OverDrive - OverDrive - March 20th, 2025 - Hour 2

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 2 on OverDrive! Got Yer Back Podcast Host and Former NHLer Jason Strudwick joins to discuss Leon Draisaitl's chase for the Hart Trophy, the Canadian playoff teams and the Maple Leafs' team outline. MLB.com Blue Jays Reporter Keegan Matheson joins to discuss Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s contract standpoint, Mark Shapiro's comments on the deal and the effect on the franchise.

And you're all set! Enjoy your new phone on Bell! Thanks! Whoa! What is happening? What is this feeling? Are you feeling giddy and bouncing with energy? Yes! Yeah, I like to call that new phone vibes. It's that time of year at Bell. It's so good! Get in on those new phone vibes. Switch to Bell, Canada's fastest 5G plus network, and save over a thousand dollars on amazing phones with eligible trade-in. Visit a Bell store or Bell.ca slash spring for details.

Bell, getting a new phone just got better. Hour two overdrive continues powered by FanDuel bringing you everything from the opening line of the final score. Day one of March Madness is officially underway. Doogie was telling me a bunch of brackets already busted, which basically three four games in you just know it you know although anyone that thinks are ever gonna get a perfect bracket impossible like it's is they were never gonna have like a million dollars for a perfect bracket at some content

yeah well this is was I remember it it was Warren Buffett who offered it which was so insulting because he knew the math, the chances of a perfect bracket, it's like trillions to one, trillions to one. He's like, I'll give you a million dollars. I'm like, you're worth 300 billion or something. If I get a perfect bracket, you're gonna give me a million dollars.

Yeah, maybe make it a billion dollars. Put half your worth up for grabs. Then you actually have the stones. There's upsets the first day. Yeah, exactly. Absolutely. Like last year, there were a bunch of them. And like I'm watching, I'm looking at it right now.

MC, I don't even know what school this is. McNeese Cowboys are up by 20 on the Clemson Tigers. Clemson's a five seed and McNeese is a 12 seed. So is Duke even alive without their dude there? Yeah he's playing though. Cooper Flagg he's playing. He's gonna play tomorrow. They're in action tomorrow. So you like when someone picks one of the upsets and like I called that. I know. I knew McNeese would win. Oh really? You've got some sort of insight on McNeese. That's why again there was a school like we were we were out this morning Owen and I and I'd never heard of this place before. No. And it's in the tournament so there's

underdogs. You guys didn't do a lunch after? Is I'm part of your now though. It was too early, man It's like 10 in the morning 1030 we were burning this guy was trying to get unblocked by Brando Chamblee had bigger and better things to do than deal with me and go for lunch What message do you think your coach sent to him? Like I got their golf colleagues, so he probably just said hey, man. There's this guy that I work with years ago, he said something stupid you blocked him and just unblock him he's a good dude I think that's the extent of it I don't think there's anything more to it okay but he he obviously unblocked me and then he tossed the follow as well there you go so now everything's moving in the right

direction here for the old dog and online now There's going to be DMs on Sunday at all tournaments happening. I love it. Okay. Well, I mean, you got off to a good start with the picks at the players. We're going to have more picks moving forward. Again, the Masters right around the corner. We got Struddy coming up here in just a moment. The Oilers are in action tonight. Leon Drysad will not plan and not much of an update on what the injury is. All his coach Knobloch would say is day to day. And I don't, I think it'd be very normal for him in private to be thinking of the Hart Trophy and the pursuit of it and how amazing it would be.

You can't say it publicly. But he's won it before. He has won it before, but so has McKinnon. McKinnon's going for it again. It's an incredible accolade. Like who was it recently that said, oh it was Cam Newton, said he would not give up his MVP trophy for a Super Bowl. That's about right.

He said that. I think it's a crazy comment, man. I really do. He made the case. He made the case. Give me his case, that you know a Super Bowl is a team achievement where an MVP means you're one of one. At that point you were the greatest player in the world.

I know. You know what it reeks of? It reeks of a guy that didn't win a championship. That's what a guy says that didn't win a championship. I'll take an MVP over a, like come on man. Do you think there's any athletes out there that would rather, that would trade in their championship ring for an MVP? I think there's probably some, yeah.

I think there's two. You can't be so narrow minded. I think there's two. There would be guys that are so egotistical that they, and they thought they got screwed in the past. I mean, there's all kinds of like MVP races where you're like all that could have gone either way you know that there's athletes that sit in their basement and stew about it

what about multiple cup winners? so in other words let's say you're a player that has two Stanley Cups using hockey as an example and you think I think it's very likely they would trade one of those for a hard trophy so let's say Sid, I think Sid has three cups. would trade one of those for a hard so let's say Sid I think said it says three cups. Yeah, and but since I won the hard trophy multiple times I don't think he's won it that means he's won it twice. I believe it twice Yeah, which is staggering that he did not win it more, but he's won it twice. I hear you but I

Don't want to raise early on with Sid Yeah in his prime right like the concussions and and he was he was just battling with other great players that were having great seasons I think it's kind of a loser move to be honest. Yeah. Yeah You want to what they saw from Jonas? Yeah like that Well, and what I was getting to a dry settle is like now is load management a priority But if he doesn't play a lot down the stretch, he's not gonna win the heart Like if they have 15 games left and he misses seven or eight, I think McKinnon will likely pass them and there's a chance Hellebuck will pass them.

And really, yeah, because all the everything like we saw with Taylor Hall years back, like the last 15 games, the like the excitement that he created created it's almost like worth three quarters of the season Yeah, as opposed to just ten or fifteen games because it's recency bias It's fresh on everybody's mind the importance of him getting the Devils into the playoffs and having like 42 more points than the next guy on his team It was electric and it caused a lot of people to say that I'm voting for that guy. Yeah, and that's when the votes go in. They go in at the end of the year when recency bias, like O said, I think is a big part of

it. You have to play yourself into it. You're not going to just say, wow, this guy had a great two weeks, so he gets it. Like it's a narrow, narrow field already. It's already narrowing down. Nobody's popping up and going to surprise anyone with a heart trophy. There's three guys it's Dry, Subtle, Hellebuck or McKinnon. One of them is going to win the heart trophy. But whoever plays A the most and B the best I think will win it because I do think it's a three horse race right now.

I think you can make a very compelling case for all three guys. Would you put, see I would my com a carmen top five top five but you wouldn't give it you wouldn't hand him it would you give him the heart trophy i was thinking about last night and then i was just like and mckinnon he's having a great year but it's not some like out of this world score like thirty holes in place a million minutes on the rest one by real is unreal

what would you rather have a heart trophy, a Stanley cup, or a Spangler cup? I don't know if I can give you an answer with a straight face. That is one. Is there some greats that got the Spangler and that's it? Start, sit, cut. I'm not sure how I lay that out. I don't either. But Spangler's not getting cut. Start, sit, cut. I'm not sure how I lay that out. I don't either. But Spangler's not getting cut. I can tell you that. Spangler will not be cut. Here he is from the Got Your Back podcast. Former NHL or former Spangler Cup great. Joining us here in the Maple Toyota Hotline, here's Jason Strudwick. What's up Struddy? I'm good, I'm good. But listen,

you guys, you got to qualify that because, you know because you know I told you guys you never say it properly. I carry the team on my back to a silver medal to Spangler Cup. Hang on a second here. Silver? You've been telling us all this time it was a gold. No, no I was always being clear. I don't lie about that. The truth is it's a silver and I did I put 17 other players on my back dragged them to a silver medal Sure, we lost the final. I might have been minus two, but I still played really well. Okay Well, let me let me present this question because it's been a hypothetical that we've been running through the last few minutes Would you give up your Spangler Cup silver medal for a Norris trophy in the NHL? Yeah, well, yeah, as hard as it would be,

I let down 17 other guys. I guess I have to. Selfish, if you take the Norris. Selfish, not a team player. You know what's so funny is I got my first contract, you know, back then there was, there wasn't, like it was like maybe, I don't know, a handful of pages.

And I'm going through it looking, yeah, this looks good, whatever, 400 grand, everything's good. Bonus, Norris Trophy, like 50 grand. I'm like, that's all I get if I win the Norris Trophy? Like, I couldn't believe it. I used to think, because that was before bonuses were capped. You could have as much as you wanted. I think they'll put a 50 million in there.

It wasn't like I was ever gonna get it. Yeah, no kidding. What is the, like why waste everyone's time with a 50 grand bonus on a Norris Trophy? That is a good, yeah, exactly. You may have just said, you know what, I'd like that taken out, because if I win it.

You gotta make that 350. Like at least get your attention to do some extra work. Well, it should. It should be like what you're talking about with Warren Buffett like just put like five million put something crazy out there if I achieve it I mean think about how lucky they are to have you winning a Norris and making 400 grand I mean everything would balance out for them I would have tried way harder way harder like I was like I just want to be a second team all-star not enough not a

North Joby winner exactly you would erase the bar on expectations and what you're pursuing well the reason the reason we brought this up is that dry subtle Leon's not playing tonight and not a lot of information on what's going on with him and and just day to day and you know he's it's him and McKinnon and Halibut chasing a hard trophy and I he may have the upper hand on those two guys I think based on an odds perspective on Fandel that's exactly what's happened, but if he misses Seven or eight games here strut

I I think he may take himself out of that like I think McKinnon might pass him or Hellebuck might pass him Fairly or unfairly I think playing games especially down the stretch is Really what you need to get over the top when you have a three-horse race like this. Do you see it that way and how important do you think it would be for Dry Settle to win another heart trophy? You know that injury to me it looks like a bit of a hamstring issue. I just never seen happen in an old-timers game. I got points in the game after I was injured but whatever I'm sure that. Battler. I'm sure Leo. Yeah, whatever. I mean, I saw, I saw him make that about my greatness compared to Leon's, but you know, I think there's a recency bias, like people, their, their memory of what happened,

like Leon's been an absolute beast for the others this year. Absolute beast. Uh, he's, he's destroying the scoring race for goals. Like what's the next closest guy? Is it 10 or 11 or something last I checked? So he's just, he's killing it and he's been, he's been great defensively and you know, McDavid's had a bit of an off year for him and he's been an absolute beast and his line mates haven't always been, you know, maybe pure top six forward. So he's, he's doing a lot of damage here. So if he is out, I do think it does because of the fact that it won't be in, in at that moment. People will forget where he's at. But let's be clear, and Leon

said it before, it's cup or bust. They want to win the Stanley Cup. He's won his heart trophy and yeah, it'd be cool to have two, but the difference between zero and one is massive. The difference between one and two, I don't think it's that big a deal because you already have one. But he doesn't have a Stanley Cup. So I think he's gonna make sure that he will take the time required to make sure that whatever this injury is, he is good to go and healthy.

So when he comes back and now they're in a stretch run, he'll be at 100% for the playoff. Strahd, what's your confidence level that they can find the magic again? There's been some different parts of their game that have disappeared and have caused for concern, I guess you could call it. Like the Florida Panthers, I thought people said, you know what, they're hungry and they're going to get back right away and they did it and they won. Are you confident that the Oilers are

going to do that or have the capabilities to do that? I am and their game is taking up again some support scoring which I think is important. Nugent Hopkins come alive, Hyman, even now Arbittson three goals in six games. That's pretty impressive. But I think it's the defensive posture in front of their net minor that's going to really get them over the top. Last three games one goal against and that's what they've been built on. I believe that yeah they have a lot of scores but that one goal against and that's what they've been built on. I believe that yeah they have a lot of scores but that that one goal against and then the play

that helps to play the goaltender and then their penalty kill those are to me two underlying qualities this team needs to have to win and we're starting to see them come together. Alright, yeah listen they're playing they're picking up wins right they're picking up wins recently in Edmonton and for me it come and they got Ekholm back which is big big. And you mentioned Eugene Hopkins, he's been playing up the middle of the ice. And yet it's the goal tending that I think at the end of the day, we continue to come back to. And I'm curious where you stand on Skinner, because he's had an up and down

year, I'd say more down than up. But what makes you believe that come playoff time, even if the rest of the team has elevated their game and they look like they're hungry to do what Florida did, that Skinner can kind of follow their lead or maybe lead them to where they've got to go? Two things. One, he has done it before. Now, has it been imperfect in every playoff? No, but he has as much or more experience than any goalie around the league. as much or more experience than any goalie around the league. The only guy, maybe, is Bobroski the last three years, so he has more experience in the playoffs. Again, not all perfect, but he has that experience. Number two is that when the team is limiting chances in front and becomes more predictable, his game elevates.

I think he wants to be in the right spot, let them shoot it, hit them, and he covers it up. So we've seen that the last few games, and when the others are at their best as a team, their deep posture, that's when they're at their best. And it helps him and Pickard or any goalie quite frankly a lot. And I think back to when Marty Berdure played the Devils, you know, they were really good at kind of funneling shots from certain areas and Marty was like, yeah, I got this. I've seen this shot so many times.

So those are two reasons I think, he listened he's not a top five goal in the league but I think he's a guy that his stats are lower than what they should be and I think he will be able to climb up and be a version that is required to support his team to do on the playoffs. So we got a bunch of Canadian teams that are currently in the playoffs. So we got a bunch of Canadian teams that are currently in the playoffs and it feels like we're gonna get at least five that are gonna make it, right?

Edmonton and Winnipeg are gonna get there. Toronto's gonna get there. I think Ottawa is gonna get there. And then one of the Habs, Vancouver, Calgary. In terms of how you feel on a bigger picture strut, as we're getting closer, we're inside a month of the Habs, Vancouver, Calgary. In terms of how you feel on a bigger picture strut, as we're getting closer, we're inside a month of the Stanley Cup Playoffs starting and we keep talking about this Canadian drought

that's going on 32 years now. Collectively, let's say five teams get in, maybe six. How do you feel about the chances of a Canadian team at least making it back to a cup final in terms of all those tickets that are going to be punched come playoff time? Well I think you have to look at the top teams. And I think it's a great story, you know, the Ottawa, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver. I think that's a great story but

I would have trouble saying that I would bet money on those teams making a deep run. I really would. So that leaves the other ones, which are Edmonton, Toronto and Winnipeg. And of those three, I don't know how you can think Winnipeg is the strongest team of the three of them, right? They're a really good team. They're well-coached, they're organized, they've got the netminder. They can obviously win a few games on his own. It's something that I don't know that Toronto or Edmonton either, either of those teams have. But Edmonton's been it, they've done it.

Winnipeg's never done it nor has Toronto, or not never, but in recent, those two clubs haven't done it. So I think that gives, I would give a nod to Edmonton and or Winnipeg over Toronto just because of those two reasons. Now, you know, Toronto's got a coach that understands winning and playoffs and they made some good moves. But I think it'll come down to those two teams specifically, Winnipeg and Edmonton and then Toronto could

be who knows but not making it easy. If they've got to play Tampa then Florida then whoever, that's a pretty hard road to punch through but the more teams you have the better chance but those it'll have to be the two or three teams that I think will have to try to do it. Stradi, what about your Leafs? Your boy Mitchie in Austin playing well, a couple wins back on top of the Atlantic. What are your thoughts? Because some other people, some very close to us on this show this afternoon, are just not buying in completely.

And I think that you probably are or are just not buying in completely and I think that you probably are or are you not? You know what? I've said this right from the get go with everyone and with Craig and the whole group is that it's great that they're getting this done now but show me in the playoffs. Show me that you can be that the team, those guys can step up and do in the playoffs. And you know, I honestly, I think Mitch Marner learned a lot in that four nations cup. I really think that he understands what it means to elevate now in the big moments.

And he did it in a really big moment. I mean, if you look at over that time, his first game was okay, then it kind of dipped down a bit. He was pushed down the lineup, then he was put back up because he's having a good game the final and got it done. So that's understanding that elevation, you know, those, those top players, they, you know, they late raise their game and they need it the most. So I wonder if, you know, he isn't the guy that maybe becomes the catalyst to get them

over the top. The problem is you're going to have to punch through, well, could have to punch through two really good teams in Florida. And that is not easy. I think finishing first is huge. I think it's huge for that Leafs team. Beating one, maybe beating two, that's a for any team, not just the Leafs guys. I'm not just picking on them. Yeah for sure. I mean the thing is you know you look out West how top-heavy it is. You know in the East, Washington I think still has to

prove that they can continue this through the playoffs. You know until they get there and they win in the playoffs I think there's gonna be some doubt Carolina they go to the playoffs every year but eventually they run out of steam or their goaltending isn't gonna be good enough I don't think Jersey's built for a run you know this is just an ease but if you go to the West like you said about Winnipeg and I would agree with what you had to say they deserve all the accolades yet they've got their own demons in the playoffs they have to overcome but Dallas Colorado Vegas like I those three teams are giants man like I don't like if you're Edmonton and you you have to

play Vegas in the second round and then Colorado in the third round I don't think that's I don't think that's easier than the Leafs have strutty like, you know Florida's a very good team, but they played more hockey than anyone the last three years Tampa's a good team, but the Leafs have actually played them very well and Anyone else in the East would not scare you that's not saying the Leafs are scaring other teams or would definitely win in those scenarios But for me like if I'm looking at it through the lens of an Oilers fan Vegas Colorado Dallas Winnipeg I'm probably have to beat it like two of those to get to a cup final. I don't know man. That's a grind

Like that is rolling. Yeah. No, it's a tough one. I mean, I think the Decentral is really that that's the real grind to get out Of there. Yeah, I think that's really tough and then you kind of flip to the Pacific You know, I think finishing first really tough. And then you kind of flip to the Pacific. You know, I think finishing first is important for the Witters. I really think it is. And they're, you know, they were kind of struggling now that seems to be kind of getting their game back. And they've got some work to do there for sure.

But if they can do that, you know, Vegas, maybe they have a quicker first round matchup, although it could be against a pretty good team. And then the second one, you know, LA and the Kings maybe have to play or say LA and Vegas because what I think makes the Vegas dangerous when I look at their players is that decor they're big they're mobile and they take up a lot of space on the ice like they are not fun to try to get through that those trees to get to middle the ice and I think at times the owners are guilty of not driving the middle of the ice. You know I just look at when I defend it I love when guys just stay on the perimeter.

I'll let my goalie try to stop those but when you punch in the middle of the ice it makes it hard. I think they've been guilty of not doing it enough and I think they're trying and I'll kind of get that back in their game. I was going to turn the tables on you guys. Oh, yeah. I've been looking at this heart trophy stuff since you guys brought it up Yeah So McDavid has three. Yeah, so I have two questions. Okay, I'm gonna put the over under for his career 4.5 a are you taking the over the under that's water Under Wow, I take the under says you don't win hearts after I know I heard that it's an insane statement It is fine. It's back, but it is I mean Crosby is only one too

I looked it up. Yeah, and none since I think 2014 since he was like 26 years old. Yeah. Yes, so that's one question Okay under so McDavid has three you think he would trade all three for a cup. Yes, like a hundred percent, right? Every player would every play. I don't think every player would, man. I don't know if every player would. You don't think so? I don't know. Maybe not all three. Three hearts? I'll give you two of them back. Three hearts, like that's, you got something on Sid. And getting one cup isn't gonna catch Sid. Sid's got three of those. I don't know, man. I'd like to believe that he would say yes, but I think publicly he would say yes. I think privately he would think that over, man. I'll keep one. There'd be some pie charts going on here and Venn diagrams. Like, how do I work this out in terms of my legacy? I think so, Strud.

The record is nine. Well, Gretzky. Then six, four, and then a bunch of guys action on a bunch of guys a few guys of three so if he gets four pretty good about the give up two hearts and all immediately for for a stanley cop clauvin is not all about the full three but i don't know if the three pack is like you're getting into you're getting

offensive here. Yeah. Like you're taking some personal things. That's bad negotiating. Possibly Strub. But you're saying McDavid would pounce on that. You're a believer in that. I honestly, guys, I think winning the Stanley Cup, it drives that like the most elite of the elite.

They want to know that they are up with the best. They want to be in that echelon of greatness. I think, and I'm not comparing this guy as far as the high level, but what do you think Charles Barker would be willing to change to have his... Yeah, oh he'd love a championship for sure. And not the same level as Connor, but he's an elite, elite athlete and basketball player. But I just think that those great players, they want to walk into a room, know that they won. They were better than everybody else when it mattered in the Stanley Cup final.

So I don't know. I've never heard anyone say, you know, I, the Stanley Cup winning Stanley Cup wasn't fun. I didn't enjoy it. Oh, I'd be a blast. What if, what if he has to throw in the cons might too, three hearts and the cons might, and he gets a cup, but not the cons might that no other hearts. I think losing the cons might to losing effort. I think losing the cons might they're losing effort I think that would be a fairly easy one yeah I probably give that one up but what the cons might when you lose yeah only goal is that was a

bizarre sound got called out there and he didn't even go I don't even think he went out right no he didn't go respect but I don't even think he went out, right? No, he didn't go. No, I respect that. But why would you? You want to be with your teammates, right? Sure. That's a hard moment. People gave him a hard time. I'm like, we just lost to Stanley Cup. They want me to walk out there and pretend to happy when the thing,

when my buddies are inside crying, like, I don't know, that would be, I give him a lot of break. Anyone, anyone who had to go through that, I'd be like, come on. Yeah, I agree. That's not fair. I agree. And that actually might be answering the question that he wasn't

like a spurs likely to get out there and yeah that's a couple of pics here with harry in the boys uh... yeah and i'd strut and we'll leave it there and there's now people start to write in some real stuff your breath writing in saying you think eyes and then would trade one of his cops for a heart trophy it's the vibes and then you're telling me stevie either didn't win one of the i don't think you ever want to hurt ever in front of me with the whole time no i don't believe i mean you know you did

they never did so he he gets to keep up what two of his cops and i think you trade one in for a heart i'd go to the house of one of our health and he wanted three cops didn't he yeah exactly cop man so the cops i'm going to cops and a heart if I'm Stevie Y. Oh, man. All day.

Two cups and a heart. I'll toss a cup back. Give me a heart, Steve. Just for the trophy. All day, man. All day. Someone sent me a DM saying, what about Scottie Pippen? You think he wouldn't trade back a three-peat for an MVP and maybe a finals MVP?

He would. He'd still have three rings. Dude, I don't even know what to think about Scottie Pippen. for an MVP and maybe a finals MVP. He would. He'd still have three rings. Dude, I don't even know what to think about Scottie Pippen. After the, during COVID, the last dance came out and they had the, just the theatrics of him during one of those games where he refused to go in. And it was just, it made me think twice about Scottie Pippen. That's when Jordan was retired and he was the man and he was leaning into the Bulls. Yeah, it wasn't good.

When I played in Chicago, I would go to these restaurants and you know, some good times at night and everyone would tell me that his nickname was No Tippin Scotty Pippin. That's a tough rap to have man. Here comes No Tippin. No Tippin Scotty Pippen. It was the funniest. I was dying when I heard that. He's a guy big tipped too. You gotta tip man if you're Scotty Pippen. Like you're making so much money man. Although he felt like he got burned bad.

That's why he went to Portland at the end of his career. But he still ended up making a lot of money. Alright Struddy, well we'll leave it there. I don't know if we have really established anything in terms of awards for Spengler Cops and Stanley Cops and all that but we all see it differently. Thank you for this. Enjoy the games tonight. Yeah we'll talk again soon. See you boys. There he is, Jason Strudwick. The Got Your Back podcast. Joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline Drive, the built-in Canada fuel-efficient, funded drive Toyota RAV4, gas or hybrid models

available. Visit mapletetoys.com. Yeah, if I'm Stevie Wy, I'm trading in a cup for a heart trophy all day. But a lot of guys have won one. Like I'm looking at the list. Yeah, I would. One is like, yeah. One heart? One heart.

Yeah, like once you get into two, like you're pretty exclusive. Yeah, then if you win one heart, you're like like i'll toss a heart for a copy of the exact all day if you get one heart i would trade all of the other hearts for cops like all of them that's pretty that's that's the standard idea is in it like i think everyone would think that you get

multiple hearts it's like overboard for cops you think matthews would trade in his heart I was gonna ask Stanley Cup right now both his 60 goal seasons for a cop Yes, the answer is a hundred he would he would do that for sure I would think I mean cuz what do you revert it back to? 50 it's a 50 what about all of his Rockets. I think he's yeah I think you trade those in for a cop for sure It's a legacy play, man.

You think about the way people talked about Steve Iserman, unbelievable player, unbelievable guy. But when he won those cups, it was like. Steve Iserman, the leader, the guy that block shots, played, hurt, knew how to win. It was like it, it's just, and it wasn't the 135 points that went along with it it was just all the other stuff I'm like it's a totally different view of what Steve Iserman was yeah it was like well the point producer or the

leader and the guy that wanted to get it done well you can argue the same thing about Ovi man well and I only was the sniper that never really found it around him and they got it done Yeah, and I think they're hoping here that that's what it becomes with Matthews where it's like eiserman scored a crap ton of goals Forever. Yeah, it was like this guy can't win and then it's like now. How do we think of him? Yeah, don't really remember like he had 60 goal seasons. Oh, yeah, you know hundred and sixty point Yeah, but now it's like I just won three keys Oh, yeah, you had a hundred and sixty point. Yeah, but now he's like I just won three keys and yeah I'm on that Oh two team in Salt Lake. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Everything changes like that

All right Keegan Matheson coming up are things changing when it comes to Vladdy Guerrero jr. In his future as a Toronto Blue J We'll get you those answers next. All right, Frankie Corrado will be in studio in about a half an hour Big footy match tonight too out in LA Canada Mexico the Nations League is up for grabs so we're gonna catch up with Matthew Shinetti who's wearing a suit on Sports Center last night actually very dialed in suit at that did he have his I think the Converse is he always where he likes to wear a Converse shoe yeah he'll wear a high top with a suit. I'm, I would guess that's probably what he's wearing out there. That's his signature play.

Our next guest, his signature play, they have the beard dialed in, right? The shades looking good. He's probably got a tan going at this point. He's been down in Dunedin for a few weeks. Here he is from MLB.com. Porch beers. He does shorts to media availability. Has to man. You said that's not allowed. I said that in hockey rings. Baseball I think are different rules. Let's ask him. There he is Keegan Matheson. What is the rule? What's the deal when it comes to wearing shorts showing up for like media calls and scrums and stuff like that? I fellows it's all pants down here and as a bigger man i think the uh...

whatever those blue lemon a b c pants with the most important thing that i've ever happened to me yet in my life i'm a large-legged man but once i start the year like this fellows you know i'm i'm pretty pale but your arms your face get tanned and then my legs are to a point where you just can't turn it back they look like two out-of-bounds sticks it's terrible yeah so I can't do it I end up being pants all year and it's it's tough but anything really in the name of professionalism it's my number one concern. Deegan what about this? What if

what if you were in a Lululemon store and they presented to you a men's like tight spandex version for man only, much like the women wear, but they said this is very comfortable, you'll like this in spring training, would you rock it? Just a spandex Lululemon. I'm open to it. I am very good cell number one fellows also also left asked yes as long as it's a breathable i will be from the face of these full-figured man little pants i know one of those listening i'm gonna get that email tonight this is going to

be exciting new era for me i might get a little more i might get a few more no's on the interview requests, but I'm open to all opportunities. Okay. Well, we appreciate the honesty, and that is a professional. That's a professional in trouble. I respect that, because it's like 40 degrees in Florida. You got to wear pants, man. You got to be a professional.

Were you prepared for Mark Shapiro to speak today? Where did this come from? I've been calling him out, I think others down in Dunedin, like with all these leaks and all the contract stuff and Vlad is doing interviews. I think it was long overdue. I think Shapiro had to address it.

Was this always the plan or did he actually finally react to all of the noise hanging around Vladie Guerrero Jr.? Now this was the plan. We normally do this as a writers meeting this time camp and i was joking today it's usually my annual check in of how many writers are left in the world and it's or or a smaller table every year uh... but there were four five was that down mark today for about an hour we normally do it about this time it can't

was expected to happen what i was not expecting was how direct he was about bladdy right off the top And you guys have seen the quotes, I know folks listening have, where he's saying, I think we're gonna sign him. I think we're going to extend him. And he gave the reasons and the context beyond that. But listen guys, you know this as well. Mark Shapiro does not just shoot off the cuff.

He's not out here riffing with whatever comes to mind. When he speaks, it is thought out and it's meaningful. And he didn't hold back today. He was very direct about this. And frankly, fellas, I like that because we've had a lot of noise going back to when he and Ross Atkins spoke nearly, God, it was a full month ago.

I don't know what's happened in my life since then, but a full month ago on February 18th, when we heard from them. And that was a lot of words and we didn't really have much to take away from it. Today you've got him being pretty direct saying, yeah, we think we're gonna extend the guy. Even if it takes a while, even if it takes free agency,

he was pretty straight with it. And it was fascinating to hear that right off the top. He did not hold back. What do you think about Vladdy continuing to come out and say, I'm going to speak to everyone including the Yankees. It kind of bugs me Keeg. I mean, like I said it yesterday, it seems panicky from him where he keeps continuing to go back to the well. Like dude, we get it. You said once you, any other player in any negotiation that I remember in any sport that said you got Till the start of training camp Phil Kessel was a great example because but he got the deal signed the day of the first season

They never said a peep. It was almost like you guys want to screw around I'll play ball that way but he just like I don't know are they gonna tell him to be quiet Is he gonna be quiet or what do you think his game plan is gonna be? This helps nobody like nobody wins from this to tell him to be quiet? Is he going to be quiet or what do you think his game plan is going to be? This helps nobody. Nobody wins from this. This doesn't benefit anybody. And yesterday, guys, because actually a couple of days ago, I'd been having conversations with some people around the Blue Jays saying, you know what? It's been annoying. It's been distracting when he said it wouldn't be. But listen, I'll give Vladdy some leeway and let's see if he's learned from this messy

midsection of camp Let's give him the chance here to stop that and move forward doing what he said he would do Which is not making it a distraction Then I'm sitting here yesterday. Boom. There comes another interview of him saying these are my numbers. Yes. I'll play for the Yankees Found out today that was a couple weeks old. So that's recorded from back when he was in the middle of a messier part of spring training. I hope that's behind him and everybody

because I keep running up against this point fellas where I'm saying okay, I'm talking about this story, I'm writing about it again, but nothing has actually changed. People are just yapping more, and it's not helping anybody. So I'm hopeful that from this point on, that stops, because it's not benefiting Vlad's side,

it's not benefiting the Blue J's side. I think at this point, clearly more of it's coming from Vlad's side of this. That doesn't mean Vlad directly, but Vlad's side side his people a lot of the reports coming out. At the same time I also think guys that that video is a perfect representation of what's gonna happen in every single city. We've talked about this it's exactly what's gonna happen. That was

from a 42 minute interview and the clip we all saw was seven seconds. Will you play for everybody? Yeah. The Yankees? Yeah. That's going to happen in Boston. It's going to happen in the New York match. It's going to happen in Texas. It's going to happen everywhere. And it's easy for Vlad to keep getting in those situations when he'll say yes to an interview and suddenly you're being asked that question and you're saying yes again. So that's okay if he's putting up MVP numbers, there's a certain element that you're just gonna have to tolerate I think along the way.

But let's say guys if this is mid-June and the Blue Jays have lost 10 in a row and one of those comes out, it's a mess. It's a distraction. So he's gotta be careful with those going forward. Like really, because that gets dangerous. With Keegan Matheson and you bring up an interesting point here in terms of you know end of June and how the team's playing and I'm curious your interpretation of this because again

Mark Shapiro spoke with the media today spoke with the the writers down there Keegan was in the room and when asked about Vladdy in his future he said quote I think we're going to sign him I think we're going to extend him the reason I feel that way is because we have such a clear alignment on the desired outcome in other words they want to sign him but he wants to stay but what if this team is on pace for 68 wins and he hasn't been signed by July 15th and we're getting that can also be president speak in nonsense too well I guess that I guess that's what I'm asking like it is smart do you did you interpret this is mark shapiro saying we're not trading him not gonna happen so don't ask us this question again

because we are committed to getting this done or is in a c saying like his belief is if it goes to next year and free agency and you reference that as well you just told us that you've written about it that maybe they have to wait until he gets out to the market to see what the numbers are going to be, is the is Shapiro saying he believes Ty will go to the Blue Jays, so Vladyskamp will come back to them honestly and say this is what we can get somewhere else, do you want to match it? And furthermore, Shapiro knows ownership will give him that blank check. So if it's 650 million, Mark's telling us this morning,

the owner is saying, go and give him 650 million. How do you tie all of that together? The way I've been looking at it guys is, because we talked about this six months, a year ago, and for a long time, I've thought the likely outcome here is that he goes to free agency. And if they can sign him back back like Aaron Judge is the easy example That's how this will work if it ever works because then the market gets to play a role

But the question I keep asking is What's likelier here that his number goes up or it goes down with how he plays this season? What would he have to do to make this number go up like hit 70 home runs? plays this season. What would he have to do to make this number go up like hit 70 home runs? He would have to have an all time like a legitimately all time MLB season. I think it only goes down. Exactly. Now, if that is what the Blue Jays are betting on, you're always taking a risk if you're betting on something. But if that's what the Blue Jays are betting on at this point, their play can be okay. Let's play out the season.

When we get to the market in December, the rest of baseball is going to tell you that our number is closer to reality. That's the Blue Jays' likeliest play here. And I think it has been for a really long time. And you risk some hurt feelings and all of that. But I think that, like you said, Hayes, that the Blue Jays do have some of those tiebreakers that Canada's team usually does not have. So as long as you can match a number, I think they'll

be okay. But I don't think it's a situation where they look at trading him now whatsoever. But like you mentioned, if this is July, that's awkward, because he might be your next shot at getting that next big thing. They don't have that right now and that can get real bad, real awkward, real quick. Well, if that's the case, what this could be also is Mark Shapiro and he has a tendency of doing this. Letting everyone know he's smarter than you and basically what Mark's telling Vlad is you don't know the market in Major League

Baseball. I do. I know it. And I'm going to play yourself right into the market. Exactly. You are I'm telling we're going to sign you because you're going to come calling back and saying can I please have that 450 million and then you're going to say actually it's 400. Well and then I guess he can play whichever but that might be what Mark is actually doing here with a smile on Saying this guy Vlad. He thinks he knows baseball. I've been in the league for 30 years. I know baseball See, that's what I want to ask Keegan There's another part of what he said where he basically said there's only one player who sells

Tickets is that kind of what he said like a marketing? Yeah I think he's talking about Otani and then he went on to say I mean Keegan you you were in there that other players can be great players but if they're on losing teams it doesn't really matter what did you make it that part of what he said I like that one and that was I asked him that question about if there is marketing or external revenue considerations for Vladdy like if you sign Vladdy, can you mentally think you're gonna make another five, 10 million bucks a year? Generally speaking.

And he said, where's the quote? I've got it right in front of me. There's only been one player in Major League Baseball who had a marketing case that significantly and meaningfully offset the value of his contract. One player, only one. And in every other case, what sells tickets in the hundreds of thousands is winning. He's talking about Shohei Otani, obviously, the

Japanese. He's saying that, yeah, we love Vladdy. Yes, he makes it a lot of fun to win, but you got to win. This cannot turn into another Roy Halliday or Carlos Delgado, where you have a great player, a Hall of Famer or a near Hall of Famer that no one really cares about watching because you suck that's the danger zone you can't waste a star and the Blue Jays need to from their side of this be able to build a team that they think they're going to win with Vlad E well show hey with Tony you could go wild on that but they've got a win if they're gonna have Vlad E there and that's what he was getting to. He made it real clear when he said one player only one. So he was making it very clear that they viewed Vladdy as a baseball player. And when I say that's it,

I don't mean that dismissively but there's not a bigger broader big brained marketing case to be made here. This is a baseball negotiation. Keegan, where does Bo Bichba shetline all this it seems like he's i don't know if he'd like sitting in the weeds but i haven't heard his name or it's just undercover is he loving it or what's his story he might be loving it because if he was the number one guy getting asked about this i think it would drive little little nuts the last time i spoke to Bo about his contract

was a couple of weeks ago earlier in camp. Said he hadn't heard anything. There hadn't been an offer, hadn't been negotiations. And the Blue Jays, certainly with how they do business, I think it would be very hard for them to agree in a number with Bo right now. I don't think that's happening before the season because he's coming off a bad year. I believe in the Bo Bichette who was his first four years of his career, but if you're the Blue Jays and you don't want to get too risky with that, you're pointing at last season and saying,

let's wait and see. But guys, I really think that in a couple of weeks, everybody is suddenly talking about Bo. They should be already because this is still the number two player on the team and he could be staring at making 200 300 mil himself But if he gets off to a hot start Like I already know that conversation is coming should they extend bow instead of laddie? I know that that's gonna come up in mid-april in mid-may and for now he is under the radar

Living a pretty blessed life where he does not have to answer my questions about that every day but it's gonna come man because once he starts hot and he has looked incredible like incredible this spring if he starts hot man that is gonna pick up really fast yeah yeah as it should man like they both arrived at the same time and they need bichette and he like he said he's having a great spring looks good he's cut his hair he's dialed in everything's coming together for bo bichette all right keegan great catching up with you man we appreciate you doing this you got it fellas take care there's keegan matheson of mlb.com exclusively wearing pants to work. Very important.

Very important to establish that. Yeah, the irony of like, Shapiro talking about Vladi as a ball player instead of a marketing camp component and saying, well, you have to win to make it worth it. You have to help him win. You're the guy that's gonna put the team together to make it pop you can't sit there and say well we're not gonna pay you because the

team stinks who's responsible for that you are like you're responsible unless all I guess is sewer job on a player so the team purposely loses and then you can say to the player you never win right what are you doing what he said is fans don't come to see great players on losing teams. Well, and there's there probably is truth in that. I think that's true. Yeah, I mean winning goes last year. Buzz go and get a vibe going. Do you want to go away more days game to see Voddy? Of course. And ticket sales, he said it today are down a little bit this year and considering what happened last year. And like Otani is a different beast because the Japanese market,

I just saw someone tweet out that like the Dodgers are gonna make billions of dollars from Japan. Forget the American market and the LA market, which is massive, just Japan is gonna pay his price tag for the rest of his career. McNeese State has taken down Clemson. I had that one. You had McNeese State? You were a 12 seed. Generally a 12 seed does offset a 5 seed. 12 beats of 5 every year.

McNeese State is through. All right, Frankie Corrado coming up. Matthew Shinetti coming up from LA ahead of Canada, Mexico tonight. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN 2. All right, we sent Al's brother out into the city with a pair of leave tickets with the gas and you have to guess where he is for a chance to win them let's hear the final clue of the week they overdrive fans happy thursday to you i am back to get to your final clue to find out where else but it's been hiding at this week to get yourself a pair of leaves suppliers tickets forers tickets for March 25th.

Here is your final clue of the week. The place that I've been hiding out at is very distinguishable from other Toronto parks by the stone and iron gates at the southern entrance. Ooh, when you hear the cue to call tomorrow, the first caller through with the correct location wins a pair of Leafs tickets. Leafs Flyers March 25th find Al's brother is brought to you by McAlpine Ford in Aurora our family the Ford family and you he's not a high park really that's where we thought he was but he's not a

high bar high the gates are like that at the southern entrance not at the south then don't be stupid he's not he's not he's not at High Park he's I'm telling you I don't believe that's where he is. He's at another very famous park downtown. All right Frankie Corrado coming up you have to know this you're a downtown guy. Trinity Bellwoods? No comments. Frankie Corrado coming up Matthew Shinetti coming up. Overdrive continues, TSN 1050N on TSN2. With flights, hotel, and $500 included. How we feeling tonight? For your best chance to win, enter daily at iHeartRadio.ca. Thank y'all so much. Kane Brown's new album, The High Road, is available now.