I'm Jenna Fisher and I'm Angela Kinsey. And together we have the podcast Office Ladies. Just because we finished rewatching The Office does not mean we're going anywhere. Every Wednesday we'll be sharing even more exclusive stories from The Office and our friendship with brand new guests. Plus you can revisit all the Office Ladies rewatch episodes every Monday with new bonus tidbits before every episode.
So follow and listen to Office Ladies on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everyone, I'm Josh Radner, and I am so excited to tell you about How We Made Your Mother, a rewatch podcast looking back at how I met your mother. And I am here with Craig Thomas, who co-created the show along with Carter Bays. Hi, Craig. Hey, Josh.
Somehow, it has been 20 years since the show premiered. That's I'm gonna check the math on that. 10 years since it went off the air, and we thought that made this a perfect time to look back, see what the hell we did, and why the show still seems to resonate with fans around the world today. Follow and listen to How We Made Your Mother wherever you get your podcasts. Botox Cosmetic, Atobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit BotoxCosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
It is the JR Sport Reshow here with you coast to coast on the Infiniti Sports Network. Amongst everything going on in the world of sports. NBA investigations and arrests and Thursday night football. We do have game one. of the World Series taking place tomorrow in Toronto, Canada, as the Dodgers make their way north.
To take on the Toronto Blue Jays. Blue Jays haven't been in the spot since 1993. Of course, the Dodgers are trying to go back to back along with Shohei Otani and their crew and their payroll. They garner a lot of attention. But I wanted to get a different perspective.
I wanted to talk with someone who covers these Jays, who's very familiar with this team, how they got here, what we can expect. Joining us right now is Julia Kreutz covers all things Blue Jays for SportsNet in Toronto. Julia, how are you? Doing all right. Happy to join.
Thank you so much for having me. Appreciate it. Like I said, a lot of people are very familiar with the Dodgers. They've been beaten to the public conscious over the past decade or so. But we don't know as much uh about the Blue Jays.
I do know about their talent. They've been battling it out with the Yankees and the American League East and the Orioles for the past several years. It's a very competitive division. What makes this season different for the Blue Jays where they've ascended to the World Series? Yes, it's an interesting question and one that these guys have been getting since May probably or June when they found their offense and it looked like things were getting back on track for a team that won seventy four games.
last season, right? The sort of the same cast of characters coming back. One thing that really stuck out to me, you know, when we have these conversations when they won the American League East. These questions are obviously going to arise. And Bobachette's answer sort of uh stuck with me because he said something along the lines of Sometimes they just have to look in the mirror and figure out who you are.
I think that that is kind of what we're seeing from these blue jays here. They figured out, they ironed out some details. In the offseason, when it comes to communication and preparation and how they are conveying messages and both sides of the ball, really, two hitters into pitchers as well. focused on the little things. This is a very, very sound defensive team.
This is a team they're not going to steal a ton of bases, but it's a very good base running team. And then the challenge has started speaking for itself a little bit. In that With that grew the chemistry. And now you're hearing quotes about this team playing for each other and being all in this together, playing as a unit, selfless baseball, all of the things that you want to hear out of a clubhouse. is the it were things that the Blue Jays were giving there, and they found their offense.
I think that that is, you know, if you want to boil it down to one thing that has been the difference maker from last year to this year, is that they're they're hitting better. They were pretty much pretty close to the top of the league in OPS. They found their home run stride a little bit later in the season as well. And it's a team that doesn't strike out a whole lot. They grind up pitchers.
They are going to foul off a bunch of pitches. Very much. It's a little things team that starts with manager John Schneider, but it really trickles down to the entire roster here. Julia Crotis here with us covers the Blue Jays for SportsNet in Toronto. You talk about this offense and and one piece to the offense we have not seen because of that knee injury is Beau Bachette.
And it looks like he might play, but he may be playing a different position than what we're used to. What's the latest on that, Julia? Yes, Ryan. That is a big question for the Blue Jays ahead of 10 a.m. Eastern tomorrow when they have to release their World Series rosters.
Lobachette has not played in October yet. He's been out since September sixth with a knee injury that he suffered in a game against the Yankees. And pretty much every series up to this point, there has been this expectation of is this the series, we are going to see Bobochette back. But he was not able to run the bases before the last couple of days. Definitely not enough lateral movement to play shortstop.
Now what we're seeing is videos of Bobochet not only running the bases, but taking ground balls at second, which is a position that he has never played in the major leagues since his minor league days. I think it was something like 30 games total in his professional career. Uh at second days. Listen, he says that he is going to be ready. He says that he wants to do whatever he can to help the team.
That fact. certainly lengthens the Blue Jays lineup. He is a A very dangerous hitter. He would have led the league in hits were it not for the injury. Probably would have led the league in doubles as well.
So obviously, this is a key piece that the Blue Jays will welcome back with open arms. The question remains. Is he healthy enough? to play and to contribute because even if Bogush at DH is that opens another question mark around George Springer, who was also playing with the banged up knee in the past series and it has been mostly a designated hitter for the Blue Jays as well.
So there are some questions there. I personally expect Bobachet to be active for the World Series. This is his chance to do this with Vladimir Greer Jr., a guy that came up, they came up with both of them together really throughout the minor leagues here. They have this chance to do this together. Let's not forget that Beau Bachette is a free agent at the end of this season.
So there's a lot on the line here. And if Bobachette is at 80-85%, Ryan, I do expect to see him on that World Series roster.
Well, Julia, one thing that we know for certain is that there are going to be a lot of folks who take a look at these Dodgers and expect them to beat the Jays. What are some elements where you feel that the Blue Jays are strong and that they don't necessarily have worry? Yeah, I yeah, I think it starts with uh with just the soundness with which they play defense, which is if you want to look back at last year's World Series. Makes a difference when you are a fundamentally sound team and you're doing the little things right on defense. And the fact that this offense Obviously, we know how much swing and miss exists in the Dodgers' starting rotation and in the bullpen as well with certain arms there, but The Blue Jays being a high contact team, leading the league in that department this season, being able to extend the bats and foul-off pitches, and this is from one to nine.
Everyone is invested in that. They don't strike out not nearly as often as some other teams that they have seen in the playoffs so far. I think that that is the biggest strength. If you're going to beat the Dodgers, You need to get these starters out of there and get to that bullpen, which Is not as deep and has some clear flaws and clear limitations there. This ability to extend a back, drive up the pitch count.
and then get to the 10, I believe, may be the difference maker. For the Blue Jays offense, an offense that has. Led the postseason so far in OPS. And when you look at what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is doing, just the level of of danger that exists.
on that bath.
Now all of a sudden you're adding Bobochette, never count out George Springer in October. There are opportunities for some impactful moments and impactful innings offensively, but I believe it's going to come down to their ability to chase starters a little bit earlier in getting to that Dodgers bullpen. Julia Croitz is here with us, covers the Blue Jays. It's the JR Sports. I'm Jenna Fisher and I'm Angela Kinsey.
And together we have the podcast Office Ladies. Just because we finished rewatching The Office does not mean we're going anywhere. Every Wednesday we'll be sharing even more exclusive stories from The Office and our friendship with brand new guests. Plus you can revisit all the Office Ladies rewatch episodes every Monday with new bonus tidbits before every episode.
So follow and listen to Office Ladies on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everyone, I'm Josh Radner, and I am so excited to tell you about How We Made Your Mother: a rewatch podcast looking back at how I met your mother. And I'm here with Craig Thomas, who co-created the show along with Carter Bays. Hi, Craig. Hey, Josh.
Somehow, it has been 20 years since the show premiered. That's, I'm going to check the math on that. 10 years since it went off the air. And we thought that made this a perfect time to look back, see what the hell we did, and why the show still seems to resonate with fans around the world today. Follow and listen to How We Made Your Mother wherever you get your podcasts.
Sport reshow here on the Infinity Sports Network. Julia, you talk about the pitching. We all know about. The Dodgers pitching and throwing out all the aces. They got a young, hopefully future ace in Sasaki helping them to close out games.
And then you got the Blue Jays whose rotation seems to be kind of stitched together. I mean, they're throwing a rookie out on the mound tomorrow. How confident are you? in the J's rotation and bullpen to kind of help the offense out. Yeah, Treya Savage, it's funny because He kind of came out of the blue, but at the same time, we had been watching him come up this entire season, right?
Started the. Season in single A and just conquered level after level in the minors until he got to the Blue Jays rotation in September. And then all of a sudden, he's starting playoff games. He had one hiccup against the Mariners, and that was in game two of the ALCS. But otherwise He has been spectacular and it's pretty unbelievable that he's 22 years old with the way that he conducts himself and just the preparation The pulse doesn't change in the big moments.
Now he's starting a game one of the World Series. There's so much there that is. Storybook for this kid, and he's doing it. He's very effective. When I talk about swing and miss, At the high arm slot, the high release point, that fastball that has been described as it comes up from the sky.
The splitter, the same thing. It's making hitters look foolish, and that's really, really impressive. And then you have Kevin Gosman, who has been. Just a workhorse for this team for the past few seasons now, and really found his stride late this season to emerge as that ace that the Lee Jays needed. Because you're right, I mean, the season was not without issues and without limitations for this rotation, but Gosman stepped up.
when they needed him the most has pitched into the sixth inning. Every time he has started in this postseason, he was credited with the win in game seven of the ALCS out of the bullpen. Matt Scherzer, you know, you look at the 41-year-old looking for his third ring. We didn't know what we were going to get out of him in his start in the ALCS. He was brilliant as well.
Again, there are, I agree with you because you don't know if Scherzner can do it again. You don't know what version of Shane Beaver you're going to get, right? There was one very, very good start, and there was one if he won in game seven. Really, really quick hook there for him as a Luigi's. Try to overcome the deficit against the mariners.
So there's a lot that remains to be seen here. I will say that when you look at the top of that rotation right now, I do have a lot of trust in Ia Savage and Kevin Gosman. And from there, that is when the fun begins a little bit. And maybe that is where we'll see a guy like Chris Bassett, who is currently in the bullpen for the Blue Jays play a factor, Eric Lauer, same thing, these starters that converted into the pen to help the Blue Jays in whatever way they can down the stretch here in the playoffs. And Julia Croitz is here with us from SportsNet in Toronto.
All things considered, we we got seven games. We definitely won't have seven more games past this to end the season for Major League Baseball. What are you expecting? Do you think we're going to see the Jays with the Commissioners' Trophy? Yeah.
Listen, I think that If the blue jays pulled us off. They're going to have to be the fundamentally sound team that they have been all season long. I think that you look at vibes and you look at the cohesiveness of the group and how much the unity. That is all great, and I do think that that is part of what is going to help them be successful here, but they can't give the Dodgers extra outs. We know what this team does, how dangerous that lineup is, three MVPs in a row, three potential Hall of Famers in a row for you to deal with there.
They have to play their game. They have to be focused from the first pitch onward. And yes, they have to grind out those starters and get them to leave the game a little bit early. It is not. An easy cache.
Right, the Dodgers are favorites for a reason. They are the defending champions. The Blue Jays understand that. I'm not ready to go all the way and say that this is a David and Goliath type of thing because the Blue Jays are also a pretty high payroll. They have some superstars of their own.
They won 94 games this season.
So there's There's a lot to like and to respect about what the Blue Jays have done. But they are underdogs. And there's a reason for that. I believe they're going to embrace it. And they're going to play with that in the back of their minds and in their back pockets.
They're going to make the most of it. But they have to play their game. That is the only way that we're going to be talking about a Blue Jays World Series win potentially.
Well, Julia, I know everybody in Toronto is extremely excited. I love Toronto very much so, one of my favorite places on earth. What is the vibe like in the city? Have the Blue Jays kind of taken the entire city over? What's the vibe like?
Yeah, it's been really cool to watch the growth of that through the summer and now because. Toronto being such a multicultural city, there's people from all over. You see a ton of baseball hats. Right, but they're not always Blue Jays' hats, right? And what's starting to happen now, and Kevin Godwin pointed that out even in the last series: you know, the Yankees' hats are starting to turn into Blue Jays' hats.
I was driving to work the other day, happened to drive past a school here in my neighborhood. Apparently the school was just doing Blue Jays Day, so all the kids were wearing Blue Jays gear to school. When we leave the ballpark after covering a game, that's sometimes an hour, 90 minutes after the game is done. There are more and more people waiting outside the gate. To catch a glimpse of a player, to show their support, things like that.
And that's something that talking to former players who were here for the playoff runs in 2015 and 2016, and even a little bit before that, that's something that they are quick to highlight as well. How Wholesome and full-hearted the support becomes when this team is good. And yeah, and this is, again, it's a very likable squad. There are so many guys who fill those roles: it's the role player, but he is the blue guy, and everyone is just drawn to him, whether that is teammates or fans as well.
So it's been really cool to see the evolution, to see the ballpark. fill up Over the summer, and these guys deserve it, right? They understand what they're playing for. They understand that it's the entirety of Canada that is behind them now, and they are playing for them as well. They don't take it lightly.
So I agree with you. I mean, it's such a fun time in the city when the Blue Jays are playing well in the summer, and it really becomes just a united front. to support this team. Hey, I'm happy for the fans. I know everybody's going to enjoy it.
It's going to be absolutely bananas there. Game one of the World Series, the Toronto Blue Jays hosting the Dodgers. Game one tomorrow. Julia, we appreciate the time. Tell everybody where they can follow you and all your work with SportsNet.
Oh, it's my pleasure. I'm on Instagram, Julia Creitz. That's spelled K R E U Z. Thank you so much for have letting me plug this. Absolutely.
Thank you, Julia. We'll catch you on down the line, okay? Appreciate it. Have a good one, guys. I'm Jenna Fisher and I'm Angela Kinsey.
And together we have the podcast Office Ladies. Just because we finished rewatching The Office does not mean we're going anywhere. Every Wednesday we'll be sharing even more exclusive stories from The Office and our friendship with brand new guests. Plus you can revisit all the Office Ladies rewatch episodes every Monday with new bonus tidbits before every episode.
So follow and listen to Office Ladies on the free Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone, I'm Josh Radner, and I am so excited to tell you about How We Made Your Mother: a rewatch podcast looking back at how I met your mother. And I'm here with Craig Thomas, who co-created the show along with Carter Bays. Hi, Craig. Hey, Josh.
Somehow, it has been 20 years since the show premiered. That's, I'm going to check the math on that. 10 years since it went off the air, and we thought that made this a perfect time to look back, see what the hell we did, and why the show still seems to resonate with fans around the world today. Follow and listen to How We Made Your Mother, wherever you get your podcasts. Botox Cosmetic, Autobotulinum Toxin A, FDA approved for over 20 years.
So, talk to your specialist to see if Botox Cosmetic is right for you. For full prescribing information, including boxed warning, visit Botoxcosmetic.com or call 877-351-0300. Remember to ask for Botox Cosmetic by name. To see for yourself and learn more, visit BotoxCosmetic.com. That's BotoxCosmetic.com.
Mm-hmm.
