OverDrive - OverDrive - April 30, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: April 30, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 3 on OverDrive! NHL on TNT Eddie Olczyk joins to discuss the Maple Leafs and Senators in the Battle of Ontario, how Toronto can find success in the series and the 151st Kentucky Derby picks. TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips joins to discuss the Blue Jays' overall cold stretch, the bat issues on the team and the management perspective of the roster and Hayes gives his FanDuel Best Bets.

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internet. Visit bell.ca to check availability. Bell, internet just got better. Final hour overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Brian Hazy, our dog Jeff O'Neil, Jamie Noodles, McClennan. We've got Eddie Olchuk coming up. Just a moment. We got Steve Phillips later in the hour. And I just saw Doogie sent a note that Michael Block block is gonna be back at the PGA championship block party PGA like the PGA tour pro yeah I believe so cuz he was he was leading professionals yeah I knew he was leading he shot like seven under or something the first round but yeah the block party. Oakmont that's man 250 up the T's not

gonna cut it at Oakmont. I played there before man some of the most insane comments from a caddy I've ever heard in my life like back pin and he was like if you spin this too much you're gonna have a hundred and seventy five yards in like down the fairway right spin it too and I was like what are you talking about he goes go ahead do what you want mm-hmm and there was just crazy stuff going on man like call sprints and stuff you mentioned you're saying oh yeah like just just a really cool place because after I played it I think Dustin Johnson went there and won a couple years later. And to see the layout of the course, really cool spot.

Really cool spot, Oakmont. Yeah, well it's coming up in a couple of weeks. And we've got the RBC Canadian Open coming up in like a month, right? Right around the corner, man. Yeah, I'm seeing videos of TPC Toronto. It looks great. They're setting up. McElroy is going to be up there. And you know, all the Canadians, Nick Taylor, all the TPC Toronto. It looks great. They're setting up McElroy is gonna be up there and

You know all the Canadians Nick Taylor all the boys are gonna be up there. It's gonna be a great scene Are we gonna they should have seen as far as I know that's a question I don't know I think so. Why wouldn't we be you guys should have seen today the Stop and chats I go into earplug guy at earbud guy at the gym Which is almost what I thought would be like a no-fly zone for chat right because yeah You just do the kind of point where it's like and It was rampant today

What happened last night? I even got one mid squat and it was like sorry sir said and I was like can I help you and he goes you think Brady Kachuck's a good captain and I just yes that's an interesting comment oh yeah people are fired up like they're they're fascinated to watch what goes down tomorrow night oh it's something man it's something these leafies like there's nothing there's nothing like it noodles. I was I came out of the post office I dropped my kids off this morning and came out of the post office and was walking across the street so you know traffic holds like they wave you through and two guys in a van were like rolled it down stop traffic like what do you make

noodles? Yeah, it's like I don't know man like you know They're up three to like and like they wanted it was more than a stop and chat I'm like I got a let try here like no, but I had the same we all have the same experience I'd rather someone just tell me what they think like don't don't stop everything to say hey, what do you think? I want you to just say to me flat out like my buddy stopped today walking his dog in front of that I just want you to say I think they blow this thing I I feel fine they're gonna win on Thursday don't just come with the heat

that's what you got to do doesn't it seem impossible to envision them winning in game seven the Leafs I told you tomorrow is game seven It feels like tomorrow's game. I Know I understand that I but it does it does seem impossible To picture the Leafs losing tomorrow and getting to game seven and finding a way to muster up a win I obviously could have a difficult for them to get any kind of mojo if they're stymied and stifled and they can't get one by all mark and they can't get anything cooking to like get back from that and But it dial it in for game seven. I don't know. It feels like tomorrow is game seven

I really believe that the only way I would say it's different is we don't know the context of the game But if it's a another slow game, but you know what the chances were yesterday? 7 to 7. Mm-hmm. Seven high danger chances for both sides. Like it was a very low event game and you know, yes, Ottawa scores on two of those and then two empty netters add into it, but it you know at the end of the day if it ends up being an overtime game that it's a bad bounce, like I could still see a pathway. The point being is, put it this way, on this show all year people are like, that's been different, it's different this year,

just looks different, sounds different, and then the minute there's adversity, it's like, no, they're not different. They're not different. That's the beauty of it, is that the Leafs could win tomorrow. If they dominate tomorrow, Leaf fans are going to be like, I love them against Florida. They stack up so well. This is their year. It flips on a dime. That's the beauty of being a fan.

It's sickening. It's sick behavior, but we all do it. That's why we love sports. That's why it's the best. Right? And this weekend, man, if the Leafs lose tomorrow night that means game seven will be Saturday night the Kentucky Derby will be basically the pregame right into game seven yes like they'll be coming out of the blocks of

what like six o'clock 615 and I guess journalism's the pony that everyone's buzzing about right now and journalism could launch into a triple crown or at least the beginning of one with a big big victory on Saturday right into game seven and there may not be the only game seven we could have multiple game sevens on Saturday and a man that I'm sure is prepared for both in fact I know he is is of course formerly if you see him on the NHL on TNT I'm sure you'll see him this week down at Churchill Downs here's our main man Eddie Olchuk. How we doing, Eddie? What's up, boys? Well, to be exact, 6.57 Eastern time is post-break for the 150 first running of

the Kentucky Derby. So you talk about an appetizer for a possible game seven on saturday night which i don't know if it's going to get the game seven if you if you want my opinion but anyway that if it is and then you know what you don't have to get off your car for about seven hours on saturday and then uh... hopefully make a little bit of money and everybody here we are called from happy depending on who they're watching the game seven trial any what makes you think you don't believe there will watching in game seven. Eddie, what makes you think

you don't believe there will be a game seven needed to be played? Yeah, you know what, I just feel like any time that the Leafs this year in particular, kind of gone sideways or haven't played well. They seem to be able to bounce back. And again, look, I'm not watching just full disclosure. I'm not able to watch every game, every shift, and there may be people that disagree with that. But I just think it is a different team. I think the way they played this year, some of the games that they played, how they won the games, and I know they were up three nothing in this series, and here we are going to a game six. I understand all that.

But I just feel, old dog, I just feel from what I've seen here recently over the course of this season, and that's all you could do, because obviously you have a new bench boss. I think they have played better collectively and team wise and they look confident when they are playing a lower scoring game or like I mean just from the you know Jamie was talking about you know a Low event type of game last night

I was trying to keep my eye on a couple of games because I might have a game seven assignment on Sunday night So I'm kind of keeping an eye on what's going on a couple of games because I might have a game seven assignment on Sunday night. So I'm kind of keeping an eye on what's going on in some other games. So I didn't see every shift but I just feel that. Now watching most of the game last night, Ottawa just looked like they were the faster team, the quicker team and I know that you know the chances you know weren't there a lot but they just look like they were quicker to pucks in all three zones for the majority of the time that I watch and they found themselves an opportunity and they were able to cash

in and they're going home for a game six. So I expect the Leafs to put their best foot forward in game six and you know see how it all plays out but I just think it feels different, it looks different, knowing Craig Berube like I do, I just kind of get that sense. Now whether or not that happens, only time will tell. So Eddie, that's where I was going to go with, we've talked about the Leafs. What have you liked about Ottawa? What have you seen from Ottawa, maybe that's a little bit different than what

you expected. I just think that they're maturing. Nudels, right before everybody dies, I think that they have some highly skilled players. Their defense, they're very mobile. They can escape themselves out of trouble, which is such an important part with the game, the way that it is played today. We know that they're physical. Greg's got to, there's no other way, he's just got to smarten up. You can't be making, wearing a family box with some of the things that have happened so far in the series. I mean, yeah, I mean, discipline, I mean, I guess you'd be concerned about, but, you know, you love the battle, you love the battle levels, but, I mean, there's, I think

there's so many things about Noodle's. I mean, you know them better than anybody. I mean, I, like that, to me, is, is, the team is, is on the calm, and, you know know we'll see how it all impress with their season and and how they played so far in this first round with Eddie Olchuk so using the the Pucks and Pony analogies as much as I can the old saying you can you know drag a horse to water but you can't force it to drink it I think I butchered that but it's something along there. In terms of the big boys in Toronto, you know the Austin

Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, the stats you're aware of the Metty. You know they're 1 in 13 in elimination games since 2018. They're 0 for 30 on the power play in those games. Austin Matthews has two goals in his last 15 playoff games. What is it? Like, what do you see from these guys in the biggest moments where they have a chance to change the reputation that they just simply have not been able to do it? They don't seize the moment.

Why is that? What do you see out of these guys? Because it is so flipping hard to win in the greatest league in the world. And it just happens. I mean, look, you guys could all go over hockey players or any other sports about, you know, he can't win, you know, their teams can't win. And look, the most recent, again, the first one that pops into my mind is Oldie. Like everybody said, oh, you know, Capitals will never win, they'll never win, they'll never win. The guy evolved in his game, much more less physical,

much more selective in the last seven or eight years, you know, conserving his energy for what he does best, you know, stays away from injury. I'm just painting a picture here. Like it takes time. Sometimes it just, you got to evolve as a player, as a team, as an individual and things happen. But it's going to happen at some point. I mean, I believe that. I mean, those guys that you mentioned,

Brian, I mean, they're, they're two good players. Now, whether or not they're doing it all together or not, I mean, that look at it. I could argue with that too, but I just think it happens. I think there are too good of players not to be able to show up at the biggest time to make a play. Look at it, it's just hockey. It's just the way that it is.

And it's the ultimate team game. And I know what the numbers are and you can't skate from it, you can't hide from it. So I just think that at some point it's going to happen and I think for obviously Leaf fans and within that room and the organization is that they're hoping for a monster game from one or two or all three of those guys and maybe somebody else pitches. of those guys and maybe somebody else pitches. I mean, how good, again, you guys tell me. I probably saw seven shifts of the fourth line for the Leafs last night and I was like, and I'll be honest with you, when I saw some of those shifts, I went, get those guys out

there. Get them out, you know what I mean? Like ride them, like ride that horse. There's another Pucks and Ponies analogy there, Brian, right? I mean, ride it to the finish line and you know and Pony's analogy there, Brian. Right? I mean, ride it to the finish line. And you know, look at, you know, people may get upset or whatever,

but you know, I think, I think that, that Craig Ruby played those guys probably a little more than he probably anticipated, but those guys had it going and that's okay, right? Like that, that's okay. So maybe if you give those guys a little bit of a breather somewhere and they you know And they get a little bit of a blow and then all of a sudden they have a little bit more energy

And they get away from a matchup and they have a big shift and they draw a penalty now the one thing with the power Play I will say is what my guy didn't get any time and oh dog, you know this because you were tremendous goal score I used to watch you when I was a little kid You know growing up and trying to like an old dog even though you shot the wrong way but that's that's for another story um like you gotta you gotta simplify like you can't try to pass east west you can't try to go west east it's got to be downhill it's got to be and then and then even if they block a shot or two whatever they think you're going to go there then you have to ad-lib.

I mean, it's the one thing that I think is a broadcaster now for too many years. But on the power play, it seems like that in noodles you call games. So I think you know what I'm saying is that when the schematics of a power play come out and you know what the strength of their power play is but teams take away those options. You got to be able as a power play guy that's why you're making the big money. You got to be able to add lift. You got to be able to say okay if they're taking away the half wall or they're taking away the middle of the ice with a point shot you got to get the pocket you got to get it down to the goal line and old-fashioned meat and potatoes say,

you know what, I'm gonna go to Matthew Nice on the goal line, and you're not gonna look the path. You're gonna take the puck right to the blue paint. I don't care what happens with it, it's going there. So everybody's gotta go there. Like, I don't see, and I'm not just talking Leafs here, I'm just talking in general of a lot of power plays in the national hockey.

It's like, this is what we do best. And if they stop us, okay, we'll tip our hockey helmet to them and then we're gonna wait for the next power play. That can't happen 25, 30 power, you know what I mean? Like you gotta be able to go and ad lib and say, that's not open. The perfect example, I did two of the first five games in the mini Vegas, I'm sorry, one of the five games

to the mini Vegas, I'm sorry, one of the five games in the mini Vegas series. In game three, Vegas went half wall to the point, shot, missed the net, they kept going to that, going to that, going to that, and I just was like, okay, you know, I got a little emotional. I'm like, look, you've got to go from the goal line out here. Like, you've got to change it up every once in a while. So what that does is it draws the penalty killers down and an old dog, you know this, then all of a sudden then the half wall is open. Then you can

maybe pass through the box or if they're killing like a diamond formation. So I just think that they got to do what's natural. Don't worry about what the game plan is. Those guys are good enough. Five forwards, five defensemen, three and two, four and one, whatever it is, take what the other power plays give it. Yeah, you want to go to your strength right off the bat, great. But if it ain't working, you got to you got to do something different. And if I'm going to go down on a power play, instead of continuing to just, you know, go the same way all the time, you got to change it up. And look at this, some of that is coaching hundred percent, but I always blame

Whatever I should say blame it is the end result I always put it to skates of the players because those are the guys out there driving the bus when you do have a man advantage Yep, it's not the jockey man. It's got to be the horse Eddie. I mean, that's that's the I gotta be careful how I say this. With overdrive, I mean, we know who the thoroughbreds are, we know who's riding those thoroughbreds, right? That's right, Kyle, you know it. You know it. So in the West, Dallas is up 3-2 on Colorado, Vegas up 3-2 on Minnesota, Edmonton up 3-2 on LA. Of those three in the lead, which one do you think is most comfortable? Like who do you, who are you looking into the future saying, okay, Edmonton, Vegas, Dallas, that's the team that's in the lead, that's the team I know

that's going to the second round. I'm gonna, I'm gonna say, I'm gonna say Vegas. Okay. I just, I just think with their experience, the back end, their big boys are heating up, Jack Icoll's played two really, really good games. And again, another adjustment, right? Bruce Cassidy, he finally broke up Icoll and Stone for the first couple of games of the series. Wasn't going well. It just wasn't.

All of a sudden, a little bit of a tweak in the middle of game four, all of a sudden now those, you know, Stikovic, and Ikel is the key. I mean he's an awesome 200 foot player, obviously just like Austin Matthews. So I just would think that, you know, if I'm looking at that series and Minnesota, man, I mean they've done a hell of a job in the series and we know how great Kaprizov is and the type of team and the style that they play. I just feel out of those three series, cause I can't believe that Edmonton's got a three, two lead in that series.

I can't, I really can't when I, when I saw what happened in that series, especially when it went to Edmonton and then the Colorado Dallas series, I did two of the five games of that one and after game one, I thought, well, Jesus, this might be over in three games this series. I mean it wasn't even close in game one and they're doing this Dallas is doing this without Robertson and Haskin and then you know who knows that Haskin is gonna come up and play in this game six but I would probably not probably I would lean more towards Vegas than those other two series because I could easily see la going epitome in winning and forcing a game seven and we all know about colorado with

mccarr and mckinnon they can certainly do that and in dallas look at you know both those things obviously they want to eliminate those extra games but especially in the series because you know those are pretty damn competitive series uh with Eddie old Chuck. All right, Eddie one of my favorite, you know Moments of the year on this program is when we get to the Derby and we start to lay down Some bets or at least take a look at certain ponies that we like walking into a Triple Crown This is the big one. It's the big party obviously down in Kentucky Journalism appears to be the favorite. I think they're three three to one do yeah, I believe so And they want a lot that horse won a lot coming down the stretch here are we all

in on journalism do we like other ponies set the scene here for us? Yeah, yes, yes, yes there are other ponies that I like it's gonna be hard to beat journalism he will be my pick hoping for three to one which is not a bad investment you know if you bet old dogs money if you bet 2,000 to win, you might get back 8,000, so that's a pretty good return on investment in about two minutes and maybe less than two seconds. So I believe, Ry, is that he just,

journalism that is just breeze different air. It's almost the aspect of all these other horses when they're running that he's facing again Look at this this is stiffest competition. You've got a great post position Number eight is that the other horses take one step? Journalism has to step he takes two steps You know what I mean? Like he just has that incredible ability to gobble up ground He has some adversity in his last race out in California. It was only a 500s field. Now he's going to have to go up against 19

opponents which you know look at 19 opponents, Churchill Downs, 165,000 people going a mile and a quarter which a lot of these sources quite frankly might never run again. So there are a lot of question marks, but I do believe he should be the favorite, he will be the favorite, but I think if you could get anything, you know, if you could get two and a half to one, or seven to two, or the three to one morning line,

I think that you should, and look, that's where my money's gonna go. I've got future wages on this horse at around 12 to one, so I could use a line from the late great, my former partner, the great Mike Lang, the voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I'm smiling like a butcher's dog right now with those future tickets on journalism. Another horse I'm going to use, let me say this, I think there's a lot of pace in this race. I think there's going to be... It's going to be for the horses I like. I like number 14,

his-tastic, that's with a T, his-tastic, and I also like number 17, the Sandman. Sandman number 17. And I have to say this because I have to... Now, there's 20 horses scheduled to them right now, but in between now and Friday morning at 10 a.m. Scratch time There's an also eligible horse that will come out of it will be saddle cloth at bedding number number 21 The name of the horse is by Aza if by Aza happens to draw in To the field of the Kentucky Derby I believe by Aza has a chance to be one of the top three or four betting favorites in the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday night. So you have to use the 21. If he doesn't run, obviously you don't have to worry about it, but I would keep that number handy. So my numbers are 8, 14, 17, and a highlighted number 21 if he draws in the field of the

150 first running of the Kentucky Derby. I love it. Lock it in, man. You're just never going to get better info than that. Like I love that Eddie, you're getting a future on a pony back in the day. Like that is outstanding. Well, I also, now, Brian, you tell me this, because you're the basketball guru, or at least I think you are.

I got a future at about 12 and a half to one on a Celtics Thunder final. Oh, I love it. You like it? All day. I love it. I adore that. So don't cash out is what you're saying. I'm saying just that. Yes,

I think you know you're gonna get Tatum healthy, Celtics are gonna be fine. I'm not buying Cleveland. I'm not buying the Pacers, Knicks or Pistons. I love Boston and the East and I think I like Oklahoma City. I mean I think you look what they've done in the first round man. I mean yeah I really like that bet. I like that future future you're onto something man. Alright. Okay pal. Alright well we'll try to get back even over the last couple of weeks. Yes that's the beauty of the chase man we'll get there we always do we always make it and

it's all good. Enjoy the playoffs as always we'll do it again soon I know it's a busy time we always love having you on and say hi to everyone down there in kentucky for us always great to be out with you guys like i keep up the great work and uh... a look for talking to you uh... real sooner you got it there's uh... eddie old chuck parks and ponies there that he was throwing out some terms that that they were your favorite things that's ever been set up a show easily my

favorite segment when he said This horse breathes different air. You almost fell off your chair I did with happiness. I was so happy and then he's talking about the stabs That guy just said a horse is breathing different air your ears perked up You were the horniest i've ever seen you get like do you know how much? Insight you have to be and have to put a future bet on a horse like that dude you're crawling around farms like at 4am you are in haystacks literally taking notes camouflage saying, I got to get in on that guy at 12 to 1.

That pony looks like he breathes different air. He's got a horse that's not even in the race. Yeah, he's like, if this guy gets in the race, watch out. It's like a guy coming up from the Miners. It's Pab Val Bure. It's unbelievable. This horse, the 21 one horse is a number one prospect

that has a real real chance of making an impact on the kentucky derby i love any old chuck i told you have a future i told you reference something he's got salt dicks thunder in the final as it would he say twelve and a half to one that's a great as well as the horses he's got teen 17 and 21 yes yes and eight is journalism which he generally doesn't like really pump the tires of the chalk like the true favorite but I guess he loves this he loves this horse breeze different air breeze different air crazy yeah you take

one step that and whenever we talk about a great performance you just play he breathes different air. I would love that man if someone just turned on the show and heard that they'd be like who's he talking about McDavid? Dry Cytl? No a horse. No journalism the horse. Crazy. Crazy.

I love it though. He's so passionate. He's talking about like ah ah, you know, Vegas I can see, Edmonton, whatever. Yeah, maybe Vegas. Come out, it's pretty good. All right, who do you like at the Derby? Well, let me tell you something. This guy breathes different air and he chews up ground.

That's another one he tossed out. Chews up ground two steps in one. I love it, man. Even the posting time, like 10 a.m. on Friday, who knows that? Well, how about he goes, he'll they'll run it about two minutes maybe about two seconds like he was he had it like right all of them parks and ponies with eddie oh the greatest segment we do every single year

uh... right steve phillips coming up the jays man they can use some ponies to have about the five hundred million dollar pony shows up here and i see it on my last I'm on last night. But come on, gladi. Get things cooking here, man. This offense has got to get going. They're doing an opener tonight. I'm concerned about it.

I understand. And you should be. Listen, they've been terrible recently. Like they're just, they're not a juggernaut team. They're not a good enough team to have a run like this and not have people doubt who you are and what you're all about. Like that's the truth. I get it.

Still April, technically, but come on guys. And you got the Red Sox in town game two tonight. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050 and on TSN two. Cannot wait for the Kentucky Derby now, man. Eddie Olchuk just fires you up. Yeah, he really fires you up, dude. It's just, you just cannot wait to see these ponies run. And we'll continue to track that as we move forward.

And it's amazing what's going on between the Leafs and the Jays. Like they're trying to out-compete each other with more stats that make you just shake your head. You know, we've referenced the Leafs today, 1-13 in closeout games. They're 0-4-30 on the power play. 0-4-30 on the power play in those 14 games. Doogie just sent this stat. The Jays have gone 30 consecutive games without a first inning home run. So it's like a hold my beer. You know what I mean?

Like the Jays have now got 11 games without scoring more than four runs. It's you know, they've lost eight of nine and the one they won, they had a somewhat of a miracle rally in the ninth at Yankee Stadium. They could be in the midst of a nine game losing streak, plummeting the standings the bats are asleep boudin frances got towards last night and now you got a bullpen game tonight ishers or who knows when this guy's gonna pitch yeah that's good stuff that's not not good that it's not good here's steve phillips rts and baseball insider

it's been this positively for we need some some positivity appear in toronto steve what can you tell us about this blue jays recent run that would suggest it's an outlier and everything's gonna be all good well it's an early release after we're going to take a look at the answer sooner or later they've got a score in a power play my gosh you know okay yeah you think i do you think so you would think yeah it's sooner or later to Bichette's gonna hit a home run.

You think. And so, yeah, I wish there was a better way to spin it, but you know, they play pretty decent baseball for a little while, and now the offense is just, the pitching's not there, they're trying to be perfect. And by trying to be perfect, it makes you more imperfect. It makes you find the heart of the plate, because you fall behind nibbling off the corners and then you lay one in there and they hit on the ballpark.

And you know, five home runs yesterday to the Red Sox. And Red Sox are a really good offensive team. You better bring your A game pitching against them. Now maybe tonight you got Lucas Gialito making his first start back, coming back from Tommy John surgery, then coming back from injuries and spring training. And so, you know, maybe there's a way to jump on a guy like the Yankees jumped all over Kyle Gibson yesterday down at Baltimore.

But, you know, that would mean that the first three hitters would hit home runs and that would mean Bichette would have to hit his first. So I wish there was a better way to spin it. Hoffman's been good at the end of the game to close him out. There just haven't been any saves to get these days. And so the pitchings look like it took a step backwards. The offense is struggling.

And it's not a great sign because the Yankees and Red Sox aren't going to wait around for anybody. They're not going to feel sorry for anybody. Now, I saw Scherzer through a bullpen, he's working his way back but again I think right now that's icing on the cake. Whatever you get is you know on top of everything. It's not, you can't count on it and so they're gonna need the guys that are there to do it and somehow Flattie's got to put the team on his shoulders and start to really carry them. Steve that's

the optimistic I guess you would say spin on this. I just don't see it. I mean, are we not going into year three of an abysmal offense where we're looking at it and just saying they can't hit, they can't hit? Like for anybody to think that these guys are going to turn it around offensively, I'm sorry. Like when is the time limit on saying the offense is going to come? We had Ross on right after Vlad signed and he said, I'm really excited about this offense. It's about to pop. That was 10 games ago. When does someone just look at this and say, sorry, this doesn't work? Yeah, I think we're there. It's the I mean, you know, I mean, it's the same story over and over can't hit, they don't even compete.

You don't even say, oh, I can't wait to come back and watch them launch homers or run or whatever. It's just not an entertaining brand, which is the worst thing of all. You can't even entertain people. Yeah, I mean, to your point, so yesterday, the Cubs reached a point where they have 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases, the Cubs do so far this year. 42 home runs and 44 stolen bases. They're

the quickest team to ever get to that. And that power and speed dynamic makes it a fun, interesting, exciting, you know, really fun games available to watch and play. The Blue Jays have 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases, not even half the home runs and fewer than half the stolen bases in the same amount of time. And so you think about how much less action that is, how much less movement that is, and you know the Cubs have 60 doubles, the Blue Jaysays have 51 and so it's not like they're just not hitting home runs and they're doubles they're not really hitting that many doubles either and you know we're talking about the second fewest home runs and you know the second lowest OPS

and so there's no pitching good enough to be able to overcome that little offense as you can get and so you know I think that something's gonna have to change and guys are gonna have to get hot, stay hot, Pichette's gonna have to start hitting for power and Santander is better than what he's doing and you know even if he gets to who he is which is a lower on base percentage guy, he'll be like a 310 on base percentage but you hope he slugs 540, which is going to make him a really functional player and hitting home runs and driving him runs. And, uh, and you know,

they've got this malaise that has sort of been contagious that everybody has. And they don't even have any guys that are really excelling. Springer did early and, and, but you know, he's not hitting home runs either, but he's getting some hits and I like the energy with it he's playing. But Varsho is going to bring you know circus catches, but he's not going to bring offensive production. And you know the idea of the offense is going to pop, you know the only way it pops is if the first four guys in the lineup really deliver. And you think really the first three, which means if you think about a third of your lineup is what you can count on, then

that gives you three innings a game where you have a chance to score, right? A third of your lineup, a third of the game. And that's not giving yourself a lot of chances to try to do it. Then you're hoping a Kirk runs into one. You're hoping that Rodin hits one. You're hoping that Varsho can get on and steal a base and do something so you know I don't you know the reality is you can change hitting coaches and they did but if it's the

same hitters and you've changed coaches and and it's the same answer for three years then maybe it needs to change the hitters. Well and that's the same answer for three years, then maybe it needs to change the hitters. Well, and that's the thing, now that you got Varshow back, I mean, they're committed to Bichette leading off. I'm curious where you stand on that, because, you know, Springer's hitting cleanup tonight, they had Jimenez hitting cleanup for a while, they finally got off it because they had to. I mean, Jimenez looks like he did in Cleveland

the last couple of years. You have Varshow hitting fifth, and Kirk, Alejandro Kirk's killing them at the plate. Like just killing them at the plate. But do you just keep, are you just committed to Bichette leading off, Steve? Does that appear to be the way Schneider is going to approach it or what?

I think so. You know, he hits his on base percentage, but he does get his hits, you know? Yep. And, you know, you could put Springer back up there. Uh, but I, you know, having Springer down below where maybe he can drive in some runs and hit a whole run. Uh, at least gives you a chance to put a crooked number up on the scoreboard

with the shot on base in front of them. Cause you know, you can bat the shut down there, but you know, a man on first, if it's Vlad, he, he hits a double. Vlad, he might not score in the double, uh, because he's, he's not hitting it on the ballpark. And so, yeah, I think they're probably locked in a bashed. It's just, you know, they've got to find a way to unleash a Santander,

because if they can get him going, then it at least changes the dynamic for Vladdy a little bit. And then Springer's got some traffic on the bases in front of him. And then, you know, then maybe you can get some traffic for the guys behind them to where the pitcher has to throw it over the plate. Because right now, when nobody's on, pitchers can start the ball in the zone, break it out of the zone, and the chase hitters chase.

They don't have the sort of team discipline to lay off of that pitch. And so, you know, the only answer is to start getting men on base and then have somebody run into one and even if it's only Santander that starts to get the power going that would at least feel better than what it does right now. Yeah his numbers are staggering man and I get it he always has a bad April he doesn't have a great September is generally waits for the warm weather and I'm sure that's coming but in terms of first impression on a market it's it's been it's been dreadful

really for Santander and you know we mentioned the starters I don't know if you've ever seen someone throw 53 pitches in an inning the way Gosman did the other day and then Francis last night gives up five home runs and I just I look at Schneider and I'm like I don't I don't know he's, I don't know how he's supposed to get away from this because Gosman was pitching, you know, it was going to be a doubleheader and you knew the bullpen was going to be taxed. You're playing a lot of games here.

You mentioned Hoffman's been great beyond that. They're still trying to figure out exactly how everything's going to play out, but it does, that feels like deja vu. That last year, Gosman was speaking out. Bassett was speaking out You know, I'm curious how far you think we are away from their starters saying man. I I don't know what we're supposed to do here Yeah, it's a tough situation because you don't ever want to point fingers at a team

And you know if you're not getting run production the guys go out there trying to be perfect and it makes you more imperfect It's just know, you think I'm going to nibble the corners. Oh, it's ball one. Uh, and you know, and then come in, okay, then I'm going to work off the plate. And the guy doesn't chase next year, you know, you're three and one, you got thrown over the plate. Uh, and then they, because you feel like I've got to be perfect because we're not scoring anything. So I've got to get strikeouts. I've got to try to miss bats. I can't let them put it in play. Uh, and, uh, and it becomes this confounding problem, compounding problem.

So listen, you can't leave a pitcher in for 53 pitches in an inning. I think that that's such a setup for an injury. It's one thing to throw 100 pitches in a game over six innings where you're throwing, you're sitting down, your arm's recovering. You're throwing 53 pitches without any recovery time with a pitch timer. It is such a setup for an injury. And fortunately, you know, it doesn't seem like he's he got hurt, but it is a real setup. And, you know, I know that they felt like it got away from them. They had nine pitch at bats. They didn't anticipate it went from 35 to 44 to 53 pitches

and two at bats. And next thing you know, he's up over 50. But that's really risky, really risky. And I would have had a conversation with my manager if that happened. We can't afford to leave people out there for 50 pitches. Now somebody else, I saw another player, young player out there for 39 pitches. And I'm like, what are we doing? And finally they took them out. And Will Warren, I think it was, threw 39 pitches and they cut him out of the game. Like we can't do this to our kids.

So, yeah, I didn't like it, but you've got to protect them. Steve, where would your mindset be if you assembled the squad? I mean, Mark and Ross, or or yeah Mark and Ross put this together like where do you think their headspace is watching this is it just like yeah well they're gonna get us sooner or later I don't know they can't be optimistic or happy watching this like I wonder where would you be at yeah I got there I was in this place where you know it wasn't playing out the

way you know I sort of hoped it, even though I went in with some doubts about guys, I thought, well, geez, everything goes right and go our way. You know, it just doesn't always go right, you know, and the questions, the more questions you have coming in, some of them work out, some of them don't, and some of them just are neutral. But then other questions pop up with guys, just not even the ones you were worried about. And so I've been down that road and wasn't shortly thereafter got fired. And you can hope, you can keep trying to pray,

you keep trying to spin, you keep trying to be optimistic, you keep trying to say, we're about to pop, it's about to happen, we know we're close. And in some ways you're convincing yourself and because what are you gonna say? Nope, you're right. We suck. You're right You know what? We're not gonna turn it around you can't you're not gonna do that So you continue this to preach optimism and you talk to the players pat him on the back Tell the managers there you support everybody

It's it's all you can do as a general manager But you know when you're in some trouble and and they have to feel it right now that it's all you can do as a general manager, but you know when you're in some trouble and they have to feel it right now that it's slipping away a little bit. It's a horrible feeling and then the clamoring starts getting louder. For me, I remember going to my owner when somebody wrote at one point, Mets fans want Phillips's head on a pike on the Triborough Bridge. One of the writers wrote that. Wow.

And yeah, and here's the thing. I actually at the time had a restraining order from a fan who was making threats. I had another guy calling, leaving me messages that were threatening. I had another guy call and say that if he saw me on the road, he'd run me off the road

and hope that me and my family died a slow painful death. I had another person's psychiatrist call up and say that the patient was a threat to my life. They'd made threats against me. So this guy wrote, you know, Mets fans went, Philips had had a pike on the Triborough Bridge, and I knew we were struggling. I knew that my days were numbered.

But, you know, and then you start, then it starts getting ugly, right? And then it starts getting personal. And then, so I at one point went to ownership and I said, listen, I said, I understand where things are and where you are. And I just want you to know, like, I get it. And so, you know, he goes, nah,

we'll give it a little more time. See if we can't get things to turn. But like he acknowledged that, you know, the reality was that if things didn't turn, I was out and I knew the reality was that if things didn't turn, I was out. Uh, and you know, when you're in these positions, you hold onto hope, but you also are realistic and you know, when things are going poorly, the snowballs rolling down the mountain, turning into an avalanche That it's gonna take a Herculean effort of some sort to turn it around that becomes a very remote possibility

And so I'm sure they're feeling that right now in the Jade's front office right now Yeah, well, and you got a bullpen opener tonight trying to get you over the top against this Boston Red Sox Juggernaut offense, so we'll see what comes of it. They need one tonight, that is for sure. Always appreciate it, Steve. Thank you for doing this. We'll do it again soon. You got it, guys.

My pleasure, anytime. Steve Phillips, our TSM baseball insider. Well, that kind of leads down another road where it's like, you kind of know what's there. Why did you have to hand over seven hundred million canadian to a guy why was that necessary well i mean together process you know i don't know yet listen is a lot of pressure on bloody this should be

scott abease gotta be better uh... but i think you know i don't know if you also could awaited let the year play out and then maybe a sign of maybe it don't but i don't i don't know what the urgency I said it from the time. He signed it. What was it? Why cuz he said he was gonna go sign with the Yankees and you got it You just had to hand over that money. I don't know man Yeah, I think it was the the scare tactics of the Yankees and the Red Sox that he'd stay in the division They'd give him the money the fact that they missed out in the fashion

They did the Otani one really hurt their brand in a way. You know, I think they, I'm sure they felt self-conscious about that, that they felt like they were being used and he wasn't alone. It was more than that. Yeah, but dude, I'm never going to be pigeonholed into handing over seven-pumpers sheets. I hear you, but you know what also probably happened? Like what we just talked about is Shapiro and Atkins probably convinced them, no, we're a good team.

Yeah. Like we're a really good team. Like we, we got Santander here now. We got Jeff Hoffman. So you think they sat in a board room and said, we're actually a really good team and you think a bunch of suits went, Oh, okay. Yeah. I think the suits would know. Like, do you think the suits are sitting there being like, well, tell what's your strategy when you're, you know, batter seven through nine in the order. I don't think we live in a world.

I don't think we live in a world with a bunch of dummies now or they just shake their heads Oh, you guys are good now. Okay cut that check for 700 million. Do you think he would have signed if they said hey listen Let's be clear. We're gonna be terrible this year. We're gonna be awful this year Do you think they would have got that money what they're gonna be in another month and a half It looks like they're gonna be a terrible team with flattie on it. It might also be terrible Yeah, listen if it continues continues dude it's it's yeah you gotta stop it now. They're getting crushed. Maybe there's a pathway out of this though who knows. I would hope so. Alright there you go.

Start hitting. I like that optimism. I like that optimism. Leasing six and the J's are chasing 90 wins. Everyone here. Joe from the bridge. Alright best bets coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on from the bridge. All right, best bets coming up overdrive continues TSN 1050 and on TSN too. All right, today's best bets are powered by Fanduil make your picks and assemble the same game partly on seconds on the Fanduil sportsbook app. You guys have sold me on the Jets tonight.

I think you have. Is believers in the Jets tonight? Absolutely. Jets money line, Gabriel Velardi anytime point tonight. I think it's big getting Velardi back and Josh Morrissey three plus shots on goal I think Morrissey is a guy he's got to be an engine for this team got somebody else up front It's like top line or nothing. Yeah, we talk about star players, but there's other good players That's right other guys need to chip in listen

The captain's got to have a night to Adam Lowry's got to play play. That line's a great line, but they've got to play. They can't get pushed out of the game. Kyle Conner. Kyle Conner for sure. All right, those are your best bets. Powered by Fandall Live. Same game parlies are now available for every Stanley Cup playoff game

on the Fandall Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly. 19 plus, physically located in Ontario. All right, got the Habs looking to survive. You got the Lightning looking to survive tonight. Yeah, and we got Winnipeg taking on St. Louis. What a night. Jays in action. NBA playoffs continuing and tomorrow Positive Thursday. Positive Thursday. Sounds good. All right. Looking forward to it. Good stuff guys.

Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. Everyone for tuning in today. TV, radio, podcast, web. We appreciate it. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games. Tonight we're back tomorrow at... Tomorrow we breathe different air. Breathe different air. 4 PM. We'll chat. Hey, who invited climate action to the party? We did! Hey, I'm Shannon Burns. And I'm Sarah Christie. Together, we host the Earth Day Party Podcast. Where the guest list is full of climate experts sharing their advice on how we can protect our planet. Everything from avoiding microplastics to sustainable fashion to getting a prescription

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