OverDrive - OverDrive - April 15, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes and Michael DiStefano for Hour 3 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Maple Leafs fans set to invade Ottawa in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips joins to discuss Juan Soto's comments on the pitchers approach without Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract extension and his declined offensive strength during the season.

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Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeart Radio app and at iHeartRadio.ca. It's gonna get loud. Overdrive continues powered by Fanduo bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hayes, Al's brother in here. Leaves Sabres tonight. Leaves with a chance to win the division which would lock in the battle of Ontario.

Yeah. And I'm sure you've been tracking this online. People in Ottawa are wondering what's going to happen with tickets being sold for games 3, 4, 6. Because I believe the SENS, the plan was like to allow season ticket holders clearly to buy tickets. Right. And then possibly allow season ticket holders to have access to other tickets that could be available and

Now there's some concern That some of those tickets are going to be up online in a secondary market and if they are we know leaf fans are going to buy them and This is this is giving me Flashbacks and deja vu to the early 2000s when it was constantly a story Yeah, how do you keep leaf fans out of Ottawa? You can't do it and what you also can't do is ask your customers, especially if they're season ticket holders That's that's your bread and butter in pro sports and especially in the NHL, right?

It's a gate-driven regional sport. You can't tell your season ticket holders who have been paying you all year right by the way now that we're into the playoffs you got to keep those tickets because they're probably looking at it if you're in Ottawa thinking i could flip these for double or triple and leaf fans are going to buy them and then i can pay for the rest of the game 100% that happens all the time no matter it's here or in buffalo anytime the leaves roll through anywhere The tickets more expensive we're talking about The first battle of Ontario of the cap era like this is gonna be huge Mm-hmm that is going to be an expensive ticket like what would you would you think that a ticket like that would cost up?

Well, I can tell you what it's gonna be in Toronto second ball Toronto, Toronto. I mean, in Ottawa, that's a very good question. I mean, could you sell a pair of tickets? I mean, could you get $1,000 for a pair of tickets? I was thinking like $500 a pop, so yeah, I was right there with you. Which I don't know the exact pricing of, you know, I would guess, you know, lower bull, center ice is probably an expensive ticket, especially for the playoffs. Yeah. But if you could get double that on the secondary market or triple that on the

secondary market yeah it opens the door to an interesting conversation that I'm sure people in Ottawa are having some anxiety about right now because are you a true fan if you sell if you sell your tickets even though you're going to make that much money here's the move hazy. If you got tickets lower bowl or up against the glass, center ice, you sell those ones, but you still want to be there for the atmosphere, for the Sens first playoff game since 2017, you sell those tickets, you make a fortune, and I guarantee you you could get a pair of tickets for a quarter of the price a little bit higher up, and you still are there, you still get your your money and sense fans are still in the building but they are in the

building but you've also cut out two fans like you've you've allowed to leave fans into your building yeah I'm saying as though as as an organization you don't like that no but technically you could keep your lower bowl seats and allow a sense fan to buy the ones up in the top. You could, right? Like that's what Sens fans, I can see it online. Again, they're like, when are they gonna be available here or I can get a single game? I just wanna go to game three

or just buy for game six or whatever. And this is the concern that's already starting to pop up in Ottawa. Which makes sense. Like how do you keep Leaf fans out? Because, and what has been proven is it's impossible. Yes. You cannot do it. Leaf fans are going to get in there. Florida tried to do that a couple years ago in round two if I recall. Yes you're right. Florida they opened up the tickets

and they had to buy them from within the state. Yeah, geo lock it so that you couldn't purchase them. What happened? Leaf fans made their way into the building. Yes. You find a way to get a secondary market. So it's it's it yes security is only so far you can go you can't stop people wearing Maple Leaf jerseys from walking in and say we're gonna refund you but you're not allowed in the door. Like it's it's it's a free society we're living in you know and listen they'll be Sens fans at Scotiabank Arena for sure. They'll be they'll be Sens fans scattered around I don't know the percentage of 5% of the building will be Ottawa fans but I think the fear is 30% will be leaf fans could be skew even a

little higher and if it's actually a free market it could be 50% because what what all these other markets are dealing with is there's so many Leaf fans that live in Ottawa. It's not even about road tripping. It's not even like there will be a lot of that. A lot of people from Toronto. A quick four hour, four and a half hours. Especially if game fours on a Saturday night. Oh yeah. Like that's just a brilliant road trip. If you're in Toronto and the Leafs and Sens battle of Ontario in Ottawa on the Saturday if that's what it's gonna match Up to be and it sounds like it could be right Sunday Tuesday Thursday Saturday Again, we'll see it's nothing's written stone right now

But if that sets up that way game for Saturday night in Ottawa you're you're making that trip every single day if you're a leaf fan Oh, yeah, but get your Get your hands on those tickets? Yes. No question. Big time. You've gotta be there. And I am quite curious to see how this plays out. Like how many Leaf fans are in Ottawa?

It'll be a lot. Yeah. And how do they police it? Cause obviously if you're Ann Lauer, like if you're the owner of the Ottawa Centers, and this is what Eugene Malnick went through for years, you want, like you finally made it back to the playoffs. And this is the conundrum

that I'm sure they're dealing with right now in Ottawa, because I'm sure they want the Leafs because they look at the Leafs differently than they did 20 years ago. Like, I'm curious about the psychology of a Sens fan. A 20-year-old Sens fan compared to a 40 or 50-year-old Sens fan, I would think it is different. Because the 20 year old Ottawa fan is probably looking at

the Leafs saying why would I be afraid of them they never win they always find a way to throw things away Ottawa's won more playoff rounds in the last 15 years and then Toronto has bring it on sends her three and all against the Leafs this year bring it on but if you're're like a 45 year old Sens fan, there's got to be scar tissue from the battle. They've never been in the playoff. Never beat them. Like there's got to be a fear factor on that front. And it's, it's, it's, it's reversed in Toronto, you know, where it's like the older Leaf fans like bring on Ottawa. Yeah. I love it. And the 20 year old Leaf fans like, I don't want anything to do with Ottawa. That's a tough team you watch them play this year. I mean, they haven't

beaten Ottawa this year too. Right. It's just something that's kind of interested. So they all they've they've swept Tampa. For now against Tampa 0 and 3 against against Ottawa. But yeah, I would think in Ottawa, you're there's that that is, you know, you're kind of flipping back and forth because you're like, okay, you got the Battle of Ontario, the Leafs, maybe they're vulnerable based on this current crop and the Core Four and all that. Yet, Leaf fans are going to completely take over this building where if it was Florida, Ottawa, it would be 99% Sens fans in there. Can I ask you a question?

Try and put yourself back in, was it 20-21, the Canadian Division year? Yes. What path do you think is easier for the Maple Leafs? 2021 or this year's path with this Eastern Conference that is very very fun? 21 for sure. That was the easier path? Yes, like it was Habs, then it would have been the Jets I believe, because Jets I think swept the Oilers. Yeah, you're right. I think Montreal beat Winnipeg in like five games. Yeah that year And then it was Vegas. I believe which would have been tough as Montreal played Vegas, which was pretty crazy At that point because that was when they started traveling. I believe yes

Yeah, they got are they traveling at that point? I think Well because there was in Toronto and then there was another one in Edmonton right? Yeah, I'm all Toronto. So the East was in Toronto and then Edmonton was out there and then they kind of split them up. Right, I think 21 because you know listen Ottawa this Ottawa team as much as the Habs went to the Cup final that year which is incredible but that whole season was just it was just strange man yeah no fans it was a weird year I think this Ottawa team is a is a more difficult challenge and then I think the second round is definitely more challenging that Winnipeg in 21 like you're looking at Tampa or Florida in the second round I mean come on they

played well against they got Tampa's number I Don't know if I'm wrong if I'm off base here and not to say that Tampa isn't one of the better teams in the league Because they are they absolutely at the way Basques. They've been playing right now and they're playoff tested and they're so good. They're like Their goal differential is just stupid off the charts this year Mm-hmm, but they've had a lot of success against that Tampa Bay team. If Tampa and Toronto meet up in round two. That's what you're begging for if you're the Leafs. You have to. Yeah. Because that's the team you feel more confident about. Yes. Like if Toronto, Florida lives a little rent-free in Toronto's head. Tampa, it's the complete opposite of

you. Yeah and I think Tampa looks at the Leafs a little bit differently. Like the Leafs beat them a couple years in the playoffs and again they've had a lot of success the last couple of years and they've they've they've found a way to beat Vasilevsky. Vasilevsky are horrendous. Right. Last 10 games I think he's got like an 860 save percentage against Toronto's. Yeah. Ten times he's played him. There's something about what the Leafs are doing to him that just throws him off. Yeah. It spirals him out of control and you see the NHLPA poll came out today and I don't know how seriously players take this type of stuff but Vasilevsky was voted as the best goalie in the league. Which is a little bit

surprising to me because Hellebuck is about to win his second Vesna in a row. What shocked me is that Shusterkin was also ahead of Hellebuck in that same poll. Like who's voting for this? I don't. Like how can Hellebuck not be at the top of that list right now? Well he's been the best regular season goalie the last three years in a row. Yes. I think you could argue. Yes and Shusterkin had the one good playoff run, very good playoff run, and he had the great year a few years ago but Hellebuck has been... Last year coming off the injury was a down year. Yeah Hellebuck's better than Shisterkamp. Yes I mean like I get vasilevsky because of the cops. Yes done and maybe Bob could be in that conversation, but Come on, let's give hellebuck a little bit. I agree. I agree

All right. We're talking about these one Soto comments last night again. The the Mets are 11 and 5. He had a home run last night His stats aren't off the charts, but he was asked about pitchers attacking him and whether or not it's been different this year. And he said, yes, it has been different, basically because I don't have Aaron Judge, the best hitter in baseball protecting me in the lineup. Now he does have Pete Alonso protecting him in the lineup. Pretty good hitter.

And Judge, I guess, was asked about it today. And he pumped the tires of Alonso. And basically said I'm not doing this every day guys. Like I'm not doing this. Don't come to me and ask me about Juan Soto. To chat about that among other things including Jase Braves tonight. Here's our TSN baseball insider Steve Phillips. Steve, what was your approach to Soto's comments that he was just simply telling the truth or that he should have known better and when you get paid that kind of money, you gotta stop making any excuse whatsoever?

Yeah, I think that he should not ever mention a Yankee again. I mean, he signed his life away with the Mets and you know, there's no benefit in commenting about his time with the Yankees, about Aaron Judge, about hitting in front of Judge, about the difference. Here's the reality of it, is that nobody pitched to Juan Soto because Aaron Judge was behind him. He walked.

How many times did he walk last year, Juan Soto? He walked a ton. And so I, you know, in my mind, I think the same sort of thing is that, that it's not like all of a sudden they're going to pitch him tougher. I mean, he was in lineups previously in Washington that had nobody behind him in a lineup and had great seasons. So, you know, I think that, that, uh, he needs to just go out there, put together his quality of bats and, and, and go get it.

I mean, I mean, Aaron judge, uh mean, Aaron Judge was able to have a great season last year with nobody hitting behind him in the lineup. I mean, if you think about it, he had the best offensive season in the history of baseball for a right-handed hitter, maybe, ever. And he didn't have anybody hitting behind him in the lineup. So just go out there and do your job. So, yeah, I don't know. It's a little weird. I, but you know, players all, you know, I, look, I, I was surprised that Vladdy talked as much as he did after the February 18th date where it kind of came and went and he kept talking about the contract when you gave a deadline, it was over. And then he kept talking about, but I'm, you know, willing to do more and everything. And the same thing with Soto, like there's no benefit to it and fine, okay, well great, you don't have the best here in baseball behind, it's not like the guy behind

just chopped liver either, he's actually having a great season right now. I mean, really, Pete Alonzo's having a great season and I don't know, I mean, I just think Soto's gotta just, you know, he sort of don't protest too much and making it more about somebody else rather than he's just not off to a great start. I agree. And even his number, like they're not they're not horrendous. You know, like he's not putting up awful numbers, Soto.

And what's interesting is the Mets are in a good spot. They're 11 and five. And that what it says to me is that team success is one thing. But he realizes with that kind of money, it's got to be individual success. Because it was right there for him to just say, guys, we're 11 and 5. We're winning ballgames here. Like, I'll be fine, we're fine, it's not about Juan Soto, it's about the Mets. And when you sign for 765, it's about Juan Soto. And that's what he's talking, he's like defensive.

You know, like it was just, it was a lay, like if they were five and eleven it's totally different they're not and he just he knows New York and the Mets in particular like dude you better be a superstar every time you're up to plate and he just can't handle it and I appreciate greatly what judge said I guess he was asked about it a couple hours ago and judge said quote I'm not going to go back and forth with this he's got one of the best hitters in the game hitting behind him in alonzo and quote yet you know this market as well as anyone steve they're not going to stop

like it's so it didn't sign in san francisco you know he didn't he didn't leave the market the solo judge met yankee thing the The media is never gonna stop talking about this. No, no, it's not, but he made it a comparison right now that it didn't need to be. Like he created something that didn't need to be created. I mean, the reality is he's got a 142 OPS plus,

which means that he's 42% better than the average player right now, right? In the season that he's having right now, he's 42% better than the average player right now. In the season that he's having right now, he's 42% better than the average player. Last year was a 178 OPS plus. All right, the year before, 155. The year before that, 127. The year before that went like, he's right in the range of where he's been as a player.

And I think that, I mean, here's the thing. He just made it about himself and about Alonzo and a little bit about Judge, but more about Alonzo too. Like, it's hard to recall it out, his teammates, when there's no need, you're 11 and five, like, just make it about the team. Like, Aaron Judge only makes it about the team ever.

He never makes it about himself. You talk to Aaron Judge, and I've interviewed him a ton of times, he only talks about the team. He talks about the guys, he talks about the process, talks about going out there doing his job, talks about the people who came before him, talks about his gratitude for the organization. For one, let that be the lesson. Never talk about yourself. Always make it about your team. the expectations about the contract ignore them let those are for other people he needs to have expectations for his role within the team but again that's that is the difference between Aaron Judge and

one so Aaron Judge why Aaron Judge is you know captain of the USA you know he's like Mike Trout in that regard and then you know they they just wanted to play they they don't want to make it I don't care about people talking about their numbers or anything else just want to play the game and so does a bit of a different player and and you know it's more about himself than maybe some of the other guys so but he just created a bigger controversy that when there wasn't a controversy to be created well from the highest paid player baseball to the second highest paid player baseball to the second highest paid

player baseball, Vladdy, his OPS plus is only a hundred and three so three percent better player than league average. I mean at what point, Steve, does that kind of become a concern? Yeah, trade them. I mean right now I can... Move off it before the deal kicks in. Right, I mean let's see if we can get out of it in some way. You know, have them do the physical again and find something that... Right, I mean let's see if you can get out of it in some way. You know, have a good physical again and find something that... and so, I mean, you know, it is a little concerning

only in that, you know, he has had peaks and valleys in his career. We've seen that. Now his valleys are not, you know, bad. They're just, you know, he goes sometimes he's good, sometimes he's great. So it's not a complete shot. Plus he's been dealing with, I think now he's got the contract, now there's pressure to deliver, you know, there was pressure to negotiate, pressure to deliver. And he just needs to get on the board a little bit with some numbers and start to warm up. And, and, you know, I think everything will be okay. But, uh, you know, let me listen, this, this will happen throughout the course of, you know, 14 years.

It's gonna happen. There's gonna be years where he starts like this, there's gonna be years he starts great, and in the end, you know, the numbers will always be from good to great. And, you know, he'll end up with an OPS plus, you know, well above 103. It's just a matter of time. And so you gotta just play it out a little bit

and get away from everybody focusing on the numbers to where they can just focus on winning games and then the numbers will come. Yeah, I kind of have an Aaron Judge approach to this. Like I can't mention the contract every day for 15 years, you know, with Vlade. You can't do it. Yet leading up to this, it has been celebratory. You know, great story.

He's back, he's sticking around, hometown guy. He wants to be in Toronto forever. And Miles Straw and Tyler Heineman have more home runs than him through 17 games. And he was 0 for 4 last night and terrible. And Bichette's no better. They're nine and 8 so the glass is half full because you've survived with these guys playing the way they're playing but

man, Fladdy, you're 7, like, you're 10% into the season, right? Like 20% comes quick, then 30% and obviously he's not going to hit zero home runs but he's got to get going, man. Like they need him to start cooking here. Forget the the contract he's just capable of being way way better in the stats are they're staggering through seventeen now there's nothing great and i don't know about it again yeah he will be he'll get hot i mean it's you know and and you know if this were the middle of the season and he went through a

period of time this was his production that's one thing but when it's beginning of the year and the numbers are pretty stark you see Jiro's up there it's difficult but I mean think about also you know the schedule that they are going through right now and you know the way that you know who they've lined up to play I mean the Orioles are obviously a playoff team a year ago the Mets the Red Sox are a playoff team a year ago. The Mets, the Red Sox are a playoff team. In most people's mind, maybe the best team in the AL East this year. The Orioles, the Braves, I mean so the schedule has not been great. They have faced good pitching.

Laddie's supposed to be the one that hits the good pitching, but you know the good news is they're getting through this part of the schedule, which is a gauntlet. I mean there's no doubt. The early part of this season for them is a really tough schedule. And you know they're holding their head above water which is a gauntlet. I mean, there's no doubt. The early part of this season for them is a really tough schedule. And, you know, they're holding their head above water with it. And now they just need Vlad to get going. And when he does and the schedule lights up, then they're going to start to go out like gangbusters and go on a good run. So I think that they've got a hot streak coming. And so does Vlad personally. Yeah. And that is very valid. Like sked. It's tough man like it is tough and it doesn't really get easier

because now you got the Braves who were wounded and they're due to bounce back like they did last night, you know, and the AL East though. Yeah, that's what you're playing the AL East. Yeah, exactly. There's no escaping it, man. We know the numbers you got to hit, you got to win a certain amount of games and it's still early. It's middle of April Alright Steve great catching up with you. We'll do it again soon Hey, you get my pleasure guys. Have a great afternoon. You got it. There's Steve Phillips or TSN baseball insider

Yeah, nine and eight again the old if I had it told you like Santander's got one home run like you look at at the stats, and this is baseball in a nutshell, when it's early, the number, like if you go on a 17 game slump early from game 100 to 117, it's different because the numbers are baked in. But now it looks worse. But like, Vlad has got a 690 OPS and Santander's got a 564

and Bo's got a 711 OPS like the three of them your one two and three hitter are averaging a sub 700 on base plus slugging yeah like that obviously that won't continue it can't continue but it's frustrating because of the history of this team in terms of power hitting it's very don't hit for power for the last two years Which and and that's why I think over the offseason, you know Every Jays fan imaginable looks at the offseason and they what they added in it They just continue to add to pitching and defense and then they eventually went out and they got Santana Daru

You know hit 40 home runs a year ago. So you're thinking're thinking okay there we go there's something at least but again the term internal improvement was also accompanied with what they're expecting coming into this year right hoping that Bo has that turnaround hoping that George Springer who did George played excellent so far he's been great yes we'll see how that was weird with the wrist and everything. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, continue. He has been very good. But he's been very good. But like again, like you're hoping that those guys, Alejandro Kirk, who homered the other night, but still has been kind of quiet with the bat. Not a great start at the bat. Right? Like those are the guys you expect

to get that internal improvement from. And it really just hasn't come yet outside of, you know, that first week of George Springer. Yeah. And you know you look at the depth of the Davis Schneiders and the Ernie Clements and the Will Wagner's and the Allen Rodens you know like they're lucky they've gotten the pitching they've gotten. Yep and defensively they've played well. Yeah. Like they've had very good defensive numbers for the most part. Right. But you're right if the staff wasn't doing what it's doing if Hoffman wasn't doing what they were doing. Like that little blown kiss the other day at a Baltimore. Just right, right to the physician who failed my

physical. Send that right to the front office. Yeah, my shoulder looks okay, doesn't it, boys? It's not like the Orioles players, the ones who said, sorry we're not going to accept this. Right. But yeah, you might as well. Listen, welcome to the American League East. Get after it. All right, Al's brother, good seeing you pal. Thank you for doing this. Absolutely.

As always, we got the Leaf game coming up on TSN4 and on TSN Radio tonight. So Bonesy coming up, Ralphie coming up, the Tap Man coming up, pregame, postgame, the whole nine on TSN Radio. And of course up on TSN4, big one for the Leafs tonight. Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out we appreciate it everyone for tuning in today TV radio podcast web we appreciate that we're out of here enjoy

your evenings enjoy the games tonight we're back tomorrow at 4 p.m. we'll chat then One song at a time. This is Justin Bieber. Hi, this is Terry Clark. We are Nickelback. Made in Canada on iHeartRadio. Rock, pop, hip hop, and when it comes to country, it's the true north all the way. Loud and proud. An all new digital radio station from coast to coast. Made in Canada, played in Canada. On the free iHeartRadio app and at iHeartRadio.ca.

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