OverDrive - OverDrive - September 12, 2025 - Hour 1 - Richard Griffin

Episode Date: September 12, 2025

Join Bryan Hayes, Jeff O'Neill and Jamie McLennan for Hour 1 on OverDrive! The guys discuss the Packers' victory against the Commanders and Jordan Love's impressive performance, Gavin McKenna's future in the league and if the Penguins land him, franchises without a superstar, the players that could be on the TSN Top 50 NHL Player list, the Chiefs' showdown against the Eagles and Marc-Andre Fleury signing a PTO with the Penguins. GriffsThePitch.com Columnist Richard Griffin joins to discuss the Blue Jays' closing stretch of the season, Kevin Gausman's playoff role and the handling of the bullpen and Morgan Rielly's season trajectory with the Maple Leafs.

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This hour of Overdrive is powered by Fandul. FanDuel, 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, up on YouTube live on TSN's YouTube channel. Brian Azeo, Doug, Jeff O'Neill, Jamie Noodles, McClennon. What's going on? What's going on? How we do it?

We've talked last year. and noodles about the string of goaltenders, the Rangers are lucky enough to have. Richter into Hank into Schisturkin. Very lucky. Yep.

You must be feeling very, very lucky, Hasey B. Green Bay. You're not kidding, man. To go from Fav into Rogers into love. Because that love last night, man, just his subtle little plays

where he would tuck the football and hide it and do this or do that. He looked like some veteran savvy out there, man. He looked damn good. He's a player. He's looked really good through two weeks. Really good. And you're right. It's got to be sickening if you're a Bears fan.

Oh, yeah. And if you've got other great runs or negative ones, like even a run in Pittsburgh, Hayes is a good one. Like to go from Mario and Jagger and Ronnie Francis to Sid and Malkin and Latang and Flurry. Like, that's outrageous. Yeah, that is. That one might be better because Mario was drafted in 84, I believe, and it's 2025 and Sid still playing.

That's 41 years of having at least one of them. Like, Farve got to the Packers in 90, I think, 91, you know, something like that. It's been a great run, Farve into Rogers into love. But, like, Lemieux passing the baton to Sid, is a 41-year run, which is pretty incredible. I don't know if you can beat that. That might be interesting. Like the crossover, the passing of the baton from one player to the next.

Could be the best ever crossover. If you've got a better one, enlighten us. I can't think of one. Mario into Sid? I think both of them are top four or five players of all time. Of course. I mean, Gretzky and to McDavid, but McDavid hasn't won. But they also didn't cross over, though, noodles.

Like, Gretzky left in 88. McDavid got there in 15. Yeah, that's true. You're right that they both on the same team, but they didn't play together. Lemieux and Sid were on a line together. Yeah, Sid lived at Lemieux's house when we first got there. You're right, that is probably the closest. A baton passing.

Yeah. Mario and Sid. Now, I will say this. Do you remember when Jordan Love was drafted, people were like, what the hell are they doing? What are those idiots doing? they've got Aaron Rogers there and like they saw something that's the thing when people challenge management and then years later they're like oh maybe they were right well Rogers was a big part of it because he was like we needed receiver help and they went and drafted this guy like what the hell are they doing I'm still here and that was almost the beginning of the end wasn't it Hayes yeah it more or less was now I will say this it inspired him to go out and win back-to-back MVP's which was pretty important oppressive. And I think it goes both ways because you're right, Noodles. I think most people look at it like they saw something in Rogers, which was likely true. You know, he had run into

some injuries. His game was starting to fall off. Although, you know, look at him today. He's still playing. And again, he was great. The best quarterback in the league for a couple of years post-Jordan Love. But what's more important and what takes even more courage and I think deserves even more love is they saw something in Jordan Love. Yes. That wasn't a first overall pick. They traded up to get them, too. That's what really led to the biggest discussion was,

it's one thing if the guy fell in your lap, which is what happened with Rogers. Well, biggest discussion when he didn't look like much and people were like, you trade it up to get what? Exactly. You gave up collateral to go get him, piss off Rogers, and this guy looks like he doesn't know what he's doing. And they put his parents in the last row.

The UFO wizard at work, he just gave a nice one. The San Antonio Spurs. David Robertson into Tim Duncan into Wembenyama Now Duncan and Wembe never crossed over Well it's kind of close enough Pretty good

What brings attention to What brings attention to it is For the franchises that have garbage And always get garbage And never have anything Yeah It's like to look at something like that They're like

Screw the crossover We've never had anything close to that And you've had all three of those guys in the last 35 years. Oh, you say it, though, all the time. Like, there's got to be owners that go to their scouting staff or their managers going, you guys let that go by, like, what's going on here? Like, you're right, because it wasn't like Love was the first overall pick.

There were other teams that could have grabbed them. Like, throughout the process, there are teams that passed on Player X, and you're like, that guy drove right by your draft table, and you didn't draft him, and now he's over here dominating type of thing. Guess who went dead last, I believe he was the last pick of the first round. If he wasn't 32nd, he was 31st, and again, Baltimore traded up because I couldn't believe he was still on the board, was Lamar. Like, Lamar Jackson went the last pick of the first round.

Jordan Love went 26th. Aaron Rogers dropped it 24, I believe. You're right, noodles. Like, that's, you would think, if you're an owner, you're getting your scouts together, saying, can you explain to me what the hell you were thinking, taking that linebacker out of Idaho instead of. this guy when we haven't had a quarterback in 40 years and I'm losing

my mind here I'm going bankrupt because we can't win any games but here's what I think is going to happen McHenna's going to Pittsburgh you can just feel it but you're right like you can imagine they go Lemieux into Crosby into McKinne

they will they'll win the lottery 100% why wouldn't they win the lottery like why wouldn't Pittsburgh get another potentially generational talent to push it for another 20 years you know which would be a 60 year run with a superstar on your team so here's pouring cold water on the sit out the door maybe sid goes i'm going to help usher this guy in i'm going to bite the bullet and we're going to be the last place this year because kyle's going to move everything around me type of thing and

and we're going to be last place but we get mckenna and said literally what you just said hands the baton and plays to them for two more years and helps shape him into a generational player. He'd be Mario, right? It would just, what goes around, comes around. Like the circle of life, Sid would just turn into Mario at the end of his career and let McKenna live with them and they play for a couple of years. The team isn't that good. And then Sid exits, you know, stage left and McKenna and the Penguins take off into a dynasty. I wouldn't be surprised. There is one more scenario on this that maybe Sid, feels fulfilled if he can win a gold medal in February, right?

And then you're like, okay, I got my trophy this year type of thing, and I will bite the bullet, and let's get McKenna and see, like, I mean, maybe, again, I'm just spitballing here, but you're, you might be honest. I wouldn't be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised because, you know, the opposite end of the turn of this conversation is which, what team in pro sports represents, like the worst luck? You know, like just nothing. You've never had anybody.

They've been so, they were so good, but Stevie Y and Federoff into like Dylan Larkin and like they're not into much after those guys, you know what I mean? No. But like, again, I always bring up Sacramento. Like I bring up the Kings. The Kings have never had anybody. Like they had Weber, they had like Mike Bibby and Vlad. Well, I mean, you're talking teams that had had nothing.

Yes. Ever anything. So there's never been, is there a pro team? that you can think of regardless of any sport that's never had like a top 10 star player Nashville Predators well Yosi's pretty damn

close he was knocking on the door but they didn't even know we're talking elite like the McDavid's and Crosby's and special talents you can't really say the Nashville Predators are up there they've been very good though that's the one thing you can't argue they got to the Stanley Cup final with a really

good team a bunch of really good players but they've never had the elite of the elite no Arizona and Utah they've never had anybody I would say Memphis like Vancouver and Memphis John Morant looked like he was going to become that but who else yeah mark a soul like who who is Memphis ever had that would Charlotte no one's ever paid attention to that team ever of our ball yeah but he's not he's not a top 10 player he's not that's the thing is there you know he's talented but so you're saying that organization's never had a top Top 10 player any time of their existence.

I don't believe so. I do not believe so. I'd have to go back. The Charlotte Hornets have never had anything. I don't think so. I mean, I don't know. Maybe you go way back, and I don't know if, like, Larry Johnson would count back in the day. He was just going to say him.

But I don't know, man. I don't think so. And you would look at, like, San Antonio, and say, are you kidding me? Like, Robinson into Duncan, into Wembe, and we've got Larry Johnson into LeVar Ball. I'm going to say one that Or lamello ball Not even LeVar LeVar's a dad I'm going to say one that might

You know Our partner might crawl through the screen But Is Carolina had one? I don't think so Outside of Jeff O'Neill They had rantin for a short while But I don't think that counts

You are a hater Yeah Ronnie Francis At that point his career Was he still top 10 in the league I don't know if he was a top 10 player in the league It was still Ron Francis. Yeah, great all time.

Then it was just into really good players. Well, that's a big player. Rod Rindamore, Eric Stahl. It's the Nashville Predators, like lots of great players, won cups, done things like, but it's just like, I'm talking top 10, you know, clear cut. There's Hall of Fame. The best example, guys, we're talking about a team lucking out

and having these great successes, whether it be draft or players falling in their lap. The Florida Panthers might laugh at this conversation, because, well, they got Barkoff. But Barkoff's not, like, in the ilk of what we're talking about, about McDavid, Crosby, and they're like, we win. We've been the three Stanley Cup finals in a row, so take your stupid lists or whatever you're talking about. Right, exactly.

To shove it. To team sport, man. You're right. I mean, your list, speaking of, we did get the email today for the top 50. The special Dougie Hamilton list, we'll call it. The Dougie Hamilton list. Top 50. Yeah, the votes are expected in any day.

day now, right? We've got to project on the top 50 players this upcoming season in the NHO. And you just mentioned the Florida Panthers. Is there an argument where a guy like Broborski is overlooked, you know, as a top tier? I think he's got to be in the top 50

the way he's played and the way he continues to play. Yeah, but I'm just saying. His playoff performance has put him in there easily. And his track record and his trophy case. That's what I'm saying. Like, there's a guy that might be you know, I don't know if he's knocking on the door of Hall of Fame, but he'd

been there. Oh, I think he's going to the Hall of Fame now. You win two Vezna's and two cups. You go to three cup finals. He won the Kahn Smite the first year, I believe, right? Bennett won won it this past year. I think Bob won't the first cup. Con smite. No, McDavid did, didn't he? Oh, you're right.

McDavid did? That's right. McDavid did. Bob was already forgotten that. I won't Kahn Smyth on a losing team, and it's just flushed out of my memory. It's two years ago. You're like, nah, that doesn't doesn't matter i don't think it counts there's an asterisk beside that yeah but i you're right i just feel like bob is do we sleep on him with how i mean he's had an unbelievable career but there is it marred by that patch where it was like okay florida was trying to give him away type of

thing there was yeah it was a weird you know chunk of his career right for sure in columbus he won venez but the team wasn't any good you know it was all bob all the time yeah and and i was having that discussion today like will sam bennett be in the top 50 yeah is like if it was a playoff ranking he'd be in the top five yeah probably but from may on is he a top 50 regular season player i don't think he is i don't think he'll make the list that's the hardest get like 40 50 points yeah 50 points then he's probably not going to be in the top 50 that's because that's what's that's going to happen is all about guys that rack up points right what's going to happen is you're going to we're going to be doing our list and you're going to go Clayton keller

you know, Sam Bennett, Kellers gets more points, electric player, all of that type of stuff, but you're going, God, I watch that Sam, it's dominant. I know it is tough. It's hard, but do you put it, here's the question for everybody doing it, do you put your regular season filter on it, or do you put the full season on? Do you put your playoff? Because playoff is so much different. Totally different list.

Totally different approach. And you've got a handicap which teams are going to get to the end. Right, to even give you a chance to be in a top five or top ten. Your team's got to go deep in order for you to do that. Guys, I have to admit a mistake. Guy wrote in and said, for the record, Eizerman and Federoff went into Datsuk and Zetterberg, so please watch yourself. That is very true.

There was a baton pass. I'm very sorry for that. And Lichten was a part of the whole ride. Lichdstrom was there for all of it on both sides of the fence. What we should say is just Detroit was a juggernaut for so many. years like right you know it's been lean recently that's but but it's you that was the gold standard for years the detroit redwigs absolutely you know we

absolutely full respect to them yeah but yeah the uh the top 50 list is you know votes are coming i might have to recuse myself this year because i i got called in this afternoon i'm i'm going to be hosting that show apparently this year duffy always weighs in so why can't you okay problem i guess so So I'll, this is the beauty of it. I'm going to vote. I'm going to be so loud about my list. You know how obnoxious I am and how I will not accept anyone else's opinions?

And then I have to go on there and canvas for opinion. So that's what's coming, I guess, in a couple of weeks. But, yeah, the top 50, it's going to be fun. We'll see if Benick gets on it. You'll have a difficult time riding the fence there. You'll be like, yeah, you know, so what are your thoughts? And then you're going to just turn into Brian Hays. You're like, that's so stupid.

how could you put and then you're going to catch yourself oh we got to go to commercial i know i'm being a suit i have be in the studio like oh maybe i need to relax a little bit here just screaming yeah so that'll be fun though i think johnny might be a part of that i'm not sure who's a part of it but uh we'll see and it's it's that means the nchel's right around the corner but you know this all started with i guess us pumping the tires of the green bay packers yeah and i think the offense deserves a lot of love clearly but the defense i think is the story through two weeks where they made two really potent offenses a year ago. You know, everything resets, everything can be different from year to year.

But Detroit was a juggernaut. Best show on turf last year. And Washington was a juggernaut. And they both, I believe, average 30 points per game or over 30 points per game last year. The Packers have given up a combined 31 points in two games. Well, if you're an analyst, then you said bringing in Mike could put them over the top and make them a serious contender,

then you were bang on as far as two weeks into the season. Yeah. Well, you know what it is? We, again, started talking about the executive team in Green Bay, knowing who they had in Rogers, but also knowing what they were getting in love and trying to project what was going to happen in the future. Clearly, they knew a lot of these younger guys on defense were ready to pop.

You know, like guys like Van Ness going into their third year, like they're ready. These guys are ready. They're going to be cheap for a couple of people. a couple of years so we can afford to pay Michael Parsons, and Gary's ready, and Cooper's ready, and, you know, these aren't household names, you know, these aren't names that the average fan would necessarily be aware of. They would know, you know, Xavier McKinney and all that, and there's a couple of guys that have name value on the defensive side of things in Green Bay,

but obviously the coaching staff and management, they looked at it and said this team's ready to pop. Like, they're good with or without Parsons. If we add Parsons, it changes everything, and he was still on a snap count last night. You know, he'd get doubled basically every time or chipped every time he's out there, but it opens up a lot of pathways for other guys to do work, and that's exactly what's happening. So very impressive start for Greenback. I'm trying to be objective here, but I've got to be honest,

I feel very good about where things are going. You should, man. You should. They look good. You know, put you in your place and say kind of settle down, but they look damn good. Yeah. It's hard to argue with that. When you're 2 and 0 doesn't matter.

Like I say, there are going to be some concerns after this weekend, though. I'll tell you what, like, if KC goes 0-2, guaranteed. Is that game Sunday or Monday? Sunday, in the afternoon, hazel. Well, our boy, Arlofsky said if they go 0% chance going to the Super Bowl. Wow. Zero. That is a crazy comment.

Well, listen, it's as big of a game as you can get because the stats indicate that. If you start your season 0-2, you're cooked. I know. A real close to it. It's Kansas City, man. I know. That's why I feel good about them this week. can now we have the pick and al's brother and i are budding heads over this like al's brother's got a

pretty strong lean one way i have a pretty strong lean the other way i might have to go president of hockey ops on this one and basically you know lay down the hammer and make the call but the idea that kansas city's this desperate in week two you know speaks to the magnitude of the game you know how quickly the NFL season can catch you off guard um but they need it and philly's in town and they're going to be hungry and they're coming off a long week and Kansas City had to fly up from Brazil. Worthy's probably not going to be available to play. It's going to be a tough game, but it should be a great game.

So more on that with Luke and Al's brother at 5 o'clock. We've got Griff coming up. Jay's Orioles starting tonight, Basset on the Mount. Again, you look at this roster, you look at the lineup. They played great yesterday. Gossman was great. Vladdy's the agent tonight. Their lineup, it's amazing.

They're in the position they're in. It is loud. It's just amazing. You have straw playing, you've got Jimenez playing, you've got France playing, you've got, it's just a crazy lineup. Yet I feel pretty confident, I think you should, considering how well the Jays have played at home. In years past, we look at that lineup, and we were talking about the dribblers to second and short all the time, and we're like, what else would you expect? What else would you expect from those guys?

But these guys just, they got Mojo, and they find a way to get done. They've got Mojo. Yeah, they've got Mojo. So, yeah, you've got Kynar Phileffa playing second time. It's just a wild lineup. Like, there's no way to put it. It's a wild, wild one through nine with Springer and Vladie and Kirk that pop out. But everything else, you know, makes you kind of squint a little bit yet.

They deserve confidence. And they deserve, you know, I think a positive attitude from the fan base because how well they've played. So it's go time tonight down at the Rogers Center. Richard Griffin will come up and take a look at yesterday's outing, what he made of Gosman and how good Gosman's been lately. What happens would you have Hoffman moving forward? if Bichette returns and he has to D.H. How does that affect the rest of the lineup?

We'll get into all that stuff with Griff. Luke Wilson coming up, Deerhazy Beat today. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food.

See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. All right, Luke Wilson coming up just after 5 o'clock. his take on the Packers win last night and we got some Tyreek Hill audio and visual that we'll play, some video that we'll play. Tyreek's not in a great place down there in Miami. Well, they were saying he hasn't

caught a pass for over 30 yards and... Yeah, it's been over here. And someone asked him that question. We'll play it for Luke and get his take on you know, how he would respond in a similar situation because it's basically asking Tyreek to say,

well, Tua stinks. You know, that's kind of what you're you're kind of leading the witness into that but we'll play it we'll get into it dan campbell effectively guaranteeing a win against the bears oh yeah seems pretty early in the year for that you know that this is such a massive game got to have it week two but um again the season goes by quick and if you're going to lose to the bears at home after getting smoked by the packers i can understand the urgency so that more coming up with luke just after five o'clock we got richard griffin coming up before jays ori's orioles tonight um I was talking to someone today about this Charlie Sheen documentary that's out right now.

How is it? Wild. I'm not a big doc guy. Like, Noodles, you throw stuff out all the time. You've got to see this, got to see that. I think Charlie Sheen and that whole story, that might have to drag me in this weekend. I might have to find some time for Charlie. Now, I've heard it's not as wild as you, you know, but it's Charlie Sheen.

That's it. There's no softening Charlie Sheen in his story. I had a buddy, remember when he was going on a tour? Like, he went on like a tour. Yeah, it was ridiculous. Played Massey Hall. Winning tour or whatever it was. One of my buddies was, like, one of his managers during that.

He said it was wild. Like, they didn't, you know, because he was really in the height of his, we'll call it, problems. And every show was a circus because they didn't know what they were going to get. Because there was no preparation. He was just going to get up there and turn the mic. Right, and people bought tickets and went. The guy was at Massey Hall. I don't think a ton of people were going to that nonsense.

I don't know. I think it did better than you think, man. It was. I think there was an, not an incident, but I think, because he had, like, guests that were, like, musical stars and come on. But there was no rhyme or reason to it. Like, every show was different, and they were trying to get, like, into a rhythm. Okay, you're going to do this, you're going to, and he was like, no, I'm good.

But apparently, you know, he was, he had his drug. Unpredictable at that point? Unpredictable. A little bit unpredictable. One time I think his teeth, there was something wrong with it. Like he had, his teeth weren't working. Like, I think they were like rotten. Something happened.

It was crazy. Like, I heard some stories. I'm sure you did. That's unacceptable. I'm sure you heard some stories of Charlie. Yeah, that was like, they were like, we don't know what to do. We don't know what to do. Well, could you imagine managing that guy?

Yeah. Could you imagine? That's, that's your livelihood. Yeah. Yeah, just trying to get Charlie on stage down on Massey Hall tonight. We got no plans. It's completely unscripted. We haven't seen him in two days.

But, you know, it should go well. Yeah, it should be great. Apparently, his first show was, like, unbelievable, outstanding. Yeah. And then it just fell off a cliff after that because he just thought he was going to roll in. And it just... Right. After that, it was...

I think it hit a wall in, like, Detroit or something, where it just really went south. That's disappointing to hear. Yeah. All right, Griff coming up here in a moment. We do have to get into the Mark Andre Fleur. PTO situation in Pittsburgh where he's doing this differently. You know where I stand on the one-day contracts, but this is much more unique than that,

much more creative where I guess he's going to be in camp to an extent and they're going to allow him to play or he's going to play in an exhibition game at home in Pittsburgh as kind of the official signing off of his career. But he's not trying out for the team. No, he's not playing. But it's basically a one game or a one- one-day contract, but he's playing in the game.

He's going to play in the game, yeah, which is a little bit different than I'm just coming down on a suit and signing and taking pictures and, you know, holding court for the press. I don't know a problem with that. It's kind of cool. It is kind of different. Like, I don't know what it says about where the penguins are at. Like, you know, is there a goalie that maybe wouldn't mind a shot at playing that night? Probably.

The penguins are at. We need to give the fans something cool. That's what they're at. That's kind of what it feels like, you know, let's bring flour back. It's pretty ugly around here. worried Crosby wants out. Let's get a fan favorite back here to play one more game. Yeah, I think it's awesome.

Yeah, it's kind of a cool story. Maybe I'm softening. Well, you're softening, but it's more about, it is the token thing, but it is the right thing to do. Like for him, instead of just showing up and waving and that, he's like, you know what, put me in the net. I'm going to go play. And he's still in good shape.

Like, it's not like he's rumbling around. He didn't have to retire because of an injury. He retired because he's 40 coming 41, I think. So, you know, good on him. Good on Pittsburgh. They need some positivity there. They really do because there's not much else going on there. No, there's not.

I mean, ultimately, it's going to be the Sidwatch all year. Yeah. Like, more or less, it's going to be the Sidwatch all year. All right, Jay's Orioles tonight, and the Orioles are not playing for anything, which can be dangerous, you know, because they're going to go out there to play. You know, it's a divisional game. They understand they can play spoiler. And you got Basset on a mount tonight.

And again, you look at the lineup, you get Springer playing right field, Davis Schneider and left hit in second. Vladi D.Hing tonight. Kirk behind the plate. And then Ernie Clement, Thai-France, Kiner Folefa, Straw, Jimenez. That's your 5 through 9. Like that, again, in a different universe, you'd say, well, they're on pace for 72 wins, and a couple of young guys are going to get some at-bats, and we'll see what happens. Instead, they're on pace for, like, 94 wins.

and in the driver's seat. Here's Richard Griffin from griff's the pitch.com. Griff, can you wrap your head around this lineup tonight? Yeah, hey, man. I would say that if you ever asked me if the Blue Jays have one left-handed hitter in the lineup and eight right-handed hitters and you said it was Andres Jimenez,

I would say you're full of it. Yes. But clearly, the way that the bow injury has affected them they are never going to finish a game with the same lineup that they start the game. If they're trailing, they're going to use the bench to hit. If they're leading, they're going to use the bench to defend. And so this, as an opportunity for a bench player, this is ultimate. And it's not ultimate to have Bow injured and out.

But this is the ultimate team, baseball team roster right here. Who do you give responsibility for the success? of the mishmash type lineup though griff is it ross is it schnise is it just the players like last year or the year before we'd be like what should we expect from these guys they can't hit and that's just what they are but it's it's pretty damn impressive to watch them come together who deserves the credit you think yeah i mean i think ross stumbled into some of these i mean he was accepting the contract of mild straw just so they have a shot at the japanese kid the pitcher. And it turns out that Straw is doing way more for the Jays than Sasaki is for the

Dodgers. So yeah, it's a fortunate series of circumstances that have led to this. But I think that fans in Blue Jays Nation got to give Ross a little bit of credit for once. Yeah, I agree with you there. A fortunate set of circumstances. No one deserves credit. It's The way that kind of sounds is where you're going, that little bit of allooism in there. But, yeah, I mean, ultimately, it is amazing how the confidence of a team can allow us to look at this lineup and say, I feel good they win tonight.

I feel good that they'll find a way to figure this out. But the Bichette injury is an interesting conversation because, you know, it's a knee issue. He's on the IL. We don't know exactly when he's going to return. But I would not be shocked if he had to be eased back in playing DH. If that continues through September into the playoffs where he's not comfortable enough for whatever reason to actually play shortstop, how complicated do things get come playoff time?

I think they get so complicated that you don't do that. I think that if Bow is running neck and neck with Alejandro Kirk on the basis, then you don't do that. And you've got a D.H spot that you need guys like George Springer to occupy because he's no. longer the defender that he once was. And this team, the pitching staff relies so much on defense, but if Bose slowed down and quick changes of direction affect his

sprain knee, I think the 10-day IEL was just a suggested, a minimum, and I think it could be all the way through the season, and then we'll see going into the playoffs if he can play shortstop. But I think he needs to be able to run to change direction and to play

shortstop to be on any playoff roster, which It's a daunting thought, really. Sorry, Griff, where are you out with Jeff Hoffman and, you know, the closing situation? Yeah, well, I mean, we see the 15 home runs that he's allowed. We see then a game where he comes in and goes one, two, three, and does the job of a real closer. I'm not so sure that Sir Anthony Dominguez is an answer. We know that Louis Barland is the only.

and need some time. He's got great stuff, but he's not an answer. We know that I could spike a curveball, like Brendan, a little 42 feet in front of the home plate. I could do that. So really, I think he's the last man standing in that regard. You know, if anyone who wants to volunteer to be closer, take a step forward, and everybody takes a step back, and there's Jeff Hoffman. There's your guy.

Griff, what's the deal with this Santon Dare character? Like, is he going to be a guy or, like, his back now? Like, just give us an update on what he could possibly do or what his story is, because it's been unreal watching him. They say that on, well, Thursday night he went one-for-three in Buffalo and hit a home run and drew two walks. But that is AAA, that is Buffalo. They say that hitting from the right side, it doesn't hurt him as much as hitting from the left side.

I don't know. It's like, will I be able to play the piano? and the guy goes, yeah, and he says, that's great. I was never able to play the piano before. The same thing with whether Santon Dair can help this team in October. I think they may just decide that the four years remaining on his contract, they'll roll the dice because their outfield has not been a problem either defensively or offensively.

And bringing a guy in who hasn't played in that long, I think might not be a good idea, especially when he wasn't hot before. Why should he be hot now? and I think that they will concentrate on pretending that he's getting better and then just invite him back to spring training and give him a job then. Well, I hope he gets a job. He's still making like $80 million or whatever it is the rest of the way.

But look at Kauai. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, that is true. I mean, that tree planning company, they went out of business pretty quickly. Who knows what's going on with Santander with Richard Griffin, Jay's Orioles, tonight. Another gem from Gosman yesterday, you know, post All-Star break, he's been phenomenal. They found a lot of rest for him. You know, he's had a lot of, you know, extra days rest, and he's going deep in games. He, you know, pitched a complete game. That's a unicorn in the sport

these days. It feels like weekly we have this chat, and we've had it with you a bunch. You know, if all things were equal, everyone's healthy, everyone's ready to go, game one of the ALDS tonight, who gets the ball for the Js? Yeah, I think it has been a discussion, and it's been a discussion unique to the Jays because, you know, you've got Tarrick Scoob, you've got every team that has their ace, their acknowledged ace, and the Jays who are just going on the depth of their rotation and the consistency. But you guys know that in a short series, you need more than just depth. You need more than consistency. You need one guy to step it up. And Gossman has done that.

Since the All-Star break, he's got a 2.25 ERA and 10. starts. Remember, he had eight days of rest. He went into the All-Star Braves on fumes his last three starts. And then he pitched on his ninth day. And since then, he's been on fire. He's 68 innings, which is almost seven, which makes him a marathon man in this day and age. Ten starts, 68 innings, 39 hits, 67 strikeouts, and only 11 walks. The guy's been an ace. He's going to be the ace in the playoffs. They need to set it up. And if they get a first round by, it'll be easy to set it up for him to be the game one starter. There's no doubt. And to me, the next two games are going to be either Bieber, Scherzer, or Scherzer's or Beaver. And, you know, Chris Bassett gets a lot of love

from the fan base, but the Js are one and seven in his last eight starts. And they're 19 and 10 overall with Burrios. And Burrios gets not a lot of love. 19 and 10. And so there would be my fourth starter right there. So you go two and three with the veteran guys, the side guys, and then you bring Barrios, and you put Bassett out in the bullpen. Yeah, it's interesting because that, you know, that's kind of an old

school conventional Herm Edwards view. You know, you play to win the game, and when Burrios is on the mound, they win. And when Bassett is, they don't. Yet the stats would indicate Bassett's been better. You know, and I'm not sure, like I think the Js have tried to will

themselves into kind of being dirt bags and I use that as a term of endearment in terms of kind of old school we're playing our gut type 5s. John Snyder's going to step up and say I'm not doing this or I'm doing that. I don't know if they can get to a point where or if they will get to a point where they look at wins and losses as a reason to pitch a guy and I know how insane that sounds 20 years ago you'd be like what are you talking about but you know what I'm getting at Griff it's more about statistics and innings. and velocity and who they're going up against, and I'm not sure how Burrios

can win that battle against Bass. Yeah, well, Burrios was part of John Schneider emerging from his days of analytics dominated managing when he got lifted in that Minnesota playoff game. So I think that

Schneider is past that. Schneider has had enough success at this point to be his own man. And I, you know, Burrios has not, he's had one day where he's been above a 4.00 ERA since May. So I think he gets a lot of hate, not much love, but he has consistently been a mid-rotation guy at three or four.

And we're talking, we're asking him to be a fourth starter. He's got three more years and he's got an opt-out after next year. Can you imagine his decision will be made if he's left off the playoff roster as even a fourth starter, despite the numbers that we're talking? about. I think that it's just logical and the fan feelings be damned in terms of putting him in that rotation for the postseason. Yeah, that's all kind of stuff that has to be considered or they will consider. We know that. Asper Scherzer, he's going tomorrow. You know, it seems like every time out now there's a little flare-up, you know, it's the back, it's the shoulder,

the elbow, you know, he gets through it. Do you think it's more important to keep him on the mound, you know, every fifth day the rest of the way, or do you think it might make sense to give him a break? No, man, you've got to get that engine revved up, Hasey. Griff, go ahead. Go ahead, Griff. Well, we have, we had,

he's already exceeded what we talked about earlier in the season, 14 or 15th starts. This will be a 15th start coming up, and we didn't believe he'd ever get there. But I think that Eric Lauer has been on the sideline. He hasn't even warmed up in games. I think that

They're holding him back to pitch one of the games in the Ray's series and thus give everybody in the rotation that extra day because they've got 13 straight games. Lauer is still useful. The Ray's have a lot of left-handed hitters that he can neutralize. And I think that's the plan is to give Scherzer at least pitching on his sixth day rather than keep wheeling them out there every fifth. Well, it'll be a fun one tonight, fun weekend. The Orioles always play the Jay's tough.

They're certainly in a spoiler position right now. The magic number keeps getting lower, and it lowered yesterday, so the Jays are still in a very good spot. Enjoy the weekend. Griff, we'll do it again soon. Okay, thanks, guys. Anytime. Richard Griffin from griff's the pitch.com.

Yeah, listen, there's, you know, Twitter accounts out there or X accounts out there, tracking the magic number for the Jays, to win the ALEs, to make the playoffs, to finish with the top two seed. Do you know? Yeah, it's just saw it earlier. I was reading it earlier today. 92 wins? Yeah, the magic number drops to 8 to make the playoffs.

The AL East drops to 13. So that's, you know, combined wins by them and losses by, you know, the Yankees or the Red Sox. Right. And as for the magic number for a buy, that would be, you know, win the AL East and top two seat, the American League is 11. So as we've been saying all week, in the driver's seat, Jays are in the driver's seat. Right? Keep winning two out of three, and you're there, man.

You win two out of three this weekend? I'd sign off on that right now. And they've done a good job of that. When they bend a little bit and you're like, oh, God, this is going to be trouble. They respond. They always have. They've been very impressive, man. They're an easy team to root for.

You know, that's credit to them. They've completely flipped things around. All right, Luke coming up at 5 o'clock, and the Packers looking great again last night. Big games in week two of the NFL will catch up with Luke. Deer Hazy Bee coming up. Al's brother coming up as well with our picks. Overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and on TSN4.

All right. Luke Wilson coming up. Al's brother will join us as well. Mailing in Fridays, brought you by Boston Pizza. Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree aside and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. So fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food.

See you for a $15 fast lunch of your local Boston pizza. We were joking yesterday about how this is the time of year where everyone's in the greatest shape ever showing up for hockey camps and everyone's ready to go and everyone's going to have the best season they've ever had. I saw some quotes today from Craig Baroube speaking on Morgan Riley

saying that he doesn't know if he's in the best shape ever, but he thinks he's pretty close and he's ready to go. So Riley's getting the best shape of all-time treatment from his head coach, which is better than coming from himself. You'd expect the player to say, greatest shape ever, when the coach is doing it for you, that's even more significant tire pumping.

Don't you read it as the coach would have said to him, it better be the best shape of your life this season? That's kind of the way it reads, wouldn't you think? I think so. That's the way Craig Barubi is. No nonsense guy. Straight shooter going. When you have your exit meetings, it's like, okay, this is what I need to see.

I've been here a year now. Got a good feeling of what I like from guys and what their strengths, what their weaknesses are. I guarantee you in exit meetings, it's like, we need this from you. And if he didn't have your best year, Jamie, it's like you've got to start with being in the best shape of your life and it all starts there and to give yourself the best chance to have success next season. I'll tell you who is in game shape. I saw some guys last night. One Jonas Siegel, he looked like George Hamilton. Like, I don't know what he's the most tanned I've ever seen.

Oh, yeah, he's been out in California. I don't know what he was doing. I said, you're so tan. He lived out there in the summer? I think his mom lives out there. Yeah, he goes out and sees family. He's got family that's out there. He goes out there for weeks and just.

He's like, yeah, it's on vacation. It's the beach every day. On the sun? I don't know what happened to him, but it was like he looked good though. Jonas Seagot looked really good. Jonas's getting a lot of scoops, right? Like he was the one that he was talking to Barubei and getting answers on how Tavares, you know, coming back, and Barube is excited about that, of course, you know, naturally.

And I believe he is, but of course he's going to say that. What else is he going to say? Yeah. You know, and what they do with the extra. A on the jersey now that Marner's gone, and I think you just, old school professional, I don't know what it was like for the teams you guys played on. Give me a captain and two A's, and that's it. Like, just Tavarison and Riley are the A's, home and away, and that's the way it goes.

It's not a rotation. No, no, it's just like everyone's got to get a trophy. It's so stupid. Like when all those guys came up, they were afraid to say, oh, you're not going to miss out on the A. You're all going to get one. You're going to get one on the road or whatever. two of them all year same thing done that's what it was they switched to like road and home assistance so they could add into so the leadership group so soft okay so unnecessary if you're looking at it then

would willie be pissed he doesn't have a letter who cares you know let's make an 11-5 jake mccabe like you know there there are leaders on that team yeah i don't know i just do you mean every leader's got to say you know what i'm a leader but i don't have a letter on my jersey I got to just move on from it. Not a big deal. I agree. There's lots of leaders I played with that didn't have a letter on their jersey, but when it was about to hit the fan, you look to them and they've stood up.

Like, that's what happened. Right. They got a veteran team. Like Chris Tannav could have one. McCabe, like you said, could have one. You know, Ekman Larson probably could have one. Agreed. There's a lot of different guys.

Scott Lotton's a leader. Like, he's a grizzled veteran. You know, at some point you've got to draw the line. But Morgan Riley, the discussion about him, his defensive play, it struggled last year. That's always been the chatter about him. Like, where is he at defensively? How much can you expect?

Barouba was hammering away at that last year, and it was a bit of a struggle for him. But he shows up in the playoffs, and when he's on his game, he's skating, he's up in the play. And I think they have to allow for that. You know, with Marner gone, maybe he gets back in the power play. Maybe they get away from the five-forward power play and Riley gets in there and gains a little bit of confidence,

but they need him. Like, he's a top four defenseman that's very capable. He's a veteran making pretty good money. He's got to pull his weight. Yeah, when you're making that chunk of change and you've been around that long, you've got to be a solid contributor. But you can't be Hayes. You can't be a guy that people are looking at with a question mark,

like what's he going to bring? It's got to be automatic, number one guy solid every single night because that's what you're paid for. That's what you're paid for. Whatever that number is, he's their number one D-Man. You got to play like it. I think he is going to have a great year based on what you just said. Hayes, like, points, even if it's power play points, it helps with confidence.

Like, keep in mind, that five-man power play really hurt his production from a point standpoint because you get a lot of freebies on there. You quarterback the power play, you move it to the sidewall, and then Austin or Willie makes a great play. And, like, listen, Morgan can quarterback it. So you get, he could get maybe 15 to 20, not freebies, but power play points. can add to his total. I think that translates to a great year.

I think Morgan Riley's going to have a great season. I do. I think he's got to. I mean, listen, he, you know, it's a new dad last year. That's a big transition for everyone's life. You know, like that's not an excuse or anything. And he would never, I don't think, ever suggest that. But it's, you know, these are people we're dealing with.

And you have your personal lives and stuff comes up and whatever. And it's positive stuff. It's not negative stuff. It's just a reality. But I agree with you. I think Riley's still very good. capable and he's a longestanding leaf you know yes austin's at the forefront of a lot of questioning now and tavaris and willie and you got barouba and tree living

morgan riley has been here longer than anybody and he's starving for victories he's starving for success and now his coach is saying go out and show it do it and his teammates will be waiting for him too and i think the fan base will be too uh and i think he's going to have a great year our two coming up luke wilson will join us best bet still to come dear hazy b overdrive continues. TSN 1050 and up on YouTube live. You've been listening to Overdrive, powered by Fanduil. FanDuel, bringing you

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