OverDrive - OverDrive - August 5, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: August 5, 2025

Join Aaron Korolnek, Jason Strudwick and Michael DiStefano for Hour 2 on OverDrive! ESPN MLB Analyst Tim Kurkjian joins to discuss the Blue Jays' pitching strength, the potential of a six-man rotation in Toronto and the Yankees' rough skid. They also dive into Strudwick throwing out the first pitch at the Edmonton Riverhawks' game, James Cook's next contract with the Bills and play Confirm or Deny going around the sports world.

From tariffs to trade deals, the markets are changing. Is your portfolio ready for what comes next? For all your questions, you need a money guy. Kelvin, the money guy, will help you develop a financial plan that includes the right levels of diversity. The best way to navigate uncertain times. With strategic advice from Kelvin, you can not only protect your investments, you can grow them. Don't wait. Call 416-457 plan or visit ask kelvin.cai.a.

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the more you save. Switch to Canada's fastest 5G-plus network today. For details and more great offers, visit a Bell store or bell.ca slash promotions. Bell, back to school, just got better. It's hour two of Overdrive, TSN4, TSN-1050, TSN's YouTube channel, Aaron Carolec, Jason Strudwick, Al's brother until 7 o'clock. Overdrive brought to you by Fandul, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score.

Tim Kirchin in about 10 minutes, talking about the Jay's Rockies game number two after game number one went very well. Not as well, however, Struddy, as your performance at the Riverhawks game on Friday night. a listener Daryl tweeting in and apparently there it is you wearing an Abba shirt and those are some very very short shorts as well what's going on in this picture you can see up on TSN4

Struddy yeah so the river hawks is the team we have a local minor league team obviously not to major leagues and they had Abba night so I was invited out and I love Abba they're my favorite band of all time with a big Abba fan and I got invited throughout the first pitch so my family came some friends And my kids were all over me, like, don't embarrass us. Like, I'm like, are you kidding me?

Don't embarrass it. I was a professional athlete. So I had launched a, it was a ripper. I think the catcher said he'd never felt to snap that hard from someone throwing out the first pitch. And I made myself proud, my kids still chirped me. But, yeah, what an experience, 5,000 people staring at you. Were you nervous?

Oh, I was so nervous. You practiced that or you just practice? Really? No, I just, I mean, I, I didn't, I played a little bit growing up. I'm not great. but yeah there's about actually that game I think there's 8,000 people so I mean let's say there are 6,000 in their seats wait for me to throw heat down the middle and I did just a point snap that thing in there like I might be the seventh if they need a one I could be the seventh

starter for the blue jays probably go three or four innings. I think a seventh inning guy or maybe a river hawks bullpen guy probably more more realistic I think I think we can safely say that you've never thrown out of first pitch anywhere else because you played in a lot of hockey markets where there have been baseball teams right yeah no no it's surprisingly they didn't want a six-seventh defense when showing out the first pitch uh in chicago that it's surprising you never saying the uh seventh inning stretch at rigley so i was supposed to yes we were supposed so early in the year like the second or the first or second in the year

was supposed to and it snowed so that's like god himself didn't want me singing don't need that i was so excited because i love wrigley field i went there a lot when i played there I was so excited and then I woke up in a son of like oh they'll still play they'll still play and then no and they never invited me back it's like you know what they probably nobody else like there's no one else you can't find bill murray we'll use strutwick we'll use strutnik and that is really unfortunate there needs to be some kind of makeup for that I think all these years later they need Chicago legend Jason Serruder to return and do what he was supposed to do before it snowed so this was like an April game I imagine right first yeah first second game and Chicago I mean you never know it's coming off. Home opener, Jason. That's right. Michael Jordan, unavailable people.

So strutty gets the call. Oh, man. No tipping, Scotty, Pippin, Brian, or blacker, none of those guys can come. I was available, surprisingly.

Amazing. That's amazing. That is special. You should have been, you know, throwing at the first pitch at the Buffalo Bison's game where you did see Shane Bieber

pitch over the weekend. And we'll get to that conversation with Tim when he joins us. Just what the Blue Jays rotation could look like here in a couple weeks sounds like a few more rehab starts for Bieber including one more in Buffalo and then maybe a call to the Biggs

but it doesn't really matter who's on the mound for the Jays as long as they're playing the Colorado Rockies because they are awful. 15-1 demolition of the Rockies last night for the Jays they looked to make it too and a row like what are the odds for the Jays tonight on Fan duel? They must be minus 250 minus 300 with Burrios on the hill against

whatever stiff the Rockies are throwing out there Minus 2.30. Oh, that sounds like value to me. Yeah, it could be value. For baseball, that's decent value on a money line there. You can even get them on the run line at minus 152. Oh, my goodness. Not bad.

That's not bad. Every Jay's hitter had a hit through three innings last night. They batted through twice in separate innings. Yeah, it was Colorado's horrible. They're terrible. And I think every hit, they had 25 hits on the night. 25 hits. And a season high, everyone, except Vladdy, funny enough, ended up with two hits.

Two plus hits last night. So just everybody, but that's, when the Blue Jays are at their best, you look back to when they were really rolling before, you know, the speed bump in Baltimore and in Kansas City, they were getting production throughout the order. You know, one through nine, it was incredible what they were able to do, whether it was Nathan Lucas, Joey Loper, Fido, Ernie Clement, you know, you had Tyler Heindman when he came out here doing some things.

Miles Straw was hitting home runs, triples. It was crazy, and that's not to mention, obviously, Vladdy, Bowes hitting 400 over the last month, George Springer prior to the injury, Alejandro Kirk. Everybody was providing offense for this Blue Jays team. And to me, that's what's most impressive.

When I look at, you know, the Yankees, for example, like the depth isn't quite there for them. And they're so reliant that I think it's been very evidence over the last week since Aaron Judges, but he's come back tonight. But they just don't seem to have the same type of lineup depth that the Blue Jays have. And that's something that gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.

If they can get the pitching in order, I think this team has a serious, serious chance to do some damage come to the postseason. But the pitching has to clearly be better. Last night, they were great, fantastic. Eric Lauer. Lauer was a stud now. It was against the Rockies.

But it was in Colorado, which is a very difficult place to pitch. Yeah. And he was excellent. Ball carries. He was able to get out there. They only gave the one run. I think it was Lauer gave it up.

But, yeah, I mean, this team offensively, like, they got something cooking. Even the underlying numbers, if they're number one league an expected batting average batting average they can hit for power they can hit for average play a little small ball if they want the very quality

offense they got cooking out here but in the blue jays right now yes and I am very eager to see not so much the matchup against the Rockies again I hope the jays come out and smoke them once again I'm quite confident they will they play again tomorrow afternoon but then the schedule becomes a lot more daunting right the Dodgers you mentioned it

in hour one strutty the Dodgers they've got the Cubs coming to town they've got the Texas Rangers, those are three very difficult opponents. And you still got to take care of business against Colorado. Like, you got to sweep the Rockies. You got to do it because Boston is red-a-od. They've won six in a row, and that team has really turned it around since they got rid of Raphael Devers.

They're a completely different team. And Aaron Judge coming back for the Yankees, so you presume they'll be a lot better than they have been over the last while, which has been rough. How about those trades they made, the Yankees? They trade for all those guys. They send one of them down, a bird. They send down a bird, yeah. They have been getting rocked.

Those bowpen arms that the Yankees brought in. Aaron Boone, Brian Cashman must just be tearing what little hair they have remaining on their heads out. Just disgusted by what they've seen. Well, it was a Deval. They brought in that devil kid from the Giants and, yeah, Bird, who's now been... Bednar from... They're all getting rocked.

They got hammered. I love it. You see this Nick Turturo, Turfiel? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever his name is. He's freaking out. He's melting down. Absolute meltdown after meltdown.

down game after game. They've given up like multiple run leads in multiple games in the last few games. Look at Boone scratching his head. He's thinking, oh my God. What are we doing? What has happened? Bang, ends the game. I know. It's a beautiful thing and there's nothing I enjoy more than, well, there's a few things I enjoy more, but the misery of the Yankees fans is something

that, I love. And now they're going to Texas and getting spanked by the Texas Rangers. And like Jazz Chisholm just making a stupid mistake night after night. It's glorious. It is glorious. But you have to imagine the return of judge will maybe help them turn it around in a major way. I mean, he's the best hitter in baseball. And you get him back in the lineup. I think he probably DH is to start. But Boston is a team that clearly Toronto needs to contend with. And this next couple weeks is going to be very crucial, obviously, with 50-some-odd games remaining on if the

Jays can win the American League East. And you want to finish with one of the top two records in the American League, then you get a buy through to the DS. You don't have to worry about playing in the wildcard around. And right now, the Jays are two and a half games clear. the third spot, which if you are third, you play the six seed in the wild card round, so you get through the top two, and what an opportunity for the Jays, because you're right there. You can set up your rotation, however, you decide to set it up, which is clearly going to be, I think, the most interesting conversation with this baseball team down the stretch, because you have Bieber, you have Scherzer, you have Lauer, and then you have the three guys who

have been mainstays for a number of years, and to discuss that, joining us on the Maple Toyota Hotline, it is Tim Kirkchin, for you. ESPN. How you doing, Tim? Well, how's it going? We're doing great here, man. The Jay's late a beating on the Colorado Rockies. I imagine they'll probably do the same thing tonight, but as far as the Blue Jays

and what they've got going on in the starting rotation, what was your assessment of how they did bringing in Shane Bieber from Cleveland, Tim? Yeah, I love it. You know, it's a risk because you don't know how healthy he really is. I mean, I think at the time,

He only pitched four innings, seven strikeouts, though, in a rehab game. But it's worth a try. He's a great kid. He's had a great track record, and now we'll just see how much he has left. But he's one of six starting pitchers that they have, so they don't have to push him. They have five other guys they can go to, but they should take a good, long look at him because what if he has recovered amazingly? What if he's somewhere, at least close to the great Shane Bieber of old?

Suddenly, they have a guy who could start a playoff game. So that's what this is all about. Let's see how much he's got left. Again, they have money to afford him next year if they want to pick up the option and everything else. So I thought it was a great move by the Blue Jays. If it doesn't work out, I don't think they lost a whole lot in the transaction. Tim, there's some talk about maybe going to a six-man rotation, if and when Bieber is healthy.

You know, in your experience looking at other teams in the past, how do the more veteran pitchers feel about a six-man rotation? How do you introduce that or kind of make it work for everybody? Yeah, first thing you do is you go to the three big guys. You go to Bassett-Brios and Gossman and say, all right, we're thinking about going to six. If Andrew says, I think that's a really bad idea, I'm unbelievably durable, I make all my starts, I haven't missed the start in years, like Burrios hasn't, you need to listen to him. But if he says I'm all good, then I would try to go to a six-man rotation and see how it goes. That's where most teams are going anywhere, anyway, eventually, but you really have to take the temperature of the other three guys. And if Kevin Gosman looks at you and says, I'm not comfortable with that.

this. I'm comfortable every fifth day. My, you know, my split's going to be better every fifth day, not every sixth. I think you have to listen to him because he's going to be one of the guys. If you make the playoffs, it's going to be starting critical games, and he has to be as comfortable as possible. Well, I guess, let's say if they do ask and they say, yeah, we don't want to go to a six man. Who gets squeezed out if Shane Bieber comes out? Like, do you just automatically look at Shane Bieber and say, all right? Well, I guess you, got to go to the pen, or do you have to have a difficult conversation about Max Scherzer or Eric Lauer, who has been arguably one of the best pitchers in the rotation for the Jay's last

10 games? He's got a 283 ERA. Like, who gets squeezed out if that's the case? Well, that's a really good question, and that's where the manager and the general manager have to make some very difficult decisions. On the surface, you would think, well, Shane Bieber is coming back from a major injury. He hasn't pitched all year. He hasn't pitched for us all year, in theory, he would be the one that would get squeezed out for me. However, if he comes back and he's firing like old, and, you know, any of the other guys you look at and say, all right, he's not throwing as well. But my guess is they would squeeze Bieber out if they decide that six-man is not the way to go.

Our guest is Tim Kirchon from ESPN. Boba's shed has been red-hot. He has two homers last night, six RBIs. That's a career eye against. Colorado. His dad's old team, which I think is a cool little nostalgic point to make. But as far as Bichette's future, what type of contract you think he could be in line for it? Because Tim, there's a very realistic chance. This guy leads the major leagues in hits. He's been very, very productive for Toronto all year long. What type of contract

could he be looking at in the offseason? Well, I still don't understand why he's not already signed long-term by the Blue Jays. If you have the money, and it's pretty clear that they have money that they can work with, and he's been this good of a player. And then, of course, he's had a couple of lulls, but he's back to being the guy who can win a batting title, lead the league and hits, and he plays a premium defensive position. I'm not sure what the exact contract looks like, but he should get paid finally because he's been such a good player on, for the most part, a win.

winning team, and the position he plays is absolutely critical. When you have a shortstop who can lead the league and hits, again, that adds to the value. So, again, it's not my money. It's easy for me to say, but if you're going to sign us, you know, sign Blattie long term as they did, can't just leave him alone, sign the other guy, and go from there. With the recent kind of success of the Red Sox way they played and then the Yankees going the other ways, and now the Sox in your mind, the clear-cut favors to perhaps challenge the Blue Jays for top spot in the All-East?

Yeah, I think the Red Sox are the second-best team in the division. Now, again, the Yankees can't be done. They can't just continue this, you know, this decline that they're on right now. They get Aaron Judge back tonight, which, of course, changes a lot of things. But the Red Sox are playing with an edge right now, according to their manager, Alex Cora. When you've got a bunch of young guys who are now buying into what's going on and they're young and they're athletic and they're aggressive and they've never been here before and they can't wait to get to the ballpark and try to continue this winning streak, that's a dangerous team right there. Now, again, they've been dangerous at other times this year and then they hit a lull again. I mean, this just speaks to the entire American League this year that no team has just been great and just keeps it up, not even the Tigers.

But yes, I think the Red Sox are the most dangerous team right now to the Blue Jays as far as passing them in the division. Aaron Boone said as much, Tim. He said that the ALE East, or excuse me, the American League as a whole, not just the ALE East, is wide open. And I do wonder, the return of Aaron Judge tonight, does that act as a catalyst for the Yankees maybe to get back in the race for the ALE East or maybe this team's too far gone? well they're not too far gone because again it's a winnable division it's a winnable American league and yes getting the best player in the league back is a huge boost for the Yankees part of the problem is is that Giancarlo Stanton who has played awfully well here lately um he's going to either have to go to the bench and he's he did a whole bunch of homers

lately. And then if judge can't play the outfield every day, he's going to have to DH, which means if you're going to keep standing in the lineup, he's going to have to play the outfield, which he's not particularly good at these days, given his lack of mobility out there. So I think this is great for the Yankees. They get their best player back, but there are complications for them that come with it. Well, how concerned should Yankees fans Like, yeah, they're getting, you know, Aaron Judge back. But the way that bullpens looked and the acquisitions that they've made since, a couple of blown saves and some blown, you know, holds out there.

I mean, what's the conversation like in New York when it comes to the bullpen right now? Yeah, this is a conversation I don't have after what they did at the trade deadline. They have four closers, and four of those closers helped lose that game last night. and the fifth one, Jake Byrd, who they acquired from Colorado, ended up giving up the walk-off homer and was sent to the minor league. So I think Aaron Boone has to look at this bullpen and say, I'm not sure what we're going to do. We do have four choices, but one of them,

Devin Williams, hasn't even been close to the same pitcher he was with the Brewers. And, you know, David Bednar's never pitched in a situation like this. you know, Camillo DeValle has pitched in the postseason before. So I think it's every night Aaron Boone is going to look down there and say, all right, who's going to pitch the ninth inning for me tonight? And at some point, somebody's got to pull this together because they have suffered two terrible late-inning losses since they acquired all this relief help at the trade deadline.

Tim, you are a baseball historian. Can you recall a team as bad as the Colorado Rockies? and all your years covering the sport? Well, remember, I covered the 88 Orioles that lost, you know, for the Baltimore Sun. They lost their first 21 games, so that was pretty bad. And the White Sox were pretty bad last year, too. And the Rockies have played a whole lot better here lately, but, you know, they have a very difficult final 50 games wherever we are,

and they're trying to avoid being the worst team, you know, in Major League history, at least in this century as far as this, since 1900, as far as losses go and everything else. It's really a shame to watch the way that they have played this year, and it's not good for baseball that there's a team, much like the White Sox were last year, this bad, because when they win a game, people consider it an upset, and that is just not helpful. for the game every night in baseball you have a chance to beat the best team in the league no matter how bad you are but really hasn't worked that way for the Rockies this year

we're all pining for the days of Todd Helton and Vinnie Castia but as soon as the Jay's clear out with a couple more wins I think then they can resume their better play in the second half Tim thanks so much for the time great to have you on the show we really appreciate doing this for us

sure fellas thank you that is Tim Kirk Joining us on the Maple Toyota hotline drive the built in Canada. Fuel efficient, fund-to-drive Toyota Rav4, gas or hybrid models available. Visit MapleToyota.com. Imagine covering a team that loses 21 straight to start the season. In baseball, it's 162 grueling games six months, and your team is 0.21. It's already done within the first month of the season.

What are you going to do? Enjoy the month of May. I mean they haven't done anything They really have not done anything since obviously And they sold out some pieces at the deadline But last night was just another game Where they just got pummeled We're not complaining about it

We love it from the Toronto perspective But that is the biggest flaw in the sport of baseball right now Is that there's no salary floor You have teams like Minnesota Trading everything that's not nailed down For picks and prospects Yeah, but prospects And of course they give the Tampa's

and the Oaklands or whatever they're called, now the A's, who have been trashed and haven't spent any money in forever. Like, that's the problem with the sport. The disparity between the teams that spend and the teams that don't is so great that it creates this vast expanse in the sport of the haves and the haves-nots that just kind of make it unwatchable when you're playing these crappy teams like the Js are. Although, you know, go up 9-0, you're like, all right, good to go.

840 start early to bed. We love it. Well, I remember when they introduced the salary cap in the NHL, and we fought. we're never going to take it and all this and that and Gary said it'll make all the teams spent and it'll make everyone competitive right and I think that they're you look at the NBA and the NHL you have different guys kind of cycling through now you know Florida is doing really well the Florida teams but you have success teams go up and down I think that's important

because fan bases after a while you don't want to just never think your team can win a championship it's really really hard now I'm a fan of the Giants yeah we won it's been a while but we won 14 years ago. That's not awful. In football, you have teams of 50, 60 years prior to the Red Sox to the Cubs winning. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. And it just has been this eternal dismay for so many teams in baseball because they have owners who are just trying to cash the checks that they get from revenue sharing and won't spend any money. And the salary cap, the unintended consequence, or maybe it is an intended consequence, not only is there a cap, there's also a floor, right? So these teams, and that's why I just don't see Tampa and

You know, all these garbage teams going for this floor. I don't know. I don't think they want a cap, but I also don't think they want the floor. But in order to have the salary cap, you need to have a salary floor. Otherwise, it doesn't work. And we've seen that in every other sport that has this salary cap, whether it's a hard salary cap or a soft salary cap, like in other sports. So baseball is in a tough spot.

The CBA expires in December of 2026, and there's going to be some battles. We've heard about Bryce Harper and the commissioner going, you know, face to face. I'm kind of argument, and Bryce Harper is really rich. He's made a ton of money, but what about the guys who haven't cashed in? Yeah. And I'm sure they'd love to see a salary floor implemented, which would bring the lower middle-tier players into a more respectable salary range. Yeah.

Well, keeping your homegrown talent, too, big out. Yeah. Right? You want to have, you want to be a smaller market team. You don't want just be a farm team that just says, okay, well, he's going to name the team, you know, Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, whatever, right? So I think that's important, too, to keep your homegrown start. Yeah, I mean, think about what's the Moneyball, right?

Like that was like Johnny Damon and Jason Giannihavi. Miguel Tejada. Like they all left. And when it comes in, he's like, we are essentially a farm team for the Yankees and the Red Sox. And a lot of teams aren't that way. I mean, you look at Tampa, they don't pay anyone. Like whoever they breed, they hope they can get five good years out of them. Before they hit for agency.

Boom. Goodbye, David Price. Like, you're out of here. Same thing. Like Baltimore for years did that Machado. goodbye. I mean, you think Paul Skeen's going to be there for life? Absolutely not. I saw a report out of Pittsburgh that they were negotiating extension with Paul

Skeens. They should. They should give him. There is no way Scheen's staying there. Why bother? If they pay, why not? Well, because you're never going to win because they might pay him but they won't pay anybody else. We saw that with A-Rod in Texas,

right? You signed that massive deal. Like, I that's the problem. You want to have all the teams. Like, I know people don't want to hear about that. What is it, competitive balance? And I believe in it. I've seen it and I believe in it. Big trade in the CFL between the Argos and the Elk Struddy. You'll be very interested to know that the Argos have acquired American running back Spencer Brown

in exchange for a eighth round traffic in the 2026 CFL draft. Big maneuvering in the Canadian League. I thought you're going to tell me that my guy, Niagara's own Trey Ford. Oh, Trey Ford to the Argos? No, no. They're not using on the Fajardo out. They're not using Trey Ford. I guess not.

We got Nick Arbuckle here in Toronto. Things will be fine until Chad Kelly returns. But I guess Spencer Brown heading to Toronto from Edmonton. That's the big news of the evening here on overdrive. That's Strudwick. I'm Kourolnik. That's Michael DeStefano.

We have confirmed or deny still to come. Steve Phillips will be on the show, as will Robert Turbin. We've got a lot of NFL stories to get to as well, boys. We've got to talk about Micah Parsons, Terry McLaren, a potential trade that Al's brother came up with, which I think is very fascinating, featuring two of the most premier receivers in the league, maybe being swapped for one another, some discontent could be solved by Al's brother. We'll get into that a little bit later as we continue in our two of overdrive here on this Tuesday afternoon.

From tariffs to trade deals, the markets are changing. Is your portfolio ready for what comes next? For all your questions, you need a money guy. Kelvin the Money Guy will help you develop a financial plan that includes the right levels of diversity. The best way to navigate uncertain times. With strategic advice from Kelvin, you can not only protect your investments, you can grow them. Don't wait, call 416-457 plan or visit ask kelvin.cai.a. It's hour two of overdrive, brought to you by Fandu, will bring you everything from the opening line of the final score.

Aaron Corona, Jason, Strudwick, Al's brother. We'll get to confirm or deny in just a moment. But, Stradi, I need your take on this story emerging from the National Football League. George Kittle was on a podcast today and revealed that the NFL will be banning all smelling salts and ammonia packets. Were you a big smelling salts guy back in your NHL days?

Yeah, it just started kind of towards end of my career. And, you know, if I was really, you know, sometimes you feel foggy. You know, I think we've all woken up and you feel that way and there are times you feel that way. So I wouldn't do it every game. You know, you see, I think Ovi does it every game, not to throw them under the bus. But if I did, I'd just give it a quick shot. But listen, I don't know what the health concerns or risks might be for doing that.

But these are adults, professional athletes. I see kids do it. I coach hockey. I'll look over to the other bench and a kid's got a smelling salt. You're 13 years old. I'm like, but you don't need that. You know, you don't need that. The next thing is got to chew in after the game.

Smoking a vape in the locker room. Yeah. So I think that's where the parents have to be, hey, this isn't happening. We're not doing this. So, again, I don't know what the medical risks are why they shut it down. I'm not, I don't know it. But they're adults, at least. Kids, don't do it.

So you're telling me that parents in Edmonton hockey of like 13-year-olds are buying smelling salts for their kids. Oh, yeah. It's all over the place. It's, this is a thing. Yeah, yeah. Absolutely. Have you ever, you've ever, you ever taste it?

Not taste it, but you guys ever have a shot? Yes, I have experienced the smelling sauce. Yeah, it's a sharp, abrupt wake-up. It gets it going, but if you do it all the time, I don't think there's an effect to it, right? A-K. You should try it tomorrow on the show. Yes, I think... Should we do smelling...

Yeah, it's actually a good idea. Are we allowed to do that? Yeah, I don't. Carrado probably has some from his playing here, because he's on the show tomorrow morning. Yeah, on the drive-in. Maybe Coliakmo and I in the morning should be doing smelling salts right at 6 a.m.

That would be quite the show. Could, you know, could propel it to New Heights. You're like, man, these guys are really good now. Like, the 6 p.m. has really kicked it up at us. The show used to be utter trash, but now since they've started doing smelling salts, a lot more energy. A lot more energy.

And actually, an interesting story. Maybe the Cincinnati Bengals should be using smelling salts to, at least the first couple weeks. They are one in nine since 2020 in weeks, one and two. And Zach Taylor, their coach this afternoon said that they're playing their starters in the preseason, something they have not done. Burrell will be out there. Chays will be out there. Higgins will be out there.

Stretty. I mean, as far as pre-season. season and its correlation into the regular season. Do you think that has an effect on what Cincinnati will be doing in the early parts of the season, or maybe they're just unrelated? Well, I think when you continue to have struggles like that of the record you just suggested, I think you have to change something up. You know, I don't think as a coach, it's, it's okay to say, well, just keep doing the same thing, expect different results. So I think for this specific situation, he's trying to change it. Now, the NFL, I'm so nervous about injuries, right? So I'm like, oh, man,

I don't want this to happen, but if you have a goal, they want to work on certain things, yes. But normally I would be like, I'm not sure if I want my starters going there, but this team isn't ready to go. Now, we've had some situation that Joe Burrow has been injured from the season before and carried in. So maybe that's affected that start as well. I think this is very notable. Okay. I do. I think it is notable.

And like, because he said multiple series. So more than, and like sometimes you'll get some starters where the coach would be like, yeah, we're going to have our starters play. And it's like one and done, right? You just get in there, take some snaps, you kind of get loose, you play a little bit, see what they look like against live NFL talent, and then you get them out of there. They're playing multiple series, and I think that it's definitely a testament to, you know, them wanting to get off to a good start because they've now had opportunities where the team is good enough to make the playoffs, but they put themselves in an O2 hole every year.

And then they're battling, right? They're trying to come back and battle in a very tough AFC North. You got to start off on the right foot. I think they play, what, Cleveland? They play Cleveland in week one, which you would normally say, oh, that's a buy, right? But last year, you mentioned this. They lost to, week one. Who was that?

Jacoby Brissette and the Patriots back then? Yes. And it was insane. Like, they were, I believe the Bengals last year, week one was like the number one Survivor team birth of the week. And everyone got smoked. I remember myself watching. It was insane.

Insane. So, and I think they, I believe they lost the Baltimore Ravens in week two, which which was kind of a crazy game, if I recall, kind of like comeback. But you start the year off 02, and in the NFL one, there's only 17 games now. You go down 02 to start the year. It's tough. Especially in the AFC. Especially in the AFC and the AFC North, specifically where you got three teams who can easily battle for a playoff spot.

I like this move. I do like this move. I think it just gives them, we'll get more into rhythm, get that offense clicking, and hopefully, you know, I don't know if they'll play into week two and week three, Maybe not at all week three, maybe a little bit in week two of the preseason. But get them out there. Like this weird new trend, the last, I don't know, five, six, seven years where starters just don't play. And I don't know if it helps or not.

I guess I, you know, I'm not in that situation. But for a team who historically has got up to a bad start, I don't think it's a bad idea. One in nine in weeks one and two since 2020 are the Cincinnati Bengals. We'll see if playing the starters in a couple of preseason series makes a difference. All right, fellas. It's time for confirm or deny. I can neither confirm or deny that this is in fact a segment. Austin trades Andrew Raycroft to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Tuka Rass.

It's been my honor and a privilege to serve as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. It's time for confirm or deny. Do you regret giving all those gentlemen the no trades or no movement clauses? I can either confirm or deny that. I can't confirm more tonight. It's a really long intro when you're just on camera, I just kind of waiting for you. You're like, okay, how do I?

But like this week, like for the bracket, we're doing best trades in Toronto, Tuka for Andrew Raycroft, probably one of the worst trades. Yeah, that's 25 years. That's in the mix. Yeah, that's in the mix. That was a tough one.

But Razor, I mean, until I think Freddie Anderson did it a couple years ago, I mean, five years ago, had the most wins in a season for any Maple Leaf goal. In the cap era. In the cap era, that's right. So don't disrespect to Andrew. Raycroft like that house brother how dare you i think that says more about how bad the

leafs were than how good the razor would all right sticking with the leaves here's how confirm or deny it i make a statement and you either confirm it or deny it it's revolutionary radio and strutty why we start with this nick robertson will be in the toronto maple leafs lineup on opening night do you confirm that or deny it um i think i'm gonna deny it for a couple reasons one i don't see him in the mix right now as far as uh the type of player they want that third liner, especially with the code of Joshua coming in, I think they have a style they want to play on that line. So does that make Nick a fourth liner? Unlike. So I think he will not be in the line. And maybe secondly, as I said earlier, I think he's a guy a candidate for a

trade for another player on another team in a similar situation. I'm going to deny it too. I mean, we're taking a look at the opening night lineup, the projected opening night lineup here. And he is on the outset looking in. And I think that's about where he is. I don't think he's going to work his way into the mix in the top six. And I certainly don't think he fits the identity of how they want to play in the bottom six. He's probably going to end up being this team's 13th forward if he's

even on the roster. Let me twist a question. More likely to be in the Maple Leaf's opening night lineup, Al's brother. Is it Nick Robertson or Easton Cowan? Ooh, I like that. That's a tough one. Oh, boy. I'm going to go with Easton Cowan, probably I think he could do more.

And he could get the nine games, you know. Yeah, well, he doesn't have to be the nine games. That doesn't matter anymore. Yeah, that's true. That's in the American League. That is true. That part doesn't matter. But I think you just, you look at what Cal and at least he can play a two-way game, right?

And he did it against OHLers, whether or not he could do it at the NHL level. Clearly last year, Burr-Bet said he couldn't want him to work on his puck protection skills. But I think he's someone you can play up and down the lineup more so than Nick Robertson. I agree. I'm with you. All right. Shifting to confirm or deny number two. Struddy, you can opine on this.

one first. If you were starting an NFL franchise today, J.J. McCarthy is the superior option to Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears. Oh, man. I'm going to deny it because we haven't seen JJ. You know, we haven't seen them on all these Caleb. We've seen some action. We've seen not always great action. So I'm going with Caleb in this one there. Alphonse. I'm not, Like, when did J.J. McCarthy become, like, Tom Brady 2.0? Where is all this love? I'm just saying there's so much love right now for J.J. McCarthy. I'm just trying to understand where this.

The guy hasn't thrown, has it literally had a snap in the NFL in his career. Meaningful snap. You played one preseason game last year. Played well. But again, it was against third and four stringers. Are you taking Williams? You're taking McCarthy. Or is ACL?

I'm taking Caleb. Really? 100%. I'm not. Absolutely. I'm not. I'm taking Caleb. Why? What do you mean why?

Well, Jaynege and Jayne McArthur. He has a lot of talent. No one's deny that. No one's deny the talent that Caleb Williams is having. But I think you could also agree that J.J. McCarthy is in an exceptional position to succeed playing in that Minnesota Vikings offense with Justin Jefferson. That's what we're talking with Jordan Addison and with Kevin O'Connell. That's a different conversation.

You said, which quarterback would you take? So I assume they're the same roster. Oh, is that how we're doing it? We're talking about better career, better option. What's the question? What's the option to start a franchise? I guess if you're starting a franchise. I'm taking J.J. McCarthy all day.

I'm not a believer in Caleb Williams. You have Caleb and J. Absolutely. Currently right now in camp for the Vikings. Do you think J.J. wins out over Caleb? I do. I do. I think J.J. McCarthy poised for a fantastic career, and it starts quickly for Minnesota.

Side bet. You're a stiff. We'll revisit this in 15 years. You're a stiff. No, I am no stiff. Nor is Bo Bichette, and that's shifting to confirm or deny number three. Boba Chet will sign a long-term contract extension with the Js before next season.

What do you think of that house, brother? Confirm or deny. Before next season. I'm going to deny it. I'm going to deny it. I hope I'm wrong. I really do. Because I think that this team needs Boba Chet to be at their best.

And there are a much better team with them than without him. But I just think that it feels like another one of those big market American teams will come in, swoop in, give him a big money deal. And if that happens, I think he's more inclined to go back down south. at the end of the day that's that's what i believe i like he prefer to play down in down the states that he would in in america or in in canada so i'm i'm gonna deny it i think that's what what we see happen yeah i'll go confirm i think that you know he and glad have been together for quite a while i think that just i watched the team they're having so much fun out there and why would you want to continue that you know they they seem to have some some of the

trades they made they added some arms some guys that might be around for a while um so i think that the team is positioned pretty well uh at least it feels like that for a little while. So I think that he sees that and he will sign that extension. I'm with this, Truddy. I think he's going to sign as well. I think the Blue Jays, I would guess, what's it look like? And again, if I'm Bo Bichette and I'm Bo Bichette's representation, I'm looking, okay, well, Vladie got $500 million. Can I get $2.25? Can I get $2.50? And I think it's a reasonable ask. How many years are you giving? It's not necessarily the A.A.V. It's like years as well. Very much so. If it's on a 10-year deal, okay, $25 million to AAV,

makes sense. But if it's seven at 225, that's a different, different story. Very true. Very true. I think it's a longer term deal, but I think if I'm the Jays, I'm looking to make that as short a deal as possible for obvious reasons. In that, Bichette, there's uncertainty regarding his defensive acumen on the long term, even on the short term. How long can he stay at shortstop? And if he isn't able to play shortstop for you, where does he slot in? Is he a second baseman? Is he third base? Does he move to first? Does he move to right field. If you have Bo Bichette as you're starting shortstop at, you know, a decent level of play, that's a lot more valuable than those alternatives. So I think you have to factor that

into and how will the bat age? I think they made a determination on Vlad that they think through the 30s, through his 30s, that he will age very well. Bichette, I think that remains to be seen, but someone's going to pay him. And the team that seems most obvious to me is the Dodgers. I mean, they need a shortstop. They'll have a bunch of money somehow, some way. They'll defer it. It's like, hey, Bo, how much money you need? We got it for you. And I think Rogers is going to have to ante up for Boba Shep because he's a very important part of this baseball team for the present and for the future. And that's a guy I'd be looking to keep. And I know there was an onus on keeping Vladie and they made a massive push to do so.

They went probably far beyond they ever comprehended they would. They might have to do the same thing with Boba Shed if they want to keep him. Yeah, I think so too. We'll see if they're willing to do that. Like that's the thing. And it's a two-way street though. Yes. That's the only thing.

They can come up with the money. But if he doesn't want to stick around and he'd rather. exhaust his options. I do believe he may come back to Toronto, but I'd be shocked if at this point he doesn't test the market. All right. You did see Shane Bieber in Buffalo. You were there scouting. You had your own radar gun. You were making notes. Very detailed ones in that. So you get to answer this one first, confirm or deny. Shane Bieber will make at least three starts with the Jays this season. I'll confirm that. Yeah, I'll confirm that for sure. I think he's got a couple more, they said, starts in the minor leagues, and then at some point he'll come up and he'll start

playing with the Blue Jays. I mean, there's probably what, five starts left for the rotation, five more trips, six probably more trips through the rotation if you're going with a six-man bullpen. So even if you start with a game or two out of the pen as a long relief guy, I think you still are going to get three. And if you believe that Shane Bieber, and Ross Atkins was on the show, right? Ross Atkins was on overdrive last week, and he said, what's the best case scenario for Shane Bieber. And he came out and said he's starting for us in the World Series. If you believe that that guy, Best Case Star was starting in the World Series, you bet your ass you want to see at least three starts of the regular season before he gets to a point

and feel feeling comfortable with that. So I think absolutely, at least three starts for sure. Confirm. Alphonse, you're on fire. I'm going to confirm it as well. What I've seen is that I want to find out what we have. Right. I don't want to find out in the playoffs. I want to find down. Now, we're assuming that everything stays well, health-wise, and everything's on track, but I'm going to jam them in some of those games to see what we got, so I know. All right, allow me to twist the question again. This is not a confirm or deny, but I mean, it's a would you rather, if you want to call it? Would you rather bet that Beaver starts a playoff game for the Jays or Max Scherzer? You could only pick one. What's more likely between

the two? Like for me, I let you, I'm just throwing this at you on a whim, it's got to be Scherzer because we've seen Scherzer. He's healthy and productive now. Bieber is still in the minor leagues. He has not pitched in a professional game since April 4th, 2024. Beber is ranked number six for me at this moment as far as likelihood to start a baseball game for the Jays, simply because there's so many unknowns. That could change very quickly, but for now, that's my answer. When it comes to Scherzer, like how much more do you think can he elevate come playoff time? Like, is he, can he still be a guy who could dominate in October like you used to.

At this point in his career, what you see? I mean, there's a decent sample size. Now what? Six, seven starts into the J's you know, this season. He's been good. Striking guys out. He's been decent, I would say. He's been decent. He's been every bit of like a back end of the rotation type of guy. The home runs

little, give it up a little bit too much long ball, which is a killer in the playoffs. But at this point, you have to say Scherzer because he's healthy in pitching. But I think that if Shane Bieber can come in shove like he did prior to the injury. He looks great in, you know, in his rehab starts against, not against major league talent.

But I believe that at this point in their careers, Bieber can offer more upside than Scherzer. Struddy, where are you, Scherzer versus Bieber? I'm just jumping on the Alphonse train again. When I'm looking at this, I'm looking at the guy that has the higher end. And at this point his career, Scher doesn't have what Bieber has. Right now, consistency-wise, you're probably going to say Scherzer. But I think as far as, if he's playing in the, let's say, he gets Bieber, that is. Pitches in the playoffs, that's great news for the Blue Jays, because

that means he's got his stuff. So I think every Blue Jay fan should get in their knees and pray that that's what happens. Yeah. It's a really fascinating spot that Jays find themselves in because again, Eric Lauer, a name who really no one's considering as a possibility to start a playoff game has been Toronto's unequivocal best pitcher this season, for sure. It's interesting. It is going to have to be an interesting conversation that Pete Walker and John Schneider are going to have with each other. Is like, do you give Lauer, is he afforded an opportunity to be a starter? Or is it just, sorry, man.

Like, I know you've been great, but unfortunately, look at the guys and the track record that they have. Like, you're at the bottom of the totem pole no matter what you do. Seems like it. I don't know if there's anything Eric Lauer can do to get himself in that mix. I'm going to ask Steve Phillips. We will. We will. 20 minutes from now.

Steve Phillips, Robert Turbin, in about 45. We continue with more hour two of overdrive after this. From tariffs to trade deals, the markets are changing. Is your portfolio ready for what comes next? For all your questions, you need a money guy. Kelvin, the money guy, will help you develop a financial plan that includes the right levels of diversity. The best way to navigate uncertain times. With strategic advice from Kelvin, you can not only protect your investments, you can grow them.

Don't wait. Call 416-457 plan or visit ask kelvin.cai.a. To roll next, Strudwick, and DiStefano until 7 o'clock. Steve Phillips, in about 15 minutes as we continue here in hour two of overdrive. And with the help of Healthy Planet, TSN1050 is donating $10,000. That's what I like to see to the TDSB's backpack and school supplies drive. You can help support our local students to a $25 donation, provides one backpack for his student, and $30 total ensures it includes the essentials.

Donations are now being accepted through the end of September. 1050.ca to donate today. That is a very worthy cause. And we are proud to support here at TSN 1050. So we talked a lot about the NFL today for obvious reasons and hard knocks debuts tonight. You guys hard knocks consumers on HBO? Yeah, I used to be a massive hard knocks consumer. I used to watch it back in the day, loved it. I have not kept tabs the last couple of years. You don't remember the Joe Shane comments about Sequin Bar with the Giants. Oh, like, don't you're wrong.

Sorry to bring that up, Strattie, apologies. Yeah, that one was tough. It's the bills. It is the bills tonight. It is the bills. I think I'm going to have sucked back in with the bill being part of it. Oh, for sure. It's going to be huge.

And I imagine James Cook and his contractual status will be prominently featured. And, like, his comments, and I feel like I have a pretty good feel as to how these contractual situations are going to play out. Like, Micah Parsons isn't going anywhere. No, we're going to re-sign him. Terry McClorn is going to get paid. I think Trey Hendrickson is going to get paid. The one I don't think is that's going to happen the way he wants it to happen is James Cook with the bills.

He wants to be paid like one of the top running backs in the NFL. And they have a guy behind him and Ray Davis, who I think could maybe do 95% of what James Cook can do. I'm a big fan of Ray Davis fourth-round rookie at Kentucky last year entering year number two. I just don't think the leverage is there for Cook like it is for the other three guys, House Brother. No, I agree. It comes down to workload And we even saw like Kairn Williams got paid today

With the Rams Kyrn Williams was used I think he had 46% of touches All touches for that Rams offense last year So his usage is high The highest of any player in the NFL And he only got 11 million Right with with guarantees

So 11 per year 11 per year Yeah three year deal 33 million 11 per year That's about where I see James Cook in that range. I don't see him like the Saquan Barclays of that elk where they're making 13, 14, 15, Jonathan Taylor. Like, he's not that. He's not going to be that because he doesn't, he's not as valuable to the bills in the way that those guys are valuable to their team. And that's ultimately

why I think you look at why he's different. Because they have a replay, like you said, Ray Davidson come in and do a lot of it. He's not as good. I don't believe he's good. But he can come and he can replace things for a heck of a lot cheaper. He's not a working deal, and it will be for the next two years. So it doesn't make sense to go all in and pay him 15 plus million a year on a long-term

contract. We will continue this conversation in Hour 3 when Robert Turbin. Former NFL running back joins the program. We're looking forward to that. Steve Phillips as well. It's Kourulnick, it's Strudwick, it's DeStefano as Hour 2. We say farewell. Hour 3 is next. Seasoned gamer, or just video game

curious, this weekend gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world video games from basics to beyond the hottest gaming news insight and industry leaders and more weekly join me naomi kyle and stay ahead of the game with all the latest updates even if you're a total newbie stream this week in gaming on the free iHeart radio app or wherever you get your podcasts