OverDrive - OverDrive - October 21, 2025 - Hour 1 - Keegan Matheson

Episode Date: October 21, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jonas Siegel for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Blue Jays advancing to the World Series with the ALCS win against the Mariners, George Springer's iconic home run and where it sits in the history of Toronto sports, Ross Atkins and Mark Shapiro's management success for the season, the matchup against the Dodgers and the journey for the team. MLB.com Keegan Matheson joins to discuss the Blue Jays' win, Springer's impressive season and Bo Bichette's injury status to play in the series.

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This hour of Overdrive is powered by Fandul. Fan Duel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Here we go, Overdrive, Off and Running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker up on TSN4, Brian Hayes, the O-Dog, Jeff O'Neill, Jonas Siegel. Very fitting to have this song. It's very fitting. It's very appropriate.

Jays, going to the World Series, amazing stuff, you're amazing. your morning, all the shows, you hit everything. But guys, I got to tell you something that was said to me before I came in here today. That was completely offside and bizarre, and I don't know where I stand in life. I grabbed a quick snack before the show, and the lovely lady in the cast said to me, where's your son? I haven't seen them in a while. And I said back, I don't have a son.

would you be referring to? And she pointed to the overdrive sign. And your, Brian Hayes is the guy on the left. And she goes, that guy. And I looked at her and I said, you think that guy's my son? And I was beside myself. I'm like, I got to dye my hair. I got to do all kinds of stuff.

Yeah, you've got to go Jim Benning now. You have to completely reverse your whole lifestyle. I'm going to call Jim Benning after the show and say, where do I get the dip? Yes. And listen, I'm just as offended. because I got to get the beard cooking again. I got to go back into COVID. Dude, you got to grow your hair, grow a beard.

Where's your son? She said, I almost passed out. And those are brand new pictures. We took those three months ago. Yeah, we look like three friends. Three guys and middle-aged guys. That's what we are. Like, if you looked at the three of us, you'd say those are just a bunch of middle-aged.

Those are just three guys. She said to me, haven't seen your son in a long time. Wow, man, that is a shocking, shocking comment. who should be more offended Jonas Definitely me Joseph Because if she would have said like

Where's your brother I haven't seen your brother these days Maybe I'm trying to talk myself into thinking That's what she wanted to Possibly that's what it was Could have been that But even that The idea that

You know she's been working here a long time Like no details Of the relationship Or what's going on on the show Like we're up there It's a weird scene in the cap because there's one poster and it's ours. That's it.

It's not CTV news. I have three teenage daughters. I have never discussed a son. Ever. Exactly. We've been working here for 15 years going in there. Stop and chats. So one said, hey, where's your dad?

Is your dad around? Are you getting something for him too? Can you tell your dad he forgot to pay last week? Wait, what did you say to her? her. Did you correct it? I just said, I thought it was being punked. Like, it was so bizarre when someone says

when you're 49 and she thinks your 41-year-old colleague is your son, that is crazy-ass stuff, man. Crazy. 42, for the record. Yeah. Like, seven-year difference and you're my son all of it. We were

around when the Jay's last went to the World Series and remember it. Like, that's kind of the common denouement. Isn't that the line of demarcation right now in the city or in sports in this country? If you have vivid memories of the last time this team went to the World Series. Yes. Like that's the crossing, that's the roads, you know, basically a fork in the road. Do you remember or do you not?

And it's a, I'm sure, a very different experience, you know, what happened last night, because if you're a doogie and you weren't even alive, this is amazing. Jay's going to the world series. I can't believe it. They're going to the world series. series, where if you're, you know, of a certain age, obviously this is still incredibly cool. It doesn't take away from that. But you're like they're going back again. Yeah. And they won the last time, twice. Don't you think it's better to be us where we

kind of remember, like, and now know what it feels like to go so long? I mean, I prefer being us until an hour ago. I was going to say, Dad, were you at that game? You were a little bastard at that game. Were you down there? Did you bring me down to that game? I'll never forget when my dad brought me down to watch Joe Carter hit that home run. Caught me a ball in left field. Got you an ice cream sandwich. Yeah. Popcorn, cracker jacks, the whole nine.

We did the seventh inning stretch. I'll never forget it. Fond memories. And he even told me I didn't have to go to school the next day. And I've loved you for it ever since. Yeah, it's a real, real fork in the road. you remember or don't you? And I'm happy for the people that

don't remember. Like I'm happy for everybody. Like the city it was so cool down there. I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked out of the stadium because the closest thing I can remember because again, I was on the field, I was doing TV. I didn't leave there until after 1230.

And you didn't go into the dressing room? No, I did not go in there. Okay. I made an executive decision not to be in the clubhouse. Hedge, who was a legend, She went in there. Kagan went in there. They're professionals.

I'm not. I'm not. So I was on the field, tape and stuff and going on with Jay and Laura and Sports Center and all that. But when you know this, Jonas, 90 minutes past, you don't know what you're walking out to into the streets. And the closest thing I can remember is, I guess.

Raps, no? Yeah, but they won on the road. It would be game six against Milwaukee. That was a home game. That's the closest thing I can remember. Game six, they beat Milwaukee to punch their ticket to an NBA finals. Were you there? I was in the building.

Same thing, did a bunch of postgame stuff, and I left, and there were still people around. But last night, there were a ton of people still downtown. And there were, like, horns honking. Like, it felt nostalgic from that standpoint. When the Raptors won in 19, after they won, like, downtown was just like a big party. Was it like that? Yes. But again, I wasn't downtown because they won and go.

Golden State. So I was at home. I wasn't... Oh, well, I was downtown. You lived downtown. Yeah. So, like, King Street was just like all people. Of course. But it wasn't people like parading out of Scotia Bank. No, it's just people like losing their mind. Exactly, which you would expect. And clearly that will happen again of the Jays won the World Series in five in L.A. or better yet, if they can do it at home, then you have the whole Skydome crowd coming out. But I was curious about it. Walking out on the front at like 1240, 1245, place was packed. And you saw, saw a lot of people, like, leaving their buildings to get into the streets, which I found

kind of cool. And also a sign of you're younger. If you're like 25 and you live in a condo downtown, you're like, I'm going out. So many cool moments for the fans that were in the building. Like, I was thinking about it when they were doing the slow-moes of Springer getting to first base and jumping in the air. Like, all of the people in the background that could frame that and have it in their basement. That is a cool moment. Any kind of celebration, like where you see yourself, whether behind home plate or in that springer moment of any kind rounding the basis. Like, what was that?

When he hit that, like, that must have been a noise and a celebration that you will never forget and was incredible. You never could ever forget it. And again, I would, I used the compare and contrast of the 2015 game five. I said it a ton last night. I'll continue to say it. You were there for the bat flip game. That was so loud.

Now, it's been 10 years. So you can never get it to. a decimal point. Like you can't really remember exactly and frame your mind to, I'll never forget when he hit that home run. The build up in the seventh inning of game five that year was

was unparalleled. There's nothing like it. There's nothing like it, but I do believe, obviously it's a bigger home run. It's a more important home run. This one gets you to the World Series. That one got them to the championship series. It clearly surpasses the

significance of the home run. And don't you kind of think that that was their one shot? Yes. That's the crazy thing is, and when Bautista hit his, the game was tied, I believe. And again, they had lost the first two games of that series, just like the Jays did here. But then they had the momentum. Like, it felt like the Jays had the momentum. Last night, up until the bottom of the 7th, it was all in favor of Seattle. Like, all in favor of Seattle.

It felt like a massively missed opportunity in the first inning when they had Kirby on the robes. And then Kirby settled in and pitched great. Bieber was never comfortable, could not find the strike zone, never looked comfortable, you knew they were going to the bullpen, which is always unsettling, and you're right, it was a sleepy night. It was game one being replicated. That's what it was. They lost game on 3-1. They had two hits. First hit was Springer, home run. The rest of it was the sleepiest night I can recall in that building. And it felt that way leading up to the bottom of the seven, not necessarily sleepy, but more anxious. A lot more nervous. People sitting on their hands. hands, not because they wanted to, but because they didn't know how else to react. And, you know, barger walks and kinder for left where finds a hole somehow, and he

gets on base and then the bunt. Unbelievable. Jonas drag bunt. I approved. Unbelievable bunt. And Springer looked so awful in his previous at bats. Like he looked so uncomfortable. Well, can you imagine the bruise on his knee right now?

It just must be like purple. His knee must be a disaster, just mush. It was like, I don't know why, because it seemed like if there was anything kind of curving, spinning outside and away, he would just lunge at it and he couldn't get to anything. Yes. Instead, this guy got a meatball over the plate and crushes it. And he did not miss, yet it just got over the fence. Like, and that was the eerie experience because the place goes crazy, but I'm in left field. Like, I'm like, I could almost reach out to the left field.

You were going to knock the guy with the jersey? Springer, Jersey. Thought about it. Nice. But it's more about in the moment, it's like floating and you're watching it thinking, okay, a Rose Arena is tracking it,

he's making his way to the wall. The game's tied. I was fairly certain off the bat, it's hit in the wall, fairly certain the game's tied. I did not know for sure it was a home run. Where Bautista's, you knew it. The second he hit it,

the whole world knew it was a home run. There was more suspense with the ball in the air with Springer. But it was incredible. And then after that, Chris Bassett rolls out in the eighth inning. I'm not going to lie. That scared the hell out of me. Terrified.

Everybody. Yes. Here comes Bassett, who we've seen do mop-up duty in game two. And other than that, we have not seen in almost a month. But if we're going to hammer the manager for the bullpen in the other game, kind of give him credit for how they did it this time.

Brilliant. They were wheeling out there like Bassett with some kind of flex. And I'm like, I don't know about this guy, man. This scares the hell out. Well, and especially going Gosman to Bassett, not Bassett to Gosman, right? I thought maybe there was a chance

they'd send Gosman back out for the aid. Me too. But he didn't have it. No, and he's a short rest. He had just pitched and, you know, he got through the meat of the order. That was significant. They walked Raleigh and he gets out of that jam. It was incredible. And that allowed for Springer to do what he was about to do.

And then Bassett into Hoffman. And you're right. Like, John Snyder, they all got the job done. Like, we keep talking about where this moves the goalposts in terms of comparing and contrasting all the great teams of the past what happened last night

is Shapiro and Atkins surpassed Beeston and Anthopoulos too, which no one wants to give them credit for that. Dude, I'm not going to lie, Hayes. I was happy to see Ross. Like, people gave it to that. We gave it to him. We were like, these guys don't know what they're doing, and we talked

about internal improvement. Someone said we should do a whole hour on internal improvements because they were just floating out stuff. that was crazy, and the team was not doing it, and we were giving it to them. Yes. Listen, last year, they knew it was coming. They were just, they were more disappointed than anyone else. That's their club. Shapiro and Atkins put the whole thing together. It's their puzzle. They put it together, and it was a disaster.

It was one of the more disappointing years. You could ever recall in their almost 50-year history, and yet this year, they made a lot of moves, including changing the hitting coach. David Popkins should be a household name. He's not, but he should be. They found guys like Lucas and Clement. They brought up guys like Barger. Obviously, they, you know, signed pieces.

They made moves at the deadline that paid off. And it's crazy to think it, but like they've surpassed outside of Gillick and Beeston, who was there for the original one. But if you look at just management, Gillick was obviously the architect. Anthopolis was the architect in 15 and 16. These guys have passed them. They've passed them. I know Alex was Canadian.

We love Alex Anthopoulos. Again, it's not about taking anything away from anybody else. But you're right. I felt I was happy for those guys. Like, to their credit, because they have been beaten down and battered. Not unfairly. Like, no, listen, totally. But they've also always been guys, like Ross,

we've probably interviewed Ross more than any other management. I'd say in Toronto sports for us. Like, I think we've interviewed them 30 times or something. I think always good to us. always good to the media, had a reason to be bitter or say, I'm not doing this anymore because of the whipping boy that he became and Shapiro became, never changed. Like, Atkins just kept doing his thing

and accepting invitations to talk and going out there and doing his thing. I think the one thing we have to talk about is, like, you have the hazy B pie chart for success or failure, whatever it is. And we talk about internal improvements and stars being stars to get the job done. but I think when you have a team assembled like what the Blue Jays have I think you need a great deal of good fortune

if you want to call it luck because if you told any baseball pundin or expert that Milwaukee would be sitting at home and the Jays are going to go to the World Series or Philly well and like Jeff like I know they're not in the same yes but it's just

you look at the rosters and how they're built somebody would say you're absolutely nuts man that the Jays would get through and have the success they have and other teams are sitting at home. You've got to have good fortune, man. Things turn out and luck. For sure. Imagine I told you they got to the World Series, Bichette didn't

play at all in the playoffs. Their number one starter on opening day didn't play at all in the playoffs. You'd be like really? But like Clement and Barger and Kiner Falafel like so many different contributions, Bassett, like imagine you told Bassett, yeah, you're going to come in and pitch

the eighth of game seven. Well, you could go on and on and on. If I had to told you George Springer would be the MVP. of this club. Yes. You'd say there's... After last year, especially, you'd say there's no way

they can make the playoffs if that's the case. That means everyone else was terrible. Yeah. Like if George is going to be the most important piece of this puzzle,

that means they win 72 games. Yeah. That would have been the thought process back in the day. Yeah, that's precisely what he was. They're a complete team. They've been a very good team for months.

They didn't fluke into this. They earned it. Like, they earned the division. They beat the Yankees. They were deep in a hole against the Mariners. Everyone knows the stats. When you go down 02 at home, no one wins.

They won. They're down 2-0 in game 3. They were down 3-1 last night in game 7. Like they just kept getting up off the mat. Not hard to fall in love with those guys, man. They never quit. They find a way to get it done. Like if you live in the city of Toronto and your fan of the Jays,

how could you not love what those guys do? Easiest team to like. It's always about winning. Like if you win and you show up for the moment. If they fought hard, they didn't get it done, and they got pummeled when they went out to Seattle. Everyone would have been like, nah, good year, guys, moving on. Yeah. But so easy to fall in love with those guys, man.

Big time. Because they always talk about it. They're like, we're actually the definition. We are a real team. And I don't know how true it is. Sometimes you just toss it out there when you have success, when you're like, we all love each other, man. Like, do you really? Because you're winning, you do, obviously.

But it just seems like they put it all together, and it's so fun to watch. You mentioned the bat flip game? See, my mind, as far as, like, the most iconic sports moment last 25 years goes to Kauai. Has this surpassed against Philly? Also, game seven, also to win. That was to win the series. But that was to take them to the Eastern Conference final. Does this surpass it?

I think it does, right? Springer. The moment he had last night. Yes, I think it does if it's one play, if that's what you're guessing. Yeah, I'm saying, like, if I said to you, what is the most iconic moment? The Kauai corner shot of the Springer Homer. And you mentioned, like, how you weren't sure about Springer getting out. Kauai was obviously the most, like, is that going to go in?

And then it's like it bounce, bounce, bounce in. I don't know. It would be hard to pick one or the other. It's a great question. I think it's Springer just because it's the World Series. But here's the only reason why I will say Kauai now, and I might change my mind in two weeks. Yeah. I know the Raptors won.

Okay. So I know what it led to. Yeah. I know that that ball bouncing four or five times in landing goes in. meant they were getting eight more wins and they were getting a parade and the banner was going up. If they get, if they lose in the World Series,

I still think the Raptors are deserved to be at the top because they actually completed it, which is a bit unfair in a moment because we don't know what's going to happen in the next two weeks, but I know the ending with the Raptors. And without that shot hitting, obviously we have no idea what would have happened. Yeah.

So it's a great question, though. I thought for sure. I heard you guys would say Springer, but it's actually maybe not yet. TBD. I think not yet. I do think if the Js win the World Series here, then the Springer, unless there's something that surpasses it in the World Series. Is there even a hockey equivalent to throw in the mix?

It's not the last 25 years, unfortunately. Dougie Spinnerama behind the net? Yeah. I mean, that was game one of the second round, though. Probably the Borshevsky, you know, overtime. You can't say Tavares-O-T winner against Tampa in the first round. Although Borshevsky was the first round, too. but, and that's going back 30 years.

If you're talking this century, there hasn't been a lot. Yeah, I mean, you probably go to the O2. Dewey Bats is in the top five, like. Yeah, well, and this is where I think the Vladdy stuff, you know, comes into play that, you know, what, what has happened with him and his reputation and gaining 100% support, I think, is almost unprecedented. because even Kauai,

Kauaitis didn't talk, he didn't show any personality, and there was always an underlying belief that he's leaving and he doesn't really want to be here. Like he's a pro and he likes his teammates and he's going to play and he's going to try

and he wants to win, but he happens to be in Toronto. If he happened to be in Charlotte, that would be fine. If he happened to be in Milwaukee, sure, go ahead. If he happened to be anywhere. Vladdy walks the walk,

talks to talk, loves it here is giving quotes all of a sudden that ring out and he is the main proponent for a world series run what a legendary comment

when you pull it off I was born ready and then your team wins exactly exactly and listen he had a single last night it wasn't the Vladdy show last night and we said that someone on that team owed it to Vladi to push it over the top so that that comment

now can live in, you know, infamy, like, I'm born for this. And even last night, he wins the MVP and he gets up and goes, job's not done. We have four more. Like, that's the kind of stuff people love. So easy to say it. But when you're in the moment, if you play your cards, right. It's just throwing something out there, man.

Love it. Like, it's a hundred percent approval rating for a guy that is making more money than any other athlete in the history of the city. And nobody cares about that. no one's worried about contract no one cares about anything it's a hundred percent approval rating do you know hard that is to get that in the market well for people that are all over us at the end of the leaf seasons the last 10 years or whatever you talk about 100% approval rating

when you continuously don't get it done and then say the things you're like it's this it's such a different animal you're talking about well you guys do bar play what is the bar play hall of fame and is he in it now oh Vladdy after game seven in Toronto and Springer they're rivaling Dougie 93 Yeah

I think they have to right Like they're again We all love Doug Gilmore Wendell Clark like those runs were the greatest Those were They're right beside them Yeah But these guys

They might side in front of them In front line They might because they're in the world series They're in the world series But you look at Gilmore 93 Kauaiian 19, Vladian 25, of just players that had that 100% approval rate. Well, I guess you'd have to include, like, Joe Carter, Tony Fernandez, some of those guys. Well, very valid.

Roberto Alamar. Yes, Alamar for sure back then, in 92 and 93, 100%. But, yeah, man. What a night. What a scene. World Series and the Dodgers are flying into town. That's the team waiting for you. The L.A. Dodgers.

That's a different animal, man. I'm sorry. These guys have taken down some giants, the Yankees, the Mariners. This is a different, they slapped around Milwaukee like they were a AAA club. Yes, like they were the White Sox. Slap them around. We should look this up. Has any team won the World Series? He was losses for the World Series?

Well, I was going to say going through the Yankees and the Dodgers in the same year. I wouldn't be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised because those teams make the playoffs so much. You know, maybe vice versa, Dodgers, then Yankees. I don't know. Look that up, Dughey, if you can. But you're going to get Judge into Raleigh into Otani, too. Like the three biggest name is in the sport this year.

The guys who have taken, you know, O'Tonni is going to be MVP. Either Judge or Raleigh are going to be MVP. You got the Yankees and the Dodgers, the two biggest brands in the sports. sport. Mariners wedged in there. Drake versus Kendrick. Drake versus Kendrick. Can't wait to see that one play out.

Do you go be at the games? Will he make an appearance? Drake had a post of it last night. He came out of his hole. Did he? I didn't see that. Yeah, he did. Oh, was he at the game?

No, he was watching with his buddies. In the dark room at his house. I was surprised he wasn't down there. Do you think Matthews walks into the rink with a Vladdy jersey? on tonight? I think you have to. It's just flam dunk, don't you? Like, it has to. Like, mandatory. You have to be wearing a Vladi jersey tonight. It would be a pretty cool for the whole team to be wearing J's jerseys going in. No?

They don't have the rules about dress code anymore. I know. Like, Domi's going to be sporting one. Domey wears it every day. Right? But what about, like Nick Robertson's in California guys. Probably a Dodger fan. You're going to force him to wear a Blue Jay uniform? By the way, my partsy? I'm joining Hazen, bro. Really? You're out? My parts he said yesterday, he's a Mariners fan.

He's not cheering for the Jays. That's sick. That's enough for me to leave Owen Wilson, and I am officially a part of him. After you guys had a big night last night, too. We did. Like a pretty good night for the two of you. Not that anyone was paying attention,

but pretty good night. That's disappointing. Do you say that on his new podcast? Yeah, I did with his buddy from the Mariners there. Of course he did. He's like, I'm not going to lie to you. I hate the Jays. cheering for the Mariners.

Lived there for 10 years. Greasy. Greasy. All right. Well, we'll see what comes to that. We're going to have to address that with him by the week. Do you have to accept him or like? Nah, we'll be back together.

We're not taking him. We don't really want him. All right. So what do we have this hour? We've got, we've got Keegan Matheson coming up. I'm reading a bunch of comments. People have sent pictures of the two.

Two of us down at the game and saying father and son watching the game. And it's going to be interesting to see where this goes, like recency biased and, you know, Colin Tweetin and saying, you guys in this take on Shapiro and Atkins, you're getting crazy. What, they don't deserve their flowers? But this is what I'm convinced in sports where the old hiring and firing things, and maybe head coaches are different, but you just bring in smart people and you kind of hope for the best because it's just, just because you, like, the Dodgers are a different story because they buy so much talent and they pay for it.

But it's like everyone else is just trying to put together a competitive club to see if it works and it worked for the Jays. Maybe next year it won't and the year after it won't, but smart people are just trying to put together the best they can. They need a lot of good fortune, man. Well, like Mark Shapiro now has a job possibly for life, like with Rogers and what he did with his work with the park and now they're in the World Series.

Got a five-year grace period. A long grace period. And Ross will too and John Snyder will too. Well, what's this guy saying? Our comments are... Well, just, you know, a lot of people, they got lucky. Everyone gets lucky, like you said. Guess what?

The Maasai got lucky. Kauai was available. Yeah. And this... You can't compare that, can you? How? What if Kauai isn't available? Do they win?

No, but you still have to make that trade. Okay. That was an unpopular trade in some parts of the city. I understand. I guess that. I get it. I get it. I guess...

I'm not taking a short. I'm saying, if you're going to say, well, lucky because, well, the bottom of mind is he did and it work. They won. There he is. Yeah, they won. Oh, there he is. Matthew's walking in with a Vladia Uni.

Had to happen. It was mandatory. Good play by him. But, again, it's not taking anything away from you. You know what it is? There's not like one move you can be like, that was it. You know what I mean? Like even the trade deadline stuff, you'd be like, yeah, some of that work.

But what about signing Springer in 21? But that was like a really slow play. Like it didn't. I understand, but eventually it paid off. If I told you before the season, you'd be like, once again, good fortune. He was terrible last year. Yes, they got lucky.

I'm not here telling you that Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins. They didn't predict this. They'll say it publicly we always believe. There's no way they saw this coming. Year after year, you just try to sign, bring in as good players as you can, and if it works out one day it works out. If you're not going to put, like, shift aside your hatred or whatever it is after a team is in the World Series, when are you ever going to do it?

When are you ever going to give someone credit? Players, manager, management, ownership that have spent money, fans for sticking with the team and being along for the ride? That's my point. It's like, yes, you can look at different management types. I think this guy was better at that. Fine, but you've got to give credit words, do. Except for one guy, I follow one guy who every day, I think, for the last five years.

He said, Fire Schneider and Fire Atkins. And it won't stop, no matter what. Well, now it's your, if that's your persona, if that's your thing, and they could lose in game seven in the World Series. I knew it. I knew they were going to lose. Can't do it.

Can't do it with these guys. Well, Schneider got it after game five. Yeah, he sure did. Man, he, like, that's huge because now game five, I saw Brendan Little walking around, happiest guy in the world on the field. Just walking around, thumbs up and people, how's everyone doing? Looking great. And I was like, you talk about feeling good for a guy.

You're like, thankfully, no one needs to, no one cares about game five. No. It's over. All right, Keegan Matheson coming up. The insider's coming up as well. Leaves Devils Sheldon Keif in town tonight. How will the lease respond after what took place over the weekend? We'll get to that as well.

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Call 416-457 plan or visit ask kelvin.ca. All right, leaps in action tonight. What a Friday night. It's going to be Raptors' home opening. The Leafs are in Buffalo. Game 1 of the World Series. Dodgers, Jays. And I'll be down there.

Hedge will be down there. And this guy will be down there. Keegan Mathis. I don't think this guy ever leaves the park. It's incredible. What's happening, Kegan? Happy to be home, guys. Happy to reacquaint myself with my couch for a day,

my apartment, you know, get my life back in order. It's been good. Did your girlfriend catch you drinking scotch at five in the morning or what's the deal? yeah not a great look fellas but uh came in i got home at about 3 30 in the morning last night and i used to do that all the time but now that i've cleaned up my act it's a bit more rare and uh i tell you what guys the champagne's fine i don't mind the champagne but when you get that stale stinky beer on you i uh i think she smelled me come into the apartment before uh she

heard me so tough entrance but uh long nights and uh man another one West Coast opponent, too. So I've given up on health and sanity and all that stuff for the next few weeks. I'll figure it out in November, December. Keegan, before we get into the meat of the game last night, I just wanted to get your thoughts on how people should view this from the management side of things. Is this just like, you know, they got lucky. They just put this thing together and somehow it worked out.

Like, how should people view? Because in years past, everyone was like Shapiro, Atkins, get rid of them. How should they view those two now? And I still sense that eagerness to call it luck or call it that one time. It all finally came together. But there's been a method to some of this madness along the way. And a lot of the times, guys, it's just been more madness than method. But you see finally the vision that the Blue Jays have had all along.

And it took some tinkering. And this guys, I think, is a case in favor of the argument for continuity. And letting a front office figure it out. Now, a lot of front offices in Major League Baseball, if they'd put up the Blue Jays results over the last 10 years, there would have been changes. They had not won a playoff game since 2016. It's been a long damn time. In a lot of cities, under a lot of ownership groups, they would have cleaned out, maybe a couple of times. But this group was allowed to stick around and kind of fine-tune things.

They've been chasing this exact outcome. They've been chasing this style of team forever, and they've whiffed a few times. But each time you whiff, you've got to realize what went wrong. And I think they finally have. I think they've found that sweet sauce in here. And of course, Springer, seasons like that, you can't plan on that. I'm not going to pretend that Ross Atkins was sitting in his office in January thinking this guy's going to have a career year at 36. You need some luck along the way.

Every World Series team has some luck. But I think the Js with some time, and a lot of time, they finally figured it out. Yeah, they did. And the Springer one really is, of all the stories, and we still have more to write here. You have more to write. We have more to see. I mean, they're going to play at least four more games. And if they end up winning the World Series, then obviously we'll get to that point and everything else will be recalibrated. But is the Springer story, would that be Chapter 1 for you? How would you start the book up to this point? springer's got to be it man because i remember talking to george guys i remember this conversation and i always will we were down in bradenton or sarasota one of these florida cities i don't want to be in on like march 18th or something and springer was coming off a really bad season he looked old last year okay he did not just play poorly he looked old he looked like he was aging as a player and in spring training he looked terrible and i know that spring training doesn't matter

but if you're coming off a bad season and you still look bad in spring and I'm on my fifth week of spring training I've got to at least pretend to pay attention to it nothing looked good for Springer and I remember pulling him aside one day and I like to be honest with guys I pulled him aside I said George listen like hasn't looked good so far I'm going to ask you about that and I remember he looked at me and not in a way where he was scoffing or disagreeing with me but he said listen I actually feel really great like I think I'm going to surprise some people I feel great right now, and I don't care about Spring. I think you're going to see it in the regular season.

I remember walking away from that guy's thinking like, okay, dude, short thing. And at that point, I thought it was likelier. And Hayes, I think we talked about this in the field last night. I legitimately thought there was a chance that by July, August, we were having a really uncomfortable conversation about George Springer. If the Js were a 500 team, man, do you just DFA the guy, get some young guys in, eat that salary, you eat the last sixth year, And this has been the biggest shock I've covered, frankly.

You don't see this happen for baseball players at 36. It's just unbelievable. And I can't say enough about the guy, man. Full credit to him. What do you think it is, Kagan? Like, is it health? Is it just good fortune? Is it him not playing in the field?

Like, what is it? Not playing the field really helps. I honestly think that's been a big part of this. And I didn't think that it would be such a factor, but it has been. And it's a real mindset change. And you can give a lot of credit to David Popkins and the hitting group, but last year, George Springer was trying to not get out. This year, he's the aggressor again. He's trying to hurt somebody. He's trying to hit the ball really far. Last year, it was

defensive because George Springer, guys, we've talked about this before. I don't think it even comes through over the TV, what an incredible athlete he is. Like, in terms of raw athleticism, he's one of the best I've ever covered, and that's why he's good. And for that quality of athlete to go into a defensive mindset didn't work. It doesn't match. You know, that's for slap hitting little five foot seven outfielders, not George Springer. Like, the dude is built like a free safety. He's able to hit home runs.

He could hit 30 next year, too. I don't care. But he's such a gifted athlete, and he's getting back into that. And he's having fun again, guys. He's energized, man. When I think of the 2025 Blue Jays, I think of George Springer going first to home on a double. It's like screaming his way around third base. he's energized he's young again

and it's all that mindset man he's the aggressor now with kegan matheson which i guess gets us to the world series here in the bobbichette conversation which i would not call it an elephant in the room but you had the exclusive last night

and you know he told he said i'm ready to play you know i'm ready to go and he's bobbichette and he outside of laddie it's him and vladdie for the last decade and if he's ready to play he's ready to play you would presume he's being honest about that. He's not just caught up in the moment and dealing with adrenaline.

You presume he's ready to play. Go ahead. I also heard A.J. Prisinski say, I don't know about that. If I'm if I'm the Jays, you maybe got to say, take a seat. We're doing this. We're going to give it a rip without you, man. Right. And that's a World Series winner, and Prisinski's a serious analyst in the game.

So, Kegan, let's presume he's on the roster. Let's say Bichette is on the World Series roster. How much does he play? Where does he play and what does it mean for everyone else? It's not a simple answer, guys. It's kind of clunky, to be honest with you. And it was interesting Hayes when I asked Bo that, he was asked, when did you feel good enough? And he said a few days ago right around when Tony went down, Anthony Santander. So from that, I can assume that he was

arguing to get on the roster then. But if he says he's ready, and I believe he is, then he's going to play. And you want that bad in the lineup every single day. Now, can I envision Bob Bichette at shortstop, especially three games in a row when you're on the road in L.A., not really at this point. That's tough to envision. Andres Jimenez has looked really damn good at shortstop. You can have Ernie at second or third. It works without bow in there defensively. What that would mean, then, guys, is George Springer in the outfield, right or left field? Is that bumping out someone like Nathan Lucas, or is that killing your platoon matchups? And on top of this, guys, George Springer is DH the whole playoffs. And he's been really, really good.

do you want to mess with that? So this is a good problem, but good problems still need good answers. You can still screw up a good problem. And John Schneider would really need to make a decision on this. But if Bo is healthy, and I believe he is, you need his bat in the lineup. Having him bat forth behind Vladdy, you need him in there. And I understand that there's going to be the argument of do you mess with the chemistry, whatever. This is Bo's team.

It has been for 10 years, and he deserves to be part of this. And, man, if you told him he was not going to be part of this, of this. I think he'd burn someone's house down at this point, man. He wants to be in there. Well, and that's another thing, right? Like, his contract is up soon. Oh, that's a delicate situation, man. It really is because, again,

I am very uncomfortable with Springer shifting anything. Like, the way Springer is DA and how comfortable he is, I don't want to come off that. Anybody to screw with that would have to be crazy is your original thought. Why can't you play him at second, Kegan? I'd love to if there was another

season to work with, but going from a shortstop, his whole career right to second in this, I think that's pretty risky. And, I mean, he's a ball player. It's not like you're asking to play a different sport. It's fine. I think you can hang, but I think you're really risking a lot there if you've asked him to do that. But if you roll out bow at shortstop, then you're kicking Jimenez back to second, probably Ernie Clements at third base, and you've got Barger back in a corner outfield. It can work. But guys with a knee injury, running is one thing. But it's that kind of quick bouncing side to side, that movements for ground balls.

I don't know how comfortable that would be for Bo at this point. And no matter what decision they land on, guys, I think we're figuring this out as we talk about it. No matter what decision they make, they're taking a risk, either with George in the field, with Boe defensively, they're going to be accepting a major risk to get his bat back in the lineup. And there's no guarantee the risk will work. I just, I can't imagine this happening without Bobauchette.

No, and I mean, at a minimum, I think he's on the roster. And like maybe game one, they say we're going to stick with the lineup we've had, maybe, and he's a guy that's coming off the bench, you know, possibly. You had Schneider, you had Loper Fito, you had guys who didn't really factor into the series at all that were on the roster and on the bench. But that's the thing. It's not just about, okay, Kiner Folepha comes out. That I can reason with.

But they, they, this, this group, they appreciate what he brings. He's had some big plays. He had a massive play last night, massive hit last night. And you don't want to mess with Lucas. I don't think you want to mess with Barger. You know, it's a good problem to have, but to your point, Keegan, it's not an obvious and easy one. Yet, if you're going to beat the Dodgers,

you probably need Boba Chet, don't you? I think that's what all the players would say. This is screwing with chemistry, and I hate this. But if we're going to take these guys down, we need that guy's bat in the lineup. Right. That seems reasonable. Yeah. And you got to make tough choices. And it's Bo Bichette. I don't think there's any way you can put Springer in the field, right? Well, you can't, like, based on the way it's gone, like he can't.

I don't love the idea of it. No, especially, I mean, after he took that heater to the knee as well, we saw him in the dugout wearing a brace at different points, like in between innings that would put pressure on it and cool it. So he's still dealing with that. And that's the good thing I wouldn't want to mess with. because you guys, you're going to choose to mess with something. Somebody on this roster is going to get messed with. I don't want to mess with the guy who just had one of the biggest moments in Jay's history. Leave him alone. I'd love to see George left alone.

So you're in that clubhouse every single day, and you're around John Snyder more than probably anyone, his family included. Poor guy. Yeah. What does this mean for the legacy of John Snyder? Man, this is an incredible story for John Schneider, guys. He was a 13th round draft pick by this organization back in, what was it, 2002, I think. And he was your classic minor league backup catcher, more of a defender than anything, never really a threat to be a big leaguer, and came up as a manager the right way, too.

He managed in the back fields of the Florida Coast League way, way back in the day. So he has touched every single level of this organization. And I remember starting to hear about Schneider way back in 2017, 2018. And there's this guy in Singley that maybe could be a manager someday. And everybody would say he's got a wild temper, but we think he could be a manager someday. Some of Schneider's ejections back in the day are a hundred times better than what you see in the big leagues. He had some good ones. But for the legacy of him now, John Gibbons did not.

not make the World Series with this team. Outside of Cito, no other manager has. And you can dine out on that for the rest of your life. And John Schneider as a manager is still a very young manager guys. So I think what I've seen in Schneider is a manager who's developed and grown, who has accepted some mistakes and talked about them pretty openly and has admitted when he has screwed things up along the way. But he's gotten better from that. And I'm a big believer that managers can improve and develop. They're not just a guy you decide to love or hate on day one. So it's fascinating to watch this, man. Coming into the season, a lot of people hated the guy. Now, a lot of people are singing his praises, rightfully so, and I think he should

be the AL manager of the year. Yeah, I think that's likely going to happen. And you're right, now that he gets to the World Series, you know, it seems like the obvious choice, but we'll see how that plays out. All right, Kagan, great stuff, man. I know it's been a whirlwind for you, and the beauty of this is we've got a few more days to tee up game one, man. We got a little bit of a break here and enjoy it. We'll catch up later in the week and we'll see you Friday night. All righty, fellas. We'll talk soon.

See you then. You've got it. There's Keegan Matheson joining us here on the Maple Toyota Hotline. Yeah, it's when the team that, you know, when it's your team or the team that you cover, the team that's in your market makes it to the dance, you love that there's a few days to let it breathe before you get to game one, right? If it were Mariners, Dodgers, I'd be like, just play tomorrow. Like, just get started.

I don't need to wait until Friday night. Would you even watch? On Friday night? Probably not if the Leafs and Raptors were playing. You know, and also it would just be like it was that close to being the Blue Jays. Like, you'd watch because it's the World Series, but not to the same extent. Yeah. Clearly.

You know, if the Leafs and Raptors have their home opener on Friday night. I was thinking Seattle, L.A. if they were 10 p.m. start, but they would never be 10 p.m. It'd still be 8 p.m. Yeah, it'd still be prime time. but this, you just allow the ALCS to settle, regroup, and then think about all the chatter leading up to Friday, like what the roster looks like, what the rotation looks like, what do you do with Bassett, what do you do with Scherzer, what do you do with your bullpen,

you know, where does Bichette obviously factor in, like all this kind of stuff, how does it line up for the Dodgers? You know, as of now, what I saw today, what is being projected, could be Otani versus Scher game four. Like that could be the game four starter, Scher-O-Tani in the World Series in L.A. Game 4. Would you keep it the same, like the rotation? Like, would you go, Gosman, you Savage, Bieber, Scherzer?

I wonder if with Gossman going last night, they give him another day. So you go, you Savage, Game 1, Gosman 2, Bieber 3, Scher 4. Game 1 for you Savage, man. It's asking a lot. Yeah. It's asking a lot. Speaking of his luck thing, like imagine telling them that that was going to happen. Yeah. You know what I mean?

First round pick from a year ago shows up and performs this way. It's been one of those just destiny seasons. Like everything has broken their way. A lot of it is earned, clearly. But they don't have to explain anything. That's the beauty of sports. Once you're there, you don't have to explain yourself to anybody. You made it.

You're in the World Series. Leaves Devils tonight. We'll get to that. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. has made starting the work week a lot easier thanks to their buy one get one for 241 deal every Monday to Wednesday order any large pizza from the create your own menu and get a second large one topping pizza for just $2.41. Perfect for Monday night kickoff. Buy one get one for an extra

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Call 416-457 plan or visit ask kelvin.cai.a. All right, Sheldon Keefe in town, the devil's tonight. Who needs to have a bigger game, Anthony Stollars or Austin Matthews? I got a different option for you. How about some of the newcomers have a night and take away the distraction from all the guys? I like that idea. Who can play the role of Ernie Clement tonight? Maybe Dakota Joshua.

That would be nice. Matias Machelli. like just like they said we're going to do things differently there's going to be more that's a good point more people around doing it like somebody else stand up and just take the total distraction away from austin matthews and stolars and nilander like let's just see something yeah because for some of those guys i just mentioned not a drop man no find a way to be nathan lucas tonight ernie clement channel you're inner Ernie Clement.

Channel your Ernie. Ernie Micelli tonight. I need Ernie Micelli. Ernie Micelli. Just get things done. Yeah. Ernie Micelli, who grew up just off Rutherford Road. I need Ernie Micelli today.

And Nathan Joshua. Yeah. Nathan Joshua and Ernie Micelli. Hour two coming up. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on the TSNF. You've been listening to Overdrive. by Fandul.

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