OverDrive - Romero on cheering for the Jays from LA, Yesavage’s historic game five performance, and why facing the Jays lineup is so tiring

Episode Date: October 30, 2025

Former Blue Jays pitcher Ricky Romero on cheering for the Jays from LA, Trey Yesavage’s historic game five performance, and why facing the Jays lineup is so tiring.

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joining us here on overdrive here's rickie romero what's happening rickie how are you guys doing we're doing well man not much just just enjoying uh this playoff run it's been pretty awesome following the guys and just being around that atmosphere has been really really cool i mean it happened in my backyard so it was even better i can imagine like what's that like being a kid from L.A. Did you grow up a Dodger fan? I did. I grew up a Dodger fan and I mean, I remember nothing but great memories at that stadium

and any time you step into a Dodger Stadium, to me, it's always special because it just brings me back to the moments I've shared with my dad there and stuff like that. And to be able to experience a World Series against the team that I made my debut with

my son wearing a Blue J. A bladdy jersey. All that stuff has been just really, really awesome. And I mean, I've gotten it from family members, from France, from people on social media about turning my back on them and stuff like that. But I think my, at this point, and I've been saying this a lot, at this point, the roots in Toronto are a lot deeper than the roots I had here at Dodger Stadium. I mean, I've never had any ties to that team other than growing up and rooting for them. But, you know, obviously with Toronto, the routes are a little bit deeper, I feel like. Ricky, what did you make of your Savage's performance?

I mean, we were talking about it before you came on. I mean, just one for all time. Is it surprised you, you know, in watching him? What do you make of all of it? It's been an incredible run for him. I mean, I think at this point, he's got more postseason starts than he does regular season starts, which is crazy. And I think at this point, it doesn't surprise me.

I think when you saw him make his first start in the playoffs, you're like, okay. And then the fact that the team, John Schneider and company, were able to give him the ball game six in a do-or-die game against the Seattle Mariners, and he delivered then, just told me everything I needed to know about him.

And last night, honestly, it was one of those games where it felt like every time a hitter stepped up to the plate against, him, he was 02 within like a blink of an eye. It just seemed like he had rhythm. He had confidence. He was jumping ahead with every single pitch. And when you're able to throw three pitches for a strike, it's hard to sit on a pitch or guess on a pitch or anything like that. And just what an unbelievable performance out of him, just an absolute beast on the mound. And happy to have been able to witness that. I mean, 22 years old, didn't even phase them. And you've heard all the

starting staff talk about him how he doesn't carry himself like a young rookie he's carried himself like he belongs there and that's half the battle right there when you know you belong and you know your stuff plays everything else just takes care for itself with rickie romero so as a pitcher you know with all that said you know it's just an unbelievable outing how comforting is it or how much does it bolster your confidence when you step on the mound bottom of the first and your team's already supplied you with two runs It's great. I mean, run support is always great.

I think that's the one thing that, you know, lots of starting pitchers sometimes suffer from, right? I mean, we've seen it with great pitchers, not just with Toronto Blue Jays, but around the league where, you know, they have really good numbers and their win-loss record isn't very good because they don't have enough wrong support

or anything like that. But when your team gets out there and sets the tone, Davis-Divis Shider, first pitch, home-run, two pitches later, bladdy, home-run. I mean, I was there. I was sitting in the stands and you could literally hear a pin drop. Talk about taking the crowd out of the game.

I mean, everyone's standing, first pitch, everyone's cheering, boom, home run, another home run. And everyone just sits down and starts, you can just see it in the stadium. Everyone's looking around like, whoa, that that just really happened. And let's be real. I don't think anybody gave the Toronto Blue Jays a chance to come here and win two out of three. I think the whole goal was to get back to Toronto for a game six. you know kind of similar to the seattle series just get one on the road get back to to our stadium where we feel comfortable playing and and go from there and the fact that they they uh took two

of three here in l a i mean says a lot about this team and you know looking back at it you're just like man like they were so close to maybe sweeping this great team you know and and and i feel like the confidence level has to be very very high i mean you see the guys and we've seen all the interviews, Ernie Clement talking about how, you know, great and tight they are. I mean, everything about it, you just see it, you feel it. When you're watching these guys in the dugout, when you're there at the stadium, you really see how much they really care and love for each other. There's no egos.

Ricky, I think you'd agree that Vlad, he's the head of the snake. What does he look like? It just seems like he's in full control with leadership. And I think back in the day, if you watch the Yankees, you could tell that Derek Jeter was the captain. just didn't call him the captain. He was the first guy to congratulate somebody after they hit a homer, the exceptional plays, the timely hitting.

It seems like Vladdy has just morphed into that guy for the Jay's. What did it look like up close and personal? I mean, he's about as good as it gets. I mean, I don't think it gets any better than that, honestly. And the way he's performing the playoffs, it's almost like he's savoring the moment, and he understands the task at hand. And I think the best part about it is, like you mentioned, just the charisma that he's showing in the dugout, the, you know, the leadership and stuff like that.

I think everything, people feed off of him. And it's like he's the head guy, the face of the franchise. And then he's got everyone else pulling on the same side of the rope and all for one goal. And obviously that's to win a World Series. But even you watch him the way he's handled the interviews and all that stuff, what it would mean to him. We've seen him get emotional, you know, when they want to make it, made it to the World Series. I can just imagine, you know, they're 27 outs. And if he captures that ring, what it would do to him.

I mean, just an absolute superstar on and off the field. Every interaction I've always had with him, it's like he doesn't treat anybody any different. Just the nicest person you'll ever meet. And I'm really, really happy for him. And glad that he's been able to lead this team. And, you know, for a long time, I think Toronto, the country of. Canada has seen Vladdy, but I think everyone in North America is catching a glimpse of him right now and rightfully so.

Yeah, his stats are off the charts. I was looking at a stat earlier. Minimum 60 played appearances in the playoffs, only Barry Bonds has a higher OPS. I think Bonds back in 2002 or maybe in 04. His OPS is almost 1,400 in the playoffs, and they're through five games of the World Series. It's crazy. And you consider the fact that George Springer went out. early in game four.

And, you know, they had that heartbreak in game three where it goes 18 innings and Freddie Freeman walks them off. And then George leaves the game early the next night. Like there were ample opportunities for maybe the Jays to feel deflated. How surprised, how much credit do you give them, that they didn't allow game three or Springer's injury to drag them down, if anything, it catapulted them into an even larger life and better play and seemingly more confidence.

Yeah, I'm not surprised at all, simply because I feel like it's been next man up all season long. I mean, if you look at the whole season, you've seen that there's been a different hero on any given night. You know, yes, Vladie is the head of the snake. Yes, he is the head of the franchise. But, you know, it hasn't been always just him. It's been everyone else doing their part.

And I always, I've been saying this all along. The Toronto Blue Jays are led by Bladdy, but it's the role players that have done a tremendous job that have stepped in and done and taken care of their part. I'm talking about Ernie Clement, Addison Barger, Nathan Lucas. Even Alta, I mean, he's been so underrated. I feel like nobody really talks about him. But his defensive work at second base has been tremendous.

And then you throw on Andres Jimenez, too. I mean, everyone I feel like just has played a part in, And in this, on this team, and it just, it's showing, you know, it's not just being carried by one guy. I mean, and we got to give credit to Bo Bichet, too. I mean, when you think about him, he's a pro's pro at the plate. Just watching his at-bats, his takes, the way he swings. I mean, I've been so impressed because when you think about Bo and him being hurt and out that long, he is essentially doing his rehab assignment in the World Series right now.

Like usually it takes like three, four weeks to build up, get back to nine innings and all that. He literally, boom, got tossed into the fire. And it's just like his at bat's just been so good. I knew once he was back in that lineup, it was going to create something different for Flattie and Alejandro Kirk. And they were going to be able to, you know, if you're not pitching to Vladia, you've got to pitch the bow and vice versa. So I think it's just everyone has just done their part. And George going down, it was a big loss. But I don't think this team, they just probably looked at each time and said,

okay, who's the next man up? Let's go. And I feel like that's been the theme of this team all season long. Ricky, how complex would the mental game or the adjustment game be versus Yamamoto again? He went nine. He was almost unhittable. Is he thinking, I'm going to be one step ahead of what these guys think of what's going to be their adjustment or how do you what's the approach from the pitcher standpoint and what

you think the hitters are going to try to do and what yamamoto is going to do to counter or does he he do nothing and just do the same thing i think it's going to be their toughest challenge yet obviously we've seen what yamamoto did against him uh game two and we saw what yamamoto did against the brewers right i mean he's carrying such a hot streak right now um and i think the mindset it has to be all right what is the type of adjustments that we have to make against him and can we get him on an off day can we punish his mistakes because at time you know no pitcher no starting pitcher is perfect nobody's pinpointing every single pitch so it's it's a matter of blue jays hitters taking advantage of that one mistake that he does make i mean we saw

for example last night with blake snow i mean he left one fastball up to vladdie the first pitch is a get like that's you throw you throw that one in your backpack pocket and you say, all right, you tip your hat. He ambushed me. He got me. But Vladie's basketball was up and in and Vladie just beat him. And I think it's just punishing those mistakes. And having that mindset that, okay, he is human. I mean, a lot of people didn't think the Blue Jays had a chance against Shohei Otani and they made him work. And I think if it's one thing that this Blue Jay lineup has is that they make you work for every single out. There's such, just watching them last night, it's like exhausting because you're just like, man,

you have them with two strikes, they foul pitch off. They follow another pitch off. And the next thing you know, you're seven, eight pitches deep. You look up at the scoreboard, you're at 80 pitches through four innings, and you're like, whoa, okay. So they know how to work the count. And, you know, Yamamoto is going to be the type of guy that's going to throw strikes. He's going to be in the zone.

But the question is, can they punish his mistakes? Well, we'll find out tomorrow night. Everyone can relax a little bit for at least a day, right? Everyone can breathe today. And then tomorrow we gear back up. Ricky, it's an honor to have you on, man. Great pleasure. We really appreciate you doing this. Enjoy game six tomorrow night. Thank you.

Thank you very much. There he is. Ricky Romero, joining us from L.A. grew up a doctor's fan. I thought he was a great interview. Awesome guy. Yeah, awesome guy. And he knows it, man. Unmistakably Canadian.

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