OverDrive - OverDrive - August 6, 2026 - Hour 2

Episode Date: August 6, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Keegan Matheson and Dave Feschuk for Hour 2 on OverDrive! The hour kicks off with Keegan sharing his keys for the Blue Jays to properly instill confidence in the fanbase for the 2027 season. The guys discuss Jefry Yan’s unique first MLB strikeout celebration and if there’s a code in baseball, and debate Gavin McKenna’s first three season point totals in OverDrive Arbitration. We wrap up the show with FanDuel Best Bets.

Hour 2 Overdrive continues. Powered by Fandul, Brian Hayes, Keegan Matheson, Dave Festh, Chuck Best Betts, later in the hour on the Argos and Stamps tonight. We get the Hall of Fame game down in Canton, Ohio. A lot of football tonight, looking forward to that. And Jay's off to Philly after their game in Chicago. And they're still technically in the hunt. You know, they're still alive for that elusive third wildcard spot.

Someone's got to play in the playoffs, right? And that third wild card spot has been pretty terrible all year. There's four or five teams in the mix. The Jays are one of them. They're at the bottom end of that barrel. They've got to jump over a lot of teams. They've got to play much better than they have at any point this season. But they have won a couple of series in a row.

There might be on the verge of beating the Cubs. Philly's a good team, but they're not playing great. You go down there, you find a way to get a serious win, and then all of a sudden positive thinking, right? That's where we're at. So Trevor May will join us in just a moment on that more. But Keegan, you're sitting on a list. here. With that in mind, as the backdrop, the incredible optimism.

The incredible optimism, the rest of the way here, you have five things that have to happen for the Blue Jays the rest of the way. Yeah, with eyes on 27. On 27. And maybe if it works out this year, great. Okay. These games still need to matter because there's a lot of them and because I need to justify my own existence. Let's be very honest with this. I like that.

Number one, I just want to see this team let it fly down the stretch, man. take some risks. If you take a big swing and strike out and look stupid, who cares? You're still in the same spot you were out of the playoffs. If you try to steal a base and get throwing out, who cares? You're still out of the playoffs. Whatever. If you miss the playoffs, no one cares about your record.

You just missed. So take some big swings, be aggressive. And honestly, I think John Schneider is perfectly suited for that. Yeah. Put the hit and run on with Kirk on first base. Totally. Just run. Whatever.

Yeah. Turn it into a video game, go for it. We need to see a reason to believe in Flattie, guys. I'm not going to say that we need Vladdy to be fixed. We need to see a reason to believe in this guy again. I talked to Vladdy down in Houston in the clubhouse one day, and I asked him because I need to be careful not to put words in his mouth and set him up for an answer.

But I said, Vladdy, what needs to happen to this team to get better? And he looked at me and kind of chuckled as if to say like Kiggs, dude, come on. Like, you know what the answer is. And he said, it's me, man. I've got a hit. I've got to do something. Does he need an I, Lston? Maybe.

And if you do, take it. My God. They're not going to miss a 690 OPS for eight more days. and get right, get healthy, and become who you can be. We need to see something. Yep, I agree with that. I'd like to see him continuing to play, right? Schneider kind of alluded to that last night.

Like, hey, it's a big boy league. If you can play, you play in the majors. Yeah. You know, and we kind of want them to play. So they're threading a needle there in terms of like giving them some time, but also they want them to play. Well, we heard our old pal, Rich Griffin, on with Al's brother earlier in the day on the station. And Rich said, hey, if he comes up.

comes back, hit him seven. Yeah. How do you feel about that? It's spicy, man. I want Griff to be the guy that has to tell Vladdy, though. I don't want to be in the room. He's a communications guy. He'd be good at that.

I love it, man. I love Griff, but I'd like to see him bumped a little bit there. You'd bump him down. 690 OPS, and you can't be batting second and third. Yeah. And yet he is. I don't think they're going to do that. But I don't think they will.

I don't think they will. If I know John Snyder and company, I don't think they do that. I think they'll lead Vladdy pick where he is. I want to see an outfielder step up at some point down the stretch here, guys. Is it one of the prospects, Brett Bateman, who they got for Gosman, come up? One of these outfielders needs to step out from this blob of good outfielders. Someone needs to emerge for 2027 and make the other pieces potential trade ships. Someone needs to step out from this at some point.

I also want to see something from Jose Soriano. We're going to see coming up in the debut. He is Dillon Cis light. He ain't Dillin Seas. Nobody is. but when you can throw 98 and you have a crazy curve ball and you just need to get into the strike zone, there's some parallels there. And if there's one thing Pete Walker is good at,

it's taking a good established pitcher and just pressing the right button. He did it with Robbie Ray. He did it with Bassett with Marios when he was good. He's done it with Gosman over and over. And I'm fired up guys to watch Soriano pitch some more. I feel like he's overshadowed by the selling. This dude's legit.

Yeah, that's a big acquisition. They traded a major prospect to get up. them. Yeah. Like they put their chips in to get this guy in the belief that he's going to be here for a couple of years, but I think they'll try to sign them long term. I like so. You know, this, I referenced the Burrios scenario. Just like Burrios. Very, very similar. Top infield prospect, too. Yeah. The right age. Yep. Late 20s, reliable arm, live stuff. Let's, let's pay him and keep them and believe in him. Way to do it. Lastly, guys, I want to see something from Andres Mendes. I know he is not the most exciting, buzzy guy to be talking about on overdrive. But when I

look at next year's payroll, I see number one, Vladie, number two, cease, sure. Number three, Andres A Menace, making 23 and a half mill. The Blue Jays took on that whole contract when they traded for Andres Jimenez. That's why you got him for only Spencer Horowitz. Okay, I remember the initial reaction was like, well, only this guy for this guy? Money, man, you don't usually see those types of deals in baseball. That feels more basketball style when you're taking on all that money. But Andres Amenez, you've got to be doing more offensively or be an elite, elite. top of the league defender, which he has not really been this year. But 23.5 mil for a couple more years, guys.

That gets kind of dicey. That's building a payroll. That's a lot. Yeah. And listen, his bat, he had a live bat down the stretch last year in the playoffs. He had some big hits. It's in there. He had some big, big hits and big at bats for them in the playoffs.

But everybody did. It was contagious last year. Yeah, I understand that. Nobody could do any wrong. But the other guys are, you know, Nathan Lucas and David Schneider. Those guys aren't making anything. This guy's making money. and he's playing every single day.

Big time. You know, like the other guys who had some big hits and kind of were utility guys or in and out of the lineup, like Jimenez is playing every single. Yeah, and I think he is very blessed to have us talking about Vladdy every day. Very true. Very, very true. I like that. Okay.

I mean, all of those can apply down the stretch and into 27. They can matter, man. Right? Why not take a run? Well, let's see what happens. Trevor May is going to call in here in just a few moments. And he's an interesting guy. He's been around baseball.

He's, he's, he's seen him. on TikTok all the time. He's always doing different lists, and he's pretty open and honest about his own history and how he feels about the game. And I want to ask him about this Mets prospect that came up and made his debut. Jeffrey Yon

of the Mets' starting pitcher. Electric. And the reaction he has when he strikes a guy out, this is not old school baseball. Speaking of meniscus, is he? Yes. He might blow it out. If this guy has a, like, if he

if he has a 12, 13, 14 strikeout game, there's a chance he blows both knees out. Like, look at this stuff. Like, he is so animated. And after the game, you know, via interpreter, but he was asked about it because obviously he's pitched on the road and the crowd wasn't overly happy about, you know, the over-the-top celebrations. And he said, go ahead, boo, if you want, man, you paid.

You do whatever you want. Like, I'm paraphrasing, but, and I'm paraphrasing in a different language. but he's like, yeah, go ahead. Like, I understand that, but I'm, I'm in the zone, and I'm doing what I'm doing, and I'm going to continue to do what I do. And he's made it all the way to the major league, so why would you stop?

Like, those are, those are big time celebrating. That's, like, that's pimping a home run times 10, because the amount of strikeouts you can throw every start, no one's hitting five, six, seven home runs a game, but this guy's going to throw a lot of strikes outs in his career. That's a little Savannah bananas for me. Like, I'm all for exuberance and joy in the game. But, you know, when you start doing, you know, leaps and little dance steps on every strikeout.

It's a bit much for me. It's a little choreograph. Let me ask you this. What is more likely to happen? Because at some point, someone is going to send a message to him. Do you think it will be his own teammates that pull him aside and say that's not the way it goes in the major leagues? Or someone on another team is going to make sure he hears about that? I want to see someone take him deep and do the same thing.

That would be fun. I want to see somebody hit one $4.50 and be doing the splits coming out of the box. I think that would be incredible. But man, I usually use the line for judgment of are you celebrating with your team or against the other team? And that blurs the line a little bit, but I think we need more entertainers in Major League Baseball. Pure entertain. Vladia is best as an entertainer. He's a showman.

Yes, he is. This guy is a showman. But the last thing, you've got to be good. Yes. You cannot do that down 9-1. You can't do it with your first strikeout in the fourth inning. You've got to be good. And maybe that's out of context.

We haven't seen the kid pitch on a regular basis. I want to see when he does it. Like if you're doing it in a particularly big moment. Like getting out of a damn late in the game, you know you're not coming back out. That's just who you are. I can live with that. I'm not the old man yelling at clouds to use your phrase from earlier in the show.

I love it when guys express emotion and they're up for it. They want to be in the fight and when they're in the fight and they're winning the fight, they're showing it. I'll take that all day. But I do think that that's going to get old quick if it's the regular routine

on every strikeout, right? Like if you're in the league for a long time and this guy's got 2,000 strikeouts and he does it 2,000 times, like that is... You're going to blow a knee one of those times. That is likely what's going to end up happening. It's like the kicker that starts,

dancing and he blows his knee out and then you realize you never should have gone down that road. And that may be the conversation. Like it may be a manager saying, hey, I love the attitude, I love the energy, I love how excited you are, but we're afraid something's going to happen. I just,

it does feel like at some point an old school guy is going to pull, and I don't know if they're around anymore in baseball, but an old school guy, like trying that 20 or 30 years ago, there's just no way. Oh, no. You'd be dead. You would be in big trouble. A guy would just run at you.

From their team, and then a guy from your own team would look at you and say, don't ever do that again. Like we don't, that's not how we operate. I love it. It's perfect. He's on the Mets, too.

I know. They stink. Something about it's perfect. Yeah, give us something interesting. Great entertainers. And that'll be the thing. Like, if you're at,

if you're at City Field and it's the last place Mets, like, I think there be a lot of Mets fans, even if you're having a decent game. But you're on a last place team and you're doing that stuff. It's not appropriate for a lot of Mets fans. It's like, we're terrible, buddy.

like you know your place it's time and score and we were at the bottom of the standings here right it's got to be conflicting though because you're right i mean metz fans i think are just naturally embarrassed right you know by everything but they probably also want distraction and some excitement and he's got by all accounts he's got some pretty good stuff you know like he wouldn't be up there if they didn't believe that he's got the potential to be an arm i don't know exactly what his projections are, but it's one way to put your name on the map quickly. You do something that nobody else.

I've never seen a major league pitcher. No. Like from a strike, like I've seen guys obviously fired up after getting out of jams or completing a game, what have you, but I've never seen anything like that. I'm glad it's possible now. Like, yeah. Remember 10, 15 years ago when people would have serious conversations about the tilt of Fernando Rodney's hat.

Right. Is he disrespecting the game? Look at that angle. Like, I'm glad. Glad that we can do this now, man. Like, I'm all for the big celebrations and making the game more fun. And, like, I mean, the fact we're talking about this guy, it's good. It works.

Well, and what it's, man, it's going to be funny when it backfires. We did the, you know, the pimp in the home run thing a lot. Yep. And obviously, you know, Jose Batista was really at the forefront of that. And we saw how the Rangers responded to it. They didn't like it. A lot of people in baseball didn't like it. And that, like, you look back on it now.

It was really not that. aggressive. No. You know, the moment was crazy. He watched it go, but it was a no-douter off the bat, and he threw his back to the side. You know, like it was, he pimped the home run.

There's no denying that. But you watch the Dominican like Winter League. Those guys are doing somersaults down the base line. Spectacular. Like the Dominican Winter League, like if I won the lottery tomorrow, I could just take an off-season trip, I'd go to the Dominican Winter League every year.

Yeah. I mean, Junior Cameraro, the Raystar, has had some all timers, some ones where he is throwing the bat as high as he possibly can, and it's landing on a fan somewhere. Like, just unbelievable, man, that is that's where it really lives. But I'm glad we're past the original discourse on that.

Exactly. That sucks. And that's on the, that was on the players to just keep going with it, right? Because a lot of it is the players police themselves. And I think in baseball, I mean, every sport's got their own code where the players keep everyone in line, what you're allowed to do, what you're not allowed to do. And especially with

younger players, like Jose was a veteran of the league at that point. It wasn't as if this was some childish thing. With Yon and the Mets, he's a young guy. He's just coming up. There is a chance an older player takes him under his wing.

But in order for the animated celebrations to survive, the players just had to fight through the kind of how loud it was surrounding them because there were a lot of people that didn't like it or don't like new you know, new ways of going about business or what have you

or try to, you know, stick to the conservative old school ways and it was on the players to say, we're just going to keep doing that. And for the most part, you know, I don't remember the last time there was like a big brawl in baseball because some guy reacted to a home run. I don't remember it happening. You know, you still have, you hit our guy, we're going to hit your guy at some point.

Like that's still less. Less than it used to be. A lot less than it used to be. And it's probably, I guess, you know, the new wave of managers. Right? Like it used to be, the managers used to be a lot older, a lot crankier. They had a way of going about business and it was more of a war. Now it's a friendlier sport.

Managers are a little bit neutered with front offices, kind of directing the way things are going to work. That's very true. Like John Schneider, I think, is one of the last managers that has some old school in them. Like, one of the last managers that can kick your ass probably. Yeah. When you look around baseball, there's a lot of very young managers, like not just guys who are 42, 44.

very young managers who are coming from more of a front office background, and it's not as connected to the game, which is why I think it's important when you do have managers who have played, even if they didn't play well in the minor leagues. But they're more connected to it, man, and more connected to the celebrations and the culture. And when you see stars driving it too, man, like if Juan Soto's doing it, it's fine.

It's cool. You know, like I remember back to the 2024 ALCS, Yankees Guardians, when Juan Soto had that at bat, that late one where he was nodding his head along, between every pitch saying come get me, let's do it. He hit that home run to center in Cleveland. I'll remember it for the rest of my life.

It was one of the most amazing ad bats I've ever seen. But he just took a few steps and stood and stared at his Yankees dug out. And it was a fully choreographed celebration. Like when you do it in the right moments for these big moments, it becomes something that freezes in time. Absolutely. And it's so damn cool. Oh, totally.

And listen, intangibles have lost their way more in baseball than any other sport as well. Like the, you know, I think there's a part of a baseball club that will look at it and say, great, you hit us, that means our on base percentage has gone up. That's right. We want the guy. That's an efficient play for us. Right. We're back in the day, it was like, I don't care what the hell is going on.

We have to send a message back. Doesn't matter if it's game seven in the World Series. We got to hit that guy. And now it just, it seems as if that's not, you know, it doesn't have the same place in the game. Yeah. No, you're right. And I also think, like, you know, I joked about the Savannah bananas earlier and how that kind of felt like Yon's celebration feels like something out of the Savannah

bananas. But that, that phenomenon of those guys going around doing their little dance routines and and singing and dancing while they play baseball at a pretty high level. I mean, it's real. Like, it's a billion dollar property by some estimates. They're loading up stadium. Yeah. I mean, it's the Harlem Globetrotters effectively for baseball. But bigger.

And maybe there was a time when the Globetrotters, were world famous. I think they probably they've been diminished to a third degree. These guys are hot. And I do think there's something to that. Like there's clearly a demand for a fun time at the ballpark, right? There's a demand for a little bit

of song and dance at the ballpark and not just crusty old baseball. Yeah. I can't believe the crowds they get. It's the very definition of not for me. But I recognize it's for other people. When I watch it, ain't for me. But you can't deny the crowds.

Yeah. Can't deny what they're getting in. They can't deny the money. They created their own secondary market device so that people couldn't scout their tickets. I mean, they're doing pretty well with it when everybody said they wouldn't. I mean, these guys are pretty impressive. And it's all built on the idea that there should be fun at the ballpark. There should be joy at the ballpark.

It's not just about, you know, it's not like if analytics has sapped the joy out of the game, which a lot of us probably think it has to some degree, right? Turning everything into a spreadsheet. There's no emotion. There's no, there's no rage anymore. Or less rage. Spontaneity or anything. There's no spontaneity because there's a formula for that.

And we're going to play it to the formula. We're going to play the percentages at all times. When maybe when the Major League Baseball's gone that way, like it opens up a niche for somebody else, right? And it also opens up a niche for players if they want to express themselves to really make a name for themselves. Right. Now, it's not worth anything, wins and losses.

And like I couldn't name another team they play. You know, I know the globe chopters play the Washington Generals. Who the hell of the Savannah bananas? I don't even know. I have no idea. I'm not quite clear on that. Yeah, I don't know. And like a win, do they win every single game like the Globetrotters?

I would guess. I honestly, I'm totally ignorant to it because I'm with you. I just don't, I don't find it overly interesting. I could see my kids wanting to go check it out if they roll through town. Because they've found a way I have seen highlights of games, but they're doing flips with like line drives to center

and a guy's doing a flip and catching the ball. And it's actually very impressive. And, like, basketball is more conducive to that. Like, you know, you can do. different things on the court and in possession of the ball that make it feel very different from the NBA, obviously, which would be more structured. No one's, you know, bringing a bucket of water out onto the courts. Right. You know, when the NBA teams are playing. Baseball, I found it more and more hard to believe. Like, how do you find plays within the game that are fun, like you

say, and they've found a way to kind of establish that with the rules and all that kind of stuff. Some of the rules are fun. I like the one, my favorite clip, here I am on Overrime, saying my favorite Savannah Banana's clip, who have I become, is one of the rules, I think, is that a fan catches it throughout. And it was one of the games, and there was a line drive over third base into the low left field bleachers, and the fan in the front row just popped it. And he's on the field celebrating. It was cool as hell, man.

Sure. And that's, it is purely entertainment, obviously. And if people are into it, man, like if that's how a six-year-old kid gets into baseball, 100%. Anyway. 100%. All right, we got some arbitration coming up. We'll recap your list from earlier this hour, Kagan. Best bet's coming up later in the hour.

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All right, Best Betts coming up later in the hour. NFL, CFL tonight. Hope the Argos get a good crowd. We heard Al's brother talking about some all you can eat, portion of ticket. sales. Sold. Yeah, I mean, that's a compelling angle, for sure. But, you know, I think it's been a tough run for the Argos, clearly.

But they're three and four. Chad Kelly's healthy, ready to go. Stamps are a good team. The West is a good division. But we talked about yesterday outside of Montreal, man. It's wide open in the East. Completely. Completely wide open.

The Red Blacks have been terrible this year. Hamilton's got quarterback issues, obviously. So, you know, right there for you. The Argos, you're not going to catch Montreal, but you're can finish second in the division and have a home playoff game. So go for it. And great weather tonight? Like, there's very few places I'd rather be than BMO Field on a night like this.

100%. It's a venue and a half, man. Yeah, it is. So I'm expecting a good crowd tonight, and they're going to get a lot of home games down the stretch. And you've got tennis going tonight up at York. And Jays are on their way to Philly tomorrow. But I have some arbitration that I want to get to. A few different arbitration.

Love it. And we'll attract the Jays and we'll get into that momentarily. But you know the way arbitration works. It's effectively a player, maybe a team, walks into arbitration, they are offered something you can either take it or leave it based on kind of the statistical likelihood of that being your best option or not. All right? Let's begin with a Vladdy Guerrero Jr. arbitration case.

Vladdy walks into Arb and he has offered 20 home runs next season. Does he take it or leave it? Leave it. My God, you better have more than that. He had 23 last year. Yeah, that's tough. He's got six right now. I continue to reject the idea that he is just a hitter first who can provide value hitting 20 to 25 home runs.

I reject it. Because the rest of this roster is not built as if he is that player. If the Blue Jays were more like the Yankees where they had power built in from other hitters like Bellinger, like Jazz Chisholm, like Jean-Carter Stanton, if he's ever healthy. Sure. Cool. Have a guy that bats 300 and gets on base at a 400 clip. Sure. The Blue Jays

aren't built like that. They're built for Vladdy to be the power and for everyone else to hit 12 or 14. Not for Vladdy to hit 12 or 14. That is a mental approach shift. I mean, look at the guy. You don't even need to see him swing. Look at him. He's built for power. He's built for power. He's built for power.

It's about trying to. it's about saying no to that ball up and away that you can shoot to right field and trying to get one in on the next pitch that you can punish. Maybe it means you're batting 270 instead of 300, but the Blue Jays need game changers. They don't need another guy hitting for average. Look, I hate to say this, but I take it because I think we had to come to the realization. This is who he is.

Around 20 is probably who he is. Like he had, I was just doing the math, and he had the 48 home run year five years ago. Okay, 2021, pandemic-induced minor league stadium aided 48 home runs, right? That was five years ago. In the five, you know, the five seasons since, he's averaging 25 home runs a season. That's all he's averaging. So 20's not bad. We'll take that over six.

Well, that was the thing. Like when I was going through this, I was going to put 25, and I thought you have to have. to take 25. You're probably a second. I hear what you're saying, Keegan. I understand you want more.

Love it. But what he has proven is he is capable of giving less. You know, he had 23 last year, six this year. He's been healthy both years. I am going to leave it out of like purely praying

this guy figures it out next year. And the fact that paying him that amount of money and accepting 20% is just something I'm not willing to do yet. Like I understand later in the contract, you're jumping on 20. 10 years from now, you're probably, like, who knows? Maybe 7, 8 years from now, you're jumping on 20. But at 28 years old, in his prime,

forget everyone around him, forget the team, forget all that kind of stuff. The amount you're paying them, what you know he's capable of doing, you've got to leave it out of principle based on that. Like you have to believe the guy is going to be better than that because if he's not, you're toast anyway. You know, like if you're taking 20 because you think he can't even get to 20, then you're basically admitting this is a sunk cause. And I'm not willing to accept that after year one.

I'm protecting my downside risk. I don't want less than 20. And there's a very good possibility I'm going to get less than 20. Now, look, I mean, do I wholly believe that? I'm getting there. And the only thing that stopped me from believing it completely, is he had eight home runs in 18 playoff games. And it wasn't that long ago, right?

He had eight home runs in 18 playoff games. Think about that. Yeah. I mean, he was absolutely on fire. And you have to believe that that's still in there somewhere, but where it's yet to be located. So, Kagan, what is the number that you jump on? Is it 25?

Is it 30? 30 you got to take. 27 and a half line. I think you got to take, right? Like if arbitration goes, say, we'll give you 27. I think I'd probably take that. When you're paid this money. I'm saying no to 20, but still, you know.

He's being paid to do rare things. Hitting for average is not rare on this team. This is a contact team. He cannot be the jet-fueled contact hitter. It doesn't fit the roster. It doesn't fit the organization. It doesn't. Yeah.

No, exactly. And there's not a lot of power bats out there that are going to be free agents coming up here. Not banking on Santander. you know, getting healthy and hitting 40 next year. Yeah, he's still on the team. Every once in a while it reminds me. He's still around. He'll be there in spring training, and I guarantee he'll say I feel better than ever.

You're not banking, but he's making bank. He's making bank. He sure is. All right, Gavin McKenna walks into arbitration. He's offered 150 points over the first three seasons of his career as Maple Leaf. On average, 50 per as an 18-year-old for his entry-level contract. Take it or leave it, Dave. I take that.

Yeah? A decent start. It is. I mean, 50 is a rookie would be phenomenal. 50 on average in your third years of first overall pick. Is that something that would seem very underwhelming? Would it not? I mean, I think in three years,

you're hoping the guy's a point of game player at that point in his career. Is he going to be a point of game player in his career? I mean, first overall pick. You'd love to think he would be. Yeah, I mean, yeah, sorry, I was processing your, it's over three years, you're saying, okay. I'm saying 150 total points over his entry-level contract. Yeah, you'd have to not.

You'd have to let that. You'd have to let that go? I'd leave that at the table and hope for more because I think he's, like he's shown a lot of indication that he's got more. Like this guy looks like a world-class playmaker, a world-class processor of the game. Yes. And we're going to find out pretty quickly here. I mean, it's a young man's game.

I mean, you've got, you know, highest-paid player in the league is 21 years old right now. So you've got to make things happen quick. and I think this kid has the talent to do so. Heavy leave. I demand more of Toronto's youth. Yes, good for you. I demand more. I mean, first year,

50, sure. Like, yeah, I think that's reasonable. I mean, that means that you didn't fall in your face. You didn't get hurt. And it means that you stayed above water. That's a good year. That's a very good year. Really good.

And if you creep up a little bit more in year two, great. But by year three, when he's established, like this is when guys are getting paid. Young kids are breaking out very early in the NHL. So by the end, I want more and yeah I want more for young gather. Yeah, no, I hear

you. And now you could you could doctor the numbers and say, you know, 30 in year one and 50 in year two and 70 in year three and it would average out. But it is that third year where I think it's totally realistic and reasonable to project in year three, this guy

could be pushing up on 100 points. Yeah. Like that's not out of the realm of possibility. He's a first overall pick that is an Uber talent that is a points machine throughout his junior career and his collegiate career in the second half of college. I know in the first year he struggled a bit at Penn State. The second year, the guy was putting up big, big numbers.

Yeah. Like per game numbers that were like Obie Baker level stuff. And as long as he has players to play with, now that's an important thing to point out, the greatest playmaker in the world, if you don't have anyone that can score, so you're assuming Matthews is here for the three years, Willie's here for the three years, John Tavar still has you know, legs and enough in the tank where he's still scoring goals at that rate. If those three or Nyes is still here

who is, I think, a 30 plus goal score himself, I would leave it as well. I think, again, 50 year one, I would take it right now. That was the arbitration case. Yes. He goes into ARB. He's offered 50 points this year. I would pounce on that.

You take that. 100%. That's, you know, 15 goals, 35 assists for an 18-year-old, who's not a big guy. Like, Mike, he's going to get pushed around. He's going to have to find his way. You know, I don't see him, in a dominant force in the crease or in and around the net.

He's going to be more of a perimeter point getter early in his career. And who's he playing with? How does he'll or play him? You know, does he shelter him, which I think is probably what I would be expecting, especially early on in his tenure here in Toronto. Yeah, and if you're playing him with Matthews, can you shelter him? Well, but that's it. Like, I don't think he, he's not playing with Austin night one.

I don't think. Probably not night one. I would be surprised. He'll get in there eventually, though. Eventually he'll have opportunities. and there'll be injuries and there'll be power plays and he'll have great nights where he's got his legs and points and they're going to say let's give him a shot.

But there's also going to be nights where he's saving that guy's 18 and he's not, he's getting pushed out of the game. That's going to happen a fair amount in his rookie year. So I would take 50 in a heartbeat. 150 over three years is different though. Yeah. Because of that third year. Like you've got to project that.

He's at least a point of game guy, if not better than that in three years. Well, just not to say he's the next Mitch Martin. I know there are people saying that, but he's certainly got. got certain aspects of his game being a playmaking winger and being a guy who ripped up the lower levels. I mean, Marner was 61 as a rookie, 69, then year three to your point, big jump to 94 in year three, right? That's the year where you make the jump. I think that's a reasonable, like, parallel offensively.

Like Mitch is a brilliant defensive player and he's a penalty killer. McKenna at this point is not expected to have the same kind of mold. I don't think he's killing penalties. I think that's a concern early on in his career. Like, how do you play defensively? Can you, you know, pick up where you're supposed to be? Are you going to find yourself out of position? That's something they're going to have to work with him on.

Marner was not a finished product as a 19-year-old coming in, but he was a well-rounded player immediately. But they also let, they let him play. He played, he's playing big minutes early in his career. Yeah. You know, and by year three, he was their, I believe, probably the forward that played more minutes than anybody else. That's right.

On the team. I'm not sure McKenna is going to be in that position by year three. But offensively, Marner was a wizard. He was a remarkable offensive talent and junior. McKenna is just as hyped, if not more hyped offensively. Offensively, yes.

Offensively, yes. So I don't think that's unreasonable. I'm not predicting it's going to happen. And I don't know how good the team's going to be. Those leave teams were playoff teams three years in a row when Marner showed up. But 61, 69-94. I wouldn't be shocked that McKenna does that. And if he does

that, you're ecstatic. Then he has quite literally replaced Marner offensively. Especially with who he's surrounded by. There's enough goal scorers around him. By year three, I can see Matthew and I is banging a ton of Gavin McKenna assist. Yep. Right? Like, I think he'll be in the right situation. They'll be scoring enough. Whether a playoff team or not, I don't know, but

they'll be scoring enough for him to bang those in. I like it, man. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's I can't wait to see him play. I am looking forward to seeing him play. I am looking forward to seeing him play. I think there's an attitude there too, man. Like, I'm fired up. Yeah. This is not your, you know, soft, sheltered

kid coming out of the junior hockey machine. Like, there's some attitude, there's some edge there. And I think people are going to love that in this market. He's a Yukon boy, and he went down to Penn State, he's getting in bar fights. I liked him the moment I saw that. Yeah,

there's some stuff, there's some wild stuff going on with Gavin McKenna. Yeah. You know, and listen, it'll be an interesting case study because generally speaking, over time, the Leafs win and the magnitude of the market wins to basically force guys into being more sheltered and more guarded and more careful and less free with their words and their actions and their lifestyle. Like that's usually what ends up happening.

The team gets to players and goes, hey, you don't want to go there. Or if you're going out, be careful. Cameras, videos, you know. and I wouldn't be shocked if that happened with McKenna to an extent, but early on in his tenure, he's out, he's going to games, was that the soccer match, like, he's having a great time. And he should, why not? Your first state is that way, man.

Yeah, Bassett. You know, a rock star. Totally. And I think that is actually incredibly needed with this team, where all of their players, their best players, do not show any personality publicly. No. You know, I'm sure privately,

They're very different people. But between Austin, Willie, John Tavares, those guys don't say anything. No, very robotic. Very robotic. Very, very just get me out of here. You know, I'm going to say a few words and I'm leaving. I'm not saying that McKenna is going to, you know,

call people over and say make sure the mics are on. I want to set up court and talk for the next 15 minutes. But a little bit of personality would go a long way. It'll sell, man. And people want that. One spicy quote, throw one punch. There's always been this impression. And again, I think it's internal.

I think it's the Maple Leafs more than anyone that are the believers that like you just, you can't do it here. You can't, you can't just be a freewheeling talking machine. You're not, you get, you're getting trouble. And yes, will people react and will people interpret and misinterpret and talk about it? Sure. But if you've got the ability to fight through those stop signs and keep talking, fans are going to love that kind of stuff.

It takes a certain kind of person to be able to, do it because all we hear about or what we hear about I think too often is, oh, the outside noise, the outside noise. And we got to minimize and block out the outside noise. We can't contribute to that. Right. And therefore, I think it breeds what you're talking about, hey, the robotic quotes. And I'm not giving any fuel to the fire. I'm not going to be interesting. I'm not going to give my actual opinion about anything because the plebs don't deserve it. And it's all about us in this room. and we'll keep all that to ourselves. But that's the opposite of show business, right?

Which is what this really should be to some degree. As long as you're doing your part as a competitive person on the ice, you can be a showman. You can have your cake and eat it too. Right. Yeah, you've got to be a good teammate. Of course, that goes without saying. You know, don't air out, dirty laundry.

I get that. Like, I understand that. That's important. Every team needs it. Every dressing room, clubhouse, etc. But having the ability to laugh or talk about different things or call your shot. Yeah. You know?

Like, yeah, we're winning tonight. No one does that in Toronto. Exactly. They're terrified historically of ever talking about anything like that. It can be easy, man. Yeah. Like, this is not complicated. And it's like I sense a market that's just starve for that rock star, man.

Come on. It's not going to take much. Yeah. You're going to have to curse once in a post-game scrum. and oh my God the scandal that will be. But you're going to have, I mean, listen, don't get arrested, treat people well, don't be dumb. But beyond that, man, it's all right to have a little fun.

You're 18 years old, you're 101 for the Leaf. Exactly. Exactly. First overall for the Maple Leafs, you got a lot of leverage and a lot of people excited for it. You have a great mentor in Jeff O'Neill. Exactly. The O'Don gave you his number. Go out there and have fun.

Embrace it. And you got to play well, be a good team, and all that goes without saying, of course. but there's a long history of guys in this league that big character. Like Matthew Kuchin, like those guys have podcasts. No one down in Florida is like keep it in the room. Imagine if a Leaf had a podcast? I don't even know if the Leaf would allow it.

Honestly, I don't know if. I'm not sure they could prevent it. The player wanted to do it. They can't prevent it. Of course. I mean, they can have, they can strongly suggest it not happen. Or try and monetize it and put it on like Maple Leafs.com. Yeah.

We know who the sponsors would be. Keith Pelley's pulling over right now to make a note. I could see him. That's not a bad idea. Pretty good idea. Yeah, streaming live on Maple Leafs.com. That's a revenue plus. There you go.

The Jay's just got walked off at Wrigley. Louis Varland blowing a save. That's twice this week. He's come in and got hit. And you're like, where, how? Louis's been perfect all year. All good things cannot last. The Jay's made two spectacular defensive plays.

Your guy, Ernie. Nathan Lucas had an incredible throw, but. Man, Louis Varland, that's how this goes. I mean, the entire weight of this team has been on Louis Varland all season long. And then when the other stuff gets good, that starts to shake. Yeah, the balance of the next. And Louis Varland gives up a two-run, home run to tie. Okay.

You could blame the pitchers, and you can blame Louis Varland. But look at this number. One for 19 with runners in scoring position. Good Lord. One for 19. Pathetic. With runners in scoring position. That's how it do.

Do you blame the staff for that? You blame the arm? No, no, no. Listen, but that's the Blue Jays in 26. That's the way they run. That's the way it works. And it's just pointing out that Louis Varland has been perfect in all these games that didn't really matter

because the team sunk. And now they kind of start to pick up some steam. Yes. Like if they left Regley here today with a win, that's a fair amount of wins in the last week for the James. One for 19. You know why I don't blame that on the staff? Because if you gave John Schneider 19 ABs,

I think he might be able to slip through. Yeah, I think you're right. We always say the coach doesn't go up there and swing the back. Well, if he did, he might be able to change. I mean, like a little... He'd find a gap somewhere. Absolutely.

Yeah, they also got that natural power, that Swarber power. That's things. Wow. Two outs in the ninth. He gives up a two-run, home run. And like you mentioned, there was some defensive plays, including the bottom of the tenth where Ernie Clement was...

Looked like he was 10 feet in the air to rob. the game-winning single. I didn't see who was hitting for the Cubs, but, man, that's a tough one. So now the Jays are on the way to Philly, that's a different plane than it was going to be about an hour ago. Like an hour ago, that plane was going to be feeling good, and now that plane ride is not going to be doing it.

Early plane ride, too, some Cervas. Because an hour ago, like, we were just talking about it. Cleveland had lost. Baltimore had lost today. So they were looking at being two and a half back. and now it's three and a half. Every game is going to count. Obviously, if you still are being optimistic

that they can stay in a race or get in a race, and that's one you might circle. That one may circle at the end. That's tough. Jay's losing that game down at Wrigley. All right, final arbitration. Josh Allen steps into arbitration. He has offered one Super Bowl appearance,

which he can determine if he wins or loses. It's not about winning or losing. It's just arbitration saying you have one Super Bowl appearance during your Buffalo Bill's tenure. No guarantee of a win, no guarantee of a loss. But we're going to guarantee you get there and the rest of the year history. But that's your only one chance as a Buffalo bill. Does he take it or leave it? You have to leave it.

It's not enough. For the bills, you got to leave it? Well, I know it sounds absurd. But there was a time where the bills got there four straight years. Yes, they did. Remember that? Yeah. How they go?

When we were young? When we were young. But to me, this team's too good to cap itself at one Super Bowl appearance. And I think they'll get there more than once in Josh Allen's tenure. He's that good. I hope you're right. The organization, I think, is smart enough to figure this out. This is going to be, I think if he's going to get more than one, one of them's going to have to come this year.

I really do believe that. It's got to happen pretty fast. Like it's, you know, he's not, he's not a rookie anymore. You know, he's been around a while, and he's suffered a few heartbreaks. But I think you'd have to, you'd have to expect more than one. I don't know if you could settle on one. I wouldn't if I was Josh Allen. Okay.

I'm a settler. And I hate doing it, but I think I'd take the one appearance. I think of his career up to this point, how long it's been, and how he's been looking for one. But I also think of, like, how many more. years of prime with full rushing ability, healthy Josh Allen are we going to get? I hope 500. Probably not. He's 30.

We're probably looking at five, six of playing this style of football when he's at his maximum capacity and the complete single-handed driver of the bill's offense. Do I want to take one out of those five years, six years? I hate it, but yeah. But you're guaranteed it. Yeah. Like they have not been to one. I know.

And that's why I would. take it too. And I understand it's, you'd be kicking yourself after playing in it, especially if they lose that game in this fantasy arbitration world we're living in, where you'd say, how did I accept that? But if they win it, that's all you really need. Right? Like, that's

another way to look at this. Like, if you guarantee Josh Allen in the dance, is he going to lose that game? And if he wins it, that's all he needs. Like, the bills are much like the least in that way. You don't need three or four or five. They'd be great. Obviously, you

prefer it. You just need one, right? The Cubs won one, and they haven't done anything in 10 years since. You can go over 17 the next year. Right. People won't care. Exactly. You know, like the stocks, when they won in 04, then they won again in 07, they won again,

and I want to say 11 and 18. They have won, which would be better. But I think if you're a Buffalo Bill fan, just one win is enough. And this gives me the opportunity to play for it. I would take it. Yeah. No, you make a compelling case. I just feel like

I want, you want to expect more. A play of this good. I can't believe they haven't played in a Super Bowl year. Yeah. Yeah, you're right. It's like you look at it like, think about great, you can make the case.

Like obviously we're conditioned on Tom Brady. Yeah. Seven rings and ten appearances, right? And it's like, wow. Like, how could you settle at one? If you're, if you feel you're the best quarterback in the league, I think there's an argument to me,

Josh Allen is the best quarterback in the league. So how could you possibly cap his career at one Super Bowl appearance, right? That's what I'm thinking. I know. In the grand scheme of things. But Kagan makes a great point. The guy's 30 years old.

I mean, this is year nine. He doesn't play an age-friendly style of football. And yet it hasn't heard him yet. Which amazes me. Yeah. I know. I know. And look, like your boy, Arod, one Super Bowl won win, right?

Yep. That's it. That's all he's ever had. Yep. And he ain't getting there this year. Got there one time when he won it. Yeah. Exactly.

All right. Best bed's coming up. Jay's losing this afternoon. Dylan C's pitched a gem to just another brilliant performance by him and Louis Varland blows the save in the ninth and Jay's losing the 11th. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050

and on TSN4. IHart Radio invites you front row for IHart Live at the Horseshoe with Brent Smith and Zach Myers of Shinedown. Here acoustic performances of fan favorites second chance, a symptom of being human and the brand new single

Young again. Plus, Shannon Burns sits down with the guys for an exclusive conversation about the music, the stories behind the songs, and what's next for Shindown? Search IHard Radio, CA on YouTube, and stream the full experience today. All right, Best Betts powered by Fanduel. Make your picks and assemble a same game parlay in seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app, the Hall of Fame game tonight, and it is a doozy. Every time you say it, I get happy.

I'm here teasing like a fool because there is a god-awful football game on tonight, and I'm going to love every second of it. Panthers Cardinals, like, do they not like this Hall of Fame class? Is this a shot at, you know, the inductees going in this weekend? I don't know. But my theory on this is take the worst team, which is Arizona, in my opinion,

with a new coach, because I think the players, like there's going to be a little bit more inspiration, and even though Carolina should never be in a position where they should be looking past anybody, there's a chance they do that tonight. I'm going to take Cardinals on the money line tonight paying a little bit of plus money.

There's a slight dog in terms of the line. It's one and a half points spread. It's effectively a pick-em. I'm on Carolina tonight. And the Lefleur, the younger brother getting himself a place tonight. You said Carolina. You're on Arizona. That's what I got you.

I love it. Arizona. I'm on Arizona tonight. August is here and we've got dollars on Carson Beck, baby. I love Beck. What a reason to live. I love the Cardinals and I love them on the money line tonight. I'm not even playing the spread. Great win, baby.

Playing a spread on the Hall of Fame game stuff. Yeah, it seems a little bit. I'm a degenerate, but not that much of one. Best Betts powered by Fandual, same game, parlays, for every NFL game available on the Fanduals sportsbook. Yeah, please play responsibly 19 plus physically located in Ontario. All right, boys, good stuff. Thanks for doing us.

Keegs, I think are you coming in tomorrow? Back in tomorrow. Oh, I love it. I think Kara's coming in tomorrow. Dave, we'll see you next week. Looking forward to. Awesome. All right, boys.

Thanks to everyone behind the scenes for helping out. We appreciate it. Everyone for tuning in today, TV radio podcast web and of course up on YouTube live, streaming soon up on Crave. We're out of here. Enjoy your evenings. Enjoy the games tonight. We're back to more at 4 p.m. We'll chat then. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello. My gosh. Watch all your favorite podcasts from start to finish right inside the free I-Hard radio app. Get the blood going up.

Catch every laugh and eye roll on shows like the Tom Green Farmcast and park the bus. Now with full video. We're building a ramp for Tony. It's the same hosts and the same chemistry with all the hilarious moments you've been missing right on your screen. Cheers. Open the free IHRRadio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch.