Episode 32 - World Series bound, Recapping the ALCS, Bichette's position

The Blue Jays are in the World series for the first time in 32 years! We talked about Game 7 and how historic the game was, recapping the ALCS and breaking it down game by game, players that were big factors in the ALCS, ranking game 7 in Blue Jays playoff history , previewing the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Bo Bichette finally being back and where he plays, and many more!

Episode Transcript

(00:30):
Welcome to another edition of the Blue Jays Ave. podcast.
The Blue Jays are World Series bound for the first time in 32
years. The last time the Blue Jays made
it to the World Series, they wonthe World Series back then, and
that was the Joe Carter home runthey hit.
And so much we have to unravel here.

(00:52):
And Rob, what are your thoughts about the Blue Jays being in the
World Series for the first time in 32 years?
It's exciting. It's it's, you know, that that
game, watching that game the other day and you know, and you
could just start to feel it as the game went on.

(01:13):
And you're just the nervousness of of like is, are these are
they gonna get it done? Are they gonna get it done?
And then that ending happened when you had the runners on on
the corners and George Springer up and, and, and they brought in
the picture and it was, I think it was Bazardo and, and you just

(01:36):
thought it, it has to happen nowor it's not gonna happen, right.
So, and then George comes up andhits that monster home run and
it's just like you could feel like all of Canada explode, man,
Like it was just like every household in the country just
cheering their way. And you know, and those final

(01:57):
six outs were just complete stress.
So, you know, and then Bassett comes in, does a great job and,
and Hoffman finishes off the rest.
So I, I feel fantastic, man. There's there's you know, it's,
it's such a great fucking season, man.
It's such a great fucking season.
Like there's no other way to putit.

(02:18):
Before we recap on the LCS, I want to talk about Game 7, just
the biggest game in the city of Toronto since 1993.
And I want to ask you, what was your thought process of watching
that whole game itself? Where we where we, where we

(02:39):
thoughts about where the Jays were at for the first few
innings and when the game turnedupside down?
And where were you when you saw the whole thing went down?
Well, First off, it was one of the nerve, most nerve wracking

(02:59):
games that as a fan that I couldsay I've watched because right
from beginning to end it was, itwas just, you know, it was just
very tense. You know, Shane Beaver was
pretty good, you know? Yeah, he he kind of battled this

(03:19):
command and he didn't have the best stuff and he knew it.
And then, you know, they went up, they had that 3-1 lead and
you're sitting there and you're nervous.
And, and like I said, just as, yeah, every inning went by, man,
it was just more nerves, more nerves.
Like it was just more tense more, you know, with every

(03:40):
pitch, every, every out. So everything was so magnified
in that game, everything. And then, like I said, George
hit that home run. Like I was sitting here, you
know, watching the game and, andI think I messaged you on the
phone. I'm like, I'm like, Ohi, at

(04:01):
first I just jumped out of my seat, man.
My, my, my nephew comes into my room and you know, it's just
like you hit that home run it. We just shocked man couldn't
believe it, man, start high fiving.
I messaged you and you're like no way.
And it was like, you know, just,it was like you could tell you,

(04:22):
you could finally feel like at that point that this might be
happening, man, this might be happening.
And then, you know, and then they, like I said, they go to, I
think it was Chris Bassett. And then when she was fantastic,
he, he, he went through his three batters like nothing.
I think it was just bam, bam, bam, right. 3 outs, then, then

(04:47):
now, now, now that final leading.
I'm gonna tell you that final leaning man when he was facing
Julio and he went, I think he went.
I think it was a three one count.
And um, that was probably the most nervous setback.
I think one of the most nervous ebats I think because I did not
want him to get on base and haveto see Cal rally that would have

(05:10):
that could have been bad man. So it was nice for him that
battle back that 31 count get that final out bad.
But what about you? Where were you man?
How did how did the whole thing play out for you?
Does the whole game went the wayI watched things.
It was the most nerve wracking game probably in my adulthood.

(05:32):
I mean we could talk about 9293 later about this, but this was
probably the most biggest game I've watched as a Blue Jays fan
in the last. Like I mean I can't even compare
1560. This goes even monumental in

(05:52):
that whole process. So with that being said, it's
there. It's like top three-game, top
through top three games the last32 years.
I mean, you could put the Joe Carter 1, you could put that,
but we were really young. But like in my little this, this
tops 15 and 16 by miles. So the way I looked at that

(06:12):
game. I I thought, you know, ending by
inning. I know it was not gonna be an
easy game because both teams aregoing through.
Do or die. Winner takes all when it goes
home. One team was gonna be
devastated. One team was gonna be jumping
jump for joy. And the way that game was

(06:34):
unraveled, Shane Bieber didn't have his best stuff that game
and and the umpire the whole thewhole Empire series, My
goodness, what would we get intothat later?
But it was bad. And and and The thing is, you
look at you look at the way thatgame was gone.
And Shane Bieber was very fortunate to have that kind of.

(06:55):
Score and. We knew that, you know,
everything was on the line, likeall hands are on deck and.
I knew that when the game was tied, I was like, oh, are you
going any by ending? But when Julio hit that home run
that that worried me a bit because yeah, it's a one run

(07:17):
game, but there's no margin for error, right?
And he used violin and then and then I believe next inning when
Barling came call, Riley hit a home run.
I was like, OHP, this is not looking good right now.
This is looking tough. And, you know, I didn't say the
game was over by any means, but it was like we just climbed

(07:40):
itself into a hole, not a big hole, but like in that process.
So just going in and invite inning, you know, and give
credit to John Schneider, the fact that he started using guys
that he needed to, he didn't go with the guys they used during
the season. And this is all hands on deck

(08:00):
once again. And he used Gausman in that
process and he was he, I mean hewas a little bit erratic.
Sorrenti demanding Dominguez wasgreat and and he stepped up big
too. And Josh Snyder didn't mess
around after that. And, you know, give credit to
him. But I was, I was, I was watching

(08:22):
this whole game. And like I said, we were texting
each other watching this game and I was getting floodgates of
messages and. Once that 7th inning hit and I
said to myself, OK, there's a rally going on with this game
and the whole process going on. Runners, the first two hitters
and Brian, who's pitching in this game.

(08:43):
And I said to myself, are they gonna pull up?
They're probably gonna pull them.
Maybe they could have used Monosin that situation.
They could have used a Price Miller in that situation.
Could have used anybody else. But they went with Bazardo, and
you know, Bazardo's been good for them.
And he did. He did OK.
You give up the hits here and there.
But in that moment, I think thatGeorge Springer was up to bat

(09:05):
and I was like, I felt something.
I felt he's gonna do something like he's gonna hit a double
maybe, maybe a single to tie thegame, but a three run shot?
Oh my God, I would never have thought in that process I was

(09:26):
screaming through the roof. Maybe the roof well flew up
while I was. Screaming while I was having I
was getting complained to my. House and.
I did too. I got a couple.
Of those, yeah. And I was like, there, there
there is something special aboutthis team this year and we'll

(09:47):
get into all that. But overall it's like just get
it done, get it done. Like OK, it keep it became
Seattle had 9 outs to finish thegame to the point where the Blue
Jays only had six out to finish this game.
And boy, that was a turn of events.

(10:07):
And Bassett? Bassett was.
Huge he was. Clutch.
But I'll, I'll, I'm gonna give ashout out to Jeff Hoffman, too.
Those two games he pitches. Goodness gracious man.
He he climbed it out and he got it done.
That is something special that the Jays did.

(10:27):
And this is something and look, we'll remember this game for
like we could talk about the 16 wild card game.
We could talk about the 15. The 15 bat flip and we could
talk. I mean there was moments in the
ALCS and games in 15 and 60. Well, 15 more than 16, but not

(10:48):
this one topped it. All, Yeah.
No this. But that.
Moment, This is a top. I mean it.
It's compared to now. Well, there's only Joe Carter's
home run in this that up to thispoint, man.
Well, I'll put those up there. So we'll get there, yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But if there's anything, if

(11:09):
there's any other thing in this World Series that you know, that
can top it, then that's one thing.
But but right now I I got Carterone and and Springer two man.
Yeah, I think that that's the play probably.
But I mean, now this team can becompared to the 92 and 93 team,
and we're gonna get to that. But let's recap the ALCS here.

(11:31):
So let's talk a bit about GeorgeSpringer here.
And you know, the first, the first pitch Bryce Miller threw
to George Springer, he hit a home run off a home run.
I was at the game. And I think that's the first
time he's ever done that. And I think it's the first time
in Jay's history a batter has hit a lead off home run in the
first game of the series. And talk to me about how that

(11:55):
whole series went down for you, because we know that George
Springer hit the home run, but they didn't really score much
the first two games. But talk to me about the the
beginnings when they played the first two games at home.
Well, we didn't really play wellat home those first two games.

(12:16):
You'd mentioned you were at the the first one there when George
at that lead off home run. We couldn't hit nothing after
that. So it was just like he hit that
one run and then they they just the bats just went silent, man.
And and then and then in game two, it was more the more the
same thing really. The bats just went cold man.

(12:39):
And, you know, and it was just, it's one of them things where
it's like it started to almost get, I wonder if it was getting
in their heads a little bit. They're starting to get starting
to get in the heads. The fans thinking is this gonna
happen again where the bats go cold pitching?
You know, it does its job and wedon't we don't get to where we

(13:04):
want to go because the bats wentsilent kind of like what the in
the Brewers Dodgers series when their bats went cold man, you
know, like if you don't hit, people could say pitching is a
good pitching beats good offenceany day.
So in the end, it's it goes the other way too, man.

(13:26):
If you don't hit the ball, man, you don't find a way to hit,
you're not gonna win baseball games.
So that's how I, that's how those two games went.
Man, it that was really nervous going into Seattle and we won
that first one and then we tied it up and won the second game
and we'll we'll get to that after, but but what were your

(13:48):
thoughts after the first two games that we played at home?
Are often stunk and they couldn't figure out certain ways
in certain situation when they need to.
But Bryce Miller was the best picture I think in that rotation
throughout the whole process, right.

(14:08):
So he he was, he was nails for them.
Yeah, he showed up the the BryceMiller of last year and and the
office just couldn't get wet. There was moment they got their
timely hitting, but it was like they were unlucky in those
moments. So and for them, it's like for
Seattle, they had couple momentsthere too.

(14:29):
And Brendan Little, we're gonna get to all that when we we talk
about Game 5, but he wasn't all that good in this series and and
he was a bit shaky. I don't know.
He's been overused. He was been mentally drained.
Like I didn't I didn't know, butI mean there I mean in the first
game was a low scoring game could have had the opportunity,

(14:51):
but Seattle used her their best bullpen and that time and they
were both hands been good lightsout throughout the year.
Second year it just unraveled altogether.
It just couldn't put it to the together at all, right?
And I thought, you know, when they tied the game, I was like
10 and then I was like, OK, let's see what happens.

(15:14):
But Louis Barling, man, he's been an animal in a in a
different way because he gives up the home runs, but he makes
up from giving up those home runs because he gives up those
occasional 3 run shots. Like from time to time.
He did that with Aaron Judge last series and he did it again
with the Polanco. It's just awkward how that

(15:35):
works. And I don't know if it has to do
with the way he pitched the ballor the way the timely hitting
was. I don't know, but Polanco was
were the thorn to them the firsttwo games.
But yeah, it they just couldn't figure it out and they just let
it go. And I was very worried about
this here, thinking that how do you how do you climb out of it?

(15:57):
You're going to Seattle. And looking at your down to
nothing and I just don't know where to where to go from there.
But, and in the end, they're like at this point, and credit
to John China for this same process as you do every game,

(16:20):
just continue to stick to your play, continue to stick to where
you at and continue to go with the flow and more importantly.
You go from there and, you know,take it one game now and you
have to see if you can try to get a couple games in Seattle.
And now that they're down to nothing, now you go to Seattle

(16:43):
and Shane Bieber is now pitchingfor game three.
And what were your thoughts in the very beginning?
And we'll get to the whole wholegame to that.
Hello. What were your thoughts about
Bieber giving that two run shot to Julio Rodriguez?

(17:04):
He will give up home runs, I mean every once in a while.
So to me, I, I think, I think when Shane Bieber does
something, he, he, he's, he's a veteran pitcher man.
So he he puts it like he doesn'tlet it let it snowball.

(17:26):
He doesn't let it bother him. He just, you know, if he gives
up a home run, he usually bounces back.
Even if he doesn't have the beststuff and he's fighting command
issues like yo, he'll still finda way to grind it out and still
give you a decent start at the end of the day.
So to me it was OK. I mean, I was OK with with with

(17:49):
him giving up that because he bounced back.
You know, they ended up winning that game.
So, you know, I, I think in the end, Shane Bieber did his job
and, and, and they got it through that game.
So to me, like I said, I don't, I don't have a problem with him
giving up home runs. It seems like he has an issue
with with Julio and that's why they didn't want him to face

(18:12):
them a third time in game seven,Game 7 because because Julio
seems to have kind of have his number or have him figured out
it's on some level. So now I was OK with it.
You know it usually bounces back.
So I look at it this way, we yeah.

(18:34):
So at first I was like, what is going on?
See, I don't just keeps attacking in it's like, OK, it's
only two nothing and my mind says I've I think Shane Bieber,
but it's going to bounce from that.
And man, he carved up in a big way possible and looking at the

(18:59):
way that game was gone and he hethere was a report out there
saying that that chain Bieber told if he can back me up a
little bit and get some runs. I got my stuff is really good
today and and and the Jays responded after that and looking

(19:19):
at that, looking at the way the series was gone, the Jays
offence finally woke up for onceand just looking at the way that
that gave was going after the second inning, they started
scoring five runs and and it finally woke up for once him
Inez, him Inez tied the game with the two Russian.

(19:41):
Yeah. That Nathan Lucas score and then
Don Varsho gets a double to get a three run double or there two
run double. And man that that office just
woke out of nowhere. I was like it was about damn
time because they couldn't scoreany runs at at the Rogers
Centre. But once they came to Seattle I
was like, yeah, they found a newway and I was like let's go.

(20:04):
And they got it going and that was a much needed win.
So. I still do it back in the series
now, so talk about game four. Thinking.
John Shiner said that Max Scherzer hasn't pitched in
weeks. But physically, he felt good in
a while all year and knowing John Schreiner and these guys

(20:26):
are going through this all year long, he felt like Max Max's
stuff was really good. It was good since probably the
middle of the summer and. What were your thoughts about
Max being the starting pitcher and going through his stuff and
and knowing that he has the opportunity to to try to tie

(20:48):
this series? Well, when it was first
announced that he was the starting pitcher, there's a
little, little nervous to, to because you didn't really, you
know, because he hadn't pitched in a while like you'd mentioned
and he he's struggled when he did.

(21:09):
So it's been a while since we really saw good back Scherzer,
you know so. But bad man, did he prove a lot
of us wrong. Man, he was fantastic in that
game. That was one of the gutsiest
starts that I've seen for a picture in a while, in a long

(21:33):
time. Like he came out and he was just
shoving and he looked like vintage Max Scherzer and and
Josh Snyder comes out to pull him and he says no, I got this.
Like, like, get the hell out of here, you know, like, he's OK,
OK, Trust that. He loved Fish Out and Max

(21:55):
Scherzer gave him one of the best that he was worth the $15
million we gave him just on thatone start alone, man.
Like that was worth every every penny so.
You know Max shares. Approved us a lot.
Approved, approved, approved. Anyone that had any doubts about
it, start that day wrong man. Which was probably all of us.

(22:18):
So it was great man. It was great to see.
So like I said, whatever this front office and this management
does, it seems to go well for them with the way they go
through the process, their injuries to the factors of
knowing the physicality and the eye test and the way things have

(22:38):
got. I mean, mashers are look like
vintage mashers or the Mad Max came back and and, and the old
fashioned way. And it's important like guys
like that are not around in today's baseball, not like it
used to be. Max has a pedigree for winning
and this is what they brought him for experiences like this

(22:59):
going all in and. You know, becoming a.
Factor and he did become a big factor, probably one of the
biggest factors all all all season long, right?
And look, we could talk about the injuries and stuff, but he
did what he had to do and he's not the same.
Pitcher like he was a few years ago.

(23:20):
And he does do strike out from time to time.
The stuff is there when it's what it's there.
But more importantly, you look at the way he pitched it was a
huge factor, probably the most important game in the series.
In my opinion because. The way he pitched not only save
the bullpen. It just it.

(23:42):
Just helped out the whole situation because.
The rotation has been great overall in this series for the J
throughout the most part. Maybe, maybe a blip with Ricky
Savage, but beyond that he was phenomenal.
And and and you don't want. To be down. 3-1 in that process
because being down 31, the likelihood of coming back is is

(24:06):
you know. It's it's it's.
It's a tall order and it's a lottougher.
It's a grind and. And.
You know, looking at that game, the George Stringer continues to
hit. I mean, Vlad hit hit a whole
vlads been hitting right. He woke up offensively at that

(24:27):
time. And you know what's important,
and I'll say this, when Vlad goes, this team goes, if we
notice the way he plays. He plays and.
He's so important to this franchise, right?
So and and his offence woke up and he was like 711-7411 in the
in the in Seattle, which is insane to think like that's how

(24:49):
important of a player he is. So with that being said.
It was a pivotal. Win for them and they got it
done and now the series is tied.Now let's talk about Game 5 here
and. You know that was the.
Most. Unusual.
Game I've seen in a very long time and looking at the game I

(25:13):
know that I mean it happened andit could have serious could have
been done but. Looking at the score.
Looking the way that it was all pitching matchup and let me ask
you this before we get to the Brandon little stuff.
Were you surprised that they pulled Bryce Miller in the 5th
inning? And I know it was bases loaded,
no outs, but did you thought that Miller should have still

(25:38):
pitched that game even though itwas like a very close, tight
knit game? I think it was 11, right?
So. Yeah.
I'd probably, I'd do I Bryce Miller, we couldn't hit him,
man. So I mean, he was great man.
I thought he was. I thought he was one of the best
pitchers that they had. Against us.

(26:00):
So I I understand, I understand why they did though, because you
know, being the magnitude of theplayoffs and the situations and,
and, and I, I forget who was up when, when, when they pull them,
but. But in those.
Situations sometimes you gotta you gotta make the I mean they I

(26:25):
mean they ended up winning the game.
So, you know, in the end, I mean, it was 21, so they didn't,
you know, it's not like it's notlike who came in for for Miller
again, I forget. I think it was was.
It was it Bazardo, I think, or it might have been.
Bizarre. I could be wrong.

(26:45):
Whoever. Came in for him.
Didn't really give up anything so I mean.
So it's yeah. Map Rash.
It was map rush. It was map brash.
OK, map rack whoever, you know what I mean like so the move
worked. So it's not like you can really
well George bringing. Out, George.
Ringer. Well, well, the one.

(27:07):
Part about that it was remember that, remember that fluky double
double play that happened, yes. Yeah, yeah, now the.
Ernie Clement, that's all. That's like once in a million.
You ever see stuff like that, right?
You just don't see things baseball in that landscape
whatsoever. But.

(27:27):
Yeah, like. So talk talk about when Brian
Woo made his first appearance during during the playoffs and
talk about, you know, Ernie Clement getting timely hitting
after timely hitting. And we need to talk a lot about
earning Clementine as a shout out to Ernie Clement, by the
way. But talk about talk about the

(27:47):
the whole process and then get get to the little situation
thinking that why would they usea little?
Or any claim that was. Fantastic, but hubby hubby hits
has he had in the playoffs like 18 killing the ball 18 hits like
that's that's that's pretty wild.
He's he's had a great playoff shutout to Nathan Lucas too,

(28:10):
man, he's been fantastic. You know, he's hitting the they
going into game seven. He was hitting 343.
So I mean he's a guy who's you know, he's grinding.
You can, you know, the thing with Nathan Lucas is surprised
me the most. And even Ernie Clement, well,
well, more so Nathan Lucas because he spent most of his

(28:32):
career in the minors, but he's like an older guy, but he's
hasn't played a lot of Major League time.
But he comes up in moments like this, steady as a rock, like
there like there's no, he doesn't get too high.
He doesn't get too low. He's just he, he, he's a veteran

(28:53):
without being a Major League veteran, you know what I mean?
Like he has that veteran, the presence of a veteran major
leaguer, even though he doesn't have a veteran Major League time
per se, you know, so just just impressive, man.
The guys that you know, those, those guys and how, how they've
come up so big and you know, and, and, and Cleveland made a

(29:16):
mistake getting away, given awayor let letting go of Ernie
Clement when they had him because that dudes that dudes a
baseball player, man, There's he's just awesome.
Getting to that. Brandon, but get to render a
little little. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah. Let's get to that.

(29:36):
You know, sometimes I get managers jobs hard, you know,
But sometimes you gotta look at the grandest of the situation
and the grand scale of things. And this guy hasn't really
pitched great for a while. And I get it.

(29:56):
The guy was overused. Like he was used way too much
this season and it just kept continuing into the playoffs
because John Schneider trusts them.
And I get that. OK, He trusts them, that's fine.
But in that situation, the nightbefore, the night before, same
three guys up to plate, you know, I think it was Hulio.

(30:20):
Cal and Polanco, I believe, werethe three guys and they bring in
Jeff Hoffman, OK. Why would you bring in?
Brendan Little in that situation, Judge Snyder says to
give them another look. OK, give him another look, then
bring him to Minguez. Why does it gotta be Brendan

(30:42):
Little, a guy who's struggled sooften?
You wanna give him a different look?
You bring a hint. But it really it should have
been Jeff Hoffman. If you ask me.
I don't care about this other look stuff.
You gotta go with your best picture.
You cannot leave him sitting in the bullpen in that scenario.
You just can't do it, man. I didn't like it.

(31:02):
I don't know if there's many fans out there that did like
that move. I mean, it didn't work.
It was backfire, you know, and I'm I'm sure nobody feels as bad
as you know, that day that that Brendan Little but and I feel
better still feel bad for the guy.
It might cost him a chance to pitch in the World Series, man,

(31:24):
but I mean. You should have.
Never been put in that situation.
Man, I don't even put that on Brandon Little.
I put that on John Schneider theother day.
What are your thoughts SO? When I saw Brady Little coming
out of the pen before the commercial break, I was like
what are you doing here? And I get it, you're trying to

(31:45):
be too cute about the process that you can't be doing stuff
like this, especially in a crucial situation.
You had the lead and it was a low scoring game and Seattle had
an issue scoring runs till the 8th inning and in my mind I was
like we're going to. Blow this.
Game. Because like I said, his stuff
was. Not as good.

(32:07):
Like like it. Was earlier in the season and he
was so overused and he's been a big part of this bullpen this
year and I don't know where the Jays would be without him to be
honest. So but something he's gonna
adjust later on in the off season next year.
But I mean. There wasn't anybody.
Else that you could have used like I get fluid to use the game

(32:30):
before. Wasn't Brayden Fisher available?
I mean, Sarante Dominguez shouldhave been started rather than
rushed, and that's a lot to do with John Shiner.
And you have Hoffman could have pitched and you do Cowboy
showing Jeff Hoffman. But you know what?

(32:51):
This series. It wasn't.
It wasn't do or die at that moment.
And I look, everything unraveledand the Jazz ended up losing the
game. And at the end it was like, OK,
now they have to. They have their backs against
their wall, season on the line, been through the moment and now

(33:12):
they have to go to game six. They travel back to Toronto.
That's important because they get the home field, which I
think is so important. And I've been telling people
this home field advantage is such a key element for this Jazz
team, especially this year because they led the league in
wins at home. So that's important and also the
fact that. Now that.

(33:34):
You're going into Game 6, all hands are on deck and you got
the Phenom tray, your Savage, and he was a little bit rattled,
but he was OK. He settled in, but he did stuff.
Wasn't there, but. It's what kind of trait?
You savage, you're getting, are you getting?
It's saying that he the the performance he had against the

(33:56):
Yankees are you getting? A better tree.
Savage or you're getting the same tree.
Savage. The way you pitch it gave too
and man, try to have a shoved what a player, what a story
picture a revelation for a player like him and.
You. You just.

(34:16):
Don't see players like that probably in our lifetimes like
drafted last year, started in a ball to begin this season and
now he's going to pitch in the World Series like but pitcher
Gabe six with the season on the line just tells you everything.
What kind of picture are you gonna be in this career?
Special, special stuff. 7 strikeouts.

(34:37):
I think you only gave up a run and that was a home run to Josh,
Josh Naylor. But beyond that, I mean, he came
through in a big way possible because let's just say if the
Jays were down. Where could you have got?
Because are you pulling? Are you pulling him if you're

(34:57):
struggling? Are you pulling?
Gosman are you pulling Bassett like all hands are on deck
because our our backs are against the wall.
But he came through in so many ways possible.
The Jays offence, like they did all year, did the ends and outs
a little nitty gritty grind big.The big guy.

(35:18):
Stepping up, of course. Flat hitting a home run once
again and he's caught. Caught fire and yes.
And you know George is. Struggling a little bit because
Brock court Brian who hit him onthe knee and we're gonna get to
that when we get we we're gonna get to that but.

(35:38):
Looking at that game. It was so important for that
game, for the Jays and. And he's showing.
The bullpen immediately he learned from his mistakes.
Louie Barland picture winning inthe third.
Jeff Hoffman pitched 2 innings and he was well rested and he
came through in such a big way. Possible at the pitcher came

(36:00):
through in so many ways and theysaved the bullpen and now the
series is tied and all hands areon deck and in your mind.
Game 7 and we already talked about it.
But we could, we could, we couldrecap on this.
What was on your mind? Heading into that day, like, I
cancelled all my appointments, Icancelled everything that day.

(36:20):
I I didn't go anywhere. Nowhere.
No, Nope, Nope. What was in your mind about Game
7? Two of the biggest words in
sports. Um, yeah, it didn't.
I don't think I had. Many think many, I don't think I
had any appointments going on that day either.

(36:41):
It was to me, it was, it was, itwas all about that game and it
was nervousness right up until first pitch and then it then it
got real, you know, so and it was just yeah, I was nervous.
I'm not going to lie, man, I wasI was feeling it.
I'm, you know, I would give him my thoughts on both during the

(37:04):
game. But before game, yeah, no, I was
definitely feeling nervous. Yeah, I mean, I just when I woke
up that that same morning in Game 7.
As a Blue Jays. Fan Lifelong Blue Jays fan.
I can't recall a situation like this ever because.

(37:27):
Well, when I was. A kid, but we were too young to
understand. We were still fans at the end of
the day, but in our adulthood, in our livelihoods, being
Jerry's friends for almost 40 years.
It. Was like, oh man, I didn't know
what to do. I was talking to a couple people
that day, didn't want to talk much that day.

(37:49):
And people understood where I was coming from.
And I was like, hey, this seriesis going down the wire.
All hands are a deck on both teams now all of a sudden and
and now looking at. This you say to yourself, who is
What is Jay Bieber gonna be? What is George Kirby gonna be?

(38:11):
Because George Kirby has pitchedpoorly against the Jades
throughout the most part this year and Jane Bieber had a
really good outing on on that ongame three and you're going to
Game 7 now and. Looking at that.
Game and I'll tell you this. One of the biggest?

(38:32):
Games as a Jays fan fan in my lifetime, right?
And Rob, let me ask you this, since we already talked about
Game 7 and. Where would you rank?
Game 7 as a Jays fan in your life?
My life like are we including like the World Series if when we

(38:54):
were in the 90s? Yeah, where?
Like where would you work? I I put his top five.
It's definitely maybe top five, yeah.
It's pretty to. Me, it's probably.
Umm, it's probably like. Top three, yeah, I'd say yeah.
Only because we could talk about92 when Dave Winfield got the go

(39:19):
ahead hit, that game went tied. The Jays had to, but their backs
were against the walls. They were already up in that
game. So there there were advantage
and then in 93 there were down and I think they were down and
the Jays came back and won. So this probably goes as.

(39:40):
The third. Most monumental game in my
lifetime I would say Because if you want to go even further 91
they couldn't beat Minnesota by any means.
They couldn't beat they couldn'tbe Oakland.
I mean those Oakland teams were so tough.
They were champions that year aswell so and you couldn't and
they couldn't beat the Royals were also world champions that

(40:03):
year. So this goes out its top three
to top five most top games ever and.
Now that this team is officiallyin the World Series for the
first time in over 3 decades. Let's let's.
Talk about the preview of who they're gonna face in They are
the reigning champions and they are the Los Angeles Dodgers

(40:26):
that. Talk about the.
Matchups talk about the preview talk about how.
This this series. Is gonna go and we don't have to
do all the previews, it's prediction stuff, but just talk
about the matchups and you know what's gonna be the advantage
and what's gonna be the disadvantage.

(40:50):
Going into the world. Series.
Yeah, against the. Dodgers, Yeah.
I think the. I think the biggest advantage
that we got is our is gonna be, they're not all, it's a, it's
our offence, but it's the way way our offence is built.
It's that this, this offence can, can, can win games in

(41:14):
multiple ways. It doesn't have to be, They can
either hit the long ball. They can, you know, play small
ball. They can, they put the ball in
play. They don't strike out a lot.
They struck out the least in baseball as a team, I believe.
So it's gonna be the matchup that it's gonna be the Blue Jays

(41:35):
batters against the the dodging Dodgers pitching.
That's gonna be the main matchupfor me if you're talking about
the matchup from that standpoint, but.
The the. We talked about concerns too.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the. Biggest concern I have is is

(41:58):
probably Freddie Freeman for me.I, I think we saw what he did
last year in the World Series and playing in his home country
of Canada is going to probably be special for him too.
So it's it's going to be something that's going to be,
you know, it's, you know, there's so much ties to the Blue

(42:21):
Jays and the Dodgers. If you think like you think
about two years ago, there were rumors, you know, they, they the
whole tawny thing. And then they didn't get Ohtani.
And then next thing you know, two years later, they're in the
World Series and they didn't, you know, like who needs Otani,
right? And then you look at the whole
Freddie Freeman, you know that there were rumors that the Blue

(42:43):
Jays were were interested in in going out and trying to get
Freddie Freeman when he was a free agent.
So you look at all these all these things and it's just it's
going to make for good, good TV.It's going to make for a good
World Series. I think it's going to be a good
one, man. So.

(43:05):
Look here just. Series.
I think this is probably the most important thing at all is
that the Blue Jays have home field throughout this World
Series, so they're getting home field throughout the LDS LCS and
now the World Series and. They haven't played in the.
World Series at home and. Not too good.

(43:27):
Since 93 so. Looking into the.
Dodgers, they're the rating champions.
With all due respect, they go outside Blake Snell in the
offseason and you know what? Somebody said this.
I think it was David. Sampson, he was saying that.
You know they say the. Dodgers are injured.

(43:48):
These pitchers get injured the first two months.
Of the season. Or whoever, how long they're out
for and somebody insists or David Sampson says that.
It could be load. Management and if it's true that
the Dodgers are doing load management of this pitchers,

(44:10):
that to me is a problem in baseball and they got it look
into this because it's unfair for other teams to do what
they're doing because I know with the Dodgers they're all
about velocity and can spin rate.
That's what they're known for and.
The Jays have. Been great pitching all year

(44:30):
long. So they're gonna face Otani,
Yamamoto, Glasnow and Snow in the rotation.
So it's great. Sure, but I mean, the Jays have
faced great pitching all year along.
And that's what that's what makes this team be World Series
bound, right? You look at the way overall, I
do think Seattle had the best overall pitching staff in

(44:50):
baseball, including the bullpen.But I do think the Dodgers, I
mean, the Dodgers pitching has stepped up, but look at the
teams they faced. They avoided Zach Wheeler who
was hurt and they avoided Brandon Woodruff who's hurt.
So and both lineups haven't beengood.
I know that they had that one game, but I mean, look at the

(45:11):
scores between the Phillies and the Dodgers.
And the problem is that that Phillies team is starting to
become age roster as well and they're on the decline.
Weather for Milwaukee, their offence was so stagnant they
couldn't even score runs and youknow besides Jackson, Churio,
Christian Yelich and couple other guys like they did not do

(45:32):
enough offensively and I do think the Blue Jays offence do
math. Math does match up well against
the Dodgers and one thing, the Dodgers has another advantage.
They have better, they have better defence overall.
The Jays do have the best defence in baseball, I believe.
I believe they have six guys whoare candidates for gold Glovers.

(45:53):
And I think it's important that when you look at this team and
it's gonna come down to pitchingfor the Jays if they want to
execute. I do think the Jays have a
better bullpen than the Dodgers because they have to use some of
their starters. That's what the Jays need to.
Do like they did. Every series comes down to
timely execution. Drive up the pitch, Cal, follow
the ball, make sure you have theright approach at the plate and

(46:15):
like they've did all year and gofor what they need to do with
these guys in command at it. Because because Blake Snell is
is a fastball curveball pitcher.But you have to try to find a
way to get walked out of it because he had those issues in
the past. He hasn't done it recently but
but. This team can do it.
They will issue walks. So and my concern with the

(46:36):
Dodgers, I mean, I mean, like I said, the rotation is good,
their lineup is pone, but I do think the bottom half of this is
between 678 and 9. The Jays have a better line up
than the Dodgers there and the Dodgers do strike out more than
the Jays. So but it comes down to with
Mookie in the middle of the lineup and Freddie, if he can

(46:58):
get those guys outs because soloshots doesn't hurt you, that's
what comes out because three runshots and three run double s, 3
run, three run extra base hits, it's gonna cost you games.
And that's the key element to these guys because Mookie Betts
does kill the Jays ever since hewas a Red Sox, right?
So I think that's so important as well.

(47:20):
But I mean, these are different teams the last time they faced
each other. I mean, the Jays are Bulpett has
improved. The Dodgers have stuck to their
guns. They haven't really done what
they traded away Dustin Maine. They traded for Brock Stewart,
Brock Stewart hurt for the year.So I think that's important, and
that's what it comes down to, you know?
Yeah, what else do you think? Go.

(47:41):
Ahead. And a.
Big thing, I just wanna add one thing, a big thing, cause I just
just I just thought of it now a big thing is gonna be those Blue
Jays pitchers need to make sure that they get the bottom of the
order out and not let those guysget on and turn the lineup over

(48:03):
to face Johal Otani. You you you don't want.
Him coming up with runners on base, like if you face like, you
know, 789, you gotta get your 789 guys out because that guy
can change the course of a game with one swing of the Batman.
So and and like you said, those solo shots could be 3 run shots

(48:27):
if you're not getting those bottom of the order guys out.
So I think that's an important part too that you know, you had
mentioned that that the Blue Jays bottom of the order hitters
are better than the Dodgers, butyou gotta you gotta make sure
that you got them out. You know what I mean?
Don't let him get on base first refer here for them to turn that

(48:47):
line up over cause show. Hey, we saw it man, the guy, the
guy, the guy can change the the course of any game.
So. Yeah, because the thing.
Is that last year I think the Dodgers had home field
advantage. This year the Jays have home
field advantage, so that that goes in their way.
I think a lot. Before that they went to the

(49:07):
World Series. What 2020?
That. Was that was neutral?
I think 18. It was a Red Sox who I don't
feel I believe, and then 17 was the daughters.
But I mean, the Jay, I think home field advantage is, is, is
what you need, especially if you're going to try to beat
A-Team like the Dodgers, man. It's because you have a Moto.

(49:29):
What is he going to be like at the Rogers Centre?
What is Blake Snell going to be like at the Rogers Centre?
I would say they're going to be important, but obviously the
Dodgers are gonna be a tough team playing in that stadium as
well because for some reason that team plays so damn well at
home and it's a tough environment to play at, right?
So I think that's also importantand where things stand, right,

(49:49):
So. All things.
Are in consideration is that. This is gonna be 1 hell of a
World Series in my opinion. I think it's gonna be something
we're gonna talk about for a while.
That and where where things go. So let me ask you this, and I
think this is gonna be an important factor here.

(50:12):
Where does Bob Baschet stand in this lineup?
Because so far. The blue blue.
Jays offensively has been playing well without ball and
you need Bo if you and you need bow to a certain degree, but.
Let's just say a bow. Is activated.
Where do you play? Him.

(50:33):
Where does he fit that? I don't know man.
I don't know the answer to that.I don't even know John Schneider
really knows the answer to that right as we speak right now.
Maybe he does just, you know, there's arguments to be said for
letting the guy play because it's a World Series, but then
you think about it and there's also arguments to be had.

(50:57):
That you don't want. To mess up the chemistry of what
this offence is doing without him.
And we all know, like we all know him and this is the better
defensive shortstop than than Boucher.
Like that's like are are you? Willing to.
Just. Keep everything as.

(51:19):
It is leap over shit, have his at bats, whether it be in a
pinch hit situation, DH scenario, or do you put him at
or or do you put poet short, move him and just a second take
IQ out of the lineup, because that's that'd be the only other
way. I would think he'd he'd play is

(51:39):
if he's playing, he's playing short, right?
You'd think like, I mean, they're not gonna put him at
second. They're gonna put bow at second
base. You know, I don't know.
It all depends. I I can't what?
This team does. I mean, he hasn't played since
September 6. It's such a long time, but I
mean, but I do trust this team when it comes to like.

(52:03):
Medical reports injuries like they do really well on that.
So I don't know where you fit init.
That's a great question because if you look at this, his
situation, I mean. He does hit for velocity.
You wanna have to protect Vlad because Vlad's offence is so
much even. Gets a lot of.
Yeah, yeah. That's the thing, I think.
He's like top 3 when it comes tohitting like 97 mph fastballs.

(52:26):
And. Stuff if you wanna hit for
Velocity, he's one of them. So it's going to be a great
debate of how you want to fit them in this team because, like
you said, him and age plays a big role.
Is bro willing to sacrifice justfor this World Series if he what
will do whatever it takes to winto play short second base?
I don't know, but I. Mean.

(52:48):
George, are you willing to play George with the knee situation
because he's been so damn good as a DH, It's given his age at
all. So it's a good problem to have
because you would love to have Beau if you want to win the
World Series, Said He's a big part of this offence, right?
So I don't know that's it's gonna be something that we're
gonna keep an eye on. But by Friday if somebody

(53:11):
doesn't play though. It was Bo gonna be, I don't
know. Well, it wasn't play, you have
to understand. I mean you have to understand.
Does it really matter? If he's upset or not, you know
what I mean? Like in the end.
Then I. Don't think it does.
I'm not. I'm not saying I don't think so
either. Like, how often do you eat in

(53:32):
the world? Series.
Yeah, that's what I mean. Flat in bow, Vladimir, Vladimir
Bowl have been day one, guys. Blade was signed in two. 1015
bowl was drafted in 2016. So these guys are all day one
guys. These guys have been
organization pretty much foreverand they all, you know, one
organization that's a Toronto Blue Jays.

(53:52):
And now they're here in the World Series for the first time
together. And I know Bo wants to be part
of it. And look, he deserves it.
He was a big part of why this team won their division.
He's a big part of why this team, the playoff team, he's a
big part of why this team has a culture.
And, you know, they never tradedhim away for so many reasons
why. And I'm curious to see what

(54:16):
decision does John Schneider made because both said when they
were celebrated for the World Series berth.
I'm good to go, I'm ready, but Idon't know how they're gonna use
it. But I do think he's gonna be on
the World Series roster. I really do.
But what capacity he's gonna gonna be when it comes to
playing time, your guess is as good as mine because we're not

(54:40):
watching this so. But he's a big part of this
offence. But you know, you gotta give a
shout out to IKF as well. I mean, he should filled some
big shoes at second base and he has been so great for them.
And it's hard to move him in as a shortstop the way he's playing
because he is so used to and he's been getting timely outs.

(55:02):
He is so important and you know,just for this series and I hope
if Bo Bo is good enough with hisknee, the way he moved about the
running thing is such a big dealfor him with his knee sprain and
stuff. So if we can get his running
game going. Then I think it's just important
at the end of day that the that the Jays play him.

(55:27):
Occasionally at. Second base when they need to
and maybe he sits out when they're up and then I can't
play. These guys are gonna.
Pull the ball like you gotta look at the matchups, like
Ohtani's gonna pull the ball, Freeman.
'S gonna pull. The ball, he occasionally gets
awful, but not as much. But he and Mookie doesn't really
pull the ball either. So then you got the Oscar.

(55:47):
I mean, he hits it. He's a apple hitter too, right?
The Oscar, right So. I think this is what it comes
out to and this is what's important to this team, right?
So. It's a great problem to have,
you know, find situations like this.
This is 1 deep Blue Jays team man.
The deepest team I've seen in a long time.

(56:08):
Tragedy of the 9093 season when they were stacked.
The Wabco. I don't.
I'm not saying. It's there because they were
Hall of Famers and they had All Stars in great defenders.
But this team is right up there.If they can win the whole thing,
man, it's like it's the third best roster and and and
franchise history. I mean, there's there's there's

(56:30):
a third time they've been to theWorld Series.
This is what's important, and you gotta look.
When Blake Snell's pitching Game1, Yamaha was pitching Game 2
like spars and probably not gonna play the first game.
Lucas, I'm curious to see. He's not really good against
left-handed pitching, but he might not play either.
It's probably gonna be David Schneider.

(56:51):
Davis It's probably gonna be tuning in this.
Series. Yeah, yeah.
He's right. He will.
I think David Schneider left these.
Yeah. Yeah, I.
Think ICAP maybe Bo maybe so it all plays out to how they want
to use it. Because because the Dodgers.
How many left-handed pitchers have Anthony bandage?

(57:11):
I think Vestie has beatable too.Just seeing this stuff.
What do you what do you think? This, this series is going to
be, how many games do you think it's gonna go?
Because we know what we feel and.
How it's gonna turn. Out.
And what do you think? What do you think the margin of
error is going to be like? What do you think?
Well, and let me ask you this. If Beau.
Comes. Back Who's gonna be the odd man

(57:33):
out out of that, out of that roster?
It's good. It's like off the roster
completely, yeah. Like boat bows making.
Well, Bose gonna be on the WorldSeries roster, so question who's
not gonna be on? The World Series roster.
Yeah. Right, it was Joey.

(57:55):
Joey was on there, right? Yeah, he's out there.
But I don't know because that time does not playing.
Yeah, it might be Joey. I think.
Like who? Joey.
Well, if you look at it. This way if you want to look at
outfielders, you got barrier butyou're not leaving.
IKF off the roster? No, you're not, No.
No, I can't see that. So.

(58:16):
You got Joey, you got David leaving David Schneider.
On off it either because David. David Schneider is on the
roster. No, but what I'm saying is that
that's why I say loperfido. Well.
Probably not perfect. That's why I wanna talk about
it. So you got Lucas, you got
Barger, who played third outfield, you got Varsha, you
got Schneider and maybe Springer.

(58:37):
Maybe if you need to occasionally.
Because I know I don't know how it needs, how much it's
improved. Yeah.
Like, if we need them to move around and do some things,
maybe. But but you need George in that
lineup, man. That's one thing that's so
important. Like, especially if you're doing
defensive alignments, man, you're gonna have to do that for
sure. Right.
So we'll see where things go, but you have any final thoughts

(58:59):
for years? OHS.
Truck 2, definitely. Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, my, my. Truck too.
There you go. What?
Well, that's. That's why I said, that's why I
said it's gotta be low Perfeito,because.
Miles stride needs to. Be on there just for speed man
and his defence, like there's noway you can leave him off either
so. But yeah.

(59:24):
That's what was wrap it up. Here's the other.
Question you asked. Pitching wise, I was gonna ask
you like, like, is Little still on the World Series roster?
Yes or no? No, no, man.
I I wanna say no, but I man, that would that would be so
devastating if he wasn't. Being you can't.

(59:46):
Good. Can't.
They big part of you. Can't think of emotional?
You're wrong. No, no, I know I'm a I'm gonna
say no, but yeah, you can't. Think about devastation.
But but you know, Brandon Little, like I said, he's been a
great player for his team overall, but sometimes you gotta
put the best roster available towin the World Series here.

(01:00:08):
You can't think about sentiments.
You can't look, Santander, he was playing, but his back was
flared up and MLB approved and you know, he was willing to do
all that. Like he's like other people
deserve the chance and surely hedid it.
It's so important, man. This team is built different,
man. There is something.
That show about this team I haven't seen at a long time and

(01:00:29):
they're willing to all sacrificeto do what they need to do
right. So I think that's important to
it's a. Question.
There's Type France on this roster for not.
News. We're talking about no.
I don't see you. I don't see him on the roster.
I think. I think that they did.
I, I think if they did that, he would have been in the Yankee

(01:00:50):
series. He wasn't even on it there to
begin with. So that's true.
That's true. They had two lefties.
In that rotation, they had so lefties and their bullpen team
hill and stuff and tie. France wasn't.
And if if he's not on that, if he wasn't on that router, I
don't I don't see him on that roster.
But he's another player. He stepped up in a big way too,
man. So shout out to typeface.

(01:01:12):
But yeah, to wrap this up, do you have anything to add before
we sign off? Yeah, one thing.
About I just want to say one thing about that Springer game
with the game, you know, the theGame 7, that that home run that
he hit was totally karma. You know that was karma for when

(01:01:33):
that fucking asshole Josh Naylorjumped in front of that ball man
in the first day. It was the first inning.
Fucking prick. Just wanted to say that, you
know. You know what?
I and SO. It's so funny you brought that
up. Is that that remember I texted
you and I told you that remindedme of games game five of the

(01:01:54):
2015 ALDS with the Rangers. Remember the whole process?
Like if you think about like, Ohyeah, the Odor or Shinzo Chu
Russell Martin threw the ball athis bag and bounce.
It was a live ball and and Odor scored and.
And remember. John Gibbons was like, I'm going

(01:02:17):
to protest this game if it goes South, then it's so funny how
the the baseball gods are real, man.
The way the way that game unraveled.
That's what reminded me of like,we could talk about the bat
flip, but this kind of this George, I'm telling.
You nailer jumped in front of that ball on purpose, man.
There's no question about it. It was, you know, he pissed me

(01:02:40):
off, that serious, man. I don't care if it's Canadian or
not. Like that guy, that guy, he, I
got to see his true colours in that series, man.
I didn't like him. Well, at the end of the.
Day you gotta look at this way. The better team ended.
Up winning and ended up going tothe World Series.
The other team just ended up going home.

(01:03:01):
So that's true. That's how you put it.
That's how you put you put poetic justice to its rest.
And now the Jays made history once again.
Seattle till this day has yet tomake a World Series appearance.
So that's what it ultimately comes down to.
But I'll say one more thing. There is a video stating that

(01:03:25):
Ernie Clement, Andres Jimenez, Josh Taylor when he jumped the
ball, and Shane Bieber all used to be teammates for Cleveland
Once Upon a time. If they kept all those guys
together, what could have been for Cleveland and Mark Shapiro
being the president? I mean, I'll just leave it at
that. We'll end it with this.
Till next time, take care, be kind to each other.

(01:03:48):
Signing up from the Blue Jays Ave.
Podcast on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025.

(01:04:21):
Yeah.