1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: This is the Budweiser reds Hotstove League. 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 2: Surround the Radio. 3 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: The Hotstove League is brought to you by Jtmfood Group. 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: Let's create great dishes together. JTM MSA Design, the region's 5 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,400 Speaker 1: leader in sports education and civic design and the official 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: architect of the Reds. Tom's Watchbar. All the Sports, all 7 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: the Time. Bet MGM Now you're betting with the King 8 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: of sportsbooks. Download the bet MGM app today. 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Visit RLC dot com and make 14 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: RNL Carriers your global transportation provider. 15 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: Deep to center Field, going back at the wall leaves 16 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,119 Speaker 3: it is long gone, Belly Dla Cruz. 17 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 2: The Reds around the Radio. 18 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: Now the Reds Hot Stove League. 19 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: Welcome into the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League, presented by. 20 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 4: U d F. 21 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 3: Great to be with you today from Salt River Fields 22 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 3: at Talking Stick where today the Reds beat the Rockies 23 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 3: eight to one with the cowboy Jeff Brantley. I'm Tommy 24 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 3: throw cowboy. Let's talk about this one today. The Reds 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 3: have really had some good things going for him, especially 26 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 3: from a pitching standpoint this spring in one of the 27 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 3: bright spots we probably haven't talked about enough. As a 28 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 3: guy that threw today for the Reds and Brandon Williamson, 29 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 3: I thought he looked good yet again he did, Tommy. 30 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 5: I thought his execution. 31 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 6: Execution was really crisp, using both the cutter and really 32 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 6: a variety of breaking balls cutter, slider, curveball, and the 33 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 6: change up. 34 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 5: And he's still throwing. 35 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 6: The part that excites me for Brandon Williamson, and I'm 36 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 6: sure he's excited about it as well, is the fact 37 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 6: that he's hitting ninety four ninety five. Now you add 38 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 6: in a game type adrenaline once the season begins, that 39 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 6: velocity's gonna tick up even more than where he's at now. 40 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 6: But he looks free and easy. It doesn't look like 41 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 6: there's a whole lot of effort into getting the ball 42 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 6: out of his hand. It's just nice to see a 43 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 6: kid come back from that kind of surgery be able 44 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 6: to get back there on the mound and everything is 45 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 6: working in the right direction. 46 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 3: Time will tell to see what the Reds decide to 47 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 3: do with him. But from a pitcher's perspective, you're coming 48 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 3: back from Tommy John. 49 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:34,280 Speaker 5: It's been what. 50 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 3: Eighteen months or so since he pitched in a big 51 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 3: league mound. Part of that whole recovery process is bouncing 52 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 3: back after you make a start. Do you think the 53 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 3: Reds will need to have him get comfortable with that 54 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 3: before he gets back on a big league mound and 55 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 3: rejoins a big league rotation or is that something you 56 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 3: can kind of figure out as you move along. 57 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 4: Well, I think so. 58 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 6: I think a lot of it depends on your needs 59 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 6: at the major league level. We don't know what the 60 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 6: next couple of weeks will bring. As long as you've 61 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 6: got guys that are healthy, you'd like to try to 62 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 6: give him some opportunity to kind of stretch himself out 63 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 6: a little bit in a graduated sense rather than a 64 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 6: fourth sense. But this is the big leagues, and the 65 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,360 Speaker 6: big league club is what it's all about, and there 66 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 6: always could be a situation where if you get a 67 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 6: left hander or two hurt, maybe one of your starters 68 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 6: gets hurt, then he would have to start the season 69 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 6: either in the rotation or in the bullpen, and you 70 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,280 Speaker 6: just have to figure it out on the flock. 71 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 3: Well, we know one guy that's not going to be 72 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 3: in the rotation to start the year, and that is 73 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 3: Hunter Green. The news today that he is going to 74 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 3: have an operation, a small operation on his right elbow. 75 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 3: It's not Tommy John. The ligament is fine, but there 76 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 3: are some loose bodies, some bone spurs in there that 77 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 3: need to be cleaned up. Nick Carl talked about that 78 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 3: earlier today. Nick, obviously the news on Hunter probably could 79 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 3: have been a lot worse. 80 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 5: But when you look at. 81 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 3: This, I mean, this is is considered something that you 82 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 3: guys think is overall good news. 83 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 7: Yeah, obviously it's not worst case scenario. It does suck. 84 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 7: He's gonna miss time and you don't want to lose 85 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 7: your your number one starter for for any time at all. 86 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 7: So it sucks, but we'll have to deal with it 87 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 7: and you know, open up some competition for some of 88 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:18,559 Speaker 7: the younger guys. 89 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 3: You know that this was looked at back in the 90 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 3: off season. Was there any sort of consultation with the 91 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 3: club about maybe having this done? 92 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 7: Then you know, he went to see Doctor Latrosh in 93 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 7: the off season, and doctor Latrosh recommended that he get 94 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 7: the PRP instead of surgery, and that's that's the route 95 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 7: he went. 96 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 3: With recovery time and involved in something like this. Is 97 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 3: it Is it a surgery that's maybe less of a 98 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 3: big deal now than maybe it was twenty years ago. 99 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 7: Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, an elbow surgery is 100 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 7: a big deal regardless. So the rehab is gonna be 101 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 7: very important, and we're gonna have to just make sure 102 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 7: he has every opportunity to get to say on and 103 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 7: get by or get back, you know, with his time frame. 104 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:05,839 Speaker 3: I know you're hoping to have them back sometime in July. 105 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 3: Do you have a feel for whin he'll actually be 106 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 3: able to start throwing again. 107 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 5: Yeah. 108 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 7: I think it was six weeks to no throw and 109 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 7: then build up from there. 110 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 3: With the depth that you have, and I know you 111 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 3: talked a lot about it in the offseason, talked about 112 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 3: it with us on this show that you know, you 113 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 3: hate to deal from a position of strength because that 114 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 3: depth can help you get through a tough time. Do 115 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 3: you feel good about where your depth is right now 116 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 3: to get through the next few weeks? 117 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 7: You know, you're always trying to make sure you have 118 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,039 Speaker 7: more depth, So it's something that always crossed our mind 119 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 7: about having as much as you possibly can. We've got 120 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 7: a good group of guys that are competing for spots, 121 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 7: so you know, hopefully a couple guys can step up 122 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 7: and fill that role and excel in big lecks when you. 123 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 3: Look at the guys that are battling for those last 124 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 3: few spots. Talked about it with Tito before the ballgame today, 125 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 3: but those guys missed significant amounts of time last year, 126 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 3: if not the entire season. Is that gonna come into 127 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: play between now and Hunter's return, do you think or 128 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 3: or do you think that's something closer toward the end 129 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 3: of the year that would be a factor. 130 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 7: No, I think we're gonna look at it and manage it. 131 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,040 Speaker 7: But you know, I think we're we we should be 132 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,679 Speaker 7: in a good spot with all of them, and hopefully 133 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 7: they can, you know, get through the year. But obviously 134 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 7: you want to get them built up and challenge for 135 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 7: a spot and let's get in and get off to 136 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 7: a good start and and let's you know, see them 137 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,200 Speaker 7: be productive in the big leagues right out of shoot. 138 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 3: How do you look at this and and kind of 139 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 3: use it as a positive. Do you look at it 140 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 3: and think, well, it's it's it's basically adding an arm 141 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 3: close to the deadline, free a charger. Kind of how 142 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 3: do you how do you kind of view all that 143 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,400 Speaker 3: and and and try to make this a good thing 144 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 3: almost for the team? 145 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 7: Yeah, obviously it's never a good thing, but it does 146 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 7: open up some competition for another spot in the rotation 147 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 7: for guys that have pitched pretty well in spring, and 148 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 7: you know, just uh, it gives guys an opportunity to 149 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 7: show what they can do and and excel at this level. 150 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 3: That is Nick Crawl talking about the injury to Hunter Green. 151 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 3: I mean, this is a tough blow for the Reds, 152 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 3: but but Cowboy, look, he's been injured every year. He's 153 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 3: yet to go a full season. He's yet to make 154 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,600 Speaker 3: thirty starts in a year. Is that one of those 155 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 3: things that you have to kind of start building in 156 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 3: when you're planning for a for a pitching staff to 157 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 3: start a year. 158 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 6: Well, I think players kind of tell you what they're about, 159 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 6: and you're you're the one. You know, if you're at 160 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 6: the top of the chain, if you're Nick Crawler, Brad 161 00:07:27,200 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 6: Metter or the ownership. You have to understand, Okay, this 162 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 6: is this is what we're getting for the last three, 163 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 6: four five years. Why would we think anything would be 164 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 6: different moving into two year, five or six. I think 165 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 6: you have to understand that everybody is is kind of 166 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 6: different in how they handle things, and I think that's 167 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 6: how you have to go at it. I don't know 168 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 6: that you can you can just say, Okay, maybe this 169 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 6: will be the year. You can say that, but realistically speaking, 170 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 6: I don't. I don't know that you can count on that. 171 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 3: The good news is the Red seem to have enough 172 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 3: depth from a starting pitching standpoint to cover it. But 173 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 3: the thing that gets me that that I guess concerns 174 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 3: me a little bit. In a situation like this, without 175 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:14,920 Speaker 3: having him anchoring your rotation, you're putting an awful lot 176 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 3: now on guys like Brandon Williamson, who we talked about 177 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 3: a moment ago, uh and or Chase Burns even to 178 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 3: this point and Rhet Louder, I mean, those are guys 179 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 3: that are probably going to have to cover some innings 180 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 3: and maybe more innings now than they would have had 181 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 3: Hunter been able to make his starts. 182 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 6: Yeah, and I and I think that's kind of part 183 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,079 Speaker 6: of the process. I think if you ask Brandon Williamson 184 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 6: or Chase Burns, Orrhet Louder Boy, they welcome the challenge. 185 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 6: I mean, they're they believe it. What they want to 186 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 6: do is bump guys out of the rotation. They want 187 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 6: to be the guy that you now look at as 188 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,960 Speaker 6: as being a starting five. You know, I'll be honest 189 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 6: with you when that when I heard the the the 190 00:08:57,080 --> 00:08:59,839 Speaker 6: diagnosis from the doctors that it would be after July 191 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 6: on the surgery, I was kind of surprised because I 192 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 6: can remember a guy that I played with in San 193 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,800 Speaker 6: Francisco had had the bone chips taken out of his 194 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 6: elbow and he was pitching in two weeks. Now, that's 195 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:16,200 Speaker 6: a different kind of human being. But you know, I mean, 196 00:09:16,280 --> 00:09:18,640 Speaker 6: those are those are the kind of things that you wonder, 197 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:23,199 Speaker 6: all right, well, three and a half four months, that's 198 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 6: a tough pill to swallow. 199 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 3: And you heard Nick talk about it there. This is 200 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 3: something that they decided not to do back in October 201 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 3: when this was initially discovered. He's having the operation now 202 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 3: and as such, instead of missing recovering during the offseason, 203 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 3: he's now recovering during the season, which is going to 204 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 3: lead to him missing significant time. It begs the question why, 205 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 3: But the decision was made and you can't go back 206 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 3: and change it now. That decision was made back in October. 207 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 3: So the Reds are going to be without Hunter Green 208 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 3: for at least until July. The expectation is he will 209 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 3: be back in the Reds rotation sometime during the month 210 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 3: of July. Score big on authentic gear at mlbshop dot com. 211 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 3: From official jerseys and memorabilia to hats and hoodies, We've 212 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 3: got the season covered. Visit mlbshop dot com. Slash Reds 213 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 3: the official source for your Cincinnati Reds gear. We've got 214 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 3: a loaded show for you coming up. Andrew Rabbit, who 215 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 3: is name this week the Reds Opening Day starter. We'll 216 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 3: talk more about that coming up a little bit later, 217 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 3: but Jim Day had a chance to catch up with him. 218 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 5: Also. 219 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 3: Sal Stewart and I talked earlier this week about the 220 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 3: good spring that he has had in Cowboy. He has 221 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 3: had a monster spring to this point. The question is 222 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: can he match in the field what he has done 223 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:40,559 Speaker 3: so far at the plate? 224 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:44,280 Speaker 6: Well, I think when you're when you're watching Sal Stewart, 225 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 6: the aggressiveness at the plate. Uh, that's that's intoxicating. I 226 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,959 Speaker 6: think that's fun for everybody in the lineup. And he's 227 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 6: going to be learning a new position. I think he 228 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 6: can handle it well. 229 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 5: We'll see. 230 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 3: He played second base today and he just continues to 231 00:10:57,440 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 3: put in the work. He seems to have a pretty 232 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 3: good understanding of what it takes to be able to 233 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:04,320 Speaker 3: get it done. He also understands that you can't just 234 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,160 Speaker 3: hit your way through the big leagues. You gotta be 235 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,359 Speaker 3: able to be a defensive player as well. That conversation 236 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:12,119 Speaker 3: with Sal Stewart's coming up next. This is the Budweiser 237 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,680 Speaker 3: reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF on the Reds 238 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 3: Radio Network. Welcome back in with the Budwiser reds Hot 239 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 3: Stove League presented by UGF. We're coming to you from 240 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 3: Salt Riverfields at Talking Stick, where today the Reds beat 241 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 3: the Colorado Rockies eight to one and Cactus League play 242 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 3: the Reds of now even their Cactus League record. 243 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 5: At eight and eight. 244 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 3: Brandon Phillips, Aaron Harang, Reggie Sanders, and Lou Penel have 245 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 3: been selected as the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame's Class 246 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 3: of twenty twenty six. The four inductees will be honored 247 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,559 Speaker 3: on the field April twenty fifth as part of the 248 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: Reds Hall of Fame Induction Celebration presented by P and C. 249 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 3: Get your tickets for this historic weekend now at Reds 250 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: dot com slash tickets. Cowboy, we're talking about how good 251 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 3: sal Stewart has been so far this spring, mostly offensively. 252 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 5: What is it that surprises you the most? 253 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 3: He had another hit today, maybe not surprises you, but 254 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 3: what is it that stands out the most about his approach? 255 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 5: Confidence? 256 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,320 Speaker 6: That kid he believes when he steps in the box 257 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 6: that he's going to get a hit. And what I 258 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 6: love about that youthful energy and confident attitude is it 259 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,680 Speaker 6: doesn't really matter who's standing on the mount. I think 260 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 6: he raises his level of fight the tougher the picture is. 261 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:31,040 Speaker 6: And I think when you're watching him, the bigger the situation, 262 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 6: the more he locks it in. And I think that's 263 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 6: a that's a great attribute to have, because as you 264 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 6: move along in your big league career, you're gonna figure 265 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,320 Speaker 6: out I gotta I gotta try to lock it in 266 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:43,600 Speaker 6: every single time I have that bat in my hand, 267 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 6: And I just think that it's fun to watch because 268 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 6: you really don't know what you're gonna get. I mean it, 269 00:12:48,960 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 6: it's gonna be tough for opposing pictures to try to 270 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 6: read that swing and figure out the holes that they've 271 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 6: got to attack. Well, I had that conversation with Sally 272 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 6: Stewart talking about the adjustments that he's going to have 273 00:13:00,760 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 6: to make throughout his time in the big leagues. 274 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 5: Here's that conversation. 275 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 3: Now take us through your your off season preparation to 276 00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 3: get ready after your first taste of the big leagues. 277 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:10,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. 278 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,640 Speaker 8: No, just get back home, you know, get with my people, 279 00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 8: devise a plan for it so it can come out 280 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 8: to the best off, so I can get to the 281 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 8: best of my ability, you know. And we worked really hard. 282 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 8: We were focused, and we got to work. So I 283 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 8: was really focused on my body and making sure I 284 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 8: was ready for one hundred and sixty two games. And 285 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 8: I feel like I did just that, So I'm very 286 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 8: happy about that. 287 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,760 Speaker 3: You talk about getting your body ready loss some weight, 288 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 3: but at the same time with that comes muscle mass 289 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 3: that you put on. I assume anyway, do you feel stronger, 290 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,280 Speaker 3: even though maybe the weights down a little bit. 291 00:13:46,559 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean I feel like I'm in a really 292 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 8: good spot. You know, I'll always be tinkering. That's just 293 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 8: because how my body is. But I'm very happy with 294 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 8: where I'm at. I feel really feel really comfortable where 295 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 8: I'm at, and I'm confident I'm going to have I'm 296 00:13:58,360 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 8: going to be in a good spot for when the 297 00:13:59,480 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 8: season comes. 298 00:14:00,440 --> 00:14:03,920 Speaker 3: Anytime anybody goes through a change of any kind, you 299 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 3: kind of want to be able to still tell yourself 300 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 3: I'm still whether it's an athlete, I'm still the same 301 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 3: player that I was before. You know, you can still 302 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 3: hit for the same power, you can still drive the 303 00:14:13,200 --> 00:14:17,080 Speaker 3: ball and have some you know, oof in there. So 304 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:19,920 Speaker 3: did you have to convince yourself of that or did 305 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 3: that come through the training as well through the offices? 306 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 4: Obviously? 307 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 8: I mean I knew I was training and I was 308 00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 8: getting my work in. But obviously when you make a change, 309 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 8: obviously doubts creep in, you know. But I feel like 310 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 8: I'm in a good spot. I mean, obviously in spring 311 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 8: i'm hitting I'm hitting the ball the same way I was. 312 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 8: So I'm happy with where I'm at and I'm in 313 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 8: a good spot. 314 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 3: Do you almost feel like maybe you're hitting the ball 315 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 3: a little better than you have in the past. 316 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 8: Nah, I mean I feel like I feel like I'm 317 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 8: just in a good spot. You know, I'm fortunate for 318 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 8: the people around me that helped me out to get 319 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 8: to this point. 320 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 4: And we'll always be tinkering. You know. 321 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 8: The best players are always tinkering and finding a way 322 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 8: that just continue to get better. So yeah, like I said, 323 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 8: I'm excited for the season, I'm happy with I'm mad, 324 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 8: and I'm looking forward to the season. 325 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 3: Tinkering a lot of times equates to adjustments. What have 326 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 3: you learned about the types of adjustments that you need 327 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 3: to make in your game based on your experience you've 328 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: had already in the big leagues. 329 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, as you get older, 330 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 8: and I'm obviously young right now, but as you get older, 331 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 8: you're gonna have to find ways just to continue to 332 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 8: get better. You know, as the league starts to understand you, 333 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,520 Speaker 8: you got to kind of combat that and. 334 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 4: Figure out ways to just stay on top. 335 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 8: So all the best players are always continuing to get 336 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 8: better and finding new ways to just go out there 337 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 8: and compete. So yeah, that's my goal and that's my vision, 338 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 8: and obviously throughout the year, once the league will probably 339 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,200 Speaker 8: start getting to know me and I know the league, 340 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 8: you know, just kind of go out there and keep 341 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 8: getting better. So I'm excited for that, for that back 342 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 8: and forth. 343 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:53,040 Speaker 3: Is there a balance of all, right, I know where 344 00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 3: my weaknesses are, but maybe the league hasn't figured it 345 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 3: out yet. Do you try to work preemptively there so 346 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 3: that once the league maybe starts to expose it you 347 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 3: can adjust it. Or do you just wait and see 348 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 3: and maybe they don't figure out some things and you 349 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 3: can continue to do what you're doing. 350 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,960 Speaker 8: I mean, the big leagues is the big leagues because 351 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 8: they figure out where you're not good at, you know, 352 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 8: and they try to exploit that. So I've prided myself 353 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 8: I'm just trying to be as complete as I can be, 354 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 8: you know. I trying to be able to take my 355 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:22,800 Speaker 8: hit when that's what they want to give me, and 356 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 8: then if they try to come into my zone, then 357 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 8: I'll hit from my power. So I try to be 358 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 8: as well rounded as I can. And obviously there's holes 359 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 8: on everyone's swings, but as long as I can minimize 360 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:35,080 Speaker 8: that and I'll be in a very good spot as 361 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:35,840 Speaker 8: the season goes on. 362 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 3: You talk about guys in your corner. You've got some 363 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 3: guys that have had a lot of major league success 364 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 3: in your corner. What have they told you about continuing 365 00:16:44,760 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 3: your major league journey and maybe what to expect here 366 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 3: in your second year. 367 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 8: Yeah, I mean I can always lean on them, you know, 368 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 8: I can always count on them. They're always in my 369 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 8: corner and they're always going to tell me the truth. 370 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 8: So that's the biggest thing I ever ask of them, 371 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 8: is just tell me the truth, tell me where I 372 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 8: need to keep getting better at. And they're confident in 373 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:03,440 Speaker 8: what I can do, you know, the same confidence I 374 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:07,160 Speaker 8: have in myself they have in me, and vice versa. 375 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 8: And I'll just continue to lean on them with whatever 376 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:14,760 Speaker 8: I need. So obviously, as you get more plaid appearances, 377 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 8: information gets more on you. So I could just continue 378 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,160 Speaker 8: to talk to them, continue to learn from them, and 379 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 8: I can always rely on them with anything. 380 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 3: First base is a relatively new position for you. How's 381 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 3: that coming along? 382 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 4: I feel like I'm in a good spot. You know. 383 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 8: I've played a little bit of third this spring, second, 384 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:33,360 Speaker 8: a lot of second, some first, So. 385 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, I mean I get paid to go out and play. 386 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,400 Speaker 8: I don't get paid to be matchmaker, you know, So 387 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 8: I trust Tito and his plan. He's Hall of Fame 388 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 8: for a reason, and wherever he feels I need to 389 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 8: be out there that day, then I'm gonna go do 390 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 8: the best my ability. So I feel comfortable in all 391 00:17:50,359 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 8: the spots that he puts me in, and I'm gonna 392 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 8: go out there and get the team the best chance 393 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 8: I can to win. 394 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 3: Been the biggest challenge of maybe learning a new. 395 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,680 Speaker 8: Spot, honestly spending the basis. You know, I've always really 396 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 8: just played third my whole life, So just learning where 397 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,400 Speaker 8: to be, you know, working around the bag, being able 398 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 8: to pick balls, which I've been working with Nap a 399 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 8: lot with so just because the defenders more confidence to 400 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,080 Speaker 8: just get the ball over there and they feel like 401 00:18:14,119 --> 00:18:16,240 Speaker 8: they if they put it anywhere in the area, I'll 402 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 8: get it. 403 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 4: So that helps my teammates a lot. 404 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 8: And I know when I was at third and I 405 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 8: had a first baseman that could pick everything, it made 406 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 8: it a lot easier, you know. So I'm trying to 407 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 8: make my life the jobs of my teammates easier, and 408 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 8: I hope to do that. 409 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,120 Speaker 3: So I appreciate the time. Thanks a lot, Thank you. 410 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,600 Speaker 3: That's my conversation with Red's first baseman, Sal Stewart. Now 411 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 3: he probably will play some second bases he did today 412 00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:43,960 Speaker 3: against the Rockies, and maybe even some third. 413 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:45,040 Speaker 5: Base, which is what he's used to. 414 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 3: But Sal Stewart has certainly been getting it done offensively. 415 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:52,120 Speaker 3: Another hit today, he was one for four. He came 416 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 3: in hitting right around three hundred for the spring, and 417 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 3: he just keeps right on cruising along. The Reds beat 418 00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 3: the Rockies today eight to one at Salt River Fields 419 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 3: at Talking Stick, which is where we're coming to you 420 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 3: with today's Budweiser reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF. 421 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 3: Jim Day had a chance to catch up with Andrew Rabbit. 422 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 3: That conversation comes your way next on the Reds Radio Network. 423 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 3: Welcome back here to the Budweiser reds Hot Stove League 424 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 3: presented by UDF. Coming to you from Salt Riverfields and 425 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 3: Talking Stick with the Cowboy Jeff Brantley. I'm Tommy Frawl 426 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 3: and Cowboy. Exciting news today, the unfortunate news or exciting 427 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 3: news this week. The unfortunate news is the Hunter Green 428 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 3: is going to be on the injured list for a 429 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 3: while to start the season. But with that comes some 430 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 3: positive news for a guy like Andrew Rabbit, who was 431 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 3: an All Star for the first time last year, and 432 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 3: it was announced that he will be the Reds Opening 433 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 3: day starter. 434 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm excited for him and his family. I mean, 435 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 6: that's always a monstrous day in the city of Cincinnati, 436 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 6: opening day for baseball. It'll be a huge adrenaline moment. 437 00:19:55,600 --> 00:19:57,640 Speaker 6: There'll be a time where he's gonna have to try 438 00:19:57,680 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 6: to try to take a few deep breasts and settle 439 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 6: it down a little bit. But there there's no better 440 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 6: energy than what you can get maybe in Game seven 441 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 6: of a World Series, than what you get on opening 442 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 6: Day and cincinnat. 443 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 3: I gotta imagine that the All Star Game will help 444 00:20:10,760 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 3: him prepare for that. Of course, the All Star Game 445 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 3: last year, Jim Day caught up with and Rabbit upon 446 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 3: learning that he was going to be this. 447 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 5: Year's opening day starter. 448 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,840 Speaker 3: Here's that conversation on the Budweiser Red Hot Stove League 449 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:23,920 Speaker 3: presented by u DF. 450 00:20:24,560 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 9: All Right, Andrew, what was the reaction and Terry frank 451 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 9: Conna told you you're the opening day starter. 452 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 10: Well, to be honest, I was in the training room 453 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 10: just doing my work. He thought I had left for 454 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 10: the NASCAR race, you know. I it was amazing. You know, 455 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 10: I called my girlfriend, called my parents. 456 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:44,000 Speaker 9: You know. 457 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:45,639 Speaker 10: It was really thankful to him first of all, just 458 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,439 Speaker 10: to get the opportunity, knowing that the talent we have 459 00:20:48,640 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 10: in our clubhouse and on the starting pitching rotation and 460 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:54,359 Speaker 10: the guys all over, like, to be able to get 461 00:20:54,359 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 10: the nod is great. 462 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 2: Like, don't take it for granted at all. 463 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 10: It's it's fantastic And I'm just gonna go out there 464 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 10: and do my best for Cincinnati that day. 465 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 2: I know it's a huge. 466 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 10: Spectacle and a huge holiday there, so I'm gonna go 467 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 10: enjoy it, but also try to go to work. 468 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 9: And this is not a token honor. This is one 469 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 9: that you had to earn. 470 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:11,000 Speaker 5: Does that make you more. 471 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:11,439 Speaker 2: Proud of it? 472 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 10: Yeah? 473 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:12,439 Speaker 2: I think so. 474 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:14,320 Speaker 10: You know, I always think there are ways that you 475 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:16,440 Speaker 10: can prove yourself, and this might be one of those 476 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 10: ways that you know, proves I had a better a 477 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 10: like good last season or you know, however you want 478 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 10: to look at it. 479 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,639 Speaker 2: For me, it's you know, just come in and it's earned. 480 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,800 Speaker 2: Like you said, like you have to switch. 481 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:27,880 Speaker 10: Your head down, work and just keep throwing and let 482 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,400 Speaker 10: the you know, let the dice roll and see what happens. 483 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,880 Speaker 9: What's it like as a player. You've experienced a few 484 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 9: opening days, including being in the parade. What's it like 485 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 9: to experience that and those that haven't. I'm not sure 486 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,360 Speaker 9: you can quite explain how big a day it is Cincinnati. 487 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 10: Yeah, I mean I didn't know how big it was 488 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 10: until you're you're there in the parade. Yeah, I think 489 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 10: it was twenty twenty four. Was the parade I was in. 490 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 10: You know, I didn't expect. 491 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 2: It to be a holiday. 492 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 10: Yeah, Like all the schools are closed, you know, roads 493 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 10: are closed. It's a big, huge spectacle. I mean, they 494 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:00,879 Speaker 10: do it right. I mean you hear about it throughout 495 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,000 Speaker 10: the league, and you know, guys like Bato and all them, guy, 496 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 10: all the older. 497 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,200 Speaker 2: Guys were talking about, oh dude, this is like get 498 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 2: ready for this. This is great. 499 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 10: But you know, seeing how many how much support is 500 00:22:09,359 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 10: in that city, you know, seeing how the oldest team 501 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 10: in baseball, you know, all of the historical aspects that 502 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 10: I really like dive into, like that stuff's pretty cool 503 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 10: and it was amazing, and it's gonna be amazing every 504 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 10: time you're in. 505 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 9: It's gonna be a little bit different this time around, 506 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 9: though You're not going to be able to necessarily step 507 00:22:25,119 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 9: back and take in the site. You've kind of be 508 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 9: locked in if you thought about how that's gonna be different. 509 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,240 Speaker 10: Honestly, we're gonna play it on, play it by year. 510 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 10: You know, you have to enjoy it. You got to 511 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:36,439 Speaker 10: you know, take it in stride. You're you're there to 512 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,199 Speaker 10: do a job. But I think there's an element of 513 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,680 Speaker 10: enjoyment too with with you know, seeing the fans, seeing 514 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 10: the atmosphere, you know, kind of riding the adrenaline and 515 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 10: stuff and using it to your advantage if you can. 516 00:22:45,080 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 2: The only thing you. 517 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:47,439 Speaker 10: Gotta worry about is going too far, like, you know, 518 00:22:47,480 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 10: applying too much. So I think there's a fine line 519 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,879 Speaker 10: to to find out, and we'll we'll get there on 520 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 10: opening day and see and see what line we. 521 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:54,119 Speaker 4: Need to go. 522 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 9: Last year, you make your first All Star appearance, and 523 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 9: you know, we've talked so many times about getting through 524 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 9: the riggers a season and your body, et cetera. How 525 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 9: valuable was last year's experience for you? 526 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 10: Well, you know, it proved I could handle a full 527 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,760 Speaker 10: year's workload. Yeah, I think that's you know, it's been 528 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 10: the set, you know, getting hurt in twenty twenty four, 529 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,480 Speaker 10: going into twenty five and then starting slow and then 530 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 10: ending very strong. Last year was great for not only myself, 531 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 10: but just to kind of get out there and really 532 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 10: increase the inning's limit, not you know, not wear down 533 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 10: as season goes. You know, we made some improvement in 534 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,200 Speaker 10: some areas. You know, we were pretty I was pretty 535 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 10: bad in August September in the earlier years, and then 536 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 10: I've kind of started to figure it out how to 537 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 10: pitch longer and pitch well deeper in the season. 538 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:38,440 Speaker 2: So you know, we're still still going. 539 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 10: We want to get to one eighty two hundred innings 540 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 10: obviously as the goal, but you know, just being there 541 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 10: every fifth day taking the ball's what I strive for. 542 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,399 Speaker 9: What did you figure out if you could take us 543 00:23:47,400 --> 00:23:49,719 Speaker 9: inside the game to get through the rigors of August 544 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 9: and September and have better results. 545 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,240 Speaker 10: It's all about the routine, really having a bulletproof routine, 546 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 10: with the training staff, with the strength and strength conditioning staff, 547 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 10: with the you know, even DJ and Simon and the 548 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:02,880 Speaker 10: guys that are writing in the throwing programs and stuff. 549 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 10: Staying on it, not not veering too far off, you know, 550 00:24:06,080 --> 00:24:08,640 Speaker 10: using your off days, using your low recovery days really 551 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,240 Speaker 10: to bounce back to feel good and and then just 552 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 10: communication like I mean, I'm feeling good, let's go, like 553 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 10: you know, riding me for one hundred and ten pitches 554 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,399 Speaker 10: or whatever it is, or if it's you know, we 555 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 10: have we have a bullpen that's ready to go, then 556 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 10: you know, do I'll do whatever I gotta do. It 557 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 10: really just depends on a lot of the factors. But personally, 558 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:26,959 Speaker 10: it's I think it was always about the routine. 559 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 9: What have you been working on, particularly this spring. 560 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:31,440 Speaker 2: A lot of it's been timing. 561 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:34,480 Speaker 10: Timing has been off a little bit in games with 562 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:36,359 Speaker 10: body movements, you know, gliding the. 563 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:39,200 Speaker 2: Home instead of pushing toward home, and. 564 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 10: Then working on cutters and change ups, really mixing around 565 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 10: with some grips, you know, figuring out where to throw it, 566 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,639 Speaker 10: whin to throw it. But as we get further in, 567 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 10: and I think it's like three more games after to 568 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 10: throw in or maybe four, we'll start to trend into 569 00:24:51,880 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 10: how we're gonna throw into the season. So we're just 570 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 10: using the earlier games to really one get back into 571 00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 10: the swing of things, Like you haven't thrown to a 572 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 10: live hitter in four months, so really just taking it 573 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 10: day by day with that kind of stuff. But yeah, 574 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 10: it was mainly timing and then pitchcripts and stuff, just 575 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:08,760 Speaker 10: continuing to try to get the little stuff to get better. 576 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:13,080 Speaker 9: Starting pitching staff was the strength of this club last year, 577 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 9: at least on paper, that seemingly the same thing, even 578 00:25:16,160 --> 00:25:19,560 Speaker 9: though we situation with hunters up in the air. But still, 579 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,959 Speaker 9: you guys have some really good depth. What's it like 580 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:25,239 Speaker 9: being a part of a staff like that? And how 581 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 9: much do you learn being around really excellent pitchers like yourself? 582 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 2: Well, you said, I mean you learn everything. Really. 583 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 10: You learn different routines, you learn different pitch grips, different 584 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:39,280 Speaker 10: pitch types, you learn sequencing, you learn kind of just 585 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 10: every facet of the game. I think we're all unique. 586 00:25:43,560 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 10: We all pitched differently, which is another thing that's great, 587 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 10: Like we're not all kind of, you know, the same mold. 588 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 10: We all throw different pitches, we all work in different counts, 589 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:54,560 Speaker 10: or you know, I have five pitches, he's got three, 590 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 10: he's got four, he's got six, like. 591 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 2: Whatever it is. I think having all of that put 592 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:00,359 Speaker 2: in and then. 593 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,840 Speaker 10: The group of guys that we have, like just good teammates, 594 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 10: good people off the field, like it just it makes 595 00:26:05,760 --> 00:26:09,280 Speaker 10: the environment competitive, but it also makes it friendly, which 596 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 10: is great. Like, you know, obviously we're competing. Obviously we 597 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 10: want like to make the team, we want to be 598 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,040 Speaker 10: up there, but you know, everyone's got a role to do, 599 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 10: and we we understand that and we really just hone 600 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 10: down and like we root for each other. We got 601 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 10: the internal competition, like I keep mentioning, and then from 602 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 10: then on, it's just about what happens out there and 603 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 10: control what you can control. 604 00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:29,800 Speaker 9: How excited are you with that group in mind that 605 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 9: you guys are returning and you've added some pieces offensively, 606 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 9: How excited is this clubhouse right now? 607 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 2: I think it's super excited. 608 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 10: You know, obviously we still have to go out and 609 00:26:38,119 --> 00:26:41,919 Speaker 10: play and improve, but you know, great on paper, you know. 610 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 10: I think what Tito's been telling us from day one 611 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 10: about let's go there's no time to waste. I think 612 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 10: that was very, very good start to camp. I think 613 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 10: everyone's kind of bought into that. You can see with 614 00:26:51,280 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 10: the amount of run production, with the amount of starting 615 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:55,960 Speaker 10: pitchers that are throwing and healthy, it's as you're talking 616 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:59,479 Speaker 10: about in Dell depth. I think it's all in all 617 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 10: can make a really good season. Happened, and I think 618 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:03,240 Speaker 10: we have the team to do it, and now it 619 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 10: was just about going out and doing it. 620 00:27:04,680 --> 00:27:04,800 Speaker 3: All. 621 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 9: Right, let's go back to Sunday. That's the day that 622 00:27:07,320 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 9: you've found out that you were going to be the 623 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:12,360 Speaker 9: opening day starter. Also the day that you were going 624 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 9: to the NASCAR, right, I said, no, you're a big 625 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 9: NASCAR fan. You had your Kurt Bush throwback gear on, 626 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 9: and your parents were celebrating anniversary as well. What was 627 00:27:21,600 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 9: that day like and how special was it to go 628 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 9: tell them that you're the opening day started? Can you 629 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 9: take us through that day? 630 00:27:28,119 --> 00:27:28,280 Speaker 4: Well? 631 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,720 Speaker 10: Yeah, I mean nine thirty finishing up the training room, 632 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:33,760 Speaker 10: you know, Tito calls me, thinking I had left. 633 00:27:33,800 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 2: I was like, no, I'm still here in the training room. 634 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:37,560 Speaker 10: He you know, comes to me and say, hey, you 635 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 10: know we're gonna announce it here, but I wanted you 636 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 10: to know beforehand, and you know, I just thanked them 637 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:42,840 Speaker 10: for the opportunity. 638 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 2: And then from then on I sent. 639 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:47,440 Speaker 10: A text off to my girlfriend and she got pretty 640 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 10: mad because she was like, why don't you call me 641 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 10: about these big things that happened, And I'm like, I'm sorry, 642 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 10: I'm in the clubhouse. I can't really you know, talk 643 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 10: on the phone, but I'll call you when I'm in 644 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 10: the car. 645 00:27:56,480 --> 00:27:56,960 Speaker 2: But yeah, I was. 646 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,479 Speaker 10: I was driving and I'm thinking, I'm like. 647 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 2: Like, my dad loves Twitter. I'm like, I hope he 648 00:28:00,920 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 2: just stays off of Twitter for you know, ten fifteen 649 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:04,400 Speaker 2: minutes or whatnot. 650 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,560 Speaker 10: And granted, you know, talk to the girlfriend, get there park, 651 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,679 Speaker 10: you know, walking into the NASCAR stadium to the tunnel 652 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:12,240 Speaker 10: and stuff, and my mom is there. 653 00:28:12,280 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 2: They already know. 654 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 10: So I was like, I was like, well, that's ruined. 655 00:28:16,560 --> 00:28:18,879 Speaker 10: But obviously they're happy for me, and like you know, 656 00:28:19,119 --> 00:28:21,720 Speaker 10: I was, I'm very thankful for them and what they've 657 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,120 Speaker 10: done for me and provided for me. 658 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 2: Over the years. 659 00:28:23,800 --> 00:28:26,200 Speaker 10: And like I tell you all the time, with my 660 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:29,240 Speaker 10: daddy lives vicariously through me, so he does. He was 661 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 10: enjoying every bit of it, you know, just just happy overall. 662 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:34,120 Speaker 2: I mean, it was a very very good day. 663 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 10: You know, couldn't make me feel any better to represent 664 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 10: you know, the team to Cincinnati, like whoever it is, 665 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 10: but also knowing how much work has gone into it 666 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 10: to have that opportunity is great. 667 00:28:45,240 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 9: You've been a NASCAR fan your entire life, and with 668 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:49,800 Speaker 9: that in mind, what was the daylight, because I know 669 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:51,720 Speaker 9: you're behind the scenes, you're in the garage, you're with 670 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 9: the drivers, you're in the drivers meeting, Greg, you did 671 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 9: the whole thing. What was the experience? 672 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 2: Like, it's fantastic. 673 00:28:57,640 --> 00:29:00,960 Speaker 10: I mean they basically wrote off the red carpet for you. 674 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 10: You know, I had a few people there that I knew, 675 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 10: you know, obviously like the day and age of when 676 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 10: I was growing up watching NASCAR's pass. You know, there's 677 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 10: no Tony Stewart's, there's no Jimmy Johnson, there's no you know, 678 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,160 Speaker 10: that Boby of La Bond. There's no anybody like that anymore. 679 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 10: It's all kind of newer age. But there's some some 680 00:29:15,280 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 10: guys around that still the Kurt Bush is still there, 681 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 10: Keslowski is still there, like guys Denny Hamlin, like all 682 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:22,160 Speaker 10: those guys have been there. 683 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: It was cool to just for them to you know, 684 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 2: include me. 685 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 10: I got to see all the cars, got to see 686 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:28,080 Speaker 10: him work on them, you know, got to talk to 687 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:31,560 Speaker 10: the Pitt crews, got to see Pitt road h introductions 688 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 10: was there. You know, Joey Chestnutt was in the driver's meeting, 689 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 10: so I got to see him. And then you know, 690 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 10: Fat Joe an artist was there. I mean it was 691 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 10: it was great, Like it was just you could see 692 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 10: how different, you know, like like different people in different 693 00:29:46,960 --> 00:29:49,520 Speaker 10: areas of their life all came together to watch something. 694 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 10: And you know, I'd watched this from when I was 695 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,400 Speaker 10: a little kid hiding under a table at my granny's house. 696 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 10: So it's like just it's just great and and my 697 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 10: dad and then were my dad. 698 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:58,800 Speaker 2: Was gonna love it. I was like, I gotta do 699 00:29:58,840 --> 00:29:59,720 Speaker 2: this is pretty cool that. 700 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 10: It's eight minutes away right there, and you know they 701 00:30:02,640 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 10: did a great job and I can't think NASCAR enough 702 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 10: for it. 703 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:08,680 Speaker 9: Thirty seven anniversary for your parents, yep, thirty seven nice, 704 00:30:08,960 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 9: very nice. 705 00:30:10,120 --> 00:30:10,520 Speaker 7: Growing up? 706 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 9: Who were your drivers? 707 00:30:12,600 --> 00:30:14,440 Speaker 10: Well, I was a big baby La Bonnie fan, and 708 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 10: the main reason was I couldn't pronounce his name until 709 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,200 Speaker 10: I was like ten years old. How did you pronounce 710 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,680 Speaker 10: It's like baby labonn or something like that. I left 711 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:23,440 Speaker 10: out a couple letters or something. 712 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 2: My dad could probably tell you the story, but I 713 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 2: would say. 714 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:29,960 Speaker 10: Him and then you know, the earnhearts were always huge 715 00:30:29,960 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 10: where I was from, and then growing up like in 716 00:30:32,320 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 10: my hometown. 717 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 2: Wardburden, who won. 718 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 9: The day Tottle book from Little Virginia. 719 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,720 Speaker 2: That's right ward button. He's from my hometown. 720 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 10: I actually got to see his son or yeah, his 721 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 10: son Jeb, who races in the Saturday Series over there. 722 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,440 Speaker 10: So that's pretty cool to have a little bit of 723 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:52,240 Speaker 10: a connection and use it. I mean obviously, but it's 724 00:30:52,240 --> 00:30:54,320 Speaker 10: cool to see a different sport and like what goes 725 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 10: on in their life. 726 00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:58,520 Speaker 9: So well, congratulations on being named the Opening Day started 727 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:02,080 Speaker 9: well deserved and nothing but good things in twenty twenty six. 728 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:02,959 Speaker 2: Appreciation. Thank you. 729 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,680 Speaker 3: That's Andrew Abbitt talking with Jim Day about being the 730 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 3: Opening Day starter, among plenty of other topics. Of course, 731 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 3: he had a chance to check out the NASCAR race 732 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 3: as well. The Cowboy and I are back with more. 733 00:31:14,080 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 3: It's the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League presented by UDF 734 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 3: on the Reds Radio Network. Stove Lake presented by you 735 00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 3: DF with The Cowboy Jeff Brantley, I'm Tommy Thrau. Don't 736 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:29,640 Speaker 3: miss a moment this season with Reds dot TV. Stream 737 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 3: the entire season within the entire Reds territory for just 738 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 3: ninety nine to ninety nine, watch games at Homer on 739 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:36,960 Speaker 3: the go, and stay connected all year long. 740 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,680 Speaker 5: Subject to national exclusivities. 741 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 3: Visit r reds dot tv for details and start streaming today. 742 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:46,960 Speaker 3: Cowboy Uh the bullpen. We felt like would be a 743 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 3: strength of this team coming into the spring. Perhaps some 744 00:31:50,000 --> 00:31:53,480 Speaker 3: guys that this team is expecting to count on, most 745 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,680 Speaker 3: notably Emilio Pagan another guy Tony Santian, Both have kind 746 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:01,160 Speaker 3: of struggled so far this spring. What's concern level with 747 00:32:01,240 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 3: those two guys? 748 00:32:02,680 --> 00:32:02,960 Speaker 5: Zero? 749 00:32:03,320 --> 00:32:06,560 Speaker 6: I have no concern. I think when when I see 750 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 6: what they're doing and I see what was ahead of 751 00:32:09,560 --> 00:32:12,960 Speaker 6: them coming into spring training, all the talk about okay, 752 00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 6: we're just kinda kind of ease them in. And when 753 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:18,840 Speaker 6: when you're manager and you're pitching coach and everyone is 754 00:32:18,840 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 6: talking about we don't want to use them too much 755 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 6: in spring training, we're just going to kind of ease 756 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:27,880 Speaker 6: them in. Your mentality as a pitcher becomes that thought process, 757 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:30,320 Speaker 6: I'm just going to try to ease into spring training. 758 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:33,760 Speaker 6: Well what happens. And it happens every time because I've 759 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:36,479 Speaker 6: seen it over the years. You come to camp, your 760 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:39,880 Speaker 6: arm feels great, you've done all the preparation ahead of time, 761 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 6: but mentally you're thinking, I'm just going to ease in. 762 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:46,720 Speaker 6: But yet you're facing batters in a live segment of 763 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:50,240 Speaker 6: a baseball game for an inning, and they're not easing in. 764 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:54,000 Speaker 5: They're coming in to knock your brains out. So there's 765 00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 5: a little. 766 00:32:54,440 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 6: Bit of a struggle early, and I think that's a 767 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 6: good thing. I think for both of those guys, they 768 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,400 Speaker 6: realized that you have to be on your game in 769 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 6: order to do what you do, and that's get people 770 00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 6: out in the eighth and the ninth inning. 771 00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:11,800 Speaker 3: This is I guess it's a slightly different situation, but 772 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 3: maybe you can explain how it's different. Alexis ds came 773 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 3: in last year. Remember we thought he was going to 774 00:33:18,200 --> 00:33:20,720 Speaker 3: be this team's closer. He had a terrible spring. What's 775 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,080 Speaker 3: the difference between a guy like that having a bad 776 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:25,760 Speaker 3: spring and a guy like Emilio Pagan or Tony Sancion 777 00:33:25,880 --> 00:33:28,320 Speaker 3: having a bad spring? And and why do you not 778 00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:30,600 Speaker 3: worry about one when you're concerned about the other? Comes 779 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 3: down to track record. 780 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,680 Speaker 6: I think when you look at Alexis Diaz the year before, 781 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 6: a lot of walks, not a strike thrower, breaking ball, 782 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:43,960 Speaker 6: really not a breaking ball that was very consistent at all. 783 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 6: And I think when you look at that, and then 784 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 6: you're looking for improvement the following year and and it 785 00:33:49,680 --> 00:33:52,680 Speaker 6: just kind of fell on his face. Then that's where 786 00:33:52,720 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 6: the concern really kind of kind of comes to the forefront. 787 00:33:56,120 --> 00:33:59,480 Speaker 6: We know what Emilio Pagan gave this Reds club last year, 788 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 6: absolutely know what Tony Santition did, and there's no reason 789 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,640 Speaker 6: to believe that these guys will not be the same 790 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:09,960 Speaker 6: or better this year than what they were last year. 791 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 6: They're healthy, they're throwing strikes. It's just a matter of 792 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 6: putting them in the mental spot. And you don't really 793 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:21,640 Speaker 6: get that until the game start, right. You know, you're 794 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:24,759 Speaker 6: used to pitching with the game on the line and 795 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 6: you're adrenaline redlining, and you just can't mimic that in 796 00:34:28,280 --> 00:34:31,880 Speaker 6: the spring training. So you get to day one, sure 797 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 6: that's gonna be there and they will be ready. 798 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 3: We've got more and we'll wrap things up. It's the 799 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:40,520 Speaker 3: Reds Budweiser Hot Stove League presented by UDF on the 800 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 3: Reds Radio Network. Welcome back in to the Budweiser Red 801 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:50,600 Speaker 3: Hot Stove League presented by UDF. Wrapping things up now 802 00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:53,439 Speaker 3: with the Cowboy, Jeff Brantley. I'm Tommy throw Cowboy. We've 803 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:55,360 Speaker 3: had a chance to see some of these young guys 804 00:34:55,400 --> 00:34:59,759 Speaker 3: here lately. We saw them again today Tyson Lewis look good. 805 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 3: Also saw a little bit of steel haul. What's been 806 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 3: your impression of some of these young players in camp. 807 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:05,239 Speaker 5: I love it. 808 00:35:05,400 --> 00:35:08,520 Speaker 6: I love the energy, and we've we've seen them as 809 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:11,279 Speaker 6: they've kind of gotten their feet wet here in big 810 00:35:11,360 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 6: league camp. A lot of them have not gotten to 811 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:15,800 Speaker 6: the big leagues yet. Matter of fact, a lot of 812 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 6: them have not even gotten to Double A. But I 813 00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:22,239 Speaker 6: think we're gonna see the majority of those kids. If 814 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:24,279 Speaker 6: they don't start in Double A, they'll be knocking the 815 00:35:24,280 --> 00:35:25,560 Speaker 6: door down before too long. 816 00:35:25,600 --> 00:35:26,799 Speaker 5: But it's it's fun to. 817 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:31,239 Speaker 6: See that that energy, the excitement, and probably more than 818 00:35:31,239 --> 00:35:34,919 Speaker 6: anything else, I love the their ability to execute and 819 00:35:34,920 --> 00:35:37,840 Speaker 6: and that's a tribute to the Red's minor league system 820 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:40,600 Speaker 6: being able to teach these kids the way you play 821 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:43,719 Speaker 6: baseball and to play it in aggressive manner and you 822 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 6: play it with precision. And I think that translates all 823 00:35:48,239 --> 00:35:50,279 Speaker 6: the way up to your to your major league club. 824 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 6: And I think that's why we're seeing those things. When 825 00:35:53,560 --> 00:35:56,480 Speaker 6: you're when you've got a kid and and they're they're coming, 826 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:00,359 Speaker 6: and they're coming in performance fashion. Where you're really happy about. 827 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,360 Speaker 6: That's like seeing your kid ride the bike for the 828 00:36:03,400 --> 00:36:05,280 Speaker 6: first time. Man, that's some kind of fun. 829 00:36:05,120 --> 00:36:05,640 Speaker 5: No doubt. 830 00:36:05,680 --> 00:36:07,600 Speaker 3: That's all the time we have on this edition of 831 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:10,680 Speaker 3: the Budweiser Reds Hot Stove League, presented by UDF the 832 00:36:10,719 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 3: Cowboy Jeff Brantley. Also thanks to South Stewart Andre Rabbit, 833 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:17,799 Speaker 3: our producer, engineer, Dave dy, Armbrewster, Drew Wester Heidi. Back 834 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 3: in our network headquarters, I'm Tommy Thrall. We'll catch you 835 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:22,720 Speaker 3: next time on the REDS Radio Network.