OverDrive - OverDrive - March 25, 2026 - Hour 1 - Steve Phillips

Episode Date: March 25, 2026

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! They discuss their hilarious experiences in photos, the Senators' significant victory against the Red Wings, Carter Yakemchuk's debut for Ottawa and the Maple Leafs making a statement to the Bruins. Plus, TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips joins to discuss the Blue Jays' season outlook, the Face of the Franchise and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s impact.

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All right, here we go, overdrive off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker, up on TSN4, up on your. YouTube live, Brian Hayes, the O'Dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. What's going on? What's going on? I have a difficult announcement to make. I didn't want to do it, but life is life. Mother's Day is the same day as the marathon, Hazy, and I have engagements.

I have to put – dude, I'm not being a fraud. I have to pull the pin. Okay, so we're not running the marathon, because I have been training and preparing for the marathon. You're telling me. Hard work. You're pulling the shoot on me. I'm not pulling the shoot, but if there's one in September or early on, like in the fall, we'll do it. But Mother's Day, you know the deal. I understand that. I understand that. I'm glad you're taking a bullet here for the team because I have been in the doghouse a little bit as I've been training, right? I'm up to about 8K pushing towards nine, and I did say Mother's Day may get, you know, postponed.

and I haven't been in a good place. So let me get this straight. You've been pushing up towards 8 or 9K? Well, I mean, I've been doing it internally. I didn't want to publicize, you know. I didn't need them. Internally, the man says. Mentally?

Mentally, you've been doing it? No, I mean, like keeping it private. I guess it's the more proper way of putting it. Like, I had some paparazzi chasing me around the other day, and I said, get out of here. I'll pay you to get the tape back so you don't post it publicly because I don't want people seeing me train. But it's all for not.

But that's fine, and I appreciate it, because Mother's Day, I need to prioritize where things are supposed to be prioritized. That's fair. I love the way you're looking at this. I love it. Speaking of mothers, I had a lady come out to me today. I don't know if you guys get this. Because obviously dudes that watch us a lot, and they're like, hey, you're the overdrive guy. Do you ever get, like, moms or wives that just come up and say, are you the guy that I'm stuck, what?

I get a lot of hate almost. I don't think it's hate convuls. You and your two buddies are always on the TV, and I'm like, I don't know what to tell you. There's like a hate group that just, I think they're either stuck with us on the tube, or they just, I've heard somebody at a gas station. She heard my voice, and she goes, oh, my God, you're the guy. You're that guy. If you ever had that happen? Oh, a ton of times.

Yeah, they can't stand us. There's just like a hate group where they're just like, oh, you're that guy at 4 p.m. They're subjected to us daily. That's what it is. Not what they prefer to be doing. Now, I've had some kind moments where people are like, I was stuck watching you guys for two years and now I'm a fan type of thing. I've never heard that one. Honestly, I've never heard that one.

I've had that several times. I got stopped in the airport about a month ago. And I'm, you know, I'm dressed like a homeless guy like I'm going to hat on and sweat. And, you know, my... With your Jerry Betman shoes? Yes, my Gary Bettman, Nike, you know, shoes, saucinny shoes. Have we posted that pick yet when you're talking to Travis? Those were sweatpants.

Those were sweat. I know. But, Blair Hannah snapped out the picture. I think it was Hayes. I don't want to throw you under the bus, Hayes. I think Hayes texted me and showed me the pick and said, I think Noodles is wearing Jerry Bettman shoes. I thought Claire Hannah should have had, honestly, a meeting with HR after that infraction.

Like, I could not believe she posted that picture. Well, and it was, it was me unsuspecting. She posted the pick, and you're allowed to. I believe you're allowed to. It's a public space or whatever. So she posted a pick of me. I can't remember who was me and Matt Cullen maybe talk. No, it was.

Travis Green. You were talking about it, Travis Green and Rusty. Yes. Rusty Nielsen. Yeah, Dusty Nielsen. It was his first game. We were in Calgary. It's morning skate.

We got to get the pick to Joe. I'm wearing a pair of sweatpants. The Jerry Bettman wheels, they're, They're sick. Okay. First of all, you text me and said, those Gary Bettman wheels, and I said,

I'm wearing a pair of sweatpants at a morning skate, dressed like a bum, and that's what it was, and you said, because you said, what did you say, running shoes with dress pants, and I said,

no, those are sweatpants that I was wearing. And I was dressed pants. I told you I would prefer you to wear, you know, the little woven geppetto loafers you have? Yeah. I like that.

look better than what that what i saw joe you just got you got to find this clare claire go back to claire hannah go to her twitter account or instagram yeah and she posted the picture it would have been what two or three weeks ago yeah i was in calgary i can actually give you the the day because i was um ottawa senators at calgary flames that was march 5th because i was flying back for the the trade It's a trade deadline. That's right. The morning of March 5th, and I was very casual, tired, and I look like a skeleton. It's bad lighting, too.

Like, it's a tough picture of me. I'm no gem to look at even with light on. This was tough. It's the most gutless move. And again, it's not intentional. And I have been caught in the crosshairs many times. Like back in the day, like griff periods of my life, where I'd be in a background. Oh.

Dude, there'd be a buffet. Look at that pick of noodles. He's got, like, you're hunched over. You've got a hat on in the Jerry Betman shoes. But can you see the shoes? I can't see. Oh, yeah, the shoes are there. So those are sweatpants with my shoes.

Those are sauciny running shoes. I love those. They're very, very. Dude, they're not saucany. I think they're called Soconi's. Soconi. Soconi. I apologize.

Rico, Cicconi. Well, this is a very, well, this is. the argument you have with hedge. What's the name of it? Those shoes? I call them stinky honkas. Honcus. Hocus.

It's actually Hocus. So it's socky here, whatever. But yeah, the picture's in the background. But there it is. Yeah, those are wild shoes, man. Come and get the Stanley Cup. I was, I'm like what's, it's 10 o'clock in the morning.

I know. On a Thursday morning. I'm just doing my job, getting a little research in, with Travis Green and Dusty Nielsen. Oh, yeah. And Clare was in the background. Oh, yeah. We don't know.

Me and Hayes don't know him that well. We met him a few times. Yeah. But the guy is an unbelievable broadcast. Phenomenal. He had his first game, Jamie. He was dynamite. He's great.

And he's a good guy to work with. He's a beauty, though. Like, you don't realize he's a monster. Yes. Like we're talking 6.5, I don't, 250, 240, whatever it is. Like, for us in that Calgary booth, the camera woman goes to me, she goes, you guys got to sit, because I can't fit you guys in properly.

Like, I looked like his kid. Like it was Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzener. He's so tall. He's so big. And so we had to sit on the edge of the ledge just to fit in the frame. Well, he was prepared. You could see he was horse eye and Clary. He's like, Claire is taking a pick.

So I'm going to make sure I'm like, I think he did a suck in, too, if you look back. He did a little bit of a suck in. But the picture in the background. Like early Facebook days, you'd wake up in the morning, you'd be like, oh, I got all these notifications. And you're like, you've been tagged five times. You're like, this is going to be a disaster. That's a my space picture. That's what it is. That is Tom from MySpace.

Is that what that guy's name was? Yes. You wouldn't even know that. I remember. When you had that black dress shirt on that pick, like when you were in that phase, did you ever click on a Facebook pick where you're like in the background just grinding on some pizza or something? like there must be some horror yeah there are

there's terrible because I know when I was three bills there's some pics that dude you're like on a back couch and your neck is like this you look at it you look like Jabba the Hut back there it's just a slob

it's so unnecessary and gotless listen I don't know where the future's going with AI but I hope someone has thought of that you know one of these big tech companies you need like some sort of filter where it's like, no, no, you're not allowed to post that because that poor bastard in the background is not prepared for it.

It's like a disaster. When I was on vacation, I had to tell my, ask my oldest daughter, because my screensaver on my phone is my wedding picture with me and my wife, and it was right before I went into monster mode, and I told her, you've got to use your tricks on whatever picture app and slimmed me. I can't, because I look at it every day, and she fixed it for me. She A-Ied my wedding picture, and my face was disgusting. I love it.

Like it's like cartooned now or what? Like, what did it? No, she just trimmed out like she got rid of my neck. Like, she carved out my neck. Shoulders and a head sitting there. Yeah. Just take my neck out. Yeah.

Basically removed my neck and just put my, made my face normal looking. Your most famous picture that made its way around the internet. Hayes, do you know which one we're going to talk about this? I have three or four. I mean, there's. Well, no, though. There's the one. one with a hat on in a pool in Florida.

Oh, his one in the pool is crazy. O's internet picture, that one will stand up in my mind forever. Because you wear like a shirt in the pool. Dude, I was sunburnt. I had to go to the gift shop and buy one of those long-sleeved pool sweaters. Which is the ultimate fat-ass move because you are basically telling everyone at the pool you're not putting eyes on what's underneath this. Like you have no right.

to put eyes on what's underneath this shirt. But for months, you were like, that wasn't me. You were like, that's not me. You just actually denied it for months. That jogs my memory of a pick. I'm in Mexico. Where I am, Max, you have a t-shirt on the board.

I have a sombrero and a shirt on and ruining the picture. Like, it's my wife, my sister-in-law, my brother-in-law, like, he's cut. And there's me. They're like, who is this guy in Mexico? Blur everyone else out for privacy reasons. I need the sombrero and the fat-ass white t-shirt. You will not believe this picture. Dude, my most terrific pick is I don't know if Carlo still has it,

but Carlo jam me up huge. I was peak monster, okay? And I was doing overdrive with Carlo, and I had my feet up on the desk, and I'm not kidding you, my t-shirt rode up to my nipples, and my barrel was hanging out the side of my waist and down my quads, and he snapped a pick from the other side of the desk. And he texted to me and he goes, bro, what is up?

And that pick scarred me for life, man. Yeah, that would, but that didn't go public, right? He didn't post it at least. Dude, if he jammed me up like that, we would have a problem. Oh, my God, that's so funny. All right, I'll go back into the archives. We'll find some more. Just isolate yourself in a sombrero.

No, but you're working. No, you're working, right? And again, it was... And you were covering the hottest team in the league, the Ottawa Senators. The hottest team... What a win for that last night. You talked about the underpants cam, man. It is shining bright around the east.

Steve Isamon, Todd McClellan, Dylan Larkin, who returned and scored last night. They must be freaking in Detroit, noodles. Well, I mean, Boston, you know, Montreal. Okay, so I did this. morning on the plane. There's seven teams that are four points apart, but there's five spots available because of the metro. So, you know, the islanders are on the outside looking in, but there are two points

back at Columbus. Like, you're looking at it, and there's basically seven teams in it right there, including Montreal, that's at the top at 88 in that third spot, but only five teams are going to get it. The two wildcard spots, and then the, you know, that the spots really, you know, that the spots respectively in the third spot in the in the Atlantic right that's up for grabs technically still and then two spots in the metro are up for grabs so it is it is on here the last 10 games you know what this season it's become it's become the year of two things the small market team

yeah teams like buffalo and obviously Columbus and Ottawa the islanders I know it's in new York but they're clearly the third team well maybe Jersey is but long island is not exactly you know, Manhattan, you're looking at Anaheim, you know, atop their division, Utah's in, Nashville is still a relatively mid to smaller market, and they're on a heater right now. And the year of the Cinderella, which includes a lot of the teams I just mentioned, Buffalo and Columbus and Nashville, and now Ottawa, like these teams that were nowhere close, some of them a month ago, Buffalo's been on a heater for like three months. So they're a little bit different.

But between Ottawa, Columbus, and Nashville, Nashville won again last night. Pumped San Jose. Are they in right now? Yes, they're in. Nashville's in. Nashville's in that last spot. They're three points into the playoffs. I'll just give props to one thing, and I thought it was a bunch of crap and a guy that I respect a lot, Trotsie.

When he started going on about it takes a year for a legacy player to get his feet underneath him, I thought that was just running away from the fact that his experiment didn't work. It was a tough signings. Yeah, that's, yeah. You know what I mean? Like I thought he was just trying to lean on something, and he was just grasping for straws. And I was like, Trotsey, man, you guys are so bad. You basically lose every night.

But maybe he was on to something. Like it takes a little bit, for whatever reason, it takes a little bit in the transition, and now Stammers ripping home goals. Nashville's in a playoff spot. Trotsey, maybe you were right with that comment. Or to some degree. Here's something crazy, and it kind of ties back to my game last night. there was, you know, there's so many points throughout the season where you go, okay, that team, they're rolling, they're in, or hey, that's curtains for them.

That team's done. Gordon Miller and I did a game in Nashville where the Ottawa senators were up three nothing early in the third period. They lost that game four three in regulation. Steven Stamco's scored three that night. And I remember thinking of myself, if the senators don't make the playoffs, not only did they, miss one point. They missed two points that night. That set Nashville on a heater. And again, now, Ottawa's had their ups and downs. They've fought back. And, you know, it's a great story. Ottawa, you know, you've got two rookies that step into the lineup. This Yakup Chuk can play,

though. That was cool. That play he made on the, his assist was unbelievable. Which is, honest to God, guys, I want, I'm glad you brought it up because I want, I've never in my life Oh, you can speak to it because you're a forward. Hayes, you're a defenseman. In your first game in Barry, would you have ever done? This kid put it between his legs in the National Hockey League in a playoff race on the power play last guy back. Jamie, that's the new age of hockey. That's a skill set where guy, you know how most guys they work on defensemen our whole lives.

And Hayes, you did it like playing junior hockey. Defense drills. The coach dumps it up the board. to glove it down and then take a shot on that. Instead of doing that, you're like doing that kind of stuff that that kid just did. Yeah. There's no drill for that. Like no one wants to drill like, hey, put it through your legs, last man back.

It was, you know what? And I've talked to people in Calgary because he played for the hitman. You know, I've known about this kid for a long time. I can't say I've laid eyes on him for years and years. But I have seen him in the exhibition games for the senators. It was just a matter of time. but comparables, he's got this Evan Bouchard to him, this very casual kind of laissez-faire,

but he's an unbelievably offensively gifted defenseman. Because he's got a flaw for a shot. I would try to pound that element out of him right now and say, you can be next level if you take the laissez-faire, however you just described it, and you're a little bit more hard-nosed, a little bit more dependable, and look at the guy in your team who shoots, left number 85.

There's no casual, there's no casual approach. Intensity and forget all that stuff in your career arc will go skyrocketing. Unless the crazy thing, oh, is these guys are not, it's weird. The way the young players are now, they're just wired differently. And I've been lucky enough to see in the last couple weeks. I watch Matthew Schaefer. This guy is just, he's 18 and playing like his 32. Jamie, I totally appreciate the fact that you just.

said they're wired differently. I will say this, though. It doesn't mean it's right. And it doesn't mean it's the best for the individual or the team to just say, you know what, I'm wired differently. I think that's a bunch of crap the most time. Like, guys use it as a crotch. They come back to the bench.

They're like, nah, it's just the way I'm wired coach. Sorry about that. I'd go nuts. But it's just, I think the game has changed to the point where my point about this, oh, is I don't know how you were the night before your first NHL game, but I didn't sleep, I had, you know, anxiety, all of that type of stuff. Oh, yeah, yeah. This kid showed up yesterday.

Rips one home between the legs pass. Like, and it was like, I'm sure there was anxiety, but it just didn't, he, the moment was not too big for him. And, and again, a former teammate's son was the other guy, Jory and Donovan. And, you know, he is more going to be the more traditional, like, defenseman, and he's got some bite to his game. He could shoot the pocket. He's good skater. And he's 21, so he's probably projected to grow a little bit more at the minor league level. Yakim Chuck is a player.

Like you could tell him, just a matter of time. Big talent. Well, I think what has changed, though, and what doesn't get brought up enough in these conversations, is has the coach changed the way he's wired? Because that's a play. It's got a little Lou Brown, nice catch, hey, don't ever do it again. Yeah. If that goes for a breakaway the other way, you've got a totally different outcome.

But does Travis Green say, hey, if that's what you got, I'll take eight out of ten. Like, I can chew on the two that are going to go the other way because it's going to happen. Like if you're talking, talk to Knoblock, right? Bouchard's going to make a pass. We're like, are you serious, dude? What are you thinking? But then he's going to make the next five or six that no one else can do. Bouchard's got 82 points right now.

Right. So the wiring of coaches has changed. I mean, it's been pretty clear cut with a lot of these teams in the league. They're letting the high wire act kind of play. It is. That's my point about that. Oh, I get it. Like the way that we're wired and at some point it comes to bite you.

And maybe that's in the playoffs where it's just too casual and things are just too hardened. But I just, I think that's today's athlete. It's like, hey, I believe I belong. I'm going to show I belong. And I'm going to use the skill set that got me there in that play safe. I'm going to play what I do. And I just thought it was really interesting because watching that Schaefer kid play, He doesn't play D.

He plays Rover. Yes, he does. It's unbelievable what he does. And seeing these kids come up and really impact players right away. It's pretty impressive. And I was impressed watching them play last night. And it, you know, it was a segue into the Maple Leaf conversation, which, to their credit, I thought they played great last night. Like, they really showed up to play hard.

And, you know, is it frustrating that we haven't seen that for two months? Obviously, that's frustrating. But nonetheless, you know, they showed up. control the game. They played with pace. I thought they were on their toes, defensively sound. But, you know, the bigger conversation. Yes, he did. Absolutely. The goal he played really well. Stollos was good last night. But the bigger conversation about the draft pig is, by all accounts, there's three or four high-end defensemen in this draft that are sitting there waiting. You know, and it's like if you can pluck one of those kids, he's not coming to play for you in three or four years.

He might be on your team next season. Like he might be able to show up at 18. have an impact on your team or at least two or three years down the road. That Verhoff might be able to do that. He might. Not 100%, but he might be able to do that. No, he might, but there's a couple. Like, there's three or four defensemen you look at. Yes, exactly. Carles is up there, the Reed kid. You know, like Craig just came out

with his updated list and he still got McKenna at the top. And I would guess if the Leifes won the lottery, they would take him, I think. But if they were second or third, which they could do winning the lottery, they'd take one of these high-end defensemen, and that would really put them in a very good

position. But last night, the least played really well. Boston's sitting there probably thinking, what the hell are we doing? Like, how do you, you know, you, you, Montreal won last night, but the Islanders lost, and Pittsburgh got pumped. But you're sitting there watching it, Brian, and that's exactly like, on any given night, you can feel good about your team, and then you watch the scoreboard and go, you know, we, we pissed a point away here.

We lost two points where we needed that because it's the margins of air now for these last 10, 11, 12 games. they're razor thin and it could be you know the difference could be a team that has no pressure that goes we're going to play spoiler tonight we're going to play really well and the leaves i get it i was watching you know matthew nyes looked like matthew nines he played real that was a beautiful goal he scored last night but it showed his skating showed his power you know all of a sudden stolar's making some big saves like to me there was there was things that you at the starting the year you clung to and go this is this you know does this guy have another level this goal weird season for him jamy

though, especially the idea that he was going to be taking off Austin Matthews line early on in the year. He started there and you're like, this is this guy's job for the next five years minimum anyway. And all of a sudden, Max Stomy and other guys are playing with Matthews because Matthews with Nyes just didn't work out early on. Well, he hit career highs last night.

He hasn't been in the league long, but he's got 59 points. And he's been hurt. You know, like for a guy that's been injured, and hasn't, you know, his skating has not been at 100%. I know. I was surprised, Brian, about the season total or the point total period. Yeah. Like I was not aware that his point totals reached that level

because I thought it was like trending towards almost like a down year because of just the inconsistencies and you're like, where's that power forward? It seems like we've been asking that a lot, but he's clearly putting up some numbers. It's taken him some time to settle back in. Keep in mind, and I know it's a number. awful excuse, but a lot of his, you got 29 last year, you can go back, I think, you know,

Mitch Marner probably had an effect on some of those. Same thing with Austin Matthews, and they had to change the way that they played. Obviously, you got Machelli playing there, domi playing there, all of that type of stuff. But you don't reinvent yourself, you just adjust and you move on. And, you know, Johnny put this in my head a couple years ago because he said, if you look at nice, every level, he was. wasn't this 40 or 50 goal score. He was more just kind of, he can score some goals, but he can be physical.

He can skate. And to me, I don't know what his ceiling is. Is it a point a game or less than a point of game? I always thought that maybe he'd be a 60 to 70 point guy. I still a really good player on the wing with size. He can play with some bite. He's still a young guy. So, you know, it was a really, it was a good night for the least.

It wasn't a positive one in terms of, you know, the pursuit of a top five pick. but now they get the Rangers tonight and as bad as Toronto is, New York's even worse. The Rangers are an absolute disaster. Bruce Boudreau on that and more around the league coming up. Cole Cawfield chasing down McKinnon. He had another one last night. He played great last night.

The Habs really bounced back after getting beat up in the first period by Carolina. So more on that coming up with Bruce. We've got Jerry coming up at 530 and TSN revealed their face of the franchise list for the Blue Jays. Jays are officially back in town, and they start up on Friday. You got Yankees Giants tonight out in San Francisco opening night tonight in Major League Baseball. So we'll get into this with Steve. He was a part of it. I was a part of it.

Keegan was a part of it. Who's at the top of the face of the franchise? Where could Vladi end up on this list, 5, 10, 15 years from now? And the rosters are set. We know who's coming through town. We know who the 26 guys are come opening night. How does Steve Phillips feel about the Jays as they start their season in just over 48 hours? So Steve's coming up, Bruce coming up, Jerry coming up.

Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. All right, Overdrive continues, powered by Fandul, bringing you more ways to play your game your way. Opening night, Major League Baseball, Yankees Giants tonight. Steve Phillips coming up in a moment, and TSN revealed their face of the franchise for the Blue Jays. You guys all had to pick one or like who you thought? It was one through 10.

So everyone had 10 votes. and Joe Carter was my number one, and he ended up number one on this list. I could go on and on as to why I think that makes sense. I don't think it's overly complicated. You know, I'm open to discussion on some other guys, but for me is Joe Carter. You know, he's been a part of the franchise for over 30 years.

How much love did Dave Steve get? Steve got a lot. And so the list went, I should point out, Roberto Alamar was not eligible for the vote because he's ineligible courtesy of Major League Baseball. he just wasn't included. For those of you wondering, where's Alamar? That's why he's not included in this.

Carter was one, Halliday 2, Bautista 3, Vlady Jr. 4, Dave Steve at 5. So, I don't know. It's a generational thing, right? You're talking 50 years of history. There's the list right there. Delgado at 6, Tony Fernandez, 7,

George Bell, 8, C.O 9, Vernon Wells, 10. Yeah, I'm glad Jose Pautista got that amount of love. Like, I thought people might kind of the way he left, it might be a little bit dicey, but I'm glad he got that support to be up up in that position. Yeah, I think that makes sense. Like I think if you look at from the year 2000 onwards, so half of the history of the team,

for the first 10 years it was Halliday, for the next 10 years it was Bautista, and now the following five years, it's been Vladi Jr., and that's your 2, 3, 4, and I think that makes a lot of sense. And I had Vladia 2 on my list, because he's been within the organization for a decade,

and I put an emphasis on the fact that he got to a World Series. Yeah. I think CETO's low, to be honest with you. You'd have him higher? I would. I mean, this guy was the skip for two world championships. Two World Series wins, and he's what? At nine?

He's at number nine. I disagree with you guys on that one. I hear you. Well, it was a collective, right? There were a bunch of people that voted. Dude, you could spin it. it any way you want it. That's wrong. I can understand that. I think I

had CETO somewhere around there, 7, 8, 9. I did not have Vernon Wells on my list. I had Josh Donaldson. I think I was the only guy that voted for him, which I found shocking. Because for me, Donaldson is the Dougie Gilmore equivalent for the Jays. Damn right, man. I love

that guy. Yeah. HART and soul guy. Heart and soul guy. They'd never get where they get without that trade going down. He wins the MVP finished second to Trout, I believe, in the MVP and 16. Yes, it was short, but it was as sweet as it can get. So I had Donaldson on my list,

but there's so many great players. So many great players, and you're talking 50 years of history, a lot of people pointing out online, maybe Buck Martinez could have been in there somewhere in the top ten. Buck's been a part of this organization for over 40 years. Yeah. I could make a lot of sense of that as well. But there it is, the top ten face of the franchise,

courtesy of TSN. You can find the whole video up on YouTube live and up on YouTube on TSN's YouTube channel. Let's bring in our TSN. Baseball Insider was a big part of the face of the franchise. There's Steve Phillips. Steve, I can't recall if you had Joe Carter at one or not. Can you remind me? Did you have him at number one?

I did. Okay, so you're okay with that. I did. I had Joe Carter at one. Yeah, I had Dave Steve up there at two or three as well with Halliday. And I had Cito Gaston up much further because I think when people think about the Blue Jays teams back in the day, Cito Gaston was sort of the face of that, and that dignified man.

And I had Pat Gillick on my list in face of the franchise. Again, maybe the GM and me sort of leaning that direction, but I thought Pat Gillick, for the longest time, you think about the Blue Jace, you thought about that leadership of him with the help putting those teams together. Do you think Vladdy, if you did this in 10 years, Steve would be a slam dunk to take over the number one spot?

Does there have to be a World Series for him to do that? Or what are your thoughts? Yeah, I think he probably needs to, a World Series to do it. I mean, Joe Carter had the series and the moment, right? And so I think the moment's important. You know, when you start thinking about face of the franchise and that moment where it's indelible in our minds that we look back and it's that, that celebration, running around the bases, arms up in the air, jumping up and down. You know, Vladdy's going to need that moment in the World Series, not just a World Series. Otherwise, he'll be, you know, top three

for sure, and maybe top two. But I think that to supplant Carter, even though Vladdy's going to have been there longer and such, I think that he's going to need the moment in the World Series to be that guy. So you think, like, how much weight did the moment have as opposed to just the regular seasons and just being a great player? Did that moment, that World Series winning home run, is that like so significant that just vaulted Joe Carter as a slam dunk to be the number one?

It did for me because, you know, I think that regular seasons don't leave the same kind of impact on us. We appreciate them. But, you know, we look at postseason. We look at big moments. We look at celebrations. We look at what brought us the most joy that causes us to remember it the most. And we appreciate the longevity. We appreciate performance over time.

But I think that, you know, the big games and performing in those big games, those leave the indelible marks for me when I look at it. Absolutely. I mean, that's the purpose of the exercise is to close your eyes and who do you see. What image do you see? What face do you see? And I just see Joe Carter either jumping at first base in Atlanta or jumping around the bases at the dome in 93. I mean, I can give you two images where I'd have them at the top of this list. But, you know, Vladie, I had Vladie number two on my list because I think he surpassed Bautista by doing what he did, getting them to a World Series.

Holiday never even pitched in the playoffs. Dave Steve was there in 92, but obviously it was not a significant piece at that point. But with Vladdy, I'm curious, Steve, like expectations how they carry over because during the regular season last year, he was good, wasn't great, you know, wasn't chasing an MVP,

wasn't putting up, you know, staggering numbers. And then the playoffs hit, and he flipped a switch unlike anything I can recall seeing. I mean, it was, the guy had like a 2000-plus OPEC, and was mashing. Where is, is it reasonable to come to the middle? Is it closer to expectations of the regular season?

Playoffs, like, how have you adjusted what you expect out of Vladie this year? Yeah, so I had, I think I had Vladia like seven on my list. Because I want, I mean, you know, it's like when the teacher used to give me, you know, be an effort, I'm like, nobody tried harder than me. She's like, well, I want you to keep trying to be better. I don't want you to settle. I'm like, well, I mean, I can't try harder. I think that I want Vladdy to continue what we saw in the playoffs.

I think he unleashed the beast. He unleashed the beast in the playoffs last year. And now it's time, and I believe we're going to see that powerhouse. That swing he took to hit the home run in the spring training game the other day was a guy going up there looking to hit a home run in a spring training game. Like it was just he was hunting the bottom of the baseball, lifting, separate, and driving it out of the park. I think we're going to see that Vladdy more. moving forward.

And I think that that October last year took his confidence level to a whole other place. So, Steve, is there somebody that you thought long and hard about that didn't make that list that you could probably have at 11? Yeah. I don't think I had Donaldson on my list. And like, I love Josh Donaldson. You know, I remember doing an interview with him when, you know, he's such a spiritual guy and he was such a warrior. he was the guy everybody and the other team hated though like nobody liked them on the other teams they didn't like his actions his mannerisms you name it but when it was your teammate you appreciated that that sort of warrior mentality that he had um but you know it was just short-lived and and you know i think that you know you start looking at carlos dogado carlos doggado carlos doggos should be in the hall of fame like i'm sure you know he came close on that veterans committee last year but a hundred percent he should be in the hall of fame uh and uh you know i think batista you know, in the Donaldson era,

Batista had the Batflip moment, which was memorable. And in many ways, it started to make the bat flip more in vogue in baseball. It was somewhat, you know, culture changing in a way. Some guys did it, but all of a sudden was like, of course he did,

and he got knocked out for it. Like, that's the other thing. He took a punch. He didn't take it all that well, but he took a punch for it. And so I went, I went Batista over Donaldson for that era. Steve, the last couple years, into the season, I think all of us were critical of what happened in the offseason. We weren't optimistic about the upcoming season, and sure, as you know what, they go to the

World Series last year. So how do you kind of form your opinions about what's gone in the off season and what should be expected from this team that Jays are going to field on Friday? Yeah, so I just wrote about this today. It'll be posted tomorrow on dot CA, but I think the Jays were the best team of the American League last year, tied with the Yankees for the best old. overall record, and they got better. I mean, they didn't rest on their laurels,

adding Dylan Cs, adding Cody Pons, who I think is really an intriguing pitcher. I'm really intrigued to see what he can do. That split is just filthy that he throws. And so, you know, you have those two. And I think Acomoto is going to be a legitimate guy. I think he can play defensively, and I think he's going to hit.

I think he'll reach base more than Bo Bichette. Now, Bichet will have more hits, but I think Acomo will. walk more and I'll have more power and be more of a run producer than maybe a table setter. And so I, you know, and I tell you, people around the Jays, they think at the end of the year, Acomoto will have a higher war in 2026 than what Bichette will have playing third base in New York. Now, I think Bichette should be playing second base, but I do think Akamoto is going to be a great replacement there. And you've got Varsho and the walk year of his deal hungry to go out there

and get things. He's carried over the adjustment he made last year hunting power in the spring. he's been fantastic. And so, yeah, I think they're a better team. I think Rogers in the bullpen, Jimmy Garcia back into the mix right now, the experience that everybody gained last year. When I was in camp, I saw men that I was talking to,

where in the past I felt like they were young men or maybe older boys. But I saw guys who grew up and had a level of confidence about them now and an air about them, not arrogance, but just a level of confidence like they know they're badass. is right now.

What is your level of concern with Shane Bieber? Going back to him with the contract, it kind of caught people by surprise a little bit, and you're wondering what's up with this, and now starting the season in the fashion that he is, like, is there some concern there that this is just going to lead into one of those things that becomes a big-time problem? It is for me. I mean, listen, he rejected, he turned down opting out. Like, you could have opted out and he chose to stay.

And I thought that's weird. For $16 million, he could get a multi-year deal. And then we hear, oh, well, he's got some elbow inflammation. And that made sense because he realized if he went to free agency, he wasn't going to pass somebody's physical. And he wasn't going to get that multi-year deal. So he stayed. And the fact that it's still lingering is troubling to me. I mean, you had three months of an off-season to try to let it settle down. So I don't know what they're going to get from him.

But I do think that, you know, they've got enough depth built in there that they can wait for it and do the Dodgers. thing. Just wait until he's ready, and when he's ready, you work him in, and somebody else may need a little bit of a break, and make sure that by the time you get to October, the best guys, the ones who can help you the most in October, are the healthiest and ready to produce. What did you make of the extensions yesterday, Steve? It wasn't too long ago we were talking about those two guys that we might be in trouble, and it didn't look so rosy. Is that just timing, kind of taking advantage of their success last year? It's good for both of them. I think they've kind of, you know, enjoyed the moment and taken advantage of the situation,

but just your thoughts on the extensions. Yeah, I have to say, five years for Ross. I couldn't believe that. I never got a five years. 2031. Five years? Yeah. I mean, I was surprised by that, just the length, because it's not normal to get that five-year extension.

And, you know, Mark, Shapiro, and Ross Atkins are good friends. They've been good friends and colleagues for a long time. I know Mark was in a tough spot to think I might have to let my friend go if we don't figure things out and get it going. But they did figure it out. And they had a really good offseason as well. And so, you know, to turn that into five years, good for Ross. I mean, I think it's fantastic for him. And for John Schneider, I think he's done a heck of a job.

And there were times when I thought they needed to move on from him. But he has studied the course. I would love for him to not wear his sunglasses in the dugout all the time. I just want my manager, my players to see the eyes of my manager to interact with him in some way, you know, but he's done a nice job. And he does an excellent job with the postgame interviews too. And his relationship with the media is good. He answers it always with the right tone of some level of accountability, but also support with his players. Yeah, he struck a really solid chord in terms of handling the media.

And, you know, when Schneider came up, he was a hot head. Like he was going nuts all the time. And he had to find it. He's kind of found a bit of a rhythm. It helps when you win 94 games and you go to the World Series. Obviously, a couple of years ago, I would say he was still kind of blowing gaskets from time to time. But, you know, listen, the J's, their roster set. We know the 26-man active roster for opening day.

It's been released. And by the time they get on the field, the Yankees will have already played a couple of times. They played tonight and they play an afternoon game on Friday. What do you make a Yankees Giants opening night? Interleague to start. I think it's on Netflix in the States. Like, what do you make of this match of? Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's cool. It's on

Netflix, and they've been promoting the heck out of it. But Max Fried against Logan Webb, Raphael Devers, against the Yankees and Aaron Judge, the Yankees know Devers well. You got Tony Vitello, a storyline. You got the college head manager, you know, head coach from Tennessee,

who, you know, the college season was 55, 56 games. I mean, he's never managed no 162 game season. I said, well, how are you going to make it? He goes, I honestly don't know. Like, I've never done it before. I'm like, well, you better figure it out quickly. And so I'm intrigued by it. I don't think the

Giants are a great team. I think Logan Webb's a great pitcher, but it's a nice way to start. I like the standalone game. I don't mind it at all. And, you know, I like events, right? I want a big event that all eyes are on it. And I think putting Aaron Judge in that is you can't go wrong with it.

Absolutely. Opening night, it's going to be a fun one. Enjoy it. Steve. We'll do it again soon. Okay, guys, thanks for having me. Steve Phillips, or TSM Baseball Insider. Again, you can find the face of the franchise on TSN, on YouTube, on TSN.ca. And everyone's got a different opinion, you know, but it speaks to a great history, 50 years and a couple of World Series. They've been a three-world series.

Obviously, they lost last year. Been to the ALCS a few times. I think some old-schoolers would have some differing opinions on the list because it seems like it's favoring younger generation. There seems like there's some old school guys like stinky old Pat Hankin. He was a legend. Well, I said, you know, growing up as a Toronto kid of the early 80s, you know, if you were pitching, you were Dave Steeb,

and if you were batting, you were George Bell. Sorry, I meant stinky old Tom Hanky. Tom Hanky, okay. Now, Dave Hanken, or Pat Hankin's a really good pitcher. David Cohn, really good pitcher. Tom Hanky's a great example, though, of a guy that, if this list went to 15, you know, or you could, you could put in 20 members of the organization's history. Do Tom Hanky was the Jays Mariano Rivera.

Yes, he was with the shades and Dwayne Ward. That guy was a monster, too. He had like size 18 wheels. He was 6'5. He had a look to him, man. He was awesome, man. Jimmy Key back in the day, Jimmy Key's another guy that everyone loved. Yeah, I mean, they've-

Some legends rolled through, but it's tough. Again, that's subject to opinion. You know, you say you go generation to generation. You do these lists for anything. Oh, yeah. You know, any team, people are like, well, in my day, it was that guy. Like, how close would Bo Bichette be to this list? Like, if he re-signed, if he signed a monster 10-year deal, I bet she's on it.

Yeah, but an old-schooler would say, how can Bob Bichette be ahead of Kelly Gruber? I hear you. But, like, Gruber was further down the list. It's been Vladian Bo's team for the last, like, six years. You think honestly, Bobauchette would be ahead of a guy like Kelly Gruberman? Yes. Really? That's recency bias.

No, it's not. You know who? I'll throw one more name out there. John Olerud, I thought really closely on putting in there. But the reason I bring up Olerud is like Gruber was really good. And he was a fan favor with the Mollett and he played third. Good looking guy. Yeah.

But like those teams, it was Alamar, it was Carter. It was obviously Olerud. You know, when Molliter came in, when Winfield came in, Ricky Henderson, in a 93. Like Gruber was further down the list. This team, for the last six years, it's been the Vladian Boe Show. Like, Bichette has been top of the lineup guy. Like George Springer

could be on this list. I never even thought about putting George in there. George has been here. He's going into his sixth year as a Blue Jay. Last year he was the team MVP when they went to the World Series, and he's hit arguably the second or third most famous and most important home run in Blue Jay history.

The game seven hit against Seattle and the ALCS. And yet, Yet, George is not a name that I think came up very much. So anyway, exactly. I mean, I guess we're proving the point that there's so many different options, and it is ultimately subjective and make the call and vote. Okay, we've got Bruce coming up in about 15 minutes. Jerry's percentages, best bet still to come as well.

Overdrive continues up on YouTube Live. I got to tell you guys, the good guy circuit came through for me big in Tampa. I'll make this very quick. I threw the vibe out there. I'd like to play Old Memorial if anybody knows a member. I got a message from a guy who said the assistant pro is aware of it, and there's this guy, Billy Heiser, that might reach out to you. He's an awesome guy.

He teaches tennis professionals. This guy's a heavy hitter, big shooter. Billy out of the blue text me. He says, Oh, Dog, I'm a member at Old Memorial. You and your buddy want to come play. Love to host you. I'm like, are you serious? Wow.

And anybody that knows Tampa Golf, Old Memorial is like the National in Toronto. It's the King Daddy Topper. And I want to thank Darren Pang as well, because I found out Billy is a Hawks fan. So Darren Pang helped me out. I brought Billy a jersey at the golf course. It was a baddard signed jersey. There's me and Billy at Old Memorial in Tampa Bay. What a day we have.

Shout out to Billy. Look at you with no hat on. John. Just going. Why are you and Duffy all over me about no hat of my son tan? Yeah. I don't know. There's something about it.

It just, it looks like you're in the clubhouse, like crushing beers after the round. Sharring. I told you. I never, obviously, I didn't wear one at any second golfing.

That is pretty wild. Very. Okay. But anyway, shout out. There you go. Old Memorial. Good guy factory, man.

All the way around the horn. Yeah, that's your spot, man, down in Tampa. Coming up at 5 o'clock, I'm warning you guys. I'm going to play a great clip from Mark Shifley after last night's game. Yes, Gordy Hal Hattrick, man.

A great clip. What a night. Okay, so we'll play that. Bruce coming up. Jerry coming up. Our two up next. Overdrive continues up on TSN4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandool.

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