AL Slow Starters, Umpire-ABS Communication & John Gibbons! episode artwork

EPISODE · May 7, 2026 · 49 MIN

AL Slow Starters, Umpire-ABS Communication & John Gibbons!

from Blair & Barker · host Sportsnet

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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 7, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

AL Slow Starters, Umpire-ABS Communication & John Gibbons!

0:00 49:19

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Blair & Barker?

This episode is 49 minutes long.

When was this Blair & Barker episode published?

This episode was published on May 7, 2026.

Can I download this Blair & Barker episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!