OverDrive - OverDrive - September 10, 2025 - Hour 1 - Steve Phillips

Episode Date: September 10, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss Sidney Crosby's future with the Penguins, his potential fit on the Canadiens and what a possible trade would look like, Kirill Kaprizov rejecting a eight-year, $16 million deal from the Wild and the ripple effects of a deal. TSN Baseball Insider Steve Phillips joins to discuss the Blue Jays' impressive walk-off win against the Astros, playing through Bo Bichette's injury and Shane Bieber's progression on the mound and Auston Matthews' season outlook with the Maple Leafs.

At the Nissan All In Clear Out, there's nothing more chill than financing an award-winning Nissan for just 0%. Enjoy the soothing relaxation of zero stress, zero worries, zero indecision. Hurry in, because once they're gone, there will be zero left. During the Nissan All-In Clear Out, get 0% financing plus up to $500 bonus on some of our best-selling models. You have zero reasons to wait. Conditions apply. See your local Nissan dealer today. Looking for a job, but not sure where to start, the Career Foundation is here to help. We support people from all backgrounds with job search, skills training, career counseling, and more.

We also connect you with top employers ready to hire, all at no cost to you. Whether you're starting out, changing careers, or returning to work, we're with you every step of the way. Connect with us today. Visit CareerFoundation.com. That's CareerFoundation.com. Changing lives, one job at a time. This hour of overdrive is powered by Fanduil. Fanduil, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. All right, here we go, overdrive, off and running. TSN 1050 on the TSN app, your home smart speaker up on TSN4,

streaming live on YouTube live, up on TSN's YouTube channel. Brian Hayes, Yodog, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. What's going on? Habs fans, if you, if you, if, If there's a trade for a guy like Crosby, sometimes a young star player goes the other way. That's all I was trying to implicate, okay? The hatred, because last year I had a comment about. Gary, you need the backstory here.

Dude, all right? I jammed you guys up. It was a bit of a jam job, but we're just, you know, we're fine. Well, you threw this out there. Like, if Crosby goes to Montreal, what do you, like, what would you do? Then it was like, damn it off. I'm proud of my comments. Okay, well, I just said one-for-one, Demadov for Crosby.

Very simple question. Then I said it would have to be a guy like Lane Hudson, wouldn't it? We're talking about a top five possibly player of all time. And I understand, like, the Gretzky trade. It was like Jimmy Carson, Marty Jelina. Like, there's different, did Marty Jellan to go from L.A. to Evanston? I think he went with, no, what did he do? Marty Jellano was in that trade.

Was he not? I don't remember Marty Jelina being involved in anything. But, yes, it's your point. I threw out, like, you would have to think a guy like Lane Hudson would, like, maybe he'd be asked about, talked about. I would think Kyle Dubas would pick up the phone and mention some names like Lane Hudson, Ivan Damadov. One of you guys mentioned Slavkovsky. I don't know. Like, if you're going to trade for Crosby, like, you're looking to get a young player that's a stud on the way back.

Sorry. Well, let's clarify something. You're nuts if you're not giving up Slavkovsky for Crosby. You've lost your mind if you're not willing to do that. Because I think I have said this for a while. You guys may have disagreed with me. I know, oh, you have. I think Sid's going Tom Brady here.

I think he's playing until he's 42, 43. I think all he knows is hockey. All he does is play hockey. All he does is train. And I think he's going to play for a long time, like another four or five years. And I think he has another two or three. Yes, I do. Four or five years?

Absolutely. Absolutely. Why wouldn't he? Why wouldn't he keep playing? That's all he does is hockey. I don't know anything else about this guy. He's been in our lives for 25 years. I don't know anything.

I don't know what kind of music he likes. I don't know what kind of food he's into. I don't know anything about Sidney Crosby other than hockey because that's the way he operates. So I think he's going to play for a long time. You know, the Demodov. of Hudson thing, whatever, but, hey, it's Sid. Like, if you're Pittsburgh, you're asking for the world. You do ask for the world.

The entertainment value of having Sidney Crosby in your market would be phenomenal. Dude, they chant his name even as a bit, like, when he goes there with Pittsburgh. Right. Even at the Four Nations, he was the man. He was the king. He was the king of Montreal. He's a Mount Rushmore player or close to it for me. He's that good, like generational.

I just think my point on it was the Pittsburgh Penguins if you're going scorched earth like getting a young play like you've got to get draft picks you've got to get stuff like that because at the end of the day

like what's getting a 22 year old like now you're in the Chicago mode where they had to move dock and move all these places like I think they're years away once you go through a rebuild so they need top picks like that's where I was saying get first rounders get all of that

type of stuff prospects like not live roster players because it won't help Pittsburgh right now because they're not trying to win they're going to go scorched earth but still if you're going to get a high end player again this is hypothetical but why would you take a pick over demadov who's here now is 20 I think he has a live body man I don't think so I don't think he'll get that much at 38 years old I personally why would you trade demidoff damadoff might be their best player he might be he might be or he might not be or maybe he develops into just an okay

player. So noodles, I have to get this straight. I have to get this straight. Montreal, this is so stupid. Yeah, it is stupid. This is a hypothetical. No, it's not stupid. Let's clarify something here. Sid was talking about Montreal. His agent came out and said, you know, he might be open to a trade. It might happen. And Montreal is his favorite team. So it's not stupid to link him possibly to Montreal.

We're Joe from the bridging it. That's what we're doing. But if Kyle said Demadoff's got to be in the deal, you think Montreal walks, or you would walk if you were Kent Hughes? I'm not going to speak for Ken Hughes. Okay, what do you do if Kyle told you Demadoff's got to be in the deal? You find a different package. I'm sorry, I think he might be their best player moving forward, Demadoff. Again, I don't know. Over Nick Suzuki?

I love Nick Suzuki. I think Blaine Hudson's a star. I think they've got some great young players in Coffield, we're not, we're sleeping on Cofield, too. Over Cid for the next two years? But again, two years. Yes, I get it. What are the Montreal Canadians doing in the next two

years? I don't know. They took a big step this year. I don't know, noodles. I don't know. But here's, I guess here's my point is the rest of the league and Montreal's a little bit different because they exceeded expectations last year. You know, they had a phenomenal year. They had a phenomenal stretch run to their credit. I didn't think they were capable of doing that. They did it. But I

get this sense around hockey there's this like paralysis of well we can't compete with florida so whatever and like that's such a loser's mentality and i'm not saying that's what you're applying here but i'm picking up on that like well florida's too good so whatever you know and that's such a that better not be the approach of a lot of these teams and montreal's a little bit different because they're they're you know they're a different part of the pecking order but they didn't make the playoffs last year right like let's use ottawa as an example we're going to get crazy with hypotheticals would you i don't even know who's the young they don't have a damn it of equivalent necessarily but would you get crazy if you're

ottawa to bring in sid like you think they could win in the next two or three years what is crazy they're pretty strong up the middle of the ice but yeah but that's what you're saying is if we're talking hudson that's that's jake sanderson territory and i hang up the phone and you say no sorry like jake sanderson's a stud he's a superstar that's crazy you're willing to hang up the phone on young stud players man for a legacy type guy i know he's 38 years old. I know he is. But here's my, I guess, maybe I'm in the wrong,

but here's my thought process in this. You look at it differently if you're Colorado. Like, I don't think adding Sidney Crosby to Montreal, regardless of the cost, is the missing piece to put him for them to win the cup. Okay, how much better is Colorado than Montreal? Like better, clearly, with McKinnon and McCar, is their goaltending better?

I like Blackwood, yeah. He's better than Montenbo? They're alike. Okay. That way, six big six foot three, six foot four gold winners. Like, I like them. Like, I'm not down on Colorado. This isn't about evaluating Colorado.

They're clearly better than probably 27, 28 other teams. Right. I don't know if, like, there's that big of a gap anymore for a lot of teams. Like San Jose's not doing this. Chicago's not, you know, I could give you 10 teams or it doesn't make sense. And maybe Montreal is closer to them. Maybe Ottawa is still closer to them. but I would think there would be a group of 10 to 12 teams that would be like screw it man

well like we're in here because we got a two or three year window and how much more can you ask for in pro sports than a two or three year window you're right and you know oh I'll let you weigh in I just want to finish my thought here this isn't a shot on Sidney Crosby course it's just more it's more about what your organization what you feel like you would give up to keep in mind Montreal you just said they're building they're getting to that next level this is a team that's you know i think really good and going to continue get better but if you're taking a young piece out of it like that's it's it's going to want to go there and play with those young guys you're

not going to want to have to give up some of those young guys for for the cost of doing business that's why i think it's again hypothetical it's picks and prospects that aren't on the roster that's all i that's where i would go yeah well i'm sure everyone would rather go there i know but you said picks and how do you get the player picks and prospects there was a guy yesterday it was like it would be more like the joshua wa types and stuff like that down in laval and i'm like that's a total toronto comment where they want to trade for yeah like they just want to give up nothing like you i don't know it's just a it's an interesting thing like how the trade talks would go it you're just again sydney crosby is sidney crosbie it's not you know

moving uh you know a second line center anywhere he's a top tier player and you're right hey still at 38. He is an impact guy. He's a name. He's all of that. And his pedigree comes with it. I just, I don't know what that marketplace looks like. You're right. If Kyle, Kyle can ask for the world because he's in the driver's seat or Sidney Crosby. Now, what if Sidney Crosby, here's the other thing we haven't factored in. What if Cid just goes, I want to go to that team, deal with that team? Because that's, that's another scenario that we haven't thought into is there are, you know, things that go on behind the scenes where Sidney Crosby, if he decides to move on,

his, he's going to be involved in the process. He's going to control where he's going to go. He's not going to wake up one day and be told you're playing somewhere. And that benefits the team he's going to because Pittsburgh's going to do right by Sid. If he says I want out and I'm going here, then they'll have 24 hours or whatever to work out a deal. And they'll get the best thing they can. But it clearly will benefit whoever is acquiring him. And it probably will not be as big.

of a package as you know EA sports might indicate it would be in a hypothetical trade and no one knows what the market is but I think oh hit on an important point that every fan base is guilty of and Montreal is guilty of it right now yeah we want to get said but you're going to take

our worst prospects yeah and like this is they're in a similar spot to where I'd use the lease as an example because we lived it went through it you know seven eight years ago if you said well Mitch marner for whatever you know maybe it was sit at that point probably not but whatever you'd be like no chance are you nuts and now you look back on it and maybe you'd think actually we should have

done that now who knows where how it was going to play out or how it was going to work out but everyone overvalues their players and their prospects especially early in the process because they're nervous a bit getting too far out over their skis and expediting the process and ruining the whole journey that's going to be magical let me just read you this guy maybe it will be Maybe it won't be. Let me just read you this, Jamie. To the Los Angeles Kings, Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley, Mike Crucialniewski, to the Oilers, Jimmy Carson, Marty Gelena. I knew Marty was on that.

Los Angeles first round picks in 89, 91, 93, how about this, and $15 million cash. There was cash involved for Bruce McNaulnell. Like, that was the other thing. No, Pocklington. Paulington, yeah, Bruce McNeall paid $15 million to Pocklington. Turns out it wasn't really his money, I don't think, either. Yeah. Consider the way things played out.

Let's not head down that rule. Allegedly. Allegedly. But what I'm saying is like, you know, you look at it. Now, Jimmy Carson, was he a 60 goals? 50 goals score for sure he was. Right. But I mean, he was 50 in his rookie year.

I played with Jimmy and Hartford. Yeah, he was a nice player. But again, it goes to Evanton. He wasn't a 50 goal guy. They were like, hey, what's going on here? This is supposed to be our gradski. That's what's impossible. Gretzky was in his prime and you're getting traded for him.

Do you know how mortifying that would be to show up in Edmonton and start waving and people are like, oh, you're the guy? Like it's your fault, right? Oh, you're the guy that got us, you're the reason Gretzky got traded so we can have you. I just, you know what? Like, I didn't know we were going to start to show what this. I wasn't anticipating starting on the HAPS here. I get you had to get it off your chest.

It's been one of those weeks because I made my comment, like, I did it on our show, and I went on Jay to talk about Josh Allen. Just my opinion. I think he's the most entertaining athlete in sports today. People in Edmonton. I thought they were going to start knocking on my door. People walking from Edmonton, tracking me. I was on board with that, too.

I know. You're McDavid first. McDavid would probably be second for me. Certainly in the top three or top five. It's not a shot at him, but the amount of oil fans that are just on edge right now, if you don't pump the tires of 97. Well, okay, so there's probably a reason. and why they're a little on edge.

I get it. This isn't, you know, January you're talking about. Right now, they're looking for, the only announcement they're looking for is exactly what we've been discussing for a week and a half. So take it up with him, though. Don't blame me. Agreed. I didn't, who did I say?

I didn't say McDavid. I said it was Otani. Yes, you did. Pitching 97 and knocking him out of the park. That's probably the unicorn of sports. You're absolutely right. That is Austin Matthews scoring goals. but winning the Vesna.

Yes. Winning the heart and the Vesna. That's what Otani's doing. That's what he's doing. But that's, I look at it. I just, I knew you were going to at least get into the Montreal thing. It's topical, you're right, Hayes? Because it's linked.

Sidney Crosby's agent said, hey, you know, this is the first time we've even kind of talked publicly about him thinking about potentially moving from Pittsburgh. Right. Am I wrong on that? No, I don't recall it on the record. But those comments, they mean that he's, that means he's going this year. You think so? Yeah.

Yeah, I think you might be on to something. You're not going to come out and make those comments and then stay in Pitt through another dreadful season. Why not do it in the summer then? Why didn't he rip the band-aid off in July? Why not do it this year? Like, when I get in, get situated, get yourself a house, you know what I mean? What about the deadline last year? Yeah, exactly.

Here before. Exactly. I still think it's a deadline move this year, and you can kind of, now the excuse will be in place. If Kyle starts selling off assets and doing all of that, like I think going into last season, they believe that they still had a chance of the playoffs. Which was delusional, but I hear it. Fair enough. But, I mean, I think that was the plan from Kyle.

A couple years hard, bringing in players, all of that. That's why I signed a seven-year deal as a manager. The first two, I'm going to go all in. and then the last five, we're going to reset here. And Sullivan's out. They've got a new coach. Yeah. Like that's what I believe are envisioned.

So that looks like a deadline play to me. And you get two playoff runs with Sidney Crosby. I get it from that standpoint. And maybe the prices will be better for Pittsburgh at that point. I'm talking about Sid. Like I would think he'd want to get into camp, you know, get to know everybody. If you're using the Brady equivalent, you know, Brady, he was down in Tampa. He was there for mini camps.

they're day one. He was, you know, a part of the journey the whole ride. This will clearly be a different situation. Steve Phillips in 15 minutes, we'll get to the Jays and the heroics of last night who was a hero and how it played out. It was an incredible game, incredible finish for the Jays. But because we're on hockey here, this Kiro Kepritsov story is starting to heat up a little bit with multiple reports out there that Kepresov has turned down eight years at 16 million per and i believe the gms are getting together and you know bill garen was asked about it he said no comment kind of not getting into it which would suggest to me if it was a fraudulent report bill would come out and say that's bogus hasn't turned anything down you know nothing's

we're not getting into it publicly but we're still all good the fact that he kind of no commented things that would suggest that this probably happened that this guy turned down the largest this contract in the history of the sport. Offly difficult for me not to walk away from the player or contemplate it if it's a no to that ask. Right. Like what else do you think you're getting? What can Caprisov think he's getting?

Right. Like the owner a week ago said we can have a historical contract on the rise here with our player. And if it's presented and it's a no, I'd have a difficult time not saying we're not going any, we're not going one penny higher. So what are we going to do here with this guy? that's it's a long like you're buying a lot of money or a lot of years from him and that like 16 million was it be a massive deal hasn't won squat jamie and it's the highest contract in the history of the sport and he says no it's that's that's a no for me but it's winning like now you're just going okay well you so any player who hasn't won doesn't get paid anything well that's not i don't think that's the point it's it's more about how does he have that kind of leverage noodles is what i would suggest yes winning winning is one thing but also we're talking he's never one a heart he's never one on art ross he's never been up for the

heart he's never been up for anything like he's a really good talented player really good talented player a winger that is good really good player great player but yeah you know he's not dry saddle mckinin macdavent matthews bar car you know i could go on and on and on i think there was a time two years ago he was top was he top five or top ten in in our tsn ranking like i think he might have been top ten but 16 sheets i listen i'm not how am i how am i defending somebody saying no to 16. That's what I'm saying. I think it's more, if this is true, if he turned that down, my radar would be going off

that he's telling you he's out of Minnesota. Like, I'm just not interested in playing in Minnesota more. Bingo. Unless it's just, I worry, I can't verify this, I worry that the agents get in these guys' ear and say, sign short term you can take, you know, three, four years at 16 and your next contract when the cap's at 120 is going to be something with a two in it. Jamie, who gives a, like, a hundred and, oh, I'm telling you, you know the difference between four and eight million per year on an eight-year deal?

We're talking another $30 million. I know, but there's a lot of risk involved. You could get injured. For anyone to say no to $128 in the richest contract in the history of the game, I'm sorry. That just doesn't seem right to me where it's, you're looking for, oh, a short-term, and then it's got a Kauai vibe to it where it's like, let's just do this deal. Then maybe there's some more at the end of the rainbow. It's like, come on, man.

I never had that. Oh, sorry to interrupt. I never had that as a player. I wanted a term. I wanted, but the thing is, is a lot of these guys are like confident enough to bet on themselves to go. They're not looking at it like, hey, I'm putting 120 in my pocket. It's like somebody's got in their ear going, yeah, you can get 120 or you can have 160 or more. Which is fine, but if that's the case, then just tell the team that, like, why waste your time with an eight-year offer if you're Minnesota, if you know that.

That's where I would be frustrated where if that's your right, go ahead. If you want a two-year deal, go ahead. But then say it's a two-year deal. Like, why are you negotiating an eight-year deal and be like, no, not enough? Maybe he thinks he can get $17 million. Maybe they're so desperate it'll be 18. Like, it could be. But Minnesota is a market that has really struggled to have stars.

to keep stars. I think Caprisop knows that. He's a great player. That's not what we're saying, but Marner was a great player, and he signed an eight year at $12 million. This guy's getting $4 million more a year than Mitch. That's the one thing that we are going to look back at of guys who signed long-term deals. Three, four years from now, you're going to go, that's a pretty damn good bargain. That's the nature of it. You're right noodles, you're 100%. I'll give you, forget Mitch, look at Willie. Willie signed for 11, I think it is, and it was like, man, are you nuts? Like Willie's at 11 million. Capri Sov's getting 17.

He's not a $6 million more player than William Nealach. Yeah, sure. But I'm saying if he's turning down 16, I presume he thinks he can get more. But let's say it's 16. Let's say he accepts it. $5 million more than Willie? I don't think so. And you know, you look back on every deal,

and that's the importance of getting out in front of it and lock them these guys in. Then they have to pull their weight. You're right. They've got to play. They've got to perform. They've got to win. And we talk about it all the time, who's the next man up?

And they're just leapfrogging each other. And it's been a long time since the prices have gone up in hockey. I was, you know, in our group text, I was thrown out, like, things changed in basketball, things changed in, you know, baseball, football, different sports, different, you know, financial situations. But hockey's been pretty stagnant for years, and now you're seeing the step ladder kind of open up here a little bit. Like, that's, it'd be interesting, like, I don't think McDavid's all about money. I think he's looking at, you know, again, bring it back to McDavid, like he's looking at all different factors. I don't know what Capri Soff's looking at.

Is he looking at Bill Guerin and saying, go get this, go get that, or is he just maxing out going, if I'm going to be in Minnesota, you know, different market, believe me, I played there. I know the city as well. I know everything about that organization, but it's unique, right? And you talked about it. They haven't had a lot of superstars. They have Marin Gabbard, who they drafted and developed.

He was 18 when he joined the team. like they haven't had blue chip guys he's their guy they have to it's blank check for him well that's what they've done this is effectively a blank check and if the report's accurate he said no thank you like there's no bigger blank check than eight years 16 million per you know it's just an outrageous contract offer if he's turned it down um all right the jays with a massive win last night they got the it factor we'll get into it steve phillips coming up on game two of the series burrios on a mount tonight overdrive continues ts n 10 15 the end on tsn four overdrive continues powered by fan duel bringing you everything from the opening

line to the final score we're up on youtube live streaming youtube live on ts n's youtube channel every day every hour of every show steve phillips coming up here in a few minutes night two of the jays astros tonight and uh did not start well yesterday beaver you know you got got hit pretty hard in the first first inning and a game in a row which you're concerned about him a little bit no i i think it's expected man yeah yeah guy comes off tommy john and again second game in row gets hit early and what does he do he adjust and still gives you good stuff and good innings and keeps the game alive and within reach you know and the bats there being no hit until springer hit that home run and um you know and he had some laugh for opponents like

he had Miami and then he had not since he's not really but they wasn't strong and then he got some kind of heater competition and he's had a couple poor outings But he rebounds, like you said. He rebounds. He hangs in there. And he hung in there last night and gave them an opportunity. And the bullpen did their job, which is a really important point, right? We were hammering this bullpen for weeks.

And they've solidified a little bit recently. But what I think stood out last night and why I continue to gain confidence as to what this whole season represents and the ability for this team to hold on to the top seat in the ALEs is they have that it factor where it's a different. guy playing a different role every night and they find a way to succeed and the fundamentals are on display every night and I think last night you look at the

the end of the game, the ninth inning and the tenth inning is a perfect example of that. The $500 million guy, Vladiguro Jr., he makes an unbelievable defensive play in the 10th to get Altuve and Altuve was kind of trotting over there. He didn't think he had the... I didn't think he, that Altuvee man,

like he was out to lunch. He was out to luncheon. No one makes that throw. That's why he got cockies. Like the standard playing baseball generally is take the out, give him third. It happens. Hopefully we can keep him there. And Al-Tuvae was just out for a cruise thinking there's no way he's going to come get me. And he did.

Credit to Vladie for making that play. It was an incredible throw. Well, he was in cruise control for the defensive play as well. Yes, when Vladdy ran him out at first. Like, Al-Tubei, I know he's got short legs. Like, he's got two-foot legs. I don't know if that's the reasoning for laziness. Well, he's just sauntering in there and just muffins went over to first.

You had to look on his face. It's like, I think he had money on the Jays or stuff. It was outrageous what he was doing that. Al Tuvei was out, and he has 24 jacks. He's a hell of a player. Oh, Al Tuvei, like he got hit the hardest. He got hit the hardest probably with the sign stealing stuff and all that. But Altuve is a Hall of Famer.

He's an unbelievable player. He was just sauntering around last night. Like, I think the two biggest plays, it was all Vladdy, right? Vladdy runs out that first. that defensive play like he was unbelievable and that's what i'm saying like 500 million dollars again this is what you're expected to do especially when you're in a pennant race and you're winning and it's in september it's a big game at home makes a defensive play and then chops one to second and runs it out last night like runs it out in the bottom of the 10th which was huge

like huge for him to do that and you're right i'll too let's see what we got but you know those are plays you would expect out of kiner falafa right those are the plays you would expect that at Isaiah Connor Folefa, but Conner Foleffa played the role of Vladdy in the bottom of the night. So you get the big hit from the guy coming off the bench making nothing, who they just picked up off the waiver wire, and the $500

million guys running it out as if his life was on the line, and that's a sign of a team that's got some mojo man, right? Like everyone's all in, whatever I have to do to help this team win, and I think that's exactly what was on to play last night. $500

million guy, guy off the waiver wire, you know, Heimann hits the game-winning hit? You know, like, who saw that coming? They do have something special there. You can see, like, you know, 3-0-3-1, they're not out of the game. You just felt like something coming and big play after big play, and then they get it done. Once it went to the extra innings, I'm like they're winning. Yes, that was it.

You could feel it, and that's another sign of it. Again, it's an intangible, there's no science behind it. But in 2025, the Js don't lose that game. But if they battle back, they find a way to win it. And that's exactly what happened last night. Here's Steve Phillips, our TSN. Baseball Insider. How would you describe that win last night by the Blue Jays?

I think definitely one of the biggest wins of the season, but I've got to tell you listening to you guys. Like, I'm so proud of you guys. Like, you used to accuse me of feeling polypositive all the time. And now you guys are, like, you sound like you actually like it and believe in them and that you're all in on the Blue Jays right now. How can you not be, Steve? All in, Steve. All in.

I am so proud of you guys. Thank you. You know, I think that it was a huge win. I'm the day the Yankees lose too in really like a bloody manner. I mean, that was horrible. What happened to the Yankees, nine runs in the seventh inning. You know, they had two relievers that didn't get it recording out and nine consecutive batters reached base, and it sort of blew up on them.

And then the Blue Jays rally pack like they did. It was, you know, having been no hit for the first five innings of the game, five of the third. And, you know, not a surprise, right? The Springer sort of breaks the ice and gets them going. He's been the leader all year as sort of that energetic guy for them. And so it was a big win. Now, you know, now it's the point where you can't give it back, right?

So today can't be, well, we're going to have a clunker today. We're going to give back the dramatic wound we got yesterday. You know, go out and add on to this one and keep building. But I heard you're talking about, you know, kind of falafa coming through. Vladie, and how about the play Vladdy throwing out the runner? at third base. How high in the IQ chart is that play, Steve? That's what I was going to ask you. What he said was that on the foul ball before that, he saw Al-Tubei running, and he saw that he looked slow. And so he signaled over to third, if it's to me, I'm coming to you.

That is a huge play. I mean, that's Don Mattingly Keith Hernandez-type play from back in the day. You know, those slick-fielding first baseman, Madeline sitting on the bench watching that had to be proud. But the wiping out of the energy for the Astros, when that runner and extra inning gets thrown out at third base, it is a dramatic turn of emotions. So, you know, the JAs have a lot going in the right direction, and everybody seemingly contributing to it.

Yeah, that's incredible. Like, you look at it last night. Vladia obviously made great plays in the 10th inning, defensively and offensively. But it's kind of Folefa who gets the big hit in the ninth. who cashes the winning run, Miles Straw, right? And Heinemann's the one that brings him home. Like, this is not Vladi, Bichette, Springer, Kirk.

Like, Schneider was deep into his bench last night, and I'm curious how you feel about the manager and the way that, you know, he's trying to work things out here because Bichette's not available to him. You know, they're playing these kind of high intensity, emotional games every single night, and he was working it last night, John Schneider. He was after the game, after the first question he got asked, he said, I need a beer. Yeah.

That was so funny in the interview, like, so real, you know, getting no hit for the first five innings and shut out and being able to just sort of rally back and then the 10th inning. He did a good job. There's no question. He did a nice job, using the bench, using the guys that he has available to him. But, you know, I give a lot of credit to the players, too, that they put their performances led to his trust in key situations. And I got to tell you, the counterfelefa claim, when it happened, I thought,

where's he going to fit? But now with Bichette down and adding the depth to the middle infield and what he can do, and look, he's not a great hitter, but he gives you a professional at bat, you know, and able to put the ball in play and battle, did a really great job. And for Heinemann, remember, he came in and pinched ran for Kirk. Now, he's the second slowest guy on the team, but he's faster than Kirk, So he was the appropriate pinch runner there. And then he comes up in that at bat to get the fielder's choice to get the run in to win the game.

It really, you know, a lot came together. But that's one at the end of the year. You go back and circle and you look back on it. I think that was a key, key win for our success and potentially winning the division. So, Steve, you came on saying, okay, the three of us have got our pom-poms out here and we're talking pretty positive and rightfully so. We're in the driver's seat. I'll use that in Toronto.

but any concerns at all, you know, these last 18 games, is there anything you'd like to see sharpen up? Is it just the health of Bo? Is there something else that, you know, you have maybe as a manager a little concern down the stretch here? Yeah, so I think a couple things. One, obviously, Bichette's knee, that's going to be critical. You know, because he came back in and played after he had the collision at the plate

and his shin sort of dinged up, I don't think it's going to be anything significant, but you put them on the injured list, and, you know, those are 10 games without your best hitter. And so, you know, I think it's something to be concerned about. I do think Scherzer's back is a bit of an issue. You know, this is something that in past years, late in the season, he gets these spasms that start up in the upper back, work their way down, and he's going through it a little bit. Now, they do have Lauer that Eric Lauer that can put in the rotation

if they need to protect Scherzer with it. But I think more than anything, it's the rhythm. of the bullpen. It's, you know, can they get the level of confidence and consistency out of the bullpen? You know, I looked at it. Jeff Hoffman is 9 and 6 this year. You know, you generally don't want your closer with a lot of losses, but you also don't want them with a lot of wins, you know, because it generally means that, you know,

maybe you gave it up and he got through the inning and he came back and scored. But, yeah, it was good yesterday, and they need to get him stabilized. They need the rest of the bullpen stabilized as well. that they know where they're going, when they're going to them, and really start to get some rhythm and confidence there because that is going to be their undoing in the playoffs. If they don't advance, it'll be because of the bullpen. It won't be defense.

It won't be that they won't have quality of bats. They put the ball in play. They're tough to strike out. It's going to come down to, you know, can the bullpen hold the lead or hold the deficit to allow them to rally and come back with their good offense. With Steve Phillips, Perrios on the mount tonight. I'd add that into the conversation over the final 18 games,

you know, likely three or four more starts, and he has really been struggling. But he's a guy that has shown, obviously, he's a veteran, he's a guy that's available every single five days in every start. He's always healthy, and they're going to continue to trot him out, especially with what you said about Scherzer. What about Bieber? We were talking about him.

He got hit early again last night, but he settled in. You know, that's a couple starts in a row. He's been hit pretty hard in, like, specific innings. I think it was the second inning, his last out. his first inning last night, but then, you know, he still gave them a fair amount of production. Is that a good sign, bad sign? Where do you stand on Beaver? Yeah, I think he's going to get better over the next several starts. I think that part of what he's going through is, you know, a little dead arm and, you know,

a little bit of, you know, fatigue of taking the ball every fifth day that he'll work through and get a second win. He just isn't, you know, this is sort of his spring training, getting through that, getting ready to start the season, or sometimes guys, you know, have these innings or so. But because he's such a pro that even if it gets away from him for an inning, he gets on track. He gets his feel and, you know, he'll figure out warming up. Maybe he's got to get a better feel for his breaking balls that I think that that's been a bit of the issue where he didn't have his curveball or his sweeper or slider early in the start,

but he got a feel for it as the game went on. So maybe in warm-ups, he'll find something to tweak that to get a little different feel for it. But if that's one of their problems, they're in a really good place, right? Really good place. I'll take five in two-thirds innings and, you know, giving up three runs and giving yourself a chance to win with the offense that they have. Steve, how would you characterize Schneider's kind of year? Do you think just winning, like if the team's winning, you say the skip has grown

and he's matured and he's showing signs of being a great skip or, you know, just little things like Buck pointed out of your guy gets called. up and he puts them right in the game, just the way he's managed all the players and what he's done in there. How would you grade that? Yeah, I think he's done a nice job. I mean, listen, I know they're in first place. They have the best record in the American League, but it's not been easy.

No. I mean, you know, they have faced adversity, and, you know, early in the season, it felt dire. And, you know, I think that it does take a steady hand to try to keep everybody going through that just to get on track and not to panic. And look, you know, I think that he showed some maturity because if anybody might have panicked, it might have been him because if it didn't get turned around early. He might have been out, right? They might have had to make a move just to see if they could salvage the season in some way.

And so the fact that he's been able to navigate that and get to a really good place and get the team to this point and then using all the different role players and how he sets up his lineup and who he plays on a given day, he has put guys in a place to succeed. You know, that's what a manager you want them to do is line guys up, put him in a place to succeed. Now, you know, the bullpen is also his responsibility, and that has been, you know, at times a little bit hit and miss. Some of that goes on the manager.

Obviously, most of it goes on the pitchers themselves. But I think overall, I think he's done a really positive and really good job managing the club. Jay's Astros tonight, Yankees in action, the Sox won last night, 18 games to go. It's going to be a grind, but man, it's fun. having intense, meaningful baseball in September. Enjoy it tonight, Steve.

We'll do it again soon. Okay, guys. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Steve Phillips, our TSN Baseball Insider, Jose Barrios. Man, he could redeem himself tonight. You know, he's been struggling lately. He hasn't had the greatest year.

But that park is, it's going to be packed. I mean, there's 40,000 people in there every single night. What do you expect out of that guy? When's the last time he pitched? Was it? Well, he pitched last time out. Yeah, it's not going to be packed. good like he he gets rocked that was the game that was crazy that finished 1512 or whatever

he could find the plate with like it was outrageous yeah his numbers are really they're they're really bad they're he's in a really dark place but you know you you you trust a veteran you you you hope he can make an adjustment you hope he can give you five or six innings tonight and if you can do that we've reached the point in the in the season here with every win being so meaningful and you know them racing towards a pennanty in here. No one cares about what you did in May, June, July, August. What are you going to do in September? This is what is really going to be remembered. If you have a great outing and a positive warning, you walk off the mound with a lead and the team gets a win tonight and they find a way to

win this series, then Barrios will be a hero. It's really not difficult to do right now. But conversely, the other side of it, you blow up and get booed off the mound, it's going to be pretty loud. So he's aware of that. I think people in the stadium are aware of that. But a big one for the jays last night and the yankees got pumped so they're three games up on the yankees three games up on boston and big swing yeah you can see it here on fando jays minus 300 to win the aile east so yeah driver's seat in the driver's seat in the driver's seat games last night right one big swing right they win yankees lose that's a big driver's tagline get in the driver's seat and take a peek yes i like that get in the driver's seat take a peek all right that could that's a

Late submission, man. Late submission. I like that for the tagline. We're still looking for help. You can text us, email us, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, whatever it is. Looking for a new tagline for the show. All right, strutty coming up. Haven't caught up with the big man in a while.

Jason Strudwick in 15 minutes, roleplay level of concern in about 45 minutes. We're streaming live on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050. All right, Jason Strudwick, in about 15 minutes. level of concern coming up where one of us will play the role of austin matthews i believe he's been doing the kind of media tours and i i saw our boy jonas caught up with craig baroube he had an article in the athletic about you know the plan for matthews and he indicated he's put on more

weight that maybe they thought he was too lean last year and that was a part of the issue with injuries and um but i like that idea you got to change something up and by all accounts he's telling people, it feels good, ready to go. And I guess that'll be the story of camp, and that'll be the first thing everyone's going to pay attention to. Well, the next thing they're going to pay attention to is how many goals he has after 10 games. Oh, yeah.

I mean, and who he's playing with? Yeah. What type of chemistry he's got with a new linemate? Because he's guaranteed a new line mate. Even if they put Willie there, that's technically him and Willie didn't play a ton together, you could probably guarantee it's going to be Nize Matthews as a tandem, and then you're going to plug

Machelli or Domi or, you know, who knows, Easton Cowan has a great kid. There is, it isn't that sexy of a training camp right now, but there is a few spots that are up for grabs, or at least, you know, moving players around the lineup. And I think that's, who plays with those two, I think is a big story. I think it's going to be the most unique feeling training camp they've had in a long time.

Now, last year felt that way to an extent, because Barouba was here. So a different sound, right? Baroube was talking every day at a different approach than Sheldon Keeve. But the fact that Marner's gone, all right, there you go. I used his name.

I said it first today. Done. Marner's been said. That's right. The fact that he's gone immediately, you know, addition by subtraction, leads to a big conversation

because of the hole that now has to be filled. But also we're talking about Matthews coming off, you know, statistically the worst season of his career. where he didn't have great numbers. At no point was he like a dominant force like you would expect him to be. And Barube mentioned in the article that he had a lot of chances last year. Defensively, he was great.

He was killing penalties for the first time in his career. He's transitioning. You know, he had a different role to play in some areas last year. So I'm not sure what to make of, you know, the goal scoring expectation with him. Because since he walked into the league, it's been this guy. guy's going to win rocket after rocket after rocket. I know he's still capable of doing it when he's healthy, but are we still, like, is the aim 50 plus?

Do the goalposts move with Austin Matthews this year in terms of goal score? It's all going to come down to his health and how he looks. I mean, if he looks healthy, it's not like he's, you know, getting that old, or maybe he's slowing down a tiny bit. Maybe he's not as fresh as he was when he first came in the league. But you would think, with that guy fully healthy, the way he handles the puck and the way he shoots the puck, 50 goals should be kind of looked at now? I think so. Like, there's no reason why he shouldn't be a 50 goal score.

He's an elite goal score. He's an elite shooter. Yes, you know, different chemistry with a new line mate. But, again, if he doesn't get it, it's not the end of the world. It's his whole body of work. But he's a goal score. Goal score is goal. And that's what, you know, he, I'm sure he has a personal, you know,

you know, goal that he is looking for this season. And it probably starts with a five in it, maybe a six. That's what I'm hoping for. That's what you set your sights on. That's what you set your sights on. Absolutely. Because Barube did indicate that when speaking of, you know, Marner not being here, that, and I do think this is being overlooked, because we're talking about Machelli and Domi

and, you know, could Cowan play, or do they go out and sign Jack Roslovick, who's still available? Right. Really, what they need, like, the biggest change will be. 34 returning to, you know, the king of goal scoring status. That's the biggest thing that can change. You know, is over under, I guess, on Fandle's, 43 and a half goals. I'd go about that.

I would, too, and two years ago, that would be considered an insight. Yeah, like, that would be free money. It's kind of a good number, though. I know you guys think it should be over, but it's kind of appropriate. Yeah, it's a lot of goals. Yeah. I mean, he scores 42, 43 goals. That's a lot of goals.

think it's you know the prop on how many games he plays is equally as fascinating for me you know like if i gave you a 71.5 games played this year you take the over the under that's a good number too 71.5 he'll be 28 i got to take the over man yeah i don't take the over I mean, wouldn't you think he would get it? Wouldn't you think he'd get himself in a situation where he's going into the season where it's like nothing's going to pop up? He didn't have surgery. We'd never, we don't know the nature of what he's struggling with.

Because it literally every time he's asked, he just doesn't talk about it. Like it's his body, it doesn't want to talk about, which is fair, but we don't know the nature of if it's a chronic thing, if it's something that can just heal with time, or if it's something he has to live with or play with the rest of his career. We don't know. Not doctors. I think we're going to find that answer out though this year, right, Nunes? Like if it's chronic and if something flares up

again this year and he's back to Germany or whatever, then that's braced for it. Like it's a different, he's in a different stage of his career. Which happens for some guys. You know, it's happened for great players. Like guys that just couldn't be expected to play every night. You play 60 games,

you know, could play 60, 65 and as long as you're available for the playoffs, and near 100% or out 100% then it's all good. But we're going to find out that answer this year if last year was a one-off. You know, if he has fully recovered and there's nothing to worry about. If there's pockets in the season where he's gone and he's struggling and he looks slow or something, that's going to be a very different story this year compared to last. Comes down to health.

He scored 41, then 60, then 40, then 69, then 33. Let's see what he comes back with. All right. totals 43 and a half. Jason Struttwood coming up on McDavid, Matthews, Marner down in Vegas, Kiro Caprisoff. He owes me an apology, too. And he owes noodles, apology.

So we'll get that apology out of him and roleplay level of concern coming up as well. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fandul. Fanduel, bringing you everything from the opening line to the final score. Seasoned gamer or just video game cure. Serious? This Weekend Gaming is the podcast for you. We break down the latest in the world of video games, from basics to beyond. The hottest gaming news, insight and industry leaders, and more weekly. Join me, Naomi Kyle, and stay ahead of the game with all the latest updates. Even if you're a total newbie. Stream this week in gaming on the free IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thank you.