slug":"blair-barker-666748","podcast_index_feed_id":666748,"rss_url":"https://feeds.simplecast.com/3UhSEnAe","website_url":"https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/","image_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/b72bc3d0-7e44-4b66-8de6-c187dbaa3a4f/6b1f028e-0d15-4e00-822d-f37c1b954793/3000x3000/snpodcast-blairandbarker.jpg?aid=rss_feed","author":"Sportsnet","episode_count":600,"summary":"Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker talk all things Blue Jays and MLB. Airing live on Sportsnet 590 The FAN weekdays from 4-6 PM ET during the baseball season.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/blair-barker-666748"},"episode":{"title":"AL Slow Starters, Umpire-ABS Communication & John Gibbons!","slug":"al-slow-starters-umpire-abs-communication-john-gibbons","published_at":"2026-05-07T19:59:58+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/blair-barker-666748/al-slow-starters-umpire-abs-communication-john-gibbons","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/blair-barker-666748","url":"https://www.sportsnet.ca/590/blair-barker/","audio_url":"https://rogers.simplecastaudio.com/7206b10b-8140-46fd-af9f-b99ab43d03b8/episodes/6fa9e284-182f-4c66-a8db-b2923d05e907/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=7206b10b-8140-46fd-af9f-b99ab43d03b8&awEpisodeId=6fa9e284-182f-4c66-a8db-b2923d05e907&feed=3UhSEnAe","summary":"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.","meta_description":"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 for…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2959,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/blair-barker-666748/episodes/al-slow-starters-umpire-abs-communication-john-gibbons/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/blair-barker-666748/al-slow-starters-umpire-abs-communication-john-gibbons.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}