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Blair & Barker

Defensive Miscues + Hitter's Adjustments with Otto Lopez

26 May 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What were the key moments in the Blue Jays' 8-2 loss to the Marlins?

13.598 - 21.174 Jeff Blair

phones then, you know. That's why no one wears them. No one in days, my friend. Yeah, it is. It's one of those days. Yeah.

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21.454 - 22.116 Unknown

How you doing, buddy?

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22.236 - 22.657 Jeff Blair

I'm doing well.

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22.677 - 23.218 Unknown

Everything's good?

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23.88 - 38.661 Jeff Blair

Hay fever. Like, the last couple of days, man, they opened the roof last night, right, at the Jays game. Oh, yeah. And... All you could hear was, you know, like everybody, because there was so much dust and pollen. It was brutal.

Chapter 2: How have injuries impacted the Blue Jays' offensive performance?

39.562 - 43.648 Jeff Blair

Anyhow. Yeah. I mean, you know, May, late May, the stuff's blooming. Really?

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44.709 - 46.952 Jeff Blair

It's bad. Oh.

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Chapter 3: What insights does Otto Lopez share about returning to Rogers Centre?

48.434 - 60.451 Jeff Blair

Speaking of bad, Jays lost 8-2 to the Miami Marlins last night. Perfect timing. We've got Mark Budzinski, the outfield coach and first base coach on. Yeah. After watching Johan Rick Pignango.

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60.531 - 63.245 Unknown

Wow. You're going to be that hard on him, huh? On who?

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Chapter 4: What defensive miscues did Yohendrick Piñango make during the game?

63.608 - 76.776 Unknown

On Pena. Yeah, he's catch the ball. Oh, yeah. You don't think that was – Well, I think the line drive right at him, I think that's a tough one. I think he did everything right but catch it. That's not an easy play for a guy that's not a very good defender.

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76.936 - 85.584 Unknown

The other one, I've been there before where I'm not making excuses for him and I'm not saying the ball shouldn't have been caught and I'm not saying he's one of the reasons why they lost.

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Chapter 5: How has Otto Lopez evolved as a player since his time with the Blue Jays?

85.604 - 86.505 Unknown

I'm not saying any of that.

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86.525 - 87.385 Jeff Blair

He is one of the reasons they lost.

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87.405 - 89.808 Unknown

That's what I said. I'm not saying he ain't one of the reasons why.

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89.828 - 91.049 Jeff Blair

He might be the biggest reason they lost.

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91.069 - 92.75 Unknown

Well, I mean, the walks didn't help either.

92.77 - 95.112 Jeff Blair

No. And one for nine with runners in scoring position.

95.132 - 113.133 Unknown

So there was a lot of blame and a lot of finger pointing. And the other one, when he's running in, that's not an easy play either. For a young kid to sort of be trying to communicate with a veteran infielder is not the easiest thing to do. Again, I'm not making excuses for him, and I'm not saying the ball should not always be caught. Not saying that.

Chapter 6: What strategies does Otto Lopez use to prepare against pitchers with diverse arsenals?

113.854 - 133.324 Unknown

But I'm saying, right, it's the – when you're a younger guy trying to make his way, trying not to be seen in the outfield when you're not a very good defender – You know, these are not the easiest things and not the easiest plays to make. Again, I'm not saying, again, that these plays shouldn't be made, but I'm saying the line drive's not an easy play.

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133.865 - 156.443 Unknown

I'm just giving you examples of situations that I was a part of when I was an infielder trying to go back on an outfielder and... It's just there's some communication factors there that, again, when you're a young guy, you don't want to be seen. You want to let the veteran guy make the play all the time, and you're just trying to basically stay out of it. Again, I'm not making excuses for you.

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156.463 - 156.804 Unknown

Yeah, you are.

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157.064 - 161.869 Jeff Blair

No, I'm not. I'm going to sound like you. It's not his first game in the left field. I'm going to sound like you.

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161.909 - 172.339 Unknown

My roof's – Out of the roof now. The line drive, that had nothing to do with it. Maybe the little lazy pop-up behind Andre.

Chapter 7: What challenges do hitters face when adjusting to pitchers' strategies?

172.459 - 190.054 Unknown

Maybe that had a little something to do with it. Again, that communication where I'm playing, where I start, who I'm looking at to catch the baseball, who's a very good defender, who's not a very good defender. I'm just telling you what's going on in the head of a defender. That's all I'm telling you. I'm not making excuses for him.

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190.074 - 192.797 Jeff Blair

Anyhow, it cost the Jays three runs.

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192.877 - 194.138 Unknown

Well, the walks didn't help either.

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194.399 - 198.663 Jeff Blair

The walks didn't help either. But if he catches the ball, that first ball, that inning's over.

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199.043 - 205.83 Unknown

That's fair. If you don't walk a guy, you probably don't get to that play. You can roll your eyes at me all you want.

205.89 - 206.891 Jeff Blair

Because walks are going to happen.

208.153 - 209.714 Unknown

For pitch walks?

209.734 - 210.875 Jeff Blair

Walks sometimes happen.

Chapter 8: How does Otto Lopez view the potential of the Marlins for the remainder of the season?

210.895 - 228.841 Unknown

I'm saying, again, you know, you're – Should we start over? Not really, because, again, I'm not making excuses for the kid. The kid should always be catching balls he should be catching. I'm just telling you that it's not as easy as throwing your hands in the air going, you know, line drives right at you is not easy in the big leagues. Just not.

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229.622 - 238.294 Unknown

And, again, is he a great defender or a good defender? Probably below average. There it is. He's here because he can hit, not because he can catch a ball in left field.

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238.894 - 241.117 Jeff Blair

Which explains the right fielder, too. It's a reality.

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242.862 - 246.268 Unknown

That's neither one of those guys' fault. Okay?

246.548 - 258.168 Jeff Blair

Well, no. They're playing because the preferred options aren't here or hurt. There it is. Anyhow, we are going to talk to Mark Budzinski. Bob Nightingale is going to join us.

258.208 - 258.308 Unknown

Yeah.

258.329 - 277.191 Jeff Blair

And Otto Lopez. Former Blue Jay. That's awesome. With the Marlins will be along. He got a good swing. I like Ottawa. I do, too. I mean, you know, I don't want to go into it. It happens. Listen, every major league team has got guys they've had to DFA because of roster crunches. I mean, the Jays, Jason Adam, Brian Baker. There are a ton of guys you can go through. Jason Adam, I already said.

277.211 - 280.194 Jeff Blair

Brian Baker, you can go through. It happens. Yep.

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