Jim Leyland is a name etched in baseball history—Hall of Fame manager, World Series champion, and the ultimate baseball lifer. In this episode, we sit down with Leyland for a no-BS, deeply authentic conversation spanning six decades of baseball memories.

From coaching Barry Bonds in his rookie season to guiding Miguel Cabrera through historic moments, Leyland pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to manage greatness. He shares the inside story of Edgar Renteria’s game-winning hit in the 1997 World Series, the behind-the-scenes decisions on Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya, and how “tough love” became his signature style. He even opens up about the moment he nearly gave up on the World Baseball Classic—before leading Team USA to gold.

For sports fans who appreciate grit, truth, and the game behind the game, this is a masterclass in leadership, storytelling, and what it means to live baseball.

🔔 Subscribe for more timeless sports stories and insider conversations.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

(00:00:00) – Why this episode hits close to home for Justin

(00:01:27) – Leyland’s 11 years in the minors and what it taught him

(00:03:18) – Promoting Jack Morris and the power of tough love

(00:07:03) – Managing a young Barry Bonds and the early Pirates

(00:13:43) – Building trust with GMs like Dave Dombrowski

(00:17:36) – Behind the scenes of the 1997 Marlins championship

(00:23:06) – What it’s really like in Game 7 of a World Series

(00:28:48) – Edgar Renteria’s game-winning strategy

(00:30:30) – Why Leyland trusted young arms like Verlander & Zumaya

(00:37:15) – Zumaya vs Jeter and the myth of 103 mph

(00:41:13) – The culture shift with the 2006 Tigers

(00:49:04) – Comparing Bonds and Cabrera: lefty vs. righty greatness

(00:56:39) – Why Leyland almost said no to managing Team USA

(01:01:07) – Leyland’s advice to new Pirates manager Don Kelly

(01:04:48) – The game he still thinks about when he can’t sleep

(01:05:55) – What it felt like to get “The Call” to the Hall of Fame

💡 KEY TOPICS

📌 Barry Bonds rookie season & managing his evolution

📌 Edgar Renteria’s Game 7 heroics and psychological strategy

📌 Justin Verlander’s rise & managing with instinct vs pitch counts

📌 1997 Marlins World Series journey and building team culture

📌 Leyland’s relationship with Dave Dombrowski & old-school GMing

📌 Behind Team USA’s WBC championship in 2017

📌 Comparing Bonds and Cabrera’s hitting genius

📌 What separates great managers: honesty, instinct, and player relationships

⚾️ About Jim Leyland:

Jim Leyland is a Hall of Fame MLB manager known for his no-nonsense leadership and ability to win across eras. He managed the Pirates, Marlins, Rockies, and Tigers—winning the 1997 World Series with Florida and earning AL pennants in Detroit. He also led Team USA to gold in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

🎙️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:

The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As veteran broadcasters, Justin brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

🔔 Subscribe now on any major platform to never miss an episode of these timeless conversations.

Olin Browne didn’t pick up golf until he was 19. No junior tournaments, no elite prep program—just a college kid working in a bag room. Fast forward to a 35+ year career with nine pro wins, including the U.S. Senior Open and multiple PGA Tour victories.

In this episode, we dive deep into Olin’s incredible underdog journey. He shares how he nearly quit golf the week before his first PGA Tour win, what it was like playing inside the ropes with Tiger Woods, and why the 2008 Ryder Cup was the most fun he’s ever had in golf.

We talk Anthony Kim’s rise and fall, the pressure of major championship Sundays, and the unique mental toughness it takes to survive the PGA Tour grind.

Olin also reveals what most fans never understand about the pro game—and how even champions feel pure relief (not joy) when they win.

👉 If you’re a fan of behind-the-scenes golf stories, this one delivers.

⏰ Timestamps:

(00:00:00) – Olin’s first Tour win and the story of almost not showing up

(00:06:15) – Learning the game late: starting golf at 19 years old

(00:11:40) – The grind to get on Tour and early breakthroughs

(00:17:20) – How Olin won at Colonial without hitting a single range ball

(00:22:45) – What fans misunderstand about PGA Tour pressure

(00:28:30) – Inside his wire-to-wire win at the U.S. Senior Open

(00:34:55) – Being a Ryder Cup assistant captain in 2008 under Paul Azinger

(00:42:10) – Tiger Woods era reflections: what it was like to compete then

(00:47:45) – Thoughts on Anthony Kim, generational talent, and longevity

(00:55:30) – Olin’s all-time favorite athlete, concert, and legacy mindset

💡 Key Topics:

📌 How Olin Browne went from unknown walk-on to PGA Tour champion

📌 What it was like playing with Tiger Woods and watching him up close

📌 The truth behind winning under major championship pressure

📌 Inside the 2008 Ryder Cup and Paul Azinger’s leadership

📌 Reflections on Anthony Kim, Sergio, and sustaining greatness

👤 About Olin Browne Sr.:

A three-time PGA Tour winner and U.S. Senior Open champion, Olin Browne has been inside the ropes with the best—Tiger, Jack, Sergio, and more. A former Ryder Cup assistant captain and broadcaster, he brings four decades of perspective from golf’s highest level.

🎙️ About the JustIn Time Podcast:

The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As a veteran broadcaster, Justin Kutcher brings unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who share their remarkable journeys and behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

🔔 Subscribe now on any major platform to never miss an episode of these timeless conversations.

Jessica Mendoza joins Justin Kutcher to relive a lifetime of standout sports moments — from her gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics to her rise as a national broadcaster for ESPN and the Dodgers. We get the backstory behind her unforgettable collision at home plate that landed her on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and the childhood lessons from her football-coaching dad that shaped her fearless playing style. Jessica reflects on her time at Stanford, navigating elite academics while becoming one of the best hitters softball has ever seen.

She also takes us inside the Olympic Village alongside legends like Michael Phelps and Kobe Bryant, opens up about being a woman in the male-dominated world of baseball, and shares what it’s like watching Shohei Ohtani elevate the game from the Dodgers booth.

This is a raw, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation about performance, preparation, and pride.

Subscribe to catch every behind-the-scenes sports moment.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS

• (00:00:00) — Jessica joins the show + Olympic intro

• (00:05:12) — From baseball with the boys to softball stardom

• (00:12:43) — The Stanford decision and academic pressure

• (00:20:48) — That Olympic collision and Sports Illustrated cover

• (00:27:06) — Olympic Village, Kobe Bryant, and Michael Phelps

• (00:34:19) — From Dodger fan to Dodgers broadcaster

• (00:36:50) — Mendoza’s favorite Women’s College World Series memory

• (00:39:10) — Final reflections + fun moments with Justin

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  💡 KEY TOPICS

  📌 Olympic softball + 2004 gold medal legacy

  📌 Mendoza’s iconic home plate collision vs. Greece

  📌 Navigating Stanford as an elite student-athlete

  📌 Broadcasting MLB & Women’s College World Series

  📌 Inside the Olympic Village with Kobe & Phelps

  📌 Coaching influences from her football dad

  📌 Representation and resilience in male-dominated spaces

  
  

  ⚾️ About Jessica Mendoza

  Jessica Mendoza is a trailblazing athlete and broadcaster. A four-time All-American at Stanford, she won gold with Team USA softball in the 2004 Olympics. She has since become a prominent voice in baseball, covering the MLB for ESPN and calling games for the LA Dodgers. Her insights, experience, and passion for the game make her one of the most respected analysts in sports media today.

  
  

  🎙️ About The JustIn Time Podcast

  The JustIn Time Podcast brings you exclusive, in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports and beyond. As a veteran broadcaster, Justin Kutcher shares unfiltered discussions with legendary coaches, professional athletes, and influential figures who offer behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

  
  

  🔔 Subscribe now on any major platform to never miss an episode of these timeless conversations.

  
  

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